Bringing the Dawn
Chapter Seven
The Affairs of Wizards
"So come take a drink and drown your sorrows
And all of our fears will be gone til tomorrow
We'll have no regrets and live for the day
In Nancy's Harbour Cafe."
-Nancy the Tavern Wench by Alestorm
21
For most of her life, Sanya had been nocturnal. She couldn't remember when it had started, but at some point she had grown to love the twinkling stars and shy away from the brightness of the sun. Her magic let her know the presence of anything lurking in shadows, and her night-eyes pierced darkness better than most. She loved to drift through the night, her pale form shining like a ghost under the moon. In this setting, she played her role of night's watch better than anyone could. Above the comfort she felt in solitude and walking the night, she felt useful as well; appreciated and loved beyond Eila's normal overbearing affection. Eila and her feelings were always a bit of a mystery to Sanya. Eila was very dear to her, and it wasn't until Perrine pointed it out that Sanya realized that Eila strained her sleeping patterns to stay up as long as she could with her. It made Sanya feel a little guilty that Eila would strive to stay with her past midnight, and only catch a few fleeting hours of sleep because of it. She took long naps, living off strange intervals of six hours of waking, six hours of sleeping, the another six hours of waking.
Evening was drawing over London, bringing with it cold fog and mist. Sanya felt comfortable in the chill as she sat in the near empty main room of Buccaneer's Inn. She sipped gently at tea, while eating before bed as she always did. This morning it was blueberries, recommended by Lynette who said they were good for her eyesight. While Sanya's eyesight rivaled that of a cat's in the dark, she didn't see any reason it couldn't improve. She hummed a song to herself as she ate, and inconspicuously watched the few others who were up that morning. They did not bother her, as few did. Her ghostly, pale demeanor seemed to put people off for better or worse.
They seemed like average folk. Merchants and maidens waking early for the day ahead. All seemed entirely mundane but a single man who dressed in white robes trimmed with a sky blue. He looked like he was from a northern country, with light, fair hair that was worn long. Sanya recognized him from somewhere, but she couldn't recall where. Not only was he out of place, but his blue eyes had been upon Eila most of the night when they had been dancing. Eila may not have noticed it, but nothing made it past Sanya without her noticing. Even in her sleep, she heard the sounds around her and remembered them upon waking.
She had almost forgotten about him upon finishing her tea when he approached her and sat close by. With a friendly look on his face, he said, "Alexsandra Litvyak! Such a coincidence to meet you here in London. It's been years since we last saw one another, but I doubt you remember my face from the many others. I know you do not go by Alexsandra, was it Alexsa? Sandra?"
"Sanya," she answered quietly. "I fear I do not remember you, yet your face is familiar."
"Jarri Siilasvuo," he told her. "I was there for your friend's trials into the Northern Order. Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen. You were but a child then I believe, but look at you now, a fine young woman. I have been here since yesterday, and I have seen you and Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen here. Not just you two, but the company of several others. All witches too. Such a curious thing, I wonder what you could be doing together?"
"I'm not at liberty to say," her voice was sleepy, and she was on edge with this encounter. Beyond his friendly visage, she knew there was something else. This was not a chance meeting, for better or worse. "It is also curious to see a wizard of the Northern Order here. We briefly saw one of the Southern Order. Eila would be glad to know how the Order fares, as she has not heard from anyone of it for some time now."
Jarri Siilasvuo sighed and shook his head, his expression grave now, "That is part of the reason I seek her. Our numbers dwindle further and further as our kind meet strange and untimely ends. I do not know the fates of any others in our Order other than her. As for those of the south, I know they still live on but no longer consort with one another. They resided in Rome, but the city is torn in political, did you know?"
"I did not."
"Ah, it is quite the tale! Would you hear it?" He asked her.
"I would," Sanya answered, her face still neutral and sleepy. "My ears hear and catch all around me. I may come to Romagna in my travels, and it would be good to know what may lay in store."
"Excellent!" The wizard exclaimed, "My current companions care little for the affairs of wizards, and it would be good to tell the story. I have always been a lover of tales, and when I greet Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen I am sure many stories between us will be told. Alas though, Rome is torn in a political battle for the hearts of the people. Neuroin wishes to gain power there against the current ruling family and the underground Thieves Guild. With no use of his Neuroi..."
He referred to the Dark Ones in their true name, Sanya realized with a sense of dread. No man did such a thing as their name was offensive.
