Alicia stared up at the statue of her father in the Hall of Heroes. His crowned helmet, now fixed and cleaned, was currently placed on a pedestal in front of the statue. She gave the statue of her father a smile before leaving the Hall. Passing by the numerous statues that lined the Hall of Heroes.
The Queen of Feoh made her way down the corridor of Alister's Keep and passed by the Dining Hall where her cousin was ravaging the large, chocolate cake on the table. Alicia felt her sweat drop at the sight and wondered how someone so small eat so much for such a long time and not gain weight.
'I swear she can eat the entire castle's food supply and still maintain her figure. I wonder if Uncle Robert and Aunt Astrid enchanted Prim when she was a baby?'
Shaking her head, Alicia continued her way out of Alister's Keep and into the castle's courtyard.
Things have been quiet since Skalleborg a month ago. The bandits had gone into hiding since Kristoff's death and hadn't shown themselves aside from the rare raids. Monster attacks have become fewer as well with the Beast Men raids lessening by the day. Trade with the Holy Aurelian Empire was going great. Feoh is still better than Rad no matter what Maia had to say. Aside from her Chamberlain, Lord Beardsley, leaving the capital for some personal business (Her servants had gossiped that the old man had been frequenting a specific brothel outside the city that was near the northern border of the Kingdom), life was good.
She wondered how long until the next big shitshow arrives and ruins her day.
The Queen soon found Jarl Erik looking over at two Iris Knights that were fighting inside a ring. Standing beside the Jarl was Hálfdan Godwinson, Head of the Raven Guard. If she had to guess, the two were looking for recruits to the Raven Guard. Two died from the Siege of Skalleborg. Frida and Gudmund. Both were buried in Raven's Peak where the Raven Guards reside and where they bury and honor their dead.
The Queen joined the two who bowed their heads before Alicia leaned her elbows on the top of the ring's railing. She observed the two combatants who both were armed with a Long Axe. A weapon which the two weren't trained to wield as Iris Knights were taught to fight with a lance, a shield or a longsword. A Long Axe was something they didn't think to wield but was a requirement for the Raven Guards.
While Alicia was watching the two Iris Knights battle it out in the ring alongside Erik and Hálfdan, the Doors of Elionoir opened and fifteen riders were allowed to enter Castle Arcturus. Said riders bear the banners of the Dawn Templars, the Reichsritter and the Königreich Geofu. Leading these riders was none other than the Grand Mistress of the Dawn Templars and Protector of the Realm, Claudia von Levantaine.
The Queen of Feoh removed herself from the ring's railing and made her way over to meet the Grand Mistress with Erik and Hálfdan following suit. The three soon arrived in front of Claudia who bowed her head in greeting.
"Your Majesty."
"What are you doing? There's no need for formalities, Claudia. Especially between old friends. Come here!"
Alicia strode over to Claudia and pulled the taller woman into a hug much to the Grand Mistress' surprise before she relented and wrapped her arms around the younger woman in return.
Moments later, the Queen of Feoh pulled back a bit and took a look at the Grand Mistress.
Claudia was wearing a long, sheath dress with high slits on both sides that showed off her toned legs and allowed said legs more freedom to move. In the center of the dress was the symbol of the Dawn Templars painted in black. A black sun rising and below the sun was the black rune of Geofu. She wore a set of iron vambraces, poleyn and greaves. Underneath the greaves were a pair black, thigh-high socks and around her head was her headpiece, or the 'crown', worn by the Protector of the Realm.
The Holy Knight also wore a leather harness that allowed her to carry her weapon, Kreuzritter, on her back.
Kreuzritter was an enormous broadsword. About five feet long and one foot wide. It would normally be unwieldy but since Claudia was trained by Grave who wielded a similar weapon, the Holy Knight can fight with the large blade with ease. She can even swing it one handed.
"It's good to see you again, Claudia." Alicia smiled.
"You too, Alicia."
Claudia returned the smile before pulling away but kept a hand on the blonde's shoulder as she looked at Alicia's eyes.
"You've grown." She muttered.
She could see it in Alicia's eyes. Back then, she saw an eagerness behind those purple orbs. An eagerness to prove herself and a hint of arrogance but said arrogance was gone. There was a hint of wisdom behind her eyes now as well as something else. Clarity, perhaps?
"Being a Queen does that." The blonde shook her head and looked back up at the taller woman "So what brings you in Feoh, Claudia?"
"I thought I'd pay an old sparring partner a visit and see how she's doing. It's been so long since the last time our blades met. I would've visited a month ago but Her Divine Holiness had summoned me for..." Claudia looked away for a second and Alicia saw the darm look that passed through her face but it was gone in a second before she looked back at the blonde "Anyways. We never really settled our last spar, did we?"
