Chapter 24: Para Bellum Part 2.
Ferdinand winced as he dismounted, the moon above bright as he nodded to the two guards at the gate.
"General von Aegir," the guard to his left said with a nod. "Welcome back to Garreg Mach."
"It's good to see you," Ferdinand replied. "Are any members of the Black Eagles here?"
The guard frowned, "Half the task force is still in Garreg Mach, who in particular are you seeking out?"
"Is professor Manuela here?" Ferdinand asked, waving over the other members of the group. "Or Linhardt?"
The guard shook his head, "General Casagranda left for Enbarr some time ago, but General von Herving is present."
Ferdinand nodded, "It would be appreciated if we could speak to him."
"He should still be in his room," the other guard chimed in. "Though he may be in the mess hall along with Seteth."
"Seteth is here?" Yuri asked, his face surprised. "I thought he disappeared."
"He returned only a few days ago," the first guard replied. "Arrived with Flayn."
Ferdinand nodded as Yuri waved the rest of the former Ashen Wolves forward.
"Hilda still here?" Balthus asked, his arms firmly crossed against his chest.
"Lady Goneril is present," the second guard offered quickly. "Though her injuries have yet to fully heal."
Balthus nodded at the answer, "Infirmary then."
"Is the Bert or Eddy here?" Hapi asked, taking a moment to stretch her legs.
The guard blinked, "Pardon?"
"Hubert or Edelgard," Ferdinand translated in turn, a weak smile on his face.
"Um, no, we believe both of them are in Enbarr, but we aren't sure."
"Chatterbox?" Hapi asked.
"The professor isn't here." Linhardt said, his face tired as he waved the group forward. "Please, come in."
"We've found something important," Yuri interrupted. "We found a body with an intact symbol of our enemy."
Linhardt frowned as Yuri handed him a black strip of cloth, his eyes scanning the damaged icon before he shook his head.
"Nothing then?" Yuri asked.
Linhardt shook his head again, "I'm afraid not, I've never seen this icon before."
"Do you believe that Seteth would know about it?" Yuri asked as the group began a quick stroll to the Officer's Academy. "Or perhaps Hubert?"
Linhardt slowed to ponder the question, "Hubert is more likely, but he's not here."
"Where's Seteth then?" Constance asked, "He's here, isn't he?"
"I am," Seteth replied, stepping before the group from a side street. "I was taking a walk trying to find a restaurant that Flayn enjoyed when I heard my name."
"Do you recognize this?" Constance asked, tearing the cloth from Linhardt. "We found it on a dead soldier in Arianrhod."
"By Sothis," Seteth replied, his hands shaking as he saw the emblem on the cloth. "You found this in Arianrhod?"
"A dead soldier," Yuri confirmed. "Looked like a personal guard of Cornelia's."
"Agartha," Seteth whispered, his eyes vacant. "To think they had gotten so close."
"Seteth?" Constance asked, her voice concerned.
"I must reflect on this," Seteth stammered, turning on his heel. "Pardon me."
"If there's anything you need to tell us, we're here to listen," Ferdinand promised, his eyes meeting those of Seteth.
Seteth nodded before he turned away, his stride uncertain as he walked into the night.
"Mortis?" Maya asked the magister kneeling at the centre of the floor.
Mortis turned at the sound of the girl's voice, taking a moment to hide her dagger within the folds of her cloak.
"Maya," Mortis snarled, shutting her trunk as she rose to her feet. "What are you doing here?"
"Ignatz-"
"Yes, I know Ignatz has been captured," Mortis snapped. "And you know very well that even I'm incapable of getting him out of there."
Maya swallowed, "Then what are you going to do?"
"I'm leaving for Garreg Mach." Mortis replied.
"You can't leave!" Maya protested. "Everyone else has been captured!"
"And by staying, I either join them in chains or end up in a shallow grave," Mortis sneered. "And if I get to Garreg Mach, won't your brother's army come and crush this puny rebellion?"
A spot of light dawned in Maya's eyes as she seemed stunned at the realization.
"Now, can I guarantee your co-operation in this matter?" Mortis asked, pulling her trunk forward as she towered over the girl.
