~Chapter Thirteen
November 14th, 648.
The residents of Melior were greeted that morning by a low fog that filled the entire city. It had blown in the previous night, and shortly afterwards the winds had died, leaving the thick white mist lingering for hours in the streets.
Up on the roof of the tallest tower in the castle, Queen Elincia sat against the central spire, her pegasus having flown down to graze while she rested. From here, she could see the bright blue sky overhead, the thick fog only three feet below where she sat. She sighed tiredly and folded her hands behind her head.
"Having a pleasant day, your Majesty?" a voice suddenly asked, startling her out of her reverie. Marcia flew to the edge of the tower roof and lightly leapt off Jewel, patting the pegasus before sending her away. The pink-haired knight walked over and sat down beside the young queen. "It is rather nice up here, compared to down there."
"Do you come up here often?" Elincia asked offhandedly. "It seems so quiet, so far away from everything else, and yet it's only about ten feet above my bedroom."
"I fly up here every now and then." Marcia replied. "It's a good place to relax, when you don't have anywhere else to go when you want to take a break."
"Yes..." The young queen sighed again and leaned back further, staring up at the sky. "Though it isn't always relaxing when you spend the entire time worrying about imminent threats..."
"I'm more worried for Oscar and Kieran, to be honest." the pink-haired knight said, interlacing her fingers and stretching her arms. "And Makalov too, I suppose. It's silly, but for some reason I think Dark Link might go for them, instead of us. I don't know why..."
"I have the feeling I would feel the same way, if Geoffrey had gone with them." Elincia replied. "It must be harder for you, though. All three of them left, and you stayed behind."
"I would have gone," she complained. "General Geoffrey ordered me to stay..."
"Maybe it's for the best." the young queen murmured. "So that this way, if Dark Link attacks either us or them, we'll be able to hold him off."
"That's what I'm hoping for, anyway." another voice suddenly said. Both girls looked up to see Sharon fly up through the fog bank and hover next to the rooftop, long enough for her and Roy to hop off. The green-haired knight whispered something to Bree and patted her before sending the pegasus back down, presumably to join Jewel and Elincia's pegasus. Roy, the one who had spoken, stepped forward and sat down next to Marcia. "If the Shadow attacks the Crimean Army, we'll be ready for him, and if he attacks Commander Kieran, well... that's his loss."
"So much for my secret place." Elincia complained good-naturedly.
"Yours?" Sharon laughed slightly as she walked forward to join them. "I thought this was my secret place. I guess it's no one's anymore."
"Tis' but a tragedy." Roy lamented sarcastically.
Marcia laughed. "Now you sound like Count Bastian."
"I do? Oh dear." Roy smiled. "Tis' but a Bastian of the mind, m'lady, though what light thou sees I cannot digest!"
"Could anyone understand what he just said?" Sharon asked. "Because I couldn't." All three girls laughed.
"See, this is why I like people like Kieran and Oscar." Marcia said cheerily. "They're not as skilled as saying so much and meaning so little. They just blurt it out."
"You don't like it?" Roy shrugged. "Oh well. So much for my flirting attempts."
"Watch it, wise guy." Sharon elbowed him. "I doubt th' queen takes too kindly to your ridiculous talk."
"Oh, let it be, Sharon." Elincia said, sitting up. "I don't mind, anyway."
Roy batted his eyelashes playfully and grinned. "Ah! See? I am getting through to thee, m'lady! Thou shalt understand me and mine ere the bell tolls!"
Sharon rolled her eyes. "Try again, Roy. I certainly don't know whatcha just said, so how are we supposed t' understand you?"
The Altean prince rolled his eyes and laughed. "Tis' but a tragedy." he said again.
"Queen Elincia!" Geoffrey was waiting for her when the three girls and Roy returned to the ground.
"What is it, Geoffrey?" Elincia asked. "News on the Apostle's army?"
"No, your Majesty. It's Hyrule...!"
"Hyrule?" She frowned. "What's happened?"
In reply, he offered her a letter. "A Kilvas Raven dropped this off a few hours ago."
She took it and opened it, her eyes quickly scanning the neat print;
To Queen Elincia Ridell Crimea;
You have not much time, so this will be brief. This war has gone on far too long for my liking. I need to know the location of the Crown Prince of Altea; once I have it, you shall be left alone. Send me a messenger with the correct location by the twelfth mark of the 14thday of November, and Lady Lucia will be returned to you unharmed. I shall not be so lenient in the future, should you refuse.
Most sincerely,
King Dark Link of Hyrule
At the bottom of the page, underlining the Shadow's name, was an ominous streak of blood. "What time is it?" Elincia asked hurriedly.
Geoffrey looked aside regretfully. "Three fourths past eleven, your Majesty. I'm sorry I... couldn't alert you sooner."
The young queen quickly turned to the young Altean prince. "Roy, quick! Is there anything I can tell him that would direct him the wrong way!?" she demanded.
"I-I think he can detect lies..." Roy stammered. "M-maybe if we just held information back, l-like his specific destination, or if we warped the truth..."
