Attack on Fire Emblem – Chapter 8 (Clive complies)
The lucky one. Unkillable. The challenger of fates.
These were names often given to heroes who overcame mighty odds. Yet the dashing Clive was no hero. He simply survived.
Weeks after the fall of Modena, Clive managed to drag his broken body on a horse and made his way to the next destination, the stronghold and port city of Bellona.
While he was given a triumphant welcome, the commoners avoided him like a plague. No one wanted to be associated with a person who got everyone around them killed twice. Yet his beloved Mathilda continued to accompany him. She was the only one who believed that his presence was a blessing, rather than a harbinger of doom.
Lost in his thoughts, Clive was still musing about his current situation when strong grab on his arm alerted him.
"Leo, what are you doing here?" Clive began. The Nohrian Prince had suddenly appeared and dragged Clive away from the main cobbled street into an alley. Unlike his usual royal armour or robes, Leo was clad in an unflattering tunic. His collar was turned up the wrong way, and his stitches on his shirt were sub-par. Yet it was neither a time nor place to discuss fashion.
"I need your help. We need to spring Robin free." Leo whispered.
Clive shook his head immediately. He was already in trouble as it is. He had almost no allies. But by committing such a treasonous crime, he had numerous enemies.
"Where is the summoner, Prince Alfonse, or Princess Sharena? Petition them to release Robin. Why is Commander Anna in charge now instead of them?"
"The Summoner and the Askr royals are leading campaigns in the North," the dark mage replied. "It is critical that we free Robin. He is the only one to come up a viable plan to beat the Titans."
Clive paused for a moment. The Askr kingdom was filled with many great warriors but it struggled in the midst of the Titan threat. Defeating the Titans was a top priority. If Robin had a way, he was surely vital to the survival of Askr, and the rest of their worlds.
For there in the heart of Askr, the gateway to other worlds laid. It was through that gate that the Summoner and the other heroes from other lands came through. Sure, the capital might be a distance away from Bellona, but every step the Titans took would be one step closer to total subjugation.
Clive nodded with an air of reluctance. If treason meant saving his home world of Valentia, so be it. Leo responded with a quick thumbs-up. It was weird to see the stoic prince react so positively. However, these were unusually dire times. He was probably relieved that he managed to recruit another member into his conspiracy.
Gesturing at Clive to follow, Leo continued the conversation. As expected, Leo reiterated the importance of saving Robin. Clive hinted for more details but Leo diplomatically kept to the big picture. Leo was being cautious; he could not risk being overheard before they reached their safe house.
"So who is in the conspiracy?" Clive pressed. Again he got no answer. Annoyed, Clive ransacked his own brain for educated guesses. Obviously, Leo's sister would be in on it, and so his retainers Niles and Odin. Then again, Odin was a loudmouth and could not keep secrets. Leo's half-sister Corrin was possibly involved, yet she was the one who personally arrested Robin.
Suddenly Clive stopped. Leo's route led into a dark tunnel under a bridge. This time, Leo spoke.
"Why do you hesitate? Our safe house is through that tunnel," Leo emotionlessly explained. Clive did not move a muscle and broke into a sweat. He excused himself, stating that he had a fear of tunnels.
Leo tried to assure him but Clive insisted on an overland route. Sighing, the prince rubbed the bottom of his own chin. Clive's muscles tensed up. He not the brightest among the Heroes but as an experienced soldier he was sharp. Leo had sent a signal.
Instantly, masked strangers descended upon Clive. Clive quickly tossed one of his attackers into another one. The numbers were too much and the soldier found himself pinned to the ground. During the scuffle, one of the attackers had his masked knocked off. It was Gray, one of Clive's former subordinate in his mercenary group.
"What is the meaning of this?" Clive screamed.
Leo quickly pointed out that Clive was suspicious from the start. Clive had somehow survived multiple Titan attacks and yet no one witnessed him during the incidents. Clive led his former mercenary groups from caves, and yet here he was suffering from claustrophobia. Reports of the fall of Modena reflected that a Titan had mysteriously gotten past the walls of the city undetected before the mass attack.
The conclusion was undisputable. Clive was obviously working for the Titans. Together with Corrin and Robin, Leo had come up with a plan to fake Robin's arrest and rescue to lure out the traitor.
"Confess! Why are you working for the Titans? What is your objective?"
Hearing this, Clive started to laugh manically.
"My dear friends, I am not just working for the Titans. I am a Titan," declared Clive as he bit into his own shoulder.
Before anyone could react, bolts of lightning lashed out from Clive's body.
Author's notes:
Sorry for the long wait. I just got married!
I will wrap up the series in 2-3 more posts. If it gets popular, I might pen one more on this.