Chapter 12: Seer
The Exalt's castle was a quiet place that night, with just her own shuffling footsteps to keep her company. Three stumbles later Sumia was ready to call it a night and go back to her books. If she couldn't find Robin in the next set of rooms and pass a new book to her, she was ready to turn around and do just that.
She put her hands on a door to the next hall and pushed. Robin wasn't behind that doorway either. But her eyes DID fall on a familiar figure standing at a window.
"Frederick? Still up this late?" Sumia took the risk of quickening her step as she spoke. To her surprise she managed to not fall flat on her face as she approached him. The sight of the knight put a little more cheer in her, made her stand up a little straighter.
He could be aloof at times, but was sincere enough with helping out. That gave them at least a little common ground, Sumia liked to think. But just then, he only half turned to her and kept his eyes on the sky.
"Mmm." Was his answer. Sumia paused in her steps, and noted how the moonlight made his face look unusually stark. "Trying to outpace old ghosts, I'm afraid. Doing so has a way of keeping one up and awake."
"Oh..." she wondered over the haunted look. The man didn't always look like the veteran of a war he'd been too young for; but just then, she could see the specter lodged into the lines around his eyes.
It wouldn't be seen as rude if she just left him to those past phantoms. She could easily turn around now and let him wrestle with them.
Instead she stood her ground. Then did one better by taking another step closer to Frederick.
"Well... do ghosts make for better company than a person?" Her words pulled his eyes all the way to her face.
"No, actually. They tend to make poorer company, particularly when matched against you." Heat across her cheeks told Sumia she going a little pink in the face at that. Frederick had a dusting of the color on his own face. "My apologies, that may have been too forward of me. Still..."
He trailed off, looking oddly self conscious when he glanced at the book in her hands. Sumia looked down at it as well.
"Oh... I was just looking for Robin so I could give her this book. It's one of my favorites, so I was hoping she'd like it too."
"I last saw her with milord," Frederick answered, pushing a pause into Sumia's pulse. Her stomach did a quick dip, as did her heart... though that feeling had a hard time holding up against the knight in front of her. The discomfort didn't ache as much as she feared while she watched Frederick. He still looked hurt, worse than that brief stab that went through her.
"Well... I think it wouldn't hurt to give them breathing room." Sumia said at last. Then another thought occurred to her. A slightly odd one, but she found herself voicing it anyway. "Maybe... maybe I could read this book to you? I don't know if you'd be interested in this type of story, but-"
The way he brightened up made it seem less and less like a weird idea.
"Sumia... I mean, milady. At the moment, that sounds like a perfect idea. I would-" Frederick stopped short, his head snapping up at something. The next instant he dashed forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. Before Sumia had the chance to sputter, he yanked her to the side. Something made of steel rasped against bricks, right where her head had been.
Sumia didn't think just then. She just lashed out with her book. The thick doorstopper had plenty of heft, and she was suddenly very glad she had a taste for dense books with heavy binding; they did wonders when slammed into someone's face. The attacker crumbled from the force of the book, completely unconscious.
"Assassins?" Sumia had the presence of mind to gasp out. A second later she saw a shimmering light from outside. Her mind identified it as a teleportation spell. A large one going by the pulse.
"Aye. Led a mage from the looks of it, and a powerful one at that." Frederick growled out. He glared at the afterglow of the spell. "We must make haste and defend the Exalt and her kin. We aren't far from the barracks, and I hope others noticed the spell..."
That haunted look almost found a way back into his face, before Sumia spoke up. "They'll be fine, Frederick. If you taught ME how to fight they can manage this."
Frederick himself chased away the last of those past shadows as he nodded to her. Instead of dwelling on his thoughts, Frederick let go of one shoulder, and steered her towards the stables where they could arm themselves.
"Oh..." Frederick added as they dashed off. "And by the by, that was well struck with that book."
They raced through the halls, and were about to settle into a full on bolt when a flicker of motion from outside caught both of their eyes.
Frederick stopped at another window, staring out into the courtyard. Sumia followed his gaze just in time to pick out three figures; Chrom and Robin, standing together and staring at the sword drawn by...