"Where is he?" Elincia demanded, spinning on him. "Where is Marth!?"
"Daein..." Roy mumbled weakly.
"There's no way any kind of message could reach him in time, Elincia." Marcia stated. "It would be too late to stop him straight off..."
"No! I must... think of something..." Elincia closed her eyes tightly, trying to think.
"It's almost twelfth mark, m'lady." Sharon said sadly. "Write fast, but she could already be dead by the time it got there."
Elincia swore under her breath and slid off her pegasus. "Maybe we can ask him for time..."
"Why would we need time if we were just going to tell him what he wanted?" Roy asked bitterly. "We won't get any time from him, Elincia. Just hope that he kills her quickly... if he kills her at all."
Dark Link gazed across the field, towards the great city. "(Melior.)" he said quietly, stroking his dragon's smooth black scales. "(The capital city of Crimea. Magnificent, isn't it?)" Shard just grunted.
"King Naesala." Dark Link called, no hint of emotion in his voice.
The Raven flew up and landed beside him. "Yes?" he asked flatly.
"What time is it?"
"Twelfth mark."
"Have we received any messengers?"
"No."
Dark Link sighed slightly. "Then they still refuse. A pity. Prepare the soldiers."
"What of Lucia?"
"We have more pressing matters." Dark Link swung himself up onto Shard's back, and the dragon spread its wings.
A Crimean soldier came rushing into the throne room at full speed. "Q-Queen Elincia!" he gasped.
Elincia and Geoffrey spun to face him. "What is it?" the young queen demanded.
"I-it's Hyrule and Kilvas! They're here!"
"What!?" Geoffrey stormed forward and grabbed the man's shoulder. "Are you sure?!"
The soldier nodded quickly. "Yes, sir! They're already at the walls...!"
"They'll be here tomorrow." Sothe stated, looking out over Riven Bridge. It was almost twenty-first mark, and the faint trails of smoke from the resting army could be seen in the distant night sky, clouding the stars.
"I know." Micaiah replied quietly, moving to stand at his side. "I only hope we're ready for them."
"You saw what they did to us at the river." Sothe said grimly. "This is going to be a slaughter."
"We can only try." she murmured.
"Elincia!" Geoffrey called, riding to her side away from the battle on the walls. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." she replied quickly, her pegasus prancing nervously. "How are we doing?"
"Not so good." he replied. "I don't understand it! It's only been a week, but his army seems to have almost doubled in size! They outnumber us almost two to one!"
"He must have been holding troops back in the previous battle." Elincia replied. "Are they still just the bulblins?"
"No, milady. They have—they have new soldiers in the ranks." Geoffrey said. "Lizard-like creatures, and huge creatures with shields and spears—they're like battering rams."
"Roy mentioned creatures like those. Lizalfos and moblins. What about Dark Link and Naesala?"
"No sign of them yet, milady. The Kilvas Ravens are here, though, so I doubt their king is far."
"Alright." Elincia drew Amiti, the royal blade feeling like lead in her hands. "We'd best get down there."
"Milady, you shouldn't..! It's not safe—"
"Geoffrey, I'm certainly not going to stay behind and—"
She was cut off as a Crimean soldier screamed "Dragon!" and was immediately followed by a deafening roar. They looked in the direction of the sound just in time to see a black shadow sweep over a platoon of Crimean Knights, pouring white-hot fire through the thick blanket of fog. The lucky troops died instantly. The others were lit on fire, surrounded by an inferno. Screams could be heard.
"Oh my Goddess." Geoffrey breathed as Dark Link and the magnificent dragon he rode flew high out of range of the Crimean arrows, leaving an entire platoon burning behind him. The dragon roared again and spread its wings.
Elincia swore under her breath. "If only we could hurt him, we might stand a chance..."
"Sir Zelgius said that he could tire if he was wounded enough." Geoffrey reminded her. "And he may be vulnerable to arrows. If we could just get him over here, perhaps I could bring them down."
"Leave that to me." Elincia said darkly, her grip on Amiti tightening.
"Milady...!"
"Just make sure you take the shot when you get the chance." she ordered him. "Don't hesitate. We have to end this now."
He nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Of course... your Majesty. Be careful."
She managed a nod, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Then she kicked her pegasus' sides, urging him into the air.
Of course, Dark Link saw her coming. He swept down to meet her, the mark on the back of his exposed left hand still pulsating blood-red. "Do you seek me intentionally, Queen Crimea?" he asked, spinning the blade easily in his hand.
"I'll not let you take any more lives today, Dark Link." she said darkly, holding Amiti before her.
"You would fight me?" He laughed coldly. "A fool thou art, then. I'll ask you this once; where is Prince Marth?"
"I've already told you, I don't know."
His mark flashed black for just a second, and he glanced at it offhandedly. "Speak the truth. You know where he is."
"No... I don't!" She urged her pegasus backwards a few beats.
