II

Knowing as we did that Prince Innes was to pass through Carcino on his way to Jehanna, it was with horror that we learned of Pablo's betrayal. We feared the worst. With a new enemy at Frelia's doorstep, and Grado's forces in disarray thanks to Prince Ephraim, a large detachment was sent to Carcino, my unit included. Fear for our Prince and the desire for retribution at this terrible betrayal drove us on. It was this fear, I think, that allowed us to drive through Carcino so hard and so fast that we were able to reach Hamill Canyon in time for the battle.

The fighting was the fiercest I'd yet seen. I have never seen so many soldiers in one place. The enemy commander, a mercenary by the name of Aias, was an expert tactician and he valued cavalry above all else. It was natural then that our unit made up the first line. We stood there, halberds held out before us, a long lines of pikes to impale their charging mounts and send the shining knights tumbling to the ground.

The first charge is always the worst, but we held firm, pushed them back. They never broke our lines and soon our own cavalry, the knights of Renais and Frelia, charged Aias's forces. Infantry followed and soon friend and foe were locked in close quarters fighting. Here, too, my comrades and I excelled.

Fine weather for lounging outdoors makes for poor fighting weather. When the sun is bright it leaps off the knights' polished armour, dazzling to the eyes. It was in the midst of the fray that I saw him again, the Silver Knight, glittering in the noonday sun, shining every inch, save where his sword was smeared with blood. My eyes ached and watered as I looked on him.

My wits returned in time for me to spot the enemy knight who thought to catch Sir Seth from behind while he tangled with another horseman. I took up position, weapon raised, and braced myself.

Blood pounded in my ears, louder than the thundering hooves of the charging paladin. At the last moment he managed to rear his horse to avoid the long spike of my halberd, but I had him then. As he struggled to get control of his rattled mount, I turned my weapon. The hook opposite the blade snagged him easily, and with a tremendous tug I yanked him from his saddle. I shifted the shaft again in my hands, raised it, and brought down the axe-blade before the knight had time to scrabble to his feet. One stroke was all it took.

When I turned I had to shade my eyes. "My thanks." Sir Seth had raised his visor and I saw again those eyes, their kindness, looking down on me.

"Yes, General," was all I managed to get out.

"Reform your lines," he said. "They've reinforcements coming from behind. We must hold them off on both fronts until Rausten arrives." That mix of ferociousness and courtesy here on the battlefield left me more awed than by Prince Innes's bowmanship, than his skill at strategy, than his grand aloofness. Ever our dear prince paled before the Silver Knight.

ooo

"We anticipate reaching Jehanna Hall by morning tomorrow," Prince Innes announces. The relief among the troops is almost palpable. It's been nothing but marching and fighting since we left Frelia. "We don't know what we'll find when we get there, so I trust you all to be at the ready."

He walks up and down our lines, hands folded behind his back, stern and expectant. Our prince expects nothing less than perfection and we are more than willing to provide it– as best we can at least. A curt nod as he surveys my unit and pride wells up in me like a fountain. He's as pale and stately as a pegasus. How could we not be proud to serve such a prince? Prince Ephraim on the other hand is known for his recklessness. And yet his knights serve him with utter devotion so there must be more to him than the rumours say.

"Innes." For a moment I bristle at the familiar address... until I realize it's the Princess of Renais who's come to join him. "How are your troops?" Her eyes linger on our halberds; there's no equivalent unit in the Renais forces. The halberdiers are one of the chief reasons Grado was unable to take Frelia.

"They're holding up well," Prince Innes replies. "And yours?"

It's strange to see her garbed in armour and wearing a sword. Princess Tana was trained as a pegasus knight and as such she soars above the battlefield, striking the enemy from on high just as Prince Innes strikes from afar, his arrows a deadly rain upon his foes. But Princess Eirika must fight on the front lines. It's rumoured that she's often seen fighting on foot like a common soldier.

"Weary from marching, but well enough to fight," Princess Eirika replies. "The Rausten knights are ready as well."

Prince Innes nods. "Then we should set out at once. If it's true that Jehanna Hall has fallen, I fear for Queen Ismaire's life."

