''Check. Mate.''
Another game, another loss.
Once again princess Lucina was back in that dusty library trying to learn from the grandmaster of Ylisse. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to make any headway with besting her teacher in the wooden fields of battle.
Lucina gave a resigned sigh; she did not know why she expected anything different. It felt like she was hitting her head on a brick wall with little or no progress to show for. Lucina could feel herself cry as she stared at the chessboard, she felt stupid and useless. Her father had made it clear that it was important that she spent time with his chief tactician to learn the art of warfare, but she knew that she was a poor student. The thought of disappointing her father and the grandmaster was too heavy to bear for the little girl.
''(sniff) Uncle Robin…Can we stop? I'm tired …''
While the grandmaster was not related to her family by blood in any capacity, she still called him uncle from time to time. An honorary title, he had served her father faithfully for many years, and has been close to her family since before she was even born.
''Lucina, you know that this is important. I don't expect you to win, but merely to last longer than fifteen turns. I know you can do it.''
Her teacher was a patient man and he always spoke to his young charge with a kind and calm voice.
Still, Lucina felt guilty. She knew her Uncle Robin was an important man that had better things to do then to teach such an academically inept student like her.
These games were another of his many attempts to teach her. At first, he had tried to approach this by making her read, but when he saw that she had trouble understanding much of the theory, he had tried to incorporate it by playing these games with her. It was a way to teach her in a more practical manner, instead of forcing her to read endless tomes of theory about warfare and logistics. She was her father's daughter and has always been fonder of the more practical way of doing things. However even this proved difficult for the young princess.
''…Lucina, do you know the objective of wargames like chess?''
The young princess looked confused at her teacher. It was in her mind a random question, most of her other tutors would have scolded her for crying and given up. Instead, he waited patiently for her to stop crying before asking her that question.
''…To take down the king?''
Robin gave her a smile, made a clicking sound with his tongue before saying.
''Yes and no, the true objective is to place your pieces into positions so that you opponent has no choice but to surrender. In fact, you can say that the king is never taken down during a game as it ends as soon as one side can declare checkmate.''
His two hands made motions that imitated scales that tipped from the one side to another.
''It's about balancing your own strategy against your opponent. To place your units in the ideal positions while hinder your opponent's own movements. This also applies in the real world too. It's all about placing yourself in such an advantageous position that your opponent cannot do anything but lose. Further fighting might be avoided all together if your opponent have any sense, and casualties can be avoided for either side. That is the greatest achievement you can obtain as a tactician.''
The grandmaster then leaned back on his chair before continuing.
''Do you know why you keep losing so fast? You focus too much on your king when you should worry more about my movements.''
To illustrate his point, Robin tapped at his king piece with one finger.
''The king on his own is no real threat or use, I would even say that he's not even a real factor in the early game. You need to focus on my other pieces, see where I place them and try to discern my intent and disturb them if you can.''
He paused and began to move the pieces back to their start positions.
''But most of all, make your own plans. Be more proactive! You're too concerned with protecting your king and only react in response to my own movements with your queen. You allow me to dictate the battlefield by playing too much in the defensive. Use all your pawns to contest the field and don't be afraid to sacrifice them if it can place you on a better position.''
By now the chess pieces was all back in place. Immediately the grandmaster made three moves with three different pieces.
''Now let's try this again. This time I'll make three moves at the same time, and you'll do the same. However, I want you to analyse each of our turns. Explain to me each of your moves, while trying to discern my own.''
The grandmaster leaned forward, he starred intently at her.
''So princess, what is your next move?''
Lucina felt as if she was besieged, as if she was surrounded by a pack of wolves.
Not because she was in an actual danger or anything. In fact, she was in a quite safe environment, which in this case was in the middle of an army encampment sworn to her father: Exalt Chrom.
The army of Ylisse was currently encamped near Port Ferox, making preparation to cross the seas towards the continent of Valm. An army of about thirty thousand souls, most of them were levies - well trained levies, but levies none the less. However, the army did contain a heart of seasoned veterans; the Shepards of Ylisse.
