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Chapter 10 - The Distant Plains
While most of the camp slept, Rei lay awake in the tent she was now sharing with Lyn alone. They had taken supplies from Yogi's estate, including several campaign tents, and now they had enough to sleep two to a tent. It wasn't the sudden loneliness that was keeping the islander awake, however.
Tomorrow would be the final battle, and she knew that there had to be a way to get everyone to the castle without being slaughtered by the standing army in the barracks that stood directly in their path. There was a way around, but if Lundgren had destroyed the bridges south of the river it would be impassable.
Quietly, she swung her legs out of bed and moved over to the low table in the centre of the tent that held Kent's sketch-map of the area around the castle. Clearly, they couldn't go straight over Roland's Chair. The mountain was nigh impassable, and certainly impossible to cross with horses. The only other way around was five days trek around the western end of the range the Chair stood at the eastern end of. Which left the obvious route, east, along the river until they reached Caelin Town, then south or west from the town. South would mean crossing the river on the other meander, but west would involve marching through the barracks where most of the standing army - swollen by Lundgren's war preparations - was stationed.
A noise made her look up, and she saw that Florina was standing in the flap. Rei signalled for silence, then moved over, making pushing motions to indicate that Florina should step outside.
"Sorry, but Lyn's asleep..." She told the Pegasus Knight in a soft voice once they were outside.
"That's alright." Florina replied, unusually nervous, considering that she was talking to a single female. "It was... you I was looking for."
"Oh? Is something the matter?" Rei asked, tilting her head. Their unconcious - on Rei's part - rivalry for Lyn's attention had died down since Araphen, but the two women still weren't friends.
"I... Um... Sain told me about you..." Florina started, and Rei hid a frown. "Or... he tried... you can... um... probably guess how that ended..." The knight seemed embarassed, but Rei smiled to show that she understood.
"I see. What did he tell you?" She asked, though she feared she already knew the answer.
"That you... um... your... 'illness'... you..." The knight blushed, suddenly. "Prefer... um..." She ran out of steam, unable to say it.
"Ah. Yes." Rei nodded. It was as she'd feared. "Please, don't tell anyone... especially not Lyn. I don't know how she might react... you don't seem disgusted... why..?"
"It's not unusual, in Ilia..." Florina suddenly seemed to relax, the tension going out of her now that she'd asked the question. "It's a harsh place, and people find comfort where they can. Most Ilian women are tough, brave, and strong, so..."
"Most, Dame Florina?" The new voice made them both look over to where the speaker stood on the shadow of a tent. Both of them knew who it was, since of all the members of the army, only Ninian had a voice with the same soft, shyly confident quality. The way the words were spoken suggested that 'most' was an understatement.
"Oh! Um... Ninian... you know... you don't have to call me that... just Florina..." She paused. "Wait.. you... you know Ilia?"
"Yes... the white mountains, always covered in snow... and... I was, um... born there." The confidence had fled in the dancer's voice, and Rei smiled to herself and slipped back into the tent, unnoticed, to let the two women talk more openly.
"Y-you were? That means... we're from the same place, then... That's funny... I feel so much closer to you now... do you want to be friends?" Florina managed a shy smile, and Ninian's answering smile brought a shine to her eyes.
"Yes... I'd like that... um.. Nils is sleeping in Erk's tent... since he wanted to try and learn magic... so... if you wanted to... you could stay in my tent, tonight, instead of being alone... if you wanted to talk more..."
"I'd... I'd like that..."
The next morning, Rei woke with Lyn's hand on her shoulder. The younger girl was looking down at her intently, and Rei felt her breath catch at the sight of those beautiful eyes, clouded as they were with worry.
"It's nearly time..." Lyn told her, quietly. "Today... it'll all be over, one way or the other."
"We'll be fine, Lyn..." She reached up to cover the swordswoman's hand with her own, daring the contact only because her sleep-fuddled brain told her to.