A dazzling flash of light and I'm left squinting into the glare to try to see the knight who's walking towards us. My breath catches.

"Is everything all right, Seth?"

He bows his head to Prince Innes before replying. "Yes, milady. I've had word from our scouts and the path ahead is clear. We're prepared to leave at your word."

Sir Seth is all aglitter in the morning light, his hair a flaming copper while our prince stands like a marble statue.

She waits there between them both, heedless of us, of our raging thoughts. The men watch her like hungry dogs, their eyes daring to trail over her when the prince's back is turned. I needn't glance at them to know. They gossip worse than all the women put together. The women eye her with suspicion and with envy. Is she good enough for our prince? Does she try her wiles on him? They think it's a match long since agreed upon. I know otherwise.

Princess Eirika nods vaguely. Sir Seth and Prince Innes both watch her, waiting on her word.

Even mud-flecked and travel-worn she's different from us– beautiful, graceful in a way that we of the rank and file aren't. And never shall be. My male comrades' eyes linger on her, as mine do on Sir Seth. His eyes, too, linger. They meet hers and she smiles.

"Let's go."

ooo

"I've got sand in my boots," Karinia says with a groan, tugging off one boot and then hopping on the other foot as she empties out the sand.

"Count yourself lucky," says Exter as he sets down his pack. "I've got sand in places I didn't even know I had."

Karinia grimaces. "That's more than I wanted to know."

He shrugs and goes about his business. Camp is set up in no time. It's only when it comes time to eat that everyone finally slows down. Eyelids droop even as we spoon our dinner into our mouths.

"Did you see how Princess Eirika was looking at our prince this morning?" Karinia says, biting back a yawn at the end.

"No."

"She was gazing at him."

I sniff. "I saw no such thing."

"She's after our prince. There's no question. And who could blame her?"

I shake my head. "You're wrong."

Karinia is staring at me as if were a two-headed horse. "And when did you become an expert on the subject, hmm?"

"I just... I can tell, all right?"

"No, it's not all right. What do you know that I don't?"

"Nothing," I protest, feeling sweat beading at the back of my neck even in the cool, night air. "It's just... you know how the prince and her brother are always fighting. How could she love someone her brother despises?"

Karinia rolls her eyes. "You've got some learning to do yet. Love and lust haven't got a thing to do with good sense. Even a princess can fancy someone her family says she shouldn't."

"You're right," I say, because I know it's true. All at once I can't stand to be there any longer. I owe nothing to the Princess of Renais, yet... yet Sir Seth serves her with all his heart and I don't doubt it would pain him to hear her name sullied in any way. "I'm going to stretch my legs."

"Your.... legs?" Karinia is starting at me. "But, Adelaide... You've been marching all day."

"Oh. Yes... but I need some fresh air." I hurry away before she can question me any further.

I take deep breaths as I walk on aching feet and try to sort out my swirling thoughts. If I told the others what I know, they would surely scorn the princess of Renais– turning down our dear prince for a lowly knight! How could I tell them that I would do the same?

I hadn't meant to overhear them. Since joining up with the Renais forces, I often wander into their camp, just to get a glimpse of Sir Seth if I can. In the evenings, when he strips off his armour, I can look at him without shielding my eyes. He is tall and handsome even without the trappings of knighthood and I could happily spend an age memorizing the lines of his face, the curve of his shoulders, his stance, his manner.

I had come around a corner and glimpsed him and then paused a moment just to look at him when she came. It had seemed innocent at first. She had asked him to help her train, as she often did. Once before I'd had the chance to watch them spar and it had been a pleasure to a bladesman's eye. No one could move with a sword in hand like Sir Seth, with a grace and ease as natural as flight to a pegasus. I had hoped to have the chance to watch once again but instead Sir Seth had looked very grave and said that she been too close to him of late, that she ought not to fraternize with her subjects so.

