Chapter 33: The Burning of Gloucester. End.

"Leonie, just what the hell is going on here?"

"Silence!" Leonie roared at the crowd, her face enraged as she pushed through the group. "Let us through!"

"They're not listening," Byleth observed.

"Bastard," Leonie muttered, pushing her way through a pair of soldiers. "Make way! Make way!"

Byleth winced as Leonie grabbed his wrist, dragging him through the hostile crowd.

"Professor?" Lorenz asked, his voice stunned as Byleth looked down at the noble, his hair disheveled as he looked down at the corpse. "Why are you here?"

Byleth remained silent as he knelt before Count Gloucester, his eyes focused on the knife wound that split the old man's chest open.

"I'm sorry," Byleth whispered, his mind on the final moments of his father. "Who did this?"

"When we reached the room, we found one of your assassins standing over him," a soldier said.

"We did not order his assassination," Byleth shot back, his eyes glaring at the man who had spoken out. "We came here to negotiate an end to this rebellion, not to put a knife through Gloucester's heart."

"And yet your assassin still ran a knife through a helpless old man," the soldier scoffed. "You lot are all cowards."

Leonie clenched her fists as Byleth raised his hand to stop her, "Show me this assassin."

"So what?" another soldier barked. "So you could finish him off before he tells us anything?"

"Do it," Lorenz choked as he raised his eyes to face Byleth, a single tear running down his face. "I- I believe that you'll… find something."

Byleth nodded as a soldier pushed his way through the crowd, his uniform the colours of Gloucester's house guard, "Lorenz, I'm sorry this ended this way."

"Professor?" Lorenz asked as Byleth moved to leave the circle.

"Yes?" Byleth asked, turning back to face Lorenz.

"I-" Lorenz choked out, tears flowing freely from his eyes as he grieved. "I thank you for your words."

Byleth closed his eyes as he moved to the centre of the circle, sliding to one knee as he looked upon the face of Count Gloucester, his fingers brushing the dead man's eyes closed.

"Let's go," Leonie said, her tone uncomfortable as she dragged Byleth away from the circle.

Edelgard closed her eyes as she shifted from foot to foot, her grip on Aymr like a vice as the various plates of the royal war plate clattered against one another.

"Stop that!" a militia soldier called, hiding behind a flimsy wooden shield.

Edelgard turned to watch the men before her, her mind playing out the various scenarios that could happen if battle broke out.

"Bernadetta, could you get me a drink of water?" Edelgard asked, her eyes meeting the soldier closest to her.

"Bernadetta, do you have your flare ready?" Edelgard whispered to Bernadetta as the girl approached.

Bernadetta's eyes widened, a tiny nod her only reply as Edelgard turned back to the soldiers before her, the water bringing fresh relief to her parched throat.

"Edelgard, may I ask a favour of you?" Seteth called from behind, his presence towering over the huddled shield wall before him.

"Seteth," Edelgard said as the green haired man came closer. "Is something the matter?"

"I- I must beg you to show restraint," Seteth whispered as he reached Edelgard. "Rhea… was vicious when she dealt with problems, and that led to a great deal of bitterness with the families years on."

"I am aware of that," Edelgard said, her gaze focused on a particularly young soldier. "I have no intention of creating another Lonato."

Seteth glanced at the tense soldiers before him before he nodded, hurrying back to Flayn, Indech, and Bernadetta.

"We'll stop here," Spite said as he led the group into a small copse of trees at the side of the road. "Drink from the stream while you can. We may be without water from this point on."

"You want me to fill your canteen?" Aranea whispered to her brother as she glared at their two captives.

"Only when the two of their canteens are safely in our hands." Spite replied. "We wouldn't want them to try something unwise at this hour."

"What is it that you are saying?" Ingrid asked. "You seem… nervous."

"Just a precaution," Spite said. "In the event we are forced into combat."

"I see," Ingrid said, though her face was unconvinced. "And why is it in Agarthan?"

"A tactical maneuver we practiced in our youth," Spite lied. "Simpler to mention the maneuver itself rather than explain it in full."

Ingrid swallowed as she turned back to Ashe, "Do you want us to fill up your canteens?"

"No-" Aranea started.

"That would be much appreciated," Spite replied as he pulled a small canteen from his belt. "Take a moment to rest, we'll be leaving this wood soon, and it's possible we won't see water again until we reach the Airmid River."

"I see," Ingrid said as Ashe brushed the dirt from his knees. "I suppose we'll just get to it then."

"Be glad," Spite said. "If all goes according to plan, you will be back in friendly hands by nightfall."

"You're Yurius," Byleth said as he knelt before the pale man slumped before him. "Is that correct?"

"And who are you?" Yurius shot back, his eyes hard as he glared at Leonie.

"My name is Byleth Eisner," Byleth replied, watching a flash of recognition in the other man's eyes. "I have some questions to ask you."

"He's hopeless," Leonie spat. "He's not going to say anything."

Yurius glared at Leonie, "I'll tell you that Mortis isn't your biggest problem right now, but you'll probably laugh at me."

"Ha!" Leonie barked. "Why is that? Did she turn tail and run away?"

"No," Byleth said. "Hubert has his eye on her."

"What-" Leonie said. "Wait… Hubert's here?"

"Yurius, I want to ask you a question," Byleth said, silencing Leonie with a raised hand.

"And what's in it for me?" Yurius asked. "Why should I answer you?"

"Because Monica is back at Garreg Mach," Byleth said. "And she would be worried for you."

Yurius flinched at the name of his lover, his jaw falling as he stared at Byleth.

"You said that Mortis isn't the biggest threat here," Byleth said. "And I understand that. So my question is simple."

