62Chapter Twelve: In Which We Find New Resolve
Lyn—Chapter 9: A Grim Reunion
By the time we reached Khathelet, Lord Lundgren had already sent messengers to the neighboring territories and warned them of a pretender to the throne. If all the houses of the Lycian League turned against Lyn, she would never make it to Caelin alive. However, Eliwood was not as useless as I'd pictured him to be. He heard Lyn's story and considered the facts carefully. He reasoned that asking the houses to support Lyn would force them to choose sides. It was better to ask for less, ask them not to interfere with Caelin's affairs.
A couple days later, our troop was gathered in the common room of a Khathelet inn, waiting for Eliwood to return with news of the neighboring lands decisions.
Erk was attempting to read a book on thunder tomes while Serra prattled on about how she was considering a new hairstyle—pigtails just weren't working for her anymore. Wil, who had wisely stored his bow out of sight, was trying to talk to Florina. She was putting her best effort into it, sometimes managing to get a word out, but mostly their conversation consisted of Wil chattering on about his childhood friend and the girl who lived next door. Lucius and Ninian sat at a table, discussing different strategies to keep their hair straight while on the road, and beside them, Matthew was teaching Nils how to use a lockpick. Dorcas and Rath had struck up a friendship of sorts, where they sat side by side and said nothing to each other. I longed to join them, to be removed from the pain of having to socialize, but Rath still glared at me whenever I came too close to him, so I remained on the far side of room with Lyn, Kent, and Sain.
"What's taking so long?" asked Sain, glaring at the door. "Lord Eliwood said he would hear a response in a couple days."
"Maybe the lords are taking their time considering the matter," said Lyn. She kept fidgeting, locking and unlocking her fingers together.
Kent frowned. "We don't have time to waste. With each passing day, Marquess Caelin grows closer to death."
When the tears started to form in Lyn's eyes, I glared at Kent. Why did he have to say something that he knew would upset her? If she actually started to cry, I was going to have to call Florina over to do the comforting, and then Sain would flirt with Florina and she would get scared and I'd have to listen as she stammered her way through another agonizing conversation.
I was saved from this wretched fate by the arrival of Eliwood. The door of the inn opened, and all conversation ceased. The troop stared at the red-haired lord as he took a seat beside Lyn. Even if they couldn't hear the conversation, the troop watched Eliwood carefully, as if trying to read his body language.
"I've received word from Caelin's neighbors, Laus, Tuscana, Kathelet, Tania, and Santaruz," he said. "They will not interfere in Caelin's affairs. This they have promised."
Lyn breathed a sigh of relief and slumped back in her chair. "Eliwood, I don't know how to thank you…"
Eliwood stared at the ground, uncomfortable with her thanks. "All I've done is convince them to remain neutral in this dispute." He lifted his gaze to Lyn's. "However, this means I cannot aid you in any way either. I cannot even stay long without being considered an interloper. Will you be all right?"
The stubborn glare had returned to Lyn's eyes. "I will win. I have to. It's the only way that I can help my grandfather."
"I understand," said Eliwood. "Although I cannot help you directly, as a friend, I pray to St. Elimine for your success."
"Thank you," said Lyn. "I won't waste the opportunity you've given me."
Eliwood rose from his seat, and after a nod of greeting to the troop, he left the common room. As soon as the door closed behind him, Lyn caught the rest of the troop up on Eliwood's news. Then, she got to her feet and said, "Gather our things. We must reach Caelin as swiftly as possible."
I watched as the troop scurried about the room, gathering their belongings and scurrying for the door. Kent and Sain went ahead to ready the horses, while Dorcas and Wil went to purchase food from the innkeeper. I picked up my already packed rucksack and wrapped my dark green cloak around my shoulders—ever since leaving Bern, I had gotten into the habit of always being ready to flee at a moment's notice.