In peace time the Shepards would function as the sole standing army of Ylisse, a small well-trained force barely containing a few thousand soldiers. In times of war, their numbers would be dispersed amongst the newly formed levies and form a core of professional soldiers and officers.
Being officially appointed as a guard of her father, Lucina was considered a fully-fledged member of the elite Shepards, but she was not given any command of her own. She belonged to the inner circle of Shepards, a close-knit collection of individuals that stood close with and advised the Exalt himself, and yet…
Everywhere she went in camp she could feel the judging eyes of the Shepherds or the common rank. She knew that she was not welcome, not after the tale of her assassination attempt became common knowledge and her sudden inclusion to the inner circle.
This is turn was the cause of her feeling of isolation and loneliness.
Most Shepherds of the inner circle would treat her with cold courtesy or suspicion, one dark mage named Tharja was even outright hostile. Only her family had treated her warmly, Lucina was thankful for that at least, considering her actions.
I have few friends here…
Lucina thought as she made her unofficial patrol of the camp, her father had insisted that she take a break, and let Frederick take over her duties for a time. Idleness did not suit Lucina however as she found it difficult to sit still and therefore decided to inspect the camp by herself this morning.
Yet as she made her rounds, she realized that guarding her father would not do in the long run. Alone she couldn't hope to cover all potential dangers to her father, nor would she have time to make any move against that traitor tactician. She was but one woman, yet who could she trust in this army?
While the Shepards were loyal to her father, it was obvious that they held their tactician in the highest regard. Many even considered him their close friend. Any assistance she could hope to gain in exposing him as a traitor was non-existent.
She had told everything she knew to her father, who in turn told her mother and aunt. However as before it was clear that her family had refused to even entertain the idea that their tactician would betray them, and certainly not without any concrete proof.
It had hurt to be rejected so thoroughly, but it might have been too much to expect. Robin had served faithfully for many years and even saved the Exalted family on multiple occasions. There will be no further actions against him.
For now, Lucina had to be satisfied that the traitor would be under constant surveillance, but she knew that it was a hollow gesture. The tactician commanded the unwavering loyalty of the entire army, if anything they were watching her and not Robin.
As she moved in deep thought, Lucina bumped into someone. It was a hooded woman, whom Lucina found somewhat familiar, but she could not get a close look from the hood.
''I'm sorry, it seems that you lost this.''
The woman handed her a folded piece of paper before hurrying off into the nearest corner. Perplexed Lucina unfolded the paper and read.
Supply tent at the eastern corner, come at noon before dinner.
At first Lucina wondered if this was a trap, but quickly decided against it. If it was an ambush of some kind, it would not be in the camp, where there would be many witnesses. A more likely scenario was that someone wanted to talk to her in private while nearly everyone else was eating in the mess hall.
And Lucina was certain that she could guess who that woman was, despite her attempt to hide her identity.
Lucina made a little smile, maybe she was not so alone in this army as she thought.
She then looked to the sky to determine the time, she estimated that it was still a few hours before it was noon. The time displaced princess then decided to change her patrol route so that it would end at the tent in the eastern end of the camp. She might as well spend the time productively before the meeting.
As she approached the tent near noon, the area was nearly deserted save from a lonely guard at the tent entrance. The guard was a woman armed with a spear and clad in full plate armour from head to toe.
The guard hailed the princess as soon as she saw her.
''Ah! You must be here to help organizing our new shipment, please come right in.''
Again, while Lucina could not see the guard's face because of her headgear, she could recognize her voice. However, she chose not to address it for now and instead played along.
She was sure that her companions had their reasons for this secrecy.
The tent was filled with crates full of various provision and was dimly lit. The smell of resin hang heavily in the air and the tent would do good with a bit more ventilation. At its corner were a simple wooden table greatly burdened with various books and scrolls. A man with a big pointy hat sat in a chair near the table, while the same hooded woman from before stood beside him with her arms crossed. Their backs were turned, but Lucina's entrance alerted the woman who turned around. Lucina's suspicion was confirmed, the hooded woman was indeed someone familiar. There are few people who sported red hair like her.
