Chapter 3: It’s a Trap!     Chapter 5: Fort Rigwald

Chapter 4: A New Journey

   After we left the castle of Renvall, I went ahead slightly with Seth. “Please, tell me all that has happened, Seth. All I know is that Renais Castle has fallen. Tell me, has my father escaped?”

   Seth bowed his head and I knew the news before he spoke it. “He has not. My deepest sympathies, Prince Ephraim. Princess Eirika and I heard the news when we arrived at Castle Frelia. But I am beginning my tale in the middle.”

   “Go ahead, Seth.”

   It was a long story. I shook my head when he had finished. “That’s… near incredible. But Forde and Kyle and I – and Orson, until four or five days ago – we’ve been fighting Grado soldiers every day for weeks, until Valter came to capture us and Orson showed his true colours. And it fits exactly with what you say. Each battle they were a bit more interested in my wrist, in my bracelet. And for what? To destroy the Sacred Stone of Renais? To release abominable monsters across the lands… How could they seriously plot such a thing?”

   “We… do not know. The cleric Natasha has told us all she knows, but I feel there is much more that she does not, could not know. If we could only speak to your friend Prince Lyon, it might solve much, but that is not possible with current standings and strengths.”

   I thought for a minute, and then nodded, agreeing with him. “Do you know how these bracelets unlock our Sacred Stone?”

   Seth met my gaze for a moment, then looked away at the horizon. “I… cannot tell you how yet. King Fado instructed me to keep it secret, even from you, until it was needed. Please believe me, I shall tell you everything when it is time.”

   “I understand, Seth. But don’t you go dying on us! I need the answer to this riddle sooner or later, and we might find it in the Sacred Stone.”

   The older man smiled slightly. “Die? And fail in my duty? Never, my lord.”

   Eirika made it plain that her opinion was that we should return to Frelia and tell King Hayden of what we had learned. I agreed with her. Kyle and Forde and I were bone-weary, in truth, and I was unwilling to put Eirika in further danger when she had already risked so much to come and find me. We sent the Frelian pegasus knight Vanessa on ahead to inform the king of our imminent return. I let Seth set up the nightly watches; I figured he knew Eirika’s eclectic company better than I did. We made directly for Castle Frelia and journeyed quickly.

   On the ride back home, Eirika and I walked together most of the days, sometimes hand-in-hand. I could see that an immense weight had been lifted from her, but I could also see the fresh grief in the back of her eyes. I, too, felt it. Father was dead, and we had only each other. My sister had grown in the last few weeks; her turquoise hair was long and silky as ever, but there was a new sad and unmovable determination in her big blue eyes, and she had forsaken her usual long dresses in exchange for a short white skirt, a red tunic, long gloves, and long boots, and the yellow armour she had worn when we practiced sparring.

   Well, I thought I detected something suspicious going on, too, but I wasn’t going to say anything about that until I was more sure.

   We arrived at Castle Frelia within the week, a much shorter time than Eirika had said she spent looking for me. Forde rode on ahead over the last hour to announce our arrival, and when we did turn up, they were more ready than I had expected – there were many bright banners flying, and an honour guard – Hayden was obviously very happy to see us safely back.

   Tana met us both in the gate. My sister’s blue-haired best friend was dancing on her toes as she gave us both quick hugs, and then stepped back and tried to behave more princess-like. “I’m so glad to see you both safe!” she gushed. “It’s like a dream come true!” She led us further into the castle. “My own brother is returning from the field soon…” Well, that explained the honour guard a bit better, I thought dryly.

   Then came the deep irritating voice that I hadn’t expected to hear for months, behind us. “You talk too much, Tana.”

   Tana squealed like a piglet (I’m sorry to say that, but it is the truth!) and tried to hug him as she had hugged the two of us, but Innes, grey eyed, grey haired, in a long pale blue silk coat and with his quiver still dangling from his side, Innes rolled his eyes and held her off with a long hand on her shoulder.

   Tana didn’t seem to mind too much. “I’m so happy to see you home well, too!” she cried, with a look that said he was not getting out of the hug later.

   Innes gave her a superior look. I hated those looks. “What, you think those Grado slugs could touch me? With my bow, I’ll clean out every last one from here to the capital itself.” Hey, that was my job! With a lance. “Welcome, Ephraim, Eirika.”

   “Well met, Innes,” I replied cordially.

   Innes studied me coolly. “I heard Renais has fallen. I told you this would happen. Grado attacked because you showed them weakness.” I scowled. Innes was as tactful as ever.

   Tana was immediately at our defence. “Innes!” she scolded. “You know they’re lost their father. How can you speak that way to them?”

   “My apologies,” Innes added. He began to leave, but called back to me. “Hear me, Ephraim. Our greatest goal is to defeat Grado.” I nodded. I agreed wholeheartedly, even if Innes got on my nerves now and again.

   “I’m so sorry,” Tana apologized, taking Eirika’s hand.

   “Never mind.” I smiled. “Innes has hated me from time immemorial. It’s nice to see that he, at least, hasn’t changed.”

   “You know it’s because of his rivalry with you,” Tana said confidentially. Yes, I knew. “He wants to be the best warrior, the best general, the best king, the best man…” Eirika and Tana whispered for a moment and giggled together. I wondered what was so funny, besides Innes, I mean. I considered her words. There was no doubt that Innes had always competed with me, even about the silliest things, but he was so proud that he could never back down to me, even if it meant he might look foolish for being so stubborn. There was also no doubt that he was very skilled at his own things, which meant I sometimes wondered why he bothered when he could easily outshoot me at archery, though I could throw a javelin and hit a target nine times out of ten and he would only hit it five or six times. I guess I was proud and stubborn as well, which didn’t help our friendly rivalry.

