The Force's Shepherds

Chapter 20

Maul's Assault

Robin peered down the road. A sense of unease had come over him. Consumed his every thought. The camp that had been set up along the mountain pass had been hastily taken down already. Every solider and everyone in the Shepherds were mobilized and ready for a battle. Ben and Frederick, two of the finest warriors the Shepherds had, were already on the way to Exalt Emmeryn. Perhaps they were already by her side. That should have put his mind at ease. After all, Phila had said the Plegian raiders were coming from the rear. The Exalt was near the front. If any enemy wanted to get to Emmeryn, they would have to go through Chrom and the Shepherds.

So why were they not doing exactly that? Commander Phila and her Pegasus Knights had departed over an hour ago to deal with the enemy. There had only been silence and the quiet moaning made by the cold wind passing between the mountain peaks around him. An eerie sound that made Robin shudder.

The tactician shook his head, he was just being paranoid. Commander Phila and the Pegasus Knights were the best warriors Ylisse had to offer. They would not be defeated by a mere raiding party.

He glanced over at Chrom as the Prince stood beside him. Chrom's hand rested on Falchion's grip. The captain of the Shepherds was just as uneasy about all of this as Robin was. The tactician then looked behind him.

Several dozen Ylissean foot soldiers milled about. The boredom that came with lulls in war overtook them half an hour ago. Virion had his eyes trained on the road behind them. His fingers plucked his bowstring like one would pluck a harp. Lissa was staying close to Lon'qu. Something that irked the foreign swordsman. But he did not protest it. He was just as wary as Robin and Chrom. His instincts as a Warrior told him something sinister was afoot.

Kellam and Vaike were chatting about axes. From the sounds of things, Vaike was considering getting a new one. It was an awkward, stilted conversation. One that involved two soliders doing their best to combat their growing unease. Maribelle and Ricken were near their rear. Both keeping watch for anyone that was with the Exalt. Or even Gaius, Kage, and Panne.

Robin looked back up the road. Those three should have reported back by now. He did not tell them to follow the road all the way to the Eastern Palace. He sighed and looked over at Sully and Stahl. The pair were killing time by brushing the horses. But their eyes never left their weapons, which were strapped to their mounts.

"I don't like this." Chrom muttered.

Robin thrusted his hands in his coat's pockets, "Neither do I."

"Where are they?" Chrom wondered out loud.

"The Plegians?"

Chrom shook his head, "No. Phila and the Pegasus Knights. A raider party should have been no problem for them."

Robin nodded in agreement. His hand brushed against the spine of his spellbook.

"Something is wrong." Chrom continued.

"Don't worry so much." Robin tried to reassure him. But it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than Chrom, "I'm sure they're just mopping up. Can't have any Plegian's reporting our position right?"

Chrom let out a heavy breath, "Right." He bowed his head and looked over to where his tent was.

Sitting in a chair. Her body wrapped in bandages that were hidden by her hastily put together armor, was Sumia. Lissa and Lon'qu had drifted over to her. And Lissa had decided to pass the time by performing some healing on the Pegasus rider.

"Have you two chatted recently?" Robin asked, doing his best to distract both of them from their own paranoia.

Chrom looked at Robin.

"Right. There was an obvious answer to that question." Robin chuckled, "So?"

"What?" Chrom asked.

"Do royalty ask girls out on dates or is it just expected for them to… you know."

Chrom's cheeks turned redder than a tomato. He uttered an embarrassed laugh and shook his head.

"If you weren't such a good tactician you'd make an excellent comedian."

"It's an honest question." Robin defended, "Remember, I don't remember anything before a month or so ago. I mean, if I was to try and court a woman I'd have to invite her out to dinner first and then so on and so forth."

"And so would I." Chrom chuckled, "Just because I have the title of Prince doesn't mean I'm any different than you."

Robin pressed his lips together, "You're definitely less awkward than I am."

Before Chrom could reply, Virion called out to both of them.

"On the road!" The Archer called as he pointed ahead of them.

Chrom and Robin followed his finger. They didn't see anything at first. Robin began to wonder if the boredom and tension they were all feeling had addled his friend's brain. He started to turn towards the archer when he saw it. A single figure in black trudging up the mountain pass.

