AN: Don't forget about Chapter 58, everyone! We've got a DOUBLE UPDATE TODAY!
Rigged from the Start
Chapter 59
Kill Your Conscience
Bodies and blood. Gore and guts. Henry would say they made for a wonderful remodel of the Exalt's palace. All it did was make me feel sick to my stomach.
Every few steps, me, Frederick, and Panne would pass another set of corpses, almost always Ylissean. If they weren't stabbed to death or riddled with arrows then they were nothing but smoking husks of charred skin and scorched bones. A few small blazes burned on the floor-to-ceiling drapes alongside the windows in the Palace's long corridors. Every time we encountered one, Frederick would linger behind me and Panne to smother it.
We did not encounter any Plegians while tip-toeing through the dark, blood-splattered halls. We could hear fighting in nearby corridors as well as outside. Swords clashed, the sound ringing through the walls. Spells exploded, making the roof and floor tremble. Men and women screamed as they died nearby. Yet, none of them seemed to be in the same hall as us.
That put me on edge. Nothing was ever this easy. Reaching the Exalt would not happen without someone accosting me, Frederick, and Panne. While I would love for it to be an easy rescue, I knew in my gut that I would be running into Validar at least one more time tonight. When I crossed paths with the High Priest again, I wondered how I would handle it.
Most likely, I would run. I knew better than to try and fight someone of Validar's caliber. While saving the Exalt was a high priority, saving my own skin and making sure Severa lived so we could complete our original mission took precedence. If the Exalt died, we'd figure out another way to throw Grima off balance.
This did not mean I was comfortable with letting the Exalt die. I would do everything in my power to save her. But, what Severa told me yesterday stayed with me. Pick your battles. A battle with the Grimleal was not winnable.
We eventually made our way to the top of the residential wing in the palace. I paused at the top of the stairs while Frederick and Panne kept moving into a broad hallway.
Unlike every other hall we passed through, this one looked untouched. There were no bodies on the floor, no scorch marks on the walls, not even the smell of death in the air. Frederick and Panne seemed quite pleased by the sight as they strode forward without any hesitation. I, however, felt far more on edge. We just passed through floor after floor, hall after hall, of bodies. I knew Validar was heading this way. So why-
A curtain moved at the end of the hall.
"Frederick, Panne, watch out!" I screamed
A powerful blast of dark magic screeched from the curtains, slamming into Panne. The taguel uttered a guttural sound the spell threw her off of her feet and into the wall, cracking it on impact. Frederick turned to face the blast, only for a stream of fire to knock him back. Two small, shadowy figures shot from near the Exalt's door. One rushed at Frederick, kneeing him in the head and knocking him flat on his back. The other charged at me.
I didn't think, and I didn't dwell on what I should do. I reacted. The assassin stabbed at my throat. I sidestepped, planted my foot behind his right ankle, and shoved him hard. As he fell, I raised my dagger and plunged it into the assassin's heart.
A sharp cry came from the assassin. One of the curtains burst into flame, casting an orange glow on the hallway. Through that glow, I saw a face that made me blanch. An anguished scream emanated from near Frederick.
"Mouse!" Cutter screamed.
My hands shook as Mouse's blood flowed over my dagger and fingers. I stared down at the boy, wide-eyed, heart pounding in my chest. Disbelief sat in Mouse's gaze. Tears bubbled in his eyes as he choked on his blood. Seconds later, he went limp in my arms.
Eva screamed near the door. Glass shattered around me. I raised my arms over my head as shards pelted me like sharp hailstones. Several pieces bit through my clothes, making me hiss as gashes opened on my torso. When the glass stopped flying, a stream of flames flew at me.
I gasped then rolled to the side. The fire roared inches from my body, shooting through the hall and slamming into the stairwell. Right as the stream died, footsteps rushed up the stairs. A mighty crack of thunder echoed through the hall as a powerful bolt of lightning jumped through the air.
The thunderbolt hit Eva, slamming her into the door and causing them to fly open. The Exalt's chambers sat on the other side. Within those chambers stood a petrified Exalt Emmeryn, Princess Lissa, and an orange-haired thief. The thief stood in front of them, facing the doors, shortsword drawn.
Gaius?
"Emmeryn!" I heard Chrom roar as he shot past me. Hot on his heels was Robin and another blur of blue wearing a blue butterfly mask and a red cape.
I shook my head. Now was not the time to be dumbstruck. Now was not the time to slow down or be afraid. Fear meant death in close quarters like this.
