I don't own Fire Emblem
March to the Sea Chapter 25
A miserable heat was once again beating down on the Greil mercenaries as they trudged, feeling somewhat discouraged that they could not procure the full support of Gallia, back to Crimea to find a ship to take them to the large country Begnion.
The loss of the former commander, the uncertainty of Begnion's possible assistance, and the oppressive humid air were like weights resting on the mercenaries shoulders. There was no relief in sight as the road back to their home seemed to stretch on and on as waves of heat obscured their visions with molten ripples.
Ike was wiping his brow as he fretted over the state of his crew. It was hard to focus on anything as sweat collected on the filtrum of his lip. He couldn't believe that a few nights ago a storm ripped past the Gallian fort like a deluge of rain but now the sun was burning like a flame through his red cape and onto his moist and aching back. This weather was the kind of dreadful summer weather that made one believe there was never a cooler time in history nor would a season ever come to replace this blazing day.
The young commander's mind was full of worries and heat. Ike's hands were constantly raking through his blue hair as he thought and his stomach was churning all through the night. In fact, with how often his hands rubbed his head, he was sure he would go bald soon.
"Commander Ike?"
Ike turned a weary eye to the heavily clad man addressing him. He felt the need to loosen his cape around his neck as simply the sight of the armored knight raised his temperature.
"Did you need something Brom?"
The big man gave a jovial smile as his armor clanked while he walked besides the much smaller swordsman. He bashfully rubbed his short brown hair and gave a deep laugh that stirred all the way from his large belly. "I guess I was jus' trying to say thanks to you again sir. Y'all really helped me and all us prisoners."
Ike felt a twinge of a smile trying to work itself onto his tired and hot face that was blotched red, the simple country man's sincere thanks were helping to alleviate some worries. Despite the big task ahead of him, that of safely delivering the Princess to Begnion, the size of his mercenary group was slowly growing and giving him some breathing room. He could stress less about their numbers now that they had successfully freed three captured Crimean soldiers from a Daien prison earlier.
"It was actually thanks to Ranulf." Ike said as he pointed to the blue feline leading the group, "He told us about the captured soldiers."
Brom nodded with a big grin still spread from each of his ears, "Well, don't matter much how it happened I suppose. I'm much obliged either way."
"No need to thank me. Anyway, I should be thanking you for offering to join our crew. We really needed the man power."
"Ain't no need to be thanking for that. Y'all helped us out this is the least we could do."
Without continuing to debate who deserved to be thanked more Ike nodded and accepted the gesture of gratitude. However, he did feel extremely grateful for the support of the three new members of the mercenaries. Brom, the Knight, Nephenee, the soldier, and Kieran, the Crimean Knight, were all invaluable new additions to the mercenary ranks.
Then, there was that other man. Ike felt himself looking over his shoulders for a rustle of leaves or a lingering shadow that might belong to the vague and mysterious thief Volke. He was suspicious, greedy, and all in all it was very unclear whether Volke would be helpful or not to Ike, but the enigmatic man had information on Ike's father, for a price of course, and the young man could not let the thief go without knowing the truth.
When Ike really thought about all the men in his group he couldn't help but be amazed at how greatly the dynamics had changed in such a short time. Shinon and Gatrie were gone, the sting of that still reminded him of his lack of experience and youth, but in their place stood the new strong laguz allies. Lethe, Mordecai, and Yakuzo.
Although Ike had always imagined commanding a mercenary group much like his father's, he was glad he could start a group that was new and not be forced to linger in Greil's shadow.
"Commander." Tonga tapped lightly on Ike's shoulder. Ike turned and saw the tiger with his ambiguous pleased look watching him. Tonga was escorting the mercenaries with Ranulf to safely guide them to Crimea, Ike thanked him, however, the purple tiger had casually admitted that trouble seemed to follow the mercenaries and that could be entertaining.
"Yes?"
Tonga flicked his head to the left, "I hear water running over there. You should take a small break before you and your men get dehydrated."
