HEY EVERYONE! THIS IS THE LAST PART OF A SPECIAL TRIPLE UPDATE! GO READ CHAPTERS 62 AND 63 FIRST! TRUST ME, YA NEED TO! ENJOY! :)
Rigged from the Start
Interlude VI
Tremors
Severa
Run.
Everything in me wanted to argue with Sam when he said that. I wanted to scream at him. Demand if he had gone insane. Yet, I didn't do that. I heard him, saw the monster wearing my father's skin, grabbed Exalt Emmeryn by the wrist, and ran back to where we entered the Palace. The entire sprint to the privy near the dungeons I prayed no enemies would cross our paths, and that Sam would somehow survive.
Even more than that, I found myself quietly praying to Naga that Sam would somehow manage to escape that… thing, and follow us out of the Palace. I clung to the hope that his luck would hold. That's all I could do about him now.
Besides, Sam gave me a task besides just running. He didn't have to say it out loud, but I knew what he meant. He wanted me to survive and to escape with Emmeryn. If he was so willing to buy us time, then the least I could do was see this mission through.
"Hurry up!" I hissed to the Exalt as we reached the final few steps down towards the hall with the privy.
"I'm moving as fast as I can," Emmeryn replied, breathlessly.
My sword remained drawn when we reached the door to the privy hallway. I didn't even hesitate when we reached it. I shoved the door open and was immediately greeted by a surprised soldier. One swipe of my blade and he fell to the ground, a scarlet trench through his chest. I then took care of his companion, gutting him, before rushing towards the now empty privy.
Emmeryn gasped when she realized what we were about to do. However, she did not hesitate. I had to admire how she hiked up her robes, reached one of the toilet seats, and started the nasty descent down into the filth-filled sewers. I gave the privy a once over to make sure no one followed us, before joining her in the sewers.
We did not stop once we reached the sewer floor. Emmeryn uttered a hoarse gasp, covered her nose, then rushed through the muck with me right behind her. At this point, I was used to the stench, and I was too focused on being ready for combat to be worried about the stench.
I strained my hearing as we ventured further into the sewers, listening for any sign of us being followed. So far, nothing but the sounds of waste and water moving through the tunnels, and the occasional rumble of footsteps over our heads.
We paused when we reached a crossroads in the sewers. I knew that the markets were still downhill from here, which meant we would want to follow the direction the sewage was flowing. However, I wondered if that was wise.
"Where do we go from here?"
"Let me think!" I hissed, silencing the Exalt.
More clopping over our heads. It sounded like boots hammering against the ceiling. The city guards must be out and above now, searching for us. It would not take them long to figure out where we were beneath their feet. There were only so many exits out of this place, after all. No doubt the guards would have the main roads and gates blocked by now. That meant getting to the markets would be impossible, and it was likely Anna flaked out already. She wasn't the same, battle-hardened woman that I knew in the future. Not yet.
We needed a safe place to go and hide. But where could that be in a city brimming with enemies? For a moment, I thought about the slums. Perhaps I would run into Kushi there if he decided to break off from this botched mission. He might help, but the gangs and guards in that area of the city would be more than happy to turn me and Emmeryn over to the Grimleal. So that option was no good.
What would Sam do? Other than throwing himself at a fight he can't win, again. My blood boiled at that though, but I quickly quelled my anger. I needed a clear head right now.
Where would Sam go?
"Mustafa," I breathed.
"Pardon?" Emmeryn replied.
I whirled around, furrowing my brow as I tried to get my bearings. The market gates faced north, while Mustafa's house sat on the eastern edge of the markets, within walking distance of the fortress. After locating the tunnel I believed led back to the markets, I turned to the tunnel I thought led east.
"This way," I whispered.
Emmeryn did not argue, thank Naga. So far, she managed to impress me with her fortitude and willingness to go along with our harebrained rescue attempt. The Exalt was useless in a fight, but from what I knew about her, she wasn't a warrior. So, I wasn't surprised there.
At least she is not a priss. I couldn't deal with one of those right now.
I clenched my jaw as I picked up the pace of our march, trying my best to guess when we could emerge from the sewers. Eventually, after wading through scum for several minutes, I swallowed my anxiety and took a risk.
We reached an iron ladder leaning against the stone walls. The ladder led to a covered hole in the street above us. After saying a quiet prayer to Naga, I glanced at the Exalt.
"Wait here a moment. I'm going to check it out."
She nodded, and I went up the ladder. Once at the top, I grit my teeth and grunted as I slid the iron cover off of the hole a couple of inches. Carefully, I peered out. When I spotted a familiar, quaint house nestled between a couple of other houses, I could hardly believe my luck. Even luckier, there were no patrols nearby.
"Get up here!" I hissed to Emmeryn.
I slid the manhole cover completely out of the way then shimmied out of the sewer. Once topside, I spun around and took Emmeryn's hand, hauling her out as well. As soon as I replaced the cover, I took the Exalt by the wrist and made a beeline for the house.
