Fire Emblem Fan Fiction ❯ Fire Emblem Tellius Saga: Book 1 ❯ CHAPTER 26: A ROYAL RECEPTION ( Chapter 26 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

When they entered Begnion waters, the merchants, mercenaries, and crewmembers joked, danced, and sparred with glee. When they passed other ships, they struck friendly colors and asked for news. There were fishing ships, merchant vessels like Nasir’s, and even warships in the Begnion navy. Others were the private yachts of nobles, and still others were large pleasure ships from which music played and naked people could be seen traipsing around the deck. (Oscar made sure to confiscate Rolf’s spyglass whenever such a ship passed).

Nasir spread word of the raven trap in return for gossip, but Elincia’s identity and presence on board were kept the strictest secret. The majority of the mercenaries also had to go belowdecks whenever they neared another vessel. After all, this was not meant to be a passenger ship, and the large numbers would be suspicious.

“We should see the harbor by midafternoon,” Nasir informed Ike, Titania, and Soren.

“I will go tell Princess Elincia!” Ike ran off excitedly.

Soren was about to take his leave of Nasir and Titania when Mist came charging up to them. “Look! Look! What’s that?” She was pointing to something over the bow. They followed her to the railing and stared. A sparkling white shape was speeding toward them: a pegasus. Its wings spread wide as its hooves glided over the surface of the waves. Then, with a flick of the reigns, the rider commanded the pegasus launch into the sky. It circled their mast three times before alighting gently on the deck. The pegasus whinnied, and the rider slid from its saddle.

“If I am not mistaken, that is one of the Empress’s Holy Guards. She must be a messenger come to meet Princess Crimea,” Nasir mused.

“Well, that must be a good thing, right?” Titania asked encouragingly.

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Soren crossed his arms. “Technically, Begnion should not have known of our approach or even of Elincia’s survival. This acknowledgment and courtesy are suspicious to say the least.”

Titania frowned. “Well, maybe I’m just not as paranoid as you.”

Without another word, the four descended to the main deck, where the pegasus knight saluted them. “I bring a message for Princess Elincia of Crimea on behalf of Empress Sanaki, Apostle of Begnion. Is the Princess aboard this vessel?”

Titania nodded to Soren and Nasir, saying in a lowered voice: “Go get them. I’ll stay with her.”

 

“Ike, there’s someone here claiming to be an envoy from the theocracy of Begnion. She’s been asking if the Princess of Crimea is aboard.” Nasir reported when they had reached Elincia’s cabin and found them both there. “What do you want to do?”

“A Begnion envoy?” Ike repeated, “How did she know about this ship?”

“Hmm.” Nasir rubbed his jaw. “Perhaps she had word from King Gallia?” Soren doubted it, and apparently so did Nasir. “On the other hand, this is Begnion we’re speaking of. I imagine it has spies in every corner of the continent. Perhaps one of those agents is the source of her information.” Soren had ceased being surprised by Nasir’s insight.

“So, we shouldn’t be surprised if she knows about Princess Elincia?” Ike asked, glancing at her.

“No,” Soren answered. “But it’s extremely unusual for Begnion to send an envoy to meet a princess whom they do not even acknowledge.”

Ike was clearly confused. “What do you mean?”

“It is a complicated matter,” Soren explained, “You see, the envoy is essentially an extension of the empress herself. Both Crimea and Daein were once part of Begnion. Both nations have only splintered from the theocracy in the past two hundred years or so. I can’t fathom why the empress would extend the courtesy of an envoy to a nation she considers beneath her. She must be planning something.”

“Beneath her?” Nasir repeated disapprovingly. He glanced at Elincia, who remained silent. “That is somewhat harsh, don’t you think?”

“Harsh perhaps, but it’s true. Clothing it in words will not hide its bitterness will it?” he replied. (Honestly, he couldn’t care less about the little princess’s feelings.)

“Soren, even I would question the tactfulness of your words.” Ike glanced at Elincia apologetically.

Soren hadn’t expected Ike to scold him, and it gave him pause. He considered the possibility he might be too inconsiderate given his position as an officer. It had never been a problem before; neither Ike nor Greil had ever chastised him for it. After hesitating, he finally gave in: “I will try to be more diplomatic.”

 “Ike, Nasir, you’ve no need to scold Soren,” Elincia spoke up, and Soren resented her defense. “His words are just that. They do me no harm.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Princess, but he should mind his manners.” Nasir’s frown seemed deeper than a stranger’s judgement warranted, and Soren gave his best glare in response.

