Death’s Daughter and the Ebony Blade: Volume 5, page 15
“Well, well. Major General Olivia Valedstorm, I believe?”
“You know who I am?” Olivia asked, cocking her head. Solid gave a half smile.
“You stand at ease, yet show no weaknesses. As far as I know, there’s only one girl you could be,” Solid replied. “You’ll have to excuse me. I know you’ve just arrived, but this is an excellent opportunity. Might I borrow you for a moment?”
Solid went over to the swords that hung crossed on the wall. Claudia understood his intentions at once.
“Father?!” she exclaimed.
“I’m something of a warrior too. When I meet someone strong, I can’t help myself.”
The courage necessary to stop Solid was beyond what Claudia possessed. She bowed to Olivia as the girl caught the sword Solid tossed to her.
“I’m very sorry, ser.”
“I don’t mind.” Resting the sword easily on her shoulder, she followed Solid with light steps to the garden, where the two of them faced off under Claudia’s watchful gaze.
“Very well. Begin!” Claudia announced, throwing up her hand to signal for them to start.
Olivia didn’t show any sign of raising her sword. In response, Solid did not raise his sword either. Only his legs moved as he gradually closed the distance between himself and Olivia with slow, circular steps. It was when Solid took a half step into melee range that the action truly began. Olivia activated Swift Step, instantly closing the remaining distance between them. Seeing Olivia move like that for the first time should have been a shock to anyone, but Solid didn’t even blink. He parried Olivia’s cleaving blow, then spun halfway around to give momentum to a strike at Olivia’s back. But his blade never met its mark. Olivia leapt up, seeming to fly as she passed gracefully over Solid’s head and alighted behind him. If Claudia hadn’t engaged Heaven’s Sight, she would have struggled to catch Olivia’s movements at all.
“As expected from Claudia’s father,” Olivia said. Solid didn’t respond to her praise, but there was a look of exhilaration on his face that Claudia had never seen before. Olivia slowly removed her blade from his neck.
Father would have won with that first strike if his opponent had been anyone other than the general. Even one of the Ten Swords doesn’t have the power to best her...
She quelled the rush of elation she felt, then declared Olivia the victor.
“That short battle was worth more than years of training. I have no words to thank you with, Major General Olivia.”
“Oh, you don’t need to thank me. Anyway, all this moving around has made me hungry,” Olivia said, rubbing her belly. Solid let out a hearty laugh.
“Yes, the renowned warrior Major General Olivia has come all this way to call on us! Failing to show you proper hospitality would be to bring shame upon the name of Jung for generations. Claudia?”
“I know what to do, Father.”
Leaving the two of them chatting away as though they had known each other for years, Claudia strode swiftly away.
A night passed.
“Ocean water is really salty.” Olivia dipped the tip of her tongue into the water cupped in her hands, then screwed up her face in disgust. Sasha watched her and cackled with delight.
Olivia, Claudia, and Sasha had come to spend the day at a beach an hour’s journey on horseback from the Jung estate.
“Is this your first time coming to the ocean, General?”
“Yep. Hey, those...waves, right? They’re so funny, coming and going like that.” Olivia, barefoot after having kicked off her boots, frolicked about in the waves as they rolled in and out. Taking this scene alone, she looked just like any other sixteen-year-old girl. Sasha, who was running around with her, suddenly tugged on Olivia’s skirt.
“Olivia, can you make a sandcastle?”
“A castle? Like Leticia Castle.”
Sasha nodded. “I haven’t seen the castle yet. And when Claudia made one for me last time, I didn’t really understand it...” She looked at Claudia a little resentfully. Claudia scratched her face awkwardly. Making things was not her strong suit. Despite that, she was still a good cook, but Olivia had requested that she focus on her military duties, so she hadn’t picked up a kitchen knife lately.
“You don’t want to play hide-and-seek?” Olivia asked.
“No. We’re at the beach, so I want you to make a sandcastle.”
