Chapter 21: First Encounter
The three visitors of Deningrad were ushered back towards the throne room of the castle by Miranda who shepherded with anxious haste, but the Queen herself was absent from her throne. Rose didn't think this surprising in the least, would in fact be more worried if she had been present. Theresa was no more a stranger to war than she herself was, and she was undoubtedly communing with her advisors and war marshals about how to proceed with the impending battle.
Behind the throne however was another small alcove that branched higher still. Almost completely hidden seat of sovereignty was a crystal passage that climbed to a higher part of the castle that Rose wasn't even aware existed. How it wasn't damaged with the recent dragon attack Rose wasn't quite sure, but as they climbed the narrow stairway that allowed only a single file to climb (Kongol almost having to move sideways) It led to a small open plateau that was a kind of round lookout that jutted to the side of the main palace's body like a small extending arm.
The icy caress of the open cold greeted them as they stepped away from the cover of the palace crystalline walls and into a kind of large catwalk that lead to a circular platform as big as a small room with a singular large telescope dominating the centre. Rose also notice the immediate change in surface they walked upon, no longer a turquoise hue luminosity but a stark kind of dark granite or perhaps limestone. This part of the palace, which wasn't quite the apex (or what was once considered the apex, it certainly was now that the top third of the castle was no longer) was manmade. Rose paused a moment as she contemplated this.
"As you well have guessed, this is our addition to the Wingly-made palace. Winglies had the ability to glean great distances with magic. Lacking that ability we thought it prudent to implement some measure of observance over the country, and so we created a telescope that was able to grant us a way to monitor the greater part of Mille Seseau should the reason arise, like it so does now" Miranda explained as if reading Rose's thoughts. The view before them was as breathtaking as it was grand, most of Mille Seseau could be seen from this height.
Rose nodded in a way that said makes perfect sense. Zack on the other hand thought it a little intrusive, but could also see the practical side. After all if not for this device then they may not have any warning at all about the oncoming army ready to storm the capital.
Waiting for them as they breasted the telescope was the Queen, no longer adorned in her casual, if regal attire but one that was considerably more battle ready. Chain linked armour not too unlike the one Zack was bestowed with shined brilliantly in the crowning sunlight changing her appearance to a fragile, elderly woman to a battle-hardened veteran. If not for the many sigils encrusted across her breast plate and helmet, then one would not think her a Queen at all.
Beside Theresa was a new face none of the three recognised. He was the first to step forward when they arrived, a bulky frame likely made broader by the thick sheen of golden plate steel that covered the entirety of his frame. He approached Rose initially, before Zack and finally Kongol. He extended his hand in earnest, introducing himself as he gave a brief but firm shake of both Rose and Zack's hand. Kongol meanwhile merely glanced down at the unknown warriors gloved hand behind his unreadable white iris' and made no effort to take it. The large unknown soldier, a veteran himself Rose would guess given his grey hair that fell below his golden faceplate and wrinkled face, a sure sign of aging merely retracted his hand and faced Rose once more without worry, his steely green eyes grim yet composed. Rose had no doubt he was as capable as his eyes hinted experienced.
"As general of the army, I am at your service." Ramish as he had introduced himself as thumped his golden chest plate solemnly as if to somehow pontificate his statement. He was looking squarely at Rose now who did not even try to hide his open judgment.
"I do not require your service" Rose merely said, turning her gaze towards Theresa in a way that was discourteously dismissive. The general appeared offended not at all.
"He, along with the two of us will be heading the defence force of Deningrad. However before I go into further detail you should first perceive what we are up against. Please, take a look through the scope." The Queen gestured with an open hand towards the towering telescope that was dwarfed even the ones in Fletz, who were large in their own respect. Rose did so without a word.
It was worse than she had hoped. The telescope was powerful to be sure, able to spy anything of human stature without any real detail, but what Rose saw was a giant mass of indistinguishable shapes that were surely human, but cluttered so close around the dense forest that they appeared less an amassing army of humans than a plague of hungry locusts, ready to devour anything in its path. While it was impossible to estimate an accurate count of their, it was clearly in the many thousands if not tens of thousands.
"Even I didn't expect an army this massive" Rose admitted as she moved away from the magnifying contraption. Zack took a look before letting out a troubled groan. Kongol meanwhile remained stationary, as if such trivialities like the number of enemies were meaningless. To him they probably were.
"How many soldiers do we have?" Zack asked Theresa. It was Ramish who answered.
"At this point, no more than three thousand, and that's getting every able citizen not young or elderly'
Rose, thinking about the overwhelming numbers the telescope showed her which was now imprinted in her mind like a horrifying image scowled deeply.
"We're at three or four to one odds at a rough estimate. Considering they also have Winglies among the ranks as well as battle-hardened soldiers thirsty of blood, this situation we are in is precarious to say the least."
Precarious was a fabrication though, hopeless was what Rose really felt was adequate but did not speak. It would do them no good to kill morale before they even began their first skirmish.
The Queen however, ever the bastion of hope and optimism, spoke with rugged determination. "If we can destroy the King of Dragons, we can jump this hurtle as well." There was no falsities or artificial bravado in her claim, despite the fact it was probably both. As the ruler and the one her people looked up to in desperate times, she shouldered the burden bravely. To falter now would ensure defeat before the battle could even begin, both of them knew it. As much as Rose may not like Theresa on a personal level, she respected her as a ruler and as a leader.
"How did they... so quickly" Zack stammered, trying to wrap his mind around how they could amass such an army in such short time.
