[IC] Song of Betrayal | Fire Emblem

[phillmyster]

Another one!?, are you sure you’re not invading Plegia?” Phill joked to the Pegasus knight, Andrew looked at the Pegasus and moved his ears forward and cheered “beautiful Pegasus you have there, he says, well, if your coming with us, you’ll have to strip yourself of your armor, everyone should right about now, you can keep any normal looking weapons but no big ones, I’ve arranged to meet with a friend not so far ahead, they arrived to man who had several horses and pegasi and a carriage.

The man approached them and addressed phill "Hey there Phill, are these guys the ones, ok, ok… , mmmmm I think it can be done, just leave your armor in the carriage and get the injured man in there too, the woman should get in there with him “ he said pointing the girls ”and put this on” he gave them Plegian maid outfits. “the rest of you should put these peasants clothes on, each of you grab a horse or pegasi and don’t talk, leave that to me.”
Phill took out his armor and put it inside the carriage next to some hay and tools, and suggested everyone else to do the same. Then he took Zaino and put him inside the carriage in the hay, After that he took Andrew’s rend and a pegasi’s, then Greyer approached him, "hey phill, I got your message but, why the hell are you helping these stranglers into plegia, they look more like mercenaries, what’s going on here?
Phill looked at the distance with a blank face and responded “Well….. you know how I am with a bet…..”
Greyer paused for a second and laughed “YOU lose a fight bet!? Wow, these guys mean business, but that still doesn’t answer my question, who are they?”
Phill got annoyed and just burst out “that doesn’t matter you owe me this, but you know, these guys are growing on me, the time I’ve spent traveling with them I’ve realized they’re more than a unit, they’re more akin to…. A family… and they need my help anyway”
Greyer smiled and cheerfully responded "All right, all right, just be careful, you’re treading on thin ice, well if we had ice anyway” he said laughing as he got on the front of the carriage and got ready to leave for the city.
(skip to the city gate at night)
A soldier looked at the group and demanded "Halt, Name and business."
Greyer took a serious tone "The hell do you think it is huh? Its Greyer, and I’m bringing some horses and pegasi to the stable, just bought a few new ones from some merchants now let me pass"
The soldier recognized the man "OH! sorry sir, but who are these who are these people with you
Greyer swiftfully responded " we were attacked by bandits, now leave us, we have an injured one on the carriage"
The soldier walked towards the carrage and saw 3 maids and a wounded man inside, alright, it cheks out, come in.
(Greyer was the man in charge of grooming the horses and Pegassi of the plegian army, phill forged a friendship with him and he gave him Andrew)

[TwilightDragon]

The moon was large that night, the stars like miniature flames that danced on a backdrop of black. But even the sand made the sky look like it was dusty, as if it was due for a very big cleaning. Talbot held on to a black pegasus’ reign; this one was probably for a Dark Flier, for the horn that it had on its head signaled that this beast was for a superior Pegasus Rider. The man made sure that it would not fly away, however, it seemed to be accustomed to humans handling her. Once or twice he was tempted to touch her, but he was unsure how she would react.
They came upon the gates later that night, and, even though it was cooler, Talbot still sweated. He was afraid that the chill would get him sick. He was already sick, really. He was sick of being on the run, the smell of Pegasus and horse, and the feel of sweat on his skin. He was sick of not being able to have a well-rested night, for the bugs that buzzed around him would always want to suck his blood or bite him. He was sick of Darrian, and he was sick of wishing he was home.
Talbot sighed as they walked up to the gate, where a guard stopped them and asked for their name and business. The man that was helping them said that they had been attacked by bandits, and that he was simply delivering pegasi and horses to the stables. He kept his mouth shut- it was more difficult than he imagined. He always had to open his mouth to make a smart remark, but if he did, they would know he was from Ylisse by the way he spoke. He clutched at the reigns out of anxiety.
The guard allowed them to pass, thanks to Greyer. He let out a sigh of relief, and smirked a bit. Finally, they could go and sleep in an inn. It was obvious he was pleased. Oh, before he was going to sleep, he was going to take a very nice bath. With actual cold water! Well… if there was cold water. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to bath if they only had hot water. All the wells probably went dry in the morning anyway… he sighed. Well, there goes my dream of actually sleeping well tonight.

---

I hate this type of clothes.
For once, Ambra looked a bit… angry. Her brows furrowed and a frown crossed her lips. Her arms were folded in front of her chest, and she was stiff shouldered. The type of clothing rubbed against her skin and made it irritated. She scratched and itched and complained through mutters and murmurs. At least she wasn’t the only one in this situation. Yet, armor was so much more comfortable! Helena and Alicia were others who had to wear this type of clothing. Her eyes watched them, and then she watched Zaino.
I should have patched up his wounds before leaving. I didn’t think they were that serious. she thought, leaning over and pulling his clothes a bit back. She sighed at the sight of the plentiful gashes and cuts he had on him. Some of them were still seeping blood and running down his body. As soon as they would be able to book a few rooms at the local inn, she would lay him down and give him a good scrubbing. The medicine wouldn’t work if they were just placed over layers and layers of matted blood.
She held her breath when the man questioned them. She sat back down and looked at him, and then looked back at Helena and Alicia. Hoping that the guard would let them through, she paused in her scratching and whispers. Yet, the guard seemed a bit dimwitted or new on the job. He should have asked a lot more questions, especially with the war going on. Yet, they were let through. She sighed, running a hand through her hair and making it seem that she was very uncomfortable with the heat that struck the land a few hours before.
Ambra wondered if there were going to be any soldiers from Ylisse here. They couldn’t know where they had fled to, right? Unless they used common sense and thought that they couldn’t possibly go to Valm or Regna Ferox. I rather be in Regna Ferox than here. she thought. The cold winds would provide more comfort to her than the dusty breeze of Plegia. Her throat was sore and she rubbed it. Would they have tea in the inn? Tea, and honey at that. It would soothe her throat. Maybe everyone would want some tea? Then they could all have some sort of tea-party gathering. The childish thought made her smile.

[Solace]

A bloom of revelation swept over Zaino as he had finally been able to recognize the same woman as his mother, albeit younger in appearance. He was unsure as to why he hadn't been able to see the semblance sooner, and was even more unsure why he was able to recognize her now. He knew that all of this was yet another dream, but it seemed like it was more than that; was it some sort of vision?

"Ren..." His mother turned from the man whom he assumed to be his father, frowning in melancholy as he took her hand gently in an embrace. Leaning into him, he gave her a smile identical to the one he had given her in the previous dream. "I can't do this without you, they need their father. I need you..."

"Vera, it's my fault alone for getting us thrown into this mess. It's only natural for me to settle this on my own. Besides..."

He raised his head slowly, expression unchanging as he averted his look directly at... "You're all Little Zu-Zu needs. He's got his brother, too."