"I'm glad you're so confident." Lyn smiled, before standing and looking away. "I don't... I don't know. It feels like I'm betraying someone..." Her voice had become uncertain, wavering.
"Lord Lundgren is your blood-relative. That means something to you, even if he has made you his enemy." Rei replied, standing. "You should not feel that you are betraying him... since he is the betrayer." She paused, then a daring thought came to her. Normally, she would never have dreamed of what she was now considering offering. "I think... if you finished your preparations for battle, it might calm you somewhat." Stepping towards Lyn, she placed her hands on her robed shoulders before gathering the heavy mass of her unbound hair. "In my homeland, it is customary for a warrior to braid their hair back if it is long before a battle. Usually, they do this themselves, or have a close friend or confidante help them... someone they've sworn their life to in the heat of battle, or a close sibling or loved one." She let her hands falls slowly away from the green locks as Lyn stood there, head bowed, unmoving. "Please... grant me that honour, Lyn?" She asked, finally, afraid that she'd gone too far.
"Rei... I..." Lyn paused, as though uncertain of what to say. "I would be honoured... to have you help me." She paused again, but didn't turn. "Please... lend me your strength, one more time..."
"It's yours. Whenever you ask it." Rei promised, and gathered Lyn's hair again, starting the complex process of tying it into a warrior's braid.
When they finally stepped outside, Matthew was loitering around toying with a dagger - though not one of Rei's, for a change - Erk was reading, and Nils was peering over his shoulder. Ninian sat alone, staring out into the forest, while Kent and Sain rubbed their horses down and checked all their equipment. Wallace was moving among the Legion, talking to each person and giving them prep talks to increase their confidence. Watching him, an idea started to form in Rei's mind...
"Sir Kent, could I talk to you for a moment?" She asked, and the cavalier jogged over, his armour clanking.
"Yes, Lady Rei?" He asked, stopping about two feet away.
"Would you say that General Wallace is known and loved by the people of Caelin as well as he is here, amongst Lyndis' Legion?" She asked, thoughtfully.
"Yes... why do you ask?" The knight replied, guardedly.
"Would they follow him?" She continued, watching the massive man clap Wil on the shoulder almost crushingly.
"I... think so." Understanding finally dawned. "You want to take General Wallace and Lady Lyndis to the barracks and try to win them over?" Kent sounded incredulous. "But... they can be avoided if we go south... it's too much of a risk."
At that moment, Florina landed near them, back from her scouting mission. Dismounting, she hurried over to the trio, out of breath.
"It's as you were worried about... Lundgren's had the bridges over the river south of Caelin Town destroyed. There's no way over." The sky-rider reported.
"Thankyou, Florina... see to Huey, you've got time, and take a chance to catch your breath." Rei told her, and she nodded before going back to her pegasus. "Kent, can you bring General Wallace over, please, then tell everyone to take a break? I want you to follow us after half a mark."
"I still don't think it's a good idea... but you're the strategist." Kent replied, before going to fetch the older knight.
Rei explained her plan as they rode, and, unlike Kent he seemed to agree with the plan, giving a great belly-laugh as he approved of the audacity of it. Two hours later, and they had arrived, skirting the outside of the town with only a single encounter with a local. A strange, almost ferrety old lady wearing dark robes had appeared in front of them on the road, demanding that they slow down.
"The shining blade spun by its mistress in green strikes truly when combined with the ring of might." The old woman had said cryptically, pressing something into Lyn's hand before vanishing into the alleyways. Opening her hand, Lyn had found a ring there, perfectly fitted for her and set with a red gem. On Rei's advice, she'd put the ring on, and instantly felt a little stronger. Though she didn't want to become reliant on magic items such as this, Rei pointed out that it was a spirit's gift, and to not use it at least this once would be an unwise insult.
Though the canton was preparing for war, security at the barracks was lax. While they wouldn't have been able to get the whole legion past it, the three riders were able to get within ten yards of the outer wall before they were stopped. At their demands, the commanding officer, a Captain Vengre, came forth to speak to them.
