"I just want to ask one question," Lyn said just as General Marcus began to close the cell door. There was only one room for the five of them, but she thought that was all right. She didn't want to be apart from any of them at the moment.

Also, she wanted them to hear this. They all deserved to know.

The Pheraean paused. A thin beam of light streamed through the space left by the unclosed door. "I will answer it," he said after a moment.

Permission granted, and yet Lyn found it hard to actually get the words out. The effort was akin to physically wrenching the words out of her throat, and it seemed just as painful. "Does he...does Eliwood know about this?"

There was no pause this time. "I am the sword and shield of Marquess Pherae and his family. Every action I take is on their order."

"I see," was all Lyn could say.

The door closed, cutting off the stream of light like an executioner's axe.

Legion of Honor

(C) Intelligent Systems and Nintendo

-0-

02. Caged

Without a word, Lyn turned around, taking in her first real view of their cell. There wasn't much to take in; there was a small, barred window high above the wall opposite of the door, and underneath the window was a wooden bench the length of the wall. While she had been talking to the Pheraean general, there seemed to have been a consensus made between her companions that allowed Wil full reign of the bench, while Kent and Sain sat against one wall and Florina curled up against the other. The sky beyond the window was bright and clear, early afternoon by the latest.

No one spoke as she took the few steps available in the cramped cell and sat down beside Florina, who only sniffled as Lyn wrapped an arm around her shoulders and stroked her hair in what Lyn hoped was a comforting manner. Across from her, Lyn noticed the very different temperaments of the men in front of her--Sain with his legs sprawled out in front of him while Kent sat in a more restricted manner, back ramrod-straight against the wall--yet their faces wore nearly the same, solemn expression. When she turned her head to the right, she could see Wil hunched over with his shoulders rigid and his hands loosely clasped between his knees. While they had been allowed to keep their armor, all their weapons had been confiscated. It surprised Lyn how different everyone looked without their weapons, or how light she felt without a sword hanging from her belt.

She felt naked. Stripped of weapons and mounts, there was no enemy they could fight and win. Stripped of outside help, all they could do was wait to die.

It was like they were lower than animals.

I hate this.

It was a thought, a single thought, but for Lyn it was enough. If she couldn't depend on someone she had thought of as a friend, then she would depend on herself. If there wasn't any hope left for them, then she would create hope. She remembered that fateful night, when all she could do was run as her tribe was slaughtered. She remembered how Mark died, when all she could do was hold him as he struggled for one last breath.

That's enough. This won't be the end!

But even though she could think this, even though she hadn't lost the will to fight...she didn't know what she could do to improve their lot.

Here, now, Lyn realized how little she really knew.

The quiet was oppressive, and Lyn hated it. Yet, she didn't know what to say. What could she say? She searched for words, good ones that would cheer them up, brighten their spirits, but all the ones she found inside of her were lacking. They were pithy little statements that withered in the low light of their dungeon, comments that were as overdone and unsatisfying as meat left too long on the fire, and she hated that she could only offer that to the others. Resentment festered inside of her; now she could see why the other survivors hadn't wanted to rebuild the Lorca with her as chieftain. Now she could see why she had stayed alone in her ger while the seasons flew past like the wind on the plains. It was Mark she had drawn her courage from; it was Mark who she had clung to while she reached out and remembered what it meant to live again. And, taken in by the dreams of the grandfather she had never known, it was Mark who advised her and done everything to help her while asking for nothing in return.

It was just as well. In the end, what did she have to give?

"Do you think they'll feed us?"

Lyn turned to give Wil a strange look; she imagined they all did, as his voice was so loud in the small cell that it was impossible to ignore. "Feed us?"

"Yeah," he answered, looking blissfully unaware of how strange his question was at a time like this. "All we had for breakfast were apples. They were kinda sour...well, I don't mind sour apples, but they weren't even completely ripe, so it wasn't even that appetizing. It was okay at the time, because we all thought that once we reached the castle we'd get fed something better than rabbit at night, but with the way things are now..." He shrugged, a small smile on his face. "Well, I wouldn't even mind unripe apples and rabbit."

