Darkness in the Twilight
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By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
Escape from Basram
A harsh shove to the ground was all the indication Allen had that they'd reached the camp. No sounds in the forests, hardly a crackle of a fire or the murmuring of men. Except, of course, his men, suddenly roused from their hopelessness as they were bound together in pairs.
"Boss," hissed Riden harshly, quietly as he was nearest to where Allen fell, "Boss, are you alright?
Allen lifted his head a little, sighing. "Thank whatever deities are watching over us... I figured you all would be alive, but I wasn't sure." His voice was soft, a little raspy, but still him nonetheless.
But he could feel the tickle in his chest as a cough built in his throat.
"Boss is still sick," whispered Oruto harshly, who was tied up with his back to Riden, "So quit talking to him."
"I'm fine," Allen whispered harshly, shaking his head a little.
Ironic how things happened, wasn't it? Almost as if on cue, the undeniable tickling grew worse until he was coughing, doubled over where he sat, narrow shoulders shaking beneath the heavy cloak.
Great. Just great. That would convince them.
The blonde grimaced weakly as he spit out blood that had gathered in his mouth, frowning a bit.
The guys all looked at each other, wanting to protest but - they knew their situation was critical. Riden and Oruto were already trying to work together to scoot as close to their captain as they could. The snow was literally freezing their asses off, and their legs were bound - it would have been amusing to watch, were the need to get to their captain not so dire.
Kio and the dark skinned Teo were bound together as well, and seemed to get the idea. They needed to keep their captain warm, so they too started scooting around until the soldiers were on either side of Allen. "Just take it easy, boss," said Kio in his deep voice, very quietly.
"Yeah, boss. We'll figure somethin' out."
"I'll be fine," he rasped quietly, though sitting in the snow like that wasn't helping him. He smiled a little at their kindness, their worry. It was comforting. And four bodies that close helped, really. His eyes were closed, head bowed. Boy, he sure looked a sight, he was sure. He just hoped the opposing soldiers hadn't seen his weakness, though he was rather sure they had.
"They got Gaddes in the leg and I sent the others back to the fort to get him back, as well as to get reinforcements." Yes. He forced them to leave him there alone.
"These guys don't seem to speak Asturian . . . but we don't speak Basramese either."
They kept quiet for a moment, before Teo cleared his throat.
"I can speak a little." said Teo.
"Teo, that's good. What little I remember from when I was younger is broken and just basics. I don't know much of it and I struggle with what I do know."
"I heard them talking," said Teo quietly, trying to bend low to speak to his commander, but was having a hard time of it being bound across the chest with humongous Kio at his back. "Something about an attack. My guess is the fort."
"Most likely. I heard a crash, I think it's already begun." Allen shook his head slightly. "I can only hope they managed to get there in time."
"This camp is huge," said Riden softly, looking around. "But it's so friggin' quiet you would never have guessed there were this many soldiers so close to Asturian borders."
"They were just waiting... the winter would be the perfect time to do it. And they have the advantage of their technology, as well."
"The hand held cannons that they have, boss." Kio said, "I saw it. They put it against some guy's head and it went off. He died. He wasn't Basramese either. It was a local - like a thief or something."
"So they're just killing off the Austurian populace, then?" Allen growled angrily, gritting his teeth. He didn't care if they were thieves, if that man was a poacher... it was still on Austurian soil.
"Boss," said Oruto, able to bend a little lower as he was not so anchored to a tank like Teo was to Kio. "Why do you think they're here? To attack the fort and kill thieves on our territory?"
"I don't know, honestly. When I first thought of it, I figured it would be for us, since we're right on the border. But now... I don't know."
"Fanelia's on our border too, in the north west. Basram on the east border. What the hell are they thinking," said Kio, getting frustrated with his leather bonds, "they can't be that bitter about losing to their stupidity in the Great War."
"...and they're moving in to take over. Damn it... and I can't alert Millerna here."
"How long are they gonna keep us here," Riden whined, "We have to get back to the fort. They need to know about these guys - and the attack that might happen!"
"Likely we'll have to get ourselves out. They seemed quite thrilled to have the commander of the fort in their hands." Traces of bitterness again. Ugh.
There was more rustling, as Riden tried to squirm and wriggle out of his bonds with Oruto - who had a look of annoyance on his face.
