Fire Emblem Fan Fiction ❯ Fire Emblem Tellius Saga: Book 3 ❯ CHAPTER 80: ORIBES BRIDGE ( Chapter 14 )

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

Soren’s prediction was correct; it was Empress Sanaki of Begnion who approached Melior Castle three days later. Elincia allowed her, Sigrun, and Tanith to enter the palace while the army she’d brought with her was kept under strict guard. The other peers of the realm were waiting for her, and the kings and queens cloistered themselves in a closed-door meeting for the rest of the morning. Not even Giffca, Skrimir, or Ike were allowed inside, which certainly meant Soren had no place at the proverbial table. But he longed to know what was being said.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait for the royals to grace him with their presence to figure out what was going on. Sigrun and Tanith were similarly barred, which meant they could do nothing to avoid interrogation. Ike and Ranulf had the same idea, and the three were about to barrage the Holy Guards with questions when Sigrun raised her hands and said simply, “I will explain everything I can. Let us find a place to sit. I fear it is a long story.”

They made their way to the nearest parlor, and Skrimir, Titania, and Mist met them on the way. Once they were all seated on plush cushions surrounding a low table, Sigrun clasped her hands in her lap and began her tale:

“As you now know, the plot to assassinate Apostle Misaha and exterminate the herons was not devised by King Daein after all. It was a coup by the Senate, led by Duke Leikan Gaddos, to wrest power away from the Line of Altina… I swear to you that I—and those loyal to the Apostle—had no knowledge of this until your own messengers brought it to our attention.” This she addressed to Skrimir and Ranulf. “I have heard what fate they met, and for that, you have my deepest sympathy.” Sigrun laid a hand gently over her heart and inclined her head. The spiderweb of wrinkles on her face and the white strands amidst the turquoise blue of her hair seemed suddenly more prominent.  

“Go on,” Skrimir said simply.

“When the truth came to their attention, the Apostle and Lord Sephiran intended to arrest and prosecute the traitors, but the Senate moved too quickly. They imprisoned the Apostle in Temple Mainal for many months, where even we of the Holy Guard could not reach her. With her signature and seal of office, the senators forged an arrest warrant for Lord Sephiran and seized him before he could do anything to help her. Thus Duke Gaddos has acquired the complete power he sought for almost thirty years.”

“That sounds bad,” Ike said, and although his words weren’t eloquent, the feeling behind them was genuine.

Sigrun nodded. “Indeed it is. The leaders of the Senate have long wished for the restoration of the Old Empire and the subjugation of the laguz kingdoms. This war is their machination alone. The Apostle wants only peace and respect between laguz and beorc.” 

“What she wants doesn’t really matter now,” Soren shot back. “You broke her out, didn’t you? And you came here in exile. The only troops you have are the couple thousand Zelgius gave you, and even their loyalty must be hanging by a thread.”

“Soren!” Titania hissed.

“She wants to help,” Ike said firmly. “We can work from that.”

Soren shook his head. “Sanaki didn’t come here to make peace; she came to make war. She needs an army.” He gestured at the nearest window (and the barracks in the city beyond). “We have one.”

Sigrun’s face pinched slightly as she tried to maintain a pensive demeanor. “What you say is true. As we speak, the Apostle is seeking an alliance with the Kings and Queens of Tellius. Soon we shall know their decision.” 

“…I hope my uncle agrees,” Skrimir said, surprising everyone with his uncharacteristically thoughtful tone. “If we share a common enemy, we share a common purpose. Beorc and laguz… Though we come from different backgrounds and have faced different trials, when we have the chance to work together, that must be reason enough to try.” No one responded, and he glanced up suddenly, realizing everyone was staring at him. “Er, that is what my uncle, er, my King might say, I think…”

Ranulf laughed and patted Skrimir on the back. “Well, I agree.”

“Me too,” Titania said with a tender smile.

Ike cupped his hands behind his head. “Well, the Greil Mercenaries are always for hire.”

At this Sigrun smiled slightly. “We will see…”

Next it was Mist who spoke up, but she didn’t seem as enthusiastic as the others. “After what Elincia said the other day…” she began, “I really thought for a moment there might be a way to fix everything without having to take more lives or shed more blood. Maybe that was naïve of me…” She shook her head. “I want to stop the senators, I really do,” she said, looking around at everyone as if sorry for chasing away their smiles. “I just- I think it’s a little sad too.”