Olivia’s gaze drifted, then she quickly issued a command for the others to bring her sand, and lots of it. Sasha cheerfully agreed; then she and Claudia got to work, Sasha with excitement, Claudia simply doing as she was told.
“Yep, this should be enough,” Olivia said, looking at the mountain of sand as tall as Claudia with satisfaction. Using a twig she’d procured from somewhere, she got straight to work creating a castle.
“Then this is like this...and this bit...I think was like this.” Olivia hummed away as she deftly moved her twig. As the mound of sand became more and more castlelike before their eyes, Sasha’s excitement mounted.
“Wonderful! Isn’t Olivia wonderful? You think so too, don’t you, Claudia?”
“Er, yes.” Sasha’s excitement was only natural. In truth, “wonderful” didn’t begin to cover it. The replica of Leticia Castle taking shape was intricate in the extreme, accurate down to the smallest details. It had passed into the realm of what could be called art.
“Claudia, I want to take it home,” Sasha said, staring straight at Claudia. Claudia forced herself to look away, then told her it was impossible. Claudia herself would have liked to take the castle home were such a thing possible. But alas, it was a sandcastle. Carrying it anywhere was fundamentally impossible. And even if they did manage to move it, it would undoubtedly fall apart on the way.
While she was musing on this, Olivia completed her Leticia sandcastle.
“Well? Do you think it looks like the castle?”
“Looks like it? It might as well be the real thing. Pardon the impropriety, General, but isn’t there anything you’re bad at? Some of us can’t bring so much to the table as you can.”
She had meant it in jest, but at the word “table,” Olivia’s smile froze.
“I— Ithinkyoucanbringyourfoodtothetable, honest!”
Claudia stared at her. “I’m sorry, you spoke so fast that I didn’t catch what you said.”
Olivia’s eyes darted around frantically, but just then, a great wave came crashing into Leticia Sandcastle. When the water receded, all that remained was a little mound of sand about half as tall. The three of them stared at it in silent shock. Then, tears welled up in Sasha’s eyes. Before Claudia could say anything to comfort her, Olivia said, “W-We’ll build the next one out of wood. Then it won’t break so easily. What do you want me to make, Sasha?”
“I want Pompom...”
“Pompom?” Olivia’s head snapped around to stare at Claudia. Apparently, even with her unrivaled love of books, Pompom the Fairy had escaped Olivia’s notice.
“Pompom is a fairy who lives in a tree, General.”
“Oh, okay! Then once we’re home, I’ll make Pompom for you right away!”
And before Claudia could stop her, Olivia scooped Sasha up in her arms and set off so quickly she might have been using Swift Step. Claudia stared blankly after them, feeling vaguely bewildered.
Before she knew it, her holiday was over. The third morning since their arrival at the Jung estate dawned, a chilly wind blowing about the members of the Jung family as they assembled to see off Claudia and Olivia.
“Well, I’m sure my daughter will only continue to be a burden on you, but I hope you won’t cast her aside.”
“Oh, I think I’m the one burdening her,” Olivia replied. Elizabeth gave her a patient smile, then turned to Claudia.
“Remember, dear, health is wealth.”
“Yes, Mother. You take care of yourself too.”
Beside Elizabeth, Solid reached out and gripped Claudia’s shoulder. “You’ve grown into a knight worthy of the name of Jung,” he said. “So long as you fight with honor, that is enough.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Solid gave her a satisfied nod, then turned to Olivia.
“I’ve received orders that I am to serve as guard to Lord Marshal Cornelius. Though our battlefields will differ, I wish you all the best in your endeavors.”
“Make sure you take good care of Lord Cornelius. He’s really old.”
“Such irreverence to the lord marshal...but I will do my best.” Solid returned Olivia’s smile with a grin.
“Very well then. Mother, Father. We’ll be off.” Claudia bid farewell to her parents, and she and Olivia set off on the road home.
“Claudiaaa! Oliviaaa! Take care!” Sasha waved enthusiastically after them, Pompom the Fairy gripped tight in her hand.
