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Chapter Six - Blood of Pride
"Finally..." Erk muttered as he saw the walls of Araphen looming before them. "Civilisation."
"You do not like travelling?" Rei asked, amusement hiding in her voice. "The open sky, the freedom, the.."
"Cold, hard ground and freezing rain?" the mage interrupted, raising a giggle from Florina and Lyn. "Oh, shush you. At least you girls got to sleep in that tent of yours last night."
"It wasn't that great, really. We still had the floor." Rei grinned, trying to cheer the mage up, and thus missed the triumphant glare the pegasus rider gave her.
"Florina's turn in the bed, that's why." Lyn finished reproachfully. She had seen the look, and was starting to wonder if there was something between the two women that she was missing.
"Why don't you just share it?" Sain asked, grinning like an idiot even after Erk had smacked him over the back of the head with his tome. The mage was riding pillion behind the knight, since Wil was riding with Kent and Serra with Lyn. Huey and Petal still carried only a single rider each, being less suitable for doubling up than the horses.
Kent and Wil, however, had gone ahead of the group by starting earlier than the others and moving more quickly. Ventérre would be tired by the effort, but they'd decided it would be better for Araphen to be warned of their approach. With the motley appearance of their band, they almost looked like bandits - and a mistake would have been costly, possibly lethal.
"I don't think that would be advisable" Rei mumbled, carefully studying Petal's neck and the ground in front of her hooves. Rei was fairly certain that Sain knew about her by now, and wasn't sure why he hadn't demanded of the group that she left... but Lyn had said that there were some parts of Lycia where it was acceptable. Kent seemed to be cut from the same mold as her father, but she supposed that it was unreasonable to expect everyone from the same place to be the same.
Then they were under the gate and Lyn, as their leader, was signing the papers to state their presense and reason. Rei noted with interest that the locals who were entering the gate did not have to do the same, and stored it away for future knowledge. It would certainly be useful for moving people into the town if such became neccesary.
Kent met them just inside the gate.
"Good news, Lady Lyndis. The marquis has agreed to lend us a retinue and supplies. The rest of our journey should be much easier."
"That's good to hear. Thankyou, Kent. Has he asked aught in return?" Lyn asked, her wariness not showing in her voice.
"Only that he be given the chance to meet both you and your, ah... 'strange foreigners'. I am sorry for bringing them up if it was wrong, but it is known that the Marquis has a great curiosity about the people of other realms. In fact, it might interest you that..." Kent trailed off as a man approached them. He was garbed as a commoner, but the naked blade in his hand was enough to alert the knights to possible danger.
"Ello, ello. Would any of ya lot be Lindoyse and Roy?" he asked, his voice masked by a false accent. "I's got a message fer ya."
"If you mean the Lady Lyndis, then this is her." Serra told him, reprovingly. "You should show more respect to your betters."
"Roight. Tha's you, then?" the man looked at Lyn, moving closer.
"Yes, I'm Lyndis." she replied, dimounting. "What is it you have to say?"
"Not me, milady," he said, stepping closer again.
"Lyn! Look out!" Florina and Rei both moved at the same time, converging too slowly as he raised his sword to strike. Mani-katti was halfway from its' scabbard, but too slowly as the blade started to fall.
A whistling sound, followed by a meaty thunk presaged a surprised look on the assassin's face as he fell forwards, blade falling harmlessly from nerveless hands to clatter against the cobbles in the sudden silence. Iron-shod hooves stepped slowly closer as Lyn looked up from the body, thanks dying on her lips as she saw her saviour.
"Are you well?" The green-haired man spoke tradertalk for the benefit of the others present, but his eyes were on Lyn.
"Y.. yes. Thankyou, rider."
"Are you sure, Lady Lyndis?" Kent asked, moving his horse to stand beside the swordlady and looking around warily for other threats. The horse-archer looked surprised, and then scowled, turning away.
"Wait," Lyn said loudly, and he turned his head back to look at her, eyebrow raised. "Why did you help me?"
"... I thought I was helping a woman of Sacae. I was mistaken." he told her, gruffly.
"I am. I am from Sacae. I'm Lyn, of the Lorca." she spoke earnestly, moving towards him.
"The Lorca? There were survivors?" The other eyebrow joined the first, and he turns his torso to look at her properly, shortbow still in his left hand. "I am Rath, of the Kutolah."