There was a limp to his walk. An unnatural gait that made Robin think that whoever was coming near them was not human. His arms were folded behind his back. Robin's eyes widened when he was able to see that the figure was wearing black robes and a black hood.

"That's Maul." Robin whispered to Chrom.

"Yes." Chrom drew Falchion's, "How did he get by Phila?"

Maul stopped a few dozen yards from the Shepherds. Beneath the hood, Robin could see a twisted smirk on the man's red and black face. Those yellow eyes burned like hot coals under the black hood. They shimmered as he gazed upon the tense Ylisseans. His gaze stopped on both Robin and Chrom.

"Good afternoon." He said. Maul's voice sounded like venom. It slipped through the air and slithered into Robin's ears. The tactician felt his spine crawl. How did this cripple make him so uneasy? "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

"What do you want, cretin?" Chrom growled.

Maul uttered an amused chuckle, "Oh little prince, you would never understand what I want. But I perfectly understand what you want."

As the monster spoke, Robin's eyes flicked up and down his figure. The first thing he noticed was that Maul's cane was missing. Secondly, he was not hunched over. He stood straight and tall. A warrior's confidence exuded from his dark form. And a black sense of dread filled Robin as he saw a different Maul than the one back at Themis. This was not Maul the political adviser. This was Maul the predator.

"Oh really?" Chrom snarled, "Tell me?"

"You want to protect your lovely older sister." Maul smirked, "Such an innocent little thing. It is such a shame that you are a failure when it comes to such a simple task."

Chrom grit his teeth. He took a threatening step at Maul.

"What did you say?"

"What I'm saying is..." Maul brought his hands out from behind his back.

Robin felt a wave of nausea so overpowering that he nearly retched right there and then. His blood had gone cold in his veins at that exact same moment. And all the color in his face ran away.

Maul held Commander Phila's head out in front of him. The woman's face was etched into a grotesque scream. The tactician swallowed hard and looked at Chrom. His friend's hands shook as he tightened his grip on Falchion. Behind him, Robin hear Lissa utter a horrific scream while Sumia gaped in shock. Virion had already nocked an arrow and aimed it at Maul's black heart.

"Just say the word." Robin heard Virion say.

But the words failed to register in Robin's mind. He was still too shocked, too horrified, to acknowledge his archer friend. The tactician had seen death before. The charred bodies he had seen in Themis were still fresh in his mind. But as horrifying as that was. It still felt distant. He had not felt connected to those deaths in any way.

But he knew Phila. He knew that the commander was a good, strong willed woman. Someone who loyally served the Halidom and treated the Exalt and her siblings with almost motherly care and firmness. And now she was gone. Her head a trophy for the monster in front of them.

"Bastard." Robin heard Chrom hiss through a clenched jaw.

Maul laughed at them, "You all should really work on your internal security. It is much to easy to infiltrate you." He flung Phila's head Chrom's feet, "You will find the rest of your little flying knights are in the same state back on the road."

Robin's mind started racing. How were they all dead? Was Maul insinuating that he had killed the entirety of the Pegasus Knights by himself? That was impossible! No one was that skilled of a warrior. No one could survive an all out assault by the Ylissean Pegasus Knights on their own.

But the black robed man stood alone in the road. There was no raiding party at his back. No Plegian army marching to the beat of drums and the sound of horns. He was alone, facing the Shepherds. His face twisted into an evil smirk as he looked at Robin.

"Are you afraid, boy." Maul snarled.

Robin swallowed hard, "No."

Maul chuckled, "Don't lie to me." The man closed his eyes and breathed deep, "I can feel your fear. All of you. The air stinks with it." His eyes opened again. As they did, a silver hilt appeared from his robes and settled into his right hand, "Such a satisfying smell." He returned his gaze to Chrom, "How does it feel, little prince? To know that your sister is in my clutches as we speak? After all, my little raiding party was… shall we say… airborne."

Robin's eyes widened, "Wyvern riders."

"BASTARD!"

Chrom charged at Maul before Robin could stop him. He raised Falchion over his head. He was going to cleave Maul in half. So help him, Maul would die where he stood.

Robin saw a thrilled gleam enter Maul's eyes. The monster's thumb moved to a button on the silver hilt. Robin felt danger fill his very being. And fear. Fear for his own life. Fear for Chrom. Fear for his friends behind him.