"They docked and consequently decimated Furni, our neighbouring port city. Unprepared the town was quickly wrest from our control."
The three of them could say nothing for a time.
"They certainly weren't subtle about their endeavour" Zack muttered.
"They never intended to be." The Queen explained. "If they wished, they could scatter in the denser parts of the forest, making it far more difficult to discern the force of the army. But they chose to stand out like a lighthouse, they want us to see what we are up against."
"To crush our spirit before the war begins" Rose agreed.
"That is not all." Theresa's face, which had until now been an expression of grave resolve became something a little closer to what they all really felt: helplessness.
"During the night we got a survivor from Furni. He was allowed to live on the condition he could send a message. That message was that this war could be averted if we handed over but four people."
Rose nor Zack needed to be told who those four people were.
"Us three and Miranda, correct?" Rose said knowingly. Theresa nodded sternly.
"If we accepted their request, they could leave Mille Seseau without delay. If nothing happens by high noon, they will begin the attack."
Rose regarded the Queen evenly. "And your response?"
Theresa sighed deeply. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't consider it, hell I'd be lying if I didn't admit I damn near considered it, but I am no fool. Even if he promises to leave Mille Seseau alone, giving him the people that will grant him the power he so sorely wishes will leave us in a position no better than Tiberoa or Serdio, even if we're not under direct occupation. If he gains the power he desires, the whole world will be Sandora's slave. So in the end, we will fight."
Rose nodded apparently content with her answer.
"So this is just a display to flex their muscle then" Zack said, pointing roughly in the area of the enemy soldiers. "A kind of 'this is what you're up against if you decide to go against us' kind of thing."
"Indeed' the Queen said. "But it will take more than this to shake my resolve. We have a bloody past spanning back to the Dragon Campaign, war is nothing new to us or our people. I feel we're being underestimated at least for the moment. That gives us one advantage, and we need as many as we can currently get."
"But we're so outnumbered..." Zack trailed off, looking towards the amassing soldiers to the south but once more.
"Perhaps, but we have the best minds and strategists in regards to war that we can currently get. Between us, we should be able to devise at least something that gives us a chance at victory." Rose and Zack glanced at Ramish sho had until now remained reticent.
"The Queen and I are no strangers to battles, albeit not usual of this magnitude, but you were one of the seven that ushered in not one but two new ages. With your input given that you have already been involved in numerous encounters already gives us another edge that may be able to tip the scale."
Rose eyed him warily for a time, not feeling comfortable that someone she knew so little knew so much about her. The Queen's doing she supposed, one of very people in all Endiness that knew how far back her past truly spanned.
"I am no leader" Rose responded coldly. "Never have been nor will be."
And that was true for the most part. While she was capable of making split moment decisions when the situation warranted, some good, many ill, she was never a true leader in either Dart's or Zeig's group of rebels. That had been left to those whose nature it was to do so, and while on the surface both of the former Red-Eye Dragoon's masters tendencies leaned towards impulsiveness, leading was something they did without even needing to think about it.
"You will have to be now" Theresa said, her hard voice like a knife slicing through her internal struggle as the weight of her burdens threatened to crush her completely.
"... I will do what I can."
"As will we all" the Queen agreed with a nod. "But before that we would have you share what information you know about the enemy. Once all knowledge is shared and in the open, then we can begin proper battle perpetrations."
Rose complied, explaining in as much detail as she could about the soldiers and Winglies along with those in-between."
"The weakness of pure Winglies are simple: Close quarter combat. Not given a chance to weave magic they are vulnerable to blade and arrow just as anything else on this planet is. Of course it sounds easier in theory than it actually is, they guard themselves well and make every attempt not to engage the frontlines. Think of them more as mobile ranged artillery or mortars if you will. The frontline soldiers will do everything they can to make sure we cannot get near their support."
"Which only adds more weight to the idea of fighting within the city, where we can set up barricades and funnel the enemy into narrow streets" Ramish said thoughtfully.
"It's not so easy. Winglies have the advantage of flight which allows them to ignore such counter-measures. That's why a archers will have the hard task of doing their best to pepper them and keep them distracted long enough for one of us Dragoon Knights to intercept where we can level the playing field."
Rose paused a moment to give either Theresa or Ramish (or Zack and Lucile for that matter, Kongol's silence was expected and he would remain so until he was needed where his specialties really lay) a chance to add or probe further, and when none came Rose continued forward.
"The hybrids will be more of a problem. They have the best of both worlds, the up close and sturdiness of humans along with the magical aptitude of Winglies. They are seemingly able to ignore pain and all but the most fatal of wounds as well, unless you pierce the heart, spinal cord or neck they will continue to attack even if they have to crawl. It is... frightening to witness such feats of inhumanity up close. There's every chance it will put a good dent in what will likely already be waning moral of your soldiers."
"That is not what we can directly control, at least not as of yet" Theresa said softly. "All we can do now is plan, the rest will be what it will be."
Rose nodded.
"In any event they are easily distinguished and lack the flexibility of reactive thinking, they follow orders and nothing else. As such they are easily lured into traps and ambushes, so we can use that accordingly."
They spoke a little more about the specifics of what they were up against, but eventually the big decision they had until now been circling needed to me made. Where would the battle take place?
The Queen was the first to make her pitch. "The forest is a beast of its own and as such can be used against them. It's harsh and unforgiving and can be used as a weapon. The Evergreens are easy to light, making fire an excellent ally to corral or separate squadrons."
"With all due respect my lady, everything that we can use they can use as well. Not to mention it leaves us open to flanking on all sides should they have better navigation of the forest than we anticipate. I think our best option is to turn Deningrad into a fortress and defend from within."
