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Chapter 16 - Whereabouts Unknown

Raven scowled as he watched the Ositian troops coming down the corridor towards him. It didn't really sit well with him to be defending the castle against Lyn's allies, but for a chance at Uther... no, that wasn't... It must be Hector, then. The younger brother. Still, better him than no-one. Raising his iron blade, the mercenary charged down the corridor in perfect silence, his grim visage surely terrifying to behold. Still, the axeman sidestepped the first blow, then caught the second on his bracer, forcing the sword to the side and raising his axe. The man's strength was immense, Raven realised, drawing back and disengaging his sword from the spikes on Hector's armour only to find a cold blade at his back.

"I left the defence of this castle in your hands, Raven, but I didn't expect you to defend it from me." Lyn's voice was cold, and in that moment, he was reminded of his own mortality.

"My lady. Forgive me, but I've sworn to destroy house Ositia." He told her, while Hector looked on with a somewhat puzzled expression.

"I see. I must ask you to put aside your quarrel with them for now, and for as long as you serve my family." The Sacaean didn't take her blade away from Raven's neck until he nodded.

"As you wish, lady Lyndis." He nodded, turning. "The remains of the garrison are locked in the chapel along with brother Lucius. Darin's men have his key, but I have the spare. Darin's already fled, but his advisor and a red-headed woman have your grandfather and lady Eagler in his chambers. The throne room is held by one of his knights, but Ephidel and the woman, Leila, are the more dangerous. He's a mage of some kind, and she seems to be assassin-trained."

"Did you say a redhead called Leila?" Hector sounded surprised, then laughed. "I'd wondered where he'd sent her off to! Lyndis, take Matthew with you, and Oswin, and go to your grandfather. Eliwood and I will take the rest of the force to the throne room and capture this knight."

"Alright, if you think that's best. Raven, go free Lucius and your men then join Eliwood and Hector." Lyn told her armsmaster, before looking for Matthew. He and a middle-aged knight with sideburns were moving towards her, along with Rei.

"Lyn, good luck. I'll be needed to co-ordinate the main assault, but..." The Kanhi told her, stepping forward to press the power ring into her hand. "Something tells me you'll need that sooner than I will."

"Are you sure? You're not the strongest fighter here..." Lyn asked, worriedly. "If something happened..."

"I'll be fine. I've got an entire army to look after me... Oswin is strong, but he's only one man." Rei smiled. "Go, your grandfather needs you."

Lyn bit her lip, then nodded, turning and moving off in the direction of lord Hausen's chambers, Oswin and Matthew at her back.

Rei hid her grimace in her hands as she listened to Leila's report with the other Lords. This was not good news. Valor... how were they going to reach Valor? But that was where Darin had gone, and that was where they would follow.

Worse, though, was the fact that islands like Valor attracted those like her betrothed who sought to find inner balance through perfect combat. With luck, he wouldn't be there, but... luck wasn't something Rei liked to believe in.

"Thank you, Leila. What can you tell us about Ephidel, and the Black Fang?" Hector asked, continuing to question the thief-spy.

"Ephidel is... not human, or if he is, he's from nowhere I've heard of. Pitch-black hair, almost translucent skin, and golden eyes that stare right through you aren't signs of a normal person. He seems to be in charge of the Black Fang who have allied themselves with Darin, which is confusing. The Fang are a group of assassins based in Biran who usually target corrupt nobles and tyrants, yet now they're allying themselves with the very same. I can't help but feel that Ephidel, and perhaps others like him, are behind the change." Leila shook her head. "It doesn't give me a good feeling, sir."

"Should I pull you off? If it's so unsettling, it could become dangerous for you to remain with the Fang." Hector frowned in concern.

"No, I'll stay. Your brother asked me to investigate this, and I have a duty to him. The life of a spy is always dangerous, sir." She smiled back, then stood. "If I am not to arouse suspicion, however, I must leave now."

"Go." Hector nodded. He spoke again just as she opened the door. "And Leila? Be careful."

"Always, sir." She winked at him, before pulling the door closed behind her.

"Well. This is unwelcome news. We must travel to Badon in the morning, Hector." Eliwood decided. "Darin... Ephidel. They're all mixed up in this somehow."

"I don't doubt it. Ephidel... he sounds much like the Wiseman who corrupted my granduncle." Lyn spoke up for the first time. "By your leave, I would accompany you, my Lords." She looked at the Pheraean and Ositian representatives. "My grandfather will recover with lady Sara and her distaffs' aid, there's no need for me to remain here this time..."

"Lyn, are you sure?" Eliwood asked, frowning slightly. "Your grandfather might..."

"He'll be fine. I'll speak with him before we leave if he's awake, get his blessing, but I will come with you." The Sacaean scowled. "They have spilled the blood of my allies, my friends, and my family. I cannot allow this to stand."

"Well, I'm not going to complain." Hector stopped Eliwood from objecting further. "Come on, El, she's good with a sword, she's determined... what right do we have to stop her coming?"

"I suppose. Very well. Will your knights be accompanying us?" Eliwood asked, giving in.

"I doubt they would permit me to leave without them." Lyn chuckles. "I believe that Raven will wish to come with us as well, though, Hector... so I'd be careful if I were you. He really has an axe to grind."

"I know. I'll keep my eye open for him, don't worry." Hector grinned. "He's no match for me anyway."

"I'm not so sure..." Rei muttered, looking up at last. "He's got a mean streak." Finally, she stood. "I don't know about you three, but I, personally, am in need of refreshment. It has been a long day, and I for one haven't been able to eat much. I know how much that ring take it out of you, Lyn, so you'd better find something to eat too." She looked at the others. "Lord Eliwood, if I might be dismissed?" She asked, and the redhead nodded.

"Oh, one thing first," He stopped her, "On Hector's advice, I will allow this latest infraction to pass, but disobey me again and we will be forced to discuss the terms of your contract. Are we clear, Tactician?"

"As spring water, lord Eliwood." Rei bowed, conservatively, before leaving with Lyn. Before the door shut, she could already hear Hector chastising Eliwood for his manners – an odd turnabout, considering their attitudes at the start of this journey.

"Rei? What was that about?" Lyn asked, frowning. "You broke orders?"

"To bring you warning, yes." She shook her head. "He refused to allow us to send even a runner with a warning, but I couldn't just let you face that on your own... you don't think any less of me for it, do you, lady Lyn..?"

"No. I'm glad that you did, but... please... don't do it again. I don't want him to force you to leave the group." Lyn sighed and shook her head. "Thank you for coming. I don't know if we could have survived without your warning."

"It was just something I had to do..." Rei smiled, and they walked on in companionable silence for a few moments. They were taking a slightly longer route than they might to get to the kitchens, but it at least gave them time to talk in relative private.

"Ah... Rei..." Lyn started, hesitantly. "About... when we parted ways last year... Were you... I mean..." She realised that she was blushing slightly, and hated herself a little bit as she realised that Rei was, too, and looking a little uncomfortable about it.

"Ah... ano..." Rei mumbled, looking away. "You see..." At that moment, she was knocked flying by a sideburn-sporting knight rushing in the other direction. Lyn spared a moment to glare at his retreating back, a stray thought hitting her that he looked very strange without his orange armour before rushing to Rei's side and helping her up.

"Are you okay..?" She asked, and the Kanhi islander nodded with a grimace.

"I just banged my head, nothing serious." She grumbled, rubbing the sore spot. "Have you got any ice..?"

"There's some in the deep cellars... lets get you to the kitchen and I'll go and cut some." Lyn sighed, wanting to get an answer but knowing that the moment had passed. She was going to bloody kill Oswin next time she saw him.