EDIT: Whoohoo, I’m done! Had to take a break there for the final chapter… and then it ended up being silly long as my usual stories are these days. Oh well!

…must… not… rewrite… rest of story… *goes to reread and possibly tweak it* …nooooo…

 

Chapter 9: A Grim Reunion     Vol 2: The Tactician and the Jewel: Chapter 1: A Lord’s Quest

 

Chapter 10: The Distant Plains

 

Kent no longer led the group by the main roads, but as they drew near the castle the next day, it became clear that Lundgren was not taking any chances. The closer they got to the castle, the more patrols Rath, Wil, and Matthew warned them of, and as they reached the edge of a forest overlooking the valley of Caelin Castle in the early afternoon, they saw it was crawling with soldiers.

Lyn had already suggested to Florina that flying was a bad idea that day, and so they were hidden for the time being, but it looked like it would be almost impossible to reach the castle – certainly impossible while remaining unseen. To make matters worse, it had been raining off and on the entire day, making everyone uncomfortable and the horses slow. Lyn had been irritable, snappishly refusing any help from anyone. Ceniro assumed she was nervous. Wallace had been attempting to distract her by telling her stories of her mother when she was a little girl, but Lyn was only partly listening. Which meant she was really nervous.

Since the little forest they were in gave a good view of the valley but seemed relatively far from the soldiers, they decided to take a break, partly to regain their energy, and partly to give Ceniro a chance to observe the enemy movements and make his plans accordingly.

Ceniro ate his snack near Erk; he had not talked as much to the young mage as the others, but he liked him. “I think I should – we should apologize for dragging you everywhere. I’m sure this is not what you signed up for in the slightest.” He looked around for Lucius. “Lucius, too. You just offered to help Nils, and we kind of brought you along without a second thought all these weeks.”

Lucius smiled and shook his head calmly. “I said before that I was happy to help Lady Lyndis in her goal and to defeat those who would harm others.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, I missed that part…”

“If I had wanted to go, or if my master had sent for me, I could have left at any time. Do not trouble yourself.”

“It’s not anything to worry about with me either,” Erk said. “I’m just here to escort Serra, and she wouldn’t leave unless someone very high-rank ordered her out… which Lady Lyndis doesn’t seem inclined to do. It’s fine. She’s so distracted with everything else I’ve gotten far more studying done than I thought I would on this trip. And… I’m doing good. I think my teacher would approve. So don’t feel you or Lady Lyn are obligated to feel responsible for it.”

“Yes, exactly,” Lucius said.

“I’m glad,” Ceniro said. “I didn’t really think about it for a while, and I felt bad that I was so careless towards you.” Was that a pattern he saw in the patrols, or just a coincidence?

“Ooh, are you talking about me?” Serra herself said, and plumped herself down beside him. “You were talking about what a boon I am to this group! I know it!”

Ceniro smiled. “We certainly couldn’t have come this far without you and your skills, Serra. I for one am very grateful.”

Erk muttered something, and Lucius smiled serenely.

Serra ignored them both. “W-well… that’s good!” she said, apparently not expecting him to respond that way. “You should feel grateful! I’m very generous, donating my time like this!” She softened a little. “But… you’re the one giving the orders. I don’t think Lady Lyn would have come half so far without you.”

“Y-you give me too much credit,” Ceniro stammered. “It’s only because of Lyn’s passion that we’ve come so far. She’s a wonderful leader.”

“What did you say?” Sain asked, looking around. “Did everyone hear that? You should say that again, louder.”

“W-what- I don’t-”

“Go on,” Serra said. “She does have lots of passion and charisma! Almost as much as me!”

Ceniro stood up at Sain’s insistent wave and cleared his throat awkwardly. “I-I think a lot of y-you in this group give me far too much credit for bringing us this far. It’s all thanks to Lyn’s passion that we’ve come here, thanks to her leadership. I have by far the easiest job here; I just figure out who should be fighting where. Everyone else has a much harder job – you trust me and the things I say, and I know that can’t be easy, not when I ask crazy things like that Lucius be in the front line or that Florina assault an archer. You’re the ones who have to fight, to kill the enemy and to not get killed by the enemy. I can’t do that.”