"Quit squirming!" hissed Oruto, but Riden didn't stop. "Goddamn it cut it out!" And he stopped, but the ties on his front suddenly fell loose and Riden managed to scoot away from him.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this. Help me get my hands untied." Riden grinned to Oruto, who started looking indignant. They tried working at the ties, both of their hands behind their backs, but it was slow going and had little to no success. The ropes were knotted to tight and Oruto complained that he couldn't see what he was doing.
"It's no use, Riden." said Teo, "Try working your hands out."
"Yeah, let me just cut off my hands and I'll tell you how I'm doin' . . ." Riden replied sarcastically
Allen frowned a little, staying silent, listening. It was his most acute sense now that he'd lost his sight. His head was bowed, long hair pooling about him, stark against the dark cloth of his cloak. He felt weak, but he didn't let it show, forcing himself to stay alert.
"Boss . . . hey, boss. You could do it. Right?" asked Riden, nudging the commander with his shoulder.
"Hm? Allen arched a brow, lifting his head a little. "Do what?" He hadn't really been paying much attention to them... instead of calming himself and listening for approaching footsteps.
"Get these knots loose on my wrists," he said, turning around and putting his back against his captains, "You're the only other person who's not tied to someone and . . . you don't need to see the knots to do it, right?"
Allen pursed his lips, then nodded. "Well, I can certainly try." Allen reached out his bound hands a little, fingers outstretched. They were right... he didn't need his eyes. He didn't have to depend on them...
Riden felt the knight's slender gloved fingers work at his bonds, deftly moving over the knots and tugging. "I feel it coming loose . . . just a little more. . ."
Allen worked easily, biting down lightly on his bottom lip as he worked, brows furrowed slightly in concentration. This, he could do. He smirked a little when the felt the rope give way. "There, is that it?"
"Yeah!" Riden said a little too loudly, and quickly shrank behind his taller captain - taller even sitting on the cold snowy ground. "... sorry."
"Mm, alright. We can't risk getting the rest of us free. Is there a way you can make it out of here?"
Riden looked around the camp, at the Basramese men huddled in their furs under camouflage tarps of white and grays. One guard was supposed to be keeping watch over them but he seemed more interested in keeping warm. The little Asturian soldier tried to make it look like he was tied to Allen when the Basram man looked up briefly from the huddle in his cloak.
"I don't think so, boss," whispered Riden into Allen's ear. Oruto moved closer to be in front of Riden and Allen, so that it would obscure the guard's view of them. Kio and Teo stayed where they were, but Teo suddenly seemed intent on listening to what was going on way down the make-shift parade grounds of the Basram camp. Sounds of a marching troop . . .
"Something's going on," he said.
"Damn it..." Allen frowned, shaking his head a little. "This can't be good. If they attacked the fort..." The blonde sighed heavily. He could only hope that most of his soldiers, most everyone was safe.
"Well, we've got you free and nothing to do with you. Just make sure to keep your arms behind you. And wrap some rope about your waist if you're going to pretend you're tied to me."
"R-Right, boss." affirmed Riden, working on getting the ropes that were on his wrist to be wrapped about his middle. Kio's back was to all the action, all the soldiers, as he faced the forests, his head working around to get a good look over his shoulder. While Teo, who faced and watched everything, sat wide eyed at the amount of Basram soldiers that emerged.
"Holy Jechia," he breathed, listening to the commands the superior officers were giving the troops as they saluted, quickly joining the parade of men.
"It's going to be an invasion. They're going to take Palas!" he whispered harshly, unbeleiving. The system there had been shattered with the death of the king and was very slowly being rebuilt. They were left utterly open.
"If only we could get a message to Fanelia." Van would aid them.
"I - boss . . ." Riden whispered, "I could go . . ."
"Be careful. Be utterly careful. You have to get word to the fort if it's not already fallen. If it has, then head immediately to Palas and tell them that I sent you. Tell Millerna everything that you've seen."
Riden gulped, suddenly overwhelmed with anxiety, but nodded all the same. "I'll do it, boss. I won't let you and the guys down." He watched for a good opportunity to take off at a run, looking behind him briefly into the forest, finding good places to hide just in case they decided to fire those frightening hand held cannons.
