Guess what? Chapter 30 oh my goodness. Could it really be here? Yes, yes it is.
I don't own fire emblem
Chapter 30 And they Met…
Yakuzo had his nose to the air, taking in the different scents of the Begnion castle. The heavy weight of fragrant lilies irritated his senses. The Beorc had too much clutter in their homes. Foods were always cooking, furniture was everywhere, especially useless furniture-chairs and stands with no purpose at all- and yards upon yards of fabric and material. Cloth for couches, curtains, table runners and so on and so on.
If Beorc were good for anything is was wasting space. Yakuzo always felt an acute exhaustion while staying in the overly luxurious Begnion castle. His nose, eyes, and ears were constantly assaulted by an assortments of sights, sounds and smells. He just wanted to spend a day without smelling like a flower pot or feeling like his ears would fall off as they turned and flattened at every crunch, grind, and squeak the rooms made.
All the attacks on his senses were consuming him as he irritably sat on the wooden stair banister, perfectly balanced without any effort. He let his fingers impatiently click against his chin as he blew out heavy sigh after heavy sigh.
A few senators walked past him with their noses raised in contempt and disgust. They did not approve of him perching on their carved banister, it wasn't mannerly of him to do so. Yakuzo didn't care and the overly dressed senators wouldn't dare say anything.
It was nothing more than a passing disagreeing glance that they gave before snorting derisively at him then chattering to themselves about his ill-mannered and untrained behavior. Yakuzo could hear every word they said but he let them skate away as their long gaudy white robes fluttered behind them.
He could have caused a lot more trouble for them if he was petty enough to make a stink about the situation. If he were more motivated he could have turned the wood beneath him into a very expensive scratching post. With another sigh he flexed his fingers, letting his pointed feline claws extend, before hopping to the ground.
He paused briefly as his nose caught a familiar scent. It was her scent, the smell of hickory and cedar from the bow and arrows she made. Earthy and bold, completely distinguished among a myriad of colorful smells. Yakuzo stood taller, ears perked and tail swaying happily of its own volition with anticipation. He could scowl and snap at her all her wanted, but his body told a different story. It said I want to see her.
"Yakuzo!" A fury of cerulean hair turned the corner, unruly like a lion's mane.
The short cat tried to contain the gratified smile curling his lips and replace it with a frown. "You look unpleasant." Ikyna chirped with smirk.
"Some senators glared at me for sitting on their stair rail and it hurt my feelings." Was his reply that he accompanied with a roll of his eyes.
"Mr. Sensitive."
"You may not have to deal with the senators for much longer." Ike began as he appeared from behind his twin. He wore his typical straight expression, one that bordered on upset and apathetic.
"Why is that? Did the meeting with the apostle go well?"
The twins exchanged looks as they shared a personal secret with each other.
"What?"
"Wait for it." Ikyna said with her index finger raised and a bemused smirk.
Yakuzo tilted his head in question before a commotion followed the brother and sister around the corner. The small child with blazing red hair was throwing his hands up as he ranted passionately. His gentle faced green tiger companion indulged him quietly but still scanned the area nervously as Tormod's outburst became very specific.
"Who does that apostle think she is, using my men for her own game? She blames us for stealing, then has us attacked just so she can uncover some senator issues."
"Please little one, lower your voice."
"We are not her senator dogs and I don't appreciate her ordering us around like we are."
Yakuzo curiously watched the young Beorc continue his tirades. His cheeks reddened like his short spiky hair. Muarim continued to try to pacify his fiery companion and Yakuzo chuckled. The two were an odd pair. He couldn't believe that such a young child turned out to be the leader of the feared thieves of the desert.
"And for that matter." Tormod continued, having settled his once raving hands onto his hips for emphasis.
"Please just settle down. We were shown great leniency by the apostle. We should be grateful."
Tormod did not look impressed. He hmphed and scowled at the green tiger. "That will not happen. Are we to be expected to follow after some brat who didn't even earn her authority?"