"A very few, and only I carry the banner still... what brings you to..?" The halfblood was cut off by a loud, patterned drumming that filled the air before being suddenly cut off.
"I will share tea with you later gladly, but I must attend to the castle. It has been attacked, and sounds to have fallen." Rath was suddenly cold and businesslike.
"We'll help. What do you need?" Lyn told him, and he paused before nodding.
"There are three switches, one in each barrack building here in the bailey. Each one needs to be activated in order to open the secret passage that will allow us entry to the castle undetected. Then it is a matter of destroying the invaders."
"We will split into three groups." Rei said, moving forward. At Rath's questioning look, Lyn nodded to say that he should listen.
"One will go to each of the barracks. The first group will contain Lyn, Rath, Florina and myself. The second will consist of Kent, Sain and Wil. Where is Wil?" she looked around, realising that he hadn't returned with Kent.
"He stayed at the castle to liase with the Marquis' quartermaster." Kent told her, and she grimaced.
"Fine. The second group will be the two knights and myself. The third will be Erk, Serra and Dorcas. Rath, how do we get to the barracks from here?"
"The southernmost one is furthest, so I will take that one. The other two are equal distances, one is at the end of this street near the east gate, and one is at the foot of the castle."
"Alright. Dorcas, your group will go to the castle and find the switch in the barracks there. It shouldn't be too hard to find. Rath, where is the passage?"
"In the barracks at the western gate."
"Good. Rally any troops that remain in the barracks and rendevous at the western barrack. When you arrive, Rath will lead the mounted units in followed by the foot units. Dorcas, Erk, and any archers will remain at the barrack to keep the way open and intercept any enemies who escape. Take prisoners if you can, but you should not put yourselves in danger to do so." She looked at Rath for confirmation, and though he looked dubious at the idea of splitting up into such small groups he nodded.
"Alright then. A thousand blessings upon our friends." Lyn nodded to the other groups before mounting up.
"And a thousand curses upon our enemies." Rath finished with a ritual tone before the two Sacaeans took off at an easy run. A moment later Huey took to the air, sky-knight trainee upon his back.
"We will see you there." Dorcas told them, the gruff axeman moving down a side alley after glancing up at the castle.
"What an adventure." Serra squealed before following him, swishing her white robe around her feet to avoid a pile of effluence. Erk gave a long-suffering sigh before following them both at a jog to catch up.
"Right. Lets go, then." Rei mutterered before mounting up again and nudging Petal to a trot. A moment later the knights fell in either side of her.
They were about halfway towards their destination when a red cloak obscured Rei's vision for a moment. The next second, a brunette man was standing in their paths and Petal was rearing back, ready to knock his skull in. He jumped away out of reach and held up his hands to show that they were empty.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a second! I'm not here to fight you! I want to help!" He cried, defensively.
"You're a local? Can you fight?" Rei asked as the two knights levelled lances.
"No and not very well. I'm a... troubleshooter, and to be honest, your side looks a lot more fun than the dead guy. My name's Matthew."
"What kind of trouble do you shoot, Matthew?" Sain asked, warily.
"Well, I've got... light fingers. I can spring a trap or a lock or two."
"Thief's work? We have no need of a criminal. Let us continue, lady Rei." Kent spoke with cold dissaproval. "We should not associate with such creatures."
"Hah! I thought you might say that, sir knight." Matthew bowed to the red-armoured man, mockingly. "So, pray tell, how do you plan to gain access to the barrack? The door is locked, you know, and unlike the others you don't look like you have any fire magic to burn it down, or the captain of the guard to open it with his keys."
"I like him." Sain laughed, putting his lance up. "He won't steer us far wrong, I don't think. It's up to you, Rei. Take a thief?"
"In my homeland.." the advisor said slowly. "We have such people as you, Matthew. They are employed by Daimyou - warlords - not infrequently. We call such people 'ninja'. You have no such master?"
"I'm free as a dicky bird, your ladyship! I'll stay that way, too, even if I'm working for you."
"So, you'll give no oaths... but we need you, I think. Welcome to the team, Matthew." She smiled, and the brunette grinned and stepped up to Petal, letting her sniff his hand and hair before swinging up behind her.