   I voiced my thoughts. “I still think that our favourite weapons, lance and bow, are different enough that he doesn’t have to do that.”

    Tana looked back at me with her immense ultramarine eyes. “Yes, but we’ve all heard of your exploits against Grado. I think he’s a bit jealous.” I thought about that for a moment. I had heard of Innes’ exploits against Grado as well, and that didn’t mean I was jealous of him. Well, except for the fact that he had been commanding a real army, something I was still too young to do.

    “You talk too much, Tana,” Innes returned to us from wherever he had been with long slow strides. “My father would like you to attend a war council now. Would you like to join us?”

    Eirika smiled, bowing her head slightly. “We’d be honoured.”

    We were ushered into the chief council chamber of Castle Frelia, where grey-haired King Hayden waited, smiling. It was good to see him. When we were younger, he had been like an uncle to Eirika and me. I bowed, and the others, including Seth and Myrrh, who I had asked to be with us, followed suit. “It does my heart good to see you all safely assembled here,” Hayden said, rising and stretching out his hands to us. We all gave half-bows of acknowledgement and sat around the council table.

   “Father, if I may give my report first?” Innes said, leaning forward intently towards his father, steepling his fingers. “I have taken the army south to deal with the Grado forces directly. We have driven them back, and in many places they are fleeing.” Military reports always came first. For an instant, I did feel a pang of jealousy – with his greater numbers, Innes had repulsed the Gradonian invasion of Frelia, while I had, what, irritated them, demoralized them, knocked down a few of them, slightly disrupted and distracted them, and captured a nigh-uncapturable castle twice with only two knights. And Eirika’s force, the second time. While my accomplishment was impressive, his was more useful.

   Hayden smiled approvingly at his son. “Well done, my son. However, this still leaves us with the riddle. Why does Grado attack?”

    I moved a hand forward on the table. Eirika jumped, beside me. “I cannot answer that question, but I think I have something that will help us.” Time to put the cards on the table. “Myrrh, would you tell us your story?”

    Myrrh, standing against the wall behind my chair, moved forward beside me and her loose cloak fell off, revealing her beautiful leathery brown wings. Suddenly shy with all the astonished eyes fixing upon her, she retreated back. “Um… Ephraim, you tell them.”

    I nodded understandingly. “Very well.” I turned to the others, took a deep breath, and told them what she had told me. “Myrrh lives in Darkling Woods. She is one of the Dragonkin, of the tribe of Manakete.”

    “The legend of the Sacred Stones mentions them several times,” said the king, still looking in wonder at the small girl behind me.

    I continued my explanation. “One day, they felt a dark power flowing from the south. From Grado…”

    Myrrh came back, gathering her courage and placing her little hands on my shoulder timidly, using me as a shield. “Saleh and I… we went to investigate.” Saleh was, apparently, a Sage who was charged by his village to protect Myrrh. “But we became embroiled in a battle, and we were separated… I wandered… Some bandits found me and took away my dragonstone. I was helpless.” She turned her eyed to me. “Then Ephraim saved me.” They had been unawares when I found them, four of them, all with axes, standing around laughing and drinking over a winged child tied up cruelly with ropes. I had cut them all down without mercy and set her free. But there must have been at least one more bandit, for we never found her stone.

    I waved in a slightly helpless fashion. “Her story sounded incredible, but seeing her wings, what could I do but believe? I think Myrrh can help us more than we know at this time,” I finished.

    “We do know that Grado seems to be trying to destroy the Sacred Stones,” Eirika spoke up softly on the other side of Myrrh. “They have attacked my brother and myself several times, trying to obtain the key to Renais’s Stone.”

    “Why would they be doing that?” Innes demanded, one eyebrow raised.

    “The stories say that the Stones are all that protect us from evil!” Tana cried. “Just because it’s a story doesn’t mean it’s not true!” she hissed to Innes.

    King Hayden raised a hand, stilling us. “The Stone of Frelia is well defended.”

    Abruptly, someone hammered urgently on the door. Seth rose and opened it. “Yes?” Hayden asked the panting soldier in the door. “What is so important that you must interrupt a private council?”

    “The Sacred Stone… It’s been destroyed!” gasped the soldier, saluting tremblingly. “Caellach Tiger Eye and Selena Fluorspar attacked the Tower of Valni. We were wiped out.”

    “The Sacred Stone… How could this happen…” Hayden’s shock and despair was plain to see, until he hid his face with a hand. “How could I have done this? We are in dark times once again.” Seth closed the door behind the soldier and returned to his place at the table.

    “Father…” Innes spoke up softly. “Selena Fluorspar… One of the Imperial Three… They’re really serious about this.”

    “But even so, we cannot sit here in grief. We must warn the remaining nations that house the Sacred Stones,” Hayden declared, his resolve returned.“If Vigarde seeks to destroy the Stones, they too are in grave danger. We must contact Jehanna and Rausten. We must unite against our common foe.”

    “It’s rather unbelievable, Father,” Tana, the great defender of the Sacred Stones mythos, objected.

    “I will go.”

    I whipped my head around.

    “Innes?” Hayden was startled too.

    “I will go to Jehanna,” Innes spoke determinedly, proudly. “A visit from the Prince of Frelia is not something they can easily ignore. I will forge an alliance with the queen. You must stay here and guide the country, Father. I cannot let you leave in such a time of crisis. I must be the one to go.”

    “And I will go to Rausten,” Eirika said, following Innes’ lead without so much as a second thought.

    I exploded. “What? Eirika, you know I can’t let you go into such danger!”

    Eirika reached in front of Myrrh and took my hand in hers. “Rest easy, dear brother,” she said in her calm, soothing voice. “I will go by ship across the North Sea. There will be no danger.” I glanced at Seth and let the corner of my mouth quirk downwards facetiously.

