Chapter 28
Day 8 of the Horsebow Moon, Year 1176 (Fódlan Calendar)
Ariella tried to catch her breath as she lined up alongside many of the other local children in an antechamber of the Attali estate. The royal family was currently in the Mikdash on a hunting trip, and word had been sent out the night before that two of the princes were looking to employ new servants. The king was willing to offer an enviable salary to anyone that either boy wished to hire. All of Ariella's peers were eager to present themselves as candidates. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone from society's lowest class.
Ariella was the last to arrive. She had stumbled into a muddy stretch of the trail that morning and was forced to hastily return home to change into her other outfit. She used to wear this dress while helping tread grapes for the village prior to their recent construction of a mechanical winepress, and the hem was consequently stained. It was otherwise clean, thankfully, but her hair was now a mess after the rush to make up lost time.
As she tried to brush her daughter's hair straight, Ariella's mother recited, "Remember- there are two brothers looking for servants, but it's the older one you want. Avoid the youngest, even if he addresses you."
Ariella was well aware that the king's middle child was the son of Miriam Attali, who lived at that very estate. That being said…
"What's so bad about the youngest?" Ariella asked. "He'd be better than nothing, right?"
Her mother shuddered. "I'm told that trouble follows him everywhere. He's not popular in the palace. Being associated with him is dangerous. I would prefer you stay here over that."
A door soon opened, and an attendant announced that the princes were about to enter. Ariella's mother gave an encouraging smile before scurrying to an adjacent room where many of the other parents anxiously waited for news.
The two boys entered alongside someone that Ariella assumed to be the queen. All of the children in the room bowed in reverence until the queen told them to relax.
The royal family whispered amongst each other for a minute, occasionally glancing in the direction of the anxious candidates. Finally, the two boys began to stroll down the line, stopping to talk to anyone that caught their eye. The other candidates must have received the same warnings about the youngest prince, because those who spoke to him only said enough to avoid directly insulting a royal.
Ariella straightened her posture and beamed as brightly as she could when the elder prince reached her.
"You have a pretty smile," the prince said. Ariella thought that was a promising introduction, but he continued on after the briefest pause.
The youngest prince was just behind him. Ariella could not look away before she made eye contact with the boy.
"What's your name?" he asked.
The girl stiffened. She had not gone looking for a conversation, but it would be rude to not answer.
"Ariella," she mumbled.
"That's a lovely name. You should say it proudly, not under your breath. My name is Khalid."
It was aimless flattery, but Ariella could not help but smile a little. "I like your name, too. Though I guess most names sound nice when they're prefaced by 'prince.'"
Khalid's eyebrows rose. "That's probably true. It's tough to beat 'prince', but 'attendant to the prince' wouldn't be so bad, right?"
It was odd. Ariella had planned to convince one of the princes that she was an ideal applicant, but it was now a prince that was trying to convince her. Mindful of her mother's warnings, Ariella downplayed, "I suppose, but… I don't think I'm cut out for the job. I'm just a scrawny girl whose only notable attribute is her poor manners."
Khalid smiled with amusement. "Wow. I'm impressed you had the gall to stand in this line if you think you're that terrible of a choice. Surely there's something positive that you can say about yourself."
"Well… I can read and write, but only a little."
"Who taught you that?"
"My mother serves Naomi Attali. The gebereth took a liking to me, and she let me borrow books. She helped teach me, though I've had to figure a lot of it out for myself."
Prince Khalid was apparently an endless well of questions. He asked, "And why did you want to learn? Were you hoping it would help you stand out on a day like this?"
Ariella shook her head. "Nothing like that. I was just curious. I didn't like the idea of being able to look at something and not be able to understand it."
Khalid was already interested in her, probably desperate since hardly anyone else even deigned to speak with him. However, something truly changed in his countenance after her explanation. He said warmly, "If you want more help, I could be your tutor. You'd obviously have to move to the palace, though. I don't think my parents would pay for me to make regular visits here."
A new life at the palace… An income that could elevate her family…. Maybe even a bit of prestige to go along with it…
"… It's a bad idea, Prince Khalid," Ariella muttered. "But thank you."
Khalid's face fell some, but he said, "I understand. Don't feel bad about it."
Prince Khalid moved on. The other prince continued to engage in conversation, while Khalid mostly teased all of the candidates that tried to ignore him. The princes eventually returned to the queen and conversed again for a few restless minutes. Finally, the elder prince pointed at someone farther down the line.
"Issachar, you said your name was? Are you still interested in entering my service?"
The small boy named Issachar hurriedly stepped forward and knelt before the prince.
The choice prompted the other children to murmur amongst themselves. Most had come prepared with their best clothes and best attitude. Issachar, however, came from a particularly poor family, and he had not done much to hide that fact.
