Chapter 3: In Search of Truth      Chapter 5: Noble Lady of Caelin

 

Wow, such a difficult chapter to write. I don’t know why. But the next chapter is looking back up, possibly because LYN’S BACK LYN’S BACK also all the Sain, plz. And Kent. And Florina. And Wil. Yay. *snuggles* And I guess we pick up the Wilrina…? Is that a good ship name? I don’t know. I’m being silly. Let’s keep writing.

Talons Alight is snuck in between these two chapters, but it seriously adds no plot besides “Eubans wuz here except not really” so it’s a bit glossed over. The important part is that Florina’s pegasus sits on Hector five days later.

 

Chapter 4: False Friends

Ceniro was passing through the halls of Santaruz Castle, on his way to the courtyard to meet the rest of his group, averting his eyes from all the strange people around him, when he heard a cough.

“Ceniro.”

He turned and looked around in confusion, but only saw a guard in Santaruz colours. He blinked at him, and then his eyes widened in realization.

“Drew!” He trotted over to his younger brother with a little smile on his face. “How are you? You’re in training now, just like you always wanted?”

“More or less,” Drew grunted. “What are you doing here? With those lords and knights and chicks?”

“Um, we’re on a mission to find Lord Elbert. How is Anlie? What about father?”

“They’re fine. They’re all fine. Why didn’t you visit, if you’re in Santaruz?”

“I…’ve been busy. And I’m sure mom doesn’t want to see me again anyway. Drew, I’m so glad you were in here yesterday, and not out fighting us…”

“What happened yesterday? Was that to do with all those assholes who were stationed here for a while?”

Drew really was unobservant, Ceniro reminded himself. “Something like that. We’re not really sure what’s going on. But we’re going to find out. …Do you want to come with us? Lord Eliwood would be happy to have you…”

“What, leave Santaruz?” Drew said, outraged. “You know how mad mom was that you left. Why would I want to leave Santaruz?”

Ceniro shrugged. “Adventure? Combat? The chance to be a knight?”

“I can find that inside Santaruz, thank you very much.”

“Well, just asking. Do you still hate me that much?”

“I don’t hate you, it’s just you’re an idiot, a selfish jerk who doesn’t know when to leave well enough alone. Who do you think you are, hobnobbing with great lords and ladies? You’re a village brat like me. You went to Ostia for what, brain surgery? What good is that? You can’t even fight, you’re never going to be rich, and so why don’t you learn a real trade and stay where you belong?”

“You sound like mom.”

“Well, yeah, she’s right. You’re going to come to a bad end with these delusional lords, and I’m gonna tell you ‘I told you so’ when you do.”

Ceniro grimaced. “Drew…”

“Is this guy giving you a hard time?” Rebecca asked. She glared at Drew. “You can’t say anything! You don’t know how smart he is or how much we owe him!”

“Is that your girlfriend?” Drew sneered.

“No,” Ceniro said.

“No, I’m fifteen! I’m too young to be a girlfriend!” Rebecca snapped.

“Wait, you’re only fifteen?” Ceniro said. “I thought you were older than that!”

“Well, you can’t send me back home now!”

“Are you sure she’s not your girlfriend? Do you even have a girlfriend?” Drew persisted.

“N-no…”

“Liar! Who is it? Is she hot?”

“Yes, she’s hot, but she’s not my girlfriend. Drew, leave me alone.”

“You’re the one who started talking to me.”

“You have a girlfriend?” Rebecca asked.

“No! I just like her-”

“What does she look like? What’s her name, what does she do?”

Ceniro pulled his hood up. “Guys. Stop. Please.”

Drew shut his mouth. “I’m not going with you. Good luck, I guess. See you when you get back.”

“Would you say hi to Anlie, next time you’re home?”

“I’ll try.”

“Thanks, Drew.” Ceniro turned away, hesitated, and looked back. “It was good to see you, Drew, even if you haven’t changed.”

