Chapter 2:

Crossing the Long Sea

Priam sat on the deck of the transport galley as it slowly drifted to the location he was reluctant to reach. The sailors had turned in for the night, and so had everyone else headed to Valm. He lifted a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, accidentally knocking his bandana off his head. After repositioning it atop his hair, he stood up and looked across the sea to examine the ocean. He had just finished another harsh training regimen just before bed, it made him sleep easier. But for some odd reason, he could not retire for the night. He had never experienced insomnia, but he didn't like it. Rest is one of the most important actions that a warrior must take place in. It calms the body and regenerates lost energy and chi. But he could not become tired, despite his best efforts. He decided that because of his insomnia, he would stay up to keep guard. For what? He thought There is little chance that anything, even Risen, would assault us. No flyers can reach out this far without having to land at least once, and no ships have been spotted this entire journey.

He resumed his training.

He had become well acquainted with one of the future children, Owain and tried to convinced him to return to the island with him. Owain jumped at the offer to learn from one of the mightiest heroes of all time, but his wife, Severa, was angry and said that she would not allow her husband to be across the world until they had completely settled. He appreciated Owain's colorful nature, and his imaginary battle scenarios idea. Priam was just running through one of them when he heard a faint, feminine sigh escape the lower deck. He hoped that his training didn't wake anyone.

As it turned out, another person on the ship was suffering from insomnia as well, she approached the stairs to the deck hoping that the fresh, ocean air would clear her thoughts. Little did Say'ri know that Priam had been practicing up there all night, light on his feet so as not to disturb anyone.

As she reached the deck, the first thing she saw was Priam, swinging away at what appeared to be imaginary targets. Watching the hero, she noted that he moved with grace as he wielded his ancestor's sword, Ragnell. He fought with the ferocity of a lion, but the grace of a swan, cutting down countless imaginary enemies. He then appeared to point Ragnell at an invisible boss as he uttered, "you're mine". Things took a drastic turn, almost as if he was performing a dance, the music sped up and his actions were faster and more accurate.

When it appeared that he landed the final blow, he muttered under his breath, "Your life shall be an example for others.." He then sheathed Ragnell, stood straight, and began walking towards the front of the ship.

Priam had just fought a battle scenario that Owain had suggested to get the feel of revenge and strength when defending others. The scenario went like this: His family was all he had in the world other than his strength, so when a corrupt noble thought that enslaving them was a great idea, Priam would have something else to say about the matter.

He was completely unaware of Say'ri's presence until she had started to clap. "Strength, beauty, and grace do not oft' go hand in hand, but such can be said about your performance." She stated with a smile as she was clapping. Priam was not one to show surprise easily, but when he had heard clapping from behind him, he placed one hand on Ragnell, and slowly turned to see Say'ri's face. She was one of the few people who could sneak up behind him without him detecting her presence. Not even the successful Ylissean thief, Gaius was sneaky enough to steal his dessert during his first night with the Shepherds. But she had been successful without even trying, on more than one occasion, and this added to his respect for her.

"Say'ri," he said with a small sigh of relief, "Did I wake you from my loud training up here?"

"Nay, you were so silent on your feet that a mouse would be angry that it were no longer the quietest." She said in the Chon'sin dialect. She also let out a small chuckle.

"Then what brings you out here?" he questioned.

"I...I have been sleep deprived for days... since the arrival of my alternate time brother..." She looked on the verge of tears, which made Priam also feel upset. He didn't know why she held such power over his emotions, when she was happy, he was happy, when she was mad, he was mad. Before meeting Say'ri, he had experienced almost none of these emotions before.

She continued, "before his arrival to this time, I prayed every night to Naga to bring him back so I could apologize before him rather that to no one in particular, but now that he has returned, Should I accept him? Is he really my brother? I wonder if... if I..." she started to get choked up as tears were slowly starting to roll down her face.

Priam stood there as he watched the princess of Chon'sin beginning to break down. Priam had shared many philosophies with Robin about life (And he had many that he never had the chance to share) but he couldn't think of any to help the situation. Instinct was telling him to put an arm around her and give her comforting words, but for the first time in his life, he argued with Instinct, one of his closest friends until today. If he put his arm around her, he was afraid it would send her the wrong message, but on the other hand, it might comfort his good friend.

She was crying softly and trying to hold back a sob. Priam hadn't moved, and both stood an equal distance from each other.

Think, Priam, Think! He internally yelled at himself, by the name of Ike, what do I do? He stood completely motionless. Noticing his discomfort, she bowed and spoke, "I *sniffle* apologize for my 'interruption'... I shall leave." she turned to go and Priam was filled with guilt. Instinct, again, made its proposal to him and this time, he listened to it.

"Say'ri, I..." Priam started to walk toward her as she turned around, "I don't know what to say. Hell, I've never been good with words," He put his arm around her shoulders. It made her blush, but he didn't notice. He led her to the front of the boat and sat down with her beside him. "but I am here for you, I cannot bear to see a friend in this much anguish."

"Priam... *sniffle* Thank you..." She could no longer hold in the waterworks as she burst into a sob and buried her face in his chestplate. His heart felt like it had been put into knots as he wondered what could have made him feel this way, he assumed it was a late-reacting curse placed on him by one of those accursed Grimleal. Although he put the thought out of his head when he remembered that there was a girl crying into his chest.

They sat there for thirty minutes, with Say'ri crying, and Priam holding her. She was starting to stop crying, "Thank you, Priam... The problem I face inside has not left, but has been alleviated for the night." She sighed and smiled at him, resting her head on his shoulder. He was sitting awkwardly with her on his shoulder, but he knew that if he complained, she would be distressed. Priam thought about the current situation, He was sore from holding her for so long after training, his armor had been cleaned by her tears, and he had successfully made her relieved of her problems for the night. Hey thought Priam, I told Walhart I wanted to face new challenges, I didn't exactly mean this, but I think I did pretty well. His thoughts were interrupted by Say'ri, "I feel tired," she said with a blush, "for the first time in a while, I am going to retire to my hammock below. Thank you, sir Priam, for everything." She smiled at the radiant hero, which made him blush, ever so slightly Wow he thought am I losing control of my emotions? This HAS to be a hex.

"Well, I am glad that I could be of assistance to you tonight. Sleep well, Say'ri."

As she was walking back towards the stairs she had originally come up, Priam felt an unbalance in the air. He then felt the aura of revenge, followed by a faint noise of waves crashing, but it was behind them. He scanned the horizon, and he saw several figures hovering above the surface of the water and on the water as well, most likely hostile.

"Priam?" Say'ri asked as she noted the sudden change in attitude of her friend. Priam was still using his senses to determine the situation and had paid her no notice. But she saw that his face had worry written all over it. She spoke up, "Prithee, answer!"

Priam snapped out of whatever had caught his attention and gave Say'ri a serious face. "Whatever is wrong?" she asked once she had his attention.

"Sound the alarm." he said in an undertone, pulling Ragnell from its sheath, "We're going to see some action."

HEY!... So the story is slowly starting to incline, like a death-drop rollercoaster, and we'll see more characters that I bet you were bargaining for. The shepherds mostly reside in Ylisse (duh) so the only ones we'll see for a while are the Valmese and new characters. Don't be afraid though because Priam's son will show up soon.

Again, I Thank you for turning to chapter 2 on this story. I am not going to update as fast as I just did, but this chapter was pretty muched finished so I thought, why am I holding on to this? and I posted it. I plan on writing a second story soon involving two paralogue first-gen characters. Your opinions are wanted, because I have some Ideas, but there's bound to be something better.

Once again, Thanks.

-TheSearcherer