Meanwhile Ike got the conversation back on track: “Deciding how we ought to treat with this envoy is a more pressing issue. Princess, will you meet her and hear her message?”

“I believe I must. We gain nothing by refusing her. Let us meet with the envoy!” Elincia announced graciously.

 

“Princess Elincia of Crimea I presume…” The pegasus knight eyed the young noble from head to toe. Elincia had donned the orange dress she’d been wearing the day they’d found her, but now it was more of a bleached brown color due to travel and time spent on the ship. Her long green hair was held in a simple braid, and it clearly hadn’t been washed in weeks. Her forehead and cheeks were burned red, but she held her head high.

“Yes,” she answered.

The envoy bowed slightly. “It is an honor to meet you,” she said. “My name is Tanith. I am the Deputy Commanding Officer of Begnion’s Holy Guard.”

“I must ask—what would the Empress of Begnion want of me that she would send her Holy Guard to greet me?” Elincia asked humbly.

“The Apostle has learned of you, Princess Elincia, and she has come here to meet with you personally,” Tanith explained, “The duty falls upon me to take you to her.”

“The Apostle? Am I to meet- Surely the Apostle has better things to do than-” She was far too flustered.

“Will you accompany me?” Tanith placed one hand on her mount and held out the other.

Soren hoped Ike would intervene. The Greil Mercenaries needed to be in constant guard of the princess. If they lost her to the hospitality of Begnion, they would lose her to the protection of Begnion as well. Their employment would no longer be required.

“I suppose that I…” Elincia glanced uncertainly from Tanith to Ike and back again.

“We are the princess’s escorts, and we will be coming with her,” Ike declared firmly. Elincia looked relieved. “I hope you understand,” he added in a low voice.

“Of course.” Tanith sounded irritated. She removed her hand from the pegasus.

“Then yes, I will go with you. Thank you.” Elincia curtsied.

With a sudden clatter of hooves, another Holy Guard landed on the deck. This rushed landing was far less graceful than Tanith’s, and Sothe was nearly run over in the process.  The rider jumped from her steed and charged up to Tanith. After hastily saluting, she launched into a bout of anxious whispers. However, it was impossible not to be overheard. “Bad news, ma’am. We’ve sighted laguz near the Apostle’s position. Birdmen. Crows most likely.”

Tanith sighed. “We’ve seen their kind before. They fancy themselves pirates without a ship, but they’re thieves plain and simple. Commander Sigrun is with the Apostle, and it will take more than a few winged scavengers to get past her.” She placed a hand on her subordinate’s shoulder. “Let’s remain calm.”

“I…” The guard didn’t seem reassured. She shifted from one foot to the other. “Actually, I’m afraid we aren’t quite sure where the Apostle is…”

“What? They’ve kidnapped the Apostle?” Tanith exploded.

“No, no!” She threw up her hands. Tanith glanced sideways at her confused audience. Straining a polite smile, she pulled the guard aside so they could converse more privately. They erupted in bursts of harsh whispers, but Soren could no longer hear the words.

He, Ike, Mist, Titania, Nasir, and Elincia shared a spattering of uncertain glances, until Elincia finally led the party over.

“Understood. We’ll move immediately,” Tanith was saying.

“Excuse me, but is something wrong?” Elincia asked tentatively.

“Your Highness, I must apologize, but an urgent matter has arisen, and I must attend to it immediately. I will come for you later. Await my return!” Without another word, she and her subordinate mounted their pegasi and took off.

“What was that all about?” Ike wondered.

“Judging from her expression, I’d say something has happened to her charge, the Apostle,” Titania suggested.

“Say, do you think that ship over there is involved? The envoy is flying in that direction.” Mist pointed over the side. It was quite bright to the east, so they all had to shade their eyes. Soren could barely make out two ships. Nasir extracted his spyglass and handed it to Ike.

“If so, then the pegasus knight’s fears have already been realized—they’re under attack.” Ike focused the lens. “It’s the ravens they spoke of.” Collapsing the spyglass, he handed it back to Nasir.

“Ike,” Soren said, suddenly have an idea, “why don’t we go lend them a hand?”

Everyone froze and stared at him. “Are you feeling alright, Soren?” Ike asked, probably recalling their conversation last month. “It’s not like you to offer help to, well, anyone.”