Ike licked his dry and cracked lips as he nodded. A break sounded good and so did a face full of cold water. "Yes that would be good, and you as well." He said with a gesture to the brown hooded cloak the laguz was wearing.
All the laguz were similarly dressed to hide their animal features from any Beorc they might come across on their travels, though at the moment, they all had their hoods down to relieve some of the sweltering heat.
Tonga chuckled, "No need to worry about us young Beorc, remember that we beast laguz used to live in deserts, this heat isn't something we can't bear."
"You Beorc really are pathetic." Lethe complained as she walked up behind the commander and Tonga. She scowled slightly as she looked Ike's red body up and down with contempt.
"How can you weak creatures even think about starting wars when you can't even handle…ow!" Lethe yelped and quickly covered her nose with both hands. She shot a perturbed frown at Tonga who only returned her stare with an innocent one of his own.
Ike tilted his head, "Did you just flick her nose?"
"Of course I did." He replied. "She really should learn to hold her tongue when talking to allies of her king."
Though the tiger's face was amiable his tone was scolding as he shook his head.
"General! I'm not some kitten that's being trained!" she hissed.
The tiger shrugged, "Then don't act like one. I'm sure you have better manners than what you've shown."
"If you are so fond of the Beorc, then why don't you accompany them on their travels?" Yakuzo complained as he joined the conversation. His arms were covered by the cloak but it was obvious that he was folding his arms, clearly even more displeased than Lethe to be part of the mercenaries.
Tonga frowned at the red feline, "How is it that you are here when I specifically assigned you to stay by the little missy's side?"
Before Yakuzo could offer a bitter excuse Ikyna appeared behind him and gave a quick friendly wave, "No worries I'm right here."
At Ikyna's arrival Tonga's face visibly brightened and he went over to her and gave her a soft pat on the head. His actions received a disapproving roll of the eyes from Lethe and Yakuzo groaned loudly. "You really should be the one to guard her."
"That's impossible. General Tonga has a meeting to attend with the King and therefore cannot be away from Gallia for an extended period of time." Ranulf said as he too joined the gathering of Laguz and Beorc.
Tonga sighed heavily and let his shoulders drop, "It's really a shame. I'd much rather accompany the mercenaries. I'm sure the meeting will be dreadfully boring." As his sentence ended his ears dropped sadly.
"Honestly General," Ranulf began with a sigh as he was about to mildly scold his sometimes childish commander but he stopped as his ears twitched and turned towards a rustling bush.
The group all stopped and immediately became defensive as they waited for the mysterious sound to be given an owner. With all the unrest around the Gallian borders and the Crimea lands, the mercenaries were preparing for an ambush, a sudden charge of Daein soldiers.
However instead of a Daein attack, as the Laguz and Beorc were expecting, a young dirty girl slowly emerged from the brush and limped towards the group. Her cloths were torn and covered in mud and the edges on one side were burned. Her cloths were darkened with water and dripped into puddles on the ground below her. One ribbon held her short brown hair into a bun on the left side while the right side of her head was draped with soaking wet hair where a second ribbon used to hold it securely.
Pleading amber eyes inched closer to the crew and a small hand reached out and grabbed Yakuzo's cloak with alarming strength. Yakuzo flinched and yanked the brown material from her grasp causing the young Beorc to stumble and fall to her knees.
"What are you doing?" Tonga growled at Yakuzo as he knelt in front of the little girl still perched on her knees. Tonga softened his face and placed a hand under the Beorc's chin to lift her gaze to meet his. She gasped when she saw his animal ears and began to tremble.
The tiger offered her a kindly grin before ruffling her hair, "They are funny aren't they?" He tipped his head towards her and moved each ear separately, "Just like a kitty's ears right?"
At the gentle voice of the Laguz the girl touched one ear but immediately withdrew her hand in shock. Her face was no longer frightened however, mostly, she seemed only curious.
"See, I won't hurt you. Now, what happened? Where did you come from little one?" The girl opened her mouth but words did not come. Her expression darkened and she put both hands to her throat as tears welled in her eyes.
"It seems like she's mute." Ike observed.
"Something awful must have happened though, we can infer that without her telling us." Tonga said.