Muarim looked around quickly, evident discomfort on his face. He knew the words of his tiny company were dangerous ones to be spoken out loud. Ike crossed his arms, "I know where you are coming from, I'm not always a fan of how the Begnion society works either." Ike scratched his head, "but be careful what you say. The people see the Apostle as a god basically, they could kill you for saying things like that."
The child forced his lower lip out in a pout as he blew air loudly from his nostrils. He averted his gaze from both the mercenary captain and the emerald Laguz. "Fine, I will be more careful while in the castle."
His Laguz partner sagged his shoulders in relief. After being allowed to live he would hate to be subjected to the Begnion wrath over something as trivial as the child's sharp tongue. The large tiger knew greatly of the workings of Begnion and Ike had spoken the truth. Their lives were forfeit if they spoke against the Apostle.
"So what happened?" Yakuzo chimed in after seeing Tormod's rampage settling. Nothing had been explained to him and he was just as eager to learn of the Empress's plan as any of the mercenaries. Their missions had been suspicious to say the least and he was ready for a reasonable explanation.
"It seems that Soren and Titania were right to assume there was a method to the Apostle's missions." Ike began, and edge of tiredness in his voice from the long battles and travel.
"She was trying to expose possible Laguz slavery within the senator ranks."
The news was startling and disturbing to Yakuzo. He had heard that Begnion made Laguz slavery illegal and that all his kept brethren had been freed. Not that he took the words of Beorc to be absolutely certain, but the news was spread even to the lands of Gallia. Of course it would never be possible to free all Laguz slaves, those in poorer regions would always stoop to less savory terms to raise money, but it was not the needy who were causing the problem.
"The senators have Laguz slaves?" Yakuzo questioned.
Ikyna nodded with a frown, "So it seems, and the apostle is trying to clean up the problem. She wants to stick to the laws of freeing the Laguz." She flushed and grumbled quickly after, "I guess she deserves some credit for that."
Yakuzo too had to agree that the Apostle's decision was worthy of praise and recognition. Injustices were long tolerated by Beorc rulers, but she seemed to truly be focused on fairness.
"But why all the cat and mouse games? Why didn't she just send us to the senator in question?"
Ike shrugged as his brow creased. "It has something to do with politics. Soren explains it better but it wouldn't look good to have the inner rankings of their government exposed like that."
He rolled fingers through his spiked hair and shook his head in resignation, "I don't think I'll ever understand all the rules of this society."
The cat tilted his head as he tried to process what the young Beorc said. It seemed like a lot of work just to save face. Was the impression of the citizens that important that the ruler of the country couldn't just demand the senator release his slaves? The situation was ridiculous. If the king of Gallia had been in a similar situation he would have clobbered the offender himself without a second thought. There wouldn't be this evasive way of finishing the job.
"Agreed bro. We could have saved time if she said, 'here's the senator, feel free to pummel him senseless' and then we would be done by now." Yakuzo nodded emphatically.
"Indeed." Ike let out a weary groan after his agreement, frustration palpable in his speech. Trying to gain Begnion's support was like jumping through flaming hoops. It was complicated and bothersome. There was never a direct route to any solution because it was blocked off by hundreds of years of useless traditions.
"So what happens after we catch this guy?" Yakuzo asked.
Ike rubbed his thumb and index over his head, working out the headache threatening to come, "After that the apostle will give her full support to us and princess Elincia."
"Finally." Yakuzo said as he saw an end to the run around in sight. He didn't know where the rest of the battles would lead him and the mercenaries but he was ready to move on to a new location. "So where are we going?"
The mercenary captain signaled with his head that the group should follow. He started a steady pace and didn't look back as he spoke, "We are looking for Duke Tanas. We are going to confront him at his house."
"Which senator was he again?" Yakuzo asked, he couldn't tell one slimy greedy senator from the next.
Ike held his arms in front of his stomach in a large 'o' shape, "He was the heavy one."
"Oh that's right," Ikyna began with a loud snap of her fingers, "That one with the beady eyes to tiny for his fat head." She spat her tongue out as if the thought tasted bad in her mouth. "I really hate him."
"Do you hate him because of his tiny eyes?" Yakuzo inquired with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, knowing that Ikyna's rage was likely unfounded. She probably just wanted an excuse to be upset.