Soren crossed his arms. He hoped they didn’t think he was becoming soft. “It’s a great opportunity to put the empress in our debt. We’d be fools to pass that up, wouldn’t we?”

Ike released a bark of laughter. “I should have known you’d have an angle. What do you want to do, Titania?”

“I don’t approve of Soren’s motivations, but I agree that we should help.” She sounded out the last word pointedly.

“Well, then that’s what we’ll do!” Ike turned to Elincia. “Will you be alright on your own, Princess?”

“You’re doing the right thing. I would not dream of stopping you. I know those pirates are no match for your strength. Give them-” She giggled. “Give them a sound thrashing!” Everyone winced, but she seemed overjoyed by her new use of language.

“Huh…” Ike smiled. “You’re starting to sound like one of us, aren’t you?” Elincia blushed but seemed pleased. “Alright then, we’d better go!” he addressed the others. Most of the mercenaries had already come out on the deck. Orders were quickly given, and Nasir steered them toward the battle.

 

They were entering a chaotic scene, but it only took Soren a moment to make sense of it. There were two vessels, the larger being a Begnion passenger ship. The smaller displayed no flags or symbols of any kind, and Soren couldn’t determine its nationality. Its crew was clearly beorc, and although they looked like pirates, they fought like soldiers. This ship was currently latched on to the passenger vessel’s portside like a bloated tick.

In the sky above and around the two vessels, raven laguz and pegasus knights fought in an intense aerial battle. Members of either side would occasionally crash into the sea in a rain of red blood and either white or black feathers. On the deck of the passenger vessel, soldiers clad in the crimson armor of Begnion were failing to fend off the beorc attackers, who boarded via gangplanks and ropes.

Soren noticed that the Begnion guards had dedicated most of their strength to the defense of the passageway leading below. Soren had little doubt that this was where the passengers—and possibly the empress—were hiding.

Lastly, he also noted that the laguz and beorc pirates were working together, which was suspicious to say the least. Clearly this wasn’t a mere crime of opportunity. But Soren couldn’t solve that mystery now; he had to focus on the imminent battle.

Tanith and her regiment were getting their equine butts kicked, so Ike ordered Marcia and Jill to lend them support. The rest of the mercenaries would help the soldiers on deck. Nasir took the helm and steered them flush against the starboard side. A flurry of panic arose as Begnion guards mistook them for pirate reinforcements. But then one of Nasir’s sailors hoisted the Crimean flag, and Ike called through cupped hands: “Attention Begnion soldiers! The Greil Mercenaries are here to back you up. Don’t give those pirates an inch!”

Nasir’s crew let down the gangplank, and Ike led the charge. No one looked down as they ran across the narrow board, and Soren allowed himself a small breath of relief when he reached the other side. However, there was no time to dwell on his safety—and little safety to be had. The pirates had nearly overrun the deck. 

The mercenaries fought their hardest, and their vigor seemed to inspire the guards: soldiers who appeared either too young, too old, or out of shape under their armor. But perhaps this was to be expected considering they’d been assigned to watch a bunch of vacationing nobles in safe Begnion waters, where flying corsairs rarely dared enter. But with Ike taking the lead, these lesser troops were transformed into brave warriors. The young ones watched him surge to the front in awe. Others tried to keep up with an air of competitive ambition. The elderly wore nostalgic smiles. None were hesitant to follow him, and Ike never turned around to make sure he was being followed.

Before long, the pirates onboard the passenger ship had been killed or had retreated to their own vessel. At Ike’s command, the soldiers secured the enemy gangplanks at their end so they couldn’t be raised and the ship escape. Then he walked the length of the portside, calling orders and assembling the mercenaries and soldiers in two lines of defense. The first line would cut down any pirate trying to come back, and the second would shoot down any wayward laguz or any beorc trying to cross by rope.

“Soren, crow at your ten!” Ike warned, and he pivoted to the spot. “Rolf, watch the man in the rigging!” he ordered, and Rolf trained an arrow on the pirate. “Zihark, catch!” he called, tossing him a new sword, which he easily snatched out of the air and promptly whipped into a pirate’s neck. “Gatrie, block that plank! Hold the line!”

The mercenaries’ heads shot up, and even Soren turned away from his opponent to stare. Sure enough, the familiar hulk of blue-painted steel was standing in the front line, blocking a pirate’s attack with his lance. “Righto, Boss!” he called in response.

