Interlude - Serton

We made it to Frelia. Nothing about the situation truly feels real, but we made it. Now, of course, we have to make it to the capital, Serton, but that should be the easy part. In theory. Especially since it's no longer just Seth with two girl-shaped pieces of luggage (Eirika and me). There's a fully company of soldiers as well. Company? Was that the word? I always confused what the number difference between things like 'battalion' and 'troop' were. Regardless, more people meant more protection. Again, in theory. We'd have to see in actuality.

Hard to believe that just a month ago, my biggest 'concern' was whether or not I wanted to bother eating, huh?

Something I had always heard from Forde while growing up was that Seth was one hell of a teacher. Effective, but you spent a good chunk of time wondering if you should just jump down into hell itself and fight your way out because that would surely be easier. I'd always thought it was an exaggeration. Three days into the journey from Melgen to Serton, and three days into training with him, told me that if anything, Forde had been understating things. By a lot.

"Seth, mercy, please…" I groaned, even as I tried to block another strike. I nearly got knocked clear off my feet since my arms had all the strength of loose string and my hands only held onto my training lance because they had locked into place and wouldn't respond to my attempts to let go. "Ack!"

"You still need to learn how to firm your stance," he scolded, going after me again with a training sword. This time, I dodged, but tripped and nearly twisted my ankle. My legs did not want to cooperate with me for any action besides collapsing. And they were very unhappy that they couldn't lose my weight. "You can't hope to fight new recruits in every fight, Emma."

"They were new?" My chest ached. My lungs burned. Honestly, I shouldn't be talking given how much of an effort it was to even breathe, but sometimes, I just didn't know when to shut up. "Really?"

"The fact that you could kill them says 'yes'." Okay, he had a point there. He had a huge point there. "We are also far away from the front." Another strike. Another block. Another me almost hitting the ground. "They would want their more experienced elsewhere."

"Doesn't explain the ones with Valter?"

"That is…" Unease flitted across Seth's otherwise stoic expression. But he was still terribly accurate when training. "...Newer recruits are more… expendable."

"Huh?" It took a moment to connect the numerous dots there. One, newer recruits were more expendable because they were more easily replaced. A few months training and bam! you had more. Whereas a vetern had the additional years of experience that would also have to be 'replaced' if they fell. The second point was even more chilling, though. It was that Valter was assigned newer recruits in case his murderous impulses turned on his own. "...I think I really need a break now…" On account of wanting to be sick.

"Three more passes."

"Seth!"

By the time Seth declared that it was time for 'a short break', I was all ready to collapse and not move for the rest of the day. I was barely able to wobble over to the side of the practice area and get myself some water before my legs gave out and I fell into an ungraceful heap. Or whatever the phrase should be. Didn't care, because I was finally sitting and guzzling water, and gods did I ever need both.

"Is there water for me?" Franz groaned, limping over to me. He barely had enough energy to sit properly, but he immediately swayed and rested his head on my shoulder. Normally, I'd tease about him getting sweat on me, but honestly, both of us were drenched. "Ugh… I don't want to get up…"

"Then just have some of mine," I whispered, passing him the waterskin I'd been drinking from. He downed the rest of the water without hesitation, which showed how thirsty he'd been. Last time I'd shared a drink with him, he'd hesitated and blushed a little at the implication of an indirect kiss. I'd found it hilarious, back then. "I take it Gilliam is a harsh teacher as well?"

"Yeah…" He set the waterskin on the ground next to him and nodded to where Seth and Gilliam were now discussing something. Unlike Franz and me, the two looked fresh as daisies. "Still, I'm learning a lot."

"I'd hope we were learning something. I'm not exactly in a habit of torturing myself for the fun of it."

Franz grunted something in reply before promptly dozing right on my shoulder. I sighed and brushed his sweat-matted hair out of his face before looking around the bustling camp. It was later in the day, probably an hour or so before sunset, so the soldiers were rushing about making sure everything was secure and safe. And getting dinner ready. And other chores that I knew were important, but that I'd never paid attention to. Half wished that I had, if only to have more appreciation for it. Such things were important, or so Orson was always saying. But I'd always just focused on making sure Eirika was comfortable on the trip. I supposed I should volunteer for at least one of these chores, but… that could wait until my limbs felt like limbs again. Or felt anything at all, actually.

