Shout Outs...
RandomTopic: That is a typing error I made. Sorry about that, I'll fix it when I'm not being lazy.
armedlord: Corrected, thank you for pointing that out.
Maxmagnus20019: I try.
Chapter V Extra: Unbroken Heart
Few understand the Bernese phrase 'You've just crossed the Ruby River', so here's a lesson in how it came to be and what exactly it means. It's a bit of history that took place two hundred years ago between two warring Bernese dukes, vying for land and wealth, the King allowing it only so the matter may be settled. Duke Karland, from whom I have descended from actually, was winning the war. His foe, Duke Foreran, tried to retake the initiative by marching his demoralized army through his foes lines, amazingly getting a sizable force to Karland's castle. After marching his men across the Ruby River Bridge he had it set on fire and destroyed. "There will be no turning back! Only forward through our foe's heart!" He said. He had hoped fear would make them fight harder. In the coming battle his men would begin to desert him, surrender to his foe or fight like mad. Needless to say, Karland won and coined the phase which means making an unfixable mistake.
Tyr: The Fall of Nergal
The lance has the best range of any melee weapon, but it's not easy to handle: they're usually big, heavy and unwieldy. In the right hands however they are downright deadly.
Tyr: The Fall of Nergal
0-0
"This is a situation I ran into, actually." Tyr began, pacing about in his wagon as Erika studied his drawn map, a field full of high grass with bushes placed about. Black chess pieces were on the map, pawns representing soldiers, the king and queen mages and bishops the archers. Rooks and knights represented cavalry units as Tyr continued his explanation. "Because of the open field we were at a disadvantage against their numbers, no real terrain to slow them down and bottleneck them. So I decided the best way to lure out only a part of the force was to appear weak."
"How?" Erika asked as Tyr moved to pick up the white queen.
"Lyndis was leading the force, one of the lords had to or they may have not charged so recklessly." He said, setting the queen in the center of the map. "Sain, Kent and Lowen were with her, as was Serra, Priscilla, Luicus and Rebecca." He added, setting down two knights and a rook, followed by two bishops and a pair of pawns. "Two men and a man who could pass for a woman, two healers and a young archer, along with the good Lady. Since most of them were, or appeared to be, women I was hoping sexism would enhance our aura of weakness. They might have thought better of charging, but losing Lyndis would cripple us. They knew it, so they charged, their cavalry getting there first."
"Still, from what you told me, the numbers were three to one against you." Erika replied as Tyr reached for the white pawns.
"It appeared that way..." Tyr replied, setting the pawns across the map at random. "But Guy, Matthew, Dorcas, Bartre, Hector, Eliwood, Erk and Wil were all hiding in the tall grass, getting behind the bushes for further concealment. I waited until the cavalry were here..." He added, moving the black pieces for horse mounted units forward, before the white queen and with most of the pawns on either side. "Then I signalled the attack. They were taken off their guard and decimated, and by the time the infantry had arrived not one remained. It turned into a pitched battle after that, and we had a few number of wounded, Eliwood among them, but we won without a loss of life on our end. As old man Azure would say: the key to warfare is deception on every level."
"Every level?' Erika asked.
"Yes." Tyr nodded. "For a tactician like myself the goal is to trick the enemy into thinking one thing when another thought is truth. For a swordswoman like yourself it's about achieving that one fatal strike by finding an opening, or making one by fooling your foe. But that's enough lessons for now, you are progressing quite well." Tyr said, picking the chess pieces up and putting them away.
"Only because I have such a good teacher." Erika replied with a smile. "I only wish I was not so incompetent until now."
"Incompetent would mean you couldn't understand tactics at all." Tyr replied, shaking his head. "Ignorant is closer, but that seems to be quite cured now."
"Perhaps." Erika sighed, leaning on the desk. "I only wish I had cured it earlier... My brother fights without me, my people cry out in need, and yet I feel as I can do nothing..."
"We are doing all we can." Tyr replied, setting his hand on her shoulder. "Peace ruled a short while ago. Armies seemed unneeded. You are not to blame. However I fear this conflict will rob you of your innocence..."
"Thank you for the concern Tyr..." Erika replied, smiling up at him. "But I am fine. I think I will go sit by the fire, would you join me?"
"I cannot, not now anyway." Tyr said, shaking his head and moving to the bookshelf, opening it. "I need to read up on Grado, learn more to effectively counter their strengths and exploit their weaknesses now that we are inside the empire."
"Very well..." Erika sighed, standing up. "But please, do not overwork yourself. I fear you may collapse if you do not rest."
"That's why we're not marching today." Tyr replied, opening the book. "Now that we're in Grado I need everyone at their best. Just tell Seth to keep the guards awake, I doubt Grado will stumble over us just yet, but best not take a chance."
