Author's Note: School has started, so expect updates to be a little slow. I'll try to pump out a new edited chapter a week, but I can't promise that with the amount of work I have. However, I promise I plan to write this and the sequel in their entirety this time, and unless I specifically say otherwise, know that the next chapter is coming. Also, this chapter was a long one. With a ton of rewriting. I've made some much more major changes to the story here. So if you have read the previous story, here's where things officially start to diverge.
Chapter 12: Beyond the Borders
How had he discovered that Maria was a spy? He felt like it was some grand tale in his head, but one that was remarkable simple once said out loud. She had walked up to him one evening, and told him.
"So… you aren't like us." He had said, scratching his head in confusion.
"Well duh, not everyone can be like you or Jaffar." She said, in that Bernese dialect he couldn't be sure was her true accent.
"I suppose not." He said, falling silent.
"But you seem different." She said, giving a little laugh.
"I do, do I? And why do you think that?" He asked.
"Because your eyes look sad." She said, looking at him seriously for the first time since they had met.
"You expected elsewise?" He asked, genuinely put off by her question.
"Duh! Why stay if you're not happy?" She said with a smile.
"…" It was the first time he'd ever truly entertained the notion. "I have something to do." He said finally, though half of that particular statement was a lie.
"Really? And what's that?" She pried, leaning closer in a conspiratorial manner.
From some reason, he ended up telling her his plan. He had figured if escape was something he was going to try no matter what, he should also take that chance to release Nils and Ninian from their captivity. If Nergal had three escapees to deal with rather than one, it was likely that at least those two could escape the web.
"Oh. Well then, I'll help you!" She said, smiling and putting her hands behind her head.
"You're insane." He said, with the smallest of snorts.
"Maybe. But I'm also a spy." She said, before turning to leave. It took a moment for the information to sink in, and a full minute before he realized she hadn't been joking when she said it. That was when their uneasy alliance had been formed, to save themselves from the tangled webs of Nergal's net.
Will dodged Lyn's strike for the third time. It had now been three days since their last battle against the Ganelon bandits. Will's hand was mostly healed, but to use his sword for an extended period of time would no doubt open the wound once more. The weapon that had struck him may have caught a nerve, as he couldn't feel himself gripping the weapon as well as before. He couldn't be sure that it wasn't just the injury combined with trying to take it easy though, so he dismissed it.
"So, is it any better?" Lyn asked, striking again. This time she used the diagonal swing Will had emphasized to her before.
"Meh. It'll recover in time. I'm more worried about screwing up and getting another injury." Will replied while attempting to dodge. He failed, the practice weapon striking his leg as he unsuccessfully dove off to the side.
"I win." Lyn said with a smirk.
"Naturally." Will said. "It wouldn't do for the leader to lose to her tactician, now would it?"
"Oh come on. You're not telling me you went easy." She said, doing a very good fake pout.
"No way. I lost fair and square." He said with a laugh. The two decided that was enough for the day, and walked back to camp while chatting about the march ahead.
After easing some tensions in camp after the battle, we set out once again to Caelin. To get across the border would finally put us in Lycia, which I believe would prevent the Ganelon Bandits from pursuing us further. For a moment, I think I can see Lyn imagining the face of the grandfather she's never seen…
"Not that it'll last." Will muttered, closing the notebook again. Peace never seemed to last long. It was a small hope that they'd get any further without trouble. He wouldn't say it, though he was sure everyone else was thinking it as well.
"The border is almost upon us." Kent said, riding at the front with Sain. Florina was overhead surveying the oncoming terrain for them, and Will walked with Dorcas, Lyn, and Wil.
"We'll be safe from bandits once we cross the border into Lycia, right?" Lyn asked. It was obvious she was tired of Ganelon as much as the others were. She looked in particular at Will, who guessed she had been peeking over his shoulder as he wrote. Writing while walking was one of his skills he took pride in.
Will nodded slowly. "It's not impossible that they would follow us, but I doubt they want to risk being seen as a threat by the Lycian League."
Sain was obviously enjoying being close to home, as he spread his arms wide. "Lycia at last! It's been far too long! By tomorrow we can dine on Lycia's finest food! And the mistress of the inn at the crossing is said to be a real beauty!"
You say that about most women. Will, Kent, Dorcas, Wil, Lyn, and Florina thought at the exact same time. Though to be fair every women he had said that about was quite good looking. Not that any of the men would acknowledge him for it.
"Nothing better to restore a man's souls than food and love! A fine evening we'll have, eh Kent?" He said, not noticing the complete deadpan look Kent gave him in return.
