Horsebow Moon, Imperial Year 1178

"So, Gilbert, is this your first time in the Alliance?"

"No. I've been here a handful of times before."

There wasn't much else to do on their march east but converse. No bandit group was gonna attack a group this big and heavily armed. Shamir hadn't much to say.

"Before you joined the Knights?"

The older knight nodded. "Indeed. Mostly for security. I was never much one for diplomacy, even if I learned it as part of my upbringing."

"You have any opinion on the Alliance?"

"None particularly. What about you, Sir Jeralt?"

"I've heard the Roundtable lords can be pretty cutthroat but what noble isn't?"

"There are many good men among the nobility. Even if so many have rotted to the core in violation of the tenants."

This was sounding like a nerve best left untouched. "Well, Holst is supposed to be pretty fair and even-handed so we shouldn't have any difficulty with him." Count Gloucester on the other hand...

"Oh? Were you not part of the Knights during General Goneril's attendance of the academy?"

He'd taken a leave to be with Marigold around that time. "I was busy with personal affairs."

"Ah, then I will not pry."

"I will." Alois threw himself into the conversation. "That was around the time you and the missus were tying the knot, wasn't it?"

Jeralt shot him a nasty glare which Alois just grinned off. "Yeah."

"You and she were just perfect together! I have no idea why you're always so secretive about her. Heck, you didn't even want to tell me."

Too much Rhea in the story to come clean. "I just wanted to respect our privacy together."

"I would have loved to have the two of you over for dinner." And there he went making up his own scenario again. "Oh how lovely that would have been." Jeralt just shook his head. There was no stopping him on these sort of rants. "Why, we should bring your family over too, Gilbert!"

"Have you perchance confused me with someone else?" the man's tone took a grim countenance and a stern glare accompanied it.

"No. I see you writing letters to them all the time."

Alois sneaking up on someone wasn't something that happened. Ever. Gustave must have been deeply absorbed in whatever he was writing to not notice him.

"Then I will write in it." That glare didn't drop, even if the tone softened.

"Wonderful!"

The conversation mostly died down after that and Jeralt didn't bother to reignite the fire burning within Gilbert.

The village was about the same in size and construction as any other village he'd passed in his long life. Wooden buildings, a scattered and random assortment of locations and sizes with every building unique in some fashion. All centered around a square of larger, older structures. The man difference was a lack of animal pens. Only a few farms had them. None with actual animals in them. Even the farmland seemed empty, thought not desolate. There were a few large lodges that Jeralt recalled as a hunter's residence. But the racks of hunter's prey were empty.

Something had struck this village. He attuned his eyes further to the sight. The telltale marks of battle damage. A broken hinge here, scorch marks there and replacement boards for smashed walls. No one was out. Everyone was eyeing them behind shuttered windows. They'd been the victim of a bandit attack. And quite recently, it seemed.

Jeralt dismounted at the village hall and gave a swift knock on the door. "We're no bandits," he added on, even if it would be obvious.

A man peered through one of the dirty windows. "What do ya want?" his words loud even through the cloth.

"Shelter, for the night. That's all."

"We aren't puttin' up wit' another one of 'His Lordship's' dunderheads!"

"We're not with… His Lordship." This was Glouscter territory, but that didn't mean he was the direct ruling lord of this place. "We're with the Holy Church of Seiros." Where being a noble closed doors—the village hall opened—the church could open them.

Jeralt stepped inside the building. A mixture of candlelight and natural light contrasting his eyesight. The inside was much the same as the outside. A scattering of benches and tables with most of them damaged in some way. A pile of scrap wood sitting in a corner. No real fineries to be seen. Just a few people of various ages.

"Forgive the rudeness," the man said. A bushy mustache punctuating each word. "Every man Count Gloucester's sent us has taken our food, drink and coin then done nothing." Man was a few months away from being skin and bones.

"Pretty bold of them to take work then default on it."