She crossed her arms and hummed thoughtfully, "I'm not sure, but they aren't helping his case."
Ike interrupted the ensuing banter by clearing his throat softly. The Laguz and archer stilled and gave their attention to the ever impassive captain. His steely blue eyes looked from each person in front of him. "Just one more job and then we can finish our promise to the princess."
"Well then what are we waiting for? Where does this soon to be jobless senator live?" Ikyna chirped with playful wink.
)(
Reyson shot up with a groan. His lithe fingers grasping for something tangible but coming up with only fleeing air. He tossed a heavy pile of plush sheets off his body that was burning with fever. Sweat trickled down his forehead as his blurry eyes struggled to recognize the foreign room. This was not Phoenicis, he'd never slept in this room before.
A stabbing pain shot through his head and he cradled his face in his moist palms. He waited for it to settle before easing his face up from his hands to view his surroundings. The unfamiliar room came into focus and jogged his memory. This was the human villa. The home of the senator his former friend Naesala sold him to.
In the corner of the over decorated room stood two soldiers dressed in red armor. Stoic and flat faces turned stiffly in his direction. They observed him silently before returning their gazes to staring straight ahead. Reyson was barely acknowledged by them but he knew they were probably here to guard him. His spine quivered with the thought of the rotund senator shaking with delight as he ogled him.
Disgusting. The situation, the room, the stench of human that permeated the sheets he lay in, and the painful reminder that one of his closest friends had betrayed him in the worst way possible. Reyson fretted as he looked around, confused as to how he landed in the bed. He hadn't walked there, there was no way he would willingly sleep with that despicable race so close to him.
Another pulse throbbed in his head. The inconvenient heron weak constitution was getting to him. The body he was born with, and so often cursed for it frailness, was probably the reason. Nothing could be more trying to an already weak body than the situation Reyson now found himself in. A prisoner of humans, a pet, the play thing of the most hated living creatures in the land.
Reyson started to stand, despite the protests of his tired and aching body. As his vision blurred he took an unsteady step that was followed shortly by his collapse. His knees hit the expensive carpet harder than he wanted but he muffled his pained whimper, he didn't want the humans to see him looking so vulnerable.
The soldiers did not rush to his side. Not one red clad man made a move to assist him or even glance his way. They began to whisper among themselves, "He fell, should we help him?"
"Not a chance."
"But the senator told us to look after him."
"I don't care what the duke said. Beautiful or not he's still a filthy sub-human."
Rage rumbled in the prince's stomach. That was his line, they were the filthy ones, not he. Wasn't he being held captive and soon to be put on display like a portrait? But he was living royal Laguz, one of the last of a glorious race, he would not be toyed with or looked down upon. As the room slowly started to spin before his eyes he clinched his jaw and forced the rising bile back into his stomach.
His heart began to race as his temperature rose. The small amount of exertion was sending all the blood to his face and reddening the surface of his fair skin. At his side a soldier walked up, taking pity on his struggles. He put a hand under his forearm but the heron violently swiped it away.
"Don't touch me!" he snarled, his eyes flickering with anger.
The young man retracted his hand, his lips, that were revealed under his crimson helmet turned down into a hurt frown. He shook his palm with his lips rolled down and backed away from the angry bird.
"Serves you right for trying to help an animal like him." One of the soldiers said with a sneer.
Reyson stood on his unsteady legs and faced the two soldiers. He held their gazes with ferocious determination and clenched his fists. They both looked away, choosing to ignore the bird rather than face his furious peridot eyes.
The door burst open suddenly and in waddled Oliver. He was rubbing his fat fingers nervously. A cold sweat dripping down his forehead as a grimy grin curled his swollen lips. The duke approached Reyson slowly, a gurgling in his throat came out as a deranged chuckle, almost a giggle. "My beautiful prize how are you feeling? I heard you had taken ill, are you better now?" his words dripped with saliva as his eagerness flooded his mouth with drool.
He wiped his mouth hastily, "Have these brutes harmed you in any way?"
