Chapter Twenty Three

The Winter Night

ANNA

Anna felt that it was a good plan. But then again, any plan sounded like a good plan to her now, where the rescue of her sister and her friends were concerned. After escaping from the incessant drizzle, the two dried out in the tent while unintentionally creating puddles of water on the ground sheet where their soaking outer garments were being laid.

Clothed in their practical travelling attire, Melody had gone over the bits and piece of ideas in her mind with Anna. Suffice to say, Anna reconsidered in retrospect as she sat alone in her tent, the plan's still sketchy. A couple of reckless ideas - tactical nonetheless - but still reckless.

After all, talking about freeing the sorcerers from Stormtide Prison was dangerous in and of itself. Who knew who was listening in? Anna trusted her own staff of course, but she couldn't say the same for the other members of the Confederation. If we're going to somehow manage to pull this off, we need to keep this quiet.

The plan couldn't be put into action yet though, since they were still quite a distance away from Stormtide. Ideally, the rescue plan would be put into action when they were far closer to the territory of Korynes. Stormtide was located just west of Korynes, about a two or three day's journey if one rode hard through the forests. And so Melody had said to wait. Wait till they were closer before sneaking off from the rest of the column, going and returning before anyone in the Confederation noticed they were gone.

Melody was still rather hesitant and reluctant to the idea of Anna going along for this mission. There was no hiding the fact that she disapproved, since this would be highly dangerous. Anna was no student of strategy, but she understood enough about Melody's plan to know that it would be incredibly risky, hinged on a great reliance on chance and good timing.

That didn't bother Anna though. She'd been in particularly rough spots before, and she'd come out alive. For instance, she recently escaped death during the Battle of Arendelle. I was trapped in a burning library, my foot was broken, and Hans was about to skewer me on his sword, but here I am. Still alive.

There was another dinner with the other members of the Confederation tonight. A review of the new Field Marshal's progress would be conducted, as well as discussing plans as to how to engage the Exonians when the Coalition got to Korynes. Anna was dreading it, and so was Melody. Any time spent with the Confederation would likely be unbearably draining, and Anna wasn't going to delude herself into thinking that they would give Frederick and Kristoff, who were going to be presenting the progress reports, an easy time.

Their rendezvous was to be half an hour after the last of the Coalition's column had marched into camp, and the time was approaching soon. Changed and dressed in semi-formal dresses that weren't entirely impractical, Anna and Melody went out in search of Helmsley's tent on the other side of the campsite. It was his turn to host dinner, and the food served would be of the Einsfeltai cuisine. Anna didn't really care much for their food, but one couldn't really complain when on campaign and the rest of the soldiers were eating their dried rations around a small fire in the cold. Besides, she could only shudder and imagine the kind of food Elsa and the others had to endure in Stormtide Prison.

The rain had finally ceased, thankfully, but the air was stiff and getting colder as the days wore on. Soon it'll grow unbearable, and then…Anna shook her head. But they won't see reason. They just want to push the campaign till all of us drop in the snow at Eleanor's feet.

Anna and Melody both arrived outside Helmsley's tent, and the sentries outside the tent in their Einsfeltai greys saluted somewhat sloppily. One of the sentries scratched at the tent flap and then peeked in to announce their arrival. After a few moments, a low grunt came from within the tent, and the guard turned back to the two girls. He nodded, and both sentries pulled aside the tent flaps to allow both girls to enter, leaving their own entourage of guards and servants outside.

In the dimly lit tent, Anna saw that they had been the first to arrive. Helmsley was there, of course, seated at his own writing desk and peering closely at some documents through his spectacles. His hair was still a little wet and unkempt, and he was still in the process of brushing off the creases of his clothing and improving his appearance.

"Your Majesty," he bowed to Anna, and turned in Melody's direction to do the same. "Your Royal Highness. You're both a tad bit early"

"Good evening, Your Grace." Anna said. "I trust you're well." It was the right thing to say according to royal etiquette, though the words had become nothing more than empty formality to Anna. She just wanted this conference over and done with.