"...Neuroin sent a contingent of many men to spread his word and gain influence. Many submitted, because power always attracts followers. The ruling family has accepted him, but still keep the Blackguard's influence a safe distance away. The city, however, is in the grips of something you could perhaps call a war. A witch, known as the Queen of Thieves rallied those who opposed Neuroin with her and from the shadows conduct a battle in the shadows Neuroin's followers. The wizards of the Southern Order took different sides, and were torn apart by the conflict. Many the wizards of have left the city in exile as the bonds and oaths of brother and sisterhood were broken."
"Which side have you taken?" Sanya asked him.
Jarri's lips curved into a slight smile, and he laughed softly for a moment before standing up. Walking away, he answered, "The winning one, my friend."
22
Miserable was how Perrine felt aboard the Wife Back Home. Several days, and midway through their journey to Denmark, the waters had been unusually rough. Down below deck, she rested on a hammock, trying to keep her breakfast down. She had done a better job far than Lynette, whose seasickness left her lying debilitated beside a wooden bucket that the contents of her stomach paid frequent visits to. Eventually Perrine mustered the courage and sealegs to wander topside to see how the others were doing.
"Perrine, good to see you," Yoshika greeted her. She, being from Fuso, was used to being at sea. Aurora was too, and in the past days since they had set out from Folkestone, the two had become fast friends.
"And you," Perrine replied, meaning the words to some extent. After being below deck essentially alone, even Yoshika seemed like fine company. Today it was a cloudy, windy day and they were still a couple away from Copenhagen. It was good to at least see the ocean again though, instead of just listen to it grind against wood.
"Hey, Gallian," Aurora greeted her too. She patted her shoulder heavily with her good hand. "Hajimemashite, Aurora desu; Douzo yoroshiku? How was that, Yoshika?"
"Great!"
Perrine smiled; she thought Yoshika teaching her language to Aurora to be quite touching. "Ohayo gozaimasu, kyou no tenki wa dou desu ka?" She spoke to Yoshika, using what Fuson she had learned from Sakamoto.
Yoshika relayed the question to Aurora, "She wants to know how the weather is going to be?"
Aurora shrugged, "Hell if I know. See the clouds? Maybe they'll rain on us, maybe they'll leave us alone. Not even Eila's magic can predict that."
Perrine had simply used that phrase because it was one of the few Fuson phrases she knew, not that she was particularly concerned about the weather. Her concerns lay elsewhere. There was something that had been rolling around in her head while she was hammock-ridden and ill. She wondered about what their journey down the borders of Karlsland would be like. One thing stood out above all else. There were no doubt going to be Gallians who fought for Neuroin opposing them along the way.
"Aurora," Perrine said. The three of them stood at the helm of the Wife Back Home, gazing off into the distance. "I wonder, have you fought the Blackguards? Those who raise their blades and banners for Neuroin?"
Aurora's face was grim, and her knuckles whitened as her fists gripped at the side of the ship. "That's a sore subject, Gallian," she answered.
"W-wait, we won't be fighting people will we?" Yoshika asked.
"We might," Aurora sighed. "As a witch in my prime, I focused either on Dark Ones or Neuroin's officers in Orussia. The axe I swing was taken from a man."
"Why people though!?" Yoshika grabbed onto Aurora's arm, "Sakamoto never said I'd have to witness war like this! I came here to help against the Dark Ones, not help men fight wars!"
Perrine answered, "Neuroin offered them a verdict. Either to serve his army or slave away to build monuments to him or work in fields that seldom bear harvests after the Dark Ones pollute the land. He cares nothing for us humans, but we can do things that Dark Ones cannot. Their numbers, while easy to replace, are not limitless either. They're either used to lure us witches out, or kill us. They are not capable of intelligence beyond simple commands as far as we know. They can sense our magic from great distances, from what Minna has told me recently, and use that to track us, but they cannot wage war."
"That's right," Aurora continued. "There's a lot of snap decisions that need to be made in a battle, and to wage war. If a battle starts to go south, or you find yourself on the losing end, you may need to fall back, regroup, and re-plan. The Dark Ones aren't smart enough to do that, and will fight until completely diminished. They can't plan particularly complex ambushes, or avoid them. For soldiers fleeing, they're easy to give the slip. Don't think they're useless, as their fighting power and weapons of burning energy best most men, but they cannot win any war alone."
