Chapter 17Children of the past – Passing a message from the past
Severa was not in a very good mood.
This entire detour could have been avoided if they had just forced that stubborn idiot to stay with them. Instead, now she had to waste time finding him in that accursed valley, while Inigo and Owain went ahead to the harbours, and gods know that those two stooges would get themselves in trouble if she was not around to knock some sense into them.
She would have preferred to leave Gerome here, instead of seeking him out, but they needed him. He alongside herself was the only flies among their group (discounting Nah when she had transformed), and they might need his abilities to the task at hand. Lucina had speculated that their foes might wait for their friends at the harbour. With that in mind it would be an advantage if they could contact the others before their ships reached port, but to do that they needed fliers, both to reach the ships beforehand and have enough carrying capacity to fly them all out if need be.
Fortunately, with some direction from some locals, Severa was able to locate Gerome and his Wyvern on the same day she arrived at the valley.
Convincing him however proved a bit more challenging than anticipated.
''No, my place is here with Minerva. And here we shall remain until the inevitable comes...''
Bullshit...
To say that the redhead was furious was an understatement.
''I can't believe you! Are saying that you rather stay here and do nothing?! What about us? YOUR FRIENDS! Are you seriously just going to sit here and watch us all die?''
Gerome expression remained hidden behind that accursed mask.
''No man can stop fate, and to march against it is to invite misfortune. Fate is cruel and unrelenting. I have told you so many times…''
She hit him. The blow was powerful enough to stagger the Wyvern rider and break his mask. Gerome made no motion of retaliating, instead he held his nose which had begun to bleed, but Severa could still see a spark of defiance in him. He was not going to follow her.
''Coward…Kjelle was right about you! Go ahead! Hide under a rock if you so wish and die for all I care! I'll fight! We're not beholden of some fate, I'll fight for the future!''
''Gururu…''
A growl was heard from Minerva. Severa had in truth forgotten about Gerome's wyvern, who had remained silent for their entire conversation. And after the redhead had hit her master, Severa feared for a moment that the old Wyvern would take offense and defend Gerome.
She had attacked and maimed others for less.
Yet the Wyvern did nothing. Instead, its gaze was locked on her young master as if trying to say something.
''Why are you so sorrowful Minerva? Are you not happy here?
Gerome asked. Severa wondered if the wyvern could even understand him but given how the Wyvern responded with another low growl, she might have.
''I see…You're right as always. Death and fate will always have their due, but perhaps it will accept a few substitutes…''
Severa was confused at this entire exchange. Was Gerome speaking with himself or had Minerva really spoken some word of wisdom that she herself could not comprehend? The noises that came from the wyvern all sounded the same for the redhead.
Gerome turned towards her; his expression neutral as always despite his bloody nose.
''Very well Severa, I shall aid you once more for this one final flight…Lead the way.''
Whatever it was, it had just turned the entire situation around and Severa decided to not question it further.
''This is bad.''
''Yes, a most troublesome development indeed.''
''We must tell Severa and Gerome as soon as they arrive!''
''Indeed, we must and shall with posthaste!''
Inigo and Owain declared as they concluded their little scouting mission of the harbour. Having arrived before their redheaded companion they had decided that would be prudent to go ahead and gather a bit of intel while they awaited her return from the valley of the wyverns.
It was a good thing they did, for what they learned was troublesome indeed. They had expected the Plegians to wait in harbour for their companions in order to ambush them as they docked at the port, instead their leader Aversa had split up taken with her all her fliers and flown towards the approaching ships from the Ylissean continent merely an hour ago. An action the small Ylissean garrison in the harbour found odd and spoke much about it in the local inn, making it easy for the two future children to overhear.
It was not difficult for them to guess the Plegian representative intent.
Either their enemy already knew which ship their companions were at, or they intended to search for them before the ships even made it to port. Both prospects meant that they had far less time to intervene then they originally had envisioned.
It was imperative that they moved out immediately, but given that neither could mount a flier, they were forced to wait.
