Siblings Abroad

"Where are we, Kent?" Lyn asked as they came to rest at the base of a large mountain.

"We are in Kathelet." Kent said. "The castle is on the other side of this mountain. From there, due south is Caelin."

"From Castle Kathelet, we face about a ten day's ride to Castle Caelin." Sain said.

"Assuming we run into no delays." Alysia added pessimistically. "And I doubt Lundgren will just wait for us to approach."

Lyn closed her eyes. "Ten days." She whispered.

The sound of footsteps broke her from her musings. Approaching was a teal-haired boy, his eyes an odd red color. "Pardon me?" He said meekly, eying their group warily. In particular, he seemed to focus on Alysia. There was something in his eyes that seemed off, other than their color. Something beyond the fear, beyond the panic, but Alysia couldn't quite place it.

"Can I help you?" Lyn asked.

The boy nodded. "You and your friends... Are you mercenaries?"

"And if we are?" Alysia asked.

"I need your help!" He cried, stepping forwards. "It's important! You have to help me!"

"Please forgive us, but we are in a hurry." Alysia said kindly. "Isn't there anyone else that you can ask help from?"

The boy shook his head, sending his hair flying in small teal waves. His red eyes sparkled with moisture. "No one else will help, and there's no time to find someone else! Ninian's been... It's my sister! She's been taken away..."

Alysia sighed. "We can't keep doing this." She said.

Her brother nodded. "Things just aren't the same anymore. It's all that man's fault. Ever since he showed up, it's all been different."

"We need to leave," Alysia said, "consequences be damned."

Her brother whispered something, more to himself than to Alysia, but she heard it all the same. "That's a dangerous thing to try, and you know it. Even if you manage to pull it off, you'll have to figure out a way to keep any suspicions off of you."

He sighed. "I still have to try."

"Your sister's been captured?" Sain's voice broke Alysia out of her memories.

"Sain..." Kent began, before the boy interrupted.

"Yes! I don't know what I'll do without her." Tears flowed freely down his cheeks.

"Milady Lyndis! Alysia! We must help them!" Sain said.

"Nonsense! We haven't the time to save everyone we come across!" Kent said flatly. "If the marquess truly is as sick as we've heard, then we've no time to waste!"

"Then leave me behind, Kent." Alysia said, taking a step towards the boy. "I won't just stand idly when this boy's sister is in danger." Then, she knelt down and looked deep into the boy's eyes. "I will help you."

"As will I." Lyn resolved.

"No, Lyn." Alysia said, turning to face her. "You need to continue on to Castle Caelin."

She shook her head. "While I'm worried about my grandfather, I feel just as deeply about this as you do." She said firmly. "I will help."

Alysia nodded, and turned back to the boy. "Can you lead us to the men who've done this?" He asked.

The boy nodded. "Just please be careful." He begged.

"Leave them to us!" Sain said.

Alysia saw the fear in the boy's eyes. She turned slowly to see a man in black robes standing before them.

"Come then, Nils." The man said. "It's back to Nergal with you. Come quietly now."

"No!" Nils said, his voice cracking. "Let Ninian go!"

The man's eyes shifted. Alysia was certain that he was smirking under the hood he was wearing, but that name they'd dropped… Nergal. It was familiar, and it drove shivers up her spine.

"He said we can't kill you," the man said darkly, "but you'd be surprised by what you can live through, little boy!"

He approached rapidly, knife drawn, but Alysia moved in front of the man, swiftly disarmed him, and turned the knife on its former wielder.

"What?" The would-be assassin cried. "Who do you think you are?"

"Let the boy's sister go." Alysia said calmly, knife held ready to strike.

"So you want to help the brat, huh?" The robed man asked, moving backwards, a dark smile on his face. "It's such a shame that you'll die for something that doesn't even concern you."

"Think so?" Alysia asked. "I think you're dead wrong!" She flipped the knife into the air, snatched it, and hurled it at the man, catching his arm. The cloaked man grunted in surprise and pain.

"You will not live to regret that!" The man said, backing away quickly. Lyn moved to attack, but Alysia held her back.

