A mysterious group seems hell-bent on capturing Nils and Ninian... Having failed, this group, the Black Fang, flees. Rumor has them traveling southwest. Lyn and her colleagues follow in hopes of recovering a lost heirloom. The Black Fang have made a stronghold of an abandoned castle in Khathelet. Its dark halls are alive with shadowy figures...

Inside the abandoned castle...

A short, dark-blue haired woman turned to a rough, tall blond hair man with a bristly beard. She spoke in a serious, rich tone.

"So the brother escaped, and the sister was rescued by a band of strangers. Do I understand you?"

"Yes…" He responded. "They ambushed us, and…" He was cut off abruptly by the woman.

"Hold your excuses. The end is all that matters."

"Yes ma'am."

She spoke, "And your plan for recovering the siblings is?"

"We've word that the entire group is headed this way, with the brats in tow."

"They're coming here? Why would they do that?"

"They may well be after this ring…" He held up a glistening golden ring, with diamonds embedded in carvings on the sides. "It's a rare piece. We took it from the girl. It was a stroke of luck that we did, especially if it brings them to us now. I'll grab the whole lot of 'em with this to bait the trap."

She thought to herself, "I see... Very well, I'll give you another chance. I've business elsewhere, but I shall return once it's finished. You have until sunrise tomorrow. Do you understand?"

"Yes." He replied.

She gave him a cold stare. "If you do not have the children when I return... my hand will deal you the fang's punishment. Remember that. Bear it closely in your mind." With that, the lady mounted her horse and left as the man thought to himself.

Outside the abandoned castle...

Our travelers finally arrived after a while, stopping in front of the castle.

Lyn looked around, then said, "I believe they went in here."

Nils walked over to Lyn's side. "Milady, are you really going in there to get the ring back."

Went, who was ignoring all this, seemed to be fixated on the castle. No matter what was being said, he kept staring.

"Yes, we are." Lyn answered Nils. Nils shouted at her, "But this is their stronghold! They're bound to be well defended, not to mention well armed."

Went finally responded, and nodded. "Nils is right, they will be well armed, and they will not hesitate one minute to shred us all to pieces…"

Ninian spoke, "Please forget about the ring. It's OK…"

Lyn spoke, "Went's agreed to attempt this... recovery. I wouldn't be here if not for that."

Went just stared tensely at the building.

"This could be our last moments... the Black Fang... I can't believe this… After running from them, for two years, I come right back to them… How ironic…" Went thought to himself. "But I can't let the children down." Went stopped his thoughts, then looked to face Lyn as she kept speaking...

"Went believes we can do this. I'm sure that decision was not made lightly. With Went at my side," Lyn looked deeply into Went's eyes before continuing. "I'm confident we can win. " Lyn then looked to Ninian. "Let's get your ring back, Ninian."

"Milady…" Nils began with a happy look on his face.

Ninian remained silent as she stared with her melancholy face.

Sain galloped towards Went, Lyn and the siblings, shouting, "Milady Lyndis! There are more of the foe than we thought."

Went bit his lower lip as he began to get a little nervous, losing himself deep in thought. He then relaxed and shut his eyes, still thinking.

Lyn spoke, "This is their stronghold. It's imperative we move carefully."

"Exactly, milady. This narrow corridor can be used to our advantage. If we draw the enemy through here, we can engage them in small numbers and remain relatively safe. If time is a concern, we can always rush them... If we do that, we'd better be sure we can win." Kent mentioned.

Went kept thinking to himself. Then Lyn turned to him. "So, Went, What do you think?"

Went sighed, then opened his eyes. "Well, they probably already know we are here. So, it doesn't matter at this point, to be blunt."

Lyn held his shoulder. "How we move forwards is completely up to you." Went looked down at the floor.

"Well, I think that you should know something before we go in…" He said.

Lyn looked at him curiously, "Yes, what is it?" She asked.

"I've had dealings with the Fang before, they are a lethal fighting force, so I want you and the others to be careful. As I said before they will cut us down without any remorse, if they can." Went said carefully. "So we need to use caution, but also we need to move with haste, but not recklessly."

Lyn nodded, then ran off inside the dilapidated castle. Everyone else followed her. Sighing, Went followed and explained his plan. Lucius, Erk, Rath and Florina were to take down the archers. Matthew was to find any items useful he could find. Lyn was to take down anyone who came in her way. Dorcas attacked the cavaliers, and Serra came along to help heal. Nils and Ninian were to follow. Nils helped with his music as well.

"K, now everyone, if we stay in these positions, they should hopefully, come single file. We'll clear them out one by one. Go." Went said.

With that, everyone split up as he followed Lyn.

Went swiftly took out a bandit as Lyn hacked into a fighter. Rath made himself useful my landing his arrows into the foreheads of his enemies. As Went and Lyn progressed on through the corridors, Went caught a glimpse of the rough, blond-haired member of the Black Fang. His eyes widened in surprise.

He began to think to himself.

"Beyard... I remember him. Why is he here?"

Noticing Beyard had not seen him or Lyn, Went rushed Lyn on as they continued cutting down the foe.

About 3 hours later...

Everyone had taken down the Black Fang members in the castle. Beyard, noticing, yelled out loud. "How? This can't be... They should be dead! Everyone! Get in there and finish them! This is our final chance!" However, no one was alive to answer his call.

"Aha! Villain! Stop, and return the ring!" Lyn shouted as she pointed the Mani Katti at Beyard.

Beyard, muttered to himself before lunging into battle. "I mustn't fail... I cannot fail... The consequences are too…"

Before he had a chance to finish his own little conversation with himself, Lyn was on top of him, cutting into his waist. Went followed her attack, as he hacked a sword into his shoulder.

