| abstract | - (At Grado Keep)
* Vigarde: General Glen of the Grado Imperial Army, also known as the Sunstone...
* Glen: Yes...
* Vigarde: Your orders. Capture the leader of the rebel army in Carcino. Capture Eirika.
* Glen: Eirika... Do you mean the princess of Renais?
* Vigarde: Eirika invaded Carcino. She massacred the citizens of Port Kiris. Then, she fled south. Glen. Go. Crush the rebels who brought ruin to Carcino.
* Glen: ...Understood, sire.(Glen leaves the throne room and goes up to Cormag)
* Glen: ......
* Cormag: What did the emperor say, Brother?
* Glen: I've been ordered to kill the princess of Renais. Cormag, I want you to remain here in the capital. I'll go alone.
* Cormag: If that's what you want, Brother, so be it. But you seem troubled... Don't tell me you're concerned about fighting the princess of a ruined land!
* Glen: ...Hm... I never was able to slip anything past you, little brother. You're right. This duty falls heavily on my shoulders, more than any other.
* Cormag: Tell me, Brother, do you know this princess?
* Glen: Yes. When Renais and Grado were still close... I met the girl-- I met Eirika only once. We spoke briefly, but I felt she was a woman of great kindness. I cannot bring myself to believe Princess Eirika is evil. I cannot.
* Cormag: ...Glen. The emperor has ordered--
* Glen: There's the rub, Cormag. That's it exactly. His Majesty has never spoken a falsehood in all the time I've served him. And as a servant of the empire, I am duty bound to obey his orders. But I can see no reason to think Princess Eirika's heart is any less gentle now.(Valter rides up to them.)
* Valter: What are these cowardly mutterings? It is because you three generals are weak that we others must work so hard. And yet you get the honor of killing the girl. How I long to do your duty for you!
* Glen: Rrrr! Valter, you treacherous swine...
* Valter: What's this? Is this how you speak toward your peer knights of the realm? Lest you've forgotten, I, too, am a general--the same rank as you.
* Glen: You wretch. You were cast out from the army for mistreating civilians. What lies have you told to receive pardon and reinstatement at the same time?
* Valter: Our beloved emperor felt my skills were needed, and his word is law. His Majesty has earned my sincerest and most undying gratitude. And then we have you three. Duessel, Selena, and you... The three of you have proven to be unreliable time and time again. We were brought in to plug the holes, don't you see? You ought to thank me, Glen!
* Cormag: Valter! If you dare insult my brother further...
* Valter: Come now, Cormag. And what would you do to me if I did? Would you fight me? Here? Would you show such disloyalty to the emperor?
* Cormag: ...
* Glen: Peace, Cormag. We are His Majesty's men. We will honor his commands. Mark my words, Valter: your crimes are neither forgotten nor forgiven.
* Valter: Hmph... (At Teraz Plateau)
* Gerik: Prince Innes. What do you say? Can you continue?
* Innes: Yes, of course. Do you believe this is enough to make me give up? I am surprised you mercenaries haven't turned and fled, though.
* Gerik: Naw. You see, Gerik's Mercenaries takes its name from me, Gerik. I'm the chief here. If I quit while our employer still fought on, they'd want a new name, you follow me? So... What's the plan?
* Innes: Same as before. We remain surrounded. They're not going to allow us simply to walk out of here... I sent a messenger off with news of our plight. However, even on the wings of a pegasus knight, Frelia is days away. We can expect no help from them.
* Gerik: So we tighten our belts and survive, is that it? Or would you rather quit this place and rest in comfort?
* Innes: Surrender? I'm the prince of Frelia. I don't know the meaning of the word. The fate of the world rides on my shoulders, and I'll make it to Jehanna. Even if I have to crawl there to do it.
* Gerik: Now, that makes me feel better. If you're so determined, we may all live a little while longer...
* Tethys: Hey, Chief, Prince.
* Gerik: What is it, Tethys?
* Tethys: I've got bad news...and then I've got worse news.
* Gerik: What's the bad news?
* Tethys: We've no more weapons in reserve. What you're holding is what we've got. Once those are gone, there won't be much fight left in us.
* Gerik: That is bad news... Well? What's the worse news?
* Tethys: They've begun to move. They're going to attack again. Looks like they're sending up the whole lot of 'em this time.
* Innes: ...... Right. You two, you're done here. Discharged. Fired. Whatever. You can surrender or flee. The choice is yours.
* Gerik: What?
* Innes: I'm the one they're after. Throw down your weapons, and you'll walk away alive. I don't need you here. You'll only be in my way. Who knows? You filthy sellswords'll probably sell me out anyway.
* Tethys: Hold on there! That's not true, and you know it!
* Gerik: Peace, Tethys. Hey, Prince. What are you going to do?
* Innes: I'm going to get out of here on my own. I'll break to the south and escape into the mountains.
* Gerik: That ain't gonna be easy. How you plan on doing that?
* Innes: I'm not telling you. I've no idea when you'll decide to betray me. Go on. Get out of here. I'd rather do this alone.
* Gerik: Sounds like you're trying to make sure you're the only one who dies.
* Innes: ...... Fool. I've no intention of dying. But there can be no false hope of reinforcements riding in to save the day. You and I are not the same. You're a commoner, and I'm Frelia's heir. We of noble birth do not shirk the duties to which we are born.
* Gerik: ......
* Innes: What are you waiting for? You may go.
* Gerik: Well played, milord. I've always loved the melodrama of martyrdom... There's no way I can abandon you after that fine performance. I'm staying with you. To the end.
* Innes: To the-- What are you saying? You dare ignore the orders of the one who's paying your wages?!
* Gerik: Tethys, I want you to go and surrender. Give my regards to Ewan and Marisa.
* Tethys: Don't be ridiculous. I'm not going anywhere. Now would the two of you kindly stop acting like such...men? And you! You've already fired us. You can't order us to leave now.
* Innes: Unbelievable... And you people call yourselves mercenaries? I thought you fought for money, not for duty.
* Gerik: Yeah, that's one of the rules. Guess we're lousy mercenaries, eh? Now let's get thinking. We still need a plan to get us all out of here alive. You're supposed to be a good tactician, so I figure I won't die easily. Tell us what to do, Prince. We'll follow your orders.
* Innes: ...... Hm. Very well. I'll see what I can do to avoid getting us filled with arrows.
* Tethys: Ah... Say, Prince. If, by some miracle, aid were to come, from what direction would it arrive?
* Innes: ...From the north. But there's little or no hope of that. Even if Frelia were to send us aid, they would not arrive until...
* Tethys: This may be good news... Then again, it may be more bad news. There. On that northern mountain path... Someone's coming. (Eirika's group arrives)
* Eirika: Prince Innes!
* Seth: Princess Eirika, the prince is surrounded by the mercenary armies of Carcino. He looks vastly outnumbered. I doubt he can hold out much longer.
* Eirika: I can see that. Let's hurry!
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