It took us an hour to finish preparations, and then we headed for the southern gates of the city of Khathelet. The weather was miserable. A thin, gray fog had covered the landscape, clinging to the mountains and forest to the east. I hated mist and humidity; it put me in a grouchy mood. My hair was a frizzy mess, and in disgust, I pulled it back into a ponytail. Serra, I noted, was having similar problems, about which she kept complaining to an uncaring Erk.
Lyn, however, wasn't concerned in the slightest how messy her hair was. She slung her bag over his shoulder and said, "All right, everyone! Let's get going! This weather is turning foul. It looks like a fog is rolling in."
"This is no good," muttered Kent. "If the fog thickens, we'll be blind in battle. It will be difficult to fight what we cannot see."
Lyn glanced around, evaluating the gray mist. "We can't let it delay us, though. Let us press on. We must get closer to the castle. What's the best route?"
Kent leaned back in his saddle and considered the options. "Let me think…our best path is to the south…however, that runs through General Eagler's estate. It looks like we still have one final obstacle to pass."
I fought back a groan. Kent just liked making extra work for me, didn't he? I scowled up at the knight and said, "I'd rather not plan a battle in the fog."
Kent frowned. "You're our tactician, right?"
"Apprentice tactician," I said. "And battles in the fog are much different from what I've done so far. The enemy could surround us in the fog, and I would have no idea. Couldn't we take another route and avoid General Eagler?"
"The second fastest route is five days longer," said Kent. "Marquess Caelin doesn't have time—"
"Danger!" cried Nils, breaking through our conversation. "Milady Lyndis, danger approaches from the southeast."
"Stop your arguing." Lyn glared first at Kent and then at me. "It appears we have little choice now but to fight our way through General Eagler's estate. Nora, I know being blind makes planning strategies difficult, but you can do it. I know you can."
Lyn was right, and so was Kent (probably), but I was in a foul mood and I didn't feel like forgiving anyone at the moment. I pulled my cloak closer around me before turning to face the fog that was moving up through the hills.
"I don't have a choice," I said, scanning the landscape. Through the thickening mist, I could see the enemies drawing nearer—a brigand in the mountains to the south, a swordsman near the forest to the east, and soldier coming down the pass north of the city. "Sain, Wil, Lucius, guard the bridge to the south east. Don't let the enemy cross the river. Lyn, Dorcas, Rath, stand and the base of the mountain and let the brigands come to you. Kent, Erk, Florina—guard the north pass. Don't let anyone enter this area. Serra, Nils, you two are going to stay in the center. Heal anyone who's injured and give energy to anyone who needs it."
"Nora," said Matthew. "Put me in the lead, please. Surely you know that we…er…thieves, if you must, have sharp eyes and can see well through fog."
"Get a torch from the city and hurry back," I said. "You're going to tell me everything you see."
Matthew ran off in the direction of the gates, leaving me beside Serra, Nils, and an injured Ninian.
Ninian was watching me carefully. "Nora, are you feeling ill?"
"What?" I asked.
"You're more…harsh than usual."
"I'm fine." I ran my fingers through my hair and turned away. Fog had always irritated me. In Rion, I'd curl up in bed on days like this and memorize maps of Etruria and the Western Isles. Lloyd had always laughed at the sight of me wrapped up in blankets, saying I was in hibernation. He loved the fog, enjoyed the mysteries it presented and the thrill of discovering what it masked.
I could feel Ninian and Nils watching me, scrutinizing. Thankfully, Serra was too absorbed in her frizzy hair to notice my sullen mood. I didn't think I could take it if she started harping on about how I shouldn't get depressed because I wasn't as awesome as she is.
Matthew returned with the flickering torch. He eyed the thickening fog and said, after a moment, "Swordsmen, cavalier, and an archer to the east, brigands and soldiers to the north, and brigands in the southern mountains. I—"
Matthew's words were cut short by a deep, rumbling voice. "So you've come…"
"Eek!" cried Serra, leaping backwards.
