The Force's Shepherds

Chapter 41

Returning Home

"They didn't execute Mad King Gangrel?" The first voice uttered with both surprise and slight disgust.

The Hierophant replied with an indignant snort as he breathed deep. He was enjoying the salt air. The ocean had a calming affect on his mind and body. It was one of the few things he did not completely destroy in the future.

"I'm honestly surprised."

"The all knowing part of ourselves has been surprised. Perhaps he should not be listened to?" The demonic voice growled, "We waste our time playing games. Let me loose. Let me feed."

"Feed with what exactly? The decision to travel to this time rendered our full powers dormant until certain parameters can be met."

"We can still kill them all."

"And you can both shut up." The Hierophant snapped as he held his hands behind his back.

He opened his blazing yellow eyes and fixed his gaze on the open ocean. The waves were now gentle. They lapped against the rocky cliffs with a tenderness that was unnatural to the sea. Unlike the night when Plegia lost the war. That night, the ocean had raged. Displaying it's terrible might with massive waves that crashed against the cliff with thunderous cracks.

The sun was setting on the horizon. The sky grew darker by the minute. It was a beautiful image to look at. Beauty like this had been lost in the future. If the damnable spawn of Naga had not resisted, then the world would not have fallen so far. He did not want to destroy people. He did not want to slaughter everyone or decimate the land. They forced his hand. Forced him to use extreme measures in order to bring all resistance to an end. The Archanea the Hierophant knew was a barren wasteland. So seeing it with all of the natural beauty it once held was refreshing.

"I hear that Mustafa fellow is going to hold a trial for Good King Gangrel." The Manipulative One sneered, "That is not good for us."

The Hierophant nodded in agreement, "The sickness in his mind grows weaker the longer he is beyond our control. Validar will not be able to get close to him. And Aversa is currently hiding."

"From both Mustafa and us, I assume?"

"We should eat her for her failures."

"Do you only think about food?"

"I think about gaining power. And hers would be delicious."

"Only once all the pieces are in place can we actually begin harvesting the Grimleal." The Hierophant breathed as he turned on his heel and began to casually walk to the small hut he had built near the cliffs.

"He is right you know."

The Demon growled in irritation.

"Hush now." The Hierophant said, his voice attempting to sooth the hunger, "You will soon have more humans to feed upon than you can handle. But we must have patience. Move too early, and we risk exposing ourselves. Exposing this timeline's vessel. And if we do that, then the Naga-spawn will react. We do not want to give them that opportunity."

The Manipulative One chuckled, "I'm glad you were chosen to be our avatar. That mind of yours is so logical. But at the same time, so deliciously cunning and aggressive."

"Now he's trying to flatter you. I sense weakness."

"You sense his true nature. Just as he can sense yours." The Hierophant noted, "And no amount of flattery will make me listen to one of you more than the other. I've heard your arguments. And I'm choosing the best course of action."

"Too much patience and Mustafa could unravel everything. Now is the time for us to grab power."

"We finally agree on something."

"Indeed." The Hierophant nodded as he stepped inside of his hut. At the center of the hut was a black box trimmed with gold. Ornate gold decorations were etched into the wood finish of the box, "That is why Validar is not with us right now."

"May I inquire further as to why?"

"Why isn't my tasty morsel with us?"

"Lord Validar," The Hierophant breathed as he crossed the hut and plucked a jar of black ash from the windowsill, "Is about to become King Validar."

"I thought Plegia and Ylisse wanted Mustafa to be King?"

"Perhaps Ylisse does. But does Plegia really trust a General that surrendered to the enemy so easily? I think not. And I believe Mustafa knows this. He will not take the throne. He has neither the stomach nor nerve to rule. Which leaves a power vacuum in place."

The Demon chuckled, "Our servants are very good at filling such vacuums."

"I see. With Validar's return, the Grimleal will reorganize and rally behind him."

"While everyone else that has a claim to Plegia's throne bickers and squabbles. Eventually, the more cohesive group with take power. And that group will be ours. Validar will be our eyes, ears, and mouth. The hand with which we guide the people of Plegia to their ultimate fate. And with them, the world will follow."

"That still leaves Gangrel dangling as a dangerous loose end. He knows Validar should be dead."

