Chapter 12 – Hope and Despair
"Are you certain you're well?" Jagen asked me as he rode next me. In the limited time we had back at camp to rest, I had told Jagen what had transpired between me and General Lang in an exhausted haze. I vaguely remember what was said, but I remember being unable to stop the words from spilling out of my mouth.
"I'm certain." I replied with my eyes fixed on the road ahead. Although my tone was firm, he saw through my façade.
"If only I had known sooner…" Jagen muttered as his brow furrowed and ground his teeth, "That dirty dog… I should have struck him down when I had the chance."
"Jagen, please…" My voice weakened as I revealed my true emotions, "It was all my fault, in the end."
"Nonsense. Without a doubt, not a second of what he did was caused by your actions."
"If I didn't speak out…"
"Then I would have." Jagen stopped my sentence short, "Cast your blame elsewhere. It's not right to run yourself into the dirt like this."
"I don't know if I know how to…" My voice trailed off as I returned to last night's memories. Jagen slowed his horse's gait and pulled on Blazemane's reins to get her to do the same. I opened my mouth to question him, but was interrupted when his arms wrapped around my shoulders.
"Stay strong. He is but one man against all of us." He let go of me and returned his hands to his reins, "Lang will be brought to justice. Mark my words." His gentle grin gave off a warm aura and I returned the gesture with a small grin of my own. As I watched him speed up and join Luke at the front of the caravan, a feeling of hope began to grow within me. I looked behind me and spotted Marth riding on one of the wagons as he spent time chatting with Julian. Their laughter eased my anxiety as I thought about Jagen's words. I felt like there was some truth to them. I lost my train of thought when Palla's pegasus galloped to my side. It nuzzled its muzzle against Blazemane's neck as it neared us.
"Glacia, are you doing alright? Jagen was acting… odd with you just now." Palla asked while she ran her fingers through her pegasus's mane. I took a breath before I responded.
"I'm doing well." I calmly stated with a smile.
"I'm glad you're well, but that's not something Jagen would normally do. Are you sure there's nothing else that's been affecting you?"
"I'm certain."
"You can tell me. I won't tell anyone else." She looked into my eyes as she spoke.
"I swear, there isn't anything of concern." I said with a small laugh.
"Hm, alright." She sounded defeated, yet determined, "I'll get to the bottom of this. Mark my words." Her pegasus slowed its pace before launching itself into the skies with a few strong beats of its white wings.
"I'm sure you will." I whispered to myself as I watched her soar in the clear sky. A part of me worried that she would spread rumors if she found out, but another part of me was sure that she would keep her word and keep it a secret. I watched Jagen as my mind wandered and my focus shifted from one thought to another. Several hours passed by before the first glimpses of the glittering ocean peeked over the horizon. The occasional breeze brought cool air to our caravan, refreshing our exhausted soldiers. The caravan ultimately stopped by the short cliffside overlooking the ocean and the camp was quickly erected. As preparations came to a close, Jagen approached me on foot with his steed following close behind him.
"There is still plenty of time between now and the upcoming battle." He paused to motion towards my tent, "You should rest while you can. I will come to retrieve you once the scouts have returned."
"I will. Thank you." I accepted as I dismounted and handed Blazemane's reins to him, "If you don't mind me asking, Jagen, why have you suddenly become so kind to me?"
"You're a fellow Altean and Royal Guard." He replied with a grin, "It's in my best interest to ensure your safety as well as Prince Marth's."
"That's true." I said, quietly, "I'm sorry for asking such an unnecessary question."
"No, it's quite alright." He started to lead the horses away, but paused to turn towards me, "Don't worry about it too much. I'd be accused of treason before I'd stoop to such a disgusting level." I nodded in response, hiding my confusion. He continued leading the horses away and I lead myself to my tent. As soon as I had removed my armor, I threw myself onto the bed and closed my eyes for the first time since the incident. I instantly fell into a dreamless sleep. As my mind wandered in the black abyss, I could faintly hear the sound of voices. They were too faint to make out who the voices belonged to, but I was able to make out a few words.
"Sorry," the strange voice murmured, "she… make… too deep." Before I could contemplate the meaning of the words, I was gently jostled awake by a rough hand on my arm.
"Glacia, the scouts have just returned." Jagen's rough voice resonated throughout the tent, "Get your gear and meet me at the usual place. I'll gather everyone." The tent flap rustled as he left. Slowly, I got out of bed and equipped my armor once again. My necklace swayed from side to side as I secured the belts. I slid my sword into its place and walked to the war council. During my short walk, I felt slightly more energetic than before, having been rejuvenated by my nap. As I left the warm sun for the cool interior of the tent, I saw that the scout's findings had already been spread out on the table. Jagen and Marth stood at the table's edge. Marth seemed absorbed in the map as he scanned the parchment several times with his chin held in his hand. Jagen was the first to notice my entrance. "Ah, Glacia, you're here." Jagen's comment caused Marth to look up from the map.
