Author's Note: Since I have taken a two day weekend from working on the fic, chances are that I haven't had a chance to see any reviews on the last two chapters. hehe. This is also my largest (if not longest) series now! I hope you guys like this chapter as much as I did writing it.
2 nights after arriving at the hall ---
A flash of light appeared as the tactician stood in a place that was completely black. Time itself seemed to have no meaning as he stood there. The man's eyes opened, and suddenly the surrounding area came to his head. It was as if he was in the air, looking down upon an area that one could see anyone from his vantage point. In the air, an ominous cloud. The tactician looked down as if from up high, higher than any pegasus or wyvern could fly. The people below looked as if they were nothing more than simple dolls or toys. Others became apparent quickly, slightly larger than the others. Pegasus Knights, Wyvern Riders were the largest. A Paladin and Wyvern General as well, and a Myrmidon.
Then, others appeared. A General. Many Cavaliers, a Shaman, and more than a few brigands and archers. A trio of mages as well. The tactician had never seen so many opponents in one area at a single time. Then he spotted a Sage and a Bishop close to the others that he had noticed before the rest. Spells were cast, and both thunder and lightning came down upon the Wyvern Rider and the Myrmidon. Shrieks erupted from both and then they fell, not rising afterwards. The tactician had been unable to do anything but watch, to watch as those who were outnumbered were taken down in simple attacks. Archers advanced, targetting the winged ones- the Pegasus Knight fell first, and then the Wyvern General was down as well. The riders cried out as their mounts toppled to the ground, and the cries were killed as they themselves fell from their saddles and no longer moved.
The Paladin withstood many attacks. Magic, Spears, Swords, Lances, and Arrows. But the Shaman had a book of Luna, and the Paladin fell, his horse consumed by darkness and his very being struck to the core by the onslaught. Arrows in shoulders, legs, and chest. Cuts along his armored region. Deep cuts where jagged punctures in the armor stuck inside the man. But in the end, the General won. The voices came to the tactician, who had watched this in horror.
"You failed..." they said in unison, all voices of those who had fallen in battle. The words resounded in his mind, lightning flashing all about him. Then, he found himself on the ground, in a grassy area. The place stunk of blood and battle, the stench of death all about him. From all sides he found himself surrounded- not by trees, but by people. Brigands and cavaliers boxed him in. Behind them, the Sage and Bishop, as well as the archers. Standing taller than all, the tactician's gaze found the General, who was laughing.
"You have failed! You could not save your friends, the ones who fought for you. What makes you believe you can save yourself without their help?" the General called out, and his minions laughed. The shaman stood beside the General and smiled knowingly before vanishing. The General raised both spear and axe, and from nowhere, a whistling sound could be heard. The tactician turned just in time to realize what was coming, and then found himself struck, pain erupting from his chest where a bolt had lanced straight through him. Then his eyes closed, with the sound of laughter from more than a dozen others echoing through his mind.
---
A startled cry startled the small company awake. Bolting into a sitting position, the tactician then collapsed into his bedroll again. His mind raced- a nightmare, he knew, but as two came close to him whom he could not see, but could hear, a scream erupted. His eyes had attempted to open, to see what the scream was about, when he felt his body just give it up. The scream ended abruptly and then there was the sound of some sort of sound, like that of someone falling onto the floor. Breathing, he realized, was more difficult than he could remember. Then there was a searing pain that he felt as something was pulled from his chest, cold air rushing to fill the void that was now filling with blood.
Loedan shuddered as he lay there, breathing in short, sharp gasps. He realized now that he had been attacked by someone, for some reason. But logical thought escaped him as he felt himself slip, thought processes stopped, and voluntary movement failed. Words he attempted to say found no way past his throat, and a hacking cough developed, causing him to curl into a fetal position on the bedroll. Hands he felt beside him, on his body, as whoever it was attempted to do something to him. But then, darkness took over his mind, and nothing remained as he lost all thought.
