Fire emblem field tactician 28

Tip of the fang

"So you agree then?" I turned to the leader of the mercenary group.

"I do. Unfortunately this doesn't protect your liege from the rest of Euban's mercenaries, but my wing and myself, we pledge allegiance to the knights of Caelin."

"Glad to hear it." I smiled taking Heath's hand and shaking it firmly. "We lost most of our flyers in the last fight against Laus so I would like to have you're Wyverns take up a garrison on the border towns of Caelin. Do you have any sway at all with any more of your old group of mercenaries?"

"A fair few. Mostly rookies looking for battle." Heath replied shaking his head. "They should have joined up with us alongside one veteran Ex wyvern knight that was to stay with them as back up."

"Excellent" I smiled "Then can I have those flyers on the Kathleet-Caelin border and you're unit on the Laus- Caelin border."

"Of course. I'll let them know. Thank you again for this chance at honest work." He nodded as a final gesture and went to find his riders.

Well, that went well. I thought to myself. Wyvern knights are much sturdier then Pegasus knights so things should be looking up. I walked back to the throne room to meet up with Lyn, when I heard a loud crash of steel on marble.

"Unacceptable! How can I follow these orders? As a knight I must be allowed to accompany you wherever you go. I swore to my Lord Caelin, your grandfather Lady Lyn that I would stave off harm from you!"

I returned to the throne room from the quick errand, to find Sain staring passively at the marble floor and Kent on his knees a frustrated look in his eyes.

Lyn wasn't doing so well either, she was struggling to keep tears from her eyes. "Nevertheless those are my orders. As your liege I expect you to follow them."

"But, Lady Lyn, I beseech you. Must it be me? How will my presence here serve Caelin? Should I not be the sword and shield of its rightful ruler?"

"Kent." Lyn said kindly, placing a hand on her knight's shoulder. He flinched and dropped his gaze but she continued. "You are very needed in Caelin. You're the commander of the Caelin knights are you not?"

"Yes Milady." He replied.

"And with Lord Eagler passed on and General Wallace nowhere to be found, Who can I trust to watch over My grandfather? Mercenaries?"

"No of course not Milady." Kent said shaking his head, his face still pointed towards the floor. "Anyone knows that the head of a Marquess can always fetch more gold then a contract could ever. But why not the Caelin military? Surely you don't doubt our soldiers."

"And suppose the black fang find out that Leila was lying and my grandfather is still alive," Lyn cut off the knight. "Will you let Caelin's military face them without any soldiers capable and experienced enough to deal with the black fang?"

"Of- of course not." Kent said, his passionate voice fading slightly. "But what can Sain or I do to stave an army? We're just two knights."

"Well technically no." I called out making my presence know. Three pairs of eyes turned to me as I presented Kent and Sain with two crests.

"These? These are-"Sain began, unable to speak properly.

"You'd know these better than I would I suppose." I replied. "I had to have Riessmann kind of point me in the right direction. But these, well I'm sure you know what they are. Cause I REALLY don't.

They are knight crests!" Kent said momentarily forgetting his complaint. "But those are only given to knights that… Lady Lyndis you don't mean..."

"That's right Kent," Lyn said, a shadow of a smile on her face, she had to be a ruler at the moment after all. "I'm granting you and Sain the rank of general." The two knights were stunned and I allowed myself a small smirk of amusement before Lyn spoke again. "Kent if you would" she held out her hand and Kent carefully placed his long sword in his lady's hand. "Kent. Knight of Caelin, I declare you General Kent. Hold the position with honour sir knight."

"Thank you, my lady." He inclined his head in a deeper bow, and then raised his eyes to see Lyn smiling at him holding out his sword. He took it and sheathed it as Lyn turned to Sain.

Sain to his credit immediately knelt before Lyn and proffed the hilt of his blade, the point at his chest.

