Chapter 31: The burning of Gloucester part 4.

Answering reviews:

Review 1: Guest Review.

Due to Almyra having a similar culture to various Persian Empires (and Nader sharing a name with Nader Shah), I'm giving Almyrans with Persian titles and names, though I concede that Claude's real name (Khalid) is Arabic.

"So what do we do?" Ashe asked as the pack of Gloucester soldiers moved forward, their weapons pointed at Spite as the sorcerer approached the patrol.

Spite said nothing, his eyes watching the five men before him before turning his gaze to the road around them.

"There's not going to be any help for ya," one of the soldiers called out. "You'll have to deal with us."

Spite exchanged a glance with Aranea before he turned back to the patrol, "And what if I say no?"

"You won't," the soldier promised. "Now, empty your pockets."

"No," Spite replied, a smirk on his lips.

"What did you say old man?"

"I said no," Spite replied. "I will not empty my pockets for curs like you."

"You a merchant?" one of the men asked with a laugh. "I like merchants. Lots of gold. I like pretty women too."

"Addy, do we need them alive?" Aranea asked.

"We don't," Spite replied. "Still, if we can get information out of them, it might be useful later on."

"I don't like the way you are talking," the first soldier said. "You have a big mouth, and I'm going to shut it."

"Addy, can I have that one?" Aranea asked. "I'll leave the other four to you."

"Pity," Spite said. "I was hoping that I would be the one to kill him."

"That's it!" a soldier shouted. "I'm going to shut you up!"

"No," Aranea chukled. "I think you don't understand what you're in for."

The man roared as he charged forward, a sword held high as Aranea replied with a wave of fire, the magic flickering as it seeped through the soldier's open joints, the flame disappearing through the armour as the attacking soldier staggered, his arms flailing as the flames flickered and enveloped his flesh within the metal prison of his armour.

"Now, dear brother, I know I promised to let you have the others, but would you be so kind as to let me have one more?" Aranea asked as the soldier crumpled to the ground. .

"That depends," Spite said as he turned to the four remaining soldiers, their eyes still stunned as they watched the man on the ground flail in agony. "Are the four of you willing to step aside, or must we slaughter you where you stand?"

"We'll do whatever you want!" one of the men begged. "Please, just don't hurt us."

"Coward," one of the other soldiers whispered as he charged forward. "Coward!"

Spite took a step back as Aranea stalked forward, a glint in her eye as a wave of dark magic rushed the attacking soldier, the man gasping as the darkness invaded his body, his movements spastic as he staggered.

"Aranea, you might want to-"

The dark magic exploded as the man died, a flash of light erupting from the dying man's eyes as the magic left his ravaged corpse to crumple to its knees.

"How boring," Aranea said, planting a blood-splattered boot in the chest of the corpse. "How very disappointing."

Spite grimaced as Aranea kicked the corpse back, the dead man sprawling onto the dirt road as Spite turned to the three surviving soldiers, hands over their heads in surrender.

"I have questions," Spite said. "Answer them and I will spare your lives."

"Anything you want!" the first soldier exclaimed. "Just don't kill us!"

Spite nodded as he turned to Aranea's second victim, taking a moment to admire his sister's handiwork. "You three are wearing different armour compared to these two."

"We're militia!" the second man cried. "Please! We have families!"

"And I want nothing less than for the three of you to return to them," Spite said. "But there lies a problem. I would like it for the three of you to show us where the seat of Count Gloucester is."

"Wha?"

"You heard me," Spite said. "I have business with your Count. Show me to him and all is forgiven."

The men flinched as they stood up.

"No weapons," Spite said. "I don't wish for a knife in my back when I'm not looking."

The men nodded as they kept their hands visible.

"Take those spears and toss them into a field," Spite ordered. "You can collect them after my business with Gloucester is done."

"Perhaps we brought too many of us," Ferdinand observed as he stood against a bony spine on Indech's back, watching the Airmid river go by. "It is rather difficult to move around."

"Ferdie?" Dorothea asked.

"Yes, Dorothea?" Ferdinand asked.

"Shut up please," Dorothea said. "You're lucky Mortis was standing in front of you when that wave hit us."

Mortis sneezed as she gave Ferdinand a dirty look.

"Still," Dorothea said. "The heat of the sun means that our clothes should dry soon."

