Chapter 9: A New Journey



    At Castle Frelia, Tana was waiting and ready. "I'm so glad to see you both safe - it's like a dream come true! My own brother is returning from the field soon..."

    "You talk too much, Tana," Innes's voice came from behind us. Tana squealed and ran to hug him, but the grey-haired, grey eyed Prince of Frelia evaded her.

    "I'm so happy to see you home well, too!" Tana chirped. Innes straightened his light blue silk tunic and adjusted his shoulder quiver sling.

    "What, you think those Grado slugs could touch me? With my bow, I'll clean out every last one from here to the capital itself. Welcome, Ephraim, Eirika."

    "Well met, Innes," returned my brother.

    "I heard Renais has fallen," Innes said Ephraim. "I told you this would happen. Grado attacked because you showed them weakness."

    "Innes!" Tana scolded him. "You know they've lost their father. How can you speak that way to them?"

    "My apologies." Innes strode away. He turned back long enough to say: "Hear me, Ephraim. Our greatest goal is to defeat Grado." My brother nodded.

    "I'm so sorry," Tana said to us.

    "Never mind," Ephraim assured her. "Innes has hated me from time immemorial. It's nice to see that he, at least, hasn't changed."

    "You know it's because of his rivalry with you," said the blue haired pegasus princess. "He wants to be the best warrior, the best general, the best king, the best man..."

    "I hope he doesn't take it into his head to be the best woman," I whispered privately to Tana. She giggled hysterically.

    "I still think that our favourite weapons, lance and bow, are different enough that he doesn't have to do that," Ephraim argued.

    Tana kept laughing. "Yes, but we've all heard of your exploits against Grado. I think he's a bit jealous."

    "You talk too much, Tana," his baritone called to us. Innes returned around the corner. "My father would like you to attend a war council now. Would you like to join us?"

    "We'd be honoured," I said.


    King Hayden was smiling. I was glad to see him again. We - Tana, Innes, Seth, the girl Myrrh, my brother, and I - all bowed. "It does my heart good to see you all safely assembled here."

    "Father, if I may give my report first?" Innes asked, sitting and leaning against the polished table. "I have taken the army south to deal with the Grado forces directly. We have driven them back, and in many places they are fleeing."

    "Well done, my son. However, this still leaves us with the riddle. Why does Grado attack?"

    "I cannot answer that question, but I think I have something that will help us," Ephraim said suddenly, making me jump beside him. "Myrrh, would you tell us your story?"

    Myrrh came away from the wall, and suddenly, we all saw that she had leathery wings, shocking everyone but my brother. Apparently, she thought better of it and murmured: "Um... Ephraim, you tell them." She shrank back again.

    "Very well. Myrrh lives in Darkling Woods. She is one of the Dragonkin, of the tribe of Manakete."

    "The legend of the Sacred Stones mentions them several times," King Hayden assented

    "One day, they felt a dark power flowing from the south. From Grado..."

    Myrrh came and leaned against my brother. "Saleh and I... we went to investigate. But we became embroiled in a battle, and we were separated... I wandered... Some bandits found me and took away my dragonstone. I was helpless. Then Ephraim saved me."

    "Her story sounded incredible, but seeing her wings, what could I do but believe?" Ephraim gestured with his hands. "I think Myrrh can help us more than we know at this time."

    "We do know that Grado seems to be trying to destroy the Sacred Stones," I announced quietly. "They have attacked my brother and myself several times, trying to obtain the key to Renais's Stone."

    "Why would they be doing that?" Innes asked curiously.

    "The stories say that the Stones are all that protect us from evil!" Tana cried. "Just because it's a story doesn't mean it's not true!" she hissed to Innes.

    "The Stone of Frelia is well defended," said King Hayden reassured us all.

    Before anyone could say anything else, someone banged on the door. The king gestured to Seth, who opened it. "Yes? What is so important that you must interrupt a private council?" Hayden demanded.

    "The Sacred Stone... It's been destroyed!" gasped the soldier. "Caellach Tiger Eye and Selena Fluorspar attacked the Tower of Valni. We were wiped out."

    "The Sacred Stone... How could this happen... How could I have done this?" The king let his head fall into his hands. "We are in dark times once again." The soldier bowed deeply and left.

    "Father..." began Innes gently. "Selena Fluorspar... One of the Imperial Three... They're really serious about this."

    "But even so, we cannot sit here in grief. We must warn the remaining nations that house the Sacred Stones," rumbled the king, raising his head and his voice until it resonated through the chamber. "If Vigarde seeks to destroy the Stones, they too are in grave danger. We must contact Jehanna and Rausten. We must unite against our common foe."

