Before this chapters starts I'd like to apologize to anyone called Gladys (who actually likes her name) Sorry.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem or any of its characters.

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Mark and Lyn had been travelling for three days when they reached Bulgar. As they entered city, Lyn ran ahead and called back to her companion. "Mark! Over here!"

They were standing in a broad street that was teeming with life. As they stood taking in the sight, the bustle of everyday life continued around them.

"This is the biggest city in all of Sacae," Lyn sounded immensely proud of this. Her face was practically glowing with pride.

Mark had to admit it was impressive for Sacae. In any other country it would have been nothing out of the ordinary. However as the largest settlement he had seen in Sacae so far was a hamlet of five houses, this was a massive contrast. He whistled in admiration.

"We should gather supplies for our journey," suggested Lyn.

"Yeah, that makes sense," Mark agreed. "How about we split up. That way we can be on our way faster." Seeing Lyn nod, the so called tactician set off towards an interesting looking shop. "See you back here in an hour!" he called back over his shoulder.

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Half an hour later a tall figure with dark brown hair, wearing a green cloak walked down a small alley. Two people took notice of this. One recognized the young man as his prey and set off after him. The other noted him as someone walking into trouble. She supposed she should lend a hand. With a sigh she followed both of them down the alley. Some people could be so clueless.

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Mark was revelling in the cool air of the alleyway that made such a nice contrast to the heat of midday Bulgar. He liked the alleyway. That was until a cold blade was pressed against his throat. An arm wrapped itself around his chest pinning his arms to his sides. "Aww crap," he hissed, partly out of his stupidity, partly because his broken ribs were being ground together.

"You got that right," replied a gruff voice by Mark's ear. "Now if you co-operate I won't hurt you too much."

Mark shuddered at the stench of the breath. "Well you see, there's the problem right there. I'm broke, so can you just let me go now."

"Ah my friend, you misunderstand." The voice chuckled. "I don't want your money. I want you!"

Mark heard the faintest of sounds from further down the alley. The sound you get when someone is trying his or her best to make no noise. He needed to distract his captor. Unless this was an accomplice, in which case he was in even more trouble "Sorry, I'm not inclined that way. Maybe if you had the decency to wash first. I may consider it."

"Just shut up you little sh…"

There was a wet ripping sound and Mark was released. He turned to see a man sprawled on the ground, gurgling with his throat slit. He looked up at a woman with bright red hair that obscured one of her crimson eyes. She was wearing a dark blue tunic and a gaudy yellow cloak.

"Thanks!" Mark breathed a sigh of relief. Then he noticed the woman still held her knife at the ready. "Look I have at least five broken ribs. I'm not going to try anything. So please put that knife away."

She nodded and flicked her wrist. The knife vanished from view. "Mind telling me what that was about?" Her tone of voice indicated that her knife was near at hand, and that she expected an answer.

Mark crouched down by the dead man and winched as his ribs protested. "No idea," he replied. He started to check the corpse's pocket for anything that might identify him.

"Why don't I believe that?" the mysterious woman replied curtly. Her face though wore an amused look.

Mark found a pouch full of gold. He tossed it to his saviour who deftly caught it. "Why are you so interested?" With that he continued his search.

"Call it professional curiosity."

Mark found another dagger sheathed up the dead man's left sleeve. There was a matching sheath on the right arm as well. He ran the last remark through his head, as he took the sheaths and stuffed them into his pack. "You're a spy aren't you?"

The redhead's smile slipped for a moment. "Hmm, not bad. Hey kid, you want a job?" She tossed the pouch back to Mark.

He felt like laughing, as it was considerably lighter now, than when he had first held it. "Already got one. Thanks for the help by the way." He stood up and started back towards the main street.

The spy grabbed his wrist. "You still haven't answered my first question."

"I've pissed of some people in my time. Let's leave it at that. Okay?" He moved to leave, but the grip on his wrist tightened.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Joseph." Mark didn't have time for this, but it looked like he had little choice. "And you are?"

"The name's Gladys. Now, what's your real name boy?"

