Yeah, that's right, another post in less than a week. I told you I was writing regularly again.

I realized that I had been negelecting the non-lord characters for awhile, so I picked four of my favorites and went with it here. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter.

And, yes, I know, I stole a line from American Dad. You'll know it when you see it, and if you don't, good, don't let it be ruined.

And so our entourage made it to the bustling port city of Badon.

What, you expected a story of Lyn and I meeting for the first time? No, no, not yet. It doesn't fit yet. Be patient; all will come in due time.

I had seen large cities like this, but the economy of being on such a prominent trade route congregation made this place absolutely intense. Every step you took brought you just one step closer to some other merchant hawking his or her wares, scents of food, the scent of the ocean, and it was… well, honestly exhilarating. It almost made me forget entirely about the fact that we were trying to get a boat, were going to ride on something that absolutely terrified me, and, well, about the war brewing, about the evils.

While I had a broad grin on my face just from the feel of it all, I did call a meeting together of everyone.

"Alright, everyone," I began as they all gathered around, listening intently. "I know that I'm grinning like a damned fool, but in all seriousness, we need to find information about who could possibly cart all of us over the sea to the Dread Isle. I want everyone to split up into groups of two or three, save for you, Matthew; I already know you get your best information alone."

He grinned at my order. I figured he would like it, but added in, "You know me very well, Tactician. I'm off!" And he was indeed off, darting away in swift fashion. I almost expected a cloud of smoke, maybe some mirrors, or other tricks.

"Like I said, as for the rest of you, I want groups of two or three. Kent, Sain?"

Kent perked a little, sitting a little taller on his horse. "Yes, sir?" He asked curtly.

"For one, it's Jason. I don't qualify as a 'sir', damn it." I grinned, and Sain chuckled a little bit. "Second off, I'll be joining you two for the day. Is that going to be a problem?"

"No, not at all, Jason," Kent replied, nodding to me respectfully.

"Welcome aboard! Come, let us sample some of the cuisine while we're here. Food, wine, women, and song are good for a man!" Sain added, cheerful as usual.

I gave a quick glance to Lyn, winking to her, before turning back to the energetic cavalier and saying, "Food, maybe. Wine? No. I'm a horrible drunk. Women? My heart already belongs to someone." This caused some collective mutterings amongst the group, and I could have sworn I saw Serra perk at this one, too. "Alright, alright, hush. Finally, the song is only if we find someone who can play the lute or guitar passably. We'll meet at… at…" I glanced around idly for a meeting place, should we not have any success… "That inn," I finally decided, pointing to the proper building. "Head on out, my friends. Good luck."

The group all said their goodbyes and split into groups of two or three. Lyn gave me a bit of a smile that left me breathless, waving as she went to walk with Hector, Eliwood, and Florina. I waved back kind of numbly as Kent and Sain moved to join me. "Shall we go, my knights?" I asked, starting to walk into the general direction of the marketplace.

I had to be honest at this point; I at first didn't care about finding a boat immediately. I let Sain sniff out some good cuisine—we ended up eating some meat dish with elaborate seasonings served up by some lushly curvaceous innkeeper. Whilst Sain was busy trying to get into the woman's bodice, Kent and I dined a little more casually, talking, catching up a little.

"I always considered you one of the most reliable people I've ever met, Kent. I'm glad to see you kept Castle Caelin safe."

"It was a rather easy duty. We had recruited some excellent men and women to help us. Lyn would even come down each day and train with us when she was available to. I lament that we couldn't train them enough for this kind of treachery."

"Kent, you have to realize that some things cannot be avoided. What happened at Castle Caelin was not your fault. You tried. I know you did." I paused, taking a bite of meat and chewing it thoughtfully. It was good, a strong, warm spice, something that made my mouth burn lightly. Swallowing, I continued. "Don't let this incident ruin you. You're a Knight. You're a peerless Knight, at that."

"Jason, I—"

"Kent, I want you to chin up, face forward, and embrace what's to come. This is the kind of thing that you live for—servitude to Count and country—or Countess, if you mean Lyn. Be strong. I know you are."

Kent looked pretty stunned; he would have muttered some surprised retort if Sain hadn't come over, rubbing his cheek as if it were sore. "What a feisty woman she was! If she weren't married, I tell you, I'd—"

"You'd what, Sain? Not have gotten slapped?" I interrupted.

Sain paused, looking genuinely injured (as, apparently, getting slapped didn't do it). "Such harsh words, Jason! Sincerely, who is it that has your heart, that keeps you from enjoying the fairer sex's presence?"

I grinned. "I enjoy the presence of one woman enough to make up for it, Sain."

Kent chuckled wryly. "No, Jason, you don't. Trust me."

Sain stretched a little, almost yawning. "I suppose I'll have to stick with the women in our party. Lady Lyndis has warmed up to me as of late—"

"Sain," I interrupted, "If you touch Lyn, I will kill you." We all started to chuckle at this, but after a second, I added in, "No, I'm serious, Sain. Very serious. I will carve into your chest, rip out your still-beating heart, and eat it. All of it. Every last bit."

The knights blinked at me, surprised at my outburst. I think I struck a nerve.

