Chapter Eighteen
"Fall back and form up! Don't let them scatter us!" Basilio yelled as he wildly swung his axe.
The rain was pouring down in buckets now. The ground mixed with mud and blood. The differences between friend and foe were few. But when someone charges at you, you must protect your life.
"Easier said than done. Their cavalry is riding right over us!" Flavia struggled as the mud provided poor footing.
"We can hold our ground. I'll show you how a real Feroxi fights, woman!" Basilio grabbed a Valmese by the neck and squeezed until that sad man fell.
Flavia downed two more bow riders herself with throwing axes, "Ha! Did I hear a crack in your voice? Is that fear in your eye?"
"Gah! Never! Let's give these kettleheads a taste of our barbarian roots!"
"Now that is the oaf I love!" Flavia picked up the throwing axes from the dead bodies and looked on ahead, "Huh? Enemy soldiers, there."
A flash of red smashed against two Feroxi soldiers, sending them in the air over eight feet. They screamed in agony before a giant axe finished them off.
"They're swatting our troops like flies!" Basilio panicked.
"Is it some kind of elite cavalry? No, wait..." Flavia watched in disbelief as a giant man on a horse came out of the mist. "Gods! It's just one man!"
The man was no other than Walhart, himself. He pointed a finger to Basilio, "You there! Do you command these forces?"
"Aww, crap." Basilio almost dropped his axe at the sight of Walhart. He was caught and knowing he had to fight this battle with no way out. The panic was overtaken by adrenaline as he swung at Walhart first, but hitting only the rain. The Conqueror needed just one hit…and he was successful.
Basilio lied in the puddle and saw red flowing into the mud. "Is he even human?" The strength was fleeting and in the weaken state, Basilio looked up, expecting the final strike.
"Impressive. You're the first since Yen'fay to survive beyond a single stroke." Walhart did not strike, but watched as he put his axe away. He would rather watch the defeated man squirm in his last moments.
"I d-don't...I don't stand a chance. Flavia! Everyone! Run! Run for your lives!"
Flavia ran to the man but refused to leave, "I'm not leaving you here!"
Basilio threw up blood, "He's a demon, woman...I can only keep him...busy while you...escape...hngh!...D-damn... Looks like the lass was right."
Flavia held his man in her arms and stroked his hair, "I think not! I'm here, and that means events can be changed! Damn you, oaf! You're not getting away from me that easily!" Flavia lowered Basilio and got up to face Walhart. She lunged with full force, but was blocked with his sword, Sol. The mighty sword founded it's way through Flavia's armor, sending her collapsed next to the other Khan. She was still breathing and had some fight left, but Basilio grabbed her.
"Here, take this. Give this to Chrom." A bright red gemstone glowed. Gules. Flavia didn't accept it at first, "Give it to him yourself, you one-eyed clod of a man! I'm not going anywhere and neither are you!"
"Fool woman! I'm f-finished. Don't let it...be for nothing. For once in your life...just do what I say...Go!"
Fexori soldiers took the gemstone and carried Flavia away to safety as Walhart let her go, focusing on Basilio. The Sol sword was raised high…
"Basilio!"
The mountains transformed from smooth boulders to jagged edges. A landslide was very possible with a wrong slip. Forest cleared and no trees around to provide safe hiding in case of enemy snipers. But we had no choice in order to avoid conflict with Risen. The Shepherds were walking together in twos, each with their own unique conversations from talks of war and battle strategy to love talk amongst couples. Say'ri lead the group and spoke of Yen'fay's army. I ignored until Chrom pointed out the top of the mountain, "Say'ri, that mountain—I've seen it smoke for hours but I see no trees on in anywhere?"
Say'ri was confused and assumed Chrom had seen a volcano before, "That is no forest fire, sir. It's a volcano. Have you never seen one? That one is called the Demon's Ingle. It is known and feared by all people of Valm. Few dare to even get close, lest they anger the wicked fire god."
"Hmm. Volcano. Phil, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
I turned to Chrom, now paying attention. I never seen a volcano myself, not even in my homeland, "Only if you're wondering how quickly we can reach the volcano."
Say'ri had sweat coming out of her and didn't like the plan at all, "Go to the Demon's Ingle?! Do you know what you're saying?"
