Birds of a Feather

"That's a good point, Andreas." Marcus said. "If Laus really is preparing for war, then we shouldn't travel with this small of a group."

Eliwood nodded. "We should meet with Marquess Santaruz and request his assistance. It's a good thing you're with us, because I don't think either of us would've thought of it."

Andreas nodded. "I'm just glad that I can help, but are you sure that we can count on his assistance?"

Eliwood smiled. "Lord Helman is a good friend of my father's, and I've known him since I was a child. I'm sure that he will help us."

"Noble sirs?" A large man said as he approached. He wore a devilish smirk on his face, and didn't even bother to hide the axe in his hands. "Alms for a poor villager?"

"I'd sooner mistake you for a highwayman than a poor villager." Marcus said. "Clear the road. Leave, or I'll..."

"Leave? Take your own advice, that boy is wanted in an early grave! He dies today!" He said, hefting his axe and charging Eliwood. Eliwood quickly sidestepped the wild swipe, and thrust his rapier into the man's arm, drawing a trickle of blood. He grunted, and retreated back up the road, men emerging from hiding places along the road.

"It's an ambush!" Lowen cried. "There must be at least thirty of them!"

"Quick!" Andreas cried. "If we move fast enough, we might be able to make it to Santaruz before they can surround us!"

They charged forwards as fast as they could, but as they entered the canyon the road to the castle led through, they were surrounded. Penned in on both sides, they made a mad dash forwards, hoping to break through the enemy and make it to the castle.

Andreas led them forward, sword drawn, hoping that they could do this. Behind him, he heard the steady twang of bows, but ahead, he heard something... different.

There was a cry ahead, and some of the men in the line ahead turned around. Not questioning their good fortune, Andreas watched as Dorcas and Batre rushed ahead, quickly overtaken by Marcus and Lowen, who worked in tandem to clear out the foes, lance and sword flashing in the sun. Eliwood and Andreas quickly joined the melee, and Andreas found himself engaged with a trio of brigands. It was biting off far more than he could chew to engage three targets at one, but there wasn't much left in the way of options.

Andreas managed to get two good hits in on the first brigand: a quick slash across his chest, followed by a thrust into it. However, as he retrieved his sword from his foe, he barely managed to avoid losing his forearm to the axe of another, and the third brigand succeeded in carving a chunk of flesh out of his leg, the edge of the axe cutting through his leather thigh guard and part of his thigh.

Suddenly, a large man charged forwards, his axe crashing down upon the head of one of the brigands, splitting it. Eliwood took the opportunity to drive his rapier into the body of the other.

"Eliwood!" He said. "Are you alright?"

"Hector?" Eliwood seemed confused. "What are you-"

"Hold a moment!" Hector interrupted, crouching next to Andreas. "He's wounded. Serra!"

A pinkette appeared suddenly. "Yes, milord?" Her gaze fell on Hector, who was struggling to staunch the blood coming from Andreas' wound. Serra pointed her staff at Andreas, who yelped at the initial pain, then calmed as soothing blue light enveloped the wound. He watched in amazement as the wound knitted itself together before his eyes. He stood carefully, testing his weight on the wound, before turning to Serra. "Thank you, miss." He said.

Serra nodded, and was about to reply when Hector spoke up. "There's more work to be done!" HE announced.

Eliwood nodded. "Right!" They charged ahead, working in tandem with each other. Eliwood's rapier and Hector's axe, and Andreas' longsword all worked furiously to stab and cleave, leaving the commander of the enemy group enraged.

"You boys are useless!" He yelled. "I'll show you worthless maggots how to fight!" He charged Andreas, who steadied himself as the foe approached. The enemy commander lunged with his axe, and Andreas easily rolled out of the way of the strike, before bringing his sword to bear. He slashed at his foe, the iron blade cutting deep into flesh. The foe hissed, and swung his axe around, but Andreas ducked back from the strike, and countered with his own, drawing his sword in and lunging forwards, striking out in a violent stab that went in one side and out the other. Then, Andreas wrenhed the blade free, and his foe collapsed.

"Was that all of them?" Hector asked, coming up in front of a heavy knight wearing orange armor.

"Stop avoiding the subject, Hector!" Eliwood said, cutting in front of the other man. "Where'd you come from? What are you doing here?"

"You wound me, Eliwood!" Hector cried.

Eliwood frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You're looking for your father, right?" Hector asked, already knowing the answer. "Why not send word?"

"Hector, your brother was just named Marquess Ostia." Eliwood said, as though the answer should've been obvious. "He's going to be very busy setting up his court and council. Lord Uther needs the support of his brother."

"My brother is not a weak man, Eliwood." Hector said flatly. "He has mentioned a few things in public, but he knew exactly what I was planning."