"Likewise, Ma'am." Helmsley removed his spectacles and smoothed back his damp silver-white hair. He gestured at a teapot on his writing desk. "Tea, perhaps?"

"No thanks," Anna said, glancing at Melody. "We'll wait for dinner."

It was another ten minutes before the rest of the Confederation strolled in. Which meant another ten minutes of awkward, tense and meaningless small talk with the difficult Duke of Wellingbrook.

Thankfully though, Frederick and Kristoff both came next, with their notes prepared for the conference later. They would be providing updates and details on the march, while Frederick would propose his strategy in engaging the Imperial Horde commanded by General Hydrech who by now had to be arriving in Korynes. Anna was no doubt relieved to see her husband and the faithful Field Marshal, knowing that having them in her corner went a long way into helping her survive the internal civil war between the Confederation members.

Next to arrive was Prince August, who was dressed in semi-formal attire as well. He wore a sleek white shirt that was clean and unsoiled, and black trousers with a thin white line running down the flanks of the legs which marked the colours of the Vjormans. As usual, he was handsome, charming and polite, and Anna was glad to have him as an ally who was rational and objective in his opinions.

During the campaign thus far, she'd sometimes caught Melody gazing at August for far longer than was deemed polite. When Melody noticed Anna though, she would peel her eyes away from the handsome man and her cheeks would grow a little pink. They'd do nicely together, Anna mused to herself, as Melody greeted the prince with a fair amount of enthusiasm.

Then came the pompous Norman Horatio. The Marquess, who looked more flamboyant than usual, came in black with a yellow necktie and an expensive looking traditional Xerflorian fur coat with hints of glitter. As he shed the fur coat in the tent, he seized the opportunity to flex his decently muscled figure, and Anna rolled her eyes.

The man was good looking in all honesty, with his long blonde hair and the likeness of an ancient knight from the medieval era. However, his personality labelled him as nothing more than a childish boy in Anna's books. His insensitive attitude and arrogant disposition was an immediate turn-off that made her feel irritated in his presence. Had Duchess Victoria taught her son nothing?

From the corner of her eye, she caught Melody looking at August again, though this time both of them shared a look after witnessing Horatio's arrival. The prince shrugged. Anna couldn't help but grin. At least three members of the Confederation don't like the young Marquess.

Last to arrive, as expected, was King Uxzas. His face was dark and sour, more so than usual. He was still evidently in mourning over the loss of the previous Field Marshal, dressed in black from head to toe and making him all the more unpleasant to deal with than he normally was. His face was pale but still chubby from indulging in wine and local delicacies wherever the Coalition went, but there was a certain darkness to him that Anna didn't like.

In fact, no one really liked dealing with King Uxzas these days. Ever since his friend Marshal Cicero had been killed in battle, he had been a lot snappier and more temperamental, and the Confederation members were all rather uncomfortable in his presence. His presence was rather scarce, and sometimes no one knew where he was. Not even in his spacious, private tent where he usually retired to drink after sundown. To put it simply, the man was…unpleasant.

Without a word of greeting, he took his seat at the table where the rest were already seated. The servants immediately buzzed in to serve dinner on wide, ceramic plates. Wine was plentiful too, having been acquired from Turnsheim and the other cities they had passed. Dishes of strong-scented Einsfeltai cuisine flew in, placed down on the table in front of the hungry Confederation members.

They tucked into the food, and there was silence for a good ten minutes as everyone focused on refuelling after a long day's travel across the land. Small talk broke out after that, discussions on some gossip among the troops and about how hard the terrain was, and how their horses had stepped into deep piles of shit in the uneven road that was more like a muddy track. Then at long last, their host Duke Helmsley cleared his throat.

"Might I suggest we get on with the evening's agenda?"

"Yes," Uxzas said shortly. He had been quiet up till now. "Please begin."

"Very well, Your Majesty." Kristoff said. He was seated beside Anna on his right, and Frederick on his left. Glancing at Frederick, they both got up. "If we might invite everyone over to the table?"

