Chapter 14: Hamill Canyon



    Today, we were descending through a dry canyon as we ascended previously through a wet one. Saleh led us swiftly and surely down the way, choosing always the smoothest paths for the horses. Below us was a green haze, and beyond that was a blinding golden plain: the desert of Jehanna. Innes, with his archer's eyes, could pick out the palace, no more than a distant speck.

    Soon, we passed higher cliffs and could not see our destination any more. We took two days on that downwards road, seeing no other moving things than birds and gophers and the occasional squirrel.

    As we found ourselves in a broad valley with worn brown mountains on either side of us, here called Hamill Canyon, Tana pointed at something small, white, and fast behind us.

    "Look!" she said. "There's Julia again!" A Frelian messenger on a pegasus dropped out of the air skilfully beside us.

    "What is your news?" Innes asked, interrupting the rider's raptures at finding her prince and princess alive and well.

    "Frelia has invaded Carcino and engaged the traitor Pablo's mercenary army. With aid from Elder Klimt, we are crushing the foe where we find them. Pablo's faction is retreating southward, toward Jehanna," the girl said in one long breath. Tana giggled. Innes frowned at her as he considered his reply.

    "Towards Jehanna? They must be planning to join the Grado forces there."

    "Pardon me," I broke in, "but I must know... is there any word of my brother?"

    "Yes. Prince Ephraim has forced the surrender of Grado's fortress at Rigwald. He is now marching toward the imperial capital."

    I thanked her and withdrew a few paces.

    "That fool..." Innes remarked to me. "Emperor Vigarde himself and his imperial guard are in the capital. It's too strong a force, even for Ephraim."

    "No, I have faith in my brother," I replied. "He can do anything. I know he fights still."

    "I think part of what you're saying is we're all stubborn fools, so why should Ephraim be different and give up? Still... Duessel - Ephraim never managed to best his teacher, did he? And Selena, and Caellach, and this Riev I've heard of, and that Glen we met a few days ago, and Valter... so many, and Ephraim's only one, brilliant though he may be." I looked in surprise at Innes, who was far more generous than usual. I said nothing, and Innes sent the messenger back to Frelia, beginning the organization of our next march.

    L'Arachel walked gracefully over to me. "Is it time to go already, Eirika?"

    "We're going to break through the Grado lines Tana and Julia say are just around the bend, and then we'll join the army of Jehanna. You should keep behind us, where it's safe..."

    "No, I will stay with you. Confronting evil boldy is the sworn duty of any ally of justice," said she, combining theatrical words with a plain, stated delivery, "and I cannot allow the Sacred Stone of Jehanna to fall into danger," added the troubadour, petting her mare.

    I drew in my breath sharply. "How... how do you know of the threat to the Sacred Stones?" I gasped.

    "Hm? Oh! Oh..." L'Arachel cast around for a suitable answer. "That... uh, well... the... wind whispered to me in the night."

    "The wind?" I asked blankly.

    In that short time, L'Arachel completely recovered her aplomb. "Yes. And, according to that gentle breeze, there are Knights of Rausten heading to meet us at this very moment. Come, Eirika, let us be on our way," and she mounted and rode away to where Innes, Seth, Tana, and Saleh were conferring.

    "L'Arachel?" I asked cautiously of no one. "Who are you?"

    I walked over to my crimson-haired paladin, who was now looking far ahead. "There," Seth said suddenly, pointing. I looked hard in the direction he gave, and saw a distant sparkle of sun on metal. "Soldiers. I think we have been anticipated."

    "And Pablo, fleeing, will fall upon us from the rear," mused Innes.

    "Princess Eirika, the enemy is arrayed before us," Seth bowed. "What are our orders?" His gaze flickered back and forth from me to Innes.

    "All we have to do is hold out until the Knights of Rausten arrive," L'Arachel said for the second time. "Well, Eirika, shall we meet the enemy?"

    "Indeed!" I responded, smiling.

    Barely half an hour later, the enemy had almost all fallen ahead of us, only a few more caveliers and a great knight stood between us and the Jehanna desert. Innes and Tana were bickering to the south, Innes commandeering a ballista he had found. Tana was spotting for him. Saleh and Ewan stood to the north. Behind us, to the west and a bit north, Franz and Amelia, now confidently riding her own firey stallion, guarded our backs. Artur was to my left and Seth was to my right. The others, including Danny, clustered in the centre.

    Abruptly, from behind us to the southwest, I heard a bellow.

    "You! You're Eirika, aren't you?"

    I turned to confront the youth on his dark grey-blue wyvern. The man had bleached yellow hair and brown eyes, with blue armour, and seemed furious at something. "Yes, I am. And you are..."

    "You don't know me, but you know my brother well enough," said the rider grimly. "I'm Cormag, brother to Glen, Wyvern General of the Grado army, whom you killed."

    "What!?" I gasped.