"I don't know much about war," Yoshika said in a weak voice. "I know about medicine and tending to injuries. It doesn't matter what side of Gallia men are fighting on or for, I'll help anyone who is in danger."
Aurora snorted in disapproval, "I hope they're that nice back to you."
Perrine placed a gentle hand on Yoshika's head and smiled fondly, "I would rather not fight my countrymen if I could help it. However, I know there are those whose allegiance is to Neuroin rather than Gallia or her people. Your mercy and kindness to my people is appreciated though. I fear I misjudged you in Britannia, Yoshika Miyafuji, I'm growing fond of you. I still owe you for saving my life."
"You're too kind!" The young girl beamed. "Please, there are no debts between us, Perrine. If it weren't for you I wouldn't be able to set out on this journey and see places I've seen, or make new friends like Aurora. Speaking of friends, I hope Lyn is feeling better."
"I as well," Perrine sighed. "Come, let us visit her and see if we can coax her to get some fresh air."
"Do what you want," Aurora shrugged, still holding nothing but animosity towards Lynette.
24
Copenhagen was a walled city with only four gates in and out, beside the harbor. It was largely unaffected by the wars to the south and far east in Orussia. It was a trade hub for Baltland, northern Karlsland, Suomus, previously Gallia, Britannia and Orussia. Its location was an ideal center spot for such a thing, and the walls prevented any sort of raids for the wealth and riches the merchants within held. Politically, it was neutral entirely in the conflicts but leaned away from the dark armies of Gallia. Neuroin was bad for business.
The Strike Witches came in through the harbor at sundown, docking and setting forth at the wharfs of Copenhagen.
"We'll set out in the morning after a full night's rest," Perrine decided. "I would rather like to keep our presence on the down-low from here on out. If asked, we are a band of travelers moving towards Rome to join Neuroin's men, or the Queen of Thieves depending on who's asking."
The group reassured they understood and Perrine added, "Furthermore, let us stay somewhere least likely to attract attention. Which means everyone, including myself, must lower their standards for where we sleep tonight."
"For once I wish I could be like you, Sanya," Eila sighed.
Sanya smiled, "You look good in the sun Eila. Night doesn't suit you."
"I know a good place," Aurora spoke up. "Nancy's Harbor Cafe. I've stayed there years back. It's a dark, dirty place filled with lowlifes and scum but nobody give you a second thought. It's also one of the few English speaking place here too."
The Strike Witches followed Aurora to an inn on the waterfront that looked like it was falling apart at the foundation. Dark and smelling of salt, booze, and sweat; the place was the last sort of establishment Perrine thought she'd find herself in.
"Stay close to me, Lynette," Perrine instructed her Britannian companion as they passed through creaking doors. The six of them kept together in pairs: Perrine and Lynette; Aurora and Yoshika; and Eila and Sanya. The inside didn't look much better than the outside. The smell was strong and detestable, as were many of the patrons. Large men and women from all regions and lands drank together with whores and wenches. Plenty of wolf-whistles were thrown their way as Aurora strut up to the bar.
"Nancy!" She called, getting the attention of the bar-maid. She was a red-headed woman, old but with no faded beauty. Her dress gave all the patrons a rather splendid view of her cleavage.
Nancy reached over the bar and pulled Aurora into a tight hug, happily exclaimed, "Aurora my lass! You never wrote to me you rotten silver-haired devil!"
"Heh heh, I'm just the worst, aren't I?" Aurora sheepishly said, her face buried in Nancy's chest. "These are my friends, some travelers I'm heading south with. We need a place for the night, and some privacy."
"Then you came to the right place, sweetheart!" Nancy let her go and gazed to the rest. "Such a strange crew you have there, Aurora. Is that one your sister? She looks like you."
"We get that a lot, but no," Aurora lied. "This is a friend I met in Turku."
Nancy saw through their game, and smiled and winked, "Yes, yes, I see how it is. They must count themselves lucky, traveling among a witch! If only there were others among you, then the road would be much safer, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose..." Perrine was the one who answered, shifting uncomfortably. She didn't quite trust Nancy, and she had the strangest feeling she was being watched.
"Last time my lass Aurora here came and visited, she was with eleven others. All witches, heading to fight in Orussia. They were a merry company, and didn't look as frightened as you all look. Say, Aurora, where'd all those gals get to? You were all the best of pals!"
