Chapter 12 – Broken Shield

Felix sat in his cell, alone, listening to the melody. The ever-present melody. It was his only companion for now, the only thing he could rely upon for his mission. Until he met Anaximandros and the others again.

"The king's dogs are closing in on us," Anaximandros told him yesterday. "It's only a matter of time until they find our base."

"Let's attack them now," Felix said. "Take them hostage and use them to lure the king out."

Anaximandros chuckled and appeared to consider it for a moment. "A fine idea, if we could count on that cowardly king to show his face. But this may work to our advantage. If we play our cards right, the king may be dead within the week and Fhirdiad will fall."

Felix wanted nothing more than that. At the very notion, the song swirling around him infused him with strength and hope for their impending victory. "What would you have me do?"

"Stay here," he said. "You'll be the bait."

Felix raised a confused eyebrow. "They'll come for me?"

"Oh, yes," Anaximandros said. "They think their unholy magic still has its hold over you. It's why we had to snatch you away. They'll try anything to get you out and get information on us. While you feed them outdated information, you'll get closer to the king and be in the prime position to secure the city for us."

He started to see the full picture. "And that's when we strike."

"Exactly," Anaximandros said, fitting his helmet on.

For a brief flash, Felix had a memory of Anaximandros in his full armor, with a sneering tone. Something recent, associated with pain and looking down with frustration. His skull throbbed and the music grew louder to compensate.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Felix pushed the idea away. An old memory, he assumed. Perhaps of a hard-fought battle and Anaximandros helping him. There was no need to dwell on it, not when he had an important task to accomplish. "Yes, I'm fine."

He spent a good hour going over the plan with Anaximandros and the others, as well as memorizing the locations of old, abandoned bases to provide to the king once he was "liberated." Even now, in his dark cell, he ran through them again, testing his memory so that he wouldn't forget.

He also needed to make sure to act the part of an abused and suffering prisoner. Anaximandros saw to it that he gave him some good bruises and welts across the face and chest, enough to be believable. Felix took it in stride. Anything for the cause and to tear down the tyrannical king.

At one point during his wait, he heard distant rumbling. The king's soldiers must be approaching. The stragglers Anaximandros left behind would keep them busy for a while.

As he waited and enjoyed the healing melody around him, he experienced an unusual break in the song. The same song he had listened to for the past few weeks without end. It didn't stop, not completely, but another noise intruded on it. A second song, soft and lilting. He didn't recognize it, yet there was a familiarity to the voice that sang it.

She waits for him to return this way. He dwells on her amidst the fray.

He hummed and sang along to parts of it. Yes, he definitely knew that voice. As soon as he tried to place it though, his forehead pounded like it was splitting in half. He gripped his head and his body twisted in pain. It was worse, so much worse than ever before. Why? Shouldn't it have lessened by now? How much damage did he sustain during that battle with the king and the Ashen Demon?

Trying to remember any of them only worsened the pain and his head felt like it was bulging, a fracture about to burst open along the ridge. He abandoned his efforts and brought himself back to the present. I'll ask Anaximandros later, he decided, taking a deep breath and sitting against the wall. I can't get distracted during the mission.

He regained his composure just in time. The cell door opened and a short silhouette appeared against the torchlight. "Who's there?" he asked, his throat dry.

"I'm here to rescue you."

He knew the person. "Annette?" One of the king's close allies.

"Felix!" She bolted across the cell and crashed against him, knocking them both to the floor. "I can't believe it. You're here! You're actually here! Oh, we've been looking for you for weeks now and we couldn't find you and then I came across this camp with these rebels and we heard there might be prisoners in here-"

As she rambled, Felix recalled the details Anaximandros gave him. Annette, one of the Blue Lions from the class he infiltrated before the war, back when he was secretly gathering intel and possible recruits to their cause. An accomplished gremory and professor in Faerghus nowadays. And another tidbit of information that was on the tip of his tongue beyond what Anaximandros told him. He couldn't remember though. Must not be too important then. I've got the basics at least.

"-And you're actually here! Oh, it's been too long!" Then she noticed his face and gasped. "Oh, no. You're hurt."

"It's not too bad," he said, holding his side and adding a fake groan to his voice to play it up for effect. He lifted up the chain shackling his leg to the bed. "We need to get out of here. Do you have the keys?"

"The keys. Right." She picked them up where she dropped them by the door and unlocked his chain.

He pushed off the bed, accepting her offer to throw his arm over her shoulder. He limped alongside her, wincing with each move. Anaximandros' punches stung worse than before. Should bring that up if we ever need to do this again.

