After several days of recovery, the Shepherds were soon back at work with the announcements from the kingdom that say that Ylisse is at war with Plegia and the civilians are all warned to stay indoors away from the fighting that will happen at some point. Philia soon appointed many of her knights to help guard the strategic locations of the capital, aided by additional guards that were soon brought on continuous guard duty to keep an eye for any Plegian army that may approach them.

Meanwhile in the castle however.

"Emmeryn, you cannot afford to stay here! If there were assassins that could infiltrate the castle as easily as they did then you will be in grave danger!" Chrom argued with his sister desperately trying to convince her to leave. "Go to Regna Ferox where you will be safe from assassination attempts."

"And leave the people here to fend for themselves Chrom? War is now on our doorsteps and you expect me to abandon my people and leave them? What kind of leader abandons her people in their time of need?" I refuse to leave the capital, not when the people need to know that their Exalt stands with them." Emmeryn replied as she made her own point.

"But what if something were to happen to you!?" Chrom exclaimed. "Then the Ylisse would be without a leader to lead them and order will fall!" He added in.

As the argument was going on, their audience was discussing something else entirely. But it was also of importance as well.

"So, at best we will be able to dig our heels in if the Plegian Army were to arrive and invade the capital but chances are we will suffer massive losses, losses that we cannot afford to take with our limited military strength whereas Plegia not only have their army, but also companies of mercenaries at their beck and call correct?" Marcus clarified to two grim faced knights that nodded.

"Correct Marcus." Philia answered. "As you can tell no doubt, we are in a very bad position and we wondered if there was anything that you could do or advise that would allow us to hold out longer or to deal more casualties to them, or perhaps allow our military strength to stand a better chance against them. We need every advantage we can get and you are currently the only one among us with any actual experience in warfare, even if it is a different type of war you're fighting." She answered as she looked at Marcus expectantly.

Marcus just sighed when he saw her look. "Okay then, what do you guys have for defense and the like? Do you have catapults or burning pitch or tar that can be used to defend against warriors trying to climb over the walls, do you happen to have long ranged fighters and close ranged fighters to provide support?" Marcus questioned the warriors.

Frederick and Philia look at each other before Frederick sighed and answered. "To answer your questions about some of our defense engines…we do not have burning pitch or tar and not even catapults to launch rocks even." Frederick admitted as he winced when he saw Marcus's veins bulge a bit. "But we do have a lot of rocks and boulders that we have in reserve for construction purposes as well as a large amount of oil in the events we do need to hold great parties for the royal family!" Frederick quickly added in.

Marcus simply sighed when he heard that. "At least you have something to work with here." He muttered. "All right, we will do it like this." He suddenly spoke up grabbing both of their attentions. "Do guys think you can move some of the largest boulders or rocks you guys have near or in front of the entrances or weak spots on your walls?" Marcus asked as Frederick and Philia muttered to each other before they looked at Marcus and nodded. "Good, then do that, that way the army will have harder time getting in." He answered.

Frederick and Philia nodded. "We will start doing that as soon as we can Marcus, thank you for aiding us where you can." Philia said gratefully.

"Thank me by protecting the powerless people and consider us even." Marcus replied before he looked back to the royal siblings. "We should stop talking now, they seem just about done talking whatever it is they are talking about." Marcus added as both knights nodded.

Soon Chrom and Emmeryn walked up to them as Chrom looked tired but victorious while Emmeryn looks calm but somewhat reluctant now.

"Have you come to a decision Lady Exalt?" Philia soon spoke up and questioned.

Emmeryn closed her eyes and sighed. "I have been given many reasons and after some thought, I have decided that I will retreat to Regna Ferox for safety." She said as both Frederick and Philia nodded.

"Understood then Exalt Emmeryn, we shall begin packing up immediately." Philia said as she left to pack up all necessary provisions and supplies for the travel.

"And I shall deliver the news to the Shepherds as well to tell them of our next mission." Frederick stated as he left soon after.

Thus, Marcus was left alone with the siblings, Robin would have been here if it weren't for the fact that late last night, Gaius fell on top of her when he was trying to sneak into the kitchen to steal some of the sweets that they had recently made. But then he got a healing staff to the face and lost his grip and fell down and knocked out Robin.

