Episode 5: Pherae’s Son Episode 7: Old School-Fellows
This chapter was surprisingly hard to write, and there isn’t even any serious fighting in it! D: Anyway, I’m working really hard on creative projects right now, and I’m going to try to get this finished by Saturday, although I don’t know if I’ll make it. But I’m going to cross a WHOLE BUNCH of things off my to-do list by the end of April. I’m at least at the half-way point with Anima’s Seal!
I changed the chapter title because there was very little about Old Schoolfellows in this chapter. I had thought there would be more. But the big reveal is coming next chapter. Mwahahaha.
I have a new vacuum cleaner and it is magical.
EDIT: the wedding didn’t fit in the later chapters so I put it in here. EDIT 2: I fixed Farina and Dart’s entry to not be so blatantly shoe-horned in. : P
Episode 6: The Unflinching
“Demory,” Thornson said, “I would have brought you to Ostia to face Lord Hector’s judgement, not mine. All you had to do was behave honourably and refrain from attacking villages.”
“Cut the crap, Thorn,” Demory snarled. “You and your honourable cowardice – I should have won! Santaruz should have been mine! But then you brought Marquess Pherae’s reinforcements-”
“Marquess Pherae was only here by chance,” Thornson said. “In any case, it matters little what you believe now. You attacked my villages in a quest for wanton destruction, for petty revenge, and that means I consider you too dangerous to deliver to Ostia. May Saint Elimine have mercy on your soul.” He nodded to his captain. “Jocelyn.”
Ceniro turned away before he saw Demory executed. He wasn’t a huge fan of dead people, despite his profession, and the idea of executing prisoners, even dangerous, dishonourable ones like Demory, wasn’t something he wanted to watch. It was an ethical dilemma that he’d wrestled with and not really found a satisfactory answer for since he began his career, so he simply went to find his father.
His father and brother were standing near each other without speaking. “Hey.”
“Ceniro,” Caro said, and fell silent. He peered up at his father anxiously. Perhaps the battle had been too much for him after all.
“Are you all right, Dad?”
“I’ll be fine… It’s just a lot to take in.” He gestured to the battlefield. “Seeing you take control like that… I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“But… so many dead…” Ceniro thought it was lucky it was dark; his father couldn’t truly see the extent of the damage by the slowly guttering light of the mage fires.
He knew, of course. The farseer told him everything.
“I know. It’s always hard to see. But if I don’t save at least the people on my side… I can’t stop people from fighting, but I can keep my friends alive.”
His father shook his head. “I can’t say I completely understand, but I know now that you can’t do anything else, and I accept it.”
“I don’t understand!” Drew interrupted. “He’s giving orders to lords, how is that okay? He’s going to meet someone who will just kill him for insolence!”
“I already met him,” Ceniro said, “and I survived. If you mean people who don’t want to follow my orders because I’m not noble-born, I’ve met them too, and I can work around that.”
“But we do follow Ceniro’s orders,” a new voice, and Ceniro turned to see Eleanora and Ninian. Eleanora had spoken, and he bowed to her. “I am of a like mind to your… your father, is it? It has been a very long time since I’ve seen a battle. Pherae has been quite peaceful these many years, and Elbert usually took care of things with Marcus without involving me.” She turned to his family. “Greetings, I am Eleanora, and this is Ninian.”
“Caro, your ladyships. This is my son Drew.” Caro and Drew both bowed low.
Eleanora gestured for them to raise their heads. “All your children are very brave, Caro. You and your wife must be so proud, as I am of my son.” She turned to Ceniro. “In spite of my qualms about fighting, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to help Eliwood, and for keeping me safe through it all. You are very skilled.”
“It’s as Lord Eliwood said, is it not?” Ninian said. “I am glad you came with us, dear Lady Eleanora.”
“And I am glad you happened to be passing through at this time,” said a new voice.
Ceniro turned to find Lord Thornson standing there. “My- my lord.”
“At ease, Sir Ceniro.” Thornson inclined his head to him. “You are a remarkable man, to win such a battle of so few against so many. Perhaps it is the personal bond between you and your men. There are few who conduct battle in such a way, and I’ve seen none who do it so effectively, except perhaps the late Commander Eubans. The only other strategist I’ve met until now was Lord Milton, and he is much more imposing than you, and yet… you would seem to be his match in every respect except the physical.”
Ceniro grimaced. “Milton’s pretty good, yes.”
Thornson raised an eyebrow. “I sense there is acquaintance, and yet no love lost between you. Very well. I sought you out not to give you praise, but to offer you reward. I understand you are the captain of this mercenary company, and while this is technically your homeland, even your homeland can offer you recompense for her defence and the rescue of her Marquess.”
“Oh.” Ceniro blinked. “Um. Thank you, my lord. I wasn’t expecting anything.”
“You are generous to risk your life and the lives of your friends without expectation, but the reward is yours whether you expected it or not.” Thornson was beginning to frown, tacitly warning Ceniro he should step up his manners before the lord took an irrational dislike to him.
He bowed. “Thank you very much, my lord. I’m glad to be of service.”
“We both are,” Eliwood said, appearing as if out of nowhere, laying a supportive hand on Ceniro’s shoulder. “In fact, everyone here is. It always makes me glad to be journeying with such honourable companions.”
“Don’t lay it on too thick,” Ceniro murmured to Eliwood.
“Don’t sell yourself short again,” Eliwood murmured back.
Thornson bowed to Eliwood with a pleased look. “Well, I thank you again that you and your unusual and honourable mercenary friends were here to save my life. Would you stay the night at my castle?”
“We would be honoured, but I think we should stick to our original plan,” Eliwood said. “Thank you, though, if I might avail myself of your invitation on my way home again…”
“I’ll keep the gates open for you,” Thornson said. “And speaking of which, please tell Ostia – Marquess Hector that the situation is resolved to the best of my knowledge.”
“I shall do so,” Eliwood said, and they parted ways.
