Of Wyverns and Brands
Chapter 22
So let's recap. The goddess of chaos has summoned me to Tellius to do some unnamed task. Said goddess is also choosing to not explain anything. And then, for some reason, she tells me I've been to Tellius before.
I definitely have a headache now.
When have I ever been to Tellius before? I have no recollection of any of this, but I can't say my memory's topnotch either. Is it possible that my parents are from here as well? If I'm one of the Branded, then was my father or mother actually a laguz? I know they didn't have tails or wings or weird ears.
Or does she even mean this Tellius? Am I in some kind of time loop or alternate Tellius? Or do I end up in the past of this present later on in the future?
This is only creating more and more questions. If it wasn't for Ashera wanting to make everyone stone, I might have just turned to her side instead. I'm really not liking Yune right now.
Lost in thought and trepidation of whatever she was planning, I stay next to Midnight and by myself as we continue to Port Toha. What in the world does she want to do?
That night, Ike comes over looking worried. "Is something bothering you, Drake? You've looked worried about something since last night."
Otherworldly issues, mate. "Just a personal problem."
"Did you have another vision?"
I guess I can play off that. "Sort of. It was farther into the future, though, and blurred. I feel like something has changed about the future now."
"Well, remember, it's easier to figure things out if more people are thinking about it. Besides, I think Soren was starting to get lonely without you."
We both laugh at his joke. "Thanks, Ike. I'll let you know if something comes up."
-o-
The next day, we stopped our marching as Ranulf announced that we were almost to Port Toha.
"I know a ship captain there that will be willing to take you to Begnion and won't make a fuss about your various companions," Ranulf tells Greil. "It shouldn't take long to get everything ready."
"Understood," Greil says, nodding. "We'll enter the town in groups to keep from attracting attention. Then we'll meet at the docks to board the ship."
"Commander, I have a suggestion," Soren says. Greil motions for him to continue. "We have several fliers now, and we are without any pursuit at the moment. I suggest we let the fliers stay behind along the coast, and then fly to the ship as we pass. This will keep the princess from having to enter the city, and draw less attention to us without the pegasi and wyvern in town."
"You do have a point, Soren. Would you consent to this, Princess Elincia?"
"Yes, of course, my lord Greil," Elincia says.
Wait, this isn't supposed to happen either. But there is four of us fliers now, so I guess it does make a little sense. Me, Marcia, Elincia, and Emma.
"I can join them as well, for a fee of course," Anna says, coming up with her pegasus. Make that five fliers. "Prices aren't the only things I can cut."
"You're as bad as Volke," Greil mutters, to which Anna grins. …Volke didn't join us, did he? Is he still following Greil around since he's alive? I hope so. "Fine. Then it's decided," Greil says. "The five of you will travel to the coast south of town. As we sail by, you'll fly over and join up with us then. Let's move out."
And I guess that is that. I'll be missing out on yet another battle. But if Tellius has anything to say about it, I'll still find my myself having to fight anyway.
While the rest of the group move on, we take flight and begin the short trek to the coast. The coast is full of cliffs here, but it will give us a height advantage while staying on watch for the ship.
It feels awkward being the only guy now. Anna is spending the time trying to show the princess some of her expensive amulets as Marcia looks on. This, of course, leaves Emma to start pestering me once more.
"Drake, I figured out the perfect plan!"
"And what's that?" I ask.
"I'll take you on a ride with Snow, and then you take me on a ride with Midnight. Deal?" Emma asks.
"Emma, I told you several times. Midnight doesn't let others ride her. Mist is the only exception," I try to explain.
"You're just playing favorites," Emma pouts. Kind of true, but still. "Come on and try riding Snow. Once you feel what it's like, I know you'll let me ride Midnight. Please?" Somebody save me, please.
"Crackers! Emma, pegasi don't let men ride them," Marcia speaks up, coming to the rescue.
"What!? Why not?" Was she really helping raise those things?
"Because most men are jerks or cowards," Marcia says, grinning.
"She's right," I add, going with it. "I'm way too much of a coward to ride a pegasus."
Emma seemed to accept it for a moment, but perks back up. "Oh! Then all we have to do is make you braver, right? I know just the thing!"
I look to Marcia for help, but she just laughs. No help there, I guess.