“You think so?” Lyn herself asked. “But I’m sure we would have found it much harder to accomplish everything we’ve done, especially without anyone dying, without you.” She smiled at him warmly from across camp, for the first time that day. “Split the credit fifty-fifty?”

Ceniro blushed. “O-okay, if… if you insist.” Matthew grumbled something, and Salir giggled.

“And I want to thank all of you,” Lyn said, spreading her arms towards them all. “I never thought things would be this way when I left home, but I am grateful to all of you for coming with me while we make this attempt to unite me with my grandfather. The final battle is upon us, and I won’t say I’m not worried, as you can probably tell, but I have faith in every one of you, that you will get me to my goal. So… thank you.” She bowed, and her green hair brushed the ground. Everyone clapped for her, and she was a little bit pink when she straightened up and coughed awkwardly.

“Have you found a way through yet?” Lyn asked Ceniro more seriously, coming towards him – oh no, she was coming towards him – to look out over the valley.

“Maybe,” he said. “I’m wondering if Florina would be willing to be a decoy for us. If she were to appear on the north side of the castle, it would make it a lot easier for us here on the south side.”

“Mm. I’ll ask her. One moment.”

Ceniro trailed after Lyn as she went over to speak to the pegasus knight. Florina seemed willing, but intimidated. “M-maybe if… Lyn, I know you can’t come with me, but maybe…”

“I’ll go with you?” Ninian said, standing up. “I can’t fight, but… I can be moral support? I’m not too heavy, I think.”

“I was actually thinking that you and Nils and the other civilians could stay here, or head to one of the villages nearby,” Ceniro said. “This is the final battle, I think, and… if we lose, it would be awful if you were hurt or killed because of us.”

Ninian shook her head, her long hair swaying around her. “Everyone else follows because they want to help. Nils and I can help too, and we won’t be left behind now just because we can’t fight. Nils helps with his flute. My ankle is still bothering me, but I can ride with Dame Florina and watch for danger.”

“We’d feel bad if you lost because you could have used us!” Nils said. “I know the risks are high, but we don’t want to leave just yet. We have faith in you.”

“Please, Ceniro,” Ninian said, clasping her hands. “I will do my best, I really will.”

“…If you insist,” Ceniro said. “Florina, all you have to do is fly and not get hit by arrows or magic. I don’t expect you to fight. I don’t even want you to fight. Just distract them. Ninian will help you watch for archers.”

“So I can come?” Ninian asked, smiling. “That’s fine, right, Nils?”

“Like you said, trusting isn’t easy in general,” Nils chirped. “But I do trust you, Ceniro. And it sounds like it won’t be too dangerous, if you’re just flying, Ninian. So it’s fine.”

“Thanks,” Ninian said, smiling. “I thought you would say that.”

“Th-thank you,” Florina stammered. “I’m very grateful, and to you, Ninian. I know I’ll do a good job now!”

“That’s right!” Lyn said. “Shall we start now?”

“May as well,” Ceniro said. “Florina, back track a bit north, and then head west to the north side of the castle. There’s some villages up there you can take shelter in if they get too close. Watch out for the weather. We’ll launch our assault ten minutes after they see you.”

“Okay!” Florina said, saluting in the Ilian style with a bright and hopeful smile. He wondered if he should tell her what to do if they failed, but… no, it would only discourage her. He pushed his doubts out of his mind and smiled back. If they did fail, she and Ninian would be smart enough to get away, hopefully.

“Well, we have a little while, then,” Lyn said.

“Actually, we can move out now too,” Ceniro said. “We’re still a couple hours away from the castle ourselves, and we can get closer without being seen.”

