Chapter 1: A Family's Call



The next morning, Lyn and Ceniro talked over their position.

“Yesterday taught me a lesson,” Lyn was saying over breakfast, toast and milk. “I need to be stronger. So strong that no one can defeat me. And I won’t get there by sitting here for the rest of my life. I’d like to travel with you.”

Ceniro sat up straight in astonishment. “What?! I’m just a guy… I’m just a wanderer with a – a knack for showing people how to win battles...”

“Which will come in handy while we’re travelling.”

“I think you should get permission from your parents, you know, to go off with some stranger…”

Lyn bowed her head. “My parents died six months ago. Taliver bandits came off the mountain to the south and slaughtered almost everyone.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Ceniro said softly, appalled at what he had carelessly said.

“That’s all right,” said Lyn, blinking away tears. “There’s nothing really in Sacae to hold me here now. I think we should start by going to Bulgar.”

"Yes, we can go together. Incidentally, I need to become stronger too. Can't be a tactician if the sight of a corpse makes me sick, right?" Lyn gave him a small smile.



“This,” said Lyn two days later, “Is Bulgar, the largest city in Sacae.” The two picked their way through the crowds to the centre of town. Amidst the bustle and noise, Ceniro heard a loud gasp and turned his head, wondering.

“Oh, my heart,” exclaimed a light tenor voice, “what a dazzling vision of loveliness!” A knight in green armour leading a brown horse walked directly up to Lyn and blocked her path. He had a lot of brown hair, held back from his eyes by a black headband. His warm grey eyes spared a glance for Ceniro, who looked confused, and turned back to Lyn.

“Wait, oh beauteous one!” said the knight earnestly. “Would you not favour me with your name?” He raised an eyebrow quirkily. “Or, better yet, your company?” Lyn gave the fellow a hard look.

“Who are you, and where are you from, and who taught you to spout such gibberish, sir knight?”

“Ha!” exclaimed the knight in a delighted voice. “I thought you’d never ask. I hail from Caelin of Lycia, home to men of passion and fire!” With alarm, Ceniro noted that another knight nearby was looking in their direction.

Lyn snorted. “Shouldn’t that be ‘home to idiots with big mouths'?”

The green knight flinched and smiled ruefully. “Oooh, you’re even beautiful when you’re cruel.” The other knight was coming their way, leading his horse.

Lyn whirled around. “Let’s go, Ceniro. I’ve nothing more to say.”

“Wait, please!...” began the odd man. The other knight quickened his pace until he was close enough they could see his annoyance, even while Lyn was trying to drag her reluctant tactician friend away bodily by the arm. The horses were in the way, though, and so she had no choice but to wait with impatience.

“Sain, shut up!” snapped the new knight. Ceniro studied the new arrival. He had orangey-red hair and brown eyes, and red armour. He was slightly taller than the other knight and had a warm tenor.

“Ah, Kent!” exclaimed the green knight, taking no notice. “My boon companion! Why the severe expression?”

“If your manners were better, I wouldn’t have to be so severe!” His voice lowered.” “And don’t forget, we still have a mission to complete!”

“I know, I know. But how could I remain silent in the face of such beauty? It would be rude!”

“What do you know of courtesy?” Kent’s voice became cutting, and Sain drooped. The red knight relented and relaxed his expression.

“Excuse me!” said Lyn loudly. “You’re blocking the road. If you would…”

“Oh, of course,” said the red knight. “My apologies.” He guided his horse backwards out of the way.

“Thank you,” said Lyn, smiling. “You, at least, seem honourable and intelligent.”

“I beg your pardon, but… I have the feeling we’ve met before.” Lyn looked blankly at him.

“Hey!” said the green knight. “No fair, Kent, I saw her first!”

“Never mind! I guess there no decent men among Lycia’s knights! Let’s go, Ceniro. I’ve completely run out of patience.” Lyn was growling to herself as she stormed away.

“No, wait! It’s not like that,” cried the red knight. Lyn and Ceniro were gone. He sighed gustily and turned to his friend. “Sain, you moron!”

The other man seemed to be confused. “Not like that? But I thought you were taking my advice finally…”

“I am NOT you!” the quiet knight yelled at the noisy one. “Now we must follow her. I think she might be…”

“Our mission? You’re kidding!” But the green knight mounted up after his friend.



About a kilometre outside of town, Lyn stopped to take a breath.

“Those idiots,” she growled.

“I thought they were nice,” said Ceniro, carefully neutral.

“I… Ceniro, look there! We’re being pursued! It's not more cronies of those knights, is it?”

“No!” cried Ceniro. “These men are out for our blood!” Four bandits surrounded them, despite their efforts to get back to the safety of the town. One big thug came quite close to Lyn, and she drew her sword sharply.

“You’re Lyndis, right? Heh, you’re pretty. Too bad you’ve gotta die!”

Lyn looked around rather desperately. “There are more than I can handle!” Ceniro looked at her, and his heart went out to the defiant, beautiful girl glaring at the bandit, her hand clenched around her sword.

“We’ll die together, anyhow,” said Ceniro, swinging his staff experimentally. "Hang on, I hear something."

