Chapter 9 – To Grust!
"Hah!" I yelled as I slashed my blade straight through the training dummy, splitting it in half and exposing its straw stuffing.
"Still training at this late hour?" Jagen asked as he walked through the gate.
"Of course. I have to keep myself sharp." I said, spinning my blade in my hand before sheathing it, "I have to fulfill my duty of protecting Prince Marth as well as I can."
"That's admirable." He said with a smile, "You've been protecting Prince Marth for about an entire year already and yet you still strive for excellence…"
"I can't let anyone down." I said as I walked up to him, "Did you need me for something?"
"Come with me. Prince Marth wishes to have a word with you before you return to your quarters." Jagen said, motioning for me to follow him. I quickly nodded in confirmation and followed him through the hallways towards the throne room. Over the months that I had spent walking through the castle, the hallways had become more familiar to me. As I passed by the intricate windows, I recognized the many rooms that the many doors had led to. And to think I could have gotten lost here, I thought to myself as I remembered my days as a knight-in-training. A few minutes of walking later, Jagen opened the grand doors of the throne room and I walked in.
Marth was standing near his throne, speaking to someone I wasn't able to recognize. His skin was quite pale and he had flowing blonde hair that gently touched his shoulders. As Jagen and I came close, Marth turned to greet us.
"Ah, Glacia. Thank you for coming at such a late hour." Marth said, "I had received a message from Emperor Hardin this afternoon and spent the day discussing preparations. It seems that a rebellion has broken out in the kingdom of Grust. The kingdom of Archanea is requesting our assistance in suppressing this rebellion."
"Indeed. As you could see, I am already old and won't be much use in the front lines. Due to this, our main force will consist of your fellow 7th platoon knights, Gordin, Draug, and Arran." Jagen said, ending his sentence with a gesture towards the man standing beside Marth. He stepped forward before speaking to me.
"Royal Guard Glacia, this is the first time we've spoken face-to-face. I am Arran the Paladin. I will be fighting by your side during this mission." Arran said, extending a hand towards me.
"It is an honor to fight with you, Arran." I said, firmly shaking his hand.
"We will board a ship towards Grust tomorrow morning. Cain will be staying behind to keep the castle in order." Marth explained.
"What of your wedding? It's planned to be in a few days. Surely we would not be able to return in time…" I said, expressing my concern.
"Caeda will not be pleased, but orders from Archanea are absolute. We have no option but to comply." Marth replied, "I trust that you will be prepared to leave by tomorrow morning?"
"Of course." I confirmed before excusing myself. I walked back to the quarters at a brisk pace with the thought of leaving Altea on my mind. I had never stepped foot outside of Altea before and the opportunity excited and terrified me. Soon, I arrived at the quarters' door and slowly opened the door.
"Glacia the Terrible! You're back late today." Luke remarked from his desk with his sword on his lap and a sharpening stone in his hand, "You heard about tomorrow morning?"
"I was just speaking with Prince Marth about it." I responded.
"You've been spending so much time with Prince Marth lately it's like you've got a romantic relationship with him." Luke remarked.
"Perhaps it has something to do with her job…?" Rody sarcastically asked, not looking away from his book.
"As much as I like to disagree with Luke, I feel like he does have a point." Cecille admitted, "We don't spend as much time together. With you rarely here and Ryan staying with his brother, I don't have anyone to tease but these two."
"I'm sorry. I guess I've been focusing on my role so much I've neglected spending time with you all." I admitted and sat down at my desk.
"I don't want you to neglect your job. It's quite important. But it'd be great if you spent some more time with us."
"I'll try my best." I promised before changing the subject, "We'll have an expedition to embark on tomorrow. We'll be fighting together once again."
"Yeah! I'm so ready for it too!" Luke shouted suddenly, "We're going out and having our first real battle! I can barely contain my excitement!"
"Luke, please calm down. We're just going to stop a rebellion, not go on a grand conquest." Rody commented as he attempted to concentrate on his book. As Luke continued to announce his excitement to the room, I opened the top drawer of my desk to check on my special necklace. I felt around the inside of the bag with my fingers for the round stone until I felt its smooth, cold surface. Smiling, I closed the bag once again and put it back into the drawer.
"We've got a big morning tomorrow. We should get some sleep." I announced, interrupting Luke's display of excitement.
"Right. Can't save damsels in distress when you're sleepy." Luke said, putting his sword on his desk along with the sharpening stone.
"Yeah, let's get some shuteye. I'll see you all in the morning." I said, standing up from my desk and removing my armor. We spent several minutes getting ourselves situated in our beds before promptly falling asleep.
From the darkness, a strange dream came to me that felt all too familiar. I stood on a cliff overlooking Altea Castle and watched as numerous dragons circled above and spewed flames onto the castle's walls. Soon, I recognized it as a dream that I had during my first few nights in the castle. Instead of standing there, I took action and ran down the steep cliff towards the castle gate. The stones were glowing from the heat and flames lapped the high ceilings. In front of the gate stood a strange, cloaked figure. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. All I could hear were the screeches of the dragons overhead. The figure turned around to reveal a gentle face of a woman. She removed her hood, revealing her glistening light-blue hair, stopping me dead in my tracks. As I stood there, she looked at me with gentle eyes that reminded me of a calm ocean. Suddenly, warriors emerged from the nearby forest and lunged towards her. Before I could do anything, I felt the force of a closing door echo in my ears, yanking me from my dream.
Groggily, I pushed myself off of my bed and sat sleepily on the edge.
"Some men just came by and took our extra equipment to the boat for us. We best get ourselves out there before they sail without us." I heard Rody say.