Both of their eyes then fell on Rose. It appears her opinion would be the one that decides the impasse.
She took a minute to give it some thought.
"I agree with Ramish, we use the town, at least to begin with. If it falls or something goes amiss, we can still retreat to the forest or the mountains behind."
The Queen nodded. "Very well."
"The Wingly situation worries me though" Miranda voice tentatively. Her golden hair, normally left unbound was tied back into a single ponytail that fell down her back. "Given firsthand knowledge of their power, if they so chose to they could conjure a spell to virtually decimate Deningrad without even moving their troops."
"I had given that some thought, but remember what he really wants is not this town or its destruction, it is us. Anything so robust as that would risk losing both us and the Dragoon Spirits he desires so strongly. No, given how he has made an effort to bring a force of ground troops this large I'm willing to wager he'll fight this war the old fashioned way."
"I hope you're right." With that, Miranda said more on her megrims.
"As for battle preparations themselves..." She turned to the general. "I'll leave that mostly to you, since you'll know your own force's capabilities better than I. I all I ask is we divide up into two groups: One who will confront Sandora on the battlefield, and one who will remain to protect the Queen and Miranda in a defendable position, the Throne Room being ideal. We along with perhaps the Queen's death to cause dissonance will be their priority, at least I think."
"You'll be heading the defence I assume?" Ramish questioned.
A small pause.
"No, I'll leave that to Zack and Miranda. Ideally I'd like us all together, but that will leave the assault force vulnerable without at least one Dragoon Knight and grouping up all of Sandora's targets in one location is a little risky."
Zack stiffened at the sudden shift in responsibility but said nothing.
Miranda on the other hand relished the idea and thumped her bosom with a closed fist. "None shall get past our defence."
Rose smiled thinly. "Good. Spare as many as you can afford, but not too many. A small group of specialized soldiers would be preferable, but I'll leave that up to you good general. I'll lead the initial attack force."
"I can fight as well" Theresa said with a dangerous grin. "I will not sit back idly while my town is under siege."
"Your position exceeds that of your lust for blood. If you fall, so does a great chunk of your army's confidence, and that would be disastrous. Your survival is pivotal so do nothing reckless you understand?"
More tension sunk between the two, but in the end Rose knew the Queen would listen to reason and do what was best for her people.
"Evacuate any unable to participate in the battle and meet me within the centre of town with all your able-bodied men and women. From there we shall discuss specifics of the ambush."
Ramish nodded in acknowledgement.
"Although we may have till noon, I'd like us to be ready by midday. One can never entirely trust words of the enemy, especially when said enemy threatens to invade."
The general saluted both Rose and the Queen, his gaze lingering on the latter a few seconds before she gave a single nod. Then he was gone, disappearing down the narrow passageway.
The five of them were left, standing on the precipice, legions of enemies swarming below in the distant thickets.
"Kongol will be with you I take it?" Zack said, feeling the need to break the silence.
"Naturally, he will be left to do what he does best after all."
At this Kongol flashed a gruesome smile that all four of them knew the meaning of.
"A lot will hinge on the first encounter. I plan not to simply drive them back but to slaughter them in a truly magnificent display to send a clear and concise message. While a portion of their army may be inhuman, the greater part are like all of us and can feel terror and hesitance. Once we send the first wave running back with screams of agony and mercy, they will lose some of their bravado and think twice before rushing into our ready blades." To this she glanced at Kongol. "You in particular will stand out due to your size and mass. This probably goes without saying, but make your destruction a loud and clear message."
Another vile smile from the Giganto.
"Alright, let us return to the throne room and ready our defence."
The next couple of hours were dedicated to preparation. Most of it was done by Ramish, since Rose's trio had already done most of their preparing upon arrival, so Rose, Zack Kongol and Miranda spent most of the time within the Queen's chambers waiting for Ramish to summon Rose and Kongol for the readying of the assault team. For a small period of time Miranda and Theresa excused themselves for a while, perhaps to do what Rose was about to and give some inside orders that the other party wasn't aware of if things went truly sour (as was the nature of their distrust, even at a pivotal time like this, but such things in the end are unavoidable) and so Rose used the time to pull Zack aside and have a few important words.
"Above all your job is to make sure you and Miranda are not captured you understand? Even if that means you have to abandon Deningrad and the Queen."
Zack looked stricken at this order. "We can't simply flee and let this place fall!" Zack urged in a hushed tone.
"Yes you can and will. Make no mistake about it, if it comes down to surrendering any of us and Deningrad, I'll gladly let Deningrad fall. That doesn't mean I won't do my best to avoid that ultimatum, but if it is inevitable then you must grab Miranda and flee. I warn you of this beforehand because Miranda is loyal to the Queen and Deningrad, she will never leave the battle of her own volition even if it means certain death, so you will have to use a measure of force."
"I don't know if I can do that" Zack said feebly.
"You must! I know if goes against all of your morals to abandon this place and its people, but that is the responsibility of our position. We must sometimes make the hard choices, just as we cannot win every battle. But bear in mind, while it would regrettable to allow the last free frontier to fall into enemy hands, to allow us to do so and give him the last keys to his almost god-like ascension would be dooming the entire world. In the end we must sacrifice the few over the many."
"If this place falls is there anything left to even save?" Zack breathed in a murmur just higher than a whisper, but Rose could say no more on the subject as the Queen and Miranda re-entered the chambers. Rose didn't even need to tell him that what was just mentioned remained between them.