    And I looked down in resignation and apprehension. “…I understand.” And my mind was made up. “…I will head southwest.”

    “What?” was the general chorus.

    Hayden was perhaps the most incredulous. “Attack Grado? From here?”

    I nodded firmly. “We must stop Grado. If we can take her capital, the war will be over. And you’ve already divided up the countries to warn between you, so what’s left for me?” I grinned a little at Eirika.

    “You could go with me, Brother,” she invited softly. She squeezed my hand, and I squeezed hers in thanks and shook my head, smiling.

    “And once you reach the capital,” said King Hayden, “Vigarde’s generals will be waiting for you.”

    “If they oppose us, we will fight!” I cried. Maybe a little too excitedly.

    King Hayden smiled faintly. “You have your father’s foolhardy courage, don’t you? If you are determined to go, Ephraim… I will place you in charge of the army.” I could feel Innes’ eyes on the back of my head and ignored him. I guess I had upstaged him, taking ‘his’ army. We had switched places abruptly.

   “Very well,” continued the king. “I entrust all of our hope to you three. If any of you fall, Grado will gain the upper hand.”

    “Where I command, there are no mistakes,” Innes said with a touch of his hidden arrogance.

    Eirika’s words touched me. “I will not fail, I know it! And I have made a vow: to fight as my brother does until our land is free. Until the continent is at peace.”

    “I too will not fail,” I said resolutely.

    “So be it,” said King Hayden rather grimly. We rose, bowed, and left.

    Outside the council chamber, when the others had split up to prepare for the journeys ahead, Eirika stopped me. “Farewell, Brother.”

    “To be perfectly honest, I still do not want you to go,” I said softly, taking her hands in mine. It felt like we still had not spent much time together. “I would much rather you wait here for me.”

     She smiled bravely. “There will be no danger. Mine is the easiest task. I’m far more worried about you. Attacking Grado directly? I am afraid for you, Ephraim.”

    “What’s this now? Have you lost your faith in me?”

    Her smile broadened as she dropped my hands and spread them. She spoke with certainty. “No, of course not. I know your true strength, Ephraim. No one can defeat you.”

    I laughed. “Hearing you say that fills me with confidence. I think I know my own limitations. I won’t overextend myself.” I thought about the task I had taken, my resources, my ultimate goal, my sister’s love, and nodded. “I can’t die and leave you all on your own, can I? Let us both survive to be reunited. Give me your word, Eirika.” I held out my hand.

    She shook it. “You have it, Brother.”

   I walked quickly to the stables, where I knew I would find my knights.

   “Kyle! Forde!” I called as I entered. I was lucky. They were the only ones there.

   “Yes, Prince Ephraim?” Kyle replied as they both saluted.

   “Look, I don’t need you loafing around here,” I said without preamble. “Go keep Eirika safe.”

   Forde leaned forward, frowning. “Are you okay, my lord? You’re going up against all of Grado, and you choose to send away your two most trusted comrades?”

   I grinned at him. “No, Forde, I did not get hit in the head. Recently.” That elicited a faint chuckle from both of them. “I am going up against all of Grado, yes, but I’m not concerned for my own safety. I will have the whole Frelian army, and I know a few of their commanders personally. What’s more important is Eirika. It’s because you’re my most trusted men that I need you to help Seth keep her safe. That’s an order, now.”

   Kyle nodded his head. “I understand, Prince Ephraim. We shall do our best.”

   Forde looked a little unhappy, but he nodded too. Then he brightened. “At least I can keep an eye on my little brother while I’m at it. Not that I’ll need to.”

   I clapped them on the shoulders. “That’s the spirit. Well, get going! You don’t want to be left behind!”

   “We’ll see you upon your return, my lord!” they called to me, and left with their horses.

   A few minutes later, I was strolling through the castle towards the Frelian barracks, hoping to meet some of those commanders that I knew. Again, I was in luck.

   “Prince Ephraim?”

   I looked around, and saw a pegasus knight striding quickly toward me. Her long hair was grass-green and her eyes, when she came closer, were the same. She wore a dark, form-fitting short dress and leggings, and white armour and long white boots. Her hair was kept back from her face with a brown headband. “Commander Syrene?”

   She bowed and saluted. “I am Commander Syrene, Prince Ephraim. I understand you are to lead the army from now on.”

   “That’s correct,” I told her. “Remind me what you are in charge of?”

   “I am personal commander of the Third Battalion of the Royal Frelian Pegasus Knights. I am also, in part, the general of the entire Frelian Army, although I usually share those duties with Generals Erios and Kalvin. General Erios, however, is currently stationed here in the capital, and General Kalvin has been badly injured in action and will probably not be able to fight for the rest of the war, despite our healers’ efforts. Therefore, I am currently acting-general of the Frelian Army as it now stands in the field. The army itself is at this moment is spread across the southern border, concentrated on the town of Oderba.”

   I nodded, processing that information. It was good. I could begin my drive to the capital immed- what?

   “Lord Ephraim!” came a call behind me. Three people, one of them heavily armoured, were hurrying toward me.

   “What? Sir Gilliam? Father Moulder? Uh, sorry, I forget your name…”

   “I am Vanessa, milord,” the green-haired girl replied, bowing and saluting just like Syrene had. She looked similar enough to Syrene that I supposed they could be sisters, although Vanessa’s hair was much shorter, in two braids, and she wore a short orange dress.

   Father Moulder, whom I had often met before, stepped forward. He was a broad, sturdy man, dressed in plain brown robes. His brown moustache quivered. “Princess Eirika accepts the loan of Sirs Kyle and Forde and has sent us here to join the Frelian army.”

   I brought my palm up to my forehead. “Eirika!”

