~Chapter Twenty
December 13th, 648.
So, how foolish has my shadow been today? the quiet voice in Dark Link's mind asked teasingly.
"I don't know what you mean," he replied flatly.
Dark Link was in Castle Crimea once again, drawing out his army and battle plans. Shard lay curled up quietly in the corner, imitating sleep. The snow hadn't stopped, but rays of sunlight were visible, burning in through the stained windows and making intricate patterns on the bare stone floor.
You know what I'm talking about, the voice stated. Your new guest.
"What about her?"
Do you really think she will be of any use to you? If anything, she is a spy for the mercenaries.
"The girl is too naïve to be a spy." Dark Link reasoned. "Too... innocent."
Perhaps that's what she'd like you to believe.
"I am not a fool." the Shadow said firmly. "I know what I'm doing. If you don't like that, you can just go silent again."
You know I can't really do that. I still have a conscience—though yours died many years ago.
"Clever words from a helpless voice in his own Shadow's head," Dark Link countered.
That's hardly my fault. You were the one who couldn't stand dying and had to keep me alive.
"A decision I'm regretting more and more with every word you speak," the Shadow snapped. "Now be silent."
Perhaps...for now. But when your army is sabotaged and the girl is laughing in your face, don't come crying back to me.
"I said—" Dark Link cut himself off when he heard the door quietly close. Glancing up, he saw his guest had entered the room.
"Who were you talking to?" she asked.
Dark Link waved the question aside. "No one of importance." The voice scoffed, causing the Shadow to snap at him again; "Be silent." Then, glancing quickly at the girl, who looked a bit confused, he added. "Not you, I was...never mind."
The girl stepped forward to join him, glancing down at the papers on his desk. "What are you writing?"
See? She's already at work, the voice said nastily.
Dark Link ignored it and answered the girl; "Simply drawing up the march orders for my forces. It should not concern you."
She nodded understandingly and stepped back a pace so she wouldn't see what he was writing. He went back to it. The voice grumbled. There was a lengthy pause of silence, save for the sound of Dark Link's pen scratching on the paper.
The girl eventually walked over to Shard, kneeling down carefully beside him. His eyes flicked open and he studied her carefully. She reached out a hand slowly, and he let her stroke his muzzle gently, even making a small purring sound.
"I never did catch his name," the girl said softly, continuing to stroke him.
"It's Shard," Dark Link called from his desk. "He is named after what he came from."
What, are you going to tell her all your secrets? That's a first.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"...Perhaps I will explain more at a later date." he said, returning to his writing and mumbling to the voice to shut up. The voice laughed at him.
Shard continued purring as the girl stroked his neck, careful not to scratch herself on his sharp, cold scales. She paused for a brief moment, then frowned. "He doesn't breathe," she said, puzzled. Reaching down, she put a hand near his heart; her frown deepened. "His heart doesn't beat, either."
She's figuring you out, the voice teased.
Ignoring him, Dark Link addressed the girl; "That is because... he is a creation of the Triforce of Power."
"What's a Triforce?"
He'd forgotten how little she knew of it. "This," he replied, holding up his left hand so she could see the red mark there. "Shard is...well...a shard of it, so to speak, materialized by my design into what he is. Once I collect the other two Triforces, he will cease to exist."
She paused for a long moment, looking deeply into Shard's pupil-less red eyes. "...That seems sad, don't you think?" she asked, not turning. "He's a person too. Doesn't he have just as much right to live?"
Dark Link was silent for a very long moment. "I...I cannot answer that." he finally said. "It doesn't matter, anyway."
The girl sighed slightly, then stood up. Shard watched her leave the room with no small trace of longing. Dark Link watched his dragon contemplatively, then glanced at the girl's back as she closed the door behind her.
So now you see the truth of my words, the voice said. Even if she is not a spy, she will no doubt confuse you.
"You just don't want me to use her as a bargaining chip with Courage," Dark Link said quietly.
Well...Once a Hero, always a Hero, I suppose.
"Still...for once, you are right." the Shadow murmured. "She is innocent enough...perhaps too innocent."
Then he had an idea. It was cruel, but it would work.
...So now you think of this...Are you sure that would be a wise option? It would take much of your power, power you can't afford to lose.
"It may be necessary." Dark Link glanced down at his left hand, studying the red triangular mark. "All the same, I will have to keep an eye on her..."
The Apostle's Army, on the march to Begnion
Naesala was walking. It wasn't something he did much, especially when on the march, but Leanne and Lucia had convinced him to let one of the healers bandage up his injured wings, and he was on strict orders not to use them for at least two weeks. Now he was getting an idea of what it must have felt like for that Heron prince, Rafiel, when he first lost the use of his wings.
He was startled by a Hawk practically crashing into the ground near him. He raised an eyebrow as it stood and Reverted, confirming it was actually Tibarn. "Were you so surprised to see me on the ground you lost control of your own wings?" he asked sarcastically.
"Don't get full of yourself," the Hawk growled in reply. "Have you seen the girl?"
"Which one? There are a lot in this army."
"Elena!"
"Ah. No, not recently. Why? Lost her already?"
"Oh, shut up." Tibarn sighed in frustration. "I've been looking all over for her, but it's like she's completely vanished."
"Maybe she's hiding from you." the Raven suggested.
"Why would she do that? What did I ever do to her?"
"Well, you called her father insane and you acted as if you wanted nothing to do with her. Maybe she thought you'd be happy if she avoided you."
"Hah! As if! She's driving me crazy worrying that she's going to get herself hurt or lost and I'll have both Ike and Zelgius to answer to."
"Did you ask any of her friends, by chance?"
Tibarn frowned. "Who?"
"Those Altean girls, Ranulf's girlfriend, that little hungry mage? Seen any of them?"
"Er...no."
Naesala laughed. "Well, no wonder you can't find her."
Tibarn groaned and jumped into the air again, flying off. Naesala smiled faintly, then grimaced as he noticed he'd fallen behind the others he'd been walking with. "Aw, geez." He raced to catch up. Lucia glanced back at him and laughed.
December 14th, 648.
Dark Link knelt in the beaten-down snow outside of the lonely fort. The footprints were already lightly dusted by the snow that fell even now, and it was hard to tell how long ago they'd been made.
Shard made a snuffling noise from behind him, nuzzling the girl, who was looking around the place sadly. "They left maybe a day, two days ago... They could've gone anywhere."
She's right, the voice said softly. They're probably long gone by now. You know how fast us 'Hero' types can move when we want to...Of course, you 'Villain' types can never quite match it.
Dark Link grunted in annoyance, rising to his feet. A Hylian marched out of the central building and saluted, standing at attention. "(Report.)" the Shadow said flatly.
