Another chapter fresh from the press. I'm trying to get a decent amount of these out to found my idea before I drift any and start the main chunk. Let me know if you're enjoying.

It was not even a full day before the Shepherds were back on the road in full force. When he made it back to the Shepherd's barracks he'd been assaulted by the words of his comrades. Chrom and Robin were busy planning and speaking with the Exalt; that level of talk was just a bit out of his pay grade. He was informed by the others that they would be traveling to Regna Ferox to ask for an alliance considering the growing tensions with Plegia.

Leo hadn't been well informed about local geography or politics. In fact all he really knew about Regna Ferox was that it was cold. Most of his time as a young boy was spent farming or watching the knights near his home train. The when he was a man all his time was spent training or leading so he really hadn't had the time to learn more about things he didn't directly deal with.

The mission wasn't all he heard from his allies though. Sully gave him a silent look of approval which was more than most would get so Leo was gonna take it. Stahl had given him a firm reminder to take better care of himself followed by a relieved sigh at his survival. Vaike gave a boisterous retelling of the whole event and Virion, who had been welcomed to their ranks, had added in his own twist on the story. Sumia and Lissa had made him swear never to do something similar again. Kellam had snuck up on Leo again and made sure to tell him how much of a scare the tale was. Lastly was Miriel who supplied an apt and through explanation as to why his actions were foolish.

A new day was upon them however and Leo stood on the top of hill along the North Road as they traveled. Red armor, his armor was similar in design to those worn by dark mages but without the flare, shining in the light his pale skin soaked up the sun. He peered out upon the land ahead as it slowly shifted to a new snowy landscape in the distance. His blue eyes shined from under the curtain of his medium length brunette hair.

The travel northward was going well so far no interruptions from thieves, bandits, or risen as Chrom and by extensions all the Shepherds had taken to calling the monsters from the other night.

Just before the group crossed a bridge into what was the last remains of Ylisse territory in the north there was a great rumble in the tress ahead and a copious amount of risen had slunk from whatever hovels they lived into to impede travel. This time Leo was much more prepared he was on extra sharp look out and he wasn't gonna let any risen get past him. Arrows flew down around the group as a risen with a bow hailed them from the edge of the forest.

Other than the archer the fight was pretty cut and clean now that everyone understood the durability of these monsters. The risen themselves were very basic fighters not particularly strong or skilled so everyone had a pretty smooth time disposing of them. In fact the most entertaining part of the whole battle was when Miriel found Vaike's axe.

Stahl trotted up next to Leo on his horse "Man knowing about the trick with those risen made them a breeze" he gave a chuckle.

"Yeah I wish I knew that before I almost lost an arm" Leo gave his own chuckle back as he looked down at the scar running around his arm.

"The Vaike had no trouble handling a whole group of those guys" Vaike had walked up and added himself to the conversation.

Leo saw a golden opportunity "Was that before or after Miriel had to tie your axe to your hands" Vaike deadpanned then slowed his pace to fall back a bit mumbling as the other two laughed.

From up in the front there was some sort of hold up as the whole group stopped to see what was happening. it turned out Chrom had spotted a wounded Pegasus and Sumia had stopped the flying horse from rampaging any further. Honestly it was a rather touching moment watching the two bond over this creature. Sadly the mission had to continue so Sumia elected to stay behind with the creature.

"It's quite odd how-" Kellam had snuck up out of no where.

"For gods sake man! We need to get you a bell" Stahl jumped back.

"I've been here the whole time..." Kellam looked down saddened.

Leo patted the man's armor supportively "I knew you were with us the whole time" Leo was of course lying but Kellam seemed to appreciate the idea.

"As I was saying. I find it odd how clumsy Sumia is yet how well animals like her. Isn't that something that princesses in fairy tales do?" Kellam continued.

"I 'spose" Stahl replied.

"We do have quite a colorful cast of characters here" Leo supported.

Kellam shook his head "The Shepherds do have the most suitable bachelors and bachelorettes in all Ylisse including the prince and princess".

Stahl leaned forward on his horse and leered at the two "Any you have your eyes on".

Kellam blushed then scratched the back of his neck.. oddly enough the motion was completely silent for how much armor he had on. "W-well not particularly" he said clearly blushing.

"Sure thing pal. As for me there's none better than Lissa sure she may be a prankster but, that only makes her more lovable" he looked of into the distance lost in fantasy.

Leo shook his head in disapproval "Sure if you want Chrom to butcher you".

Kellam looked to Leo "What about you?".

Leo looked up to sky hands behind his head "No one I could really imagine myself being with. Not yet at least I'm far too busy with practice and missions" the other two seemed to nod in understanding.

Stahl wasn't done yet though "Maybe that will change soon. We're bound to get more members if a war breaks out".

Kellam shakes his head in approval "Yeah! If you were to court some one what would they be like" Stahl seemed intrigued by the question.

Still lookin up at the sky Leo scratched his cheek in thought "Well some one strong that's for sure. Tall and muscled would be a bonus and personality wise some who could cause a laugh or two. I don't really know in all honesty I'm a rather simple man. I'm just hoping I'll know when I see her" he sighs and shrugs as he continues to walk. The other two continue to discuss their prospects of future relationships but, Leo tones it out as he walks his mind elsewhere.

With all the men he's had to kill, all the soldiers that have died under his command, and everyone he failed to protect did he really deserve a chance at love. Why should he have the opportunity they never did? Why she he be happy when mothers, wives, and children had to hear the report that there loved ones died?

Why should he...?

It didn't take long for the bitter cold Regna Ferox was famed for to set in. Quickly Leo understood why tales of this cold had reached even his ears. It was bone chilling.