   Gilliam, the spiky-black-haired knight with the heavy green armour, spoke in her defense. “She was most earnest in her desire that we accompany you, milord. We could not help but be touched by her plea.”

   I sighed and grumbled under my breath. I knew it was no good arguing with Eirika. When she got an idea in her head, it was impossible to change her mind. I gave the three soldiers a smile. “Well, I am touched by your readiness to assist in what saner heads have called a suicide mission. Welcome aboard.”

   They saluted again. “We won’t let you down, sir!”

   “Well,” Syrene said, “I shall make our preparations for leaving. We shall depart within the hour.”

   I clapped my hands together. “Excellent.” I was slightly disappointed that we wouldn’t be able to stay a night at Castle Frelia, but I knew we needed haste more than anything else. Catch Grado off-guard and keep momentum, and we would penetrate to the heart of the Empire before Emperor Vigarde was aware of our approach.

   We crossed the courtyard, heading for the armories, and I caught a glimpse of Innes exiting a different building, with three or four people – mercenaries, from the look of it – and heading for the gate. So he was off already. I gave him a wave and a nod, and he returned it gravely.

Chapter 3: It’s a Trap!      Chapter 5: Fort Rigwald

Chapter 2: Prisoners     Chapter 4: A New Journey

Chapter 3: It’s a Trap!

    I finally got the door open. Kyle and Forde were sound asleep, which was no surprise since I could see stars through their window – I had none. They looked rather uncomfortable. I pulled the door slightly, trying to see if I could slip out without making a noise. My luck was good. The door were pretty quiet, and I managed to get out.

    “Ephraim?” came a very small voice, from high up somewhere.

    “Myrrh?” I whispered, looking around frantically. She hadn’t been captured too, had she? I’d never forgive myself if she-

    “I’m up here,” her voice came again. I looked back at the window. There were dark fluffy pigtails silhouetted against the stars.

    “Myrrh! You’re all right!”

   “I’m sorry, Ephraim. I can’t help.”

    “Don’t worry about that,” I said. “I’m just glad you’re all right. You just sit tight and we’ll get out. No one has seen you?” I sat down on a wooden stool and began the laborious effort of opening the knights’ door. It was a little easier than mine, since I was facing it this time.

    “No. I stayed hidden, even when the Wyvern Master came and battled you, and your knight knocked you out… I was so worried when they carried you back inside. Ever since night came I’ve been trying to find you, if I could.”

    “Well, you did, and I’m grateful.”

    It took me about half an hour to fix the cavalier’s door.

    I kicked Forde gently. “Wake up, sleepy.”

    “Ughn… wa… huh?” Forde was always incoherent when he first woke. “Oh. Time to go?” Kyle stretched and yawned, then stood, fully awake.

    “That’s right,” I said, smiling. “Grab your lance and sword and let’s get to the stables.” I seized my Reginleif and gestured to the door. “Myrrh is safe; I’ve spoken with her and she’s waiting outside. Let’s go, gentlemen.”

    We were pretty silent as we un-infiltrated the castle. All the guards that got between us and freedom we cut down and hid. The one maidservant who did likewise we had to knock out instead.

    Kyle and Forde quickly saddled their horses as I kept watch on the stable door.

    “Prince, won’t you take a replacement for your own horse?”

    I looked at the horses, then shook my head. “I’ll be all right. I don’t really want a replacement. Call me crazy if you will, but Lila was the best horse I ever had and replacing him would be a little heartless. Now, let’s march on Grado Keep.”

    Forde rolled his eyes in the dark. “Are you sure you want to do this? The Imperial Three are likely to be there.”

    “Yes, and Emperor Vigarde, too, so we can get some answers. Come on.”

    We slipped out of the castle without mishap, finding Myrrh without trouble.

    We had travelled for two days when I heard disturbing news. “My sister? Are you sure?”

    “Yes, Your Honour,” said the old man in the village. “My son, he come from Serafew and mention it – Princess Eirika is heading to Renvall. Word of mouth has it she’s going to rescue you.” He squinted at me. “Looks like you need no rescuing.”

    “Yeah, but she’s my sister. ‘Sisters are supposed to worry about brothers,’” I quoted her. “Well, that’s very valiant of her. I guess we better get back and not disappoint her. Kyle! Forde!”

    “Yes, Prince!” cried the two cavaliers. For once, Forde wasn’t muttering under his breath. I suppose he thought Renvall was less suicidal than Grado.

    We hurried even faster and reached Renvall in a day and a half. There was no movement in the valley.

    “Well, let’s just go inside the castle and see what we can learn. If she’s captured, we’ll have to save her…” I thought for a moment. “Orson! What damage could he do…?”

    “Never mind, milord. We’ll retake Renvall a thousand times on your order,” Forde said cheerily.

    “Only because you believe it can be done, now,” I sighed. “The first time, I had to deal with your disbelief and the enemy soldiers.”

    “I… I am sorry, Prince Ephraim,” Forde said awkwardly.

    I chuckled. “I’m only teasing you, Forde.”

    We set Myrrh down in the same place as last time and ventured stealthily across the bridges.

    We wandered through the halls, and I began to be either worried or suspicious when I saw no guards and heard fewer.

    That was when I heard the bridge collapse. I ran to a window and saw the last of it.

    I turned away and leant against the wall. “Why would they destroy their bridge? Can’t they just pull up their drawbridge…?” A thought clicked in my mind, and I began to head back the way we came. Kyle and Forde followed without question.

    I heard the sound of fighting; the clang of weapons on armour and weapons on weapons; the zipp-thunk of arrows – though the thunk was a lot less frequent than the zipp – the irregular clatter of horses’ hooves; the shouts of dying men.

    “Eirika!” I cried. “All right, men, we have two objectives. Protect Eirika and vanquish the enemy.” Again, I added in my mind.