"Be careful Lyn!" She said. "That man wears the robes of a shaman, a practitioner of the ancient arts. We need to proceed with cau-" Alysia's throat went dry when she saw the dark sphere fly from the man's outstretched hands, and shot forwards towards Alysia. She quickly rolled out of the way of the attack.

A blinding flash of light interrupted Lyn's charge. When Alysia's eyes cleared, the shaman lay dead on the ground, and a blonde-haired man stood over him, head bowed in prayer for the fallen.

"Thank you, sir. May I ask your name?" Alysia asked.

The man turned to reveal brilliant eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Your robes..." Kent said. "They look like religious ones. Are you an Elimine bishop?"

"Bishop-in-training." The man corrected. "I'm Lucius, an Elimine monk."

"What would a member of the clergy seek from our mercenary group?" Alysia asked.

Lucius pointed to Nils. "That boy came into the inn seeking assistance." Lucius explained. "The innkeeper was afraid to get involved, so I thought to offer him my help. I would like to see this through."

"Of course, Lucius." Alysia said. "We'd love to have you aboard."

"You OK, Lucius?" Nils asked. "You look a bit pale." The monk nodded

"I'm OK." He assured. "Just a little out of practice. That took more of a strain than I thought it would. Give me a moment."

"I can help!" Nils said. "I'm a bard. Just let me play for you!"

Alyisa nodded, and Nils put his flute to his lips. He played an invigorating tune, and Lucius' face filled with color as he visibly straightened. When he finished the tune, everyone looked visibly refreshed.

"That was quite the tune, Nils." Lucius said, amazed. "The fatigue has simply vanished."

Nils smiled.

Alysia looked ahead. "More of them approach! To arms!" The group ran forward, and Alysia noted the vendor selling tomes and staves. They went into a pass where some hills sprouted up on both sides. An arrow fell silently into the ground, feet from Alysia. Fire flashed from Erk's outstretched palm, incinerating the archer. Florina flew freely with the threat gone, and peppered a swordsman with javelins. Alysia mounted a nearby hill and peered across a river. To the south was a bridge, and plenty of enemies, each one clad in black armor. Alysia found herself looking under her cloak, looking at her own black leather armor. She forced herself to focus.

"Wil!" she called. "Come here!" The archer clambered up the hill, and saw the enemies that Alysia saw. "Start picking targets." Alysia said. Wil nodded, and nocked an arrow. Alysia turned and descended, hearing the twang of Wil's bow once before making it out of earshot. Then, the rest of the group charged across, Kent and Sain in the lead, breaking up a group of swordsmen and brigands.

Dorcas and Lyn followed close behind. From afar, Erk, Lucius, and Alysia launched wave after wave of spells against their foes as Wil and Rath shot volleys from their bows, peppering their targets from across the river. From above, Florina hurled javelins and occasionally came down closer to strike out with her lance.

Kent's lance punched through a swordsman's chest, slaying him. An axeman moved to break the cavalier's spear, and Sain rewarded him with a quick cut across his turned back with his sword. Lyn moved in quickly against another brigand, Mani Katti flashing mercilessly as she cut him down. Dorcas covered her attack, bringing his axe against a brigand who'd tried to sneak a hit against Lyn.

Their enemies eliminated, the group continued onwards, and prepared to cross another bridge, the castle waiting on the other side.

Two shamans were waiting for them on the bridge. Alysia saw not the men, but the balls of dark energy that they shot towards them like arrows from a bow. Lucius, she noted, calmly stood his ground, took a deep breath, muttered what sounded to Alysia like a verse of scripture, and shot bolts of pure light at the spheres of darkness, which canceled each other out. Kent and Sain then quickly charged across the bridge, cutting down the two dark mages before they could launch a second attack.

A final foe waited for them at the castle's gates. The shaman grinned sadistically. "Yes, come charge to meet your dooms!" He yelled.

Lucius shook his head. "Your soul has been corrupted." The monk said. "You have my pity."