Andy found Ceniro as they traveled back to Dunborough. “I delivered your sister safely to her home. She’s really cute. We’re going to keep in touch.”
Ceniro stared at him with raised eyebrows. “Thanks for keeping her safe.”
“I told you, you’d get me a date,” Andy said, and laughed. Ceniro facepalmed.
“I wasn’t setting you up with my sister, not on purpose, and what do you call that, you had ten minutes to carry her home, not a date-”
“I’m teasing, relax. Well, I mean, she’s pretty. And she’s quite brave, if impetuous, running out to find you like that. And she seems really nice.”
Ceniro made a whining noise and Andy laughed.
Drew had gone with Lord Thornson, but Caro and Ceniro headed back towards their home. This time, he went alone, leaving Lyn and Kent and Fiora with the rest of the group, and they were too tired to object. Caro went inside at once, but Ceniro sat beside Anlie on the doorstep. “What were you thinking, running off into the battle like that!?”
“I needed to warn you about Dad!”
“I could have handled it. Anlie, you’ve never seen a battle before in your life. You really worried me.”
She looked at the ground, a little morose. “I’m sorry, Cen. I wanted to help too. You’re fighting, and Drew’s fighting, and Dad went to fight, and I know I can’t fight but I thought… I’m sorry.”
“You can help in lots of other ways,” Ceniro said, and couldn’t resist saying: “Andy thinks you’re cute.”
She brightened up. “Does he really? I think he’s cute too. He’s brave and strong and kind and funny. Do you think I’ll see him again?”
He had to laugh. “I don’t know. He works for Lord Pent of Etruria, who’s traveling with me, so probably not for a while. But I certainly can’t stop you being pen-pals.”
“Oh, he told you about that? Well, um, yes.”
He shook his head. “Well, that’s your business, not mine.”
“Glad you agree on that, little brother,” she said.
His mother came out of the house and sat a bit heavily beside them. “Your father told me everything.”
“I’m sorry,” Anlie and Ceniro said in unison.
“I’m sorry for running off into danger,” Anlie said anxiously.
“I’m… sorry for being me,” Ceniro muttered.
He wasn’t expecting his mother to hug him, and stiffened in shock.
“I never wanted you to leave home,” she said into his shoulder, subdued in a way he’d never seen his mother. “You were always a quiet, sensitive child, and I knew Ostia would eat you alive… and even when you survived that, you insisted on running around the entire world all by yourself, with bandits and wild animals and whatnot all out to kill you, and you never tell me anything about what you’re doing… But your father told me what happened tonight, and he says that you’re following your calling, so I can’t say anything anymore…”
“Well – I mean-”
“Promise me you’re not going to get killed by bandits or wild animals or nobles who can’t stand you!” she cried, giving him a shake. “I never want to have to bury your poor corpse… And write me sometimes, thoughtless boy!”
He had to laugh a little. “Okay. I can do that, at least. As for the first thing, I will do my best. I don’t think you should worry.”
“I will always worry! How can you say that!?”
“At least worry less, Mom. I can handle bandits and nobles, and I haven’t been attacked by wild animals in years.”
“At least you’re not as skinny as the last two times you came home,” Anlie said. “Really, the last time I saw you, you were hardly skin and bones. I don’t know how you managed to be so cheerful with that physique! But you look healthy now.”
“Lyn takes care of me,” Ceniro said. “She’s good at hunting, and she would never let me starve. Unless she was really, really mad at me.”
“I like her,” Anlie said. “Take care of her, all right? Or, well, maybe I should say, make sure she keeps taking care of you. You need it, and she looks like she can handle herself.”
“That’s very true,” Ceniro said. “I’m the luckiest person I know.” He looked almost shyly at his mother. “So you really don’t hate me?”
“Just don’t get yourself killed,” his mother said, recovering her usual sharp tone, although it was still partly softened by recent vulnerability. “I still think she’s a strange wild foreigner, but she seems decent enough, especially if she’s Marquess Hausen’s granddaughter…”
Caro appeared at the door. “All is well?”
“All is well, Dad,” Anlie said with a smile. “We should come in to sleep, shouldn’t we?”
“Not that Ceniro would notice if there’s a roof over his head or not,” his mother said.
“Not true!” Ceniro said. “And I like real beds. You still haven’t thrown mine away, have you?”
“Of course not!” Anlie said. “Get in here. And don’t forget to brush your teeth.”
“And what do we have here?” Sain called, holding the telescope wrong way around, sweeping it in a broad arc until he centered on the giggling woman a few feet away from him. “Fair maiden distant off the starboard bow, ahoy!”
“You’re hilarious, dear husband,” Salir told him, putting her hands behind her back and tilting her head at him coyly even as she fought to keep more giggles in.
“I think she’s saying something, but she’s so far away, it’s hard to make out, captain!” Sain cried, squinting harder through the telescope. Salir chortled and reached out to tickle him. “Ow, ow, no fair! She’s a sea witch! She has tentacles!”
“Saaa-iiin!” She grabbed the telescope out of his hands. “It’s my turn again!”
He grabbed her around the waist. “Are you a pirate, o beautiful sea witch?”
“That’s right, I’m here to steal your heart and your booty!” She put the telescope to her own eye, right way around, looking out from the castle. “Hey, wait a minute-”
“What is it, my darling?”
“I think I saw a pegasus knight?”
“Was it Dame Florina, by chance?”
“I can’t tell. Hang on.” She used the crenellated wall as a boost to hop onto Sain’s shoulders, wrapping her legs around his neck. “Maybe?”
Sain laughed. “I’m not so tall you’d get much of an advantage from this position, love.”
“Maybe not, but I’m really short, and it’s fun. Oh! Oh, it is Dame Florina, and that one sister of hers, the one with teal hair! They’ve come back! Maybe Kent and Wil are with them, I’ve missed them.”
“Let’s go tell the steward to make preparations-”
“Wait, wait wait wait, there’s more people! I think- I think it’s Lady Lyn!”