"Good afternoon, Glacia," Marth said with a warm smile, "I was just looking over the situation on the battlefield today." His focus returned to the map, "What do you think we can do with what we have?" I stood by his side and observed the map as well.
"I think I have some ideas." I said after a few minutes of scanning. I picked up a charcoal stick and began making marks and notes in and around the map. As my mind went from one side of the map to the other, I heard the sound of shuffling feet as my friends gathered in the tent. Soon, only the sound of my racing charcoal against the rough parchment was audible. I felt their gazes as I left my last mark on the map. I put down the charcoal and looked over my plan one more time before I looked up to see everyone watching me. Marth noticed my readiness to explain my notes.
"Before we get to the plan, I'd like to say a few words." Marth said as he turned from the table to the gathered crowd, "Holm Beach is home, not only to Lord Wendell, but the infamous Macedonian Vikings as well. I know this was taken into consideration when Glacia created her plan, but I wanted to emphasize the dangers of today's conflict. I hope you will all stay safe this battle. Glacia, if you will." Marth looked to me as he finished. I nodded and began to explain the notes I had scribbled onto the map. Everyone gathered around the table to get a good look at the battle situation.
"As there is often safety in numbers, this battle will involve the assignment of someone as Second in Command. Arran, you are to take those who are not under my command under yours. Will you accept the position?"
"A commanding position?" Arran asked, pausing to consider the offer before giving me a strong nod, "Leave it to me."
"Luke, Rody, Cecille, and Matthis. You're under my command today." The crowd shuffled around as they moved to the table's sides, "Your goal will be to clear the path to this big fort here." I referenced the large fort at the far right side of the map.
"Will there be any… resistance at the fort?" Matthis asked, slightly nervous.
"From the scout's notes, there seems to be a strong Viking guarding its doors. It is very possible that he is one of high status." I shifted the focus to the landmass above the river. "The Grustian children were spotted here alongside a former ally, Ogma. What worries me is this paladin here."
"Considering he's a paladin, I doubt that he'd be conspiring with pirates." Jagen added, breaking his silence, "Perhaps he'd even help us."
"That's a valid point, but we should stay alert nonetheless." I briefly acknowledged his comment before continuing my plan's presentation, "Cecille, you'll be sticking with Prince Marth and me. Luke, Rody, and Matthis will stick together. Catria and Palla will fly together today." The sisters looked at each other with a nostalgic look. "You two will use the mountains here as protection" I circled the mountains marked on the map with my finger, "Slowly pick off the Vikings near the main fort without getting hit. I'm confident you two can make it work."
"With my sister by my side, I'm ready for anything." Catria gave me a confident smile.
"Julian, I'm going to have you attack this thief here before he can reach this village and cause mayhem." I pointed to a nearby village, "Afterward, stay with the villagers and protect them from any subsequent attackers."
"As a former thief-for-evil, I am afraid the townsfolk will have a hard time trusting me," Julian admitted after a moment of thought, "Don't fret, I'll do my best to win them over." He flashed a sly smile at me. I responded with a slight smile of my own before continuing.
"Those whose names have not been called will fall under Arran's command." A majority of the crowd's attention shifted towards him, "As my division clears the battlefield, your task is to ensure they stay clear of enemies. In our fight against seasoned fighters, we cannot afford an opportunistic ambush."
"Right." Arran grunted, "Everyone, follow me. Let us prepare." The tent emptied with a loud rustling, punctuated with the sound of the tent flaps colliding with each other.
"We should follow suit." I announced, rolling up the map and handing it to Jagen, "We'll meet out on the battlefield, in the clearing between the nearby village and the forts. Our force is small enough to go unnoticed by any enemy outlooks." There was a silent agreement between us and we made our way out of the tent. Marth accompanied me as I walked to the stables.
"Are you certain you're well enough to fight today?" Marth asked.
"Very certain. Malicia's healing is miraculously potent." I replied, stopping by Blazemane's side and grabbing her reins.
"That's good to hear, but I don't want you to push yourself too hard." Marth seemed to be distracted by the clouds for a moment, "Warren's skill with the bow… If he hadn't stayed behind, I-"
"Don't worry about it too much, my liege." As I spoke, I felt the lingering presence of the arrow in my chest. I spent a majority of our silent walk brushing away feelings of doubt. We arrived on the plain alongside a majority of my fellow knights. I mounted Blazemane once we stopped at the gathering group and gently lifted my sword from its sheath. "Let's not waste any time." I announced, "Let's move!" Horses reared with a wild neigh before taking off with their riders as the gathering group dissolved. "Cecille, we'll follow your lead."
