Fire Emblem
Prelude: Innocence
My troubled sleep was disturbed by a hiccup in the normally serene rocking of the boat. A thin finger of sunlight penetrated the blinds, gently rocking with the motion of the boat.
It was morning. I yawned and sat up, nearly hitting my head on the vacant top bunk. Shakily, I got up and almost fell over. I steadied myself against the wall and clutched my side, where a bandaged wound was. It was only an arrow wound, one for which the enemy archer paid with his life. But a wound was a wound nonetheless.
I shuddered to think about how much blood was soaked into the bandages, but that was something for the nurse to worry about. Limping slightly, but able to walk on my own, I opened the door to the hallway. I limped down the hallway onto the main deck, making slow progress. Finally, I was greeted by the salty sea air and the warm sunlight. Ahh, the wonders of life at sea.
"Hey, Mark! My fellow cripple!"
I smiled and turned around. That was obviously the witty banter of Wil.
"Fellow cripples, don't you mean?"
Another one. There was Lord Hector, one of the most renowned fighters in the land, and nobility to boot.
"Lord Hector!" I exclaimed, turning around and deeply bowing. As soon as I was stopped over, a sudden spasm of pain hit and I ended up on the floor, at Hector's feet.
"There's... no need to bow," Hector grinned, shaking his head. I grabbed Hector's armor and used it as a support while I wrenched myself back up.
"So... they got you too, Lord Hector?" Wil asked, hobbling over. Both of his ankles were taped up as a result of a near miss. If he hadn't jumped back in time, he would've lost both his feet. Instead, he just caught a slash along his ankles.
"Aye, they did. There were eight of them, three with swords..."
"Cut the nonsense," I laughed. Hector was a known... exaggerator.
"Fine. I tripped over a rock while attacking an enemy. Chopped his head off while I was falling, but broke my arm while landing. Happy?"
"Pretty good, pretty good," Wil said, chuckling, "Now I know that you're not invincible, at least."
"Don't count on it," Hector shot back, patting his axe with his uninjured left hand.
I chuckled and shook my head, "Come now, boys, lets get together for some ale, to toast our unbelievable success. Surviving the Dread Isle and not losing a single person. I think we can toast to that!"
"Let's go then, to the crew cabin!"
I paused for a second and looked at Wil, "If you've never had ale before..."
"Have you?"
"No."
Hector chuckled, "Come now, children. Lets go. Maybe you'll get apple juice if you behave."
"But... I don't like apple juice..." I complained. They just laughed.
***
"And then, I saw some rogue sneaking up on my dear Priscilla, and then I charged across half the battlefield to spear the idiot who had the nerve to sneak up on the most beautiful healer in the country..."
Unfortunately, I couldn't get my stomach around the strong ale, so I just switched to water and listened to Sain brag about his exploits. The womanizing cavalier of the group, his stories were told often. Kent, his commanding officer, always tried to put a damper on Sain's... enthusiasm.
"You're the idiot, Sain. You took three arrows in the rear because you turned your back on five archers to make your charge across the battlefield."
"So that's why you can't sit, right?"
Usually soft-spoken, Priscilla cracked the room up with that comment. Sain turned slightly red and excused himself.
"You show him who's boss, Priscilla," Kent snorted, "He won't even listen to a word I say unless it involves women."
"Poor baby... do you need a hug...?"
It was probably the alcohol. Priscilla got up and gave Kent a massive hug. She wasn't much taller standing then Kent was sitting, so she also got the opportunity to give him a peck on the cheek. Kent laughed and stood, sweeping the flame-haired healer into his arms.
I just smiled into my glass of water. Alcohol does strange things to people.
***
With most of our party half-drunk, I decided to pack up my stuff instead, in preparation for my departure.
I ignored the ruckus to my right as I stood and slowly made my way to the door. Wil decided to follow me out, hobbling out almost as fast as me.
"Nice to see you again," he said off-handedly.
"You don't drink?" I asked.
"Nah. Never really got used to the taste..."
"Same... I -"
"Shut up, Mark... someone's coming."
