Chapter 4 ~In Occupation's Shadow~
Continuing on their jouney, the group comes across a dilapidated fortress. Approaching near the old building, the group decided to take rest for the night.
"Ah, this should suffice! Tonight's bed!" Wil exclaimed. Sain immediately objected, "This mildewy old fortress? Is this the best we can do? Come, Wil! Surely you jest!"
"Could be worse, with bandits running amok, the best thing we need is shelter for a large group like ours." Ike pointed out. Lyn added on, "This will be fine. Although, I prefer a place where I can feel the wind blow."
Upon arriving at the entrance, Kent called out to Sain, "Sain, both you and I are to remain awake. We will alternate the watch." Only to have Sain with depressed, "Ah, alas... not to worry!" Facing Lyn and Florina, "For your protection, your man-at-arms Sain will be guarding you as you rest, ladies." With Lyn shaking her head in exasperation and Florina huddling behind Lyn.
Seeing how the knight pair will patrol the night, Ike interjected, "Since the both of you will take watch, I could help." With Sain and Kent's eyes widening, "We could revolve periodically. So the both of you can take some rest in between."
"Ike... don't you need your rest as well?" Lyn pointed out with a worried face.
Shaking his head, "Don't worry, I can't leave our calvary to stand watch alone. I'll be fine Lyn."
"Ike..."
"Thank you, Ike, my good man! You could take the initiative to rest and I'll wake you to switch some hours later." Sain grateful of Ike's gesture. With Kent nodding with him. "Thank you."
"Your pardon, milady..." a voice came out from inside the fortress. Everyone's attention went to the voice.
"Who's there?" Lyn spoke out.
"I... Forgive my intrusion..." A woman with brown hair with a white bow tied near the end of her hair and slung at the side appeared. "My name's Natalie. I'm from a village not far from here... Ah! Ow..."
We immediately see that her leg was in pain and limping as she came closer.
"Are you all right? Your leg..." Ike came closer to help support her.
Natalie raised her hand up and assured them: "It's fine. Don't worry. It's from a childhood sickness... I can't travel far on it, but it doesn't trouble me much."
"What are you doing here all by yourself?" Lyn pointed out.
"I'm looking for my husband... I heard he was in this area. He said he was going to raise money to have my leg mended. He left the village and hasn't returned. He's a kindhearted man, but I think he might be involved in something dangerous. I got so worried..." Bringing out a small paper drawing, she continued, "Here's a sketch of him. It's a poor likeness at best, but... His name is Dorcas. Do you know of him?"
The drawing seemed to be a man with slick back red hair and a small beard on his chin. The group shook their heads at the portrait. Leaving Natalie depressed for a bit.
"I see. If you do meet him, please give him a message. Tell him Natalie is looking for him." She requested. Everyone nodded
"We'll tell him, I promise." Lyn added.
While everyone was setting up base, Kent came back on his horse.
"Lady Lyndis! Outside the fortress! Bandits!" He called out. "They have two archers with them!"
"More of them?" Ike questioned, looking at where Natalie was resting, "What about Natalie, can we escort her to safety?"
Lyn shook her head: "No... Natalie cannot move well, and she won't be able to ride well with her leg." Looking at Ike, she continued, "Let them come to us. We'll fight here, within these walls. Ike, take over. The command is yours. All we have to do is hold out until they tire and leave."
Ike nodded, "Sain and Kent will guard the south entrance, Wil, support them. Florina, support them, watch out for archers."
""""Yes sir!""""
"Oh... " Natalie voiced out, scared of the situation.
"Rest easy, Natalie. No one will harm you!" Lyn assured her. Looking to everyone, she spoke, "Listen everyone! Fight with caution!" With everyone
"Lyn standby and wait at the entrance where Natalie is. We don't know if the bandits might break in through other methods. I'll defend the East. Ok?"
Lyn nodded. "OK Ike, be careful." And she went back to where Natalie was located.
Ike positioned himself off the the East where another entrance was located. From a distance, he saw a muscular man from a distance. He held a double edged hand axe. Dangerous weapon, he's seen used in the hands of his father and Titania (Boyd not included for the weapon nearly chopped his head off when it boomeranged back to him). While Ike couldn't see his full face, he remained in the shadow.
"Move aside." The man readying his axe. "I have orders to bring a girl that's inside. Do that, and no one will get hurt."
