The next morning comes too quickly. Lyn has fought back the bandits' attack. Now, she rushes for the border of Bern. If she can reach it, Lycia is not far off. For a moment, Lyn stops to imagine the face of a grandfather she's never seen.

Lyn woke up as soon as the sun reached her eyes. She sat up and stretched, then put her hair back into a ponytail before she stood up. There was a nice breeze, and it was warm.

"This will be a good day... hopefully."

Lyn, making sure not to make any noise, tiptoed past her sleeping companions and walked up to Sion, who had been asleep on the floor all night. She grabbed his shoulder and shook him lightly.

"Good morning." Lyn said.

Sion, not awake turned to the other side and continued to sleep, until Lyn shook him harder.

"Good morning, I said, Sion."

Sion smiled, "And good morning to you too, rooster! Why are you waking me up so early?"

Lyn laughed, "It's morning, that's why."

Sion stretched, "Wow, morning already? Jeez... Not enough sleep."

Lyn said, "Well, hopefully, we can catch a break and rest well at Bern. Now come on, wake the others."

Sion, wrapping his blue cloak around him, walked with Lyn to the camp and woke everyone up.

Florina woke up first, followed by Sain, who woke up with a smile.

"Ah! My sweet Florina, you chose to honor me with your presence in slumber! My, my!"

"Eeeeeeekk!" Florina, scared, moved away fast, then hid behind Lyn. Her scream had woke up Wil, who in turn, left and returned with Dorcas.

After everyone had awoken and gathered everything up, Sion spoke.

"We must head for Bern. If we can get there as quickly as possible, we can reach Lycia very easily."

The Caelin knights nodded, and fit as many people as they could on their horses, then trotted off.

2 hours later...

Kent called out to everyone. "We've almost reached the Lycian border."

Lyn, relieved, smiled and sighed. "Once we cross, we'll be safe from the bandits, right?"

Wil nodded. "We should be. I doubt they'll be willing to pursue us across the border." He then got his quiver at the ready.

Kent laughed, then smiled as he made the horses quicken their pace. Sain also followed. He then yelled to everyone as his hair flew about.

"Lycia at last! It's been a long time. Tomorrow, we'll dine on a feast of Lycia's finest foods! And the mistress of the inn at the crossing is said to be a beauty. Ah, yes... Food and love. No better way to restore a man's soul!"

"No better way to lose my mind!" Retorted Sion as he held onto Sain as the horse kept galloping. Sain, laughing, spoke to Kent.

"This is going to be a fine evening, eh, Kent?"

Kent buried his face in one hand, then continued. "If your behavior is as deplorable as ever, we'd best stay elsewhere. We're not here for sightseeing!"

"Oh, come now!" Sain moaned, "That's not fair!"

Lyn just shook her head, then said. "Kent, the inn will be fine."

"As you say, milady."

Sain beamed. "Lyndis! You are truly an angel from on high!" Sion just rolled his eyes, then shook his head at Sain, laughing.

Lyn sighed, "It's nothing. Forget it."

Florina flew beside Lyn and giggled. "Ah! We'll finally be able to get a good night's sleep."

Sion grinned. "You bet! Just wait, I'll hit that bed and sleep like the dead!"

Lyn gasped, then held Sion as she leaned foward, "Oh, no... Those bandits are persistent. I'll give them that much..."

"Ah! Here they are! I've found 'em! A rather primitive looking man shouted as he pointed at the travelers.

Wil yelled, "What? Not again! They're still after us?"

The unsightly man laughed.

"Heh heh heh.Don't think you're getting away so easily!"

At this moment, another bandit appeared next to the gruesome bandit and spoke to Lyndis's Legion.

"You leave alive, and everyone'll think the Ganelon Bandits have gone soft!"

Lyn yelled back from behind Sion.

"So? We care nothing for you or your reputations! We must get to Lycia! Get in our way, and you'll pay!"

Sion smiled at her, then turned to stare at the bandits.

"Cheeky little thing, aren't you? Let's get 'em, lads! And no holding back just 'cause there's women with 'em! Wipe 'em out!" The leader bandit yelled.

Bandits immediately spread out and again, tried surrounding the travelers.

In a forest nearby...

A young girl, with pink hair in pigtails and a staff ran around in a hyper stage, bouncing around in between the trees.

"Oooh..." She growled, then stopped, "We're lost. This makes me so mad!"

Then, a man in a hooded red cloak went to her side and removed his hood, to reveal purple hair and brown eyes.