"If your behavior is as deplorable as ever, we'd be better off passing by the inn completely." Kent replied, which made Sain looked horrified.
"We aren't here for 'sightseeing,' my friend. I should also note that if we don't want to be tracked, it's better to stick to the wilderness." Will said.
"But… but… that's not fair!" Sain said, obviously wishing he hadn't said anything.
"The inn will be fine." Lyn said, simply. The others looked at her in surprise. Being used to the outdoors as she was they thought she would prefer the wilderness to the wildness of a tavern. Even Will was surprised, though he shrugged and gave in without another word.
"By your command." Kent said, bowing ever so slightly in Lyn's direction.
"You are truly an angel from on high my lady!" Sain called, raising his arms to the heavens.
Lyn couldn't help but blush slightly. "It's nothing. Just forget it." She said. Florina touched down, apparently needing to give Huey a rest from scouting duty. She must have heard the whole conversation from where she was though.
"It'll be nice to have a bed to rest in, won't it?" She said with a small smile.
Wil stretched. "I might actually have a good night's sleep for once." He said.
"What, you haven't lately?" Will said, jokingly.
"Nope, how could I? Sleeping on the ground is normal, but the watch schedules always kill me. Now a bed with a good meal and no guard duty? That's luxurious." He said, joking back. Everyone laughed together as they continued on their way, looking forward to the promise of a good nights sleep.
"Damn." Will said after a time, and everyone looked at him. He was looking forward on the path ahead.
Lyn must have seen it too. "They just don't give up."
Everyone's weapons were drawn in a flurry of movement. Three men were approaching them quickly, weapons held in each of their hands. They were obviously Ganelon, though how they could tell none of them were entirely sure.
"Here, I've found them!" One of them said.
Wil sighed. "Still after us, are you? Can't you just give up?" He asked, which seemed to piss them off more than necessary.
"You won't get away so easily!" Said the second man. "Ganelon won't let you! We'd be thought of as softies if we did!"
Lyn stepped forward, the Mani Katti at her side. "We care not for your reputation. Get in our way, and you'll pay."
Will had been looking intently at the third man the whole time. He had a hood on, which hid his face from view. However, Will could swear that he had seen that hooded robe before.
"Bah, fine then." Said the first. "Let's get them lads! Wipe them all out! No holding back! Kill all of them!" As he shouted, an entire battalion of bandits emerged from their hiding spots. This was vastly different from before. The bandits were in twos and threes, and had surrounded their much smaller group entirely with their numbers.
What was far worse than that, at least for Will, was that this strategy was very familiar to him. He had seen it used several times before during the time he wanted nothing better than to forget. As he was trying to gather his thoughts, he noticed the two bandits and the man in the hood were retreating. "Hey, wait!" He shouted, to no avail. The hooded man placed one finger to his hood (Which would have been his lips if it had not been for the hood which obscured his features) and didn't say a word.
Everyone was now looking at him. We need a strategy, not useless thoughts and a tactician who can't make tactics because he's distracted. "Damn it." He said, smacking himself once in the arm for good measure.
"Will, are you…" Lyn began, but Will cut her off curtly.
"Fine, Lyn. Give me one second here." Will said, placing a finger to his head in what both Wil and Sain had coined 'The Tactician Trance.' Numbers greater than our own. All numbers seen are near areas where it would be easy to hide more reinforcements. Forests, broken down buildings. Lulling us into seeing false numbers. Conversely surrounded tactics won't aid us. Need to break the circle, get our own footholds. Mountains best chance, least likely to be fortified and held easily by bandits. Tactician on their side something to take into account. Don't let emotion rule, but kill him as soon as possible to break enemy formation. Without planner plan falls apart. He opened his eyes, tapping his head with that same finger that had begun the thought process, and began to speak. "They may look like they're all out in the open, but I guarantee at least one other is hidden near each bandit you see, be extra careful when engaging them. Don't move in less than a pair, preferably threes. Most importantly we need to break their circle, and get to the mountains over there." He pointed them out to the others. "That area is likely the least fortified, as even bandits won't risk the rocky terrain. They could also break their weapons on a missed swing, rather than using them in the forests or plains where there are only trees and dirt."
"Don't we run the same risk of breaking our weapons?" Kent asked seriously, eyeing the mountains.
"It's a risk we'll have to take. I'll trust that to your skills, which I've seen firsthand. At worst we may lose a sword or an axe, but our lives are far more important in the long run." Will said. The group seemed to agree with him, and he smiled. "I'll make sure we get out of this, don't worry. Now, as for the groupings…"
Mark threw back his hood, pulling out his Aurora tome. A nostalgic smile began to light his face. "This will be fun, Will. I can't wait until you make it to me. I can't wait to… convince you." He said, laughing evilly.
