EDIT: changed the chapter title back to something less generic.
Chapter 4: Fire in the Castle Chapter 6: Siblings Abroad
Chapter 5: Blood of Pride
With Rath’s help, Lyn’s group were in time to come to the assistance of the Araphen soldiers still fighting in Castle Araphen, although Ceniro had to tell Erk to limit his fire spells. He felt like they still had to make a good impression, after all.
It turned out that the unknown enemies assaulting the castle were indeed sent by Lord Lundgren to delay or kill Lyn before she could get any closer to Caelin. The man commanding the enemies admitted as much, once they cornered him, and Rath ordered him taken into custody rather than killed. Then, while the others helped the soldiers put out the fire and tend to the wounded, Lyn, Kent, Sain, and Rath went to see Marquess Araphen. Ceniro stayed behind. He had no wish to see the proud marquess again, and figured that the marquess would have no wish to see him.
Besides, he could use the time to look at the soldiers he was helping and guess which ones would be coming with them. And if Rath was the captain appointed to come with them… he could work with Rath. Maybe Ceniro hadn’t made the best initial impression on Rath, but he had the feeling the Sacaean man had withheld judgement until Ceniro actually did something. He was far more reasonable than his marquess, at any rate.
It wasn’t long before Lyn and her knights appeared again; Lyn looked furious, red in the face and stalking across the courtyard with quick, angry movements. “Let’s go,” she snapped to her group, and they left the Araphen soldiers to finish up and exited the castle. She didn’t speak until they had left the city.
“What happened?” Ceniro asked anxiously. “Was he angry about the fighting?”
“That, and he said he had no wish to be involved in the ‘inheritance dispute’ between Lady Lyndis and Lord Lundgren,” Kent said. “Although, I think it more likely that he was using that as an excuse…”
“He called me a mongrel,” Lyn growled, her hands clenching at the thought. “He is the most conceited, pompous, arrogant, racist ass…”
“He certainly is!” Sain said. “I knew he was proud, but I did not think he was so ignorant as well! Especially not when his own captain is Sacaean. My lady, do not think of him any more. You are only more beautiful for being born of two different peoples.”
Lyn sighed, letting her anger drain away, and glanced at Sain with the hint of a resigned smile. “And if a woman wants to hear a compliment that’s more than skin-deep?”
Sain blinked, then lowered his gaze and smiled. “You are the heiress of two proud traditions, and your life must only be richer for it. No one who knows you could think any less of you – or any Sacaean – for not having been born in a castle.”
“A lot of people born in castles are dummies anyway,” Wil said. “A lot of them turn out like this marquess.”
Lyn hesitated. “Is my grandfather like that?”
“He is not,” Kent assured her. “I am told he respected your father greatly, and he is not so proud as to prejudice himself against those who are different from him.” He and Sain shared a significant look.
“I’m glad,” Lyn said, smiling. “We’ll continue on, then, without our dear marquess’s aid. With Ceniro beside us, we won’t fall to Lundgren’s- what’s that?”
A horseman was hurrying after them. A moment later, Rath brought his horse to a halt beside them, now dressed in traditional Sacaean clothes. “Lyn.”
“Rath! What brings you here?”
“I’ve resigned in service to Marquess Araphen. I would like to travel with you.”
Lyn’s face lit up. “Oh, that’s great! We’d certainly be glad to have you.”
Wil chuckled. “Looks like our proud marquess hit more nerves than he thought. Sucks to be him!”
They were still heading west, and in four days, came to the canton of Kathelet without incident.
“By my estimates, it should take us about a week and a half to get to Castle Caelin,” Sain announced when they crossed the border. “And Salir…” He grinned dreamily.
Kent cleared his throat and Sain sprang to alertness. “And Lord Lundgren.”
“Oh, don’t be such a downer! He won’t be difficult to deal with.”
“Don’t be so happy-go-lucky, Sain.”
“Look,” Lyn said to Florina. “The mountains are so far away now!” A wistful look came over her face. “I wonder if I’ll ever see Sacae again…”
“I know you will!” Florina said. “Sacae is really beautiful. I’m sure you’ll be able to go back often! Maybe you can take your grandfather!”
Lyn smiled. “I would like that.”
Matthew had endeared himself successfully to the group, and spent quite a lot of time with Ceniro; Ceniro wasn’t sure if Matthew was trying to find out more about him, or figure out how to make him less shy. “So you studied with Lord Garlent, hmm? I’ve heard of him; what do you think of him?”
“Um, I guess I would call him strict but fair,” Ceniro said. “He had a very small class of apprentices, and he made sure we got more practical instruction than theoretical instruction… which was good for me, I think, because half of what I do is based on intuition. I can’t do the calculations consciously like he does.”
“So you’re a savant then?”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Ceniro said, blushing. “No, definitely not. I just have a… a knack for it.”
“I’ve been listening to the others and they say that you care about everyone who fights for you, yeah? That’s different from just having a knack for it.”
“It’s different from being a savant, too,” Ceniro argued. “That’s a different factor entirely, and it has its own shortcomings. It’s why I should never be in charge of a castle like my classmates aspired to be.”
“Right, so it’s the mercenary life for you.”
“I don’t know,” Ceniro said, but Matthew was the second person to have said so in the last month. “I don’t know if I want to sign up with a bunch of mercenaries. I… honestly, I just want to wander around by myself.”
“Oh?” Matthew said, his eyebrow raised. “Seems like you’re perfectly content to travel with this bunch. And as for by yourself… I can think of one or two people you’d like to have along.”