"What is the big threat that I mentioned," Yurius guessed.

"I have a hunch," Byleth said. "I just need you to confirm it."

Yurius closed his eyes as he paused for a moment, opening his eyes to glare at Leonie, "I don't want her to know."

"Nuh uh, I'm staying here," Leonie said. "I don't trust you Yurius."

"Is this threat… Adrasteia?" Byleth asked, watching Yurius narrow his eyes in turn.

"Who?" Leonie asked.

"It is," Yurius confirmed, retrieving a scrap of parchment from his pocket. "Count Gloucester was able to write this message for me before she killed him."

"Who killed him?" Byleth asked, his face grim as he read the two bloodstained words.

"Evi," Yurius spat, his voice hard as he clenched his fists. "I should have listened to Mortis and killed her, but no, I was stupid."

"Evi killed Count Gloucester?" Leonie snarled. "I don't believe you."

"You stripped me of all my weapons days ago," Yurius snarled, his voice murderous. "I've been tortured and starved. I've been stripped and beaten. And somehow you think I could hide a dagger on me without detection."

Leonie narrowed her eyes as she turned to Byleth, "What does that message say?"

Byleth handed the strip of parchment to Leonie, her eyes squinting in the poor light, "Lor- Lord Peri-wha?"

"Lord Periander," Yurius said. "The man coming for you, and let me tell you, he's going to be pissed."

Leonie scoffed, "That's just a trick. You're trying to trick us."

"I believe him," Byleth said. "Edelgard has had... contact with this Lord Periander before."

"Wait- WHAT?" Leonie shouted, her jaw hanging low as she stared at Byleth, a accusing finger pointed at Yurius, "You believe him?"

"This… Lord Periander is known to be a powerful sorcerer, and he has a long relationship with both Yurius and Mortis," Byleth explained, turning his gaze back to Yurius. "He was the one who signed off on your… relationship with Monica, wasn't he?"

Yurius nodded, "None of the other Septet would have agreed to it anyhow."

Byleth nodded, "We'll need to follow up on this later. You're coming with us."

"Wait, hold on-" Leonie said, taking a step back. "Don't I get a say in this?"

Byleth grimaced as he helped Yurius to his feet, "We need to find this… Evi."

"That kid?" Leonie laughed. "You think she could have run a knife through a helpless old man?"

"Kronya did," Byleth replied. "Didn't she?"

Leonie stared at Byleth for a moment before she shoved her former teacher back, "Nuh uh. The two of you are going to stay here. We're not just going to let you wander off with this murderer."

"Leonie," Yurius spat. "I did not maim nor did I kill Count Gloucester, and you know it."

"No," Leonie said as she rapped on the door, two burly guards responding to her call. "Neither of you two are leaving."

Hubert grimaced as the patrol pressed along the road beside them, the squad of infantry loud as they marched by the bushes that Hubert hid in.

"Do you think Chatterbox and Eddy are alright?"

"I'm sure they're fine," Dorothea assured Hapi. "They've got support with them."

"Lady Edelgard and the Professor will be fine," Hubert said. "But keep your eyes out for a flare."

"What do we do then?" Sylvain asked.

"We move forward," Hubert said. A flare means that Lady Edelgard has requested our assistance."

"I don't like the sound of that," Sylvain muttered.

"I don't either," Hubert replied. "Gloucester County has food that we need to feed the refugees camped at the Tailtean Plains."

"Which is why you need the rebellion crushed," Mortis said. "With as few farmers harmed as possible."

"You catch on quickly," Hubert said. "Yes, with the Tailtean Plains being unable to produce food, it is almost certain that the refugees from Fhirdiad will starve when winter hits."

Mortis nodded, her lips pursed.

"You appear to be in deep thought," Hubert said.

"During the Council of Fhirdiad, there was a storehouse in the northwestern quadrant of the city," Mortis said. "I suppose you've looked at that?"

"Where is it?" Sylvain asked, his eyes wide. "Ashe and Ingrid were looking for it for days."

"It's hardly difficult to find-" Mortis started. "Ah, hmm, perhaps it is harder to find since Seiros burned Fhirdiad to the ground."

"What was in this… storehouse?" Hubert asked.

"Flour," Mortis explained, counting off her fingers. "Rice, dried beans and fruits. Seeds as well."

"Once we reach Fhirdiad, you will show us where this… warehouse is," Hubert said.

"As you wish," Mortis said with a shrug. "Still, I cannot promise that it still stands. Fhirdiad's defenders may have emptied it over the course of your siege."

"Leonie," Edelgard snarled as she glared down the orange haired woman. "Where is Byleth?"

Leonie growled as she planted her spear in the ground, "None of your business."

"I will not ask again," Edelgard hissed. "Where. Is. Byleth?"

"He's in a cell with Yurius," Leonie relented. "Made the excuse that your little assassin wasn't responsible for Count Gloucester's murder."

Edelgard let out a slow hiss, "You will release him immediately."

"Not going to happen," a soldier next to Leonie snapped. "Not until we get justice for Count Gloucester."

Edelgard paused as she closed her eyes, "Bernadetta. Do it."

"Right away!" Bernadetta stammered, pulling an arrow from her quiver.

"What the hell are you doing?" Leonie growled.

"Last chance to stand down," Edelgard warned Leonie, her gaze burning into Leonie. "Don't make me do this."

Leonie growled as she raised her spear, the tip mere inches from Edelgard's face, "You know, I never did forgive you for what you did to Jeralt."

Edelgard clenched her teeth, her grip on Aymr tightened, "Bernadetta. Fire."

"I'm sorry!" Bernadetta shouted as she launched the flaming arrow into the Airmid River.

