Chapter 17: Taking Sides
An hour has passed since Leila was taken to be healed, and Ren slowly opens his eyes after he had passed out taking care of his former aide and sworn sister. Serra and Priscilla had long been occupied in healing the wounded spy, making sure that she was alright so that Lucius could preserve his strength. Lucas had long ago pulled both Eliwood and Hector aside for something that he didn't know. Ninian, who was awake a long time ago decided to move to Lucius and make some small talk with him whereas Lyn was sitting beside Florina, who had also gone to rest on Huey's fluffy stomach with the others either opting to be on guard duty, checking inventory of the group supplies or resting. He decided to sneak his way out of the room, making sure that everyone did not notice him leave.
As he left the tent, his spirit slowly recovered with the calm atmosphere of relief from the swamp and not from inside the tent, not all went along with the mood. He heard a loud shout.
"That damned Nergal, I outta cut him down when I get that chance! No hesitation!" Hector, along with Eliwood and Lucas located at a quieter area behind the thickets, roars in a fit of rage after witnessing the near-death scene of one of Ostia's best spies.
"Hector, please calm yourself! This is all the more reason for us to be vigilant of what he may be capable of with the Black Fang at his side," Eliwood pleads.
Lucas remained silent as he watched the two were trying to settle their dispute, opting instead to think on how to explain Ren's predicament to them.
"What are you blabbering about, Eliwood!? You do realize he has your father held captive in whatever the Elimine-knows kind of place that is!?" Hector protests, taking Eliwood aback.
"I know that as well! But if we are to just charge head on with our panicked condition, what do you think will happen to us so soon!?" Eliwood rationalizes, stirring Hector's anger even more.
Lucas thought that this was enough as he decided the only way to silence the two was to do this. He immediately used the blunt part of his spear and hit both on the back of the head.
"Look at you, aren't you supposed to be working together?! If we argue like this, then, whoever stabbed your spy will definitely come to stab us next. You two are the heirs of your kingdoms, and yet you choose to squabble like children. I understand that we almost lost Leila, but as an heir or a king, you must set these aside and think straight..."
"You did such a good job rationalizing when Lyn was nearly killed!" Hector yelled out in a fury.
"Agreed. You almost killed the heir of Laus for it." Eliwood adds, taking Lucas aback with his straightforward statement, making him sigh and grunt in defeat.
"All those petty details aside. Let's focus on what is on hand now, We must do something about this fog, there is no visibility here and with that there is no way to fight back in these conditions assuming we get ambushed." Lucas calmly answers back.
"But that is sadly hard to say, this is the Dread Isle after all. This is enemy territory. We will soon meet foes whether we enter or wait," Eliwood sternly answers.
"I'd suggest we gather those that may be in condition for combat and let others protect our rear and the unabled. We can lessen our casualties somehow when the enemies will show up," Hector advises, making Lucas muse some more on what the options could be.
"Milords, um, my apologies if I've invaded your private space, but we um, have gotten a, well you could say a huge problem," Matthew suddenly appears over the trees, gaining their full attention.
"What's the problem then?" Lucas inquires sternly, using his spear like a walking stick once more.
"You are...not going to like it…"
Meanwhile, back at the group, where everyone starts forming their defensive ranks for the weaker members and dealing with the issue at hand: negotiating with a high member of the Black Fang. A Sacaen nomad trooper, donned in dark colors on his armor and his steed, with the innocent Lyndis in his clutches, demands the capture of the strange girl Ninian.
"Hey man, can't we talk about this? Please let her go, we can—"
"No, I am ordered to recapture the girl, nothing more, nothing less. Give her in exchange for this one," the dark-colored nomad trooper demands with Lyndis' arms locked.
'Damn it, I hope Lucas won't see this yet, or else it will be the death of us…' Ren laments in his thoughts. Which was interrupted by the gasp of Farina as the person in question was quickly moving through the group, slowly walking towards the Sacaean trooper, with his spear in hand slowly snapping the spear from the grip strength of the tactician but stopping right in front of said Sacaean and leaning on his spear.
"Hmph, pompous flair, vain appearances. Typical," the nomad trooper grunts.
"Lucas!" Lyndis calls out with her arms locked by the nomad trooper's greater arm strength.
