Hector's forces pushed forward to take the vanguard position after breaking camp in the morning. Lyndis took that time to approach her mother and speak about Hector and the overall situation. the events of before rattled he more than she cared to admit.
"What will we do after this?" She kept a strong gaze on her mother but was thinking about how Eliwood was doing after the defeat and loss of his troops to fight with. 'That woman Isadora looked to care for him deeply, he should be fine making it back home. But what will come of Ninian and Nils? Lord Athos has still not returned after so long, I fear the worst for that woman.. no that dragoness.'
"Hmm?" Madelyn was caught off guard for a moment by her daughter's words. "Catch up with Father and try to rebuild the Duchy. This Civil War is one thing that has brought it low but I cannot forget about this Black Fang group that is making moves."
"So you are staying in Caelin?"
"We are staying, yes you to my daughter." Maedlyn frowned seeing her daughter fidget a little. "After all this you cannot hope to go back to the Plains?" Her face turned incredulous. "Our tribe is scattered with several of them not even knowing what happened. Not to mention the ones in Hector's territory of Bulgar will most likely cause some unrest."
"Speaking of Hector, is it wise to trust him like this?" Lyndis looked at her mother halfway. Her eyes moving to the moving forces and her mother to make sure no one was listening in. "His reach is far and if those territories fall under him.. it won't be easy to maintain freedom."
"No reason not to. I have an understanding of the type of man he is so far. The contract is the best way to make sure he does not overstep in his reach. Both funds, resources, and personnel have been provided but his word is still something to consider." Thinking it over the Lady of Caelin added in something. "Freedom is a very fleeting thing, it has been that way for years. I figured you would have learned by now my daughter, after all these travels are you still clouded by the way of Sacae only? You who followed the sword despite being a woman?"
"He killed a knight of Ostia in cold blood!" Lyndis barely contain her outburst thinking how the other yielded. "The number of sword users in Hector's camp is a lot! It is not that rare of thing like in the Lorca tribe!"
"Yes, in Hector's army a lot of standard ways are none existent. Back to the other matter. He moved against an enemy, something that is taught very much in Lycian. Just not so openly. Or cruelly. What happened is a shame but the man Oswin was it... should have not tried to force something like this." Madelyn paused a little thinking it over. "Hector is clear that he no longer sees himself as the Marquess of Ostia's little brother. It is remarkable how he was able to build a network of people and spies at such a young age."
"You sound almost impressed?" Lyndis looked away with a scowl.
"I am. He could have only worked on this maybe 2 or 3 years effectively, that is a lot done considering the heavy restriction in Ostia. You may not know this daughter but they are the strongest of the Lycian Houses. Which means a lot are looking to make work of them. Or just use them."
"The same as yourself I take it?" it hurt to say it but she was learning of a different side of her mother lately. 'Since the news of grandfather, you have changed more than the attack on the tribe could have caused.'
"No, to dangerous. thus working with Hector is easy as we have a contract. Without that, I would dare not converse or move with him the way I do."Madelyn shook her head a little distraught. "I just want my father to be okay. I want us to be okay after this. I want to bring peace back to Caelin."
"What about peace to the Lorca tribe?" Lyndis voiced weakly. She caught onto her words and how wrong they were as her mother was part of the tribe but only by marriage. "They are our family."
Madelyn wore a pained expression as she thought about the trouble she went through when younger. Her daughter did not have to go through it as she had Sacaen blood.
As the mother-daughter conversed, Hassar came over with a few Sacaens. Those who finally recovered enough to fight actively in the upcoming skirmish.
Those who went into Hector's Internal Space and the Time Chamber came out as polished trained veterans. Older and wiser they were more interested in ending the war as the rebuilding and forming of a nation exited them much more. Especially those of Ilia who learned a trade or two and the various laws that gave the people rights.
Each person had a strong desire to survive and a new path in life besides dying on the battlefield. Heading back to study was already on their minds again.
.
The Foreign Plains-
.
The Vanguard plowed through the majority of troops. Each stayed their hand and did nothing more than break bones when dealing with the opposition. All but Hector anyway who just couldn't bring himself to really hold everything back. He was very annoyed about the request of Madelyn to spill as little bloodshed as possible of her people.
Karel and Karla surprisingly were able to do it with an ease that was shocking. Dart and Geitz were also able to stay their hand easy enough but of course, the really did some damage. Lowen, Raven, and the rest had no issue and were subdued with ease due to their relative prowess was about the same.
The Pegasus riders worked on looking for certain enemies and giving reports on the entire battlefield. Their other objective was to keep the civilians out of harm's way.
He spoke words to everyone he fought against. Lay down their weapons and surrender to Lady Madelyn. It would be the only reprieve given to a bunch of turncoats that followed knowing Lundgren was an unjust leader.
