Chapter Text
"You're an archer." Joshua jams a finger into Innes chest. "Stay behind me!"
"Can't." He crosses his arms. "I swore to protect Eirika."
"Swore to-" Joshua loudly exhaled. "You're an archer."
"You already established that."
"Have I? Because you're not getting it." In all his years as a mercenary, Joshua has never encountered someone so smart and yet so dumb. It stems from his stubbornness, something he can sympathize with having been there in his own younger, dumber years, but he's so much smarter than he'd ever been. "Are you going to let them split your bow?"
"Excuse me?"
Joshua doesn't even want to consider it. It's wood. Axes and swords are metal. Gods forbid they catch him at a disadvantage. "Stay behind me. Both you and Eirika."
Innes glances across camp at her. "I doubt she'd allow you to tell her what to do, either."
"You're right, you're right." Joshua sighs. "How much do you weigh?"
"No."
"Oh I am not asking, Your Highness." He widens his stance and Innes startles like a deer, ready to bolt in the opposite direction once Joshua charges. "I tried to be reasonable. Now I need to know if I can rescue you."