"Right away." She said shortly before her mount took off. Blazemane followed with a leisurely gallop, allowing Marth to keep up with her pace. Ahead of us, I could see Luke and Rody fighting several men who were wielding large axes. Their mounts deftly danced around their heavy swings, occasionally allowing their rider to land a blow with their weapons. Marth and I had reached the halfway point between our starting position and the forts when the sound of horns could be heard. Blazemane screeched to a halt and Marth stopped next to us. We surveyed our surroundings, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
"That must have been an alarm." Marth observed, "And yet-" Before he could finish his sentence, large groups of axe men came from the surrounding woods and grassland. Cecille took notice of our situation and redirected her horse, but was stopped by oncoming warriors. The approaching warriors formed a thick ring around us. Marth's rapier made a smooth noise as it left its sheath. "There are no reinforcements," Marth finished, "They must have known our plan, somehow."
"Stay close." I managed to say before the deafening shouts of the incoming axe men drowned out my voice. It wasn't long before my blade met the receiving end of a battle-worn axe. Their broad metallic heads whizzed by Blazemane's neck and shoulders as she fought to maintain composure. My blade cut through the air almost as quickly as it cut through their ranks, but the onslaught continued. Blazemane reared and released an intimidating neigh before slamming her hooves down on a couple of unfortunate souls. Marth's rapier made quick work of the axe men as its slim blade worked its way around their weapons. At the back of the group of attackers, our cavaliers can be seen fighting their way through the ocean of axes.
Almost simultaneously, the dreadful sound of our swords shattering from overuse filled the air around us. Realizing our disadvantage, the circle closed in once again. Instantly, I pulled out my spare sword from its home on the saddle. Its pink hilt contrasted against our bleak situation. I attempted to drive the warriors back once again, but my efforts were unnecessary as Cecille thundered through the remaining warriors and her sword felled them with ease. In a flanking maneuver, Luke and Rody finished off the last of the ambushers with Matthis shyly following suit. We gathered to briefly regroup.
"Somehow, they must have gotten wind of our plan." Marth explained, "But how could that be possible? This small detail was made on the spot."
"It's perplexing for sure, but we cannot afford to ponder on an active battlefield." Rody commented, "We should continue our path forward as soon as we can, Prince Marth."
"Of course," Marth agreed, "Ride ahead and we shall follow." Without a word, Luke, Rody, and Matthis took the lead. We waited for a while before following them at a moderate pace. As we passed by the fortresses, several axe men approached us. Without breaking a sweat, Cecille skillfully cut through them with her blade before continuing to walk with us. We made it around the edge of the mountains to see a flowing river with an old, stone bridge, surrounded by a small wood. Feathers flapped above us as the pegasus sisters flew overhead. Matthis emerged from the trees alongside an unknown paladin, an archer, and a swordsman. In the distance, Luke and Rody kept a band of archers occupied and Cecille engaged a band of swordsmen as Marth and I approached our new acquaintances. "Ogma, I trust that the Grustian royal children are with you?"
"Yes, of course." He replied, motioning to the small figures clinging to his side, "It's been a while since we were together on the battlefield." His broadsword rested with its tip buried in the grass, Ogma's hand on its hilt. Ogma's stature was on par with his blade, a moderate height compensated for in sturdiness and power. His body was sparsely covered in hardened leather. Rough, tan-colored clothes ran underneath his armor; a large sheath adorned his back and short, faded-yellow hair covered his head.
"How fortunate yet unfortunate that we are reunited in such a situation." Marth sighed, "Castor, what brings you to a place like this?" Marth's focus shifted to the young man next to Ogma.
"Prince Marth, erm…" He stammered, "I actually need money for medicine for me sick mother. I've come in search of work." His sky blue hair stuck closely to his head, refusing to follow the wind. His shoulders were protected by hard, leather pauldrons, the only pieces of armor on his body. His outfit consisted of a blue shirt, darker blue pants, and a thick belt around his waist with a small, rectangular pouch attached to it. A quiver was slung over his shoulder and a simple bow was grasped in his hands. Marth reached into his pocket and rummaged around for a few seconds.
"I don't have much with me at the moment, but this should help…"
"Prince Marth… you're too kind," Castor said, accepting the outstretched bag of gold coins, "Please, allow me to repay you by fighting alongside you once again."
"It really isn't necessary, but if that is your wish, then I will allow it." Marth said with a smile. Throughout Marth's conversations, the mysterious paladin had been watching me intently. He was slightly taken aback when Marth addressed him. "Pardon my rudeness. Who may you be?"