Actually, I felt like I knew what to do. Been a while since I felt certain about something. "I'm saying your opportunistic former friends wouldn't dare risk following us. And we can use the flames as barriers, to limit how your brother's army approaches."
Say'ri understood and released her nervous face, smiling instead "And my brother will still come. His stubborn pride will force his hand."
Chrom agreed, "Then it seems we have our strategy."
Let's hope for another miracle.
The man claimed to already to be dead. But he was with the living. The guilt of such a traitorous act fed on his heart, even though he wouldn't admit it to his comrades. The foul stench was more than physical, and his sister could smell it when the Shepherds came through the thicken smoke. This was not sulfur, but the stink of Yen'fay, who lead the Southern army of the Valmese. Only few outranked him as he was the second most decorated soldier behind only Walhart.
The light flash appeared, bringing in the grotesque Excellus, "Why, such a melancholic air about you today. Whatever is the problem?" He saw the Ylisseans approaching and a Chon'sin woman. "Oh, is today the day you face off against your beloved sister? Dear me, of course it is! Well then, of course you'd be in a foul mood."
Yen'fay made no move, "She is a rebel and traitor to the empire. I have no sister."
Excellus didn't bite at the lie, "Oh very good, very good—right out of the book, General Yen'fay! And I commend your acting ability...very convincing! I think your men all heard you. In any case, I'm so glad I can trust you not to take it easy on her ragtag little troupe."
The Chon'sin man stared down Excellus and grunted.
"Yes, we both know why you'd never let any of her comrades escape, don't we? Oh, I know it must be so difficult, General. But think of it this way: you still have a family. A big one! The whole imperial army is your family now!"
Yen'fay took out the Amatsu sword and considered swinging it at the fat man.
"Well, I should run. Do tell your little sister I say hello? Ta ta!" And Excellus ran off once again.
Yen'fay sighed and waited for his sister to attack first, trying to signal that he didn't want a fight…he had no choice.
"So be it. Order the attack."
Swords, axes and lances clashed as both parties maneuvered on the molten rocks. Lava encompassing much of the landscape, movement was treacherous and slow. Every step needed to be calculated carefully. Some Valmese warriors already slipped into the burning river; the screams piercing the ears. After many rounds of moving, attacking, avoiding lava, repeat, Say'ri found herself faced off against her brother.
"Brother. I won't ask you why. We are well beyond that point now. I will speak it plain: I cannot forgive you, and neither can I let you live." No forgiveness in her eyes spoke volumes of truthfulness despite the sad state of affairs.
"I've asked you for nothing, sister, least of all your forgiveness." Yen'fay quietly spoke.
"But you will have my justice, like it or not! You, who stood by in silence while everyone around you suffered! While villages were razed and fields burned, you watched but said nothing. When Father and Mother were murdered—you said nothing! Nothing, before you ran to the arms of the one man responsible for all of it! Your silence was deafening. Maddening. Even now have you nothing to say?!" Rage built up in Say'ri's voice. She wanted nothing more than to cut that man down and make him pay for his sins.
The echoes of lightning and lava were the only sounds now. Yen'fay, the broken man, had nothing to say, just like he always had. Silence was his last friend.
"Damn you, Yen'fay! Then I will make your sword answer for you! Draw your blade, and let it sing your final words!"
Say'ri swung the silver sword with an upper cut, missing the mark. Yen'fay side stepped and came all that he had with his sword. Metal on metal, the clinging rang as both sides stopped the violence for a moment to watch as brother and sister fought to the death. Counter after counter, the siblings were an equal match. No one had advantage until the Chon'sin woman was cornered on a boulder with no where to go, only the fiery river awaiting her demise. Yen'fay grunted and jumped, ready to strike down his sister, but was met with several arrows lodged around his torso as he landed with no sword in his hand. He fell to his knees and began to bleed.
"I've noticed Walhart's soldiers fight dirty and have no honor. How's that for taste of your own medicine?" I approached the Valmese general. "Virion, good job. Only a traitor could take down a traitor like that, right buddy?" I turned around to see Virion put away his arrows.
"Ha! Oh, your sense of humor precedes you, Sir Phil." Virion smiled and admired his handiwork. Those shots were from a greater length than a normal steel bow. The archest of archers was the only one who would have accomplished such a feat.