He acted fast. The pages in his spellbook flipped so quick they became a blur. Thunder gather in Robin's hand. Just as Maul's thumb pressed down on the button, Robin launched his spell.

The yellow bolt of lightning streaked past Chrom. Forcing the Prince to dive to the side. He was about to curse Robin for his lack of aim, until he realized that Robin had just saved him from being skewered by a humming bar of red light that erupted from Maul's peculiar hilt.

Chrom's eyes widened to saucers as Maul raised his glowing blade and caught Robin's lightning bolt. The red light crackled, hissed, and the lightning died. The blade absorbed it. Maul grinned at the stunned tactician and now terrified Prince.

"I love the smell of fear on a lovely day like today."

A roar erupted overhead. Chrom flicked his eyes up to the heavens. A group of twenty Wyvern Riders were diving fast down at his men.

Vaike uttered a furious war cry. Kellam raised his shield as several arrows raced down at the Shepherds. Sully and Stahl mounted their horses and readied their lances. Sumia moved to shield Lissa while Lon'qu stood in front of both women. Determined to protect them. Virion returned fire. His arrows connecting with their targets several times. Sending three Wyvern Riders to their deaths far below.

An evil chuckle drew Chrom's attention back to Maul.

"This will destroy Kenobi." He heard Maul snarl, "The death of his precious friends. There is nothing more suffocating for a man like him, than the feeling of failure and loneliness."

Chrom raised Falchion as Maul swung his glowing blade down at him.

For the first time in his young life, Chrom did not know if his blade would block the attack. A weapon that could absorb lightning could surely cut through any metal. Chrom shook his head. Banishing the doubts he had in Falchion. This blade was the divine weapon of the dragon, Naga. It had not failed any Exalt before him. And it would not fail him now.

He squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself. The blades met. Chrom could feel the heat radiating from Maul's weapon. It felt like a fire had been set near his hands. Like flames licked at his fingers. Hotter than any bonfire could possibly be. He nearly dropped his sword. But Chrom tightened his grip and opened his eyes.

He saw Maul staring down at him with contempt. And confusion? Falchion held Maul's weapon at bay. But barely. Chrom's arms shook with strain. He grit his teeth then roared. With all of his strength he threw Maul's blade to the side.

He expected a chance to regain his feet and battle Maul. What Chrom did not expect, was the crippled man to twirl and swing his weapon for his head. The movement was so fast, Chrom could barely register it.

There was no way he could raise Falchion fast enough. Time seemed to slow as red light filled his vision.

A rush of wind surged by Chrom. The light faded and Chrom saw Maul thrown into the air and into the cliffs nearby. The impact his body had caused the rocks to tremble and dirt to run down the rocky face of the mountains.

Chrom looked around confused. Was that Miriel? Or Robin? Ricken? Who cast the strange wind spell that just saved his life?

A flash of blue hair. And Chrom had his answer. The slim form of Marth raced past him and charged at Maul. The monster had regathered his wits and snarled as Marth attacked.

The battle was a blur. Marth spun and swung a savage stroke at Maul's waist. A blow that Maul parried then countered with a quick slash to Marth's shoulder.

Chrom blinked. This was… surreal. The battle around him raged as if it was in slow motion. He vaguely saw Sully and Stahl throwing their lances at a Wyvern rider. Out of the corner of his eye, Ricken was protecting Maribelle by launched spell after spell at their attackers. He heard the gravel near him crunching. Then arms hooked under his.

Robin hauled Chrom to his feet.

"Chrom! C'mon, get up!" Robin shouted over the roar of battle.

Everything sped up again. Adrenaline rushed through Chrom's veins. He gripped Falchion, cast another look at Phila's head. His face twisted into a mask of rage.

"Maul."

He spun on his heel and rushed to join Marth.

"CHROM!" Robin screamed before a Wyvern Rider landed near him.

The lizard snapped at the tactician. Robin jumped out the way. He felt some razor sharp teeth graze his coat's sleeve. He could hear fabric tearing as the fangs cut through the cloth.

"Not my coat!" Robin cried before drawing his sword and lashing out at the Wyvern and it's rider.

The beast cried out in pain as Robin's blade bit into its thick, armor like hide. The tactician ducked as an axe swung for his head. Robin then acted on instinct. He jumped up onto the Wyvern.

