Chapter 2-Breaking Camp

The next morning…

No matter how late he was up the night before, Guy always rose at false dawn. It was a talent that many of the others envied, and one that Sir Marcus flat told his troops to start emulating. So despite only getting two hours of sleep, the young swordsman was still the first person to be up and about. Starting on the morning duties for his area, Guy was about halfway through heating up breakfast when he noticed a familiar shadow slinking up towards the campsite. Without even turning around, he called out to his friend, "Hey, Matthew! I was looking for you yesterday, where'd you get off to?"

Bleary eyed, the rogue finished dragging himself up towards the campsite and plopped down next to the fire before answering, "Sorry, I needed some time to myself." Knowing that Guy would only start asking uncomfortable questions if he let him, Matthew started asking questions instead, to steer the conversation away from his own activities, "So we've got meat for breakfast today? That's a nice change. Rabbit or pigeon?"

Guy gave his friend a funny look, "Pigeon. You mean to tell me that you can't tell the difference between rabbit and pigeon?" Something was definitely bothering Matthew. Maybe it was just the hour, but the spy usually woke only shortly after Guy himself did, so he didn't think that could be it.

Matthew shrugged, "Not when you cook it." Seeing the Sacaen's scrutiny, he grinned rather irreverently and snatched a piece of the more done meat, trying to seem more awake and alert than he was.

"Tch! If you don't like it, then why do you keep hanging out over here?" Guy gestured off towards the area around Lord Hector's tent as he turned the meat, "I'm sure Serra will have something for a city boy like you over in the Ostian camp." Pausing, Guy shot Matthew a serious look for a moment, "Seriously, why do you stay at the Sacaen camp instead of the Ostian one? You are an Ostian spy, after all."

Matthew shrugged again as he grabbed another piece of meat, Because lord Oswin doesn't trust you lot, that's why. "Serra's cooking isn't any more edible than this, and at least you don't complain about having to do camp chores."

Guy rolled his eyes, but he could understand. Serra was enough to get on anyone's nerves. Not like Pricilla, who was everything than any man could ever dream of in a…

"You...ah, still there buddy?" Guy blinked and saw Matthew's hand waving in front of his face. "You sure you got enough sleep? Here, have some pigeon. It's tasteless, but it's still food." The rogue's tone of mock-concern and the twinkle in his eye told quite plainly that he knew exactly what made Guy space out, and he only laughed as Guy shoved him away, muttering vague threats under his breath.

But as Matthew opened his mouth to continue the taunting, he was interrupted by Rath riding up with a message, "Matthew, the nobles are all talking in the Ostian camp. Lord Hector wants you there."

As Matthew nodded and got to his feet, Guy couldn't help but smirk, seeing a chance to turn the tide, "Well, looks like you won't be able to avoid Serra by hiding up here after all. Have fun."

His little victory was short lived, as the Sacaen knew he was in trouble from the moment his friend smiled. "Oh, will do. All the nobles, huh? That's good, I'll be sure to let Lady Pricilla know that you haven't been sleeping well. I'm sure she can help with that." With a wink, Matthew dashed off for the Ostian camp, leaving an embarrassed Guy to try and sputter out a refusal while Rath simply shook his head.

Announcing his presence by clearing his throat, Matthew walked into the main tent that had served as their war room during this war, causing the current conversations to cease as he did. Inwardly, a dark chuckle ran through his mind, Typical. Nobody's comfortable talking in front of a known spy. Doesn't matter that they were just talking to the very person I report to.

As he approached the lords, it was the cheerful voice of Lady Lyndis that shook such dark thoughts from his mind. "Good morning Matthew. You know, you and Grant really should have told someone before heading off into the woods like that. When Kent mentioned that he hadn't seen you, I started to worry."

Matthew smiled, "Sorry about that, Lady Lyn. I just wasn't much in the mood for celebrating." Well, nobody except those Sacaens. Not one of 'em has an drop of guile in their entire body. Poor Lady Lyn though, that'll really bite her in the ass when she becomes the Marquesse. Putting thoughts of Caelin's future aside for the time being, the spy turned his attention to his liege. "Anyway, you summoned me, m'lord?"

Hector, seeming to have gotten about as much sleep at Matthew himself, nodded, "Yeah, I did. Look, you heard what Nergal said, right? About my brother?"

Matthew nodded, "That I did, m'lord. So, this means you'll be taking over as marquess?" Truth be told, Matthew knew about this long before Nergal spilled the beans. Almost every message that came for anyone in the camp got intercepted by Matthew, so he had read the news even before Oswin. It wouldn't do to make that little tidbit common knowledge though, so he had to act like it was news to him too. Thankfully, acting was something that any spy worth his pay is quite good at.