"The guard's standing," said Oruto quietly, having seen Riden get ready. The little guy crouched low, bringing his legs up and anchoring his feet to the ground. "Go, . . . go now!"
Pumping his legs, he dove off the embankment , rolling down a short snowy hill. The guard heard the scuffling of his boots on the snow and turned around, yelling before bringing up his 'cannon' and firing.
It was that same split second, ear splitting Bang!, and the men all winced and ducked down when they heard it, sounding almost as loud as regular Basramese cannon fire.
Allen flinched, staring sightlessly ahead, shocked. "Did he get out? Did he get to the trees?" If Riden got hit, they were doomed. There wouldn't be anyone else who could get away that fast.
Oruto was bent protectively over his captain, not moving in case the guard tried to get one of them for letting their comrade escape. He whispered in that ragged voice of his, "He's okay. He made it."
"Good... good. Hopefully he'll make it to Palas." Allen frowned slightly, shaking his head. He'd given himself over willingly, but that didn't mean he'd stay there complacently if he could help it. He or his soldiers.
"Don't say that, boss," said Kio gently, crouched low and practically crushing the breath out of Teo who was struggling against the strain of the ropes.
Allen shook his head slightly. "You're right. He'll make it..."
Of course, they'd have to sit there and wait.
***
Basramese soldiers marched in full swing now, hundreds of men in various troops, a select few holding hand cannons, as Teo described them. They all wore coats of fur, in grays and whites to blend in with the surrounding environment. Their numbers were scary, as they were so close to Allen's fort. They had large cannons too, which were being pulled by oxen, the wheels easily crunching through the snow, the oxen snorting in indignation at the heavy work they had to do.
The soldiers passed them, and there were commanders among them barking orders in Basramese, ordering supplies to be moved, carried, to march better - things of that nature, or so Teo translated. The guard on them turned suddenly, having been given orders. Another soldier came over to aid him in the orders.
"He says we have to come with them." says Teo, being grabbed by the arm and pulled up with Kio. The bonds around their chest and legs have been cut, so that can walk. Oruto was pulled up as well, after his legs were untied. The last one to be untied was Allen, the guard taking his time with him, like he was gloating.
"Muß der Krüppel getragen werden?" said the solder scathingly in Allen's face, grinning.
Allen jerked away at the obvious insult, playing with him. Ugh. Krüppel likely meant cripple. Or that's what Allen took it to mean. The knight managed to get himself to his feet, heavy cloak swishing about his ankles softly. Again, that proud, strong, confident commander came back, his head held high. He was still a knight. He was still who he was.
Fine boots crunched the snow softly as he shifted a little, the snow sliding gracefully over the curves of his legs beneath the leather pants. Leather provided warmth. He was thankful he'd worn them.
The soldier laughed but did nothing more than that, shoving Allen into Oruto, who stood in front of him now. Teo moved behind Allen and Kio took up the rear. The soldier yelled again.
"He says march," said Teo quietly, hoping that between he and Oruto, they could guide their captain safely.
Allen stumbled a little, but didn't fall, steadying himself before he nudged Oruto to get him going. He followed silently, though didn't let his pride waver. He listened for the soft warnings from the men who walked with him of bumps, uneven spots, things he might trip over.
It seemed like they were quite a distance away from the fort, and all the men hoped that Riden got there in time to warn them. The army was large, but it seemed to be mostly infantry - they were taking it slow, it seemed, on this invasion. But it would be hard to place the blame on them, since Basram was not the only country embittered by defeat and rise to power. . . since Asturia was the most economically powerful country out of all of them, after the fall of Zaibach, at least.
"Ditch in the road," Teo warned Allen.
Allen moved carefully when he felt the dip beneath his feet, wary of his boots sliding. But they did not give, and for that he was thankful. He was easily the youngest within the group there, as well as the most foppish. The clothes, though designed for cold weather such as this, were all finely spun and fashionable, of course, somehow managing to stick to the scallywag-like manner he usually wore.
If only Gaddes was here, he thought silently as he walked, sighing. He'd know what to do...
It wasn't too long that the guards who were watching over them and making them march forced them to the side, dragging them out of the way of -- something . . . They weren't dragged too far before both Allen and Teo fell to the snow, hard. Kio reeled on the guard.
