The first day, the Feroxi had been out maneuvered. The second day, the Feroxi had been outmatched. But living in the harsh north conditions had drilled a survivor's mantra within them. If at first you didn't succeed, you got up and tried harder. And if that didn't work, you tried even harder.

The Valm lines were prepared to hold them off, but they expected to face a demoralized opponent, or at the worst, an opponent no stronger than the first day. What they got was a frenzied charge of berserkers who broke clean through the lines, lead at the front by the Khans.

"Slash and burn!" Flavia howled, her crimson sword dripping with blood as she carved a path clean though the Feroxi soldiers in her way. The lines had been broken, and now the Valmese were moving to reform their lines, retreating as they did so. "It's time to show you what happens in a proper scrap!"

A thrum sounded next to her. Basilio had taken to wielding his massive steel-limbed bow and was firing shots into the siege towers that Valm had set up. The lines had been broken, and with the retreat, the Valm were being forced to abandon the towers. Basilio was cleaning up the remains within them with pinpoint accuracy.

"Oaf." Flavia nodded to him and dove back into the fray. She'd show that infernal Battlemaster exactly what leading was. He wasn't on the battlefield, at least nowhere she could see and the Feroxi were instructed to call out if they saw him.

Judging from the Valmese movements, he'd resumed his occupation as the army's tactician, and was directing their retreat. That boiled Flavia's blood even more. He landed a lucky blow, and thought he could just ignore the fight from that point onwards? That wasn't going to happen. Robin was going to pay.

And Flavia was going to be the one to collect on that payment.

-Feroxi Guard-

Basilio sighed as he watched Flavia tear through the Valm lines with the Feroxi. Truth be told, they were doing well, but not as well as he would have liked. Fortifications and battlefield position that the Valm had established kept the Feroxi from overwhelming with numbers by focusing the line of combat so even thought there were hundreds of thousands of soldiers, maneuvering within the terrain was limited.

With that said, both sides had more or less an equal number of soldiers engaging each other, and with the lines breached, Valm should be losing soldiers. But they weren't losing enough for Basilio's tastes. Robin had to be responsible for this, which also explained why he wasn't present.

"We've got ways to go until we're even from the losses we've sustained over the past two days." Basilio muttered. "And I can't shake the feeling…"

Robin knows what he's doing – that's one of the things which makes him dangerous. Flavia thinks we've got him right where we want him, but I can't help but feel that it's the exact opposite. Basilio mused. And Robin riled Flavia up on purpose. She's not going to be thinking straight. There's only one option – I've got to kill Robin before he can make this worse. And I'll need to do it before Flavia encounters him.

Shouldn't be too hard. He got where he is because of his brains, not his brawn. If he thinks that having only one eye make a person tough, he's mistaken. I'm not tough because of my one eye. I'm tough in spite of it.

"Khan Basilio!"

"Hmm?" Basilio turned to a Feroxi who ran up to him. "Can I help you?"

"Message from Khan Flavia." The man said. "She said that even though you're her insignificant other, you'd better pull your own weight."

"Bother that woman." Basilio sighed. "People will get the wrong idea if she talks like that. But she's right, at least in some small part. Follow me."

With that, Basilio plunged into the fray, and started cutting a path. Like Flavia, he made no move to rally troops to his side, but like Flavia, he didn't need to. His silver axe whirled around, slicing through Valm soldiers. He batted aside a spear thrust and decapitated the soldier, moving past him to slam his bulk into another soldier.

Two more came at him, only to fall to strokes from his great axe, though one managed to lacerate the Khan's arm for his trouble, which Basilio ignored as he continued. Feroxi fighters and warriors ran with him, helping him open up the path.

Basilio was no tactician like Robin was. But he knew how to find them. Robin wasn't the type to lead from the rear. He'd be in the thick of things, directing his army. So that's where Basilio cut his path. While Flavia worked at tearing through the weakened lines, Basilio went through the thickest of the paths. He cut through a pair of guards with stylized wolf heads on their uniform to reach where the tactician was.

