Princess Kassandra of Nohr

One week later, we finally arrived at our last destination before we crossed the sea: the port town of Dia. Felicia and Flora rode off to make arrangements for our ship to Notre Sagesse, while the rest of us gave our horses a break in the stables at the nearest tavern.

Most of the soldiers went inside, but I lingered with our steeds -- I hadn't got used to the experience of so many people being crammed into one room. Xander, Camilla, and Elise were still shadowing me, and now Azura was as well, knowing precious few other people. The five of us stood together, and Elise gave the horses funny voices while we looked on with varying levels of amusement.

Only a few minutes had passed before Felicia burst through the doors, breathless. "Emergency! Hoshidan forces are invading the town from the east! They'll be here any minute!"

I froze in stupid disbelief.

Xander tensed, his hand falling to his sword. "Hoshidans are here? Felicia, are you certain?"

"Yes, my lord! They've come to hold the ships to stop us from getting to Notre Sagesse!"

"Rally the troops immediately." He turned to me. "Kassandra, you will stay at the rear this time."

I sighed. "All right."

***

Xander hadn't made it clear what I was supposed to be at the rear of, so I decided being at the rear of the vanguard would satisfy his command. I certainly wasn't going to stand with the rearguard -- I wouldn't be able to see anything.

Silas fell back alongside me, which drew the attention of Xander. He clocked my position and said nothing. I didn't know if he was happy with it, or if he had just given up on arguing with me.

The Hoshidans came a moment later, heralded by startled cries from Nohrian villagers. I knew their way was to grant mercy, but after witnessing their despicable behaviour towards Azura in Fort Dragonfall, I was anxious.

Relief swept through me when the samurais stormed down the street with clean blades. At least two hundred archers followed them.

The army stopped a safe distance from us, and the samurais parted to let someone walk to their head. He drew Fujin Yumi, and the legendary weapon glowed.

"Takumi?" Azura exclaimed. "Thank goodness you're all right!"

Takumi scowled. "Azura? You Nohrian traitor! You should be ashamed! I always knew this would happen, but had I known your betrayal would come so swiftly, I'd have killed you myself!"

My blood ran hot, and I shifted in my saddle, resisting the temptation to get involved. It was his attitude that had passed through the Hoshidan ranks and almost cost Azura her life.

Her eyes shuttered. "I see there is no point trying to explain. Perhaps I was a fool to hope you would ever warm up to me. Your grudge is clearly beyond words." She raised her head. "Let us do what we came here to do."

Takumi fell back so that he would be protected by the samurais. "We will not let you go to Notre Sagesse. Charge!"

The samurais rushed at our front line, and arrows rained down on us. One came my way, and I raised my sword to use as a shield.

"Where is Kaiya?" Takumi strung his bow. "I wish to fight her!"

"She is not available for combat!" Xander felled a samurai who was blocking his path, moving closer to my blood brother.

"She abandoned her family and Hoshido. Now she should pay for her betrayal!" Takumi fired. It seemed to be a shot of blind rage, for the arrow just pinged off Xander's plate armour.

Takumi strung his bow again, this time aiming for Camilla. She dropped, the arrow whisking over her head, and nicked him across the shoulder with her axe. Blood trickled down his arm.

He retreated further into his soldiers. "Give me Kaiya!"

"Silence!" Xander roared.

He struck down the next few samurais who were opposing him, and his retainers, Peri and Laslow, helped him to surge forwards. Camilla took her cue and directed the wyvern riders accordingly, picking apart the soldiers to reach their commander.

Xander found an opening and plunged through to Takumi. He swung his sword, and my blood brother fell to his knees among his decimated front line.

I cried out, pressing my knuckles against my mouth. Even though he was my enemy, I didn't want him to die.

But Xander didn't finish him off. He and our front line eased back, giving the Hoshidans space.

Two of Takumi's soldiers rushed forwards and helped him stand, looping his arms over their shoulders. He was deathly pale, and blood seeped across his abdomen. But his eyes were dark with hatred.

"We should retreat, my lord," one man said. "We're losing too many soldiers, and you need a healer. We cannot push forwards like this."

My heartbeat faltered. Retreating was what the last Hoshidan soldiers had tried to do, and it had turned into a massacre.

Takumi's eyes roamed over our troops, unable to pick me out from the crowd. "Where is she? Where is the traitor among your ranks?"

"We'll let him see what he can never have." Xander turned and looked at me. "Come here, Kass. I want you to make an important decision."

I rode forwards, my stomach a knotted mass. When I halted alongside Xander, Takumi's gaze finally found me.

He sneered. "You will pay for your murder!"

He tore free from the grips of his soldiers, lunging at me and raising his bow. Xander and the rest of the front line surged forwards, trying to stop him. But even as Takumi's knees gave out and he fell to the floor in front of me, his arrow sailed through the air.

I raised my sword almost a millisecond too late. The arrow clinked against the metal in front of my forehead, and my heart chilled as I felt how close death had been.

I lowered my sword and swung, knocking Fujin Yumi from Takumi's hands and sending it flying across the road. My blade fell to his throat before he could rise. "Stay down!"

"Hoshidan filth!" Xander's sword joined mine. I didn't dare take my eyes off Takumi, but I could feel the anger that was rolling from my prince.

There was a long pause while he collected himself.

"All right, Kass," he said, his voice brittle. "Here is the decision I want you to make. Do we let this vermin retreat and risk that choice coming back to bite us later? Or do we end this problem here? As you were so opposed to what occurred at Fort Dragonfall, this is your call."

"We will grant them mercy," I said. "Takumi, you have lost this battle. Do your soldiers a favour and order them to retreat from this port immediately."

"How very generous of you," he sneered. "But I know better. The savage Nohrian army understands nothing of mercy."

"Perhaps you should take this as a lesson not to judge all Nohrians at face value. I spoke the truth. Our soldiers do not harm those who do not seek to harm us. Call a retreat."

Takumi held my gaze, the darkness in it unflinching. At last, he snarled the words. "Retreat!"

His army fell back, and I lowered my sword. At length, Xander did the same.

Two soldiers rushed forwards again and helped Takumi up. He looked over his shoulder at us as he limped away. "Your words mean nothing in light of all the innocent Hoshidan lives you took, including that of our dear mother. They wouldn't have -- argh!" He slumped in the arms of the soldiers, gasping.

"Takumi!" I almost trotted Zodiac towards him, but I stilled my heels at the last second.

"My head..." He bent over double, raising a hand to his temples. Just as quickly, he straightened up, gritting his teeth. "N-never mind. One day, you'll beg me for death, and I will happily grant it to you." He winced. "Until then, I will leave you with your guilt."

The Hoshidans turned and fled. Xander watched them like a cat might watch a mouse, but he honoured my wishes.

When they'd gone, he murmured, "I believe I've said that one day an act of kindness may be the death of you, but I'll say it again. As a princess of Nohr, you have decisions to make and responsibilities to adhere to, and Father would not be forgiving if he knew the decision you've made. If this choice causes trouble within our borders, it will be your job to take control of our troops and deal with it. Understood?"

"Yes." I smiled, feeling some of the tension from the past week fizzle out of me. "Thank you for letting me grant them mercy."

"I hope I don't regret it. Still, you have the true makings of a leader: you were strong and unwavering in your choice. A general needs to always be certain of their movements. Well done." He turned away. "Now, let us board those ships and set sail for Notre Sagesse."