"(Nothing, sir. The place appears to have been abandoned recently, but they left almost nothing of value.)" The Hylian produced a simple wooden box, a bit bigger than head size, and held it out to Dark Link. "(This was the only thing we found, sir.)"
The Shadow took it from him and opened the lid slightly, glancing in and frowning slightly. A moment later he looked back up at the soldier and nodded. "(Good work, sergeant. Gather your men and return to Melior at once. I will be along shortly.)"
The Hylian saluted again. "(Sir, yes sir!)" Then he turned and marched back into the building.
The girl walked over to Dark Link as he opened the lid fully, and started slightly when she saw the content—the Black Knight's helmet. "Why did they leave this behind?" she asked contemplatively.
"Curious, to be sure." Balancing the box against his side, he pulled the helmet out. A folded paper fell out of the bottom; the girl ducked to catch it before it fell to the snow, then unfolded it and offered it to him.
Setting the box down, still holding the helmet, Dark Link accepted the note and scanned the roughly written words;
If you still wish to claim the Triforce, be at Soze Pass on the 30th of December. If you attempt to harm any of my friends or anyone who is innocent before then, I will deny you what you seek.
-Courage
"He is a fool." Dark Link said quietly, crumpling up the note and tossing it aside. "He would have me meet him on his own terms."
"...Why don't you?" the girl suggested.
The Shadow laughed. "He will be plotting for my arrival, of course. Some plan to entrap me, and kill me, though he shall not succeed."
She frowned slightly. "...Well...I don't think you know Ike very well, but he probably wouldn't try to do that." she said finally. "He probably just wants to fight you again—a fair one-on-one. He's like that...a little centered on duels, you know."
Dark Link smiled faintly. "Oh? Well, if he is that naïve, then perhaps I shall take up on his request. After all...I wouldn't want to be 'denied', would I?"
The girl bent down and picked up the note, unfolding it to read. "...Soze Pass? I'm not sure how he plans to get there in just two weeks." she said. "Through the mountains at this time of year, and all."
"It is not impossible, if he keeps a fast pace. He is likely counting on the Apostle's intervention, as well."
"How so?"
Dark Link walked over to Shard. The dragon glanced up, purring slightly as the Shadow stroked his muzzle. "If the Apostle's army marches from its location straight on to Soze...they would make it in perhaps a week. Doubling around to Sienne and back would still place them fairly close on the set date."
The girl joined him by the dragon, wearing a concerned expression. "Do you think he plans to get some message to them, telling them to join him there?"
"Oh, I fully expect that." He smirked. "Which is why I've already detailed my march orders. My armies will move on Begnion with me; if the Apostle decides to intervene, I shall be ready for her... and if she does not, well; then I can get rid of the rest of those meddlesome mercenaries at the same time."
"...You've planned for everything."
"I make it one of my goals to do so."
December 15th, 648.
Elena dashed into Elwyn and Luna's tent so fast she nearly tripped over her own feet. "Sshh!" she whispered loudly.
Luna frowned, puzzled. "Hmm? What—"
"Sssshhh!" Elena whispered again, more frantically. A moment later, they heard a deep voice call "Hey! Where the hell did she go?"
Elwyn sighed. "Don't tell me it's the Hawk king again."
Elena nodded urgently. "Can I hide in here for awhile?" she asked.
Luna did a facepalm. "Elena, you cannot hide from him like this! Why do you hate him so much, anyway?"
"I don't hate him, I just don't like him and I don't want him on my back!" the young girl replied indignantly. "I'm a little offended already that Father thought I needed watching, not to mention he wanted him to watch me!"
"Well, I don't want to have to go through another round of his interrogation on your whereabouts." Elwyn set aside her pile of used Wind tomes(she was repairing their damaged bindings so she could use them again) and stood up. "I'll go send him off."
"No! You'll make him curious!" Elena begged.
Elwyn was already out of the tent. "My lord?" she called faintly.
Tibarn glanced around, fixing on her. "Oh. You're one of those twins, from Altea."
She nodded. "Elwyn, my lord. Is there something you require?"
"Yeah, I could use a little help finding Elena..."
"Why are you looking for her, anyway?"
"Why?" He snorted. "Because I haven't seen her in two days, and as stupid as it makes me sound, I'm worried about her!"
He thought he heard a giggle and a frantic shush from the tent behind Elwyn. "What was that?"
The mage made a vague gesture. "Just my sister Luna, my lord. Erm...Why is it your responsibility to look after her...?"
"Because I promised her parents a long time ago that I'd look after her if there was no one else."
"Hah!" Elena forgot herself and stuck her head out of the tent. "You're just scared that Father'll have your hide if I go missing!"
"There you are, you little sneak!" he shouted, making a dive for her. She made a little shriek and jumped away, causing him to stumble and nearly trip. She turned and tried to run, but ran smack into Naesala after half a second and fell over, dazed. The Raven started, then started again as Tibarn made straight for the girl again, but ended up almost tripping again. He finally did grab her arm as she got to her feet, though.
"Why the hell were you hiding from me?" Tibarn demanded.
Elena struggled to pull her arm away. "Because you're a jerk and I hate you!"
"I thought you said you just didn't like him very much," Elwyn teased from the sidelines. Elena shot her a glare that spat Traitor.
"Seriously, do you have any idea how crazy you've driven me over these past two days?"
"Like I care," she snarled, "since you obviously don't!"
"Look, I didn't really mean to call Zelgius crazy, okay? And I wasn't trying to offend you!"
"Well, you certainly did!"
"What did I say?"
"You acted like I was helpless!"
"You're just a kid, okay? What can a little girl like you do?"
"See! You're doing it again!"
"Doing what!?"
"Being an ass!"
"Since when do you even know that word!?"
"I heard you say it!"
"How would you have heard, you were avoiding me for two days!"
"That doesn't mean I never overheard anything!"
Naesala watched this argument in a sort of dazed fascination for a minute, then walked casually over to Elwyn. "Is she trying to run away again?" he asked.
The mage shrugged. "Pretty much."
The raven called over to the pair; "Was she running from you again, Tibarn? You must have a really scary face or something..."
"Shut up back there, you stupid bird!"
"Nowyou're being a hypocrite,you stupid bird!"
"What the—! I'm not the stupid bird, he is!"
Luna, watching from just inside the tent, giggled slightly. Elwyn smiled. "I'll leave you to it, then!" she called, retreating to join her twin.
Naesala watched Tibarn and Elena's argument for a little longer, then walked away, shaking his head and smirking slightly.
Around the same time as that, Kieran was standing watch on the outskirts of the camp and feeling a bit lonely. Makalov had been wounded in the last battle; it had gotten infected, so now he was sleeping through the fever. And Oscar was off in Crimea somewhere, rescuing their queen.
