Disclaimer: -seething- I don't own Fire Emblem! You know what, I'm not going to bother with these disclaimers anymore, I've run out of ideas to make them interesting.


Wyrmseeker: It's my story. That little mix is integral to Cale being only a tactician. And in case you are wondering, Cale and Jasith are based loosely on my characters from Dungeons and Dragons. Looks like you've found your wyrm. Well, part-wyrm anyways.

Deathsycthe Hell 666: But he's not evil. And I can fully understand your dislike of polygamy. I'm not expecting anyone to actually understand it, just to accept that it is there and not hate me for it.

Raith Illuser: I've changed the genre for you. Do tell me if my new choice of genre is a better fit.

dude: Keep reading later chapters, and read my prologue, entitled Losing Her. It should help.

A little note: I'm looking for good authors to join a C2 community for Sain. No Sain-haters allowed! Also, I'm looking for a beta, so E-mail me about either if you are interested!


Claen'tor: Oh, man... I was hoping to be able to start this chapter before Edwin came back.

Edwin: What was that about me Claen'tor? -somewhat bruised-

Claen'tor: -sighs- Nothing important, Edwin. Now go somewhere else, so I can focus on this chapter.

Shina: Give Edwin a break, he got beat up by the kids. Poor baby... -cuddles with my husband, scratching around his wolf ears-

Edwin: I wouldn't bother you about this story anyways. It's... -unable to speak while Shina is scratching my ears, feels too good-

Claen'tor: I'll get the rest of that sentence out of you after this chapter. Aaannndd... FIC!


Chapter 4: A Morning Lesson

Lyn woke to brilliant sunlight at the base of the tree. Must have dozed off while I was thinking about what Cale said...

She got up and stretched, ready to make breakfast. She went into her tent, finding Cale asleep on the cot that she had given him. Gathering her cooking supplies as quietly as she could, she tip-toed out of the tent. Lyn got a fire started, then placed strips of deer meat on a pan she had managed to salvage from the destruction of the Lorca.

Cale smelled the cooking meat, and sniffed appreciatively, then turned over on the cot, still not quite at full strength.

Lyn finished cooking the deer strips, ate some, then left the rest on a rock for Cale when he got up. I need a bath. She had camped out near a lake large enough for her to dive into, so Lyn stripped, then dove in.

The smell of meat was too much. Cale got up, slightly bleary-eyed, and walked out of the tent. He spotted the meat on the rock, and was about to sit down to eat, when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lyn stripping down to go swimming. I have such terrible timing. Cale decided it was wise to return inside the tent to eat, and as the splash of Lyn diving in reached his ears, he closed the tent flap behind him to enjoy his breakfast.

Lyn surfaced and sluiced off all the dirt she had accumulated while sleeping on the ground. It always felt good to swim and this time was no exception. Lyn swam across the lake twice, then got out before the people who used the lake daily came around. I wonder if Cale is up yet. Lyn dressed quickly in the rushes, then went to the tent to check up on him. He isn't outside... Lyn noticed the breakfast she had made was no longer on the rock. But he was... Looks like the gentleman walked out at the wrong moment, but was intelligent enough to go back inside with his food. Lyn walked into the tent to see Cale back on his cot, though awake. The plate was next to him as he looked up to see Lyn enter.

"Have a nice swim?" he asked.

"Actually, yes. Did you sleep well?" I replied.

"Not really. But you know the reason for that." Cale's eyes took on a slightly downcast look.

Lyn got an idea. "Maybe I can help you look for your wife. My tribe is gone, so I have nowhere else to turn."

Cale looked up. "You would do that for me?"

Lyn nodded. "You're only a tactician because you can't afford to be found out, am I correct?"

"How intuitive of you. If I actually fought, my wings would extend, no matter how hard I've tried to keep that from happening. And then there would be akward questions, or someone would get away, then I'd have to run for my life, because even bandits can get an army," Cale sighed, "It has caused senseless slaughter that I would rather not repeat. I have no love for fighting."

"Then you could be my tactician, and I your peerless warrior," Lyn suggested. "Did you have a mentor, or a teacher?"

"As a matter of fact, I was taken on by a man who shared amental connection with all living things. He taught me all he knew before he died, then passed on his strange connection to me. His life was very long, some billion years before I met him he was born. His connection granted me amnesty from time, and when I -ahem- joined with Jasith, she was imbued with that amnesty. His knowledge included that of warrior's ways, and I learned to master all weapons, magic and blades alike."

Lyn looked at Cale incredulously. "You mean to say that you could wield flames, dark matter, and pure light? Along with swords, bows, lances, and axes?"

Cale merely nodded. "I have no wish to use these skills for a long time unless it is absolutely necessary."

Lyn saw what he meant. "You've had enough of death. Or is it that your sense of mercy is far stronger than it should be?"

"Probably the latter."

The tent was silent for a moment as Lyn dried her hair.

"Could you teach me how to use the sword properly?" Lyn asked as she dropped the towel, "I received little training from my father before he died."

"Only when there is no one else around. After all, wings would stick out anywhere." Cale picked up four strong sticks, two short and two long, then bound each of the short ones across the longer ones. "We'll use these until I judge you are able to use real swords in sparring. I must warn you, I will pull none of my blows and you must expect anything."

He looked around carefully, then tossed one of the stick swords to Lyn. As Lyn caught it, Cale swung, rapping her sharply on the knee. "Ah! That wasn't fair! I wasn't ready!" Lyn yelled.

Cale's wings were fully extended. "I just told you to expect anything. I won't attack you when you don't have the sword, but as soon as you do, you must be ready." He frowned, looking at Lyn's stance. "You do know how to hold a sword, correct?"

Lyn bristled. "Of course I know how to hold a sword! Did you not see me yesterday?"

"That was poor form, except for the critical damage attack. Here. Mimic my sword stance." He brought his stick/sword up at a forty-five degree angle, strong-side foot sliding back, knees slightly bent. "I would suggest you take this position quickly, because there can be no hesitation in battle, therefore I will give you no quarter."

Lyn brought up her stick, then waited for a move out of Cale. He didn't attack. He waited. Lyn, being the impatient sort, foolishly attacked from the unfamiliar stance, shifting to her original style in the process. The next thing she knew, she was on her back and her side hurt terribly. Cale was there, helping her up.

"You are impatient. You also must adapt to the stance I showed you, or every time you attack me, you'll end up with another bruise on your side."

Lyn nodded, then brought up her stick again.

"We will not spar until you learn that stance to my satisfaction. Right now, I want you to hold that stance for ten minutes. Then you'll shift to your left hand, bringing your right arm back, and hold that up for five minutes, then do the same with your right hand. This exercise is intended to 'teach' your arms the way to hold the sword. And there must be no wavering, if you truly wish to learn," Cale instructed.

Lyn almost threw down the sword. "You will not spar with me?"

"You are not ready. Follow my instructions and you will be." Cale left it at that, and sat on the ground, wings retracting into his back.

Lyn seethed for a minute, but Cale was being reasonable, and he was the teacher in this situation, so she eventually complied. First, two-handed stance, sword up at a 45 degree angle...

End Chapter


Claen'tor: This took forever to finish. And Edwin is about to... Where did he go?

Cale: He left with Shina while you were preoccupied with everything including this fic.

Lyndis: Something about teaching the kids...

Claen'tor: Ah, well. No loss. I'll update as soon as I can get on the computer without having to sneak in three minutes at a time.