It had been a few weeks, but the small group consisting of the former Leicester Alliance students had finally made it back to the capital Derdriu. And what a sight it was. The capital was full of the general populace. From traders bartering their goods, to parents spending time with their children. After spending weeks on the road, it felt nice to the quartet to finally be around people again. Hells, even the city guards were happy.
Lorenz's horse Gregory pawed his hooves on the ground, pulling grass and chunks of ground into the air. Dorte on the other hand was munching on an apple that Marianne had handed to her. Azure had landed on the ground next to the two other mounts as Leonie scratched the middle of her Wyvern's head: between her horns. Lysithea jumped down from behind Leonie and landed safely onto the ground.
Despite the circumstances, the four of them were glad to be back in familiar surroundings. Well one member of the quartet in particular couldn't wait to meet up with a particular member of their companions.
As Lorena and Marianne took in the scenery and the slowly setting sun, Leonie brought out the orders, Edelgard had handed her.
"In the note Claude sent to Edelgard, he and the others would be waiting in a cottage. We just need to 'Follow my bird' and they'll point us in his direction." Leonie spoke as she pocketed her orders.
"That idiot!" Lysithea grumbled as she flexed her left glove. "Always with the riddles. It can't be anything straight forward with him."
Lorenz chuckled as he patted the mane of his horse. "He wouldn't be Claude if everything he said was forthcoming."
"I do hope he is all right. If word got out, he's here, they'll be chaos and he'll be a prime target for Those Who Slither In The Dark." Marianne spoke as she placed her hand over her heart.
Leonie shook her head. "I wouldn't worry. He may be devious and annoying, but he's cunning. He would outsmart them ten times over."
At that moment Lysithea noticed a stable hand girl, had locked eye contact with the four. She looked like she wasn't older than fifteen. "I think I found our mysterious bird of Claude's."
Lysithea nudged Leonie as the girl started to walk towards them.
"Indeed I am." The girl answered, after overhearing Lysithea. "You can board up your Horses and Wyvern's here. They'll be looked after. Well-fed too."
The remaining three dismounted their mounts and led them towards the stables, but kept their weapons close at hand reach. As the three said goodbyes to their mounts, the girl approached Lysithea.
"Name's Robyn. Bird Master said he was expecting you. First put these on." Robyn raised her hands to reveal four black cloaked hoods. Cloaks that would hug snuggly around its wearer, while hiding their face.
Robyn pulled up her own hood. "Come, I'll show you the way." Robyn indicated, with her head, to a nearby alley.
The others quickly caught up to Lysithea as they followed closely to Robyn, putting on the cloaks and pulling up the hoods.
"Sooo... When did Claude start going by 'Bird Master'? Seems a bit mystical even for him." Lorenz spoke dismissively.
Robyn stopped in her tracks as she marched up to the Knight and drew a small dagger, pointing it directly at him. The movement was so fast that none of the war veteran's saw her draw her weapon.
"You mustn't say his name!" The young girl hissed at Lorenz.
Trying to defuse the situation Marianne moved between the two with a hand placed over her heart.
"Lorenz didn't mean to offend. We promise to not say his name." Marianne spoke softly as Lorenz vigorously nodded his head.
After a few tense seconds, Robyn lowered her dagger and placed it back into its sheath. She raised her head, looking at the orange sky.
"Come on, it's nearly dark."
Robyn grumbled as she continued forward down an alleyway. Not wanting to agitate Robyn anymore, the four wordlessly followed after the young girl.
After following the young girl for what felt like a few hours, with a few repeated visits through back alleys, the five had finally arrived at a small cottage home with a wooden door.
Robyn stood in front of the door and knocked a few times.
* Knock *
* Knock *
* Knock *
. . .
. . .
* Knock *
* Knock *
. . .
. . .
* Knock *
* Knock *
A sound like a series of locks were unlocked erupted from behind the door as the door opened and a young boy, looking slightly younger than Robyn, greeted them.