“He was a jerk,” Rebecca fumed as she stomped just ahead of him to the courtyard. “Why were you even talking to that self-inflated guard?”

“He’s my brother.”

“Your brother? Wow, I’m really sorry. My brother’s a jerk too, but not because he’s rude and judgemental, just because he hasn’t come home in 5 years!”

“Oh,” Ceniro said. “I’m sorry. I’m probably a jerk in that way to my family, too…”

“But at least they know you’re alive, right?” Rebecca said. “I don’t even know if Dan is alive, let alone where he is!”

“Well, we’re travelling, so maybe we’ll run into him, right?”

“Yeah… but I’m not going with you because of that. Sort of, but not really.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re with us. Archers are very helpful.”

She smiled brightly as they came into the courtyard, where most of the others were waiting. Lowen came out last, laden with bags that Ceniro guessed carried food – he had noticed Lowen and Rebecca did the cooking when they camped instead of staying in an inn.

 

It took them another two days to reach the outskirts of Laus. The first night, they rescued a merchant from a group of bandits, and the merchant, Merlinus, was so grateful he offered his services to their group. It was Hector, of all people, who invited Merlinus to join them, despite the man’s apparent subservient and cowardly nature.

Fortunately for their travels, Laus Castle was not far from the Caelin border. They paused for lunch on the other side of the plain that separated them from the castle. Ahead were a scattering of villages and a river flowing into the blue Aigaion Ocean. It would have been vastly idyllic if not for the fact that on the green plain were also signs of an army – training targets, dead campfires, wooden fortifications.

Eliwood was not eating, instead gazing at the distant castle with a melancholy look on his face. Ceniro sat near him, in case he was needed. Marcus was on patrol with Dorcas.

“They really are preparing for war, aren’t they,” Hector commented, coming up behind him. “What’s Marquess Laus scheming at?” He offered him a chunk of bread. Eliwood took it without really seeing it and nodded. “What’s up? You don’t look like you much want to go to the castle.”

“If we go and learn the truth, we may have to go to war,” Eliwood said quietly.

“Fine with me,” Hector said amiably with his mouth full.

Eliwood finally took a bite. A small bite. “If I concentrate on my opponent, I’m fine. But to think of all-out war… of the thousands of innocents who will be driven from their homes, injured, killed… I can’t bear it. They can’t be caught up in the foolish politics of us nobles. All I can do is pray and work for a peaceful solution.”

“Eliwood… he’s obviously planning to go to war whether we go to the castle and find out why or not.” Hector clapped him gently on the shoulder. “Hey, chin up, all right? It’s not like you to waver in anything you do.”

Eliwood smiled ruefully. “I suppose so. I’ve come this far to find my father. I can’t turn back now.”

Marcus rode up to him. “Lord Eliwood! A lone horseman has ridden out from the castle. I believe it’s Lord Erik.”

“Oh, why did it have to be that buffoon?” Hector huffed and stuffed the rest of the bread in his mouth. “Eliwood, I’m going for a ride. I can’t stand that moron. Marcus, can I borrow your horse for five minutes?”

“I’ll meet with Erik, if he’s coming here,” Eliwood said. “Let him come.”

Hector rode off as Marcus and Eliwood waited under the tree for Erik to approach. Ceniro wondered if he should leave. It didn’t sound like Hector liked Erik very much, and while Ceniro wasn’t sure Hector was the best judge of character, Ceniro hadn’t heard good things about Erik while he was studying in Ostia, either.

“Hello!” Erik said as he rode up to them and dismounted, a disconcertingly friendly smile on his face. Eliwood smiled back reflexively, but it faded quickly. “It’s been a long time, Eliwood! How have you been?”

“I was about to ask you that,” Eliwood said. “Erik, why did you come to meet us?”