"Where are we going?" Emmeryn gasped, trying her best to keep pace with me.
Instead of knocking on the front door, I took Emmeryn around the house towards the back patio. A fence blocked our path, but it wasn't anything we couldn't scale. I nodded for Emmeryn to hop over the fence.
"A friend's place, hopefully," I finally replied.
"Hopefully?" Emmeryn questioned, a spark of worry in her blue eyes.
I scowled, laced my fingers, and readied to boost the Exalt over the wooden fence. "It's either this or we get caught. Your choice."
Emmeryn's lips thinned. No more arguments came from her. She did not take my offer to help her over the fence. Instead, she jumped up, gripped the top of the fence, and pulled herself over.
Not so helpless after all.
I heard armor clanking down the street. A patrol was nearby. That was all the motivation I needed to scale the fence and hop down into Miss Nadiyya's garden on the other side. I winced when I crushed several flowers beneath my boots.
"Who's home is this?" Emmeryn whispered.
I tiptoed towards the closed back door. The inside of the house was dark, except for one room on the ground floor where a single candle burned. It was probably a light to help Mustafa and his family find the privy in the darkness. Everyone in the house would be asleep at this hour. Hopefully, we could lay low here without anyone noticing, then slip out when things calmed down.
"No time to explain," I nudged the back door open, breathing out a sigh of relief when I found it unlocked. "Stay right by me, and don't make a sound."
Just in case, I sheathed my sword. I did not want General Mustafa to think I was entering with intent to harm him or his family. That would not end well.
My boots glided across the tile floor as me and Emmeryn slipped inside. I carefully shut the back door behind us. The temptation to feel relief was strong, but I did not give in. I had to remain alert. Had to remain ready for combat. At any moment, something else could go wrong on this mission. If I had learned anything during my time as a soldier in the Shepherds it was this: whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Are we to remain here for a little while?" Emmeryn whispered. I shot her an irritated look, making her purse her lips. "Forgive me, I shouldn't be questioning your methods."
"Yeah, you shouldn't," I huffed. I flicked my eyes around the room again, scrutinizing every shadow in every nook and cranny. Nothing there. "Go ahead and take a rest. We should be-"
A crow cawed, and my blood froze. Another caw sounded through the silent house. Then, a quiet, mad snicker bounced off of the walls. It echoed through my ears; a chorus of mocking laughter that made my hairs stand on end. Emmeryn crept a little closer to me as the snickers grew louder.
Finally, a pair of cold, blue eyes winked to life in the far corner of the living room.
"Well, well, well, isn't this a treat?" Henry cackled in the shadows. "I'm most surprised to see you here, Miss Daraen. Oh, and you're with a friend too. Don't you know you're supposed to announce yourself before entering another person's home?"
I swallowed hard. Then, I stepped in front of Emmeryn. Putting myself between her and the mad mage sharing the room with us.
"Hello, Henry," I gulped.
Candlelight flickered upstairs, It grew brighter as heavy footsteps rushed down the hall. Mustafa emerged on the stairs, shirtless and wearing small clothes. He had a small ax in one hand and a candle in the other. When his dark eyes saw me, they widened.
"Severa?"
"Oh, good, you're awake," Henry chirped. "I hope I wasn't the one who caused it."
"You did," Mustafa grunted as he finished lumbering down the stairs, no longer as on guard. Which was a major relief to me. I wasn't interested in getting into a fight with him.
"Oh," Henry blinked, "Well, I'm sorry."
"No you're not," Mustafa grumbled. He set the candle down on a table, lighting up the room. "So, Severa what are you-" His words stuck in his throat when he spotted Emmeryn. All at once, his body tensed and his throat bobbed. He shakily gestured his ax at her as she stayed behind me. "Miss Daraen, please tell me that isn't who I think it is."
I grimaced. "Sam wouldn't want me to lie to you."
"Grima's unholy ghost!" Mustafa hissed, his free hand running over his mouth. "What the hell do you think you're doing, girl?"
I drew in a deep breath. I could not act afraid, or back down. Mustafa had to be on our side right now. No matter what, we needed his help to escape Doluna. There was no other choice.
"I'm doing what… what Sam would do," I said, finishing with a strained croak.
"Where is my best buddy, by the way?" Henry interjected, his head tilted while his crow perched on his shoulder.
A heavy weight sat on my chest. "The Grimleal has him now," Henry's smile ran away. "He stayed behind to buy us time to get out," I returned my gaze to Mustafa, meeting his hard stare. "I came to the one place I knew was safe in this city."
"And you have endangered my family in the process," Mustafa growled.
"Mustafa?" Nadiyya called from up the stairs.
"Stay up there!" Mustafa replied. "Do not come down. I'm handling something," His sharp glare returned to me. "You need to leave."
"And go where?" I countered. "Outside to get caught? Outside where they will retake the Exalt?"
"She is a political prisoner," Mustafa said.
