Fire Emblem: Dawn of Darkness

by EmblemQueen

My direct sequel to RD. The story follows the mercenary Azura as she and her friends fight against evil forces threatening Altarais, a continent west of Tellius, and solve the mystery behind Azura's golden pendant. Multiple pairings, some OC.

36. Another Trial Part 2

Chapter 34: Another Trial

Part 2

As the sun rose the next day, a bleary Faline groggily rose from her bedroll. Much like Owen, she'd found little rest the previous night. The startling revelations Owen shared had left her mind much too full to even close her eyes and, consequently, she'd passed the night staring up at the ceiling of her tent and weighing Bryan's likely need for her company against the possible harm that might be done to his reputation if she was seen sneaking in and out of his tent by night. By the time her better judgment had won out, it was nearly dawn; so, with a frustrated yawn, she decided she might as well get up. Once she'd donned her armor and stepped squinting into the dawning sunlight, her fuzzy vision revealed some signs of life in the camp. Vorcas, the early hour having no effect on his unflappable aplomb, was catching up with a slightly drowsy Kiel and Sara, as they had not seen one another in months. He also reiterated his earlier apology on behalf of his men for the trouble which had ensued earlier as well. Vorcas, in what Faline now suspected was a bad habit in the otherwise sincere tiger laguz, either ignored or overlooked his friends' grogginess.

Sheryl and Lauren were also awake and, by the look of things, had been conversing quite animatedly. Though they were both bird laguz, the distance between Perais and Recathe, and both countries respective business interests, meant that it was rare a hawk and a raven laguz to meet. Though Faline was anxious to see Bryan, she checked on her Pegasus first, and was glad to see she'd mostly recovered from her injuries. Though, Flower's wing wasn't fully healed quite yet, they would be able to participate in the next battle. Faline's own injury, which she'd very nearly forgotten about after Bryan's near death, also looked much better. As Faline wended her way to Bryan's tent, she also caught sight of Azura in the mess tent. The Lady of Elhorhi had insisted that she wasn't going to sleep until Leyon's group reunited with hers, and, by the look of things, she'd made good on her claim. There were prominent shadows under her eyes, her hair was bedraggled, and her whole posture looked slumped. The young earl had procured a pitcher of coffee, an especially potent Astrynian blend Owen had obtained in Medann, and Faline was sorely tempted to ask for a cup.

When Azura simply tipped the pitcher back and began funneling the warm black liquid down her throat, Faline promptly changed her mind.

Still, despite the less-than-endearing spectacle Azura had put on, Faline could hardly blame the young earl for being worried about her lover. But, while Azura couldn't help Leyon from here, her own situation with Bryan was very different. Thus resolved, Faline sought out Bryan's tent. Eventually, she spotted her love emerged from a tent, one which, at Owen and Laris' insistence, was decorated with the trappings Astrynian royalty, and turn a drowsy smile in her direction. Forcing herself not to charge at him, lest such a display raise some awkward questions from their visitors, she walked over to Bryan and gave him a pretty, if discreet, smile.

"You're a sight for sore eyes," he whispered, waiting until the camp's activity swept past them before continuing. "It was a long night, and I've missed you."

And, Faline could tell he meant it. Though Bryan had said that a good night's sleep would likely be all he needed, he clearly hadn't gotten one. He looked nearly as bad as Azura, though he'd tried to keep up appearances by combing his hair and washing up as best he could. Still, Faline's heart ached at the realization that her love's destiny entailed such hardships, and where her helping too much might make him look weak before his peers.

Still, maybe letting him know that she was still here and still cared, and that she always would, might be enough for now.

"How did things go with Eric?" she asked, sensing she'd need privacy before asking after his own well-being.

"Better than I expected, actually," he admitted. "I think we might've reached an understanding, but he swore me to secrecy about the specifics. Sorry."

He ended his sentence with a brief flash of an apologetic grin, so brief that Faline was quite certain she was the only one who noticed. Still, Faline didn't mind that particular subterfuge.

"I understand," she assured. "And, that's good news, right? Even if he isn't exactly a friend, it's gotta count for something that things are changing between you two."

"Yeah, I hope so. Anyhow, have you seen Skye? After…yesterday, I'm worried about him."

Though Bryan didn't say it, Faline knew him well enough to guess that Bryan's worries went beyond his friend's state of mind. Suppose the small deception he'd resorted to in order to explain Skye's episode hadn't been convincing enough? Luckily, this was a matter where Faline could lend aid to her love without harming his image.

"I haven't seen him," she admitted, letting a sly grin touch her features briefly. "But, he's probably still hiding from Raela. Remember how, as we were pitching camp, she kept on trying to examine Skye to check for poison from those "Venin weapons"? Well, he wouldn't cooperate. And, when she mentioned using a Sleep staff…well, you can guess what happened next."

The Falcon Knight couldn't help but snicker at Skye's dread of Sleep Staves, but only a sliver of humor reached Bryan's face.

"I wish he didn't have to go through that," he said in a heartfelt, if soft, voice, taking care not to let slip his involvement. "I'll have to see if I can make it up to him sometime."

"I think he understands," Faline replied, deciding to make another attempt at lightening her love's mood. "Besides, he must be angrier with Kye and Lily than you."

That, finally, got a laugh out of Bryan. As if Kye's blunt opining on Skye and Raela's relationship wasn't enough, Lily had promptly joined in by saying she wanted to be an auntie.

"That's true," Bryan said, some color finally returning to his too-pale features. "And, just between us, I hope they do get together. Skye's a good man, and an even better friend. In fact, just being at each other's side after…after that day years ago was what truly healed both of us. I'm still astounded at what our friendship alone had done."

"I agree!" Faline seconded. "No other friends can possibly be closer than you are! Though, Azura would probably say I would be worried about...the competition."

The recollection of Azura's unorthodox encouragement caused the faint red tinge on Bryan's face to blossom into a blush that spread from the cleft of this chin to the tops of this ears. Still, the Prince of Astryn managed a chuckle that warmed the Falcon Knight's heart.

"Oh, Faline, don't be silly," Bryan replied with a chuckle. "Skye has a lot of respect for you, and he'd never try to come between us."

"I know, I was kidding!" Faline giggled. "I would never want to have to compete with him anyway. In fact, even if she did mean well, Azura's ideas for…getting your attention? I probably couldn't do those things if I tried."

"Speaking of which, if I am neglecting you, just come to me and say so. I think we both know I can only pick up on so many subtleties at once. As for the bath…we'll figure that out later."

Faline suspected that some ill influence must've been to blame when, after hearing Bryan's words, she mused that was easy.

After that, Bryan suggested they head to the mess tent to get what food they could before it was taken down and stored for the march, and, despite a vivid recollection of Azura guzzling down the coffee, Faline was too hungry to argue. As they entered the tent, they found it bustling with activity. Since the army would be marching soon, only such ready-made foods as salted meat and hard biscuits were available. Most of the soldiers, in too much of a hurry to sit down, simply grabbed a handful of this bland fare and headed back out. The couple noticed, however, that Azura sat in one corner, morosely eyeing a biscuit that looked more suited to caving in a skull than feeding a stomach.

But, both knew the unappetizing fare was the very last thing on her mind.

At Faline's insistence, the pair made sure to stay near Azura once the camp was finally dismantled and the army was on the march.

The Falcon Knight still had a little score to settle with the Lady of Elhorhi, but, for now, Faline's sense of empathy had won out.

"Are you alright?"

Azura had been so deep in thought that the softly spoken question might as well have been a thunderclap. Jumping slightly, she whirled to face a self-conscious Bryan.

"Eh, sorry about that," he said sheepishly. "Seriously, though, you look like you're miles away."

"Well, you're not far wrong," she replied, turning a longing gaze towards the north.

Toward Jerusa, where Leyon had led his knights in a daring gambit, one upon which the fate of Altarais might depend.

Some dark voice in the back of her mind whispered that Leyon's daring might have proven his undoing, but she furiously shook off the notion. Leyon would succeed in rescuing the besieged Allied troops and retaking Jerusa. He had to.

After all, what was the alternative?

But, where is he?! she silently screamed.

Had he accomplished his mission by now? Since speed and surprise would be needed to overcome the larger Meloran and Red Claw forces holding Cilae, it seemed likely that his mission was over by now…

…one way or the other.