---
Mahri had been awake the whole time, having taken over watch of the door in place of the Wyvern General. Her mind had been filled with concern for her grandfather, who had been ill since the day before. They were so close to their home, she thought, and she smiled softly. To think that she could take walks with her grandfather now, in the land that both were born in. To be with one of the heroes of the battles with Nergal, to talk to him and share with him her own hopes and dreams, and to hear what his were as well.
Her thoughts drifted to the tactician now as well. He had been very concerned about her grandfather, this young man from another country. She had listened to this boy from Ilia as he told them all about where he and Kiri had come from and what had happened since they had left there. His reading of the battles before Nergal, just last night, of her grandfather and the Lady Lyndis. He had the log of the Tactician with him, and read of his beginning battles. It was an unfortunate thing when she was snapped out of her reverie by a sharp cry of pain, her head snapped towards the sound of the very person she had been thinking of.
What was it? She took off running, iron lance in hand as she found herself soon in the room with the young man. Something stuck in his chest, she saw, and then there was a small sound. A slip of foot upon floor, she realized, and then she turned in time to see someone there. With the lance she struck at the dark figure, knowing that none others were yet up to be in the room with the two. A grunt came from her target as the tip of her lance embedded itself into the person's chest, and then a knife fell to the floor. A shriek came from the doorway and Mahri allowed a glance to the person. It was young Rook, and she darted over to Loedan. She pulled the knife from her friend's chest, and Mahri's heart softened, her serious facade weakening and then crushed completely as she saw the young man curl up into a ball. The smell of blood was already in the air. What had made this assassin attack the man?
"By Elimine..." she whispered to herself, and her hands flew to her pouch even as she quickly moved over to the two. Rook was kneeling beside Loedan, trying to get him to move onto his back. Blood seeped from the wound that had been inflicted, and as Mahri knelt beside him as well, she had pulled out a Vulnerary from her satchel. Sounds of feet running came to the rider, and she quickly poured the vial's contents onto the deep wound. The magic contained within it began its work, but then the tactician shuddered and curled tighter into a ball. Rook turned towards the sound of those who were coming, and Heath was the first to show himself. He took one look at the situation and cursed aloud before calling for Hyperion.
Mahri sat still, watching the young man, and so she was unprepared when she was attacked. Rook, however, was, and with her blade drawn she launched herself at the attacker. The assassin fell to a combination of slashes from Rook's swordplay before he could even swing his knives again. Mahri could tell that something needed to be done, but it would have to wait until these assassins were dealt with. A deep cry from the adjoining room bside this one was heard, and Mahri paled. That was her grandfather!
---
Kent had awoken to find four black robed people surrounding him. They said something to one another, and then one of the black robed people pulled back the hood that covered his face. The resemblance of the man to someone he had once met was not lost on the Paladin, whose eyes went wide in surprise and he grasped for his sword, drawing it from his sheath. He was never without his blade, not even while asleep. The man who had appeared simply grinned and took up a fencer's stance. The Paladin was without his armor, and as he swept himself onto his feet, the other three attacked. All three had lances, but Kent's trained reflexes took over.
His blade flashed out and batted the first's lance away before driving his blade into the man's stomach. Then the old man turned in time to narrowly escape a lance thrust to his side, only to find himself impaled on the third. Kent's blade shot out and found the second soldier's throat, even as he cried out in pain, collapsing against the side of the cot he had been resting upon during the night. The man that had not attacked did not do anything but chuckle, even as the door between Loedan's and Kent's room was opened. From it came the wyvern rider and the plains girl. Both took stock of the situation, and then sprung into action.
Rook pulled out her blade and immediately went after the man without a hood on. Her blade lashed out in a swift arc that was actually dodged, and then Rook found herself barely avoiding a return attack from a blade as well. Mahri's lance found purchase deep within the soldier's chest, ripping past armor and into the man's chest. The soldier fell without a word, but with a grunt. Mahri turned around quickly to face the man that Rook had engaged, and found herself unable to move. Kent was up again, breathing deeply and carefully as he held his blade to his side.