"Alright… just give me a few minutes." I said.
"I am so ready!" Luke shouted, "Let's go!" I stood up and equipped myself with the usual equipment: my set of armor, my sword's sheath, and my special necklace. Luke rushed to equip himself with his armor and sheath while Rody took his time to ensure that he had all that he needed. Cecille was already prepared and stood by as she waited for us.
"Alright, let's get going." I said once everyone was prepared.
"Right. Let's head for the docks." Rody said, "We'll be able to get there shortly on horseback." As we left the quarters, Rody walked ahead of us to ensure that no one lost their way, similarly to our days as knights-in-training. Soon, we reached the stables and we grabbed our horses' reins. Blazemane snorted in excitement as I held her reins. Ever since I was appointed knighthood, Blazemane has been seeing less action than she would have liked. I stroked her dark brown mane as we greeted each other. I slowly climbed onto her saddle and got comfortable before following the others. Blazemane kept an even pace with Rody, greeting his horse with soft whinnies. We rode for several minutes before Rody spoke, "I've always wondered. Why did you name your horse Blazemane?"
"It's quite a story…" I began, "Many years ago, during my first years at my grandfather's cabin, there was a fire that raged through the forest that surrounded the cabin. My grandfather and I stood outside to make sure the fire didn't get to our cabin. Suddenly, a young mare stormed right through the flames before running back in. My grandfather told me to stay behind as he chased after her. Soon, he returned with young Blazemane and several other horses as well. Turns out a nearby stable had caught fire and the horses were trapped in the blaze. We returned the horses to their rightful owners and they allowed us to keep young Blazemane. She was named Blazemane for running through the flames to save her family, sacrificing her mane in the process." I ended the story by gently ruffling Blazemane's mane.
"I'm glad she's recovered so well."
"Likewise. Her mane used to be a different color as well." I held portions of her mane in my hand, "These red tips weren't there in the beginning."
"Perhaps it has something to do with the fire?"
"Perhaps…" I said to myself as the docks came into view.
"Looks like we're here. And everyone else is here as well." Rody said, riding ahead of me. Blazemane sped up and closely followed Rody. Soon, Ryan and Gordin came into view.
"Rody! Glacia! You're here!" Ryan shouted as he ran towards us with Gordin slowly following him. "We're about ready to leave. Let's get on board."
"Ryan! It's been a while." I greeted him as he stopped in front of us. Cecille and Luke soon caught up to us.
"Ryan, long time no see, you cutie." Cecille teased, making Ryan blush slightly.
"Let's start getting your horses onto the boat." Gordin suggested in an attempt to cover his brother's embarrassment, "Just about everyone has already boarded and the supplies have been put on board as well."
"Well, let's get going then!" Luke excitedly said before sprinting off towards the boat.
"Ah, Luke. Energetic as always." Gordin commented.
"Not much use standing around, let's follow him." Cecille said before taking off after Luke. Ryan sat behind Rody while Gordin sat behind me as we followed Cecille towards the boat. As we rode towards the calm waters, I got a better look at the boat. Its width and length easily dwarfed the pier it was docked at and its large sails draped around their poles, lightly fluttering in the wind. We dismounted our horses and slowly walked them onboard. Gordin and Ryan walked ahead of us to help the scrambling sailors prepare. At the edge of the boat, Blazemane hesitated as the waves moved the wooden slats underneath her. I put my hand reassuringly on her shoulder before continuing to lead her onto the boat. Slowly, we made our way to the stables in the heart of the ship. Caretakers gently escorted our horses to their pens, taking extra care not to panic the animals. Afterward, we climbed up the several staircases and returned to the surface level of the boat. Several sailors were pulling on thick ropes, allowing the sails to open and catch the gentle breeze. The wooden bridges were removed and the ship began to sail away.
I left Rody and went to look over the edge of the boat as it pulled away from the docks. Underneath, small waves crashed into the boat, leaving white foam in its wake. The calm breeze picked up my hair as it made its way across the main deck. I stared at the horizon and watched the sun rise higher into the sky. I was soon joined by Ryan, whose outfit had changed from his usual outfit. He had a green long sleeved shirt on with beige pants, similarly to his brother. He also had a new pair of brown gloves.
"A nice view, isn't it?" Ryan said into the silent morning.
"Indeed." I replied, "We've never really had a one-on-one chat before, have we?"
"This is our first time. I suppose I never had the courage to strike up a conversation with you. I've learned so much during my time with Gordin, confidence being one of them."
"He must be a fantastic teacher. Perhaps I could get some lessons from him as well."
"I think you'd be the last person who needs lessons." He chuckled.
"Well, I'm not perfect. Not yet anyway." I said, jokingly.
"What do you think it'd be like? Our first real battle?"
"I don't know. It could be anything. What I do know is that as long as we fight together, we can make it out of any situation."
"Your positivity has always been reassuring, yet I can't help but fear for what's to come."
"For as long as I live, I will never allow harm to come to my friends. Together, we'll be fine."
"Thanks, Glacia, for always looking out for us." Ryan said with a smile, "You're like a sister I never had." We stood on the edge of the boat watching the horizon in silence, silently smiling to ourselves. The boat entered open waters and land began to disappear from sight. A door creaked open and Ryan turned towards the noise before leaving me to enjoy the sights on my own. A few moment after Ryan's departure, I left to explore the rest of the ship. I kept close to the edge, enjoying the vast water that surrounded me. The ocean is so calm, I thought to myself as I walked along the short wall that bordered the ship, if only Grandfather was still here to enjoy such a sight with me. Distracted by the gentle movements of the ocean, I bumped into Prince Marth as he admired the scenery.