-Valm's Tactician Unit-

"Almost." Ravena smirked. Behind her, Dant had quickly tossed her hood up and drew twin daggers, looking intimidating as the assassin stood ready to defend Ravena. Ravena had her magic and spear ready, but she was under no illusions – if she fought Basilio, she'd lose. And a loss meant death if it was on the battlefield. It'd taken a fair amount of persuading to let her take the job of bait. Dant had volunteered to be her bodyguard, which helped. "You did manage to find the army's tactician, so kudos for that. But Robin isn't here, Khan Basilio. I am."

"Who are you supposed to be?"

"My name is Ravena Wormtongue, and I'm the adopted daughter of Robin Wormtongue." Ravena said. "Second in line for the Plegian Throne, a member of the Wolfguard, and a capable tactician in my own right. We knew it'd be likely that you'd fine out and seek Robin, so we wanted to keep you distracted."

"He's going after Flavia, isn't he?"

"No." Ravena shook her head. "If that was our objective, he'd have shown himself in person."

"Bah." The Feroxi giant shook his head. "Sorry, but if you think that I'm just going to sit here and puzzle out your riddle, you're wrong. All I am is an old veteran who fights. As it happens, you're the tactician here, so I'll just have to take you out."

"You'd attack a child?"

"You're in your teens, and that's old enough to fight in Feroxi. And you're on a battlefield." Basilio said. "You're not getting special treatment."

Basilio lunged at the Ravena, axe ready to swipe and cut the fledgling tactician cleanly in half. Ravena crouched backwards, readying her spear to counter. But before the exchange could happen, Dant sprang forward, with her twin daggers, going straight for the Feroxi's neck.

Basilio planted his feet down and leaned backwards, stopping so that the assassin's daggers swiped short in a gleaming silver crescent. Dant dropped into a handspring and flipped up, getting in close and went for a stab. Basilio blocked her stab using the haft of his axe and shoved, sending Dant backwards.

Basilio swung his axe down, a silver streak meant to split Dant from head to toe. Dant danced out of the way and flicked the dagger back into her sheathes, drawing throwing knives instead and let them rain into Basilio. Basilio let them hit him, and took them out, one by one, drawing blood as he did so, but ignoring them.

"Heh." Dant exhaled, her mouth the only thing not concealed by her hood. "Truly, you're strong, Khan. Unfortunately, I believe your life is claimed by another, but I beg you to survive this fight so I can fight you myself."

"Who are you?"

"Sorry. That information isn't available right now." Dant shook her head. "If we meet again, maybe I'll tell you."

"She's here to protect me." Ravena said, gazing past Basilio. "That's all you need to know. And besides, you've got more pressing issues right now."

"Like I'm going to fall for that trick." Basilio grunted. Dant leapt backwards, knives held in a guard position to give space between her and Basilio and pointedly looked over Basilio's shoulder as well. Basilio half-turned to look around to see a single line of fire arrows from the Feroxi army's flank. A common signal used by armies.

Ravena could almost see the wheel in Basilio's head turning. As far as they knew, all of Valm's forces were present in the fortifications. And fire arrows were usually used for signaling. Basilio turned to her and growled. "Reinforcements."

"From Valm." Ravena said. "Our second wave, another 100,000 troops. They landed three days ago and have been marching non-stop. And now they're attacking your flank. The reason Robin isn't here? He's the one leading them, Morgaine snuck in under the cover of darkness last night and flew him off on pegasus back to lead them. You're getting ambushed by the most capable commander alive right now. Alongside, I believe, the Valm Empress herself in all her glory."

A thunderous explosion rocked the battlefield as twin explosion tore through the Feroxi flanks.

"Yup. Pheros is one of a handful who can Flare. That's here alright. So, Khan Basilio, let's go over your options. You can keep fighting me." Ravena said. "You can try to rally the Feroxi into a retreat. Or, you can do what I think you'll do, which is hunt Robin down."

Basilio growled.

-Moments Prior, Valm's Second Army-

"M'lady." Robin said, gesturing to the Feroxi army that the second wave of reinforcements had started towards. The Feroxi hadn't posted scouts, and thus were caught unawares. The part nearest to them had noticed, of course, but with no ordered structure, they'd no way to alert the larger army. Not that it would matter if they did. "If you would be so kind…?"

Empress Pheros of Valm stepped forward and gestured. A wave of fire arrows went up from their lines, signaling their arrivals. Even as they did so, a wave of normal arrows took to the skies as well, raining down among the unprepared Feroxi lines, as a line of Valmese chargers mounted up and began to charge at Feroxi.

