Chapter two: Choices

Viktor was pacing restlessly around the strategy room, flipping through documents randomly, looking out of the window, and listening to the sound of Flik's quill flying across the parchment in a letter to Muse. Pausing his quick pacing to look over at Flik, who paid him no heed, Viktor half-expected him to jump up suddenly and scream that it was a horrible prank, that there was no attack initiated by the city-state or whoever, or even that the Riou kid's memories were totally inaccurate due to the impact of the fall (or jump) from the cliff.

Viktor knew he was not a good thinker. On the battlefield, perhaps, he could act on instinct and even apply some of the tactics he had learned from experience, but on occasions as such he had no idea of which what to make his thoughts, and settled for concluding logically that it was not a good omen while waiting for Flik or Annabelle to make sense of the fiasco. At that moment, Flik ended his letter and started rolling up the parchment. Aaron, the secretariat of his mercenary fort leapt up from his seat, took his parchment and ran outward to pass it to a messenger for delivery. Flik turned around solemnly, and the look in his eyes practically spelled death.

"What do you make out of it?" Viktor said, getting the words out in a rush.

"I…I can't be sure, but it could mean that there is a third party in this mess complicating matters." Flik replied uncertainly, "but don't take my word for it."

Sighing impressively, Viktor spoke too sanctimoniously for his usual raucous manner.

"Just when I thought war was about to end for good, well I suppose there is nothing left to do but pick up on our training again, yea?" He paused, waiting for approval, and when he got none he continued, "We've been slacking lately, with the ceasefire and all that. Who knows if we can trust those Highland idiots?" Viktor ended his last word with a huge attempt at energy.

Silence.

"Oh you're kidding right?" Viktor surveyed his partner's face for a moment, knowing that Flik too, had little inclination to continue fighting especially after their ride up to Highland border. It helped Viktor, and all the more Flik, to see war in a new perspective and understand that all that fighting was not going anywhere if it did not bring about everlasting peace. Viktor scorned the idea, everlasting peace with the city-state and Highland trying to bite each others' necks off at every given opportunity? Fat chance.

"I guess you're right, it's the only thing we can do now." Flik spoke up unexpectedly.

"What?"

"Train, train to fight some more, that's what we're here to do right? And maybe, if the fighting shall ever cease, I think we would still train wouldn't we. Life is a battle in itself."

Viktor stared at Flik and the pair simultaneously broke out in laughter.

"Well look who died and became a wise man," Viktor said as he grinned, "You're right though, it's no use worrying, let's just give it our all huh!"

The pair exchanged a look of genuine synergy as they sounded the alarm for a gathering at the square and made their way to the balcony. It was breezy for midday, and the troops gathered at alarming speed after having been given a break for a couple of days from the war that had apparently ended, eager for some action again.

"Troops! We have an announcement to make!" Viktor exclaimed, his voice strong and carrying.

"We have received news that the Highland Unicorn Brigade has been attacked. We are certain that it is not Jowston's doing, but we are awaiting confirmation from Muse as we speak. All we can say now is that tension is definitely amounting on both sides again, so troops, today we re-establish preparations for war!" Flik spoke tactfully, his voice filled with vigour.

"Mercenaries, we will fight for what we believe in, and we will fight with all our strength, until our very last breath!" Viktor ended with surprising exuberance and the troops roared in one voice, punching their fists into the air, hoping to make the change they believe in – to bring about a better land.

After their speech, the pair reviewed their roster, monitored the troops' progress, and after a little unofficial duel in the strategy room, headed down to the tavern.

"That was a good speech." Leona said and smiled enigmatically at Viktor and Flik who just entered the room.

"Of course, the both of us are unbelievably cool, you know that." Viktor said happily and Flik laughed his agreement beside him.

"So what are you going to do about that poor boy you brought back?" Leona asked, and suddenly the partners jumped up from their seats in unison, and spoke up in complete harmony.

"Where's he now!"

"Down in the jail cell, if you can call that one," Leona said unabashed and seemed as if she was expecting their reaction, "Pohl brought him there when you returned."

"Oh Pohl, trustworthy Pohl, I think we can put Riou in his hands then." Viktor said, feeling pleased, while Flik made a start to inform Pohl of his new charge. Before he took a step, however, Pohl stepped into the tavern.