"Ah, G-Glacia!" Marth exclaimed in surprise.
"M-My liege, my apologies."
"It's quite alright." He said before turning towards the ocean once again, "It's such a calming experience isn't it?"
"It is…" I said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "About the rebellion. I worry that it won't be as easy to calm them as we've thought."
"I worry as well. Grust has always been a peaceful kingdom. I wonder what could have driven them to rebel…"
"We can never truly know unless we see it for ourselves. I just hope the rebels don't start coming after you."
"We must prepare for anything, but I hope that we can keep casualties at a minimum."
"Of course. Though, if they charge you, I will have no option but to go for the kill." I trailed off at the end of my sentence as I thought about the people I would have to fight in order to keep Marth safe.
"This would be your first real battle, wouldn't it? Battles will be different from now on. Defeat on the battlefield means death. Please, you must take utmost care not to get yourself killed."
"As should you, milord. We cannot afford lose you on the battlefield either. Altea would be shaken as well as its future."
"It would be wonderful if we could avoid losing anyone in battle." Marth said and I silently nodded in agreement. A few minutes passed before I excused myself and left Marth's company. I retreated into the bowels of the ship, passing by several doors that led to various rooms. Soon, I found myself in a large, open room with chairs, tables, and lanterns scattered about. Soldiers occupied the chairs, laughing loudly as they drank mugs of ale. I found an open table near a small circular window and took a seat. For the next couple of hours, I stared out of the window at the water, occasionally asking a waitress for a cup of water or a snack to munch on.
A sailor thundered into the room. "We've hit land! Let's get moving!" He announced before thundering off. I took my time, finishing my drink before leaving for the main deck. As I entered the sun's rays, sailors and soldiers alike scrambled to disembark the ship. Several soldiers carried large packs stuffed with tarps and other materials required for setting up camp. As soon as the bridges came down, soldiers flooded them, pouring out onto the grassy banks. I remained on the ship as I watched the swarm of soldiers raise tents and carry supplies. A caravan appeared amongst the crowd as Jagen approached me.
"We've made arrangements for a transport convoy as well as merchants to accompany us. The merchants are willing to sell us weapons and items at a small discount in exchange for protection." He said as he stopped beside me.
"How did you know I was curious of the caravan?"
"Many knights ask me the same thing on their first expedition. I've come to expect it at this point."
"I see…" I said in response. Before I was able to ask more about the convoy, Jagen had already left me to supervise the newly formed camp. I was about to disembark as well, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me short. I turned to see Marth, equipped with his light armor and his rapier by his side.
"Glacia, the camp's finished setting up. Let's proceed to the largest tent there." He said as he pointed towards a tent that was the size of several tents put together, "That's where the war council is often held. Even though there is no war to be had, it's still used for preparations and planning." I nodded in understanding before following Marth as he walked down the wooden bridges and through the crowded camp. As we approached the war council tent, the crowd thinned until it was nonexistent. We brushed away the curtains that covered the tent's opening to find Jagen standing over a large wooden table with a tall, well-armored man. The tent did well to house his height as it was as tall as it was wide. His head was bald, except for the sides of his head as well as his full beard where his hair was pure white. His armor was jet black with golden details, matching the color palate of the rest of his outfit. A long red and gold strip of fabric hung from the middle of his waist.
"Prince Marth, Glacia. This is General Lang, the commanding officer of the occupational forces." Jagen said, introducing the man who was standing across the table from him.
"Royal Guard Glacia. A pleasure to meet you, General Lang." I introduced myself.
"Oho, so you're Prince Marth?" General Lang chuckled as he walked over to Marth, completely ignoring my presence, "Glad you could make it. Since you've come all this way, I suppose I'll allow you to have the glory of capturing the rebel leader, General Lorenz." He spoke as he led Marth to the wooden table where a large map was pinned down. I silently followed, keeping an eye on Lang.
"General Lorenz leads the rebels?! What would possess him to rebel of all things?" Marth thought out loud as he screened the notes that were scribbled on the map.
"Who knows? I haven't the foggiest idea and frankly I don't care. You are to kill General Lorenz and reclaim the children of the Grustian royal family. While you do that, we will slaughter the families of those who participated in this rebellion and raze their homes to the ground." Lang said, crossing his arms.
"A-Are you insane?! They're innocent civilians!"
"'I-insane'!?" Lang mocked, "Young man, are you questioning my orders!? Perhaps Altea, too, plans to rebel..?"
"Of course not! I… That's not…"
"Prince Marth, your tiny country means absolutely nothing to me. Your rude behavior is nothing but a mere irritation. Do not forget that I have the power of the empire behind me. I can crush weak, pesky insects like you any time I wish with one command." Lang walked to the tent's opening and turned towards Marth, "Get this done or there will be dire consequences." He walked through the flaps and left us in shock. I glared at the opening, in case he decided to return. With Lang gone, I walked up to the table to have a closer look at the map.
"Jagen… what in the world is going on here? How could Hardin have entrusted this country to such a… vile man?" Marth said, commenting on Lang's behavior.
"I understand how you feel. However, Lorenz has begun a rebellion. That much seems to be true, so we ought to do something about that first. Perhaps you can try speaking to General Lorenz personally. He may shed some light on the situation." Jagen suggested.
"Perhaps. However, I feel uneasy about speaking to him with General Lang in the area. I fear he may use it as an excuse to declare us as traitors…" Marth said, expressing his concern.