Is he looking at me?

"Byakuren, please..." Vera urged, addressing him by his full name. Removing herself from his comfort, she rose and walked a few steps away from him, hovering over--

That was when Zaino suddenly felt movement from where his arms were; small, miniature hands extended above him as he found himself out of control, yet his conscience fully conscious. Vera proceeded to pick him up and cradle him in her arms, rocking him calmly as she looked out of the window. Is this... me? Am I here, as a baby? I can't remember any of this, let alone understand... it's all a dream, it has to be...

"I'd do whatever it takes to keep you and them safe, and if this is the only way, I have to take that chance." Byakuren replied, now standing and looking down at Vera. He joined her and poked Zaino's cheek, smiling as the baby reached to grab his nose.

"But we can just run away, like you said before! Take the children and leave everything behind!" She retorted in frustration. "Can't we just do that? You don't need to go to war with those Ylisseans!"

"Three years ago," Vera continued, although her voice shifted to a sad tone. "We made vows to never leave one another's side. You're just going to throw them and your life away?"

This statement seemed to trouble Byakuren, but nonetheless, he held a half-smile. "It's like you told me before; those who aren't willing to sacrifice anything, cannot possibly change anything in this world."

It was then that Zaino had begun to break into a cry, interrupting the two. Placing him back into his cradle, the two of them tickled his stomach and comforted him until his crying stopped. This is a familiar feeling...

"I'm going to be fine, Vera; I'll come back to you. I just need to tie up these loose ends." Byakuren held both of her hands and peered deep into her eyes. "You know, I'm from Regna Ferox; it's not a bad place. Sure, Basilio and Flavia could become a bit annoying at times, but them and another friend of mine could help you out."

Still saddened by the situation, Vera began to sob, allowing Byakuren to pull her in for a hug as she cried into his chest. As she did so, he turned to the cradle and, almost as if he were able to see into the future, frowned for the first time throughout the conversation. "I'll come back to all of you when it's over. I promise."

I promise...

[vancexentan]

After driving his horse at a decent pace Carn had arrived at his destination at Plegia...or close enough as it may seem. He sat around a dark area with a abysmally lit campfire surrounding him. This wasn't exactly the best place he could have laid camp but at the end of the day...it was nothing unnatural for the young warrior. He poked at his fire and looked at his horse petting it's head gently. "I'm sorry. If we both die out here it shall be my fault but....but it seems my old mare that you have lived long and if it comes to it I'll let you leave. If I die out here...let it be for those bastards and bitches who fall upon my blade. I will do what I must and you have been a good companion for our time traveling together. Carn said smiling which was rare for him as he roasted a small rabbit on the fire, he had gutted it with his sword rabbits were quick but Carn prided himself as a man able to track and kill even if he wasn't as quick as the rabbit. He sat there alone thinking of all the hundreds...no thousands of people he had once surrounded himself with in Ferox. The hundreds of mercenaries who had passed by Red Fist's camp and died before him despite being younger and older both. Carn was a survivor and he wouldn't die unless he brought down his attackers with him. Looking at his red colored clothes he grinned solemnly to himself. "Here I am wishing the company of drunken barbarians were here with me. They were the closest thing I had to friends in my teenage years and now they're mostly gone." Carn said with distaste for the subject as he turned back to the fire and took the rabbit out of the split and prepared to add the meat to a stew that was getting rather cold but still served it's purpose, Carn had cooked it before the meat so at least he had some freshly cooked meat in his belly along with the stew. Carn ate quick but he was only half way through his bowl when suddenly he heard a rustle in the bushes and he kept eating but at the same time he pulled out his blade ever so slowly with his right hand. He made it look as if it were a normal gesture. The noise was faint and it took somewhere of good hearing or dumb luck to manage to hear it. His attacker would be big it seemed judging the noise as he yawned he raised his left hand slowly and then the moment the brief sound of noise as the person turned from behind him and came close. Carn's hand was lightning the next thing he knew the man standing behind him had Carn's blade at his throat. "Hold them lad! I surr-....hah....no way....Carn me boy!" the man said almost joyful but it was mostly disbelief. Carn frowned and then pulled his blade away. "Captain Blue Hawk I am glad to see you again unfortunately you picked the wrong person to rob. I've got nothing." Carn said as Blue Hawk Tar sat down next to him. "Still as quick as a hawk...it seemed Red Fist taught yeh well me laddy. Tar commented as Carn shrugged. "Well I may as well catch up with you before things get bad again. I was out scourging for some poor folk with me group but finding the Pride of the Silver Hawks ain't a bad catch either....

[Psyker Landshark]

A company of men marched through the Plegian wasteland, mounted knights on wyverns and pegasi flying above them. At the head of the company was Lantus, who rode a black, armor-clad warhorse. After hours on the march, the Ylissan men reached a river just as night began to fall, and Lantus ordered the march to halt. The army began to settle down for the night, but Lantus stayed up in the command tent, supervising the aerial scouts that he'd sent out to find the Shepards while planning out the next day's march.

After a few more hours of planning, Lantus began calling officers in and giving them orders for the next day. A squad of soldiers were dispatched to investigate the nearest town for any sign of the Shepards as well as acquire supplies, while the aerial scouts were given a wider range to sweep. The rest of the army would march south, towards Castle Plegia.

Speaking of which, Lantus reflected that he'd have to treat with the Plegian king, lest he ignite a war for having his men on Plegian soil. Oh, he would have no reservations in battling Plegia a second time, but he had his orders. The Shepards had to be hunted down. And there was the fact that his daughter was still out there, and she was far more likely to be killed if war swept the land. Ordinarily, Lantus would have gone himself to treat with the Plegians, but he doubted that they would receive him well. After all, he had been the primary architect of Plegia's loss in the last war. No, Xanxus would be a better choice. Plegia had no reason to despise the man, and the Saint of Swords was a one-man army. He'd be able to fight his way out if anything went wrong.

With that in mind, Lantus turned to Xanxus, who sat next to him.

"General Xanxus, it's occurred to me that we still need to open negotiations with the Plegian king. You know as well as I do that I wouldn't receive a warm welcome, considering my actions in the last war. Can I trust you to inform Plegia of our presence? No one else besides us in this army has the authority to negotiate with rulers, after all."

