Death’s Daughter and the Ebony Blade: Volume 5, page 18
Hermann, meanwhile, gave a meaningful smile. “I wouldn’t have expected that from you,” he said.
Osmund still carried a black spot on his reputation after his lust for glory had led to him falling into an enemy trap and putting his forces in jeopardy in the battle outside the Emaleid Citadel. Now, he looked uncomfortable as he muttered, “I admit I’d be lying if I said I didn’t envy her. But you can’t argue with her prowess after seeing her on the battlefield. What’s important now is winning this battle.”
Paul had no way of knowing what change had occurred in the other man’s heart, but it was clear at least that it steered him well. When he disregarded his ego, Osmund had a fair talent for command.
“I haven’t spent too much time in her acquaintance myself, but I think I understand what you’re saying,” Hermann said, with the wistful look of a person thinking back on bygone days. “She brought a sort of spark to the Seventh Legion.”
Osmund nodded in fervent agreement.
“It’s only natural you two think so,” Paul remarked. “She was like a brilliant ray of sunshine lighting up the Seventh Legion.”
Paul doted on Olivia to the same degree as his own granddaughter, Patricia. Though he thought that Cornelius had shown bold and unerring judgment in putting her in command of the Eighth Legion, the thought that Olivia had gone where he could not reach her was like a cold draft of wind slipping through him.
“Don’t you feel at all lonely with Lieutenant General Olivia gone, Otto?”
“No, I can’t say any such feelings have arisen for me,” Otto replied serenely, “and I would appreciate it if the three of you ceased discussion of such trivialities when we have Operation: Twin Lions at Dawn bearing down upon us.”
Osmund and Hermann looked at each other and shared a strained smile. Paul wore a similar expression, though for a very different reason.
It was true that, now that Olivia outranked Otto, even he was barred from criticizing her in public. But Paul could see clear as day that the other man was anxious for her. Despite his severity to his inferiors, Otto cared more than any of them.
“On that note,” Paul said, bringing them back to the matter at hand, “has there been any change in our predictions for the size of the force at Kier Fortress?”
“None, ser,” Otto replied without hesitation. “Though they must have been aware of our advance on the fortress for some time.”
“That’s to be expected. They’ll be getting a close look at the size of our force around now.” Paul looked down at the map on the table. “They’ve decided to weather the siege, it seems.”
“Considering Kier Fortress’s defenses, it is the obvious conclusion.”
Conventional military wisdom held that a successful siege required that the attacking force outnumber the defenders three to one. On top of that, this was a battle the empire could not afford to lose. They would meet the Royal Army’s assault with unyielding resolve. It was, therefore, the rational choice to utilize the defenses of the fortress to whittle down the attackers. All common sense pointed to the Royal Army being at a decided disadvantage, and yet for once, Paul was inclined to be unreserved in his approval of the imperial army’s choice. After all, now it went without saying that the First Allied Legion would be able to turn the course of the war in their favor.
“A bad move on the imperial army’s part,” Otto said, a wicked grin breaking through the cold exterior that earned him the nickname “the Man in the Iron Mask.” Hermann and Osmund looked at him, then at each other, like they’d seen some strange new beast. Only Paul correctly understood Otto’s smile.
“I’m sure the lord marshal reached the same conclusion,” he said.
Otto looked over at the tent opening and said, “We should receive a messenger shortly.” His prediction was soon to become reality. The tent flap lifted and a messenger from the First Legion hurried in.
“I bear orders from Marshal Cornelius. Your presence is required at a war council at the main command tent.”
“Orders received. You are dismissed, soldier.”
“Thank you, ser!” Paul watched the messenger leave, then rose quickly to his feet.
“Otto.”
“A horse is waiting for you, ser.” Otto, it seemed, had sent out the instructions in advance, for now an attendant came leading Paul’s horse. As always, he was one step ahead.
“Let’s be off, then.” Paul mounted up; then he and Otto set off together for the main command tent.
