The boat creaked a little as the Ylisslean royal family approached the continent that some of the children had gone to inspect and live there. The continent had no name, but was mostly taken up by two large kingdoms, Nohr and Hoshido. Owain, Severa, and Inigo had sent a letter informing them that they were retainers for the Nohrian royal family, and that they would easily be able to convince the royal family to allow the Ylissleans help settle the war.
Robin glanced at Lissa and Lucina, who were standing near the front of the boat with the other parents or spouses of the children who were in Nhor. Lissa's son, Owain, had written her, telling her he was going by the name of 'Odin Dark', which seemed like a very Owain thing to do. While Inigo, Lucina's husband, had written her, and his parents, saying he was going by Laslow. Why they couldn't go by their real names was a mystery to Robin.
It was probably Owain's idea.
Scratch that.
Definitely Owain's idea.
The three ships coming up from Ferox held all the shepherds, all of which wanted to be together for another adventure. The children from the future were with them as well, but all the other children had been brought to the Ylisse castle where the servants agreed to take care of them, along with Donnel who was the only shepherd who did not wish to come. Saying he was better with kids anyway. Tiki also was not joining them, needing to stay in her temple of sorts.
Robin, Chrom, and their family along with their spouses were on the lead ship while the other two held the others. Olivia and Virion were also on the lead ship, on account that their daughter in law was there. Speaking of, Lucina was both excited and furios. Inigo had volunteered for the mission before asking her. Let's just say he ran for the boat that took them to Nhor, because Lucina was chasing him, sword drawn and majorly mad.
Chrom walked up next to Robin, taking her hand in his. When Robin looked up at him he flashed her a reassuring smile and Robin returned it. They were both worried. They were going off the words of a delusional prince, a girl with a bad attitude, and their son in law that they would not be slaughtered upon docking. Like that was comforting.
Speaking of the dock, they were approaching it, and Sumia and her daughter Cynthia had been flying between the boats as they delivered orders from Chrom and the Khans. Cherche and her son Gerome had flown ahead of the boats to tell the docking guards that they came in peace.
The dock had a village around it, but the real city could be seen farther inland. And it was beautiful, even from a distance.
"My lord, Pegasus knights approach with Cherche and Gerome." Olivia shouted from where she and Virion stood near the front of the ship.
Robin nodded, "It would be logical for them to send their people out to escort us to a dock, and make sure our story checks out."
Chrom nodded in agreement with his tactician and wife while Lucina and Morgan hurried over to them.
"Make sure your weapons are put away and tomes are closed." Chrom ordered before looking to Sumia and Cynthia who had just landed on the deck. Sumia nodded back before she and her daughter took off for the other two ships, one lead by Flavia and the other Basilio.
First the two wyvern riders landed on the deck before being followed by three pegasus riders.
"Greetings," Chrom began, stepping towards the lead rider, "I am Chrom, Exalt of Ylisse, a continent south from here. I came to help bring peace to this land. Tell me, is this the Port Town of Dia?"
"Dia is quite a bit west of here my lord." A strangely cheerful voice said from behind the lead pegasus rider. Robin leaned to the right, seeing a man with long, white hair and a cheerful expression that she had not seen before sitting just behind the rider. He dismounted, walking over to Chrom and Robin while Lucina and Morgan took a step back in respect. It was clear to Robin by the way the riders watched the man he was an important person.
"Oh yes," The man continued, never losing the cheerfulness of his voice, "my name is Izana, Archduke of the kingdom of Izumo."
"Chrom, Exalt of Ylisse," Chrom said with a smile before shaking Izana's outstretched hand, "This is my wife and tactician, Robin, and my two children, Lucina and Morgan." Chrom continued, looking to his family as he said their names.
"A whole family? Wonderful!" Izana exclaimed while Robin narrowed her eyes slightly. Something wasn't right…, "Since you were heading to Dia, what is your destination?"
"The Nohr capital." Robin said before Chrom could, flashing him a glance that meant for him to allow her to do the talking.
"Oh wonderful, Izumo is a neutral kingdom during this tedious soon to be war, we will happily allow you and your troops to spend the night before leaving when you wish." Izana said with a wide grin.
Robin turned to Chrom before he gave a small nod, "We'll need to check with the Khan's, but that sounds wonderful my lord, we're running low enough on supplies from the long voyage that spending more time away from land seems unwise." Robin replied with a smile even though she planned to use this hospitality to find out what was going on here.
"Wonderful!" Izana cried out before climbing back onto the pegasus that brought him, "I shall leave one of the pegasus knights here to await your decision. As long as everything is good she shall escort your boat to the docks."