Ariella's family was not much better off. She glanced down at her dress. She only had two, and she had likely ruined the other that morning. Her mother's cheeks had been covered in tears afterwards, likely both over the loss of the dress and in fear that Ariella would miss the appointment. Ariella's father had recently passed on, leaving a widow with three children. Ariella's siblings were too young to be of much help. Their family had little recourse in life.
… Except that they did.
"W-wait!" Ariella shouted as she jumped from the line. The royal family had just reached the door, but they stopped upon hearing the girl.
Ariella looked directly at Khalid and said, "I'm sorry I turned you down earlier. It was a cowardly error. I would understand if you don't want me anymore, but if you still do… I'd be happy to serve you."
Khalid eyed her suspiciously for a moment. He then smiled gratefully. "You were willing to let go of your initial beliefs after taking time to think and reflect. That's a sign of strength, not weakness."
Ariella was about to kneel like Issachar did, but before she could, Khalid instead reached out a hand.
"Come on, Ariella. We need to go make sure my father is okay with it." He then looked over Ariella's shoulder. "After that, you might need to convince your mother, too. That's the woman peering around the corner in horror behind you, right?"
The young girl sighed. "It's a safe bet."
Interlude: The Scars of Service - Day 17 of the Guardian Moon, Year 1186 (Fódlan Calendar)
Ariella looked down at her hands in frustration, which were suffering from a spasm attack. The damage the poisoning had inflicted on her body manifested in many ways, and while this was one of the less disruptive, its frequency was deeply wearisome.
She had spent an hour trying to produce a wind spell to knock over a set of baskets on the opposite side of her tent. Despite having read Marianne's tome thoroughly, she would have made more progress against her targets by blowing on them with a fan than this supposed spell. She had managed to produce a summoning circle, but nothing seemed to happen afterwards.
She knew that casting a spell first required digging into a certain emotional state and that it was normal for some spells to never be mastered because the caster simply cannot find the right place of mind. If that was the current problem for Ariella, though, she should not have gotten as far as the summoning circle.
It was her own fault. Marianne's book was dense and intimidating, and to Ariella's disappointment, Agha Demetrius had shown no interest in sharing any of his knowledge. Consequently, Ariella had focused on her work with blades during her time in the Tabarzin. She had made good progress with her dagger, but because further efforts seemed to only provide diminishing returns, she no longer had any excuse to delay her ambitions with magic.
James's retainer Theodora had been pretending to sleep on the other side of the tent. With a groan, she finally rolled over and sat up after hearing Ariella's grumbling.
"Let me watch," Theodora ordered groggily through her matted raven hair.
Ariella nodded. She tried again once her hands steadied. The result was the same.
"You're too tensed," Theodora said. "Your motions are fitful and unsure, and not just because of your spasms. You seem stressed."
"I am stressed," Ariella complained.
"No one here could do any better, so don't feel like you're disappointing anyone. Just… relax. Stop swinging your arms like you're using your little dagger. Move fluidly, like your energy is a rolling river."
It was unclear what made Theodora an expert on the subject, but it was worth a try. Ariella took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She moved her hands as Theodora described, ignored the sound of the summoning circle, and released.
The burst of wind caught her by surprise, and she opened her eyes just in time to watch one of the baskets flip up into the air weakly.
An experienced mage would have been ashamed by such a display. Since she did not qualify for that title, though, Ariella made no effort to hide her excitement.
"Ha! Would you look at that! It's a start." Ariella faced her tentmate and asked, "How did you know to do that?"
Theodora shrugged. "It was a guess."
Ariella peered at her doubtfully. "… You're from Meteora. You were once a follower of the Dékhomai, weren't you?"
Theodora tried to suppress a reaction. "The Dékhomai were disbanded when I was eleven. I was too young to be practicing in any significant way."
"Then your parents were. I don't see where else you would have learned the form."
Theodora stared silently while trying to come up with a reasonable excuse. She eventually gave up and admitted with a sigh, "Please don't tell anyone. No one is hunting for us anymore, but still… I don't want my name tied to the Dékhomai. James shouldn't have to deal with it, either."
To think that after trying so hard to convince Demetrius to train her, there was a potential teacher living in the very same tent…
Ariella leaned in earnestly. "But you shouldn't have to be ashamed! Your parents used their gifts to help people, and you shouldn't care what the Sentinels or anyone else thinks about that! You have the knowledge to chang-."
"No!" Theodora yelped with a recoil. After ensuring no one was outside the flap of their tent, she said more calmly, "Listen… I watched people practice magic while I was a child, but I was too young to do much of my own. I know what it looks like. That doesn't mean I know how to use it myself, and it certainly doesn't mean I identify with their ideology."