"Sain, knight of Caelin, I grant you the rank of General as well as commander of Caelin's knights. Hold the position with honor sir knight."

Sain smiled and took his blade back while Kent turned quizzically to Lyn. "Commander? Am I being replaced?"

"Oh of course you are." I smiled. "After all you're going to be too busy taking care of everything else in Caelin."

"P-pardon?"

"Right" Lyn spoke up. "As my last edict as princess of Caelin, I abdicate my claim to the throne and General Kent shall be the steward of Caelin."

Her last announcement brought a myriad of reactions from the people in the room. I had already known this was coming so the only surprise I had was the timing of the announcement. Sain, Kent and Riessmann however were all frozen in shock.

I stifled a laugh as even Kent broke from his normal strict persona and stood up, his hands low as he tried to take this all in. "But, but my lady. Why? Why must you leave Caelin? Leave the throne?"

"It's simple really," she replied, "I'm not Lycian and I will never attempt to be Lycian. This doesn't feel like home to me. I yearn for the oceans of grass and the cool night breeze of the Sacaen skies." She sighed as she reminisced. "I miss the place of my birth, the wild Sacaen blood of mine has taken the Lycian blood of my mother and turned it as wild as I am. I cannot say here and still call myself Lyn, the plainswoman I grew up as."

"Now stand up straight." She smiled at Kent who had since fallen to his knee's "I left this canton to you because I feel you can lead it well. Don't prove me wrong ok?" with that she turned away from the throne and walked off while I followed her as I always did.

"So soon?" I asked her as we walked the halls, not really caring where we go.

"I've never been the patient type you know that." She smiled as she slipped her hand in mine.

"Patient?" I asked quizzically. What are you rushing?

"Well… despite your rank, you're not a royal." She replied softly. And proud of it I thought to myself. "And I really want to be with you… as well as never have to deal with these nobles again." She added quickly. I had to laugh a little at that. "I only came to see my grandfather after all. He'll never leave Caelin. It's his beloved home. But I'm sure he'll understand that point when I tell him about my decision to go home myself."

"Alright then." I smiled squeezing her hand a little. We had unconsciously walked towards the sparring field and I chuckled a little as I saw where we ended up. "By the saint, we are quite the pair aren't we?" She smiled and I went to grab a couple of wooden swords. I handed one off to her and she gave me a quick kiss as a thank you, the slashed straight up with her blade. I bent backwards to avoid the strike and spun to my left slashing at her ankles. She raised her foot and hopped backwards and as her hair fell out from her face I could see a wild grin on her lips. Mirroring it I charged in my blade clashing against hers. Our first bout of many had begun.

That evening, the castle had a feast. It was Lord Hausan's way of sending us off in style I suppose since we were asked to don formal clothing again. Gavin couldn't keep his eyes of Koneko, her slim fitting black dress accenting all the right places. She knew it too, with the way she was teasing the poor fist fighter. Pricilla too, was a sight to see. A fancy white gown and an entourage of Raven, Erk and Lucius, she looked more like a princess than anything else. All that was missing was a tiara. Bane and Kura, now officially part of the legion were around as were Eliwood, Hector and their retainers.

By this time, all of castle Caelin knew that Kent was to be the next ruler of Caelin. Fortunately there were no foreign nobles at this night so Kent could relax the first night he spent on the throne of Caelin. Although he was constantly fiddling with everything that made him the Marquess, the extra poofy clothing, the added jewelry, to say Kent was not used to this would be an understatement but we all got a laugh out of it later.

Lyn of course was still in her astounding light blue dress and holding everyone's attention, mine especially. She continued to hold my attention long after the music faded into the night, the platters were cleaned out and sent away, and into the late night as I walked my dance partner, and all around best partner to her quarters.

"All these adventures," I smiled as she opened the door to her room and sat on the bed, beckoning me to follow. "It's almost too much for me."

"You? Admitting defeat? I'm shocked." She joked back kicking off the fancy boots she was wearing. "Father sky, I hope this is the last time I have to wear something like that.