"Not'in my intent, sir. They either get feathered by the poachers or find nothing and head home head held high."

"It's poachers, not bandits that are doing this?"

"'Bout half the time." he nodded. "Other half is dem who's been hired to take care of them. Mercenaries or soldiers. Neither much care for the folk like us."

Couldn't bring Rhea through here then. "We can share our rations, if your people are hungry." They had enough to spare.

"Thank ya kindly, m'lord." The man bowed deeply. "But anything ya give us will just get a target put on our backs."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but why haven't you left then? They can't have the numbers to stop you."

"Leave our home?!" The man stomped his food. "I'd sooner suckle the count's favorite cow than let some poacher who couldn't handle it as a real hunter force me outta me home!"

That sure was some imagery. "Right…" It wasn't their mission but... "Well, if we take care of this for you, would you consider… Well, no, we'll take care of it free of charge and still pay for room and board." These folks needed more everything than the Broken Blade did.

The man bowed his head three times. "Mighty kind of ya sir, but whatcha be thinking you have more luck than the rest o' the men sent before ye?"

"I've hunted down Brigid attack parties during the war. A few poachers aren't gonna put up much fight compared to them."

"Brigid boys don't know the woods like these poachers do. They're been ruinin' our hunts fer years. You go blunderin' into der poachin' grounds you be comin' back a corpse."

Years? Not months? What was Count Gloucester doing? The man wasn't even close to inept enough to let something like this go unanswered, if only to protect his reputation alone. "I've got some woodsmen in my employ. Should be enough to drag them into a proper fight." Enough physicians to make sure any injuries they take could be handled.

"Appreciate the concern my fine fellow. But I ain't askin' ya to go doin' somethin' so dangerous fer no gain."

"Nonsense. We'd shame the Knights of Seiros if we just left you in need. If you're concerned about what we get out of this, then it will improve relations with the Alliance." Relations were good, but they could always be better. Especially if the war between the Kingdom and Empire ever broke out.

The man rubbed his chin, looking for a way to get out. "Doesn't do my heart good lettin' fine folks like you out to get hurt."

"And leaving you to deal with these poachers doesn't sit right with me, either."

The man expelled a breath. "Fine, fine. Lemme talk it over wit' the fellas. If they agree we'll tell you what we know."

"Thank you."

"That's what I should be doing." The man gave a crooked grin. "Round in, boys!" he shouted. "We got something to discuss."

Not wanting to influence things, Jeralt headed back outside. Half the Broken Blade had dismounted to give their rears a rest and a few villagers were tepidly coming out and chatting. Some were even inspecting the horses. One in particular was inspecting his horse.

Jeralt walked up to the girl. A messy bundle of eiry orange hair sitting on her head. Not too unlike Gilbert, comparing them. "He's a fine stallion," he said.

"Oh, he's yours? He looks big and strong. I thought. We-we don't have horses anymore."

"Well, that'll change soon enough."

"Another group come to take care of the poachers, huh?" A half-faded smile dropping on her lips. She'd already resigned herself to their failure.

"We're pretty good at this kind of thing."

"That's what they all say."

How many groups had they gone through, throughout the years? "I look forward to seeing you think otherwise."

"So would I," she admitted. "I just learned not to get my hopes up."

"You're pretty down for a kid your age." Younger than Byleth, younger than students. Maybe a few years out from going to the academy if a country kid could make it.

"They called me kid too. But I'm the one still standing and dragging their bodies out of the forest when they get stuck."

"They left their own men behind?" What incompetence had been hired here?

"Mostly. Sometimes the poachers leave them as warnings instead."

If they were leaving corpses as messages the people here were really crazy to stay. "That's pretty grisly."

"I'm used to it. Even before they showed up I was out hunting with my dad. I learned to handle death real quick being a hunter."

She had some muscle and a new look at her hands showed the calluses attributed to both bow and lance. "Yeah, you look pretty good with spear and bow."

