First of all, wow, fifty chapters is unreal. I knew this'd be a long story, but I never thought it'd get to the point fifty chapters have passed us by!

Severa: Well it is a long… long story.

7: Sev! Haven't heard from you in a bit, how ya been?

Severa: Good more or less, not doing this co-host gig gives me a lot of free time. Went out, had fun, got a massage, that kind of thing.

7: Sounds fun! What about Lucina?

Lucina: I'm doing good too. Everyone appreciated the break, but we're ready to get back to business.

7: Well that's awesome! Let's get everyone in position and get on with it! We have assassin antics to deal with!

*Group cheer*

Haven't done that in a bit, but enough stalling, let's get to the story.

Blades in Shadow

The day passed hashing out plans and ideas, the Ylisseans eventually designating who would be doing what based on broad categories. Nowi would have to be a dragon, that wasn't going to change, but they at least narrowed down what she'd be doing as a dragon.

Gaius left shortly after sunset, preferring to slink through the halls and set up in the dining hall. His men would be watching the royals the entire time, but he was going to take point whenever Sigmus and Calris were in the same room.

Frederica, for all her skill, did not know what the Valmese had up their sleeves. She'd be perfect in her defense of his friends against mundane threats, even the most well-hidden poisons. The shadows, however, held much more that that and ran deeper than she knew.

They ran deeper than most anyone knew.

Gaius used the flicker of the candles in the hall to clamber up the wall, taking position on one of the decorative outcroppings. He crouched on his perch and glanced to either side, several of his men taking up position on the other outcrops.

He looked across and sighed. "Well, tonight's going to be fun."

On the opposite side crouched figures wreathed in shadow, though Gaius could make out tell-tale sashes of crimson peeking out of their waists. They contrasted the deep blue Gaius and his men wore, and it was clear what was going on.

"They work fast." Orlan muttered, the colonel directly to Gaius's right. "Must've been disguised as merchants or farmers, clever in this city."

Gaius grunted, no faces in the Valmese group matching his list. "…They're not part of the Chain, that's for sure. Must be a personal force, Walhart's by the looks of it. Never pegged someone who made his name on martial might to have something like this up his sleeve."

Orlan's dagger shone in a brief flicker of light, a dozen others swiftly drawn by both sides. Gaius held out his hand and all action ceased, the creak of doors signaling the guests arriving. Daggers disappeared and the pleasant chatter of the Ylisseans suffused the air.

"Looks like we'll be playing keep away." Gaius chuckled under his breath as his friends took their seats, Sigmus and Calris arriving bare moments later. Whatever pleasantries were spoken sounded like gibberish to the sentinels perched over them like gargoyles. Servants came forth to deliver the appetizers, the royals playing proper guests as dinner began.

None noticed the exchange overhead, one of the Valmese sending a dart flying for Sumia, only to have it intercepted by a pebble. The assassin traded nods with the Shade that intercepted the poison, both sides watching carefully.

Down below, Sigmus waited until the appetizer was cleared before getting to business. "Now, I've given thought to the challenges you're to take on, quite a lot in fact. Valm has done so much to help us that I could really only pin down two."

Another dart flew, for Chrom this time, but another pebble intercepted it. Gaius knew they were just testing the water right now; the real action was soon to come.

"To put it frankly, someone's stealing shipments and we have a big fight brewing between two of my biggest homesteads." Sigmus laid out, never noticing two daggers flying out and ringing against each other, the clack of plates masking the sound. "Beyond that, I still want to see if Sir Frederick is as the tales make him out."

Chrom drummed his fingers on his chair. "The former challenge is indeed going to be difficult, as will the latter. Frederick I'm sure will gladly demonstrate his abilities, but we'll need more than that."

"It's all you'll get besides a few names." Sigmus countered, the main course coming out now. He'd gone with something nice, an entire roast ham flanked by two succulent chickens. "Calris has a requisitions officer under his command, first noticed a discrepancy in the shipments two months ago."

The captain nodded and gave the name. "Pyke is your man."

The Valmese assassins were a bit bolder and tried to jump to a better position, Gaius meeting them in midair and kicking them back to their perch. With all pretense gone, the two sides leapt forth and engaged in aerial combat, trying to force each other off the prize.

A single decorative dip in the ceiling, the moorings of a chandelier.

All was done as quietly as possible, Shades and assassins punching and kicking at every opening they could find. The only unspoken rule of their silent brawl was no one could send another downward. If the Valmese did so, Sigmus would take it as a sign his oath meant nothing to them, and he'd join the Ylisseans. If the Ylisseans did so, all hope of his aid was lost.

That didn't mean cheap shots were off limits.

Darts and pebbles flew freely, Gaius and his men on the defensive as they fought the silent battle. The Valmese had to make periodic dives into the dark corners of the hall to retrieve their darts, but the royals were not their sole victims.

Once of the Shades took a dart to the arm as Sigmus continued. "The names of the fighters you have to deal with are Jenson and Fulbert. Their families have been fighting over a stretch of land for generations, almost come to arms several times if not for me and mine."