V
The Royal Capital of Fis, the Kingdom of Fernest
“Move out!”
Horns blared, announcing the departure of the Second Allied Legion from the capital. They advanced north, passing through the towns of Myst and Seinz on the way to the Emaleid Citadel, the greatest city in Fernest’s northern lands. There they would remain until the commencement of the Twin Lions at Dawn.
The Second Allied Legion was under the command of Blood, with Olivia—newly promoted to lieutenant general for driving back the Northern Perscillans—as his second-in-command. They rode side by side in the center of the formation.
“You make that look damn tasty.”
“Well, it is delicious. Do you want some, General Blood?”
“Only if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got heaps.” Olivia rummaged around in Comet’s saddlebag, then threw a few cookies over to Blood, who somehow managed to catch them. He popped one into his mouth.
“This is pretty good. Only it’s so sweet that now I want a drink. Don’t suppose you’ve got any booze in that bag of yours, Liv?” Blood asked, with a sidelong look at the saddlebag.
“Booze? No, I don’t drink, so I don’t have any.”
“Worst luck.”
The pair chatted away with a levity unthinkable in the face of the great battle that awaited them. Riding behind them, Claudia sighed heavily. Lieutenant Colonel Lise, riding alongside her, smirked.
“Is something funny?” Claudia asked.
“Oh, no! Nothing at all, Colonel Claudia!” Lise immediately wiped the smile from her face and saluted. Claudia rubbed her head.
The promotion of a senior officer had a run-on effect for the promotion of their juniors. In accordance with Olivia’s promotion to lieutenant general, Claudia had in turn been promoted to colonel.
She sighed again. “Lieutenant Colonel Lise, I forbid you from speaking to me as your superior.”
“Yes, ser!” Lise barked. Then, with an evil smile, she added, “You’ve really loosened up, Claudia.”
“Well, you know who I’ve got as a superior officer. I can’t help it if it rubs off on me.”
“I think it’s a good thing.”
“I don’t know if I’d say that...” Claudia muttered. “Anyway, what were you smirking about?”
“After that big sigh you gave before, I just thought you’re as much of a worrier as ever.”
“If you’d been listening to them, you’d want to sigh too. I’ve resigned myself to General Olivia always being like that, but General Blood doesn’t have to humor her...”
“Oh, I know. It’s a nightmare as his aide,” Lise said, then pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and started polishing her glasses. Claudia frowned at her.
“You don’t look very troubled for all that.”
“Well, you know. Despite appearances, General Blood has a decent head on his shoulders.” Lise put her glasses back on. She looked a little proud.
“You trust him, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t be serving as his aide if I didn’t. Don’t you trust Lieutenant General Olivia?”
“Of course, I trust her more than anything. I just...” Claudia looked over her shoulder at the carriage that rattled along behind them. It was stuffed so full of snacks for Olivia a mouse couldn’t have squeezed in. After her loud declaration that such supplies were absolutely essential if she were to be in top form for battle, Ashton had run himself ragged going around Fis to gather it all.
“Ahh, that. It’s not a problem, though, is it? I know this isn’t properly respectful, but I think it’s kind of adorable.”
“You make it sound like someone else’s problem.”
“Well it is someone else’s problem,” Lise said, smiling brightly. Claudia made a face, thinking back on the events of some days past. After having been invited to dinner with Sofitia, Olivia had come back a few hours later with a look like nothing of any importance had happened.
“I’m back.”
“Good to see you. Did you come back without the carriage?”
“Yeah. I felt like walking.”
“I see... And did you make your decision?”
“Yeah. I decided to stay with the Royal Army.”
“You— You did?!”
“Yep, so that’s that. Anyway, I’m off to bed.”
At the time, Claudia had merely been overjoyed. She hadn’t asked why Olivia had decided to stay with the Royal Army. The thought had crossed her mind that if she did, Olivia might have a change of heart. In the end, she hadn’t been able to pose the question. For all her bluster with Ashton, she was in a right predicament. Ashton himself had thought it better not to ask Olivia too many questions for the time being, so he hadn’t brought it up either. The fact was, Claudia was just fine going along with it.