"What about Evi?" Maya asked. "We still haven't found her yet."
Mortis gave Maya a look of disgust, her lips curled into a hideous snarl.
Maya flinched at the look on the older woman's face before she stepped away.
"If we were to run into Evi," Mortis growled. "Then it's almost certain that she's become our enemy."
Maya swallowed, "But what if-"
Mortis growled as she drew her Athame, the tip of the wicked dagger mere inches from Maya's nose as Mortis sank into a crouch.
"Let me be very clear, Maya Kristen," Mortis snarled, her patience spent. "Even if Evi wasn't openly hostile to us, then she would only slow us down and make us more visible."
"But-"
"If you can't promise me that you won't try to chase her if we came across her, then I'll kill you right now," Mortis whispered, the point of Athame pressing against Maya's cheek. "And I promise you, a quick death at my hands will be much less painful than what the Count Gloucester can promise you."
"I- I promise," Maya spluttered, taking a small step back as Mortis rose to her full height.
"Good, then we have nothing left to discuss."
"Spite?" the soldier asked as the former overlord of Shambhala approached the table, his black robes exchanged for a white set.
"Percival," Spite replied. "I have need of your squadron."
The man blinked in surprise, rising from his table as his fellow card players watched in awe.
"Finish your game," Spite said, nodding to the others. "It shouldn't be more than a few turns before this game ends."
Percival swallowed before he sat back down in his seat, a single card slipping out from his hands as the rest of the table fell into silence.
"Bastard," a soldier muttered, throwing her hand forward. "How are any of us going to play that?"
"You aren't," a third soldier scoffed, patting Percival on the back as he rose from his seat. "Now, come on, Spite wants you for something."
"Is there something that I've done wrong?" Percival asked as he followed Spite through the halls of Shambhala. "Did someone from my squad do something?"
Spite shook his head as he reached a distant meeting room, three squadron leaders already assembled before the two latecomers.
"What's going on?" Percival whispered to the mage next to him as he slid into his seat.
"All in due time, Percival," Spite said as he took his seat at the head of the table. "I've gathered you here for a potentially dangerous mission."
The room fell silent as Spite watched each commander in the ensuing silence.
"Very well then," Spite said after meeting the eyes of each soldier. "I trust all of you are aware of our northern expedition?"
A murmur rose from the assembled ranks of the force as nervous glances were exchanged.
"There is no need to panic," Spite said, waving the assembled soldiers down. "The chance of encountering hostile forces is rather low, but in the event that we do encounter one, the enemy will likely consist of an overwhelming enemy."
"What is this enemy we are looking for?" Percival asked. "Sorry, I wasn't well informed on the objectives of the northern expedition."
"Do you even read your briefing memos?" Talos asked. "The northern expedition was sent to kill the blasted Nabatean Macuil."
"When was this memo sent?" Percival asked, his face sheepish. "I might have been away from base when it was sent."
"Talos, Percival," Spite said, his voice serious. "Enough bickering. Percival, I expect in the future that you will catch up with internal memos after returning from your missions, Talos, I am perfectly capable of speaking for myself."
"Right," Talos muttered. "Sorry about that."
"Some days ago, the task force stationed at the fortification known as Conand Tower went dark," Spite said. "We believe it was destroyed by either the Imperial Army or by Macuil himself."
"That force was three hundred men strong!" a magister protested.
"Lead by Bias herself," Spite added. "Which is why I'm assembling such a large force to investigate the situation."
"And if they were wiped out?" Talos asked.
"It would depend on if there was a rearguard left in the area," Spite replied. "If so, we slaughter the rearguard and destroy whatever evidence we can."
"And if not?" Percival asked.
"Then we determine just exactly what happened there," Spite said. "And then we destroy the evidence left behind by the battle."
"And what if the task force is still fine?"
Spite turned to watch the magister who had spoken out, "Then we demand answers to why Bias has failed to respond to the hails of Thales."
"Oh," the magister said. "Alright then."
"We will depart at daybreak tomorrow morning," Spite said. "Gather a guard with you and meet me in the Machine Hall at daybreak."
"How many men should we bring?" Talos asked. "It's very late and we have only a short amount of time to collect our forces."