"We eat the Mad King then."

"As entertaining as that would be, we cannot expose ourselves just yet. The situation is much to fragile." The Hierophant poured the black ash over the box, "But I do agree with both of you, Gangrel must be dealt with. When the madness fades, he will talk. He will warn Mustafa of what is coming. We cannot allow that."

"So… how do you plan on eliminating that little threat?"

The Heirophant's yellow eyes blazed. The shadows in the hut darkened as the sun dipped below the horizon. The earth beneath his feet shifted and trembled. He opened an outstretched hand. The black box's lid flipped open. A hollow moan rushed forth from the black chasm within. The dark ash around it started to rise into the air and take form.

"Oh Brother," The Hierophant smiled, "I seem to recall a certain hunter dying in your realm. One that was rather effective at assassinating political leaders. One of our late Sith servants used him most effectively a few years ago." He waved his hand as the column of ash began to take a human shape, "Can you bring that particular soul here please."

The Brother chuckled evilly, "Oh… you desire that one. Can you control him?"

"As easily as any other mortal can be controlled. His mind and soul are bound to us. Bound to the darkness. If he defies us, I shall consume him."

"Well said." The Hierophant nodded, "Shall we create our assassin?"

"Raising a Deadlord already? I approve."

"Sometimes overkill is not a bad thing." The Hierophant chuckled as the ash filled human sculpture began to morph and twist. Mandalorian armor appeared in the ash. The once silver and blue hues now black and purple. The dark colors of the Grimleal and their master. The helmet that covered the head glowed a brief second. The Hierophant saw red eyes spark behind the tinted visor before fading.

"He is ready."

"Excellent." The Hierophant breathed. He drew close to the monster, "My Deadlord? Can you hear me?"

There was a pause. A hollow breath emitted from the Mandalorian helmet.

"Master…." It breathed, "Who am I?"

The Hierophant grinned and placed a gentle hand on the Deadlord's cheek, "You are my servant. My assassin. Deadlord Draco."

Draco stiffened at the name.

"I do not recall that name."

"It is what I have given you. In your previous life you had a different name. But now, you are reborn by my design and power. So I have bestowed upon you a new name. One that the world will tremble at." The Hierophant's yellow eyes gleamed with delight, "Go forth now. The Plegian King, Gangrel, must die. Use whatever means necessary. But you are not to be discovered."

Draco bowed his head.

"It will be done, my lord."

….

Ylisstol was a little worse for wear. The evidence of a brutal siege was still prominent, even after three weeks of rebuilding and clean up. Weapons that had been lost or cast aside by soldiers were still being found in corners of the city. Arrows were still strewn about the many parks and stuck inside posts on the streets and buildings. A few bodies were still being found. It was grisly work. But it was also almost finished. And Ben was grateful for that.

The city would soon return to some semblance of normal. He doubted that anyone that resided in the beautiful, white city would ever fully recover from the horrors they experienced. Force, he doubted he ever would. All he had known for the past decade was war. Whether it was fighting in small interplanetary conflicts with Anakin as his padawan, leading armies during the Clone Wars, or fighting with the Shepherds against Plegia, it was a life he had grown used to. Peace felt odd. It felt wrong.

He folded his arms into the sleeves of his brown cloak. The winter months were deepening. Thankfully Ylisstol was nowhere near as frigid as Regna Ferox to the north. But there was still a chill in the air. A bite that made anyone unprepared shiver. But it was warm enough to where he could go outside and visit her.

Her headstone was pretty, but not gaudy. Simple and elegant. White marble, like the rest of Ylisstol's immaculate royal district. Ben was grateful to Chrom for placing Emmeryn outdoors instead of inside the grim Mausoleum that past Exalts now rested in. It was his idea to have Emmeryn reside in the freedom of the outdoors. Forever able to look upon the city she loved. The city she rebuilt and helped save.

Her memorial ceremony took place a week ago. A few days after they all finally returned to Ylisstol. It was a large, extravagant affair. The people of Ylisse all gathered to mourn her passing. They celebrated her life, remembered the great things she accomplished as Ylisse's Exalt, and in the end, forever etched her name with some of the greatest rulers Ylisse ever had. A true leader of her people. One that gave her life for them.

