Legion of Honor

(C) Intelligent Systems and Nintendo

-0-

03. Compression

Lyn hated the smell of Badon.

Like Pherae, Badon was located close to the sea, therefore Lyn had expected the same refreshing ocean breeze. After long days of riding, she longed for some time to herself so she could watch the waves and let the sea breeze caress her face and ruffle her hair. Instead, as they got off the horses and stood outside the port town, all she could smell was the pungent stench of rotting fish and human waste as the wind blew it directly in their faces. This only had the effect of worsening her already poor mood. She could almost feel the same irritation and weariness from the others as they stretched their sore muscles in silence. Determined to find a ship as quickly as possible, she began to walk towards the town, only stopping when she saw two large men armed with battle axes just ahead.

They must be pirates, she realized in disgust. Brigands who terrorize the innocent while on the sea...I was hoping not to run into any of their kind.

Her eyes narrowed as the pirates noticed her and began to head in her direction. While she heard the footsteps of her companions behind her, she could not help but let her hand stray towards the swords she now kept strapped at her side at all times. The Mani Katti was too good to be used on mere bandits, of course, but that was why she also kept a regular iron sword with her. Not that she wanted to use it; she had more self-control than that.

However, judging by their smirks as they neared her, her growing irritation was quickly eroding what little self-control she had left.

"Hey, hey, what's with that look?" The larger of the two said as he leaned towards her. His breath, a foul gust of stale liquor, made Lyn's empty stomach lurch and worsened her mood even further. "We just want to be your friend."

She twitched at the suggestion before gathering up what composure she could find inside herself--little more than scraps at this point. "Pardon me," she managed out, coldly polite before she attempted to push past them.

"Where do you think you're going?" the other pirate said as he grabbed her left arm. In one swift move, she grasped the hilt of her sword.

Suddenly, she found herself pushed back, the red of Kent's armor in front of her face. "Please step away from her," he said, the simple command belying the dangerous tone in his voice.

Sain stepped up as well, and Lyn felt as if a wall had formed before her. "It's best to listen to him and leave. After all, we knights look poorly upon men who force themselves on young ladies."

The taller pirate cursed, not backing down. "The hell's this? Knights in Badon? Some upstart lord trying to make himself marquess here again?" There was a growing sense of danger surrounding both pirates and knights as all four men stood still, before the pirates turned around and headed back into the town.

"So, Marquess Pherae was right about this place. Quite a danger to the innocent maidens of the town with all these pirates on the loose..." Sain said with a sigh. Kent, on the other hand, said nothing at all. It unnerved Lyn; since Pherae, his demeanor had changed. She could depend on him, yet...

"Kent?" she said after a moment of silence had hung uncomfortably after Sain's comment.

"Lady Lyndis. We will go into the town and secure a ship for our journey."

"Kent." Now annoyed, Lyn felt the urge to reach for his shoulder, to force him to turn around and look at her. But when he glanced back, that urge fled in the face of his profile.

"Milady, it is apparent that unfamiliar young women should not wander the streets of this town without an escort. Also, our freedom is limited, a gift granted by Marquess Pherae. We must make sure to be inconspicuous whenever possible." He turned away. "Forgive my words, but you are anything but unnoticeable under the present circumstances."

Lyn narrowed her eyes in annoyance, but she also knew that her willingness to draw her sword at any buffoon that tried to manhandle her could cost them a ride at best. After a moment of clenching her fists, she looked away from Kent's back. "I understand. Then, Florina and I will stay here and watch the horses."

"Eh?" Wil walked up to her, surprise on his face. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Lyn answered, some warmth entering her voice. It was hard not to cheer up while talking to him. "You're suited for gathering information. I'd like for you to go, but if your head is bothering you then please rest instead."

"Oh, no, I've been feeling pretty good lately. I just..." Scratching the back of his head, Wil looked sheepish. "No, never mind. Thanks."

As the three young men walked into Badon--with Lyn catching Sain as he gave Kent an odd look in the process--Florina approached Lyn. "I don't like this place," Florina said with far more frankness than she had ever shown around the others, and Lyn had to laugh at that.

"Neither do I. It's sickening to see bandits of any kind act so brazenly...but all we can do now is leave as quickly as we can."

"Yes, that's true." Smiling, Florina touched Lyn's arm. "Why don't you take a walk, Lyn? I'll be fine with the horses and Huey, but you look like...well..."

"That bad?" Lyn suggested, half-jokingly. "If it's all right with you, I'd like that. But if someone tries to do anything to you, call for me, okay?"