Soren was not fond of coincidences, but he had to accept what he saw with his own eyes. For whatever reason, Gatrie was on this ship. He and Ike had evidently spoken, and he was now fighting under Ike’s command—something he’d refused to do five months ago. Resigned to learn the full story later, Soren turned his attention back to the battle.

And it wasn’t a moment too soon. Two ravens had escaped the Holy Guard and were dive-bombing Oscar and Nephenee, neither of whom appeared to have a clue. He struck one with Elwind, but he was too late to stop the other. They hooked Nephenee around the shoulders, dragging her into the air. She screamed and wriggled, but that only made the blade-like talons slice back and forth into her armpits and up her arms. Oscar tried to come to her rescue, but his lance wasn’t long enough. She was already too high.

Begnion soldiers were nervously firing arrows, but it was a wonder they didn’t hit Nephenee, their aim was so poor. The Kilvan laughed—a human sound, a woman’s voice.

“Hang on, Nephenee!” came Lethe’s voice. She had, evidently, climbed halfway up the mast for just this occasion. Still in her human form, she launched herself over the heads of the soldiers below. Arms outstretched, she transformed in midair, plunging her claws into the raven’s wing joints and planting her fangs in her neck. All three landed in the stern, hitting the deck hard. Fortunately no one fell into the sea; Nephenee’s armor would have drowned her, and Soren didn’t know if cats could swim.

Satisfied that the two women were alive, Soren turned his attention back to the battle. He sent one spell after another into the pirates’ ranks and was increasingly certain that these weren’t really pirates at all. It seemed an entire army had been stuffed into this simple, unmarked ship.

When Ike judged the time was right, he ordered the final advance. Mordecai galloped across one gangplank, Gatrie jogged down another, the leader of the Begnion guard sprinted down the third, and of course Ike charged down the fourth and final board. Behind them raced the rest of the soldiers and mercenaries, howling and yipping like wild dogs.

For the first time, Soren noticed two raven laguz in their unshifted forms, floating beyond the pirate ship’s port side. They were out of range of even the best archer, let alone Soren’s wind magic, but he squinted and tried to get a better look. One appeared old and shriveled while the other was tall and imposing, but other than that, Soren didn’t know what to make of them—perhaps the captain of the crow-pirates and his first mate?

Neither entered the fray, and when they saw that the beorc pirates were going to lose, they flew toward their brethren currently embattled with the Holy Guards. The leaders appeared to give new orders, and the cloud of ravens broke apart.

A large portion turned tail and fled, flying west with a burst of speed the pegasi couldn’t match. But others split off, diving nimbly around the Holy Guards to attack the ships directly. “Watch out!” Soren called, and he heard a handful of mercenaries and soldiers echoing his words. Apparently he wasn’t the only one watching the skies.

The ravens fell upon all three ships and tore through everything—ripping open hatches, breaking barrels and boxes, squeezing through porthole windows, and smashing the ornate windows of the captains’ quarters. They even killed some of their allies to access the pirate ship’s holds. They were more concerned with looting than fighting, and soldiers and mercenaries rushed to defend the other two vessels.

They managed to kill some of the winged pirates, but others escaped, carrying whatever valuables they’d found in billowing black sacks looped from neck to foot. The Holy Guards were able to pick off a couple more of these thieves, but their stolen goods tumbled into the sea, lost forever.

Soren watched these antics and did what he could to prevent them, but he was tired and injured and truly didn’t care if the crows made off with golden candlesticks and silver plates from the Begnion ship. During this confusion, however, a portion of the beorc pirates managed to escape as well, which did bother Soren. They lowered two sloops on the portside and were dashing across the waves in opposite directions before anyone could stop them.

This frustrated Soren, who wanted to know who they were, why they’d attacked this ship, and why they’d partnered with laguz. Now there was no one to interrogate. Although the leader of the pirate-soldiers hadn’t escaped, he refused to surrender. He fought until he died on Ike’s blade (perhaps even throwing himself on it so Ike couldn’t show mercy and Begnion take him into custody).

Soon after the captain’s defeat, a second cloud of pegasi appeared from the east, flying in a wedge formation. The leader wore brilliant white armor, and behind her whipped bright teal hair. Tanith and the remnants of her force united with the reinforcements. Faced with the full Holy Guard, the remaining crows were quick to disappear. The guards did not pursue

“That’s it,” Titania sighed. “It looks like the dust is finally starting to settle.” She was grinning despite what appeared to be two black eyes darkening her cheeks.

