Death’s Daughter and the Ebony Blade: Volume 5, page 21
Olivia watched her, and then, to Claudia’s disbelief, said, “Would you like to learn Featherweight, Claudia?”
“What?”
“From what I’ve seen, you’ve gotten pretty good with Swift Step. Featherweight is sort of like another application of Swift Step, so I’m sure you’ll pick it up like that.”
“You— You really think so?”
“I do. The Odh manipulation isn’t so difficult, and it’ll give you more options in battle, so it’s good things all around.”
If Claudia were straight with herself, she couldn’t imagine anything more tempting. Having seen Olivia using Swift Step, she didn’t believe she was anywhere near to mastering it, but she was still genuinely happy to have earned Olivia’s approval. And above anything else, learning a new skill was sure to allow her to improve herself still further.
“Well, I... Yes, I would like to,” she said, feeling embarrassed for reasons she wasn’t sure of herself as she bowed.
Olivia grinned. “Then I’ll teach you next time,” she said. Then, with a wave, she gave a little jump and dropped off the wall.
“General?!” Claudia rushed over to look down and saw Olivia land lightly in the midst of a crowd of imperial soldiers who were even now letting out cries of alarm. She really did move just like a feather.
“Now isn’t the time for slack-jawed amazement, Claudia Jung!” She slapped herself on both cheeks, then set off at a run for the stairs, going after Olivia.
Second Allied Legion Command
The runner came to Blood five hours after the battle began.
“I bring a message from Colonel Claudia. She says they are about to open the gate, so be ready.”
“Understood. Good work.”
“Thank you, ser!”
Blood turned to Ashton. “Well, you heard it.” Ashton nodded quietly, then he called over the runners who stood at the ready.
“Please relay to the first through fifth battalions that they are to storm the fort the moment the gates open.”
“Yes, ser!” they chorused.
Just as Claudia’s message had said, it wasn’t long before the gate opened. Each battalion began to move, and soon enough, Blood received news that they were in the process of taking control of all significant locations throughout the fort. It was clear to anyone who looked that Fort Astora had fallen.
“A message from Second Lieutenant Gile. The enemy commander has escaped.”
“Escaped? Well, thank you for the report, soldier.”
“Yes, ser! Excuse me, ser!”
Scratching his cheek, Ashton turned to Blood, who had overseen this last exchange, and said apologetically, “I’m afraid we’ve lost their commander.”
“That you have, but that doesn’t change the fact that this was a brilliant plan.”
“You’re too kind, ser.”
“Besides, you saw this coming, didn’t you?” Blood said, grinning.
“Well, I suppose...” On Ashton’s orders, the Winged Crusaders were lying in wait along the escape route from the fort. So long as their commander, Amelia, didn’t make a misstep, their next battle ought to end favorably.
I can’t imagine a woman as proud as her making a mistake... Blood looked at Ashton. He really brought down an imperial outer fort in less than half a day. He’s the real deal.
Blood led their main force into Fort Astora with his head held high, where he found Olivia waiting for him. When they saw each other, they let out a shout of victory.
Fermat’s Unit
Fermat escaped the fort unnoticed by the Royal Army, then, surrounded on all sides by his guards, he spurred his horse and galloped northwest toward Fort Belganna.
“How many do you think made it out?”
“Perhaps four hundred.”
“Less than a seventh...” he murmured. “I suppose we should be grateful.”
Though the Royal Army had taken the walls, Fermat and the others had succeeded in sealing the gate. Just when he had thought they might hold out until reinforcements reached them, however, something happened that shattered all his predictions. Without warning, Olivia had materialized in the courtyard, slaughtered his soldiers, then cut through the bolt on the gate with a single slash. After that, she pushed the gates open with ease. In that moment, Astora lost all its advantages as a fort. There was no longer anything they could do to resist the Royal Army, which outnumbered them twentyfold. Immediately, Fermat had given the order to retreat, then made his own escape. Now, here he was.
