Chapter 87: A Different Form of Pageantry.

By SodiumChloride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.

A/N: I GOT VACCINATED. WOOHOO.

Sorry for posting this fairly late. I've got a lot of stuff going on with exams and the like. All-nighters galore! (This might've affected the editing, lol)

"Heath, come over here."

"Of course, tactician."

Samuel motioned over towards the wyvern knight, his steed walking sternly in response. The two were alone on top of a rocky patch of mountain overlooking a Bernese plain. Fluffy white clouds hovered overhead; the blue sky clear otherwise.

Samuel said, "You told me that you were formerly a member of the Bernese army. Is there anything you can tell me about their defenses? Or anything at all?"

Heath nodded, his eyes twinkling with reminiscence. "Indeed. The Bernese army is very formidable. Not only do they have the largest air corps in all of Elibe, their mounted and infantry units are nothing to scoff at either. If we ever find ourselves doing battle with the brunt of their force, I fear no amount of strategizing could save us."

"You underestimate me, Heath. I understand you might be—a tad bit apprehensive to downplay your former comrades, but this affair is very important for us! Just how strong is their average platoon? Their battalions?"

Heath told him. In response, Samuel's eyes bulged, his stomach flipping over to its side. Had Samuel had glasses, he would have taken them off and wiped them with a handkerchief.

"A-Are you serious?"

"Indeed. We'd do well to avoid battle with them entirely."

Samuel gulped. He dug into his pocket and retrieved a small, metal flask. It contained a green liquid inside, of which consisted of Samuel's favored tea. He unscrewed its cap and downed the entire beverage in one go.

Heath asked, "Sir? Are you nervous?"

Wiping some liquid from his face, Samuel replied, "Yeah? Aren't you?"

Heath hesitated. He looked away, his gloves wrinkling as he tightened his grip on Hyperion's reins. The air around him seemed to change, as if overcome with a creeping sense of uncertainty.

"Permission to speak my mind?"

"Granted. You don't need to do that when we're alone like this, Heath."

Heath nodded and cleared his throat. "I'm very much afraid. Though I love my country, I cannot imagine what she will do to me if I am caught. I feel like I've betrayed her. It's quite sorrowful, don't you think? I love this country, yet she doesn't love me."

"Are you sure about that?" Samuel said as he put his flask back into his pocket. "What is this country you're talking about? Is it the people itself? The land? The royals? Or the authority?"

Samuel observed as Heath paused again, his brain churning with thought. He looked towards the Bernese land below, indulging in the hills and valleys that dotted the landscape. Then, he shifted his attention towards a castle town nearby. A caravan was making its way south, no doubt containing goods meant to better the lives of whomever could afford them.

Heath said, "I don't really know. I mean—they tell us that the crown is the state. Nothing comes paramount to the King of his authority, not even our own lives. We live to serve him. I adore my king, yet I cannot reconcile the fact that he doesn't love me."

"And he never will."

Heath flinched. He shot a ghastly look at Samuel, who stared back with equal amounts of resolve.

"What—did you say?"

"It really gets me, friend. I can't help but say I feel sorry for you."

Heath jumped out of his wyvern and approached Samuel. He pointed his finger at him. "You better not dare say something detrimental about King Desmond. I know you may not see the divinity in our monarch, but I do."

Samuel scoffed, "It's just beneath me. King Zephiel is no different than the myriad of other greedy power brokers in this land. He'd gladly spend your life, or those of others if it meant expanding his domain. King Zephiel is not your friend. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll break yourself out of your own exploitation."

"Don't say anything else, tactician." Heath said coldly. "I'll consider it a personal attack on my honor."

Samuel didn't listen. "You ask yourself why your country hates you. Yet, she doesn't. The land itself has no opinion. If you were to enter a random village under an assumed name, you'd quickly find that the people would appreciate you. So, who cares that some monarch or authoritative system doesn't like you? We know you're a good person, Heath. If they can't understand that, then I think that says more about them than you."