Outside of the cell, they heard echoes down the passage Annette had come from. "I don't suppose you saw how they brought you in?" she asked.

"No. Let's try this way." He pointed to a path that curved around the hall of cells and downwards. According to Anaximandros, this should lead them right out of the mountain. The rebels left behind had also been given strict orders not to impede them.

"Alright, let's go." She redistributed his weight on her shoulders and together, they slowly made their way down.

As they walked, Felix noted that she seemed worse for wear. She really had been looking for him for weeks? That made some sense. If he remembered right, they were a little closer than normal back at the Academy. Fairweather friends. She was also watering plants in a greenhouse and he heard something he wasn't meant to hear. A secret of hers? No, that wasn't right. Perhaps some gossip.

"Hey, what is it?" she asked, worry on her face. "Do you need to rest?"

He squeezed his eyes shut against the headache. "No, keep going. I'll be fine." He couldn't wait until he was at one hundred percent again.

Before long, they reached the ground level. "I think I know where to go from here," Annette said, guiding him to the right. "Hang on, we're almost there."

Up ahead, the entrance to the mountain opened wide before them. Much to his chagrin, several figures were fighting near it. They were supposed to stay away. He really didn't want to kill his comrades if he could avoid it.

Closest to them, a red-haired man called to them. "Annette, is that you?"

"Sylvain! I found him!"

Felix recognized that name very well. A wave of disgust washed through him. The academy's local philanderer.

Sylvain rallied his troops together, putting themselves between the rebels and Annette and Felix. "Hold them back. Wait until they've left the mountain, then fall back!"

"Aye, sir!" the soldiers said, forming a tight-knit semicircle to block off the rebels.

"Hurry, let's get you out of here," Annette said, picking up the pace.

The sunlight stung his eyes when they stepped outside. It had been weeks since he'd seen the actual sky. Annette didn't pause, merely dragged him along with her through the forest, past the fields, and up a steep hill until they were far from the fighting. She didn't stop until their small campsite was in sight. By then, Felix was supporting and pulling her along just as much she was him.

As they crossed into camp, Annette collapsed on her knees, accidentally pulling Felix down with her. "Here," he said, helping her up and to a nearby horse. "We should get back to Fhirdiad."

"Yeah," she said, her eyelids drooping.

In the daylight, he really took in her appearance and was shocked at the heavy purple bags under her eyes. When did she last sleep?

Behind them, twigs snapped in rapid succession and rocks tumbled through the grass from several pairs of feet. Sylvain and the soldiers burst out of the forest, bruised, beaten, but alive. One of the soldiers collapsed, holding his bleeding side.

Sylvain nodded to the horses. "Good idea. We need to get going. I'll round up the rest of the troops. You three," he pointed at the nearest soldiers, "go with them. Don't leave their side until they're in front of the king. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

They helped Felix onto a horse. "Can you ride?" one asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine." He looked to Annette, who one of the other soldiers was helping. Without thinking, he added, "She can ride with me." He was taken aback by his offer. Why did I say that? It would make more sense for her to ride with one of the soldiers.

The soldiers themselves appeared to have the same thought, exchanging glances. But they allowed her to join him and helped her up onto his horse. Immediately, Annette curled into his chest. She smiled up at him and closed her eyes, breathing softly.

Unsure what to make of the situation, Felix grabbed the reins and guided the horse to the nearby road. Then he spurred the steed onward, holding one arm wrapped around Annette's waist as they raced toward the capital.

There was something about Annette. He avoided dwelling on any specific memory, but he was sure they were close companions during the Academy. Or as close as he could be to a person on the wrong side of the war. As her hand slipped up his chest and clutched his tunic tight, he wondered if maybe he could talk Anaximandros into giving her a chance to join their army.

Once Dimitri was taken care of.

When they arrived in Fhirdiad, it took every ounce of self-control for Felix not to cut down Dimitri when he greeted them. He reminded himself that this was an infiltration, not a suicide mission. If they wanted to be thorough, they needed to destroy all of Faerghus from the top on down.

Still, Dimitri tested that resolve when he raced down the castle steps and scooped Felix into a great hug. "You're alright!"

Felix gasped, forgetting all about the king's ridiculous strength. "You're crushing my ribs."

"Sorry, sorry," he said, letting him go and then turning to Annette. Like Felix, he was stunned by Annette's clear lack of sleep. "You need rest," he said, stating the obvious and helped her up the steps. "Follow me."

They entered the castle and followed him to the second floor. Felix took note of the castle's layout, memorizing the guards on patrol and any defensive layout that he could see. It was pretty sparse from what he could tell. Meaning that there must be a trap of some kind. He'd have to draw that out of Dimitri. Or remember what it was if they already told him.

