Chapter 8: Vortex of Strategy Chapter 10: The Distant Plains
Chapter 9: A Grim Reunion
Ceniro turned around. “Now that everything’s settled, why don’t you introduce your…”
“… girlfriend,” finished Kent. The girl sauntered over to stand hand-in-hand with Sain, a mix of shyness and boldness.
“Eh? What’s that?” asked Ceniro; Florina whispered something to Lyn, who whispered to Ceniro: “Matthew’s coming back.”
“All right,” acknowledged the tactician. “Go ahead, Sain.”
“Folks, this is the lovely Salir,” Sain announced without preamble. “Salir, this is Kent, y’know, that serious partner of mine, this is the beautiful Lady Lyndis, bound for Caelin Castle to rescue her grandfather from… that guy, this is Ceniro, our reliable tactician, that timid girl there is Florina the high-flying pegasus knight, and the lady with the pink hair is Serra, the cleric -” he lowered his voice, “- who never stops talking.”
“Over here, we have Dorcas, of the strong silent disposition, and Wil the happy archer. This is Rath the less strong but more silent type.” Rath gave the cavalier a look.
“Now, this is Ninian, ethereal and ever-graceful, Nils, her very helpful little brother, and this fellow panting in our midst is Matthew, our expert with information, locks, and money matters.” Matthew stuck his tongue out at Sain, who affected an innocent expression, and went to talk to Lyn.
“Well, matters are worse than we thought,” he offered in a low voice.
“How so?”
“Rumour has it that Marquess Caelin is being poisoned. Every day, he grows weaker. He’s been bed-ridden for months.”
“Oh, no! No!” Lyn exclaimed. Ceniro patted her shoulder.
“There’s worse.”
“Worse?” Kent asked apprehensively.
“How could that be?” Ceniro asked at the same time, his hand stilling on Lyn’s back.
“An imposter’s appeared, claiming to be Lady Madelyn’s daughter. At least, that’s the story. A certain lord has begun publishing the idea that two rogue knights and a Sacaen commoner’s child will appear and lay claim to Castle Caelin.” Matthew’s voice was very sarcastic, though to look at him he apparently found it all very amusing.
“What!” Lyn almost yelled.
“That’s… awful…” Kent seemed in shock.
“We’re being portrayed as breakers of our knightly oaths,” Sain murmured, no less stunned.
Matthew nodded, keeping his eyes on an indignant Lyn. “Don’t you have anything that proves your lineage?”
Lyn thought for a moment. “Nope. My mother brought nothing from Lycia with her to Sacae.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. We’ll just have to do this the hard way, won’t we?”
“You look like Lady Madelyn, don’t you?” asked Ceniro, staring intently at her. “That…”
“They’d say we found a look-alike somewhere,” said Kent heavily. “No, our word means nothing. You are right, milady.”
“We must hurry,” Matthew insisted.
“Yes!” cried Lyn. “I’ll see my grandfather – with my last breath if need be!”
“I hope it won’t come to that,” Ceniro muttered under his breath. “We need a plan. If Lundgren calls for reinforcements, even I won’t be able to get us all through. We’ll be slaughtered.”
Lyn thought for a moment. Then she began to smile happily. “I know a way.”
Back in Caelin after a backtrack to Kathelet to ask Eliwood’s help, Lyn recapitulated for the benefit of those who didn’t come, namely everyone except for Kent, Sain, Ceniro, and Florina.
“So, Eliwood’s asked all the surrounding territories not to interfere with Lundgren or me. Now we can attack the castle and either take him prisoner or kill him,” Lyn stated bluntly.
“What’s the best way there?” Ceniro asked the group in general.
“Let me think,” Kent murmured thoughtfully. “I know the way. The only thing is that it passes over General Eagler’s estate, and that’s liable to be a hazard. He might fight us.” The tactician nodded and walked over to Lyn, who was already striding to the top of a nearby hill to look out over the countryside ahead from under a green maple tree.
“Looks like a fog’s rolling in,” commented Erk, staring away at the mountains.
“Oh no! Did you say fog? We won’t be able to see!” Serra panicked.
“Relax,” said Matthew, easily. He leaned casually against a tree. “I can see well enough for you, Mistress Serra.”
“Thank you! I don’t want to get attacked.”
“Can we go yet?” asked Wil wearily.
Ceniro moved next to Lyn. “I’m glad this is almost over,” he said, giving her a hug with one arm. Lyn gave him a funny look.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because then you will be safe and I don’t have to worry so much. Remember, this is my first campaign.”
“No, why are you…” Ceniro dropped his arm and moved away, red with embarrassment.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, rubbing his hand over his face awkwardly.
“Please. Tell me.”
“Well…”
“Is it that you…” Lyn slipped a cool hand under his chin, forcing him to look at her.