He didn't advance, but just glanced at the mark as it flashed black again. "Don't lie to me, girl." he suddenly snarled, his eyes flashing white. "You know what I seek."
She backed up again. "I won't let you kill any more innocent people." she stated.
"Hah." He laughed once again. "Fight me, then, and perhaps when you're crushed beneath your pegasi's body you'll recant your decision." Then he spat a single word in the ancient tongue and the dragon shot forward with a mighty roar, and her entire vision was filled with darkness for one split second before the black blade came crashing down. She barely got Amiti up in time to block it, and the force of the blow caused her to shudder. She kicked her pegasus and swept beneath the lunging dragon, swinging up as she went under, hoping to land a hit, but her blade passed harmlessly beneath its belly. She came up behind him and stabbed at its rider, but he knocked her sword aside.
Then it was his turn to attack again, and he came down on her hard, his sword a blur of black and blue. It crashed down on Amiti three times, each relentless blow sending her reeling in the saddle. She broke away from him and flew straight past him, swinging once as she went, and she was dismayed to hear it connect only against steel. Her real purpose here came to mind, and she circled around, flying back towards Geoffrey and the mages a little way before turning to face her opponent again.
He cried a few words in the ancient tongue and the dragon roared and spun. In two mighty wingbeats he was above her, upside down in the air, yet he did not fall from the beast's back. She was almost too stunned to duck as his sword came sweeping down at her, and then he swept down in front of her and righted himself. "You would see your dear Lady Lucia tormented?" he taunted her, spinning the sword and switching between hands five times in five seconds before leveling it at her with his red-glowing left hand.
"I would see you dead for your crimes!" she retorted, and she urged her pegasus forward, streaking past him again and attacking twice. Her swings were blocked both times, and then Dark Link twisted the dragon around with her movements, slashing at her pegasus' wings. He hit solidly and both pegasus and rider screamed, one in pain and the other in fear. Elincia desperately swerved and she lost altitude dramatically as her mount struggled to remain aloft.
"How long will you go before you halt this foolishness?" Dark Link called, flying down right beside her.
She gritted her teeth and ignored him, flying back towards the courtyard where Geoffrey waited. He was right on her heels, and she knew he could have ordered the dragon to breath fire and killed her outright, yet instead he only followed her.
She landed in a crumpled heap, her pegasus not even able to remain upright. Dark Link flew overhead.
Just as Geoffrey shot, a group of thunder mages cast Elthunder.
A huge well of golden magical aura surrounded the courtyard. Runes appeared on the ground at the mages' feet as they spoke the words of the Elthunder in sync, and the air throbbed with electricity. Just as Geoffrey dismounted to help Elincia up, the bow dropped, a dozen streaks of gold lightning came down from the clouds and surrounded Dark Link and the dragon in throbbing power. The dragon roared just before it hit, and in the smoky clouds and thunder the beast and its rider were lost to sight. When the aura faded and the magic disappeared, he was gone as well.
Elincia got shakily to her feet, Amiti having fallen from her hands. "What happened?" she asked, not daring to hope. "Is he gone?"
"Hardly." a cold voice said. The two of them spun around to find King Hyrule himself standing on the ground, sword in hand, the crackle of electricity still eminent around him. His eyes were narrowed to slits and his mark was glowing brighter.
"Damn you!" Elincia spat, falling back as Geoffrey stepped to protect her, brave lance in hand.
"How long must this foolish endeavor continue?" the Shadow asked, leveling the black blade at Geoffrey ominously. "It is a pity you refused to tell. I would have liked to know you, Queen Crimea."
There was a terrible roar overhead, and both Geoffrey and Elincia barely had time to look up before the dragon swept over the mages, fire pouring out of his mouth. They were burnt to ash in mere seconds.
"Monster!" Elincia snarled.
Dark Link didn't even reply. One moment he was there, his sword leveled at Geoffrey; the next, he was right up in front of him and the blade was stabbing in all too fast. The knight commander barely had enough time to dodge the killing blow, and before he could counter the Shadow was on him again. He managed to dodge the second time as well, and he swung at Dark Link. The dark boy leapt back out of the reach, and then Geoffrey, seeing an opening, stepped forward and stabbed at him.
But it was a trap; Dark Link leapt again—not backwards, but forwards. And landed—on the brave lance. Time seemed to slow as he balanced there completely at ease, as the queen and her knight gasped in surprise, and then he swung down hard and sheared clean through the sturdy wood and the lance was broken in two. Geoffrey dropped the piece he still held as the Shadow nimbly flipped over the knight's head, landing in a crouch. Elincia barely had time to cry out in shock before Dark Link had spun around and slammed the flat of the blade into the back of Geoffrey's knees, knocking him down, and then put the black blade to the knight commander's throat.
"No!" Elincia screamed as Dark Link twisted Geoffrey around to face her, gripping one of the blue-haired knight's arms with unnatural strength and not removing the blade from his neck. Her hand finally found Amiti and she held it up defensively.
"I wouldn't be doing that." the Shadow said darkly. The dragon landed behind him with another roar, as if to emphasize the point.
