9. Destinations
Erk, Serra, Raven and Priscilla continued there journey to Etruria the next morning, mixed feelings floating around all their minds.
Erk was planning on proposing to Serra when they reached Etruria, and the thought of her saying yes made his heart soar. But those good feelings were cancelled out time and time again by nagging thoughts of what had happened to Jaffar. He stopped once again and continued his thoughts about Serra, but Erk's analytical mind wouldn't let go of those disturbing thoughts.
Serra was blissfully unaware of Erk's plans but she was just as happy to be going to Etruria, where she could finally meet with Renault and Lucius again, and show them how powerful a Bishop(ess) she had become. She had been practising night and day with the Luce tome, and she planned on challenging Lucius to a friendly duel to see if he could beat her. To say she was confident was an understatement, as she was telling herself she was prepared to take on a man who wielded to magic of St. Elimine, Aureola, giving to him by Eliwood after Athos died. She was also looking forward to seeing how Canas was going with his light magic studies. She still couldn't believe a Druid had been allowed visit a Holy Temple, even if Canas was the kindest dark magic user in many centuries.
Priscilla's thoughts were of Erk, as they always seemed to be these days. She knew his heart belonged to Serra, but she just didn't see the appeal. Serra was a Bishop(ess) in training, and she was getting there, but she was but a girl, she was indeed a young woman but she had the attitude of a young girl. She was loud-mouthed and very picky. Priscilla knew that Erk and herself had shared something special and she firmly believed she was more mature then Serra. These thoughts were breaking her heart.
Raven was probably the saddest of the group. How he hated Bartre. Raven had fallen head over heels for Karla, who happened to be Bartre's mortal enemy, and then he finds that Bartre and Karla had become lovers. How unfair life had been for him. But there was an upside to life at the moment; he was on his way to Etruria to the city of Reglay where Lucius was now staying at a Bishop's Holy Temple. Raven had so much respect for that man, he considered him his brother, and what are brothers for but to help you in bad times.
Yes many thoughts were floating around the weary travellers' heads as they made there slowly to the kingdom of Etruria.
It didn't take long for the three Swordmasters to run into trouble. A large group of Nomads surrounded the threesome and ordered them to drop their weapons. Unfortunately, of all the things to command of a Swordmaster – if you are stupid enough to try – is to tell them to drop their weapon, as it was akin to asking a mother to drop her baby.
Guy exploded into action, but not before Karel. Karel cut the two front legs off both the horses in front of him in one slash of his sharp Wo Dao, and Guy did the same to the two in front of him. They both spun around to see that Karla was no longer behind them, or anywhere near them in fact. But neither Guy nor Karel were novices and didn't waste time in wondering where she was. They noticed that the Nomads had gotten off there mounts and had drawn out what appeared to be Longswords.
Half the group made their way toward Guy while the other half moved toward Karel, but they had seen this type of divide and conquer method before. They looked to each other and used a hand signalling method that Karel had perfected to communicate, and that Guy had recently thought of ways to improve it.
Should be good practise Karel signalled, and with that they moved apart to allow each group to form around them.
Two of the Nomads around Guy thrust there Longswords at him, but Guy moved his hips to the right, batting the sword coming for him on that side away, then he remembered the enchantment on Crackle, and when Crackle came in contact with the blade to bat it away, he willed the Crackle to electrocute the enemy swordsman. The man instantly started to shudder and was unfortunately in contact with the other Nomads, so when he started to shudder, eventually all of them did and after a while Guy willed the shocking to stop, and the Nomads around him fell to the ground unconscious.
Karel was certainly having a harder time but Guy knew better then to try and help Karel. It was really a thing of beauty the way Karel fought. Guy watched as Karel darted this way and that, cutting Nomads wherever there was an opening, and whenever one of them slashed at him or thrust there sword at him, Karel, with the slightest of wrist movements, sent the blade slashing or thrusting into another Nomads body. But eventually Karel started to wear down and a few of the swords were getting through and nicking him.
That's when Karla came out from under the sand! It was like the sand was forming into a likeness of her, and in fact, Guy noticed, that was exactly what was happening as another Karla likeness appeared from the sand and cut down one of the remaining Nomads. Guy decided that he wouldn't be lectured by Karel if he didn't help in the first place so Guy put Crackle into the spine of one Nomads, then as he ripped it back out he twirled it in his fingers and slashed another in the neck as he put Crackle back in its sheath.
"I didn't need your help" was all Karel said as he started to loot the bodies of coins and items of value. Guy was more interested about what happened and walked over to what he assumed was the real Karla.
"How did you do it?" Guy asked, his face showing utter amazement.
"Well you weren't the only one that got a new sword" Karla said with a mischievous smile growing on her face. She turned around then turned back holding a sword that looked exactly like Guy's Crackle except it had a brown coloured handle and the blade's edge glowed a weak brown colour.
"I call it Sand Edge" she said and chuckled wistfully. She turned to follow Karel who had already continued walking down the sandy path. Guy smiled as Karla told him to hurry up, then melted into the sand then unmelted to stand beside Karel about 20 metres away. Guy was looking forward to seeing what magical Blade they would discover next.