Heath stood in silence. Samuel saw the knight place his hand over the handle of his sword. Yet, despite the clear anger on the man's face, Heath stayed his temper. Instead, he showed Samuel his back, unwilling to hear his tactician's message anymore.

"I'm through with you, Samuel. I'll grant you mercy for the sole fact that I respect you."

Samuel nodded, "Very well. I suppose we can just—woah! Where are you going?"

He observed as Hyperion slowly took flight, his owner going along with him in the process. Though Samuel knew his words would have a profound effect on the knight, he didn't think he would just leave him.

Samuel exclaimed, "Wait! You can't just leave me here! How am I supposed to get back to camp?!"

Samuel's pleas fell on death ears. He watched helplessly as the wyvern knight descended the mountain. Later, Fiora would come to his rescue, but not after an hour of waiting. She had a neutral face, one that masked any of the tension the two had before.

Samuel said, "Sweet heavens, Fiora! You've saved me!"

Fiora didn't react. Samuel knew she didn't like him. Yet, that didn't mean there wasn't someone that did.

She said, "My sister has requested I come fetch you. If you have any concern for her, I recommend you talk with her. She's open with mending things between the two of you."

Samuel hadn't spoken to Florina in a very long time. At least, it felt like a long time. In reality, it had only been about three months given his extended leave of absence. Yet, much had changed since he gave himself up to Nergal's clutches. A lot of it came in things Samuel hadn't thought about. That's why he knew he had to talk to her. He needed to clear the air.

Samuel found her tending to her pegasus by a pond. The sun shined with the elegance of a prime chandelier and the winter air sent a chill down the young man's spine. He approached her slowly, his chair creaking slightly as its wheels contacted the dirt. The purpose behind this was to make his presence known while politely giving Florina the opportunity to walk away if she felt uncomfortable. Fortunately, she stayed put and gave Samuel the silent consent he needed.

"Hey—uh—I just—erm—" Samuel paused and took a deep breath. He'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit he was anxious. Very anxious. More anxious than a small rabbit hiding from prey. For a moment, Samuel couldn't help but pity himself. Florina was usually the one who exhibited these qualities. He's supposed to be the arrogant and confident tactician. The arbiter between life and death.

Yet here he was. A mere spawn with the act of a lovestruck hormonal teenager.

Samuel felt the synapses in his brain short circuit. What were these wild, pervasive thoughts? Only one person held a place in his beating heart. Well, two if he counted Laniakea, but that hardly included Florina. Even so, Samuel couldn't deny that they felt true to him. It was like they'd appeared spontaneously, an impulsive, unholy product of his suppressed emotions. None of this made sense to him. Samuel was perfectly happy with Lyn.

For now, Samuel could do nothing but banish these emotions to the back of his mind. He had a mission. If his life had taught him anything, it's that all missions needed to be followed through. He cleared his throat.

"Haha. Let me try that again. Hello, Florina. It's been a while."

Florina paused, neither sparing the will to acknowledge nor rebuke him. For a moment, Samuel wondered if his earlier action was more of a grave mistake than initially perceived. He wondered if the opportunity to make things right had already slipped through his fingers.

"Hey—uh—you look nice."

Samuel mentally facepalmed. What was he thinking? His nerves were so on edge that those words just came out on their own. Regardless of his intentions, he had surely made an awkward situation even more so. He could hardly refrain his face from taking on the color of a cherry.

Oddly, Florina did the same. Their vermillion skin bristled under the cold air with their mouths seemingly frozen shut. Between the swirl of emotion, Florina finally found it wise to speak.

"You're—funny."

Amid this short reply, Samuel's emotions turned hot.

"F-Funny? I nearly get my head chopped off and that's the first thing you can say? Funny?"

Samuel knew he shouldn't be this forward. He knew that he should've came here with a heart open to forgiveness. Yet, the memory of what happened that day stuck to him like a parched mouth in the morning. He just couldn't reconcile with his near-death experience. Even if Florina was the one person who saved him.