"You're...hungry?" asked Kent. He sounded about as bewildered as Lyn felt.

Scratching the back of his head with one hand, Wil looked sheepish. "You aren't? It's already getting darker." Lyn was surprised when she looked up at the window above his head; beyond the bars, it was already late afternoon.

"Hm, I never would've realized it until it was already night," she remarked. Disgusted by how long she had spent wallowing in her doubts, she pushed her thoughts aside and focused on the moment. "Come to think of it, I could use something to eat too."

Wil laughed, and it surprised Lyn by how easily he could do that. "I knew I wasn't the only one! But then, do we just tell them that we want food, or do we just wait for them to feed us? I've never been imprisoned before, so I'm not sure how this goes."

Lyn nodded. "Neither have I." The first person to catch her eye was Sain, so she asked him, "Sain, do you know what we should expect?"

"Milady, what are you implying?" Sain looked comically affronted, to the point where it was hard for Lyn to keep from smiling. "Why, I've always been an exemplary knight! The very pinnacle of knighthood, in fact!"

Kent, who had been covering his face with one hand, began to shake his head. "In all honesty, Lady Lyndis was right to question you. No one else among the Caelin knighthood has merited more hours watching the dungeons than yourself."

"Now, now, that's a bit of an exaggeration."

"I fear it is not. Or, are you to tell me that you cannot remember all the times you were punished for carousing around in the nearby villages?"

"Why--no, of course not! Surely I was doing my part in promoting safety and good will amongst the townsfolk?"

"If I recall correctly, there was the time when you--"

"Ah! Kent, how could you even think to betray the confidence of your good friend? Your boon companion! And you would call yourself a true knight?"

"...That seems a more likely exaggeration..."

By this time, Lyn couldn't suppress either her smile nor the laughter that bubbled up inside her. It was the same for Wil; even Florina was giggling into Lyn's shoulder. Lyn had the feeling Kent and Sain were doing this for show; Kent's face was clear of the irritation he usually showed during Sain's antics, and Sain seemed more outrageous than ever in his protestations, but she appreciated it. That they could laugh at even a time like this made Lyn feel as if everything would be all right in the end. Even as their laughter faded away, leaving little more than some embarrassed shifting at the fact that they laughed at all, Lyn felt better.

Still a little betrayed, still with doubts, but better.

"So," she said, "is everyone all right? Is there anything we should talk about, any concerns or ideas?"

"Um, I was...I was wondering," Florina began, her soft voice strangely loud inside the small cell and catching everyone's attention, "what do you think they'll do to--to Huey?"

"Huey?" asked Sain. "Is that the name of your pegasus? What a bold, masculine name!"

There was a moment of silence before Florina spoke again. "Um, actually, Huey is...is a mare."

Sain emitted a strangled sound, and Lyn could almost see his need to back away from his words flashing on his face. "I-is that so? It's such a cute, dainty name!" Beside him, Kent sighed.

"...Well, anyway, go on," Lyn encouraged Florina. "You've had your pegasus when I first met you, I remember."

"Y-yes. She's...she's really important to me. My eldest sister helped me learn to get along with her, and she was my only close friend until I met you. We've been partners for years now, and I'm...I've never been away from her for this long, not willingly..." Florina's voice grew even softer, a slight tremor giving her words an added melancholy that made Lyn's heart clench. "I'm not scared about myself because Lyn is with me," she seemed to murmur to herself, though her words were still audible, "but I'm worried about Huey. She must be frightened...will she be treated well here?"

The disquieting, oppressive silence of before had returned. Lyn could feel that it wasn't just herself who hurt for Florina, but rather that they all could feel the delicate notes of what had to be Florina's worst nightmare--the nightmare of all pegasus knights. It reminded Lyn of the string instruments of Sacaean origin, the two-stringed morin khuur, and the strange quiver of sound that was produced at the plucking of a string. That quiver, the highs and lows encompassed in a single note, was like the complexities of the heavy atmosphere that weighed on them now.

