Was that so? He never talked about the other army. Was it Nohr? No, she would of known him. Hoshido, then? Wouldn’t she have seen him while she was there? Where did he come from, exactly…? Robin was more of a mystery to her than most of things she was facing right now. A puzzle that gave no clues. No context on how to solve them. A riddle that made round-a-bouts in her mind as she tried to take it apart – him apart.
Though his voice held so much confidence as she listened to him explain, her mind wandered for a bit. They held the same reasons in mind on why those paths were less desired. Interest drawing her back to the reality as he began to explain his plan with the village. It stung a little when he mentioned that they looked like they mad money, and were easy to take down. Was it her leadership that showcased it? She tried to be as much of a pacifist as she could
Shoulders tensed and rose. He was right about that. Bandits weren’t afraid to cut them down, either. No one was. Mercenaries tried to swindle her for money, or assassins continued their tries to end her life. If someone knew where they were, everyone’s lives would be in danger. It’s why she kept them all in the Astral Plane for days on end. Hiding them from the other realm beyond the gate. Was it a coward’s way? It gave them time to plan and strategize, though the occasional invasion from Vallites was still a problem. Corrin’s stomach slowly turned in on itself the images of a worse-case scenario came to light. Swallowing air with a hard swallow, her eyes finally drew away to look at ambers. Even if she donned a mask, the scarlets broke it. Unable to truly hide what she felt, for her heart always rested on her sleeve and cheek. No matter what.
No matter what…. Sacrifices would be made. They would suffer, no matter the route. Inquisitions would be their advantage. There were so many minds that could formulate grand plans. Corrin was better at planning the smaller battles they fought. Robin could cover the scale. Leo’s highlight was large-scale battles, if they needed a third mind to pose questions to. With so many, why was it so hard? She never got that.
“If we can get to the village before the bandits find us, we should be able to be granted sanctuary. Even if the ruffians don’t listen to it, we can protect not only them, but ourselves. We could set up a parameter around the village and leave at first light.” Act as bodyguards? It wouldn’t be the first time, but nor would it be the last. A small smile slowly curled upon rosette lips.
“If we can’t stay there, we’ll just have to push on until nightfall and set up camp. There aren’t any Dragon Veins in this area, from my knowledge. I’ve sent out scouts to take a look at their numbers, and any traps they may have set up. They should be back soon. I’ll send for Jakob to have them report to us as soon as they arrive. Subaki is currently going over our weapons, while Hinoka is looking over our supplies once more. I believe Sakura and Elise are preparing themselves for the worst-case, and doing some final runs to the shops here for medical supplies.” Saizo and Kagero were some of her best. She would of sent Kaze as well, but one of the ‘ninja trio’ needed to stay here. She knew the pair would be fine on their own, and she had full faith in their abilities. Not only scouting, but disarming and setting up collisions on their own. To trick the enemy into attacking itself. If it would of worked or not, who knows. There’s a pause in the air before she changes the subject back to his plan. Corrin wished to inquire him about his other family of sorts. Could she…? The worry of memories imposing upon Robin worried her. When she found him, he seemed so out of it.
“How much time will you need? Is there anything I can do to assist you? I may not be the best of assistances, but I’m willing to give it my all. It would be better to have two minds work together, rather than one.” All her resources were his as well. The dragoness knew more than she let on to others. All that knowledge stored within her mind, how she hid it all not even she understood. There was something she did know, though. She had all her trust in him. They would make it out OK, one way or another.
he twirls the quill between thumb & index fingers, and upon his face does an expression of deep thought rest. this isn’t his army─this he knows. these aren’t the same people he’s fought beside for years, and by no means were their skills anything he has proper knowledge & grasp on. robin is fighting odds he can only combat with the limited knowledge he can scrape together on their campaign, ( even when he’s with them on the astral plain─a little pocket between worlds─he only can take in so much at once ) and to play tactician once more under these circumstance is nothing short of foolish.
and yet, in spite of this shortcoming, he finds he’s comfortable. used to what has been handed to him, in a sense. had it not been for this war─this damned conflict between two countries & this... this anankos sort─robin might have thought it no different than being back in ylisse. this was, of course, an exaggeration; with how their words would roll off their tongues & mix with their dialects, ( all so strange and new to hear ) there would be no way for robin to truly feel as if he fit in.
there is a lull of silence between her words and his next. he mulls over what she says. takes it in & pulls together his thoughts ‘fore he responds. corrin is considerate of the worst─she states every measure she has had the others taken, just in case─a situation he prays he’ll never see a second time.
“ it’s best we work together, corrin.
there’s only so much i can do on my own
in these circumstances, and i find it wise to
have your council while we work out our next
move. i shouldn’t need much time. a few hours,
at the most. “
when he speaks, he addresses corrin fully. dark irises fall from the map at his fingertips and raise to meet crimson─he turns to look at her with a glimmer of determination that pervades the entire army when she leads them. she’s a natural-born leader, he realises. not that she has been raised for the task, but simply falls into place like it’s where she’s been her entire life. ( it reminds him of himself, to that extent ) and, gods, it’s like he’s with the shepherds again. she’s that charm about her that inspires him the same way it inspires her army─the same sort which chrom possessed that had robin ready & willing to go the extra mile.
“ most troupes of bandits have a ring leader of
sorts. in my experience, they rarely ever match an
army’s number, but they’re clever─they know their
terrain and how to use it against even a large number
like ours. but if they have a chain of command,
we might be able to disrupt it and get the rest to
abandon their post. “
“ this, of course, depends on what saizo and kagero tell us. “
indeed; he can spend the next few nights mulling over his plans, but without that crucial information, robin may as well suggest they just flip a coin. gambling is a vice he cares little to play with & he’ll not resort to it if it can be helped. ( lady luck is one woman he doesn’t wish to have persistent in his life ) he traces his index finger along the map to the village and continues speaking─
“ my other suggestion is along the lines
of what you’ve said─try to find a way around
the bandits and get to the village. we can barter
a place to rest in favour of protecting it, but that
could also draw attention to them once we leave.
it’s likely the bandits have set their sights onto it
in the past, and we don’t know how well they
can hold up with or without us.
like i said, it’s circumstantial.
when i have a better idea of what we’ve ahead of us,
it won’t be too hard to solidify either plan.
but i’m confident that we’ll be able to make it
to the village with minimal problems. “
as a whole, he refrains from saying. it’s strange to him─her pacifist nature toward conflict. while he is no more willing to fall into line for fighting a war, ( much less, one he’s no place in ) robin realises that to pursue peace means one must struggle to achieve it. but, he understands her stance. had he been as close to his own family as corrin was, perhaps his own story would have been different.
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