Near the outskirts of Sienne, Ike and company met Micaiah and her men.
"Ike! So, you made it!"
"Yeah. You, too. Good. You seem to be fine – how's Sanaki?"
"She's been awfully depressed ever since that monster Lekain showed up. We've all told her it doesn't matter that she can't hear Ashera's voice and all that, and it helped, but only a little. The thing about her sister really bothers her..."
"I see."
"I hope Lady Maian will be able to cheer her up", Micaiah said with a sigh, a worried frown on her face.
"You bet she will", Ike replied in a reassuring tone. He moved to clap her on the shoulder but aborted the motion half-way through – he had no idea how she would feel about that. "They are very close – like mother and daughter."
"I wish I had a mother like Senator Maian... I never knew my own parents."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I hardly remember my mother at all. She died when I was very young."
"Your parents were originally from Daein, right?", she asked, curiosity lighting up her eyes.
"Yeah. Apparently, my father's real name was Gawain, and he was one of those famous Four Riders. My parents went on the run from Ashnard's men because my mother had the medallion…"
"Sothe told me that the Black Knight killed your father while looking for it."
"That's right. And we're bound to run into him again, I know it. I – don't know how to say this, seeing how you seem to like him, but I'm not sure he's a good person."
"I'm aware of that", she replied, biting her lips. "I've spoken to Leanne about his actions, too. It's strange, to be honest. I think of him as a hero. You detest him, and rightfully so. But I agree with you on one thing – we will be seeing him again. One last time."
They climbed a hill and finally saw the imperial capital. There was a building that towered above all the others – and it was radiating light like a little sun.
"That must be - "
"... the Tower of Guidance!", Titania finished Ike's sentence. "It's so bright I can hardly bear to look at it! What's happening in there?"
"Let's hurry, Ike", Soren said, narrowing his eyes at the spectacle. "I can't imagine that glowing is a good omen. We're running out of time."
"Any news from Yune?", Ike asked Micaiah as they hurried toward the city.
"Not in the last few days..."
As they reached the outer walls, they found that Tibarn's group had already arrived, and set up camp in front of the gates. Two men left the encampment to greet them.
"Caineghis? What are you doing here?", Ike asked, his eyebrows rising.
Micaiah seemed frozen when she realised just who they were talking to. However, she soon relaxed when the king's attention reminded fixed on Ike.
"In an occurrence I'm told is increasingly common, we heard a voice in our dreams and followed it here", the Lion King replied with a tiny smile. "Oh, but allow me to make introductions – Duke Renning, this is Ike of the Greil Mercenaries. Ike, meet Duke Renning, Queen Elincia's uncle. I'm told he was captured by Daein and driven mad, but Prince Reyson and Senator Maian managed to heal him."
The duke eyed them out of keen eyes.
"Honoured to meet you. I have already heard of your exploits." His gaze settled on Ike. "We have met before, I believe... during the battle at Pinell. You defeated me."
"So – you were Bertram?"
"Correct. I thank you for helping my niece during her darkest hours."
"Don't mention it. She had a contract with my father, and after his death, I fulfilled it. That's all."
"I see."
"So, when did you guys you arrive?"
"Yesterday. We explored the area, and fought a few battles, but we didn't enter the capital yet. Those Disciples are unlike any enemies I ever fought before..."
"Yeah, they're quite unique."
"We should go join the others", Caineghis suggested.
Leanne was the first to spot Maian, who was sitting in front of her tent, enjoying the warm sunlight.
Daein was probably too cold for her taste, what with all that snow...
The princess dashed forward and threw herself into Maian's arms.
"Maaaaaaian!"
The senator gasped and carefully put an arm around Leanne's shoulder, while Leanne started speaking rapidly in the Ancient Tongue.
"Er – what?" Ike gave Rafiel a questioning look. "I still don't understand her..."
"My sister says she is glad that Senator Maian – well, that is difficult to translate. In Modern Speech, it means something like 'almost the same as us' or 'part of us'. You don't really have a word for that."
"Princess Leanne... you always catch me by surprise. I appreciate the gesture, though", Maian said, a soft smile on her face.
"Leanne, stop it!", Reyson said, seizing his sister around the waist and pulling her away. "Honestly, try to grow up..."
Leanne stuck out her tongue at him.
Soren and Micaiah now hurried over to Maian.