    “Do you think General Seth is with her? He’s the only one King Fado would trust to go with her; after all, he is the Silver Knight,” Forde said.

    I shrugged. “Are you ready?”

    “As always, Prince Ephraim!” they both answered eagerly. Then they began bickering over which course I should lead them on.

    I had to see if it truly was Eirika, so I ran towards the east corridor. “Follow me!”

    We took one turn and ran into a whole troop of guards. They took a look at us and hesitated.

    Kyle, Forde, and I ran right through them. Not much can stand up to a charge from a warhorse, and my blood was up. Now there seemed to be soldiers everywhere. The fighting was very noisy now.

    In a spacious chamber, a familiar red-haired paladin was fighting three soldiers at once and doing brilliantly. I caught sight of him. “General Seth! You’re alive!”

    “Prince Ephraim! Princess Eirika is safe as well…”

    “Seth? Seth, who are you talking to?” came my sister’s musical voice from beyond the other room. She turned the corner, saw me, and came running and flung her arms around me. I hugged her back tightly.

    “Eirika, are you well?” I murmured.

    “Oh, Brother! You… You’re alive! You’re alive!” she repeated.

    “Well, of course I am.” She wouldn’t let go. I spun her around once, then whispered in her ear: “Girls carry on so.”

    She gave a little squeak, followed by a tiny giggle. “I’m sorry.”

    I shook my head. “At least we’re here. After we escaped Renvall, I thought I’d go and capture Grado Keep. When I heard that you’d journeyed to Renvall to rescue me, I had to turn back to find you.” I grinned at her. “Looks like my timing was impeccable.”

    Eirika, however, did not see it that way. “I’m so sorry. It’s so ironic… to come to rescue you – and get rescued myself. All I did was interfere with your plans…”

    “What are you talking about? What plans? Nonsense. You came to help me, didn’t you? Your efforts alone are enough to inspire me.” I spoke with sincerity. “Anyway, you look like you’d need quite the beating before you really needed rescuing.” I looked at the row of people – probably mercenaries – that were watching the two of us. Some of them looked pretty tough, but honest as well.

    “Franz!? Franz, what on earth are you doing here?” Forde yelled happily.

    “Brother!” the younger cavalier shouted back. They rode to each other and gave a back-slapping hug – at least, Forde did.

    Seeing them together… one could really see the differences and similarities. The most telling difference was in the way they kept their hair, but one could see the boyish spirit in both of them. Franz was simply a much younger version of his brother. It was like Eirika and myself, except we were the same age.

    “Ha! How’ve you been?”

    “I should ask you that! We’d heard you were captured. I was worried.”

    “Worried? I ride with Prince Ephraim, little brother. Death will have tough time catching up to anyone who rides with our prince! But, it’s not like we’ve avoided trouble altogether, that’s for sure.” They had dismounted, and Forde suddenly measured his brother with his hand, frowning. “Say, have you grown taller on me?”

    “I have,” Franz answered proudly. “I’ve also finished my training. I’m now a Knight of Renais! You just watch – I’ll be on par with General Seth one day!”

    “You want to be like the general, huh? … What about me?” Forde teased him, grinning.

    “Oh…” Franz mumbled. “I still want to be like you, too, Brother!”

    Then Kyle stepped forward to speak to Seth. “General Seth!”

    “Well met, Kyle. I never thought for a moment that you could be bested easily.”

    “No, sir! And I never doubted for a moment that I would see you again.”

    “Kyle. About Orson…” I wondered how he knew, and then I guessed Orson had stayed in the castle and met Eirika and Seth, who was wary by nature, even of those he knew.

    “He was the reason for our capture.” Kyle scowled darkly. “Unbelievable, isn’t it? But facts are facts.”

    “Yes. If Orson can turn his back on Renais… We remaining knights will have to work all the harder to prove ourselves.”

    “I understand, sir!”

    “Let’s go, Kyle.”

    “Yes, sir!”

    I decided all the talk and banter and so on had gone on long enough. “Okay, let’s go!”

    Tirado was waiting for us in the heart of the castle. I took care of him easily enough. Then I turned to Eirika, who looked ready to faint with relief – oh, girls – and she hugged me.

    “I’m sorry, Eirika. I worried you, didn’t I? And you as well, General?” I said to Seth.

    “Not at all,” Seth said immediately, but that was obviously not very true. “We’re happy you’re safe. Prince, about Orson…”

    “I find it hard to believe he could turn his back on Renais so,” I answered. I let Eirika go and rubbed the back of my neck. “I am morally responsible for his plight…”

    Eirika said something, but I didn’t hear her, wrapped up in my thoughts.

    “Ephraim…” chirped Myrrh. I jumped. I hadn’t heard her come in. I was about to ask her why she hadn’t waited for us to find her when I thought better of it. I realized that everything was safe now, and that was what mattered.

    “Yes, Myrrh?” I asked her.

    “Something is coming… Big… Dark… Many…” She sometimes had premonitions and visions. They had saved me and my knights more than once.

    “Ah.” I looked at my sister again. “Sounds like we should get out of here.”

    “Where did you meet this girl?” she asked. “Oh! Indigo hair…” I wondered why that was so important.

    “That’s a long story. For now, we must move.” I whistled, and Kyle and Forde began making our retreat. “Suffice to say that Emperor Vigarde has enlisted some… otherworldly powers,” I continued in a low voice for only Seth, Myrrh, and Eirika. “We must warn everyone of the danger.”

Chapter 2: Prisoners     Chapter 4: A New Journey

Chapter 1: Unbroken Heart     Chapter 3: It’s a Trap!

Chapter 2: Prisoners

    I awoke in a cold stone cell. I stared up at the ceiling blankly until feeling returned to my body.

