Bringing the Dawn
Chapter Eight
The Three Meetings
"My dearest friends,
Even if your hope has burned with time,
Anything that's dead shall be re-grown,
And your vicious pain, your warning sign,
You will be fine."
-The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves (guilty pleasure band)
26
Broken, bleeding, and in desperate need of a physician's attention, Jarri Siilasvuo felt as if he was marching before the gallows. He was waiting for one of Neuroin's servants to summon him to the chamber of the council to be judged, and no-doubt killed for his failure. In the meantime, he waited in his chambers alone. His room was a circular dwelling atop a high spire separated from the main of the castle. Along the walls were his things: desks, many bookshelves, and a bed. In the center of the floor was a brightly colored magical symbol. There was a similar one hidden in the sewers beneath Paris. It was a covert way to enter and leave the castle.
"He callssss," the horrible whispering voice of one of the Neuroi hissed. He couldn't see it, but knew it was nearby. In his life, Jarri had feared a lot of things, and let that fear consume him. He had followed a dark path, and done dark deeds in hopes it would spare him. Now he was cornered like a rat, taking console only in the fact that he could die knowing some part deep within him understood the mistakes he had made.
He passed the doors of his room. Beyond was nothing, a landing that ended in a drop hundreds of feet to Paris below. A great bridge, made of the same material as the Neuroi, rose from below and connected his spire to another lone spire. As he walked the bridge, he saw in the distance another bridge raising to connect the next spire to another. He'd have to cross several more bridges to reach the castle. Around him, the air whipped and howled in the red sky. It stank of sulfur.
Jarri limped along, body in agony from being shattered against a tree by Perrine Clostermann's spell. He was still exhausted from the magic he had used in his battle with the other wizard. Above the physical pain, something weighed on him more. The guilt was more than anything, because he had spent years believing a lie he had told himself. He had never followed Neuroin out of any sort of deep affection or loyalty, but fear the promise of power. If there was going to be a war, he wanted to be on the winning side and come through unscathed. Despite the side he chose, he would have rather seen Neuroin cast down.
Before he thought that impossible, but after being defeated he reconsidered. He had never seen Neuroin fight first hand, only heard stories of his bloody conquests and the witches he had killed. What if it was just rumors though? What if the real Neuroin was simply a charlatan and commander who gave power to others to do his bidding? Whatever the case was, Jarri Siilasvuo was glad that he was going to die so that Neuroin could lose a general.
To a Suom, death was not something to fear.
Soon he passed through the high black gates past the ramparts into the castle interior. He limped past guards in their black armor; they patrolled a meter above the ground. On their back were wings of red fire that did not flap, but still carried them. They had weapons of similar make, just like the Neuroi. He passed the Neuroi too, who simply stared forward expressionless.
"Jarri Siilasvuo," came the voice of the Dark One, Neuroin. "I cannot help but feel disgust when a great wizard of the Northern Order - unburdened and a master of the ancient fire - was bested by a team of children! Yes, they are witches, the magical champions of the weak race of men: but they are still children. Your weakness is so overwhelmingly pathetic I cannot think of a punishment suitable for you."
"You're underestimating them," Jarri muttered, out of breath from his journey there. Beside Neuroin was that witch in white, her face obscured as always. He knew who she was, and what she was doing. Now, he was glad for the fact he had never attempted to stop her. He had been afraid that Neuroin would not believe him were he to have her assassinated.
"A hundred witches have perished beneath my blade, and so shall another hundred at least before this war is over! Their entire kind will be eradicated, and you tell me I underestimate them. Tell me, how many did it take to best you!?"
It was the witch who answered in a mocking, smug tone, "But two, my lord. A single skirmisher watched the fight for me. I thought we would like to see just how this battle played out."
Neuroin gave a soft, evil laugh and affectionately patted the head of his adviser. "This mind of yours so often works to stay my hand from feeding on your magic, I must say," he then focused on Jarri again. "So, what will she tell me she saw?"