“It looks like those crows took flight as soon as the Holy Guard arrived. The other assailants fled too,” Soren reported. He looked over the water, where he could still see the white sails of the pirates’ escape boats growing smaller by the second. 

“Then our job here is done,” Ike declared with satisfaction. He surveyed the messy decks, and a more troubled expression came over his face. “Crows are one thing, but what were those men doing with them?” No one answered immediately, and while he waited for a response, he cleaned and sheathed his blade.

“Yes, I thought that was odd, too,” Titania finally said, and again there was silence.

Mist loosened and slid the couter down Titania’s arm, examining a puncture just above the elbow. Biting her lip in concentration, she pressed her staff toward the wound. She’d become a decent healer in just a short time. Soren was awaiting his own turn at her attention, but clamping a hand over the broken arrow shaft in his shoulder was all he could do for now.

“They looked like pirates, but they certainly didn’t act like them,” Ike noted. He was also watching the disappearing sloop.

“True. They weren’t interested in treasure, and their soldiers definitely were trained fighters. But who were they? Which country did they serve? Was this an attempt on the Apostle’s life?”  Titania wondered aloud. 

“It’s possible.” Nasir said suddenly, joining them. It was odd to see him away from his ship, but he seemed equally at ease here—on the unfamiliar vessel surrounded by unfamiliar corpses. Soren frowned as he continued: “The Apostle is the symbol of the Begnion Empire: its Empress. If she were to perish, it’s fair to say Begnion itself would perish.”

“I see.” Ike nodded.

A cry suddenly erupted from the passenger ship, only a few dozen yards away: “The Apostle is missing? What do you mean!” All heads turned to see Tanith with her hands on her hips while a red-armored halberdier half-bowed, half-cowered in front of her. 

“Something must have happened. Let’s go find out.” Ike dashed across the gangplank with Titania and Nasir right behind him. Soren reluctantly brushed aside Mist, who’d finally been able to look at his shoulder. Knowing what had happened to the apostle was more important. 

“Ugh. This business is becoming quite the headache,” Tanith was saying when they reached her. 

“I-I’m sorry, ma’am!” stuttered the soldier. “If I can offer up my life in repentance for-”

“Oh, stop it.” Tanith shooed him away. “If you want to repent, go do something useful and find the Apostle.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The soldier saluted and ran off.

Tanith turned her attention to the four arrivals.

“Did I hear correctly?” Ike asked. “Is the apostle missing again?”

Tanith scowled. “Oh, you’re that mercenary.”

Ike scowled in return and assured her it was no fault of theirs: “My men guarded the cabin entrance. As far as I know, we kept it safe from the enemy.”

Tanith sighed. “From what I have been told, the Apostle slipped out of the cabin on her own in the chaos.”

“On her own? Now why would anyone called ‘the apostle’ do something as stupid as that?” Ike blurted.

“Ike! Watch your words. You’re being rude,” Titania warned.

“It’s all right, dame knight. I have more important matters on my mind.” Tanith assured with a wave of her hand. (Soren was a bit annoyed that Ike was not reprimanded for his poor manners as he’d been, but now was not the time for petty things.) Tanith continued after a reluctant pause: “I hate to ask, but would I be able to enlist your help in searching for the Apostle?”

“Of course!” Titania answered, only then realizing she should have allowed Ike to answer. “You don’t mind helping, do you, Ike?”

“Nah.” Ike shrugged.

Tanith nodded. “We’ll search the enemy ship. Would you search your ship, just to be sure? I would appreciate it.”

Ike agreed, and they crossed the plank back to their own vessel. Soren was pleased by this development. It would be good for the Greil Mercenaries if they were the ones to find the apostle. Just then, Mist reappeared, looking exhausted and wiping the sweat out of her eyes. She tapped Soren’s arm. “Let me finish,” she said, and he stood still while she worked.

“I’ll do what I can to find her, but I don’t even know who I’m looking for,” Ike sighed. He glanced around the deck. It was in disarray thanks to the crows. 

“I think it’s safe to assume she will be a woman of stature, a noble of some sort,” Soren speculated. In fact, he couldn’t understand how an empress could slip away unnoticed, even during a battle.