The Shade retreated and yanked the dart out but cursed under their breath as black liquid started running up their arm. Orlan appeared, the Shade held out the arm, and he lopped the limb off above the poison spread. Blood barely had a chance to flow before another Shade appeared and put a tourniquet around the wound.

Gaius sent one of the assassins back and cursed at the sight. The battle was getting heated now, blades joining fisticuffs. Blood splattered upwards, little more than flesh wounds inflicted before the doors to the hall opened again and both sides retreated.

"Anisette." Sigmus greeted, his daughter entering bedecked in the armor of her station. "I really don't need to ask, but why are you in armor? Do you plan to attack my guests?"

Anisette nodded. "I respect your oath, Father, and I will not breach the aegis over dinner. I simply wish to volunteer as a tail for whoever goes to see the dispute resolved."

"Then you'll be following my husband and I." Sumia informed, noting the tensing of Anisette's body. "We don't mind, having you there will dispel any ideas of foul play. In the meantime, Nowi and Frederica can see to the missing shipments. Frederick and the guard we leave here will see to this test of prowess."

One of the Valmese assassins saw their chance and dived for Nowi, not one eye noticing the shadow coming for her. All except Gaius, who'd looked to them the moment Anisette made no move to attack.

The Valmese assassin let out a muffled gasp, Gaius's hand covering their mouth as the Shades' leader dug his blade into their neck. Blood ran but didn't spurt, Gaius kept his blade in their throat while the cloak they wore absorbed the blood. From there, it was easy to land on a vacated perch and hold the assassin until they passed.

With first blood drawn, the Valmese assassins regrouped and considered their options before vanishing. In response, Gaius signaled for a thorough sweep of the hall. They'd need to test the food for any nasty surprises, but for now they'd driven back the first attempts.

Two of his Shades appeared and took the body, Gaius cleaning his blade on the corpse's clothes before leaping to his original perch. Orlan appeared next to him a moment later, voice low enough to only reach his teacher. "No poison in the food or other traps, they were testing us today. More attempts will come, bolder attempts."

Gaius nodded. "Yep, and the lion's share are going to be aimed at Nowi. Chrom and Sumia are too obvious. They'll get the cleverest attempts, but nothing beyond that. Taking out our famed 'Seer' though? Don't even want to think about the morale loss."

"Or our bargaining position." Orlan muttered back, practical as always. "I assume Lady Nowi will be under my watch?"

As Anisette sat down and more pleasant conversation filled the air, Gaius gave his protégé a fierce grin. "Do the royals well, Orlan, I'll handle Nowi. Otherwise, no one's going to save us from Frederick."

Orlan frowned, face still hidden in shadow, but Gaius knew him well. The man was shaking in his boots at the idea of getting on Frederick's bad side, and that was all the motivation he needed to see the royals safe. Really, that's all the motivation most of the army and Shepherds needed.

Gaius had to wonder if Frederick and Emmeryn had conspired to control Ylisse via fear and compassion respectively. Sure seemed like it sometimes.

Regardless, the rest of his Shades lived up to their regiment's name the rest of the night, keeping vigilant watch from the shadows while watching over their charges. At least until drinks were had and they got to watch Sigmus turn into a boisterous drunk.

Who proceeded to embarrass the ever living crap out of his daughter.

"You shoulda seen it!" Sigmus laughed uproariously, already on his fourth cup of wine. "Little girl covered in enough filth to shame a pig! All because she was chasing fairies in the fields!"

All at the table save the subject of the tale laughed alongside him, the atmosphere jovial. Even Anisette couldn't help but feel herself charmed by the Ylisseans, especially when they shared their own stories.

"Reminds me of Natalie's first time visiting a farm." Frederick chuckled after the revelry died down a bit. "She got chased by a very ornery pair of chickens when she wandered into the coop. Cried for hours before we could calm her down."

Nowi sipped at her wine with a wide smile. "She still gets scared at the sight of them. All I need to do is cluck a bit and she falls in line."

Sigmus laughed heartily and reached over to slap his daughter's shoulder, the poor woman gritting her teeth in embarrassment. "That's this one and cows! One bad experience tending to them and to this day she cannot stand them!"

Sumia raised her glass to Anisette. "We have some common ground then. I can't stand cows either, they just annoy me for reasons I simply cannot explain."

"You tried to order the extermination of all cows in the halidom before Cynthia was born." Chrom reminded her with a straight face. "You had a plan drafted and everything."

Sumia shrugged. "And I'd have gotten away with it if Cherche didn't stop me. However, I think we've reached the end of the night… correct?"

Anisette looked over to her father, the lord starting his fifth glass. "…I believe so, yes. Father's not going to be one for coherent conversation shortly, I apologize. He does not partake of drink often, but when he does…"

Chrom waved off the apology. "It's fine, we know what we're here to do now. I assume you won't attempt to interfere in the tasks your father set before us?"

"I will face you on the battlefield, such is my pride." Anisette stated, eyes narrowing at the Exalt. "Though I expect next time that you finish the job. The shame of being taken prisoner will not be cleansed until I defeat you."

