Chapter Nine
"So, Captain, let me be certain I understand your report, not only did you not confirm that the Ylissean party carries the Fire Emblem...But you can't be certain Prince Chrom is even among them? Is that the gist of it?"
"Y-yes, milady! The air was thick with sand—even their number was difficult to ascertain." The soldier was shaking in his boots, and for good reason.
"Perhaps if you had gotten closer, Captain. Here, let me show you..." Aversa grabbed the unlucky man and suffocated him by her…assets. The man flailed for air, but got no oxygen and received less remorse as he screamed for mercy.
"Apology accepted."
"Do try not to kill all the soldiers, my dear. We'll need a few for the welcoming party. The Ylisseans will be here soon—Chrom and the Emblem among them, I'm sure. That bleeding-heart prince would never put good sense before his sister!" The mad king did enjoy the good show, to his standards.
"And when they arrive?"
"It will be a massacre worthy of their legendary father!"
Our spy returned from his duty to oversee the Plegian capital, "The exalt is to be executed at the castle tomorrow. I heard if from the king's own lips, sire."
"Exactly as you predicted, Phil." Chrom nodded to me.
"So far, yes. But tomorrow will be the true test." I just hoped this plan works, I kept telling myself.
Flavia gave me some cheer, "Chin up, there! Show some confidence! It's your thinking that's got us this far. The plan is risky, but only as much is called for."
Chrom smiled, "We'll find a way to see it through, Phil. Don't worry. This time tomorrow, we'll be swapping stories with Emm on the road home."
"Yes, you are right, friend." It was nice to call Chrom a friend now. "If you excuse me, I'd like to set my mind at ease for the time being."
The rulers understood and nodded as I walked out of the room. I really needed some time to myself, as I never did try to comprehend how I got to this realm. Or when I was going to tell the truth on future events. Chrom trusts me and I don't want to break it. I don't want to hurt him…or someone else. As fate rudely had it in for me, I bumped into a wall of steel and red hair.
"Oh, Cordelia! I am so sorry."
"Oh, it's you. I've been meaning to find you. Look, I crafted a new javelin based on your feedback."
I was caught off my game, "You made one? As in, you forged it yourself? You didn't assemble it...from a kit, or something?"
Smooth, Phil.
"No. I cut a sapling, fashioned a grip, and hammered the point in the forge. I suppose I could have waited around for the javelin fairy, but she's so unpredictable. Here, look. See the pattern on the shaft? It's my own design...Well? What do you think?"
I was quite impressed with the craftsmanship of the lance. Light weight and still sturdy as I handled it with great care. The silvery metal meet with an ivory handle with a red inscription of Pegasus wings, clearly meaning this weapon was for her and her alone.
"I think that I wasn't expecting you to go and fashion a whole javelin from scratch! You really are a genius!"
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, "I beg your pardon?"
"Oh, sorry, I know you're sensitive about that word. I take it back. Anyway, I'm glad I was able to help. If there's anything else I can do..."
"Hee, you are far too kind! Why, if I...no, wait. We can't be doing this. People will get the wrong idea!"
Wrong idea? Did I do something wrong? Or does she mean…
"Doing what? What wrong idea?" I was puzzled.
"If you're so kind to me all the time, people will start to think...we're friends."
"Oh. I thought you were going to say something else, but why would that be so bad? We are friends...aren't we?"
"D-do you think so?! Truly?"
"Of course. Why not?" I responded.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I grew accustomed to not having any. I was the youngest recruit in the Pegasus knights. All of my comrades were veterans. There was no one whom I could truly call my 'friend'."
I was hurt by that statement for her, "That's…so very sad."
"Oh, well as I said, I grew accustomed to it. Besides, I did have my Pegasus to talk to. Even if the chats were a bit one sided."
I laughed, "I guess they would be."
Another hot day in the baking sun in the desert, but I was sweating from the heat. I just hoped my plan worked. The mad king stood up from his throne to address the crowd at hand. So many, must be nearly all of Plegia. And there was Emmeryn, tied up on top of…bones. The bones were different than the ones the other day. It looked draconic, but much bigger. The Plegian fortress engulfed those bones, but everyone got a good view of the Exalt and an Plegian next to her. The king spoke and the crowd listened, "Good people! Warriors of Plegia! Welcome! Welcome, one and all! Your anticipation electrifies the air! We all remember the crimes of Ylisse. Would you have their witch-queen answer for them? Here? Today? Now? YEEEEEEEEEEEES! Finally, we will have justice!" The crowd roared over Gangrel's words. "EXECUTIONER! If you would be so kind."