"Are these the Bird Master's guests?" The boy asked.
Robyn nodded her head. "Is the Bird Master Home, Wren?"
This Wren nodded and pointed behind him. "He's in the back with his other guests."
As Wren said 'guests', it caught Marianne as one name went straight to her mind.
Hilda.
"H-Hilda! Is Hilda here?" Marianne asked politely as she moved in front of the group.
The two young children were caught off guard by Marianne's sudden outburst, but still nodded their heads.
"She's in the back with the Master. You can all go in, but don't interfere with any other of the Master's flock." Wren answered as both himself and Robyn stepped to the side and allowed the others inside.
Once inside the four walked into a huge wide area filled to the brim with Claude's 'flock'.
It startled the four soldiers once they all, looked around and saw whose Claude's 'flock' really were. All were children ranging from different ages. A few were older, while a large majority were younger or around the same age as Wren. Some were even toddlers; Robyn however was by far the oldest of the children here.
"We're all orphans whose parents were killed either by nobles, plagues or from the war. That was until the Master took us in. Gave us shelter and a place to eat. Offered us all safety." Robyn explained as she caught up to the war veterans.
The four were left stunned as they took in every single child around them. There was only one thought that rushed to their minds.
Did we cause this?
Robyn continued forward as she watched on as the four members of the Black Eagle Strike Force wordlessly followed on, leading them to a room that were separated from the children.
"The master is inside talking with some of his other guests." Robyn knocked on the door once, and immediately the four heard people inside the room quickly shuffling papers away.
"Enter." Spoke a gruff, but welcoming voice the four former Golden Deer members were familiar with.
Once the four Strike Force members opened the door, they were greeted to a room full of familiar faces. As their eyes travelled around the room, they were greeted to see Claude, Hilda and most surprisingly of all, Claude's former protector.
"Mari!" Hilda yelled out as she locked eyes onto her lady love.
"J-Judith!?" Both Lysithea and Lorenz gasped as Marianne ran to Hilda's side, pulling her into a tight embrace. "B-But how!?"
Judith pounded her chests with her thumb as she smirked at Lysithea and Lorenz. "You can thank Miss Edmund and Pinelli for saving my hide. Pinelli had cornered me but let me escape while Miss Edmund healed my more severe wounds. After that I found myself on the road. Killing bandits and many of others of ill nature. Still, it's nice to see you guys, too."
Both Lysithea and Lorenz looked towards their companions for confirmation, both nodded their heads.
"Still, I'm surprised the Emperor kept her word." Judith commented as she gazed at the map in front of them all. Things are not perfect, but they're a hell of a lot better than they were before."
"Edelgard is a lot of things, but she isn't a liar." Claude spoke as he stood up straight from leaning onto the map. He then turned his attention to Leonie and held out his hand. "So, let's see what kind of intel our illustrious Emperor has for us."
Leonie took the envelope from one of her many satchels and handed it to Claude. With the letter in hand, Claude read its contents as a wide smirk spread across his face.
"Got you, bastards." Claude spoke as he took a small knife and stabbed the map over a small piece of area. "Thanks to the information gathered from our favourite Emperor, we know where they are."
"You mean, we now know where Those Who Slither In The Dark are located in Derdriu?" Lorenz asked as he brushed his hair to one side.
"That and a whole lot more." Claude smirked again as he turned to everyone in the room. "We know who are funding them."
Though what concerned everyone was that Claude's constant smirk dropped into a frown.
"I just need to know that you all have my back."
Everyone in the room was unanimous in their agreement, but Claude's eyes drifted over towards Lorenz.
"I'll stand by your side Claude, you know this." Lorenz declared as he held his hand over his heart.
"I wasn't concerned about your loyalty. I know I can trust you. I'm just..." Claude let out a heavy sigh. "I'll just say it. Your... Your father has had dealings with Thales and has been quietly funding them behind your back."