Reyson set his lips in a grim line, refusing to indulge the two-legged swine. But still Oliver inched closer, a gelatin like arm reaching towards the prince's face. The white bird quivered at the thought of being touched by those sticky human fingers.
"No, don't be afraid, I would never harm you."
His fingers reached just inches from Reyson's porcelain skin. He'd punch him if he laid a hand on him. Reyson already has his fist balled and clenched to brand his face with knuckles.
"Senator Oliver!" The door flew open again and in ran a frazzled soldier. He gave a quick bow, forgetting all other formalities and began in a panicked voice, "There are mercenaries here demanding to see you."
Oliver could only think of one group of mercenaries who would be fool enough to enter his mansion unannounced. It was the filth from Crimea, those unmannerly small town hicks were trasping around his house. "On what grounds?"
"They say they have orders from the Apostle."
Oliver blanched, he could ignore the sell swords but not the ones from his apostle. He couldn't imagine what the empress wanted from him. There was no way that she knew about his Laguz selling. He brushed his lavish robes off and cleared his throat, attempting to wear a calm face.
"Very well, I will meet them." He grumbled an insult at the mercenaries before turning to his soldiers. "Keep the heron in this room. It will be our skins if they find him in here."
Standing in the front room of the massive house were the mercenaries. Widened eyes and opened mouths gaped at a home too opulent for words.
"You could fit our entire house in here three times over." Mist observed with a breath exhaled in disbelief.
"What does one Beorc need all this space for?" Ikyna complained with a scowl as she ran into a tacky gold statue of woman carrying a vase on her hip. She couldn't remember the last time she's seen so much stuff-except for in the apostle's house- and this man was just a senator. The duke was a snobby entitled barrel of lard who did nothing for anyone but himself.
"It is a bit excessive." Aeyori agreed as she let her fingers glide over an alabaster column draped sensually with green vines.
Ike sighed, everything in this land was in excess. The cloths, the food, the arbitrary rules on manners, it was all a waste in his eyes. He couldn't wait to complete this mission and finally have the support of the apostle. Then he and his mercenaries could continue their journey and it wouldn't be too soon in his opinion. Any longer in that backwards Beorc country would send Ike over the edge.
"So all we need to do is find the Laguz the duke is hiding and mission accomplished right?" Ikyna asked at her brother's right flank.
He nodded, "But I doubt he will come out and just show us what we are looking for."
"He'll probably hide the Laguz, the house is certainly big enough." Aeyori added. Ike cast a meaningful glance in her direction. He still worried about the thin mage. She hadn't been the same since their first job from the apostle. But he hadn't been able to get any more information from her. Ike was left with the memory of the suspicious blonde man and Aeyori's misted eyes when she tried to hide her tears. He regretted giving Aeyori the option to tell him the rest of her secrets at her leisure. The longer he knew her the more worried about her he became.
"Captain." Mist gently addressed him and pulled him from his wandering thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Maybe I can take a look around while you keep the duke distracted. If I do that I might be able to find the Laguz."
Ike's forehead creased at the idea and his auburn haired sister noticed. "I can accompany her if you are concerned captain." Titania said as she entered the conversation. She held his steady gaze with a serene smile, knowing very well how much the young commander worried about his family.
The dark haired boy agreed with a sigh. "That's fine. Just be quick about it. I don't know how long we can stall the duke." He turned away, "And be careful." Was his earnest warning.
Mist gave her brother a playful salute with her hand and scampered off as Titania followed behind. Not long after the two women mercenaries left the Duke slowly strolled in, hands resting on his belly and a suspicious eye darting across the room. He made no effort to be civil but began in an imperious tone, "What is this I hear about you being here under orders of the Apostle?" he could not believe that commoners like them could receive instructions from the empress.
Ike fished into the sash around his chest and produced a finely decorated piece of paper. He passed it to the duke with no more civility than the senator had offered him, "This is a letter with her seal."
Oliver took it with a grunt and studied it slowly, his orange mustache twitching from side-to-side as his nerves began to rise. With a strangled breath he returned his gaze to the mercenaries, "It seems to be authentic." He begrudgingly admitted.
