Chapter 1: Footsteps of Fate Part 1
"Ike! Over here! This is Bulgar, the capital and biggest city in all of Sacae." As Lyn spoke, Ike quickly caught up with her with a bag of their remaining supplies in hand. "Let's try to purchase as much rations and other goods while in the city." Getting past the city gates, Ike's eyes greeting with a bustling marketplace. A good place to obtain their necessities.
It goes without saying, Ike felt a bit sorrowful upon eating pretty much everything given to him on a platter (a little too much of it). He particularly liked steaks and spicy meat dishes Lyn made. Helping her hunt and assist in salvaging hunted animals went a long way. They could sell the pelts and other animal material that traders valued.
"Jerky, biscuits, blade polishers, quivers, vulneraries... and another spare blade or two wouldn't hurt." Ike listed out with Lyn nodding with him.
At any rate, it would be wise to have a spare weapon on hand. Archery would be useful in both hunting and during battle. Non-perishable food would be needed during long journeys. That, and salt.
As they walked, the pair looked at their surroundings. The marketplace was bustling, with commerce of shops and booths lined up.
"Get your ice here! Cold ice straight from Ilia! Preserved with magic along with many delectable fish that you can't get off the eastern shores of Sacae!"
"Get your meat skewers! Only 5 gold!"
"Need a whetstone? Only at a price of 100 gold to keep your weapons spic and span!"
Lyn went straight to the whetstone seller to get a single whetstone. Just as they continued on with their errands, a frivolous-sounding voice called out behind them.
"Oh, my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!" The man cried out.
""Hm?"" Both Ike and Lyn let out a curious noise.
"Wait, O beauteous one! Would you not favour me with your name? Or better yet, your company?" The man called out.
Ike blinked...Gatrie? No. The man in question had his armor in the style of Oscar, with green armor and his brown hair slightly parted and a slight green shade as Rolf while wearing a dark headband.
"Where are you from, sir knight, that you speak so freely to a stranger?" Lyn questioned with her eyes narrowed and beginning to give an impatient look.
"Ha! I thought you'd never ask. I am from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin canton, home to men of passion and fire!" He responded quickly.
Caelin, that was part of the Lycian alliance if Ike remembered the general information. Still, if he and Gatrie ever met, they'd be like two peas in a pod. Although, Ike never expected Lyn's eyes to narrow to almost a freezing level.
"Shouldn't that be 'home to callow oafs with loose tongues'?" She responded in an unimpressed tone. The knight's next sentence however was much to be desired: "Ooooh… You're even lovely when you're cruel."
OK, that it. Perhaps it's a good time before Lyn causes hell to freeze over.
"Lyn, let's finish our errands and leave. Our journey will be longer. Maybe we could get a map to check for ports in the East."
"Hmph, let's go Ike." Lyn turning her back on the knight, "I've nothing more to say.
Just as Sain was about to call out once more, another voice spoke out to halt him.
"Sain! Hold your tongue!" Soon a red counterpart of the green armored man approached with his steed. His short hair matching his red armor.
"Ah, Kent! My boon companion! Why so severe an expression?" The man named Sain responded.
So Kent and Sain, red and green.
"If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe! We still have a mission to complete, Sain!" The man named Kent complained.
So he was the Shinon to the Gatrie here. Ike remembered that Shinon despite Gatrie's womanizing ways, would often hang out with Gatrie. At the very least, they would remain lifelong drinking buddies.
"I know that. But how could I remain silent in the presence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!"
"What do you know about courtesy!?"
Seeing the banter back and forth, it was clear the only one losing patience was Lyn.
"Excuse me! You're blocking the road. If you would be so kind as to move your horse…" Lyn spoke impatiently. Soon, it was Ike's turn to speak, "We are currently preoccupied in our errands, so if you'd be kind to allow allow us to pass, that would be appreciated."
"Of course. My apologies..." as Kent apologized, he and his horse shuffled away from the pair's intended path.
"Thank you. You, at least, seem honourable enough." Lyn spoke with a lighter tone.
Taking a close look at Lyn, his face turned to a puzzled expression, "Hm? Pardon me, but… I feel we've met before." Ike's eyebrows raised at his last statement. What does a Caelin knight have anything to do with a Sacaen girl? Especially if she's said to have lived with her tribe much of her life?
Lyn's expression turned grave once again, "I beg your pardon?" This time, his companion spoke up, "Hey! No fair, Kent! I saw her first!"
"Tsk! It seems there are no decent men among Lycia's knights! Let's go, Ike!" Grabbing Ike's hand as she spoke, "I've run out of patience!" Ike quickly went with her as she gripped his hand. Taking a glimpse at the stammering man left behind.
"Wait, please! It's not like that! … Sain, you lout!" Kent scolded.
Sain, in his confusion, questioned: "Huh? Not like that? I thought you were…"
"I am NOT you! Come, get your horse from the stables! I suspect she might be—" Not finishing his sentence, Kent rode off with his horse.
"Be what? She's our mission? You're joking! Wait!" Quickly going to the town's stables where his horse was stationed, he went off into the direction of his companion.
After obtaining needed supplies, the pair went to off to the outskirts of Bulgar. Carrying their supplies in their traveler's bag, they've marched onward.
