"I am Eliwood. Son of Marquess Pheare." The young man with bright red hair said, as Nils and Sera looked Ninian over.
"She's unharmed." The cleric said in a reassuring tone to the young boy. "Simply asleep is all Nils."
"You have my thanks Eliwood." Lyn said stepping forward. "My name is Lyn of the Lorca tribe."
"Lorca…" Eliwood was momentarily lost in thought. "Wait… Lorca? There were survivors?"
Lyn's eyes fell when next she spoke. "Just myself…"
Not knowing why, Jace reached out and laced the fingers of his left hand with the fingers of her right. Lyn made no attempt to pull herself away from the small gesture, her fingers contracted around his own making the tactician's cheeks flush lightly. This small exchange was not lost on the Phearen noble, who decided not to bring it up, and instead asked the question that the two had heard countless times since beginning this journey.
"What brings you to Lycia?" Eliwood asked.
"Lord Hausen." Jace replied.
"The Caelin Marquess?" Eliwood asked in confusion. A moment later, something clicked inside the young man's mind. "Oh by Elmine's grace, yes I've heard of this inheritance dispute happening within Caelin."
"You will not impede our progress will you Eliwood?" Lyn asked, and while there was worry in her voice, Jace detected a hint of ice.
"No, the other Lycian provinces have agreed to not assist Lundgren in this small dispute." Eliwood explained, and the two released a breath they hadn't known they had been holding. "Unfortunately, this means that I cannot aid you in your quest. Seeing as Lundgren could consider that as an act of war should anyone from Lycia assist you."
"I had a feeling that was going to happen." Jace said with a sigh.
"No matter Jace." Lyn replied. "Perhaps we will find aid from the soldiers of Caelin, who have seen Lundgren has gone mad."
"Worry not Lyn, we'll defeat Lundgren and save Lord Hausen." Jace said, and his fingers contracted around hers.
The Legion departed the old fortress, and shortly afterwards parted ways with Eliwood. Nils and Ninian felt they would be safer traveling with the Legion to Caelin, and so rode alongside them for the next three days. They were well into Caelin territory by that time, yet they still had several days ride to reach the castle.
Jace had been lost in thought throughout the last several days. He wondered what he was going to do after this dispute with Lundgren had ended. Jace had said he was going to further his knowledge in Wyvern tactics, yet now he was unsure he wanted to go. Unsure if he wanted to leave Lyn's side. And that raised another question. Why did he wish to stay with the swordswoman? Yes there had been several moments between the two, that had suggested there was something between them. But that is because we are friends. The tactician thought, a moment before another thought and realization hit him.
He was snapped out of his revelation, when he heard Lyn's horse neigh in fright. His head whipped around, and he saw Lyn's steed rearing up, and Lyn not on the saddle. Directly in front of her frightened steed, was a large bolt a foot wide, and about four feet in length. To his immense relief, Lyn stood a moment later completely unharmed. Ninian had knocked Lyn off of her horse a moment before the bolt had struck. Ninian's action had saved both the swordswoman, and her steed.
"Father sky what was that!?" Lyn exclaimed, she had drawn the Mani Katti the moment she was back on her feet.
"A Ballista bolt." Kent said, his tone well below freezing. "Lundgren is getting desperate indeed."
"What is a Ballista?" Jace reminded himself that Lyn, having spent her entire life until now on the Sacean plains, had never heard of the siege weapon before.
"Simply put, it is a very large bow." Jace said, as he stared at the bolt embedded into the ground. The large tactical part of his mind was immediately at work, calculating where the bolt had been fired from. He was silent for several moments, before his head turned in the direction of a small mountain. "The Ballista is on the other side of that mountain."
"Um Jace…?" Florina's Pegasus cantered up to him, the Pegasus Knight's eyes were downcast as she was still not comfortable around him. Not that Jace minded much, she would sort out her shyness in her own time. "I… I could take Wil on Huey and do a fly-over. And… And maybe we could take that Ballista as our own…"
Jace could hardly believe that shy little Florina had volunteered herself for this. His mouth hung open in shock for a moment, before he closed it, cleared his throat, and spoke once more. "Alright, but careful and try to stay out of that Ballista's range."
Wil hurried over, and was soon seated behind the lilac haired Pegasus Knight. A moment later, the two were in the air, as Huey spread his large white wings and took off. The Pegasus flew high over the mountain, and Jace could just make out Wil notching an arrow.
"Was that really shy little Florina?" Jace asked turning to Lyn. Her eyes still held a slight look of surprise, but her mouth was split into a wide smile.
It was barely a half an hour later, that the rest of the Legion had caught up to Florina and Wil. The archer was manning the newly captured Ballista, but had not fired any of the spare bolts. The cause for Wil holding his fire was evident, yet raised questions in Jace's mind. The soldiers standing several hundred yards away, while having their weapons drawn had not moved.
"Caelin soldiers." Kent said scowling. The red armored knight spurred his steed forward, until he was halfway between the Legion and the Caelin forces. "Soldiers of Caelin, who among you gathered do you name as your Captain?"