"Understandable," Spite replied. "Bring four soldiers each with you."
"Any preferences?" Talos asked as he rose from his seat. "Archers? Defenders?"
"Ranged hunters," Spite said as he leaned into his chair. "And those with strong stomachs."
The crowd before the grim faced garrison parted as the leader of the traitor force marched forward, the presence of the Count causing the assembled shield wall to tighten.
"Gloucester!" shouted an old soldier, his officer's armour dented from years of service. "Surrender quietly! The emperor is capable of mercy!"
Count Gloucester stood in the centre of his rebel army, his face grim as he stared at the imperial legion blockading the opposite end of the bridge.
"I do not serve your emperor," Count Gloucester replied. "I serve the County of Gloucester first, last, and always!"
"And you would bring your county into the fires of war?" the soldier snapped in turn. "You would drag the people your ancestors swore to protect into the fires of war?"
Count Gloucester turned to face the imperial general, his aged face a mask of hatred.
"I have served the County of Gloucester since the day I was born, and I will do so until the day I die." Count Gloucester declared. "Just as my father before me and his father before him."
"And yet you feed your people into the fires of war," the general shouted. "What of the honour you have always preached? What example are you showing to your successor?"
Count Gloucester turned to the man at the mention of his son, his eyes raging as the crowd behind him shifted, revealing the chained form of Lorenz Hellman Gloucester.
"You bastards have poisoned my son's mind," Count Gloucester hissed, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have turned him against his people."
"General Gloucester serves all of Fodlan now, not just your county," the general snarled. "His courage was greater than yours, and now that you've thrown your honour into the mud, his honour will forever be greater than yours."
The crowd roared at the insult, the front line of rioters surging forward as Count Gloucester raised an arm to stop the mob.
"Your words are empty," Count Gloucester said at last, raising a clenched fist as the crowd behind him roared with approval. "Your empire is a rotting carcass led by poisoned worms."
The imperial general said nothing.
"When House Ordelia stood up for the refugees who marched from the lands of Hrym, your empire cast them into the mud," Count Gloucester called out. "Did you know that?"
The legion before him stood silent, the ranks of soldiers shifting as Count Gloucester marched forward.
"When your magisters stole the eight children of House Ordelia, they returned the corpses of seven," Count Gloucester snarled. "And now you've stolen the last child to serve your own ends."
"And now you've done the same with my son," Count Gloucester said. "You corrupt all you-"
"Sir!" a voice shouted from the midst of the crowd. "The town hall is burning!"
Count Gloucester snarled as he turned back to the imperial general before him, his face burning in rage as he stormed away from the bridge, the crowd withdrawing slowly as they rushed to face the fire.
Mortis watched as the first wave of rescuers rushed the building, buckets of water splashing against the burning timbers and shattered windows frames.
"Are you sure that we had to do that?" Maya asked the older woman as she glanced back at the burning building. "Couldn't we get their attention another way?"
"I did it because it would distract them," Mortis snarled as she held up a shard of shattered glass. "And because I hate them."
"Surely-"
"They're scum, Maya," Mortis growled. "By raising the flag of rebellion against their rightful rulers, they've forfeited their right to life and mercy."
Maya swallowed, her pace slowly as she lugged the heavy chest forward.
"Be careful, we're close to the blockade," Mortis said, glancing at the mirror again. "I trust you remember what you do once we cross it?"
"Run to imperial lines," Maya repeated. "I'll be safe alongside the imperials."
"That's right," Mortis replied. "They're not going to be able to climb over a burning blockade, not without suffering from the fire."
"And if they're already on the other side of the blockade?" Maya asked. "I mean, what if they try to stop us?"
"I believe you know the answer to that as well as I do," Mortis replied, her eyes watching the street leading to the blockade. "If they get in our way, I will kill every last one of them."
The Officer's Academy was silent as Yuri stepped back into the central dining hall, finding his way to the lone table occupied, nodding to Ferdinand as he sat down.
"You've arrived in time," Seteth said as he exchanged a glance with another man at the table. "Allow me to introduce my brother Indech."
