Of Wyverns and Brands

Chapter 11

I'm cold, tired, and mentally exhausted. All I want to do right now is go home, my real home, and curl up under some blankets. Only, I won't be going home today, I'll be sleeping on the ground yet again, and I only just realized that I left the last of the food in Daren's saddlebags. There goes dinner. After what just happened, I don't think today can get any worse.

The sun is already beginning to set by the time I reach the battlefield. A flock of crows scatter as we near. Or ravens. One of the two. I don't care right now. My grip tightens around Daren unconsciously as I look down upon all those bodies. Dead bodies.

I want to go home.

We turn and leave the scene behind, not wanting to make camp just yet. A minute later, though, I'm then knocked out of my self-pitying state when an arrow suddenly flashes past just in front of Midnight.

Really? Really!?

I pull Midnight into a tight circle to quickly scan the area, my right hand already grabbing my lance. Yeah, my patience is long since gone. In fact, I'm itching for a fight right now. Bring it on, Tellius! I'll show you inexperience!

I finally catch sight of the group, and I feel my eye begin to twitch. Standing in formation are a few dozen Daein troops. That's right. Daein.

Spotting the rather well-armored commander, I have Midnight dive down to land heavily in front of him, lance immediately leveled at his stupidly unprotected head.

"What in the f$#% was that?" I growl out, not even caring that I just cursed for the first time in years.

The commander gives me a dirty look, not liking my attitude. "I would lower that lance if I were you, rider," he says, spitting out my title as if it were derogative. "I am Commander Maijin under the direct command of General Petrine. I am your superior." Big, round, and pinkish. I see where he gets his name.

I snort at his big words. "I wonder if you'll still be my superior when you're dead," I say, inching my lance forward. Two of the archers hesitantly begin to grab an arrow, not sure of what to do in this situation. "I'm not in the mood for all your stupid posturing. What do you want?"

The commander's face scrunches up in anger, but he decides to finally answer me. "We were sent by General Petrine to retrieve some men that may have ended up deserting. We heard word that she also sent a few riders, so we signaled you down." With an arrow. Really. The commander's eyes finally stray to Daren, but he makes no comment.

"The men you're looking for can be found on up the path, dutifully feeding the crows," I tell him, pulling my lance away.

It seems to take the commander a moment to realize what I mean, but he then points back the way I came. "Then you can lead us there. We need to see it for ourselves."

"Then go ahead and walk. Do you really need me to hold your hand for you to take a straight path?"

The man gives a signal, and all of his archers suddenly raise their bows, arrows notched. "You'll show us it, rider, either there or here." It seems he becomes a bit more confident when he doesn't have a blade at his throat.

...I really have to hold myself back this time. Even if only for Midnight's sake, I hold myself back. Let's just get this over with.

Hooking my lance back onto the saddle, I take off, turning Midnight back around toward the earlier carnage. This time, I fly higher, staying out of easy bow range. I can easily see that guy trying to shoot me in the back.

The commander seems to purposefully have his troops march slowly to make this take longer. I guess this was the sort of derision that Jill told me they faced from the others.

Finally, we reached the field once more, but I slowly realize that there's something off. On the other side of the scene are some people…moving people. I have Midnight lower a little to get a better view.

…I can't believe I missed it. I really missed all the signs. I mean, a battlefield, royal troops, even Bastian's group. How did I forget about this?

There, standing near the edge of the bodies, is none other than the Greil Mercenaries. I can't mistake all that rainbow hair down below.

I glance back to see that the commander has spotted them as well. The troops begin moving much faster to intercept them. So much for warning them.

Their conversation doesn't reach me, but I already know how it's going to turn out. And it does. Weapons begin to be drawn, and the commander hurries behind his troops as he gives the command to attack.

I begin to laugh as a pleasantly twisted thought enters my head. "Let's join them, Midnight!" I shout, grabbing my lance.

Midnight dives down right behind the archers before the commander can even make his way back there. The archers are startled at our sudden landing, but the commander's yelling gets them to turn their backs to us once more nervously. Perfect.

With a thrust, I send my lance right into the closest man's shoulder, making him drop the bow with a scream. Not quite on target, but effective enough.

