Disclaimer: I do not own FE7, though I wish I did, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems
do.
Authors Note: I am totally ignoring FE6, because I've never played it, and this way I have maximum flexibility.
The Fourth Tale
By Enilas
Chapter 11: Contact
Alkeni stepped out from the stable, his curved dagger in hand. He stood in the center of the dirt road, right in the sight of the Bandits.
"You! Bandits! What business have you here?"
The one who looked like a leader stepped to the front.
"This town is ours! Now get out of the way or die. He and his eleven (1) cronies formed into a wedge and walked swaggeringly towards Alkeni.
"Shit." He said under his breath and, deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, ran back into the stable and threw himself onto Lucan.
He burst from the stable on Lucan's back, and rode headlong towards the dozen bandits. Lucan reared up in front of one of the cronies and, as Alkeni let go of the reins, smashed down on the brigand's head, cracking it like it was an egg with his shoed hoof. Brain matter and blood flew onto Alkeni's cloak and Lucan.
Alkeni spurred his horse through the mass of bandits to the gates, then spun around.
"I would suggest that if you value your lives, you leave immediately, but I doubt you'd listen." He reared Lucan up again, the horse neighing furiously. He flung the curved dagger at another bandit, piecing him in the forearm. The raider roared in pain and pulled the knife from his arm.
The leader scowled, "You'll pay for that insolent pup. Get him men." The 10 remaining lesser bandits chuckled grimly and raised the axes. They walked menacingly towards the tactician.
Alkeni was about to charge them again when he heard hooves coming down a side street. Both he and the bandits looked in that direction. A young man, a kid really, was riding towards the exit on a horse, his light-green hair nearly covering his eyes. Riding on the horse behind him was a girl, perhaps 14, bow in hand. The Cavalier wore the insignia of House Pherae on his armor.
The cavalier drew his saber and rushed towards the bandits, who quickly moved out of his way. The horseman gestured at Alkeni to leave the settlement as he rode towards the exit of the town. When Alkeni made no move to leave, he rode past him, gesturing again. Alkeni took one look at the advancing bandits, and turned Lucan around, following him out of the town.
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Alkeni followed the green haired horseman for about 10 minutes, when they reached a ridge with two horsemen on it. He immediately recognized them as Eliwood and his bodyguard, Marcus the Paladin.
As the cavalier reached them, he gave a quick report.
"Commander Marcus! Bandits, in the town!"
The paladin scowled "Damnit."
Eliwood seemed about to speak when he saw Alkeni. He raised an eyebrow. "Alkeni, what are you doing here?"
Alkeni shook his head, "Later, right now these bandits have to go."
The Pheraean noble nodded as he drew a rapier from his belt. "Right." He turned to the cavalier, "Lowen, lead the way."
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"So, Sir Alkeni, what brings you to our fair canton?" Marcus asked; the battle over and the bandits eliminated. They were sitting in the tavern portion of the inn, sitting at one of the tables.
"Not much really. I've just been wandering around Lycia for the past year It was just chance I was there when the bandits attacked. What about you? I see that you've prepared a lot of supplies. Are you going to look for your father?"
Eliwood sighed and nodded, "Bad news travels fast, doesn't it?"
"Well, it has been a month. I'm surprised no one has gone looking before now."
The redhead shrugged, "True." He paused for a moment. "Anyway, I was wondering if you'd like a job? I could use your help on this quest."
Alkeni shook his head and shrugged apologetically, "I'd like to help, but I have to be at Castle Caelin in six days."
Eliwood nodded, "Well, in that case, I have a proposition for you. You'll have to pass through Santaruz to get to Caelin anyway, so why don't you stay on until we reach the Santaruz-Caelin border? I want to talk to Lord Helmen. He was the last person to see my father before he disappeared.
Alkeni thought for a moment then nodded, "Sounds like a plan. What time tomorrow are we leaving?"
"At first light. I don't want to waste any time."
As that was being said, two axefighters stepped into the inn. Alkeni saw the face on the one in front and spoke.
"Dorcas! What brings you here?" He stood up as he said this and firmly shook the Bernese fighter's hand.
Dorcas returned the handshake, "I heard Lord Eliwood was hiring mercenaries, and my friend Bartre," He indicated his companion, who nodded, "And I decided to take up the job."
Alkeni laughed, "Eliwood will be lucky to have you along," He turned to the named noble, "You will hire them, right?"
Eliwood nodded, "Of course, I trust your judgment. Dorcas, Bartre, you can talk to Marcus about your payment." The two fighters nodded and walked over to the paladin, who spoke with them for a short while.
As they were talking, the girl from before, who's name was Rebecca, and she had helped them combat the raiders, walked up to them.
