Golly that was fun last time. It's been a long time since Nowi went on a rampage back in Gariel, and now Chrom's had a turn! Wonder how this meeting with Sigmus will go now that they have his daughter hostage and had their leader go ape on the Valmese?

Should be fun!

Lord Sigmus

As predicted, it took a full day and night for Chrom to thaw out of his prison, the Exalt unconscious when he was pulled free. Sumia took immediate and total control of his care, nursing her unconscious husband for the next three days.

Over those three days, the caravan passed through rolling green fields that seemed unending, few if any trees in sight to break up the horizon. The occasional homestead passed them by as they cantered down the road, the farmers watched them but nothing else happened.

Even their prisoner was silent, Anisette saying nothing despite numerous interrogations attempts from Gaius and Orlan. Sumia expressly forbade any forceful coercion on their part, preferring to hold Anisette as both a bargaining chip and a show of sympathy.

The pride Frederick brimmed with when she showed off that queenly authority practically blinded the guard.

Frederica and her guard were wary on the march. While the Valmese were still their primary concern, those visions of their beloved Exalt charging into an enemy horde and slaughtering them wholesale would haunt them the rest of their lives.

Sumia decided to nip the wary looks Chrom was getting on the third day, calling Frederica to the wagon housing him. They'd stopped for lunch, so now was as good a time as any. "Colonel, I understand you and your regiment have concerns?"

Frederica instinctively saluted, "No, Your Majesty! There are no concerns to be had!"

"You know I don't like it when you lie to me." Sumia sighed, perched on the wagon bed just outside the covering. "You and your soldiers have been sending uneasy glances at this wagon ever since Chrom thawed out. If nothing else, I can assure you my husband won't wake up and attack the first thing he sees."

Frederica kept her salute, but she looked very uncomfortable. "Your Majesty… permission to speak freely?"

"When have we not wanted you to?" Sumia asked with a dry laugh. "But if you must ask, permission given. Speak your mind."

Frederica dropped the salute and eyed the wagon, a frown marring her lips. "It's just… we all knew about the steel skin he could conjure to defend himself, but this was something else. He became a demon, milady, no two ways about it. I… I'm just worried, milady, we all are. That wasn't our Exalt."

Sumia sighed and played with her hair. "Rica… I don't blame you for thinking that. The first time I saw Chrom in that state, it was terrifying. But I assure you, as much as I can, that it's still him… even in that state."

She met Frederica's eyes, doing her best to convey what she meant. "Falchion still cuts in his hand, the Emblem shines on his arm. Do you think that would be the case if he were not the man you swore your loyalty to, the man I swore my heart to?"

The colonel looked away, moved by the conviction in her queen's voice. "…You're right, milady. We've all heard the tales of his father and how Falchion refused him the moment the Great Purge started. The divine fang still cut even as he slew the Valmese…"

Sumia reached out to pat the colonel's shoulder. "I know it's all a lot to take in, but be at ease. Chrom made a desperate choice in a desperate situation, one he knew would invite suspicion. If nothing else, after all this, know that he did so because he wanted no more of our loyal guard to die needlessly."

Frederica sighed and nodded, accepting the words. "I… understand, Your Majesty. I will do all I can to allay my regiment's concerns. Um… are we expecting His Majesty to join us soon?"

Sumia pulled her hand back to tap her chin, a considering hum her answer. Much to Frederica's surprise, the queen reached up, pulled a pin from her gown, and turned into the wagon. A moment later, there was a loud yelp.

Sumia chuckled as she put the pin back in. "He'll be out in a bit. Waking up after such a… stressful event is disorienting. Would you be so kind as to grab Nowi for me before checking in with the front?"

Frederica saluted again and marched off, the wagon's flap moving aside to show a disgruntled Chrom. "You didn't have to poke me; I was waking up."

"Considering the worry you put me through, a poke is the least you deserve." Sumia snarled, pleasant visage twisting into a deep scowl. "Sigmus has no doubt heard of the slaughter by now and you scared the shit out of our guard. Not to mention, you damn near killed yourself!"