"Captain Vengre. This is not acceptable." Wallace said, using the same cold tone he had used when facing down the entirety of Lyndis' Legion north of the Eagler estate. "You treat myself and my companions as though we were enemies while a pretender to the throne is at large."
"I'm sorry, sir, but Lord Lundgren has decreed that no-one approach the castle... even you, or your..." Vengre protested weakly, trailing off as he took a proper look at Rei. Wallace looked down at him - even if he'd been afoot, he would have towered over the little infantry captain, but mounted he was almost twice Vengre's height.
"Concentrate, Vengre. " Wallace said, sounding slightly impatient.
"But... your... that's... I thought she was dead..." Vengre stammered, still watching Rei like he expected her to grow wings.
"Vengre, this is Lady Rei of the Kanhi Isles, a tactitian. She is not my lady wife!" Wallace growled, and Rei blinked. "Now if you're finished being supertitious, let me pass. I have grave news regarding the pretender." Wallace told him. "I have seen Lundgren's imposter for myself, and know that she is no deciever. Lundgren himself is the one who pretends to the throne."
"You're saying that it's a lie? That Lord Hausen's illness is false, and that the pretender from the plains is real?" Vengre frowned. "Even coming from you, General Wallace, I find that hard to countenance."
"Captain..." Lyn spoke up, nudging Hunt around Wallace's huge warsteed and coming into Vengre's eyeline for the first time. "If I thought there was any doubt of the truth of my identity, I would not dare to stand before you now. I have never once claimed the throne... I... I just want to see my Grandfather." She focussed those clear, beautiful Caelin eyes on Vengre, who met them for a whole five seconds before looking away. "Please... even if you don't believe me... just let me through to the castle..."
"I can't do that, mamzel..." Vengre said, unable to meet her eyes. "You would be slaughtered before you reached the gates. I'll lend you a regiment, two ballista and a unit of archers... they should get you through the gate, at least." He paused. "Good luck, Lady Lyndis, General Wallace. You'll need it."
"Thankyou, Captain Vengre. We'll need the units ready in half an hour, if you can. We do have a small force, but your units will be a great help." Wallace dismounted and clapped the man on the shoulder before turning him around and sending him back towards his barracks.
"Thank the spirits..." Rei whispered once he was gone, slumping in her saddle. "I almost thought we'd failed..."
"We can't fail. We have so much left to do..." Lyn smiled at her, reaching a hand over to rest on her arm, comforting. The nomad was gratified when Rei didn't flinch away as she usually did when threatened with physical contact.
"You're right. The others should be here soon... then... it'll be over. Lady Lyn, I..." Rei paused, looking away.
"It's okay to be scared, Rei. Remember, what you said to me this morning..." Lyn smiled. "I know you worry about everyone. That you feel like your decisions are the ones that put everyone in danger... but it's not true. We all know why we're here, and it's our choice." The nomad paused, moving her horse slightly closer and taking Rei's hand in her own. "Please... this is the final battle, so... don't be afraid."
"I'm sorry, Lyn..." Rei whispered back. "I just wish... I could do more. I wish I could fight by your side, properly, not just taking opportunities and getting in the way..."
"You've never gotten in my way, Rei." came the reply. "Not once. You're one of the only two people I'd feel comfortable fighting back to back with, without having to worry about cutting you or tripping."
"Thankyou..." Rei smiled, straightening. "How do you always know... exactly the right thing to say?"
"I don't... I just hope that what I'm saying is right." Lyn returned the smile, and they settled down to wait for the others.
The battle had gone smoothly, but there was no sign of Lundgren at the castle walls or gates. While Wallace and the others saw to the undoing of the lord's work, Lyn and Rei raced through the castle, searching for Lundgren or his brother.
They found the Lord General, usurper to the Caelin throne, standing at the entrance to an inner courtyard. Beyond his armoured form, they could see an expanse of green, broken only by the colours of flowers. A garden.