Another powerful blast of dark magic whooshed down the hall, picking Chrom off of his feet and throwing him up into a crystal chandelier above us. At that point, Frederick returned to his feet. He caught Chrom as he fell, causing both of them to fall into a pile of armor and swords on the floor.
Static filled the air. Robin cast another thunder spell at a lanky silhouette approaching Emmeryn, Lissa, and Gaius. The silhouetted twirled around and threw up a shadowy shield of black magic. The thunder spell crashed against it with an enormous crack. Sparks sprayed like a firework blowing up, lighting up the room enough for me to see Validar sneer at us.
When he saw Robin, his eyes widened.
"You…" Validar said, his lips parting into a victorious grin. "Fate truly is with me this day!"
Instead of turning to combat Gaius and take the Exalt, Validar stepped out of the room. The fire inside of the hall grew brighter as it consumed the curtain and jumped to the wall surrounding a shattered window. The flames turned white as Validar passed by them. Heat slammed into me in one strong wave, stealing the air from my lungs.
That's when I saw a dagger nearing my face. I jerked my head back. The tip of the blade slashed into my cheek, making me hiss.
As I staggered back, a small fist smacked into my jaw. Stars shot through my eyes as I reeled. My legs pressed against a broken windowsill, and my momentum shifted. Instead of falling out of the window though, a hand snagged me back the neck of my shirt.
Cutter glared at me, eyes filled with tears and hatred. He raised his dagger as I looked up at him.
"You damn traitor!"
I didn't squeeze my eyes shut, didn't look away, didn't even hold my breath. I looked Cutter in the eyes and waited. Waited for the dagger to fall; to plunge into my chest and kill me as I killed his brother.
All of Cutter's breath shot from his lungs in one, sharp exhale. A sickening crack, followed by a harsh rip rang in my ears. His dagger trembled as he kept it raised over his head, unable to bring it down.
Falchion stuck out of his chest, small drops of blood dripping from the diving blade's tip onto my shirt. Rising behind Cutter was a slender figure with short, blue hair. A blue butterfly mask shielded their face.
Cutter grit his teeth. Hatred burned in his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks. A stifled snarl slipped from his mouth, then he sank. His dagger clattered to the floor, and he slumped forward, lying face down in a growing pool of his blood. Falchion slid out from him, and his killer faced me.
As soon as I saw the cold, angry grimace beneath the butterfly mask; I knew who it was. But no amount of fear from seeing a pissed Lucina could counter the horror I felt at seeing two of my scouts fall in front of me.
Lucina did not say a word. She turned away and faced the final two combatants in the hall: Eva and Validar.
Chrom, Robin, Frederick, and Lucina faced the two mages. Eva looked terrified and enraged. Her eyes darted back and forth between Mouse and Cutter's bodies and me. A solitary tear dripped from her left eye as her gaze lingered on me. Her lips quivered, and fire burst to life in her hands.
Validar meanwhile, cackled with delight. Before the four Shepherds in front of me could even react, he swept his hand. A wave of dark magic shot out from his tome, filling the hall with black power.
Frederick, Chrom, and Lucina all flew backward as the spell launched them back to the stairwell. Frederick's head snapped back against a spindle on the stairs, knocking him out. Lucina flipped over the stairs, falling down them with a sharp cry. Chrom slammed into the wall beside the stairs, falling to his knees and using Falchion to try to steady himself.
Robin remained, his hand outstretched as a wall of wind magic dissipated in front of him. His chest heaved as he breathed hard. His slumped shoulders told me he was gassed. Validar, meanwhile, looked like he hadn't even broken a sweat.
He swept Robin aside with his next spell. The Shepherd's tactician slumped against the wall, heavy breaths rushing in and out of his lungs as his spellbook fell from his hands. His red eyes glared up at Validar as the Grimleal stepped past him.
"I'll deal with you in a moment," Validar grinned.
My stomach dropped as Validar's eyes landed on me. Those yellow orbs glowed with delighted malice as he stepped towards me. I couldn't even raise my dagger against him. All I could do was tremble as I stepped backward.
My back hit the wall behind me, and my heart shot to my throat. Validar flashed a sinister smile. He reached out with one, long, spidery hand and grasped my throat. My eyes bulged as he squeezed. I prepared to kick him, only for a pulse of magic to come from the evil mage.
I couldn't move. My mouth refused to open. My limbs were stiff as stone. I became a statue in Validar's grasp; my life ebbing away as his fingernails dug into my neck.
"I've been waiting for this, Samwise Baggins," Validar sneered.