Yuri extended his hand as the stranger rose from his seat, the two men exchanging a firm handshake before they sat down.
"We'll share whatever information we can," Indech promised as he sat down. "So long as we can defeat this… common foe."
Ferdinand nodded as he glanced at the two Nabateans, the air around them falling quiet as the two sides exchanged wary glances.
"I suppose we'll start first," Ferdinand said. "Apart from two dead soldiers wearing this insignia, we've noted two times where this insignia has come to our notice."
"When were these?" Seteth asked, his eyes boring into Ferdinand. "And where, if you don't mind us asking?"
"Sylvain said he noticed a woman wearing the insignia during the summer of 1177," Ferdinand said, his face grim as he recounted the memory. "She was walking along-"
"Cornelia Armin?" Seteth asked, his face tight.
"Correct." Ferdinand said. "The regent of Arianrhod."
"Did Sylvain ever… describe this individual?" Seteth asked, his eyes watching Ferdinand as the face of Mortis flashed through his mind. "Physical appearance? Age?"
"Sylvain… well, I'm sure you are all aware of his… tendencies, particularly around women." Ferdinand explained, his face uncomfortable. "To paraphrase his words, he described the woman to be very beautiful."
Indech frowned before Seteth turned and whispered into his ear, the green haired man grimacing in disgust at the words.
"During the Council of Firdiad, Cornelia sent a representative to attend," Seteth said. "Her name was Mortis."
Ferdinand shook his head, "Sylvain never mentioned a name apart from that of Cornelia."
"I see," Seteth replied. "Mortis, if the words of Baron Dominic are true, was a skilled knight but-"
"But what?" Yuri asked, his eyes turned to watch Seteth.
"There were two things of note," Seteth said. "First, we did not have, and still do not possess any documentation of her origins."
Yuri frowned, "The kingdom was very serious about keeping up with their knights, that shouldn't be possible."
Seteth shook his head, "To my knowledge, we were never able to determine where she had been knighted, or even where her suit of armour had been crafted."
Yuri shook his head, "Armour can be forged by any blacksmith skilled and unscrupulous enough to be bought out."
"Or stolen from the dead," Ferdinand added, his lips tight. "Douglas, a former bandit under Miklan, mentioned to me that he had once robbed a grave."
Seteth nodded, though he grimaced at the mention of grave robbery, "Regardless, the point stands. This Mortis was a ghost, and unless she was slain in the fall of Arianrhod,
"What was the second point that made her suspicious?" Ferdinand asked. "Did she do something that made her stand out?"
"Second, she possessed an exact copy of Athame."
"Kronya's Athame?" Yuri asked, his voice low. "The one used to murder Jeralt?"
"Baron Dominic swore by it," Seteth replied. "Though he saw the dagger only once, he identified the blade as a mirror copy of the Athame."
"Did anyone else see the blade?" Ferdinand asked. "Could he have been mistaken?"
"I know that Gregory Dominic is an honourable man, and I believe him fully," Seteth replied. "As for your question on the blade, the answer is no. Mortis ensured that the blade was never seen again after Baron Dominic saw it."
Ferdinand nodded, his face tight, "Do you believe that this Mortis could have been the same soldier escorting Cornelia in 1177?"
Seteth paused at the question, exchanging a glance with his brother before turning back to the group, "I cannot say for certain, for only Sylvain himself can confirm what he saw, but judging from the common connection with Cornelia, I believe Mortis is the same guard Sylvain saw all those years ago."
"What was the second instance of you encountering this icon?" Indech asked as Seteth took a long sip of tea.
"During the Insurrection of the Seven, a cabal of soldiers were wearing the uniform in Enbarr," Ferdinand explained. "To my knowledge, they were not part of the forces of General Bergliez."
Seteth nodded as he set down his tea, explaining the event to his brother in hushed tones.
"Seteth, may I ask you something?" Linhardt asked, his eyes turning to Seteth as he spoke. "It's about something that I've always been wanting to talk to you about."
"Yes Linhardt?" Seteth asked. "What is it you wanted to talk about?"
"Do you know of any way to reverse blood reconstruction?"
Both Seteth and Indech recoiled from the question, the men sharing horrified looks.
