Chapter 2

"Lord Eliwood?" Eliwood looked as his door's opened. The messenger walked in and bowed. "There is a Lord Pent here to see you."

Eliwood remembered that Pent wanted to study the brief writing on the Durandal. The marques of Pherae, of course, didn't let him have it. "Send him up," called Eliwood. He walked over to the closet that held the Durandal and opened it up. The sword had gathered dust but Eliwood brushed it off with a cloth. Then Pent opened the door.

"Good afternoon my lord," said Pent. The sage walked over to Eliwood and looked down at the Durandal. "How did you know?"

Eliwood smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "Lucky guess. I assume you want to try and translate this text?"

Pent nodded his head and pulled a book out of his robe. "This was Athos' book. It has all kinds of translations and I think I have found the right one," said Pent. He laid the book on the table and started to flip through the pages until he stopped at a page with many symbols that Eliwood had never seen before. He then glanced at his blade and saw that some of the symbols matched.

"They are the same," Eliwood said. Pent put his arm out, palm up. Eliwood placed the sword in his hands and Pent went to work. "You need anything?"

"Not right now, but thank you for this opportunity," said Pent. He started to write the translations on the back of the book. "Just as I thought."

"What?" asked Eliwood. He started to feel himself shake, hoping that it wasn't bad news.

"I always thought they were coordinates of some kind, and I was right," bragged Pent, "These coordinates are somewhere in the Nabata Desert. If my guess is right, they are the directions to Arcadia."

"Didn't Roland die before Arcadia was established?" questioned Eliwood. Pent shut the book and got up.

"Not unless the eight of them were planning to build it together but got side-tracked," said Pent. He started to pace back and forth. He then stopped and looked at Eliwood, "The only way to find out is too look."

Eliwood held his hand to his chin. He didn't want to go looking for some town without any proof that it was really there. Eliwood responded, "Okay, We shall bring Marcus and Isadora to aid us in our search."

Pent smiled, "I will bringing Louise, unless that is a problem?" Eliwood laughed and shook his head.

"No problem at all," said Eliwood. Of course, the young marques did have a problem but he too was curious to find out what was happening.

Swords cracked, lances were shattered, and axes were headless. A battle between mercenary groups shook the icy mountain of Ilia. To think it was all caused by an insult. Fiora could picture it in her head.

The mercenaries had mocked her when she claimed she aided Lord Eliwood in his campaign against the Black Fang. They did not believe her and laughed at her. Fiora, being the nice girl she is, hit the leader with the butt of her lance.

Aren't you the smart one Fiora, now thinking back on the events. She was now on the losing side. They were ambushed as they were taking a shortcut to Sacae.

Now Fiora had only five men left against the enemies ten. She was sadly grounded thanks to an enemy sniper. Fiora had lost her lance during the attack and she was only left with her sword.

She looked around at the surroundings and noticed the heavy panting of her allies. Some were bleeding and holding their sides. The blood stained the white snow and only raised the spirits of the enemy.

"Maybe you should have re-thought your actions Fiora," said the leader, with a slightly misshapen face from the butt of her lance.

"Let's make a deal," said Fiora. Her allies looked at her confused. "I defeat you, you let us go."

"And if I kill you?" asked the mercenary.

"Then you can execute us publicly for your own enjoyment," said Fiora. She was confident. Her bands of soldiers were not as enthusiastic as her.

They screamed, "Please re-consider Fiora!"

The enemy mercenary smiled, "Fine Fiora, it's a deal."

Fiora made a gesture telling everyone to back off. She then grabbed her sword from its sheath and pulled it out. It shined in the air. She charged into battle.

The enemy swung his sword at Fiora's legs but she jumped and came down with her sword overhead. He jumped to the side, but his right foot was lightly sliced.

"Impressive," he said. The mercenary then came at her again with his sword. His made contact with Fiora's and sparks went flying as they rubbed against each other for leverage on the other.

Then one sword was lifted and was pushed away from the owner's hands. Fiora looked at her enemies' look of horror on his face. Fiora grinned and said, "Go to hell." Her sword then cut through his body and completely impaled it.

"See… you… there," mumbled the dying mercenary. The grounded falcoknight swiftly pulled her sword out of his body and sheathed it. His dead body fell backwards and landed in front of his companions' feet. The blood rushed out of his body and melted the snow.

"Get out of here!" screamed Fiora. The defeated mercenaries ran down the mountain and far away from Fiora. Because even with Fiora not knowing, she could have slain all of them with ease.