The soldiers were saying that the Death God descended upon them from the sky. Thinking about it now, I can’t argue with them. How could she have appeared within the fort walls like that, unless she flew—?!
As they left the woods, Fermat yanked hard on his reins. His horse, unconcerned, gradually slowed, then came to a stop. The others following him had also brought their horses to an abrupt halt. The road in front of them was blocked by a wall of soldiers in leaf-green armor, all armed and glaring his way. It was plain to see that they were from the Winged Crusaders.
“Major General Fermat!”
“Settle down,” he snapped. “I didn’t think they’d anticipate our escape route...” But so they must have done, or else there was no reason for them to be lying in wait here. Fermat gritted his teeth, then he caught sight of a woman in dazzling, pure white armor. That’ll be their commander, no doubt. She was beautiful, with a terrible icy gleam in her eyes. She flicked her pale blue hair back with a flourish.
“That Ashton Senefelder doesn’t look like much, but he isn’t an opponent you can trifle with,” she said. Fermat had no idea what she meant. She looked at him and his guards as though noticing them for the first time.
“You don’t interest me at all, so choose quickly. You may either fight, then die, or not fight, then die.”
“Major General, they’ve already cut off our retreat,” muttered the captain of Fermat’s guard. Fermat turned and saw Winged Crusaders filling the road behind them as well. In order to survive, they were going to have to find a way out of an impossible situation.
“Joining forces with Fernest?” he shouted, being deliberately provocative. “Does Mekia know no shame?”
“Is that the best you can do? They say barking dogs are seldom the ones with any bite. But bark away, if you like. While you still can.”
The woman was a step above him in her taunts. Feeling hatred boiling among his soldiers, Fermat drew his longsword and said, “This is an opportunity, my friends. Let’s teach these yokels some imperial courtesy.”
“Yes, ser!”
“But don’t stick around. If you break through, you’re free to run. What matters now is that we get to Fort Belganna as fast as possible and alert them to Fernest’s invasion.”
“We sent messengers as soon as we learned of the attack. On your orders, ser...” The guard captain looked puzzled.
“They’ve likely been killed,” Fermat said ruefully. “Our enemy was prepared for everything else, after all.”
“Surely not...”
“We’re out of options. You understand?” As his soldiers nodded silently, the guards didn’t move.
“We, your guards, will follow you to the end, Major General.”
“I’m not making an exception for you. You are to go to Fort Belganna and tell them that the Royal Army is invading. Our victory now rides on someone getting to that fort.” Ignoring the guard captain, who started to speak, Fermat took a deep breath. “You are deluding yourselves if you think some backwater nation will get the better of the glorious imperial army!” he bellowed. His hundred soldiers all drew their weapons and threw themselves at the Winged Crusaders. Soon, it turned into a melee. Fermat turned his longsword toward the woman with the pale blue hair. She drew her sword calmly from its lavishly embellished sheath.
“Tell me your name, before you die,” he shouted.
“It isn’t as though you are going to be able to tell it to anyone.” As they passed each other, their swords clashed with a piercing metallic screech. At the same time, Fermat’s ears caught another sound, unnatural and grating. Turning his horse, he looked down at his hands and saw a fine crack in the blade of his sword—a sword forged by one of the most renowned swordsmiths in the empire. Despite himself, he looked over at the woman.
“What, did that useless hunk of metal you call a sword crack?” she asked, her voice dripping with mockery. Fermat spat. “There’s nothing to worry about for a warrior of your caliber,” she went on. “Crack or not, the outcome of this battle isn’t going to change.”
“Go to hell!” Fermat urged his horse to a gallop once more, his sword pointed at the woman’s heart. But the next moment, the world flipped, and he found himself crashing to the ground, horse and all.
“Wh-What just happened?!” His horse rarely if ever spooked, yet now it was whinnying and kicking frantically. The woman looked down at it as it tried and failed to stand. A pale blue light emanated from her left hand.
