Everyone's eyes widened in horrified shock when they rode into the crumbling ruins of what must have once been a bustling city.
"What in the name of Elmine happened here?" Kent asked icily, as he looked over the crumbled remains.
"Bandits." Cyrus supplied, his hand upon his blade and his tone was as cold as Kent's was. "This section of Bern is lousy with them."
"Why then doesn't King Desmond do something about them?" Kent asked mournfully.
Jace gave a short derisive bark of laughter. "King Desmond can't bother himself with the territories this far away from the Capitol. If the bandits of Bern raise a small city like this, King Desmond doesn't count it as his problem."
"Then he should be made to listen." Kent continued in his cold tone.
"Oh I agree with you Kent." Jace spoke up once more. "However the king has his head stuffed up so far south, he refuses to listen to the pleas and cries of the people who live this far away from the Capital."
"If this city was under Caelin protection, this would never be allowed to happen." Sain said through gritted teeth.
"We're too far into Bern territory for that to happen." Kent retorted.
"Quiet down everyone." Lyn said, and everyone was instantly quiet. "I thought I saw something over there."
The swordswoman pointed to the only cluster of buildings that hadn't been destroyed. Two towering figures seemed to have been accosting a much smaller one who was holding the reins of a horse. What was odd, was that Lyn seemed to recognise the smaller figure.
"Florina?" She called to the smaller figure, as she spurred her horse forward. "Florina is that you?"
Florina was an attractive young woman with long curly lilac colored hair with a timid expression. "I… I was looking for you. I heard you had left… And…" She yelped as one of the two large men grabbed her arm, and yanked her back when she made to make her way over to Lyn.
"Oi, you're not going anywhere!" He growled baring his mismatched teeth at the smaller girl. "You landed that blasted pegasus right on top of me!"
"Did you apologise Florina?" Lyn asked, her hand slowly reaching towards the Mani Katti.
"I did many times over, but they just wouldn't listen…" Florina's eyes were brimming with tears.
"Hush now, no tears Florina." Lyn said soothingly, before turning her attention back to the man who Florina had landed on. "Look she is obviously sorry, and you don't look that hurt. Can't we all just let this pass?" Lyn's voice held a slightly dangerous edge to it. "I would prefer to avoid combat if at all possible."
"You would fight us!?" The larger of the two roared. "We are Gannelon! We always win!"
"So that's why you target cities that King Desmond doesn't send soldiers to defend?" Jace snarled, he and the others having joined Lyn by this point.
"How dare you!" The man roared. "You'll pay for-!" He howled in pain and anger, when Florina dug the heel of her boot into the man's foot, and ran to Lyn's side her pegasus following close behind.
"Alright that is it!" He roared, and he tore off past a large mound of rubble making pursuit impossible. He gave a loud whistle, and a full two dozen other bandits emerged from where they had taken up positions in various hiding places. Over the rooftops they heard the gruff voice of the man Florina's pegasus had landed on call. "Kill the men, but don't you dare lay a scratch on the women!"
"We need a plan." Cyrus said, as Lyn helped Florina onto her winged horse.
"Our horses won't be able to move well over all this rubble…" Jace began before he spotted remembered Florina. He slowly made his way over to her and spoke to her as softly as Lyn had. "Florina, that is your name correct?"
The lilac haired Pegasus Knight nodded shyly. "Y-yes…"
"You're obviously an Illian Pegasus Knight correct?" Florina nodded once more. "Forgive me if this sounds rude, but you can fight correct?" She nodded. Jace turned to Kent who had dismounted his horse. "Do you have a spare lance Kent?" The red haired knight handed him a slimmer lance than what one would normally see a knight use in battle, but it seemed perfect for Florina. Jace placed the slim lance in the shy young woman's hands.
Florina took the reins of her Pegasus, and it spread its wings and took to the air. A moment later, Florina almost fell off of her flying steed. Two arrows narrowly missed Florina, and Jace swore vehemently. "Archers! I didn't even see them!"
