Pre-chapter Review Answer Corner GO!

Takeshi Yamato - Mags: Literally all the ships were like the first or second thing we planned out, not even kidding.
Tori: Chrom/sumia is the plan – Solna would not work with Chrom romantically.

The Worldwalker - Mags: There are I believe two relatively important-ish ones planned(OC future kids to be exact), but other than them it's just a few bit characters for worldbuilding because we can and Tori really, really likes Chon'sin because of reasons.
Tori: *hits Mags with a Kabuto from her spot in the samurai trashbin* Although keep an eye on someone Raimi mentions later on in the chapter ... Not an OC, but well, you'll see ...

Puresadow013 - Tori: I laughed my ass off at that. You got an internet and a cookie from me.

Overlord Duelist - Tori: The fact that he can't learn armsthrift either is just icing on the cake. Also I cannot type out Ankoku no Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi into google without giggling a little. It's so corny.

And now, ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

'Well, I never thought I'd find something that would make Solna so … docile."

Felix turned his head at the sound of Frederick's voice, giving his sister a sympathetic look through the falling snow. Ever since they had crossed through a small mountain range earlier in the week that served as a partial marker between Ylisse and Regna Ferox and hit snow, Solna had turned into a quiet ball of misery on the back of Sully's horse. Her coat was buttoned up fully, and the massive mane of lavender waves had been let down to give her head and neck some more cover.

"She's … never liked the cold." Felix admitted weakly, giving a shrug. "I don't think she'll be doing much movement until we get her indoors." Stretching, Felix noticed Lissa wasn't much better off, shivering beneath a cloak as she tried to keep close to her brother as a sort of shield from the cold wind. The prince himself seemed relatively unfazed by the cold, but he did squint to peer through the falling snow.

"F-f-Frebberick …!" Lissa finally whined, looking up at the knight. "I – I'm cold …." Frederick looked at the princess with a chuckle, patting his warhorse's armor-clad withers.

"Walk alongside my horse, milady – she'll shield you from the wind." He reassured her, watching as she scrambled to the opposite side of the large mare. One he was certain that the princess wasn't as bothered by the wind chill, the brunet lifted his head and looked around at rest of the company. Barring the dark violet lump that was Solna, the rest of the company wore cloaks and hoods against the cold and the snow. Apart from Felix, who seemed completely fine in just his coat – even if he had raised the hood when the wind picked up.

Chrom took notice of this too, looking at the other blue-haired male. "Aren't you cold, Felix? That coat doesn't look particularly thick." He asked, reaching out to pat his friend's shoulder. When he did, however, he blinked – Felix felt warmer than expected, even with the sharp wind around them. "...? Why do you feel like you've got a bonfire going underneath your coat?"

"He's a stupid fire lizard." Solna's voice groaned out from behind her lavender hair, making Sully and Stahl turn in their saddles to look at her. Nobody else seemed to have heard her, however, as Felix just responded to Chrom's question with a shrug. When Solna didn't continue her statement, the cavaliers looked at one another with a shrug.

"That's the first time I heard her talk in a while – thought she fell asleep." Sully commented, looking behind herself and skyward. "And I hope Sumia can catch up to us alright – pegasi don't seem to mind the cold so much, but it can be an arse to fly through snow if you're not used to it." Stahl looked in the same direction, holding a hand up to shield his eyes from the faint sunlight that managed to come through the clouds.

"Sumia's a smart girl, though – if she doesn't think she can fly in this weather, chances are she'll head back to the garrison." He reassured his friend after a moment with a smile. "She's never been much of a risk taker – probably flying a bit slower to make sure she doesn't worsen the pegasus's injuries too, knowing her."

"Yeah, that sounds like a Sumia thing." Sully chuckled, smiling as she prodded Solna. The tactician growled and squirmed a bit, one russet eye appearing briefly from underneath the mane of hair. "Just makin' sure you're still alive, is all. You're actin like a wyvern up here in this cold." Solna muttered something unintelligible under her breath, making Sully laugh. "Okay, if you've got enough fire in your belly to call me that, then you're fine."

Stahl just shook his head in amusement, eyes focusing up ahead. "Huh, looks like we're here, at any rate. I'm sure we can drop her off in front of a fire with a meat pie of some sort to get her back to normal. I probably have a couple of the ones Rosie made left." He said with a grin, just as Felix let out a noise of pure shock.

"What in the name of all the gods is this structure?!"