I shut up. Wil poked his head around the turn in the hallway. I looked over his shoulder and saw what he was so excited about. It was Rebecca, chatting with Serra. It was a wonder that the two actually had conversation going. Rebecca was known as a conversationalist, and Serra was a non-stop chatterbox.
"And then, he took off his shirt, and..."
"Oh, but once I tended to this guy, he was soo cute! And he even..."
"And once I kissed a guy, and then he..."
Wil shook his head and withdrew his head.
"Typical..."
"Wanna go?" I asked eagerly.
Wil thought for a second, then hesitantly nodded.
"Hello, ladies," I said, gallantly striding around the corner, trying to make my limp a little more pronounced, trying to make walking look that much more painful. Similarly, Wil hobbled behind me.
"Ooh! Mark! Wil! I totally forgot to check your bandages today!" Serra exclaimed, running forward. Rebecca, semi-amused, followed behind her.
"Its fine, dear Serra. I changed the bandages myself - no need for you to bloody your perfect hands..."
Serra blinked, and nodded, "Right. What about you, Wil?"
"I think mine needs changing... if you don't mind."
"Of course not! Let's go, Wil!"
Serra and Wil walked off to the medical room. I looked at Rebecca, who was staring at the pair as they walked off.
"Jealous?"
Rebecca jumped, almost surprised by my presence. After spending a few seconds calming herself, she smiled coyly and said, "Well... maybe a little..."
"I'm happy for you two. Wil is my best friend on this ship, and he talks about you..."
"So I've heard. I think I'm going to hit on him, so I'll see you around, k?"
I nodded, "Alright. Good luck."
I also watched her as she walked off. Little did I know that starting that day, everything would start to go wrong...
***
"Did they see us?"
Lightning streaked across the night sky, the booming thunder following soon afterwards. Hastily, we pitched the large tent and took shelter.
"No."
"Good."
Someone lit a match, and lit a lantern. The faces of my companions were fraught with worry, and their teeth chattered with the cold.
"At least they can't follow us in this weather," Lyn said optimistically, "I'm sure our tracks will be all washed away."
Sain shook his head, "I can cleave enemy soldiers, but my sword does nothing against Mother Nature..."
"The same goes for the enemy, Sain," Kent said with an amused grin, "You can... stop trying to impress certain people."
"Alright, levity aside," Lyn said, "It seems like we're back to old times... just Mark, you two Cavaliers, and myself."
"Actually, we're paladins now," Sain interjected.
"Fine. Anyways, remind me how we got lost again?"
"Well," I started, "We were fighting, there was fog. We were separated from the others, and then the enemy got reinforcements. They drove a wedge between us and the rest of our group. Then we had to run because of their superior numbers."
Kent smiled, "Right. Now, Sain and I will guard our camp. Please get some rest, milady. We will protect you"
"Thank you, Kent. I will."
Sain scowled and followed Kent back out into the rain.
Lyn waved them goodbye. There was a momentary silence, before Lyn tossed me a spare sword sitting on the floor.
"Alright, Mark. I think it's about time that you learn how to fight."
"But... me? Fight? Why?" I stammered, picking up the heavy sword and holding it, unsteadily, in my right hand.
"You've gotta defend yourself, right?"
"I suppose..." I admitted.
"Well then, prepare yourself!"
Lyn whipped out her sword and slashed horizontally, before I could blink. her sword hovered inches from my waist.
"Come on! You've got to have better reflexes then that!"
"Umm... not really..."
She struck again, this time a shot to my neck. My sword shot up a whole second too late. It clanged against her own sword, which barely grazed my neck.
"Alright... let's keep at this... you'll get it someday."
--
"This. Sucks."
"It's our duty to Lady Lyndis. Shut up and keep watching. They could have nomad trackers on us right now."
"Fine. But this still sucks."
"Shut up, Sain."
--
Finally! My sword rang as it clashed with Lyn's, my first successful parry. I grinned, until she quickly attacked again from the other side.
"Honestly... I give up. I can't beat you at swordplay. I block one and you kill me with your second one."