"You made it here. I'm dissapointed. The men should have lasted longer." He turned to face them, a foot-lance in his hand. "You've entered my realm without my permission, claimed to be blood-kin despite the vile mongrel in your veins, corrupted my loyal men with your base ways and now you dare to challenge my right. Why those bandits couldn't have finished the job properly, I don't know, but I suppose it just goes to show that you have to do everything yourself if you want it done right."
"The bandits... you hired them? You killed them?" Lyn asked, stunned and incredulous. "I thought it was a random attack... but this..." The rage started to colour her voice. "You killed them... my parents... my family... my tribe... and now you're trying to kill my grandfather... your own brother." Lyn drew her sword, dropping into a stance. "Unforgivable... Oathbreaker! Kinslayer! You have earned your death!" With that, she leaped forwards, sword flashing up and under the lance to score a gash across Lundgren's chest, opening his thick armour as though it were nothing. Stepping back out of her reach, the general stabbed with his lance, but Lyn twisted, evading each attack with deadly grace... until the general brought his left hand around, catching her in the shoulder with one massive, spiked fist. With a crack of bone, Lyn cried out and crumpled to the floor.
"See, Wiseman? You were right to trust me." Lundgren growled intot he darkness, and something made Rei turn just in time to avoid a lunging dagger from the darkness. Her attacker wore black robes, similar to those of the Fang shaman, Heintz. His features were impossible to make out under his hood, but for one; his eyes glowed, golden, like some great hunting cat.
"Finish it, this distraction is costly." The golden-eyed Wiseman told him, attackin Rei again. "Deal with the Islander as well." Rei deflected another strike with her fighting dagger, reaching into her cloak with her other hand to force Wiseman back by throwing another two knives at him before lunging forward. She wanted to turn to check on Lyn, but the cloaked man took all her attention. Metal clanked behind her, and then a strangled cry was cut off swiftly.
"Rei, down!" Lyn called, and the Kanhi wasted no time throwing herself to the floor as Lyn span from killing Lundgren to bury two feet of the Mani Katti in Wiseman's chest.
"Very good... sprite... recall..." The robed man croaked before seeming to fade out of existance, leaving only a few drops of viscous, blue blood on Lyn's sword as evidence that he had ever been there. Rei stood, stepping away as the thick liquid dropped from the sword before shimmering and evaporating into thin air.
"Lyn... what was that..?" Rei asked, staring at where he'd vanished.
"I don't know... a mystery for later. We have to find my Grandfather." Lyn told her, and she nodded.
"You're right." Rei replied, turning back to the garden Lundgren had been guarding. Inside, a pretty, dark-haired girl, maybe fourteen years old, knelt over an unconcious Lord Hausen. The girl was watching them carefully.
"Are you... Lyndis?" The girl asked. When Lyn nodded, she went on. "I'm Sara Eagler... your grandfather asked to be brought down here to die in this garden... please, Lord Lundgren took my staff, but it might not be too late to save him." Lyn was already at Hausen's side, kneeling there and stroking his face, so Rei went back to Lundgren's body. Fortunatly, she didn't need to touch him, since the two healing staves - one tipped with a fire opal, the other a sapphire - leaned against the wall with his javelins and a spare lance. Bringing the staffs back to Eagler, she handed them over. Slinging the blue one over her shoulder on the strap attached to the head and foot of the staff, she took the opal-headed staff and concentrated, drawing forth the restorative power and letting it flow from the gemstone towards the lord. With a strange spinning motion, she slung the restore staff and armed herself with the healing staff, calling out its' cerulean power to repair some of the damage the poison had already wreaked in Hausen's body.
Slowly, the old Lord came awake, opening his eyes and looking up at Lyn.
"Who's there... Madelyn..?" He asked, his voice weak.
"No... I'm sorry... my name is Lyndis. My mother was Madelyn." The girl's voice was soft, almost too soft for Rei to hear. Sensing that it was a private moment, she drew back, pulling Sara with her.