"I can find a way to keep you out of his sight. Perhaps the convoy can provide a proper distraction…"
"I would be most grateful if such a tactic could be executed."
"Then consider it done." Jagen confirmed.
"Glacia, this is the first time you've been outside Altea, isn't it?" Marth asked, noticing my close study of the map.
"It is. Have you come to Grust before, sire?" I asked, breaking my focus from the map's details.
"Indeed. I travelled to Grust in the War of Shadows, when Grust was our enemy. The general and the people were not to blame however. There were many admirable people I wished I didn't have to fight. General Lorenz comes to mind… he fought beside me as my ally." Marth reminisced on the past as he stared at the red circle on the map that indicated General Lorenz's location, "Because of the war, Grust was devastated and it now follows the rule of the Kingdom of Archanea. General Lorenz was allowed to govern it. He's an excellent leader who thinks of his people. It is thanks to him that the people of Grust can live in peace."
"I understand. But then, why did a rebellion occur?"
"I don't know. I don't quite understand what is going on in this country…" Marth admitted. Suddenly, a teenage boy raised his voice from the tent's opening.
"I understand it, without a doubt." He said.
"Aren't you a Grustian civilian?" Marth asked.
"I sure am. If you want a rundown of our situation, it's like this. General Lorenz took the royal children from Lord Wendell and raised them in Grust. The empire demanded their extradition, but Lorenz refused. He hid them, fearing they would be killed. He was branded a traitor and General Lang was sent here. He's been doing horrible things to find the royal children. For this, we rose up… but we lost. And now Lang is going to kill everyone in this entire country!" He spoke almost nonstop, ending the story with an exasperated exclamation.
"I-I'm sorry, but did I hear you correctly? The royal children are in Lorenz's care?" Marth asked for confirmation.
"That is correct." The boy confirmed. He began to move towards me, but was prevented from walking any further when an older man ran into the tent.
"Oh, there you are. Do you have any idea how much trouble you're causing me? Come now, let's go." The man said quickly, pushing the teenager towards the opening. Once the teen was outside, the man turned around to face us. "I must apologize on behalf of my son. There aren't any young girls left in this country and he's gotten quite desperate."
"No young girls left?" I asked.
"That's right. They were all taken away by the imperial troops. Rumor has it that General Lang keeps the really pretty ones to himself, but don't let anyone know that I said that. He'd have my head for it." The man turned for the opening and prepared to leave, "Excuse me, I must leave before I spew any more nonsense that could get me into deep trouble." He almost ran out of the opening, leaving us in a confused silence.
"That was a lot to take in…" I said as I pulled up a chair from the edges of the tent's wall.
"Yes, it was, but we cannot allow it to distract us." Jagen said as he shifted his attention to the map that was still sprawled out on the table, "We must plan our attack. The scouts have returned with the following information. Our camp is here, sandwiched between this mountain range and the ocean. To the north east of us is a village that includes an armory. We may be able to stock up on supplies that our merchants cannot offer us there. To the left of that village is a narrow pass between the mountains. A fort stands in the way between us and General Lorenz." Jagen paused to circle several spots in the open fields in front of the village as well as the forests around General Lorenz's location, "There are sightings of rebel warriors in these areas. Be prepared for a fight when treading over this section of the battlefield."
"Glacia and I will lead our own group of troops in order to sneak behind enemy lines and speak to General Lorenz." Marth added, "I reckon we will be able to bring seven other knights with us and still remain unnoticed, as long as we scatter ourselves properly."
"The seven should be Rody, Luke, Ryan, Cecille, Gordin, Draug, and Arran. I believe that our combined skill should be enough to overtake any rebel." I recommended.
"We ought to let them know." Jagen added as he prepared to leave, "I will speak to the convoy members in the meantime and find a way to execute that distraction plan of ours. Glacia, your main job on the battlefield is to protect Prince Marth. Do not fail."
"Yes, sir." I said before Jagen left the tent. Before I was able to leave to inform the knights of their special orders, Marth's voice stopped me.
"The village to the north. We should visit them and ensure that the citizens are given ample time to escape... We should check on their well-being as well." He suggested.
"Of course. However, we must ensure the area is free of attackers before we enter the village. With the surrounding walls, they may take the opportunity to surround us or use innocent civilians against us. We can never be too careful in situations like these." I said.
"Right." Marth paused as the wind blew the tent's entry wide open, revealing the wandering knights outside, "I just hope that we can end this quickly, before anyone gets hurt. I fear that innocent civilians may fall to General Lang's blade."
"We will be able to save them. I am certain of it." I said, reassuringly putting my hand on his shoulder, "Let's go tell the rest of our team about our mission." I removed my hand from his shoulder and we left the tent together. We turned in opposite directions. Marth went to notify the senior knights: Ryan, Draug, and Arran. I went to notify the newer knights: Ryan, Rody, Luke, and Cecille. Soon, we gathered in the war council tent as a team.
"So you want us to disobey General Lang's orders while also following them?" Rody asked after I explained the plan.
"That's right. Remember that we cannot attract his attention. Jagen's distraction isn't completely foolproof." I said, reminding the team. Everyone exchanged nods before redirecting their focus back onto me. With a swift motion, Jagen entered the tent and took position beside me.
"The rest of our militia are armed and ready." He said before turning towards Marth, "The troops will attack on your command, sire."
"Understood. Glacia, meet with me at the foot of the nearest mountain." Marth said before making his way out of the tent.
