Fire Emblem: Blade of Darkness Chapter 17, a fire emblem fanfic

Chapter 17: The Changing of Banners

Runsa, a smaller community boasting at full population of roughly 300 people. Positioned roughly two day's march to the west of Jule along the main travel routes of the continent. The township for centuries had been under the care and stewardship of House Cavan, with the current regent lord being Ernst Cavan. He was a middle aged man with relatively low military experience himself, and to the knowledge of Shenis, had really never sent or seen men off to combat during his lifetime. House Cavan being closer in proximity to Jule than Dol over the years had traditionally allied themselves close with the Savoy house. And while in the free lands of Wiera had no true system of patronage and liege lords, historically these balances and understanding of houses of stronger might and presence was unofficially recognized by all those in the landed gentry of the realm.

As such when Jule was overrun and conquered recently by the military of Dol, the Savoy house was completely taken aback by the lack of forward warning provided them by house Cavan, as the Dol force must have moved through Runsa to reach Jule. Thereby to not receive any warning, meant either the city was sacked prior, or the Cavan house was in league with house Bruin, the lord's of Dol. As such immediately following the defense of Winter's Edge, and the gaining of a strong ally in Issachar the bear laguz warrior, Shenis and his band of warriors left the free town and took the forest to Runsa. In doing so avoiding conflict with the large military force at Riserstead and the occupation force stationed at Jule.

"It's been a long few weeks of this slow marching, how much further until we see this town? I could use a good ale or 12." Dalton complained as he loaded his smoking pipe near the head of the company.

"Tico said we had only a little ways more to go." Shenis replied to his mercenary companion. The road had been long and annoying for the group to travel, several times their supply cart steered by the priest Bryan had gotten into trouble in the forest absent a true road, making a slow pace even more so.

"It's true, we have maybe a few more hours before we reach the city." The rider was walking beside the cart having returned from his scouting duty earlier. With him being younger than many in the party, as well as not having sufficient fighting prowess, he felt guilty being the only person in the retinue with a mount, and thus did his best to not ride around the other's absent need. Tico was humble and respectful of the other's and knew his place in the pecking order of the camp. However, he was very helpful for the party as a scout.

The party reached the edge of the city's view, just outside of it to not be detected yet and sought to formulate a strategy for the battle ahead. "While on my scouting rides, I could see the banners of blue and the sigil of the blue jay of Cavan still throughout the keep and the meager walls. Yet, when I looked at the front gate, it was manned by men with gold paint across their armor." The young rider explained to the group.

"So perhaps they are in league with Bruin, or maybe they surrendered and are being held hostage in their own keep?" Shenis spoke pondering the situation. He wondered how the situation came to be. Was there a garrison of Dol troops present, and was it much like the invasion force in Jule, or merely, a small contingency to protect trade and supply lines?

"The truth is we don't know what they have to offer in defense. But if we don't ever launch an offense we will never gain any advantage back." Highlight spoke with firm resolve.

"Atta boy light!" Dalton slapped the knight on his back knocking him forward a bit off balance. Jai Ali gritted his teeth as he turned back to the mercenary. Highlight knew he was no match for Dalton in skill and prowess, he knew that sadly the success of the siege on the keep would ultimately fall with a larger responsibility upon the battle skills of Dalton and Issachar, more than himself and his lordship Shenis. Yet, the young knight was determined to make sure his spear was felt by the enemy ahead, and feared. He knew that even if the trials ahead proved to be easy conquests that he would need to rise and be counted among the party as a powerhouse combatant.

…

"No! You're telling me a band of enemies are marching on our position right this moment?" said a panicked lord trying to gather himself inside the halls of Runsa Keep.

"Yes my lord Ernst. A small band is approaching. Thankfully we have the garrison of the Bruin troops that were left behind for such a moment. We have about 20 of their men. All soldiers under Vic the mercenary." A cavalier spoke to his lord.

"What should we do Parakeles? We were lucky when that massive invasion army under Conner rolled through to be able to effectively surrender and pledge fealty to house Bruin as our liege house. We only have a few men of fighting status under our banner and if we fall to whatever rabble is out there then all is lost. Yet, I do not enjoy having a foreign occupation essentially holding us hostage in our own lands." Ernst found himself in a particular tough sentiment. He had aligned himself to Bruin with the hopes that they could avoid a war, and at the cost of such cowardly action, he had heard of the ruins of Jule and the Savoy house, a house that previously was the military lead in the more sparsely populated areas of the central plains of Wiera.