"Hey! How's it going jerk?" Robin said before bashing the pommel of his blade into the rider's nose.

The man howled in pain as his nose popped. Before the rider could retaliate, Robin grabbed him by the back of his shirt and flung him off with all of his strength. The rider screamed as he plummeted down the canyon. Robin grimaced then looked at the reins of the suddenly passive Wyvern.

"Nice lizard." Robin said nervously as he grabbed the reins. He looked up at the enemy riders circling overhead. They were regrouping for a second attack. One that would devastate the Shepherds.

Virion was nearly out of arrows. But he had felled at least five of the beasts and their riders. Sully and Stahl brandished their swords but both looked nervous as they stared up above them. Vaike was already wounded, but the nasty gash over his right shoulder did not faze the man. He gripped his ax and grit his teeth. Miriel readied another spell. But she was looking tired. The intensity of the first wave had caused her to fire a flurry of spells. And while she was a good wizard and wonderful alchemist, she did not have the magical reserves that Robin possessed. Sumia was trying to mount her Pegasus. But her injuries were hampering her. Lon'qu and Kellam guarded Lissa as she tended to some wounded men.

They're about to dive again. Robin thought to himself. And the Shepherds could not stand a second wave.

They needed to meet the Wyverns in the air. And with Sumia still out of action, that left one option. Robin gulped and exhaled.

"Alright um… lizard…" He tightens his grip on the reins and nodded, "Let's do this."

One snap. The leathery wings reached for the sky then hammered the air. Robin felt the air rush by his body. His ears popped as he rapidly ascended. As his body was jerked up, he lost his grip on his sword. The weapon clattered uselessly onto the gravel road.

"Alright." Robin shakily removed one hand as he shot through the air. He grabbed his spellbook and opened it, "One flying mage versus all of the Wyvern riders." He nodded to himself, "What could go wrong?"

….

Panne sprinted down the road. When she left Ben to engage the black rider, she had transformed into her beast form. There were several gashes and wounds on her body that bothered her. But the Taguel forced the pain to the back of her mind. The Exalt was in danger.

As she rushed down the road, she could hear the sounds of battle growing in her large ears. The Shepherds were engaged with the enemy. A ferociuos battle was taking place. One Panne hoped they were winning.

She was not a fan of the Man-spawn in her company. There was a deep seeded hatred for the humans that would be difficult to change. A wariness to them that she would never let go of. Humans had killed off her kind. Had slaughtered her warren and made her the last Taguel in the world. Their violent tendecies was all that they knew. And that violence extened even to their own kind.

It disgusted the Taguel. She had been tempted to leave several times. But something compelled her stay. Something about the Exalt. The genuine goodness the woman possessed betrayed every preconception Panne had of humans. She could say the same for the man known as Ben. A curious human that wanted to learn about her kind, not hunt them as the other males of his people did.

Maybe it was some sense of loyalty. Perhaps she was now fighting for unlikely friends. Regardless, honor demanded she defend the Exalt that extended a hand of friendship. She would not allow these other humans, these Plegians, to take a life as just and good as her.

Her pace increased. She rounded a bend in the road and slid to a stop. Climbing up from the cliff edge was Kage. The young man-spawn gasped for breath as he pulled himself up onto the road. Once he was on safe, stable ground, he locked eyes with Panne.

"Oh thank Naga." Kage breathed, "I could use some help."

"There is no time, Man-spawn."

Panne grabbed the boy with her teeth and threw him up onto her back. An action she was loathe to do. But man-spawn were slow runners. There was no other way he would be able to keep up with her.

Kage uttered some weak protests, but quickly went silent as Panne resumed her mad dash back to the main column. The duo rounded another corner. Panne felt her heart jump.

Lying in the road was the man-spawn named Frederick. His horse was dead by his side. And the Exalt he had sworn to protect was nowhere to be seen.

Kage jumped down from Panne's back and rushed over to the fallen Knight. The large man uttered several, sputtering coughs as Kage helped him sit up against the dead horse. Panne could see a large lance jutting out of his leg and an arrow in his side.

He must have fought admirably if it took such devastating wounds to fell him. Panne thought.

