Chapter 37) Edessa

The days then were spent in this uneasy peace. Some days, we didn't eat. Some days, we did. We treated injuries, and slowly, things just sort of… settled. There was no other word for it. Nothing got better, but nothing got worse. Just a wound that kept on bleeding, no matter how many times you healed it up.

We ended up staying longer in Edessa than we anticipated. At first, it had been to deal with the dead. Then there was a freak blizzard that trapped us all in various buildings until it passed over. Then it was dealing with those that died during the blizzard. Basically, we ended up spending three weeks in a place we only expected to spend three days in.

Not that I minded. It took about three weeks to convince Roland that he did really need to eat.

A knock on the door made me look up, blinking slowly as I emerged from reports and returned to the 'real' world. The sun was just rising on the horizon, turning the snow into a myriad of blues and purples.

"Come in," I called after a moment. It was strange. But, at Barigan's insistence, everyone had basically separated out into different houses. I had been busy tending to Hartmut and my duties, but the others arranged it so that Hartmut and I had a house to ourselves, the same one I had dragged him to after Josephine died. It made for a strange sense of… well, if not for the casualty reports in front of me, I might have forgotten all about the war.

"Good morning, Lady Hilda." Crimson walked in with a smile, carrying a basket of food. As he always did in the morning. "Lady Jasmine was very insistent that I give these to you," he informed me, placing the basket on the table. It was filled with warm pastries. "She says they're traditional for newlyweds."

"We're not married!" We were just… accidentally living together? Wait, hold on, if Crimson was already here… "Ah!" I scrambled from the living room, swinging into the back where the bedroom was.

Hartmut was sitting up, blinking slowly and looking very small and fragile. His face lit up with a relieved smile when he saw me, though. "You weren't here when I woke up," he murmured. He stood up and walked over, snatching me up in a hug. "I was…" In the days since Josephine died, Hartmut often had nightmares, just as I had when Sheryl had died. Sometimes, the nightmares were of how she died. Other times, he was back in his manse, trapped and alone. "Sorry."

"You're so silly," I whispered, smiling. "I just went to do some work." When he loosened the hug, I reached up to stroke his cheek. "I'm never leaving you."

"Good." He smiled back, leaning into my palm. "It's becoming very clear how much I need you."

"Oh, I'm sure you need food more." I stepped out of the hug and tugged him after me. "Crimson brought breakfast."

"Crimson, you're amazing!" Crimson really was. The first few days, I couldn't even get Hartmut to eat. But Crimson had managed to get him to nibble on some things, and now, Hartmut was eating regularly. I think he was also the one who got Roland eating too.

"I see you've some color in your face this morning," Crimson noted with a smile. He set down two mugs of warmed milk on the table, next to the pastries. A glance to the broken stove reminded me how he burned through his own tome to warm it for us. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't feel worse," Hartmut answered. He sat at the table, tugging me down next to him. "I think that's an improvement."

"Of course." Crimson smiled warmly. "With time, you will be able to go on a little longer without breaking down." I think what made Crimson so good at taking care of both of us was that he acknowledged the pain never went away. It lingered, on and on. I was sure he knew that because of his own pain. "Careful, the milk is still hot." Warm milk with honey was his prescribed 'medicine' for Hartmut, and it was clear Hartmut loved it. For my part, I just liked it because it reminded me of Mother. She would make me it too, whenever I was sad.

"I know…" Hartmut sulked playfully before his smile fell. "How's Roland?" Hartmut had tried to visit him a couple of days ago, but Roland had freaked out so badly that it was decided that Hartmut should wait for Roland to come to him.

"He seems to be continuing the road to recovery." Crimson set out plates and passed out the pastries for us. As always, he took none for himself. "He picked up Durandel late yesterday evening, after you two had gone to bed." He had? "There seemed to be no issues. It felt like a powerful blade, not a hungry one like before."

"Then, what? He won't be controlled anymore?"

"That remains uncertain." Of course. "But, perhaps, it will be easier to control now." Crimson sighed. "Power has a price. It seems Durandel needed blood."

