Chapter 5: Mercenary Attack
Titania sat on the temple grounds with Rhys by her side. Ever since she witnesses Jill's decapitated head, she hadn't been the same. She had lost all confidence in herself and went to the temple outside Daein's former capital at every opportunity she could. Rhys became the new head Bishop at the temple, giving holy advice to the wealthy and the poor, but most of the time he was with Titania.
After the fall of Daein's lord, Ashnard, the people lost confidence in them and with the Daein Empire. They surrendered to Crimea after the news of Lord Ashnard's defeat, begging for forgiveness. Princess Elincia accepted their apology in an instant and allowed them to build a new government and infrastructure. Now, Daein had become a popular nation to go to for relaxation and wealth. The economy grew tremendously, the government was restructured, and the population rose. Life was good for the people of Daein.
However, one flaw was the military. The reformed government refused to establish a military strong enough to protect its people, not to mention the capital. The only military they had were the mercenaries that Lord Ike commissioned and the small amount of volunteers who wanted to join the mercenaries. Another flaw was the types of industries Daein established. Daein breweries and pubs were growing at an exceedingly rapid rate, while the other industries, like the fabric and blacksmith industries, were declining.
Rhys, looking disgruntled, came up to Titania and folded his arms. "Titania, I know you liked Jill a lot, but there is no sense in praying everyday. People die everyday, and there is nothing we can do to stop that."
"I know I shouldn't, Rhys," replied Titania. "I just don't want the same thing to happen to anyone else. The methods they used to kill her…it isn't right."
"You are right. But they are rebels, and they have no lenience toward our government. Whoever is in charge of them has trained them to use whatever methods they deem necessary in order to dispose of us. I understand what you are going through, but there is nothing we can do about that."
"I know."
"Cheer up. Commander Ike will see to it that this infiltration ends as quickly as possible." Rhys smiled back and left to help someone who just entered the chapel.
Titania left a while later, still looking depressed. The others stationed in Daein had ceased trying to make her feel better after numerous attempts to do so, all of them except for Rhys and Haar. Upon hearing of Jill's death, Haar had become more aware of his surroundings. He didn't sleep as much and took his wyvern flying every day for hours on end. Titania had grown attached to him since then, feeling apologetic for his loss. However, he refused to accept Titania's company. He felt the most responsible for Jill's death because he had made a promised to her father to protect her with his life after he died in the hands of Ike and the rest of the Griel Mercenaries. Now that promise could no longer be fulfilled.
Titania walked back to the house she was being given shelter to. She opened the door. Nobody was home. Taking a seat on her bed, she saw a letter on her bedside table. She opened it and looked at the signature on the bottom. It was from Sothe.
Dear Titania,
I am leaving your company and the Griel Mercenaries to go off an adventure of my own. Saving the world was fun, but I have had enough waiting around. I need more excitement in another country than Tellius. Therefore, I am going to Port Toha and sail far away from here. Please don't worry about me; I will take care of myself. However, I want to wish you the best of luck dealing with the events in the future, and to Ike.
Sincerely,
Sothe
As she read this, she looked carefully at the strange markings of his writing. It looks like he wrote the quite quickly. The writing is sloppy and scratchy. She put the letter down, ran out to the house and made her way across town. She found Tauroneo and Geoffrey at an intersection having drinks.
"Have you seen Sothe?" she asked.
"And then," hiccupped Tauroneo, who splashed mead all over himself, "I found myself lying on the ground covered in wyvern dung." The two laughed hysterically.
Titania, however, was not impressed. A vein in her temple was beginning to throb. "Geoffrey, where is Sothe?"
"Hold on a moment, Titania. We are in a middle of a funny story!"
However, Titania couldn't hold. She grabbed him by the collar, knocking over his mead into the sewer. "Ah, you made me waste my drink. That cost me 120 neros."
"I don't give a crap about your story or your drink! Where is Sothe?"
"I haven't seen him since yesterday? Why? Do you think he left?" he remarked bitterly.
"As a matter of fact, I do. I just received a letter from him saying he headed west toward Port Toha."
Geoffrey shrugged. Tauroneo looked confused, taking another swig of his mead. She gave up. "Fine, it seems like you don't know what happened."
"I do."
Titania looked around to see Ilyana behind her. Instinctively, she jumped back.