In response to Tonga's assumption the girl nodded and quickly stood up and began tugging at the Laguz's cloak. She was pointing frantically toward the direction she stumbled from while wordlessly begging them to come with her.
The mercenaries followed the mute child through the bushes and came to a steadily flowing river. All in the crowd gasped as the saw the water filled with building debris and Beorc clothing. The thin road of moving water continued moving mounds of broken houses and Beorc tools down its way without pause.
"Where is all this coming from?" Ike asked as his eyebrows kneaded together. A stench began to rise from the water now filled with garbage and the mercenaries cringed and covered their noses as they looked up stream.
Insistantly the girl kept pulling on Tonga until they reached a tall tree at the bank of the river. Soon it became clear what the kid was urgently trying to show the General.
"Commander Ike, come quickly!"
In cloths similarly tattered and also sopping wet, was a boy of maybe ten. He was on his back, eyes shut, and completely still. The girl whimpered softly as she got to her knees and began gently shaking motionless body.
Tonga crouched besides the girl who was beginning to produce a steady line of tears as the young Beorc, her brother the mercenaries assumed, continued to remain unresponsive.
"What happened?" Ikyna whispered sadly. She turned her face to follow the stream to see where the trash was being carried from. "Big brother look! Smoke!"
A large billowing cloud of black smoke was rising just beyond the trees on the other side of the river. The grim sight was soon accompanied by a sudden gust of wind that sent ash and the smell of burning wood raking through the company's noses. Ikyna shot the children a glance and felt her stomach turn. It was clear from their burnt cloths that the two hailed from whatever area was burning in front of them, but Ikyna was more uneasy about what, or more likely who, caused the fire.
"We should go investigate Ike."
Ike nodded and was about to organize a small team to go with him when Tonga stopped him. The tiger had one ear pressed to the boy's chest, "The boy is still alive." He said as he straightened himself up again.
"What?" Ike was immediately on the ground next to the Beorc children and Tonga.
"His pulse is very weak, but if you used a healer from your group I'm sure you could save his life."
Without hesitation Ike scooped the boy up and started to head back to rejoin the rest of the group.
"What should we do about the fire commander?" Ikyna questioned. She watched her brother's eyes go from the child to smoke as he weighed his options. The female twin impatiently volunteered to go see area on her own as she anxiously watched the thick gray travel farther through the sky.
Ike was hesitant, he didn't want to leave the children, nor did he want to let his sister investigate such a dangerous area on her own.
"Perhaps you should accompany the children back to the group and set up camp for the day, as the sun will be setting soon. Myself and Yakuzo will go with the Miss Ikyna to the site of the fire and assess the situation." Tonga recommended.
The commander nodded, "That's fine, but take Boyd and Oscar with you in case the situation gets sticky."
"Excellent idea commander. Don't worry though, Yakuzo and I will take good care of your sister, won't we Yakuzo?"
Yakuzo was frowning deeply as he folded his arms over chest. Tonga gave him a quick meaningful glance causing Yakuzo to flinch before he sighed in defeat and nodded.
Once the two brothers joined the laguz and archer, the group of five set off towards the smoke stack. Ike watched anxiously as the five specks vanished beyond his vision and left him a bothersome churning in his stomach.
The little girl was still watching Ike carrying the other child, "Perhaps we should find a good place to make camp." Soren suggested as he saw his friends eyes lingering on the horizon.
There was doubt hanging like a cloud over the young commander's face. As an awkward attempt to comfort Ike, Soren began, "He may be a brash brute, but his skills are nothing to take lightly. The group will return safely."
Ike shook his head disapprovingly at the wind mage, "Stop saying things like thing about the Laguz, like it or not they are our allies and I won't have members of my mercenaries be so blatantly prejudice."
Soren tilted his head to the side and wore, amazingly, an expression of confusion, "I was speaking about Boyd."
The simple comment, though clearly a dig on Boyd's character, tickled Ike and he found himself able to relax. He resigned in his mind to trust that the small recon party would keep themselves out of trouble and began heading towards the line of tents already being set up by the remaining members of the crew.