"We have contact," Hubert snarled as he leapt from the bush. "Dorothea, keep Mortis safe. The rest of you, on me."

"Right," Sylvain said as he stepped forward, the Lance of Ruin ready. "Let's go."

Ferdinand grimaced as he stepped away from Dorothea, his own spear ready as he took point alongside Sylvain, "And to think that I wasn't even supposed to come here in the first place."

"Be nice Ferdie," Dorothea said. "You were such a gentleman escorting us to Indech."

"Yes, and I only realized it was too crowded on Indech when that wave hit me," Ferdinand grumbled. "Still, such are the burdens of a noble."

"Petra, Hapi, watch our backs," Hubert said, silencing Ferdinand with a glare. "Lady Edelgard calls us to service."

"Where's Yuri-bird?" Hapi asked.

"He's already moving forward," Hubert replied as a rustle in the bushes signified Yuri moving closer to the Gloucester lines. "No fighting until we need to."

"Right," Hapi said. "Shouldn't we bring Tweety or Frostbite along?"

"No," Hubert said. "Now, let's get moving."

"What have you done?" Leonie snarled as she glared at Edelgard.

"You will return Byleth to me," Edelgard warned Leonie, Aymr pointed at the other woman's heart. "One way or another."

"You think that a threat like that will frighten me?" Leonie growled. "You think I'll let you walk over everyone I cared for?"

"Ambush!" a voice shrieked. "Imperials on the north side of the river!"

"Hubert," Leonie guessed as a portion of the militia turned to reinforce the northern side of the river. "He's here."

"My offer still stands," Edelgard said, her eyes on Leonie's face. "Give-"

Leonie screamed as she leapt at Edelgard, her spear aimed at Edelgard's heart.

Felix growled as he stepped in, his sword clashing against Leonie's lance.

"Felix?" Edelgard asked, surprised.

"You go ahead," Felix snapped. "This fight is mine."

"Oh no you don't!" Leonie shouted, sidestepping Felix to strike at Edelgard as the assembled infantry turned their spears on Edelgard.

Edelgard swore as she dove past the first wave of uncoordinated attacks, Aymr singing as she buried the weapon in the shoulder of a soldier who had failed to raise his shield in time, the weapon causing the man to screech as he clawed at his wound.

"Edelgard!" Felix shouted as he leapt back from Leonie, tossing Byleth's sword over to Edelgard. "Go! Find the professor!"

"Right," Edelgard managed as she darted past the initial line of infantry, her eyes watching the field of battle as she moved forward.

"We have contact," Yuri gasped as he darted past Sylvain and Ferdinand, the two noblemen taking a moment to pause as Yuri pointed behind him. "Gloucester troops."

"I will negotiate with them," Hubert said as an arrow narrowly missed him, causing him to duck.

"Right," Sylvain muttered. "Doesn't look like that's an option."

"No it is not," Hubert said, unleashing a set of Dark Spikes against the advancing wave, the spears of darkness tearing into the front wave of Gloucester soldiers as Ferdinand and Sylvain moved in for the kill. "Keep pushing. We must reinforce Lady Edelgard!"

"On it," Ferdinand said as he impaled a downed soldier, his face grim as he silenced the screaming man with a single thrust of his spear.

"What happens if we run into Lorenz?" Yuri asked as he caught his breath.

"We'll cross that road once we get there," Hubert announced as he made eye contact with a heavily armored knight. "Banshee!"

"That'll slow him down," Ferdinand observed. "Petra! Fire!"

"Right," Petra said. "Set fire to arrow before shot."

"I- didn't mean that," Ferdinand stammered.

"Just shoot the arrow," Hubert said, his gaze turned back to the unfortunate knight. "And make sure you don't miss."

"Right," Petra said, her aim steady as she fired, the arrow plunging into the man's throat, the knight dropping his lance to commence a frenzied attempt to tear the arrow free from his neck.

"Can we go forward?" Sylvain asked.

"Misama!" Hubert called, summoning an orb of dark magic to blow the staggering knight off his horse. "Let's move."

Sylvain nodded as he hurried forward, his eyes darting to the lifeless form of the knight as he passed the dead man.

"Sounds like a battle is going on," Yurius observed as he pressed his ear against the door of the cell. "You think they're coming for us?"

Byleth nodded, "I hoped that this could end without violence, but clearly that's not the case."

Yurius sighed as he sat down, "If only I could step in with Count Gloucester."

Byleth paused as he turned to Yurius, "Yurius, could I ask you about this Evi?"

Yurius raised an eyebrow, "Evi… Evi was a bandit that attacked our carriage. She turned and fled from us when we defeated the initial attack."

"What happened then?" Byleth asked, his throat tightening.

"She came back to bury her brother," Yurius explained. "I thought that… maybe we could take care of her."

"Mortis wasn't happy with that," Byleth guessed.

"That's right," Yurius said. "Mortis was furious that I wouldn't kill her."

"I see," Byleth said. "I was told that she wanted Monica dead as well."

Yurius shook his head, "I believe Monica told you about how I was sidelined during the Kronya operation?"

Byleth nodded.

"It was… uncomfortable," Yurius said. "I came to fall in love with someone I realized I would have to kill when the mission ended. Someone who, for the first time ever, I could walk along as a friend and confidant."

Edelgard's face flashed through Byleth's mind, his face blank as he looked away from Yurius.

"You know what I'm talking about, don't you?" Yurius asked.

"I do," Byleth said. "Edelgard was-"

Yurius nodded, "After I left Enbarr, I was cut off from promotions by Spite, and I was locked away in Shambhala for years on end."

"Why did he approve of that?" Byleth asked.