“You are not naïve, Mist,” Titania said, wrapping an arm around the younger woman. “In fact, I think you and Queen Elincia are very wise.”

With that, the conversation ended. Skrimir and Ranulf had to attend the needs of their restless troops, and when they were gone, Titania changed the subject, asking Sigrun and Tanith to regale her with the details of Sanaki’s daring rescue. Mist seemed revitalized by this new topic, and she asked the women how their pegasi were faring after the long journey. Ike, meanwhile, had grown quiet, and Soren wondered if they could be thinking the same thing: Lehran’s Medallion.

Rafiel and Leanne had brought it with them. Leanne was watching over it now, somewhere in this castle, while Rafiel and Reyson attended Sanaki’s meeting. If the kings and queens of Tellius gave Sanaki an army to retake her throne, wouldn’t they be feeding the flames of war? How much longer could they keep pushing forward, always thinking a chance at lasting peace was just around the corner? Soren didn’t know the answer, but he did know the medallion scared him. He didn’t know what would happen if the supposed ‘dark god’ grew powerful enough to escape the bronze pendant, but the idea that other people could be inflicted with the same mad power that had possessed Greil was terrifying enough.

Shaking his head, Soren told himself not to speculate the outcomes of ancient magic he didn’t understand. The medallion and the warning about the god escaping were hardly more than folklore—perhaps just an allegory dreamt up by the Dragon King and used to keep his neighbors in line so his own people could live in peace.

Soren wished he could believe it was actually that simple.

“We have to face what’s in front of us and survive it,” Ike said quietly, perhaps having noticed Soren shake his head, “and right now, that’s Begnion.”

“I know,” Soren replied, also quietly.

“Let’s just keep doing what we’re good at,” Ike added in an encouraging voice.

“That’s all I’ve ever done,” Soren replied dutifully.

 

That evening, the kings, queens, mercenaries, and soldiers were treated to a dinner in Melior Palace’s royal gardens: the place where Ashnard had died and Elincia coronated. Summer was drawing to a close, but it was still warm tonight. Before the meal was served, Sanaki (who was a child no more) mounted the steps to the balcony with Caineghis, Tibarn, and Elincia for an announcement.

“Let it be known that on this day, King Caineghis of Gallia and King Tibarn of Phoenicis bestow upon me, Apostle Sanaki Kirsch Altina, Empress of Begnion, their alms and arms in the coming campaign to retake Begnion from the corrupt Senate and restore myself to rule. Our unified forces shall be known as the Apostle’s Army, and we will set out from Crimea with Queen Elincia’s blessing, as she has witnessed the ratification of our agreement. In return for the aid of Kings Caineghis and Tibarn, I vow to erect a treaty of lasting peace between our nations, cede the Serenes Forest to the heron tribe, pour my efforts into freeing all laguz still in slavery, and open lines of diplomacy between our peoples with no bias between the races of beorc and laguz. This I do solemnly swear.”

The applause was awkward and scattered at first, but when Caineghis, Tibarn, and Elincia raised their hands in front of them, it was a sign to everyone that this was indeed a positive announcement. Now the applause was raucous.

Elincia declared that food should be brought out and everyone should dig in, and with that, she, Sanaki, Caineghis, and Tibarn descended the steps to take their own seats. However, Sanaki didn’t go to her own table. With Sigrun and Tanith flanking her, she went straight to the Greil Mercenaries.

“Sir Ike,” she greeted him. “Sir Ranulf,” she added, seeing the cat-man beside him with a dumpling already squeezed into his cheek.

“Empress Sanaki,” Ike greeted her in return. “So it sounds like everyone is on the same side now. That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”

“I feel the same,” she agreed, “but it’s too early to celebrate. I will not be happy until I take back my country. How we fare in the battles to come will be of the utmost importance.” Her spine was rigid, but her shoulders were relaxed under her golden gown and rich crimson cloak. She was a rather short and slender woman, but at almost twenty years old, she’d clearly grown a lot since Soren had first met her. She wore the mantel of her office with the grace of an empress rather than the self-importance of a spoiled child.

“The Greil Mercenaries would be glad to help,” Ike replied, “I know that we’re a small unit, but we’ll do our best to see the job done right.”

“I certainly hope you will.” A glint of cunning suddenly flashed across her face. “Especially since I’ve decided to make you the commander of our combined forces.”