"We'll kill all of them, and see our honor as bandits restored!" The leader shouted, and the men all cheered.
"WE'RE LOST! I'M SO PISSED!" The Pink haired cleric yelled, a purple haired mage trailing behind her.
"You told me you knew where you were going this time, Serra." He sighed, and she turned around indignantly.
"What's your point, Erk?" She asked with a huff.
"You are NOT the woman I agreed to escort." He growled, turning away.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She said dangerously, leaning towards Erk as she did so.
The threat didn't seem anywhere near enough to even faze the mage. "I was told that someone was needed to escort a frail Lycian Priestess to Ostia."
"That's me!" Serra said brightly, pointing to herself. Though she said it cheerily, she was still leering at Erk as she did so.
"You? Frail?" Erk asked in amazement. "Serra, you have no need of an escort. Even the most hardened criminal would flee in terror after five minutes in your company. Look, I'll return your fee." He even dug into his pockets for it. Then he remembered she had spent it on her new dress. He cursed his ill fortune and poor insight. "Will you just go to Ostia alone? Please?"
"NO! You're my escort Erk, MINE!" She said, grabbing him roughly by the collar. "You're so clean and tidy. A noblewoman like me can't be seen without a proper escort." She let him go, and he rubbed his shirt to get rid of the wrinkle she had made. "I mean, your personality is nothing special, but you're not bad to look at…"
"Me? I'm the one that should be saying that to you!" He cried. Then he added another statement under his breath. "I'm supposed to last until Ostia… I'll never make it at this rate…"
"What are you mumbling about, Erk? You're so gloomy!" He glared at her, but she didn't notice or care to respond to it. "HEY! Something's going on over there!" She cried suddenly, before running off.
"And the first chance she has to get into trouble, she takes. I'm not even getting paid for this, am I… not that any amount would make up for this." He sighed. Unfortunately, his better nature declared that he follow her anyway.
That Tactician had pulled his group into a good formation. They had never even expected them to survive the mountains, let alone the fortress where Carjiga had attacked them. And now here they were, trying desperately to kill these people right on the border of the Lycian League. It was far too risky for his taste, but what could he do? Boss seemed to have a lot of faith in this stranger, so he'd just have to hope the boss knew what he was doing.
Then he noticed a girl with striking Pink hair standing near him. He also noticed a Mage tagging along behind her, his hood pulled over his face in shame.
"A fight! Hey Erky, look! There are girls fighting those bandits!" Serra yelled, very loudly. It seemed even the group of fighters they were trying to kill had heard the pink haired girl, looking in their direction in surprise. Come to think of it, their group had been slowly migrating towards him…
"Idiot, lower your voice." Erk whispered, but it was too late.
"You're in league with those devils?" The bandit cried angrily, brandishing his bow.
"This is so wrong…" Erk moaned.
"I'll kill you in one stroke!" The bandit yelled, knocking an arrow.
"How? You're an archer." Erk said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I'll cut you in half!" The bandit shouted, incensed.
"HOW?" Erk shouted his question back at the archer.
"Just die!" He said, firing the arrow.
"EEK! ERK! HELP ME!" Serra screamed. Erk would have gone deaf if not for the saving grace of his own chanting, which filled his ears as he cast his spell. His first fireball flew, burning the arrow to a crisp.
"Not enough." Erk said through gritted teeth, as a second arrow flew their way. "Serra, behind me!" He said, pushing her behind him. "You there! See if you can match me!" He called in challenge. The arrow hit him in the leg, but he didn't allow it to slow him down. His hands moved quickly as he recited the tome, another ball of fire forming in his hand. He threw it with a similar magical chant, and the fireball flew hard and fast before striking the man square in the chest. In approximately a second his body fell to the ground as a charred corpse.
"Will? Should we…" Lyn began, and Will nodded. He didn't need to hear that scream a second time. Wil was still trying to pop his ears so he could hear again. It took them mere moments to arrive, having finally broken through and with the purple haired mage having charred their only archer on the post.
"Excuse me…" Lyn began, and both the Cleric and the Mage looked at her. "Why are you fighting these bandits?"
Erk decided it was best to answer before Serra could. "It just happened."
Serra, to Erk's horror, interjected. "Those Bastards thought that we were with you! You got us into trouble! Now how are you going to get us out of it?!"
Will raised an eyebrow in curiosity and slight bewilderment. It was her fault for getting herself attacked, not theirs. Bandits likely would've attacked her anyway. It had absolutely nothing to do with them. Yet here she was blaming them for her mistake. Erk seemed to be of the same mindset.
