Nazarick
Elwing stood in the command room and gazed down at the magical projection below her. It showed an almost perfect recreation of the terrain and the structures of the continent. Lord Momonga had given her a piece of invaluable intelligence, the intelligence said the Holy Kingdom is planning an amphibious landing on the kingdom's western coast. If they succeeded they would be only a few days' march from the Capital of the Re-Estise Kingdom.
Elwing has suspected such a move ever since she first perused the map of this continent. The Re-Estise capital was simply too vulnerable to a naval invasion. In terms of Naval power the Holy Kingdom was the clear master in that regard. However, if the Holy Kingdom landed their army and the Ordo Malleus was waiting for them. The Holy Kingdom would lose both the army and a good portion of their fleet.
Elwing couldn't bring in her ships just yet but she may have to move up her plans. There is an important target in the Ice-Gate Valley, a naval landing with mechanised units could capture the Ice-Gate Valley in less than a day. If they could hold the valley the Holy Kingdom's army at the border would be surrounded. That would make two decisive victories with two armies cleaned off the map with no chance for regrouping. After that it was just a matter of driving all the way to Hoburns and decapitating the Holy Kingdom's leadership. Then they would have easy access to their real enemy, the Slaine Theocracy.
The plans Lord Momonga had passed on to her were invaluable. Her lord has essentially handed her the key to the Holy Kingdom. How he got access to this she has no idea but she suspected it has something to do with that girl in the Holy Kingdom. The gods have many ties to their aspects, all beings of the abyss are tied to Momonga. If anyone or anything can find an individual of the abyss it is Momonga sama. She has also heard Abyss users can inherit the memories of those they devour, this can be useful but also a great burden. It's a lot harder to kill someone when you know his entire life will be laid out before you after the deed is done. She highly suspected the girl probably ate some poor soul and a high ranking soul no less.
"Priority message to the Ordo Mechanicus." Elwing said as she scribbled her orders for ships on a slip of parchment and handed it to an aid.
"Runestead, you mentioned there was one militia battalion with a good battle record?" Elwing asked
"Yes the 2nd R235 Mechanized Militia Battalion, code name Matadors. They are currently the highest performing unit among the three Militia Battalions deployed in the Draconic Theatre. They are also the battalion with the highest attrition rate having lost 27% of their numbers." her aid Runestead replied.
"Battle fatigue?" Elwing asked.
"Battle Fatigue is mounting but they are still combat effective." Runestead replied.
"They were posted to Vox Varanus, the beastmen had a competent general. Guerilla warfare, pocket defense, multilayered defense lines. The beastmen general knew what he was doing." Runestead replied.
"Pull them back, give them two weeks home leave then send them to the western coast. Have them entrench themselves at the shore line. We'll crush this invasion at the beach." Elwing said.
"Yes Field Marshall." Runestead replied.
Ice Gate Valley, Holy Kingdom line Command Tent.
"Why you?" Remedios asked hotly, throwing the letter on the table.
"Maybe they thought me impartial?" Pavel replied with a shrug.
"You? Impartial? You are father to that hellspawn." Remedios said scathingly.
"Careful Remedios." Pavel said coldly.
"Commander, Sir Pavel is of low birth. He became a lord in later life perhaps that was why he was chosen. After All most of the prisoners are low born." Gustav said cutting in.
"Aye, you aren't gonna get anything out of prisoners if you go in lording over them." Reveil replied from his chair.
"Since when were you an expert in dealing with heretical prisoners?" Remedios asked.
"Since never, but those prisoners are peasants. They won't tell you the truth." Reveil replied calmly.
"And why is that?" Remedios asked through gritted teeth.
"They'll tell you what you want to hear. No sense in defying the lords and ladies, they're already locked up as heretics. They'll just lie to your face, say the wrong thing and they lose their heads. So you get nice pretty lies instead of the truth." Reveil replied.
"Then what about Gustav? We could send him." Remedios said.
"Yeah let's add more work on the guy planning the entire defense line of the Ice Gate Valley." Reveil replied with a snort.
"Commander is the one who…" Gustav began.
"By the six we are alone here aren't we? We all know you are the one doing everything." Reveil replied, cutting him off.
"Reveil!" Pavel snapped.
"Sorry Cap." Reveil replied leaning back in his chair crossing his arms.