    Then it became imperative that I sit up.

    “Ow… my head…” I moaned, rubbing the spot on the back of it where I had been hit by Orson’s lance haft.

    “Prince Ephraim, are you all right?” called Kyle’s voice.

    “Mm? Yes. I’m fine. My head just still hurts where that – ” I broke off. “Kyle, how are you? Is Forde with you?”

    “Yeah, I’m here, Prince. We’re all stuck in this room together. You’ve got a cell to yourself, though.”

    “I can see that,” I said, standing unsteadily and leaning against the bars. Across from me were my two cavaliers, crouching in their cell.

    “You’ve been out for a couple of hours longer than we have,” Kyle told me.

    “Any way to get out of here?” I asked, pushing each separate bar in turn.

    “Nope, not from what I can see,” Forde commented cheerfully. “Anyhow, it would be kinda foolish to try and escape just yet – they’re bound to have extra guards with you and all.”

    “I see.” I turned my head to hear better. “Someone’s coming.”

    Orson clattered down the stairs into the room.

    “Orson!” I snarled. If there hadn’t been bars I believe I would have thrown myself on him and proceeded to beat the daylights out of him, but as it was, I couldn’t.

    “My Prince -” Orson began.

    “I’m not your prince,” I gritted at him. “Go and swear fealty to Valter, you treacherous snake. How could you do this?”

    “Let me explain,” he began again.

    “I will,” I growled.

    “My wife is in the capital.”

    “Oh, so this is about your wife, is it?”

    “They told me she would be unharmed, and what’s more, I would not have to fight anyone anymore; I could simply be with her, if only I did one thing for them.”

    “You – you -” I choked out. I grabbed the largest loose stone I could find – which was no larger than a pebble – and threw it at his head. Even in my anger, I hit him square between the eyes.

    “Is that the best you can do? Is the Prince of Renais reduced to throwing pebbles?” I raged helplessly like a beast for a couple of minutes. Orson smiled at the wall, not listening.

    “I have to do one more thing, and then I can just be with my wife for the rest of this quick war.”

    “You betrayed your prince for your wife?” Kyle and Forde gasped in tandem.

    “She’s dead, you idiot! What are you talking about!?” I demanded.

    A first flicker of trouble crossed Orson’s face. “I… they promised me…”

    “You gave your allegiance on the promise of Grado? The promise of something impossible? I bet it was Valter! You can’t trust them! We trusted them up until a month past, and look what happened!” I cried. “I suppose you think they’re going to be the winning side! I’m not dead yet, you know! Why, if I were only free with my lance in my hand, it would be in your traitorous heart!”

    Orson gestured absentmindedly. “It’s over there…”

    “You’ll regret telling me that,” I said, looking over in the corner where our lances and Kyle and Forde’s swords and even our medical supplies we had taken with us were.

    Orson left silently.

    I sighed and slumped against the bars, pushing my green hair off my forehead. “He’ll pay. Anyway, we need to get out of here. I think I’ll see if I can open this door, then we can open it whenever we need to.” I undid my belt and, poking the buckle through the bars, stuck the tongue into the lock. It only took me a few hours…

Chapter 1: Unbroken Heart     Chapter 3: It’s a Trap!

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones: Ephraim’s Story

Chapter 2: Prisoners

    Chapter 1: Unbroken Heart

    I am Ephraim. I am the Prince of Renais, son of King Fado and brother to my twin sister Eirika. I have jade green hair and eyes. The lance I wield is called the Reginleif. I like the lance.

    If you want a description of the way I dress, too, I wear a light blue tunic, white pants, black boots, brown gloves, over which I wear a bracelet my father gave to me – not a girly bracelet, thank goodness – leather armour to protect my hips while fighting on horseback, a dark blue cloak with red lining, and dark blue chest, shoulder, and leg armour. On the chest plate is the Crest of Renais.

    Now, I may be the Prince of Renais, but I’m far more interested in being a warrior than a king when my father passes away.

    Which was why, on a certain day in the year 803, I was with the last three of my knights – Kyle, Forde, and Orson – and a small girl named Myrrh, who had joined us recently after we rescued her from bandits, and we were camping in a deep thicket somewhere in the north of Grado, which had always been Renais’ friend, but had now attacked us. I was horribly confused, but I had to protect Renais, so I did what I could. I led suprise attacks and ambushes against Grado’s armies for as long as I could, but now we were four, and I couldn’t quite do that anymore. We’d been fighting useless mercenaries, anyway. We’d always been vastly outnumbered, but I used my wits and education in tactics to come out victor every time.

    “Forde, how are we on supplies and equipment?” I asked one of my two ‘social knights’, the one with blonde hair and blue-grey eyes.

    “It’s not looking good,” he replied glumly. “Our weapons are in bad shape, and we’re running low on food. We can probably restock at a nearby village, but-”

    “No, that’s not an option. We’re in enemy territory. I will not involve innocents if I can avoid it.”

    Myrrh looked back and forth between us both, but offered no comment. She had indigo hair in two big bunched pigtails and dark red eyes, and dressed in simple short reddish robes with a large, loose brown cloak and leather sandals. I sometimes wondered if it was either safer, or a whole lot more dangerous, that she stayed with us. She looked so fragile, about eight years old, but she had an incredible secret that meant I absolutely had to guard her. She kept close by my side, and rode on Kyle’s horse when we were not in battle.

    “Yeah, I knew you’d say that,” said Forde, a hint of his usual smirk on his face. “I mean, it’s because of stuff like that that we’ve stuck with you so far. But eventually, we do need to face reality. What are we going to do?”