Ariella back away some as her shoulders slumped. "… I'm sorry I asked. People from the Mikdash have never gotten much respect, either, and after the attempt on King Faruq's life, we've been labeled as traitors looking for quick gold. Ghalib's pronouncement even called me out personally as a possible collaborator, which means my name will be associated with the crime for all of history. So… I understand not wanting to live with a complicated reputation." Ariella stood resolutely and began to stack her baskets. "Even so, I need a teacher. I'm not going to give up on this."
"You're going to see him again, aren't you?" Theodora asked. Ariella silently continued to gather her things, prompting Theodora to add, "You're wasting your time."
Ariella replied, "Probably, but maybe today is the day I finally make a breakthrough. If I can show him my progress, he might realize I'm not such a hopeless cause. I have nothing to lose by trying."
She was fine to leave it at that, but Theodora called out at the last moment, "Ariella?"
"Yes?"
"Sorry if I was rude. I'm grateful that you don't judge my past. It's too soon, but I really do look forward to the day that I can be proud of my family. We're all Almyran, and we all deserve equal respect. That goes for you, too."
Ariella nodded. "Thanks. I'll see you later."
Theodora never showed interest in developing a meaningful friendship with Khalid's retainer, but she had made for an acceptable tentmate over the past months. She always ensured that Ariella was cared for whenever a seizure overtook her, which showed more compassion than most people had offered Ariella during her life. It was actually quite remarkable that James was willing to employ Theodora, who he likely knew was the daughter of someone who had once held him hostage. It spoke well of James's character, even if Ariella was still marginally offended that he had quickly dismissed her candidacy all those years ago.
Agha Demetrius's tent was not far away, but it was easy to get lost in the ever-shifting camp. They were constantly relocating to avoid confrontation with the enemy army led by the Meteoran general Aurelian, who was supported by Spahbed Youtab, Ghalib's second-in-command. Aurelian's army was surely nearby- they always were.
The camp was currently positioned at the top of a ridge somewhere near Fódlan's Throat. One side of the ridge was steep and rocky with few scalable access points. The other side had a long, shallow gradient that was ideal for animal grazing. Given the breadth of the ridge, it was impossible for the enemy army to encircle them. If Aurelian tried to advance from one direction, they could easily withdraw via the other. There were no trees in the steppe, making it very difficult to manufacture a surprise attack.
Life on the move could be stressful. The enemy army had nearly boxed them into a desperate situation on more than one occasion, but under Nader's leadership, they always found a way out of it. Food was often limited, but since they were plundering off of the choice produce of the Tabarzin's satraps and richest families, it was at least of high quality.
Ariella finally found Demetrius's tent adjacent to that of Grand Agha Nader. She used to ask permission to enter, but since Demetrius usually just ignored her or mumbled something incoherent, she had learned to not wait for an invitation.
"I'm coming in, Agha Demetrius," she said as lifted the flap and entered.
Demetrius sat in the center of his tent with his legs crossed and eyes closed. It was unclear if he had been mediating or napping, but the half-empty cup beside him suggested the later. He reluctantly opened one eye to evaluate his guest.
"You again? I thought Nader's daughter was the unchallenged champion of pestering, but you've proven yourself her equal." Demetrius sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Listen, girl. Even if I did want to help you, I have almost nothing to teach you."
"Your spell saved the king's life. That seems like something worth teaching," Ariella prompted as she sat down across from him.
"The Ashen Angel did most of the work. Ask her."
"I already told you- I did. But Marianne didn't feel confident in her ability to teach."
Demetrius finally opened his other eye. "Ha! That makes two of us."
Ariella held up her baskets. "It doesn't have to be a full lesson! You can watch what I do and make corrections. I just made some progress on a wind spell, and I think you'll be-."
"I can't help you with anything like that. That healing spell I used is the only one I know. I never met my teacher again after I learned it."
Ariella's expression softened in understanding as she lowered the targets. She had deduced where Demetrius learned magic, but she had never explored the topic with him. It seemed that no Meteoran was free from the trauma that transpired some fourteen years prior.
"Your teacher… they were a member of the Dékhomai, weren't they? Did your teacher die?"
"You think I was offered lessons by the same people that I helped subdue?" Demetrius asked. He looked away without fully answering the question. "I don't know what happened to my teacher, but I'm sure I'll never see them again. I'm only a shell of the person I was back then. They wouldn't even recognize me."
Ariella did not know how to respond. Demetrius took the opportunity to turn the conversation around on her. He noted, "You're fully devoted to Prince Khalid, aren't you? Quite remarkable."
"Thank you, I guess," Ariella said with a shrug.
"It wasn't a compliment. Why are you so loyal to him, anyways? Especially after your body was damaged for his sake?"
Ariella fell silent for a few moments. She then mused, "You've got it all backwards, Agha Demetrius. This loyalty you speak of… I think it's because of that incident, not in spite of it."