I ought to have left then– I know I should have, but I remained fixed to the spot and they went on oblivious to me as he spoke of duty, chiding almost. But it's her voice, her words that I remember more than anything. "That night... we fled from the soldiers of Grado... You held me tight, keeping me safe from the enemy's blades... Perhaps... I did feel something more for you then. But... it was improper for a queen of Renais."

Something more? Improper? Yes, Karinia, I know a princess can fancy the wrong man. And who could blame her indeed?

I thought he turned to go after that and, fool that I am, I felt hope rush through me like a heady drink as I ran from the place. He was right to reject her of course. He is a knight and his duty is to serve, not to love. To do otherwise would go completely against his obligations to the kingdom and he is, after all, the Silver Knight. The perfect knight. But why should that give me any more of a chance than before? I am as far below a knight as he is below his princess.

"Lady Eirika"

I freeze. My feet have betrayed me again. Without a thought I've wandered into the Renais camp once more and I would recognise Sir Seth's voice anywhere.

"Oh. Seth."

"Good evening, milady."

"Good evening, Seth."

There they stand there in silence for a moment and my heart is hammering in my chest while the rest of me is frozen in place. Should I keep walking forward as if nothing were amiss or turn the other way and– Princess Eirika makes it a moot point.

"Seth, I– Oh..."

I drop into an awkward bow as she notices me. "Princess Eirika. I'm sorry, I– I took a wrong turn in your camp, I'm afraid."

"Adelaide?" My heart leaps as Sir Seth speaks my name When I dare to raise my head, I find him peering at me "Ah, it is you."

"G– General Seth."

I can see Princess Eirika glancing at Sir Seth, eyebrows raised. He nods and says, "This is Adelaide of the Silver Lance division– one of Prince Innes's halberdier units. She aided me during the battle of Hamill Canyon."

The princess nods and then turns to smile at me. I've often seen her from a distance, as we did this morning, but to stand and speak to her is another matter. Her hair falls around her in gentle waves while mine is little more than a tangled mane. She has high cheekbones and delicate features, yet she wears her armour and sword like she was born to a soldier's life. "Then I owe you my thanks," she says. "Sir Seth is my most trusted retainer and I'd be much grieved should anything happen to him."

My palms are slick with sweat and I find I no longer know what to do with them. I must look a dusty mess from the day's march. "Of course, Princess," I manage, breathlessly, my eyes dropping to stare at sand beneath our feet.

"What part of Frelia are you from?"

I glance up again, for the question surprises me; I had expected to be dismissed at once. "The south."

"And how did you come to be a halberdier?"

"I– I'm the daughter of a small wool trader." I lick my lips and take a shaky breath. "When the war began I... I wanted to do something... something more than waiting at home. So I volunteered. I had no experience so I was trained with a halberd– they're easy to learn."

She nods. "I've been very impressed with Prince Innes's halberdiers. If we'd had the foresight to train such units in Renais perhaps we would have fared better against Grado's forces."

Her expression is distant then and I dare to look at her for a moment. Like everyone, I've heard about Renais's misfortune, the king, her father, slain, and now Prince Ephraim marches into the very heart of Grado territory... Those in my camp who envy her forget these things. My father and mother still wait for me at home and my brother as well. There is only one thing of hers that I envy...

"Lady Eirika..." Sir Seth says, his voice a gentle balm.

She glances up to meet his eyes, but she does not smile. She loves him. I know she loves him. Some would say that he isn't deserving of her, but how could he not be? "It's late and we've a ways to march tomorrow," she says and then turns back toward me. "I wish you and your forces well. Your help has been invaluable." I bow my head again, my mouth too dry for me to speak. "Goodnight, Seth."

"Goodnight, milady," he replies. She walks away and my heart is racing like that of a hare chased by a pack of hounds. I've imagined this, standing here alone with him and yet now that it's happened I can think of nothing to say. Nothing at all. "Will you be able to find your way back to your camp?"

"Y– Yes sir," I squeak.

"Very well. Get your rest. I fear we'll need all our strength tomorrow."

"Yes, General."

And then my feet are moving of their own accord once again, bringing me back to my camp with long strides... while I desperately wish for a dark place to curl up in and escape from my own foolishness.