Alicia grinned at that and looked up at the Grand Mistress with a fire burning in her eyes. The prospect of crossing blades with her old friend firing her up.
"You're right. Let's settle this. In the ring. Right now. First to land a hit on their opponent wins. Sound good?"
"After you."
The Queen of Feoh made her way over to the ring just as the two Iris Knights exited. She went over to the left side of the ring while Claudia went to the right. Alicia unsheathed Angurvadal and caught the round shield Erik threw at her while Claudia unhooked Kreuzritter from it's harness and gave it a spin using one hand before resting the large weapon on her shoulder.
Alicia stared at her opponent then her opponent's weapon. Claudia was strong. Absurdly so. She didn't look like it but she knew Claudia could hit like a Feral Orc or a Minotaur. Alicia knew that each strike from the Holy Knight would cause her to stagger if she blocked them. Claudia would win decisively if she fought her through strength alone. She needed to be faster. Fight smarter.
Meanwhile, Claudia took her time to gauge her opponent as well. Back then, the blonde would charge into battle without thinking. Now Alicia was thinking first before acting. Good. That's one thing she improved on but Claudia wanted to see what else she improved on and standing around looking at each other wasn't going to help her with that so the Holy Knight decided to act first and rushed the blonde.
Alicia jumped back when Claudia closed the distance and sent three massive swings at her. She managed to avoid all three before rushing the older woman and bashed her shoulder against Claudia's chest. Pushing her back before swinging her runic blade at the Holy Knight who deflected the attack and retaliated with a kick to Alicia's abdomen.
The blonde was sent staggering back but quickly parried the next strike Claudia sent her way then threw herself at the Grand Mistress while thrusting Angurvadal forward.
The Holy Knight barely had time to raise her blade to block Alicia's weapon and planted her feet firmly on the ground to stop herself from taking another step back. Once she recovered, Claudia dashed forward before bringing her weapon down at the blonde.
Alicia raised her shield to block the attack but as soon as it connected, the Queen of Feoh dropped to one knee. Her eyes wide in surprise. She knew Claudia was strong but she didn't expect her attack to be that strong.
'By Odin's Beard. That was stronger than anything the War Boss threw at me!'
She was shaken from her thoughts by Claudia's yell as the Holy Knight jumped into the air and brought her weapon down on the blonde.
Instead of blocking it, Alicia rolled backwards to avoid the attack.
She was glad she did so as Claudia's weapon left cracks on the ground where it impacted on the ground. Alicia didn't want to think what would've happened if she hadn't rolled our of the way.
"Ymir's frozen balls, woman! What do they feed you in Geofu!?"
Claudia raised an eyebrow at the blonde's rather crude language but let it slide to focus on the fight instead. She swung her weapon at Alicia who did her best to dodge the Holy Knight's attacks while trying to think of a way to land a hit on the older woman.
The Queen grunted in annoyance before doing something the Holy Knight did not expect Alicia to do. The blonde THREW her shield at Claudia who raised her weapon to block it and Alicia closed the distance between her and the older woman. She leaped into the air and threw a punch at Claudia's face with her free hand which connected to the Holy Knight's cheek and caused her to stagger back.
Claudia recovered and glared at the blonde who hit the flat of Angurvadal on her forearm twice then rested the runic blade on her shoulder. Giving the Holy Knight a cocky smirk before holding up her index finger.
"That settles it. I'm up one."
"I seem to recall that I was ahead of you by one on our last spar. We're even."
"Alright."
Not losing her smirk, Alicia gripped her weapon with both hands and dropped into a stance.
"Then this next round's the tie breaker. First to draw blood wins."
Claudia stood to her full height and cracked her neck before gripping her weapon tightly.
"Fine by me."
The two combatants each let out a battle cry and ran towards each other. Swinging their respective blades as they closed the distance between them. Their weapons clashed and bounced off each other but the two continued a relentless onslaught of attacks against the other.
The sounds of colliding metal filled the air alongside the cheers of the crowd of onlookers.
The Jarl and the Raven Guards cheering for Alicia while Claudia's personal guards of Dawn Templars and Reichsritter cheered for the Holy Knight.
Alicia and Claudia swung their weapons at the other and their blades locked. The two battled for dominance but Claudia was slowly pushing the former back and the Queen of Feoh grit her teeth in concentration as she tried to hold off the older woman.
Claudia disengaged then kicked Alicia back before swinging her weapon in a wide arc. The blonde leaned back and the tip of the Holy Knight's blade almost nicked her chin. The Queen of Feoh reached for the Skeggøx hooked to her belt but realized too late that she didn't bring it with her.