In front of the Sheperds, visible through the falling snow, was a massive stone wall. The stones were wedged tightly together, and what little of the masonry was visible showed constant maintenance – Felix doubted a mouse could find a route through it. It was impossibly tall as well, far larger than Felix himself considered necessary – it struck him as trying to keep something on either side of the wall from crossing it, but surely nothing in existence was this large …! The part of it they were approaching had a gate cut into it, and the top of the wall had a sort of building built on top of it, potentially a way point. A glance to his left and right showed that the wall extended as far as he could see in both directions, various way points in both directions.

Chrom just chuckled, looking at the wall in front of them as well. "This is the Longfort, and it stretches along the proper border between Ylisse and Regna Ferox – most of the villagers along the Northroad just associate the mountain pass with the border." Looking it up and down, the prince let out a sigh. "It doesn't seem like they're expecting much good news, though."

"The Khans that rule this land have grown weary of foreigners as of late." Frederick said as he gave a tug on his mount's reins. When the large mare stopped, he frowned. "It is fully possible that they've had brigand troubles themselves, however, so don't mistake a lack of hospitality for open hostility. A simple show of diplomacy is what is needed here."

Felix nodded in understanding. "I hate to say it, but perhaps its for the best that Solna's not at her most cognitive – she might just get us into more trouble." Chrom let out a laugh as well, holding a hand up to let the other Sheperds know to stop.

"I can sympathize – diplomacy isn't my strong point either, but ..." Sighing, the sapphire-haired male gave the wall a stern look as he gripped Falchion's hilt, as if in reassurance, "I can't let Emm down. I'll have to try, for my sister's sake." With that, he stepped forward, Frederick at his right. Felix paused for a moment before stepping up on the prince's left, glancing around – even for such a snowy field, it was too quiet. A glance behind him showed Solna sitting up a bit more on Sully's horse, trying to force her sluggish body to work with her.

Then, from atop the parapet, came a voice.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

It was sharp, and strong enough to carry over the whipping winds and snow. Felix thought it was feminine in tone, which made him blink – he hadn't expected that, for some reason. Chrom, to his credit, didn't seem as bothered, opting instead to tighten the grip he had on Falchion's hilt as he cleared his throat.

"In the name of House Ylisse, I seek an audience with the Khans!" He called back, keeping his gaze trained on the parapet where they had heard the voice come from. When no response came, he frowned, and went to take a step forward when the voice came back.

"Halt, you overbold lad! I've lancers at the ready if you take one step more!"

Frederick frowned at that, tightening the grip he had on his mare's reins once more. "Hold, Milady!" Felix arched an eyebrow in respect – the knight clearly knew how to project his voice. "We come on behalf of the Exalt Emmeryn, to discuss matters of mutual interest!"

"And what mutual interests would brigands have to speak of with the Khans?" The woman shouted back, making Frederick and Chrom both bristle. "You think you are the first "Ylisseans" to cross our borders? I have the authority to fell such imposters where they stand!"

The faint sound of Solna yelling something made Felix turn – her words were lost on the wind, but there was a lull coming. Chrom and Frederick didn't seem to hear her, however.

"How dare you!" Frederick's voice had taken on a tone akin to a sword's edge. "You are in the presence of Prince Chrom, the Exalt's own blood!"

"And I'm the queen of Valm! You do realize impersonating royalty is a capital offense, correct?" The sound of clattering armor and weapons followed the woman's statement. "Perhaps we should settle this the Feroxi way – you claim to be the prince of Ylisse? Then prove it on the field of battle."

Chrom gritted his teeth. "Emmeryn wouldn't like this at all ..." He muttered under his breath before turning his face skyward again. "Please, my good lady –"

"CHROM, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS!" Solna's voice finally carried, making Felix and Frederick both whirl around in shock. Despite the cold, Solna had stood up on the back of Sully's horse, shocking both the knight, her mount and the Sheperds near her. "FELIX, GET PRINCE FASHION DISASTER OUT OF THERE BEFORE HE G-!"

"I've heard enough! Lancers, Sentinels! Loose!" The commander's voice drowned hers out, and Felix was faintly aware of the sound of javelins whistling through the air before something fast and white shot past him and Frederick, scooping Chrom up and away. Not a second later, three javelins skewered the snow where the prince had once stood. The snow was empty, making Felix and Frederick look around frantically. It took the sight of falling feathers to make both of them look up.

In the background, Sully laughed and let out a cheer, unaware that Solna had fallen off of her horse from the shock of it all. "That's my girl, Sumia! Hell of a save!"

Up above, Chrom shook his head, the sharp wind and snow hitting his face. He wasn't dead …? He'd barely had time to lift his arms over his head when the javelins had been thrown, and he really doubted the Khans would let inept lancers on the wall. So how had he ….? the feeling of brown waves hitting his face made him look up, gaining his bearings – he sat behind Sumia, who steered the flying horse with a steady hand.

