Suikoden VI

Chapter Six: Part Eight

Note: Another poll closed when this chapter was first published. I'll include the results of the poll below.

Poll: What should be done about Yuber?

- Don't Change him at all: 2

- Humanize him: 6

The results of this poll will be integrated into the fanfic moving forward.

—

Part Eight

"Where is Imbuka?!" Tamara shouted. "Did she flee the battlefield too?!"

"I don't see her anywhere," Nigel said gravely. "Nor do I see Sheikh Lažov."

"We're riding for the capital now," Tamara seethed. "This is unforgivable! I'm going to file a complaint against—"

There was an explosion of light before their unit and the soldiers cried out as three large rats, each of them easily three meters long and nearly as tall, suddenly appeared in their path. "W-What is going on?!" Tamara exclaimed.

"Someone wants you dead, Lady Sheikh!" Nigel shouted, quickly drawing his flyssa sword.

"I-I don't under—"

"My Lady, we have been abandoned by your second-in-command and a fellow Sheikh! And some unknown force other than the Liberation Army is bringing monsters to the battlefield! Clearly someone does NOT want us to leave this battlefield alive!"

"But how do you know it's not—"

"Because the monsters are attacking the rebels too!" Nigel interrupted her in a harsh tone. "I will do everything I can to get you out of here alive, so stay back and let us take care of this! And damn it all, leave us if we fall!"

Tamara stammered at her soldiers rushed towards the rats. S...Someone wants me dead? Imbuka abandoned me? Sheikh Lažov abandoned me too? Why?! Why are they doing this?! I haven't done anything wrong!

Her soldiers were fighting fiercely against the giant rats but they monsters were overwhelming them. Tamara sat frozen in horror and fear, her breath coming in fast and harsh. W...What do I do? Father, what do I do?!

"BERATE!"

The unfamiliar shout startled Tamara, but to her immense relief she saw the three mice become hazy from the force of the powerful spell. Her unit had only injuries and no fatalities, and with the monsters in a much weaker state Nigel and the other soldiers easily slew the monsters.

But where did that spell—

"Now!" Caesar shouted, and Daunte didn't waste a moment. Gunther's horse charged towards Tamara at high speeds and the young Sheikh turned at Caesar's shout, just as rose up into a kneeling position on the saddle. Her eyes went wide but before she could scream Daunte jumped from his horse, launching through the air and tackling Tamara off her horse.

"Lady Sheikh!" Nigel shouted as he spun around. The force of the tackle knocked Tamara's hood off and twin plaits smacked against Daunte's arms but he hauled her to her feet by her collar. She was shaken up but uninjured, as was he. "You bastard, let her go!"

That's Priscilla's bodyguard from Baltas! Daunte thought.

"You're in no position to be making demands," Caesar said calmly as he came to Daunte's side. "Furthermore, it's quite rude of you to insult my lord after he saved your lives just now."

"I..." the words died in Tamara's throat as the Liberation Army forces formed a large circle around her unit.

"You are defeated," Daunte told her. "Will you surrender?"