Marcus looked to the siblings with raised eyebrows now. "So then ready for a long trip to Regna Ferox Exalt? Because depending on how it goes it may take us a while to get there. Actually, the better question is, do you have warm clothes to wear in the Winter? Because Regna Ferox can get quite cold as Chrom and Lissa could testify about." He started asking with concern.

Emmeryn was taken aback but saw the concern that he had for her and did her best to answer Marcus while Chrom was stifling a snicker since he had seen Marcus's mother hen attitude before.

There was the time he took Ricken out shopping for better tomes and escorted him as he was trying out new tomes for his usage, he also taught Donnel some useful close quarter combat techniques so he can do better on the battlefield. He once again taught Lissa how to sew and learn how to preform field medical operations. He groomed Sully's horse to prep her horse for battle. He talked considerably with Kellam. He sparred and talked with Lon'qu. He even went as far as forcing Robin to get out of the office to get some time in the fresh air. He even gave Sumia some old books his world on romance.


The Shepherds soon left the capital with Emmeryn and Philia in their entourage plus another man that none of the newer Shepherds knew that well. The walk was going well and slow so not to exhaust themselves when they get closer to Regna Ferox, where the cold will, without a doubt, sap them of even more of their energy.

It was also during this time that Marcus was finally taking out Raptor for a flight and he was loving every minute of it as he flew around in circles and loops with a wide grin on his face under his helmet.

"THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME!" Marcus cheered out laughing as Raptor roared in affirmation and did a barrel roll in the sky as Marcus hung upside down from Raptor using his legs to grasp him. Before Raptor flipped over and Marcus gave out a roaring laughter as he did it.

Robin chuckled delightfully as he saw the way that Marcus was enjoying flying in the air already and he did it without any training as well. "It seems our mailman now has a mount that will allow him to deliver his messages even faster now." She said with a twinkle in her voice.

Sully besides her just laughed a bit. "Yeah and now he's going to be even more dangerous in combat." She added in before she got a wide smile on her face as she stared at Marcus with a growing desire to fight him. "I really want to fight with him again, he's full of surprises that would make him really fun to fight." She said longingly.

"Get in line Sully, because the Vaike has to settle the bar with Marcus first." Vaike interjected. "Besides, I still need to pay him for that match in Regna Ferox where he made me look like a fool." He grumbled.

"You already do that well enough on your own." Lissa laughed in. "All you do is yell and charge at him and he just sidesteps you and trips sending you falling on your own in all your matches." She said mirthfully. "Maybe if you actually think then you wouldn't be losing to him all of the time." She said with a far too sweet smile.

Vaike scowled as the other laughed at his embarrassment. Meanwhile further away Emmeryn and Philia had amused smiles on their face when they heard what just transpired.

"It seems that Sir Marcus is in quite the high spirits for the first time since I've met him." Emmeryn commented with a smile on her face.

Philia nodded. "It seems so, he was always so serious or calm about everything he has done, but to see that he has such a side like this." Philia mused. "It makes you wonder just how much about Marcus that we know yet do not truly know about the man himself." She said thoughtfully.

Emmeryn nodded in agreement." Indeed." She said calmly and soon she lost her smile when the man came by looking quite nervously and staring at Marcus distrustfully.

The man was the Hierarch of House Ylisse, he had been in office for many years and had even helped guide Emmeryn during the early days of her rulership. Emmeryn know that he could be trusted but at the same time he has been suspicious as of late and if she was correct he was the traitor to Ylisse and it broke Emmeryn's heart knowing that.

"Lady Exalt." The Hierarch soon spoke up. "Are you sure that you should be placing trust in allowing that man to accompany us?" He questioned. "He seems to be a wild brute with no care for what he does in the world. Someone like him should not be with us, as he seems to have flights of fancy as he does right now." The man said as he pointed to Marcus.

"Peace Hierarch." Philia soon spoke with a hint of steel. "You need not to worry for out of all of us here Marcus has the least if not, none to gain from betraying us." She said firmly.

The Hierarch nodded nervously. "I understand but still he's a foreigner though." He pointed out. "We do not know what kind of plans or agenda he might have for our nation." He said stubbornly.

"Then allow me to reassure you then." A voice suddenly spoke up as the group quickly jerked up to see Marcus falling from Raptor at a low height and landing on his feet in front of the trio before him. "I have no plans to take over Ylisse or use Ylisse for my own means because the amount of effort needed to do that is very annoying." He said as he walked closer to the Hierarch. "Just because I'm a foreigner, it doesn't mean I'm a monster like you assume I am." He said this time with no inflection of emotion.