"Next time don't meddle, Serra. Our apologies. Trouble yourselves with us no further." Will could respect the mage's words, but Lyn seemed to decide against it.
"If you have to fight, why not join us? It will end things much faster that way." She asked, extending a hand in friendship. Will knew she had a point, but he had no battle plan that involved these two in mind. With their current predicament he wasn't sure if he could rebuild the plan and get what he wanted at the same time.
"Good idea!" Serra said, clasping Lyn's hand happily. "Erk, go and help these ladies!"
Will looked at himself. He didn't look like a girl, did he? Suddenly he wondered. It seemed people were failing to notice his presence at first meetings.
"But… I… Fine!" Erk yelled in frustration. He walked over to Will, and stuck out his hand. Will shook it. "You aren't a girl, don't worry. She's just… Serra." He said, and Will smiled.
"I'm Lyn, and this is Will." Lyn said, introducing them. The others had gone off in their assigned groups to fight while Will and Lyn handled the two strangers.
"I'm Serra. And this gloomy guy is my escort, Erk. Now be a good boy and go fight, Erk." She said, waving him off.
Erk just sighed, for what Will guessed was at least the fifth time in the last hour. Will gave him a small pat on the back.
He didn't get a chance to rework his strategy yet. Mark was there. He needed to get to him. But of course, it was never easy. "You're Will, right?" Said Serra, looking at him critically. Will nodded. "Nice to meet you." Apparently, he passed her standard of 'this guy is passable in looks.' "This contrary mage here…" She jerked her thumb at Erk, "is my escort. He's been hurt though." Will nodded again.
"I was thinking of healing him, free of charge." At this, Will glared at her. How could she even think of charging people? Wasn't she a cleric? Sworn to help the people? Even if he wasn't the shining example of humanity, he was beginning to feel exceedingly nice. "I know, I'm generous to a fault." Then she noticed his glare. "What are you looking at me like that for? Praise my generosity!"
Will glanced at the mage. No wonder he looked so worn out. "Just heal the guy before he keels over." Will said, and stalked off. Serra did as told, despite her grumbling of all work and no pay.
Kent was doing well. He and Sain once again were paired as they fought the front lines, backed up by Dorcas and Wil. The bandits, despite their solid tactics, seemed severely lacking in skill compared to their predecessors. Florina, Lyn, Will, and the two new recruits were taking the other path, through the mountains and trees.
"Bandits have no chance against us!" Sain yelled, plunging forward with Dorcas behind him. His lance was blocked, only for Dorcas' hand axe to fly out and strike the man dead. He was surprised at how well they worked together. It seemed Dorcas had worked as a mercenary but alongside knights before.
"Will took special notice of the man in the hood." Kent said conspiratorial to Wil as he shot down a bandit from Kent's horse.
Wil nodded. "I have a feeling we're going to be needed there." He grabbed onto the saddle as Kent reared the horse, kicking another bandit with his horse's powerful back legs. Kent then dismounted briefly to deliver the finishing blow.
"We must follow as soon as we can then." He said, remounting and spurring the horse forward once more. Sain and Dorcas had pulled just a tad ahead, but now they would catch up.
"Look, I don't know how I got into this mess," Erk explained, as they made their way through the forest. "But I'll show them the true power of magic!" He recited a tome with the hand signs, and blasted another bandit with flames, killing him instantly.
Lyn glanced at Will, who had without thought placed a hand on the Gespenst tome that rested inside his cloak. He hadn't yet attempted to use it, as he had mentioned that being at less than full capacity could cause the magic to backfire on him. However, as she looked at him she couldn't help but feel like his usual rationality had left for parts unknown.
They were all getting closer to where they needed to go. It seemed the plan was working perfectly.
"Damn!" Kent said, wheeling his horse around. A large wave of bandits was coming from behind. Sain and Wil turned as well to face the oncoming threat. "Dorcas, go on ahead and warn the others." Kent said, and Dorcas nodded before running after the second team.
Kent's sword clashed with a bandit's axe, an exchange which he won handily by removing the bandit's arm. He quickly grabbed the axe dropped by the bandit, gritting his teeth at the weight. From his mount, he threw the axe with all his might into a second bandit, while Wil's arrow killed the first who had started fleeing with his bleeding stump. Sain's lance was a flurry of movement, taking on and defeating three bandit swordsmen in the span of a minute.
Dorcas rushed ahead cutting down a Brigand that got in his way, but avoiding the rest of their forces. Unfortunately, a pack of five now barred his path forward. "Damn." He muttered, and met the first three with a clean cut from his axe.
