Oh my gosh this chapter is crazy long. I didn't even notice I was writing this much. Anyway enjoy
I don't own fire emblem
Chapter 26 Skirmish at the Docks
Finally the mercenaries arrived in Crimea. They found themselves in a small town that rested against the ocean and formed the lively Port Toha. It was noisy and busy, people were selling and bargaining. The smell of fish was strong in some places while other areas were filled with the salty smell of the sea and its welcomed cool breeze.
Everyone in the town was going about their lives easily as if there wasn't a war being fought in their land. Ike was frowning at the cavalier attitude of the townspeople. He knew of children who were orphaned and homeless but these people had not a care in the world.
Although the prescence of Daein was already in the town. Though not overbearing or a threat at the moment, a scarce amount of Daein soldiers were patrolling the town. The mercenaries assumed that more were in the surrounding area, thus they made it a point to not draw attention to themselves.
However, if any visitors came here, they would hardly know Crimea and Daein were battling each other. "I don't understand how everyone is acting as if they aren't in danger. Shouldn't they be preparing for an attack?"
"Not necessarily," Ranulf began, his hood over his head to cover his ears, "This place is so secluded I doubt they even know much about the war."
Ike scowled, "That's ridiculous! Their country is at war! Even if it is secluded how can they just casually go about their business?"
"Indeed, the humans here are taking for granted the fact that Crimea has had peace for so long. It must be hard for them to even imagine being in danger." Soren said.
"But it's nothing new that Daein and Crimea should be fighting."
"Yes, but it has always been the way of humans hasn't it? As long as misfortune does not fall upon them they pay no heed to the pain and suffering of others. Only when they are personally attacked do they feel any sadness or empathy. But even if their children should lie dead on the streets when Daein attacks, they will not have my pity. It would be wasted on such ignorant fools." With those last bitter words Soren walked off and rejoined a different section of the mercenaries.
"My, my, that was a somewhat harsh truth." Ranulf mused, "What an interesting guy, that one."
"For sure, he talks as if he isn't a Beorc." Tonga said in agreement.
Ike shook his head as he kept watching Soren from afar, the mage's face was stone like as ever, "His words are always a bit severe, but I think something might be wrong with him." He admitted out loud. Soren was never friendly as was usually painful honest, tactless, and often rude, but ever since he found out they were going to Begnion, Ike had noticed Soren was in a much fouler mood than usual.
"Well maybe he's not too excited about two months at sea." Ranulf said with a chuckle, "speaking of which, I've gotta check on your boat."
"Will you be alright in this city?" Ike asked
"It's not a problem. I won't linger too much, plus I already have a contact in this city. I'll just go meet him and you'll be sailing in no time."
"As it is," Tonga began, "We've been instructed by the king to find you safe passage. If we wouldn't risk this much it would be a shame to our king."
"Well then, thank you. We will wait here for you to get back."
With that Tonga and Ranulf nodded and disappeared into the crowd.
"Ike, Ike!" Mist was calling loudly as she ran to her brother, Rolf being pulled along by her as usual, "Ike!" she giggled with her hand over her mouth, "I mean commander." Ike rolled his eyes.
"Rolf and I wanted to look in some of the shops. Is that okay?"
Her brother turned his face towards the sea, frowning and thinking, "It's fine, just go with Ikyna."
She smiled happily and clapped her hands, "Great, thanks." As she started to leave, Rolf's sleeves fisted his her hands as he complained while she dragged him again, Ike called out, "Just don't be too long. We'll be leaving soon."
Mist spat her tongue out at Ike, "Are you going to leave me behind if I am?" She saw her brother frown but she knew it was a harmless scowl just like he knew she was just being difficult as a joke, "Don't worry, it will only take a little bit." Then the two kids disappeared as well.
Ike began to look around the city again, he tried to take in his country once more since he did not know when he would return. Everything there was so different from Gallia and, although he'd never been to the imposing grand cities of Begnion, he felt that he should try to remember the feel of his homeland.
He noticed the princess and Aeyori standing at the side of a house in the shade. He walked over to them, face as plain as ever, and said, "Is everything alright?" Elincia was looking all around, her hands clasped together as she turned her head from side to side.
"Yes of course, I was just enjoying the town life. It's so very different from my life in the castle." Her face bore her typical gentle smile as she happily enjoyed the scenery.
"It must be very different in the castle." Ike said.
"Yes, but not bad of course. I loved my home, it's just nice to be out where the people are." She shielded her honey colored eyes as she glanced at the sea, "and the water is so beautiful, don't you think Sir Ike?"
Ike looked over at the shimmering water. It was clear and swaying lightly as the wind made small waves that curled over the sea's top. He shrugged, "I suppose it is, if you like that kind of thing. Water is for drinking, I've never considered it ugly or pretty."
The princess giggled at his response, so simple and typical of the commander.
"Did I say something funny?" he asked in confusion.
"Yes, it was quite funny." Elincia said as she smiled fondly at Ike.