"I'm the best chance of any justice being enforced in the internment camp. Besides we all know Paladins can be a bit zealous, I should know I married one and raised another after all. Noah threw you through a wall of mithril bars, even you can't do that Remedios. What do you think is going to happen if Neia sees you dragging prisoners screaming and begging out of the camp?" Pavel said.
"You overestimate that demon's abilities." Remedios replied.
"She flipped a full sized carriage on its side by herself when she was a girl. You know how heavy those carriages are considering how much you nobles love gold, silver and hardwood. By the way she was nine years old when she flipped that carriage." Reveil said.
"I will go and I will get to the bottom of these abuses. The prisoners have too many grievances with the Paladin Order, we must ensure justice for our citizens. All our citizens." Pavel said.
"Very well." Remedios said through gritted teeth.
"Then it's settled, Captain Pavel I wish you good fortune in your investigation." Gustav said with a relieved expression on his face.
The next day Pavel with Reveil rode along the road to the internment camp. Pavel knew this recommendation wasn't a coincidence. The whole thing had Neia all over it, she may be a good girl most of the time but she was cunning. Neia had a talent for orchestrating events to fit nicely into her goals. Or perhaps that was Noah's doing, two heads are better than one after all.
Once she managed to persuade him to give her more cookies from the cookie jar because there was a crack in it. Pavel suspected Neia herself had made that crack by "accident" two weeks before and the crack was causing the cookies to go stale. So cookies that usually took two weeks to go stale were now going stale in a single week, Pavel couldn't stand the fact that his hard work was going to be ruined by a crack in the jar so Neia's cookie allowance doubled. The thing was the nearest glass blower was two hours away by horse. Neia knew Pavel wouldn't want to ride four hours back and forth for a cookie jar so she enjoyed the cookies for months. Before one day, he finally realised what was happening and had it replaced. However, Neia ever crafty said that she has been eating double cookies for months and nothing bad has happened so far so why stop? Of course he had no evidence that the crack was intentional so he could hardly punish her on a suspicion. So that was the story of how Neia managed to get two cookies a day instead of one for five years.
Pavel smiled to himself and let out a laugh as he reminisced about the carefree days of the past.
"What's so funny?" Reveil asked.
"I was thinking about how Neia managed to double her cookie allowance all those years ago." Pavel replied with a smile.
"Ah yes the great cookie plot, little Neia has always been smart. You ever figured out if that crack was intentional?" Reveil asked.
"Nope, I should probably ask her." Pavel said
"Yeah, you should." Reveil said as they neared the internment camp.
Pavel approached the large iron gate and was halted by a guard. The guard looked lazy, his spear wasn't even in his hand it was leaned up against the wall of the guard post. His helmet wasn't on and his armor was a mess. It looked like his gambeson was on backwards, he could see the threads poking out from the gaps of his armor.
"Who goes there?" the guard asked lazily.
"Captain Pavel Baraja, the Black of the Nine Colors." Pavel said evenly.
The guard did a double take as he gazed at Pavel, he didn't see any banners or fine armor. He just saw a man wearing fine quality leather armor.
"You are Pavel Baraja?" the guard asked sceptically.
"You expecting a parade?" Reveil asked sarcastically.
"My documents." Pavel said with a sigh as he handed the guard his identification documents.
"Hmm, they say The Black is also called the mad eyed archer. Your eyes don't look mad to me." the guard said sceptically.
"You mean like this?" Pavel said as he narrowed his eyes and let a bit of his killing intent leak through.
The guard took a step back in fear as he gazed into Pavel's eyes.
"Look mad enough for you?" Pavel asked coldly.
"Yes my lord, let me get the gate open." the guard said hurriedly.
Pavel sighed and looked at Reveil. Reveil caught his eye and looked to the groaning iron gate that was being slid open. As they walked through Reveil stopped next to the guard.
"We are here to investigate abuses on prisoners. Know anything about that?" Reveil asked.
"No my lord. The prisoners here are all treated fairly." the guard stammered.
"Is that so? By the way, your gambeson is inside out and pick up your weapon. You're a guard of an internment camp not a scarecrow." Reveil said coldly as he rode past.
"Well?" Pavel asked.
"He says the prisoners are treated fairly." Reveil replied with a scoff.
"We have a lot of work to do." Pavel muttered.