"Battlemaster." Pheros said. "What say you that we show them the true might of Valm?"

"Pact unbidden, chains unforged, summons foregone, we command the magic pure." The Empress and Battlemaster stood in front of the army, chanting simultaneously and summoning raw elemental magic, focused at the Feroxi army. Both gestured forward. "We cast thee, FLARE!"

Twin explosion lit up and detonated within the Feroxi ranks as the Valm came down to ambush them from behind. The cavalry led the charge, experienced, veteran cavalry that served in many campaigns in Valm, and cavalry that furthermore received the benefit of a charging steed. The Feroxi didn't even have lines to disintegrate and collapsed like dust blown about by wind.

"You've done well, Battlemaster." Pheros smiled. "But now it's time I relieve you of some of your burden. You wouldn't begrudge allowing me to lead, the fight, would you?"

"It'd be my pleasure, Empress." Robin said. "Besides, I've personal business to look after myself"

"Oh?" Pheros asked.

"I've a feeling that there are some interested parties going after my head." Robin cracked his knuckles in anticipation. "And I'm more than willing to let them."

-Battlefield-

Chaos reigned on the battlefield. With the incoming Valmese cavalry, the Feroxi army broke as it was attacked from two sides. Valm rallied behind their defenses and surged forward as well, so now instead of orderly lines, the entire fight was a giant field of skirmishes where Feroxi was outnumbered and outmaneuvered at all angles. Some retreated and would live to fight another day. Many refused to and stood their ground, dying in the process but costing Valm lives as a result of their defiance. And some, very few in number, managed to take advantage of the chaos to cut through the non-existent lines, and go after Valm targets.

"ROOOOBIN!" A row of Valmese soldiers were cut down as a massive giant broke through their lines. Valmese soldiers charged him, but Basilio swatted them aside like flies, roaring all the while. Robin stared in amazement as he swung the silver axe around like it was just a toy. "I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THIS!"

So the Khan decided to stake his life trying to kill me. Expected. Not exactly the one I wanted, though. Robin sighed. But he'll have to do for as an opponent for now, until she shows up.

"Khan Flavia's fate is already sealed. But you, I don't want to kill." Unfazed, Robin watched as Basilio charged him. "Your death would slow Valm's takeover of your country, inasmuch as Flavia's would speed it up. I'd much rather you alive and having surrendered."

"Not going to happen." Basilio stopped right before Robin, raising his axe and swinging a blow of gargantuan might. Robin sidestepped the blow at the last moment. A spray of dust clouds met as his axe smashed into the rocks where Robin's feet once were, before being blasted away by Robin's magic. The Valmese Battlemaster merely shook his head and ran up the axe haft, kicking off Basilio's face, and landing, swordspear drawn. Basilio growled. "I'll kill you to protect Regna Ferox."

"This is the thanks I get?" Robin said. "I sent Marth to you to retrieve the last gemstone and get them all to Chrom, then I collapsed the Dragon's Table. Grima cannot be summoned in my body now, and Chrom possesses the means to seal it away even if it does. I think some form of thanks is in order."

"And you expect me to surrender my country to you?"

"I am the savior of this world." Robin shrugged. "Seems appropriate."

"I will never hand over Regna Ferox to the like of a dark messiah like you."

"Fine, then. Have it your way. Go put the world in jeopardy and see if I save it again if that's the way you're going to treat me after I save all your hides." Robin's eye flashed. "But please refresh my memory – how exactly do you do things in Regna Ferox? Isn't it a fight between leaders to see who deserves to lead?"

"It's for those with a true warrior's spirit!" Basilio howled and ripped his axe from the ground. "Something you clearly lack! Don't misunderstand me, I'm grateful for what you've done, but that doesn't excuse your actions now. You're no better than the Conqueror!"

"Of course I am." Robin stepped forward, bringing his weapon in a position to launch an attack. "He wouldn't have managed to win against all three of your countries."

"So." The West Khan spoke the word with finality. "Is that the path you've chosen for yourself?"

"Seems that way." Robin smiled, a fierce predator's baring of teeth. "So tell me, Feroxi – do you think you could have defeated Walhart in a fight? Because as I've just told you – I'm better than him. Swing your axe all you like, berserker, but you won't beat me."

"I will end you, Battlemaster!"