The man had Rook before him, held against his chest. Her blade was held numbly at her side, her sword arm numb from the pressure that the man had on her. The edge of the man's vicious blade was held against her throat. The frightened look in her eyes stopped both Kent and Mahri, and the man who held her captive smiled malevolently. "Ah, yes... ever the heroic knight, are you not, Sir Kent? You who denied my father's most generous offer. And your granddaughter as well, eh? I think I shall take my father's revenge on you both, as well as this girl... a cousin of mine, if I am not mistaken? All these Sacaen mongrels look alike, after all." he said, and grinned. His back was to the door that Loedan was still in, and as far as any knew, was still hurt badly. The others, the two could hear, must be busy dealing with other people further in the hall.
"Oh yes, the stench of Lyndis' claim is strong in this girl. I shall enjoy killing her, as her family has been." he said, and then Kent's eyes went wide as he realized what the man meant. The man saw the realization dawn in Kent's face, and he simply smiled slowly. "Indeed, I bought the services of the bandits that attacked you and your group, Kent. As I bought the services of these sellswords to kill you all here tonight. The man in the next room? I know of his lineage as well. My father's old advisor keeps very good records of such things. And now, your poor tactician is dead as well!" he bragged, even as his steps carried both himself and the girl towards the door. "One false move... anything said or any weapon raised against me, and I shall slay this girl as we speak."
---
Light came back into Loedan's mind, the healing magic of a vulnerary having managed to rouse the tactician from what would otherwise have been his grave. A slight groan escaped him, even as his mind roused from the combination of just coming awake and from the sounds of battle around him. His eyes opened this time, and he saw the door to Kent's room open, and a man's back in it.
"Oh yes, the stench of Lyndis' claim is strong in this girl. I shall enjoy killing, as her family has been." he heard the man say, and Loedan's blood seemed to freeze. To his bow he reached, and from the quiver, he pulled an arrow. "Indeed, I bought the services of the bandits that attacked you and your group, Kent. As I bought the services of these sellswords to kill you all here tonight. The man in the next room? I know of his lineage as well. My father's old advisor keeps very good records of such things. And now, your poor tactician is dead as well!"
The old fool knew not what he spoke of, Loedan thought, though he knew exactly what he meant. The arrow was swiftly notched to his bowstring, and as the man finally now warned them about attacking him, Loedan waited for the right time. He did not want to have any harm come to Rook, whom he realized was being held hostage by the man. Elsewhere in the hall, the others were battling cavaliers and mages, as well as thieves. Fortunately, between Heath, Kiri, and Laine, they were holding their own while protecting Loedan's room from further intrusion.
The arrow seemed to twitch somewhat, Loedan's calm mind coming to the fore as he loosed the arrow upon the man's back. His aim seemed true, and he simply hoped that no harm would befall his friend.
---
Rook hadn't known that the older man could move with such speed- it was a surprise to her when he wound up behind her, dancing beyond sword reach so fast that it was a surprise when she felt the cold steel of his blade against her tender throat. Breathing was slow and ragged as she was held against the man's chest. The cold of armor beneath the robes he was wearing could be felt, and she had to fight the urge to shiver as the blade pressed tighter against her skin. She felt a bit of blood escape from a small cut, even as she heard the man's voice. It was an evil voice.
"Ah, yes... ever the heroic knight, are you not, Sir Kent? You who denied my father's most generous offer. And your granddaughter as well, eh? I think I shall take my father's revenge on you both, as well as this girl... a cousin of mine, if I am not mistaken? All these Sacaen mongrels look alike, after all." the man said. She felt herself become much colder, the fright of death in her blood as he forced her to take a few steps backward. Her blade was of no use- circulation to her sword arm was somewhat cut off thanks to the hold that the man was using to keep her against his armored chest.