"Sumia …?" He finally managed to force out, staring as he looked around. They had gotten out of javelin range, at the least, but the wind was harsher and colder up here.

"Better hold on tight Captain – could get bumpy." Sumia spoke without turning around in the saddle, somehow enduring the cold despite wearing nothing more than the standard Pegasus Knights did. Nodding in response to her statement, Chrom gripped onto the saddle in front of him with one hand, looking down – he could see Kellam lifting a black and violet bundle out of the snow down below, and the rest of the group was gearing up.

"We should rendezvous with them down below, Sumia, but ..." He looked at the pegasus, "is this really the same, ornery creature we met on the road here?"

Sumia giggled, looking over her shoulder at him as she shifted the lance Sully had given her earlier into a ready grip. "Aww, she's a sweetheart, Captain." She smiled, making Chrom stare in shock for a few moments. "I'm just glad the two of us caught up in time!"

Taking a second to recover himself, Chrom nodded and gave a weak laugh. "That goes double for me, Sumia!" He nodded, glancing towards the spot where the javelins had come from. There seemed to be more getting ready to launch an assault, prompting the blue-haired prince into nodding down at their group. "Come on, let's swing down real fast to see if Felix has any ideas of what to do – we seem to be settling this the Feroxi way, whether we like it or not."

"Right!" Nodding her head as she faced forward once more, Sumia directed the pegasus into a dive. The winged horse came to a halt beside Frederick's horse, out of range of the lancers on the wall. Chrom shifted, standing up as much as he could on the horse to look for Felix. The ice-haired male was helping arrange his sister on Frederick's horse. "I take it she's out for a while."

"Unless she heats up again, yes." Felix nodded, frowning. "We should go and take out their commander first – I wager it would be safe to bet that, if we get her, the others will stand down and listen to sense." Giving both Chrom and Sumia a look over, he nodded. "You two should stick together, provided your pegasus doesn't protest the extra weight."

Sumia shook her head. "Oh, no, it's not a problem!" She replied, cheeks pink – if it was the cold or something else, Felix couldn't tell. "Phila said there's been plenty of times where the pegasus knights have doubled up with a mage or archer on patrol before; the captain's fine."

"Plus, it'll help keep archers off of her." Stahl spoke up as he rode closer, pulling Lissa onto the back of his horse once more – a look showed that Miriel had jumped onto the back of Sully's horse, while Virion and Vaike stood nearby. "Fliers don't like arrows, if I recall?"

"No, not at all – we'll have to get them first." Sumia nodded, tightening the grip on the reins once more before turning to Chrom. "Think you can cover my back, Captain?"

Chrom gave her the most confident smile Felix had ever seen. "Not a problem – I'll do my best to help you out in general too. Guess it's time for your first field job as a Sheperd, then!" Sumia seemed to think on that for a moment, nervous, but a proud smile crossed her face a moment later. The prince gave her one in return. "So, let's show how it's done, Sumia!"

"Here goes!" Nodding her head in agreement, Sumia dug her heels into the pegasus's sides. On cue, the white creature took off soaring once more, circling around to gain more altitude before flying off along the wall, out of bow range. Felix watched them for a few seconds to make sure they would fare well enough before turning back to Solna. Frederick had gotten the drenched coat off of her, having replaced it with a spare wool cloak.

"She'll be fine on my horse, Felix." The large knight nodded, frowning as he tightened the cloak. "We best make haste and get her out of this cold, however – it wouldn't do for her to catch sick."

"If I may?" Miriel and sully had ridden up, the mage holding her fire tome open. Reaching out, she placed a hand wrapped in red light on the cloak, and held it there for a moment. "Wonderful – I had hoped to see if it would be possible for one to place a small influx of fire magic into a conductor to heat it. One must be cautious over the risk of putting too much fire into the cloak, but at the least, she should not be in danger of hypothermic shock."

"Good to know." Sully nodded before glancing at Felix. "So, what's the plan?"

Felix looked up at the Longfort at that, brow furrowed – it was hard to spot Sumia's pegasus in the falling snow, but the soldiers who had come down from the fort were readily tromping towards them. "We should knock some sense into these guys – don't kill anyone if you can help it, though. It would be a bad first impression to the Khan if we killed some of their men when we're supposed to be here on a peaceful mission."

"So bonk 'em on the head and make em stop?" Vaike let out a laugh, shouldering his axe. "Leave it to the Vaike – I'll hit them so hard they'll be seeing stars." Virion chuckled as well, stringing his bow.