"I am Sirius, a mere traveler." The paladin introduced himself calmly, "I want to save the children… That is all." Despite the fact that the paladin's mask obscured his eyes, I could feel him staring straight through me as he spoke. His slightly curly, blonde hair stood out from his dark mahogany outfit. His long shirt, boots, and gloves were decorated with golden details. A shawl was draped over his cape, both adorned with golden décor as well. A powerful lance rested in his hand as he sat upon his charcoal black steed.
"Prince Marth. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Marth said. Sirius responded to Marth's introduction with a polite nod. "This is Glacia of my Royal Guard." Marth motioned towards me. Ogma momentarily left his sword implanted in the ground to give my hand a strong shake.
"Ogma. Well met!" Ogma said with a big smile.
"Likewise." I responded. Castor gave me a timid wave as the Grustian children hid behind him. Sirius remained stoic, only responding with a silent nod.
"Let's move and end this battle before any misfortune can befall us," Marth noted, looking at the ongoing battle in the distance. "It seems the enemy is aware of our battle strategy."
"How so?" Sirius asked, maintaining his stoic expression.
"They were able to successfully launch an ambush on Glacia and me near the start of the battle." Marth explained, "A counter-maneuver for a plan conceived minutes before the battle itself…" Cecille had finished off the final swordsman and galloped to my side. "Glacia, what's our strategy from here?" Marth asked, directing attention to me.
"With the progress of the battle so far, we can afford to approach and engage those at the main fort with all we have." I replied, "If they expected a careful tactic, they won't be able to predict our sudden switch to an aggressive tactic fast enough to adapt."
"Let's get moving, then." Ogma said, ripping his sword out of the ground. Sirius seemed to want to say something, but decided against it, remaining silent.
"My liege, if you would allow it, Cecille will guard you as I charge ahead and direct our forces." I said, looking towards Marth. He gave me a strong nod and Cecille took position next to him. "Follow my lead!" Blazemane reared before galloping towards the concluding battle in the distance. Matthis and Sirius followed close behind while Castor and Ogma lagged behind, lacking a speedy mount. Cecille guided Marth and the Grustian children behind them. Luke struck down the last archer right before I blazed past him, motioning for him to follow. With a quick glance at Rody and a shrug, he whipped his steed into a sprint, quickly catching up to me. I looked up to recruit the pegasus sisters to join the charge, but they had already joined, their white steeds making steep dives to increase their velocity.
"A pretty brash move, don't you think?" Luke shouted over the sound of pounding hooves.
"With an enemy that can predict our plan before the battle even begins, brashness is just what we need!" I readied my sword in my hand, "Hit them with all you've got!"
"That's what I do best!" Luke raised his sword to the sky and sprinted ahead with Rody in tow. It wasn't long before the fortress stood tall before us. A small band of axe men stood around a bigger axe man. His higher status was displayed in the form of a red, sleeveless tunic and a similar colored bandana. As he watched our approach, he seemed to be intimidated, bearing a confused and panicked expression, before quickly replacing the ruse with an attack of his own. Luke collided head on with the oncoming onslaught of axes, narrowly dodging the flying axes. Rody came in on the opposing side, attempting a flanking maneuver, but was unsuccessful. From the skies, Catria dove into the middle of the enemy front with her sister, lances at the ready. The element of surprise enabled them to efficiently spread panic throughout their ranks, allowing Luke and Rody to successfully cut through the group.
With their commanding officer taking a back seat, the group of axe men split into multiple smaller groups as Luke and Rody continued to charge through them. From behind me, Sirius sprinted ahead, powerfully striking his opponent with his large lance. Another quickly took his place, but was unsuccessful at launching a surprise attack on Sirius as Castor skillfully landed an arrow in his chest. I engaged two oncoming opponents at once, using the blunt force of Blazemane's body to knock one down and my sharp blade to down the other. A loud grunt came from behind as I turned to see Ogma striking down another two axe men. The remaining axe men were quickly dispatched, leaving their commanding officer out in the open.
He grabbed a silver axe from its housing on his back and wielded it in both hands, ready to stand his ground. Luke and Rody made the first move, charging at his position from opposing sides. With a strong grunt, their target jumped out of the way. Luke and Rody's mounts screeched to a halt to avoid crashing into each other, letting out a surprised whinny. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Viking commander swung his axe at Luke, digging its sharp edge into his back. In an attempt to keep Luke from further harm, Castor let loose a rain of arrows. Luke managed to get out of the range of his axe while he was distracted with blocking the incoming arrows. Ogma ran up to confront him, but stopped several feet in front of him. Ogma pointed the sharp tip of his blade at the enemy commander as they stared each other down.
