Author's Notes: The entirety of this work is to be dedicated to the Memory of Noboru Yamaguchi. May he rest in peace.
I was first introduced to the Familiar of Zero anime several months ago, December 2012 to be exact. And I admit I really did not have high hopes going into it. I thought it was just going to be a cheesy Harry Potter knockoff. But, I had plenty of time off due to the Christmas break so I sat and watched it. And to my surprise, I enjoyed it. By the fifth or sixth episode I was hooked. I ended up marathoning all four seasons in just five days. Soon after, I discovered the light novels on Baka-Tsuki. I really enjoyed those as well.
Now I am saddened by the fact that they may not get a proper ending. I suppose it's possible that Yamaguchi left enough notes and material for someone else to finish. After all his death was not sudden at all, and he had plenty of time to make arrangements for his work to be completed in the event of his death. But it will ultimately be up to his publisher whether or not the Novels get finished.
In the mean time it is up to us, the fanfic writers to keep Noboru's legacy alive. If the publisher will not give the Novels a decent finish, then we will. I will now strive to make this story the absolute best I can. If I am succeeding tell me. If I am failing miserably, tell me.
Enjoy the chapter and don't forget to leave a review!
**Begin Story**
Splish! Splish! Splish!
The sound of running feet splashing through puddles sounded down the long dark alleyway on this rainy evening in Lutece, Gallia.
Reaching the ally's end, Galen Solet eyed the establishment across the street from him, his eyes slowly scanning the front of the building until he found what he was looking for.
Near the front door of the Smoking Dragon Inn, there was a rack of kitchen ladles. The third ladle from the left was turned around backward.
That's the signal, thought Galen.
Dressed in a simple hooded commoner's cloak that provided no real protection from the pouring rain, Galen cautiously poked his head out from the alley and into the street. Looking left, and looking right, he saw no pedestrian traffic.
He decided to make his run for it. As quickly as his rain soaked feet would take him, he dashed across the street into the next alley.
Making his way behind the Smoking Dragon Inn, Galen slowly and carefully approached a waste barrel behind the bar.
Taking a moment to make sure that no one was paying attention to him; he opened the barrel, and began digging around in it.
Sifting through stinking, rotted vegetables, and rancid meat covered with maggots, Galen continued to brave the disgusting refuse until he found what he came for.
It was a small package wrapped in butcher's paper, and tied securely with a bit of twine.
He quickly placed the package in his rear waist band and closed the barrel.
Galen then carefully made his way back over to the ally entrance. Once again he poked his head out to check traffic, and quickly withdrew back into the shadows.
A patrolling column of Romalian Mage Knights marched down the center of the street, and to the command of "Company Halt!" they stopped in front of the Smoking Dragon Inn.
The company commander stood directly in front of the Inn, and called out, "Left Face!"
And as one the column of knights turned to the left, facing the Smoking Dragon Inn.
The owner and proprietor of the Inn came out to inspect the cause of all the commotion. However before he could even completely emerge from the front door, he was pushed back inside by the knight company commander.
The owner plopped to the floor on his bottom, and the commander shoved a piece of paper in his face.
"This is an order of search and seizure. This establishment is suspected of being a front for activities meant to subvert the authority of his Holiness the Pope and the Crown of Gallia as well as a location where such activities are discussed and planned."
"I'm just a bar owner," the proprietor protested, "I've been a loyal subject of the Crown my entire life!"
The troops begin to file into the inn, while customers tried to give them a wide berth.
"No one is to leave!" Shouted the commander to his men. "All patrons are to be questioned and if necessary brought before the magistrate for further processing."
A collective sense of panic reverberated through the bar. Being brought to the magistrate meant only one thing, a quick inquiry and an even quicker execution.
Anyone arrested this evening would be tried tomorrow morning…and dead by noon.
"Search everything, and leave nothing untouched."
The soldiers finished entering the building, and soon the sounds of breaking glass, and shouting bar patrons echoed into the street.
Concealed in the shadows within the side alley, Galen Solet watched the commotion with interest. He knew there was nothing he could do for the unfortunate souls who decided to stop in for a drink tonight. Some would be released, but most would be detained, and fed to the infernal beheading machine tomorrow. Part of him blamed the owner for the catastrophe that now befell his customers. If he had simply paid off the right people, this whole thing might have been avoided.
