Chapter 12: Creeping Darkness     Chapter 14: Hamill Canyon

Chapter 13: Village of Silence

The others climbed to the top of another low ridge. I lagged behind, forcing my legs to move onward.

“My lady?” Seth asked as I tottered up next to Altha and him, breathing heavily. “You must rest.”

Innes, too, was panting in the thin air. “Whew… I didn’t think we’d be climbing so high.”

I took another step forward and almost slipped on a patch of loose gravel. Innes caught my arm. “Whoops!” I laughed a little self-consciously.

“As I warned you before, the footing may be a little treacherous around here,” Saleh informed us again. He was not panting. Of course, he was used to it.

“How much further is Caer Pelyn, Master Saleh?” Seth asked. I drew my narrow brows together and frowned at his back. I wished he would stop fussing over me when I couldn’t fuss over him.

“Less than half a day,” Saleh replied.

“In that case, then I think we should take a few moments’ rest,” Seth said.

Saleh glanced at me and the other people on foot, and nodded. Continue reading →

Chapter 11: Revolt at Carcino     Chapter 13: Village of Silence

Chapter 12: Creeping Darkness

It took several hours to actually leave the city. Innes sent another messenger to his father. Ewan was skipping with impatience, but finally we moved off.

We didn’t move far that night, stopping barely five kilometres later. Forde had taken a weary Ewan onto his horse.

The next day, we travelled through quiet country. Wide, flat grain fields gradually narrowed around the road. After the fields, we passed into hilly country where horses and ranches and mines were common. Ahead, the green and grey mountains loomed. The road wound through what valleys it could find, and forests closed in around us.

Seth stayed near me all that day, but we did not speak often. My heart ached, but I carried myself as I should, and I knew he approved, whatever it would cost him personally.

We stopped on a low hill beside the road for that night.

The next day was the same, but my heartache was worse. Tana was pestering me to tell her, dear friend, but I really couldn’t. Eventually, this would fade, and, if I kept it secret to myself, be as though it never happened. To make matters worse – I mean, better – Innes was acting the gentleman towards me now.

The road was long, but the mountains were much closer that day. Suddenly, the trees parted on the right and a crumbling mansion of dark stone and large windows loomed beside the path. Innes decided we should camp there. Though it was lacking a roof and the clouds were thick – and it looked to be growing foggier by the minute – if we pitched tents inside, we would have much more protection than in the open. Continue reading →

Chapter 10: Distant Blade     Chapter 12: Creeping Darkness

Chapter 11: Revolt at Carcino

We marched quickly along the mountain path, heading south to where Innes was supposed to be waiting. We finally crested the top and saw the next valley, filled with enemy soldiers. They were surrounding a sturdy fortification. That must be where he was.

“He looks vastly outnumbered,” Seth stated, his sharp eyes somehow managing to pick out the three figures on top of the fort. “I doubt he can hold out much longer.”

I nodded and turned to Tana. “Can you take me there? We should both talk to him.”

“Hop on!” Tana cried. I jumped up behind her, and Dancla leaped into the air, soaring high above the battlefield. I had forgotten how much I loved flying with Tana.

“I’ll have to fly a bit lower so my brother doesn’t see me as a target.”

“I think you should approach him from the front, so he sees you and recognizes you. If we swoop onto the battlements from behind, I think there’s a larger chance of us getting killed.”

“I understand.” She ordered Dancla down. I saw Innes back away from the edge of his parapet, an annoyed look on his face.

“Tana, what are you doing here? Go home, now!”

“I won’t! I’m only here to help, Brother. Eirika said I could help. I’m helping!”

I smiled as I dismounted to confront a very irritated looking Prince Innes. “You must be exhausted. Please, fall back and rest for a while.”

“I can’t do that. Falling back while a woman protected me would be rather distasteful… But I would be pleased to have you join me.”

“As you like,” I shrugged. “Let’s go.” Continue reading →

Chapter 9: A New Journey     Chapter 11: Revolt at Carcino

Chapter 10: Distant Blade

We made our way to the Port of Kiris in Carcino, first cleansing the Tower of Valni of the monsters that had moved in. We were in sight of the walls of Kiris when I was stopped by a shout behind me.

“Eirika! Wait for me!”

A golden-maned pegasus whizzed over my head and landed gracefully in front of me. The lady rider dismounted.

“Tana!” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“I want to help!” Tana said indignantly. “You left so abruptly that I couldn’t ask you in the palace. And besides, you forgot to say farewell. You and Ephraim only just arrived, and then you set off again! You’re not leaving me out of it! I’m your friend, Eirika!”

“Does King Hayden know?”

Tana tossed her dark-blue haired head. “Oh, Father will just say ‘I forbid you to go on this foolish errand’ or something like that. But he and my brother and your brother and you are all fighting the enemy! I don’t want to just sit home and learn music and dancing and poetry like normal – I want to help!”

I sighed, looking at the still distant waves. “All right.” I gave her a rueful smile. “I could never refuse you anything, Tana. Lucky you went with me and not my stubborn brother – he would never let you come. We’re going to Kiris, and then to Rausten.”

“I know! I was at the council, remember? Thank you so much, Eirika!” She mounted Dancla, her pegasus, and hovered over us as we continued on our journey. Continue reading →

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 →