Will noticed the wave crashing against their back flank, and the one flanking them. They had come out of the forest strait into an ambush right in front of them. Worst of all, Dorcas was fighting the flanking group all alone, which was a recipe for death. He gritted his teeth. He wanted nothing more than to push forward, and yet…
"Florina! You and me, this way!" He drew his sword, pointing to Dorcas' position. She nodded before spurring Huey into the air.
Both Lyn and Florina spared a glance at Will's injured hand. For the moment, it seemed to be holding up fine. But they could tell he was pushing himself. To be fair this situation wasn't any help to stress levels.
"Lyn take Serra and Erk, break through their front and beat the leader!" He called back as he ran towards Dorcas. Lyn nodded as Erk and Serra took up positions right behind her.
Will cut through the first bandit, an axe user who didn't even see the attack coming. Florina dive bombed a second as he turned in surprise to see his fallen comrade. "You've gotten better!" He shouted, wincing slightly as his hand throbbed angrily. Still not enough time, huh…
"I've had some good training." Came her reply, and both smiled with the smallest of blushes. The three enemies remaining began to panic. Will, Florina, and Dorcas used that to their advantage and took one out each with a simultaneous assault. However, at that moment a new wave emerged from the trees, surrounding the three on all sides. Florina dared not take to the air, as she spotted an archer in the back aiming an arrow towards the sky.
Lyn was slashing through the ambush with her Mani Katti, Erk with his Fire spell, and Serra healed them both whenever they got so much as a scratch. Despite her bad attitude, her healing spells were quite powerful and extremely useful. Lyn made a mental note to have her treat Will later so his hand would be fully healed. The enemies finally broke, the few remaining fleeing while shouting about how they 'never should have trusted that man' and that 'boss must've gone out of his mind.'
Kent felled another enemy. "That's seven!" He yelled, knowing kill counts sometimes were used as morale boosters. They certainly needed it as their fatigue began to take hold.
Wil planted an arrow into another. "Damn. I'm behind. Five for me!"
Sain was still twirling his lance in what seemed to be a never ending arch. "Ten!" He yelled, as he felled another.
"Double digits! Truly an impressive showing!" Kent called, as he and Wil engaged another foe. They'd have to up their game to catch him now.
The three remained surrounded, though none of the bandits attacked or even inched in. Will found this especially aggravating because he couldn't use his favorite counter and break strategy that he used when surrounded like this. Of course, it was likely precisely that strategy that bastard was trying to avoid. "Nice weapons you got there. Pity they don't seem to work." He called. He knew the provocation was a cheap one, but he had hoped even one bandit would take the bait. None of them moved.
After another minute at this stalemate they parted ever so slowly. A man strode into the circle, his shock white hair unkempt despite his clean shaven face. Will's face fell when he saw the man, his piercing white eyes strangely eerie in their own way, though not as creepy as the forced smile on his lips. "Good afternoon." He said amicably, his smile extending.
"MARK!" Will suddenly yelled, charging without warning. Weapons were suddenly drawn into action the moment he moved. Will, Dorcas, and Florina were defending and countering blows that came from all sides. Will was trying desperately to cut his way to the man as the circle closed him further off from him, and Dorcas and Florina merely tried to keep up with him as the dark power flared, slicing down the enemies in his path. Florina struck out against the swordsmen, while Dorcas took out the axmen with his axe. He even managed to get a lucky throw with his hand axe that took out the archer, allowing Florina to once more take to the sky.
Kent finally killed what felt like his hundredth brigade. "Eleven!" He called.
Wil launched yet another arrow. "Eight! And I'm out of arrows!" He called.
Sain finished off the last one with one final flourish of his lance. "Fourteen!" He said, and smiled in triumph. The sweat pouring down his face was wiped away quickly as the three regrouped.
"Alright, here's what we'll do." Kent said. "Sain, you and Wil gather arrows for him from the corpses. Any that are still usable we take. I'll go on ahead and join the others. I have a bad feeling about this fight." They nodded, and Kent rode off to the others. He was the least winded of the three, and unlike Wil his weapon was still usable, so the other two had no objections to Kent going.
Lyn slashed through another bandit as Erk blasted the one right behind it. This was getting ridiculous. She was beginning to feel like these bandits were just fodder and not meant to hurt her at all. "Not very impressive." She said.
"You're not… who we're after…" The bandit with the sword through his gut said with a smirk as he died.
"Father Sky…" She muttered in instant realization, turning to block another bandit's axe. "Will!"
Erk hit the bandit with a well-placed fireball, freeing up Lyn as a rather scarred and dangerous looking Bandit approached them. "Lyn…" He said, nodding his head towards the incoming obstacle.