"Let him go!" Elincia cried.
"On the contrary," Dark Link replied. "He'll be going somewhere very dark and cold in just a minute if you don't tell me what I want to know. Death is a cruel place indeed, certainly somewhere I don't envy him for going to."
"Queen Elincia..." Geoffrey choked.
Elincia stepped forward, holding Amiti, and Dark Link's grip on Geoffrey tightened. "It was this one I wanted originally, in fact." he said coldly. "King Kilvas failed and got the sister, but that is no matter now. I'll ask you only one more time; Where is Prince Marth?"
"Don't... tell him... anything." the knight commander gasped. "I..."
"Really, you are all so naïve." Dark Link chided. "All I asked was directions to one man, one unimportant prince of a dead land, and you would all be willing to die to keep him hidden. Why?"
"You've put Prince Marth through enough suffering." she spat. "We've already seen what power the one mark holds—the one shard of the 'object' you spoke of. Who knows what you would do if you got the second piece? We're willing to die to keep Tellius from going the way of Akaneia!"
"How many will you allow to die, then, hmm?" The edge of the sword scraped Geoffrey's neck, drawing blood. "The brother, the sister... all the Royal Knights, all your people... how many more must fall before you will speak? My armies are endless, Queen Crimea, and I doubt that you can say the same. I can fight forever and you cannot. I hold every advantage. How willing are you to die for a pointless cause? How willing are you to let others die for you? Can you truly live with that blood on your hands?"
"Elincia...! Don't—" Geoffrey tried to speak, but was cut off by the blade pressing even closer.
"How can you live with the blood of a continent on your hands?" Elincia challenged.
It seemed like eternity to the young queen as Dark Link considered her question. "That is the difference between us, Queen Crimea." he finally said, his voice soft. "I have learned to close my eyes. You... cannot. You always have to watch."
She felt a lump in her throat and tried to block the tears. He was right. She couldn't close her eyes. Not for Geoffrey. "Daein." she mumbled, lowering Amiti in defeat. "He's in Daein. That's all I know."
The Shadow smiled condescendingly. "There, now that wasn't so hard, was it?"
"No...!" Geoffrey choked.
"Let him go!" Elincia cried. "I told you what you wanted, now release him!"
Dark Link paused for a long moment. Then he drew the sword back and shoved Geoffrey forward. The knight staggered and nearly fell, clutching instinctively at his throat, and Elincia rushed to his side. "For finally giving me an honest answer... I'll show a little leniency, this time. But you shan't go unpunished." Dark Link said ominously. "You have one hour to leave the city, Queen Crimea. Any of your knights or soldiers still here at that time will be imprisoned. Anyone who resists will be killed. Lady Lucia will escape pain this time, but any attempts by you or your knights to aid the Altean prince will worsen her torment." He stepped back to stand besides his dragon. "One mark, Queen Crimea. Melior is mine." Then he swung up effortlessly and within a few seconds he was gone. A few minutes after that his soldiers were falling back.
Elincia fell back on her knees, her eyes glistening with tears. "What have I done?" she moaned. "Oh, Goddess help me... what have I done...?"
"Is that you, Mars?"
"King Pelleas. This is an unexpected honor..."
"No, please! I told you I'm not quite used to all this yet."
"Ah, yes... as you wish, my lord. Did you need something?"
"It's just... we'll be meeting with the rest of the Daein army tomorrow... er... how do I put this? I would feel safer if I had a bodyguard."
"...Lady Micaiah and the Dawn Brigade will be there, will they not? Do you really need a guard in that situation?"
"Well, actually... to tell the truth, I... I would feel safer if you were there. I hardly know you, but I... for some reason, I just... I trust you. Please?"
"...Your wish is my command."
"Thank you."
November 15th, 648.
"Micaiah, it's over. The front line is broken. The Apostle's army is crossing the bridge." Sothe reported darkly.
"All right, then... Order a retreat." she replied after only a moment's pause.
"Are you a fool?" Dark Link asked, slightly irritated. "Destroy the bridge."
Micaiah moved to stand besides Sothe. "My lord Dark Link... With all due respect, Daein soldiers will also die if we destroy the bridge now."
"Those are called acceptable losses." the king replied flatly.
"My lord. While I respect your opinion... The final decision is up to me, as commander in chief of this army. Sothe, order the retreat. Get those men out of there before they're routed."
"Do you plan on retreating every time?" Dark Link asked incredulously. "It is a wonder you ever accomplished anything, Lady Micaiah."
"We could always leave you here while the rest of us retreat. How's that sound?" Sothe asked sarcastically.
"Well... I suppose it is your decision. However... you should exercise caution, Lady Micaiah. You may regret this when General Ike is knocking on Begnion's door, and the Senate looks for someone to blame..." Then the dark boy swept off into the shadows.
"Bastard..." Micaiah muttered.
"I'll go order the retreat." Sothe said.
