Suikoden VI

Chapter Nine: Part Seven

Note: I'm still very sore post-surgery, but the chapters that are about to follow are the chapters I've been dying to write for this story. Now that I'm starting to feel better, I'm glad to finally get this out. Thank you for your patience.

Because I had to push this chapter back due to surgery, the end of the government poll will be pushed back as well. So now you have until Saturday, 4/2, to vote in the poll. I will post the results in the chapter that follows the poll.

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Part Seven

Quiet. Tense. It was what Daunte could sense in the air as the Liberation Army prepared to march. The soldiers were armed and ready, and Daunte saw his comrades saying goodbye to loved ones they were leaving behind.

"Don't you worry Dad!" Dylan said with a smile. "I'll have my room clean before you come back!"

Virgil laughed. "I'm looking forward to it."

"I-I've never participated in a battle before," Blaise said softy. "I'll try my best to not disappoint you."

"Stay alive," Tamara responded. "Then I won't be disappointed."

"Don't go dying out there, you hear me you two?" Priscilla said, pulling Nigel and Thea in for a simultaneous hug.

"You as well, Lady Priscilla," Thea said.

"We'll all be fine," Nigel said.

Áthas and Sásta were hugging a man and woman that Daunte assumed was their parents. "Everything will be fine!" Sásta said cheerfully.

"That's right!" Áthas agreed.

"Dad, please be careful," Esther said tearfully, hugging Sloan around the shoulders.

"You have nothing to worry about," Sloan said confidently, setting her down. "This is not my first time on a battlefield. I know what I'm doing."

Ciana was hiding behind Tidur. From her body language, it looked like Tidur also wanted to embrace her estranged husband. After a few moments though she hugged her arms. "...Take care of yourself, okay?" She said softly. "Both of you." she looked between Sloan and Adalgiso.

"I won't let anything happen to my Lord," Adalgiso promised her.

"She also told you to take care," Sloan pointed out amusedly.

Ciana finally moved out from behind Tidur and meekly approached her father. Sloan watched his youngest child approach but did not move towards her, afraid he would further scare her. Ciana stopped in front of Sloan and stared up at him for a long moment. Then she reached out and extended her hand to him. She didn't say a word. Sloan stared back at her for another long moment of silence before he took her hand.

It was an awkward and painful handshake between father and daughter.

"Don't ANY of you even think about dying," Freyr said sharply, jabbing his finger at his family and fellow Falenans. "I'll never forgive you if you die today!"

Georg laughed. "You certainly have spirit, Prince Freyr!"

"I'll keep the Prince safe," Mokuren promised him.

"Just don't overdo it," Surya said.

"Hm," Soturi said.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure we're successful," Israfil said.

"This is a waste of time," Reis scoffed.

"I...have a bad feeling," Mihr said, looking towards the east.

"Really?" Keiran asked him in surprise.

"I feel an omen of bad things to come." Mihr shook his head. "We need to be careful today."