"I agree. Although it does make you look rather appealing." I sighed with a blush, taking off my outer coat.

"Appealing, is that the word?" She smirked walking off to change into her sleeping attire. "Well you're pretty appealing yourself."

"Ha… thanks Lyn." I blushed turning towards her as she came into the bed in her travel gear. I quirked an eye but she smiled and shushed me with a glance.

"This is just comfortable is all."

"Well then," I replied turning her over and wrapping an arm protectively around her. "This is comfortable too." She wriggled a little until her head was in the nook of my shoulder and both of us were blushing hard as we nodded off to sleep. "I love you Lyn." I whispered to her but she was already fast asleep.

The next morning came too quickly for my tastes but it was nice to wake up beside Lyn. The joy of it never truly wears off does it… I thought to myself as I gently shook her awake. "C'mon Lyn, it's time to get up." I murmured groggily.

She woke up with an unintelligible murmur and she slowly stood up rubbing the sleep from her eyes and standing up. Stretching her arms she sighed and smiled to me now fully awake, "Well Ken. I guess it's time for another adventure. Are you ready to go?"

"Of course" I smiled looking around for my sword sheaths. "I just have to see off my students, so I'll meet you at the castle gates in an hour then?" She nodded to that then went off to see her grandfather once more before she left.

Once I was dressed I walked over to the wing that Marquess Caelin had let me use as a dojo. "Oi! Yamamoto, Bane!" The mentioned two were sparring in the ring I had set up in style of my old shrine dojo. Seeing as they hadn't heard me I joined the rest of my students as they watched the bout between my two top apprentices.

Bane, having travelled with the legion, had more experience in combat and was pressing the attack, his blade flashing up and down, his form rough, but good. Yamamoto's instincts however served him well and his wooden katana was always right in front of his foes.

Even better than I could ever have expected I thought to myself as Bane's blade whistled over Yamamoto's crouching form. Yamamoto then rose back to his feet, slashing upwards with his blade using the force of his rising body to power his slash. But bane merely arched his neck back and the blade passed just in front of his face. Yamamoto brought the blade straight back down but bane struck his wrist with a palm, knocking his foe's strike away and he swiftly brought his blade up to his opponents neck. "That's my match." He murmured softly.

Yamamoto shook his head and smiled. "With that you bring your lead on me to two wins."

"That was a good match, both of you." I smiled making my presence known to them both. They started, but turned and gave a bow. "Bane, we're on our way. Please find Sakura and come meet the rest of the legion at the castle gates in a little under an hour's time."

"Ah, yes sir." He bowed then ran off, no doubt to find the petite healer.

"Alright, now as for you, Yamamoto." The man stood up straight at the mention of his name. "It seems I was right in choosing you to lead in my stand." He shrugged a little sheepish at the comment, but happy nonetheless. "If I had ample time I would impart to you my twin sword style, but as it is right now I will have to give you this and promise to return." I held out a scroll to my apprentice. ". I had an artisan draw these as I and the lady Lyndis sparred. In particular I want you to pay attention to my stances. These specific drawings are of my iaijutsu techniques, every one. I'm certain you will be able to learn from them, and teach this technique even better than I could." I smiled a little, before turning slowly.

"Thank you, Master Senki!" The man bowed deeply in respect.

"You're welcome my apprentice. Yamamoto Leiko, You've become a great leader and a fine swordsman. I have faith you will continue to make me proud." With that I turned from my following and began to walk to where I would be meeting Lyn. But at the entrance of the dojo, I stopped. "I wonder… will I return to this place?" I murmured to myself, before walking out the door.

Finally on my way, I walked to the gates of Castle Caelin to meet the rest of the legion. It turns out I was a little late as everyone else was waiting for me to arrive.

"Ah Ken. There you are." Sain called out, being the first to notice me. "The black smith told me to give this to you. It certainly is an odd looking weapon. What is it?"

