Chapter 14: False Friends Part 1
One Year Later~
In the North, was a village in Laus. Ike and Rath chose to clear bandits coming from the North while the rest clear the pirates coming from the South. Guy, Raven and Lucius should have finished their work and likely went to the village in the south. Sailing with a boat into the pirate forts and clearing them out. Given how much skill they've gained over the year with constant battles, they were well-prepared.
By now, Rath should have went ahead into the North village.
"You there!" A cavalier with short brown hair, and cleft chin called out and came up to Ike. "Who are you to enter the territory like this?"
He remained on his horse, ready and armed. Some of his men behind him.
Ike only shook his head. "I'm just a mercenary hired to deal with bandits and pirates. Some of my men should have also dealt with the pirates down in the South."
"Tch. With that money, They should focus on being devoted to paying more of their taxes." He grumbled. Shaking his head at the citizens of their territory doing actions on their own.
'Only because their taxes did nothing to save their homes or from pillaging because you were too focused for war.' Ike thought to himself.
They were neglecting their duties to mobilize for war, leaving villagers to fend for themselves.
"Very well, so long as you keep to yourself, we'll allow you to continue your duties. And make sure to avoid going into the village in the south. We have a... special guest to be welcomed into the castle." The man remarked.
The man went off with his men. Likely a high position or heir based on how many people he had with him. Ike sighed at how intense the situation has gotten. Not too long ago, he was hired to fend off bandits while peering into the situation in Laus...
The Greil Mercenaries work spread into Bern and East of Lycia. Earning Ike and the company a good amount of work and prestige. Sometime even helping villages and villagers for free at times (albeit with Raven reminding him to remember his total). With how busy they've become, Ike managed to pay off 80,000 of his total (especially when they went to arenas).
Ike already became a true mercenary (Class) and now sported a red cape. His stiletto now holstered to a new strap to his right leg. Rath promoted to a Nomadic Trooper and wielding a sword. His sword skills were too far behind his skills with a bow (very behind compared to Guy and Ike), yet it proved useful when dealing with enemies opting to come close to him and his steed. He was also able to skillfully maneuver past forest terrain. His promotion seal was obtained from a small port town where they fought off pirates to which a villager gave one to him. They also obtained an Earth Seal from villagers surrounded by mountains after having fought off bandits. They gave the seal to Lucius, considering Guy felt he was not ready to promote, opting for more experience while Raven chose to give it to his friend. Having access to staves saved alot on costs for vulneraries. Both of these seals obtained while in Bern.
However, what alarmed Ike about the towns and villages in Bern were the fact many of them had conflicting tales about the Black Fang. Apparently, at least two of the four fangs, Mad Dog and White Wolf were decent folks who took down the corrupt and helped the innocent. Whatever made the incident a year ago were not likely by their actions or knowledge. Why they'd kidnap innocent siblings may have been the actions of others in the Fang. Regardless, they decided to return to Lycia, perhaps to share this news to Eliwood and Lyn.
Moreover, he felt watched while in Bern. Perhaps some were watching his every move, and it wasn't wise to remain for too long. Maybe it was just a feeling from the men (both with ear cuffs on their left ears) he met in the town who pointed to a secret shop. They even offered a member card to check Anna merchant wares to which he declined (he already had one). As to why Anna had so many siblings who looked alike and as a family, named themselves the same, he will never understand.
Not too long ago, they passed by Pherae coming from Bern, but without Eliwood or Lord Elbert present. Apparently, the latter went missing to investigate an issue. Visiting the village to the North of Pherae...
"Natalie!" Ike called out. The woman in question turned to Ike, perfectly standing and walking towards her husband's benefactor.
"Oh! Ike! You've grown!" Natalie exclaimed.
Indeed he did, he gained about half a head in height and gained more muscles. Evidence that his work as a mercenary earning him strength as well as entering the stages of early adulthood.
"I see that you've also recovered." Ike pointed out.
Natalie nodded, "Thanks to your help and my husband's effort in getting medical care. In fact, he helped Lord Eliwood drive off bandits not too long ago. There he is!" Pointing to the burly man in question.
Carrying firewood, Dorcas came and upon seeing Ike, he lightly smiled.
"Ike, you've returned." Walking up to the pair, he continued: "Thanks to you, Natalie can walk."
Ike shook his head. "It's thanks to your effort, Dorcas, that Natalie could walk again. I only gave you your earned pay."
The modest back and forth between the two made Natalie laugh. It was clear that they both deserved credit for mending her leg.
"At any rate... I helped drive off bandits alongside a friend I made, Bartre. A headstrong man. If you're traveling and see a muscular brown haired man wearing a blue sleeveless shirt with steel headband and tendency to be reckless, then you'll know it's him. He's left with Eliwood as a mercenary." Dorcas explained.
It seems as though Dorcas remained to be a family man. Ike nodded, so long as Dorcas and Natalie remained safe and healthy, it was fine. In any event, if he find him with Eliwood, he'll greet him.
"Oh! Wait here." Natalie ran into the house and back out without a single limp. "Take this..."
What appeared to be a Hero Crest. A promotional item. Ike turned to look at Natalie and Dorcas.
"Dorcas was awarded for his work in Pherae. We hoped to meet you again and give this to you as thanks for all that you've done." She explained.
"Thank you. I hope we meet again." Ike responded with gratitude. To which the married couple smiled at Ike.
After having received the Hero Crest, Ike went to the group. And upon seeing the promotional item, Guy and Raven in particular widened their eyes.
"Boss, you got a promotional!" Guy exclaimed.
"Yeah... if any of you wants to take it, be my guest." Ike offered to the two.
"Eh... I-I still feel a bit behind, so I'll pass." Guy stammered. "But you can give it to Raven, though!"