"That I fought bravely, but was overcome by strong magic. Children as they are, one still throws lightning like she is the daughter of Thor!" Jarri came forth before the two of them. His eyes were sunken and his face was pale, and he was accepting death. "I tailed them for over a week and ambushed them. I was not prepared to be struck down by the power of storms. Had I known she had this magic, I could have prepared adequately for it."
"You tracked them for this long?" Neuroin stepped forward and grasped Jarri's face in his long, armored fingers. "Surely you were not so foolish as not to listen to their words, and learn about where they go and what they do?"
"N-No, my lord," the wizard shook his head. He was torn. He had listened to them indeed, and knew their journey was to the south to gather the Gertrud Barkhorn and Erica Hartmann. Yet, he did not believe he should say these words. It was likely upon leaving his lips, he would die for his failure anyhow.
Neuroin let go of the wizard and crossed his arms. "Perhaps some degree of usefulness can be dug out of you yet. Your failures could pave the way for more competent fighters to finish the job. Tell me what you learned!"
"Y-Yes m-my lord!" Jarri fell to his knees, and felt himself cornered more than ever. He weakly stammered out a story, hoping his mind could fabricate a lie, "I f-found them at Buccaneer's Inn and-"
His voice became a bloody gurgle as the flash of a blade cut his throat. Blood spilled from his mouth as he weakly grasped at his split neck. Jarri Siilasvuo fell over, and died in a pool of his blood. Over him, Mio Sakamoto stood with her katana in hand, dripping with his blood.
"A traitor speaks with a forked tongue," she said. Her hood had fallen back, exposing her weary face and black hair tied back in a tight warrior's knot. "When defeated, he swore allegiance to the enemy in Denmark. That is the single problem with ruling with fear, my lord, the rats can be called to another if their shadow seems larger. Jarri Siilasvuo knew his time was short. Even if he had a chance to speak his lies and mislead us, his failure was not something that would go unpunished. He was to die or suffer either way, so his words would have aided our enemy."
"Again, your wisdom is admirable," Neuroin said, and stepped over Jarri's body. "This was quite a disappointment. Yet we know they go south, but for what purpose? That remains to be seen. A new champion shall over see this operation. Jaeger Kunze will not disappoint me, as I have a better way to persuade him than fear. He always did like his women young."
Mio Sakamoto frowned as Neuroin left. Her hope came from the fact that her actions had bought Perrine and the others just a little bit more time and safety. If only they knew what they were walking into on the Rhine.
27
"So where to now, fearless leader?" Eila asked Perrine the morning after their encounter with Jarri Siilasvuo.
"We stay the course," Perrine answered. She was sitting at the edge of the lake polishing her rapier. "Put some clothes on, I grow tired of seeing your bare body. We're not stopping if you catch a cold standing in that freezing lake all night either."
"I didn't," Eila said from beside Perrine. "That fire you saw is very hot, and was burning inside me. I needed to cool down like metal pulled from a burning forge. Before we break camp and set off once more, I wanted to talk to you alone."
Perrine looked about and saw nobody. She lowered her voice to a whisper and said, "Now is good."
Eila nodded, and whispered as well, "I just wanted to thank you, and say if it weren't for you last night I don't think all six of us would be here. I think you're a snobby, stuck-up four-eyes but you're the best snobby, stuck-up four-eyes I could ever hope to have at my side. I don't think anyone else realizes just how close that fight was, and that you were the hero of the day."
Perrine continued polishing her blade, looking at the lake like she wasn't regarding Eila. She simply shrugged and said, "Anything less would have been a disgrace to Sakamoto and the effort she spent teaching me. I may have basked in the glory of my victory in the North Sea when we first reached London, but I'm going to be a bit more humble this time. The rest of the group doesn't need to know how my quick actions may have saved us all. I don't want them to know just how much danger we were in."