"Oh, don't look so sour, sir knight! There are worse lemons than me to suck on in this town, let me assure you." The thief grinned at Kent, and Rei turned her face away to hide her smile.
"I cannot approve. Still, the choice is yours, Lady Rei. Let us waste no more time," Kent spoke stiffly, before leaning over Ventérre's neck and whispering something to him. The horse broke into a canter from standing, and Sain swore before doing the same.
"He's a bit of a spoilsport, isn't he?" Matthew smirked behind her.
"Please, be quiet and hold on." Rei told him with a sigh before nudging Petal to follow the two knights.
By the time she caught up with them, they had already run down the first two swordsmen. The men were dressed in a similar way to the assassin who had struck at Lyn, but the knights were nearly surrounded by more of the thugs. They were holding them off with their lances, but one had managed to dart in and score a deep wound on Sain's destriers' flank and the horse was starting to flag.
"Up there... I will rejoin you in a moment." Matthew whispered in Rei's ear, making her start, and indicating the roofline. A moment later the thief had vanished, and she glanced back to see a flash of red dissapear onto the rooftops. When she saw what he had, any thoughts about the thief she might have had fled her. Archers were moving up. Two or three on each side, and they were sighting on the knights.
Plucking a knife from one of the sheaths hidden in her cloak, Rei whispered a quick prayer before pushing the green cloth back from herr shoulders and standing up in the stirrups. Sighting carefully, she flung her arm out. The small blade flew truly, sinking into the closest archer's arm and ruining his aim. The arrow released wildly, burying itself in the dirt by a sword-wielding peasant's foot and alerting the cavaliers to the danger.
Kent looked up, scowling, and reached back with his left hand. His right still held the lance, stabbing randomly at the mass of men to strike one in the shoulder and drive them out of sword reach without looking. Suddenly, he stood up and threw something with his left hand.
The arrow flew straight and true, burying itself in the eye of an archer even as Matthew slit the throat of another intent on his target. Suddenly, where there had been six archers arrayed against the knights, there were three still able to fight. Silently, Matthew finished off the one Rei had injured before jumping over the street with the aid of a grapple to land boot-first on another.
The knights continued to strike at the swordsmen, Sain's rapid lance-strikes spearing out to injure and kill, Kent drawing his sword in his off-hand and starting a brutal series of dual-wielding attacks. The horses acquited themselves well, Sain's Lénore killing three at once in one instance and looking put out that she had missed the fourth. For the second time in as many weeks, Rei found herself reminded not to underestimate trained warhorses. The battle went quickly from there, until eventually the remaining swordsmen broke and fled. Matthew resurfaced a moment later and started work on the door even as the knights let the survivors go.
Inside, they were met by a row of arrows trained on them by soldiers in Araphen livery.
"Put those down. We're not enemies." Kent told them, wiping his forehead with the back of his glove and envying Sain's hairband. "Rath has asked that the passage be opened."
When arrows didn't waver, he scowled and continued, "I said put them down. We are Lycian knights, sworn men of Caelin. Surely you cannot doubt our word."
"That's as maybe, but you have to answer to me. I have sworn that the passage will not be opened as long as I live." A large man shouldered his way throught he middle of the row of archers. He wore full battle plate, an infantry lance locked into one steel gauntlet. His helmet was held in the other.
Rei came in behind the two dismounted cavaliers and blinked before squinting up at the big foot knight.
"Who are you? That is very strong armour you have." She asked, stopping between the red and green cavaliers.
"You..." his eyes widened as he saw her and his breath caught sharply. "Men. Kill that girl! His Lordship has demanded her death!"
Without waiting for the archers, he raised his lance and lunged at her. She ducked, and he caught only her cloak, and as his momentum took him past her she saw the back and side of his neck - and the black tattoo there.
"Black Fang!" She exclaimed as Kent moved to shield her from the archers and Sain faced the knight.
"What nonsense. Archers, loose." Still the troop of bowmen held their attack, one or two even lowering their bows. "Men of Araphen, I said, attack!"
"Sir, we can't... it would cause a civil war!" the archer sergeant ventured. "Caelin wouldn't..."
"Forget Caelin. Can you not see that she is a demon? Look at her eyes! Nothing human has that colour."