Alicia cursed before rolling out of the way of Claudia's massive swing then spun to the side as the Holy Knight brough the weapon down.
The Queen quickly jumped to her feet and brought her boot down on Claudia's blade to pin it to the ground but the Holy Knight pulled the weapon easily from underneath her foot before creating some distance. Claudia then spun Kreuzritter before dropping into a stance. A testament of the woman's strength.
She mirrored the Holy Knight's action but after spinning the runic blade, Alicia hit the flat of Angurvadal on the surface of her vambrace.
The first to act was Alicia who rushed Claudia and swung her blade at the Holy Knight. Claudia dodged and retaliated with a kick to the Queen's side before swinging Kreuzritter and sliced a few strands of the blonde's hair.
Alicia quickly spun on her heel and thrust her blade forward but the Holy Knight grabbed her outstretched arm in a firm grip. Claudia dropped her weapon and elbowed Alicia in the face before snatching Alicia's own from her grasp then throwing the Queen to the ground.
Alicia rolled to her back and was about to stand but Claudia swung Angurvadal and cut the Queen across the cheek. Drawing blood and subsequently winning the duel.
The Holy Knight smirked before lowering the blade and held out her hand for the blonde to take.
"You fought well."
"But not well enough."
Alicia took the offered hand and allowed herself to be pulled up her feet. Claudia handed the runic blade back to Alicia who nodded her thanks before the two women exited the ring. Claudia grabbing Kreuzritter along the way.
The two stepped out and were greeted by the cheers of their men.
While Claudia went to join her guards, Alicia sat on a crate and grabbed the bucket of water from the ground and doused herself with the cool liquid. She sighed as the water ran down her body and cooled her off before wiping the water from her eyes. The Queen turned to her right just as a messenger handed Jarl Erik a letter who then proceeded to approach her before holding it out for her to take.
"My Queen."
Alicia nodded her thanks as she took the letter from his hand before unsealing it. She dreaded receiving letters. Everytime she got a letter, it always meant that something bad was about to happen or has happened. She skimmed most of the beginning but her eyes widened by the second as she got to the rest of the letter.
The Queen of Feoh scratched her head before handing the letter to the Jarl.
"Looks like we'll be getting visitors, Jarl Erik. An envoy from the Holy Aurelian Empire will be visiting the Kingdom. And not just any envoy. It's the Legatus pro praetore and niece of the Emperor. Iris Arcadia."
The Queen looked to the Jarl who was joined by Claudia.
"What do you guys think?"
"I don't like this." Claudia answered "She's Aurelian and Aurelians are bad."
"Oh for fuck's sakes, woman." Jarl Erik grunted in annoyance "Don't bring your damn rivalry into this."
Claudia grimaced and crossed her arms. The Königreich Geofu and the Sacrum Imperium Aurelianum held a certain distrust, hatred really, against the other. Though the reason for Geofu's hatred had been lost to history. All they knew was that the Aurelians were bad and cannot be trusted.
The same cannot be said about the Aurelians. They still remember what started this rivalry and it was an incident involving the Hero of Geofu, Johannes von Malberg, who had given safe haven to an enemy of the Empire. Former Emperor Flavius.
Johannes did not realize how much the Aurelians hated Flavius who had nearly crippled the Empire with his greed and corruption. It was only after the Emperor's nephew staged a revolt that spanned the entire Empire and drove the corrupt Emperor from Helios. By giving safe haven to Flavius who had become an advisor to Johannes and the Hero of Geofu refusing to hand over the man, the Empire declared war on the Königreich Geofu.
Aside from being an advisor, Flavius also married into Johannes' family and used this as a way to protect himself further from the wrath of the Aurelians. Promising Johannes that his family will rule the Empire as long as he, the rightful Emperor, lives. Not wanting to waste such an opportunity, Johannes made sure to protect Flavius at all cost.
The Empire's Legions soon landed upon the shores of Königreich Geofu and burned any town or village they came across. Killing many while demanding the head of Flavius. With each rejection of their demand was a single village burned and it's inhabitants dead to the last man while the women and children were enslaved.
It was only after Johannes' son, Ulrich, had lost patience with Flavius, who had cost the Königreich a large number of unnecessary deaths, killed the former Emperor in front of everyone in the Königspfalz before taking his head and giving it to the Aurelians.
Satisfied. The Aurelians called off the war and went home but not before taking their spoils of war with them.
In the aftermath of the war, Johannes' own family had turned against him. His own son blamed him for the war. Saying that they never should have let Flavius close to them and handed the man over to the Empire. Soon enough, his own family blamed him as well.