A brigand raised his axe above his head to strike down the Ylissean queen.
"Flavia!" The khan threw a throwing axe and it hit the brigand, which caused him to slip and fall to his death.
Chrom lead the charge, "Take out all the soldiers first! We'll deal with the Mad King later!"
"Oh, will you now? Bwa ha! We've been expecting you, Little Prince. Men, kill him. Kill his sister. Kill his troops and his friends and anyone else you find. Kill them all!" Gangrel sent his troops forward.
The ringing of metal sounded throughout the desert. Bodies dropping left and right whereas lances and axes thrown into the air. Several forts in the wasteland helped conceal even more Plegian soldiers. We could use more help…
Chrom approached a woman fighting alone, "You there! Who are you? Why do you fight alone?"
She responded with a deeper voice, "Good heavens! You're Prince Chrom, brother to Her Grace the Exalt!" The two had a small chat, but it was not the time, so Chrom thanked the woman of the cloth for the help. "Man, sire. Man of the cloth." Turned out Libra was a man and not a woman, despite the long hair and feminine facial features.
We could use one more person for help…
Chrom apologized for the mix-up and Libra nodded as he regripped his axe and charged at Plegians.
In the near distance coming out of a sandstorm, I saw a dark headed mage not fighting. "Chrom, let's go to her and ask for help. She may look…menacing, but let's try."
Chrom asked her as we got closer, "You there! Are you with the Plegians? You seem reluctant to fight."
"Death comes for all of us eventually. Why invite it early, fighting for a cause I don't believe in?" She flicked her hair.
"Then perhaps you would rebel now and fight for our cause?"
"You would trust me? What if this is just a ploy to plunge a dagger in your back?"
"My sister, the Exalt—I think she would trust you. And I'm trying to learn from her. Besides, I already need to watch my back, whether you're with us or not."
"Well, that's odd. Usually when I bring up the backstabbing bit the discussion is over. All right, then—consider me your new ally…For now."
Tharja joined us and helped us turn the tide. This was not unnoticed by Campari, the general of Plegia, "Where is the damn wyvern brigade?! Hurry! Close off their escape!" The wyverns got from the northwest. Dozens of them. Thankfully, Virion helped train up some archers and they took care of most of the wyverns. The Pegasus knights in our group cut down the rest with their lances. The ground troops gained back the advantage and surrounded Campari.
"You'll never save your precious exalt, scum!"
"Eat steel!" I jabbed a sword into his back with the help of Miriel and Libra providing the needed distraction.
"Urgh...Killing me will only...feed Plegia's rage." Those were the general's last words as he bleed on the sand.
Chrom rose above the stairs in the castle near the throne, "Their wyvern riders have fallen! The skies are clear! I'm giving the signal!"
A Pegasus rider came from the sky out the east. Captain Phila.
"Your Grace!"
"Phila! I'm so glad to see you're safe! But how—" The Exalt was speechless.
"Khan Basilio helped me. Come, we must hurry!"
The mad king was furious, "What? How did she survive? How did they... That damned Ylissean tactician does NOT play fair!"
Aversa grinned, "Neither do we." She rose her hands and summoned up Risen from the ground.
Not good.
King Gangrel went from rage to excitement, "Bwa ha ha! Oh, did an army of living corpses just appear out of the blue?! Truly, the heavens smile upon mighty King Gangrel this day! Bwa ha ha ha!"
A risen took up a bow and shoot an arrow at Phila. The direct hit sent her falling off her beast and crashing into the ground. Her body laid twisted in many directions in a pool of blood. The gang of risen surrounded Chrom, forcing him in an impossible situation.
"I believe this is what they call a reversal of fortunes. Now, grovel before me. Plead! Beg for your worthless lives!" Gangrel declared victory.
"I'd give up my life before I'd beg for it from you."
"Now, now, my boy—no one needs die today. Not you. Not the exalt. Not your friends. Just lay down your sword, and give me the Fire Emblem."
I yelled out, "Chrom! You can't trust him!"
I really believed Chrom considered giving the Emblem to Gangrel. I didn't think this was the best decision, but before I could further explain, Emmeryn spoke out from the heights, still on the bones.
"Stop! King Gangrel, is there no hope you will listen to reason?"
The king looked up, "You mean listen to more of your sanctimonious babble?! I think not. No, all I want to hear now is the thunk of arrows, and a splat as you hit the ground. Take one, long, last look from your perch. You do so enjoy looking down on people... Then prepare to meet the ground, and your maker! That is, unless someone were to give me the Emblem... NOW!"