Actually, I was tired of having so many near-death experiences. It was quite... unnerving.
"Maybe not. But maybe you can take it to a common soldier. Now, prepare yourself!"
She charged at me, and I swung my sword randomly. Lyn dodged to one side and "killed" me again.
"That was... better," Lyn said, "You would've killed a soldier charging at you like that."
"Right, very comforting. But against Lyn..."
She giggled a bit, the sheathed her sword, "Then... you would be screwed."
"Screwed isn't a ladylike word," I said with a smile.
"Alright, how about... a carcass?"
"Nope."
"Dead?"
"Nope."
"F-"
"No... way."
"Vanquished in battle?"
"Perfect!" I laughed, "There is still hope for you!"
She scowled, which actually made her look even more hopeless, "You... kindly shut your mouth, sir."
We looked at each other and immediately burst out laughing.
"You... you really are hopeless!" I managed to blurt out, clutching my sides.
"I said... shut up!"
We both fell over, but I managed to stay on one knee. She collapsed on the floor in a giggling fit.
"Hmm... I think royal ladies also have to remain dignified... that is to say, not be rolling around on the floor, giggling like a little girl?"
Having regained my composure, I walked over and stood over her, mocking her in a friendly way.
"I really don't think real princesses behave this way. You're grounded."
It was kinda cruel, but I grinned anyways. It was also fun, reducing her into a breathless mess.
Ooh, idea. I smiled wickedly and knelt down.
"Are you ticklish?"
Her eyes betrayed her truth. I smiled and finished my cruel streak. Or started it, depending on how you look at it.
***
"Kent... Kent! Over there!"
Sain shielded his eyes from the rain and pointed to distant points of light. Kent came up beside him and also looked.
"Damn... we have pursuers. Nomad trackers," Kent said with bated breath.
"Back to the tent! We must warn my beautress... er, Lady Lyn!"
"No, Sain... they're coming down too fast... we'll get shot in the back if we try. Draw your sword, Sain. Let's protect Lyn... and Mark."
Sain nodded somberly. He drew his sword, the shining blade cleanly rasping against its scabbard. Similarly, Kent also drew his sword.
"Into the jaws of death," Sain said, putting on his helmet.
"Into the mouth of hell..."
The two companions nodded at each other, and mounted their horses. Two versus six.
***
Lyn shakily regained her footing, and shook her head a bit, "You... are the silliest tactician I have ever met. I guess I'm lucky to know you."
Well, not what I was expecting. I stammered, "Umm... well... thank you, milady..."
She smiled a bit, "That being said... defend yourself!"
--
"Defend yourself! Shields up!"
The two paladins charged at full speed towards the enemy. Even through the darkness, they could see the Sacaen brutes riding the wild horses, wielding their mighty longbows.
"Here we go..."
Almost simultaneously, the enemies drew their bowstrings. The six riders split into two columns, flanking the paladins.
Kent let out a mighty war cry, and charged all the faster. Sain urged his mount to keep up. He reeled as the first arrow hit his shield, the impact numbing his arm. He raised his sword arm and struck the rider as he flew by. Headless, the rider fell to the ground, the mount galloping off into the distance. Sain braced himself for the second arrow impact...
--
I braced myself. Lyn let loose a flurry of strikes. Of those strikes, I blocked about half. The other half all came within an inch of killing me.
Then, she struck my sword with such force it flew across the room. Disarmed, and thoroughly scared, I feebly raised my arms.
Lyn, satisfied, sheathed her sword. A small smile was on her face.
"Don't... tickle me again. Or next time you die."
"Right."
--
No, something was wrong. The second impact never came. The four surviving riders swerved outwards, and drew behind the paladins.
"Uh oh..."
Sain and Kent swerved to the left, but the riders still followed. Sain felt an immediate sharp pain in his lower back, followed by two more. Damn. The cowards planned to shoot him from behind.
"Kent! We've gotta..."
"I know... split... now!"
Kent and Sain split off in different directions, their respective pursuers behind them. Looping around, they passed each other, and another two enemies lost their heads.
"Two to go!"