Chrom waited for Calris to get the hint and guide Sigmus from the hall before answering. "No offense, Lady Anisette, but that may not happen after tomorrow. From what I've gathered, you command the forces of this region. However, you are very unlikely to see battle with me, as I will be fighting across this continent."

Anisette's glare didn't dissipate. "Then I will defeat your right hand. Be careful in your work tomorrow, there are less honorable interests than mine at work here."

She stood, bowed respectfully, and stormed out of the hall. With their hosts gone, the royals thanked the servants for a wonderful dinner and returned to their rooms. Nowi grabbed Frederick and dragged him to their designated rooms shortly thereafter, no one willing to stop her.

Once they were settled, Gaius rose from the shadows and started giving his report. "Looks like Walhart has a personal hit-squad. Me and mine were duking it out with them while you were having dinner, they're good. Got poison that spreads quick, it reminded me of what almost killed Frederick."

Sumia hissed at that, mist rising from her skin as a thin sheen of ice formed. "That's not good at all. We don't have anyone skilled enough in staves or medical knowledge to treat such poison, and we'll be out amongst the wolves tomorrow!"

Chrom sighed as a familiar coating of metal covered his exposed skin. "…Gaius, do you have anything we can use to cover this up? I trust your men with our lives, but if we can hide the outward signs, you can focus on keeping the guard alive."

Gaius chuckled under his breath. "Guarding the guard, eh? Well, I have disguise specialists in the regiment as you well know. They'll meet you at sunrise to get everything set up."

The royals agreed and Gaius left, several Shades outside waiting for him outside alongside Frederica. "Sir Gaius, your men have a report, it's urgent."

Orlan stepped forward to give it. "That assassin you slew vanished, not even a small blood-stain. Best guess is their buddies cleaned up the scene, but we smelled something foul in the area."

Gaius furrowed his brow, the implication unpleasant. "Risen don't bleed, everyone knows that. Any traces of ash?"

"Too bright and easy to notice." One of the others answered. "Whatever they are, they're clean about their business."

Gaius grunted in agreement and looked to Frederica. "Alright Rica, it's a big day for us tomorrow. I'm putting two of my best friends in your care come morning."

Frederica saluted. "We will put our best foot forward, Sir Gaius! Though… there are days I wonder if the Majesties require a guard in the first place."

"They rely on you more than you know." Gaius chuckled, patting Frederica's shoulder like an old friend. "Believe me, just being there makes them feel a lot better. Besides, for all the authority they're able to show off, they're not… scary."

Frederica scowled at him and Gaius retreated. "It's a compliment, don't give me that look. Orlan, make sure the rotations are set for tonight and get some rest. We have a lot of shit to get done tomorrow."

The spymaster sank into the shadows alongside his Shades, leaving a consternated Frederica staring at the floor.

"…How the hell do they do that?"

-Morning-

A very grumpy Sigmus saw the Ylisseans off at sunrise, his curt words and growls clear signs of a bad hangover. Anisette was once again bedecked in her armor and astride a horse, her purpose clear as she cantered behind the royals and their guard.

Nowi, with her task in the city at large, set off with cane in hand and a guard surrounding her, Gaius and a select few of his Shades keeping an eye on the group from the shadows. Frederick required no such protection within the castle, his own paranoia would see him safe.

Gaius, though, was on edge. The night had passed without issue, but knowing how to kill undetected was his business. It'd kept him up until sunrise just making sure nothing was trying to get in under his nose.

He kicked a support out from under a barrel, the pile falling with great crashes and cracks. Lost in the scuffle, a shining blade stuck out of the wood. Based on trajectory, it would've sunk into Nowi's back.

"Not five minutes into the market and they're already at it." He muttered, idly grabbing an apple from a stand and tossing it up, the dart flying for one of the guards knocked off course into a wall. A moment later, a wagon went rogue and rolled into an alley, a cloaked figure rising out of the straw-filled bed with a curse.

One of Gaius's Shades sidled up to him casually, the crowds of the markets paying them and the minor chaos little mind. "They're blending into the populous very well. Calris spilled where we were going to them, clear as day. An ambush at the garrison is likely."

Gaius flicked a knife out of his sleeve and sent it flying, a hidden assailant slumping against their hiding spot with the knife between their eyes. "Agreed. When you get the chance, tell Nowi to get her information and be ready to ape. All we need are names, once we have those, we can help our friend work her magic."

The Shade nodded and merged back into the crowd, an errant kick tripping up a nonchalant passerby with a knife in their boot. No one noticed the blade piercing their skull and the Shade pushing them into a pile of straw like a common drunk.

Gaius grimaced as he noticed one of his get dropped on by two Valmese, the poor sap never noticing death descend. The others swiftly avenged him, but the closer they got to the garrison, the more they came under attack. It was a small miracle Gaius was able to make a counterattack look like he was helping someone take a seat.

"They have a lot of the bastards." He grunted as he cleaned his blade. "You'd think they'd stop after we got five of them at once, but apparently seeing your mates go down in an argument over bread isn't enough."

