Chapter 3: The New Tactician

"Father… Father!"

"What is it, my son?"

"I felt something… Like a hand on my shoulder. I'm scared!"

"Ah, don't worry Robin, that was just me."

"Oh… I'm sorry. It's just that ever since yesterday when I-"

Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the terrified gaze of the young boy sitting upright in bed.

"What's wrong?" his father asked,

"I… I heard The Voice again. It was laughing, asking me a question I didn't want to hear."

"I know son, I know. Everything is going to be all right, I promise. You're going to be okay. You are in control of your thoughts, you are in control of your actions, and you are in control of your fate. Nothing will change that, not even your bloodline."

"I understand, Father."

"Robin, please promise me you won't ever forget that."

"I promise, Father."

Thunder boomed, muting the whimpers coming from the child. He would not sleep well that night, nor any night thereafter.

Eight years later

He woke up drenched in his own sweat, but like every other night recently, Robin would blame it on the heat. He didn't dare acknowledge the dreams he had for fear that his father would start to worry, and with everything that was happening, Ylisse's chief tactician didn't need distractions.

Robin tossed in his bed slightly, too uncomfortable to get up. His body was heavy, like a mountain of steel rested on his chest. Even though he'd slept, he did not feel rested. Positive he had dark circles under his eyes, Robin gently raised one of his hands to his face and ran his fingertips over his skin, which was shockingly cold. For how warm he was, touching his skin was like touching ice.

The sun had not yet fully risen in the sky, but that did not mean he could stay like this. His father was surely awake by now, anxiously awaiting the return of Ylissean scouts for their morning reports. Today would be like any other for the both of them: Validar would pour over all the information he had about Plegia's increasingly common attacks and Robin would occasionally give his input when he was asked. They had a simple life- a good life.

Begrudgingly, Robin pulled himself out of bed and slipped into a pair of boots. He would have changed out of his sweat-soaked clothes, but the heat they provided him was almost… Grounding. He needed to stay grounded. Closing his dark eyes, Robin took a deep breath, followed by a long exhale. He stood, pulled his mage's cloak around him, and headed off into the castle.

Grounded, he thought to himself. I will stay grounded.

Several of Ylisstol's soldiers and knights were up and about as well, but he did not stop to exchange greetings or make eye contact. In the hall leading to the throne room, Robin spotted Frederick and Chrom, the latter of the two looking rather impatient. Most likely, they were waiting to speak with Emmeryn, and by the gods, Robin did not envy Chrom. When he'd first gotten acquainted with Frederick, he and the Ylissean were… At odds. Frederick, having recently earned the title of "Frederick the Wary" but his character trait into practice very early on during Robin's stay. Their disagreements and hostilities had never ended in violence, but mostly because Frederick respected Emmeryn too much to go against someone she trusted.

Continuing to move through the castle, Robin made his way to a spiraling staircase that he climbed up with a little more speed than before. The second floor of the castle was home to his father's chambers, as well as an entrance to a small garden that the two often frequented. Because daylight had not yet fully set in, the lanterns were still lit, providing the slight hint of smoke and dryness in the air.

With a smile, the teen brushed some of his dark hair out of his eyes and headed into the garden, spotting his father almost immediately. He sat at a small stone table that had something akin to a chessboard carved into it, and the seat across from him was open, as usual. Next to him on the ground was a parcel wrapped in leather, but it wasn't something his son would likely question. Lifting his eyes from the wooden pieces he'd been studying, the older man beckoned for Robin to sit.

"You're up early," Validar mused, moving the pieces back to where their starting positions. While from a distance, one may think he was playing chess, this was a tactical table, set up like a mock battlefield with varying terrain and obstacles. Emmeryn had the table commissioned for Validar specifically, mostly so he could have a space to be alone with his thoughts. Robin had soon picked up the habit of watching his father play on a daily basis, to the point where they started to become each other's competitors.

"I'm only away because you're awake," Robin replied. "I don't want you to be out here all alone."

"Ah, is that it?" He chuckled. "Boy, I know your intentions by now. You don't have to get up before sunrise to challenge me to a game of tactics, you know."

Robin shrugged his shoulders. "I know, I know. But I feel so much sharper after we do this, and it helps me learn my magic that much faster! Playing before the day starts helps keep me grounded." There was a slight pause in conversation between them, and for a moment, he regretted saying that. "So… What dire situation are you going to put my troops in this time?"