[phillmyster]

Passing through the gate they entered Plegia's capital, the streets were filled with sand and the cold was a nice change of pace, the great Dragon skull was a breathtaking sight looming in the distance, almost as if it watched over the city, the capital was quiet and devoid of most activity, a few drunks here and there with the usual shady looking person in every corner. The city seemed calm and peaceful, for the moment at least.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the stables, they were like any other stable, the only difference was the sand, it was everywhere in town, apart from that there were a few dim lights around, they belonged to the stable and a bar next to it, there was some mud on the floor and a well next to the carriage.
Greyer took the horses and pegasi from the Shepherds one at a time with Phill as they put away the horses and pegasi in the stables. When all the horses were safely in the stables, except for Alicia’s pegasus and Andrew, Greyer took this moment to speak to the Shepherds, he took a rag and began to clean his forehead, and sighted in relief, they made it in safe so he could finally relax a little, " Now y'all keep yerselfs out of trouble, I'd invite you to stay but it gets crowded with soldiers here at day and I’d think ya want to avoid them, there's an inn that don't ask that many questions as long as ya pay up not that far in that direction "he pointed to the road next to the bar "now fer yer horses, If ya like, I can keep them here."
Phill took out his lances, a large cloth and his armor out of the carriage and thanked his old friend, “Andrew will be staying here” he told him. Andrew huffed with pleasure as he walked cheerfully towards Greyer, who petted him and smiled back and said “He’ll be in good hands, ya know that”
Phill then walked towards Alicia, this group was growing by the day and Phill kind of liked the atmosphere there but, it went against his orders, he was basically committing high treason, could he even go back to his post now? Only if he wasn't found out anyway, and he didn’t think these people would betray him, the time he’s spent with them proved that, or did it, these thoughts lingered in his mind, but he decided to do what he could do then and that was help these unfortunate people and well, getting to know them was a start, so he talked to her as he tried to make a makeshift flatbed for Zaino using both his lances and the large cloth " Pegasus girl, I haven't introduced myself, I'm Phill, and I give you my word that this man is reliable, if you leave your Pegasus with him, it will be taken care of, may I know your names?" he said in a friendly maner to Alicia and her Pegasus.

[Solace]

In comparison to Lantus, Xanxus had been simply riding an unarmored white horse alongside him before they had stopped to set up a camp for the night in the outskirts of the Plegian territory. Sometimes he had wished that he'd been able to ride a wyvern; they were certainly faster and, in his opinion, more efficient than stallions, especially in the type of terrain they were traversing. Nonetheless, he wouldn't have complained if they had had to go by foot; that's how he had went around through both continents multiple times as a teenager before he came under service of the Ylissean military, and through that, he had grown resistant towards harsh weather increments like the desert. Those little things failed to bother him like it bothered others for some reason; if he was able to do something, then what was holding other people back from doing the same thing? Was it fear, an emotion that he'd abandoned long ago?

"Huh," Xanxus had nearly dozed off in his chair, having missed everything except for Lantus telling him about seeking a council with the Plegian King. Him again, eh.. Scoffing, he cupped his hands together and rested them in his lap. "I'll be sure to drop by the castle."

Xanxus, revealing a single crimson eye that peered back at Lantus, continued. "Parnell's an old friend of mine, anyway. It's been a long time since I've last visited."

[TwilightDragon]

It was dry out here, but he could take it. The man rode tall on his pure black stallion, his eyes half narrowed and his cape draped a bit over the rear of the horse. The beast, who was his personal mount, was named Morning Star. He had the horse ever since he had been next in line for the throne. His blue eyes focused on the horizon. He could see the line of a camp, casting long, almost sad silhouettes on the ground. The sun was coming up, and the shadows would soon grow shorter and shorter. Darrian sighed, nudging the horse along. Morning Star whinnied a bit and continue on his way.
Behind him were two dozen men, mostly bannermen. They carried the flag of Ylisse on long poles and others flanked his horse. Darrian sighed. He didn’t really want to be in Plegia, but he wanted to make sure that Xanxus and Lantus were doing their jobs. That, and he decided that he really should get fresh air… the castle was getting pretty dull back at Ylisse. The young man rode into the camp, head high and chest out.
Of course he felt as if he were in power. Xanxus and Lantus were commanders of these men, but he was their ruler. He expected everyone to bow to him, to swear that they would lay their lives on the line for him. Another sigh escaped his lips as some of the men did just that. Others had been watching from tents or doing something else. As he rode to where the horses were hitched, he got off on his own and walked around, searching for Xanxus and Lantus.
”Ah, Xanxus, Lantus. Just the men I wanted to see.” Darrian greeted, his hand on the pommel of Falchion. ”I see you’ve made camp. Got cozy already?”

---

The inn that she had rented out a room from wasn’t that shabby, but it wasn’t that nice either. Spider webs were neatly weaved in dusty corners, and blood stains from fights were splattered on the wooden wall. The blood wasn’t that visible, but it still bothered her. Ambra asked for a simple room, and the innkeep gave her one; it was one with a single bed, a window, and a bath. The bed smelled like sweat and… other odors, to keep it simple. It creaked when Zaino was laid in it, and loudly at that. The window made a horrible screeching noise when she opened it, and was cracked here and there. When she went to the bath, she found a small tub with a bucket of water placed to the side. Yet, no one would be bathing today.
She took the bucket and decided that was to be her water supply. She also found a towel. Pulling off her satchel, she pulled out a few herbs and bandages. Ambra was hoping that, one day, she would have enough things in her bag to not make her shoulder hurt. Next came the undressing. After witnessing what anger Zaino contained, she was nervous at first. But she took off whatever he had on his torso and put it to the side. The blood was stuck to his clothes and to his body, which made Ambra sigh. What a mess…
The sounds of water and cloth rubbing roughly against skin filled the quiet room. The caked blood was removed, but took quite a while. Many of the wounds began to bleed again, yet Ambra made sure to stop the bleeding as quickly as she could. Most of the gashes were horribly red and puffed at the edges. It was a painful sight to see. The red haired woman pulled out some herbs; calendula flowers to clean the wounds and make sure they didn’t get infected, and lavender for soothing the pain and itching. She grinded that into a pulp much like she did to the snakeweed and dabbed them into every wound. Checking the once-poisoned injury, she saw that it was well and moved on.
Ambra undid the binding of a roll of bandages and wound it around one of Zaino’s wounds. She made sure that it was tight enough so it wouldn’t fall off, but not too tight that it stopped blood flow. Humming a soft song she heard when she was little, she continued doing her work. She might be weak in combat and be a very bad fighter, but she was useful for something. She loved to heal and tend to people. It wasn’t often that one could find a healer that didn’t use magic. Speaking of which, she would have to restock soon, and the herbs she paid for were very expensive…

[Psyker Landshark]

Lantus awoke before dawn, shrugging his armor on before leaving his personal tent and walking over to his command post where he began organizing the patrols for the day. The bulk of the army would be camped here for the moment both to avoid starting a war with Plegia too soon and to not alert any surviving Shepards. After all, an army was rather noticeable, and if they just marched through Plegia, the Shepards would go to ground and possibly flee the country. No, he'd have to flush them out with small units of men.