Wordlessly Sain reached up and she passed him the telescope again. “You are absolutely right! And Lord Eliwood! And Ceniro! Come, Salir, we must alert the Marquess! Turn out the guard! Warn the kitchens!”
“And I’ll get the drinks!” Salir said, ever practical, hopping off his shoulders.
Sain laughed. “You can take the girl out of the bar, but you can’t take the barmaid out of the girl.”
“And you like it that way,” Salir said, shaking a finger at him before she darted off.
“I certainly do, my sweetheart, I certainly do.”
They were met at the gate by Sain, Salir, Chancellor Reissmann, and Marquess Caelin himself, leaning on a cane, all of them smiling with great pleasure. Lyn strode forward and embraced her grandfather, while Kent and Sain shook hands – although Sain couldn’t help turning it into a hug as well. Rebecca and Wil exclaimed over Salir’s new short haircut, and Chancellor Reissmann urged them further into the castle, where they could be comfortable.
Lord Hausen greeted Eliwood and Eleanora warmly, and kissed Ninian’s hand while she blushed. Pent and Louise were introduced, and their followers, and Rigel, and Sain teased Ceniro over his deel and his sword, and then they were in the main hall and refreshments were brought. Salir led the charge.
“Sooo there’s a few cute guys in your new group,” she teased Ceniro when she brought him his drink.
“You’re married,” he rejoined bluntly. “And so are most of them.”
“Is the blond cavalier married?” she asked with a wink.
Ceniro stared at her, wondering whether to take her seriously. “Not yet, but…”
Her eyes sparkled. “But?”
“There might be a person.” Who might be his sister, but he wasn’t saying that out loud in the middle of the hall.
Salir giggled with an impossibly wide grin. “Oooh, you must keep me updated. So when are you and Lady Lyndis getting married? Lord Hausen wants to see great-grandchildren, you know!”
Ceniro sputtered into his drink. “He what now? No, we haven’t been married- what?” Quick, quick, distract her. “So where are your and Sain’s kids, then!? No one’s been kidnapped recently, so-”
“Oh, it’s not for lack of shenanigans,” she said, laughing. “And it’s been- One moment, Sain, darling!” She blew Ceniro a kiss. “I’ll be back, Ceniro, for any news I can’t get out of Wil!”
They slept well that night, and the next morning, Lyn informed Ceniro that her grandfather was finally abdicating and retiring.
He stared at her. “He can do that? He knows about your decision, right?”
“Yes, of course. But he says he’s old, and tired, and he’d like to have a few years to not worry about very much – except me, apparently he worries a lot about me.” Her forehead creased a bit. “I should write him more letters, I guess.”
“Like I should with my mother. Salir told me he wants great-grandchildren.”
A blush rose on Lyn’s cheeks. “H-he didn’t say anything like that to me. Anyway, he’ll have to wait.”
Ceniro smiled, not without his own blush. “Yes, I guess he will. So what now for Caelin?”
“Ostia will find someone to rule it. In the meantime, Chancellor Reissmann will keep it running smoothly. But he’ll be coming with us to Ostia. He’s going to make a proclamation after lunch, and we’ll leave tomorrow. Also, Sain is coming with us, officially as the Commander of the Caelin Knights escorting his lord, but unofficially because he wants to gallivant around with Kent and Wil and Florina again.”
“Is he staying after Ostia?”
“I don’t know. I’ll ask him.” She smiled. “It’s just going to be like old times, except I get to spend some time with my grandfather.”
They arrived at Castle Ostia in mid-May, when many flowers were blooming and even the grimness of Ostia’s austere architecture seemed a bit lighter and more welcoming. Fiora and Florina were flying on ahead when suddenly Ceniro heard a squeak from Florina.
He jumped; he wasn’t expecting an attack, not here or now, in the middle of a busy highway in the heart of the most well-established canton in Lycia, but even as he snatched out the farseer, he realized that it hadn’t been a frightened squeak, just a startled one. “Florina?”
“S-s-s-sister!?”
That would be Farina, taking wing from the city walls to join the other two pegasus knights. “Hello, there, sisters! What would you be doing here?”
“We’re here with Ceniro and Lord Pent and Lord Eliwood and many others,” Fiora said. “And why are you here?”
“Because my partner is a nut, and we need to resupply before we head out again to make our fortune! He just wants to bury it again, but I’ll convince him eventually! …But first we have to find it.”
“I see,” Fiora said, chuckling.
“So, Ceniro’s here, huh? There you are! You can still hear me, right?”
“I can hear you, Farina,” Ceniro said. “Dart’s still with you?”
“Yes, but he’s in the market right now. Look out, I’m coming in for a landing!” A white missile plummeted out of the blue sky and cantered to a halt beside him, folding its wings almost smugly. Farina sat on its back, looking equally smug. “You look well! Ah, Lady Lyn, you’re still taking care of this dork. Good for you! Greetings, Lord Eliwood. Hmm, a bunch of people I know, a few people I don’t. So what are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same, Dame Farina,” Eliwood said, smiling, not having heard her conversation with Fiora and Florina. “We’re mostly here to see Hector. Would you like to join us?”
“Absolutely!” Farina cried. “Any group with these particular people always has the best adventures. And pays well, too, usually.”
“We’re mercenaries ourselves, right now,” Ceniro told her. “You could join us, if you like.”
“Tempting,” Farina said, hesitating. “But… Dart has his quest, and I have my own quest, and… I don’t know if it’ll work out on a permanent basis. But thanks for the offer! I can’t deny that you’d be much better off with me! Our triangle attack would strike fear into the hearts of all your opponants!”
“Very true,” Ceniro said.
“But I’ll come with you to see Lord Hector. First we have to grab Dart from the marketplace. I’ll go buzz him.” Her pegasus made a short gallop and sprang into the air, whizzing towards the heart of the city.
