Hey guys, new chapter update here in this fanfic. Thanks for the reviews and enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Southern Lands of Atlas
Nox Schneider was seating upon his horse as he was looking out toward the land in front of him. The young man was dressed in his armor as he was riding through the battlefield that was around him. This was the third battle they had fought in Atlas lands so far and yet, they weren't any Amastrial soldiers within their group. This attack had come in the middle of the day as they were slowly gripping their hold upon the lands of Southern Atlas when the enemy had come for them.
At first, Nox had been surprised at the bold move but he had gotten ready quickly and had ridden with his men into battle for the first time since the Rebellion started. His presence upon the field of battle had given the men a boost of morale at having their Lord Paramount fighting alongside them for this fight and after more than ten hours of battle, the fighting had come to an end with the attacking army completely defeated. During the battle, it was when Nox realized that the banners that the enemy was floating wasn't the Snakes of Amastrial but rather the White Tree, the sigil of a powerful house in Atlas. He had been shocked to see it and he was even more angry to realize that they had decided to bend the knees to the usurper Queen that sat upon that Throne.
The young man urged his horse forward galloping through the corpses ridden battlefield around him before he came to a stop beside Sir Artinger, one of his generals.
"Lord Schneider," Sir Artinger spoke out with a light nod of his head noticing him.
"How many men did we lose?" Nox asked him.
"A considerable amount considering the way the attack started but the bulk of our forces managed to withstand it," Sir Artinger answered, "The battle is our win and we have taken some men captives as well as Lord Caspian. He was the one leading the army."
"House Whitewood fought side by side with House Schneider during the War in the North," Nox said with a shake of his head, "And now they are our enemies."
Sir Artinger give him a sideway glance.
"It was discussed that some of the Houses might have bent the knees to the usurper," he said.
"I know," Nox snapped, feeling his anger growing again at what was happening, "I should have expected something like this to happen and yet, when it happens, it makes me wonder if loyalty was so fickle that it can be lost."
The young man shook his head.
"Where is Lord Caspian," he asked.
"We have him in one of the cells we brought along with us," Sir Artinger told him giving the young man a sideway glance, "However this battle also showed us that not many Houses in Atlas will side with us."
Nox didn't say anything causing Sir Artinger to let out a small sigh before guiding his horse away from him and he did the same as well. The two rode through a part of the road avoiding the soldiers that were still around on the ground as they were working upon the field of corpses that was around them. They were nuns of the Church around as well as they were moving through the corpse to give them a good burial so that they would be returned to the Embrace of the All-Mother. Nox wasn't a religious person but he knew that the only way he was going to end this war was to fight against the bitch Queen that was on the Throne.
He arrived where they were keeping the prisoners and Nox descended from his horse as well as sir Artinger as they both made their way toward the cage the prisoners were in. Nox made his way toward it, his hand upon the handle of his sword as he was looking down toward the man that was inside of it. Lord Caspian was a man with a light orange looking hair with dark eyes. He was quite a well-known Army commander and he had fought many battles in the War in the North.
"Lord Caspian as I live in breath," Nox spoke out looking at the man that was in the cell.
The man's dark eyes found him. He wasn't wearing any armor but Nox could see the injuries he had received from the battle which had taken place hours ago. The man still had dried blood upon his face, his hands in chains.
"Deckar's little brat," Caspian spoke out looking at him, "Well, look at you, all grown up and leading an army now. How things have changed since the old days."
Nox stared at the man.
"I have sent ravens to the many Houses of Atlas," he spoke out, "And your House was one of those I wished could have joined my army, and yet, here we are on opposite sides of this conflict."
Caspian let out a chuckle.
"I received your raven," he said, "But I also received the news that you were burning the fields that would serve our people through the Winter. You think I would ally myself with the one that is starving us?"
"Then your oath to House Schnee means nothing then?" Nox said, "They were all murdered, and you chose to simply bow to the new Queen who doesn't deserve it."
Caspian actually laughed at him, "The only thing that the Schnee had gone for them was the old glory days. Everyone in the realm knew that House Schnee was finished when Jelius died. He was the true heir to the Throne, and he died. Jarus may have kept the realm together but all of us knew that as soon as he died, House Schnee would have followed after him."
"So, you decided to break your oath to them," Nox frowned, "because of that."
Caspian narrowed his eyes.
"I broke my oath because a stupid boy almost sends us to war," he growled, "Queen Morgana promised stability in Remnant after Jarus's death and all you are doing boy is breaking that stability. Why do you think that no one answered your ravens? Because to us, you are nothing but a boy making a grab for power in this chaos."
He chuckled.
"You may have won your battles Nox," Caspian continued, "But if you are hoping people will join you because of the Schnee who barely any real power since the War in the North had, then you already lost the war."
Nox glared at him.
"Be my guest and continue to fight and as you do, more and more of your army will fall before you even reach Atlas," Caspian said continuing to laugh, "The Schnee may have forged this world, but their time is over."