Soren, who was standing close at Ike's side, rolled his eyes, "Do you think we would fake these papers?"
Oliver scowled, insulted by the unranked raven haired boys rude speech, "Then what are you here for? What am I being accused of?" he demanded.
"Are you refusing the orders of the apostle by stopping us from completing our job?" Soren asked rhetorically. He knew the hefty man could not go against Sanaki's orders.
"Of course not." Oliver stammered, his bald head slowly beading with perspiration, "What do I need to do for you?" he was chastened by the mention of the empress and Soren sneered by made no reply.
"We will do a search of your house and explain when we are finished." Ike stated as he began walking away.
"But…" Oliver began in a panic, he had nothing to say to stall them but he didn't want them snooping around his house.
"Then are you refusing the Apostle's orders?" Ike asked plainly.
The duke wanted to resist but he could not. He would lose his position and wealth, the two things he valued most. All the work he had put into climbing to the top. The people he'd betrayed and men he'd bribed to reach his position could be lost in a moment if he didn't comply. All he could do was pray that the heron was tucked away like he had instructed. "No, of course not." He meekly responded. "You may have a look."
Ike nodded at Oliver's compliance and motioned for his men to begin their search. The mercenaries searched for a half an hour, room upon room, and hallway after hallway. The whole place was a maze of expensive furnishing and decorations but not a Laguz in sight. Ike had expected as much, before he and his men had started the search he was sure that Oliver had hidden the Laguz somewhere.
He noticed that Oliver appeared less agitated the more rooms they searched. He was probably smugly celebrating their unfruitful search. To the duke it seemed he had won but Ike still had Mist and Titania to wait for. He hoped they found what they needed.
"Now tell me what this is all about."
Ike closed the final bedroom door as he exited. He paused as he saw the pleased smirk on Oliver's face. The duke didn't even have the decency to hide his satisfaction.
"The apostle suspects you of buying and keeping Laguz slaves."
Oliver opened his mouth in mock shock. He turned to look at each mercenary, pretending to be incredulous, "How could I be suspected for this?" he laughed indignantly.
"So then you have no idea what the basis for this is?"
Oliver noticeably relaxed, he saw his victory in sight. "How could I, a member of the senators, and a devoted servant of the apostle, even think of going against the Emancipation Act? I will tell you, I would not. Can you not see the truth in my eyes?"
Ike could only see the rolls of fat under his lids. He hated the fact that this man was speaking to him in such a berating tone. Ike knew this man was guilty with every fiber of his being but he didn't have the proof.
"So, now that you have disrupted my day I will ask you to leave immediately. You have found no proof for your accusations and you are certainly not welcome."
The commander wanted nothing more than to violently wipe the smug grin of the duke's face but he could not. Social norms dictated that he had to respect the slimy senator. He really hated Begnion laws.
"That seems to be it." Soren began with a straight face, "With no proof we have to leave commander."
Ike hesitated but knew there was nothing else he could do. He looked to his sister and saw her roll her eyes, lost in the same predicament as he was.
"Hold on, wait big brother!" Mist suddenly tore down the hall with Titania at her heels. Three soldiers were close behind, "Halt, get back here!" they forcefully shouted.
The youngest sibling clung to Ike's shirt as she panted. As the red soldiers closed in Titania and Yakuzo blocked them from reaching Mist.
"What is it Mist?"
"I saw him, I saw the Laguz brother!" Oliver blanched and Ike's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded her head vigorously, "Yes, he was in a room with white wings, I saw him trying to jump out the window before I ran here. Some soldiers stopped him before he could though."
"A heron?" Yakuzo said in shock.
Ike shot the senator a triumphant look. Oliver sputtered frantically. "It seems there is one last room we neglected to see senator, will you take us there or shall we see it by force?" He inched closer to the senator with a hand on his sheath. This was the news Ike was waiting for.
Oliver felt the walls closing on him. His secret was exposed but he would not lose to these filthy mongrels. He backed away before shouting, "They can't be allowed to escape! Guards, kill them! Kill them all!"
