Death’s Daughter and the Ebony Blade: Volume 5, page 13
“Moving to another matter, what is to become of the Helios Knights? Leaving them without a commander is sure to affect discipline.”
“I’m thinking of giving them over to Rosenmarie for the time being,” Darmés replied smoothly.
“Rosenmarie?”
“Yes, she’s been back for nearly a month, hasn’t she?”
“That’s true...” Felix admitted. “Still, do you think she’ll be all right?”
It wasn’t Rosenmarie’s abilities that concerned Felix. Owing to circumstances, Rosenmarie was currently staying with Felix. She had fully regained her strength, but even so, she had only been there a month. Felix thought it would be cruel to send her out again.
“There is no one else suitable. Unless you have a candidate that you would like to recommend elevating to the Three Generals?”
Felix considered the question. He could think of a number of competent individuals, but competency was not the same as being suited to lead the Helios Knights. Felix himself set little store by his rank as one of the Three Generals, but it was still not a position to which he could recommend someone lightly. With a mirthless smile, he shook his head.
“I thought as much. Meanwhile, rumors are flying about the city that the Royal Army is planning a large-scale assault on Kier Fortress. I’m sure you’re aware of this too.”
“I am...” Felix replied. “Though I confess I am a little surprised to hear you paying heed to common gossip.”
“There’s nothing surprising about it. I started off in intelligence analysis, you know. I treat it all with care, no matter how trivial.” Darmés chuckled, his cracked lips curling.
Felix watched him, reflecting wryly that this couldn’t be the same Darmés who had casually dismissed reports on Death God Olivia. Nevertheless, he would not be surprised if the Royal Army, after their success in taking back the northern and southern lands from the empire, next moved to attack Kier Fortress. If the worst should happen and they lost Kier Fortress, it would mean the total loss of imperial holdings within Fernest’s domains. Felix had already learned from his investigations that the rumors had their source in traveling merchants. Crossing between nations as they did, these merchants naturally came across all sorts of information.
As such, I can’t simply discount it as a rumor. And I’m sure the lord chancellor is of the same mind.
“Going on the assumption that the rumors are true,” Darmés said, “I wish to place Rosenmarie at Kier Fortress. Meanwhile, I shall continue to rely on you for the protection of the capital, Felix.”
In the end, there was no one but Rosenmarie who could take Kier Fortress, and without an order from the emperor, Felix could not leave the capital. Unable to come up with any objection to Darmés’s proposal, Felix indicated his acceptance.
“Well, then, if you have nothing further to discuss with me, I must be going,” Darmés said, rising slowly from the sofa and brushing the creases from his robe. “I have funeral preparations to attend to.”
Felix saluted, then left the room. As he walked down the corridor, a conversation played itself out in his mind. Strange. What’s this feeling? It’s as though...I overlooked something? But no, he told himself, that isn’t possible. Darmés had said nothing to raise his suspicions, nor had his manner been any different from normal. Yet something deep in Felix’s subconscious was blaring a warning of some unknown threat, as though by leaving things be, he was committing an irreversible mistake.
But right now, his priority was not shadowy warnings; rather, it was dealing with the reality that was bearing down upon them. We need to know how the Royal Army plans on moving on Kier Fortress. But first, I have to hunt down whoever murdered Marshal Gladden, and quickly...
Here, Felix noticed the red light that filled the corridor and turned to look out the window. Through the glass, the wine red of the sun seemed ghastly.
Interlude: Reunited Out of the Blue
The Southern Quarter of Fis, the Kingdom of Fernest
A man and woman in military uniform walked impatiently by the many shops that lined the streets of the merchant’s district. One, in a general’s regalia, was Major General Neinhardt Blanche, an aide to the First Legion. He was accompanied by his own aide, Captain Katerina Reinas.
“Captain Katerina, procurement of the armor and weapons we’re short on—”
“The order has been placed with Marcos Trading. The goods will arrive at Galia Fortress in three to four days.”