And thus, the Hierarch felt true fear that day. And the way that Marcus spoke just utterly terrified him.

"Marcus! Do not terrify the Hierarch like that." Emmeryn scolded lightly upon seeing the way that her Hierarch paled in fright at the way that Marcus spoke and acted. "You're supposed to be protecting him as well."

Marcus simply nodded and bowed to her. "My apologies Exalt." Marcus said calmly though with a hint of deference to her. "I shall strive not to terrify your Hierarch again by simply talking plainly." He added in before he walked away and soon jumped as Raptor flew by closer to the ground to pick him up.

The man quickly gathered his courage now that Marcus was no longer there. "Exalt Emmeryn, I beseech you to not allow this man to accompany us any further than he has too." The man hissed.

"There will be none of that happening Hierarch." A voice called out from behind them revealing it to be Chrom followed by Frederick. "Marcus has proven to be a great and honorable warrior and I will not have you question his integrity." Chrom said firmly.

The Hierarch meekly bowed down to Chrom. "As you wish sire." He muttered quietly before he started walking away from the group not noticing he's attract glances from the group before.

Chrom looked back to where the Hierarch was walking and noticed that kept on fiddling with a piece of paper in his pocket before he sighed and looked back to his sister. "He's hiding something." Chrom declared.

Emmeryn nodded. "Yes, I had suspected as much myself. Perhaps realized it when Marcus came by to visit me a couple days ago warning me of the possibility of a traitor among our ilk." She said before she gazed at the Hierarch sadly. "I just wished it wasn't him." She sorrowfully said.

Chrom nodded in understanding. "He was like a father to me." He sighed out. "He taught me to be a better man and that I was not the shadow of our father." He stated with closed eyes.

"Lord Chrom?" Frederick soon spoke up in concern for his charge.

"Bring me Robin." Chrom ordered. "I have a feeling that we are going to encounter trouble soon." He stated as Frederick nodded and soon he left and came back with Robin by his side.

"You called Chrom?" Robin questioned as Chrom nodded. "What do you need me for?" The woman asked as she tilted her head not realizing that she was paying attention to a certain Courier this way.

"Well we need your advice in the events that we are ambushed along the way as to be better prepared if that does happen." Chrom said.

Robin nodded at that. "Then I've got a few plans in mind." She said. "I've been implementing a few ideas ever since I have seen the Wyvern Riders that Plegia seems to have keep." She added in as she started explaining her ideas to Chrom and Frederick who were listening with an interested look on their faces.

Soon after Robin finished explaining her plans Chrom nodded heartily at the ideas that Robin brought out. "It would seem to work for the most part." Chrom admitted. "But do you think everyone would be prepared to pull off such a feat in an instant?" He questioned.

Robin waved that off. "Of course, they will." She said confidently. "Each and every one of us is a well-trained warrior in our own rights and even Donnel is starting to adapt rather quickly especially with the bow and arrow right about now. Isn't that so Frederick?" She questioned the Great Knight before her.

Frederick nodded in agreement. "Indeed, my lord, it would seem that despite appearing to be a simple villager, Donnel is very well adept at using weapons." He explained.

Chrom nodded at that. "So now it is only a matter of if or when the enemy will arrive." Chrom muttered and as he said that Sumia came back looking quite panicked on her Pegasus looking quite pale.

"CAPTAIN! A huge number of Wyvern Riders is heading our way and all are bearing the symbols of Plegia on their armor!" Sumia reported quickly and in panic.

Chrom cursed and looked to the rest of his Shepherds. "Shepherds prepare for combat!" He ordered as all of them nodded and starting to prepare and Chrom tried to find the Hierarch, he heard the man's scream and looked to where the scream came from and saw that Marcus was reading a piece of paper and that Raptor had one of his heavy feet on top of the Hierarch snarling at the man.

Though Chrom could not see what Marcus's face look like underneath his helmet, he could make some fair assumptions based on how after Marcus finished reading the paper he looked at the Hierarch and his fingers were twitching.

"So." Marcus soon spoke up grabbing everyone that was not paying attention to what Marcus was doing already to him. "You think you can betray us and not expect to suffer for your crimes?" He questioned darkly.