Winged Crusader Command, Kingdom of Fernest
“It looks like it’ll be a siege.”
“It’s unexpected, isn’t it? Our predictions put the imperial forces at around even numbers with our own. Knowing Lady von Berlietta, I thought for sure that she would take the field.”
“They can’t afford to risk it.” Lara gazed up at Kier Fortress with a probing look in her eyes. After having suffered defeat after defeat to the Royal Army, the imperial army’s momentum was a shadow of what it had been. There was no doubt that this was largely thanks to Olivia.
“Oh, that’s right. The news took me rather by surprise.”
“News? Ah, that. The report said he died of natural causes, didn’t it?”
“It did. It must have been a heavy blow to the imperial army. The wind seems to be turning in favor of the Royal Army.”
It had been a week since the owls had brought the fresh news that Gladden von Hildesheimer was dead. Gladden had not only led the Helios Knights, he had reigned supreme over the whole of the imperial army. His death was felicitous news in the face of Operation: Twin Lions at Dawn, but Lara had not breathed a word of it to the Royal Army.
Mekia’s true objective was to see the empire and Fernest bring each other down. Their current alliance with the Royal Army was no more than a provision for the future. Thus, Sofitia had instructed them that there was no need to share what they knew.
“Do you think these twin lions will be successful?” Johann asked.
“It all comes down to the Eighth Legion. At this stage, it’s impossible to say.”
While they conducted this grand farce at Kier Fortress, the Eighth Legion would engage the Azure Knights in the imperial capital. The plan was that they would break through to Listelein Palace and capture Emperor Ramza XIII. If they were successful, Sofitia expected that the imperial army would sue for peace.
But... Johann had heard what had happened to the Northern Perscillan Army when they invaded Fernest. Olivia had led the Eighth Legion, replete as it was with new recruits, to a resounding victory against them. Yet despite their numbers, the Azure Knights were formidably strong. It was clear that though Olivia and Ashton might display exceptional leadership, there would be a gulf between their forces and the Azure Knights. It looked to Johann like the odds were very much against the Eighth Legion.
Meanwhile, Olivia and Felix were closely matched. If they crossed blades, it was likely that neither would come out unscathed. By Johann’s estimation, Felix had a physical edge. But that only applied up until Olivia started using magic. Loath as he was to admit it, Olivia’s magic far outstripped not only his own magecraft, but that of Lara and Amelia as well. The magical essence, the inexhaustible source of external mana she drew on, defied all reason. Olivia said she wouldn’t use magic except in the case of a threat to her, but, put another way, that meant if she did feel threatened, she would use it without hesitation.
Once she lets loose one of those spheres of light, it’s all over. Even Felix couldn’t withstand that... He remembered the great boulder that had vanished without a trace before his eyes.
“You’ve been looking very stern lately, Johann.”
Johann looked up and saw Lara watching him, a smile on her lips. Recalling that Sofitia had said these same words to him just the other day, he gave a strained smile.
“Yes, well, lately I’ve been lucky enough to be beset by troubles.”
“Personally, I prefer it to that frivolous grin you always used to wear.”
“You set my heart all aflutter, Blessed Wing Lara.”
“Now if only you’d learn when to stop talking,” Lara said with a snort.
“I’m afraid I was born this way, so there’s little hope of a cure,” Johann replied. “But be all that as it may, I hope, for the sake of us achieving unification, that the plan is successful.”
Whichever way the scales tipped, the battle to come would only be to the advantage of Mekia. What was more, after their visit to Fernest, Sofitia had King Alfonse wrapped around her little finger. Johann felt a shiver of awe at his mistress’s charisma.
“Like I said before, it’ll all depend on the Eighth Legion, in the end. Meanwhile we’re depending on the leadership of the Invincible General.”
“You’ve spoken to Marshal Cornelius too, haven’t you? What did you think of him?”