Angered, he blamed the Aurelians and made sure that the entire Königreich would grow to hate the Empire and forget about how he was easily manipulated by Flavius. He had to make sure the people would see him as infallible or else he loses his position as Hero of Geofu and shamed.
Johannes succeeded and the people of Geofu held a deep rooted hatred for the Aurelians and only by the decree of the Goddess Incarnate stopped them from declaring war.
Time passed and the Reichvolk had forgotten the reason for their hatred towards the Aurelians but didn't bother to dig up history to find out the reason.
Petty but it was all they knew.
Celestine had tried to mend the relations between the Empire and Geofu but the Reichsvolk refused the moment the Goddess Incarnate brought it up.
"Jarl Erik is right." Alicia stated "Feoh is neutral and will not take sides. Besides. The Arcturus Family are descended from the first Aurelians that migrated to Eostia. Half my family are of Aurelian blood yet you don't hate me."
Claudia relented but said that she would stay for the duration of the Imperial Legate's visit and keep an eye on her the whole time. She didn't trust the Aurelians one bit. No matter what others may say.
(Line Break)
Three weeks later, Imperial Legate Iris Arcadia, formerly Iris Secunda before she was adopted by her uncle, found herself staring up at the Walls of Sigmundr before entering the capital city of Feoh along with her Tetrican Imperial Bodyguards through the Grand Doors of Erik.
Iris had long reddish pink hair tied back into a tail and a pair of emerald green eyes.
She wore an iron muscle cuirass with the Sun of Helios in the center of the chest. Her shoulders were protected by a set of segmented shoulder guards which had leather strips that formed sleeves fitted with small metal studsto protect her upper arms. Similar leather strips but larger were attached to the end of the muscle cuirass and formed a skirt. She had a belt worn over her shoulder which she used to carry her weapon which was a longsword with a parrying hook and another belt was fastened around the waist which held a gladius instead.
Around her forearms was a set of iron vambraces with fur underneath to keep her forearms warm and she wore a pair of brown, fingerless gloves while below, she had on a set of iron greaves with fur underneath and a pair of leather boots.
Underneath the armor, Iris wore a white, short-sleeved overtunic along with a black, long-sleeved undertunic and a white scarf as well as a pair of black trousers.
Due to Feoh's colder climate, the Imperial Legate wore a blue cloak with a fox pelt trimming around her shoulders.
The Tetrican Imperial Bodyguards were handpicked Tetrican Evocati from the Imperial Province of Tetricania Occidentis. They wore the standard armor of a Legionary which consisted of an imperial helmet, segmented cuirass with segmented shoulder guards, pteruges sleeves and skirt, an armguard of overlapping metal plates called manica and a set of iron vambraces and greaves. Underneath, they wore short-sleeved mail hauberks over green, long-sleeved tunics with a pair of brown trousers and a set of fur boots. Around their shoulders were green cloaks fastened by a fibula.
They wielded the gladius and green, oval-shaped shield called parma. Each of them also carried a dagger which was sheathed in a scabbard attached to the back of their belts.
Iris and her guards rode after the Raven Guards that had been sent to retrieve the Imperial Legate and her Tetrican Imperial Bodyguards and lead them to Castle Arcturus.
As Iris and her company followed after the Raven Guards, the Imperial Legate took note of how the people of Feoh were vastly different from what Old Cato described them to her when she was young. They weren't a rabble of naked barbarians rolling in the mud with the pigs. They weren't frothing in the mouth and swinging their weapons in the air while trying to fight one another or performing dark rituals to dark gods in the middle of the road. In fact, most of the people she saw were civilians like the ones in the Eternal City. Normal people going on with their daily lives.
The Imperial Legate wondered what the hell the old scholar was smoking when he visited the Regnum de Nordmannorum or Kingdom of the Nordmen as they called the Kingdom of Feoh.
She and her guards soon arrived in Castle Arcturus and entered the castle's courtyard where they dismounted and allowed their mounts to be led to the stables. Iris saw a ring in the courtyard where two combatants were fighting inside while a very large and intimidating man was watching over them. A Long Axe in hand and yelling in Feoh's native tongue at the combatants to stop every once in a while before giving them advice in the Common Tongue.
The Imperial Legate and her guards were led inside the keep and Iris looked at the interior design of the keep. They passed by a large room filled with statues which piqued the Imperial Legate's interest before they arrived in the Great Hall.
In the far end of the room was a throne and upon it was the Queen of Feoh.
The blonde stood up from her throne as Iris and her guards approached. Iris had heard stories about how the Queen had been dealing with the bandits, Beast Men and monsters of the Kingdom herself and the Imperial Legate respected that. She was only 26 but to reach the rank of Legatus pro praetore at such a young age was an achievement she was very proud of.