Ceniro blushed furiously. If Matthew was talking about who he thought he was talking about… “N-no, I’m fine on my own, really.”
Matthew grinned. “Suit yourself, then. Oi! Look there!”
Ceniro looked, and saw a young boy running towards them from an inn by the road. The boy was in tears as he ran, and he stumbled up to Lyn with his hands clasped. “Oh, please, please, help me! My sister’s been kidnapped by some awful men!”
“Oh no!” Lyn cried. “Which way did they go? We’ll help you, don’t worry!”
“Lady Lyndis,” Kent began. “Lord Lundgren-”
“Yes, we have time for this,” Lyn said determinedly. “I haven’t let my guard down, don’t worry. But if he’s telling the truth, we must help him.”
“I’m telling the truth, I swear!” the boy said. “Ninian, my sister, was taken away by some men in dark robes. She made me hide, even though I didn’t want to! They’re very strong and I-I can’t rescue her by myself! They’re really tough, but…”
“It’s all right,” Lyn said. “We’re pretty tough ourselves! Just tell us where to go!”
“Thank you so much!” The boy bowed deeply. “I’m so grateful.”
“I would like to help too,” said a light voice, and a young man was hurrying up behind the boy; the man was dressed as a monk. “The innkeeper was… unhelpful and unpleasant, and I could not convince him, but if you are willing to help the boy, I will join you.”
“All right,” Lyn said. “My name is Lyn. What are your names?”
“My name is Lucius,” said the monk, bowing politely. “I have some small command of light magic.”
“My name is Nils!” chirped the boy, bowing again as well. He had pale green hair and crimson eyes, a combination Ceniro had never seen before. “I can… Um, well, I’m a bard, and…”
“What is it?” Lyn asked gently.
“I can play a magic song that will refresh your spirit!” Nils said with a rush. “It’s not like healing or anything, but it will be beneficial, I promise!”
“Very well,” Lyn said. “This is our tactician, Ceniro. He’ll keep you safe and let you help! He’s the best.” Ceniro blushed.
“Which way to these horrible men?” Sain asked, swinging his lance. “Let us rescue your fair sister without delay!”
“I-I think they were going south-east,” the boy said, pointing. “I’m not really sure, though; I didn’t dare follow them by myself.”
“I’ll handle it,” Matthew said. “I’ll scout ’em out!”
“You and Florina head out,” Ceniro said. “Florina, make a sweep from the south-east to the south; Matthew, you go south-east to east.”
“Gotcha,” Matthew said, and began to run off. In a few moments, he disappeared into the hilly fields. Florina sprang into the air and began to scan the countryside.
In only a short while, Matthew was back. “There’s men in dark robes, all right, and they’re coming this way! I suspect they want to capture Master Nils as well.” He looked expectantly at Ceniro.
“We won’t wait for Florina to get back,” Ceniro said. “We’ll set up an ambush. What sort of enemies were they?”
“Some mercenaries, some dark mages,” Matthew said. “About six of each.”
“So many dark mages,” Erk said to himself.
“Don’t worry,” Ceniro said to him. “You’ll be fighting the mercenaries. Lucius and the fastest of our fighters will be fighting the dark mages.” Erk was an anima or elemental mage, and he could be badly hurt by dark magic. Actually, everyone could, which was why… “Lyn, Matthew, Kent, Lucius, head south. Circle around the mercenaries and attack the dark mages from behind. Keep on the move and don’t ever get caught by their spells.”
“How did you know the mercs were in front?” Matthew asked.
“That’s the most logical place for them,” Ceniro said. “The rest of us are going to tie down the mercenaries. Oh, here comes Florina! Get going, Lyn!”
“See you in a bit!” Lyn said with a wave, and followed Matthew into the fields south of the road.
Florina reported a castle to the south, apparently commanded by a man in dark robes. Ceniro positioned his remaining forces in a position that would be good enough to deal with six mercenaries, quickly filling Florina in on what was happening. They’d deal with the castle later.
“Oh, um, I should…” Florina dithered for a moment, clearly wanting to say something but not quite brave enough to get it out.
“You have an idea?” Ceniro asked.
“Um, well, you see, pegasus knights are resistant to magic, because they train in Ilia’s snows, so…”
“Yes, of course, you should go join Lyn. Wait until the battle starts, however, and then you can strike while they’re distracted.”
“O-okay!” she said, and waited nervously beside him. The mercenaries were clearly visible on the road now, and ran towards them. All they could see was Ceniro, Wil, Dorcas, Erk, and Nils, and they shouted triumphantly as they hurried on ahead. Ceniro could see the group of dark mages behind them, and his heart began to speed up; what if they were in range of their spells? Dark mages were not common, and he wasn’t quite sure of their capabilities.
“C’mere, you little brat!” called one of the mercenaries to Nils. “C’mere and we won’t hurt you for running off!”
Nils shook his head. “N-no! Give Ninian back! If you do, my friends here won’t kill you all!”
The mercenaries laughed. “Funny little kid, aren’t you? Get them all! Don’t hurt the boy!”
“Go!” Ceniro shouted, and the mercenaries charged them, dodging Erk’s fireball, Wil’s arrow… but not Rath’s arrow, or Sain’s charge. Florina whizzed by overhead, to where a commotion had broken out among the dark mages with a blast of white light from Lucius, and Lyn’s flickering katana.
Battle had been joined.