“I just heard my old friend was in Laus, and thought, why not? What brings you here? You’re probably on your way to Ostia, aren’t you.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Why, you’re such good friend with Hector.” Erik grimaced. “I’ll admit, he and I… never got along very well. Such crude behaviour, and his speech… you would almost think him a peasant. But you’re still friends with him, right? When did you see him last? Do you communicate often?”

Eliwood took a step back from the casually-but-not asked questions. “Erik, what are you doing?”

Erik’s false smile wavered. “What?”

Eliwood gestured to the field. “What is all that? You and your father are preparing for war, aren’t you? Against whom?”

Erik shifted his weight back onto one foot and crossed his arms. “I was hoping you’d at least tell me if you’d spoken to Ostia. Well, no matter.”

“Out with it, Erik!”

“I’ve always despised you, Eliwood,” Erik said, and chuckled unkindly as he straightened, hand on his sword. “I’ve longed for this day, the day where I get to smash you and your pathetic morality into pieces!” Marcus’s hand went to his own sword, but they were distracted by an approaching horse.

“Too bad you’ll not live to see the end of it,” Hector said, riding up to them and dismounting.

Erik did a double-take and scrambled onto his own horse. “H-hector! You haven’t spoken with Ostia already, have you?”

“Wow, you’re paranoid,” Hector said, and sneered sarcastically. “Maybe we have, maybe we haven’t. Eliwood, we’re being surrounded by hidden troops. They didn’t follow me back, but they definitely attacked me. We’re going to have a rough time getting to the castle.”

Ceniro jumped up.

“There’s no point in fighting!” Erik yelled as he rode away. “You’re trapped! My forces will overwhelm you, an unending torrent of soldiers! Laus’s elite knights are at the ready as well. Heh heh… How long do you think you can survive?”

“How dare he?” Eliwood cried.

Hector just nodded to Ceniro. “You’re up, tactics-man.”

“On it,” Ceniro said, already looking at the farseer. “Wait a minute. What is Erk doing here?”

“Who?”

“A mage I know. He’s in that village to the north. One minute while I call everyone to arms and form us up.”

There was a small army, certainly not the complete might of Laus but still enough to wipe them out if they weren’t careful, between them and the castle. Ceniro called and pointed, and Eliwood’s companions jumped up, leaving their camp in disarray to grab their weapons and take places.

Once he had everyone moving in the right direction, Ceniro manipulated the farseer a bit. “Erk?”

A short yelp and some muttered curse words were his answer. “Ceniro?” Erk said at length. “Are you nearby on the farseer?”

“Yes. Are you in the village to the north?”

“I’m going to guess you’re with the miniature army I am seeing now, to the south?”

“I’m with Lord Eliwood and Lord Hector. We’re… uh… trying to get an audience with Lord Darin. It’s not going too well; Lord Erik is trying to kill us.”

“That’s the most times I’ve heard you say ‘lord’ in one paragraph.”

“I know. I’m trying to be more polite these days. Do you want to join us? Some old friends are here, Serra, Dorcas, Matthew…”

“Serra? The last person I wanted to see again…”

“She’d probably interpret that as you wanting to see her again.”

“Ceniro, I look like a moron, talking to thin air. One moment.” There was the sound of footsteps, and then Erk spoke again, more quietly. “I would help you, but right now I can’t. I’m trying to find a way for my employer to escape Laus herself.”

“We can help you do that.”

“It’s Priscilla. You remember her, right? Lord Pent has gone off on a sabbatical, and left me to escort her in her search for her family.”

“We’d love to help you. Come join us. Where is she?”

“She’s in that village south of you. Lord Darin wants her, as his guest, by which he means prisoner.” Disgust seeped through Erk’s voice. “We’ve been hiding here for two weeks, unable to move.”

“You’re doing well, so close to the castle. All right. Get out here. I’ll send Matthew to retrieve you, and Marcus to retrieve Priscilla. Sound good?”

“Sounds great. I’ll turn your enemies to ash. See you soon.”