He spoke to the girl.

"You told me you were certain this was the correct path."

The girl, in a rush, argued.

"What's your point, Erk? What are you trying to say?"

Erk took in a deep breath out of frustration.

"...I swear, you are NOT the woman I agreed to escort..."

The girl yelled in a high pitched voice.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?"

Erk responded, "I heard someone was needed to escort a frail Lycian priestess to Ostia..."

She smiled, put her hands on her hips and lifted her head.

"Yes, and I'm that priestess."

Erk scoffed.

"Frail? You? Serra, you have no need of any escort to protect you." He then buried his face in his hands before continuing. "Even the most hardened criminal would flee in terror after five minutes in your company."

Erk then took his face out of his hands to face Serra.

"I'll return your money. Gladly. Now, will you please go on to Ostia alone?"

Serra stamped her foot on the soil before pouting.

"NO! You're MY escort, Erk! MINE! You're so clean and tidy. A noblewoman like myself can't be seen without a proper escort. Your personality's nothing special, but you're not bad to look at."

Erk rolled his eyes. "I believe that's my line. And I have to take you all the way to Ostia? I only hope my nerves can endure the journey."

Serra poked him with her staff in the chest. "What are you mumbling about? You're so gloomy! Hm?"

All of a sudden, Serra heard a commotion outside. Something like weapons clashing. She then pointed outside of the woods.

"Something's happening over there. Let's take a look!"

Serra ran off without Erk at a fast pace. Erk sighed.

"Ah. Of course. The first opportunity to get involved in trouble, and she jumps right in. No amount of money is worth this. Hoo..."

After breathing out deeply, he ran and caught up with Serra. She was bouncing up and down in excitement.

"Wow! A fight! A fight! Erk! Take a look! Fighting those bandits... It's a young girl!

Erk stood next to her and grabbed one of her pigtails, then yelled in her ear.

"Fool! Keep your voice down!"

Soon, a bandit ran up to them and interrogated them.

"Eh? What's this? You in league with that she-devil?"

"Hm?" Serra went.

Erk sighed. "Ah...this is so wrong..."

The bandit lost patience. "Gyaaa! I'll take care of you with one swift stroke!"

"Eeeeeek! Eeeeeek! Eeeeeeeeeeeek! Erk! Help me!" Serra screamed, then hid behind Erk.

Erk held his ears. "So...loud..." He then noticed the bandit running closer.

"Serra! Behind me!" Erk ordered. He then glared at the bandit. "You there! See if you can match me!"

Erk, quickly recited an incantation, then put out his hands. He screamed as he launched a fireball from his hands as it hit the bandit, setting him on fire.

Lyn lifted her head. Sion cleaned off his blade then went to her side.

"Lyn, is there something wrong?"

"That scream..." Lyn's eyes widened up. She then pointed over at the woods. "Look! Sion, someone's over there!"

Lyn ran up to Serra and Erk and spoke to them.

"Um, excuse me... Hello?" Lyn said.

"Hm?" Went Serra.

Lyn continued, "Why are you fighting these bandits?"

Erk answered Lyn. "... It just happened."

Serra yelled. "That's not true! Those ruffians thought that we were with you! You got us into a terrible situation! Now, how are you going to get us out?"

Erk began to get frustrated again. "Serra, if you'd not been so meddlesome, this all could have been avoided." Erk faced Lyn. "My apologies. Please trouble yourself with us no more."

Lyn thought, then answered. "But... if you're going to have to fight anyway, shouldn't we team up? It will end things faster, right?"

Serra smiled. "That's true. Yes! That's a good idea. Erk! Go and help these ladies."

Erk stuttered. "But I..." Erk growled. "Fine!"

Lyn beamed. "Very good. My name's Lyn." She then pointed to Sion fighting in the distance. "And that's Sion, my tactician." She then smiled at them. "So tell me, will you join arms with us?"

Serra answered Lyn. "Yes, we'd be glad to. My name is Serra. And this is my escort, Erk." She turned to Erk. "Be a good boy, and go fight now, Erk."

Serra and Lyn left. Erk just sighed, then followed.

About an hour later...

The primitive man noticed all his men had fallen to the travelers' swords. He growled out of anger. He ran up to Sion, as he was the closest, and yelled at the top of his lungs.

"You're gonna learn why people fear the Ganelon Bandits! Fear Bug!"

Bug then flung himself in the air and tackled Sion, and they rolled down the hill. They struggled with their weapons, Sion using his dagger to keep away Bug's axe from his throat.