This understandably startled and confused Lorenz. "T-That can't be... No! it can't be. My father... My father wouldn't..." Lorenz lowered his head as he squeezed his hands into tight fists. Squeezed tightly enough to draw blood.
That was until he felt a hand touch his shoulder. Lorenz raised his head and saw it was Claude's. Lorenz wiped his armoured hand over his eyes and moved his other over his heart.
"I promise. No, I declare with the remaining honour the name Gloucester has, that we will stop our enemies, my father included."
A smirk spread across Claude once again. "That's all I need. Plus, I hate it whenever I see you upset. It ruins your perfectly handsome face." Claude ended with a wink directed at Lorenz.
The knight chuckled nervously as his cheeks turned a light pink in colour.
The two continued to smirk at each other, much to Hilda's annoyance. "Okay, lover boy. Let's get this information to Holst and start this attack. Mari and I have a lot of catching up to do." Hilda spoke, looping her arm inside Marianne's. Though after hearing Hilda speak, Claude, Lorenz and Marianne all blushed.
As Marianne and Hilda left the room, Claude had managed to regain some modicum of composure and turned towards Robyn, still waiting by the door.
"Can you show Hilda and Marianne where they'll be staying today, while we get ready Robyn."
Robyn respectfully nodded her head and guided the two away.
"I'm gonna head out too." Judith spoke as she stood up straight. "I'll give this to Holst and tell him to get the men ready."
"Thanks Judith." Claude smiled as his protector left the room, now only leaving; Claude, Leonie, Lorenz and Lysithea.
"You guys should get some rest as well. You're all gonna need it for the battle ahead." Claude said holding the door open for its occupants.
The remaining three nodded their heads and exited the room. As they did, they looked around and saw that the rest of the children were ready to turn in for the night.
"Claude... what is all of this?" Lorenz asked as he glanced at all of the children.
"A home." Claude answered as he walked over to one of the children. She couldn't have been older than 5 or 6. As soon as she saw that Claude was approaching her, the little girl's eyes light up with excitement.
"How are you feeling, Fallae?" Claude asked the young girl.
Immediately, her hands sprang to life moving into many different motions as if she were communicating with Claude.
Claude chuckled and rubbed the little girl's head. The little girl smiled and leaned further into his hand. Claude raised his hand off the young girl's head and started to repeat similar motions than the girl's.
Claude then took something out of his pocket and gave it to the girl. It looked like freshly bakes bun.
The girl devoured the bun and hugged Claude. Claude returned the girl's hug and carefully placed her in her makeshift bed.
Claude ruffled the girl's hair as she drifted off to sleep.
"She can't talk like you and I. A healer said her vocal cords didn't develop fully, so she can't talk." Claude then took his eyes off his friends and glance around the room, and at all the people their children.
"Everyone here has something similar. Something that makes them less... Desirable and different to the rich and powerful. So, they just abandon them and leave them on the streets. It's why I took refuge here. To try and get them off the streets. And... to keep a promise, I made." Claude mumbled as his eyes were downcast and he clenched his left hand into a tight fist.
Hearing Claude's explanation for this place, shook his friends and former classmate's.
"But surely, with Edelgard taking away the power that Nobles have, things must be better?" Lysithea asked.
"Things are." Claude replied as he stood away from the sleeping children. "Don't get me wrong. Edelgard has already stripped away some of the power they had. They're just consolidating their power for when she comes for the rest. They're getting rid of anything that might put a stain on their family lineage. If it's not disposing their own children, then they'll side with anyone that with help them keep their power... Even if it's a group of people that is hell bent on destroying everything and everyone we care for."
A smirk settled over Leonie as she punched her open fist. "Then it's a good job you have us."
"They took away my life, so I'm gonna take theirs." Lysithea spoke as a ball of Miasma floated from the Gremory's hand.
"We take them out, Claude. You and the children deserve that much. And if my father is among their number... then so be it." Lorenz declared as he held out his hand for Claude.
Claude smirked and shook Lorenz's hand. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