She didn't achieve the rank through the Emperor granting it to her because she was family. No. She had to work hard to become an Imperial Legate. Shed so much blood, sweat and tears to get to where she was now.
Iris placed a fist over her heart and bowed low as the Queen stood in front of her. The Imperial Bodyguards mirroring her actions.
"Your Majesty." Iris began "I am Iris Arcadia and I come on the behalf of Emperor Publius Arcadius Aurelianus Nero. He wishes to improve the relations between the Empire and Eostia. He has sent me and other delegates to treat with the Eostian Kingdoms. I am fortunate enough to be sent as the diplomat to your land, Your Majesty."
"So your Emperor wants to improve relations? What about Geofu? Did he send a diplomat there too?" Alicia questioned.
"Considering our history, he was reluctant but he sent a diplomat nevertheless. Imperial Legate Lucius Varus Nerva Caledonicus was sent to Geofu to treat with the Königreich." Iris answered.
"Why the sudden need to improve relations? I thought the Empire was content with the way things are? You didn't care much for what happens to Eostia. What changed?"
"It was by the request of the Goddess Incarnate herself, Your Majesty. Her Divine Holiness had sought the aid of the Empire and Emperor Publius answered."
Alicia crossed her arms and thought why the Goddess Incarnate would ask the Empire for help. The answer came to her in an instant.
To end the war.
It was no secret that the Holy Aurelian Empire was vast. They had the all of Central and Western Selenus and parts of Eastern Selenus under their control. Northern Selenus was where Eostia, the Frontier Lands and Garan stood. Such a vast Empire came with an equally vast army. One that might win them the war against the Discordians if they play things right.
"Alright. I'll bite. We'll discuss treaties later today. But first, you people look like you could use something to eat. I'll have the kitchen staff prepare a meal for you and your guards."
Iris bowed her head in appreciation at the Queen of Feoh's kind gesture.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
(Line Break)
Vult grimaced before crumpling the letter and threw it at the campfire. Looks like they have to double their efforts and reach the Black Citadel faster if his plan were to work. This new development was something he did not expect the Goddess Incarnate to do.
He was reassured by his spies that all the matters of the war fell to Celestine's War Council yet the blonde bitch just requested the aid of the Holy Aurelian Empire and they answered. Diplomats were already meeting with the Eostian Kingdoms and soon, Legions would be arriving to the region to finish the war.
They needed to reach the Dark Queen before the Aurelians arrive. Perhaps it was time to talk with the Feral Orc Tribes in Garan. He had already killed quite a few number of War Bosses. Showing the remaining War Bosses the heads of their rivals will earn him their respect.
With Feral Orcs in his command, they would spearhead the siege of the Black Citadel. While the Discordians are busy defending the walls of the citadel and fighting off the combined army of the Black Dogs and Feral Orcs, Vult and a small group of his most elite mercenaries would sneak in to the Black Citadel.
One of the Dark Queen's Dreadswords, her personal bodyguards, had betrayed her and gave Vult and his men a way to sneak into the citadel as well as way to infiltrate Castle Discordia and the Throne Room where the Dark Queen was performing a dark ritual. Said ritual was weakening the shroud she had conjured to hide the Dark Citadel as well as weakening her control of the Arcane. The perfect time to capture Origa and begin the second phase of his plans. Taking over Garan and the Frontier Lands.
"Hicks!"
A man with brown hair tied back into a low tail and wearing an open green vest that revealed his lean and muscular torso approached the Mercenary Lord.
"Yeah, Boss?"
"Pack up. Plans have changed. We ride out to meet the Feral Orc War Bosses."
"What brought this on?"
"Celestine asked the Aurelians for help without the War Council's consent and now the Empire is sending diplomats to treat with the Eostian Kingdoms. We need to hurry up before they land troops in Eostian lands."
Hicks grimly nodded before whistling to gather everyone's attention.
"Pack up, you worthless dogs! We're leaving!"
Vult watched his men groan but obeyed his lieutenant nevertheless. The Mercenary Lord grunted before looking over his shoulder as Kin approached him while carrying a large book.
"Progress?" Vuly asked.
Instead of saying anything, the young bespectacled Mage raised his hand towards a tree before said hand glowed. The life force was sucked out of the tree and was transferred to Kin who shared a smirk with Vult as the tree withered away.
"Give me a few more days and I can do it on a human. I've already started draining the life from small animals. Given enough time, I might be able to drain the Dark Queen's mana instead of her life force."
Vult grinned maliciously.
"Perfect."