"I couldn't tell you," Yurius said with a shake of his head. "I don't know, even now, why he chose to spare Monica."

Byleth nodded, a comforting hand on Yurius' shoulder.

"I'm rambling now," Yurius muttered, tearing himself away from Byleth. "Sorry."

Byleth paused as he glanced at the door at the other side of the room, "Did you believe Evi might… turn out like Monica?"

"I- I wanted her to be the same, to just be a lost little girl I could help," Yurius said as he shook his head. "I was wrong of course, she was a serpent, lurking in the grass, waiting for me to extend my hand."

Byleth frowned as he heard a distant sound, "Hold on, I hear something."

Yurius shook his head, a deep sigh escaping his lips, "It's probably nothing."

Byleth strained his ears as he rose to his feet, taking a small breath before he spoke.

"El!" Byleth called through the iron bars of the cell. "We're in here!"

"Silence!" a guard shouted. "Do you want to-"

"Oh lord!" the other guard screamed. "Seiros- arggh!"

"No!" the first guard screamed as a red figure laid into him, a glowing axe, covered in blood, descending on his head.

"El," Byleth whispered, his hands on the bars as Edelgard teetered on her toes to reach her consort, her face relieved as she saw Byleth again.

"Professor," Edelgard greeted. "I ask that you step away from this door."

Byleth nodded as he stepped back, waving Yurius away to stand at the side.

Then Aymr slammed through the door, the glowing orange of the blade tearing through the door as Edelgard tore her axe free for another attack, the second blow savaging the door's lock.

"El!" Byleth called, waving Yurius on for help. "We'll take it from here!"

"Right!" Edelgard called back as more voices came.

"Hurry," Byleth said as he stood close to the door, ready to bring his shoulder against the damaged wood.

Yurius nodded, "On three then."

"One," Byleth said.

"Three!" Yurius shouted as both men charged the door, the impact splintering the wood as they staggered back, the damaged door still firm as a spear ran through the damaged frame, blinding poking around, as if looking for Byleth or Yurius.

But the spear flinched as a scream was heard from the other side of the door, the point of the spear rising up as Yurius snatched the weapon from the broken door, grimacing when he realized the shaft was covered with the blood of its previous wielder.

"El!" Byleth shouted. "Are you alright?"

A male scream followed as Yurius moved to tinker with the remaining hinge on the door, though the effort proved redundant as a man crashed through the shattered door, the blood splattered form of Edelgard stalking in after the defeated man, Aymr singing as Edelgard slammed her axe into his chest cavity, silencing the soldier.

"El!" Byleth cried as he rushed forward, his arms wrapped around her as her knees gave out, her breathing laboured as she sank to her knees.

"Professor," Edelgard gasped. "Just a moment, please. Let me catch my breath."

Yurius nodded as he glanced out the door, "There's likely more of them, but I doubt they want to fight much more."

"Good," Edelgard said as she rose to her feet. "We need to move quickly. I've already summoned Hubert's team, but we'll need to link up with him before we make our next move."

Yurius nodded, "I see."

"Adrasteia is in the area," Byleth informed Edelgard as he picked up a sword from a fallen soldier. "He's the one who maimed Count Gloucester."

"He's here?" Edelgard asked, her voice frigid as she handed Byleth his sword, Byleth tossing the fallen soldier's sword aside as he stood up.

"The fires fit his modus operandi," Yurius confirmed. "He sets fires to destroy evidence and to cover his escape."

"He sounds like Mortis it seems," Byleth observed.

"She was his apprentice," Yurius confirmed. "As the saying goes, the apple does not fall far from the tree."

Byleth nodded, "We knew she had a close connection to her, but his apprentice, that's interesting."

"Let me be clear," Yurius said, raising a hand to stop Byleth and Edelgard. "She was his only apprentice. Spite didn't have an apprentice before her, and he hasn't been a mentor to anyone else since."

Edelgard nodded as she glanced down the hall, "Professor, there's three guards at the end of the hallway."

Byleth grimaced as he found the spark in Edelgard's eye, "Stay safe."

Edelgard shook her head, "Stay close behind me. I'm going to charge them."

Yurius nodded as he stepped against the wall, "Should I… dance for them?"

Edelgard paused before she turned to Byleth, "I suppose so. Bait them closer then."

Yurius grinned as he stepped forward, a hand pounding on his chest as he roared down the hallway, his spear planted firm in the stones of the dungeon.

Yurius smirked as footsteps came closer, the man stepping behind the royal duo as Edelgard charged the first guard, the man stunned as Edelgard pinned him to the wall.

As the second guard turned his weapon at Edelgard, Byleth struck, plunging his sword low into his unaware target, the man gasping as Edelgard's shield pinned him to the dungeon wall, leaving Byleth to eliminate him with a precise slash.

The last man screamed as he turned down the hallway, his weapons abandoned as he fled, his frame shuddering as he ran into another figure at the end of the hallway, the man taking a moment to cry out before he scrambled past the figure he had run into, his steps fading into the distance as Byleth hurried after him.

"El," Byleth called as he chased the fleeing guard. "I think you need to see this."

Edelgard frowned as she and Yurius hurried after Byleth. "What's- Ignatz?"

"Sorry," Ignatz said as Byleth helped him to his feet, his hands grasping for his glasses. "I was told that you would be here."

"Ignatz," Yurius said as he hurried forward, Ignatz's glasses in hand.

"Yurius," Ignatz said as he picked up his glasses. "I hope you're alright."

"I didn't stab Count Gloucester," Yurius started. "Evi did. She said she was working for Acheron."

Ignatz grimaced, "I see. We need to find her then."

Edelgard shook her head, "We still need to link up with Hubert. We're at risk of being overrun at this rate."