    "This is no longer war, and this is not a battlefield. This is a duel, and I fight to avenge my brother." His voice cracked with barely controlled anger. Seth moved up beside me, frowning at the man.

    "Wait! Glen... Do you mean to say that General Glen is dead?" I exclaimed.

    "Do not play me for a fool!" cried the blonde man desperately. "You will not..." he faltered. "I will have vengeance..."

    "You're making a mistake!" I cried. "Your brother and I never fought. He lowered his lance and left us to confront your emperor."

    "My brother? Truly? ... You lie! Where is your proof?"

    "I've no proof. But... He said to me... He told me that he believed I possessed a gentle heart when we met before, some years ago..."

    Cormag stared at me. Different emotions flickered through his eyes. "Yes... those are indeed my brother's words..." Grief spilled across his face, to be replaced by suspicion. "But then, who would profit by - Ah!"

    "What is it, Sir Cormag?"

    He shrugged that off. "Just Cormag... I'm a deserter, no rank... Princess Eirika, I would travel with you. I don't care why you're fighting, but I will find and slay the scum who killed my brother. If I can kill Valter with these two hands, I will be content." He mounted his wyvern, and with a "let's fly, Genarog," to his wyvern, he swooped off to join Tana.

    Another shout distracted me. Pablo and his army had come around a bend in the road from Carcino, and Franz and Amelia were looking apprehensive. We rushed to their aid, leaving the Gradonians to wait for our return.

    Innes soon came face to face with Pablo while the rest of us took care of his axe-wielding mercenaries. "You again!" he snapped.

    "Heh... I've got more gold than you've ever dreamed of," Pablo snarled.

    "Want to bet?" Innes drawled.

    "Join me and be rich!"

    Innes laughed in his face.

    Pablo rolled up the sleeves of his robes and cast Shine on Innes, who ducked neatly and nocked an arrow to his Silver bow. It hit Pablo in the shoulder, and the prince frowned. The merchant Sage switched books and cast Elfire on... the bush beside Innes. I stared. I never knew he could move so fast. I knew Tana could duck like lightening, but...

    Innes' next shot distracted me. It hit Pablo in the stomach, and he began to grate fiercely about this: "You'll never get my gold! It's mine... all... mine..." He coughed and flopped on his back.

    "I don't want your gold," Innes remarked smugly, walking away with a proud straight back.

    Just then, paladins a-plenty rode over a hill to the north-east. L'Arachel rode to meet them, heedless of the few caveliers that stood between her and them. The newcomers fell upon the remnants with vigour. Only the Great Knight managed to ride away with his life, and Colm took something from him first.

    "The Knights of Rausten!" I cried as I saw them.

    "What I'd like to know is what took them so long!" L'Arachel commented cheerfully by my side. The chief knight rode up to us and saluted.

    "Princess, we are delighted to see you safe again. Second Battalion of Rausten, reporting for duty." I blinked and looked at L'Arachel. The knight had not been speaking to me.

    "Well done, Commander," she replied. "You may lift your eyes."

    "L'Arachel?" I asked.

    Dozla, nearby, spoke up. "It seems your disguise has been penetrated, m'lady."

    "Oh, what a shame. Ah well, now you know, Eirika: the beauteous wanderer who's been your boon companion is none other than the... What's that?"

    "I beg your pardon, Princess, but one of my men bears tactical news. To whom should he impart this information?"

    "Oh, give it to the Silver Knight over there. As I was saying, she is none other than the jewel of the Theocracy of Rausten, Princess L'Arachel herself!"

    "I'm pleased to finally know who you are, but what are you doing here?"

    "I am working on a divine mission..."

    "The truth of that matter is, Princess Eirika, is that the Princess was enflamed by the tales of the court bard, Saaga," said the Commander of Rausten with a smile. "She forced us to let her journey anonymously through the land on a quest for justice. Oh, and this is from Pontifax Mansel." He passed L'Arachel a small, heavy bag.

    "What's this?" said L'Arachel, weighing it in her hand. "War funds? Oh, what a grand, thoughtful uncle!"

    Seth walked over to us, leading Altha, his face grave. "Princess Eirika, Princess L'Arachel, Princess Tana, Prince Innes," he recited, "I have had grave news. Jehanna Palace is under attack and has surrendered to the Grado Army." The redheaded swordfighter, Joshua, whom we met in Serafew - it took me a minute to remember - leapt up from where he had been sitting, but said nothing.

    Seth continued. "They say the army is led by Crown Prince Lyon."

    "Lyon!?"

    "Is something wrong?" L'Arachel asked with concern.

    "No, nothing..." I thought about Lyon. He must be at the least, very uncomfortable. He hated hurting things. He was so gentle, such low self-confidence...

    "And the Queen?" asked Innes.

    Seth shook his head. "There is no other word."

    "We must hurry!" exclaimed Tana.

    "I second that," said L'Arachel. We set off with all the speed we could make.


Chapter 13: Village of Silence    Contents    Chapter 15: Queen of White Dunes