At his heel the little girl followed, desperately trying to lengthen her strides to keep up with Ike's. She clumsily tripped on the back of Ike's feet, from following too closely, and stumbled to the ground. A small cloud of dirt erupted and bits of gravel splintered out from beneath her tiny body.
Ike turned and watched the mixture of emotions swirling around her face. Tears welled but she bit her lower lip, blushing at the watchful eyes of the commander, and stood without letting herself cry for even a moment. With a quick swipe across her face, to hide her swelling eyes and shame, she resumed her desperate pursuit of Ike.
The young man found himself smiling at the little girl's dirty face. She reminded him of his own sisters, both so stubborn. He started walking again and could hear her hurried small steps chasing after him, though she was more careful this time and did not fall the entire way back to the recently erected camp.
Rhys was waiting with a gentle smile that was masking his own concern as he looked at the unconscious child. He ushered Ike into his tent with his arm resting on the little girl's back as he prodded her along as well. "What do suppose happened to them?" He asked as he began fishing through bags to find his medicines.
It was almost maddening how unorganized things had become since they'd left the fort. With the constant traveling he could never find a system of storing things that allowed him easy access to his medicine. He gave a relieved sigh when he finally uncovered his second staff, there had been so much fighting the past few weeks that his old heal staff was already worn and useless. As he turned and saw Ike gingerly lay the boy on the thin cot on the ground he made a mental note that he should visit the merchants who were travelling with them and secure some more medicine for the team.
"It's difficult to say." Ike responded as he rubbed his shoulders sorely and began rotating them in a circle to relieve the growing tension in his joints.
He cracked his neck on each side before continuing, "Ikyna and a small group are going to check out the area we think these kids came from."
"You don't know where they are from?" Rhys asked as he began waving the glowing red staff over the boy.
"Ike shook his head, "This kid was unconscious when we found him, and her," he flicked his head in the direction of the girl, "she hasn't spoken a word. I don't think she can speak."
The healing mage nodded grimly as he processed the information.
"I brought the vulnary you were looking for Rhys." Aeyori said as she ducked through the tent opening and entered with an arm full of small brown sacks. She flushed a little when she saw the commander, she wasn't expecting him, and clumsily dropped two of the vulnaries. Aeyori shyly muttered something unimportant as she bent over to retrieve the fallen items.
Ike was already at her feet and held a vulnary in each hand before she could pick them up herself. He offered them with his usual straight face and Aeyori could feel her own embarrassment churning from her stomach as she quietly said a quick thanks and grabbed both medicines from him.
"There it's all finished now." Rhys said quietly and then, "Oh thank you, just put those over there please." He said to Aeyori while pointing to no particular corner. Aeyori inclined her head slightly and placed the armful of vulnary near a bundle of dried herbs.
"How is the boy?" Ike asked as he turned his attention from the light mage.
"Physically he's all healed but he doesn't seem to want to wake up at all." He added with a sad tone, "With how badly the kids seem, something terrible must have happened to them; maybe that's why he's still not awake."
"That won't do." Aeyori began softly, "The little girl is waiting so patiently for him. Even if it was something terrible he has to fight to wake up so she won't be so worried."
Ike looked at the girl and tried to see what Aeyori saw. The girl was sitting neatly with her knees bent and legs folded under her with the most serious and unwavering expression. One hand was in her lap while the other was holding the boy's hand. She was watching him like a guard, a wordless sentinel, and she gave no sign of leaving, not even a flicker or waver in her set face.
It was eerie to see her, so young, perhaps not more than five or six, with a look so bleak and serious, like a hardened adult, not that of a child. Ike wondered what horrors she had seen in her life, or maybe even on just that day. He was seized with a painful gripping in his chest as he was again reminded of his sisters. Both so determined to put on a strong front, though he knew what they were hiding. Ike saw Mist laugh and skip about with Rolf without care, fooling the masses around her, but he also saw her, head resting against Titania's back as she rode along with her on the white mare, the journey having stretched out much longer than expected, with eyes closed and eyebrows kneading together fretfully, even in her sleep, as she battled her lingering nightmares.