If so, then would he track down and rendezvous with her army as planned? If so, then surely he would have gotten word from the palace on where she and Bryan had gone and would continue until he found them. And Azura had told herself this over and over again during the long weeks since the army had divided, and yet she was still so worried about him, more than she'd ever been thus far. And, the young earl was forced to admit, that rather surprised her. Sure, Leyon had embarked upon the single most vital and most dangerous mission he'd ever been tasked with, and, try though she did to deny it, his death was terribly possible. But, even so, Azura had spent every moment she was alone praying to Ashunera that he would return to her safely. She had certainly gotten off to a poor start with the young general, her pride painting his kindness as mockery, but, once she'd let him into her carefully guarded heart, she fallen more and more in love with him as time went on. Not that she was complaining, of course; but after spending half her life looking over her shoulder for the Red Claw, she'd come to trust only her sword and her skill…and little besides.

Gradually, she'd come to see how different and how wonderful it was to not be alone, but surrounded by people who she trusted and who, in turn, trusted her.

Yet Leyon, of all the men she'd either turned away or cut to ribbons, had claimed her heart. And, she longed for him to return to do so again.

"You're worried about Leyon, aren't you?" Bryan spoke up, shaking her from her reverie.

"Is it that obvious?" Azura wondered, trying not to let just how worried she was seep into her tone.

The knowing look Bryan gave her was more than answer enough, prompting Azura to give a resigned shrug.

"I can't blame you there, Az," Bryan commented with a smile. "I didn't realize how much I loved Faline for an entire year. I mean, after what I'd gone through growing up, I frankly didn't think I'd ever know what that was like. Oh, I imagined…"

His words trailed off as his gaze wandered, predictably, in Faline's direction.

"But it was nothing compared to the real thing," he whispered happily.

"Yeah, it was kind of the same way for me," Azura admitted. "I mean, I'd spent so long knowing I was being hunted, but it was years before I knew who was after me or why. For a long time, I couldn't trust anybody except my mom and my instructor. But even so, I…well, had more people that cared for me than you did, I suppose."

"That's true. I guess we're alike in that way. You were afraid to trust others because you had no way of knowing who wanted to kill you and who didn't, and I was afraid to trust others, besides Skye and my father, because so many people had treated me badly. For a long time, I thought that was just how my life would be, regardless of what I made of myself. Then Faline changed things for me. And no less amazing, Leyon did the impossible and won you over. Heh, heh."

Azura giggled despite the hint of a blush coloring her cheeks.

"Yes, he sure did! Leyon changed me just so much. And, it wasn't just that I learned I could trust others from him. I mean, I'd been learning that already. But, even after making so many friends, I was blind to my own feelings. It wasn't so much that I disliked men, but, I'd always taken great pride in my skills and my independence. I just couldn't stand anybody who didn't hold any respect for my skills, and there were plenty who didn't. Maybe they didn't mean anything by it, but it always felt as though any men who didn't want me dead wanted to treat me like some frail flower."

Recalling those days of her youth back in Galden, and that Galden was no longer standing, Azura couldn't help but wonder at how much, and how fast, everything had changed.

"At some point, it rankled me whenever anybody offered to help. All I heard was those same people who thought I had all the mettle of a milkmaid. Then you and the others came along. Leyon taught me that, when someone offers to help me, it doesn't mean they think I'm weak or incapable. And even more than that, I learned that there is a man out there that I can trust; not just with my life, but with my heart. All of you taught me that there are many great men out there that will respect a woman for her skills and what she wants to do with her life. Heck, many of them are marching right here with us, Leyon, Ike, Ranulf, every man in this army. I'm so glad I met all of you and that I learned to trust you."

"Heh, likewise, my friend. Likewise."

Though Azura would later admit that she'd said a great deal more than she meant to, giving voice to how she felt about the new direction her life had taken did make her feel better. While she still longed for Leyon's return, her faith that she would see him again was renewed.

She felt it in her gut…

…along with a far less pleasant sensation, likely due to all that coffee wreaking havoc on her digestive system.

Bryan wasn't much prone to what some would call "warm, fuzzy feelings", unless they related to Faline or Skye. But, his conversation with Azura, and recalling how both of their lives had changed in the past few months, had lightened his mood and his step. He'd turned to Azura, eager to shake her hand, when he saw her clutch her lower stomach and bolt like a rabbit into a patch of concealing brush.

The puzzled prince of Astryn turned to Faline, asking for an explanation…

…and, when she gave him one, he promptly regretted it.

"Thanks for sharing," he groused, his smile turning sour. "I knew there was a reason I never had more than one cup of that stuff a day."

"I'd mention that people say it stunts your growth, but…" Faline trailed off mischievously, standing on her toes to pat the top of her love's head, "what's the point?"

"Careful, we've got an audience."

"And, all they saw was me getting that grit out of your hair. You want to look your best next time those Melorans are due for a beat-down, don't you?"

Even though he was quickly tiring of all this double-speak and putting on airs, Bryan couldn't help but chuckle at Faline's clever subterfuge. Still, he longed for the day when he could make this end.

After all, when a king wanted to cuddle with his queen, that was final.

His train of thought was interrupted when Azura, looking self-conscious and slightly ill, staggered back to the couple.

"Sorry about that," she groan out, still massaging her lower stomach.

"Don't mention it," Bryan said succinctly. "In fact, please don't mention it. Maybe you ought to ride in one of the wagons, though?"

"Oh, not a chance. I'm not going to so much as sit down until I see Leyon. I don't know where he is, but, he can't be far away."

"I agree. In fact, I need to talk to you and Vorcas about that."

Bryan was briefly perplexed when the queasy grimace on Azura's face twisted into a smirk. The reason was made obvious when a familiar, over-enthusiastic voice boomed out "At your service, your highness!"

"Woah!" Bryan blurted, whirling to see Vorcas standing behind him, his head bowed respectfully. "Don't sneak up on me like that. Anyhow, that message you received from Larame, and the one I had sent to Astryn Palace? Azura should know of their contents. Oh, and, uh… Really, you can stop with the bowing and kneeling."

"Argh, I apologize, kneeling before all respected royalty is a habit of mine!" Vorcas admitted, quickly rising to his full height. "But, yes. As I said when I woke you this morning, news of what happened has reached Larame. On learning of the deception, the king was…upset."

"At who?" Azura wondered.

Recalling that Vorcas had spent a half hour listing all the Larameans who'd incurred the prickly tempered king's displeasure over the incident, Bryan interjecting by saying "Just about everybody."

By the sound of things, it was certainly close to their truth.

"Yes, as I was saying," Vorcas continued, "the king has agreed to halt all raids against Astryn and to tighten security along our border with Melora. He did, however, warn against anyone from Astryn entering without Laramean escort until he's had the chance to confer with Prince Bryan face-to-face. You probably know this already, but the "lost prince of Astryn" was little more than a rumor until now, and he'll want to learn who you are, first hand, before he'll be willing to help you."

"I can't say I blame him, all things considered," Bryan said. "Still, this is a good start. Like I said earlier, adding Larame to the other countries that make up Allied Command could be a major turning point."

"Yeah," Azura seconded. "But, didn't you say you'd sent out a message as well?"

"That's right. I think it's no secret that we have to rebuild much of Astryn's army, and that we don't have a lot to work with. From what I heard back at the palace, they plan to draw in bandits and deserters with the offer of a general pardon, if they at least serve until the war's over. They're also planning to gather as many recruits as they can, whether they volunteer or are conscripted. I've been working with Alec to figure out just how to make it work, and I think I've got something. I'll have several men from my platoon, those who have experience training new recruits and leading squads in battle, size up those who come to enlist. With luck, they'll be able to figure out who's more likely to run or stab us in the back than stand and fight. I was thinking that, if any of Leyon's knights need to stay at the palace for rest or healing, they could lend a hand."

"It has potential, your highness," Vorcas commented, though without a hint of sycophantism. "Though, will the knights still seek us out, with such orders awaiting them at the palace?"

"Oh, they should," Bryan confirmed. "General Leyon, their commander, knows about our mission here and will no doubt stop by the palace first to inquire about our location. Before we left, I had told one of my advisors to expect him. Leyon is a knight without peer and an outstanding general, too. On top of all that, he loves Azura. He'd use whatever means necessary to find us."

"Hee, hee, true that is," Azura admitted, her cheeks flushing pink.

"He must be impressive indeed if you both hold him in such high regard," Vorcas observed. "Very well, then. I'll have a few of my men patrol the mountains ahead. If the knights are trying to catch up with us, they'll pass by there, and should be easy enough to spot from that height. And, when your friends show up, they'll be guided to us."

"Thank you so much, Vorcas," Azura replied. "But, if it's not too much trouble, I will wait with the patrols and keep an eye out for Leyon as well. I'm sure the first thing he'll want to see when he arrives is me waiting for him."

"It's no trouble at all, milady. In fact, my men would likely enjoy hearing of your exploits while we wait. Do you have any objections, your highness?"