After a moment's hesitation, Florina nodded. "U-um, yes. But Lyn, you know, I am--"

"I know. You're training to be a great pegasus knight, like your sisters." Patting Florina on the head, Lyn smiled as Florina blushed. "But you're my best friend, so let me watch over you, okay?"

"O-okay."

With a smile Lyn left Florina and the grazing steeds, opting to try and get away from the town's stench. The land around Badon was grassy, but as she followed the town walls she could see that the town was actually situated on a rocky cliff, on which the port extended out into the sea. But the cliff wasn't all that tall, and Lyn found that if she jumped down using a few well-placed rocks, she would land on a strange, sandy surface. Here, blue-green waves rolled onto the sand before descending back into the ocean, only to repeat the process again. It looked peaceful to watch, with water lapping at Mother Earth in repetitive strokes, Father Sky bright with only a few clouds here and there, and soon she found herself sitting at the bottom of the cliff and simply existing with nature.

Perhaps this is a lesson from our Mother the Earth and Father the Sky, she believed as she closed her eyes. The water swells and departs, though it doesn't seem as if the wind is doing it...hm. Maybe all the wind can do is excite the waters when they are both flowing in the same direction, just like the wind and a person...a person wielding the sword...I think I'm starting to understand. It's the same with the plains, but the lesson is easier to grasp here--

"It must be nice to relax during the day."

Lyn's eyes snapped open and she flung herself up and away from the small cliff, right hand reaching for her swords. A strange man was standing at the top of the cliff. "Who are you?" she demanded, her peaceful mood destroyed by the winds of agitation swirling inside her.

The strange man jumped down to her level and held up his hands in front of him. There was something about him that reminded her of Matthew, although that man had been cheerful and strange; this one just seemed creepy with his half-lidded eyes and one-sided tilt of a smile. His clothes were plain, although his large, dark green cloak was a little too reminiscent of Matthew's red cloak. By his stance she thought that he was probably poor at handling even a dagger, though that did not help her relax.

"I'm just a simple man who likes to look at the ocean," he said, lowering his head just enough that his dark green hair hid his eyes. This did nothing to ease Lyn's suspicions.

"You're a thief, aren't you?"

The man paused, looking at her again. "Well, well, it's not good to be so judgmental. I'll have you know that I also do honest work, like selling information. I'll even give you a special rate."

"Hmm." Lowering her hand, Lyn gave him a hard stare. "Why would you do that?"

"Well, Miss Longest-Legs-in-Lycia, I have to admit that..." he trailed off as she reached for her swords again. "That's no good, huh? Let's see...I bet you're the type who goes around in her spare time and slices up evil while saving the innocent. The noble sort. I'll call you the Lady of Blades, then. Though, you're young. I know kids your age are idealistic, but maybe you should ease up a little. You can't cure all the evil in the world."

Now Lyn relaxed. She no longer thought he was creepy, just weird. "Is that the kind of information you sell?"

He shook his head. "I know all the latest news in Lycia. For you my rate's a coin a tidbit, unless you already know it, then I'll give you another piece for free. Sometimes the information is good, sometimes it's just a rumor in disguise as the truth. How about it?"

"That's acceptable." While she had given most of the money to Kent for payment on a ship, she kept some for buying any needed rations or curatives. Maybe she was thinking a little too optimistically, but she hoped that they wouldn't need to replace their new weapons anytime soon. Reaching for the small pouch on her belt, she tossed the strange man a coin. "What is the latest news?"

After examining the gold coin, he smiled at her as he tucked it away under his cloak. "Do you know about the so-called Caelin impostor? She was captured in Pherae about a week ago, but she escaped that same night. Headed to Bern, so I hear."

Information travels too fast for my liking, Lyn thought as she tried to keep her expression disinterested. "I already know that."

Surprise flickered across the thief's face. "Is that so? All right, I'll up that. Marquess Caelin not only sent a caravan to pick up the impostor and her allies, but he also went as well."

Lundgren went to Pherae...? "Why is that?" she asked. She had to ask; the heavy feeling inside her demanded it.

"Seems to me that Marquess Pherae wanted to congratulate him while giving his condolences. You know, Marquess Caelin inherited his title from his older brother. That was where the whole problem stemmed from, since the impostor was said to be the dead marquess' granddaughter." There was a strange look on the man's face. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Marquess Pherae...invited that man?" she struggled out, confusion warring with that vague sense of betrayal all over again. "I don't..."

I don't believe you, she wanted to say, but she knew so little about Lycia, about the allies who weren't struggling alongside her, that she felt she couldn't complete the statement.