Florina took a step back. "Um—Samuel, I-I—"

"Florina. I—I know I did you wrong. I know I did many things that put my character into question. But—why? Why did you conspire with my enemies—to kill me? To betray not only me, but your best friend as well?"

Samuel's voice shook. Tears wetted his eyes, the sinking feeling in his heart clotting like a muck of brown mud on a cold afternoon. Florina grew teary-eyed too.

"I—I felt like I needed to do something. Do—you remember what you did to me in Castle Caelin? I thought you were my friend, Samuel. B-But that didn't stop you from treating me like your little pawn. I-I felt used. We all did."

"I did these things because I want to win, Florina. We're fighting a war for the survival of mankind. I'm sorry, but in this situation, the ends absolutely justify the means. If Nergal had it be his way, we'd all be six feet underground in a world wrought by a leviathan of despair."

Florina shook her head, "N-No! You can't just have a pass to do whatever you want! You cannot act like a lord when we already have three!"

"—Where I'm from, we didn't have needs for outdated things like lords."

"What?!"

Samuel chuckled and smiled. It was much too soon for that. Florina could never understand what he meant by that. Nobody could and likely wouldn't for another half millennia.

Thus, Samuel was left with no other choice. Either reign in his borderline tyrannical behavior or risk the relationship he had with Florina and the rest of the army. What happened back in Arcadia was not a mistake. Samuel was much more unpopular than initially realized.

All Samuel could do was sigh.

"All right. From now on, I won't do any more scummy behavior. I'll act honorably and won't do anything to challenge the power of the monarchs. Go back and tell everyone I said that. If I violate this, I'll cut off my hand."

"Which one?"

"Whichever you want, baby."

Samuel was bold and he knew it. Perhaps this came from the machismo he learned from his upbringing, or rather it was just a form of courtly love he observed in his environment. Regardless, he was glad Hector wasn't here as otherwise, he'd have no problem stuffing his face into the dirt.

Another person who had no problem was Florina. The Pegasus knight blushed with her porcelain-like face taking on a shade of red. Her lavender eyes drifted away from Samuel, much too embarrassed to bear contact any longer. He knew from her silence that he pushed a button that Florina was much too incapable of handling.

"O-Oh. S-So funny, Samuel! Hahaha! I think we should g-go now!"

"Are we okay, Florina?"

Florina mounted on her pegasus. She mulled over Samuel's words.

"Yeah. I-I'll forgive, but I'll never forget."

Samuel smiled as he observed Florina depart. Deep down, that was all he really wanted.

Later...

Samuel shouldn't be here. No, in terms of his mission, he absolutely should be here. Yet, he was one of the worst suited for this job. Espionage was an art reserved for the sneakiest of folks, and Samuel was a terrible artist.

"Just—how did we get in here? Their security detail has got to be pretty bad."

Samuel, Eliwood, Hector, and Lyn had snuck into the royal palace of Bern. All four were huddled inside a large bush by a wall. By initial observations, the place appeared to be a garden, one similar to Castle Caelin's. All sorts of lilies, roses, and daffodils laid in a circle with a large fountain at the center. Many trees obscured vantage points throughout, some of which created a canopy that blocked out some sight above.

Lyn said, "I don't understand why they didn't trim these trees. We are completely hidden from the eyes of any soldiers from any guard towers."

Eliwood nudged her shoulder. "Shh. Someone's coming this way."

Samuel said, "Why did I have to come again? This whole thing feels wrong."

Hector said, "Shut up! They're almost here!"

The group fell silent as a young boy appeared through the trees. He was blonde, with innocent-looking eyes and decorative regalia that gave the appearance of royalty. Samuel understood him to be an important person, though his identity eluded him.