"Get off of me, ugly!" Sion struggled with him as Bug's axe neared his throat. Sion grinned, he then kneed Bug in the groin and snickered as he doubled over in pain. Then Sion took his dagger and stabbed him again to hold him off.

"Hold on, Sion! I'm coming!"

Sion looked up, and smiled as he saw Lyn, rushing to his aid. Lyn, with a battle cry, thrust her sword into his back. Then Sain followed, and thrust his iron lance into his stomach.

Bug coughed up blood, and stammered.

"Blaaaaah... Scum... You're all scum..."

He died, and then they all came to retrieve their weapons.

Lyn smiled at Sion.

"Nicely done, Sion. That should just about do it."

"I should congratulate you. I'm not as skilled fighting as I am a tactician."

Serra bounced by Lyn's side. "What a surprise. You are very strong, Lyn." Serra gasped as she noticed a cut on Sion's shoulder. Sion knowing she found out, covered it up with his cloak.

"No no, Sion! Stay still!" Serra said.

Serra lifted her staff and whispered an incantation. Suddenly, the jewel of the staff glowed, then Sion's wound began to shut and his blood was vanishing too.

"Thanks." Sion said.

Serra smiled. "No problem! All in a day's work."

Lyn said. "Your staff is a wondrous thing. Healing powers amaze me."

Serra began to brag. "Only those in the service of good can wield them."

Lyn continued. "Well, it's time for us to go."

Serra spoke. "Take care. Good-bye, Lyn."

Lyn waved. "Fare you well. You, too, Erk."

Erk said, "Goodbye."

Lyn walked off, then Serra turned to face Erk.

"Well, let us be on our way, Erk."

All of a sudden, someone spoke. "What have we here? Another wildflower? Perhaps a butterfly?"

Blushing, Serra turned around and saw Sain.

"What an absolutely delectable creature!" Sain said.

Still blushing, Serra smiled. "Oh my! Are you one of Lyn's companions?"

Sain answred. "Please, call me Sain."

She smiled. "I'm Serra. I serve House Ostia."

Sain swooned. "Serra... What a lyrical name. I am in service to Castle Caelin."

Serra seemed surprised. "Oh! So is Lyn a member of the marquess's family?"

Sain responded. "She is the granddaughter of our lord, the marquess."

Serra began to think. "Hmmm... Such an important person."

Erk knew something was running in her head. "Serra... what deviousness are you contemplating now?"

"Tee hee! Having a person of power in your debt is never a bad thing!

Erk sighed. "You can't be serious..."

Serra brushed herself next to Sain. Sain turned red with a big smile on his face.

Serra began talking sweetly to him. "Oh, Sain! Do you think we could join the lady Lyndis's company? She seems like such a nice person, and I would ever so much like to help her."

Unable to refuse a girl, Sain answered. "Of course! We couldn't be happier! Why, we were only just saying how we need some more fighting power!"

Serra asked, "Are you being hunted or something?"

Sain said, "Yes, its an inheritance dispute. Assassins everywhere."

Serra replied, "Oh my! In that case, my healing staff and Erk's magic should come in handy."

Erk was totally appalled to this, but he had no say. "Well, I, er... It sounds... dangerous..."

Sain smiled at both of them, "Your staff and magic would be extremely helpful! Please wait here! I will go speak with Lady Lyndis on your behalf."

Sain galloped off to speak with Lyn.

"Unbelievable..." Erk muttered.

Serra bounced around. "This is fantastic, Erk! Our good deeds will earn us gratitude beyond imagining!"

Erk looked down at the floor. "I... I... I think I'm going to be ill."

Sain galloped back. "It's all settled, my sweet! Lyn accepts and you and your escort may join us!

"Yes!" Serra began to bounce around laughing while Erk sat on the grass, in shock. Sion walked past him and laughed. He ruffled Erk's hair and said.

"Cheer up. It'll get better."

Erk looked up at Sion as he walked off, then smiled at him before laying back in the grass.

Sion looked down at his shadow in the grass, and noticed that again, time was passing by.

"We can still get to the border if we can Florina, take Lyn and Serra on the pegasus. Kent, you take Dorcas and Erk. Sain, Wil and I will join you. Sain, take us to the inn you spoke of. We will stay there. Agreed?"

As everyone mounted, Sain smiled as he rode in the lead, followed by Kent and Florina.

After about a half an hour, Sain spotted the inn closest to the edge of Lycia and arranged everything with the mistress of the inn and she had people take their items to separate rooms.