I'd just got a pins and needle tingling at the very tips of my fingers when Gilliam walked over. Of course, it took me a second to recognize him without his ginormous armor on, but that could've also been the exhaustion. "Ah, here you are," he greeted, bowing his head slightly. I simply nodded back, not sure why he'd be speaking to me. "How is your wrist?"

"My wrist?" I asked with a frown, confused. But I held it up, so that he could see how it was a bit bruised and a little swollen, but otherwise, fine. "Why?"

"We're fixing your grip with shields." ...Oh gods, no… And I couldn't even really complain because Seth appeared and dragged Franz away without a single word. I hadn't even realized he'd woken up! ...Though the way Franz stumbled hinted that he might've come to while standing. "Come."

And that was how I spent another eternity of training compressed into some indeterminate amount of time. By holding the fan how Gilliam instructed and having him whack me repeatedly until I felt like a giant bruise with some limbs haphazardly stuck on to flail about in the wind. With a near-permanent ringing in my ears from the number of times his training lance hit the fan. This was why I never learned more than the basics of… anything related to weapons. Too much work, but…

"You're thinking to much," Gilliam scolded when his latest strike nearly sent me off my feet. Which was slightly better than the time before, where the fan went flying and nearly gouged my eye out. "Stop thinking. These movements must become instinctual."

"At the moment, all I'm thinking is that I really should've grabbed some other weapon from the damn wall," I grumbled, shakily pushing my sweaty hair out of my face. Seriously, there had been so many! Collected by my parents… well, no, more like by Mother. Because retired mercenaries collected weapons like temples collected religions iconary. Iconary? No, that wasn't even a word, was it? Iconography? That also didn't seem like a word. Whatever. "So, at least I'm not thinking stances?"

"Ah, good, you've got enough spirit to sass, so we can keep going." Times like this reminded me I should just shut up. "So, let's-"

"That fan really is amazing." The casual comment announced Tana's presence at the training field. The way she was crouched down by the field, elbows on her knees and face propped up with her hands, hinted that she'd been there for a while and I had been too exhausted to notice. "I wonder if our smiths can make one for me?" she mused, eyes sparkling. I was tempted just to give her the one I had, if only to watch her go through this training. "I'd love one."

"Sadly, your highness, our smiths have had no success in making one," Gilliam gently refused, stepping back and relaxing his stance. I nearly keeled over, but just put my hands on my knees to try and catch my breath. And not throw up. "Whatever trick Raustenians use, they guard it as closely as a miser guards their coin and no one else has figured it out. Yet."

"Damn." She sighed gustily and slowly straightened, stretching like a kitty-cat. "Anyway, Gilliam, can you please dismiss Emma for the day?" Oh, gods, yes, please…

"I had planned on a few more drills. Why?"

"Because Eirika's sad, so I thought tea time would help boost her mood a little. And no one's tea is better than Emma's." That was very flattering. Very flattering, actually. I'd actually spent more time learning how to properly brew and serve various teas than I had weaponry. It had seemed more pertinent. "So, pretty please with sugar on top~?" I had no idea where that phrase came from, but it was fairly common in Frelia to use it when you wanted to be cutsey and emphasize how much you wanted something. "Besides, a few more drills and I think Emma is going to stab you." If I had the strength for it, sure. Stab the general (or whatever his rank was) that was escorting us. …Well, I'd done dumber shit in the past, so...

Thankfully, Gilliam relented (with a laugh at that!) and let Tana drag me off to the baths. Because I'd desperately needed one, and a change of clothes, right down to the underwear. Afterwards, though, I followed Tana to the tent she and Eirika were resting in and began carefully brewing and preparing tea, relaxing at the familiar motions. We didn't have a lot of options flavor wise, but chamomile was always a favorite of Eirika's and thankfully, the Frelian soldiers had it in abundance. I added a little of the dried blueberries they also had in stock, just to give the tea a sweeter flavor. Both princesses liked their tea on the sweeter side.