He shrugged again, not sure what was funny and even more confused by this princess. When he looked at Aeyori she was also wearing an amused grin. Her scarlet irises we slanted as she tried to hide her laughter.
"What about you Miss Aeyori? Do like the sea?" the Princess asked in order to shift the attention from the confused commander.
The mage nodded, "It's pretty amazing, I've always liked the sea, even when I was young." Her eyes we looking at Ike but he could tell that she was seeing something else, a memory from her childhood. "The smell and the sound of the waves are the best things."
"Oh really? Did you live by the sea?" Elincia asked.
Aeyori was dragged back from her memories. Ike saw her face darken red, the way it always did when she didn't want to talk about something. The princess just watched her with sincere and expectant eyes. Aeyori rubbed her hands through her white hair, "Yes I did."
"Oh really? Then you must have lived near a port like this one, right? There must have been a lot of people."
"Well," Aeyori began as she started to twist a strand of hair between her fingers, uncomfortable, and the princess was oblivious. Ike waited patiently, glad that the princess could ease more information out of Aeyori, though he did feel sorry for the discomfort it was causing her. "No." she answered.
"No?"
"They weren't many people around where I grew up. It was a valley with mountains on one side and ocean on the other. It wasn't anything like this." She trailed off at the end of her sentence and looked away from the princess, silently praying that there would be no further questions.
Elincia seemed to notice the change in the young woman's demeanor, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
Aeyori shook her head, "No you're fine. I'm just being strange."
Elincia laughed at this statement, "You're not strange. You and Sir Ike are both so funny."
"Why is that?" Ike asked.
"It just is." Elincia said with a mysterious smile and then, "Well wherever you lived it sounds lovely as well."
Ike studied Aeyori carefully again, waiting for her reaction, trying to gain any new information on her. She caught his eye as he was watching and briefly looked away. Then he saw her frown slightly, as if having a miniature war in her head, then she turned again and returned his gaze. Those crimson eyes looked different than usual, a little stronger and even more striking. Eventually Ike turned away, his chest suddenly pounding and the memory of scarlet seared into his mind.
Elincia looked between both mercenaries and chuckled to herself once more.
Meanwhile on the other side of the town Rolf and Mist were chattering away at the shops. Looking from weapons shops, to cloths shops, to marts that sold fresh vegetables. Mist picked up a bushel of broccoli and Rolf scowled and spat out his tongue. "Do you have to get that?"
"Of course, it's good for your body."
Rolf seem unconvinced. He was sure that there were plenty of other vegetables to eat that didn't taste like feet. The boy began searching the stands and found bananas. He picked them up happily and showed them to Mist, "These are healthy too, why can't we just eat these?"
Mist put her hand on her hip and sighed, "That isn't going to give you the vitamins you need. The crew needs to eat lots of green vegetables."
"But they are gross." Rolf complained with a groan.
"It doesn't matter, I'm going to make dinner with these whether you like it or not."
"Then, I don't think I'll be eating too much."
"And that's why you're never going to get any taller." She teased, "You can't grow up big and strong if you don't eat your vegetables."
Their conversation continued like that, Rolf protesting and Mist jokingly mocking him then lecturing him about health. It was comical to Ikyna, who was watching them from behind, to see how the children interacted. The relationship of Mist and Rolf was that of a mother and child, she felt bad for Rolf, but that was just how Mist was. A little mom, always worried about taking care of everyone.
On the other hand, the laguz behind her was not as entertaining to watch. He was sulking behind her, a scowl apparent on his face even under his brown hood. Yakuzo didn't speak to her or offer any friendly gestures, he just grudgingly followed her as he was instructed.
Ikyna sighed as she decided to make the first move and start a conversation. She stopped walking, making sure to keep the kids in sight, and allowed Yakuzo to catch up with her. He didn't glance at her once nor did even aknowledge her. The red cat just continued to brood by her side like a child who couldn't get the toy he wanted from a shop.
"Is it really that bad to be traveling with Beorc?" she asked, feeling a little frustrated at his lack of effort to be even a tiny bit civil.
"Of course it is!" he exclaimed, suddenly passionate although just a few moments ago he was sullen and silent. "Why would traveling with your mercenaries be anything but bad?"
Ikyna wanted to fight, yes her first instinct was instigate an argument with him, but she felt that goading him wouldn't win his favor. "I don't think we are that awful, in fact ever since Shinon left, the overall niceness of our group has increased." She said with a playful smile.
"And so what if you are?" he snapped, "I still have to walk around in this blasted cloak around you Beorc," he stopped mid sentence to fuss with the brown cloak and then continued, "just so that they won't see my ears and tail. Can you believe that? I'm hiding what makes me a Laguz because of you! As if there was something wrong with me, like I'm a criminal, some kind of hateful thief!"
Ikyna could see his fangs showing as he started to grow angrier, she was not phased by his complaint however, with a shrug she said, "Then take off your hood, no one is forcing you to keep it on."