"Gone," the veteran witch answered. "These is my new company. This isn't for mercenary work this time."
Aurora turned around to face the others. "So, we'll be here tonight," she said. "You can trust Nancy. Secrecy is her forte."
None of them were quite convinced.
"There's the matter of payment," Nancy spoke up, tugging at Aurora's arm.
"We have gold," Perrine told her, provoking eyes from all around her. Darkly, she added, "And a trail of dead would-be thieves behind us as well. As the weapons we carry with us have been tried and tested in war."
The patrons of Nancy's Harbour Cafe muttered and went back to their drinks and conversation between each other.
"Gold ain't what I'm after," Nancy winked, tugging at Aurora again. "I'm sure this pretty lass here and I could strike up a deal in private. The rest of you need not worry a thing! Remember, Aurora, you still owe me for letting you stay here when-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Aurora cut her off quickly.
"Aurora?" Yoshika's voice came as she remained close to Aurora's side. "Is this going to be-?"
Aurora nodded and cut her off, "Y-Yeah, yeah, we'll figure something out. Everyone go and get settled in and get to bed early, we have a big day tomorrow!"
Her mock-cheeriness was not unnoticed. "Do what you want," Eila rolled her eyes. "Just don't give us the details."
Nancy showed them to their rooms. Each was small, but cozy and private which was about what they needed. Perrine resigned to sleeping early, skipping dinner. Lynette did the same, and Yoshika stayed with the other three. She was extremely uncomfortable, and wished they could be back in Folkestone or London. Yoshika kept close to Eila and Sanya while Nancy held a conversation in Danish with Aurora. The older woman was rubbing Aurora's arm affectionately with a strange gleam in her eye. Aurora was drinking straight whiskey and looked as uncomfortable as Yoshika felt about all this. A black pit of dread was weighing in her gut.
Heavy with anxiety, Yoshika went to bed soon after, and slept restlessly the entire night.
Eila was next, going with her casual demeanor. Only eyes as sharp as Sanya's could tell that Eila was careworn, not carefree.
Sanya kept her usual night watch. Like a ghost, she kept in the inn's common room near the fire. Her presence went more or less entirely unnoticed by the sailors and thugs who spent the night drinking there. She watched Aurora go to bed at the same time as Nancy, and begrudgingly accept what that meant. She felt like this was not a price to pay, and they should have risked staying somewhere that could have attracted attention. The price for a safety precaution was too steep. But in the end, it was not up to Sanya to decide how they went about this journey.
In the inn's common room a man rested in a dark corner. He wore white robes and kept his face obscured. To any other he was a mysterious stranger, but Sanya's green eyes saw him for who he was: Jarri Siilasvuo.
25
They gathered the next morning outside for fresh air. Nobody had slept particularly well and were glad to be underway. Aurora seemed to have gotten the least sleep of all. On her back were her, Eila, and Sanya's things. She was going to carry Sanya in her arms, but first Sanya was to fall asleep, Aurora was taking heavy sips from the rest of her whiskey. She finished it in short time.
"Aurora?" Yoshika said, putting a concerned hand on her arm, "Are you okay? You look miserable."
"Me? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Let's just get out of here, okay?"
Eila gazed upon her sister with cold eyes and said, "I have as much pity towards what you paid as if you had stabbed your hand with a knife."
"Hahahaha," Aurora muttered joylessly. "You can fuck yourself with that knife."
"I'm glad everyone is cheery this morning," Perrine deadpanned, frowning.
"You too, Gallian."
Yoshika, lost to all of this, asked, "J-Just what happened last night?"
"Yoshika..." Lynette put her hands on Yoshika's shoulders from behind, "...I think it's best not to ask questions right now."
"How come?" She asked, oblivious.
"Some other time. It was just business, like back when I was a mercenary... just business," Aurora told Yoshika, and without warning scooped Sanya into arms. "Nighty-night, Sanya."
"I'm not sleepy yet," Sanya gently protested. She was lying though. There was something she wanted to tell Eila and the rest, but she couldn't remember because she was so tired. The sun was hurting her eyes and making it hard to think. Aurora's strong arms were so comfortable and protective too...
"Out like a light," Eila sighed as Sanya dozed off.