Ikyna as well could joke and whip out a sarcastic remark as often as she used to, but Ike would often catch her staring into space, when she felt no one was looking, and her brow would furrow her lips tighten along with her jaw, and she'd be lost in a trance where she would stay a few moments to fight her demons, ones very similar to his own.
Wordlessly Ike took two steps to the girl's side and sat beside her. Even as he was grunting softly to sit she didn't acknowledge him, her eyes still locked on the sleeping boy. Ike knew he wasn't any good at comforting people or really saying the right words, but he knew he could do this much. He could sit with her, ignoring the awkward silence and the way the unforgiving ground made his back ache, and silently watch over her friend with her.
Aeyori leaned against tent pole and stared in amazement at the scene before her. Rhys whispered that he would find Mist to see if she could mend some cloths for the little girl before her left discreetly but Aeyori hardly noticed him, she was fixated on the girl and mostly Ike.
He was such a tall young man, his face always flat without a great amount of enthusiasm on it, and his words were often blunt and unintentionally tactless. He was a good commander who cared deeply for his friends, but it was always hidden behind his natural demeanor. Ike was never overly affectionate or callous with anyone.
The first impression Aeyori remembered having of him was when he was in her bedroom, at least that was the clearest, she could hardly distinguish her memories that time she met him and fainted, but the initial sight of him was not inviting or warm. Ike was watching her, cerulean eyes that sized her up but did not beckon her warmly. He was genuine about wanting to help her at that time and she grew to trust him and like him despite his somewhat standoff attitude at times.
Then there was the time when Greil died. Again she saw something new from Ike. A weak boy bundled under a façade of endurance and gusto, that he only let crack for an instant in her arms. She thought of all the different encounters she'd had with him so far and began to understand where her little crush had started.
It was hard to believe that in such a short time, she admitted this to herself upon arriving to Gallia, that she was clearly attracted to Ike. However, as she continued to watch Ike, sitting still, along with the girl, ignoring the fact that he was in pain and enduring the deafening silence, as the hours passed by and Rhys snuck in to place a small dress for the girl and sneak out again, Aeyori flushed and felt painfully embarrassed at her own childish feelings.
Aeyori began to wonder why she came to like Ike; she tried to tell herself it was his strength and that he had saved her without a second thought. All the things she kept reviewing in her mind were shallow and obvious reasons. She'd blush because he flashed her a small smile and she was amused at his sometimes accidentally harsh tones. Ike was attractive and brave and growing to be a great leader, but these were things even Aimee could see and like about him, she wanted to be more than an Aimee. Shame was her companion as she thought of how silly she'd been to feel that she liked him for those reasons, when in truth, he was so much more than that. It was true she liked him, but she didn't fully understand him
But by the goddess she wanted to. Aeyori wanted to know everything about the young man in front of her, kneeling silently, with a girl he did not know, watching an unconscious boy. The Ike, who despite his outward sometimes unfriendly shell, was hiding such a gentle heart. For the first time it dawned on her why Ikyna smiled so affectionately at her brother though he seemed to usually be scowling softly in return.
That was the man she wanted to know. The one sitting just before who, though he was awkward and was the most aware of his limitations in giving affection, was holding the girl's free hand tightly as they both waited. As she sat down next to Ike, he glanced her direction briefly, she felt her feelings for him changing, maturing into something more solid. She knew she would no longer lose her voice in front of him, or feel the need to hide her face whenever he looked her way. Aeyori was sure she would continue to like him more and most likely, she assumed, she'd fall in love with him someday.
"Finally I've found you Ike." Ikyna breathlessly called as she entered the tent. Her hair was more unruly than ever, her French braid falling out carelessly in several directions, and he cheeks red from a sunburn.
Ike's eyes widened when he saw her, he did release the girls hand but his body language became visibly relieved. "You're back? What happened?"
Ikyna shook her head, "Who knows, I have a guess though." She said darkly as she sighed and removed her bow from her back.