Azura suddenly looked slightly disconcerted at the idea of spinning tales for a group of laguz who considered it a mark of honor to have a death mark on one's head exceeding the value of some kingdoms. But, recalling Azura's "encouragement" the previous night sparked Bryan's own mischievous side.

"Not at all," he affirmed, muttering the phrase "turnabout is fair play" as Azura scowled at him.

"Ah, thank you, your highness! You won't regret this!"

I sure hope not, Bryan thought as the march continued. First this guy tries to kill me, now he's trying to do everything for me. Can't he just relax for once? Oh well, at least Larame's on our side…at least for now.

Bryan had been warned that, as a hazard rulers must contend with, friends were difficult to find and harder still to keep. Still, building a lasting rapport between Astryn and Larame was a great opportunity, not only to achieve something that would greatly benefit his troubled country, but to prove to everyone, including himself, that he was fit to bear the crown.

And, he wasn't going to waste it.

"Long live the king?" Not if you pull anymore stunts like this, you blue-blooded backstabber! Azura mused angrily.

And so, with more no small amount of trepidation, Azura continued on towards the mountains where she would await Leyon's arrival. She hoped he would arrive soon, alive and whole, for not only did she long to be in his strong arms again, but she needed to know that he was safe and that Cilae was back in the hands of Allied Command, but she was also quite eager to cut short her time with her "adoring public." On the heels of that musing, however, came another. How had the effort to retake Cilae fared? Had the besieged Allied armies on the Cilae-Melora border been rescued? Had the Allied troops trapped on the coast been saved? How many of the Royal Knights and wolves survived the battle? Her thoughts wandered over the possibilities, eventually skirting the darker likelihood that it had all ended in disaster, before she furiously shook herself from her trouble reverie.

She told herself that Leyon was alive, and that he'd come.

After all, her own group still needed all the help they could get to keep fighting off Melora, not to mention defeating Shigo's army as well.

As much to pass the time as to distract herself from any other dire musings, Azura sought out Lartz. While she knew it might be a sensitive subject, she was curious about why his Accurse hadn't been triggered by what the enemy Dragonmaster's actions. When she asked, Lartz admitted that Skye's reaction to the "old venin wound" shocked him so much that his anger had been crowded out by confusion. The Lady of Elhorhi also considered speaking with Skye, but a quick glance at the Marksman told her that he wasn't in the mood for conversation. Aside from wounded pride over his episode, there was the embarrassment of Kye and Lily's less-than-tactful insinuation about his older brother's feelings for Raela.

Still, though Skye might claim that he didn't feel much for Raela besides annoyance, Azura couldn't help but suspect otherwise.

Maybe she could help him to realize that; but, right now, Azura had her own problems.

As they reached the mountains, most of the group continued on while Azura and a number of Larameans remained behind. The younger feline warriors looked much too eager to hear of Azura's adventures, but, luckily, she wouldn't be the only one spinning yarns. Since meeting Vorcas, a nostalgic Ranulf had been curious about his Laramean brethren, and was eager to spend more time with them. Ike and Elincia also agreed after a great deal of cajoling and, in Ike's case, a bribe of flank steak, as did Kiel and Sara, who were eager for news about Darien and his wolves. Over the next few hours, Azura reluctantly began relaying stories of her adventures to the Larameans. After a time, however, an interesting notion crept into her head.

What if going through this spectacle could help their mission?

Slowly, the idea took shape. Most of the Larameans in her audience were young warriors, eager for battle and glory, and they saw her as a budding heroine. Perhaps, if she spun them such a tale that they shared it when they returned home, it could help to bolster their case when they sought help from the Laramean king?

Is this why you put me up to this, Bryan? she wondered, surprised. If so, you're more clever than I thought…but, you're still a blue-blooded backstabber.

After that realization, she began to warm to the telling. She drew her sword and punctuated her sentences with flourishing parries and swift lunges, her voice became deeper and more animated, and her words more florid. As she told tales of her flight to Aracion, the journey to find the Venoxic antidote for Ike, and her battles against Melora, Shigo, and Tavon, her friends from Tellius seemed to catch on to her unspoken plan and joined in. Ike and Ranulf regaled the awed Larameans with such tales from the Mad King's War and the Goddess War as the charge at Tor Garen, breaking the siege of Delbray Castle, rescuing Lucia from the Crimean rebels, and the standoff in Crimea between the Laguz Alliance and the Begnion Imperial Army. Taking care to protect Elincia's lineage, at least for now, Ike carefully phrased his story to create the appearance that Renning wore the crown at that point. Elincia added in some similarly revised anecdotes, with her being a mercenary hired to aid in fighting the Crimean rebels. Elincia told a slightly revised version of her rescue of the heron princess Leanne and the raven chamberlain Nealuchi from Begnion dracoknights, as well as the capture of the traitorous Duke Ludveck.

And, these tales were having the desired effect…

…to put it mildly.

Every time Azura recounted a victory, the Larameans would whoop and cheer so loudly that, by the time she'd told all she could, her whole head rung. The ever-modest Ike, who enjoyed neither the limelight nor re-coloring the facts, was also only too happy when he'd recounted as much as he could. Ranulf, who was always happy to counter-balance Ike's modesty, was still spinning yarns after his fellows had stopped, and Azura found herself wondering if the blue cat had added in a few tall tales. Deciding that the war effort could survive her missing Ranulf's dubious tale about a young cub, a pack of hyenas, and a stampeding herd of wildebeests, she let her gaze roam over the audience.

Two of the cat laguz, both obviously female, stood out to the earl. Red bows were woven into her tail and around neck while matching fingerless gloves on her hands, squealed with protest as her fists clenched and unclenched over and over. Her female companion was a dark aqua-green haired woman with magenta eyes. She wore a green and yellow short-sleeved shirt and matching breeches, cut halfway to her knees, along with pale blue shoes. Yellow bands adorned her wrists while a pair of small bells jingled against her throat. When Azura waved at the pair, she was more than a little surprised when the blonde cat laguz girl reacted by quickly scooting around and behind her friend, hiding almost fearfully from the earl's gaze.

"T-Tessa! Why didn't you tell me this many beorc would be here?!" she uttered nervously, eying Azura who was struggling to hear her over the continued cheering.

"Oh Kiara!" the other cat laguz girl replied in a tone that suggested this wasn't the first time she'd had to deal with the blonde cat's skittishness. "For the love of the Goddess, don't worry. Any friends of Captain Vorcas must be good and trustworthy people. He always sees to that, and you know how hard he is to impress. Besides, there are only three beorc here."

"A few hours ago, there were dozens and dozens of them!" Kiara protested, her screeching eliciting only a rolling of Tessa's magenta orbs.

"And soon, there will be even more than that," Tessa pointed out, her words causing Kiara to swoon. "Oh, pull yourself together! It's about time you got over your shyness around beorc anyway. The army can't put up with this forever, especially at a time like this. Now quit hiding behind me."

"Well, y-you're right… Okay…"

"Great! Now, let's get started."

"Wait, wha—!"

Before Kiara could react, Tessa snatched her wrist and vaulted to her feet, dragging Kiara upright with her. The nervous cat struggled to get free with a desperation that verged on comical, but Tessa's grip was one of iron. Tessa led her to the trio of beorc and, rather forcibly, prodded Kiara into speaking.

"Um…hello," she squeaked.

Ignoring the sound of Tessa grinding her teeth, Azura gave a reassuring smile and slowly extended a hand.

"I'm Azura, the lady of Elhorhi in Talgria," the earl greeted as Kiara, with some whispered cajoling from Tessa, accepted Azura's hand. "I lead this army, along with Prince Bryan of Astryn."

"Y-Yes…very nice…to meet…you," Kiara stuttered.

How did she become a laguz warrior? Azura suddenly found herself wondering. Even Norman wasn't this jittery.

That train of thought caused her to recall that Norman had joined Leyon's mission, and left her wondering if the fretful priest had found his courage…or his grave. After a stretching moment of silence, Azura shook herself back to attention and tried to make Kiara feel more at ease.

She may as well have been asking her to pet a rabid dog, for all the good it was doing.

This didn't stop Ike from joining the trio, however.

"I'm Ike," the Tellius hero introduced, then gestured towards the emerald haired "mercenary." "This is my fiancée, Elincia. As you probably heard earlier, we came here from another continent across the ocean from Talgria. We befriended Azura not long after arriving. Oh, and that teller of tall tales is our friend Ranulf."

Seeing that the blue cat was still engrossed in a less-than-believable tale about a giant cobra and a being with "phenomenal, cosmic powers" called a genie, Ike shouted to get Ranulf's attention…and, Ike got more than he bargained for.

