Dart and his crew continued on towards Badon, however, at a much slower pace than before. Dart just kept playing it over and over in his head. How could he have been so stupid? He should have kept it in a safe place. Now, his one dream, his one goal in life was gone. Just like that. Poof.
"Don't be too hard on yourself brother. It's not your fault. Really," Rebecca tried in vain to cheer her older sibling.
"Of course it's my fault. I'm the captain now. I have to take responsibility. Arrrr…how could I have been so foolish?"
"No, really Dan, you have nothing to feel ashamed about. In fact-"
"Why didn't I make a copy of that damned map? I've had that map for fifteen years…and I never even thought to…"
Rebecca sighed. This was hopeless she decided. They both lapsed into silence.
Raven looked up around him. They were walking along a shady tree-lined path that, under normal circumstances, would have been terribly beautiful, if not for the state of self-pitying despair the entire group was under. He noticed something out of the corner of his eye. There it was again. And again! They were being followed, Raven was positive.
He caught up to Dart and said softly "Don't look back, but I think were being followed."
"You saw him too?" Rebecca piped up.
"What does it matter now? It's not like we've anything important," moaned Dart.
"Oh for- Rebecca do you think you could hit our little stalker?" Raven said, taking charge.
"I got this one," interjected Wil.
"If I had wanted someone to miss the guy and waste an arrow, I would have asked you in the first place. But as it turns out, I want some that can actually shoot worth a damn. Now if you don't mind, Rebecca?"
Rebecca blushed, and Wil fumed.
"Rebecca you only have one shot to get him, so make it a good one." Raven instructed.
"Don't worry about it," With that, she grabbed an arrow from the quiver on her back, whipped around, and in one fluid motion fired a shot of into the brush. A loud yelp sounded from the bushes and a shortish man with a long ponytail came stumbling out, an arrow firmly implanted in his thigh. He collapsed in on the ground, clutching his wounded leg.
"Oh by St. Elimine's light, don't tell me…" muttered Raven as he walked towards the hobbled figure. It isn't. It can't be. He rolled the man over with his foot so that he could see his face. Raven sighed. It was.
The man on the ground managed a smile, despite the arrow. "And how are we today master Raven? These years certainly haven't been kind to you have they? Hmmm?"
"Who's yer new friend their Raven?" asked Dart.
"See for yourself," came Raven's reply.
"Legault!" yelled Dart. "What in blue blazes are you doing here?"
"Ahh Dart, the pleasure's all mine, I'm sure."
Legault was yet another member of the army that had defeated Nergal those years ago. He was a master thief, an expert of the shadows and had a certain way with words.
By this time he had managed to get to his feet. He propped himself up against a nearby tree.
"A less than grateful reception, to be sure, but as a traitor from the Black Fang, I suppose I should be used this kind of treatment, hmm?" said Legault. He winced again.
"What reason do we have to be grateful to you?" demanded Wil. He had an arrow drawn and trained on the thief.
"Peace, young Wil, I mean you no harm. What I meant, is that I simply thought you would be more appreciative of the man who retrieved your stolen map," replied Legault, rather smugly. And with that he, he whipped out a mouldy old map with a small flourish.
Dart and his crew remained motionless, their weapons at the ready.
"I see that words fail you. No matter, you may thank me later, after your euphoric joy has subsided," he continued.
Dart stepped forward and snatched the map from Legault's hands. Dart was sceptical, to say the least. He was not about to allow this petty thief to get his hopes up. He trusted Legault about as far as he could see him.
Dart gingerly unrolled the parchment. He scanned over it and his eyes became wide. He let out a great whoop.
"Har, she's the real deal mateys!" he exclaimed.
"I told you it was the real thing. I retrieved it from the thieves who stole it, and was only just now trying to catch up to you so that I could return it," Legault said proudly.
Just behind him, Heath snorted, trying to hold back his laughter. Heath had been part of a mercenary army before meeting Eliwood's group. He left his old life to join them. Legault had been a member of the Black Fang, a dangerous assassin's guild. He too, had abandoned his group to join Eliwood. After the war was over, they were branded traitors, and neither had a land to call home. These similarities helped Heath and Legault bond, and at the very least, Heath knew how Legault worked.
Legault turned a rather frosty smile on his old comrade. "Hello Heath. It's been what? Two, three-"
"Five."
"-years since we last saw each other. Too long, far too long."
"As I recall, it was you who flew off with my wyvern, leaving me in that desert to die," said Heath.
"Oh come now, I knew you would make it out of there. Besides, that's ancient history, it's all in the past now. And look, it all turned out for the best: you've got a new wyvern, we're both still alive, and we're both standing here with Dart's Dragon's Gate reunion, ready to go off and-" Legault was cut short by the sound of an axe imbedding itself into the tree behind him.
"No offence mate, but I think I'll be agreeing with Heath here. Something's smells fishy here, an' for once it ain't me. Ha, that's a good one," Dart chuckled to himself, he would have to remember that one.
Legault put on an air of mock innocence.
"I must protest to this most unfair slander! Honestly, do you really-" Legault was once again cut off by another axe burying itself into a tree.
"Stow it thief, and start walking. If we're going on a treasure hunt, I suppose we're going to need someone with your type of skills."
Legault smiled to himself. He knew well enough when to not press the subject: he had already won.