"Oh yes, the stench of Lyndis' claim is strong in this girl. I shall enjoy killing her, as her family has been." the evil man said, and Rook's eyes went wide. Warmth returned to her veins, a fire burning in her eyes and body now as she was held against the armor. Death no longer seemed to bother her- she would kill this man to avenge her mother and father's deaths! "Indeed, I bought the services of the bandits that attacked you and your group, Kent. As I bought the services of these sellswords to kill you all here tonight. The man in the next room? I know of his lineage as well. My father's old advisor keeps very good records of such things. And now, your poor tactician is dead as well!"
Now her blood began to boil beyond the hatred she had felt a moment ago. Loedan was... dead? He was still among the living when she had found him laying in the room beside this one, but not moving in the slightest. No, he was alive. He had to be! He had protected her, and she had vowed to herself that she would protect him as well. Had she failed already? Could her friend be beyond hearing so soon? No. It was a feeling she couldn't explain, but she knew he wasn't dead yet. Her heart told her otherwise, and from this she drew courage. She would attack if given half the chance, but as the blade at her neck drew closer inwards to her soft flesh, she knew that any wrong turn would simply cause him to slit her throat.
---
The evil man was beside himself with happiness. Finally, Lundgren's family would have their revenge on Hausen's line! Oh no, Lundgren had denounced his brotherhood to the old lord of Caelin. The pain of the old man's death at the hands of a mere Sacaen nomad had grown deep within the old general's son. For many years, he trained and planned. His hired scouts, bandits and mercenaries, scoured the continent in search of Lyndis and her family. Last year, they had found their prey thanks to one of his people tailing the old Paladin from a trip that had been made to the shrine of the Mani Katti.
Lundgren's son, Luin, bided his time until such time that he could be sure that he could strike a decisive blow. He sponsored the creation of a bandit clan from many survivors that had been from destroyed bandit clans, and trained them as befits bandits. Against small villages he sent them, biding his time until just the other week, when his men stormed the Ger of the girl's parents and killed them as they slept, ill and in bed. It was just, a viable killing to substitute that which his father should have done to his brother when he was poisoned and in bed, clinging to life like a man clings to a rock in a river.
And now, he held the last of Lyndis' lineage in his arms. His arms tightened like a noose about the girl's chest, a slight attempt at crushing the breath out of her lungs. The man in the room directly behind him was dead, and he taunted the knights of Caelin before him. His family had been cast out of the territory after the death of his father, and had wound up in Araphen. When he realized that his prey had wandered into his own backyard, the chance to kill them was too great to be ignored. Luin ordered the attack this night, knowing where they would stop for the evening. And now, his revenge was nigh completion. He would kill this girl, and the line of the Tactician and of Lyndis would end completely and utterly. His family would return to Caelin and take over the territory, his rightful place upon the throne of the country.
So could one blame his cry of confusion and pain as he staggered forward, blade falling away from the girl's neck? Another cry joined his last, and a groan escaped him as he turned to face the direction that the pain had come from. The girl was released before his turn, and Rook fell to the floor between Luin and the knights. Two arrows had forced themselves through the man's armor, and stuck from his back near his spine, only noticed as the old man turned to face the archer. His eyes went wide as he saw the stance that the man took.
It was that tactician! No tactician ever used weapons such as a bow. The attacks had hurt, but they were not fatal, and the tactician knew this, he saw. The boy before him had fired with precision, however, and the tips of the arrows were fully imbedded in his flesh. He could feel his life drain from him slowly, and Luin grinned as he raised his blade. "So, the tactician wishes to join the actual battle, rather than direct from the rear? So be it!" he said, and then gave a yell as he darted forward. The tactician notched another arrow to his bow and pulled back on the string before letting it fly. A grunt escaped the armored man, forced back a step from the arrow that had flashed into his sword arm. It struck just below his shoulder, deeply into his chest.
With realization dawning in the man's eyes, Luin knew it was just another few seconds before his revenge could be complete. It was then that he saw the tactician do something he hadn't expected- he let his bow fall to the floor, and then draw an iron sword from his side. Luin knew of very few professions where they would utilize bow and sword, but the ones he had heard of came from the plains of Sacae. A look of his own, of realization, came to his eyes, and he swung his heavy weapon, the steel blade, down at the already injured tactician.