When they finally made it up to the castle, a confused Dart in tow being chattered at by Wil and Rebecca, they were told that Marquess Ostia was busy. But within half an hour, before they were even settled into their apartments, they received word that he was able to see them, and Hector himself arrived hard on the heels of the messenger.
“Hector!” Eliwood cried. “I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon!”
“Eliwood, you’re in town for the first time in a year – I’m going to make time for you, dammit. I’m Marquess Ostia, I can do that. So what brings you here? I’d think you’re at least as busy as me.”
Eliwood wordlessly gestured to the large, shapeless bundle that was Durandal, which he was holding.
“Ah,” Hector said, his mouth settling into serious lines. “I was hoping to talk to you about that, myself. Do you have time now?”
“Since you’ve made time and all,” Eliwood said, cheerfully, and they began heading across the castle to Hector’s chambers. “Ceniro, Lyn, Lord Pent and Lady Louise are here as well – and Ninian and my mother.”
“They’re all very welcome,” Hector said. “I imagine most of these should join in our discussion. Come on, then. Ceniro, you’re looking well – is that a sword?”
Ceniro blushed. “Y-yes.”
Hector grinned evilly. “Want a match later?”
“No!”
Lyn laughed. “I’ll take you on, Hector!”
“Right.” Hector mimed writing in a book. “6:30 – kick Ceniro’s ass. 6:31 – get ass kicked by Lyn.”
“Pretty much,” Ceniro said.
And he fell silent as a tall stern-faced man in heavy armour crossed their path in the great hall. The man’s gaze flicked over each of them, lingering on Eliwood and the bundle he carried.
Ceniro felt like he’d been kicked in the gut. The man’s eyes met his and he swallowed, the man’s eyes narrowed, and time froze for him.
But no one seemed to have noticed, the man continued on, and he recovered himself and followed after the others. Hector had been introduced to Klein finally, and was staring at the baby as if it was some kind of alien creature that was going to attack him. Klein, for his part, was staring back in a similar fashion, while Louise, Pent, Ninian, and Lyn laughed at them.
Hector led them to his study, a room Ceniro vaguely remembered from their stay in Castle Ostia last time he’d been there. Standing guard at the door were Oswin and a woman in silver armour with steady blue eyes. “Your guests, Lord Hector?”
“Yeah,” Hector said. “Guys, this is Commander Freya. She’s the captain of the Marquess’s guard. She was my brother’s right hand. Freya, you know Eliwood and his mother Eleanora, I’m sure.”
“Marquess Pherae, Lady Eleanora,” Freya said solemnly, bowing, and Eliwood murmured a greeting.
“You know what, I’ll introduce the rest of you later,” Hector said. “Right now, time is precious. Let’s get to it. Eliwood, is it all right if Freya stays?”
“If you trust her, that’s fine,” Eliwood said. “Oswin, are you staying as well?”
“If you wish it, it would be my honour,” Oswin said.
“Someone go dig up Matthew-” Hector began.
“No need, my lord,” said Matthew’s voice, and they turned to see the slight man appear from behind a wall hanging. “I knew Marquess Pherae was coming, and decided to prepare my dramatic entrance. However, I will warn you, Serra cornered me in the hall…”
“And I can’t believe you were going to start without me!” Serra squeaked, dashing into the room with a face pink from running and her staff clutched in her hands. “Is it another adventure? Oh, Lady Lyn, how I’ve missed you!”
“Hello, Serra,” Lyn said, smiling. “Ceniro and Pent can explain what’s going on best, I think.”
“Let’s have it,” Hector said, leaning forward in his chair as Oswin locked the door.
Hector was frowning again as Ceniro and Pent finished their explanation of their discoveries. “I never really felt good just having Armads sitting around, but this… this is more serious than I would have guessed. For sure, you should put it back as soon as you can.”
“’You’?” Ceniro asked.
Hector shook his head irritably. “I might be able to get time off to escort you to Durandal’s cave. I do need a break. But all the way to the Western Isles? That’ll take a few months and who knows what’ll happen to Ostia in my absence.”
“Not to mention Pherae,” Eliwood said.
“Well, you don’t have to take responsibility for Armads,” Hector told him.
Eliwood shrugged. “If you were escorting me to Durandal’s resting place, surely I should escort you to Armads’ resting place.”
“Peace!” Lyn said. “So what did you mean, Hector? Although I already have an idea.”
Hector raised his eyebrows at her. “And that would be?”
Lyn glared at him for making her say it out loud. “You’re going to give us this mission.”
“I mean, you’re doing the whole rest of the continent anyway, you may as well… Freya, what is it?”
“Nothing, my lord,” Freya said quietly.
“I’d rather you speak your mind. Normally you do, what’s wrong now?”
“I’m just… shocked to know that the Legendary Armads was within Castle Ostia, and… and everything else…”
“I figured,” Hector said. “Hey, I’ll tell you the rest of the story later, all right? How I was given Armads and all. It’s… you might not believe it, but…”
“I’ll believe it once I see the weapon,” Freya said. “But I have another question. What if someone discovers one of the Legendary Weapons before you come to it?”
“I was going to ask that, too,” Hector said. “You’ve only sealed one that’s in a remote location anyway, and we have two that are safe for now, but the rest are on the other side of the continent. If shaman are moving to find them already, or if someone just stumbles across one…”
“There’s not much we can do about that,” Pent said. “We just have to be fast. And if someone does gain one, sure, they can do a lot of damage, especially if the spirit of the weapon accepts them. But…” He shrugged.
“We’ll just have to defeat them,” Ceniro said.
Freya stared at him. “To so casually say you must defeat a wielder of a Legendary Weapon… Would you be able to defeat Lord Hector, armed with Armads?”
Ceniro and Hector looked at each other. “I’m not sure,” Ceniro said at last. “Even with Lyn, I don’t know if I’d be able to maintain my near-perfect survival record-”
“Perfect survival record,” Eliwood interrupted. “The things that happened during our journey a year ago were not your fault. You still have not lost a single soldier to an enemy weapon.”
