Chapter 9 Siege of a town Part 1 Contacts making it around

Making into the town was easy enough, what he was told was not the best. Serra was spending all of her time since arriving healing people up. Hector had done what he could in regards to most cuts and resetting bones before using healing.

As hot as the Pegasus Riders themselves, he didn't heal them as Serra was better at them than him. He did heal the mounts which he had a better time doing than her. It was a small thing that did not cause much thought to be wanted for right now.

"You really banged your head against this one." Hector smiled at Sigune who came to flly. Her broken arm would take a day before it was healed enough to be used again. No amount of magic at the groups' current disposal will allow that to happen before then. "At least you prevented an entire tribe from getting wiped out, then the experience itself from fighting under terrible conditions."

"Thank you sir." Sigune smiled weakly, she thought the reprimand would have been worse but it didn't happen. She followed the rules and they weren't dead, all good in Hector's eyes. "Victor should arrive in a few days, his squad took out most of the Talivar bandit remnants. Not to mention a few cloaked fighters."

"Yes, tell me what you know about that group." Hector had an inkling of who they were, but he needed to be sure before making moves. "Did you see any types of bone masks or anything like that?"

"No reports of that, and this group has no ties to the Black Fang either. In fact they looked and moved oddly at times. Almost like puppets."

"Then I am at a loss." Hector patted her bed then moved to a table and went over the maps obtained. "We have what we need and the remnants of the Crusade against the Bandits should be ending soon. Not many pose a threat that regular people couldn't deal with until the unification of the bandit leaders took place. Even then it should have been fine to let the local knights deal with it."

Karel stood at the door, guarding and listening in intently.

"Yes, but helping them earned a good contract." Sigune tried to sit up but Hector raised his hand and forced her back down with wind magic. The strength of the spell "Breeze" he called it, had gotten stronger. "I feel fine enough to.."

The Mercenary wanted to protest but a look from her boss shut her up real quick. She didn't resist the air that pushed her and settled in. Only mildly upset, the same as most people from Ilia tended to get.

"Not a request but an order for you to recover, the same as the others. The terms agreed by Madelyn and yourself are good. Food, Gold, and Wood, all things we need further to build. Once the others are healed up, you can take them to the campsite." Hector was about to say more but a mercenary came running into the house they used as headquarters.

The young woman handed over a message before running off. She had a few more people to inform about what was happening. Reading it had about what he thought it would have listed.

"The bandits are converging on this location. This is the best news we could get at the time." Hector's smile was devilish and caused Karel to tense up. "A trap that triggered once I arrived, how amazing they care so much to get rid of me like this."

"There are over 50 bandits in the area, not to mention the reports about the bandits who fled Ostia from our previous work." Sigune didn't like this at all. The number was not on their side in the least. "If they siege this town..."

"Settle down, it will be fine. Enough are healed to seal the place up and Karel can help me prevent any casualties." Hector was thinking of the experience he could get. 'The more I fight, the more I experience and the more my "Quintessence" grows in response.' He needed his weapon understanding to get up higher for he can make a move on one of the Divine Weapons that is sealed away. 'If I had a gun, this would be the easiest thing in the world. Then again, I could have focused on archery completely and murdered anyone from afar.'

This type of setting was a sniper's wet dream, but something about stabbing his enemies and locked in close combat brought his blood to life. An almost primal feeling anyway.

"Lord Hector!" A voice called from outside. It was defintely that of a woman's voice. Just not one they recognized yet.

"Anyway, recover and be ready to move tomorrow." Hector stepped out with Karel following. A mercenary came in to keep watch over Sigune and the other recovering members. "I wonder if I can purchase some materials before starting?"

Sigune said nothing as her orders were clear, but getting sidelined for her arm did not sit well with the young Commander.

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A defense?-

.

Hector was greeted to the sight of a red armored and green armored cavalier. Kent and Sain from Caelin were looking for Madelyn. An older silver armor heavy knight that went by Wallace was also there. The first two he was not expecting, but Wallace he was wondering if he would ever make it.

'The notes I sent to him regarding the danger his crush Madelyn was in worked wonders. Never discount someone carrying a torch for another. No matter if the person they targeted is married.' Hector smiled at the fact the man stood close to the Caelin woman despite his "friend" Hassar being right there. "So, what nonsense are you speaking again?"

"We want your help in tracking down our people and taking out the bandits." Madelyn stated passionately. "With you here, it should go smoother considering your reputation for hating bandits."

"Hmm, but you have those Pheraens to help." Hector nudged at Eliwood. How he ended up mixed in was amusing the same as the fact Hector ran into his father not to long ago sneaking about. "Surely they wish to help members of the Lycian League with no trouble?"

