Blood of Pride
"What city are we in?" Lyn asked.
"This is Araphen." Sain replied. "It's the second-largest city in Lycia, after Ostia."
"It is awfully busy." Lyn agreed. All around them, people were walking, talking, buying items from street vendors, though there were fewer people near where they stood.
"Where's Kent?" Alysia asked.
"He said that he was going to the castle." Lyn said. "Look, here he comes now."
The red-armored rider galloped up to their group, coming to a stop in front of them. "Milady Lyndis, let us proceed to the castle." He said. "They've prepared supplies for us, and the marquess has agreed to help us on our way to Caelin."
"He's going to help us?" Alysia said, surprised. "I doubted that a marquess would take much interest in our cause."
"I don't doubt that anyone else would've turned us away," Kent admitted, "but Araphen and Caelin have enjoyed a sturdy friendship for many years. Once I explained our situation, he agreed to lend us his support."
"Then we've a smooth road ahead!" Sain said.
"And picking up some soldiers would make our journey to Caelin that much safer." Kent said. "I'm sorry for the hardships that you've suffered so far."
"Don't be silly, Kent." Lyn said. "You're a very capable knight."
"Kent?" Sain said, feigning hurt.
"As are you, Sain." Lyn quickly added.
They proceeded to the castle, when a pair of men rushed up to Lyn and Alysia.
"This is terrible!" One man said.
"What's happened?" Lyn quickly asked.
"The castle! It's on fire!" The second said.
"What?" Kent said. "Impossible! I just came from the castle!"
"Then explain that!" The first man cried, pointing to a column of black smoke billowing out of the castle.
"You! You're Lyndis and Alysia, aren't you?" They turned to see a pair of men walking towards them.
"We are." Alysia said.
The men drew knives. "Then prepare yourselves!" They lunged towards Alysia and Lyn. Alysia easily dodged her assailant's strikes, and quickly disarmed him before driving a knife upwards into the man's head. Lyn's assailant was obviously the senior. He rushed in past her guard, and took hold of her sword arm, twisting it and eliciting a pained cry from Lyn. The man drew back his knife arm in preparation to strike, but just as the man's arm stopped at the top of its arc, the man's eyes widened, his hands dropped the knife and Lyn's arm, and he fell forward, an arrow jutting from his back.
"Thank you, Wil. I didn't see you get behind them." Lyn said.
"I didn't." Wil said, helping Lyn to her feet. Alysia then caught sight of a rider, lowering his short bow. He wore a red bandana, and had piercing eyes. He wore simple brown leather, and his hair was the exact same blue-green as Lyn's.
"You have my thanks, sir." Lyn said. "Who are you?"
"Milady Lyndis! Alysia!" Kent cried. He rode forward. "Are you two alright?"
Alysia nodded. "I managed to fight off my assailant, but Lyn wasn't so lucky; the man moved startlingly fast, and had Lyn defenseless in a few moments." She explained. "Just when she was about to die, though, this man rode up and saved us.
Kent looked up at the rider. "Then you have my gratitude. May I ask the name of my lady's savior?"
The man said nothing. He simply turned his horse to leave.
"Wait!" Alysia cried. The man stopped. "Why did you help Lyn?"
"I thought that those bandits were attacking a Sacaean plainswoman." He said simply. "I was mistaken."
"No, you were right. I am from the Sacae Plains!" Lyn said. "I'm Lyn, daughter of the Lorca chieftain."
The rider's eyes widened as though he'd been hit with an arrow. "The Lorca? There were survivors?"
"There were." Lyn said sadly, fighting back memories.
"You should leave at once." The rider said quickly, his face returning to a stoic stare. "A blaze has started in the castle, and it is spreading quickly. Don't be foolish and waste the life I've just saved."
"You're from the castle?" Kent asked. "What's happening? How bad is the fire? Is the marquess safe?"
"The castle is under attack, and the attackers have seized the Marquess." The rider explained. "The men who attacked you are probably some of the marauders. As head of the castle guard, it is my duty to save him."
"Then allow us to help you." Alysia said.
"Why?" The rider asked.
"The brigands are probably after us." Alysia explained. "If they're attacking the castle, it's because of us. So if we can help you in some way, then we must."
"Then we've no time to waste." The rider said.
"You accept our aid?" Lyn asked. The rider nodded.
Alysia turned to Kent. "Get the others ready for battle." Kent nodded, and left.
The rider addressed Lyn. "I am Rath, of the Kutolah. Our tribes may differ, but I will not abandon a woman of Sacae.
Lyn smiled. "Thank you, Rath!" She said. "A thousand blessings upon you!"
"And a thousand curses upon our enemies!" He finished.
The rest of the group gathered. "What is our plan, Rath?" Alysia asked.
"Once we have cleared the bandits out, my men can enter the castle and rescue the marquess." He said. "The secret passages will be a great help to us."
"Secret passages?" Lyn inquired.
"There is an underground tunnel leading to the throne room." He explained. "There are switches in the barracks that will open it."