Shards of glass rose in the hallway, forming a deadly gauntlet of brittle knives for the Shepherds to cross. It made Chrom, Frederick, and Lucina hesitate. Meanwhile, Eva fired fireball after fireball at them, forcing them to take cover.
I gagged as Validar's grip tightened.
"Did you really think I was not aware of who you were?" Validar asked as he choked me and pressed me further into the wall. More flames burst to life in the hallway, drawing closer and closer to me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gaius inch his way out of the Exalt's chambers. He wasn't coming to me. He was moving towards Panne. She had fallen out of her beast form when Validar injured her. The thief quickly dragged her into the room with Emmeryn and Lissa. While I would have loved for Gaius to come to my rescue, I was grateful I trained him well enough to know when to pick his battles.
A shame I couldn't figure out the same thing.
The edges of my vision darkened. Validar's golden gaze glowed as I stood paralyzed before him.
"When you die, I will kill the Exalt and her family," Validar hissed, "Then I will take what is mine. No… what is Grima's. Know this, Baggins. Whatever you were trying to do, however you were trying to stop me, you failed." He leaned in close to my ear. "I look forward to speaking in-depth with Miss Severa."
Steel flashed. Validar stiffened, then croaked. His hand dropped from my throat as he staggered back a step. The spell he had on me lifted, allowing me to sag to the ground. As I sat slumped against the wall, I saw Severa standing to my right, a bloody sword in her hand and a scowl on her face.
Validar turned towards her, eyes wide. Blood seeped through his robes, coming from a wide gash below his ribs. He opened his mouth to cast another spell, only for Severa to yell and thrust her blade forward.
She ran Validar through, her blade smashing through his sternum and out his spine. Validar uttered a gurgling sound. He slumped against Severa, his head falling onto her left shoulder. As his last breaths rattled from his lungs, I saw Severa's lips move. She whispered something.
A loud croak came from Validar, then Severa shoved him away from her.
He fell to the ground, but the bastard did not die. Despite all of the blood pouring from his wounds, he flopped onto his stomach and clawed at the floor, crawling like a maimed zombie towards a screaming Lissa and mortified Emmeryn. Before he could get halfway to Emmeryn's chamber, Robin cut off his path.
The Shepherd's tactician took one, disdainful look down at the cretin. A bolt of lightning burst to life in Robin's left hand. With a casual wave of his hand, it burrowed into Validar's back. Validar shuddered once, glared hatefully up at Robin then sagged to the ground, dead.
As the light left Validar's eyes, Robin shambled around to face Eva. The poor girl looked terrified. Her hands trembled in front of her. Tears burned down her dirty cheeks. Her teeth were clenched tight as she whipped her gaze from Robin to Validar to the twins' bodies then to me and Severa. Finally, a hand gripped her shoulder, making her stiffen.
"Give it up," Gaius whispered as flames crackled in the hall. Smoke billowed out of the windows. "It's over."
Those words rang through my head. It was over. The assassination had failed. Emmeryn was going to live. But, I couldn't find it in me to cheer.
A cold sunrise rose over Ylisstol. For the start of a summer day, the air held a surprising bitterness that made me shiver. Red covered the previously black sky in vast swaths of color, as if the world itself knew that blood had spilled and that a significant battle was done.
I stood in the palace yard, still as a statue, my gaze fixed on a row of black-clad bodies lying on the bloodstained ground. More specifically, I looked at the bodies of two teens.
Mouse and Cutter did not look dead. If I did not see the bloody holes in their bodies, I could have easily assumed they were asleep. Their eyes were closed, faces pale. The strangest anomalies were their lips which were turning blue. Given how violently they died, death gave them a strange peace.
A shuddering breath left my lips as a chilled wind swept through the yard. All around me, Ylissean guards, Pegasus Knights, and Prince Chrom's Shepherds were busy securing the palace. None of them paid attention to me. The only people who noticed my presence beside the Plegian bodies were the Ylissean clerics moving among them, performing their duties and giving the dead last rites.
One cleric paused beside the twins, kneeling to place a linen sheet over their faces. The woman then turned her attention to me.
"Did you know them?" She asked, making me blink.
"Um…" I swallowed hard. "I did, yeah," My jaw tightened as I watched her cover Mouse. "I helped kill them."
A sympathetic look formed on the cleric's features. "I'm sorry," She rose from the twins' sides and folded her hands in front of her. "Do you regret it?"
I didn't hear her question at first. I stared blankly at the small bodies covered by sheets. When she asked the question again, I came out of my quiet stupor.