That was a brilliant diversion on the Valmese's part. While that brawl did claim the instigator's lives, it allowed one to get close enough for Nowi to notice and send the guard after them. Gaius put that assassin down personally when they thought they'd outrun the guard.

Then Nowi arrived at the garrison proper, a simple building of stone that looked very similar to the Shepherd's garrison back in Ylisstol. Gaius saw flashes of light in the upper balconies and raised his hand.

The Shades on the roof leapt and landed on the unsuspecting assassins, slaying them and removing the bodies in moments. Nowi looked back, traded nods with Gaius, and entered with the guard. A moment later, the clash of steel and crack of wood rang from within.

Gaius dashed for the garrison wall and clambered up, the rest of his Shades following him. Within, they found the assassins raining arrows and darts on the guards, a wall of crystal blocking the attacks. Nowi stood behind it with the guards forming barriers on either side of the wall, protecting her and an older man.

"Take them out but leave some prisoners!" Gaius barked, the Shades charging the assassins with all speed. Several took arrows to various limbs as the assailants turned their attention to them, but Nowi jumped up and briefly transformed to release a roaring ball of fire that turned many to ashes.

While that was happening, the Shades engaged. Blows were exchanged in blurs of fists and steel, death dancing amongst them with the tiniest mistake spelling doom. Thankfully, Gaius was able to slither through the assailants and save more than a few of the Shades with his blade and bow.

The only problem was the assassins kept coming!

"Sweet Naga, how many of these guys are there?!" Gaius snarled as he broke a neck with a sharp twist of his arm. "Someone, give me a report!"

"We're taking severe casualties sir!" One of the Shades answered, two daggers sticking out of a useless arm as they kicked a dagger into a new assailant's eye. "No one's dead yet, but we're taking injuries faster than we can retreat!"

Gaius snarled and slew two in one stroke, opened throats splattering him in blood. "They're getting in somehow and it sure as hell ain't outside! Anyone see anything really fucking strange!?"

A barrage of arrows forced him to retreat behind a pillar, several of his men not so lucky. The rest ducked behind walls as the arrows kept coming, no one was able to look back into the hall.

Another blast of flame alleviated the assault and Gaius got a good look at the situation. Nowi's blast had taken out a dozen of the bastards, but more were streaming out of a room towards the back of the floor.

"Only place it could be." Gaius groaned. "Nowi, blast that room to splinters! It's where all these fuckers in capes are coming from!"

Nowi snarled as part of her wall was collapsed, a punch pulping the attacker that tried to come over and attack her. "You're a fucker in a cape and you know it, Gaius! I'm busy down here, do it yourself!"

"Throw the talisman at it for Naga's sake!" Gaius shouted back, a quick shot of his bow planting an arrow between the eyes of a particularly brave assassin. "That'll get me somewhere at least!"

Nowi ducked a blade, one of the guard impaling the assassin on their lance. Another dove straight for her, but she rolled away, called diamond to her knuckles, and sent a punch into their back, breaking them. "Fine! Get up there and do this!"

She pulled the talisman out of a pocket in her dress and hurled it, the force carrying her into a flying kick that broke another assassin's face. Gaius stared at the feat for a moment in awe before disappearing into shadow.

He rose out of the shade his talisman had landed in, lashing out and slicing several surprised attackers to pieces before they could register the threat. With the way clear, Gaius ran into the room beyond but stopped short and gaped.

There was a circle of arcane symbols drawn into the floor, the room otherwise empty save rancid purple smoke floating from the circle. Bare seconds after he entered, Gaius winced as a flash bloomed in the smoke and a new assassin entered.

"Oho?" The assassin wondered aloud; voice eerily familiar. "How astute of you, figuring out where we were coming from. Quite good for a worm serving a false-god."

Gaius narrowed his eyes and skirted the edge of the room. The voice was clearly feminine, but it was still so familiar. Just warped enough he couldn't quite place it, but familiar nonetheless. He decided to stall. "Honey, I've seen a real god in person, they ain't false."

The woman chuckled, smoke gathering around her hand. "We'll see about that, won't we thief?"

Gaius rolled as lightning lanced forward to skewer him, a strong gust seeking to knock him off his feet a moment later. Gaius kept rolling and came up with knives in hand, throwing them hard. The woman dodged the attack with insulting ease, but had to duck as an arrow sailed past their ear.

"Clever." The woman complimented, Gaius catching a glimpse of red eyes. "But you'll need more than that to beat me."

Gale-force winds leapt from her smoke-ridden palm, Gaius collapsing to the floor as it crashed into the wall. One wrong move and he'd be crushed or fried, but trying to fight this sorceress wasn't his objective. As for how he knew she was a sorceress, well…

That wind had blown her cloak open and he got a peek at the breechcloth.

The sorceress noted and growled at him. "Uncouth boar! I'll have your head before taking out that annoying dragon!"

Lightning and wind gathered in her hands again, but Gaius got on his hands and knees in a half-crouch before leaping.

Right for the circle.

He drove his blade through the arcane symbols, the ruined drawing glowing violently before exploding. Gaius was thrown back and into the wall, breath fleeing him. Smoke filled his vision, and he expected the assassin to send another bolt at him.