But just then, Darrian entered the command tent, and Lantus dropped to one knee, bowing while cursing the man in his head. What was this fool doing? Why the bloody hell was he needlessly risking his life? The army would be seeing combat, and if the Exalt was still present, he would be a priority target. If the Exalt fell in battle, the army's morale would plummet. More importantly to Lantus, though, was the fact that it'd be far harder to take Alicia back with him when he found her. If Darrian was present, then he couldn't just cover up the fact that he spared a Shepard and bribe those who found her to keep quiet.

"...Your Majesty, why are you here? Lantus asked, keep his face and tone neutral as he looked up, rising to his feet. "The scouts are only just now beginning their search. I don't anticipate them finding anything for at least a day. If you had further orders to give, surely a messenger would have sufficed?"

---

Alicia let Phill take the lead as he snuck them in to Plegia's capital, taking in the sights of the city as they walked. The desert city was a far cry from the plains of Ylisse, but she rather liked the cold nights. But as they were lead to a stable, Alicia hesitated in giving the stablemaster the reins to her pegasus. After all she had been through, the thought of not having a convenient means of escape disturbed her. Phill's reassurance that the stablemaster was trustworthy did little to ease her reservations, but Alicia eventually managed to hand the reins over to Greyer after realizing that it'd be far more likely for them to be caught if she was seen walking around with a pegasus. With that done, she turned to Phill.

"My name is Alicia." She answered Phill's question calmly before gesturing at her pegasus. "And his name is Bellerophon." With a wistful glance at her pegasus, she left for the inn with the others. Once they had arrived and had some privacy, she turned to Phill once more. "Anyways, thank you for helping us, Sir Phill. But I have a question: why do this? Why help us Shepards? You could have aided us easily enough by pointing us in the direction of a village. What's in it for you to sneak us in to the capital and not report it to your generals?" Alicia questioned, rather distrustful. Just because the man had helped them didn't mean that she should trust him or his motives.

[phillmyster]

Phill sensed Alicia's distrust right away, why wouldn't she, after all she should have been through a soldier from another country was the last person to trust, but what bothered Phill more was the question itself, it was stupid of a knight to give everything away fro a group of strangers, was it? His expression turned to a serious one as doubt raced towards his mind, he took a moment to look at the ceiling and finally responded "I don't expect this to change your view of me but, i would say I'm one of those persons who can't let one person die for the sake of the world" with an embarrassing grin " and to be fair, Talbot, The ashole (zaino), Ambra and Silas wouldn't have made it far without Andrew". Phill smirked a bit as he then regained a serious tone and looked Alice straight in the eyes " I asure you Mis Alice, I will not sell you out, I'm not gaining anything from this, it's purely my own choice" then he looked down and whispered almost as if he was speaking to someone else "no regrets... right". Phill didn't really awnser the question, for he didn't fully know the answer himself, he just couldn't bring himself to abandon the shepherds to their own devises, they would shurely die in the cruel land of Plegia but that wasn't all, he knew that.
"If you like, I would leave this inn so you can all decide if I can be trusted or not" he said as he realized the group should all be feeling the same way about him.

[Fisk]

(After being absent for so long, this post doesn't justify it. please forgive my transgressions, my lords.)
"This place sucks, this place sucks, this place sucks so much..."

Silas lurched his way toward the Inn slowly, lamenting over everything that had happened thus far. He muttered inaudibly to himself, a frustrated look on his face. The fleeing to the Plegian wastes had been one horrible encounter, but then once they were offered refuge, their little Plegian Ambassador of sorts had the audacity to mess with his scarf.
“Put on these peasant garbs, he says,” Silas grumbled. “We’re entering Plegia, he says.” Kicking the ground, sand flew off in front of him. This dumb desert place couldn’t get enough of the stuff, evidently. Not to mention the town was so boring. Once they’d finally gotten in (with scarf intact), he expected… A town. The damn place was quiet as a corpse. As they approached the Inn, Silas nudged Talbot and gave a friendly smile. His friend looked disheartened, so he figured he’d try to cheer him up. Although he hadn’t much for words at the moment, a smile was often enough.

“Hey, Ambra lugged that unconscious guy in with her…” he remarked.

Oh goody. Silas figured the guy could wake up any moment now, and decided it was worth keeping an eye on them. As soon as he walked in, the place accentuated Silas’ hatred for this place. Even the Inn looked dejected. He didn’t care much for luxuries, but these guys weren’t even trying. The place was dusty, old, unkempt, and to be expected, extremely sandy. On the upside, that meant that the rooms weren’t sound-proofed well at all, so eavesdropping, especially with Silas, would be a snap.
He’d have to rent a room next to theirs, just in case. And hey, if he somehow turns out some kind of friendly, then no worries… Right?

[Solace]

Another dream...

Yet, something was different in the air this time around; Zaino stood behind what seemed to be a violet barrier composed of dark magic, and faced three other people on the other side, almost as if he were spectating a duel within an arena. The atmosphere seemed to sap the air from his lungs and suffocate him, having difficulty in breathing. To the left, there was a fairly-armored man with his back to Zaino knelt down beside another unarmored person whose body was sprawled on the ground.

Surrounding the one who laid, blood stained the tiles of an intricate design that almost resembled that of an eye. The other one who was slightly wounded, after exchanging inaudible conversation with his partner, collected a tome and rose to his feet as his front came to view, revealing a mask. Opposite to them, a lone figure adorned in a crimson coat stood almost unscathed, chuckling just loud enough for Zaino and the other two to hear.

"I'll destroy the very meaning of your existence, and you'll see just how much of a gap there still is between our strength." That voice!

"Don't mock me, Xanxus!" The masked man retorted, tightening his fist as a red aura that sparked like lightning swirled around his body. Latched on to the left side of his belt was the dying man's Thoron tome, and on his back, a Tomahawk and a foreign blade that Zaino couldn't recognize crossed one another. "I still haven't forgotten any of these two years. All of the people you killed... All of my friends you've slaughtered!"

"Friends?" Xanxus scoffed, readying yet another foreign sword as the masked man charged at him with sword in hand. "I told you once a year ago; didn't you learn your lesson before?"

As the two clashed weapons, Xanxus effortlessly parried the masked man's attacks and locked swords, staring down at him. "The more friends you make, the more you suffer when they die!"

Stepping back from the collision, the masked man sheathed his sword and wielded the Tomahawk briefly before bringing it back and hurling it in a powerful throw towards Xanxus. As the axe was halfway towards its target, the masked man swiftly used his left hand to lift the Thoron tome from his belt and, opening it, conjured a mighty beam of thunder from his right hand aimed at Xanxus' right side; a preemptive strike. As this occurred in the course of two seconds, the masked man rearmed his sword and proceeded to attack from the left, almost as if he had been expecting Xanxus to be there.