“Wait, hold on there!” Ike threw up both of his hands in alarm. “What did you say?” When she only stared back at him with a steady gaze, Ike rushed to refuse: “Listen, Empress Sanaki, I’m really flattered, but General Zelgius is much more qual-”

“Zelgius returned to the empire by himself to rescue Prime Minister Sephiran. Our army consists of the troops he left behind, as well as the armies of Crimea, Gallia, and Phoenicis.” Soren’s ears perked up at this, because this was the first he was hearing of Elincia giving Sanaki any of her troops. (So much for neutrality.) “Ike,” she continued seriously, “you’re probably the only person on the face of Tellius who commands respect from all four countries represented here.”

Ranulf placed a consoling hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Ike, I know you’re not happy about this, but you’re the only person who can bridge the rift between the laguz and beorc.”

“No, I’m not happy about it,” Ike snapped. “I thought my days of being a general ended for good five years ago… But I won’t refuse,” he gave in. “If you think I’m the only person who can pull this off, then I’ll do my best not to let you down.”

“Thank you, Ike,” Sanaki said, and her tone was sincere. She even bowed her head, which forced Sigrun and Tanith to genuflect as well. “Now, let us go meet with the armies and the soldiers you will be leading.” She held out her hand expectantly, but her eyes were already roaming the courtyard as if planning her attack. “They will want to meet their new commander.”

With a nudge from Ranulf, Ike got up. “Not again…” he groaned, but he followed her away. Soren, Ranulf, Titania, and Mist watched him disappear.

Then Ranulf helped himself to the uneaten food on Ike’s plate. “Come on, he had to have known that was coming,” he said, shrugging while he munched away.

“Not my brother,” Mist replied with a tired-sounding sigh. “He never realizes everyone thinks as much of him as they do.”

“Our modest young commander,” Titania chuckled with a shake of her head.

“You laugh now,” Soren countered, “but you must realize this will mean a lot more work for us.”

“Hey, I already have to do all of Skrimir’s work,” Ranulf grumbled and shoved another dumpling into his mouth. When he swallowed, he raised both hands, saying, “Ike is all you three.”

This made Mist and Titania laugh, and Soren felt his mouth twitch into a smile. Some things were so familiar they felt good, even if the thing itself wasn’t necessarily pleasant. Managing a war for Ike had become one of those things.

 

The next day, Sanaki officially named Ike general of the Apostle’s Army and bestowed upon him the holy sword Ragnell as a symbol of his office. Apparently, she’d thought ahead and swiped the sword from the catacombs at the hour of her rescue. Despite its obvious usefulness if they met the Black Knight during this campaign (or another opponent with enchanted armor), Soren couldn’t help but resent Sanaki for her forethought.

Now that Ike had the sword, there would be no stopping him if the Black Knight crossed his path again—and seeing as the road to Begnion would take the Apostle’s Army through Daein, that felt inevitable. It was almost enough for Soren to recommend a different route, but he knew that wasn’t feasible.

Going by sea would take too long, require too many ships, and risk being decimated by Kilvas when they passed their island. According to Tibarn’s spies, King Naesala and his army were staying firmly in place for now, but if they’d helped Begnion once, they were liable to do it again.

Crossing into Begnion via Ranulf’s secret passage was risky too, because if they did not succeed in their first attempt, Begnion could then spill through the mountains and take Gallia.

Mugill Pass was the obvious next choice, but with Begnion firmly entrenched in the two fortress cities, the Apostle’s Army would become bottlenecked and take heavy losses.

That left Daein, whose level of support for Begnion was a mystery. The country was still healing from their rebellion, and now that they were faced with such a formidable force, it was possible they would stand down and let the Apostle’s Army through.

To help matters, Elincia sent messengers to Nevassa, petitioning Pelleas for permission to enter his country. She vowed on her own nation’s honor that the Apostle’s Army would not raid or harass his citizens. This would be possible because Crimea was providing the army with several months’ worth of food and supplies.

These supplies would be given in place of the military force they were withholding. Although Elincia supported Sanaki, she still refused to order her citizens to spill their blood for her. Therefore, Crimea was contributing only a few soldiers—a battalion of a thousand volunteers. Among them were Kieran, Marcia, Makalov, Astrid, Danved, and Calill, but Geoffrey, Lucia, and the queen would be staying in Crimea with the majority of their army.