Instead, a gloved hand reached out of the smoke and caressed his chin. "Not bad, not bad at all. Focus in the face of imminent danger, I knew you were capable."

"Sweet Lips."

The hand vanished as Gaius tried to grab it. "Come back here! How the hell do you know that?!"

A giggle greeted his ears before the smoke cleared. No one else was in the room with him, only the sizzling remains of the circle. Gaius regained his feet before running out of the room. "Nowi!"

The manakete waved to him from her spot on the ground floor, the Shades gathered around her and licking their wounds. Several laid off to the side, having lost their lives, but the pile of Valmese bodies showed the price they'd reaped.

"What's up, Gaius?" She asked when he leapt down and ran up to her. "None of the guard got badly hurt, but we lost some of your guys. I'm… really sorry, but there was nothing I could do."

Gaius shook his head. "Nothing we can do about it. Look, Nowi, can you find out about the shipments without me? I have a really bad feeling Maribelle's in danger, and I can't shake it until I see her again."

Nowi blinked reflexively, eyes taking in the shifting shadow of Gaius's frame. He really was desperate. "…I actually just finished talking to Mr. Pyke over there when the assassins started firing. He hasn't heard of shipments going missing, cloaked guards with crimson sashes came to pick up orders he'd received from Pheros."

Gaius snarled. "Calris was feeding bad info or getting fed bad info. Did Pyke report to anyone else?"

Nowi shook her head. "Calris is his direct superior. He's about as shocked by the news of missing shipments as we were by Sumia's first pregnancy."

That was a lot of shock. Gaius couldn't focus on that, though, and pointed in the direction of the castle. "Get back to Sigmus and check on Frederick, take the guard and the rest of my Shades with you. Shadow-Walkers, not one hair on their heads is touched or so help me!"

Nowi nodded and Gaius stormed into the darkest shadows he could find. His hand took hold of the talisman in his tunic, the arcane artifact sitting next to his heart. Then, with a clear picture of his wife's smiling face, he sank into the shadows.

And the race was on.

Before Nowi had turned to start giving orders, Gaius was already half-way across Valm. Within the realm of twisting shadows and unnatural sights, a lone beacon of light shined as his guide. His feet pounded against incorporeal paths as he ran, his breath growing ragged the closer he got to the light.

The shadows deepened as he grew close, wispy claws and fangs reaching out. Gaius ducked and dodged around them, the obstacles growing more solid and menacing the brighter the light got. He caught sight of a massive serpent circling the light when he came close enough for it to blind him.

Shadowy eyes caught sight of him, and the serpent lunged for him.

Then he stepped out of the realm and beheld the sunlight, salty sea air greeting his nose. He'd emerged in a room; the windows open to the daylight. A desk full of various herbs and apparatuses he knew all too well sat to his right, a very shocked Maribelle stared at him from the desk's chair.

"What in the nine-hells are you doing here?!" Maribelle shouted once her shock faded. "You should be with Chrom and Sumia, not here! Oh Naga, did something happen?!"

Gaius dashed forward and embraced her hard, Maribelle demanding answers the whole time until she felt him shaking. "…Gaius? Love, you're scaring me, what's wrong?"

"Thank Naga…" Gaius whispered hoarsely, as if he'd screamed for hours. "I… I was so scared, Mari. We were attacked, and… everyone's fine, but… I heard something that… made me think they had you…"

Maribelle slowly returned the hug and hummed, doing her best to soothe him. "…Oh Gaius, I'm sorry I was cross with you when you arrived. I guess I'm still not used to being worried over like this. What… what did you hear to think that something had happened?"

Gaius took several moments of holding her close to calm down, a deep breath his sign he was ready to speak. "…One of the assassins, they called me Sweet Lips. You and I both know that's something we've never shared."

Maribelle's cheeks bloomed red. Indeed, that was her nickname for him in only their most… intimate of moments. It was not something they shared, and he was known as 'Sticky Fingers' to the wider underground world. This didn't sound good.

"I just… needed to make sure you were ok." Gaius eventually sighed, calm at last. "Nothing was coming through on my talisman, and even though the rational part said it was because of distance, I couldn't be sure. That scared me… not being sure."

Maribelle pulled him close and pecked his cheek. "I'm not that weak, Love, but I appreciate it more than I can say. I'm fine, everything's going just fine since you left. Now, you should head back, our friends need you."

Gaius sighed and pulled back, regret clear. "Mari… I was in too much of a panic for the usual careful crossing. Just before I got here, the snake noticed me."

Maribelle's gaze turned into a sour glare. "…Damn. How long until you can go back?"

"He was lunging right at me; it'll be two days." Gaius sighed, shame weighing on his shoulders. "Nowi is safe, same with Frederick. Orlan and Frederica were watching Chrom and Sumia, and my disguise specialists hid their last line of defense."

Maribelle shook her head and returned to her seat. "Then that will have to suffice. May as well get you caught up on what's been happening while you were traveling."

Gaius settled onto the room's bed to listen, silently hoping he'd be able to make up for this flight borne of fear.