"What?" he said, his anger being instantly defused by his confusion. Yakuzo hadn't expected a response like that.
"Yeah, if it's such a bother, then take of the cloak. I think it's silly that you have to hide the fact that you're a Laguz as well."
Yakuzo was watching her face, trying to detect any sign of deceit or trickery. He shook his head in frustration, "There's no way I could do that!"
"Why?" she asked with a blank expression.
"Because then imagine what all the Beorc here would be thinking. They'd scream and look at me as if I were a monster. I can just see their stupid faces covered in shock and looking at me with disgust, and even going so far as to look down on me, me, a member of the great beast tribe!"
"So what?" she replied with a shrug and little vigor, "Who cares what they think."
Yakuzo's jaw dropped, he didn't know if it was just her youth that made her not understand, or if she was intentionally trying to anger her. He growled and turned his head away from her, "I don't expect you to understand, you're a Beorc, you wouldn't know how I feel."
Ikyna pushed her lower lip out as she thought and put her hands behind her head. She began walking ahead but glanced behind her as she kept moving, "I don't know about that, I'd think you feel similar to how I felt when I walked in on you sparring in Gallia."
She turned again and started pulling farther ahead, "And I'm not assuming what the Laguz thought of me, you told me to my face," she began to talk in the deepest voice she could, " 'I don't fight with humans,' you said, and all the other Laguz just sneered at me. You're assuming everyone here will hate you if they know you're a Laguz, but even if some do, maybe some of them will also be like me, I don't hate you."
Yakuzo exhaled loudly in irritation, "And I suppose you'd want me to just forgive all Beorc even though they treated us like dirt, and enslaved us like animals? Should I be friends with them as well?"
"Of course not, anyone who makes slaves out of people just because they are different is clearly an idiot," Ikyna paused and turned around all the way, "But I think someone who has the opportunity to learn and understand someone, despite their differences and despite the wrongs in the past, and they don't take that opportunity, they are an even bigger idiot." Her statement was said as a matter of fact, there was no disputing it and no argument was raised by Yakuzo.
He watched her as she turned and began following after the children again knowing full well that she had both agreed with him, but also said he was an idiot, but for some reason he couldn't be angry with her.
Suddenly Yakuzo heard shouting and the sounds of growing mass of angry Beorc. He perked his ears up, as best he could under the hood, and tried to discern what the voices were saying. Ikyna noticed Yakuzo was no longer following her, she turned and started watching his face. It was slowly creasing and darkening as he silently stared into the distance and listened.
"What's wrong?"
"Trouble. Get your sister and the other child quickly, I think it's time we rejoined the rest of the group." He answered without giving much detail about the situation.
She didn't fight with him though, she caught Mist's attention, and the auburn haired girl could tell from a glance that she and Rolf should follow quickly. Then the four mercenaries were running through the streets, nearly knocking down a few townspeople, and starting to feel a great unease as the sound of an angry crowd started to fill the air.
They turned the corner and saw a group of Beorc, furiously shouting at someone caught in the center. Ikyna strained her ears to make out any distinct words. The word sub-human rang out clearly.
"Sub-human? What's going on?" Ikyna said as she pushed through the mob to get to the center. As she reached the middle she saw her brother burst through ahead of her. He pushed one of the townsmen out of the way and readied his sword as he put his arm protectively in front of Ranulf, now kneeling on the ground covered in dirt.
"Don't lay another hand on him!" Ike said viciously as he turned from villager to villager."
"Are you protecting one of those animals?" a woman in the crowd asked in disbelief, "Are you a friend of those beasts?"
"What's it matter to you if I am." Was Ike's defiant reply.
Another man joined the conversation, "I heard about Crimean mercenaries who side with the sub-humans. The Daein soldiers were looking for them." He began waving to a lone Daein soldier posted nearby, "Hey these are the people you're looking for, come quick!"
The soldier began running towards the group as two more joined him. "Hold it right there!" they demanded.
Ike turned his nose up in disgust, "Would you really turn your own people over to your enemy just because of a Laguz?"
"We'd rather side with our own kind, this way Daein will not attack us." The woman from before said.
"Did I hear the word sub-human?" a big man with teal hair slicked back on his head appeared at the base of the crowd. He wore a grim expression and an axe on his shoulder almost as big as he bulging muscles.
An old man from the crowd exclaimed happily, "Finally, the Taho vigilantes are here. There are the sub-humans, kill them!"
Ikyna, having heard enough from the people she now considered ridiculous, ran to her brother's side, "What in the world is going on here." She asked as she readied her knives.
"Ranulf was about to let these people beat him to death like a dummy so I came to help him." Ike said.
"You shouldn't have, didn't I tell you to go ahead, General Tonga is waiting for you by the ships."
"Is that really something you should say when you almost died?" Ikyna asked.
Ranulf shrugged, "Gallia and Crimea have an alliance. If I were to fight back it could mean trouble. So regardless of what happens to me, I can't hurt the people."
"That's dumb!" the twins said in unison.