“… You’re a very pretty girl, Lyn. Beautiful, in fact.” He paused. “But…”
A hollow clunk reached Ceniro’s ears. He and Lyn turned around. Matthew, slouching against his tree, stood up properly, startled.
“What was that?” Dorcas asked quietly.
“It was me!” someone bellowed. A grey blob detached itself from the mist and stumped into the centre of the ring of warriors.
“G-general Wallace!” gasped Kent.
“Oh, no,” sighed Sain. “I trained while I was gone! Honestly!” he pleaded with the behemoth.
“Never mind your training. For now. Where’s the girl who calls herself Lyndis?”
“What will you do?” asked Kent, moving with Sain to block Lyn from Wallace.
“You want to fight me?”
Tension mounted as the old fighter and the two young knights glared at each other.
“Enough!’ cried Lyn, shouldering her way between her loyal bodyguards. “I am Lyndis. If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. If you oppose me, you will die.”
Wallace pushed back his steel-grey helmet and scrutinized her face. “What beautiful eyes.”
Lyn blinked, glaring confusedly at the strong old bald man. “What do you mean? What are you talking about? And what has that got to do with now?”
The old man smiled gently. “When you’re as old as I am… I know that no one with such beautiful eyes as you would tell lies.” After a moment more of staring, he guffawed. “Whahahahahaa! I like you, girl! I think I’ll even join your little party!” Kent and Sain’s faces lit up.
“That’s good,” Kent muttered to Ceniro. “He’s really, really, really tough. He could take out half of us at least easily, even with your brilliant mind.”
“I’m scared,” Ceniro murmured back truthfully. “Hey!” he looked more closely at Wallace’s armour. Emblazoned on the front of the neckpiece was a crest. “He’s a general class! Not just rank!”
“When you’re as old as I am, boy, I hope you’re a general too!”
“Let’s go. Sain, Erk, go north, warn the village, watch out for possible bandits, as usual, and hostile soldiers, of course. Matthew, what’s to the east?”
“A river, a forest, and a castle. Can’t see any people; too far away,” Matthew reported crisply.
“Well, Wallace, you’ll be our spearhead, since Kent is singing your praises, and Lyn and Florina and Kent and Wil and Matthew and…. and Serra. Head over the river.”
“Nooo,” moaned Matthew.
Ceniro smiled apologetically at him. “Rath, head north. I thought I saw something moving with an axe. Lucius, go with him. Salir, Ninian, stay with me. We’re the non-combatants.” Salir nodded. Ceniro stayed behind the lead group, hanging back to see if the men who had gone north would come back the same way.
A few minutes later, Sain came galloping up with Erk at the same time. Rath and Lucius were only seconds behind them. Sain set Erk down and took up Salir.
“All safe,” he reported. “No more bandits up there. There were only a few amateurs.”
They hurried through the forest, following the others hastily. They could hear heated fighting up ahead.
“You daft…!” Wallace was shouting at someone. “At the least, let mine be the blow that finishes you!”
“Wallace,” said Ceniro quietly from behind him. “Who are you yelling at?”
“General Eagler,” Wallace shouted, making the tactician jump. “He’s still on Lundgren’s side.”
“Are you sure?” Kent was calling to the paladin sitting in the castle gate. “We truly believe Lady Lyndis is Lord Hausen’s granddaughter.”
The paladin frowned, seeming torn between unpleasant options. “I cannot allow you to pass.”
“General,” Kent began again.
“He’s not listening,” Sain told him.
“That’s not like him,” Kent said back; the two cavaliers immediately became involved in a highly animated discussion. They seemed to be agreeing on every point. Ceniro bit his lip. This was a good man…
“Enough!” cried Eagler. “One of us will die. If it is me…” He shrugged. “My daughter will be safe either way. Come!”
“Lyn, strike,” Ceniro said, still agitated. “Wil, Lucius, Erk, Rath, attack also. Serra, help Lyn.”
Wallace waddled forward, swinging an axe. Twin balls of magic, one golden, the other red, arced in, as did three arrows; Rath had fired twice. Kent and Sain hung back with bowed heads as Wallace was forced to slay one of his own friends.
“Go quickly,” Eagler gasped, dying. “The marquess knows nothing of this. And… there’s no illness… only… poison. Hurry… Caelin… the marquess… for truth… and peace… to be… re… restor-” His eyes closed.
The troop stood silently. At last Wallace cleared his throat. “Eagler was a good man. A brave comrade in battle, a faithful friend, and a true knight. He did what his honour demanded.” Lyn sighed. The two caveliers echoed the sigh.
“He was a good teacher; strict, but fair,” Kent murmured.
“May his soul rest in peace,” said Lucius, followed by Serra.
The group moved on. Soldiers came out of the castle and removed the bodies for burial.
Chapter 8: Vortex of Strategy Chapter 10: The Distant Plains