The highest-ranking man in the Royal Army and possessor of such renown that his name could be found in history books, his reputation as the “Invincible General” was alive and well after his decisive victory over the Helios Knights on the central front despite his age of over seventy summers. Johann’s first impression upon seeing the marshal in person for the first time at the banquet was of a man of astounding tranquility. Upon seeing Cornelius burning with vigor as he rode forth from Galia Fortress, however, Johann had wondered for a moment if he weren’t looking at a different man entirely.
“I’ll tell you one thing. You would be a fool to disregard him just because he’s old.”
“I could never underestimate the Invincible General,” Johann replied. “Speaking of which, why did you send Amelia with the Second Allied Legion? If you’ll excuse me saying so, I really think I would have been the better choice.”
Johann and Lara both knew that Amelia loathed Olivia. Johann, who had something of a rapport with Olivia already, thought he would have found it easy to work with her. He was therefore more than a little curious as to why Lara had sent Amelia instead.
“As a simple warrior, she is more than adequate. If we are to install the Seraph as supreme ruler, however, we need Amelia to gain more experience.”
You have high hopes for dear Amelia, then... Johann thought. Lara’s usual harsh treatment of Amelia made sense as a sign of her high expectations. He doubted Amelia appreciated it, however.
“Then I have nothing further to say on the matter.”
“Well, I do.”
“And what might that be?”
“Hold your promiscuity in check. You have your position to consider.”
“I appreciate your concern, but don’t you know the old saying? ‘Great men are great lovers.’”
“Who are you calling a ‘great man’? You really are all ta— Who’s this now?”
A soldier with a single star on his left shoulder slid gracefully down from his horse to come and kneel before Lara.
“Blessed Wing Lara, there is to be a war council. Your presence is requested at the main command tent.”
“Very well. Tell Marshal Cornelius I’ll set off immediately.”
“As you command, ser!”
Lara jumped down from her silver chariot, then ordered an attendant to ready her horse.
“Are you coming too, Johann?”
“No, I think I’ll stay behind,” Johann declined, arranging his face in a serious expression. The stifling formality of such occasions disagreed with him, but he knew if he said as much that Lara would force him to accompany her. Unfortunately, Lara saw right through him.
“First Historia, now you,” she said with a sigh. “This is war, you know. Can’t you take it a bit more seriously?”
Astride her white horse, Historia’s eyelids kept sliding closed, the interval before they opened again lengthening every time she jerked awake. Lara glanced at her in exasperation, then put her hands on her hips and heaved another deep sigh.
Johann knew where she was coming from, but he had his own thoughts on what war was about.
“War, in its fundamentals, isn’t meant to be taken seriously. When you get down to it, it’s nothing more than mass murder. Even wild beasts don’t stoop to such levels.”
In times of peace, anyone who killed another person was named a murderer. Kill enough people in times of war, however, and you became a hero. Johann could follow the logic, but he still couldn’t understand it.
“You’ll forgive me, Johann, but I’m not in the mood to philosophize on the nature of war with you. Tell me again after the seraph achieves unification of the continent, and I’ll be all ears.”
Taking her reins in her left hand, Lara leapt elegantly into the saddle; then, with a few of her personal guard accompanying her, she galloped away. Johann watched them go with a sigh.
II
The Imperial Army’s War Room, Kier Fortress
Returning four days prior to the arrival of the First Allied Legion at the Kochonn Plains, Rosenmarie received a report from the soldiers assigned to patrol the lands around the fortress that the Royal Army was advancing, and summoned her key officers to the war room. The Helios Knights sat along the left side of the long table, with the Crimson Knights lined up along the right. When Rosenmarie entered, they stood up and saluted as one. Oscar gave the order, and they sat down once more.
Placing herself at the head of the table, it was Rosenmarie who spoke first.
“What’s the Royal Army’s position?”
“They are currently advancing across the Freyberg Plateau, my lady,” Oscar said, pointing with his baton at the map that lay unfurled on the table. When he informed them that the presence of the First and Seventh Legions had been confirmed, the faces of the officers twisted in fury.