“Well, I suppose all we have to do is keep our eyes peeled for any stowaway—anyone we don’t know.” Titania clapped her hands. “Let’s split up. It’ll go faster if we search separately. Mist and I will check this side,” Titania suggested, and Soren had a feeling she just wanted to give the young healer a break.

She gestured for the girl to join her, at which Mist nodded and dropped his arm. He worked his shoulder joint and found it was mostly healed. The freshly grown sinew only needed time and rest to become comfortable again.

“Then Soren and I will search the rest of the ship,” Ike declared.

Titania and Mist walked toward to stern, so Soren and Ike headed for the bow, which was in the worst condition. They righted overturned barrels and crates and picked up ropes and chains. They even pushed a laguz corpse over the side.

“Soren…about what I said this morning…” Ike said as they worked, and Soren was taken aback by the hesitancy in his voice.

“Yes?” he asked coolly, despite the panic seizing his mind as he tried to remember what Ike was referring to. He feared this was about to turn into some interrogation or exposition. But he was careful not to allow even a flicker of this surge of emotion to cross his face.

“About the way you phrase things,” Ike clarified.

“I…” Soren calmed. That was all he was talking about. “I ought to apologize for that.”

“No, don’t apologize. I know you. I know it’s been bothering you, hasn’t it?”

“No.”  Soren quickly denied, but he had to admit he’d just been thinking of it. “Well…”

“Don’t take it personally. I’m no better, you know,” Ike laughed.

Soren had to agree, but when Ike spoke out or was rude, it was somehow noble. He was never patronized or berated for his blunt words.

“Your ability to speak plainly the things other won’t is part of what makes you brilliant,” he continued. “Others are too bound by courtesy. With you, I trust that what you say is exactly what you think.”

“Well…yes…” Soren was surprised and confused, but he couldn’t stop the small smile that crept onto his face. “Thank you, Ike.”

“Now, about that missing apostle…” Ike coughed and turned back to the task.

The following silence was a little awkward, but Soren didn’t mind. He took a few steps away and continued searching, pushing aside a crate to expose the door to a narrow hold. He heaved the hatch open and found inside a little girl lying on the coiled anchor chain. “Oh,” he exclaimed without meaning to.

Ike dashed over. “You found her?” he asked excitedly.

“No, I don’t think so. But there’s a child stowed away in here.” Soren moved so he could see.

“What? What is a child doing on our ship?” Ike demanded.

Considering the three other children already on their ship—namely Mist, Rolf, and Sothe—Soren thought this an odd question. But he held his tongue, instead saying: “She must be some aristocrat’s daughter. Probably slipped on from the Begnion ship… It was a hectic battle. She must have been frightened and lost herself in the confusion. Are you going to help her?”

“Well, we can’t just leave her,” Ike countered. Together they hoisted her out of the hatch and onto the deck. She regained consciousness, and her eyelids fluttered in the brightness.

Ike knelt down. “Hey, are you alright?”

“I-I’m…fine,” she replied. She was quite small but wore several brightly-colored robes layered on top of one another. Her arms were lost in tasseled sleeves, and her legs in billowing skirts. She was also bedecked in scarves, braids, and bows. It was all rather ridiculous-looking.

“Hey don’t be scared,” Ike consoled, although Soren didn’t think she looked scared in the least—just a little confused.

She frowned at Ike. “Who might you be? You don’t look like a laguz. Perhaps a new recruit?” She didn’t seem impressed.

“No,” Ike explained patiently, “I’m a mercenary. I was hired by Princess Elincia.”

“The Crimean Princess?” The girl tried to stand up straighter. She took a step forward but stumbled. “Ouch!”

“What’s wrong? Oh, you hurt your foot. Let me see.” Ike reached out to grab her, but the girl wouldn’t cooperate.

She thrust out her hand and hobbled backward. “Hold! Do not approach me!”

Ike grabbed her anyway. He plopped her down on a barrel, where she sat motionless, obviously stunned. He rummaged among the many layers of skirts looking for her foot, at which she transformed from completely stunned to completely enraged. “Hey, I told you not to-” Ike began to roll the ankle joint. “Ooooouch! You’re hurting me! You fool!” She struggled and fussed, hitting the top of Ike’s head over the heap of cloth thrown into her lap. Ike finally stopped and released her foot. She indignantly patted down her skirts.

“Looks like the bone’s not broken,” Ike announced. “Still, we’d better have Mist take a look at it just in case.” Before the girl could protest, Ike picked her up again, set her on the ground, wedged a hand under her arm and, and began walking. Soren followed at a safe distance, content to watch.