"Am I allowed to sit down now?" Sylvain asked from the back of Indech. "I'm worried I might fall off at this rate."

"No," Seteth said, his cloak draped around a shivering Flayn. "You may not turn around."

"We brought too many people," Byleth whispered to Edelgard. "Are you well? You look pale."

Edelgard grimaced, "Why did I agree to leave in a full suit of armour?"

"Lady Edelgard," Hubert chided, "We need you to remind Count Gloucester the full price of his actions. And the armour will provide protection in the event he attempts to assassinate you."

Edelgard nodded, "Still, I am pleased that the armoury was able to modify this suit so quickly, I would have fallen into the river if I was still wearing those murder contraptions."

"Chatterbox, can you ask Frostbite something?" Hapi asked.

"Is something wrong?" Byleth asked as he turned to Hapi. "Did you remember something?"

"Was I called?" Mortis asked, turning to face Byleth and Hapi.

"Do you know where Anselma is?" Hapi asked.

Mortis blinked as she turned to Edelgard, "Anselma was sent to Shangri-la after Duscar to treat her injuries."

"Injuries?" Edelgard asked. "I thought you said that she wasn't targeted by Adrasteia's forces."

"She wasn't," Mortis explained. "She was diagnosed with motion sickness as a result of the extensive maneuvering of the carriage she had been in. As I understand it, she has remained within Shangri-la since."

"And where is this Shangri-la?" Hubert asked.

"I couldn't tell you," Mortis said. "I've never been given an exact location myself."

"And how did you get to and from there?" Hubert asked.

"Zaharas," Mortis explained. "There is an entrance to Shangri-la within Zaharas."

"And what is it that you need to enter Zaharas?" Hubert asked.

"I think we both know the answer to that," Mortis snapped. "A Agarthan heart, combined with the correct ritual, will open a rift to Zaharas."

"And you know this ritual?" Hubert demanded.

"I do," Mortis said. "Still, there are few places on Fodlan where this ritual can be conducted."

"We shall see," Hubert said. "We shall see."

Tiana grimaced as she glanced at the dead man, her arms crossed against her midsection.

"Shah- erm, Lady Tiana, what are your orders?"

"Darius," Tiana acknowledged the man. "See to it that the marines aboard our vessel are fielded. This man may have died from a fall, but his body bears a number of magical wounds that are most certainly not natural."

Darius nodded, "As you command. What of the children?"

"They don't need to see this," Tiana said. "Not yet. Have the body destroyed before they come ashore."

Darius nodded as Claude crouched down, "Hey mom, do you recognize the icon?"

"Icon?" Tiana asked, looking down at the corpse. "I don't see- wait. That eye?"

"I- I might have seen it before," Claude said. "Still, I'm not sure when or where."

Tiana nodded as she leaned close to the dead man, "I've never seen this icon, but we'll make note of it before we destroy the body."

"Who do you think killed him?" Claude asked.

"Not some poachers for sure," Tiana said. "Come, we'll set up a perimeter in the forest."

"How familiar are you with this forest anyways?" Claude asked.

"When I attended the Officer's Academy, I was sent on a month-long trip here," Tiana replied. "It was hot, miserable, and Jeralt was too strict on us."

"You knew Jeralt?" Claude asked.

"Didn't like him much," Tiana said. "I could never talk to your father when he was around, and he was around far more than I liked."

"I- see," Claude said.

"Still, this was a good training ground," Tiana said. "It's why your father and I send kids here."

Claude nodded, "Teach led his house here to dislodge a group of bandits."

"I know," Tiana said as she walked up the rocky path leading to the forest. "If there's one thing your father has unparalleled skill at, it's finding information."

"Did he find anything interesting?" Claude asked.

"He found a lot of strange information as well," Tiana said. "Something about how the only Jeralt Eisner in Holy Kingdom records was born over a century before our year in the Officer's Academy."

Claude nodded as Tiana crouched down, "Mom?"

"There are footsteps here," Tiana observed. "Some of them deeper than others."

"What does that mean?" Claude asked as Tiana turned around, taking a moment to look at the ship moored off in the distance.

"I can say that at least a half dozen magi and archers killed that poor bastard," Tiana said. "Not just a single sorcerer."