"M'lord, I advise caution. The power that house Bruin has in the central plains isn't loyalty, or resources, its bodies. They have a massive force in Jule, and with each small sect of causalities their insurmountable influence will dwindle. Which is good for us. We shall guard our keep but I shall trim all the lines on our bowmen, so that they cannot properly fire. We shall hold here and see how this rabble fairs. Perhaps we can scourge out the occupation force for a time."

"Be careful so as to not be caught." The lord spoke as he went back into his keep as the city rallied to arms of the incoming attack.

"Men of the West! My souls of Dol. Some rabble of mutts is coming at us with swords and spears ready, lets go kill them!" The sword of Vic gleamed sunlight as he and the others became excited and readied themselves at the choke point of the gate of the city. "Parakeles, man the wall and keep your archers firing upon them! Perhaps we can thin them down prior to their engagement with our units." The cavalier nodded from the wall, all while the preparations to mince the ability of his archers was in progress. The move was a gamble. Especially with no clue as to who or what was at the head of this inbound cluster, and even further unknown if after the skirmish was over if the men of Cavan would be able to hold and defeat whomever remained.

…..

"They seem to have taken the field at the front there." Shenis pointed as the men of Dol decided to leave the front gate and essentially defend prior to entering the city or fortifying behind the walls.

"They must think us a band of brigands rather than a formal military unit." Bryan spoke as he moved with the party positioned near the rear.

"Are we brigands?" Kyler the youngest of the band inquired as he stood at the rear nearest the priest at the request of his older siblings. Ion and Claire shrugged their shoulders and arms as they readied their weapons. The enemy now merely a few paces away and closing in with each second.

"Issachar break loose and flank them from behind." Shenis spoke and the giant bear remained crouched low to not reveal his true height, he then scurried off to the side away from the fighting in order to gain a chance to attack from behind. "Form rank!" Dalton took the middle lead, with Highlight to his right, behind Highlight was Shenis who would switch in and out as the opportunity presented. The left of Dalton, the fighters Dax and Burt formed rank at the front with Somme behind them. Bryan and Kyler formed the backline with Shenis, while Claire and Ion were to float and catch on either side anyone trying to flank.

"Don't panic if these guys don't fall." Dalton hollered as he braced and halted his advance, the others in the unit followed suit as the formation was set. "Just hold, We'll break them soon enough, especially once fear takes hold." Dalton knew the enemy would be defeated once the presence of Issachar became known. A giant is scary enough, but a giant bear laguz would be enough to make any seasoned veteran of combat need a new pair of pants.

The enemy crashed in hard with spear and shield. The roar of the crash sent shockwaves to the people of the city of Runsa, whom despite not liking the Bruin house banners and men, were more scared of the unknown before them.

"I see you have the real skill among this mess!" Vic called to Dalton, both recognizing the battle skill of each other instantly. Dalton nodded and knocked the soldier directly to his front backward with a blunt hilt thrust to the cheek.

"If you're asking for an invitation to an ass whipping. Then I'll be your huckle-bearer." Dalton broke formation as he surged forward to the mercenary. A foolish soldier seeing the man having his back turned to the Bruin men lunged his spear forward missing Dalton slightly as the mercenary ducked almost if by some instinct unknown. Dalton, then hurled his sword into the air and sprinted at the soldier. Using his shoulder he slammed hard into the enemy knocking the wind from his lungs and causing him to lose his grasp on his spear and round shield. The soldier gasped hard as his eyes filled with terror and panic, yet the moment was unable to be fully appreciated as Dalton caught his sword and pivoting hard rotated the sword through the chest plate of the sword, killing from both blunt damage in addition to wounding cuts.

"Men of Dol, this one is mine!" Signaled an enraged Vic as he stood ground to see this man make a fool of his soldier with what appeared to be a simplistic effort. The head of the Bruin platoon swung his sword overhead signaling for the archers that stood atop Runsa were to begin a volley. Parakeles gave the command to follow the order now that all the bows had been corrupted from being able to form the most simple of shot and were effectively for show. Vic, caught in the moment and gaze of Dalton, ready for his duel with the scarred up man was unable to take notice of the failed arrows.

