Hector wearily leaned against the wall, and looked at the map lain out before him. Their location was marked with a pawn-the only thing that could be found- from an old chess set, and the position of the bandits with a rook. They were too close for comfort, Hector decided with a slight frown. With wild hand motions that threatened Marcus' head the Tactician explained there predicament. The bandits were most likely after them, and staying in the town would endanger it. Of course there was the thought that they were not the bandit's target, and leaving the town would leave it even less defended for an attack.
"There's also Lord Eliwood." Marcus reminded them. "He may be awake but he should not be moved still." Hector grimaced, and wondered what the paladin would say if he knew Eliwood had been out of bed already, and nearly passed out.
"That too." The tactician nodded. "Maybe we should have some peoples go see what they're doing now, and decide on a further plan of action after more observation." The tactician nodded again. "That might work."
"Mi'lord, I've returned." Matthew spoke from near the door, and fading out of the shadows. Lowen jumped, and Marcus frowned at the cavalier.
"Yes, what did you find out?" Hector asked.
"The towns folk have had trouble with bandits lately, and some of the local farmers have taken refuge in the town." Matthew smiled slyly. "Though they were.........reluctant...... to say it the bandit appear to be a group of renegade soldiers, and other generic bandit people. Nothing too serious."
"If you're used to fighting trained assassins." Kent remarked. "For the townsfolk it might as well be that. They are not fighters."
"So, the question lies in our hands in this: do we stay and help the town, possibly endangering it more, or leave and possibly take away the danger and leave the town more or less defenseless." The tactician held up his hands as if weighing the two options. "Truly the decision is your, Lord Hector."
Hector frowned thrumming his finger son his axe handle. "Does Lyn now about this?"
"Yes Mi'lord, we informed Lady Lyndis of this tragic happening, and she has already given her thoughts on the matter." Sain piped up.
"And they were?" Hector prompted.
"She wishes to stay here and defend the town." Kent told him. His face told he approved of that course of action. Hector rubbed his chin, and sighed. He didn't like making decisions like this.
"Alright, we'll stay here, and defend the town." Hector stopped drumming his fingers on his axe. "But remember to keep a low profile; we don't want anymore attention then we have to have." Hector looked around the room, getting nods from everyone, except Matthew who had disappeared again. There was no worry there though, the theif always kept a low profile. Now maybe he could get back to Eliwood and finish there talk.
"Hmmmm, how many did you say there were Kent?" The tactician asked, spreading a map out.
"About fifty." Kent replied quickly. "But Sain and I can go look again, Mark."
"No, no, Marcus, have Guy, and Rath go see. They can get closer without being noticed." Mark commanded, and then looked mystified. "If there are fewer then that then maybe we can ambush them and take care of our problems. Now where is my pencil.....?"
Hector sighed, and walked to the door. He walked quickly up the hall. He took the stairs two at a time, and nearly ran into Nils.
"Ack!" Nils fell back on his rear, and smiled at Hector. "Hello Lord Hector, going to turn in for the night?"
"Ah, no." Hector help the bard back up. "I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight."
"Really? It is 'cause of the bandits?" Nils asked.
"Somewhat, how did you hear about that so quickly? I just learned about it myself."
"Ninian sensed something, and she asked the tactician about it." Nils nodded sagely, and picked his scarf up from where he had dropped it. "I did to. Now, if you'll excuse me Lord Hector, I'm going to sleep. Good Night to you."
"Good Night Nils." Hector watched the child bounce down the stairs, and disappear into one of the rooms. Hector looked down the hall to his own room, and sighed. He paused in front of the door, gathering his thoughts, and yawning. It had been a long day. He pushed open the door, and found a surprising seen waiting him. Lyndis had fallen sleep in her chair, though she looked very uncomfortable, and Eliwood was also asleep. His chest rose and feel evenly, and slowly, as it should. Hector let a hand rest on the others forehead. The fever was still there, and it was a little higher then it had been when Eliwood first woke up. Hector frowned, and then looked at Lyndis.
She looked very young, her head resting on the crook of her elbow, but certainly she was no younger then Eliwood. No, she was older then Eliwood was, but just by months. Hector sat watching her, and then moved to wake her. He reached out to shake her awake, and as soon as his hand touched her shoulder her eyes snapped open. Her hand flew for the Mani Katti, and stopped just short of if. She blinked, and yawned.