Mark grinned. "I don't see why I should tell you, when you gave me a false name as well."

"Ah, touché!" With that Gladys released her grip on Mark's wrist. "See you around." She turned and despite her bright cloak seemingly melted into the shadows.

"I seriously doubt it," Mark muttered under his breath as he hurried out of the alley.

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Mark arrived at the meeting point to find Lyn in a heated conversation with a cavalier in green armour. He slowly approached the two.

Lyn turned and saw him. "Let's go Mark. I've nothing more to say." She strode off forcing Mark to run in order to catch up to her.

"What was that about?" Mark inquired.

"Oh, some idiotic knight from Lycia was hitting on me. He's so full of himself it's a surprise he doesn't explode."

"It's no wonder that he tried, you are beautiful," he blurted out before he could stop himself. He cringed. That didn't sound like him at all. He realised he was blushing.

Lyn seeing his embarrassment, smiled warmly at him. She was too busy watching her companion and not the road. She walked straight into the horse of the knight from earlier. Another cavalier now joined him. "Excuse me! You're blocking the road." There was clearly annoyance in her voice. "If you would be so kind as to move your horses…

The second knight in red armour replied. "Of course. My apologies!" He gave a light tug on his reins and his horse moved out of the way.

"Thank you. You at least, seem honourable enough," Lyn's tone lightened.

The cavalier's brow scrunched in thought. "Hm? Pardon me but…I feel we've met before."

Mark laughed out loud at this. It seemed Lyn was very popular today. He stopped laughing when Lyn shot him a look of pure venom.

"I beg your pardon?" Lyn's voice was as cold as ice.

The cavalier in green armour butted in at this point. "Hey! No fair Kent! I saw her first!" He sounded mortified by his friend's attempts at stealing this beauty out from under his nose.

"Tsk! It seems there are no decent men among Lycia's knights! Let's go Mark! I've run out of patience!"

Mark found himself being dragged down the street by the near livid Sacaen. He still found it hard not to laugh.

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"Run! We're being pursued!" Lyn cried as she took off through the woods.

She and Mark had been travelling for half an hour when they noticed they were being flanked by a group of men. Now Mark following Lyn, running as fast as his chest would allow. He'd spotted at least three men in pursuit. Something wasn't right though. They weren't running straight for them, but flanking them on either side as if to…

"Lyn! Watch out, they're herding us!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

As he did this Lyn rolled under a swinging axe, and brought her sword up in a sweeping arc. Her blade split open her attackers chest, as he was about to take a second swing at her. "Could it be those knights from town?" she asked as Mark caught up to her. "No…it's not them these men are out for blood!"

A large man with a scar above his right eye and a bristled chin stepped into view chuckling. "Aren't you the pretty one! Your name is Lyndis is it not?"

Despite the circumstance Mark started to laugh. How come everyone was trying to chat up Lyn today? Wait, he called her Lyndis? What the hell?

Lyn in contrast to Mark's mirth was shocked. "What did you call me?" She paused and lowered her sword. "Who are you?"

"Such a waste. An absolute waste," he said while eyeing up Lyn. "The things I'll do for gold…" he sighed. "Ah, well. Time to die, darlin'! C'mon out boys!"

Lyn and Mark were suddenly surrounded as several bandits emerged from the surrounding trees. Lyn tightened her grip on her sword and Mark picked up a large fallen branch, wielding it like a club.

Lyn charged the leader and abruptly jumped backwards in order to avoid being hewn in two by his axe. She landed on her back and rolled to her right. The axe thudded into the ground and inch from her neck. She swept the feet out from another bandit as she stood. The bandit hit the ground dead, as Lyn's sword was in the way of his neck while he fell. Lyn then had to back off as another bandit charged her.

It wasn't looking good, as Lyn was out numbered three to one while Mark was holding off the other two brigands with his branch/club. Mark stumbled and his two attackers charged simultaneously. He swung the long branch as hard as he could at head height.