The two knights, the red and the green, rode up at a gallop. Sain rubbed his headband to get the sweat off his brow. “Whew, finally caught up. What? Such numbers against a girl?” He glared around, sitting proud and erect in the saddle. “Cowards, every one of you!”

“It appears these bandits mean to do you harm,” Kent said to Lyn. “May we assist you, Milady?”

“This is my fight!” cried Lyn indignantly.

“Well, I can’t just sit here and do nothing…” Sain trailed off.

“Let them fight, Lyn,” said Ceniro. “We do need help.”

Sain brightened. “Excellent! I am Sain, as you gathered. Please, let me impress my beauteous one!”

Ceniro grinned. “All right. Um... If it's all right with you...”

"Sir Ceniro," said Kent calmly, "you seem to be a tactician, correct? But you are not used to actually giving orders..." Ceniro nodded. "You may command us how you please, and we'll explain later."

"All right. Then... Sain, please attack that bandit by the tree." Sain galloped off, brandishing his lance. “Use your sword!” called Ceniro and Kent at the same time. Kent sighed and shook his head, smiling slightly.

“Sain, you’re almost more trouble than you’re worth. Almost,” he murmured. Sain missed. “Well,” he called back, “I… forgot to buy a sword. And a lance is more heroic, don’t you think?”

Kent blinked. “Just take my spare blade and have done with your nonsense! Weren’t you simply flirting with the ladies again? What would the ‘lovely Salir’ think of you?” Sain snorted impatiently. Kent turned back to Ceniro. “Allow me to make up for my companion’s blunder.”

“Certainly,” answered Ceniro. “Lyn, you should go, too. But don’t get trampled!”

“Don’t worry!”

After the bandit fell to Lyn, the two knights headed south for another and Lyn headed north with Ceniro.

“Watch for the trees!” Ceniro warned Sain and Kent, fighting in the deciduous forests that became more common in the south of Sacae.

“Gah,” gasped Sain.

“Sain! Are you all right?” Kent asked anxiously.

“Yes. Yes, I am. I think.” Lyn turned and looked at him. He had taken an axe blade cut with his left arm.

“You’re not! Would you like a vulnerary?”

“Yes, please, my angel!” said Sain, slaying the bandit. He rode over; Lyn handed him the salve.

Kent felled the third bandit, leaving Lyn face to face with the one who had spoken to her. He was grumbling to himself about 'stupid knights, always messing perfectly ordinary business'. However, Lyn was too fast and nimble to be struck by his axe.

As Lyn cleaned her sword and Ceniro was sick again behind a bush, Kent approached her.

"I beg your pardon, milady, but I would tell you our story."

"Certainly; please do."

"We have ventured from Caelin, a territory in Lycia, in search of someone," began Kent. "We came as messengers to the Lady Madelyn, who eloped to this region nineteen years ago. The marquess, the lord of Caelin, was heartbroken that his only daughter would abandon him."

Sain looked up and took up the tale. "Then, a little more than six months ago, now, he received a letter from Lady Madelyn. It said that she, her husband, and their daughter were all living happily on the Sacae Plains. The marquess was ecstatic to learn that he had suddenly become a grandfather, with a granddaughter of eighteen years. Her name is Lyndis. She was named after the marquess' wife."

"Now," continued Kent, "his only wish is to meet his daughter's family at least once. This is why we're here. We only learnt that Lady Madelyn died shortly after sending her letter when we came to Bulgar... But we have succeeded, for we have found the Lady Lyndis. I knew it was you; you look remarkably like your mother." Ceniro, returning, looked startled and awed.

"Did you know my mother?" asked Lyn, struck with amazement.

"I regret to say I never met her-"

"We were both babies when she left," explained Sain with much amusement.

Kent glared at him good-naturedly. "- but I saw her portraits in Castle Caelin." A long silence descended while Lyn digested the information.

"Wait!" she exclaimed suddenly. "That bandit called me Lyndis, too! How did he know who I was?"

"Oh, he was a henchman of Lord Lundgren, wasn't he?" commented Sain with absolute assurance.

"Who is Lord Lundgren?" asked Lyn.

"He is the marquess' younger brother. Everyone assumed that the Lady Madelyn was gone forever, making him heir to the marquess' title." Kent was sounding more serious than usual.

"To be blunt, milady, your existence is a threat to Lord Lundgren."

Lyn looked impatient and irritated. "But, I have no interest in inheriting anything!"

"Unfortunately, you granduncle is not the sort of man to believe that. I think - and Kent, I know, agrees with me - that the attempts on your life will continue."

"What should I do?"

"Allow us to accompany you to Caelin. Wandering around without more escorts is dangerous," Kent suggested. "Besides, the marquess would wish us to protect you."

"I feel I have little choice... All right, I'll come with you and see my new grandfather," Lyn decided. She turned to the one person who, so far, had not said a word. "How about you, Ceniro? You haven't said anything. What will you do?"

Ceniro smiled. "I don't need to say anything. I'm usually quiet when everyone else needs to decide important stuff... I will stay with you, of course. Why shouldn't I? You are simply choosing your next destination. I'll be happy to return to Lycia with you."

"Good words, Ceniro!" cried Lyn in high spirits. "Let's get going!"


Prologue: A Girl from the Plains    Contents    Chapter 2: Lyndis's Legion