Demetrius studied her for a moment and then grinned. He picked his cup back up and said, "Now this is an unexpected development. Please, continue."
"When I first met Khalid, I didn't immediately believe he was the future of Almyra or anything. I thought he was charming and that he was being scorned for no good reason. And most of all, I thought he was a path to a better life for my family. I was told I was endangering myself, but I didn't believe them at the time. We were just kids."
"And then?"
"And then I consumed that poison meant for him. I nearly died, and my body has never been the same." Ariella sighed deeply. "Think about it from my perspective. I trust in Khalid because I have to trust in Khalid. He simply must be worth it. Because if he wasn't…. then I sacrificed my body for nothing. I'd just be a fool."
When Demetrius watched her in pity, Ariella shook her head and smiled again. She assuaged, "Sorry, that was a cynical take. My trust in him isn't just a pretense to cover my regrets, but what happened to me did force me to see him as more than a friendly employer. Prince Khalid is unlike anyone I've ever met, and despite his foibles, I think he'll do great things… so long as he has proper support." She then gazed at the agha with a discerning eye. "I've never heard you say a sour word against our king, and you've always acted in his best interest. And don't you have faith in Nabataea? You have no room to be criticizing loyalty."
Demetrius opened his scarred palms and watched their constant trembling. He justified, "What has Nabataea ever done for this world that I should care about her anymore? As for King Faruq… you were hurt in Khalid's place, but the king was not responsible for my wounds."
"What happened to me is not Khalid's fault!" Ariella contested hotly. "It's the fault of the people who perpetrated the crime and no one else. Until Khalid does something truly worthy of criticism, I won't stand to hear it."
"Hm. Anyways, King Faruq offered me a position far away from the people responsible for my ordeal. He has been a good man, but I won't hesitate to walk away if he ever goes astray."
He paused and then said in a darker voice, "Like you, I once got too invested in a cause, back when I thought I'd be a defender of honor and Meteoran values. Instead, I was sent to kill my own people who just wanted to live freely. It wasn't war against the Dékhomai; it was butchery. I was right there, and now… I live with a constant reminder of my mistakes." Demetrius clenched his hands and grimaced. "I thought I'd get used to the pain eventually, but it never really goes away."
Ariella looked away uncomfortably. Many people seemed certain that Demetrius was guilty of the longstanding accusation that he had murdered the Sentinels he had fought alongside. Ariella did not agree. He expressed remorse over the fate of the Dékhomai, but when it came to his trial, he only exhibited regret that it ever happened. His trial by water was an undue penance, not an escape from righteous justice.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I take comfort knowing that I might have saved Khalid's life. But to have suffered on the basis of false accusations? It's just… meaningless. I can't blame you for doubting the goodness of people, but… I think there's still value in believing in something."
Demetrius asked gently, "If presented the option to go back in time and avoid ever entering Khalid's service, would you still make the same choice?"
Ariella nodded. "It was the right thing to do. As terrible as physical pain is, guilt can be an even worse companion. I didn't understand the danger I yoked myself with when I was a kid, but I'm well aware that staying in Khalid's service still puts me at risk. I'll never forgive myself if I yank off the oxbow and give up on a good cause because I'm afraid of what might happen, though." She then chuckled. "It would be cheating to say I'd join Khalid but toss that stupid meal out instead of tasting it, right?"
Demetrius smiled some. After reflecting, he shared with his companion, "The spell I used to help King Faruq has a property that you might not know. Usually, healing only acts in one direction- the user transmit energy from their body to the injured, with the energy being magnified by the spell. For a very select few, though, there is some kind of feedback where the caster also benefits from the spell, albeit to a smaller degree. The Dékhomai were particularly interested in this, and they investigated ways to control the direction energy flowed. The spell I learned came from those efforts. It lacks strength, but I can direct it to myself as well as others."
"Do you think it can help us?" Ariella asked in awe.
Demetrius inspected his disfigured hands again. "I've obviously tried to fix this before to no avail. If your healer friend hasn't been able to help you, I don't expect this spell to do any better. But… perhaps you could one day pick up where its authors left off." His face took on a more resolved expression. "Alright. If you're that set on learning magic, then I'll do what I can to he-."
"Demetrius!" Nader heralded as he barged into the tent. He stopped when he saw the general's guest and said with a wink, "Ah, Ariella! I hope you let him get at least a little sleep since your last visit."
"What is it, Nader?" Demetrius asked to bring his commander back on topic.
"Right. I just received word that Aurelian is on the move. Give me a map."
After Demetrius shuffled through his maps to find one that included their current position, Ariella spied over their shoulders without invitation. Neither of them complained.
"Their last known camp was four miles from Ecbatana. That's below us on the side of the steep cliffs," Nader began, providing background knowledge for Ariella's sake. "I thought they'd try passing around the ridge to attack us from the rear, but they would have altered their trajectory by now. They really are coming right at us from the unassailable side."
