A/n: Nice. My name is Arimadios, is all you need to know. I just found something to break my writers block. So now, a few disclaimers. I don't own Fire Emblem in any way.

Onto the story!

My name is Kai. I'm an apprentice tactician with no master, other than Milady Lyn. I have numerous gifts, and a few… mystical objects at my disposal, but my combat prowess is lacking. I can telepathically link to all who swear an oath, in any form, to my Lady Lyn. This however, does not include those who swear to kill her. Therefore, I cannot help milady Lyn with her personal quest, the one to destroy the Taliver bandits.

Sain is an Aloof Knight, in ridiculous green armor. However, his power is not undeniable, though his armor is sorely lacking in defensive capabilities, and his horse… well, let's say, his stallion is more interested in Kent's mare. Sain however, has a mind much more perverted than this. He has a habit. A very bad habit. Female flesh turns him into a raging adolescent, sex crazed, perverted, teenager.

Kent is more balanced. He is levelheaded, and quite logical. He is no stranger to my gifts, though magic in any form tends to unnerve him. We all tend to be at odds, seeing as we had very… unnatural meeting circumstances. Kent however, knew more about magic than he let on.

Lady Lyndis Caelin. Princess of the Caelin Canton of Lycia. She was my master, and I would follow her to the ends of hell, if need be, if only to die by her side. Of course, the fact that she now held me, so to speak, by the balls, by possessing my blood bind amulet, I would have no choice but to follow her. But, I also followed her out of a second debt. I had been saved by her. I suppose my Heaven Seal saved her once, but, I took no regard into that.

We stopped by a small village, near the shrine of Mani Katti, the Sacred Sacaen sword. I had done research on the blade. Supposedly, it was originally a killing edge, that a Sacaen swordmaster used to slay beasts in the far past. I had decided that, on the off chance, that one of the more obscure texts I had read, pointing at the owner of the blade, originally being a female of the Lorca tribe, was true; Lyn herself might possibly be a descendant of this woman. She certain fought with a natural grace some swordmasters would be jealous of.

I stepped near Kent quietly. "Sir Kent, a moment, if you will…"

Kent nodded quietly, and stood beside me. "What troubles you, Commander Kai?" His eyes held a brotherly concern.

"Your father… was a blond haired mage, correct?"

"How did you know?"

"Lucky guess. His name wouldn't happen to have been… Lord Joseph, would it?"

"This is true."

"Ah, one of the foremost men in designing more competent ways for a strategist to command an army. My amulet is based on one of his designs, with my father's reworking."

"I see…"

"This, I now know, explains much."

Kent nodded solemnly, and walked back towards Sain, who was eyeing a female in the small traveling crowd closely. Too closely. I walked over to Lady Lyn, and picked up a basic Iron Spear. Overpriced as they were, in Sacae, I didn't care. We would inevitably find someone who wielded a sword soon. I laid the money on the counter. Then I had a brilliant idea. "Lady Lyn, would you like to train?"

She looked at me as though I was insane. "Why? Did you not say you detested combat?"

"Truthfully, I know full and well how to utilize every weapon I come across. However, I cannot even begin to comprehend battle." I said ruefully. "I'll explain more, as we venture out of this crowd."

She nodded, and walked beside me, as I carried the lance over my shoulder, as a true soldier on the march would.

"You see… Strategists have so much inner magic, that outer, or external, magic can literally singe our souls. This is why we do not fight. Now, you heard me talk of the weakness of a sword, against a lance, and its strength against an, axe, correct?"

"Yes, I have, Kai. But something still disturbs me."

"What would that be?"

"Well, some things I didn't understand."

He nodded quietly. "Alright. Let me demonstrate the reason a lance is well suited for combat against a blade?"

She nodded an affirmative. When I took a basic lance man's stance, she took hers. I gave the nod of approval, and she rushed me.

I simply planted the butt of my spear in the ground, and held it at arms length as her blade slammed into the iron shaft of my weapon.

I simply took two steps back, and my spear was quickly at the ready, though I was using the blunt end. I jammed her harshly in the stomach, pushing her back a step. A single step foreword, and a spin of my spear, and I had the point straight in her face.

"You see? A Sword is to light. To accurate, to effectively counter a spear. I performed this maneuver countering a horizontal slash, you see? By letting the counterweight of the spear's butt carry it to the ground, as I step out of range of the slash, I gain the advantage of readiness."

"You will eventually see that, however, I am exhibiting poor form, for blocking a vertical slash. Try it."

Lyn nodded, and took a few steps back. She charged in again, her sword arcing downward as she ran. I simply pushed his spear in front of me, and pulled upward, disrupting Lyn's balance. I then slammed her in the stomach with a harsh foot. She bounced backwards, as I readied a thrust, once again, stopping before I struck her with another lethal blow.