Most of the Shepherd's eyes went wide whereas Chrom and Emmeryn closed them in sorrow. "So, it is true." Chrom whispered.

"Please don't kill me." The man whimpered as Marcus whistled to Raptor causing his Wyvern to step even harder in the Hierarch causing him to choke somewhat.

"Congratulations. You have earned yourself a one-way ticket to the deepest and darkest level of Hell reserved for only traitors and backstabbers and now you're going to make yourself useful now." Marcus said coldly as he whistled to Raptor again, causing said Wyvern to get up from the Hierarch as Marcus then grabbed him by the neck and steered him in front of the enemy group.

"What are you doing?!" The Hierarch shrieked in fright.

"Putting you to use." Marcus answered as the enemies arrived. "Listen up you bastards! I got your spy now back off or he dies!" Marcus shouted.

One of the Wyvern Riders sneered. "Seems they figured out the little piggy after all." As the rest of the Plegian Forces stayed where they were wanting to see how this setback will play out.

"Please help me." The Hierarch pleaded. "I brought them here and did everything I was told to do! Validar and Gangrel said I could live if I assisted them."

"And that's the problem there!" The Rider shouted out. "Validar got himself killed when head those assassins the other night and now he's gone and dead men can't keep promises!"

At that Marcus's eyes widened a bit as he now knew the identity of the leader. "So that was the name of the creepy pervert." Marcus muttered.

"However." The rider went on. "I am feeling generous so take one of their lives and we will allow you to piggyback on one of our mounts back to Plegia after we spill their blood of course." He added in as the Hierarch paled in fright.

"Really?" Marcus deadpanned to the Hierarch. "You really want to make your situation even worse right about now?" He questioned as the Hierarch shakily pulled out a dagger and then started to point it to Marcus. "And thus, the world weeps as another man does something incredibly stupid." He muttered as he grabbed the dagger before it could be used to stab him and then broke it with his bare hands.

The little display of strength shocked the Wyvern Riders long enough for Marcus to pull out a Bottlecap Mine from his inventory and then attached it to the Hierarch's back before in an astonishing display of strength threw him at the Riders crashing into them.

Then Marcus took off in the opposite side running away. "You might want to hide or take a really nice long step back." Marcus warned. "Because just a heads up, your traitorous Hierarch is about to go off with a bang." He warned as the Shepherds widened their eyes and backed away as the Plegian Riders tried to get the Hierarch off of them.

"Get off me you fool!" The Rider snapped back as the Hierarch's terrified expression prevented him from moving.

"No! I did as I was told now take me to Plegia now! I fulfilled our bargain." The Hierarch pleaded not noticing the beeping sound coming from him.

But the Rider did as he frowned. "Where is that infernal noise coming from?" He demanded as he saw the contraption and soon it stopped beeping. "What kind of contraption-" He was about to say till the device went off.

*BOOM*

The explosion killed everyone in its blast radius as the survivors were blown away and knocked to the ground all screaming and moaning in pain.

Everyone in Marcus's group were shocked at what they saw and turned to him with wide eyes as Marcus nodded. "Don't like wasting caps considering they're the currency of my world but since they have no value here might as well put them to use." He nodded to himself.

Robin mechanically moved her head to Marcus and before Marcus knew it, he was tackled by Robin who had a very intense look in her eyes. "You need to make more of those now." She breathed out heavily. "They will be key to many desperate situations and amazingly useful." She said as she gained a maniac grin on her face.

"let's…deal with the remaining foes first before we talk about me making awesome weapons for destructive purposes okay?" Marcus quickly said as he went wide eyed at the way that Robin was acting right now, and he liked it for some reason.

Robin blinked and looked at the position she was in and from the way that the other Shepherds were smiling at her she looked as though she was about to kiss Marcus. The thought of kissing Marcus made her blush and get up instantly as she tried to regain her composure and coughed to clear her throat.

"Right then so let's clean up these invaders, now shall we?" She said quickly as she ran up with her magic tome and silver sword as the others around her chuckled a bit at the way that she acted around Marcus before Robin drowned their laughter out with the dying screams of her foes.

Marcus on the other hand just blinked as Chrom and even Frederick were smiling at him. "What's so funny to you two?" He demanded to know.