"It doesn't matter, I'm not going easy on them if they are going to act like this." Ike said.
The blue cat groaned, "That' no good either. If they see you as a Gallian ally that's also bad for the alliance. You should just..."
Ike cut him off in exasperation, "I know, I know, avoid fighting and get to the port as quick as possible right?"
Ranulf smiled his feline type grin, "See, you're pretty smart Ike. Just look for a guy named Nasir." He said as he stood. "Don't worry about me, I think I'll play a little game to keep some of these guys busy." With that he morphed into his cat form and ran off in a separate direction from the mercenaries. Some of the vigilantes of the town took the bait and pursued him.
Ike was relieved that now there would be less people to fight but he looked into the distance and saw a group of soldiers quickly approaching. They were right to assume that there would be reinforcements, but he hadn't expected so many. Soon all exits were covered by soldiers as they closed in on the mercenaries. Ike clicked his teeth, "Everyone head for the port, avoid fighting the vigilantes, and let's get out of here."
At his word the soldiers charged him and his sister. One Daein knight, wielding a spear, jabbed angrily at Ike while spouting off nonsense about him being a traitor. The other had a sword and was hacking, rather ineffectively, at Ikyna as she dodged easily.
Between evading the sword swings she said, "I know we aren't supposed to attack the Crimean vigilantes, but what about these guys?"
Ike answered her question by stabbing his opponent through the stomach the quickly pulling it out before spinning around and slicing the chest of the soldier attacking his sister. Both Daeins fell to the ground with pained groans at the twin's feet.
"I get your point, but you could have at least let me finish him off." She complained.
Her brother looked greatly irritated and Ikyna could tell. The unfounded prejudice of this town had angered him. He never thought he'd meet such spineless and selfish people. Without any response to his sister's complaint he took of down the streets towards the water.
Ikyna waved for Mist and Rolf to follow and chased after her brother's red cape. When she finally caught up with him he was engaged in a fight with a myrmidon. Their swords sang as they clashed and Ike began forcing the man into the side of a house. With little effort Ike dispatched this man with a sloppy slice through his belly.
The archer ran to her brother's side and breathlessly began, "Why did you take off like that?" A group of Daeins were surrounding them with a few vigilantes in the mixture.
"I just want to get out of this place as soon as we can."
Rolf and Mist caught up and stood behind the older siblings. Rolf strung his bow and nailed a myrmidon in the neck. As he fell a cavalier took his place, his brown mare snorting with each pounding step it took. He swung his axe at Ikyna who rolled out of reach as she pulled out her bow. The man turned his horse around and began his charge again. By his side was a loudly shouting Crimean vigilante that was causing the mercenary more annoyance than trouble.
Ikyna dodged the second charge of the cavalier but the vigilante was right behind swinging his sword at her. She groaned in irritation as the maze of houses were hampering her ability to maneuver. Fences and barrels were at every corner she turned.
The Crimean chased her diligently down narrow alleys, she was beginning to waver in her promise to not hurt the villagers. She ran through the yard of someone's house and under a line of cloths hanging to dry. With a short glance behind her she aimed her arrow at the cloths line and let it fly, tearing the string in half.
Cloths and string descended from the air and landed on the surprised vigilante, temporarily tangling him up and allowing Ikyna time to slip away. She smirked to herself as she turned a corner then almost ran straight into her brother.
"Ike?"
"Behind you!" he cried as he pushed her to the side to block sword of the persistent cavalier. Ike grunted as the force of the sword with the weight of the horse added to it crashed down on him. He dug his heals into the dirt and grunted as he warded off the attack.
Suddenly an arrow whizzed past the twins and struck the Daein in his shoulder. He dropped his sword and began cradling his arm with an agonized cry. Rolf's triumphant cry was heard not far in the distance. Before either of the twins could capitalize on the soldiers sudden halt in his assault, a red cat leapt through the air and tackled the man before ripping the soldier's neck open with it's claws.
The Laguz let out a feral cry and turned to Ikyna, it's golden eyes glaring angrily. "How am I supposed to follow my orders to stay by your side if you keep running off like that?" Yakuzo complained.
Ikyna shrugged, "Well you found me didn't you? So no harm done right?"
Ikyna swore she saw the cat roll his eyes at her statement.
"This is no good." Ike interrupted, "We are at a disadvantage if we stay close together. They'll just keep surrounding us and we'll never make it to the harbor."
His twin agreed, "Then let's split up." She waved at Yakuzo, "Come on let's go. We'll meet you at the harbor bro!" she said then took off with the red cat close behind.
The mercenaries all began to divide into smaller groups. All felt that it was more practical and easier to get around the tight streets with less people. The battle was proving troublesome, however. Not only were they struggling to avoid attacking the vigilantes but Daein reinforcements kept closing in on the already cramped battlefield. They came from all exits at the city and even from within the village houses soldiers appeared and began hacking away at the mercenaries.