"Ah… seriously, Emma, your tea is the absolute best~!" Tana sighed happily after taking a long sip of her tea. So long that she nearly drained the mug she was using, and I hastened to refill it for her. I was surprised she hadn't burned her tongue, since the tea was still hot. "So relaxing…" That was probably the chamomile more than my tea, but whatever she wanted to believe. "Anyway, I can't believe Ephraim's not with you. Innes is going to be so sarcastic."

"This is different from usual?" Eirika teased, smiling. The tension in her shoulders slowly eased and she was able to sit straighter, more properly. I could still see the worry in her eyes, though, and in how she held her mug a little too tightly. "It's Innes!"

"We don't want to put more arrows in that particular quiver of his!" Tana laughed, smiling brightly. "Oh, but you won't believe what I saw the other day, Eirika!"

With great enthusiasm, Tana launched into a story I was half-certain was completely made up, but it didn't matter. Not really. After all, it had Eirika grinning and laughing within moments, and I couldn't help but marvel at Tana. After all, here we were, in the middle of dusty nowhere, having tea while there were soldiers rushing about and training and while there was a war going on. Eirika had no idea at all about her father or her brother. Her home had fallen apart around her. And yet, Tana was able to get her to forget that for a time. Even better, she was able to get Eirika to truly enjoy herself, and even coax some gossip out of her, like they were in a sunny parlor in one of the castles. Truly, Tana was a force of wonder and nature and, more importantly, just the kind of friend Eirika needed.

After watching the two chat for a while, I left the two to go have fun and returned to the training grounds to ask Seth how much longer we had until we got to Serton. To my surprise, though, Seth wasn't there. Franz and Gilliam still trained, but Seth was nowhere in sight. Frowning, I asked one of the soldiers and learned he was actually in his tent. Which was odd because I'd never known Seth to go 'take a break' without someone dragging him into it (usually Orson). So, being suspicious, I headed to his tent and poked my head in without 'knocking'. It wasn't as if I hadn't seen him half-dressed in the past anyway; I used to do it on purpose when I had that crush on him. However, there was no admiration of handsome men this time. Not that Seth wasn't handsome, but the gaping, bleeding hole in his arm kind of diminished it a little, as did the copious blood on the bandage he was unraveling.

"Is that still not even closed?" I asked, stepping inside so that I could let the flap close behind me. Seth, for his part, just gave me an exasperated look. "You can't be surprised at me barging in. You've known me for how long now?"

"Longer than I care to admit," he sighed, shaking his head. I rolled my eyes and debated calling him 'old man', but I was distracted by trying to figure out just how long he had known me. We were coming up on… twelve or thirteen years now, give or take. He and Orson met when they were thirteen, and Orson had dragged Seth to Rosewatch during the first set of holidays they'd had. "But no, it hasn't. Gilliam recommended I see someone named 'Moulder' when we arrive at the castle."

"...Are you going to recover?" The question came unbidden. The lack of an answer made my heart ache. "Here, let me bandage it, at least. You're keeping it from Princess Eirika, aren't you?" Of course he was. Eirika felt guilty enough just over how injured he'd been. If she knew just how badly his arm was damaged…

Seth sighed again, but didn't protest as I grabbed his first aid kit and began cleaning and re-bandaging his arm. I was glad he didn't, because I wasn't sure I could retort with the lump growing in my throat. If there was something that really hammered home just how bad everything was… it was seeing the invincible Silver Knight, leader of the Crimson Flame Guard, with an injury so severe it could possibly permanently cripple his ability to fight. And that revelation made me long not just for Orson or Monica… it made me long for my parents. For my cheerful mother who could tease a smile out of the God of Death Himself, or my strong father, who never faltered in giving support…

But the dead couldn't do anything. So, all I had were empty wishes and dread permanently chilling my blood.