"Marth?" That had to be the Marth she'd heard so much about. For a terrifying moment she thought they were about to clash again, just like in the arena. But instead Marth twisted on his heel towards the gardens, then threw his sword up and leapt clear into the air.
Marth's cape fluttered out and he soared as though he had wings. A stone's throw from where Marth had stood a new figure broke from the bushes and raced forward. Sumia sucked her breath in the same time Frederick did; the intruder was clad in the same robes as the man Sumia had knocked out. But Marth moved perfectly, easily leaping clear of the sword swipe before dropping back down and delivering a vicious cut.
He certainly fought like the hero king, Sumia thought in wonder. It also looked like he was back to being on their side.
She saw another assassin jump clear of the gardens on Marth's blindside. It wouldn't do any good, but she still cried "look out!"
Of all things, the swordsman stumbled on the first assassin's sword. Sumia almost averted her eyes when a cut sliced at his face. But the sword didn't strike flesh. Instead it parted the mask on Marth's face. The two pieces fell like dark leaves, and Chrom lunged forward and tore down the other fighter.
Sumia sighed out in relief... and then stared as she got a second look at Marth.
"...I didn't know Marth was a girl." She said, boggling at the revealed features and the long hair spilling down her back.
"It's unexpected news to me as well." Frederick managed, before shaking his head and turning away. "But we need to make haste. The Exalt's chambers should be just ahead-"
This time it was her turn to grab Frederick by the shoulders as he opened a door. Through the crack of an opening Sumia glimpsed a fireball shooting down the hallway at them. She didn't exactly strong arm him out of the fire's path; more like she shoved him, fell down, and carried him the rest of the way. But they fell out of the firing line, and the fireball thundered into the walls with an explosion that shook the entire palace.
-o-o-o-
Her footsteps clicked through the halls. Two more sets echoed behind her. Chrom and Robin already ran in synch as they raced towards Exalt Emmeryn. The breeze from their passing pushed her hair out back, and brushed over the newly exposed skin on her face.
She'd left her shattered mask behind, but not the name Marth. Neither Chrom or Robin had noticed the mark in her eye, for which Marth whispered thanks. She also prayed that she could cling to that last bit of masquerade for as long as she could.
Then maybe, just maybe if the gods were truly with her, she'd be able to alter this key point. Keep the walls they were racing past standing and unburned, and the people that belonged there alive.
Her eyes kept wanting to slide back to Chrom and Robin, to linger on them and make sure they were alright.
'Folly. You KNOW they're fine, you just saved them! Keep your eyes on what's coming!' She scolded herself, squeezing her eyes shut and forcing herself to look forward.
When she opened them, she saw someone looming ahead. The stranger had his back to them, while his red robes stirred in heated air that ill suited the cool stone walls. It was someone who didn't belong there. The skull headdress and fire in his hand were just more proof of that. Marth moved fast, driving the sword between the spellcaster's ribs. He died before he could fire off another spell.
One more assassin dead. Gods only knew how many there were to go. Her hands tightened around the blade to pull it free.
Falchion gave a faint glimmer, halting the motion midway. Marth stared down at the blade. A pale blue flicker of light rested in the teardrop cross section; tiny, but it gave an extra bit of light to the darkened hallway.
'This is it, then.' Falchion's shimmer made it clear she stood at the crossroads. 'We change fate here.'
"FREDERICK!" Chrom yelled out, yanking Marth's eyes back up.
With the immediate danger gone she took in the passage they were in. They'd found themselves in a long hallway just outside the Exalt's chambers. A knight stood in the corridor with another woman close by, helping him along. In second Marth had a name to put with the face; Sumia.
"A little singed milord, but none the worse for wear." Frederick answered mildly enough. For a moment Marth wondered at the grateful look that passed between him and Sumia.
"There you are!" Vaike's shout was easy to identify and could carry to the other side of the castle. He ran up behind Robin and Chrom with his axe at the ready. "We couldn't find you, and your damn sister nearly ran into some of the jerks prowling the castle!"