"Robin, I…" Robin rose his gaze from the table to his father, and instead of seeing sadness or worry in his eyes, he only saw excitement. "I think it's time we talked about your tactical progress. You may think I've been utterly annihilating your armies these past few rounds, but to be honest, you're starting to get to the point where it's hard to keep up with you. Sometimes you'll be thinking two, three, even five steps ahead of me, and I cannot tell you how impressive that is for someone your age."

"Father, is this going somewhere, or are you just laying down a preemptive excuse for you finally losing a round?"

Validar teasingly glared at his son before nodding. "Yes, there is a point. Now, imagine for me that this is Lord Chrom." Carefully, he took a black wooden piece three tiers high and set it behind the mountain terrain on the board. "He's young, he's learning not to be as arrogant, and he's navigating the leadership role that comes with being a prince and the new head of the Shepherds. However, he's never been out on the battlefield for real yet."

Unsure if he was following his father correctly or not, Robin nodded.

"Now this," Validar continued, reaching across the table to grab a handful of one tiered white pieces, "is a group of brigands that have made camp just inside our borders." The tactician set the pieces on the opposite side of the mountain terrain as Chrom. "After Phila dispatched her pegasus knights for reconnaissance, it was discovered that these men have no allegiance to Plegia or Ferox, and are just loners. They have started to cause some trouble to a small town nearby, and so that is why we now are alerted to their presence. What would you suggest Lord Chrom's plan of action to deal with these fiends be?"

"Can I add other soldiers?"

"Doesn't matter. There are no restrictions right now."

Robin pondered the scenario for a minute before reaching to grab other dark colored pieces. Next to Chrom, he placed three one-tiered pieces and one two-tiered piece, then studied the board quietly.

"Why would you do that?" Validar asked, careful not to interrupt the boy. "I said there were no restrictions, so why wouldn't you send other three-tiered pieces in place of the ones or twos? Did you not consider it?"

Robin responded almost instantaneously, continuing to look over the board. "No, I did, but it wouldn't have made much sense. You made an effort to portray Chrom as a new leader, so I figured it would be a good opportunity for him to test his leadership abilities with soldiers he'll be commanding in a few years. The battle is fairly low stakes in regards to collateral damage, and my guess is that the overall skill level of the brigands is lower than a normal mercenary group sent by Plegia along the border. Those factors make this an ideal opportunity to send Chrom on a mission with other young Shepherds so they can build a sense of camaraderie as well as experience. Of course, there would be an adult healer or two watching from afar, but they wouldn't take part in the battle unless absolutely necessary- otherwise it would be like cheating for us. Oh, and I know this isn't real, but the two-tiered piece is probably Frederick, since Emmeryn wouldn't let her kid brother go anywhere without him. He's good, but he's not as good as Chrom, which is why he's two-tiered."

Validar blinked, processing all that the boy had spoken. He had sounded so confident that even if his choice had been wrong, Validar might just have allowed him to try it anyway. "Well then, how would you like to put that into practice?"

"On the board? Of course. I'll clear it and we can start," Robin replied enthusiastically before Validar reached out a hand and stopped him.

"No, Robin. I mean… I mean on an actual battlefield."

Now it was Robin's turn to be surprised. "Oh," was all he could say.

"The situation I proposed to you is true," Validar explained. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "With Lord Chrom now turned sixteen, the time for him to start leading missions is coming ever closer. Along with the Exalt, the council believes that this would be an opportune chance for him… and for you."

"What?" Robin asked, furrowing his brow. "A chance for me? Are you saying that I get to be tactician for this mission?!"

"That is correct."

Robin leapt to his feet, unable to contain himself. This couldn't be real, could it? He'd been forced to go to more magic lessons than strategical ones, so he'd assumed he was being forced more in the direction of a soldier or advisor, but a tactician? Like his father? The smile on his face may have been forced earlier, but it was not forced now. He covered his mouth with his hands, unable to hide his shock and excitement.

"So… I'll assume that is a yes?" Validar asked.

"Yes, absolutely! I'm so honored to be chosen for this! I am chosen for this, right?" he asked in clarification.

His father chuckled. "The council has been wanting to put you on a mission for quite some time, but your recklessness with Lord Chrom persuaded them to wait until you were both slightly more mature."

Robin scoffed. "Recklessness? Father, I cannot think of a single time that Chrom and I have done something reckless together."

Validar shot the boy a look of disapproval- almost like glaring daggers, but if they were blunt and there was no glare involved. "The very first day we stayed here, you two snuck out and got lost in the castle! It took until the next morning to find the two of you, and that was only when Lady Emmeryn herself came and helped. I don't know what that boy did to you, but trouble is running through your veins whenever you're around him. Hopefully, that will not be the case as often when the two of you command your troops together."