"May I ask...who you are?" Lucas calmly asks, making those that knew him close shiver from the silent anger that he is exuding.
"Before asking questions from me, I demand that you hand over the girl, if you value this one's life," the nomad trooper orders before putting his razor sharp shamshir over Lyn's neck.
Lucas slowly and stealthily pulls out his dagger from his pocket. "Well, it's rude for one to make demands if we know nothing about them."
"Any more moves, and she will meet Father Sky before you could even think," the nomad trooper warns with his sword touching her neck, barely pricking her feminine flesh. Lucas considered throwing his spear...
"Wait, you are Sacaen, aren't you!?" Lyndis, hysterically asks.
"Yes, that is correct...my name is Uhai, Uhai of the Black Fang. I've been dispatched to capture the girl that is among you. Hand her over, and I may consider sparing your lives, no exceptions," the nomad named Uhai, sternly explained briefly.
"Guy, why don't you talk to him about this? Seems he won't reason with anyone not Sacaean." Lucas asks the other Sacaean in the group.
"Hey man, this guy is from a rival tribe, I recognized those colors and I am not in the least bit fit to reason with a guy like him," Guy replies with worry.
"Wait, there are other tribes?" Lucas asks Guy, ignoring Uhai and actively asking Guy more about Sacaean affairs shortly until Uhai barked with a declaration of war.
"Enough prattle! Since you would refrain from giving the girl to us, your graves will be here in the Dread Isle," Uhai sternly answers before releasing his hold on Lyndis.
"B-but, why?" Lyndis asks.
"I find it deplorable to hold a hostage in battle. I would rather see the battlefield in an honorable manner. Cross swords with me, and your fate is in your hands," Uhai replies before leaving with a handful of his men into the foggy forest, where various sounds of footsteps and galloping hooves roamed around the foggy isle.
"Lyn! You alright?" Lucas asks Lyn while Eliwood commands the group to go prepare for a battle.
"I am. Thank you for worrying about me, but now we must prepare to fight!" Lyn replies as she composes herself.
'I always knew that guy is inflexible, even more than myself in the past,' Ren comments to himself quietly while brandishing the silver sword that Merlinus gave to cheer him up previously in Badon. "Lucas, I would like to ask if we got enough torches for this fight. 'Cause this is gonna be another long afternoon."
"Well, you heard him Merlinus, what have we got?" Lucas inquires of the peddler.
"Oh yes, right away master Lucas!" Merlinus gleefully responded as he rummages through the clutter and found several useful apparati and items other than torches, extra normal weapons tomes, and staves, namely: a Guiding ring, a Hero crest, a Knight crest, a Devil Axe, a Lancereaver, a Longsword, a short bow, a Sleep staff, an Unlock staff, a dragon shield, speedwings, two bottles of pure water, two red gems, a blue gem, and three fresh bottles of vulnerary.
'I should really start checking our items regularly from this point on. Never thought we had this much on hand till now,' Lucas internally curses in ambivalence upon examining the current items the huge army kept in the hands of their meticulous peddler. For some reason, his eyes glanced at the two crests and the strange ring while trying to recall their significance.
'A Hero crest widely known for being the signet of worthy fighters for the brave and bold. Next, the Knight crest is for the most chivalrous of knights and the swiftest of cavaliers. Lastly, the Guiding ring is for the most exquisite and intelligent masters of magic. Hmmm…'
Lucas remained silent, thinking who in the army can benefit in the long term and after a long time of careful thought, he called on a few members from their huge army, namely: Raven, Oswin, and Canas to talk.
"Normally, it would be a lord or a marquess who would give you this honor, but it seems that in these times we cannot deny the services that all of you have given us." Lucas says, explaining to the group of what is going to happen. "If Pretty boy, Lord Ostia or Lyn have any complaints about my decision they can say it to my face." He hands each of the men a specific crest that allows them to be recognized as such. Raven, a Hero's crest. Oswin, a Knight crest and to Canas, a guiding ring. Each of the men looked surprised and was about to protest when Lucas interrupted each of them. "I have seen your prowess in battle and how much you all bring to the enemy. Raven, I have observed and heard of your feats in the arena and your presence in the battlefield, I believe that you all earned the crests. Oswin, I have seen the duty that you have provided both now and before we have met. And it is due to this that I bestow this unto you. Canas, I have heard from both Eliwood and Lyndis that you have done the most during the attack on the pirate pirate ship. I expect greater things since you have so quickly gained everyone's trust."