"Who is going to die!" I shouted. "For what!? Do you seriously think Ylisse wanted a war? If they did, then why weren't they the ones to invade? Why is the Plegian army sweeping through Ylisse practically untouched?" Mustafa's brow furrowed. "Gangrel is mad. He is not in control, the Grimleal are, and you know it. You once told me and Sam about the cost of religious zealots like that gaining ultimate power. Well, now you are on the other side of that equation. What are you going to do about it?"
Mustafa took a step towards me. He towered over me and Emmeryn, brow furrowed and a frown marring his bearded face. Still, I did not tremble. I did not back down. I could not. Not after everything I've been through, and not after everything Sam did to get us this far.
Snickers caused both me and Mustafa to glance at Henry.
"Well?" Henry ran a loving finger over his crow's head. "General, I dare say we are at a crossroads, hm? Do we turn in Miss Daraen and the Exalt, and reap the rewards of being good Plegian citizens? Or, do we abandon all precepts of king and country and decide to say, in no uncertain terms, fuck 'em?"
Mustafa's jaw worked back and forth. He said nothing, his brow staying furrowed as he remained deep in thought. The fact that he was mulling over my words, and Henry's words, told me that he was considering everything carefully. That alone was a small victory.
"What do you plan on doing, Henry?" Mustafa asked, his voice low.
Henry beamed. "Well, whatever seems the most entertaining, of course."
Mustafa nodded. "Entertaining… and how entertaining would you find fighting against your fellow mages?"
Henry's eyes widened. A quiet snicker slipped from his lips, eventually boiling into loud, mad cackles that caused him to double over. Bill the crow flapped its wings excitedly when Henry threw his head back, howling with glee.
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," Henry grinned. "What do you need me doing, General?"
Mustafa returned his attention to me. "Do you have a way out for all of us?"
I gawked at him. "Y-you're helping-"
"Answer me before I change my mind!"
"Yes," I quickly replied. "An Anna in the markets. She and two of my friends are waiting. Although, with all the ruckus, they might freak out and leave."
Mustafa whipped his head to Henry. "Go find them, quickly."
Henry bowed then snickered as he rushed out the door. A dozen loud caws and wings flapping made me jump. I caught a glimpse of a flock of crows rushing towards the markets as the door closed.
As soon as the door clicked closed, Mustafa rushed up the stairs. Once he disappeared, I heard Nadiyya and Basil waking up, frantic voices, hushed arguing, then the sound of bags being packed. I could scarcely believe any of this.
We might make it.
Mustafa and his family rushed down the stairs, bags slung over their shoulders and hooded cloaks over their bodies. He tossed two extra cloaks to me and Emmeryn.
"Throw those on. It won't take long for Henry to find your friends and bring them here."
No arguments from me or Emmeryn. We threw the cloaks on, tossed the hoods over our heads, and followed the General and his family to the door. Right as we reached the door, it burst open, causing my heart to stop in my chest.
Relief flooded me when I saw Lucina in the doorway.
"Severa?" She said.
"Here, Lucina," I breathed, shoulders sagging when I saw the cart waiting outside and a flock of crows circling it.
Lucina nodded, glared at Mustafa, then looked to Emmeryn. She gave the Exalt a respectful bow as her hand gripped Falchion.
"Friends of yours?" She asked me, nodding at Mustafa.
"Yes, and they are ready to leave too."
Lucina looked Mustafa up and down one more time, then sighed. "I may have to pay Anna the entire royal treasury," She cleared her throat. "Very well. Get into the cart. We're leaving, now." We all rushed towards the door, but Lucina remained still. "Severa," She grabbed my arm as I moved to follow Emmeryn, Mustafa, and his family into the cart. "Samwise?"
My heart lurched in my chest. A wave of nausea punched me in the gut, and it felt difficult to breathe all of a sudden. I swallowed hard and shook my head. A somber look formed on Lucina's face.
"Be ready for a fight," She whispered to me.
"Never a time to rest for us," I replied, my voice trembling without me knowing.
"Not until we make it to the Feroxi border."
If we even make it there. Gawds, with how loud Doluna sounded it was as if an entire army came to life within the walls. Horns blew, armor clanked, swords jangled in the night, and loud voices boomed, bellowing orders as squads combed through the streets. Lucina was right. It sounds like we were in for a fight.
Once Mustafa and his family were in the cart, me and Lucina hopped in. I felt some relief when I spotted Kushi in the cart as well, a shortsword drawn in his right hand. Morgan sat next to Anna at the front of the cart, her tome already out of her coat.
"Everyone in?" Anna called.
Crows flew into the cart and Henry materialized in the center of the flock. He beamed at a stupefied Anna.
"Yup!" He chirped while Bill remained on his shoulder. The other crows flew away, heading towards the closest city gate.
Anna frowned and shot a glare at Lucina.
"You'll get paid, just go!" Lucina barked.
"I better," Anna grumbled before turning around and snapping the reins.