    "It's rather unbelievable, Father," Tana chipped in.

    Innes raised his head higher. "I will go."

    "Innes?"

    "I will go to Jehanna," he insisted. "A visit from the Prince of Frelia is not something they can easily ignore. I will forge an alliance with the queen. You must stay here and guide the country, Father. I cannot let you leave in such a time of crisis. I must be the one to go."

    "And I will go to Rausten," I seconded him.

    "What? Eirika, you know I can't let you go into such danger!" Ephraim exclaimed.

    I took his hand. "Rest easy, dear brother. I will go by ship across the North Sea. There will be no danger."

    He looked down "...I understand. ...I will head southwest."

    "What?" asked everyone excepting Seth and Myrrh.

    The king elaborated. "Attack Grado? From here?"

    Ephraim nodded. "We must stop Grado. If we can take her capital, the war will be over." He grinned a little. "And you've already divided up the countries to warn between you, so what's left for me?"

    "You could go with me, Brother," I volunteered, giving his hand a squeeze. He returned it and shook his head slightly.

    "And once you reach the capital," said King Hayden, "Vigarde's generals will be waiting for you."

    "If they oppose us, we will fight," cried my brother determinedly.

    King Hayden smiled faintly. "You have your father's foolhardy courage, don't you? If you are determined to go, Ephraim... I will place you in charge of the army." Innes glared at my brother, who ignored him. "Very well. I entrust all of our hope to you three. If any of you fall, Grado will gain the upper hand."

    "Where I command, there are no mistakes," affirmed Innes.

    "I will not fail, I know it!" I exclaimed. "And I have made a vow: to fight as my brother does until our land is free. Until the continent is at peace."

    "I too will not fail," stated Ephraim.

    "So be it," said King Hayden.


    Outside the council chamber, I met Ephraim. "Farewell, Brother," I said to him.

    "To be perfectly honest, I still do not want you to go," he told my quietly, taking my hands. "I would much rather you wait here for me."

     I smiled reassuringly. "There will be no danger. Mine is the easiest task. I'm far more worried about you. Attacking Grado directly?" I asked disbelievingly. "I am afraid for you, Ephraim."

    "What's this now? Have you lost your faith in me?" he demanded.

    My smile grew. "No, of course not. I know your true strength, Ephraim. No one can defeat you," I avowed.

    Ephraim laughed, smiling down on me, although I was only a few centimetres shorter than he was. "Hearing you say that fills me with confidence. I think I know my own limitations. I won't overextend myself. I can't die and leave you all on your own, can I? Let us both survive to be reunited. Give me your word, Eirika." He extended his hand.

    I shook it firmly. "You have it, Brother."


    A few minutes after I left Ephraim, Kyle and Forde came up to me in a hurry. "Princess Eirika!" panted Kyle.

    "Is your departure time near?" seconded Forde.

    I turned to look at them. "Yes. I'm travelling to Rausten."

    "We haven't forgotten," Forde said cheerfully.

    "I ask that you serve my brother well," I said, smiling at his little joke.

    "Actually, there's been a slight change in plans," Forde told me sheepishly.

    "We're going with you, Your Highness," Kyle explained.

    "What?" I stammered. "But..."

    "Prince Ephraim rides with Frelia's finest at his back."

    "And this was a personal order from the prince himself. He said, 'I don't need you loafing around here. Go keep Eirika safe.' Since when is battling all of Grado loafing about? Honestly!" Forde complained.

    "You're right!" I cried. "My brother's mission is far more dangerous than mine. I will go and speak with him..." Again, I added silently.

    "Princess Eirika," Kyle interrupted me. "Prince Ephraim says he's not concerned for his own safety. These are the words our prince gave us, and we believe he means them."

    "That's the truth of it. There's no cause for worry, Princess Eirika. We can all attest to the prince's tenacity," Forde said, grinning reminiscently. "No matter how close death comes, it won't catch him, that's for sure."

    "Kyle, Forde..." I began. "I understand. Thank you for your service and your bravery. You are my brother's most trusted and valiant companions. I would be honoured to have you ride at my side."

    "The honour is ours," said Kyle, bowing. "We ride for Renais and Princess Eirika!"

    "Let's not work ourselves into a tizzy right now," Forde grinned aimiably at his friend. He followed suit with the bow. "When the time comes, we'll be there to handle things."

    "I'm depending on you," I told them, smiling. Then I went to make a fair trade with my brother - I sent him some of my party.


Chapter 8: It's a Trap!    Contents    Chapter 10: Distant Blade