Ranulf's words suddenly trailed off as, while turning to face Ike, he spied Kiara. His mismatched eyes widened and then seemed to glaze over, as though seized by a sudden and compelling daydream, and a bit of drool threatened to escape from the corner of his mouth. She's…totally cute. Heh… he daydreamed in his mind. Ike couldn't suppress a grin and leaned towards Elincia.

"Hey Elincia, I think we've got a smitten kitten," he whispered.

"Ohhh, how cute!" Elincia giggled. "Ranulf, go on, get over here and say hello!"

Before she'd even finished the sentence, Ranulf seemingly leapt over his audience to stand in front of Kiara. But, when he got there, he suddenly found himself, for the first time in anyone's recollection, at a loss for words.

"…Oh! Uh…hi," Ranulf greeted with an embarrassed smile, only to soon trip over his own feet and fall flat on the ground. "AACK!"

Ike merely slapped his face while Kiara giggled. Still, Azura heard more endearment than mockery in that sound. Perhaps Kiara was starting to think that traveling with so many beorc wouldn't be so bad after all.

Who knows? she mused. That comment about a "smitten kitten" might not be far off.

As the evening wore on, and even Ranulf's supply of tales began to dwindle, most of the laguz left the campsite, patrolling the surrounding lands for any sign of approaching parties and periodically reporting back with their findings. So far, they hadn't seen so much as a stray deer. Azura continued watching for Leyon, however, as the moon rose higher and the sky darkened from violet to black, the young earl once more felt doubt gnawing at her. Azura tried to console herself, to reason that, if Leyon and his group didn't arrive before dawn, it likely meant they'd simply stopped somewhere else to rest for the evening. But, this did little to stop the seeds of doubt which were taking root in her heart. After all, the general had been tasked with an exceedingly dangerous mission. The possibility that the knights had been defeated in Jerusa was all too real.

So too was the possibility that they were all dead.

Azura shook the thought from her mind so violently that her neck throbbed from the abuse. She told herself Leyon wasn't dead and that he wouldn't stop until they were reunited. Granted, though, it was quite a long trip from Jerusa all the way to the Astryn-Orenias border, even in the unlikely event that Leyon would be able to leave Jerusa immediately. In fact, now that Azura thought about it, such a journey could take days, perhaps even weeks if he had to first ensure that Cilae was secure before departing. And, between the Red Claw, the Meloran army, and the outlaws that ran rampant in Astryn, anything could happen.

"Oh Leyon… Please get here soon…" Azura begged. "If there's any way at all for you to do so…"

Another hour passed, as did several patrols, but there was no sign of the Royal Knights still. Azura kept her vigil, but soon found herself yawning and her vision becoming bleary. She tried to force herself to stay awake, but she knew she couldn't keep watch much longer. If Leyon didn't arrive soon, she and her group would likely have to leave and catch up with the others. And, when she did, she had to be awake, alert, and focused in order to lead the army. Deciding glumly that Leyon and his party must've stopped to rest for the night, and staunchly refusing to entertain the alternative, Azura then turned around and began to head back towards her tent.

Before she could take more than a single step, however, the earl suddenly heard the sound of a horse's neigh in the distance. Azura gasped, her heart thundering against her ribs as she whirled to face these new arrivals. Could it be them, at last? Moments later, the low rumbling of many hooves galloping across the ground could be heard, echoing like thunder as they drew nearer and louder. Azura was only dimly aware of this, however, as the sound of blood pounding in her ears rose to an almost deafening crescendo. It had to be Leyon, she told herself again and again. And, soon enough, the Royal Knights themselves appeared in the distance, flanked by a force of wolves. And, riding at their head astride his charger, was none other than Leyon himself. Azura's gasp gradually became a wide grin of relief and joy, widening until it threatened to take in her ears.

"Leyon!" Azura shouted as she broke into a run towards her love. "Oh Leyon! You're here! You're finally here!"

"I am! Just as I promised," Leyon replied, a broad beaming grin on his features as well.

Though worn and weary from battle and travel, the sight of Azura seemed to revitalize Leyon, and the general, longing just as much to have his love back in his arms again, quickly dismounted his horse. He'd barely freed himself from the stirrups when Azura practically threw herself against his chest, her arms coiling about his neck. Leyon's hands grasped her by her waist and lifted her heavenward, spinning the ecstatic earl in a joyous circle. Partway through the spin, Azura craned forward and down to press her lips against Leyon's, surprising him so that he nearly sent them both sprawling. His eyes widened for a second before he returned the gesture, the kiss gradually intensifying as their tongues grappled with each other until Leyon broke free to let his lips trail down her neck and across her collarbone.

Such telltale sounds reached Leyon's ears as men quietly cheering, women giggling, and someone who must've had a death wish saying "oh, save us the suspense and start ripping each other's clothes off already." But, in that precious moment, neither of them cared.

For the wondrous, eternal instant, all that mattered was that they were together and madly in love.

"Oh Leyon! I was so worried about you. I was afraid you wouldn't reach us tonight..." Azura admitted, trembling slightly with remembered dread. "Or that the mission in Jerusa failed and you might have…"

"Never, my love. I wouldn't be taken out that easily," Leyon assured. "Truth be told, though, that battle did look grim for a while. But we pulled through and Cilae has been freed."

"Oh, I'm so glad! We can still turn this whole war around! We just need to help Bryan get Astryn back on her feet and bring Orenias into the war. If we manage that, it could change everything!"

"That it could; and, that's why we're here. So, where is the formerly lost prince, anyway?"

"He went on ahead to the Orenias border, but we can catch up with him in the morning. Right now, you must be dead on your feet."

Leyon's answer to this comment was a smile that left Azura breathless.

"Oh, I've never felt better," he said, and looked as though he meant every word.

"W-well," Azura stammered, blushing, "at least let us pitch your tent. You must be exhausted."

"I haven't had a tent since I started out for Jerusa, remember? We'll…just have to use yours."

Before Azura could recover from Leyon's overly forward, but hardly unwelcome words, he swept her off her feet and held her close.

"Oh! Hey, I thought you knights were supposed to be courteous and considerate," she playfully retorted. "This seems a little…brusque."

"Why, what could be more courteous or considerate than rendering service to a lovely lady?" Leyon countered with a grin before turning to Eliot, who stood nearby and was struggling to keep a straight face. "Oh, Eliot, be a good man and see to my horse? My hands are rather full at the moment."

"What?! But…I…you…!" Eliot stammered, works failing him in his shock.

"Rub him down well, and make sure to heat his oats before feeding them to him. Good night!"

"Hey!" Eliot retorted irritably, though by then the tent flap had been brushed aside to admit the couple and then promptly shut in his face. Muttering imprecations to himself, he took the reins of his superior officer's horse and stalked off. Natalie and Louise, witnessing the spectacle, snickered. "He's lucky. He really deserves some time with Azura, especially after all he's been through."

Within the tent, Leyon gently laid Azura on her bedroll and, despite his reluctance to put even the most paltry distance between them, moved to tie the tent flaps.

"Az, I honestly can't put into words how happy I am right now," he said lovingly. "That enemy commander in Jerusa told me that Isis had Astryn's steward in her pocket and that you and Bryan were probably…gone…"

"He didn't know us very well then, did he?" Azura quipped and then smiled. "As you said about yourself; it looked grim, but, we pulled through."

"Yeah, as worried as I was, I never lost faith."

"Neither did I, my love."

Normally, Leyon considered himself a man of restraint and prudence, but, the moment their privacy was assured, he practically charged over to Azura and their lips met once again.

"Careful," she chided playfully. "People see you bouncing around like a schoolboy, they might start thinking you haven't been with a lady before."

"That might be because I haven't," Leyon admitted, whatever embarrassment he might've felt over that admission doing little to stop his hands from slipping under Azura's jerkin.

"…Seriously? I would've thought someone as handsome as you would've had women throwing themselves at your feet."

"I did, but none were as pretty as you."

"Oh, you flatterer!"

"Hey, can't blame a guy from being honest…and, speaking of being honest, I didn't have much interest in relationships before I met you. Getting other people together, though, like Marc and Leona? That, I couldn't get enough of…ha, ha!"

"Hee hee, you certainly succeeded with them. But in a way, I was the same as you, actually. Maybe I was too prideful about my skills and my independence, maybe I just felt I couldn't trust anybody with people trying to kill me left and right. But, whatever the reason, I never let any man get close to me, much less get romantic with one. But that has all changed…thanks to you."

As Azura spoke, she accentuated her point by undoing the buckles the buckles on Leyon's chest plate and, as the battered metal fell away, running her hands over the general's torso.