The shaman laughed madly. "Pity?" He asked. "I have no need of your pity!" A ball of dark energy gathered in front of the shaman, who laughed madly as it shot forwards. Lucius stood his ground, closed his eyes, recited a quick prayer, and launched his own attack. The bolts of light pierced the ball of darkness and continued on to strike the shaman, who collapsed wordlessly to the ground.

The last enemy defeated, the group rushed into the castle.

"Nils! Where's your sister?" Alysia asked.

"Ninian!" Nils called. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered, "Ninian, where are you..."

"Could she be gone?" Lyn asked.

"No." Nils said sadly. "If she's not here, then where could she be?"

"Milady Lyndis! Alysia!" Kent called. "A villager said that she saw a group of men riding south."

"Then Nils' sister..." Alysia trailed off.

"Is likely with them." Sain finished. "We must give chase!"

"But we won't make it!" Nils said. "What if they've already..." He didn't finish.

"Are you looking for this girl?" A voice said.

They turned to see a red-haired man wearing blue. There was a rapier at his belt, and care shone in his deep blue eyes. He held himself high, and held in his arms a teal-haired girl wearing a light teal dress and jewelry, and a splint on her right leg.

"Ninian! Ninian!" Nils yelled as he ran forwards. The red-haired man set down the girl, her eyes closed.

"She'll be fine." He said. "She's just unconscious."

"Thank you, sir." Lyn said. "May I ask you your name?"

"I am Eliwood, son of the marquess of Pherae." He said.

"The marquess' son..." Alysia trailed off.

"She was with a band of ruffians, and didn't seem to be there of her own free will." Eliwood explained. "She looked to need rescuing, and after seeing the state her leg was in, I did what I could to help fix it up." His face filled with concern. "Was I wrong to involve myself?"

Alysia shook her head. "No." He said. "You have saved her life. Thank you." Alysia put a hand on Lyn's shoulder. "This is Lyn. My name is Alysia."

Eliwood looked at Lyn. "Are you from the plains of Sacae, by chance?"

Lyn nodded. "I am also the granddaughter of Marquess Caelin."

"Marquess Caelin?" Eliwood frowned. "Care to tell your story?"

Lyn nodded, and told him all that had happened since she had left her home on the Sacae Plains. She spoke of her meeting with Kent and Sain, of how they had told her of her heritage. She told him about how her granduncle had sent men to kill her, and about how Marquess Araphen had denied her aid.

"I know it isn't an easy story to believe," Lyn said, finished, "but it's the truth."

"No, I believe you." Eliwood said.

"What?" Lyn asked, unbelieving.

"At first glance, I only saw a daughter of the Plains." Eliwood admitted. "Now I can see it. You have your grandfather's eyes."

"You know my grandfather?" Lyn asked.

Eliwood nodded. "The marquess, Lord Hausen, is a good friend of my father's." Eliwood explained. "I also know that the proud people of the Sacae Plains tell no lies."

Lyn smiled. "Thank you. I didn't expect a Lycian noble would show such courtesy to a Sacaean nomad like myself."

Eliwood shook his head. "Most aren't like Marquess Araphen." Eliwood said. "I apologize for anything he may have said or done. May I be of assistance?"

"Thank you for the offer," Lyn said, "but this is my fight. I'd rather not involve you in it."

Eliwood nodded in understanding. "Well, I'll be here for a bit longer, so if there is anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask." He put a hand on Lyn's shoulder. "Lyndis, I am on your side."

Lyn nodded. "Thank you, Eliwood."

Ninian stirred, and her eyes slowly opened, revealing glowing red orbs.

"Ninian!" Nils said, kneeling to hug his sister. Tears were streaming down his cheeks.

"Nils? Is it really you?" Her eyes lit up. "Oh, praise Elimine, you're safe!"

Nils nodded. "I wouldn't be seeing you again if these people hadn't helped me." Nils broke the hug, and gestured to Lyn and her group, who had assembled.

"Who are they?" Ninian asked.

Lyn stepped forwards. "I'm Lyn." She said. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better."

"Milady Lyn... Thank you for seeing to my brother's safety." She said. "I'm Ninian. My brother and I are traveling performers."