That part infuriated Kieran. How dare his archrival leave to rescue the Queen and Knight Commander without telling him first! How dare he not bring Kieran along!
Especially since... with Crimea under occupation, Marcia would be in trouble as well.
He must've been trying to leave me behind so he could steal her away when I wasn't around! Kieran thought furiously. Deceitful squinty coward! Fair lady Marcia, you must withstand his advances until I return to...to...oh, what's the use? He sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead, where it ached after getting banged there in the last battle. They could both be dead, for all I know. Or maybe they really are off together somewhere, and she really loves him, not me...
He sighed again. How depressing is that? Geez...Pull yourself together, man!
He was startled out of his thoughts by three figures stepping out of the darkness beyond his torch. They were barely visible, and he couldn't quite make them out. "Who's there?" he demanded.
"It's only us, Sir Kieran." one of them said, stepping forward.
Kieran gasped slightly as he recognized him. "Your Highness!" he said. "What are you doing in Daein?"
"That is not important." The prince stepped more fully into the torchlight, meeting Kieran's gaze. "I must speak with Apostle Sanaki. Can you direct me to her?"
Kieran nodded, pointing behind him. "She's probably in the meeting tent still, your Highness. Just look for a big tent in the middle."
"Thank you." The prince walked past him. The other two figures stepped into the light and followed him; one, Kieran recognized as the prince's younger sister, but the tall green-haired man was a mystery.
Now...where did you three come from...?
The apostle was just about ready to give up all this report-reading and go to bed when Tanith stepped into the tent. "Apostle Sanaki? There's someone who wishes to see you."
"Who is it?" Sanaki asked wearily, tossing aside another report and sighing.
"They didn't say, my lady. They did say that they were Alteans."
The apostle's eyebrows raised. "Alteans? …..Alright. Send them in, please."
Tanith nodded, then stepped out of the tent. A few moments later, she escorted in two people Sanaki didn't recognize, and one she thought she did, distantly. "My lady Apostle." the blue-haired man in the front said, bowing slightly. "It is an honor to meet you. I am Marth Lowell... once crown prince of Altea. This is my sister, Elice Caeda, and our escort, Stefan."
"...Marth Lowell?" the apostle said, faintly surprised. "I...I was not aware you were in Begnion."
"I was not, until recently." he replied. "I was...in hiding from King Hyrule. I did spend some time in the service of King Daein..."
"...Pelleas? You worked for him?" she asked.
"Yes...for a short time. I left after the battle of Nox. I was hoping we might travel with your army for a while." he explained.
She thought for a moment. "...Well, yes, of course." she replied. "But...may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"By chance, were you...close to King Pelleas?"
"...I was his bodyguard."
"Did he...ever say anything about his reasons? For siding with Begnion?"
Marth glanced aside. "Well...to be honest, yes. But...for the interest of any future Daein may hope to have, I will have to withhold that information for now."
Sanaki frowned. "Ah...Very well. Commander Tanith, see to it that they are given any supplies they might need."
"As you command, my lady." Tanith bowed, then quickly led the Alteans out of the tent.
December 16th, 648.
The Army of Hyrule was a dark expanse, stretching out across the landscape as far as the girl could see. She watched in fascination from Shard's back, high above the ground. "How many are there?" she asked in wonderment.
Dark Link, seated in front of her, smirked faintly. "Over a hundred thousand strong."
She gasped. "Over a—? How—how is this possible? Hyrule is hundreds of miles away, across the sea!"
"The Triforce of Power can do many things, my dear." he said smoothly. "One of its powers is the ability to create portals, though the drain on its host when creating ones large enough for armies is great. It took me months to bring this force here, but now that I have it, the Apostle's army doesn't stand a chance."
There's still some chance, the voice said firmly. Haven't you ever read fairy tales? The good guys always prevail, even against fantastic odds.
"Yes, but those are stories, nothing more. In real life, greater numbers always give the edge." Dark Link replied. Then, realizing he'd confused the girl again, he added to her "I was speaking to—"
"The voice, I know." she interrupted. "I don't understand where that came from, either..."
She's already picked up on me, eh? Not bad.
"He is an extension of me, nothing more."
Hah! You're the extension, silly shadow, not me.
"Really?" She frowned. "Like Shard?"
"No, not exactly..."
"I still don't understand."
You could just tell her the truth.
"You don't have to." Dark Link replied. He looked down again, at the expanse of his army as it marched into the mountains. "It doesn't matter, anyway. I'll be rid of him soon enough."
Liar.
"Shut up!" He didn't have to explain to the girl this time.
Apostle's Army
Elena was in a bad mood. So much so that the aura of grumpiness around her was practically visible.
She also wasn't talking, which was driving the Hawk king nuts.
"Elena." Tibarn said.
She remained silent. "Elena, the silent treatment is not going to change anything." he growled.
She continued to ignore him. "Elena? Look, just say something, okay?"
"That isn't going to work," Naesala commented.
"You stay out of this." Tibarn snapped.
The Raven held up his hands defensively. "Hey, I'm just saying! You have to apologize to her."
"For what?"
"Hah!" Elena laughed mockingly. "Don't tell me you honestly believe you have nothing to apologize for!"
"What did I do!?"
"You tied me to a tree all night!"
"That was so you wouldn't run away again!"
"It was cold!"
"It was cold for me too! I had to sleep out there to make sure nothing tried to eat you!"
"You're a laguz! It's not as bad for you as it is for me!"
"Now you're just being racist!"
"Well, it's true, isn't it!?"
"Only for Beast laguz! They have all that fur!"
"And you have feathers!"
"Only on the wings!"
"Not when you Shift!"
"Being Shifted gets you tired after a while!"
"You were supposed to be sleeping!"
"Stop, already!" Naesala shouted. They both fell silent and turned to him accusingly. "Look, guys, you're being more than a little ridiculous."
"I thought we were settling some important issues." Elena grumbled.
"Are you joking?" Tibarn snapped. "You were being racist!"
"Yeah, well you tied me to a tree!"
"I wouldn't have had to if you weren't trying to run awa—"
"Hey!" Naesala said again. "Just apologize to each other, already!"
"I'm not apologizing until he does." Elena snapped.
"For the love of—" Tibarn did a facepalm. "Are you always this spoiled?"
"Hah! There's another thing you have to apologize for!"
"It's true, though!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"For the love of all things holy, will you two shut up!" Naesala shouted. "You're both being idiots!"
"Well, if she wasn't so..." Tibarn trailed off with a frustrated sigh. "Okay. Fine. Elena, I'm sorry for tying you to a tree and calling you spoiled. Okay?"