"Are you all right, Lady Maian?", Micaiah asked, wringing her hands together.
"I hope I don't need to tell you just how reckless your decision to use that galdr was!", Soren exclaimed. "What if they had killed you?"
"Master Soren, why would we kill our own companion?", Elincia asked reproachfully.
"How would I know?" He turned his head sharply and pinned her with a penetrating gaze. "Probably for the same reason my own parents decided to abandon me in the forests of Gallia!"
"I-I'm sorry…", Elincia whispered, looking thunderstruck.
"What if they had killed me?", Maian asked. "What is a single life compared to the survival of an army? In order to save the world, I would gladly sacrifice my life, if I had to!"
"Her devotion truly runs deep", Tibarn muttered.
"Maian! Never say something as stupid as that again!", Sanaki exclaimed. "How can you talk like that?! If you were to die, what should I do? Besides, now that I know your secret, I expect you to outlive me." She crossed her arms to punctuate her statement.
Maian looked somewhat contrite. "I am sorry, Sanaki. For so many things..."
"Don't apologise. Just stop talking nonsense. That's not like you at all."
"I shall keep it in mind", Maian promised.
Pelleas cleared his throat. "Since everyone's arrived, I have an announcement to make. Please listen to what I have to say... I am not the true King of Daein. Lady Almedha and I are not related in any way."
It took a while for his words to sink in. The next moment, a lot of people started talking at the same time.
"What's he saying? He's not the king? How's that possible?"
"Didn't his own mother recognise him?"
"If he's not the true heir, who is?"
Pelleas looked rather forlorn, apparently, he hadn't expected a reaction like that.
"Silence!", Ike bellowed. "He isn't done yet. Pay attention, will you? Go on", he added, giving Pelleas an encouraging nod.
"Thank you, Ike. Please be patient, I shall tell you everything I know. I never knew my parents, I grew up in an orphanage in Nevassa. That's where Izuka found me... he took me to see Lady Almedha, claiming that I was her son. She confirmed that, saying she recognised me... I found out later that it was because of my mark that she thought me to be her son. However, my mark is Spirit Protection, and not the Brand – I acquired it at the age of 14, when I formed a pact with a spirit. When I found out my 'mother' was a Goldoan princess, I started having doubts about whether I could truly be her son. My doubts were finally confirmed by Senator Maian, who explained to Lady Almedha the difference between a hybrid and a Spirit Charmer. She further assumed that the senate had just been looking for someone to use as a puppet ruler, which was later confirmed by Izuka, when we encountered him on our way here. He had been working for the senate all along, and intended to use me as a tool to rule Daein. In short, he used my desire to have a family and Lady Almedha's to see her son again to manipulate us. As it is, I can no longer lay any justified claim to the throne of Daein and, since I never was a good king – all I did was cause everyone trouble – I intend to abdicate the throne. As we have no idea where the true prince is, I wanted to offer the crown to Micaiah."
"M-me?"
"Yes."
"But – I'm not related to the royal family, either!"
"That doesn't matter – it's not like we could find anyone who is. I think you would be a great queen – the people love you, they have always preferred you to me. No, it's the truth", he insisted, when Micaiah looked as if she wanted to protest. "You are a kind, caring person, and I believe you would be ideal as Daein's new queen. Besides, I talked about this matter with Senator Maian and she, too, thinks you're more than qualified."
"I see..." Micaiah considered his offer for a moment. "I accept."
"Great! Um, Empress Sanaki, do you have any objections?"
"None whatsoever. I, too, think that Lady Micaiah will be a good queen."
"Good. Then let's get this over with - "
"Wait just one minute, we need to do this properly", Maian interrupted. "Tlia, please fetch me something to write."
"You need two, Senator?"
"Yes."
Tlia dashed away and returned a few minutes later, carrying two rolls of parchment, a quill, an inkwell and a board. Maian placed the board on her knees, took the quill and looked up at Pelleas.
"You may begin."
"Right. I, Pelleas, fourteenth King of Daein, hereby abdicate the throne and pass all the rights and duties of a ruler to Lady Micaiah, General of the Daein Royal Army."
"I, Micaiah, accept the throne and crown of Daein, as well as all the duties and rights of a Queen of Daein."
Maian nodded. "This should do. Now, I just need the signatures of Micaiah, Pelleas and Sanaki, if you would be so kind."