"This time, two things went wrong. First, you telegraphed your attack. I didn't say weather you had to slash down or up. You chose down. From your natural stance, up, would have been more opportune."

"The second was that I had time to hit you twice. Surely you are faster. The cross block is one of the fastest lance blocks usable. However, it requires you to throw your weight around quite a bit."

I smiled, and pulled Lyn up. "This is all the tutelage I can give you."

A resounding thwack sounded from the market, and a green armored blur made an impact comparable to a flux spell hitting the ground, in the grassy turf. His dazed eyes were only made more dazed as he was in an opportune space to glare up a certain woman's dress.

I sighed, and picked this man up. "You idiot. We are fleeing straight into the teeth of an enemy. You should NOT let your hands wander like that." I patted him on the shoulder armor, and gave him the spear. "I'm off to buy some traveling horses. No sense in pushing your Warhorses to hard."

Kent was also at the stables of the small encampment. He was looking over a set of four horses. "Do you think they would be able to travel hard?"

"Aye. They would. All sturdy, and with a decent natural clip." He nodded, and forked over the gold for the horses. He frowned. "It looks like hard tack and water for a while." I looked at Kent, who nodded solemnly. "I thought ahead. Perhaps you are a decent hand at hunting?"

"No, I'm afraid. But, if I am correct… Lyn would make an excellent archer. She has very accurate movement. In complete control of her body."

"True, but she wouldn't be a good hand in combat, with a bow."

"With her current training, yes, Kent. But can't a Lycian learn to speak Bernian? Or Sacaen?"

"True. I suppose we could let her hunt."

"Then the most agile horse to her. That one." I said looked at a Sorrel who had a wizened look in his eyes.

"He's not the fastest…"

"But, for his strength, he is quite adequate as a hunting horse."

Kent nodded quietly. "Good. It's done. Let's head on to the shrine. If we push these horses, we should reach the shrine before sundown tomorrow."

Lyn was busy ignoring Sain so utterly that he didn't even have the heart to grope her. "But Milady Lyn. Surely you-"

"I said you will be quiet. I am thinking. If you are not gentlemanly enough to allow me some privacy, I shall simply cut you in two."

He gulped. And then he spotted Kent eyeing the pair with suspicious eyes. Kai was calmly knocking an arrow in a bow in his hands.

"Sain. Dismount. You are to ride the paint over here. Kent, the Young mustang. Lyn, The Old Sorrel, and I shall ride this Roan."

Sain frowned. "The Paint? He's no more than a pup!"

"But, he is the second strongest, and the most enduring one of the lot."

"Ah."

"Kent chose the mustang because of its qualities, as a good horse to ride, simply for its staying power. It's by and far not the fastest of the four, but it gets the job done."

"I chose the roan because of its speed. He is fast, but built for very quick sprints. Not as fast as Bernian Wyvern Runners, but, quick enough."

"The Sorrel for Lyn, Because of its Strength, and speed. The strongest, and only the second fastest. Excellent for Hunting. Which, if anyone wants meat, they will have to wish Lyn luck for. The bow is for you. It's not for combat use. It's a simple Hunter's bow."

Lyn nodded. "I've used them before. I am a fair hand at hunting small game. Perhaps bigger game will be easier to fell now."

"Most likely. We should set out. We want to be far from a village, if bandits attack once more."

"True. Hostages wouldn't be a nice thing."

The venture over the plains was held at a decent little clip. Kai munched on a small piece of hard tack, and smeared a little of his only comfort on it. Bernian Mustard.

Kent watched with horrified eyes. "How can you eat Bernian Mustard, on hard tack?" Kai just smiled at him. "By ignoring the fact that the Tack tastes better than the mustard."

Sain sighed. "You know what Bernian mustard is made of?"

"Coming from your mouth Sain," Lyn said, with a quirky smirk, "It's likely to be made of condensed wyvern seed, and the scent of sex."

Sain looked at her. "How did you know?"

Every horse stopped, every human save Sain half frowned, half smirked. Sain's horse bucked him off on the ground, and every human simply laughed.

Kent broke the laughter first. "Sain, you do know that it's made of Halbornus Peppers, Mustard Seed, Imported straight from Caelin, and of course, Water and salt, correct?"

"No! I'm serious! They put wyvern seed in it! The Wyvern fruit tree!"

Every human looked guilty at each other. Lyn had a slight blush; Kai had a look of pure guilty disgust at himself, and Kent… Well, Kent just looked guilty.

"We were talking about… a different kind of Wyvern seed."

Sain mounted his horse, and huffed. "Disgusting, sir Kai. Everyone knows wyvern seed is toxic to humans! And if you do happen to survive the implantation, which is physically impossible, the child born to you would be half wyvern, half human! Such Blashphemic sayings should not cross your lips."