She did not bother to build up our speed or even disguise our intentions. Anna knew we were in danger, and she knew we needed to get out of the city immediately.
The cart barreled through the streets, rushing through turns, and nearly tipping over several times as Anna took several sharp corners at high speed. Sounds of alarm rang out around us as we entered the market district. Through the back of the cart, I saw soldiers chasing after us.
Arrows soared through the night air, skipping off of the stones beneath the cart and then burrowing into the cart's tight, canvass roof. I grit my teeth, flicked my eyes around the cart, and spotted a hunting bow and a quiver of arrows.
"Morgan, keep the front clear! Henry, help me keep them off our asses," I shouted.
Henry cackled, opened his spellbook, and launched an insidious ball of purple energy at one of the buildings around us. A massive explosion engulfed the building, consuming the group of archers firing at us from the rooftops. Another explosion rocked the ground, coming from a massive thunder spell Morgan fired at a group of spearmen trying to block our path.
"Hold on back there!" Anna cried.
I steadied myself as we hit a series of bumps. Once the cart steadied beneath me, I grit my teeth, nocked an arrow, and let it fly. As I moved to fire another one, a pair of roars echoed through the air. Two wyverns dove at us from the black sky, their wings pulled back as they zipped towards us.
Henry conjured a wind spell while I took aim at them. As soon as I loosed my arrow, Henry fired his spell. The wind whip snapped against one Wyvern, sending it careening into the other. They fell in an out-of-control spiral, their riders struggling to recover. They never managed to. Both hit the ground, causing me to grimace.
"Anna, they're sending wyverns!"
"I'm aware!" Anna barked.
"Are we nearly there?" Lucina pressed.
"Yeah," Anna nodded ahead of her, "The gate is just ahead and… and they're closing it, Naga damn it! Morgan!"
An enormous bolt of lightning crackled to life in Morgan's hand. She charged it for a moment, ducked her head out of the path of a Plegian arrow, then unleashed her spell on the gate. The thunderbolt slammed into the wooden gates with a gigantic crack. Small splinters and large chunks of wood tore into the canvass. One of the larger splinters tagged me on the chin, splitting a gash open. I hissed, wiped at it with the back of my hand, then returned my attention to the rear of the cart.
Doluna started to fade behind us. Anna spurred her cart faster and faster on the dusty northern road to Regna Ferox. I could hear the reins cracking every few moments, along with Anna urging her loyal horse to continue racing into the desert.
Three more wyverns soared into the sky from Doluna. I gulped. They were going to chase us through the desert. Of course they were. Why couldn't it be easy?
The wyverns circled Doluna, then descended. I blinked.
"What the?" I muttered.
"They aren't pursuing?" Lucina wondered out loud.
Even Mustafa looked perplexed. A heavy breath left the former Plegian General's lips and he let his head fall back against the torn canvass. One arm was wrapped around Nadiyya while the other held Basil close to his chest.
"Perhaps we have some good luck on our side." He said.
My heart lurched again. We had luck on our side. That's what always happened in these situations. Somehow, we had good luck. But… in those moments, that good luck happened with one more person sharing the cart.
The bow in my grasp fell to the cart floor. I fell to a seat, a ragged, exhausted gasp rushing from my lungs. I raked a hand through my hair. My lips quivered. Tremors shook my body as tears welled up in my eyes.
Lucina opened her mouth to say something to me, but I shot her a teary glare. Her mouth closed. She remained mercifully silent.
Exalt Emmeryn's elegant hand touched my shoulder. "He helped get me out," She said, making my throat tighten. "I'll do everything I can to do the same."
I glared at her as a tear rolled down my cheek, unable to find any words.
I turned my attention to Doluna one more time before it could disappear in the darkness behind us. The further away we got, the more it hurt. The more my heart ached. I bowed my head, grit my teeth, and fought tears as much as I could. I could not crack now. We were not safe. We were not home free yet.
I drew in a shaky breath and refocused on surviving the journey through the desert.
Robin
My pen scratched against the parchment. I did not write words. Words were a waste of time, a waste of energy. Symbols worked just fine when detailing plans on a map. Words can be misconstrued, misinterpreted, even misunderstood. But symbols on a map, those were obvious. A triangle here meant a cavalry unit. A rectangle there, a line of infantry. A circle, the Shepherds and Khan Flavia. And the star, our target.
We were a day out from Doluna, the heart of Plegia. One more day of hard marching through the blistering desert heat and scorched dunes before finally reaching our destination. I always knew we would make it, but a part of me did question if it was possible at times. After all, an army crossing the Northern Wastes during summer was a monumental task on its own. The difficulty was only compounded by lack of resources, bandit and enemy raids on our thin supply lines back to the Longfort, oases filled with hostile villagers, and then there were the Grimleal prowling the dunes.
At least we got a taste of what they are capable of. I dipped my quill in the inkwell again and reached for a fresh piece of parchment. I started scribbling in my shorthand as my thoughts raced.
