False Friends

"It looks like the rumors continue to gain more and more proof." Andreas said.

"Marquess Laus..." Eliwood shook his head.

"What in Elimine's name is that bastard scheming?" Hector demanded.

Andreas had decided after the first village that 'scheming' was the right way to describe it. They'd passed through only three villages, counting the one they'd just left. In each one, the same signs: ballista parts, arrow stocks, drilling soldiers, and smiths and fletchers and craftsmen all busily working.

They came to rest on a hill, with Castle Laus sitting in the next valley. Eliwood remained silent, and simply stared at the castle with a hard look on his face.

"You don't look like you want to go into the castle." Hector pointed out.

"I'm worried about what we may find." Eliwood replied. "If we go and learn the truth, it'll mean going to war." Eliwood shook his head. "I've no love for war."

Andreas nodded. "I think I understand." He said. "When it's simply a soldier, that's one thing. But when you factor in their families? Their friends? The innocents that get caught in the crossfire?"

Eliwood nodded. "Which is exactly why I hope that there is a way to solve this situation without having to resort to the force of arms."

Marcus interrupted. "Lord Eliwood!" He called, all heads present turning to the paladin. "A lone knight has ridden forth from the castle." He reported.

"A lone knight?" Eliwood asked, his brow furrowing.

Marcus nodded. "I believe the rider is none other than the son of Marquess Laus."

"Erik?" Eliwood asked, surprised.

Marcus nodded. "He wishes to see you."

Hector sighed. "Of all the people it could've been, why'd it have to be that buffoon?" Hector didn't bother to hide the disgust in his voice.

Eliwood shot Hector a look, then turned back to Marcus. "I will see him."

Marcus nodded, and turned to leaved. Hector made to leave as well.

"Where are you going, Hector?" Eliwood asked.

"Anywhere but here." He replied. "I could never stand to be near that lout."

"While you're out," Andreas called after him, "take Matthew and Oswin and survey the area."

Hector nodded, and left. Soon after, there was the sound of hooves as the lone rider approached Eliwood and Andreas.

"Eliwood!" The rider called, dismounting. "It's been far too long, old friend!"

"Erik..." Eliwood sighed. "What is your business?"

Erik frowned. "My business? You mean why am I here? I heard you were in Laus. I simply thought I would ride out to greet an old friend."

Eliwood remained silent, a slight frown resting on his face.

"Tell me, Eliwood," Erik asked, "what brings you to Laus? Do you mean to stay, or are you simply passing through?" Erik's eyes widened. "Oh, do you mean to head to Ostia?"

Eliwood's frown deepened. "Why would you think that?"

Erik smiled, seeming to think that he'd gotten it right. "Well, you and Hector always were such good friends." His smile disappeared. "Unlike he and I. We never really got along." Erik shook his head. "His speech is crude and his manners are disgraceful. He almost acts like a peasant." Erik tilted his head. "Are you two still friends?"

Eliwood nodded. "Yes, we're still friends."

Erik shot off a series of questions. "When did you see him last? Were you in Ostia at the time? How do you two keep up your correspondence? What-"

"Erik?" Eliwood interrupted. "I know that you are after something. I want to know what it is."

Erik's questioning look became a frown. "I beg your pardon, Eliwood?"

Eliwood's face hardened. "Every Laus village that we passed through while coming here seemed to be preparing for war. There are rumors that you are preparing for rebellion against Ostia." Eliwood's eyes blazed. "What are you and your father planning? Tell me the truth!"

Erik sighed, and returned to his horse. "I had hoped that you would tell me about Ostia. About whether you've talked with Lord Uther or not."

Eliwood stepped forward. "What are you talking about?"

Erik's laugh sent a chill down Andreas' spine. "I've always despised you, Eliwood." Erik said menacingly. "Oh, how long I've dreamed of smashing you and your pathetic morality to pieces! I've dreamed of this day for so long, and at last it has arrived!"

"A shame that you won't be living to see it's end." Hector said, approaching from the side, Oswin and Matthew in tow.

Erik's face paled. "Y-you haven't spoken with your brother yet, have you?" Erik asked.

"Maybe we have." Hector said. "Maybe we haven't."

"Andreas." Oswin said, keeping his eyes on Erik. "There are men in the valley below."

"What? How many?" Andreas' mind kicked itself into motion, ready to form plans.

"This pathetic excuse of a prince has arrayed his personal guard to ambush us." Hector said. "At least sixty, all Laus regulars."

Erik's laugh sounded again. "There's little point in fighting!" He called, retreating on his horse. "Laus' best cavalry will soon be swarming you! Your pitiful troop will drown in the sea of men, your cries drowned out in the thunder of hooves! You won't last an hour!" Erik retreated to the castle as Laus cavalry flooded into the valley from their hiding places.

