I got my first review! Yay, thank you Serene Shishkabob. No, the part of being marked was not intended to be a pun, but when I reread it I decided to leave it in there. I am glad that you thought it was funny. I hope that there are fewer errors in this chapter than the last.
Moonlight,
I had difficulties on interpreting your comment as a good review or a
criticism. Oh well, I thank you for writting it anyway.
Chapter 3: Inheritance
Mark left his tent making sure to use his cloak to cover up the scar. What was he going to tell his companions? Even worse, what will they think? He found them all sparring each other just like any other day. He cleared his head and went to inspect the weapons and decided to deal with the problem when it arises.
Later during Lunch
It was very unusual. Mark was usually the last one to get the food because he believes that the fighters should get more sustenance and let them have first choice. Once they've all sat down, then he would join Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector to talk and eat with them. It was strange that he wasn't there today.
Neither Eliwood, Hector, nor Lyn have seen him that morning. After lunch, though, they spied him sitting on a rock writing in his journal as usual. Mark looked up and gave them a strangely sad smile.
"Come friends. I have important business I must speak with you." Now it was officially weird. Mark never talks like that. He was never really into formal speaking and he definitely hates businesses.
The three of them looked at each other before shrugging and headed towards him. They sat down on some rocks in front of the tree stump and waited to see what was so important. On the stump were Mark's journal, his ring, and his dagger.
"Four scores and seven years ago, I have no idea what this statement meant. I can truthfully say that today, I still don't know what it means." Mark said with a rather goofy grin. He continued, "However, all joking is now aside. I want you to make me a promise. One that you will follow through." He said in a dead serious voice.
"What's the promise?" Questioned Lyn who didn't exactly trust her most trustworthy tactician at the moment.
Mark looked at each of them in turn squarely in the eye. "Just promise me this one favor," Mark said with such an indescribable voice that all the lords could do was nod their heads. Mark's smile lit up his face once again and he resumed his cheerful voice.
"Alright, we all know that one day our time will be up. In case this happens to me, I just want to leave you guys with some things to remember me by." Spoke Mark as he pointed to each of the objects lying on the stump.
"Mark, we all know-" started Eliwood before Mark interrupted him.
"Eliwood, if it looks as though I'm beyond saving, please leave without me and take my possessions along with you. My book should contain enough information on tactics and strategies to get you by without me. Besides, you promised. No matter how reluctant you were."
The lords could only look at each others in solemn agreement. As soon as these thoughts passed their minds, an arrow flew out of nowhere and pierced Mark through the heart. They only saw that determined look in his eyes that clearly stated, Honor your promise. Bounded by their words, they could only take his items and evacuate the camp while footsteps sounded around them.
The camp was already packed up and ready to move by the time they got back. Eliwood issued the order to move out immediately. When they were about a mile away from their camp, they heard a dull clunk in the caravan. They opened it to find Ninian and her brother Nils bounded and gagged. Releasing them quickly they burst into a frenzy of tears and indecipherable language.
When they were finally calmed down, they recounted of what happened.
Flashback
Mark was just about finished with the supply check when Ninian and Nils came running up to him. They sensed a dark force coming this way and it feels as if it was honing in on Mark specifically. Mark merely nodded his head and led them away.
He went to the food supply and gave them some food before taking them to the caravan claiming that he wants to hear this in private. They naturally trusted and agreed with him. They went inside and the siblings told of how they sensed that he was in danger more than everybody. They worried how he was going to get injured. Mark merely had a look of mild disturbance and a non-caring look.
When they finished, Mark nodded, stood up, strode over to Nils, and pressed a pressure point on him that froze his body temporarily. Ninian could only look in shock before she was frozen too. He bounded them up and gagged them before locking up the caravan making sure to leave an air hole for them to breath.
End Flashback
Hector, Lyn, and Eliwood stared at the siblings, the entire camp, and at each other with gaping mouths. Mark knew of all of these things and he deliberately left out that he was going to die on that day. The entire camp mourned for their lost tactician and a valuable friend.
