Knowing it's going to happen doesn't help me in the slightest when the creep flashes in out of nowhere. One second, I'm walking along with Eirika and Seth. The next, he's right in our faces, chuckling darkly.

"Princess Eirika of Renais." He says. "You are surrounded by my soldiers."

"Who are you?" Eirika demands. "Where did you come from?"

Novala ignores her question. "You're quite a pretty young thing. You're even wearing your bracelet!" He smiles. "Let's start there. Please hand over that little trinket of yours."

Seth maneuvers around to Eirika's side, and I move up as well, covering her other flank.

"I will do no such thing." Eirika says.

"Really?" Novala asks, feigning surprise, then he smiles. "Your brother is being held in Renvall, you know." He gloats. "Grado's might brought him down. Even now, he wastes away, awaiting his execution.

"You lie!" Eirika cries. "My brother would never lose to Grado!"

"Shame. I suppose there's little I can do to-"

SHIT THAT'S BRIGHT! As my eyes recover, I realize that the creep's holding a little girl of no more than five years by the wrist. "Look familiar?" He asks. "This little girl is a citizen of your precious country." He yanks her back suddenly, and shit that's a knife. The blade is up against the kid's throat.

"The bracelet, if you please." Novala says with a sneer.

"No!" Seth cries. "Never!"

My eyes widen as a small bit of blood flows from the kid's throat.

"STOP!" Eirika cries. "You win!"

Novala smiles. "Then give me the bracelet."

"Eirika, you mustn't!" Seth cries.

Eirika shakes her head. "It's not worth this child's life, Seth." She removes the bracelet, and gives it to Novala.

"Good." He says. "Now your weapons."

"Fuck off." I say. "I'm not handing over my sword."

Novala looks over to me. His eyes, I notice, are an eery steel. "Ah, so you've taken to hiring mercenaries? Interesting. I did not realize that you were so desperate. But I suppose that I'll not get more out of you, will I? Very well. I suppose that means my hostage has no more use, does it?"

My blood runs cold, and I freeze. He wouldn't.

A wide grin breaks out on his face. "Ah, I've just had the most delicious idea. Have you heard of the giant spiders prowling this region. I think they'd appreciate a nice, hot meal. Don't you?"

Bastard. I'll kill you. My sword strikes out before I know what I'm doing, but he raises a hand to block, dark magic warped around it, and wow, that's all of the hair on the back of my neck standing up. My sword hits his hand, and the blade warps beyond recognition. I'm now screwed beyond all comprehension, aren't I?

Another flash, and the child is gone. Novala laughs. "These fools will curse the day that they were ever born to your pathetic nation!"

"How..." Eirika says softly. "How could you do something like this?"

"This is war, little girl. There are no rules! It is kill or be killed. Anything goes! You curs of Renais have lost! Your idiotic ravings about honor and compassion mean nothing!"

"You will be silent." Eirika commands him. "We of Renais have long honored the friendship that we share with the people of Grado. You and your men payed us back by invading our nation, ravaging our land, destroying our families, and killing my father. And I told myself that I would not hate Grado or her people. I told myself that there would always be room in my heart to forgive. I warned myself that giving into that hate would condemn that bond that we held sacred."

"So I turned my cheek when I saw how families had been torn to pieces. I swallowed my pride when I saw the discrimination in Serafew. I rationalized when I saw how rampant brigands roamed, unchecked by Grado's own soldiers. In the name of preserving the bond between our nations, I held my tongue."

"But if this is Grado's true nature... If you could so calmly hold a child hostage, so casually dismiss her life to such a cruel fate... If this is Grado's heart, then there is no room in my own for forgiveness." Eirika's voice turns to steel. "I swear by the name of my father, my brother, and my country, I will see Grado's blackened heart torn out."

Holy shit. I don't remember this speech being that epic. Eirika, I'll follow you to the end of this campa- WHOA!

Novala grunts and takes a step back. Eirika lowers her rapier, the tip bloody. "And I will start with you."

"You impudent little wretch! Do you think your words will save the lives of your countrymen? That your speech will restore your kingdom? This world is ruled by our actions! And I will take great pleasure in making you understand that!"

