Chapter 7x: The Black Shadow

A mysterious group seems hell-bent on capturing Nils and Ninian...yet having failed, this group, the Black Fang, flees. Rumor has them traveling southwest, Lyn and her colleagues follow in hopes of recovering a lost heirloom. The Black Fang have made a stronghold of an abandoned castle in Khathelet. Its dark halls are alive with shadowy figures...

"I believe they went in here," Lyn trailed off as she examined the dark fortress.

"Milady, are you really going in there to get the ring back?" Nils, who had been anxious the entire trip, was chewing his lip and looking to the floor.

Lyn smiled warmly as she turned her full attention to the younger boy, "Yes, we are. We promised Ninian that we'd get her ring back, and we will."

"Bu-but this is their stronghold! They're bound to be well defended, not to mention well armed!"

"Please forget about the ring. It's okay.." Ninian whispered softly.

But Lyn shook her head, "Touya's agreed to attempt this...recovery. I wouldn't be here it not for that. Touya believes that we can do this. I'm sure that decision was not made lightly. With Touya at my side, I'm confident we can win. So let's get your ring back, Ninian."

"Milady.." Nils looked up at her through his bangs and smiled slightly. Ninian stayed quiet as she looked at her brother.

Sain, who had been scouting the area with Kent, rushed over to our emerald-haired commander, "Milady Lyndis! There are more of the foe inside than we thought."

"Well, this is their stronghold. Because of that it's imperative that we move carefully," she noted as Kent stepped forward,

"Exactly, milady. These narrow corridors can be used to our advantage. If we draw the enemy through here, we can engage them in small numbers and remain relatively safe. If time is a concern, we can always rush them... If we do that, we'd better be sure we can win."

Lyn nodded, and turned to me, "So Touya, what do you think? How we move forward is completely up to you..."

It had been decided that Florina and Sain, who was overjoyed with this, would stay behind with Ninian at the previous town, while the rest of us would fight. The setup of the fortress was so that our team would have to be separated. Dorcas, Matthew, Nils, and Erk would travel on the west side while the remainder of the group (Wil, Lyn, Rath, Lucius, Serra, and Kent) would face the east's villains. We would then meet up at the back of the fortress for a battle with the man currently possessing the ring, Beyard...

"...when it comes down to it, it really isn't that difficult. It just requires you to be able to move quick. You also have to be able to charm people. Someone as small and adorable as you would have no trouble making a life in the thieving business. Here, try this scenario, you've just been caught with someone's money, you say..."

"I wouldn't steal! Stealing is wrong"

"Brilliant! You're a natural at this!" Matthew smiled down at Nils and just as the boy was about to speak a soldier wielding a large lance appeared ahead of them. Matthew waved his fingers at his comrade, "Dorcas, if you please."

Erk sighed, and Dorcas rolled his eyes at being ordered around but walked up to the opposing man who had just turned their way. Dorcas quickly slipped a small ax from his satchel and with one flick of the wrist the soldier was hit so hard he fell to the ground.

"Nice shot!" Matthew commented distractedly as he stepped over the fallen enemy, "Anyway, as I was saying, people are so very gullible.."

"I hope they're all right.."

"Florina and Ninian? Milady Lyndis, Sain is perfectly capable of protecting two girls."

"It's Sain that's their threat, Kent," Lyn laughed as the knight smiled softly.

"You must know that, while a bit daft, Sain would never do anything to violate a woman. In all the years that I've known him he has always been as polite as can be."

"And just as lame it seems" Lyn's voice was cut off as a large blast wracked the tiny corridor.

The two ran towards the explosion to find Lucius, bleeding heavily from the arm, breathing heavily, "Ah, sorry about that. I was a bit taken off guard."

"Oh, you silly thing. Don't worry Lyn, I've got it," Serra said as she set to work on the healing...

"How? This can't be... They should be dead! Everyone! Get in there and finish them! This is your final chance!" Beyard roared through the tiny corridors of the fortress...

"..."

"..."

Erk and Dorcas were at the back of the fortress awaiting the rest of the group. Matthew and Nils had stayed back to crack open a chest.

The silence was broken by no other than the red-headed thief, "Oi, Dorcas, hammer for you. Oh-and who do we have here..."

The four turned to two stairwells to see a mage and a shaman. Matthew pushed Nils behind him and cracked his neck to the side, "I guess they want a little party..."

"Wow, nice shot!" Will exclaimed as Rath turned back to the other archer.

"The trick is to spin the arrow to achieve momentum and then shoot, but this is time consuming so it's sometimes difficult to use." The younger man nodded enthusiastically at the other's words from his place on Rath's horse. Rath, himself was leaning against the animal and looking up at Wil. Both were waiting at a stairwell for soldiers who just seemed to pour out.

Wil picked up an arrow and plucked at the end with his fingers, "Yeah, I've always wanted to be an archer and people have said that I'm good with my hands."

Rath coughed.

"Oh, not like that you dirty nomad. Just withOh, look! Another soldier! My turn, then!"

"I mustn't fail...I can't fail..."

"I'm afraid there's no hope for you now," Kent coolly replied before striking the man squarely in the belly with his lance.

"Earghh..." Beyard groaned as he fell backwards against the wall, the knight withdrew his weapon and caused the older man to cough and sputter blood.