“Will you be charging them head-on?” Wallace said hopefully.

“N-no, we don’t have enough people for that,” Ceniro said. “That’s why we’ve been so cautious so far.”

“It’s all right, lad. I understand. You’ve done a good job so far, and I’ll follow your commands the rest of the way,” the old general assured him. “I would never have given the sort of orders you do – I’d say magic here, archers here, knights here, and let the rest work itself out – and probably take many casualties. I care for my men, I do, but I always thought that casualties were a fact of war… unless someone stopped the fighting with clever words. But even though Lundgren won’t be stopped by words now, I’ve seen that battle can be won without losing anyone. In fact, I’d say you held back yesterday.”

“W-what do you mean?” Ceniro asked.

“You could have completely annihilated Eagler’s men, but instead you asked them to surrender.” Ceniro didn’t point out that Eagler’s soldiers had surrendered on their own, or that he really didn’t like seeing defeated men executed – slaughtered, maybe, was a word for it, especially since they might not be acting of their own conviction, thanks to Lundgren. “If it were me, I would say this fight was impossible. But I think you have a chance. So what’s your plan?”

Ceniro ducked his head. “Let me explain…”

 

Anastasia, Kent’s mother, was all right with being left at the nearest village, but Salir flatly refused to go. “I’m not going anywhere when my fiancé is fighting for his life and his liege-lady’s honour,” she said. “I can be a distraction, too!”

At this, Anastasia changed her mind, saying: “If my son is in danger, I don’t wish to wait in such fear and apprehension.”

“But mother…” Kent said. “I would be so much easier in my mind if I knew you were safe. I fear for you too.”

“And I for you,” Sain said to Salir. “Remember the bandits? Now we’re fighting against our own former comrades, and they’re much better than bandits. I might not be able to protect you as well.”

Salir’s face fell. “I wasn’t much help then… But that was a whole year ago!”

“One minute,” Sain said to them, and took Salir aside to talk to her more earnestly.

“Oh look, they’re having a serious conversation for once,” Matthew quipped quietly to Ceniro. Ceniro believed him, although he blushed and turned away once they started kissing.

In a few minutes, Sain and Salir were back, with surprisingly sombre faces. Sain kissed her hand, and Salir went to stand with Anastasia. “I’ll go to the village.”

Kent and Dorcas went to escort the women to the village nearby, while Ceniro began to lead the group down into the valley, not directly towards the castle, but to the south, where a small river from the east joined a larger one from the north. They’d have to find their own way across, as the bridge was heavily guarded, but they’d be wet long before they arrived, as it began to rain.

“How did you meet Salir, anyway?” Ceniro asked Sain as the knight carefully led his horse across the slippery, uneven ground.

“It was about three years ago we started hanging out regularly, just when Kent and I had been knighted,” Sain said. “I liked going to Coril for the local beer and dragged him along, and she worked in the inn there. I was trying to show Kent how to talk to girls, and… it backfired.”

“What do you mean?”

Sain stifled a hearty laugh, grinning broadly. “I thought she was sixteen. It turned out she was fourteen. I had no idea! She gave as good as she got with the flirting and all… But anyway, after I took my foot out of my mouth, we started talking on the regular, and she’s fun to be around. Kent and I and a few others saved Coril from bandits sometime last year, and shortly afterwards I asked her to marry me. My parents aren’t too keen on the idea, but I know she’s the right girl for me!”

“She clearly adores you,” Ceniro said. “I’m sure you’ll be happy together. When are you getting married?”

“Next spring, so make sure you come back for that!” Sain slapped him on the shoulder. “I bet you go wandering off again, but you have to come back for that. Maybe we can get Lucius to officiate… or Lady Lyn! Hmm, Lucius, will you be around next spring?”

“I couldn’t say,” the monk said. “My master will probably send for me before then. Besides, I… have never done a wedding before.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s pretty easy,” Sain said. “You tell us to be good to each other, and make us say some vows, and then I kiss her, and we’re married!” He winked.