Claude frowned as he marched toward a nearby tree, "Mom, there's an arrow here."

Tiana nodded as she tore the arrow from the tree, her fingers observing the wooden shaft, "A strange arrow for sure. Not a model I recognize."

"Oh?" Claude asked.

"Arrowhead isn't a model I recognize," Tiana explained. "It's too well made for it to be a bandit weapon, and it's not a model of arrowhead used in any military I'm aware of."

"Huh, that's odd," Claude admitted.

"I recognize the wood though, and that's rather curious."

"How?" Claude asked. "What's so special about it?"

"The wood is from Goneril territory," Tiana explained. "Which raises the question why it's all the way up here, deep in the Holy Kingdom."

"Father, if it is possible, I'd like to go on a ride with Yurius," Lorenz said. "I believe that he may be more open about the truth outside of this house."

Count Gloucester looked up from his desk, his lunch forgotten, "You believe he may be more willing to talk if you were alone?"

"I do believe so," Lorenz said after a moment. "Perhaps- perhaps if he were to-"

"Say no more," Count Gloucester said. "I will send you and your friends to the Great Bridge of Myrddin. Perhaps showing him the devastation his partner wrought would be enough to convince him that we are doing the right thing."

Lorenz nodded, "You- you're sending Leonie and Ignatz with me?"

"I am," Count Gloucester said. "It is my hope that the four of you help with the reconstruction process."

"I'll do my best," Lorenz said after a pregnant pause. "May we leave right now?"

"Won't you stay for lunch?" Count Gloucester asked.

Lorenz shook his head, "There is work to be done at Myrddin. I have no time to waste."

Count Gloucester smiled at the words, "Spoken like a true noble. I look forward to the day when you will lead the County of Gloucester."

Lorenz nodded as he turned away from his father, his steps quiet as he descended the stairs from the office.

"Pity," Count Gloucester said as he turned away from the door. "Send for an escort force. I don't want them escaping like the witch."

"What should we do if they try to escape?"

Count Gloucester paused, "You have my permission to kill them, should it come down to it."

"Including Lorenz?"

Count Gloucester closed his eyes, "Yes, including my deluded son."

"We found another body," the soldier said in greeting.

Tiana grimaced at the news, as her eyes turned to watch the two men, "Very well. Show me."

"We encountered two guards standing over the dead body," the second man, a marine, offered. "We weren't able to confirm anything ourselves."

Tiana nodded as she drew her sword, "I want those guards taken alive. No need for a misunderstanding to blossom into unnecessary bloodshed."

The marine nodded, "Do you have an idea of what may have happened?"

Tiana shook her head, "No, I couldn't tell you, but this organization we face is more than just a group of bandits."

The soldier frowned, "Then why don't we engage them in battle?"

"Let us say that there's a full legion behind them, willing to investigate their disappearance," Tiana said. "Would you like to throw yourself into a pitched battle with them?"

"I suppose not," the soldier admitted.

"Good, now come with me. We will get them to talk, one way or another."

"We- we are here,"

Spite grimaced as he watched the compound before him, "So this is the seat of House Gloucester."

"Yes," the guard stammered. "We showed you where it is, can we go now?"

Spite nodded as he flicked his wrist, "I suggest you leave for someplace that isn't here."

The men paused before they turned and fled.

"They'll be back," Aranea noted. "What a pain."

"So it is," Spite said. "It will take an act of brutality to convince Gloucester to agree to our demands. Slaughtering a large portion of his guards may just be the answer we needed."

Aranea nodded, "That could certainly work. Still, we could also ambush him when he steps out of his manor."

"Another potential choice," Spite said as he turned back to watch the three men fleeing over the horizon. "We will wait for them in ambush then. Both him and those reinforcements that are sure to come."

"Good," Aranea said as she nodded toward a nearby farmhouse. "We'll make our way over the fence and find a vantage point on Gloucester's manor."

"I can see your bridge up ahead," Indech said as he stopped mid-river. "Several archers present."

Edelgard grimaced as she stood up, "Indech, may we step off now? I wish to meet with our forces on the ground first."

"I can move our strike force north of the river," Hubert said. "Are you sure you do not need assistance, Lady Edelgard?"

"No," Edelgard said. "Stay out of sight. If possible, we should end this crisis peacefully."