"Hmmph." She grumbled for a bit, but finally replied; "I'm...sorry for being racist, and I'm sorry for running away and worrying you."
They glared at each other for a long moment before Naesala intervened; "Okay! Great! Now maybe you two shouldn't talk for a while until you cool off."
"Fine." Elena slowed down and veered off to look for one of her friends.
Tibarn sighed in frustration again. "Has she always been like this?"
Naesala shrugged. "I do think Ike might spoil her a bit."
"Maybe being away from him will be good for her, then."
"Don't say that..."
"Hmmph." Tibarn walked faster, leaving the Raven behind.
Naesala sighed and smiled faintly. "All things considered, you two really should be related," he commented to no one in particular. "You're so much like each other it's unsettling."
Lucia, catching up to him, frowned slightly. "Who are you talking to?"
"Hmm?" He glanced over at her, then laughed slightly. "Oh. No one in particular...just talking about Tibarn and Elena."
"Ah." She put one hand on her hip and glanced over at where the said pair had accidentally bumped into each other again... and were also arguing again, much to Janaff's(who was nearby and also watching) confusion. "The mercenary daughter and the Hawk king. I'm surprised they don't get along better, actually."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, Ike and Tibarn get along pretty well. Zelgius and Tibarn too. Plus they share the same opinions on a lot of things..."
"I guess she just needs to get to know him. And he needs to stop losing his patience with her...she really is just a kid, after all." Naesala laughed again. "But mark my words, Lucia. By the time we find the Greil Mercenaries, they'll be best friends and no one will be able to tell that they were ever enemies."
"M-My lords! It's good to see you're safe!" Elwyn said with a little shock, dropping to one knee and bowing her head respectfully. Luna quickly did the same.
Elice Caeda quickly knelt down and caught the mage's hands, pulling her back to her feet. Luna rose with her. "None of that, now." the princess chided gently. "I am glad that you are both well."
"How did you get here?" Elwyn asked. "I thought you were going to Sienne... and Prince Marth to Daein."
"I do not believe that Daein is safe for my brother anymore," Elice Caeda explained. "It is likely that Roy was forced to give the Shadow information, and thus...he had to leave."
"And Li-cae got lost in the desert, so that's how she ended up here." Stefan added.
Elice Caeda smiled faintly and glanced back at him. "Yes, there is that as well..."
"Actually...Wasn't the Apostle's army under the command of Generals Ike and Zelgius, from the Greil Mercenaries?" Marth asked curiously. "I haven't heard mention of them since we got here."
"Ah, yes, about that..." Elwyn cleared her throat. "General Ike took the majority of the Greil Mercenaries and rode back through Daein to Crimea, to assist Queen Elincia after the occupation."
"Then we received information from King Kilvas...that revealed that the Mercenaries had stumbled into a trap, and likely been captured or killed by Dark Link..." Luna continued.
"...Which led to General Zelgius' disappearance about four days ago, to go rescue them." Elwyn finished.
"So none of them are here..?" Marth frowned slightly. "Pity. I was hoping to meet General Ike...Deirdre left with them?"
"Yes," Luna replied. "Have you gotten any information about the others? Dustin..."
"...or Kester..." Elwyn continued.
"...or Will?"
"As far as we know, they are in Begnion somewhere, in the service of Lord Sephiran." Elice Caeda replied. "Tiki and her children are still in Goldoa. And of course, you two and Jak are here in the Apostle's army..."
Elywn blinked. "What? We haven't seen Jak..."
"...since we got here." Luna finished, equally puzzled.
Marth frowned. "Really? I could've sworn I saw him a few hours ago... He was with one of the Begnion commanders, I believe."
"Young guy, blondish-brown hair, brown eyes, average height, red armor." Stefan supplied helpfully.
"Ah...that must be General Levail." Luna said contemplatively. "We..."
"...haven't talked much to him." Elwyn finished. "Maybe..."
"...we should go see him sometime." Luna murmured.
Marth blinked. "...Is it just me, or have you two gotten even more confusing? In that...identical twin sort of way, I mean."
They smiled in unison. "Maybe we have," they chimed. Then they turned and walked off in step.
Marth blinked again, then shook his head and sighed. Elice Caeda smiled. "Well, truth be told, brother...I believe we've all changed a little since we last saw each other."
"Yes...I know." he replied. "For better or worse."
"Well, if we didn't change, where would be the fun in going places?" Stefan asked cheerfully, slipping his hand into Elice Caeda's. "At least, I'd like to think Li-cae's changed a bit since we met..."
"Oh, yes, definitely..." she replied, gazing up at him, her eyes sparkling. He turned to face her and smiled warmly.
Marth blinked a third time and sighed again, more cheerfully. "All things considered, I'm glad I'm not sharing a tent with you two." he said.
They were too lost in their own, private little world to notice.
December 20th, 648. Sienne.
The Begnion Senate was in a fair uproar. The four leading senators, Valtome, Hetzel, Numida, and Oliver, were in a loud argument amongst themselves over what should be done concerning the Apostle, the former Prime Minister, and Daein; the few hastily-elected new senators to make the numbers match up sat in a daze, watching the others argue; and the three from Hyrule watched from the side, amused, bored, or confused, depending on which one you were looking at.
"Daein failed to halt the Apostle's army, thus they must be eliminated!" Numida declared angrily.
"If we activate the blood pact on them now, the entire country will be wiped out! Soldiers we could still use!" Hetzel argued back.
"The Apostle must be destroyed!" Valtome screeched. "I will execute that insufferable Zelgius and his mercenaries myself! Uwee hee hee!"
"We can't wipe them out publicly, or the citizenry will riot!" Numida shouted. "We should have them dealt with quietly!"
"We should make an example of them!" Valtome retorted at an equal volume. "That will shut the people up!"
"Sephiran should be eliminated first! Then the Apostle will cower, like the child she is!" Numida declared.
"We should kill all those who oppose us immediately!" Valtome argued.
"But if they surrender to us, we can still use them!" Hetzel shouted.
"I shall defeat all those ugly and frightening monsters who would dare attack us!" Oliver screeched.
"No, you twit!" Valtome shouted. "We're supposed to be the frightening ones! So that they'll run from us, screaming like little children!"
"Oh. Well, then I shall capture the beautiful Herons and use their beauty to frighten the ugly ones!" Oliver declared dramatically.
The arguing continued. Shard snorted, overcome with boredom. "How do they ever get anything done?" the girl beside him asked, confused. "They do nothing but argue."
Dark Link, on her other side, laughed, stretching his arms out, an amused smirk on his face. "Many great people have said the same, and yet they do nothing to change. Senates shall always be this way, I suppose. Always arguing, unless someone smart gets in there at tells them what to do."