"Whoa, yeah, how'd you know? Most visitors just laugh me off." She looked around, maybe thinking she'd left something obvious.

"Your hands."

"Huh?" She looked at them to some confusion. "You can tell just by my hands?"

"I've been doing this for a long time. I know how hands look when they hold a tool." He removed his glove and showed her his own. Harder by a thousand times but the toughened skin was in similar spots. "I've dealt with men twice as hard as some poachers." He returned his glove.

"Maybe you will win but…" she grimaced a bit at the idea. "You don't know the woods like them."

"That's what the old guy said."

"Yeah, my dad and I have been trying to find'em for years."

He probably should have realised that. Not many people had hair that fiery. "Any luck?"

"Wow, you're actually asking. You're the first group that actually cared enough to do that."

Good grief what incompetents were sent here? "Not a compliment I'd want but you know where they're striking from?"

"Yeah, there's this ridge about two hours' trek north. Gives'em enough of a spot to see anyone in big clankin' armor comin'. Or hear it. So they either run or take'em out. Been happening for years and each time the hirelings reject our help and take our money. Yet our great noble lord still taxes us like we're sitting on thrones of gold." Her orange eyes rolled so hard it must have been painful.

"Then if we team up we can take them by surprise and finally put an end to this."

"Wow, never thought I'd hear those words. You tell those to my dad?"

"I will if he wants our help."

"I'm sure he will with that attitude." She had a smile and her fists were clenched tight in anticipation. "Oh, I should probably introduce myself, huh? My name's Leonie Pinelli."

A hundred years and his manners were still crooked. "Jeralt."

"I hope we can finally take out those lousy poachers together, Jeralt."

Suddenly into town rode thirty-forty-fifty more horsemen. All armored heavily and packs full with supplies. From their middle rode a man brimming with swagger and confidence and highborn taste.

"Have no fear, people of Sauin Village. I, Lorenz Hellman Gloucester, have come to rid you of those unfortunate bandits."

Well, that timing sure was incredible.

Count Gloucester's son was a pompous git like few Jeralt had ever seen. Every word was placating the people with "noble's duty" his heritage and constant reassurances that he wouldn't rest until the poacher problem had been solved once and for all. He dismissed entirely the concerns of the villagers, all their words of warning and downplayed any desire they had to help. It was frustrating to watch, but Jeralt knew he'd get his own turn so just stayed aside until the villagers just gave up in sheer frustration at the bloody-minded foolishness of the lord's son.

"So, you are the latest band of men come to rid these woods of their unfortunate circumstances?" Purple hair in a bowl cut, a face sharply downwards like a lance point. Purple eyes that spent every moment looking down at everyone around him. A slim figure bulked somewhat by a set of armor that had never seen so much as a scuff. His finger cradling a red rose upon his breast at all times.

This was not going to be pleasant at all. "I am, yes."

"Your altruism is greatly appreciated. However, my troop shall take over caring for the safety of Sauin Village. You may continue on your way at your own convenience."

"I hate to break it to you kid, but a big group like this isn't gonna be able to take care of these poachers."

"Mind your tongue, knave!" one of the cavaliers escorting the boy proclaimed.

"Please, Alfred, this is not a formal sitting. This man may voice his concerns, no matter how lax his mannerisms."

Patronizing punk. "The poachers have high ground and a wide view. They'll see you coming if they don't hear you. You aren't gonna get a decent fight out of them charging in like a noble knight."

"Scattering them without incident would be quite the beneficial act."

He had half a good idea, at least. "And when they come back?"

"We shall be garrisoning this village for quite some time. Should they return they will know the full fury of our lances."

"Then they'll be harassing some other village."

"Where we will ride to and scatter them for sure!" His men gave some cheers to that.

"Sure. But why put someone else in danger when you can take them out now?"

"You have a fair point. What is it you suggest?"

He was actually listening? Or just indulging his "lesser?" Either way… "The villagers know where the poachers have laid up. If we work together with them, we can sneak around and take care of these bandits for good."