"Let them be together. You're a healer... can you tell me truthfully if he'll live?" Rei asked, quietly, looking at Sara.
"He... should. If he only believes he can. I think... no... it's my professional opinion that Lady Lyndis is the best medicine for him now. Um... if you don't mind me asking... who are you?" She looked curiously at Rei. "I'm... I feel certain that I've seen you somewhere before... in a painting maybe... or..."
"I don't think that's possibly... my name is Rei, and I'm Lady Lyn's tactician. I come from a long way away, so... perhaps you simply saw an image of someone from my homeland. I've been mistaken for someone else in the past."
"Oh... I see... will you be staying long? It's very important that Lady Lyndis stays here, at least for a while, to help her grandfather recover." There was a note of reluctance in her voice that didn't escape Rei's notice - something that she wanted to ask, but daren't.
"I... Lady Lyn won't need my services here... so I must travel onwards. I think she plans to stay a while, however." Rei paused. "What you want to ask... it's about your father, isn't it?" Sara nodded, and Rei sighed. "I'm sorry."
"I... I see..." Sara looked away. "Was he... smiling?"
"Yes. He was... he died for someone he loved, and at the hands of someone he cared for deeply. It was... how he wanted to go." Rei lied, crushing the guilt inside. Eagler had died with a look of purest concentration on what was left of his face.
"I'm glad... I'll miss him, but at... at least he was happy." The young troubadour looked at the ground to hide her silent tears. "I suppose... my brother will get the estate now... that mother and father are both gone."
"What will you do?" Rei asked, but before she could get an answer, a cry of pain made them both look up. Lyn had tried to lift Lord Hausen, but she'd forgotten about her shoulder somehow.
"Oh.. oh my, you're hurt... I'm sorry, I didn't notice... please..." Sara put a brave face on, hiding her tears for another day as she moved forward. "Please, let me look..." With that, she started fussing over the nomad princess, using her healing staff to set the shoulder and start it mending. "Please... you shouldn't use it for a month or so... I'm sorry, but... I'm not a Cleric, so... there's only so much I can do. We need to find someone else to carry him..."
"I'll go." Rei said, too quickly, making Lyn wonder why she felt the need to escape. "I'll find General Wallace, or Sir Kent... they'll be gentle." With that, she sketched a bow and left, quickly.
Two days later, things had finally calmed down enough to hold a celebration for the long battles and journey that had led to Lundgren's defeat and the probably end to the threat of Lycian civil war. There had been so much to do, and the individual members of the Legion had hardly seen each other, or so it felt.
Now, getting ready to enter the ballroom in the north wing of the castle-manor, Rei was feeling a mixture of fear and excitement that from the look of her, Lyn was also suffering from. In her simple, bamboo kimono, Rei felt like a shy mouse next to Lyn, resplendant in Caelin finery. A beautiful emerald dress hung on spaghetti straps from her shoulders, leaving her arms bare and her upper chest and back exposed to just above the point where it would become indecent. The dress flared out at her waist, becoming a cascade of velvet and finely-spun cotton that reached almost to the floor, stopping just low enough to hide her feet without dragging on the floor. The dress, and the make-up, hid her unladylike, muscled legs and body while accentating her Sacaean appearance, giving her the perfect blend of noble and savage. A short coat, fitted around her chest to cover most of what the dress left bare, with sleeves that widened towards the ends so that when her arms hung by her sides they hid the sword-calloused hands, highlighting with their voluminosity her slender-boned wrists and forearms while playing down the muscular bulk that covered those delicate structures. Finally, a teal choker the same hue as her normal clothes slimmed her neck, making it appear longer without detracting from the fine bones of her face.
Ironically, Lyn felt a similar way. She felt that the dress was designed to make her look clunky, like a barbarian child playing dress-up, compared to the elegant confinement of Rei's sheer, close-fitting robe. A part of her knew that she wouldn't be able to bear the limit it placed on the length of the tactician's stride, or the confining way it pulled when she tried to move too far or fast, but on the Kanhi girl, the kimono looked perfect. It made her ladylike and demure, despite the way her hair still hung loose around her face, too short to be styled properly. Unlike the monstrocity they had forced her own hair into, woven and piled atop her head and looking more like something a dog had left than a proper hairstyle.