Kent couldn't resist as they stared trotting along again. "And what about the smell of sex?"

"Ah, that's because the most favorite style of Bernian mustard, Wyvern fire, is made in the same room that the Owners of said establishment, hold their nightly forays."

It was no secret that Bernian were perverts, beyond belief, even. But, even so, Sain's knowledge of Bern was a bit unnerving. "How would a Lycian Knight know much about the Militant Bern country, hum?"

Sain sighed. "I lost my virginity to a wyvern rider by the name of Lucia, Deep in the Bern territories when I was thirteen. Why shouldn't I oblige a woman who had just eaten the root of a lusiy Bush?"

Lyn looked at Sain. "What does it do then?"

"It's an aphrodisiac, but very nutritional."

"Wrong." The female said solemnly. "It's a Root that drives the consumer into a mad lust for nine days. It's what female wyverns eat, consistently during the mating season. If they detect a Female who hasn't had one, a male wyvern will give it to her, as a gift, if he finds her suitable as a mate. Obviously, her wyvern was male, and very into her.

Sain sighed. "Your point being? I merely didn't resist her advances… much…"

Kai frowned. "It's Logical. The only way Sain could get into a woman's pants is to be raped by one."

Sain Blanched, while Lyn and Kent laughed softly. "I was not raped! If anything, it would have been me, taking advantage of her state!" He fumed.

Everyone looked at him. "So, you raped her?"

"Well… no…"

Kai sighed. "Enough of this. I cannot eat my disgustingly hard biscuit in peace with all this talk of hard things of another nature…. God, now I don't even want to eat it."

They all laughed at that, as Kai took another bite of biscuit, eliciting Lyn to raise her eyebrow. Kai returned it with a glare that wilted the grass beyond Lyn's head.

The sunlight was beginning to sink beyond the mountains of Bern. "We should rest. This day will have taken a toll on all of our buttocks. Lyn, would you like to try hunting?"

"Sure. I see a herd of Antelius to the north. I'll snag us one."

Kai nodded, and dismounted, unpacking the tent. "Then I'll set up camp. Kent, Sain, if you would be so kind as to go fetch some firewood, I'd be much obliged."

The Calavarymen nodded, and ventured off to get the Wood, Snickering at Kai. Kai simply sighed. He pieced together the tent, and watched Lyn hauling a simple animal back towards them. He smiled, and began to butcher the corpse.

They sat around the fire, Stuffed to the brim, and overfull. Kai was tanning the hide with a chemical solution, and stretching it taught between some stakes.

Kent was staring up at the stars, smiling.

Sain was off behind the Tent, doing something. Probably reliving himself, after the large meal.

Lyn Smiled slightly, just resting. She yawned, and crawled into the tent with a content expression. Kai smiled. The Hide was curing, and he was getting tired. "Would someone take a watch?"

Sain hollered from behind the tent calmly "I will!" He thought he vaguely heard some sound of pain and relief mixed, but disregarded it.

Kent nodded. "The boy could sleep through a war between his pants and Bern, but, on watch, he won't sleep until the sun rises or he is relieved.

Kai nodded, and took his place in the tent beside Lyn, glad she was clothed.

Kai was plagued by dreams that night.

The first, and actually, only dream he had in his fitful rest, was of a small girl, carrying a spear, followed by an extremely small wyvern. The wyvern's Flame colored scales shimmered in the moonlight, as Kai realized that it was a dracovern. One of the few Wyverns still related close enough to Dragons to possess true flight, and Flaming breath. But, it was still very very young. The girl had a happy expression.

Then he heard it. Galloping in the distance. The Small Wyvern-like creature bristled his fur, underneath his scales. His scales and neck spines rose with the fur, giving him a very menacing expression.

The pair of bandits dismounted close to them.

The first was a tall halberdier. His long polearm pointed at the Wyvern pup menacingly. The second had a Dragonsword in his hands, and was tall, and built.

The girl grabbed her wyvern protectively.

Then he heard her voice with his ears. "No! You can't take him!"

Kai Jumped up, grabbing the only weapon he personally kept. A Simple Katar. He split it apart, and strapped both pairs on, dashing towards the girl's startled scream. "NOO! NO! GARNET! NO! Don't take my friend! He's all I've got! Please! No!"

Kai frowned. The halberdier had stepped to the beast's side. He grabbed it by the base of its stubby wings, and grinned.

"Did you not hear the girl?" Kai said quietly. "Touch the wyvern again…" He said as a small flare began to brew in his mind. "And I will kill you both before you can take your next breath of clean air…"

The Bernian man, a Hero of a long passed Skirmish stared at the man in his greenish robes. "What's a Strategist going to do? Take the Wyvern, Kilo. Tamnu Shall deal with this one!"

