A mysterious group seems hell-bent on capturing Nils and Ninian... Having failed, this group, the Black Fang, flees. Rumor has them traveling southwest. Lyn and her colleagues follow in hopes of recovering a lost heirloom. The Black Fang have made a stronghold of an abandoned castle in Khathelet. Its dark halls are alive with shadowy figures...
Inside the abandoned castle...
A short, dark-blue haired woman turned to a rough, tall blond hair man with a bristly beard. She spoke in a serious, rich tone.
"So the brother escaped, and the sister was rescued by a band of strangers. Do I understand you?"
"Yes..." He responded. "They ambushed us, and..." He was cut off abruptly by the woman.
"Hold your excuses. The end is all that matters."
"Yes ma'am."
She spoke, "And your plan for recovering the siblings is?"
"We've word that the entire group is headed this way, with the brats in tow."
"They're coming here? Why would they do that?"
"They may well be after this ring..." He held up a glistening golden ring, with diamonds embedded in carvings on the sides. "It's a rare piece. We took it from the girl. It was a stroke of luck that we did, especially if it brings them to us now. I'll grab the whole lot of 'em with this to bait the trap."
She thought to herself, "I see... Very well, I'll give you another chance. I've business elsewhere, but I shall return once it's finished. You have until sunrise tomorrow. Do you understand?"
"Yes." He replied.
She flashed an evil grin on her lips. "If you do not have the children when I return... my hand will deal you the fang's punishment. Remember that. Bear it closely in your mind." With that, the lady mounted her horse and left as the man thought to himself.
Outside the abandoned castle...
Our travelers finally arrived after a while, stopping in front of the castle.
Lyn looked around, then said, "I believe they went in here."
Nils walked over to Lyn's side. "Milady, are you really going in there to get the ring back."
Sion, ignoring all this, seemed to be fixated on the castle. No matter what was being said, he kept staring.
"Yes, we are." Lyn answered Nils. Nils shouted at her, "But this is their stronghold! They're bound to be well defended, not to mention well armed."
Sion finally responded, and nodded. "Nils, I warn you, they will not hesitate one minute to shred us all to pieces..."
Ninian spoke, "Please forget about the ring. It's OK..."
Lyn spoke, "Sion's agreed to attempt this... recovery. I wouldn't be here if not for that."
Sion just stared tensely at the building.
"This could be our last moments... the Black Fang... I can't believe this..." Sion thought to himself. "But I can't let the children down." Sion stopped his thoughts, then looked to face Lyn as she kept speaking...
"Sion believes we can do this. I'm sure that decision was not made lightly. With Sion at my side," Lyn looked deeply into Sion's eyes before continuing. "I'm confident we can win." Lyn then looked to Ninian. "Let's get your ring back, Ninian."
"Milady..." Nils began with a happy look on his face.
Ninian remained silent as she stared with her melancholy face.
Sain galloped towards Sion, Lyn and the siblings, shouting, "Milady Lyndis! There are more of the foe than we thought."
Sion bit his lower lip as he began to get a little nervous, losing himself deep in thought. He then relaxed and shut his eyes, still thinking.
Lyn spoke, "This is their stronghold. It's imperative we move carefully."
"Exactly, milady. This narrow corridor can be used to our advantage. If we draw the enemy through here, we can engage them in small numbers and remain relatively safe. If time is a concern, we can always rush them... If we do that, we'd better be sure we can win." Kent mentioned.
Sion kept thinking to himself. Then Lyn turned to him. "So, Sion, What do you think?"
Sion sighed, then opened his eyes. "Most likely, they know we are here. So, it doesn't matter at this point, to be blunt."
Lyn held his shoulder. "How we move forwards is completely up to you." Sion looked down at the floor.
"Are you willing to trust me?" Sion asked.
Lyn smiled. "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I? You've been my loyal friend and tactician, and you've only helped. Why do you ask?"
Sion looked down, then looked at Lyn straight into her eyes, getting lost by them. "Lyn, we are dealing with the Black Fang here. Chances are... they will want me slain first. If I fall here, I don't want you to hold back. You are in command. I feel you have learned enough to manage on your own for now. So, just take care of yourself. That's an order."
Lyn, confused, spoke. "Yes, Sion. But, tell me... Is there something you want to tell me?"
Sion froze for a moment, then just shook his head. "No. Some things are better left unsaid."
Lyn just nodded, then ran off inside the dilapidated castle. Everyone else followed her. Sighing, Sion went in and explained his plan. Lucius, Erk, Rath and Florina were to take down the archers. Matthew was to find any items useful he could find. Lyn was to take down anyone who came in her way. Dorcas attacked the cavaliers, and Serra came along to help heal. Nils and Ninian were to follow. Nils helped with his music as well.
"OK, now everyone, if we stay in these positions, they should hopefully, come single file. We'll clear them out one by one. Go." Sion said.
With that, everyone split up as he followed Lyn.
Sion swiftly took out a bandit and cleaned his blade as Lyn hacked into a fighter. Rath made himself useful my landing his arrows into the foreheads of his enemies. As Sion and Lyn progressed on through the corridors, Sion caught a glimpse of the rough, blond-haired member of the Black Fang. His eyes widened in surprise.
He began to think to himself.
"Beyard... I remember him. Why is he here!"
Sion, noticing Beyard had not seen him or Lyn, rushed Lyn on as they continued cutting down the foe.