"You don't understand?" asked the thief. He shrugged. "Well, neither do I, not really. There are so many reasons why people do this or that, and it's even worse for those who claim to be nobility. Really, you're better off holding on to what you think is the truth, milady. That's how we commoners survive. Nothing's going to change for us, so we never act overtly. Anybody who openly supported the impostor is probably past regretting it now."

Lyn looked down, disturbing the sand with the tip of one boot. "That disgusting man," she spat.

"Yeah. The worst possible scenario happened, so everyone suffers except for the one causing all the pain. It's the opposite of how a fairytale's supposed to end." When Lyn looked up, she was surprised by the sympathy the thief displayed as he looked at her. "It's not just Caelin. Marquess Araphen's castle guard captain up and quit on him, and since the captain was Sacaean and the impostor's half-Sacaean, there's some anti-Sacaean sentiment being stirred up by idiots. Since the 'tragedy' has been averted, now people can make scapegoats to their hearts' content."

That's...I can't believe it. I don't want to--I never even thought about it. How could I? I only wanted to see my grandfather, but now it seems as if my coming here only made things worse. So much worse.

"Here."

Dumbly, she looked down to see that the thief had walked up to her and was pressing the coin she gave him into the palm of her hand. "It's your payment," she stated.

"No, it's fine--"

"Please." From her money pouch she took out more coins, enough to form a small pile in his hand. "You've told me a lot, and I appreciate it." She tried to smile, but since it didn't feel right, not with all the feelings colliding inside her, she started to walk towards the cliff.

"Wait," he said. Lyn stopped, but didn't turn around. "I have family in Caelin. No matter what we think about nobility, I think they would've liked you."

Lyn nodded once, then began to climb the cliff.

-0-

"This is amazing!"

Beside Lyn, Sain seemed to share in her excitement, spreading his arms wide. "Isn't it, milady? It's said to be the fastest ship in all of Badon! The captain promised us that we'd see Etruria by the middle of summer at the latest. Imagine that, a mere two or three months' journey on the open seas, and then the first thing we'll see when we leave the ship will be the fair ladies of Etruria..."

Lyn laughed. "Well, that's not for some time. Anyway, good job. This is perfect."

"Of course! We knights of Caelin perform every duty with pleasure!"

Wil, who had been walking by, turned around and gave Sain a strange look. "Was hitting on the barmaid a duty, then?"

Curious (as well as somewhat amused), Lyn watched as Sain frowned, his attention now focused on the archer. "Wil, how can you say that? It was because of my dedication in finding the information we needed that we're now on this ship!"

"No, it was because the barmaid's boyfriend and all his friends chased us out of that tavern that we ended up running into the captain of this ship," said Wil, one finger in the air as if he were giving a lecture. He winked at her when he noticed that she was watching them. "Lyndis, you should've seen him. He's almost as bad as the pirates."

"How can you say that?" While pointing a finger at Wil, Sain turned to face Lyn. "Lady Lyndis, please disregard what he says. After all, he spent the entire time moping around like a man who'd just lost his first love."

Concerned now, Lyn glanced at Wil. "Is that true, Wil?"

"Huh?" Wil blinked. "No, why? I've never even...wait, that's not what you meant, right?" He looked away. "I was just remembering something that happened there a long time ago, but it's nothing." When he looked back at her, he seemed unlike himself and more like the days after he'd been downed by a blow to the head, weary and unfocused. "But anyway, I'm not as bad as Kent. I don't know him too well, but he seems like he's in a bad mood all the time now."

To Lyn's surprise, Sain nodded; he looked discouraged. "That's true. There are many things I could say about him, but he's even more of a professional than I am. There isn't a knight who loves fulfilling his duty more than Kent...although one could say we're only knights at heart now."

I wonder... Worried as she was, Lyn still felt she had to say something, if only to set him at ease. "That's not true, Sain. I may not be familiar with knighthood, but from what I've seen of you and Kent, you've no reason to feel shame. Haven't you tried to follow through with your duties to the best of your ability? I'd say that's more than enough to be proud of."

"Yes, that's absolutely right!" Sain placed his hand over his heart. "Though I felt the shadows of doubt fall upon me just now, your beautiful words of praise have banished the darkness!"

"...That's great, Sain," Lyn said, smiling. "I'll talk to Kent and see what's wrong. At a time like this, we have to be open with each other. Our lives depend on each other."