''SEVERA!''
The princess rushed to the red-haired woman and gave her a hug, happy with finding a friend in these troubled times. Severa in turn seemed too stunned by the sudden intimacy to do anything for the moment.
As she released her friend from the embrace, Lucina made a quick inspection of the red head. Severa was behind her cloak clad in padded leather of good quality and armed with a simple sword, Lucina noted that she even seemed healthier. It gave her great relief to see Severa in good health. She remembered the last time she had seen her companions, they had all been in a sorry state back then.
Malnourished by the lack of food and weakened by the constant fighting. It was only by the grace of Naga that they even managed to reach the portal, and even then, it was barely in an orderly manner. Fleeing from pursuing servants of the Fell Dragon, Lucina had desperately ordered as many of her companions as possible to make it to the portal first while she and a few others stayed behind to cover their escape to the past.
She had been the last and only person from the rear guard to enter that portal.
''Lucina! Keep it down will ya! We're trying to keep this meeting a secret! And don't just go and hug me like I'm some kind of long-lost stuffed toy!''
While her voice seemed to indicate that she was angry at the blue haired princess, her eyes, and the fact that she was blushing profusely told another tale.
''Sorry, I'm just so happy to see you! I was worried when I came to this world alone, I thought that I would never see you again! And you look so healthy!''
Severa snorted and gave her a playful look.
''Gee thanks, wish I could say the same to you Princess! What have you done these past few years? Gods you still look like a skeleton! Haven't you eaten at all?''
Now it was Lucina's turn to blush.
''Well yes, I arrived to the past around two weeks ago and just recently joined the Shepards. I haven't had the time to eat properly.''
The red head's expression changed to that of worry at this.
''Two weeks ago? Are you telling me that you just arrived?''
Lucina starred confused at Severa.
''Why are you so surprised? Wait…don't tell me that you have been here for…''
''That she and many of us has been here for years. It is as I speculated. This traveling between time is inaccurate by a significant margin.''
The man with the pointy hat had risen from his chair. He too was one of Lucina's companions that had travelled through the portal. It took a moment for Lucina to recognise him, as he had changed a lot since she last saw him. For one he had grown much higher than her, standing at least a foot higher than her. And he seemed somewhat aged. Otherwise, the princess had recognized him from his trademark glasses and academic speech.
''Laurent! I'm glad to see you safe and well!''
Lucina gave him a hug, which he hesitantly returned.
''And me as well your highness, I'm pleased to be able to return to your service.''
Lucina gave him a disapproving look.
''Don't give me that! We are well passed the formalities here! Then I can assume that the guard outside is…?''
Laurent readjusted his glasses.
''That is correct: Kjelle. You can greet her later, but first we need to prioritize other matters, we don't have much time before people return from the mess hall.''
Lucina knew what was coming. Severa was the first to say it.
''Lucina! What were you thinking to rush him like that? You could have been thrown into the dungeons or worse…killed!''
Laurent cleared his throat.
''Indeed, I must say it was most unwise to attack him like that. I thought that we agreed to take a more cautionary approach.''
Lucina felt embarrassed, it was as she was a child who got scolded for ruining an expensive vase.
''It…I felt it was a good opportunity to end it right there and then. He was unarmed and I was within arm's reach if only I had...''
Severa interjected.
''And what would your parents or the army think of that?''
The princess felt herself hesitate.
''I'm willing to be stamped as a random assassin or a simple madwoman for this. As long as this world is saved, I'm willing to do anything and pay any price so that we might avoid the horror that awaits.''
Severa gave her a disapproving look.
''Don't say something so suicidal idiot! Do consider how we would feel if you ended condemned and executed for murder!''
Lucina was about to argue with her friend, when Laurent once again interrupted before they could continue.
''Nevertheless, what is done is done, and we should praise ourselves fortunate that you did not suffer any further consequences AND that you did not succeed.''
The princess was shocked at this.
''What do you mean? Surely you do not mean to spare that traitor. Don't you remember what he had done in our time? All that death and destruction?''