Ikyna was sprinting through the village, doing her best to avoid a fight at all. She saw Lethe and Mordecai run past her at the opposite side of the street she was on. Behind them was a young man with shoulder length periwinkle hair wielding a sword with ease. Ikyna thought he was a member of the vigilantes but he was fighting alongside the Laguz. The archer decided she could ponder the situation later as she made sharp left and kept the slowly growing sight of white sails in her line of vision.
She suddenly heard Yakuzo hiss loudly. Ikyna spun around and saw him engaged in a fight with a heavily armored soldier. His quick claws, though effectively landing several strikes, were dealing very little damage to the yards of iron cloths.
"Yakuzo!" She cried as she ran to help him. However before she made it to his side, from the corner of her eye, she saw the shimmering edge of spear headed her direction. Ikyna bent back as the long weapon sailed over her, making a whining sound as it passed.
With her body bent back she placed her hands on the ground below her shoulders and used them to spring her legs up and kick the attacking soldier with both feet. He stumbled back but quickly regained his composure and began stabbing his tool at her. The soldier had her on the defensive with his long reach. He grazed her arm a few times and she winced as the sting of metal on flesh made her body throb.
Yakuzo was getting farther out of her sight as he labored against the big knight. Ikyna found herself being forced into the yard of a villager. Chickens scattered as the fight entered their home and a lone donkey brayed fearfully. Ikyna stumbled over a row barrels. She groaned as she hit the unforgiving ground but had no time to think about the pain as the deadly spear was swung at her again.
With an exasperated cry she rolled away just as the spear made contact with the barrels at her feet and broke some of the wooden containers sending an explosion of needle like pieces of wood in every direction.
Ikyna could hear the man panting, it matched her own tired breathing, as he inched closer to her. She grabbed for her knives and just as she was about to strike a beam of light shot from the sky and killed the soldier.
Behind the fallen man Aeyori stood, looking worried, with her tome open in her hands. "Am I glad to see you!" Ikyna exclaimed with a relieved sigh. Aeyori smiled at the comment.
"We've got to go help Yakuzo!" she said and cut their friendly moment short. Before Ikyna could take a step the door of the house burst open. She turned at the sudden loud noise and without warning she was slammed hard into a fence. A row of brooms a rakes, disturbed by her body hitting the fence, fell and pinned her to her back.
Pain spread from her stomach, up her chest, down her arms and all the way to her head. Her ears were ringing and she felt a painful nausea. Ikyna sputtered and coughed as her body desperately tried to grasp for breath.
She had her eyes closed but she could hear heavy footsteps and the sound of armor clanking towards her. She couldn't move very well and her body ached all over from whatever hit her. Ikyna couldn't even remember what stuck her before she was lying on her back.
"So it's you, daughter of Greil."
Ikyna felt her skin crawl when that voice hit her ears. Her eyes shot open at its haughty and terrifying sound. First all she saw was the sky and sun above her, but soon the shinning yellow orb was eclipsed by coal black armor.
She gasped when she saw that familiar black color, like a dark pit where no light could penetrate, that was its color. The knight loomed over her, his face covered by a helmet with thin slits for the eyes, although you could not see them, and a blood red cape draped like a waterfall over his back.
"Do you wish to fight me? The man who killed your father?" his voice was caught in his helmet but it was not muffled, instead it echoed loudly into Ikyna's ears and chilled her bones. He was playing with her, speaking icy mocking words that showed he held no remorse for his actions.
Ikyna felt anger boiling inside of her, a rage like a burning fire. This was the man she hated, he took her father away from her, and yet with all the fury roaring within in her, she was frozen. Her legs, her arms, none of them would move. Yes she was afraid, but more than that kept her glued to the ground. It was the shear force and power he exerted over her just by standing. No matter what she did, she knew she would not stand a chance against him.
To her disgust her body began to tremble, it shook because it knew the outcome of this encounter, death. "Ikyna! Run!" Aeyori's voice pierced through Ikyna's fear induced trance and then another ray of light struck Black Knight on his shoulder.
The Knight did not flinch, he didn't acknowledge the fact that he had been attacked even though it was a direct hit. He slowly turned to Aeyori then placed his sword to the ground and carvings formed in the ground followed by a bright light, then, he vanished.
Aeyori looked from side to side in panic. Not even understanding how he was able to disappear at all. Then from behind her she heard a low humming sound and saw the same bright light. She quickly turned and yelped as the Black Knight grabbed her by her shirt collar and lifted her into the air.
Her feet dangled and she grabbed at his plate covered arm that firmly held her. Aeyori struggled and cried but to no avail. The Black Knight tilted his head to the side, "I know you." He mysteriously said.
Aeyori felt her heart jump at the knights confusing words. She didn't know how he knew her. She didn't remember ever meeting this man.
From beneath the farm tools Ikyna was pushing with all her might to move her captors. "Aeyori hold on!" she cried, finally getting some sense back as she saw her friend in danger.