A ringing sound erupted into the air between them His blade had been parried! This tactician was quick with the blade, he found, as he found himself struck upon the already injured shoulder. Luin knew that he could outlast this lad- the arrows had stung. The blow with the sword, however, lacked the strength behind it to pass through his heavy riding armor. Luin grinned, knowing that the lad was going to die here. He had his blade raised, and then swung downwards again, impacting the young man's blade once more with such force that he was sure that it would almost break the iron weapon in half. It did not, however, and the tactician struck again, swinging his blade for his slightly-less armored legs. The boy's strength had not fully returned to him after his nearly mortal wound had been somewhat healed.
That weapon did nothing to harm him this time, Luin had been expecting a precision strike and stood against it easily. "You shall not harm me, boy. I shall kill you... as my father should have done to your grandfather, long ago!" he exclaimed, the braggart swinging his blade in a crescent shape before the steel blade, sharp and obviously deadly, was swung in a direct line for the boy's neck. The tactician saw this coming, however, and managed to avoid, for the most part, the wild strike.
Then there were multiple pains erupting from the old man, a yell of surprise and anguish escaping his throat. His armor was pierced several times from behind, twice to each side, and he fell to his knees before turning and swinging his sword at the one who had attacked him. It was parried by a silver weapon, the light of torches playing upon the lance to show as if it was actually on fire. Luin knew now the fate of his family's adversary. The families of two of his most hated enemies. The realization was playing in the back of his mind even as he saw death stare at him.
It was as if time had slowed, as the Sacaen girl stood before him. The lance belonged to Kent, and he had parried the old man's attack with it easily, as if it took nothing from him to block the strike. The girl's eyes were red, reflecting fire, pain, confidence, and anger within them as she drew back somewhat. The blade in her hand switched from pointing behind her to pointing at him, and then Luin lost track of the girl. It was but a second later when he cried out, a roar of pain coming from him as he felt four more strikes along his arms and legs now, not killing him but bringing to him much pain. Then, from behind, he felt a sword cleave through armor and bone. His legs went numb, blessed relief from their ache and hurt before more erupted into his pain-addled mind. He fell forward, unable to stand any longer, as blood flowed from his mouth. His surroundings were growing dim, his eyes failing him.
"Father... I come to your side now. Forgive your son for failing your revenge upon these mongrels." he said, almost too quiet to hear, and then Lundgren's son died, his body falling still. The sounds of battle no longer raged throughout the hall, and quiet death was what one could say that they felt in the building. Luin was beyond hearing after a moment, and then, a few seconds later, beyond living in the slightest.
---
Loedan fell after that last attack he made. If it hadn't been for Rook, he would have died there and then. It had happened like that before, after all. The tactician smiled slightly to the Paladin who had stopped the strike from the madman towards Rook, and to Mahri, who had been about to attack when he had finished the fight. Then he smiled warmly to Rook and simply fell to the ground, alongside the now dead man that had been after their blood. A collective cry of surprise came from the three, and the Loedan was gone from hearing once more. Blood loss had taken its toll upon him once again, and he shuddered as he rested. Not in danger of dying now, but saving and restoring his strength all the same.
The tactician was quiet for a moment, the three kneeling about him worried that he was dying. Kent saw the wound in the young man's chest and immediately went about bandaging it to keep it from being infected. Rook and Mahri watched quietly, silent as they waited. Heath arrived, Kiri following him in after a moment. Both arrived on foot, and Kiri looked to the boy she had known for years who was laying upon the floor. Her breath caught in her chest, heart skipping a beat as a result as she saw the harm that had been done to him.
"By Elimine..." she whispered softly, watching as Lord Heath and Kent addressed the young man's wounds. She stood by the door, heart beating fast, as she watched and waited with the others. Laine remained outside, leaning against the wall as he listened to what was happening within the room. It was a tense moment, after the bandaging had been done, as they waited for a moment for any sort of sign from the young man who was upon the floor.
