''Uncle Robin. Must you go too? Is this meeting really that important that you and father both have to go?''
The young princess asked with a subtle hint of nervousness. The tactician who was the target for her inquiries seemed to ignore her for now, being preoccupied with preparing for his upcoming journey. Lucina had just recently discovered that her father and her uncle would be leaving Ylisse for some important diplomatic meeting with the King of Plegia. While it was not unusual for her father to undertake such journeys, it was foreboding that her father would muster nearly all of his Shepards to escort him for this diplomatic mission.
Was war in the horizon? Lucina has asked this question to many, but all had been hesitant to confirm this, least of all her father. The young bluenette had hoped that her uncle would be more forthcoming with her questions and so sought him out in his studies.
Putting some tomes down her uncle finally seemed to give her his full attention.
''I'm afraid so Lucina. This is an urgent matter that might determine not only yours but the future of all of Ylisse for generations to come.''
''W-will there be war?''
Lucina tried to keep a brave facade as she asked but could hear her own voice betray her. Robin for his part was quick to pick up on it, as he clearly tried to choose his next words more carefully to spare the princess any undue worry.
''No, not if your father and I have any say in that.''
Like her father, he was avoiding answering her directly.
''Then why do you need all those soldiers?''
He gave her one of his reassuring smiles before he answered, but Lucina knew him well enough to know that it was forced.
''To make a show of force. Remember Lucina, the best way to maintain peace is to present a strong front. If the opponent has any sense, they would be more inclined to negotiate then risk it all for a futile battle. That is why we need all of the Shepards; To show Plegia that we are not to be trifled with…''
So, there was a risk of war...
Growing up Lucina had always dreamed of following her father's and forefathers' footsteps; Leading soldiers in battle like the heroes of old and earn the glory associated with such grand undertakings. But as she grew older and learned more from her uncle and father, she had realised something else about war; It was a miserable and terrible affair. Not only because of the cost in lives, but also the inevitable famine and destruction it would always bring, as farmers was conscripted to the army and entire towns and cities could be wiped out almost overnight.
She had heard how the last war had cost her father a lot of his friends, and another conflict had even cost her an aunt that she had never meet. The though of losing anyone in her family was unbearable for the young princess.
Suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder which snapped the bluenette out of her thoughts. Without realising it she had begun to cry; her entire body shook at the prospect of her father and uncle going to war and never returning.
Robin's hand gently moved from her shoulder to her head. He gave her a head pat as if she was just a toddle, but in that moment she might as well still be.
''Hey…Hey, don't be afraid Lucina, there won't be a war and I'll be there with your father. I promise that nothing will happen to him while I live. And believe me, next to your mother, no one has more experience with keeping that oaf away from troubles!''
Taking comfort from those words despite them calling her father an oaf, Lucina slowly wiped away her tears.
''Can't you send anyone else instead?''
Her uncle's reassuring smile fell a bit at this.
''…Would that we could, but your father is the Exalt of Ylisse and the bearer of Falchion and the Fire Emblem; Your family's heirlooms and proof of your divine lineage. It's his duty to meet with the king of Plegia in person. Anything less would be a show of weakness and might only provoke Plegia further. He must go…''
Her uncle seemed to want to say something else but decided against it. Instead, he turned around and finished packing up. Despite his reassurance of avoiding conflicts, Lucina didn't fail to notice that most of the items he choose were magical tomes containing spells of the more destructive kind.
As he went for the door, he turned towards her.
''Your father will be back before you know it. This is just a minor dispute that your father would easily resolve. Nothing to fear my dear.''
''You come back too!''
Lucina looked at her uncle intently. Somewhere deep down, she knew that this could be the last time she would see him. And it did not escape her notice that her uncle mostly spoke how only her father would return, as if he was not sure if he himself would come back from this. Something big was brewing in Plegia and her father and uncle were going to confront it.
For the young princess, both men had always seemed perfect in every regard. Pillars of strength and support that she could always rely on to keep them safe. But as she looked at her uncle, she noticed something else.
A shadow was clearly weighting on him. While he maintained a confident appearance, she could see in his eyes that he was tired, he seemed almost hollowed out, like a battered blade that had seen too many battles without proper maintenance. Maybe he was getting on with the years?
No that was not it. There was something else that she could not figure out. Now that she thought about it, her uncle had been pretty reclusive these last few months, constantly working in his studies and rarely if ever going out to eat or rest. At times she had even heard him talk to himself in his studies. Her father had also been absent more than usual these last few months. Had all of this been going on longer than she had realized?