"Linhardt, why are you asking such a question?" Seteth asked after recovering an ounce of his composure. "What does this have to do with anything?"
"Lysithea underwent the process while her house was subjugated by House Hyrm," Linhardt explained. "As of now, she possesses two Crests-"
"By all means, a human should not bear more than one Crest," Indech stated. "To do so would be to condemn the individual in question to a short life of unimaginable agony."
"Edelgard has two Crests," Ferdinand said. "I never thought anything of it."
"She does?" Seteth asked. "Unless-"
"Unless what?" Yuri asked.
"Blood reconstruction was an Agarthan technique used to cure those with chronic diseases of their ailments," Indech said. "Though it may be possible to use it to implant an individual with a Crest."
"Such a procedure would almost certainly cause the subject to undergo terrible agony," Seteth argued with his brother. "And even if a host doesn't reject the blood outright, there's no chance they will survive the process."
"May I say something?" Ferdinand asked, interrupting the two men before him.
"I suppose so," Seteth replied. "What is it?"
"Edelgard once had ten siblings," Ferdinand said. "Most did not survive the Insurrection."
Seteth swallowed as he turned to face Linhardt, "And what of Lysithea? How many siblings did she possess?"
"Seven," Linhardt said. "All dead."
"By Sothis," Indech whispered. "The Agarthans have weaponized blood reconstruction."
The send off party at the Machine Hall was tiny, only the forms of Odesse and Aranea standing alongside Spite, the latter in quiet conversation in Old Agarthan as Talos hurried through the door, half dragging a soldier behind him as he walked.
"Good morning, Talos." Spite said in greeting as the other soldier saluted his superior. "I trust you did not have difficulty in finding your warband?"
Talos shook his head, "I found three men playing dice in a corner, shame they had such a hard time waking up today."
"I do not blame them," Spite said. "I did call for them on very short notice."
"May I have your attention please?" Aranea called out, clapping her hands as she spoke. "I'm going to go over your mission parameters."
"Are we all assembled?" Odesse asked, his hands clasped behind his back as he spoke.
"Talos squadron present at full strength."
"Percival squadron present at full strength."
"Olympia squadron present at full strength."
"Umbral squadron present at full strength."
"Vito squadron present at full strength."
"Periander, present and ready to serve."
Aranea nodded as she turned to the five lines of soldiers standing in the Machine Hall, "Periander, your objective will be to reach the last known location of our Northern Strike Force and investigate the site."
"As you command," Spite replied. "What are our objectives in the event we find her spirit?"
"Your warband has been provided with enough blood and magic to return anyone you deem necessary for the completion of your mission," Aranea replied. "See to it that you return quickly."
Spite nodded as he turned back to the group behind him, "When the portal to Zaharas opens, move quickly, we cannot risk leaving behind soldiers due to a lack of speed."
Aranea nodded as she began a chant, a black stone within her hands crackling with power as the ritual reached its climax.
And then the air shimmered as a portal into Zaharas opened, the rift widening to a size that a grown man could have stepped through.
"Glory to Agartha," Spite said to his sister as he stepped through the gate.
"Glory to Agartha," Aranea replied as the crowd behind Spite marched through the gate, the ranks surging forward as Aranea forced more of her power into the rift, forcing the gate to remain wide as the last of the soldiers hurried through.
It was only when the rift had begun to falter did Aranea take a deep breath, wiping a sheen of sweat from her brow as she watched the portal to Zaharas fold and collapse.
"Glory to Agartha," Aranea repeated as she turned away from the Machine Hall, hurrying as she left for Vault November.
Maya woke with a start, blinking the sleep from her eyes as she staggered to her feet, a primal fear gnawing at her as she glanced around.
"You're awake," Mortis said to her left.
"What's going on?" Maya asked as she glanced at the strange machine that Mortis wore. "Did I fall asleep?"
"You did," Mortis replied. "Still, no matter. You missed very little over the night."
"I-" Maya started.
"No, no. Sorry, I wasn't talking to you. The brat is awake."
"Pardon?" Maya asked as Mortis waved her off.
"We can begin now," Mortis said, having turned away from Maya. "We're ready to break out."