"I-" The ball in my throat refused to go away. I could still see Mouse looking up at me with shock and fear. I could still hear Cutter's enraged, anguished cry as he watched his brother die. Over and over again, I wondered how I could have prevented it. Could I have changed my actions and saved them? "Yeah, I regret it."
The cleric nodded. "Good, it means you still have your conscience. The day you lose that is the day you lose your humanity," The cleric gave me a small bow of her head. "If you'll excuse me, I must return to my duties." She started to move to the next body before pausing again. "You may want to step away now. It might help you."
I grimaced and nodded, choosing to say nothing. After another moment of watching the cleric work, I turned away from the bodies, tucking my chin and walking towards the Shepherds' barracks. When I reached the barracks, one of the Palace guards raised a hand, stopping me.
"You one of the Shepherds?" He asked me.
I gave him a weary look. "Would I be standing here if I wasn't?"
Before the guard could give me a stern rebuke, the barracks' door opened. Lucina stood on the other side, mask still hiding her facial features.
"He's with me," She said in a voice that sounded like a bad impersonation of a man.
The guard glanced at Lucina, furrowed his brow, then returned his gaze to me. With a snort, he nodded at the door and allowed me to pass.
Leftovers from the Shepherds' small get-together the night before remained in the common room. A couple of glasses with the last drops of liquor in them sat on the counter. A half-empty bottle of firewine sat next to glasses. A few dirty plates littered the tables around the room, and several of the chairs were pulled away from their usual spots and situated near the empty fireplace. What was a place of warmth and laughter last night felt cold and empty instead.
But, it was not as cold as the glare Lucina gave me from behind her mask. She leaned her back against the bar counter, arms folded over her chest, waiting for me to say something.
My lips pressed into a thin line. I gestured at her mask.
"Get that from Anna?" She said nothing, which only made me feel more anxious. "It works to hide your… you know," I waved my hand in front of my eyes. Lucina's frown deepened. "Your voice could use some work though."
"The only reason we are having this conversation right now is because Severa would not stop defending you," Lucina growled.
My mouth fell open. "What?"
"Severa," Lucina repeated, "I already spoke with her. The only reason I'm even speaking to you is because she was adamant about how you didn't do anything wrong."
I grimaced as I shifted uncomfortably beneath her glare. My hands found their way into my pant pockets as I uttered a resigned sigh.
"And your opinion?"
Lucina's brow furrowed. She pushed away from the bar counter, took two strong steps towards me, and glared straight into my eyes. Through the slits in her mask, I saw her blue eyes were wide and furious.
"I'm sure you can already guess," She said.
I drew in a deep breath then exhaled slowly. How the hell was Lucina able to make me feel like I was being lectured to by a disappointed parent? God, not even Frederick or Mustafa made me feel like this when I screwed up. Then again, I never deliberately screwed up while under their command.
"What do you want me to say?" I asked.
"Nothing," Lucina replied. "Because there is nothing you can say," Her eyes closed behind her mask as she drew in a deep, calming breath. When she spoke again, her tone sounded more measured. "Anything we need to discuss will be done later when there is less chance of someone overhearing us. For now, go rest. We… we could all use some rest."
Yup, this was one of the worst scoldings I've ever received. I would have much rather Lucina screamed her head off at me. At least then I would have understood her reaction. I expected her to be angry at my decisions. I did not expect her anger to manifest as total disappointment.
With a quiet nod, I walked past her. I could feel her gaze following me as I made my way down the hall to the guys bunk room.
No one else was in the bunkroom. All of the Shepherds were busy mopping up the mess in the Palace; gathering bodies, both Ylissean and Plegian, and preparing them for burial. At least, I think they are going to bury the Plegian dead as well. Exalt Emmeryn seemed to be the type to respect her enemies like that.
A new lump formed in my throat. Mouse and Cutter invaded my mind again. I saw their tears, their shock and anger, and their peaceful expressions in death. I then recalled Eva and the pure hatred she showed when she was the last Plegian standing. All of it was directed at me and Severa.
We were traitors to her. We helped murder two of her friends, and who knows what happened to Gar and Kushi. I still hadn't seen or heard anything about them.
The lump felt like a hand gripping my neck, squeezing tighter and tighter. Every breath felt difficult, labored. My knees knocked together before my legs finally gave out. I slumped to the ground, sliding against the wall beside the barracks door.
When I touched the ground, a massive wave of nausea hit me. A hoarse, sharp wheeze shot from my lips. Ragged gasps rattled in and out of my lungs, the lump in my throat blocking most of the air from entering my lungs. That's when I realized tears were rolling down my cheeks.
As I brought a trembling hand to my eyes, trying with all of my might to fend off the tears, the door to the bunk room creaked open.