Kai growled, and shouted with force "Strategist's blaze!"

A Wave of Flames, as hot as the hells themselves, appeared about the halberdier, trapping him in place. Then he dashed towards the Hero. With a jump, he leaped onto the blade of the sword, his tabi protecting him for the split second it took his to take the last step, and appear on the other side of the hero, two small slashes appearing on his foe's face, trailing a falling ribbon of blood to the Strategist's katar.

Blood seeped out around the wounds, and slowly, his head fell in pieces, thankfully hidden from the young woman's eyes by his shield.

The blaze had begun to recede, and Kai rolled backwards, slamming his feet into the Halberdier's Face, propelling him backwards…

Into the waiting fangs of a youthful wyvern, who bit cleanly through the arm of the Halberdier, Eliciting a sharp scream. Then, he was silenced, as the wyvern bit into the man's chest, crushing the armor, and breaking his ribs instantly, before puncturing his heart.

The wyvern tossed the thing aside and clumsily galloped to his charge, of sorts, and twining his tail about her leg, and huddling close to her, hissing low at the strategist.

Kai bowed before the wyvern, his face touching the ground in respect. Having been raised in Bern, he slowly Raised, and crawled towards the wyvern, putting his head under the beast's face.

"If my life you desire, Wyvern, you may take it. If my friendship you Desire, Lord Wyvern, please, bring yourself and the young mistress to my camp."

He said quietly. He backed off before standing, with his back turned to the wyvern. All respect had been shown to the pup, and his woman, but he still had doubts. If the wyvern didn't come, it would be the loss of a powerful ally.

But he heard the Wyvern cooing softly to the woman, as if asking her permission. She sat down sidesaddle on the youngling's back, and rode the small beast towards the strategist.

Kai Felt the heaven seal pulse. He put a hand on the seal, and nodded. The crack had gotten slightly better, but was still present. "Thank you, Mistress of the Wyvern, and Lord Wyvern."

Once more, Honorifics were needed. Kai sighed quietly, and stepped near the dwindling fire, looking into Sain's eyes. Sain had watched the entire thing, in the glow of the firelight, caused b the blaze. He had been fetching his spear as the sound got nearer, but was unsure to wake the others.

He nodded at the pair of them, The Wyvern and Lady, as they neared.

"Master Kai, I see you brought the two under attack back to camp…" He said as Kai put away his katar with a sigh. He could see the young strategist crying. "Master Kai, Please, not in front of the guests. It is near Dawn, you see… We will journey soon. Shall I wake the others?"

Kai nodded, before walking into the inky blackness, and sitting down, weeping with all his might. "I can't do this any more… I can't! I don't have the soul for it… Please, Whatever Deity can see me! Just… JUST TAKE ME AWAY!"

He stared at the sky, for almost half an hour as he noticed sunlight creeping towards him. He sighed. He wiped his eyes, and steeled himself for the day ahead.

Kent was showing the utmost Respect to the Wyvern, Trying to stroke it, to show it no threat was meant. The Wyvern had an Expression of withheld hostility.

Lyn was chatting with the woman, who looked like she was half Sacaen, in descent.

He tapped Sain on the back, who nodded. "I'm not as perverted as you think, Lord Kai…" he said as Kai glared at the slap mark. "I woke Lady Lyn up as I tripped over Kent." Kai nodded. "Thanks for allowing me my time."

"You're not going to help us in combat, then?"

"My soul couldn't handle the tension, of that. Besides, my gifts are better prepared as a strategical thing."

Sain nodded, and walked to the horses. The secret was between men, and only the young Wyvern and Wyvern master knew, outside of the two. For some reason, he felt he had nothing to fear from them.

Kai Knelt down beside Lyn and the girl.

"Milady Lyn? How are you doing this morning?"

"Wonderful! It seems Sir Sain saved this girl and her pet in the night." The girl looked at Kai with apologetic eyes, glancing at her Wyvern. Kai nodded solemnly. Her eyes brightened a bit. "May I ask your Name, miss?"

"It's Ariana. Ariana Wyvern."

"Ah. A Wyvern Princess. I thank you for your company. Would you like to journey with us? We are headed to the shrine of Mani Katti." He said, nodding to her.

She nodded. "I will. You are Kai, the Strategist, correct? And this is Lady Lyn, Kent is trying to pet Garnet, my Wyvern, and Sain was the green armored demon I saw in the night, last night."

Kai smiled. "He is no demon, he was just lucky, last night." He said pointedly.

She nodded. "Well, Then, I guess I should venture with you."

He smiled, and mounted his horse as Kent packed the tents. Kai rode to the site of the battle, and picked up a spear from the Corpse of the Halberdier, and wiped the blood clean. He brought it back to Ariana, and handed it to her. "Here. Your wyvern may be small, but he his powerful. Nonetheless, you should learn to protect him. Speak with Sain About proper lance tactics." He said calmly. Sain had a better lance technique than Kent.