"What did she mean 'Black Fang', Commander Boole?" The youngest archer present asked, quavering. He was barely fourteen.
"I shall explain later," Boole started, but he was cut off.
"The Black Fang are a league of Biranese assassins." Rei told him, and he dropped his bow. A very raw recruit, she decided.
"But... but.. how can the commander be a member?" the archer stammered. "He's..."
"Only been here a few months, and he already outranks us." The sergeant said coldly. "You've only just joined us, Baret, so I can't expect you to know, but Boole joined us shorlty after the old knight commander dissapeared under mysterious circumstances. Up until then, he was a foot knight in Caelin... or so he's said."
"I've seen him around." Sain offered. "He dissapeared shortly after Lady Madelyn's letter arrived. A couple of people wondered where he'd gone."
"Enough talk!" Boole growled. "If you cowards will be swayed by a demon's treachery and her blackguards, then I will slay it myself!" He lunged with his lance, throwing his helmet to one side. Sain knocked her out of the way, twisting to avoid the deadly tip... and Boole's face was distorted by six arrows. As he fell, the back wall of the barrack ground open with a rumbling sound. When his body clattered to the ground, no-one saw the tattoo fading as each of them turned to look at the red-cloaked thief holding the switch and grinning.
"What?" he asked, innocently.
The retaking of the castle went smoothly from there, the other groups linking with Rei's with forces from the other barracks before storming down the passage and into the throne room. Marquis Araphen was not in evidence, but he was later found locked alone in a dungeon tower richly appointed as a flagellary, looking rather green. It was not until late the following evening that he had the presense of mind to call Lyn and Rei to audience.
When they entered, it was in traditional garb. Rei wore a formal kimono robe, patterned with bamboo shoots and the only presentable clothing she still had. Her only weapons a brace of daggers hidden within her sleeves. Her short hair had been washed and brushed, but without its length - and the presense of a properly trained handmaiden - it was impossible to style in the proper form.
Lyn wore Sacaean celebratory gear, a more elaborate, full-skirted version of her travelling clothes. The teal-hued, sleeveless silk tunic was belted closed with a sash over the waistline of the deep, red skirt. Soft leather gloves hid her hands, the cut simlar to her riding gloves but reaching up almost to her elbows. Mani-katti was sheathed at her side, fixed through her sash with cords. Kent and Sain, wearing their usual armour but polished and cleaned thoroughly flanked the two women, and Rath walked in front of them wearing his own tribal clothing. The sash across his chest and the cap replacing his headscarf were the only concessions to his rank as Captain of the Guard.
The small procession entered the immodestly sized throne room in formal procession. Marquis Araphen sat in his throne, watching impassively as they approached. Rath went to one knee, bowing over it as he reached the foot of the dais, and the women bowed from the waist, Lyn with her arms beside her and Rei with her hands clasped in front of her thighs.
"Lady Lyndis of Caelin and Lady Rei of the Kanhi Isles, my Lord." Rath intoned ritually, and the Marquis stood and stepped forward.
"Thankyou, Rath. You may stand." he waved his hand negligently, and all three stood. If Kent and Sain's continued vigilance irked him, he did not let it show. As Rath straightened, so did the two females, each studying the Marquis carefully even as he examined them both. The Captain of the Guard took up position just behind and to the left of the Marquis' throne.
"You are truly exotic, my Lady." He smiled to Rei. There was something in that smile that she did not like, she decided. The man was like a fat cat.
"However," he continued, "in light of the recent events I fear I cannot give the aid I promised. My castle has been attacked, and it was the name of Lyndis that brought trouble to my doorstep. My pays has been put in danger through your family trouble." He looked straight at the half-blood now, indolent steel in his voice.
"Lord Araphen, you promised..." Kent began, but the marquis cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"I did. However, you failed to inform me of one vital thing. I had no idea that the claimant was so... tainted with the blood of Sacae." The sneer hid the steel, if it had been there at all.
"Why, you..." Sain growled, taking a step forwards until he was silenced by a glare from the captain.
"Your man is ill-disciplined." The marquis noted, and Lyn frowned.
"It will be seen to. However, if you would only..." Kent tried again, but this time it was his mistress who stopped the knight.