The Next Day
The army have made progress and moved about 6 miles from the site where they were at when Mark was left behind. They have not quite gotten over the fact that Mark was gone but they were making good progress. They told themselves that Mark would have been sad to see them sad and he would probably have given them extra training for even thinking like that.
Eliwood called Hector and Lyn to his tent to discuss what they were going to do next. Originally, they heard rumors of a dark force invading some villages, it seemed like a good idea to check it out at least, but with the loss of a tactician, they were, as Mark putted it, "Up a creek without a paddle."
The first thing they did was to analyze Mark's belongings that he left to them. The ring that he wore gave him a unique ability. He could see where opponents were placed, their items, and their attributes. He claims that it was given to him by a friend and that he has not mastered all of the ring's powers yet as he can't seem to penetrate darkness or fog that well.
The dagger that he carried around was pure silver at the blade and the handle was pure black. It was in its sheath with intricate designs and runes. Mark has only used this tool to cut food (i.e. fruits, vegetables, meats, etc).
The last possession was his book. They never really called it anything else except as "Mark's Book". This meant that they certainly have no idea what was in there until now. When they opened the book, they were met with a surprise. A letter was inside with Mark's official stamp, an orb with a devil's wing and an angel's wing, and his signature.
Dear friends,
If you are reading this letter, then that means that I am no longer with you or that you snuck into my room and hoped to learn a few strategy from my book.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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----. Okay, I've realized that I will be going away soon and that I probably did something that I'll regret later in time. To Ninian and Nils, I'm very sorry I had to do that to you but I feel that if it really is my time, I shouldn't try to cheat death like I've led this entire army to. To the rest of the army, I'm really sorry I had to leave you all and all I ask is that you don't severely injure me when we meet up again, most likely in heaven, or you could visit me in hell. To my lords, I know that you must want to kick my arse and I must admit that I would probably want to do that to. My book should probably give you sufficient ideas to get out of whatever crazy battles you decide to take but I regret that I am unable to partake in such events or to witness your victory unless heaven or hell have TVs with picture-in-picture. I trust your decisions and I'll be behind you 100 percent of the way no matter what. Sorry if this sounds like a will, but that was what I was going for. What do you think?
Sincerely Yours,
Mark, Your forever faithful Tactician
P.S. As if I was going to tell you my last name.
The lords looked confused whether to laugh at the fact that Mark writes similar to the way he talks or to be sad that this was their last time hearing Mark's crazy mind, I mean, what the hell is a TV? Picture-in-picture, who would've come up with something like that? Well, they skimmed the book and saw that it was filled with notes and tips that Mark has written over his journey. There were also reasons and definitions and other translation that Eliwood and Lyn were pretty sure that Mark wrote for Hector. Mark always thought that Hector was good at fighting, but horrible at understanding concepts. That was untrue but Mark pretends not to notice all of Hector's good points in intellect.
There were also pictures of all of them in the book. Every member, except Mark, had several pictures in vivid descriptions. Some had arrows pointing to strong and weak points and many were in battle poses, but the majorities were pictures of them relaxing and having fun. There were also some in groups. They were looking through them when Eliwood stopped on a picture of Lyn.
"This is wrong," he said.
"Yeah, Lyn's figure isn't that nice, and her melons aren't that big." Hector just had to put in his two cents and it cost him. Lyn smacked him upside the head so hard he fell over. Afterwards she merely crossed her hands across her chest, looked down, and blushed.0
"No, Hector, I meant that Mark broke his word. He said that the rule of his position was that he must not get too close to us; otherwise he would forget his place and value our lives over the priority. From these pictures, it seems that he watches over us too closely, more than a mother hen would over her chicks."
The lords could do nothing but nod in agreement and headed out. They had to continue on with their lives no matter how hard it was. And it was about to get a lot harder.
In this chapter, Mark says many things that should not have been in existance during that time. Since this site has help me learn new vocabulary, I thought to help others. The example in this story was several times where Mark mentions things such as TVs and Lincoln's famous speech. These are examples of anachronism.
An anachronism is anything, persons, events, or items, that are out of place in historical timelines.
Thank you for reading this far and I'll try to update soon.