"Again, Sain! Now!"
Sain swerved right, and made a beeline for Kent's position. He spurred his horse forward...
... but it slowed instead. A few seconds later, the beast fell dead, throwing Sain forward with considerable velocity. In his heavy armor, he crashed forward, doing several backflips in the process. As he struggled to stand again, his pursuer drew his sword and bore down on his companion. Two on one.
"Kent... forgive me... you can beat them..."
--
"Forgive me, milady. I don't know what came over me."
"You are forgiven, Mark. But the next time you decide to pull that off, you had better be able to beat me at dueling. That is to say, never."
"You are too kind, milady. Pray tell..."
"And... Don't set me off again. Or you'll regret it."
"Forgive me, Lyn."
"You are forgiven... Mark."
--
"Forgive me... Kent..."
Sain collapsed. At least one of his ankles was broken, maybe both. In any case, he was stuck where he was.
Kent spurred his horse onward, raising his sword hand. With a mighty cry, he cleaved downwards. His sword met the enemy's, and sparks flew.
He kicked out with his foot, and managed to graze the shin of the enemy rider. His fine balance upset, he teetered, and fell face first to the ground.
Kent felt another arrow pierce the relatively thin armor of his right upper arm. A sharp, burning pain told him that he was hurt pretty bad. Kent looked behind him - there the enemy rider was, far closer then Kent thought. Almost instinctively, Kent whipped out his left arm's shield and tossed it behind him. The thick shield hit the rider square in the chest, cutting him in two.
Without another glance, and ignoring his pain, he rode towards his comrade. There he was, lying against the carcass of his horse.
"Kent..."
"Sain! Are you -"
"Kent! Your arm! What -"
Kent flexed his arm. It hurt like hell, but it also felt heavy... and unresponsive...
He dared his first look at the wound.
It was no arrow that struck him. It was a sword. It had sliced clean through his armor.
"Kent... your arm... it's... gone..."
***
"Oh... my god."
It had been nearly three hours after the battle that we found them. The plains were stained red with blood, so much blood that even the previous night's rain was not enough to wash it away.
Kent was already blacked out from the shock and pain. Sain was a wreck, both from a broken ankle and wrist, and from seeing his friend so maimed.
"Damn... why... why them?"
Lyn looked at Sain, then at Kent, then at me.
"Why? I should've been there too... I... oh, god... Sain... Kent..."
She collapsed, sobbing. I knelt and caught her, trying to keep her from ending up in the mud.
"Listen... what they've done was for you, Lyn..."
"I..."
"Lets try or best to fix them up, alright?"
"Al-alright..."
Lyn grabbed a vulnerary and headed to the unconscious Kent. She could do nothing to save his limb, but at least she could stop the bleeding.
"Sain... where did they get you?" I asked.
"Kent... oh, Kent... I'm... I'm sorry, Kent..."
***
Lyn looked up. There was something coming.
"We have company," she said warily. She clutched her sword in one hand and suspiciously eyed the newcomers.
At first glance, they looked like soldiers. But they weren't.
"Rebecca... Serra... Erk..." I muttered, one by one, as they came into view. Erk was also carrying something... someone...
Lyn ran across the plains, her first aid on Kent completed. I ran after her, leaving Sain to blabber about how he had failed..
Lyn said nothing. She just looked down.
I looked at them, Serra, Erk, Rebecca...
Serra's staff was broken, her robe torn and tattered. She bore a great scare over her temple.
Erk's robes were singed and scorched in several places. His hands were blackened, and his lip bled in multiple places.
Rebecca bore no scars, save one. Her voice.
"I'm... glad. He wanted to see you... one last time..."
It was Rebecca's voice, but it sounded nothing like her. I looked down; down at what Erk had placed on the ground before me.
"Wil... no... not Wil..."
I collapsed on my knees, taking one of Wil's hands in my own. The warmth of life had almost left him.
"Mark... so happy to see you... take... take care of... of..."
His strength ebbed, and then he was gone.
"Oh god... Wil... don't die... please..."
I clutched his lifeless hand to my forehead. He was... gone.
