A bordering village

[Tifa Lockhart]

The prince held up his hand to gesture a halt, raising one gauntlet clad hand to push up his helmets visor so he could see. There was a reddish glow on the horizon and thick column of black smoke rose into their hair, filling his nostrils with it's hot stench, the source of the fire couldn't be that far away.
"Aanu." He said gesturing to one of his squad, the third in command here. "Are there any villages near by here, or could it simply be a scrub fire?" He pointed out the glow, not that anyone could have missed it.

((It IS a town, k Riku?))

[Cloud Strife]

Aanu pursed his lips together as he glanced off to where the Prince was pointing. He thought for a moment, only to widen his eyes and whirl around to face Stephen. "Yes. Yes, there is a town in that direction. If it is on fire, we need to get there immediately." Mentally, Aanu was cursing in his head...attempting to seek out his superior by way of sight. Where WAS he anyways?

[Tifa Lockhart]

The prince's eyes hardened instantly and he too glanced around for the Gorallan commander.
"Commander Jarl!" He called, and instantly the heavily clad warrior mounted on his heavy warhorse appeared by his side.

"Begging your pardon Your Highness, one of the rookies at the back was causing a fuss... how may i be of service?" His eyes darted to the pillar of smoke, then to Aanu.

"I want to be at that village YESTERDAY, Bandit raid or the first attack of war it doesn't matter... i need my people to know i serve them humbly." His eyes were stone cold, missing the child like glint that Jarl had noticed whenever he'd seen the prince. But he looked so much like his father now that it was uncanny.
"At once sire." Jarl replied before wheeling his horse around and barking out to his soldiers.
"Forward march!! Triple time!"
The entire column broke into a gallop towards the horizon alight with a red glow.

[The Painted Lady]

Alyssa tried calling out to her brothers again. There was not much else she could do when she was trapped under the rubble and debris that used to be her family home. She could hear panicked screams and the crackling of fires burning houses to the ground coming from the streets, but no audible sign of her brothers. She clutched her ribs as she leant forward to try and move a beam that had fallen across her right leg. She was almost certain it was broken as it flared in pain again. She knew it was hopeless. If she didn't die from her injuries, she would probably be burned to death by the fires that had been lit by the invaders. As she fell onto her back again, a few tears fell, not only from the agony she was in, but because she had no idea if any of her family was still alive.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Stephan and his army arrived in the burning village not a moment to late, the last of the invaders that had not already fled were just waiting to be slaughtered.
"Kill the arsonists and then douse these fires!" He said, pointing to Jarl and a few others.
"We'll search for survivors!" He said again, pointing to Aanu and a few of the men.
With no hesitation for his safety Stephan dismounted and ran off into the flaming village. He couldn't see anyone alive in the village itself, the survivors had fled to the fields south of the village, where Stephan had left some men to care for them.
"Is there anyone there!" He yelled, spluttering in the smoke.

[The Painted Lady]

Alyssa could feel herself slipping from consciousness despite her attempts to stay alert. Smoke had began pouring into the room, making it difficult to breathe. She coughed, trying to clear her lungs, but air was soon thick with the smoke. She groaned semi-consciously as she felt herself slipping...

[Tifa Lockhart]

The fully armed prince through himself at the blocked door of one house, ignoring the pain on his face as the flames seared his flesh. He broke through the door without to much effort and stopped to wipe the sweat and ash from his now lightly burned face.
"Is there anyone in here!" He yelled again, wading through the wreckage, dodging falling beams and tongues of flame.
Then he heard a gentle cough from somewhere.
"Hold on!" He yelled, making his way to a door that was all but buried in debris "I'm coming."
He threw himself at the door with all his might, crashing through it to land heavily on the floor.
"Ugh..." He grunted in mild pain, pushing himself to his feet. He spotted the survivor, a young girl by the looks... and she was drifting off.
"Wake up!" He yelled over the thundering flames, coughing heavily as the smoke seared his lungs. He knelt beside her and scooped her up cradle style into his arms.
"Stay awake! I'll get you out of here!"