"And I'm very glad," he affirmed, fumbling with Azura's jerkin. "Though, there was more to it than that. For the longest time, I was also grieving for my brother. When we were growing up, and when the rest of our family was gone, he was everything to me. After he disappeared, the grief and my work just crowded out everything else. It wasn't until I met you that the wound began to heal, actually."

"Really?" Azura wondered, more than a little surprised by his words.

"Yeah. Remember what you said to me right after I got my memory back? You told me that Talgria needs me to help win the war and that my brother would've wanted that. You also said he would've wanted me to be strong and to carry on his legacy. During the battle of Jerusa, when it seemed like thousands of Red Claw were coming at us from all sides, I was frightened that I'd failed both him and you. For a minute, I nearly gave up. But then, I remembered you and Russell both, and I pulled myself together. I also remembered something else. They were these tactics that I'd learned from Russell and General William. I worked them together, added a touch or two of my own, and that won the battle. I swear, we took down more Red Claw in that one battle than we did during the rest of the war. I was amazed. But, more than that, I think it helped me to lay some ghosts to rest. Whether Russell is alive or not, and wherever he might be, always agonizing over his disappearance and worrying that I might disappoint him won't do anyone any good. Even if Russell isn't with me, he's still here."

Leyon paused in his speech to tap against his heart with one brawny hand, and then cup Azura's face with the other. He decided not to mention the Red Claw commander's veiled suggestion that Russell might still be alive, for he wanted nothing to tarnish this night.

"I might never have realized that without you," he whispered huskily.

For a stretching second, Azura simply smiled back at him.

"Oh, Leyon…" she gushed. "I'm so happy to hear that. And if Russell were here now, he'd be proud of you."

"Heh…" Leyon chuckled, almost sounding nervous at their intimacy. "Az… I love you more than I can say. As hard as your life has been, always looking over your shoulder for the Red Claw, you still give so much of yourself to others, and to me. Yet, I have little to offer in return besides my love."

"Oh, that is more than enough," Azura purred. "And I love you more than I can say too. Just don't worry me like that again."

"Never, my love… Never."

With that, their lips met once more while, between brief partings to gasp for air, clothing was cast aside to flutter earthward. A few other people were still outside, including some of Leyon's party as they saw to their mounts and bedding, and more than a few pairs of eyes coyly turned toward the couple's tent. With the lamp inside still burning brightly, the shadows cast by the light did much to reveal what was happening within. The sight caused much whooping and cheering amongst some of the onlookers, followed by agitated groans when the lamp was finally extinguished. Some sourly lamented the show had ended before "the good part", while others chided such intrusiveness as the weary warriors finally settled down for the night.

As the next day dawned, Azura and Leyon emerged from their tent to face a veritable sea of knowing smiles, winks, and nudges. Azura had been less-than-pleased that her and Leyon's oversight had turned their first evening together into such a spectacle. But, having the commander of the Royal Knights as a boyfriend had certain advantages.

A few reminders that he could always have them demoted, and they lapsed into surly silence.

Recalling a particular story she'd coaxed out of Elincia about her relationship with Ike back in Tellius, Azura had made sure not to abandon all caution amidst their ardor. Still, she could now readily emphasize with Elincia's frustration over how the war remained a final, formidable barrier between her and her love being as close as they'd like.

Once the group had finished breaking camp, they began the journey to catch up with Bryan and the rest of the army. At her own insistence, Azura joined Leyon on his mount, leaning back against him and quietly reveling in his proximity and the feel of his strong arm around her waist, and the small group set off. Azura was certain that, since Bryan's group was much larger, and therefore would not be able to travel as quickly, then catching up to them wouldn't take long. And, sure enough, as the sun began its westward descent, a large encampment appeared on the horizon. As they drew closer, several figures, led by Bryan, raced up to meet them

"Leyon! I'm glad you made it back alright!" Bryan greeted, approaching the dismounting couple. "A lot of us were worried about you and your group, especially with you going on such a dangerous mission. But, how did you get here so fast? Frankly, I was starting to think you'd be tied up securing Cilae for days."

"Ah, that's easy," Leyon replied with a grin, his arms promptly encircling Azura once more. "Even if we had left Cilae immediately, such a journey normally would've taken days. But, when we stopped by Astryn Palace to see where you'd be, Grand Duke Laris was already expecting us. He knew you and Azura would need our help, but that we were much too weary to catch up to you quickly enough. He decided to help us by using the palace's store of Warp staves to send us straight to the mountains at the western border. He's quite a generous fellow."

"Whoa! That really was great of him," Bryan commented. "He has my thanks for his aid. And, I'm glad to know I have such a reliable advisor."

"So am I! He said he would've done the same for the rest of you, but that he was worried about using up too much of the staves' magic too quickly. By the sound of things, the stock in the palace are the only Warp staves in the country that haven't been used up or stolen, so he took quite a risk hoping they wouldn't run dry after sending us off. Although, his accuracy could use a bit of work. We ended up near the desert and still had to travel for another few hours. Getting clear of the desert before sunrise wasn't easy, but it was much better than moving for another whole day and spending another night sleeping in nothing but our bedrolls."

"Yeah, I'll bet. But, why are there so few of you here? Did the others remain at the capital, or…"

Bryan didn't finish the sentence, but, then again, he hardly needed to. Though Cilae had been rested from Isis's grip, all knew that she had not let it go without a fight.

"Some remained at Jerusa, others stayed at Medann to help rebuild Astryn's army…as for the rest…" Leyon intoned gravely, his words trailing off. "Sadly, we paid for our victory with many lives."

"I can imagine. Well, it won't be long until it's dark, so we all should get some get some rest. I'll explain what we're doing over dinner. Or, did Laris tell you already?"

"He did, don't worry. And, I was very worried about all of you as well. I learned about the traitorous Astrynian steward from the commander of the Red Claw army that was holding Jerusa. He was confident that you'd all been killed by then, and the thought frightened me. You don't know how relieved I was when Laris told me that you were all safe...though, I suppose all those proclamation signs reading 'PRINCE BRYAN WANTS YOU!' should've been a hint."

This statement elicited quite a few snickers, bringing a dusky hue to the faces of both the general and the Prince of Astryn.

"I'm almost afraid to ask," Bryan grumbled, once the hilarity had died down, "but, how were things in Astryn when you left?"

"I...probably didn't pay as much attention as I should have," Leyon admitted, flushing all the more deeply. "All I could think of was that, soon, I'd finally be with the girl I love again. But, those of my knights who stayed behind said they'd help train the new recruits for Astryn's army. With luck, we could have at least a few companies of men ready by the time we return to Medann. Maybe a division or two, if we're lucky."

"That would be incredible!" Bryan said, awed. "I'll have to make sure to inspect the troops personally when we return. Thanks for the news."

"No problem."

Later, as dinner was served in the mess tent, Bryan and Azura told Leyon about how Meloran dracoknights had been raiding Larame and had nearly succeeded in framing Eric's men for the crime. Leyon, in turn had described his tactical innovation which he'd dubbed the Ring of Storms, and how it had broken the Red Claw holding Jerusa.

"Hey, what am I, chopped liver?" an irate Derien broke in. "I did quite a bit to win the battle as well. Don't any of you want to hear about it?"

Sara nodded so vigorously that several onlookers discreetly complained that their necks hurt just watching. Needing no further encouragement, Derien went on to describe how, after the Red Claw holding Jerusa had sent half their strength to the Cilaean coast to prevent what they thought was an evacuation of the Allied troops besieged there, Derien and his wolves had worked to slow them down. A relentless series of hit-and-run attacks had brought the Red Claw reinforcements practically to a halt as the wolves leapt out of the darkness to slay several and then vanish into the night, coming and going so quickly that some Red Claw sincerely believed they were being attacked by some sort of evil spirits.

"We took that a little personally," Derien continued. "So, we hit them harder."

Eventually, most of the Red Claw reinforcements were either dead, too wounded to go on, or had panicked and fled. That done, Derien and his wolves headed to the encircled Cilaean ports. The Red Claw troops had all the roads covered, but, luckily, the wolves had managed to get around them by swimming through the shallow waters and emerging at the docks of the besieged ports. By then, the ships carrying the catapults and ballistae from Aracion had arrived. And, once they were deployed, the time came to, finally, go on the offensive.

"I stood atop the city hall, called out to the Red Claw, and told them "The truth may not set you free, but, it can make you BOULDER!" They just stared at me like I was some sort of idiot, but then a hail of ballista harpoons and catapults stones rained down on them. Whichever Red Claw weren't skewered, crushed, or starting running for their lives, charged toward us. They probably hoped that, if they could get too close for the siege machines to hit them, they might still win..."

A fierce gleam entered Derien's eyes as he displayed his claws.

"They were wrong," he said simply.