They signed the document, and Maian had Nala hold it for her so she could copy it.
"Please sign this one as well. Thank you."
Maian dried the ink with magic and handed one scroll to Micaiah, bowing slightly.
"This one is for you, Your Majesty. We will keep the other one."
"Thank you."
"Sanaki, there's another matter I wanted you to know about", Ike said, pushing Oliver to the front. "Look what we found in Tanas."
Sanaki's eyes widened. Maian handed the ink and quill to Nala, then, she rose to her feet in a fluid and rather threatening manner, dropping the wooden board to the ground in the process.
"Well, if it is not the traitor and slave-keeper, Bishop Oliver!", she said with a smile one could only call dangerous.
Reyson made an angry noise, while Tibarn looked as if he was about to kill Oliver for good this time.
"How come this man is with you, Ike?", Sanaki demanded.
"He joined us during the battle at his mansion, saying he wanted to protect Rafiel. It seems he wants to help us."
"Is that so? But that does not change the fact that he defied me, kept a heron as a slave, and attacked the men working for me – and he joined the traitor Lekain. The punishment for that would be - "
"Wait a minute, Sanaki", Maian interjected softly. "If he wants to help us fight Ashera, I see no reason whatsoever to stop him. You can always punish him later."
"I see your point. Very well, he may come with us, for now."
Soren shook his head, clearly amused. "I never knew you could be so cunning", he said to Maian.
"I never pretended to be a saint. People just go assuming that."
"All right", Ike said. "That settles everything. We should prepare for storming the city - "
"You have already done a great deal of work! Good. I like air-breathers with initiative!"
"Yune! Here to give us our next instructions?"
"Yes, good guess! Everyone, gather around. You'll all need to hear this."
They followed Yune out of the camp so they had enough space.
"Good job, everyone! All teams have arrived here, and a little faster than I expected. While you were travelling, I went around to recruit more help, including King Caineghis here. Unfortunately, it looks like Ashera had the same idea. By the time I made my way to Goldoa, there was no-one there."
"Wh-what do you mean? Where were they?", Kurthnaga asked, wide-eyed.
"If you're saying what I think you're saying, then we have a very big problem", Tibarn said darkly. "Lots of very big problems, actually."
"I don't know for sure, Tibarn", Yune replied. "There aren't a whole lot of dragons altogether, but... it looks like every one of them joined Ashera."
"How – how could this be?", Kurthnaga asked miserably.
"I haven't seen them anywhere else on Tellius, so they must already be inside the tower. Let's camp for the night before walking into Ashera's own home."
The Crimeans retreated to Elincia's tent.
"We're almost there. Tomorrow, we'll start climbing the tower", Elincia said.
"Do not worry, Your Majesty. We will be right beside you", Geoffrey promised.
"Though long tested by the Goddess Ashera, we will overcome, and our quest will be laid to rest", Bastian added, sounding like an actor again.
"Yes. What we do now, we don't only do for the people of Crimea, but for all the people of Tellius", Lucia declared.
"Yes... we shall succeed", Elincia replied.
"You are a courageous queen, indeed!", Renning, who was just stepping into the tent, observed.
"U-uncle Renning! Are you all right now?"
"Don't I look it? I stand before you in full health – thanks to your efforts, of course."
"Wonderful! I'm so relieved, uncle! But – do you really intend to join the fight? Please, you mustn't push yourself too hard!"
"My, how things have changed! Am I to take orders from my niece on what battles I am allowed to fight in? I'm not a princess to be coddled and kept behind the vanguard, Elincia. I am a knight of Crimea, and I will be one until I die. As long as I live, as long as I am able to walk, and as long as I draw breath, I will fight. It is my duty."
"I understand. Swear to me, then. Swear to me that you won't die. That you won't ever leave me alone."
Renning dropped to one knee. "I swear to you that I will never leave you behind. I swear to you upon my pride as a knight and on my love for my country. Now, Your Majesty, please grant me the honour of protecting you in battle."
"Oh, uncle... you may have to compete for that role, I think", Elincia replied, smiling.
Geoffrey crossed his arms. "Duke Renning, I will not give up my place as commander of the Royal Knights, not even to you."
"Let's take it outside, then. Perhaps I should remind you why you never won a match against me."
"As you wish, Duke Renning. I will also show you that I have spent three years preparing solely to protect the Queen from harm. I have made it my life."