Yurius exchanged a glance with Ignatz, "If we find Evi, we want to… have a word with her."

Edelgard nodded as she looked at Byleth, "Do you- do you smell something?"

"Smoke," Byleth said, a hand over his mouth. "They're burning the building down!"

"Well, they can't blame Mortis for this one," Yurius scoffed.

"Mortis is here as well," Byleth corrected Yurius.

Yurius clenched his teeth as he placed a hand over his mouth, "If Mortis sets me on fire, I'm haunting her from beyond the grave."

Ignatz nodded as he glanced down the hallway, "Next left is the exit."

Edelgard nodded as she ran forward, her shield held forward as she burst into the smoke-filled air of the late afternoon, the orange sky barely visible.

"El," Byleth choked out as he hurried from the building. "Where is Lorenz?"

Edelgard shook her head as she leaned close to Byleth, "We need to get out of this damn smoke."

Byleth nodded as he placed a hand over his mouth, his eyes darting around the cloud as he jogged toward one side of the bridge.

"We'll need to fall back!" Seteth called as he brought his spear against Leonie's lance, the two weapons clashing as Seteth glared down Leonie.

"Seteth, you too?" Leonie snarled.

"We did not come here to fight," Seteth replied as he stepped back, his lance held firm in a defensive position. "We came here to settle this matter peacefully."

Leonie growled. "That might have been possible if you didn't use that little witch to burn down the manor."

"Indech," Seteth called. "When was the last time you saw Mortis?"

Indech paused as he lowered his bow, his quiver close to empty. "The Agarthan?"

Leonie narrowed her eyes as she stared at Indech, her lance lowered as Seteth nodded his brother on.

"Last night," Indech said. "She was still with the von Vestra boy at our northern camp."

"Mortis is here?" Leonie hissed. "Where? I'm going to tear her throat out."

"I wouldn't if I were you," Seteth warned. "Mortis had the power to single handedly bring down a demonic beast."

"But she has been silenced, right?" Indech asked.

"I believe so," Seteth said, his eyes narrowing after a pause. "Wait-"

"Cichol?" Indech asked.

"They failed to recast Silence after that first night," Seteth explained, his eyes turned to the northern shore of the Airmid River. "With Edelgard's outburst, they failed to seal her again. There's nothing stopping Mortis from using magic now."

"So you admit it!" Leonie shouted. "She burned down Gloucester Manor then!"

"I do not believe the Arnault girl or the Gautier boy would have allowed her to do so," Indech countered. "And that's assuming it is possible to cross over to Gloucester Manor and back in a single night."

"Dorothea and Sylvain?" Leonie growled. "You came with an entire invasion force!?"

"What's this about an invasion force?" a raspy voice called from within the smoke.

"Lorenz," Leonie whispered, her eyes on the man before her. "Why are you here?"

Lorenz looked at Seteth with sadness in his eyes as Felix glared at the half dozen soldiers standing behind him.

"Is Edelgard or the Professor not here?" Lorenz asked, his voice pained as he glanced behind Felix and Seteth.

"The Professor went forward to speak with your… Yurius," Seteth said. "When Leonie returned without him, Edelgard charged after him."

Lorenz narrowed his eyes as he turned to Leonie, "Is this true?"

Leonie clenched her teeth but nodded after a minute, "Byleth wanted to take Yurius away from us. Said he wasn't the killer."

"Then who was?" Lorenz asked.

"Some guy named Periander," Leonie snapped. "Just a load of bullshit."

"My lord!" a voice called from within the veil of smoke, the voice breaking through a side street as it closed with Lorenz. "An imperial force has broken through our northern line!"

Lorenz paled as he turned to the soldier, "An imperial force?"

"It-it's" the man spluttered, his figure crumpled on the stones as he spluttered a breath. "Hubert von Vestra is leading the assault!"

Lorenz narrowed his head as Leonie turned to the man, her eyes darting back to Indech, "You said that she was with Hubert."

"Who was with Hubert?" Lorenz asked.

"Mortis is," Leonie said, her grip on her lance tightening. "The guy with the bow said it himself."

Lorenz narrowed his eyes as he stormed back through the smoke cloud, Leonie and his bodyguard hot on his heels.

"Seteth," Felix said, his face grim. "Take Bernadetta and Flayn back to camp. Rally whatever soldiers you can."

"What about you?" Seteth asked, his tone worried.

"I'm heading forward," Felix said, exchanging a glance with Indech. "We need to find Edelgard and the Professor."

"We're heading forward," Indech corrected as Bernadetta handed him her remaining arrows. "Let's hope we can end this without more pointless bloodshed."

"Hubert," Sylvain gasped, his lance snapped in half as he seized a fallen soldier's weapon. "We can't hold this position much longer."

Hubert grimaced as he glanced at the burning town before him, "The smoke from the burning buildings makes it impossible to advance."

Ferdinand nodded, his breathing laboured as he sank to a single knee, "Hapi, are you holding up?"

"Huh?" Hapi asked. "Pompy, did you ask something?"

Ferdinand grimaced, "Right, forget I ever asked anything."

"Wait," Hubert snarled, his body tense as his eyes narrowed. "I see something."

"Huh?" Sylvain asked, his eyes narrowed as he watched the acrid smoke. "I don't see anything."

"Is that-" Ferdinand started as the figure broke through the cloud of smoke.

"Lady Edelgard," Hubert said with a small nod. "Professor- Yurius."

"Good to see you too," Yurius said, hacking as he inhaled a whiff of smoke. "Can we keep moving?"

"Have you encountered any enemies on your way here?" Hubert asked.

"Only corpses to trip over," Edelgard said. "I assume they were your handiwork?"