Chrom cringed and looked away from the scowl, shoulders drooping. "I… I'm sorry, my love. There were just so many, and they kept coming. Even the rabble didn't fear death until the end…"

Sumia took a deep breath and let it out slowly, tension clear in her shoulders. "…Chrom, I won't lie, I'm still mad. Three days you've been out of it, and it took a full day and night for the metal to recede. The guard's afraid of you, I just finished talking to Frederica about it. You… you lost yourself, and I had to convince myself you'd come back."

Chrom grabbed at Falchion's hilt, the sacred blade belted at his waist. "…I can only offer apologies, but we both know it was the only option. Trying to fight as mortals would've been a disaster, especially against those numbers. We're… we're too valuable to let ourselves be captured or killed, same with the guard."

Sumia reached up to grab his arm. When he didn't withdraw, she massaged the stiff muscle under his sleeves. "Love… I know that. But I am far too young to be a widow, as you are to be a widower. Our girls deserve parents, we swore as much. I cannot help what others do, but I refuse to see you dead over the whims of some lord in a foreign land."

Chrom sighed and flopped next to her, eyes fixated on the horizon. "That lord is a big part of us being able to return to our lives as parents. You saw that force they put together just to stop our caravan; they have many hundreds more just like it. And if we're to see the Conqueror toppled, we need to defeat all of them and rip out the Empire's beating heart."

Sumia groaned at the reminder. "Steiger, right. Having to take all that territory before attacking a fortress famed the world over would be suicidal without help wouldn't it?"

"As Robin and Say'ri were sure to hammer into our heads at every opportunity." Nowi chuckled as she walked up, cane in hand and returned to her adult form. "Good that you're up, we'll be at the city by sunrise tomorrow."

Chrom sat up and blinked. "Nowi, you're back to adulting? We must be close if Frederick allowed you to turn back."

"Frederick letting me is a bit of a stretch." Nowi chuckled awkwardly. "Were it up to him, I'd be a child until we got back to port. Sumia and I had to tag-team him to get me back to normal."

Frederica strode up behind, her posture stiffening slightly at the sight of Chrom. "We also believe that Lord Sigmus and the Valmese are unaware of Lady Nowi's presence as of this time. They may believe that it is Lady Tiki that accompanies us instead."

Chrom noticed but made no mention of it. "Then we'll leverage that as best we can. Perhaps they believe the Valmese and we kidnapped Lady Tiki for our own ends. Having another of the Voice's tribe beside us, and wed to an ardent supporter, will present a good image."

Nowi glowered at him. "Gee, thanks for using my marriage for your political gain."

"To be fair, Nowi, your marriage has been politics from the day you tied the knot." Sumia reminded her friend gently. "Your friendship with us got any doubtful clergy on our side, your marriage to Frederick had the halidom declared blessed. Not to mention all the work you've done weeding out the liars."

Nowi pouted and jabbed her cane into the ground. "I know, but that doesn't make it any less annoying! I vastly prefer dancing to a jaunty tune with my husband than being used as a pretty doll."

"As I would prefer with my wife." Chrom agreed, sitting up with a groan. "But as we all know, life's not fair. Just bear with us on this, Nowi, we'll try to convince Lord Sigmus as quickly as possible. Personally, I want us on the road back before Yen'fay or Walhart can make any big moves."

Gaius did his usual thing and rose out of Nowi's shadow. "About that, I got my report on the city. Looks like it's garrisoned by a couple Valmese companies, and their captain's been in constant meetings with the Lord. Looks like those stragglers reached home, and word on the street was we killed his daughter."

Sumia glanced to one of the other wagons, six of the guard stationed around it. "Then they'll be in for a surprise when we play our first hand. I assume you left Orlan and company to scour the city?"

"You know it, Stumbles." Gaius chuckled, avoiding an instinctive swat from Frederica. "They're looking for info on the Valmese, see if they can't find something that proves the Valmese broke their side of the lord's oath. Find that and we're golden."