"IGNIS!" Robin summoned forth the purple flames and swung his spear with all his might against Basilio's axe stroke. The blades clashed, deflecting off each other. Robin brought his spear up and slammed it down in a two-handed slash, which Basilio avoided by leaping back. The ground cracked from his blow.

"You know, I used to fight by outsmarting and outmaneuvering my opponent." Robin smirked. Basilio charged at him again, in a Feroxi style of combat, nothing except for relentless offense. Robin set his feet and deflected a second powerful blow with one of equal power of his own. "As a jack-of-all-trades, I could always hit where my opponent was weak. But that's no longer necessary. Do you know why?"

"I know you've got your head stuffed up your own arse!" Basilio leapt back and swung his axe into the ground, resting it there. He drew the large bow off his back, already strung, and nocked an arrow. "You'll find there's more to me than meets the eye!"

"No." Robin conjured a nexus of lightning and caught the fired arrow in it before whipping it away. "There's really not. You've got nothing that can surprise me, Basilio."

"Haaaaaaah!" Basilio took up his axe and lunged forward. Robin sighed and sidestepped. Not just dodging the blow, no, Robin dashed to the giant's blindside and then sidestepped again, this time moving further around, keeping himself in the blind spot when Basilio whipped his head in response.

Basilio spun around, sweeping his axe like a scythe. Robin vaulted over it, got in close, and stabbed Basilio with his spear in the abdomen, choking up on the hilt as much as he could. Then he concentrated and sent a powerful electric blast through the spear into him, before withdrawing the blade and leaping back. Robin had no intention of staying within the giant's reach longer than he had to.

Steam rose from the dark Feroxi's skin and crackled a bit. Basilio tensed up as blood began flowing from the open wound. Robin noted his lack of a guard and set his feet for thrust to the man's heart. I thought he'd recover enough to grapple me or swing his axe at me. Robin noted the lack of movement. That's why I jumped back. But is that really the best he could muster? How disappointing.

"Eat steel!" Robin thrust forward. Basilio's left arm whipped forward and took the point of the blade in the forearm. Robin blinked as the Basilio roared, then lunged at him with his axe, bringing it around for a wide horizontal sweep. Robin blinked, realizing the Khan's trap. He was willing to take the blow to land an even more decisive one. Same way I lost my eye – and probably the same way he lost his. He's stronger than I gave him credit for.

But not as strong as me.

Robin released the hold on his spear after shoving it farther to his right and ran forward, even as the axe swung towards him. He poured more of his magic into Ignis and leapt above the swing, delivering his right knee straight into the West Khan's jaw using the force of his jump. The blow staggered Basilio back. Robin transitioned by spinning and delivering a vicious whip-around kick from his left greave, smashing the side of Basilio's skull.

The combination of blows sent the Feroxi reeling back, his momentum and chance to strike a second time gone. The raw strength needed to pull off the combination of blows Robin landed was immense – merely a standard blow would not have stopped the force Basilio possessed during a charge. It had to be one with the power to fell a giant. But that kind of power was now one that Robin possessed.

Robin landed, walked forward, set his stance, and drew back his right hand, forming a fist, four fingers curled up and the thumb outside it. Then he launched himself upwards, this time delivering the mother of all uppercuts directly to the soft underside of Basilio's jaw, snapping his head back and stunning the West Khan with the sheer power behind it.

Robin withdrew his spear from the man's forearm as Basilio collapsed, being none to gentle as he did so, whipping the blade around with an elegant flourish. A fresh spray of blood spurted from the wound. Basilio opened his eye to see the Valmese Battlemaster pointing the spear at him.

"The reason I don't need to fight like a jack-of-all-trades anymore is that I'm a master of them all now." Robin said. "Fast as a Chon'sin, strong as a Feroxi, skilled as an Ylissean. I have the magic of a master Plegian sorcerer and the tenacity of a Valmese general. You never stood a chance. Now, die!"

"No you don't!" Robin's spear thrust was deflected by a red-and-silver shield. A silvery sword blade snaked out and swept, forcing the Battlemaster back. Flavia kept up the relentless assault, forcing the spear wielding Robin back, with a rain of blows. "I owe you one, Robin! And you're going to collect on it!"