Rose waited the remainder of her time within the town's centre. The valley's icy crags that caressed the town like a kind of jutting slanted V shape (the Crystal palace of course at the rear of where the mountains met, providing the strongest defence) provided some protection from the cold, but not much. It wouldn't player a factor in the earlier parts of their war but would so as it dragged on when fatigue and sickness becomes as dangerous as the enemy. In that regard Rose supposed (or hoped) that the defending side who has had many generations to deal with such harsh climates had the advantage, but it was all too early to tell.
Despite being a capital of a rather large if barren continent, Deningrad, unlike Fletz, Bale and Sandora, wasn't built to be a country's crown jewel or a royal frontier that stood itself separate from the rest of its region like a brightly light bulb amongst a cluster of one's dimming or dying. Deningrad was basic and small, the only prominent land mark besides the bunched houses and stores that spanned out one either side of the protecting overhanging peaks separated only by the main stone walkway split the town right down the middle like the cut of a knife. The numerous smaller houses and stores of varying kinds were easily recognised as human constructs and not Wingly, the familiar mixture of fashioned stone, clay brick and limestone imprinted upon every one of them. Many if not all of them were frosted by the relentless snowfall and the presence of ice sculptures used to decorate the streets and roofs of many residences still made the town as a whole distinguished enough from any other that while the greater part was certainly man made, it still held a certain mystical resonance that wasn't so artificial.
"We've managed to vacate the town of all but those willing to fight" Ramish briefed with a somewhat rattled tone. It didn't bode to well at all if their season commander was already unnerved.
Within what was roughly the middle part of the town platoons of armed soldiers and citizens alike stood to attention on both sides. On the rooftops and on top of the smaller mountain ledges that overhung Deningrad were archers of varying types. By the time both the ranged and close combat portions of the army had been assembled, the town shrunk a great amount to the point it was almost claustrophobic. Surveying the numbers around them Rose came to the conclusion that while it wasn't quite as many as she had hoped it was more than she expected. But including the scouts keeping track of the Sandorian army that had now marched only a few leagues from outside of them and would take no more than an hour or two at most to reach them along with the defending soldiers within the castle, they had perhaps twenty five hundred to three-thousand able troops at best as Ramish had correctly estimated. It still paled before the entirety of the army that was marching towards them, and Rose could only hope Wen or whoever was in charge if he wasn't present wasn't planning to rush them with their entire mobilized army. If they did then their chances of victory just fell to nil.
"You're certain on the plan of attack?" Rose asked Ramish.
"Try and lure them in then ambush them from front and behind yes?"
Rose nodded. "It'll work for the first wave or perhaps two if that is how they're going to play it, but after that it'll be a useless tactic. More than anything we have to be flexible and adaptive, able to change strategies at a moment's notice."
Ramish agreed. "As it is with all great battles. You can plan and prepare as much as you like but you cannot account for every possibility."
A particularly icy gust blew through the town, causing them all to either cling to themselves or outright shiver involuntary. When it passed Ramish replaced his worried look with a smile malevolence.
"The gods are with us, at least for the moment" the general began with a chuckle so out of place Rose wondered if he was trying to place an ill-timed joke or if he had gone mad. "I can't remember a day so chilly, and that means something from someone who has spent a good portion of his aging life out in the wilderness. I can only imagine the trouble this cold will give to soldiers who are in no way attuned to such weather."
Rose paused a moment before letting the thinnest of smiles passing her own lips. "A fitting welcome indeed."
The spare time they had left before the first of the Sandorian empire clashed against the small town was spent going over preparations and making sure everyone was armed, in position and ready. When that was done most of the soldiers and citizens spoke amongst themselves nervously, many pacing or fidgeting. The exception to this of course was Rose, who retreated within herself as she always did to ready her body and mind for an afternoon of carnage.
The attack came late in the afternoon at a time where the sun would beam it's orange radiance so brilliantly it was as if it were somehow rejecting the idea that it could be forgotten during the dark period it spent blazing another part of the world. The beat of war drums (no impromptu or surprise attack on their end, they wanted to announce themselves as surely as an old friend would at the door of another's house) did not surprise her much, although she had expected an attack would take place at night which rendered her plan a little less effective, but the crimson horizon almost hidden beneath the sheen of encompassing white suggested that the fading light was just that on this day, fleeting. Rose estimated an hour or two at best of clear visibility.
"They come" Ramish said, stiffening as his hand wrapped around his blade a few hesitant moments before drawing it. A squad no more than a few hundred behind did the same as they guarded the entrance of the city like gate keepers.
The entrance itself was also a place of great significance and history, much of it because like the palace the gate was crafted and consequently woven by the magic of the Winglies. Much of that magic of course has now faded, what was once a crystal gate of such repelling magnificence (during Rose's assault on the city they had to breach if from the mountain surrounding as no magic or ballistae was capable of damaging the spire like gateway somehow appeared a row of huge crystalline spears that rose to the heavens) was a deteriorating deterrence at best, but even in this time it was a tool that could keep most willing to invade out. Its uses in this scenario were very limited, particularly because they had Winglies capable of manipulating it with their magic which was the very same it was created from, but limited or not it was still tool that could aid them, and they needed everyone they could get.
The gate was tall but not long and as such it tunnelled any invading forces to their advantage. The gate, which was manipulate through magic and without any kind of mechanism was one that opened by rising rather than swinging. Through the use of modern technology they had managed to force the gate open a little, at least high enough that even a dragon could pass through, but it could, if necessary, be lowered again at the cost of it remaining that way for the rest of the struggle. Because of that the they would have to wait for an opportune time to do so otherwise they would waste a instrument that could act as their wildcard.