Emmeryn went to address the Plegian crowd, at least the ones still alive, "Plegians! I ask that you hear the truth of my words! War will win you nothing but sadness and pain, both inside your borders and out. Free yourselves from this hatred! From this cycle of pain and vengeance. Do what you must...As I will do. See now that one selfless act has the power to change the world!"
"Emm! No! No!" the prince yelled out, trying to stop her. But he could do nothing. The Exalt took several steps forward and…
No!
"Damn you, Gangrel!" cried the helpless prince.
I covered my ears to avoid listening to the thud. How did my plan not work?
"Bwa ha ha haa! Well now! How disgustingly noble. And so lovely a fall! Here I thought death to be an ugly thing. I've never seen one fall so gracefully, in fact…And I've seen many fall. Ah, so ends Emmeryn, Ylisse's most exalted! But how can we ensure everyone remembers this beautiful moment of her sacrifice? Perhaps we should gather up her body and put it on display! Bwa ha ha!"
"Gangrel! You die today!" Chrom ran with the Falchion in his hands.
Flavia and Basilio jumped in front of the prince, "No boy! We have secured an escape route. We have to flee!" The giant man took Chrom and carried him off, as there was no other way for convincing him not to fight.
The sunny afternoon turned into a downpour of rain, reflecting the mood of all the Shepherds; Chrom being in the worse condition. The sand turned into thick mud around them as they dragged on. The locals had a name for this place: the Midmire. More skeleton bones of dragons enclosed the area along with stone pillars. This allowed the Plegians to gather reinforcements to catch up to the group: more wyvern riders. The Shepherds were surrounded first by the brigand ground troops.
"Plegians! I knew it couldn't be that easy. They're right in our way! We must fight!" boomed Basilio.
Out of the mud in the distance came a figure. A man with a facial scar and muscles on top of muscles. He wore not much, but was intimidating. Not a barbarian nor brigand, he must be the acting general.
Mustafa, a berserker.
"Ylisseans! I offer you mercy! Surrender to me now and live!"
Basilio scoffed, "Surrender? Sorry, I'm not familiar with the word."
"Emmeryn would not have wished for this to come to bloodshed," pleaded the Plegian general.
"Don't speak her name!" cried out the devasted prince.
"Your rage is justified, Prince Chrom. But the meaning of your sister's final sacrifice was not lost on me. I suspect many Plegians who heard her final words would say the same. If you lay down your weapons, I vow to protect you as best I can."
Fredrick, also angry with rage, "How can we trust you after what your barbarous king has done? I think we shall take our chance with weapons in hand!"
"I suspected you would say as much. So be it, Prince Chrom. I shall endeavor to grant you a swift and dignified end."
Despite the reinforcement of the wyverns, many soldiers didn't want to take up arms. One of them was brave or foolish to defy the general, "Forgive me, sir, but I no longer see the justice in hunting these people down. I accept any punishment you see fit, but after all that's happened...I just can't." His comrade chewed him out, questioning his loyalty.
The general intervened, "These questions are not ours to ponder, lad. The soldier does not judge. The soldier delivers judgment."
"Sir, I...I cannot raise my lance against them. Even if...Even if it means death." Emmeryn's words affected the Plegians more than the general took account for.
This made the commander lose his patience, "You were there when Emmeryn spoke, weren't you? So be it! Those of you unwilling to fight are dismissed!"
More conflict was stirred in the soldier, "But I don't wish to abandon you, sir!"
Mustafa becoming more understanding, "I cannot defy the king, lad. I know him well. He would murder my wife and child to set an example. I will accept the blame for your actions today. Now go!"
"Wait, General! I see a cause worth fighting for, one I believe in: loyalty to my general."
"Aye. That's a good lad."
The battle resumed with the soldier, but he meet his demise with an axe to the face from Vaike. Other Shepherds came up and slashed down all ground fighters, leaving just the lizard knights to deal with. Virion was more than happy to shoot them down. The riders that survived were unfortunately caught by Fredrick's arsenal of his choice of axe, sword, or lance. Even Donnel and Lissa were picking off the remaining units, which left just the Plegian general.
"I am General Mustafa of Plegia. If you wish to keep your lives, then you must win them!" He charged at Chrom, making the first move. Chrom was more than willing to cut him down with the Falchion. After a few rounds of blows, Stahl provided a distraction by throwing an axe, which allowed the prince to jab his sword into Mustafa's side.
"Well done, Ylisseans...Please...spare my men." Mustafa coughed blood and said his farewell.