To alleviate the tension, however, I added in, "Go after Serra. She likes your company, and isn't that bad-looking to boot. She looks good in white." I didn't really think Serra was that attractive, not compared to Lyn, but I had to break the stress somehow. "I apologize, but I have my heart set on Lyn. Do me a favor and keep quiet about it, though?"

Sain grinned. "Why? Would I lose some other organ in my body?"

"Something you probably hold dear."

Kent started laughing at this—just Kent, not Sain. I began to chuckle myself whilst Sain looked rather confused.

Meanwhile, I heard a familiar voice—the sickeningly sweet tone of Serra's voice, giving demands to that poor mage Erk. They were crossing by where we were, and Erk stopped by to chat with us a moment—or maybe plead for help; he wasn't beyond that, I'm certain—and as such, Serra stopped with him. Erk looked flushed, like he was heatstruck or something. Serra actually had her hair down instead of in the long pigtails that she usually donned; I have to admit she did look very pretty that way.

"Jason!" Serra cried out, apparently very happy to see me. This was mildly frightening. "So glad to see you! You're looking ruggedly handsome as always."

That was even more frightening, but I hid my fear well enough—or at least, I hoped well enough. "You're looking well, yourself," I responded warily.

Erk spoke next, and swiftly. "Is that so? Then maybe you can redirect your search with Serra, here, and I'll join our young knights?" Sain quickly nodded his approval, and Serra giggled at the idea. She giggled. I knew I was in trouble.

"I suppose so, Erk." I smirked a little sardonically, teasing the poor, tortured mage. "I suppose you might actually get something useful done after I remove her as distraction."

Serra smiled widely and giggled again. "Jason, you rascal. Come! Let us go out and make the town jealous!"

I got up, nodding to the knights, and walked towards my new… ah, charge. Erk stopped me for a moment, putting a small bottle in my hands and whispering to me.

"Vulnerary," he said quietly. "You'll need it."

"Why?"

"To heal your wounds when you knock yourself out."

"Why bother? She'll probably just heal me anyway."

Erk laughed at this. To be honest, so did I. I said my goodbyes and walked with Serra, who insisted I offer her my arm. I declined, saying that—

"I'm shy, Serra. I would, but… I… just…"

"Oh, goodness, I get it!" She exclaimed, stopping and turning sidelong to look at me. "I'm the one your heart is dedicated to!"

"Serra, I—"

"Oh, how sweet! I always knew you had excellent taste in women, my dear tactician! But… I'm so sorry, but I don't think I feel the same way. My heart belongs to Erk!"

"I know, Serra, but—"

"It's not that you're not attractive, but… he's so much more refined than you are."

"Excuse me?"

"The way you go charging into battles with a knife in one hand and a whip in the other… it just doesn't do it for me. But I think I know someone that would see something in that mentality… I think you should pursue Lady Lyndis. She needs a good man with a good heart to take care of her."

This ultimately was very amusing to me. I paused for a moment, even put on the visage of slight disappointment, then finally sighed and said, "Well, I'm glad you think such, because she is the one whom I am enamored with. Sorry."

Serra's jaw dropped. I almost felt bad for the poor girl, but the way she stormed off was… like a child. Amusing. I giggled, then sighed, making my way to the inn that I had wanted everyone to meet at. After all, I was disobeying my own orders, and I didn't really like the thought of parading through Badon alone.

I got to the inn a little earlier than most everyone else, but I wasn't the first; Lyn was sitting at a table by herself and looking, if anything, rather… angry. Concerned, I slid onto a chair beside her, offering her a bit of a coy smile. "You're too pretty to be frowning like that, Lyn. What's wrong?"

"I'm swimming to the Dread Isle, that's what's wrong."

I probably looked shocked. "Why?"

"Because apparently the only way we're sailing is with pirates."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand the problem."

"I think of pirates as the same as bandits. I can't fathom the thought of getting onto a boat and being surrounded by them."

"You won't be surrounded by bandits, Lyn. You'll have us, too."
"Pirates kill and steal just as bandits do, Jason. We'll never make it to the island because I'll probably kill most of them just for looking at me wrong. Besides, they want a hundred thousand gold just for boarding fees."

My heart sank. "A hundred thousand! That's… that's ridiculous! We barely can scrape together a tenth of that!"

"Exactly. So we're swimming there."

I didn't like seeing Lyn this way. I thought about it for a moment, then had a wicked idea.

"There's an arena in this town, is there not?" I asked.

"Yes, why?"

"I'm going there to make some money," I said, standing up.

"You absolutely are not!" Lyn protested, quite swiftly. "You promised you'd give up fighting!"

"This is different, Lyn. This isn't a decisive battle. It's just one opponent. Besides, I'm just a tactician. No one will bet on me. I'll talk with the arena manager and try to get a bigger cut. We could be on that ship in three or four fights."

"Don't bother, Jason," Eliwood's voice rang out. I hadn't heard or seen him enter. "Hector and I talked to the captain of the ship—Fargus, I believe his name was—and we might get on for free."

I raised a brow—saving a hundred thousand gold would be a blessing.

"I'm listening…"