"Greil's child is coming to save you, I wonder if she would if she knew who you really were." The Black Knight watched the mage for a reaction, enjoying the horror that crawled over her face. Her mind kept screaming that it wasn't possible he knew. How could he?
She fought harder to break free but his grasp was solid. "You're afraid I'll tell her?" the Knight asked with little vigor.
Aeyori looked down at the black slot where her captors eyes should be. It was nothing but a dark slit, eerie and frightening. "Do not worry, she will be dead soon." He said and began to raise his sword with his free hand.
The mage began to immediately chant the incantation for her tome. She focused all the energy she had as she muttered quickly to herself. "It won't do you any good, my armor can't be harmed by your attack." The Knight said confidently.
Despite this statement, Aeyori continued her spell. She looked down at the empty space where his eyes should be and let her attack reign down on him.
Aeyori shut her eyes as the ellight tome came down, she did not see anything, but she felt the hold on her collar open and she began falling. To her surprise, she did not hit the ground. Instead she felt something like fur beneath her. When the mage dared to open her eyes she was moving quickly through the village on the back of a purple tiger.
Tonga looked at her with his one good eye, "Good idea blinding him with your tome. That knight is trouble, but don't worry, I'll take you to safety."
"But what about Ikyna?" She asked in a panic.
Tonga flicked his head to his left and Aeyori saw Ikyna similarly riding on Yakuzo's back, she looked like she was in a lot of pain. "We got both of you in the knick of time." The tiger said with a grin.
The two laguz raced towards the boats, skillfully weaving out of the reach of vigilantes, most of the Daein soldiers had been routed by the other mercenaries. Ikyna was holding on to Yakuzo's fur as tightly as she could. Her strength was faultering and spots appeared in her vision and danced in circles.
It occurred to her that the Black Knight hit her much harder than she realized. At the time, she was so terrified and then panicked for Aeyori's safety, her body didn't register the injury. Her hand felt around her stomach where the bulk of the pain was growing from and felt a large lump. Ikyna winced and knew she'd need to see Rhys quickly.
Her mind wandered back to the Knight, "Is he chasing us?" she asked, and felt ashamed that her voice sounded so afraid. Yakuzo shook his head as he leapt over a fence, "No, he hasn't made a move to come after us."
Ikyna felt relieved and then once more, extremely guilty. She shouldn't be glad that she couldn't fight the man who murdered her father. It seemed only natural to want to give her life for her father's sake, but deep inside, she didn't want to die. She wanted her revenge, but she could wait. It was pointless to be killed for her father's honor, she knew pops wouldn't want that.
She didn't look back; Ikyna resolved in her heart that the next time she met the Black Knight she'd be stronger. She wouldn't tremble like a child at his feet, instead she would stand before him on an equal plain, ready to take his life.
As Ikyna made this pact with herself she felt the sound of Yakuzo's paws against a wooden plank. They were climbing up a plank on the ship. Finally they'd arrived like the plan was originally. All Ikyna wanted now was to find her siblings. Mist was in a corner rushing to put things away, looking very frazzled from fleeing, and Ike, she caught him running towards her.
His face was twisted with anger, and even though she was looking into his eyes, and she thought he was doing the same with her, he blew past her and jumped off the boat.
"Ike!" she cried while she reached out for him, receiving a painful throb from her side. Her brother did not hear her voice, he was focused, with a single goal in mind. Ikyna knew exactly what he was looking at without turning to see.
"General Tonga!" she yelled as she got off of Yakuzo and ran painfully to the Tiger. "You have to stop him!"
"Who little Missy?" he said with his head tilted in confusion.
"Ike! You have to stop my brother. He's going to challenge the Black Knight."
Tonga's eye widened in shock and disbelief, "Why would he do that? That's foolish."
Ikyna found herself on the verge of tears, both from the steadily increasing pain and the fear for her twin's life. "Please stop him." She begged as she fell to her knees clutching her side, "He'll die if he isn't stopped."
Tonga nodded, "Don't fret little missy." With that he too leapt off the boat and chased after Ike.
Ikyna clasped her hands together, pleading with the goddess, or any deity that would listen. She could scarcely focus on the work around her. A man with wavy white hair and blue eyes was giving orders to the mercenaries. Directing them efficiently so they could set sail before reinforcements arrived. She wondered if they even knew Ike was gone, but she couldn't find her voice to tell them to wait, it was caught like a stone in her throat, choking her, strangling and draining all of her energy.
She didn't turn to look for him, she didn't want to see body lying on the streets of that town, with those calloused people, under the feet of that heartless murderous Knight. Suddenly she heard a loud roar followed by many voices calling Ike's name.
"Are you alright?" mercenary after mercenary asked.
"Did you try and fight that Black Knight?"
"Are you crazy?"
"What were you thinking?"
The questions raised were all similar to these along with a few worried sympathetic statements from Mist. Ikyna dared to look and saw that Ike was unharmed. He still looked very angry but he was fine. Tonga was by his side, no longer in his beast form, watching Ikyna to gauge her response.