In pain, Beyard screamed, then opened his eyes. They widened in surprise as they stopped upon Went.

"Lyn!" Went shouted. "Get the knights and Florina here right away!"

Lyn ran off to get them as Went and Beyard struggled.

"Went... How? I thought you were dead... You shouldn't be alive!"

Went grinned, "Aye you're right. I should be dead, but I'm tougher than you think. Did you honestly think I would be so easy to bring down?" Went disarmed him with a single swipe of his swords, and punched him hard in the gut, knocking him over. Just as he did, Lyn returned and put her foot on his chest.

"Earghh…" He panted. "Aaaah... No... I... I cannot…" He looked up at Lyn as she pressed on his chest.

"Give us the ring!" Lyn shouted. "And swear us this oath... You must promise to leave these two alone. If I have your vow, I'll spare your life…" Lyn spoke sternly to Beyard.

"Failure... means death…" Beyard said glaring at Went.

Went scowled as he looked down upon Beyard as he took a small vial from his satchel and drank it. Beyard coughed a while and then froze, deathly still.

"What! Poison? He took his own life…" Lyn whispered to herself.

"These are no common brigands we're dealing with. This man was trained by a well organized group." Kent said.

"Aye, you're right about that Kent." Went stated.

"What do they want with Nils and Ninian?" Lyn asked. Went shrugged as he stared at Beyard's corpse. "That I do not know…"

Nils just remained quiet. Ninian looked down at the floor.

Lyn turned to comfort Nils and Ninian. "Nils, Ninian. Everything's going to be fine. As long as you're with us, you'll be safe."

"But…" Nils began.

"You witnessed our victory, right?" Lyn said. "With Went's planning and my sword, you've no worries. If we all work together, there's nothing we can't overcome. I don't care who comes after you; I'll not let you be taken."

"Nor will I." Went spoke.

"Really?" Nils asked.

"Yes, on my honor." Lyn said as she turned to Went. "Right, Went?"

"Aye." He replied with a smile. "And do not feel sorry for Beyard, he was just a cutthroat, just like the rest of the Fang, have become…." His voice trailed off. The two siblings nodded.

"Milady…" Ninian whispered. "Oh, yes…" Lyn said as she smiled. She handed the item in her hand to Ninian. "This is yours."

"Ah... It's…" Ninian said.

"You called it Ninis's Grace, did you not? That lout had it." Lyn pointed to Beyard's corpse.

Nils beamed, "Milady Lyndis! Thank you so much!"

Ninian spoke quietly, "I have no other words, save thank you."

With that, the siblings left. Lyn then walked up to Went and spoke to him.

"Are you ok alright Went? You seem troubled."

Went sighed. "Lyn, perhaps another time. But not right now…"

Lyn sighed and pouted. "Well, I'll be over there. Went, I've never trusted anyone as much as I have you. I feel as if I can tell you anything. You can tell me anything, and I'll still see you the same way." Lyn then walked off as they all began to settle for the night.

Went briefly looked into his shirt, looking at the scar from the arrowhead wound he had when Lyn had found him out cold on the plains. It rested above his heart. So many memories flooded his head. But, he shook them off and helped get ready for camp.

Everyone got their tents out and settled in the woods, watching the sky. Went stayed up, smiling as he listened to the birds and crickets chirp. He then sat up as Lyn walked up to him.

"Lyn? Is something wrong?"

"I can't sleep." She said.

"You can't sleep?" He asked.

She shook her head. "No, for some reason I can't. I feel as if something is wrong. So, I was hoping, you don't mind me next to you for a while, do you?"

"Not at all Lyn, go ahead." Went said as he lay back down.

Lyn smiled as she laid her blanket next to him and lay down beneath it. She stared up at the sky with him, sighing.

"This reminds me of being back home on the plains. My father and I used to do this all the time. We loved looking at the stars."

Went, smiled, "Aye, I did too. But if you want to know what is bothering me, I think I should tell you now."

"Oh? Ok then." Lyn said, looking at him expectantly.

"Well, what is troubling me is that the Fang used to be noble, like us. They were a force for good. But now something has happened, and they are now little more than scumbags… The idea that someone could take control of a noble group and then so thoroughly corrupt it worries me. Whomever did it was obviously cunning, and quite possibly dangerous. I had aided them once, in defeating a group of bandits, in Bern, but when I learned that some of them had been attacking peasant settlements, I was so angry that I left, unfortunately, Someone decided that I was a threat, and they ordered Beyard, to finish me off."

"Oh my…" Lyn said. "So, Beyard, was the one who shot you with that arrow?" She asked.

"Aye, he was. He thought I was dead, but he didn't count on you finding me, and restoring me to health." He said.

Lyn frowned. "That is worrisome, but whatever happens, I'm sure we can handle it together." She said, looking into his eyes, and smiling. And Went smiled back.

They were silent for a while. Suddenly, Went let out a big yawn.

"You may not be able to sleep, but that's not the case with me. I'm getting really tired. Goodnight, Lyn. I'm going to bed."

Lyn turned around to face him. "Goodnight…" She whispered.

Went closed his eyes, and almost instantly fell asleep. Lyn, smiling, placed his hand on top of his as she took a hold of his hand. She grinned to herself, and then let her eyes slowly close as she too drifted asleep.

There is a connection between a group called the Black Fang and the two children Nils and Ninian. With our travelers interfering with the Fang's plans, will this interfere with Lyn's desire to meet her ailing grandfather? Are the Black Fang and Lundgren plotting together for Lyn and company's demise? Find out in the next chapter, Vortex of Strategy.