Ceniro waved off the interruption. “But you would eventually be stopped. Anyway, most of the Weapons are still safe, really. Aureola is guarded by the Church of Saint Elimine, isn’t it? And Apocalypse is still held by Bramimond. So the only ones that are really at risk are Maltet, Barigan’s lance, and Murgleis, Hanon’s bow, and Eckesachs, Hartmut’s sword, because we don’t have the least idea where they are yet.”
Hector sat back. “All right, I’ll grant you that. The odds aren’t terrible. Still… be swift.”
“We’ll be as swift as we may,” Lyn assured him.”
Freya came to attention. “For now, you declared your intention of going to Durandal’s resting place, which I gather is in the mountains north of Ostia? I will begin preparing for such a journey. With discretion, of course, my lord.”
“She’s a smart one,” Matthew said aside to Ceniro.
“I mean,” Hector said, standing and swinging his arms, “I can have a vacation to hang out with my old friend Eliwood, can’t I? And we’re just going hiking with our other friend the mercenary captain, right?”
Pent laughed. “I’m sure your court will believe it.”
“I’ll just have to buckle down to work afterwards, or they’ll think I’m returning to my old ways. Right! Freya, Oswin, I’ll leave this to you. How soon can we set out?”
“Not sooner than three days from now,” Oswin said. “There’s a delegation coming from Thria the day after tomorrow which can’t be postponed.”
“There you have it,” Hector said. “You have the run of the city until then. Is that all right, Eliwood?”
“It’s just fine,” Eliwood said. “We’ll go look around the city like tourists. Right, Ceniro?”
“I was actually thinking of visiting my teacher,” Ceniro said. “But you go right ahead.”
“Ah, the mysterious Lord Garlent,” Lyn said. “Have fun.”
“I’m not going until tomorrow…”
“Crotchety old fart,” Hector muttered. “Don’t know why you’d want to visit him for fun, but it’s none of my business.”
“People keep making a big deal out of this ‘staying in touch’ business,” Ceniro said, “so I’m going to try some of it. You have fun, Lyn.”
“I’ll do my best without Hector around to pester,” she teased. Hector sighed but grinned.
Lord Garlent was at home in his house in the city; Ceniro was shown into the rather bleak and stately parlour and saw his old teacher again for the first time since he had graduated. “I’m back.”
“You always did have to state the obvious,” Lord Garlent sighed. “Chess?”
Ceniro smiled as he sat down across from him, picking up one of the well-remembered wooden knights and running his finger across the carven shapes. “Yes.”
“So, what have you been up to, boy?” Garlent asked as they each set up their side of the chessboard. Garlent lined his up with military precision in one corner, and Ceniro scattered his around a bit more haphazardly. Garlent went first.
“This and that,” Ceniro said. “I’m sure you’ve heard a little of it, and I apologize for not coming back sooner to tell you myself.”
“It’s fine,” Garlent waved the apology away. “If all my former students did that, I’d never get a moment’s peace. So you helped young Lyndis, did you? And the former Mage General of Etruria? And now you’re captain of a mercenary company. Finally figured it out, did you?”
Ceniro looked sharply at his mentor as he moved a bishop to D9. “Figured what out?”
“That you needn’t waste time with nobles and their petty games. To find people who think like you and make your living with them.”
Ceniro stared. “You never, ever said anything about that when I was studying with you.”
“And what would that have accomplished, hmm? You were so impetuous and stubborn then, even though you pretended not to be, you would have rushed headlong into it and found yourself among hardened mercenaries when you were still a soft weak pup. They would have used you, rather than the other way around.”
“I don’t use my friends,” Ceniro muttered as he moved a pegasus knight to J6, taking Garlent’s archer. “We’re colleagues.”
“Same difference. The fact that you’re captain tells me that they properly respect you, and for that, I am glad for your sake. Now, what in the name of Saint Elimine’s toe-ring are you doing here?”
“I came to-”
“Not that, the board!”
Ceniro stared at the board. He wasn’t doing too badly, Garlent was always a difficult opponent…
A bony palm shot out and bopped him in the forehead, and he started back in his seat. “What!?”
“You’re not fighting at your full potential!” Garlent raved. “You’re supposed to be the best, boy. You can beat me. Prove it!”
“But-”
“Focus!”
Ceniro blinked and flinched. He’d heard that word too often from the past, although not usually from Garlent.
His eyes narrowed. Garlent knew exactly what he was doing, invoking those memories. Was he trying to make him angry, or to throw him, to reduce him to the same mental state he’d had when he was a student? Or just to exhort him to focus instead of sitting here trying to figure out the mind games?
He looked at the board again. He didn’t know if he could do this, but… Garlent said that he could. And that jolt had shaken him up a bit, hardened his resolve. He had thought they were just playing for fun. He should have known better.
“I see you still try to save every unit you possibly can,” Garlent commented as they resumed play.
“Each of these pieces represents the life of a man or woman,” Ceniro said. “Maybe it’s Eliwood. Maybe it’s Lyn. Maybe it’s little Nino. I’m not going to waste them.”
“Even when you need to spring a trap?” Garlent asked sharply.
Ceniro smiled. “My people are too good to just die like that. And if they’re not, I’m not using them to spring traps. It’s something this game will never truly capture.”
“If I weren’t so old and creaky, I’d come along with you and watch.”
“If you weren’t so old and creaky, I’d let you – and make you fight.”
“You’d do that to an old man? One who took you in and mentored you? A respected lord of Ostia?”
Ceniro looked up at him with raised eyebrow. “I’ve had Marquess Ostia in my army before, so that’s not an issue. You took me in because my school got me a scholarship to Lord Venedan’s class and Lord Venedan sent me to you – and you yourself said I had potential.”
“And I was right,” Garlent said, watching Ceniro from under his eyebrows.