Dimitri opened a bed chamber door and welcomed Annette inside. "Go ahead and get some rest. I'll be by to check on you later."

Annette seemed like she wanted to protest, but only managed a large yawn. She looked from Dimitri to Felix, staring longer at the latter as though he might suddenly vanish.

"Don't worry," Dimitri said, a knowing grin curling along his lips. "I'll see him to the infirmary myself. You have nothing to be concerned about."

"Thank you," she said and shuffled to the bed. She flopped into it as soon as Dimitri closed the door. Felix wouldn't have been surprised if she fell asleep once her body hit the mattress.

He lingered by the door, unsure exactly why. The mission was more pressing and he didn't have time to waste. And yet he was transfixed by the door, as though seeing Annette beyond it. A gnawing obsession rooted itself deep in his chest that he didn't understand. Annette was merely a former classmate. One whose company he enjoyed more than the others, but nothing beyond that.

"She was beside herself with worry about you," Dimitri said, breaking his train of thought. "She refused to leave you behind." His tone suggested that Felix should understand completely, but he didn't. Especially not for a former acquaintance.

Had something happened while he was under Dimitri's spell before Anaximandros rescued him? Did he and Annette become closer than school friends? It didn't seem likely. Yet that nagging part of his brain wouldn't let up. He couldn't very well come out and ask though. That would rouse Dimitri's suspicion. He had to keep playing the part of the loyal sword and brainwashed puppet of the king.

He settled for a hum of acknowledgement, cast another glance at the door, and back to Dimitri. "We should let her rest then."

"Yes, right."

The infirmary was on the other side of the castle, granting Felix plenty of chances to scope out the rest of the defenses. Like when they first entered, guards were few and far between. Some of the servants and maids moved a little stiffly, a military gait to their steps. Upon closer inspection, a few swords and knives were visible in coats or bulging beneath aprons.

Clever, he thought. By his count though, there were still plenty of soldiers missing. If he was close to the king during his time here, he may have learned where the soldiers were hiding. He needed to approach the topic delicately.

"What's the plan now?" Felix asked.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow, as though the answer were obvious. "At the moment, see that you're in good health."

"I'm fine. What about the rebels?"

"We're heading off their attacks around Fodlan. They've been concentrating on Faerghus itself over the past fortnight. With any luck, we may still be able to lure them in."

That confirmed the trap. He pulled back, unless he appeared too eager. He needed to give Dimitri a bone, something to chew on and oust the hidden soldiers for this trap. Playing to his emotions always worked in the past. "We can't afford to sit around any longer. What if it had been someone else besides me? What if they had captured Dedue? Or the As-" he caught himself, "-the professor?"

That hit Dimitri hard, his jaw set in stone at the idea. "What would you have me do?"

"Press the attack," Felix said. "They're on the run."

"Dedue has offered to head up a detachment to search the area where we found you. Hopefully, we can find some clue as to where they fled."

"No need," Felix said. "I heard one of the guards by my cell talking late one night when they thought I was unconscious. He was drunk and complaining about the mountain and wishing they were back at their main base."

Dimitri stopped and hurried Felix behind an archway. "You mean, you know where they are?" He was doing his best to hide it, but his excited whisper betrayed him. The boar had taken the bone whole.

"Yes." He savored the moment before choosing one of the false leads he had memorized. "Between Ordelia and Goneril, at the end of one of the river forks."

Dimitri grabbed Felix's arm, again forgetting his own incredible strength as he crushed and rubbed muscle and bone together. "Let's get you to the infirmary. Then, I want you to show me exactly where on the map they're located."

Felix winced and bit back a groan. "Of course, Your Majesty." The words tasted vile on his lips. "With pleasure."

The infirmary took too long for Felix's liking, as the physician went over him with a fine-toothed comb. He dutifully kept up the act, telling of starvation for days and bouts of torture, both physical and mental, in an effort to break him.

If it was long for Felix, it was an eternity for Dimitri. He paced up and down outside the infirmary, checking in every so often as to Felix's progress. By the seventh intrusion, the physician lost his temper with him. "King or no, I can't treat him with these constant interruptions. Your Majesty, I must ask you to leave!"

Once the physician cleared Felix to leave with a sharp warning to take it easy for the next week, Dimitri whisked him to a chamber next to the great hall. Inside, Dedue, Sylvain, Mercedes, and Ashe were waiting for them. The latter was immediately in front of Felix, his boyish smile wide. "Thank the Goddess you're alive!"