[Cloud Strife]

Aanu rode after Stephen instantly, making sure to act as back-up should he need it. He would let Jarl take the rest of them, while he acted as guard. With his warhorse charging, he followed after the prince's stallion...and pretty soon he halted his horse's charge in order to follow once more. He was too late, however, in arriving..and so basically...he found that Stephen plunged into the depths of a burning home. Shit. Snarling slightly, he lifted an arm to shiel himself - entering accordingly in pursuit. "Sire! Where are you?! Follow my voice!" He called over the roaring flames...idly hoping that Jarl would arrive soon to douse these ravenous flames.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Stephan stood, holding the girl in his arms. His lungs were screaming for oxygen and he's was getting dizzier by the minute until a voice broke the haze that was setting over his mind.
"Aanu..." He groaned as he staggered, following the voice. "I'm here, i found a girl!" He called, covering his charge with his cloak before leaping head first through a column of flame, entering the room where Aanu waited. He was burnt and covered in soot, but he'd rescued the girl.
"We have to get her out." He said to Aanu, taking a deep shuddering breath as he spoke. "Stay awake." He implored the girl.

[Cloud Strife]

Instantly, Aanu began shielding Stephen and the girl, nodding in slight. "Alright. Quickly now..." He stated abruptly, only to suddenly look up in time to notice a beam was falling courtesy of the flames. "WATCH OUT!!" Eyes widening, he lurched forward - intent on shoving the two out of the way and towards the door. Unfortunately, in his haste to do so...the beam landed right on his legs. A pained yell came forth then, heavy armor being the only protection he had at this point. Coughing, he would wave at his Prince to continue on. "Go! Go, Sire! Get out of here! Save the girl!" He yelled, wincing in slight. I don't care how thick his armor was, at least one of his legs was out of commission for the time being. Whether it was broken or not had yet to be known...but he couldn't move them thanks to the massive beam - that was in flames mind you.

[Tifa Lockhart]

The prince's mind was sent reeling into turmoil, the heat making thinking difficult. But his strong impulse to protect all his people remained and he wasn't leaving Aanu behind while he ran away. Carefully he transferred the girl onto his back, making sure she was holding around his neck tightly before he knelt down and gripped the burning beam.
"No one.... is left.... behind." He grunted with effort as veins in his jaw popped out with the strain.
His head began to spin and his grip on the beam was slackening, the heat getting to him.

But just in the nick of time Jarl burst through a column of flames his demonic looking armour making him look like some kind of terrifying beast.
"Take the girl an go highness!" He said forcibly, pulling Stephan to his feet and shoving him towards the exit before he stooped and grabbed the beam. After a brief strain the beam rolled away.
"C'mon." He grunted, holding out a supporting shoulder to his comrade.

[Cloud Strife]

Flinching visibly, he let out another pained groan when the beam was rolled off. Ow, that f*ckin' hurt, man. Of course, when all hope seemed lost...Jarl came to the rescue. Gaze lifted to find that the beam was gone, and his superior was offering him a lift. Fair enough, he supposed. Using Jarl as a make-shift walker, he limped along with him. "Sorry, Jarl. I'll be out for awhile." He murmered, hanging his head. "Though, I'm glad the Prince is alright."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Jarl barked a laugh at Aanu's comment.
"Out for a while? Heck man you can be out for as long as you damn well like. Ye saved our thickhead prince from being roasted." He gave Stephan another shove, the prince having stopped to make sure Aanu and him were alright.
"Ye may be my boss but ye need to focus on wha's smart an' wha's not. If ye'd been roasted just now Keshia would be as good as Lartonian." He looked back down to Aanu.
"Ye did good.... sorry i took so long."

[Cloud Strife]

Aanu gave Jarl a greatful smile. "Thanks..." And then, he'd turn a sour glare upon his prince. "I must agree with Jarl on this matter, Prince. What you did back there may have been valiant, but where would we be if you were suddenly killed, hm?!" Reprimand time! Where was the stick in the mud advisor when you needed him, huh? He was REALLY good with lectures, after all. Har har. Anyways, he limped along - trailing behind his Lord and being supported by his superior. "Anyways, I'm just glad that I was of service and use to you, my Prince."

[The Painted Lady]

Alyssa barely registered that she being rescued at all, let alone by the Prince of Keshia himself. Though she could hear someone speaking to her, nothing made sense. In her semi-conscious state she groaned again, clutching at her ribs, her right leg hanging limply.