"Oh, look there!" Tana gasped happily, practically bouncing in the saddle. And nearly knocking me out of it because we were riding together. I would've thought she'd ride with a knight if she rode with anyone at all, but… well, Eirika rode with Franz and no one rode with Seth in case we were ambushed. And none of Gilliam's soldiers rode, with some even wary of the horses and giving them very wide berths. "See that tree there, Emma? With the pale blossoms? That's the Morelia!"

"That's the tree that was said to somehow resist the Demon King's corruption, right?" I 'asked', mostly to be polite and make conversation. I knew the story. Tana told it practically every time Eirika visited Frelia. "Due to the blessings of the gods?"

"That's how the story goes!" She giggled and clapped her hands together in utter delight. "But it also marks the official 'border' of Serton! Ah, home sweet home~! These saddles are so not comfortable. I swear my butt when numb ages ago."

"I think these are normal for saddles?"

"Not for pegasi!" She laughed and I just nodded, taking her word for it. It wasn't as if I had experience flying. "But if this is normal, then it's no wonder that knights always ride around like an iron pole strapped to their backs!"

"Like posture lessons?"

"Don't remind me!"

Just as Tana 'predicted', the outer walls of Serton came into view before long and after a series of coded greetings from Gilliam to the gatekeepers, we rode in. Serton was always a bustling city, as one could expect for the capital of a country, and even with war at their borders, the people seemed determined to keep as chipper as ever. They pretended that there weren't more soldiers patrolling the streets with weapons glinting in their hands. They ignored the pegasus knights sweeping through the sky, trailing feathers marking their paths. They smiled and waved in farewell to loved ones, chatted and laughed about gossip, and acted like nothing was wrong. Nothing wrong at all, despite the barricades carefully being prepared and hidden between the creamy-white stones of houses, behind the rich-dark brown of doors, underneath the moss-green decorations. Benches normally filled with various birds picking at crumbs or couples cuddling in the sunshine were being removed for those barricades. Statues of heroes and prominent nobles had ropes and chains carefully wrapped around them, to be used as reinforcement or something should the need arise.

It made me uneasy, both to see the obvious preparations for war and the way the people acted like nothing was wrong. It was like when you read a book, recognized the foreshadowing and the danger looming in the distance, but the characters themselves didn't know yet. But worse, because it was real. This wasn't a story that I could step away from. I couldn't close the book and walk away. I lived it.

"Aw, looks like that new sweet shop is closed for the day," Tana sighed, sulking a little. I barely kept myself from giving her a weird look. "Their cream puffs are simply divine. I thought they might cheer you and Eirika up, Emma. I'll need to see when they're open." She twisted to beam at me, ignoring everything just as her people did. I seriously, seriously, wanted to snap or something. But then decided to not bother. It would've been too much trouble. "Aw, look over there! Those kids playing with the kittens!"

The journey through town continued just like that. With Tana happily pointing out her people's antics. Children rushing about the streets. A dog that stole some sausage from a vendor. Merchants boasting of their wares. People flirting as they waited for a package to be ready. Things like that. The only time those antics 'paused' were when they noticed us riding (or marching) through the street, at which point we were greeted with warm laughter and bright smiles. Smiles Tana easily returned, along with the laughter. She even called some by name, hinting she shared Ephraim's habit of sneaking off into town. It didn't surprise me.

Because of the crowd, and the war preparations, it took a while to actually reach the castle. But that was fine, because it gave the servants more time to prepare things. Though, since King Hayden often had 'visitors' (spies) appearing at odd times, the servants already had an efficient system for dealing with unexpected guests. In what felt like no time at all, we were whisked off the horses and out of the front courtyard and into baths and freshly laundered clothes. My plan had been to just lay down in my room, on the sandalwood-scented sheets (because Frelians used that instead of lavender), but Eirika had quietly asked me to come with her to speak to King Hayden. I wondered why me and not Seth, but that question was quickly answered with a simple 'checking the defenses'. I just hoped he was also seeing that healer… whatever the name was. 'Moldy boulder' came to mind, for some reason. Which was quite the interesting mental image.