The Work Yard
Neia carried another chunk of ore and dumped it into a cart. She turned and saw a crowd of people working, over the past week the prisoners have found a common unity. It turned out in the past the guards would pit the prisoners against each other. Sell someone out to save yourself a beating, sell someone else out for a bit of extra food. It was a simple and effective system. Divide and conquer one of the oldest military strategies.
Neia was conflicted, the Paladin Order has a saying. Stand as one or fall together, this was the tenant of all Paladins. They were one order, to defend the one people. No one was to be left behind except… perhaps for these people. Neia didn't want to believe it at first but slowly the truth has begun to sink in. These people have been left behind, they didn't fit into the one so they were cast out to freeze and starve.
"That's the last one for this one boss." a man said as he heaved the last chunk of the ore into the cart.
"I'm not your boss." Neia replied.
"Really? Seems like you are to me. The six came down to save and protect humanity and you came to protect and help us. The guards leave us alone after you caved in that perverts breastplate. The six lead by example and so do you." the man said.
"I…" Neia stammered.
"Doyle cut it out." Eudico said as she walked over.
"What just calling it as it is." Doyle replied.
"Come on, there's four more carts to go." Eudico said as she gestured to the remaining carts.
"Got it Eudi." Doyle said as he turned away.
"Hey you ok?" Eudico asked.
"Yeah… just caught me a bit off guard that's all." Neia replied weakly.
"Well he is kind of right you know, many of these people now look to you for leadership. You brought a semblance of order to their lives. The guards don't dare to touch us anymore because of you, so they gathered around you for protection. You hold power over their lives and grant them protection, it's not that big of a leap for them to start to see you as a leader." Eudico said.
"I guess…" Neia replied begrudgingly.
"Hey, have you ever heard the saying? The best king is one that does not desire the crown, the best king is one that takes the crown because he must not because he can." Eudico said.
"I'm not a king." Neia replied.
"Fine swap the word king for leader and the word crown for station, you get the point." Eudico said.
"Sounds like a heavy burden." Neia said with a sigh.
"It is, crowns are heavy to those worthy to wear them. These people need a leader, they need someone to protect them. So are you?" Eudico asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah I'll try." Neia replied.
"Remember we're with you, a leader does not stand alone. We all stand behind you." Eudico said as she grabbed Neia's shoulder.
"Thanks." Neia replied with a weak smile.
"Four more carts to go, lead on boss." Eudico said with a wink.
At the edge of the workfield stood Boris, he was fresh out of the infirmary as he gazed hatefully at the group of prisoners. Standing around him were the other guards of this shift, they stood together and gazed impotently at the group of prisoners.
"Hey you aren't thinking of going out there are you?" a guard asked.
"That bitch needs to pay." Boris replied through gritted teeth.
"And how are you going to accomplish that?" the guard dead panned.
"Yeah she broke every rib in your chest, your old breast plate is scrap metal now." another guard said.
"Trust me man, I know you're new here but don't bother. That girl is something else." one of the guards said.
"So you lot are just going to let these bunch of heretics walk all over you?" Boris snapped.
"We can't fight her, I heard she threw Remedios Custodio through a set of mithril bars. If she wanted to kill you, trust me you would be a red smear in the snow." another guard hissed in warning.
"We don't have to fight her…" Boris replied
"I assume you have an idea?" another guard asked.
"The reports have come in, the Holy Kingdom needs more iron. We just have to do our sacred duty and get more. We increase the quota." Boris said.
"We can't just increase the quota, we need the shift supervisor to make the call." another guard replied.
"So we just say because of that non compliant prisoner, we can't maintain order in the yard. So we need to increase the quota to maintain productivity." Boris countered.
"Boris you do realise that as long as the quota is delivered everyday the productivity does not change." another guard said wearily.
"Then we say they are slacking off and they can deliver more. That's true isn't it? Look at them, they're almost done and there's still four work hours left." Boris said.
"I don't like this." a guard muttered in reply.
"You scared?" Boris challenged.
"Yes! You are a fool for not being afraid but I said no because the point of this place is to rehabilitate not to punish." the guard replied.
"You pitying these heretics?" Boris asked turning to face the guard.
"We are here to ensure that they learn their lesson and are sent on their way. We aren't supposed to work them to death no matter what the hell the rest of you think." the guard spat back.
"Hey Tyr, that's enough." a guard said.
"No, I'm sick of it. You abuse these people for nothing but your amusement. You bully them when they can't fight back and now someone comes along who can so you stand here and scheme. You're just a bandit with a uniform." Tyr spat.
