On the road to Ragna Ferox
When they finally arrived at Ylisse, the Shepherds' numbers had increased by two. They encountered a knight named Sully as well as an unknown archer named Virion. Who was subjected to the same suspicions as Grima first did from Frederick. Especially when the flamboyant archer declared that he wanted to join the Shepherds but refused to give anything but his name. Despite that, perhaps due to Grima himself proving that unknown vagabonds could become useful fighters, Frederick gave his seal of approval after just a few dozen rounds of questioning.
That wasn't the highlight of Grima's visit to Ylisse however, he had been looking forward to meeting the rest of the Shepherds. Of course, it wasn't because he was interested in working with or learning more about them. He was merely curious to the rest of the so called 'hope of humanity' that sought to stand up to him in his future. He assumed that the members he has met so far were just the scouts and that the real powerhouses of the Shepherds were hiding in the capital preparing for battle or something. His expectations were shattered when he realized that the rest of Shepherds consisted of six people, rounding up the group to twelve members. A number barely enough for a platoon. He had this master plan to slowly chip down the Shepherds' forces through numerous unnecessary battles, commanding an army that lost ten or so soldiers every fight. Death was common during wars after all and there was no way suspicions would cast on him for failing to prevent them. But with such small num, ers the entire group would notice if someone got a bruise from falling over. Which one of them did, frequently.
Grima was wondering how the ruler of Ylisse would be able to run a country with such a small 'elite' force. But it turns out that Ylisse did, in fact, have an army and that the Shepherds was just something Chrom had created to protect villages from bandits. Though it did turn out that the Ylissean army wasn't doing too well either, due to a hatred of war from the actions of its previous exalt and the fact the current one wasn't willing conscript soldiers. So that's how Grima found himself traveling to the cold recesses of Regna Ferox.
"I hope that the Feroxi are understanding to our troubles and are willing to form an alliance." Chrom sighed, trudging along the dirt road in front of the other Shepherds.
"Eh, why won't they. We aren't exactly best buddies with them, but they don't hate us like Plegia does, right?" Stahl, one of the new faces that showed himself right before they departed for Ferox, commented.
"Well, I wish it was as simple as that but I guess it doesn't hurt to think positively." Chrom seemed to brighten up a little at Stahl's carefree attitude, "sorry for seeming down, it's just that this mission Emm give us seems pretty important. So I was feeling a little pressure, that's all."
"It is important," Robin's voice cuts in from behind them, "If the Feroxi agrees to be our allies we would be able to make up for few soldiers that Ylisse has. Plegia definitely has more forces than us, we need this alliance if we are to stand a chance against them."
"You're right." Chrom's eyebrows seemed to furrow again with worry. "But that just means we have to take this more seriously. I'll be depending on you and the rest of Shepherds too, Robin."
"Of course."
"We aren't going to let you down, Chrom!" Stahl exclaimed cheerfully.
"Thank you for your support." Chrom laughed.
The journey to Regna Ferox was uneventful until the group was ambushed by a number of Risen warriors led by a commander. Chrom was surprised at Robin's insistence that the Shepherds fight together in pairs rather take on their enemies alone. He was even more surprised when they handled the enemy in record time with only a few injuries. Once again he was glad that Robin was hired to be the Shepherds' tactician. Despite the short time he has been with them he has already accomplished so much.
"Oh hey, what's over there." Chrom looked across the field to the figure of a pegasus grazing in the grass.
"That?' Robin answered, "we found that in a cage near the Risen commander. It was really hostile though, so we just left it alone."
"It seems healthy and we could use a pegasus rider, why don't we take it with us?" Chrom inquired, considering the effect a new pegasus rider would have to the Shepherds' fighting power.
"I just told you it hates everything, who's going to ride that." Robin scowled at the beast.
"Now, now, Robin. The pegasus is a noble and beautiful creature, I'm sure it was just frightened." Chrom reassured, making his way to the winged horse. "You just have to be gentle and-"
Chrom couldn't finish his sentence as the pegasus reared on its hind legs and flapped its wings. Creating a gust of wind that knocked the prince back on the grass. Robin smirked and made his way to Chrom, "See? Told you it was-"
Sensing the tactician approach the pegasus' eyes produced a hateful glare as if Robin was the sole source of hate and evil in the world. It turned around, raised its hind legs, and kicked the white haired man in the face with all its strength.
"Arrrrrrrgggghhhh!" Now it was Chrom's turn to run over to Robin's side, glancing worriedly at the tactician's bloodied nose. "Robin! Are you alright?"
"Yes… I'm fine. The pegasus is indeed a noble and beautiful creature… I wonder what it tastes like."
"NOOOO! You can't eat it!" A voice called out from behind them.
"Sumia?" Chrom exclaimed, "Wait, get back! You'll get hurt!"
"She will get hurt anyway…" Robin muttered, before falling unconscious.
Sure enough, Sumia quickly tripped over what appeared to be a blade of grass and face planted into the dirt.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh? Ah... yes! I mean no… I mean yes!" Sumia stammered trying to get back on her feet. "No… I mean… Pegasi are not for eating!"
"I didn't we were gonna eat it..." Chrom tried to defend himself, he didn't want to be known as a prince who eats pegasi to his subjects. "Anyway, get back from there that pegasus is dangerous-"
Chrom's words stopped in his throat as he watched the previously vicious pegasus become docile at Sumia's touch. He found that he couldn't tear his eyes away from her as she stroked its mane and whispered gentle words into its ear. At least he couldn't until he realized that his prized tactician still laid on the ground beside him, bleeding.
"Robin! Sorry, I'll take you to Lissa right away!"
To say that Grima wasn't having the best day was an understatement. First, he was ambushed by Risen before he could figure out how to handle the Shepherds' combat situation. So he played it safe and had them babysit each other, so if one of them died the blame wouldn't rest entirely on him. However, to his disgust, the plan had worked too well and the Shepherds' survivability actually went up. That wasn't the worst thing that happened, however, upon further investigation. Grima had realized that the Risen warriors they faced were originally Plegian soldiers who were killed by the Feroxi. After their death, they were made to fight again by Grimleal sorcerers. Which would be a clever plan were it not for the fact that before their death the Plegian platoon was transporting a hideous beast via a cage. A beast that was let loose by the Shepherds after the battle and had committed atrocious crimes against him. A beast that was allowed to stay with them despite that, because someone had supposedly tamed it. The only good thing to happen so far was that the Feroxi apparently didn't believe that Chrom was the real prince. No doubt because of another one of Gangrel's schemes, but it presented an excellent opportunity.
Grima weaved his way between the fighting soldiers to target, a burly Feroxi man carrying an axe and many scars on his body. He had an air of ferociousness that showed he wasn't just a typical soldier, he was strong and, if Grima could hope, important. The man saw Grima approaching and laughed.
"So a runt like you hopes to challenge the great Rago!"
"Are you strong?"
"Strong? Rago is the strongest in all of East Ferox!"
"Good," Grima smiled, "Anathema."
The great Rago could only watch as his body refused to move and Grima's sword slid into his chest. Chuckling, Grima grabbed the lifeless body and threw it next to Chrom who was concentrated on fighting three Feroxi warriors.
'The prince of Ylisse slaying a great warrior of the country that he wishes to form an alliance with.' Grima laughed, 'Now, how will this play out?'