"I didn't run into them, I ran PAST them!" Lissa shot back, moving with Vaike to the front of the group. Just behind Lissa, Lucina picked out a stoic and dark haired swordsman cleaning his blade from messy work. He paused for a moment, met her eyes, and Marth saw a flicker of recognition flash through them.
...In a way she was glad for the attack. It saved her A LOT of awkward explaining. Behind the swordsman came the lady Maribelle, already on her horse and leading two others. The animals swiftly broke from her and galloped to Frederick and Sumia's side.
Marth found herself thanking whichever architect that decided to build wide hallways. As it was, she still had to dodge out of the way as the animals rushed to their people.
"You're all-?" Chrom finally managed to find words.
"Quite alright, quite alright." Maribelle assured Chrom. "Lissa and I were visiting near the stables, when those two creatures went wild and tried to kick down the stable doors. We heard the explosion a moment later, and met up with the other Shepherds along the way."
"All well, but... how did you make your way here?" Frederick wondered aloud as he checked the Shepherds for injuries. "Sumia and I were hard pressed."
"We... um... followed a rabbit?" Lissa offered, rubbing at the back of her neck.
"A WHAT?" Sumia blurted out.
"The woman tells the truth." The swordsman, Lon'qu added. "There was a beast prowling the grounds, and we followed it through to a safe passage. She may still be about-"
"I-I know her." Marth felt the words tumble out. "Panne. Her name is Panne. Chrom, you don't have to worry about her. She's a friend. Or will be a friend if you don't raise steel against her."
Gods, but she knew how strange she must have sounded. Even odder than Lissa and Lonqu's claims, odds were. She wanted to lock gazes with Chrom, to plead for him to listen to her... but she also couldn't risk him looking too closely at her eyes.
"She... hasn't led us astray so far, Chrom." Robin spoke up for her, and Chrom gave a slow nod. "And right now we need to arm ourselves for the fight. It sounds like Lissa and the others got in just before the main force. We'll be able to avoid a bottle neck and set up a good defense, if we arrange fighters on either side of this room."
"I'll guard Emmeryn." Marth heard herself promise. "They'll have to kill me before they get past."
"Then we have our battle plan, quick and rushed as it is. Chrom, Lissa, warn Emmeryn so she at least knows what is going on. Then go to your posts." Robin spoke, and began pointing the Shepherds to either side of the halls and to take up positions against the oncoming foe.
-o-o-o-
Robin tightened her grip on the spell book. Her hand remained too raw to try holding a sword, but could grip the thunder tome well enough.
'El Thunder.' Even the name crackled with power, buzzing in her skull. The sparks in the spell pages arced into her fingers, adding a small buzz of energy as her blood thrummed.
Black clung to the hallways ahead. Candle flames valiantly pushed against the night, but couldn't dispel the dark shrouds. On the edge of the shadows, Robin heard feet echoing on the tile and rugs.
"I want the Emblem in my hand, and the Exalt dead on the floor." Over that sound came a snapping voice, like needles in Robin's ears as it urged the intruders on.
"Stay steady. Don't rush in just yet." Robin whispered for the Shepherds nearby and for herself. Her feet wanted nothing more than to just fling herself forward and tear into whatever was on the edges of the palace. She fought to keep her breathing steady, and held her position.
The person beside her was just as anxious. With a start Robin picked out Chrom's blue hair. Tension kept his movements and the muscles in his arms wound tight. Falchion pointed into the shadows as Chrom stalked forward one pace.
"Chrom, please!" Behind them Emmeryn called from her chambers. "Flee while you can!"
Her words, meant to ease Chrom, only drew him tighter. His teeth showed for an instant, Emmeryn's protests still ringing in his ears.
"We each have one life, and I do not wish to see it laid against yours!" Chrom grimaced from her words.
"You ever think the same might be true for me?" He shot back. Robin found herself looking over her shoulder as well, giving the Exalt the briefest glance. Emmeryn had taken something from her chambers and held it close now, looking ready to hand it to Chrom if he'd only flee with it. Torch light caught along the rounded, golden edges of what Emmeryn clutched. Robin paused over the shape, wondering at the strange shield.