"I understand," Hubert said as he turned to Byleth.

"Hubert, I would never let harm come to her," Byleth whispered into Hubert's ear. "Have no fear."

Hubert grimaced as he stepped back, Indech taking a moment to close in with the side of the river.

"We'll go with you," Seteth said. "As a neutral party."

Edelgard and Byleth exchanged a glance before Edelgard nodded, Byleth moving to grab Edelgard as Indech shuddered against the riverside.

"We'll send up a flare if you are needed." Edelgard said.

"Understood," Hubert said as he bowed, watching Byleth step away from Indech first.

"Once this is over, we will have a conversation," Byleth warned Mortis. "You will tell us all you know."

"We shall see," Mortis said, her voice even.

"Stay safe, my brother," Seteth said, placing a hand against Indech's face as the turtle launched away from the shore, his frame disappearing into the night as Byleth and Edelgard turned to the distant lights of the Imperial Army camp.

"Shall we?" Byleth asked Seteth.

"If possible, I wish to look at your weapon first," Seteth said.

"Aymr?" Edelgard asked as she glanced at the long axe she leaned against. "Is something the matter?"

"Her name was Baal," Seteth said after a moment, his eyes misty. "Over the course of the war, we never came across her body. She seemed to just… disappear into thin air."

Edelgard swallowed as she glanced at Aymr, "I see."

Seteth blinked as a single tear slid down his face, unnoticed by the ancient Nabatean, "May- may I hold her?"

Edelgard closed her eyes as she raised the heavy weapon, Seteth taking the glowing axe as if it was a newborn child.

"Baal," Seteth whispered as he brought the weapon close to his face, the tip of the axe drawing a thin line of green blood. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Father?" Flayn asked.

"Baal was like a sister to your mother, Flayn," Seteth choked out, his voice fraught with emotion. "It was only because of her that I ever went to Enbarr in the first place."

"Oh," Flayn whispered, her fingers tracing the pole of the weapon. "You said that you met mom-"

"At the Church of the Saviour Goddess, yes," Seteth said, his free hand wiping his eyes as he turned to Edelgard. "I must ask, is the cathedral still standing?"

"It is," Edelgard said as Seteth returned Aymr to her hands. "I was told that Dorothea visited the cathedral shortly before we left Enbarr."

"I see," Seteth said as he wiped away the remnant of his single tear, "Pardon me then."

"We should get going," Byleth said. "It's getting late, and we would need an update from the Imperial Army garrison still present here."

"Right," Edelgard said. "Let's go then."

"Are you feeling alright?" Lorenz asked as he dismounted his horse.

Yurius shook his head, "I might have eaten something that disagreed with me, but I'm alright. Still, this area reeks of fire."

"Mortis burned down the town hall and the church here when she made her escape," Lorenz admitted after a moment of silence.

"The church?" Ignatz stammered. "The church is gone?"

"It is," a soldier of House Gloucester said as he dismounted. "That witch of yours torched the buildings at daybreak. She escaped in the mayhem."

"Maimed Acheron too," another man muttered. "Still, it's not like anyone liked Acheron regardless."

"He is still a man on our side," the first soldier said to his companion. "But yes, she two torched buildings and murdered a patrol that got in her way. Where is it that you find these sorcerers?"

"Mortis said she had contact with Hubert von Vestra," Lorenz said. "This reeks of his ruthlessness."

Yurius said nothing as he glanced at the broken, looming form of the church, "If it helps, I'm sorry. I didn't think Mortis would do that."

"You mentioned once to us that her solution to problems was wholesale slaughter," Ignatz said, his voice hard with disgust, "I see what you mean."

Yurius grimaced as he turned to Lorenz, "You look like you have something to say."

"Yurius, did Hubert put you up to this?" Lorenz asked.

Yurius grimaced as he shook his head, "I haven't seen Hubert for almost six years now. Mortis on the other hand? I can't tell you what she's been up to."

"So she's taking orders from Hubert?" Leonie snapped. "That's a funny way of saying that."

"No, I didn't say that," Yurius said. "Only thing I know is that Mortis has had more recent contact with Hubert than I did."

"So who is it that you take orders from?" Leonie barked, her nose practically inches from Yurius' face. "Edelgard? Faerghus? Kronya?"