Prelude: Innocence
My troubled sleep was disturbed by a hiccup in the normally serene rocking of the boat. A thin finger of sunlight penetrated the blinds, gently rocking with the motion of the boat.
It was morning. I yawned and sat up, nearly hitting my head on the vacant top bunk. Shakily, I got up and almost fell over. I steadied myself against the wall and clutched my side, where a bandaged wound was. It was only an arrow wound, one for which the enemy archer paid with his life. But a wound was a wound nonetheless.
I shuddered to think about how much blood was soaked into the bandages, but that was something for the nurse to worry about. Limping slightly, but able to walk on my own, I opened the door to the hallway. I limped down the hallway onto the main deck, making slow progress. Finally, I was greeted by the salty sea air and the warm sunlight. Ahh, the wonders of life at sea.
"Hey, Mark! My fellow cripple!"
I smiled and turned around. That was obviously the witty banter of Wil.
"Fellow cripples, don't you mean?"
Another one. There was Lord Hector, one of the most renowned fighters in the land, and nobility to boot.
"Lord Hector!" I exclaimed, turning around and deeply bowing. As soon as I was stopped over, a sudden spasm of pain hit and I ended up on the floor, at Hector's feet.
"There's... no need to bow," Hector grinned, shaking his head. I grabbed Hector's armor and used it as a support while I wrenched myself back up.
"So... they got you too, Lord Hector?" Wil asked, hobbling over. Both of his ankles were taped up as a result of a near miss. If he hadn't jumped back in time, he would've lost both his feet. Instead, he just caught a slash along his ankles.
"Aye, they did. There were eight of them, three with swords..."
"Cut the nonsense," I laughed. Hector was a known... exaggerator.
"Fine. I tripped over a rock while attacking an enemy. Chopped his head off while I was falling, but broke my arm while landing. Happy?"
"Pretty good, pretty good," Wil said, chuckling, "Now I know that you're not invincible, at least."
"Don't count on it," Hector shot back, patting his axe with his uninjured left hand.
I chuckled and shook my head, "Come now, boys, lets get together for some ale, to toast our unbelievable success. Surviving the Dread Isle and not losing a single person. I think we can toast to that!"
"Let's go then, to the crew cabin!"
I paused for a second and looked at Wil, "If you've never had ale before..."
"Have you?"
"No."
Hector chuckled, "Come now, children. Lets go. Maybe you'll get apple juice if you behave."
"But... I don't like apple juice..." I complained. They just laughed.
***
"And then, I saw some rogue sneaking up on my dear Priscilla, and then I charged across half the battlefield to spear the idiot who had the nerve to sneak up on the most beautiful healer in the country..."
Unfortunately, I couldn't get my stomach around the strong ale, so I just switched to water and listened to Sain brag about his exploits. The womanizing cavalier of the group, his stories were told often. Kent, his commanding officer, always tried to put a damper on Sain's... enthusiasm.
"You're the idiot, Sain. You took three arrows in the rear because you turned your back on five archers to make your charge across the battlefield."
"So that's why you can't sit, right?"
Usually soft-spoken, Priscilla cracked the room up with that comment. Sain turned slightly red and excused himself.
"You show him who's boss, Priscilla," Kent snorted, "He won't even listen to a word I say unless it involves women."
"Poor baby... do you need a hug...?"
It was probably the alcohol. Priscilla got up and gave Kent a massive hug. She wasn't much taller standing then Kent was sitting, so she also got the opportunity to give him a peck on the cheek. Kent laughed and stood, sweeping the flame-haired healer into his arms.
I just smiled into my glass of water. Alcohol does strange things to people.
***
With most of our party half-drunk, I decided to pack up my stuff instead, in preparation for my departure.
I ignored the ruckus to my right as I stood and slowly made my way to the door. Wil decided to follow me out, hobbling out almost as fast as me.
"Nice to see you again," he said off-handedly.
"You don't drink?" I asked.
"Nah. Never really got used to the taste..."
"Same... I -"
"Shut up, Mark... someone's coming."
