Vortex of Strategy
"Look, Alysia!" Lyn said. She pointed towards the mountains of Bern, now barely visible in the distance. "They seem so far away now."
Alysia nodded. "We've come a long way, but we can't stop now."
Kent nodded. "We've only a two-day ride from here to the castle, but we're in Caelin now, so I am sure that Lundgren will step up his efforts to stop us."
Lyn nodded. "Hold on, Grandfather." She whispered.
"Cheer up, Lyn!" Florina said. "If they see you looking so down, then everyone will lose heart."
"Florina..." Lyn smiled. "You're right." She said. "We gain nothing by losing worrying. We just have to move forwards."
Florina nodded. "That's the spirit!"
Alysia turned to survey the area ahead. Before them lay a series of cliffs. Nearby, a village sat just north of two craggy mounts, and at the base of a third. There were small copses of trees interspersed along the route. She sighed. They'd have to hike onwards. She absentmindedly wondered how their supplies were holding up. She noticed an armory nearby...
"Alysia, look out!" Ninian cried.
Nils shoved her to the ground, and they both rolled to the side. Alysia recovered, and was on her feet.
"What in Elimine's name was that for?" She asked, mildly irritated.
"Danger-"
A sudden thud cut him off before he could further explain. A large bolt impacted the ground where Alysia had just been standing. Had Nils not moved her, Alysia would've been pinned to the ground through her chest by an arrow as long as she was tall.
"They have a ballista here?" Kent yelped.
"Lord Lundgren is definitely getting serious if he's deploying siege weapons against us." Sain said.
"What's a ballista?" Lyn asked.
"It's a weapon specially designed for long-ranged attacks." Kent explained. "They're usually used during sieges against castles."
Alysia turned to Florina. "Florina, you must stay on the ground." She said immediately. "If that thing hits you..."
She didn't have to finish. The mental image was already in their minds.
"How do we fight something like that?" Lyn asked.
"The answer is right in front of us." Alyisa said, pointing at the bolt. "That thing's enormous. They can't have brought much ammunition with them. If we can get them to waste their shots, we won't even have to worry about it."
Sain nodded. "After they've run out, then it becomes little more than a slow-moving target." He said.
A thought struck Alysia, who looked over to Wil. "Wil, do you think you could use a ballista?" She asked.
"A really big bow?" Wil asked. "Sure. Never tried to before, but how hard could it be?"
Alysia nodded. She looked around the group. Matthew spoke up. "I have some business that I'll need to attend to." He said. "I'm afraid that I cannot join you in battle this time around."
Alysia frowned. "While I don't think that this will be a problem, I am curious to know what your business is?" She said.
Matthew smiled. "There's someone in that village that I know." He explained. "I can make sure that nothing happens over there while the fight's going on, if you'd like."
Alysia nodded. "Thank you. That would be good." She said. "However, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather someone go with you."
Rath volunteered, and when Matthew voiced no concerns, the pair rode for the village.
They moved cautiously to the south. They were quickly spotted, and a group of enemies moved to attack. Sain intercepted a swordsman with his spear, catching the swordsman's shoulder. The swordsman swung for Sain, but Sain's armor deflected it. However, additional enemies moved as well, and the ballista was an ever-present threat, and it reminded them of that when a bolt nearly took Lucius's head off. It was only thanks to Nils (who now shouted a warning rather than try to shove them out of the way) that his head remained where it was.
Two enemy cavaliers rushed Kent. Kent dodged one lance, only to take a hit from the other. He swiftly struck at both, though both foes remained in the saddle. Fire flashed from Erk's hands to hit one horseman, as Wil's bow sang, and an arrow struck the other rider dead. Kent and Sain then rode forth, and their spears quickly dispatched two foot-soldiers before their spears could be brought to bear against them.
Kent then wheeled his horse towards the ballista, and shoved his spear through the machine's operator. That taken care of, attention turned to the enemies approaching over the river to the south. Dorcas threw an axe at a brigand who attempted to get the better of Wil as Wil, in turn, lined up a shot against a foot-soldier. Additional enemy foot-soldiers attempted to cross the bridge, but Sain and Kent stopped them, though Sain did take some strikes from their spears.
Serra, though, was quick to heal his wounds, and Alysia admitted that, despite Serra's antics, she was a solid addition to their team. Alysia passed the bridge, and met Wil as he entered the ballista.
