Chapter 3: Four-Fanged Offense         Chapter 5: Pale Flower of Darkness

 

It SNOWED last night. Couldn’t make it to church this morning, man. There was like two feet of snow on Mandy (my car) and very few people made it out of my apartment’s parking lot.

Still, I have been writing a great deal, and especially after last night’s creativity bomb, I can’t wait to write more and more and more. And I have a The Tactician AU, which is pretty cool! (As mentioned last chapter.) I will write it someday, but right now Tolly is really enthusiastic about it which is exceedingly heartwarming.

 

Chapter 4: Unfulfilled Heart

 

“Eliwood!” Hector shouted.

“All right,” Eliwood said, his voice deliberately calm. “If you must.”

“What?” Linus asked Eliwood, his choking grip loosening slightly. “Are you crazy?”

Eliwood still wasn’t struggling. “I noticed something during the battle. You drew us out of the village, and made every effort to make no trouble for the villagers.”

“Well, of course! You’re our target, not them.”

“The Black Fang isn’t evil,” Eliwood said. “You fight with honour. So why are we on different sides?”

“Well… because… you’re evil!” Linus frowned. “Aren’t you?”

“We’re trying to save the world, so… no?” Lyn said.

Linus shoved Eliwood away from him and stood up. “Bah! This makes no sense! Sonia told Father that you’re a band of criminals, irresponsible lordlings meddling in affairs not your own. Father agreed, and I obeyed, but…”

“Perhaps we are meddling,” Hector said. “But what we’ve discovered… if it’s true, it’s impossible not to meddle.”

“Please, believe us,” Eliwood said. “We’re not your enemy. I think you’re being used, by Sonia, by Nergal.”

“And how do you know about Nergal…? Fine. I will go speak to my father and brother. I will be back, and if you’ve lied to me, you will pay for it.” He shook a finger at Ceniro. “Don’t think I won’t be ready for you next time, tactician!” He stomped away, eventually vanishing into the woods that surrounded the village.

Ceniro nodded nervously, but already he liked the assassin and hoped that he would eventually join their group.

“Geez, you don’t mess around, do you?” Hector said sarcastically to Eliwood. “That was too close.”

“Forgive me,” Eliwood said. “I wanted to talk to him at least once. And now we know, the Black Fang is not evil. Only Nergal is and those he has corrupted are.”

“We should try to talk to… Brendan Reed?” Lyn said. “He would be a powerful ally. Perhaps we can resolve this without anymore fighting.”

Hector rolled his eyes. “Sounds like a terrible plan. I hate it.”

“Now who turned you into a grumpy cat?” Lyn demanded. “Surely you’re not in this just for the fighting?”

Hector shrugged. “I won’t be so optimistic as to think Nergal will go down without a fight or several. Anyway, let’s go make camp. We have to be ready for Pent and Louise tomorrow.”

 

It was mid-morning the next day, and Ceniro had sought out Heath. “So, Heath, what was it you were going to tell me?”

The green-haired knight looked away, at the mountains, and did not answer for a few minutes. “Well… My most recent memories of Bern are not fond ones… I’m a deserter.”

“A deserter from the Bern Army?” Ceniro gasped. “But… don’t they kill deserters?”

Heath snorted mirthlessly. “Now you know why I’m a mercenary. I’m the only one of my group to survive this long. It’s a long story, but… Well, I can’t say I’m not glad to be back. It is my home, after all. Perhaps someday soon, I can clear my name and return in peace.”

“We’ll help you with that,” Ceniro said. “I’m sure Eliwood and company would be very happy to do whatever they can, if the words and actions of Lycian lords count for anything…”

Heath nodded. “I am forever in your debt already. But isn’t that your Lord Pent returning?”

Ceniro frowned. “He’s not my Lord Pent?”

Heath smiled. “Word among the ranks is, your little adventure last year with him might have changed the world, and he owes it all to you.”

