Once again, I'm sorry this chapter is so short, and so...unpolished. I'll edit it a little when I have time, I swear, but I have been (and still am) snowed under with life in general, and extra maths in particular. I hate maths! If it could be personified, I would kill it! Also, my writing style is very different, since I'm still recovering from a terrible case of writer's block. Hopefully it'll go back to normal soon.
Oh, and BTW: I decided to kill Merlinus off after all, rather than letting him survive. Also, if you're confused about why Erk knows so much about law, the FE7 definition of 'mage' says 'masters of justice'. So I'm guessing that Erk (and Pent) would have had to sit in on many trials and things. As well, after this chapter, this fic is going to deviate from the game plotline even more than it already has. Okay, now I've said what I wanted to say, please enjoy the fic!
Eclipsedragon does not own Fire Emblem or anything else mentioned here.
Lady Macbeth Chapter 4: The Bells of War
After the initial discovery, things began to move very quickly indeed. Guards were chosen from the ragtag army and set up around the camp, each well within the sightline and earshot of at least two others. The entrance to Merlinus' wagon was sealed, lest there be any clues inside.
Guy, by now an expert on wounds, and Erk, who, being a mage, had been educated in many of the finer aspects of justice and law, were sent to inspect the body, whilst Serra and Priscilla explained what they had seen to the Lords and the tactician.
From above, the camp might have resembled a disturbed ants' nest: a mass of tent - cloth and mud, complete with frightened, scurrying inhabitants, gradually assembling in front of the largest tent.
A bleary-eyed Hector stood to address the crowd of humanity before him.
"As you know, things happened last night that have caused us to seal the camp. The merchant Merlinus has been murdered, -" Here, some members of the army gasped at his bluntness, but he waved for their silence. "-and one of our most treasured soldiers and spies, Matthew, has vanished. Although there is no evidence to connect these two crimes-" He was cut off once again as Erk raised a hand.
"Your pardon, Lord Hector, but we believe that there is." Hector raised an eyebrow, presumably too exhausted to do anything else, and said,
"Continue." A haggard – looking Guy was the next to speak.
"The injuries that killed Merlinus: Matthew caused them. I'd know his style anywhere." The camp subsided into mutters of disbelief, but was silenced once again when Erk spoke.
"I wouldn't have believed it either, but I too have fought alongside Matthew, and I also recognise this style of fighting. I remember noticing that he used a different type of strike when he only intended to injure an enemy, usually causing a gash across their stomach, as opposed to a jab to the heart when he wanted to kill them. It would be very hard for anyone to copy his technique. The wounds given to Merlinus were the very same as the ones caused by Matthew when he wished only to disable an opponent, but done with such strength that they killed anyway." Guy bowed, suppressed tears beginning to gather in the corners of his eyes.
"On my honour as a Sacaen, I have told no lie. If this tongue has ever spoken an untruth, may great Hanon of the rolling plains cut it out." Rath, standing in the crowd, noted that Guy was quoting Sacae's code of honour, and nodded to Lyn, who knew the significance of the words, and mouthed 'I know,' at him, before signalling for those who were not Lords or the tactician to leave. As the army filed out, Hector could not help but hear Guy's muttered comment.
"I don't understand…Matthew was my best friend…"
Please spare a thought for Guy - his best friend's betrayed him, and now, since Sacaens never lie, he has to prove that the said friend killed Merlinus!