A/N we are now entering the last arc of the story. I hope you enjoyed it, XIII. As Mercy and i are no longer speaking this is for you.
Teito's POV
He wore light chainmail armor. It on its shoulder in gold bore the crest of the Black Hawks. The very same mail he went to war with just a year prior. Under that was what at first glances was a plain shirt. Appearances were deceiving however. The fibers of the shirt were tightly woven that it would stop most weapons. The mail would take the worst of the impact while the shirt would do the rest.
His pants were lined with chain mail. It wasn't as strong as his front mail. It would still do its job to protect his legs. He wore boots made of the strongest boar hide. Given who they were going up against. He warded his clothes with his own magic. No one could tamper with them but him.
In the room he was given by Mercy he pulled out his jacket. On the bottom of it held the Black Hawks crest. From there he belted his sword off his right hip. In the belt was a saxe knife and a throwing knife. His quiver then went over his right shoulder. The final piece was his recurve bow.
When he looked in the mirror he realized what a mirror image of what he was a year ago. Excluding the war weary lines on his face. There was a sense of distrust in his face. One that wasn't there a year ago.
While he looked almost the same so much had changed. He looked like leaders of the larger alliances. Someone who had seen too much war. That they just wanted it to end. No more war or pain.
Shaking his head from his dark thoughts he left his room. XIII was leaning against the wall just to the side of his door. This would be the last time he saw his lazy general acting so childishly for awhile. Somehow he knew it.
Taking in the others appearance a faint smile crossed his face. In the year since the last war nothing had changed. XIII still a longsword. His was made special. It could be used single or double handed without difficulty. Unlike most swordsman he didn't use a shield. Like Teito he felt a shield was too bulky. Made it too hard to switch between sword and bow. While Teito favored the recurve bow XIII favored the longbow. He also favored a long curved dagger over the saxe and throwing knife combo.
While they were so similar a trained eye could spot their difference. Despite their differences they were like brothers. Hopefully this time Teito would not lose another brother to war.
XIII's voice broke through his thoughts," War again. Who would have thought we would be fighting alongside the Dogs."
Teito snorted," Or that we would be fighting away from home. We will win this. We cannot allow Mayhem's rule to go on any longer."
XIII nodded. His reply calm but cold," That we can't. What are our plans for after though Teito? Are we just going to scatter again?"
That was the question. What would they do once the threat passed? Go back to their previous alliances? It was doubtful. Most alliances wouldn't accept them. Especially given that they still held loyalty to him. This was proven by their almost immediate answer to his call.
The war had just begun this wasn't the time to be thinking about that. There was no telling how long it would last. Some had gone on for years. Others were done in a matter of days.
He said," We will worry about it when we come to it. Let's go to the conference hall."
Without waiting for an answer he walked down the halls. XIII didn't even miss a beat. He was right behind Teito.
The conference hall was three floors down from his room. Upon entering he was pleased to notice all his leadership was there. To both his dismay and excitement Eon was there.
Eon wore leather armor. It was made to stop a blade but not much else. Over the leather was a grey button down shirt. On its shoulder was the Black Hawks crest. On his left hip was a sword. It was the one that XIII helped choose.
The last thing he wanted was his friend in harm's way. Eon was a tactician. He was not meant to be out on the battlefield. Still it was Eon's wish that if he was going to die. It would be fighting. Not watching his friends fight for their lives while he did nothing. That was something he could respect. Even if he wished it was otherwise.
Blue was not wearing any armor. She was not one who would be fighting. At least one of his nonwarriors was sticking close to the city. He didn't want her hurt.
The others were wearing their combat gear. Each to their own preferences. All had a cold expectant look on their faces. The look that said they were ready for what was to come.
The door opener drawing their attention. Mercy was the first to enter. Unlike Teito he preferred the heavier armor. Ones that restricted movement but protected the body more. His armor was a heavy chainmail. One that could not have a shirt over it. Instead the crest was cut into the shoulder of the mail. On his hip he bore a broadsword and a plain dagger.