They left Copenhagen and traveled south down the main road, intending to go through Zealand to the southeast and take a boat to the mainland of Europe in southern Denmark. Lovely was an apt word to describe Denmark. From the road, they could occasionally see the coast through the trees of the forested land. The coast was broken up with low cliffs and fjords, unlike anything either Lynette or Yoshika had ever seen. It was a peaceful journey through sparse forests of beech trees. It was late March. The beeches were still barren from the winter, and the woodlands littered with a thick layer of leaves.
The first day of the journey was peaceful, and marked by the occasional passing of a town which they made a point to avoid. There were few other travelers on the road, and the sun set early prompting an early rest. They made camp a short ways off the road, hidden in a grove of beeches that grew close together. This time rest came easier after a night of campfire stories of legends and folklore of different lands. Aurora had to tell Perrine more than once to stop interrupting Yoshika's stories when she tried to apply logic or ask questions. Yoshika fell asleep against Aurora next to the fire, and the two of them were content to rest for the night beside it without any blankets.
That night, Sanya briefly saw a white-robed figure in the distance on the road.
"We're being followed," she told everyone the next morning. "A man named Jarri Siilasvuo has been tailing us since London. I don't know what he wants."
"Who is he?" Perrine asked, "Should we fear him?"
"No," Eila answered. "He's part of my order, I remember him. The fact that he hasn't come to me openly worries me a little. Still, as part of the Northern Order he is sworn in brotherhood to me, and would not harm me. He may just not trust my company, I don't know."
"What reason would he have not to trust us?" Perrine asked, a little offended.
"I just said I don't know," Eila repeated. "In any case let's move on. For all we know he could just be moving in the same direction as us. I'm almost glad in a way, I wasn't sure who of the Northern Order was still around."
"What happened to them?" Yoshika asked.
Eila shrugged, her face expressionless, "I don't know that either. There's simply just less of us. I placed our number around two-dozen or more when I first was initiated, when we last gathered a year ago, there were eight. Then we were to gather again this on the winter solstice as we do, but I was the only to arrive. I feared I was the only one left, but heard stories of wizards of my order in Karlsland."
"He said he wished to share stories with you when we spoke in London," Sanya told Eila. "Yet he said something strange. I asked him who he stands with in this war, and he merely said he's sided with the victors."
"So he's on our side?" Lynette asked.
"Has to be," Yoshika nodded happily.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Perrine said in a low voice. "There's a reason there are men who follow Neuroin. It's all a matter of perspective, and we don't know what his is."
There was not much else to say on the matter. Lynette and Yoshika were optimistic, but the truth remained to be seen. They packed up camp and took to the road again. The journey was once again light and peaceful, and even after the dreadful stay in Copenhagen, everyone's spirits were higher again. Aurora's conversation with Yoshika wasn't as vigorous, and the younger girl had been hanging back with Lynette. The two of them were enthralled with the woodlands around them, finding the scenery absolutely gorgeous.
The sun was beginning to set as they were reaching the far side of Zealand. They were close to the shore, and Aurora found a song in Danish to carry them along.
"I understood some of the words," Eila said when she finished. "It's a dancing song?"
"Something like that," Aurora chuckled, almost mischievously. It was a song of enchanting faeries and witches of old; a ballad of enticement.
At the western shores of the island of Zealand at the end of the road was a small village centered around the ferry across the Great Belt; the strait between Zealand and the island of Fyn, from which the mainland of Europe was just a short march away. Across the strait, they could easy make out the other side. The village was Korsor.
They rested at small tavern and inn called the Havfruens Kvæd. There was little to remember about it, besides the fact it was small and they slept three to a room on small mats of straw. The northern girls took to one room, and the other three to another. The next morning, they found the inn filled with mercenaries donned in helmets, shirts of mails, shields, and swords. They were to cross the strait and move south to sell their swords to Karlsland in the fighting from Gallia. Large and bearded, the men had fair light hair.
The Danish warriors ferried over first, so the Strike Witches had to wait a couple hours before the ferry returned. In the meantime they ate and had morning tea before finally setting across the Great Belt and ending up at Fyn. If things continued as they were they would be in Karlsland within a couple days, and once they had their horses, the journey would go much swifter.
The road took them northwest from the peninsula where the ferry left them towards the city of Odense. Even with the shackles of winter not yet shaken, it was green country with high grass through sparse wooded lands. The Strike Witches walked alongside a winding brook that followed along the road. It bubbled and babbled through a rock bed. Yoshika and Lynette skipped through it barefoot, splashing about like little kids and having fun.