"Eirika!" King Hayden looked much the same as he had the last time I'd seen him, except he didn't even both with the pretense of formality when Eirika and I entered his office. Instead, he swept her up in a hug, stroking her hair like he was reassuring himself she really was there. Didn't blame him in the slightest. "Ah, it does my heart good to see you," he murmured, stepping back to study her face. Eirika did her best to smile for him, but anyone who knew her would know it was strained. And King Hayden had known her for a very long time. "There's no need to force yourself, Eirika. I cannot imagine the trials and heartache you have endured to make it here." He glanced behind her to look at me, and smiled, bowing slightly. "You are Eirika's lady in waiting, are you not?"

"I am," I replied, bobbing a little curtsy. It was much easy to say that than to explain I'd left, especially right now. "Feel free to ignore me. I'm just here to give support to Princess Eirika."

"As you always do, but I can't in good faith ignore you. You no doubt played a key role in helping Eirika, after all." That was Seth more than anything, but he could believe whatever he wanted. "Regardless, I'm glad you escaped the castle before it fell. My spies were unable to confirm that."

"We left very quickly, at Seth's insistence," Eirika replied, clasping her hands in front of her. It almost hid how much they shook. "But speaking of the castle, and spies… King Hayden, what word is there on my father and brother?" The way King Hayden hesitated to reply screamed answers I wasn't sure Eirika or I wanted to hear. But Eirika set her jaw stubbornly, prepared to argue if he tried to hide the information from her. "Please, tell me."

"...I am afraid… that Fado…" King Hayden spoke slowly, but even that didn't hide how his voice caught in his throat. He had to look down briefly before returning his gaze to her. "My dear friend didn't survive the castle's fall, Eirika. I'm sorry."

"I… I see…" Eirika tried to keep dignified and calm, but she reeled back from the news anyway. I caught her by the shoulders and supported her, remembering well how much pain came from this sort of news. Far too well. "And my brother? My twin? Is there…?"

"Thankfully, there is more hopeful news related to him." King Hayden coughed to clear his throat and hunted through the papers on his desk to hide the tears that had slowly gathered in his eyes. I remembered hearing that King Hayden, King Fado, and Emperor Vigarde had all been childhood friends. I couldn't imagine the pain he had to feel, to hear that one friend had killed the other. "According to our reports, he met with soldiers who survived the initial assault on the border and is now harrying Grado's lines at every turn." And for what reason? Renais was gone, and the castle had fallen. If he wanted to 'protect the people', he shouldn't be on the front lines, damn it! He should be helping people escape! Gods knew how chaotic things had to be! And with someone like Valter flying about… "Sadly, I do not know if he is unharmed or not. I only know he was last seen on the border, heading towards Renvall. My pegasus knights brought back that bit of information at great cost…" He sighed, shaking his head. But smiling slightly, and gods, that made my blood boil. "What a valiant youth, fighting on even now."

"I see." Eirika quickly reached up and pinched my hand in quiet warning, no doubt guessing where my thoughts were heading. I held my tongue for her sake, but I was sorely tempted to scream. There was nothing valiant about this! He was off fighting, worrying his family, worrying the families of those under his command, and for what? A broken and ruined land whose people were scattered to the four winds! Assuming they hadn't been slaughtered by soldiers like Grandpapa James, or became victims of bandits! I couldn't see how fighting on the border was doing anything but glutting the earth with more blood! And the families of the pegasus knights who gave their lives to get even this little bit of information out… they must be in utter agony…! "King Hayden, may I request something?"

"You may request anything, Eirika." King Hayden's expression softened. "You have been through so much. I hope you will be able to rest, and tend to your spirit here."

"Well, while I do intend to rest, I also intend to go after my brother." ...Oh, gods, here we go. Another one of her ideas. "He fights even now, and so, I cannot simply rest while he is in danger."

"...Eirika, I cannot allow that!" King Hayden shook his head abruptly. "I daresay Fado's ghost would haunt me if I let any harm befall you. Leave the war to the warriors, Eirika. If you must help, there are other ways to do so."