"So, this is the power of the Dread Scroll you sacrificed your swordsmanship for," Xanxus said as he emerged from the side where the Thoron spell had been cast to. The masked man, surprised, was too late to react as Xanxus dealt two swift slashes to first the man's front and then shifted to the back, turning his back to him as he leaped into the air with a flip. Before the man could move out of the way, Xanxus aimed the final downward slash at the shoulder of the man's right arm, severing it as he landed on his feet in front of his opponent.

The man howled and recoiled in pain as Xanxus turned his back to him, first falling to his knees before his entire body slumped to the floor, quickly soaking in his own blood. The mask that covered his face, turned towards Zaino who could only watch in horror, cracked into several pieces until it broke off completely and revealed his face to him. "A shame that you were unable to avenge your Shepherd friends once again, but hopefully, I've ended your suffering this time. Goodbye, Zaino."

---

Zaino awoke in a brief tantrum as chills ran down his spine in a nervous sweat, his eyes wild with fear. His fear and anxiety was soon replaced with realization as he got a sense of his bearings, no longer feeling as exhausted and hurt as he had earlier, though his head was pounding. What the hell did I just see... It was then that he was able to notice that he was now laid in a bed that smelled rancid, and figured that he'd been taken to an inn when he collapsed earlier. "As long as I'm away from those people, I'll be-"

Zaino gasped and had nearly fallen off of the bed as he, half-naked, saw Ambra wrapping a bandage around his leg. He reached to his right for his sword, but only grabbed the air, quickly hiding his embarrassment. There were more bandages wrapped around his chest and arms, and he could see that he'd also been cleaned up of the blood and grime. "Wh-what are you doing?!"

[TwilightDragon]

Talbot raised an eyebrow at the other man, a smirk crossing his lips. Ambra had dragged that bandit in with her? Really? The black haired man ran a hand through his dripping locks. His brow furrowed and he sighed a bit more. The whole idea was a bit amusing. Zaino would gut her as soon as he woke up. But he wanted nothing more than to go in the inn and rest a bit. Talbot sucked in a breath as he saw the room that he walked into. The main room was large but very dusty, sand accumulating in corners and a small bar in the corner. He really wanted a drink, but any sort of alcohol would be lukewarm.
The young sorcerer ran his hand through his greasy and sweaty hair once again before getting a room for himself. The woman that ran the inn was nice enough, homely and kind, but he could tell her age from the wrinkles that crossed her face. She led him up to his room and showed him inside. The old, creaky bed and dusty window waited for him, and he sighed. He was doing a lot of sighing today, wasn’t he? He pulled out a coin and gave it to the lady, who thanked him vigorously and left him to his privacy. Talbot closed the door and began to strip off his clothing.
The sweat had bound cloth and skin together, and he had to smile as the robes fell away from his body. Refreshing. whatever cool breeze that the land spared brushed up against his skin, providing him with comfort. He went to the bath, frowning at the small tub that lay in the middle of the room. It was stained with dirt and grime, not necessarily inviting any bathers into it. He stepped in the tub and pulled the bucket close to him. Picking it up, he poured it over him, making sure to remove whatever dirt or sand he could find attached to his being.
A few minutes later, Talbot emerged from the bath, dry and less sticky than he was before. He took his robes and threw them into the lukewarm water, deciding to let them soak in there for a bit. Talbot knew that he couldn’t go anywhere, and no one could really visit him, unless they didn’t mind his half nakedness. He sat on the edge of the bed and let out a very long, exasperated sigh. That felt better…

---

After a while, Ambra noticed that Zaino had broken out into a sweat. She frowned, frustration at his eagerness to be sour and bitter melting away. She could tell that he was having bad dreams. Pity clawed at her heart, but she quickly swatted it away. No. She had to stay strong, as if she allowed one ounce of it to crawl onto her expression, she was sure that she would be yelled at. Her blue eyes flicked back from his face to what she was doing at the moment. Her hands nimbly bound a cut that he had on his leg, and moved on to the next wound. He looked better than he did before, at least. With all of that blood removed, he seemed to be a very fit fellow. Of course, that was to be expected.
The man suddenly moved, and she jerked away from her trance of treating and binding. He muttered something, and then he moved again, as if going to pull out a weapon. Then came the question. Ambra held up a hand slowly, looking at his face. ”I am tending to your wounds.” she told him, her eyes looking into his. She wanted to calm him as quickly as she could. All of that rubbing against his injuries would grate the medicine away. The bandages were helpful only if he stayed still. She turned back to her work and frowned.
”You dream. A lot.” the woman made sure to keep her voice as passive and smooth as she could. Yet, it was very difficult to do so. She was very nervous about his reaction. At the moment, she was a stiff deer that heard a suspicious noise in the woods. At any sign of attack, she would bolt. ”… they’re bad dreams, aren’t they? I used to have herbs for such things, but I ran out quite a while ago. They were common around Ylisse so I didn’t have to buy them. But they’re very costly here and I can’t afford them.” her eyes flitted back to his face but for a moment before she returned to her work. ”As for whatever armor you wore, they’re over in the corner, along with your weapons. But I recommend you stay still for time being.”
She tied the last bandage and offered him a smile. However, the smile faded as she looked down at her hands. They were filthy with medicine and blood. Dipping them in the bucket of now pinkish water, she scrubbed them firmly. ”My name’s Ambra, by the way. I’m a Shepherd as well. Of course, I’m not fond of the actual cutting and stabbing enemies. I prefer to tend to wounds as I did now to yours.” she frowned now. ”You were poisoned. I gave you medicine, but did you not feel weak at all? I’m not sure what kind of that horrible stuff was in your blood, but it must have caused damage.”

[Vincanity]

“So an iron sword, a KE, thoron, and thunder for myself, elwind, gale, iron sword, and an SS for Trin, and Leon, you have an armorslayer, BS, bolga, and arcfi-”

Neo abruptly ended his listing off, realizing that neither of his two companions were currently with him. With a low growl, he looked around the inn to see where they may have disappeared to. The clicking of Trin's telltale shoes could be heard up the stairs and Neo could make out his brother's long coat whipping about as he ran down to the stables. No doubt checking on Talvin, Neo thought. Talvin was Leon's newest and longest lasting steed with a pure black hide. They had bought a second horse, a gray and white spotted female named Gia that they used for travels but was too unaccustomed to battle. Shaking his head clear, Neo finished his overthinking and put away his journal and logbook underneath his overcoat. Along with his two tomes, most of the grandmaster's precious books stayed on his body at all times.

Noticing only his own plate and drink was still there, Neo picked at the bread and cheese, nibbling small moutfuls while drowning it with the local well-water, which was less disgusting than what would be assumed. A sigh escaped his lips, enjoying the full feeling he'd been missing the last few hours as he worked on their next location to scout. Plegia was a tolerant nation, but the talk of war made Neo's hair stand on end. Even as some guests came in and out, the calm before the storm that seemed to hover over the city irked Neo. A half dying man being dragged upstairs is definitely not a good sign. I should pay for tonight's stay and we can leave first thing tomorrow morning.