Yurius flinched at the mention of Kronya's name.

"Well, I'll tell you something," Leonie snarled. "You've lost. No matter who you work for, they've lost."

Yurius gritted his teeth, "There's too much you don't know to be saying something like that."

"And what does that mean?" Ignatz asked. "Have you been playing us for fools this entire time?"

"It's Mortis," Yurius shot back, glaring at Leonie. "You've said enough for her to put some important things together."

"And what are those?" Leonie snapped.

"Leonie, I won't be so arrogant if I were you," Yurius said. "The information you dropped made you a very dangerous enemy, and knowing him, I'd say that he was coming for you. I'd watch your back from now on."

Leonie spat in Yurius' face as she stormed away, her face a mask of disgust as Lorenz gestured to the guards, the men moving to grab Yurius as he glared at the backs of the retreating trio.

"Nice and easy now," Tiana snapped at the four guards standing over the dead man. "Put down your weapons and we'll let you live."

"Olympia!" one of the men cried. "We're surrounded!"

"Almyrans," the oldest man growled as he glanced around the clearing. "You lowly half-"

A punch silenced the man as he sprawled to the ground.

"Nobody minded that right?" Darius asked, glancing at the kneeling form of the three guards on the ground, shaking his punching arm.

"No," Tiana said. "Now, tell us just who you bastards are, or we'll get nasty."

"The guy has the same symbol on his cloak," Claude observed as he pointed to the unconscious man, facedown in the dirt.

"Same with these three," a marine from the back of the troop called. "All of them wear the same eye."

"Well well well," Tiana said. "So, tell us, why did you kill your own friend?"

"What do you mean?" one of the soldiers spluttered. "We don't know anything!"

"You have mages with this troop," Tiana said. "You killed one of your people with magic."

"We- we killed one of our own?"

"Yes, and you threw him off the cliff as well," Tiana said, pulling the captured arrow out to show the men. "See this? You fired this into a tree aiming at him."

"The cannibal?" the man who had spoken whispered. "The cannibal was Shambhalan?"

"What is this Shambhalan you mentioned?" Tiana asked, crouched low before the three conscious captives. "That's not a name you find on a map."

The man fell silent, his eyes turning to look at Tiana's knees.

"I asked you a question," Tiana snapped, backhanding the man into another prisoner. "I want an answer."

"Go to hell!" one of the men shouted. "Glory for- ahhh!"

"Sorry, my hand slipped," Darius said as he pulled the arrow from the screaming man. "Did I blow our cover?"

"Smother him." Tiana said. "Set up another ambush. We need to see if the next batch is willing to talk, since this set obviously isn't interested."

"Who do you think they are?" Darius asked as he put a burlap sack over the screaming man's head.

"Goneril wood for arrows?" Tiana scoffed. "Not something you see every day. We'll have to see with the next group."

"And if there isn't one?" a marine asked.

"Then we advance on Conand Tower," Tiana said. "See just what these bastards want with the old fortress."

"Damn Darius," another soldier muttered. "You got him right in the knee. He's never walking again at this rate."

"Silence," Tiana said. "Leave the unconscious guy there and get ready to strike."

"I see him," Spite murmured as he watched the form of Count Gloucester step from the manor. "Going out for a walk I see."

"Mortis or Yurius?" Aranea asked.

"No," Spite said. "No sign of the other three prisoners either."

"What do we do then?" Aranea asked.

"We need a distraction," Spite said. "I'd rather take a look at his office first before I confront him."

"Do you believe he has a dungeon in there?" Aranea asked her brother.

"Herving didn't have one in his manor," Spite said. "Neither did Ordelia."

"So do you think he does?" Aranea asked.

"With how power hungry he is?" Spite asked. "Of course he does. Stay here. We decide if they learn of your presence, and we'll reveal it on our terms."

"Right," Aranea said, waving her brother off. "Try not to do something stupid, my dearest Addy."

"I try," Spite said as he slipped into the shadows of the estate.

"Chilon," Thales said as he approached the soldier.

"My lord?" Chilon asked as he turned around.

"We have a… unexpected guest here today," Thales said. "See to it that an empty room is prepared for tonight."

"May I ask why?" Chilon asked. "The residences of Pittacus and Spi-Periander are both unused at the moment."