"Who are you talking to?" Maya asked.
Mortis replied with a guttural sign off before she removed the headpiece, taking a moment to shove the alien machine back into the confines of her trunk.
"What are you doing?" Maya asked as Mortis moved to the side of their hideout, the older woman watching the area with calculated interest.
"I'm going to create a distraction," Mortis explained as she rose to her full height. "It should draw enough guards out to allow us to make our escape."
"Why now?" Maya asked. "We could come back later and there'll be fewer guards."
"True," Mortis replied. "But whatever guards now have been deprived of sleep by their excitement to rebel against the empire. Combine that with another burning building, and that's enough confusion to get us over the barricade."
"You- you're going to set another building on fire?" Maya asked.
"My superiors informed me that a old church is present within the area," Mortis replied. "As far as they were concerned, it was entirely made of wood."
"But what if there are people inside?" Maya asked. "Children even."
"Good," Mortis replied. "More reason for more guards to come running."
Maya swallowed as Mortis lit a fire in her palm, the tongues of flame dancing as Mortis turned away.
"I won't be long now," Mortis said. "Ensure my trunk is ready to move when I return."
"I thought I told them to clean up after themselves," Ashe said, his voice apologetic. "Clearly I didn't check well enough."
Ingrid shook her head as she yawned, "I suppose it's to be expected, we packed up the camp and left in a rush."
"We did," Ashe replied. "Still, I feel responsible, they are under my command after all."
Ingrid paused at Ashe's words, "Did I ever tell you the time Sylvain and Felix went camping?"
Ashe raised an eyebrow, "No, I'm sure that I've never heard that story, what happened?"
"Sylvain went into a nearby town and started talking to the first woman he saw," Ingrid said with a slight sigh.
"Ah, that sounds like him," Ashe said with a shake of the head. "What happened?"
"It wasn't a woman," Ingrid replied. "He ran back to camp screaming, trampling over the fire that Felix had just managed to light."
"And you had to apologize to the man he had accosted?" Ashe asked, raising an eyebrow. "I imagine that job had to get tiring quickly."
"I did, as usual," Ingrid said, her eyes distant. "But what reminded me of that day was that the man and his family took it in stride."
"How so?" Ashe asked, drawn into the story.
"Our son was pretty enough to seduce a count!" Ingrid said in a deep, mocking voice, "If only he could find a woman the next time!"
Ashe laughed as he turned back to the fire he had been building, "It sounds like you had fun that day."
Ingrid shook her head with a smile, "Three days later, I found out that Sylvain had hit on Count Rowe's daughter."
Ashe winced, "Lonato- Lonato just shook his head and laughed at the news, he just-"
Ingrid swallowed, her humorous tone having fallen away, "I'm sorry if I brought up any bad memories, I wasn't thinking."
Ashe shook his head, the hint of tears at the corners of his eyes as the fire roared to life, "I- I think it's better to remember Lonato when he was happy. He wouldn't have wanted me to remember him in a bad way."
Ingrid shook her head, "I shouldn't have brought it up, and for that, I'm sorry."
"No," Ashe said, his voice firm. "I- I thank you for reminding me of that. There are so precious few memories I have of Lonato smiling, and now, I have one more."
Ingrid swallowed as Ashe rose to his feet.
"I'm going to find us something to eat," Ashe said, his back turned to Ingrid. "Try to get some sleep."
"Right," Ingrid whispered as her partner hurried away, her eyes following the fleeing figure of Ashe as he disappeared behind the tree line.
"Are we ready to leave?" Mortis asked as she returned to Maya, her arms crossed around her midriff as she watched the barricade in the distance.
"I- maybe not?" Maya asked. "What if Evi's still here?"
"Then she's either a traitor or in chains," Mortis replied. "And any attempt you make in trying to help her will most likely result in your death."
Maya swallowed, "But I have to try!"
"No you don't," Mortis replied as she dragged the trunk forward, the bridge. "Now, be quiet, we'll only have a single chance to make it across the barricade.
Maya closed her eyes as she inched closer to Mortis, her hands finding the heavy trunk as she leaned against the wall behind her.