“Please tell me you’re putting more thought into it than that,” Serra exclaimed, scandalized, although she coldly ignored Lucius. “You can’t just treat your wedding so lightly! You should make your bride feel extra-special! Like a princess- no, like a queen! And then how is your marriage going to work out with such little thought?”

Matthew coughed, a cough that seemed to have the words ‘pot’ and ‘kettle’ in it. Erk snorted.

Sain shook his head cheerfully. “Please have some faith in me, Lady Serra! I was teasing, that’s all.”

“I just want to make sure,” Serra scolded, shaking her staff at him.

“That’s all right! Oh, Lady Lyn! Would you officiate, then?”

“If I must,” Lyn said. “I’ve never done one before either. And first we have to win this fight.” Her face was set in grim lines.

“I’ll fight through worse than this for Salir’s sake,” Sain said, trying to lighten her mood again, but for once, he failed. Lyn sighed and moved on ahead. Sain shrugged.

Kent and Dorcas returned shortly, just when they had reached the river. The water was cold, even for summer, but this was the best place to cross, according to Kent, being not so deep and swift here, and it was a good place to venture out into the patrol-infested valley beyond. Indeed, it only came up to Ceniro’s waist, and he was far from the tallest person in the group. Sain gallantly let Serra ride his horse across, while Kent assisted Nils, but Lyn forged ahead on her own without help from anyone. Ceniro wondered what she was thinking. He often wondered, but he wondered more now.

Once across, things became slow, even when the rain stopped and the sun came out fitfully; it didn’t do much to dry them. More important at the moment was the need to stay out of sight, behind hedges, in fields, anywhere that offered concealment. Even Wallace managed to keep the rattle of his armour to a minimum. If they were spotted here, they would get bogged down in fighting and the rest of the Caelin army would be able to surround them. If that happened, Ceniro was certain he would lose. There were some things he had no answer for, not yet. But Matthew and Rath reported that a lot of the soldiers were moving away, and once the rain had cleared, he caught a distant glimpse of a white speck that was Florina and Ninian, quite high – probably too high to be shot at.

Even if they weren’t surrounded by the Caelin army out here an hour away from the castle, his plan was a shaky all-or-nothing at best. It all came down to confronting Lundgren; if he could be defeated, then surely the other soldiers would have no reason to fight. But… if Lundgren defeated Lyn, or if a significant number of soldiers turned out to be loyal to him, then everyone would die.

There were so many ways to lose this day, and he had to carefully pick through the options to find the few that would lead to survival. It was frightening, and he found his heart beating nervously. They hadn’t even seen battle yet. Was this how Lyn was feeling? Would it get better once the sneaking around was over and they had no choice but to go for it?

They were still a ways away from the castle when all available cover ended. Ceniro frowned at the castle, willing it to be closer. There was a regiment to their right that they had passed a while ago, and there was one on their left, closer to the castle, that was going to be a problem, and that didn’t even reckon with the castle itself. How many archers would there be inside it? Wallace would have to take Lyn forward.

He looked back at his group and nodded.

“This is it,” Lyn said, and he nodded again.

“Here we go,” he said, more to himself than anyone else. “Everyone, head for the soldiers on the left! We’ll clear them out before we head to the castle. Do it fast, before the others can come to their aid!”

“Just leave it to me,” Wallace cried, brandishing his lance and rushing forward, out of cover. “I’ll send them crying!”

It wasn’t quite as simple as that, and it took longer than Ceniro would have wished, but they were through the enemy before the other soldiers could catch up to them. The Caelin soldiers seemed disorganized, but perhaps it was their surprise that Lyn’s group had gotten so close, unseen. Ceniro frowned again at the castle. This was a proper castle, not like the little fortresses and towers he’d had to take so far. This was the seat of power for an entire canton, and it was composed of multiple parts, all of which were built to defend each other. How was he going to take this? He still didn’t have a clear idea, and he hated it.