"We managed to break their first line of defense," Hubert confirmed. "They began to burn the town as we advanced, and it blinded us."

"Almost turned us to cinders," Edelgard said as she stepped free from the cloud of smoke.

"El!" Byleth shouted as he tackled Edelgard, the arrow tearing through the space where her head had been mere moments after she fell to the ground.

"Incoming!" Hubert shouted, hurling a orb of darkness in the vague area behind the assassin. "All forces! Protect Lady Edelgard!"

"I'm fine!" Edelgard shouted over the din as she staggered back to her feet, pushing Byleth behind her as she steadied her shield. "Get to cover while you can!"

"Not happening," Ferdinand said as a burning arrow tore into the dirt beside him. "You either come with us or we stay here."

Edelgard swore as she glanced at the burning arrow, raising her shield as she backed away from the bridge.

"Sylvain, Ferdinand, see to her protection," Hubert barked. "Ignatz, pick up a bow, see if you can pinpoint where they're attacking from."

"I already know," Ignatz said, his face grim. "The western wing is the only part of the bridge not yet burning. They must be attacking from there."

"Can we silence their archers?" Hubert asked as he threw forward another orb of darkness.

"We would have to run through the city," Ignatz said.

"Agree with Ignatz," Petra confirmed. "We would run into the smoke to fight them. Run into fire."

"Forget it then," Hubert growled as a burning arrow struck the bush behind him. "We'll just have to hope we set up camp far away enough from their arrows."

Ignatz nodded as he pinned himself against a tree, an arrow planting itself on the opposite side as he made his escape.

"Bastards are going to set fire to all of the grain at this rate," Hubert snarled as he stamped on a burning bush, his boot smothering the fire as he darted behind the tree line.

"Mortis?" Dorothea whispered as she glanced around her hiding spot, her body tense as she heard the footstep. "Is that you?"

A rough hand tore through the bush around Dorothea as a scream slipped from her lips, the rough, armoured hand leading to a brutish, vile face.

"Well, look at what we found," the patrolling soldier snarled. "A pretty little woman."

"I'm just a traveller!" Dorothea lied through her teeth, her years of acting experience kicking in as the man looked at her.

"Hey Petruchio, isn't this the dancer you love so much?" another man called as Dorothea felt a spike of fear run through the pit of her stomach.

"Huh, I'll be damned," the third man said, a rough hand running down Dorothea's face. "It's the imperial dancing girl."

"Let me go!" Dorothea cried, the lie forming on her lips. "You have the wrong person!"

The man struck her in response, the blow throwing her to the ground as a boot found her stomach, the remnants of her dinner spilling from her lips as her eyes watered from the pain.

"Oh, wow, imperials really are soft," a distant voice commented as Dorothea clawed at the ground, trying to summon the willpower to launch an attack against the group. "And somehow we lost this damn bridge to them."

"Come on now," a voice snarled as a blow to her stomach broke her focus, "I thought you were a big scary magic user. Why aren't you fighting back?"

"Mortis-" Dorothea croaked, the acrid stench of smoke choking her senses as she reeled from the attack, her vision shifting as her arms gave out, another blow knocking her to her side.

"Now, tell us-" the man started, his sentence cut off with an explosion as a set of screams tore through the rest of the group.

"Die already," a frigid voice snarled as a chorus of screams drowned out Dorothea's world.

Mortis grimaced as the last soldier threw himself into the Airmid River, the man screaming even as the river tore him away.

"Bastards," Mortis muttered as she brought an arm around Dorothea, pulling the unconscious woman to her feet, "Come on now, Dorothea, just a little more."

"Mortis?" a voice asked. "Are you alright?"

"Sylvain," Mortis said as she looked up at the orange haired knight. "These…animals attacked Dorothea."

Sylvain grimaced as he took Dorothea away, his eyes flashing in rage as he glared at the four dead men, "I see that you've taken care of them."

Mortis nodded, "Why is it that you are back here?"

"Gloucester's men set most of the town aflame to stop us from pushing further," Hubert explained as he arrived. "We're here to regroup while we still can."

"Dorothea!" Ferdinand cried as he rushed forward, tearing the woman away from Sylvain. "Is she alright?"

An arrow landed in the bush behind the group as he spoke, flickers of flame devouring the undergrowth as Hubert swore.

"Mortis, I see that we have forgotten to seal your magic," Hubert observed as he brought his heel against the arrow, snuffing out the burning projectile.

Sylvain flinched and took a step back as Mortis lit a fireball in confirmation, the flame flickering in her hand for a moment before she snuffed the flame out.

"With Dorothea out of the fight, we'll need all the magic we can get," Yuri offered. "We're still sealing you again once we deal with Gloucester's men."

Ferdinand looked pained.

"Ferdinand, Sylvain, your weapons are broken," Hubert said. "You two will act as a rearguard for Dorothea. Ensure nothing happens to her."

Ferdinand looked stunned for a moment before he bowed his head, "I- I thank you Hubert."

"Think nothing of it," Hubert replied. "Ah, here we are."

"Mortis!" Ignatz exclaimed as he tore through the bush. "You- you were here this entire time?"

"She was with me," Hubert interjected, towering over Ignatz. "She never ventured into Gloucester territory."

"We may have to venture deeper into Gloucester territory regardless," Edelgard observed as she stomped on a burning arrow, the wood cracking under her heel as the flame died. "They've stopped the firing, but there's no guarantee they won't find more arrows."

"They might have reinforcements on the way," Ignatz spoke up. "Might be as much as a hundred men."

"Mortis," Yurius greeted his partner, "I'm glad to see you're alright."