"Pohl! Just the guy we were looking for. You know Riou, the kid who came back with us? Could you uh, look after him for awhile?" Viktor boomed from the bar, causing Pohl to hop a little in shock and look around at Viktor, taken aback. When he saw Viktor looking at him with his thumbs up and grinning broadly, however, Pohl's tensed up features relaxed into a smile.

"No problem, Viktor. I'm a little taken by Riou already. He'll be safe with me, I'll keep him busy with some chores."

"Thank you!" Viktor and Flik chorused and looked at each other in disdain. They were pretty much in annoying unison since the day started. Hoping to destroy the heart-warming jinx, Viktor and Flik left separately to the swordsmanship and archery groups respectively.

The day passed without much incident but it grew swelteringly hot and humid as time passed and the sun hung obstinately in the sky. The troops, in their renewed energy did not feel despaired but instead trained hard, each feeling the rush of adrenaline in executing the perfect strike, dodging a quick attack, or sometimes, although very rarely, disarming a distracted Viktor only to end up in an arm wrestle with the bear of a guy. It was an optimistic day, one when soldiers felt that there was light at the end of the long, long tunnel of ambush, siege and deceit.

When the sun rose the next day, Viktor felt an inexplicable sense of thrill, and it took him a full minute to understand why. He and Flik had made plans to duel in the square today, in front of all their troops. With that thought springing to his mind Viktor sprang out of bed as well, washed up, grabbed his sword and admired its gleam. His heart thumped wildly – it had been a long time since they had agreed on an all-out duel, with an evenly matched opponent, Viktor felt as if he would be getting the best exercise in months. Taking a deep breath, Viktor stepped out of his room, only to crash into an all-too-familiar figure in blue.

Grunting under their breaths, they gave each other a look of suppressed eagerness and headed, as usual, to Leona's tavern for a really quick breakfast before dashing out to the square at top speed, feeling childishly insane and insanely childish. Most of the troops have already gathered, and the excitable atmosphere rose into a crescendo as Viktor and Flik entered the square.

As they took their places, both of them drew their swords, the glint from the morning sun mesmerizing the entire fort for a moment.

Suddenly, Viktor pounced on Flik with the agility of a cheetah and brought down his sword with monstrous strength, his sword clanging with Flik's, who deflected the attack with a rapid display of adroitness. The loud clang echoed for a split second, only to be interrupted by two more ear-splitting screeches as the two swords seemed to fly on their own accord. Viktor saw for a fleeting moment as Flik jumped backward and took his chance on a straight-forward thrust at him, Flik spun to the right and swung his sword at Viktor, who ducked at the last second and attempted another strong thrust at Flik which went wayward, giving both men the chance to retreat to their initial positions, panting heavily.

The duel continued on intensely, with the crowd chanting 'ooh' and 'aah' like a many headed entity. After numerous more strikes, jumps, defence and swordplay, both parties once again returned to their own end of the square. Fire seemed to burn in their eyes as they scrutinized each others' faces, struggling to figure out their opponents' intentions.

Without a warning, both of them jumped at the same time, swords raised high above their heads. At the critical moment, Flik switched to a low strike and Viktor leapt in shock, his back to Flik who grabbed his chance and flew at him. Still rather shocked, Viktor decided to try something new. By something new, Viktor simply propelled his sword backward without a glance. Then, two things happened at once: Flik dropped his sword in total astonishment at Viktor's blatant lack of strategy, and Viktor, shocked that his sword had come into contact with something, dropped his in utter surprise. Turning around to face each other, the crowd broke into humongous applause as the partners laughed and gave a mercurial high-five, extremely pleased with the way the duel had ended.

As the pair rested at the tavern, still replaying their heated duel that morning in a heated conversation, Pohl approached them, and after congratulating his leaders for their wonderful duel, reminded them of some administration matters.

"We're out of flour."

Pretty much not expecting this line of talk, Viktor thumped Pohl hard on his back, before suggesting that the little kid (Pohl interrupted with his name, Riou, at this point) go to Ryube village with an escort or two to get the flour.

"Give him some air, that poor kid; he has been stuck with us for long eh." Viktor started, "Say, did he watch our duel..?"

And that was the cue for both Flik, who was tired of denying his shock at Viktor's new attack, and Pohl, who was really just in a rush, to interrupt and exclaim their agreement at Viktor's suggestion before hastily turning away.