"Everyone ready?" I asked everyone in the tent. I was met with multiple shouts of agreement, "Let's get going then." I led everyone out of the tent at the same moment the shouts of soldiers charging echoed through the camp. Those who fought on foot instantly made their way to the rendezvous area. Arran, Luke, Rody, and I walked to the temporary stables at a brisk pace and sprinted towards the foot of the mountain once we were properly mounted. Blazemane and the other horses were already equipped with newly forged horse armor. Metal plates covered her chest, thighs, and the sides of her neck. Her neck armor included a slot on top to allow her mane to protrude from the armor. Blue and yellow cloths representing Altea's national colors were draped from the saddle and Blazemane's hind legs.
As we approached the mountain, the sound of metal hitting metal could be heard from the ongoing battle. Marth was waiting for us when we arrived.
"Alright, what's the plan?" Gordin asked, returning from his scouting position on a rocky ledge, "There are several axe-wielding rebels and a couple of archers situated between us and the village. And they do not look like they would want to be friendly with us. From the looks of it, General Lorenz isn't alone either."
I outlined the plan as the team listened intently. "Prince Marth and I will stick together and approach the village, eliminating any threats that may be in close proximity to the village's walls. Ryan and Gordin, find a comfortable place in the mountainous area here and attack from a distance. Luke and Rody, ride out towards the ocean before turning in and charging through their ranks, towards Ryan and Gordin's position in a pincer attack. Draug, Cecille, and Arran will rush towards the fort in the pass and secure it before we get there. That will be our first rendezvous point. We will figure out the rest of our battle plan there, where we can have a better visual of our opponents. Understood?" Everyone nodded in unison and we began to carry out our plan to outwit General Lang. Gordin and Ryan began to scale the mountain side while Luke and Rody rode out onto the battlefield together. Cecille and Arran ran ahead to secure the fort while Draug took his time as he slowly followed them. "My liege, let's get going." I said, silently offering him a seat on Blazemane's saddle.
"Are you sure she'll be alright with it?" Marth asked as he walked closer.
"She can handle it." I reassured him and Blazemane softly neighed in agreement. I held out my hand and pulled him up to the saddle, "Hold on tight. We'll get there in a flash." Marth put his arms around my stomach and I whipped Blazemane into a blazing sprint. As we entered the vast plain that was our battlefield, several axe warriors came into view. As we came closer, Luke and Rody flew through them, knocking them into a daze. Several warriors were chasing the cavalier duo. I steered Blazemane towards them, unhooked my lance from the saddle, and slashed through them at chest level. The velocity of the lance knocked them off of their feet and they collectively landed in the grass with a soft thud. Unfazed, Blazemane continued towards the village and several archers came into view.
"Circle around, I'm getting off." Marth said. I slowed Blazemane to a slow gallop before stopping completely to allow Marth to dismount. He got off as quickly as possible as arrows began to fly through the air. I hesitated before allowing Blazemane to sprint away once more. I made a wide turn around the archers and adjusted my grip on my lance. I watched as arrows archers aimed towards Marth, but failing to fire as Marth's rapier made contact with their chests first. He made swift work of the archers and I came around just in time to eliminate the last archer. Making a sharp turn, Blazemane ran to meet with Marth.
"Are you alright, sire?" I asked, surveying him for any damage.
"I'm perfectly fine. Archers are quite weak when you're too close for them to accurately fire. Let's get into the village." Marth said, sheathing his blade and walking towards the village gates. I followed him, dismounting Blazemane once we reached the tall, wooden doors. I kept my lance with me in case of an ambush. As we walked through the open gates, we noticed an old woman on the porch of one of the houses, seeming to hug someone in her arms and hiding them with her long, draping shirt. Marth and I approached her and she turned towards us.
"Oh… Please show mercy to this child, she's only ten years old…" she pleaded.
"Ma'am, please calm yourself. We aren't here to take any children." Marth said in a calm and reassuring tone.
"What… You're not imperial soldiers?"
"No, we're not. We've come to warn everyone to escape the village as soon as possible. We wish to protect you all from General Lang's tyranny. If there's anything you need, please ask."
"Wait… Please, take me with you." A voice said from the old woman's arms. The old woman released her from her arms and she emerged from underneath her fabric cover.
"Huh..? You're… are you really ten?" Marth asked as she turned to face us. She was approximately my height, but slightly shorter. The sunlight highlighted her lavender hair and white dress. She had a tuft of her long hair tied into a ponytail on the side of her head. She held tightly to the staff in her hands.
"No… I'm actually a grown woman. Granny lied so I wouldn't be taken away by Lang's monstrous soldiers." She said as she walked closer to Marth, "But… you're different. You have very sweet eyes. Please, take me with you. Take me away from this country and take me to yours." Her hands gravitated towards Marth's, but I stopped her from getting too close. She retracted her hands and took a few steps back.
"Please, take Malicia with you and protect her. It's not safe for her to stay here." The old woman said as she held onto Malicia's hand.
"Of course. Glacia, please go warn the other villagers to flee. I will stay here with Malicia and help her grandmother escape. Meet me outside the village gates." Marth told me.
"Understood." I said before mounting Blazemane and dashing through the village's dusty roads, stopping occasionally to spread the word. I ran several laps around the village and the village guards helped citizens leave through the back gate, having them hide in the nearby forest. Once the entire village was evacuated, I rode out to the main gate to rejoin Marth. As I passed through the gate, Marth approached me from my right with Malicia close by.
"The entire village has been evacuated." I stated as they walked towards me. Marth nodded in approval.
"Let's get to the rendezvous point. The path should be cleared by now." Marth said and we began walking towards the fort at a brisk pace. We walked along the foot of the mountain as it guided us towards the mountain pass. The plain that had served as the battlefield was ominously quiet as the rebels had long been defeated. Blazemane cautiously observed our surroundings, occasionally flicking her head side to side. As we neared the fort, the sounds of battle was prominent once more. We rushed over to the fort's gate and was greeted by Draug as he stood guard.