"Pardon me, but I believe I can help!" Jace turned to see a young man several years his younger running up to the small group. There was a bow in his hand, and he had a full quiver of arrows behind his back.
"Thank Naga, an archer of our own." Jace said, as Florina's pegasus looped and twirled in the air. The girl might be shy, yet she was an amazing flyer Jace admitted to himself, turning back to the younger archer. "What's your name?"
"It's Wil, and I want to help." The archer, Wil said looking up at Florina dodging the arrows that the hostile archers continued to fire at her.
"Alright Wil, get onto the roof of that building." Jace instructed pointing to one of the structures the Ganelon bandits had left intact. "The way the sun is, nobody will be able to see you. I want your focus on the enemy archers harassing our Pegasus Knight."
The fight that raged for the next hour and a half was the second bloodiest battle that Jace and Cyrus had been a part of. The two Plegian brothers punched and kicked a bandit back and forth between them, in a vicious exchange of 'can you top this'. Cyrus ended him, by piercing his saber through the bandits heart. Kent and Sain forced two of the bandits together, having kicked them in the chest. The knights brought their longswords down in two diagonal slashes, spraying blood upon the ruined cobblestone buildings. Wil had dispatched the other archers early on, and had just caught an axeman with another arrow between the eyes. Lyn had sliced her way through any bandit foolish enough to get between her and the leader of the Ganelon bandits. The Mani Katti flashed, as she effortlessly blocked every strike the bandit attempted to catch her with. Lyn's blade then sliced through the steel weapon, causing half of the blade to sail high into the air. The bandit's eyes followed what had remained of his weapon, never seeing Florina's Pegasus dive through the air. The petite and shy Pegasus Knight drove the slim lance in her hand through the bandit's neck instantly ending his life.
"I will never doubt that woman in battle after that." Cyrus said, cleaning his saber before sheathing it once more.
"Her name is Florina." Lyn said slightly crossly to Jace's elder brother, as she sheathed the Mani Katti. "And she'll be coming with us."
"I will not argue that point." Cyrus replied. "If I am correct, in order to become a Pegasus Knight in full, a trainee must spend a full year as part of a mercenary band."
"After what just happened, she's earned her place within Lyndis' Legion." Jace said sheathing his blade.
"I'm sorry what was that Jace?" Lyn asked flabbergasted.
"Oh it's something that I came up with." Jace replied a bit embarrassed. His cheeks reddened, and he rubbed the back of his dark blond hair.
"Well I like how it sounds." Wil said as he joined the conversation.
"Um Lyn?" Florina asked shyly. Now that the battle had ended, Florina was back to her shy self. She was looking at Jace timidly. "Who is this?"
"This is Jace." The swordswoman said to the shy Pegasus Knight. "He's my tactician."
"A pleasure to meet you Florina." Jace said with a kind respectful smile.
"A pleasure to meet you as well." Florina said in her same shy voice. Jace and Kent without looking threw their arms out to cut Sain off, before the flirtatious knight horrified Florina by just being himself.
What remained of the small Bernese cities population, had honored Lyndis' Legion with as large a celebration as they could manage. While more sensible heads had attempted to talk the greatful people out of it, they had dearly insisted. The celebration had lasted long into the early hours of the next morning. Jace had paid a dear price, as he had found out just how much of a tolerance for alcohol Kent had. Cyrus was amusing children with card tricks, explaining that it was all sleight of hand.
"That means while something is happening in this hand." Cyrus began, holding a king of diamonds between the first two fingers of his left hand. The children's attention had all been fixed on the card at this point. "Something is really happening in this hand." His right hand reached out to seemingly take something from behind the ear of a young boy with mousy brown hair. When they all looked at Cyrus' right hand, the children burst into applause when he revealed a bright golden coin, which he then placed into the young mousy haired boy's hand.
The Legion set off the next day, with Jace nursing a horrible hangover. It was Lyn's turn to hold in her laughter as she helped him onto Brego. "Did you learn something last night?"