“Matthew,” Ceniro said into the farseer as he ran forward to join Eliwood again. “Go warn the northern village to close their gates, and pick up Erk. He’s waiting there. Marcus, please go south to the other village and inform a young red-haired woman that we are here to escort her and Erk out of Laus.”

Whatever the others were going to say was drowned out by Serra’s squeal. “Omigosh!! Erk’s here? What a fortuitous happenstance!”

“Shut it, Serra!” Hector barked. “My ears are still ringing!”

“Serra, you can see Erk later,” Ceniro said.

“Or not at all,” muttered Erk, who had joined the main communication channel.

“Focus,” Ceniro reprimanded them. “Erk, please join Rebecca and concentrate fire on those armour knights while she deals with the cavaliers.”

“There’s Erik!” Hector cried. “Can I go get ‘im? Please?”

“One minute, he’s heavily supported. We need to isolate him a bit. Bartre, I need you to take those footsoldiers on a chase back to Dorcas.”

“Understood, big guy!”

Ceniro wrinkled his forehead. Bartre was weird.

Priscilla and Serra greeted each other, Priscilla with polite indifference, and Serra with suspicion. As soon as there was a lull in the fighting, both made their way over to Erk, unordered. Priscilla, on horseback, got there first. Ceniro muted them from the main channel and kept it on low in case he needed to intervene.

Erik was looking around somewhat frantically for reinforcements when Hector stomped up to him. “Going somewhere?”

“Laus is the true throne of Lycia! You will see!”

“Someone’s a bit lost in their fantasies,” Hector said slowly.

“I won’t lose to you! Not here! This isn’t the training ground; this is the field of true battle, where I will finally crush you!”

“Oh, please.” Hector twirled his axe. “I won’t even kill you. Yet.”

“Eliwood, you also know how this guy fights; you’re backup,” Ceniro said, staying slightly back from the duel now taking place on the plain before the castle

The castle. Ceniro frowned at it. He wasn’t reading any hostiles from it.

But first they had to deal with Erik.

Who was charging at Eliwood, having successfully dodged Hector’s terrifyingly strong blow.

“If I can’t get Hector, I can at least get you!”

Ceniro didn’t even have to say anything; Marcus charged past both of them and knocked Erik from his horse with a well-placed blow of his lance, as in a joust. Erik scrambled to his feet and drew his sword, and was knocked down by Hector. The two men scuffled viciously for a moment, before it was resolved with Erik on his knees and Hector holding his arms behind his back.

“I am no one’s prisoner! Unhand me!” Erik bellowed, still trying to twist away. “You peasants! You can’t treat me like this!”

“Shut up, Erik,” Hector said. “Be thankful you’re still breathing, you wuss!”

Eliwood walked slowly to stand in front of Erik. “Where is your father? Why did he not send you reinforcements? What are you planning?”

For a moment, Erik’s face fell slack, revealing hidden horror and shock. Then his normal haughty glare slammed back into place. “I’ll never tell!”

“Fine,” Eliwood said. “Ceniro?”

“It’s very strange, but the castle does not appear hostile,” Ceniro said. “We didn’t face nearly as many enemies as Erik said we would – and this would only be a fraction of Laus’s army, unless I’m much mistaken.”

“Can we enter the castle, do you think?”

Ceniro looked at it. “Let’s send Marcus and Oswin to do a sweep, draw them out. If they don’t get shot at…”

The two knights were already heading out. Nothing happened.

“All right, let’s move in!” Ceniro said. “Matthew, tie him up.”

“Just get his hands,” Hector said. “I’ll drag him.”

“Fair enough,” Ceniro said.

 

They secured the castle within the hour, and met again in the main hall. The younger knights were sent on patrol duty around the walls.

“Well, your dad’s not here,” Hector said. “In fact, no one is except staff. Where’d they go?”

“My father would never- he would never abandon me! He’s only waiting for you to let down your guard!”