"Both of those ideas are unacceptable," Thales replied. "Ensure that this room is isolated from all exits. This guest of ours is not to be disturbed, nor is she to escape from Shambhala."

"Shall I summon guards then?" Chilon asked. "And if so, what form?"

"Ensure there is at least a squadron watching this door over the night," Thales said. "In fact, for tonight, I suggest you guard it personally."

Chilon nodded, "As you command, Lord Thales."

"Good," Thales said as he left the room. "You will report to the command room when you are finished."

Spite frowned as he stepped into the stable, his eyes watching the dark, wooden walls with interest as he walked forward into the building.

Spite smiled when he noticed a large pile of hay in the corner of the room, a flicker of flame roaring to life in his hand as he glanced at the half dozen horses in the stable with him.

As he observed the scene, a smile came to his face as he unlatched each of the stalls.

Spite dropped to a single knee when he reached the five empty stalls at the end of the stable before he glanced around the empty manor behind him, taking a moment to observe the courtyard before he lit his fire, his fingers nursing the flame as it devoured the haystack.

Spite smirked as he stood up again, taking slow, deliberate steps into a copse of trees at the edge of the property, watching as a thin trail of smoke seeped through the ceiling of the stable.

"Quick!" a voice shouted from the manor as smoke seeped through the planks of the stable's roof. "Something is burning!"

Spite smirked as he watched a group of servants hurry from the depths of the manor, taking a path around the manor as the horses bolted from their burning stalls, slamming into the crowd of shouting servants as Spite slipped into the manor.

"Mortis," Dorothea said as she climbed shore, "Is the dress holding up?"

"I thank you for it," Mortis replied. "It fits well."

"Do we have a plan?" Indech asked as he stood, watching the distant fires at the Great Bridge of Myrddin.

"No," Hubert said. "We are waiting on Petra's scouting report.

"Who else went ahead?" Dorothea asked.

"Yuri went forward as well," Hubert said. "Still, I don't believe that he'll be back first."

"Many scouts and patrols," Petra said as she hurried back, panting as she stopped before the group. "Heavy infantry, marksmen."

Hubert nodded, "And what of the crop fields to the north?"

Petra shook her head, "Nothing. No body in fields."

Hubert nodded, "We will see what Yuri has to say when he returns. We need to understand just who is guarding the Great Bridge of Myrddin."

"Should we look at wheat fields?" Petra asked.

"We need to," Hubert said. "We need to know our options moving forward, and that includes marching through the crop fields."

Petra nodded as she turned away, jogging into the forest as Sylvain yawned.

"Well Sylvain," Dorothea commented. "Slept well last night?"

"I did," Sylvain said, exchanging a glance and a blush with Mortis. "Thank you for asking."

"The two of you were… how do I say this?" Dorothea pondered.

"Cute?" Indech asked.

"Yes!" Dorothea exclaimed. "You two were so adorable together."

Sylvain flushed even deeper as he turned away, "I- I thought I was only going to take a nap. I didn't think I'd end up holding onto her as well."

"It's a place of sleep," Indech said at last. "I've lost count of the time that I caught Janet sleeping there."

"Janet?" Mortis asked, her eyes narrowed.

"Ah, so you do recognize the name." Indech said.

Mortis nodded, "Wife of Saint Cichol and mother of Saint Cethleann. Still, I was not aware she frequented the capital of Old Agartha."

"Our peoples were friends once," Indech said, a grimace lining his face. "Once."

"Is this a bad time?" Yuri asked as he hurried before the group. "There's something that I need to tell you."

"What is that?" Hubert asked.

"I've found Ignatz, Leonie, and Lorenz," Yuri said. "They were standing with a group of Gloucester guards."

"Armed or unarmed?" Hubert asked.

"None of the group were armed," Yuri said. "Though there were no shortage of armed soldiers there."

"How many soldiers were there?" Hubert asked.

"More than what we had to fight against when we took the bridge to begin with," Yuri said. "Still, from what I can tell, Gloucester lacks mages, but there's no shortage of heavy infantry in their place."

"What were your friends doing?" Indech asked.

"They were picking through a destroyed building." Yuri said. "I couldn't tell you what it was they were looking for."

Hubert nodded, "Do you believe they are still prisoners to Count Gloucester?"