-Orlan-

They'd set out for the homesteads that morning with little fanfare. No attacks came their way aside from a sniper hidden in the gatehouse, an issue resolved before any arrows could fly.

The ride into the fields was quiet, Orlan and his band keeping to the tall stalks of green wheat. The guard was on high alert out of sheer necessity, but the paranoia was making them jump at shadows. It wasn't the best look, but Chrom and Sumia were calm and collected as could be.

Orlan himself remained at the margins of the Shades, keeping an eye out for anything trying to approach. It was most efficient to end a threat before it became one but doing that required finding the threat in the first place.

None were to be seen as they arrived at the homestead, a large central house and an even larger barn making up the buildings. Gardens, fences, livestock, and tools covered the rest of the grounds, two distinct groups standing opposite each other and conversing.

Orlan signaled his men and they scattered about the grounds, hiding in different spots and altogether vanishing. The colonel was less than concerned with the royals' words as they dismounted and went to greet the quarrelling families. All he could focus on were the many avenues assailants had to strike at them.

The assassins soon made themselves known, shadows leaping about the grounds to strike at the royals. Daggers, knives, darts, and much more went flying but the Shades and Orlan intercepted and removed the threats as best they could.

Orlan himself slew several assassins as they attempted to fire on the royals from the roof of the barn, the colonel leaping across several bales of hay in order to reach them. The other Shades, despite great effort, still took casualties as the assassins kept coming.

"Why are there so many?" Orlan growled as he slit another assassin's throat. "Walhart can't have that big of a hit-squad, it takes too long to train people like this."

He rolled as a dagger sought to greet his arm, the weapon snatched out of the air and returned to sender in one motion. The royals had moved into the house with the families. With them inside, the battle moved into the barn.

Shades and assassins dueled on the ground and in the loft, tools never meant to kill doing just that. Shears, sickles, scythes, axes, pitchforks, and more tasted blood for the first time. Despite this, more and more Shades were taken out of the fight, no matter how dearly they made the assassins pay for it.

The Valmese just kept coming.

Orlan snarled and ordered a retreat, every Shade fleeing the barn and forming a perimeter around the house. They couldn't mask the fight going on any longer, there were just too many coming for them.

The Valmese charged after them, aiming to get through or over them. The Shades wouldn't let them, arrows of their own picking off the overeager while the more cautious crashed into their thin line. Orlan and his men fought as demons, every dirty trick in their book called forth to hold back the tide of Valmese.

It doesn't make any sense! Orlan roared inwardly, impaling two Valmese in one thrust of his blade. There were nowhere near this many in the castle, let alone the city! They must be coming from somewhere!

A halberd's blade buried itself into his next enemy, the shining silver of the royal guard rolling forth like a tide. The Shades pulled back behind their better armored fellows, immediately clambering up the house's walls to take up sniping positions.

"Let none of the dastards through!" Frederica roared as she entered the fray, her halberd Orlan's savior. "Do not disappoint your Exalt and Queen, defend this place to the last!"

The guard roared and the Valmese crashed into them, only to scatter as lance and shield fended them off. Compared to the Shadow-Walkers, who did best in close-quarters and dirty fights, the Royal Guard were the best soldiers in all Ylisse.

Every attempt at breaking their line was turned aside, not one of the guards falling to anything save a few lucky poison darts. For every one of the Guard that was taken down, a toll of bodies was reaped, their coordinated strikes and covering maneuvers protecting each other and slaughtering their enemies.

Frederica herself was a lion. No shield defended her, but her plume of blue shone brightly amongst the tide of black, halberd shearing assassins apart with unerring precision and strength. All the while she roared the tales of her land, of great heroes and triumphs, that were sewn into her tunic.

Yet the Valmese kept coming, and Orlan swore those he'd already slain were amongst the tide.

For an eternity they fought, doing all they could to stem the tide of attackers until, for no reason, it came to a stop. The Valmese retreated and the blood-soaked guard held their positions, eyes on the assassins with unwavering resolve.

Orlan, from his perch on the roof, nodded. There were several guard dead from the many tides hammering into them, same with his Shades, but the Valmese were strewn in pools of blood and piles of bodies. They'd done well and shown exactly why they'd earned their regimental titles.

One of the assassins stepped up and bowed to the guard. "I speak for all of us here when I say you've won our undying respect, Royal Guard of Ylisse. Same to you, brave Shades. However, I'm sure you can all see that this fight has one lone outcome. Surrender now and your lives will be spared. I assure all of you will be treated comfortably and your leaders will not be harmed."

Frederica took over as spokeswoman. "You can take your offer and shove it! The Royal Guard does not stand down in the face of threats! We will see you dead in defense of our lieges!"

To add to the brave front, Anisette herself stormed from the home. "What in the nine-hells are you lot doing?! I gave explicit orders that none were to touch the royals, they stand under Father's aegis! Doing this will only drive him to the Ylisseans!"

The lead assassin bowed to her. "I apologize, Lady Anisette, but your father's aegis means nothing before our orders. We are to capture or kill the Alliance leaders, no matter the cost."