What he saw next could only be described as a period of interest. The boy turned out to none other than Prince Zephiel, the heir to the Bernese throne. He had come there for some peace of mind, though he oddly had a small fox hidden inside his coat. This state didn't last for long, since his little sister, Guinevere, joined him shortly. They two appeared to like one another and they greeted each other warmly.

Zephiel asked, "Ah, Guinevere. Have you been well?"

Guinevere replied, "Uh-huh! I've been fine. But if you would come and see me every day, I'd be even better! Much, much better!"

Samuel observed Lyn's face soften. Likewise, he did as well. Guinevere was extremely adorable. So adorable that she could easily give Laniakea a run for her money.

The pair continued their conversation and exchanged wholesome pleasantries. This only served to make Samuel feel even more guilty. His presence felt dirty, and very illegal.

He chided, "This is dumb. I have no qualms with getting information, but why are we spying on children?"

Lyn replied, "I agree, but give it a few more moments. I think I see someone else coming."

"—Can you say that last word again?"

Lyn blushed, "S-Shut up."

Samuel laughed. Meanwhile, Eliwood raised his brow, unsure of what the couple meant by that. Hector on the other hand, was very much "in the know". His snickers only did more to add onto his sense of obliviousness.

Eliwood asked, "Whaa—"

"Don't worry about it," Hector said as he wiped a tear from his eye. "You'll get it when you're older."

Samuel nodded and wagged his finger. "Indeed. In the meantime, I think I see someone else. Either that or these eyes finally need some glasses."

A large man appeared through the brush. He was much bigger than the two children and much older than even the four spies. Like the boy, he was blonde, but seemed to possess a perpetually angry face. Samuel couldn't help but comment on it.

"That dude has a resting b* face."

Lyn jammed her elbow into Samuel's lower rib, "Language!" Despite the pain, Samuel only smiled with satisfaction. It was an opportunity he could not afford to let go.

"Who do you reckon that man is?" Hector asked.

Eliwood replied, "I think—that's King Desmond." He placed his hand underneath his chin. "—He's the monarch of Bern, we absolutely do not want to get spotted by him."

Samuel said, "And if we do, we knock everyone out and run away. I assume everyone is in agreement?"

"Not if you want to start a war, then no."

"—Pity."

The group settled down as King Desmond began to speak to the children. His earlier expression of distaste evaporated as soon as he saw Guinevere.

He said, "Ah, there you are! Were you a good girl while I was gone? Come, give your father a kiss. You're as adorable as ever."

Desmond knelt and picked up Guinevere from the ground. She then proceeded to lay an affectionate kiss on his cheek. The little girl smiled like she was the definition of innocence. Zephiel stood nearby, stone-faced, with his hands crossed across his chest. For that moment only, he shared the same status as they. A bystander.

After allowing them a respectable period of time, he finally raised his voice to speak. "Well met, father."

Those words sounded lonesome and borderline forced. Hearing them made Samuel's ears perk up. He could recognize that tone anywhere. It was the very same he used when speaking to his father so many years ago.

Desmond replied, "—Zephiel. Hmph—You take the same unpleasant tone as your mother."

Zephiel took a step back. Clearly, that was not his intent. "What? I—I—"

"Silence. What brings you to my castle?"

Zephiel told him that he'd been hunting with Murdock recently, during which he captured a baby fox. He brought it out from his coat and allowed him to see it. It was very cute, with an adorable snout, glistening yellow eyes, and a small tail that coiled back. Guinevere lifted her hands with glee knowing that Zephiel had gotten it for her.

"Yippee! A baby fox?! It's so cute! So very cute! Is it for me? Really?"

Zephiel nodded, "Of course. Do you like it?"

Guinevere responded by wrapping him in a hug. "Yes, I do! Thank you! I do love you, Brother!" She took the fox and gave it a kiss.

King Desmond looked unhappy. His balled-up fist made that point clear. Samuel wondered how far his envy would take him, though he didn't have to wait long to find out.

"—Guinevere, go play for a while."