"Khan Flavia. Are you that interested in continuing on where we left off yesterday?" Robin said. He deflected a sword strike and slammed the butt of the weapon into the East Khan's stomach, sending her staggering back by Basilio. Robin casually flourished the spear around his hand and gestured at her. "Or perhaps you've simply come here to die as well?"

"Neither one, Battlemaster! We'll end this here."

"Well, we're agreement about that last one." Robin said. "Regardless, I wouldn't advise you to overstay your welcome. Despite what you think, you aren't the real threat here. My original thought was to kill you and have Basilio rule, but now I'm rethinking it. Seems like he's far too stubborn to be my lapdog."

"I'll never bend the knee to you either, Robin." Flavia growled.

"I don't think you would." Robin agreed. "But if that's the case, I'd much rather someone with your inexperience ruling Ferox than a crafty old veteran like Basilio."

"You'll pay for underestimating me, Battlemaster."

"No, I very much doubt that. That's what Basilio said, and trust me, he's better than you." Robin said cheerfully. "But I'll tell you this – if you run right now, you might be able to escape. But as it stands, I'm not about to pass up on the chance to kill you and install a puppet on your Feroxi throne. You're at least important enough for that."

"He's a demon, woman!" Basilio grunted and made it to his feet. Robin stared, impressed, as Basilio shrugged off the concussion that Robin had to have given him and withdrew the axe from the ground. "You can't take him, this one as strong as Walhart! Run!"

"I'm not leaving you alone, oaf!"

"One of you can escape while the other dies holding me off. But that's the extent of your abilities." Robin stated. "Even together, you stand no chance of killing me. So choose one of you to live. But do it quickly, this is a battlefield, after all."

"He's not normal." Basilio said. "There's no way we can beat him without Ylisse. Tell everyone to run! I'll keep him busy. One of us needs to make it back to Ylisse. Take the rest of our army and run!"

"Fine. We'll run."

"Thank you, woman-"

"We'll run together, after he's dead!" Flavia charged Robin with an angry roar. Basilio howled in frustration and followed her. Flavia raised her sword. "He can't kill us both!"

Axe and sword, that one has throwing axes and that one has a bow. Ranged or melee, I have no advantage. Robin shrugged. But there's a reason I has this custom forged.

"IGNIS CORONA!" Electricity crackled to life around Robin as his spear lit up and bolts of lightning appeared around it. Both Khans attacked at once, and Robin used his spear like a quarterstaff, catching the axe blade on his swordspear's own blade, and Flavia's low swipe with the steel-capped butt. Both Khans had swung with all their might, but Robin hadn't moved from the impact of the blows. Robin smiled darkly. "I think you'll find what I'm capable of has been grossly underestimated."

Sounds of battle rang throughout the air as the Valm Battlemaster fought the two Khans. He wielded his spearsword with speed and strength, easily fighting the two Khans to a standstill. But the fight was to a standstill – neither one of the two sides had managed to land a definitive blow. Though Robin kept landing hits on the pair of them, the two Khans refused to be slowed down.

"Fall!" Basilio's axe swept the air over Robin's hair as he ducked under the blade, before spinning the spearsword to deflect Flavia's hail of throwing axes. Basilio came from behind him, so Robin planted his spear into the ground and vaulted up with it, avoiding the blow and calling down lightning.

Basilio took the brunt of the strike, but Flavia was there to engage him and stop him from finishing off Walhart. After three exchanges, he slipped past her guard and slashed past her armor with his spear, drawing another cut, but by that time Basilio had recovered and was back on him, swinging his axe.

Hrrrgh. Robin called upon magic and cast a wide range Arcthunder, dispersing the electricity around him to force the two back. I'm not even injured enough to use Ashanderi – even if I could use it a second time, which Vermil expressly forbade me to.

So, I suppose the real question is which of the other to use. Medallion isn't any good, and Dyson wasn't designed for these circumstances. It's between Schrodinger or Shatter- Wait. Schrodinger uses the Flare tome. I'll just use that and graduate up to Schrodinger if it's necessary.

"I'm impressed." Robin announced. "You've made me actually need to try. Now, taste my power. Pact unbidden, chains unforged, summons foregone, I command the magic pure."

"So, know what this is?" Flavia asked as a large orb of magic began gathering around Robin as a red tome levitated in front of him and flipped itself open to the right page. "Because I haven't seen this magic before. Ever."