Nailah, Rafiel, Reyson, and Leanne would also be staying in Melior as Elincia’s guests, keeping watch over the medallion. No one said it outright, but Soren suspected everyone thought the medallion would be least effected by the war if it stayed in peace-loving Crimea. However, he suspected this was a false assumption. According to the legend, the flames of war would reach the medallion wherever it was.

As for Caineghis and Giffca, they wouldn’t be joining the Apostle’s Army either, and instead they returned to Gallia to oversee the troops there. That left Tibarn and Skrimir as the only royals who would be joining Ike on the battlefield, and both vowed to respect his position as general. “We follow your lead now,” Tibarn vowed, but this only seemed to make Ike even more uncomfortable with his sudden authority.

 

While they awaited King Daein’s reply, Ike and Soren oversaw preparations for their campaign, and Sigrun gave them all of the money she’d managed to take from Sienne for the war effort: a measly twenty-thousand gold. She signed the Greil Mercenaries into the service of the Begnion Empire, and as payment, she vowed they would be given lands and fortunes when they retook Sienne. Once the senators were dead, Sanaki would be able to take control of their wealth, and it would be easy to give the mercenaries anything they wanted.

Perhaps because of this, no one opted out of their contracts when Ike gave them the choice. “I won’t force anyone to go back to Begnion if they don’t want to,” he said, “But I’d welcome your strength if you come with me.” Naturally, everyone claimed they’d follow Ike to the edge of the world if he asked them to.

With no reply from Pelleas, the army inched toward the Daein border. Soren told Ike to head for Oribes Bridge—the largest southern crossing. Once in Daein, they would stay close to the mountains and pass into Begnion at the first opportunity. This would be Tor Holvar: the westernmost fort in the Great Wall of Ivelt. Then, the Apostle’s Army would turn abruptly, keeping close to the mountains on the other side. They would follow these to Flaguerre, which they would have to seize quickly to gain leverage. Once this was accomplished, they could take Mugill with the help of the laguz forces still in Gallia. Once the armies were united, they could make their way to Sienne, much like they’d done before—but Soren vowed this invasion would end differently. He would learn from his past mistakes, and he and Zelgius would be on the same side this time. The general would be amassing his own troops to combat the senators’, and if Sanaki would sway her citizens’ hearts, victory might just be possible.

 

Autumn was setting in around them when the Apostle’s Army made camp less than a day’s march from Oribes. Elincia’s messengers still hadn’t returned from Daein, and Soren feared foul play. His fears were confirmed when a white-armored Crimean scout came galloping into camp. “Excuse me, Captain!” he squeaked, seeing Titania. Perhaps he recognized her from the Mad King’s War, but his eyes completely passed over Soren. “I bring urgent news for Queen Elincia and General Ike of the Apostle’s Army!”

“This way!” Titania leapt to her feet and led him to the officers’ pavilion. Soren followed, because he wanted to know whatever bad news this scout was carrying.

“Queen Elincia!” the soldier cried when the tent came into view. He sounded very much like a scared child calling for his mother.

“What happened?” Elincia demanded, pushing her way out of the tent.

“We’ve received a report that the Daein Army has appeared near the border between Daein and Crimea! The Daein Army demands custody of the Apostle on behalf of Begnion! They will use force if necessary.”

“Daein wants to get in our hair again?” Ike grumbled, coming out behind her. “Perfect.”

Sanaki stepped out of tent as well, with Sigrun at her side. “I am puzzled by this,” she said with a small shake of her head. “Why does Daein support the Senate?” When no one replied, she raised her voice and her chin. “Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Ike, we must change our target.”

“Agreed.” Ike moved his gaze to the east, as if he could see the Daein Army waiting for them at Oribes. “We have to get Daein out of the way before we do anything else.”

“For now, let us send a messenger asking the commander of the Daein forces to stand down and meet with us,” Elincia suggested hopefully. “We will never give up the Apostle, but perhaps we can still come to terms.”

 

The messengers were sent, and the next morning, the army picked up its stakes and moved out. They marched in full armor, ready for battle when they arrived.

“So, Daein still refuses to negotiate?” Sanaki asked when the vast stone bridge finally came into view. Black-armored soldiers were crawling over it. Fortunately scouts had reported that neither Micaiah nor the Black Knight were in command here.

“Either they believe the Senate’s lies,” Sigrun replied solemnly, “or the senators are pulling strings behind the scenes.”