Lyn nodded. "I know that you're brother's a musician." She said. "What about you?"

"I... I dance." Ninian said sheepishly.

"What?" Sain pushed past Lyn, and looked at Ninian. "You're a dancer?"

Kent put a hand on Sain's shoulder. "Sain, now is not the time!" He barked.

Kent pulled Sain away, saying something about scouting the countryside for remaining enemies.

"I beg your pardon," Lyn said, "but your clothes don't look like those of a dancer."

Nils put a hand on his sister's shoulder. "Ninian dances to honor life." He explained. "It's special, sacred even."

"A sacred dance?" Lyn asked.

"The dance I perform while we travel is just a normal dance." She explained. "My other dance, though..." There was a hint of sadness in her face. "When they caught me, I tried to run. When they overtook me, they dragged me back to their camp and..." She stopped there, and looked at her leg, the pain of the incident clear on her face, as was Nil's rage.

"They made sure that you wouldn't be able to run again." Alysia surmised.

Nils stood up, fists clenched, and looked right into Alysia's eyes, and she regretted the comment. There was a rage there that felt primal, almost as though there was far more to him than he appeared. His cheeks were wet with tears, and Alysia felt that his eyes had become almost impossibly red.

Ninian struggled to her feet, helped up by Eliwood, and held Nils close to her. His anger seemed to evaporate with this, and he turned away and hugged her back. "I'm sorry for inconveniencing you." She said meekly.

Lyn shook her head. "It's alright. We're just happy to see you out of harm's way." She said with a soft smile. "Your leg does concern me, though. Putting too much strain on it will only worsen your condition."

"I have an idea." Nils said. "Could we travel with you?"

Lyn immediately shook her head. "No. It would be too dangerous for you two." She said. "We're being hunted, and have no idea when we'll be next attacked."

"We'd be no hindrance." Nils countered. "We could even help!"

Ninian nodded. "Please. You've done so much for us already. Allow us to help you. We have..." She paused, as though weighing whether or not to say what was on her mind. "We have special talents."

Lyn frowned. "Special talents? What do you mean?" She asked.

"When something poses a threat to us," Ninian explained, "we can sense it before it occurs."

Nils nodded. "Still, we cannot do anything to stop it once it starts," he said, "but you guys are warriors, right? So if we get a feelng, you would be able to act on that."

Lyn turned to Kent, who had returned after talking to Sain. "What do you think, Kent?" She asked.

Kent thought for a moment, then sighed. "If we leave them here, then it will just cause you more worry about their well-being. At least if they travel with us, we can keep an eye on them." He said, conceding the point.

Lyn nodded, and turned back to Nils and Ninian. "You two really want to travel with us?" Lyn asked.

"Of course!" Nils said.

"You have our gratitude." Ninian said. She held one hand in the other, and her eyes widened.

"Ninian?" Lyn asked. "What's wrong?"

"I've lost my ring!" She said, panic rising.

"Your ring?" Lyn asked.

"Oh no! You don't mean Nini's Grace, do you?" Nils asked.

Ninian nodded sadly. "I don't understand. I know I didn't drop it! Where could it..."

"They stole it! Those curs!" Nils said, the rage returning to his eyes.

"Was it valuable?" Lyn asked.

Ninian nodded. "It was all we had left of our departed mother."

"It was blessed by the spirit of Ninis." Nils explained. "There's no equal to it in the world. And now we've lost it, and there's nothing we can do. Damn them!"

"Alysia?" Lyn asked. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure, Lyn." She said. "What is it?"

"You heard all of that. What do you think?" Lyn asked. "I'd like to get Ninian's ring back for her, but if Nils is right, those thieves could be too much for us to handle. What should we do?"

Alysia thought for a moment. "I want to help them. I can understand the pain of loss, and I'm sure that you do too." She said. "They've lost their mother. Losing that ring is like losing her again. I want to right things."

Lyn nodded. "Thank you, Alysia." She said.

Alysia nodded. "We should hurry." She replied. "Those men were headed south. We need to pursue!"

Lyn nodded. "No turning back!"