"The highest level of anima magic developed by a Valmese scholar." Basilio grunted. "One who happens to be a lieutenant of Robin's. It's incredibly powerful magic. And apparently, he can cast it."

"Uh…" Flavia swallowed. "How powerful are we talking about…?"

"If we survive this, we should have a clean shot while he recharges. All we have to do is make it through that spell." Basilio said.

"And how large of an 'if'…?"

"I CAST THEE, FLARE!" Robin thrust his hand forward, and the battlefield was engulfed in the massive conflagration. Heat washed past him, now familiar to Robin as the detonation finished. Robin, a wary veteran, held his spear at ready and kept the Ignis Corona running through him. He was pretty sure that the two injured Khans would be finished off by the Flare spell.

He was still solely unsurprised when the two Khans came bursting through the dying flame wall, howls on their mouths and their armor charred. Flavia had braced herself with her shield, had her hair lit on fire, but was lunging through with a powerful one-handed swing. Basilio had his fur collar lit up with flames, but he was fine besides for that with an axe over his head ready for a two-handed chop.

And now I can't use Schrodinger because even I can't cast Flare twice in quick succession. No matter, I expected to use one of these anyways.

"Forbidden Call of the Dark." Robin summoned forth dark magic from his repertoire. "Shatter-"

"GOETIA!"

Dark magic blasted the pair of Feroxi warriors back. Robin released the magic he had held, and let Ignis Corona die off, unable to sustain it for much longer. He took a dark blue bottle and drained it in a swallow as a woman in black armor with white and black hair walked beside him.

"Can't leave you alone, can I, older brother?"

"Aw, did you have to make me look bad?" Robin sighed. "I'm going to have nasty rumors if word gets out that I had to get rescued by my little sister."

"All that just means is there can't be any witnesses." Aversa smirked.

"Seriously, thanks." Robin said. "I really didn't want to use a Spectrum technique. How's the rest of the fight going?"

"Pheros's reinforcements saved your bacon." Aversa said. "We're routing them where her army hit, and the fighting is still fierce everywhere else. But the tide is ours now. You're going to want to thank her for that."

"I'm going to." Robin said, rolling his eyes. "You and your one-track mind. Well, let's focus on this fight right now, all right? I want them both dead."

"On your command." Aversa thrust her hand forward and darkness radiated out from beneath her.

"Retreat." Basilio turned to Flavia. "Retreat is a good idea."

"…" Flavia turned to look backwards. "…Yeah, maybe…"

"Not a chance." Robin held out his palm. Electricity crackled and coalesced within it. "I might have let one of you run when there was just me facing the two of you. But now there's four of us present. There's no chance this will end with all four of us alive. And it probably won't even be three of us. Or haven't you realized – there's no such thing as conflict without consequence? You can't just decide to attack and expect that both sides will be able to walk out alive, as if nothing happened. The leaders shouldn't be able to walk off unharmed."

"He's right." Basilio said. "Flavia, I'll hold them off."

"I told you, oaf – we do this together." Flavia said. "We can still take them both!"

"Their bravery is admirable-" Aversa started.

"But their intelligence falls short. Basilio, you don't have the option of running right now. You should have run, Khan Flavia, at the start." Robin eye darkened. "You were given a chance to cease this conflict, Eastern and Western Khans. The one who was responsible for this was dead and the war could have ended. But no. You wished for 'vengeance'. For 'justice'. For 'honor'. Do you know how many lives that decision has cost!?"

"You're insane, Battlemaster!" Khan Flavia cried. "You can't honestly expect us to trust you! No one does, and your stunt with the Grimleal isn't helping your case at all!"

"Genius is often misunderstood, or so I've been told." Now the eye was lit up as the Crimson Demon Tactician prepared for magic. "But I see. You are right, after all. You have no reason to trust me. Even if you hadn't been a bandit queen, Khan Flavia, you wouldn't have side with me. You don't understand me, do you? None of you do."

"Robin, know that it's not true. I'll always be with you, by your side." Aversa said. "As your sister, as your spymaster, and as your subordinate. Your will has become mine."

"That's so touching I could almost cry." Flavia spat. "The two psychopaths of Valm, united as one."

"Don't antagonize them, Flavia."

