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20+8=28 HP Restored!

Iris can move again! 15 HP Restored!
Hoshiko can move again! 15 HP Restored!

115+10-60=65
Roll: 39-Hit!
29-8=21 Damage!

126+10-60=76
Roll: 21-Hit!
23-9=14 Damage!

The Moon dies!
Enemy stats updated!


EXP: 87/100

Himos didn't even look up from Wolfgang's increasingly red face at Milos' words. He was startled, at least, when he was tackled by a small, pink lioness. For a moment, he was knocked off of the Prince's neck. Ella returned to her humanoid form, pleading with her father.

"Please! Don't do this! Prince Wolfgang came here in good faith, please! I love him father!"

The King reverted as well, and placed a heavy foot on Wolfgang's chest, eliciting a pained groan. "My daughter, you have been deceived. Not only are the soldiers of Morcia upon us, here to make war, but this thing-" Himos shifted more weight to the foot on top of Wolfgang, and the Prince wheezed. "-has deceived you! There is little doubt in my mind that he sent so called 'outlaws' to capture you, that he could play hero, and win your heart as a pretense to bring his soldiers to kill me. The fool must have thought me weak!"

"That's not- not true! I- GAH!" The Prince was silenced by the weight of the King once more.

"I'm telling you, no! Wolfgang and I met long before I was captured. I went to see him often, when I told you I was training... I was going to meet him after I found out we were to be at war, and he came to save me because he truly cares for me! I am not a child father, you have to listen to me!"

"...How long has this secret tryst been going on? And why did you not tell me?"

"Because I knew you would stop me! Or do this!" Ella pointed at Wolfgang's prone form accusingly. The King's foot didn't move.

"As enraptured as I am with this discussion," Grae interrupted, from a healthy distance away from the King. "Your Majesty, you mentioned your borders had been invaded? We were assaulted by men and women of Sampia on our way here. I don't suppose that intelligence is the incursion you're talking about?"

"...No. I was informed of what happened to you at the pass, and I relayed instructions that you would not be pursued further, but I speak of the full host of the Morcian Army, led by their General Whart. I've made preparations for a counter attack. We will drive them from our lands."

"And here I was thinking we'd been lucky in evading pursuit. Also, not to butt in, but everything the Prince has said to me matches what he's said to you. He's kind of a prick, but not a bad guy."

"Father, please..."

"Let me- let me prove it to you. I will lead my men against the General, and I will take us back to our own borders. Then, we can speak of peace. What say you?"

Himos looked down at the Prince, and moved his foot away. "My own warriors will be more than sufficient. And quite capable of shredding the weaklings you brought with you, should you prove treacherous. I doubt you would be of much help with such meager numbers."

"Perhaps that is so..." Wolfgang sat up gingerly, and turned his head toward Grae and the others. "Steelhart! You're not under contract at the moment. Is that not so?"

Grae barked out a laugh. "It just so happens that we're freed up, yeah. We don't come cheap, if we come at all." Grae looked around at his subordinates. "So, who's in?"

The apparent leader of the group opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by one of the other two with him. "That's right! I saw the selection process! You kicked my buddy Anzu straight in the face! It was awesome, he still whines about losing the spot!"

The leader gave him a look before turning back to Aurelia. "Alright, good enough for me. You wait here. I'll inform the King that you've arrived." The man turned on his heel and transformed into a cat, bounding away.

A few minutes later, a massive crimson lion charged out of the crowd gathered in the town below, running straight past Aurelia to intercept the wagon, stopping to return to the form recognizable as King Himos.

"Steelhart! My daughter! Did you fi- Ella!" The princess was already climbing down from the prince's horse, and the two embraced a little ways ahead of the wagon. The King lifted his daughter into the air, spinning once before bringing her into a crushing hug. "Oh Ella! My dear daughter! Your father was so frightened for you! I'm so glad to see you safe and sound. Ugh, but you stink of human!"

"Father, more gently, please..." The lord of the cats eased his hold ever so slightly, and turned his head to Grae.