“Well, that might be an exaggeration… Ask Fiora, she was there. I have to go. Thanks, Heath.”

“No problem.”

“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” Pent said as Ceniro walked up to the little group assembling.

“How did it go?” Lyn asked eagerly. “Did you really see the Queen?”

“Dear Queen Hellene was glad to see us,” Louise said. “I think we were of some service to her.”

Pent smiled. “I can’t say it was a complete failure, as we did see her, but we have a task to perform before she’ll tell us anything. But she knows, it’s certain, and she didn’t brush us off. We have a chance yet.”

“What’s the task?” Eliwood asked.

“The Fire Emblem, national treasure of Bern, has been stolen right out of the palace. We have to find it and return it by at least the morning of the prince’s ceremony, in nine days as of today.”

Hector stared. “How did anyone steal the Fire Emblem? That thing’s supposed to be the most carefully guarded treasure in all Elibe!”

“That is an excellent question,” Pent said. “And I think we already know the answer. But we should confirm before we set out.”

“We’re going to the castle?” Eliwood said.

“That sounds like what he was implying,” Lyn said. “Not to be rude, but do all Etrurians kind of… side-step saying what they really mean? I know not all Lycians do…”

“Now why are you picking on me again?” Hector demanded.

“Because it’s fun,” Lyn retorted.

Pent laughed. “I am sometimes too clever for my own good with my words, aren’t I? I will try to be more straightforward, Lyn. Please forgive me.”

“It’s fine,” Lyn said. “Forgive me.”

They travelled for several hours, until the land flattened out and grew marshy, and the road narrowed and wound its way carefully through little lakes and streams. The sky was large overhead, and full of birds.

At least, it was full of birds until the first ballista bolt came arcing through the sky and nearly struck Heath. Florina screamed, and Ceniro jumped into the chaos.

“Everyone hold it together! See those three run-down fortresses? We have to take those! Erk, Serra, Lucius, Lyn, and Guy, head for the three ballistas.”

“Oh my gosh, we’re surrounded!” Serra cried. “You really want me out there?”

“Serra, you can use light magic. Get out there and use it! Florina, Fiora! I know there’s only two of you, but as soon as we get Wil and Rebecca and Louise on the ballistae to back you up, you’re off to conquer the mages of the northeast fortress. Stand by for my signal. Heath, lead Pent, Eliwood, Dart, Dart’s friend-”

“My name’s Geitz!” yelled the mercenary.

“Raven, Matthew, and Ninian over to the western fortress. Knights! Form up, you’re going to charge to the northern barricade in thirty seconds!”

“And what about me?” Hector said.

“We’ll be moving up to support the cavalry. I think I might have spotted the enemy commander in the field. Knights, go now! Come on, the rest of you, follow me!”

Lyn’s group was making short work of the archers and their inadequate guard at the ballistae. As they had all suspected, they were Black Fang. “Linus must not have spoken to his father yet,” Lyn said.

“Or not in time to prevent this attack,” Ceniro said. “I’m sure we just need to give him time. They’ll join us yet. Florina, Fiora, you’re up! Wil, Rebecca, Louise, soften up those north-eastern defences for them. Eliwood, watch your left; Raven, cover that gap. Isadora, you’re doing good; Lowen, tighten up the formation! You’re lagging. The enemy commander is advancing, avoid him if possible until I’ve figured out what his thing is.”

“Hey, you!” a woman’s voice called from above, and Ceniro tripped as he dodged out of the way of a pegasus knight descending on him from above. The farseer flew out of his hands, bounced off a rock, and landed in a puddle.

“Oh, shit!” Hector cried. “Is it okay? It’s not gonna fry again, is it?” He picked it up and wiped it off with his cloak before handing it back to Ceniro, who had gotten up and was backing away warily from the blue-haired woman. “You better watch where you’re flying, got it?”