"And I will consider them after I return with Ephraim." She set her jaw stubbornly again, and I removed a hand from her shoulder to pinch the bridge of my nose. I felt a headache coming on. "But I will leave."

"I have not a single brigade to spare, even as a token escort." King Hayden's words slowly hardened, trying to becoming an unscalable wall to block this idiocy. His posture also straightened, to reinforce that 'wall'. "Innes has taken all we have and more to the southern border to meet Grado's forces. And Renais's army is destroyed."

"Oh, but I have a Seth, if you'll recall!" Eirika smiled brightly and I nearly groaned because Seth was injured. But she didn't know that. "Joking aside, I'm well aware of the lack of forces. But even so, I will leave. With apologies."

King Hayden was silent for a long, long moment before sighing, deflating and shaking his head. "...You certainly inherited Esther's stubbornness. Even if I locked you up somewhere, you'd find some way to escape anyway." Especially since Franz could pick locks. "Please at least rest a couple days. I will see if there is anyone I can spare. At least a healer, just in case. And some supplies."

"Thank you, King Hayden." Eirika kept up the smile, perfectly pleased. King Hayden just sighed again and waved her off in a quiet dismissal. "I shall see you later this evening." She curtseyed, and I quickly followed suit before following her out the door. And as soon as the door shut behind us, she slumped and swayed a little. "Oh, goodness, I didn't think he'd agree and I'd have to think of how Ephraim snuck out." She leaned against me, and I stepped a little closer to better support her. "But that worked out!"

"You know going off into enemy lines kind of defeats the purpose of escaping to Frelia in the first place, right?" I asked dryly, helping her down the hall. Maids rushed past us with barely a nod of acknowledgement, focused on their tasks. "Some days, Eirika, I swear…"

"But you understand, right?" she asked. Well, 'asked'. Because she knew the answer.

"Of course I do." Gods, did I ever. "And it's because I understand that I'm coming with you." It wasn't until I said the words that I had realized I'd even made that decision. But they came out quick and easily. More easily than anything I'd said since Monica's death.

"You will?" Her face lit up with a relieved smile. "Truly?"

"Of course. Not only will you be in danger, but Orson is with him, and I'm not sure we want to inflict a fretful me on the nice servants here." I smiled slightly when Eirika thought that over for a moment and playfully shuddered at the mental image. "Besides, you said it yourself. You might be overcome with relief to give Prince Ephraim the scolding he needs, but I assure you that I shall have no such qualms."

"Uh oh." She laughed, though it was subdued. Her father's death… it had to hit her hard, even if she was making efforts to not focus on it. "That should be a thing to see, though."

"I'll spend the journey crafting it. I'm most vexed with the pain he's inflicted on you, and the worry he has forced both Seth and Franz to endure. Most. Vexed." I studied her for a moment, and paid attention to how much she leaned against me. She definitely… "Princess Eirika?"

"Yes?"

"How about you stay in my room for the night." I did my best to smile for her, but I knew it wavered. I was tired, and now all the more tired because of the added weight on my heart. King Fado… he was… "You shouldn't be alone tonight."

"...Thank you…" She ducked her head to hide her expression, but I knew how grateful she was by how she clung to my hand. "I think I will."

Tana woke us up the next morning, by bursting into the room I was using with a change of clothes for us both. I didn't bother asking how she knew Eirika was with me, because the answer would probably be a combination of 'instincts' and 'servants'. Instead, I got dressed and left to fetch breakfast while Tana scolded Eirika for rushing off into danger and pleading for her to stay where things were relatively safe. I knew Tana's words would have no effect, though. Seth had tried the same thing last night, alongside a few 'polite and respectful' choice words for the sheer idiocy of the decision, but ultimately he'd yielded and told her to leave the preparations to him. Was a bit curious as to Franz's thoughts on the matter, but not to the point that I'd deviate from my current task to try and find him. Maybe later. When I was a little more awake.