"Watch it, you asshole!" he yelled, and got a butt of the hand cannon in the nose for it. He, too, fell to the ground as blood spilled from his broken nose in cascades. Then the sound of wheels filled their ears, and the oxen snorting.
Allen stumbled, falling over onto his already aching shoulder. The cold, the flash of pain. His muscles tensed harshly as he fought back the cough that threatened.
All in vain, of course.
The blonde winced, his narrow shoulders shaking with the coughs that wracked his body, sapping him of his energy and smattering the white snow with crimson from his lips. Whent eh fit passed, he groaned, rolling miserably onto his side, curling up a little.
"Man, Kio - you've got more blood than a cow," Oruto said sardonically, the only one who had managed to stay on his feet. Until, of course, he too was shoved to the ground.
"Shut up." Kio said, his eyes watering from the pain and sting.
Teo looked over Allen, who had blood on his lips and was still coughing. "Boss, they're gonna use cannons..."
"What can we do about it?" he snapped weakly. He wasn't angry at Teo, of course... but himself and the situation they were in. Every once in awhile he'd cough, sometimes a little more blood slicking his lips.
"Kio," he muttered, after getting Oruto to tell him what had happened, "Sit with your head bowed, chin to your chest. The bleeding'll stop quicker."
Kio did as he was told, while Oruto brooded and Teo shrunk. The boss was prone to snapping sometimes, but he quickly got over it.
"We're really close to the fort walls, boss." Teo tried being helpful by at least describing where they were to his captain.
"Can you see them? If you can't now, then tell me when you can." Allen had to pause a few times as he spoke for a short bout of coughing, his voice soft and a little wheezy.
"No, no, when I said we're really close - I mean . . . 100 yard away." added Teo.
"Then tell me about it." Something to focus on. He wouldn't admit it, but he was dizzy. "What's going on?"
"Uh . . . I think we should dunk behind some trees now." he said hurriedly, Oruto already nudging Kio as best as he could with all their hands bound. "Move to your left, boss."
Allen shuffled to the side awkwardly, frowning a little as blood smeared against his shoulder.
"Now, now now," Teo said hurriedly, moving as fast as his frozen arse could scoot. The kept nudging Allen with his shoulder, who was ahead of him, to make him move faster, or so that he'll at least shield him from the volley of arrows their fort was preparing to launch. Basram commanders up and down the various ranks were shouting out orders in their guttural language, and the soldiers seemed to respond quickly.
Thick heavy clicks could be heard, like a large crank - but numerous cranks. The oxen stomped away, being led by their keepers to the side lines behind fortifications the army had put up. The air was overwhelmingly tense for a moment as the soldiers shuffled - waited. Waiting to see who would be the first to attack. Archers behind Fort Castelo's walls were poised and ready, Basram had cannons aimed.
"May the gods protect them..." it was all he could ask, really. His soft, rasped prayer was all he could think of to do, really. He could only hope they had a chance... and that Riden had gotten out and heading towards Palas just fine.
Allen sighed softly, his head bowed. The cold was starting to get to him, but he didn't complain. At least his nose wasn't broken. "Has the bleeding stopped?"
But Kio didn't have time to give an answer. The sound from the cannons reverberated through the very ground, like thunder emitting from the very earth. It was a magnificent booming that seemed to rip right through the chest and stop your heart with the incredible amplitude. With the cannon fire came a cacophony of soldier's battle cries. The front lines aiming their long barreled hand cannons.
Arrows fired from the fort were launched, borrowing deep into the tree that Teo had nudged Allen behind. There was a strangled, choking cry and a thud of a body as it landed right next to the night into the snow.
Allen tensed, his eyes widening a little. "They stand no chance... arrows, against those cannons?" Fires... fires within the newly rebuilt fort. Damn it... that was his home, that was where he belonged.
The blonde clenched his hands at his back, gritting his teeth. If there weren't so many soldiers... if he stood the most minute chance...
"Our keeper's dead," said Teo from Allen's left, leaning up against the tree. "Oruto! See if you can get the arrow out. We might be able to cut our bonds and get the hell outta here."
Oruto shifted, peeking out to make sure the volley of arrows had stopped for the moment, then sidled up to the body. Grasping the protruding arrow tightly by the shaft, he yanked several times. The going was slow with it, considering the angle he was grabbing it from, but eventually it worked it's way out with a nasty little splurch.