Matthew was almost getting sick of the good progress they were making. They had seen no fighting, and Matthew once again chuckled at the obvious effect being around Hector had had on him. He wanted a challenge, and Matthew had never wanted a challenge ever before in his life.
Matthew was flooded with feelings of relief and impending doom when he finally saw the spires of Castle Pharae. He looked to the rest of them but they all had their attention focussed on something else.
In the distance, behind some trees poking over the top of the back of Castle Pharae, they saw fire.
The group of four ran with all their might to the castle then Matthew led them around the back and they nearly ran straight into Hector but they pulled up short, not because they were worried of knocking him over, but they were worried that he would knock them over.
"It's ok" Hector said to them "They are cremating Harken". Hector looked like a small wind could blow him away.
"B-But… h-how" Matthew was shocked, his thoughts reeling back to the battle against Jerme when Matthew had run off to fight him to prove himself as an Assassin. He remembered that he was on his knees in front of Jerme and that just as the killing blow fell, a sword lopped of Jerme's head and Harken strode forward and pulled Matthew to his feet. "Fight on!" he commanded and ran off to find Eliwood.
Matthew shook his head and once again looked at Hector, and indeed the big man looked anguished.
"Lord Hector?" Nino motioned towards the castle, and Matthew understood that now was no time to stop. The group started to walk towards the castle, but Matthew stayed behind with Hector, knowing that something else was getting at the big man.
"Matthew, I was planning on informing Harken of the problem as there is no man I would trust more. He was a good man to Eliwood and me when we were younger. He was an excellent cook. He saved our lives once… me and Eliwood" Hector had tears rimming his eyes.
"He was a good man Milord" Matthew said trying to ease the big man's guilt, "but there are more pressing issues at hand, surely Harken would be upset if he thought you were putting your sorrow for him ahead of our mission to save Eliwood?"
"That isn't my concern Matthew," Hector turned to Matthew and gave him a look of exasperation, a look that Matthew was actually glad to see, "I'm worried that this might be the workings of the Magic Seal".
"Surely that is not possible Lord Hector? Jaf… the Magic Seal would not have that much control of our assassin friends body as to infiltrate a castle inhabited by some of the greatest fighters ever known?"
"He sent that group of bandits after us didn't he?" Hector smirked, or would have had the situation not been so dire.
"Matthew you will patrol Pharae Castle this night, and any movement what so ever…" Hector handed Matthew a small bauble, "and you hold this in your hand and in your mind say the word 'danger' really clearly".
Matthew never did like magic, even though he was the fastest of three (now two) assassins of Eliwood's Army, he had the worst trouble with magic users, and on more then one occasion it took Pent's or Serra's Recover staff to bring him back to consciousness after being hit by a magic attack.
"Anything for my King" Matthew said with sarcasm, hoping to get a reaction from Hector. He never got it and as Hector marched sullenly to the castle Matthew kicked the dirt at his feet.
"Commander Oswin! Commander Oswin!" shouted a soldier as he bolted down the corridors that would lead to the throne room. He didn't expect, however, that Oswin would actually find him. As the soldier came around one corner he saw Oswin closing the door of the room that held the castle's top Sages. The soldier had to throw his arms back and put his feet down hard, but it still wasn't enough and he crashed hard into Oswin. Of course this hurt the soldier more then it 'the Tank' (as he was affectionately referred to in Ostia) and the soldier was experienced enough to twirl as he hit Oswin and went sprawling to the ground more gracefully then most who had collided with Oswin.
"What is it Cale?" Oswin said looking down at the man now rubbing his head furiously, trying to dull the ache.
"I bring news…" Cale paused for a second to give his head a good shake, "I bring news from Archery-Master Wil". Cale handed the parchment to Oswin and when he unfurled it, Cale still began to give him the jist of it, as was custom for soldiers to do for military leaders.
"It seems he spotted many movements inside the castle walls last night when he was on night duty, and he had sanctioned none of these movements. He believes he spotted a piece of tattered rag on one of the tower spires, but decided it wiser to leave the locating to the experts." Cale finished with a salute and stated "sir", then went to go back the way he came but was grabbed on the shoulder by Oswin.
"Find me Sothe!" Oswin commanded in a polite tone (AN: yes I know! I've always wanted to crossover my two favourite FEs), quite uncommon in Army Generals, but certainly Oswin was not an ordinary General.
"But sir, you know you're the only one that trusts – in fact the only that likes that skilled but stuck-up brat. Besides Volke, if he should ever return, is far more skilled at… everything". Cale tried to make himself appear confident in front of Oswin, straightening his posture inside his pure white armour.
Oswin merely gave a noise that was somewhere between a sneer and a chuckle. "Until you are passed your soldier training and are considered to be a skilled Halberdier, I will not take what you believe as something from better judgement or understanding then my own. Now fetch!"
Oswin couldn't help but admire Cale, and was planning on promoting that man soon, once he had proven himself of course. Cale's well greased, white, plate-mail armour made hardly a sound as he bolted off down the hallway to find Sothe.
Come on gurs plz R and R, it will really help me rwrite the story if i believe people like it or hate it, or have some sort of emotion towards it, i dont care if you pay the crap out of me about the story, i just need some feedback, that said, don't flame me as this is my first fic, so constructive criticism is preferred instead of flaming.