"The Daein army is much stronger than it was three years ago." Zelgius commented. The Daein army had retreated, and the Apostle's army was crossing the Riven Bridge now.
"Yes, by far." Sigrun agreed. "Even after the situation turned against them, every soldier fought with valor. Quite impressive."
"They kept muttering about the power of their general, this 'Maiden of Dawn.' The soldiers seem obsessed with her." Tanith added.
"This might sound strange, but think of it like this; they believe in her as much as you Holy Knights believe in the Apostle." Ike suggested.
"Hmph, I understand." Tanith said darkly. "They are formidable and deluded, then. I shall use caution."
The four of them heard a soft melodic voice say something in the ancient tongue, and turned. Leanne smiled brightly and spoke again.
"She said she hopes she helped in the battle." Zelgius stated. Leanne nodded.
"You speak the Ancient Language?" Sigrun asked in surprise.
"I understand it, mostly." he replied. "Though I cannot speak it well."
"I... I help Ike, Zz... Zi..." Leanne frowned. "Zeh..."
"'Zelgius'." Ike supplied helpfully.
"Zel-gih-us!" she said, smiling again. "I help Ike and Zelgius, yes?"
"Yes, Leanne." Ike smiled faintly. "You were a great help. Thanks."
"El... Ele... er..." She frowned again. "El-ai-na? She said... Rah... Rahn... ah..."
"Ranulf?" Sigrun asked.
Leanne nodded. "Yes! Rah-nulf! He see... shadow?"
"Ranulf saw a shadow?" Tanith frowned. "What foolishness is this?"
"No." Leanne's brow furrowed as she tried to say the words. "Cah... cah-peh-tahl..."
"Capital? Capital of what?"
"No! Shadow... er... drah...ugh..." She sighed in frustration.
"Leanne." Zelgius said quietly. "(Tell me.)"
She smiled in relief and rattled off several rapid-fire sentences. Zelgius frowned. "(A bit... slower.)"
She spoke again, enunciating as clearly as she could. "What did she say?" Ike asked.
"Elena told her that Ranulf saw the Shadow." Zelgius replied carefully. "The Shadow. He was on his dragon and he was flying back towards Crimea." He glanced at Leanne for conformation, and she nodded.
"The Shadow..." Ike looked back quickly to Leanne. "The Shadow from Altea?"
She frowned slightly. "Er... Shadow... Ay-kay-nay-ah, yes?"
"Who is the Shadow?" Tanith demanded.
"Not a good person." Ike replied flatly. "You remember the Altean refugees, right? The Shadow is the one that destroyed Altea, and the entire continent of Akaneia. He was the one that attacked Crimea, and he's currently allied with Kilvas and the Senate. He was also the one that captured Zelgius... If he's around, it could mean we're in for an attack from the Hylian army."
November 20th, 648.
"Well, you were right." Sothe said quietly to Micaiah, as the two of them looked past the cliff edge to the pass far below. "The Apostle's forces are using this road to avoid a head-on collision."
"Then they really do not want to fight." Dark Link said quietly from behind them, his left hand gently stroking his dragon's—Shard, he'd called it—black-scaled muzzle. "As you foresaw, Lady Micaiah. Perhaps you are not as foolish as I previously believed."
Micaiah took the comment in stride and stepped back from the cliff to join him. "I still don't understand why Hyrule is getting involved in this war." she remarked.
His expression didn't change. "I have an agreement with the Begnion Senate." he replied evenly. "They assisted me in the past, so I will assist them in this. That's all you need know, my lady. Political matters should not concern you."
She conceded the point and turned back to Sothe. "Are the rocks ready?"
He gritted his teeth for just a moment and nodded. "Yes, but... Micaiah... it was always you who used to hate plans like this. Is this really necessary?"
"Do you wish to halt the Apostle's army, or not?" Dark Link asked flatly. "Lady Micaiah's plan is innovative, to say the least. If it works, then you should be glad."
"Don't you have any morals...?" Sothe mumbled under his breath.
"I choose not to waste them on such petty battles as these." the Shadow replied. Sothe started; he hadn't thought Dark Link could hear him. "Do not fail, Lady Micaiah. You know what is at stake."
She nodded. King Pelleas had informed them five days previously of the blood pact the Senate held. Hyrule's spies had already informed him of it, apparently, and of the fact that she knew about it. It was a game of wills every time she looked at him.
A Daein soldier rushed up to them and bowed. "General Maiel's forces have encountered the laguz forces. The battle has begun! The decoy operation succeeded."
Micaiah nodded and looked to her troops, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "All forces, get in position! Our target is the Apostle. We will attack her while General Ike and General Zelgius are distracted."
"We have visual conformation on the Holy Guards!" another Daein soldier called. "They're heading this way!"
"Damn!" Tanith swore as the Daein army came down from the cliffs above. "We're being ambushed! I should have known..."
"What is happening?!" Sanaki demanded, poking her head out of her carriage.
"We're under attack." Sigrun replied. "We will engage them now. Please stay inside the carriage, your Majesty."