"Heh, what are you, afraid?" the commander taunted, invoking no response from Ogma, "You're all pathetic, the whole lot a' ya'." He rushed forward and swung at Ogma who quickly blocked the attack with his sword. The two spent a few seconds struggling against the strength of the other before the Viking suddenly lost the struggle and fell to the ground. The smooth sound of a sword retreating into its sheath resonated from behind where he fell as Marth retired his steel blade. Cecille was close by with the Grustian children hoisted onto her saddle, holding onto her waist as tightly as they could. The pegasus sisters landed close by as I approached Marth. Cecille walked up to him as well.
"My liege, that was-" I started.
"I know, but I couldn't just stand back and watch." Marth looked to Cecille, "Cecille and I saw the window of opportunity and took it."
"Without our surprise attack, who knows how badly things could have spiraled out of control." Cecille shot an accusing glance at Luke who was tending to his wound.
"I understand and I think you did the right thing, Cecille." I complimented, causing Cecille to slightly blush, "My apologies. I was just concerned about your well-being, my liege."
"There is no need to apologize, but I will accept it." Marth flashed a small smile at me before turning to the gathering group, "With the Viking threat out of the way, we should head to Wendell's home."
"I can easily lead you to his dwelling." Sirius offered, maintaining his aura of mystery, "Follow me." He turned his horse around and began to walk without a word. I looked towards Marth and he met my eyes. He gave me a silent nod before following Sirius. I hesitated for a moment before I followed suit, with everyone else soon joining me. We walked back around the mountain and towards our encampment. During the walk, I would occasionally motion for an ally to follow me before telling Arran himself to have everyone retreat from the battlefield. Following Sirius soon led us to the village I commanded Julian to protect. I ran ahead and met with him in front of the village.
"Glacia!" Julian shouted, waving at me.
"The townsfolk are safe, I assume." I said as soon as I reached him.
"As safe as can be. What brings you here?"
"We've defeated the Vikings in this area and Sirius led us here in our search for Wendell's house."
"Sirius? Do you mean the masked horseman over there?" He pointed to Sirius as he entered the village gates.
"I do. We should follow him."
"I second that. He doesn't look like the most trustworthy fellow, either." Without further debate, we followed him into the village, passing through increasingly crowded streets. Sirius suddenly stopped at an ordinary house.
"This is his home." He told us before moving out of the way to allow Marth to enter. Instinctively, I jumped off of Blazemane and entered the house close behind him. The home's interior was scarcely decorated and books littered the chairs and tables that filled in the empty spaces on the floor. An elderly man approached us as we entered his home.
"Oh! You're… you're the prince of Altea!" He slowly said as he examined us with his glasses, "How nice of you to drop by, sir."
"I've been told Wendell was living here. Is he here by any chance?" Marth asked. The man slowly shook his head.
"You are correct that he lives here, but unfortunately a group of Archanean soldiers suddenly came and took him away yesterday."
"Did they give a reason?"
"Not a single word about reasons. Wendell did leave this for you, however." He went to a pile of books and shuffled through them before taking out a light blue book. He put the book into Marth's hands. "I believe it is wind magic. Please, take it with you and may it serve you well, prince of Altea."
"Thank you. Please, excuse us." Marth turned and motioned for me to follow him outside. I gave the man a goodbye wave before I stepped outside. "It seems Wendell isn't here." Marth announced to the awaiting crowd, "Let's get back to camp." Everyone slowly maneuvered the streets once again. Marth handed the book to Julian and he placed it in one of the sacks on his belt. With Blazemane's reins in my hands, I kept close to Marth, keeping an eye on Sirius. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead and his expression was unchanging. Once we had left the village gates, I shifted my gaze towards the path ahead instead.
Halfway to the campsite, we came across a thick forest where Jagen was waiting for our return. "Another successful battle." Jagen said to me with a smile. As we continued to the camp, the sound of flapping wings could be heard from behind. I glanced at Catria and then at Palla, noting that their pegasi were grounded. The group stopped to watch a pegasus fly towards us at an alarming rate. Catria readied her reins, but put them back down when a familiar face came into sight. With a loud thud, the pegasus landed on the grass with its frantic rider holding tightly to its reins.
"Marth!" She cried, brushing her long, blue hair out of her face.
"Caeda! Did something happen? Why are you here?" Marth quickly asked as he ran up to her.
"Oh, Marth! Altea… Altea was attacked by the imperial army!" Caeda paused to catch her breath, grasping Marth's hand in her's, "The Archanean League ambushed us! Our… our forces were annihilated and we lost the castle…" She struggled to stop her tears from flowing, but her efforts were ineffective.
"What- Altea…" Marth stuttered, unable to face the sudden news.
"This is terrible beyond words. What we feared the most has come into reality…" Jagen commented, "Emperor Hardin likely heard Lang's story and had us branded as traitors."