SHITBRIGHT! Oh, he's gone. Good. That means that this fight can start in earnest. On the up hand, I know, generally, how this fight goes. Bad news is that I can't see shit. I mean, I pride myself on my eyesight, but this isn't your ordinary everyday fog. This is... Advanced Fog. How the hell does Colm see through this shit?

I get a replacement for the sword that Novala busted, then Seth and I quickly come up with our battle plan. Vanessa will take Colm and head to the mountains to search out the civilians. Charsi, who has said she an see through the fog without issue, will aid us in moving forwards. Gilliam, Garcia, Ross, and Moulder will remain to the rear with the caravan, protecting it and our rear from Grado attack. Everyone else will take part in the main attack.

We begin advancing rapidly eastward. I advance with Allister and Alexi, who are quickly proving themselves to be an invaluable addition to our team. We move quickly and efficiently, covering each other against a trio of our opposite number. The orderly advance quickly turns into a melee in the woods.

I draw my sword and ensure that the Dragon Shield that we got back in Serafew is firmly attached to my arm. That was something that amused me when we first got it. The thing was a legitimate shield. So was the Secret Book from the other house, but I hadn't gotten a chance to look at it yet.

The thud of a sword on my shield brings my attention fully into the fight. Joke's on him, though. I always liked sword-and-shield styles, and I was never impartial to using my shield as a weapon. Strike out with my sword to keep him off balance, and keep moving forwards. Keep him off of his game. Swing at his feet, break his focus. THERE! Punch with off hand, jabbing with the edge of the shield. That's got him distracted, so I'll follow up with a strike to his hip. YES! Glad to see that I haven't turned into Captain America. I think that happened in an Awakening Self-Inser- Shit! That hurts! Turn to the right so see the bastard that cut my sword arm. Get behind my shield as he swings again. Fool me once, shame on you.

Block with shield, step, step, stab. Block again, step, step, slash, slash, stab, block. HYA! Retract, strike again. Breath. Two enemies down. Look around. Nod to Alexi and Allister. "Forwards?"

Alexi nods. "On you."

So, we move forwards. Mountains rise up on either side of us. Slowly, I realize where we are. Shit, there's a-

The javelin thuds an inch from my foot. Yep, there's an Armor Knight here. Javelin/Horseslayer. "Shit." I say.

Alexi laughs. "Oh, this isn't that bad. Three on one. I like these odds."

The hairs on the back the back of my neck stand on end. Aw, SHIT! "DOWN!" I yell.

Nice to see that they trust me and wow, that's a Luna tome. That was close. Scramble to feet, turn to see a pair of Shaman. Great. Just great. Turn back to the knight and there are three of them. Wow.

"We're seriously screwed here, aren't we?" Allister asks, brandishing his lance.

"Yep." I say simply, moving my shield in front of me. "We're screwed."

Hoofbeats? Do they really need the cavalry? I turn to see oh hey L'Arachel! So this is where you went!

She raises a hand, pointing. A mountain of a man, carrying just as large an axe, charges forwards towards the knights, swinging the axe wildly. I turn to the Shaman and wow, Rennac works fast. Both of the Shaman are already on the ground, and Rennac is wiping his knife off on their robes. I turn back to Dozla, and watch as he swings around that monster of an axe. He swings it into a knight, cleaving into the knight's armor. Then, he wrenches the axe free, and lets it swing into the armor of the second knight, letting the spike on the rear side of his axe pierce the knight's armor. He delivers a solid kick, wrenching it free again, before turning on the final knight, delivering a holy shit he just cut that man in half.

I turn to look at L'Arachel. "Many thanks, Milady. I do believe that you've just saved our lives."

She turns to our group, looks at me, and smiles. "Of course, my friend. I'm glad to have been of service to you. To be quite honest, we were just heading north to the Za'ha woods. I've heard that there are quite a few ancient horrors in the forest there in need of purging."

I smile. "Well, milady, we were recently in those selfsame woods, and I can tell you that they are indeed crawling with unspeakable things. I wish you luck on your travels."