We encountered the Grimleal one time during our march south. In that one instance, we not only came face to face with Plegia's magical potential, we also picked up a group of new allies. A pair of Manaketes, a friendly old mercenary, and their young protege who enjoyed making references to his "trembling, sword hand", whatever that meant.
The mercenaries I could easily use. Gregor and Owain- I believe that was their names- would blend seamlessly with the main thrust of the Shepherds' assault. Nowi and Nah, they were the tricky ones. How am I supposed to fit two living siege engines into a strike force meant to rescue the Exalt?
A long breath sputtered from my lips. I tapped the tip of my quill against the parchment, leaving a growing black dot on the page.
Nah could probably be used as a mage. She seemed to have a decent grasp of magic and had a level head on her shoulders. Although, I wondered how well she would respond to orders. She didn't appear particularly thrilled about being assimilated into our forces.
Nowi… Nowi, Nowi, Nowi. Gods, how to even utilize her on this rescue mission? If all else failed, send her in to grab the Exalt with a talon? Maybe? But would Nowi realize the gravity of the situation? Would she understand how vital it was that the Exalt be unharmed? So far, she only seemed to care about playtime and mealtime. Hardly the wise, elegant creature many texts I read described.
When this is over, I'll have to spend some time in the library researching them. I laid my quill down on the desk and raked my hand through my hair, a wave of weariness hitting me. My hand massaged my eyes next as I fought off drowsiness.
That's when I heard a quiet knock on my tent door. After a quick grimace, I sighed.
"Come in," And I picked up my quill once more.
"Robin?"
I stiffened in my seat. I was expecting one of the watch captains or scout troop leaders to come in to inform me about what they've seen. I did not expect Cordelia to drop by at all. She wasn't wearing her usual armor, instead opting for a red tunic with a leather belt cinching her waist.
She gave me a concerned look. "You're still awake at this hour?"
I offered her a weary smile. "There's still work to be done," I scratched the quill on the parchment. "Strategies to be made. Plans to think through. Pros and Cons for all of them that need to be pondered."
"Sleep to be had," Cordelia pointed out, causing me to snort out a quiet laugh.
"Perhaps," A heavy breath left my lips. "But, I don't have that luxury right now. Is there something you need?"
She looked surprised by my question, which puzzled me. Why would she be confused? If anything, I was the perplexed one. One does not drop by another person's tent in the middle of the night without wanting something, right? At least, I think that is normal etiquette? Lissa and Maribelle were a little vague about that last time we chatted.
"I um," Cordelia's lips thinned. "Well, I couldn't exactly rest. So, I decided to go for a walk. Usually helps me sort things out, you know?"
I furrowed my brow. "Not exactly," Her eyes downcast, and I felt a brief spat of panic hit me. Curious? "B-but, I can see the merits, I think?
That earned an awkward smile from Cordelia. Was it an awkward smile? How does someone determine whether or not a smile is awkward? What's the measuring stick? Does it have to be a certain shape or width? And… why is she still standing here?
"Um," I pursed my lips, wracking my brain on how to respond. How is it that I can come up with fifteen different strategies for assaulting one city wall, but talking to another person is an exercise in absurd mental gymnastics? "Do you um… would some company help you become drowsy?"
Cordelia's eyes widened. "That would be appreciated, actually. Er-" She took a step back to the door, eyes darting between me and it, before uttering a sheepish laugh. "Wanna walk?"
I cast a glance back at the maps and plans. "I suppose these can wait. The Shepherds need you rested, after all. If I can assist in that, then that is what I shall do."
With that, I rose from my seat and joined her as we exited my tent.
The rest of the camp was quiet. A few campfires crackled between clusters of tents, most of them dying to embers. Not too far away, I heard horses stamping their feet in the sand along with the quiet flap of Pegasi wings as the beasts shook sand from them. A few sentries remained awake around the edges of our camp, standing vigil as they watched the shadowed desert around us.
Cordelia and I contributed to the silence at first. She had her hands folded behind as she walked while I let mine swing at my sides. As we passed by a cluster of tents, I felt another wave of exhaustion hit me. My eyes drooped. For a split second, I thought I fell asleep, only for a firm hand to catch me before I could tip over.
"Whoa, Robin!" Cordelia exclaimed, her voice shaking me awake. "You're far more tired than I thought."
I gave her a small smirk. "I thought this walk was so you could become tired?"
"I'm already tired, Robin, but I'm not on the verge of falling asleep standing up. We should get you back to your tent. This was probably a mistake. I could run by one of the apothecary tents and grab you a sleep aid-"
"There's," An uncharacteristic chuckle left my lips. Where did that come from? "There's no need for that. After all, I've already tried every sleep aid they had."
Cordelia arched an eyebrow. "Did they work at all?"
"Let's just say I took enough to put a bear to sleep and somehow I still remained awake until morning," I rubbed my chin, deep in thought. Cordelia snickered. Somehow, my sleep problems amused her? Unless this was an awkward laugh. Wait, how would I know that again? "Perhaps I possess a bit of an immunity to sleep aids."