Reaching under the table into one of their sacks for traveling Neo pulled out a coinpurse that carried their weekly supply of money. When he held it in the air for a moment, a noise of intrigue escaped his lips. “It's... lighter...” thinking back to the dinner earlier, Neo remembered his daughter's expressions when the man was dragged upstairs. One of pity. “marrowless bones, Trin...” Neo muttered the Wolf Clan's curse to himself. One that described a profitless venture. At the same moment a pair of men walked into the inn, not too far from where he was sitting, talking about the unconscious man from before. “Do either of you men know why he was hurt?” he asked in a tired tone, feeling as though their answer would damper his evening. Hoping to guarantee an answer, Neo slid a few coins across the table.

---

“Thank the prey he's so easily distracted!” Leon chuckled as he went toward the stables, enjoying the image of Neo looking up from his notes with a glum look of abandonment after a fair attempt of talking strategies to people who weren't in the room. After his brother was nose deep in writing, Leon shared a look with his niece as he went to the bar for a quick drink, returned for his meal of burnt meat and some edible fruits, and sauntered off into the night.

The trip into the stables wasn't a long one. Taking a pair of apples out he let Gia take the apple from his hand and she chewed it up from the floor. Turning to his own partner Leon held the apple and allowed Talvin to eat from his hand. As his friend ate the Dark Knight looked over to the Pegasus and other horse that was nearby. “Wow, what a beaut she is!” Leon said, impressed by the upkeep of the winged horse. Rubbing Talvin's snout as he finished chewing, Leon smiled at his steed. “Ain't that right, Tal? Want me to set you up with something that fine?”

Talvin answered with a snort and Leon just walked toward the two with a laugh. He planned on eating his last two apples himself, but the horses seemed to have had a rough day. Not knowing either of their temperaments offhand, Leon placed the apples in each of their pens for them to eat at their leisure. With one more scratch behind Talvin's ear, Leon left the stables. “Have a good rest, buddy.”

Going through the back entrance to avoid running into Neo, Leon found his way though the building before hearing part of the conversation taking place between a male and female. Helping Shepards? Selling out? Oh, what a perfect moment to intrude! Leon gleefully thought. If there was any reason to interrupt an important conversation, it was to size up the people involved. While he wasn't a tactician of any sorts, his inherent abilities allowed him small advantages in senses. He couldn't take in the entire picture, but some parts were clearer for him than others. Opening the door after the man offered to leave the inn Leon let out a soft hum as he leaned on the door frame.

“I'd tell him to stay. You know that whole 'keep friends close and enemies closer' bit? If he's either one it'd probably be good to keep him nearby. Just my own two coins. Got a brother for a tactician so he tries to teach me to be all logical every once in awhile.” Leon said his piece in a laid back manner while scratching the stubble on his neck.

---

Trin wandered around the upstairs hallway, trying to find which room she saw the couple go into. She tried to ignore them as they went upstairs earlier and just keep eating her meal, but something in her stomach didn't sit right with letting the poor pair suffer. The coins she took from her father's purse made a soft clinking noise inside her white cloaks pocket. It wasn't much to the small fortune her family brought around with them, but a couple down on their luck would probably find it useful. As long as they don't feel the need to kill me for intruding.

A grim prospect as that was, Trin hoped to do some good in this small town before they left. Her father hated staying in one place too long, lest they find out their ancestry. “Wh-what are you doing?!” she could hear being yelled across the hall. “Hm, good guess that that's them, right mother?” Trin said, stroking the necklace she wore with her free hand. The other one held her barely touched meal: some unknown but well cooked meat, a large portion of grapes with bread and butter, and a mug of water. Walking up towards the door, she listened in at the woman's exchange of their conversation. Whoever she was, she was much calmer than the man. The conversation seemed to be much softer when she spoke.

With a sigh Trin held her place on the opposite side of their door, trying to build up the determination to walk in. It was when the woman mentioned she was a Shepard that put Trin over the edge. Shepards? I remember learning about those. From Ylisse. Protectors. Good men and women. And one of them needs help with caring for this man... Trin put her hand on the door and pushed it inward. “Um... excuse me. I was wondering if you two needed... anything?” she said, trying to get the correct words out. “Uh... food?” she asked.

[vancexentan]

"...Ah so you've been lookin' for them bandits again eh Carn ol' chum? I know you've got somethin' personal against 'em but that ain't gonna be enough by yourself. I know you fancy yourself some sort of monster with that sword but truth is there are people better Carny boy!" The man said to Carn who sat by the simple light of the fire and listened to his old comrade berate him for his failure to actually find a steady line of work for his paycheck. A warrior with no purpose is a husk with a sword was what the Silver Hawks prided their line of work in. It proved to them they had a purpose and that purpose was to exist. Carn didn't necessarily subscribe to that sort of ideal but you grew use to shouting about it in loud banquets, or what they amounted to them, after a particularly devastating or rewarding mission. This man thought of Carn like a younger brother but Carn didn't feel the same to the point where he really couldn't recall his face. "I fight where I want and where I can find work. Selling my soul for the glory of some petty nation like that pathetic and corrupt nation of Ylisse or this hogs wash of a nation known as Plegia. All worthless even my homeland, Regna Ferox, is nothing less that a bunch of boulder heads smacking each other with their swords. Valmese are to different for my tastes and If I could spit on all of them I would even if it would mean my head. In fact that loser in Ylisse who demeaned me was pathetic simpleton. I helped his people and I get arrested, I offer my services I get kicked out of the city. All while groveling and ass kissing like some sort of warmongering child. No more he would not beg to some lordling's dress and beg for their hand. Carn would do as he liked and when he wanted to do something he would. Perhaps a life of vigilantism wasn't as bad as he thought it may be..."I intend on marching to Plegia's capital soon and finding a company of soldiers to join. Only temporarily though I intend on ending this feud of my when I drench the sand in blood, my own or the enemies of mine. Red Fist taught me that a man makes his own path way with his sword in hand. Even if you have to drop your sword you beat them down with the bloody fist of yours until they fall or you do. Barbaric but practical in the sense that I would do anything to succeed in my own path to life." Carn replied to the man who shrugged and smiled at him as he swung his axe in the air and caught it repeatedly as if it were nothing. A berserker like him would be a danger to anyone but the speedy which Carn had in spades. "Well little man the capital is to the east so you better get moving soon. As for me...I'll go report that I failed to find anything worth noting. You're not cut out for my banditing line of work Carny so try and keep it clean.[/b] The man said as he walked away and Carn finished resting and then promptly galloped towards the Plegian Capital hoping to find some sort of work if not...he came here for a reason.