The ride south was punctuated by a brief stop at a traveling Merchant's Sloop. Kai spent all of their recent earnings on Wyvern chow. Namely, a Veritable herd of Antelius Sides, Salted, and magically frozen. He gave a side to the Wyvern who happily ate, before he placed them on his two newest pack horses. The rest of the journey was uneventful.

That was, until they reached the Shrine. They heard a loud scream from the shrine, and saw a Middle aged man, standing with watchful eyes. Almost as if he was standing guard.

Kai signaled the stop quietly, and directed the three warriors down south, to visit the homesteads near the shrine, To Discover what the matter was. He Looked at Ariana with a slight nod of approval, and then knelt down, looking Garnet in the eyes. "Garnet… Neither of you are ready for combat. I want you both to fall back to the forts we just passed. Take cover within one." He said quietly. The Wyvern nodded, but waited on Ariana's Approval. "Ariana, Take good care of your Friend. Garnet, protect Ariana. Go on."

Kai sighed as they trotted away. Then he looked at the homesteads. The three had arrived and were now talking with the men and women inside. He nodded solemnly, and walked to the man standing guard. When he heard the man grunt, he looked at him. "Is something the matter?"

"You need to leave. Now. Go someplace else. Shrine is closed for cleaning."

"I doubt they would have to close a shrine this big, just to clean it."

"You leave now, and I won't kill you."

Kai looked shocked. Then he realized. The man was one of the brigands. He looked on in fear as the man slammed him with an axe, sending him barreling into a wall. The wall cracked slightly, and Kai coughed. A Splatter of blood lay on the ground.

Lyn was the first to see it. "KENT! SAIN! QUICKLY! They're trying to kill Kai!"

Kent and Sain nodded, charging towards the entrance while Lyn ran like the fires of hell fueled her soul. "YOU ROTTEN BASTARD!"

She screamed her lungs out as the two knights went directly for Kai, dismounting and checking the boy. Kai looked dazed, and weak, but he seemed just as strong as any other day. They quickly escorted him to one of the forts, as Lyn reached her target.

Lyn screamed bloody murder as she swung her blade as hard as she could. A Loud chink was heard as the head of the brigand's axe went flying. Her own sword bent harshly, but she continued to attack, in a wild fury, trying to slay the beast in front of her.

The Brigand Shifted over, and dodged her first strike, but the second went true, slicing into his arm, and eliciting a scream of pain, Pulling two more off of the shrines Natural Hills.

She shut her mouth quickly, and lunged, her bent blade piercing through the brigand's stomach, and she ripped to the side, the now slightly dinged up blade nearly ripping the man in half.

She turned, and swung wildly at the brigand slipping up behind her, even as he simply grabbed her wrists, and flung her against the wall.

Kent had seen, and was running for her as fast as he could; While Sain and Ariana cared for the injured Kai. Kai coughed harshly every time they touched his back. "I think… they broke my ribs…" He uttered, knowing full and well they had also punctured his lung, due to a stone sticking just a little to far out.

Lyn was in pain. Her hand groped around through the tears in her eyes, trying to find her sword. She frowned as she felt something stick her hand. Wiping the tears slowly, she looked, and pulled the shard of metal free. "Oh no…" She said. Her sword had shattered. It was then she saw the twin axmen behind her. "No… no no! NO!"

She lashed out, trying to kick them, but they simply batted her back into the ground. She struggled up against the wall, standing up. Their yellow tinged clothing made her realize something. These were Taliver Bandits. And they wanted her blood.

Kent burst through the trees, even as the first bandit began to swing. His axe collided with stone above Lyn's head, causing the crack in the wall to widen. Lyn was huddled down, looking for a way out. Then it happened.

A slowly drizzle of blood hit her feet, followed by a veritable geyser. Kent had rammed his lance through the neck of the bandit, and was still riding, slowly yanking the wound open, until the man's bones yanked it free of his hands, and broke it. Kent cursed as his horse bucked, dodging an axe blow. Lyn lay there, pushing the bandit's falling corpse away, covered in the red, iron smelling liquid. She rolled out of the area where the battle was occurring, and backed up.

Sain Burst through the bushes, and snatched her up, putting her in front of him on his horse. He quickly turned, riding hard back towards the forts. Though, even at a time like this, he couldn't resist the urge. He scooted his hips a little closer to Lyn's, who, although stunned by the gore that had showered her, had the sense to elbow him hard in the ribs. The now Windless Sain scooted back a bit, and tried to breath. "And that's just the beginning, Bastard!" She yelled above the horse's gallop.