She watched as Kage spoke quietly to Frederick. The Knight gave the boy a weak nod. With her sharp hearing, Panne heard the large man say that the Exalt was gone. A group of Wyverns ambushed him as he retreated back to the Shepherds. There had been too many. One snatched the Exalt from his horse as he fought. Then the arrows and lances were launched at him.

Panne scowled. The Plegians were cowards in her mind. Ambushes and deception were good for hunting prey. But for battling equals, such methods were dishonorable. It made her hate humans even more.

But strangely, that hatred did not extend to the humans she now called companions. A sense of admiration was starting to build in her for the Ylisseans. It was a small thing. But it was there.

Kage ran back to Panne and hopped onto her back. The action elicited a low growl.

"Oh, deal with it!" Kage snapped, "We need to get help, now!"

Panne frowned to herself. Unfortunately the young man-spawn was correct. And even more unfortuante, he would have to ride her for a little while longer.

...

Marth grit her teeth and slammed her Falchion against Maul's saber. Her eyes bore anger filled holes into the enemy before her.

"I knew I would find you here." She snarled at Maul, "You always loved destroying those we cared about."

Maul chuckled darkly, "It is good to see you too, Princess. Come to save someone important?"

Her eyes flashed. She spun away from Maul. Falchion shrieked as it slid against Maul's lightsaber. Marth already knew she was in the fight of her life. It was one thing to battle against Plegian raiders, bandits, or even Risen. It was another to do battle against this monster. Already she felt her abilities being pushed to their limits as Maul unleashed a furious assault.

A red bar of light filled her vision. As she battled, Falchion began to glow. Blue flames licked the sharp edges of the legendary sword. Marth silently said a prayer of thanks to the divine dragon, Naga. Without her power that had been infused within the blade centuries ago, Maul would have already cut her to ribbons. The divine blade allowed her to hold her own. At least for the moment. But it was becoming clear to Marth that Maul was another animal entirely. A swordsman of almost unparalleled equal. Both in skill and ferocity.

She moved to block a slash at her right hip. But her blade hit air. Her eyes widened. Maul had gotten her to bite on a feint.

He would have struck her down there. But another Falchion caught his saber before he could deal a death blow. Chrom snarled and shoved Maul back with brute strength. He and Marth stood side by side. The Prince of Ylisse glanced over at Marth.

"Holding back anything else?" He asked.

Marth sucked in huge breaths. The few minutes she had engaged Maul alone had been taxing. Her muscles were aching. And her lungs could not seem to gather enough air for her to catch her breath.

"One trick." She breathed, "Let him get close."

"Got it."

Maul chuckled at the pair, "How adorable. You both think you can best me? If Kenobi could not best me, what makes you think you can?"

Chrom raised an eyebrow. Kenobi? Who in Naga's name was that?

Wait? Who is the one person who could stand toe to toe with Maul? Chrom's eyes widened. It was Ben. His surname was Kenobi. Maul was still after him. Still trying to torment him. Chrom scowled.

"You will not harm any of my Shepherds." Chrom said as he felt rage simmering inside of him.

Maul let out a manic laugh, "Oh little Prince, it is far too late for that declaration. But if you want to defeat me, then you may try. But it will take much more than skill to do so. You will have to tap into your hatred to kill me."

"Like hell I will!" Marth answered for Chrom before charging at him.

Chrom followed. Both engaged Maul. Their swords clashed in bright flashes of light as they battled. Maul grinned in delight. He was feeding on the conflict. Relishing in the pain and suffering he was inflicting. Marth could feel darkness swirling around them as their battle grew in intensity.

She locked her blade with Maul's. Her arms began to shake. Maul was so strong. Each strike was like trying to block a rampaging bull with just her arms. At this rate, neither her or Chrom were going to survive.

Time for my little trick.

Marth released one hand and opened her palm. Power swirled through her body and a push rushed from her hand. Maul's eyes widened in sudden surprise. Chrom's jaw fell open as the monster flew through the air towards the chasm along the road. The creature uttered a furious roar as he plummeted down to the rocks below. Chrom rushed to the edge and looked down.

A curse rushed from his lips. Maul had not hit the rocks. He had landed on a waiting Wyvern. Maul sneered at Marth and Chrom. Before he could charge once again, his eyes flicked to the skies. He grit his teeth in frustration and glared hatefully at Marth.

"You will pay for foiling me today." He growled before snapping the reins and flying away from the battle.