[Solace]

Xanxus had been asleep until Darrian made his sudden appearance, his Iron Sword resting beside him. He had always made it clear for everyone to not disturb his slumber; there had been multiple instances where a soldier would do so and collateral damage occurred, but he didn't care. It was their fault for not heeding his words, and at least, his own men was able to comprehend his request. Sleeping beside his sword had become a part of his lifestyle when an assassin attempted to kill him in his sleep as a teenager, and he woke from his senses being disturbed in the act.

"Oh, it's only you." Xanxus said, almost disappointed as he retracted his sword only inches away from Darrian's shoulder and bringing his other hand to his mouth, yawning. Normally, he spent a large portion of his day resting to continually build up his already-high reserve of energy, though he preferred to have something to do other than laze around. It was a key factor as to why he seemed restless and constantly on the move to others; whenever he was awake, he was unable to stay in a single spot or position for more than a minute. During battle, one of his men had compared him to a force of nature: continuously at the heart of the attack, the furious storm never rests, though he found that poetic viewing of himself to be ridiculous. He leaned back, tossing his sword back to his resting spot and crossed his arms. Xanxus found it somewhat humorous when he saw how uniform Lantus was towards Darrian, whereas he himself was casual and not formal. "You're finally out of the throne room; it's been a while. Congrats. So, did you accidentally have yourself another child?"

---

As Ambra explained herself, Zaino raised a hand to his forehead, glowering from its aching. It was just a dream, but why did it seem so real? An image of Xanxus severing his right arm and the screams that followed pierced his thoughts, a stinging sensation arising from his shoulders. He shook his head slightly and felt a bit sick from the sight of all the blood, but recuperated soon after. His violet irises refused to meet with Ambra's eyes, his suspicion of her and the rest of the "survivors" lingering, but still...

"... Thanks." Zaino mumbled, looking down at his bandaged wounds sheepishly. His view averted to the one where he had been poisoned and squinted in a tense fury, gritting his teeth and balling up his fist at the thought of the betrayal. If anything, he didn't actually look infuriated; upset was a better word to describe his expression. He scooted back and sat upright, briefly cringing at the pain in his torso and bringing a hand atop of the wound that had contained the poison. It was then that he raised his violet eyes and looked back at Ambra, studying her face while she continued to speak. "I guess I owe you... Ambra, was it? Zaino."

[TwilightDragon]

The black haired man tipped his head a bit, looking over Lantus. Now, there was a man that he admired. He would bend the knee quickly for him, but he knew that the commander thought lowly of him. Darrian didn’t care. As long as he raised his sword in the Exalt’s honor, he didn’t mind what he thought of him. However, if the gray haired man stepped a hair’s breadth out of bounds, he would have his head for treason. His blue eyes flashed a bit at his question.
”I am here because I grow bored by being at Ylisstol. It has been ages ever since I have risen a sword against something other than a training dummy.” Darrian told the commander, an angry look flitting into his gaze. He watched him for a moment. He wondered what exactly Lantus thought of him. As was said before, probably low and degrading comments. The young Exalt clasped his hands behind his back and glanced over at the end of the tent. ”I wish to be on the front lines. I want to see the breaths of the Shepherds leaving their mauled bodies after I trampled them with my feet. I want to see the ground run crimson with their blood. I want to hear the screams of their dying men pierce the air.”
It was then that Xanxus woke, making one of his usual snarky remarks. Even though the other leader did not bow as he wanted him to, he showed his loyalty in other ways. Darrian smirked a bit, quirking a brow at the older soldier. ”I know nothing about any children that I have.” he told him, crossing his arms. ”I think you are the one that has a bunch of bastards running around Ylisstol.” he didn’t want to know anything about any children that he might have. That meant a scramble to the throne and him protecting it.
”In all seriousness, I wish to fight alongside you both when we meet the Shepherds. There are only twenty or so left, as I sent my men to do a body count. Fourteen hundred and seventy seven lay dead after the purge. Of course, some bodies might have gotten lost or dragged off to be buried, so there might be less survivors than we expected. Either way, they can’t dream of facing off against our men.” he glanced between the two, wondering what they would say. ”Don’t worry. I’m just as skilled as either of you are with your swords.”

---

Ambra glanced up in alarm when the bandit or whatever raised his hand to his head. Yep, really bad dreams. She suffered from them, occasionally… ones of Scipio and other Shepherds. Screaming, horrible, horrible screaming and pleading… she closed her eyes and heaved a sigh, only opening when she felt someone looking at her. It was a pair of violet eyes, ones so intense that she got lost in them. That color! It was almost the color of mountain flowers. So pretty. She wished that she had some. Maybe they would brighten up this dumb old room.
”Zaino. Yes, my name’s Ambra. I come from… well… I don’t really know where I come from.” Ambra sighed, rubbing her hands together and smiling a bit. ”And please. Don’t try to repay me. As I said before, I love tending wounds. Seriously, if you try to do something for me in return, I’ll be very angry indeed.” yet, she said this as she smiled and giggled at him a bit.
The door pushed open and a woman peeked in. Ambra jumped in fear, but saw a friendly face. She didn’t seem interested in hurting them. She was even offering food! ”Yes, we would love a good meal. I haven’t had cheese or fruit in what seems like decades.” she smiled back at Trina. Her stomach was growling now, and loud. The smell of the herbs was making her belly gurgle. Of course, the herbs smelled very fragrant and many of them could be used as spices for meats. Like the lavender.
”It’s better than swallowing another stomach full of sand. My name’s Ambra by the way. His name is Zaino. He was injured because… um… a bandit attacked our caravan.” she faked worry. ”The mean bandits who attacked vowed to come back to get our women as soon as they were routed. Zaino here got in the way. Got struck by a poisoned blade. Don’t worry, he’s okay now.”

[Kangutso]

Earlier that day...

I knew I shouldn't have gone the way I did, now I'm stuck in Plegia's desert under the sun, Thought Tihlas once again as he crested a small dune and more or less slid down the other side, Didn't have the luxury of time to choose, though. I ju- "Agh, damn it!" He shouted out as some sand gave way beneath him and sent him rolling down another dune, this one larger on the other side than he thought. He was a knight, knights wore heavy armor, wearing heavy, metal armor was not all that good to do when traveling alone through the desert. But he was too stubborn to leave it all behind, or carry it in a bag, that would've been even harder to get across the dunes.

He laid there for a bit before slowly getting up and grumbling, "Has to be sand, couldn't have been large hills, huh? Now I got sand in places I would never want it..." The complaints continued on throughout the day until he stopped to rest in what little shade he could get next to a dead tree. Things weren't really looking good for him, he still had cuts from when a few blades managed to hit the gaps in his armor and he had run out of water earlier in the day, and the sun had just gotten half way across the sky. This is why he didn't like hot weather and deserts, it always made you want to drink more and more water and even made you hallucinate at times, luckily it hadn't gotten that bad for him. However, there was no mistake that the heat was starting to get to him, he found himself taking deep breaths and sweating quite a bit, again the thought of removing his armor crossed his mind, and again his stubbornness got the better of him. Sighing in irritation at the hot day he'd been having, he continued on his way.