Chrom and Sumia agreed. Returning Lord Sigmus's daughter and showing a second divine dragon's personal relationship was bound to give them a powerful bargaining position. Finding evidence of the Valmese breaking the very oath that Sigmus held so dear would be the finishing blow.

Assuming they could find it, but Gaius didn't call his personal regiment Shadow-Walkers because he wanted it to sound cool.

Chrom grunted and hopped out of the wagon. "Well, if we'll be there come morning, it's time to break out the finery. We didn't lose that wagon, though I'm already missing the wine."

"Wearing silks and armor at the same time is going to be strange." Sumia groaned as she joined Chrom. "At least we can make a show of it. Frederica, you and the guard have our endorsement to be as boisterous as possible."

Frederica saluted and Sumia strode off. Chrom was quick to follow, but paused and gripped Frederica's shoulder. "I understand your fear, so I will ask you this favor. Should Sumia not be there, and I start to lose myself…"

A shadow fell over his eyes. "Don't let me become a monster."

Frederica blinked and looked after the Exalt as he left. Nowi snapped her out of staring with a bonk of her cane. "That's big, Rica, so you know. I've seen Chrom come close before, and he's vulnerable until the steel spreads."

She walked past the shocked colonel, knowing the next words would rock her world even further. "Essentially… if none of us are there, make his daughters' last memories of him good ones."

Frederica was left alone with her thoughts, staring after the retreating backs of her superiors and charges with open shock. It would be several minutes before one of her captains came by to snap her out of it, but the words she'd been given would haunt her for a long time to come.

Chrom's awakening was met with minor trepidation by the guard, though it was swiftly buried under professionalism as the march was ordered to continue. The hesitation slowly faded over the course of the day, as Chrom was his usual self and showed no signs of his rampage.

Thankfully the last full day passed uneventfully, and they spotted their destination on the horizon by nightfall. There was nowhere to hide out in the rolling fields, so they had to rely on an ingenious invention of Frederick's design.

Invisible fire-pits.

Essentially two adjacent holes with a tunnel connecting them, a constant flow of air from one pit kept the fire in the other hot and burning while producing little if any visible light. It made the job of polishing armor and laundering their finery a chore, but it was done.

Thus, come morning, they set out for the city of Lord Sigmus in all their glory.

-Belsaran-

Belsaran, the capital of Lord Sigmus and one of the most well-known cities in all of Valm.

Sitting in the heart of the Valmese agricultural machine, every shipment of food and product to pass through the central lands ended up in Belsaran. As a show of its importance, great walls encircled the city, and two full companies were permanently garrisoned within.

The buildings showed the wealth of the lord and citizens, all built of stone and wood not found in the great plains. Paved roads and artistic pieces wound through the bustling city, all leading to a central castle that, oddly, had its own fields.

But today, the streets were subdued. News had reached them of the slaughter at the foot of the mountains, and all dreaded the coming of the Ylisseans. In a grand show, the garrison had taken to the walls with banners flying high, Lord Sigmus himself dressed for war atop the main gatehouse.

Sigmus was a man of advancing age, grey streaks showing in his close-cropped hair and beard. Wrinkles lined his face and his armor sat heavily upon him, yet strength showed itself in his limbs, yet unbowed despite losing his land's independence.

"Milord, we expect the Ylisseans to arrive within the hour." An aide muttered, the lord's eyes never leaving the horizon. "Our scouts have confirmed that Exalt Chrom and Queen Sumia lead them."

Sigmus snarled and his gaze turned to a glare. "Then I'll have their heads in exchange. For all we disagreed upon, my daughter did not deserve to die."

The aide bowed and backed away, leaving the lord alone. Sigmus, while forever angered at his daughter's decision to join their conquerors, still loved her dearly. To hear news of her death had enraged him to the point of violence, and he'd sworn an oath to avenge her.

An oath that would be resolved today, one way or another.

"The Ylisseans approach!"

Sigmus stiffened at the call, the garrison forming up around him. Bows were drawn and spears readied, the soldiers steady if nervous. While they outnumbered the coming Ylisseans, a force far larger than them had met its end. The survivors, what few that made it to Belsaran, were near mad with fear.