Chrom also appeared from the smoke and walked toward Yen'fay, greeting him with a disgusted look.
"General Yen'fay."
"Aye, that is my name. What would you have of me, Ylissean?" He spat out blood on Chrom's boots.
Chrom ignored the stains, "I would ask why a famed swordmaster would sell his honor to Walhart."
"That is not your concern, your highness."
"Are you truly your sister's brother? She is a principled woman. Even knowing Walhart's strength, she has fought on valiantly. Are you so deluded as to genuinely consider her your enemy? Or are you simply afraid of your master?"
"Afraid?" Yen'fay pondered for a second, "Yes, fear plays its part, that I cannot deny."
"You admit it, then? You are craven!"
"I did not say it was fear for my life. My reasons exist; I will not explain them all to strangers."
"If there's honor left in you, say it now. You could still join us." Chrom offered his right hand.
"The bones have been thrown, lad. All that remains is to see where they fall." Yen'fay closed his eyes in grief.
"So be it." A soft swoosh, and Yen'fay was no more. A true dead man, now with the fallen in battle.
Chrom put away the Falchion and looked away. Say'ri didn't watch as her brother was beheaded. The Exalt walked by her, and patted her back. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She did say she wanted justice, and she got it. But she gained no brother.
"Our victory is secured...Yen'fay has fallen. I will never understand why he joined Walhart. His reasons die with him." Say'ri wiped away her tears.
A sinister laugh entered the volcanic field, "But oh, what a death it was! Did you see the grief etched on his face? The mix of longing and pain in the eyes? He had become such an accomplished actor, but that was all too real, hee hee!"
"Excellus! What would you know of my brother, you loathsome toad?" Say'ri pointed her sword at the tactician.
"More than you, princess of Chon'sin. And I would watch that mouth of yours for I am honoring Yen'fay's sacrifice by not killing you now...but even I have my limits." He glared at her with those soulless eyes.
"What do you mean 'sacrifice'?"
"Oopsie! Did I just spill the beans? Ha ha ha ha! I'm so sorry, but I promised your dear brother I'd never tell."
"Explain yourself or die, snake!" Say'ri was more angry than gloomy now.
"Bah! As if you could harm me! You only live by my grace, you ungrateful wretch! I could have had you killed countless times! And I would have, if not for him."
"Enough!" Say'ri threw down her sword. "Don't talk around it, say what you mean!"
Excellus circled the Chon'sin lady, like a vulture waiting for its prey, "Oh, did Yen'fay not groan out the truth? No, I suppose not. He always was so quiet. And proud...honorable, I think they call it? Yet he swallowed his pride and cast aside his honor...all to protect his beloved kin. That's right, little sister. He did it...to save you."
Say'ri relented and confusion took over, "You're lying!"
Excellus waved his finger, "No, I'm telling the truth, which I admit is a rare treat, so you best shut up and enjoy it. Before you met these Ylisseans, I could have had your head with a word. In Chon'sin, at Valm Harbor, even at the Mila Tree. Did you really think yourself so elusive? You were my leverage for Yen'fay. Unwitting and unbound, but a hostage all the same. I let you live; he fought for us. That was our deal. And he kept his end, right to his end!"
"N-no!" Say'ri collapsed over. She would have fainted if not for Lissa's help.
The Valmese worm took a rag to his forehead, "Wow, well, I don't know about you, but I feel much better having that off my chest. Maybe I will give this truth telling a try more often! Yes, I shall resolve to do so! In any case, good-bye friends! I wish you safe travels, and so sorry about Yen'fay...Oops! I broke my resolution twice already! Tee hee hee!"
Chrom ran up to Say'ri and the other Shepherds followed.
"Sayri…" He bent over to comfort her.
"Gods, the things I said to him. The things I did...I have wronged him beyond imagining. If he had only spoken! I could have joined the ruse, I..." The tears came back again on her face as she tried to hide them.
Lucina offered some words, "Milady, I know well the grief of losing family with so much yet unsaid."
"I am wretched! I've repaid my brother's kindness with death! Oh, Yen'fay, forgive me... Please, oh please..." Her words don't reach the dead as it was impossible to redo anything to bring back her brother.