"That can't be!" Marth exclaimed, "I refuse to believe Hardin would attack Altea. You're claiming he believed Lang's story that I wished to instigate a rebellion?" Marth released his grasp and fully faced Jagen, "That's preposterous!"
"This attack of this scale seems too quick to have been a recent decision. It is likely the Grust campaign and the situation in Macedon were a setup." Jagen reflected, "They had you leave Altea, with your most elite knights in tow, and attacked when defenses were weakened."
"Are you insisting Hardin planned this? Are you suggesting that Hardin would attack a fellow nation? I can't… I won't accept this!"
"Princess Caeda, what of the others? And Princess Elice?" Jagen asked, surprising the emotional pegasus knight.
"Elice… she… she gave herself up so I could deliver this message." She stopped to wipe away her tears, "Marth, I… I'm so sorry."
"Caeda, please… don't cry." Marth's hand returned to her's, "Just knowing you're safe makes me happy. I should be the one apologizing, I shouldn't have left…"
"If I may interrupt," Sirius suddenly said, catching the party by surprise, "I don't believe you should apologize either, Prince. If anyone was to apologize for this catastrophe, it should be her!" He pointed an accusatory finger at me.
"What-" I started, attempting to defend myself.
"I may have just joined your side, but I can see it as clear as day." Sirius turned to Marth, "Prince, you hired a conspirator as your Royal Guard. There's no other way to say it."
"What is this madness that you speak of!?" Marth cried, "This can't be happening…"
"The Archanean league needed to keep you away from your homeland, thus sending you on those campaigns. Now that we are so far from Altea, how convenient is it for them to attack precisely on this day?" Sirius slowly got off his horse, but kept his lance in his hand, "And how did the Vikings know the plan unless they had someone on the inside? Makes you wonder about the "improvised" tactic. Was it really improvised?" His gaze remained fixed on me as he took slow steps towards me; his words struck me like knives. "Tell me, was it? Being Prince Marth's personal knight, you'd most likely spend most of your time by his side. You are aware of his every move. And when he defeated the Viking commander, you rushed up to him with such a worried look. Is it his well-being you concerned yourself with or was it the failure of your plan to stall him or, curse you if this is true, eliminate him?" I let go of Blazemane's reins and began to take steps back as he got closer, "Perhaps it is your allegiance with the Archanean League that makes the rescue of the Grustian children by Ogma and Prince Marth another check mark in your mission. What do you have to say for yourself!?"
"N-No, none of this is true!" I stammered.
"Words of a traitor!" Sirius angrily shouted. He ran at me with his lance pointed at me. I backed up until my back hit a tree and closed my eyes as the tip of his lance grazed my neck and embedded itself into the trunk of the tree. The lance's large barb sat an inch away from my neck.
"That's enough!" Jagen shouted, ripping Sirius and his lance away from me, "If you are sincere in your wishes to assist us in battle, then we will happily welcome you, but that does not allow you to throw threats and accusations around! Especially at a member of the Royal Guard!" Jagen's sudden outburst caused Sirius to stagger backward somewhat. He quickly retreated to his steed's side.
"Hmph. If you're adamant on trusting her, then there's not much I can do." Sirius grunted and climbed onto his horse, "I only wish to protect the children. Assisting you fools are secondary to that task. I pray you do not regret not heeding my words today." He shortly continued towards the campsite on his own, leaving us to process what had just happened. Once he had left, my body finally relaxed.
"Ridiculous claims from a ridiculous man." He muttered under his breath. I shook myself of the paralyzing shock, noticing the entire party had focused their gaze on me.
"Glacia…" Marth softly said as he took slow steps towards me, "Tell me this isn't true."
"It's not. I'd never do anything to harm you or Altea," Desperation plagued my voice and the cold presence of my necklace became more prominent with each passing second, "Prince Marth, please, you have to believe me." A deadly silence surrounded us as Marth slowly walked up to me. His quivering hands grasped mine and he looked deep into my eyes as he spoke.
"I believed, in my heart, that placing my trust in you was the right thing to do." He paused as he searched for the right words to use, "I refuse to believe his claims about you as much as I refuse to believe Jagen's about Hardin, but please… swear to me that my trust is not misplaced."
"On my grandfather's grave, I swear." I felt a tear leave my eye.
"Good…" Marth's volume lowered as he slowly released my hand. He took a few steps back before turning to walk to Caeda's side. "Let's get back to camp and… process what just occurred." In a deafening silence, one by one, we began to continue our walk back to the campsite. I held myself close to Blazemane's neck as everyone passed by me; their looks of warm compassion turned to cold confusion. Blazemane could sense my pain and rubbed her head against mine. I stroked her head, but I couldn't bring myself to smile. Once everyone had walked away, Julian slowly approached me.