A huge, bald man in silver armor came storming through the mist, his dark eyes ablaze. I stumbled backwards, trying to get out of his way. His lance was too close, and despite his size, he was fast—he could kill me in an instant. For a an instant, I thought he might be one of Sonia's assassin's, but then Irealized that he was definitely Lycian. And besides, it seemed he wasn't interested in me. He stood over me, his eyes scanning our troop, searching for someone in particular. No prizes for guessing who.
"Ah!" Sain spun his horse around and galloped back towards the group, Kent doing the same from the north.
"You! You're… Sir Wallace!" cried Kent.
Lyn also started running over. "Kent, who is this?"
"He used to be the commander of the knights of Caelin," explained Kent.
Sain was staring at Wallace, the two almost at eye-level despite Sain being on a horse. "Aren't you supposed to be retired?" asked Sain. "I heard you were sowing fields now."
"I am, and I was," said Wallace. "Then I received orders from Lord Lundgren. I was told to capture an imposter and a pair of rouge knights."
Kent choked on his words, "Sir Wallace! Surely, you don't believe us to be oathbreakers, do you?"
Wallace met Kent's gaze with grim determination. "Bring me the girl that claims to be Lady Madelyn's child."
Sain frowned. "What are your intentions?"
"If I don't like what I see, I will take her to Lord Lundgren," said Wallace.
Kent gripped his lance. "We will prevent you."
Wallace seemed taken aback for a second, but then, as the anger set in, he roared, "You? Prevent me? You must be—"
"Enough!" cried Lyn, storming into the group of knights. "I'm right here! I am Lyndis."
Wallace froze. "Ah…"
"I'll understand if you don't believe me," said Lyn. "But I've had enough of you and your foolish posturing!"
Wallace stared down at Lyn. "Such beautiful eyes…"
"Pardon?" Lyn actually took a step back from the massive knight.
"I've been a knight for thirty years, and here is one thing I learned. A person with eyes as bright and true as yours is no deceiver." Wallace let out a booming laugh. "Ah, yes! I like you, girl! Why, I believe I'll even join your little band of mercenaries!"
Sain blinked. "Are you…are you serious?"
I had a hard time believing it myself.
Wallace pounded a fist against his chest. "This old bull's pledged his loyalty to Caelin. I would never allow a usurper on the throne. Let's march! Where are our foes? I cannot see anything in this blasted fog. Do you know how hard a time I had finding you?"
"Lord Wallace!" cried Kent, his voice thick with emotion. "He… He hasn't changed at all."
"I like him," said Lyn with a small smile. "He's honest."
"That he is," said Kent. "He deserves our respect."
"He gives me a headache," I muttered. He had appeared out of nowhere, been close enough to kill me, and then decided that he wanted to join us instead. It was enough to make any tactician's head spin.
Matthew, the only one who heard me, grinned, but his smile disappeared when he caught sight of something moving through the fog. "They're close."
"Get back into position, you idiots," I snapped at Lyn, Kent, and Sain.
Kent and Sain raced back into position, while Lyn ran across the damp grass to where Rath and Dorcas were waiting for her, watching as a brigand make his way down the mountain slope.
Once everyone was in position, I turned to face the newest member of Lyndis's Legion. Wallace was shaking his large, bald head and smirking to himself. "I'd planned on living out my days in peace on my farm… Ah, well, it looks as though it's time to take up arms once more. You!"
I jumped at his sudden bark.
"Who are you?" asked Wallace. "Where's your weapon?"
"I'm Nora," I said. "The apprentice tactician."
"Apprentice tactician?" Wallace looked me up and down, and I wondered if he was examining my eyes as he'd done for Lyn. I probably paled in comparison to her. However, Wallace must have seen something in me that he trusted, because he asked, "Well? What are my orders?"
I frowned. His booming voice gave me a headache. "You're a General, right?"
"Yes. I've got my Knight Crest right here." He tapped an engraving in his armor that marked him as a skilled warrior. "My specialty lies in lances, but I can cleave with an axe as well." Wallace let out a roar of laughter.