"Sorry." She murmured, and stretched like a cat. Her back cracked, and she made a face. "I'll never sleep in a chair again."
"Have fun playing baby sitter?" Hector asked, sitting down on his bed, and kicking off his boots.
Lyndis rolled her eyes. "So what have they decided to do? About the bandits, I mean."
Hector stifled a yawn. "We're going to stay here, and defend from the town; unless there are fewer then we first thought. Then we'll go attack them. Mark sent Guy, and Rath to see exactly how many there are. Matthew found out they are mostly renegade soldier, nothing very serious. We shouldn't have a problem with them."
"Any enemy, no matter how weak looking, should be treated warily." Lyndis snapped sleepily. "If your underestimate your opponent it could be the last mistake you make."
"Yeah, yeah." Hector sighed, and glanced at Eliwood. He looked back to Lyndis, and saw her nodding off. "You should go to sleep. It won't do to have you falling asleep during if we do have to fight."
"I won't fall asleep during a fight." Lyndis managed a sleep veiled glare. "But I do mean to talk to Mark again about our plans. Oh, and Serra gave Eliwood something to bring his fever down more, and help him sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah, good night." Hector watched her leave, and marveled at the almost predatory grace she moved with. It occurred to him suddenly that she didn't walk like many women did. She walked more like a man, with the long purposeful strides, and not the quick small strides of a woman. She was, after all, a warrior. After she was outside Hector smacked his forehead with the heel of his hand.
"Great, you'll end up like Sain if you keep this up." Hector muttered to himself. He considered waking Eliwood up, but decided against it. The Lord was sleeping peacefully, and it would most likely bring the rath of the healers down on his head if he did wake him up. Though, drugged as he was, Hector wondered if it would be possible to wake him up.
"It doesn't really matter, does it? We never get very far because your so stuborn. Each time I talk to you someone interrupts, and I'm left with more questions then answers. Why do you hate me, and have you always? Why've you been acting like this, and why couldn't I see it?" Hector realized he was talking to himself, and chuckled mirthlessly. "Maybe I'm the one who's not right in the head. Talking to people who can't hear me."
Hector blew out the last candle in the room and sat on his bed. He had meant what he said to Nils about not getting much sleep this night. There was too much to think on.
/--/
"Thirty seven?" Hector grinned slightly. "That's not too many."
"Right." Mark looked at the list he held. "I've made a list of the people we'll be taking with us, and who'll stay here incase some of the bandits reach the city. It is possible that part of the group has split off and are going to launch an attack on the city when we leave it." Lyndis took the list from Mark, and looked over it carefully.
"Alright then, I'll command the people left here in case the bandits reach the town." Lyndis agreed. "Heath and Viada will take turns watching from the air, and Rath, Rebecca, Matthew, and Jaffar will watch from the ground." Hector noticed the slight distaste Lyndis put with Jaffar's name.
"Have fun." Hector slapped her good naturedly on the shoulder.
"I'm going to check on our supplies before we leave....." Mark settled in to mumbling, and wandered off... in the wrong direction.
Hector shrugged. "He'll get there eventually I'm sure."
"The most bumbling man I now, but at least he can coordinate an attack." Lyndis muttered. "Did Eliwood wake up again?"
"No, the stuff Serra gave him must really work, or he's actually that tired." Or he's trying to make me leave him alone. Hector froze, his mind working quickly. What if he tries to kill himself again? He's certainly well enough to get up.....
"Hector, you still there? Lyndis asked, waving a hand in front of the other lord's face. "Hey, wake up."
Hector blinked, and took a step back. "Sorry, just thinking about something."
"Obviously so." Lyndis smiled slightly, mirth trickling into her features. "What about? The pretty bar maid from last night?"
"What? No!" Hector scowled. Women! "Actually, I need to ask a favor of you Lyn."
"As long as it has nothing to do with bar maids, of course." Lyndis tried to regain a serious face, but failed.
Hector bit back a sharp retort, and rubbed his forehead. "No, it has nothing to do with bar maids. I want you to watch Eliwood for me, just to make sure he doesn't try to get out of bed."