A horde of soldiers charged the small room as the round senator made his escape. Ike made a move to follow him but was cut off by a heavily armored knight. He cursed before unsheathing his sword, it whined as it was released. "Quickly finish these guys off everyone. We have to find Oliver before he makes off with the Laguz."
"Fine by me I was getting restless." Ikyna said with a wicked grin. Her bow was ready and she had an arrow waiting in between her fingers. "Which way did that tub of lard go?"
Ike pointed a finger towards maroon doubled doors. Guarding them was a bulky knight in violet armor with a long spear. He was nestled up stairs with a small army of other soldiers between him and the mercenaries.
The men charged into battle knowing that time was their enemy. Ike and his sister made the first run up the carpeted stairs, the rest of the mercenaries continued the fight on the first level. Swords clanked and men grunted through the struggle.
A warrior swung his hand axe from the top of the stairs in his hand. He tossed the dangerous weapon at Ike. It sailed just past Ike's head and he tripped on a step barely missing the axe's return. He turned his head just as he saw Sothe's green hair ascending the stairs on the thin rail. The young boy jumped as a myrmidon hacked with his sword before slashing the soldier in the cheek. He landed almost silently before continuing his easy climb.
"Sothe!" Ike said through a grunt as the hand axe wielding soldier confronted him with a broad swing.
"Yes captain!"
Ike jumped down a step to avoid the deadly edge and parried. "Focus on unlocking all the doors for us."
The leafy boy nodded as he jumped from the rail over an enemy's head. He used the soldiers back to push him out of the range of a fire mage.
Ike pushed the hand axe man into the rail, his sword sliding against the steel axe. The weapons cried against one another as the two men struggled. Ikyna stopped as her brother fell behind her. She readied her bow but her brother groaned, "Keep going Ikyna, we have to catch Oliver."
Ikyna clicked her tongue but followed her captain's orders. Her bow relaxed, she made strides of two steps at a time. Blood pumped furiously through her veins as an awaiting fire mage opened his tome at the top of the steps. The air around her slowly warmed and her hairs floated. She rolled out of the way as a sphere of flames almost consumed her.
The heat met her face followed by a plume of smoke. She coughed as she scrambled on her hands and knees to reach the top. She gripped her bow tightly, the iron around the edges still hot from the blast. Her arrow slid into the slot before she let it fly and pierce the mages chest.
Ikyna looked down the hallway and heard someone yelling behind her. She whipped around just to see someone with a spear preparing to gouge her. Ikyna collapsed to her back as the spear was swung at her. Its shimmering metal tip ripped through the air over her face and she felt the wind from its passing charge past her. The soldier grunted as he spun the spear in his fingers and aimed the point at the archer.
Her blue eyes widened as she rolled just before the end burrowed into carpet. Ikyna spun her legs around and caught the man's foot with her own. He toppled with a surprised cry and landed on his knee. The young female sprung up and swung her bow at his face but he blocked with the long end of his lance.
He pushed her into the wooden rail and jabbed her with the spear. It got caught in one of the bars but still managed to graze her shoulder. Her cloths ripped and she gasped in agony. She managed to kick the soldier in the gut.
The Begnion gasped but grabbed her foot and yanked her forward. Ikyna yelped and moved her hands over her face as his fist launched at her. He made contact and her hands smacked into her lip. The brunt of the blow was stopped but her lip still started to bleed. She used her feet to push him off again and he rammed into a stand. The short marble column toppled over, taking the expensive vase on it down with it.
Yakuzo's ears perked as he heard the crash from above. An ember soared past him as he jumped out of the way and searched for the source of the disturbance. He could hear Ikyna's voice, she was in trouble. He caught sight of her wild ocean blue hair pinned to the rail.
"Ikyna!" he yelled as he dodged the second blast of fire.
"Hello there my friend." Yakuzo turned and saw leafy hair come into view. It was Stephen the man they found hiding under the sand in the desert. He was strange enough for his choice of housing but he was always following the red feline around, a complete pest.
"What?" Yakuzo hissed as he kept racing towards Ikyna.
"I just thought we could have a short chat." The human was keeping stride with the agile cat all while falling soldier after soldier with ease. His sword danced in his hands like an extension of his arm coloring the floor with bodies and blood.