Anisette looked downright insulted. "I joined you with the express understanding from Lady Pheros herself that my father's word and domain would be left alone and respected! I refuse to sit here and listen to this tripe!"

She drew her blade and leveled it at the assassin. "Begone from here and I'll forgive this breach of your oath!"

The assassin was uncaring. "The oath made to Lady Pheros means nothing before our orders, Lady Anisette. Step aside and lets us continue our work, or you will be considered complicit."

Anisette didn't lower her blade. "Then I am complicit! If Father and I share nothing else, it is the honor you clearly lack! I thought Valm better than this!"

"Lady Anisette, there are many facets of Valm you do not know." The assassin sighed, clearly regretful. "We will do all we can to see it protected, honor be damned. If you stand in the way of that, then I am forced to consider you and your father an enemy."

Anisette nearly gave her answer before the ground in front of the assassins froze solid. The Valmese retreated and Sumia stepped out of the house, veins of ice-blue pulsing on her skin as she silently regarded the scene.

Then she turned to Anisette. "Milady, as you are now an enemy of the Valmese, can we count on your father's support in the battles to come?"

Anisette bit her lip at the sight, but slowly nodded. "…The honor I thought they possessed is no more. Excellus clearly ordered this, and if Walhart and Lady Pheros would allow it, then they are not worthy of my allegiance."

Sumia smiled and turned to face the assassins, Gae-Bolg dripping mist in her grip. "And there you have it. Now, would you all care to die here and now or carry this information to your masters?"

Small spikes rose from the field of ice, Sumia leveled her lance at the lead assassin. "Make your choice or I'll make it for you."

The assassins shuffled and muttered amongst themselves before the lead held up their hand. Silence descended and they regarded Sumia for several seconds. "…We're retreating, no point losing anyone else with news to deliver. Your punishment will come, Lady Anisette, know that."

The assassins dashed away, scattering amongst the fields. Once they were gone, Sumia released a misty breath and the veins retreated. "Orlan, Rica, well done. You both held out against odds that would break most anyone, all while we made fools see reason. You've earned your stations and more this day."

Frederica and the guard saluted, Orlan offered a nod of acknowledgement.

"See to the dead." Sumia ordered, taking in the sight with sad eyes. "Gather ours and bring them to me. I'll see they're preserved for proper burial."

Orlan alighted next to her as the guard and Shades set about their task. "Your Majesty, there were far too many Valmese here for a wet-works mission. I fear that Lady Nowi and Sir Frederick were also attacked."

Sumia nodded, Chrom joining her now that the threat was gone. "Agreed. We've seen to the task, but we must speak to Sigmus immediately. He is now traitor to Valm, whether he likes it or not."

Chrom looked to Anisette, the woman staring at the ground with a bitter gaze. "I can tell you have a story in all this. Care to share as we ride?"

"It's not much of a tale." Anisette muttered, gaze never leaving the bloody mud the battle made. "Father wanted to fight Walhart with all he had, but I knew that doing so would be the end of our family and land. So… I defected to their side and got my Father to surrender. Before yesterday, I hadn't seen him since that surrender… so long ago."

Chrom sighed and pinched his nose. "The eternal dilemma of the ruler, the needs of the people vs. your personal beliefs. Regardless of the past, you are now a traitor alongside him. If ever there was time to bury the hatchet, it's now."

"Trust a guy who never got that chance," he added as he swept past.

Anisette turned her gaze back to him, but Chrom had already left to help sort the lost. Sumia gave her a kind smile instead. "There's still so much he wants to say, all these years later. I, too, lost the chance to make peace with my parents. Don't squander the opportunity that stands before you."

The queen strode off, leaving Anisette to her thoughts. She didn't speak the rest of their time on the homestead and remained silent even on the ride back. The reconciled families thanked Sumia and Chrom and pledged their support.

It wasn't until they returned to the castle and were met with Nowi and Frederick that she snapped out of it, the manakete in the middle of her report. "…and that's all we know. Freddy spotted Captain Calris leaving the city earlier today, so our best guess is he was the liaison to the assassins."

Frederick bowed deeply, ashamed of his inability to act. "I can only apologize, milord, milady. If I'd been there, so many more could have lived."

"Do not blame yourself, Frederick, there was nothing that could be done." Chrom soothed, his old friend straightening. "Those lost did as they wished, defending their home. I know that their sacrifice will not be in vain."

The doors to the great hall opened and Sigmus strode out with guards flanking him, the original crimson replaced with blue. "And I intend to honor that sacrifice. Lady Nowi has already informed me of the false reports and breach of my aegis. I witnessed Sir Frederick attacked by several assailants while he was preparing for his duel."

He gestured to the city and walls before him. "You have my full support, for honor has fled Walhart with these acts. I will not serve someone who resorts to such measures simply to control his realm. The shipments will still go out, so they won't have reason to complain about me."

He curled his hand into a fist. "The moment you call, I will be there to assist you. It will take time to rally my forces from across the lands, but it will be done. Then we will cast that honorless Conqueror from his throne. Only then will my oath and honor be avenged."