"Well, aren't you noble?" Eila teased, and patted Perrine's shoulder. She stood up and faced the camp again. "I'll dress, we can eat, and then we can move again. Thanks again, Perrine, and know that I have your back."
"And I have yours," Perrine said back.
Back at camp, the others were beginning to wake. Lynette started a breakfast of flapjacks from the supplies they had brought with them from Britannia. There was still some venison left, and she also fried some robin eggs she had found in the woods nearby. It was a great breakfast, but there were not much happiness to go around.
"How're you feeling?" Yoshika asked Aurora. The older girl wasn't touching her food.
"Hurts," she answered in a whisper. "The entire right side of my body fucking hurts and stings." Aurora was trembling slightly, and her eyes were watering. "Eila? Where's Eila?"
"I'm right here," Eila was at her side in an instant. She took Aurora's left hand in her hands and squeezed it tight. She was wearing her traveling dress again.
"Didn't see you this morning, just wanted to make sure you were okay," her voice quavered, and tears were spilling down her cheeks. "It hurts so bad, I wish äiti were here. She could make any pain go away when I fell down as a kid."
"She's waiting for you," Eila's own face was marked with tears. Yoshika was silently crying as well. The other three girls wore expressions of sorrow and grief and were close by as well. Eila sniffled, and muttered, "I hate tears. Come on, big girl, the worst is past us. The man who hurt you is dead, and it's a straight hike from here to Karlsland. Then you can go back to Suomus. You saved my life, Aurora. That fire would have killed me if you weren't there."
"I... saved your life?" A flicker of happiness danced in Aurora's pale eyes.
"Yeah," Eila smiled, and kissed her on her unburned cheek. "Without you, I would be dead." It was a lie. The fire had been directed at Aurora and only Aurora, but she didn't recall the events well enough to know that, it seemed, and therefore Aurora accepted those words. The tears burned Eila's eyes and spilled down heavy. She was holding Aurora's hand very tight.
"That's right," Yoshika agreed, her tears pouring out with more force than Eila's. "We...W-we really owe you one."
Sanya nodded, staying silent.
"Yes," Perrine said from across the camp. "Our lives are owed to you. It does not equal the price you paid for this, but none here can harbor anything less than complete respect for you now."
"Twice now you've saved me," Lynette sheepishly added. Even if Aurora wasn't glaring at her maliciously like she normally did, the animosity between them stopped her from saying more. She helped Perrine break camp while the other three comforted their burnt companion.
Eila continued to hold her sister's hand until Aurora used her good arm to pull Eila close. They held each other close, both quietly sobbing. Their camp was quickly packed up, and Perrine stood before them and said, "The last thing I want to do is appear insensitive, but we need to keep moving. We'll spread the burden of what Aurora carried around the four of us. Until the pain is gone, Aurora is hereby exempt from any and all chores."
"I can still do my damned chores!" Aurora snapped, rising to her feet instantly. She winced at her right side as she did so. "Don't divvy up my stuff, I can still carry it just fine. Sanya too!"
"No," Eila gently said. "I'll be the one to carry Sanya while she sleeps."
"But Eila," Sanya's quiet voice came from beside her, "you're not very strong and we're going to be walking a long way."
"You're not fat, either," Eila playfully shot back. Her tears were more or less dried now, and she gave one last sniffle before slinging her pack over her should. "Come on, you'll see what I can do."
"Suit yourself," Aurora sighed. "Hey, Yoshika, you were still gonna teach me Fuson, right?"
"Y-Yeah," Miyafuji stammered and nodded. "Of course! Only if you're feeling up to it, I mean..."
Aurora forced a sheepish laughed, "Of course I am! Think some little burn's gonna keep me down? Come on, give me something to get my mind off how bad this friggin' stings. Yksi kieli ei ikinä riitä!"
