Chapter 8: It’s a Trap!     Chapter 9: Distant Blade

Chapter 9: A New Journey

At Castle Frelia, Tana was waiting and ready. “I’m so glad to see you both safe – it’s like a dream come true! My own brother is returning from the field soon…”

“You talk too much, Tana,” Innes’s voice came from behind us. Tana squealed and ran to hug him, but the grey-haired, grey eyed Prince of Frelia evaded her.

“I’m so happy to see you home well, too!” Tana chirped. Innes straightened his light blue silk tunic and adjusted his shoulder quiver sling.

“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. Welcome, Ephraim, Eirika.”

“Well met, Innes,” returned my brother.

“I heard Renais has fallen,” Innes said Ephraim. “I told you this would happen. Grado attacked because you showed them weakness.”

“Innes!” Tana scolded him. “You know they’ve lost their father. How can you speak that way to them?”

“My apologies.” Innes strode away. He turned back long enough to say: “Hear me, Ephraim. Our greatest goal is to defeat Grado.” My brother nodded.

“I’m so sorry,” Tana said to us. Continue reading →

Chapter 7: Waterside Renvall     Chapter 9: A New Journey

Chapter 8: It’s a Trap!

We came to the gatehouse. There we stopped to let Orson rest – he seemed short of breath. The rest of the group waited several metres behind us.

“Orson, how long ago were you captured?” Seth asked.

“Only a week ago. We have heard no news of the war at all – tell me, Seth, how is it with Renais?”

Seth bowed his head. “Renais has fallen. King – King Fado… The king is dead.”

Orson lowered his gaze also. “Dead… my king…. I am truly sorry. Princess, I have served you poorly.”

“No, Orson, do not blame yourself for what you could not prevent. We must look to the future, not find fault in the past,” I said a little inchoherently, giving him what comfort I could.

“The Grado army purues me in the hope of acquiring my bracelet,” I continued, though I felt rather foolish saying ‘the most powerful army on the continent is chasing a piece of jewelry’. “My brother is in danger because he wears its twin.”

Orson looked confused, and I didn’t blame him. “Ah.” His expression cleared. “Prince Ephraim still wears the bracelet. Grado is after them? If that is the case, then you should not keep yours with you.”

I looked blankly at him, my uneasiness growing, though I knew not why. Continue reading →

Chapter 6: Victims of War     Chapter 8: It’s a Trap!

Chapter 7: Waterside Renvall

I ran for only a few moments; then Seth called to me to stop. He was concerned that I might wear myself out, dashing around after my brother like a scared rabbit. I smiled and acquiesced.

We dropped off the family at the nearest town and reached Renvall by noon the next day. It was quite impressive for a small fortress. The cool, deep, blue waters of a perfectly ring-shaped lake lay in a shallow valley with a backdrop of brown mountains to the north. Seth and I stood on a hill to the southwest. Thick forests lined the lake’s shores, and a single bridge leapt across to a castle crouching on a little island in the centre of the lake.

Scholars said the perfect lake was formed when a large rock fell down from the sky, but I didn’t believe them. Rocks that big didn’t fall from the sky like that. I was usually openminded about such things, but this thing in particular they would have to prove to me.

“My brother is somewhere inside that castle,” I murmured. A slight breeze caressed my hair.

“Allow me to point out the defenses of Renvall,” Seth said. I nodded. “The single bridge will be heavily guarded. They have a wonderful view of the valley, meaning it is easy to defend and difficult to assault. Our strategy must be a careful one.”

“I agree,” I agreed. Continue reading →

Chapter 5: The Empire’s Reach     Chapter 7: Waterside Renvall

Chapter 6: Victims of War

Two days later, Seth and I were scouting. Nothing had happened the previous day, likely because I chose to travel in a remoter region of Grado to make my way to Renvall. We had come to a place called Adlas Plain, and there was a thick fog. That was why Seth and I had gone instead of Vanessa.