The Shepherd's ceremony for her was a much quieter affair. They all said a few words about her. They drank to her memory. And then it was over.

But not for Ben, he still needed time. Wished he had more time with her. Wished he could have done something, anything to save her.

"Obi Wan…" Qui Gon's voice whispered on the wind.

Ben closed his eyes, "I know. I am lingering on an attachment." He took a breath, "But you probably were not going to scold me for that, were you?" He nodded, "You were probably going to tell me everything will be okay in the end. That she is now one with the force. That I shouldn't mourn her loss. Rather, I should celebrate her life." He uttered a shaky breath, "I never realized how difficult it is to lose someone like this. When I lost you, I had to immediately begin training Anakin. It was… it was a good distraction. When I lost Satine, I had to focus on the war. I had to make sure my men did not die under my command and that we won whatever battle we were fighting." He looked down at Emmeryn's headstone, "I don't have any distractions now. And with that, I miss her more every day." He ran a hand over his mouth, "Very un-Jedi of me. Master Yoda would most definitely be scolding me right now."

"Scolding you about what?"

Ben turned to see Chrom striding into small garden where Emmeryn was buried. A bouquet of flowers clutched in one hand.

"I didn't hear you coming." Ben said.

"It's alright." Chrom replied with a small nod. He patted Ben on the back then knelt down and placed the flowers on Emmeryn's headstone. He gave the stone a small tap with his palm before rising, "You had to visit too, huh?"

Ben nodded, "Yes." He took a deep breath, "I wish I had more time with her."

"Me too." Chrom nodded, "I wish she could be here with both of us." He laughed a little, "She would be fretting over Sumia all day right now. You know she is getting fitted for her wedding dress as we speak right?"

"Is she?" Ben remarked, "It's no wonder you are here then."

"It's crazy." Chrom chuckled, "So much fabric. And the girls are all oohing and aahing. And they're asking me what I think. Which one is prettier? Does it make her look fat? If I were to have seen her for the very first time, would I be blow away?"

"All very dangerous questions." Ben chuckled.

Chrom nodded, "I'm just going to let the girls have their fun with it. I know Maribelle is having the time of her life helping Sumia with the dress. Lissa is enjoying herself too. But I think she also feels Emm's absence right now."

Ben gave Chrom a sad smile, "Emm isn't totally gone you know."

Chrom gave him a confused look.

The swordsman removed his hands from his sleeves. He glanced up at the blue sky above them, "I believe she is watching you and Lissa as we speak. And I'm sure she is smiling."

Chrom sniffled a little. He cleared his throat, fighting back a couple tears.

"Thank you for that."

"It's what friends are for."

"Yes." Chrom took a deep breath then began to walk with Ben away from the garden, "So, have you found your outfit for the wedding."

Ben drew back, "Outfit?"

"Yes, outfit." Chrom replied, "You are going to attend the wedding, right?"

"Well…"

Chrom frowned. He stopped walking, "Ben."

"Here comes the scolding." The swordsman muttered under his breath.

"You are going to be at my wedding."

"Isn't the bride supposed to be the terror?" Ben replied with a touch of snark.

Chrom rolled his eyes, "You will be there, as one of my groomsmen."

Ben's eyes bulged from his skull, "I um- I don't know if I should-"

Chrom raised a hand, silencing the flabbergasted Ben.

"Stop yourself right there." Chrom continued, "There is no negotiating. This is my decision. I want you there. Alongside all of the other Shepherds. You are my friend. You just said so yourself. Friends don't skip out on another friend's wedding." Chrom exhaled, "Besides, if Emmeryn were still here, you wouldn't just be a friend. I think you would have become family."

Ben pursed his lips, "You are laying the guilt on thick, aren't you?"

Chrom let out a frustrated cry, "You're coming. That's final. Alright?"

"Alright."

"Got it."

"I got it." Ben replied, "Trust me."

"Good. Now go get yourself a proper outfit for it. I already have to deal with the fallout that will come from Robin wearing his coat to the ceremony. The other Lords and Ladies will just love that."

"Do I hear Chrom saying he cares about politicians' opinions?" Ben laughed.