Nox then straightened up before walking away from him with the older Knight following him. The two were silent in their walk, thought Nox's mind was reeling with the information that he had been given by Caspian. When Sky Lark had left for the independent nation of Vacuo, he had sent out ravens to the many Houses of Atlas so that they could join him in the fight against the usurper, but none of his ravens have been answered at all. As much as he didn't want to believe what Caspian was saying, what had happened with House Whitewood was something that can't be ignored at all.
Even after his death, Whitley's fuck up with Rickard still send waves across Remnant. He knew that the boy fucked up which was one of the reasons his own father didn't want to go at the wedding at all. The man let out a small sigh at the thought of the wedding, as memories of his sister came to mind yet again.
"Has there been any ravens from Sky Lark?" he asked glancing at the man beside him.
"No, my lord," Sir Artinger spoke out, "I'm not fond of sellswords, but their number would give us a boost to turn the tide. If your friend managed to get them of course, however, we must continue to push forward. If we stay too far South, we won't be able to keep the pressure upon Fall at all."
Nox looked at him.
"She could have sent for reinforcement from Amastrial," Sir Artinger continued, "If House Whitewood had pledged their allegiance to the new Queen, then we can assume that the ones that hadn't answered your raven have done the same as well."
Nox thought about it.
"I will think about this strategy," he said, "If they got reinforcement form the North then our army might be stopped right in it's track. I will retire to my tent and after supper, I will talk with the other Generals on what our next move shall be."
Sir Artinger give him a light bow at the dismissal before walking off somewhere. Nox continued foot aiming straight toward his tent were many soldiers were standing guard around it. As he was walking past, many of them stopped to give him a salute as Lord Paramount and their Commander until he reached the tent. The man let out a small sigh as he came to a stop by the table before placing a hand at his side toward where his injury was.
He had felt it started to sting during the battle earlier and while he was able to mask the pain from his face, Nox knew he couldn't hide it forever. Removing his chest armor, the young man returned his attention toward where the wound was noticing that his clothing was wet with blood. No wonder it had started to sting in pain, the stitches he had opened again.
"Send for a healer," he called to his squire.
"At once my lord," the young man said before leaving the room.
Nox had taken a seat upon the chair where the map of Remnant was placed along with the many pieces that were about the situation so far. He stared at the map, thinking about his next plan. There were still some leagues between where he was, and White Castle and they were many Houses territory before he would even reach that. Caspian may have become an enemy, however, what he said held some truth to it. The Schnee were no longer alive and their dynasty had come to an end as much as he hates to admit it. Not a lot of people would remain loyal to the dead however, what angered him was that no one had risen in outrage because of the sacking of Atlas.
No one even lifted in finger do anything against the ones who murdered the Schnee.
No one other than him and Mistral.
The Schnee may have forged this world…but their time is over.
This was Caspian's words about his crusade and it pissed him off even more.
"FUCK," he yelled slamming his palm against the table causing the content upon it to rattle.
"M…My Lord…,"
Nox looked up finding the healer standing at the entrance with a concerned look upon her face. The woman was dressed in the robes of the House of Healing as she stood at the entrance of the tent. He let out a sigh.
"Forgive me Healer Vall," he said, "It's just my frustration getting the best of me."
The healer nodded before walking toward him.
"Your squire said you require my service," she said.
"Yes," he said, "my injury didn't seem to have healed properly."
Healer Vall made her way toward him and removed his shirt, revealing his muscled frame from the many years he had spent working on perfecting his sword skills and training his father had gone through. It was something that he kept up with before going to Atlas for the wedding. The woman made him take a seat upon the bed that was on the other side of the tent before she started to work upon the wound, her fingers gently touching his skin.
"Your wound hasn't fully healed yet," she told him, her voice taking a stern tone, "That is why it is bleeding again. I will place the medicine upon it, however, I must insist that you do not take any part in any battles to come."
Nox looked at her.
"I can't do that," he said, "I'm needed out there with my men…"
"And if your injury doesn't heal properly, it can get infected and you can die my lord," Healer Vall told him curtly, "And you dead won't be any use for your rebellion."
Nox let out sigh, feeling frustrated again. Seeing that he was complying, Healer Vall returned to her work and applying medicine causing the man to wince at how it stung against the old wound he had gotten escaping from Atlas.
"You have been in the service of my family for a long time right Vall?" he asked.
"Aye, my lord," the Healer told him, "It's been ten years now since become the Healer for House Schneider."
"Ten years," he murmured, "I wonder…if at that time did I thought of everything that would have happened now. Ten years ago, I was still naught but a young man, my father the Lord Paramount, and my sister Queen of Remnant…with two young children to her name and now ten years later, they're all dead and Remnant is at war."
He stayed silent for a few moments.
"I wonder…where we will be ten years from now?"
"Hopefully, you will be King of Remnant," Healer Vall spoke out.
Nox glanced down at her.
"You are fighting in this war for the justice of your sister," Healer Vall told him, "Justice at their murders and against their murderer and if you dethrone her, you will be the King won't you?"