Sigmus and the garrison watched carefully as a line of shining silver appeared on the horizon, slowly growing larger until they could make out individual riders. Mutters swiftly ran through the soldiers, wondering at what they were seeing.

In front rode a color guard, the banners of Ylisse and the personal seals of its rulers flying high. The riders holding them were bedecked in full plate that was lavishly decorated and fluted. Bright colors were painted across the metal while the tunics over them were sewn with various scenes of legend. Great plumes of white bloomed from their helms, the sight of a lone blue plume marking the leader of the column.

The riders cantered to a stop just outside of the archers' range and spread out to form a line, the color guard parting a moment later to let the true spectacles ride forth.

"So that's the Exalt and his Queen." Sigmus growled when he saw four riders pass through the line. "But who are the other two?"

He received no answer, everyone was too busy gawking.

Chrom was bedecked in his polished armor with a light blue robe thrown over it, the cloth luxurious and gilded at the sleeves while lined in white fur. A circlet with a red gem sat upon his brow, and his very presence commanded authority with the Emblem sitting upon his arm.

Next to him rode Sumia, Selene restored to health. She was dressed for war as well, her armor polished to a golden glow while purple-pink robes flowed over her body, radiating elegance and power in equal measure. To match her husband, a circlet of her own shown upon her brow, a bright blue gem set in it.

Their steeds were no less grand, Chrom's wearing gilded silver plate while Selene carried the same. Much to their private chagrin, the horses had their own plumed helms.

To Chrom's right rode Frederick, the knight wearing his customary heavy plate and holding Chrom's personal banner in hand. He'd even put on a helm, masking who he was to the Valmese and presenting an intimidating vision atop his barded mount.

To Sumia's left rode Nowi, no armor upon her. Instead, she wore a dress and cape of white and gold, silken fabrics and gilded ornaments combining with her long green-yellow hair to make her a vision of divinity. The scars over her eyes had every man of the garrison on edge, whispers of 'the Seer' filling the parapets.

Sigmus felt disgusted at the display of wealth. The royal pair were at least dressed sensibly for their positions, but that 'seer' had the most elaborate circlet he'd ever seen. The damned thing looked like two trees growing into each other, gems of orange and purple sparkling in it.

"Lord Sigmus!" Chrom called, jolting the garrison from its gawking. "We received your request for a meeting and appear before you now in search of it! However, it appears you've changed your mind!"

Sigmus pointed to the ground and his archers fired, the lord feeling a grudging respect take root when not one of the Ylisseans so much as flinched. Not even the horses moved despite arrows burying themselves mere inches before them. "You took my daughter's life! I am oathbound to see you dead in vengeance!"

"Your daughter yet lives!" Sumia answered, a gesture sending a few of the Ylissean riders away. "She is in our custody after attempting to drive us back into the mountains! We hold no use for her, but if it will settle your oath of vengeance, we will release her to you!"

Sigmus froze, only for his scowl to grow. "You think that I will listen to such a lie so easily?! She did not return alongside the survivors of that slaughter you perpetrated, so she must be dead! You took no prisoners!"

Chrom winced, but otherwise remained firm. "We slew only those who fought us and refused to flee or surrender! Your daughter was rendered unconscious in the fighting and we took her prisoner. We will bring her forth to prove our words!"

Chrom and Sumia trotted aside and the riders returned, a bound woman between them. Sigmus didn't have a good view of her until the riders yanked her forward, but once he could see her his heart stopped. "…Anni?"

The woman kneeled, helm gone and dark-brown hair matted from travel. She refused to look up, not wanting her father to see her in such a state.

"She introduced herself as Annisette, daughter to you, Lord Sigmus." Sumia called after a short silence. "Is she who she claims to be?"

The archers drew their bows, but Sigmus held up his hands. "Don't fire you madmen! That's my daughter, I won't have her die again, and before my own eyes no less!"