"But they must have had someone smart in there before, then, or they never would've come up with the plan to undermine the Apostle and all." she reasoned.
"They did." Dark Link's smirk widened, baring his teeth slightly. "He's dead now."
The girl's eyebrows raised. "How do you know?"
"How do you think I got the Kilvas blood pact?"
She shuddered and glanced back at the Senate. Oliver and Valtome were arguing; the girlish man looked like he was about to punch the fat one in the nose, but the latter was oblivious to the veiled threat and shouting something about 'Heron beauty power'. "How is he still alive, anyway?" she asked after a moment, gesturing at Oliver. "I was pretty sure Ike killed him in the Mad King's War."
"The Senate takes care of its own, or so I'm told." Dark Link shrugged. "I believe they had him secretly reinstalled in his manse after his supposed death, where he's been living unchanged for quite some time...and they pulled him out to come here and argue with them after the fall of Castle Nox and Daein."
"Speaking of that," the girl commented, "how come you didn't go to their aid at the castle? I thought you had some kind of deal with the Senate concerning that."
"To be precise...the deal was that I would assist Begnion and its allies against the Apostle, and in return Begnion would assist me in capturing Crimea, as well as hunting down Wisdom and Courage. To answer your question..." The Shadow sighed slightly. "I was busy at the time."
"Busy?"
"Yes. With a certain mercenary commander, as I'm sure you recall."
She shuddered again and glanced away. He noted her action mentally.
I suppose she isn't completely gone to your side yet, the voice pondered.
"She will be, in time." Dark Link mumbled under his breath.
Before or after you fight Ike at Soze?
"If she is not before, then I will go with plan B." the Shadow replied.
You're still planning on going through with that?
Dark Link sighed, then decided that the argument had gone on long enough. Drawing his sword, he slammed the edge of the blade against the wall, hard. There was a resounding clang as it made a slice before bouncing off; the four arguing senators stopped, glancing back at him.
Straightening, he sheathed his blade again. "You have discussed your options for well over three hours. Now, I believe that unless you will be making a decision, I will be going."
The four senators glared at each other, until Dark Link finally asked; "Will you go to meet the Apostle's army, or cower in your city until she comes to drive you out?"
"We shall march out and meet her face-to-face!" Valtome declared. "The little wretch will cringe before the might of Begnion!"
"Will you be able to assist our troops, King Hyrule?" Hetzel asked.
Dark Link paused for a moment, then replied; "That depends. My forces will be at Soze Pass on the thirtieth of December; I cannot get them to there any earlier than that, so I doubt it if they will be able to assist your forces until then. As for myself personally... I have an errand that I must deal with on the thirtieth, so I will be occupied then; I will most likely be busy before then as well, managing my forces and so forth. I doubt I can be of much help."
"Oh, really!" Numida complained. "You're saying that there's no way you can assist us!?"
"Exactly." Dark Link replied. "Perhaps if my business in Daein is finished quickly, I'll have time to stop by and pick up the pieces of your army after the Apostle decimates it. But that is doubtful. Farewell."
Turning around, he swept out of the room dramatically, leaving the senators to argue more in his wake. Shard got up and followed him; the girl ducked under the dragon's sweeping wings and followed as well.
Out on the snow-covered balcony, Dark Link laughed. "Those fools will be destroyed by the Apostle! Their force may have a slim chance if they hold out for a siege, but sallying out, against over half the Central Army, the Laguz Alliance, some of Crimea, all at once...? Hah!"
"So they really are doomed." the girl mused. "Crimea's already been occupied. Daein's been decimated. It's almost as if you're trying to put the laguz in power..."
"Heh. As if. I could not care less for this continent's politics; if this ends with a broken king and a lonesome child on the thrones of the last two beorc countries, and a pair of enraged kings on the warpath of the laguz countries, then so be it. I only care whether I get the other Triforces before all goes to hell."
Apostle's Army
Naesala was starting to wonder if deeply inhaling several elixirs would make his wings heal faster, so he could fly again. He would've done anything to get away from Tibarn and Elena at this point.
"...And furthermore, it is not necessary to tie me to a tree every night so I don't 'run away'!" Elena was saying. "It's December and it's freezing!"
"I know," Tibarn said patiently. "However, I also recall that I gave you a blanket last night!"
"The tree was three feet deep in snow!"
"So what?"
"That's up to my waist!"
"Well, that's your fault for being so damn short!"
"Are they always like this?" Lucia asked contemplatively.
Naesala nodded. "Ohh yeah... most days it's impossible to get them to shut up..."
"I knew they argued, but I never overheard one of their arguments before..." She laughed. "Are they always this stupid, too?"
"Yes!"
"Hey! I am making some valid points over here!" Elena insisted.
"So am I, but nobody cares about my opinions!" Tibarn fumed.
"Really, though, Tibarn, you shouldn't tie her to a tree. It's undignifi—" Lucia was cut off by an 'oof' when she ran straight smack into Volke, who was walking the other way. "Oh! Sorry about that," she apologized.
"Don't do it again," he replied flatly; then he swept by her, continuing on his route.
She paused to watch him as he left, and shook her head, sighing slightly. "That man! I don't know why Bastian keeps him around, after he finished his other job."
"Right...What was that again?" Elena asked, temporarily distracted from Tibarn. "The job, I mean."
"Well...I assume you've heard about Lord Renning, the queen's uncle?" Lucia asked.
The girl nodded. "He died during Daein's occupation of Crimea, three years ago."
"Yeah. It turns out, he didn't actually die, but was given the drug that turns laguz feral by King Ashnard and used as a weapon...Bastian discovered this, caught Renning, and hired Volke to find a way to cure him. They captured the man that developed the drug, Izuka—"
"They caught him?" Elena demanded. "What'd they do with him?"
"I was getting to that." Lucia said. "They tried to make him give them the antidote, but he refused. The four of them were at Fayre in Crimea when Dark Link occupied Melior; they escaped the castle shortly before Dark Link took it himself. Izuka and Renning both escaped, but were promptly captured by Dark Link; Bastian and Volke, pursuing them, were also captured. They were brought to Dark Link's mountain fortress, where they were briefly imprisoned with me and Leanne before Naesala came along and freed us."
"Whose plan involved getting my dad killed, or worse." Elena mumbled.
Naesala looked down at his feet guiltily. "I said I was sorry..."
"Anyway," Lucia continued, "after we were freed and brought here, to the Apostle's army, Bastian had the thought to use the Heron's galdrar to heal Renning. But before he could get them, Izuka escaped again, taking Renning with him."
