Robin could scarcely believe his eyes. He had not seen the boy since his very first night in Ylisse. Yet there Marth stood, on the opposite side in an arena - surrounded by barbarians no less. In the noontime sun pouring in from the ceiling, even from this distance he could see Marth more clearly than he ever did before.
Marth attacked him back then, intentionally he was sure. Now he openly opposed each and every one of the Shepherds. Robin had no qualms about sparing his life, he didn't want him dead, but Marth was supposed to be a fierce fighter. How long would they last pitted against him?
"Chrom!" Lissa said again.
"I see him," Chrom said. He didn't sound as surprised as Robin had expected. What did he plan on doing? They couldn't just fight Marth, could they?
He barely had any more time to think. Flavia raised her arm and shouted. A voice on the opposite end of the arena did as well. Trumpets blazed and gongs were smashed. "Battle of EAST and WEST… BEGIN!"
The opposing team took off. The men howled battle cries and various indiscreet grunts and growls as they cleared the distance between them. The audience cheered.
"How are we supposed to do this?" Stahl asked. "Even if we get them to surrender, how are we supposed to protect ourselves from the other fighters? It would take too long!"
"Simple," Robin's voice was calmer than he realized. "We disarm them."
"Right or left…?" Sully asked slowly. She still and squinted held her forehead.
"No! We force them to concede! Knock their weapons away whenever you get the chance! Pin them down and force them to surrender. That way nobody has to die."
"And what if they don't concede?" Vaike asked.
"Then whatever happens after that is left to the gods," Chrom said grimly.
"The guy with the horn said only a dozen fighters," Sumia said. She pointed past Marth and the oncoming wave of fighters. "Then what's the deal with those guys?"
"The rule of reserves they spoke of, most likely," Frederick said. "I suspect for every fighter we knock down, another will take his place until their numbers are wholly depleted."
"So we should go for their champion then?" Vaike said. "That sounds easy enough."
"Not a good idea," Robin said. "Even if their champion does surrender, there's just too many of them. We'll have to drag this out until he's alone."
"Does everybody understand?" Chrom called. The Shepherds grunted in response. "Alright then, let's show the Khans what we're made of!" He drew Falchion and held above his head. The sunlight made it shimmer and glow. "Shepherds, to arms!"
The red armored knights were the first to meet the Shepherds. They were much like the Border Guard, but their steel plating was more uniform and pristine. And there were only two of them.
"Remember," Frederick said. "With the Khan's endorsement or not, our actions still reflect on all of Ylisse. Therefore we best do what we must solemnly and with sober-"
"COME GET SOME, WESTSIDE FOOLS!" Vaike took off swinging. He had brought his new hammer along, and he was more than happy to stow his favorite axe away and show them what he thought of their heavy armor. The first knight lost his shield to Vaike's blow. The second one bashed him in the face and sent him stumbling backwards. A swipe from the Knight's lance might have just killed Vaike then and there. The fighter dove for the ground and evaded the blow. That or he just lost his balance at the last second.
The dive took him right into the knight's range. He couldn't draw his spear back in time, and Vaike crushed his arm with his hammer. No bones were broken, hopefully, but the armor was pressed and locked into place, and the spear fell helplessly to the ground. The other knight lunged for Vaike, but an arrow from Virion distracted him long enough for another debilitating blow from the hammer.
Vaike pointed his weapon at each of them. Both looked at each other. They slowly raised their hands. They could fight no more and Vaike had won. The fighter held up his hammer and cheered. The audience roared in approval.
"The Vaike could get used to this!"
Two mages set upon the Shepherds, aided by a soldier. A group of fighters split off and tried to pincer them. Their champion stayed behind and watched.
The soldier met with Stahl. The knight's iron sword didn't do well against the reach of the spear. His first good hit was met by bolts of thunder magic. Sumia ran to his aid and drove the soldier off. Somehow she took both shots of magic from the mages without so much as a scratch. Stahl repaid the favor by dashing for one of the mages and gripping his arm once he was close. He swung the man to the ground and knocked the book from his hands.
Stahl's face was uneasy as he brushed his blade against mage's chest with the tip of his sword, just as his fingers barely touched the fallen tome. The man's eyes shot between the book on the ground and Stahl's weapon. He frowned and turned his head away, and both hands went up.
Sumia had managed a similar compromise from the other mage. Both fighters awkwardly showed themselves out as Stahl and Sumia regrouped with the others.
Elsewhere Robin nailed a javelin-wielder with a blast of magic. He kicked the red-hot weapon against a wall, and the fighter fled. The remaining fighters were pinned down by supporting fire from Virion, and a charge from Vaike bowled them over, and the stragglers were apprehended by Chrom. Their will to fight was gone, and they showed themselves out.
This is going better than I could have hoped! That's almost half their forces gone, and we haven't had so much as a scratch! All we have to do is keep our momentum.
Sully groaned and held the side of her head. A particularly plucky fighter dashed for her. She knocked his jaw with the blunt of her blade and snatched the weapon from his hand just as he keeled before her. She held both weapons up and glared at him. He scampered away.
"Dammit." Sully kneaded her forehead. "Can barely see straight…" Another fighter got in close and was ready to swing. Sully would have been cut like lumber if not for Kellam. He knocked the blow back with his shield and staggered back. Sully looked behind her at just the right angle to miss Kellam as he toppled to the ground. She swung the butt of the axe and knocked the fighter out cold.