What came bustling through the still opened crystal gates however what Rose expected: An experimental raid sent for the sole purpose of gauging the enemy's potential. The wave was not a large one and consisted of nothing besides a platoon of normal Sandorian soldiers. As far as Rose could tell in the few seconds she could afford to devour as many details as possible as the enemy rushed through the gate like a group of untrained barbarians there were no Winglies or hybrids of any kind. That of course didn't mean there wasn't, and to assume as such could be out right foolish if not fatal, but Rose's instinct in that moment told her that her group would encounter no such resistance, not yet. Wen, or whoever else was in charge of the proceedings was happy to send a sacrificial wave to better understand the nature of the beast they were up against.
Rose's final coherent thoughts before they were gripped by the flurry of battle frenzy was that if they wanted to they could crush us in one massive siege, yet they are taking a very cautious route, almost as if we somehow had the advantage and they didn't. It unsettled her for a few moments, but such thoughts would have to be better pondered at a later time. Now was the time for steel to meet flesh in the first of what would likely be many gruelling battles.
"HGold steady" Rose murmured to the anxious captain. The plan was to allow the bulk of the enemy army to engage them as close to the middle of the town as they could manage. Perhaps a hundred meters or as much as two separates her soldiers from theirs who even though are smaller than expected can still outnumber them in sheer manpower.
At least for the moment.
Rose thought there might be a strong possibility that at least one of the warriors they were now designed to face may notice something irregular or at least sense something amiss, but their minds consumed by nothing but the idea of battle and blood gave no such thought or pause. They truly were like rabid barbarians running as individuals rather than a well versed unit.
"Give the signal when they come within a few yards. But do not sign for the archers, not yet. We do not want to reveal our entire sleeve so early if we can help it."
Ramish nodded with a feral grin. It was then Rose realised he wasn't nervous or hesitant but somehow excited, the premonition of battle acting like small pheromones igniting his sensors and inciting his bloodlust, so much that he can't even keep still. Rose was surprised but for once surprised in a way that was very welcome.
Then a sudden halt, only a few feet from the zone Ramish was prepared to unleash the rest of his hidden army. The one leading came to a stop, and so did the legions of warriors from behind. For that brief second Rose feared their plan had been discovered before they could even initiate it.
"I act not only as commander of this legion but also as an emissary directly from the new King of Sandora!" His voice is powerful behind the masked helmet that obscured the owners features. "Heed this warning well for it shall only be offered once! Lay down your weapons and surrender Rose, Kongol, Zack and Miranda! Do this and we will trouble this continent no more!"
Silence fell upon the town like an ill omen, neither party quick to answer or follow up. Rose glanced at Ramish with a wry grin.
"Guess we better give him an answer."
Ramish nodded and turned his gave skyward for a few seconds towards one of the overhanging icy cliffs to the west that was high enough to offer plain view of the entire city. There, closest to the small middle ground that separated the two forces (no more than twenty meters) was a hunched down archer, low like a coiled snake in a blending white raiment that rendered the archer all but invisible under the sheet of white. Their eyes met a moment and Ramish gave a single nod.
It was too fast for the acting captain and emissary of the Sandorian force to react to. His did grunt in what sounded like surprise in moment before the arrow penetrated his thick cuirass with a deafening thud, so he probably saw something, but before he could likely register what that something was as it whistled through the air his chest now had a small hole that Rose had no doubt led straight to his heart. He was dead in an instant.
Shocked murmurs spread throughout the ranks of the enemy army, but that soon turned to outrage as the remaining footmen surged towards Rose and Remish's waiting men and women.
Ramish lifted his gauntleted hand high above his head in a straight motion and gave his clenched fist one hard shake.
As the forces of Sandora collided with those of Deningrad as every house, inn, warehouse and stall erupted with activity as the rest of the Deningrad military involved themselves in the battle, attack stunned and bewildered enemy soldiers from the sides and rear. The plan worked to perfect effect: total confusion and chaos within the heart of the enemy.
Rose attacked quickly and mercilessly, her body moving with fluid nimbleness of a trained acrobat. To an impassive onlooker it would appear as if she was somehow dancing to an unknown tune as she took the lives of her foes without pause regret, like it was all part of a sick, rehearsed play. But the reality of the situation was that this was certainly no play, the agonising cries of her dying adversaries could attest to that as they fell before her blade with an ease that was almost insulting. Granted it had been many years since she had involved herself in a war of this magnitude, all that way back to the Dragon Campaign in fact if you wanted to trace it that far, but she didn't suffer from any of the expected war rust she thought she would when confronted with a battle this size. Like a painter whose mind may have forgotten but body hasn't, she fell back into her old tactics as if she had been in such situations the day prior. She pushed when she had to but never to the point of recklessness and did likewise with retreat, moved back enough to give her breathing room but never enough to surrender significant ground. All the while she was able to avoid any injury too debilitating or fatal, thanks to her honed intuition that was borne out of the countless battles and acted as a keen kind of sixth sense.
Ramish and his soldiers were as savage as she was, perhaps not in her refined style but in a way that was just as effective. Unlike the Sandorian troops, Remish's men acted as a trained unit, striking and defending together to keep injuries and fatalities to a minimum.
But it was as Rose suspected and the enemy soldiers would not go without support. When it became clear that the defending side was getting the upper hand drums pounded again as if the earth itself was trembling and more troops poured in from the gate. But this was no normal attack force, but a more mobile one full of not only normal soldiers but the cross-breeds as well. Rose was a little shocked that he was using his ace so soon, but in the end it meant one of two things: Wen was intent on ending this early, or he was much more desperate than she had initially thought.
