The passing of an honorable man such as Uhai had affected everyone in the company. The most notable of all was Lyn. She'd refused to speak to anyone, even Jace which bothered the tactician.
"One of us needs to speak to her." Eliwood said, his brows knitted together as everyone made camp for the evening. "We're close to the Black Fang hideout, and it would be very beneficial if we knew what was on Lyn's mind."
"I believe that duty then falls to me." Jace said. "She'll talk to me … I hope."
Lyn had set up her tent a small distance away from the main camp. Her battle hardened Sacean steed was tied up just outside of her tent. Jace gently ran a hand over the horse's snout, who knickered in approval before the tactician gently rapped on the flap of Lyn's tent.
"Lyn, it's Jace." There was what felt like an eternity of silence, before Jace spoke again. "May I come in?"
Another long moment of silence passed, before the tent flap opened and the swordswoman appeared in the entranceway. Her expression was a mix between mild shock and irritation, though it did not hide the deep sadness in her deep green eyes. "Did you honestly just ask for permission? Since when do you ask Jace?"
With that, Lyn seised the front of Jace's jacket and pulled the tactician into her tent. The first thing he noticed, was that Lyn had set up a second bedroll in her tent. Perhaps she's feeling better.
"I'm guessing that you're wondering why I haven't been myself lately?" She asked closing the tent flap.
"And you do not miss a thing. Yes Lyn, you haven't been yourself since Uhai's defeat." Jace said, feeling rather uncomfortable about discussing why this was bothering Lyn so badly.
"It's because… It's because, Uhai wasn't just a Sacean. He was a member of the Lorca."
Jace froze. He had not been expecting that. He had thought that Lyn was the only survivor of her tribe, now with the addition and subsequent death of Uhai, Lyn had to be the last surviving Lorca.
"And how… How did you know he was a Lorca?" Jace asked, still stunned from the revelation.
Lyn then showed Jace the sash that Uhai had tied around his waist. It was sliced somewhat from where Zephyr's Wind Sword had cut into it when he had delivered the killing blow. Lyn pointed to a crest in the center of the damaged cloth. "This is the symbol of the Lorca. Only the members of our tribe wore these."
As shocked and uncomfortable as he was with this situation, a question was forming in his mind. "Lyn, If Uhai was a member of the Lorca, how did he escape the bandit attack?"
The swordswoman shook her head after folding the torn sash. "That I do not know. Perhaps he fought his way out, or perhaps he had left the tribe before the attack. I was too distraught with the pain of mourning my fellow tribesmen and my parents, to wonder if any others had survived."
"The gods can be cruel." Jace began. "We all had thought that the Lorca had all perished, and we encounter another survivor, only to cut him down."
"Mother Earth has called his body back into her embrace." Lyn said as her eyes brimmed with tears.
Instinctively, Jace reached a hand out to wipe away Lyn's tears. Though he believed his hand would be smacked away, he was relieved when it wasn't. "Don't cry Lyn. You're far too beautiful for tears."
The next morning
Jace opened his eyes, to find his sight impaired by a tangle of light green hair. Lyn had obviously fallen asleep on top of him, and was from the sound of her breathing still pleasantly asleep. It almost felt wrong to have to wake her from her sleep, especially with the revelation that she was the truly the last of her tribe.
"Lyn." Jace began, giving the swordswoman a small shake. "Darling, I believe it is time to wake up."
Lyn groaned, and shook her head making Jace suppress a laugh as her hair tickled. "Just a little longer…"
"You would only get a few seconds more beloved." Jace replied, as he heard approaching footsteps. The sound of somebody rapping on the tent flap came a moment later.
"Wake up you two sluggabeds." Raja called out in a mocking tone, making the both of them roll their eyes.
In very little time, Lyn's tent was packed and the tightly wrapped bundle was tied to the back of the saddle on Lyn's horse. She had taken Uhai's damaged sash, and wrapped it around the Mani Katti's scabbard. The company was in full march moments later following the directions given to them by Uhai. It took them little to no time to find the large stone structure that had to have been the hideout of the Black Fang.