Lyn gritted her teeth for a moment, wanted to rush to her friend's aid. She knew he needed her help now, but she also remembered what he had told her before they started the fight. Lyn, it's up to you to take out their leader. Any force without their leader will inevitably fall apart. If we can take out the tactician they're making use of, we should. But I'm not going to count on it. It's up to you, got it?
Lyn's sword flashed as she took a ready position, Facing down the leader, who was large enough to tower over her. "Erk, you hold the rest of them off. Serra, please keep him healed."
Erk nodded, turning to the two bandits left for him. They looked scared as the pages of his book began to flutter once more, and his incantations began. Serra thankfully stayed behind him, and even more mercifully remained silent.
"Face me!" Kent cried, his sword cutting down a bandit that comprised the circle that surrounded his companions. Two more bandits turned to face him, one brandishing an axe while the other held a sword. His breathing hadn't gotten any easier, and he had rode full gallop until he arrived. Fatigue was really beginning to settle in now.
Just as he was wondering how he would pull off his rescue, another sword appeared beside him. "Heya Kenty!" Sain said, smiling.
Kent shook his head, but accepted the help gratefully all the same. It appeared Wil had found a couple of quivers that were full of arrows, and he had no problems firing off three quick shots into the crowd, managing to fell two more bandits. "Fourteen!" He yelled in triumph.
Will finally broke through. It had taken them four minutes of straight fighting, in which Will had fought a particularly strange bandit who used daggers, one of which had managed to cut his sword arm above the elbow. Dorcas and Florina were right behind him, but they turned to face the numerous bandits at their back, letting Will approach the white haired man. Will's sword shone with blood, and a trickle of it was running down his arm due to the injury. He sheathed his sword silently, instead pulling out his dark tome and opening it.
"Oh my…" Mark said, looking at him smiling. "Did you get yourself poisoned? I must offer you my assistance then…" He chuckled, indicating Will's sword hand. No wonder the wound had started to burn the moment it was inflicted. The blades that dagger bandit used had been coated in poison. Likely specially provided by Mark himself.
"O twisted door of distortion, open your gaping maw." Will chanted, paying the man no heed.
"Ah… you mustn't be so mean…" Mark said, tutting slightly as he opened his tome as well, letting its pages flutter in the breeze. "You know dark magic doesn't work well against the magic of light."
"Roar O Hellion that chills my soul!" Will continued, the throbbing in his arm growing worse by the second. This was either going to backfire spectacularly, or take off the enemy's head.
"The blade bathed in light plunges down from the heavens. Aurora." Mark said with a flick of his hand. Instantly a beam of light shot down from the sky, piercing Will's already injured hand. He let out a yell of pain as he collapsed to the ground, the energy created from his spell evaporating into the air as if it had never been there. The tome likewise fell to the ground, useless. "You see? This is what happens to you when you listen to witches. You become tainted with their stench." He shrugged, looking at the sprawled out tactician before him.
"Then why don't you just kill me." Will spat, looking up at Mark with as much hatred as he could muster.
"But that's no fun… I can't know where the children are if you aren't alive… And I can't have you for myself. After all, you haven't even begun to pay for what you've done." Mark said, putting a finger to his chin thoughtfully
Dorcas tried not to wretch as he slammed his axe handle into another bandit's stomach, before forcefully grabbing the man's arm and breaking it over his knee. Florina gave a small 'meep' sound at Mark's strange words. He didn't sound in his right mind. "You expect me to go back and murder for you? You know I never wanted that life. You even knew I would leave it behind the first chance I got. Are you so surprised I took the chance when it finally appeared?" Will asked, almost laughing at Mark. "And you claim to know me."
"Oh I do know you, Angel of Despair. I know how much despair grips your soul. The soul that is as black as night, and no matter what you do will never be wiped clean. Are you hoping I will put you out of the misery of your existence? Sorry, I'm not that generous." Mark said, as his tome fluttered once more.
"Stop!" Dorcas yelled, but it was too late. Another beam of light shot down from the sky towards Will's prone form.
Lyn wasn't a match for the man in power, but was still managing to push him back. Her speed was giving her an overwhelming advantage, and she was quickly realizing that this leader wasn't much of one at all. He hadn't issued a single order the entire fight to his other men, as they battled Erk so closely behind her.
Erk had easily beaten one man when he fired a point blank fire spell, but he was finding it hard to finish the last one as his throat was getting dry and he still had to dodge attacks while trying to chant, all while ensuring his wording was just right. Suddenly a leg from underneath a dress shot out, and the bandit tripped, a look of utter confusion on his face. For once in his life, Erk was momentarily glad to see the pink haired cleric as he chanted the finishing part of his spell, firing it into the man's prone backside.