"No, it's fine. You view us as evil that must be killed, just as that's how I view you." Robin said, gathering the magic in his palm. "It's black and white, clear as day. You're either with me, or you're my enemy. And you're standing in my way, Khans. Now, it's time to pay the price."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Aversa said. "You, Khans, dare speak ill of Robin. And for that there's only one punishment due."

"Then let us see who will win this, shall we?" Robin asked. "The Khans of Regna Ferox against Valm's Battlemaster and Spymaster." Robin flicked his wrist and released his spell. "THORON!"

Basilio took the blast and charged at the duo. Aversa drew her sword, and nimbly danced past the wounded warrior, catching him with a swipe and drawing a spray of blood. Flavia went for the witch with her sword, but Robin intercepted her, keeping her at bay with the spear's length. She tried keeping up, but was no match, in her weakened state. Both Khans were wounded from the Flare blast earlier, and now they'd pay for it. And now that they lost their numerical advantage, they'd just keep stacking wounds until they died. And that point wouldn't even be long in coming.

Flavia tried getting past his guard by deflecting the spear alongside her shield. Unfortunately, Robin saw her coming, and her body couldn't move quick enough. He cycled the spearsword behind him and extended it, catching Flavia face first with the butt of his spear. The East Khan howled at the capped metal butt smashed into her nose, breaking it, and sending her back with a spray of blood in her face.

Robin spun the spear around and, instinctually, thrust it straight at her exposed throat. A killing strike. Flavia's eyes widened and she tried getting her sword in the way to deflect it. But she was off-balance and injured. She'd be too slow.

Just as the blade was about to hit her, she was knocked aside as Basilio took the spear thrust meant for her directly to his chest. His earlier wound was in his gut, something he'd survive with the right treatment. But he hadn't been lucky twice. Robin's stab went clean through the upper left of his chest, straight through his pectorals and slicing through his ribs to his heart, where the two-foot length of steel lodged itself.

"No…" Flavia blinked. "BASILIO!"

"You… saved my life…" Basilio coughed. "Couldn't let you die… with a debt unpaid…"

Robin said nothing, but simply let go of the spear and kicked the dying Khan to the ground to clear the field between him and Flavia. Then he simply raised a palm to her and pulled it in, the universal 'come at me' gesture.

"DAMN YOU ROBIN!" Flavia lunged for him, her face a mask of pure rage. She swept her sword back, ready to bring it across for a slash and remove the Battlemaster's head from his neck with it. Robin stared her down calmly, conjuring a ball of electricity in his hand.

Before he could use it, dark tendrils burst from the ground, ensnaring the West Khan as she tried slashing forward, only to have dark magic restrict her movements and sap her energy. Robin slammed the ball of electricity into her stomach, and the East Khan dropped after a single violent spasm.

"Shall we kill her?" Aversa asked. Her magic retreated back to her and she stood beside Robin, staring at the two leaders. The rout was continuing around them. Robin raised his hand and made a complex gesture, indicating the army was not to pursue. The battle was won. Robin had no need to send more soldiers to their death, and the harsh cold that Feroxi soldiers were retreating too would make it hard to fight them.

"…No. Not at this point. Take Flavia alive." Robin said. "I'd rather not kill a prisoner of war unless I have to. Besides, killing foreign leaders makes negotiations and surrender difficult."

"And Basilio?"

"Is he still alive?" Robin didn't withdraw his lance, but the blood flow had stopped. Aversa was checking him for a pulse, and she shook her head. It seemed that Basilio had met his end fighting Robin. "Pity. But he chose this ending."

"Would you have spared him?"

"I kill with spears on the battlefield, or I'll place a knife in you back if we're off it." Robin said. "But I don't execute prisoners. Especially ones which are still useful. And, again, thank you for your help."

"What are sisters for?" Aversa chuckled. "I am serious, though. You will receive my support unconditionally. That is the strength of my loyalty."

"Would that everyone would be like you. It seems that, for their own good, they must all bow to my will." Robin withdrew the spear, wiping the blood off the tip. "Walhart was wrong about a lot of things. But he wasn't wrong about what you during the course of a war. That's Regna Ferox and Plegia. One more to go."

A/N: Now, I don't want you thinking I killed Basilio just because that's what the original course of history was. That's incorrect. I spared Flavia because that's what the original course of history was.