"He let you come?" Eliwood asked. A smile grew on his face. "I suppose it would be unwise of me to turn down this offer of kindness!" They laughed. "It is good to see you, Hector. Thank you."

Hector raised his hand. "Think nothing of it, Eliwood." The knight shifted a bit, drawing Hector's attention. "Ah, you know Oswin, right?"

The knight removed his helm to reveal short brown hair and hard brown eyes, though the eyes softened slightly as he looked at Eliwood. "Well met, Lord Eliwood."

Eliwood nodded. "It is good to see you again, Oswin. So you came as well?"

Oswin nodded. "Lord Uther was worried about Lord Hector traveling alone, so he ordered me to keep a close eye on him."

Eliwood laughed at that. "Good to have you with us!"

Two more entered the conversation. "I told you, Hector needed me!" The pinkette exclaimed.

"And I'm telling you that you charged past two brigands and an archer to get to him!" The lanky male next to her retorted. He looked up. "Milord, please tell Serra that she needs to be more careful!"

"Milord," The pinkette retorted, "please tell Matthew that he's overreacting."

"I'm overreacting?" Matthew responded.

"Are these two... companions?" Eliwood asked as the two continued bickering.

Hector sighed. "Yes, I suppose they are." He shook his head. "One might have hoped for better, but-"

"That was uncalled for!" Serra cried. "I can't believe you said that!" She turned to Matthew. "Matthew, did you hear what he said about you?"

"Me? He was talking about you!" Matthew insisted.

"Hector, why don't you introduce us?" Eliwood asked.

"The noisy pinkette is Serra." Hector said. "An Ostian cleric, if you can believe it."

"The other one is Matthew." Hector said. "He's sort of a jack-of-all-trades."

"Oh yes." Serra said. "Fighting, scouting, lockpicking, sneaking around, pickpocketing. You name it, he can probably do it."

"A thief then." Eliwood said bluntly.

"Don't let it worry you." Hector said quickly.

Eliwood began a counter. "But-"

"Eliwood." Dorcas said, surprising everyone. "This will not be an easy journey. If Matthew hadn't been with us back during the Caelin incident, we probably wouldn't have done what we did."

Eliwood looked at Matthew again, his eyes showing a bit more respect. "I suppose it would be fine, but why do I get the feeling you know something I don't, Hector?"

Hector shrugged. "All I know are a few rumors. A league of Bernese assassins has been moving around in Lycia. Experienced mercenaries, sellswords, and bounty hunters are disappearing."

"One of the men who attacked us said something odd." Marcus said, riding up.

"Good to see you Marcus!" Hector said. "What did the man say?"

"The leader of the thugs said that someone was watching Eliwood." Marcus said. "That someone needed him dead."

"That's troubling, to say the least." Hector said. "Actually, a captain of the guard was watching the fight when we arrived." Hector's voice hardened. "A knight of Santaruz just stood there and allowed your group, a lord's group, be attacked." He looked Eliwood in the eyes. "He planned on just sitting there and watching you die."

"What do you think, Andreas?" Eliwood asked.

"About what happened with the guards?" He responded. "From what you've told me about Lord Helman, and what Hector said about the guard captain, I think something's happened to the man."

Eliwood nodded. "Then there's no time to lose!" He said.

Hector cleared his throat. "Eliwood, who is he?" He looked Andreas over carefully.

"Lord Hector, I am Andreas." He said. "Eliwood asked that I provide him with my sword and my mind in his search for his father."

Hector nodded. "Just Hector is fine." He said. "I take it you were the one that directed the battle plan back there?"

Andreas scratched the back of his head. "Not my best work, I'll admit."

Hector laughed. "Nonsense. You kept Eliwood alive long enough for us to come help. You do seem a bit young, though. We've many strategists in Ostia, but none so young." He turned to Eliwood. "Are you sure that he's a good one?"

"He's given us nothing but sound advice so far." Eliwood said. "He has my trust."

Hector looked at Andreas again, then nodded. "I look forward to seeing your skills first-hand."

"Eliwood," Andreas said, "perhaps you should fill Hector in on what's happened so far?"

Eliwood nodded. "Yes, perhaps I should. Come Hector, it's an interesting story."

They walked away, Eliwood chatting about what had happened. Matthew walked up to Andreas.

"So, you're Andreas?" Matthew asked.

Andreas nodded. "I am. What of it?"

Matthew squinted. "I do believe that we've met before."

Andreas shook his head. "I doubt it. This is the first time we've met, I'm sure of it."

Matthew shook his head. "You're extremely familiar. W must have met some time before."

Andreas shrugged. "If we have, I don't remember it."

Matthew sighed. "If you insist." He said, walking off.

Andreas paused. First Eliwood, now Matthew? What was going on?