"If I may say something," Kent started, and maybe it was Lyn's ears but it seemed even the emotions of the room had invaded even his perpetually-moderate tone. "Although it is true that our treatment by Pherae has been unexpected and, quite frankly, dismaying, I do not think that they will stoop so low as to mistreat our mounts." His eyes met Lyn's for a moment, before he closed his eyes and nodded. "This is only my belief, but I do hope it will allow you to set some of your fears aside."

He remembered, Lyn thought, touched beyond words. Before, when there was nothing but hope for tomorrow, she had asked him to help watch over Florina for her. That he would remember such a promise, even at a time like this, brightened Lyn's mood.

No, she realized with a smile. It's because it's such a trying time that he would remember.

Florina only nodded, her hair brushing against Lyn's shoulder, but from such a shy girl it was more than enough. Before Lyn could speak, the sound of keys jangling outside their door caused them to look up. They watched as one knight opened the door while another one placed a large tray in the center of their room before both Pheraeans left, locking the door behind them. The tray consisted of a pot of stew, a good-sized loaf of bread, and a small bowl of wild berries.

"That's better fare than we've had of late," said Sain. "Though they forgot separate bowls." He picked up the loaf and handed it to Lyn. "Here, Lady Lyndis."

"I wonder if this is Eliwood's way of apologizing," Lyn said as she ripped off a chunk of bread. The inside of the bread was white and not the least bit hard; it had obviously been made within the day. She handed the loaf to Florina before reaching out to dip her portion of the bread in the stew. When she bit into the bread she found that the stew was meaty and fresh, and she savored the rich flavor of it and the thickness of the bread as it awakened a hunger she didn't even realize she had. "This is good," she mumbled. Muttered agreements followed as the others shared in the food.

A short time later, they shared the last of the berries as the sky darkened to an indigo blue. As Lyn sucked drops of the bitter juice from her thumb, Kent said in a low voice, "I believe it is time to discuss how we intend to escape."

Her heart thumping uncomfortably fast, Lyn looked up and stared hard into Kent's night-stained face. "How?" she asked, her voice hushed. There could be guards just on the other side of the door, but more than that, she was stunned at the idea of being free. "From this castle?"

"I...am afraid not, milady," Kent responded. Wil, who had been sitting on the floor to partake of the meal, made a questioning sound.

"Then? It sounds like you have a plan."

"Of course he would have a plan," Sain said, laughter behind his words.

"Yes, well...while we are locked up within Castle Pherae, our chances of escape are low. There would be too many guards to evade, as well as the entire Pheraean military once they were sufficiently rallied. Therefore, the only time feasible for an escape is when we are handed over to Caelin." Kent's features, shaded by the night, were set with a solemnity that made Lyn anxious. "If you go east, into the mountains, from there it would be only a matter of time until you enter Bern."

That's reasonable enough, only... "But, won't Lundgren send enough troops to make sure we can't do anything of that sort?" Lyn asked. "And, if we try to escape while still in Pherae, I assume that Marquess Pherae will be obligated to help Caelin."

There was a heartbeat's pause before Kent spoke again. "Yes. That is why I will stay behind to act as a distraction."

While Lyn could only stare in horror, stunned by his words, Sain turned to Kent. "By yourself? Ha! If you're to do this, then I will as well!"

"You..." Lyn swallowed, her throat dry. "You can't be serious."

Kent's expression did not change. "It is the only way, Lady Lyndis. You must survive, at all costs."

"Exactly," Sain agreed, his smile at odds to what he was agreeing with. "And, as the knights who brought you into this danger, it would be an honor to do all that we can to make sure you can return to the plains you called home."

You're wrong, she thought. You're wrong, you're wrong, you're absolutely wrong.

She didn't want to die, to squander the life that her father had saved over half a year ago. She still had so much to do. She still had to avenge her tribe, and try harder at bringing the Lorca together again. She had to master the sword, so that she could protect the oppressed. She was only fifteen, of course she didn't want to die just yet.

But I will not waste their lives in order to save my own. Never will I become so selfish.

"No, I will not agree to this."