“It’ll be fine,” Ceniro said to Hector. “Thank you. Who are you, and what do you want? We’re kind of busy…”

“I can see that!” she said. “Look, you’re really pushing yourself, taking on all these guys.”

“It’s not for fun! You’re not with them, are you?” Hector growled, getting in her face. Her pegasus snorted and looked askance at him.

“No, of course not! I came out here because I heard I could make some gold. What a joke! Only a fool would work for this piddling amount! Skills like mine do not some cheap.”

Ceniro let them argue and turned back to the battle. “Pent, archer in the tower to kill, please. Ninian, assist him. Geitz and Dart, you’re going to have incoming wyvern riders. Hold them off until Matthew’s in a less vulnerable position. Matthew, get to a fortified area asap.”

“Twenty thousand gold?” Hector yelled from behind him. “No mercenary is that expensive!”

“What?” Ceniro asked.

“Hey, what do you need me to do now?” Lyn asked.

“Everyone’s moving up to support the cavaliers. I think we’re hiring a new member, though, stand by.”

“Ceniro,” Hector said. “Her name is Farina, her home unit is the Strongwings, and she comes with a killer lance. And she has a massive ego and costs twenty thousand.”

“Any relation to Florina and Fiora?”

The woman’s eyes widened to saucer shapes. “They’re here??”

“We’ll hire you,” Ceniro said. And looked uncertainly at Hector. “We can afford that, right?”

“I wouldn’t have asked you to make a choice if we couldn’t afford it,” Hector said. “Though, Dame Farina, we might have to pay in instalments.”

“If my sisters are with you, I’ll trust you’ll make good on that,” she said. “This time.”

“Then head north-east and help them take down that fortress,” Ceniro said, pointing. “Your presence will speed things up considerably.”

“Got it! You won’t regret it!” She whooshed off in a gust of wind.

“I hope we don’t regret that,” Hector muttered. “She’s a little different than the others.”

“Let’s move forward!” Ceniro said. “Come on, quick! Marcus has been injured; Priscilla, can you move ahead of us with Rath? Get to him before he gets swamped.”

“I see the enemy leader,” Lyn said, appearing beside him. “He’s tough. Big paladin, all in heavy black armour… I think he killed one of his own men for getting in his way.”

Ceniro stared. “Wow. Not one to mess around, then.”

“Brutal,” Hector said. “Let me face him.”

“You faced the last one…” Lyn said.

“Don’t argue,” Ceniro said. “We’re almost there. I’m thinking a combo of Wallace and Canas.”

And screams erupted from the fighting in front of them, erupting over the normal shouts and crashes of battle.

Even without looking at the farseer, without seeing what was happening in front of him, Ceniro could tell that Sain was desperately injured, probably by the black-clad knight prancing around now to face Kent, who had stopped by his fallen comrade’s side and wouldn’t move.

“Kent! You can’t face him. Just get Sain and get out of there!”

“I won’t be fast enough,” Kent said. “Forgive me, sir. I have to do this.”

“We’ve taken the fortress,” Fiora’s voice came through, tightly controlled. Perhaps the reunion with her sister had not been exactly a happy one?

“Get back here, then!” Ceniro interrupted her. “Sain’s down, Kent is about to go down, and we need aerial extraction. There are no archers, just get here now.”

“This fortress is taken, too,” Eliwood reported. “We won’t get there in time to help, but we’ll move as quick as we can…”

“Is that all you have?” the black-clad knight roared.

“Wallace, get his attention,” Ceniro ordered, climbing a pile of rubble from some ancient fortification to see better.

“With pleasure!” the old knight shouted, and swung his helmet shut. “You there! Blithering whelp! Stop bothering my students and face a hardened warrior!”

The knight wheeled around. “You face Count Pascal Grentzer of Landskron and I will cut short your miserable life!”

“Hahaha! My life’s been long, so you’re late on that account!”

“Canas, get ready to intercept,” Ceniro said.