Chrom just shrugged. "Just seeing the way, you two interact is all Marcus, a rather unique way to bond with someone if you don't mind me saying." He explained.

Marcus scoffed and got and started walking to the where the remaining Plegian Warriors were before he stopped and looked at Chrom. You want to know something interesting Chrom?" Marcus questioned.

Chrom blinked but nodded. "Sure, go ahead Marcus." He said.

"…I have absolute no idea as to how a normal relationship work at all." He admitted perplexing Chrom long enough as Marcus started racing off with the other Shepherds to join in on the fight.

"Well…that was something new." Chrom admitted before he started running off to where the rest of the Shepherds were as well and ended the lives of the enemies sent to kill them.

A quick clean up soon after followed by the appearance one Pegasus Knight that Sumia instantly recognized as Cordelia soon showed up with bad news.

"Lady Exalt! Prince Chrom! I bring terrible news, more Plegian Forces are coming not a half a day's march away from behind you." Cordelia shouted as panted a bit.

"But why are you here Cordelia?" Philia asked in concern. "Tell me that the borders are still secured."

Cordelia shook her head. "The Plegian Forces are led by Gangrel himself, it would have been the end of me if it wasn't for the begging of my sisters in arms begging me to fly off and warn the Exalt…" Cordelia reported as she tried to blink back tears in her eyes. "I should have stayed…I should have stayed." She nearly whimpered out as Sumia reached out to hug her friend.

"Just let it all out Cordelia, I'm here for you." Sumia said soothingly as Cordelia hugged back and started crying a bit.

"It was terrible!" Cordelia cried out. "I could still hear their screams as I flew away." She sobbed out as she looked to Philia who had her eyes closed in sorrow of her lost knights. "Just what am I supposed to do Captain? They were my family." She got out before she went back to sobbing.

Robin and Chrom looked absolutely livid with what they've heard. Marcus simply lowered his head and held up his hands in a small prayer that Joshua once showed him so long ago as a way of honoring or praying for the dead.

Emmeryn closed her eyes for the time being before she opened them again. She had made a mistake and she needed to rectify it. "I will return to capital." She said shocking all those that have heard her.

"Your grace, I cannot…" Philia tried to argue back as Emmeryn raised her hand up.

"I never should have left, if it's discovered that I was away when this happened. The people will panic, riot, and more leading to the countless deaths of all the civilians." She replied calmly as everyone was in silence in shock. Before she went to one of the boxes and opened one up to reveal a unique looking shield. "Chrom I entrust you with the Fire Emblem." She said.

Marcus immediately took note of the Fire Emblem and noticed that it was large and could be used as an actual shield as well as one gem attached to the top of the shield where there are four more holes the same size as the gems for most likely for the five gems. 'And I have Sable safely stored in my possession.' Marcus thought to himself.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Chrom questioned as he shakily took the Fire Emblem into his own hands.

"Take it to Regna Ferox where the Fire Emblem will be safe." Emmeryn softly said putting Chrom on high alert.

"No! I am not abandoning you Emm!" Chrom refused.

"No part of House Ylisse matters more than the Emblem, it possesses amazing power, but far too much blood has been shed over it already. I hope it finds a better guardian in you than it did me." She explained.

"Emm, please don't talk like that! It sounds like you are already giving up!" Chrom said in panic.

"I am not giving up, I am simply doing what I can for our people." Emmeryn sighed out.

"Wait!" Lissa suddenly shouted as she grabbed into Emmeryn's arm. "At least take me with you." She pleaded.

Emmeryn shook her head. "Stay with Chrom, Lissa, I commend it." She said firmly.

"This isn't fair!" Lissa teared up. "I know that the people need you but me and Chrom also need you as well." She added in sadly.

"Dry your tears Lissa, for this will not be the last time we see each other." Emmeryn said trying to reassure her but failing as Lissa teared up still.

"Then your Grace, allow me to accompany you back to the capital at the very least. I am prepared to do so." Philia said.

Emmeryn nodded. "Thank you, Philia." She said before she walked over to Robin and Marcus. "I have much to thank you two for and even though I know I am asking a lot, I must ask a favor from you two."

"Whatever it is, I am willing to help fulfil the favors." Robin said firmly.

Marcus simply nodded. "Ask and you shall receive."

"Chrom and Lissa mean everything to me and I would not have been able to live as well as I have without them by my side." She said before she turned to Robin first. "I humbly request that you continue to guide the Shepherds as well as you have throughout their battles." She asked of her.