"You're sure that you know how to work this thing?" Alysia asked.
"No clue." Wil admitted, sitting down in the seat. "You?"
Alysia shook her head.
Will nodded. "Well, guess there's no time like the present."
After a bit of experimenting, Wil caught on quickly, and fired the ballista. The bolt flew true, and impaled a swordsman as he moved towards the bridge.
The enemies taken care of, all that remained was a heavily-armored knight waiting near a small cluster forts. Lucius stepped forth, and sent bolts of light careening towards the man, accompanied by a verse of scripture.
"Argh!" The man yelled out, blinded. "Someone! Get that girl!"
Then his cries halted as Lyn's Mani Katti sank through his armor, and into his chest.
"Is it over?" Lyn asked.
Kent nodded. "I see no more enemy soldiers." Kent said. "However, there is something that bothers me."
"What is it?" Lyn asked.
"I noticed it as we were fighting. Our foes..." Kent's voice threatened to crack. "They were soldiers of Caelin. I even recognized some of them as men I'd trained with. But... They fought us without even a hint of hesitation."
Sain shook his head. "They're just black-hearted traitors that've joined Lundgren in his madness." Sain said. "I say good riddance. It means less resistance as we near the castle."
Kent simply shook his head. "I hope you're right."
"I'm just glad Nils and Ninian were here." Alysia said. "Otherwise, I'd be dead on the ground."
"We're just happy to help." Ninian said.
"We won't let you down!" Nils affirmed.
"Well, we're relying on you two." Alysia said.
"You guys handle that ballista alright?" Matthew asked, walking up. Rath rode up behind him.
"Matthew, care to tell us what took you all this time?" Alysia asked.
Matthew nodded. "I was sniffing around the village for information. Got some bad news for my trouble, though."
Alysia frowned. "How bad?"
"Marquess Caelin hasn't left his bed since some mystery illness struck him three months ago." Matthew explained. "And from the rumors circulating, it isn't a natural sickness, either."
"You mean to tell me" Lyn said "that my grandfather-"
"Has been poisoned." Matthew finished. "Everyone's too afraid to mention a name. However, everyone has been sure to point out that as soon as the Marquess was bedridden, a certain noble took control of the castle as though it was his own. I gave an innkeeper gold, and he gave me Lundgren's name."
"How can that be?" Lyn asked. "How can they allow him to do such a thing and get away with it? The villagers know he's the one that's been poisoning my grandfather! Why don't they raise even a finger against him?"
"They're afraid." Alysia said. "And there is no proof. The whisperings of a common person means nothing."
"And anyone who might've had proof has disappeared." Matthew reinforced.
"They've been silenced?" Lyn asked, not willing to believe it.
"A fair assumption." Matthew conceded. "And the worst news is yet to come."
"What could be worse?" Sain interjected.
"An imposter's appeared, claiming that she is the Marquess's granddaughter." Matthew said. "Or, that's the story Lundgren has been spouting to any willing to listen."
"What does that mean?" Lyn asked.
"It means that people are waiting for two traitorous knights and a base-born child to appear and lay claim to Castle Caelin." Alysia said, filling in the implications.
"B-but that... It can't be!" Sain complained.
"Traitors? Us? Ridiculous!" Kent argued.
"He... He calls me an imposter?" Lyn gasped.
"Do you have any proof of your lineage?" Matthew inquired.
Lyn shook her head. "When my mother joined the Lorca, she brought nothing to remind her of Lycia."
"Milady, Marquess Araphen himself remarked at your resemblance to Lady Madelyn!" Sain exclaimed. "Surely that is something!"
Kent shook his head. "They'll say we found a look-alike somewhere. We're seen as betrayers of our knightly vows." Kent sighed. "Our words mean nothing. No, our only hope is to see Marquess Caelin himself."
"Then we must hurry." Lyn said. "I must see my grandfather before he passes!"
Matthew nodded. "We'll need a plan." He said. "Even if we set out for the castle, the troops patrolling the countryside will cause us no end of trouble. After all, Lundgren has branded the two of you as oath-breakers."
"I've got it!" Alysia cried. All eyes turned to her. "Eliwood! He was sympathetic to our cause. He should still be in Kathelet. If we can talk to him, He might help us!"
"Of course!" Kent said.
"Then we must hurry!" Sain declared.
"Yes!" Lyn cried. "Back to Kathelet!"