He nodded at her, "I was able to get to him in time. He came, although reluctantly, we barely missed being hit by that armored man."
Aeyori stood slowly, grimacing as she did, and walked to Tonga, "Thank you." She said.
The tiger nodded, "Well I must go now that you can safely leave. There is much to attend to and I think that reckless cat Ranulf has got himself in trouble again." He put his hands on Ikyna's shoulders and gave them a loving squeeze, "Take care little missy, I'm sure we'll meet again."
Then he jumped off the ship again just as the man with white hair shouted for the ship to secure it's anchor and set sail. The boat was finally moving, drawing away from the port, the Daein soldiers, and the mercenaries home. Suddenly their mission became much more concrete, there wasn't any turning back now.
Ikyna looked at her brother, his face was less angry now, and she watched as his eyes met hers. Her relief caused by his safe return was quickly being replaced with a very different emotion. She stomped over to him, right hand already curled into a fist, and the moment she was within arms distance of him she punched him as hard as she could in the jaw.
Ike fell over with an agonized grow then shot up, angry and shocked, with his hand placed over his lip. He removed his hand a saw that his lip was bleeding, "What is wrong with you? What did you do that for Ikyna?"
His twin was breathing heavily, partially from exhaustion but mostly anger. Her shoulders shook and she was almost too annoyed to even speak at first, but soon she found the words she wanted to say, "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me?" she repeated incredulously.
"Perhaps the sight of my idiot brother running off to fight the Black Knight was just so shocking that my hand slipped and hit your face on accident." Her words were dripping with furious sarcasm.
Ike shook his head, "Why are you so mad? That man murdered our father, of course I went to fight him. Don't you want you're revenge too?"
Ikyna's face was now flushing into an infuriated magenta, from her cheeks to her ears. "What good would it do to have my revenge if you're dead? Do you think I'd take any joy in letting that Knight take away both my father and my brother?"
The rest of the crew gathered around, helpless, unable and unwilling to stop the fight. Even Mist felt she should not interfere with her siblings.
"But he was right there. I didn't even think. I just saw him and before I knew I was standing in front of him challenging him to a fight." Ike sheepishly admitted. He recalled how small he felt standing in front of the Black Knight. It was clear he would be no match for the skilled fighter, but his rage got the better of him and all he wanted to do was fight. Now that he was removed from the situation and could see his sister's agitation, he realized he was foolish to try to engage in that battle.
He began with a sigh, "But even if he and are at different skill levels, I'm going to fight and avenge our father."
"Of course you are!" Ikyna shouted as she threw her hands up in the air, "But you're not doing it alone." She said and pointed at him threateningly. She practically jammed her finger in his nose as she spoke, "Listen and listen well bro. We are definitely going to fight that pompous jerk. But not yet, not until we are much stronger and can mop the floor with him."
"You're going to fight with me?" Ike asked.
Ikyna practically growled in frustration, "Yes I am. We will definitely pay him back for what he's done, but we'll do it together and at the right time." She said as she folded her arms with a decisive nod of her head.
There was a pause then finally Ike shrugged, "That seems fair enough."
His twin was satisfied with the answer but she didn't leave, "One more thing." She said before she grabbed him roughly by the collar, "If you ever do something that stupid again and make me worry about you like that, I'm going to kick your butt." Finally she released him and started hobbling away, "Hey has anyone seen Rhys." She began in a completely normal voice, "I think I'm bleeding somewhere." She casually looked around and patted her clothing as if there was no need for alarm as Rhys rushed to her side and ushered her to the rooms below the deck.
)(
Reyson moaned as he turned over, fighting desperately to stay asleep, he know his body needed it. The day had been long and harsh on his body and mind. There were longs hours of flying that made his wings sore, the encounter with the unbearable humans that taxed his patience, and hours of silence that burdened his heart when he thought of his friend.
The prince could not sleep on as he wanted, his mind was wandering, jumping from one problem to the next. He was exhausted but restless, it was a wonder how those two things often coincided. Reyson bitterly shot his eyes open, resigning to himself that he would sleep no more that night.
He wondered how soon the sun would rise and he sat up, still depressed that he couldn't fall asleep. The sky was very dark still, morning would not be arriving soon. The stars we lovely however, like a million winking eyes against a black cape, but this starry night would be more beautiful in his beloved Serenes forest.
With a sigh he stood, he was too tired to work himself into a fury about the humans tonight. He'd let the memories of his home fade away for the time and take a walk around, he decided, perhaps, he thought, he could wear himself out enough to get a few more restful hours.
Reyson turned slowly and saw his sleeping hawk brethren, he was a bit jealous, but glad they could rest. It was clear that the previous day was trying for them as well. Something was odd however, both Janaff and Ulki were sound asleep. Tibarn usually put one of them as guard for the night, and they would alternate every few hours. Even more strange was the fact that the king was missing.
As curiosity got the better of him, Reyson ventured away from Janaff and Ulki and followed the faint scent of the hawk king. His sense of smell was not as developed as the beast tribes, but it was still better than a human's.
