CHAPTER 11

Sothe did in fact mention to Izuka that the group managed to hide Volug and his true laguz nature. However, more laguz would cause problems. They already had the Laguz Confederation Legion, which was already causing problems, much to Cecily's dismay. However, Izuka had proper punishment in mind for such backlash.

"What are you going to do?" asked the non-royal heron laguz Belabánva.

"I hope its not suspicious actions!" yelled Craine.

"Wait!" yelled Izuka. "Laguz…they are powerful…yes…we need more laguz."

"But shouldn't the prince make those decisions?" asked Sothe.

"We should do what Izuka wishes." said Pelleas.

"Correct, my friend!" proclaimed Izuka.

"If anyone shall excuse me…I'll go talk to my friends." Sothe said. He later went to talk to the three people who had helped them in the previous battle. However, little did Sothe know that more people were with them. People unfamiliar to Sothe and his friends.

With the people, Muarim and Tormod, a tiger laguz and a beorc fire mage respectively, were accompanied with a female raven laguz–Vika–and a male Arlandian Wolf Knight named Arakel. All of them–except Vika–were talking.

"Tormod, you're not off the hook either." said the Wolf Knight Arakel as he was talking to Tormod.

"Arakel, how about you're not off the hook either." said Tormod.

"Stop it, you two." said the tiger laguz Muarim.

Sothe later excused the group. Bri was accompanied with him

"Sothe's back!" said Tormod.

"How'd it go?" asked Sothe as he was asking about the battle they assisted in.

"Pardon me, Sothe." said Muarim. "We would like to introduce you to Arakel. He's a wolf rider originally from the continent of Arlandia but moved to Tellius regarding his father's wishes."

"It is an honor to meet you, Sothe." said Arakel.

Sothe later went to shake his hand.

"So…how did you meet Tormod and Muarim?" asked Bri to Arakel.

"It was in 648 I had met him." said Arakel. "He and Tormod were traveling through Begnion, and they happened to run into me when I was working for some knights."

"Sounds interesting." said Bri.

"He had just moved at that point." said Tormod.

"Well, at least Daein's army will grow larger." said Sothe.

Micaiah later walked into the room, asking Sothe what was going on. Tormod later introduced himself to the Silver-Haired Maiden, along with Muarim, Vika, and the beorc Wolf Rider Arakel. As Micaiah suspected that Daein was going to have a bigger army, she was happy to see that more people were joining the cause to fight Begnion.

Meanwhile, at Nevassa, the Daein Capital, Jarod was talking with Numida, one of Begnion's highest-ranking senators. As Numida stated there was trouble involving thirteen-year-old Apostle Sanaki deploying an inspection team headed for Daein, and that he was appointed for Duke Gaddos, the Begnion Senate's vice minister, he gave instructions to Jarod that were to be passed down to other Begnion soldiers working for Jarod himself.

Jarod stated to the generals that Shifu Swamp would birth tales of a mass execution that would lure rebel soldiers there. As one Begnion general questioned if they would be wiped off the face of the land, Jarod laughed it all off…in an evil manner. Work was immediately started by Jarod and the Begnion soldiers and generals.

Back with Micaiah, she was healing wounded Daein soldiers. One Daein soldier wanted to praise the Silver-haired Maiden for her powers to heal the wounded, while another praised her for leading the Daein Liberation Army. As Micaiah took a bow for the soldiers, a prisoner from Joad Work Camp came in crying about someone killing the men in Shifu Swamp. As Micaiah wanted to know what was going on, she and Sothe ran to see what information they could gather. They later caught Pelleas talking with Tauroneo about the conflict, and Izuka yelling about it being an enemy trap or a false rumor. Micaiah then stated that if an investigation is not conducted, a mass execution is at the risk. Izuka then said that if the Daein army should be vanquished, the glory for Daein's elite restoration will die instantly, and Daein would be in a total apocalypse. But it's the next thing Izuka said that made Micaiah understand something. The threat shall be ignored, according to Izuka.

"And that's the precise reason why I won't take any troops with me." said Micaiah. "If you refuse them your permission, Pelleas, I shall go by myself. Alone, that is."

"Micaiah!" yelled Pelleas.

"Stop, Micaiah! I'm not allowing this to happen without the prince's approval!" yelled Izuka.

Micaiah just kept on going, ignoring the wishes of Izuka.

When Micaiah got to Shifu Swamp, Queen Nailah and Volug of the Hatari wolf laguz clan were taking care of not only Begnion soldiers, but also ugly bandits. One Begnion soldier ran away while shouting the racist term for laguz: Sub-Human. Rafiel the heron laguz even came to help too. He ended up using Vigor, a heron galdar that can re-energize allies in a fight, laguz included.

"Let's focus, Micaiah!" said Sothe.

Other people, such as Bri, Rita and her brother Carl, twins Beata and Brycen, and half of the Laguz Confederation Legion came to help with the ongoing swamp conflict too. Tormod, Muarim, Vika, and Arakel came to assist everyone as well. The battle to end the Shifu Swamp execution was just beginning; prisoners were about to be saved.