"Or sleep in general," Cordelia pointed out with a light chuckle. "I'm always one of the last to fall asleep and you're still wide awake every time I finally close my eyes."
I tilted my head. "Are you monitoring my sleep habits, Cordelia?"
Cordelia's cheeks flushed. "W-well it's not like that. Not like that- um- not that at all. Just a simple observation and-"
"It would make sense," I shrugged. "I'm already aware Frederick does that. He gives Chrom reports. I had hoped that somehow outlasting him at night would get him to stop, but if he's recruited you to conduct the same work then he is quite clever."
"Recruited?" Cordelia replied.
She was confused, again. Why? What was confusing about my observation? Unless it was not true, in which case, why on earth was she observing my sleeping patterns? Tonight continued to grow stranger and stranger.
We stopped walking at the southern edge of camp. Once there, Cordelia drew in a deep breath of the desert air. Her gaze looked far to the south, towards our still distant destination. Any sheepishness or confusion she had from our walk had disappeared, replaced by a grim determination and somber silence.
My hands drifted into my coat's pockets as I followed her gaze to the distant desert.
"Um," I uttered a dry cough. "If you're worried about the upcoming battle, I have a plan in mind."
"I'm sure you do," Cordelia replied, her voice subdued. "I do not doubt yours or Prince Chrom's ability to lead us through this."
I tilted my head, still puzzled by her sober expression. "Then why are you," I gestured towards her. "I mean, do you um… are you sad?"
"Sad?"
"I mean are you- gods, I can't figure this stuff out," I wanted to tear my hair out. Having no memories makes social interaction a pain. "Clearly I must talk with Maribelle and Lissa more about one-on-one interaction."
"No, no," Cordelia touched my arm with her hand. A reassuring gesture on her part. "You're fine. I just… I'm not sad as much as I am anxious. Afraid, probably. We are about to try to free the Exalt from imprisonment in the heart of our enemy, and I am away from my squad during this mission."
"Commander Phila ordered you to assist the Shepherds."
"I know she did, but that doesn't mean I like that order," Cordelia snapped. Her eyes widened. "I-I mean, I don't mind working with the Shepherds. I quite enjoy it actually. Prince Chrom is a terrific leader and you're a splendid tactician. It's just… a part of me feels that I am abandoning my squad when they need me the most. I can't help but wonder how they're doing. Are they holding out at Fort Pike still? Did they fall back in the face of the initial invasion? Did they-" She swallowed hard and tucked her chin. "Did they all die?"
My brow furrowed. "I thought you said they did not treat you well?"
Cordelia jumped. "Well, they treated me fine. It was just a little bit of hazing, you know. Little Lady Genius," A frown creased on her lips when she spat out her nickname. "Just a right of passage. Every knight goes through it."
"Every knight undergoes emotional trauma and degradation as a right of passage?"
Cordelia snorted. "Well, when you put it that way-"
"Sounds counterproductive to me," I commented.
Cordelia uttered an exasperated chuckle. "You know what, it really is," She nodded. "But, if that is what I have to endure to be in a place to contribute, then I will gladly endure it."
Again, I tilted my head and hummed. "I don't think you have to endure any of that to contribute. Have you suffered any humiliation at the hands of the Shepherds?"
"Well, no."
"And would you say you're not contributing here?" I asked. Cordelia gave me a surprised, silent glance. A smile cracked over my lips. "I think you know the answer then."
Her eyes returned to the distant dunes. "When did an amnesiac become such a wise confidant?" She wondered out loud.
"When neither of us can sleep and have nothing else to think about," I replied without thinking.
A genuine, loud laugh burst from Cordelia. She continued chuckling before wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Well, Robin, thank you for walking with me tonight."
I glanced around us. "We didn't walk very far, but if this was acceptable then I was happy to help. Are you ready to-"
She held up a hand, silencing me. That's when I noticed her sharp eyes were narrowed on something on the horizon. I turned my head to look.
A small cloud of sand and dust rushed towards our camp. As it drew closer, I noticed that it was a cart. A red-haired woman drove the cart hard while a black-haired girl wearing a coat shockingly similar to my own sat beside her. The canvas roof over the cart was shredded and scorched. A flock of crows sat on some of the cart roof's exposed ribs, cawing and ruffling their feathers.
"Trouble?" I questioned.
"I'm never sure when an Anna is involved," Cordelia replied.
Why would the driver being named Anna matter?
The sentries at the border of our camp cut off their path. The driver, who I assumed to be named Anna, yanked on the reins. Her cart skidded to a stop in front of the sentries. Then, she stood up and folded her arms, a frown on her lips.
"Is this any way to greet a merchant?" She scolded the sentries.
"There's no business here, move along," One of the Feroxi sentries snarled as Cordelia and I drew closer to investigate.