"Guards are moving to react," Mortis said. "On my mark, run. I'll dispatch the rest of the guards."
Maya shook her head, "But what about Evi? What if she's still hiding?"
Mortis gave the smaller woman a look of disbelief as Maya puffed out her chest, her arms crossed around her midsection.
"We don't go unless we find Evi," Maya declared. "I will not leave my friend behind."
"Then get out of my sight." Mortis snarled as she stormed at the handful of guards still at the edge of the bridge. "I have no use for fools."
The first guard still at the bridge didn't see Mortis coming.
It was a man, wielding a long pike and a bright yellow tunic, his back having been turned to the agarthan, perhaps looking for an attack from the imperial regiment on the other side of the barricade.
"Die," Mortis hissed as she raised her free hand, a powerful orb of darkness slamming into the soldier's vulnerable neck.
The attack sent her victim sprawling forward, his pike clattering to the stones as the man crumpled to the ground, his neck bent at an unnatural angle.
The other guards were not as helpless as the dead man, for the four remaining soldiers formed up in a shield wall as they regrouped.
"Banshee," Mortis snarled as she brought the might of the arcane to bear.
It only took a single attack for the group to be overwhelmed by the magic they were subjected to, two of the soldiers crumpling to the ground as the magic orbs shattered their necks.
One of the surviving soldiers, a simple militiaman in contrast to the dead professionals at his feet, ran forward with an axe, striking a clumsy blow before Mortis sidestepped the attack, firing a ball of fire into the man's face.
Even as he recoiled from the blast, the man clawed feverishly at his burning face, his weapons forgotten as he threw himself over the barriers at the side of the bridge, screaming even as he fell into the rushing river below.
Seeing the grisly deaths of his companions, the last man standing turned and fled, running past Mortis as she dragged her trunk forward.
"Death," Mortis hissed as she unleashed the powerful spell, a smirk rising as she heard the man's scream of agony.
And then the path to the barricade was clear.
"Evi!" Maya shouted as she stumbled through the town. "Evi!"
"No!" a voice shouted, barely coherent. "Flee!"
Maya turned her gaze to the source of the noise before she followed the side street, her curiosity rewarded when Ignatz came into view, his body chained to a tall wooden post.
"Ignatz!" Maya cried out as she embraced Ignatz. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
Ignatz shook his head in turn, his hair matted with blood, "Maya, please, flee this town while you can."
"I'm not going to leave my friends!" Maya declared as she turned to wipe a streak of dirt from the man's face. "I'm not going to abandon you, I'm not going to abandon Evi! No more running!"
Ignatz shook his head as he shoved Maya back, "Please, Maya, you don't understand! Count Gloucester has started a full scale revolt!"
Maya shook her head as she buried herself into his chest, "I'm not leaving without you!"
"Maya," Ignatz said, his voice serious as he focused his gaze on Maya, his hands grasping her shoulders. "Listen to me."
"Ignatz!" Maya cried. "Stop! You're hurting me!"
"You don't understand!" Ignatz snapped. "That accident that killed your parents? Count Gloucester set the whole thing up! He killed your parents!"
Maya flinched as she stared at Ignatz, her pain forgotten, "Mom, dad- Count, Count Gloucester killed them?"
"Please Maya, return to Raphael, I won't let him lose you too," Ignatz pleaded, his voice gentler. "Run Maya, run to safety, do it for me, do it for Raphael."
"Maya- is that you?" the voice of Evi asked. "I've been looking all over for you!"
"No!" Ignatz cried as Maya turned to face Evi. "Stop, Maya! Stop!"
"Evi! Where are we going?" Maya asked as the other girl dragged her along the grand boulevard at the centre of the Great Bridge. "We have to free Ignatz!"
Evi shook her head, "I need you to meet someone."
"May I be that certain someone?" a voice called from behind the pair.
"Lord Acheron!" Evi called as she spun Maya around, her grip on the girl's arm firm. "I've caught her!"
"Is this the Mortis that we've been looking for?" Acheron asked, a grin spreading across his face. "It's so nice to meet you."
"Caught?" Maya spluttered, a sense of horror dawning on her.
"She's either a traitor or in chains."