L'Arachel nods. "And you on yours." She turns around, and smiles. I follow her gaze and oh my God she saved the people too. They're riding horses that I assume are Dozla and Rennac's travel mounts.

Something moves out of the corner of my eye and I catch it and this looks like an Orion's Bolt.

"They gave it to me as payment for my deed, but I've no need for it. Perhaps you can make use of it?"

I nod. "May I ask the name of these people's saviors?"

She smiles. "You may call me L'Arachel."

I bow slightly. "My name is Andrew."

"Well, Andrew, I do hope we meet again." She says, spurring her mount onwards.

I slide the Orion's Bolt into my pack, and turn to Allister and Alexi. "Let's go. We've got a battle to finish."

We move north, staying on our guards until we meet back up with the rest of the force, rallying for the last push forwards. I relay the news of the civilians' safety to Eirika, and the name of their savior. She smiles. "I hope we will see her again." She says.

I smile. "I doubt we've seen the last of her."

Forward we march, brushing aside the last bits of resistance and facing off against Novala. He spreads his feet as we approach, and takes up a stance. In the crook of his left arm is his tome, his right hand extended towards us. He's murmuring something as we approach, and I don't like it.

The air around Eirika ripples, and my blood runs cold. My tackle brings her to the ground mere instants before the space where her torso had been is annihilated by the void. We get up as Seth charges forwards to finish Novala off.

Seth dismounts, and goes through the man's robes. He pulls out Eirika's bracelet, and returns it to her. "Your late father, King Fado… He ordered to keep me silent until the proper time arrived." Seth explains. "However, with all that has happened, with Emperor Vigarde's actions… I feel it imperative that I tell you everything, Princess Eirika."
I make to leave, but Eirika puts a hand on my shoulder. "You've just as much right to hear this as I do, Andrew."
Seth looks like he objects, but sighs, and continues. "Are you ready to hear the secret of the bracelet you wear?"

Eirika nods. "I am."

"As you know, Renais houses one of the legendary Sacred Stones."

Eirika nods. "Of course. It's in the temple. It's supposed to be a ward against evil."

Seth nods. "Yes, the true stone is a ward, but the stone in the temple is nothing but a forgery. The real Sacred Stone of Renais lies beneath the royal castle. Guarding it is a powerful seal, an infinitely complex lock of sorts."

Eirika gasps. "What? Is this true?"
"Yes." Seth says simply. "King Fado confided in me himself. The Sacred Stoned banished evil long ago and possess power beyond our understanding. The ancient kings of Renais felt it prudent to seal ours away. They feared its power could be misused. They thought to remove the temptation. The keys to break the seal were hidden, too… Forged into bracelets... The very ones that you and your brother, Prince Ephraim, wear."

Eirika frowned."Our bracelets? How could Father keep this a secret from me for so long?"
"'They must know nothing of the bracelets. Tell them only if some great peril strikes.' Those were King Fado's exact orders. Prince Ephraim knows nothing of the bracelets' secret, either. The king told me this out of fear that something might happen to him. So that, when the time came, the two of you would learn the truth."

Eirika nodded somberly. "The bracelets have such meaning… No wonder you were so willing to risk so much for them."

"And we are the only living souls who know the secret of the Stone of Renais." Seth said. "At least, that's what I was given to believe. And yet…"
"Yet the Grado army has made it clear that they want me only for my bracelet." Eirika said.

Seth nodded. "I don't know how, but Emperor Vigarde must have learned the secret somehow. And now, his troops pursue the bracelet, and we are no closer to knowing his motives."

Eirika's eyes widened. "He would use the bracelets to unlock the Sacred Stone and destroy it in secret… Which means that my brother… and his bracelet…"

Seth nodded. "If he's been captured, they may have the bracelet already, and he may be–"

Seth stopped, and changed gears quickly. "Princess, we must take Novala's words to be true. We must hurry to Prince Ephraim. The enemy soldiers who fled the battle will have reported our location by now. If the prince is being held prisoner at Renvall… I fear they might execute him once they learn of our approach."

Eirika nodded. "You're right. We've no time to waste. We must hurry to Renvall! Let's go rescue my brother!"