But once she left Sain and Wil, Lyn didn't feel as brave as her words. Though a couple days had passed since the three men had first found the ship, she had kept finding excuses to leave him be even though they had few preparations to make. Even though she liked Kent and valued his help, she had to admit that the idea of approaching Kent on a personal level made her nervous. After all, he was perfectly professional. It seemed to her that there was a barrier between them that he had placed there from the very beginning, and he wasn't going to appreciate her trying to breach it. Or maybe there was something else? She remembered Sain's words--

Although one could say we're only knights at heart now.

--and she wondered if Kent regretted following her.

The boat rocked underneath her as she stopped walked. A shadow momentarily fell upon her, and she looked up to see Florina flying above the ship for training--though Lyn thought it was because the ship's crew happened to be all men. Before her was Kent, who seemed to be watching the ocean. With his back to her, Lyn thought he was like stone, though she didn't understand why.

Taking a deep breath to clear her mind, she walked forward until she was standing beside him. She rested her arms on the ship's railing and smiled at him as he glanced at her in what she thought was mild surprise. "Lady Lyndis? Is there something I can do for you?"

"No," she said, her smile faltering only slightly as she observed him. "But I was wondering if I might not be able to do something for you."

"Milady?" Now he seemed tired, maybe a little anxious. She really couldn't tell; the barrier was up now.

"Kent, lately I've been worried about you." As soon as she said that, she knew that she had used the wrong words. His perfect composure was one thing, but now he only seemed hard, unapproachable.

"I understand. Please forgive me, I had no intention of adding to your present worries. I will endeavor in the future to be less of a burden to you, milady."

This exercise in futility reminded her of something her father had told her once, a story about a man who split asunder a large boulder with an axe. She had been a child at the time, and the first thing she had done was to grab a sword and hack away at a rock until she had ended up breaking the blade. The comparison made her decide to give up for now. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she couldn't help but frown as a flicker of emotion crossed his face. She almost wanted to inquire, but she knew that it would come to nothing. "Kent, I don't know what it means to be a liege as Lycians define the word, but if something is bothering you, I'm here if you want to talk. And..." She let her hand drop from his shoulder as she looked up at his face.

"If at any time you wish to leave, you may do so. You've helped me so much, but I'm afraid I'm just being selfish at this point."

I only wanted to see my grandfather. Because I wasn't able to do so, I didn't just fail myself.

She turned to leave. He didn't stop her.

I failed everyone.

-0-

"Lyndis! Please wake up!"

Lyn floundered a bit before she grabbed one of the swords she had kept beside her as she slept. Reflexively, she sat up before opening her eyes. "Wil?" she asked as she blinked; she couldn't see him, but that had been his voice, right?

"Lyndis, there's a problem above deck! There's--we're being chased by pirates!"

She rubbed at her eyes with the back of her free hand, as if that would clear her vision and therefore her mind. "Wait, what? Pirates at night?" A memory flashed through her mind, one of blood and death and Papa, Mama, I don't want to leave you!

"So, the captain said that we need to stay below deck and...Lyndis?"

"I'm fine," she said, her voice rough with emotion. She pushed it down, along with the urge to be sick, and sat against the wall of the hold she and Florina were given to use as their room. "I'm fine. Isn't there anything we can do to help?"

"He said no. He plans on getting the ship onto a beach, and then we can all run to safety from there," Wil answered. "It'd be really hard for us to fight since they haven't boarded us yet, and if we do go ashore it'll be safer for us to be below deck."

I would rather fight. The thought was like a brand searing its message inside her mind, and Lyn wasn't sure if she really wanted to remove it. But there are too many lives at stake. It's best to run.

Her memories told her otherwise.

"I see," she said, standing up. With the darkness of the room and its small size, she felt caged in and anxious. "What are Kent and Sain doing?"

"They're preparing their horses so we can leave quickly."

"That's good. Can you go over there, too? Florina and I will meet you there."

"Sure."

She could hear the sound of his footsteps as he left the little hold, and she closed her eyes. Relax, relax. Everything's going to be fine, she told herself as she sat down on Florina's bed and began shaking her friend awake. "Florina? Wake up, Florina."

"Mm--Lyn? What...it's still dark," Florina mumbled, sounding slightly annoyed. Lyn had to laugh at that; unlike herself, Florina often had trouble waking.

"I know it's still dark, but there's a problem and I need you awake." Lyn shook Florina's shoulder a bit harder. "Your pegasus needs you."

"Huey?" At this, Florina sat up. "Why? What's wrong?"

After urging her friend up, Lyn picked up her other sword and tied the two to her belt as she left the room, the sound of Florina's soft steps close behind. "We're being chased by pirates. The captain wants us to stay below deck because he intends to go ashore, but I want us to be prepared for ba--no, to escape."