    “Word of mouth has it that the invasion of Renais has progressed quite far,” reported Kyle from where he lay on a pile of leaves, healing a recent injury, a lance wound to his shin. “I’ve heard that the capital has fallen.” He was Forde’s best friend, rival, and complete opposite. His curly grass green hair hinted at mischieviousness, but nothing could be further from the truth.

    My heart flew into my mouth. My father and sister… “Hm… So soon…” I said instead. Myrrh patted my shoulder and I gave her a quick smile. “Still my father is in the capital, and he won’t surrender easily.” I hoped my sister was safe, too. “Forde, Kyle. Our mission here is to harry the troops, to distract their eye. Hopefully, we’ll be able to give my father and Eirika time to escape.” I hoped my father wouldn’t be such a stubborn hero that he would stay behind. “Kyle, have you heard anything from Orson? I sent him ahead to scout.”

    “No word yet, and it’s about time he returned…”

    “Reporting in, Prince Ephraim,” called Orson, an older knight with long brown hair tied back and pale green armour, giving plenty of warning by crunching leaves and pushing branches. He saluted me and continued. “I can confirm Grado presence at several points around our camp. Also, a large battalion of soldiers has been dispatched from Renvall. We shouldn’t tarry here any longer than necessary…”

    “I see.” A plan began to form in my mind.

    “Seems as though we’ve certainly caught Grado’s eye this time,” said Forde amiably. “Should we retreat back towards the capital, Prince Ephraim?”

    “No. We press onward.” I smiled. “We’re going to capture Renvall.”

    My knights reacted with the shock I knew they would. “Wh-what?!?” Forde stuttered. But they started strapping on their armour, red for Forde, green for Kyle.

    Quickly I led them out of the den and through the enemy formations. Orson pointed out what he had seen around, so I picked my route. My knights may have been on horseback and my own horse lost, but I could still run pretty fast. Myrrh rode behind Kyle.

    “So this is Renvall, is it?” I asked casually, looking at the impregnable-seeming fortress perched on a cliffy peninsula jutting out into a cold lake. “All right, let’s go.”

    “Um… Are you… sure you’re quite sane, Prince Ephraim?” Forde asked cautiously. “We’ve an entire army after us and you want to charge their stronghold?”

    “Forde! Watch your tongue! This is our prince you’re addressing!” Kyle scolded him.

    I laughed at Forde’s earlier statement. The cavalier had yet to learn that the worst mistake an enemy could make was setting off with most of his force to capture a guerrilla’s stronghold – we would simply walk in and batter down the last, inadequate defences. Yes, I was certain I was sane. “Kyle, please, it’s all right. We’ve heard nothing from home,” I went on more seriously, “so what harm could a little reckless besieging cause?”

    “Prince Ephraim…” Kyle answered, apparently not understanding my facetiousness.

    “Don’t worry. I haven’t lost all sense of self-preservation,” I finally assured them. “Renvall holds an important place in Grado’s national defence. If we can get the upper hand and take control of it, then Grado will waste many valuable soldiers trying to take it back. I hope proves useful to my father and Eirika,” I muttered. Even if they won’t learn about it for weeks…

    “I understand what you’re saying, but… can we do it with our current strength?” Forde was still doubtful.

    I sighed, suddenly tired of arguing and wanting to chuck my lance at someone. Still, I gave him a confident grin. “Every soldier in this area is trying to find us. The enemy has us vastly outnumbered. Attacking the castle is a ridiculous idea. If the enemy thinks the same… then we may have our opening.”

    “You have a point,” Forde conceded. “I’m sure Renvall won’t expect us to attack with these numbers. Either way, we can’t run forever. And we’re running out of supplies. What’ve we got to lose?”

    “Trust me. I don’t pick fights I cannot win.”

    “Yes, sir!”

    Kyle set Myrrh down in a clump of trees near the castle gate.

    “We’ll be back for you soon,” I said. “Try to stay out of sight, okay?”

    “Yes, Ephraim,” she said softly. Her big crimson eyes stared up at me with concern.

    Forde knelt next to her. “Hey, kid,” he said kindly, “don’t worry. We’ll be just fine. Right, Kyle?”

    Kyle nodded gravely. “Indeed we will. Have confidence, Miss Myrrh.”

    Myrrh nodded and trotted into the trees, her loose cloak flopping around her back, until we could no longer see her.

    “All right,” I said determinedly, “back up you get, Forde. We must fulfill our word!”

    We ran into the castle. “Orson,” I called him once we were inside the main ward.

    “Yes…”

    “Your wounds still haven’t healed from that last battle, have they? Don’t push yourself trying to follow my orders exactly. If we’re defeated, you must return to Frelia. Understood?”

    “Understood…”

    “Let’s go! Kyle! Forde!” I charged ahead. ‘Practical’ Forde spent much of his time looting, as I wasn’t planning to stay too long in Renvall after we’d taken it. Orson took it easy, as I asked, and Kyle claimed his injuries had vanished. I kept an eye on him – his stubborn loyalty meant he’d fight to the death without even realizing it. I twirled my lance expertly as I cut through dozens of weak opponents. I was a little unhappy, because Grado had long been one of our closest allies – actually, with Renais being geographically in the centre of Magvel, all countries were our closest allies. But I had more personal connections with Grado.

    As I reached the centre chamber of the keep, several enemies flung themselves on me at once. I ducked the spear of one, took the other with my leather hip armour, and cursed as my hastily flung javelin missed the enemy shaman who cast Flux on me and sapped my strength. Grabbing my Reginleif again, I winded, cracked skulls, and stabbed. The one survivor of that attack I let lie – he had been knocked out. I didn’t like taking prisoners, but I liked killing prisoners even less. There were dungeons. We’d stick him in there.

    The mercenary leader waited on the castle throne. “You think you can take a castle with those numbers?”

    “Sure,” I flung back, my chest heaving. “We just did.”