Guinevere nodded, oblivious to her father's emotions. She seemed content to place most of her attention on her newfound pet. "Come on! Let's go, you lovely little fox!"

Guinevere vanished into the garden. This left Zephiel alone with his father. Samuel could see the color drain from his face.

Desmond said, "—I've told you to stay away from the castle."

"I-I know. I beg your pardon. I heard Guinevere was ill and I worried."

"Hah! You meant you came to see if she would die, didn't you?"

Zephiel vigorously shook his head. He bowed with sweat dripping onto the ground. Samuel felt there was no reason to believe he had malicious intent.

"Father—you misunderstand. I would never want to see my sister harmed in any—"

"You and your mother think of nothing more than stealing my throne. You plague me. Return to the manse!"

"—As you wish. I beg your leave—Father."

Zephiel left. Now alone, Zephiel spoke to himself. He complained about Zephiel persistence and wondered aloud how such a child could be his own son. During this, Samuel leaned forward on his seat. Never in his life had he possessed such an open line of intrigue to the King of Bern.

The line proved more fruitful than initially expected. Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared from a tree. She had pale skin, golden eyes, and a beautiful body fit for a trophy wife. Samuel wondered if she had always been there, but he kept his mouth shut.

She said, "It is jealousy, my king."

"Eh? Who is there?"

The woman approached him. "It is I, Sonia."

Samuel nearly fell out of his seat. Sonia?! He thought. Isn't that the woman we were warned about?

Worse still, Desmond seemed comfortable to see her. He spoke to her like he'd done so many times before. No shock arose from the presence of a terrorist organization in the residence of the most powerful person in the country.

Desmond asked, "You—well, is the Fire Emblem safe?"

Sonia nodded, and to the group's shock, she retrieved the Emblem from her pocket. It was golden with a shiny red ruby at the center. The shine of it nearly blinded Samuel, who leaned back against his chair. To his relief, Lyn reached over to shield his eyes. Samuel whispered a thank you but regretted not being able to get a better look of the treasure while his vision resettled.

The two continued their conversation. Desmond warned Sonia to continue keeping the Emblem safe since his wife might attempt to get it back. Sonia calmed his concerns and said she would put it in a secure, Black Fang safehouse. She would return it to him in ten days as requested. Already a questionable arrangement, what came next could only be described as utterly immoral.

Desmond asked, "And—what of my other request?"

"One of the Four Fangs will tend to it. There will be no mistakes. However, General Murdock, the man protecting the prince... He is young, yet well respected. Shall we finish him, too?"

"—Murdock—His birth is low. And yet his combat skills have won him the title of Wyvern General. It would be a great blow if Bern were to lose him. I'll think of something to remove him from Zephiel's side. Will that do?"

Hector whispered, "Is—he plotting to assassinate his own son?"

Samuel replied, "Sounds like it. Old man's got power all up in his head. Despicable in every sense of the word."

Eliwood nodded his head. "I agree. I feel nothing but pity for the boy."

Lyn added, "We'll surely have to step in."

The distant sound of a laughing girl filled the air. With that, Sonia bid her goodbyes. Guinevere then came back with the fox in tow. Her father was very much pleased to receive her.

She asked, "Father? Where's Zephiel? Where is my brother?"

"He had an errand to run and left." Desmond replied frankly.

Guinevere shook her head. It seemed that at least to her, this matter was unnegotiable. "Oh, no! No, no, no! I wanted to play!"

"Come, Guinevere. I will play with you."

"No! I want to play with him, not you! I'll go and call him back. Here, hold my fox! Huh—where did she go?"

The fox had disappeared, or so it seemed. To the group's shock, the animal was putting her nose in less than optimal places. This included a comically large bush huddled against the side of a wall. The four people inside of his held their breaths. They hoped the fox wouldn't explore any further.

She didn't.

The fox growled. It was at this moment that a jolt of adrenaline inserted itself into Samuel's vein. Without thinking, he grabbed onto the collar of his friends. "That's enough of that. Let's get out of here."