"That's all? You want me to watch Eliwood for you?" Lyndis asked, regaining a slightly serious expression.
"Not you personally, but have someone on there who can watch him." Hector noted how odd his instructions sounded, but it was all he could say without telling Lyndis what was going on.
"Sure, don't worry. You're the one going into battle." Lyndis nodded, serious now. "He's in the best of hands, that's why Priscillia, and Lucius are staying behind today."
"Thanks Lyn." Hector glanced in the direction Mark had gone. "I'd better go make sure he doesn't fall in a hole and never come back. Absentminded fool he is we need him." Hector muttered, and went to find the missing tactician.
"Good bye to you as well." Lyndis chuckled, and walked back up the stairs. She paused at the door to Eliwood and Hector's room, and listened to the faint strains of flute music coming from it. She smiled, and carefully stepped into the room. Nils was sitting in a chair, playing softly, eyes closed, and a peaceful expression on his face.
Lyndis moved another chair to the other side of the bed, and hummed softly to the music. Nils' playing faltered, and he snapped his eyes open. "Lady Lyndis! Sorry, I was just...."
"It's alright Nils, I like to hear you play." Lyndis propped her heel on the seat of the chair, and subconsciously adjusted her skirt.
"I'm glad you do Lady Lyndis. I would be in my room, or somewhere else practicing, but no one seems to be in a very good mood today but Sain." Nils' cheeks colored slightly. "And he's, um, busy."
Lyndis' cheeks colored as well, and she scrambled for another subject. "How's Ninian been doing? She hasn't looked her best these past few days."
"Oh, she's fine, just a little under the weather." Nils smiled childishly. "She'll be fine after a little rest."
"I hope she's well enough to go into battle, Mark plans to take her with the group going out to the forest."
"Oh, she'll be fine, but I better tell her." Nils hopped from his chair. " I ask leave of you, Lady Lyndis." He dropped into an elegant bow.
Lyndis suppressed a laugh, and inclined her head the 'lady like' way she had been taught. "I give you leave to go, Master Nils." Nils bobbed up from his bow grinning, and hopped out the door, starting to play on his flute again. The lively tune could be heard after he was gone. Lyndis turned back to Eliwood, and looked the lord over. He looked better, but his complexion was still paler then west healthy. Eliwood mumbled something softly.
He shifted, and Lyndis noticed on of his arms was out of the covers. She reached to place it back, and froze. Here eyes grew wide, then snapped into a glare. He carefully examined the pink scar across Eliwood's wrist, and bit back several of the more earthy oaths she knew.
So this is why Hector wanted me to watch him, isn't it? How could he not tell me? Lyndis snapped up from her chair, and hoped Hector wasn't gone. She nearly slammed the door behind her, and dashed down the hall. She whipped around a corner, and ran into Nils again.
"Oof." Lyndis toppled down the stairs, dragging Nils with her. " Sorry Nils." She carefully rolled off the bard, and helped him up. "Has Hector's company left already?"
"Yes, they had already gone when I went to find Ninian, is something wrong Lady Lyndis?" Nils asked, seeing the frown on her face.
"Nothing that can't wait, I hope. Nils, will you go watch Eliwood for me? I have to organize the people still here."
Yes 'mam." Nils hopped up the stairs whistling as he went. Lyndis clenched a hand around the Mani Katti's hilt, and stalked off to find the people who were to be sentries. Her jaw was clenched, and her mind a tumble of thoughts. Is Eliwood really capable of doing something like that? No, he couldn't be, but he did lose his father recently. Why wouldn't Hector ask for help? Or say something to me? The emotions were anger and dread. The reason for her watching could only be that. It was impossible for Hector not to know; he had found Eliwood, and brought him back. The healers had been very tight lipped about exactly why Eliwood was so sick.
I'll have to wait, Hector won't be back for a while. "Rath! Go find Matthew, Rebecca, and Jaffar, and post them as sentries." Lyndis called to the nomad trooper. All she could do was wait.
A/N: Ehee, It seems everyone is running into Nils of late. Oh wells! Forget what I said about Christmas Holiday, I've been busier then I was with school. --; Sorry for the wait. I'll try to put the nest chapter up sooner, and I'll try not to make it a cliff hanger........ Jaa ne!