Despite the grim foreshadowing in his tone, Sara regarded the indomitable wolf general with starry-eyed admiration…which promptly turned to livid rage when Kiel nudged her and muttered "catch your drool".

Having been the architect of the strategy to retake Jerusa, Soren promptly found himself near to drowning in people ruffling his hair, shaking his hand, or clapping him on the shoulder. The surly mage called out for Ike to "do something useful with those muscles of his", but Ike only chuckled and went back to devouring flank steak by the platter-full.

Elsewhere in the mess tent, the seeming hundreds of beorc crammed into the structure hadn't done much for Kiara's timidity, but Tessa assured that they'd find some way to get her to open up more. In the meantime, the shy blonde cat laguz remained as close to the magenta eyed cat as a second shadow, listening inattentively to Tessa talk about how thrilled she was to fight alongside such a living legend as the fabled lost prince of Astryn. Kiara's distraction, however, had less to do with her timidity than with a certain blue cat laguz. Maybe, if he was here, she could learn to put up with all these beorc.

The army rose early the next day and Vorcas led them out of the mountains and across the Orenias border. Azura, Bryan, and Leyon were grateful for the white tiger's aid, for they were certain they'd have been lost for hours in the crisscrossing paths through the mountains. Vorcas, of course, voiced that it was no trouble at all, and that he hoped it would help to mitigate his earlier error in attacking the group.

"I also kept a close eye out for anymore enemies, mountain hazards such as rocks that could fall down the cliffs, and cleared the path of any rocks and sticks that blocked the way!" Vorcas finished with his customary aplomb.

"Oh, uh…thank you, Vorcas," Bryan replied, managing a smile. "You can relax now, okay? My father can take it from here."

"As you wish, your highness," Vorcas replied, almost sounding disappointed by the dismissal. "But don't hesitate to ask if you need my assistance again!"

"Right. So, Dad, which way from here?"

"Oh, well, it's been a very long time since I was last here, but if I recall correctly—" Owen began, but was soon cut off when an unknown male voice rang out.

"Hey! Hold there, strangers!"

Bryan, Vorcas, Owen, and the others turned to see a tall, muscular, and tan-skinned man with bright red hair running towards them. He was garbed in a reddish tunic of exotic design and wore leather sandals. Though the tunic was loose, it nonetheless offered a hint that there was a muscular form underneath. His skin was deeply tanned and his hair was also a deep red. His most distinguishing features, however, were his pointed ears and the red sigil on his right shoulder. It vaguely resembled the one on Soren's forehead, and, as if that wasn't enough, he also projected an aura of ancient majesty.

Though he looked barely in his thirties, he seemed as though he were much, much older than that.

This man, undoubtedly, was one of the dragon laguz. Probably a red dragon, judging from his hair and garb.

"You're one of the dragon laguz!" Bryan replied , suddenly remembering that this area was politically volatile. "Please, we mean no harm! We're from Astryn and we come in peace!"

"Calm yourself, hatchling," the dragon laguz interjected, raising a hand to forestall Bryan's rushed speech. "I'm not here to attack you. One dragon laguz against all of you? I'm not so old as to have lost my wits."

"Oh, good point. Then what do you want with us?"

"Why, I would've thought that obvious. To guide you to the castle, of course."

"Huh?! How did you know we were headed there?!" Bryan gasped, dumbfounded. "In fact, how did you know we were here at all?"

"Oh, give me some credit," the dragon laguz replied with a grin. "Talgrians, Cilaeans, Astrynians, Eraghoans, Perasi, Recatheans, Larameans, a Meloran or two, and others whose scents are from…elsewhere. Such a strange collection of people; and, here of all places? How could I not investigate such a bizarre sight? And besides, my king has been expecting you."

"Expecting us?! But how did he—"

"Really now, don't you think we'd know of the troubles that have plagued our old our own friends for the past decade?"

"Well yeah, I suspected that much. But how could King Cragen have known we were on our way now?"

"Oh, it's not that he expected you at this very moment. Rather, he anticipated that, with all these troubles both inside and outside her borders, Astryn would seek his aid eventually. A number of us were ordered to patrol the border, to keep watch for Astrynians. I wasn't expecting a party so large, or so diverse, but, I suspect the king will want to see you. We dragons have neither forgotten nor forgiven the pain Shigo inflicted upon our longtime allies."

Considering how much of a difference an army of dragons, or even a handful, would've made in shoring up his floundering kingdom, Bryan needed a moment to tamp down his incredulity before he spoke.

Remember, he mused with silent urgency, this is a potential ally. Don't push him away when you might need him.

"If that's true," the prince of Astryn began, weighing his words carefully, "then, why didn't King Cragen just send some dragons over to help us out on his own?" Owen wondered. "It would've saved us plenty of trouble."

"We were hardly in a position to object," Owen added, also keeping his tone calm with an effort. "It would've spared us much pain, and many lives."

"Well, he was concerned that intervening prematurely might've made things worse," the dragon laguz explained. "Whether any of us likes it or not, the destructive powers of the dragons will end a conflict, but not without…escalating it first. Our flame and lightning breath is potent, but there's always a great deal of…collateral damage."

"Hmm, that does make sense," Bryan admitted. "Especially considering the state Astryn is in right now. But, we're in desperate need of his aid now. As for escalating the conflict, I think we passed that point some time ago. If it'll save lives, it's worth the consequences; and, we can always rebuild what we burn down or blow up."

"You speak wisely, hatchling. As for myself, I am Kenth, a humble servant of the realm of Orenias. Might I have the pleasure of knowing whom I'm escorting to my liege's presence?"

"Oh, of course. I'm Bryan, prince of Astryn," Bryan replied, gesturing to the others in hopes of forestalling the inevitable gaping and gawking his title elicited. "This is Azura; the lady of Elhorhi in Talgria, General Leyon; commander of the Royal Knights of Talgria, Count Francois; one of my advisors, General Eric; commander of the Astrynian dracoknights, General Alec; commander of the Astrynian army, Vorcas; a captain in the Laramean army, and my father, Grand Duke Owen Novat. I've come on behalf of my late aunt, Queen Marion, as well as the Astrynian nobles at the palace."

Bryan had rather hoped that the lengthy introduction would give Kenth to get the stupefaction out of his system. Unfortunately, when he turned to face the red dragon, he was met with an expression of slack-jawed amazement, forcing Bryan to swallow an impatient groan.

"The prince?! The fabled lost prince of Astryn?! So you are real!" Kenth gasped, his eyebrows shooting clear up to his hairline. "Marion did mention that she had a sister and nephew, when she sought refuge here so long ago. But, the pain and losses she'd suffered left her so…unraveled, in mind, body, and spirit. King Cragen tried to learn more, but to no avail."

"…Wait, he knew of my existence? When I arrived in Astryn, I was under the impression that half the continent thought I was some sort of children's tale."

"Some of us knew better, you see. We dragon laguz can read minds, just as the herons can read hearts, and we have ways to tell real memories apart from dreams, fantasies, and delusions. But, this didn't help much with Marion. Her mind was all but broken. We looked into it again and again, but nothing we found could be deciphered. And, since neither you or your mother ever came to our country, none of us knew what you looked like, what name you went by, or where you were, much less how to help you prove your bloodline."

"Oh. That figures. From what I heard on the way to Medann, I'm guessing there was nothing you could do for her?"

"Sadly, no. And his majesty will be much aggrieved to hear of Queen Marion's death… I heard that they were dear friends, before...well, before the dark times. His majesty suspected she'd only have so long to live, but he'd hoped that her mind and spirit might mend before she died."

"I don't really know either way; she passed before I even reached the palace… I'm terribly sorry to have to bring him such news then."

"You need not worry, he will understand."

Here, Kenth's expression took on a penetrating look that had Bryan suddenly wondering if Kenth might be reading his mind at that very moment.

"Your burden is heavy enough without the added weight of the dead. And, in any case, his majesty was hoping to meet you soon."

"He was?" Bryan blurted, startled out of his princely reserve by the admission. "Well, I…I'm honored."

"Great! Then, let us be off! We shouldn't keep his majesty waiting."

With that, Kenth motioned for the group to follow him. Bryan had been about to follow when, suddenly, Ike shoved his way past the startled prince.

"Hey, wait just one minute," he cut in, clear suspicion in his gaze as he regarded Kenth. "This all seems a little too convenient to me."

"I agree," Soren added. "It does seem a bit odd that he just happened to be out here, in an area known to be a point of contention between Larame and Orenias, just as we were passing through. How do we know he's telling the truth, and that this isn't some sort of trap?"

Suddenly wondering the same thing, but wary of what might happen if these allegations turned out to be false, Bryan pointedly interposed himself between Ike and Kenth. When he spied the latter, however, he saw that the red dragon was regarding Ike with open amazement.