"Of course."
0-0
"What a pleasant surprise." A massive knight said as one of the empire's generals strode into the throne room at Renvall castle. "It's Master Valter." He added, stepping aside for the wild-haired man to pass him, the general seating himself on the throne.
"What's the situation, Tirado?" Valter asked. "You have captured Ephraim, haven't you?"
"No." Tirado replied with a sigh. "Prince Ephraim still fights in the lands north of Renvall."
"And why is that?" Valter asked, leaning onto the throne's armrest in a bored fashion. "What has happened to all those mercenaries you hired?"
"They've proven to be less than adequate." Tirado admitted. "Ephraim's clever. His band strikes quickly and then vanishes into the woods. We more than double his number, and yet he uses the terrain wisely to fight us. He has no army-just a small force of knights loyal to Renais. Prince Ephraim's reputation as a superb strategist would seem to be well earned."
"Hmm..." Valter mused. "How interesting. The lad's beginning to whet my appetite." He said with a chuckle. "Tirado... Bring him to me as quickly as you can, will you?"
"As you command." Tirado said with a salute. "Just grant me an army, and I'll bring him down swiftly."
"What sort of plan do you have?" Valter asked, shifting his frame on the throne.
"Master, I am your loyal adjutant and you are my general. For you, my lord, I have many plans ready and waiting."
"Really? Well then, let me hear them."
"Very well." Tirado said with a smirk. "First, you and I will leave this fort and head north. Then, we will find Prince Ephriam in his leafy playpen."
"But he's not easily found, is he?" Valter pointed out.
"Do not worry." Tirado chuckled. "At Prince Ephraim's side is... a friend, shall we say. When the time is right, our friend will move on our behalf..."
0-0
Groaning aloud Prince Ephriam, the prince of the fallen kingdom Renais watched on as a few of his men tended to wounded.
Grado's forces were too much for his army to handle, and during the last conflict he had it broken up and scattered with orders to harass Grado when they could. His current force was fifteen men strong, three of them non-combatant merchants who sided with them, giving them a wagon and some supplies. Three of his men, Forde, Kyle, and Orson, were experienced and talented while the remainder were untested soldiers unexpectedly thrown into battle like lambs to a slaughter. Turning to one of his men he began to speak. "Forde, how are we on supplied and equipment?"
"It's not looking good." A man in red armour replied, his blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. "Our weapons are in bad shape and we're running low on food." The merchants wagon had been a boon, but one that was wearing out. "We can probably restock at a nearby village, but-"
"No, that's not an option." Ephriam said firmly. "We're in enemy territory. I will not involve innocents if I can avoid it."
"Yeah, I knew you'd say that." Forde sighed. "I mean, it's because of stuff like that that we've stuck with you so far. But eventually, we do need to face reality. What are we going to do?" He asked, Ephraim pondering the question. Penetrating so deep into Grado was a hard move to pull, but it tied up Grado's forces there and not elsewhere. If he could keep it up someone might come to help them. Frelia or even Rausten wouldn't let Grado get away with their acts; either could push against the empire, allowing them space to breathe. And Renais may have had enough men left to hold out for some time.
'How does my sister fare?' He wondered idly.
"Word of mouth has it that the invasion of Renais has progressed quite far." I green haired knight in olive armour, Kyle, added as he crossed his arms, breaking the prince from his thoughts. "I've heard that the capital has fallen."
"Hm... So soon..." Ephraim sighed. He had failed in slowing this beast down for a defence to be mounted. "Still, my father is in the capital, and he won't surrender easily. Forde, Kyle. Our mission here is to harry the troops, to distract their eye. Hopefully, we'll be able to give my father and Erika time to escape." Looking about he frowned as he noticed a man was missing. "Kyle, have you heard anything from Orson?" He asked. "I sent him ahead to scout."
"No word yet, and it's about time he returned." Kyle replied as a horse rode into camp, a man with a brown neatly trimmed beard saluting, his matching hair swept back.
"Reporting in, Prince Ephraim." The man said. "I can confirm Grado presence at several points around our camp. Also, a large battalion of soldiers has been dispatched from Renvall. We shouldn't tarry here any longer than necessary..."
"I see." Ephraim replied simply.
"Seems as though we've certainly caught Grado's eye this time." Forde mused. "Should we retreat back to the capital, Prince Ephraim?"
"No. We press onward." Ephraim replied crisply as a thought came to him. "We're going to capture Renvall."
"Wh-what?" Forde cried out.
"Have the wagon and troops go westward and then let them choose their own course to get to Frelia. I shall not risk them. It will be us, Kyle and Orson."
