Another quick turn-around! (short chapter, tho', so hey.) I had this scripted out, and decided to knock out part of the scene instead of going to bed at a decent hour. Turns out, I got more done than I'd planned, and wanted to get this up to thank my Guest, whom I can't respond to directly. Cheers.
"Sister Serra." Amberyl smiled in greeting to the bubbly cleric, now that she had breath to talk. Serra had dismounted Maximus the instant they'd crossed the border. Kent finally allowed them a slower pace, advising a sizable contingent of border guards along the way that there were bandits lurking nearby. Amberyl marched with her fist pressed against a cramp in her side, sucking down air as quietly as she could. She didn't pretend to be as hardy as the boys, or as athletic as Lyn—okay, maybe she only really had Florina beat on the physical level, discounting their newest additions—but she was always conscious of her image. She would not be perceived as a wimp on top of being a liar.
Oh, you Drama Queen, you.
Hush, Amberyl chided the voice. I'm working here.
"Amberyl, hi!" Serra's enthusiastic greeting hit her like a heavy gust of Sacaen wind, almost enough to bowl her over. "Have you come to shower praises on me for my extraordinary prowess as a healer?"
Amberyl relaxed. She couldn't quite tell if Serra was joking, as the cleric seemed to take herself very seriously despite presenting that outrageously grand façade. Grander even than Sain's, though Amberyl wasn't sure that Serra's behavior was as deliberate. Either way, she didn't seem hung up over The Kiss—the memory burned her cheeks now—which was a major relief. Amberyl was gratified to have Serra's talents along for the dangerous trek to Castle Caelin, and had worried things between them would be… awkward. She was determined to create a lasting and better impression.
"Yes!" Amberyl wiggled her fingers as she'd done many times since Serra fixed them. "My hand feels wonderful! Or—well, it feels normal, and it works, which is wonderful." She smiled brilliantly.
"Oh." Serra blinked in surprise. "Well. Yes. You're welcome."
Amberyl's brows twitched, but she smoothed the expression back into a winsome look of appreciation. Serra had had that same response when Amberyl gushed her praises earlier, too. She could admit that her enthusiasm over being healed had been, ah, expressive—but was she really to believe that the rest of Serra's recipients were so listless that the cleric was surprised by a show of genuine gratitude? It's not like Lyn had been ungracious.
"I'm so glad you decided to accompany us to Caelin. We've already fought a few dangerous battles, and we can't just count on luck to pull us through. I don't like to think how we would manage without you."
Serra's eyes lit up. "I can see why you're in charge. You're quite perceptive! 'Even the greatest armies fail for want of a beautiful cleric to sustain them'! Someone said that—a general, I'm sure—and it's so true." Her ladylike sniff conveyed intense displeasure. "We healers are not appreciated properly."
"We appreciate you," Amberyl gestured. "Don't we, Lyn?"
"Ah." Lyn's eyes snapped to, having been lost somewhere in the direction of Kent's back. She had been studying him ever since their skirmish with the Ganelon earlier—ever since Amberyl's suggestion that his interest in her might be more intimate than the nomad realized. "Yes, of course. My leg feels good as new."
"I'm so glad to be of service to the Marquess's granddaughter!"
A faint line marred Lyn's graceful brow. "Please, call me Lyn. I don't feel like royalty. Having people fawn over me feels strange."
"Fawn!"
"What she means," Amberyl shot Lyn a warning look, "is that she's not used to attention. Being a lost heir, she didn't grow up as anyone important. Isn't that right, Lyn?"
The look on Lyn's face told Amberyl that she didn't agree that 'chieftain's daughter' was a position lacking in importance. She did, however, have the grace to blush.
"I didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh, never!" Serra fluttered her hand, as if to swish away such a ridiculous notion. "I knew what you meant. I couldn't possibly take offense from a little thing like that. Not when you're practically a lord!"
Lyn narrowed her eyes. For some reason, Amberyl found herself the recipient of the look instead of Serra. Time, perhaps, to make her escape.
"I see you have much to discuss." Amberyl slowed her steps to fall out of line. "Excuse me."
"How thoughtful!" Serra rounded immediately on Lyn. "Have you really been exiled to the plains this whole time?"
"Isn't she?" The sweet honey of Lyn's tone promised retribution at some later point in time, and she began to correct Serra's notions. Amberyl fell into step beside Dorcas, who accepted her presence without comment.
Unfortunately, Amberyl's plans for this talk were almost as thin as those for Serra. Dorcas guarded his words carefully. She'd barely heard his voice today, although he'd contributed to group discussions concerning business. Amberyl felt like he hadn't quipped a word of banter or casual conversation since they left their ill-fated fort this morning.
"Dorcas. How are you?"
"Fine." The big man thought for a moment. "Thank you."
