"My master," Aversa kneeled before Validar as he dined on Plegia's finest, "I have news from my little toadie as well as our spies."
"Ah yes, how goes the Valmese campaign?"
"According to my sources," Aversa rose to smirk, "It seems that they are on the back foot."
The king of Plegia let out a sinister chuckle, "Yes, I was quite confident my son could outmaneuver them."
"Actually, reports seem to indicate Robin is dead."
"What?" Valdiar scowled and spat out the barely cooked delicacy, "How could this be? No doubt the effects of that exalted wench. Hmm," Validar stood and paced, "Perhaps we should continue looking for a stud for a our backup sow."
"That will not be necessary," Vaildar and Aversa both took a knee as Grima entered the room. It took a moment to look at the table before addressing the Grimleal, "That vessel was simply a bonus. Even without him, this one will suffice. Our vessel needs are already covered."
"Of course, my master."
"Still," Grima sat down and inspected one of the raw shrimp, "I had forgotten about your little back up sow. The one in my world died when I was awakened." Grima smirked at Validar, "It would be such a shame to let such a powerful pawn go to waste, don't you think?"
"Well, you look worse for the wear," Flavia noted as Basillio drug his ax against the stone floor.
"He's wearing us down," Basillio huffed as he took a seat, "I'm getting too old for this. Tell me they're about ready to blow this place?"
"Why, yes, they are actually," Flavia responded smugly, "We should be able to leave within the hour and give those Imperials a show they'll not soon forget."
"Bout time!" Basillio howled before one of their soldiers interrupted the good news.
"Khans!" The panicked man cried, eyes wide with fear, "Walhart is upon us. He's broken through the outer gate!"
"Bah! So much for good luck," Basillio hefted his ax, "Get this place ready to blow. I'll buy you what time I can."
"You better not go dying on me," Flavia scowled as they prepared to go their separate ways.
"Hah! I still plan on outliving you. Now go!"
Knowing time was of the essence, Flavia did just that. Much as she was loath to admit it, reigning khan or not, he had her trounced on experience. He really did not act his age a lot of the time.
"Come on!" The West Khan shouted to his troops, "Hold the line! Show these Imperials our barbarian roots!"
The khan was glad he had plenty of experience keeping calm under pressure or he might have been panicking like his soldiers. They were crushing them, and that was after significant losses over the past couple of weeks. His men were at their limits and he was starting to feel it.
Their cavalry was riding over them. Or, perhaps it should be stated more accurately, Walhart was riding right over them. Few things in life scared Basillio, but the sight of that armored man decimating his troops nearly single handedly struck fear into his gut.
"You," Walhart pointed an armored finger as the khan, "Are you in charge of these forces?"
"You must be Walhart," Basillio kept the lump in his throat down, "The displeasure is mine."
"Hiding behind walls, attacking at night and running away. Is that what you call a proud warrior tradition?" Walhart's face hardened as if them merely calling themselves warriors offended him.
"I call it surviving," Basillio brandished his ax, "We do come from barbarians after all. We're not all about rushing headfirst into our deaths."
"Then let us see how well you can actually hold up in a fight!" Walhart pointed Wolf Berg forward like it was nothing.
"Heh, don't come crying to me when you lose!" Basillio readied himself. Bravado was all part of his style. He could not let his enemy smell weakness. Let alone one like Walhart. It was a testament to his will that he was not shaking.
"Let us see if you're still cracking jokes after I break your bones." Walhart scowled and charged forward with his great war mount. Basillio was not expecting someone so heavily armored to move so quickly. He would pay for that mistake as he nearly lost an arm to his great ax.
"Not…bad," Basillio growled and tried to mount a counterassault, but he could hardly land a blow on the man.
"Hmph," The conqueror snorted, "Impressive to survive past a single stroke, but it seems you too have been found wanting." The khan grit his teeth as Walhart charged so fast he could not get out of the way in his injured state. However, the end did not come.
"On your feet!" Flavia yelled after tackling him out of the way, "You aren't allowed to die yet!"
"Ugh, woman, go! He's a monster." Despite his words, Basillio struggled to see straight.