"...Alright then, much obliged," Raven replies back gratefully in his aloof monotone as he takes the medallion before getting lightly tackled by his jolly reserved sister.
"Congratulations Lord brother!" Priscilla excitedly congratulates while hugging her brother.
"I'd be honored, Lucas. Thank you," Oswin replies back as he accepts the knight crest.
"Congratulations, my friend, now Lucas may be needing you more than ever from this point onward," Marcus congratulates.
"I'm always up for a challenge!" Oswin retorts with his hand enthusiastically held high.
"Now then, last, but not the least, Canas, despite your creepiness, it is deserving of praise. You've earned that," Lucas congratulates as he gives the guiding ring to Canas.
"Oh how delightful! Thank you Lucas!" Canas eagerly accepts the ring gleefully.
"Now, go prepare for battle, you lot." Lucas scolds them. "Celebrate after the battle is over! There won't be any more celebration until there are no more enemies. Also, where's my spyglass? I need to map the terrain as before the enemy attacks."
"Now, Lucas, before we get into further business, I think we better give them the equipment that they deserve for their new ranks, am I right?" Ren points out.
"Well, sure we can give them new equipment. But we have to use it sparingly, I fear at the rate we are going, we might as well be punching those Fangs before long…"
"Oh not to worry! Fargus has graced us with the presence of merchants aboard his ship! The best thing is that they happen to sell weapons! See for yourself!" Merlinus gleefully replies as he shows the extra weapon stash.
"2 handaxes, 2 steel axes, 1 silver axe, 3 javelins, 2 steel lances, 2 steel swords, 2 iron swords, an iron bow, a longbow and a steel bow; as for the tomes, we have 2 fire tomes, 2 thunder tomes, 2 flux tomes, and 2 lightning tomes, and a pair of heal staves and a Mending staff," Merlinus named each and every last of their extra weapons and tomes, excluding the magic and special weapons such as the Devil axe, longsword, and the lancereaver.
"Do us a favor and go assist everyone with their weapons…" Lucas says getting a headache from all the items that Merlinus told him about. "...I feel ill hearing about it."
"Ah why yes! Right away!" Merlinus quickly responded with the assistance of Lyndis, Ren, and Eliwood as they hand out some of the extra weapons from the stash to quickly prepare the army before the battle commences, and giving a new steel spear to Lucas since his old one broke.
Few minutes have passed with time against them, the army finally equipped themselves properly, more so with the three newly promoted units in the army. Raven, now donning a sleeveless leather robe with a shield at his side, wields both a handaxe and a steel sword as his weapons. Oswin, now in bulkier and heavier plated armor, wields an iron axe and a steel lance with a javelin as his sidearm. Canas however, shrouded in mystical signets, now wields both dark tomes and a healing staff.
Lucas stares at Canas for a few minutes before snapping back to the battle field. "I cannot get much information so I believe the best course of action is to remain defensive…"
"Not so much of a problem at the moment my friend, our enemies appear to be on standby on our left, but our front is slightly more problematic unless we have someone that can—
"See through the fog?" Leila interrupts Matthew, suddenly and surprisingly on her feet, free from her injuries.
"Leila!? Wait! Are you—?!
"Yes, I have a score to settle with that maniac of an advisor in that dreadful place, so count me in," Leila retorts while brandishing her razorsharp killing edge.
"In that case, I urge you to stay sharp and retreat when necessary, since you just recovered. Everyone, get into positions and ready your arms! Matthew, stay with her, Serra go and join them, make sure that Leila doesn't die yet," Lucas orders as he brandishes his spear with Lyn by his side. "The rest of you follow up and form a phalanx around, we move slowly and surely and make sure you end up killing them in one hit. Priscilla and Serra focus on healing anyone who is deeply injured."
"Look alive everyone! Here they come!" Hector rallies as enemies pop out of the fog and converge on them from their front and left flank.
"Have at thee!" A horse-riding assailant rushes towards Hector with his sharp lance, only to be knocked off his high horse by the heavily armored lord and meets his end at the edge of his axe.