The Strike Witches set off once again. It was a cool, windy morning with an overcast sky. They paused briefly in Odense to renew their hardly-diminished food supplies. Aurora had her sister buy her a traveling cloak which she used to hide her burns. Perrine and Lynette led the way past Odense west, marching some ten meters ahead and chatting idly about gardening, cooking, and other subjects they had a little something in common with. Behind them was Aurora and Yoshika, laughing and joking as Yoshika tried to teach her the basics of her language. A lot of laughing came at Aurora's inability to pronounce words in Fuson; and likewise Yoshika's inability to grasp Suomish. Lagging in the rear, some fifty paces behind was Eila trying to carry Sanya via piggyback ride. She was sweating and panting, dragging her feet as Sanya's weight bore down upon her. Small as Sanya was, Eila was all skin and bones.
When they ferried later in the day across a small straight, Sanya did not sleep again. She followed along on foot in the middle of the day.
"Let's face it," Perrine said as they set off south now. They were on the mainland of Europe now, and would be in Karlsland in a few days max. "Aurora was the only one who could reliably carry Sanya. Eila has the drive, but not the physical strength. Behind Aurora I'm the second strongest, but even I cannot carry a person over a great distance."
"Then who will do night watch?" Lynette asked as they all marched the road together.
"I can do it," Eila offered without hesitation.
"Nobody," Perrine answered. "Nobody alone at least. Eila staying up all night ends in the same result: having to be carried. Had we horses with a wagon or carriage this wouldn't be a problem, but only our boots can carry us forward. My suggestion is that we take turns keeping night watch in small shifts. We can draw straws on who goes first."
"I don't think I could sit in the dark alone," Yoshika shivered with fear.
"And I don't think I can muster the ability to care," Perrine snapped at Miyafuji.
"Hey, lay off her," Aurora glared Perrine down with narrow eyes. "I'll keep watch with her if it's an issue. Still makes five watches and if you divide that it-"
"If you're on watch together with her, I want to be on watch with Sanya!" Eila exclaimed, holding Sanya's hand and raising her other.
Sanya blushed and said, "Eila, that's sweet of you but I prefer to take my watches alone."
"You don't want me?" Eila lowered her hand and looked crushed.
"That's not it at all, silly," Sanya chuckled and reached up on her tip-toes to kiss Eila's cheek.
Eila's face went bright red, and she couldn't do much more than blush and stammer incoherent in Suomish.
Perrine gave a very audible groan, "If someone wants to share their watch with someone else, that's fine. You still need to be present for yours though and everyone is taking a turn every night for say... an hour and fifteen minutes. I have an hourglass somewhere in my pack, simply use it and a quarter to measure out your shifts, and..." her eyes narrowed upon Eila and she snidely added, "no using these shifts for weird lover spats."
"W-What are you saying!?" Eila blurted out, more red than ever. "I wouldn't ever do anything indecent like that you stupid stuck-up little..." Her ramblings devolved into swearing in Suomish that made Sanya blush and Aurora snerk.
Continuing their journey through Denmark, they walked in pairs again. Now Sanya was awake, albeit sleepy and not all there. Eila was happy for it, and she and Aurora and Yoshika all walked together while Lynette and Perrine kept on ahead.
"You didn't mean what you said, did you?" Lynette asked in a low whisper.
Perrine didn't know what she was referring to. She had said a lot of things. "What? About how Yoshika not wearing socks during the journey is stinking up the whole camp? I meant that very sincerely."
"No, that's not what I meant," Lynette cracked a smile and looked downward. She had seldom done much traveling before this, and her aching legs testified for it. Currently she wore traveling boots with high green tights and a skirt. Her face went red and she stammered out, "N-No, I meant about... about them having a lover's sp-spat. They wouldn't really, would they?"
"We know pagan women to frolic and fornicate under the moon, but Sanya doesn't hold to the misguided heathen beliefs of Eila," Perrine explained.
"Oh that's a relief," Lynette sighed, looking far more at ease now. "If I may confide to you in private," she looked over her shoulder to make sure they were a good distance from the other four. "Eila frightens me quite a bit. She seems kind enough, but her magic with that fire and how she plays with those tarot cards at night always sets me on edge. That fox she has always seems to be gone during the day but finds her at night. None of it is natural."