Or both.
"Kongol!" Rose boomed as loud as her voice would carry, which travelled surprisingly well considering all of the background reverberations of steel and tearing flesh. And so the giant descended from palace steps, his white gaze hungry and all devouring. Although he was still a good distance from the heart of the battle, once his massive frame towered on level terrain he rushed into a charge that while appeared seemingly sluggish was quite the opposite as every one of his galloping steps were equal to roughly five normal human strides. The Giganto covered the fifty or so yard distance between him and the battle in under a minute.
Rose, who was retreating back as the congested numbers began to tip in favour of the invaders urged her forces to make room for the eager giant. As he neared, the ground seemingly shaking with every one of his huge steps, were more than happy to oblige. Like a crowd parting for a member of unexpected royalty a narrow passage was made for Kongol who stampeded like a bull. It went without saying that any unlucky enough to be caught in his path of destruction would suffer the same fate as his enemies.
His human sized axe cleaved like a butcher would a piece of meat, hewing limbs and bodies with a brutality that despite the increasing numbers gave the enemy fearful pause. Their hesitation was paid for in blood as Kongol went on a frenzy, his bloodlust taking control like a crazed animal. It wasn't just his weapon that he swung effortlessly with a single arm, his other free hand and both feet were used as giant bludgeons, able to send opponents literally airborne before they fell with a sickly thud. It wasn't long before the Giganto garnered the full attention of the raiding force, who made his death a visible priority. It was as if every soldier had surrounded the feral titan in an effort to overwhelm him with pure numbers.
"While they're attention is on him we'll strafe around and cut off retreat like earlier" Rose ordered a following Ramish. "But be mindful of Kongol, in this state he won't discern friend from foe, give him wide berth if you wish to have your body remain intact."
Ramish shouted more commands and began to angle around the thinning army who despite their greater numbers stood no more than ants in front of the frenzying Giganto, where such trivialities as greater quantity were rendered meaningless when a foe could slice five or more soldiers with a single swing. Their attacks were just as useless, despite bearing no armour their swords and spears had trouble penetrating past a layer or two of the bronze warriors skin. It was as if his skin was his armour, forged from some kind of unbreakable steel. This hopeless scenario forced the human foot soldiers into retreat, while the hybrids, unaware of emotions like fear or hesitation marched blindly to their slaughter.
But as Rose continued to scan to battlefield which had now been matted by a grotesque floor of fallen corpses, the violet warrior found something that could give both her and Kongol trouble hovering in the southern distance towards the endless wood were the rest of the enemy had made camp.
"Winglies coming in from the rear." Ramish looked towards where Rose was indicating with a nod of her head and tensed.
"I can barely see them in the dying sunlight but yes, I think you are right" the general conceded.
"I spot four... no, five so far. I hope your archery team are in position to protect Kongol who is vulnerable against magic."
"They await only an order" the commander said as they continued to skirt the evaporating contingent of enemies. As Rose suspected the Winglies' sole target was Kongol, their appearance to well timed to be a coincidence inferred what Rose was already suspecting: They were the giants counter-measure. Sandora were planning well, but this was not something Rose didn't anticipate either.
"Hold off the order till I say. I'll need you to gather some troops for protection." The two, followed by a few dozen defending soldiers were almost far enough away from the chaos to be considered bystanders now as Kongol continued to thin the invading forces. An ornate looking blocky store of sorts prevented her from gaining more distances, at least to the west, and she didn't have the time to reroute for a larger expanse. This would have to do.
Planting her sword into the soft snow below, Rose closed her eyes to focus and began to hum powerful words of magic, her hands moving in strange and obscure patterns. She felt her lifeblood ignite with the familiar sensation of hot, raw magic that pumped in her body alongside her blood, seeking a physical escape. Manipulating such destructive forces with both words and will, she began to bend the unrefined magic into the image she had in her mind. It wasn't easy, as strong as her magic aptitude was she wasn't a Wingly and it didn't come nearly as natural. Her spell was one of wide area effect, and that meant it would be several times harder than just a spell used to decimate a person or small group. Usually she would have to transform to form such a powerful spell, but she wasn't granted the luxury of time. The Winglies were already locked and loaded, ready to vaporise Deningrad's forces along with their most potent weapon in the form of Kongol.
"I'll hit them first, as soon as I do order a volley of as many arrows as they can manage in a twenty second window." Her breathing was harsh as the focus of the enchantment took its toll. Rows of dark projectiles that resembled black flaming arrows materialised in front of her from seemingly nowhere, first five, then ten, then as many as twenty or thirty. Opening her eyes and taking a moment to adjust her hazy vision, Rose spotted the five spell casters that were nearly on top of them. With a ferocious cry Rose flung her bunched arms to both sides as if to ward away an invisible enemy and the assembled black arrows fired towards her floating opponents.
Winglies, keen to the weaving of magic already knew it was coming before even seeing it. Projecting a kind of translucent shield that encased them like a huge bubble, her magic flared out as if doused in water upon contact.
"Now!" Rose seethed. Ramish hesitated a moment as Rose dropped her knees but gave the order with a flick of his overhead stretched hand. A hail of sharp projectiles followed Rose's spell path.
