The Darvos was silent as she made port in Badon. Everyone even Fargus' crew was in a state of silent shock, and had been since Eliwood's return to the ship with his father's body cradled in his arms. Since his initial outcry at the Dragon's Gate upon Lord Elbert's passing, Eliwood had not said a word to anyone. His eyes were wide and glazed over, almost as if he was in a trance. Yet nobody could blame him. If any of the crew of the Darvos, or any of Eliwood's companions had family pass on in such a way, they would undoubtedly react the same way. In fact one of Eliwood's companion's knew exactly how he felt. Lyn was no stranger to a loss like this, having lost her tribe as well as her parents. She knew how much pain Eliwood was experiencing at this very moment.
Fargus allowed Eliwood and his companions stay aboard the Darvos for the evening, and it was along the bow of the ship that Jace found the young Lord. He was staring out to see, and Jace just knew that he was staring in the direction of Valor.
"I am taking my father's body back to Pheare in the morning." Eliwood said, still staring out to sea. "I've already sent word to my mother."
"I'll go with you then." Jace replied after a moment of silence, as he processed Eliwood's words.
"You needn't do that." Eliwood said, turning to face the tactician.
"And allow you to run afoul of a bandit attack? Or worse, agents of the Black Fang sent to finish you off? Jace asked, giving the young Lord a cross look.
"You're right Jace." Eliwood conceded, then added with the smallest trace of a smile. "As always."
Jace was about to make a remark, when Eliwood held a hand up for silence. Jace's brow knitted together in confusion, before he heard what sounded like oars on the water close to the Darvos. Yet who would approach the ship by rowboat when it was docked? The answer hit him harder than he imagined Sir Wallace could in full sprint. The Darvos was about to be attacked.
The Lord and tactician arrived at the same destination at once. They reached for their blades, at the same time as the sound of metal on wood reached their ears. The assailants were using grappling hooks to scale the side of the ship.
"We need to warn Captain Fargus." Jace hissed, a moment before a pained scream followed by a splash reached their ears. Thundering footsteps then came from below decks.
"I think he knows." Eliwood replied, as a masked figure vaulted onto the ship's deck. Two long curved blades similar to Legault's were in the hooded assailant's hands. He spun the blades in his hands in both a challenging manner, and in a way that was obvious showboating. Eliwood rolled his eyes, and his rapier flashed at a speed that rivaled even Lyn's. Eliwood stabbed the man right between the eyes, burying his blade up to the cross guard in the man's skull.
Jace recognized the symptoms of someone fighting in anger. Though allowing an emotion to guide your actions in combat such as anger was effective, it was also incredibly dangerous as many who fight while enraged meet their death in the same battle. Another assailant made his way onto the deck, and Eliwood turned his attention to him. Though he never got the chance to turn his blade on the newcomer. An Arcfire spell flew over Eliwood's head, and immolated the assailant, who fell over the side of the ship screaming until a splash and a loud hiss told the two he had hit the water.
"I had everything under control." Eliwood said humorously, though his eyes gave away the fact that he was still very much enraged at this moment.
"That's what it looked like." Jace remarked, his crimson eyes hard as the sound of combat below decks reached their ears. "But more importantly Eliwood, you need to calm down."
"What are you talking about?" Eliwood asked, as more assailants clambered onto the top deck with their weapons drawn.
"You're fighting in anger." Jace replied, blocking a downward strike with his blade. He place his left palm onto the chest of his attacker, and his resulting thunder spell was so strong that it blasted a hole clean through the man's chest.
"I am angry Jace." Eliwood remarked, as he parried two strikes at once. His left fist came into contact with the right side of one assailant's jaw, and in the same motion Eliwood grabbed the back of the seconds cowl. With his rapier angled downwards, Eliwood plunged the thin blade into the attacker's chest. Once again burying the blade up to the cross guard.
"We're all angry at the moment Eliwood." Jace replied, cutting two attackers of his own off at the knees. "But you're letting your anger get the better of you in this fight. That's not just dangerous, it could get you killed. And I don't think Lady Elanora could handle losing both her husband, and her only son in quick succession."
"He makes a point Eliwood." Hector said in a growl, as he and Lyn had joined the two by that time. The larger Lord planted his boot into the chest of an assailant, that sent him over the side of the ship.
"I know he does Hector, but I cannot displace this anger that burns inside me!" Eliwood exclaimed, his eyes brimming with angry tears.
"Alright then." Jace said, motioning to Lyn and Hector. The three of them stood with their backs facing one another, shielding Eliwood with their bodies as they fought until the sun rose over the ocean's horizon. By that time, all the assailants had been killed, and Eliwood's company was riding to Castle Pheare.
Eliwood stayed quiet throughout the ride to his home. The sun was low in the afternoon sky, when the company saw several horsemen on the road facing them. Jace initially reached for his blade, before he noticed two of the horsemen carried the banners of Pheare. A guard of honor. The Phearan horseman allowed the company to pass, and flanked them on either side as Castle Pheare slowly came into sight. Lady Elenora was waiting for them at the castle gates, alongside a mountainous man with a rough face and wild blue hair. He could only be Hector's elder brother Lord Uther, the Marquess of Ostia.
The funeral for Lord Elbert was grand, though Jace could not bring himself to attend. Though he could not explain why, he did not, or rather could not allow himself to attend. More to avoid watching Eliwood weep for his father. He never did like it when people wept.
It was on the castles northern ramparts where Lyn found her tactician. "You know, for a tactical genius, you can be quite predictable."
"I knew you'd find me up here Lyn." Jace said, slightly closing his eyes and breathing in her scent that was carried to him by a passing breeze. "I just couldn't bring myself to attend the funeral."
"I know you aren't good with tears Jace." Lyn said, wrapping her arms around him, and pulling her tactician in close. "But please do not blame yourself for Lord Elbert's passing. None of us could have known what was going to happen."
"I believe this is a rather classic reversal of fortune." Jace said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Only a few days ago, I was attempting to comfort you."
Lyn lightly ran a hand through Jace's dirty blond hair, after pressing her lips onto the top of the tactician's head. "Eliwood does not blame you for what happened. Nobody blames you Jace."
"May I ask you something Lyn?" Jace asked, looking up at the swordswoman. She stood a head taller than him.
"Of course you may." Lyn replied, smiling in a comforting manner.
"How did you and Hector get to the top deck?" The tactician replied.
"Fargus and most of his crew were able to hold off the borders." Lyn began. "Most of us were not needed, with the exception of Wil and Rebecca, so Hector and I decided to go and assist you."
"I'm glad you came to help." Jace replied.
"Now may I ask you something?" Lyn asked.
"Of course Lyn." Jace began. "What is it you want to know?"
"What do we do now?" Lyn asked. "What is our next move going to be?"
"That is simple." The tactician said. "We're going to Bern, and taking this war the Black Fang started to their doorstep."