FIRE EMBLEM

The Shadow's Glove

Shadow's Shroud

The Prince stood at the base of the infamous Summons Hill, It had long been used as a meeting ground between the four countries as it lay directly between them. The vertex between the four quadrants. Summons Hill was a tall mount with a spiralling path that ran around the entire thing three times before it finally reached the 'Look Off.' 'The Look Off'was the name given to the building at the hill's tip. It was there that the four leaders gathered.

Fearing the worse, the Prince began his climb, but stopped momentary when General Jess called out.

"My liege! Wait!" Jess had yellow-green hair, a stubby goatee and wore a purple-violet bandanna around his forehead. "Look, on the cliff side. Felac Desonians!"

It was true, Felac Desonian Army personnel covered the entire cliff side, unlike the mercenaries, these troops wore full armour and carried pikes and lances. A handful of them also rode on horseback, fully-fledged, fully-trained Cavaliers.

Jess walked up to his Prince and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "This is what I've been training you for, let's see if you've really got what it takes."

Prince Epharoth nodded, raising his lance. The presence of the Felac Desonians confirmed that there was in fact a hostile presence because the countries armies were to remain nearby but not on Summons Hill, for it belonged to neither Felac Deson, Gothan, Loreis or the Fabled City-States. Neutral land.

Epharoth bolted up the pathway, lance at the ready, with the General on his heels. They ran for what felt like forever up the spinning pathway until they reached the first set of guards. Three armed pikemen. General Jess tucked his sword under his armpit so the blade stuck out at a forty-five degree angle behind his shoulder blade, he spun around, lifting his arm and the blade swung free as it carved a path through his opponent. Blood splashed onto the dry dirt pathway.

Prince Epharoth thrust his lance forward at his opponent's chest, he stopped before contact and flicked his wrist, causing the spear tip to point towards the man's groin, the guard's eyes bulged from his head. Then the Prince spun his arm at his elbow and brought the spear to level with the man's eyes. The guard fainted.

The General walked calmly towards his second opponent, who sweated horribly and gripped his spear with clammy hands. General Jess, then returned his sword under his arm and ducked as his ran towards the guard's legs. Releasing the blade from under his arm, the General turned and violently cut the man across the kneecaps. The Guard shivered with pain as the General kicked out his legs from underneath him and the Guard fell to his knees with a sounding crunch. The General then quickly put the man out of his misery.

"Let's go." He told the Prince. "There'll be more."

The two of them continued up the pathway, fighting their way through more and more opponents until finally coming up to a group of Cavaliers. The Felac Desonians grinned as they had the natural advantage. One of them started at the two opponents at a gallop, sword in hand. Jess motioned for Epharoth to step back. The skilled General gripped his sword with both hands to the right side of his leg. He waited as the Cavalier drew closer then he slid forward towards the horse and stabbed the sword forward. He then proceeded to drag the sword upwards, cutting a nasty wound through horse and rider. The Horse reared back and fell upon its rider.

The next Cavalier snared as his horse clapped up a cloud of dust in its charge forward. The General stood back, allowing the Prince of Loreis to show his worth. Epharoth ran forward stuck his spear into the ground and used the momentum to launch himself at the Rider, he unsheathed his sword and slashed across the rider's plated chest. The metal peeled apart by the sharpened tool allowed blood to trickle over as the rider fell from his saddle.

The Prince retrieved his lance and sheathed his sword as the two continued their war up the hillside. A riderless horse clapped up dirt as it made its way down the hill.

Inside the Look Off, where the four leaders gathered, five guards lay dead, as Berin stood over them, the three leaders standing behind him. Berin's split helmet lay amongst the dead, like his younger brother, he too had yellow-green hair and wore an indigo-purplish bandanna, unlike his brother however he sported a yellow-green chinstrap instead of a goatee. He smiled slightly as the Felac Desonian soldiers did not know how to approach their highly skilled opponent. The Governor watched, an amused look played upon his lips. Berin swung his spear in one hand to fend off his opponents. The remaining guards stepped back, not wanting to fall victim to his lethal lance.

"Get back!" He bellowed loudly, forcing the guards back even further as he made his way to the door.

The governor, discovering the lone guardsmen's plan, pushed his way through the crowd. He raised his hands as a dark cloud began to swirl about the room.

Berin thrust forward taking advantage of the situation, he stabbed two Felac Desonians, which opened a gap towards the exit. He stood back allowing the Countries Leaders to escape. Lord Abrachan was the last to leave and he was stepping through the door as the Governor released a spray of lightning at Berin.

The King, acting on impulse, leaped in front of the lightning and saved the Lancer.

Berin yelled as he cradled his dying king. "I was suppose to take the blow for you!"

The King raised his hand weakly, "Epharoth . . . Do not forget . . . The Prince."

Berin lowered his dead king and took up his spear as Epharoth and Jess bolted into the room.

"Father!" Epharoth yelled.

General Jess lowered his sword in defeat.

A tear began to form on Berin's face as he gripped the lance in a new form of anger. He lifted the spear and hurled it at the Governor. The Governor disappeared in a plume of smoke and the spear smashed through a stain glass window harmlessly.

Weeks later . . .

Prince Epharoth stood overlooking the country of Loreis. General Jess and Sir Berin stood off to his side.

Jess motioned for his brother to follow him as the two moved out of Epharoth's earshot.

"You know why his Majesty did what his Majesty did. Do not forget about Epharoth. Our future lies in him and his wellbeing. If you keep kicking yourself, you know the Prince will take up arms against Felac Deson JUST to avenge your honour and his father."

"I know . . ." Berin said solemnly.

The General drummed his fingers on his chin, "But why would Felac Deson attack . . . and the Governor was obviously skilled in the Dark Arts."

"And that sort of magic is outlawed in Felac Deson . . . so why did they elect him?" Berin asked.