"Prince Marth! Glacia! You're here! We've been holding the fort, but I don't think we can hold it for much longer." He hurriedly shouted as he led us to the fort's commanding room. I dismounted Blazemane and led her by the reins, tying them to a nearby post when we arrived at our destination. Cecille, Luke, and Rody were already in the room when we walked through the door. They stood over an old table with an old map spread over its surface.
"Come quickly, we have to push them back before they break through. Arran, Gordin, and Ryan are doing their best out there, but they can't hold them off for long." Cecille said, hurriedly gesturing for me to come over. I almost ran over and quickly scanned the map. There were several black markings made by a stub of charcoal. "From this position, General Lorenz isn't too far away." She pointed at the large circle around what looked like a big fort, "There are gangs of rebels waiting for us out here, in case we manage to push their main force back. Whether they are doing so under General Lorenz's command is unknown."
"The first thing we need to do is disrupt the siege on our fort." Rody added as he walked around the table, observing the map from every angle. Before I was able to add any input, Arran rushed into the room with several wounds on his arms and legs.
"Oh, Glacia, you're here. Do you have a plan of action yet? Draug's taken my place, but we don't have much time left." Arran breathed hard as he spoke and held onto the doorframe for support as his pink armor scraped against each other.
"Malicia can help!" Malicia said, breaking her silence. Everyone turned towards her as she held her staff tightly in her hands. She took a deep breath before closing her eyes, causing the blue orb on her staff to glow faintly. Arran's wounds began to slowly heal.
"Malicia, you can use heal staves?" I asked.
"Yup! Granny taught me, but I've never used it very much." She answered without opening her eyes. I turned back towards the table.
"Alright, everyone. I've got a plan. Everyone will have a part in pushing back the rebels that have put our fort under siege. Once we break through their ranks, Draug and Malicia will stay behind in the fort. Draug will keep the fort defended while Malicia will help heal anyone that returns injured. Prince Marth and I will take a path closer to the mountains on our right that will take us directly to General Lorenz. The battles around him will help disguise our true intentions in case General Lang has sent any soldiers to watch us. Gordin and Ryan will be assigned the task of attacking through the forest and using the trees as cover. The attack will take this small army here by surprise." I circled the group of rebels that were close to the forest with my finger, "Luke and Rody will pair up once again and run through these rebels here, including the group of archers. Cecille and Arran will run a path parallel to that and run through more rebels on the way. Once they are eliminated, return to the fort for healing and defend it until we return. Whether it be more rebels or Lang's soldiers, do not let anyone through those gates." I concluded my plan by looking towards Malicia who had just finished healing Arran's wounds, "Malicia, I trust that you can quickly notify Gordin and Ryan of the plan?"
"Sure can!" She exclaimed, lowering her staff and quickly running out of the room.
"Let's get moving then!" I announced and everyone hurried to leave the room. Marth and I were the last to leave. Blazemane seemed to be unfazed by the sound of the chaos that was taking place outside the fort walls, even though she was unattended. I untied her and mounted her once again. We rushed towards the back gate and watched as Luke and Rody mounted their horses and charged through the gate at full speed. Sounds of loud yells and grunts echoed through the stone hallways of the fort. Cecille and Arran soon followed with a charge of their own. I sprinted after them with Marth running close behind. As I entered the sunlight, I was introduced to the large army of rebels that had attacked the fort. Axes flew through the air as they left their owners' hands. I unsheathed my sword and braced myself as a rebel threw themselves at me. Their axe clashed with my steel blade, causing sparks to fly. Once the force of the initial impact dissipated, I easily pushed him back, causing him to fall flat on his back. Blazemane reared, neighing loudly and striking fear into the rebel as he fled as quickly as he could.
With my sword at the ready, I ran through the now scattered army. My blade slid through many different shoulders as I ran through the scattering crowd. At the end of my charge, Blazemane stopped for a victorious neigh. The remaining rebels fled the battlefield, running back to those who were waiting for us and joining their ranks. Marth caught up to me as the next part of my plan was executed. He ran up to me and I helped him up onto Blazemane's back once again. I felt a strong gust hit my side as Luke and Rody rushed past me. As I turned Blazemane around to prepare for a sprint towards General Lorenz, I spotted Gordin and Ryan running into the sea of trees. Marth held on to me tightly as Blazemane broke into a sprint. We cut through the battlefield, arriving at the foot of the mountain before turning towards General Lorenz's direction. As we blazed across the foot of the mountain, we passed by several groups of rebels, distracted by Arran and Cecille and unaware of our presence. We neared the large fort, rebel archers emerged from the fort's colossal gate, scattering before us and firing arrows. I steered Blazemane out of their range of fire to allow Marth to dismount.
"I'll attack them from the side. Distract them with a direct attack." Marth commanded before running along the base of the mountain. I turned towards the archers once again and initiated a full speed charge. The surprised archers frantically loaded their bows and fired as quickly as they could. Blazemane deftly dodged the incoming arrows, but several arrows were able to lodge themselves in my stomach. Ignoring the increasing pain, I charged straight through them, forcing them to turn around in order to face me. While they were distracted, Marth caught them off-guard with swift slashes from the side. Within seconds, the group of archers were on the ground with only a few precise slashes on their chests, their bows knocked out of their hands. After ensuring there were no more rebels coming our way, we proceeded to the fort's gate.