“The desperation in your voice gives you away,” Eliwood said gently. “Please, Erik. I just want my father back.”

Erik looked around with a bleak expression before dropping his head and mumbling one word. “Ephidel.”

“What?” Hector said, squatting beside him. “Ephidel?”

“Ephidel from the Black Fang is the one you want,” Erik said forcefully, looking Hector in the eye. “Ever since he came… my father changed. He always resented Ostia’s rule, and felt Laus should take her rightful place as head of the Lycian Leage. But he’d never gone so far as to speak of rebellion… of taking what he wanted by force.”

“Rebellion?” Eliwood repeated. “Why would he…”

“Ephidel had something,” Erik continued. “I don’t know what it was, but with it, he convinced my father to make a plan, set it in motion. He then sent envoys to several other marquesses. Marquess Pherae… was the first to respond.” He shot Eliwood a nasty look. “He approved of it.”

“My father would never-!” Eliwood burst out.

“Believe or not, that is what happened,” Erik snapped. “Marquess Santaruz also sent his approval. That was six months ago. Then… a month ago, Marquess Pherae came.”

“Yes, that was the last time I saw him,” Eliwood murmured. “Father… what was going through your head?”

“My father and yours argued vehemently that day. Marquess Pherae always distrusted Ephidel, and more so when he met him in person. He tried to convince my father to send Ephidel and the Black Fang assassins out of Lycia. My father would not be persuaded, and Marquess Pherae left the castle. As you know, he then disappeared. I doubt he’s still alive.”

“Shut your mouth!” Hector snapped, shaking Erik.

“Eliwood said he wanted to hear everything,” Erik said, smiling crazily up at Hector. “My father… He is but Ephidel’s puppet. He’ll listen to anything that villain says. Even watch his own son… die… Those are the sort of people you’re dealing with. Marquess Pherae betrayed them. They would not let him live!” He finally cracked and began to laugh hysterically.

Eliwood had turned away and was heading swiftly to one of the windows.

Hector gestured with disgust to Erik. “Take him away and put him in one of his own dungeon cells,” he ordered Oswin, who dragged the unfortunate lord away.

Ceniro found a corner of the hall and curled up, wrapped himself in his cloak, and tried not to get in anyone’s way. His job was done for the day, and he certainly didn’t want to interfere in the lords’ haywire emotions. He saw Hector pat Eliwood on the shoulder, probably with some encouraging words, and Eliwood gave a short nod.

The red-headed lord turned and moved over to Ceniro. “Ceniro, aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“I’d be more uncomfortable staying in one of the castle’s bedrooms,” Ceniro said. “Are you going to be all right?”

Eliwood nodded and managed to smile. “Yes, I’ll be fine. Are you sure you want to stay out here?”

“Yeah. But you get some rest. You look like you need it.”

“That’s what I said,” Hector grumbled behind him. “Maybe he’ll actually listen to one of us.”

Eliwood smiled, nodded, and rose. Hector shepherded him towards the residences.

 

Ceniro napped off and on as the sun set and the moon rose. Marcus was in charge of setting the guard, so he still had nothing to worry about. Most of their group actually missed seeing him in the corner of the hall, and he was fine with that; watching the others scurry around with their budding dramas (mostly of Serra’s causing, really) was vaguely interesting. Only Lowen and Dorcas spotted him, which surprised him; Lowen’s hair covered so much of his face. Dorcas came to sit with him, and for a while, Ceniro fell asleep on the mercenary’s broad shoulder.

He woke, thinking he heard Lyn’s voice, but it was Rebecca, shouting down from the wall. “We’re under attack!”

Ceniro snapped into wakefulness and grabbed at the farseer. On the east side of the castle map displayed on the glass, there were already hostile red markers within the walls. “Everyone gather in the main room. We are under attack and the enemy is already within the walls.”

 

Chapter 3: In Search of Truth      Chapter 5: Noble Lady of Caelin