Then again, it might be more appropriate to pity the poor man. Chances are his head will be one of those that will roll into a basket tomorrow.
Galen decided to take advantage of the calamity, and calmly walked out into the street. Mixing with the crowd who gathered to see what was happening, Galen disappeared into the night.
**Scene Break**
The sound of a door opening accompanied by a ringing bell broke the tranquility currently being enjoyed within Lutece's Pottery Shack. Located several blocks away from the now besieged Smoking Dragon Inn, it's non-descript nature and location made it barely noticeable during the regular Public Safety sweeps conducted by Romalian Mage Knights that supplanted the Gallian Corp.
In short it was the perfect place to host a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to driving the Romalians out of Gallia and restoring sanity to the streets.
It was the location of Gallia's resistance movement.
Galen Solet walked into the shop, and gave a nod to the woman shopkeeper as he passed by, boot heels sounding loudly with each step Galen took.
He strode off into the back of the shop, away from any potential prying eyes, and entered the store room.
The room was dusty, and full of junked pottery and other unsold goods. It looked as though no one had cleaned this room in months, years even. In the center of the room covering the floor, was an old ornate rug, badly in need of a good beating.
Galen's eyes swept across the room, ensuring that he was in fact alone, and then he knelt down and tugged at one corner of the old dirty rug revealing a hidden trap door.
Looking around one last time, Galen pulled the metal handle, raising the door, and dropped in.
The trap door closed behind him with a clank!
Moments later, the shopkeeper came in and replaced the rug.
Galen slowly descended the wooden ladder that led down into the basement, and inner sanctum of the resistance.
When he was but a few steps from the basement floor, Galen felt a sharp poke at the base of his neck.
"Now what would a filthy pig swiver be doing down here in our basement?"
Galen slowly dismounted the ladder, and turned to face his challenger.
Now merely inches from his throat, was the business end of a sharp dagger.
"I wouldn't know Snead." Galen replied, "But if I see any I'll be sure to ask them."
Snead withdrew his dagger from Galen's face.
"Damn the Founder Galen!" Snead replied in his gravelly voice. "Give a holler or some kind of warning before you go climbing down here. I almost filleted your neck open."
Galen clapped the old man on his shoulder. "Good to see you too Snead, now where's Auric?"
"He's waiting for you of course, along with the others."
"Good."
Galen made his way into the next chamber of the store's basement and found five people gathered around a table.
Most gathered here were wealthy merchants and shop owners, privately funding the resistance, all were commoners.
Except one.
Auric Grindelwald hailed from Germania. He had a reputation as a hard drinker and an even harder opponent in a fair fight. He was also a natural leader who had provided a focal point for the Gallian resistance to rally around, however he had one other distinction that separated him from the rest of the group.
He was a magic user.
Auric Grindelwald was a fallen noble.
His crime against the nobility? Falling in love with and marrying a peasant girl. She was running the shop upstairs.
"Welcome Galen!" Auric called out cheerfully as soon as Galen entered the room. "We were starting to worry you might have lost your way…..or your head."
This brought chuckles from the others at the table.
"I'll keep mine for another day; however the same cannot be said of tonight's patrons of the Smoking Dragon Inn."
"Oh?" Said one of the merchants. "Another raid?"
"I'm afraid so Byron." Galen replied, "The mages went in just as I retrieved the drop. It's a miracle I wasn't caught up as well."
"Damned arrogant-"Swore Auric as he brought his fist down on the table. "Another one of the Bishop's Public Safety Sweeps,a damned excuse is all it is."
Auric looked around the table. "Viscido is not going to stop until every last commoner in Gallia is either dead or in chains."
"Well." Galen interrupted. "At least the risk I endured tonight was worth it."
And Galen dropped the package onto the table.
Auric picked it up carefully, turned it around in his hand, and tore off the twine.
Slowly unfolding the butcher's paper, Auric revealed a set of carefully folded parchments. A collective gasp came from the assembly as they were unfolded and laid out for all to see.
"These are the patrol routes for the mage knights!" Byron the merchant exclaimed.