"Yes." Jace groaned. "Never challenge Kent to any drinking contests … Ever."
The sun was high in the afternoon sky, when Florina's Pegasus landed next to Lyn's horse. The petite woman looked very alarmed. "Lyn, we're being pursued!" She squealed terrified.
"Calm down Florina." Lyn said placing a comforting but firm hand on her friend's shoulder. "Did you see how many were following us?"
"Not an exact number, but it looked like there were several dozen of them." Florina's voice rose several octaves, as she explained.
"What should we do?" Kent's question was directed to Jace. "You're our tactician after all."
Jace while still feeling the effects of his hangover, was silent for a moment as several ideas raced through his mind. "We cannot fight them out here in the open. We would quickly become surrounded and overtaken. We have to run, as much as I am loathe to say it, yet we have no other choice."
And with that, everyone spurred their horses on at full gallop. Jace had suggested that Florina not take to the sky, as she would give away their position. A suggestion that Lyn fully supported. Their horses carried them on through Bern's outer territories. It was as the sun was low in the evening sky, that Lyndis' Legion had finally believed themselves to have outrun their pursuers. They had come across the ruins of an old Bernese fortress, as the sun began to sink low over the trees.
"This should suffice tonight's bed." Wil said, seemingly pleased by the discovery of the old fortress.
"Come Wil, this mildewy old fortress?" Sain asked eyeing the ruin with distaste. "Surely you jest."
"I never jest." Wil replied. "And do not call me Shirley."
"This will do fine for tonight." Lyn said nudging her horse into the old fortress. They reached a large hall within the center of the ruin, when a voice came from the shadows.
"Your pardon my lady."
Everyone looked around, and several blades became unsheathed. "Who is there?" Lyn asked.
A woman with brown hair, who was several years Jace's senior stepped slowly and hesitantly into the dying sunlight. "I… Forgive my intrusion. My name is Natalie. I am from a nearby village." She stepped closer to them, yet as she did, her left leg gave out and she collapsed to the ground.
"Are you alright?" Cyrus asked helping Natalie to her feet. "Oh by Naga's grace, your leg…"
Natalie gently waved away Cyrus' worry. "It is fine. It is from a childhood illness. I cannot travel far on this leg, yet it does not bother me all that much."
"Why travel at all then?" Lyn's voice was filled with concern as she asked her question.
"I am looking for my husband." Natalie said. "I heard he was in these parts looking for work to have my leg mended. He left the village and has not returned. He is a kindhearted man, yet I think he is involved in something dangerous. I've been so worried… Here I have a sketch of him." She handed Cyrus a piece of parchment, which he unfolded. "It's not very good… His name is Dorcas. Have you seen or heard of him?"
Everyone examined the sketch closely, yet nobody had seen this man before in their lives. It was Lyn who spoke. "I am afraid that none of us have seen your husband."
"I see… Should you see him, will you tell him that Natalie is looking for him?"
"Of course." Lyn said, handing Natalie back the sketch of her husband. Just then a four note bird call rang throughout the fortress. Jace knew that call well, as his mother had taught him and Cyrus to use that specific call should they see trouble. Cyrus then came running into the ruined hall.
"Bad news." He began. "Our pursuers have caught up with us. The fortress has been surrounded."
Jace took charge of the situation at once. "Florina, I want you to stay here and keep watch over Natalie. Lyn, you and I will take the west entrance. Kent, Sain, you two keep watch at the front entrance. Cyrus, Wil, I saw a weakened section along the east wall. Keep watch on that wall in case our attackers have brains in their skulls. They may try and get in through that weak point."
Everyone nodded and proceeded towards their assigned areas to defend, with the exception of Florina who stayed where she was. Sounds of combat soon reached Jace and Lyn's ears, and they were soon under attack themselves. One of their attackers took a small throwing axe from his belt, and flung it at Lyn, who stepped to the side allowing the small axe to be embedded into the old stone.