Chrom shook his head, "I better get back to Sumia's fitting."

"Naga speed." Ben said with a wry grin.

"Ha ha!" Chrom barked back as he strode away towards Sumia's room.

Once Chrom disappeared back into the palace, Ben turned and made his way towards the Shepherds barracks.

There was a lot of activity in the training yard just outside of the cozy little building. Ricken was cast multiple spells at targets and dummies. His speed and precision had improved by leaps and bounds since the end of the war. Robin was right beside him. The tactician was offering him as much advice as he could give on the subject of magic. And behind Robin, sitting on a picnic table, eyes flicking up from her spellbook every few seconds, was Tharja.

Across the training yard from them, Vaike and Lon'qu sparred. Both were actually evenly matched. Vaike used his superior strength to keep Lon'qu off balance whenever their blades connected. Meanwhile, Lon'qu danced around the slower Vaike. Trying to take advantage of whatever opening he could find. Sully and Stahl cheered them on from the sidelines.

Gregor was talking with Frederick about proper weapons care. Apparently, the Knight had found Gregor's methods of caring for his armor and weapons utterly appalling. So much so that they needed to be addressed immediately. But the conversation had evolved from telling Gregor to take care of his stuff, to Frederick learning about a strange salve Gregor had made that helped condition his blade so that it did not need to be sharpened or polished as often.

Virion was the first to notice Ben entering the yard. The archer waved him over to the picnic table he was sitting at. As usual, a cup of tea sat within arms reach of the man. And cradled between his fingers was a novel of some sort that he appeared halfway finished with.

"There you are, my friend." Virion smiled as Ben took a seat across from him, "Where have you been?"

"Visiting." Ben replied quietly.

"Ah." Virion sipped his tea, "I see." He turned the page of his book. As he started reading it, he noticed Ben's foot bouncing as he sat, "You are restless."

Ben exhaled and leaned back, "Is it that obvious?"

Virion shrugged, "I suppose. But in our own ways, we all are a touch restless. All of us are just dealing with it in our own ways. Sully, Stahl, and the other warriors spend their new free time training. Ricken is taking magic lessons from Robin. Tharja is stalking Robin." Ben uttered a small chuckle, "Chrom and Sumia are making their wedding arrangements with help from Lissa, Maribelle, and Miriel. Libra is at the cathedral doing something religious. Nowi has taken to following him around. Last week it was Lon'qu, very entertaining by the way. This week is Libra. Cordelia and Frederick are both assuming their new roles in the Ylissean military."

"Yes." Ben nodded, "Wing-Commander Cordelia and Knight-Commander Frederick. They both earned it."

"Agreed. They will both be exceptional in their respective roles." Virion pointed at Ben, "You though, you have not found a hobby. And no, meditating does not count."

Ben let out a long sigh, "Peacetime is so strange. I have been fighting for so long. To not have to fight anymore is… strange to say the least."

Virion nodded in agreement, "Life goes on. Perhaps now you can continue pursuing your original goal when you first joined our merry band of ne'er do wells, nincompoops, and knights."

Ben let out a small laugh. But Virion was right. Now that the war was over, he could go back to his original mission. Luke was still out there. The baby boy was missing. Alive, but lost. And it was Ben's job to find the boy and protect him. So far, he had done a miserable job of doing that.

"There will be plenty of orphanages popping up in the aftermath of the war, unfortunately." Virion noted with a grim expression, "Maybe you could start there?"

Ben nodded. It was not a bad idea. Just as he was about to reply, Robin took a seat beside Virion.

"Is she still staring?" He asked.

"Who?" Ben asked.

"You know who?" Robin hissed back, "I swear, her eyes are glued to me twenty four hours a day. I would not be surprised if she watched me sleep at night."

Ben snorted, "Hey Virion."

"Yes?"

"I think our tactician does not know how to take a hint."

Virion let out a small laugh, "Indeed, he does not."

"A hint? What hint? What are you two talking about?" Robin frowned as both Ben and Virion began to chuckle uncontrollably, "If this has something to do with romance then I have no clue what you all are talking about. I only have a few months worth of memories to work with. None of which have anything to do with women."