“Food supplies—”
“I have arranged for the bulk of them to be supplied by the Francis Company. After Mekia put in a word for us, Silverwing Traders have kindly offered to help in whatever way they can. I anticipate that we will secure sufficient food supplies before the battle commences.”
Neinhardt was quiet for a moment. “One step ahead as always, I see,” he said after a moment.
“I have a certain superior officer to thank for that. His incessant unreasonable demands have trained me well.” Katerina lightly brushed aside her shoulder-length black hair with her fingertips, looking prim.
I suppose she must be talking about me, though I don’t remember it, Neinhardt thought with a rueful smile. A table outside a shop caught his eye, and he led Katerina over to it.
“General?” she said questioningly.
“We have a little time before our next appointment. Something like this can’t hurt from time to time.” Neinhardt pulled out a chair, then promptly sat down and called over a waiter. He ordered tea for both of them. Katerina’s prim expression turned to one of uncertainty as she lowered herself slowly into her own chair.
“Every so often he makes a sweet gesture like this,” she muttered. “It’s not fair.”
“Sorry? What was that?”
“Just talking to myself, ser,” Katerina said quickly. “You know this shop, then?”
“Oh, no, it just caught my eye...” Neinhardt replied. “Why, should I?”
“In actual fact, ser,” Katerina said, “the chicken terrine sandwiches here are supposed to be extraordinary.” She peeked at him from beneath her lashes like a schoolgirl. Neinhardt sighed, then called the waiter over once more.
“Sorry, could you add a chicken terrine sandwich to that order?”
“Hooray!” Katerina did a tiny fist pump, and Neinhardt couldn’t help but smile.
About ten minutes later, just as their tea was brought out along with the terrine sandwich, Neinhardt’s attention was drawn to a shop across the street, where a crowd was forming.
“Things are really bustling over there,” he commented. “What is that shop?”
Katerina, happily picking up her sandwich in both hands, didn’t bother to look before she replied. “A sweet shop. It’s been all the rage lately.”
“Sweets?” Neinhardt looked back at the crowded shop front. If they were out in the provinces, it would have been one thing, but in Fis, sweet shops were a dime a dozen. Apparently picking up on Neinhardt’s disbelief, Katerina reluctantly set down the sandwich she had been about to shove into her face. After first warning him that the story was only a rumor, she told Neinhardt that the shop was selling sweets made by Duchess Gruening.
“Duchess Gruening?!” Neinhardt exclaimed before he could stop himself. The duchess was, of course, none other than Cornelius’s wife. It was a ludicrous tale.
“I told you it was a rumor.”
“My understanding of rumors is that they usually have more than a little truth behind them.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do about it,” Katerina said, reaching for her sandwich again. “More importantly, your tea is getting cold.”
Neinhardt sipped his tea, watching her. Next, it was Katerina’s turn to notice a different crowd forming. “What could that be?” she wondered.
“They’re very loud.” Looking out over his tea, Neinhardt’s eyes eventually found a girl walking their way, waving happily as a chorus of shrieks broke out around her. Silver-haired and dressed in the same general’s uniform as Neinhardt, it was obvious at once that this was none other than Olivia. The concerning part was her loyal retinue of guards—presumably the cause of the shrieking.
“Major General Olivia, I can’t have you leading those around town with you,” Neinhardt admonished her the moment she got into earshot. Meanwhile, Katerina’s eyes were fixed on the dusksight wolves at Olivia’s feet. The terrine sandwich dropped from her hands.
“Mr. Fish—um, Major General Neinhardt! You’re having tea here?”
“Well, yes, as you can see, but that’s not—”
“Mind if I join you?”
Neinhardt was at a loss for how to reply. If he were honest, he did not want Olivia to sit down. No one who had seen those dusksight wolves up close would have. Having said that, after previously being introduced to them, he found he wasn’t as shaken as he would have been in the past. For better or for worse, he appeared to have developed a tolerance for them.
“Dusksight wolves, class one dangerous beasts...” Katerina whispered. Katerina, on the other hand, had no such tolerance. Moving faster than he’d ever seen before, she scooted around the table to sit beside him, linking her slender arm through his with viselike force.