"Aurelian is far too smart for such an assault. He hasn't tried anything so bold since we've been here," Demetrius muttered.
Nader grinned, giddy to explain the full story. "It'll make more sense when I share a key detail- that's the direction their infantry and cavalry are coming. Our scouts couldn't spot their wyverns anywhere."
"It's overcast, and the clouds are low," Demetrius mused. "While we prepare to deal with their main army, they could surprise us with a wyvern attack from the rear."
"Exactly what I thought! I only wanted a second opinion," Nader concurred. He detailed, "We must alert the others. We could withdraw, but this is a rare opportunity to eliminate some of those annoying wyverns. We'll reposition our archers to the rear, and we should withdraw the troops from the outer defensive lines while we're at it. They won't stand a chance if they get swarmed from the air."
Demetrius nodded. "We can't waste any time. Aurelian will probably wait until the infantry draws nearer, but they also won't want to be completely predictable. It could happen at any moment."
Ariella understood their logic. Elam's forces had set up a dense, stout defensive line on the sharp ridgeline, while on the more vulnerable side, they had instead opted for multiple lines of entrenchments and fortifications that covered a wide area. Nader called it "deep defense", allowing them to wear down their opponents and stall their momentum before the primary engagement. A surprise wyvern ambush there made sense- the wyverns could make a quick strike on the outer defenses to whittle down the opposition and then withdraw before most of Nader's army could response. Elam had wyverns of their own, of course, but the enemy had a significant advantage in both numbers and training. Since Elam's wyverns had no hope to win in a direct confrontation, they were primarily used for scouting operations.
However, something about the proposed plan did not sit right with Ariella.
"It's a pin," she mumbled.
"A what?" Demetrius asked. He and Nader were already at the tent flap before stopping.
"A pin. You know… like in shatranj? It's when you stymie an opponent's piece in place because a more valuable piece behind it will be vulnerable if it's moved."
"Are you referring to our archers? They're not expendable pieces," Nader told her.
Ariella shrugged. "Okay… bad metaphor, I get it. My point is, the archers play a key role in defending the cliffs. If you move them to the other side, an assault up the ridge suddenly isn't so infeasible."
Nader and Demetrius looked at each other to consider her point. They then shook their heads. Demetrius said, "We're thinning the defenses on the rear, so it wouldn't take that long for the archers to return to their original positions if Aurelian tried an infantry assault."
Ariella sighed. "Maybe I'm wrong, but … this just doesn't sound like the Aurelian I know. I mean, I've never actually met him, but it feels like I have by now. He's cautious, and he's hardly ever engaged us. If this was his plan, he inflicts a bit of attrition at best. At worst, his entire division of wyverns is slaughtered. The risk-reward tradeoff is completely out of balance. Does that sound like one of Almyra's finest generals?"
The two commanders traded glances once again. They seemed to agree that Ariella had a valid argument, but they could not come up with a realistic answer for what else Aurelian could be planning. Suddenly, though, Nader ran back to the map.
"Demetrius is right that our archers can move from the front and the back of the defensive line quickly, but what about from one flank to the other?" Nader asked rhetorically. He ran his finger across their camp, which snaked along the ridgeline to cover all of the nearby trails an attacking army might take. "Say the wyverns attack on one far end. Our archers will panic and move to suppress the attack. That will leave the flank they abandoned without cover, and it would take a long time for them to get back. Our line will be exposed."
"Even without our archers, it would still be a dangerous offensive," Demetrius reminded.
"Risky, yes," Nader conceded. "But unlike the other plan, the reward would be great. We're going to be in a very ugly spot if Aurelian's army can summit these cliffs and breach our line. And if he doesn't see a good opportunity, he can just let his wyvern warriors do a little damage and leave."
Demetrius rubbed his beard as he pondered this. "It echoes his strategy at Gerrha," he said. Realizing that Ariella needed an explanation, he expounded, "It was a battle back when Saba faced a particularly aggressive invasion from Sreng pirates. Our inimical northern neighbors unleashed a whole division of reinforcements to retake the city we had just liberated. Sreng incursions were usually disorganized, but it was different this time. Aurelian crushed them all the same. He baited the invaders to slowly diminish their forces on one flank and then committed all of his reserves to that side. Those 'reserves' were actually his best warriors. The line broke, and we swept to victory. It was brilliant."
"So what do we do? Should we just withdraw?" Ariella asked nervously.