Kenth was about to reply, but hesitated when he got a good look at Ike. His eyes then bulged wide.

"You… I-Impossible…" he uttered. "You're…you're Sir Ike! The legendary hero of Tellius! I-I am deeply honored to meet you!"

Before he had even finished the sentence, Kenth had very nearly prostrated himself before Ike…who, true to fashion, was less-than-pleased by the gesture.

"Oh good grief…" the irate hero groused. "I can't go more than a day without…wait a minute! The dragon laguz way out here know of me?! How is that possible?! News of Tellius hasn't even reached past Astryn yet."

A smile, though one more of nostalgia than mirth, took shape on Kenth's face.

"Why, I know because I am originally from there," he explained. "You recall that how I said I detected scents from "elsewhere" among you? You and your surly friend there bear a whiff of…home."

"Wait, you mean you were born in Goldoa?"

That, Bryan suspected, was a bad sign. The prince of Astryn knew from stories he'd heard about Tellius that, during the Goddess War, many of the dragons of Goldoa had joined then-king Dheginsea in his support of the plan to bring about Ashera's Judgment.

And, many of those same dragons had tried to kill Ike and his friends when they didn't turn to stone along with the rest of the continent.

Bryan's fears were confirmed when he noticed Ike's sword hand tensing, so he thrust Eronite between the two, only dimly aware of Kenth regarding the thunder lance with recognition.

"Both of you, calm down!" he commanded. "Let's hear Kenth out, alright?"

The red dragon seemed rather disconcerted by Ike's reaction, but spoke nonetheless.

"It's a long story," he said, almost apologetically. "But, I assure you, I had no hand in the madness that overtook Tellius not so long ago. In fact, Prince Kurthnaga and Ena were good friends of mine. But, more than that, I won't betray you, Sir Ike. I gather you hear this too often for your tastes, but, I'm a great admirer of yours."

"You're right about me hearing it too often, I'll give you that much," Ike replied in a neutral tone.

"No, I'm serious. You may not know this, but, one of the consequences of our great longevity is…well, that living so long causes life to seem less and less precious. That may sound odd, but think about it. Goldoa had spent century after century cloistering itself off from the world, though we knew much of what went on beyond our land. So many years of suffering, and war, and barbarism, and despair. Yet, for nearly everyone in Goldoa, it was all little more than a passing interest. "People are always suffering somewhere," "Even if they didn't die this day, they'd likely die the next," "What is the point of laboring to preserve lives when they wither in the blink of an eye?" And yet, Sir Ike, when did any of that stop you? Stop you from caring, stop you from acting?"

Whatever Ike had been expecting to hear, that wasn't it. But, Bryan noticed with relief, that Ike's hand was now well away from Ragnell.

"…Well," Ike began, startled by Kenth's words. "It hasn't."

"Exactly. Even after all the suffering and bloodshed you must've seen, the harshness of the world has not broken you. It has tempered you, made you wiser and stronger, yet it has done nothing to wither your empathy…a trait my own people so often lacked. I could not threaten something so precious."

"I'm…really not sure what to say. Well, besides that I'm sorry. I was just wary because I've seen too many situations where people I care for are led into a trap by someone they, and I, thought was a friend. I was afraid it might happen again."

"Don't worry, I understand. But. I promise you, if you give me a chance, then I will not disappoint you. Now, shall we be going?"

"Yes, I think I can trust you."

Letting out a breath of profound relief, and hoping no one noticed, Bryan lowered Eronite and gestured for everyone to follow Kenth.

"That was quick thinking back there," Owen whispered to his son, a hint of disappointment seeping into his tone as the group continued towards Castle Orenias. "I only wish I'd been more useful."

"Heh, don't worry, Dad," Bryan reassured. "You can still help me out when we meet with King Cragen," Bryan assured with a smile. "I could use the help of someone who actually knows how to talk to politicians."

"Well, that's true," Owen agreed with a smile. "I doubt shaking Eronite in King Cragen's face will put him in an accommodating mood."

As Kenth guided the group, he told more his reasons for leaving Tellius. He had served in the Goldoan army for a long time, but never fought in either the Mad King's War or the Goddess War because of King Dheginsea's refusal to involve Goldoa in the affairs of outsiders. Kenth disagreed with this decision, as it made what was supposed to be his home feel more like a prison and his "hatchling's conscience," as his fellows put it, recoiled at the horrors he watched unfold in the wider world. He knew, however, that he was very nearly alone in that opinion, which made his home feel all the more confining. As time wore on, he wanted more and more to leave. He wanted to make a difference in the wider world, and, in so doing, journey to new places and make new friends. His chance finally came following the end of the Goddess War, when news reached Goldoa that Dheginsea had been defeated in Begnion. Kurthnaga was crowned king in place of his late father, and had promised that Goldoa would be a part of Tellius, rather than above and apart from it as it had been in the past, and that his country would forge lasting relations with the other nations of Tellius. Yet, Kenth wanted more. He had learned all about Ike and his adventures from Kurthnaga and Ena, which served only fueled his wanderlust. When Kenth learned of Altarais, and that Ike was planning on voyaging there, Kenth felt that he should do the same.

"And when I finally found Orenias, well, I couldn't resist staying," Kenth finished. "I still travel once in a while, of course, but I found that the Orenias dragons were much more amicable than many of the Goldoans. I still visit Kurth and Ena on occasion, though. But King Cragen is definitely not like Dheginsea was."

"Oh, I see," Ike replied. "You're right, the Goldoan dragons were pretty closed-minded about some things and Dheginsea was a stubborn lizard. Again, I apologize for accusing you earlier."

"Think on it no further. Besides, it's not every day I get approached by a hero as famous as you!"

"Right… So, you're able to fly back to Tellius? Have you been there recently? If so, I was wondering if you had any news of—"

Before Ike could finish the sentence, a certain young rogue darted between his legs to stand alongside Kenth.

"Hey! Hold on! This means you were the red dragon I saw in the sky back in Talgria a few months ago!" Kye blurted, his words nearly running together in his excitement.

"Ah, I was there at that time, actually. I'd wager you did see me!" Kenth confirmed. "Alas, a storm out at sea cut short my journey."

"Ha! I told you, Skye!" Kye gloated to his brother.

"Well, I'll be damned…" Skye commented, stupefied. "I'll never hear the end of this."

"Nope!" Kye said smugly, then turning to face the red dragon. "So, Kenth, do you think you could…transform for me? I've always wanted to see a real, transformed dragon laguz up close!"

"Heh, I don't see why not. How could I refuse a bright eager child? Why, to most dragons, I practically am one myself," Kenth agreed happily. With that, he traced curious designs in the air, and a corona of reddish light erupted around him. When the light dimmed, where once stood a tan skinned man was now a large, crimson scaled dragon. He stood on his hind limbs, rising to more than twice Ike's height, and his sharp claws and horns glinted in the sunlight. Sensing the rogue's rapt fascination, he even belched out a short gout of flame.

"Wow! That is so awesome!" Kye commented. "The dragon laguz are so cool!"

There was one amongst the army, however, with a very different opinion. Seeing Kenth's transformation, Kiel let out a shriek and began to flee for his life. He didn't far, however, before he stumbled over a rock and fell flat on his face. When he recovered his wits, the first thing he saw was Sara glowering down at him.

"KIEL! You're embarrassing me again! Weren't you supposed to be getting over this?!" she snapped.

"Ugh… Sorry… I'm trying…" the shamefaced Kiel uttered.

"Oh…!" Kenth said and quickly reverted back to his human form. "W-What's wrong with him?"

"Dang it, I'm sorry!" Kye apologized. "I forgot! Kiel's really afraid of dragons. Any kind. And he's been jumpy ever since we started our journey here."

"Oh, I see… I apologize, I had no idea. I'll remain untransformed for his sake then. But we will see other dragons at the castle. I can make no promises about them."

"Ohhh nooo…" Kiel trembled after standing up.

"He'll just have to stay outside the castle grounds then," Sara fumed. "But he is going to get over this fear. He has friends helping him with that."

"Well, I hope you're right," Kenth replied.

Kenth merely sighed as he led the group onward, announcing that their destination was no more than a few hours away and that Cragen would want to meet with Bryan immediately upon their arrival. As they traveled, Bryan thought about Laris having described Cragen as being rather blunt and intimidating. He hoped that this didn't mean that the dragon king could be abrasive or uncooperative. The prince could easily prove his identity using Eronite, but would that guarantee that Cragen would hear him out? A prince of Astryn he might be, but Bryan was neither a shrewd negotiator nor a savvy statesman. Kenth had said he was hardly like the previous Goldoan dragon king, so hopefully, this meant he'd at least be willing to listen. All Bryan could do was hope that he made a good impression on Cragen and that whatever support given to him by Owen, Francois, or Alec would be enough.