Chrom raised his brow. He looked up, along with Marth. Above them, Chrom saw Robin somehow flying on a Wyvern. The tactician was furiously tiring spell after spell. And alongside him was a single Pegasus Knight. But it was not Sumia. Instead, Chrom saw a woman with red hair and a man with a rapier on the Pegasus. Their furious attack scattered the remaining Wyvern riders. The enemy noticed Maul's retreat. And they followed. Their mounts snarling in rage as they were forced away from battle.

Chrom looked around. There were no foot soldiers. The road was littered with arrows, lances that had missed their targets, and the bodies of some of the Ylissean soldiers that had accompanies the Shepherds and Exalt Emmeryn. Laying among all of that, were ten Wyvern riders.

"All of that…" Chrom gasped as a wave of weariness hit him, "For ten?" His knees buckled and he slumped to a knee. Marth caught him before the rest of his form fell to the ground.

"Easy, Chrom." She said, "A battle like that takes a lot of energy."

"No kidding." Chrom gasped, "Where-"

"I-er- know the future remember." Marth answered, "It made sense for me to follow all of you to the Eastern Palace." She looked in the direction Maul had retreated him, "But I did not expect him to show up."

Chrom nodded. He watched as Ben and the Pegasus Knight, a woman Chrom knew well, landed.

"Captain Chrom!" Cordelia called from her Pegasus as Ben jumped down.

"Cordelia." Chrom breathed as he surged to his feet, "What- what happened?" His attention turned to Ben, "Emmeryn? Where's my sister? Is she safe?"

Ben's face paled, "Frederick didn't get here with her?"

Chrom's blood ran cold. Before anyone could say another word, he took off running up the road. Ben rushed after him. Marth also sprinted with them. Meanwhile, Robin struggled to land his Wyvern. Once he was able to land and dismount he scrambled after the other Shepherds. All of them save for Lissa and Lon'qu, who were busy tended to their few wounded, rushed to find Frederick and Emmeryn.

They did not get further than few yards when Panne and Kage came barreling into them.

The Taguel was in her beast form. But she looked winded. On her back, Kage was slouching in his seat. His black cloak was fraying and torn in several places. A terrified expression was on his face. And his blue eyes looked a little watery.

Both looked injured and exhausted. But they were alive. And that gave Chrom some hope.

Hope that was swiftly dashed.

"Help!" Kage gasped, "Frederick, he's… he's not ok."

….

Gaius hissed as he gripped the wound on his side. He pulled his hand away and saw fresh, bright red blood on his palm.

"Not good." He muttered, "Not good."

It had happened so fast. First the arrows flying from above. Then Kage getting hit by a Wyvern and carried off to Naga knows where. Panne roaring in fury. One wrong step to the left. A talon to his side. Getting thrown into the cliff walls and knocked unconscious. Waking up to find Panne and Kage both gone. Gaius shook his head and winced as more pain rushed through his side.

"The candy is worth it." He hissed to himself, "It's worth it." He paused and slumped against the cliff face, "Dammit, it's not worth it. Shoulda just cut my losses when I could. All I had to do was take the shiny stuff from the Palace and go retire somewhere. Never too young to retire."

He pushed himself away front the cliffs and trudged onward.

"What I would give for a bandage and a chocolate bar right now." He groaned.

"I agree when it comes to the bandage."

Gaius ripped his sword free from its scabbard. He ignored the pain and the blood that seeped from his wound. But once he saw who it was, he lowered his weapon and cursed.

"Not you too." He moaned.

Leaning up against a dead horse was the uptight Knight who always gave him the wary side eye, Frederick. Gaius did not see what was wrong with him at first. Then he caught sight of a lance buried in his left leg and an arrow sticking from a gap in his armor. Near his right armpit.

A dry laugh escaped Frederick's lips, "Yes… me too." He winced and shifted in his seat.

Gaius sighed and fell beside Frederick. He used the fallen horse as a back rest. Now he realized how weak he actually felt. He had lost more blood than he thought. Gaius glanced back up the road and saw some red splotches near his own footprints. As he looked, his fingers began to tremble.

Blood sugar must be getting low. He thought to himself.

"I…" Frederick swallowed, "I failed."

Gaius glanced at the knight, "Whatcha talking about?"