"What did you say?" Boris growled as he took a step towards Tyr.
"I'm not afraid of you big man." Tyr spat back.
Boris responded by aiming a punch at Tyr, who deftly dodged to the side. The rest of the guards grabbed the pair and pulled them apart.
"Your scum." Tyr shouted as he spat in Boris's direction.
"What's going on here?" Pavel said as he walked up to the group of guards.
The group of guards froze and they turned to see Pavel standing beside the Prison Warden.
"The barracks now." Pavel said curtly.
As the guards began walking towards the barracks Pavel turned to look at Reveil.
"I got this." Reveil said as he waved Pavel off.
Reveil turned to look at the group of prisoners and saw Neia directing and dividing the labour. Reveil smiled lightly to himself and leaned against a nearby stone wall and began to watch. To him Neia looked like Pavel, she led by example, always directing as she carried another piece of ore under arm. Not afraid to get her hands dirty and always with a helping hand.
The Barracks
Pavel looked to the gathered guards and gazed at the two who were fighting. One was clearly stewing the other had his head down looking resigned and exhausted.
"First off allow me to introduce myself, I am Captain Pavel Baraja the Black of the Nine Colours. I am here to investigate reports of abuses on the prisoners here." Pavel said.
At those words the pair immediately had a reaction, the one who had his head down looked up with a glimmer in his eyes. The one who was stewing blanched pale and immediately looked away and broke eye contact.
"I will be speaking to all of you and the prisoners." Pavel said, he paused and looked around the room catching every soldier's eyes. Some met his gaze unflinchingly others looked away fearfully.
"First off I wish to ask what was that fight for? I assume it wasn't for sport." Pavel said coldly.
The guards looked to each other mutely and said nothing.
"Didn't you lot hear him? Answer the captain." the prison warden ordered.
"It was a personal disagreement that's all." the more fearful of the pair said.
"Is that so? Your name soldier?" Pavel asked.
"Boris sir." Boris replied.
"A personal disagreement you say?" Pavel asked as he walked over to Boris.
"What about?" Pavel pressed.
"Sir with respect, I don't feel comfortable disclosing my personal matters in front of my fellow guards." Boris replied.
Pavel noted he was deathly pale, his eyes were darting all over the place like a cornered mouse and he was sweating profusely in a room that was freezing cold.
"You're not a very good liar are you?" Pavel asked coldly.
"Sir?" Boris stammered.
"Should I remind you that under the Law of the Holy Kingdom, disobeying a command from a superior officer and obstructing the crowns justice is a punishable crime." Pavel said.
"Boris, answer. NOW!" the prison warden snapped.
Still Boris remained silent, trembling like a cornered mouse.
"You want to know why I know you're lying? You were fighting in front of the other guards. If it was truly that personal you would have had your scuffle in private." Pavel said as he leaned forward his face now a few centimeters from Boris's.
Boris sat there trembling and remained silent. Pavel looked at him and knew he was looking at a walking talking example of the alleged abuses.
"Warden, arrest this man. I will question him later." Pavel said calmly as he stood back upright.
As some of the guards dragged Boris off, Pavel turned to look at the other guard.
"Tyr my lord." Tyr said with a nod.
"Will you tell me what that fight is about?" Pavel asked evenly.
"Boris didn't tell you because if he did he would be hung for it. If I told you I will end up with a long knife in my back tonight." Tyr replied.
"Warden, put this man in protective custody. Send him to the army encampment, I will have my men hold him." Pavel said.
"Yes Captain Baraja." the warden said.
Pavel looked around the room and saw some of the guards were gazing at him evenly. Others on the other hand were pale and averting their gazes. Pavel committed their faces to memory and turned away.
The Work Yard
Pavel walked over to Reveil who was still leaning against a wall looking at the prisoners work. Neia was hard at work and he could see the elderly and children were standing at the side resting.
"They don't seem so bad do they? If we listen to everything the church says you would think heretics sprout horns and grow tails." Reveil commented without looking back.
"Careful Reveil you wouldn't want to be labeled a 41 sympathiser." Pavel replied jokingly.
"I have no use for gods, haven't helped me so far. Seen neither hide nor tail of anything remotely divine." Reveil said.
"Should we go speak with them?" Pavel asked.
"Lead on Captain." Reveil said as he stood up straight.