"Hard to say," Yuri said. "They seemed content to pick through that building."

"I see," Hubert said. "That is information we need to take into consideration. Was there any sign of Count Gloucester?"

Yuri shook his head, "Nothing."

"Then we must assume that they have been compromised," Hubert said, his face a grimace. "Indech, take Felix and Bernadetta with you across the river. Ensure that the professor is aware of this fact."

"Me? I didn't do anything! I'm sorry!" Bernadetta exclaimed, startled by the mention of her name.

"Bernadetta, I need you for a mission," Hubert said, shaking his head at Bernadetta's reaction. "And no, I do not need your apology."

"Eh? What do you want me to do?" Bernadetta asked.

"If there is an attack on the Professor and Lady Edelgard, I need you to bring down the attackers," Hubert said. "You are our best archer as it stands, with Ashe and Ignatz both unavailable."

"The same goes for me?" Felix asked.

"Indeed," Hubert said. "From Yuri's report, it appears that the Great Bridge of Myrddin houses the bulk of Gloucester's forces."

"Good," Felix said. "I know what you want then."

Hubert nodded as Felix turned back to Indech.

"Yuri, I want you to take a closer look at the guard formations still present on the bridge, and establish key strategic points we need to take."

"Got it," Yuri said. "I'll be on my way then."

"You do that," Hubert said as he waved the group away from the main road. "The rest of you, remain hidden. I don't need a patrol to see us before we are ready to strike."

Spite grimaced as he flipped through Count Gloucester's papers, his eyes drinking in the crucial information of Gloucester's government as he glanced around the room, the contents of the chest he had entrusted Mortis with scattered across the floor.

"Worthless idiots," Spite spat, glancing at the cup of Gloucester's tea that he had drunk. "Can't even make a cup of tea properly."

"I thought you said there's nobody left here!" a voice cried. "How are we supposed to get the gold now?"

"Shut it fool," another voice snarled. "You'll expose both of us!"

Spite fell silent as he leaned back into the chair, his eyes on the door of the office a moment before the door exploded off its hinges.

"Death," Spite hissed, the dark magic claiming the man who had blasted through the door, the scrawny man clawing at his throat as the dark magic devoured the life within him.

"What the f-" the other man stammered as Spite heard a china pot shatter.

"Lavrentiy!" a woman cried from the central hall. "There is a fire outside! Help me!"

Spite frowned as he rose to his feet, his eyes vigilant as he stepped over the convulsing corpse at the foot of the door, watching the man at the bottom of the staircase stalk forward, a knife behind his back.

"Lavrentiy!" Count Gloucester shouted as he burst through the doors of the manor. "What in the name of the Goddess are you doing? The stables are burning and the horses need aid!"

"Count Gloucester?" the man asked, his face shocked. "Then who was-"

Spite smirked as he tossed forward a orb of fire, the flames illuminating the atrium as Count Gloucester flinched at the presence of the unwelcome intruder.

"You-" Count Gloucester snarled as he glared at Spite. "You set the fire."

"That is correct," Spite replied. "I am Periander, and you have evoked my wrath."

"Lavrentiy!" Count Gloucester shouted. "Kill him!"

"Right away-" Lavrentiy cried as he stormed up the stairs, a dagger in hand.

Spite frowned as he raised a hand and unleashed a spell that smashed into Lavrentiy, the man screaming as he fell back down the steps, the flames from the fireball devouring his flesh as he withered at the foot of the staircase.

"Count Gloucester," Spite said. "You have unlawfully detained two of my agents. You will deliver them to me unharmed, or I will set ablaze the entire county of Gloucester."

"You monster," Count Gloucester hissed. "Who put you up to this?"

Spite smiled, taking a moment to observe the man below him, "You have spat upon the will of the lord you once swore allegiance to. And you want to know who wishes to punish you for that transgression?"

"You work for the Seven," Count Gloucester snarled. "Did they put you up to this?"

"I admit that I may have a friendship with a certain member of the Seven," Spite said. "But no, they did not put me up to this."

Count Gloucester swallowed as Lavrentiy stopped his cries, "What is it that you want? The gold is in my office."

"The gold is worth nothing to me," Spite said. "All I want you to do is to return Mortis and Yurius to me. Do this by sunset tomorrow and your County can return to its worthless little rebellion. Fail… well, I believe you wish to avoid that."