Who was that on the walls of the castle? He frowned harder at the distant figure, but it turned and vanished into a tower. Was it Lundgren?

They were within arrowshot now. “Everyone, stay alert for arrows. Wallace, shelter Lyn! Everyone else, forward at your discretion.” The castle gate was open. Was Lundgren overconfident, or was he inviting them into a trap? “We’ll start by taking the gate-house-”

A figure appeared in the gate, and Ceniro fell silent. He knew it was Lundgren. The ornate, gilded crest of arms on the man’s chest proclaimed it, and the haughty sneer and aristocratic hair confirmed it. Wallace shouted in anger, and Lyn gripped her sword more tightly.

“You traitor, General Wallace,” Lundgren snarled. “You failed to take out the imposter, and instead joined her!?”

“I must do what is best for Caelin, not necessarily what is best for you,” Wallace shot back, leveling his spear for a charge. “Lady Lyndis is Lady Madelyn’s true daughter! We both know you’re pretending she’s an imposter. Drop it, there’s no use.”

Lundgren was looking around at the group, and Ceniro realized that the castle was much less defended than he had anticipated. Lundgren must have turned out the entire garrison to keep them away, and left no one to defend it. In that case, if they could get past him, they were home free! He inhaled to give orders, and Lundgren interrupted him. “Ah, Kent, Sain. You must have worked hard to bring this girl here, at the orders of my brother.”

“I will not listen to your poisoned words, Lord Lundgren!” Kent cried.

“I’m curious, though,” Sain said, grinning. “Go onnnnn.”

“You’re not like that stubborn fool there,” Lundgren said, smiling a little in return. “Leave this unworthy child and join me at my side. In my service, you will become a general and a lord, and all of Lycia will know of your name!”

“As if they don’t already,” Wil said to himself, chuckling. Ceniro was looking around, and the other regiment of soldiers was rushing closer… They would have to finish this soon or they would be trapped between soldiers and Lundgren.

“It’s a gracious offer, my lord,” Sain said politely, bowing in his saddle. “But I’m quite fond of my friend the stubborn fool, and my allegience is sworn to noble Marquess Hausen and lovely Lady Lyn! Not to mention it was you who kidnapped my fiancée and Kent’s mother! I will fight to my last breath to defend them all!”

“Then your last breath will be here at my lance!” Lundgren growled, his face contorting in rage. “Where is this girl, anyway? This cowardly girl claiming kinship with my brother!? The House of Caelin has no need of a Sacaean mongrel!”

“I’m right here!” Lyn shouted, sprinting foward with sword ready to attack. “Your evil ambitions have harmed my grandfather and the very land you ought to serve! Prepare yourself, for I have neither pity nor mercy for you, and I do not forgive!”

“Lyn-” Ceniro began, his heart clenching, and broke off, biting his lip. She didn’t need his interference. “No one interfere!”

“Aye,” said another voice, and Ceniro looked over to see they were surrounded by Caelin soldiers. “No one interfere until it’s all over.”

Ceniro frowned, and quietly rearranged some of his friends to give them the best chance possible of breaking free, should the duel end badly. But… if it did go badly, he didn’t have much hope. There were too many soldiers. Maybe one or two people would escape… but not everyone.

And if it did end badly… Lyn would be dead. He took a deep shuddering breath. It was so difficult to watch her, with that in mind. She was so incredibly beautiful, and strong and graceful, and that could change at any moment, if she slipped even for a breath.

If she died, he… wouldn’t give up, not while his other friends could escape. But he himself wasn’t going anywhere. Matthew was right. He should have said something.

He mentally slapped himself for thinking of something so irrelevant while Lyn was fighting for their lives. The sun was beginning to cloud over again, and a big fat raindrop landed on his nose, startling him.