"I think we have nothing to fear with Eila," Perrine told her, looking back over her shoulder as well. "Odd she is, as well as a pagan but she won't harm or betray any of us. It's easier for me to accept her I suppose because Sakamoto followed a strange code of beliefs called Shinto. We'll keep to our faiths and they'll keep to theirs, alright?"
28
While the Strike Witches traveled through Denmark slowly on foot, another force was able to travel great distances in the blink of an eye. Beyond the ability to conjure nearly anything short of food from the black substance that spawned his castle and Neuroi, Neuroin's magic allowed him to simply appear wherever he wished granted he had been there before. A forgotten eon ago, he had walked many lands with a family; these beaches in particular.
He was in Afrika, the northern shores of Morocco. North he could see the mainland of Hispania, a land of plague and destruction. The Black Death was ravaging the country, and frankly Neuroin kept his armies from taking this land as well because of it. While the loss of human life was nothing to him, he didn't need his armies dying to some sickness brought about by other humans.
A message was sent by magic to prompt this meeting. The horse Jaeger Kunze rode was swifter than even Gertrud Barkhorn's legendary Sleipnir. Neuroin did not have to wait long on the rocky shores until he heard heavy hooves beating towards him.
"My lord!" Jaeger Kunze greeted him, "Fine weather for a day at the beach, yes?"
Neuroin's pale lips formed a smile. Somehow his general's sheer joy to be part of any assignment always pleased him. He didn't need to wield fear to motivate this man, but simply needed to play off his sadism (of which there was no shortage of). Jaeger Kunze was once a very average looking man with the build of a soldier. Short brown hair and a small beard, he blended in with most crowds. Now his face was pale, marked with small faded scars, and beneath his eyes were dark circles.
"Jarri Siilasvuo failed spectacularly in his mission," Neuroin said as he gazed north to the sea. His voice was neutral as it always was, with a slight hint of annoyance and frustration. "A simple task botched greatly by his incompetence. We know the company is in Denmark now, no doubt heading south to enter Gallia or gather more allies in Karlsland. Either way, I want them dead."
"Their mission is probably to gather the horse-masters of Karlsland in their mission," Kunze said. "With as many victories as they have gained, it would be foolish not to enlist them as an ally. Speaking of riders, I had a lovely time here trying to hunt down the Star of Afrika. Marseille is an elusive mark, and while Siilasvuo was failing in his mission I spent nearly a week tailing her and her company across the desert on horseback. We skirmished once but a sandstorm forced us to flee and take refuge in different directions, of course. I can fight witches, but I cannot fight weather. So what is my mission now, my lord? To intercept and kill the six?"
"The six fight well together as I've gathered from Jarri Siilasvuo. Charging them blindly will get you sent back to me as a corpse. That is not where your strength lies anyway," a dark smile crossed his face now. "Your heart is blacker than any, and I put no trust in any more than you. Break them, scatter them, kill them. Whatever you must do to end their little quest. Naturally, you will be rewarded."
"You're gracious, my lord," Jaeger Kunze was smiling wickedly now, having trouble stifling a malicious laugh. "Might I make a request? Alexsandra Litvyak, or 'Sanya' as she goes by. I want her and only her to do with as I please. Such a fair, pretty girl... so much like my sister and all the more fun to-"
"Yes, yes," Neuroin waved his hand, uninterested in the unpleasant details. "As you wish. I only ask you don't parade your dark ways across Gallia. The last thing we need is a rebellion within our borders over something you caused."
"I wouldn't dream of it, my lord," he feigned offense. "Secondly, I will make Gertrud Barkhorn wish she had never ridden against us. There are things warriors fear more than death and pain. I hear she has a pretty little sister somewhere in Karlsland. I believe this little fact could prove sharper than any sword in defeating her."