Frederick closed his eyes and shook his head. Gaius saw some tears beginning to brim in the Knight's eyes.

"I failed to protect the Exalt."

A pit formed in the thief's stomach. Gaius swallowed hard. More pain rushed through his side and abdomen. He could feel his clothing sticking to his skin now. The blood was starting to soak through.

"Yeah?" Gaius grit his teeth and hissed in pain, "We're in the same boat then."

Frederick gave Gaius a questioning, and exhausted, look.

"Got jumped with Panne and Kage." Gaius snorted to himself, "I don't know what happened. I got this," He gestured at his blood soaked side, "then got knocked out. I don't know what happened to Panne and Kage."

"They were here." Frederick answered, "Panne and Kage, they were… they were…."

Gaius felt panic rush through him. Frederick was going pale. His skin looked as white as a sheet. And he was having a hard time forming words now. A condition that signaled one, morbid thing.

"Oh no. No you don't!" Gaius barked before tearing a strip of cloth from his cloak.

He winced as he rolled over and wrapped the strip of cloth tight around Frederick's leg. A crude tourniquet. But it would have to do until help arrived.

Frederick's eyes began to roll. Gaius grimmaced. He quickly snapped his fingers in Frederick's face. Forcing the Knight's eyes to remain open.

"Keep those eyes open for me." Gaius said, "Look at my handsome face and admire if it helps."

"Damn you." Frederick breathed.

"Fine, think of your happy place and keep your eyes open!" Gaius ordered, "Did Panne and Kage go for help?"

"The Exalt-" Frederick swallowed, "The Exalt… taken..."

Crap. He's getting delirious.

Gaius looked at the wounds Frederick had received. If help did not arrive soon, he would be a goner.

Gaius swallowed hard. Death was not a strange thing to him. He grew up a street urchin in Plegia. Getting by with wits and petty theivery. He knew people who had died by the time he was just seven years old. But to feel death grasping him was terrifying. His mouth felt dry. And his throat was parched. Now he wanted a bandage, a chocolate bar, and some water. Naga, some water would feel amazing.

He wiped some cold sweat from his brow and uttered a loud sigh.

"Just a couple of unlucky bastards, right?"

Frederick uttered some indecipherable mutters. Gaius snorted.

"I agree." He looked over at the Knight, "If we make it out of this alive, I'll buy you a drink. Well, maybe not buy. But I will get you a drink."

Gaius heard the sound of feet scraping against gravel. He looked back down the road and saw Panne racing towards them. She was in her beast form. And on her back was Kage. The kid had an enormous welt on his forehead. His nose was bleeding and there was a bloody gash along his chin. But other than that, he seemed to be ok.

At least one of us isn't on death's door.

"Gaius! Frederick!"

"Man-spawns!"

Gaius gave the pair a weak wave, "Hey Kid. Hey Whiskers. I hope you all brought some bandages. Or maybe… a chocolate bar?"

"How about help?" Kage replied with a weak smile.

Gaius looked back down the road. Sprinting towards them was the rest of the Shepherds. Chrom and Ben led the charge. Just behind those two were Robin and- Gaius raised his brow. When did Marth get here? The other Shepherd's brought up the rear. And near a huffing Vaike, Gaius could see Miriel rummaging through her pack. No doubt sifting through the many elixirs she had stored and ready to use in case of an emergency.

And this qualified as an emergency. As she slid to a stop in front of him and Frederick, a question started to bounce through Gaius's fading thoughts.

"Hey kid?"

"Yeah, Gaius?" Kage answered as he knelt beside his friend.

"How the hell did you get away from that damn lizard?" Gaius asked before slipping into unconsciousness.

And chapter! I apologize for the wait everyone! I've been on vacation at my Great-Grandmother's house. And she lives out in the country where I have almost no phone signal and there is no wifi out there. So I could not upload this very fast. I'm excited to get back to it now!

A darker chapter this time. Maul has some sort of agenda in mind. But what? A puzzle that will cetainly vex our heroes, especially Ben. Emmeryn has been taken. Frederick and Gaius are wounded. And the Shepherd's have suffered their first major defeat.

I originally intended for this chapter to be much longer. But the flow did not feel right. So I cut it short and inserted the next scene at the start of the next chapter. I'll have that ready to go in the next few days.

Anyways, let me know what you guys think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!