I shut up. Wil poked his head around the turn in the hallway. I looked over his shoulder and saw what he was so excited about. It was Rebecca, chatting with Serra. It was a wonder that the two actually had conversation going. Rebecca was known as a conversationalist, and Serra was a non-stop chatterbox.
"And then, he took off his shirt, and..."
"Oh, but once I tended to this guy, he was soo cute! And he even..."
"And once I kissed a guy, and then he..."
Wil shook his head and withdrew his head.
"Typical..."
"Wanna go?" I asked eagerly.
Wil thought for a second, then hesitantly nodded.
"Hello, ladies," I said, gallantly striding around the corner, trying to make my limp a little more pronounced, trying to make walking look that much more painful. Similarly, Wil hobbled behind me.
"Ooh! Mark! Wil! I totally forgot to check your bandages today!" Serra exclaimed, running forward. Rebecca, semi-amused, followed behind her.
"Its fine, dear Serra. I changed the bandages myself - no need for you to bloody your perfect hands..."
Serra blinked, and nodded, "Right. What about you, Wil?"
"I think mine needs changing... if you don't mind."
"Of course not! Let's go, Wil!"
Serra and Wil walked off to the medical room. I looked at Rebecca, who was staring at the pair as they walked off.
"Jealous?"
Rebecca jumped, almost surprised by my presence. After spending a few seconds calming herself, she smiled coyly and said, "Well... maybe a little..."
"I'm happy for you two. Wil is my best friend on this ship, and he talks about you..."
"So I've heard. I think I'm going to hit on him, so I'll see you around, k?"
I nodded, "Alright. Good luck."
I also watched her as she walked off. Little did I know that starting that day, everything would start to go wrong...
***
"Did they see us?"
Lightning streaked across the night sky, the booming thunder following soon afterwards. Hastily, we pitched the large tent and took shelter.
"No."
"Good."
Someone lit a match, and lit a lantern. The faces of my companions were fraught with worry, and their teeth chattered with the cold.
"At least they can't follow us in this weather," Lyn said optimistically, "I'm sure our tracks will be all washed away."
Sain shook his head, "I can cleave enemy soldiers, but my sword does nothing against Mother Nature..."
"The same goes for the enemy, Sain," Kent said with an amused grin, "You can... stop trying to impress certain people."
"Alright, levity aside," Lyn said, "It seems like we're back to old times... just Mark, you two Cavaliers, and myself."
"Actually, we're paladins now," Sain interjected.
"Fine. Anyways, remind me how we got lost again?"
"Well," I started, "We were fighting, there was fog. We were separated from the others, and then the enemy got reinforcements. They drove a wedge between us and the rest of our group. Then we had to run because of their superior numbers."
Kent smiled, "Right. Now, Sain and I will guard our camp. Please get some rest, milady. We will protect you"
"Thank you, Kent. I will."
Sain scowled and followed Kent back out into the rain.
Lyn waved them goodbye. There was a momentary silence, before Lyn tossed me a spare sword sitting on the floor.
"Alright, Mark. I think it's about time that you learn how to fight."
"But... me? Fight? Why?" I stammered, picking up the heavy sword and holding it, unsteadily, in my right hand.
"You've gotta defend yourself, right?"
"I suppose..." I admitted.
"Well then, prepare yourself!"
Lyn whipped out her sword and slashed horizontally, before I could blink. her sword hovered inches from my waist.
"Come on! You've got to have better reflexes then that!"
"Umm... not really..."
She struck again, this time a shot to my neck. My sword shot up a whole second too late. It clanged against her own sword, which barely grazed my neck.
"Alright... let's keep at this... you'll get it someday."
--
"This. Sucks."
"It's our duty to Lady Lyndis. Shut up and keep watching. They could have nomad trackers on us right now."
"Fine. But this still sucks."
"Shut up, Sain."
--
Finally! My sword rang as it clashed with Lyn's, my first successful parry. I grinned, until she quickly attacked again from the other side.
"Honestly... I give up. I can't beat you at swordplay. I block one and you kill me with your second one."