"Someone, go tell General Ike!" Tanith cried. One of the Holy Guards nodded and kicked her pegasus, wheeling to fly back the way they'd come and escape the Daein soldiers.
"Lying in wait for your enemies! What a dirty trick!" Kieran spat contemptuously, riding forward to join Levail and Kaj.
"That's odd. I always heard the Maiden of Dawn wasn't one for such tactics." Kaj remarked.
Levail drew the Wishblade and nodded. "Well it's happening now. Kaj, you'll command the front troops with Kieran. I'll support the north units."
Kaj nodded and spun his silver dagger in his hand. "Yes, sir."
"The Crimean Royal Knights shall lead the charge!" Kieran declared, drawing his silver poleax. "Hyaa!" He kicked his stallion and it briefly reared before charging into the front ranks.
Levail moved to leave but was briefly stopped by Kaj's arm on his shoulder. "If you're in trouble, I'll be there." the boy assured him.
"I know." Levail replied, and then he turned away again and ran to his troops.
The Daein soldier in front of Micaiah shoved the boulder heavily, and it tumbled off the platform to roll down the cliff and strike the enemies far below. She walked forward and saw the battle below, appraised how it was going. So far, their forces were doing fairly well, though the Crimean Knights at the front were bringing some trouble.
"The battle goes well." a cold voice said from behind her. She turned slightly to see Dark Link atop Shard, just behind her. "However, it is nearing the time to put your plan into action."
"I know." she said regretfully. "Where are Hyrule's forces in all this?"
"I would see how Daein fares before taking my troops to the field." he replied flatly. "Give the battle another hour at the most. I shall return shortly. There are matters I must attend to." He leaned forward and patted Shard's scaled neck, speaking softly in the ancient tongue. A moment later the dragon flapped hard and ascended, leaving Micaiah to turn and speculate on the battle once again.
The only reason Sothe had sought out this one opponent was because he used a dagger. Not a sword, or lance or axe or bow—this boy, who seemed barely Sothe's age and was shorter than almost everybody on the battlefield, spun a silver dagger easily in his hand as the green-haired rogue approached him. Dagger-wielding opponents were rare—rarer still were dagger-wielding commanders with patchwork of Begnion armor. This dark-haired boy was much like Sothe himself, he realized.
"Do you seek me out? Hah." The boy laughed, but there was no humor in his voice. "I shan't have mercy on my enemies."
"I didn't think Begnion was in the habit of hiring rogues as their commanders." Sothe remarked, slowly sliding a steel knife out of his belt.
"They aren't." the boy replied smoothly. "I'm an exception. Th'name's Kaj, second-in-command under General Levail, of the Begnion forces under General Ike and General Zelgius, in the service of the Apostle of Begnion."
"How did you ever get that position?" Sothe asked, genuinely curious, though he tried not to show it.
"General Levail values my skills." Kaj countered. "You should not underestimate them."
"I'll take that in mind." Sothe flipped the knife out of his belt and threw it suddenly, the blade catching the light as it spun.
Kaj executed a perfect backflip, dodging over the spinning knife, and when he came up he returned the attack with his own knife. Sothe sidestepped it, his second knife already on its way, but again the dark-haired boy dodged it with ease.
"My turn," Kaj said, and flipping the dagger back into his hand he shot at Sothe so fast the rogue barely had time to see it coming. He leapt back and used his knife as he would a dagger, but Sothe easily knocked the blow aside. He was a bit too slow to dodge the second attack, and the silver dagger sliced into his arm, causing him to flinch.
"I shan't be taken so easily." Sothe muttered, and now he drew his own dagger and shot forward in a flash. The light glinted on the steel as the two daggers clashed into each other, and then Kaj twisted around and kicked Sothe in the stomach. The green-haired rogue only lost his balance for a moment, and spinning forward he slammed his dagger on the other boy's weapon and flipped over his head.
Kaj rolled forward and came around, a knife flying from his left hand wrist and nearly taking Sothe in the side. Sothe rushed forward again and stabbed, and he cut Kaj in the side. The boy grimaced and chopped the side of his hand down on Sothe's wrist, causing the other boy to almost yelp and drop his dagger. Then he grabbed Sothe's right wrist and twisted him around, kneeing him in the back of the legs.
Sothe broke loose and went into a roll, tumbling away from Kaj, and turned just in time to catch his opponent's kick with one of his own, sending them both off balance. Kaj recovered first and leapt forward, swinging his leg out to trip Sothe up, but the green-haired rogue leapt over the leg and slammed his own foot into Kaj's side. They both stumbled back again.
That was when Sothe heard Yune nearby; Micaiah's signal for him to return. A moment later the call for the Daein army to fall back went around. "I would love to continue this battle, but I don't have the time." Sothe remarked dryly.
"Ah, but of course." Kaj bowed mockingly. "Perhaps we'll see who's the better upon a later date."
Sothe nodded and ran. He went into a roll after just a few feet and ducked behind a boulder, just in case the dark-haired boy tried to knife him in the back.