"Milord, with all due respect." A young voice protested, an equally young man marching up to the lord with a stern frown. "As much as I detest the idea, we can't let the Ylisseans in. Just because they have your daughter does not make your duty any less clear."

Sigmus rounded on the young man. "Captain, I don't give a damn! The oath I swore to Walhart does not preclude me from speaking to others of my own volition, and they've returned my daughter! I don't care if it's a bargaining tactic, my daughter's alive by their grace!"

The captain took a breath and tried to reason with his lord. "They are the enemy leaders, milord, speaking to them is tantamount to treason. The last thing any of us want is for Lady Pheros to rally the central forces and march on this city."

"If it were treason to listen, me listening to Arsene would be treason!" Sigmus snapped back. "My foremost duty is to my people, and that means exploring all avenues no matter the dead-ends reached. You can sit in on whatever's spoken if that's what you want, but I'll broker no further argument!"

The captain looked desperate to continue, but Sigmus's determination was iron. "…Very well, if that's what you wish. Be aware, I will be relaying all that is said to Lady Pheros. She will decide if action is needed."

Sigmus harrumphed and looked back to the royals. "That is my daughter, she is who she claims! My oath of vengeance no longer stands with her continued breath, and I am thankful enough to at least grant you an audience. Know this, all violence is forbidden within my halls! Commit it and the ceasefire ends!"

Chrom smiled up at the lord. "And we accept your hospitality! We originally had enough wine for this talk, but it got swept away in a mudslide!"

Sigmus gave a gesture and the archers stood down, the lord pointing to the castle behind him. "I've enough in my own stores for the headaches you're bound to bring. Now open the gates and let them in, the sooner we're done with this the better!"

The Ylisseans relaxed as the Valmese companies left the walls and the portcullis opened. Anisette was taken back to her wagon so she wouldn't suffer the shame of being a captive before her people. The caravan formed up into parade formation and they cantered forward the moment the gates groaned open.

They were met by curious and fearful mutters, most aweing at the splendor and wealth on display while others conversed fearfully of whether the golem spoken of by the survivors was there. Those conversations silently hurt Chrom's mood, but he didn't let it show.

Thankfully, their impromptu parade was otherwise uneventful, and they entered the castle's main courtyard without incident. Sigmus was waiting for them before the entrance to what Chrom assumed was the great hall. "My daughter, now. You and yours can speak to me after."

Sumia and several of the guard personally retrieved and escorted Anisette to her father. "I apologize for her poor state, Lord Sigmus, but she refused all our offers of hospitality."

"Stubborn fool as always." Sigmus grunted, not looking at Sumia as he addressed his daughter. "You're lucky to be alive, and it is by the grace of your enemies you live. Shame is too light a word for what you bear now."

Anisette kept her head bowed and Sumia stepped away, knowing this was something not meant for outsiders. Much to her surprise, Sigmus reached out and lightly embraced his daughter, his stoic expression giving way to relief.

"Yet it is a grace I cannot thank enough." The lord whispered, his daughter stiffening beneath his arms. "The gods are kind to see you home safely, and I am a happy man to see you again. Please, see to yourself."

The lord stepped aside and several maids ran up to escort Anisette away. When she was gone, Sigmus looked to the royals. "Are you parents by chance, milord, milady?"

Chrom smiled and walked up to take Sumia's hand, his wife mirroring his smile. "We are, Lord Sigmus, twice over in fact. Our girls… they mean everything to us."

"As does mine." Sigmus muttered, gaze lingering on where Anisette had vanished into the castle. "…Forgive me, that was less than warranted. Now, you want to speak? I assume Lady Say'ri's already gotten to you."

Chrom cleared his throat and waved at the parade column. "Yes, well, we do want to talk. We've heard a great deal about you and your… thoughts on the Valmese. Would it be alright for us to take this to a more appropriate location? We still have a couple introductions to make."

Sigmus nodded and pointed to a stable. "Your personal guards can stable there; the rest will have to use the garrison's stables. Only the patrol from Steiger uses them, you should find it empty."