The Mani Katti was shimmering through the air as Lyn sliced and stabbed at Lundgren, leaping out of the way of his attacks. The rain didn’t bother her at all, not even with her hair sticking to her back, and she never seemed to lose her footing on the wet cobbles before the castle. Lundgren was more cautious with the rain. If either of them slipped and fell, it would be the end.

“Give up,” Lundgren said to her. “If you surrender, I’ll only turn you out of the country, and all your little friends can leave with their lives.”

“You’re a horrible liar,” Lyn snarled, ducking under his spear.

“Stop dodging!” Lundgren roared, and Lyn staggered back a pace with a scream as the lance pierced her left arm. Ceniro’s heart felt like it stopped beating.

Serra jumped, but Wallace waved her back. “Lady Lyn must win with her own strength. Have faith in her!”

Lyn clutched at the wound with her other hand, blood streaming down her arm. But her eyes were still determined, and she showed no signs of retreating.

“Why won’t you give up?” Lundgren cried. “This should all have been mine by now! A doddering old man and a savage girl-”

Lyn didn’t even reply, only leapt forward. She dodged around the stab of Lundgren’s lance, though it grazed her side, and thrust the point of the Mani Katti squarely through the crest on his breastplate. The katana flashed brilliantly under the rain, and the breastplate gave way before it.

Lundgren crashed to the ground, his lance falling from his hand.

 

Lyn rushed into the castle, and he chased after her. He wasn’t much taller than she was, and she was very determined, but he wasn’t letting her out of his sight, either.

At the great door to the main hall, they were met by a distinguished-looking gentleman. “Lady Lyndis?”

“Who are you?” Lyn demanded, but it had given Ceniro time to catch up, and the others were hurrying after him. “Can I see my grandfather?” Serra caught up, and began to tend to Lyn’s arm and side. Ceniro wondered if she could even feel the pain of her wounds through all the adrenaline she must be feeling. But they were healing now.

“I am Reissmann, the chancellor to the Caelin family. It gives me great joy to welcome you home.”

“Great,” Lyn said. “Does my grandfather yet live?”

“Yes. I will take you to him now. I’m afraid your friends cannot come with you; he is very weak, and has asked for no visitors.”

Lyn looked hard at the chancellor for a moment, before nodding. “Very well. Lead the way.”

“And the rest of you, look lively!” Wallace bellowed. “We’ve got some very tired wanderers here! What does a retired general have to do to get some service around here!?”

Ceniro wasn’t quite sure what happened next, but at the end of it, he had a guest room to share with Wil, and a small tub with hot water for a bath, and clean clothes that were far too good for him, and a soft bed to relax on. His window had a view of the courtyard, so he saw Florina and Ninian when they came to land, someone having evidently gone out to tell the other soldiers that everything had been resolved.

He washed and dressed in the nice clothes, and lay back on the bed to relax a bit, and suddenly felt very tired. For half an hour, he knew nothing.

 

Wil was poking him, and Ceniro grunted and swatted at him.

“No, seriously, it’s time to get up,” Wil said. “It’s time for dinner! You don’t want to miss that, do you?”

“I guess not,” Ceniro said, smiling as his stomach protested. “It’s just… so hard to believe we made it, and all the sudden lack of worry has me sleepy.”

“It would be harder to believe that we didn’t make it,” Wil said, grinning, and Ceniro had to admit he had a point. “C’mon, up and at ’em! You don’t want to miss having a proper meal with Lady Lyn, do you?”

Ceniro blushed and glared at Wil, who laughed and left the room.

Lyn was at dinner, her eyes sparkling; her grandfather was alive, and had talked to her and acknowledged her as his granddaughter, and she hoped that with the cessation of the poison and her encouragement, he would recover fully.

The next morning, when the companions gathered in the garden of the castle, it was discovered that Matthew had slipped out during the night. When they had gathered, Serra announced her intention of heading on towards Ostia, as her original goal was, and Erk nodded with resignation. Nils and Ninian, too, were heading onwards on their travels, at least in a couple of days. Lyn hugged all of them and wished them well, and Kent ensured that everyone would have plenty of food and money to see them on their way.