"Head to the north pass," I said after a minute. "Tell Kent to head to the bridge and provide support for Sain. Your job is to stop any enemy units passing. Florina and Erk will back you up."
"To battle again!" cried Wallace, guffawing as he made away across the grass to take Kent's place. "Look! A giant walks among you! My defense is impenetrable! Come! Break your weapons against me!"
"Urg, he's so loud," said Serra.
Matthew, Nils, Ninian, and I turned to gawk at her. Was she unaware of her own voice?
"What?" asked Serra. "Is my hair really that bad? Ew. This is why I hate mist!"
There was a shout from the south, and I turned to see Lyn and Dorcas taking care of a brigand. To the east, Sain was fighting a cavalier over the bridge, the river water raged beneath the wooden boards. Lucius held out a tome as he muttered the words to a lightning spell, and crying out in pain, the cavalier toppled from his horse. The horse let out a shrill whinny before abandoning its dead rider and disappearing in the fog. Moments after the cavalier fell, his place was taken by another.
An archer, hidden by the mist, let loose an arrow, which struck Sain in the chest. Sain fell back, letting Kent take his place, and Serra sprinted over to the injured Sain, clutching her healing staff.
To the north, Wallace was holding off the brigands and soldiers alike, their weapons doing little damage against Wallace's defenses. Florina and Erk worked endlessly—Erk using tome after tome and Florina wielding her deadly javelin—to prevent the enemies from getting through.
At this rate, we were going to surround ourselves in walls of our enemies' corpses.
The image made me sick—how could I think of such a thing? But I hated myself more for feeling repulsed by the sight of a dead soldier, his guts and blood tattooed on the soft grass. I was a tactician, for Hartmut's sake, staining the battlefield with the enemy's blood was part of the job description. Still, it disgusted me to look at corpse and realize that it had once belonged to a living, breathing human being. That could be me one day if my tactics failed. A brigand could tear open my skull with his axe or a soldier could drive a lance through my heart or—
"Nora?" Ninian placed a hand on my shoulder.
"What?" I yanked my arm out of her reach.
Ninian recoiled, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Hey!" cried Nils. "Don't talk to my sister like that!"
"Sorry." I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "I'm a little on edge."
"The fog's like that for some people," said Matthew with a knowing look. "Serra complains about it constantly."
"So I've noticed," I muttered. I hated knowing I had something in common with Serra.
"The fog reminds us of things," said Ninian gently. "Things we'd rather not remember."
I scowled. I hated the idea that Ninian might know what was bothering me. I'd rather people just chalk it up to me being a little grouchier than usually.
"The enemy has stopped attacking," said Ninian suddenly. Again, she gave me the eerie feeling that she she could read my mind or had some unnatural sense of reading people. I had wanted a change in subject, and suddenly Ninian was changing the subject. It was strange.
But, of course, I didn't have time to think about the siblings. What Ninian had said was true, the enemy had pulled back. I turned and saw that Wil, Lyn, and Florina were approaching, ready to ask me what they should do next. I shook my head, trying to clear it. We were in the middle of a battle—I had to focus. Everyone struggle with the deaths that happened on the battlefield. Everyone questioned whether they would survive the next battle. I needed to stop fretting and start concentrating instead. Inattention could get someone killed. And while Sain had been getting on my nerves recently, I didn't want him to die because I wasn't paying attention. (If I was going to kill the obnoxious Sain, I would orchestrate his death perfectly so that no one would suspect I had a hand in it.)
"We're going to advance," I said when Florina, Wil, and Lyn arrived. "Florina, head north with Wallace and Erk, take out any units in your path. Meet us on the south side of the forest." I paused and then added, "Take Dorcas with you." I turned to Lyn and Wil. "Everyone else will cross the bridge and make towards the castle."
