The Peddler Merlinus

"Dark already?" Andreas was surprised. They hadn't been on the road from Santaruz for too long, and already the sun had dipped below the horizon.

"We'll have to stop here for the night." Eliwood said. "We will set out for Laus at first light." Eliwood looked to Marcus. "Marcus, please prepare the camp."

The paladin nodded. "Of course, Milord." The paladin went off, and gathered up Lowen, Guy, Oswin and Rebecca to help him.

"So this is Caelin?" Hector asked. "Do you think we should present ourselves to Lord Hausen?"

"As much as I'd like to see Lyndis and Lord Hausen again," Eliwood said, "we're only passing through. I don't see a need to bother them."

Hector raised an eyebrow. "Lyndis?"

"The marquess' granddaughter." Andreas said. "She dealt with Lundgren last year."

Recognition appeared in Hector's face. "Oh, her!" He looked at Eliwood. "Didn't you have a hand in that?"

Eliwood only nodded.

"And?" Hector pressed. "The granddaughter? Is she a beauty?"

Eliwood seemed caught off-guard by this question. "A beauty? She's... I don't... Her Sacae blood definitely shows. She's striking."

Hector nodded, and sighed. "Too bad..."

Eliwood frowned. "Too bad?"

Hector cracked a huge smile. "That we don't have the time to see her, lover-boy."

Eliwood's eyes widened. "No! Lyndis and I are... We're not..."

"Then why are you getting so worked up over it, Eliwood?" Andreas asked. "Do you have your eye on someone else? Someone back home, maybe?"

"No, no one back home!" He said immediately, cheeks starting to flush.

"Eliwood, you're so much fun to tease!" Hector said, laughing.

Their fun at the Pheraen prince's expense ended when the wind carried a shrill sound to their ears.

"Did you hear that?" Hector asked.

Andreas nodded. "It was a scream."

"Someone's being attacked!" Eliwood exclaimed. "This way!"

He was a well-dressed merchant, his caravan surrounded by bandits and a rushing river, one of the bandits holding him at swordpoint.

"Release him!" Eliwood demanded.

The man holding the merchant up pushed the merchant aside. "Who-"

Eliwood took a step forward, rapier out. "I told you to let the man go!"

"If you move quickly," Hector brandished his axe, "we'll let you live."

The bandit leader laughed. "A pair of dandies like you? Living off of your parents' names, prancing about like you own this place... I despise you." He sneered. "Come on, then! Don't hold back! We'll kill you all!"

The bandit retreated, and Andreas realized for the first time that, the way the river was flowing in this area, a thick fog had been thrown up. He could see fairly well, but the dark and the fog was sure to impair the rest of their unit.

"Andreas!" Matthew called, coming up next to him.

"What is it, Matthew?" Andreas asked.

"I have some experience guiding others in low-visibility situations like this." He explained. "My eyes are sharp as my blades."

Andreas nodded. "Then lead on. We will follow you!" Then, Andreas turned to the merchant. "You!"

The merchant gave a startled squeal, and turned to face Andreas. He calmed a bit when he realized that his life was not being endangered. "Y-yes?"

"What's your name?" Andreas asked.

"I am Merlinus, a humble and lowly merchant." He said.

"Can you fight?" Andreas asked.

Merlinus shook his head. "I know nothing of combat."

"Don't worry." Andreas said. "Just keep to your caravan. We won't let the bandits get to you."

Merlinus nodded his thanks.

Their first goal was to clear out the bandits near the two bridges leading north. Eliwood and Hector cleared a pair of brigands from one of the bridges, while Lowen and Marcus cleared archers from the other. The fight quickly became a waiting game as they hunkered down on the small parcel of land that Merlinus' caravan had been ambushed on. However, it quickly became apparent to Andreas that their 'sit and wait' strategy would not be acceptable.

"They're going for the village to the north!" He cried. A few of the bandits had pulled off of the assault to try for easier looting.

"Marcus! Lowen! Take Matthew and stop them!"