"My lord Drake. There are several wyverns approaching," Elincia warns, stopping Emma from continuing.
I look up to see five wyverns closing in. Yeah, they've already seen us, and they're too close to try and outrun them. Not good.
"Remember, don't let them know who you are, Elincia," I warn, keeping my eyes on the approaching figures.
The wyverns circle a few times above us before landing in a circle around us, giving me just enough time to recognize the riders. This is really not good.
"Drake!" Jill exclaims, looking completely surprised. It is quickly replaced by anger, though, as she points her lance at me. "What in the world are you doing here, you filthy deserter?"
Yep. It's the Black Squadron. There's Haar and three of the others. They must have lost another rider since I left.
"Jill, calm down," Haar says, appearing half asleep. "You shouldn't let your anger get to you all the time."
This only serves to makes Jill angrier. "Commander Haar! He went and deserted the army! Ran and left us all behind! What happened out there, Drake!? Where in the world is Daren? I know he wouldn't turn coat like you did."
"Daren…was killed in a Crimean ambush," I finally state, not meeting their eyes. "I managed to survive and give him a proper burial, but that was all."
All of the riders fell silent at that, and Jill lowers her lance. Daren was one of their best and was generally well-liked. I know it won't be easy for them to accept it.
"We found his wyvern," Haar says, looking genuinely angry for once. "Death by a wind mage, then? Blast them. It is a horrible way to go."
"After that, I couldn't go back, so I fled. I met up with these travelers, and now we're heading to Begnion, since there's nothing left for us here," I add, hoping they buy it.
"'Couldn't go back'? 'Couldn't go back'!?" Jill fires back at me, her voice almost going shrill as her anger returns. "You just disappeared and left without a word! We had no idea what happened to you or Daren! Do you know how long we searched for you!?"
I'm taken back by her words. I…hadn't really thought of that. I hadn't thought of how my leaving could have affected them at all. I was just the 'rookie' everyone joked about. And this definitely isn't the stonewall Jill I know.
"You bastard! We were so worried about you, and here you are frolicking around the countryside with a gaggle of women following you. Is this why you wanted to leave? Huh?"
"Ah, biscuits. I think Drake's ex has found us," Marcia comments behind me.
I jump as Jill's lance almost takes my head off. She doesn't even reply as she growls, very likely about to attack.
"Jill, don't," Haar orders, calming her some. "We need to get to Port Toha quickly, or Petrine will have our heads. Let's go."
"Our orders are to capture any deserters that we find," Jill says. "And we have one right here. We'll be taking the lot of you prisoner. Drop your weapons."
"Yeah, I don't think so, sweetie," Anna replies, whipping out her sword. Everyone is instantly on guard at the sound of her unsheathing it. "Being a prisoner isn't good for profits." Really, Anna? Does no one know diplomacy here?
"Look, Jill, calm down for a moment," I say, trying to calm her even as I stare at the lance right in front of my face. "Surely we can talk this over?"
"I won't talk with some filthy, branded traitor," Jill says, eyes hard. "A deserter doesn't deserve it."
"That's right. I'm a deserter," I state, growing irritated. "I deserted the Daein army. I deserted warmongers. I deserted murderers. An army that was willing to slay innocents in their beds, kill the defenseless, and raze whole villages to the ground.
"I deserted a king that attacked a neighbor without provocation or reason. An army that turned a blind eye to it all. A people that hate the laguz, yet attacked other humans."
A few of the riders start to look uneasy, but I plow on without giving them a chance to respond, my temper finally sparked. "Honor? Glory? Tell me, where was that in this war? How many people did you give a fair fight? How many actual warriors can you say you even had combat with? Is slaughtering defenseless women and children honorable? Do you feel proud about it? Will you be able to tell other people with your head held high?
"Is that how your father raised you? To follow orders and never think for yourself like some mindless zombie? Did he raise you be to some killing machine, or did he raise you with pride, wanting you to be a warrior and not a murderer? Well? Can you tell the general you feel proud about how you fought in the war? Can any of you?
"What about you, Haar? Is this what you left Begnion for? To feed off of the weak like a parasite? To slay others just because you want to serve a king that has gone mad? Where are you morals in all this? Why can't any of you stupid people ever make a decision for yourself for once?" By the end of the rant I am red in the face and breathing hard, but I feel a lot better after getting that off of my chest.