About 3 hours later...
Everyone had taken down the Black Fang members in the castle. Beyard, noticing, yelled out loud. "How? This can't be... They should be dead! Everyone! Get in there and finish them! This is our final chance!" However, no one was alive to answer his call.
"Aha! Villain! Stop, and return the ring!" Lyn shouted as she pointed the Mani Katti at Beyard.
Beyard, muttered to himself before lunging into battle. "I mustn't fail... I cannot fail... The consequences are too..."
Before he had a chance to finish his own little conversation with himself, Lyn was on top of him, cutting into his waist. Sion followed her attack, as he thew his dagger into his shoulder.
In pain, Beyard screamed, then opened his eyes. They widened in surprise as they stopped upon Sion.
"Lyn!" Sion shouted. "Get the knights and Florina here right away!"
Lyn ran off to get them as Sion and Beyard struggled.
"Sion... I thought you were dead... You should be!"
Sion grinned, "You're joking. You honestly think I can be killed that easily?" Sion took his dagger and again stabbed Beyard in the back to delay him. Just as he did, Lyn returned and put her foot on his chest.
"Earghh..." He panted. "Aaaah... No... I... I cannot..." He looked up at Lyn as she pressed on his chest.
"Give us the ring!" Lyn shouted. "And swear us this oath... You must promise to leave these two alone. If I have your vow, I'll spare your life..." Lyn spoke sternly to Beyard.
"Failure... means death..."
Sion scowled as he looked down upon Beyard as he took a small vial from his satchel and drank it. Beyard coughed a while and then froze, deathly still.
"What! Poison? He took his own life..." Lyn whispered to herself.
"These are no common brigands we're dealing with. This man was trained by a well organized group." Kent said.
"I could have told you that much, Kent." Sion stated.
"What do they want with Nils and Ninian?" Lyn asked. Sion shrugged as he stared at Beyard's corpse.
Nils just remained quiet. Ninian looked down at the floor.
Lyn turned to comfort Nils and Ninian. "Nils, Ninian. Everything's going to be fine. As long as you're with us, you'll be safe."
"But..." Nils began.
"You witnessed our victory, right?" Lyn said. "With Sion's planning and my sword, you've no worries. If we all work together, there's nothing we can't overcome. I don't care who comes after you; I'll not let you be taken."
"Nor will I." Sion spoke.
"Really?" Nils asked.
"Yes, on my honor." Lyn said as she turned to Sion. "Right, Sion?"
"Yep." He replied with a smile.
"Milady..." Ninian whispered.
Sion nudged Lyn, and handed her something. "Oh, yes..." Lyn said as she smiled. She handed the item in her hand to Ninian. "This is yours."
"Ah... It's..." Ninian said.
"You called it Ninis's Grace, did you not? That lout had it." Lyn pointed to Beyard's corpse.
Nils beamed, "Milady Lyndis! Thank you so much!"
Ninian spoke quietly, "I have no other words, save thank you."
With that, the siblings left. Lyn then walked up to Sion and spoke to him.
"Are you sure there is nothing on your mind? You seem troubled."
Sion sighed. "Lyn, perhaps another time. I'd rather not say now."
Lyn sighed and pouted. "Well, I'll be over there. Sion, I've never trusted anyone as much as I have you. I feel as if I can tell you anything. You can tell me anything, and I'll still see you the same way. We all have secrets. But, its how we deal with them that matters."
Lyn then walked off as they all began to settle for the night.
Sion briefly looked into his shirt, looking at the scar from the arrowhead wound he had when Lyn had found him out cold on the plains. It rested above his heart. So many memories flooded his head. But, he shook them off and helped get ready for camp.
Everyone got their tents out and settled in the woods, watching the sky. Sion stayed up, smiling as he listened to the birds and crickets chirp. He then sat up as Lyn walked up to him.
"Lyn? Is something wrong?"
"I can't sleep." She said.
"You can't sleep?"
She shook her head. 'No, for some reason I can't. I feel as if something is wrong. So, I was hoping, you don't mind me next to you for a while, do you?"
"Not at all Lyn, go ahead." Sion said as he lay back down.
Lyn smiled as she laid her blanket next to him and lay down beneath it. She stared up at the sky with him, sighing.
"This reminds me of being back home on the plains. My father and I used to do this all the time. We loved looking at the stars."
Sion smiled. "My father traveled a lot while he fought. He taught me constellations to help me travel with him at night. That star over there, that bright one." He took Lyn's hand and had her point in the right direction. "That's Polaris, the true north."
"Ah." Lyn said as she took what he said.
A while went by as he pointed out all the constellations. Suddenly, Sion let out a big yawn.
"You may not be able to sleep, but that's not the case with me. I'm getting real tired. Goodnight, Lyn. I'm off to bed."
Lyn turned around to face him. "Goodnight..." She whispered.
Sion closed his eyes, and almost instantly fell asleep. Lyn, smiling, placed his hand on top of his as she took a hold of his hand. She grinned to herself, and then let her eyes slowly close as she too drifted asleep.
There is a connection between a group called the Black Fang and the two cildren Nils and Ninian. There also seems to be some sort of connection between the Black Fang and Sion. With our travelers interfering with the Fang's plans, will this interfere with Lyn's desire to meet her ailing grandfather? Are the Black Fang and Lungren plotting together for Lyn and company's demise? Find out in the next chapter, Vortex of Strategy.