Finally after walking past trees, ducking under branches, and squeezing between tangled webs of vines, Reyson found himself in a small opening with nothing but a small pond at the center. It was still and quite, brilliantly reflecting the sky above so well that it looked as if you could step on it and fall right into space.
The prince caught sight of Tibarn sitting at the edge. Normally his heron eyes were very useless in such dark scenery, but the full moon above illuminated the area nicely, like a round floating lamp. He saw his friend's face, serious and thoughtful, staring out over the water.
Reyson slowly approached, Tibarn turned, and the prince smiled apologetically. He hoped he hadn't disturbed him as he sat at his side. The prince let his feet rest in the water, it was cool, but not unbearable. "You couldn't sleep?" the king asked as a start to the conversation.
"I could ask you the same question." Was Reyson's playful reply.
"Janaff and Ulki needed a rest. I may be the king, but I can still work and do this much."
Reyson waited for him to continue. It was true that his attendants had worked hard, and of course Tibarn could stand watch if needed, but something more was bothering him, there was another reason why his sleep fled him that night. There was silence again as Tibarn thought and Reyson waited.
Finally the king continued, "I just, was thinking."
"About?"
"Just this and that." He vaguely answered, "My minds been racing all night. I think I'm just too tired to sleep." Tibarn chuckled softly at the absurdity of his statement, "I don't know if that makes any sense."
Reyson shook his head, "No, I understand what you mean." He paused and looked for the right words to say, "It's been a very hard day on you."
He heard his friend sigh but no words were offered to show he agreed or disagreed. Words were not necessary for the heron to understand, even without his ability to read hearts, he knew Tibarn very well. Behind the silence and seemingly unphased manner he was displaying, the King was hurting.
His heart was being ripped to pieces by the old memories he struggled each day to keep under control. However, thanks to Reyson impetuousness, the scars were throbbing again, torn open with salt sprinkled on them, and the prince felt a heart aching guilt.
If only he'd held his temper just that one time, if only he hadn't fought with that stupid child, Tibarn would never have had to save him, never have to kill that human, or watch the faces of the horrified mother grasping her child with all her might.
It he hadn't they would have left the inn without incident, Tibarn would be his usual self, sometimes too loud and boisterous, and they'd be flying at an easy pace to meet his contacts. Yet Reyson had, and now he was forced to see his friend locked in a trance filled with his haunting memories.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
Tibarn turned his head and gave the white bird a queer smile, "What are you apologizing for?"
"I've been causing you a lot of trouble recently."
"Recently?" Tibarn said with a raised eyebrow, "You always cause trouble. There's nothing recent about it." The king laughed at his own joke and gently pushed the heron.
Reyson did not feel that he deserved to laugh with the king, "You give so much of yourself for me. You care for my father and I, deal with my very volatile personality and cater to my demands."
Tibarn scowled, "When have you ever demanded anything?"
The night was getting colder, or perhaps, Reyson thought, he was starting to get sick. It really had been a long day. "I wanted vengeance on Begnion and so now you target their ships. Even with your small country you put your resources into pirating only them. And today, you killed that horrid human for me, and now you can't stop thinking about Luna and Umi."
With those last words Tibarn cringed visibly, those names were like sparks running through his body, painful reminders of the missing parts in his life. Reyson knew it, that speaking those names was like a knife being stabbed in Tibarn's heart, but he didn't want Tibarn to think him indifferent to what his actions may be causing the king to remember.
"Perhaps I've been selfish in my request to have you fight this battle against Begnion."
There was a long pause, only the occasional sound of fish poking their flat lips above the surface was heard. Finally the king spoke, "If I couldn't fight for you, wouldn't you still do it yourself?"
Reyson nodded, he was sure that even without strength, he would never stop trying to make Begnion suffer. There was no other purpose for him then to repay them in full for the suffering they caused twenty years ago. "I will make them pay no matter what."
"And that's why I keep fighting for you."
"What?"
Tibarn stood and stretched, he looked out over the shimmering water and said, "I have to fight for my brethren the herons, and for you my friend." He still did not look at Reyson as he continued, though in a quieter voice this time, "For that matter, I have personal reasons to hate Begnion as well, for what they took from me. Even if you hadn't asked for my support, I will never allow Begnion to get away with what they did."
Reyson looked up at his friend, the strong brown wings with the moonlight softly resting on them and his strong body that hid his weak heart. It occurred to the prince that you can strengthen your body to resist pain, but you can't prepare the heart. When it is broken, it shatters the same no matter how much power you have. In that brief moment he saw how similar he and Tibarn were, not on the outside, but inside, they were both damaged men.
A yawn escaped Reyson's lips as he suddenly became tired again. Tibarn turned with a smile, "Enough of this serious talk. Let's get some rest, I think Janaff and Ulki have slept enough, don't you?"
Thanks for reading. I really love all the reviews and comments. See you next time
PG