"No business?" Anna cried, aghast. "You've not only lied to me but you've committed a grave offense to me and my family. There's always business to be had, even in the middle of nowhere."
"Then what is your business, Anna?" Cordelia chimed in, causing the two sentries blocking the cart's path to part out of our way.
"Getting paid for doing a good deed, and don't get used to it," The merchant rapped her fingers on the back of her seat. "Everyone out! We're safe now."
My eyes widened when I saw Marth, without his mask emerge from the back of the cart. Joining him was an older, gruff man I did not recognize. A family followed that man out, led by a burly, muscular figure with an ax strapped to his hip. After them, a white-haired mage with a crow perched on his shoulder jumped out with a mad giggle. The next person out of the cart was Miss Severa, which caused more surprise to fill me. However, that was not the most shocking thing to step out of the back of Anna's cart.
Exalt Emmeryn stepped out, and my jaw dropped.
"I believe there's a reward to be had?" Anna chirped.
Exalt Emmeryn gave both me and Cordelia a relieved look. "It's good to see you two alive and well."
"Um…" I felt my cheeks heat up a little. Was this really happening? Exalt Emmeryn was being delivered to us? How? "C-Cordelia, you might want to-"
"Prince Chrom!" Cordelia bellowed, racing back to the camp to fetch Emmeryn's brother.
I drew in a deep breath. So many strategies now had to be scrapped, because we wouldn't have to use them anymore. While I did feel some disappointment at wasting so much time, I couldn't help but feel immense relief as Emmeryn approached me.
"Are you feeling alright? You're not injured or anything?" I asked. Behind her, I noticed Marth raise a thin eyebrow while Severa looked sorrowful.
"I am fine, no need to fret. I'm sure the healers and my siblings will do that for you," Emmeryn replied with a quiet laugh. She glanced over her shoulder at her companions. "Severa," She said to Marth, making me beyond confused. "Go ahead and find a place to rest. I'm sure the sentries can help you. Lucina, could you remain a moment though."
Severa did not look up at any of us. She simply nodded her head and marched into the camp, with Anna's cart following her and her friends. Once they were gone, Lucina moved to Emmeryn's side. That was when someone uttered an excited shout from behind me.
"Emmeryn!"
Chrom shoved his way past me then wrapped his sister in a large hug, one she gratefully returned. Lissa barrelled into both of them next, throwing her arms around her siblings and nearly knocking them over. Emmeryn uttered a relieved sound as she held both of them close.
"I'm fine, both of you. I'm simply grateful to see you are well too," She ended the embrace and drew in a deep breath.
"How did you escape?" Lissa asked.
"Thanks to the bravery of Lucina and her friends," Emmeryn breathed. "Especially Samwise and Severa. Without them, I would still be in a cell."
I raised an eyebrow. "I did not see Samwise."
A somber look formed on both Lucina and Emmeryn's faces. Lucina cleared her throat.
"He stayed behind. Bought us time," she explained.
Wait, Marth's a girl? I realized through my half-asleep haze.
Chrom gave her a grim nod. "His sacrifice will not be in vain. Robin, make sure Frederick and the other captains know we will be returning to the Longfort at sunrise. We will regroup there."
"There is still a chance Samwise could be alive," Lucina said. "It's a slim one, but there is a chance."
"If there is a chance we will discuss how to rescue him," Emmeryn replied. "For now, Chrom is correct. We must get back to friendly territory. Once there, we can come up with a proper plan." She noticed Lucina's worried expression. "We will not abandon Samwise. Alive or, Naga forbid, dead, he will return home."
"Absolutely," Chrom nodded. He smacked my shoulder. "Get some rest tonight, Robin. We'll have a long day of marching and planning tomorrow. I want to get back to Regna Ferox as fast as possible. I've had enough of this desert."
"As you command," I replied.
The royal family retreated towards Chrom's tent, leaving me and Lucina alone at the camp edge. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before glancing over her shoulder, anxiety written on her face. Her hands closed into tight fists by her sides.
I am not the best at reassuring other people, mostly because I'm still relearning how. Despite that, I still tried to help Lucina. I cleared my throat, folded my hands behind my back, and gave her the friendliest smile I could muster.
"We'll get him back. I promise."
Lucina gave me a pained smile in reply. "I hope so," She drew in a deep breath. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to rest."
I stepped out of Lucina's way and she strode into a slowly waking camp.
The next watch was about to start. Several fresh sentries emerged from their tents to replace the ones who were awake for the recent commotion. As they moved to their posts, I uttered a loud yawn. Indeed, it was time to rest. When I woke up, I would have to return to the drawing board. The entire war's dynamic had shifted tonight, and there were new strategies to come up with to attain victory.
Lucina
I wanted to give Severa her space. She needed that. That's how I always handled these kinds of situations. When her father first died, my Aunt Lissa gave me that advice. When her mother died, I followed that wisdom. Not everyone can be comforted right away. Not everyone is receptive to sharing their grief immediately. Severa especially embodied that truth.