"No, Kent. Even if he were willing to give it, I would not accept aid from one who disparages my heritage. We are leaving." As soon as she had stopped speaking, Lyn turned away and walked to the door, not even bothering to use her hands but kicking it open. Rei took one last look at Rath, before following her at a slower, more dignified pace - less out of choice, and more because the kimono restricted her movements. Kent and Sain followed as one.
As the guards outside gingerly closed the doors, Marquis Araphen sunk back into his throne and rested his cheek on his hand.
"Pah. Foolish girl. If she had but shed a single tear, I would have aided her... I will never understand those prideful savages."
"Are those your true thoughts on the people of Sacae, my Lord?" Rath asked from his position, a frown in his tone.
"Oh! Rath, I had forgotten your presense, you are always so unobtrusive. Of course my comments do not reflect on you, you have always served me well."
"I see. It does not matter where we are from, as long as we bow our knee to you."
"Wh... what are you saying?" The marquis stammered, standing to look at his guard.
"You would never understand. My service ends here." Rath took off the beret he wore and put it into the Marquis' hands. The sash joined it, and then the nomad had dissapeared behind the curtain.
"Of all the..." Lyn growled to herself as she changed into her riding gear.
"He is a proud man." Rei said simply as she folded the outer layer of her kimono. "In his thinking, there is one way of things, and that is his way. There are many like him in my homeland."
They were standing in the rooms they had been given to spend the night, richly appointed and designed for visiting dignitaries. The wall between the two rooms could be folded and removed to allow the ambassadors to use their rooms as meeting chambers, and that was what the two women had done to talk.
"I feel filthy for even sleeping in the bed he gave me." Lyn was muttering as she roughly forced the skirt into her packs. She was halfway done when Rei caught her wrists and held them still with gentle pressure.
"Become calm, Lyndis. You will damage something. His kind are not worth becoming angry over. We are still in his domain." she spoke softly, and Lyn twisted to look at her. Rei held her gaze, and she noticed that the shorter girls' eyes held her own pain, echoed into eternity. Lyn realised that whatever she had suffered today, it was nothing compared to the possible years of such treatment her companion had suffered.
"I'm sorry. You're right. Thankyou, Rei." She extricated her hands and hugged the smaller girl, who stiffened in her arms with a surprised sound. "We should leave before he decides that he has more to gain from arresting us. I think that he may be a man who thrives on pain, and I wouldn't want you to go through that... or Florina, if he decides to incarcerate the knights as well."
"Thankyou, Lyndis..." Rei squirmed out of her arms, and smiled up at her to hide the twinge of jealousy she felt at the pegasus knight's name.
"Please, call me Lyn. Everyone's calling my Lyndis now... it feels so strange. Like they mean someone else..." the Sacaean looked so lost at that moment that Rei regretted escaping. She had already taken such a risk just by touching her...
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise... I'll call you Lyn. It just sounds improper."
"How so? From everything you've told me, we're of the same social level... both the daughters of minor nobles."
"Nn-nh." Rei shook her head with the sound. "Your grandfather is part of a ruling council. My father does what he's told."
"But in Lycian terms..." Lyn started, uncertainly.
"Maybe. I don't know. But even then, I should be calling you 'Lyndis-san'. At least when other people are around..."
"And you would be 'Rei-san'?" Lyn asked, and the kanhi nodded. "What if we were closer - like clansibs?"
"I don't know that word, but... if we were very close, we might just use names, or even familiar honourifics... but it would be too strange, calling you Licchan." Rei replied, then chuckled a little.
"Licchan?" Lyn gave a horrified laugh, then looked at her friend. "It sounds like a vegetable!" She grinned, and Rei smiled. "Hey, you should do that more often."
"What?" Rei blinked, the smile vanishing into her confusion. "Do what?"
"Smile." The swordswoman told her, and - though it was hard to tell under her tan - she thought that she'd made the young tactician blush. "Ah, you're so cute when you're teased."
"Ah.. er..." Rei stammered, before shaking herself off and ignoring the triumphant voice in the back of her mind. "We should get packed. I'm done, let me help..." she stepped around the smiling plainswoman and took the half-packed skirt out of the saddle bag before folding it quickly over her arm and putting it back carefully.
"That's it. Apart from what I'm wearing, that's pretty much all I unpacked." Lyn turned and reached around her to lace the saddlebag shut. "Lets go."