"Ah, my naginata." I smiled, as I took the weapon, and began to toss it around, getting comfortable with the weight. "It's a spear as you can tell. It's a weapon of my ancestors' design that was used against horsemen." I held the spear up, admiring the heavy, wide blade that was at the point. "I'm impressed that the smithy got it right, especially with my very broken description." With a few practice swipes, I was satisfied and strapped the weapon to my back

"Well are we ready to go then?" Hector sighed as he strapped his wolf beil to his belt loop and mounted his horse.

"Aye." I replied as I hopped behind Lyn in our horse and sat loosely in the saddle, "Let's be off then."

"Ken." I heard Kent's voice call out to me and I turned to face him. He gave me a solemn salute and said slowly. "Keep her safe. And be well. You all have a home here in Caelin."

"Of course sir Caelin. Thank you." I bowed my head softly and took the reins from Lyn's shaking hands and slowly steered the horse away towards our new adventure.

The road to Badon was thankfully empty and the odd bandit attacks didn't really phase us. We were a strong unit and I felt confident in our attempt to get back Lord Elbert and stop the Black fang. However that all changed when we actually got to Badon.

"Listen. We need a boat to Valor!" Our blue haired Lord asked in his brusque manor as he would grab the first sailor or captain he could find.

"You want a boat to the Dread Isle? You're mad! No way! Never! There's no one around who will sail those cursed waters!" The sailor replied, surprising me that anyone could stand up to Hector.

"If you won't help us, can you help us find someone who will?" Eliwood would cut in, never losing his cool, despite the growing frustrations.

"No! Forget it! Just give up your mad quest!" The Sailor would reply before shaking free of Hectors grasp and scurrying off.

"I give up!" I yelled out in frustration after the fifth Sailor denied us passage. "How in the saint are we going to find a way to Valour if none of the sailors want to sail!"

"Calm down Ken." Eliwood tried to reason with me. "You have to understand Valour is cursed for a reason."

"That doesn't matter." I brought my voice down and replied to Eliwood. "If we rent a boat from a captain, how hard would it be to sail there ourselves."

"Oh you know how to sail a Galleon Ken?" Hector cut in sarcastically. "Well why didn't you say so!"

That shut me up quick.

"Pardon me. But did I hear you were going to Valour?"

"Who wants to know?" I turned warily to the voice. Its speaker was a purple haired scholarly type person.

"Oh I'm sorry. My name is Canas. I had heard from a group of sailors that some nobles were looking for passage to the dread isle. And you're Lord's Eliwood and Hector and the Lady Lyndis. So I just assumed…" He shook his head a little. "Anyway I've been trying to get to the dread isle but Captain Fargus wouldn't let me go alone.

"Captain Fargus. " Eliwood mused I don't think I've heard the name.

"He's a pirate but he's more like the protector of this town. Him and his group of pirates are the only ones with sea charts that will get you to Valour."

"He's been to Valour?"

"The only one that has. Although he's never brought anyone. He sent half his crew to explore the island and no one came back.

"Nevertheless, we need to go. Can you take us to him?" I asked excitedly.

"Of course. His ship is by the biggest dock, just off the pier." We walked on but as we passed the coliseum a black armoured paladin exited flanked by a few cavaliers and a troubadour. His eyes locked on our group and his face cracked into a sinister grin.

"Well, if it isn't Eliwood and friends. You should abandon your quest, you have yet to know the fear the black fang brings to the nobility. Scream if you must you're about to-woah!" his horse reared up and the cavalier directly to his left just dissolved.

"Black fang." Canas muttered quietly, although I could feel him silently fuming inside. "You are the ones that have dragged the elder god's magic through the mud and caused their practitioners to be feared and persecuted. Return to dust! Flux!" with another sweep of his robes a flux orb flew out and hit a rider square on dissolving his torso and leaving just his legs on his now spooked stead.