“Well, whatever the reason, we can’t attack Begnion without taking care of this first,” Ike declared, gesturing at the fortifications awaiting them.

“I will not give up,” Sanaki said firmly. “We won’t stop sending messengers until they respond. But Ike, I leave this to your expertise.” She opened her palm, gesturing to the bridge.

Ike nodded and turned to Skrimir. “I want to keep our numbers small. We shouldn’t provoke them any further. Plus, well, it’s a bridge. We can only bring so many troops to bear.”

“I understand,” Skrimir replied, although he sounded disappointed. “Gallia will stay behind.”

“You’ll have your turn soon, Skrimir, I promise.” Ike clapped him on the arm.

“What of my hawks?” Tibarn asked.

“You can fight if you want, but keep most of your troops back. There’re a lot of archers and ballistae down there,” Ike explained, and Soren agreed with his assessment. The Phoenicians were too precious to lose, and they only had two thousand of them. “Sigrun, Tanith—” Ike turned to them “—the same goes for you.”

“I will join you,” Sigrun replied adamantly. “But by your leave, I would have the majority of the Holy Guard remain with the Apostle.”

Ike nodded.

“I will fight as well,” Tanith added, and when Ike nodded in thanks, a small smile on his lips, Soren wished she didn’t look so much like Roark.

“Alright, let’s go!”

  

This battle would be undeniably similar to their siege of Riven Bridge, but Soren hoped it would be a little easier. Once again, Daein had had time to wheel ballistae into place, dig out stones as traps, and stack sandbags to form protective shelters. Oribes matched Riven in width, length, and age, but whereas Riven has been easier to take from the east, Oribes was easier to take from the west. This meant Ike and the Apostle’s Army still had an advantage.

While Begnion and Crimean archers provided support from platforms cut into the higher cliffs, Sigrun led a small vanguard of pegasus knights to make the first strike from the air. Haar and Jill joined her, but Tibarn and his entourage were still back at camp with the laguz half of the army. (Apparently Reyson had come down with a sudden illness, and he and Tibarn had been arguing this morning about why that was all the more reason for him to stay in Crimea.) Even without Tibarn’s help, however, the aerial units were a force to be reckoned with, and they displayed exceptional agility by drawing (and avoiding) Daein’s fire. This was essential, because Daein had packed the bridge and cliffs with archers and ballistae to combat the Apostle Army’s many airborne troops.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the Greil Mercenaries led a second strike just a minute after Sigrun. Following closely behind them was Kieran, who was leading a regiment of Crimean cavalry and Begnion infantry. Their job was to push forward the second the mercenaries lost momentum.

The first obstacle was the three catapults at this end of the bridge, but with Sigrun’s air support, the mercenaries easily destroyed them. Soren helped by consuming one with an Elfire spell, but he didn’t even stop running when he cast it. He was charging at the front of the offensive wedge, right beside him Ike, and that was where he wanted to stay.

They were nearly to the first barricade when five black helmets popped up behind it. Although only their heads and shoulders appeared, the weapons they carried were levelled over the top of the sandbags, and by the time Soren realized what they were, it was too late.

These Daein archers were wielding crossbows, and five stout arrows suddenly shot out, stopping Soren, Ike, Titania, Boyd, and Mia in their tracks. Soren fell back, hitting the ground hard with his tailbone, elbows, and inevitably, the back of his head. But even worse than the dizziness and pain was the sensation that part of his body had left him and was still sailing away. The bolt had struck the right side of his abdomen and passed straight through.

Clamping his hands over the front of the wound, Soren didn’t think he could get up—but neither could he stay here. Turned his head to the side, he saw Titania’s stallion screaming and writhing while blood pumped out of a hole in its neck. Titania’s leg was caught in the saddle, already broken and being crushed further with every thump of the horse’s heavy body. Through tears and cries of pain, she tried to disentangle herself and quiet the beast.

Rolling to avoid the horse’s flailing legs, Soren turned his neck in the other direction. Ike was pulling himself onto one knee. The arrow had gone through his leather armor and chain mail, and it was now embedded in his left shoulder, which appeared dislocated judging by the awkward way his arm hung. “Don’t let them reload!” he bellowed.