Before either of them had a chance to move, the door opened and a male voice caughed politely.
"Lyn of the Lorca." The quiet voice came, and as Lyn turned to look at the speaker, Rei moved to one side. "I hope I am not interrupting anything?"
"Nothing, Rath. We were just packing. Is there something I can help you with?" Lyn asked, tilting her head.
"Yes." Rath nodded before stepping forwards. "I would travel with you, for a time. And... I bring an apology. The marquis should not have spoken so." The horse-archer moved forward and took Lyn's wrist, pulling her hand up palm-topwards. He deposited a large sack there, and the plainswoman's eyes widened as she felt the weight and contents.
"This is... gold? It's too much! Is it from the marquis' treasury?"
"No, it is my own. The sum of my wages for working as his guard."
"It is far too much. I cannot accept such a gift..." Lyn tried to return the bag, but Rath stepped away.
"I cannot take back a gift once given." Rath told her, gravely.
"It will be an honour to have you with us, Rath." Rei broke into the conversation, and both of them looked at her sharply. "Lyn, if you cannot accept it as a gift, accept it as an apology as he said, and thanks for opening his eyes." She turned to Rath next, "and thankyou for giving it. The marquis here is a cruel, selfish man. I am glad you have chosen to accompany us. It will make the journey onwards easier, and I am certain that we will enjoy your company. When can you be ready to leave?"
"I am already prepared. I have no wish to spend another night prisoned within stone here."
"That is good, for we were planning to leave as soon as..."
The door opening again cut her off, as Kent and Florina entered. Kent saluted smartly, with the pegasus knight following suit a moment after when she saw that Rath was present.
"The legion is ready to depart, my Lady." Kent said formally before standing to attention.
"Thankyou, Kent. Rei, will you please talk the change to marching order over with him to account for our new companion?" Lyn asked her advisor, who nodded.
"Ah, Lyn..." Florina asked, and Lyn looked at her questioningly.
"Yes, Florina?" she asked as the cavalier and tactitian left the room, already talking in low tones. The two were still not completely at ease in each others' presense, but at least they were being professional about it.
"C.. could I talk to you alone for a moment?" Florina stammered, glancing at Rath.
"Yes, of course. Rath, could you..?" she looked at the nomad, who nodded.
"I'll be in the stables with Stormchaser." he told her, and left. As soon as the door shut, Florina hurried over to Lyn and hugged her.
"Are you alright? I heard from Sain what that man said to you.." The short girl stepped back, holding onto her friend's biceps gently and looking at her face searchingly.
"Thankyou, Florina, but I'm fine. Really." Lyn smiled at her. "I was angry at first, but now I just want to get out of here. How are you holding up?"
"I'm okay... but that Wil is a little scary... he talks so much! And he's always so.. so.." she trailed off, dropping her eyes.
"Overbearing? Overfriendly? Is he harrassing you?" Lyn asked, worried.
"No... n-not like Sain does... but Sain doesn't mean anything by it... Wil is just so.. so... earnest." she shuddered slightly, and Lyn hugged her close and stroked her hair.
"ssh. It's okay. He can be a little intimidating... but he won't hurt you. If he does, just tell me. Now, what's going on with you and Rei?" she pulled back, looking at her friend carefully. "You two are like... almost like... I don't know. Two boys trying to break in a stallion, each one being more foolish when the other outdoes him."
"Ulp!" Florina gulped, turning red. "It.. it's nothing. J-just me being silly.." she hid her face behind her hair.
"Are you sure? I mean, you're my oldest friend... if there's anything upsetting you, I want you to tell me about it."
"I just feel like she's stealing you from me..." The knight said in a small voice.
"Oh, Florina..." Lyn said, a smile in her voice. "You don't have to worry about that." She hugged her again. "Rei is on a quest... and while she has become very dear to me, much as you did so long ago... she will have to leave. Someone like that... you will never lose your place in my heart, Jel'enedra."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Lyn let Florina go after a moment to let her see her smile, then turned to pick up her saddle bags. "Are you packed and ready? Is Huey fed?"
"Yes. Lets go. I want to feel the wind beneath my wings."
Arms linked, Florina carrying Rei's bags, the two girls left the suite and rejoined their group. Within he hour, Araphen city was dropping out of sight behind them.