-Chapter 7: Grief-

Our heroes have learned that they first need to journey to Etruria. They have traveled far, and have finally reached the country's borders.

"Well, here we are. The Etrurian border," said Brandon to Toni.

"Yeah. We are nearing my house. I have been hoping to stop off there before I journey onward," she replied.

"Really? I never knew this is where you were from."

"Yeah. I my mother and father moved here after the war. My father was ready to live in anonymity, especially after being a key player in the war, and killing many people."

"I have read many accounts on that war. Could you tell me who he is?"

"Yes, he is an assasin. His name is Jaffar. He had known my mother even before the war."

"Your father is the infamous Jaffar? I have read about him. He is one of my heroes."

"Well, my house is just over this ridge. It is getting late, so we should probably stay there for the night."

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared upon the horizon. He was dressed in all black, and his reddish-brown hair poked out of the cloth that covered his head.

"Father!" cried Toni. She ran up to him gave him a big hug. He, for once, smiled. "Is mother here?" she inquired.

"No, she went down to the market in the town down the road. It's only about a quarter-mile away. She should be returning any time now," he replied.

"Well, we will just wait."

Suddenly, Eliwood walked up. "I think we should go to that town. There is not enough room at the house for all of us, and we wouldn't want to be a burden," said Eliwood to Jaffar.

"Yes, you are probably right. I will accompany you."

They continued on to the next town. What they found there was not a pretty sight. Half the town had been destroyed, and many bodies lie in the streets. Suddenly, Jaffar saw some movement at the side of a building. He ran over to help. He saw that it was his wife.

"Nino... You can't die on me. I will protect you, no matter what." He bowed his head in grief, holding his wife's weakened forms. Jaffar did not normally show emotion, but you could clearly see how sad he was. Toni ran over, tears streaming down her face, and she put her arm around her father.

Serra and Priscilla rushed over, and they assessed the situation.

"She is critically wounded. Not even magic can save her now. There is nothing we can do," said Priscilla.

Toni fell over her mother's limp form, and began sobbing uncontrollably.

"Why? Why did this have to happen? What has caused this?" she cried.

Jaffar just sat there, his head down, his mind on what had happened. Jaffar would have cried, but he didn't even know what that was. He had lived his life so emotionless, and the emotions hitting him now, the grief, the anger, the sadness, the rage, they put him in a dazed-like state. Brandon walked over to comfort Toni. He didn't try to say anything, he just held her, and tried to be there for her. Toni just lied over the body on the ground, the bright green hair contrasted the skin, which grew paler by the minute. Lyndis took control of the situation.

"We need to search for survivors of this heinous attack. Everyone, go out and with medicinal packs and try to help them," she commanded.

Everyone went out searching looking for survivors. They did what they could, cleaning and bandaging their wounds, and carrying them to the inn. The inn was half torn down, but it made a good makeshift hospital. Then, the men set about to the task of burying the survivors. They dug on large grave, and put the bodies in. They then put a marker as a memorial to the people, and to remind others in the future of the tragic happenings. They went back to the inn, where Serra and Priscilla tried to help the survivors in whatever ways they could.

One of the survivors weakly sat up. He grabbed Serra, and he tried to give her a message.

"Bandits... Blood and fire everywhere... Family dying... Lojiko..." He then fell back onto his bed. Serra went about to helping the people.

The next few days, the people slowly recovered. Then, the healers weren't needed as badly, and they got some well-deserved rest. The rest of the people helped the survivors continue to recover. Jaffar was still in a dazed state, but he was slowly coming out of it. Toni had stayed in a tent, and refused to talk to anyone. Brandon came to the outside of a tent.

"Toni, can I come in?" he inquired.

"Yes, I guess so."

He walked in, a plate of food in his hands. "Toni, you need to eat something. It will keep up your strength."

"No, I'm not hungry." She turned her back on him.

"Please, for me, eat. I made you a special dish. An old family recipe from the plains. It is goat and barley stew. You will like it." He reached over her shoulder and shoved the plate into her hands.

"Well, okay. I will try it." She took a small bite. "Wow, this is good. I didn't realize how hungry I was." She ravenously wolfed down the rest.

"See, I said that you would like it. Good job. I may not understand what you are going through, but I know someone who does." Brandon left the tent, and a few minutes later, he came back, and Lyn was with him. Brandon then left again.

"Toni, I know what you are going through," said Lyn.

"How could you? Have you ever lost your parents?" Toni angrily replied.

"Actually my whole tribe was killed in a bandit attack. I was left comepletely alone. I didn't even have someone like Brandon there for me. He is a great guy, and you are lucky to have him in this time. I know I would have liked to have had someone like that."

"Yeah, he is great. But were your parents really killed by bandits?"

"Yes, my father, my mother, and my whole tribe were slaughtered brutally. To this day, I carry a burning hatred for their kind."

"Lyn, I am glad to have you there to help me! You have really cheered me up, and put a new light on things."

Lyn left the tent. (Support level increased.)

Serra, meanwhile was speaking with Hector.

"Yes, he said 'Bandits... Blood and fire everywhere... Family dying... Lojiko...'," Serra told Hector.

"Hmmm... I don't know what that last word means. Maybe it is the name of the leader of the bandits. I'll have to ask Jaffar."

Hector went over to Jaffar. He asked him what "Lojiko" meant.

"Lojiko, did you say?" Jaffar's dazed state suddenly left him. His face was suddenly filled with rage, anger, and hate. "The Lojiko, they are a group of former Black Fang members. They felt that after the war, they had nothing else that they could do, so they became bandits, and started killing for a living. There aren't many of them, but they are extremely powerful. I now know what I must do. I must avenge my wife's death."

"Well, we will help you. We will rid the land of the Lojiko."

"No, my friend, I must do it alone. There is no other way. Do not try to help me."

With that, Jaffar silently walked away.

That night, the camp slept peacefully, and Brandon was watching over the injured. Suddenly, Toni burst into the room.

"Brandon! It's my father! He has gone to fight the Lojiko by himself!"

"I'll wake the camp. We can be out of here in ten minutes at the most."

"There is no time. He is the only one in our group who knows where the Lojiko hideout is! We must hurry!"

The pair rushed out and grabbed some medicinal supplies and a sword, thinking Jaffar might need them. With that, the pair rushed out into the dark, following the ever fading trail of Jaffar.

End of Chapter.