It was never Rose's intention to take the Winglies by surprise with her magic, as such a feat would be impossible, but rather create a distraction. As the Winglies found out when the needle sharp arrows entered all parts of their bodies, warding against magic, a kind of nether essence not naturally a part of this world didn't have the same effect as warding something physical that did. It was something she found out and exploited in great measure during the Dragon Campaign. To block one type of offense left you open to another, there was no such thing as a 'one shield to shield all' type of defence. Erecting barriers to stop magic left them open to normal attacks that passed right through as if the shield never existed. If given a few more seconds perhaps they could have created an offset, but the now falling spell casters were not afforded such an opportunity.
None of the Winglies survived the volley. It was a minor victory, but one that once more threw the pendulum of momentum back in their favour.
As visibility faded to almost non-existence all that was left was to kill the remaining enemy troops. They were not given further support, not on this evening, and by the time the slight dimness faded entirely and the only source of light left were the few house, store and streetlights left on in the event the battle would spill into the night, the defenders of Deningrad had claimed their first victory.
Zack, Miranda and Theresa saw it all from the side of the palace that oversaw the middle of town. It was surprisingly hard to quell the urge to run in and help, at least in Zack's experience, but every time he was on the verge of giving into such an impulse he felt the supporting hand of Miranda on his shoulder.
"Things are going well" she said softly with a confident smile. "There are no signs of being overwhelmed at this point, so put your mind for now."
"That's what worries me" Zack said, lightly shrugging off her hand an pacing around the throne room. "This attack force is minuscule to what they have in their arsenal, it's as if we're being lulled into a false sense of victory."
"Then all the more reason to keep your wits sharp and your emotions suppressed" the Queen said without sentiment. "The enemy is merely testing the waters, trying to gauge what they are up against. We know that, the troops along with Ramish and Rose know that. Tonight will just be a skirmish, the real war has yet to begin."
Zack shot a rather indignant look at Theresa's rebuking, and realised why Rose found her presence so unnerving and hard to deal with.
But looking past that, she feels exactly the same as I do.
Shrugging the momentary resentment aside, Zack returned his view to the battle taking place below. Kongol was wreaking havoc and the opposing troops were quickly being slaughtered by the defending team who were taking expert advantage of the home ground advantage.
And so he watched. Watched fearfully as the Winglies entered the fray, and pumped his fist with a loud cheer along with the soldiers battling below as the enemy fell and the first battle came to a close. With the last soldier dead, Rose and Ramish began to order the troops around and as tired and weary as they likely were, after a small break they began to collect the dead of their own as well as their enemies. Dead Deningrad soldiers were carried into the palace while the enemy were unceremoniously dragged towards the entrance of the city for reasons Zack did not yet know. Nor did it matter, the elation of winning their first victory in such a defining fashion had everyone in high spirits, everyone expect two people who knew the storm had not even began to hit them yet.
Rose and Queen Theresa remained a stone face as they were when the battle began.
By eight of the clock everyone had rendezvoused inside the castle besides those on scout and watch duty. Most of the castle rooms had been turned into soldier quarters, but that was fine. Those not able to fight volunteered for roles like cooking food, medical duties and other housekeeping responsibilities. Massive plates of food and ale were passed around giant tables within the palace common quarter which was as large as the ground floor of Kazas. Candle and oil lights flickered within the shimmering sheen of crystal, which only added to the hardy ambiance of the well earned aftermath.
When the captain stood up, ale cup in hand, he raised it high and everyone fell silent.
"First of all" Ramish began, standing at the head of the giant spanning wooden table, one of the largest Rose had ever seen she had noted as she sat towards the rear, eating and drinking quietly. His voice carried well and had the presence of a true leader, and every Deningrad soldier turned attention to reflect that fact. "Let me congratulate us all on a sound victory! We have proven, although not without aid, that while we may small and removed from the main hub, we are a force to be reckoned with! Rejoice men, for we, a nation no strangers to war, have stood resistance in the face of overpowering odds!"
Roars, whoops and whistles exploded from the table as they all celebrated before dying down as Ramish place his mug of ale on the wooden table, his face turning stern.
"But this is only the beginning. Sandora has underestimated us once but they will not do so again! Expect every battle from here to be a far harder struggle then what we just went through. Fellow friends and family have already perished tonight and those numbers will only climb as the war escalates into its climax, that is an unavoidable fact of conflict." Ramish bowed his head a few long moments as if to mourn those who died and will die in the future. "But we hardy, strong and defiant. We will not falter, we will not hesitate! Save those who we can save and live with the memory of those who we cannot, and for every one of us they take we shall take two or three of them!"
Another roar of unified approval from the table.
"So eat until you burst, drink until you piss yourselves and talk until you cannot talk anymore, but men to this one thing: Keep yourselves sharp. Celebrate with those you may not get the chance to tomorrow, but stay sharp! This is only the beginning, and while they have great numbers, we can match that in spirit and determination! Whether they have tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands we will stand triumphant when it is all said and done, this my friends I can promise you! So eat, sleep and prepare for the next of many battles, this is no longer a request men but an order: keep yourselves sharp! For we shall press the next attack!"
A final roar of agreement spread once more, but this one did not die out for many hours as the victory atmosphere once more filled the common room. Rose couldn't help but let a narrow smile press her lips, he was a good talker if nothing else and it even managed to instil a piece of confidence in herself. None of them knew what they were in for as the war progressed, but they all felt like, at least for the moment, that they could take on anything in the world.
Zack, who had skipped on the victory party (partly because he felt he shouldn't be a part of a celebration he didn't contribute to, but mainly because he wanted time to think) was in the room he, Rose and Kongol were sharing. He was alone, at least for the moment, but his thoughts were startled by a knock on the door.
When a familiar dark figure appeared, Zack gave a smile and a nod. "How was the party?"