Amberyl rolled her eyes, contrasting in her mind Dorcas's extreme reserve to Serra's almost unfiltered personality. "I do want to thank you, as well, for taking up arms with us. It can't have been easy, leaving Natalie behind on the heels of your reunion."
"Natalie is at peace with this." Dorcas shrugged. "It was not so hard as… before."
"Yes," Amberyl floundered. She didn't know what constituted safe grounds for conversation when it came to Dorcas's days as a bandit.
"You need not flatter me as you do the cleric. I will not abandon your friend." Dorcas granted her the first smile she'd seen on his sturdy countenance since he'd left their company with Natalie in his arms.
Amberyl batted the air as if to deny the suggestion, despite the fact she'd been trying to do just that. Her cheeks warmed under his knowing gaze. "It's not—it's not just flattery. I mean it. Lyn is precious to us and your help means a great deal. I want you to know that—we," Amberyl gestured all around, "realize that your loyalty isn't fickle. It came at personal expense. You didn't have to help us, but you chose to. That means a lot."
"I did not have much of a choice." Dorcas looked to Lyn, and Amberyl thought she saw a gleam enter into his eye. "Although I suppose the progeny of a lord would fetch a fine ransom."
"Uh." What. "No? No, it most certainly would not."
Dorcas gave her an extremely bland look. Amberyl placed a hand on her chest, trying to convince her heart that it'd been given a false start and could skip the panicked response. She squinted up at Dorcas. The sun still rode high behind him, but that wasn't why she gave him the narrow look.
"I suppose I should be relieved that you partake in humor like the rest of us, but I think I'll require you to tell me when you are joking until I've grown used to that deadpan delivery. I've assumed certain responsibilities to the group, and unrepentant miscommunication is going to make my job a lot harder."
Dorcas raised his brows, a riot of emotion coming from him. The expression was at once both highly expressive and severely indefinite. She had once warned herself not to equate his size with a lack of intelligence—she would have to work to remember that under the tough, silent exterior of the reserved axman lurked all the facets of just another human being. Probably.
That still left her to guess at what 'raised brows' meant. Perhaps it was in some way questioning her authority to impose such a rule. Maybe incredulity that she would suggest it at all. Or maybe he was challenging her try to enforce it and see how far she got.
"You're not going to do it, are you?"
"Inform you when I'm joking?" Dorcas seemed to consider this. "No."
Amberyl stared at him. It was probably a bad sign that she couldn't even tell if that was serious or not. "I'm—I'm going to welcome Erk. Excuse me." Dorcas nodded, his lips curved in a small smile. Amberyl assured herself that she'd got what she wanted, which was confirmation that Dorcas intended to remain loyal to Lyndis's Legion, and that she wasn't running away.
She drifted back to where Erk trailed at the end of the procession, with Wil and Sain. Perhaps sensing her intent to interview the new member, Wil broke off his end of the conversation and clapped the mage on the shoulder before jogging up to find Kent. Sain, not as obliging, waved and greeted her.
"Hello, pretty lady!"
Amberyl smiled politely, but pointedly turned her attention to Erk. She wasn't sure how she should be responding to Sain right now, but it was important to present herself as calm, collected, and friendly at this particular moment. Not that she wasn't a generally calm, collected, and friendly person, but if she started to think about Sain, mistresses, and clerics—
"Is it my turn?" Erk's look of amusement informed Amberyl that he had been watching, and perhaps listening, as she'd spoken with both Serra and Dorcas.
"Not with that attitude it's not." Amberyl kept her tone light to let him know she was teasing, but inwardly groaned that her efforts were so transparent.
"My apologies." Erk inclined his head, a veil of courtesy dropping over his face.
"Never mind. I considered charming you with my feminine wiles, but perhaps you might oblige me by telling me about magic instead?" Here was a subject she could sink her teeth into without sounding disingenuous—and would suit Erk's well-mannered behavior better than some mandatory banter. Erk's eyes lit up.
"What would you like to know?"
"Wil told me you use magic from both your body and your books?"
The mage lifted a warning hand. "A slight skewing of an already abbreviated explanation. The source of the magic is the mage himself—or herself. Magus do not squabble over gender equality. We are much more interested in a person's abilities than his or her sex."
"No interest in sex?" Amberyl feigned surprise, willfully misinterpreted Erk's claim. She only meant it as a response to the condescension in his voice, but she found herself looking past him to make eye contact with Sain. Sain burst out in laughter, brown eyes dancing with delight, but Erk looked horrified.
"I don't—I didn't—"
Amberyl flushed, rubbing her face. "No, I'm sorry, that was immature of me. It's just that—err, never mind." Yes, explain your constant fantasies to the boy. "So, magic comes from the user."