Lyn grappled with the man once more, but this time she saw her opportunity. Slipping under his chop, she struck out precisely at the one target she remembered speaking about with Will. The man's axe hand fell to the ground along with his axe, and his scream of horror was quickly silenced as she stabbed the sword through his throat. She withdrew it, wiping her blade quickly on the grass to clean in of blood as the man's corpse fell to the ground. She didn't have time for a break though. "This way!" She called, turning and sprinting back to the mob of bandits where Will had disappeared.
Kent, Sain, and Wil had blown away one front, and advanced to the next, when Lyn, Erk, and Serra joined them. "Dorcas, Florina, and Will are up there, fighting that man!" Kent called, felling another bandit. "Twenty-one!" He called.
Wil shot another with a well-placed arrow that hit the back of his neck, seemingly with ease. "Nineteen!" He called, sad he was still behind.
Sain felled two, one with the sword, and another with the lance. "Twenty-five!" He called, and Lyn smiled slightly. "A competition?" She asked. "You should've told me."
Kent shrugged. "We didn't feel like losing, my lady." This managed to make Lyn laugh. Erk simply blew away another without a word.
Serra wouldn't have it that way though. "Well, Erky has gotten ten! Take that!" She said, and everyone looked at Erk. He shook his head and sighed. Serra not only had counted for him, but failed to take into account that his number was far less.
"AGH!" Will shouted in pain, as the second beam of light pierced his uninjured hand.
"This is what happens when you associate yourself with trash. Try as you might, the stench never seems to go away." Mark said, before delivering a swift kick to Will's prone form, which sent him tumbling backwards down the small hill.
"Will!" Florina yelled, jumping off her Pegasus. Huey promptly kicked a bandit with her hind legs, sending the man sprawling to the ground, before Dorcas finished him off. Florina just barely managed to dash over to Will's tumbling form, throwing her smaller frame against the larger man's body. With a heroic effort, she brought him to a stop. He was still directing his venomous gaze at Mark, but he was clearly in too much pain to move, let alone fight.
Dorcas smiled in relief as he spotted familiar faces breaking through the final line of bandits. "Help has arrived." He said. Florina was especially glad to see Lyn, though her momentary relief was only overcome by more worries as she attempted to apply a vulnerary to Will's wounds.
"Oh dear… I thought they were smarter and better than this… And there were over one hundred of them too." Mark said, glancing over the strewn battlefield. "A bloodbath for the history books… seems you haven't changed much after all, my Angel of Despair. And you with but a measly force of nine warriors." He said, smiling. Will scowled, and attempted to get to his feet once more. Florina barely managed to restrain him as she desperately clung to his body. "At least you find worthwhile trash. I'll see you again… in Caelin, of course." He said with a smile that chilled to the bone, before walking down the other side of the hill.
"COME BACK HERE!" Will roared, struggling against Dorcas, who had taken over for Florina. But Dorcas was far stronger than he, and Will couldn't break free.
"LET GO OF ME! I CAN KILL HIM! HE NEEDS TO DIE! IF HE DOESN'T, THEN WE… Then I…" He was still struggling when the last of the bandits surrendered, and Kent took over restraining him from a tired Dorcas.
"It's too late, my friend." Kent said, softly into Will's ear. "He's gone."
Will still struggled for a moment, and then collapsed into his arms. "Dammit…" He said, very quiet, though everyone still heard him. Then he fainted.
Florina gasped. "He's bleeding all over!" Serra rushed forward, and healed his wounds. Of course, by now his hand was sufficiently useless, and even Serra's healing powers had a limit. Mainly that the blood lost couldn't be replaced immediately.
"He's been poisoned by a blade." Serra said without her usual exuberance. "It's the discoloration around his wound that gives it away. I'll see what I can do, but my staff is for healing injuries, not detoxification." She sighed before getting to work.
"Will it kill him?" Wil asked, curiously.
"Without an antidote, yes. I bet that guy Will was fighting has one though." She said, jabbing a finger to where Mark had disappeared. "It'll take a while, though. You don't need to worry about his immediate health. In fact, I'm pretty sure that guy won't let Will die until he reaches him." Serra said, is a manner that was quite clear and calculating. She treated him in silence, and when the treatment was done, she gave a small smile before leading Erk away.
Florina refused to move from his side, and Kent decided to stay as well to tend to him. Wil went off on another arrow hunt, hoping for another big hull. He had already used one quiver, so he was hoping to find at least one more backup bundle he could keep for battle. That left Lyn, Sain, and Dorcas to see off Erk and Serra.
