Half an hour later found me at the top of the hill that overlooked the camps. One of the carriers had just delivered my mail to me and as usual I had a letter from Alex. I gave a wary smile when I had received it. These were the highlights of my week because he always had something going on in school. I avoided the more gory details of what I saw on the battlefield. Instead choosing to give him an overview playing it off as I didn't see much action. Alex also kept me up to date with the happenings of my godfathers. It was mostly pranks but it brightened my day on the lonely battlefield. This one read:
Hey Roy,
I was so excited for your letter this week, for I worry about you. Father's face when it came in the mail was hysterical. I wish you had been there to see it. I am glad your not other front lines an alchemist. It would kill me if I got a letter telling me you had been killed. I feel guilty still for the way I treated you when we were little. Ha, I can hear you berating me about it now but seriously. I truly regret how I treated you then and when you first returned.
Enough with the difficult stuff. Moony and Padfoot say hi and you won't believe the prank they pulled on father. They turned his his green and he had a silver snake in it for the last week. Sirius promised to teach me the spell later on. Oh I am also making an E in potions now. Professor Snape has been giving me tutoring sessions since I took your advice.
I asked Remus this but I wanted to get a second opinion. I don't want this to go any further unless we have proof but... Do you think mother is under a compulsion charm or potion? After listening to Professor Snape I realized how different she is from before the attack.
Please give me your thoughts,
Heir Alex Potter
I frowned thoughtfully rereading the final paragraph. It was possible for her to be under a potion or a spell but it would have to come from a more powerful wizard. If so it was likely Dumbledore's doing. That wouldn't surprise me at all now that I thought about it. He would do anything to get what he wanted. I wrote a quick note back to him telling him to talk to Sirius about his suspicions. I had just finished the note when I felt someone walk up the hill standing directly behind me.
I turned surprised to find Maes standing there. It had been a month and a half sine I last saw him. The upper ranks had deployed him elsewhere for a time. His eyes were cold from the battles and the killings we were forced to do. All soldiers had the same cold look in their eyes that marked them as killers. I said," Hey Maes. Its been awhile huh?" Maes gave a small smile as he said," That it has Roy. How have you been?"
I shook my head tiredly and said," This war is putting a strain on me Maes. I joined the State Alchemists to change the way people saw us. Now I understand their views. There's going to be another battle soon with a new weapon. If Dr. Marcoa's reaction is anything to go by it will be more terrible than anything a single alchemist can do on their own." I could see my friend's eyes widen. He knew as well as anyone one alchemist was worth over a hundred soldiers. I could see the questions in his eyes wondering what the new weapon was. I shook my head knowing I was not allowed to tell. Anything said in a command tent stayed in the command tent.
I pulled out my pocket watch to check the time and sighed. I needed to head back if I didn't want to be late. I said tiredly," Got to go Maes. I'll see you when I get back." Maes lips twitched as if to smile again as he said," Yeah I'll see you Roy. Be safe out there."
With that I made my way back into camp where there were four squads gathered. I recognized mine and Armstrong's men but the other two squads I didn't recognize. I heard whispers from them," Isn't that the Flame? I thought he would be older... I heard that in his first assignment members of his squad were roasted alive for disobeying him... Really?! That's horrible." I wanted to roll my eyes but I didn't. Let them think what they wanted as long as it kept them in line. Fear was one of the best motivators in battle though I hated myself for using it.
I pushed open the flap to the command tent noticing that I was still a little early. Lieutenant Colonel Gran lifted his head in acknowledgment of my presence but said nothing. On his desk was the briefcase that I knew held the Philosopher's Stones. The flap was pushed open again revealing an excited Kimberly and a downtrodden Armstrong. Gran motioned Kimberly and I closer to his desk before he opened the case. Instead of two glad vials there was a ring and two necklaces. Gran and Kimberly put on the necklaces while I was given the ring. I now knew what the stones were for. In each of these items there was a red stone in it. We were not going to just win the war. We were going to annihilate the Ishvalans.
Gran said looking between us," There is a city as you know just to the north of here. Each of you will take your squad and pick a corner of the city. When the four of us are in place Major Armstrong will erect a wall around the city preventing any escape attempts. Kill any Ishvalans you come across. Be prepared to leave in five. Dismissed." These orders were going to create a massacre of an entire city. Guiltily I relayed our orders to my squad who gave me tired looks but accepted them nonetheless.
I could see their thoughts echoing my own. The sooner we beat them the sooner we can go home.