They could only hope that it would not be too late.
Nah did not like this.
While their escape from Plegia had apparently gone smoothly, she could not shake the feeling that something was very wrong.
First and foremost, they were apparently not pursued after they had turned around and fled back towards Ylisse. Given how their adversaries had prepared an ambush, it was stranger that they did not send anyone after them once it became clear that the Ylisseans had evaded their trap.
Second, the ship that they were on was entirely crewed by Plegians. This in itself should not be cause for alarm, as practically the entire fleet was plegian of origin. It had after all been that den of vipers' contribution to this war. Still…she did not like the look on the crew and their captain; a thin man with a beard that made him look like a starved goat. The captain had been courteous enough, but his manner of speaking reminded her of that Mayor from that small town in Plegia. Varic? Varin? Something? Nah could not recall that mayors name.
Not that it mattered in their current situation. What mattered was that the entire crew gave her the creeps. While the crew in her judgment did not pose much of a threat, as they numbered only fifteen heads (a manageable number in a direct fight if she and Yarne transformed). Nah had made it a point that one of them would always keep watch whenever it got dark, and had Noire regularly examine their food. Nah would not deny that it was a possibility that the Plegians would try with something more subtle like poison, but so far no one had tried anything.
Still, she would have preferred to sail with one of the others ships that at least had some Ylissean passengers, but those had been filled and had no room for a small band of ''soldiers'' that did not belong to any unit. This small supply ship that was currently sailing with the convoy to reinforce the ylissean expedition in Valm were the only ship that had room to spare.
Nah took solace knowing that she would not have to suffer this sense of danger much longer. The fleet had almost reached the coast of Valm, and from there they would be able to rejoin the armies of Ylisse. All seemed well, until she noticed how Yarne was staring at the upper parts of the mast.
''Something wrong Yarne? You seem awfully interested at looking up.''
Nah asked, she hoped that it was not something serious, and it was unusual for the Taguel to stay still for long. Not to mention dangerous, as the wind could blow away his hood, revealing his bunnylike ears. And they did not need the Plegians to begin ask questions about those.
''It's that crow up there…''
Yarne answered without removing his gaze from the skies. Nah turned her head at the same direction. The Taguel had a better eyesight then her, so it took a while for the Manakate to spot it. The lone crow had hidden itself well at the upper mast of the ship.
''So? It's a crow. They are everywhere.''
Nah stated, failing to see the significance of it.
''This far of the coast?''
Yarne pointed out, and that raised some alarms in the Manakate's head. Now that he mentioned it…Crows were not known to fly so far away from the mainland, and it was strange indeed to find one so far off, never mind a lone one. The sense of dread intensified within her, but she forced it down. It would not do to panic.
''Maybe it got lost and are just using the ship to rest?''
Yarne shook his head.
''No, I don't think so, I caught it's scent a few days ago as the winds became less strong but have only now seen it. It hid itself well up there, I think it might have followed us from Ylisse itself.''
Nah cursed internally. This was bad…that crow was likely someone's familiar, which meant that they had been followed!
As on cue, the lookout of the ship shouted.
''FLIERS!''
Both children of the future starred into the horizon and could indeed see a large group of fliers approaching the fleet. Things could fall apart fast, if those fliers were here for what Nah suspected.
''Yarne…Can you see the colours of those fliers?''
Her Taguel companion had to strain his eyes for a bit before answering her.
''Can't make the details, but its purple and white…''
It was not much, but it confirmed Nah's fears. Those were the colours of Plegia!
''Caw caw caw!''
The crow that they had been watching left its hiding place and flew towards the fliers in the horizon, no doubt to alert its masters of their position. They needed to act fast, if they were to escape this.
''Get Noire and tell her to arm herself and prepare for trouble but do it quietly.''
Nah whispered to Yarne, who nodded in response and went down below deck.