"You're all so strong! I was quite surprised." Serra said with her usual demeanor, smiling widely as she clasped Lyn's hand.
"Your staff was most helpful though. Healing powers amaze me." Lyn said. "If not for you, Will's injury would be far more severe. I really can't thank you enough."
Serra gave a cocky grin. "Only those in the service of good can wield it!"
"Nevertheless." Dorcas said, coughing lightly. "It was a great help to us."
"It's time for us to go then." Lyn said. "Thank you again for your help. Farewell." She and Dorcas turned and left, but Sain remained behind. His eyes laid upon Serra, with a most curious glint about them.
"Let's be on our way, Erk." Serra said, turning. Erk sighed. It was going to be a long trip.
"Ah… what is this? Another wildflower? Perhaps a butterfly? An absolutely delectable creature!" Sain suddenly declared, and Serra turned back to him.
"Oh, are you one of Lady Lyn's companions?" She asked. Erk had a bad feeling about letting this continue.
"I am Sain!" He introduced himself with an elegant bow.
"I am Serra, of house Ostia." She said, curtsying ever so slightly. Erk was getting an extremely bad feeling about this.
"What a lyrical name!" Sain seemed to sing, much to Serra's enjoyment. "I am in service to Castle Caelin!"
"You mean to tell me…" Serra began thoughtfully, and Erk really didn't like the tone she was using. "That Lady Lyn is part of the Marquess's family?"
"Why yes! She is the granddaughter of our lord!" Sain said, and an evil glint that Erk definitely didn't like entered Serra's eyes.
"Serra… what deviousness are you plotting?" He muttered to her under her breath.
"Having a person of power in your debt is never a bad thing," she whispered happily back, and Erk sighed.
"You can't be serious…" but it was too late. Serra had pranced over to Sain.
"Oh Sain! Mightn't we join the Lady's company? She seems like such a nice person, and I'd love to help her in any way I can…" She said, twirling circles on his armor with her finger.
"Of course!" He cried, though taken aback at her… boldness. "We couldn't be happier! I remember Will mentioning that our fighting power was in need of improvement…"
"Are you being hunted?" She asked, leaning into him now. Sain backed up slightly.
"A typical inheritance dispute is all. Assassins everywhere…" He said.
"Oh?" She said, advancing again. He was definitely not used to this. It was a strange change from women's usual behavior. "Then my staff and Erk's magic should be most helpful!"
Erk was jerked out of his plans of leaving by that. "What? I… err… sounds dangerous." He said, and they raised their eyebrows. He looked away.
"That would be extremely helpful!" Sain said, turning away from Serra. "Your staff and Erk's magic would make excellent additions to our cause! Please wait; I'll go speak with the others!" He said, and hurried away.
"Unbelievable…" Erk muttered. His life was over.
"This is perfect, Erk!" Serra squealed, coming back over to him. Not too picky, was she? "Our good deeds will earn us gratitude beyond imagining!" She said, and looped her arms around his neck.
He simply started walking, dragging her with him. "I think I'm going to be sick." He said, and she giggled.
Mark made his way back to Caelin with ease. He'd be back at the castle soon, with nary a scratch to show for it. Then he'd have to tell Lundgren what had happened. It wouldn't be good to have the man angry, after all. He'd likely have to present him with another rose, or something equally influential. Will would die, though. Soon. Just like the trash he so seemed to love.
"The poison won't leave… not without my antidote." He said, pulling out the small bottle of purple liquid. His laugh wasn't heard by anyone, and just as well it wasn't. They would've killed themselves in fear. "I'll have you begging to join me before the end, Will. And I'll be the one to take you back."
Nils was still pushing them hard, but they had found a good place to hide a few days earlier. Finally their pursuers had seemed to lose them, and they hadn't heard a peep for days now. They had gotten lucky. "How long do you think we can stay here?" Ninian asked. Nils shook his head.
"Not long." He whispered. "But I know a route for us." He smiled at the look on her face. "I heard a couple of them arguing about something… Will is still alive." And Ninian resisted the urge to clap her hands together in delight. "We'll set out in the morning. You get some sleep sister, I can keep watch." He said, and she nodded. She laid down in the small space they had, and felt her eyes flutter closed. At last they would be reunited.
The blonde man simply continued on his way, as the newest town hadn't had nary a piece to offer him or his services. "St. Elimine will guide my path, as it has always been." He said. As he said this, he could see a village appear just on the horizon. "I thank you." He said, putting his hands together in a moment of prayer. Then he set his footsteps in a beeline for the town, hoping this time there would be work for him to perform.