“My point is, you never did anything for me out of the kindness of your heart. You’re far too practical for that. And I did say ‘if you weren’t so old’.”
Garlent cackled. “You’re right on the money – and I’m glad to see you’ve finally grown a spine, as well.”
“Me too. Check.”
Garlent got out of that one and finally took one of Ceniro’s pieces, placing Ceniro’s lord in check. Ceniro took the offending paladin. “Checkmate.” If it had been real life, his own druid wouldn’t have died… but the game didn’t reflect that. He could never keep a perfect survival rate in this game. But there weren’t awful consequences to losing a piece here and there, so he was all right with that.
“There, you see?” Garlent said. “Even though you weren’t trying properly for half the game, you can win.” He looked more closely at Ceniro. “Or did you come in here thinking you couldn’t beat your old teacher, just because I’m your old teacher?”
Ceniro blinked at him. “You might be right.”
“You have to eliminate blind spots like that, boy. Always play to win, even when you think you can’t.”
“I do in real life,” Ceniro assured him.
“Do it always. And remember – act, and results will follow.”
“I know,” Ceniro said. “I remember that daily.”
“Do you? Good. Wish half my students did that. Maybe half of them wouldn’t be dead, then.” Garlent snorted. “Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?”
“You’re just pretending you’re not eager to hear me talk about my own accomplishments,” Ceniro said, reaching for the pouch at his side. “Actually, I do have something you might be interested in…”
On the next day, Hector was finally ready to go, and Commander Freya had assembled appropriate gear for everyone. Lord Hausen and Lady Eleanora stayed behind to converse with old friends and acquaintances, but the rest of Eliwood’s group was there, Hector and Oswin and Matthew and Serra and Freya were there, Sain was there – Salir had stayed behind in Caelin with the promise that she wouldn’t get kidnapped again – Farina and Dart were there, and of course Ceniro’s companions were there.
They saw few travelers, even though it was beautiful spring weather on the days they journeyed north, and the further north they went, the fewer people they saw. So they spent their time talking, reminiscing, and in Sain’s case, singing. The mountains grew taller, and many of them were still covered with snow. The valleys were green and covered in green carpets dotted with wildflowers, or thickly wooded with dark pine trees that rustled in the wind.
Matthew sidled up to Ceniro while they rested in the evening. “So I never did really congratulate you on getting together with Lady Lyn. Tell me, did you speak first, or did she?”
Ceniro stared blankly at the mountains, trying to remember. “I honestly don’t remember. It was probably her. I remember she kissed me first.”
Matthew laughed, and Wil, on his other side, laughed too. “That sounds like Lady Lyn.”
“Well, well, look who it is,” Sain said, walking up with Kent. “I remember a group like this once upon a time, and we were all watching pretty girls…”
“We can still be watching pretty girls,” Wil said, staring unabashed at Florina and Fiora. “In fact, now we don’t even have to be secretive about it, right, Kent?”
Kent coughed something polite.
“Actually, I have a suggestion to make on this subject, o tactical maker of matches,” Matthew said, and Ceniro’s interest was piqued in spite of himself.
“I have concerns,” Kent began.
“I have no concerns,” Sain countered him. “Let’s hear it. Who are we pairing up? You? Oswin? Lady Serra?”
Matthew looked away briefly. “Not me, not right now. If I find anyone, I’ll let you know. No, not me, not those other people, the young master!”
“Oooh, really?” Wil leaned forward now, all eager eyes and ears. Even Ceniro was a little taken aback.
Matthew nodded conspiratorially. “Indeed. I happen to know that Commander Freya, though she is very good at stoically hiding her feelings, cares very much for our young Marquess – and he bickers with her so much I rather think he fancies her as well. So, should we come into combat, I recommend they remain in proximity.” He winked.
“I… I can do that,” Ceniro said. “I probably would have anyway, so I doubt he’ll- they’ll be suspicious… but… It’s true? Hector likes Commander Freya?”
Matthew nodded again, solemnly. “Cross my heart and hope to die. Probably by Hector’s axe if he finds out I’m telling you this.”
“Your secret is safe with us,” Kent said. But then he cast an eye at Wil and Sain, who were grinning like madmen. “I hope.”
“They won’t tell Hector,” Ceniro said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Sain’s eyes widened even as he laughed. “You’re actually rather terrifying, has anyone ever told you that?”
“What?” Ceniro spluttered as the implications of what he said caught up to him. “No! I just meant I’d throw you at harder enemies as punishment, I didn’t mean I’d kill you-”
Matthew laughed. “Ah, still so easy to tease. Does Lady Lyn take advantage of it?”
“Not too often,” Ceniro muttered.
“Oi! Ceniro!” came a shout from Hector himself across the camp. “We should split the group in half and do a mock-battle!”
“Who would lead the other side?” Ceniro asked. “Besides, I’m tired, I don’t feel like it.” He realized that sounded pretty childish, especially when he’d often had his group run training exercises on the plains. “Maybe another day.”
Hector pouted as he came closer to them. “Well, you’re no fun. In that case, Eliwood and I are gonna spar, want to help?”
“How am I going to help?” the small man asked mildly. “You’re plenty capable of beating each other up on your own.”
“But you can tell us how! You’re not too tired to strategize for two fighters.”
“I’ve trained you from here to the Dread Isle and back, you don’t need me telling you what to do.”
“Besides, isn’t having Ceniro essentially fight himself somewhat pointless and maybe impossible, my lord?” Wil asked.
Hector frowned. “Maybe you’re right about that. You’d have no choice but to take a side, even unconsciously. You’d have to be a literal god to do otherwise.”
“Not necessarily,” Ceniro said. “But it doesn’t work so well with only two people, no. But you go ahead. Don’t forget to include Lyn afterwards.”
“It was her idea,” Hector said. “She’s not going to let anyone forget her. But she’s fighting Freya first. All right, then, Eliwood, let’s get to it.”
