Fire Emblem Part 23x Camp Treachery

After some time of rest and regrouping it was time to head onward. However, a small problem had started up right before the march on the keep.

"What is the problem, Madelyn?" Hector stood there with his skin still wrapped up mostly in bandages. The burns still ached in a terrible magical way and were only abated by the medicinal cloth soaked in Elixers and Pure Water mixture. Causing slight irritability if left unchecked. "You are almost home to meet the remainder of dear old pops."

Despite his ability to still fight Hector would not risk something happening to his body. The Black Bone Clan members are still out there and sending a portion of his forces to hunt down those who ran was the best course of action. It may result in some losses but he couldn't risk going all over himself right now. Not to mention he needed to take care of the other Dragon that had ties to Bern.

Well a few of them actually before it was to late to reign them in.

Audamorze may have pushed that path early because of his involvement. Or he could have not dealt with them at all since it was close to two decades of that timeline-wise. but then again Nergal could come across them and that felt worse somehow.

After the Civil War of Caelin, he would have to move into Bern's territory with swiftness and hope for the best in regard to his plans, which involved a few contacts bearing fruit. or burning those bridges to get in there.

"Nothing, just nervous I suppose." Madelyn glanced at the young monster of a man. Grateful she was not on his bad side and actually able to employ him before the situation turned as tense as it had. 'haa if only he got along with my daughter I would have another burden off my shoulders.'

"Hector, despite what you have declared you are still of nobility with Ostia." Eliwood said adamantly. He watched Madelyn trot off on her horse away from the situation. "Like myself, it is best we do not get involved directly. Most of what has happened can be talked through and reasoned with as helping friends. But attacking the Caelin soldiers directly in regards to a matter of regency..."

"Ahhh," Hector gave a terrible yawn in boredom. "I care not for foolishness like that. If the Lycian nobles have issues with whats going on, that is their problem. I am going to continue my Crusade and my Mission. The contract Madelyn has arranged with my people stands firm even through the political nonsense the Nobles will try to throw at us."

"You can not risk Osta like this. Your brother.."

"My brother.. for that matter brothers..." Hector gestured to the men and then to the women of his mercenary group. "and my sisters are all here. The people who matter in my company. Ostia was warned like so many others trouble was rising and they ignored it. I am sure it is the same as what your father is doing."

The mercenaries smiled a little at that. It was one thing when Hector spoke words like this in their camp and during training, but to say it to outsiders and so openly to different Nation Officials was another.

"But your blood brother.. your Lord brother Uther is back in Ostia and he orders you to stand aside." Oswin said grimly. The knights with him took a step forward ready to act. "This childish rebellion is now over."

"Hahaha... foolish." Hector laughed with a dark glint in his eyes. Dark Magic at the ready to do what it did best. "..I think you all the same! A fool who has overstepped himself in regards to one who refuses to obey your pathetic orders!"

"Why are you laughing.."

*Bripp!* Dark shards shaped like daggers flew out of the sphere of darkness. Speed faster then flying arrows but curving like hounds after a meal, chasing those who reacted on instinct.

Sticking out of their flesh the pain was negligible at first.

"Ahhhh!" The Knights who stood by Hector cried out as their life was pulled from them. The use of Nosferatu so brutally on them left the body as husks that crumbled under the weight of armor.

"You!" Oswin turned towards Hector away from the dead men in a lock of utter shock that gave in to rage. "You monster!" He forgot his orders and charges at the brother of his liege Lord looking to kill.

The lance was dodged with relative ease. Even though Hector could move freely in his usual armor, his body felt even lighter with just the robes. With each thrust of the lance, he dodged and fired off tuffs of fire, balls of light, or dark darts. 

Using a knight as a means to polish his skill and test the state of his body, Hector started to smile as he was not to bad off. The little makeshift spells were pretty good as well and he could use them instead of having a tome to amplify the power.

"Damn you!" Oswin was incensed as he felt he was being toyed with. Hector should be with House Ostia helping his brother bring peace to the land not wasting his skills prancing about causing trouble. "Why.. why!?"

It was a question that came off so desperately that a few felt bad for Oswin. A few knights tried to attack Hector from the rear and sides but were pelted by a few arrows from the sky. The Pegasus riders did not see the need to intervene but they couldn't help but remind the knights of the situation.

Hector smirked and slipped back into the distance pulling out a dagger like a thief. He stabbed out wildly but with planned strikes for every third one to cut a key area. Stabbed in the kidneys or across the bellybutton left a mess of the knights.