Their group convened around a small cluster of houses, where Merlinus had set up his caravan, Andreas standing deep in thought. "Cavalry typically use swords and lances, so our own lances should take lead, with axes following close behind. Swords should be kept close in case the lances run into enemy axe-fighters, and I'm sure that they'll have at least a few of them interspersed with their force." He looked about the group. "Rebecca, stay within the center along with Serra and Matthew to provide archery support, and protection. Marcus, I want you to stay behind with Merlinus to protect our caravan. You're our strongest fighter by far, and if we lose that caravan, we lose all of the food, water, and supplies inside of it. Now, let's go!"

Lowen and Oswin took the lead, their lances' reach countering a small force of cavalry that attempted to get close enough to use their swords, while Rebecca used her bow to great effect, picking off enemy riders. Hector's axe cleaved horse and rider alike as they approached, the flat of the blade clubbing lethal points aside, or smashing them from their shafts altogether. An axe flew past Andreas' head, and into a horse's neck. The horse and rider plummeted, and Andreas turned to see Dorcas returning his battle axe to his dominant hand.

Suddenly, a new sound of thunder filled the air, and Andreas winced as a bolt of lightning cut through the sky, despite the clouds above only beginning to form, and into a horseman, killing horse and rider alike. Andreas followed the arc trail back to its source, and smiled as the mage stepped forwards, and cast forth another bolt of electricity, finishing off the first wave of enemy cavalry.

A newly energized pinkette rushed forwards. "Omigosh! It's Erk! It's been so long! What are you doing here?"

Erk blanched, and sighed. "Oh, Serra. I thought I recognized that voice. You're the last person I wanted to see."

If Serra recognized the insult, she did a great job of hiding it. "That's so sweet Erk! You wanted to see me again!"

Eliwood stepped in before the pinkette drove Erk away. "Actually, if you wanted, we'd be happy to have you along, If you'd like to lend a hand."

"Yeah!" Serra said. "You're probably just wandering around, looking for work."

"Actually, I am happily employed as is." Erk responded. "However, if you're fighting Laus..."

"I take it our lines of work are similar?" Andreas asked.

Erk nodded. "My employer is holed up in a village to the south. If you could help me get her out safely, I'll consider joining you."

Andreas nodded. "Consider it done." Andreas looked south, and saw not the village, which was hidden behind a rocky cliff, but a worse sight. A citadel sat on a rocky bluff in the bay to the east of the area Andreas supposed the village was. Pirates were swarming out of it.

"Everyone! To the south! We need to make it to the village before those pirates!"

And then it began to storm, and their mad dash to the aid of the village became a muddy slog as they forced their way through the deluge of water brought down from above, and from uphill. However, the waves that the storm kicked up began to swamp the boats that the pirates were taking, and slowed them considerably. By the time the storm began to let up, Andreas' group met what pirates were left on the shoreline.

Andreas was initially confused when Erk warned them all to stay off of the beach where the pirates had assembled. Did the mage really think that he could handle all of the pirates on his own? However, the way that the mage had given the order, the twinkle of an idea in his eye... Andreas decided that whatever he was planning was going to be incredibly stupid, incredibly brilliant, or both. So he stood back with the rest of the group, and watched as Erk calmly took his tome, chanted a spell, and launched a lightning bolt, not at the thoroughly soaked pirates, but at the watery ground beneath their feet. All of the pirates fell to the ground in heaps, stunned by the electrical magic. "Now!" Erk yelled. Andreas shook himself back into focus, and charged forwards. What could've been a hard battle turned into a short-lived massacre as they picked off the pirates one by one. The rain began to lessen, and they wheeled towards the village, the patrol of armored knights easily dispatched by Erk's powerful magic. Andreas was very impressed by the power that the mage held, and was glad that he was on their side.

As Dorcas, Batre, and Hector bunkered down against the handful of mounted lancers that Castle Laus had left to throw at them, Andreas followed Erk into the village. The mage walked quickly to an inn, where a beautiful young woman with red hair was sitting at a table, quietly sipping at a cup.

"Lady Priscilla!" Erk said as he approached, prompting the girl to turn to him. "Are you well?"

The lady smiled and stood. "I should be asking you that question, Erk. Are you injured?"

Erk shook his head. "I'm fine. Milady, I've found some friends who'll help us."

Priscilla turned to Andreas. "Is he one of these friends?"

Andreas nodded. "My name is Andreas. I'm a tactician under the service of House Pherae."

"Then we're to travel with the marquess' son?" Priscilla asked.

Erk nodded. "It seems to be the safest way for us to continue looking for your family."

"Erk!" Priscilla cringed as her mission was revealed.

Erk quickly scrambled to apologize, but Andreas simply smiled. "Don't worry, madam." He said. "I won't tell. But I agree, this isn't exactly the best place to be discussing sensitive details."

Priscilla blushed. "Thank you." Turning to Erk, she asked, "Am I to assume that you will still help me, Erk?"