As Pascal began to charge Wallace, the three pegasus knights dropped out of the sky behind him. Fiora dragged Kent onto her pegasus, and together Farina and Florina dismounted, threw Sain’s unconscious body over Farina’s pegasus, and took off again to deposit them safely behind allied lines, where Serra was waiting.

“What is this?” Pascal cried, his horse rearing as Canas’s magic swirled up around him. “You dare defy the laws of chivalry? You are no knight!”

“Neither are you, Beast of the Black Fang,” Wallace said, wading forward to strike at him with his axe. “I know your exploits! You deserve neither justice nor mercy!”

“I did not know,” Ceniro said. “However, that shouldn’t be an issue. Lucius, Erk, Rebecca, Wil, Louise, attack him, please.”

Sain was barely clinging to consciousness when Ceniro went to see him a few moments later. Sprawled on a makeshift stretcher, bleeding everywhere, nearly eviscerated, he looked like he should be dead, but he was breathing, a funny little gasping noise between clenched teeth, and his eyes were open. Kent was holding his hand, and Wil and Florina were hovering while Serra and Priscilla worked, with the assistance of Lucius, Erk, Pent, and soon Canas.

“Come on, don’t leave us, buddy!” Wil encouraged him. “Stay in there!”

Sain moaned in answer, and Kent squeezed his hand tighter. Serra was holding the wound closed while Priscilla wrapped it tightly. They had stripped the armour from his upper body to make it easier to work.

“He’ll be all right, right?” Ceniro asked Erk, who was closest, anxiously.

Erk didn’t look away from his borrowed healing staff. “Lady Priscilla is exceptionally skilled, as you know. And Serra may be the most annoying cleric in Elibe, but she knows what she is doing.”

“Thanks, Erky. He’ll live,” Serra said matter-of-factly, wiping her blood-covered hands on a towel and picking her staff back up. “He’s a stubborn man, and he’s too cute to die yet. Kent, let go of his hand for a minute, or it will interfere. Watch this!” She nodded to Priscilla, and all the magic users raised their staffs together.

Bright light surrounded Sain, and he let out a sigh of relaxation, nearly unheard under the sound of the multiple healing spells. Kent and the rest of Lyn’s Legion, too, sagged in relief.

Sain coughed, but there was no blood in it, and he was already trying to sit up. Serra and Priscilla didn’t stop him, so Kent and Wil grabbed his arms and helped him sit up.

“Are you okay?” Florina asked in a tiny voice, Fiora now hovering behind her.

Sain managed a shaky smile. “W-with such fair ladies w-working on m-me, and your concern for my well-being, b-beauteous F-florina, how could I be otherw-wise?”

Serra rolled her eyes. “Yup, he’s fine. Totally back to normal! Okay, does anyone have water for me to wash my hands and my robes? Even more of my pretty clothes ruined… Lord Hector, why did we have to travel through a swamp? And fight in a swamp? Worst battlefield ever.”

“I-I’ll repay you, Lady Serra,” Sain said, now struggling to stand. “Never fear! And thank you, all, for your help. It was stupid of me to accept his challenge.”

“It wasn’t exactly a challenge,” Kent said, supporting him carefully. “But yes, you were.”

“I told you not to go near him, if possible,” Ceniro said, in exasperated fondness and relief. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I-I’ll be fine,” Sain said, still clinging to Kent. “Don’t worry about me.”

“He should still sit out battles for the next three days, to give the healing a chance to hold,” Priscilla said.

“My lady’s medical advice is my command,” Sain said, and bowed slightly. Priscilla stifled a giggle and mounted her horse to continue with the rest of the group. Kent escorted Sain over to Merlinus’s cart, while Wil gathered the armour and Florina led his horse.

 

“Dang, I hardly got to do anything,” Hector grumbled as they returned to the main road.

Lyn poked him. “We managed to turn a Black Fang trap completely inside out, defeat a feared terrorist, and you’re complaining you didn’t see enough action? Well, you can take Sain’s place next time!”