"Dark and cunning," Neuroin smiled again. "I am glad there are those in my circle I can rely on."
29
After an uneventful two days of walking the company of witches finally arrived at the town of Flensburg at the border of Karlsland. It was built in the innermost end of a fjord, and seemed to be quite the bustling little place. Fishing boats were scattered all about the fjord, and Flensburg was right on the road of a major trade route, making its location absolutely ideal. With some directions given by the locals of the tavern, they found a homestead a little ways off from the bulk of the town. It was a small home with horse stables adjoined. With a knock on the door, they were greeted by a Fuso witch that Perrine had met before in Britannia.
"I was wondering when you'd come around," she smiled and ushered them in. "Welcome to my little escape. I'm Takei Junko, but you can just call me Jun. You're the ones who're gonna be taking my horses then? Sakamoto wrote and said there'd only be four of you."
"Plans change," Perrine said, smiling politely. "It's good to see you again, Jun. I have to admit, it's rather surprising to see you up here in Denmark. I thought you and your comrades were based out of Romagna."
She shrugged and shook her head, "We ended up scattered after the Blackguards arrived in Rome. We obviously took the side of the Queen of Thieves, and fought some battles before she was assassinated. They knew our names though, and people around us started winding up dead - people we loved. So we've scattered and are waiting for things to calm down a bit before we go and try to help again."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Perrine told her.
"What's done is done," Jun shrugged again. "Nobody closed to me was harmed, thankfully. Let me get my tea going and get acquainted with all of you."
The other five introduced themselves, and together the group crowded around a small table in her parlor for teatime. They sipped at their drinks and Junko spoke, "I thought you'd like to know just who I am since Perrine is the only one with any idea. I'm a friend of Mio's, we met when we fought off one of the only Dark One attacks in Fuso together. To help with the war out here, we both traveled to Europe. For a long time with fought the Dark Ones with Perrine's Mother: Evangelyne; and the last Queen of Thieves: Lucretia Lucchini. Eventually our travels took us elsewhere. Mio ended up in Karlsland for a long time with Lady Wilcke while I ended up south in Romagna with Lucretia as Evangelyne married in Gallia. Eventually our ages rendered our ability to face the Dark Ones gone, but I still lent my sword against Neuroin's men in Romagna. We both used our experience to teach the younger generation."
"I did not know that Sakamoto and my mother were friends like this," Perrine said in surprise. "I-I knew Sakamoto and her were acquainted but I did not know they were friends. Or you two for that very matter."
Jun nodded, smiling fondly like she was recalling those memories. "Yes, everyone loved Eva. You two look quite alike, except you have your father's eyes. I never met him, but Eva's eyes were blue while yours are amber."
"What... what was she like?" Perrine asked. She was suddenly uncomfortable with everyone around her as this was a very private conversation.
Junko seemed to sense what Perrine was thinking and said, "After dinner we shall walk and discuss this together. You were very young when we lost her. You don't remember much, do you?"
"Very little," Perrine answered. She remembered her mother's lullabies and her soft voice and gentle hands, but didn't feel the need to voice that. Of her father, she remembered very little too, and had difficulty recalling his name at times. This meeting with Junko was quite satisfying. Not only where they acquiring horses but she was going to learn more about her family.
Dinner was made not long after and Jun graced them with news from the south.
"I hear things," she began. "In town, or through letters written my way. The last two weeks have been quite interesting. I've heard that Blackguard riders from Karlsland are storming across the Rhine like they're hunting for something. The border is ablaze with activity, but the riders; Dark Ones; and men on foot don't seem to be trying to make an attack against Karlsland. Nobody knows what they're after."
"They're after us," Eila concluded instantly. "We bested one of his generals only days ago. No wonder they're scrambling. I think we're making Neuroin panic."
"He better panic!" Aurora slammed her fists down on the table and shouted. Yoshika and Lynette flinched in surprise. "When we get to him, I'm going to personally rip his head off and make a sport out of it! Or set him on fire and see how he likes it!"