Robin nodded. "Don't worry I am not going to let anything happen to your brother or sister for as long as I still draw breathe." She promised.

Emmeryn nodded her head in appreciation. "Thank you so much for what you have done, since the day that my brother first found you, you have been nothing more than a blessing upon my people." She said gratefully.

Robin simply just blushed and rubbed her head. "I did what I could do and I am no more special than anyone else." She replied.

"But nevertheless, thank you for everything you have done Robin." Emmeryn thanked nonetheless before she turned her attention to Marcus. "And as for you." Emmeryn started off. "You have been nothing more than a gift since you have arrived here in this world." Emmeryn praised.

Marcus smirked underneath his helmet. "Just doing what I can Emmeryn, just doing what I can is all." He shrugged off nonchalantly.

"Is that so?" Emmeryn questioned with her own smirk. "Waking up in a whole new world, then immediately dispatching raiders and bandits and protecting the civilians of the village. Watching over my brother and sister and even protecting them from the Risen when they first appeared and you effortlessly protect them. accompanying my brother as one of his many Shepherds, aiding him in the tournament so he can focus on Marth, and even revealing your secrets to protect Maribelle and all of us, and you saved me from the assassins that very night and giving up all your secrets in the name of honesty is what you considered to be just doing what you can?" She asked of Marcus.

"Just doing what I can." Marcus affirmed his statement before he spoke with a softer tone. "The world could always use more people just doing what they can to help out in their own ways."

Emmeryn smiled and nodded at that. "Then may I request that you take off your helmet Sir Marcus?" Emmeryn asked.

Marcus obliged and took off his helmet and allowed the Exalt to stare into his hard yet warm chocolate eyes. "And now?" He questioned then what Emmeryn did next surprised everyone there.

She gently held Marcus's head and leaned in and kissed him on the cheeks and pulled back. "Consider this to be my thanks for protecting me the night that the assassins came and I ask of you to protect my siblings as you always have."

Marcus in a daze blinked back to conscious and nodded vigorously. "Of course, Emm, I got both your brother and sister's back." He replied not noticing he got a jealous and pouty look from Robin right behind him, who simply huffed and turned her head away.

Emmeryn nodded and stepped back to join Philia who finished instructing Cordelia to join up with the Shepherds, who was rather reluctant to do so but did so anyways.

"Fare the well, everyone." Philia said to them. "May we meet once more under better circumstances." She said as Chrom rushed up to Emmeryn to try and talk to her one more time.

"Emmeryn you don't have to do this!" Chrom shouted before he was forcibly restrained by Marcus. "Let me go Marcus! I cannot allow my sister to walk to her own death!" He shouted as he struggled to get out of Marcus's grip.

"Your sister is doing what she believes to be best for her country, let her do her duty Chrom." Marcus retorted.

"Screw duty that's my sister!" Chrom argued back.

"Chrom!" Marcus shouted this time as Chrom flinched and calm down. "Your sister wants to protect you and this country, don't make this any more difficult than it has to be man." Marcus asked but Chrom could hear the silent plea from Marcus as well.

This isn't easy for Marcus to accept either, he wanted to protect the Exalt and see her be safe as well. Chrom calmed down and sighed. "Very well Marcus." Chrom said solemnly as Marcus let him go.

"I love you Chrom, both you and Lissa. I am sorry that I could not forge the peace that I have been trying to accomplish for so long, I truly am. Let us meet once more back at the capital with the army of Regna Ferox." Emmeryn said to them, most poignantly to Chrom and Lissa.

"Please come back sis." Lissa weakly called out as she raised her hand to where her sister would be only to be gently stopped by Lon'qu.

"Remember that the blood of the First Exalt that flows through our veins, you and I will keep Ylisse safe in our own ways. Have a safe journey Chrom, Lissa." Emmeryn said as she soon left with Philia by her side.

As Emmeryn got farther and farther away from them. Chrom just fell to his knees in despair as Lissa started crying as Maribelle tried her best to comfort her, and Robin closed her eyes and sighed heavily.

Marcus simply prayed to God, as he always had since meeting Joshua and Daniel, to protect Emmeryn. A woman that Marcus saw as a friend. "May God watch over you Emmeryn." Marcus prayed solemnly.