"Odense is named after the All-Father, Odin," Eila told Perrine and the other two as they walked near the brook. The two stopped splashing to listen, and Aurora was hanging back with Sanya. "Odin was the first to teach the men of this land a runic alphabet, and was a great pursuer of knowledge. They say a hundred and something years ago, Odin rode with the Swedes against the Danes at the Battle of Lena. As far as I know, nobody here is much for paganism – which Perrine will be glad to know. Canute the Saint was king of Denmark centuries ago and Odense is a Roman Catholic city because of him."
Perrine was glad to know that. She felt out of place in Pagan territory.
"How do you know all this?" Lynette asked.
Eila smiled, "We wizards are well educated, Lyn. I know a lot about Denmark, Orussia; and of course Suomus. Our grandfather was Danish, and told us lots of stories when we were little girls."
"It must be so wonderful to have a grandfather like that," Lynette sighed dreamily. "My family knows little outside the Bible when it comes to reading and stories. Except for the many great battles of Britannia in the past. Out here, it all seems more heroic. Even the stories of my Nana and Gloryhammer seem so simple."
"The grass is always greener," Perrine said. "I'm sure by the end of this, our own stories will be told through generations."
They journeyed until sunset where they went to make camp beside a small, crystal clear lake. Again spirits were raised at the thought of bathing in the lake the next morning. So far, Denmark had felt like a nice hiking trip as opposed to a crucial mission to end the war with Neuroin. Since they had left Copenhagen, the war and fighting to the south had seldom been on any of their minds. It was peaceful and much appreciated.
With Gloryhammer, Lynette had shot doe wandering about near the lake. Aurora skinned, cleaned, and cooked them a dinner from it. Nobody could turn down fresh-cooked food, but neither Perrine nor Lynette had much appetite for it. Lynette was no hunter, and felt guilty with every bite and even worse when she realized how good it tasted. The group ate at the side of the lake in peace until a foreign voice spoke.
"Such a lovely day for a lake going, is it not?" It was Jarri Siilasvuo, exposing himself openly for the first time. "No doubt Alexsandra has told you of me. Her senses are sharper than any, there is no way any being could stalk you and elude her."
The group sprang to their feet, scrambling for weapons.
"No need for that," he told them in a casual, relaxed voice much like Eila's. "I'd not have bloodshed if I could prevent it. I ask a simple question to Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen. Do you fear the Dark One, Neuorin?"
Eila narrowed her eyes, frowning slightly. Her indigo irises found Sanya, and she said, "Not when some very dear to me is close by. A strange question to ask, Jarri Siilasvuo. A very strange way to greet me as well."
"These are strange times, Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen," he said. Around Eila, Perrine had her hand on her rapier, and Lynette had Gloryhammer. Aurora was ignoring him and grabbing her pole-axe from nearby past him. It put him between five witches and one. Unfettered, he continued, "In London your friend asked me which side I am on. I told her I side with the victors, and we both know who that is. Neuroin has a lot to offer to wizards; to men in general in a world where only women usually hold magic."
"So you've defected?" Eila spat. "I think we have nothing to discuss. Go crawling back to your master, you couldn't hope to overcome the six of us."
"Hope is not what drives my hand," Jarri Siilasvuo replied, his casual demeanor now turning grim. "Neuroin has opened something inside of me, Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, something no amount of studying and perusing through ancient writings could. You remember it, do you not? The ancient fire that burned you from the inside? The ancient fire that consumed your very being and birthed you again!? It's a fire that only comes out when your blood boils in anger, but what if you could control it!?"
Perrine thought back to a brief moment back when she first met Eila,
Eila slammed her fists on the table. Around her, several jets of fire exploded from nothing, blasting the three of them with heat. Sanya gave a frightened yell and bounded out of the room in tears. Eila looked like she was fuming with anger.
She remembered how Eila's eyes seemed to literally burn with anger back then. Could this be what this man spoke of?
"You're mad," Eila sneered. "You've joined Neuroin in a thirst for power. Did he come to you, or you to him I wonder?"
"He to I," Jarri answered proudly. "The other wizards cowered and feared him and were cut down. You, Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, are brave of heart and do not cower away. Neuroin sent me to end your life and stop whatever has been set into motion, but I know he would rather see you at his side. You are nothing now, Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, the last of the Northern Order save myself and fighting a losing battle. You could rule! Have power! And the safety of your sister and Alexsandra would be assured!"