Wincing, Robin was reminded of the incident his father spoke of that had occurred almost eight years ago. He remembered how furious Emmeryn and Chrom's caretaker had been with the prince, but the most important thing Robin remembered was how scared Validar was. Luckily, the council would vote to grant him citizenship under a false name, but at the time, it did not look good for his young Plegian son to disappear inside Ylisstol's castle. "Yeah… Yeah. I wouldn't call that a falsehood," Robin said with a sigh. "I'll be better this time, I promise."

"Good," the tactician said firmly. "Your party leaves at midday."

"What?!" Robin sputtered. "Midday as in… Midday today?"

"Correct. Chrom is responsible for assembling your party, but you will be accompanying them as both a fighter and strategist. Your goal is to get everyone home safely and to take the brigands into custody. Several Ylisstol soldiers will be accompanying you for that last part, but the fighting should be in your hands. If there is no fighting required, that would be even better."

Ah, now it was making sense. Chrom and Frederick were probably waiting in the hall to speak with the Exalt about this mission, and the more he thought about it, the more Robin realized they had both been dressed in their armor. Great, so that confirmed Frederick would indeed be going.

"I understand. Thank you for this chance." He bowed his head to his father before standing up straight. "I should probably get going… I should think about this on a real map and get ready to leave. Eat, equip, that sort of thing."

"That would be a wise idea, but hold on just a moment," Validar said. He reached to the ground beside him and lifted the leather parcel, holding it out for Robin to take. The mage only returned the gesture with a look that practically screamed "What's in it?" and so his father added, "I guess you'll have to open it and find out for yourself."

Hesitantly, Robin took the parcel and slowly began to unwrap it. Underneath the leather covering were two objects: a thunder tome and an article of clothing the in the same shade of Ylissean blue as Chrom's cape. Setting the tome on the table, Robin unfolded the clothing as realized it was a cloak. Not a mage's cloak like the one he had, no, but a tactician's cloak. His smile only grew wider as he turned it to see that it was a near exact replica of the one his father wore. It was Plegian in style, but all Plegian symbols and colors had been changed or removed, and Robin held it to his chest with glee.

"Did you have this made?" he asked his father softly.

"I did. Although, if I'm being honest, I've had it for close to a year now. I'd been waiting for the right time to give it to you, and I think now is as good a time as any. The tome however, I did not make. That's just something for you to use in addition to whatever banged up sword they'll decide to give you today," Validar admitted. "If you tear it, don't worry. It isn't meant to last forever on the battlefield."

"No, I know, but I kind of want it to," Robin murmured. "I've wanted to follow in your footsteps and be a tactician for Ylisse, and now it feels like I'm that much closer…" Still beaming, he buried his face in the cloak and inhaled deeply. The fabric smelled of the leather it was cased in, and despite having no memory of that scent, Robin felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. Or maybe that wave wasn't nostalgia, but instead something that would soon become nostalgia. In either case, he couldn't wait to wear it, and went to hug his father. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I promise I'll do you proud."

"You always do me proud, son."

Several moments passed before Robin backed out of their embrace, and he turned to see a Ylissean soldier standing at the edge of the garden. She was probably here to fetch his father, and so Robin collected his things as fast as he could and stood at attention.

"I apologize for interrupting, Raven, but the council has requested your presence. There have been some strange rumors circulating the Plegian border and they would like your insight," the soldier said, addressing Validar. No matter how many times he heard it, Robin still couldn't get used to the name his father had chosen. In hindsight, it made him chuckle how they were both named after birds, but that was mostly due to how it made Validar seem rather uninspired.

"Of course." He turned to look at Robin. "I hope to see you again before you depart, but if I do not, I wish you the best of luck, my son."

"I understand, Father. Good luck to you as well."

Standing tall, Robin saw his father leave with the soldier and head up to the council's chambers. Everything had been sprung on him so quickly, but he was not about to squander the opportunity he was given. Before leaving to his quarters, the mage slid the wooden pieces from the game into their stone compartments on the underside of the tactics table. Most of the brigands Validar had illustrated to him were one tier high on the board, and Robin only hoped that information would be accurate going forward into the coming day.

If he ever lost pieces when he played strategy games against his father, they would be because he failed to save them, not because they were sacrificed for another piece's survival. It just wasn't the way he played. Even in real life, where sacrifices were sometimes necessary to win a war, Robin was determined even now to not let that happen. The odds of a situation demanding that course of action today were low, but his resolve felt firm.

He was grounded. He would control his own fate, as well as the fates of others; that was his job as a tactician.

[ Thank you for reading! If you have feedback or comments, please leave a review! I hope to continue this soon. ]