“You should use your Legendary Weapons, my lords,” Sain called, joking, and enjoyed the various reactions of the people around him.
Eliwood and Hector were both remarkable fighters, Ceniro reflected, watching the two spar. The grace of the knight and the strength of the brawler were self-evident, but they – and Lyn and Freya, further over – all moved with an economy of movement borne out of experience and practice. Freya was having a difficult time against Lyn’s quick dual swords, but she wasn’t falling back, either, her silver halberd keeping Lyn at a distance, forcing Lyn to side-step it constantly.
Hector tapped Eliwood in the shin at the same time that Eliwood tapped Hector on the shoulder next to his neck. “Damn,” Hector said. “Another win for you, looks like. Lyn! Want to trade?”
“Just… a minute…” Lyn said, going under the halberd and tapping Freya on the chestguard. Freya bowed to Lyn with a small smile and the four of them paired off again.
“We should do that,” Sain said to Kent. “It’s been a while. And we could get Harken and Isadora, and those brothers to join us! Harken, Isadora, Andy, Frank, want to spar? Oh, and the beauteous pegasus sisters, and Dart!”
“Now that’s good company to be named in the same breath in,” Dart said, grinning.
“What about us?” Yens asked, gesturing to himself, Caddie, and George. “We’ll get in line. We need one more person at least… Sir Lowen?”
“Just don’t hurt yourselves!” Serra scolded them from a safe distance, where she was leaning over Erk’s shoulder. “I’m the one who has to fix you, and I just know you’ll bleed all over my dress as usual, so be careful!”
“As my lady says,” Harken said, saluting George before they crossed swords.
Ceniro found himself on the edge of camp with Ninian, Wil, Rebecca, Rigel, Pent, and Louise and Klein. Erk and Serra were nearby. Matthew and Oswin had joined the fighting people.
“They’re certainly lively,” Rebecca commented. “Oh, look how dashing Lowen looks tonight!”
“They’re all happy to be seeing each other again,” Louise said, bouncing Klein. “I know I’m happy to see them.” Her husband hummed in agreement and put an arm around her shoulder.
“You’re all crazy, but in a good way,” Rigel said thoughtfully.
Wil chuckled. “That we are.”
The rest of the journey to the cave was uneventful. The interior of the cave was just how Ceniro remembered, but no ghosts or spirits challenged them this time, and Eliwood laid the naked blade on the altar at the back of the cave, with the sheath at the foot of the altar, and bowed to it.
Most of the others had stayed outside, having no real wish to risk the lava of the cave even for a glimpse of Roland’s tomb, but Pent had come and looked around with great interest before he began the ritual that would place a protective seal on Durandal. Ceniro, Lyn, Eliwood, Harken, Hector, Freya, and George watched him, enduring the heat as best they could.
“You need something,” Hector said to Ceniro, once they had settled themselves in the guest quarters again upon their return and met in the great hall.
“What is it?” Ceniro asked suspiciously.
Hector gestured to Matthew, who handed him something palm-sized and circular. “You’ve done a lot of things since we first met a couple years ago, and yet I’ve noticed you still don’t have anything like this. I mean, knights get Knight Crests to mark their experience, archers get Orion’s Bolts, and what do you get? I have no idea. So I pulled some strings before we left, and here we are.”
Ceniro was shaking his head. “You don’t have to-”
“Sure I do.”
“I don’t need-”
“Yes, you do,” Hector said impatiently. “Back me up, Eliwood, Lyn, Pent.”
“You should take it,” Lyn said, and Eliwood and Pent murmured agreement. “Remember when we used Heaven’s Seals? Why don’t you want that?”
Ceniro looked at his right arm. “Because my combat skills are still abysmal compared to yours?”
Wil snorted. “Your main skills were never in combat anyway. What’s the real problem?”
“Do you not think you are ready?” Pent asked. “Have you truly examined your feelings, or is this a feeling from your past when you were less sure of yourself?”
That gave Ceniro pause. Pent was right, just as Garlent was right; he was reflexively refusing honours and rewards because he still didn’t consider himself ready or worthy. But if he really considered his abilities, his confidence, his undeniable track record ever since he had turned professional… He was ready. And he was getting stronger physically, too. He would still improve there, of course, but really this was a fine time to boost his skills to the next level.
Was that a blind spot he was working on eliminating?
But he didn’t want to just give in, either… “All right,” he sighed, letting his head flop onto his chest. “You win. I’ll promote.”
“It’s like pulling teeth,” Hector grumbled, but handed him the Earth Seal.
Ceniro took it. It felt warm. What was it Athos had said when Eliwood, Lyn, and Hector had taken their Heaven’s Seals? To focus on it?
A bright white light burst from the Earth Seal and washed over him.
When he had blinked the spots from his eyes, he felt… more alert, stronger, taller, if that were possible, although a glance at Lyn – who was beaming proudly at him – showed that he was the same height as always.
“How do you feel?” Eliwood asked, a little anxiously.
Ceniro looked around. Colours seemed more vibrant. Movements were easier to follow. Even sounds were clearer. Energy rushed through him. “I feel great.” He didn’t feel like he could take any of his friends on in single combat and win, still, but… he felt better than he’d ever felt before in his life. A grin finally broke across his face, so big it hurt. “Really great.”
Lyn threw herself at him and hugged him. “I’m so happy for you! Hector, you actually had a good idea! A really good idea!”
“Well you don’t have to sound so shocked,” Hector sniffed, but he was grinning too as he clapped Ceniro on the shoulder. “It’s about time someone gave this guy a kick in the pants, huh? I was about to get Geraldine and Elliot in to hold him down while I slapped it on him.”
“You look wonderful, dear,” Louise said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll do in battle now!” Andy cried.
“Ah yes, that will be interesting,” Frank murmured.
Ceniro looked around at all of them. “…Thank you. Thanks very much.”
“All right, dinner?” Hector said, starting to shepherd them towards the banquet hall.
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Matthew said.