"Honestly, the nerve of those knights..." Lyn complained.
"To tell you the truth, I feel nostalgic when seeing them." Lyn's head turned at that statement, giving Ike a look of concern.
"The man named Sain reminds me of Gatrie in his mannerisms, and Kent seems like a much more polite Shinon, who is an archer." Ike explained
"Didn't you once mention Shinon seemed to be cynical, and somewhat against you at every turn?"
He did. Ike spoke to Lyn about the general information of the company and its members. His father being his mentor (in which Ike learned Lyn's father also taught her), the personalities of each member.
"Honestly, he seemed to be like Titania based on his demeanor." Lyn giggled away at his last statement. "You shouldn't put down your company's 2nd in command like that, those men shouldn't have been going about trying to attract women."
"I'm not too sure about that man, Kent. Did you or your parents ever get involved with Caelin at one point? Trade or contracts perhaps?" Ike asked. Lyn only shook her head in response. "Honestly, they should focus on maintaining their honor instead of wanting to frolick with women!"
They continued their walk, but Ike spotted something in the bushes, or rather someone. Said person immediately hid himself away after being spotted. "Ike...?" Lyn called out after Ike halted for a moment. Ike only held his finger up to stop her from speaking, and quickly took a glance of his surroundings, with Lyn quickly realizing the reality of the situation. She also observed, but now there's rustling coming from the bushes and thickets surrounding their path.
"We have to run!" Without a single doubt, they quickly went down in their intended path. Taking their supplies and quickly sprinting away from their potential assailants. They couldn't return to the safe confines of Bulgar, there could be an ambush waiting for them. The same, however, could be that the bandits blocked all paths. She quickly spoke: "Could it be the knight's from the town?" Now they saw 3 bandits with their axes brandished, chasing them.
"No... these men are out for blood!" Lyn cried out. As Ike and Lyn ran a good distance away from their pursuers, their path cut short of one bandit situated at their path. With gray spiky hair, a shaven face with stubble, and a scar running across right side of his face over his eye. His vicious countenance greeting them with a bloodthirsty smile. Lyn quickly held her sheathed blade at the ready, while Ike unsheathed his.
"Heh heh hehhh... Aren't you the pretty one! Your name is Lyndis, is it not?" He called out.
Ike's eyes narrow at the supposed bandit leader question. Lyndis... was that Lyn's full name? Taking a glance at Lyn, her figure shook at the mention of her supposed full name. That means...
The girl's voice trembling slightly, she responded, "What did you call me? ...Who are you?"
The bandit shaking his head, spoke out: "Such a waste. An absolute waste. The things I'll do for gold... Ah, well. Time to die, darlin'! C'mon out, boys!" And with the call from their leader, their previous pursuers along with one more from the bandit leader's side began to surround them from all directions.
'Gold, could these men be contracted? Why do they want Lyn dead?' Ike pondered. No time for thinking, they needed to fight their way out. Two against five. Not ideal odds, they'll have to take advantage of the thickets to avoid their attacks. Unfortunately, they too hold the same advantage of their surroundings.
"We're outnumbered...But we won't give up!" Ike nodded at her declaration.
Suddenly, a noise of galloping and voice sounded out: "Hey, there she is!"
The bandits surrounding behind the pair quickly moved away from the pair of calvary that rushed to Ike and Lyn.
"Whew... Finally caught up..." Sain breathed in relief, and then he pointed his lance to the leader of the bandits, "Hold! You there! What is your business? Such numbers against a girl? Cowards, every one of you!"
"You! You're from-" Lyn called out.
The man named Kent then spoke up: "We can discuss that later. It appears these ruffians mean to do you two harm. If it's a fight they want, let them look to me!" With that declaration, Ike nodded. Facing the bandits, holding his sword over his head and bending his legs in his usual stance. "Prepare yourselves."
"Stand back! I'll take care of this!" As Sain stood with his horse in front of Ike. Only to gain a response from Lyn: "No, this is our battle as the officers of the Greil Mercenaries! Stay out of our way!"
"Lyn, our numbers roughly match the enemies, it would be recommended that we get their help." Ike responded calmly, with Lyn glancing back at Ike with a concerned expression, but nodded reluctantly.
"Greil Mercenaries..." Kent repeated. "Very well... I have a solution. You there." Pointing to Ike, "Your name was Ike, correct?" Ike nodded in response.
"I am Kent, a knight of Lycia. My companion is Sain. We will follow your orders in this battle. Is this acceptable, milady?" Facing towards Lyn, awaiting her response.
Lyn responded: "Yes, it is. Ike and I will lead! Let's go!" Readying her stance against the bandits, her blade was at the ready.
Closing his eye for a moment, he responded: "Very well, I may not have the experience as a leader, but I'll do my best to lead us to victory." Kent and Sain nodded at Ike and Lyn's acceptance. Preparing their weapons and their horses at the ready.
The bandits growling at the turn of events.
"Tch. Knights... always tampering in other's affair." The bandit scolded. "Alright boys, spread out and prevent their escape!" And the ruffians quickly spread out from the east.
While the bandits positioned themselves to the East, returning to Bulgar was not wise, especially if they have more contacts. For now, they had to eliminate all the bandits in their path.
The battle that will set Lyn's life to be tied to the Lycian Alliance begins.