Instead, he saw Kaj falling back to rejoin a fairly young man in relatively unique Begnion armor. General Levail, he assumed. The two of them retreated to protect the Apostle's carriage, and Sothe breathed easier knowing that that one wasn't in his range any longer.
A Daein soldier ran up to Micaiah. "General Maiel has fallen to the claws of the sub-humans!" he reported quickly. "The Laguz Alliance is heading this way to rescue the Apostle!"
"...Prepare to move to the next phase." Micaiah said decisively, deliberately ignoring Dark Link's cold presence behind her. "Archers, get ready! There's no more time for doubt."
The one soldier left, and the others at the edge of the cliff overturned the barrels they'd carried up there, pouring their ominous black contents down the cliff.
"What are they doing?" Sanaki demanded at the bottom of the cliff, looking up at the Daein soldiers far above.
"No!" Sigrun cried. "It's... It's oil! They're going to set us aflame! Apostle, onto my pegasus! We'll take to the sky!"
"We will protect the apostle from the archers by becoming her shield!" Tanith proclaimed. "Holy Guards, form up!"
The Holy Guard rode in a circle around Sigrun, who pulled Apostle Sanaki onto the saddle before her, and they began to ascend.
"No! No, Sigrun!" Sanaki cried. "We cannot leave the others here! I will not allow it!" The woman payed little attention to her.
"Commander, we're ready!" Tanith reported. The pegasi rose.
Up at the top of the cliff, Micaiah saw the Holy Guard flying up. "Don't let the Apostle escape!" she cried. "Archers, mages! Bring down that pegasus!" The soldiers drew back arrows and the mages prepared their spells, and Micaiah swallowed nervously. Sothe looked at her, concerned. Dark Link was emotionless.
Then, too fast for anyone to react, a brown blur shot through the three of them, and Sothe found himself being dragged off his feet. Micaiah yelped in alarm as Tibarn flew past the edge of the cliff, dangling Sothe precariously, and turned to face her. "Don't move." he called darkly. "I see one arrow fly, and the boy gets a quick lesson in falling."
"Sothe!" Micaiah cried. "No, please! All units, cease fire! Now!"
"No." Dark Link said flatly. The Daein soldiers looked back at their commander and her advisor in confusion. "Bring down the Apostle. The boy is of no concern."
"M-my lord!" Micaiah stammered. "We cannot...!"
Dark Link grabbed her shoulder and leaned next to her. "Would you sacrifice Daein for the sake of one boy?" he hissed.
"I... no..." she muttered. Tibarn appeared to be listening intently. "But... I..."
"General Ike and General Zelgius have reached us..." Tauroneo suddenly said, calling their attention to something else. The Laguz Alliance was approaching from the north. "We've failed."
The King of Hyrule gave Micaiah a dark look, then turned to face the approaching threat. The two Generals were there in just a few minutes.
"Micaiah of Daein." Zelgius said flatly, Alondite in hand. "And Dark Link of Hyrule. Listen carefully."
"Tell him to let Sothe go!" Micaiah cried.
"Not a chance." Ike answered for Zelgius. "We're offering you a choice. Surrender now and go home to Daein, or fight us and die."
"She won't. She will not retreat or negotiate." Dark Link said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Micaiah glanced at him, then nodded nervously. "He's right. Regardless of what you believe, the only choice we have is to fight."
"Micaiah, are you insane?" Ike demanded. "Look around! Every single person in your army will die! Do you care that little about them?"
"Enough!" a shrill voice cried from behind them.
Micaiah and Dark Link turned slightly to regard the Apostle, still surrounded by the Holy Guard and riding on Sigrun's pegasus. "Everyone stand down!" she called.
Dark Link's expression did not change. "She... we will not stand down." he said. A pause; then, slowly and deliberately; "Soldiers of Daein. If you value your country, kill the Apostle."
"What!?" Micaiah yelped. The Daein soldiers looked confused. "No!" she added, and they stood to attention, preferring to listen to their Maiden of Dawn, rather than the Shadow.
Zelgius leveled Alondite at Dark Link and spoke to Micaiah. "Call your forces off." he said warningly.
She shook her head. Sigrun and the Holy Guard flew higher. Dark Link sighed. "Ah. Pathetic. If you cannot do it yourself, then I shall take her down for you." He suddenly exploded into motion, his right hand shooting into the small bag on his hip and somehow whipping out a bow with an arrow already nocked on the string, his left hand grabbing it before it slipped. Before anyone could do anything, he spun, drew it back, and fired, not even bothering to sight.
He only just missed his real target, but the shot was so perfect it was hard to tell if he had not been aiming differently all along. The arrow hissed past the pegasus' wings, past Apostle Sanaki's startled face, and slammed through the gap in Sigrun's armor, straight into her heart.