"Say'ri, you did all you could. Your brother knew that." Chrom said this as he lifted Say'ri to her feet. "You are blameless in this. Excellus and the empire are at fault here. And they will be made to answer for it, I promise you."
"Sir Chrom, I...pray, forgive me. You have done so much for this land while I can give nothing in return. Or worse, what help I offered turned against us..."
I debated to say anything up to this point, but I thought if I spoke, perhaps I could boost morale. Something, anything to not dampen the mood, "We are the Resistance now, Say'ri. Yen'fay would be proud of you. You honor his name and all of Chon'sin. We must push on and make Walhart and his dogs learn the concept of suffering, as we've done too much grieving ourselves."
Say'ri nodded, "Aye, sir. And thank you. I owe my life to you all, and to my brother. I swear to you, and to him...I will make the most of it."
A smile grew on my face as I didn't know how else to comfort her, but it seemed like she would overcome the darkness quickly. Not like there was much time, as the passing days felt colder with the changing of the seasons. Either that, or Walhart's grip on Valm still was suffocating. And then, the news came…
A spy ran up huffing and reported to Chrom, "Milord, Khan Basilio…he…he has been killed in battle!"
The wind carried the words as everyone reacted with disbelief and more grief.
What have I done? I am guilty of sending Basilio to his death. Where did I go wrong this time? I thought he would survive…
"Damn! Are you certain?"
"I am. He's gone, Chrom. I saw him fall myself…he is gone." Flavia slowly trudged, the weight of stones on her feet and a defeated face.
"Flavia! Are you sure? I have my…reasons that I believe he is still alive." I looked concerned and hoped for a better answer as I pleaded with her.
"I didn't exactly watch his demise…how could anyone!? I don't think I needed to see through the thick fog, but I heard the sound of steel cling. There's no way that oaf survived Walhart's…Walhart's…"
"Enough, Phil. No need to pry, we got our answer already." Chrom intervened.
I could feel the Exalt getting frustrated and Lucina staring me down. I let down the Shepherds…
The self-loathing was put on pause as we eventually noticed the gashes of open wounds on Flavia's body. Lissa fetched her healing staff at once, while the adrenaline kept the Khan from going into shock.
"I'll be fine, gods damn me. Gods damn me for outliving that one-eyed clod! That big, bald oaf! That...that...aaaaargh!" Flavia screamed as Lissa began the healing process. "I'll kill him! I'll cut that dastard Walhart down myself! I swear it before the gods!"
"No, Flavia...for now, you need to rest and to heal. When the time is right, we will avenge Basilio. You have my word." Chrom reassured.
Lucina went to the back of the group to cover up her mental breakdown. Fredrick went over for support while the others gave them the space.
"Chrom, there's something else. Something important. Basilio asked I give you this..." Flavia handed over Gules.
The Exalt felt a foreign sensation pulsate when he received the gemstone, "Wait, is that? Ah... I can feel its power resonating through my whole body..."
"It's Gules, one of the gemstones you need. Don't ask me why in hell's name the oaf hid it from you. He always did love his surprises, damn him."
"Whatever his reasons, I accept his gift now, and gladly." Chrom smiled.
Say'ri bowed toward the spy and dismissed him and now turned attention to Chrom, "The scouts have reported back. Walhart's army...has retreated to the imperial capital. And it seems the dynast turncloaks are withdrawing their soldiers as well."
Chrom broke the extended silence, "I don't believe it."
"Steiger and Yen'fay have fallen; it's no shock Walhart might pull back to regroup. And of course, the dynasts now see cracks forming in the empire." Say'ri added.
"Maybe they'll reconsider which side they will fight for?" Chrom rubbed his chin.
"Possible, and we have Basilio to thank for it. For all of it. His sacrifice made it all possible...if only there had been some other way..." My depression flared up again as I spoke.
Flavia scolded me, "No second guessing! Basilio would have hated that. You did your duty as best you were able, same as he. Now clear the doubts out of that clever head of yours—we're going to need it. The fate of Valm—and all our homelands—hangs on this next battle. For the sake of history and all our fallen comrades. We will bring this empire crashing down!" The Khan clinched her fists and encouraged the Shepherds.
Chrom raised the Falchion in response, "Shepherds! Comrades! Soldiers! We make for the capital! This 'Conqueror's' reign ends now!"