"Do not fear for his head – if any tries to shoot him, I shall simply shoot the arrows out of the way, for I am – "

"The 'archest of archers', we know." Sully cut him off with a roll of her eyes. "Just keep yourselves in one piece, alright?" Virion saluted the redheaded cavalier before following Vaike off to greet the charging soldiers, making her shake her head in exasperation. "And where do you want Miriel and I to go, Felix?"

"You two follow Frederick and make sure nobody blindsides him, and Stahl, Lissa, Kellam and I will go in the same direction as Vaike and Virion." The tactician nodded. "Sumia and Chrom seem to be over in the area over there, so the lot of us just need to cover them until we can get at the commander for the force. Once we've knocked some sense into her head, we should be able to smooth things over again. We clear?" Relaxing a fraction when he received several nods in reply, the cobalt-haired man grinned. "Alright, let's move out!"

Frederick wasted no time in breaking off in the direction Felix indicated, drawing a sword that he had picked up from the fallen Risen. Sully and Miriel were beside him a moment later, the two women ready to fight as well. Solna had regained enough sense to grab at the barding on Frederick's horse, helping her stay in one place as the knight swung around in the saddle to parry an attacker's sword. Sully had managed to catch an archer off guard, hooking her lance through the man's bow before yanking it from his grip.

Behind her, Miriel sat on the horse, keeping her eyes fixed on the enemies. Her tome was in her hand at the ready when an archer further away leveled a crossbow, earning a frown as the mage focused on the weapon in his hand. "Desist at once!" the shout was accompanied by a burst of fire, the spell catching the quarrel that had been fired at Sully and burning it to a crisp before hitting the weapon proper.

The archer let out a frightened yelp and dropped it into the snow, the noise distracting a third archer long enough for Sumia to dive down from above and render him unconscious with the spear she carried. Her face and arms showed cuts from where she had been weaving amongst arrows, but the pegasus was unharmed. Behind her, Chrom stood on the horse again, watching the swordsman that was currently engaged with Frederick.

Spotting the ring of keys hanging from the man's belt, he grinned. "The doors up ahead are locked – someone grab the keys!" He hollered, bracing himself as Sumia urged her pegasus into the air to avoid being shot from one of the archers further up the wall. Sully whistled at the sight, impressed that he hadn't fallen off, before turning to look at the swordsman he had pointed out. The archer she had disarmed was promptly hit over the head by Miriel's tome, and Sully attempted to hook the key ring off of the attacker's belt.

He seemed savvy to it, however, and disengaged from Frederick to turn on her instead. Sword met lance, and the man pressed the attack hard enough to keep Sully from getting an opening.

"Yoink!"

It seemed, however, that Solna had enough energy to pitch in.

Sully, Miriel, and the swordsmen looked at Solna – the woman was giving htem a sleepy grin from beneath the cloak's hood, Frederick holding her around the waist to keep her from toppling off of his horse. Grinning more, the female tactician sat back up, and Sully whapped the swordsman upside the head with her weapon's haft while he was distracted.

The man dropped like a brick, making her snort. "Damn nuisance," she muttered, glancing at the stairwell that stood nearby. Sumia and Chrom were hovering in the air nearby, diving in and out of danger to harass and disarm the lancers they could get to. "Well, Commander, should we go and open the door for them?" She jerked her thumb at the stairwell. "Captain Chrom said the stairs at the top there were locked, but since we have keys ..."

Frederick nodded, making certain Solna wasn't going to fall into the snow again. "I'll lead, since it seems my passenger was able to grab the keys so … efficiently." Solna didn't seem to pay him much heed, instead opting to sneeze into her arm. "Keep anyone who might try to sneak up on us from behind under control, and we'll clear the way for Milord and Sumia." Sully and Miriel nodded, prompting Frederick to nudge his horse into a canter up the steps. "Here's hoping the force on the other side fares well."

"I love this part!"

Felix watched in surprise as Stahl bowled over an attacking archer with the flat of his sword, catching the bow and flinging it to a large snow bank a small distance away. "... And here I thought he'd be one of the calmer fighters here ..." He commented under his breath, ducking beneath a thrown javelin. Kellam just chuckled from his spot nearby, starting to sneak up on a nearby archer that was taking aim at Lissa.

Like with the Risen on the road there, the archer took no notice of Kellam, and let out a frightened shout when the large man had grabbed his bow and yanked it out of his hands. Taking the opportunity to attack with impunity, Felix pulled out the fire tome he had grabbed before leaving Ylisse, and targeted the soldier who had decided to harass Virion.

"Wrong move!" He hollered, a burst of flame flying from his outstretched hand. While the spell missed hitting either Virion or the soldier, the light and heat from the flames was enough to shock the man into backing up and dropping his javelin. He was summarily hit upside the head by Lissa's heal staff as Stahl rode by, while Vaike opted to smash a second archer's bow straight out of his hands.