"At least the cooks are still as nice as ever," I murmured to myself as I walked back down the hall, carrying a tray that was almost too heavy with all the breakfast treats. One of the maids had offered to carry it instead, but I'd refused. I could see how busy they were, rushing about to take care of the new recruits who had arrived. And if I had doubts about that, I needed to only glance out the window to see the long lines in the courtyard of people my age and younger, signing up to become soldiers. Armies required more than just people and weapons, after all. They required food, for one thing, and if you didn't keep their areas tidy, you'd just have a nightmare of issues. "I hope there's no epidemics…" Ah, but that wasn't any of my business. Thinking too far ahead was far too tiring, especially right now…

So, instead, I just tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and to not drop anything or get in anyone's way. This did result in me having to take a few detours, but I didn't mind. At least, I didn't mind until I found myself near the inner gardens. Why? Well, normally, they'd be empty at this hour, but not today. No, today, two people were using that 'normality' to have a private conversation.

"What is King Hayden hiding about King Fado's death, Syrene?" And, of course, of all the conversations I had to eavesdrop on, it just had to be Seth and Syrene being serious. Why couldn't it have been whispers of sweet nothings and flirting? That at least would've been funny. "I know there is something," Seth continued quietly, unaware that anyone was near. And I couldn't walk past without being spotted, damn it all. And I couldn't go back without being in the way, so I was stuck standing awkwardly at the corner beside the entrance. Eavesdropping. "After all, he refuses even my direct questions."

"You know… that's actually a good lead in to something I wanted to ask you," Syrene murmured, tapping her cheek thoughtfully. I'd always thought Syrene beautiful, though I didn't know her well at all. But I'd seen her many times as she was the Captain of the Argent Wings, and often worked together with Seth and Orson to handle security when the Renaisi royals visited Frelia (or the Frelians visited Renais). "It's a pretty broad question, so don't feel bad if there's not an answer?"

"This is going to be delightful, isn't it?" Seth's words dripped with sarcasm, which only really happened when he was exhausted. I wondered how long he'd already been awake. Had he slept at all? And I wondered if he'd had the time to get his wound checked… "Please be blunt about it."

"Good, because there's no sugar-coating this. Then again, battles are never sweet." Still, Syrene's expression grew both grim and sad, and she fussed with her hair as if she had to draw courage up to say the words. "What King Hayden is hiding… is that King Fado did not die a quick death on the battlefield, Seth. He was mercy-killed by Prince Lyon after hours of torture."

The world tilted for a second, and it took me a full heartbeat to realize it was because my knees gave out. I threw myself back against the wall, hard enough to clonk my head, and I had to hastily fix my grip on the tray because my nerveless fingers had all the grace of boulders for the moment. It all likely made a racket, but I couldn't hear it due to the roaring in my ears. I thought of shouting something, but instead, my jaw was clenched shut, as tightly closed as my throat. It felt like ages before I could even think to see if Seth and Syrene had noticed anything. But, based on Seth's reply… either he had also spent 'ages' recovering from the news, or it hadn't been that long at all.

"So, that's it…" Seth breathed, closing his eyes. Most would probably think him unaffected, but I could see how rigidly he stood, and the way his hands shook as he crossed his arms, nails digging into the skin. Blood bloomed on one of his sleeves, showing he'd reopened his wound again. But he didn't even wince. "So, your question is…?"

"Well, the assumption we're currently running with is that they were torturing for information, as if that ever actually works," Syrene sighed, running a hand through her hair. Though her words were even, I saw her knuckles had turned white due to how tightly she gripped the strands. "So, what could they have been after?"

"Sadly, the answer to that could be any thousands of things, and maybe even more that I know nothing about." Seth's eyes were hard when he opened them, but he looked to the ground to make sure he didn't glare at Syrene. "Military secrets? Location of the prince and princess? I'd need more information to answer that."

"I figured. I was just curious if something had come up recently."

"No…" Seth trailed off, frowning as he thought. And I might've imagined it, but I thought his eyes widened slightly, but the expression disappeared too quickly to be sure. "Nothing for now, at least."