"Yes," he said, maneuvering around him. The optimistic commoner, if he remembered right. He didn't remember much about Mercedes, despite her being soft-spoken, but he did know the king's lapdog, ever at his side. Like Ashe, they were in good spirits too. No doubt keeping up the façade in hopes the spell over him held. "Good to be back."

"Wow. They hit you over the head a little too much?" Sylvain asked, elbowing Dedue.

Apparently, he played his part a little too well. Tone it down. "Let's get down to it."

Dimitri nodded to Dedue, who headed to the only table in the room, where several representative red and blue figures were scattered about, some of horseback riders, others of soldiers, and some of pegasi. It was a treasure trove of information for Felix's rebel comrades and he scanned the map eagerly.

"The bulk of our troops are currently in three places. One is garrisoned in Gideon," he said, pointing out the pieces there, "another patrolling between Garreg Mach and Charon, and the last in Daphnel, chasing a faction of these rebels. Based on Felix's information that he provided, it's my intention for Ashe and I to meet up with the last group and attack the rebel base."

That wouldn't do. If they launched an attack on Fhirdiad, Dimitri could easily call for aid in Gideon. He had to spread them out, put them as far from the capital as possible. "Do you have any on the western borders?" he asked.

"Small detachments," Dedue said, drawing his finger in a line near Arundel. "Not much out there."

"There is another outpost out there," Felix said. "During my first week, I managed to escape my cell. I got lost in the tunnels, but I did come across a war room of some kind with a partial map of Fodlan." He walked around the table. "I don't remember all of it, but I do know they had a sizable place around here." He tapped the space between Rowe and the Brionac Plateau. "Here or beyond it."

Dedue glanced at the king. "Your Majesty?"

"If we don't destroy all their nests, they'll run and hide, then we'll be back at the beginning. We need to attack all their bases and end this."

"I can take part of the Gideon garrison," Sylvain offered. "We can snuff them out."

"Meanwhile, you continue to stay here, Your Majesty," Dedue said. "They may try to circle around us. In which case, we can catch them in between."

It was evident by his deep frown that he knew the actual reason Dedue suggested that option. For his protection. The rebels were targeting him after all. That was fine with Felix though, as he could keep an eye on the king easily.

Dimitri wasn't going to accept it easily though. "We know where they are now. What if we leak rumors I'm still here, but I come with you? Felix could watch over Fhirdiad."

"They may not take the bait, Your Majesty. It would be better if you wait here in case we're unsuccessful. And for Felix," Dedue turned to him, "I would feel better if you were here by the king's side."

This was too perfect. The Shield of Faerghus. They actually bought that he upheld that foolish notion. "Of course," he said.

With the matter settled, Dedue and Ashe made plans to leave in the next couple of days while Sylvain voiced his desire for a well-earned sleep before heading out in the morning. Mercedes pulled Felix aside and held his hands. "I'm so happy you're back with us."

"Thanks."

"Is Annie okay? I heard she came back with you."

"Yes. She's resting right now."

Mercedes breathed easier. "That's good. I haven't seen her take a break in weeks. I was worried she might collapse from exhaustion. Or worse. But you being here," she lifted his hands up, "I know that will be a heavy burden off her shoulders."

Up close, her expression appeared genuine. There wasn't any trace of dishonesty about her, only that serene calm that she usually exuded. Felix was unsure what to make of it. After all, she must have been part of the deception before Anaximandros opened his eyes to the truth. They all were.

Weren't they?

In the corner, Ashe was still beaming like a little kid and Dedue was patiently waiting, his gaze locked on Mercedes and brimming with that typical stoic warmth of his. They all seemed normal, for lack of a better description. All of them genuine. Then he thought back to Annette and how she reacted to him. How joyful she was to find him.

But the song grew in its melody and whipped him back to reality These people were all actors, playing a crafty game and executing their roles perfectly. Never forget that.

"If you'll excuse us," Dedue said, stepping between him and Mercedes. They exited the chamber with Ashe, the tall man's arm wrapped around her waist and in quiet conversation with her.

"I know this has been a lot for you," Dimitri said once he and Felix were alone together. "If you'd like, I'm sure Fhirdiad can spare you for a few days if you want to visit your brother Erik. He must be worried."

Erik. Yes, he would be beside himself waiting for Felix. But he was strong, like Felix, like their father. "No, I can't leave you alone. He'll understand."

Clapping his shoulder and making Felix buckle a little, Dimitri said, "I appreciate all you've done. I couldn't ask for a finer vassal." He turned from the room and as he left, he added, "Get some rest. I suspect we won't have the chance over the next week."

That was true. There was much to do and Felix needed to use his time wisely if he hoped to lay the foundation for Fhirdiad's fall.