"Then we must teach you." Virion said as he put an arm around Robin.

"You must teach him." Ben corrected with a small laugh, "I want no part of this craziness."

"But I must rely on some of your expertise, Ben." Virion protested, "A dashing fellow such as yourself must have ensnared many a fair maiden."

"I have not."

"Only an Exalt and a noble woman from Valm." Robin reminded the other two, "And those are just the ones we know about."

"I'm telling you, that is it." Ben replied.

"I find that very hard to believe." Virion smirked, "During the after party your stunning good looks and charming tongue had even mighty Sully fanning herself more than a Feroxi in the middle of the Plegian desert."

Robin burst into laughter as Ben struggled to find words.

"For one, I was drunk." Ben pointed out, "For two, drunk me is not the real me."

"We all use that excuse at some point." Virion grinned, "Don't even get me started on Cordelia's expression when you said-

"No more!" Ben groaned and massaged his forehead, "I'm never drinking again."

"And we have all said that at some point as well." Virion chuckled, "You need to learn to relax, Ben. Your health will thank you for it." Virion cleared his throat, "But back to our original point, Robin," He clasped a hand on the tactician's shoulder, "Lady Tharja has fallen for you."

Robin's eyes bulged from his skull, "F-fall-fallen? I-" He shook his head, "I haven't even really spoken to her!"

"Love at first sight!" Virion declared as Ben laughed.

"Uh, no!" Robin cried, "I'm fairly certain love doesn't work that way."

"How would you know?" Ben smirked, "You only have a few months of memories to work with."

Robin narrowed his eyes at Ben, "That's not fair."

"I think he needs to learn to relax as well." Ben nodded to Virion.

"I'm sure Tharja would be more than happy to help with that." Virion said as he waggled his eyebrows at Robin.

"And we are done with this conversation!" Robin snapped as he smacked the table with his hands, "Have you two found your outfits for the wedding?"

"No." Ben snorted.

Viron brought his teacup to his lips, "I'm sure Tharja would love to help you into yours."

"DAMN IT, VIRION!"

….

Ben watched as Chrom paced back and forth in the Cathedral's massive main hall. Every single seat inside of the building was occupied. The air was filled with good natured chit chat and some gossip. Armed guards were posted near every major entry and exit. Though the guests managed to ignore them. Frederick himself had taken on the task of setting up the security for the wedding. He said it was because it was still his duty to see to the Prince and his family's safety.

Ben thought it was because Frederick wanted to wear his new set of armor instead of a suit.

He raised an eyebrow as Chrom stopped his pacing, muttered under his breath as his hands fidgted with the collar of his shirt, then continued his nervous antics. The swordsman sighed.

"Everything will be fine, Chrom." Ben reassured him.

"Ben's right." Robin nodded as he smoothed out some wrinkles in his coat, "This whole ceremony will be a piece of cake."

"Then we will have actual cake afterwards and party through the night!" Vaike smiled.

"Would it have killed you to have put on a proper shirt?" Stahl asked the big brute.

"I am wearing a tie!" Vaike replied defensively as he brushed the single article of clothing he had on his upper body.

"Both of you…" Ben eyed the pair and they quickly fell silent, "Chrom take a breath before you pass out."

"I'm getting married." Chrom muttered beneath a shallow breath. His pacing continued.

"Uh guys, the Captain's snapped." Vaike said.

"He has not snapped. He is having a completely normal reaction. I think?" Robin countered.

"You are correct, Robin. Now Vaike, follow Lon'qu's lead, and be quiet!" Ben hissed.

The deep notes of the cathedral organ began humming through the air. Chrom's pacing stopped instantly. The doors to the cathedral opened. The Prince stiffened in place. He swallowed hard. Ben could see some nervous sweat forming on his brow.

Keep it together, Chrom.

First the bridesmaids strode into the cathedral. Maribelle and Miriel led the way. The mage still wore the equivalent of mage's robes. But they were a rich red color instead of the typical grey or black. Maribelle sported a lovely red gown that flowed as much as her blonde hair did. Lissa came in next. The Princess was jumping up and down with excitement as she skipped down the main aisle up towards the pulpit. Nowi sprinted after her. The little Manakete wide eyed and cheerful as ever. Tharja strode in. And, to no one's surprise, she did not care about the dress code. She still wore her Grimleal attire. Her spellbook was still cradled in her arms. And anyone that dared cast her a disapproving glance stopped as soon as they heard her muttering under her breath. No one wanted to get hexed today.