"This isn't the time." Yakuzo said, his golden eyes never leaving Ikyna. The enemy soldier had her by the neck and was hoisting her into the air. Her thin legs flailed and she screamed as he bent her over the rail. She was struggling with all her might, kicking the man and even biting his hands but she could not break free.
"It isn't?" Stephen said curiously, he stepped to the side as a myrmidon made a failed attempt to wound him. Without another glance the swordmaster slashed the enemy in the back.
"Of course not, this is a battle!"
"But you're handling yourself well enough. But Laguz always do." He smiled whimsically.
Yakuzo yelped as he heard Ikyna cry out again. She was almost falling over the rail. Then his view was obstructed by a bulky knight. The Begnion slung his axe at the feline who dodged with an exasperated grunt. He didn't have time to fight this guy, Ikyna needed his help. She was so close, just behind the wall of red armor. If he could get around this enemy he would reach her in time he assessed as he looked up from the ground floor.
"Need help there my Gallian friend?"
Yakuzo hissed but consented to accept the bothersome Beorc's offer. "Yes, I need to get to Ikyna but-" his sentence was cut off as Ikyna shouted when the soldier managed to hurl her over the rail. She grabbed the bottom but he could see the exertion in her face as she struggled to hang on. The soldier disappeared to find his spear to either dislodge or kill Ikyna.
"That isn't good." Stephen said calmly, "I shall assist you." He darted over to the armored knight, "You're in the way." As an axe charged toward his head he spun to the side, unsheathing his sword he'd just put away in a fluid movement. The medal sang and cut into the thin gap between the soldier's breast plate and legs. Stephen's skill was unmistakable, he found a tiny vulnerable spot with just a glance. The soldier coughed as blood misted from his gut and he lurched forward onto his knee.
"Do you need a lift?"
Yakuzo nodded just as he saw Ikyna's grip slip. She shouted as she fell and Yakuzo used the kneeling knight as a stepping stone. His red paws pushed off the cool armor as he leapt into the air. His eyes were focused on the plumetting archer. In a flash of magenta he changed into his humanoid form. With arms reached out she landed softly into his arms her voice falling mute as he secured her into his chest.
Ikyna's looked at him in surprise and delight, "Yakuzo, you're like my knight in shining red fur." She laughed as they descended.
"Shut up." He snapped, but only did so to hide his embarrassment.
They landed softly on the ground and Ikyna was glad to hear that myth of cats always landing on their feet was truth. Yakuzo set her down gently, he found the contact of her skin on his to be unbearable.
"Idiot." He growled in his flustered state.
Ikyna was oblivious to his insult as she looked back up to the top of the stairs. Her brother was fending off an attack of both a sword wielder and a fire mage. Sothe was slipping past soldiers and laughing at their expense and gradually the rest of the mercenaries were pushing the Begnion soldiers up the steps. The enemy units were slowly decreasing but time was still not on their side. "And I'd just gotten to the top." She complained
The archer pulled an arrow from her quiver and began her second charge up the steps. Yakuzo groaned, that girl had just almost died and now she was running back into danger.
"Ike!" She yelled as she nailed an enemy in the eye with her arrow.
He turned to look at her as he dispatched a fire mage. Ike pointed to a hallway, "You and Yakuzo take that direction while we finish things up here. See if we can surround Oliver before he escapes!"
She spun to smack a soldier with her bow end as she shouted, "Well hurry up Yakuzo or are you going to gape all day?"
Yakuzo rolled his eyes but followed.
)(
There was a large commotion downstairs and it had been going on for some time. After he failed to leap from the window, the two soldiers who pulled him back in had locked the window and left him in a hurry. Plenty of shouts were heard outside the door but the prince didn't know what was happening. He was alone and desperate to escape.
The door suddenly burst open and the slimy pig Oliver came in. He rang his stubbing fingers together, his face blanching in a frenzied panic. "My beautiful, beautiful fowl, come lets us escape this place." He began as he moved closer to Reyson. He grabbed the prince's arm with bruising strength and Reyson grimaced.