"And this page here is the target list for the next set of sweeps beginning in two days," said an incredulous Auric.
He looked up at Galen.
"This is high level information, probably filched from the office of the Bishop himself, where did you get it?"
"I have a source. We don't use names, only dead drops. We have a signal we use outside of the Smoking Dragon Inn."
"The place that was just raided?" One of the merchants yelled. "How do we know that your source did not sell you out, or worse yet captured and tortured into giving the drop's location?"
With that the meeting erupted into a chorus of shouts and finger pointing.
"Fool, you'll kill us all!" Byron said to Galen.
After a few moments a high pitched whistle caught everyone's attention.
"Thank you." Said Auric after withdrawing his fingers from his mouth. "I shouldn't have to remind you who the real enemy is or why we are here to begin with!"
Auric stared coldly at the merchants in front of him.
"We don't need the Bishop's machine to kill us. We'll do it for him with our incessant bickering!"
Each member of the resistance looked down, or to the sides, unable to bring themselves to look Auric in the eyes. Deep down they all knew he was right.
Auric continued admonishing them.
"We are a conquered people! The Pope has taken us all hostage and taken over our nation without firing a shot!"
"Our queen is a prisoner in the Palace! Our own troops have been disbanded and scattered to the four corners of Gallia and now public officials swear an oath to serve the Pope, rather than the people!"
"Romalian troops run rampant in the streets and kidnap our friends and neighbors, our wives and children with impunity, and then send them off to their deaths!"
"If I am to die, then I will die a free man! Not some worm crawling before a madman who claims to speak for God!"
Auric now turned to Galen.
"Now Galen please regale us with the manner in which the mage knights happened upon your path this evening."
Galen pursed his lips. "The mages arrived after I did. They marched right up to the inn and stopped. They were not watching the drop sight, nor did they seem interested in the alley way where I was concealed. Also I watched the eyes of the company commander as he went into the building. He did not seem to notice our drop signal at all. If the knights did have fore knowledge of the drop, the barrel where the package was found would have been staked out, and I would not have escaped. It seems to me that the raid was likely a coincidence."
Some at the table looked as though they still weren't convinced.
Galen appealed directly to Auric.
"All of his tips have worked out before, and he has never shown any signs of betrayal." Galen said, trying to reassure him.
"All right, if you say we can trust him, then we can trust him."
Auric paused and looked at each man seated at the table.
"So" Auric said pointing to the patrol plans. "Which target do we strike first?"
**Scene Break**
A vociferous crowd filled the courtyard at the Versailles Palace. Shouting and jeering as the prisoners emerged from the dungeons and led to the machine at the center.
The jeers, however, were not directed at the condemned.
The crowd's animosity was reserved for the man seated above them.
At the end of the courtyard was of course the palace itself, which had a balcony that overlooked the courtyard.
Seated on the balcony was none other than Archbishop Franco Viscido.
The bishop made a point to attend all executions held at the palace because he wanted to assure the nobles that he was in charge, and that God's justice was indeed being done.
Angry as the crowd may be, none dared attack the guards or try to set the prisoners free.
The heavy presence of mage knights that patrolled the upper balcony that wrapped around the courtyard on three sides may have played a part in their reluctance to act.
The Bishop was no fool. He knew he was a hated man, and while he relished in their hatred, and drank it in like fine wine, he also made sure to keep a heavy guard close by at all times.
The prisoners were brought out five at a time, and marched out into the courtyard and onto an elevated platform.
In the center of the platform was the device itself.
It would seem the Halkeginian Nobility had finally embraced technology.
The prisoners were made to face the crowd and the executioner unfurled a rolled piece of parchment and read the charges against them.
The charges were treason, sedition, subversive activities, speaking out against the Crown, (that one went hand in hand with the sedition charge.) and of course heresy.
The first of the condemned lead to the machine and strapped to an upright board called the bascule, and then laid down horizontally, his neck secured in the lunette or frame that held the head and neck in place.
The unfortunate man is staring straight down, down at the basket waiting to receive his head.
The prison guard drum corp would sound a drum roll while the executioner looked up to the Bishop.
Bishop Viscido gave a nod and the blade release switch was pressed.
Swish!