It was a shame he only had some armor and light cloth to warm him. His thoughts from earlier hadn't fully left him so he felt no warmth inside or out but, the mission required he push on.

A good fight was bound to warm him up and it seemed it wouldn't take long to find one. Up ahead Chrom seemed to be getting agitated in his yelling match with some one on top of the Long Fort.

Chrom shook his head and was about to speak up again. Leo could barely hear and wanted to be near the front if a fight did break out so began to walk past everyone. He had just passed Robin and nearly at Chrom when spears rained down from the fort's top floor.

Time froze and Leo could see them all on a collision course for Chrom. He acted before his mind could catch up he dove to shove Chrom out of the way. His feet left the ground and went to tackle the prince. Except his grapple met no resistance as he fell to the ground ice cold snow assaulting his senses. He shot up as every single spear landed everywhere around him one even sinking into the ground where his had had been just a heartbeat ago.

When his senses kicked back in the first thing he heard was the faint flapping of wings. He looked around and saw Sumia ferrying a shocked Chrom atop a Pegasus. Then he heard Robin yell a call to arms and giving the order to return fire and giving orders to smaller groups of the Shepherds.

Robin ran to Leo who had stood and drawn his sword prepared for his orders. "You're with me. We're making a bee line straight for their leader" Robin pointed to the right side of the Long Fort where a small patch of forest was guarding a handful of Feroxi troops. "You make a line through them and I handle clean up" Leo nodded and ran with Robin right on his heels.

Leo actually trained in two styles of fighting the defensive style he defaulted too that was excellent for large groups of enemies and another. His other style was one taught to him by an old retired mercenary in the village he grew up in. This style a near opposite to his usual; it was from some foreign land that the mercenary grew up in. It was designed to kill quickly but mostly in one on one fights so in large groups you'd be left unguarded and every move required a near masochistic amount of precision to correctly perform.

However this case was the perfect occasion to show some fancy foot work and put training to work. He couldn't really fight more than one person at a time with Robin on watch and watching the holes in his guard.

Fancy foot work there was too. The pair cut through scores of troops and burned any with enough courage soon they had unlocked a large gate atop the stairs. Almost immediately they saw that their side of the second floor was nearly abandoned as every troop had stormed to the other side to handle nearly every other Shepherd as they flooded in.

In the middle of the second floor stood a single sentry with no helmet on and in front of a large door. She must have been the leader or at least some higher up. Leo looked to Robin and the two communicated silently. Leo gave a roaring battle cry and charged sword held high pointed straight at the woman who didn't even flinch behind her wall of steel. Armored units were the bane of Leopold's entire routine. Both his styles required quick and precise motions to either kill or avoid being killed these smaller faster movements usually meant less power which meant his armored opponents had less to worry about.

However Leo spent quite a lot of time practicing against Fredrick for this reason specifically.

The two met coming to blows her steel lance locked his sword and she shoved him back. He slid a good few feet back but it was none the matter a quick feint and a parry of her block for said feint was what it took to get in the first real strike of the bout. Now she was going to take him seriously. In a guarded stance they circled each other. Leo rushed her and attempted another simple bait she wasn't taking it. A change of tactics; an upward strike was met with the body of a lance and answered by an armored elbow to the nose. Blood pouring from his nose Leo side stepped a jab just in time for a spark of lightning to zap the commander crumbling her to the ground.

It was simple; bring back up.

Leo put his sword to her neck as her convulsions came to an end. "Surrender I don't want to kill you" she spat at him and he closed the distance between his sword and her neck a little more. She was about to speak again when Chrom ran over and commanded Leo to step back. The Shepherds surrounded her.

"You must actually Prince Chrom and these must actually be the Shepherds then" she grumbled and addressed Chrom further but Leopold had turned and stopped listening as he tended to his nose and it's profuse bleeding.

Robin had walked over too him offering him a cloth "Thank you for trying to save Chrom. Had it not been for you and Sumia he'd be dead" Robin looked Leo dead in the eyes speaking with as much sincerity as one could muster.

Leo looked away "If it weren't for Sumia he'd be dead and I would have thrown my life away for nothing" he turned further away and walked off leaving Robin standing their cloth in hand and a sour look on his face.

"There more to this I know it" Robin mumbled to himself nearly inaudible.

"That's true. This is not the first instance of such an incidence from him" Miriel stood next to Robin having snuck up.

The two looked to each other. "Have you seen my pouch by chance Miriel?" Robin asked.

As Chrom wrapped up his conversation with the guard captain, Rami if Leo heard right, the group had been lead directly to Castle Ferox's main hall and had been asked to wait for the Khan. The Shepherds had begun to discuss the Feroxi ways and Leo took the opportunity to ;listen in and learn something about these people. From what he gathered the people of Regna Ferox where absolutely infatuated with battle and parties. He heard of how they choose their leaders and their praise worth feasts and liquor. Leo wasn't one for liquor or parties, he'd seen to many men die to those vices, battle however was another matter. There was a whole nation devoted to battle and training the only things he could really do well and the only times he could escape from himself. Yet he's never heard of this before and now he was going to meet one of the Khans who where bound to be fantastic fighters considering they come out on top in this society of warriors.

Chrom spoke and the room took a silence as nearly everyone listened to him. "I picture him now large and scarred. A mountain of muscle and hair" the prince seemed quite invested in his ruminating.

At least until a loud boisterous female voice spoke up directly behind him "Is that how you see me Prince Chrom".

Leopold turned to look to the newcomer and laid his eyes on her. She must have been the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on. He swore this was what bards sang of in their flowery tales.