There was a waxing moon outside, and with its light she could see the shadows of the wrinkles on Kent's forehead. "Milady, you must be reasonable. Your life is too important to squander now."

"I could say the same to you, Kent," she shot back. "Unless I can fight by your side while Florina and Wil escape, then I will not talk about this plan any further."

She could feel Florina shaking her head, thick hair battering Lyn's shoulder. "No, I won't leave you."

"Yeah, I'm not going to agree to that," Wil said, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Kent, from what Lyn could see, was still set on his path. So, she turned to Sain. "What do you say, Sain?"

"Eh..." She could see him shake his head. "On one hand, it would be any knight's honor to sacrifice himself for his liege, especially for such a beautiful woman...yet, on the other hand, how could I be so selfish as to cause Lady Lyndis to shed even one tear for me, her humble servant?" Sain sighed in a dramatic fashion before turning again to Kent. "Might there not be another solution?"

"None. Lundgren is bound to send a caravan with enough guards to make escape nothing more than a fleeting fancy, and we will be killed once we are within Caelin's borders. And, so long as we are here, there are no means of escape." Even with the light available from the moon, Kent's face was dark with something more than simply the night's shadows. "Lady Lyndis, I beseech you to think this through."

Lyn didn't understand the full scope of knighthood's demands. Listening to his words, heavy with unsaid emotions, she thought that their demands were too much for any one man to shoulder. She wanted to convince him that it was better this way, that either the five of them were going to leave Pherae safely, or not. But, no matter the weight of the words she overturned in her mind, like holding rocks in her hands to find the right one to throw, she didn't know what to say that would make everything all right for him.

She was from a world of chieftains, where dissatisfied plainsmen routinely left to find a more suitable tribe if their former chieftain was unsuitable. She had little idea of this world of marquesses, where blind loyalty was expected because of blood right, not earned.

At least, she had no idea how she earned Kent's unwavering loyalty.

"Kent, please understand," she started, "I--no, we've lost so much getting this far. My grandfather is gone. Mark is gone. There are only the five of us left. I cannot risk losing even another person, especially not when you all mean so much to me. Even if you see this as no more than a young girl's selfishness, I refuse to leave anybody behind to save my own life. We are all equals, and if we must, we will struggle together as equals."

Despite her words, Lyn felt no pressure inside the cell. Instead, after a moment so long that Lyn feared Kent was too angry to speak, he only said, "I hear and obey, Lady Lyndis. Then, instead of worrying what will come, we should get some rest."

That, everyone could agree with.

-0-

"Please wake up."

Lyn groaned as she was shaken awake, wanting nothing more than to push away the hand on her shoulder but too lazy to do so. It was the path of least resistance to wake up, and when she did she was greeted with the sight of a dark-haired woman whose white clothes nearly glowed with the moonlight flowing into the room. "Who...?" Lyn asked; she was a morning person, but not that early in morning.

"It would be best if you remained silent," the strange woman said. Frowning, Lyn sat up, where she noticed two things; one, that Florina was awake and rubbing at her eyes, and that there was a man attempting to wake Wil, who slept on the bench. Once Wil was up, albeit groggier than everyone else, the white-clad woman turned to them and gestured for them to wait while her partner left the cell. Some time later, as Lyn's head cleared enough to be very well-aware of what was happening, the woman waved for them to follow her.

Lyn noticed the sword the woman carried and thought it best to do as they were told.

They followed the two strangers through the night-shrouded castle, always following the woman's signals as they made their way past the main hall and into a series of corridors while a few guards roamed without ever noticing them. Lyn couldn't even see the man until he opened a door ahead of them, warm light pouring over his form and revealing his dangerous-looking armor. If he was a knight, she figured, then so was this woman, and their familiarity with the castle at night marked them Pheraeans.

Her heart racing, Lyn struggled to control the rise of hope inside her.

One by one, they entered the room. Unfamiliar with Lycian design, Lyn wasn't sure as to the type of room it was, but it compared poorly to the people already there. "Eliwood?" Lyn asked, unsure of how to feel when his name had earlier brought to mind thoughts of betrayal.