“But you’re staying, right, Lady Lyn?” Sain asked, Salir hanging off his arm. “Tell me truly!”

Lyn smiled. “At least until my grandfather is better. I can’t leave him while he’s ill. He’s the only family I have left, and I want him to have a long life.”

“I heard from the physician that he already looks like a new man,” Kent said.

“In that case,” Florina said, with an air of great decision. “Um, who can I talk to, to join the Caelin knights?”

“That would be this fellow,” Sain said, pointing at Kent.

Kent blinked. “Me?”

“Oh yes! It’s not official yet, but Chancellor Reissmann told me that you and I are going to be the new Knight Commanders of Caelin! And you’re going to be the senior commander!”

“Why didn’t he tell me?” Kent said, taking the news awfully calmly for being told he was the new Knight Commander at the age of twenty. “In any case, Florina, you will be very welcome to stay here.”

“We’ll be together always, Lady Lyn!” Florina cried, hugging her friend.

“That does make me happy, but… Florina, to you, I’m still just Lyn.”

“But Kent and Sain follow the rules! I should, too, even though you’re my best friend. I’m just happy that I get to stay with you! What I call you doesn’t matter, doesn’t it?”

Lyn hung her head and sighed. “If you insist…”

“I’d like to stay too, if that’s okay,” Wil spoke up, smiling broadly.

“Weren’t you going to visit your family?” Lyn asked. “You’re welcome to stay as well, just…”

“I was, but… It would be a shame to completely dismantle Lyn’s Legion, no? I’ll send them a letter or something. They’ll understand!”

“Well, thank you,” Lyn said. “How about the rest of you, are you staying too?”

“I should be getting back to Natalie,” Dorcas said. “But… I think we’ll be moving to Lycia soon. It seems a far better place for her than North Bern. Keep an eye out for us.”

“I certainly will,” Lyn said. “Best wishes to you both!” Dorcas bowed.

“I might stay for a while,” Lucius said. “You are all such good people, and I am blessed to have met you and journeyed with you.”

“I might, but you have no need of my services anymore,” Rath said. “I will probably go soon.”

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, services or no,” Lyn said. “But I understand.” She turned to Wallace. “I assume you’re staying, of course.”

Wallace guffawed. “Actually, no, Lady Lyndis! I had so much fun swinging my lance around that I think I might go on my own adventure! But thanks for thinking of me!”

“But General,” Sain cried. “By yourself? What about your farm?”

“Ah, my landlady can take care of my farm. And don’t worry about me, young Sain! You just help Kent whip the garrison into shape! When I come back…”

“Yes, sir!” Kent cried, straightening to attention, and Wallace laughed again.

Lyn turned to Ceniro. “Oh! Ceniro, I almost forgot about you. Will you be staying?”

He hesitated. “I-I… for a little while, I’d like to, yes.” He tried to ignore Salir’s giggling and Wil’s eyebrow waggle.

Lyn smiled, apparently oblivious to the others’ antics. “That’s good. You were the first person I met on this journey, and it would be a shame to part right away. I’m glad.”

 

A few days later, Lord Hausen was well enough to meet with the remaining companions, sitting up in his bed with Lyn sitting on a chair placed at his right hand. Ceniro felt the entire interview was a blur, although Lord Hausen was very gracious and Lyn being there helped a lot. Fortunately, Ceniro wasn’t called upon to talk very much. Kent did most of it, with many interjections from Sain, and a few from Wil. Ceniro was just happy to have met Lyn’s grandfather, and that he did seem to be as kind and patient as rumour said.