"I found keys!" Kellam reappeared at Felix's side, dangling the ring in his hands. Behind him, the archer let out a shocked noise – he seemed to have missed the large knight taking them off of his person. His expression was so comical, Felix found himself laughing as he hit the man with a closed fire tome.

"Nice – I didn't even think to look for those." Nodding, the tactician darted forward in time to watch Virion shoot a second archer's shot out of the air. "Well, you certainly don't sell your skills short." Felix arched an eyebrow, earning himself a grin from the archer as he knocked another arrow. "Come to think of it, you … don't seem to be from around here, are you?"

"Yes, yes, but pleasantries can wait until after we've finished giving the rest of these ruffians some lessons." Virion waved the question off with a chuckle, turning and knocking an arrow aimed at Vaike askew. "Do not worry yourself, Sir Felix, I have no intent of betraying our lovely group of friends."

"I never assumed that, but it's nice to hear ..." Tapering off, Felix shook his head as Vaike and Kellam both approached. Stahl and Lissa joined them a second later, the blonde checking for any injuries that needed healing. "As it is, it'll probably be best if we headed up those stairs, and soon – I have a feeling these guys were just the start of what we're gonna have to deal with, and who knows if the other group's headed up the stairs yet."

"Right." Lissa agreed, having finished taking care of any scratches those who had been fighting had taken. "Let's hurry up and make sure my brother isn't in over his head!" Felix nodded in tandem with that, darting towards the stairs. Kellam was right behind him, and Stahl darted ahead while Vaike and Virion brought up the rear. A few seconds later saw a mage hiding the stairs getting hit in the stomach with Lissa's staff to wind him, making the man groan and fall to one side. Felix couldn't help but wince, dropping a vulneary for the man.

'Perhaps hitting things extra hard is just a family thing …' Shaking his head as the thought ran through his brain, Felix braced himself as Kellam unlocked the door, Fire tome at the ready. When the door was shoved open, they found themselves face to face with an armored knight, their spear at the ready. Letting out a surprised noise, Felix let the fire magic fly – he overshot, but the blaze of heat and light was enough to stun the attacker long enough for Kellam to barrel into them. Both fell to the ground in a loud clamor, Kellam slowly staggering to his feet as Vaike and Virion jumped over the downed Feroxi knight.

A look to his right showed Felix that the other half had arrived safely – Sully and Miriel were distracting a man with a large war hammer, the grey gelding they rode on nimble enough to make the foot soldier's attacks fly wide. The horse seemed to grow bored after a moment, snorting and lashing out with a kick to hammer-man's gut that made Felix flinch and look away. Judging from the clanging of metal on stone, it had made him drop the hammer, at the least.

Frederick was right behind them, seemingly taking the message of disarming over maiming the Feroxi soldiers to heart – he had cornered an archer, his mare lunging at the bowmen whenever he tried to fire. A glance skyward revealed why – Sumia and Chrom were flying in low, heading towards a woman in full plate armor. From the way she stood in front of the doorway into the parapet proper, barking orders, the tactician wagered she was in charge.

The fact that her response to Chrom leaping off of Sumia's pegasus, Falchion at the ready, was to simply bring up her shield to block only reenforced the idea.

Chrom didn't seem discouraged by the block, flipping away and holding the legendary sword at the ready. A dent had appeared in the woman's shield, but she paid it no heed as she thrust her javelin forward. Jumping backwards, Chrom darted to the side not blocked by the shield, hitting a part of the woman's arm not covered in as much armor with the flat of Falchion's blade.

Dropping her javelin with a shout, the knight seemed prepared to ram into Chrom with her shield when the prince pointed his sword at her throat. Felix couldn't tell if it was a good look at the sword itself that made her stop dead in her tracks or the fact that she was being held at sword point. Chrom lowered the blade a mere fraction, keeping eye contact.

"Do you believe my word now?" He questioned, allowing a wry grin to cross his face. "Even though I do have to admit it was interesting settling things the Feroxi way."

Felix swore he could see the gears in the woman's brain working, and she stepped back a moment later before giving Chrom a bow at the waist. "A thousand apologies, sire!" Her manner changed at what felt like the drop of the hat, the expression on her face serious. "We have indeed had Plegian bandits claiming to be Ylissean royalty coming to the Longfort too often in these past few weeks, but none could wage a battle so well as you did. Or, I suppose more tellingly, use Falchion quite as well as you demonstrated."

A laugh left Chrom as he sheathed the blade, the knight commander barking orders at the remaining Feroxi warriors to stand down. "It's alright – I can understand such paranoia in times like these," He replied, nodding. "At the very least, I appreciate your decision to go with your instincts, Commander ..."