The entire execution procedure takes less than two minutes, but it takes less than one second for the blade to do its work.
From the time the release is pressed to the moment the man's head drops into the basket, just seven tenths of a second elapses.
Blood begins to pump from arteries in the torso's severed neck in spurts as the heart continued to beat, striving to sustain a life already departed.
The bascule is tipped and a slanted board connected to the bascule carries the body into a waiting coffin, where it is put aside to be buried with the other day's victims.
With the bascule clear, and the head basket emptied, the next prisoner is brought to the machine. And less than two minutes later, he too is gone.
The blade falls over and over and over again.
In less than ten minutes, all five condemned lives are ended.
A few minutes later, another five are brought out from the dungeon.
This goes on for hours. The jeering crowds thin out until finally, even the Bishop has had enough carnage for one day, he retires to his office.
That evening, the machine stood silent, silhouetted against the double moons of the Halkeginia sky. The scene contained a macabre sort of beauty, if there could ever be such a thing as beauty in a place reeking of death.
The machine waited patiently for the dawn, for the sun to rise and the crowds to gather. It waited for the Bishop, the guards, and of course its daily meal of prisoners.
The bluish pink moonlight glinted off the blade's angled edge.
Crickets chirped, wolves howled, and the blade waited.
**Scene Break**
Five such devices were brought to Gallia by the Bishop. Two resided in Lutece, one in Versailles; while two others roamed the Gallian country side, bringing God's will to the farthest reaches of the Kingdom. Whether or not God willed such indiscriminate slaughter was a topic of debate, but suffice it to say, that the river of blood would flow until the commoners were ready to submit to the Royal Families once more, and bow to the will of the Pope, as the Founder Brimir commanded.
Five devices were sent to each Kingdom as well, along with a representative of the Pope to administer the punishments and place the fear of God in the hearts of commoners everywhere.
Five devices in Albion, five in Germania, five more devices were suppressing rebellions in Romalia itself and none were sent to Tristain.
Tristain, home of the Commoner King, and Kingdom of the heretics who dared to sign a treaty with the elves was the only safe place left for commoners in Halkeginia.
They came, first by the hundreds, and then the thousands, soon tens of thousands of commoners streamed across the borders of Tristain, fleeing the reign of terror that gripped the other kingdoms.
Tristain had a refugee crisis.
They gathered in the forests, the fields, wherever they could find space to place their tents, and look for their loved ones.
They sat and waited.
They waited, and grew restless.
They grew restless and began to talk of war.
They talked of war, and began to form an army.
Though most who fled the chaos were farmers and feudal serfs, many others came from all walks of life and professions.
There were blacksmiths who could make weapons and armor, mercenaries and soldiers, who could train others to fight, and lead, and cooks to supply food. Some brought horses, others brought guns, and all brought a searing hatred of the Pope, the Royals, and the nobility, who never ceased in their attempts to hijack their lands and their lives for their own purposes.
Almost spontaneously, organization began to take shape and a division of soldiers and officers began to emerge. Those with the experience to lend began training others.
But even so something was missing. Something was still lacking. A leader had yet to emerge. One who could take the pent up rage and frustration that ran through the camps like a river, direct its flow towards those who deserved to be crushed by its unforgiving current, a leader to stand as a symbol against the oppressors who denied them their liberties for far too many generations, a leader who could unite the different nationalities that made up their ranks, and convince them to battle under one flag.
They needed a man of equal strength in both combat and will.
Someone they could all respect.
The commoners needed their commander, their hero, their King.
**Scene Break**
"Your Majesty!"
Cardinal Mazarin looked urgently at Saito, as he read the latest missive handed to him by the Cardinal.
"There are 30,000 refugees from the surrounding kingdoms already camped out on our fields and more arrive every day. This is a crisis!" the Cardinal said.
The King looked genuinely surprised. He'd heard the reports of the trouble in Gallia and the other Kingdoms, but he had no idea they were this bad.
This is my fault for being stuck in the palace all the time, thought the King.
I really need to get out more.
More than just the situation being a surprise, but the sheer numbers involved was nothing short of astounding. Thirty thousand refugees amounted to an almost ten percent increase in population. This was surely to increase the strain on the Kingdom's finite resources.