"Evi, please! We can help you!" Maya pleaded. "Anything you want!"
"I'm the only one who can provide that, my dear," Acheron said. "I am her lord after all."
Maya flinched, "Mortis- Mortis was right about you."
"I would do anything for my family," Evi spat, her teeth bared in a snarl. "That's not something a rich girl like you would understand."
"Mortis!" Maya screamed, though she knew that Mortis had begun her assault on the barricade. "Help me!"
Acheron slapped her, the strike hard enough to send Maya sprawling to the ground, "Now, where is this Mortis?"
Maya whimpered, tears rolling down her face.
Acheron slapped her again.
"Who- who are you?"
Mortis winced as she climbed over the barricade, landing lightly on her feet as she turned to face the soldier on the other end of the bridge.
"Mortis, special agent of Hubert von Vestra." Mortis replied, "On assignment to monitor rebellious activity on the part of House Gloucester."
The man flinched at the name of the Minister of the Imperial Household.
"I- I see," the man, an officer from his outfit, said as he jogged forward. "How may I help you?"
Mortis grimaced, "The rebellion needs to be crushed and Gloucester needs to be made an example of."
The man nodded as he waved his battalion forward, the shield wall advancing at a cautious pace, "I'll send a rider to Garreg Mach."
"No," Mortis replied with a shake of her head. "I can go, provided there's a place to change horses along the river."
"Naturally," the officer said as Mortis walked toward the man. "Would you mind helping us clear the barricade? It's going to be hard for them to replace it."
"Gladly," Mortis replied, an orb of fire roaring to life in her hand as she turned back to face the barricade. "But I must-"
A gust of wind cut her sentence short as Mortis was thrown back, the barricade shattering into planks as a powerful wind spell slammed into it.
The sky above was blue.
She lay on the ground, her body aching in a dozen places as she forced herself to stand, her clothes shredded by the blast that had claimed her.
"Help!"
"Help?" Mortis asked herself, staggering to her knees as she looked up.
A tangled, shattered wreck stared back at her, broken beyond repair.
"The radio," Mortis whispered as she clawed at the broken machine. "No!"
"Help!"
For a moment, her world went black, her mind failing to identify the emotion rushing through her body.
"Mortis!" Maya shouted. "I'm sorry! Help me!"
The voice was distant as Mortis clutched the shattered machine, her head bowed as a new feeling filled her heart.
Athame stared back at her, the dagger's perfection a contrast to the shattered machine beside it.
He had said something the day she had received the deadly weapon.
Something.
But she couldn't remember it, not his words, not his face, not his eyes.
But she could remember the feeling in her heart.
And she remembered the feeling that came next.
"You would challenge me?" Acheron called out as the crumpled form of the woman rose up. "You would challenge Count Acheron?"
The magister's lips moved as she turned around, though Acheron heard nothing.
But he saw the look in her eyes, and that was enough.
"No!" Acheron screamed.
Acheron was mid scream when the first spike drove into his right thigh, the wound causing him to draw heavily on his reins.
To his good fortune, the sudden move spared him from being impaled by two dark spikes, the arcane silvers slamming into his horse instead.
But the dying horse did not fall back down as it might have, instead falling backward, the still screaming Acheron buried under its bulk as it landed against the stones of the grand boulevard.
The first to react to the attack was Evi, scrambling to dig the embattered lord from under his horse, even as spikes of darkness plunged into the dying horse, the animal's bulk saving Acheron from death, even as the blades of arcane tore through his animal shield.
Maya rushed forward, past her former friend as she fled, her vision teary as she ran at the figure of Mortis.
"Enough," a strong voice said as a large body blocked her way. "We need to withdraw, the entire rebel army will be here soon."
Maya glanced up, past the honest face of the soldier who held her.
Mortis held a dead look in her eyes even as a pair of soldiers forced her back, her body rigid as she was dragged back from the bridge.
It wasn't the look of disgust when she had turned her back on Maya mere minutes prior.
But it was a look that Maya hoped she would never see again.
AN: Early chapter. Yay. As always, review.
Next time:
Gemeinschaft
Underdark
Crime and Punishment
Nemesis
Cursed Legacy
