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Chapter 2: In Occupation's Shadow

"We're starting to lose on everyone, we need to find a good place to rest for tonight! We're still a long way from Araphen, and there's not much in between there and Sacae..."

Ryan turned around at everyone looking slightly annoyed. Florina was asleep on her Pegasus. Lyn had a rope tied around the winged horse's neck and was gently pulling him forward. Sain and Kent had argued off and on, but were now too tired and just rode onward silently. Wil was at the rear of the party, humming a ballad quietly to himself.

"Okay, everyone stop here." Ryan called. Florina lifted her head up off of the Pegasus's neck and Wil quit humming. "I think I see a structure on the horizon...Let's see," he glanced around the tired company. "Sain, you and Wil go scout it out. See if it's in decent shape."

Sain trotted forward and Wil followed. "Yes sir! I'll make sure that our rest stop will be of the finest quality for our two lovely ladies!" Sain answered.

"And I'll...do the same." Wil said, rolling his eyes.

Wil jumped up on the green armor clad cavalier's horse. They rode of, slowly at first, then gained speed, until no one could see them.

"Come, we'll follow. Just keep a slow pace in case they return with grim news."

Behind Ryan, the new legion of "mercenaries" began to talk for the first time in a few hours. Kent spoke to Lyn. "Milady, if you're too tired, why don't you ride with me?"

Florina nodded. "Lyn, I'm awake now...You should take a break."

"Thank you, Florina." She smiled at Florina and hopped up on to Kent's horse. She soon fell asleep on his shoulder.

Florina frowned slightly, knowing how uncomfortable she would be if she was Lyn.

Meanwhile, Sain and Wil reached the crumbled fortress. "Eh, Wil, is this okay?"

Wil didn't turn toward Sain; he just kept surveying the ruined fort. "I'm sure this will do, Sain."

"Ah, I think we should find a better spot...Our two beautiful women surely aren't fitted for a place like this!"

Wil rolled his eyes and sighed. "Sain, they'll be fine, just like the rest of us. Look at it this way...If we don't stop here, we're likely not to find another place for the rest of the night. Then your two, er, 'women', wouldn't get any sleep. You don't want that happening do you? This will suffice for tonight's bed!"

The others slowly approached. Lyn was awake now and she hopped off of Kent's horse. "This is fine, you two. Who wants to sleep inside on a night like this? I prefer a place where I can feel the wind blow."

Florina got off of her Pegasus. "As long as I'm with Lyn I'll be fine."

Sain rode toward them. "And for your protection, your man-at-arms Sain will be right here at your side, ladies."

Kent put his hand on his face in disgust. "Sain, we'll both stay awake to keep watch."

Sain was about to speak in protest, then decided against it. "Alas..."

"Florina, come into the fortress with me. We'll look for a clean spot to sleep..."

Florina led her Pegasus into the fort after Lyn. This was the definition of ruins. Every pillar was either knocked over or cracked in half. The walls were broken and cracked as well, and lots of ash was scattered across the ground. Florina had a sad look on her face. There were probably lots of lives lost here, she thought.

A voice inside disrupted her thoughts. "Your pardon, Milady?"

Lyn gripped her sword hilt, and Wil drew an arrow to his bow. Florina backed slowly to her lance in its sheath on her Pegasus. "Who's there?" Lyn called out.

"Sorry if I startled you," a woman in a green, tattered robe appeared from a dark corner. "My name is Natalie. I'm from a village not too far from here. Ah, ow..."

Lyn grimaced as she saw Natalie's leg. It was somewhat deformed and bent slightly the wrong way. "Your leg..."

Natalie sorrowfully looked at her leg. "It's from a childhood sickness...I'm fine."

"Well, Natalie, what are you doing all by yourself?" Lyn asked, easing her grip on her Mani Katti. Wil did the same with his bow.

"I'm looking for my husband...I heard he was in this area. He said he was going to raise enough money to have my leg mended. He left the village and hasn't returned. He's a kindhearted man, but I think he might be involved in something dangerous. I got so worried...Here's a sketch of him. It's a poor likeness at best, but...His name is Dorcas. Do you know of him?"

Lyn studied the picture. "No, I can't say I do...I'm sorry."

Natalie didn't look surprised. "Well, if you see him, tell him Natalie was looking for him."

"I sure will," Lyn said sympathetically.

Men are so much trouble! thought Florina. But Natalie obviously thinks it's worth it...Maybe I've been too wrong all-

"Milady! There are bandits! Outside the fortress!"

Lyn ran toward Kent. "What? More of them?"

Sain rode in as well. "Persistent bastards. We should teach them a lesson! Let's ride out to meet them in battle! What do you say, Ryan?"

Lyn shook her head. "No, Natalie has a bad leg, and can't walk well. We need to protect her in here. The bandits are impatient; they'll tire after long and give up."

Florina talked to Natalie. "Uh, Natalie...Don't worry, we'll protect you..."