Actually, I was tired of having so many near-death experiences. It was quite... unnerving.
"Maybe not. But maybe you can take it to a common soldier. Now, prepare yourself!"
She charged at me, and I swung my sword randomly. Lyn dodged to one side and "killed" me again.
"That was... better," Lyn said, "You would've killed a soldier charging at you like that."
"Right, very comforting. But against Lyn..."
She giggled a bit, the sheathed her sword, "Then... you would be screwed."
"Screwed isn't a ladylike word," I said with a smile.
"Alright, how about... a carcass?"
"Nope."
"Dead?"
"Nope."
"F-"
"No... way."
"Vanquished in battle?"
"Perfect!" I laughed, "There is still hope for you!"
She scowled, which actually made her look even more hopeless, "You... kindly shut your mouth, sir."
We looked at each other and immediately burst out laughing.
"You... you really are hopeless!" I managed to blurt out, clutching my sides.
"I said... shut up!"
We both fell over, but I managed to stay on one knee. She collapsed on the floor in a giggling fit.
"Hmm... I think royal ladies also have to remain dignified... that is to say, not be rolling around on the floor, giggling like a little girl?"
Having regained my composure, I walked over and stood over her, mocking her in a friendly way.
"I really don't think real princesses behave this way. You're grounded."
It was kinda cruel, but I grinned anyways. It was also fun, reducing her into a breathless mess.
Ooh, idea. I smiled wickedly and knelt down.
"Are you ticklish?"
Her eyes betrayed her truth. I smiled and finished my cruel streak. Or started it, depending on how you look at it.
***
"Kent... Kent! Over there!"
Sain shielded his eyes from the rain and pointed to distant points of light. Kent came up beside him and also looked.
"Damn... we have pursuers. Nomad trackers," Kent said with bated breath.
"Back to the tent! We must warn my beautress... er, Lady Lyn!"
"No, Sain... they're coming down too fast... we'll get shot in the back if we try. Draw your sword, Sain. Let's protect Lyn... and Mark."
Sain nodded somberly. He drew his sword, the shining blade cleanly rasping against its scabbard. Similarly, Kent also drew his sword.
"Into the jaws of death," Sain said, putting on his helmet.
"Into the mouth of hell..."
The two companions nodded at each other, and mounted their horses. Two versus six.
***
Lyn shakily regained her footing, and shook her head a bit, "You... are the silliest tactician I have ever met. I guess I'm lucky to know you."
Well, not what I was expecting. I stammered, "Umm... well... thank you, milady..."
She smiled a bit, "That being said... defend yourself!"
--
"Defend yourself! Shields up!"
The two paladins charged at full speed towards the enemy. Even through the darkness, they could see the Sacaen brutes riding the wild horses, wielding their mighty longbows.
"Here we go..."
Almost simultaneously, the enemies drew their bowstrings. The six riders split into two columns, flanking the paladins.
Kent let out a mighty war cry, and charged all the faster. Sain urged his mount to keep up. He reeled as the first arrow hit his shield, the impact numbing his arm. He raised his sword arm and struck the rider as he flew by. Headless, the rider fell to the ground, the mount galloping off into the distance. Sain braced himself for the second arrow impact...
--
I braced myself. Lyn let loose a flurry of strikes. Of those strikes, I blocked about half. The other half all came within an inch of killing me.
Then, she struck my sword with such force it flew across the room. Disarmed, and thoroughly scared, I feebly raised my arms.
Lyn, satisfied, sheathed her sword. A small smile was on her face.
"Don't... tickle me again. Or next time you die."
"Right."
--
No, something was wrong. The second impact never came. The four surviving riders swerved outwards, and drew behind the paladins.
"Uh oh..."
Sain and Kent swerved to the left, but the riders still followed. Sain felt an immediate sharp pain in his lower back, followed by two more. Damn. The cowards planned to shoot him from behind.
"Kent! We've gotta..."
"I know... split... now!"
Kent and Sain split off in different directions, their respective pursuers behind them. Looping around, they passed each other, and another two enemies lost their heads.
"Two to go!"