Junko's eyes found Aurora's burns and it was not difficult to put two and two together.
"As Sakamoto would say, hatred can only drive you so far," her eyes then found Perrine. "Same goes for revenge."
Perrine bit her lower lip and looked the other way. Takei Junko was wrong. Revenge had carried Perrine so far, and she certainly wasn't losing momentum. She wondered if Aurora felt similarly. And what motivated the others? Was it compassion? The urge to do what was right and fight a battle for humanity? It was the first time Perrine had really wondered about this. Her companions were something almost taken for granted. Now she wondered if there was a breaking point. A point where despair and dread finally erased all courage and hope and morale was completely broken. Perrine felt there was no such point for her, but what if Sakamoto's words were true? What if hate could only drive someone like Aurora so far?
Junko's home was small, so the group had to sleep outside under the stars in their bedrolls again. Perrine walked the pasture behind her house with their host.
"Sakamoto rarely talked about my mother," Perrine said as she walked by the side of Junko. It was a starry night, with a cool and gentle breeze that brought the smell of blooming flowers. It was the beginning of April now. "I asked her a lot of questions when I first became a teenager, but she never answered much."
"That's understandable, Sakamoto was very fond of Eva," Junko sighed, smiling at memories again. "The two of them were very dear friends."
"How come Sakamoto never mentioned this? She only told me they had known each other. If my mother was so dear to her, why did she act like she hardly knew her? From the way she spoke, she made it sound like my mother was simply someone she knew on a first-name basis."
"I suppose you have every right to know..." the Fuso witch looked uncomfortable for a moment. For a short while, she was silent, keeping Perrine anxious to hear her words. "Yes, Mio cared for Evangelyne very much. Minna has always been her best friend, but there was more of a sisterly bond between your mother and Mio. You'd have thought all of us would be together forever. Then... then your mother married and everything fell apart."
"Why?" Perrine didn't understand at all. "A wedding is a very happy occasion. Was Sakamoto not happy with my father?"
"No, not at all... and it made her even more unhappy when Lucretia married as well," Junko shook her head. "Eva wrote to me more than once and your father was a fine man. Mio was a bridesmaid and during the ceremony she... had said some very bad things."
"Sakamoto did!?"
She nodded, "Yes, and to find out what she said you would have to ask her personally. It is up to her and only her to disclose those words. I know she would never forgive me if I told them. Ah, it's getting late. You had best get to bed if you wish to set off early in the morning."
"I suppose you're right," Perrine admitted, and then asked, "Who was this Lucretia Lucchini though? I've heard her mentioned, but know nothing about her."
Junko answered, "She was another friend of ours, a witch from Rome. She had a way of making everyone smile, and at the same time scream in anger at her mischief. She left for Rome again after Evangelyne married to live with her own husband. She had a daughter that was to be her heir as the ruling body of Rome's Thieves Guild not long after you were born. Sadly, she was killed by a witch paid off by the Blackguards along with her husband. Come now, you should be getting to sleep."
Perrine didn't get much rest that night at all. Her mind was ablaze with thoughts around what Junko had told her. She had no idea there had been such a history, that her mother and Sakamoto had been so close. Not once in the eleven years Perrine had known her had Sakamoto ever made any mention of this. Now the desire to see her again was fiercer than ever. It wasn't until she was gone that Perrine had realize just how many things had been left shrouded in mystery. When dawn came, she didn't feel any more rested than when she had gone to sleep.
Four horses were to aid them when moving south through the Rhineland. They were beautiful and strong chargers of Karlsland, and Junko assured them they outrun and outlast any Gallian breed that Neuroin's riders raised. No horses short of the ones that Gertrud Barkhorn's company rode were faster. At least that was what she promised.
"I cannot thank you enough," Perrine told her as she mounted a great, dark-gray horse named Hasufel.