Then, in a manner Samuel didn't understand much less control, the quartet teleported exactly one meter away. This comfortably put them on the other side of the wall, no longer being inside of the castle. They'd lucked out by being by a wall that wasn't very thick.

Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector stared at Samuel. When asked how he did it, he could only shrug. Sometimes, it was best to just not think about it.

Later...

After that near-death experience, Samuel had to drown himself with tea. He drank cup after cup like he was in a bar. The hope was that this would do much to soothe his nerves, which he had to admit it did. The only negative was that now he felt a little woozy.

Serra said, "Is it possible to overdose on green tea? I don't think you can."

Samuel was sitting under a tree with Lyn and Serra. Originally, he was spending some time alone with his lover, partially to wind down, partially to discuss the information they'd gathered. Serra had only come recently, though it didn't take much for the pair to realize why.

"You should try some," Lyn said while sipping from her cup. "It's healthy and should let your pregnancy proceed smoothly. At least, that's what the elders told me long ago."

If Serra's expanding stomach hadn't made it clear enough, she was one or two months pregnant. Though the child hadn't burdened her much, she didn't have much to do because of requests from Erk and the lords. Boredom led her to approach the pair.

Serra replied, "Really? Oh, Erky will be so pleased!"

Samuel burped. He cleared his throat after the gas evaded his system. "Just—don't drink twelve cups. Hic—I think I feel—iffy. There's not even any alcohol in this thing."

Lyn said, "So, where is Erk? I haven't seen him since this morning."

Serra beamed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fascination and admiration. "He's taken over my duties in the medical tent for the most part. I still help out from time to time, but his promotion gave him the ability to heal fairly well. It's a pity, really. His body isn't accustomed to it yet, so he's sleeping rather irregularly."

"He better get accustomed to it quickly—Hic! No one takes a healer away from me and gets away with it."

Lyn rolled her eyes, "Quiet, you. He'll do what he can."

Samuel got puppy eyed. "If that's what you want."

Regardless of Samuel's comments, Serra continued on. "Anywayyyy, have you heard what's going on with the blue-haired lady? The beauty who—I think her name is Ninian."

"I'm not interested in hearing about—hic—gossip."

Lyn said, "You might not, but I am. Please, continue."

Serra obliged while Samuel lowered his head with disappointment. She spoke with passion. "A bird told me that Ninian has the hots for Lord Eliwood! Can you believe it? Who do you think will make the first move? The both of them are so shy!"

Samuel tilted his head curiously. This was the first time he'd heard about this. He'd always thought the two were friendly, but never detected anything amorous—okay. If he were to be honest with himself, he did. He just chose to assume it was nothing more than a platonic relationship, with his mind choosing willful ignorance. Doing that was easier, he surmised.

Lyn replied, "I think it'd be Eliwood. I know that man likes the back of my hand. He knows Ninian is the type to simmer in his own thoughts. Any form of communication will have to come through him."

"Is that so? Hmm—yes! I have something to tell Erky now! It's a pity I can't see him until tonight—"

Serra turned to walk away. "Farewell to the two of you! A wonderful couple you are!"

Samuel watched her depart. He spent some time thinking about the sincerity behind Serra's words, and almost didn't notice Lyn envelop her hand around his. Though it shouldn't have surprised him, he flinched.

Lyn says, "Honey, you're so much more anxious nowadays. The lightest touch will set you off."

Samuel frowned and turned away. He tightened his grip on his lover's hand. She was right. Images of a dark, cold cell flashed across his mind. He saw countless streaks of white etched on a cobblestone wall, each representing a day of solitude. A day of silent torture.

"I'd—rather not talk about it. It's not you. It can never be you."

"Samuel—"

He proceeded to ease his hands around Lyn's waist. She reacted amicably to his touch, but protested, nonetheless.

"Stop—you really couldn't wait until later?"