Midnight, who had not yet attacked, looks at me confused, but when the other archers begin to turn and train their bows on us, she finally gets her cue. Midnight rears up and leaps onto the next archer, crushing him as she snaps at another. I almost lose my grip on Daren, but I cackle madly as I stab at another archer.

In the fight for the capital, I was petrified and half out of it. Now, I've feeling alive as I finally let all my pent up stress and anger loose. Well, I haven't hit much besides that first archer, but it still fills good to try to kill someone while Midnight tears into them.

The men begin to give us space as Midnight finishes the last archer, lances pointed toward us. This is yet another mistake for them, for the mercenaries decide to use this opening to its full extent. They quickly begin to fall as they attack them from behind.

"You filthy traitor!" the commander screams. "I knew you beast-loving maggots would turn someday."

Laughing at him, and the fact that he stayed out of range, I heft my lance and throw it. Well…I probably can stab farther than that went, but it's the thought that counts. "Then you should have watched your back better, superior," I taunt, pulling out my sword.

He goes to speak, but suddenly coughs up some blood instead. He seems confused until cuts mysteriously begin to appear all over him. They weren't deep like Bastian's attack, but I recognized the magic at play this time. A loud clashing of metal sounds for his heavy fall, and the last of the troops flee.

I'm breathing heavily by the time it's over, but I sure feel a lot better than a moment ago. And then my hand starts to itch, and I feel an uneasy presence near me. I turn to look for the source, and my eyes meet Soren's. The source is definitely coming from him, and he's probably feeling the same thing with the way he's glaring at me. I guess that's how the Branded can pick each other out. To be honest, I have my hand covered up so much that it usually slips my mind.

With the battle over, I watch as Ike and Titania have a short discussion before approaching me. Which is when I realize that I'm not sure what to say to them yet. Yeah, time's up, bro.

They stop when Midnight begins to growl, but I pat her side to try and calm her. "Thanks for the help," Ike begins. "Your attack made the exact opening we were looking for."

"You guys fought well for travelers," I comment. "Are you part of the Crimean forces then?"

"We're just some mercenaries scouting the area for news of the war," Titania explains. "However, those Daein forces didn't seem to care who we were. I did not expect to see a wyvern rider fighting against Daein, though."

Yeah, Titania would know about military positioning. Something. I need something. Come on, brain. "I'm also a mercenary," I reply slowly. "I was looking for someone here, but I have a bone to pick with Daein as well."

Titania's gaze passes to Daren at my words. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Okay, two goals here. One, I need to make sure they look for Elincia before I distract them too much. Two, I need an excuse to join them or at least talk to Greil. "He was a close friend, but the one I'm searching for I fear has met the same fate now that I've seen this battlefield. Have you seen a woman with green hair and an orange dress around here?" I ask.

Ike shakes his head. "There was no one on the road, and I didn't see anyone like that among the dead here."

Well this is great. I know she's passed out somewhere nearby, but now I'll have to find her and convince them to wait long enough to take her with them. Shoot. I really can't mess this part of the storyline up. Maybe I'll just convince them all to loot everyone like Shinon is quietly doing right now to buy time.

"I think I just saw something moving over there," Rhys suddenly says, pointing toward a thicket. Yes! Thank you, Rhys. You're a lifesaver.

Leaving Daren on Midnight, I dismount and head over to the spot with the others following as well. As we get closer, my eyes finally pick up the telltale orange of Elincia's dress. That thing really does stand out. Soon, I can make out Elincia herself on the ground unconscious.

Okay, Elincia is found, so now I just have to make sure they take her back with them. "This is her, thank Ashera," I say, crouching down beside her. "She's doesn't appear to be hurt, too."

"She's a fair young lady," Titania comments.

Rhys kneels down on the other side of her and begins to check her over. "I believe she'll be fine. She probably simply fainted."

I stand up and turn to Ike. "May I make a request of you? May we trouble you for a place to stay for the night? We would appreciate a place to recover from our recent ordeals, as well as a place that I might bury my friend. I do not have gold to pay you with, but I do have news of how the war fares."

"I believe we have the room to spare for that, and we are anxious to hear how Crimea is faring," Titania says, subtly prompting Ike. So she's leaving it in his hands.