"A pity." Hector cut down a soldier with a sword with ease. "Why so many are so stupid? It is not like they are really loyal to the man."
Then again it was because he was technically an invader maybe. Or the reputation of Hector disposing of the bodies of people with magic may be the reason.
He had to keep flooding Richard with the History of so many people to gain more resources himself. Doing so would be a betrayal to himself after all. Also, the growth of the Primordial Sea helps ease the pain of not being able to promote to the next class Tier. He needed a Heaven's Seal but also every other Promotion crest boosted by the Primordial Sea due to his special nature.
*Twang!* An arrow sailed through the air catching Hector in the shoulder. Barely making a dent in his defenses. Not even enough force to leave a bruise on the flesh underneath.
"We follow him.. because unlike Madelyn, he remained here! He didn't abandon us for a Sacean man! She didn't even visit us or check on her father!"
The words of this soldier were said more emotionally than others. The pain of the civil war affected him directly.
"That I can understand. Not like Caelin is worth it really." Hector shot forward giving chase to the retreating archer who continued to fire. The man ran towards the trees to get covert support. "
"So survival I take it?" Hector moved towards his opponent looking out for any others. "I mean that is the only reason I can see one fighting against a better enemy. Despite the rumors of the one they are serving up to no good."
With a shot, he fired a steel bow at the hiding place of the enemy archer forcing him out.
"Tsk!" The archer ran out then turned to fire a shot back at Hector. "Guk!" Looking down the archer had a rock no bigger than his fist pushed against his stomach.
Leaving the young man on the ground after tying him up and taking the weapons, Hector had to stop his instinct to kill. Leaving a potential enemy behind was always something risky.
As Hector moved pretty far ahead due to the rain, he wondered briefly how his troops were doing. Thinking it over he left alone as they were more than skilled enough to deal with those of Caelin. The only trouble would be if they had help from the Black Fang or if the Black Bone Clan showed up somewhere.
Pushing into castle Caelin Hector picked up the bodies of the dead from both sides. Dropping them into his internal space. A few servants here and there could be seen running around but he paid them no mind after looking at there faces. He couldn't let a spy from somewhere get away to easily now could he?
*Thunk!* the sounds of arrows getting stuck in the wall could be heard. The sound was getting louder so Hector increased his pace to go that way as the fight between kin increased.
Madelyn fired a wave of arrows in the Grand Hall. Her uncle was a hassle and his skill was better than hers in several ways. Looking back at the entrance she gave up hope that her husband would come in to help. The rain must have tired his horse out. Wallace had cut an opening for her and Eagler was holding several of the troops at bay to keep them from wasting their lives.
"Foolish girl you should have stayed away, nothing but trouble!" Throwing the javelin, Lundgren almost took the horse head off but only manage to cut the reigns. "You fight like those savages! No real strength or strategy in you!"
"You know nothing of the Sacaens uncle!" Circling around by guiding the horse with her thighs, Madelyn looked for an opening. "Is strategy what helped you poison you brother!? To poison my father so easily!?"
"None of this was easy girl!" With a quick dash, Lundgren picked up the javelin then pivoted on his foot. With a twirl he chucked the weapon at her instead. "War is coming and I will not let Caelin fall to it!"
*Splurt!* The javelin barely missed Madelyn's chest but took off some of her shoulder and cloth there. Supringsly her opponent stopped and told her to cove rup.
"You have the blood of Caelin in you, I will not kill you like some common wench." Taking some calming breaths before his eyes narrowed he got ready. "I will end this in the next exchange child!"
Clothes secured Madelyn prepared herself for what might be her last chance.
"Haa!" With a warcry, Madelyn jumped off her horse as her uncle stabbed at the mount. "Go down!" With a twirl of a dragonhead arrow, she fired at the heart.
*Thung!* he dragon arrowhead hit against the chest plate before creating a crack. Another arrow was shot right after hitting the man in the heart.
"That annoying little girl... married a savage from Sacae...The Caelin throne...should be.. protected..." Lundgren slumped down staring at his niece. "You.. grew strong.. remind me of your mother.. I rue the day my brother was given her hand in marriage over.. me!"
Madelyn looked at her uncle with mixed feelings. If she had died against the bandits would Lyndis have dealt with her great uncle instead? Kent and Sain were looking for her after all and the thought of her getting killed or used ticker her off.
As the Noble woman left her tired and injured horse behind, a wave of chaotic energy washed over her. The Destiny of Caelin and Madelyn had changed greatly, to what extent no one knew just yet.
Inside Hector, Tiamat opened her eyes before closing them in thought. Madelyn was not cleric material but she was someone to watch out for.