"THUNNK!" Somme let a shot fly true piercing an artery in the neck of a golden armored soldier, repainting the man in red. He grabbed at his own throat and yet pressed onward in the attack, unaware that the blow was while not fatal at the instant, was fatal in the coming moments. A block, a parry. Dax stood his ground against the man and noticed that after a quick wave of three attacks that the fight was waning from the soldier as life flowed out of his neck with continued pace.

"POW!" The blacksmith turned fighter caved in the soldier's helmet, claiming his first kill of the encounter. He quickly moved to assist Burt to his right. Smacking the man confronting him in the knee with his hammer, dropping him to the ground and allowing for Burt to drop his axe in deep for a kill.

However, his breaking from formation allowed a soldier to try and move behind the front line of the Savoy force. Yet Claire, and Ion quickly intercepted, moving swiftly, they switched back and forth avoiding hits from the soldier while slowing with each switch, landed another small wound upon the soldier. "BANG!" The soldier landed a blunt blow to Ion's head, knocking him to the ground, onto his face leaving his back for the moment exposed. The soldier wounded but still moved to purpose saw this opening as his chance to claim life. He tightened his knees and began to pivot and swing from the hips to throw a lance thrust deep into the man on the ground.

"SLIT!" Claire with no time to spare separated the tendons in the soldier's hand loosening his grip on the lance and causing him to miss Ion who was now shaking his head violently trying to regain true consciousness after a clear concussive blow to his head. The soldier still having his shield hand unhampered slung a punch back towards the young maiden, reopening the sealed cut on her head from the prior encounter outside Winter's Edge. Claire, ate the blow as a seasoned fighter wound, pivoting around and loosening her neck at the moment of impact to avoid hard damage to her weaker frame. She then leapt into the air and threw one of her knives into the eye socket of the soldier, dropping him to his knees in the moment and then after a few moves of panic, found him on his back flailing as death came to claim him. Claire hustled over and removed the dagger without care to the soldier, spurting more blood into the air. She then moves to get Ion off the ground and backs him up from the combat. "Guess you're taking care of me now." He says in light gest as he tries to get to the world to stop shaking and vibrating just enough to allow him to find his own footing.

The frontline is proving tough to maintain as Dalton broke rank to deal with the enemy leader. Highlight moved closer to Burt to avoid allowing the option for either Kyler or Shenis to take the front. Though the shield and armor of the knight can only hold for so long. He is strong and swift back lacking in opportunity to mount a counter. While pinned with enemy barrages upon his person a couple soldiers slip around and engage Shenis and Kyler. Bryan pivots to focus immediate healing needs to the two. "Embrace your demise at the swiftness of my rapier!" Shenis called. To the surprise of the lord the presence of a regal blade, known for use only among those of lordship status, gave pause to the soldiers. Highlight seeing his lord being closed in upon bashed away his attackers with his shield and using the split second opening. Hurled his javelin at one of the men.

"AHHHHH!" The lance impaled him through his right leg and stuck deep into the ground. The wound in itself at the moment was not a fatal shot but one that would claim life in the coming minutes. Especially if the lance were removed from his leg. Shenis galloped up to the soldier overcome with panic and fear, having now dropped his guard and weapons entirely, and the lord sliced his neck through with an elegant piercing attack.

Highlight now found himself fully on the defensive having to eat the attacks of the golden men without the ability to slash or swipe a quick counter on any of them. He is stuck with the clanging of the axes and spears of the others onto his shield and armor. "Can I hold?" he thought to himself seeing Kyler and Bryan behind him squaring off with a soldier as Shenis attempts in futility to free Highlight's lance from the soldier's leg.

"RAAHAHHHHHHHH!" a thundering roar breaks from behind the enemy line. The roar stops all in their tracks, even those familiar with the sound, a sound first heard near Winter's Edge merely a fortnight ago. "RAHHHHHHHH!" a large polar bear charges into the fray, slamming hard into a soldier, pinning him on the ground and instantly crushing his body with his sheer weight. The other Bruin men are terrified and immediately try and either break rank and run or charge straight at the bear.