"Come ooon, Freddy! This is boring, they're hardly putting up a fight! I could do this with my eyes closed!"
Kellam didn't say anything, or perhaps the cheering had drowned him out, for a time anyway.
The noise from the audience ceased. The ground shook as a large clacking noise ripped through the arena. It sounded like the doors opening from earlier, from the western side of the arena. Robin's heart sank once he saw what was happening.
"Chrom? You seeing this?"
More fighters piled out. Easily another dozen. Mages, spearmen, a lone myrmidon, and more knights.
"How far does this rule of reserves go?!" Stahl cried.
"Don't lose heart!" Frederick said as he wrestled with a fighter. He flung the weapon from his hand, and then he flung the fighter into a wall. He was out cold. "Our odds have not changed! We just need to proceed as we have, without fail."
"Well that sounds easy, doesn't it?!" Stahl shook his head. The new wave of fighters closed in on them.
"No time to complain, here they come!" Robin called.
Virion could only launch his arrows so quickly, so Robin tried to lay down some fire from his tome. Few of the fighters were deterred. Some drew back to protect their champion, but the rest just kept coming.
An enemy mage drew a tome Robin hadn't seen before. It was yellow like his own thunder tome, but the emblem adorning its cover was different, and the pattern on the spine was different…
It was just like his own magic, but much more powerful. More runes to each spell, more skill required to burn the instructions from the page. Even now the glowing markings surrounded the mage as he held his hand high to call on its power.
"Sir Robin?" Virion notched another arrow. "That mage-"
"Virion, move! That's Elthunder!"
Too late. A bolt of lightning from above struck Virion and sent him reeling on the floor. Lissa screamed from the sidelines. Sully cried after him. He lay on the floor, convulsing, eyes wide with panic. His bow and arrows were flung far away. A spearman ran for him. He was on him in moments. Robin was about to run to save him, when Virion threw up his hands. "Hold, both of you!" He seethed with each word. "There's no helping this, I yield!"
The spearman checked Virion, acknowledged his misplaced bow, and stepped away. Virion's silver hair brushed the floor as he forced himself up on elbow. "Most regrettable," he grumbled. "My apologies, Robin, Chrom."
The dozens of disarmed fighters in their wake didn't matter, and Robin knew it. One of them had finally fallen, to live another day for sure, but fallen nonetheless. They suffered their first loss.
"Don't lose heart! Just keep doing as you have!" Chrom said. "Just keep-" A knight bowled him over. A spear just missed his head, and he had to disengage and draw back. Just as Robin feared, a ripple of panic shot through the Shepherds, and they all instinctively moved closer to Chrom.
They were instantly isolated by the new wave of fighters. Robin ran to Chrom's aid and used his magic to drive the knights away, but elsewhere every Shepherd was surrounded.
Sully drove back her attackers with her spear, but she was quickly overtaken. She finally noticed Kellam when he ran to save her from a devastating swing from an axe-wielder. He bashed the fighter with his shield, and Sully pinned another one with her spear. Both fled.
"For all they talk about honor," Sully said. "They sure run fast."
"They're probably scared of you," Kellam said.
"Naw, me?! I'm the prettiest girl this side of the border!" Sully cackled and almost coughed. A blast of magic nearly singed her eyebrows. Kellam was knocked on to his back. Sully turned just as two more fighters appeared and landed two solid hits with their axes. Kellam couldn't stand up to defend himself. Sully ran to deal with the mage.
"Hey!" Flavia's voice called from her end of the arena. "They can't keep ganging up on them like that, I call foul!"
If the other Khan had anything to say, the Shepherds sure didn't hear him. His men didn't either. They just kept on attacking Kellam, who was taking the hits but never had time to react with his spear.
"Back the hell off!" Sully finally came to his aid having left a bruised and unconscious magic-flinger in her wake. The first fighter was forced into a retreat after Sully stabbed his hand with her spear and made him lose his axe. The second had to be hit over and over again with the butt of her weapon, right in the face. She managed to knock off his headgear and with one solid blow to the head, he was knocked out cold. She unceremoniously pushed his body aside with her leg, and just then she held her head.
"Sully?" Kellam peaked up from the ground. His face was battered, and his armor had massive swipes torn into it. A few of his joints leaked blood. "I think I'm out. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine… Gods, did they have to make it so bright in here?"
Two Feroxi slipped behind her. One was a fighter with a hammer, the other a knight with a javelin.
"Sully, behind you!"
The javelin had just missed Sully's head as she turned around. Little red curls fluttered to the tiled floor by her feet. "Crap." The Feroxi knight lunged for her. "CRAP!" Sully swung with her spear and missed. The Feroxi knight pulled Sully's weapon away from her and was about to turn it on her. "Damn yer eyes you gods-damned love-sucking…".
Until his head met with Frederick's charging shoulder. The Feroxi knight was sent rolling like a tin-can down the road. Sully's spear twirled in the air and landed by her feet. "What did I say about paying attention?!" The great knight barked at her. "And what did I say about representing Ylisse?!" Sully knelt to retrieve her weapon and swore. A fighter warily circled Frederick and was swiftly forced back. "We are with the Feroxi, but we are not one of them! We do not indulge in our base urges to curse and slander! We fight for the halidom, with grace, with purpose, with…"
The fighter clocked Frederick in the jaw with his hammer. The crunching sound was deafening. The head flew through the air, twirling, before it planted itself in the tiles right by Robin's feet with a clang. The rest of the hammer was nothing more than a stick, and the fighter could only look between his own weapon and Frederick's bruised jaw with horror.