For just a moment, her blood stilled. Her thoughts began to focus-
Right as something moved out of the shadows, dark forms save for the glimmer of their steel blades.
Robin locked her eyes on the assassins and surged forward. She didn't strike alone, as Chrom knocked one blade aside and reversed Falchion back up into the would-be killer's throat. His target dropped with a gurgle. Chrom spun around to close with another. But Robin beat him to the strike, sending a bolt of lightning across steel and flesh. The target went shock still, and collapsed with a thud.
Robin didn't pause over the bodies, instead pushing forward. Her pulse spiked back to a hammering beat, and Robin's feet moved in a rhythm. She dodged, weaved between the blades of the assassins and kept an eye out for enemy spells.
Tonight her strength coursed through her. Her targets were so strangely slow, merely dull shades compared to the fire in her blood. It was nothing at all to dance between their strikes. In the back of her brain she wondered over how the same slowness effected the rest of the Shepherds. No one else could match her pace-
Save for Chrom. He was right beside her in the thick of battle, matching her step for step and stroke for spell. She spared him just one glimpse, long enough to wonder over how well they matched. But there were still so many killers to throw themselves against. No time for wondering any further.
Her spells reignited for the next wave. Her hand snapped forward, only to freeze when someone with orange hair gave a yelp and ducked underneath the lightning.
"Easy, easy! I'm not here for killing! Shinies would be nice, but not killing!" Robin just barely stayed her hand with a shudder. Her body wanted nothing more than to throw itself forward and keep fighting-
Another glimmer formed in the back of her mind, the same golden color as the shield. She forced herself to stay still, and the hammering of blood faded from her mind for just a moment. Looking over to Chrom, she saw the same was true for him. He'd actually done her one better, and was talking to the man.
'Not an assassin,' Robin finally realized. He lacked the dark colors, was missing the spikes on his arms for extra killing, but instead had the look of a thief.
Chrom helped the man to his feet and offered a bag of something. Robin picked out the thief say "sugar..." with absolute reverence. A second later when Chrom let the thief draw his blade, it clicked into place.
"...Did you really just bribe a thief to switch sides with candy?"
"Said his name was Gaius." Chrom answered. "Well, we've got one more for our cause. We need all the help we can get against these killers."
Robin nodded, and heard footsteps behind her. More fighters. This time her blood didn't pick up to the same fever pitch as she spun to meet them. But her spells still sprang up quickly, snapping out with an added bite of power. She and Chrom pushed their way down through the hallway, gaining more ground with each fight.
As the melee died around them Robin felt a surge of hope. They'd almost gained the garden courtyard and thrown the attackers back. Looking across the foyer showed the other Shepherds had punched through the line as well.
She even saw the thief across the way. He stepped up next to Miriel as she fired a spell and watched her back. Chrom may have made the right call after all. Gaius glimpsed her for a moment, and gave what she had to guess was a 'thanks for not killing me' wave, with how cheeky his smile was. He took another step forward.
"You..." a voice hissed out from somewhere just beyond Robin's vision. The words were seeped dark in menace. "Emmeryn's assassination was supposed to be an easy thing, if not for you, turn coat."
The world lost some of its brightness as Robin listened. She tried to shout out a warning. Her throat choked on the words and they came out in a ragged croak.
Gaius turned too slowly and a blaze of fire caught him across the chest. The impact yanked his feet from the floor, hurling him back with a snap of cape cloth. Gaius smashed into one of the stone pillars, leaving a blackened mark as he slid to the tiles.
Silence hung over the courtyard and halls for just an instant. It broke with Lissa and Maribelle both rushing to his side. Robin held her breath as she watched, and only let it out when she saw that Gaius' lungs were still working after all that punishment.
Her brain was already calculating the angle of the attack. Robin spun on her heel, tracing the left over cinders in the air back to the source. Her eyes picked out a figure wreathed in robes like shadows, contrasting against the orange embers building along his fingers as he readied another spell.
"BACK OFF!" Robin shouted, throwing her hand out and blasting a bolt at him. The assassin cut his own attack short in response. He murmured something that set his black robes to flapping in a spell-fueled breeze.