Sumia nodded and turned to start barking orders, the formation breaking as most of the guard rode off. Frederica and her best soldiers made for the castle's stables, Frederick and Nowi dismounting to let their horses be led after them.

A few minutes later, the Ylisseans were ready and Sigmus led them into the great hall, the austere visage of stone and glass beyond the door a match for the stern lord that ruled it. His only decorations were tapestries depicting former rulers and grand harvests, alongside a prominent crimson banner with the Valmese emblem.

Their guide didn't speak the entire walk, taking them through the hall and a pair of great doors that opened into the lord's court. Only servants and Valmese guards stood within, the captain from the gate waited before the throne.

"Who's he?" Sumia whispered when she caught sight of the captain. He looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Don't know." Chrom answered, the same feeling itching in his mind. "We'll ask the moment we're able."

Nowi strode up behind them and put herself between them. "Guys, I can't get a read on the guy by the throne. He's covered in shadow like on the road here, when I couldn't see beyond where we were going."

Chrom and Sumia didn't react, but they silently swore to keep their guard up whenever the captain was with them.

"This is Captain Calris." Sigmus introduced to them after sitting on his throne and regarding his guests for a moment. "He's in command of the garrison here in my city. In the interest of not meeting my imminent demise, he's going to be sitting in on our talks."

The captain bowed to the royals, all professional grace. "Your Majesties, though we stand on opposite sides, I must say it is an honor to meet you. Tales of your realm's prosperity are told far and wide."

The royals nodded to him before turning their attention to Sigmus. Sumia started them off by gesturing to Frederick. "Before we begin, the last of the introductions. This is Frederick, Head of the Cavalier Order. He is Chrom's personal guard."

"The Exalted Fist." Sigmus grunted as Frederick removed his helm. "How wise to bring your personal enforcer. If we have time, I'd enjoy seeing if his skill is all it's cracked up to be."

Frederick bowed to the lord. "You humble me, Your Lordship. I am but a simple soldier honored enough to serve his Exalt."

Chrom went next. "This is Nowi, a manakete who entered the service of Ylisse several years ago and a good friend. She's been invaluable in making our realm as prosperous as it is."

Sigmus recognized her too, bowing to Nowi as she came forward to curtsy. "The Blind Seer herself, an honor. Few if any have met one of the goddess's tribe in person, let alone been granted their service."

Nowi straightened from her curtsy and held up her left hand to hide a smile, the gloves she wore showing off the band on her ring finger. "That's kind of you, Lord Sigmus, but flattery will merely invite my husband's ire. I am here simply here to observe and offer counsel."

Sigmus raised a brow before noting the slight narrowing of Frederick's eyes. "…I see, my most sincere apologies. I did not realize that one of Naga's tribe could marry."

Nowi waved off the apology. "No need, I was simply informing you. Now, one last introduction and we can get to business yes?"

Sumia giggled at the slight edge of frustration in the question. "Yes, of course. Finally, this is Frederica, the leader of our guard. She'll be handling security, so if a message comes for us, speak to her first."

"The same for Captain Calris." Sigmus said before clearing his throat. "Now, onto business. I've never been one for beating around the bush, so I'll get to the point."

"You want me to break my oath to Walhart and assist you in ousting him, correct?"

The way the captain stiffened told the Ylisseans he'd not been ready for the lord to be so blunt. Chrom, ever straightforward himself, answered in kind. "To be blunt, yes, but we know your oaths are sacred to you. We would not be here if we were not confident we could convince you of such a breach."

Sigmus sat back with a raised brow, hand rising to stroke his beard. "Truly? And what evidence do you have that the Valmese have not been everything they swore? My city and lands are protected from rivals, no bandits prowl these roads, and my people grow wealthy under Walahart's protection. Doesn't look like a breach to me."

Sumia stepped in. "Our evidence is… tenuous, admittedly, but we are here to prove it and show you that we are just as capable as the Valmese despite our lesser number. We did not believe you would take what we said at face value, so we came prepared."

Frederick marched forward at an invisible signal. "Lord Sigmus, at the behest of my lords, we ask three challenges of your choosing. In addition, whilst the wine was lost in transit, we still have another gift to offer you."