“A great number of banners bearing the Death God’s crest have also been observed. It must be the newly formed Eighth Legion under Death God Olivia’s command.”
“Death God Olivia...”
“So she’s here...” There was a buzz as the officers all reacted to this announcement. There was an unnatural gleam in the eyes of some, while others looked down. Others still wore expressions of undisguised terror. If there was one thing both knight orders could claim, it was that they had been put through hell by Death God Olivia.
Cornelius the Invincible General, Paul the God of the Battlefield, and now Death God Olivia, the jewel of the crown, Rosenmarie thought. With such an impressive cast, that confirms that the fortress is their target. The corners of her mouth curled.
“It’s time to celebrate,” she said. “Our most despised enemy has come wandering out to us. This is nothing short of a bless—”
“I bring news!” The door flew open, revealing a panting soldier. Everyone in the room turned to the sound as the soldier went over to Oscar to whisper hurriedly in his ear. At once, Oscar’s face turned hard.
“Not especially pleasant news, then?” Rosenmarie commented.
“No, my lady. An army, numbering around twenty thousand and flying dark purple banners, has fallen in with the Royal Army. They appear to be from Mekia—the Winged Crusaders.”
“The Winged Crusaders?!” The reaction from the Crimson Knights was dramatic. The investigations of the shimmers had since identified the Winged Crusaders as the perpetrators of the surprise attack on Fort Astora. They had taken advantage of Rosenmarie’s absence to go on a destructive rampage that had ended in the death of her aide, Guyel.
And they have mages... Rosenmarie ran her tongue along her lips.
“Those’re the bastards who murdered Guyel!”
“Lady Rosenmarie! We shall avenge Colonel Guyel!”
Guyel’s name started to fly off the lips of the Crimson Knights. Rosenmarie raised a hand, and the hubbub ceased.
“You don’t need to scream at me, I can hear you just fine. Whatever happened between Fernest and Mekia, it appears that they have formed an alliance. Saves us a lot of time and effort, don’t you think?”
“With the addition of the Mekians, their combined force numbers over eighty-five thousand. That puts them roughly equal with our own forces, but should I look into bringing in soldiers from Swaran and Stonia, just in case?”
“Swaran and Stonia?” Rosenmarie snorted loudly. “What are those pathetic excuses for soldiers supposed to do for us? Forget it. They’ll only get in our way.” She then saw another officer rise. It was Major General Zacharias Carally. Among the Helios Knights who otherwise favored defensive tactics, he commanded a unit of a notably different proclivity, specializing in penetrative attacks—the Caelestis Wolves.
Rosenmarie nodded, giving him leave to speak.
“Where do we plan on meeting them?” he asked. “If I may be so bold as to offer my opinion first, I believe the Kochonn Plains to the east would be the ideal location at which to intercept them.”
The location Zacharias proposed was free of any major obstructions, which would allow their forces to maneuver unrestricted. It was also relatively close to Kier Fortress, meaning that their logistical lifelines would operate effectively. It was perfectly suited to meeting an enemy force. Yet Rosenmarie, with a hint of a smile, shot down Zacharias’s idea.
He looked thunderstruck. “For what reason, my lady?!” he demanded, raising his voice. “For what reason?!”
He had probably imagined she would agree at once. Next, he returned his gaze to the map and started to rattle off a series of other potential locations. Rosenmarie rejected them all, until at last, Zacharias, his face scarlet, brought his fist crashing down on the table.
“Then where do you plan to meet them?!” he cried.
“That’s been obvious since the beginning.” As Zacharias raged, she tapped a finger several times on the long table. Though at first he appeared dubious, Zacharias’s eyes soon grew wide.
“Not Kier Fortress?!”
“What, you’re surprised? You are, at this moment, standing within the walls of the impenetrable fortress. It’s the obvious choice.”