Sanaki screamed. Tanith cried out in alarm. Sigrun gasped and slumped, and her pegasus startled. Micaiah gasped. Both Zelgius and Ike stepped forward with twin beams of energy from their sister swords launching at Dark Link. The Shadow rolled backwards, just underneath, and dropped the bow, coming to his feet with sword in hand. "You were fortunate, Apostle." he called over his shoulder. "Pray you are so lucky every time someone fires a shot at you."
Sanaki cried in horror and Tibarn let go of Sothe. Micaiah screamed and rushed to the edge of the cliff. "Nooo! Sothe!"
Dark Link clenched his left hand and there was a flash of red. Ike flinched, though the dark boy didn't notice. Sothe was intercepted by a black blur, and Tibarn swore. "What the—"
Then the huge black raven flew up and dropped Sothe in a heap next to Micaiah, and the Hawk king recognized him. "Naesala, you bastard!" he shouted, transforming and shooting forward in an instant. The Raven swerved and barely dodged the enraged Hawk's violent attack.
Sigrun's pegasus shied in alarm and Sanaki slipped from the saddle. "Apostle!" Tanith cried, trying to move to catch her, but her pegasus was startled and she couldn't get it to go down.
Fortunately, someone was already there.
Zelgius quickly dropped Alondite to safely catch Sanaki as Naesala dropped her down to him. Ike stepped in front of them and fired another sword beam at Dark Link, but the boy dodged again easily.
Then, right in between them, Tibarn caught Naesala and they landed in a rolling tangle of feathers. Tibarn Reverted and stumbled off him, spinning angrily on the raven king. Almost everybody there started, however, when Naesala Reverted and fell back to Dark Link's side.
"What in—" Tibarn said in shock. "By the—! Naesala, you bastard, what the—!?"
The raven king looked tired and sad, and his numerous wounds only added to that effect. "Sorry," he said offhandedly.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Tibarn demanded, stepping forward a pace, his fists clenched. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Why, Tibarn!" Naesala said sarcastically. "If I didn't know better, I would think you were concerned for my health. How touching."
Zelgius set Sanaki down gently and retrieved Alondite. The Apostle was on the verge of tears, her eyes locked on Sigrun as Tanith pulled the woman's body onto her own pegasus. On Tanith's brief check of Sigrun's pulse and the terrible little shake of her head that meant too much. "Oh Goddess... no... please. Stand down." Sanaki said miserably, lowering her eyes. "I've seen enough bloodshed today... please, no more..."
Ike glanced at her, then back to Dark Link. "We'll retreat for now. You'd better do the same, and I mean now."
"That is up to Lady Micaiah to decide." the king of Hyrule said, glancing back at her. She was trying hard not to cry and Sothe was trying to comfort her. "I shall fall back for now, however." He sheathed his sword again and backed up three steps, until he was just on the edge of the cliff. "Do not interfere with us. King Kilvas—return to the castle." Then the dark boy executed a perfect backflip and fell out of sight. A moment later a roar was heard and he and the dragon flew past the startled Holy Guard and into the sky.
Naesala watched him go, then looked back at the fuming Tibarn. "Sorry." he repeated. "It's like I said before. I don't have a choice."
"Why not?" Tibarn demanded. "You're a better fighter than that. He did that to you, didn't he?"
The Raven hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Why?" the Hawk hissed. "Why would you let him!?"
"I already told you. For the same reason again, I'm not allowed to tell you why. Sorry."
Tibarn sighed, frustrated. "...I'll spare you this time because you saved the Apostle. But next time I see you, I swear I'll tear your lungs out. Got it?"
Naesala nodded sadly. "We'll work this out... when this is over." Then he backed up and leapt off the cliff, and moments later he flew after Dark Link and the dragon, a shifted Raven once again.
Ike stepped forward to speak to Micaiah. "Retreat, Micaiah. I don't know how long we can hold our men back."
"But I can't..." she whimpered. "I... can't..."
Ike turned to Tauroneo. "I'll ask you one time; talk some sense into that girl, all right? She's losing it."
"...We won't pursue you this time." Tauroneo said. "However, we cannot avoid this war. That is all I will say for now. And Ike...I'm sorry for this."
"What is wrong with you people..." Ike muttered. Then he turned and walked back. Sanaki was right behind him, and Zelgius and Tibarn behind her.
"Idiot."
"You never said not to save the Apostle."
"It should have been obvious I wanted her dead, considering I had just attempted to kill her."
"...I apologize. It won't happen again..."
"It had better not, King Kilvas. My patience is wearing thin."
"I...know... I'm sorry."
"What did you tell the hawk king?"
"...Nothing...nothing he couldn't have figured out on his own..."
Courage was near. I know it. I felt his pain when I used my powers.
I'm close! If only I could find Wisdom... but he is not an easy one to find. My only chance is to continue assisting Daein and hope that I can locate him...
And Courage. I am convinced he is someone close to Ike and Zelgius. But who...? It cannot be one of the Alteans they travel with, nor that girl's man, for I would have sensed it in the Kauku Caves.
Or perhaps the Apostle of Begnion carries it. If that is the case, then perhaps it is wise that the raven king saved her. Hmm...