Italics = Thought
I do not own Fire Emblem.
Cross published on A03
Kana had to admit, she liked the Flame Tribe.
Admittedly, she had been upset that Hinoka had 'abandoned' her here. But now, two months into her stay, she could safely say that she was loving the whole adventure.
The people were so nice! Despite looking quite frightening, the Tribesmen treated her like she had been born there! They even asked her to call them Uncle and Aunt! Then again, all of the other children did that.
It was the way of things in the Flame Tribe, beside the Tribal Elders (referred to as 'Elder One') and the Flame Chief (Who was addressed as such, regardless of their gender), all those of the same age group addressed one another as 'Cousin'. Children address adults with the titles Uncle or Aunt (and although they had the right to address adults as 'Cousin' upon becoming an adult, as a sign of respect, most Tribesmen kept using Uncle or Aunt, unless requested otherwise.).
Rinkah had even started to teach Kana how cook. Admittedly, her first few attempts had come close to burning down the Flame Chief's kitchen, but after bringing in Elder Daka, both the young Havenite Princess and Rinkah's treasured Rhajat had begun to get the hang of it.
Perhaps the most important thing Kana had gained during her time here was, a friend. In this case, Rhajat. The daughter of the Flame Chief, and her Husband, the (admittedly adopted) heir of the Wind Tribe's own Chieftain, Fuga. It made the young girl one of the most important outsiders to Hoshido, as the heir to one of their allies, and the future heir to another.
Her snowy locks were more often than not kept in twin tails, which, due to the girl's love of running around, often trailed behind her. She wore a plain white shirt (which was from the Wind Tribe, and not really white anymore, due to the dust only a child can accumulate), and wore the baggy red leggings that most of the Flame Tribe wore.
Kana herself was dressed in similar clothing, although her shirt was blatantly Hoshidan, and she was, as always, barefoot.
"Kan-Kan!" Rhajat giggled as she dashed up Kana. She beamed happily, and pointed at a nearby tree.
"Let's climb that big tree over there!" Rhajat suggested, in a hopeful tone. Sadly, being the Chief's daughter meant that she was often left to herself, not a good thing for an eight year old. Kana had become the first real friend she'd had, and Rhajat treasured her.
Kana pondered. On the one hand, that tree was awfully tall. On the other...
"Sounds like fun!"
Saizo stood in front of Rinkah's desk with a frown on his face.
It was no secret that Rinkah had a distinct dislike of Saizo. Frankly, she had a dislike of the entire Saizo line (with the possible exception of Asugi), due in no small part to the fact that Saizo Renjiro, the second Saizo, had assassinated the then Flame Chief, and all but one of his children. The relationship had been on the mend when Saizo's father, Saizo Ken, was alive, but had once again declined with the current Saizo. He was in an odd situation where he was too loyal to his liege. Anyone else (aside from Shiro) was a mere distraction.
"We require you to look after the girl for an extended period." Saizo stated. "The war will soon resume, and we have no time to be wasting on her."
"How long?"
"As long as we require."
"What is her name, Saizo?" Came Rinkah's reply.
"Her name is unimportant."
"Yes it is."
"No it is not. She is not important, and will not be important until she is married to Shiro when she comes of age."
"….If she marries him." Rinkah snapped.
"You assume she'll be given a choice." Came the blunt reply.
This surprised Rinkah. Whilst she personally held only minor affection for the young girl, forcing her into a marriage didn't sit right with her. Arranged marriage didn't even exist in the Flame Tribe! She had thought that Ryoma had sworn off of the practice when he took the throne.
"I did, actually." She admitted.
"The brat is too powerful to waste on someone she herself picks."
"That a little heartless…How is Queen Scarlet?"
"The Queen is recovering, slowly. She will still not walk again. The healers utterly failed to do their jobs."
"Healers can only do so much. No need to hate on Kana for it."
"Were it not for that brat I'd have been in the capital to gut her traitorous father before he could do what he did!"
Rinkah rose to her full height, her hand tightening around her weapon. "Then blame him! Do not blame her for the actions of her father."
"Why?! I do not subscribe to your primitive belief that one's sins are one's own. In Hoshido, she is as guilty as her father until she can atone." It was only a partial truth. Whilst the Hoshidan public would view her as 'tainted' for her father's actions, Kana would not be seen as guilty. A sad casualty of culture, perhaps, but not guilty. "And she will atone by marrying Prince Shiro.
"Then should I blame you for the actions of Saizo Renjiro? And every other dark, morally wrong order any Saizo has ever followed?"
"That incident was insignificant."
Rinkah snarled, and slammed her maul straight into Saizo's gut. Before the Ninja could retaliate, she struck again, this time taking out his legs, causing him to collapse to the floor. She then proceeded to step onto his chest, and manoeuvred her maul right next to Saizo's head.
"The murder of my great-great-grandfather is not a trivial matter!" She roared. "My people are not insignificant. We are not one of Ryoma's sycophants. We are the Flame Tribe! We are you allies."
"In name only." Saizo sneered. "In reality, you are our vassal, a foolish vassal that denies our glory. How long would your people last if we decided to bring you and yours to heel? How long would you last if we bring our army down upon you?"
"Send your army then." Rinkah hissed. "The Flame Tribe We endured the reign of the Dragons. We endured Iskander and his people when they landed here in Sigal, and we endured your people at the height of your Empire. You do not scare us."
The Chief of the Flame Tribe rose, and headed back to her desk. Saizo struggled to his feet, and rubbed his shoulder.
"I'm taking the girl."
"Touch Kana, and lose your hand." Rinkah snapped, stamping her maul on the ground to reinforce her point.
"Run back to your master and tell him this: Send your armies and we will crush them. Send your diplomats, and we will expel them. And if you continue to treat that girl as a mere thing….."
The Flame Chief crouched down to be face to face with the fallen Ninja, and bared her teeth.
"Then I will destroy you."
Historical Logs: Iskander and the discovery of Sigal.
The continent of Sigal was supposedly discovered some three thousand years ago by the mythical adventurer Iskander. It is unknown where exactly he and his people came from, but due to his appearance in the histories of both the City of Hjem in Nestra, the apparent first settlement, and the Flame Tribe, the last remnants of the Sigal natives, it is safe to say he did actually exist.
Iskander and his later descendants infamously lead a slaughter of the natives, until reaching the 'Roof of the World', the mountain range that marks the northernmost border of Nohr and Hoshido. Later expeditions beyond the mountains were all met by failure, with many not returning at all. Those that did reported nothing but a flat, grassy plateau.
Curiously, both Nohr and Hoshido claim that Iskander's tomb is located in their respective Kingdoms. Nohr's is located in Orleans, and Hoshido's in Nagoya. Nestra tells an entirely different version of what happened to his remains.
His body was placed in an elongated rowboat, and loaded up with riches from across his conquests, as it was sent out to sea, it was set alight.
His tradition, minus the riches, was used by the Royals of Nestra until the end of the Anafesto Dynasty.
If there is anything you want me to feature in a future Historical Log, please, let me know.