Count Gloucester took a step back, "I could have you killed right now!"

Spite laughed at the comment as he placed his hand against the wall of the manor, "You have a pride about you. I will shatter it."

Count Gloucester swore as he turned to the firefighting force outside, "Guards! On me!"

"They cannot hear you," Spite observed as he climbed down the steps. "The horses and the men shouting will do that for you."

"You monster! What- what is it that you want?" Count Gloucester asked as Spite seized the Count by the throat.

"I am only a man, for now," Spite said, searing flames blackening the flesh of Count Gloucester's throat as Spite tightened his grip into a vice. "Do not make me a monster."

Count Gloucester choked as Spite unleashed a mighty spell, the interior of the mansion engulfed in flame as the fires devoured the wooden fixtures of the house.

"Let this be a reminder of the enemies you have made," Spite warned the man as he brought his face close to the gasping man. "Return Mortis and Yurius by nightfall tomorrow unless you want your entire county up in flames.

Count Gloucester choked a gasp as Spite flung the man to the ground, striding away to the edges of the estate as Aranea warped her brother away.

"You do like fire too much," Aranea observed as the manor in the distance burned.

Spite shook his head as he turned and watched the roof of the manor collapse, finally gaining the attention of the firefighting crew, "I've delivered my ultimatum. Tomorrow we will either see Mortis and Yurius returned to us or I will torch the crop fields of Gloucester County."

"How long did you give them?" Aranea asked.

"Nightfall tomorrow," Spite replied. "I have no doubt they'll be able to gather Mortis and Yurius and return them to us by then, assuming that they aren't dead."

"They killed Mortis?" Aranea whispered.

"I found the radio," Spite said. "Destroyed beyond repair. No sign of either Mortis or Yurius within the manor."

"You- you seem awfully calm," Aranea observed. "Addy, are you alright?"

Spite turned his gaze to the two sleeping figures of Ashe and Ingrid, "If it comes down to it, I won't leave Mortis to wander Zaharas alone."

Aranea swallowed as she turned her gaze to Ashe and Ingrid, "I see. Which of the two of them would you use?"

"It's not a bridge I want to cross unless I have to," Spite said. "Still, the onus rests on the shoulders of Count Gloucester."

"And all we can do is wait," Aranea said.

"I asked you a question Thales," the voice said as Chilon moved to knock on the door.

"All will come in time," Thales replied. "Remember that you are a guest here, and a rather unwelcome one at that. Had Periander been here, he would have torn you to pieces."

"Where. Is. My. Daughter?" the woman asked. "I know that you know where she is."

"I have nothing to say to you," Thales said. "You are here as a guest of ours. You are worth nothing in the grand scheme."

"You would say that to my face?" the woman shouted. "After all I have done for you?"

"Anselma," Thales snarled. "Every debt you have extracted from us has been paid for in full. Understand that it is only by my own mercy that I did not have Periander take your life."

Chilon swallowed as he knocked on the door.

"Come in," Thales barked.

Chilon opened the door, saluting Thales as he entered.

"Is the room ready?" Thales asked.

"The room is ready," Chilon said. "And this is?"

"A woman on very thin ice," Thales snarled. "Take her away. She will join us in the morning, and not a second more."

"I can walk on my own," the woman protested as she stood up.

"Yes, I am aware of that," Thales snarled. "If you are wise, you will return to your quarters until we summon you for breakfast tomorrow morning. If you are unwise, you will protest."

Chilon stood firm as the woman shoved him, the woman staggering back as Chilon turned back to Thales.

"An unwelcome guest from Myson's expedition," Thales explained as the woman left the room. "She will serve her purpose soon enough."

"Is there a reason we should keep our eyes on her?" Chilon asked.

"She is a kinslayer, Chilon," Thales stated. "Kinslayer and traitor on multiple accounts. And she deserves to be treated as such."

AN: Chapter 31 complete!

Read, Review, yada yada.

Still looking for both serious and comedic ideas for after the story is over.

AN2: Noticed slight errors in chapters 27 and 30. Chapters will be updated.

Next time:

Unspeaking- Edelgard.

Kinslayer- Thales

Tamam Shud- Solon

Divide- Dorothea

Breakthrough- Linhardt