Chapter 10

Nathan, Chrom, and Frederick nervously paced the large dark hallway they stood in at the outpost on Carrion Isle. They had arrived earlier in the morning and had been told by the Plegian representatives there to wait until the arrival of their leader. Basilio and Flavia were there as well, sitting on a bench nearby, sharpening their weapons. The rest of the shepherds were in the main hall of the outpost on the floor below.

"So, what do we know about this new Plegian ruler?" Chrom asked, his voice echoing about the large, empty hall.

Flavia spoke up from across the room, sighing. "Not much. He's been very…secretive about things."

Nathan nodded in agreement. "He seems to be very religious, from what Intel Tharja gathered for me. They worship the Fell Dragon Grima, like that cult we ran into in the desert two years ago."

"When we met up with Nowi and Gregor," Frederick added.

"Ah," Chrom replied, nodding his head.

The group turned to the massive door of the hall as it opened, with Aversa, clad in her usual skintight black attire, strutted out, motioning to Chrom and the others.

"Master Validar will see you now."

Chrom nodded back as they all slowly walked through the large doors and into the main chamber of the outpost. It was mostly dark, illuminated by a few torches. Mostly purple and black accessories were dotted about the room. A tall, lanky figure walked over to them, wearing black and purple robes with a design similar to Nathan's mark on his right hand. He had jet-black hair and dark grey skin.

"Ah, so you must be Chrom. I have been told so much about you from Aversa…" Validar told them, extending a hand to the Exalt. Chrom stood in shock for a moment, looking over at Nathan and Frederick, who had the same looks of surprise on their faces. After a moment, Chrom shook the Plegian ruler's hand, nodding sternly back at him.

"I have not heard as much about you, but I hope we can work together to solve the problem our continent now faces."

The blue-haired lord shuffled over towards Nathan, giving him a panicked and confused look. "Isn't this the same guy who tried to assassinate Emmeryn two years ago?" He whispered.

"It can't be, we killed him!" Nathan hissed back.

"But they look exactly the same!" Frederick pointed out. Nathan and Chrom nodded in agreement, all three being very flustered. They turned around as Validar began talking again, chuckling slightly.

"My oh my…you are not giving me a good first impression, we've hardly even met and you're already keeping secrets from me, it would seem!"

Nathan bowed his head slightly to the man. "My apologies, Lord Validar." He replied. "But our country is very wary of Plegians, given what happened with your last ruler."

Validar sneered at the tactician, an odd smile forming on his face. "I see that it will take some time to mend the trust between our two countries." He replied. "I hope this will help. We are willing to offer you 800 warships and 200 transports. We will also fully fund the campaign against Valm. Unfortunately, we cannot supply soldiers at this time, given the state of disarray our country is in."

Chrom let out a sigh of relief. "You are much too kind, Lord Validar. We thank you for your commitment."

Flavia nodded, standing nearby. "The people of Ferox also thank you for your offer, Sir." She added. "We will send troops to help with the transportation of these ships to the port Ferox. We plan on launching from there."

Validar smiled at them. In a strange way, it made Nathan feel particularly uneasy, his right hand twitching uncontrollably in the presence of the man. He could almost feel the tracing of the mark on his hand into his skin.

Chrom then spoke up, breaking the silence. "Now then, unless there's anything else you wish to discuss, we plan to head back to port Fero-"

"Actually, there is one thing left, isn't there, Master?" Aversa interjected, cutting off Chrom.

"Ah, yes! Chrom, Nathan, there is someone here I wish for you two to meet!" Validar exclaimed. "He is a Hierophant, the highest of his order in Plegia." He turned back as a hooded figure entered the room from a small door. As he walked up to the others, Nathan did a double take, blinking. He couldn't believe his eyes. The hooded figure wore a black cloak with purple designs covering it-looking exactly the same as the one Nathan wore. The tactician looked down at his own cloak, just to ensure it hadn't been stolen somehow. He was in complete disbelief. Chrom, Basilio, Flavia and Frederick had all noticed as well, standing in shock, with no idea of what was going on.

Finally, Nathan spoke up. "So, you're a Hierophant? So you lead your people in worship? To Grima, I would assume, based on what I know of Plegian culture…"

The hooded figure stood before them, but did not speak, creating an uneasy silence within the massive dark room. Frederick stepped in front of Nathan and Chrom, readying his lance from off his back. Nathan turned to Frederick and slowly lowered the man's lance with his hand. He was unsure of what was going on, but the last thing they wanted was any kind of conflict.

Finally, the figure muttered something, with Nathan just barely being able to make out the words.

"The heart still sleeps, but the blood flows through it…and the blood is very strong…"

Nathan raised an eyebrow at the man, trying to step around Frederick to get a better look at him. However, Frederick stayed in front of him and Chrom, doing his best to 'shield' the two.

"I'm sorry, but were you talking to me just now? I couldn't quite hear you…" Nathan asked. Again, the hooded man did not respond.

Frederick then spoke up, with a slight hint of agitation in his voice. "Good Hierophant, I would ask you to lower your cowl. In Ylisse, it is a courtesy expected of one in the presence of royalty, such as Exalt Chrom or Prince Nathan."

The hooded figure smirked. "You are a long way from Ylisse, Sir…but very well…"

As the man dropped his hood, Chrom and the others fell silent, mouths gaping open, in shock. The figure under the hood was exactly identical to Nathan, and upon a quick examination from the tactician, even bore the purple mark on his right hand that was the exact same as his own.