"You're not alone, let's show him what the Khans of Ferox can do!"
"Heh," Basillio stood on his own, "Alright. Let's show him how a Feroxi fights!"
"Are you done?" Walhart glared as rain began to fall, "I tire of your dribble."
"We'll see who is tired when I'm done with ya!" Basillio gave a war cry as Flavia moved to intercept the Conqueror. He batted her aside with ease, but she was not trying to actually harm him. When Walhart realized as much, he looked just in time to have the West Khan barrel into his armor.
"Hmph," Walhart looked down disapprovingly at the break in his armor, "Even fewer have managed to touch me. May you die knowing that." The titan of a man reared back his war horse and charged, "Fall by the wayside!"
There was no way Basillio was dodging that one, and Flavia was too far away to bail him out again. In all his years, the khan had never known so much pain as the force of the blow threw him against the wall of the fort, surely breaking something extra.
"Basillio!" Flavia propped him up, "Come on, we gotta go!"
"I'll just slow you down," The khan stared down the slowly approaching Conqueror. He was savoring this. Knowing what he had to do, he reached under his eyepatch and handed something to Flavia. At first she was disgusted, but then she saw what it was.
"Is this…"
"Make sure that gets to Chrom. Now you have to survive. Go!"
Flavia growled as she clutched the stone. She knew he was right. Why did he have to be right?
"You lousy oaf…" Flavia stood and scowled at Walhart before retreating into the fort. Seeing his prey running, Walhart started to pick up the pace, "Blow it now!"
"But you're-"
"Dead if you don't! Blow it!"
"Right!"
On her command, Fort Steiger started to be torn apart by magic. Seeing the crumbling structure, Walhart pulled back on his reins, avoiding being buried alive. Scowling as one of their greatest fortresses crumbled to the ground, Walhart turned and rode away solemnly.
"Well played, but this is not over."
"My excellency," The pudgy man bowed to Walhart as he returned to camp, "How goes the hunting?"
"They escaped. Destroyed Steiger so we could not follow. Without our fleet, they have effectively cut us off from the Southern Lands."
"B-but their fleet has already started moving south. They'll be free to attack nearly anywhere!"
Not looking at his tactician, Walhart kept walking, "I believe it is your job to prepare us for that." He stopped and glared at the man, "Or have you been slacking?"
"I-I'll think of something."
"Good. Considering our current situation, I think it best I inform you that if you try to cross me, I will kill you."
Excellus swallowed, "My liege, whatever-"
"I know of your correspondence with that Plegian woman. Your treachery is not hidden from me. The fact is you have been useful." Arriving at his tent, Walhart nodded to two of his personal guards who took their places behind the tactician, "However, should you cease to be useful, my men have orders to kill you where you stand. An honor I'm sure they would relish should you give them the opportunity."
"Y-yes sire, I-I understand."
"Hmph," Walhart walked into his tent leaving Excellus pale and terrified.
"Ugh," Nearly everything hurt. A single, lazy eye glanced at his torn up shoulder before lolling his head back against a piece of rubble. Maybe it was the gemstone, maybe it was the investment he had made in learning how to mend himself, but against all odds, Basillio had survived.
It was painful, but he did force himself to stand after what he could to administer first aid. Walhart's forces seemed gone, but so did his own. His only shot seemed to be to find someone willing to help in a nearby village.
Grimacing as he trudged along, the khan remembered Robin's letter.
Basillio, I know that now may not be a good time, but from the stories, you'd be the best man to ask for help. In short, we're being followed. Not by Valm, but Plegia. We've had a tail since Carrisson Isle. They seem most focused on the Shepherds. I fear they are after the gemstones and the Fire Emblem.
For all my tactical knowledge, I think I could use your more practical aid. While I can shore up patrols to protect against assassins, they would know if I moved with the Emblem or gemstones. I have a plan, but I need help enacting it. You're good at shaking a tail apparently. I need your help to replace and hide the gemstones, and, if I'm right, save the world.
Huffing, Basillio decided that he might could turn this into an opportunity.
A/N: I didn't come up with him keeping the gemstone there, but it makes a decent amount of sense.