Virion elbowed Robin as the dark mage took her place beside Nowi. The tactician glared at the archer but did not say a word.

Sully and Cordelia made their way down the aisle next. It had taken a great deal of persuasion and effort in order to get Sully into a gown. And it had taken the threat of hex in order to force her to not wear her riding boots to the wedding. Cordelia meanwhile, looked stunning in her maid of honor outfit. She smiled as she took her place closest to where Chrom and Sumia would be standing.

Finally, Sumia came tip toeing into the Cathedral. The sight of her in her wedding dress stole all of the breath from Chrom's body. Ben watched as his cheeks flushed, turned pale, then flushed again.

"He may have snapped, Robin." Ben whispered to Chrom's best man.

"Yeah… you may be right. But there is no turning back now." Robin whispered back, "If he passes out, we'll blame it on the tie being too tight."

"Restricted airflow to the lungs. A credible excuse." Ben nodded in agreement.

Sumia took her place across from Chrom. She blushed a deep scarlet color as Chrom stared slack jawed at her. Indeed, Sumia looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress. The smiles that graced both the bride and groom's faces were enough to place a broad grin on Ben's face.

"You know what?"

"What?" Robin asked as Libra stepped forward to begin the ceremony.

"I don't think I have ever taken part in a wedding before."

Robin looked over at Ben, surprised.

"Well then, this is a good first one." Robin smirked.

"Just wait for the after party." Vaike snickered, "If you thought the one after the peace treaty was wild, then you are in for a real treat."

Ben tuned out Libra as the priest began to go through the traditional scriptures involved in a royal wedding. He found his gaze shifting between all of the Shepherds.

This was right. The smiles on the other Shepherds' faces was enough for Ben to know that for a certainty. This was not just a group of military comrades or companions. Not even a group of friends. This was a small, dysfunctional, unorthodox family sharing the pulpit. Every single one of them thrilled and overjoyed as Chrom and Sumia began to say their vows. And he was considered a member of that family.

It blew Ben away.

"You are both now bound together, in life and in death." Libra said with a large smile, "May Naga bless you both with joy and prosperity." He gestured at Chrom. "You may now-

Chrom and Sumia surged at each other. Their lips met. And the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Ben found himself grinning ear to ear as he clapped along with Robin.

For the first time in a long time, there was happiness around all of them. Ben prayed that it would last.

….

Rain during the winter season in Regna Ferox was a miserable thing. Not only was it damp, but the chill that bit into the bones was unforgiving. Kage shivered as he wrapped his black cloak tight over his thin frame. He kept his hood low as he shuffled towards the city docks.

Port Ferox was one of the few large settlements in the frozen northern country. Its size and population was due to the massive harbor that dominated the entire western edge of the city. Ships from all over the world made port here. Goods for trade were in constant motion. Both being loaded and unloaded from massive trading ships and little fishing boats.

Dockworkers shouted over the sea spray and rain as they offloaded ships. Fisherman were busy weighing their latest catches so that they could get paid and go drink at the nearest tavern. Merchants still manned their stalls along the waterfront, despite the unforgiving weather. Each one hoping that, by being miserable now, they could gather more gold in the long run.

But Kage was not interested in fish or trade. This city was just a stepping stone to where he needed to go. He had already passed several of his wanted posters pasted onto the sides of walls and buildings throughout the city. Prince Chrom wanted him captured and brought to Ylisstol for trial.

The Sith did not blame him. He did betray the Prince's trust. But he also did not care. Let the weakling try and catch him. He would fail. Just as all the others that tried to stop him would. There was only one left in this world that could possibly stand up to him.

His fist curled into a ball then quickly relaxed by his side as he approached a large Feroxi ship captain that was barking orders to other sailors near his ship.

"Excuse me." Kage said in a hushed tone.

"Hm?" The massive man turned to look at Kage, who was hunched over ot shield both his identity and the rain, "What is it boy?"