"Sorry…Sothe told he was going to meet with Ike in Melior."
"But that isn't what the letter said."
"Could it be possible…that he lied to you?"
"Why would he?"
"He could have just as easily lied to me too?"
"We can't assume anything, Ilyana."
"Now, Tauroneo, as you were saying…"
"SHUT UP, Geoffrey! This isn't the time or the place."
Haar emerged from an alley that leads away from the wyvern feeding grounds. He surveyed the two drunks, Ilyana looking as shy and quiet as ever, and Titania shouting at the top of her lungs for whatever reason. Taking his ax, he slammed in into the table, and all clamor ceased. "Enough."
"But…they…"
"Titania, can you not see that they are drunk and won't be able to comprehend anything you say," he said, his non-patched eye looking directly at her.
"I…"
"Stop bickering and listen. It is clear to be that whatever happened to Sothe, he is no longer in Daein territory. I think it is best for us to meet up afterward with Rhys and explain the situation."
Titania looked a bit traumatized that his words. "Yes."
"Would you two make sure that Tauroneo and Geoffrey are sober before we meet with Rhys?"
Ilyana nodded while Titania looked dismissive.
"Good. Go."
As Ilyana tried to get Geoffrey and Tauroneo back to the castle, Titania and Haar remained behind. They surveyed each other for a long while before speaking.
"I…"
"Don't bother, Titania. We are both suffering hardships here, and we need to endure them. I've lost my closest ally, and you can't find Sothe. Things will be different from now on. I think it is best that we wait until we have sufficient evidence as to what happened to Sothe and around the rest of the world."
Titania looked hopelessly at Haar. That wasn't what she was thinking at all. She was going to say that she felt sorry for him and wished to comfort him, but she resigned and nodded. "Alright, Haar. I will."
The newly formed party assigned by Lord Ike traveled quickly through the plains of Crimea and Begnion. They stepped into the Siennes Forest in 12 hours time, praying along the way the Apostle and the rest of the empire were alright. By early morning, the party was hiding in the brush outside the capital, facing the walls. Lord Ike watched as round after round went after the allies of Begnion. Hordes of swordsmen, laguz, wyverns, and sages went in and never came out.
This is a really good sign, thought Ike. They must be holding up well to their attack. I think it will be a good opportunity to attack soon.
"Calill, Soren, Rolf, Sasha, and Bastain," ordered Ike. "Be prepared to use whatever magic you can handle. We are going to attack them from behind."
"What? From the brush?" asked Calill disapprovingly.
"Yes." Rolf had said this. "If we attack them from behind, their numbers will go down significantly, without ourselves getting noticed."
"OH, ROLF! You are so smart!"
Rolf sighed. "Not now, Sasha."
"Oh…sorry."
Ike smiled and then turned to face Oscar and Boyd. "We will be going on the attack as soon as their numbers are down. How many do you except there to be left without the entire capital being under siege, Oscar?"
"At this point, I wouldn't know. I can send Zihark or Lucia to check it out and return after a brief glance of their findings."
Ike nodded. "Then do so. Send them both, and take Mia along with them."
The three swordsmen grinned at one another, and left the brush for a better look. Stefan and Vermilion were not happy though.
"Lord Ike, I must protest," exclaimed Vermilion as soon as they left. "Send me out there as well. I'd rather not sit around here while they are off surveying the grounds. They need someone like me to look after them, and…"
"I know how they are, and they are the finest, Vermilion. They were here longer than you, and you will follow my orders."
"Please, Vermilion, don't underestimate Ike's ability," added Oscar.
"Yeah, whatever."
After a few minutes, the three returned. They reported that fewer than 10,000 men were left for Daein, but they didn't know the numbers inside the capital. They also confirmed that there were plenty of swordsmen and laguz left, but there were also generals and knights.
"Yes! Finally, I will be able to use my Steel Hammer!"
"Don't get too excited. Keep your Short Axe handy, Boyd," ordered Ike. "Alright, mages and archers, prepare for combat." The called group situated themselves, readied their arrows, and opened their tomes. "Ready! Fire!"
Kieran struck down another laguz in the head, which fell limp on top of three severly hurt rebel soldiers. He looked around to see to see where Nephenee and Brom were. Brom was still in combat against a horsemen, and Nephenee was on her way to attack a knight. Marcia and Tanith had joined the battle as well, but their luck wasn't so well. More of their Pegasus knights and riders were wounded or killed than those of the ground.