The Cardinal seemed to be able to read Saito's thoughts.
"How will we feed all these people?"
Another voice interrupted the Cardinal.
"Even more so, what does this influx of people mean for the security of the Kingdom?"
It was Alexander Dufresne, who chimed in.
Saito looked up at Alexander and replied.
"They're just running away from a bad situation. I doubt they have come here to cause trouble."
"Maybe not, Your Majesty, but given enough time to sit and stew about their circumstances they will give in to their frustrations, and take up arms. I think it would be wise to take steps to ensure that those frustrations are not pointed in the wrong direction."
"I'm afraid I have to agree with the…the…."
Cardinal Mazarin paused to consider the strange being that was Alexander.
"Uh, what exactly are you anyway?"
Alexander smiled. Though it was his decision to remain at Saito and Louise's side until those who were behind the assassination attempt were caught, and to come clean about his true nature being an artificial life form, he still could not help but find himself amused by the strange looks he received from the people that made up this land's population.
You'd think those that were accustomed to life among magic would be less disconcerted by something like an android.
"Just address me like you would any other person Cardinal. It's simpler that way."
"Yes of course."
Mazarin turned back to the King.
"Like I was saying, I have to agree with Sir Alexander here, given enough time these refugees will become violent, and there is a real possibility that they will strike at the first target of opportunity."
"Meaning myself and Louise."
"Yes, Your Majesty. We must send in the Army."
Saito stared straight ahead while considering his options.
The Cardinal leaned in closer, and tried to reason with the King.
"If for no other reason, we should at least ensure that they do not spread to occupy any more land than they already do."
Saito looked over to Alexander. He could already see the wide grin spreading on the Android's face.
"Hey Alex, wanna get out of the house for bit?"
Alexander's grin reached full spread.
"I thought you'd never ask."
**Scene Break**
Though it took nearly a half day's ride, Saito, Louise, and Alexander reached the main refugee encampment just across the border from Gallia.
Surrounding the Royal party was Agnes and her Musketeer Corps.
Once Cardinal Mazarin picked his figurative jaw up off the floor after the King announced his intention to ride out and see these refugees for himself, he insisted that they bring along heavy security.
Agnes, who was still smarting over the elven assassin incident, was all too happy to volunteer.
She dismounted along with the King and Queen, and walked out to meet the refugees.
When they reached them, Saito and Louise were floored by what they saw.
What greeted them was a suffering humanity.
Far from the misdirected hostility feared by Mazarin, many people wept and embraced Saito and Louise as they made their way through the crowds. One elderly woman presented the Queen with a handmade quilt.
Louise was unsure how to respond, so she smiled and hugged the old lady.
They could see it on their faces, the fear of what they fled and the strain of having to stay alive in such deplorable conditions. The women and children were haggard looking, faces soiled with dirt and fatigue.
The men on the other hand showed no signs of fear, or fatigue.
They were angry, and spoiling for a fight.
Some dared even to approach the King and share their stories.
Saito and Louise listened to them. Tales of neighbors being woken in the middle of the night, and whisked off never to be seen again, and of husbands, wives, and even children who went off to partake of their daily lives only to vanish without a trace.
Saito's world turned cold when one peasant described the machine being used to execute those unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The King asked him to repeat his description of the hated device.
Louise noticed the fearful expression on her husband's face. She leaned in close.
"What is it?" She whispered.
"Do you remember the stash of weapons from my world the Romalian's had when we fought in that last crusade?"
Louise nodded.
"They found a guillotine."
"Guilty teen?"
"No, a guillotine. It's a mechanical device used for executions in my world's ancient history. It was banned long ago, but it seems that Brimir's portals brought one here."
Saito turned to look at the crowd of refugees.
"And they're using it on the commoners."
Louise turned to the peasant who was speaking to her husband.
"How many people have been killed by this machine?"
"Many thousands," was the man's reply.
Louise and Saito looked at each other. Thousands. Thousands killed in mere months. This was not about justice, or even about putting down a rebellion. Such wholesale slaughter was murder, plain and simple.
Something needed to be done, but what?
"Your Majesty, If I may." Alexander said while taking Saito by the arm.
Saito went a short distance with the android where they could talk in private.