Both men moved toward the entrance of the tent.
"U-uncle?! And Geoffrey, you too?! Bastian, do something!"
"Truly, I shall have to! After all, a match between such stalwart warriors needs to be judged. I believe I shall volunteer my services. Excuse me."
Bastian bowed, turned and strode after the knights.
"Bastian!", Elincia exclaimed in disbelief.
"Oh, Your Majesty, let them be", Lucia advised.
"Lucia? Are you siding with them, too?"
"Doesn't it remind you of a scene in Melior from years ago? Tomorrow is full of uncertainty. We may live, or we may die. Yet here we are, enjoying a little scene of high drama from glory-filled past. I am glad of it."
"That's true... I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. Why don't we go and follow them? Let's enjoy our final night together."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
They quickly left the tent, as not to miss the show.
Kurth spotted his sister and broke into a run.
"Almedha! You're safe!"
"Kurthnaga…"
"Almedha, what's wrong? You're so pale, and you've grown so thin... Is it because of your son?"
"Yes... I had thought to finally have him back, but then, Senator Maian told us we were not related... Not that I blame her, I can feel she means well... but why? Tell me, why?!"
"Almedha, you have to pull yourself together!", Kurth implored, grabbing her hands.
"Prince Kurth? Are you there?", Ena's voice called from behind a tent.
"I'm busy, Ena. Stay where you are."
But Ena had already rounded the corner and spotted Almedha.
"Oh!"
"Ena. It has been a long time. I felt your presence nearby, but you never came to see me…", Almedha said, extracting her hands from Kurthnaga's grasp.
"Princess Almedha..."
"I understand that you don't want to see me. I'm sure you hate me for what I have done. My brother Rajaion – your betrothed – he died because of me", Almedha whispered, her voice laced with pain and regret.
"Don't. It's not important. That's all in the past..."
"What? How can you pretend nothing's happened?!", Almedha exclaimed, wringing her hands. "You can't! I know you hate me! You have to hate me! Go ahead, blame me for everything that happened! Insult me! Do anything you like, but you have to hate me!"
"I don't hate you, Almedha", Ena replied softly. "Rajaion made his decision. He gave his life to save you and his little nephew. Did you know that? He sacrificed himself to protect you. I can't blame you for what Rajaion decided to do. That would mean insulting my beloved for his sacrifice – for his nobility."
Almedha started to cry. Kurthnaga reached for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"Prince Kurth, my grandfather is here to see you. The king knows nothing of this."
"Nasir is here?"
The white dragon stepped out of the shadows.
"Prince Kurth. I am glad to see you're safe. And Princess Almedha, as well. It has been a long time – we haven't seen each other in over ninety years, I believe."
"Nasir... you returned to Goldoa?", Almedha asked, wiping her eyes.
"Yes."
"Nasir, I need to know something", Kurthnaga demanded. "Why has Goldoa sided with Goddess Ashera? What is my father thinking?! The laguz and beorc have joined together to save the petrified ones. Why hasn't Goldoa joined the effort?"
"As you wish. Princess Almedha, are you aware of the fact that everything that is happening is due to your decision to leave Goldoa?"
"What?"
"Explain, Nasir", Kurthnaga growled.
"King Deghinsea forbade the dragon tribe the use of our transformation for the purpose of war. Princess, you left because you did not agree with this policy, did you not?"
"That's right."
"Shortly after you left, you met Prince Ashnard of Daein and were united with him. However, your union begat a chain of tragedies. Did you know that the red dragon platoon that went in search of you was captured and turned into Feral Ones by Ashnard?"
"I-I had no idea", she replied, her face slowly draining of colour.
"Ashnard needed Goldoa to join in his war, so he did everything in his power to provoke King Deghinsea. Most of you haven't fought in a war before, but more than any other laguz, the dragon tribes lose control once they taste battle."
"Oh...", Kurthnaga breathed.
"Near the end of the war, we found out that Prince Rajaion couldn't be saved. I thought the King would surely go on a rampage. At the time, we did not know that Princess Almedha was still alive. The king thought he had not only lost his soldiers, but also his children. If the war had ended any later... if Sir Ike hadn't killed Ashnard... Goldoa would have entered the war, and we would have started killing. We would have destroyed the Daein army, its co-conspirators, everyone. We would not have stopped until the continent was ashes. Then, the spirit of chaos would have spread across Tellius, awakening the Goddess, and destroying the dragon tribes. That was the danger we faced in the Mad King's War."