“Well that was kind of uncalled for!” Hector complained. “It’s not like I want any of our allies hurt!”

“All right. But still, don’t complain about such things or I’ll see to it Ceniro makes you fight all the hard bad guys.”

“Sounds fine to me,” Hector said, and shrugged. “I guess there’s no sense worrying about it. What we worry about is what we’ll find at the palace.”

“Now you try and talk sense?” Lyn asked incredulously. “You really are something else, Hector.”

Hector smirked down at her. “Can’t hold a candle to you, though.”

Lyn whirled. “What did you say?”

“Peace! Both of you!” Eliwood stopped them, holding his hands out between them. “Any time we’re able to weaken our foe, we’ve done well. I thought we established that back on Valor. Ceniro? Any orders?”

“Just to put distance between us and this place,” Ceniro said. “No telling when reinforcements will arrive.”

“All right,” Eliwood said.

“You’re right,” Hector nodded.

“Let’s go!” Lyn cried, pointing northwards.

 

They arrived at the valley below Bern Castle on the morning of the next day, unchallenged and apparently unnoticed. Ceniro found it strange, and odd, as he, Eliwood, Lyn, and Hector stared up at the imposing edifice hugging the crags high above them. A winding road led to the front gate.

“Can’t believe it’s a royal palace as well as a castle,” Hector said.

“Isn’t Castle Ostia-” began Eliwood.

“Castle Ostia isn’t on a freaking mountain,” Hector finished.

“Since wyverns only live in Bern, I imagine this is the best-defended castle on the continent,” Ceniro said. “Look at that road; it would be well-nigh impossible to scale in a direct assault, no matter how large your army was.”

“Good thing that’s not the plan, then,” Hector said. “And a doubly good thing they haven’t posted tons of sentries around here. They must trust the mountains to do their work for them.”

“And yet, from this place, the Fire Emblem was stolen,” Eliwood murmured. “Hard to imagine a thief who could do that and escape…”

“I bet Matthew could do it,” Hector said. “Given enough exotic supplies.”

Lyn laughed. “Well, let’s sneak into the castle! We’ve come all this way, we’re not turning back now.”

“I was waiting for you to say that!” Hector teased her. “I like the way you think.”

“But don’t get caught,” Ceniro cautioned them. “If you get stuck, turn around and come back here. Matthew, Legault, with us. The rest of you, spread out in small groups and get under cover.”

The six of them began to climb the steep road to the castle gate.

The main gate was unguarded, too. Ceniro frowned at the farseer, Matthew peering over his shoulder. It didn’t make sense.

“Strange,” Legault muttered. “The Fire Emblem was stolen from here, and they haven’t tripled security?”

“Indeed,” Lyn murmured back. “Very odd.”

“This way,” Matthew said, beckoning. “There’s a two minute opening for us to get into this inner garden. Over the wall, quick!” He gave Lyn a leg up; she sprang nimbly up the wall and dropped silently to the other side.

Ceniro was third after Eliwood, and found himself dropping down behind a thick screen of evergreen bushes. Hector was a bit noisier, dropping with a bit of a thud and a few clanks, but settled himself into stillness instantly, a very serious look on his face.

“Man, this is the easiest spying job ever,” Matthew whispered to Ceniro after he landed cat-like beside him. “Easiest. Ever. Can we do more of these?”

Ceniro smiled but said nothing, and they waited together as a small, angelic girl of about three came running into the courtyard, followed by a woman who was probably her nurse and two guards. She was laughing and running around in circles, hopping around and poking things with sticks.

“Guinivere!” came a young man’s voice, and the little girl looked around, her pale brown eyes lighting up with delight. A boy of about fifteen entered the garden through the other entrance, dressed in a royal tunic and wearing a circlet; a stiff-faced guard followed him. The little girl ran to the boy, who picked her up and twirled her around in the air.