Frederick bent over and held his face. "GAAAAH, Sonnuva-"
The fighter screamed and smacked Frederick to the ground with the remainder of his weapon. Sully pointed and laughed at the two, and then the knight from earlier knocked her over with his shoulder. She lost the spear once more. The two Shepherds scrambled to try and get to their feet. Frederick reached over and pulled Sully away from what would have been a killing blow from the enemy knight's stolen spear.
Frederick kicked himself to his feet and grabbed the fighter by the wrists. He pulled back and slammed his head as hard as he could into the Feroxi's own. The fighter was down like a rag doll, and Frederick stumbled backwards. His own weapon toppled from his hand as he held his head.
Another fighter ran for Frederick while he was staggered. Robin wasn't surprised that Frederick reacted so quickly, he was surprised by how the knight lunged for the fighter's throat, shook him like a ragdoll, and flung him to the floor.
Frederick paused as brief look of horror passed his face. The fighter groaned and went limp, breathing still. That gave both Frederick and Robin a moment of relief.
"C'mon Frederick, we can still take 'em!" Sully shifted nervously backwards as the knight prepared to stab with her spear. "...Frederick?"
"Yield, Sully." It pained him to move his mouth.
"What did you say?"
"I said yield! You're no good to the Shepherds in your present condition!"
"You're one to talk. You're sure you don't got a concussion?"
The knight charged. Frederick dove between the two. He yanked the spear from the knight's hands and broke it over his knee. "Yield. Now." He did not specify who he was speaking to. It was hard to tell who or what the knight was looking at behind that metal hood of his, but he slowly held his hands up, backed away, and left to revive his comrade.
Frederick dropped the splintered wood and held his jaw. Sully crossed her arms and went to check on Kellam. "And you give me a hard time about how I treat our gear."
Robin uneasily kicked the hammer away from his feet. It had to be broken already. It had to be! No way Frederick could just…
"RAAH!" A lunge forward and Robin evaded a blow from an axe. He drew his steel sword and landed a slice on the feroxi's wrist guards. The moment his axe dropped to the ground, Robin kicked it away from him. The man glared at him before he shifted away and fled.
Okay, Robin. We're down a few soldiers, but so are they… I really wish Sully and Frederick could have lasted a little longer, we'll have to be even more careful with two of our hardest hitters down. These Western Feroxi love to surround us, kind of like Risen… The key here is to pick them off one by one. Find someone to isolate and remove from the fight…
And then Robin spied the lone swordfighter a short distance away. He had his hand firmly fixed to the sheath at his side. His narrow eyes darted about the arena and the fighting around him, but he moved not one step.
Case and point! This guy looks easy. Not a man to back him up! All I have to do is…
Robin dove to the side and dashed. He readied his tome and launched a single bolt of thunder, with no intention to strike the swordsman. It hit the ground before him and created a cloud of dust. Robin readied his sword and went in for a non-lethal strike…
And then the swordsman's Killing Edge just barely missed his cheek.
Robin tumbled to the ground and instantly righted himself. The swordsman stepped from the cloud of dust and twirled his blade once. Robin swallowed. He'd never seen a weapon like this before, but even an idiot could see what it was all about at a glance.
A single, sharpened edge, honed to precision, built to end any fight with one well-placed stroke.
Not to be cowed for long, Robin lunged with another strike from his own blade. Not only did the swordsman parry him, he gripped Robin's shoulder and pushed him in the opposite direction. The distance between them was even greater than before he attacked.
"Okay… I wasn't ready that time," Robin said.
"Robin!" Chrom's voice came from across the arena. "We're out of time and we're dropping like flies! I have to make a play for the Champion."
"Go for it, I'll cover you!" Robin smirked at the swordsman. The swordsman glared at him.
Robin twirled his blade and swung again. The single-edged blade struck his own back at him. Robin had barely regained his balance before the swordsman struck again. And again. And again.
Blow after blow Robin repelled the strokes, and each time he felt his concentration slip. The barrage was endless. One wrong move and…
A slick ache caught Robin's shoulder. The same one Raimi nailed at the fort.
Robin cursed with a word he'd never used before.
The sleeve of his coat sliced open, and he felt warm blood run down his arm. He shouted and leapt back, but the swordsman was still on the offensive. Strike after strike rattled the bones in Robin's arm as he helplessly deflected the blows. Another strike on the opposite arm nearly made him drop his tome. Another strike sent him to the ground. There was no time to cast another spell, he'd be dead before he lit up the first rune.
The swordsman twirled his blade. "No hard feelings." Robin certainly didn't feel the same.
"Wait, I yield! I said I yield!"
The blade almost reached his throat before the swordsman ceased. He studied Robin carefully. He twirled the blade once more and sheathed it. He stepped aside, and Robin slowly got to his feet. The swordsman never stopped watching him, even as he retrieved and sheathed his own weapon. Robin doubled over and seethed at the pain in his arms.
The two just stood there for a while.
"Now what…?" Robin whispered.
The swordsman pointed behind him. Chrom advanced across the arena floor, he was on his way to face the west champion.
"We wait," he said. "Everything else is up to those two."
"You're not a bad fighter," Robin said.
"Mn."
"It's a shame you're with West Ferox."
The swordsman didn't say another word. He crossed his arms and glared at the champion.