Mortis nodded at her partner, her face turning into a frown as she glanced at the bridge, "May I ask why there's an imperial banner on the bridge?"

"What?" Edelgard asked, turning on her heel. "There… really is an imperial banner there."

"Lorenz has a lot of men," Byleth offered. "But certainly not enough to assault the camp."

"And certainly not enough to take no less than two battalion standards," Hubert observed. "Ah, it's three now."

"Then the bridge is in imperial hands," Byleth concluded. "Let's move quickly while we still can. Perhaps we can have Lorenz see reason."

Lorenz swore as he choked in a gasp of the ash-laden air, fanning the air as he staggered away from the advancing imperial line.

"Lorenz!" a voice shouted from behind him. "Let us talk this out!"

"Count," a soldier said as he ran forward. "We have hidden your father amongst the dead. Once we relieve this siege, we can get to burying him."

Lorenz swallowed as he turned to the captain of his father's bodyguard regiment, "Who was it that set the fires?"

The man shook his head as he hurried forward.

"We have no idea," another soldier managed to choke out. "It must have been our northern wing when they were falling back."

Lorenz grimaced as he waved his forces forward.

"Shouldn't burn for much longer," the captain of the guard said. "Old buildings are running out of fuel."

Lorenz grimaced as he pushed free from the smoke blinking as he saw the violet of the early evening sky, "It is still a shame. These buildings are still the hard work of our ancestors."

"Yours, my lord," the captain countered. "I was born in Goneril territory."

Lorenz shook his head as he turned back to the burning town, "And it is only by our combined efforts that the town has survived as long as it has."

"The smoke is letting up," a soldier called out as a strong gust of wind battered the bodyguard regiment. "It's- it's really bad."

"What?" Lorenz asked as he tore his gaze away from the night sky, his eyes taking a moment to take in the scene of carnage before him.

"Looks like they attempted a fighting retreat sir," the captain muttered.

"Where are our archers?" Leonie spluttered as Lorenz stared at the corpses littering the ground, his weapon clattering to the ground as he recognized faces amongst the dead.

"We have sight of the archers!" a soldier called, his voice hard.

"Where are they?" Leonie asked, a note of hope in her voice.

"Prisoners," the man choked out, a trembling finger pointed at a convoy marching along the bridge. "The Saurin division has been… wiped out."

"No!" Leonie shouted, her grip on her spear tight, "No! No! No!"

"Count, we have company," the captain of the guard muttered, tearing Lorenz away from the nightmare before him. "It- it's the emperor."

Lorenz swallowed as he turned to face Edelgard, his face hardening as he saw Mortis and Yurius among the assembled strike force.

"Mortis, Evi is dead," Yurius said as their party moved closer to Lorenz.

"Good," Mortis shot back. "Only two weeks late."

"Enough," Hubert hissed as Edelgard turned to Lorenz, the pair of leaders watching each other as they stood in silence.

"Count Gloucester," Edelgard started. "I offer you a chance to end this rebellion without further bloodshed. All I ask in turn is that you put your weapons down and return what has been stolen to their rightful owners."

Lorenz grimaced as he turned to the bridge, his hands clenched as he watched the broken remnants of his father's army, "I- I ask that their lives be spared."

"We will not harm those who have fought along you," Edelgard said, her eyes burrowing into the eyes of Lorenz. "You are all subjects of the Adrestian Empire. Here, today, and in the future. There is no reason for me to harm your people."

Lorenz closed his eyes, "I- I demand my father's body is respected."

"I have no quarrel with the dead," Edelgard replied. "And should Gloucester County fulfil their tithes, I will have no quarrel with your leadership, Count Gloucester."

Lorenz felt a tear slide from his face as he turned to glare at Yurius, "I- I want justice for my father's murder."

"You will get it," Edelgard said as she turned to Byleth. "But you are glaring at an innocent man."

"Innocent?" Lorenz snarled. "What do you mean by that?"

"Ignatz, you know who she is," Yurius said as he turned to the younger man. "The dagger should still be on her corpse."

"Right," Ignatz said, hurrying to the lifeless body, still sprawled on the bridge, his hands shaking as he closed the dead girl's eyes, his face grim as he tore a bloodstained knife from her lifeless hands.

"Is that the weapon you seek?" Edelgard asked as Lorenz took the blade from Ignatz, his eyes burning with hate as he glared down the dead girl.

"Captain?" Lorenz asked, turning to the warrior next to him. "Is- is this the dagger?"

"It matches the wound," the soldier admitted after a long pause. "I- I believe this is the murder weapon."

"But your witch burned the Count in the first place!" a voice shouted. "She must pay for that!"

"Enough!" Hubert shouted over the man, his finger pointing to a hilltop. "I stood by Mortis for the last two days. She never passed that hill."

Lorenz swallowed as he exchanged a glance with Leonie, "Hubert, look me in the eye when you say that."

"So be it," Hubert replied. "Mortis never crossed that hill to the north. She did not maim your father. Not today, not before."

Lorenz swallowed as he turned back to the hill, his eyes watching as a wave of soldiers marched over the hill, their armour mismatched as they proceeded toward the two parties.

"Looks like it's our reinforcements," the guard captain muttered, his hand reaching for his sword. "Count, what are your orders?"

"I-" Lorenz whispered, a dozen scenarios filling his mind, each more dishonourable than the last.

"Soldiers!" the lead soldier from the new regiment shouted as he raised his spear. "Protect Lorenz!"

"No!" Lorenz cried out, rushing at the group. "Stop this madness!"

"Take cover!" Hubert shouted as a distant light flickered from the skies above.

Byleth tackled Edelgard as she froze in place, the royal couple crashing into the bridge as the attack landed.

And then the assembled militia disappeared in a storm of fire.