One of the brigands caught the branch in his neck. A sickening crack pointed towards a shattered spine as the corpse hit the floor. The other brigand dodged the blow, but his chest sprouted a green lance tip. He coughed up some blood and collapsed as the lance was withdrawn.

The cavalier with green armour grinned down at Mark. "Whew…finally caught up…" He was panting melodramatically, despite the fact that his horse had done all the running. As he said this, his companion charged past on his horse with sword drawn.

The red knight swung his sword as he passed the melee Lyn was involved in. The sword parted a brigand's head from his shoulders. As his horse turned he saw Lyn kick a bandit backwards onto the green knight's lance.

The bandit's leader stared in shock as his men were slaughtered in a few seconds. He felt a sharp pain and looked down at the sword piercing his heart. "Blast…There was only…be a lone…girl…" he trailed off as the last of his life left him.

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The spy calling herself Gladys was standing outside Bulgar's main guardhouse. There was a board with bounties displayed on it. Her eyes passed over a notice that read "Wanted Dead or Alive, Batta the Beast, Reward 5000 gold." After awhile she found what she was looking for. There was a picture on it. There was no doubt about it, it was definitely him.

She read it aloud to herself, "Wanted alive, extremely dangerous, approach with maximum caution." She tore down the notice and pocketed it when no one was watching. Well, now she knew his name. She whistled at the vast amount offered for his capture. "Fifty thousand gold! What did you do Mark?"

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It was now dusk on the plains. Kent and Sain were setting up a small camp while Lyn and Mark talked.

"Okay, let me get this straight." Mark started. "You're real name is Lyndis?"

"Yes, but please call me Lyn," Lyndis/Lyn replied. Her head was hung in shame at having deceiving her friend.

Mark saw this and smirked. "Looks like I'm not the only one with secrets," he muttered under his breath. Well, he would respect her request; after all he was living a lie at the moment.

Lyn looked up. "What was that?" she inquired.

"Don't worry about it Lyn," Mark reassured her. "So Madelyn, your mother was next in line to the throne of Caelin, until she eloped with your father, Hassar? He continued

Lyn nodded. "Although they never mentioned Caelin."

"Okay, so Madelyn sent word of your existence to the Marquess of Caelin, who also happens to be your grandfather. Who in turn sends these two…" Mark jerked his thumb at Kent and Sain while they struggled with a tent. "Now Lundgren your Great Uncle wants you dead, so that he'll inherit Caelin's throne."

Lyn sighed. "That just about sums it up. What are we going to do now? From what Kent said, Lundgren will continue to send assassins after me." She shook her head in disbelief. "It looks like I have no choice except to go to Caelin with Kent and Sain. Then maybe we can settle the whole affair."

Mark realised that Lyn was talking to herself. He politely coughed.

Lyn turned to her companion. "Mark I'm sorry," she apologized. "This changes everything. What will you do Mark?"

This caught Mark off guard. "Huh? Er… well I suppose I'll…you should decide." After all he figured that he still owed her his life. Without her he would have died of hunger days ago. Assuming that he somehow managed to survive his broken ribs without aid.

He supposed that he was lucky that custom only allowed one life debt at a time. Otherwise he'd be bound to Sain and Kent as well as that Gladys woman. "Man," he thought to himself, "Gladys has got to be the worst cover name in existence. That's the sort of name a fifty year old would find old fashioned." He realised that Lyn was speaking and snapped back to reality.

"…panionship would do much to ease my journey but…" she paused. "It's going to be so dangerous." Her voice was now thick with concern.

Mark laughed at the irony of it all. Less than a week ago their roles had been reversed. "Any less dangerous than two people facing down the Taliver Bandits? I'll come."

"You'll come? Are you sure? Thank you!" Lyn brightened up almost instantly. "Let me ask once again for your friendship and aid" She hugged Mark, and then went off to rescue Kent from a collapsed tent.

Mark just sat and rubbed his sore ribs. "Why does she have to hug so hard?"

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If anyone doesn't like the liberty I took with a certain character. I'm sorry.

See ya,
Spingleburt