Well, for whatever reason, the general chose to stay with us. When you compare it to betraying us to join the Winged Crusaders, a carriage packed full of sweets seems trivial. Yes, it’s trivial...
“Oh, like hell it is!” The words burst out unbidden. Everyone’s eyes turned to her, full of apprehension. All, that is, except for Olivia, who looked positively terrified.
“You know, Claudia, I don’t think it’s really appropriate for an aide to go bellowing strangely,” Lise said, looking deathly serious.
“I didn’t mean to yell, I just... I’m sorry.” At this earnest apology, Lise, unable to restrain herself any longer, burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sorry, sorry. You really never change, do you?” Lise said, wiping tears from her eyes as Claudia glared at her, then turned her nose up.
“As I’ve said before, people don’t change just like that.”
“True...” Lise acknowledged. “There are some people I wish would change just a little bit though.” She was looking over at Blood, who was laughing with Olivia.
“Lise, you’re not in love with General Blood, are you?” Claudia asked.
“The fact that you don’t hesitate to ask things like that hasn’t changed either.”
“Really?”
“Claudia, I know you too well for it to bother me, but I’d suggest you don’t say things like that to anyone else. I guarantee it won’t make you any friends.”
“Does General Blood know how you feel?”
“Excuse me, don’t just brush off my advice. But, well, the truth is I don’t know.” Lise, as the embodiment of both talent and beauty, had been the subject of much admiration at the Military Academy. The fact that nothing had ever come of it, Claudia was sure, was because none of her suitors had measured up to Lise’s exacting standards. Blood, who now had her affections, was a man of great skill who also enjoyed unswerving trust from his soldiers. No one could doubt that he was a first-rate general. She could more or less see what Lise saw in him.
“You should hurry up and tell him how you feel, then,” Claudia said. At once, Lise turned to goggle at her.
“My goodness. I thought you’d tell me, ‘Love has no place in times such as these,’ or something like that.”
“On the contrary, I said it because of the times. Death could come for any of us at any time—it could come tomorrow. Isn’t it natural to think we ought to live without regrets?”
“Hmm...” Lise said. “Well, then you’d better live without regrets too, Claudia.”
“Me? I do that every day.”
“Are you sure about that?” With an inscrutable look on her face, Lise’s eyes drifted over to where Ashton was deep in conversation with Evanson.
“What’s Ashton got to do with anything?”
“What? I was looking at Second Lieutenant Evanson,” Lise replied, a look of triumph in her eyes. Claudia let out a tsk.
“You’re implying something. Spit it out already,” she demanded. At this, Lise’s expression changed to one of pity.
“You know, I’ve always thought so, but you really are impossible with things like this...” she said. “But then, those are the things that make you Claudia.”
“Would it kill you to stop acting superior and say what you mean?”
“You have to work it out for yourself. It’s not for me to say. Still, if you’re not careful, you’ll find what you want snatched out from under your nose. And even if that doesn’t happen, there’s another mountain you’ll have to get past.” Leaving Claudia with this almost throwaway remark, Lise moved ahead to ride beside Blood. Judging by how he immediately became flustered, Lise had probably made some jealous remark.
I still don’t know what she was trying to tell me... Claudia watched as Lise put her nose in the air and turned away from Blood, and prayed that her friend would find happiness.
VI
The Emaleid Citadel, Kingdom of Fernest
The wind blew down off the Esteria Peaks, bringing with it a bracing reminder of autumn’s arrival as the Second Allied Legion arrived at the Emaleid Citadel right on schedule. The following day, Olivia made her way to Central Avenue, the busiest street in the whole citadel, with Ashton in tow. She was going to fulfill an old promise.
“The city has really come back to life since we were last here,” Ashton remarked. Even the shops that had barred their doors were now all open. What stood out most of all were the cheerful faces of the shoppers, who had looked so grim last time.