"Let go of me!" he said with venom as he struggled to pry his arm from his filthy grasp.
"No don't be afraid, I will not harm you. Not one feather."
"I said unhand me."
"Senator Oliver!"
Ike came in with a scowl and pointed his sword at the duke. "Give it up. Your game is over."
Oliver swallowed loudly and reluctantly released the heron to flee as he whimpered. He left through a back door as Ike tried to reach him but he was gone too quickly. Ike cursed under his breath for letting him escape but soon turned his attention to the fair skinned person before him.
"Who are you?" the bird asked with a scowl.
"You, you're the heron from Serenes right?" his voice was unsteady as he took in the pail heron. He saw a purple bruise spreading on the arm where the duke had grabbed him. "You're hurt. We need to have that looked at."
With every step Ike took closer to him Reyson stepped back, he was looking angry and suspicious.
"Don't you dare come near me you monster."
Ike paused, startled by the bird's venomous statement. "I just want to help." He added quietly.
Reyson scoffed, "I will never accept help from a human. The atrocities of your kind against mine twenty years ago can never be forgiven." And with that last word he ran past Ike and out the door.
"Wait!" but the heron was gone, he didn't glance back.
"Ike!" Aeyori replaced the heron, "Did I just see a heron?" she studied her captain's face; it was riddled with confusion. She slowly approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Ike?"
His eyes fluttered as he slowly focused, he turned to Aeyori with a blank expression, "What happened twenty years ago?"
)(
Ikyna and Yakuzo rounded a corner, the Laguz with his ears up and the archer had an arrow already strung as she angled it into a room. It was empty and the mercenaries relaxed. They'd checked all the rooms so far with no resistance and downstairs had gone quiet for a while.
"I wonder if the fight is over." Ikyna said as she placed her bow over her shoulder and replaced the arrow back into her quiver.
"Maybe."
"I bet that whale of a man is long gone by now." She frowned at the thought and turned back to face Yakuzo as she continued walking.
"You're going to hit something if you keep walking backwards." Yakuzo cautioned.
She rolled her eyes and smirked, "You worry too much." Her hands flew to the back of her head and she shrugged, not a concern or worry.
"One of us has to."
"Fine." She said with an exaggerated sigh and dropped her hands. "I'll turn around if-" her words were cut off as she slammed into and object she couldn't see. Ikyna fell on her face with a groan. She lifted her head with a scowl, "If you intentionally didn't tell me I was going to hit something just to prove a point that's just mean."
Her Gallian companion did not respond, only gaped and pointed at something behind her.
Ikyna rolled her eyes with a grunt as she rolled over. "You pick the oddest times to not say anything."
She lifted only her head and trunk to see what was rendering her friend suddenly speechless. Ikyna mimicked Yakuzo with her own surprise. Her eyes widened at person groaning before her. That's what, or who she ran into.
Skin white as polished marble and hair like strands of fine gold were before her eyes. The tendrils draped loosely over his thin body and were only overshadowed by piercing emerald eyes that sat over a sharp nose and pale rosy colored lips. His wings stretched and sent a small storm of feathers like shimmering pearls into the air. Ikyna gasped, she couldn't control the response.
"Not another human." The Laguz groaned before standing slowly. He shook his head in disgust and fled the opposite direction.
"Hey wait!" Yakuzo called as he began his pursuit but stopped when his partner made no move to follow. "Get up Ikyna." He growled, "That was the heron, we need to find him.
But Ikyna could not find the ability to stand. She laid back down and stared at the ceiling, speechless, the dazzling memory of snow like wings dancing in her head.
"That's a heron." She said wistfully in amazement. "So pretty."
"Pretty?"
Ikyna nodded with a silly grin. "Yes, the prettiest person I've ever seen." she whispered as she laid in a halo of scattered feathers.
Finally Ikyna and Reyson meet. I know it was only brief but it's all up hill from here right? Thank you all for waiting so patiently for the meeting. Also for the reviewers I have I love you guys. Every time I get a message I can write a little faster. Seriously you rock. And even if you don't review I love the support either way. (But I'd still like to hear from you guys lol)
PG