Nox opened his mouth to speak but then stopped.
"If I am being honest…I haven't really thought out it," he said softly, "When I started this Rebellion, it was solely for my family's sake. I didn't want their death to go unpunished…but when I defeated the usurper Queen, I will be the one on the Throne of Jewels…maybe I should have gone with this before…"
He fell silent again, thinking about it seeing at how obvious it was. He should have done this from the very start. He should have declared for the Throne and he had the blood of the Schnee in him after all, his family is a cousin line to the Schnee family. He had allowed his vengeance against the Fall of Amastrial to blind him from the bigger picture and it would seem that Morgana had used that card to gain more follower into her cause.
That bitch…she played upon my mistakes, Nox thought frowning lightly, No wonder that she was able to gain the support of most of Atlas's Houses so quickly…and with what she had done on the Vale, she might have gotten the Vale under control…so that would mean, she has three of the five realms in her palms.
Nox can feel his anger growing again.
His father would have been completely livid with him for allowing something like that to happen, he could almost see the disappointed look upon the man's face, something that he was used to seeing back then but then again, Deckar Schneider hardly ever smile not since his mother passed away when he was a young boy.
Healer Vall, having finished with her work straightened up. Her eyes met his own.
"I have done what I could for your wound," she said, "But I must tell you to stay off the battlefield whenever you can at least, until the skin has healed…if not it could get worse and infected my lord."
Nox nodded at her.
"Unless it is absolutely necessary," he said, "I won't be in the battle, thank you for your services as usual Vall."
The woman gave him a small smile as well as a small bow.
"It was my pleasure my lord," she said.
With that she walked out of the tent and Nox called for his squire once again.
"Call the Generals," he said, "I need to speak with them about our plans."
He had done as he had asked and sometimes later, the Generals were all seating on the table. He was dressed in fresh clothing looking out at the men in front of him, their faces. They were the ones that were following him through this journey he had set himself out with. He was looking down at a letter that Sir Riddle had written to him from Gryphonhall meaning that the Vale won't support him at all. It was just as he had expected.
Morgana Fall had used Rickard Arc to gain control of the Vale, thought there was still the matter of Haven that has yet to reach him.
He looked at the group.
"This was from Lord Riddle," he said, "The Vale has refused our proposal. It is as many of us as feared. The usurper used my nephew's mistake to take control of the Vale."
"Then we won't be able to stop Amastrial from sending reinforcement then," Sir Artinger spoke out, "That's three of the Realms against us."
"If the North refuse our heeding as well," Kevan spoke out, "That will be armies of most of the people of the Remnant against us. Such a one-way battle will surely end in our defeat."
Nox nodded.
"She also played upon my own mistakes," he said looking at the group, "Because I was blinded by vengeance, I set ablaze many of the crops that the people needed to feed, and Morgana used that to gain Alliances in Atlas tightening her grip upon Atlas's House as the attack from the Whitewood taught us."
He let out a small sigh.
"Lord Caspian was right about one thing," he said, "Despite the battle we've won, we're losing the war. Vale won't send help and if the news that we've gotten are accurate, it would seems they are facing their own war. The North will be the best area to battle against the Amastrial forces in Atlas…but we still have one card to play."
The lords glanced around themselves surprised.
"I will make a claim for the Throne," he announced.
"Lord Schneider?" Sir Artinger asked puzzled.
Lord Vasilias was also surprised.
"The Throne of Jewels has been part of the Schnee family for centuries," he said, "Something that many people forget was that my family, the Schneider are a cousin line from the Schnee. The blood of that long dynasty run in my veins as well. If we remind the people of Remnant of my blood claim on the Throne, we might gain some allies yet."
"It could work," Lord Vasilias said thinking about it for a few moments, "a blood claim is not something that many nobles will overlook. While you may not have the traditional Schnee look, your name alone should be enough to gain some allies."
Nox nodded.
"Then let the ravens fly tonight," he said, "All over Atlas to the houses that remains. Tell them that I, Nox Schneider, cousin of the Schnee line of Remnant, have called out for my claim to inherit my Throne from the Usurper Morgana Fall."
"Morgana had married into the Schnee family my lord," Sir Artinger reminded him, "A claim by marriage is a strong one."
Nox looked at them all.
"Then let Remnant know what happened that night in Atlas in my letter," she said, "Let them know that Amastrial betrayed the trust of King Whitley and murdered him as well as his mother and sister. Such action will void her claim of marriage on the Throne of Jewel."
The other Generals in the room nodded as they were agreeing with the plan that Nox had set out for. Nox stared down at the map in front of him a light frown upon his features. He had made a mistake in acting out of vengeance and it costed him but now, he was going to be cautious and cunning just like his father had been.
While he may not be Deckar Schneider, the man's blood was in his veins.
And he will make Remnant remember why they feared him.
Nox is making a claim for the Throne now...
Hope you have enjoyed that little bit.
Jacques0 out.
R&R