"Ready?" She asked, and Rei shook her head.
"No, but I never will be." The islander smiled. "You seem nervous..."
"I... don't want to give the wrong impression. I'm not ladylike at all, and now I'm at a banquet as the guest of honour..." Lyn trailed off.
"It's fine." Rei's smile made her look back at the girl. "You don't have to be... just be you. Play it up if you have to. You're a barbarian princess, savage, and proud of it. If they can't handle that, then it's their problem. Shall we?" She indicated the doors, where Lord Hausen's steward, Reissman, stood waiting to announce them.
As they stepped into the hall at the top of the stairs, the room hushed for a moment as people turned to them, respectfully, before going back to their conversations. Kent waited at the bottom of the grand stair, wearing a more formal, ornate version of his normal red armour. His usual shadow was instead off near a table set with finger-foods, chatting and flirting with a pair of girls wearing servant livery who were clearly supposed to be working. Ninian and Florina stood nearby, the former wearing a formal dress and the latter her full dress armour. There was something oddly familiar about that armour to both Rei and Lyn, but neither woman could put their finger on it as they paused at the top of the staircase to take everything in.
Wil was talking with a group of men who looked like they were probably guards, and seemed to be getting on well with them. Again, there was something familiar about his clothing, but neither of them could figure out what it was. Near him stood Erk, thumbing through a book as usual while Nils chattered excitedly to him.
On the other side of the room, near where Wallace spoke with some older men - likely other retired knights - Lucius and Raven stood near the wall. Lucius had a look of amused patience on his face as Raven directed his most agressive scowl at the woman talking to him.
"I wonder if he realises he's taking the role of the less-attractive friend..." Lyn murmured to Rei as they started to descend the steps.
"It's Serra. She probably told him she wanted to talk to Lucius, but she's nervous and could he help her." The Kanhi girl chuckled back.
"Lady Lyndis, Lady Rei. Welcome down." Kent said, formally, as they reached the bottom of the steps. "You both look beautiful. Truly fitting of the occasion." He bowed with one arm in front of his waist.
"Thankyou, sir Kent." Lyn smiled back, even as Rei returned the bow in her own stiff-armed style. "Tell me, has there been word of my grandfather attending?"
"The physician has cleared him to attend, but lady Eagler has said that if he shows any sign of relapse, he must be returned to his chambers immediatly." Kent told them. "She seems to have taken quite a shine to his Lordship."
"It's a good thing, I think. A strong heart becomes stronger with good company." Lyn replied. "Ah, sir Kent... you should perhaps rescue Sain..." She indicated with her chin, and Kent turned to see that his flirting had drawn the attention of several more maids, and one annoyed-looking manservant. The crimson shield facepalmed and took his leave of the two nobles.
"Those two... between them, they're the perfect knight-retainer." Rei chuckled. "Individually, though, they're just too extreme on either end of the scale. Shall we go and rescue Raven?"
"Too late..." the nomad replied, as Erk and Nils almost physically dragged the cleric away from the hapless mercenary. "We can go talk to them anyway." She finished, and the two women made their way over. Despite her small steps, to Lyn's eyes Rei seemed to glide effortlessly across the floor, while her own stride was awkward and ungainly. Then she remembered Rei's words, and instead of trying to walk gracefully she simply walked slowly enough that she wouldn't leave the Kanhi behind. Forcing herself to relax made it much, much easier.
"My Ladies." Lucius saw them first and bowed, formally. "This celebration is a good idea. People need to remember the good times, as well as the bad. I went into town this morning, and they were still setting up the stages for the festival."
"Thankyou, brother Lucius." Lyn smiled. "Do yourself any Raven have any plans from here?"