"Saito, you are not thinking like a leader."
Saito simply stared at him blankly. Alexander continued.
"You are the Commoner King. These people will be looking to you."
The android leaned over and whispered in the King's ear.
"You are the leader of this rebellion now, whether you like it or not."
Saito's eyes grew wide and he looked up at Alexander, who was at least a head taller than him.
"Understand?" Alexander asked while giving a serious expression.
He patted Saito and the shoulder and finished.
"This is your moment Saito. Seize it!"
Saito looked over at the crowds. Several thousand faces all looked back expectedly, waiting for him to speak.
He walked over to an empty hay cart, climbed up to the top and faced the crowd.
Saito Hiraga was never a great student in school, and he was never especially fond of history. He remembered struggling to stay awake in his Japanese, and international history classes, lamenting that he was never going to use this stuff. Now he was trying to recall the great Japanese military leaders he studied, like Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of Japan.
If my teachers could see me now, he thought wryly.
Saito continued to take in the crowd, who were still silently waiting to hear what he had to say. He thought of the hardships they must have endured, the friends and loved ones they have lost.
What do I say to these people?
Saito pursed his lips and began to address the gathered peasants.
"Good Evening." He began somewhat shyly.
"My wife and I have heard about the atrocities being committed in Gallia. We know about the inquiries, the executions, we know that you have lost friends, neighbors, and loved ones. I wish I could say the right words, or use the right incantations to bring them back, but I can't. I'm just a simple commoner, like all of you."
"You are not a simple commoner!" One peasant shouted.
"You are the Hero of Tristain! The hero who stood against the 70,000!" Shouted another.
"You destroyed the Ancient Dragon!"
Slowly a chant began building from within the crowd of peasants.
"Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito!"
Suddenly one peasant called out.
"All hail the Commoner King!"
"All hail the Commoner King!"
Maybe it was the chants, or the adoration of the crowd. Maybe it was an innate talent that he always had that was slowly awakening. Whatever the reason, Saito's confidence slowly grew. Words came to him easier, he felt surer of himself, and more certain that this was something that he was meant to do.
Saito stood up to his full height, and almost as quickly as they began, the chants stopped. A hush had fallen upon the crowd once more.
The King began to address them again.
"On behalf of myself, and my wife the Queen, I would like to say welcome to Tristain!"
The crowd cheered.
"We promise that we shall do all in our power to ensure that you are protected as long as you are in our borders!"
The cheering grew louder.
"I will direct our agricultural minister to release some of our grain stores to ensure that you are properly fed!"
The crowd went wild.
"Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito! Saito!"
Amidst the sea of suffering before him, Saito knew what had to be done. The atrocities, the murders, the sheer evil of what had been done to the people of Gallia, to Tabitha's people, could not, must not, be ignored. Saito had not felt this enraged since King Joseph had kidnapped Tabitha and nearly forced her to drink the Potion of Lost Heart, which had driven her mother insane.
So many times before, he had promised to protect the people that mattered to him: Louise, Tiffania, Tabitha, and all his other friends.
Now he felt the same towards the throngs of peasants before him, the defenseless, the downtrodden, and the innocent.
He had to protect them as well.
"Who has done this to you?"
The crowd of peasants answered as one.
"The Bishop of Gallia!"
"What will you do then? Sit here like the huddled masses you are? Or will you fight?"
"Fight!"
"Then we shall go to Gallia, and meet this Bishop! We will make sure he pays for his crimes against the Gallian people! We will see to it that he never, ever, harms another soul again!"
The crowd exploded.
They rushed forward to the hay cart where Saito stood, stretching, reaching, trying to touch their savior. It soon became clear to Louise and the others that Saito could end up being crushed by the crowds.
Louise cast a Levitation spell on Saito, and slowly moved him away from the crowd to safety.
Upon landing, the King began issuing orders.
"Agnes, begin organizing a selection for those who can fight. We need to train these people, most have no military experience.
"Alexander." The android turned to Saito.
"Please work with Agnes to start looking for people with military skills, soldiers, mercenaries, etc. See if we can co-opt these folks into becoming officers. We can't invade Gallia until we forge these people into a proper army."
"Invade Gallia?"