“What- What are you doing?” she demanded as she limped.

Ike was half-carrying her. “Just hold on to me. There’s my sister.” Ike pointed to Mist. “She can heal that foot of yours right up.”

The girl muttered and protested under her breath, and Soren found this amusing. Ike was usually good with children younger than himself, but his self-assuredness clearly wasn’t winning over this one.

“Ike! Any luck finding the Apostle?” Mist asked.

“Nope. All we found was a lost kid.” Ike made sure the girl was steady before letting go.

“Aw, she’s quite a cutie.” Titania bent so she was resting one hand on one knee and with the other pushed back a lock of her long, dark purple hair. The girl looked flabbergasted.

“Mist, do you think you could use your staff to heal her?” Ike asked.

Despite her exhaustion, Mist’s face bloomed with concern. “Yeah. Is she hurt?”

“Just her foot… But maybe she bumped her head, too.” Ike shrugged. “She’s been mumbling complete gibberish since I picked her up.”

The girl had clearly had enough. She clenched her fists, shouting: “I kept silent, blaming these antics on your ignorance, but I can no longer tolerate your manners!”

No longer amused, Soren crossed his arms in anticipation of yet another lecture.

“Huh? What’s wrong? It’s your foot isn’t it?” Ike asked.

“Prepare yourselves, peasants!” The girl drew herself to her full height (which was still not very much).

“Prepare?” Ike laughed. “For what?”

“You stand in the presence of Sanaki, Empress of Begnion!” the girl proclaimed, “I am the Apostle, the Voice of the Goddess!”

“Empress?” Ike was no longer laughing. “What did she say?”

“What?” Titania cocked her head. “Then she is…”

“Oh, no, is she really?” Mist threw her hands over her mouth.

“No, she can’t be.” Ike tilted his head in the same direction as Titania.

“No way,” Soren said simply.

“Hold your judgment.” Titania tried to be reasonable. “Even if she’s lying, there must be a reason.”

The girl—or empress—was still furious. “You-you ignorant-!”

A voice called behind them: “Are you all right, Empress?” The teal-haired woman pushed them aside and flew to kneel in front of the girl. Her face bore the concern of a mother, and Soren expected her to throw her arms around the child, but instead she bowed. “My apologies! We were unable to reach you, and we left you in terrible peril. I accept full responsibility.”

The girl dropped her fists to her hips. “You’re late, Sigrun! What would you have done had something happened to me?”

“Please, Empress, I beg your forgiveness,” replied the guard—Sigrun. Two more Holy Guards joined her begging and bowing to a prepubescent girl.

“That won’t be necessary,” Sanaki said. “I am also partly to blame for what happened.”

“Partly?” Soren repeated, but Titania stepped on his foot to silence him.

“Let’s focus instead on our rescuers,” the young empress continued, gesturing that Sigrun and the guards could stand. “As a reward for rescuing me, I would like to invite them to visit our court. And be sure that the one they serve, the girl who claims to be the Princess of Crimea, is invited as well.” She extended a graceful hand to one of the guards, who led her away at a slow limp. 

Once the empress was out of earshot, Sigrun addressed them: “Princess Elincia’s bodyguards, I presume. I am sorry for the trouble you’ve gone to.”

“And you are?” Ike asked.

“I beg your pardon.” The woman placed a hand over her chest. “My name is Sigrun. I’m the Commander of Begnion’s Holy Guard. No word of thanks will ever repay you for saving the Empress.”

“Wait, so it’s true?” Mist asked in disbelief.

“Are you saying that little child…?” Titania began.

 “is Begnion’s…?” Ike continued.

“Empress,” Soren concluded. He may not have accepted it a moment ago, but now he’d seen proof and was willing to move on. “It appears so. I can’t say I quite believe it, but she seems sincere. Besides, how many people do you know who command a legion of pegasus knights?”

The others nodded, and Sigrun smiled. Then they watched as Sanaki, Tanith, and the rest of the Holy Guard took to the sky.

“The Empress has invited us to join her at Sienne,” Sigrun said pleasantly. “I think we should go. Where is the princess? We should ask her permission before agreeing.” Soren didn’t like how she was counting herself as part of ‘us’ and ‘we’.

“She must be in the cabin. I’ll take you to her.” Ike turned and waved for Sigrun to follow.