Erk nodded. "My teacher told me to help you. Until your goal is reached, I will not leave your side."

She smiled. "Thank you, Erk." Andreas followed them around to the back of the inn, where a stable sat. Priscilla entered the stable, and came out riding a sturdy-looking brown horse, reins in one hand, and a staff in the other.

After taking only a short moment to heal up, their group rounded the bluff that hid the village from the castle, and advanced upon the final group of foes waiting near the gates: Erik and his guards. Erk and Rebecca quickly reduced the enemy numbers to just Erik. The lone cavalier looked from Hector to Eliwood and back again. "I won't surrender!" He cried. Erik spurred his mount forwards, rushing into battle, his lance poised to strike. Hector blocked the thrust meant for Eliwood's heart, then used his axe to knock the lance out of Erik's hands. Eliwood's rapier found the horse's heart, and the mount collapsed. Erik, now on foot, weaponless, and surrounded, went wide-eyed as he realized his fate. "I am no man's prisoner!"

"Oh, get up!" Hector barked.

Erik rose quickly, but grumbled under his breath. Andreas thought he heard something about peasants and nobles, but wasn't sure.

"Be thankful you're still breathing!" Hector growled. "We didn't have to spare your life!"

"Hector, could you give Matthew a hand with scouting for any remaining troops?" Eliwood asked. Hector understood the implied "and get out of here so that you don't cause any unnecessary problems", and left. Eliwood turned back to Erik. "Now, Erik. Where is your father?" Eliwood asked.

"Probably in the castle." Erik said.

"Erik, you blasted liar!" Hector's angry roar shook Andreas to his core. He'd been tasked with keeping an eye on their prisoner while the rest of the group checked the castle. After getting in without seeing a single soldier, they wanted to check the rest.

Eliwood stormed through the open door to the courtyard, and shot Erik daggers. "There's no one here!"

Erik's eyes widened. "You lie! My father would never abandon me! Ephidel-"

"Who's Ephidel?" Hector snapped, coming in on Eliwood's heels. That name drove shivers up Andreas' spine, but he couldn't understand why.

Erik remained silent, until Hector took Erik by the collar. "Do you want to die here?" Hector asked, his voice dangerously quiet.

Erik shook his head, and Hector dropped him onto his butt. "Then talk!"

"Hector, please!" Eliwood said. Then, turning to Erik, who'd stood up and dusted himself off, he said. "Please, you must tell us what you know. I... I just want to see my father again."

Erik remained silent for a little longer, and it looked like Hector would have to take over the interrogation to get the information when Erik finally spoke up.

"Ephidel... He appeared at the castle a year ago. He came... and my father changed. Ostia's position had always bothered my father. He felt that Laus deserved to rule over all of Lycia. But to speak of rebellion... He'd never gone that far."

"Rebellion?" Hector asked.

Erik nodded. "Ephidel had something... something that convinced my father to set this plan in motion. He sent envoys to several other marquesses. Marquess Pherae approved of the idea."

"What?" Eliwood cried. "My father would never agree to something like that!"

"Believe or disbelieve. The choice is yours to make." Erik sighed, and continued. "Marquess Santaruz approved first. Then Marquess Pherae's reply arrived. He visited six months ago to seal his approval."

"That... That's not..." Eliwood stammered.

"Our fathers argued vehemently that day." Erik said. "Marquess Pherae distrusted Ephidel. He tried to convince my father to send Ephidel and the Black Fang assassins out of Lycia. My father would not be persuaded, and Marquess Pherae left the castle. Then he disappeared."

Eliwood shook his head. "No! That can't be true!"

"Shut your mouth!" Hector roared.
"Hey!" Erik countered. "Eliwood said that he wanted to hear everything!" He sighed. "My father... he is Ephidel's puppet. He'll listen to anything that villain says. Even watch his own son... die." Erik stared right at Eliwood. "Those are the kinds of people that you're dealing with. Marquess Pherae betrayed them. Do you think that they'd let him live?"

Eliwood turned and walked away.

"Are you alright, Eliwood?" Andreas asked, coming out of the gate, having followed Eliwood after he stormed off.

"My father..." Eliwood said softly. "I know he is alive. I know it."

"Of course he is!" Hector said, coming out of the gate after Eliwood.

"But can he really support rebellion?" Eliwood asked. "There has to be a reason."

"I know." Hector said. "I don't believe any of this for an instant. My brother trusted your father more than anyone. First we'll find your father and the truth. Then we can talk to my brother about this."

"I'm sorry, Hector." Eliwood said.

"Don't look like that." Hector said, putting a hand on Eliwood's shoulder. "I know that your father's alive."

"A Laus rebellion, Black Fang assassins, and now this Ephidel?" Andreas shook his head. "I'm not sure what to make of it all. But I agree with Hector. We need to find your father as soon as possible."