The male twin immediately understood her implication, the blatant disregard for human life or towns was a defining trait of the militaristic Daein. Ikyna moved her mouth to speak again but paused with a questioning glance at the three people sitting on the ground.
"What are you guys doing?"
"We are waiting for the boy to wake up." Aeyori said, "Rhys healed him but he just stayed like this."
Ikyna nodded without a word as she sat by the girl on the opposite side from her brother. She watched as her precense made no impact on the child. The girls stare was still focused but Ikyna noticed she was shaking as she sat, no doubt anxious and sad.
"Is he your brother?" Ikyna asked as she leaned over to look at the girl's face. There was silence but a small nod to answer the archer's question.
"I see, it's kind of scary isn't it? When you don't know what's going to happen to someone you care about a lot."
Aeyori and Ike listened to the Ikyna speaking. Her voice was low and soft and gently reassuring. She reached her hand out to roll her fingers through the child's mousey brown hair while smiling at her. "Don't worry though, he'll definitely wake up soon." She began, "Big brothers always take care of their little sisters."
Aeyori watched as Ikyna smiled warmly at her brother for a brief moment, "I'm sure of it, there's no way he'll leave you like this." She said before leaning her forehead into the girls gently, "So chin up…"
A loan tired moaning interrupted Ikyna and the four members sitting in the tent turned and, in unison, gasped. The boy slowly sat up, rubbing his tired eyes and squinting as he took in the foreign scenery. His head turned from one corner steadily to the next until suddenly he was tackled by a small body.
"Pila?" he asked with his groggy raspy voice as the little girl clung desperately to him, her faced buried deep into his chest. The whole time she was strong and for hours she sat quietly with not a tear, but now she was crying very loudly into the newly awakend boy's dirty shirt.
He made a soft cooing sound as he lovingly stroked her back and whispered sympathetic words like, "it's okay," and "I'm right here." He turned his attention from the girl, now that her crying had lessened from his affectionate attentions, and spoke to the mercenaries. "I beg your pardon. My name is Cash and this is my sister Pila. Did you rescue us?"
Cash spoke clearly, not like the child that he was, but evenly and without fear. Ike nodded, "Yes, your sister found us and took us to you by the river. We brought both of you back and a mage healed your wounds. You've been sleeping for some time and we waited here with Pila for you."
"Thank you for your hospitality, only the goddess knows what might have happened to us if you hadn't come along." Cash ended his sentence by dipping his head in appreciation.
"Honestly, thanks isn't necessary. There's no way we could leave two kids to die."
The boy's face darkened, "You'd be surprised by the indifference of people sometimes." It was a curious thing to say, to claim indifference to your own race at such a young age. The statement raised Ike's curiosity about what had happened to the children. However Cash's stomach growled loudly in the quiet tent.
He quickly turned his face away in embarrassment, "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"You never have to apologize for being hungry." Ikyna said with a laugh as she stood and stretched. "We should all get something to eat anyway. All that walking made me hungry too."
"But, I don't want to take your food…"
"Nonsense, you're already here right?" she encouraged cheerily. Cash was still hesitant as he looked from twin to twin. Ike sighed, "Well you don't have to eat, it's not like we are going to force you or anything." Was his typical blunt response.
"Of course they have to eat!" Ikyna said while shaking her head and frowning at Ike. "It's no problem, we have more than enough food to share with you two."
"Thank you again."
Cash stood slowly, his sister still clinging to him firmly, though she was no longer smothering herself in his chest, and bowed, "Please allow my sister and I to eat with you."
Ikyna gushed, she grabbed Cash's cheeks and pinched them affectionately, "You're so sweet aren't you?" And then she laughed happily before forcefully pulling him out of the tent to find something to eat.
When both the children and mercenaries had eaten their fill, cooled from the hot day, changed into fresh pairs of cloths, and sat down in the middle of the tents, they began to discuss the obvious question on their minds. As Pila slept soundly in in brother's lap, a content smile on her face finally, Ike began, "If possible, could you tell me exactly how you and your sister came to be in the condition you were?"