"By the Gods!" Chrom exclaimed.

"He looks just like…me." Nathan muttered, completely confused and flustered.

"My Name is Nathan," The Hierophant declared, turning to look the tactician in the eyes. "Oh, and that was YOUR name as well? What a strange coincidence…"

Validar chuckled, standing next to the man. "Why, that is rather curious, now that you mention it…what are the odds? In any case, I believe we are finished here. You have a long trek back to Port Ferox, do you not? We will let you be on your w-"

Chrom quickly cut off the Plegian King. "Hold just one moment!"

Aversa turned to him, a mock look of confusion on her face. "Milord?" She teased.

"What is the meaning of this? Why do your Hierophant and Nathan-"

"I'm afraid we've no time for such trivial matters at the moment, your Highness. We have aid preparations to attend to, and you have a long journey ahead. Do be careful on your journey home…I've heard the highroads of Plegia can be quite dangerous…"

Aversa, Validar, and the 'Other Nathan' then turned and walked off, leaving Chrom and the others standing dumbfounded at what they had just witnessed.

In the convoy on the way back to Port Ferox, Nathan told the others of what they had seen. The reaction was the same throughout the shepherds, shock, doubt in their tactician, and an elevated level of uneasiness. Nathan spent most of the ride sitting in shock, trying to piece things together in his brain to figure out just what was going on.

Once the group had set up camp for the night, in a deep valley area, Nathan strayed from the area, still brooding on the day's events.

"Who was that man?" He muttered to himself. "And how could we have looked exactly the same?"

The tactician's mind had been looking over every possible explanation, everything from as outlandish as a twin brother to an illusion created by Validar. Just then, he heard a voice on the wind.

"Nathan…Heed my call, Nathan…"

The man drew his sword from his back, turning in all directions. "Who's there?" He called into the darkness. Suddenly, he dropped his sword and cried out in pain, grabbing his head. It felt as though a nail was being driven straight through his brain. His vision blurred as he fell onto his knees. "Urgh…what the hell? What's…happening?"

A flash of light appeared in front of him as Validar manifested himself before his eyes.

"Why do you close your heart to him, Nathan?" The Plegian ruler asked.

Nathan, still clutching his head in pain, weakly responded, "V…Validar?"

Validar ignored the tactician, continuing. "Have you truly forgotten your heritage? I had hoped that wasn't the case…"

Nathan shook his head, groaning. "Ugh…what's going on…get out of my head! Get out of my mind!"

The sorcerer scoffed, an evil grin forming on his face. "You dare take such a tone…with your Father?"

Nathan cried out yet again, the pain increasing. "My…my father?" He wheezed in disbelief.

Validar laughed. "Yes! You are of my flesh, but of sacred blood! You are to serve a glorious destiny! Search deep within your heart, and you will find your rightful place is at my side! Yet you waste your time with these doomed servants of Naga!" The sorcerer held out his hand to Nathan. "Give yourself with Grima, and join your strength with the divine dragon!"

"Nathan!" Chrom called out from far away. Validar turned towards the voice, and spat in disgust.

"Not this one again…" He growled. He then turned back to Nathan, smiling cruelly at him. "No matter… In time, you will see the truth. Until then…"

The sorcerer vanished in a ball of black flames as Chrom ran over to Nathan, catching the tactician just as he was about to fall to the ground and black out.

"Are you all right, Nathan?" The Exalt asked warily.

Between pants, Nathan responded. "I…I think so. Thank you, Chrom…"

The Great Lord rolled his eyes. "I don't need to be a cleric to know you're not doing well. What just happened? I heard you yelling and came running…"

Nathan shook his head, still trying to shake off the aftereffects of the pain. "Validar…appeared…. told me…I was his son."

Chrom swore loudly. "The bastard! How in blazes did he get here…and is that true? What he said?"

Nathan rubbed his head in frustration. "I…don't know." He muttered. "But I felt a strange connection between us."

The Exalt then took his turn to rub his own head, equally frustrated by the situation. "Oh gods…that Hierophant… could he be Validar's son as well? A twin?"

Nathan shrugged slightly. "I…considered that…I'm sorry, Chrom, but I can't remember. And to be honest, I'm not sure if I want to remember the truth about my past anymore…"

Chrom smiled reassuringly at his friend. "You are yourself before you are any man's son. Remember that."

Nathan looked up at the Exalt, giving him a weak smile. "You're right. Thank you." He replied.

Just then, Frederick bolted into the clearing, yelling at Chrom and Nathan.

"Milords! We are under attack! Risen have encircled the camp!"

"What? But we had sentries posted!" Chrom replied.

Frederick nodded. "These are no ordinary Risen, Milord. They made a stealthy approach. I've never seen them behave like this…"

Chrom cursed at the night sky. "Validar! This is his doing-I'm sure of it! Tell everyone to grab their weapons!"

Frederick nodded and ran back to the camp. Chrom then turned back to Nathan, who was still leaned over in the Exalt's arms.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

"Walk? Of course…I'm coming to fight with you and the others…" The tactician replied stubbornly, trying to stand up before falling back down and crying out in pain.

Chrom scoffed. "I think not. The rest of us can take care of this fight; I'm getting you back to your tent. Get some rest, you need it."

Nathan sighed. "Fine," He conceded. He picked up his sword; slowly swinging it back into the hilt on his back, as Chrom helped him up and they proceeded back to the camp.