The fliers soon changed their course and flew towards them. Nah could count around twenty riders, a mixed group of pegasus and wyvern riders. Leading them was a dark mage; scantily clad as was their custom and dark skinned, but with the familiar trait of white hair that was the norm amongst the Plegian nobility. Nah knew her, that was Aversa; High mage of Plegia and the uppermost authority amongst the Plegians in Valm. Not an enemy that one should trifle with.
As the captain of the ship saw who lead the fliers, he immediately ordered the crew on deck, arms ready, which consisted of spears and a few crossbows. For a moment Nah had been worried that they would be attacked, but the men moved into a position that resembled a ceremonial greeting, no doubt an effort to impress what was essentially their commander-in-chief. To Nah's relief, it was clear that the Plegians didn't know about them yet, as they seemed to ignore them for now.
''Nah, what's happening? Have we been discovered? What are we going to do?''
Noire asked Nah discreetly as she appeared from below deck with Yarne.
''No, I don't think they know about us yet, but we should prepare to flee immediately. I'll transform and get us out of here.''
Nah whispered to Noire, who gave her a panicked expression.
''Both of us? You'll never make it!''
Noire raised a valid point, it was a stretch, but Nah was fairly confident that she would be able to carry both of her companions to the mainland. She had to; They had no other choice.
''The coast is not far; I can do it…''
Yarne was not convinced.
''Not with those fliers around you cannot! You would not be able to fly faster than them with both of us on your back. They would surround us and take us out! Not to mention that the crew has crossbows!''
The Taguel stated. However, it was a fact that Nah had already considered, but what other options did they have? They could fight, but the prospect of surviving that was poor now that the Plegians was reinforced with twenty fliers including one of their best mages no less!
''We need to try, no way that we can fight our way out of this.''
Nah countered. At this Yarne went silent for what seemed like an eternity, before saying something that she though that she would never hear from the Taguel.
''…I…I'll distract them. You fly away with Noire.''
Noire was the first one to speak.
''Y-you can't be serious! We have never left anyone behind, and we'll not start now! How can you even suggest such a thing?''
The archer paused as if considering how she could further deter the Taguel from his chosen path.
'' You-you have always said that you're the last of the Taguels! What about your race? It would go extinct with you gone!''
Yarne however stood fast with his choice.
''My race has always been extinct either way. There are just too few of us left. I just keep saying it because I…I have always been a coward. I don't like fighting…I'm no warrior! But…''
He paused.
''But this is bigger than anyone of us! Whatever we live or die won't matter if we don't stop the future there is to come! This is my final stand...Let me have it.''
It was clear that no other words would convince the Taguel from his decision, and they were running out of time. The Plegian fliers had reached the ship and were in the process of dismounting.
A plan formed in Nah's head; This could work to their advantage.
''Move to the rear of the ship. Once they move towards us; Let them get close, I'll then transform and burn as many of them as possible. That would be your cue to transform as well Yarne. Sow chaos in their ranks but go for the archers in particular. And Noire, jump on my back as soon as possible, and use that bow of yours to pick whoever you can off my back.''
Both of her companions nodded at this. The Plegians still seemed to make no note of their presence, which gave Nah time to do one last thing.
She gave Yarne a hug.
''Good luck Yarne. I wish you could come with us…''
She wanted to say more, but Yarne beat her to it.
''Thanks Nah. Just…Don't let this be in vain, ok?''
Half of the fliers had now landed on the ship, the dark mage Aversa included. The captain of the ship was quick to approach her.
''Lady Aversa! You honour us with your presence! How may we be of service?''
Aversa didn't even glance at the captain or return his greetings. Instead, she immediately began to inspect the assembled crew.
''I assure you captain that my presence is no honour at all. It has come to our lord's attention that this ship may be harbouring spies, and I have been sent to deal with it. Tell me captain do you have any suspicious passengers in your little ship?''
The captain didn't need to think long on her question.
''Why yes, we are transporting three Ylisseans. I was ordered to keep them isolated from the others, but I was not told why. They are over there.''