The mistress noticed that Sion's shirt was a bit dirty with blood.

"Oh, sir! If you want, there is a hot spring in the back of the inn. Our people go there to bathe and wash things. You can go there if you like. It's welcome to all of our guests and workers."

"Oh, thank you madam." Sion said. With that, they all went into their rooms, and then Sion left for the springs. Lyn left a few of her belongings on the balcony and removed her ponytail tie. At the same time, Sion took off his shirt and went at the inn spring to wash it. She smiled, until the wind blew her ponytail tie off the balcony towards the spring.

"Ah! My father gave that to me! No! Come back!

Lyn ran out the room, closed the door and ran towards the springs. She finally made it and ran toward the water. But then she froze, noticing that Sion was washing his shirt in the spring

"Lyn, what are you doing here?

"My ponytail tie may have fallen around here, and I think it may be in the water."

Sion laughed. "Do you want me to check for you?"

"Yes, if you don't mind."

Sion nodded, then held his breath as he turned his back to Lyn and dove under. About a minute later, Sion came back up for air, throwing his head back as he gasped. "Hold on a moment, Sion." Sion took in a deep breath and dove under again. This time, when he surfaced, he had Lyn's ponytail tie in his right hand. Then, he swam over to her to give it to her. Blushing, Lyn grabbed the tie and managed a small, "Thank you, Sion."

"Anytime." Sion answered her, as he got back to washing his clothes, now sopping wet from his dive.

Lyn laughed, then walked back to her room. Sion, then got out of the water to dry off his pants and shirt. After a while, they were dry and he put his clothes back on and walked back in the inn. It was getting dark now, and Sion knew everyone was getting ready to sleep. He went into his room quietly and made his bed. Looking at the balcony, he grinned. He walked up to the balcony and slightly opened the doors, letting the wind blow the curtains around. He smiled, and took off his shirt and sat down on his bed and stared at the sky, reminiscing. He heard a knock on his door. Sighing, Sion got up and opened the door.

"Lyn!" Sion was surprised. "I thought you were asleep like everyone else?"

"Sion, I just wanted to say goodnight."

Sion looked skeptical. "Is that all?"

Lyn looked away, then replied. "To tell you the truth, I'm a little nervous. It's already been more than a month we have been together. Doesn't the situation I got you in bother you? I'm scared you'd leave me."

"Aww, Lyn..." Sion hugged her in a friendly manner. Lyn blushed, feeling her head against his chest. Sion then let her go and began to speak.

"First of all, I still owe you a debt. Like it or not, I'd be dead had you not found me. Second of all, I am only a tactician. My purpose is to fight and to plan for battles. And I am exactly doing that, I am planning and fighting. I'm... I'm happy."

Lyn smiled. "Well, thank you for saying that. I just needed that little confirmation. Goodnight, Sion."

Lyn turned to walk back to her room. Sion then grabbed her hand. Lyn, a bit surprised, turned around to face Sion, wondering why he grabbed her hand.

"Sion..."

"A lady, such as yourself, should not walk without an escort. I'll walk you to your room."

"You are far too kind, Sion."

Sion smiled as he and Lyn walked down the hallway and Sion opened Lyn's door for her. Lyn walked in, and as she covered herself in a blanket, and put her head on the pillow, she called out, "Goodnight, Sion!"

"Goodnight, Lyn." Sion then closed the door, walked to his room and locked it behind him. He lay down and covered himself with the blanket. With his eyes half open, he began to think of the future. What would happen after Lyn met her grandfather. These thoughts slowly began to fade as Sion's eyes slowly began to close. Then, finally, Sion fell asleep.

At Castle Caelin...

Lord Lundgren was yelling at his soldier commander.

"That little girl crossed the border!"

"Yes, Lord Lundgren. She's en route to Araphen..."

Lundgren growled. "Fool! Send out soldiers to meet her! Hold nothing to finish this now! First the old man, and now the girl... They cling to life like a drowning man to a rock! Double the poison's strength! If he struggles, hold him down and pour it down his throat! Once the girl is gone, Caelin is mine. I will let no one stand in my way!"

Lundgren let his greedy thoughts take control as he began to laugh, thinking of himself sitting on the throne.

With Lyn and company that much closer to their goals, the end is coming near. Will the marquess live long enough to meet Lyn? Will everyone be able to survive the new planned efforts against Lyndis's Legion? Keep reading, the next chapter, Blood of Pride, will be posted soon.