“That light...” Fermat gasped. “You’re Amelia Stolast!”
“Well done. I confess I am surprised to hear that my name is now known even to the likes of you. It’s been a pleasure, I’m sure.” Amelia nimbly dismounted her horse, then, drawing one foot back, she bent her other knee slightly in a lady’s curtsy. She meant to mock him to the end. “You aren’t going to attack me?” she asked, cocking her head and blinking a few times as she regarded Fermat, who stood with his sword at the ready, on his guard. Then, she smiled thinly. “Fear not, I won’t use magecraft on you.”
“You...You think you can stand there and laugh at me?!” Fermat closed on Amelia in an instant, then raised his sword above his head and swung it down. But Amelia twisted to one side, dodging his blow so that his blade only managed to cut a few stray hairs. He readied himself for another attack, but a moment later, he felt an extraordinary pain in his abdomen. His knees buckled under him. Fearing what he would find, he looked down and saw blood pouring from a great gash across his side. He hadn’t even realized he had been attacked.
Fermat looked up and saw Amelia standing over him, genuine pity in her eyes.
“If you didn’t even see my attack just now, there is no point in carrying this on any further. Let us end this.” She raised her sword, holding the hilt up to her cheek. Fermat cackled fearlessly, even as he vomited up great gouts of blood.
“Be sure of it, Lord Felix will have your head,” he said. “Until then, enjoy what little life you have left.”
“How very droll. In thanks for providing me with such amusement, I shall kill you painlessly. May the blessings of Strecia go with you.”
An ominous whistle of air reached his ears. The next moment, Fermat was gone.
“Thousand-Wing Amelia.” Senior Hundred-Wing Jean Alexia, one of the Twelve Angels, appeared with her cross spear under one arm. Amelia looked over the scattered corpses of the imperial soldiers, then at the lone imperial soldier who was still desperately brandishing a sword despite being surrounded by guardians. The man wore armor different from that of a regular soldier, so she guessed he was probably one of the guards assigned to the man she had just killed. She was impressed by how valiantly he struggled.
“You’ve finished with them?”
“Yes, ser. We’ll have mopped up the last of them soon.”
“As I’m sure you know, I will not allow even one of them to escape. It would reflect poorly on my good name.”
Amelia had no choice but to acknowledge that Ashton Senefelder was an accomplished commander. If they failed to contain the enemy here, it would mean bearing the disappointment of the Royal Army, and by extension, of Blood and Olivia. Amelia couldn’t bear that, besides which, it would put her in an awkward position with Sofitia.
“Yes, ser. I am well aware of that,” Jean said, saluting.
Amelia gently put her lips close to Jean’s ear. “And if one of them were to slip away...” she breathed. “Well, I’m sure you know.”
“Of course, ser.” Jean gulped, nodding. “I do.”
“I’ll leave the rest to you then, Jean.” Amelia clapped her lightly on the shoulder, then left the battlefield alone.
VI
Spurred on by their victory at Fort Astora, the Second Allied Legion continued west toward the imperial capital of Olsted, bringing down every fort that blocked their advance along the way.
The Imperial Forces at Fort Tezcapolis
The distinctive horseshoe-shaped keep of Fort Tezcapolis rang with shouts of rage and hatred.
“Death God Olivia! The road beyond leads to the imperial capital—I will never allow you to reach it!”
“Thank you so much for telling me!”
“Damn it all. Someone, I don’t care who, stop the Death God!” But there was no one to heed the commander’s orders. Indeed, they were all backing away, trying to get as far away from Olivia as possible.
As Olivia took a step forward, one soldier screamed, “N-No, I can’t!”
“I’m getting out of here!” yelled another.
“Eh?! I’m going first!” With that, they all fell over each other in their haste to flee. Only the commander remained, gaping after his soldiers in shock.
“Th-Those rats!” His face turning beet red, he slammed his fist against a pillar.
“They all ran away, huh? What are you going to do?”
“Guh...”
