Wrath of Fate

Chapter the Third

Count of the Keep

The Pheraen ship slowly made its way into the rocky bay. Winds pushed violently on the open sea but the gulf's waters remained smooth and calm. The decks glittered with the reflections from the steel and iron equipment that ornamented the Pheraen soldiers. Their weapons were either sheathed or rested on their shoulders. While they readied themselves mentally for the war to come, the sailors brought the ship closer to the rocky shore, dodging the crags that protruded from the surface of the water.

Eliwood paced anxiously on the deck of the leading ship in the fleet, the Inquisitor. His sword was sheathed in a case that hung from his belt. Hector had gone ahead impatiently and so Eliwood worried if his fleet had been intercepted; if it had he wondered if it had survived.

But now was not the time to worry about foreign friends and long time allies. Hector certainly didn't remember Eliwood. Many things had transpired to wreak sadness upon Hector's world. Many things personal and political. Greater things were at hand. To Eliwood's concern that is. War was on the horizon, or more literally upon the cliffs of eastern Ivalice, near the region of Fovoham.

Eliwood was suddenly shocked into the present by the abrupt stop of the boat as the anchor hit bottom.

Marcus approached Eliwood. His horse was in the stables of the ship so he was on foot.

"Should we go ashore, Lord Eliwood?"

"Yes, Marcus. Get all the horses and soldiers onto the land, the castle is just above these cliffs."

The Pheraen soldiers went ashore and all the horses were brought to the shore as well. They climbed the cliffs that overlooked the bay until they at last reached the highlands where the castle of Igros, once home to the lords of the Beoulve, was situated.

Raven walked through the door. His two companions were lying on the ground, stunned. He bent down and nudged him slightly. He groaned a few times before getting up. Raven propped him up against one of the walls then went over to wake the other two. Once the three were in a good condition Raven started talking to them to see if any mind magic was active.

He raised two fingers. "How many fingers are raised?" He asked.

"Two" the three answered.

"What's my name?"

"Raven."

"Good. Now tell me what happened here."

"Well, we went in this room and looked around. When we were about to enter the next room we heard this voice say-"

"All trespassers shall be executed by my blade."

Raven turned to face the speaker.

The speaker had long blond hair that flowed onto his shoulders and on his back. He wore a helmet with an adjustable visor and an iron cain. His body armor was probably steel and he wore a cape made of chain. He had greaves, gauntlets, vambraces, underbraces, steel epaulettes and steel pauldrons. One sword hung from either of his sides, they were simple longswords, probably three and a half feet in length. Two knives hung at his right hip, partly concealed behind his pauldrons.

"Who are you who dare to enter uninvited into my keep? Foreign invaders? Shipwrecked travellers?"

"We are indeed foreigners but our business is no affair of yours. If you were indeed a legitimate citizen of this land you would have heard news of our coming."

"Invaders! I was right! I have heard of impending war. I had no idea your soldiers would be so…weak, helpless, pitiful!"

"So how skilled are you at combat? Come let us see!" Raven shouted.

"No. It is neither your fate nor my will that you die here or now. Your quest is yet to truly begin."

"Coward."

"Leave this place before your soldiers meet death!"

Raven looked at his soldiers who were cowering in fear in a corner of the room. He signalled them to get up and leave. "We'll go. We will leave you to this desolate keep." He turned and left himself.

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