"Raimi," The woman introduced herself, standing at attention once her men had lowered their weapons. "If you will bring your men inside the Longfort, I will send word of your arrival to the capital. In apology for my actions, I'll also lead the escort personally."

"That would be much appreciated," Chrom nodded, giving a worried glance at Solna as Frederick approached them. The lavender-haired woman seemed more active, but the prince was worried. "If one of my tacticians could accompany you? She doesn't seem to take to the cold well." Raimi focused her eyes on Solna as she tumbled out of the saddle, standing on shaky feet.

"I've seen wyverns react to the cold better than this young lass." She commented, striding forward and gripping Solna's upper arm. "Don't worry, my healers will see to her at once." Turning, the blonde shouted a few more orders at her men, eventually towing Solna into the large building. Worried, Felix followed after the two, missing the words Chrom and Frederick exchanged while they waited for the others to assemble.

"Solna, you sure you're okay?" He asked, pulling up alongside Raimi. The blonde knight jerked in surprise, but Solna merely gave a weak wave of her hand.

"Not all of us have fire in the belly, Felix." She chuckled, voice showing a strange level of exhaustion. "Get me in front of a fire with something to drink and hot food, and I'll recover. But gods, if I had realized just how cold Regna Ferox was ..."

"Hah, do not feel bad for hating the cold of these lands," Raimi spoke up, giving the other woman a wry smile. "These lands were home to the Ymirkin, several thousand years ago – it's an old wives tale that their souls still wrack the lands with this bitter cold." Felix blinked at that, tilting his head to one side.

"Ymirkin?"

"Ice manaketes, Felix." Chrom spoke up, having caught up with the three. Seeing the confused looks both tacticians were giving him, he smiled and shrugged. "They're dragonkin, but … that's about all I can tell you. Manaketes are seldom seen, as far as a race goes, but the most commonly known ones are those related to Naga."

"I thought Naga was a god." Solna countered, sneezing in mid-sentence.

"After the events that led to the first Exalt allying with Naga to destroy the Fell Dragon, she has been revered as a god." Chrom replied, letting out a sigh and scratching one side of his head. "The whole thing is confusing, but to be fair, I never did pay much attention to the details of it when I had my history lessons ..."

"There was a scholar here, a few months past," Raimi supplied as they reached a large central room. Felix and Chrom both gave her a curious look, but she held up a hand as she cast a glance around. "Hannah! I have someone here with need of care – one of our visitors is not suited for our climate." The blonde knight's shouting drew a young woman out, an unusual staff clenched in her hands. Giving Solna over to her, she nodded. "Get her dry clothes and warm food – it would reflect poorly if we let a messenger from Ylisse freeze."

Solna let out another sneeze, as if punctuating the point. "Gods, I wonder if this is what wyverns feel like in the cold ..." She muttered, earning a laugh from the healer as she was lead off to one side. Felix watched them until they went into a side corridor before turning back to Raimi.

"But what was this about a scholar?" He asked, curiosity filling him. "What would a scholar have to do with Naga …?"

"He was here on a research trip, studying the dragonkin and everything related to them."the knight resumed her explanation, chuckling. "If he was still in the area, I would have fetched him for you – it would have been possible for him to explain Naga's role, I wager."

Felix let out a small sigh, shaking his head. "A shame – he sounded like an interesting person to talk to." The tactician tried to imagine what sort of person the scholar would look like, should their paths happen to cross again. All his mind showed him was the rather comical image of Vaike with a long beard in wizard robes, and it was a struggle not to laugh. "Certainly ambitious, if he has plans to record all the information on dragons that he can. A task like that would take a long time, to understate it," he elaborated after seeing the confused look Chrom was giving him."

Raimi merely laughed. "The Khan told him the same thing after giving him directions to the ruins of the ice dragon temple. He merely smiled at her and said he wasn't concerned about the time it would take." Shaking her head, the knight gave Chrom a low bow. "But if I make take my leave, Prince Chrom? I shall go send word to the Khan of your arrival."

Nodding, Chrom watched her leave before turning to Felix. "That worked out well, at least – Everyone got out of there unscathed, too." A relieved sigh left the prince, and he looked around. "I hope that everything else goes well from here on out … Emm's probably worried, even if she'd never show it to anyone."

Felix nodded, before giving Chrom a questioning look. "Emm?"

"Lissa started it – she was too little to say Emm's full name for the longest time, so it just rubbed off on the both of us." The sapphire-haired male gave a shrug, grinning. "But at the least, we're in – hopefully they'll be willing to work with us in regards to Plegia."

