Chapter 12:
The Plegian Heat
Somewhere in the Plegian sands, spies were relaying stolen information to their superiors,
"Sir, it is just as you predicted, the Ylissean tactician they call 'Robin' has recruited reinforcements from their allies in Chon'sin."
Another spy spoke up, "They plan on traveling right through Plegia to reach Ylisstol. We could strike them before they reach Ylisstol and make sure they never make it."
The large man on the throne put up a hand, "They expect us to assault them in our territory, imbecile! I have a better idea." He rose from his sitting position, "Priam's forces must not make it to Ylisstol. We shall confront them at the border, and attempt to convert the man into the world's strongest Risen. He will comply, or he will suffer dearly." something deep in his dark soul convinced him it was comical, he started to laugh in a diabolical and unearthly tone, "Buahaha... HAHA...BWAHAHAHAHA!"
"Did everyone grab their supplies from off of the boat?" Say'ri asked Priam.
"I pray so; otherwise they shall never see it again."
Priam turned to his troops who were taking in the sights of the desert before them, "It's like a beach without water!" He heard Tia say, he had to refrain from smacking himself in the forehead at her obvious statement.
"Everyone, listen up." Priam barked out, the squad turned their attention to him "Clarisa and Nathaniel will act as transports for Tanuitia and Helen. Sorry, Jack and Raphael, you will have to walk."
Jack groaned, "I actually have to ride my horse, so it's worse for me..."
"Do you want me to carry you and your horse?" Raphael asked in an annoyed, sarcastic tone.
"If it's not too much trouble." Jack replied with a grin.
A loud eagle-like screech reminded them of Ashnard's presence, "Come on, guys!" Nathaniel said to the two on the ground, "The heat is starting to get to Ashnard, so let's get going!"
Helen climbed aboard the large griffon and Tia mounted the pegasus behind Clarisa. The two flyers bolted to the sky, only hearing what Priam shouted at the last second, "Don't fly too far ahead!"
Aramis whipped out his wind tome and cast a spell on his feet, making him hover slightly above the Plegian sand. "Let's see who can get to Ylisstol first!" he started to run and was unhindered by the sand. Jack groaned again realizing he would be the slowest.
Raphael put a hand on Jack, "Don't worry, Jack, we'll stay with you. No one is going to be left behind."
"Thanks pal!"
The four followed the two flyers and the mage at a very slow pace, slowing constantly to help Jack's mighty steed from the sand it constantly tripped in. Priam and Say'ri took up the rear while Jack and Raphael led the small, ground troop. The two young men had not spoken often since their first meeting (Raph hadn't spoken to almost ANY of them anyway) but they talked today like old comrades, discussing training regimes, tactics, and fencing styles. A question that Jack had been meaning to ask Raphael for a long time finally surfaced in his mind and he asked him with slight hesitation, "Just out of curiosity... why are you even in this army? Surely your mercenary skills could be put to a better use?"
Raphael was silent. A minute passed and Jack heard no reply. Raphael was clearly lost in thought, "…Raphael?"
Raphael looked up to the cavalier. He thought for a second to get an answer that wasn't a complete lie, "I was hoping to travel the world in search of my parents. I was hoping to find them in Chon'sin…"
"Did you find them?"
"…No." This was also not a complete lie. His parents were dead; he would never find them again, no matter how hard he looked.
"Well, maybe we'll find them on the road!" Jack said optimistically, "What do they look like?"
"…Jack, if it's all the same to you, let's drop the subject."
"Sorry, Raph. I didn't mean to-" But Raphael covered his mouth. Raphael eyed the dunes behind them carefully, seeing shadows that should not have been there.
"Something is following us…" Raphael said in a whisper.
Then he saw it, a Risen stood up shakily and notched an arrow on his bow. Before Raphael could say anything, the Risen let fly the missile, aimed at Priam. That alone was a mistake the Risen would not make twice.
"Yah!" Priam side-stepped to avoid the arrow. As the arrow whizzed past, he grabbed it in mid-air and spun around quickly, throwing it back at the Risen.
The Risen screeched and made unearthly sounds before dissipating into a puff of smoke. More Risen appeared, some rising directly out of the ground.
"Revenants…" Priam said under his voice, "Jack! The path hardens farther down, try to flag down the rest of our team and get them back here to handle these things. For now, Say'ri, Raphael and I can handle them."
Raphael and Say'ri drew steel and stood shoulder to shoulder next to Priam.
"Yessir!" Jack responded as he spurred his horse down the road to find the rest of the team.
After Jack had left, more Risen appeared from the ground. They looked like Revenants, but were a gold color. "Entombed!" Priam shouted in excitement, "These Grimleal are not too smart if they give us opportunity to grow!" Say'ri nodded in response, but Raphael was slightly confused, how could my old man be happy to see those things? They're hideous! But as they fought, he realized that some moves he had been learning could get some practice on this odd Risen. The experience proved to be fruitful.