"I know a spell to guide them home," Eila said. Her own horse was a smaller and lighter one, but festive and fiery named Arod. Sanya was to ride with her.
"My heart won't mourn if I don't see them again, but I thank you for that." Junko replied. "It's quite a long way, and even if you can bring them back I doubt I shall see them for a very long time."
"We'll take good care of them!" Yoshika assured her. Her horse was speckled gray one named Hama.
"Has anyone seen Aurora?" Lynette asked atop her mare. It was a twitchy, jumpy girl named Grima.
"I think she went into town," Sanya answered as nothing seemed to elude her. "Maybe to try and purchase a horse of her own as there only four."
"She could have rode with me," Yoshika pouted.
"Let us ride and see if we can find her before the morning is done," Perrine decided. Nobody opposed, and everyone was eager to begin riding. "We thank you again, Takei Junko! This is a debt we can't hope to repay!"
"Whatever helps you achieve victory faster," she smiled and saw them off. Many more thanks and good-byes were thrown her way as the five rode out. Lynette and Perrine were familiar with riding horseback, and Eila knew enough about it to guide her horse along effortlessly. However, Yoshika had never been on the back of a horse and had no idea what to do. Lynette guided her along, instructing her on how to tell Hama to speed up, slow down, stop, turn, and so on.
Even with Yoshika moving along slowly, they made quick time down to Flensburg; much faster than they could have ever done on foot. Sure enough they ran right into Aurora. She was atop a steed of her own, but it was nothing like the proud Karlslandian chargers the five rode. It was a shaggy, emaciated looking pony that was probably older than any of them.
"Where did you get that?" Eila deadpanned.
"Poor thing looks so sad," Lynette whispered.
"This!" Aurora boasted, "Is Bill! I won him in a bet at the tavern! Apparently the enemy was using him down in the Rhinelands, but a farmer took him in and was taking care of him. Said he's old and weak, but he's got a heart like no other and just wants some love."
"That's so sweet," Yoshika cooed.
Eila nodded and smiled, "That works perfectly then! We shouldn't be going much faster than a trot, so poor ol' Bill should be fine."
"That's what I was thinking," Aurora replied, and spurred Bill alongside Arod. Arod snorted disdainfully at the shaggy pony.
"What did you bet?" Perrine asked.
"Hmm?" Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"What did you bet?" Perrine repeated, her face stern. "You said you won him in a bet. What did you bet?"
"Oh, what did I bet?" Aurora gave a forced laugh, "Well, you always have that Byzantine gold so..."
"You were betting my money," Perrine frowned, her hands making fists around Hasufel's reins. She grumbled through her teeth and spurred her horse towards the road south, moving ahead of the rest a decent way. Perrine was mad about this and only was willing to let it go to a certain extent only because of the trauma Aurora had been through.
Very soon they were past the border of Karlsland. The first leg of the journey was over. It was just a long ride south, but they were all glad not to be walking anymore. Sore and aching legs were given a rest, but the pains of riding would definitely crop up later. Within hours Yoshika was already complaining about her bum and thighs hurting. Saddles weren't all that comfortable, but Perrine bore it and told the others to do the same as they rode onwards.
It was time to find Gertrud Barkhorn.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes/Commentary- You knew it was coming. I recommend that song I quoted at the beginning, it's got a good vibe and I think the lyrics are pretty fitting. After that, go listen to some Cattle Decapitation song while drinking whiskey to regrow your chest hairs.
Ahaha, you're reading a Strike Witches fanfiction, neither of us had chest hairs to begin with. Unless you're a woman reading this. If so, please talk to me... Oh god I'm so lonely...
Okay, serious time (kind of). I apologize if the dialogue between Jun and Perrine seems a bit sloppy. A lot of it was awkwardly rewritten because at first when I was writing it, I didn't really have the grand plot thought out quite as much. I ended up having to go back to this and add in a lot of little bits of foreshadowing to make later events seem less like they came out of nowhere, and more like they were built up to.