By this time a full on melee had erupted. Hector's enchanted Wolf Beil, slashed through horses legs and cavalier armor. Eliwood at his flank his rapier flashing out in jabs, taking out riders with finesse, if not speed or power.

Canas was at out rear, lobbing flux orbs at our foes, his first target was the troubadour at their rear to keep them from healing their wounded. Afterwards he took his shots as they came, firing off spells as he saw targets.

I had drawn my spear and I again ran through the forms I remembered from my past, stabbing upwards at horses or slashing out at riders with sweeping motions, my long spear out of the reach of the cavaliers swords and my blade cleaving through necks or bowling armoured bodies to the ground to be stabbed at. Lyn was a few feet away from me, her Mani Kati flashing out with unmatchable speed, striking out at whoever was in front of her and watching my back, foiling the enemies flanking maneuvering.

It was a short battle. Hardly a few minutes passed before their 15 soldiers were down and myself and Lyn were face to face with the enemy commander, another vio-nette.

"Well it seems your reputation as Caelin's finest has some truth to it." He sneered, looking down at us from his horse. "But even you can't hold back the dark tide of the black fang! Now be overwhelmed!" with that, he raised his spear and cried out a loud battle cry. I instantly looked around for anything new but I couldn't find anything. Lyn shot me a quick, surprised look and I knew she felt the same.

A few minutes passed and a single wounded cavalier appeared. "I'm… sorry sir. We were attacked by-"He didn't finish his sentence because a larger than normal throwing axe embedded itself in his skull.

"Tha's my kill ye' whelps!" and angry old man's voice called out. I peered behind the paladin since he two was turned around and found an odd sight. Pirates, clear as day, were taking axes and battle hammers to the enemy reinforcements. They even had a mage and an archer lobbing shots over their fellows into the black fang soldiers.

"Pirates… " Lyn mused. "They really are protecting the people."

"Well that takes care of that." I grinned leveling my naginata at my foe. "Lyn, I've got this one, no problem." She smiled and stepped back.

"Fool." The paladin smirked. "They were useless rabble anyway. I'll take you down, and then move on to the rest." With that he drew a silver spear and charged me. But I threw my body up, just over his downwards stab, and with the rotation of my jump, I slashed out, my naginata easily shattering the shaft of the spear. He dropped the remains of his spear and drew his blade quickly as his steed galloped past me. He swiped down with the steel blade and tried to strike at my head which I ducked and swiped out with the butt end of my spear, knocking the horse of balance. The Paladin fell of his horse and stood up, hurriedly dusting himself off before rushing me yet again, sword swiping at my head. But with a well-timed block, I knocked his blade to the side and spun to smack him in the spine. He arced up with the impact and I spun around and slammed him to the ground with the heavy point of my weapon, pinning him to the ground. Not five seconds passed before the life fled his eyes.

"Whew, that's the end of that." I smiled, turning to Lyn with a triumphant grin. She returned the gesture with a gentle smile before a strong old pirate pulled his axe out of one of the black fang cavaliers. Upon meeting with the pirate captain, Canas dashed forward to speak to him.

"Captain Fargus! Are you alright?"

"Aye." The old pirate said simply. "Take more than a couple of knights ta put me down." He chuckled softly. "But you lad. You're something special. With your strange weapons and fancy foot work and fighting. You may be the ones to survive the dread isle."

"Wait." I asked, confused at his knowledge." How did you know we were going to Valor?"

"I'm Cap'n Fargus and this is my town. "He chuckled, noticing my concern and waving it off. "Nothing as crazy as nobility looking to go to the dread isle can be hidden from me."

"Then we can skip to the point." I said, pointedly. "Canas and the rest of our companions are seeking passage to valor. Will you take us?"

"Mmm… it's a dangerous place but you have strong companions as well as your own strength. We'll take you and your group to valor. But on one condition."