Chrom shouted and knocked the sword from his opponent's hands. He pointed the Falchion at the mercenary's throat, until he raised his hands up and walked away. That was the last one between him and the champion.
Only Marth remained. He stood behind the massive beam of sunlight pouring in from the ceiling, arms crossed. Chrom made his way forward and kept his sword drawn. He couldn't tell if Marth even noticed him until he heard the sound of him drawing his weapon.
Marth stepped forward, and the first thing Chrom saw was the magnificent shine of the golden sword in the sunlight. Chrom blinked. It was similar enough, but… and then he saw the hilt. A round iris, just like the hilt of his own sword.
"Where did you get that?"
No answer from Marth.
"There's no way…" And Chrom grit his teeth and lunged. His sword struck Marth's and sparks flew. He turned and swung again, and again, and Marth matched every one of his blows. Chrom put distance between them and made for a lunging swing. Marth hunkered down and caught the strike and nearly let it press him completely to the floor. He stood up and forced Chrom away.
Now Marth was on the offensive. Swipe after swipe Chrom had to match his blows or risk deep slices on his shoulders and sides. When Chrom moved to counter, Marth matched him perfectly and drove him away.
It was like fighting a shadow.
"Tell me!" Chrom heard Marth's blade swing by his ear. He swung Falchion and drove him back. Sparks flew from their swords. "Who taught you to fight like that?!"
And for a split second it looked like Marth would relent. His shoulders relaxed and his mouth parted slightly.
Marth shouted and disengaged. He kicked and Chrom backpedaled. They both were left wide open. They assumed a defensive stance and stood frozen, glaring. They dashed for each other and struck with their blades. Their swords hit each other harmlessly. Chrom pivoted and turned. Marth leapt into the air and lunged with his sword.
"My father!"
Chrome dove for the dusty arena floor. He skid across and righted himself. He heard Marth's blade dig itself into the stone. When he turned around, Marth slowly pulled his blade free and peered over his shoulder. He pointed his blade and remained idle, beckoning another advance.
Wherever that sword came from, it was just as if not stronger than his own. Chrom swallowed.
"Captain!" Stahl, Sumia, and Vaike ran from behind Chrom and readied their weapons.
"If we take him all at once he'll have no chance!" Vaike had hardly finished the sentence before he took off. He hefted his hammer and got ready to swing.
"No, Vaike! Wait a second!"
Vaike swung his hammer. It crashed into the tiled floor of the arena. "Let us fight with honor." Marth planted a kick on his face. Vaike pulled the hammer free. "May the best soldier win!" Marth landed a swipe with his sword and Vaike was forced back.
Marth lunged backwards, just in time to miss a stab from Stahl's sword. Marth swung his sword upwards, and Stahl's sword went flying. It twirled into the air and landed right behind Chrom, blade first in the ground.
"Fall back, that's an order!"
Sumia had already stabbed with her spear. Marth faltered. Part of his coat was shredded by her weapon. He lunged back and assumed a completely defensive stance, once again he moved not an inch.
"Captain?" Sumia asked.
"That's him," Chrom said. "That's Marth." Sumia's eyes widened. "And this is between me and him." Sumia pensively stepped away. Stahl lead Vaike away.
"Marth!" Chrom called. Marth didn't respond. "Tell me, who is your father? Where did you get that sword? Just what is your goal here?"
Marth cast a glance at the other Shepherds. "I've said enough for one day, sir," Marth's gaze lowered.
Chrom gripped Falchion. "Hmph, so that's how it is?" He readied it once more. "Lissa owes you her life, and for that you have my gratitude." He walked to meet him. "But so long as we remain within these walls, I represent the East-Khan and the interests of Ylisse." Marth's expression remained even. "I can't promise to stay my blade, but I vow not to shame you."
And that made Marth laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"I never expected this from you," Marth said. "Chrom, you are still just a boy!" He dropped his defensive stance and prepared to attack. "We shall see who shames who!"
Marth lunged again. Chrom met the first strike with his sword. The two struggled against each other as their twin blades drew sparks. Chrom kicked Marth away and landed a blow with the blunt of his sword. Marth grunted and jumped back. Chrom readied a mighty swing and brought Falchion over his head.
Marth feinted. He landed a nick on his leg. Chrom shouted and staggered backwards. Marth lunged. Chrom deflected his blows, but he was driven back. Chrom stumbled and fell back. Falchion planted itself in the ground beside him, just out of reach. He saw the other golden blade, identical to his own, held at his throat.
"Yield, Chrom of Ylisse," Marth said. "You are not ready for what comes next."
"I am!" Chrom said. "And you're going to tell me everything!"
"It won't happen." Marth studied his quarry and aimed about with his sword. "Not if your wound keeps you from me." He aimed back to Chrom's sliced leg. "Things will be different this time. Perhaps this is only necessary…"
Neither of them expected to hear the scream. Marth looked up just in time to see Sumia's spear. It grazed his shoulder. He shouted and stumbled back. He gripped the weapon and pulled the Pegasus Knight towards him. A blow to the back and the head left her crumpled on the ground.
Marth stepped back. His expression was unreadable. He clung tightly to his sword and held his shoulder. He didn't move after that.
Just as well, Chrom didn't move either, at least at first. He was much too angry to stay frozen for long, not with Sumia's prone body lying before him. Chrom willed himself to his feet in spite of the pain shooting up his leg. He retrieved Falchion, and while he was distracted Chrom sliced Marth down the middle. His sword clattered to the ground.