"Sometimes, the best way to deal with a problem is to distract yourself with someone else."

Lyn blushed, "You really never miss, do you?"

"Nope."

!

"Lieutenant Samuel! Lady Lyn!"

A voice rang out nearby. Samuel turned his head and noticed Serra returning with some haste in her step. He froze, unsure if he should release Lyn from his grasp.

Serra said, "Hey, there's a situation—" She stopped and stared. Slowly nodding, she decided to continue, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but we have a problem..."

War came quickly for the unprepared. Sun Tzu said that, Samuel thought. Well, he might not have. In reality, it might just be a quote he made up while rotting in a cell somewhere underneath the desert. Sometimes, Samuel didn't know if his thoughts were genuinely his or something concocted by his darkest emotions. As stated earlier, he just chose not to think about it and wear a smile anyway.

As long as he had Lyn and Lani he'd make his own way.

A distant explosion shocked Samuel out of conscious bubble. He looked around and found himself staring at a crude map of the nearby area. The pawns of the army stood idle, some toppled over from the force of the blast. Neither this nor the eyes of the lifeless figurines surprised him, but the ringing in his ears did.

How close was that explosion? The tent seems okay. Samuel thought.

A figure rushed through the tent flap. It was Lord Pent, who'd been in his group when fighting started. The army had been separated into a northern and southern group, with the latter across a large mountain. They had been caught in what Samuel amicably called "with their pants down". The enemy was none other than the Black Fang, who had seen them snooping around.

Lord Pent exclaimed, "Samuel! We must evacuate! Mages have descended on our position! You need to move!"

"Mages?! Where is our artillery support? They never should have been allowed to—"

Another explosion shook the ground beneath them. Unlike the last, this was much closer. With that, any sort of negotiation went out the window. Samuel scurried out of there as quickly as he could. By the time he left, another fireball landed onto the earth, this time consuming the tent in an inferno. A yellow light shined off the reflection of Samuel's eye.

"You've got to be kidding me. All my stuff was in there."

"Lieutenant! We require your orders!"

Samuel turned around. There, he saw the likes of Lyn, Eliwood, Hector, Pent, and others standing on the grass. They looked to him for guidance with others already in combat. Samuel could only sigh. Even with all the drama that occurred recently, the army still viewed him as the most competent strategist around.

Samuel asked, "Do we have anyone dealing with the mages that just torched my tent?"

Hector replied, "We just sent a couple of the Ilian sisters to engage with them. I suspect they'll do well."

Samuel nodded. Pegasus Knights were famed for being particularly counters to mages. Thus, with his revenge pending, he focused on the battle at hand.

He said, "It's unfortunate we're split up, but I think we can turn this to our advantage." Closing his eyes, he brought up an image of the area's map in his mind. "Big mountains with only one path snaking north to south. They've cut us in two, but they've also divided up their forces. Now that we're organized, I think we can pull off a cheeky encirclement."

Lyn's eyes shined like a child. "An encirclement?"

"Yeah. The Black Fang have most of their men congregated in the east with a feeder path meant to bring in reinforcements. If we cut this artery out, we can stop all reinforcements and attack the vulnerable center. The casualties should be massive—for them."

Samuel made sure to empathize that last part. Nothing would damn his second stint with the army more than another death due to his negligence.

"All right. Now that the plan is set, we need to establish communications with the south. We've already sent the sisters so—ah!"

He saw Heath's moppy head of hair in the assorted colors of the crowd. A smile escaped his lips.

"There you are, Heath. You're always there when I need you. What a dapper chap."

Heath nodded his head and broke through the crowd. He bowed before the lords respectfully before addressing his tactician. Samuel flinched when he saw the extensive bandaging on his torso.

Heath asked, "What is it you need?"

"I'm going to need you to link up with the other group. Can you manage that?"

"Certainly. Yet, there is something I need to mention to you. In fact, this is a subject everyone must know."