"Sam?" Severa said.
A harsh sniffle shot through me, followed by a ragged exhale.
"Yeah?" I croaked.
I waited for her to say something. Instead, Severa closed the door behind her, moved in front of me, and knelt. Her red eyes looked at me, concerned. I rested my head back against the wall, my hands in my lap, as tears stained my cheeks. I swallowed hard, hoping that would get rid of the lump in my throat, but seeing Severa looking at me only made it worse.
"They were ours," I whispered, voice trembling. I saw some tears in Severa's eyes as well. "Mouse, Cutter, Eva, Kushi, Gar, Gaius… they trusted us with their lives. They trusted us to train them to survive whatever mission they faced," I sniffed and wiped at my eyes, tears still rolling down my face. "I trained them to die."
"Sam-"
"I trained them to die," I muttered. My jaw clenched as I continued to fight the tears. "Validar wanted them just to serve his ends, and I didn't see it. I should've seen it."
Severa closed her eyes. "We should've seen it, but we didn't. There's nothing we could have done in the end."
Maybe she was right about that. Maybe she was wrong. I don't know, and probably never will know. That made the pain I felt worse.
"Still… I could've tried," I replied, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand again. I sniffled, finally feeling the lump shrink. "I-"
"Hey," Severa put a hand on my shoulder, silencing me. "What did we come here to do?"
My lips thinned.
"We came to save the Exalt," Severa said, her voice still quiet. It was strangely soothing. "We did that. We accomplished the first part of our mission. Now we need to focus on the next."
I uttered a scoff without thinking. "How? How do you move forward like that?"
Severa did not look offended by the question. Instead, she moved to my right side and sat down next to me.
"There have been times I wanted to ask you that same question," She admitted, surprising me. She looked down as she pulled on her fingers in her lap, folding and unfolding her hands in the process. "In the past- er- in the future, there were many times Sir Frederick took me, Lucina, and the others out to save some village or another. More often than not, we arrived too late. The place would be crawling with Risen, and all we could do was turn around and leave. Well… Sir Frederick would make us leave. Live to fight another day, you know," She drew in a deep breath, raising her eyes from her lap to the room around us, gaze focusing on the window where red rays of sunlight filtered in. "We did that knowing that there were untold numbers of innocent people dying. Yet, we still had to forge ahead. Still had to keep fighting."
"How?" I asked again.
Severa grimaced. "When those moments come, and there's nothing you can do, kill your conscience. That is what Sir Frederick told us to do. Kill your conscience, or your conscience will kill you. None of us are good to anyone dead," She nodded her head, as if she wasn't just trying to convince and console me, but also herself. "There'll be time to mourn when this is all done, Sam."
She gave my shoulder a firm squeeze, rose to her feet, and moved to the door. When she opened the door, she paused, hand still on the doorknob.
"Sam?"
I tucked my chin as I stared down at my hands in my lap. "Yeah?"
"I…" Severa drew in a deep breath. "You did the right thing, both before last night and during the fight. So, try to rest, okay? Wouldn't want you too tired to move later."
I snorted at that but nodded my head. "Thanks, Severa."
She was quiet for a moment before responding. "No problem."
The door clicked closed. I sat still for a moment. Exhaustion slowly grew inside of me, making my eyes droop despite the growing sunlight. When I did rise to my feet, I found myself barely able to trudge to my bunk and flop into it.
I knew I would not sleep well when my eyes closed, but I still let them close. Severa was right. I needed rest.
I didn't sleep for long. When I woke again, the sun was at its peak, sending brilliant rays of light through the barracks bunk room window. My entire body felt stiff and sore as my eyes flicked open. A vulnerary sat on the table beside my bunk with a small note beside it. With a groan, I reached for the note, only to stop when I heard shifting nearby.
"About time you woke up, Lucky."
I rolled over in my bunk. Gaius sat on a trunk across the room, arms on his knees, hunched over and tired. His red headband was tilted on his head, flecks of dried blood staining the fabric. A lollipop hung lump from the corner of his mouth, the stick slowly spinning as he twirled it in his mouth.
I winced as I sat up.
"Were you watching me sleep?"
Gaius shrugged. "So what if I was? Figured I could sit here and wait."
"Wait for what?"
"Answers," Gaius replied. He sat upright and rested his hands on his knees. "I think we both have some to give."
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I grabbed the vulnerary on the table, popped the cork, and downed half of it instead of a third. The potion worked its way through my system fast, washing over my palate and flowing down into my gut. While I still felt the effects of the battle, the vulnerary would start working soon. Then I'd feel right as rain physically.