"Yes, actually. Chancellor Reissman has offered us both a two year contract." Raven spoke up, apparently coming out of his Serra-induced sulk. "It seems that Caelin is lacking in swordsmen, or anything in the way of spiritual guidance." He sounded amused at that.
"So you're staying on? That's good news." Rei smiled, comforted further at the thought of having the dependable companions at Lyn's side if she needed them. She knew inside that the noble was safe here, much safer, indeed, than Rei herself would be when she left, but even so she knew she'd worry.
Before anyone could say another word, the door at the top of the stairs opened again, Reissman's voice announcing the newcomers.
"Lord Hausen Caelin and Lady Sara Eagler." The old steward's voice carried across the whole room, and, unlike at Lyn and Rei's entrance, the room stayed quieted while the ruler descended the steps. Sara had her arm linked in his, and it was consumate acting on both their parts that hid the fact that she was supporting most of his weight.
When they reached the bottom step, Hausen finally spoke.
"My friends, thankyou for coming tonight, and welcome to Castle Caelin." He paused to let his words sink in, for the poison had not sapped his ability to let his words carry. "The festival in the village is dedicated to the return of happier times and the homecoming of those men unfairly conscripted into the army by my late brother. This celebration, however, is a far more personal affair. It is a homecoming for my granddaughter, and a chance to reward those who were brave enough to stand with her. It is also a chance to welcome two new knights into the service of the house, and for me personally..." He paused again, letting a significant look fall on General Wallace. "A chance to chastise an old friend who should know better than to go galivanting across the countryside at his age." The hall chuckled at that, as Wallace had the grace to look embarassed.
"So please, would Lyndis' Legion gather before me now. I am certain that they are as eager to get to the banquet as the Chancellor is to get them there." A quick grin, and again the hall found itself chuckling at the joke.
The legion formed up in front of him in the same order they'd joined Lyn. At long last, Rath showed himself from where he'd been hiding from the general attention behind the staircase, Dorcas following with an amused look despite the uncomfortable way he wore his formal garb. A page stepped out from behind the couple on the stairs, holding a large box in both hands. Sara opened the case, and took a medal from it.
"Lyndis, my granddaughter. You have no idea how truly happy it makes me to see you alive and well. I can only hope that you decide to remain here after tonight." As the nomad girl stepped forward, he lifted the medal from Sara's hands by the ribbon and hung it around Lyn's neck. The medal itself showed a simple, seven-pointed star. Lyn moved to one side even as Sara took another medal up.
"Lady Rei of the Kanhi Isles. You have stood beside my granddaughter from the very beginning. I could ask for no companion more loyal. Know that wherever your life may take you, there will always be a home for you in Caelin." It was the islander's turn to step forward and bow her head to accept the star medal, and she murmured a thankyou before moving to stand next to Lyn, tanned fingers touching the medal at her throat.
"Sirs Kent le Defense and Sain L'Attac. Your loyalty, even in the face of an easy way out without loss of honour is especially commendable. In addition to granting Kent the Duran Star, I name him Lord Commander of the Knights of Caelin. Sain, your loyalty is exceeded only by your passion. To you, I grant the position of Champion of Justice." This pronouncement caused a stir. There hadn't been a Champion of Justice in Caelin for several generations, the honoured position having been considered out-dated. Matters of honour or law were rarely dealt with through trials by combat any more.
As the two knights took their positions with Lyn and Rei, Hausen continued to speak.
"Dame Florina of Ilia and master Wil of Pherae, it makes me happy to see young blood joining the ranks of the Knights of Caelin." As he continued, Lyn gasped slightly. That was why their clothing seemed familiar... it bore similarities to Kent and Sain's armour.
"That girl is going to get it after this..." Lyn muttered to Rei. "Why didn't she tell me she was joining the knights?"