"NOW!" Shenis hollered as he saw the chance to route to enemy. Kyler slow in his movements tries to gain an upper hand, but is aided by Claire in the slaying of the soldier he is up against. The girl came from behind and garroted his throat. Choking and draining at the same time life from the man. Kyler stood back in amazement as he could tell Claire was gaining ground on being a true force on the battlefield, more so than Ion since they joined up with Tico in what seemed so long ago.

Somme continued flying arrows with as good a precision as he could in the midst of the combat.

Dax and Burt tag teamed a couple soldiers with their raw strength gained from all their years of skilled labor. The men fell hard to the ground with their helmets caved in, absent cutting damage and merely being destroyed by the sheer impact force upon them.

"Regain control you pansies!" Vic spewed as he parried a blow from Dalton. The two were still mostly locked in single one to one combat despite the tide around clearly turning away from the Bruin contingent growing smaller by the second. The man quaffed his hair back and lunged forward. He felt in a longer fight having ample time to gauge the prowess of his opponent that if he drug things out that Dalton would prevail, and sadly he knew Dalton wasn't the only one he'd have to face before the fight is over. His blade slit open a piece of flesh above Dalton's shirt collar and just off the armor of his left spaulder. Dalton minced and leaned back gripping his shoulder with his blade hand as he wobbled back from the hit. Vic came lunging forward again as the two pivoted around in their position. Circling their space in the fight. Vic slashed and swung with all the intent to kill that he had and yet despite landing a blow early on the speed and skill of Dalton proved him too much to land another shot.

Vic paused his movements and advance. A few seconds to catch his breath. Ten swings and no further damage caused. He began wondering what to do. Suddenly he took full stock of the ferocious bear blocking his path back to the keep. Issachar smashed his paw and claw both into the skull of a soldier. Breaking the soldier of Dol's lance in the process as the enormous paw smashed into the man, shoving him to the ground while inflicting massive damage. The bear strided forward with ease in spite of his massive frame and heavy body. Closing the distance just created with his own claws in a single instant. Issachar roared with might as he bit down into the neck of the downed soldier, quickly silencing the panting gasps for air the defenseless and outmatched man offered.

Vic could do nothing as he witnessed the carnage unfold. To his left another was tackled to the ground by the axe fighters and then stabbed repeatedly by a young woman with hunting knives. To his right the last of his unit still standing lands a glancing blow onto the lord Shenis grazing his chest and forcing him to grab his rib as he backs away. Only to then see the soldier hit hard in the jaw spewing spit and bile from the face of the man as the shield of Highlight bashed his head from purpose. The soldier staggered backward and to the side, wobbling and trying to regain his legs underneath him. As an arrow struck him right in the eye. Dropping him to his knees, and then to the ground face first pushing the arrow deeper into his skull and then snapping it as the pressure mounted. Vic the leader of the defense force of Runsa, was now alone as he dropped his sword to his side.

"Parakeles! WE NEED YOUR MEN!" The mercenary called in a panic hoping for a reinforcement to save the day. He looked toward the cavalier atop the wall and the panic subsided to a cold acceptance of the truth as he saw the archers unable and not firing at all. The mercenary dropped his head into his chest. "Well played you bastards of Runsa."

"So you want to finish this little duel?" Dalton called to the mercenary. Bryan in the midst of the confusion had casts a healing spell unto both Ion and Dalton, the nerve pain still persisted from the incident, yet the movement was no longer hindered and bleeding stopped.

Teary eyed, and upset, angry, depressed, and swelled to the brim with raw emotion and lack of inhibition the golden cloaked mercenary shook violently as he began crying. He knew he was defeated and yet had to accept a soldier's death as he lived a life that would bring nothing else to him. "DIIIIIEEEEEE!" he lunged quick toward Dalton, absent true purpose or skill, flailing his sword as a child not as a man of purpose. Dalton frowned as he could see the man was beaten. Dalton parried the weak swat upper ward with a swipe from the left upward back to this right, knocking the opposing sword skyward and out of spot to block a follow up swing. Dalton then with his blade still upward grabbed the hilt with his free left hand and slung the blade back down in one clean motion. Vic stood silent as the ramifications of the prior swing came into focus as his head soon departed from his torso. Dalton then pushed Vic's body to the ground, seeking to not allow for the fallen man to steal any more attention or bring himself any further shame.