"I won't let bandits take off with anyone from our group. So leave while you still hold your life. Besides," Ike readied his blade in his usual stance. The man reciprocated ready to throw his axe. "We can't let a woman who's disabled is helpless and cannot fend for herself while inside this fortress." That made the man pause.
"Disabled...?" The man repeated. He came closer out of the shadows. His face in full view. His countenance resembling the portrait that Natalie showed them.
"Are you... Dorcas?" Ike voiced out. The man in question lowering his axe.
"How do you know my name?" Dorcas eyes widened at the mention of his name. "Wait... could it be, the woman that you mentioned... Natalie?" Ike nodded, with the man's face turning ashen. "Your wife Natalie wandered off to find you, we met in this fortress. Why have you joined these bandits?"
Dorcas quickly recovered from his stupor, "I needed gold to help Natalie recover... I'm not proud of it." Finally sheathing his axe to his side, he looked to Ike, "My work is done, where is she? I'll help you protect her and everyone else."
"She's in the innermost room in the fortress. My friend Lyn should be with her." Ike replied.
They headed to the room with Ike in front and Dorcas behind him. Lyn readying her blade at Dorcas but faltering with Ike in front. Her eyes recognizing the man from the portrait.
"Dear..." Natalie cried out.
"Natalie..." Dorcas called out, embracing his wife.
A good moment passed that Ike suddenly came up with a plan.
"Dorcas." Ike called out. Dorcas turned to face him. "You mentioned the target was Lyn, right?" With Dorcas nodding. "Yes, Carjiga is a bandit with slick back black hair and a stubbled chin that sticks out, he needs her alive."
"Would he know that you turncoated?" Dorcas and Lyn looked at each other. With Dorcas shaking his head. "I know what to do."
"Ambush, Ike?" Ike nodded. "Leave it to me! And Dorcas!"
Suddenly, the sound of a wall crumbling came from the West. The bandits must have broke down a wall.
"I'll cover from the West, take Lyn and create an act to counterattack at the right moment." Ike announced. The pair nodded in response.
"Natalie, I'll be back." With Natalie nodding to her husband, "All right. As long as you're here, I know I'm safe."
Coming out from the room, Ike noticed that the rest of the group were still fighting off the bandits from the North entrance, but not in dire straits. He quickly went West to where a brigand and a sword fighter entered. Ike readied his blade and stance, the swordsman launched himself into the air to slash at Ike, only for Ike to block with his blade. The blade clashing against, Ike took the moment to kick the shin of the swordsman.
"Nngh!" The swordsman grunted out, with his leg forced to bend, Ike quickly slashed downward at the bandit. The bandit fell back, never to wake. Readying himself for the next opponent who held his axe at the ready. Suddenly, they heard a cry southeast from the fortress.
"W-was that Carjiga?" The bandit questioned nervously. Suddenly, a voice came out from behind Ike, it was Wil. "Ike, the North entrance is all settled! The bandits were felled or retreated along with the leader! Lyn and the new axe fighter really led an ambush behind enemy lines!" He reported.
The remaining brigand now scared, "Curses! They're not human! Listen up, rogues! Retreat! Pull back!" He announced and quickly ran off to the West from the broken wall. And whatever remnants of the bandits quickly fled.
Ike sighed in relief. It was over. Natalie and everyone was safe.
"Ike..." Dorcas spoke out from behind him. "May I speak with you and Natalie?"
While Dorcas, Ike and Natalie were left alone, everyone else tending to their wounds or maintaining their used equipment.
Dorcas came out with Natalie, with Ike in tow. "Our village is close. I'll take Natalie home and return tomorrow." He announced. "Dorcas will join our group starting today." Lyn looked at Ike for a moment and looked back at Dorcas.
"But we're going to Lycia."
"I have to earn money. If you think I'll be of use, I'd like to fight for you. You helped my wife... I owe you." Dorcas explained. "Besides, Ike managed to scrounge up some funds for Natalie so now I'm contracted." With Kent suddenly raising his brow at his last statement.
"Dorcas..." Lyn voiced out.
"Please, Lyn. We are both in agreement on this. Watch over my husband." Natalie pleaded.
"Things have finally calmed down." Lyn relaxed as she spoke.
"We shall take turns keeping watch. Please rest easily." Kent assured. "But Sain can keep his vigilance." With the man in question pointing to himself in surprise.