Eila crossed her arms, still sneering, "Traitors have a habit of speaking with forked tongues. I doubt my transition would go as gloriously as you make it sound, nor do I believe in the safety of the two I love the most would be so sound. You have presented your offer, I refuse, now leave."
"It's not so easy," Jarri Siilasvuo's eyes began to burn like Eila's had before. "Neuroin has instructed you dead, and I gave you a second chance! Yet you spit in my face in return! Foolish little girl, you'll die along with-"
Aurora interrupted him from behind, "Hey, you forgot one thing! You do not, I repeat, you do not threaten my little sister!"
She threw herself at him with her axe swinging to take his head off. He gracefully ducked low and sidestepped, sending Aurora tumbling past him clumsily before Eila. His hand raised and from it shot a burst of bright flames. The flames engulfed Aurora from the side, sending her right half up in a blaze. She screamed, a horrible shriek of agony that was burned into the minds of the five just like the fire was burning her skin. Clumsily she flailed around as skin, hair, flesh and clothes all burned, crackled, and melted in the hellfire.
"Help her!" Perrine screamed. Yoshika and Lynette pulled their burning friend into the lake, pushing her down and trying to submerge her to put out the flames. Perrine drew her rapier for battle, but the flames flickering in Jarri Siilasvuo's hand stopped her from charging him. She didn't want to end up like Aurora at all.
"Eila, you've told me all this time of your magic. I don't think I can get close him."
Eila stepped forward. With a gesture of her hands, she conjured a spell that sent Perrine and Sanya flying back ten meters into the shallow waters of the lake. She looked over her shoulder as the two got to their feet, soaking wet, and shouted, "Nobody else is getting hurt! This is a battle between wizards!"
"Eila, you idiot!" It was Sanya who screamed these words. Perrine still had her rapier and was splashing forward. She had her magic still, and was going to see this wizard explode like a tree in a lightning storm.
"Lynette, Sanya, help Aurora!" She ordered. "Eila and I will dispatch this fiend!"
Sanya splashed towards the other three in the lake. Aurora wasn't a pretty sight to look at. Lynette was trying to prop her up in a sitting position to help Yoshika heal her.. Yoshika had never used her healing magic on burns and wasn't sure how effective it would be. Her magic usually mended flesh and fractures, but burns were something else entirely. Aurora's right arm, half of her face, and breast were all burned terribly with her right ear gone entirely. While she had never been exactly beautiful, her features and skin were warped and ugly where the hellfire had scorched her.
Back at the shore, Eila was quivering with anger. Her hands were in the forms of fists and her eyes were burning with a white fire. "That was my sister!" she cried. Bouts of the same sort of fire that burned Aurora exploded around her. Grass and twigs were singed beneath her feet.
"And now it'll be you," there was a gleeful malice in Jarri's voice. He made a punching motions with both fists and a torrent of the white hellfire exploded forward and enveloped Eila entirely. Her form was a black shadow amidst a bright light.
"No!" Perrine screamed, stumbling over her own feet and tripping. The five witches in the lake stopped, staring in stunned silent, unable to react in anyway. The bright flames disappeared like wind, but Eila was still there. Her clothes were burned away, and the fire in her eyes was burning more than ever. She clapped her hands to bring forth a new spell. A bright bolt of energy shot from her hands, forcing Jarri Siilasvuo to dive headlong out of the way. The bolt exploded in the air, and the arcs blazed and streaked outwards. One such arc shot into his back, provoking a sharp cry of pain from him.
He was on his hands and knees, panting as faint smoke rose from his back.
Eila clapped her hands again to repeat the spell, but this time he raised his own hand to bring forth a spell like the bubble Eila had used to protect Sanya and herself. The spell exploded against it, and the bubble seemed to shatter, sending shards flying about everywhere. Siilasvuo's cheek was cut by one. Eila wavered slightly, like she was exhausted.
Jarri pushed himself to his feet, and was exhausted as well. "Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, you're certainly quite a match. You're still young, though, and you'll either collapse on your feet or tear yourself apart keeping up this fight. It's not too late to give in and come with me!"
"Not... in... a million years!" Eila panted, and clumsily threw a punch in the air. A burst of the same fire that had hurt her sister came forth, but it was weak and died instantly. She gave one last heaving breath before her naked body collapsed over, her magic and energy finally spent.
"Heh, stubborn as-"
Jarri Siilasvuo was interrupted by a loud, "Tonnerre!"