0-0
"So this is Revall, is it?" Ephraim mused as he looked at the gate to Castle Renvall, wide open. 'We're deep inside Grado territory and no other foe is about. Makes them feel safe. Teach them what they know.' "All right, let's go." He said.
"Um... Are you... sure you're quite sane, Prince Ephraim?" Forde asked upon his horse, rubbing at the back of his head. "We've an entire army after us, and you want to charge their stronghold?"
"Forde!" Kyle barked out, his own steed stamping the ground. "Watch your tongue! This is our prince you're addressing!"
"Kyle, please, it's all right." Ephraim said calmly. "We've heard nothing from home, so what harm could a little reckless besieging cause?" He asked with a smirk.
"Prince Ephraim..." Kyle gasped.
"Don't worry." Ephriam said with a wave. "I haven't lost all sense of self-preservation. Renvall holds an important place in Grado's national defence. If we can get the upper hand and take control of it, then Grado will waste many valuable soldiers trying to take it back. I hope our attack proves useful to my father and Erika."
"I understand what you're saying, but..." Forde began, gesturing to the looming castle. "Can we do it with our current strength?" Even if they brought the soldiers they sent away it seemed like a daunting task.
"Every soldier in this area is trying to find us." Ephraim explained. "The enemy has us vastly outnumbered. Attacking the castle is a ridiculous idea. If the enemy thinks the same... then we may have our opening." The fact that Elibe's master tactician, Tyrland, once stated 'the last thing the enemy expects is something to consider doing' enforced his plan.
"You have a point." Forde said with a nod. "I'm sure Renvall won't expect us to attack with these numbers. Either way, we can't run forever. We're running out of supplies." He added thanking that they loaded what they could on his, Kyle's and Orson's horses before the wagon was sent away. "What've we got to lose? Shall we get ready to go?"
"Yes." Ephraim said with a nod. "If we don't move quickly, we may never get another chance. Trust me. I don't pick fights I cannot win."
"Yes, sir!" Kyle barked out.
0-0
"Forde, the axeman, Orson the mage!" Ephraim barked out, spinning his lance, Reginleif, about, knocking a sword from a man's hand before jamming the royal weapon into his chest, withdrawing it and smashing the butt of the weapon into a man who tried to attack him from behind, Kyle taking a moment to slice his sword into his neck. Orson turned his steed expertly, a fireball whizzing by his head before he impaled the spell-crafter upon his lance.
"Come on men, to the throne room!" Ephraim cried out, running towards the doors to his goal. "Attack them before they regain their wits!" He called out, the three warriors on horseback following him as he booted the doors open, a man with a steel blade rising from the throne.
"Get them!" He cried out, Forde and Kyle going after the soldiers as Orson hung back, Ephraim charging the leader, stabbing his lance out. The man rolled to one side, returning to his feet and swinging his blade at the prince who spun both body and weapon about, slapping his sword to one side. Soldiers died at the hands of his knights, Kyle's sword finding the heart of a monk.
Slashing at the man with his lance Ephraim let out a battle cry, the swordsman leaping back before thrusting his sword forth, the prince turning with his weapon using the momentum to again slap aside the blade with the butt of his weapon before jabbing it into the man stomach.
"Lord Tirado..." The man gasped as Ephraim withdrew his weapon. "Were we just... pawns?" He gasped before falling to the ground, dying with ragged coughs.
0-0
"We've secured the entire castle." Kyle reported after returning to Ephriam, inside the throne room. "You were brilliant, Prince Ephraim! What a plan! What a battle!"
"I estimate at least half of the enemy troops are in the field." Ephraim stated, holding his lance in one hand. "We took the castle, but we don't have the manpower to hold it in a siege. There's no point in lingering here. Let's continue on to Grado Keep." He stated as Forde rode in, face filled with panic.
"Prince Ephraim, things have taken a turn for the worse." He breathed out. "I took a look around the castle perimeter... We're surrounded."
"What?" Kyle cried out.
"Grado's sent reinforcement? So quickly...?" Ephraim gasped aloud.
"What should we do?" Kyle asked as Ephriam pondered.
"We must escape!" Ephraim cried out, gripping his lance tightly, climbing aboard Kyle's horse, riding pillion with his knight, the two men guiding their horses down the hall, the gate coming up sooner than any of them could hope. Rushing across the draw bridge they slowed down, eying the massive amounts of soldiers gathered about the area, shamans in the ranks and wyverns in the air. One man riding a massive wyvern flew down, landing across from them.
"So, you've captured Renvall, have you?" He chuckled wildly. "And with such a small force! Impressive! You've earned your reputation. I must say, I quite admire your work. I take it you're the leader of this pack-the misguided Prince Ephraim." He said, pointing his lance at the prince who rode behind Kyle.