Ceniro couldn’t help but smile at the affection between the two, obviously siblings. Their golden hair was the same, their eyes were the same, their smile was the same.

“Brother!” cried the little girl after she had finished laughing. “I’m so glad you came, Zephiel!”

“How have you been, Guinivere?” asked the prince.

“I’m good! But I’d be even better if you came to visit every single day!”

“Every single day, huh? That’s a lot, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Yay!” and the little group behind the hedge was biting their hands to keep from cooing out loud.

“Guinivere? Guinivere, are you out here?” called a new voice, a much deeper man’s voice, and Zephiel quickly put down his sister and stepped back, a shadow of apprehension crossing his face. Lyn looked at Ceniro, confused.

“Daddy!” Guinivere cried, and ran to her father, Desmond, the King of Bern, just entering through the same gate that Zephiel had. “Welcome home!”

“Were you a good girl while I was out? Come, give me a kiss. Oh, you’re so adorable.” He looked up from his daughter, and met his son’s eyes.

“Well met, Father,” said Zephiel in a low voice.

“…You take the same tone as your mother,” Desmond muttered. “What brings you to my castle?”

Zephiel’s face cleared and he took a step forward, towards his knight. “Ah, yes. Murdock.” The knight handed him a small, squirming bag. “We were hunting in the forest earlier, and came across this abandoned fox kit. After some nursing, he is tame as can be, and I thought Guinivere might like it.”

Guinivere squealed and clapped her hands, all her attention on the splash of red in the prince’s hands. “Eeeee! A baby fox, how cute! Is it really for me?”

Zephiel smiled involuntarily. “If you like it, it’s yours.”

“I do like it! I do! Thanks so much, Brother!”

“…Guinivere, go and play in the other garden a while,” Desmond said, still staring at his son.

Guinivere put her little head on one side, but took her fox and the hand of her nurse and skipped away.

“I told you to stay away from the castle,” Desmond said to Zephiel in a low, angry voice.

Zephiel swallowed awkwardly. “I-I know. I’m sorry, Father. I heard Guinivere was ill, and came to see if she was better…”

“Came to see if she would die, rather! You and your traitorous mother think of nothing more than stealing my throne.”

“Father! I would never want to see Guinivere harmed, not ever!”

“You plague me! Return to the manse. I will see your face no more today.”

“Your majesty,” began the knight.

“Silence, Murdock. You serve him at my pleasure, and do not forget it. Begone.”

Silently, the prince and the knight turned and left. Ceniro heard the clop of horses soon after.

The king paced a few steps, his hands clasped behind his back and his brow furrowed. “…No matter how I warn him, he comes. Why is it that the very sight of him tries my patience so? He is truly of my own flesh and blood, yet…”

“It is jealousy, my king,” said a woman’s voice, and a very beautiful woman appeared from the inner entrance to the courtyard. She was elegantly dressed, with long waving black hair, and Eliwood grabbed Ceniro’s arm in alarm for her eyes were golden and seemed to glow, although the sun was hidden behind clouds.

“…Sonia? …Well? Is it safe?”

“It is. The plan is working smoothly.”

Desmond still frowned. “It is unlikely, but the queen might attempt to win back the Emblem somehow. Are you prepared?”

“Naturally. It is hidden in the most well-guarded place of the Black Fang fortress. I will not fail you, my king.”

“Do not fail, either, in returning it nine days from now. And my other… request?”

“One of the Four Fangs will see to it. It will be nothing at all. However, General Murdock, the man protecting the prince… He is young, yet well respected. Shall we finish him, too?”

“…Murdock… His birth is low. And yet his combat skills have won him the title of Wyvern General. It would be a great blow if Bern were to lose him. I’ll think of something to remove him from Zephiel’s side. Will that do?”

“It will do nicely,” Sonia replied, her red lips curving in a smile that made Ceniro shiver. She suddenly stiffened the the smile vanished. “Wait. …I sense someone here.”