"I say that we should not get involved," Soren retorts, stepping forward. I can still feel his presence, even when I'm not looking at him. "We shouldn't bring trouble right into our home."

"Soren! These people need our help, and this man risked his life to help us in our fight," Titania chides.

"You may not have been watching, but I was," Soren retorts. "He wounded one soldier. That was all. He could still be with Daein." Way to rub it in, Soren.

The two pause and look to Ike, leaving the choice to him still. Ike looks from me to Elincia a few times before finally saying, "We'll let them stay for now. We need information on how the war is going, and we can't leave them out here in need."

I almost let out a sigh, but I know Soren's glare would only become more suspicious. Alright, mission complete.

Ike then addresses me directly. "We're heading back to the fort now, so you can follow along. We'll help transport the woman, if that's alright with you."

I nod, moving aside as Ike and Titania begin to pick up Elincia. "I don't like this," Soren mutters, still glaring at me. Too bad.

Returning to Midnight, I take off and begin to follow the group as they head west. The sun is beginning to set, so I hope that the fort is close. On top of all my other discomforts at the moment, I can hear my stomach beginning to growl from lack of food.

You know, I thought I would have been a lot more excited about this moment. I've met the gang, am heading to their fort, and am even going to meet Greil. But I'm not. It just feels like one more event in a long, long day. Maybe I'll feel different about it after I finally get a good night's rest in an actual bed.

Thankfully, the fort is close by. We arrive at the small cluster of buildings as the sun finishes setting. This place isn't actually that far from the capital. And it also looks as nice and simple as the game version.

I wait until the others gather in the courtyard before landing and dismounting. Greil and the others come out, all of them quickly noticing the large wyvern. Rolf and Mist seem taken in the most by her.

"I believe there is an explanation for this?" Greil prompts.

With that, Ike explains what happened along with what they found, with Titania adding a few points at the end.

"Take her to a spare room to let her rest," Greil orders at the end, sending Titania off. Then, he approaches me, not even slowing when Midnight begins to growl. He holds out his hand to shake, and I'm startled by how much larger his hand is than mine. He really is much larger and more impressive in real life. "It seems we owe you a debt for helping my men in their need. We will be glad to let you stay for the night. I'll listen to any news you have tomorrow. For now, Oscar! Boyd!"

At the sound of their names, the two rush forward. "Yes, sir!" Oscar says, ready for orders.

"Help this man bury his friend. He needs a proper place to be laid at rest."

"Got it, Commander," Boyd answers. As Greil moves off, Boyd turns to me. "I'm Boyd, a pro mercenary. Glad to meet you."

"And I'm Oscar," the brother replies, sounding amused.

"I'm Drake," I say, shaking both of their hands.

After that, we spend the last of the fading light on giving Daren a proper burial. Boyd fills the time with, most likely, exaggerated stories of his experience. Oscar stays mostly quiet, seeming to try to give me some peace in the somber moment.

After we finish, I ask to be alone for a bit and sit down beside the grave that was marked only by his helmet and the right shoulder piece that I had saved.

He's really gone. I have to wonder if things would have different if I had been aware. If I had realized the scene I was looking at, if I had tried to get Daren to return early, if I had warned Daren about a possible ambush… Only looking back can I see all the 'what ifs'. But he's gone, and nothing will change that. He won't be coming back.

I sit there for a while as it grows dark, lost in the moment. I'm too spent to cry, too exhausted to even have my earlier self-pity. I just sit there for a long time, wishing things had turned out differently.

-o-

AN: Man, but my writings gotten a lot heavier since before. Jeez. Anyway, Drake has finally met the mercenaries! Hazaah! Now I only have to worry about keeping everyone IC.

Also, my story has also doubled in followers since last week, which is cool. Hopefully I can promote you all to favorite status soon enough!

While I did have a loose plot thought up, I knew one that I needed to work in would be coming up soon enough, so I had been contemplating it a while. And then an awesome idea hit me, and now I can't wait until it gets revealed…which is actually much farther into the story. But now I know this story is going to end up much longer than I planned, so I hope you'll all enjoy in the coming months!