"Better than expected" Rose replied coolly. "I didn't intend to go to begin with, but Ramish thought it better for morale if I were to make an appearance."
"Did you make a speech?" Zack asked with a jovial tone and grin.
Rose shook her head. "No such thing, I left that to Ramish."
"Then looks like I didn't miss anything by not going then " Zack expressed in mock disappointment. Rose felt it unnecessary to rise to his good-humoured baiting and so the two fell quiet after exchanging those few words. Rose felt too tired in any event to discuss anything that wasn't of immediate concern.
"I know you don't think you're fit to lead, but given the circumstances thrust upon you I think you're doing exceptionally well" Zack said with a contrasting change of solemness.
"That remains to be seen" Rose said thoughtfully. "Ramish is the real leader here, all I've done so far is aid in some of the planning and end the lives of any enemies who veer near my blade. Ultimately my talents lay in killing, not leading."
"I don't just mean today, but since the very beginning. You may not notice it but you command admiration, even from the Queen as much as she would deny it."
Rose glanced away, her features faltering a little before returning impassive. Zack couldn't judge exactly what it meant, but it appeared somehow sad and rueful.
Does she really have no confidence in herself? no, that wasn't it, she had confidence, she just truly believed the role of leadership wasn't suited to someone like her.
"We still have a hard road in front of us, it is best we focus on what is ahead" Rose eventually responded.
"Indeed" Zack agreed with a smile. "But I've been doing some thinking and have come up with idea that may well weaken the enemy forces."
Rose appeared genuinely surprised, her upturned face shifting curious before sceptical. Zack didn't even need Rose to say what she was thinking, it may as well have been literally written across her face.
"This isn't a stupid as you seem to be expecting. Thinking about it; would Sandora expect us to make an immediate counter attack after our first skirmish? I think it more probable they are expecting us to regroup and solidify our defence in anticipation for another attack" he explained while nodding his head as if to somehow appear wise or meaningful.
"If you're supposing we launch an immediate retaliation then the same thoughts have crossed my own mind as well, as would it have whoever is commanding the Sandorian army. Their numbers are vast and we would not be able to catch them off guard even if we have better navigation of the forest, Sandora would surely have scouts posted to make sure of that. We would only be sacrificing much needed soldiers, our best offense at the moment is our defence where we can corral and control the enemy. We will be quickly overpowered in such a forest that allows easy access to flanking."
"Yes, I am suggesting we retaliate, but by we I mean us two and maybe a handful of others. Travelling as a small group will allow us to evade enemy scouts, and if we can fix a location of a few nearby camps then wouldn't you think it a shame if the forest around them suddenly caught ablaze?" Zack smiled proudly to show he has given this idea much thought.
"It won't be as simple as you suggest. They can also scout from the skies and any fire used whether natural or magical can be quickly extinguished by Wingly support."
"Perhaps, but if it's at night where they are not expecting such an attack their support will be delayed at best right? Even if we only manage to rattle them for the night that will prove valuable for the next fight when their soldiers are weary and sleep deprived."
Zack expected Rose to throw an immediate rebuttal, had expected that the hardest part of this operation was not the execution itself but convincing a certain lavender warrior that it would be the best course to take. When Rose fell silent for a time Zack allowed himself to hope.
"Creating such a commotion rapid enough to raze Sandorian encampments before help arrives would require the aid of magic, and strong magic. I have exhausted myself today already from earlier spells, to continue to do so would risk me becoming too fatigued to be of much use during future battles."
"I took that into consideration too. You won't be doing the one causing the commotion, I will be."
Rose frowned unhappily. "Your grasp on magic is flimsy at best, how do you intend to pull of such a spectacle? Even if you do, your inexperience leaves you open to exhaustion or worse yet over exhaustion where you may become sick or otherwise injured. Your participation in this war is just as important as mine."
"What you say is very true, but have a little faith in me I'll be able to pull something small like this off. After all, we cannot win this battle without taking some risks." Zack stared at Rose with determined eyes, letting her know he will not be swayed in this matter by such small consequences.
"It is no small matter. Magical essence is extremely complex made up of many compounds unknown to the typical human. It takes much time to reach the level where one can master magic without risk of consuming oneself and even then it is still a gamble. I, who has had over eleven thousand years to perfect the art still only use magic as a last resort. It only takes a momentary lapse and the magical essence inside you will suck you dry or cause your spell to combust, killing yourself and those around you. That is the peril that you chance when you use magic, especially in the case of the inexperienced. To even be able to summon magic you will need to be transformed, and an out of battle transformation is taxing enough on the body as it is. Do you really think you can handle that?"
She was testing him. If she sensed any weakening in his resolve or any doubt, she would call the idea off immediately and not give it another moments consideration. But he knew this too, even he knew about the basic dangers of magic during the few encounters he had when he was forced to utilize them. Granted none of them had really been from will but from necessity, but in the end he could only know if he tried.
Matching her grave gaze Zack gave a single nod, doing all he could to project his determination. In the end it must have been enough.
"Very well, I'll concede to your idea. We'll leave at midnight, just the two of us. And we won't be venturing too far from the entrance, we'll need to make a hasty retreat if all things go well."
"And if things don't go well?"
Rose gave him a look that said it all. If things didn't go well then they wouldn't need to worry about an escape route.
"Alright" Zack said, clenching his fist in victory. In his mind he certainly won one, as Rose for the second time today was willing to both trust and depend on him. Turning to Rose with a playful grin, all he could say was "I hope you can handle the heat."
A sigh that seemed to express momentary regret was his only response.