"I am looking for passage out of Regna Ferox. I was wondering where you would be sailing to next."

"Passage?" The Captain's voice boomed, "Listen here kid, I don't do passengers on my ship. Not unless they can pull their own weight. And quite frankly, you don't look like you can even hold down a mooring line."

Kage scowled beneath his hood. He raised a hand and waved it in front of his face.

"You will give me passage to Valm."

The Captain's eyes narrowed for a second. Then they glazed over.

"I… will give you passage to Valm."

"We will leave immediately." Kage said with another wave of his hand.

"We will leave immediately."

"Carry on, Captain." Kage said as he strode towards the Ship's gangplank.

It was a modest sized boat. Big enough to handle the rough seas that existed between the continent of Archanea and the land of Valm. It would suit his purposes just fine. He would find a small corner of the boat to call his own. And then he would lie low until the ship docked.

And on to Chon'sin from there. Kage thought to himself as he stepped below deck, happy to escape the freezing rain.

He did not let his hood fall from his head. If even one sailor discovered who he was… well he'd have to kill that sailor. And that was a mess he did not want to deal with right now.

He descended all the way down to the bottom deck and decided to make a spot near the food supplies his home for the next week or two. Or however long it took for the ship to make the crossing to Valm.

Once he was certain he was alone, and would not be discovered, Kage let his drenched hood fall from his head. He ran a cold hand through his blonde locks and uttered a long, heavy sigh.

"That damn bounty made this way more tedious than it needed to be." He muttered as he removed his boots and shook the water out of them.

It was good he was leaving. He could not handle living on the run like this for very long. Eventually someone would try to arrest him. Which meant someone would have to die. And honestly, he did not want to deal with the hassle.

That was partially why he was leaving Archanea. Life here was unbearable now. Everywhere he traveled to, everywhere he looked, he saw her. Saw her smile. Her gentle face. Kage swallowed hard. The look of absolute betrayal in her eyes when he finally chose a side haunted his mind. And then, before he even had a chance to apologize, to try to make amends, Maul took her away.

His fist balled up by his sides. The force leaked out of him. Wooden crates cracked nearby as he grit his teeth in anger. Kenobi, if he had only tried to stop Maul. If he had only unleashed his full power, then she would still be alive. Lucina would not be dead.

"DAMN HIM!" He roared.

Four crates shattered around him, littering the floor with splinters. Kage uttered a few shaky breaths. The dark side of the force raged around him. Rushed through his body. Spoke sweet, venomous thoughts in his mind. Urged him to track down Obi Wan Kenobi and kill him for failing her.

"No." He breathed.

He could not do that. Obi Wan was her master. As much as it infuriated him to wait, he did not want to slaughter someone so close to Lucina so soon after her death. He would be out of focus for the entire duel. Consumed by his rage to the point where he would have no control. And while that would work against any other opponent, it would not work against a fully prepared Jedi Master.

And he would be prepared. He had told Kenobi to be prepared. The next time he saw the man, Kage was going to kill him. There would be no stopping him.

Still, he was not certain of victory. He needed to train. Educate himself more. And in order to do that, he would have to find somewhere he could train without any prying eyes.

Then there was the second reason for his traveling to Valm. That being, he had to find someone. Someone very important to him. If he found the boy first, then he would not be found by the Shepherds. And most importantly, he would not be found by Maul when that monster finally arrived in this time.

Kage sighed and lay down on the ship's uncomfortable deck. His weary eyes began to close.

Hopefully, if Kage found himself first, he would not have to suffer the torturous existence he had already lived.

And chapter! A royal wedding! Some humorous bonding between our shepherds. The whereabouts of Kage have been revealed! And the Hierophant is beginning to make his move for power in Plegia. I wonder who that Deadlord is? Hm… hehe! This is so much fun!

Now, I'm sure you all have noticed that the frequency with which I update has taken a drastic uptick. That is because I am actually nursing an injured knee. Which means I am currently unable to work in the restaurant I work at for at least a couple months because I will very likely need surgery (yay…). But on the bright side, that means more time for writing! Not only will I update more often, but maybe I'll get a breakthrough when it comes to an original work. Who knows?

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