"Sneak? Like a common thief? I think not!"

"Well, we'll be doing the sneaking…"

"Who does this act is without concern. Such a scheme is unbecoming of the nobility and beneath common decency."

This kid was gonna get a harsh lesson when he needed to use things "beneath him".

"This is why I don't like nobles," Leonie said, her face scrunched together at the whole affair. "You'd rather they get away just so you can prance all fancy?"

"How we conduct ourselves when dealing with the most deplorable of people is just as important. More so, even. Though your tactics may be effective what message does it send to others of their ilk? We will crawl and debase ourselves just to rout you? Preposterous!"

"What kind of message are you sending letting them get away?"

"Daughter, hush…" her father tried to placate her. She got too uppity the boy would want her head.

"Such a lack of grace is common to the commons," the boy said, one twitch away from an outburst. "Someone who has learned nothing of combat's graces should not speak as an expert."

Time to deal with this. "Don't give me that act." Jeralt crossed his arms. "You haven't gone to the Officers Academy yourself. She's as much a tactical adept as you are."

"Whether I have graced that splendid hall or not is not the point. Since birth I have been trained and fed and bred for such a thing. It is my very destiny itself."

"But you don't have any practical experience."

The noble bit back a bark. "One must always start somewhere."

Jeralt strode forward. "Then this is the first lesson I would have taught at the academy. Listen to people who know better than you."

"Who exactly do you think you are?"

"Jeralt Eisner, nice to meet you."

"The Blade Breaker?!" Every one of the troop came about in shock. "Why did you not introduce yourself sooner?" He was nearly fawning now.

"Errr, is he really that big a deal?" asked Leonie.

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, he is," said Lorenz. "Leader after leader of Fódlan learned combat from him—my father included. Captain of the Knights of Seiros. The strongest knight to ever live. He who could vanquish a Demonic Beast in a single strike!" This was really embarrassing. "If I'd known we had a legend before us I would have improved my manners."

"I don't like to brag and making sure people don't know who I am lets me get a better read on them."

The words caused a nervous chuckle to come from Lorenz. "Yes, well, I do hope I've made some positive impression at least."

"We'll talk more when you're at the Officers Academy. But right now? No. I'm not impressed."

"I take it my conversation with this young woman proved inadequate? Should I have instead listened to people unfamiliar with the full rigors of combat instead? I think not." He puffed his chest out to reclaim some control of the situation.

"Dismissing people out of hand is what I have a problem with. Her, me. You never even asked your own knights their opinions and I much doubt the count would let you ride off with some newly knighted… knights." There had to be a better way to end it, but screw it.

"It is the duty of the noblemen to lead."

"How do you intend to lead if you don't listen?"

"That is…" The boy plunged himself deep in thought. "Yes, I agree that your side has quite the weight to it. However, listening to the opinions of all who beseech me for a moment of my time would soon leave us little daylight to act. One must consult only those most learned."

"And these people are most learned in the forestry. So, listen. to. them."

The boy too small for his high horse looked throughout all the villagers half gathered around. "Oh, very well. Girl, if you would?"

"If you would use my name," Leonie needled him.

"Yes, how very rude of me. I have already introduced myself but it would be rude to not give my name before asking another. I am Lorenz Hellman Glouscter. May I have the honor of knowing yours?"

"Leonie."

"Hello, Leonie. Now, as Sir Jeralt has so kindly instructed me, how would you go driving these bandits out of your hunting lands?"

"Like he said, just send a group up and around. We know these woods, we know where they keep their camp and we know how to get up there unseen."

"Yet you've been unable to take such a matter into your own hands."

She frowned because she knew he had a point. "We're hunters. Of animals, not people."

"That is an admirable candace, however you just suggested you'd accompany Sir Jeralt, correct?" She gave a begrudging nod. "How certain are you your hands will not hesitate when it comes to drawing a bowstring against another human being?"

"I could ask the same of you!"