"So we activate the trigger switches, go through the tunnel, and rescue the marquess?" Alysia asked.
"Once he is no longer in any danger, my men can clear the rest of these ruffians." Rath confirmed. "However, there are three triggers, and we must activate all three of them. Otherwise, the tunnel remains closed. Also, I believe that these ruffians have locked the doors to the barracks."
"And the enemy waits for us within?" Alysia asked.
Rath nodded. "If we cannot get the doors unlocked somehow," He said grimly, "then we will not save the Marquess, and he will not survive."
"Then opening those doors is our goal." Lyn said.
Alysia took a moment to consider their options. "Everyone, our first objective is to clear out the enemies in this courtyard, and to warn the villagers. Lyn and I will head north. Everyone else, visit the other houses, and eliminate any of the bandits you find lurking." The group nodded, and split off. Lyn and Alysia headed north to a cluster of houses, and entered one each.
"Hello?" Alysia called out.
"Hey, you! Can we talk?" A blonde haired man asked Alysia. He wore a red coat.
"Who are you?" Alysia asked.
"I'm Matthew, a specialist in all sorts of occupations. I was wondering if you'd consider buying my services?"
"Our group has no need for a thief." Alysia said bluntly. "Please lock the door." Alysia said as she turned to leave. "A very bloody fight is going to start very soon."
"And how do you think that you'll open those barracks doors?" Matthew asked.
Alysia stopped, and turned to face Matthew, who now wore a knowing grin on his face. "Good ears."
Matthew's smile grew ever wider. "So, a deal, then?" He stuck out his hand. "I'll even lower my normal rate."
"I can't promise you anything right now. Will you be willing to take pay later?" Alysia stuck out her own hand.
Matthew frowned in thought for a moment, then his smile returned. "Deal!" He took Alysia's hand firmly in his own.
"One question before we end your interview: Why join our side?" Alysia asked.
"I was watching the battle from upstairs. Figured I'd be better off fighting for the winning side." Matthew explained. "Pretty simple."
"You're an odd man." Alysia said frowning. Then she smiled. "You'll fit right in."
They left the house and met up with Lyn. Alysia introduced Matthew, and they moved over to a locked door. Lyn watched Matthew's back while Alysia watched Matthew. The thief reached into a pocket of his coat and withdrew a thin piece of metal: a lockpick. He shoved it into the lock of the door, along with a knife, and fiddled with the lockpick for a moment before there was a satisfying click, and, with a turn of the knife in the lock, the door swung open. The room was empty, but at the back of the room was a raised floor tile slightly off-color with the rest of the floor. Alysia stepped on it.
"Whoa!" Matthew cried. Alysia turned to see that he'd opened a hidden door in the side of the barracks. Inside was a chest, which Matthew eyed greedily.
"Matthew, don't even think about it." Alysia called.
"You want to win?" Matthew asked. "You use everything at your disposal. I realize stealing is bad, but we're saving the marquess, right? This is like an advance on our pay."
Alysia thought it over for a moment. "Fine then." She relented. "But only equipment unless I say otherwise."
Matthew smiled. "You won't regret this!" Matthew ran up to the chest, and quickly picked the lock. He retrieved a very fine robe.
"What is it?" Alysia asked.
"An Angelic Robe." Matthew said. "Such soft fabric, yet it is able to turn away swords and magic alike, just as easily as armor. Good find." Matthew handed it to Alysia, who took it gingerly, folded it up, and put it into her backpack. "Let's head back out."
Alysia nodded, but both stopped short when a javelin stuck into the wall next to the doorway. They turned to see a man charging at them, another spear held in front. Matthew charged forwards to counter. He dodged the man's strike, and slid behind him. The lancer's eyes went wide as Matthew's knife drew a thin red line across the man's throat, spraying blood in an arc. He collapsed. Matthew wiped off the knife on the man's tunic, and retrieved a key from his belt.
He used the key to open a door, and went in. Alysia heard the tinkering of his lockpick, and Matthew exited the room holding a large-bladed sword. "Armorslayer." Alysia said. They heard a mechanical whirring, and turned to see a secret passage open. An archer was inside, preparing to take aim, a heavily armored knight standing behind the archer.
This time, Alysia acted first. Before the archer could nock his arrow, Alysia already had the Sylvanas out, and she focused her attention on it. She felt power flowing into her from the book, and after a moment, let the energy flow out through an outstretched arm pointed at the ground under the archer.
The ground beneath the archer shifted, then lifted up into an earthen spike that impaled the archer where he stood, before sinking back into the ground. Alysia looked at the armored warrior to see his arm cocked back to throw a javelin. Alysia threw her arms in front of her as the javelin left his hand.
The covering of the secret passage tore out of the slot, intercepting the javelin, and crashing into the opposite wall, crumbling.
The man didn't move. He stayed where he was. It was then that Alysia noticed a discoloration in the floor behind the armored man. The last switch! She moved away, and joined the rest of the group, which had gathered in the barracks. She heard a squeal as Serra recognized Matthew from somewhere and rushed over to him, but Alysia forced herself to focus on a way to get to the switch. It came to her easily enough.