Ryan took over from there. "Okay everyone, I've formulated my plan. Kent, Sain," he turned toward the two cavaliers, "block the south entrance. It's the main one. You two should be able to fend off any of those axe-wielding foes. Wil," he looked at the archer, "you go to the western wall. It looked weak, and I think they'll attack there. Fire over it if you can, and try to injure or kill as many of the enemy as you can."

Wil pulled out an arrow and latched it onto the bowstring. "As you command, sir."

"Ryan, allow me to take the eastern door. I can handle any of the bandits that come through."

Ryan approved and Lyn crept in the shadows toward her target. "And now for you, Florina...I want you to go back up Kent and Sain. If one of them gets hurt, rescue them and use a vulnerary."

Florina looked a little scared. "Well...uh...okay..."

She climbed onto the Pegasus and trotted off south. When she got there, she saw Kent and Sain had started battling. Sain had gash in his leg, but he didn't seem to notice while he jabbed and swung his sword at the big brigands. When he was done and had sheathed his sword for the time being, she nervously trotted toward him.

"Uhm...Uh, S-Sain..."

Sain turned around. "Ah! Florina! There's no archers here, so feel free to fight along side us if you wish."

Florina started to stammer. "W-Well...You're, uh...K-Kind of b-bleeding..."

Sain looked down at his leg. "Oh, that...Nothing a vulnerary can't fix!" Sain searched the saddlebag of his horse. "Well...What an inconvience. I don't seem to have one. I'm sure Ryan does...Florina, if you'll kindly take my spot as I go speak to him, it would be much appreciated."

Florina blushed. "Well, uh...I a-actually have o-one if you wanna...You can have it..."

She gave him a small leather pouch. Sain smiled thankfully at her as he rubbed the wet powder across his wound. It seemed like it healed instantly. "Why thank you, Miss Florina! I'll not forget this act of kindness!"

Florina backed up, away from the battle scene. "You...You're welcome..."

Sain looked at stared at her while she stroked her Pegasus. He saw that her purple, shoulder length locks suited her perfectly. This was the first time he'd noticed how truly beautiful she was. Shy, yes. But pretty nonetheless...

"Sain! You fool, watch your back!" Kent's yells brought him back to the inevitable reality. He ducked as a javelin flew past his head and clanged into the wall. "I swear, one day you'll die due to your stupidity!"

"Kent! Enough insults! I'm fine, as you can see!"

Kent didn't reply because he had started to attack one of the brigands. Sain charged back and took out his lance. The sharp tip pierced a brigand's stomach.

The battle continued for another 3 hours. Lyn had found Dorcas, fighting for the brigands. "He's with us now," she told Florina. Dorcas stayed back with Natalie. Wil had knocked everyone out at the western wall and decided to come to where all the action was.

On the fourth hour, the bandits slowly began to retreat. Sain shouted that they'll get it worse next time. Kent didn't want to reply; he was too tired. Florina was now sharpening her lance in a corner, happily deprived of battle. Sain saw a perfect chance to talk to her as Natalie, Dorcas, Lyn, Kent, and Wil chatted.

He approached cautiously. "Uh, Miss Florina?"

Florina lifted her head. Seeing Sain made her blush. "...Y-Yes?"

"I just wanted to...I just wanted to thank you for the vulnerary out on the field. When I get so involved in fighting, sometimes I forget I'm injured."

"I...that is, well...you...your welcome..."

Sain walked back over to the main group. After the talking stopped, Dorcas and Natalie headed home. Dorcas revealed to them that he would be back in the moring. The rest of them slowly headed off to bed, but Sain pulled Lyn to the side.

"Yes? What do you need? If you're trying to flirt with me, forget it. I don't have the patience."

Sain shook his head. "No, no it's nothing like that...Well, it sort of is," he saw Lyn try to move off and quickly added his next few sentences. "You and Florina are best friends, correct? Can you tell me, what will it take to get her over her fear of, well, me?"

Lyn giggled. "Sain, it's not just you. Florina is timid around all guys. She may get over it in time, maybe not. Just try not to use your bad pickup lines to get her to like you. She'll just think you're out to get her and stay further away from you."

Sain was puzzled. "If I can't do that, then what can I do?"

Lyn shook her head. "Be nice to her. Help her out. I don't know what's wrong with her and men, but maybe you can teach her that not all of them should scare her..."

"That sounds like a good idea, Milady. Thank you very much."

Lyn took her hand in his. "Now Sain, will you allow me to go to bed? I've not gotten much sleep at all..."

"Of course. I'll keep watch. Maybe I'll ask Kent what he said to you to..." Sain shut his mouth.

"What? What were you going to say?" Lyn looked at him suspiciously.

Sain started to sweat. "Nothing. Nothing at all, Milady! If you need me, I'll be awake."

As Sain trotted off, Lyn called after him. "Sain...I don't know what you're talking about!"

Lyn walked back into the roofless fortress. Florina was using her Pegasus for a headrest, and Kent and Wil were using Kent's horse for the same purpose.

Florina lifted up her head. "What...What was that noise, Lyn?"

Lyn lay down beside her. "It was nothing. Just go to bed, Florina."

Florina didn't respond. Lyn smiled and fell asleep.

Yay! Ch. 2 done! Review it please!