More Risen appeared by the Entombed. The Entombed seemed to be focused on attacking Priam and Raphael while the regular Risen assaulted Say'ri.
"Why are the Entombed just attacking us?" Raphael asked Priam while chopping the sack off of an Entombed.
"It is rather curious…" Priam replied, piercing a solder Risen through the stomach.
They tried constantly to assist Say'ri, but every time they tried to switch places with her, they moved in the same manner.
A screech of a wyvern was heard over the din of battle. Priam turned to the skies to see a small pack of Risen on flying mounts approaching. We need backup. FAST!
"EVERYONE DUCK!" Nathaniel shouted. He did not wait for a response as he flew Ashnard just off of the ground, bringing his axe through any Risen it met. Helen jumped from her ride and landed square on a wyvern rider. She used the brute force of her fist to knock the Risen from its mount and quickly brought the wyvern to a crash landing.
Clarisa followed suit of her younger brother and brought her lance through several Risen, making a plume of purple smoke from where they once stood.
Tia tried to dismount in the same manner as Helen, but she missed the mount she was aiming for and fell to the ground. She tumbled when she hit, and somehow, landed on her feet. Seeing that she was okay, she charged ahead and swung her sword with the fury of ten men (too bad she didn't have her eyes open.)
The fight was getting harder and harder and it almost looked like they were going to have to retreat.
"Raph!" Priam called to him, "Get everyone out of here! They can't take much more!"
"Find someone else to do that, I'll fight with you!"
"This isn't a request, this is an ORDER!"
"But-!" In a puff of smoke, all of the Risen disappeared. Nothing remained of the attack except for the Defenders.
Tia was still swinging wildly with her eyes shut. "How many more are left!"
"Tanuitia! Stop! You could harm a comrade!" Say'ri called out to her young cousin.
Tia opened her eyes to the empty desert. She resheathed her sword and stood with pride, "That, friends, is how you deal with Risen!"
"But Priam," Nathaniel started, "Why would they-"
"I'm here. Where's the battle!" Aramis was riding on the back of Jack's horse. His ankle was wrapped.
"It's over, troglodyte!" Helen said with disgust, "If you hadn't decided to run ahead, you could have helped us."
"AND" Jack was a little annoyed, "if you hadn't turned your ankle on that sand dune, you wouldn't be slowing down my horse. We could have been here in no time."
"Fortunately, our supplies haven't been touched." Clarisa said, looking over the inventory carried by the mounts.
It was rather odd to think about. Why would the Grimleal bring a whole force against them to fight then retreat when they were starting to win? This can't be good.
Robin and Cordelia were out of reach by this point; they would not be able to assist them if they needed it.
"That could have been a weakening strike, sir." Jack suggested, "They will most likely throw all they have at us on the border."
"We have no other option at the moment." Priam said with a sigh, "We're in their lands, we play by their rules. Defenders, we move onward!"
Aramis was forced to ride Jack's horse the rest of the way because of his bad ankle. When Aramis tried telling of how he fought a small force of risen by himself causing him to turn his ankle, Raphael laughed hysterically, as did Priam and some of the others.
Jack, as well as his mount, hated being a transport for an injured Aramis. He complained about the smallest bumps and turns, making Jack even more annoyed with him.
They rode through the night. They were allowed no rest because the Grimleal would give them none, sending small bands of Risen to catch them off guard.
By the dawn of the second day, they could see the border.
"Be prepared, everyone. Priam reminded, "Their assault will most likely commence at any-"
"Halt!"
They looked to the man dressed in Plegian, dark mage robes.
"I'm here for the one they call, 'The descendant of Ike'." As he spoke, several puddles formed in front of him, almost nine thousand.
"And what do you want of me?" Priam demanded. The man gave a dark chuckle.
"I was not referring to you. While you are a descendent, you are not the one I seek." He pointed to Raphael.
"He is."
CLIFF HANGER!... does this sound insane? Maybe just a little…
I'll talk about this story in just a couple seconds, but first, let's talk sister fics. My story, 'Desperado' is up and published and already has two chapters while 'The Means of Peace' has been put on halt until further notice.
Now about this story. WE REACHED A CLIMAX! I'm so happy :,) I actually haven't written the next chapter, but I have written the chapter after that. Lucina enters the picture and things will start to mysteriously disappear around the camp, revealing another OC, Aaron (You might have already met him).
Life has been hectic recently, so if I don't post another chapter for a month, please be patient and remember that I promised to finish this story.
Please leave a review about the chapter or about random things if you want. Constructive criticism is ALWAYS appreciated. PM me anytime. I love to talk to people in an unbiased manner and never judge anyone, so if you're bored, hit me up.
You already know how thankful I am that you opened this story, but for the sake of repetition, Thanks!
~TheSearcherer