Jill didn't reply, but I'm not sure how to read her expression right now. The riders look at one another confused, but Haar finally break the silence. "Let's go, Jill. I'm sure these…travelers are ready to move on as well. Let's get to Port Toha already."
Jill gives me a long, hard stare. I still can't tell what she's thinking, though. "Yes, sir!" she finally says, lowering her lance again.
"And Drake," Haar says seriously, looking back at me as he prepares to take off. "The answer is no. I can't lift my head in pride."
With that, the five wyvern riders take off, circling for a moment before heading northward toward Port Toha.
I let the tension go out of my shoulders and slide to the ground against Midnight. I feel exhausted.
"Didn't know you could talk straight to a girl," Anna comments, winking at me. "That was quite the manly speech you gave."
"Crackers, Anna, don't flirt with him," Marcia chides. "He's probably still reeling over their love quarrel."
"She wasn't my girlfriend!" I immediately state.
"What's a girlfriend?" Emma asks.
I look at her questioning, but realize all of them look confused. "It's when you're dating someone." And now they only look more confused. …Oh, yeah. Modern language. "Uh, it's when you're in the process of courting?" I suggest.
Thankfully, they seem to finally understand. "So you two weren't courting, then?" Emma asks. "Why not? She's pretty."
"Honey, I think that threatening people with weapons isn't very attractive to a guy," Marcia explains, giggling.
"You can say that again," I murmur, remembering how I almost lost my head.
"That was an excellent speech, my lord Drake," Elincia says. "I was very moved by it."
"Uh, thanks, I think," I reply, not even remembering half of what I said. I kind of just went with whatever come to me.
"So…what's a zombie?" Emma asks.
"I did't recognize that either," Marcia says.
Oh, boy.
-o-
It was a few more hours until the ship finally came into sight. We quickly made our way over to it, watching as the sailors panicked for a moment with so many of us flying out of nowhere. Nasir stops them and sends them back to work, allowing us to land on the deck.
"You are the rest of the mercenaries' party, correct?" Nasir asks, as we dismount. Woah. I'm not used to how this deck is swaying. Please don't let me get seasick now.
"Yep," Marcia answers. "Where's the others?"
Other than the sailors on board, the only other person on the deck was Ike, who was ferociously gripping the rail of the ship. Guess he must be getting seasick already. Then I notice Ike's sword still stuck into the railing, having cut halfway through the wood.
"They're down in the hull at the moment, Nasir says, looking worried. "Things didn't go as planned. We had to leave the port quickly when things went awry in town." Meaning Ranulf was discovered like normal.
For the others, though, it was a surprise. "Was anyone hurt?" Elincia asks, worried.
Nasir didn't respond, looking over at Ike as though in pity. I…suddenly don't feel so easygoing. Did…something else happen?
As though just noticing us, Ike straightened up and walked over. He looks angry and confused as he stays silent for a moment. "We were attacked by the Black Knight as we attempted to leave. Father stayed behind to hold him off and give us time to escape."
Wh…what? Did he just say…?
"We must go back for him, my lord Ike," Elincia insists. "I would not have another brave man left behind because of me."
"We can't," Ike says, meeting her eyes. "My father is dead. The Black Knight cut him down even as the ship pulled away."
And then my world collapsed.
-o-
AN: Dun, dun, duun~! A cliffhanger that's really going to bite, since I'll be on a trip this weekend and won't be able to write then. Development after development.
So many reviews last chapter, and I'm pretty sure this will spark a few more. Special shout-out:
AzureNova: Thanks greatly for the reference. I had noticed those books before when buying stuff, but had thought they were just in Japanese. But now I've found the fan translation of both, and I hope to use it to max effect. Thanks a lot!
All other questions will have to wait until they are revealed through the plot.
Retcon: Jill, Mist, and Rolf have had their ages changed to their correct ages as per Tellius info, 17, 15, and 12 respectively.
There are a few other things I've since learned are incorrect, but are too difficult to really retcon because of my plot, specifically: Shiharam and Haar are supposed to be the only ones who leave Begnion for Daein, not half the forces, and Jill's first battle is if you battle her in Port Toha or with the hawks.
Update: Corrected a few errors.