This was from Louise.
Saito turned to see Louise staring at him, wide-eyed and dumbfounded. She looked as though she didn't know whether to be frightened or impressed.
"Yes Louise, invade. Someone has to stop this guy."
Louise had known Saito long enough to recognize that look in his eye. It was the same look he had when she told him that she was going to take the rear guard mission in Albion, when Tabitha went missing in Gallia, and when Lord Bidashal almost killed them at Alhambra Castle during the mission to rescue her.
Saito was determined to see this through.
So Louise simply nodded, and affirmed her husband's determination.
"Louise."
Saito placed both of his hands on her shoulders, and looked directly at his wife.
"I need you to return to Tristania."
"Oh no, you think I'm going to let you take this on by yourself? You really are a stupid dog to the end aren't you?"
"Please Louise. I need you to organize the release and transportation of the grain so that we can feed these people. I also need you to keep running the Kingdom while I am here."
Saito paused and looked at Louise with pleading eyes, desperately hoping that she will understand.
"I also need you to be safe. I can't lose you."
Louise's wide-eyed expression returned, she never could resist feeling touched when Saito showed concern for her.
She leaned forward and closed her eyes.
Saito answered Louise's sign, and leaned in to kiss her.
Alexander looked over at Agnes.
"They do that a lot?"
Agnes sighed. "Every chance they get."
Louise smiled at her husband as their lips parted.
She looked over at the android.
"Take care of my husband metal man."
"You have my word mistress. He won't get a scratch."
"I heard that. Not a scratch."
With that Louise headed toward the horse to begin her journey back to Tristania.
Alexander looked over at Saito.
"You don't think she took that literally do you?"
Agnes decided to chime in.
"Now if the King really does get a scratch you'll have to answer to her."
"What's the worst that could happen?"
Saito looked at Alexander.
"She'll melt you with a Void Spell."
The issue of whether or not an android is capable of a shudder notwithstanding, he did seem to consider the King's words for a moment.
He walked up to Saito.
"Perhaps you better just stay next to me."
**Scene Break**
Whoosh!
The man blinked repeatedly as the hood was drawn from the top of his head. He looked around trying to take in his surroundings.
It seemed that he was in some dimly lit shack. A barn perhaps?
The barn door was open, and he could see that it was the middle of the night.
He looked forward into the darkness. He could almost make out a human like form in the black emptiness, but he could not be sure.
"Delivered as promised mistress."
The man jumped as a voice spoke next to him. Or at least he tried to jump. He seemed to be tied to a chair.
"Thank you Jerome, said the voice in the darkness, you may go. Wait for me outside."
"Yes mistress." The man known as Jerome said, and disappeared out the door.
The man tried to see and get some idea who is captor was, but to no avail. Whoever she was, it would seem she was perfectly concealed in the darkness.
He decided to ask a question.
"Do you have any idea who you just kidnapped?"
"Winston Gillett, the President of the Royal Bank of Tristania."
"You seem to have me at a disadvantage. Ms…."
The woman in the shadows ignored his attempt to draw out her identity, and began her queries.
"Several weeks ago the finance minister of the Tristain Royal Treasury received a transfer payment from a Romalian shipping company, in the amount of exactly ten thousand ecus. According to the finance minister, you personally came to the treasury to receive the funds and transport it to its destination, presumably your bank. I know the funds were used to pay for an attempt to assassinate the Queen of Tristain. What I don't know is who took possession of the funds once they reached your bank."
I-I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about."
"Winston, Winston, Winston." The female voice said in a sulky tone.
"I already heard from the assassin himself the amount that he was paid to do the job. The transfer from Romalia to the Treasury, and then to your bank is the only one on record for that exact amount. So this can only mean one of two things. You were either the middle man in the conspiracy, in which case the most you face is a lengthy stay in the dungeon, or you were the mastermind of a plot to commit regicide, in which case you will face execution."
"Which is it Winston?"
"If I tell you anything, I'm a dead man."
The figure in the darkness raised a wand. Winston's chair left the ground and began rotating in a column of air. He went higher and higher, spinning faster and faster. He eventually broke through the roof of the barn and rose hundreds of mails into the sky.
The woman shouted over the roar of the wind.