“I’d really like to sit down,” Olivia said sweetly.
“Those... Are you sure about them?” Neinhardt asked, keeping a wary eye on the wolves.
“They’re well behaved. They’ll be fine.” Smiling, she sat down in an empty chair, then asked, “What are you eating?”
“It’s a chicken terrine sandwich,” Katerina replied shakily. She didn’t take her eyes off the wolves for a second as she spoke.
“Is it good?”
“Y-Yes. It’s delicious.”
“Cool.” Olivia turned to the waiter, who was staring at the wolves as though about to faint with terror, and said breezily, “One of the same for me too.”
The waiter nodded several times, then fled back into the shop as fast as their legs would carry them.
“G-General Olivia. Would you mind if I asked you a question?”
“What is it?”
“Th-They...they aren’t going to eat us, are they?”
Olivia looked from Katerina’s fearful face to the dusksight wolves who sat obediently around her. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
“I mean, dusksight wolves are dangerous beasts...”
“They’re fine. You can even touch them, if you like.”
“N-No! No, thank you!”
Olivia laughed. “Come on, don’t be shy,” she said, then grabbed Katerina’s arm and dragged her over to the head of one of the wolves. It submitted calmly and didn’t move a muscle.
“There, isn’t it the fluffiest, best thing you ever felt?”
“General! General!” To Neinhardt’s not inconsiderable shock, Katerina appeared for the first time since he had known her to be close to tears. Unless he did something, she might even have a breakdown—which would mean twice as much work for Neinhardt. That was something he had to avoid at all costs.
“Major General Olivia, I think she’s had enough.”
“What? Already?” Olivia stared, bewildered, at Katerina, who nodded so vigorously he thought she might shake her head clean off.
“Okay, it’s your turn next, Major General Nein—”
“Look, your food’s here.” Catching sight of the trembling waiter approaching with Olivia’s sandwich, Neinhardt seized the opportunity to deflect Olivia’s proposal. Then, as Katerina glowered resentfully at him, he caught sight of Ashton Senefelder approaching, a look of resignation on his face.
“It’s been too long, ser.” Ashton saluted Neinhardt. Then, taking Olivia by the arm, he dragged her to her feet.
“Just a bit longer, I have to finish my terrine sandwich.”
“No can do. Colonel Claudia is champing at the bit to see you.”
“Come on, she can champ for a bit longer.”
“I suppose you’ll still be saying that when you’re facing a terrifying yaksha?”
At once, Olivia’s face froze in terror. “I-I definitely don’t want that.”
It wasn’t every day one saw such an expression on the face of the Death God that the empire feared so greatly. Neinhardt was naturally taken aback.
What even is this “yaksha” that scares her so much...? Neinhardt became temporarily immersed in the ocean of his thoughts, until Ashton’s voice fished him back out.
“We’ll be going then, General!” he announced. “Patches, Spot, Pooch, you come too. And don’t menace anyone.”
“Grarrr!”
Ashton saluted again, then, taking Olivia—who had a yearning look in her eyes—by the arm, he pulled her away. The dusksight wolves arranged themselves around the pair in a three-pointed defensive formation.
Katerina stared dazedly after the two humans and three wolves. “Did you see that? He was talking to class one dangerous beasts like they were his soldiers,” she said. “Who would have thought Major Ashton was so tough?” There was now a hint of something like admiration in her face.
No, I’m pretty sure he’s just numb to it all... Neinhardt thought. He couldn’t help but feel sympathetic to Ashton’s predicament.
Chapter Five: Rosenmarie Rises Again
I
The Commander’s Room, Kier Fortress, the Imperial Army
Having finished her long convalescence, Rosenmarie set off for Kier Fortress with her Crimson Knights. She arrived a week after the lavish funeral that had been held for Gladden.
“It’s very good to see you, my lady.”