The Daein archers had ducked down again, and Soren had no doubt they were doing exactly what Ike had said. But the wedge’s second line had been spared the first volley thanks to Soren, Ike, and the others making such good human shields. Gatrie and Brom raced forward, raising their large, steel pavises. Ranulf (one of the few laguz joining them in this fight) ran between them and then launched himself over the barricade, knocking down the top row of sandbags with his hindlegs. Tanith dove down to help as well, and although Soren heard the twang of the crossbows and saw bolts fly into the air, Tanith remained airborne. Ranulf yelped pitifully, however, and Soren wondered at what cost they’d eliminated only five archers.

To make matters worse, Gatrie and Brom carelessly split up to go around the barricade, and each fell into a hole at the same time. Their heavy armor weighed them down, and the Daein soldiers on the other side gave them no reprieve. It was all they could to do keep their shields up as they tried to yank out their legs. Until someone managed to thin Daein’s ranks and help pull them out, the army could make no further progress. Thinking thunder magic might do the trick, Soren reached for his tome where he’d dropped it, but the slightest movement send spasms of pain through his body. He was growing weaker by the second. He needed a healer.

Tanith pulled Ranulf’s body (now bipedal and possibly unconscious) onto her saddle and got out of harm’s way before a contingent of more-traditional Daein archers moved in on her position. Meanwhile Heather cut Titania’s saddle and pulled her away from the dying creature. Kieran hopped off his horse to seize Ike around the chest—dragging him back when it seemed he wanted to keep charging forward. Oscar was doing the same with Boyd. Nephenee had an arm around Mia, who was limping weakly. And a moment later, Danved was plunging one arm under Soren’s legs and the other behind his neck. “There ya go, kiddo,” he was saying, “I’ve got ya.”

Soren would have rather crawled away from the battle than be carried by this buffoon, but at this point, he was incapable of even that. So he remained curled up, held a hand to his stomach, and tried not to bleed onto his tome (which at least, he didn’t forget this time). When the injured mercenaries were safely back on solid ground (which wasn’t far), Mist, Rhys, and a Crimean cleric took custody of them so the rest could return to the frontlines. But without Ike, Soren wasn’t confident they were going to make much progress.

His head felt light, and his thoughts were slowing. If he wasn’t careful, he would lose consciousness and be useless for the rest of the battle. Trying not to move, he waited for Rhys or Mist to treat him (hoping to avoid the hands of another unfamiliar healer).

“Crossbows?” Mist exclaimed when Ike told her what had happened. “Daein’s weaponsmiths must have been busy.”

“We have to…be careful going forward…especially our…flyers,” Soren added quietly, although it seemed even speaking caused blood to leave him faster. “I suggest…a different strategy… Pull Sigrun back…to play only a supportive role.”

“Well I don’t like the sound of that,” came Tibarn’s voice, and a moment later the man landed in front of them. “I just got here and you’re trying to hold me back?”

“Tibarn!” Ike greeted him right before Mist jerked his arm back into its socket. “Argh!”

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Tibarn laughed. “There was a little thing back at camp I had to deal with.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder with a grumpy frown.

Just then, Soren felt a warming sensation on his back. Rhys gripped his shoulder and leaned him forward slightly so he could see what he was doing. Soren cooperated, even though it hurt to move.

“No problem, Tibarn.” Ike shook his head while Mist finished closing up the hole in his shoulder. “What kind of thing? Is Reyson-”

“He was exhausted but insisted on coming with me.” Tibarn raised his palms and his shoulders. “I tried tying him to a cot to keep him down, but that just excited him more.”

“Really?” Ike asked in confusion (clearly not understanding the sarcasm nor inuendo).

“Nah, I’m just kidding,” Tibarn laughed. “He passed out earlier, so I have a different anchor slowing me down this time.” He gestured to the side, and a moment later, Leanne’s feet alighted on the ground. Janaff and Ulki landed on either side of her.

“Leanne?” Ike asked in disbelief.

“I…um, I will…fight. Yes?” Leanne managed to say, her voice heavily accented with the ancient language. Oddly enough, it reminded Soren of his own struggle with speaking the common tongue as a child. His thoughts trailed to the past, growing increasingly distant until a sudden surge of blood and stabbing pain reminded him of the wound Rhys was trying to heal.

“Sorry,” Rhys hissed. “Sorry, it’s a bad one.” The pain instantly disappeared, and Rhys now had him lean in the other direction so he could see the front.