"Hey, you doing alright?" He gave me a gentle pat on the back.
"I really wish I knew…"
"Look, I know the situation looks grim, but I know you can pull through it." He waited as if he expected me to say something, but I couldn't muster up a response, "I personally think everything he said was coincidental. I don't believe a second of it."
"So you still…"
"Yeah, of course I trust you. I'm sure everyone else still does, too. That Sirius is just stirring up trouble. It's not completely improbable that the true criminal here could be him." Julian smiled at the irony of the thought. "Come, I'll take you back to the camp." I resisted his light tug on my arm at first, but after a minute, I let him lead me with Blazemane's reins in my hand. "And to think they'd attack Altea and succeed…" Julian thought out loud, "Say, did you know anyone who stayed back in Altea?" My mind blanked for a few seconds before a clear thought came into my mind.
"Cain!" I blurted.
"Cain?" Julian confirmed, "I doubt he would lose to the likes of them." My sudden panic was reduced to mild concern after hearing those words.
"Do you think he was able to escape..? Like Princess Caeda?"
"No, I know he got out. He's not the type of guy to just give up."
"He really isn't." I admitted with a slight smile, "I hope he's alright."
"Say, what is he to you anyway? You sound really worried."
"He was my teacher. It was his teaching that got me into this position."
"Cain? As a teacher? Never thought he'd take up that profession."
"Why not?"
"He was always the hot-headed type, can't go a day without some action." We reached the edge of the camp and one of the soldiers ran up to me with a hand outstretched for Blazemane's reins. I gave her a look of reassurance before I handed them over. She looked worried about me, but she didn't resist the gentle pull of her reins. We continued our walk in a comfortable silence until we reached my tent. "I know you're probably not going to want to go anywhere around camp, so I'll be right back with a nice meal or two. I'm sure you're starving."
"I… Thank you, Julian." I said. He nodded before disappearing from the tent's opening. I unfurled the tent flaps, completely concealing myself in its confines. I took off my armor and my sword and put them in their usual places. With a quick light of a match, I lit the lantern on the corner of the desk. I propped myself up on the bed as the frame creaked with my movements. I sat on the noisy bed with my back against the small headboard. I held my necklace's cold stone in my hand as it glistened in the lantern light.
I heard a shuffling near the entrance and expected Julian to pop his head in, but I spotted a head with blonde hair instead.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting something, Glacia. May I come in?" It was Warren.
"Of course." I said, masking my sorrow and letting my necklace rest against my chest once again. He slipped in through the flaps, momentarily looking behind himself before entering.
"So I heard from this Sirius guy that you might be…" He hesitated to finish his sentence.
"I know… why are you here then?"
"Oh, so you're aware?" He paused to have a seat on the floor rug, "This is quite a predicament you're in, with both the fall of Altea and your traitorous rumors."
"And I don't know what to do about either of them."
"The answer is simpler than you'd think. From what I've seen, barely anyone in our camp believes what he says. As for Altea, Prince Marth isn't known for giving up when his people are at stake. He'll fight for them with you right beside him."
"I fear I may have lost his trust."
"That's impossible. He's spoken so highly of you, I doubt a stranger's ramblings can break that bond."
"He has?"
"Indeed. While you were recovering from the wound the arrow left in your chest, he couldn't stop thanking me. Claimed you were someone he'd truly trust with his life."
"I wasn't aware…"
"Well, now you are. I guess what I'm trying to say is: don't let this be what breaks you."
"Thanks, Warren, for the advice and for saving my life."
"Anytime." He said, jumping to his feet and preemptively opening the tent door, "Um… take care." He left the tent before I could say farewell. I sat alone in silence as I pondered Warren's words of wisdom. His words made me feel more confident and positive about the situation, but I felt constantly harassed by the possibility that the situation could get worse. A few minutes had passed by before Julian showed up at the entrance with several boxes in his hands. He set them down on the rug and we ate our meal together. Julian was full of stories while I just ate in silence, absorbing all of the little details in his grand stories. I felt refreshed by his storytelling, but today's events were still on my mind. By the time we were done, the crickets were chirping outside and the camp had gone silent. Julian took the boxes and used utensils with him as he left. As I laid on my bed, I struggled to close my eyes, fearing the possibility of terrifying nightmares. Out of pure exhaustion, I managed to keep my eyes closed long enough for sleep to take over.