"I am." Ephraim replied.
"I'm General Valter, the Moonstone of Grado's Imperial Army." The man chuckled. "Catching up to you has caused me no small amount of trouble. We've reduced your wretched home of Renais to ruin, and yet... you and your little band of bravos continue to be a thorn in our side. But that all ends here."
"We'll see..." Ephriam spat out. "You claim you've taken the capital of Renais... Tell me, how did you know I would attack Renvall?"
"Ha ha... Patience." Valter chided. "You'll have your answer soon enough. Now, be good lads and drop your weapons, will you?"
"Prince Ephraim, let us attack!" Kyle demanded, gripping his lance tightly, the prince glaring at Valter in silence.
"Listen to me, Ephriam." Valter growled out. "You're a smart man. You know it's futile to fight me. You cannot win. You cannot escape. Accept the reality of your situation, and surrender to me."
"Surrender?" Ephraim spat back.
"Heh heh heh... That's right. If you do, I'll let you live." Valter chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "I hold your life in the palm of my hand. Do not test my good humour. Now come over here, bend your knee, and beg for your life. Show me how Renais dogs grovel."
"I think not." Ephraim replied with a smirk.
"What?" Valter said, disbelief showing on his face.
"You said your name was Valter, didn't you?" Ephriam replied. "Well, I'm sorry, Valter, but I don't have time to waste playing games with you. So we're going to knock you louts about a bit and then make our way out of here."
"Fool... Have you gone mad?" Valter demanded. "Do you truly believe you can fight your way past my wyvern knights?"
"Watch and see." Ephraim boasted. "I don't pick fights I can't win. Kyle, Forde. Are you ready?" He asked.
"My life has been yours since the moment I took my chivalric vows." Kyle said with a small grin.
"It's moments like these that keep me by your side, my prince." Forde added holding his sword up high.
"What idiotic wretches you are..." Valter growled out, his steed letting off a soft hiss, sensing it's master's irritation. "Prepare yourselves to be destroyed utterly!"
"We break to the east." Ephraim said, loud enough so only his men would hear. "GO!"
0-0
"Elmine, no!" Tyr cried out, sword gripped in his hand as the massive red fire dragon emerged from the Dragon's Gate, it's huge winged frame towering over everything save the building they stood in. Growling deeply the ancient creature stood, looking down at him as if he were just a bug to be stepped upon at leisure. Eyes stared down into him, locking onto his own, and the silted eyes burning with hate, rage and fury. It was if nothing else was there as it penetrated his soul, judging him by the deeds done before his time, before his grandfather's birth, before his grandfather's grandfather birth.
His knuckles turned white about the hilt, body shaking in fear and dread at what this mighty creature could do, it's eyes burning into him. "close... Make it close it's eyes!" He screamed out, stepping away, tripping over a loose stone and falling to the ground, sword slipping from his hand. "Pent! Erk! Athos!" He cried out, looking around.
He was alone. Alone with the dragon.
"Lucius! Hector! Eliwood!" He continued to cry out. "Jaffar! Nino! Help me, please! Anyone! Raven! Bartre!" He continued, the dragon's head rising up, pyre gathering in it's mouth as it breathed in. "Lyndis! Lyndis! Dear Sky, Lyndis!" He called out, eyeing the head as is dove down. "LYNDIS!" He cried aloud, the fire spewing from the red beast's maw, rushing to him like a tidal wave of liquid heat, burning over his body...
0-0
"LYNDIS!" Tyr cried out as he bolted up right in his sleep, eyes wide open as he took in the dark interior of his wagon. Panting loudly he looked about, more of the shadow clad wagon visible to him. "...That dream again..." He mused to himself. "...Elmine, why do I feel like such a weakling after that dream..." He groaned to himself crawling out of the bed and standing up, grabbing his sheathed sword and his cloak before walking to the door and opening it, stepping outside into the night air.
Colm and Garcia had the current watch, Ross and Gilliam with them as well. Sighing he donned his cloak and attached the sheath to his hip before stepping down from the wagon and walked to the path that led to a nearby creek, feeling that washing his face would do him good.
A short, but brisk walk later he had bent over the creek, splashing water up into his face. "Much better." He mused slightly with a smile.
Then a twig broke the snap sounding in his ear.
He had barley heard it but was audible. Gripping his sword he drew it, turning to face the source of the noise.
Shadows among the trees greeted him, none wishing to reveal their secrets as he looked about.
Then something slammed into the back of his head, and his mind was nothing but a shadowy haze, the sound of his blade hitting the ground seeming so far away.