Guilt began to gnaw her conscience; she had been too focused about her own worries that she only now noticed her uncle's poor condition. He and her father must have worked themselves to exhaustion trying to contain this political debacle. She as the heir should have been better to share in their burdens. She vowed to do better in this regard, once they returned. She was a child no more, and it was high time that she learned how to take the mantle of Exalt of Ylisse after her father.
She needed to grow up.
A few second passed before her uncle answered her. It was a simple request, but his hesitation confirmed the severity of the situation, as if he was not sure if he could keep his word to his adoptive niece.
Her uncle would never lie to her.
''Don't worry, whatever ever happens I will always watch over you Lucina.''
It did not escape her that it was not a direct answer to her request. And while she would have preferred a more straightforward answer, the reply she was given brought her more relief than she realized.
He then opened the door and left his studies to join her father and the Shepards.
And with that the man that she knew as her uncle was out of her life forever.
Their retreat from the trap that was Fort Steiger went smoothly with barely any casualties of note. Once again, the superior organisation and planning of the Shepards allowed them to escape the jaws of certain annihilation in the face of overwhelming odds.
Utilizing the hidden passage of the fort as well as clever use of ruses, dummies and a gradual withdrawal of their people, the small force of Ylisseans managed to rejoin their main force unnoticed while the Valmanese continued to lay siege to the fort for an entire day more before they realized it was in fact empty. By then the Ylissean army had turned around and marched at full speed back to the coast, where the next wave of Ylissean reinforcements would arrive from their home continent.
The Ylisseans was further aided by the fact that they had managed to slay one of the great generals of Valm alongside most of her senior leadership, creating chaos in the chain of command amongst the Valmanese. It would be some time before the Valmanese could bring their superior numbers to bear on the smaller force of Ylisseans.
All things considered it has been a victory for the Ylissean alliance.
However, for a small band amongst the Shepards, this was not so. For they had suffered grievously with a fourth of their numbers now gone. Worse, they had no clear ability to either strike back or even defend themselves against the machinations of their great enemy. They had counted on secrecy to shield them against their foe, but now it was clear that this protective shroud had long since been blown away.
''So, this was a trap…''
Severa stated as they secretly gathered in one of the many supply tents. The army had set up a temporary camp for a quick rest before continuing on. An opportunity that Lucina was quick to seize in order to properly plan their next move.
''Yes, it seems that our tactician has known about us for some time. It was a well laid trap.''
Laurent added.
''Staying here is getting too dangerous. If he really knows about us, then it would be a small matter for him to arrange another series of unfortunate events in order to get rid of us!''
Inigo said, his voice hid an underlining of nervousness.
''Surely, you're not suggesting that we abandon our task and flee?''
Owain replied with a tone that suggested that it was not a course that he would approve. Inigo for his part did not take Owains reply well.
''I'm no craven! If you're suggesting that Owain! But I don't intend to weave my sword blindly in the dark while someone tie a rope around all our necks! We need a plan!''
''And what do you suggest that we do Inigo? Charge that traitor's tent and kill him while he sleeps!?''
''A most unwise course of action. We'll never get past the guards, not to mention he himself is quite capable. We have talked about this…''
''Oh, spare me Laurent! We just got our asses kicked! Three of our friends are dead for Naga's sake! And you continue to droll on as if it was just a mild inconvenience!''
While her remaining companions continued to argue, Lucina herself remained silent. In times of crisis, it was wise to allow your advisors to speak first, if not to hear their counsel, then it was to gauge the atmosphere among one's people.
That was a lesson her father had imparted to her long ago.
Or…she was fairly certain that it was him.
Lucina could hear that she needed to take charge of the conversation once again. This was getting them nowhere and panic was beginning to set in. No matter it's seize, an army that panicked was an impotent army. And the war might as well be lost.
''SILENCE!''
Lucina declared. She disliked raising her voice against her friends, but it was effective in ending their quarrels. Now she needed help them refocus on their task and purpose.
''While I grieve for our loss, we need to consider our current situation. We need to gather what we know and plan our next action from that. Time is of the essence, and we need to act while we still can.''
The young Exalt said more gently before continuing.
''It is now clear that we cannot rely on him being ignorant of all of us…he is aware that I'm not alone here in the past, despite our efforts to eliminate his cat's pawns in the army…''
Her companions seemed to listen attentively to her. A good sign: It meant that they still considered her their leader despite her recent failure to predict this trap.
''Which means that we either missed some or he has other means to observe us. I however don't think this method is perfect, considering how he assigned the people under my command.''
''How so?''
Severa asked.