The Caelin forces parted in formation, as a soldier in heavy plate armor strode up to the front of the Caelin formation. The Caelin Captain looked to be in his mid or late forties, his dark hair was neatly slicked back, and there was a sneer upon his face not unlike the sneer worn by Marquess Araphen. "Well, well, well. Sir Kent, this is rather unfortunate. I had hoped you had more brains in your head, yet it seems I was mistaken." The Captain's sneer grew, as he tutted several times. "Aligning yourself with that Sacean mongrel, instead of Caelin's true heir Lord Lundgren. It pains me to do this, but seeing as you and Sir Sain are now traitors, I am left with no choice. Men, kill them."
Everyone in the Legion drew their weapons. Erk began to gather magic in his hands, Lucius began to pray to Elmine for strength, and Wil trained the Ballista upon the Captain at the front of the Caelin formation. Yet when the Caelin soldiers advanced, it was not in a manner that meant they were attacking. Every last Caelin soldier marched past Kent, right up to the rest of the Legion, until the two dozen men had partially surrounded them. As one, the soldiers turned their backs to the Legion, and leveled their weapons to the man they had just abandoned.
The heavy armored Captain's eyes had widened with shock. "Traitors… Traitors all of you! Lord Lundgren will take all of your heads!"
Jace had pinched the bridge of his nose, as the man continued to rant. "Lyn, may we end this please?"
"Do as you will Jace." Lyn said icily.
The tactician signalled to Wil, and dropped his arm. The signal to fire. The large bolt fired from the Ballista sailed over everyone's head, past Kent's who did not move, and the bolt came to rest in the ground after burying itself into the Captain's neck, and pinning him to the ground having instantly ended the man's life.
An hour after setting the funeral pyre for the Caelin Captain, and the former Ballista gunner, the Legion and two dozen soldiers had all gathered within a small fortress. Kent was scowling, and pacing while tapping his armored forearms with the tips of his fingers. "It is as you feared Lord Jace. Lundgren is indeed becoming serious in his attempts to stop Lady Lyndis from reaching the castle."
"What are we going to do Kent?" Jace asked, with a scowl to match the red armored knight.
"Lundgren has taken full advantage of Lord Hausen's illness. He's taken full control of Caelin's army and finances. He has every single approach to the castle blocked off with a full battalion of soldiers, with one exception."
"And that exception would be what Kent?" Lyn asked, her brow knitted together.
"Here." Kent pointed to a map of Elibe, with his finger resting on a spot close to where Castle Caelin was located. "General Egalar's castle. He is a major leader in the Caelin army, but he is honorable. I cannot see him joining forces with Lundgren, but something does not feel right about this."
"Agreed." Jace said stepping up to Kent's side and looking to the spot the knight had pointed out. "If Lundgren has not deployed any soldiers here, then there is a high possibility that this is a trap. Or worse than that, Lundgren has found a way to coerce Egalar into helping him."
Jace took a deep breath, and sighed. "It does not seem like we have any other options other than to pass through the General's Estate." He sighed once more and continued. "It is still early in the day, and it seems only an hour or two's ride from here."
The weather looked as though it was about to turn afoul, as they rode through Caelin territory heading towards General Egalar's Estate. Kent who had rode at the front of the formation, signalled for everyone to stop. "The estate is just past that mountain to the southwest."
Jace took a small spyglass from somewhere in his dark coat, and surveyed the area. It was nothing but forests on the other side of the small mountain pass the Legion had found themselves in. This is definately a trap. Jace folded the spyglass, and tapped the fingers of his right hand on the small instrument.
"Jace, are you alright?" The tactician nearly jumped. He had not heard Lyn approach him.
"Oh Naga's grace Lyn, I almost jumped jumped out of my skin." Jace said leaning against the rocky mountain sky.
"I am sorry for startling you, but you seemed to be troubled."
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't." Jace replied.
"What is it that ails you my friend?" Lyn seemed genuinely worried.
"A great many things Lyn." Jace ran a hand through his hair. Lyn gave him a look, that meant she wanted him to elaborate. He paused a moment longer, before he told her everything that had been on his mind for the last several days. "Well first of all there is this situation. I don't like it one little bit. It is an obvious trap that I've just led us all into. If someone dies, then it'll be my fault as it was my idea to come here. Then there is my growing unease that somehow my father's Grimleal will find me and Cyrus either before or after this situation with Lundgren has been resolved."
Lyn had placed her hands upon the tactician's shoulders. Her grip was firm, but her expression was kind. "Keep yourself calm Jace. We'll get through this valley, and defeat Lundgren without losing anyone. I will not allow your father's agents anywhere near you. They will never lay their foul fingers upon you Jace."
Jace smiled, and felt his eyes sting slightly. The strange feeling that came with his realization earlier in the day, began to well up inside him. Lyn had just offered to protect him. To keep his father's Grimleal from ever getting their hands on him. Lyn's bright green eyes were gazing into Jace's deep crimson ones, the same way they had when they had shared that small room in Araphen.