Sun isn't even at its highest point in the sky. Uhai wasn't leading us astray. Perhaps we will be able to retrieve Lord Elbert with little to no effort. Jace thought as he got a good look at the large foreboding structure. No, that's not possible. This is the Black Fang's main base, so it is likely to be positively crawling with Black Fang.
"My father is in there." Eliwood said, as he stepped up to the tactician's side.
"We have to tread carefully Eliwood." Jace said, surveying the large structure for the upteenth time. "Chances are high that Lord Darin is here on top of possibly hundreds of Black Fang soldiers."
"Well then, what do we do?" The young Lord asked, as he saw the wheels in the tactician's head begin to turn.
"That is very simple." A toneless voice said from behind them. Jace and Eliwood whirled around, only for horror to jolt through their stomachs. Ephidel the Morph who had aided the Laus and Plegian troops in attacking Caelin. What horrified them even more, was that he had somehow gotten past everyone, and had taken Ninian hostage. "I'm taking dear Ninian back to where she belongs. With my Master Lord Nergal."
"Let her go now you abomination." Cyrus snarled drawing his saber, at the same moment everyone else drew their weapons.
Ephidel tutted and shook his head, pulling Ninian who was struggling furiously closer to him. "Now now, you'll not want to be doing that. I could easily move dear Ninian into the path of any of your weapons."
"You're bluffing." Raja said, pointing her golden blade at the Morph.
"You need Ninian for whatever you're planning." Jace retorted. "You can't risk any harm coming to her."
"Ah, you're a smart one." ephidel sneered. "No wonder your father wants you returned to him. I offer you this Lord Ebonhart. Surrender yourself and the traitor Leila now, and your comrades may leave this island unharmed."
"Do you think me a fool?" Jace scoffed. "If I agree to that, you'll just kill my comrades anyway."
"Well of course I would." Ephidel replied. "I just wanted to make you believe you were doing the noble thing."
Lyn stepped in front of Jace, the Mani Katti pointed at Ephidel. "You'll not be taking Jace, and you'll be giving back Ninian now."
"No, I don't believe I will." Ephidel said as he vanished, taking Ninian with him.
"Damnit!" Eliwood cursed, as Jace turned back towards the large stone structure with his spyglass in hand. In the instant that Ephidel had vanished, there was a massive troop movement inside the structure.
"Looks like they're preparing for a frontal assault." Jace said to himself, surveying the battlefield. "They're leaving their flanks open to attack."
"I see the wheels turning in your head Jace." Eliwood said, attempting to keep his voice even. "What is your plan Jace?"
"Distraction into a pincer." Jace began. "We send our riders in first, and make them believe we're attacking in force. Wil and Rebecca will fly in with Florina and Fiora and rain arrows down on the defenders. While they're preoccupied with bringing reinforcements to the front, the rest of us will split into two groups, and hit their flanks on both sides hard."
The sun was high in the afternoon sky, by the time Jace's plan went into action. Marcus, Lowen, Sain, Kent, and Oswin spurred their steeds towards the large structure at full gallop. Just what the defenders were hoping for. Their shields were raised, and their lances braced. What they didn't count on was having arrows rain down on them from above. As they scrambled for cover from the arrows, they were hit full force by five riders armed for war. While the five riders fought their way through the scattered defensive line, everyone else put the second phase of Jace's plan into action.
One flanking group led by Jace consisting of Lyn, Eliwood, Erk, Priscilla, Raven, Dorcas, Lucius, and Dart hit the left flank. While at the same time, the second group being led by Cyrus and consisting of Hector, Raja, Zephyr, Bartre, Guy, Matthew, Canas, and Sera attacked the right flank. Though both flanking parties were met with slight opposition, mainly archers and a few knights in heavy armor, their bolts were blocked by a wall of small flux orbs cast by Jace on the left, and Canas on the right flank. The wall of archers were quickly cut down, by a combination of anima and light magic. The knights then moved forward, in an attempt to halt the flank. That's when Jace and Canas unleashed their wall of flux orbs at the knights. Those that didn't fall under the hail of elder magic, lasted not a moment longer under the strength of the axemen.