"Is that it?" Dax muttered as he and Burt ran towards their favorite mercenary. The battlefield stood silent save the men of Savoy.

"HOOOOO!" the group all hoisted their weapons skyward in a victorious thrust signaling the field is won.

"Don't celebrate too fast." Issachar spoke as he reverted back to his human form. "There are still those archers on the wall."

"Yes but they weren't attacking us. Perhaps they were simply hoping we'd eliminate their overseers?" Highlight wondered as he reclaimed his lance and looked to the Keep, seeing Parakeles and a few archers on the wall.

"Let us approach, with caution and gauge their intent." Shenis proclaimed.

The unit crept closer with their guards and shields up. As they approached a lance fell down from the gate. Not thrown or hurled with intent to injure but dropped as if to signal surrender. "We seek no violence strangers." Parakeles spoke to the party below. Shenis thought this perhaps a simple rouse but demanded to speak with the lord of Runsa, Ernst Cavan. Parakeles nodded in agreement and the party entered the keep. As they came to Ernst they could see the city really had no defenses. A couple knights standing next to the lord, the three archers on the wall, and then the cavalier.

"Is that you Shenis Savoy?" Ernst dropped his dignity and approached Shenis in deference. "We though Jule was destroyed."

"It was, with no thanks to You!" Shenis snarled back.

"Please forgive me." Ernst said while bowing. "We don't have the defenses or skilled men of combat that you had or even have today. The army they marched through was massive and they agreed to spare us if we didn't warn you of their advance.

"I should put you to death!" the young lord raised his rapier causing the knights back of Ernst to draw their swords and Parakeles to ready his lance.

"Calm down young lord!" Dalton seeing the situation, and while knowing they had the advantage as for numbers of prowess, knew that another battle in the moment would be foolish. He put his hand on Shenis' shoulder and pulls him back to help defuse the situation. After a few tense moments that lingered like a dirty fart in a man's pants, all lowered their weapons nearly in unison.

"We seek to destroy the Bruin house, free my beloved Jule, and end these conflicts. We will not kill you and your men if you will pledge fealty and support to my cause."

Shaking his head. "I cannot do that good Shenis. I have already pledged to Bruin. For me to turn my faith again…it would be dishonorable, and frankly I wouldn't trust me in such a circumstance."

"Fine, I see your point. And you are correct we do not trust you. However, you are a lord of the free lands, to be under a liege lord of the west is a shame you cannot bare forever. Do you truly wish to be the pansy who quivers?"

"I seek to be the lord who lives."

"An even greater shame, if attained by cowardice."

"What should I do then? I still must protect my people."

"You will publically keep faith with Bruin, yet I demand that you immediately put your man Parakeles to purpose to undermine and help escalate the coming fall of their house. We will rest here as if your honored guests, and when we leave you are to act as if we were never here, until we call upon you, and we hope then, you and your men will honor the call as you should have prior." Ernst bowed and thanked Shenis for his mercy.

As they set themselves to purpose of rest, and recovery from the conflict, some with sleep, others with food and drink, and Dalton….with three busty women in the nearby tavern, the men began to understand that this was an assault done to both test the presence of military in the plains, and also to see if they could understand the tactics of the Bruin house. Shenis knew it would be unwise to linger for too many days in this location as it made both his party and the people of Runsa, easy targets once world of Vic's demise reached Conner Bolden in Jule. Shenis sent Tico out on a scouting mission around Jule to learn more about what Conner was conducting as an occupation army and see if there was any opening for the Savoy force to begin carving back and diminishing the enemy.

"Be safe and quick Tico, your eyes will tell us what the next move is to be!" The rider nodded as he darted off back towards the former Savoy stronghold.

_AUTHOR'S NOTE_

Hope you enjoy the more chapter style of battle by chapter I am trying to move more toward. Perhaps ill have breaks and gaps here and there when plot needs to progress but I have enjoyed the pacing. Who is your favorite character among the Savoy Retinue?

Character

Class

level est.

Age

Shenis Savoy

Lord

Jai Ali

Knight

Claire

thief

Ion

swordsman

Kyler

recruit

Bryan

priest

Dalton

mercenary

Tico

cavalier

Somme

archer

Dax

fighter

Burt

fighter

Issachar

Polar Bear