But, this time felt different. The loss of Samwise shook Severa hard, I could see that. She wasn't her usual, abrasive self during our rush away from Doluna. Instead, she was silent. She did not acknowledge anyone when they spoke to her. She kept her knees tucked to her chest, face buried into her legs, and said nothing.
When Severa's father died, she sobbed. When her mother died, she roared with anger and lashed out at anyone she could find. When we thought Morgan died, she screamed until her voice turned hoarse. But, with Samwise, there was nothing. That concerned me greatly.
So, once I was finished with Exalt Emmeryn, I excused myself and made my way into the Shepherds' camp.
It didn't take me long to find Severa. She didn't have a tent to sleep in. All of them were taken, and the quartermaster was fast asleep. So, she found the emptiest spot she could find towards the outer edge of camp, sat down, and stared south.
A cool wind swept over the desert as I approached her. Small puffs of sand swirled up from the ground. I stepped beside her, my boots sinking into the loose sand a little, and followed her gaze south.
We stayed that way for a few moments. Completely silent. Nothing but the wind brushing over grains of sand and the distant, quiet chatter of sentries making small talk filled the night. A few campfires still crackled in the camp behind us, but we were far from their warmth.
"It might be more comfortable by a fire," I said, my voice quiet as I stood beside Severa.
Severa tucked her knees closer to her chest. Her arms pinned them close to her as her chin rested on top of her legs. She said nothing.
I drew in a deep breath. "Well, a fire isn't the only way to stay warm. I remember Aunt Lissa saying that company provided the most warmth a person could ever have."
Nothing again. She never got like this. Even at her lowest, Severa always had a biting remark reserved for when someone irritated her. For her to not say a word told me she was hurting, badly.
I could not follow my Aunt's wisdom in this situation. Severa needed someone by her side, now more than ever. So, I sat down beside her, legs stretched out, my hands sinking into the warm sand as I kept myself propped up.
Silence remained, and it concerned me. But, I did not raise my concern. I simply waited and stayed beside Severa. Finally, a couple of moments later, she made a noise.
It was a quiet sniffle. So imperceptible that I could have sworn it was sand shifting nearby. But, when the same noise happened again, I turned my attention to Severa.
A stray tear dripped down her cheek. The muscles in her neck were tense as her throat bobbed. A shuddering breath left her lips, and she bowed her head, taking her gaze off of the southern horizon. After a couple more shaky breaths, she whipped her head up, a few more tears trickling down her cheeks.
"I was horrible to him, Lucy."
I blinked. "Sev-"
"Let me fucking finish," She snarled. "I was terrible to him. I-I shut him down, shut him up, and made him feel like utter shit even though he was trying to protect me, in his own stupid, fucked up way. Gawds, I'm still mad at him for that! And yet, I'm-I-" She slammed her hands into the sand by her sides. "I don't know how I feel right now!"
The dam burst and tears flowed down her face. Quiet sobs wracked her lungs. Her head fell to her knees and her shoulders shook as she cried.
I quietly wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "It's okay, Severa."
"It's not okay, Lucina!" She cried. "Sam is- Sam is probably dead and I-I made him think I hated him."
"He didn't think that."
"How do you know?" Severa roughly shrugged my arm from her shoulders. She shot me a harsh glare. "How do you know that!? I mean, was I mad at him for what he did. I-I think I was. But, I did intend to forgive him, eventually. And now… now I might not be able to."
"You will be able to."
"He could be dead!" She exclaimed. "Hell, he probably is given what we ran into in there. He sure as hell didn't act like he was going to make it back."
"But we are going to get him back."
"How?" Severa shot to her feet. "How are we going to get him back? What can we possibly do, Lucina? You and I both know how this sort of thing goes. How many times did we see it in the future?" Tears continued to bubble in her eyes as she shook in front of me. "Sam's as good as dead. There is nothing we can do about it," When she said that, it was as if that revelation hit her as well. She staggered back a step, uttered a gasp, then flopped onto her butt. "I'm never going to see him again."
Her sobs got louder. "I'm never going to see him again!"
I rushed up to her, wrapping Severa in a tight hug. This time, she returned the embrace, her hands clawing at me as she buried her head into my shoulder.
"We're going to get him back, Sev," I whispered.
She whimpered. I had not seen her like this in a long time. All of her strong fronts crumbled. Despite my own feelings about Sam and the decisions he made, I could not afford to let her down on this.
"I promise."
And chapters! THE TRIPLE UPDATE IS DONE FOLKS, and yes, I'm gonna leave ya'll hanging there. I'm a bit of a stinker that way lol. Before I continue, I sincerely apologize for a delay in any updates. Life got crazy on my end, and I had absolutely no time to write or, more importantly, edit what I had already written in order to post. As my apology, three chapters in one update for ya'll! And lots happened in it that I won't get into this already long-winded AN. So, I'll simply ask ya'll to let me know what you all think! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a nice day!
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