"Tch!" Oswin stabbed with his lance to pin Hector in the leg but missed at the last second due to his target slipping. 'How is he so nimble?!' Pulling the weapon back he felt his grip lost.

Hector smacked the tip of the lance with enough force Oswin's grip had loosened because of the abruptness. Unable to get it back he struck out with a fierce jab but missed as he was not used to such fighting besides wrestling.

"Yeah, I have to thank you for this." Hector felt the buildup of his magic and was about to let loose but changed his mind seeing someone cut down a knight. "This should help one of my people better." Exerting his magic control he used it to hold Oswin in place.

With wind currents and some ice formed around his body the knight from Ostia could not move.

*Splurt!* Under such pressure the scene only grew worse for the onlookers, as a blade of condensed magic pushed through Oswin's chest. The swirling wind didn't allow a single bit of blood to touch the ground.

"This is for house Cornwell... and my innocent people killed by Ostia!" The magical blade unfolded creating hooks that latched into the front of his chest. "I pay attention to all the people that move to other nations or under other nobles! To keep one of yours undercover you take out one of mine!"

Eliwood made to move but was reminded of the number of mercenaries in attendance. An arrow would knock him off his feet before he moved more than five feet forward. The Pheraen knights that made a move were beaten down and ganged up on before they even had a chance.

"I.. yield.." Oswin voiced out horse and coughing up blood. 'I need to find another way.'

"4 more to kill to make it right." Hector took the man's remaining life energy and healed his burns further as the life force just worked better. The carcass of Oswin dropped and then turned to ash the same as the others who were drained so bitterly. "Ship the armor back to Ostia, let them know they have overstepped."

"Yes sir!" A mercenary moved to follow the order with a few soldiers.

"We should move on!" Madelyn said grimly, trying to change the situation. Turning to Eliwood she didn't have time to coddle the boy and defintely would not say she told him so previously. "We think our friends for the help but it is best you sit this out, the mercenaries and my Sacean allies will see this through!"

The Pherean Noble moved away, grief-stricken at the cruelty Hector displayed. What was worse, was his hand in getting the knights of Ostia killed and the injured Pherean knights. Isadora looked at Hector with both fear and a look of anticipation. 

Guarding Eliwood was more important than the task of helping Ostia. If their knights couldn't do anything then the Pheraen knights would not be much better.

'To wield magic like that in such a way is one thing but the rumors suggest he wields other magic. No one in the Elimine Church has done things like Hector and the number of Priests growing under him and this Deity Tiamat must be looked further into.' Lady Isadora looked to Eliwood and couldn't help but make a comparison between the two. 'In a time of peace and allies, though young Eliwood is the perfect Lordling.However in uncertain times and needing force and new ideas Hector shines through and through. There is also the incident with House Cornwell.'

Lady Isadora heard of the massacre of those in House Cornwell. The incident was racked by political blunder and intrigue, that shook the secondary Houses in the Lycian League. Just because House Cornwell was growing in strength and ability to subvert Ostia's direct orders they were wiped out. 

The truth is much grimer as they were involved in a lot of dark dealings in the League. With dirt on every House no matter how small or dangerous. The weakening of the House was agreed upon by most nobles but Ostia ended up wiping them all out, or so the rumors goes. 

'He looks a little like the late Lord Cornwell. He does have a sister, if she survived it would bode well as a peace method with Hector. Or to get a favor to peacefully handle the issue.' Grabbing the rings of her horse, Lady Isadora trotted between Hector and Eliwood. "I give you my word no more trouble will arise from our end. Lord Eliwood gave in to youth and the orator skills of a veteran. I am sure his heart was in the right place."

"Hmm, get him out of here as you see fit. Consider it a peace offering from my side." Pointing at Lowen however he stopped her. "This one will now serve me for penance and what could be considered treachery by outsiders from your Lord. We are in the same camp trying to end the trouble of Caelin. Unless you wish to take his place?"

"I.. cannot." Lady Isadora had a lot on her mind and her oaths would not allow such a thing. "Cavalier Lowen you are henceforth put in the charge of Lord Hector. I will speak with Captain Marcus upon returning to Pherae and your family in regards of the situation."

"I understand." Lowen nursed a bruised shoulder where he was hit by Hector. 'A single punch had broken through my armor and knocked me off my horse! What does he eat?! How did he get so strong?!'

The injured soldiers moved out with a still shocked lordling. Hector was going over intel as he felt a strong magical source far away. To many to name and to few to narrow down who would be in this area.