At the base of the gate stood General Lorenz. His dark cloak, dark crimson armor, and tall, black boots emanated an intimidating aura. His full beard and short hair were white as snow and a black eye patch covered his left eye. His black shirt did well to hide his wounds, but his white pants told a different story as they were stained red. As we approached him, I rode ahead of Marth, causing Lorenz to remove his sword from its purple sheath as I stopped in front of him.
"You! You're the Altean army? So even Altea has turned on us…" Lorenz shouted at me before taking a step forward to ready an attack. Before he could move, Marth appeared at my side. "Prince Marth! How unfortunate that I must fight… the Altean Army and its prince…" Lorenz spoke in-between labored breaths, but did not lower his sword.
"Please, wait. I have no wish to fight you. A villager had told me everything, about all the atrocities Archanea has committed… I promise, I will inform Emperor Hardin of the truth and rescue Grust. So please, lower your weapon." Marth said, hoping to cause Lorenz to lower his sword, but he was not swayed by Marth's words.
"Prince… I am grateful for the offer. Unfortunately, I cannot comply. You know nothing… Do you think that a man of Emperor Hardin's caliber would make a general out of a man as worthless as Lang without good reason? He called for an invasion to crush the kingdom of Grust and make it a territory of the Empire."
"It… it can't be! Hardin would never do something like that."
"It's hard to believe, I know, but I'm afraid that he's changed a great deal ever since he became emperor. He's no longer the Hardin you once knew during the War of Shadows. Prince… I have one final request of you." Lorenz paused to point towards the open gate behind him, "Within the confines of this stronghold, I am protecting the young prince and princess of Grust. Please… find a way to help them. If you can do just that, I will have no regrets."
"What… General Lorenz, what are you saying?!"
"Prince Marth… My life in exchange for theirs… By any means necessary, please help them… this is the last thing I will ask…" Lorenz raised his blade to the skies and turned it towards himself. With one swift motion, his blade pierced through lower chest and he collapsed on the ground lifelessly.
"General Lorenz! This… This can't be happening!" Marth said in a frantic panic. I dismounted Blazemane as quickly as I could to stand by his side, casting the arrows I had removed to the side. I stood next to him in silence as he stood petrified from the shock. He was taken out of his trance when an old man emerged from the dark gate accompanied by two children.
"Prince Marth, General Lorenz entrusted everything to you. You spared his life and even heard him out and for that we, the people of Grust, thank you. Please, take this and do what you must to protect our last fragments of hope." The old man walked over to Marth and handed him a staff with a twisted shaft and a round, green gem on its tip.
"Thank you… I will do the best that I can." Marth said as he held the staff in his hands and recovered from his state of shock. The elderly man smiled before turning to return to the confines of the fort once again, leaving the children outside. Marth handed the staff over to me and walked towards the children. I held onto the staff as I followed him.
The children held each other's hands tightly. "You, you must be Grust's royal heirs… Prince Yubello and Princess Yumina?"
"Lorenz… he's gone. How can we live on without him?" Yubello cried, burying his face in his hands. His short blonde hair was getting ruffled by his fingers and his tears fell onto his blue shawl. His sister, Yumina, glared at us with her piercing blue eyes as her blonde hair seemed to bounce on her shoulders, but never touching them.
"You, you monsters! Stay away! You're going to murder us just like you murdered Lorenz!" She said, accusing us and using a small stick to threaten us.
"N-no, you have it all wrong!" He said as he walked closer to the children. I followed close by Marth's side to ensure that no harm came to him. "We just-"
"Ah… Prince Marth. You finally caught these filthy traitors." Lang's voice suddenly emerged from the silence. He slowly approached us, pausing to smirk at me and put his hand on my shoulder. I moved to avoid him and he continued towards the children. The children resisted, but Lang ignored their efforts and grabbed them by the arm.
"General Lang! Wait, please! These children have done nothing wrong. Allow me to take custody of them." Marth shouted after Lang as he walked away with the children.
"Don't make me laugh. These brats are coming with me to my castle." Lang stopped to turn towards us, "Besides, my dear prince, you have other priorities. I have received reports of a military revolt in Macedon and Princess Minerva has been imprisoned." He spoke in an unbearably mocking tone.
"A revolt in Macedon? How…? I understand my obligations, General Lang, but, still, these children… let them stay with me, please." Marth's request irritated Lang as he had a sudden outburst.
"Prince, do not try my patience! Listen up you two, you're coming with me!" He turned and led the children away from us, despite their efforts to pry themselves out of his grasp.
"Wait! Lang!" Marth shouted after him.
"The children…!" I stuttered as I watched them get taken away from us. I clenched my fists as a feeling of helpless anger rushed through me.
"Glacia, please." Marth said as he put his hand on my shoulder, relieving some of the tension that was building up in my body, "I share your feelings about this, but we cannot risk the status of our kingdom over this."
"There must be a way we can rescue them…" I said as I stared out towards the horizon. I felt the cool touch of my special necklace on my chest as I worked to let go of my frustration, "Shall we return to the fort? Everyone must be waiting for us."
"Of course. I hope, er, Blazemane doesn't mind giving me another ride." Blazemane gave a soft snort of approval. We climbed onto her saddle and galloped towards the fort. Once we arrived, Jagen ran out to greet us.
"Sire! Glacia! I apologize for not being able to keep General Lang away from the battlefield long enough…" Jagen started.
"No, Jagen. It was perfect timing. Thank you for your efforts." Marth said with a smile as he dismounted, "I was able to talk to General Lorenz, but…" His voice trailed off as his mind returned to the past.