"Too slow," Hector grunts, only to be hit by an arrow from a foe behind the fog. "Urgh, can't see!"
"Please! Let me help you!" Priscilla assists with the Torch staff and uses it to light the foggy plains in front of the confused battle-junkie noble.
"Now it's my turn. Hwaaagh!" Raven roars as he brandishes his steel sword and battles against two sword-wielding cavaliers, protecting a mounted archer. However, he was about to be shot by the mounted archer, a dagger flew just from behind, passing by an inch to his ear as it flies towards the mounted archer and pierces his forehead, shocking and distracting the two mounted assailants, giving Raven a chance to decapitate both of them with his handaxe.
"Who—"
"It is I. No need to worry about it, 'cause I got your back!" Leila assures while wielding another slim throwing dagger.
"Miss, please don't stress your body too much! I urge you to show restraint else your wounds might reopen," Lucius urgently pleads.
"Oh you worry too much, 'just a little exercise anyway," Leila replied coyly, smiting Matthew's heart as he watches from afar with Lucas at his side.
"Lovestruck already?" Lucas nudges his shoulder before crouching before holding his head down as they dodge a bolt of light shot by an enemy monk, who was then burned to a crisp by Erk's erratic fire magic.
"C'mon now! Let's push them further back!" Lyn rallies as she fights against a dual-axe-wielding brigand, only to be caught off-guard as her shamshir shattered after using it to decapitate his head clean off.
"My apologies, Ren," Lyn deeply apologizes for breaking Ren's shamshir.
"Hey now, I got better blades than that one, no worries!" Ren assures as he wields his lancereaver and engages against two lance-wielding cavaliers.
"It is like there is no end to them! They just keep appearing!" Eliwood cries out while thrusting his rapier into the neck of a mounted archer and fighting against an axe-fighter and a dual-axe-wielding brigand.
"Everyone! Do not falter! Hold fast! We will get through this!" Lucas rallies as he throws a javelin at another mounted archer, neglecting a mounted lance-wielding cavalier rushing towards him.
"Lucas, look out!" Farina calls out, but is too late as the mounted assailant is about to thrust his heavy steel lance swiftly towards the distracted tactician.
However, in that fateful moment, as the tactician felt as if his life is about to flash before his very eyes once more, he flinches and tries to shield himself with his free arm—gambling his arm for his whole life—only to see the assailant and his mount lay flat and lifeless on the ground with two javelins lodged onto their corpses. He turns to where they've been thrown and chances upon a cyan-haired pegasus knight, wearing much heavier armor, a slim headband, and a heavy steel lance at her side.
"Are you hurt?" the flier asked with her boyish feminine voice as she softly landed on her mount nearby and flaunted her lance and sprayed blood drips over the grass.
Lucas watches her in both shock and confusion before thanking her as he pats some dust off of his forest green cloak.
"I...uh...I am fine…." He says shaking himself, removing any shock that just happened.
"Lucas! You alright over the—no way, big sis' Fiora!?" Farina yells in fear upon noticing the pegasus knight with a hint of familiarity.
"Who are y—Farina!? How, why, where, what are you here?!" the pegasus knight named Fiora asks in return in confusion. They were about to talk more if it weren't for the loud cough that the tactician made.
Lucas then gives Farina a look as if demanding an explanation from her.
"Ah-ahem, Lucas, this is my elder sister, Fiora, a commanding officer of a squadron among Illia's knights. Sister, meet Lucas, the moody and broody tactician of our army," Farina introduced.
"Moody huh…." Lucas mutters before examining Fiora up and down. "Anyhow, how about we fight together? We have the same enemy after all…." He quickly suggests before inspecting the battlefield but with limited view he had to stay more wary of assailants that may appear.
"Of course, I shall lend you my aid against these fiends. Guide my lance to victory!" Fiora boils with vigor on Lucas' orders.
'Another...possible knight,' Lucas whispered to himself before being called out by Hector with the others that successfully pushed most of the enemy forces back.
"Hey Lucas! What are you waiting for!? Let's show these curs what we're made of and finish this!"
"Let's gooo!" Farina swiftly flies and follows the blue-haired lord, before the tactician can say anything. After a few moments, Fiora speaks to the tactician softly.