Pavel let out a sigh as he trudged forward into the snow followed by Reveil. Neither the warden nor the guards followed them. He wanted the prisoners to speak their mind, he couldn't do that with their oppressors looming behind him.
Neia hefted the last of the ore into the trolley and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Great job everyone, shifts over. You all head back, I'll deliver the carts. Get some rest, it's been a long day." Neia said cheerfully.
"I'll take one with you." Eudico said.
"Aye me as well." Doyle added.
"Me too." Nate said.
Neia paused and looked to the trio before letting out a smile. She nodded gratefully and grabbed the handles on one of the carts.
"Heads up boss, we got lords on the prowl." Doyle said grimly.
Neia looked up and saw her father and godfather trudging towards her in the snow. Her heart jumped with joy when she saw them and she instinctively took a step forward.
"Neia, stop." Noah said
"What why?" Neia asked bewildered.
"Most of the people here don't exactly look very kindly on the ruling class." Noah said.
This gave Neia pause, it was true most of the people here were merely guilty by association. The true heretics were now food for carrion, their bodies picked clean by the crows.
"Everyone else head back, I'll speak to them." Neia said in a clipped tone.
"You heard her head back, you too Doyle." Eudico said.
"But…" Doyle began.
"You really wanna leave the kids alone with wolves on the prowl?" Eudico asked arching an eyebrow.
"I… you're right. Come on kid." Doyle said as he turned and motioned for Nate to follow him.
"What about you?" Neia asked, turning her head to Eudico.
"Someone has to watch your back." Eudico stated crossing her arms.
"Alright." Neia replied with a sigh.
"Why is something bothering you?" Eudico asked, furrowing her brow.
"You might not like what comes next." Neia replied.
"Huh?" Eudico asked perplexed.
"Neia." Pavel said as he approached.
"Hi dad, hi uncle Reveil." Neia replied softly.
"Dad? You're a lady?" Eudico asked.
"Technically yes." Neia replied softly.
"So what illustrious household do you come from my lady." Eudico said coldly her tone as cold the howling winds of the boreal landscape.
"The house of Baraja, I am Pavel Baraja the black of the Nine Colors." Pavel replied.
"It is an honor my lord." Eudico replied sarcastically with a mock courtesy.
"Yes, he is Pavel Baraja Captain of the Outrider Rangers, the mad eyed archer, the son of you wouldn't know him." Reveil said.
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm not high born enough to know which lord his father is?" Eudico asked with a growl.
"No, my captain here isn't high born, he's just high. He was a peasant before he got granted the noble title for valorous service." Reveil replied.
"Then what are you, his hired killer?" Eudico asked.
"It started that way. Now I'm a knight, although I don't like the sir this, sir that business." Reveil replied with a scoff.
"You must be quite the killer to be knighted." Eudico stated.
"Killed the right people I suppose." Reveil replied with a shrug.
"Heh, so what do you want with us? Or is this just a personal visit?" Eudico said after a slight chuckle.
"No, we are here to investigate abuses on the prisoners here by the guards. Neia here was the one who told the warden about the happenings here. I was recommended to come here by Neia as well." Pavel said.
"Are you now?" Eudico said her tone warming up.
"See? It's good to have friends in high places isn't it?" Reveil replied with a smirk.
"Never had the luxury but I am seeing the perks." Eudico said with a wolfish smirk.
"So are there any abuses miss…" Pavel said.
"Eudico and yes there are. It's not the question of what they did more like what they didn't do. If I had to think of what they haven't done so far the only thing I can think of is cannibalism." Eudico growled.
"That's a harsh condemnation." Pavel commented.
"It's not harsh if it's true." Eudico replied.
"So what are we walking about? Rape? Beatings?" Reveil asked brows furrowed.
"Rape, beatings, extortion, pedophilia, torture and degradation. You name it they've done it." Eudico replied coolly.
"You suffered these abuses?" Pavel asked.
"Mostly beatings, I traded beatings in exchange for not spreading my legs. Broke one guard's jaw when he tried." Eudico seethed.
"Tough one aren't you?" Reveil said.
"I am not a toy to be used." Eudico said coldly.
"Good, the strong like to prey on the powerless. With strength comes the responsibility to use your power justly." Pavel said.