He pointed at the trio. The dark mage looked at them and smiled.
''Our lord sees much and more captain. You and the other captains have done well. Those are indeed the spies. There will be no escape for them now, unless they want to swim. SEIZE THEM!''
The Plegians began to close in, weapons drawn and confident that this was a simple matter of dealing with regular humans.
Except only one of them could even be said to be fully human.
As their foes came at a proper distance, Nah revealed her true form; That of a fire spewing earth dragon and immediately immolated the first few rows of approaching Plegians. This was followed with Yarne's own transformation that charged through their enemies' lines and sowed chaos with his nimble animal form.
Noire for her part let loose a few arrows that all found their mark, before jumping on Nah's back. With this Nah immediately leaped from the ship and flew away. However, while her dragon form was formidable, her form was barely that of an adolescence dragon. She, unlike her mother, still needed to catch the wind in order to fly proper, and so needed to take a turn in order to get some wind under her wings.
That was in its own way well, as it gave her a glimpse of how it went for Yarne.
He did well initially, mauling several Plegians and even throwing a few of them overboard. His presence halted their attempts to organize their bowmen, giving Nah time to put some distance and hight from the ship. The confusion however was only a short-lived boon, as the Plegians quickly came over their initial shock and began to surround him with their spears.
Nah only saw one spearman impaling his hindleg which pinned him in place, before she flew too far away to see anymore. Thankfully she and Noire would never witness how several other spearmen followed suit and impaled their friend in several different directions. Their victory would prove to be a brief pleasure, as the fire started by Nah soon became uncontrollable and consumed the ship and anyone who did not have a flying mount.
And so passed the last of the Taguel from a future that had yet come to pass: In a funeral pyre alongside his foes.
There would be no time for mourning however as the remaining Plegian fliers had remounted their steeds and began to pursue their escaped quarry. While their numbers had been cut down to barely ten riders, Nah dared not turn around and face them alone in the air. For leading this small remnant was the dark mage Aversa, who had survived the firestorm by staying in the rear as her people fought the Taguel.
Now she led her soldiers from the front on her black pegasus determined to finish off the remaining future children at any cost, she dared not to fail her master again. Casting spells with a desperate determination, the dark mage frantic efforts forced Nah to make evasive actions.
''NOIRE! Can you get those spells off my back!''
The young manakate could almost not hear her companion's response.
''I can't get a clean shot! C-ca-can barely hold on! The wind is too strong!''
Suddenly Nah felt a serring pain on her left leg. A fire spell had hit its mark, and it took all her willpower to force herself to continue flying, yet she could feel herself slowing down.
It was over.
It would be impossible for her to reach the coast, and even if they managed that, she doubted that she would have the strength to shake their pursuers off.
Worse it didn't help that the sun shone directly in her face, making it difficult to see anything. However, it also proved to be a blessing, as it blinded the Plegians from the silhouette of two fliers approaching them from the mainland. The fliers used this to their advantage, flying high only to dive as soon as they were over the Plegians.
''FOR YLISSE!''
In a split second, two of the Plegians were taken out. One got impaled by a spear, another was torn from his mount by a set of powerful jaws. The sudden attack disturbed their formation, and the Plegians broke off their pursuit of the fleeing manakate.
Nah for her part didn't learn the presence of their saviours before Noire made her aware of them.
''Nah! Nah! It's a miracle! It's Severa and Gerome! Thank the Gods! Turn around! Turn around!''
And that the young dragon did so instantly and turned a desperate escape to a one-sided air brawl, with the Plegians being on the losing side.
Aversa was the last to fall, seeing the battle lost, she had tried to sell her life as dearly as possible. To her credit she managed to wound Severa forcing the redhead to retreat but was unable to drive Gerome and his wyvern back. While Minerva was hit several times by the dark mage's sorcery, the ancient wyvern ignored all her wounds and continued to fly towards her foe unabated and clashed with Aversa's steed. In close combat a pegasus were no match against full grown wyvern, and Minerva proved this, as she made short work of the winged horse by tearing its throat off on impact. Its carcass fell down towards the sea below, taking with it its screaming dark rider to her watery grave.