"I don't remember anyone mentioning that." Elena commented. "Wasn't it reported to the Apostle?"
"Bastian didn't think it necessary." Lucia replied. "So, the two of them escaped. Bastian and Volke tailed them, and eventually found them holed up somewhere on the shore of Lake Semper. Near Talrega, actually. Izuka had a good deal of feral laguz with him as well, and Bastian knew he and Volke couldn't take them alone. So... he came back to pick up some allies. This was around the seventh, I think, just before the battle at Castle Nox. Bastian talked with Skrimir first... of course, he was outraged, and insisted on going to free the feral laguz. Ranulf overheard, and he and a few of his commanders got a good squad of Cats and Tigers to go with them. Then Tibarn saw the commotion and joined in as well. Naesala heard and wanted to go, but he was still injured. Skrimir figured that if the beorc stayed behind, the laguz could go there and get back in a day...so the lot of them ran out, leaving Bastian and Volke behind."
"You were there?" Elena asked, turning to Tibarn.
The Hawk king nodded. "Yeah. If I'd missed it, it would've haunted me, I think."
"You got that right," Naesala mumbled. "Damn! I don't care what that healer said, I could've made it on these wings...even after Tibarn tore them up..."
"Well, you can hardly blame me," Tibarn said firmly. "You knew you had it coming. You're lucky I didn't kill you, but as much as I hate to say it, Leanne likes having you around."
"You could've waited until after we killed Izuka to rip out half my feathers, though!" Naesala insisted.
"Anyway..." Lucia continued, "They all went out and found Izuka, exactly where Bastian had last seen him. They fought for a long time; I don't know all the details, but at some point in the fighting, Renning attacked one of Ranulf's female Cat commanders—Ducessa, was it?—and Ranulf went to her defense...Skrimir went with him...Next thing they knew, Renning was dead." She glanced down at her feet sadly. "It was an accident, perfectly understandable... still, a pity that it happened...Anyway, I believe shortly after that, Tibarn got to Izuka and had the honor of tearing him a new one, so to speak. And that, as they say, was that."
"Wow..." Elena blinked, still looking at Tibarn. "You killed Izuka, then?"
"Hell, yeah!" Tibarn slammed his fists together to emphasize the point. "I only wish I could've made that disgusting filth suffer more before the end!"
Elena blinked again, gazing at the Hawk king with new, admiring eyes.
"So that's why we haven't seen Ranulf recently," Naesala mused. "I remember Tibarn mentioning that that Tiger-Cat was wounded when Renning attacked. Ranulf must be taking care of her."
"He is the kind of person to do that," Lucia agreed. "He's very sweet."
"What did Bastian say when you got back?" Elena asked curiously.
"Oh, that." Tibarn snorted. "He was outraged that we'd killed Renning, of course, but there wasn't anything we could do about it. He finally just thanked us for assisting in ridding the world of twisted madmen, worried over what he was going to tell Elincia, and walked off to worry about how he was going to pay Volke."
"He hasn't already?" Lucia asked.
"Nope. I guess Volke took it as credit or something."
"Oh dear. He's always terribly expensive..." Lucia frowned. "Bastian's probably going to end up pressing Elincia for the money..."
"I agree." Naesala said cheerfully. "Sounds like what I would do, after all."
Lucia elbowed him. "Enough of that! I'd like to think there's someone around here with better morals than Bastian," she teased.
"Ah! Why, Lucia, I'm offended!" he replied sarcastically. "I have the best morals of anyone in this camp!"
"I find that hard to believe."
"You wound me, m'lady!"
Tibarn and Elena groaned in unison. Then they met each other's eyes and grinned.
Naesala smirked. "See? Best friends." he whispered cheerfully.
She smiled and nodded.
"We can both hear you," Tibarn said loudly. "And no, we're not."
"Yeah!" Elena agreed quickly. "We still hate each other! No doubt about it!"
The Raven king and the trueblade laughed. "Yes, yes, of course." Lucia said assuringly.
Later that evening, Levail glanced up, startled, as Kaj ducked into his tent and sat down quickly. His breathing was hard, like he'd been running, and he was fairly tense. "Is something the matter?" Levail asked.
The dark-haired boy shook his head. "No, just...ah...barely managed to avoid the twins, is all...damn...that was close! They don't usually wander over to this side of camp..."
Levail sighed. "...Why do you run from them?" he asked. "I don't think it matters at this point if they see you."
"It's better if they don't." Kaj relaxed slightly. "I don't want to cause King Kilvas any trouble."
"Nobody cares that you worked for him." the young sentinel said. "Since he's on our side now anyway, I doubt it really matters."
"Yeah, well, I'd still much prefer to stay out of the way of the other Alteans." Kaj said quietly. "It'd just bring more problems and confusion for everybody."
"...I still don't see why you believe that." Levail murmured.
"Oh, it's not like they care anyway." Kaj grumbled. "None of them cared much about me. Always the rogue; always the outcast. Not that I mind. You know I prefer to avoid crowds."
"They're still your friends."
"Meh. It doesn't matter. Revealing myself now would just confuse everyone and make everyone think I'm more important than I am. I hate that." Kaj turned to the young sentinel and smirked. "No; the shadows are for me, my dear Levail. They can keep the light all to themselves."
Levail sighed again. "As usual... you simply care about yourself, and not the fact that your remaining missing might be causing others to worry." he said ruefully.
"Why, Levail," Kaj said mockingly, getting up and walking over to the sentinel, "I thought you said you didn't care whether I stayed in shadow or light."
"I don't...not really." Levail replied. "I just wish I wasn't your... only friend."
Kaj slipped his hand under the young sentinel's chin, lifting it so he met his eyes. He was so short normally, it was usually Levail who stood over him; for some reason, the dark-haired boy delighted in the sudden change in stature. "Yeah...as usual, your selflessness shows through. ...'Ts sorta funny. You're almost entirely selfless, while I'm totally selfish..."
The young sentinel smiled faintly. "Yes; it's a wonder we get along..."
December 27th, 648.
Tibarn was hovering a ways up in the sky, looking out at the approaching Begnion force. And laughing. "You've got to be kidding me! There can't be more than six thousand of them!"
"What?" Apostle Sanaki demanded from her place, riding in front of Tanith on the older woman's pegasus. "You cannot be serious!"
"No joke," Naesala said. His wings had finally recovered enough to fly two days ago, much to his relief. "Five or six thousand strong, at the most. That can't really be all they have..."
"Perhaps they left the majority of their army behind to defend the capital...or perhaps their soldiers have deserted." Sanaki said thoughtfully. "But either way, the senate must be insane to try and fight us with that force! Why do they not just surrender, and spare the men?"