A crack of thunder and lightning streaked over their camp. Jarri had only the smallest window of opportunity to bring for a spell to create a magical shield. He was almost successful. The weak shield shattered instantly, shards cutting him more, and his body was thrown hard against a nearby tree. The shield saved his life, but his body was broken with many bones shattered. Perrine rushed over with his rapier drawn.
Her boot slammed into several of his broken ribs, provoking a pained howl. The point of Perrine's rapier was at his heart. "Killing you would be a mercy, you traitor," she hissed. "Death is too good for someone like you."
"I was never on your side," his voice came out cracked and weak as a trickle of blood spilled from his lips. "Although-" he coughed and winced, "-although I'd much rather see your kind succeed. I kn-know her plans, my wisdom... t-the sight of a wizard. Y-You're her champion, the... the one she suffers for..."
Perrine took her foot of his chest, and saw he was starting to fade out. Now frantic, she kneeled down and grabbed at his collar with her other hand. "Who!? Who are you talking about!?"
His blue eyes gazed at her amber ones. The weary, pained expression became a smile, and he muttered, "I must return, Perrine Clostermann. My faith... the faith of Gallia in you... They may... they may not know your name, but word has spread... Alas, I must depart before I am too weak for the spell."
"Not yet!" Perrine let go of her rapier and grasped at his collar with both hands. She wanted to call to Yoshika to heal this man. She saw it perfectly, his heart was changed. He was seeing reason! Jarri Siilasvuo made a fist and hit the ground, and soon Perrine felt nothing in her hands as he disappeared away with magic. She fell forward on her hand and knees and hit the ground with her fist in frustration. She wanted to know more about Gallia, and whether or not he had been speaking of Mio Sakamoto.
She looked over, and saw Sanya was with Eila. The wizard was coming to after a short spell of faintness. She was heaving with exhaustion, naked and looking like an angel in Sanya's arms. Yoshika and Lynette were struggling to carry Aurora upright out of the lake. The older Suom was out cold from shock, and didn't look so good.
"Is...Is she alright?" Eila whispered to Sanya.
Sanya nodded and stroked Eila's head, "I pray so."
"S-She'll live," Yoshika said in a low, shaky voice. "My magic though... those burns can't be healed completely. S-She'll have those scars for a long time... m-maybe forever. I'm so sorry," fat tears were spilling down her cheeks. "I did all I could."
"Yoshika, your magic alone could have saved her for all we know," Lynette tried to encourage her. Tears were streaming down her own face though. "You've done enough, for her and for all of us. Don't wear this as a burden, please."
"It's hard," Yoshika sniffled, unable to keep from crying. "It's twice now my magic hasn't been able to help her up all the way."
The sun was setting now. It was a restless, silent night and little sleep was shared between the group. Eila didn't clothe herself until morning, and spent the night standing in the center of the lake, water just past her ribs, staring up at the stars alone. Yoshika kept with Aurora, the only one who slept fully through the night. She tried to heal her burns further, but to no avail. Aurora's burns were red and rough, covering the right face of her head. Her ear was gone, along with the silver hair that had once been there. Yoshika whispered to her in her sleep, telling her she was still beautiful no matter what. She hoped Aurora could hear those words in her dreams.
Perrine sat alone, rapier on her lap. She recited the words Jarri Siilasvuo had said over and over again in her head. She was certain Sakamoto was in Gallia now; perhaps mustering some rebellion? She was hopeful, but knew her hopes were simply just hopes. There were fears too. She worried that the wizard's loyalty was still with the Dark One fully and that he would report all he had learned about them. Sanya had said he had been tailing them for some time, and she was afraid he had overheard details about their journey. Secrecy, it seemed, had not been a silly idea.
All in all, the Strike Witches were realizing just what this journey was going to be like.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes/Commentary- We continue the theme of taverns based off songs! This one was a little darker, but I wanted to capture the feel of the Alestorm song since Bringing the Dawn is just me trying to write scenes that fit songs I like. I'm only mostly joking. Listen to the song for yourself, It's prettty good.
For that fight with the other wizard, it was written around Red Light In My Eyes Pt 1 by Children of Bodom. My long time readers know there was no way I could make it without mentioning Children of Bodom somehow; although my obsession with them has waned somewhat in the last year or so. If you read at the same speed I do, the song goes along perfectly with the scene.