"What makes you think you'll fare any better with me?"
And with that the column of air dissipated, and Winston came crashing back to the ground, the woman caught him with a Levitation spell just before he hit.
Winston Gillett was crying.
"Pleeeeeeease!" You're a noble woman! You have to understand! A commoner on the throne, we had to do something!
"It's the Queen's fault!" Winston raged. "She's the one who married that peasant, and allowed him to ascend to the throne. If it wasn't for her our noble traditions would never have been threatened."
By now Winston's voice was dripping with hatred.
"This is all her doing, that commoner loving whore!"
The woman then stepped out the shadows. She was tall and wearing an emerald hooded cloak.
She reached up to pull back her hood, revealing her face.
Winston Gillett's mouth went dry.
"D-D-D-Duchess Valliere!"
The Duchess smiled at her prey with killing intent.
"Please Winston, you tried to murder my daughter and now you've just insulted her honor in the worst possible way. I don't see any point in observing formalities. Tonight it's just Karin."
Winston just whimpered.
"Please Duchess. I was just a middleman. I only arranged for the gold to be shipped to those who hired the elf. I swear to you that was the extant of my involvement."
Karin raised her wand.
"I still need a name Winston."
The poor banker squirmed in his seat. There was no way out of this. His choice was give the name and die later, or not and die now.
Karin seemed to sense this conflict going on within him, and smiled, enjoying it thoroughly.
The banker finally broke.
"Kearns!" He shouted. "Lord Bartholomew Kearns!"
"Thank you Winston."
And with that poor Winston's usefulness had run out. Karin raised her wand, and once more the hapless banker rode atop a swirling column of air.
"Please Duchess! You said you'd let me live."
Karin the Heavy Wind smiled.
"I never said that." She whispered.
This time the tornado was of the cutter variety. Winston's chair and the binds that secured him to it disintegrated. His clothes tore from his body. He screamed as the flesh began to tear from his body.
Then Karin turned up the intensity.
Though she may not recognize the term centrifugal force, Karin certainly understood its effect. As the column of air began to rotate faster, Winston's bloody limbs were strung out to the sides. Rotating still faster, his limbs tore off from their sockets. They collided with the sides of the cutter tornado and were torn to bloody pieces. Winston's anguished screams finally died out as the rest of him followed suit.
With nothing left of Winston to torture, Karin let the tornado dissipate.
She turned and calmly walked out of the barn only to find Jerome waiting for her as ordered.
His face was pale as a sheet.
Splat!
Jerome noticed something falling back to the ground.
Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat!
Like a macabre precipitation, blood and entrails began to rain down upon mistress and servant.
Ignoring the crimson rain, Karin was deep in thought.
She could not dismantle this conspiracy alone. Not without revealing her true nature as Karin the Heavy Wind. No, she was going to need someone who could do her dirty work for her and maybe enjoy it, someone who hated the nobility and would love the opportunity to eliminate a few of them.
Karin turned to her servant, his face now red from the gory downpour.
"Jerome, I have another task for you."
"W-w-w-what is it mistress?"
"Bring me Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt."
**Scene Break**
Robert de Sable sat in what was once the office of Prince Wales at Newcastle, Albion going through the latest missives from the rebellion against the nobility. One dispatch in particular caught his eye.
It was the message he's been waiting a long time for.
The King of Tristain has assumed command of the Commoner's Army.
"Finally." Robert whispered.
"I was beginning to think the kid wasn't going to do it."
Now it was time to begin the next phase of his plan to save Halkeginia.
Robert called for his second in command.
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Yes Beckett please come in."
Beckett stepped inside the office.
"Bring Queens Henrietta and Charlotte to the chapel at once."
Beckett blinked at this strange order.
"Sir?"
"I need to speak to both of them, alone."
"Yes Sir!"
And with that Beckett left to carry out Robert's orders.
Robert slowly sat down at his desk and stared into space. It was time to tell the Queens the truth. Well, as much truth as he could spare right now. The rest he'll have to save for Saito.
Robert gave a small shudder.
If I fail….
He didn't want to think about that, because he knew the consequences of failure.
If he fails, Halkeginia, Earth, and maybe all of existence will fade into nothingness.