"But Ashnard was defeated, and Rajaion regained sanity thanks to the heron's galdr", Ena pointed out.
Almedha buried her face in her hands as her eyes filled with tears again.
"We escaped annihilation once", Nasir replied gravely. "We took Prince Rajaion's body back to Goldoa. The king did not shed a tear, nor did he fly into a rage. He endured his loss alone. He endured for the sake of his lost child, and for the sake of his people. Goldoa remained neutral."
"Father…"
"But now... all that effort has been wasted. The war between Begnion and the Laguz Alliance has spread through Daein and Crimea. And to top it all off, Goldoa can no longer remain neutral because of what Prince Kurthnaga has done!"
"You're saying it's my fault?! That I started a war my father tried to avoid?"
"No, Kurthnaga!", Almedha exclaimed, blinking away the tears. "This war is my fault. You fought because of me."
"This was not Prince Kurthnaga's fault", Ena insisted as well. "Besides, the Goddess Yune wasn't awakened by the spirit of chaos sweeping across Tellius. She was awakened by the Galdr of Release!"
"By a galdr?!", Nasir asked. "Are you certain?"
"Yes. That is what Sir Ike said."
"That's – very strange. Nevertheless, the end result remains the same. Goddess Ashera has rendered her judgement. The laguz and beorc must follow her decision."
"What?! Nasir!", Ena exclaimed.
"I would have never thought I'd hear my own cousin say something so stupid!"
Nala moved toward them, taking long strides.
"Nala! You have been fighting with them?", Nasir asked, surprised.
"Indeed. And I am not about to sit here and await my own death. What kind of system is this, where the accused cannot even appeal?!"
Nasir sighed. "I've come here as a favour to the king. Prince Kurthnaga, you have to return to us. At once."
"If we accept Ashera's judgement, we'll all be turned to stone! This will be the end of history as we know it! Do you expect me to just lie down and accept that? How could I? What you are asking is insane! I won't do it."
Kurth crossed his arms and glared at Nasir.
"And you, Ena?"
"I feel the same as Prince Kurth and Nala."
"Then I have nothing more to say to you. However, I would prefer to avoid fighting my own people, if at all possible."
Nasir turned on his heel and left.
"Nasir", Ena whispered, looking as though she wanted to follow him.
"Leave him be", Nala said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps he'll come to his senses."
"What will you do on the battlefield, Kurth? Will you face father as an enemy?", Almedha asked, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
Kurth took a deep breath. "I will do whatever I have to do."
As the mercenaries were finishing the last preparations for the following day, Caineghis and his shadow Giffca approached.
"Ike, I have something to give to you", the king said.
Ike stared at the axe Caineghis was holding.
"This is - "
"It is called Urvan, if I remember correctly. I borrowed it from your father's grave."
"Why?"
"Honestly? I have no idea. But I felt an urge to visit Greil's grave in the morning of our journey. When I told Giffca my idea for a little side trip, he said he had thought the same thing."
"I believe we were guided to your father's grave by a divine message from the Goddess", the black lion added.
"When I saw that axe, I was convinced that I had to take it to you. I felt that's what your father would have wanted."
"Maybe my mother and father are watching over us from somewhere else. All right. It's my father's, so it's only right that I take it."
Ike took hold of the axe and weighed it.
"But... I don't use axes in battle, I'd probably only end up injuring myself or my allies... Boyd! C'mere for a second."
The axe-fighter emerged from his tent.
"Yessir?"
"I want you to have this."
"B-but that's Commander Greil's axe! Commander, are you sure about this?"
"I don't have any use for it, besides, I can't think of anyone more fit to use it. Don't you agree, Mist?", he added, glancing at his sister.
Mist blushed a vivid scarlet. "N-no, I couldn't think of anyone else, either! Boyd's the best."
"Hah, now I feel like the best! All right, I'll take it", Boyd announced, beaming.
"Great."
Maian entered Sanaki's tent to find her "daughter" still awake. Sanaki's face lit up when she saw who her visitor was.
"Maian! There you are."
"Sanaki... I have to apologise to you", Maian said, crouching down in front of Sanaki's stool. "I abandoned you while you were facing a terrible hardship... I just ran away from my responsibilities because I too was frightened to tell you the truth... forgive me."