"Considering the fact that they're being harassed by bandits as well, I would say that's not the problem." Felix frowned. "I'm more worried about the Risen ..."

"Bah! It's probably too cold for them to move, undead or not." Scoffing, Chrom laughed weakly as his stomach growled. "For now, let's get some food – I'm starved." Felix laughed and followed his friend, looking out the nearby window. Chrom did have a point – Felix was certain that it would take a lot of energy to get the undead to move about in such weather.

At that, his mind remembered something Raimi had mentioned – the ice dragon temple. "I wonder if we could make a pit stop there ..."

To Felix's dismay, the temple Raimi had mentioned was on the opposite side of Regna Ferox, far past where they were headed to meet the Khan's. The cobalt-haired man had pouted for a short while after Raimi had told him such, reading a small tome one of the border guards had given him on the more locally known folk tales of dragons. Something about the manaketes stirred a fascination in his brain, doubtlessly caused by some of the memories that had been lost.

Solna was moderately unhappy as well, even though the route they were taking was sheltered. Someone, with some sort of magical talent or sheer skill, had carved a domed path out of ice, the clear walls blocking the cold wind as they walked. Doors and various other paths branched off at different points, leading to towns and smaller forts along the way. It wasn't anything like what anyone in the troop had seen before, and it wasn't easy for them to hide their awe.

If nothing else, the sight when they reached their destination was enough to make Felix stare.

A long, stone hall stood before them, a shock of stone grey against the white snow and ice. A lone banner of white, deep blue and red whipped in the air in front of the hall, a pair of hounds' heads separated by a diagonal line embroidered on it. Several smaller stone houses were around the hall as well, a few resembling garrisons. Very little land seemed to have been farmed, but a deep pine forest spread out to one side, the various greens and browns a splash of color against the cold scenery.

Just beyond the hall, Felix could have sworn he saw the start of a statue, but all he could make out at the distance was a reptilian, frilled head.

Raimi didn't allow much time to stop, directing the group to the large hall. Once inside, she led Chrom, Lissa, Frederick and the Twins into the main part of the hall, with the rest of the Sheperds heading towards the mess hall to eat a hot meal and relax. Stopping in a large, spacious room with the banner from outside hanging on a wall, Raimi nodded at the group. "Please, wait here while I summon the Khan." She nodded, leaving silently.

"The Khan is away?" Felix questioned, looking around the room. Solna was wandering about as well – being out of the biting wind seemed to have improved her mood, although she still wore her hair loose.

"Most likely training," Chrom replied with a wry smile. "The khans prefer combat to politics … or I suppose it's more accurate to say that battle is their politics."

"I would say they were sensible people for that, but at the same time, they live in this blasted cold." Solna muttered as she walked around, stretching a fraction. "Still, a warrior ruler in a frozen wasteland is oddly fitting."

"I can picture them now," Lissa began, giggling, "A big, broad man who could lift Vaike over his head, carrying a gigantic axe –" The blonde's words were cut off by a deep, feminine laugh.

"Am I now? Go on, please continue! I always appreciate a laugh."

Everyone present started at that, and a dark-skinned woman with blonde hair walked in from a hallway near Solna, her red and white armor glinting in the light of the braziers. Felix was mildly amused to see she was of similar height to his sister, who didn't seem quite as surprised by the newcomer's appearance.

"You're the – I mean, the Khan, I presume?" Chrom caught himself, recovering from his surprise enough to converse. The woman nodded, walking closer with Solna right behind her.

"One of the Khans, yes. Flavia's the name, and I back the apology for the troubles at the border." The now-named Flavia offered Chrom her hand to shake, a gesture the prince returned. "You are welcome in Regna Ferox."

"I'm confident we can put that behind us," Chrom shook his head, a frown spreading across his face, "but is it true that Plegian bandits posing as Ylisseans have been ransacking the border?"

"Aye- we found papers indicating such on one of the captains." Flavia nodded as well, her eyes drifting to the coat Felix still wore. Noticing her glance, Chrom shook his head.

"Felix and his sister are with me – you can trust them." Nodding at Solna, he ground his teeth as he thought about what Flavia had confirmed. "But for them to try and keep tensions between Ferox and Ylisse high … damn them!" A sharp look from Frederick made him shake his head, "I … forgive me, that wasn't delicately put."

"Bah, damn delicacy and damn them too." Flavia let out a loud laugh. "We appreciate plain speak here in Ferox."

"Then have a word with your damn border guards … Or I might just do it for you, and it won't be kind tidings." Solna muttered, shaking her head. Flavia merely laughed more, turning to the female tactician.