Soon, I could hear the sound of a familiar voice. "Hey, Glacia. Glacia wake up." I moaned as I felt a hand shaking me. "Come on, wake up." I slowly opened my eyes and saw Cecille standing over me. "Get up, there's something I want you to see." I groggily sat on the side of my bed, taking a few minutes to gather enough strength to stand up. I went to grab my sword when she stopped me. "We won't need any weapons or armor. It's not a late night attack." I felt uneasy with the thought of being sword-less in the world, but I made peace with the idea as Cecille led me by the arm through the nearby forest. The thick canopy shrouded the forest in an ominous darkness with occasional specks of moonlight breaking the solid darkness. We quickly approached a flickering campfire. Its warm glow illuminated the surrounding trees as well as the people sitting around the fire on felled logs. Luke and Rody were sitting together on a log while Marth and Caeda shared one as well. Ryan was chatting with Gordin when Cecille and I claimed the last log.
"With the state of current events, I believe a campfire could help… lighten the mood." Marth said once we had taken a seat, "We cannot afford to lose morale at a time like this."
"If you don't mind me asking, why did you only invite us?" Luke asked.
"Because I believe you will benefit the most from this activity." Marth responded, "I would also like to use this time to..." I could feel his eyes staring through me. "I'd like to start by apologizing… to Glacia. I acted out of fear and confusion. I never should have doubted your loyalty and yet the first thing I did was believe the words of a stranger…"
"My liege, please, don't apologize." I weakly responded.
"But it is the right thing to do. My trust in you hasn't faltered, believe me and… please, forgive me."
"Of course… of course I forgive you." The words slowly left my mouth as I held back my tears of relief.
"Thank you, Glacia." His small smile eased the tension in the atmosphere.
"What will we do about Sirius?" Cecille asked with a hint of anger.
"We will allow him to fight alongside us as, in our situation, we will need all the help we can afford." Marth paused for a moment before continuing, "We will keep a close eye on him at all times until he proves himself to be trustworthy." We silently nodded in agreement.
"Enough about that. Let's take our minds off of the despair, even if it's just for a little while." Caeda added softly.
"Yeah, it won't do us much good to dwell on such a topic." Marth added, "Gordin, I heard your brother saved your life on the battlefield today."
"I, uh, yeah. He did." Gordin stuttered, surprised by the shift in mood, "He shot an axe right out of the air. Right before it hit me."
"That's pretty impressive." Rody commented.
"It- ah, it was just an accident really. A really fortunate accident…" Ryan slightly blushed at the compliment.
"I did something pretty impressive today, too." Luke said with a big smile, "I knocked an arrow right out of the air with my sword right before it hit me."
"That is pretty impressive Luke," Rody said, "But I think we can all agree that it was much more impressive when I knocked an arrow out of the air with my lance." There were a few nods of agreement.
"It's not all that impressive. Once, I was able to catch an arrow with my own hands, inches away from my body."
"Sure, but have you caught an incoming javelin with your own hands?" Rody took a sip from his cup.
"Javelins are easy. I'd like to see you catch a hand axe that was targeted at your face!"
"Never said I haven't."
"Ok, well, how about this? I've reflected a fireball with just a swing of my sword!"
"Get back to me when you've deflected lightning bolts." Rody retorted with a sly smile. Luke got up from his seat, clearly refusing to be bested.
"I could split meteor spells in half without breaking a sweat!"
"Meteors are big targets. You probably wouldn't be able to cut through a swarm of magically summoned insects." Rody took another sip.
"I definitely could!"
"Well, with someone of your caliber on our side, there's nothing to worry about."
"Yeah! There is- wait, are you mocking me?"
"I don't know, am I?" Rody put his cup down next to him. Everyone snickered as Luke tried his best to best Rody.
"You are! Come on, admit it. You're just jealous of my superior skills."
"Oh, trust me, I am." Rody's voice was thick with sarcasm, "I wish I could be just as incompetent as you are." Caeda covered her mouth as she stifled her own laughter.
"Wh-what… I swear-"
"Relax Luke," Rody said with a smile as Luke prepared to launch himself at him, "It's all in good fun." There was a variable amount of laughter echoing through the tranquil night as Luke and Rody continued to take continuous jabs at each other, occasionally taking a few moments to allow someone else to speak about a different subject before using the subject shift to start another back-and-forth conversation between them. The almost continuous entertainment did wonders to my emotional health as my problems seemed to melt away into the flickering light. A couple hours passed by before we unanimously decided that it was best for us to get some sleep before sunrise. The fire was put out and we returned to the campsite together, slowly splitting up to return to our tents. In the end, I walked along the tents with Marth at my side. Before he entered his tent, he turned towards me.
"Glacia, I hope I didn't… hurt you, acting out like that after a stressful battle." He said, eyes glittering in the moonlight.
"It's all in the past now," I said, meeting his eyes with mine, "It's all forgiven. Please, don't worry yourself so much about it, Marth." He momentarily closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Goodnight, Glacia."
"Goodnight."