"It does." Erk eyed her warily. "The tomes resemble something similar to channels for the power we manipulate. Truthfully, that power is actually of the elements themselves, but a mage expends energy to control that power."
Amberyl made a thoughtful noise. It was important that Erk realize she was interested. Amberyl wanted to be fully prepared for when she and Lyn met up with other magic users. If Kent's acknowledgement of magic earlier was true, there would be a high chance of running across more magic wielding individuals before arriving at Caelin. Amberyl suspected that some would be enemies, whether from the lure of power and easy banditry, or through hired services to the corrupt Lord Lundgren. All very serious business.
It wasn't Erk's fault that Amberyl distracted onto certain subjects easily.
"You're saying that mages use power—" Amberyl lifted one hand "—to control power—" the other hand "—by channeling both through magic tomes?"
Erk regarded her with approval. "A succinct description, not inaccurate."
"Thanks." Amberyl received the impression that she'd just redeemed herself. "I've been told I pick up new concepts fast. Does the type of tome matter?"
"Yes, extraordinarily so." Erk lifted the book under his arm. "This is a 'fire' tome, through which I can only channel the power of flame."
"I see." Amberyl tried to study the book, but glanced again at the large bloodstain that still marred Erk's tunic. They'd not had the chance to leisurely wash away the evidences of their skirmish, but the inn wasn't very far at all. Once they reached it, Lyndis's Legion would settle in until the next day. Traveling from dawn to dusk was vastly overrated, and Amberyl thought an afternoon off the road was precisely what they all needed—what she needed to organize her thoughts before she sat down to expose her deception.
Her lip curled to realize her thoughts had gravitated back to that. She would be glad when it was over, regardless of the outcome. Realizing she'd been staring for some time, Amberyl lifted her gaze.
"Fascinating. Do you have other magic books?"
"No." Erk's eyebrow twitched at the mention of 'magic books'. He tucked the book carefully under his arm once more, treating the bound pages with nothing less than reverence. Amberyl made a mental note to use the proper terminology. "Good tomes are nearly as expensive as well-crafted swords, and last not nearly as long. Magic is not a pursuit for the ill-funded."
"And are you? Ill-funded, I mean." Amberyl didn't want to draw any wrong conclusions based on his attire, or anything else. It was entirely possible that Erk was an eccentric who wore leggings that failed to reach all the way to his ankles out of preference, and not because he couldn't afford a full length of cloth. It stretched the imagination, but Amberyl considered herself an open-minded kind of girl.
Erk looked ahead, where Serra chatted animatedly at Lyn. The conversation appeared largely one-sided. "I have made… sacrifices, of late."
Amberyl seized her opportunity. "Well, as long as you're helping Lyn, I'm certain we can ensure you have access to the funds you need to keep the fireballs flying."
"Ah, there it is."
"Hmm?"
"The pitch for me to continue the escort to Caelin."
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," Amberyl murmured.
Erk snorted, but a look of reluctance quickly replaced his amusement.
"You will, won't you?" Amberyl twisted her fingers anxiously. She wanted a magic-flinging bodyguard for Lyn almost as much as she wanted a leg-healing cleric for her.
Erk's tone grew wry. "I am bound by contract to the cleric. I can't—honorably—abandon you as long as she remains."
"I've heard… stronger endorsements of loyalty." Erk's lack of enthusiasm for escorting Serra had her thinking thoughts of buying out that contract if Serra did try to leave. Her speculation must have surfaced on her face, as Erk lifted an apologetic hand with a sigh.
"It is my higher and prior obligation to escort Lady Serra. But if it puts your mind at ease, she will not pass up the opportunity to indebt a lord's progeny."
Amberyl considered the pink-haired cleric, still chattering at Lyn. "That—marginally reassures me, while creating new worries."
"Yes." Erk's response was dry.
Amberyl realized she'd run out of things to say. Not that she couldn't have easily conversed with Erk about nothing or anything, but Sain had patiently waited his turn as the three of them walked together, letting her conduct 'business'. Unless she wanted to actively snub the handsome knight, she would have to politely tie off this conversation and acknowledge him. "Thank you for explaining your art, if only a little."
Erk inclined his head, and Amberyl slid across him to pace next to Sain.
"What a pretty butterfly you are, flitting from one new face to another!" Sain murmured, lifting a hand to guide her to his side. "Making friends?"
"Hopefully." Amberyl looked at that hand, hesitant, but allowed him to touch her. The effect his fingers inspired on her body simply by touching her back was—intense. The effect on her mind was troubling.
How was she supposed to respond? So he made a comment about a mistress, and gushed over Serra. He gushed over Florina and Lyn, too. Sain did a lot of things in the spirit of jest. And he'd never promised her fidelity. He'd been open, up front, and honest about his flirtation since the start. It was Amberyl who had flung herself at him last night, and then pushed him away without explanation. Did she really expect to capture his interest like that? The whole question was a perverse joke, because she'd told herself time and again that she wasn't supposed to be available. To get upset that Sain would have interest in other females when she secretly planned to hold herself aloof would be appalling.