She and Demetrius both waited for Nader's opinion. After some consideration, the grand agha decided, "We still thin out the rear defenses as planned so we can reinforce the cliff passes. Instead of spreading the archers out evenly, though, we send the majority to the far flanks. We'll instruct that, in the event of an attack, the archers on the other side keep the nearby passes covered instead of aiding the fight against the wyverns. Unfortunately, we don't know which side the wyverns will choose; Aurelian is too smart to give it away. But… I think our strategy should be enough of a deterrent. I'd rather wait until nightfall before withdrawing. This is the best defensive position we'll find during daylight, and frankly… if they attack and we stick to this plan, they'll be on the wrong end of fortune."
"It's a sound strategy," Demetrius agreed. He then faced Ariella. "Can we give the orders this time, or do you have any additional concerns we should know about?"
Ariella shook her head. "Nothing that I can think of."
"Well, you better stick close to us just in case."
Ariella thought he was joking, but Demetrius impatiently beckoned her to follow when she hesitated. The next hour was spent conveying orders to various subordinates. Ariella did not do much but lurk in the background, but it was fascinating to hear all of the maneuvering firsthand. Once finished, they took up a position at the center of the defensive line. Aurelian's army could be observed approaching in the distance.
While they waited, Theodora came up beside Ariella and whispered, "Did you ask to become Demetrius's attendant instead of his pupil, or did he come up with that idea on his own? I saw you running around with him and Grand Agha Nader."
Ariella chuckled. "I'm pretty sure it's a temporary station. Consider it an admission fee for more lucrative opportunities… or so I hope."
Other soldiers chatted during the wait to allay the tension, but people eventually ran out of things to discuss. It felt like the enemy army was marching at a leisurely pace with a projected arrival in about a week. Enemy wyverns occasionally descended through the clouds as they returned to the main army, surely providing Aurelian with updates on the positioning of Nader's forces.
The anticipation was excruciating. Aurelian probably had so much time to reflect on his strategy that he had devised a counter to Elam's plan. A new potential way the battle could go horribly wrong passed through Ariella's mind each minute.
Of course, the opposing infantry did eventually arrive. It took about an hour and a half. They stopped just beyond the reach of the archers, and a single command tent was set up.
Then came more waiting. The army below was in no hurry to attack. Were they hoping the defenders on the cliff would fall asleep or collapse from exhaustion before launching the assault? Someone nearby had passed out earlier after he locked his knees during the long wait, and Ariella was beginning to fear she would do the same before anything important happened.
As Ariella pondered the probability of having a seizure and tumbling off the crag, she noticed that a group of soldiers below had approached the cliff. Several of them carried items. The most prominent of these was a white flag.
"We wish to speak with your commander," a soldier hollered. "May we come up in peace?"
"You may," Nader pledged.
The representatives trudged up the nearest pass and found Elam's commanders. Two men stepped towards Nader and Demetrius. Ariella recognized them as Aurelian Maleinos and his nephew Florian from their time at the Mirza's Citadel. They made for quite the pair. One was regarded as an Almyran legend; the other was best known for his pitiful performance in the archery tournament. Though Aurelian was Florian's uncle, they more closely resembled cousins due to the relatively small age difference.
After greetings were complete, Aurelian complimented, "You made prudent adjustments since we began our march this morning. Many in my army have mocked your reluctance to fight, but it takes a sharp mind to maintain a secure defensive posture, especially while on the move. Granted, I was given orders to avoid any serious gambles while we prepared for our decisive victory at sea, but still… your leadership has been impeccable."
Nader laughed good-naturedly. "I hate turning down a compliment, but I have no choice this time. I was about to commit a serious blunder before that woman behind me called me out for it."
"Is that so?" Aurelian mused as if pleasantly surprised. He faced Ariella and said, "Why don't you join us? What's your name?"
Ariella hesitantly stepped forward and answered, "Ariella of the Mikdash, daughter of Elah and Abigail. I'm an attendant to Prince Khalid."
"It is a pleasure, Ariella of the Mikdash. I see why Prince Khalid would trust you," Aurelian said politely with a hand on his heart.
Aurelian did not fit Ariella's expectations. He was fit, but he was not as imposing as some of the royal family like Abbas, Ghalib, or Darius. Most notably, Aurelian was actually somewhat soft-spoken. He chose his words deliberately, seemingly trying to cover up difficulty with annunciation. Despite his best effort, he still slurred some of his words. It seemed like he kept Florian around to help serve as his spokesperson.
"So… to what do we owe the pleasure?" Nader asked.
Florian motioned to where a few soldiers were setting out a rug and a dallah. He asked Ariella and the generals, "We actually just came for a drink and some privacy. If the three of you are willing to join us, we can explain more then."
Aurelian added, "You may tell your soldiers that there is no need to stand at the ready. You have my word that we will not attack."
Nader nodded and gave the command. Once they were given space, he asked, "Where is Spahbed Youtab?"
"She is managing the rest of the army in our absence," Aurelian answered.