“I appreciate the reception.” As she and Oscar entered the commander’s room, Rosenmarie caught a faint whiff of the hair product she’d smelled every time she met Gladden. The scent, which she had found unbearably irritating back then, now aroused in her something like nostalgia.
“Never thought I’d see the day Gladden died of natural causes, though...” Rosenmarie sat back heavily in the chair and surveyed the room that had formerly belonged to her superior officer. Gladden, she knew, had paid an uncommon degree of care to his health. When the news of his death had reached her, she had actually thought it was a joke and laughed aloud.
“At the very least, there was nothing wrong with him when he set out from Kier Fortress...”
Sensing a hint of implication in Oscar’s words, Rosenmarie scowled at him. “Am I imagining things, or are you nursing doubts about Marshal Gladden’s death?”
“You are not imagining it, my lady,” Oscar admitted. “It’s true. I remain unconvinced.”
“I heard one of the most respected healers in the capital declared it to be a natural death. I don’t think you’ve got a choice but to be convinced, whatever your thoughts on the matter might be.”
“That may be so, my lady, it just...doesn’t sit right with me.”
Rosenmarie, growing fed up with Oscar’s cryptic remarks, found herself raising her voice. “And I don’t know what you’re on about. What isn’t sitting right?”
“It’s very difficult to put into words...” Oscar replied. “It was what I felt when I saw Marshal Gladden’s body.”
“And what feeling was that?”
Oscar hesitated for a moment. “It was the stench of death,” he said. “From the battlefield...”
“Basically, you’re trying to say someone murdered him.”
Oscar’s silence clearly articulated his sentiments. Rosenmarie understood why he struggled to readily accept Gladden’s death. She had been down that path herself. Pinning all of her hatred on its source, Death God Olivia, had been enough for her, but Oscar’s case was different. Gladden had not died on a battlefield.
It was so sudden that his emotions are probably still a mess, Rosenmarie decided. Still, there’s what he said about the stench of death on the battlefield...
The man before her was no average soldier. Whatever else he might be, he had risen to chief of staff in the Helios Knights. Rosenmarie was incredibly curious by what he said about a “stench of death.” Those who took to the battlefield sometimes sensed something like an omen of death in their opponent.
She folded her arms and gave Oscar a penetrating stare. “Let me ask you this, Oscar. If, hypothetically, Gladden was murdered, who did it? When? How did they do the deed? Poison would be quick and easy, but a healer would never miss that. Or did he have some suspicious wounds?”
“No, my lady,” Oscar said at length. “I am told there wasn’t a scratch on him.”
Even if someone had escaped the notice of the guards to successfully sneak into Gladden’s bedroom, they couldn’t have murdered him without leaving a single mark. And this was Gladden, who of all people had boasted that he lived every moment as though he were on the battlefield. It was hard to imagine him being overpowered by a common thief.
Rosenmarie pointed all of this out to Oscar, who gaped at her.
“I do not think Marshal Gladden fell victim to a common thief either,” he said.
“Then you just have to accept it was natural causes, don’t you? Even if we don’t know exactly what causes.”
Oscar still looked dissatisfied, but he gave a reluctant nod. It wasn’t like arguing any further was going to bring Gladden back from the dead. Putting the subject of the late marshal behind them, Rosenmarie moved on to the matter at hand.
“Have you heard the rumors going around the capital lately?” she asked.
“I have. I suppose that means you have as well, Lady Rosenmarie.”
A credible rumor was spreading in whispers between traveling merchants that the Royal Army was going to launch a large-scale military assault on Kier Fortress. Rosenmarie had heard it many times over during her stay in the capital.
“The shimmers are confirming if there’s any truth to it. Though if you ask me, they needn’t bother.”
“You mean it’s true?”
“Chancellor Darmés thinks so too. That’s why he sent me here, is it not?” Rosenmarie kicked her feet up on the desk. Oscar frowned, showing his disapproval, but Rosenmarie ignored him and went on. “When the Royal Army attacks, we’ll make full use of Kier Fortress’s defenses. They built their so-called impenetrable fortress, now they can experience it firsthand.”