"Again, Sain! Now!"
Sain swerved right, and made a beeline for Kent's position. He spurred his horse forward...
... but it slowed instead. A few seconds later, the beast fell dead, throwing Sain forward with considerable velocity. In his heavy armor, he crashed forward, doing several backflips in the process. As he struggled to stand again, his pursuer drew his sword and bore down on his companion. Two on one.
"Kent... forgive me... you can beat them..."
--
"Forgive me, milady. I don't know what came over me."
"You are forgiven, Mark. But the next time you decide to pull that off, you had better be able to beat me at dueling. That is to say, never."
"You are too kind, milady. Pray tell..."
"And... Don't set me off again. Or you'll regret it."
"Forgive me, Lyn."
"You are forgiven... Mark."
--
"Forgive me... Kent..."
Sain collapsed. At least one of his ankles was broken, maybe both. In any case, he was stuck where he was.
Kent spurred his horse onward, raising his sword hand. With a mighty cry, he cleaved downwards. His sword met the enemy's, and sparks flew.
He kicked out with his foot, and managed to graze the shin of the enemy rider. His fine balance upset, he teetered, and fell face first to the ground.
Kent felt another arrow pierce the relatively thin armor of his right upper arm. A sharp, burning pain told him that he was hurt pretty bad. Kent looked behind him - there the enemy rider was, far closer then Kent thought. Almost instinctively, Kent whipped out his left arm's shield and tossed it behind him. The thick shield hit the rider square in the chest, cutting him in two.
Without another glance, and ignoring his pain, he rode towards his comrade. There he was, lying against the carcass of his horse.
"Kent..."
"Sain! Are you -"
"Kent! Your arm! What -"
Kent flexed his arm. It hurt like hell, but it also felt heavy... and unresponsive...
He dared his first look at the wound.
It was no arrow that struck him. It was a sword. It had sliced clean through his armor.
"Kent... your arm... it's... gone..."
***
"Oh... my god."
It had been nearly three hours after the battle that we found them. The plains were stained red with blood, so much blood that even the previous night's rain was not enough to wash it away.
Kent was already blacked out from the shock and pain. Sain was a wreck, both from a broken ankle and wrist, and from seeing his friend so maimed.
"Damn... why... why them?"
Lyn looked at Sain, then at Kent, then at me.
"Why? I should've been there too... I... oh, god... Sain... Kent..."
She collapsed, sobbing. I knelt and caught her, trying to keep her from ending up in the mud.
"Listen... what they've done was for you, Lyn..."
"I..."
"Lets try or best to fix them up, alright?"
"Al-alright..."
Lyn grabbed a vulnerary and headed to the unconscious Kent. She could do nothing to save his limb, but at least she could stop the bleeding.
"Sain... where did they get you?" I asked.
"Kent... oh, Kent... I'm... I'm sorry, Kent..."
***
Lyn looked up. There was something coming.
"We have company," she said warily. She clutched her sword in one hand and suspiciously eyed the newcomers.
At first glance, they looked like soldiers. But they weren't.
"Rebecca... Serra... Erk..." I muttered, one by one, as they came into view. Erk was also carrying something... someone...
Lyn ran across the plains, her first aid on Kent completed. I ran after her, leaving Sain to blabber about how he had failed..
Lyn said nothing. She just looked down.
I looked at them, Serra, Erk, Rebecca...
Serra's staff was broken, her robe torn and tattered. She bore a great scare over her temple.
Erk's robes were singed and scorched in several places. His hands were blackened, and his lip bled in multiple places.
Rebecca bore no scars, save one. Her voice.
"I'm... glad. He wanted to see you... one last time..."
It was Rebecca's voice, but it sounded nothing like her. I looked down; down at what Erk had placed on the ground before me.
"Wil... no... not Wil..."
I collapsed on my knees, taking one of Wil's hands in my own. The warmth of life had almost left him.
"Mark... so happy to see you... take... take care of... of..."
His strength ebbed, and then he was gone.
"Oh god... Wil... don't die... please..."
I clutched his lifeless hand to my forehead. He was... gone.