They headed back to their groups to relay my message. Along with Nils, Ninian, and Matthew, I headed towards the bridge.
All right, I thought as I approached the group. I wasn't going to let the fog get to me. I wasn't going to think about Lloyd or about dead bodies. I was going to think about the battle. Enemies are everywhere. Focus. Focus.
"Kent and Sain, take the lead," I said. "Wil and Lucius, follow and provide support. Matthew, tell me what you see. Lyn and Rath, you'll cover the rear. Everyone else, stay out of the enemy's reach."
The advance on the castle was fairly easy. There were a few soldiers who charged us, but Kent and Sain, with the help of Wil and Lucius, took care of the enemy with minimal wounds. Serra healed the cut on Kent's leg and the hole in Sain's arm. Then, we waited at the south side of the forest for the rest of our troop to reach us.
Matthew spotted them first, catching sight of Wallace's huge, hulking form through the mist. Wallace even made Dorcas, who'd I always considered a giant, seem small. Poor Erk walked between them, looking positively miniscule. Florina landed her pegasus beside Kent, the execution sloppy because she couldn't see the ground.
"What happened?" I asked.
"The swordsman fell before my mighty lance!" cried Wallace.
I scowled at him before turning to the reliable Erk.
"We visited a house on the north side of the forest," said Erk. "The woman there spoke praises of General Eagler. She suspects that Lord Lundgren is holding someone important to the general hostage, because the general would never support such a treacherous plan."
I sighed and glanced over at Lyn. Sure enough, the guilt had started to creep into her eyes, and the hand that held the Mani Katti had started to shake. Lyn would have a hard time dealing with the general now that she'd heard what a decent man he was from his subjects—yet another reason why we should never talk to the locals.
Lloyd, of course, would disagree with me.
No. Focus. Don't think about it.
"The castle," I said. "We must advance."
Wallace led the way through the narrow gap between the castle and the mountains. A green-haired man in thick body armor stood outside the castle, holding a javelin in one hand and hand-axe in the other. General Eagler looked up when he saw us approach and cried, "Bring forth the imposter who calls herself 'Lyndis'! She shall not pass beyond this place!"
"I am Lyndis. I am no pretender. I'd ask you to believe me, but your heart and mind seem set." Lyn lifted her head and met the general's gaze. I could see the desperation in her eyes; she really didn't want to fight him.
Eagler gritted his teeth. "Enough talk—draw your sword!"
Of course, he wouldn't surrender. If the local woman had been right, General Eagler was fighting us under duress. Pleading with him would do nothing.
"General!" cried Kent.
"Kent! Is that you?" asked Eagler, squinting through the fog.
"General Eagler! We found Lady Lyndis on the orders of the marquess. We've worked so very hard to return her safely to Caelin."
"And Sain is with you…" The general ignored Kent's words and focused on the green knight. "I never imagined you could turn traitor…"
"Who's the traitor here?" cried Sain. "I am following the orders of my sworn liege lord. Not Lundgren, but my true liege, the marquess himself!"
Stop trying, I wanted to say. Nothing you do will help.
Eagler grimaced. "And yet you have no proof of the girl's identity. Is that not true?"
Kent hesitated. "Yes, but…"
"Then our talk is finished!" roared Eagler. "Draw your weapon and come!"
I stared at the general. He was proud, almost as proud as a Sacaean. He knew that he was betraying his own values, but he was doing so to save someone important to him. However, we had to reach Caelin. For the future of the province and so Lyn could meet her grandfather. Perhaps the general would have been a loyal and useful ally to Lyn if they had met under different circumstances. Misfortune had placed us on opposite sides, and now we had to do what was necessary to enter Caelin. And, of course, as the apprentice tactician, sometimes I had to be the one to make the hard decisions.
"Wallace," I said, my voice low. "Use your axe. Then Lyn will finish him off with her Mani Katti."
Both of them turned to stare at me, their eyes wide and their hearts breaking.
"Nora…" whispered Lyn.