"You have my thanks, mercenary. My choice to call on you for aid was the right one. You will have your promised payment, but..." The King looked at the collection of riders, and the wagon. "...I will only pay what I promised to those you brought before me when you accepted the task. You will not be given more just for bringing more mercenaries."

"I wouldn't dream of it. My organization prides itself on taking only what is agreed upon. The stated one hundred and five thousand for my group will be quite sufficient. And these men aren't mine anyway."

"Your Majesty. These men are under my command. I am Prince Wolfgang Gault, heir to the throne of Morcia. I've come to discuss terms of peace between our great nations, as well as-"

Himos whirled to Grae, deftly pushing Ella behind himself. "You brought Morcian soldier within my borders? You will explain your treachery, now!"

"Wasn't my idea. He wouldn't let us bring the princess back to you unless he tagged along with his honor guard. You paid us quite a bit, but not enough for Regicide."

The King advanced upon Wolfgang, who was still on his horse. "You were holding my daughter? You have made your last mistake coming into my borders of your own accord then!" Himos was stopped as Ella grabbed onto his right wrist from behind.

"No father, that isn't so! Wolfgang rescued me from outlaws in his lands! He merely wishes to keep me safe. Because... well, because..." Ella's voice trailed off, leaving a heavy silence.

The prince spoke up, in defiance of the leaden mood. "I wish to parley with you, Oh great King Himos. Not only for peace between our realms, but also... I wish for your daughter's hand."

There was a brief moment before the violence began. Himos, King of Sampia and Lord of the Cats, turned back to look upon the scarlet face of his only daughter, who could not bring herself to speak or to meet his eye. Then, back to this Prince, this Wolfgang Gault. Himos was like lightning, returning to his lion form, and soaring through the open space between himself and the Prince. Wolfgang was knocked out of the saddle, and had the King's paw pressed against his throat as he lay flat on the ground, helplessly pushing against the paw, trying desperately to force it off of his neck.

115+10+10-47=88
Roll: 84-Hit!
29-10=19 Damage!

The High Priestess is thrown from her horse, and bounces off the ground once before dissipating.

The High Priestess dies!
Enemy Stats updated!


EXP: 68/100

It wasn't a long way to go, and Aurelia was soon approaching the outer limits of the town. In turn, she was approached by three large Laguz men. "Identify yourself! Are you with those humans?" One of them, a bare chested man with long dark hair, pointed behind her at the wagon now slowly making its way down the hill. His associates, more modestly dressed, said nothing, but scowled at her anyway.

Two days of rough riding followed. The wagon barely stopped for more than a half hour at a time, to give time to rest the horses as much as possible, and to dump healing magic into them to keep them on their hooves. The group wasn't subjected to another attack, but every rustle in the trees or stirring of the bushes startled the Prince's soldiers. Eventually, however, the group found themselves cresting a hill, beyond which lay the lake town of Mendisoro, where the journey, for the mercenaries and their laguz companions at least, had begun.

Even from so far, it was clear that Mendisoro was teeming with significantly greater numbers than when the group had last seen it. Even so, this was the last hurdle. The job was nearly finished. All that remained was to deliver the princess to the King. "Looks like we finally made it. Aurelia, fly ahead of us and let the King's men know that we're here, if you would."

"So many... Did father assemble a war party?"

"He may have. Perhaps Grae's men did not return you fast enough, and he intends to recover you himself." Steelhart made a noise, but the Prince ignored it. "We're here now though, so we should be able to stop your father from doing anything rash, don't you think?"

"I hope so."

The continuing battle had raised Shaelynn's anger to a fever pitch. Every syllable was loaded with venom, and an unhealthy amount of spittle. "Be silent and allow him to take that treasonous head from your shoulders! I've a mind to put it on a spike and throw your body to the wolves based on your ignoble indignancy at being made to answer for your crimes alone!" Magical power arced unstably across her hands as she prepared another attack, effectiveness be damned.

114+10-42=82
Roll: 49-Hit!
36-10=26 Damage!

The High Priestess counters!
114-5-10-33=66
Roll: 67-Miss!

The High Priestess attacks again!
Roll: 20-Hit!
18-18=0 Damage!

EXP: 58/100