Lorenz gasped as he crawled to his feet, his eyes watering as he staggered up.

"Count," the captain of the guard choked out. "Have- have we enraged the goddess?"

Lorenz choked as he staggered back, his eyes watching as a soldier fell to his knees, his hands clawing at his throat as his face turned gray, the man's corpse still standing for a moment before he plunged to the ground.

"What hell have we unleashed?" a voice asked. "What hell have we unleashed?"

"A preventable one," a voice called from behind the crowd of carnage. "Lorenz Hellman Gloucester, did you not receive my ultimatum?"

"Who are you?" Lorenz asked as the crimson haired man stepped from the crowd of smoke, his pale robes a mockery of the burning corpses around him.

"My name is Periander," the man replied as he stopped before a dying soldier, his eyes observing the dying man before him. "And I have come for my agents."

"Adrasteia," Hubert growled as he staggered to his feet. "It was you."

"Hubert von Vestra," the man said as he turned around, an eyebrow raised as he nodded to Mortis and Yurius. "I see you have made yourself familiar with my agents. Please, refer to me as Spite."

"Enough," Edelgard snarled as she rose to her feet, Aymr pointed at the sorcerer. "What is it that you have come here for?"

"Edelgard von Hresvelg," Spite said, his tone even. "I come here to… bargain for the return of my agents."

"And what do you have to offer me?" Edelgard asked. "Why should I not strike you down where you stand?"

Spite ignored Edelgard as he turned back to the smoke, his eyes watching the smoke as he seemed to ponder the question.

"Lord Ubert, I thought I told you to hold your breath," the man called into the crowd of smoke. "I may have dispelled the mire, but the smoke is harmful to your health nonetheless."

"Ashe?" Felix muttered, his face stunned as the silver haired knight staggered from the deathly fog, two shaky hands pressed over his nose and lips. "Where did you find Ashe?"

"Does it matter, Felix Hugo Fraldarius?" the man replied. "I propose a one for one trade. One of my agents for one of yours."

"Did you maim my father?" Lorenz asked, his voice hard.

"I did," the man said, his gaze turned to Lorenz as he unleashed fire from his hands, a powerful flame roaring from each finger. "I torched his prize stables and his manor for… abducting my agents."

Lorenz clenched his fists as he turned to Edelgard, "I- I must ask you for the sake of justice-"

Spite laughed in response, the sound bitter and hollow, "You would call upon the enemies you had just been fighting to arrest me?"

Lorenz clenched his teeth as Spite continued.

"I must ask you then, Lord Gloucester," Spite said, his gaze boring into Lorenz. "In the event I do not go quietly, do you truly intend to invoke combat against me? Will you throw the lives of your pitiful few followers away for the sake of this so called justice?"

Lorenz growled as he took a sword from a nearby soldier, his eyes burning as he stared down the sorcerer.

"I could strike down any one of you with a flick of the wrist," Spite continued. "Are you truly willing to pay that price, just to reach me?"

Lorenz glared at the man as he marched forward, "For my people, I will carry any burden, and I will pay that price gladly."

"And what if I set your precious wheat fields on fire?" the man asked, a sardonic grin spreading across his face. "How will you explain that to your people? Is the unlikely chance to avenge one dead man worth watching your people starve this winter? Is it worth a season of mourning mothers burying their children?"

Lorenz flinched as his gaze fell along the rolling wheat fields, the sword in his hand clattering to the ground.

"I see you have reached the same answer as I," Spite said as he turned to Edelgard, his tone serious as he paced between the three groups. "With that being said, I have no desire to starve your people. Should you agree to my trade, I will leave this place in peace. There will be no more death in this place today."

Edelgard swallowed as she closed her eyes, opening her eyes a moment later, "Hubert, do it."

"Lady Edelgard!" Hubert cried. "There must-"

"There is no other way, Hubert von Vestra," Spite said. "Do not force me to become a monster. Do not force my hand, for I have no vendetta against the people of Gloucester or Fhirdiad, nor do I wish to create one needlessly."

"Hubert," Edelgard said, her teeth gritted. "Make the trade."

Hubert swallowed before he stepped aside, Yurius handing Ferdinand his spear as he and Mortis walked forward, Mortis giving Sylvain and Ignatz each a nod as she walked alongside Spite.

"The pact is sealed," Spite said. "I thank you for agreeing to it."

"Silence!" Yuri shouted, the attack slamming into the sorcerer as Leonie charged forward, a spear aimed at Spite's back.

"Leonie Pinelli," Spite observed

"Yuri Louis Paris, I believe your name is," Spite said, his voice amused as Yuri almost fell over, stunned at the mention of his real name. "I would advise against attempting to seal any of the Septet. Few of my peers would react to such an attempt without violent retaliation."

"Regardless," Hubert said, striding forward with a small smirk on his face. "You cannot escape."

Spite smiled at the comment, a sardonic look in his eyes, "I disagree with that statement, for we must take our leave."

"What?" Edelgard spluttered, her eyes narrowing as magic surrounded the three Agarthans.

"It is our time to go," Spite said as the magic reached its crescendo. "Dearest Cornelia sends her regards."

And then the three Agarthans disappeared, the unmistakable presence of teleportation magic in the air.

AN: Longest chapter I've ever done (7620 words before editing). For the future: I can promise at least three larger battles in the future of this story.

Battle 1: Alea Iacta Est.

Battle 2: Dies Irae.

Battle 3: Memento Mori.

Next chapter: Vae Victis, part 1.

Consequences and Diversions- Spite

Nameless One- Dorothea

Figurative Chains- Tiana

Prayer for the dead- Mercedes

Rites of Awakening- Thales

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