The ax wielding horseman was surprised by how much luck they were having. Nevertheless, he knew that they wouldn't hold up for much longer. Fatigue was now a major issue for the Begnion army.
He looked toward the smashed gate. At first he was saw a flash of bright light, thinking that there was a storm coming, but there jets of green and red were shot into the sky. He looked very puzzled. Are they fighting amongst themselves? "Tanith, what is going on above?"
Tanith flew into the air and surveyed the area. In the back, the rebels were scattered, many were killed. She looked further out, and saw someone familiar in the far end of Siennes Forest. The Pegasus Knight grinned and went down to the ground. "Kieran! It is Lord Ike. They backup has arrived!"
"What? Really?"
"Yeah! We might actually survive this!"
"Marvelous!" he turned to face everyone and spoke loudly. "You have done so well this evening, but the battle isn't over! Just outside these walls, you have seen flashes of different colors. These are mages, and they are here to help us. They are out backup!"
A magnificent roar was heard from the volunteer warriors. This battle is finally coming to our advantage, thought Kieran. We are going to win this, after all!
Ulysses was infuriated. Extremely infuriated. 20,000 men, of his own men, were being slaughtered by Begnion forces, of which his scouts informed him were "lack-luster". And now, a new force was causing casualties from behind. For five long intense years, Ulysses fought alongside these men, training to takeover Begnion and Daein territories. Now, rebels were scattering like rabbits, in fright and terror.
"FUCK!" He turned to face a soldier, who looked like he was going to soil himself. "Bring me that bastard teenager. NOW!"
"Yes sir."
The soiling soldier returned with Sothe, who was bounded with heavy rope on his wrists. Sothe, unlike the soldier, was not intimidated by Ulysses at all. He had been through worse. The spy surveyed the mad general, looking into him like a tiger ready to pounce; the same expression Volke taught him to do when he was still young.
"You lying prick!" barked the general. "You told me that Begnion had no army. How am I supposed to trust your judgment in the next battle? We were supposed to win this. You didn't see this?"
Sothe sniggered. "I believe you are mistaken. I never scouted Begnion. Remember, you were with me when we were talking to the Black Knight, confirming information about Daein and Crimea. I had nothing to do with Begnion."
"LIAR!" The general took out his sword in a quick flash and stabbed Sothe in the chest. The thief cried in pain for several seconds before collapsing onto the muddy ground. "Don't lie to me, you bastard. I would kill you here and now, but the Black Knight has made his ruling. Mitsu, take this brat to his quarters and lock him there. Make sure he doesn't leave these mountains!"
The soiling soldier saluted his superior, and left, carrying the bleeding Sothe by the waist.
"I will not be made a fool, especially to the Black Knight. If I must, I will go down there and kill them myself."
"Why, General Ulysses? You mustn't reveal yourself too quickly."
The general turned around to face the Black Knight himself. He took a knee. "My lord."
"General, this was only a ploy, a distraction to both Begnion and to you."
"What?"
"I am sorry your men were lost, but I had made contact with a fellow laguz group willing to come to our aid. I think he is trustworthy enough."
"You trust in the laguz. They aren't trustworthy at all! How can you sacrifice my men? This is…"
"An unfortunate circumstance, one I wish I didn't have to make. However, I am sure the ravens will help us greatly."
"Ravens? I didn't know there were laguz like them."
The Black Knight looked at the startled general in amusement. "Not many of us do. They come from an island in the east over the mountains. They prefer to live peacefully, but the bribery of having extra riches and rebellion support provoked them to participating."
Ulysses expression changed instantly. "What are their military strengths? Do they know of the other laguz? What are they like?"
"Calm yourself, my dear friend. You will see soon enough. You might also have heard of a spy to the kingdom of Kilvas, who is a spy for the Ravens."
The general eyes grew wide, showing the whites, then smiled gleefully, thinking he knew who the spy was. "Indeed. I will observe these newly acquainted laguz from the east."
The black knight left without saying another word. General Ulysses went away in the opposite direction, thinking hard. So, there was a third bird tribe. How come they did not participate in the war five years ago? What strength do they have? Only time will tell whether this new laguz tribe will bring us to victory.