"My lord, if you're looking for justice I'm afraid you have come to the wrong place. There was this woman her husband was reading this book that implied that goblins may not be as mindless as we thought. So he got hung for it, his wife and child were thrown in here. The child was a girl two years old, that two year old girl was convicted of heresy by association. A two year old girl, she couldn't even read yet. How the hell was she supposed to be able to read that damn book?" Eudico raged.
Pavel went silent at those words, the whole story rang with injustice. Perhaps the wife was guilty of harboring her husband and keeping his secret but the child was innocent. The child probably didn't even know what a goblin was.
"Can I speak with that woman?" Pavel asked
"You're a little late I'm afraid. The girl didn't last long here, our accommodations don't exactly include a hearth for heating. The mother unable to bear it took her sheets and hung herself." Eudico replied.
"I see, I would like to speak with the rest of the prisoners. I will hear the stories from both sides." Pavel said.
"You're going to listen to the guards? They'll just call us liars!" Eudico shouted.
"I would expect so but we still need to hear their side of the story. The accused have the right to defend themselves." Reveil said.
"Funny I don't recall being able to defend myself, they just dragged me into a court and sentenced me." Eudico replied coldly.
"We will do it properly, if we do as they do how are we better? To end the cycle we must start with ourselves." Pavel replied.
"If they are found guilty what then? Two weeks in a stockade and then a transfer to another unit? No court will take what we say as evidence." Eudico replied.
"There will be no court, I am the judge, jury and executioner for this case." Pavel replied evenly.
"Executioner?" Eudico asked.
"Yes the letter of law put you here but the law binds these guards as much as the law binds you in those chains." Pavel replied.
"The law states that murderers and rapists are to be hanged." Eudico said.
"And so they will be." Pavel replied calmly.
"You're gonna need a lot of rope." Eudico replied.
"There's an army camp an hour away by horse, we'll have enough." Reveil said.
"We found one already actually, this guard called Boris." Pavel added.
"Oh him, he survived? Shame." Eudico said coldly.
"You know him?" Pavel asked.
"Oh yeah, Neia nearly kicked him into the next life." Eudico replied with a laugh.
"He was beating a child." Neia said uncomfortably.
"If you want to know what he did I have a woman who knows every grisly detail." Eudico offered.
"Take me to her." Pavel said.
"As my lord commands." Eudico replied with a predatory smile.
Later that night
The prisoners all sat inside one of the dormitories. Before them stood Eudico and Neia, the faces of the prisoners showed a mix of emotions. Some were terrified, others were hopeful but some were red with anger.
"Who the hell was that?" Doyle asked angrily.
"Neia's dad." Eudico replied calmly.
"Hang on, Neia's a lordling?" Doyle asked.
"Yep." Eudico replied, crossing her arms.
"And you're ok with that?" Doyle asked.
"Doyle calm down." Eudico said coldly.
"Calm? How the hell am I supposed to be calm when one of the most powerful nobles in the Holy Kingdom just walked in here and interrogated us?" Doyle snapped.
"You will be calm because one of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom just walked in here and harmed no one." Eudico retorted.
"My father will harm none of you, he is a good man. I spoke with the warden and asked that he send my father to investigate the abuses of the guards." Neia said.
"You're a lord, how can we trust you. The lords knowingly threw us in here to die, you think they care about us?" Doyle retorted.
"I didn't know before I came here and I think most of the nobility don't either. We stand for justice or at least we try to…" Neia replied wearily before faltering.
"Alright enough, listen up you all. We all know how this kingdom works, every piece of shit on the side of every road has someone's banner hanging from it. We were powerless, we had no banners but now we have someone powerful on our side. If anything, what more do we have to lose? What are they going to do? Kill us?" Eudico asked, raising an eyebrow.
There was a murmur of conversation, most seemed to agree, others were sceptical.
"I know you can't trust what I say, I know you all don't deserve to be here…" Neia said.
"You don't deserve to be here either sister." Noah said softly
"But my father once told me, do not speak when you can act. I know my father will do what is right, if I had to wager if there is one just person left in this world it would be my father. He will bring justice to this godforsaken place." Neia said passionately.
"I spoke with him before he entered, he seems trustworthy. A lord like him has no reason to come to a place like this. Plus they say the apple doesn't fall from the tree and he gives off the same feeling as I get from Neia here." Eudico added.
"You trust him?" Doyle asked Eudico.
"As far as lords go he seems the most agreeable, he started as a peasant and now he's a lord. If any lord can empathise with us it's him." Eudico replied.