Florian interpreted subversively, "It's a polite way of saying she doesn't have any interest in talking with you. She did provide the coffee, though, so we can't complain too much."
Ariella smiled. She would have felt very out of place standing alongside these three generals on her own, but Florian's presence helped alleviate her unease. Florian possessed noble blood, but he had the ability to make anyone feel welcome in his company.
"And what makes you interested in talking with us today of all days?" Demetrius asked.
Florian explained, "Our armies have been alternatingly stalking and eluding each other for months. It's felt like we're old friends in a long dance, so it would have been rude to never share a word before we depart."
"Depart?" Nader repeated.
"Ah. You haven't heard the news yet," Aurelian realized. He paused while they sat and his accompanying soldiers backed away. As he poured coffee into cups for each of his companions, he shared, "Six days ago, your friends won a decisive naval victory in the Channel of Eirene. Lord Philemon was killed. I have orders from Metanoiapolis to conclude any ongoing operations and return home. I assume you'll be receiving yours shortly. I sought one last chance to find a vulnerability in your defenses, but it was not to be. I don't know what will become of Youtab's division, but since you'll have the numerical advantage, I doubt she'll give you any trouble."
"A naval battle? Do you know if Prince Khalid survived?" Ariella asked anxiously.
Aurelian nodded. "He did. The Meteoran survivors apparently had a few choice ways to describe his behavior."
Aurelian planned to leave it at that, but Florian was too eager to share them. As he counted them out using his fingers, Florian detailed, "Khalid the Deceiver… Khalid the Dishonest… Oh! My personal favorite- Khalid the Mendacious. I had to ask what that one meant. I was a little disappointed to discover that they weren't branching out from their initial concept, but it still sounds the best, right?"
Ariella grinned in relief. She assumed that they lacked insight about Dimitri's status, but Khalid's survival was a good sign.
"What did he do to earn such scorn?" Demetrius asked.
Aurelian shook his head. "I'd rather not muddle the details. You'll receive superior accounts from people who were actually there in good time. I'll say this much- from what I've heard, Prince Khalid never broke any official laws. I imagine, though, that there will be calls to write new ones to prevent such stratagems from being used again."
"That does sound like Khalid," Nader said. "I doubt any laws like that would have stopped him, though. War is inherently lawless, so the notion of legislating it is an exercise in futility. And if we're being honest, only the losing side would ever face any consequences."
"So you think it's a mistake to set boundaries?"
Nader shrugged. "Don't get me wrong- cruelty should be punished. But I can't blame anyone for subverting standards a bit if it's necessary to end the fighting."
For the first time, Aurelian's posture of politeness faltered. He gripped his cup tightly. "And who decides what is cruel or necessary? I've dealt with people that have abused such language. 'If we don't make an example of them, it will happen again.' Or 'Killing them now will result in fewer casualties in the long run.' You've heard such language employed, have you not?"
Nader and Demetrius were solemnly silent. Since they were unwilling to counter difficult questions with difficult questions of their own, Ariella said, "You have a point, but it seems a bit hypocritical. If you are so concerned with peace and laws, why did you betray King Faruq and continue to kill his soldiers?"
Demetrius was horrified. Nader was simultaneously horrified and amused.
Florian broke out into laughter and observed, "To think I'd get to witness someone other than myself speak to Aurelian like that! I knew inviting you was a good idea!"
Demetrius began. "Aurelian, I apologi-."
"It's alright, Agha Demetrius. I don't mind," Aurelian stopped with a raised hand. He turned to Ariella and explained, "I owe my allegiance to Sardar Justinian, who owes his allegiance to King Faruq. I'm put in a difficult situation when they stand in conflict. I don't know what truly happened during the incident in the Mikdash, so the laws of honor fail to provide a clear answer. Given that, can you blame me for choosing loyalty to my family, home, and religion?"
Ariella was at a loss for an answer. "But still… To fight like this…"
"I understand your motivations, but your army was the one that came to pillage the Tabarzin. I am only here to defend it. I suppose I would be besieging Astane if I weren't here, but as it stands, I've never truly been on the offensive during this conflict." Aurelian sighed and ran a finger around the rim of his cup. "And hopefully, I won't have to. With Lord Philemon gone and Meteora under threat of capitulation by a naval blockade, Sardar Justinian may be willing to sue for peace."
Everyone was surprised to hear this possibility. Ariella was filled with hope for a moment, but she quickly rolled back her expectations when she noticed Florian's demeanor. He was silent, but he did not appear to share his uncle's optimism.
Ariella's companions did not seem to notice, though, as Nader asked, "Is there any chance the Tabarzin will also look for an exit? Maybe someone is willing to overthrow the mirza if the war looks like a lost cause?"