We left the group camped on the edge of the field after breakfast and set out. We made half-way across, when…

A shaman appeared. I gave a little cry of surprise – he had warped in, appearing even more suddenly through the fog. “You’re Eirika, Princess of Renais, aren’t you? Hmm, you’re even more beautiful than I’d heard – and you’re wearing your bracelet, too. Let’s start with that. Won’t you hand over your lovely little trinket?” I heard Seth’s sharp intake of breath.

“And why would I do that?” I asked disdainfully. He was clearly my enemy, and I checked my sword surreptitiously.

“The emperor wants it. That’s reason enough,” he snapped. I couldn’t see much, but the lower part of his face was pale. The rest of him was swathed in dark robes. “Come, hand it over quickly, and I’ll leave you alive.”

“Princess Eirika, you will do no such thing,” Seth exclaimed quietly.

“Of course not,” I agreed, glancing up at him.

“Hmm, you came to save Prince Ephraim, did you not? A wild-goose chase. Ephraim fell in battle against Grado’s might not long ago. As we speak, he wastes away in a cell in Renvall, meekly awaiting his execution.”

My heart stopped for a single moment, but then I realized that he was not above lying. “You lie! A pitiful worm like you could never defeat my brother!!” Continue reading →

Chapter 4: Ancient Horrors     Chapter 6: Victims of War

Chapter 5: The Empire’s Reach

We travelled south with no further mishap for several days. Soon, we reached Serafew.

Serafew stands on the very edge of the border between Renais and Grado. We have long forgotten to whom it belongs to, or if in ancient times the border passed through the town. People of both countries dwell there, and are a unique community in Magvel, having pride in both nationalities at the same time.

However, Serafew had been taken over by Grado troops. I didn’t know that yet.

On a side note, the gunk from the mogall had cleaned out more easily than I had expected.

As the low yellow stone walls rose behind oaks and maples, I smiled.

“It’s been so long since I last visisted Serafew. My brother and I used to pass through here en route to Grado. I remember the hamony in which the people of both countried lived. No walls divided our borders. No soldiers stood guard in high towers. This border town… It was to me a symbol of the trust between Grado and Renais. That peace… It seems like something from another time. It seems lost now… Forever.” I watched two blue wyverns fly away to the northeast.

“And now, it is firmly under the thumb of Grado’s emperor,” Seth noted dryly, looking at the flags flying on the clock tower in the centre of town. There used to be one for Renais, too, but now there were two for Grado. “The city doesn’t seem very heavily patrolled. They must feel it’s not worth guarding with Castle Renais under their control. The west gate is undermanned…” Continue reading →

Chapter 3: The Bandits of Borgo     Chapter 5: The Empire’s Reach

Chapter 4: Ancient Horrors

“We’re approaching Serafew, at the border of Renais and Grado. Once we cross, we’ll be in Grado… Renvall won’t be much farther,” Seth told me two days later.

“That is, assuming we can cross the border without mishap…” I answered dryly. We moved onward without speaking for a moment, following a path through grey woods. It was a bit misty, and not so bright as it had been.

Something moved in the trees. I would have thought nothing of it, but more movement appeared. Unhealthy looking… things ducked behind bushes and clumsily kept to cover.

I moved closer to Seth, pointing at one zombie-like creature stumbling from behind a trunk. “Those strange figures… What… what are they?” I asked, appalled. “Are they… human?”

“I’ve never seen anything like them,” Seth responded warily, his hand on his sword hilt. “What could they be?”

I had no answer for him. Seth called the rest of the group and told them to keep their weapons handy.

A young man with orangish brown curly hair ran up to us on the path. He wore white and aqua monk robes unsuited for hurrying, and he was very out of breath. “Travelers, you must listen to me! The ancient forest of Za’ha is dangerous. Head south and pass through this place before the fiends surround you!” Continue reading →

Chapter 2: The Protected     Chapter 4: Ancient Horrors

Chapter 3: The Bandits of Borgo

The next morning, we were high in the mountains. Stark brown peaks rose yet higher above us, unclad by much except moss and the occasional bush.