But then, a noise erupted from the tactician. And it sounded almost as loud as if someone was riding at a gallop in the middle of a valley, without anything or anyone else making sounds to drown out the hoofbeats. Loedan began to snore. With a smile on their faces, Rook and Mahri looked at the young man and then at each other before they just began to giggle. Heath laughed and Kent grinned, while Kiri just smiled and sighed in relief. This lasted for a good, long while as they remained in the room, everyone soon laughing with one another. Through it all, the young tactician continued to sleep.
Two days later ---
It was early in the morning when Loedan stirred from where he had been set during their time at the hall. He had been very tired, sleeping a dreamless sleep as he wasn't moved an inch. The dead were dealt with and the stench of blood was gone from the hall after this time had gone by. He felt a hand upon his back and then was urged to take a drink from a mug of some sort, as he began to sit up. "Ohhh..." he moaned slightly, his eyes opening as he looked to the one who was giving him water. It was Kiri, and he smiled weakly to the pegasus knight as he took a sip from it.
"Easy now, my friend. Are you feeling better now?" she asked him. He nodded slightly, and then looked to his chest, where he had felt the dagger had been the last time he'd been awake. Nothing at all, not even a bruise. Kiri noticed his glance, and then smiled a little. After another vulnerary had been used to heal the remainders of his wounds, the bandages had been cast away. She rubbed his back a little, to which he winced slightly, not quite sure if what he felt was pain or relief... but any pain gave way to relief as he sighed softly.
"We had to use another vulnerary to heal you up, Loedan. Funny, you seem to be the one who always gets hurt the most during these battles. Perhaps you should just direct others from now on?" she asked him, trying to be helpful. Loedan smiled slightly and shook his head at those words. Didn't she realize that, in all the time that they had known one another, that he wasn't about to change? He couldn't force others to do battle when he couldn't do it himself. Even if he directed the battle perfectly, he would have his own doubts about his own abilities. He knew he could fight. It wasn't really difficult to realize that. He'd done his fair of fighting so far, but he had usually wound up being the most badly injured as well.
"No... I do not mind directing others in battle, but if I left the battle to do it, I could never respect myself for telling others to do that I am not doing, Kiri. We have talked about that before, remember?" he asked, and she nodded sadly. She had remembered that, had been thinking of it for a while now since she had seen him so badly wounded during that last fight. "Are we to head to Caelin today, Kiri?" he asked her quietly now, changing the subject quickly. Tacticians needed to know how to fight their battles, and the way to escape the argument that would have begun was to change the direction that she was thinking in.
"Yes, if you are able." came a voice from the doorway. Kiri had been about to say the same thing when the man's voice answered for her, and both looked over to see Commander Heath there. He walked in and sat down beside the two, looking at the tactician carefully. "Kiri here is correct, you know. A tactician should not be in the front lines. Perhaps use a bow, but if we let you use your blade, then it is likely that you will become an easy target for those with half a brain, my friend. We cannot lose you in battle, for we most likely cannot see what you can during one. We can see what we can, but only tacticians can see the entire battle at any time. It is a valuable trait, you know. If we lost you, we might also die as well." he told him.
It was an argument that Kiri had put to the young tactician years past as well. Every few months, she would attempt to dissuade him from attempting to become a fighter in addition to becoming a tactician. It never helped her, but he had, and as a result she couldn't say everything she would want to say to the young man about how much his fighting in the front worried her. Loedan nodded slightly- this was the argument he had heard over and over from Kiri. But, this was coming from someone with quite a lot more experience in the matters of war. He shook his head afterwards, and Heath chuckled softly. "I respect your decision, Loedan. But from now on, you must be sure not to rush into battle on your own. As our tactician, you will need someone beside you in battle so that you may not need to fight your own battles. I know of doing such on my own at times."
"Honor comes for those who choose that path, my friend. I had to learn that after joining a mercenary band that Laus had hired, back before the battles with the Black Fang began in earnest." the Commander told him, and Loedan crossed his legs, listening to the older man. Heath told of how he had lost his honor and his post with the military of Bern, and how he had been forced to leave the country afterwards. When he was ordered to attack women and children, he had left the service of the mercenaries and joined the three Lords' company. And now, he was here.