One of the guard came forth and handed Frederick a parcel, the great knight unwrapping it carefully before turning and kneeling before Sigmus. The presented item was an ornate chest, the dark wood wrought in silver and gems.

Sigmus gestured and Calris strode forth to take the chest, inspecting it carefully before returning to Sigmus's side and presenting it. "There's no trap or spell upon it, My Lord. It is otherwise quite light for such an ornate case."

Sigmus huffed and took the case, inspecting it a bit himself before opening it. "…What is this?"

The lord held up a small bag, the burlap at great odds with the luxurious interior of the case. A slight shake sounded no jingle of coins or metal, but the rattle of… seeds?

"That is a bag of Ylissean wheat and barley." Chrom answered, Sigmus looking to him in shock. "Drought and disease resistant, only heavy floods will do it in. Our realm has moved away from its reliance on grain exports, so we are more than willing to gift the seeds."

Calris interjected. "I fail to see how such a small bag of seeds requires so grand a case to hold it, let alone the reverence with which you presented it."

Sigmus, much to the captain's surprise, bowed once more. "I accept this tremendous gift. Your generosity astounds me, Your Majesties, but it is not near enough to break my oath."

"Nor would we expect it to be, but at least the people will be cared for come harvest time." Sumia answered smoothly. "Truth be told, we were hopeful you'd accept the gift and then offer the challenges. Should we complete the latter to your satisfaction, our words should hold more weight, yes?"

Sigmus glanced over to Calris before folding his arms and humming. "…The gift, while not near enough to break the oath, is enough to at least make me consider your proposal."

He stood and gestured to the court around him. "I will call for you tonight and reveal the challenges over dinner. Until then, you are guests in my castle and under my sworn protection. Make yourselves ready!"

The Ylisseans bowed before a team of servants came forth to guide them away. Once they were out and on their way to their rooms, Sigmus slumped in his throne. "Gods above, they certainly wanted to make an impression."

"Are you seriously going to come up with challenges?" Calris asked, incredulity clear. "Just taking the gift was treason by itself, entertaining further talks-"

Sigmus silenced him with a look. "I'm surprised you didn't leap at the offer. Up close and personal looks at how the leaders of the entire Alliance think? That kind of intel is beyond valuable. And besides…"

He held up the bag of seeds, his usual frown deepening. "They knew that our harvest is reliant on good rains and vulnerable to blight. These people pay attention to the smallest details and use them. Just like Emperor Walhart and Lord Yen'fay."

Calris conceded the point. It was well known that Sigmus and his family put their people first, and that included defense against famine. Even with the Valmese army taking almost two-thirds of the harvest to feed itself, Sigmus ensured the people were fed.

And the Ylisseans had handed him something as close to a guarantee as earthly possible, something Valm simply could not give.

Sigmus kept muttering to himself. "Showing off the seer, the wealth to outfit themselves like that, arriving so soon after decimating my daughter's force. No offense, but those bastards sure look like they could bloody Walhart's nose."

Calris sighed. "I really should be used to how often you spout treasonous words, but it never gets easier."

Sigmus looked to the captain with a smirk. "As I said, take this as an opportunity. You'll be far better suited taking stock of the royals and their guards than whining about me to Lady Pheros again."

Calris bowed and excused himself, Sigmus looking to the ceiling as he was left alone. "Exalt Chrom and Queen Sumia… they know their stuff despite being so young. Hmph, tomorrow's going to be an interesting day, I just know it."

He smirked and settled back.

"And I have just the thing to make them squirm."

-Chrom-

"That went well."

Sumia looked to him with a groan. "I can't believe we had to go the challenge route! For crimeny's sake, I was so sure Nowi showing up would drive the point home! Stubborn man!"

"He's just being careful." Frederick soothed as he gazed out the window. Their current residence was quite spartan, but comfortable enough. A nice dusting would do it wonders, but he was holding himself back.