"Why were the dragons not enough?" Hartmut's voice shook. "Why did it have to be Josephine?"

"If I had to guess… it could be because they were an enemy and, thus, not a 'sacrifice'." Crimson shook his head. "It could also be that Durandel's price isn't blood at all." Huh? "It could be that its price is 'after losing something important, at your own hand, will you still walk forward?'." He shrugged. "If the answer becomes 'yes', then Durandel gives its full strength. If the answer becomes 'no', it waits for another wielder."

"…I'm going to remind everyone that we're dealing with a weapon," I deadpanned. That was just… "Isn't that a little complicated?"

"So is a weapon that controls its wielder," Crimson pointed out. I had no reply to that. "Ah, but I best head out and do my other duties. I will be back later." He moved to the door, only to pause at the threshold and glance back at us. "By the way, have you heard what the camp is saying about Lady Josephine's death?" Both of us tensed. We were afraid, desperately, of what people would think when they learned it was- "They say it was a fire dragon that killed her." …Wha…?

He left after that, leaving Hartmut and I to process this.

The death had been in full view of everyone. Why would they say it was a dragon?

I headed out to camp, to confirm Crimson's words. What I heard frightened me. Not only did they all firmly believe that lie, but they were fiercely angry. 'How dare a fire dragon kill her?' the soldiers all but screeched. 'How dare they kill any of us?'

The camp was teeming with anger and rage, all focused on one thing: dragons. Even I, at my worst, had never been filled with this much bloodlust. This was terrifying. This was terryfing.

I immediately checked on Fiona and Aenir, just in case. It might be a secret, but someone might have figured it out.

"No, for the most part, we're fine, if a bit shaken," Fiona reassured. Aenir was sleeping again when I arrived, and I didn't want to wake her, so Fiona and I were quietly talking in the kitchen of the house she, Aenir, and Ely shared. "But, really, I am so glad we kept it secret." What would they do? If they learned Aenir was a dragon, if they learned Fiona, Hartmut, and I were half dragons… what would they do? I was honestly certain they would rip us apart, limb by limb.

"Where did it even come from?" I whispered, glancing outside. Two soldiers were boasting of how they'd chop off a dragon's head. I didn't remember things like this. "It was within full view…"

"It seems to have originated from someone's report to Delrin." Oh, great. Someone gave a biased report, things escalated, and now the whole camp believed a lie instead. "I guess it was easier to swallow than one of their heroes making a mistake." Exactly. We were the 'perfect, genius, almost mythic' survivors. People would rather blame dragons than us, for the things we did.

"I wonder if this was what the first years of the war were like." In the aftermath of Aquelia, did people boast like this? Had the years of war just stolen the fervor, which surged back? Or was I just that separated from everyone? "Ah, regardless, you two are fine?"

"Yes." She bit her lip. "But, I have to admit to being very scared. I think I'm going to just stick to dancing, and keeping away from everyone. It's not like I fight much anyway, but…" But now she was scared to be out with them.

"Okay." What else could I say? "Go rest or something."

"I'll try." She waved me goodbye as I left, forcing a smile. It looked painful, and I had a feeling she was more affected than she was saying. I could only imagine what Aenir though.

Shaking my head, I kept walking through the camp, trying to think of something I could do. If there was something. Honestly, at this point, changing the story, or even just trying to calm them, might get me killed. They might declare me 'traitor'.

Movement caught my eye, and when I turned, I could only stare as I realized who I was looking at. Athos. I hadn't seen him in three weeks, though I had heard from others that he remained in the army. His wide eyes, and the way he ran, told me that he had been avoiding me on purpose.

However, I was a hell of a lot faster than him, so I caught him easily, snagging him by the arm so that he couldn't escape. I just stared as he looked away, trying to think of what to say. His face was still bruised. He looked a lot thinner, like he hadn't eaten. Paler, with bags under his eyes, like he hadn't slept.