''Please don't misunderstand me, I too wish to prevent our future to come to pass, but I counsel restraint and caution. There's no guarantee that our actions can affect the future in a positive direction.''
''Killing that bastard would.''
''No!''
The tent went silent. It was rare for Laurent to raise his voice, he himself seemed to realise it and awkwardly tried to make himself smaller before continuing.
''Pardon me…Lucina, please understand I have been here for four years and served this army for three of those. Traveling through that portal have scattered us across the continent and even time itself. I arrived alone in the middle of the deserts of Plegia. I nearly died if not for your father and the Shepards. I have followed them and observed them, and I can tell you this: We. Need. Him!''
Lucina looked at Laurent as he had gone mad and turned to Severa for her opinion. The red head features had turned into an uncomfortable scowl, but she did not seem to contest Laurent's statement.
''I know what you may think Lucina, but I have not gone mad. Remember we are in the middle of a war. The war against Valm remember? The war that saw us heavily outnumbered against the Conqueror Walhart? The one that according to history was only won by the genius of High Tactician Robin? Yes, we know that we won in the end, but how? Would any of us be able to replace him?''
Even if Laurent probably didn't intent to do it, Lucina felt as if he had personally stabbed her with that last statement. She was tempted to claim that she could function as the new tactician, but deep down she knew that she could not match her former teacher.
Laurent continued.
''All I'm saying is, please don't try anything that would lead to a greater disaster later. If nothing else, we need him for this campaign at least.''
Something felt wrong, yet Lucina could not place it.
''And how do we know that he is not secretly trying to undermine us under the vail of appearing helpful?''
''Like I said, I have been keeping an eye on everything I could these past few years, and I intend to continue to do so, but…''
''Yes?''
Laurent shifted uncomfortably.
''There's nothing. I have not been able to gather any evidence that might implicate that our tactician is involved in anything dubious. He has served your father most competently and faithfully. The only suspicious thing is that he is apparently amnestic and can't recall anything past these last four years.''
Four years? That's around the same time Laurent came to this world.
Lucina thought for herself. She made a mental note of it before turning towards Severa to hear her story.
''Me and Kjelle have nearly the same story, except that we came here about one year ago. Both of us are currently under the employ of the Ylissean army as simple sellswords, and we haven't seen anything either.''
Severa made a nod towards Laurent.
''To be fair I too tried to find a way to kill our dear tactician at first, but to no avail. That white haired freak is pretty well protected, and I gave up when four-eyes here pointed out this entire Valm debacle was in the horizon.''
Laurent nodded.
''Yes, which is why I most stress once again that we cannot remove him before this war is settled, unless we could find a suitable replacement, which is unlikely.''
Lucina went silent, as she tried to process all this.
Laurent was right, it was clear to her that her former teacher would be untouchable until the war was done.
Yet it would not serve to simply wait and let him do as he pleased.
Robin was a traitor, and Lucina knew that a few years after the war in Valm, her father's chief tactician would lure him away to Plegia were he would be killed along with most of his retinue. They needed to act before that could happen.
But to make any move they needed to gather evidence beyond their own words, but what to do? By her companions' accounts he had covered his intentions well these last few years, she doubted that it would be productive if they continued to watch him.
They needed dig in another well so to speak, something she would have to consider later.
They could also just outright try to kill him after the war, but that had their own complications. Lone assassination attempts were out of question, he was alert for that now, especially after her own blunder. Yet if she could gather more people that he did not know of, and then place them in the right places…yes that could work as a last resort.
Having decided her course of action, she needed to now determine what other pieces in this chessboard that she could rely on.
''Laurent, are there any others from our company that you know of?''
At this the mage answered.
''Ah yes, several in fact.''
Lucina smiled.
She was not alone anymore.
The future children are already here and ready to fuck Grima up. Yay for Lucina!
I'm going to end this here. Was considering making this longer, but then this chapter would be twice as long.
Next chapter will be a continuation of events from this chapter.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing. And thank you for your suggested reading ^.^