Wallace, at least, understood that some things had to be done. Drawing his iron axe, he advanced on the general. "Eagler!"
"Commander Wallace…" Eagler grimaced. "So you've sided with the girl, too, have you?"
"I fight for Caelin's honor, not for Lundgren's lies!"
"Ah…is that so? You are—" Eagler caught himself before he said too much. "Enough! There's nothing more to be said. I name you traitors all! Come! Do your worst!"
"Fool…" muttered Wallace.
He swung his axe with ease, and Eagler cried out in pain as the axe hit the weak point in his armor. He collapsed to one knee and hurled his hand-axe at Wallace, but Wallace dodged easily.
Lyn stepped forward and stared down at the bleeding, angry man. "You do not deserve to die, General, but I must proceed to Castle Caelin and rescue my grandfather."
With one quick slice of the Mani Katti, Lyn drove her sword into the gap in the general's armor. He choked and gasped for air. "Nnng…"
I winced. I didn't want this. I didn't want this any more than Lyn did. I would wake from dreams of Eagler's eyes staring at me, knowing that he was about to die, just as Lyn would. But sometimes, things like this had to be done, as much as we didn't want to, as much as it hurt us, they had to be done. Damn this fog.
Choking on his own blood, General Eagler gasped, "Go…go quickly. The marquess…he knows nothing of this…his life is…there's no illness. Only…poison… Please…for the marquess…for all of Caelin…" His blue eyes stared off into the gray mist before his muscles gave out and he fell sideways onto the ground.
A silence descended upon the troop as thick and heavy as the fog that surrounded us.
Then, Lyn asked, "What kind of man was General Eagler?"
Kent sat stiff in his saddle, an odd, haunted expression on his face. "When Sain and I first became knights, he was our captain. Our teacher…"
"I think he must have known we were telling the truth," said Lyn. "Why did he have to force the fight?"
"Something must have…" Sain's voice was thick. "As Erk said, Lord Lundgren was exerting some hold on him… Eagler was trying to protect someone. A friend perhaps, or family."
Kent bowed his head.
I glanced at both cavaliers, watching their eyes start to water. Don't cry, I thought at them, I promise I won't let you wander in the path of a mage, so please don't cry.
Sain took a deep breath and forced back the tears, while Kent wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Lyn stared at the body of General Eagler for a moment. I couldn't bring myself to do the same. Instead I looked at the castle behind him, his home. The wooden doors were carved with the image of a bear, the symbol of his house. Was his family inside? Or were they being held hostage by Lundgren? How would they feel learning that Lyn had killed him? Would they ever forgive her?
Lyn let out a strangled sob and finally tore her eyes away from the general. She lifted the Mani Katti and pointed the blade at the bear on the door. "May Lundgren never know the peaceful embrace of Mother Earth! I care not what others do. I will stop that man!" She turned to me, her eyes blazing. "Nora, we are almost to Castle Caelin. Let us show Lundgren what vengeance looks like."
I could see it then, what Lyn's words did to the rest of the troop. I could see the sudden light in Wil's eyes, the admiration in Erk's, the pride in Kent and Sain's. They all believed in her. They believed that she could face her uncle and win, that she could meet her grandfather and have the family she wanted, that she could be a noblewoman that they admired. I was proud of Lyn. She'd come a long way from the lonely, desperate young girl who'd rescued me on the plains.
It made me wonder how much I'd changed. I was still grouchy and still unsocial, but I supposed I was a little different. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe it was just the fog talking. All I knew was that I wanted to get Lyn inside Castel Caelin so that she could see her grandfather.
"Let's move out," said Kent, gripping the reins of his horse. "To Castle Caelin."
And so, the last stage of our journey began.
A/N: No prizes for guess why Nora dislikes Fog of War maps. Sorry for not updating in forever. I never forget any of my stories, I just leave them alone for long periods of time. Please leave a review! (If there's anyone still reading this story lol).