So, finally, I let him go, and simply whispered, "why were you vague?"

For a moment, I thought he was simply going to run away again. He certainly tensed enough. But then, finally, he replied, "I mentioned I was thrown out of my town, right?" His voice was so small, fragile. "The reason for it was because I could see things in the future. But I rarely saw good things. I always seemed to see the bad."

"Ah." Was that normal for Foresight?

"I used to warn the people in my town. Over and over again. Sometimes it worked and changed things. Sometimes, it didn't. People remembered the latter more than the former. Eventually, they declared that it was me who caused all of the trouble." He shuddered at the memory. "They called me a demon. Wicked demon child who brought bad luck to all who associated with him. My own parents tried to kill me." That… "So, I was thrown out. Burn the demon. Let him die of thirst in the heat. I can still hear their words echoing in my head." His hands shook. "I told myself they weren't real. When I left the desert, delirious from fever, I told myself that they were hallucinations. They were nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"But they weren't."

"No." His voice cracked. "No, they weren't." He bowed his head. "I joined the army. I thought, maybe, I could use the damn things to help. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't." Well, now he was just shaking, like a leaf in the wind. "Then, one day, they all just stopped. I had never been so happy." Stopped? "Until, one day, I did get another one. And, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop it." That…

"Was this… around the time Hartmut joined?"

"I think so, yeah." Then that… was why. Hartmut, by existing, blinded those with Foresight, to everything but the crossroads in destiny. That's what Aenir said. "I tried again the second time, and the third. The tenth and twentieth. But it never changed. No matter what warnings I gave, even telling the people themselves, it stayed the same." His voice cracked. "So I gave up. I stopped. Thought maybe that might help. But it didn't." He jerked his head up, and I saw he was crying. "I 'saw' Sheryl's death." Huh?! "The day I met her, I saw her die. I tried. But it failed. I only managed to succeed in making you watch." That… um… "So, I gave up again. No matter who I saw dying, no matter who I saw leaving, I just closed my eyes and ignored it. I couldn't do anything, so it was worthless!" I could hear the words 'just like me' in his breaking tone. "But then I saw Josephine die. I saw her die at Roland's hand. I knew it had to be something with the sword. He was never careless with other prototype weapons, like the runesword. So, I tried again. But I couldn't think of how, because nothing else had ever stopped it." So, he did the only thing he could think of: tell Roland to be careful.

"…I suppose, in retrospect, even if we were absolutely careful, it would not have mattered." If Durandel's price was really a test, if it was really 'do you have the resolve to continue on, even after this?', then Durandel might not have let Roland go until he killed Josephine. "Telling us might have resulted in a massacre." If we kept her away, then would Durandel have dragged Roland around, killing everything in its path? "And being careful didn't work, because Durandel seized control of Roland."

"I didn't see that." He smiled wryly, even as he continued to cry. "I thought he just hadn't been paying attention, or didn't realize the extent of his range. I never expected the weapon…"

"I don't think any of us did." I closed my eyes, thinking. "Athos?"

"Yes?"

"Have you seen anything else?" There was no answer. "Athos."

"Well, I see Martin's death." His voice was soft. "But you're expecting that, and the timing of it keeps changing." I see. "I see us all shaken by something, but I do not know what."

"Anything else?" I opened my eyes and looked right at him. "I'm just curious."

"I see us fighting, alone, without the army." Huh?! Why the hell would we be that stupid?! "I see a great blackness swallowing up a hundred dragons, clearing the path." He shrugged. "That's about it. Most of it is vague nonsense until I'm right on it." He laughed bitterly. "Being able to see the future… is not a gift at all. It's only a curse, because you know what's coming, and you know how helpless you really are."

Well, that was… sobering.

People

· Hilda/Hildegard, Dread Lord, High General and Tactician (me)

o Awakened half dragon (fire). Brown hair, blue eyed, 19 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Daggers (S), Swords (A), Axes (C), 'Tomes' (-); Wields the Chakram; don't actually know tomes, I just control fire now.

o Child of Wuotan and his lady, Alyssa. Raised by High Priestess Mira and Dragon Commander Gabriel. Survivor of Aquelia. Lover of Hartmut.

