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Chapter 14 - False Friends

"Something isn't right, here..." Rei muttered, looking around the deserted farmland.

"It's just like Caelin last year." Dorcas grunted with a scowl. He didn't elaborate, but Rei knew what he meant. The fields went untended, and it looked like they'd been left that way for months.

"You were mixed up in that too, weren't you?" Hector glanced at Eliwood, who nodded. They were riding at the front of the column in front of the two mercenaries.

"Yes, for a little bit. Rei or Matthew could tell you more, since they both saw it through to the end." Eliwood replied before pausing. "Where is that little thief, anyway?"

"You ask me like I have a clue these days. Last I saw, he was conspiring with your tactician." Hector shrugged, disgruntled. "Still, Laus, huh? What's with that? I hope that mutt Erik's not around."

"Where else would he be? Come on, Erik's not that bad." Eliwood temporised. "I'd rather deal with him than his father. Darin is a worthy Lord, but something about him irritates me."

"He's a bitter old bastard, and you know it." Hector punched his friend's arm. "You don't have to be so nice all the time, especially when no-one's around to hear it."

Further down the column, the conversation was somewhat lighter as Marcus and Lowen formed the rearguard with Merlinus.

"These are excellent. You really must give Lowen the recipe, Merlinus." Marcus unbent enough to smile at the merchant, who looked like he was about to faint with shock. He had, after all, just endured a full tactical analysis of not only the pastries, but his entire operation at the hands of the old knight.

"Umm, well, of course, I'd be delighted when we must part ways..." the merchant stuttered, feeling nervous about imposing his will on the bitten old warrior. "But before then, it would be bad business..."

"Nonsense! Unskilled as he is with lance and sword, squire Lowen grew up in the castle kitchens. I'm certain that with his help, you could make more than enough to sell at our next rest point, but you must surely struggle on your own!" sir Marcus chuckled, while Lowen shrank down even more so that he was practically huddled into his saddle. If only Marcus would recognise his efforts for once...

Lowen frowned, suddenly, and looked up. He could have sworn he'd heard something...

"Sir Marcus, there are cavalry coming up the road towards us, and lord Hector is moving away from the group." He reported, confused.

"Hmm. Those are Laus colours - lord Darin's Housecarls, I think. They must be an honour guard." Marcus reassured the squire, who nodded. "I'm less sure about the foot knights who seem to be moving in behind us, however. They're not wearing colours."

Lowen did a double-take as he looked behind him. He could have sworn that the four armoured warriors hadn't been there when he'd checked behind them five minutes ago, but Marcus made it sound as though he'd known about them for miles... Then, another sound rang in his ears. Swords were being drawn all around them.

"It's a trap!" Lowen yelled, grabbing for his lance.

Priscilla grimaced to herself as she approached the pink-haired priestess attending the injured. This group looked rough, but she had a duty to perform. Her skills as a healer weren't as great as those of the cleric in front of her, but with the staff-wielding powers came responsibility.

"Ex... excuse me, is there anything I can do to help..?" She asked, but took a step back when she saw the manic gleam in the Elimane's eyes.

"Yes! You can use staffs? Good! Come here! Rebecca needs healing, she's got a fractured ulna and a pierced lung." The madwoman's voice was rapid, firing off quick-fire orders to a green-haired boy and an old woman wearing black to stem the bleeding from a steel-haired knight's shoulder.

'Perhaps the pressure just got to her and she'll be fine later...' Priscilla grimaced, and got to work saving the young archer girl's life.

"It's confirmed, then?" Rei asked with a disappointed sigh.

"Yes. The Black Fang have been here, and the state has been preparing to go to war." Matthew nodded. "There's more, though. Darin's lot were last seen fleeing towards Caelin. He's only got the tatters of an army, but..."

"Caelin's barely recovered from Lundgren. Kent is a good man, but even with Raven's help, their militia is under-strength, and so are their household troops." Rei grimaced at the implications. "We need to catch up, but Eliwood's insisting on staying here until he's convinced Erik will do the right thing. Leaving that man in charge is a mistake... Erik, I mean, not Eliwood."

"I'm sure." Matthew grinned, then nodded sombrely. "I agree, though. We don't have much choice, though. Ositia can't annex a member state until its entire ruling family is dead, and executing Erik wouldn't be a good move politically."

"Thing are so much simpler in Kanhi!" Rei sighed. "Oh, I don't know if you saw him, but Erk is around somewhere. I'd appreciate it if you could find him, and Dorcas, too, if you could. I'm sure they'd like to catch up..."