"I have lived seventeen years preparing for this very moment. Every muscle in my shapely body, every combed hair on my head: finely crafted for war."

Jeralt put a hand on the girl's shoulder to back her up. "She or her father may hesitate, but we don't."

"Certainly not. Yet both sides of this arrangement miss a vital component. Even sharing in the burden would not compensate, not fully."

"It's a better idea than a frontal charge."

"Is it?" Byleth popped up after a lifetime of quiet. "If they run from a frontal charge, Leonie will know where they're running to."

"And where we can plant an ambush instead," said Jeralt. "Yeah, they'll have to leave in a rush, be careless."

Lorenz wanted nothing to do with a good idea however. His jaw had gone slack at the prospect. "Now you speak of using us as a distraction?"

"If it works it works."

"Such a scheme is beneath the nobility."

"You get your frontal charge, we get the work done. The bandits are done it. That's best for the lot of us." Jeralt crossed his arms. "Now, you can go do this on your own, but does it sound like you're being appreciated for ignoring their opinions?"

One of the Glouscter knights whispered to their little lordling. "Hmph, very well. Though your tactics lack the grace of nobility they will no doubt be effective."

Least he wasn't an entirely useless pompous git. "Then let's get down to business."

Leonie and her father (Arthur) helped draw out the surrounding location and the spot the poachers had laid up. This was their land, they'd been hunting on it for generations. They knew every fallen tree, little hole and the sneaky back path to the ridge the poachers had set up. It was a thin cave, only a single man's width through the hill they'd perched on. But the time it'd take to circumvent the entire hill with horses would have easily let them escape. And the incline up was steep and poked with holes. All overlooking a nice big clearing so even foot soldiers couldn't get in without notice. It would be a difficult spot to hit. Byleth's ambush was easily their best bet.

Hashing out the plan was simple. One of the hunters would lead Lorenz and his battalion through the clearing. This would scare the poachers into fleeing through the cave. After about half were through on the other side the Broken Blade would ambush them. With their forces cut in half they'd be simple to restrain.

The noble protested the indignity of it and tried to counter argue to an obnoxious degree but Jeralt just threw his full weight behind the plan and that was that. Still, he made sure some of the Blade were on watch so the brat didn't try anything on his own. A fear that found no purchase.

The next day the two groups set out to enact their part of the plan. The shiny armor of the Glouscter knights practically blinding compared to the minimal battleworn armor of the Broken Blade. That presence would be an incredible boon for the assault.

Only a handful-and-a-half of Broken Blade were going on this. More than enough for mere bandits. All the heavy troops left behind, like Gilbert. Couldn't do work with all that noise.

Didn't stop people from whispering though.

He was surprised it was Shamir though. "I have to admit the way you handled the noble kid was pretty good."

"You just gotta know how to use'em right."

"Is that so?" she smirked. "Maybe I'll learn a thing or two this way." Without another word she walked off. What a confusing woman.

It was then Leonie's turn to lean in and whisper. "Hey, I just want to say thanks, you know? Coming in here, taking on your problems and making sure 'his lordship' doesn't mess it all up."

There was still time for the latter. "You're welcome."

"I mean, everyone hears about the Knights of Seiros and the goddess doing all her work and that. Just, never thought I'd get to see it in action myself."

"Well, we're really doing it for ourselves."

"That's true. You helped for yourself, but the goddess sent you to us in the first place."

"More-or-less."

"I hope I get to go to Garreg Mach one day," she said. "Give a big prayer to the goddess for sending you today."

Kid would half get her wish in a few days. "Let's concentrate on getting through this next fight." Even if it wouldn't be much of one.

"Right." Her eyes went wide at something. "Do you hear that?" She looked up at the sky, trying to discern something through the canopy. "Birds. Something's spooked'em good."

Most birds got spooked if you went anywhere close. "You think Lorenz's group did something stupid?"

"Yeah. Those aren't the type of bird to get scared just by some people walking. They must be making a lot of noise."