"Lyn, doesn't that man look like the man in the sketch Natalie showed us?" Jace asked in a voice that only Lyn could, as the man reached for another throwing axe.
"Pardon me." Lyn began, just as the man had gotten his hands on another axe. "But would your name happen to be Dorcas?"
Their attacker fumbled with his axe, and looked to Lyn in shock. "How did you know my name?"
"Your wife Natalie told us." Jace said. "But what are you doing here with this scum?"
"I need money for Natalie." Dorcas said looking rather ashamed. "And this is the only way in these parts."
"Yet Natalie is here!" Lyn exclaimed. "We are defending her in this very fortress!"
"What!? Natalie is here?"
"She was worried for you so she came looking. Think Dorcas, would your actions please your wife?"
Dorcas paused for a moment, then lowered his axe. "You're right."
"What's this Dorcas?" A scrawny bandit with a face like a rat said walking up to the larger man. "Not thinkin' about ditchin' us eh?"
Dorcas looked at the rat faced bandit and scowled. "Change of plans Bones." With that, he placed his smaller throwing axe back into his belt, and split the bandit Bones' head with a much heavier axe. When Bones had dropped, Dorcas turned back to Jace and Lyn. "We have some bandits to kill."
The battle raged on, and the bodies of the Ganelon bandits continued to pile up, making it ever more difficult for the bandits to press their attack. It was at the moment the sun slipped below the trees that someone from the Ganelon bandits ordered a retreat. Exhausted, nobody from the Legion attempted to pursue the retreating bandits. Jace drew several signs of Naga in the ground before lighting several funeral pyres.
As Jace arrived back inside the remains of the great hall, he heard Dorcas speaking with Lyn. "Natalie and I have been speaking. We have agreed that if you should accept I would aid you in whatever quest you are on. You have helped my wife, now I must repay you."
Lyn turned to Jace, and to the tactician it seemed as if Lyn was leaving the final decision up to him. "I never turn down free help if it is offered Lyn."
That seemed good enough for both Dorcas and Natalie. "Just please keep him safe."
That night, Jace had another odd dream. It was both blurry and crystal clear, like the dream he had before waking up in Lyn's hut. He was fighting someone powerful, that beautifully forged blade in Jace's hand. And there was someone else fighting at Jace's side. A strong man with blue hair, who seemed just as old as the tactician. There was a blade in his hands, that radiated power, and Jace had thought he knew that blade, although he knew not where he knew it from. Jace ended the powerful enemy, by slashing them across the chest.
The scene then changed. He was on top of something far into the air. By his side was Lyn and the strong blue haired man, and two other men Jace had never met before, yet seemed certain at the same time he knew them. There was another blue haired man who towered over the first. In his hands he carried a large axe, that seemed far too large and heavy for any normal man to wield. Yet this man was holding it with no effort. To his side was another man with a kind face and bright red hair. There was another powerful weapon his his hands as well. A large broadsword, that was two hand widths wide. Lyn stood on Jace's left, the Mani Katti in her left hand, and a second blade that could have been the Mani Katti's twin in her right. In his dream, Jace gripped that same beautifully made blade in his right hand. Somehow he had a feeling that this was going to be the last time he would see any of them. He began to walk forward towards a figure in front of him. The figure kept his face hidden under a hooded dark cloak, and from deep within that coat, drew the same beautifully made sword that was in Jace's hands. Jace felt a surge of anger course through him. Almost as if Jace felt that whoever this person was, had no right to have that blade in their hands.
The hooded figure raised its blade, and brought it down. With no effort, Jace brought his own blade up, knocking his foe's blade out of their hands. It arced high into the air, and his foe followed the weapon's arc. Now was Jace's chance, he plunged that wonderful blade into his foe's heart, and at once both he and his enemy began to fade from this world.
Jace's eyes opened, and he sat upright in his bedroll. "What in the name of Naga was that dream all about?" He sighed, before laying down upon his bedroll once more. Questions raced through his mind about what he had seen for hours, until finally he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.