· Ely/Elimine, Saint, Head Healer

o My best friend. Blonde hair, blue eyed, 18 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Light magic (S), Staves (S)

o Survivor of Aquelia. Called 'Saint' by the army and half-worshipped.

· **Martin, Blacksmith, Head Craftsman

o My big brother. Red hair, green eyed, 20 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Axes (C), Swords (D)

o Survivor of Aquelia. Husband of Alice, father of Emma and Lori. Creator of healing staves (heal, mend, physic, recover, Saint's Staff), dragonslaying weapons (wyrmslayer, dragon pike, dragon axe, dragon spirit), super weapons (Luce, Gespenst, Regal Blade, Basilikos, Rex Hasta, Excalibur, Rienfleche), and Durandel.

· Alice, Unknown Class

o My big sister, the mom of the group. Black hair, red eyed, 19 years old.

o Wielded Tomes and Lances.

o A survivor of Aquelia, wife to Martin, mother of Emma and Lori. I think she's three months pregnant, but I'm not too sure. Skilled painter.

o Stayed behind due to pregnancy, and to care for the orphan kids we had taken in. We only communicate through letters now.

· Mika, Swordfighter, Deceased

o My big little brother. Green hair, brown eyed, 19 years old.

o A survivor of Aquelia. Talented swordsman taught by his mother. Though he did not believe much in their protection, he still prayed to Father Sky and Mother Earth in the end, to protect us.

o His nephew, Vash, stays with Alice.

· Maron, Sniper, Discharged

o My little sister. Blonde hair, grey eyed, 17 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Bows (S)

o Survivor of Aquelia. Left the army due to pregnancy.

· Sheryl, Mage, Deceased

o My baby sister. Blonde hair, gold eyed, 16 years old.

o A survivor of Aquelia. Specialized in thunder magic. Forgot everything but birthdays. Always ready with a smile and a laugh. Dearly wanted us to be happy.

o Her niece, Kim, stays with Alice.

· **Roland, Hero, Blade General

o From the south originally. Blue hair, blue eyed, 18 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Swords (S), Axes (B); Wields the Regal Blade and Durandel.

o First person to be cured of consumption. Recent events didn't help his health at all.

· **Hartmut, Great Lord

o Half-dragon (divine). Former prince of the Eastern Kingdom. Blonde hair, amber eyed, 19 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Swords (S), Axes (E); Wields the Sword of Seals.

o Locked in a manse since he was young and now has a crippling fear of being alone. Brother to Genevieve. Three of his siblings (Rainer, Josephine, and Al) are deceased. My lover.

· Hanon, Huntress, Leader of the Nomad Fighters

o Plainswoman of the Kutolah tribe. Green hair, green eyed, 17 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Bows (A), Swords (A)

o Sister to Sacae. A kind and gentle woman who watches over everyone quietly.

· Sacae, Blade Lord

o Plainsman forced to give up his tribe. Green hair, green eyed, 17 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Swords (S), Bows (S); Wields the Sol Katti and Rienfleche

o Brother to Hanon. Talented herbalist. Worried about the condition of his body thanks to Sol Katti.

· Barigan, Paladin, Cavalry General

o From Edessa, to the north, recently liberated. Purple hair, green eyed, 19 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Lances (S), Swords (A), Axes (D); Wields Rex Hasta

o Husband to Jasmine. Basically has been leading the army because he and his people are the only ones who know how to deal with snow.

· Durban, Berserker, Axe General

o From the Western Isles. Brown hair, brown eyed, 20 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Axes (S); Wields Basilikos

o No idea why he joined up still. With the eastern group, taking care of Martin. Hopefully.

· Jasmine, Dark Flier, Pegasus General

o From the north, and maybe from Edessa. Brown hair, purple eyed, 18 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Tomes (S) with a specialty in wind magic, Lances (C); Wields Excalibur

o Wife to Barigan. First person to tame and ride a pegasus into battle. A surprisingly talented baker, even if she uses the talent for teasing.