"Alright…" Doyle replied, he went silent for a moment and looked to Neia.
"Sorry boss, lots of bad blood here between us and the nobility." Doyle said sheepishly.
"It's fine, I… can understand why." Neia replied softly.
"Still so sure of the righteousness of the crown?" Noah asked.
"No." Neia replied.
"Most of the people here don't deserve to be here, they were sent to die for convenience. Will you look away like all the great nobles or will you open your eyes sister?" Noah said.
"My eyes have been shut long enough." Neia replied.
"Good, sooner or later a reckoning comes." Noah growled.
"A reckoning?" Neia asked.
"One day Remedios and her ilk will come for our heads. When they do they will lose theirs instead." Noah replied.
"Neia? You alright?" Eudico asked as she looked at the blank look on her face.
"Yeah I'm fine, sorry. Just have alot on my mind." Neia replied.
"We all do Neia. We should all get some rest. It's been a long day." Eudico said to those gathered.
"You don't know that Remedios will truly come for us Noah." Neia replied.
"I do, this war is lost. The army will lose and Remedios will come to silence us before the forces of the 41 come to spirit us away." Noah said.
"How do you know that?" Neia asked, her mouth going dry.
"I know sister, believe me. Steel yourself, the sun is setting on the Holy Kingdom. Let it fall to ashes and flame, a more unworthy nation has never existed." Noah replied coldly.
The next day at the Army Encampment Command Tent
"Rampant abuses by the guards, they've done everything in the diary of sin." Pavel said as he threw the report on the table.
Gustav picked up the report and began to read, his face grew paler and paler with each line of text.
"How could this be? This must be a mistake." Gustav muttered.
"I would think so if not for this guard, Private Tyr. Transferred to the Ice Gate Valley Moral Debt Internment Camp four years ago due to negligence of duty. His account matches almost everything the prisoners said. I have one Private Boris in custody right now, he will be interrogated today though I suspect he will only add credence to what we already know." Pavel said.
"They are heretics, they have strayed from the light of the six. This is the comeuppance they deserve." Remedios replied from her seat at the table.
"So sin is fine as long as it's targeted at sinners? Seems a bit hypocritical to me." Reveil replied.
"It is the god's will that they be punished." Remedios snapped.
"So it's the six gods will that our guards indulge in rape, corruption and sadism?" Reveil deadpanned.
"You dare to slander the gods?" Remedios shouted as she stood up outraged.
"No, I am just commenting on what you are implying. The teachings of the six apply to all of us at all times. Just because they are labeled heretics does not mean we can do sinful acts towards them." Reveil replied calmly.
"Captain, Lieutenant Reveil is right. We must always uphold the queen's justice, we must be the example not the exception." Gustav said quietly.
"I have another testimony of this woman named Eudico Cox. She was convicted four years ago for insubordination and blasphemy. She's been at the camp ever since, she is a kind of leader for the prisoners there." Pavel said as he placed another stack of parchment on the table.
"Hang on I know this woman." Gustav said as he furrowed his brow.
"You do?" Pavel asked gazing intently at Gustav.
"Yes, one of my Sergeants put her on charges years ago. I don't remember what she did but I remember lowering her sentence from hanging to a sentencing trial." Gustav said.
"Well she's in the internment camp now and has been the past four years." Reveil said.
"Did you attend her sentencing trial?" Pavel asked.
"No, I was called to another assignment soon after. I left it in the hands of the Sergeants. I assumed she would just be dismissed and forfeit her pay." Gustav replied softly.
"Well it seems you thought wrong." Pavel said.
"How long is her sentence?" Gustav asked.
"What I heard from the warden was that the prisoners will be given in a retrial once they have spent sufficient time repenting. If they are found to be reformed then they will be released." Pavel replied.
"How will they know if the time spent repenting is sufficient?" Gustav asked.
"The Judicator Court in Hoburns handles that." Pavel replied.
"Do they have a representative at the camp to oversee the process?" Gustav asked
"Nope." Reveil replied.
"Then how do they know when someone has repented?" Gustav asked, dread and confusion colouring his face.
"They don't, the warden says he has never received news of a retrial in all the time he has spent in his post." Pavel replied grimly.
"Incidentally the warden has been working there for the past sixteen years." Reveil added.
"By the six…" Gustav said as he covered his face with his hands.