Samuel raised his brow. He placed his hand on his studded chin and rolled back into his heels. "What is that?"

"The enemy general. She wields a powerful spear that's unnatural to bear. I just had a bout with her, and I regret to admit that I'd nearly been felled. Worse still, I'm acquainted with this person. She was my former flight commander during my army days. I'm unsure how she wound up under the employ of the Black Fang."

Lyn balked, "She didn't even hesitate to attack you? Is there no honor among subordinates and superiors?"

Heath blinked. He looked away towards some idle clouds above. He muttered, "No more talk. She said that—didn't even hesitate."

Samuel asked, "Did you say something?"

Heath shook his head. Now was not the time to dwell on past relationships or the lack thereof. Yet, Samuel could see the visual pain on his face. He wondered what hurt him more. The wound or the willingness to fight.

Heath said, "I managed to clip her mount's wings before retreating. I know she likes that beast a lot, so I don't think she'll move unless we provoke her." He pointed his finger out towards some mountains near the royal palace. "She's perched over there. Don't approach unless you want to get seriously f—"

Samuel cut him off. "ANYWAYS, we all got our orders folks! Make sure to mind Heath's advice and remember to do your jobs! Let's get out of here without any losses!"

The crowd cheered. They placed their complete trust in him and went along with their tasks. The cavaliers took their positions on the front line while everyone else supported them. With that, Samuel hid behind a solitary tree and observed as combat begun...

Later...

Samuel covered his nose. The smoke in the air was impossible to ignore, the scent burning straight through the receptors in his sinuses. The wheels of his chair crunch against the ashen grass. He saw the lords and the rest of the army standing in a field nearby, his solitary tree long behind him.

"Well well well! It's good to see everyone in good spirits!"

The army was fairly beat up. Half of them were on blankets strewn on the ground with Serra, Priscilla, and Erk hard at work tending to their wounds. Yet, most were able to muster the strength to smile.

Samuel looked out to the battlefield surrounding them. Dead men and broken weapons littered the ground. Crimson blood stained the long grasses and rivers. The torn face of a soldier hung from the side of a tree, which stared at Samuel with its lifeless eyes. For any other man, this would have compelled a loss of that day's lunch. Yet, Samuel was not any normal man. He'd numbed himself to this long ago.

"A distasteful juxtaposition," he muttered. "Glad to see none of our own were lost."

"Samuel!"

Samuel shook himself from his previous thought. Lyn had called for him. He found her limping with a nasty gash on her leg, but otherwise okay. Samuel went towards her after he grabbed a single elixir from his robe.

He said, "You shouldn't be standing on that. Sit down so I can treat you."

Lyn didn't react as Samuel eased her down onto the ground. He emptied the medicinal contents onto her wound, which closed.

She said, "T-Thank you. There's something I need to tell you. We weren't able to get them all."

Samuel pouted, "Pity. A retreat is good, though. Whatever it takes to shake them off us."

"Not just that. I think they're on the run back to their secret hideout. I should be able to track them if we leave quickly."

Samuel shook his head. He did not want to tolerate this talk while everyone was so injured. "Hold on there, milady. We should heal up first. There's no reason to pursue a hornet's nest."

"But there is!" Lyn protested. "Do you not remember what we heard from our investigation? The Fire Emblem is being held in a Black Fang compound. Should I continue?"

Samuel looked at his lover, a blank look about his face. A short jingle echoed through the cave of his mind. Then, it hit him. The Black Fang wasn't some ludicrously rich organization that could afford to have infinite locations in a single area. If the Fire Emblem was in a base nearby (which it had to be if Sonia were to return it soon), then odds are it was in the very same one the group was heading to.

That made the decision an easy one. Samuel asked the healers to triple their efforts. They were to leave at once.

A/N: Vaccine is safe. Get it y'all. Arm felt sore from the chip (this is a joke, haha) for a day but I felt fine after. Looking forward to going to an in-person smash tourney guilt-free this weekend :)