Kent Stared at the brigand in front of him, his sword at the ready, and his horse circling.

"You know, Knight, My friend was really a new recruit!"

"Then do not put Journeymen in a battle!" He said vehemently and jumped his horse forward, landing side on to the bandit, and lunging with the sword. He missed cleanly, but the bandit had his axe aimed at the knight's Leg. The leg armor was barely dented, but the bruise welled up nicely inside the armor, and his horse whinnied.

"Kun, Chi!" He said, His Vaguely Ilian words causing the horse to plant one of its bladed hoofs in the bandit's foot as it jumped clear of the closeness.

He turned his horse and looked at the bandit who was screaming in utter pain. He wore no shoes, so the damage was apparent. His left foot was completely crushed, and there were no longer toes.

Kent backed his horse two steps before ordering it to charge, and plunging the blade deep into the bandit's chest, holding tightly as his horse charged on through, causing the blade to slam against his foe's ribs, before he had to pull it free. Even then, the blade suffered the damage of ripping through the Brigand's collar bone. Three sets of eyes looked up in cold silence around the knight. He sighed, and galloped back towards the fort. He could hear arguing inside the shrine.

The injured Tactician Slowly rose, and stood between Lyn and Sain, who were arguing vehemently. "I SAID BE QUIET!" He yelled, and then went into a coughing fit, drawing Ariana to his side. "Kai, Be still, your ribs are broken…"

"I am still… the commander of this Army, by Lady Lyn's leave… I will not tolerate this infighting." He gasped slowly before throwing up a wave of blood that had trickled into his stomach. He growled lowly. "Now… Ariana, treat me if you will. Lyn, Go begin lashing horses to tear down the weak section of wall. There is a fallen tree close by. Tie two horses to it, and hang it between them. Use it like a battering ram. Bust down the wall."

Lyn nodded. Shoddy, but effective. She stalked outside, growling at Sain harshly. Kent nodded to her as he dismounted and rushed inside.

"Master Kai, I have found that there are at least two more brigands inside the shrine."

Kai nodded slowly "So, I see… What happened to your leg…?"

"A brigand hammered me in the leg. It's just a bruise."

Kai growled. "It's not JUST a bruise, it's a wound. An Exploitable weakness. Help Lyn with the Ram. Sain, I want you to walk around the front of the Shrine, and enter. Be wary of an ambush."

Sain nodded, and mounted his horse, galloping off towards the small hills inside the short road to the front of the shrine.

Kai laid back on the softer bed, screwing up his face in pain. "Let me rest, Ariana. My back feels as if it's been torn open." Ariana nodded calmly, and sat down on her wyvern, who looked a bit concerned.

Kent and Lyn had assembled the ram, and rode their horses hard, charging towards the building. They suddenly pulled their mounts up short, flinging the wooden payload at the wall, nearly busting it down. "RELOAD!" Lyn cried, and marched her horse towards the log, as Kent followed suit.

Sain walked his horse into the shrine. He looked around suspiciously. There weren't any brigands in sight, but he could see a man with a large sword sitting tall on the throne, a smug expression on his face. He pulled his spear to the ready, and charged. "AHHHHHH!" He screamed loudly, his spear coming up for a harsh stabbing strike.

He didn't expect it when the Brigand leapt out of the shadows, grabbing his spear, and pulling him off the horse. Sain fell back heavily, drawing his sword calmly, and facing off against the brigand. The brigand leapt up to attack the slightly winded knight, and Sain simply rolled under his foe, and turned, his sword lashing through the man's hips in a quick flash.

The brigand landed quietly, and then fell apart with a sickening thud and a plop, blood pooling around him like a newborn river in the spring.

Kent cursed as the wall fell in, as he saw Sain lying there, panting.

"SAIN!" "Kent! My friend! No worries, I just need to catch my breath. My horse ran off after this brigand unseated me, and I cannot find my spear."

Kent nodded, dismounting next to Sain. "You look winded. Perhaps you should get some fresh air. These candles do you no good." Sain nodded.

Lyn stood in front of them. "Well, Sain?" Sain stood slowly, faking a trip into Lyn's bosom. He soon found her fist in his face, and a nice black welt sealing his left eye shut. He walked towards the fort, a defeated look on his face.

Kent mounted on his horse once more, drawing his blade to the ready, and charging it towards the man on the throne. The man's quiet cackling sounded quietly. "Mani Katti will not be mine? Then I will show it who is worthy! I don't need the sacred sword…" he said, looking right at Kent as he leapt into the air, "TO DESTROY YOU!"

His guttural voice was loud and shocking to Kent's Horse as it reared back in fright, as the butt of the Mercenary's sword slammed him into the ground.