"I apologize for any behavior that she may have caused."
"Don't be, she managed to do this all on her own."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll talk about this later, for now, we have a battle to win." He says before mounting atop Fiora's pegasus as they swiftly meet up with the rest to push back and kill the enemies until only the leader, Uhai of the Black Fang, remains.
"Nowhere to run," Lucas taunted Uhai, who responded by firing a swift arrow from afar, surprising him as he dodges and flinches from his swift attacks.
"One step nearer, and where you stand will be your grave," Uhai taunts as he locks another arrow on his huge sturdy longbow.
"You over there, tell me, are you the one responsible for Leila's injury?" Hector questions seriously.
"Well, if I said that I was, what would you even do to me?" Uhai jeers at the knuckleheaded noble.
"Oh nothing, but if you are, I would—" Hector riles himself up to attack before he is interrupted by Leila placing a hand on her Lord's shoulders.
"No milord, he's not the one who wounded me. I have forgotten who it was due to excessive bleeding, but I am very much sure that it was not him," Leila answers with affirmation, making Lucas take note of this.
"I-I see," Hector calms down with the admission of Leila.
"However, that does not change the fact that he tried to kill Lyn," Lucas replies bitterly as he responded from remembering that moment he saw Lyn close to death once more then spitting on the ground near him.
"Hold up Lucas, if he ever did, he would've already scratched her, but you saw him release her and kept his distance," Ren interjects before whispering softly to advise him. "Allow me to deal with this."
At that moment, Ren steps forward, close into Uhai's longbow's firing range, scaring Lyn once more along with Florina, if not for Lucas' calming them down with assurance and trust in his shady brother.
"Don't worry. It looks like he's onto something, let's see how this can go. I'll intervene if necessary."
With that, Ren steps closer towards the dark- garbed mounted archer. But with every few steps forward, Uhai fires a swift arrow, but is futile against Ren's swift sharp edge as he parries and cuts the arrow into two.
"Hmph," Uhai grunts as he attempts to utilize two arrows to fire a double arrow shot, but both arrows miss Ren by a couple of inches and fly towards Oswin's shield from behind the agile, yet naive swordsman.
"Oops, sorry, my bad!" Ren apologizes until Uhai gets his attention out of curiosity.
"It appears you managed to overcome my peerless skill with the bow. A rare creature you are," Uhai jeerly compliments as he wields a steel edge and wears his bow.
"I wish I could say the same to you, Brother Hawk," Ren laments with a weak smile, shocking a wide-eyed Uhai in response to the name.
"No one else has ever addressed me by that name! Who...who are you?" Uhai asks out of concern.
"What!? You wound me my old friend! Surely you remember this," Ren responds as he wears his hood and a dark-colored scarf found underneath his jacket to cover half of his face, scaring and relieving Uhai upon his familiar appearance.
"No, no, this cannot be! I thought you were dead! The Fang told us, told me—"
"Well, you were told wrong, and here I am, Brother Hawk," Ren corrects before unveiling his hood and scarf with a weak smile. "Brother, please don't make me do this, don't make "us" do this...help me, help us for the sake of justice, true justice. I know you held a great conviction like all the rest of us that something is not right at this very moment. But now, you can still choose to do what is right, and—"
"No...I'm afraid I cannot," Uhai laments as he shakes his head in regret and relief before switching his longbow for his steel single-edged sword. "I am a man of my word through-and-through. I will not back down, even if it means you are...my enemy."
Uhai rallies his mount for one of his superb killing sword techniques before the distressed Ren as he lamently responds with his hand on his sword's hilt. "I knew you were going to say that...oh well…"
"No, let me handle this. It is the least I can do so that you may not have to suffer the act of killing a friend of yours...I suppose," Lucas interrupts as he uses his spear to make sure Ren couldn't move forward and make him stand down, allowing Florina and Lyn to stand back with Ren in tow.
"And you are…?" Uhai asks as he brandishes his steel sword.
"I am Lucas, the tactician that you threatened earlier and I am here to take my friend's stead in combat because you're his friend. But because I do not know you, I won't feel remorse from seeing your corpse," Lucas responds with a steel lance in his hand.
