Erian has kind of helped push me in a way I had wanted to go, along with the help of some reviews! I originally wanted Ike on what eventually becomes Ylisse, I think his travels will eventually take him there, but not first.

"Selyne?"

Selyne looked up from the book she was writing in. She had been writing so long her hand was beginning to ache. She flexed her fingers and waited for Lena to talk.

Lena looked nervously towards the port and said, "I hear there are pirates near the port. Shouldn't we... lock the door?"

"Why? Pirates aren't likely to come my way." Selyne had the assumption that pirates would be more interested in hitting the port and nearby village, then leaving. "They know the seas, not the land. Why leave what you know?"

"But..." Selyne sighed and began to blow on the page to help speed up the ink's drying process. "Why are you so calm?"

It occurred to Selyne to say she had a business to run. The thought also crossed her mind to tell Lena a locked door would not stop anyone who truly wanted inside. But to ease Lena's mind, she said, "Go lock it if you must."

Erian and his men led Ike and Soren to a modest but well maintained keep. Erian passed the reins of his horse to a stableboy and asked who was in charge.

"Prince Oisin."

Erian frowned momentarily. "Caspian, make sure Ike and Soren are tended to. I leave them in your hands until I return."

Caspian bowed his head as Erian departed. "Do you need anything? Something to eat, perhaps?"

"We have something, but we'll be glad to share."

Caspian, Ike, and Soren settled in a small room off the front of the keep and passed around the basket Selyne had given them. "Who is Prince Oisin?" Ike asked.

Caspian swallowed the bite he was eating before replying. "The eldest of Prince Erian's brothers. They do love each other, but there is a good deal of playful teasing the prince does not appreciate."

"So Erian is the youngest."

"A fact his brothers do not allow him to forget."

"And Felix? What about him?"

Caspian scowled and slowly found his words. "Felix has been in the royal family's service for many years. Prince Erian is quick to trust, and it has caused him trouble once or twice in the past. Felix has taken it upon himself to make sure it does not happen again. In this instance, I cannot blame him too much. Where are you from, exactly?"

Ike looked at Soren. Soren's face remained impassive. Ike chose to be honest. "Tellius. It's - "

"I've heard of it. I have not been, but I have heard of it."

"What? But we thought we were the only continent left."

Caspian chuckled and said, "Well, I suppose that is why your people have not left. Oh we are not exactly close to you, sure, but there are always adventurers looking for something new. I have spoken to such a traveler."

"Can I guess?" Caspian nodded. "A ship captain named Ron?"

Another chuckle from Caspian. "Yes, that's the one. Traveled the whole world by the sound of it."

"And I bet he's met nothing but good kids," Soren remarked dryly.

As Ike and Caspian laughed, the door opened. Erian joined them, and he was displeased. "Oisin expects to send me back to the palace. How could he even think of doing such?"

"You Grace, he is your eldest brother and Crown Prince. It is his call."

Erian glared at Caspian, who hung his head. He hated to be reprimanded by his prince. "So you choose to ignore his orders?"

"I'm not returning to the palace like a scolded child."

"It sounds like your brother is just looking out for you," Ike told Erian. "I don't have a brother myself, but I do have a little sister. I would do anything to keep her safe, even if she didn't like it."

Erian looked at Ike, having forgotten he and Soren were there. He flushed, what parts of his face visible through hair turned bright red. "I'm sorry, I don't usually present myself in such a way."

"I prefer to see what a person truly is," Ike said. He did not mind the prince's outburst. Perhaps were he in a similar situation, he would have acted the same way. "Don't worry about it, I can forget the whole thing happened."

"Your Grace."

Felix joined them as well, unheard by the other men. He stood in the doorway. "Prince Oisin wants you packed and on the move within the hour. Pirates have been sighted a lot closer than we had expected. Our men on Port Stea has reported seeing their sails in their waters."

"Port Stea?" Ike asked. He turned to Soren. "Isn't that where Selyne is?"

Soren arched an eyebrow at him. "Where we just came from, yes."

"Go ahead, Felix. Why don't you see that everything is attended to and we will meet you in the stables. I'm sure Ike would love to meet my father, certainly he and Soren will have much to teach us."

Ike opened his mouth to argue, but he was stopped by a nudge from Caspian. Felix narrowed his eyes, but he nodded and left.

"You're terrible, Prince Erian," Caspian whispered. He had a sly look on his face. "Sneaking away, I'm sure Prince Oisin will be furious."

"Let him," Erian whispered. "Give Felix a minute or two, then we'll sneak to the stables."

"We'll come with you. We made a friend that way, I want to make sure she's OK."

"Excellent!"

They waited and made small talk, trying to look convincing. After what felt like ages, Erian inclined his head to the door. They walked with a casual air, giving nothing of their plans away. But their plans were foiled once they approached the stables.

Oisin looked almost identical to his little brother. He did stand nearly half a foot taller, and his hair was slicked back instead of messy and in his face. But had he been wearing plain clothes instead of a plush tunic, leggings, a full dark blue cloak that fell to his ankles, and an ornate bejeweled sword on his hip, he would still be recognizable as Erian's kin. The familial resemblance was uncanny.

Erian's face reddened again. "Oisin. What gave it away?"

"The fact that I have known you your entire life. I knew as soon as I ordered you to return home, you would try to sneak away. The only place you're going is home. Take your new friends if you so desire."

"They have people at the port, Oisin. They want to make sure - "

"They can join me, then."

The standoff between the two brothers made Ike rather uncomfortable. "What if I protect Erian?" He could tell Erian wanted to go, and would probably find some way to lose his knights if Oisin sent him away. They already came across thieves in the woods. Erian did not need to be sneaking around by himself.

"You? Why would you protect my brother when you do not even know each other?"

Ike gave a halfhearted shrug and said, "I owe him a favor for the kindness he showed us earlier." He hoped Oisin would not push him for what sort of kindness Erian had bestowed upon him. Trusting them when coming across them on the roads did not seem like much of a kindness.

Oisin sighed and muttered, "Gods help me."

"So I can go?"

Oisin did not answer Erian directly. "I will hold you responsible for anything that happens to him, any scratch or injury to his person. Even down to a dent in his armor."

Ike nodded his agreement. He felt as if he was in the same trap he had always been in. Though instead of being a mercenary, he was now a young princeling's sworn sword.