"Now that's Feroxi diplomacy!" The other tall woman smiled at her. "Does the prince keep you around for pleasant conversations? Because I have a feeling you'd be a fun conversationalist."

Felix groaned. "A second Solna. Joyous." He muttered, keeping it under his breath. "If it weren't for the cold I'd say we should have just sent her here by herself ..."

"Love you too little brother!"

Chrom merely groaned. "I … apologize for my tacticians – they're rather energetic."

"Oh, they're no problem." Flavia grinned more, eyes dancing as she dropped an arm around Solna's shoulder. "I'd be tempted to keep this one here, if you don't mind splitting up the package deal." Solna merely snorted, although she made no effort to move from beneath the other woman's arm.

"You'd have to deal with me griping about the blasted cold." She replied with a shrug.

"Everyone does." Flavia waved her free hand dismissively before focusing back on Chrom, frowning slightly. "I know why you're here, but regrettably, I cannot supply Feroxi troops for Ylisse. I lack the authority."

Lissa was the first to react. "What!?" the smaller blonde shouted, eyes wide.

Shock spread over Chrom's face as well. "But, you're the Khan!"

"One of the Khans," Flavia corrected him, shaking her head. "There's two of us – I am the East Khan, so I tend to the Ylissean border and the trade routes there, while the West Khan handles the border with Plegia and the seaports to Valm. Every few years, the Khans hold a tournament, and the winner gains political sovereignty over both kingdoms."

"I assume that you mean things such as military protocol, along with forging alliances?" Frederick spoke up, making Flavia turn to him.

"Exactly – The West Khan won the last tournament, and so ..."

"So we will receive no aid at all?" Felix turned to Chrom at that, not liking how disappointed his friend sounded. Both Flavia and Solna scowled at him.

"Chrom, I highly doubt Flavia would be so rude to send us home empty-handed." She pointed out. "At the least, she'd try to put a word in with the West-Khan, I assume?" Sending a questioning glance at the woman who still had an arm draped over her shoulders, Solna grinned when Flavia nodded.

"Better than that – the next tournament is nigh, and I am in need of champions." The female Khan said with a grin, earning a confused look from everyone but Solna, whose russet eyes brightened.

"Again, you people are incredibly practical – barring your choice of scenery, of course." She commented, earning a laugh from Flavia.

Chrom just gave Solna a confused look. "... What does the tournament have to do with us, Solna …?" Beside him, Felix's eyes widened as he looked at the two, snapping his fingers.

"... You want us to fight for you, don't you?" He asked, earning a feral grin in response.

"I would assume that Ylisseans held no place in Feroxi politics." Chrom countered Felix's statement, giving the two tall women a confused look.

Flavia let out a bark of laughter "On the contrary. The khans themselves do not fight—they choose champions to represent them. Otherwise our land would be rife with blood feuds and dead khans!" Nodding at Lissa, she added, "we don't involve comrades or kin for the same reason. The tradition of champions from outside Ferox representing the Khans in the tournament came about over the centuries, but this would be the first time that it involved foreign royalty … that I know of." Laughing more, Flavia grinned. "Regardless, it is your choice to make."

Frederick gave Chrom a look, making the prince sigh. "There is no choice – my people are desperate. We do not only have to deal with Plegian bandits, but now Risen as well." A confused frown spread across Flavia's face, shooting Solna a questioning look. The female tactician mouthed 'tell you later', making Chrom sigh in relief. "If fighting for you is the quickest way to an alliance, then we will take up our steel."

"I like you, Prince Chrom!" Flavia laughed more. "I do hope you survive the tournament."

"Thank you for that resounding vote of confidence." Felix shook his head, groaning – it was truly like having a second Solna around …

Flavia merely turned her feral grin on Felix. "Well, if he has two of you to think out battle strategies, then I have all the confidence in the world!" She countered, violet eyes dancing in amusement. "Rest for now, and I'll lead you to the area where the tourney will be held on the morrow." A frown crossed her face, and she nodded. "Still though, I have my concerns – I hear an swordsman of similar repute to Prince Chrom champions the West Khan this tourney."

Chrom met her look squarely. "They will fall all the same, I can promise that."

The female Khan nodded at him, grinning wryly. "Well spoken again – I can't wait to see how well you do with that blade on the battlefield." She nodded, finally removing her arm from Solna's shoulders. "But for now? Food, ale, and you can let the two tacticians do their jobs – we can talk strategy in the study over our meal."

Felix did not like the way Solna's face lit up at the mention of ale.

Tori Notes: College happened to me, that is all. Lotsa love and this was fun to do~ Flavia needs more love.

Mags Notes: I second that statement of college happened which is why Reshuffled hasn't updated in goddamn forever. Writer's block hasn't been helping either. orz