"Let's get back to camp. We can discuss the details there. We run the risk of being the target for a counterattack out here." I suggested and Blazemane neighed in agreement. We gathered the team together, quickly attended to any injuries, and left the fort as a group to deter any leftover rebels from attempting a counterattack. Everyone marched back to camp in high spirits. Marth and I were the only ones not participating in the joyous chaos. Once we arrived back at camp, the sun had begun to set and lanterns began to light up. Our horses were handed off to caretakers at the stables once we arrived at the camp. We gathered in the war council tent and I recounted the events that had taken place at the large fort.
"Prince Marth, you showed a lot of self-control during that situation. It's definitely something to be proud of." Jagen complimented Marth after I had finished my retelling.
"I… I couldn't run the risk of having the people of Altea be branded as traitors. I could never live with such a feeling." Marth said as he stood over the empty table, "General Lorenz…"
"We could have saved him! If only-" Luke started.
"Then we'd look like we're helping the rebels." Rody calmly responded, "It's not a risk that we can take."
"He's always been an honorable man, preferring to die by his own blade than by General Lang's." Draug added. We nodded in silent agreement.
"Thank you for your hard work out there everyone." Marth said and dismissed the meeting. The tent slowly emptied until I was left in the empty tent with Draug.
"You did well today, Glacia." He said, patting me on the back.
"Thank you, Draug. However, my skills still cannot match with your own. I strive to become as prominent on the battlefield as you are."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that I'm prominent…" Draug blushed slightly at my compliment.
"You did a fantastic job holding down the fort while everyone else was fighting outside on the open plain."
"Oh, well, I didn't do it on my own."
"Yet you were a key component in our success. You shouldn't underestimate yourself." I said with a smile.
"You shouldn't either. I'd reckon you're stronger than many of our senior knights, myself included."
"Do you really think so?" Draug answered my question with a nod, "I… I'm still unconfident in my skills… I have to do my best every day to get stronger until I can feel confident."
"Well, enthusiasm is good. Work hard, Glacia." Draug said before taking his lance from the tent wall and walking through the tent flaps. Soon, I put out the lantern, allowing darkness to flood through the tent. I exited the tent and turned left, heading towards the senior knights' tents. Within the sea of tents, a few tents stood out of the crowd. One tent proudly displayed the Altean flag at its pinnacle. A nearby tent donned a smaller flag, but displayed it in a similar fashion. I entered the tent with the smaller flag, pushing its heavy canvas flap out of the way to reveal its opening. The inside resembled a hexagon and was bigger in comparison to the common tents. An opening allowed the dimming sunlight to shine through, illuminating the simple bed that sat on the opposite side. A table and chair were set up next to the bed and a blue rug was spread out on the floor. A wooden crate held spare weapons as well as replacement pieces of armor. I lit a lantern and set it on the desk. Its warm light flooded the tent. I closed the tent's window and left to proceed towards the dining section of the camp.
As I emerged from the tent, a knight approached me. "Royal Guard Glacia?" He asked.
"That's me."
"I hope that you have found your tent to be to your liking."
"It's perfect. Thank you." I thanked him and he promptly left, quickly walking out of sight. Before I left the area, I glanced at Marth's tent as its large flag flapped in the wind. I calmly strolled past the many tents as I headed towards the dining area and walked by them once again as I headed back to my tent after a satisfying meal. Once I got to my tent, the sun had been replaced by the radiant moon and the camp was bathed in its gentle moonlight. I entered my tent and laid my armor on one side of the desk. I left my sheathed sword next to it and snuffed out the lantern before sliding into bed. The covers felt rough as I pulled them over me. I laid in the dark silence with the thoughts of the last battle and the future battle in Macedon on my mind.
I closed my eyes and let myself drift off into the silent night. I was not asleep for long before a rustling noise snapped me back to reality. I jumped out of bed and slowly pushed the heavy tent flap until I could peek outside. A dark figure quickly left the opening of Marth's tent. I ran to my desk and tied my sheathed sword onto my waist before I ventured out into the darkness. The moonlight was bright, making my trek through the dark tents easier. I kept my distance as I followed the figure, keeping one hand on my sword's handle. Soon, I was making my way around tree trunks as the figure took me into the nearby forest.
I emerged from the forest to find myself on a cliff that faced the ocean. The moonlight was brighter and I got a better look at the figure. His blue hair glistened in the moonlight.
"Prince Marth?" I asked into the darkness. Startled by my presence, he turned towards me.
"Oh, Glacia. It's just you…" Marth turned back towards the ocean and took a seat by the cliff's edge.
"What are you doing out here at such a late hour?" I asked as I sat down next to him. Marth took a deep breath.
"I have a lot on my mind." He said as he stared out at the gentle waves as the moonlight glistened on the clear water.
"Is it about…?"
"It is. I still remember when we first met. He cared deeply about his people and he fought hard for them, only fighting alongside me because he believed it was best for Grust." Marth paused for a second and shifted his gaze to the grassy ground underneath him, "He was a great ally and a great man…"
"He must have a lot of trust in you to entrust the royal children to you."
"We fought for a common cause. Through that, we came to know each other very well. Now, he's…"
"General Lorenz may be gone, but his impact on the world remains. The royal children… we have to get them under our protection."
"Glacia, I'm sorry I got you involved in this. You don't have to agree with me if you don't truly believe it."
"No, I do." I gently held his hand, "I agree with your ideals, Marth. Truly." Marth cast his gaze into my eyes as he gave me a sad grin.
"Then, please… stay here with me." And I sat beside him, underneath a blanket of stars, staring into the cosmos.