Florina seemed to take this well enough, because she didn't say anything as they navigated the narrow corridors. It was too dark to see anything, adding to the feeling of being closed in with no escape. Lyn preferred open areas, and she had the feeling that Florina did too, but they remained quiet until they reached the door to the hold where the horses and pegasus were being kept.

"We're really not going to fight?" Florina's voice was small, but Lyn's hearing was sharper with the loss of sight.

Opening the door, Lyn forced herself to sound normal and reassuring. "...No, unless we have to."

"Oh." Florina sounded surprised. "I think that's good."

Really? Lyn wanted to ask. She clenched her fists at her sides and walked into the large hold. With the help of the lantern on the floor, she could see shadows splayed against the floor and walls as Kent and Sain prepared their horses. Sitting nearest to the lantern was Wil, who was restringing his bow. "Hello," she called out as she approached the lantern.

"Lady Lyndis!" Sain replied, jovial despite the situation. "Ah, Florina! Shall I help you with Huey?"

"N-no, i-it's fine..."

"Sain, please," Kent said with no real inflection. Lyn thought he seemed sad, somehow.

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all. I feel uncomfortable seeing him now... Looking into the cheery light of the lantern, she sighed. Or perhaps it was good to say something, but I said the wrong thing.

Soon, everyone was sitting around the lantern, while the steeds laid on their stomachs so as to reduce the risk of their falling over and injuring themselves or others should the ship go ashore. It reminded her of the days before Caelin, when they were a much larger group around the campfire. She could hear Serra and Erk bickering, Wil chattering with anyone who would be interested--usually Matthew, though one time it surprised her to find Rath patiently listening to a tale about trick archery--or herself as she talked to Kent, or Florina, or Dorcas, or anyone else. She had enjoyed those nights, even though their days had been filled with battles and harsh traveling, because she could remember what it was like to be among her tribe and talk and laugh and feel human.

But as the ship creaked with each rolling sway, Lyn found this moment to be a poor substitute for those fun times under the night sky.

No one talked. It was as if they were holding their breaths while waiting. All they could do was wait, just like in Pherae's dungeon cell. But unlike that cell, there was only the light of the lantern; there wasn't even the glimmer of the night sky to reassure her that there was something beyond the wooden walls of the hold. So she concentrated on the lantern, focused on the light and tried to imagine the moon and the stars, the cold wind, the smell of burning wood as best as she could.

Then, Kent reached for the lantern and her illusions fell apart all around her.

"It would be best to turn out the light. If the ship goes ashore, we cannot risk the lantern toppling over and starting a fire," he said, reasonable as always. She wanted to protest, wanted to grab the lantern away from him, but she wouldn't. She wouldn't. She was stronger than that.

He was watching her when she lifted her eyes from the lantern to his face. Kent was watching her expression, and he seemed almost frozen by it. She wasn't sure what to do, embarrassed as she was that he could see her fear. "Kent?" she whispered, hating the quaver in her voice.

She hated him for not looking away as he said, "Perhaps we could keep it as it is. It may be a negligible risk..."

"I don't know, but I don't think we should take even the smallest risk. I mean, our luck hasn't been that great and none of us are scared of the dark," Wil said. Beside him, Lyn grew flustered.

I'm not scared of the dark. Only...it makes this place feel smaller...

"Right," she said, trying to rein in her fears. "We can't risk it. Kent, please put it out."

I'm strong. I can handle this. I'm strong. I can handle this.

He kept his eyes on her, and in response she hardened her features. Opening the top of the lantern, he blew out the flame. Instantly, there was only darkness. Lyn couldn't see anyone, only hear their breaths, and she hoped that hers sounded as normal as theirs. There was only darkness, pressing all around her, enveloping her like a cocoon. It reminded her of that night, just before the bandits attacked. The dead silence and unnatural pressure before the slaughter...

She clenched her knees with her hands, her short fingernails digging through the thick material of her dress and marking her skin.

They were coming and there was no way to fight...she couldn't fight...they wanted her to run...

I'm strong, I'm strong, I'm...

-to be continued-

Lyn seems to have a strong preference for open, wide areas, most likely stemming from her homeland. At worst she's probably only slightly claustrophobic, but with the prospect of pirates coming and complete darkness inside an enclosed area I'd think that stress would exacerbate it. Even though she has a lot of willpower, since she has fairly recent traumatic memories about a similar situation it would quickly push her to her limits.

There are references to Wil's past in Badon, more explicitly explained in the Wil/Rebecca and Wil/Dart A supports.