Can't say the same for my fucked up head.
Once I placed the cork back in the bottle, I sighed. "So," I set the vulnerary down on the table. "Where to start?"
Gaius gave me an uncertain look. "Good question. I'll answer. Where the hell did you and Severa run off to when we got back to Doluna?"
"Mustafa got us out of there."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because…" I trailed off a moment. "Because me and Severa were in danger."
Gaius snorted. "We were all in danger in that dust bin, you know that."
"Validar and Lady Raad were aiming to do something to us," That shut the thief up. "Mustafa didn't want to see that happen, so he got us out. Stationed us with Morteza and Nader near Plegia's northern border with Ylisse. There, Pegasus Knights captured me and Severa while we were on patrol."
Gaius cracked a smile. He chuckled, causing me to furrow my brow.
"What?" I asked.
"I don't believe that for a second," Gaius retorted. "You want to know why?"
"Why?"
"Because you two taught us, the bad batch," He drew in a deep breath before continuing. "Hell, you two caught me. Me, in the slums! Do you have any idea how hard that is? No way in hell a bunch of Pegasus Knights caught you unless you wanted to be caught."
I grimaced. "Plegia wasn't safe anymore."
"And Ylisse was any better?"
"You're one to talk," I countered, causing Gaius's mouth to snap closed. I gestured out the window, towards the Exalt's Palace. "Don't think I didn't see what you did in there. You were defending the Exalt."
"Yeah, because I'm not a murderer. I may be a piece of shit but I'm not that big of a piece of shit," Gaius's jaw worked furiously on his lollipop for a second. Then he tore it free and jabbed it at me. "And I don't get why you're mad at me about that considering you killed Mouse trying to save her."
"I didn't want to do that!" I shouted. My right hand raked through my hair as I slumped in my seat. "I never wanted any of you to die. Um…" I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Look, I'm not mad about what you did. You did the right thing. Just- just can't process anything well right now."
Gaius popped his lollipop back into his mouth, shifting it to the left side this time. "Yeah, don't blame ya there."
He reached into a pouch on a bandolier strapped across his chest, withdrew a green lollipop, then flicked it to me. I snatched it out of the air, snorted, then unwrapped it. Sour apple hit my tongue, making my cheeks tighten and my lips pucker.
"Still on the same side?" Gaius asked me, lollipop stick wagging between his lips as he spoke.
I nodded. "Same side."
A knock sounded on the door. Before I could say anything, Gaius spoke.
"Come in."
A bit of relief filled me when Severa poked her head through the doorway. When she saw Gaius, her red eyes widened.
"How the hell did you get in here?"
"The window," Gaius remarked, lacing his fingers behind his head and falling back onto the bunk behind the trunk he sat on.
"There is a door," I snickered.
"Yeah, but the guard wouldn't let me in. So, had to let myself in," Gaius replied with a wave of his hand. "Boy, sleeping in an actual bed again is gonna feel nice. Whatcha need, Ginger?"
Normally, Severa frowned whenever Gaius called her that. This time, though, a ghost of a smile twitched on her lips.
"The Exalt wants to see us, Sam."
Gauis whistled low. "Already in her good graces eh, Lucky?" He chuckled when I rolled my eyes.
"Leave it in your imagination, Gaius," I muttered as I got out of my bunk and moved to the door.
"Hey, tell her and the Princess I said hi."
I spun around in the doorway. "They're off limits to you!"
The Palace was a mess. Blood stained the marble pillars, white walls, and green rugs. Tapestries hung by a thread from their spots on the walls, torn and singed. Oil paintings were slashed to ribbons and burned beyond recognition. Several marble busts of previous rulers that sat on tables in corridors were shattered beyond repair. Various servants and guards bustled through the halls, corridors, and rooms, scrubbing away blood while removing destroyed furniture. Thankfully, all the bodies were already removed.
Severa and I were led to a room on the opposite wing from the Exalt's quarters. This room, unlike most of the palace, was somewhat intact. It did have a broken window and a balcony door broken off its hinges. Other than that, the bed was neatly made and a small table was set up at the center of the room with six chairs positioned around it. A small fire burned in the stone fireplace across from the large bed.
Commander Phila, Sir Edward, Prince Chrom, Robin, and Lucina were all positioned around the table, scrutinizing maps and muttering about next moves and plans. Exalt Emmeryn did not stand near the table though. She was off to the side, leaning against the broken door frame that led to the room's balcony, back facing us.