The Ylisseans bowed to the lord, thankful beyond measure. Chrom offered their best wishes. "We cannot thank you enough, Lord Sigmus. Whilst I wish we'd have been able to bring you to our side in a peaceful manner, this will have to do. We merely ask for a liaison so that we may communicate with you effectively."

Sigmus hummed in thought before locking eyes with his daughter. "…My daughter will accompany you as my liaison, she knows my moods and preferences quite well. She can bring messages to me such that the Valmese will not know of them."

Anisette gasped and stepped towards him. "Father, wait! I… I need to speak with you."

Sigmus held out a hand, silently asking for patience. When it was granted, he looked to Chrom and Sumia. "I still don't know if you have what it takes to face down the whole of Valm and come out on top, but I'm willing to back you. You've been nothing but honest with me, something I respect. Just know that my people come first."

"And we'll do all we can to see them safe." Chrom promised. "It is our oath that all under our protection are seen to, no matter how little we are able to offer. Just… temper your expectations a bit. Your lands are vast, and we don't have that many soldiers."

Sigmus huffed. "Quality over quantity, I respect that. Regardless, I give my word and oath that I will assist when called upon. Until then, I will keep supplying the Valmese in order to avoid suspicion."

Then he smirked. "Doesn't mean I can't lose a few to 'raiders' no?"

Everyone shared a laugh before Chrom nudged Anisette forward. "Lord Sigmus, we will gladly take your support and Lady Anisette as your liaison. However, it will take us the rest of the day to reorganize and gather the necessary supplies for the trip back. Could you see to Lady Anisette's preparations?"

Sigmus huffed and nodded. "Of course, but you'll need to set out by morning. I'll give you the patrol routes so you can avoid them, alongside a few shortcuts that will see you swiftly across my lands. I look forward to working with you."

Chrom strode up to the lord and traded grips with him. "Same to you, Lord Sigmus."

The guards cheered and banged their shields in a show of support, the Ylisseans glad. As they'd thought, the Valmese had shown how little they cared for the will of the lords under their thumb if it interfered with their objectives. Such a philosophy was bound to bring them plenty of allies.

And they'd need them all to take down Steiger.

-Castle Valm, Several Hours Later-

"Lord Excellus, I've come to report."

A fat toad of a man looked up from his desk, too-large lips parting into a scowl. "What is it, you buffoon? I'm quite busy."

A cloaked figure kneeled before the desk, voice marking them as the sorceress Gaius ran into. "The mission failed; our men were defeated. Lord Sigmus is likely to join the Alliance with his oath breached."

Excellus gawked at her for a moment before smiling. "…Oh, I see. Well, no matter. Just because we didn't claim their heads today doesn't mean there won't be more opportunities. How go our other missions?"

The woman didn't look at him. "They are still ongoing, milord. Would you like us to continue our attempts against the Ylissean royals as they try to return?"

Excellus huffed and waved the suggestion off. "Yen'fay remains in our corner and Lord Walhart remains himself, there is no need. Let them return, even complete failure plays to our advantage."

The sorceress nodded. "…And the supplies?"

Excellus scowled at her again. "They're on their way per our agreement, I've told you this already. Now begone, I have duties to attend to."

The sorceress stood and strode away, red eyes flashing under her hood.

All was moving as her lord willed it, but she silently hoped the other missions would fail. It would be so… boring if the Shepherds fell to this.

All those hours of teaching them manners would mean nothing.

"You thinking on the other missions?"

The sorceress glanced over and smiled, the lead assassin that attacked Chrom and Sumia walking up to her. "Of course, but that's of little issue. All that matters are our lord's designs coming to fruition. Also…"

She glanced around and pulled back her hood, curls of washed-out blonde falling over her face.

"I think I found Brady."

Ch. End.

Alright, that was a fun time don't you think folks? Plenty of action to whet the appetite, and a short interlude next time to see what's going on with the girls and Alliance at large. After that, it'll be time for another set of chapters following another group!

Hope you all enjoyed this trip and those to come!

Now, review responses!

Warrior of six blades: I'll respond to both reviews here. First, I have griffons in a middling role where they're the best aerial combatants of the three flying mounts, but they're not good on the ground like wyverns or fast strikers like pegasi. It was fun coming up with roadblocks for them to get through beyond that too, and Chrom's scene was a good rush of fun XD. I hope you enjoyed our run ins with the Valmese and a hint at what Gaius's real power is!

Suzaku Mizutani: I count myself lucky XD. It is that kind of dilemma, especially since they can only use full power for so long without killing themselves. 12min of godhood is not worth the risks and consequences, so very much last resort.

The Last Kenpachi: Wasn't it? XD I enjoyed writing that a lot.

Kpanda100:I think it makes the story more interesting for sure, glad you like it!

Twilit_Rapier: Um, Nah joined up the Shepherds a while ago, she's back at the port. Just clearing that up.

That's all I got folks, hope you enjoyed these last three chapters and we'll see you next time for the interlude! Sev's gonna get the chance to flex that brain of hers XD

Ciao!