"I just want out of this dress!" Nowi complained, kicking her legs petulantly. "There's a reason I wear robes or have slits in the legs! Can't move."

Chrom silently sighed at her loss of composure. "We should be grateful the garrison listened to him in the first place. With their positions, we'd have suffered far more casualties than we could afford. And we should thank Gaius when next we see him, that report about the harvest conditions came through."

"Thank me later." Gaius said as he rose out of the corner. "We've got other fish to fry. That report from the survivors is already on its way to Steiger, no stopping it. Beyond that, it looks like that captain had a meeting with some fatso in gaudy robes before any of us got in here."

The room grew somber for a moment before a nasty grin crossed Chrom's lips. "So… we're looking at assassination attempts, right?"

Sumia spotted the grin, a moment passing after Gaius gave confirmation before one of her own rose. "I see… Gaius, we'll have need of the Shadow-Walkers come morning, care to gather them up?"

The other three retreated from the cackling royals, not liking the maniacal gleams in their eyes.

"I think they had an idea." Nowi whispered to Frederick. "Anyone care to guess?"

Frederick could pass for a wall, not an iota of emotion on his face. "I believe they are actually excited for the idea of assassination attempts. Considering Lord Sigmus's declaration of protection, my guess is that they wish for the Valmese to attack us in here."

"On the nose as always, Frederick." Chrom chuckled, nasty grin still in place as he walked to the window the knight had vacated. He looked down at the town and the walls before looking to the others. "Tonight, we will have tasks set before us. Most likely, all will need to be completed by sunset tomorrow."

He jerked a thumb to the window. "Add on to that, we'll most likely have Lady Pheros of Steiger herself coming to take us in before long. So, can anyone tell me the quickest way to convince Lord Sigmus of a breach in his oath before the hammer falls?"

Gaius raised his hand, an exasperated sigh slipping past his lips. "To put it frankly, force the captain and the assassins into a desperate gamble within the castle. It's clear that the Calris guy is a big fan of Pheros, getting hold of us would be huge."

"Aren't we glad we brought Gaius and his regiment with us?" Sumia asked with a gleeful smile. "Heaven, this'd be so much harder if we didn't have them."

As plans for dealing with the attempts and orchestrating the attack in castle swiftly consumed the room, Nowi sat back and glanced around. The room looked normal to her, as did everyone else. She could see the guards standing outside.

Yet…

The halls beyond were shrouded in shadow, the darkness shifting away when the guards turned to look in its direction only to roar back the moment they looked away.

She gulped.

Something bad was sitting over all of this, she just knew it.

The question was: what?

"Nowi?"

Sumia's voice snapped her out of the brooding thoughts and she walked up to the pseudo-huddle. "Yeah, what's up?"

"We have an idea for you." Chrom answered. "The tasks Lord Sigmus is going to hit us with aren't going to be easy. In that time, we need to win over more public support than what our reputation gives, assuming Say'ri's version of events is true here."

Nowi sighed and pinched her nose. "…I gotta be a dragon all day tomorrow, don't I?"

Sumia gave her best reassuring smile. "That's the gist of it, yes. You've got a reputation here, sad as it is to say, and we need you to live up to that reputation. Just remember why we're doing this."

Nowi groaned and nodded. "Fine, I got it. Just know this."

She turned to Frederick, grabbed his collar and yanked him down into a long kiss. When she was done, she released him, her husband a bit dazed.

"I get my Freddy time tonight, and so help me, if I'm interrupted, this castle won't see sunrise."

The room was silent for several moments before Gaius keeled over laughing, the royals soon following. Even Frederick couldn't help a wry smile as the mood lightened considerably.

And for the briefest of moments, the darkness in Nowi's sight receded.

As if… ashamed.

Ch. End

Alright, good place to stop for now! I'm going to be positing the next one soon, it's already off in kiwi's capable hands! Hope you all enjoy this one!

Also, some friends of mine started a discord where we talke Awakening and all kinds of other topics. Here's the spaced out link, so pop on if you like! We're always up to chat.

discord. gg /Pgemj2D

See y'all in the next one!

Ciao!