"You're thinking."
"Too much," Amberyl answered swiftly, a quick smile. "I've learned I'm terribly unsubtle."
"Subtlety, my dear, is grossly overrated!"
"Of course you would say so," Amberyl laughed despite herself. "You tried to seduce a cleric the moment you saw her."
"Hardly!" Sain looked affronted. "You sent me away! I had to come back—so it was the second time, thank you—and I flattered her straight into our company! Or haven't you noticed we have a brand new cleric and mage to bolster our roster?"
Amberyl was floored. "I—I'm sorry, I thought—I mean, I didn't—"
"You didn't think I was devious enough for such a trick?" Sain lifted his brows.
"I think—you saw a pretty face and wanted her along!" Amberyl was horrified that she sounded stung. She snapped her mouth shut.
"She is rather ravishing, isn't she? I'll admit a certain attraction—but she doesn't suit at all!" Sain sighed deeply. "Best viewed from a distance—a short distance, mind. It is a nice view."
Amberyl choked. "I can't believe you would say that to me."
"You disagree?"
"No, but I can't believe you would say it to me!" She wasn't sure whether to be deeply offended, or deeply amused. For her peace of mind, she tried to encourage the latter sentiment.
"Well I don't see why not! You're the one that kissed her. What did she taste like?"
Oh. Okay. She was supposed to be deeply horrified. "Excuse me?"
"Come off it!" Sain captured her wrist when she tried to pull away. He examined the light scar there for the first time, as she'd been avoiding him until now. "You think I didn't hear about that?"
"I didn't think you'd embarrass me by bringing it up," Amberyl hissed, looking around to see who was eavesdropping. She tugged again, after she judged sufficient time had been granted for his inspection of her hand. Sain released her. She glared at him, but his grin only grew.
Insufferable man.
"Mint?" Sain suggested, a devilish grin playing his lips. "Or perhaps strawberries? On account of the hair color—"
Amberyl lifted her chin. "Do I sense a change in subject coming on?"
"Was she better than me?"
"Better than—" Amberyl stopped to stare at him. Memories of the previous night washed over her. The intimate moments before she'd floundered with confusion, when she'd known exactly what she'd wanted. Her lip-smack with Serra had been an overflow of joyous celebration, had nothing to do with intimacy at all. She hardly remembered what it felt or 'tasted' like. Her encounter with Sain, on the other hand, was something she wasn't likely ever to forget.
Not even, she realized with a start, when she got her memories back. She started walking again, purposefully, with the intent to escape.
"I—I must rescue Lyn. It's been ages since I left her in Serra's company, and she hasn't yet managed to free herself."
Sain caught her hand again before she got far. "Shall I serenade the minx with praises, and give you both a respite?" His voice was low and—soft. To avoid anyone else hearing, Amberyl told her beating heart. It's not like he'd said anything sexy. For goodness sake, he'd just said he planned to flirt with another woman.
"I…" She looked at his hand holding hers, and her brain fizzled. She wanted him, she couldn't have him; he wanted her, but she wasn't sure if he wanted only her. Amberyl backtracked to the business oriented, logical part of her mind where rational thought still held sway. "If you would. Yes. Thank you. Please don't offend her—delicate sensibilities. She is important."
Sain dazzled her with his smile. "As my lady wishes."
Uh oh, a pure tactician chapter D:
I wanted to show Amberyl growing into her job. One does not simply become a Tactician. Not Amberyl, anyway, although she's finally starting to own her position. We'll have to see how that turns out for her after 'the big reveal', hmm?
Thank you, my Guest, for leaving a kind review! I'm glad that you find enough flair in this telling to call it refreshing, as I find myself trying to balance true adherence to the game proper with some originality to tweak a familiar tale. I feel more comfortable in presenting the characters than I once did, but I must strive to keep them dynamic without breaking character. ... That being said, I feel like I hijacked the heck out of Sain's character. ("Sain can't support with the Tactician!" *headsmack*)
GameFreakImage, thanks for dropping in! I would be lying if I said I didn't look forward to seeing your name in my inbox when I post. I try not to employ false modesty, but I hadn't been sure that "Beyond the Borders" would be up to par since I downplayed the actual combat so severely. I couldn't help but smile when I read what you wrote.
Next chapter should also be an interlude, though not again 100% from Amberyl. I feel almost compelled to apologize for having her monopolize my telling, but then I realize that she was my inspiration in the first place and I get on with my life. (and also think that anyone who's that badly put off by her wouldn't have made it past "Ch4b: In the Middle of the Night", sooo...)
Thanks again for reading!