Kent struggled up quickly, his blade at the ready. His foe smirked, and leapt again, his heavier sword slamming into Kent's slightly damaged iron one. The parry stopped the blow, but did nothing for Kent's Ego as he saw his blade crack.

The man named glass swung again. The sidelong slash busted through Kent's Last hope, slamming him aside. He grunted as he felt a rib crack.

Glass grinned manically. "The old man can run, but the sword cannot! Where is it? Where is Mani Katti?"

Lyn dashed to Kent as Glass's Back was turned. She dragged him to his feet, and they ran outside, collapsing next to Sain.

My eyes flew open. I was looking at it all wrong… Ever since the battle with Zugu, I had become more and more detached from myself. That was why we were loosing. "That's it!" I said. And I started meditating. Gloriously, the pain ceased.

I felt myself shifting to Lyn. "Lyn! Are you okay?"

"Yes… I'm fine Kai. Glad to see you're back with us."

Kent nodded and smiled. "A little Wounded, but no worse for the wear."

Sain nodded. "A Big seething Hole in my ego, but I'm fine."

I nodded to them. "Good. I'll be right back."

I shifted my presence to Ariana, but found myself instead looking at a Wyvern.

The wyvern simply smiled, and I felt a voice inside my head. "Well well, it seems like you ARE a tactician after all!"

I looked at him strangely. "You're kidding me… Wyverns are Telepathic?"

Garnet just looked at his claws calmly. "Yes… We are. How do you think we're so much better than Pegasus at battle?"

I was stunned. Articulate to a fault, and nonchalant… No wonder Wyverns were battle mounts. "Oh fine. It doesn't matter. Come on. I need you to get Ariana."

"She charged off towards the shrine."

"WHAT! Without my orders! Is she INSANE?"

"No, she's brave, and she has a Wyvern."

I looked at him strangely. He smiled, and got up, before taking off with a burst of speed I had not seen any beast give. "Fine. I'll help her out." He said, and stopped in front of her, motioning to his back. Ariana smiled gleefully, and nodded.

She mounted him like a true Knight would mount a wyvern. "So, she's had training?"

"No, she's had me to teach her how to fight from wyvern back."

I nodded slowly. They were a blur as they passed by Lyn. "There he is. There's Glass… I recognize him. He was wanted for three murders in Bulgar. They think he's got a connection to the Taliver!"

Garnet Nodded, and slammed into Glass. Though a mere child, by wyvern Standards, He was heavy enough to bowl a man over very well.

Ariana Simply jammed her spear into Glass's Lungs as he turned. The Mercenary screamed loudly, breaking the spear off.

"DAMN" I shouted. There went our last spear, and this man was well trained with a sword.

Garnet smiled. "No worries." And inhaled. A Searing wave of dry heat shot forth, causing wood near Glass to catch, rather quickly. Glass stopped dead in his tracks, holding his blade before his face, watching the metal glow red. Better to have a busted sword than a pair of busted eyes he thought.

That's when he realized his shirt was catching fire, heating the already hot chain mail beneath his tunic up even more. The Metal began to melt, catching glass's flesh on fire.

Glass screamed harshly, his body being incinerated, as Garnet stood there, watching the pyre. Ariana giggled with glee. "GOOD JOB GARNET!" She cackled quietly. The man's screaming was permeated by gasps of air and sobs. Kai watched in utter fascination.

Ariana dismounted, and began to dance around the burning man, whose sword began to melt back down onto his body, the iron unable to take the heat. "Fire Fire, Burning higher, making music like a choir!"

She chanted this as she danced around the man, until his screaming stopped. She giggled, and continued to dance. Kai looked at Garnet, who shrugged. "Her Parents Died in a harsh winter, from the cold. I saw her shivering there, and I comforted her. When she discovered I could breathe fire, the only thing that fought away the cold better than my body, she never left my side. She Loves fire."

Kai nodded quietly. Bernian winters were hard and cold. Worse almost than Ilian.

The soldiers had spent the afternoon dragging corpses out of the cathedral, and Garnet spent it barbequing them with his arid breath. He feasted while Ariana played with fire. Kai rolled his eyes at them. A damned Dragon and a young lady who loved to burn things.

Kent and Sain were repairing their armor at a small farmer's market just to the south of the shrine. They were also purchasing new equipment for the group. Kent was holding Sain away from the owner's daughter, under pain of a pike, where the sun doesn't shine. Sain, for once, held himself in check.

Lyn was trying to open the door to the Priest's Sanctum, and sat heavily on the throne, sighing.

The door creaked open, and a Bishop walked out. He smiled. "So, you are the one who defeated the Man, Glass, are you?"

"No, but I am the leader of the Troops who did." I said, walking towards him slowly, blotting the blood from my lips. My entire body hurt, and I was nearly delirious. Seeing me nearly collapse onto a pew was enough for the bishop, who immediately grabbed a staff.