Marth fell onto his back His mask skid across the arena floor. He covered his face. He turned over onto his hands and knees and crawled for his mask. Chrom gripped him by the shoulder and flung him back onto his back.
"Stop."
Chrom thrust Falchion at Marth's throat. Marth covered his face with his arms.
"Stop! I yield! I YIELD!"
And Falchion froze.
The entire arena was still.
Slowly, Chrom stood up and sheathed Falchion. Marth still shielded his face. He blindly groped the ground until he had retrieved his mask. Chrom stepped away to check on Sumia. She was still conscious, just dazed. Stahl appeared and helped Chrom lift her to her feet. "I'm fine," she whispered. "Just surprised, is all."
Marth was still on his knees. He had just sheathed Falchion and struggled with his mask. Chrom stepped over, and Marth's gaze met the ground.
"Have I earned the right to your help?" Chrom asked. Marth scoffed and looked away. "Answer me, boy."
"Do you love your sister, Chrom?"
"What?"
"Her grace, the exalt?" Marth's gaze drifted. "Do you love her?"
Chrom swallowed. "O-of course."
"She means more to this world than anyone realizes. Perhaps you already knew this. Nothing must happen to the Exalt, Chrom. You understand me? Nothing. Promise me you'll protect her. Can I trust you with this?"
Chrom didn't say anything.
"The Risen, the two dragons, everything I told you can be avoided so long as the Exalt lives." Marth steadied himself and rose. "You must never leave Her Grace's side. Not until the first frost. Don't forget that." And Marth walked back to the opposite side of the arena. "We will meet again."
"Marth!" but the boy would not heed him. Marth passed through the west gate and disappeared.
The three Shepherds stood there. A full minute later the gongs sounded, and trumpets blasted, and the roar of the arena shook the stone floor beneath their feet.
"The Battle of East and West is over!" the announcer boomed. "With the gods of Ylisse and Ferox as our witness… victory goes to Flavia of the East and the Shepherds!"
Feroxi leapt from the stands to run and meet their favorite fighters, and the Shepherds were finally reunited with Lissa and Miriel. They all converged in the center of the arena, unsure of what to do next.
"Well fought, everyone," Frederick said. "And not one ounce of blood spilled… permanently at any rate." Chrom gave Robin a hearty smack on the shoulder, and the wound made him scream.
"Oooh… just look at you all!" Lissa said. "Alright, everyone line up. One at a time. You first Frederick, I'm surprised you can still talk."
"Excuse you?" Sully said.
"Sully, I can't cure your hangover with a staff-"
"Not me! Kellam!" Sully jerked a thumb behind her, where Kellam stood, bruised and bleeding still. He didn't say a word and just smiled. "He was nearly beaten within an inch of his life back there!"
"Ah! I'm sorry!" Lissa ran to him. "This is why you should have let me come along!"
"Those dastards wouldn't have given you a chance to help any," Vaike said. "They were opi-timistic attackers."
"Opportunistic too," Sumia said. "Just look at what they did to poor Kellam."
Vaike scratched his cheek and said nothing.
"These West Feroxi play for keeps," Robin watched just as the lone myrmidon slipped away into the fold of fighters. "We'd be lucky to have them as allies."
"It's a shame we had to stoop to their level to succeed." Miriel approached Chrom. "Crude, barbaric, and borderline asinine," Miriel adjusted her glasses. "But it got the job done, and I see the Ylissean touch was a great strength, not a weakness. I regret my abstinence in this fight. Pray forgive me, Prince Chrom."
Chrom waved his hand. "There's nothing to forgive, Miriel. I'm lucky to have any of you, not the other way around. I won't fault you for following your conscience."
"Captain," Miriel nodded.
Flavia met them back at the waiting room. They could hear her cheering and hollering long before they arrived. She had a bottle in her hand, and she had just finished kicking over the last barrel. Some of her own were cheering with her, the others sat on crates and looked very tired.
"It feels good to be in power again!" Flavia emptied her bottle and smashed it on the floor. Sumia winced.
"Wait, I thought you said…" Robin couldn't even begin. Flavia had gotten up in Chrom's face. Sumia shyly ducked behind him.
"And who says Ylissean girls can't fight?! You just about killed that brat in the mask! How many women like you are hiding down there and where can I find them?"
Sumia blushed and buried her face in Chrom's shoulder. He flinched. That just made Flavia laugh harder. "Oh, this calls for a party!" She cried. She held out her hand and another bottle was tossed to her. She uncorked and drank it. "The great halls above us! Clear out all those western banners and statues! Knock down the chairs, bring out some food! Tonight we celebrate! Let's have ourselves a banquet!" She paused and smiled. "You are all welcome to join, of course."
Frederick held his temple. "Oh _o-fip-hl id=""gods just take me now."
"Tonight?" Chrom muttered. "Khan Flavia, if it's all the same to you, we must hurry home."
"You have any idea what kind of Khan I'd be if I didn't bring my champion to the celebration?" Flavia's face hinted at a frown.
"I will… gladly partake…" Chrom said. "But my men must hurry and prepare for the trip home. We've several affairs to see to they need to be solved as soon as possible. We really must be going."
"The hell you are! Any idea how cold it gets all the way up here?! Stay the night, relax! You're all invited! I'll have your wagons loaded to take off first thing in the morning. And you'll need the extra time, you're leaving with a lot more than what you came with!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Robin asked.
