Authors Note: Hello again! Thanks to my usual reviewers, especially Meowzap and Queen Ismaire, who have reviewed nearly every chapter. On with the story.

Chapter 9: Reunited.

He couldn't do it. He didn't understand anymore. There was a time when he didn't care much for others lives, but now he couldn't lower his axe any more. He may be the Tiger Eye, one of the most powerful generals in this war, but Duessel was right, this isn't war, it's murder! Duessel left for a reason, and it wasn't Eirika who killed Glen, he must've seen Duessel's point of view. Valter, after all, didn't care for anyone's life or feelings at all, it must've been him who killed Glen. 'Valter enjoys killing' he thought to himself, 'no wonder he isn't against Vigarde's work, he gets what he wants. He knew all along, and just accepted it.'

"What are you doing," Caellach suddenly heard Ismaire's voice. While he was thinking he didn't notice that she had got up and approached Caellach, "I refused to hand over the sacred stone, yet you didn't do anything. I've seen Grado reach great lengths to get hold of the sacred stones. Aren't you going to fight for the stone?"

Caellach started pacing, unsure of his actions. What she said was true. Grado had gone to extreme lengths. He turned to Lyon, only to notice that he had gone.

"What you say is true," he eventually replied, still pacing, "but not everyone agrees with these lengths. Two generals are already dead and another has joined Renais."

He carried on, starting to panic. His words were coming out quicker, with the occasion stutter.

"I d-don't know what to do anym-more. I've became so obsessed with claming a th-throne that I've claimed many l-lives in the process. Many around me have d-died."

His final words, however, were shouted in anger without stuttering as he stopped pacing.

"I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

And with that, he fled from the building, caring for nothing expect for avoiding the Renais army. He didn't stop to catch his breath and nearly collapsed when he finally exited. His time to rest was cut short though, as a blinding flash of light hit him square in the chest, sending him flying into an oasis nearby. Drenched and injured, he climes out and applied to last of his elixir to his wound. He then walked slowing to the bishop who have fired the spell, which turned out to be an Aura tome. It was Riev.

"Riev, what are you doing?" Caellach managed to say between breaths, "can't you see what's happening to us? We must leave now!"

"Oh, I see it, "Riev cackled, approaching Caellach, "and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Couldn't you see it before? Why I, a bearer of light magic, have to power to summon monsters. It is because I, Riev, am actually the Demon King's humble servant! I joined Grado's army to destroy the sacred stones and anyone who gets in my way."

Caellach saw it now, this man was mad and Caellach must stop him. He threw his Tomohawk towards Riev, who dodged it with ease. Caellach was taken aback and only just caught the weapon as it came back towards him.

"You will defeat the Renais army in your own homeland," he continued quietly, but threateningly, "or I will deal with you myself. Serve the Demon King, or fall to him."

Caellach had no choice but to obey. He decide to wait for them to come to him, near the oasis. He noticed part of the Renais army leave the building, including Eirika, a cleric with blond hair mostly covered by a hood, a few magic users, a wyvern rider he recognised as Cormag, Glen's brother and a few swordfighters, including Joshua.

'Oh great,' Caellach thought to himself, 'It has to be me who fights him.'

Caellach watched the battle begin. Before long, Ephraim's army entered, including Duessel. To Caellach, things just couldn't get worse. He didn't even notice Lyon appear from behing him.

"Caellach."

Caellach turned round in shock and narrowly restrained himself from trying to crush anybody who happened to be behind him at the time.

"Oh it's you," Caellach said, obviously not pleased that Lyon was here.

"I know of your treachery Caellach, and I won't tolerate it again, Eirika and Ephraim must be crushed."

Lyon was beginning to creep Caellach out, how could Lyon have such a grudge. He asked, "Did you by any chance know them?"

"Indeed I did," was his reply, "they are… old friends of mine. By the way Caellach, do you have any friends to speak of."

"Yeah," he said, smiling, although he was really hiding his true feelings, "I had one. An old mercenary I used to work with, who went by the name of Joshua."

At the last few word he nearly pointed towards Joshua, but kept focused on Lyon.

"He was rather foolish, but I sorta miss the lad."

"Would you ever go back to being a mercenary, if you ever saw him again?"

"No," Caellach said firmly, but in reality unsure whether it was true, "I enjoyed those times, they were fun. But… no. I want to be in a position of power…"

"And kill me and take over the throne, is that it," Lyon interrupted. Noticing a surprised look on Caellach's face, he continued, "Don't worry about it, so long as you serve me now, I'm content."

And he vanished. Caellach was getting sick of people vanishing during conversation. Nothing to do now but wait.

Caellach just stood there, not bothering to say or do anything as he watched the soldiers of Grado fight a losing battle, not even killing a single soldier of Renais, despite their larger numbers. There were a few Pegasus knights along with Cormag who, due to being flying units, were unaffected by the terrain, therefore fighting without difficulty. Joshua seemed to be having an easy time too. Then it happened.

They made eye contact. Caellach though to himself, 'This is just great, I should be more careful, this might be the death of me. Joshua headed towards him.

"Caellach."

Joshua faked a smile and even a laugh, "Hey Joshua! How long has it been, I believe it's been two years now. How have you been?"

"I've been all right," Joshua was smirking now, "Still working as a mercenary. When did you get all proper and join the Grado army?"

"Didn't I tell you? I was sick and tired of living as a mercenary. I look back on these days a lot now, my axe and your sword, we made quite the pair didn't we."

Joshua was silent for a few seconds, then carried on, "Yeah, I remember, you always would say 'I will be king!'"

Caellach suddenly remembered what Duessel said as he looked at the building he left not long ago, then turned back to Joshua.

"By the way Joshua, I know all about you Joshua. Who you really are I mean, the price of Jehanna eh? When did you plan to share the wealth, you sneaky dog?"

"Listen Caellach," it was a rare occasion for Joshua to be serious, Caellach thought, but he is now, "you can't just divide a nation into loot waiting to be divided. And more importantly I made a promise to my mother, I'm going to go back and succeed her as ruler of my homeland. By the way, was it you who rushed out of Jehanna palace just then, not like you to run away is it?"

"No it isn't," Caellach felt awkward and a bit embarrassed. He started backing away from Joshua, "I was caught up in the effects of the war and couldn't do anything."

"Just as I thought," Joshua was smirking as he advanced towards Caellach, but didn't draw his sword, "You may deny it at times, but you care for others more than you think. You don't belong in the Grado army, serve Renais and be known as one of the greatest heroes of all time."

Joshua's words made perfect sense to Caellach, everything made sense now, he was mistaken. If he did his duty he would end up dead. He wasn't going to let that happened. It was time to do the honourable thing. He shook Joshua's hand.

A sudden screech from a wyvern was heard from the other side of the desert. A lone Wyvern Rider was seen fleeing from the scene yelling, "General Moonstone is dead! General Duessel and Cormag have finished him! Grado has lost the war!"

The rider fled. There was no need to follow him. He, for about a minute, didn't think once about the war. He was glad, that he finally found himself.

End of Chapter.

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