"She probably wanted it to be a surprise" Rei whispered back as the two new knights moved over to them and Dorcas was called forth. He was presented with not only the medal, but a box of medicines to take home to Natalie. It would be uncouth to simply give money at an awards ceremony, though he would be paid properly before he left. Then moving on through Erk and Serra, Matthew and Rath, Raven, Lucius, Nils and Ninian - though the siblings did not recieve the Duran Star, but rather a non-military award.
Then it was time for the banquet. Somehow, between leaving the ballroom and arriving in the main hall, the group lost several people including Rath and the siblings.
The next morning found Rei packing her bags in the diplomat's suite she's been given. It was smaller than the quarters she'd been given during their short stay at Araphen, and somehow homier for it. Neither did it have the foldable wall of those chambers.
"Rei..?" Lyn's voice made her look up as the noble came to stand in the open doorway. "Oh... you're leaving... aren't you..?"
"I have to... I'm sorry... I want to stay, but..." She sighed, and fastened the saddlebag shut.
"No... I won't ask you to stay. I know that you have to go. I even think I understand why..." Lyn paused, difficultly. "I just... wanted to give you this." She crossed the room in a few quick strides and took Rei's hand, pressing something into it. The spirit's ring.
"and..." she looked up, her eyes suspiciously moist. "If you would have it... I would call you she'enedra... clan-sister to Lorca. When your quest is over... there will be a home for you, if you want it."
"Lyn..." Rei simply said her name, no other words coming. She hadn't expected this... if Lyn knew what she was, then she wouldn't be offering it... or perhaps she would... "She'enedra... I would... it would make me glad to be Rei of the Lorca... but, my father..."
"I understand. I know how you feel about him... about your homeland. Even so..." Lyn asked, somehow holding her gaze. "Can you not call me clansister?"
"For you... yes. As... the person dearest to me... but... I can't stay..."
"It doesn't have to be now." Lyn told her. "When you're ready. Just know that the islands don't hold your only family."
Rei became aware slowly of how close they were to reach other as she reached up to put her hand on Lyn's shoulder. Something inside her was conflicted... should she tell her? Should she not? But her body was acting of its' own accord as she started to rise onto tip-toes.
"Lady Rei! We're ready to... oh! Well now!" Wallace's voice booming from the doorway shattered the moment, and Rei's hand fell to her side again. "Shall I postpone our departure?"
"Ah!" Rei gulped. "No. I'm ready..." She looked back up at Lyn, who seemed confused. "Thankyou, she'enedra. I'll see you again... I promise." With that, she grabbed her bags and almost fled from the room.
By the time Lyn moved, both Rei and Wallace were long gone from the room. Slowly, the Sacaean brought a hand up to her lips where she'd felt Rei's breath. 'Was she about to..?' she asked herself, silently, and didn't know how she felt about the answer.
'I can't believe I almost...' Rei chastised herself as she hung the saddlebags on Petal's rump. 'She invites me into her clan and I almost screw it up there and then! Thank the spirits for Wallace...' As though thinking his name attracted his attention, the old knight looked over at her.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" He asked, and she nodded with a sigh.
"I can't. I have a duty to find out what happened to Kojiro, if only for his family's sake." She shrugged to herself. "Sara, you ready?"
"One sec..." The troubadour muttered, and finally managed to get the strap tightened to hold her own saddlebags to her Caelin stock mare's back. The animal was of the same bloodline as Kent and Sain's warhorses, but somewhat lighter built than those two. "There. Done and done." She wore her two staves across her back, somehow managing to mount up without striking either of them on the stable roof or her mount. Rei swung herself up into her own saddle a moment later, though Wallace would have to lead his horse out before mounting.
"Wallace?" She asked, and he chuckled before leading the way out of the stables and into the morning sun.
A/N: Yes, I know that the possibility of a castle having both a ballroom AND a grand hall... since ballrooms are mostly an invention of the victorian era... is insanely low, but hey. I wanted a ballroom scene, and if you can have a Cleric swearing "Oh my gosh!" and lords saying "OK!", in the canon, I can damn well have a ballroom at Castle Caelin if I want. :p