Eliwood looked up, "Is there something we can do for you?"
Rebecca nodded, "I heard you were hiring mercenaries…I've talked to my father, and he said it was okay, but of course I need to clear it with you…"
Marcus walked up and broke it. "No, absolutely not. You're too young to go into the potential danger we're looking at."
Eliwood laughed, "Calm down Marcus. I don't see why she can't go. I was gallivanting around the countryside at her age as well, and I fought well at that age too. Besides, we may need archer support in this endeavor."
The paladin scowled but nodded.
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That night, Alkeni dreamed for the first time in months.
He was in a small stone room, a desk piled high with papers in one corner, and a small, hard cot with a thin blanket in another. On the wall opposite the desk was a section of floor scoured by what appeared to be whip marks. His eyes flashed his anger as he realized where he was: His room at his father's estates.
As he moved towards the desk, he felt a tingling sensation at the back of his neck and his eyes narrowed. "Kaila, I know you're here. Either talk or stop this oniremancy.(2) I don't feel like playing your games. You're not going to find out where I am. I've had enough practice keeping you out of my mind."
He heard a voice coming from all around him, "True that." A young woman materialized in front of him, her purple robes covered in blood. "I apologize for the state of my clothes. I just got back from father's Torture chambers. You really should try them out some time. They are such fun!" She stepped forward, "But anyway, brother, is that how you greet your sister that you haven't seen for Two Years?"
Alkeni glared at her, "We may have the same parents, but you are NOT my sister."
Kaila laughed, "Sounds a lot like what mother said to me before father beat her to death. What was it she said…oh yes, 'I may have given birth to you, but you are not my daughter.' I thought it was quite amusing. But you do take after her in a lot of ways."
Alkeni growled in anger and launched himself at his sibling, who simply phased out and reappeared behind him, so that Alkeni plowed into the wall."
Kaila tutted, "Such temper. You know, I really don't know why father doesn't just kill you. You're a useless wretch with a conscience. Such a useless thing to have. But anyway, If father just killed you, he would be able to make me his heir."
Alkeni wiped blood from his dream-self's mouth, "I've told you a thousand times. I don't want the estate. You can have the damn thing. Just tell father I'm dead and take it. Kill father to speed up your ascension while you're at it."
Kaila chuckled and shook her head, "Sorry, no go. I don't have the power to kill him yet, and he'd want proof that you were dead." She paused for a moment and stared into her brother's eyes. Alkeni tried to look away, but the magic was powerful. Instead, Alkeni began throwing up mental walls, blocking his sister's advance into his mind.
Kaila continued to focus, in fact, she was concentrating so much energy that a few beads of blood came out of her forehead. As she continued to stare into his mind, she spoke, "Just let go, and stop blocking. You're no use to anyone with a shattered mind, and that's what will happen if you keep blocking me."
"If that will get you to leave me alone, bring it on." He continued to throw up walls, then focused his mind on an image of his mother, drawing upon it for strength. He concentrated with all his might, and entirely unexpectedly, the picture of his mother turned into one of Lyn. Kaila suddenly snapped her head back, as if slapped.
Kaila's eyes flashed an even deeper red with anger. She stepped back, "What the hell did you do? Who was that?" Then her eyes narrowed, "It's that woman father told me about…the Sacaean half-breed, isn't it?" She tutted again, "Mystia isn't going to like this when I tell her. When father told me that you appeared attached to a Sacaean mongrel, I didn't believe it. After all, I assumed you had some taste. But her image and the blast of energy that came from it do not lie. You're betraying the very blood in your veins. Why?"
Alkeni threw his head back and laughed, and laughed, and laughed, partly because what she said was so ridiculous, and also because he was trying to stop himself from hurling himself at the bitch.
Kaila stood there impatiently, starting to think her worthless brother had lost it, when he spoke.
"Mystia can go to hell for all I care! That was a childish affection, nothing more. She's no better than you. Just like all you damn Bernese nobles." He paused for a moment, longing to wrap his fingers around her throat and strangle her, but she wouldn't die if he did that. "You have no right to go around judging taste. What about Glorak, Yestil, Cherlan? Now that was an utter lack of taste." He paused for a breath. "I do not care if I am betraying 'the blood in my veins'. Lyn means more to me than anything else in the world. Why do you think I left Castle Caelin? Not for myself, but to keep her out of this. I would gladly lay down my life for her. She is someone who understands. Someone with a conscience, unlike Mystia or any of the other women father forced on me before I left. Now, Begone!"
He concentrated a blast of mental energy and discharged it at Kaila, ending her spell, and waking up.
Footnotes:
(1): I changed the number of bandits from six to 12 while writing this chapter.
(2): Dream magic