"This will indeed be a slaughter," Tanith stated. "The best we can do for those men is take out their leaders as quickly as possible, and then perhaps they will surrender."
"Right...Speaking of which, Tibarn; am I imagining it, or are there actually four Begnion senators leading the army?" Naesala asked, squinting.
"You aren't imaging it. Strange that they would come out themselves, though—" Tibarn's eyes narrowed. "Wait a sec...! Naesala, is that third senator who I think it is!?"
The Raven king squinted a bit more, then his eyes narrowed as well. "I think so. That bulk is unmistakable. How is he still alive!?"
Tibarn cracked his knuckles. "However he survived, he won't be alive for much longer!"
"Aw, come on." Naesala grumbled. "You got to kill Izuka; I want this one!"
"You'll have to beat me to him, then!"
Sanaki was puzzled. "Who are you talking about?" she asked.
They were too busy arguing about who would kill 'him' first to answer, so Tanith replied instead; "This is just a guess, my lady, but I suspect they are talking about Duke Tanas. I may have forgotten to mention it, but I have received reports of him still being alive. He is the only senator I can think of who they would both hate like this."
The Apostle's eyebrows raised in surprise. "...Well, that would explain some things..." she muttered.
When the senate's tiny force clashed with the Apostle's army, it was as Tanith had predicted; a slaughter. Yet the smaller army did manage to hold out for a surprisingly long time, each man fighting to the last.
The senators egged on their troops relentlessly, yet seemed intent on not actually fighting themselves. But most of them would die eventually.
As one could predict, Oliver was the first to go. And Naesala was lucky enough to reach him first.
"King Kilvas!" the fat senator spluttered as the Raven landed casually near him.
"Hello, Duke Oliver." Naesala replied calmly. "It's been a while."
"W-what are you doing here, with this rabble!?"
"Why, these 'rabble' are my friends! And I never got to pay you back for what you did to Reyson..."
"What are you talking about?"
"Goodbye, senator. It's been no pleasure knowing you—though at least you paid me well for my sins." Naesala jumped in the air and Shifted.
Numida witnessed Oliver's death from a distance. "Why, that dirty sub-human!" he fumed. "How dare he go against us...! And why isn't King Hyrule doing a better job of controlling him!? Has he betrayed us!? Damned brat...!"
Distracted in planning out the many ways he'd like to deal with the Raven king and his country, as well as Hyrule, he almost didn't notice when a green wyvern landed behind him. He started and spun around when it roared, finding himself meeting the eyes of a red-haired girl with a brave axe in hand.
He recognized her as a knight of Daein—one of the commanders of the 'liberation army' for that sham prince, Pelleas. "Knight of Daein, I am Duke Numida." he declared grandly. "Your ruler, King Pelleas, will—"
"You can stop right there!" she snapped, eyes narrowing. "Daein will never bow down to you again!"
"How dare you speak back to me!?" he snarled, reaching for his tome. "Insolent brat!"
She kicked the wyvern and they both shot into the air, startling Numida and sending several pages of the spellbook flying. He looked around for her, confused.
Then she swooped in at him and he went flying from the force of the axe blow. His eyes went wide and stayed that way as his head rolled away, a gruesome spectacle for anyone who was watching.
Jill landed again, breathing hard, blood dripping off the axe. Haar landed with a thump next to her. "You alright?" he asked.
She glanced at him, then back at Numida's headless body, and then finally at the axe. She laughed, then felt slightly sickened. "Should I not have done that?"
He grunted. "If you hadn't, I would've. Come on." He nudged his wyvern back into the air; Jill waited a moment before following suit.
Valtome, after having seen the deaths of his two fellow senators, was going slightly psychotic.
"They're both dead because of their own incompetence!" he shrieked, drawing startled and confused looks from the Begnion soldiers around him. "No! It's that Apostle's fault! No, wait! It's the fault of the sub-humans! Yes! Those mangy beasts will pay for their impudence!"
Decided in his path, he pulled out his tome and looked about wildly for any nearby laguz. He finally lay eyes on one—a peculiar purplish-brown patched Tiger-Cat-thing. "Aha! A mutant sub-human! Perfect!" he declared, storming forward.
It was just leaping back from finishing off a Begnion general when Valtome got within range. "Die, beast!" he shouted, then quickly shrieked the incantation from the book.
The laguz started as dark magic began to gather about it; it looked about for a way out, but it was almost impossible to see out of the darkness. Valtome started laughing;
"Uwee hee hee hee! Die, you stupid, insignificant fool of a sub-human! Die, die, die! Uwee hee hee!"
Then the tome was violently ripped out of his hands as a blue Cat leaped right past him, fangs closing around the pages and tearing it out of his grasp. The magic gathering around the other one flickered and went out.
Valtome shrieked and backed away. "Men! Men, to me! Kill those beasts!"
The Tiger-Cat snarled and stalked towards Valtome, bloodied fangs bared and dripping. The blue Cat shuddered, then in a rush of light Reverted, and stood tall. He glared at Valtome angrily. "You should know better than to go for her," he growled.
The senator shrieked again, but got cut off as the Tiger-Cat pounced.
Ranulf watched for a minute as Ducessa finished Valtome off, then took a swig from the flask of Olivi Grass on his hip and dashed back towards the battle. Ducessa Reverted, spat out a mouthful of blood, and commented to the corpse "If I'da known ya tasted that bad, I wouldn've bitten ya so hard," before running after her captain.
After the other senators met their untimely demises, Hetzel—on behalf of the army and the rest of the Senate—unconditionally surrendered to the Apostle. He was taken prisoner, and the enemy soldiers were given the option to either be taken captive or to join the Apostle's army for no pay for the first six months.
Most decided to follow the Apostle.
The captives were sent on ahead with an advance guard to Sienne; the guard would report the Apostle's victory to the people and deal with the last of the senate's resistance. The Apostle's army would follow shortly, after its wounded were recovered.
All in all; Apostle Sanaki was victorious. The only enemy force left on the continent was Hyrule.
There was just one other thing that had to be done first, however.
Hours before the last of the senate's army would be rounded up, or the advance guard with the captives sent ahead to Sienne, Prince Marth stepped into the tent where Apostle Sanaki and Senator Hetzel were discussing the terms of surrender. "Where is it?" he demanded flatly.
"What?" Hetzel asked, confused. At the same time, the Apostle asked "Prince Marth?"
"Where. Is. It?" the Altean prince said again, very clearly, storming towards the senator.
Elice Caeda stepped inside, following him. "Marth...!"
"I-I don't know what you're t-talking about," Hetzel stuttered.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Marth snapped, his right hand falling to the hilt of his sword. "Give it to me. Now. Before I kill you where you stand."