"Lyndis," Eliwood greeted, his smile wide despite the late hour. Besides himself, there was someone who could only be his father behind the large table in the room. No, Lyn told herself, Mother called it a desk, something unnecessary to the nomadic lifestyle.

"Marquess Pherae," Kent said with a short bow after he approached Lyn's side.

Eliwood's father nodded. "Forgive us for the late hour. It was necessary to prepare everything for this time."

"Necessary?" Lyn asked, unable to keep from frowning. She knew it was rude, but after being imprisoned and having to dissuade others from carrying out suicidal escape plans, her patience had begun to wear thin.

Eliwood's smile faded. "Lyndis, please understand. As much as we wanted to help you, your arrival has...complicated matters."

She stole a glance at Kent's face; he was as composed as ever. So, she nodded in apology. "Forgive me, it's been a trying time as of late."

"Yes, I'm sure," Eliwood's father said, warmth behind his words. "And you must forgive us for the deception. It simply would not do were Lundgren to hear of your being treated as a guest within our home. I'm sure you've heard this before, and I am sorry to repeat it again if that is so, but his claim to Caelin's throne is such that it can drastically weaken the pact between the cantons of Lycia were any of us to openly support you. As such, the only option left to you is to flee the country."

It was just as well, Lyn felt as she nodded in agreement. Lycia seemed a sad place to her.

"In which direction would you suggest, Lord Elbert? We bow to your wisdom on this matter," said Kent.

"When the convoy from Caelin arrives, I intent to tell them that you've escaped into Bern. That way, they'll cease to canvas the other cantons, allowing you some freedom of movement." The marquess nodded to Eliwood, who picked up a bag that had been resting on the table and approached Lyn. She took the bag when it was offered to her, finding it heavy with gold. "In the meanwhile, I suggest you head to Badon. Although pirates use the town as their base, there is enough gold in that bag to bribe a captain to take you as passengers. I would recommend Etruria, as they care little about Lycian matters."

We're being exiled from Lycia, Lyn realized. That's fine for me, but... She snuck another glance at Kent. His face no longer had the peaceful cast it usually did when he was composed; rather, it seemed harder now, like a stone wall barring any path to his true feelings.

She hated his composure sometimes, but it was much better than this.

"Marcus has prepared your steeds for the journey ahead, and replaced your worn weapons. If you need anything else, please ask him before you leave. Harken, Isadora, see them to the stables." Eliwood's father smiled. "I wish we could do more. May Saint Elimine light your path."

"Ah, a thousand blessings upon you," Lyn responded, then glanced at Eliwood. "Thank you, Eliwood."

"Goodbye, Lyndis," he said in return, and she appreciated that his smile was a good one for their last meeting.

After they walked from shadow to shadow, they finally reached the door that would take them out to the stables. As they walked outside into the chilly, sea-scented night, as Florina bounded towards her pegasus with pure relief, Sain walked beside Lyn. "Lady Lyndis, wasn't I right all along? You've nothing to fear with your loyal knight Sain by your side!"

"Mm, you're right," she said with a smile, rubbing her bare forearms. There was no breeze, yet the skin puckered up as if a chill ran through her body.

She supposed she couldn't blame her body for that, as Kent's expression remained as cold as the night and as daunting as the journey before them.

-to be continued-

A few notes this time, just because:

-Everyone knows Lyn is fifteen in her story, right? Cool.

-After checking the Japanese supports, I'm not sure if Huey is a mare or not. The explicit statement in Florina/Ninian's A support in the English version is not there in the Japanese text, and the artbook doesn't have anything about that. Names aside, I don't see Florina handling the equivalent of a stallion, even if pegasi are shy around humans.

-The morin khuur described above is a real Mongolian musical instrument, often known as the horse-headed guitar. Sacaean culture seems derived from Mongolian nomadic culture, so I think it's a good fit.

03: Badon, the lawless canton. Pirates, bandits of the seas, rule the port, and it is a struggle for Lyn to stay her hand and remain calm. But there are more than pirates to worry about in such a place, and perhaps even unexpected allies in others...