"Oh, you're getting a little gift from me, that's all," Flavia smiled, and it was the first time Robin saw her without an ounce of pretense or guile on her face. Flavia looked around. "Raimi! Where are you girl? Go and find where the West Khan stashed all his supplies! These Shepherds need weapons, food, medicine, and drink! Clear him out! It's all going straight to the Exalt, so make sure it's packed with care!"
It was by the time the fifth table was broken by some drunken Feroxi celebrating that Frederick showed himself out.
"Milord," he whispered to Chrom. "I will go see to the horses and wagons for our return journey."
The Shepherds sat on a series of mats and pillows. This portion of the arena was right behind the highest seats and ran the entire circumference of the building. This room had no chairs and no table taller than waist-height. Some had shed their armor, but some like Sully fell asleep without taking their's off. She lay like a fallen log at the edge of their portion of the floor, drink and food untouched. Chrom had to swipe away Lissa's drink and Robin fetched them both some tea.
The entire room reeked of alcohol.
Sometimes a Feroxi would walk in and bow to the Shepherds, and they wouldn't leave until Chrom gave them some form of acknowledgement. He and Robin quickly deduced that these were the Western Fighters from the Arena. Once more, besting the Feroxi won them friends.
"Flavia said she'd take care of it, Frederick," Chrom said. "We don't want to undermine her hospitality."
"Then I shall find something else to do. Clean the weapons, clean the wagons, clean the stable…"
"Isn't that a bit much?"
A wooshing sound. Robin tiredly sipped at his cup of tea. "Duck." Every Shepherd ducked as a bottle flew over their heads and smashed against a wall. The Feroxi cheered.
Frederick gripped Chrom's shoulder. "Milord," he said. "If I hear one more bottle smashed or table broken I will kill everyone in this room."
"...Very well then. Dismissed, sir Frederick." And Frederick showed himself out.
"Woulja keep it down?" Sully grumbled. "We're never gonna win the tournament if you guys just party all night."
"Sully…" Stahl said. "The tournament's over. We won, remember?" Sully covered her head and groaned.
Robin leaned close to Chrom. "I don't suppose Marth said anything worthwhile?" he asked.
Chrom held his head. "He knew Emmeryn's name. He knew she was my sister."
"Er, I'm pretty sure the only person alive who never knew that was me," Robin said. "He's had plenty of time to hear the details from somebody."
"I don't know, something about all this is bothering me…" Chrom heard a noise in front of him. He looked up, and he was met with another Western Fighter, only this one didn't bow. It was the lone myrmidon who Robin faced. "Oh, it's you!" He carried a small cup in his hand, and he might have been the only person present to keep his weapon on his person.
"You're the one who beat Marth?" the myrmidon asked.
"...Yes, that's me?"
The man narrowed his dark eyes.
"He just hit him with a sword," Robin said. "It wasn't that hard."
"Hmph." He lifted the cup to his mouth. "Him… right." And he walked away.
"Who spat in his bowl?" Lissa grumbled.
"What's the day looking like outside?" Flavia asked. She bit into a roasted leg.
"Two hours from sundown, my Khan," a servant replied.
"What the hell have we been doing this whole time?! Get the good drink, bring out the girls, let's have us a party!" The room shook with cheers.
"The what…?" Sumia whispered.
A set of doors swung open with a bang. That got Sully awake. The strong scents of roasted meats and fresh wine filled the room. Six men carried almost an entire roasted bull atop their shoulders. They were flanked by musicians and cupbearers serving massive bottles of wine, and the entire entourage was escorted by about a dozen young dancing girls. The men hooted and cheered.
The dancers twirled and spun their sheer flowing sleeves and dresses. Their hair was done up atop their heads, and their ponytails and braids swung about.
Their attire didn't leave much to the imagination.
"Hoo yeah!" Vaike held up his drink. "This is my kind of party!"
Robin heard Sully snort beside him. He must have been staring because Lissa was giving him one heck of a stink-eye. Sumia couldn't look away, but she kept glancing at Chrom. He had hardly noticed anything, he continued to study his drink with a frown on his face.
"Bah!" A deep, earthy voice came up beside them. "Any excuse to celebrate -any at all! - and Flavia jumps on it." He found himself a pillow and sat down right beside Chrom. The entire floor shook.
"I'm sorry, have we met?" Chrom asked. "I don't recognize you from the arena."
"Me?" the large man smacked his chest, like an ape almost. "I'm the West Khan you so rudely dethroned! Basilio's the name." The Shepherds were instantly alert and sat up straight. Everyone except Sully. "You're handy with a sword, kid, I'll give you that. I thought for sure I had the stronger champion." The Khan shook his head and downed some of his drink. The one thing Khans must share in common, Robin thought to himself.
"You've spoken to him?" Chrom asked. "What can you tell us about him?"
"You mean that Marth character? What's there to tell?!" Basilio said. "He's just some sellsword with delusions of grandeur. Turned up one eve and knocked my old champion flat. Heh, at the time it was love at first sight, and I'm generally too old for that sort of thing!" He laughed to himself. "Anyways, he's gone. Up and fled the moment the tournament ended."
Lissa sighed. "He's so dark and mysterious," she let out a long sigh. Chrom's brow twitched.
"Sounds like Marth has at least one fan," Robin said.
"What? He is sort of dreamy, don't you think?" Lissa held her cheeks.