Fredrick was the next to come in. The older man wore heavy plated armor. Like all fighters he bore a knife in his belt. Instead of a sword however he held an axe. To each their own was Teito's opinion. He was never one for axes.
They moved to the table. A large map had been laid out on it. It showed all of Mercy's territories. A new marker was in Mercy's hand. He placed it on the map.
It seemed Mayhem's men were only a day's ride. They seemed to be ignoring the town's and villages. Instead favoring a hard ride towards the stronghold. This would not be a long drawn out fight. Instead it would be done in one fell swoop.
While XIII and Mercy discussed tactics he examined the defences. Archers were placed along the walls. With a critical eye Teito placed figures representing their spearmen. He only placed them on the low sides of the wall and by the gate.
It would help prevent ground troops from getting in. Only the archers could do any real damage against a dragon however. Teito's fingers drummed against the table. Realistically it would be a very mismatched fight.
Mercy had a dragon that was bonded to him. As such he could use the dragon magic. From what Teito could tell however the other never delved into it. It wasn't all that surprising. Magic was seen as evil by most people. Mainly due to what Mayhem had done using it.
Mayhem too was bonded with a dragon. Unlike Mercy he had delved into the dragon magic. Then had gone a step further than most riders. He had delved into the darker aspects of magic. He had become what every one feared of the mages.
With magic Teito knew it would be a fool's errand for Mercy to fight Mayhem. No if anyone was going to have a chance at killing the bastard it was him. Somehow he had always known it. By the end of the war one or both of them would be dead.
Something told him there was a good chance this would be his last battle. If this was to be it for him he would die defending his own. Eon would not die in this battle.
XIII's POV
He was trying to pay attention to the strategies being discussed. Truely he was. It was not meant to be however.
No his thoughts were focused on his leader. Teito stood just a few feet away. Yet if they were to measure the distance by thought distance. Teito would likely be on the highest mountain. Where no one could reach.
:Where are your thoughts taking you, Teito? It's not just about this war. Is it?:
The seriousness in his friend's face terrified him. Teito was a serious person to begin with. That was not his usual serious look. It was the look of someone who was to die. Not only that but had accepted it.
XIII was not going to let his friend die. So much of their hope rode on the leader. That everything would be okay as long as he lived.
While that was a fools dream. Every one in some way believed it. He and Teito had built the alliance from the ground up. If it was just him the alliance would fall apart. Even with Eon and Blue. It just wouldn't be the same without Teito.
Mercy asked with a sigh," What is on your mind? Obviously not this discussion on tactics for the upcoming battle."
He gave a lazy grin that would have fooled most. By the look on the younger's face it didn't work. Mercy was spending too much time with them. He was beginning to learn to read them.
With a tired sigh of his own he said," I don't like this feeling I have. Or the one that Teito is giving off. Some thing is off about him. It's like..."
"Like he is preparing for this to be his final battle."
XIII surprised eyes turned to him. That's exactly what he thought. How?
Mercy said shaking his head," It's not the first time I have seen it. It's in the eyes. His eyes have dulled from when we met at the bar. Klein will die a warriors death. Likely he intends to make this his last battle."
He hissed in anger," What if it doesn't kill him? Will he just die by his own hand? Where is the honor in that?"
Teito always had a strange sense of honor. The older boy felt that he should live and die by the sword. While some warriors would settle after years of fight he wouldn't. If he wasn't fighting he was training for the next fight.
Mercy shook his head and said in a calm low tone," I do not believe he will kill himself. That's against what most warriors believe in. No if he were to survive this war then he would just disappear. Likely back to wherever he was before all of this."
That sounded more like Teito. He had always been something of a loner. It was only when he was leading did it go away. Never fully though. There was always the sense that he wanted to be alone.
If... no when they won the war what would he do? Would he go back to chasing a ghost? Or would he finally settle down? What would he choose?