"Let me be the judge of whoever shall meet Father Sky! Your life is mine!" Uhai roars with his horse until he gallops towards a rushing Lucas and hops off his saddle and parries against the sturdy shaft of Lucas' lance before backing away and uses a flurry of spinning slashes against Lucas' heavy lance. However, Lucas backed away just in time just to land a heavy blow on Uhai's side, knocking him off his horse and dazing him hard from the strong impact while keeping his distance. He was about to impale the injured Sacaean's chest before he saw Ren, who looked more and more scared for his 'friend.' After a moment of hesitation, Lucas kicked his bow away from him and quickly decided to not take any chances, Lucas continued to take aim at the injured Sacaen's chest with his lance ready for the fatal blow.
"Look, I'd hate to really spare you since you nearly hurt someone dear to me. But since I am a reasonable man and see that you are thoroughly defeated, I suggest that you stand down and tell me where this Dragon Gate may be and retreat to wherever hole you came out of to tend to your wounds." Lucas urgently threatens with his lance pointed out to Uhai. After a few minutes of thinking and weighing his options, Uhai responds.
"Alright," Uhai sighs before slowly getting up on his feet while keeping his distance from the sharp end of Lucas' lance. "When you pass over the great rotten tree, there is a hidden trail that leads to an open field. Heading west of it, you may be able to make your way to the hellish Dragon's Gate. The path will most likely be less merciful than I am. Also, I urge you to take this. Give it to one who is worthy of peerless skill," Uhai guides the tactician while also leaving a parting gift—an Orion's Bolt medallion—before mounting up on his sturdy steed. "I'm afraid I cannot help you any longer. I am now a traitor of my liege. Farewell."
"Wait! Why don't you join us!?" Lyn pleads beggingly.
"I am grateful for your offer, but that may be unnecessary. Take care," Uhai bids before trotting away.
"Lucas...I uh….um...thanks for, well, not killing him," Ren gratefully answered.
"Funny, it seems that you were about to burst into tears like a child when I was about to kill him," Lucas responded, his expression unchanging.
"You know, I just wondered when did you learn to kid around these days," Ren responded with a hint of infuriated annoyance and walked away to meet with the rest of the group, leaving him behind with a creeping Lyn closing in on the absent-minded tactician.
"Lucas, are you faring well?" Lyn asks with concern.
"I'm...I'm fine, still bothered about, well, you know what happened not long after we landed onshore, right…?" Lucas turns his gaze away from Lyn for a moment.
"Yes, I see. In any case, I now see a glimpse of understanding as to why Ren reacted so differently towards our enemies, towards Leila, and this mysterious island. Which is why we must make haste and stop whoever wishes to bring destruction upon this world!" Lyn replied before lending out a hand to Lucas. "But in order for us to be able to achieve that, we need your guidance and skill, not as just a strategist, but also as friends and comrades-in arms! Will you… continue staying with us till then?"
Lucas, left at a loss of words from Lyn's heartfelt request on behalf of their huge army, softly takes her hand with an assuring answer and decides to be a "little bold" by pecking her cheek making them both blush red.
"Is that answer good enough, milady?" Lucas softly answered, enlightening Lyn's spirits with a smile in her red face as before turning his gaze away again to hide his flustered face. 'Damn, she's too cute to be in this war.'
"Hey! You comin' or what!? We have to hurry while the sun is up! There's no turning back now!" Ren startles and teases the two of them riding atop Huey with Florina alongside Farina and Fiora.
"H-h-h-how distasteful! Enough of that foolish talk b-between you! We must move onwards to our next battle!" Fiora stutteringly reprimands the tactician and the Sacaen swordswoman, making them blush a little more than what they were.
'I am definitely going to kill you one day...,' Lucas glared at Ren with daggers in his eyes.
'Hehehe, nice try, but still slow as always,' Ren smirked back with joyful pride. "C'mon now, everyone is heading towards the mountains nearby, climb aboard!"
With all that's said and done, Lucas hops unto Fiora's mount while Lyn joins with Farina before flying over to meet up with the rest at their designated position as they plan for their next course of action to enter what awaits them at the Dragon's Gate….
...Well, not after Lucas ordered everyone to loot the bodies of the dead Black Fang members for all their gold, weapons, items and armor.
Chapter END