Marcus nodded. Lowen fell into trot behind his instructor, who'd picked up the spy-thief bodily and plopped him down behind him on the saddle. Andreas looked to the north, where a pair of mounted archers were chasing after Lowen and Marcus. Meanwhile, to the west, a pair of swordsmen had knocked down an old tree, and were trying to find a chink in Oswin's armor as he fended them off with his lance. Guy faced off against another of his number, their moves like lightning as they fought. Cut, stab, parry, thrust, duck, jump, repel, slash. Guy looked to be just better than his foe, fending off attacks with a little difficulty, before exploiting an opening in his enemy's guard, and ending their fight with a quick thrust of his blade, the tip piercing his opponent's heart.

Rebecca yelped, and Andreas looked to see her engaged in a duel with a mounted archer. By the looks of it, she had taken a hit to her leading shoulder, and could no longer work her bow. Andreas charged forth, rushing past Rebecca's injured form and towards the mounted archer, who managed to get off one shot at Andreas before Andreas' hand-and-a-half cleaved through his leg and horse. The rider fell down as the horse bucked and galloped away, and Andreas finished him off with a stab through his chest.

Andreas turned back and returned to Rebecca. "Let's go." He said. "Serra'll want to take a look at your shoulder.

She nodded, and winced. "Yours too," she said. It was then that Andreas felt the arrow in his left shoulder. He winced, and they headed off to find the pinkette.

"Are you alright?" Eliwood asked Merlinus after the battle closed.

"I've been saved!" Merlinus replied. "Thank you!"

"Are you injured?" Eliwood asked.

Merlinus shook his head. "No, not at all. I'm as fine as fine can be, as you can clearly see."

Eliwood nodded. "Then I suppose that we'll be taking our leave." He turned and began to walk away, when-

"Wait a moment, please!" The merchant called. "A token of my thanks-"

"Please don't worry yourself." Eliwood cut in. "We did nothing to merit reward."

Andreas nodded. "That's right."

"And we've no need for a peddler's junk anyways." Hector said bluntly.

"Peddler?" Merlinus seemed to react rather harshly at that label. Fire filled Merlinus' eyes, and he stared right at Hector with the most intimidating glare that Andreas had ever seen, bar none. Intimidating enough, in fact, that Hector apologized, and backed away.

Merlinus seemed to return to normal, and cleared his throat. "I am Merlinus. I promise that you'll find no other traveling merchant whose goods compare. I'm quite prosperous."

"You're a merchant?" Hector asked. "Books and knives and all that?"

Eliwood sighed. "Hector, you manners are terrible." He looked to Merlinus. "Sir, pay no mind to what my oaf of a companion has to say."

Merlinus shook his head. "Of course not. By the way, you two obviously come from highborn houses. Would you two grant me your names?"

Eliwood smiled. "I am Eliwood, son of Marquess Pherae. My companion is Hector, brother of Marquess Ostia."

Merlinus' eyes went wider than saucers. "Ostia and Pherae? The greatest houses in all Lycia!" He smiled. "To be saved by noblemen like yourselves... this is an honor beyond words!"

"It's nice to be appreciated for a change." Hector said. "Lately, people seem to want us dead." He looked to the merchant. "Tell me Merlinus, what are your plans?"

"My plans, milord?" He paused, considering it. "I had planned to travel Lycia selling my merchandise, but considering how dangerous things have been lately..."

"Why not come with us?" Andreas suggested.

Eliwood looked at Andreas. "Are you sure?"

Andreas nodded. "I doubt that our travels will be over any time soon." Andreas said. "And we have more people and equipment to transport. I don't doubt that we'll have more in the future. It would be a good idea to have someone to help manage our gear."

Merlinus' eyes seemed to brighten at this. "A splendid idea! Managing merchandise is a specialty of mine!"

Eliwood still seemed unsure. "Are you sure? As we go, things will not get safer."

Merlinus nodded firmly. "Honestly, I've always dreamed of working in the service of a noble house. To have my fondest wish granted twice over... I cannot stem these tears of joy!" He looked to the two Lycian lords. "I care not for the danger that I will face."

Eliwood sighed. "Very well, then. Well met, Merlinus."

Hector grinned. "Very good. Now then, I've a few things I need you to carry..."