"By the Goddess, Child, what happened!" He said excitedly, and stood beside me, chanting slowly. "Powers of Life, I call unto thee, Please, Heal this boy of his wounds. Make him well, Mend his body!" He said as a large glowing sphere that engulfed even his body erupted from the staff he held. "Take his pain!" And he slammed the staff down.

Suddenly, I was illuminated by the light, and I could feel my body mending. The holy staff's orb slowly cracked as it took my body's pain, but the process was complete before it was anywhere near broken, or spent.

I smiled as Kent and Sain received the treatment, Followed by Ariana and her mount, and then Lyn. The entire troop was healed, and we all relaxed. We hadn't felt this good since we had all just met in Bulgar.

That was when the Hand maiden of the shrine brought forth the Mani Katti. The bishop smiled. "For your Bravery, and Honor, Lady Lyn, I will allow you to touch this sacred blade."

Lyn grinned with glee. "I had only hoped to pray before it, but perhaps this will work much better."

She laid her hands on the markings along the sheathe, and began to pray.

Suddenly, I felt a pulse of energy from my heaven seal. "WHA?" I shouted, staring at the glow of my seal.

Suddenly, Lyn's eyes flew open, and the sheathe began to emanate a strong blue glow in her hands. "What is this!" She said anxiously.

The bishop stared in awe. "The blade! It has accepted you, Lady Lyn, as its master." He held onto his staff for support, the old man looking quite… strange. He was grinning much too wide for his old face. "Quickly, draw the blade!"

She obeyed without question, pulling the blade from it's sheathe. She expected it to come out with a slow jerky motion. It came out with a glide so smooth, I could have sworn only magic could have done it. She stared at the blade… "It came out effortlessly!"

I smiled at her. "Such a Lovely thing. It seems as if the blade could see your soul, and knew how much you needed its assistance." I smiled. "May we take the blade with us, Lord Bishop?"

I didn't know the man's name, so he just used the honorific for him. The bishop slowly nodded. "The shrine will take years to repair and resanctify. The blood spilt here would slowly corrupt the blade. So, I think, while the Shrine is in this state, I think it would be best to use the blade for its intended use. To protect those who cannot fight for themselves."

He obviously meant she should protect me, but I didn't mind. She had a sacred blade. We all turned, and bid them both farewell, as we walked out, and turned southwest, towards the Caelin Canton. We were homeward bound.

Along the path, Lyn finally admitted her fears. "It's not right… something's wrong… how can a blade choose me?"

I sighed. Sain spoke up. "Lady Lyn, you see, you're looking too much into the matter. Think of it like this. Some weapons feel more comfortable in your hands, correct? Well, the Mani Katti Itself feels VERY comfortable in your hand."

She nodded. "That, I think, I can accept. This is… My responsibility. This is my sword." She said with pride.

We both smiled, and Kent smirked. "And it was just waiting for you to draw it."

She looked unnerved. "Don't say that! I'm nothing special! I'm just an ordinary Lady."

We walked on, continuing our path, all smiling and content. The battles were forgotten, and we were all friends. I noticed Kent drop back to whisper something to Lyn. I smiled. Those two made a cute looking couple, and I knew Kent would give his life for Lady Lyn in a heartbeat.

Sain decided to speak up. "Lady Lyn, you do know that you are the granddaughter of Marques Caelin, No?"

She shook her head. "I didn't…." She looked kind of spooked. Kent spoke next. "We are journeying with you, to escort you to Caelin, so you can take your Rightful place…. But Lord Lundgren, your Uncle, and the Masques' Brother, wants the throne at any cost. He will not hesitate to kill you."

Lyn nodded, and Gulped. "My grandfather…. The only Family I have left… I must see him. I Must." She said this with a Certainty I had not seen in her save for when she fought against Batta. "Then we are Caelin bound. We will cross the mountain range, and head for Lycia through Bern's upper corner.

They were only a day away from the village, before Kai felt another pulse of his Heaven seal… Something was happening up ahead… something that could Decide Lyn's Fate.

A/N: Well well, we all know what happens next chapter, but what cruel twist will I put on it this time! Cackle The new addition to Lyndis's Legion, My OC Ariana and her Wyvern garnet make a nice team, don't you think?

Reviewers Corner!

Okay yeah, now, Onto the Reviewers corner.

MisterFuzzums: Yeah yeah, I'm working on it, eh? Trying to think of how I can make this more individual.

Renzokuken-sama: Well, now, you see, a gentleman never kisses and tells. Let's just say, that there are still a few mysteries about the "Heaven seal" that Kai possesses. And yes, The Taliver will be wiped out, in one of the Support Chapters, but you'll never guess who does it.

Asarin the Ananomus: Uhm… Thanks.