With a sigh of frustration and disgust, Hector shook his head, "Not right away. Not until after we at least have a funeral. Actually, I want the word of my brother's death to be kept quiet as long as possible. That's where you come in."

Matthew was expecting something like this, "Me, m'lord?"

Hector scowled, "Yes you! You need to find out who, outside of this tent, knows, and convince them to keep it to themselves."

Mathew calmly raised an eyebrow, "Surely, you don't…"

"Not like that!" Hector shook his head, letting out yet another grunt of frustration, "Just talk to them. Tell them why I don't want the whole world to know. We can't let news of this reach the other countries until Lycia is securely ready for the trouble it will bring."

Eliwood nodded, "As you know, Pherae and Caelin will remain loyal to Ostia, despite Lord Uther's passing, and Santaruz likely will as well, but,"

Matthew started counting off on his fingers, "That leaves Laus, Araphen, Kathaleet, Tuscana, Worde, Ciaran, Thria and Tania. Considering that we trashed him right in front of his own castle, not to mention killed his old man, I don't think 'Lord' Eric's going to be very co-operative."

Hector scowled again, "Considering that he's the son of a traitor who tried to take over Lycia, and tried to kill us, Eric will need to start toeing the line real fast, or Laus will need a new Marquess."

Stepping forward, Sir Marcus had to interject, "My apologies Lord Hector, but even as the heir to Ostia, you don'thave the authority to strip another Marquess of his title." Seeing the rather angry look forming on the young lord's face, the old paladin hastily added, "And though I have no love, or even respect, for young Eric, I would advise against using violence against him. That would only make the other lords turn against you, seeing you as an angry child."

Marcus' words hit Hector like a cold slap in the face. Breathing deeply, he began to calm down. "You're right, of course. But that doesn't mean I can't put a bit of pressure on him. I'll just have to learn how to play politics." His disgust for "playing politics" was quite clear in his voice, but it seemed that Hector was serious about doing it. Mathew could only marvel at how much he had grown and matured since that day they left Ostia.

Seeing an opportunity to get out while the getting was good, Matthew cleared his throat and bowed to Hector, "Well, if that's all you need me for m'lord, I'll get right on that order." Without waiting for a response, he slipped out, and looked around, remembering who all was at the final battle, where Nergal spilled the beans. Let's see, there were the Lords, of course. I was there, and so was Guy. Fiora and Kent too. And Lord Oswin, but he won't talk. I doubt that Canas guy will either, but I'll talk to him just to make sure. Oh yeah, and Dame Vaida. That's not gonna be fun.

After Matthew had left, Guy hung his head and offered Rath some meat, "It's pigeon, not rabbit."

Rath accepted the meat, and gave Guy an odd look, "I know. I smelled it cooking on my way in. Do you think I can't tell pigeon from rabbit?"

Realizing that he'd stuck his foot in it again, Guy shook his head, "No, no, nothing like that. It's just, well, Matthew said he couldn't tell, and…"

"And that one lies as easily as he draws breath." Swinging down off of his horse, Rath folded himself down next to his comrade and helped himself to breakfast, "I can't see how you can stand him. He has few morals, less honor, and no pride. He claims to be a thief, but is really a spy, and fights like an assassin. He knows only enough of our people and our ways to exploit us to his ends, and…"

"And he is still my friend, no matter what else he is. He isn't one of us, so we can't be angry if he doesn't live by our rules. You're friends with that Caelin archer, right? Do you expect him to have Sacaen pride and honor?"

Rath shook his head, "Will is different. He is honest and kind. Matthew is a treacherous liar. How can you not see that?"

"Why can't you see past that? Everything he does is for the same reason we fight. He just does it a different way. He's still a good guy."

Seeing that trying to help Guy was pointless, Rath stood up and swung back into the saddle, "We have orders from Lord Hector to break camp as soon as possible. He doesn't want to be on the Dread Isle a moment longer than necessary. Let the others here know, I'll go tell everyone else."

As Rath rode off, Guy got up and whistled that breakfast was ready. Within an hour, camp was broken and ready to go. And the army set off to meet up with Fargus once again, and finally put this business behind them.

(Author's Note: And now we see more of Guy. Still trying to get a feel for how to write these guys, as well as a few othes who may or may not be making appearances later on. The real plot should start to surface around chapter 4, as chapter 3 will be a test of just how well I can write battle scenes. Fun!)