· **Josephine, Revenant Knight, Deceased

o Former princess of the Eastern Kingdom. Blonde hair, purple eyed, 21 years old.

o Killed by Roland when she ventured too close and Durandel struck through her to kill a dragon.

o One of many being used as a rallying point for justification of the war, much like how Aquelia's destruction was used for the war.

· **Delrin, Bow Knight, Commander of the Army

o Former Dragon Commander of the East. Green hair, blue eyed, 27 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Bow (S), Swords (S)

o A kind, awkward man. I think he's slowly getting overwhelmed by everything. I am.

· Marius, Armored Knight, Deceased

o From the city near Aquelia, former Dragon Knight. Brown hair, brown eyed, 31 years old.

o Gave a bad first impression, but kind underneath it all. Unfailing fair to his soldiers. Gave me his Dragon Pendant in a silent plea for me to help lead the army to victory and peace.

o Lost his wife and daughter in Aquelia, and is survived by his daughter.

· **Genevieve, Sage, Mage Lieutenant

o Former princess of the Eastern Kingdom. Blonde hair, amber eyed, 16 years old

o Weapons (and ranks): Tomes (S) with a specialty in fire, Staves (C)

o In the eastern group, taking care of Martin. I think a messenger has gone on ahead to inform her of Josephine's death.

· **Athos, Sage, Mage General

o From a nameless oasis city in the desert. Silver hair, blue eyed, 18 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Tomes (S) with a specialty in fire, Staves (B)

o Possesses powerful foresight, but due to the nature of the ability, finds it more worthless than anything. He's also severely traumatized by it, as he constantly finds himself helpless against the future, and it resulted in his own family trying to kill him.

· Bramimond, Druid, Shaman General

o From the east, son of the former High Priest of the Shrine of Shields. Blonde hair, green eyed, 19 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Elder magic (S); Staves (A); Wields Gespenst

o Hartmut's best friend. Has a promise to confess to Genevieve when the war ends.

· Fiona, Dancer

o Half dragon (divine), Princess of the Divine Dragons. Pink hair, green eyed, 1500 years old (dragon equivalent of 18).

o Unlike Hartmut and me, she is capable of transforming into a dragon, but does not because she cannot keep sanity long. Has the Dancer's Gift.

o Scared of the camp.

· Elijah, Paladin, Discharged

o From the south. Red hair, blue eyed, 17 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Sword (S), Lances (B), Axes (E)

o Severely burned while helping Roland, and chose to leave.

· **Aenir, Bard

o Queen of the Ice Dragons. Ice-blue hair, red eyes. Very old.

o Has the Bardic Gift, and the ability to manipulate ice.

o Seems more tired than usual recently. Takes a lot of naps.

· Crimson, Mage Fighter, My sole aide

o From a city near Aquelia. Black hair, blue eyed, 20 years old.

o Weapons (and ranks): Tomes (S) specializing in fire magic, Swords (A)

o Jasmine recommended him to me, and I'm grateful. He takes extremely good care of Hartmut and me.

Author's Notes: A rest chapter after the events of the before. Yes, as a reminder, due to Hartmut (and the side effect of his quintessence), all those with foresight either a) see too many futures, b) see nothing, or c) see unchangeable events. Josephine was doomed the moment Martin chose Roland as the wielder of Durandel.

Also, I'm three behind on growth rates, I think. So.

Roland: 35% HP, 55% Str, 15% Mag, 50% Skl, 45% Spd, 60% Lck, 40% Def, 10% Res

Hartmut: 95% HP, 65% Str, 20% Mag, 40% Skl, 30% Spd, 30% Lck, 35% Def, 5% Res

Hanon: 40% HP, 30% Str, 5% Mag, 60% Skl, 60% Spd, 50% Lck, 20% Def, 10% Res

Next Chapter – Peaceful Plains