"Is that all right? Are you sure?" Turning to Sain, she called out: "Sain!"
Sain stammered, "Ye-Yes! Of course!"
"Let me warn you... If bandits sneak up on you, they will cut you down without mercy. Do you understand that?" Lyn gave off a solemn expression as she spoke.
"What are you saying? Am I not a knight? There's no need to worry so! Right, Kent?" Sain sweating as he spoke as if panicking.
Kent closing his eyes at his friend's display, he replied, "If there's anything suspicious, I will take care of it. Please be assured."
"Don't worry Lyn. Take a good rest. I'll be helping Dorcas return with Natalie to their village." Ike responded.
"Really? Well, goodnight then. See you tomorrow, Ike." She replied. "Come on Florina, let's get some rest."
"Ok Lyn." Florina agreeing and going off with Lyn.
"Ha ha... No one trusts me..." Sain complained. Wil decided to speak up, "Don't worry Sain, I'll keep watch with you." With Sain returning his smile at his companion in arms.
Base Convos Part 4
"That should be the last of it." Ike closing his eyes at the job being finished.
A pile of weapons and equipment on a makeshift sleigh. They could be dragged to the town which holds an armory or blacksmith. Despite it being sold for half or less, it is still worth its gold.
"So this is how you get funds for my contract?" Dorcas called out with Natalie sleeping while piggybacked on him. Ike shook his head. "The 2000 I gave you was from other villagers who thanked us. This is just to exchanged or be sold off for new equipment. Unless I really need what a bandit or soldier has, there's no point in leaving weapons around haphazardly in a battlefield."Ike explained with his eyes closed.
Opening his eyes, "No matter what, at the very least, I will do what I can as leader to provide for the people under my command."
"And you won't be alone." Kent's voice coming out from behind them. "Kent..." Ike voiced out.
"I understand what you need to do. And I also cremated the dead." Kent reported. "Allow me to assist you by riding into town with the sleigh attached to my horse." Sain also came in tow.
"Me and Wil will keep watch and protect Lady Lyndis and Florina." Sain announced. Continuing on without a jovial expression, "Even Mercenaries can do alot of things that knights can't do. All the more reason with you as leader that you must exercise that right to provide for your men. Besides, fallen weapons would only get picked up and used by more ruffians wandering about. You are no bandit, you are a practical leader, Ike."
Staring at the two, he closed his eyes for a moment and spoke, "Thank you."
After Ike finished his duties with Dorcas and Kent. they arrived back at camp in the fortress. Lyn and Wil managed to catch breakfast in the morning.
After eating, the group prepared to pack up. Meanwhile, Florina stood behind Ike, "Ummm..."
"Hm? Florina?" Ike called out. "Eeek!" And she immediately hid behind her pegasus, Huey.
The pegasus neighed, unimpressed by his owner's cowardice. Ike sighed. Maybe it's because she's more comfortable with Lyn in the vicinity.
"I'm sorry, Florina, if I startled you." Ike apologized.
Florina peered out while hiding behind Huey. "O-oh... No, I-I'm sorry, Ike."
The conversation not even starting and an awkward silence permeated the vicinity. The only one not silent was Huey.
Shaking his head, "I'm not the best type of man for you to interact with. I'm sorry."
"N-no no, I'm sorry for putting you on the spot like this, Ike." Florina quickly assured. "I was hoping to strike a conversation with you to get over my fear..."
Ike scratched behind his head, "Times like this... maybe I wish you could meet Oscar. I think you'd get along with him."
"H-he is your former knight friend who works in the Greil Mercenaries, isn't he?" She pointed out nervously.
"Yup. He's a very calm and patient man. He's the eldest out of the three brothers." Ike nodded. "He's one of the most dependable people in the company, and a great cook too."
"H-he sounds alot like my eldest sister, Fiora. She's the most dependable and watches over me and Farina. Although she can be a little strict." Ike then raised a question at her. "Are your sisters also pegasus knights?
"Yes..." She answered. "Farina seems a little concerned with money though, and Fiora is right now heading a pegasus squad." Florina explained.
"I want to catch up... be stronger as a mercenary..." She muttered. "W-well, thank you for conversing with me!" And she went off with Huey.
"Hmmm. She reminds me of Rolf in that regard. Although I don't know where his talents will lie in the future... Oscar is good with a lance, Boyd is decent in axes, I wonder what he'll be good at?" Ike pondered.