Raja groaned, as she pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. They were heading towards the port city of Badon, looking for passage to the Dread Isle. Jace, and Cyrus had told their mother everything of what had transpired in the previous year.
"A Thoron spell?" She groaned as her horse was spurred forward. "Jace how many times have I told you about using spells before you're ready?"
Jace sighed, running a hand through Brego's mane. How would he explain this? "I knew it wouldn't kill me mother."
"And just how would you know that?" Raja asked, her arms crossed and her fingers drumming upon her forearms.
"I knew, because I had a dream about it." Jace replied.
"What sort of dream?" Raja asked, her brow now creased.
"In this dream, I am fighting a highly powerful dark mage." Jace began. "I'm fighting alongside a powerful youth named Chrom. I used the same spell, the Thoron spell to wound this mage the same way I killed Lundgren."
"Interesting." Raja began. She suspected she knew who this man was, that her son was fighting in his dream. She also highly suspected that this youth, this Chrom was the crown prince of Ylise. "Continue my son."
"After this fight, the scene shifts." Jace replied, and continued his explenation of his dream. "I am locked in combat with this dark hooded figure. Who ever this person is, launches some powerful dark magic at me. Spines rose from the ground in an attempt to impale me. I use a Bolganone spell to destroy these spines, I counter with a spell called Foreblaze, which horribly injures this person."
"By Naga." Raja breathed, as a dark shiver ran down her spine. Something told her that this story would not end well for her son.
"Chrom offers to finish whoever this person is. However I offer to finish this figure, and before anyone can protest, I've already run my blade through his heart. It's then and there that I fade from all existence."
Raja sighed, running a hand through her hair in a very uncharacteristc way. "Jace, do you believe that these dreams are prophetic?"
The tactician's eyes glanced down to the Sacean blade sheathed at his side. "Perhaps mother, there are a few things that add up. The blade that Lyn had gifted me, my use of Thoron without it killing me."
Lyn steered her steed into a trot bringing herself alongside her tactician. "Jace I've told you. These dreams will not come true." Her fingers interlocked with Jace's, giving them a reassuring squeeze.
"I truly hope you are correct Lyn." Jace began, and the both of them glanced down at the beautifully crafted blade at Jace's side. "However, some things do add up."
Hours later, they had reached the port city of Badon. However the problem was that nobody had offered to give them passage. Yet those who refused their offer, suggested to talk to a pirate captain named Fargus. Something that Lyn was very opposed to, stating that they were nothing but sea ferring bandits.
"Lyn, please see reason." Jace said in reassurance. "These pirates are not the bandits who had killed the Lorca."
"I know Jace, however I-" Lyn began, but her love cut her off when he placed his fingers on her lips.
"If we cannot find anyone else who will offer us passage to Valor by sundown, we ask whoever this captain Fargus is."
"Alright, if we find no one else by sundown." Lyn conceded. "However I won't be pleased with the choice if that is our only path to take."
Jace had a witty comeback on his tongue, a moment before that dark chill that alerted him to danger ran down his spine. "Trouble…"
Lyn's expression turned to one of worry. "What is the matter?"
"We need to regroup with the others." Jace said at once, drawing the blade that Lyn had given to him. Lyn nodded, the Mani Katti already in her hands.
The two found their allies under assault by Black Fang soldiers. Raja had orchestrated their forces into a good defensive wall. Marcus, Oswin, Wallace, Hector, Eliwood, Raven, and Egalar were at the front of the formation. Sain, Kent, Florina, and Lowen were in the second row acting as pikemen. Rebecca, Erk, Lucius, and Wil were providing support with their bows and spells. Cyrus, Guy, Matthew, Zephyr, and Raja herself acted as a rear guard of sorts. Making sure they did not become flanked.
"Pardon me." A rather young man called out to the tactician and the swordswoman. He seemed to be the same age as the two, perhaps only a year or two younger. His long black cloak billowed behind him as he ran. "My name is Canas. I am a practitioner of Elder Magic, and I was hoping to add my services to your forces."
With little time to consider, but not knowing why, Jace posed his question. "The foulest crime to commit according to the laws of the three magics."
"Giving false life to a false being." Canas replied at once, his expression darkening at the question. "Why is it you ask this?"
"I will explain once this is over." Jace replied. "Now our spell casters need your support.
With that, Canas left to support Erk, and Lucius, while Jace and Lyn added themselves into the fray at the front of the formation. The battle lasted for the next hour and a half. Black Fang soldiers did indeed fall, but they were taken down few and far between. Both sides were fighting one another into a stand still, yet the fighting ceased on both sides when a chorus of war cries met everyone's ears.
"I'll show ye' foul land dogs, just what ye'll get when ye' attack my town!" A loud grizzled voice called out, as a mountain of a man who looked just as grizzled as he sounded walked up with a purpose. He was carrying a wickedly large axe in one arm, and behind him were dozens of tall well built men.
Some in Jace's group turned their weapons upon these newcomers as they charged, yet they needn't have bothered. As these new combatants charged, they completely ignored Jace and his forces. Choosing instead to focus their attention and axes upon the Black Fang, who were drawn into retreat only minutes after their arrival.
The large grizzled man walked up to Jace, as he sheathed his blade. "Who among ye' do you name as ye'r captain?"
"That would be me." Eliwood said walking up to the elder warrior. "You have my thanks, yet may I ask your name?"
"Fargus." The man replied. "I'm the pirate captain of the ship the Darvos. I've heard ye' need passage to Valor."