"Ahh... No... I... I cannot..." he wheezed between mouthfuls of crimson.

Lyn stepped forward and withdrew her Mani Katti. She held the magnificent sword next to the man's neck, "Give us the ring! And swear us this oath.. You must promise to leave these two alone. If I have your vow, I'll spare your life..."

He looked up at her in desperation, "Failure...means death..." And with one quick movement he shoved one foot into Lyn's chest and pushed her off. He then shoved a vial of brown liquid into his mouth. His eyes flew open and he jerked upright before falling heavily against the ground.

"What! Poison?" Lyn breathed from her spot in Kent's arms, he had steadied her before she had been forced completely back, "He took his own life..."

"These are no common brigands we're dealing with. This man was trained by a well-organized group," the knight spoke as Lyn walked over to the now deceased Beyard.

"But what do they want with Nils and Ninian?"

Kent's brows were drawn together as he approached Lyn's side, "There's no telling, but"

Someone cleared their voice and I turned to see Matthew, brows raised high, standing with Nils. He had his hand buried in the smaller boy's bluish hair and seemed to be leading him gently like that, but at the attention Nils snapped upright.

"Di-did you find it..?" he squeaked slightly. Lyn made a noise and turned back to the fallen man, she searched quickly through his robes and finally retrieved a small, shining silver ring.

"I supposed we should get moving..."

Lyn shook her head, "We can stay in town for the night. Besides, we need to rest."

"Lyn!" Florina threw herself against the Lorca tribe member as soon as the older girl walked into the crowded inn. Kent immediately turned towards Sain who started.

"Oh, come on! Kent you know me better than"

A chuckle sounded from the embraced girls as Lyn slowly stroked her hands through the lilac-haired Pegasus rider, "How's Ninian?" Sain pointed upstairs.

Nils ran by so quick he appeared only as a white blur. He then disappeared into the higher landing.

"Does no one trust me?" Sain pouted and slumped down into a wooden chair that surrounded a large round table.

Kent sighed and sat next to him, "Haven't we been over this...?" The other knight whimpered.

"Well I trust Sain!" Serra defensively said as she sat directly on the table the two knights were occupying.

Matthew laughed. "You and only you," he teased as he pulled on one of her pigtails. He then pulled up a chair backwards and threw his legs over it and rested his arms on the back of it. Erk rolled his eyes as Serra fumed and took the last seat at the table.

The inn door opened quietly and Lucius entered, his arm looked to have been completely healed. He glided across the floor and slipped delicately into a seat at a close-by table. I joined him and he nodded as I sat down.

"Touya, wasn't it..?"

"It was," I fingered the table's gritty designs as he sighed and looked around. The door opened yet again and our two archers and Dorcas walked inside. Wil, who was nonstop talking to Rath, sunk into a seat next to me, along with the other archer. Dorcas slumped across the room and sat himself at the bar and a couple minutes later a cute barmaid was handing out frothy ale.

Lyn and Florina sat opposite Rath and Wil. Florina blushed when Lyn suggested she try a drink, and Wil had already coerced Rath and Lucius into a rather rowdy drinking game. I quietly sipped mine but a flash of teal caught me eye

Nils was coming down the stairs, Ninian's arm firmly around his small shoulders. But before I could alert Lyn, Matthew scooped Ninian carefully off her feet. She gasped as he lowered her onto a nearby table. Nils seemed to be protesting but didn't get too far when the thief picked him up around the middle and jumped onto another table.

"You're attention please. My new friend, Nils, has a little song he wants us to hear. Isn't that right, Nils?" the smaller boy blushed as Matthew grabbed at his scarf and started to dance around. Wil whistled as Sain raised his glass to the boy in support.

He looked back at his sister who, for the first time that night, was smiling. He then nodded and pulled out his flute and within a few seconds the room was filled with melodious music. Matthew laughed and began to kick his feet up, "I bet Ninian couldn't do this little number!"

He turned around and bent over slightly to give our group a look at his backside. He then wiggled it at us to much laughter. Dorcas even stifled a snort. The redhead then turned back around and began to skip around the small boy who was bobbing his head to the light, but powerful song.

The night quieted down a bit after the innkeeper chased Matthew off of the tables with a broom. He settled for playing a game of cards with Erk, who didn't seem as enthused to be doing so.

Lyn excused herself from our table and walked over to another table. She turned and motioned for me to follow before she took a seat next to the crimson-eyed pair, "Nils, Ninian. Everything's going to be fine. As long as you're with us, you'll be safe."

Nils seemed slightly taken aback, "But..."

"You witnessed our victory, right?" He nodded and Ninian looked up at me as I sat down across from her. "With Touya's planning and my sword, you've no worries. If we work together, there's nothing we can't overcome. I don't care who comes after you; I'll not let you be taken."

"Really?"

"Yes, Nils, on my honor. Right, Touya?" I nodded but noticed that Ninian seemed unsettled.

"Milady..."

"Oh, yes... this is yours," Lyn withdrew a small object from her pocket and placed in gingerly on the table. Ninian seemed transfixed, "Ah... it's..."

"You called it Nini's Grace, did you not? That lout had it."

Nils beamed as Ninian smiled, "I have no other words, save thank you."