His tone unnerved the few Cavaliers with Eliwood. Even those of Sacae wonder if this was bad starting off.

"I ask for help not as a member of Caelin but as a person." Madelyn had a way with words and could make most want to help her. It was no wonder a basic person like Hassar fell for her. But she had no actual power by the looks of it. "When this is over, I am sure I can reconnect with my father and ask for a better reward."

"But didn't you abandon all of that for.. well him?" Hector pointed at Hassar. "A man that didn't listen to the warning and help all of you get in this type of predicament in the first place."

"I have heard enough!" Sain, the more undisciplined of knights pushes forward getting in Hector's face. "She is a lady of Caelin, you will show..."

*Schlick!* In a blinding light, Hector cut Sain's arm off with the Mani Katti in a simple strike. He used the art of Unsheathing the sword with his overwhelming physical strength and magic. Inside the sheath was a small reservoir of liquid.

"Sain!" Kent was to his friend's side in an instant. No blood spurted out as the liquid on the sword prevented it a little. The use of magic created a vacuum effect preventing bloodless further. "Stay calm, it will be ok!" Luckily for Kent, Sain was so shocked it didn't register in his brain yet what happened.

"My most unsincerest apologies.. I thought he was going to attack me and reacted on instinct." Hector grinned and gave a helpless look. "Take him to our healer Serra, she can help reattach the arm before it is to late."

Sheathing the Mani Katti, but in a different sheath, Karel wanted to ask him what just happened. Even more so why he had two sheaths for one sword.

"Of course.. I will talk with him later about his conduct." Madelyn kept a sincere look, she was not the daughter of a noble for nothing. "After injuring one of my friends, I am sure you can see how that would be in bad taste if you do not help now?"

"Hahaha, is he a friend really or the child of a friend you abandoned in the past?" Hector gave a laugh as the woman was crafty. "It stands to reason since I didn't see the Caelin Cavaliers when I visited before that you met up with them recently. Also, the fact you never returned home taken into consideration."

"Have you been checking into me?"

"Yes, no, who knows." Hector was having fun and it was not lost on Karel. "But I will fight against the bandits who are coming, as for helping recover your .. fellow tribe folk.. we can talk about that later."

Frustrated, they left to go and fortify the town further. Eliwood, Hassar, and Wallace remain behind.

"Hector, what game are you playing?" Eliwood asked unable to understand his friend even more since last time they talked.

"The Game of life, the one that does not end until you die, such a shame." Hector looked to Wallace and reached his hand out. "I said when we meet I wanted two things, a list of the corrupt nobles in Caelin and the Maps of the area of old."

Wallace eyes narrowed as only one person knew this phrase to say to him. At first he thought Eliwood to be the one to lead him to find Madelyn before bandits took out her family, but for it to be Hector he was stunned.

"The list I do not have but Maps I do, Lady Madelyn does not have the means to hire you but I think I can offer something of worth." The bald knight pulled out some maps and a Knight Crest, the latter worth almost a fortune. "I can tell you have no respect for Nobility despite being from that stock, we should share a drink and discuss after this is over."

Hector nodded and took the items. The Knight Crest pulsed with magic that coursed through his fingers towards his spine. Wallace carried this for a long time and the excess build up was beneficial for one reason.

*Woosh!* Enough accumulation to awaken the understanding of a Knight. His cape moved about and flapped over the front of his chest before settling again. The inside of his thighs received a thin metal protection covering. The straps were barely even felt.

"Fortifications and some more weapons, and this will kick off just right." Hector already found the perfect place he planned on fighting from. "Hmmm?"

The Archer, Wil and a burly young man came over. It was the pirate known as Dart to some but as Dan to others. His amnesia was treated during a crossing between himself and Hector years ago. Much to the dismay of Dart's current boss Fargus.

"Hextor, you really stepped into it this time." Dart was all smiles and ready for a fight. The two men gave each other an arm shake before separating. "Captain Fargus says he is ready to give you a ride to the Dread Isle in about three months, will you be ready by then?"

"Hmm, I will make it work." It would be really close but it had to be done to check something out. "You spotted anything on your way here by chance?"

"Besides a few Pheraens and some weird mask people nothing really. They bugged the hell out of the animals though."

"Tell me everything as we work." Hector was making a plan to do a sweep the moment time was able in the areas they passed through. But getting rid of the bandits were first on his list to get stronger. 'Hopefully, I will grow enough to contend with the dead magic users, if not, hopefully, the bandits tossed into the Primordial Sea will give me enough to work with.'

What he really needed was a few more Seraph Robes, Talismans, and Dracoshields. Or Reap some really powerful enemies. What he wouldn't give for a folly functional modern day workshop at this time.