"I'll see if our spies can get a bit more information. If we can figure out what they were trying to learn, then maybe we can figure out why the hell the Emperor did something so…" She visibly groped for a word before throwing her hands up in the air. "Can't think of a word that isn't something that would make a sailor blush."

"You say that like I'm not used to your cursing."

"Unfortunately, Princess Tana likes mimicking me. Including my speech patterns. Let me tell you; I got an earful when King Hayden heard some of the words she unintentionally learned from me." Syrene grinned and the mood of the garden lightened considerably. "Anyway, you're bleeding. I'm walking you to the infirmary."

"I am?" Seth glanced down in surprise and held up his arm in confusion as the crimson blood slowly seeped through the sleeve. "...When did that happen?"

"Shortly after you went numb from emotional pain, Silver Flame Man."

"The worst part is that 'nickname' of yours is infinitely more tolerable than those damn songs they made of my idiocy." Seth groaned just at the thought and Syrene laughed. "Well, you know about the troubles of bards."

"So much fun to have your teenaged antics immortalized, right?"

Seth actually chuckled and the two quietly ranted on bards and how bardic immunity shouldn't be a thing as they slowly left. I waited until I was certain they were gone before finally resuming my walk to my room, where Eirika and Tana hopefully still were laughing and chatting. But I only made it a handful of steps before my knees wobbled and I had to duck into a random room just on the other side of the gardens and set the tray down to keep from dropping it. And I just barely missed cracking my head on the table as my legs gave out entirely and I had to hug myself to try and ease my shaking. But it didn't work. I just shook uncontrollably, as I thought of what I'd overheard. King Fado… not only dead, but he'd been tortured. He had to be mercy-killed. By Prince Lyon. That was just… it didn't…

I squeezed my eyes shut to stem back the burning I felt thinking of how much pain he had to have been in during his last breaths. But unfortunately, that just made it all the easier to remember… Remember when I first met King Fado as a young child and how he had smiled shyly at me when I peeked out from Dad's arms. Remember how he had knelt and apologized to me at Dad's funeral, and nearly cried when I patted him on the head and smiled. Remember his pleased smile when Orson first joined the knights, and how he had reassured Mom when she fretted over it. Remember how he had held my hand during Mom's funeral, because I had desperately needed that comfort. Remember how proudly he had smiled when Orson and Seth took their oaths. Remember how he had asked me, personally, to protect Eirika as her lady-in-waiting. Remember how he had stroked my hair as I broke down after Monica's diagnosis. Remember how understanding and kind he had been after her death and I cowardly left...

Why was all of this happening? I wondered if there even was an answer. But if there was, I certainly didn't have it. And no matter how much I wanted to curl up and not move, Eirika and Tana had waited long enough. So, I took a deep breath to try and steady myself before standing, picking up the tray, and heading to the room. And if Eirika asked why it had taken me so long, I would simply tell her that I felt unsteady. It was the truth, after all.

Seth

Captain of the Crimson Flame Guard and known across the continent as the Silver Knight, he is the son of a duchess and a Jehannan mercenary. Most of his early years were spent in relative isolation, since few among the noble children wanted to associate with someone who was half-Jehannan. Orson was his first friend, and remains his best.

Always had a natural talent for battle, and he was trained much earlier than most due to his father's influence. His tendency to practice to alleviate frustration and loneliness also led to extra practice, a habit he continued even after he made friends. As a result, he's famous for his incredible skill in battle, with many claiming that he could fight an army on his own.

He was quite hotblooded when he was younger, and often wandered around looking for trouble whenever he wasn't needed in the capital. To his grief, quite a few were romanticized as songs, and he always avoids gatherings among the knights because one of them inevitably starts singing one, typically once they're too drunk to even think about staying in tune.

Author's Notes: And so the plot for part one gets rolling! Ftr, a 'battalion' typical numbers between… like… 300-800, while a 'troop' is 15-45 or something like that. The 'Morrelia' doesn't exist in game or anything. I just randomly made it up for the hell of it.

Next Chapter - The Protected