Desmond waited, listening, but shortly they all heard peals of childish laughter approaching. “It’s only my daughter. You should go before you are discovered.”

“Of course, my lord. Do not forget the Black Fang’s contribution once we are successful. Farewell.” She lifted a hand and vanished into thin air, just as Guinivere reappeared and came running to her father.

“Daddy, can I come back yet? Oh, where is Zephiel? I wanted to play with him. This kit is the cutest thing ever!”

“He had duties, and so he left,” Desmond said. “Come, Guinivere, I will play with you!” The king knelt, an eager look on his face, and he held out his hands to her.

She pouted. “No! No, no, no, I wanted to play with him! I’ll go call him back. Here, hold my fox!” She handed him the baby fox and ran away, calling her brother’s name.

A stormy look passed over Desmond’s face, and he called one of the princess’s guards to him, muttering something to him as he passed over the fox. The guard saluted and marched away in a deliberate fashion that left Ceniro concerned for the fox’s well-being. The king, too, left the garden, still muttering, now to himself.

The six behind the hedge were hunched in shocked silence. Well, Lyn, Eliwood, Hector, and Ceniro were, Matthew was looking a bit disgruntled, and Legault had stretched out under a bush with his hands behind his head.

Ceniro glanced at the farseer and tapped Matthew on the shoulder. “We have to get out of here. We’ve learned what we needed to. Do you want this?”

Matthew’s face lit up. “You’re letting me play with your toys?” He took the farseer gently and blinked at it.

“It’s shatterproof,” Ceniro whispered. “You won’t break it.”

“Right, then. This way!”

Matthew successfully led them back out of the palace undetected, and Legault followed them up as the rear-guard. Ceniro paused a moment at the top of the road down to admire the view; it was quite spectacular to see the valleys and lower mountains of Bern spreading out south of them.

“C’mon,” Lyn said, tugging his arm. “I know you like the view, but let’s keep going, okay? We don’t want to get caught here. It would almost be worse.”

“Coming.” Zephiel and Murdock were no longer in sight, and he was pleased to see that neither were their army, safely hidden in the forests and perhaps the small village nearby. Matthew handed him back the farseer, and he gave the spy a quick smile as he took it.

“Hang on,” Lyn said, pointing. “What’s that?”

“That’s a wyvern,” Hector said. “But- It’s attacking one of ours!”

“It’s Nils!” Ceniro cried. “We have to get down there. I’ll be right behind you.” He took in the army’s positions at a glance. Nils was horribly isolated. Where were Ninian and the knights who had been with him?

“Louise! Can you discourage that wyvern rider from picking on Nils? Nils, run evasively, we’ll be there as quick as we can!”

Not even attempting to remain hidden, the lords sprinted down the mountain. “Marcus, Isadora, Nils needs support immediately. Do not engage the wyvern rider; she appears to be vicious.”

It took them five tense minutes to get back down into the valley, where Nils stumbled, panting hard, into their midst. Marcus and Isadora were right behind him, having just caught up to him.

Lyn, also panting, drew her sword as the wyvern rider came swooping up to them and landed in front of them. “You leave him alone! If it’s a fight you want, take me on instead!”

The lady knight grinned widely. “You’ve come! I’ve been looking forward to this!”

“Looking forward to what?” Eliwood asked cautiously, edging forward with his sword in hand, too.

“The chance to crush you! And then of course to hand the children over to Lord Nergal. The girl is here as well, isn’t she?”

“So you work for Nergal, huh? Aren’t you one of Bern’s soldiers?”

“Heath, what can you tell me of a blonde woman wyvern rider with a big scar on her face?”

“There’s more than one person like that in Bern’s army,” Heath answered. “But I think it’s Commander Vaida, though I don’t remember her having a scar. She’s very strong, and her wyvern Umbriel is one of the strongest. Her spear will cut through anything. She’s very proud, arrogant, even, but… I owe her my life.” He paused. “Be careful.”