Her attack spat sparks and crashed into a ripple of energy in the air.
'A counter spell. This isn't a rank and file mage.'
The attacker stood behind the distortion, watching Robin's spell with a disinterested air and tracing it back to her. His blood red eyes met her own for an instant, holding on her face. The man's eyes narrowed, as a knowing smile creased his features.
"Oho... you. I KNOW you." His voice hissed, and the fire went out of Robin's blood. Her limbs went heavy. A chuckle rippled through the man's throat, like he was privy to some sort of joke. "Oh yes, I know you."
The air around him rippled again as he stepped forward.
"Submit to me, and perhaps I will honor you with the truth."
'He... knows?' Her thoughts feebly managed, as she stood trapped in his gaze. She suffocated under his focus and words, her mind plunging into icy waters that she couldn't swim against.
One thing pulsed and burned against that. Her hand ached, and Robin gladly latched onto the pain. She lifted her hand for another spell and threw it at him in defiance. It crashed against his shield, a bright golden glare as Robin narrowed her eyes and threw all her focus into it; anything to keep from falling back under that glare.
The spell barrier pulsed and shuddered. A strained noise built in Robin's throat as she threw her fear into the spell and let the pain in her hand burn along her entire arm. She swore there was a flash of purple light. The sorcerer might have seen the color too, with how his eyes widened.
'FALL!' Her thoughts howled, and the barrier cut out with a screeching noise. Robin sagged forward, her fingers growing numb. She'd ripped too much energy out and into that spell.
"Unexpected. You've grown into power... but still come up short." She thought there was a flicker of amusement and even pride in the sorcerer's features. Robin didn't know whether confusion or retching was strongest in her head just then. She was sinking back down under that gaze, going weak in thoughts and at the knees. And she couldn't do anything against the man. Fire sparked at the sorcerer's fingertips.
"Get away from her!"
A figure blurred past her, the white cloak catching her sight. Chrom threw himself at the sorcerer, Falchion raised up. He twisted in midair, barely dodging a gout of fire singing past him. The flare of orange and red caught her eyes, as everything around Robin slowed to a crawl. The flames burned themselves into her vision, chasing out fatigue and terror both.
Her hand still felt like lead, but somehow she managed to lift her fingers up to the spell as it arced overhead. With her hand against the orange, the purple brand glimmered in sharp contrast.
Her fingers closed down on the air, and the spell shuddered to a brief, heartbeat of a halt. Warmth flooded her brain and burned back into her blood. Robin welcomed the blaze and made a wrenching motion. Like a restless horse on reins, the spell fought her. Robin tightened her fingers into a fist, the spell answering by slowly turning around.
Robin sent the spell speeding back towards the sorcerer. Ahead of her Chrom fell from his place in the air and slashed at the sorcerer as he dropped. The sword plunged into the man's collar bone and the red eyes widened from shock.
Chrom tensed from where he landed, his ears picking out the roar of flames. He twisted himself out of the way, ducking to the side.
The sorcerer was caught in the full blast of the flames. They wreathed him and he gasped out in disbelief. He stared as his form burned, like he couldn't quite grasp what was happening.
"No... this is... all wrong. How could you-?" His last words died on his lips, as he collapsed in a heap of ashes. Falchion clattered free in the motion and rested unmarked on the stones.
Robin's legs decided that then would be a good time to give out.
"Robin? ROBIN!" Chrom was at her side, holding her up so she didn't collapse fully onto the floor. "Are you okay? What happened-?"
"Did he... did he really know me?" Robin whispered out, still staring at the ashes. Chrom blinked at Robin before his hand tightened over hers.
"Stay with us, Robin." She shut her eyes for a moment, breathing deep. Her fingers clutched back at Chrom's, latching onto something solid and steady.
"He- he's dead, isn't he?" She found herself asking.
"...VERY. You saw to that."
"Then... then I'm alright." Robin forced the words out. "Or at least I'll be alright."
'Remember what you said in the courtyard.' The past didn't matter compared to where she was right now.
She had to believe it was , any answers the sorcerer had died with him. And Robin wasn't certain she wanted to know whatever he had to say.