"This needs to stop. We are just throwing people in there as free labour, this isn't rehabilitation, this is slavery." Pavel said firmly.
"No." Remedios said.
"What?" Pavel asked incredulously.
"The prisoners stay, the iron they help process is invaluable to the war effort. Kelart says she has steel shortages and frankly so do we." Remedios said.
"We can't just leave them in there, we can hire workers to do the mining." Pavel said.
"What workers? Every fit and able man is either here, with Kelart or in training." Remedios retorted.
"You knew…" Reveil said softly.
"What?" Remedios asked turned to Reveil a dangerous edge in his voice.
"You knew what that camp was for. I know you, you barely remember half the things that happen in meetings but you know about the state of the steel shortages? How do you know so much about the logistics of steel manufacturing?" Reveil asked, his voice cold.
"Reveil enough." Pavel commanded, Reveil gave Remedios one last icy glare before turning away.
"The faith of the six is all but destroyed in the east. The Re-Estise Kingdom, the Baharuth Empire and then Draconic Kingdom are all arrayed against us. How long before the Argland Council State comes and joins them. We are beset on all sides by heretics and you all are worrying about some heretics mining steel in a prison!" Remedios shouted angrily as she slammed her mailed fist into the table cracking the wood.
"Commander, please calm…" Gustav began.
"Be calm? We are already at war with the Elves of the Crescent Lake, the Dwarfs despise us, it won't take much to pit them against us. You all know how the Dwarfs allow no mention of the six within their mountain. Here we are scraping for steel while the Dwarfs are sitting on half the Mithril and Adamantium on the continent. If we lose we will be reduced to nothing. All of the Six's work will be undone. Humanity will be as it was in the age of the old gods, we will become slaves just as we were under the high elves and the dragons. We will be mules for the other races waiting to be whipped, broken and bridled." Remedios raged her face purple, veins popping at her temple.
We are wasting time on this. We can settle this when the war is won." Remedios said as she walked over and jabbed a finger in Reveil's chest.
"We are the shield that guards the innocents behind us, remember who our enemy is. We will not endanger the innocent for those sinners." Remedios said fiercely.
"We are still going to punish the guards, the law commands it." Pavel said firmly from the side.
"Fine, do as you wish but the prisoners stay." Remedios spat as she turned and returned to pursuing the map before her.
Seeing the discussion was over Pavel sighed and exited the tent. He heard Reveil walk out from behind him and they began walking over the outrider encampment. Once they were safely out of earshot Pavel heard Reveil sigh.
"You stopped me from talking about the steel, why?" Reveil asked.
"The Custodio family has ties to the Judicator Courts, some of those who sit at the head of the courts are paladins. Seems fitting that the champions of justice help oversee the highest court of justice in the Holy Kingdom." Pavel replied dryly.
"Huh so she knew, that's why Neia was thrown in there. Keeps our little girl far away from the noble courts, far from the Theocracy and on a short leash since the Custodio's enjoy strong ties to the Judicator Courts… but you knew all that... " Reveil said as he scowled looking to Pavel.
"It was either this or the fire." Pavel replied.
"No, she was never going to burn, Noah would kill every last soul on the continent before he lets that happen." Reveil replied.
"Exactly and how is Neia going to live with that?" Pavel replied, turning to face Reveil.
Reveil didn't reply; he merely kept walking silently. They walked in silence until at last, they reached the section of the camp that belonged to the outriders.
"You know Pavel, these past few days have me thinking about my oath." Reveil said quietly.
"Those are dangerous words, Reveil." Pavel replied coolly.
"It's strange don't you think, they make you swear and swear. Protect the queen, protect the faith, protect justice, protect the people, protect this protect that. What happens when the queen destroys justice, what happens when the faith destroys the people? What then?" Reveil asked.
"We do what we can." Pavel replied.
"Yeah but I get this feeling some day soon we will have to choose one and sacrifice the other. I pray I am wise enough to make the right choice." Reveil said as he turned and walked away.
"As do I old friend, as do I…" Pavel muttered under his breath as he headed for his tent.
Authors Notes:
Hey guys it's been a while been ironing out some of the events that are going to happen. Also been polishing the culture of the Elves and Dwarfs in my mind to hopefully come across as organic as possible. There are going to be some big battles ahead so for those action lovers I hope you're excited.
So leave a review if you liked it and any suggestions are always welcome. Leave a review if you liked it and see you guys in the next chapter.