“The local villagers tell me that Bazba’s Bandits keep their lair nearby,” Seth told me at the last town. “A few of them saw a lad matching the description of our bracelet thief.” This seemed to match the boy to being one of them.

I was shocked at the information that bandits still made their home in Renais, and said as much.

“It wasn’t always like this,” my general told me, regret thick in his voice. “The knights used to protect the citizenry… However, with Renais in ruins and her army tattered, law and order are hard to find.”

I nodded. The Grado army was not most concerned with preserving order. “If nothing changes, Renais will continue on this sad plunge into savagery.”

A dark-lilac haired girl with a bow and quiver stepped hesitantly up to us. “Um… hello? Pardon me for asking… but are you all some sort of mercenary troop?” Her eyes were the same colour as her hair, but they and her nose were red with weeping.

“Is she one whom you spoke with?” I asked Seth quietly. He shook his head. “Why do you ask?” I questioned her. She stepped closer, glancing about nervously.

“Please, you have to help Colm!” she exclaimed, and burst into tears. “I told him it was too dangerous, but he wouldn’t listen to me!” Continue reading →

Chapter 1: The Escape     Chapter 3: The Bandits of Borgo

Chapter 2: The Protected

King Hayden greeted his daughter warmly, with a hug and a kiss. “Oh, Tana – I’m grateful to see that you’re home safe and sound again! You’ve no idea how I worried when I heard that you were under attack at Border Mulan. You are not to leave again without my permission. Do you understand?”

“Don’t be mad, Father. I bring good news with me!” She beckoned me. I had been waiting outside the door shyly. Seth and Franz stood patiently with me.

“King Hayden, I’m happy to see you again, even in these dismal times,” I smiled.

“As am I. It does my heart good to see you safe.”

I curtseyed. “I managed to escape the castle before it fell, but I think my father did not…”

King Hayden sighed and looked down. “I have news of your father.”

My heart froze in my chest. “Please, tell me!”

“My good friend, King Fado,” said Frelia’s king slowly and heavily, “did not survive the attack.”

“No…” I whispered. The room blurred in front of my eyes. I must have half-fainted because I saw things shift and suddenly felt two pairs of hands supporting me: Tana and faithful Seth. “…It cannot be…” Continue reading →

Prologue: The Fall of Renais     Chapter 2: The Protected

Chapter 1: The Escape

I awoke to find Altha grazing in a meadow. Seth was asleep with his head sunk on his chest, and my head was on his shoulder. Our arms were still tightly wrapped around each other. For a moment, half asleep still, I studied his face. His thick, dark, red hair brushed my face, but I saw his striking profile; sadness filled his mouth and closed brown eyes. I closed my own eyes for a moment, and then opened them hurriedly.

Rather alarmed by our… intimate position, I wriggled. Seth started and woke, grunting. When he realized where he was, he gasped and blushed.

“Please, forgive me,” he said quickly, also alarmed.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I said, sliding to the ground to allow him to dismount and begin setting up breakfast. “You were tired. It was all completely unintentional.”

“As you like, Princess,” was his only answer, and I knew he was not going to forgive himself. I sighed inwardly. Stubborn man.

Seth found some firewood, and I made toast and tea – simple, and good for a journey. That was my opinion, anyway. Then, we continued riding, going more slowly so that Altha did not get tired out. I was forever pointing out different beautiful sights in the bright day. The sun shone brilliantly in the cheerful, cloudless blue sky. Around every bend was something new.

“I’ve been here often, but the times I came were mostly flying with Tana. One has a completely different perspective on the ground, and as I recall, yet another view while walking. Oh! There’s the waterfall of Clover Village!”

Near to lunchtime, we came to the castle of Border Mulan. I was happy to be in Frelia – I was friends with most of the young royal families on Magvel, and Princess Tana of Frelia was not an exception. My dear brother often had tension with her brother, Prince Innes, for Innes had high goals and viewed Ephraim as more of a rival than a friend.

Anyway, we drew over the hill above Castle Mulan and stopped. Grado soldiers were crawling over the landscape.

“Oh, Seth, look… ” I pointed as my voice trailed off in shock. Continue reading →