Chrom reached over and gave her head a thwap. "You're sort of dreaming!"
"Yowch, I was just kidding!"
Basilio threw his head back and laughed. "The way Flavia talked about you, I figured you all had sticks up yer bums," he said. "You southerners have no right being this likable."
"You're not… upset are you?" Robin asked.
"Upset? About what? Reigns come and go. I lost the tourney fair and square. It was the suspense of it all that I hated." A dancing girl drifted by and offered to refill Basilio's drink, which he gladly accepted. "It's over, it was a good ride. I'm happy to let Flavia steer the boat for now."
"Even with those monsters scurrying about?" Robin asked.
"Only if you believe in ghost stories," Basilio said.
"Even if it means going to war?" Robin asked.
Basilio shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I really don't give a rat's ass about any country to the south."
"Even if they claw at your borders and impersonate important persons?"
"Hey, some people have been asking for it for years. But confronting them directly just isn't my style. Not a prejudiced bone in my body." A girl screamed from across the room. Basilio's one eye flared up. He stood up and pointed. "Hey, HEY! Hands off the merchandise, we're not Plegians for gods' sake! Haven't you ever heard of Look Don't Touch?!" He set his cup down and marched away.
Sumia made a noise.
"We should probably go now and get some sleep," Chrom emptied his cup into a pitcher when no one was looking. "Flavia! It's been an honor."
Flavia presently had some young Feroxi in a headlock, and Basilio held a dancer girl in his arms, and she was pale with fright. Both Khans nodded and smiled at Chrom like nothing was the matter.
"Peace be with ya and all that crap. Send the word to your sister!"
"I'll definitely make sure she, uh… gets the message."
"Miss Flavia?" Robin said quickly. "We imply nothing, but might we get your agreement in writing?" Flavia dropped her quarry and marched for Robin. He shrank back in fear. "I was just thinking that-"
"No, no it's a great idea," Flavia took her glove off. "You got paper?" Robin tore a spent page from his tome and handed it to her. "Hey! Who here's got a pen?!" A Feroxi came forward with a frayed quill and a sticky pot of ink. "Table?!" A chair was pushed next to her. She set down the paper and the quill. "Now who here can read and write?!" A servant came forward and took the pen. He knelt before the chair and Flavia dictated a message.
"Khan Flavia… daughter of general… Well that's not important.
Having won the battle of East and West and taking the Throne of all Regna Ferox, per the arrangements finalized with Chrom, Prince of the Halidom of Ylisse, the Khan of Regna Ferox hereby agrees to make good and fulfill all obligations, promises and requests regarding our borders and shared interests, detailed such as… as… whatever was in the letter sent by Her Grace the Exalt, Lady Emmeryn, of House Ylisstol.
By the power of the Khan, Flavia."
The servant finished scratching the message and handed it to Flavia. She took it and passed it to Robin. The ink was still wet, and her fingerprints had smudged the bottom of the page. Robin squinted at the jagged, haphazard handwriting. He mouthed the first part of the letter aloud to himself.
…Khan Flavia, daughter of general 'well that's not important…?! Every word from Flavia's mouth had been penned verbatim. Oh boy. He flapped the page until it dried out and tucked it away.
The Shepherds could still hear the party raging on above them once they found their chambers.
First dawn came, and every Shepherd was awake. They manned the wagons, and sure enough, they had easily two new carts added to the train, filled with gifts for House Ylisstol. They left from the same side of the arena they entered, only now they'd make a beeline for the Northroad and skip the Eastern Capital. The ground was stiff with cold mud and patches of ice. Robin was not looking forward to leaving the warmth of the arena.
Flavia was busy organizing her supporters and wouldn't leave the arena for another day. Raimi was there to see them off.
"I thought it would never end," Stahl said.
"Finally!" Sully stretched her arms. "I can't wait to get the hell back home."
"It feels like we've been here for ages!" Lissa saddled her pony.
"Is everybody ready for the long march home?" Frederick called. "We will most likely stay another night at the Longfort." A chorus of groans answered him. "Enough of that! We leave here with the blessing and good will of the Khan! Nobody will touch us."
Robin was already shivering. He tightened up his coat, and when that wasn't enough, he hopped down from his wagon and went to the back to find a blanket to bundle up in. He looked to the entrance and saw two figures had joined Raimi. Basilio and Lon'qu.
"T-T-To what do we owe the honor-r-r?" Robin's teeth chattered. He heard Chrom and Lissa walk up beside him. It seemed at first the West Khan and his Champion were whispering amongst themselves.
"I still think you should go with them."
"Sir," Lon'qu said. "My place is here, at the side of the Khan."
"And what good has that done you?" Basilio said. "You've learned everything you're going to learn from us. You ought to go see the world, broaden your horizons a little! They'll be happy to take you."
"What do I have to learn from a bunch of soft-hearted southerners?" Lon'qu said.
That made Basilio frown. He nodded to Chrom and Robin. "Can't have Flavia say I never did anything for you lot. Boy! I have a little present here for you." He motioned and Lon'qu stepped forward. "This is Lon'qu, my former champion. Not much for talking, mind you, but he's peerless with a sword."
I could have told you that! Robin thought to himself.
"As good as Marth, in my mind. Got the makings of future Khan, to be sure. To be honest, I still can't figure out how Marth bested him so quickly." That made Lon'qu's brow darken.