“We’ll do our best,” Ceniro said.

“True, we’ve a contract with the Black Fang,” Vaida said to Hector. “But I am loyal to one master only! He who sits on the throne of Bern!”

“Then why-” began Eliwood.

“You all talk too much! Let’s get started, shall we? I’ve long hungered for someone to test my strength against. Make this last a while, will you? I want to enjoy this!” She took to the skies, calling out in a loud voice. “Come on out, you lot! It’s playtime! The palace has promised to stay out of this, so make as much ruckus as you like!”

“Not good,” Ceniro said, watching the map flood with red enemy avatars advancing on each of their little groups. “Everyone! We’re under attack, and scattered through the valley. We must consolidate! And stay away from the wyvern commander!”

“Not going to help much when she’s chasing us,” Pent replied coolly. “Orders?”

Ceniro bit his lip for a moment and then began rapping out orders, striding towards the lower valley in the centre.

“Ceniro!” Hector shouted, and ran at him and knocked him down. Vaida swooped low over his head, her lance carving a groove into the ground right where the tactician had been standing. Ceniro grunted, the wind knocked out of him. The small bits of armour he was wearing as his disguise both cushioned his fall and bit painfully into his flesh. He scrambled up and helped Hector up.

“Ah… I’m sorry!” Yet again, he had been caught unawares from having his head in his farseer. But he had more important things to attend to. “Heath! What are you doing?”

“I’m going to talk to her,” Heath said determinedly, soaring over his head after Vaida. “Perhaps I can get her to withdraw.”

“If she’s part of the Black Fang, not likely! Heath, stay away from her!”

“Oh, Hyperion and I can lead Umbriel on a pretty chase. You just worry about her goons!”

“Heath!”

“Perhaps you should let him do it?” Eliwood said. “I trust he can keep himself alive…”

“I don’t,” Ceniro said shortly. “She’s insane.” He ran for the mountain on the farther end of the valley, hoping to get a better physical vantage point. “Guy, Matthew, Erk, stay with me – there are bandits about.”

Heath and Vaida were yelling at each other, their voices evidently well-trained to shout across vast distances in the air. “Heath? The deserter? What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, Commander Vaida! Are you not sworn to serve the Royal Family? Why are you working with the Black Fang?”

“I don’t see anyone from the Royal Family around, do you?” Vaida sneered, sweeping her lance in a semi-circle. “The Royal Family comes first, but if I take a few jobs on the side, no one cares! Not that it’s any of your business!”

“Commander-”

“Why did you come back? Did you want to die so badly? When I let you go the first time?”

“Commander, I’m sorry about your scar-”

“It’s nothing! Now… prepare yourself! Have you improved at all since you left your homeland?”

“Heath…” Ceniro couldn’t say anything. Obviously there was history between the two, and it wasn’t his place to interfere, not even to help their ally. But he didn’t want a repeat of what happened to Sain the day before.

“You can run, but you can’t hide!” Vaida cackled, as Heath finally flung his wyvern into the air, speeding away from her.

“Rebecca, Louise, Pent, get to the copse of trees about forty-five degrees to your right. Heath, bring her in-”

“No,” Heath rasped. “Don’t kill her! She’s not evil, just…”

“Just trying to kill us!” Hector yelled, grappling with a swordsman in another part of the valley. Lyn leapt up behind him and decapitated him. “Thanks, Lyn.”

“Anytime.”

“No,” Heath said. “Don’t!” He swerved as the other wyvern dove on him. “Don’t!” Ceniro wasn’t even sure who Heath was talking to anymore, Vaida or Ceniro.

Vaida’s lance tore through Hyperion’s wing, and Heath and his mount went spiralling rapidly towards the valley floor…

Priscilla’s scream hung in the air.

 

Chapter 3: Four-Fanged Offense         Chapter 5: Pale Flower of Darkness