"Erk. This one is all yours." She said. Erk nodded. He closed his eyes, lips moving silently. The air in front of him glowed, and suddenly ignited. He hurled the fireballs at the armored knight. Alysia shuddered slightly as the smell of burning flesh reached her nose, sparking unwanted memories. The man collapsed, and fell onto the switch, opening a tunnel.
"Thank you for your help." Rath said. "My men can handle it from here." He spurred his mount onwards, his men following him down the passage.
"You've done well Rath!" The marquess said. "What a performance! I'd expect nothing less from the head of my guard."
"Sir, the credit is due to Alysia, Lyn, and their group." Rath said. "They were the ones who defeated the raiders."
The marquess looked at Lyn and his smile vanished in an instant. "Who are you?" He asked.
"I am Lyndis. I'm glad to see you well." She said.
"Oh. You're Marquess Caelin's... Rath, Alysia, could you please leave for a moment?"
Rath nodded, and immediately went for the door. Alysia stayed. "Sir, I would prefer to remain." She said. "This will have as much to do with myself as it will her."
The marquess nodded. "Very well." He turned his attention back to Lyn. "Lady Lyndis, do you know who holds responsibility for starting this uproar?"
"I believe that my granduncle, Lundgren, is responsible." She said.
"Which means that my castle and city have both been damaged as a result of your family's petty inheritance disputes." He said sharply, not bothering to hide the venom in his voice.
"I'm sorry-" Lyn began.
"When I heard that Lady Madelyn's daughter was in trouble, I thought to lend my assistance." The marquess interrupted. "I find now that I've changed my mind. I withdraw my offer."
"That's hardly fair!" Alysia shouted. "You gave your word!"
The marquess looked at Alysia. "Your rider failed to inform me of one very critical detail, though!"
"And what might that one detail be?" Alysia asked.
"This girl resembles the Lady Madelyn, but I didn't expect her to see her so... so tainted by the blood of Sacae." He spat the last word.
"What?" Lyn shouted.
"I mean, don't you think that Marquess Caelin would be troubled to meet this... this nomadic beast?" The marquess said.
"You... You b-" Alysia started. Lyn laid a hand on her shoulder, and shook her head. Alysia took a deep breath. "My apologies, Marquess Araphan." She hissed. "But if you would please reconsider..."
"I will not!" He roared. The marquess closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before continuing. "I hear that Marquess Caelin is ill and abed." He said. "I question whether he will survive to see this girl. In which case, Lundgren would claim the title of Marquess. I would rather stay on the good side of the coming marquess."
"You scheming little-" Alysia began again, before Lyn cut her off.
"I understand, Marquess Araphan. Please forgive this intrusion." She turned to Alysia. "We're leaving." She said.
"But-"
"I am proud of my lineage, of the Sacae blood running through my veins." She said proudly. "I will not accept any aid this man, who would seek to insult me and my heritage, might offer." Alysia nodded, and followed Lyn as she left.
Alysia finished her list of expletives and curses, and took a deep breath. Getting upset wouldn't solve anything. They'd explained what had happened to the rest of the group, who'd shared much the same reaction as Alysia: Disbelief and unbridled rage.
"Don't worry, milady Lyndis!" Sain said. "We won't abandon you like that lout! Right, Kent?"
Kent nodded. "I beg your forgiveness, milady." He said.
"What are you apologizing for, Kent?" She asked.
"I've been so concerned with fulfilling my own mission," Kent said, "that I failed to consider your own feelings."
"Trouble yourself no more, Kent." Lyn replied. "You put my safety above all else. Hold your head high, and be proud."
"The marquess said that your grandfather is ill." Alysia reminded them. "This makes matters more urgent. And as we near Caelin, I am sure that Lundgren will throw more obstacles at us to overcome, each doubtlessly more difficult than the last."
"No matter!" Kent said. "I've vowed to see this through. Milady, I promise you this; you will see your grandfather alive!"
"Thank you, Kent." Lyn said.
"I'm with you, too!" Sain said. She smiled, and turned to Alysia.
"Alysia, thank you for always being by my side." Lyn said. "It's thanks to you that we've made it this far. I will see this through! I will see my grandfather's face!"
Thundering hooves broke their animated discussion. A lone rider approached from the city. Lyn and Alysia immediately recognized the man in the saddle.
"Rath! What are you doing here?" Lyn asked.
"I overheard the Marquess talking with you, and then talking to himself later." Rath admitted. "Lyn of the Lorca, proud daughter of the Sacae... please allow me to join your group, and add my strength to yours."
"Really?" Lyn asked.
Rath nodded. "I would also ask that you accept this." He tossed a pouch to Alysia, who caught it. She opened it, surprised to see it filled with gold.
"A gift from the marquess?" Alysia asked sarcastically.
Rath smiled a small smile. "He sends his best wishes."
"It's too much." Lyn said seriously. "I can't accept it."
"And I have no need of it." Rath said. "And I cannot take back something I have offered."
Lyn nodded and smiled. "Thank you."