The next few hours passed quickly as Kenth led the group out of the mountains and to a vast expanse of verdant, hilly grasslands. Woodlands were visible in the distance, but few other trees broke the sea of grass. Bryan figured that the vast, open area benefitted the dragons, as they'd have more space to take off, fly, and land. Their great size likely made landing anywhere else, such as the forest, a dangerous proposition. With little to hide it from view, Castle Orenias soon appeared on the horizon. It was a massive stone building, larger than any Bryan or the others had ever seen before, likely built to accommodate the dragons within, regardless of what form they assumed. A ring of wide, flat-topped towers rose from the top of the main building, seemingly tall enough to spear the clouds. As Kenth finally brought the group to the castle's front gates, the red dragon explained to a pair of leery sentries that these visitors had come from Astryn to meet with Cragen. Luckily, the sentries had been given standing orders to admit such a party, and they granted entry to Bryan, Owen, Francois, and Alec. The rest of the group, meanwhile, would remain outside to take in the sights…and, with all the transformed dragons roaming about, to try and not to get stepped on.

Kenth then guided his four charges through halls with high, vaulted ceilings and through stone doors carved with bas relief designs, ultimately reaching the throne room. Bryan took a deep breath as they entered, taking comfort in Owen giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. As Bryan beheld the dragon king, his first observation was that Cragen was a very tall man. Beyond that, his muscular bulk that rivaled that of Kenth. Contrasting with his hulking appearance was his immaculately styled navy blue hair, through which the tips of his pointed ears were visible, and the majestic blue and silver cloak he wore over his pale blue tunic, white leggings, and dark green boots. A smile lit up his face when he laid eyes on Bryan.

"Ah, Kenth, you've guided our friends here. You've done well," Cragen spoke up and returned his attention to Bryan. "And you are Prince Bryan, I presume?" he guessed.

"Yes, I am, your majesty," Bryan confirmed. "Though, if you'll pardon my saying, I'm curious about how you knew that."

"Alas, that is not a happy tale," Cragen admitted. "Your aunt had told me much about you and mother when she sought refuge here during the last war. I greatly desired to aid in searching for you, but Orenias was recovering from that conflict as well. And, as Marion's condition worsened, what clues we had to find you were too few and too small to aid us."

"I see. Kenth told us the same thing," Bryan replied. "Oh, and this is my father, Grand Duke Owen, my advisor, Count Francois, and General Alec."

"Ah, a pleasure to meet all of you," Cragen said, exchanging respectful bows with his visitors. "And Grand Duke Owen, you say? If I recall, you were here once before, weren't you?"

"Indeed, I had come here many years ago on behalf of my parents to negotiate a trade agreement, as my father was ill at the time and my mother needed to care for him," Owen explained. "I was in training as well, as I was being groomed to assume control of our house."

"Aha, I knew you looked familiar," Cragen replied with a smile. "I do remember that now. I must apologize for not realizing it sooner. Sadly, the past decade has left us with no end of trouble."

"Did the dragon laguz suffer badly in the last war?" Bryan wondered.

"Not as much as most of the other nations, but we lost many of our finest. Most grievous was the death of one of our army's leaders…and my wife."

This, Bryan suspected, likely contributed far more to Cragen's reluctance to intervene earlier than the dragon king would readily admit. After all, for a being that lived for centuries, his wife's death might as well have happened yesterday.

"Oh… I am sorry if I have caused you to relive your grief," he apologized, feeling cool relief when the lines in Cragen's face eased slightly.

"You need not worry, my good prince," Cragen assured. "She is sorely missed, but we take solace in knowing that she fought bravely and died a heroine."

"I see… Let me guess who killed them. Shigo."

"Was there ever any doubt?"

"Just like my dear Caline…" Owen added, his eyes misting. "That pain is one I know all too well, your majesty."

"Indeed. But it was thanks in large part to those sacrifices that Shigo was defeated. His casualties were so heavy, and his troops so demoralized, that he'd had no choice but to abandon his conquest. We lost many to achieve that victory…though, since Shigo slipped our grasp, I could not help but wonder if it had all been for nothing."

Cragen's eyes had gone distant, as though he no longer saw the quartet of beorc standing before him, but something else. Or, rather, someone else, whose loss pained him yet.

Thumping Eronite's pommel on the floor to rouse Cragen from his reverie, Bryan spoke urgently.

"Your majesty, I cannot change what happened all those years ago. And, I can't promise that anything we do will make your wife's death hurt less. But, I can promise you this: we have another chance to bring Shigo to justice. And together, we can win this time. We can't bring back those who died at Shigo's hands, but we can avenge them. And we can make sure that what they fought and died for lives on."

Bryan sensed that Owen would've been leery of such a forward approach, but, luckily, Cragen seemed to brighten at Bryan's impassioned speech.

"You truly have the spirit of your forbearers," Cragen noted approvingly. "I believe you could accomplish this task, and more besides. In fact, an interesting notion occurs to me."

"…Oh?"

"Yes. Before I commit my men to your cause, I seek a favor from you. A boon, you beorc royalty might call it. There's a cavern in the mountains near here, where precious artifacts or important supplies are hidden for safekeeping. I'd like you to go there to retrieve something for me. I'd send some of my soldiers, but all the preparation for this war leaves few are available at the moment. Think of it as a test to see how well you can build rapport with some of the dragons here."

Another test? Bryan mused irritably. Ugh, not again.

"…Oh, alright," Bryan agreed reluctantly. "What is it that you'd like me to find?"

"Oh, just an item that will prove important in this fight," Cragen replied with a smile. "You'll find it in a special crate that's marked with blue sigils. Oh, but be careful, laguz bandits prowl the area around these caves. They're much more active and aggressive lately, not only here but in other nations too. In fact, rumors abound that they might have joined that beorc bandit army, the Red Claw."

"I see. Thanks for the warning."

Suddenly, the throne room doors burst open. Revealed was a girl that looked near in age Faline, garbed in a long dark blue tunic, sky blue leggings and sandals. What was most striking about her, however, was her hair. Whereas all the other dragons had had hair the color of silver, fire, or ebony, her waist length tresses were the blue of a summer sky.

"Hey, Father, Kenth! General Vesuve and I have—Oh, visitors! Are they from Astryn?" the girl inquired.

"Ah, hey, Nya!" Kenth greeted.

"Oh, Nyarla. As a matter of fact, they are," Cragen replied with a tone that suggesting he could be quite the doting father at times. "Everyone, this is my daughter, Nyarla."

Nyarla, seemingly oblivious to the perplexity on the visitors' faces, waved at them merrily.

"Pardon me for saying so, sire," Bryan began tactfully. "But, I've never seen a dragon laguz of such a color."

"I'd be quite astonished if you had," Cragen replied. "She is one-of-a-kind, the only blue dragon laguz who walks Altarais. On rare occasion, women of our family are born as blue dragons."

So, they likely don't exist on Tellius, Bryan deduced. Ike and the others will surely be interested in this.

"Nice to meet you all!" Nyarla greeted with a cheerful smile. "Yeah, I'm pretty different, aren't I? Or, is it my charms that caught your eye? Hee hee. So Father, are you sending them on a mission?"

"You might say that, yes," Cragen replied, his earlier indulgent tone turning blunt and firm. "But you're staying here. It's too dangerous for you."

"Aw, but General Vesuve and I sparred and he said I've gotten better!"

"I'm sure, but I still think you should train a little more before I let you into battle. Especially after what happened to your mother and General Manjaro."

"Oh, alright," Nyarla grumbled in disappointment.

"But Kenth, you will take a small group of dragons and accompany our new friends," Cragen continued. "I believe they'll have further need of your guidance."

"Of course, your majesty," Kenth obeyed.

"I wish you luck, my friends! You might be needing it. Heh, heh."

"Er…thank you," Bryan replied as politely as he could, then turned to exit the throne room.

Rather blunt and intimidating indeed, he thought to himself.

EmblemQueen: That's it for this monster, haha. Also, if some of you haven't noticed, General Vesuve, and the deceased dragon commander, General Manjaro, are both named for volcanoes. Mt. Vesuvius and Mt. Kilamanjaro, respectively. Vesuvius managed to destroy and bury an entire town, which a dragon laguz is probably capable of as well. lol And I didn't actually notice this bit until later, but Kilamanjaro sounds VERY close to the phrase "kill manjaro" which is what Shigo did sometime before this story's events occur. Heh, heh. Rather freaky though, if you think about it.