An hour later, the defenders had been defeated, and three Lycian lords, three tactical geniuses, and a master Plegian swordsman were now staring at the would-be instigator of a war that could have spread throughout all of Elibe. Darin growled, as his heavily armored hand gripped a very menacing looking lance.
"You dare? All of you dare to attack me!? I am destined to rule this world!" He roared, as Hector blocked his lance strike with his axe.
"You attempt to wage war against all of Lycia!" Hector roared, as he split the haft of Darin's axe. "You align yourself with these murderers! You abduct Lord Elbert! You attempt to kill Lord Hausen! The only thing you're destined for is death!"
Darin snarled, and drew another lance. He once again struck at Hector, yet Jace and Cyrus blocked this particular strike, as Hector once again destroyed Darin's lance. Not missing the chance, Lyn used the Ebonhart brothers backs as a springboard of sorts. She vaulted into the air, heading straight for Darin. The Mani Katti reflected the sun's light, as the swordswoman brought the sacred blade down, rending Darin's head from his shoulders.
"That was for my grandfather." Lyn said calmly, as Darin's head hit the floor the moment she sheathed the Mani Katti.
"Well struck Lyndis." Eliwood said, as he wiped blood off of his rapier. "Yet we must hurry, and find where Ephidel has taken Ninian, and where in this Elmine forsaken place my father is."
"Hold a moment Eliwood." Jace said, placing a hand on the Phearan lords shoulder.
"We may not have a moment Jace." Eliwood replied, his tone rising a few octaves in what seemed to be desperation.
"This will not take long." The tactician responded, before turning to his mother. "Mother you said you had a spy here, but we've carved a rather bloody swath through this fortress, and he's not revealed himself."
Raja smirked, and crossed her arms in a rather nonchalant manner. "He's very good at staying hidden. Yet I believe it's time to stop hiding in the shadows Legault."
"About time." A voice said from behind one of the large stone pillars, that supported the roof of the large fortress. The man who spoke, was several years older than most gathered. Slightly older than Raja, yet nowhere near as old as Wallace or Egalar. His hair seemed to be either a very pale blue, or a dull silver in color, and the scar on his slightly aged face went from the top of the left side of his forehead, to the bottom of his right jaw. "I was worried I would have to engage you to keep my cover if you had waited any longer in dispatching Darin."
"This is your spy mother?" Cyrus asked, placing his saber, which he had partially drawn back in its sheath. "An agent of the Black Fang?"
"That's former agent of the Black Fang." Legault corrected. "It's not what it used to be."
"Tell us later." Eliwood said. "Right now we need to find-"
"Lord Elbert, and that girl Ephidel brought with him not too long ago." Legault cut across. "Raja told me everything. Now follow me."
Legault led Eliwood, Lyn, Hector, and Jace into a darkened section of the large structure. The light that came from the torches lit several hundred yards apart, gave everything an eerie greenish tint. The farther they went, the more Jace's sense of dread grew. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he knew something horrible was about to happen, yet he did not yet know what it was.
"How much farther?" Eliwood asked, a hand on the hilt of his rapier.
"Not much farther now." Legault replied, with his hands on his own long curved blades. "But keep your hands on your weapons. I don't like this place at all."
"And up until a moment ago, you worked for the Black Fang." Jace said, making an attempt at humor with his small verbal jab.
"Never stopped me from getting the chills, the few times I've been here." Legault replied.
They continued on for a short while longer, before a figure came into sight at the base of a stone staircase. Though this figure was hunched over, in the light of the torch the man's distinctive red hair was unmistakable.
"Father!" Eliwood broke into a run, coming to a stop, and kneeling down at his father's side.
Lord Elbert stirred, and looked up into the concerned eyes of his son. "Eliwood." He said weakly. "You should not have come."
"I couldn't just abandon you." Eliwood said, as he attempted to haul his father to his feet. "Come father, we're leaving."