Turning his attention back to the conversation, Soren heard Ike telling them: “Tibarn, Leanne, we’re honored to have you here. Now move out to the front, and spread the word that all winged units should be on the lookout for crossbowmen. That includes you.”

Tibarn laughed. “I’ll see what I can do!”

“I’ll be right behind you,” Ike promised, and the four laguz returned to the sky. “Almost done?” Ike asked, turning his head to his sister.

“Nearly there; be patient,” Mist replied tartly, but a moment later, she finished and patted him on the head. “Go on then.” Flashing a grin, he ran off without another word. Mist moved onto Ranulf, who’d regained consciousness but still looked woozy. He had a welt growing on the top of his head and two cross bow bolts sticking out of the side of his buttocks and thigh.

When Rhys was finished healing him, he gave Soren a flask of water and asked if he could stand. Soren was glad to find he still had the energy to do so, and by the time he reached the bottom of the flask, his head was a little clearer. His guts felt like they’d just been mashed up and rearranged, and he was fairly certain he would have to throw up quite a bit of blood later. But he knew Rhys had saved his life again and that the discomfort would fade in time. He also knew that this battle had hardly begun; he had to get back to Ike’s side as soon as possible. With this thought in mind, Soren put one foot in front of the other and made his way back onto the bridge, intent on rejoining the frontlines.

  

The commander of the bridge forces was no General Petrine, and even though he tried the same tricks, they were not as effective. The fortifications were not as expertly built or spaced, and even the soldiers who’d been given Shine Barrier scrolls seemed to forget to use them or used them in the wrong places. Some soldiers even fell into their own traps. The addition of crossbowmen to the Daein ranks and the improved accuracy of their arrow- and spear-throwing ballistae seemed to be the only improvements to their defense.

If this were all Daein could muster, the Apostle’s Army should have blown through it within an hour. But these soldiers also proved to be incredibly tough. They were loud, they were aggressive, and they were coordinated. They watched each other’s backs, communicated readily, and rescued their comrades. The healers among them were obviously revered and well-protected, and Soren wondered if this was a result of the fact that their general, Micaiah, was also a stave magic user. Whatever the case, it meant that if Soren didn’t kill his opponent with his first or second hit, then he was sure to see them again, right as rain, in ten minutes. This was incredibly aggravating, and the battle drew on and on, with each army pushing the other back and forth as if playing a massive game of tug-of-war across the chasm separating Crimea and Daein.

Ultimately, the battle became one of attrition, and the Apostle’s Army had higher numbers, even without the laguz. The Daein battalion (and their healers) grew exhausted, and the commander eventually called for the majority to retreat. He and a small force stayed behind to defend those who retreated, but rather than give into despair or fear as they were overwhelmed by the Apostle’s Army, these soldiers fought with determination. They summoned surprising strength and took inspiration from their commander, who called out to tell them the Maiden of Dawn would be proud of their sacrifice.

But now the commander turned his voice on the advancing army: “Followers of the false apostle!” he roared. “Bow down to the miracle of our savior! As long as the Maiden of Dawn watches over us, we cannot be defeated!” This man, who was built like a mountain, carried an arbalest: a huge crossbow that most people would never have been able to wield, let alone load on their own. But he did so easily and quickly. Now that the Apostle’s Army was within his range, he was firing as rapidly as he could.

A single shot could be instantly fatal, and Soren knew he would have to be smart and fast not to get hit. Keeping an eye on the man’s gaze, Soren realized he picked his next target whenever he stopped to reload. Therefore, Soren made sure to duck for cover or hide behind some large soldier whenever he reloaded and only proceeded forward when the man was firing. This was the opposite of what almost everyone else was doing, which was rushing forward when the man was forced to lower the arbalest to the ground, slide in another bolt, and heave the lever until the string snapped into place.

Using the gaps in the man’s attention and counting on his small size to make him seem like less of a threat, Soren raced to get closer. He needed to end this in one strike, and for that, his spell needed to be close-ranged and exact. The rest of the Daeins surrounding the commander tried to stop him, but Soren ducked under axes, slid around swords, and sidestepped spear thrusts. He only had eyes for the commander; and now, the commander only had eyes for Tibarn.

The great eagle was darting left and right, dropping down, and swerving in and out of range via loop-de-loops, and the Daein commander was falling for the bait, trying to knock Tibarn out of the sky. Soren was so close to the tall man that when he slid to a halt, he actually passed him. Standing firmly in place, he unleashed the Thoron spell he’d been chanting for the past several yards: “-*my enemy*!”