"Prince Marth, what is the meaning of this?" Apostle Sanaki demanded, as Elice Caeda scolded "Brother! Stop this at once!"
The senator stammered for only a few more moments before surrendering, pulling a scroll out of his robe and offering it shakily to the furious prince. Marth snatched it from him, opening it for a moment to check what it was. Then his fist clenched around it tightly, crumpling it in his hand.
"You destroyed a country with this," he informed the senator flatly, an undertone of menace creeping into his voice. "You ruined hundreds, thousands of lives with this. You destroyed a good man's mind, murdered a kingdom's last symbol of hope and, right when they were finally starting to recover, sent them back into desolation—all with this!" His other hand went to his sword hilt again.
"What is going on?!" the Apostle demanded again, confused. Elice Caeda lunged forward and grabbed Marth's arm, before he did anything stupid.
"Damn you and your precious senate!" Marth shouted at the cowering senator. "You destroyed a country, and for what?! Nothing! In the end it was all for nothing!" Pulling his arm away from his sister, he ripped the paper in two. There was a flash of white light, and then two small, insignificant scraps of paper floated to the ground, bits of magic dissolving around them. Then he stamped on them, grinding them into the dirt until there was absolutely nothing left.
"Will someone please tell me what is going on!?" Apostle Sanaki asked, exasperated.
Marth didn't answer her. "King Pelleas..." he muttered. "You're free now. Sorry it took so long..." Then he turned and left the tent, leaving Elice Caeda to explain what was going on.
Stefan was waiting outside, arms crossed. "You destroyed it?" he asked.
Marth nodded. The trueblade hmmphed. "Good. Let's hope that was the last one that will ever be made."
December 28th, 648.
"So why're you still here?" Kaj asked flatly.
Levail set down his breastplate that he'd been cleaning and stretched. "I work in this army, you know."
"Not that, silly. Why didn't the Apostle send you with the advance guard? You would've been perfect for the job."
"I suppose she didn't think the same." The sentinel smiled faintly. "Not that I mind. I think I've had enough of fighting to last the rest of my life at this point."
"You'll still have to do a lot of it, though." Kaj stated. "Hyrule's still out there, and the Apostle won't willingly abandon Queen Elincia to it."
"Yes, I know." Levail sighed. "I guess I'll have a lot more to do for a while..."
"...You could leave." the dark-haired boy finally suggested.
"Hmm?" The sentinel glanced at him.
"You could leave. The army, I mean. Now." Kaj sat down next to Levail, sliding his hand into the other's. "We both could. You know I already want to... and with all the other commanders around, like Tanith, or Zelgius, or the laguz, it's not like we're necessarily needed anymore."
"...But...I...I don't know..." Levail said softly. "Wouldn't that be a sort of...betrayal? To leave, now, right before we go to help Crimea...?"
"Oh, they won't care! Come on!" Kaj put his other hand on top of the first and twisted to face Levail better. "No one will mind! But if we stick around much longer, you or me might get hurt, or even killed!"
"And yet, if we leave, someone else might get killed that we could have helped, had we stayed..." the young sentinel murmured contemplatively.
"Levail..." Kaj sighed. "Would you do it for me?" He smiled ruefully. "After all, you're the selfless one, and I'm the selfish one..."
"That's not entirely true," Levail said gently. "After all... you want us both to leave so neither of us will get hurt, while I want to stay just to keep my personal sense of honor..."
"That's not true...Please...?" Kaj asked again. "Please leave with me? Please say yes this time?"
Levail was silent for a long time. Finally he replied; "I...I'll think about it. Okay?"
Kaj sighed again. "Alright...fine. I'll wait...but just for a bit longer."
"You've been trying to get me to leave with you for two months..." Levail said softly. "A few more days won't hurt."
December 29th, 648.
The Apostle's army was camped a few hours march from the capital, not far from the battlefield of two days past. The senate's troops had already been dealt with, and Tanith had sent a messenger saying all was well in Sienne; in the morning, Apostle Sanaki planned to march south and reclaim her city.
She was in a better mood than she had been for a long time. She even whistled a little as she skimmed over reports. Her personal guards were happy to see their liege in a good mood, but none of them could avoid the slight shadow cast by the thought of Hyrule... and what Dark Link might do now, after his last ally had been destroyed.
It was quite late before Sanaki tossed aside the last report. She stood up wearily and yawned, then walked away from the table. She saw the slight pink-haired pegasus knight(a Crimean, in fact, the one who'd brought word of Elincia's defeat—her name was Florina), who had been standing guard at the door, had fallen asleep; the Apostle walked over and gently roused her.
Florina awoke in an instant, and quickly got to her feet. "My lady Apostle, I—I apologize for my negligence! It won't happen again...!"
"It's alright." Sanaki said with a tired smile. "Don't worry about it. Go to bed."
"I will be...fine..." Florina started dozing off on her feet; a moment later she unwillingly gave in and left.
Sanaki blew out her candle and was just about to go to bed herself when she heard a commotion outside. Frowning, she ducked out of her tent.
A pair of Begnion knights were riding through the middle of the camp, escorting a dark figure on a white horse. The rider swayed in the saddle, held on only by the rope securing him to it. An arrow stuck out of his left shoulder; one of the Begnion knights was similarly wounded. Some others had been awoken by the noise, and several were murmuring in surprise to themselves.
A moment later, Elena darted into view, just as the three riders got to the center and one dismounted. Tibarn was right behind her, looking as if he'd just woken up(which he probably had) and grumbling about it.
"Oh Goddess," Elena gasped, stumbling to a halt. "Soren!"
As Sanaki's eyes adjusted and she made out the third rider, she recognized him as well. "The Greil Mercenaries staff officer? What is he doing here?" she asked of no one in particular.
The dark-haired boy pulled a thin knife out of his sash and wearily began sawing at the damp rope that secured him to the horse. He winced, then dropped the knife as the rope finally snapped. With a weak little moan, he slid out of the saddle—right into Elena's arms.
"Soren!" she cried again. She couldn't carry his weight, and they both sank down to the ground as Sanaki began interrogating one of the knights that had brought him.
"We found him just a little way northwest of here, my lady." the knight reported. "He was under attack by a Hylian patrol..."
Soren had already fallen unconscious. Elena pulled him back from the horse—Titania's white stallion, she now realized—and fretted; Oh, Soren...What could have happened? What about the others?
Then she gasped slightly, her fingers running through his ragged, unevenly hacked-off shoulder-length black-green locks. Y-your hair...!
Ahh...Sadly enough, the most fun part to write of this chapter was Tibarn and Elena's arguments...
(Ooh, more cliffhangers! *shot*)
~DarkieDucessa