    “Imbicile!” the guy taunted. ” You’ll learn the error of your ways!”

    “I don’t think so,” I said, sidestepping his sword and plunging my lance into his chest.

    “That was too easy,” I said to myself as I wiped my lance on his shirt. “I wonder…”

    “Oh, sire, sit in your throne and let your humble servants adore you!” Forde declared theatrically. I snorted at him as he knelt to me. Kyle was about to give him a lecture, but I held up my hand.

    “Forde, you mustn’t be quite so goofy. There are times and places, even in war-time, but this isn’t one of them. What if I didn’t kill this guy and he was only pretending to be dead?” I looked around. “What if… say, Orson – he’s standing right behind you – took it into his head that you were too annoying and decided to swipe off your head?”

    Forde straightened up. “I understand, sir. I apologize.”

    Orson was looking at me strangely. “Don’t take it personally, Orson. I wasn’t questioning your friendship and loyalty. Forde, I’ll tell you when you can relax like that. Yes, Kyle?”

    “We’ve secured the entire castle. You were brilliant, Prince Ephraim! What a plan! What a battle!” he exclaimed fervently.

    “I estimate at least half of the enemy troops are in the field. We took the castle, but we don’t have the manpower to hold it in a siege,” I said thoughtfully.

    “No kidding,” I heard Forde mutter.

    “There’s no point in lingering here. Let’s continue on to Grado Keep.”

    Forde turned away from the window abruptly. “Prince Ephraim, things have taken a turn for the worse.” He tugged on his ponytail nervously. “We’re surrounded.”

    “What?” asked Kyle.

    “Grado’s sent reinforcements? So quickly…?” I wondered how they could have gotten word we had attacked so soon.

    “What should we do?” Kyle asked me.

    I thought in silence for a moment, turning away and studying the flagstones. “We must escape,” I said grimly. “Let’s get Myrrh and get out of here.”

    We ran out of the castle – at least, I did. The knights, of course, rode. It was as Forde had said – the castle was entirely surrounded with better soldiers than had been inside.

    We had no sooner cleared the third bridge and were heading for Myrrh’s copse when a Wyvern Master bore down on us. It was Valter, the most feared, infamous, and cruel member of Grado’s forces. He always had a look of dementia about him.

    “So, you’ve captured Renvall, have you? And with such a small force! Impressive!” he praised me, sounding like an insane older uncle. He purred, “You’ve earned your reputation. I must say, I quite admire your work. I take it you’re the leader of this pack – the misguided Prince Ephraim.”

    “I am.” I acknowledged him coldly.

    “I’m General Valter, the Moonstone of Grado’s Imperial Arm-”

    “I know that,” I interrupted. “If you’ve something to say, Valter, get on with it.”

    A flicker of anger crossed his face. “Catching up to you has caused me no small amount of trouble. We’ve reduced your wretched home of Renais to ruin, and yet… you and your little band of bravos continue to be a thorn in our side.” Good, I thought. He’s revealed what I wanted to know. “But that all ends here…”

    “We’ll see… You claim you’ve taken the capital of Renais… Tell me, how did you know I would attack Renvall?” I asked coolly.

    Valter laughed. “Patience. You’ll have your answer soon enough. Now, be good lads, and drop your weapons, will you?”

    “Prince Ephraim, let us attack!” Kyle urged us. I didn’t answer either of them. Either we would be killed, or captured. I wondered which would spend our lives better – or serve my father and sister.

    “Listen to me, Ephraim,” Valter continued persuasively. “You’re a smart man. You know it’s futile to fight me. You cannot win. You cannot escape. Accept the reality of your situation, and surrender to me.”

    “Surrender?” I asked curiously. The word had a bad taste in my mouth, but I was seriously considering it, nonetheless. I returned to silence and stood with my head bowed, thinking furiously.

    Valter chuckled most unpleasantly. “That’s right. If you do, I’ll let you live. I hold your life in the palm of my hand. Do not test my good humour. Now come over here, bend your knee, and beg for your life. Show me how Renais dogs grovel!”

    My head came up, and my eyes were like green fires as they burned with my hatred and contempt. “I think not.” My voice was little above a deadly cold whisper.

    “What?” Valter asked, rather confused. He had thought he was leading me along, thought he had me right where he wanted me, thought I was going along.

    “I’m sorry, Valter,” I said, changing my tone to sarcastic and taunting, “but I don’t have time to waste playing games with you. So, we’re going to knock you louts about a bit and then make our way out of here.”

    “Fool…” Valter hissed. “Have you gone mad? Do you truly believe you can fight your way past my wyvern knights?”

    “Watch and see,” I dared him. “I don’t pick fights I can’t win. Kyle, Forde, Orson, are you ready?”

    “My life has been yours since the moment I took my chivalric vows,” Kyle said staunchly.

    “It’s moments like these that keep me by your side, my prince,” Forde chimed in cheerfully.

    “What idiotic wretches you are…” Valter sneered. “Prepare yourselves to be destroyed utterly!”

    I shouted to my knights: “We break to the east. GO!” I kept my eyes on Valter, knowing him to be the most dangerous of the pack of rabble we faced. I ducked his spear and twirled my own. He brought it down in a chop that I parried with my haft. My cloak swirled as I retreated several metres. In truth, I wondered how we would give the enemy the slip fighting every step of the way, but I had a plan… again…

    I twisted and dodged more of the Wyverns Master’s blows, fighting for my life against other underlings at the same time. I heard two loud dull thwacks behind me, and I began looking for a tree to get my back to.

    Then a lance connected with the back of my head and I fell. My vision cleared enough to see Orson standing over me – it was his lance! I bared my teeth in an impotent snarl of rage and betrayal; then blackness swallowed my sight.

Chapter 2: Prisoners