The guard that escorted us to the room cleared his throat. Chrom and Robin's gazes snapped to us. A faint smile formed on Robin's lips while Chrom stepped away from the table and towards us.
"Thank you," He nodded to the guard before dismissing him. Once the guard shut the door behind him, he motioned for us to come closer to the table.
Lucina's masked gaze followed me and Severa all the way to the table, where we took a spot beside Robin. Once there, Chrom stepped away to grab Emmeryn.
"Thank you for coming," Robin muttered to me and Severa. "Hopefully you'll be able to help clear some things up."
I furrowed my brow. "Clear what up?"
Robin opened his mouth to reply but closed it when Emmeryn stepped to the table. The Exalt looked exhausted. Dark circles sat around her puffy, blue eyes. Worry lines creased along her forehead as she took a seat beside Phila. She was doing her best to maintain a regal, calm demeanor, but I could see remnants of tear stains beneath her eyes and on her cheeks. She pulled a lock of blond hair back behind her ear and turned her attention to Sir Edward.
"Is the palace secure?" She asked the Knight-Commander.
"We're attempting to track down the two Plegians we saw fleeing the area once the battle was coming to a close," Sir Edward replied. "So far, no luck. They're a pair of slippery bastards."
I tilted my head. "What do they look like?"
"Why do you want to know?" Edward frowned along with Phila.
Robin folded his arms. "I get the feeling you're both more familiar with the assassins than you first let on?"
Severa's eyes blazed, filled with a mixture of anger and fear. Beside her, Lucina nudged her arm, urging her to calm down. Robin's gaze flicked to her, catching her reaction before she could mask it. Chrom meanwhile, gave me and Severa a piercing glare as he waited for a response.
I drew in a heavy breath.
"The assassins assisting the Grimleal were trained by me and Severa," I said. Snarls formed on Phila and Edward's lips. "However," I quickly continued. "We had no idea they would be involved in this. We trained them to be scouts, not assassins."
"Hell, I can't even believe they were capable of this," Severa grumbled. "They never showed much skill in a fight when we were training them."
"If you trained them to be scouts then you taught them how to break into places, correct?" Robin asked, making my lips thin.
"Yeah."
Robin nodded. "Then that explains the non-Grimleal involved in the battle. Also explains one of the newest members in the Shepherds' ranks."
"I still don't like that," Phila grumbled. "He's a Plegian thief."
"Gaius is a good man," I said, drawing an ire-filled glance from the Wing-Commander. "He's not a murderer. In the end, he did the right thing."
"How do we know you share his same sense of altruism, Samwise?" Edward pressed.
"He didn't have to share what he knew, but he did," Chrom cut in. Emmeryn let her head rest in her hands as she bowed her head and shielded her eyes as he spoke. "If not for them, Gaius, Panne, and Marth," he gestured at Lucina, "Not only would Emmeryn be dead, but Lissa and I could be as well."
"Doesn't excuse their hand in the plot," Edward said as he jabbed a finger into the table. "While they may have done the right thing in the end, that does not absolve them from working with the enemy to kill the Exalt."
"Enough!" Emmeryn barked, using a voice that was anything but serene or proper. She pressed her hands flat on the table, blue eyes leveling on all of us as she took a breath. "I am alive, aren't I? Samwise and Severa both risked their lives to make certain that happened. As far as I'm concerned, they are allies and they will be treated as such. Just as we are treating Marth, Gaius, and Panne as allies now. So enough of these needless accusations and bickering. I want to know what our plan of action is."
Edward seethed behind a mask of indifference. Phila looked more measured in her response to the Exalt's words. Her jaw remained tight, but she also closed her eyes and took a calming breath.
"As you wish, your grace," Phila cleared her throat. "For now, we have determined Ylisstol is no longer safe. So our next course of action will be to transport you to somewhere more secure. Sir Edward recommended the Eastern Palace near Ravenna."
Emmeryn frowned. "That would mean I'm abandoning my people during a crisis."
Phila turned her attention to me. "Samwise, how easy would it be to infiltrate this palace again?"
I grimaced. "How easy? Entirely depends on who is leading the mission and who's involved in the break-in. This time, Validar led it. A second time could involve several high-powered mages led by his second-in-command, Aversa. Loathe as I am to admit it, Aversa is a bit more unpredictable. She's more likely to blow the entire palace to the ground than attempt to slip a knife across the Exalt's throat."
Chrom shook his head. "We can't allow that to even be a possibility."
"Chrom…" Emmeryn sighed.