After somewhere between one or two hours he spotted something in the distance, it looks like a city. Finally seeing some chance, and half doubting it was real, he picked up the pace in an effort to get closer. At the top of another dune, by which he was a little dizzy and his vision had faded around the edges, he was able to confirm that he did indeed see a city, a walled off one that was large enough that it may be Plegia's capital. Problem for him was, he didn't have the strength to go much further, and as he took a couple more steps, his vision went black.

---

Now...

It was dark and warm, there was something cool on his forehead and he was in a bed. Wait... Tihlas shot straight into a sitting position, launching the the wet rag on his forehead across the room and at the wall. It took him a bit to get his bearings, and once he did he looked around the room. His armor and lance were in the corner, next ext to the cracked window, the bed smelled... Well, it wasn't too bad, and there was a woman sitting in a chair a few feet from the bed. The woman, an older one, quietly stood up and went to collect the rag before Tihlas spoke, "What happened? And where am I?" The woman sat down and answered, "We found you passed out and half covered in sand a ways from the city while we were coming through. You are lucky we found you when we did, wouldn't have lasted much longer."

A few moments of silence passed before footsteps were heard and a young man entered the room with a bucket, he set it down next to the bed before saying to the woman, "Alright, grandmother, we took care of him until he awoke. He should be fine now, and we should be going. Only came here to deliver a shipment of feed for the mounts, let us go to a more proper inn until tomorrow." The grandmother nodded and told him she'd be right down, to which he sighed and left. The woman looked to Tihlas once more, "I wouldn't do anything strenuous for the rest of the night, at least. The heat got to you and all I could do was cool you off." She smiled before moving to put the rag on the bucket's rim, adding, "I managed to get my grandson to pay for this room for you and enough for you a few nights and to have a few meals to eat. I must be going now, please do not travel in the desert alone in the future." As she walked out, Tihlas said in a somewhat quiet tone, "Thank you..." He didn't know what else to say and, sensing this, the woman stated, "It is what good people do."

Then, he was alone once more as he laid back to get some more rest. He couldn't help but think about whether other Shephards survived the... He didn't know what to call it, as there he felt that he may be the only one left. He was taken out of his thoughts when his stomach growled. He sat back up and got out of the bed, taking note that he had even been bandaged up where he had been cut, though they still stung quite a bit for some reason. He got fully dressed using the spare clothes that were in the pack tied to the back of his armor and made his way out of the room.

[Solace]

"Hmph, I gave you my name. That was the favor." Zaino chided, scowling as he folded his arms in a grumpy and childish manner. He turned to take a gander out of the window, seeing that the day had already shifted to the dusk and painted the sky with sprinkles of silver. He would've sat there to marvel at the stars' beauty, but did that hold any significance in their cruel world? Maybe it did one time, but that was all the shadow of a past that now haunted him.

Zaino scanned around the malignant room for his sword, seeing that it was nowhere to be found and narrowing his eyes. He mumbled to himself, "Where's my sword?"

That was when he caught sight of a cobweb located remotely at a corner of the room, where a spider rested. This caused him to fumble off of the bed and hit his head against the side, producing a loud banging sound. With a flaming passion, he held a great dislike for arachnids; he wasn't sure when or how it had surfaced, but the fear was more or less there. On instinct, he dove towards the spider and its web armed with a pillow like a predator catching its prey and crushed it against the wall, applying extra force to make sure it was dead and generating even more noise.

"Whew..." Zaino breathed, letting go of the pillow and letting it stand against the wall. He turned to the woman who had entered the room, scratching his head. "Do you have another pillow?"

---

Xanxus yawned once again at Darrian's statement on bastard children. While the possibility was a reality for the two of them, it didn't really concern him as much; he didn't intend on becoming a father now, or anytime soon, like Darrian had insisted with what he'd done for him. The idea of toddlers bearing the Mark of the Exalt amused him. "Heh. You got me there."

Now for the statement that was half of a possibility, something that Xanxus knew was untrue in his case. He'd known Darrian ever since the man took power as the new reigning Exalt of Ylisse, and he was the only person to ever match him in a duel. He'd never been defeated, and the idea of being tied against someone had been foreign to Xanxus until the nineteen year old crossed swords with the eighteen year old Prince. Every now and then, they'd hold friendly contests with one another where no true winner was held; Xanxus didn't care about being the best at anything, even though it was what he was known for. Regardless, he sarcastically complied, "But of course, 'Your Majesty.'"

"I sent two assassins to join my kid brother and feign their friendship after destroying the eight barracks," Xanxus shrugged. "Who knows, maybe grumps killed them and is still out there, crying over a spider."

[TwilightDragon]

So... that was his favor? Telling her his name? She gave him another exasperated look before turning to the window and following his gaze. The stars were like diamonds on a backdrop of purple and black. They were so pretty, she wished she could keep one for herself. But there were more... devious matters on her hands at the moment. As she walked to the window she caught sight of a couple of wyvern and Pegasus riders, enough to make a platoon. As their shadows passed over the city, she could see that the people were terrified. They hid in their little houses and shut their doors. Fear started up in her heart, but she quickly pushed it away. No. She had to fight, she had to. If she was going to defend these people, she had to stand her ground.
"A platoon of winged riders." she turned to Zaino, who had smashed a spider against a wall. It was sort of amusing, but now wasn't the time for that. Her eyes narrowed as she trembled. Stay calm stay calm stay calm- "Your sword is in that corner, along with your armor." and with that, she began to pull on her quiver and her bow. The quiver rattled as it was swung over her back, and she pulled out an arrow and knocked it onto her bow. The red haired woman, trembling even more now with anxiety, darted out of the room, careful not to bump into Trina of course, and out of the inn. She grunted as a gust of wind filled with sand filled her face, but she brushed the grit out of her eyes and aimed at a Pegasus rider.
She breathed slowly now, focusing on the wingbeats of the Pegasus and calculating where it would be every few seconds. The silver tip of her bow followed it as the beast and her rider glided on the air. And then, she let it go.
The arrow wooshed through the air, embedding itself into the snowy white pelt of the Pegasus. She could see red blossom even from where she was standing, right where the heart should be. The Pegasus screamed a sound so horrifying that she had to wince herself. The wings stalled, and soon fell limp. The winged horse plummeted to the ground, dragging her rider with her. The woman screamed as well, right before she slammed into the ground and broke her neck. All that was left of the two once living things was a bundle of crippled bodies on the floor. The other riders shouted to one another, but Ambra didn't hear what they said. She hid under an overhang as the winged horses and wyverns landed. Please don't find me.