Sanaki looked surprised at first, but quickly regained her usual composure.
"I'm not angry with you, Maian. I think I understand how you were feeling, so don't let it bother you, all right?"
Maian smiled. "Thank you. You are such a kind child... Sephiran and I decided that you were too young to be burdened with such a sad and terrible knowledge. We wanted to tell you when you were older... But now, since you already know part of it, I will tell you everything. Just ask."
Sanaki bit her lip. "Well, I do have a lot of questions. But I think it's better if we talk once this is all over. We'll have plenty of time afterward... but I want to know one thing: did you know my sister?"
"I am afraid not. I only saw her once, during a feast that was held to celebrate your grandmother's birthday. As you know, my father kept me hidden from the public for the first 29 years of my life... But your sister was just a babe, not yet a year old..."
Sanaki didn't reply, and Maian gave her time to grasp that.
"So, even my uncles would be unable to tell me much about her."
"No, probably not. What is there to say about a baby? I assume this is also the reason no-one ever mentioned her around you. There just was no real reason to talk about something as sad as this."
"I see…"
"Well, if you have no more questions for now, I suggest you go to bed. Tomorrow is an important day, after all."
"Yes. Tomorrow, we will decide the fate of the world. We cannot fail, for everyone's sake!"
Sanaki stood up. Maian got to her feet as well, placing a hand on Sanaki's head.
"Very good. Do you want me to sing you a lullaby?"
"Yes, I would like that. Wait – the song you always sang – was it a galdr?"
"Indeed – the Galdr of Slumber."
"I should have known. I always liked it – it made me feel safe, and loved. Such a warm feeling... please, sing to me."
The next morning was warm and bright. As Ike left his tent, he met Yune.
"Oh, no!", she exclaimed, gazing up at the still shining tower.
"Yune, what's wrong? What's happening?"
But there was no need for the goddess to reply. Enemy soldiers appeared out of nowhere, like before. The members of the alliance quickly assembled.
"This isn't good", Caineghis said.
"These soldiers... we have killed them already", Yune said quietly. "They were reborn in flesh, but not spirit."
"Brought back from the dead", Sanaki whispered.
"A miracle of the Goddess", Elincia added.
"A blasphemy, you mean!", Caineghis exclaimed angrily. "How could the Goddess of Order violate the most fundamental natural law?!"
"Philosophy later, everyone!", Ike shouted. "They're about to attack!"
Seconds later, the lines clashed. Fighting against those zombies was a terrible, new experience. Suddenly, Ike noticed that Yune had vanished.
Ike left the battlefield to his comrades and went looking for her.
Yune had hidden behind a tent, cowering on the ground. Ike dropped Ragnell into the grass and crouched down in front of her.
"Are you all right? Those dead soldiers really got to you, didn't they?"
Yune shook her head, her whole body shaking. "We can't win. All we do is kill the flesh, but she brings the flesh back... we need more time... No, there is no more time! Everyone else will be turned to stone... and I'll be lonely forever... There's nothing more I can do! I've failed... I've failed..."
"Yune! Get a hold of yourself!" Ike took her face in his hands and forced her to look up.
"Ouch! My ears!"
Satisfied that he had managed to snap her out of her negative thoughts, Ike let go of her.
"Wh-what was that for?! You big bully! Who do you think I am?!"
"Yune, the Goddess of Chaos... the warm-hearted being whose courage and love gives us the will to go on", he replied, smiling.
"Ike... thank you."
Ike picked up Ragnell and rose to his feet. "Now, let's send those guys back to the netherworld!"
"Agreed. Once we enter the tower, you can leave most of the fighting to Micaiah. Since she's a queen now, I think she needs some new clothes..."
Yune closed her eyes, and a pillar of light descended onto Micaiah. When Ike could see again, she had changed.
She was now wearing a white dress that fell to her knees in the front and to her heels in the back. She was also wearing a long red cape, and coloured threads had been woven into her hair. She looked a lot more like a queen now.
"Something like this should work", Yune observed. "All right, Tower of Guidance, here we come!"
After they had finally killed off the Disciples, they advanced into Sienne. The streets were full of statues.
"This is terrible", Maian said in a hushed voice. "These streets used to be bustling with life once..."
"Well, let's hurry and put an end to it, then", Ike replied.