An orb of blinding, spinning electricity materialized above the man, and from it a double helix of spiraling lightning struck down. The twin bolts combined, alighting on the tip of the arbalest, coursing down the metal prod, channeling into his arm, and thrumming into his body where it intensified, burning him from the inside out. Then the orb itself fell, compacting the helix with explosive force. The commander’s body hit the ground, and tendrils of lightning leapt out in every direction, scorching the earth and shocking anyone who was standing too close—everyone except Soren.

Thoron was the most powerful thunder spell in Soren’s repertoire, and he hadn’t even tried to use since the end of the Mad King’s War. But he was relieved to see it was successful now. The commander’s tongue and lips were charred, his eyes had exploded, and blood was oozing out of his ears. His skin and clothes were smoking, and the tips of his fingers had been blown off. “My death means nothing…” His blackened tongue clicked against his white teeth while he stared unseeing at the sky. “The Maiden of Dawn…will bring victory…to Daein,” he said with his last breath, although he looked already dead and his brain should only have been spasming with latent electricity at this point. This man shouldn’t have been able to speak at all, and the intensity of his devotion unnerved Soren. What kind of general can inspire her soldiers to such feats at the mere thought of her? he wondered, but he couldn’t dwell on the matter now.

As soon as their astonishment wore off, the surviving soldiers lunged to kill him. But by now, Tibarn, Ranulf, and Ike had reached him too. The rest of the army was right behind them, and Soren merely had to run and dodge long enough to survive until they arrived.

After that, the battle was won, and Soren found a place to sit down for a moment. He was thoroughly exhausted, and the lightheadedness from his initial injury had never truly left him. He had been relying on instinct and nerve in this battle, and now that his adrenaline faded, he was almost amazed that he was still alive. Although he dimly remembered vomiting up blood and water twice already this battle, he turned to the side and tried to discreetly evacuate the rest of the buildup from his abdominal wound. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he hoped that was the last of it.

His legs felt weak, but tried to minimize the shaking when he got to his feet. Although he wished he could slip into unconsciousness, he knew there was still more to do. He trudged over to where Ike, Sigrun, and Tanith were assessing the remnants of the Daein camp.

“The Daein Army is much stronger than it was five years ago,” Ike was saying, glancing around at the fallen bodies.

“Yes, by far,” Sigrun agreed (although she’d never actually faced Daein during the Mad King’s War). “Even after the situation turned against them, every soldier fought with valor. Quite impressive.”

“They kept muttering about the power of their general, this ‘Maiden of Dawn’,” Tanith noted distastefully. “The soldiers seemed obsessed with her.”

“Of course they were,” Soren cut in, “She’s their prophet.”

Sigrun and Tanith seemed confused and offended, but Ike was nodding as if he’d been thinking the same thing. “This might sound strange,” he said, “but they must believe in her as much as you Holy Guards believe in the apostle.”

“Hmph.” Tanith crossed her arms. “I understand. They are formidable and deluded, then. I shall use caution.”

Soren was starting to think the situation was worse than that. He wondered if the senate wished to turn this civil war into a holy war. Doing so could detract support from Sanaki and involve Daein and Crimea, whose citizens should technically still worship Sanaki was the head of the church and voice of the goddess.

The senate was already accusing Sanaki of being a ‘false apostle’. This implied they hoped to discover and promote someone as their true apostle. Soren had assumed it would be one of the senators, perhaps the ringleader, Duke Lekain. But if a prophet of Ashera was already rising in Daein with such fervor, the senate may use Micaiah as a puppet apostle instead. This could even explain why Daein allied itself with Begnion in the first place. But if Micaiah was as clever as everyone claimed, could she truly be bought so easily with a false promise of power?

Since Soren’s mind was filled only with speculation and unanswered questions, he decided not to share any of these thoughts with Ike, Sigrun, Tanith, or the others. He turned his fading attention back to what Ike was saying:

“Let’s get the rest of the army across, and say goodbye to Queen Elincia,” he announced, “We can make a temporary camp here and rest up a bit. Then we’re moving out. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover before Begnion, and we can’t count on Daein leaving us alone for long.”

Soren agreed, although he’d had a hard time listening to anything after the words ‘rest up’. Right now, his body and mind yearned for unconsciousness more than anything else.