Cash was fondly watching his sleeping sister when the question was raised. He looked at Ike and swallowed hard, the memories clearly running through his mind and paining him like blade being dragged across his forehead. When he started to give an explanation the group was not surprised, it was Daein as they had expected.
However, the brutality of Cash and Pila's story was a great shock. Cash related that the soldiers stormed the small village they were from, raiding things, burning housing, killing men, woman and children, anyone who stood in their way. Cash had hid himself and his sister in a small beat up shed but it was lit of fire while they were inside. He claimed it was only by the mercy of the goddess that he and his sister escaped with so little harm. They had jumped into the river for escape but the current mercilessly slammed him and Pila into the debris and rocks. Cash admitted he blacked out right after barely managing to get him and Pila to the bank of the river.
"But why did they attack? What could they gain from burning your village down?"
Cash shook his head, "I don't know, they just came in and demanded supplies for the Daein army. When they were refused," he paused as the pain resurfaced with each word, "they destroyed the village."
"Monsters!" Ikyna said as she tightened her fists angrily.
"Yes they are. They didn't show mercy to anyone." Cash's words suddenly choked in his throat but he struggled to continue, "They killed our parents too." He trailed off at the end, sorrow and anger swirled into his sentence. "I'll never forgive them for what they did to us."
The three mercenaries pitied the children, orphaned and homeless because of a war they had nothing to do with. They had become another casualty collateral damage of the greed of Daein. It was sickening to the crew members.
"What will you do now?" Aeyori asked.
While still stroking Pila Cash began, "Pila and I have relatives in another village not far from here. As long as Daein hasn't gotten to it," he said while curling his nose in disgust, "We can stay with them."
"Do you need assistance, did you need someone to escort you?"
He shook his head, "No we'll be fine. I know this area well. In either case, aren't you guys traveling somewhere too?"
"To Begnion." Ike said.
"Why?"
"There's someone there we need to meet." Was Ike's vague response, he didn't feel it was necessary to broadcast their travels to anyone. Discretion was most likely their best friend, especially with enemy forces trudging around every corner.
Cash seemed to understand he would get no more information, but he accepted it and smiled again.
The discussion having ended, the five people retired to bed for the night and arose early again to head on their separate travels. Ike, Aeyori, and Ikyna were seeing the children off as the rest of the group began to tear down the camp to leave.
"Are you sure you will be alright?" Ikyna said as she handed Cash a sack containing some food and water for their trip. She was resembling a mother seeing her child off to school for the first time as fretted over ther travel.
"Yes we'll be fine. As long as we stay together, we can make it. Right Pila?" Pila grinned happily and nodded.
"Thank you again for all you've done." He politely said. "I hope that your travels will be safe as well."
"The same to you." Ike added.
Both kids waved as they walked farther into the woods and out of sight. "That boy is kind of like you." Ikyna commented as the three mercenaries began returning to assist the others.
"What do you mean?"
Ikyna had her hands behind her back and was swaying side to side as she walked, grinning childishly, "He tries to act all tough and take care of everything. He wouldn't even let us escort him to the village."
Ike shrugged, not paying much mind to his sister's comparison. He thought it was fine, if the boy felt he was capable, it wasn't his or anyone else's place to assume otherwise. As it was, Ike was feeling that they needed to even more desperately get to Begnion, and as soon as possible.
"It's fine sis, it's better that we didn't have to take a detour. We need to get Begnion."
Ikyna raised an eyebrow curiously. She remembered when Ike was explaining that they would have to travel to Begnion, he didn't seem to be overly thrilled about asking help from the socially rigid land. In fact, he was dreading having to deal with nobles and all their silly whims. She couldn't imagine what had changed his mind so that now he was in a hurry.
"Is everything all right? I know we have a time schedule to keep, but you weren't this eager before."
Ike was staring at the rising sun seriously as he answered, "Daein has made enough orphans. It's time we put a stop to it. I'll deal with Begnion if we can accomplish that."
Sorry for not putting Reyson in, this chapter was getting long and I have a bunch of chores to finish. So instead of waiting another week and a half to get the rest out I thought I'd just send this part.
See you next time guys