“Guh?”
“Guoooaaargh!” The commander charged at her like a wild animal, swinging his sword down at her head. Olivia lightly deflected the blow, then slashed with the ebony blade from his shoulder down across his chest. There was silence as the commander’s upper half slid off and fell, spilling his guts across the floor. His lower half stayed standing.
“I know I say this every time, but it’s really gruesome, the way you kill people.” Gauss appeared, sword resting on his shoulder. He screwed up his face as he saw the corpses strewn about. The soldiers behind him had their hands clamped tight over their mouths.
“How’s it going?” Olivia asked.
“We’ve mostly subdued the enemy resistance.”
“Okay, then let’s leave this place to the rear guard and get a move on ahead. According to that human lying over there, it’s not far to the imperial capital.” Gauss gulped, then started stroking his beard, which he had been growing lately. Olivia harbored secret hopes that when it got a little longer, he would look like a bear.
“We’re finally there, then...”
“Yes. I think our next battle will be against the Azure Knights.”
The First Allied Legion had apparently been working under the assumption that as soon as Fort Astora fell, the empire would have heard of it. But thanks to Ashton’s thorough efforts in preventing any information from getting out, they had still seen no sign of the Azure Knights mobilizing. Even so, the fact that communications from all the forts had ceased must have raised the imperial army’s suspicions. Olivia returned her sword to its scabbard, Felix’s face in her mind’s eye.
Felix’s Workroom in Listelein Castle, Olsted
The regular communications from the forts to the east of Olsted had ceased. Felix felt a sense of foreboding as he gazed down at the map.
We haven’t had word from Fort Astora, Fort Belganna, or Fort Tezcapolis. What do those three have in common...? He picked up a pen and drew a line connecting each fort. Surely not...?!
Felix called Teresa and told her to send a shimmer to the forts. Two days later, Felix learned that the foreboding he had felt had been accurate, and in the worst possible way.
“This is an utter disaster,” Teresa said, looking like she couldn’t believe what was happening.
“I never imagined the Royal Army would invade the empire...”
It would have been one thing after the Royal Army had driven the Crimson Knights from the north to retake their lands. But Felix could never have predicted they would launch an invasion while in the middle of laying siege to Kier Fortress.
“I don’t believe I underestimated them, but perhaps we became complacent about some things.” He couldn’t deny that, when the Royal Army had sent a massive force to assault Kier Fortress, he had directed all his attention that way. Looking now at the course the Royal Army was taking, he could see that their final destination was here—in other words, Felix concluded, they were coming for Olsted.
“Their objective, could it be...?” Teresa, whose instincts were good, had realized it too. Felix nodded solemnly.
“Just as you’re thinking now, Lieutenant. The attack on Kier Fortress was a distraction. From the start, they never planned on taking it. Though for a distraction,” he added, “it was on too grand a scale.” Which was precisely why Felix had not caught on to their true intentions.
Teresa’s face grew troubled. “If the assault on Kier Fortress is a distraction, then how do you explain Death God Olivia? I thought she was the Royal Army’s ultimate weapon.”
Despite how much Teresa left out, Felix understood well enough what she was saying. And he had only one answer for her.
“Death God Olivia is not at Kier Fortress. It must be a trick to make it seem as if she is there.”
“Then we must send word to Kier Fortress at once.”
“There is no need for that.”
“But why?” Teresa asked, her brow furrowing in bewilderment.
“Because their basic objective—a strong defense of the fortress—remains unchanged. And besides, sooner or later Rosenmarie will realize what they are doing too.”
“So that means Death God Olivia must be...”
“No doubt advancing on Olsted with her army.”
“We must take emergency measures!”
“Naturally, I intend to do so.” Felix stood up and had just swept his cloak over his shoulders when there was a soft knock, and the door opened.
“I beg your pardon. Am I interrupting your conversation?”
“Chancellor Darmés?!” Teresa exclaimed, thrown by the chancellor’s sudden appearance.