''All of them was someone I had interacted significantly with in the past. A sloppy method. If he knew precisely who you guys where, why bother with lumping some random people into my doomed command? Why not take you out individually or assign more of my father's people under me? There are some amongst the Shepards who could give him much more trouble later on. Would have been more sensible of him to assign them to me before springing his trap.''
''Alright…A fair assessment, but still troubling. He still knows about us.''
Laurent stoically added.
''Yes, but I believe that he doesn't know who precisely. He only suspects it. And he's too arrogant and lazy, to investigating it further. Much easier to lump as many as he suspects into one group and be done with it. We might still have a small advantage there.''
The princess elaborated.
''Great…so what you're saying is that you're a walking deadflag. Anyone who talks too much with you get assigned to your command the next time we're going to battle, where we conveniently are going to get ourselves surrounded and killed off…Great news Lucy!''
Severa stated sarcastically.
''I agree that staying with me is dangerous, which is why I'm sending you all away…''
''YES! Together we shall weather this storm and…YOU WHAT!?''
Owain blurted out as he registered what his cousin had declared. The others in turn mirrored his expression although wordless.
''L-Lucina! My princess…We can't and won't abandon you here alone! Forgive me if I have given you the impression that I want to abandon you, but don't mistake my words! I fully intent to see this task to its end even if it would cost me my life! My life is yours to command! But surely our mission would be far more manageable if we stayed together!''
Inigo declared desperately.
''And what would we do? Run away to some far away village while you take on that monster alone? Not happening princess!''
Severa added with an angry tone, as if Lucina's intent to send them all away was an insult in itself.
''I'm not sending you away to just keep you safe. I'm sending you away to save our other friends!''
''What do you mean?''
Severa asked worryingly, Lucina continued.
''He knows about us, and I suspect that he knows about Nah's team too. I have just learned that Aversa has left the camp alongside most of her people. They did it as we left for Fort Steiger. Laurent, you could confirm this right?''
Laurent nodded.
''Indeed, and she took all of the remaining people we suspected to be in league with Plegia with the excuse of inspecting our reinforcements that would be arriving at the harbours soon.''
''Inspect? So, you're saying…''
Her cousin Owain replied, slowly realizing the implications.
''That they would be hunting for team Past Diggers yes! The timing is too coincidental to be random. It's therefore imperative that you leave camp as soon as possible!''
Lucina finished.
''Won't we be hunted down? That traitor could more easily have us all killed in the wilderness then in camp. And we need to come up with an excuse to leave as well.''
Inigo added. Fortunately, Lucina had already considered this.
''That would be the easy part. As your excuse would be that you're all deserting. Remember officially, you're all just mercenaries that serve Ylisse for gold. You have no true loyalty to Ylisse and therefore more than willing to abandon our hopeless cause against the Conqueror.''
''Do you think that he would buy it?''
Inigo asked, it was clear that he and the others had their reservations about this. It might even have been a foolish hope that the traitor would overlook this and believe them for being genuine mercenaries abandoning the Ylissean cause, and not his foes from the future slipping away from his grasp.
Another complication was that feigning desertion would also make it difficult for them to rejoin her later should the need arise.
''It would have to do; We are not leaving the others to their fates! Besides, by deserting you won't need to rapport our planned route or destination. You would be able to move in your own discretion.''
''And what about you?''
''I would be safe don't you worry. I would give up my command for this embarrassment and retake my place at my father's side. He won't dare to touch me while I'm near my father, he still needs him.''
''How do you know that? Didn't he kill your father in our timeline?''
Yes, he did, but Lucina had her suspicions that he won't do it just yet. Given how the traitorous Valmanese had been given specific instructions to not harm the Ylissean leadership. The reason for this still eluded her however…
Her reasoning seemed to satisfy her companions and they began to discuss how they could keep contact with each other and other small practical considerations.
''So, we all agree, but I do have one minor detail I find essential that we change. I'll stay with Lucina. Someone needs to fill the reports so that it was clear that you have deserted your post, as well as make it easy for you to acquire all the supplies that you would need.''
Lucina was about to protest but found herself agreeing to Laurent's practical reasoning soon enough.
''Alright fine, but I do have my own final addition. Severa, take a flier and head for the Valley of Wyverns, I'm fairly certain that it's there Gerome was heading with Minerva. He might have refused to help us in this task, but I don't think that he would refuse helping us saving the others from danger. Convince him to aid us and meet the others near the harbours. From there assess the situation, before you do anything further.''
The young Exalt took a deep breath before continuing.
''By the Gods, we are not going to lose anyone else!''
Next chapter will be from POV of Nah. Sorry for the long delay, summer vacation and all that, but hopefully next chapter will be done within next week.
Thank you all for reading and commenting. And I hope you all have a nice summer!