In Search of Truth
"There's the castle, Eliwood!" Hector cried.
Eliwood nodded. "We need to speak with Lord Helman." He said. "I must know if he has any information on my father, why his men refused to come to my aid."
"That won't be happenin', boy!" An armored knight called out from across the river.
"Who are you?" Eliwood demanded.
"You'd do better to worry about yourself, boy." The knight said. "You'll be worm's meat before long."
"You think so?" Hector stepped forwards, axe held in both hands. "I think my axe'll change your mind."
"The cub thinks himself a wolf!" The knight said with a laugh. "Do you think your bark matches your bite?" He pointed his lance at Hector. "Tell you what: if you make it to Castle Santaruz alive, we'll find out!" The knight retreated to the castle gate, and the battlefield was suddenly swarming with foes.
Their group gathered their weapons and prepared to fight.
"It's good to fight with you, Andreas!" Lowen said.
Andreas nodded. "Indeed, Lowen."
"As a journeyman knight of Pherae, I'll serve you and Lord Eliwood to the best of my abilities. I await your command!"
Andreas nodded, and looked around, taking in the battlefield. "See that village on the other side of the river?" He said. Lowen looked, and nodded. "See the snag on this side?"
Lowen smiled. "Right away." He spurred his mount towards the tree. Andreas looked back to the south, and led the rest of the troops forwards, past some hills towards a group of archers and brigands. Rebecca stayed back, firing arrows into the group as their melee fighters charged forwards. Marcus guarded Eliwood fiercely, his lance flashing in the sun as he struck down his foes. Batre and Dorcas stood back to back in the thick of the fight, their axes joining Hector's in crashing down on their enemies as they approached
The flow of enemies increased as archers and spearmen poured from forts along the river, and among them was a green-haired soldier carrying a curved sword. He lunged at Andreas, who managed to block the blow with his own sword, and, locking blades with the swordsman, kicked his legs out from under him. Andreas had his sword to the boy's throat, ready to stab-
"Hold on!" Matthew cried out.
Andreas stayed his blade, and looked at the Ostian spy. "What?"
Matthew looked at the swordsman. "You. Your name's Guy, right?"
The swordsman looked at Matthew. "You... is that you, Matthew?"
Matthew smiled, and Andreas pulled his sword back, though he kept it out. "What a pleasant surprise." He said. "How's you swordplay coming?"
Guy frowned, and stood. "You know that there are far better places to catch up, right? I mean, we're on a battlefield, and on opposite sides, no less!"
"So, you're saying you're going to fight me?" Matthew asked.
"I... Well, yes." Guy said. "I've improved a lot. You wouldn't be able to beat me."
"I'd much prefer if you repaid me what I'm owed." Matthew said.
Guy's frown deepened. "What?" He said flatly.
"Last time I saw you, you were on the verge of starvation, and I gave you food." Matthew said. "If my memory serves me correctly, you said that your owed me you life."
"Only because you said that I'd get food if I did!" Guy objected. "I hadn't eaten in ten days, and you were cooking meat right in front of me!" He sighed. "You... this... That's not fair!"
"The people of the Sacae Plains never lie, right?" Matthew asked pointedly.
Guy growled. "Fine. I finally find some work, and now you're making me throw it away. This is your fault!" He pointed his sword at Matthew, then stalked away, grumbling.
"That was... a seriously good amount of foresight on your part." Andreas admitted. "A very cruel thing to do, but good foresight all the same." He watched Guy as he fought an opposing brigand. His swordplay was good. He moved fast, guiding away the brigand's slow axe-strike before delivering three quick strokes arm and chest. The rest of the enemy force on their side of the river taken care of, they crossed the bridge, Oswin taking the lead and scattering the lance-wielding soldiers on the far side, his mighty lance acting both as a club and spear, knocking aside the opposing soldiers with ease. With Rebecca providing archer support, the swift strikes of Marcus, Eliwood, and Guy, and the brute-force strikes of Hector, Batre, and Dorcas, all that soon remained was the knight at the gate.
"So you made it here after all!" He called. "I paid too much for that worthless pack of sellswords."
"What have you done with Lord Helman?" Eliwood demanded.
"I've done nothing to him." The knight said. "But I'd imagine that he's on his way to a better place right now, regardless!" Then he laughed.
Eliwood charged the knight, catching him off-guard. However, Eliwood's rapier failed to penetrate deeply through the knight's heavy armor. Eliwood retreated before the knight could do anything to respond, though.
"His armor's too tough!" Andreas cried.
There was a sound like thunder, and Lowen came charging from the north, his lance held out in front. His steed was galloping at top speed, and the impact that resulted was impressive. His spear drove into the knight's armor at a weaker point along his side, and punched out, broken, on the other, the shaft still embedded in the knight as Lowen passed. The knight collapsed, and their group charged into the castle.
"Lord Helman!" Eliwood and Andreas rushed to where Santaruz's marquess lay on the floor, dry blood pooled around him from a dagger wound in his gut, the dagger itself laying by Helman's head.
The marquess looked up. "Eliwood... Is that you?"
"Please, milord! Hold on!" Eliwood's eyes began to tear as he held Helman close.
"I... I must apologize." The marquess managed. "Your father... he..."
"Do you know something, sir?" Eliwood asked, drying his eyes.
"I..." He fell silent for a bit. "If I hadn't told Elbert... about... Darin's plans... This would... never..." He coughed, and blood began to drip from his mouth.
"Lord Helman, please hold on!" Eliwood begged.
"Go to Laus..." Helman managed, his voice a rasp. "Darin... the marquess... knows all."
"Marquess Laus?" Andreas asked.
"I... I'm sorry, Eliwood..." The marquess whispered. "I... I can't..."
"Please, hold on!" Eliwood begged, tears returning to his eyes.
"Where are the others?" Andreas wondered aloud. "Where is Serra!"
"Beware... the Black... Fang." Then, Helman's eyes closed, and his body fell limp in Eliwood's arms.
The rest of their group rushed in a few minutes later. Eliwood had finished cradling the dead marquess' body, though there were still tears in his eyes. "He's gone, Hector." Eliwood said. "Lord Helman... Why did this happen?"
Eliwood filled Hector in on what Helman had said. When he finished, Hector swore. "What the hell is going on!"
They were silent, then Eliwood spoke. "We go to Laus." He said. "We must speak with Lord Darin."
Hector nodded. "We should leave quickly. I'm not sure how far we can get today, but I refuse to sit still."
Someone cleared their throat. "Excuse me, sirs?" They turned to see a fairly old man in a green shirt looking at them.
"Who are you?" Andreas asked.
"I'm the steward of Santaruz." He said. "With our lord gone, what are we to do?"
"First, you need to give the late marquess a proper burial." Hector said. "After that..." He sighed. "I'm sure that the Lycian Council will need to meet. Stay here and defend the castle until you hear more."
The steward nodded. "I understand." He left, head bowed.
"Let's go." Eliwood said. "We must keep moving."
Andreas nodded. "Now we seek Elbert, and answers for Lord Helman."
Most of the group left, leaving just Andreas and Eliwood where Helman's corpse lay.
"Lord Helman..." Eliwood whispered. "May you find peace."