Ceniro felt like… someone was staring at him and turned, but there were only the usual attendants and guards in the hall. Although… someone was vanishing down one of the corridors…
At dinner, Fiora stood and made an announcement. “We have decided – Kent and I, and Florina and Wil – that we would like to be married here in Ostia, with so many of our friends and companions with us. So, with your blessing, Lord Hector, Lord Eliwood, Lady Lyn, Ceniro, we would like to do this tomorrow.”
“Oh!” Lyn cried. “How lovely, and exciting! Where shall we have it? Are you going to be married in the same ceremony?”
“That’s what makes sense,” Wil said, leaning his chair back on two legs, pretending he wasn’t blushing profusely. “Lord Hector, you have a chapel in Castle Ostia, right?”
“You don’t want it at the big cathedral downtown?” Hector drawled.
Wil began to blush harder. “Nah, it’s just us, right? It doesn’t have to be a big deal.”
Hector chuckled. “All right, you can use the chapel. Congratulations, you guys.”
“Yes, congratulations, with all our hearts,” Eliwood said.
“What about you, Farina, Dart?” asked Isadora, leaning forward to see them down the table.
Farina snorted. “Not me. I’m not doing things just because my sisters are doing them!”
“Yeah, we’re still working out our business partnership,” Dart said. “It’s already complicated enough without getting married on top of it!” …They were both blushing, Ceniro noted slyly.
“Ninian, would you be my bridesmaid?” Florina chirped, distracting them all from Farina and Dart’s wilful denial.
“Of course!” Ninian answered.
“I’m Kent’s best man!” Sain cried, putting a hand on Kent’s shoulder; Kent nodded agreeably.
“Well, then, I’ll have Dart for my best man,” Wil said. “If that’s all right with you?”
“Yeah, sure, if you want a pirate for a witness,” Dart said with a wink.
Fiora looked at Farina. “Well…”
Farina raised her eyebrows. “If you can stand me being up there with you, I accept.”
Fiora laughed and bowed her head. “Thank you, Farina.”
“Well, then,” Louise said briskly, even while rocking Klein to sleep, “there’s much that must be done! Lord Pent and I will help you all, don’t worry. And I’m sure Lord Eliwood and Lady Eleanora wouldn’t mind as well!”
“What about me?” Hector demanded. “Can’t I help?”
Louise giggled. “You aren’t married! But you may help, of course. The first thing is that you should all go to bed early. Lord Hector, I would like to see your steward about certain preparations…”
“I’ll come with you,” Eleanora said, smiling delightedly. “One can never have too many weddings in one’s life!”
Ceniro wasn’t involved in the preparations the next day, although he ran into Wil at some point, wearing brand new fitted fancy clothes, his hair slicked back, and a wild look in his eyes, muttering something about how Lady Louise was a crazy woman, and then a strange man stomped past. It was only a few minutes later that Ceniro realized the strange man had been Dart – without his bandanna. Truly, Louise was wreaking miracles.
Ceniro himself spent most of his time trying to stay out of the way, talking to the Reglay soldiers – George, Caddie, Yens, and Frank were all married, Frank to a Reglay girl just a few months before they’d all been exiled. None of them had children except Yens, who had six, but Ceniro felt a pang of guilt that they had to stay away for so long. And Pent’s situation wasn’t likely to be resolved until after the Legendary Weapon situation.
It wasn’t too much later that they all gathered in the chapel, festooned with flowers Louise had apparently arranged overnight, and Hector led the simple ceremony. Florina and Fiora looked very nice, with their hair done up and their fancy dresses and everything, and Kent and even Wil looked dignified in their formal clothes. Ceniro held Lyn’s hand tightly, and wondered when they’d follow the same path. It wasn’t yet. Although they loved each other very much, there wasn’t any rush, and he wasn’t making that up – they’d talked about it, and Lyn had said so, and he agreed. There weren’t any doubts. They just didn’t want to get married yet.
Soon, probably.
Both couples were glowing with happiness as they were showered with yet more flower petals by their friends and companions, although Wil took a glob of them right in the face from Dart.
“All right, let’s eat!” Sain cried, and led the way to the feast that had also been prepared overnight. When Hector wanted to pull out the stops, the stops were pulled out. Ceniro made another mental note to probably get married in Sacae, where there would be much fewer stops to pull.
But he enjoyed himself, nonetheless, and seeing his friends so happy made him very happy.
He kissed Lyn’s hand, and she turned to him and kissed him on the mouth in front of everyone.
Eliwood and the rest of the Pheraeans departed by themselves the next morning, with many cheerful wishes between them all. Eliwood wasn’t expecting trouble, but just in case, Hector sent a small group of guards with them to bolster their numbers, to make up for the CEC’s absence – and a diplomat to check on the situation in Santaruz.
About an hour later, while Ceniro was going over the group’s supplies and provisions with George in preparation for their journey to the Western Isles, Freya came to them, frowning. “Have you seen Lady Renee?”
“No, not since I got here,” Ceniro said, frowning back. “Why?”
“I need her for duty roster discussions, and since she is a friend of yours, I thought she might be… I wonder where she is?”
“I’d help you look for her, but I think she’s just going to punch me again,” Ceniro said. “I keep not coming back to talk to her when she wants me to.” George chuckled.
Freya smiled slightly. “Yes, she can be a bit childish with her close friends. But she is a competent strategist…”
“Never said she wasn’t,” Ceniro said lightly. “All right. Maybe the farseer can help…”
A few moments later, and he confirmed that Renee was not within Castle Ostia. He couldn’t easily search Ostia City for her, there were too many people…
“She wouldn’t leave the castle while on duty unless it was an emergency,” Freya said, frowning in concern. “I’m going to inform Lord Hector-”
But at that moment, Matthew arrived at a run. “Ceniro! Oh, hi, Commander Freya. Both of you, you’re needed in the main hall, right now. The gist of it is – Lady Renee’s been kidnapped!”