---
It was later in the morning when Loedan was cooking breakfast again when Rook came out from her room (which she shared with Kiri and Mahri). She saw the tactician there and stood as if paralyzed for a moment. When he finally heard her gasp in surprise, Loedan turned and found himself staring at a young girl who had just launched herself at him, and both landed upon the floor with a resounding thud. Both groaned as they landed, the collision not harming much but they would both have a bruise or two as a result. "Ah... Mother Earth and Father Sky! Rook, you did not have to do that!" he exclaimed, but chuckled softly as he gave the young girl a hug. Rook giggled a little and winked at him before getting off of him, and Loedan soon followed, getting to his feet.
"Oh, I know, Loedan. But I was very afraid for you, you know." she told him, and then smiled as she went over to pick up a tray. It was shiny, made of steel, and then stood side by side with Loedan as she looked into the reflection of them both. Funny, they looked a lot alike. Strange, Loedan thought, as he saw that as well in their reflections. Kiri came by as they looked at it, and then she looked at the tray as well before snatching it from their grasp and grinning.
"Will there be breakfast or staring today, hm?" she asked, teasing the two as she grinned. Both Loedan and Rook blushed a little before the tactician started on finishing with the preparation of the meat that was going to be for breakfast. Rook glared at Kiri after that for a few seconds before she grinned and punched her on the arm lightly and walking away. Kiri just laughed afterwards, shaking her head slowly. "You know, you two do look a lot alike in some ways." she commented, and then shrugged. "Maybe you were meant for each other?" she says, and then just giggled as she set the tray over the fire that was burning. "Meat, cheese, and bread for breakfast? Sounds good to me." she said, and then walked away to inform the others that breakfast would be served soon.
Much later that day ---
"This is where we began the last drive against Lundgren's men, that fateful day when Lady Lyndis arrived at the home of her mother, the Lady Madelyn." Kent told them, giving them all a tour of the lands closest to the northeast of Caelin's territory. The mountains slowed things, but at least there were no clouds in the sky. The last few nights had brought rain, and so now with the weather having played its hand, it was easy riding to the castle. Commander Heath had gone ahead with Laine to report to the acting Marquess, and it was just the original company with Mahri now. Elder villagers came out from their homes, from working in the fields, as the old Paladin reminisced about the old days.
And he told the story in detail, the battle against Lundgren's forces while it had been raining. Some villagers even came out to bid him welcome, and Kent did the same, a smile on his face the whole time. Loedan was smiling as well. Though this was not home, it was a very welcoming territory to say the least. Kent had been hailed by many as one of the 'Crag of Caelin' during the Bern war, and many who remembered that particular event also remembered Kain's involvement within it as well. Kent told them about those times as well, when it had been himself, Sain, Heath, and Wil protecting their lord-in-hiding during the Bern occupation of the territory. They were the 'Crag of Caelin', in honor of General Wallace, and protected their lord and the citizens as best they could from the Bern soldiers.
They would attack the strongest of columns and destroy Bern's mercenary troops. The four battled against as many as six times their number, and emerged victorious due to Heath's planning and their combined strengths. The local Eliminean shrines and temples proved to be their homes away from home, providing a roof over their heads as they stalled the Bern advance for months until some other group had defeated Zephiel, the leader of the Bern. The Bern army left and the lord of Caelin was brought back into power as a result, restoring the land within record time thanks to the efforts of the remaining knights of the kingdom.
Loedan smiled- they hadn't had a tactician then, it sounded like. Perhaps people are more observant than they think, he thought to himself, and as he rode behind Mahri on the wyvern, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of reception they might receive at Castle Caelin. They turned to the west after passing by a village, crossing a bridge into a dense forest that Kent said that they could go through quickly to get to the castle faster.