And over the following couple of weeks, everything was topsy-turvy, both busy and tranquil. Ceniro had little to do, but he went wandering around Caelin, and when he could, he went with Lyn and the knights and Florina and Wil. Kent taught him to ride a horse, though Ceniro decided in the end that he preferred walking. Salir and Anastasia had gone home to their respective villages, but the knights were eager to show Lyn and Ceniro around their homeland, and they visited Coril more than once, and met both of Kent’s parents in their home. General Eagler’s daughter Nanette was freed, and she returned to her father’s estate to mourn him.

And yet… there wasn’t much time Ceniro could spend with just Lyn. She was almost busier than Kent and Sain, and while she did try to make time for him… He wanted to tell her things, but it was harder than ever to find the words. Besides, she was a lady now, even if she insisted it was only temporary. What would be thought if it came out that a carpenter’s son from Santaruz had made a pass at the princess of Caelin?

A couple weeks later, he set out after dinner, alone and without telling anyone.

He hadn’t gone far when he heard hoofbeats behind him, and turned to see – not one of the knights, but Lyn herself, chasing after him. “Ceniro!”

He stopped and waited for her. “Um… hi, Lyn.” It sounded incredibly lame, even to his own ears.

Lyn pulled up beside him and dismounted, frowning a little in disappointment. “You weren’t going to sneak off like some of the others, were you?”

He looked at his boots, embarrassed and feeling bad. “I’m really bad at farewells, and, um, it’s time I was on my way.”

She relented, her face melting into a slightly melancholy smile. “I’ll really miss you, you know. You’ve done so much for me, and…” She trailed off, and they were left staring awkwardly at each other.

As the silence dragged on, Ceniro got the impression she was waiting for him to say something – or do something. He cleared his throat, looking away, and rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well, you’re all set now, with your grandfather and the others. Are you going to take him to the plains when he’s well?”

“Yes, when he’s well, and when he’s not too busy. I’m told that he has a lot of work to do, setting the things Lundgren did back to rights.”

“Ah. I see.”

Another awkward silence. The wind blew past them, tugging gently at Lyn’s hair and Ceniro’s cloak.

Lyn started. “Oh! I almost forgot.” She turned to her saddle and removed from it a long staff of ash wood. “I thought you might like this, since yours got broken before.”

He smiled with delight. “Oh, thank you! Th-that’s very thoughtful of you. I’ll take care of it.”

“Ceniro,” Lyn blurted out as he took it, “y-you like me, right?”

Ceniro flinched away from her, his eyes going wide, and his breath freezing in his lungs. “…Ummmmm…”

“Y-you do, right?” Lyn said, turning bright red – almost as red as he was turning.

“Well, um, yes, everyone does-”

“No, I mean…” She took a step closer to him, and he swallowed hard. “Do you… do you love me?”

Well, there was no getting around it now, and there was no way to hide his face. “Y-y-yes. Um. Yes, I do. Um.”

She smiled in a giggly way, still blushing. “I thought so! Um, I, um, like you too.”

He stared, completely forgetting to breathe, and the staff fell from his hands.

“So, um, let’s meet again!” Lyn said cheerfully. “I understand if you don’t want to stay, of course, you’re a wanderer, and you told me you always want to see what’s over the next hill, but… you will come back eventually, right?”

“L-lyn, I’m- I’m not the right guy-”

“That’s not true!” Lyn said, a bit too loudly. “You are if I say you are. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. All right?”

“A-all right.”

“So are you going to kiss me or what?” Lyn asked, forging ahead with awkwardly defiant bravado.

Ceniro swallowed. “Um.”

He reached out to take her in his arms – that was a good start, right? Her arms went around his neck, and for a moment they just held each other. Her hair was just as silken as it looked, and whatever he had imagined of hugging her smooth curves fell short of the real thing. She smelled like grass, like a fresh wind from another country.

Then she leaned forward, and before he could process what was happening, her lips were on his, and an indescribable feeling of happiness filled him from head to toe.

 

Chapter 9: A Grim Reunion     Vol 2: The Tactician and the Jewel: Chapter 1: A Lord’s Quest