A dry laugh that seemed to come from all directions, got everyone's attention. Weapons were drawn, as more torches along every pillar were lit. "I'm afraid Lord Elbert will not be leaving here alive."
Everyone looked up to the top of the stone staircase, to the sight of a man possibly in his late seventies. He was dressed in heavy dark robes, and a turban covered his right eye. Though the manic glint in his left eye held enough intensity for both. The dark chill that went up Jace's spine said that this man was dangerous.
"And just who in all seven circles of hell are you!?" Hector growled, his axe raised.
"Stop Hector." Lord Elbert said, placing a hand weakly on the younger man's broad shoulder. "You mustn't fight that man."
The man at the top of the staircase laughed his dry laugh once more. "Soon my dream will be realized. Ephidel, bring the girl."
Ephidel appeared at once, with Ninian in his grasp. Yet there was something odd about the young woman now. Her eyes were unfocused, almost like she was in a trance of some sort.
"She is ready Lord Nergal." Ephidel said bowing.
So this is Nergal. Jace thought, as the dark chill that went up his back intensified tenfold.
"Then let us begin." Nergal said, his smile matching the manic glint in his eye.
"No!" Lord Elber shouted. "You cannot do this! Bringing the dragons back to this world would destroy it!"
"Pah! What do I care if the world is destroyed!" Nergal barked, his manic smile growing wider. "Ninan, begin! Call them to this world!"
"Come Forth… Children… Of… Flame…" Ninan said in a broken monotone.
As Ninan spoke, the wall behind Nergal began to glow a hellish yellow, as the entire temple shook. The rumbling intensified, as a semi-transparent red scaled dragon began to emerge from the gate. Jace, Hector, and Lyn tightly gripped their weapons, preparing to rush and cut down Nergal and Ephidel, grab Ninian and run, when a familiar voice Jace and Lyn knew quite well rang out.
"Ninian stop!" A small figure ran past them, stopping halfway up the stone steps.
"Nils!?" Lyn exclaimed in surprise.
"Ninian, snap out of it!" Nils called to his sister, who at that moment seemed to have come back to her senses.
"Nils? What's going on?" Ninian asked, clearly frightened.
"Nevermind that, come to me!" Nills called out to his sister, who flew down the stone steps, towards her brother.
"No!" Nergal exclaimed, as his manic smile turned into a snarl of rage. As Ninian was no longer calling for the dragon to come through the gate, the dragon began to dissolve in a whirlwind of hellfire.
"No it does not end here!" Nergal cried out. He seized Ephidel, and threw him into the flames to shield himself. The morph screamed in horrendous agony, as the flames consumed him, as the dragon collapsed in on itself.
Jace, Lyn, Legault, and Lord Elbert, who was being supported by Eliwood and Hector, ran as fast as they could for the entrance to the temple. Yet just before they reached the doors, Nergal appeared in their path. His expression furious.
"Nils you whelp! You will pay for your betrayal!" A mass of seething dark energy formed in Nergal's right hand as he spoke. He flung his spell at the young boy, who was suddenly pushed out of the way. The spell that was meant for Nils hit Lord Elbert squarely in the chest.
"Father!" Eliwood cried out, moments before the Marquess of Pheare stabbed Nergal in the stomach with a dagger he had managed to conceal.
"I told you Nergal." Lord Elbert said in a far weaker tone, than when his son had found him. "I will oppose you always."
"You wretched man." Nergal snarled, as he vanished into thin air, at the same moment Lord Elbert collapsed to the floor.
"Father!" Eliwood exclaimed as he rushed to Lord Elbert's side. He attempted to get his father back on his feet, yet Lord Elbert was not going anywhere after shielding Nils from Nergal's spell. "Father hold on, we'll get you out of here."
"No Eliwood. I'm not going anywhere. Oh Elanora, she will be cross with me…" Lord Elbert said softly, as the light began to fade from the Marquess' eyes.
"FATHER!" Eliwood cried out in anguish, as he held his father's body in his arms. Though Lord Elbert was unresponsive, as his heart had stopped beating, and the former Marquess' spirit was now with Elmine.