And so did the future children manage to once again escape their enemy's' trap, but with heavy cost and sorrow.
A fact that they needed some time to come to terms with as they nursed their wounds in the safety of a small camp they had set up in a nearby forest.
''This little expedition better be worth it! We needed you guys at fort Steiger…Auch! Not so tight you idiot!''
Severa complained as Owain applied some bandages to her wounds.
''That is most unjust against my kindred Severa. We needed to find something that could prove our case! Plegia was the most obvious place to search.''
Owain said in defence of his cousin.
''Yes, and it has cost us Cynthia, Kjelle, Brady and now Yarne! And for what? Some sob story from a drunken beggar that claims that the traitor was a refuge that refused to participate in some Plegian ritual. That's a story that is more likely to generate sympathy more than anything!''
The redhead stated with a tone that didn't hide her displeasure.
''And yet the enemy found it worth the trouble to keep an eye on them as well as sending men. Not to mention Aversa herself…''
Gerome noted as he tended to Minerva, but Severa seemed to dismiss this.
''So? That's nothing new, we have been hunted for our entire lives. Why should he stop now?''
Nah for her part remained silent during the entire exchange, but she agreed with Gerome. They had something important here, but she could still not determine what, and it frustrated her.
She gazed at her other companions. Inigo was busy preparing more medical supplies for them, out of all of them only he, Owain and Noire remained unharmed after their skirmish. While Noire was in the process of preparing some herbs, she seemed to be…distracted or in deep thought like Nah herself. Maybe she had figured out something that she did not?
''Noire? Something wrong?''
Nah question startled Noire, who visibly tensed before answering.
''No…Not really, no. I was just thinking what that man told us about the tactician…Robin I mean. It reminded me something I read from my mother's tomes…it's…''
Noire inhaled before she continued.
''My mother never really thought me anything about the darker arts. She was good at it, but she refused to teach me much. Maybe she just judged me to be too weak…''
''Or maybe she just wanted to protect you.''
Nah offered kindly. Noire seemed to think about it for some time.
''Yes…Maybe you're right. The dark arts are a field of magic that focus on the manipulation of life force, others and even your own. If you're not careful it can exact a heavy toll on your very soul…''
Noire then shook her head.
''What I meant to say is that I wished my mother had taught me more about it, maybe then it could help me better understand this.''
''Which is?''
Nah asked.
''Two souls in one…That should not be possible according to principles of the dark arts. The body cannot contain two souls for very long. Either one is consumed by the other or they reject each other with the weaker souls being expelled from the body and…''
Noire gave an expressed sigh.
''Sorry, I'm rambling, I might remember it all wrong and either way it's not important…''
While it was true that little principle couldn't help them with proving the tactician's treachery, as far as Nah could see, she decided to include Noire's mussing anyway in her rapport to Lucina. If nothing else maybe Laurent could gleam something useful from it.
It was important that she wrote anything that might be of use, as none of them that could fly was in any shape to deliver this message personally. They could send either Inigo, Owain or Noire by foot or horseback, but that would take too long.
Fortunately, Laurent had supplied their rescuers with carrier pigeons who could discretely deliver their rapport to Laurent himself directly.
Nah hoped that those birds were reliable.
They had to deliver that rapport, vague or thin as it was.
She would not let Yarne's sacrifice be in vain…
Dear lord, I had almost forgotten everything about this story! Can see that I had estimated that this chapter should be up a week after the last update and now its been more then a month -.- Terrible sorry for that if anyone is still reading this.
I really should stop trying to think when the next update would come, I never seem to be able to keep it up.
Don't worry I do intent to finish this story, and I estimate that we have around 4-5 chapters more before I conclude this.
Thank you all for reading this, and seya soon.