"Take it, Raymond..." Lucius spoke. Most likely for allowing Lucius to promote.
Ike then turned to Raven, who stood silent and shrugged. And took the crest into his hands. A strange glow enveloped him, and once subsided sported Raven wearing a brand new dark blue trench coat. With a shield in front of his blade.
"I... think I can use an axe now." He announced.
As expected of a hero class. With Raven much stronger, he'll do well with his constitution and strength not held back by the weight of axes (attack speed is calculated by strength in Tellius series while constitution determines it in GBA series, for ease of incorporating both aspects in the series, both factors play a part)
This time Rath came forward and spoke: "You plan to see Wil's friend and her father?"
Ike nodded and decided to go West.
Meeting Rebecca's family, whose father only remained in the house. Apparently...
"Haaa... I know my boy became a pirate. Is there some irony to this situation especially after being attacked by ruffians not too long ago?" Rebecca and Dan's father voiced out.
"You got attacked by bandits?" Ike spoke from behind. Their father looked to the direction of Ike.
"Oh, Ike! It's been too long!" He exclaimed. Most likely grateful for having located his son a year ago. "Lord Eliwood set off with Lowen and Marcus to find his father some time ago after dealing with a bandit attack."
At least no one seems to be harmed.
"And... Dan?" To which the village magistrate only shook his head.
"Still no good in the noggin, even after we saw him. At least he's happy... Rebecca decided to work in Caelin alongside Wil to hopefully help my son regain his memories. Because Caelin is closer to Badon, she chose to take residence there for the time being." He explained.
That was good. Rebecca could visit Dart more often. She was also supposedly skilled with a bow so she had a good foundation to learn more from Wil, who promoted to a sniper.
"Also, if you can... take this." The magistrate gave Ike a bag of gold, roughly 10,000. "It's out of gratitude mostly... but also a job."
"What for?" Ike asked.
To receive a job so soon.
"It's to go to Laus and deal with the pirates and bandits. My brother came back from Laus due to its lord not committing to his duties. Apparently, Laus may be mobilizing for war and Lycia may not be safe." Ike's eyes widened at the village chieftain's explanation. "I've informed Lord Eliwood about the affair, but he may need more assistance since he's probably stopping to Santaruz. You should be well-acquainted with some of the Lycian houses, so I would also advise finding out a bit more while under the guise of being hired to deal with ruffians. I've already warned Rebecca to be careful while in Caelin."
Ike would have to leave to Laus without stopping by Caelin along the way. He could inquire more about the state of Laus after dealing with the bandits and pirates that plagued the villages there.
With that, Ike and the company was in Laus, fighting off the bandits with Rath. Entering the village to meet with some of the villagers, he heard a voice.
"Ike!" The voice called out. Turning to the direction of the voice, Ike's eyes widened.
"Erk!" Ike responded with Rath accompanying Erk. "What are you doing here?"
"...I found him as I went inside the village. He hoped to see you." Rath reported.
Erk came up to Ike, with the wind tome in hand. It appears he received it back in Etruria.
"It's been too long... and thank you immensely for this tome." Erk mentioned while gesturing to the tome. "Me and Lord Pent were overjoyed to see a new tome native to your land. It took time to decipher the tome, but it proved a fruitful endeavor."
Not to mention how his adoptive father hoped to study the tome in depth whenever his son was asleep. It took his wife Louise to make sure he rested. The tomes from Tellius were written in old tongue. It takes years to correctly hear and decipher a chant for tomes in general, but to see Erk and his adoptive father accomplish within a year to study a foreign tome from another land with an entirely different esoteric language was astonishing. Apparently, there were annotation and notes within the tome most likely written by Anna to help facilitate better understanding of the ancient language from Tellius.
"I'm glad but... what are you doing here?" He asked.
Erk's jubilation soon turned to a serious expression.
"Actually... I'm in need of your help..." Erk spoke with reluctant tone.
Just as Ike opened his mouth to accept Erk's plea, shouts and sounds of battle erupted from South. Everyone rushed to outside, from a long distance, they spotted three figures fighting the Laus forces.
"Guy and the others... they're fighting." Rath remarked.
Why did they suddenly get involved in a skirmish with Laus? All sorts of thoughts emerged in Ike's mind. It was clear that they will end up being involved in battle. With another house no doubt.
"And Lady Priscilla!" Erk pointed out. If they noticed closely, a troubadour on her horse healing their wounds behind them. She had short red hair with cut fringes with a wing accessory above her left ear.
Priscilla... wasn't that the name of Raven's sister who was sent away for adoption ten years ago? Lucius and Raven mentioned her in passing.
Erk turned to Ike and explained: "Ike, that girl is my employer! The Marquess kept her hostage in the village to the South. Please, we need to escort her out of here!"
Ike pieced together the situation. It's likely Raven didn't like what happened to his sister. Looks like there's no other option. The leader from before was present. The man in question spotted and glared at the trio in the North. He recognized Erk with Priscilla and Ike from earlier.
"They're in league with those Mercenaries from before! Cut them all down! Leave just Lady Priscilla!" Erik ordered to his troop.
Roughly 20 soldiers, maybe less considering Raven and the others took some down. Mostly cavalry. There was some ground troops albeit varied.
"Are you both ready?" Ike gripped his sword. To which both nodded.
""AYE, COMMANDER!"" with Erk once again under Ike's command, joining Rath's voice in tow. Erk readying his new wind tome and Rath with his bow ready to unleash arrows on his steed.
Unsheathing his blade, readying his blade behind him in his new stance with a straightened posture, he shouted: "Greil Mercenaries... Let's move out!"
They marched towards Laus's forces to assist Erk and their fellow comrades.
AN: Next chapter is the other trio's perspective and battle conclusion.