"And what's that." I asked, looking confused again.

"Fight me." He answered simply. "I thought I and my crew could handle the dread isle. But even as we were and even with my strength I couldn't keep half my mates from dying." He looked grimly at me and I felt a little fear but I stared back, determined. "I want to truly experience your strength. I feel that you are a true leader, rank and whatnot aside." He stepped back and drew his main weapon, a wicked looking battle axe, and took a step back squaring off with me.

I sighed and stood in a neutral stance after gulping down a vulnerary to regain my stamina. Drawing my twin blades and facing my opponent my blades down at my legs not betraying my attacking vectors. He charged me his axe held high intending to crush my guard. I sidestepped the wide arc of his axe only to find that he hand dropped his axe and punched out at my gut. He struck my stomach and I stumbled to the ground, trying to will oxygen back into my lungs. It was lucky I stumbled when I did as his follow up attack with his hand axe soared just over my scalp.

I sprang back up to my feet and sheathed my swords, rushing in with my fists over my face. He tried to bisect me with a horizontal sweep but I backstepped the slash and rushed forward thrusting both my palms into the man's chest. The shot merely glanced off his chest but it pushed him back far enough for me to follow up with a high kick. A cheer erupted from the crowd as people exited the nearby coliseum.

"That's captain Fargus! But who's he fighting?"

"Shouldn't we help him, even as much as we're able?"

"But his crew isn't doing anything, they're just watching? Who's that kid?"

Fargus slashed out again even as he stood up, driving me back and he pressed his attack, his eyes alight with excitement and focus. But try as he might he couldn't touch me with his axe. Each time i saw an opening I would dart in and strike him with a fist or knee or if I was quick, score a thin slash on his body with one of my blades.

After a while he threw down his battle axe and drew two smaller axes from his belt. One looked different from the other and I recognized it as a swordreaver. "Aye I know this is a favored trick of yours. Let's see how you handle it." With that he swung his axes in an X and I had to back step quickly to avoid getting cut. "Just because I have the big one doesn't mean I've forgotten to use the smaller ones whelp." He taunted as he swung them in a random, yet controlled and well-timed attacking flurry.

I was immediately forced on the defensive. He gave me no time to switch my weapons and I had no idea what I could do. My evasion seemed to make Fargus more confident and he swung more recklessly. This is good I thought to myself, ducking as a wild swing shattered a barrel I was standing in front of moments before. I can read his flow now. I threw up a blade and blocked his regular axe and made as if I would follow up the block to turn it into an attack. Fargus would have none of that and he swung his swordreaver up, trapping and then shattering my blade. But I dropped the now useless hilt and using my forearm bashed both his wrists up and ducked low to point my left blade at his throat.

"And that's a trick that I picked up from you Captain." I panted, yet kept my smirk up.

"Well done whelp. Yeh beat me." He was also panting hard. "I'm a man of the sea. My ship and crew will take you're companions to Valor." I lowered my blade and sheathed it, tossing the shattered hilt aside. "We'll replace that, then we'll head out right away. I feel you can't wait."

END CHAPTER

A/N So how was that? I hope I haven't lost my touch after all. I'm heading into more familiar territory now so the updates should come a bit faster. This chapter was a mess to write! I half expected to skip this segment if it weren't for Canas. Friggin love that guy. Anyway if there are any of my loyal readers left to tread this, please review it's a real morale booster.

Extra skit. Speaking skills.

Normal is Ken bold is hector italic is Eliwood

Well I'm glad someone was able to get us a boat.

Well I didn't really get it the conventional way. It sort of just happened.

Either way, you did good much better then Hector

Hey what's that supposed to mean?

Well it's not like you're attempts garnered us any support.

Yeah, if anything you turned the people against us. You always seem to threaten even when you don't mean to.

~Hmph~ Well I did my best.

You've always been like this, this is just how you talk to people.

This is why you do the talking….