Less than twenty minutes later, between them Matthew and Rei had gathered a small group of people together in the stables. Erk was there, as were Dorcas and Guy, and a red-haired woman who, to Rei's eye at least, looked somewhat familiar. Rei was sitting on a bale of hay, while the others stood or sat on the floor around the room. Matthew himself leaned against a wooden pillar next to where Rei sat.

"Rei, when you asked me to find those two, I didn't think you were gathering an army. What's up?" Matthew asked, frowning. He was starting to worry about the look in the small islander's eye. Her body-language was different to everyone else he knew, but he was getting better at reading her, and now it looked like she was planning something. He looked again at the group gathered, and realised that with the exception of Guy and Priscilla, who's allegiances were to people in this room rather than the two Lords, all of them had been in Caelin with them.

"I've asked you to be here because I have a favour to ask of you all. I've been unable to convince lord Eliwood, but we all know that there's no way Caelin can stand up to an attack by lord Darin. I'm going to leave tonight and try to get ahead of that force to at least give Caelin some warning. I would like to approach as reinforcements rather than simply messengers. All I ask of those who don't come with me is that they wait until tomorrow morning to inform lord Eliwood of this decision. The rest - if any of you do decide to come, please, be ready in a half an hour..."

"What if they're attacked tonight? Lord Eliwood will need us to protect this place." Erk asked with a frown. "Not that I have any real desire to spend more time than necessary with Serra, but…"

"He still has the knights. Between Hector, Oswin and Marcus, I'd be surprised if any enemies dared enter the castle." Matthew pointed out with a chuckle. "Of course, I have to go if anyone does, so…"

"I'd like to come, but you know I have to think of Natalie first. I can't come with you unless lord Eliwood releases me to do so…" Dorcas spoke regretfully after a moment.

"I understand. Guy? Priscilla?" Rei looked at the other two. She had hoped Dorcas would come, but hadn't held out much hope. She herself felt torn – yes, she was on contract to obey Eliwood, and this felt almost like oath-breaking… but she had to make sure Lyn and her family were alright. If something happened to them… she knew this was the right thing to do.

"Well, if Matthew goes, I have to." Guy glared at the thief, resentfully. "I'd rather stay here, though, to be honest. I'm curious about some of Eliwood's sword forms…"

"I think it's a noble thing to do." Priscilla gave Guy a dirty look. "I'll come along with you, and so will Erk. I'll also write lord Eliwood a letter of excuse… Dorcas, if you would give it to him in the morning?" The red-haired noble glanced at their axeman friend, who nodded.

"Unh." He agreed, folding his arms.

"You know, Guy, Lyn's a pretty dangerous lady herself. You could probably learn a lot from her." Matthew put in, to Rei's surprise. She hadn't thought he would be too eager for this himself. "Besides, I have to keep an eye on them to make sure there's nothing perfidious going on, so I'm damned if I'm going without a decent sword-arm on my side."

"Well, if it's agreed, then… Priscilla, please write your letter. I'm sure lord Eliwood will understand." Rei nodded and stood up. "We'll meet back here in half an hour."

"Rei's gone." Hector told Eliwood, bluntly. "Matthew's with her, so we'll know if she does anything suspicious."

"I don't like it. I told her to stay here. Lyn can look after herself for a day or two, but we can't leave this place in such a mess." Eliwood scowled, his boyishly handsome features distorted by the expression. "On her own, it wouldn't be so bad, but she took half the force with her. Damn it, I thought I could trust her!"

"You can. You just have to remember that she's got a mind of her own. I think it's a good thing she's gone. It doesn't sit right with me to stand around here while Lycia is in danger. Besides, I thought you had a thing for the Marquis' grand-daughter?"

"Hector," Eliwood said seriously. "This isn't the time for your teasing!"

"Sure it is. Eliwood, listen to me. I don't want you punishing her, or any of her group, when we catch up with them. Alright?" The blue-haired lord took his friend by the shoulders and looked down into his eyes. "The only way you're going to save face here is to act as though they went under your orders. We still have the knights, as well as those two axe-wielders you hired and…" He twitched before saying the last name, "Serra. Not to mention lady Hannah. "

"Hannah? What possible use will that old lady be if we're attacked? I don't believe in fortunetellers, Hector. She's a fake!"

"She's not, you know. She told me they'd leave, and she was right. Who cares if what she does is magic, or just reading the situation… she's accurate enough. Come, now, lets get this lot sorted…" He sat down at the desk, ready to get to work on the papers set in front of him.

Outside, dark forces gathered…