"Something else is on your mind isn't it?" The swordswoman asked softly.
Jace nodded. "Indeed there is Lyn. And I have absolutely no idea where I should begin… I suppose It began when you and I talked in Araphen. When we woke up, there was a part of me, and please forgive me for saying this. There was a part of me that wished something had happened between us. This odd feeling has been building up inside me since then, and I've only realized what it is."
"And what is it Jace?" Lyn asked, although she thought she knew what Jace was about to say, having realized how she felt towards the tactician the very same day.
There was a moment of silence before the tactician spoke once more. "Lyn, I lo-" Jace never finished, as at that very moment shouts were heard towards the front of the formation. Internally cursing whoever it was that had interrupted the two of them, Jace and Lyn made their way to the front to see what the commotion was about.
They were greeted with the sight of a towering mountain of a man. His plate armor was so heavy and thick, Jace doubted that even Cyrus Armorslayer, nor even the Mani Katti would be able to penetrate it. The man was completely bald, and seemed well into his fifties. However despite his age, Jace thought he would be able to easily bat every last member of the Legion aside without so much as blinking. And then a large wave of fear washed over him. If this man was siding with Lundgren, they had no chance.
"General Wallace, please see reason." Kent spoke to the mountain of a man. "Lundgren is poisoning the Marquess, you cannot possibly believe the lies coming out of that man's mouth."
"I will judge for myself." Wallace growled out. "I will not trust your word nor Lundgren's on this matter, without investigating for myself. Bring this Lyndis to me."
"If you intend to harm Lady Lyndis, we will have to stop you." Sain snarled, grasping his longsword. His usual lighthearted tone replaced with a tone of pure venom, that shot a chill up Jace's spine.
Wallace let out a bark of laughter. "Hah! You have a long way to go if you wish to defeat me. I will judge her for myself. If I do not like what I see, then I will take her to Lundgren."
Lyn had more than enough of this. She strode past Jace, and the other two horsemen to step in front of General Wallace. "Enough of this arrogance of yours! I am Lyndis!" Her bright green eyes alight with intensity. "Move now or be moved!"
Wallace was silent for a moment, then said in such a quiet voice that Lyn could barely hear. "Such beautiful eyes…"
"I… I beg your pardon?" Lyn stammered, and gaped at the large man.
"And such spirit." Wallace said in a louder voice. "I like you girl, why i even think I'll join your little band of mercenaries." Wallace whistled sharply, and a large warhorse that was twice as big as Kent and Sain's steeds trotted up to Wallace. The steed was armored in a set of plate armor just as thick as Wallace. The elder General gripped the war horse's reins, and with no effort whatsoever, swung himself into the steed's saddle. "Lady Lyndis, daughter to Madelyn, and granddaughter to Hausen. This knight is at your service."
Jace's mouth was agape in shock. He could simply not believe this had happened. This mountainous General who had seemed was a moment away from swatting them like flies, was now part of Lyndis' Legion. Jace had not even remembered getting back into Brego's saddle, yet the next thing the tactician could remember was trotting up on his horse's backside to what had to be Egalar's home.
It was a cross between a castle, and a heavily defended fortress. That last part, Jace realized was far truer than he had believed at first glance. Archers were aiming bows at them from atop the many turrets and towers of Egalar's estate. For every archer, there must have been half a dozen pikemen who were all holding vicious looking javelins. Then at the front gates was a man who seemed just as old as Wallace, was waiting for them. General Egalar like General Wallace, while far older than anyone else present, seemed to have lost none of the strength of his youth.
"Wallace." The paladin sighed in a saddened tone. "You've chosen then."
"Indeed I have Cain." Came Wallace's reply.
The paladin looked to the ground. "I am sorry my old friend. Yet I have no choice, Lundgren has taken my son."
Enraged at this cowardly tactic of Lundgren's, Jace urged Brego forward next to Wallace's war horse. "General, I've been told that you are a man of honor. I urge you to see reason on this manner in the name of that honor. Do you truly believe that your son will be returned safely should you manage to defeat us here? Lundgren will continue to threaten you with your son's life, in order to keep you in line. Please General see reason. There is no need for us to fight."
Egalar did not speak, but Jace could tell he was thinking over what was just said. Before the paladin could respond, Lyn moved her horse in between Jace and Wallace's. "General Egalar, I am Lyndis, daughter to Madelyn. Please I beg of you to believe my tactician and myself. I make no claim to the Caelin throne, I just want to see my grandfather."
"You've seen the portraits of Madelyn in Castle Caelin Cain." Wallace said. "Does she not look like her mother?"
A long moment of silence passed, before the paladin spoke. "Everyone lower their weapons. We have no quarrel with those that have gathered here." All the soldiers under Cain Egalar's command lowered their weapons at once, as the elder General turned to face Lyn. "If it pleases you Milady, I will accompany you to Castle Caelin."
Lyn smiled in relief. "Of course General Egalar. You must repay Lundgren for kidnapping your son, and forcing you to serve him."