When the arrow was free, he quickly moved out of the way as another barrage of arrows thunked into and around their captors. He turned his back to Allen, instructing the blonde to move closer and set about trying to saw through the ropes.
Kio was no help, every time he moved his head, more blood would pour out from his broken nostrils. He kept groaning and hitting his head back against the tree. More cannon fire, the booming lurching through everyone's body. Teo could only watch Oruto in anticipation, already anxious and feeling more so as the Basramese army started to charge their fort's walls.
"Oruto! Hurry up!"
Finally Allen freed his hands, quickly taking the arrow from Oruto and, with his hands guided to the other's sawed at the rope until it gave way as well. The blonde handed that one off as he grabbed another fallen arrow and the pair set about quickly freeing the rest. "We have to hurry," he murmured, frowning. He'd be of no use if they met up with resistance. He didn't have his sword with him...
"Who leads the boss?" Kio asked nasally, tilting his head back as he moved to the balls of his feet. Teo took Allen's arm quickly.
"I'll take him. Oruto, you take Kio." he said hastily.
Allen nodded, standing to a crouched position, waiting as Oruto pulled the other to his feet. "Try and lean on me."
"Try to avoid as much confrontation as we can. If there's a way we can get into the fort, then lead us that way."
The two men nodded and were already off running across the thick snow-filled ground and ducking behind various trees. They knew where to go, the entrance for the hanger . . . where Scherezade was currently stored. It was the only way into the fort without going through the front gates, which at the moment, were busy fending off the Basramese hordes.
Teo grabbed Allen's arm, Allen being much taller, and already started pulling him off in his comrades footsteps. He had one hand stretched up to Allen's head, to make him duck out of the way of low branches and vines. There was no second guessing where they need to go - and they needed to run. Fast.
Allen was surprisingly light and easy on his feet, forcing the pain and weakness and dizziness away until they were inside. But the brush of the cool air within the hangar was a relief, and while the pace slowed slightly, it didn't pause to a walk. Allen frowned a bit as tremors passed through the ground at the attacks from the cannons. They'd likely tear down the fort in no time.
"Kio and Oruto are probably already up top." said Teo, leading Allen quickly to the stairs passed the unused giant armor of Scherezade. "Basram doesn't have guymelefs - at least, I didn't see any. Boss, Scherezade is here. What if . . ." But how would that work? he had to ask himself.
Allen paused, turning his head slightly. "I don't have my sword..."
Recalling something that had been mentioned before, what Hitomi had taught Van... picturing them, finding out where they were. The blonde furrowed his brow. Could he do it?
He found himself unintentionally drawn towards where he knew the melef sat, a silent steel champion. His armor. One hand brushed against the cool surface of it thoughtfully.
Teo looked at him, glancing at the stairs. More thunderous booming came from the surface and made everything quake, dust and rubble trickling onto them in the hanger. "Boss, what do you have in mind?" he asked, brushing off the dust from his head. His voice was panicked, rushed - they didn't have time to stand about idly. They needed to safe their fort!
"Teo, go inside, quickly. Take up your swords with the others." He didn't have his sword and damned if he was going to sit this battle out. The blonde frowned darkly, climbing inside the familiar melef with ease. He didn't need his sight to know these controls, to know how to work the mecha. He turned his head sightlessly towards the other, flashing a little grin.
"If something happens to me, keep fighting." The faceplates slid into place and slowly, almost achingly so, the melef stood, the shoulder cape fluttering softly, dust and dirt falling in a dark rain off the smooth curves.
"Boss!" Teo cried frantically, stepping back as the gigantic armor stood. "Boss, you can't! You'll be killed! You can't see!"
"I don't need to," he murmured, then the melef turned towards the entrance, taking its loud, though still graceful, steps to the outside, the unsheathed sword in hand. He was vaguely unaware of the shock that shifted through the soldiers on the fort walls at seeing the melef move swiftly outside, though he was sure he could imagine it.
Teo had no choice but to run up the stairs and tell the rest of the soldiers, his shipmates, of what Allen had just done. They were all shocked, hurrying to gather more ammunition for the archers, to gather swords, pikes, armor, shields, anything . . .