It took little over an hour to emerge from the forest, and soon they were within sight of the castle. Banners waved in the wind above the turrets, travelers filing into and out from the castle idly as they came closer. Some turned as they passed, seeing the paladin that was riding before them, and waved to the decorated man of Caelin. "Sir Kent has returned!" the rumors began, from when they had first wandered into the northeast territories near the castle, and then from the castle itself when Heath had returned to the castle. None of the younger people knew or really cared who Kent was- they were too young to know much about him at all. Kent was still happy, no longer talking about the old days but looking about the castle as they went over the drawbridge.
Loedan had never been in a castly before, and Mahri flew them over the wall, waving to the soldiers that manned the turrets and the wall itself as she descended in a lazy circle, having Sterra land in the middle of the courtyard. A single soldier stopped them as they came to a stop inside the courtyard, and Kent's face held a look of surprised that Loedan had never seen him wear before. He was looking at the soldier, and then his own face wore a mask of shock, even as he slipped off of Sterra's back to stand on the ground. Mahri did the same, and Sterra walked over to the stables where she had her own place to call home. Kent's stallion moved after its rider and passenger slipped from its back, but remained beside them. Kiri dismounted the pegasus and stood beside it, hand sliding along the feathered wing slowly to calm it in this new place.
The soldier wore green armor, from head to toe. He wore no helmet, but held it under his arm. His brown hair moved with the breeze that filtered through the courtyard, and he wore a grin of mischief on his face as he looked from one person to another. It was that smile that he had that Loedan was surprised about. He'd seen this smile before, but where? Wait... his grandfather had sketched each and every person that had been part of their company. Only one person came to mind, but could it possibly be?
Mahri walked over and saluted the soldier, who then put on a serious face which was but a mask for the smile that he seemed to continually wear. The soldier then blinked, seeing a bit of a resemblance between the Paladin and the Wyvern Rider, and did a double take. But then he did something none expected- he dashed over to Kiri and knelt before her! "Milady, such beauty demands my tribute! May I have the honor of knowing the name of a woman whose beauty has captivated my mind?" he asks her, and Kent's jaw just dropped as he watched this man do something he hadn't seen in years, to say the least.
"By Elimine... you are... nay, you must be! You are Sain's son!" he exclaimed, and the young soldier, distracted by Kent, looked to him and stood, bowing to the Paladin in return before he would respond. His hair was in the same style of his father's hair, his armor had been his father's, no less. And he grinned a little bit before he actually did respond to the older man.
"Yes, I am Sain, son of Sain, milord Kent. I heard many things about you from my father long ago, and I see that he was correct. It is an honor to finally meet my father's commander and closest friend." he says to the paladin, smiling still. Kent managed now to actually regain his composure, which he had lost for a moment there. Kiri was still in shock from what the young man had said to her. He couldn't even be past the age when one's voice changed! But flattery, though it would not get one far with her, did have its effect upon the Pegasus Knight. She had heard of this young man's father from her Aunt Florina, and so she could only hope that he did not take after him completely.
Kent nodded, and strode forward, his arm extended as he waited for the boy's hand. The boy shook his hand firmly, and Kent sighed inwardly. He was obviously no Cavalier, but he recognized the armor he was wearing easily enough. "It is good to meet his family, finally." he began, but then the boy was gone, going over to Rook and attempting to flatter the Sacaen. Loedan sighed softly and smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand lightly, shaking his head afterwards when he hears a slap upside Sain's cheek. 'By Elimine, Sain, your son is as much a lout you were!' both paladin and tactician thought to themselves. Mahri simply giggled and Kiri watched in shock.
Sometimes, nothing ever changes!
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Author's Note: Well now, how's this for a little bit of fun, eh? Sure, it started out kinda dark, but I think I like my ending for the chapter here. Please review! Constructive criticism is always welcome, of course. My music selection for this chapter is "Blue Reflection," a remix of a certain Mega Man X soundtrack from Have a listen to the mp3 sometime, it's a really funny one (and the person who sings it is actually a gamer, and he sings very well)!