"Before we enter the tower, there is a place I would like to stop by. Besides, I believe we need to do some strategising first."
No-one had any objections, and Maian led the way.
They stopped outside a large building, a little palace.
"Is this your place?", Soren asked.
"Yes, this is Idras Manor. It has been in my family's possession for generations, it currently belongs to my sister."
"The gates are locked, senator!", one of her guards called.
Maian beckoned four of her birds. They flew over the walls to open the door from the inside, and they followed Maian into the courtyard.
Maian led them across the yard and into the main building. A woman wearing an apron over her elaborate dress was busy sweeping the floor.
"Liane? What are you doing?", Maian asked, clearly amused.
The woman whirled around and dropped the broom out of surprise.
"Maian! It is you!"
She rushed forward, and the sisters embraced each other. Ike couldn't spot many similarities between them. Liane had black hair that had already turned grey in several places, and she looked a lot more robust than her sister.
"I asked the surviving servants to show me how I could help them. They were dead set against it, I had to order them..."
"Hah! You live and learn. How many of our people did survive?"
"Not many. A few servants and soldiers... We have been hiding in here ever since we arrived."
"What about Sephiran and General Zelgius?"
"They left yesterday, but they should still be in town. But you – how I worried about you!"
"You're a beorc, aren't you?", Soren asked. "That means you must be half-sisters."
Liane looked up, startled, while spinning Maian around and closing her arms more tightly around her.
"You – you know about her?", she whispered.
"Yeah, we do", Ike replied. "And I don't think anyone minds. Your little sister is great in battle – we'd have had a hard time without her."
"They accepted me the way I am", Maian added. "I was surprised – but also very happy."
Liane spotted Sanaki. Letting go of her sister, she curtseyed.
"Empress. It is good to see you again."
"Duchess Liane. I heard that you were one of the leaders of the rebellion against the senate. Thank you ever so much."
"Not at all. My allegiance – as well as the allegiance of House Idras – lies with you, not with the senate. Never forget that."
Sanaki nodded. "It is still good to hear that, though."
"How about we talk more in the dining room?", Maian suggested. "This way, please. And Liane – please remove that apron. It is not very befitting a duchess, even if I admire your desire to help."
"Oh, I don't think so", Reyson objected. "It's good to see that another Begnion noble is willing to get her hands dirty if she has to – not just the empress. And a most honourable member of the senate."
Maian couldn't help smiling.
"You are one of the heron clan, am I right?", Liane asked.
"Yes. I'm Prince Reyson, and over there are my siblings, Leanne and Rafiel."
"Maian is – a good friend", Leanne said. "I really likes her!"
"It's 'I really like her'! Try to remember that!", Reyson corrected her.
"My sister is still learning", Rafiel explained. "But she is improving rather quickly."
They followed the Idras sisters into the dining room.
"As things stand now, I would like to leave part of our force here, to protect my sister and the other refugees. Yune, what do you say to that?"
"I agree. Ashera could resurrect more of her followers whenever she feels like it. Besides, there's lots of stairs inside the tower, so you'd have trouble bringing all the horses... You could carry them with magic, I suppose, but if it's too many of them…"
"What about flying units?"
"Oh, don't worry about them. The tower's huge, they'll have all the space they need."
"Good. I want all non-combatants to stay here, as they would be a liability in battle. General Ike, it is up to you to decide who we take with us."
"Right. I prefer taking people whose fighting abilities I know well, which means the knights of Marado stay here, as well as Makalov, Astrid and Danved from the royal knights. I will take all of my men; the Dawn Brigade stays here, except for Sothe and Micaiah. Muarim and Vika will stay behind as well, we'll need some people who know this town. Same goes for you", he added, giving Oliver a stern look. "I don't trust you enough to let you come with us."
"We are running short on food", Liane pointed out. "But I have no hunters with me…"
"I see. Lord Giffca, you stay, along with some of your beasts and Volug. You're responsible for procuring supplies, make sure that there is some food in town when everyone wakes up again."
"I will leave some of my guards behind as well, including my healer and Tyna, the sage", Maian added. "However, I suggest that we take all the other magicians and flying units we have. Not to mention all of the nations' rulers. If we truly have to fight King Deghinsea, I fear we will need all the strength we have."
"I agree", Ike said. "Well, that settles that. Let's move out."
"Maian, please be careful", Liane implored.
"I will. I promise I will return safely."