"Emm, the Grimleal came within feet of killing you and Lissa. They were mere inches from killing me and Robin. We need to gain as much distance between us and them as we can. Ylisse needs you to lead, and you can't do that if you're dead."
"I'm very well aware of that Chrom," Emmeryn exhaled and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw unflinching looks from everyone except Robin, whose gaze was focused on the maps on the table. "Robin," She began.
"Hm?" Robin grunted, not realizing who was addressing him, making Phila's mouth fall open.
Emmeryn did not seem offended. She looked amused.
"You're my brother's tactician. What do you recommend?"
"If we move reinforcements to Fort Pike then-" Chrom jabbed his elbow into Robin's ribs, making the tactician jump. "What? Oh," He cleared his throat when he saw Emmeryn's expectant look. "Right um… Commander Phila's right. The further you are from the border, the better."
Emmeryn looked less than enthused by that. Nevertheless, she drew in a deep breath and nodded her head, accepting defeat.
"Very well. If that is the wisdom of this council, I will follow it, even if I'm less than pleased by the decision," Emmeryn turned her focus to Marth. "As for you, Marth, what are your plans?"
Lucina cleared her throat and dropped her voice low. When she spoke, Severa's brow rose in confusion.
"For now, nothing that concerns anyone here other than Samwise and Severa."
"Huh?" I dumbly uttered.
"We will be heading for Regna Ferox in search of some friends who can help in the near future," Lucina continued.
"When will you be leaving?" Chrom asked.
"Tomorrow," Lucina replied, her voice cracking for a split second causing her to take a sharp breath. She coughed into her hand, restoring her low tone. "Likely early in the morning. It's a long journey, after all."
Robin rubbed his chin. "That it is."
"If that is your decision, then so be it," Chrom said. "Just know that the Shepherds' door is open to all three of you should you want to return."
"Absolutely," Emmeryn nodded. "Now then; Marth, Samwise, Severa, the rest of us must discuss strategy for the war. Please, make yourselves comfortable at the barracks. Someone will send for you if we need something."
Lucina bowed. Severa and I followed her lead. Then we left, quickly marching out of the room. When we exited the Palace, Severa tapped Lucina on the shoulder.
"What's with that voice."
"What voice?" Lucina replied, still using her Marth voice.
Severa rolled her eyes as all three of us walked to the Shepherds' barracks. "Gawds, you sound ridiculous. You know that right?"
"It has worked so far, so I fail to see a reason why I should stop."
"Ladies, please-" I interjected, only for Lucina to whirl around and face me.
"To everyone here, I am a man."
I blinked. I honestly forgot that detail for a moment. Still, it was ridiculous.
"Severa?"
"Yeah?" She grunted as we reached the barracks door.
"Ten gold pieces says they figure out she's a girl by the time we leave tomorrow."
Severa snorted. "Not taking that bet."
"Why not?" I asked while Lucina gawked at us.
"Because I don't plan on losing ten gold pieces that I already don't have."
I threw my head back and laughed. Severa snickered as she pushed the door open. Lucina stayed frozen behind us. I glanced over my shoulder at the Princess and smirked.
"You coming, Marth? I smell soup in here?"
Lucina gulped, eyeing us warily from behind her mask. "What kind?"
"Potato!" Severa called from inside the common room.
"Potato," I repeated. "I'll even try to find some cheese for it. Might as well eat while we catch up, yeah?"
"Oh gawds, Stahl made it. Yes!" Severa cheered.
My mouth watered. I wasn't going to wait around for Lucina to make up her mind. After making a mad dash over to the fire, Severa passed me a bowl of still simmering soup. Off to the side, I saw a pile of empty, dirty bowls sitting on the table between sofas near the fire. The Shepherds already ate. Good, that meant we had the common room to ourselves to figure our shit out.
Lucina took a seat across from me and Severa. As we scooped our first few mouthfuls of the delicious soup, Lucina folded her hands and spoke.
"What happened in Plegia?"
Severa swallowed her first bite. "Long or short of it?"
Lucina frowned. "Long."
Severa glanced at me. "You're up."
"Why me?"
"Because I want to eat."
I snorted. "Fine," I set my bowl down and drew in a breath. "So… it started when I woke up in a cage."
To say Lucina's reaction to that was bad would've been an understatement. Her reactions to the rest of our story though, well… I'm amazed she didn't explode right there and then.
And chapter! DOUBLE UPDATE! Merry... something. I don't know, I have a massive backlog and felt like putting out two chapters. Rough pair of chapters for Sam and Severa, and now we're off to Regna Ferox. Should be interesting. Anyways, let me know what you all think of these two chapters! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a nice day!
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