Soldiers

Crimson blossom walked into the square. It was in one of the slums that was right beside her mistress's waters and so it was another good place to gather forces.

She clapped loudly once, the eyes of the demons around her turned to face her.

"Demons, heed my words carefully. You have a choice. A battle is coming and you can join me, I will reward those who help me graciously. However if you don't come, this place you have made your home will be filled with my mistress's acid. The houses might survive but those within them surely won't."

She paused to let the carrot and stick make sense to all the demons who listened, now to make it an 'Easy' choice.

"Your enemy is weak, her numbers will be small as will the quality of her forces. If you come with me there will be easy blood."

Again she paused. More of the local demons were gathering so she repeated herself before going on.

"If you wish to join you must only follow me, I will bring you to your temporary home."

She turned and entered her palanquin (Now being carried by a type demon who didn't remind her of her old life.) and with an order it set off.

One of her carriers told her that a large crowd had decided to come.

Crimson blossom smiled, not that anyone would have called it a nice expression. She was still planning on the extra training she was going to do. Her Coadjutor had told her that it held no records about charms that could help lead an army so she might want to pick up new excellencies. She also still had the charms Metagaos to learn and she had more martial arts to learn.

So much to do and so little time.

In her heart she felt a strange feeling. She pushed it away. It was likely 'Sakura' raging against something or other. That girl should really give up. With her mistress's blessing and a new name Crimson blossom would be able to carry out her wishes. She would be able to have Shirou Emiya all for herself and she would kill that sister of hers.

Another wriggle at the mention of each of the people. Maybe she should order her Coadjutor to shut her up. She would see, she would be much better once 'Sakura's' sister was dead.

Rin studdied that planned battlefield, looking for areas that could prove important. At the most basic level it was a wide street with buildings on either side. It was wide but not enormous so only a limited number of soldiers could be on it at any one time.

Not that she had enough forces to meet Sakura on equal terms. Most of her loyal demons were out gathering support for her to try and boost her numbers but it still wouldn't hold a candle to Sakura's army.

She gestured to a bit of the road and thought about how it's destruction might effect the battle. She had The Eater of Stone to do it but how could she use it to her advantage.

She would have to hope Sakura didn't have a lot of aerial demons.

There was always the true plan to concider as well. Her spies had informed her of the staff that Sakura kept near her. She just had to pick the right demon for the plan to work properly. She glanced at the list that had been written on a stone tablet.

A first circle demon, one without a name, would be perfect. She created her own mental list, sorted from those on the tablet that fulfilled those requirements. She shortened the requirements further. Non-combatant reduced the list to only beings. She picked the most feminine demon from that list.

Now she just needed to find the demon. She set on of her spies on it. She went back to the chair that acted like a throne for her and sat down. It wasn't that comfortable but it was nicer than most of the furniture that this place had when she captured it. She had plenty of chances to get nicer furniture but had deemed it unnecessary and a waste of effort.

Rubinrot returned first with a small group of Agatae, there was some other demons mounted on them.

When they landed however it was the Agatae that introduced the group "We are a fraction of the Sting of defeat descending in glory!"

Rubinrot turned to Rin and explained "I wanted to hire the entire talon but we couldn't outbid for getting them all. I decided to hire some anyway. Even without the entire talon they are famous in Malfeas for being good at shock tactics."

The leader of the small unit looked Rin up and down "So this is your mistress? A Lunar... you told me but I wasn't sure."

The Agatae waited a moment before introducing itself "I am Creaseor, sub-commander. As long as we are paid well we will do our job well."

Rin nodded and Rubinrot took them to the barracks that had been set up.

It was hard to tell time in Malfeas but in what felt like a few hours, Blutspucke returned with what he described as a "Small Demon Horde" It was constructed out of many assorted demons. It seems he got them to work for her simply by promising them combat in which they might die.

It wasn't really wrong. According to the numbers Rin had been given they were still largely outnumbered. From what she read it seemed that she had the more skilled commanders but the spys could have missed something.

Rin sighed, there was no-one with her but she spoke out loud "Only two days left. I'll need to prepare the plan soon."

Saying that she slipped out the base and (Wearing a cloak to help herself hide) she walked towards Sakura's base.

End of chapter

I have said before that most of the chapters while we wait for the battle to start are simply to grind XP for the main character's sheets.

While true I am enjoying writing about their plans and building their forces. If anyone is finding it dull I can only apologise and say that the actual battle might be next week. Maybe, not sure yet. Haven't decided if I want another filler chapter first.