"Marth beat him?" Lissa asked. She drew closer, and Robin noted how quickly Lon'qu's eyes darted at her. It almost looked like he was about to draw his sword on her, the way he glared at her.
"But that regardless," Basilio said. "He's the cream of the crop. Think of him as my personal gift to the Exalt. He stands watch, he's a good, clean killer, and he brews a mean cup of Elderberry. The perfect bodyguard."
"How did Marth even beat him?" Lissa asked. "He's so big and strong…" She took another step forward.
Instantly Lon'qu paled and shrank back. "Back!" he hissed.
"Woah!" Instantly Robin got between the two of them.
"What did I say?!" Lissa cried.
Basilio laughed and patted Lon'qu's shoulder. "Oh, that's the other thing. Let's just say unless there's a fight going on, the ladies tend to put him on edge. That's the only draw if you can call it that."
Lon'qu closed his eyes and crossed his arms.
"You're certain about this?" Chrom asked.
"Of course, he's your man now! Take him."
"We'd be honored," Chrom said. "And Lon'qu? No objections?"
Lon'qu opened one eye at him. "Basilio gives orders, I stab people. I think our roles are clear."
Chrom swallowed. "Well then…" He reached out for Lon'qu's hand. "Welcome aboard then, I guess."
Lon'qu might have been the first person to shake Chrom's hand and make him wince, as far as Robin could tell at any rate.
When Lon'qu had left to join the others, Robin approached Chrom. "Th-think the ball's finally back in your court?" he asked.
And Chrom smiled again, genuinely for once. "I think so," he said. "But I'll feel a lot better once we speak to Emmeryn, and I need to talk to Marth again. That much remains."
Robin noticed Lon'qu stop and turn his head at the boy's name, if only for a moment. Lissa jabbered at him the entire way back to the wagons.
"What's with him? Is he lost?" Sully asked.
"He's joining us!" Lissa said. "From here on out, he's a Shepherd! This is Lon'qu, say hi Lon'qu!"
He didn't say a word.
Virion snorted. "I suppose one more surly somesuch won't hurt anybody."
"Enough of that," Frederick said. "We don't have a steed for you, sir. You may have to ride in the back. As for rules… Just defer to Milord and you should be fine."
"That's the golden rule!" Lissa said. "Everyone's an equal. I suppose that's rule number one. Rule number two is don't piss off Sully… don't tell her I said that."
"Lon'qu, was it?" Stahl called over. "You could ride here with us," he jerked a thumb behind him to the wagon where Vaike presently sat against a crate and snored.
Lon'qu made for the wagon furthest back. "I'd sooner die."
Stahl let out a dejected sigh.
Sumia tapped Sully's shoulder. "I told you so!"
They arrived at the Longfort before nightfall. The mud did not slow them down in the slightest. It might be less than a week before they would see the gates of Ylisstol again. The men of the Longfort welcomed them with open arms and demanded stories about their time in the capital. Word of Flavia's reign had already reached them, but the details made them laugh and shout. They had dinner with them in the mess hall, and after the party the previous evening, it felt incredibly tame.
Later, Chrom and Robin helped stable the horses for the night, and Lon'qu joined them. Most of the Shepherds had forgotten he even came with them. He slept most of the way.
Robin didn't feel qualified to talk to him much. It's one thing to go on a long trip when you've nowhere else to go, but Lon'qu had just left behind everything. Did he even care? It was hard to get a read on the man.
"What do you know about Ylisse, Lon'qu?" Robin asked.
"I know of the Exalt, and I know of the rivalry with Plegia," Lon'qu said. It was the first time Robin heard his voice since they departed. "That is where it ends. The south never concerned me before." He unsheathed his Killing Edge and examined it, which Robin saw him do several times throughout their trip.
"You'll fit right in," Chrom said. "The Shepherds are an odd bunch, but they're like family."
"..." Lon'qu possibly didn't hear him.
"...Do you do anything besides fighting?" Chrom asked.
"Fighting is everything. Weakness is weeded out and eliminated." Lon'qu twirled his sword.
"Well, hopefully you won't have to use that thing until after we get back."
The way Lon'qu's face fell, it must have been the worst thing in the world for him to hear. He stepped away and was about to leave.
"Wait! What if you were to teach us how you fight?" Robin asked.
"What?"
Chrom echoed Lon'qu silently.
"I'm only decent at these things myself," Robin gripped his sword. "Chrom's one of the best we have, but we've both much to learn from someone like you. It would be a benefit to the Shepherds."
"I am no teacher," Lon'qu said. "Besides, does not Ylisse have its own disciplines? You're better of learning from that knight, Frederick."
"I'm already learning from him," Robin said. "Learning both couldn't hurt."
"You may muddy your waters," Lon'qu said.
"Or I may find the best of both worlds," Robin said.
"A naive thought…" Lon'qu grumbled.
"Hey!" Chrom said. "Robin would never have gotten as far as he did without thinking like that. He held his own against you, didn't he?"
Lon'qu scoffed, but he did seem to consider both of their words. He glanced at the setting sun outside. "...Very well. But we haven't much time. Draw your swords," and he readied his blade. "Both of you!"
Instinctively Falchion was ready. Robin leapt back. "We're starting now?!"
"I told you I am no teacher. I can only teach by example." Lon'qu jerked his chin at them. "Both of you come at me. Show me how men of Ylisse fight!" And he sank into a stance. He was smiling.
"So be it…" Chrom said.