Aurelian frowned. "My people's primary desire is to recapture their glory of centuries past. If siding with Mirza Ghalib is no longer advantageous, they'll move on. From my interactions with Tabarzin soldiers, though, their motives are much different. They truly believe that the Dunya's court is overrun by sympathizers of Fódlan like Queen Tiana and Prince Khalid, and that only Mirza Ghalib can restore Almyra's pride. They'll fight for him to their last breath."
The explanation seemed believable. Youtab refused to meet them. Two of the three soldiers that accompanied the Meteoran nobles were clearly from the Tabarzin, and they looked particularly disgusted by their current company.
"That's what years of indoctrination will do," Demetrius noted. "Do you think there's any truth to that, Aurelian?"
"I won't pretend to know. I'm a general, not a political expert. Regardless, their mission is an insufficient justification for war."
"And yet you'll still fight us," Nader reminded incisively without thinking. Aurelian could only quietly raise his cup to his mouth in obvious discomfort. Going forward, Nader had no grounds for criticizing Ariella's impetuous tongue.
Since their message had been conveyed and Aurelian was clearly not going to change his mind, there was no purpose in continuing to pile guilt on him. Hoping to break the tension, Ariella observed, "Youtab might think I'm a foul collaborator of foreign interests, but she has good taste in coffee. I can't begrudge her for that."
"Right?" Florian agreed, happy to find a reason to speak again. "She's very particular about getting it perfect, and she's actually quite generous about offering it to others. I suppose even the coldest person has their soft spot." After a pause, he added, "I… haha… probably shouldn't be talking about my allies like that, right?"
Aurelian sighed. "I apologize for my nephew. He would not speak so carelessly if I ever reprimanded him for it."
"Apologize? They'll be thanking me when they know the entire story!" Florian declared indignantly. He told the others, "Aurelian wanted to meet with you, but he hadn't even thought to bring something to drink. That was all my idea. We were just going to stand around talking with nothing to keep us occupied. That would have been really awkward, wouldn't it?"
"No offense, Aurelian, but he's right. Coffee was a good plan," Nader admitted.
Aurelian smiled thinly in spite of himself. "That's what I keep him around for."
Ariella reached for the dallah to pour out some more coffee, but her arm twitched at the last moment. The pot spun on the rim of its base for an instant and was doomed to tip over. However, Aurelian's hand swooped in and caught it just in time. His reaction time seemed unnaturally quick. Ariella had almost forgotten that she was dealing with one of the most feared men in Almyra.
"How… did you move so quickly?" Ariella asked breathlessly.
"Oh… well, it's run in my family," Aurelian said as if it was nothing to be impressed by. As he held the dallah, he added, "It's almost empty, anyways. Perhaps it's a sign that we should be going soon."
The others agreed. When it was time to go their separate ways, Nader offered farewells on Elam's behalf. He said, "Thanks for meeting with us instead of slinking off in the middle of the night. These past few months have been stimulating, but I hope we never have to meet on these terms again."
Florian nodded. "We feel the same. Take care, all of you."
While the Meteorans hiked back down, Nader told those nearby, "We await news from the king, but it appears our mission here in the Tabarzin is complete. Pack your belongings on the double, and tell your companions to do the same. We don't want to be anywhere nearby when Ghalib's army returns, and the sooner we return to Istakhr, the sooner we can resupply and reorganize. I'll address the whole army in half an hour."
As everyone dispersed about the camp, Ariella followed Demetrius so she could retrieve her baskets. Demetrius said while they walked, "I'm still willing to help train you when we return. And… I'm sorry I didn't agree to it sooner."
"You took the time to reevaluate your initial judgment. That's a sign of strength, not something to apologize for," Ariella told him, loosely quoting an old friend.
Demetrius smiled. "You have a way with words, little one, and you've proven that your mind is also worthy of respect. We'll see what more you are capable of with a tome and a bit of training. Don't make it a waste of my time."
"You've picked the right person," Ariella promised as she pounded her fist into her other palm.
"I do have one question, though. This magic training… is it something Prince Khalid asked you to pursue?"
Ariella shook her head. "Not exactly. But it's to help his cause, and Elam's cause."
Demetrius smiled. "So you're doing it for your own sake, because you've decided it's right. Good for you."
Ariella's brow wrinkled. "I don't think that's really the poi-."
"Let's say you become a master sage. Is your future that of a royal servant? That would be a waste. But are you willing to let go of him? To let go of what happened to you?" When Ariella failed to answer, he told her, "You don't have to answer that now, but I'd ask that you think about it."
The question plagued Ariella for the rest of the day. She had not considered the consequences of her goals. Was she setting herself up to walk on a different path? What would Khalid want for her? Should it even matter?
Ariella did not have an answer, but it was too late to avoid the issue altogether. Demetrius saw potential in her, and she had to do whatever she could to help end Almyra's bleeding. It was a pledge she refused to break.