Chapter 7: Waterside Renvall Chapter 9: A New Journey
Chapter 8: It’s a Trap!
We came to the gatehouse. There we stopped to let Orson rest – he seemed short of breath. The rest of the group waited several metres behind us.
“Orson, how long ago were you captured?” Seth asked.
“Only a week ago. We have heard no news of the war at all – tell me, Seth, how is it with Renais?”
Seth bowed his head. “Renais has fallen. King – King Fado… The king is dead.”
Orson lowered his gaze also. “Dead… my king…. I am truly sorry. Princess, I have served you poorly.”
“No, Orson, do not blame yourself for what you could not prevent. We must look to the future, not find fault in the past,” I said a little inchoherently, giving him what comfort I could.
“The Grado army purues me in the hope of acquiring my bracelet,” I continued, though I felt rather foolish saying ‘the most powerful army on the continent is chasing a piece of jewelry’. “My brother is in danger because he wears its twin.”
Orson looked confused, and I didn’t blame him. “Ah.” His expression cleared. “Prince Ephraim still wears the bracelet. Grado is after them? If that is the case, then you should not keep yours with you.”
I looked blankly at him, my uneasiness growing, though I knew not why.
“If the empire desires your bracelet, you are in danger as long as you hold it. Give to me or to Seth; let someone you trust guard them. For your own safety, Highness. We must not allow the Sacred Stone of Renais to be taken.”
Alarm bells went off in the back of my mind. “Orson, all that you say makes sense, and yet…”
“Orson,” said Seth suddenly, “I am sorry, but I must ask you to hand over your weapons.”
The other paladin looked at Seth strangely, and, truth be told, so did I. “Have you gone mad, Seth? What injury have you taken that you would think they allow prisoners weapons?”
“If I am mistaken, then I will give you all due apologies,” Seth answered warily. That was my knight; he always spoke with the utmost politeness. “However, I have questions. Too many questions that I cannot answer. Why did no enemy reinforcements come from the castle during the battle outside? Why would you escape and yet leave Prince Ephraim incarcerated? How do you know of the connection between the bracelets and the Stone?” The paladin’s lance was no longer at attention; it was slowly lowering to form a barrier between the other knight and me.
Orson put his hands up defensively. “Seth, there is some misunderstanding here. I-”
Seth continued grimly without stopping. “And… why do you conceal a blade within your tunic?” Though grim, his voice was also sad.
I took his arm with my right hand, leaning on him in shock. I could see the outline of the knife also now.
Orson slowly smiled. “Very well. You haven’t changed at all, Seth.” He sighed. “If only Eirika had been alone. You, however, simply will not be deceived.”
I gasped.
“Why did you betray Renais?” Seth asked, now calm.
A dreamy look spread over Orson’s face. “My fondest wish will be granted… To spend the rest of my days with my loving wife…”
“What are you saying?” I whispered. Monica… was…
A general of Grado appeared around the corner. “That’s enough. You’ve done well, Orson.” The traitor paladin saluted him and walked away briskly.
“Who are you?” Seth demanded, shielding me.
“Tirado is my name, loyal and talented aide to Valter, general of Grado.”
“You’re that monster’s-” Seth began bitterly. I hadn’t known he felt so much for Valter.
“And you are General Seth of Renais, yes? I thought to catch a little bird, and it seems I’ve snared a hawk.”
“Where is my brother?” I demanded angrily. I did not enjoy belittling like that from an enemy.
“Ah, yes. Your brother. He’s not here. The coward fled… Somehow, he escaped the castle.” Tirado clicked his tongue. “Such stubbornness is quite annoying.” He assumed a thoughtful pose. “Still, we managed to turn this to our advantage. I spread the rumours myself. I led all to believe he was our prisoner. What better trap with which to catch his sweet, devoted sister?”
“My brother escaped?” I breathed, hope rising again in my heart.
Tirado nodded slyly. “Yes, but your no-doubt emotional reunion will have to wait until the afterlife.” He gestured to guards, who vanished. “First, to destroy the bridge…” An ominous cracking echoed through the hall. “Then to kill you and take the bracelet!”
The bridge sagged and collapsed.
“We must escape!” Seth shouted over the fall of rubble.
“But how?” I cried back.
I’m fairly certain I heard him swear. “Blast!”
That was the first time in my life I had heard him do that.
“Oh, Brother, I’m so sorry…” I whispered as enemy guards began to run toward us.
I gave quick orders, and we joined battle.
Seth was fighting in another chamber when it happened… I heard someone call his name, and he turned in surprise.
“Seth?” I asked curiously. “Who are you talking to, Seth?” I walked into the room and gasped. There stood my brother, tall and straight. I ran to him and threw my arms around him.
“Eirika, are you well?” he asked me.
“Oh, Brother! You’re alive! You’re alive!” I breathed happily.
“Well, of course I am,” he replied, picking me off the floor and spinning me around. I suppose he was annoyed that I was clinging to him so, because he whispered in my ear: “Girls carry on so.”
I giggled in dismay. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, his jade green hair brushing my cheek. “At least we’re here. After we escaped Renvall, I thought I’d go and capture Grado Keep. When I heard that you’d journeyed to Renvall to rescue me, I had to turn back to find you.” He grinned. “Looks like my timing was impeccable.”
I never knew that my brother could be so smug, but there were more immediate things.. “I’m so sorry. It’s so ironic… to come to rescue you – and get rescued myself. All I did was interfere with your plans…”
“What are you talking about? What plans? Nonsense. You came to help me, didn’t you? Your efforts alone are enough to inspire me. Anyway, you look like you’d need quite the beating before you really needed rescuing.” I glanced at my group of mercenaries. Yes, my brother was right. A characterful lot, as well.
Then Forde and Franz saw each other. There was laughter and loud talking, then my brother shouted. “Okay, let’s go!”
We then fought our way to the throne of the castle, where Tirado awaited us. My brother dealt with him. His Reginleif, his long lance, pierced the general’s thick armour.
Ephraim turned to me, bloody and sweaty, and smiled. Regardless of the mess, I hugged him.
“I’m sorry, Eirika. I worried you, didn’t I? And you as well, General?” he said to Seth.
“Not at all,” Seth fibbed slightly. “We’re happy you’re safe.” His face lengthened somewhat. “Prince, about Orson…”
“I find it hard to believe he could turn his back on Renais so,” my brother said matter-of-factly. He let go of me and rubbed the back of his neck. “I am morally responsible for his plight…”
“No, Ephraim…” I tried to deny this, but he wasn’t listening. I could tell.
“Ephraim…” said a little girl who had crept in when I wasn’t looking. She had indigo hair and dark red eyes.
“Yes, Myrrh?” Ephraim asked gently.
“Something is coming… Big… Dark… Many…”
“Ah.” He turned to us. “Sounds like we should get out of here.”
“Where did you meet this girl?” I asked. “Oh! Indigo hair…” The grey-haired young man had been looking for her.
“That’s a long story. For now, we must move.” He whistled, and Kyle and Forde began making our retreat. “Suffice to say that Emperor Vigarde has enlisted some… otherworldly powers,” Ephraim continued in a low voice only heard by Seth, the girl Myrrh, and myself. “We must warn everyone of the danger.”