"Thank you," Chrom said before the archduke and one of the pegasus's took off from the deck. The remaining rider leaned back in her saddle, petting the pegasus's neck as she looked around.
"Cherche, Gerome, bring Basilio and Flavia on board, have them meet us in the conference room." Chrom ordered before the Ylisslean family headed into the conference room which was located just below the Royal family's rooms.
The Ylissleans took their seats around the table, leaving two empty for the Khans. Robin spoke with Chrom, Lucina, and Morgan a little while they waited for the Ferox rulers to join them. The two rulers were definitely pushing their limits just by coming. The pair had been the Khans for years, and were getting up there in age. Scratch that, they were already there. Robin had once even heard Basilio and Flavia talking about replacements.
From hearing his praise towards the young assassin Robin guessed Basilio would make Lon'qu the new west Khan. He was one of the best with a sword and had a Ferox spirit. At least, that's what Flavia had said. Who she planned to have succeed her, Robin had no idea, but she guessed it would be someone who could give Lon'qu a run for his money.
The Ylissleans fell silent as the door slammed open and a large, bald man with his muscled chest showing came bursting through the door, followed by a blond woman clad in red and silver armor and her axe that she always carried with her in her left hand.
"Don't be leavin' me out of all the fun now." Basilio's voice boomed causing Morgan to flinch. The young tactician had always been a little scared of the Khan. Honestly, Robin couldn't blame him. Basilio could be frightening when he was in a good mood, and Morgan had once been the poor soul to make him mad.
The prince had agreed to train with Basilio one day during the second war. Morgan was still new at the time and Basilio had died in his world when Morgan was but an infant, so he knew only of Basilio's strength from stories and afar views. The training session began with Mogan using a sword, but ended with him using his fire tome.
After Basilio had begun to beat him the prince jumped back out of the way before using the tome he always kept in a pocket in his jacket out of self defence. The attack missed his mark, which was the Khan's chest, instead Basilio turned and it lit his pants on fire.
It took several people running around with buckets of water as the Khan raced around camp like a chicken with it's head cut off to put out the fire out. Meanwhile Morgan stood frozen in place with Flavia on her hands and knees from laughing so hard, her eyes glossy with tears. When the Khan returned to confront his sparring partner, Morgan ran. And it took him a month to come near Basilio, even in battle. For which the prince feared he'd use his axe on him.
"'We'? I'm in charge oaf, you're only here cause you'll stop a few arrows, what with that big head of yours." Flavia remarked with a smirk as she sat down next to the prince who was trying to hide his smile and contain his laughter, much like his older sister across from him.
"Hardy har har," Basilio said, defeated once again in a war of words by the east Khan, "Anyway, you called us here for a reason Chrom? I hate flying on Pegasi, and the little one that came to get me wouldn't stop yappin'" Basilio complained as he sat next to Lucina.
Robin and Chrom quickly brought them up to speed on what had happened, Robin including her suspicions about the Archduke.
"Something's just not right. The way he didn't ask us more about our business here and the fact I saw a silver lance on one of the pegasi riders. Why would you bring such a weapon with you on a peaceful greeting from a neutral city?" Robin explained. The Khans glanced between each other and to Chrom.
"Something's definitely up." Flavia mused.
"We'd most likely be walcing into a trap." Basilio agreed.
Robin nodded before sighing, "We don't have enough supplies to make it to Dia, we have to stop here no matter what or risk running out of food or water. We might as well spring the trap, and see what we learn from it. And trappers often times underestimate their targets, and I don't doubt our forces."
Chrom nodded before looking around the table, "Any objections?" No one spoke up, "Good, we will send one of our ships containing the last of our supplies, our spare weapons, and a small crew west, to Dia. If we do not join you there in one week's time pack up the supplies and make your way back here."
"Basilio, I would like you to lead the ship to Dia, incase something goes south I don't wish for all our generals to be captured." Robin said as the group began to stand, "Flavia shall remain with us. We will bring a majority of our army, but I wish to leave the taguels and manaketes with the smaller team. I don't wish to cause them any special levels of stress." Robin saw Morgan's shoulders fall when she said the manakete would not be joining them. Her son was married to the youngest, Nah, after all. But Robin knew Morgan would be grateful, because even she did not know what they were walking into.
When they left the room and joined the others on the deck the pegasus rider looked to Chrom for their answer.
"Your hospitality is much appreciated, please tell Archduke Izana we shall be docking soon." Chrom said with a smile before the rider nodded and took off. Glancing to his wife the young Exalt prayed Robin wasn't correct.