Ahhh dammit. They were still ten minutes outside their position. He'd smack the brat for that stupidity. "Full speed people." The Broken Blade went from stealthy slow march to hasty run as they followed Leonie and the other hunters through the woods. The hill peaking through on their right as they circled north.

There was no time to plant and ambush as the poachers were already fully through the pass. Their bows came up and they loosed their arrows. Fire and arrow flew back and the Broken Blade charged into melee. Slower than they should have. Should have never needed in the first place.

The poachers weren't a threat against such veterans of war up close but a lucky arrow took Dolph in the neck. Byleth couldn't save him.

The five poachers that survived the first engagement surrendered right after that. Jeralt was good and ready to slug the prat for wasting the plan. The return back to Sauin was miserable and quiet; where Lorenz and his cavaliers waited atop their horses. Their armor now scuffed by the travel in the forest.

"My word!" the noble boy said. "Attend to them at once!" The knights lowered themselves and ran forward with bandages and ointments for the scraps and bruises not taken care of beforehand.

"What happened?" Jeralt flatly demanded.

"We encountered a detachment of the bandits earlier than anticipated," his tone was forcibly kept even. "We dispatched them in all due haste and hurried forward on the idea our clash would resonate with their compatriots above. By the time we reached their camping ground, it had been cleared entirely."

A scouting party? Pretty opposite everything he'd been told and completely nonsensical on its own. If a scouting party see either group arrive yesterday the bandits would have left yesterday. The boy had his eyes set and back straight. Doing his best to give composure, even in light of what had to be the first death he'd ever seen.

"That's a lie!" Leonie shouted out. "All the years the poachers have been here they haven't used scouts once!"

"I assure you," his voice straining, "there were them."

"Then where's the bodies, huh?"

"Being disposed of by our rear guard."

"A likely story!"

"For what purpose would I have to lie? If I wanted no part of your ambush I would have struck out on my own regardless. Your accusations are baseless and crass and do a disservice to the man who died."

"Don't act like you care! We've had these poachers for years and you and your dear old dad haven't done a thing about them!"

"How dare you?!" The man was more shocked by that than the actual fight. "We have sent mercenary after soldier here to handle this problem. I have come to see it through personally. To accuse me of a lack of care is absurd!"

"A bunch of idiots who don't know there way around these woods is your example of caring?" Leonie stomped the ground. "All you nobles are alike." Her father tried to stop her but she just brushed him off. "You take and you take and expect us to be happy with scrapes."

"No one should be receiving scrapes in the first place!" He had that point in his favor, at least. "On its very way is a relief convoy filled with enough food to last your village through the winter."

"Oh, thank you, mister kind noble. Making us pay for this food then making us pay taxes right after."

"Do not be absurd. What use is there in taxing a village on the verge of poverty? Such a thing is abominable and utterly ignoble."

"Then why have your tax collectors come through when your soldiers cannot, huh?"

"That's more a question for the tax advisory than myself, but I believe a partial refund is included within the convoy."

"Errr… really?"

Jeralt was in just as much disbelief as the actual villagers. He could count on one hand the amount of times a noble actually returned money to the peasants.

"Why of course," the boy attempted to smooth his voice over. "Continuing to collect taxes on a village unable to pay them would damage the local economy even further. Ensuring everyone has a stable base by which to grow and prosper with is the duty of a noble."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

Two days later they saw it. It was more money than the Broken Blade actually had in their traveling expenses and enough food for just beyond the winter. Leonie avoided Lorenz the entire rest of the time the Broken Blade were in town. The boy went about making sure things were probably distributed and clarified before riding back to his father with some idea about reforming the tax system.

What an unusual noble.

AN: Thank you for the reviews and support.

Response to Reviews on this Chapter. Yes, Lorenz is supposed to be at the School of Sorcery in Fhirdiad but the increased political unrest in the Kingdom now dissuaded him for Broken Blade.