The Confederation members shuffled away from the dining table and moved to crowd around the small writing desk, where a space had been cleared to lay out the map. Markings had been made on various points of the road, with the route traced out lightly in pencil. Notes were scribbled in small, neat handwriting beside a red marking, and Anna instantly recognised the conscientious handwriting as Frederick's.

Kristoff glanced at Frederick. "Do you want to do it, or should I?"

"It's your call, Sir."

"Alright, then you do it."

That brought a half smile to Anna's face, though she did well to suppress it quickly in the presence of the others. Kristoff, even in his new position as Commander-in-Chief, was never one for public speaking, preferring to work behind the scenes. He always got so awkward when talking to a crowd or large group, and his ears would go red.

It was just as well that Frederick would do the talking, since the newly minted Field Marshal was always able to deeply compel those around him and drag them into his vision like he was the centre of a hurricane. Anna at least needed the Confederation members to go along with the plan if they were indeed going to carry on the campaign well into the winter season against all logic.

"Very well." The Field Marshal wasn't fazed. Clearing his throat, he began. "If I may direct your attention to the first marker near the region where we are currently located?" His finger hovered over a spot on the map somewhere between Turnsheim and Korynes.

Everyone shifted their gaze to the marked spot. They were currently two days away from the halfway mark of their intended route to Korynes.

"We're on schedule for now. Perhaps even half a day faster than we initially planned." Frederick said, then glanced in the direction of the tent opening. "But if this weather keeps up or gets worse, we will be forced to slow down. If the snow persists or gets any heavier, the terrain will be blanketed and the column will have a tough time covering the sixteen miles a day we planned. We'll have to hope for good weather."

"Forget hoping." Horatio said impatiently. "What are you planning to do once we get to Korynes?"

"Ah. I was getting to that, my Lord." As always, Frederick was polite and patient, even with a fool like Horatio. "So assuming we keep up this pace, we can roughly gauge that Hydrech and what remains of his Turnsheim brigades will reach the city of Korynes two days before us, which will give them enough time to regroup and dig in behind the walls and whatever fortifications they have prepared."

"The plan was to cut them off before they can reach their reinforcements." Uxzas snapped. It was evident that he, like Helmsley, was feeling some animosity towards Cicero's replacement. Either that or he didn't like the way the new Field Marshal was commanding the Coalition. "You didn't plan the route well enough, Marshal."

"Forgive the bluntness, but this was the only route, Sir." He pointed at the map. "This is the only clear path, as straight as it can be. The other paths lead up through the mountain passes, or winding around the coast road. I calculated the time it would take, given the speed of how fast our men can march in this weather.

"Besides, the Imperial Horde has the reputation of being the fastest army on the continent. They would have gotten to their base first even if our forces left Turnsheim the same day they did. So right now, I believe the question isn't how much slower we will reach compared to them." He tapped his finger beside another marker over the word 'Korynes", with notes written beside it. "The question is how we're going to lay siege to Korynes when we get there."

###

"So what do you think?" Melody's voice rang distant in her ears.

"Sorry, what?" Anna asked. She had been gazing off in the direction of Korynes. Soon we'd be able to put the plan into action and go save my sister and the others.

"About Frederick's plan." Melody said. "Honestly it sounds pretty radical, even to me. Do you think it'll work?"

"I prefer to leave the tactics and battle stuff to him. He's been in the game long enough to know what he's doing." Anna replied without much thought. "He helped us to defend Arendelle from the Imperial Horde, remember?"

Melody nodded but looked pensive for a long while as they stood outside Helmsley's tent. Both Anna and Melody took in the scene of the night. Tents were laid out as they always were, and right now they were standing in the Einsfeltai's side of the camp.

Men in grey uniforms were everywhere, playing cards, eating or drying out after the day-long showers. The night was cold, but thankfully snow wasn't falling now. Many fires had already been built, and smoke billowed, rising into the night sky twinkling with stars.

"Look." Melody said in hushed tones.

"Huh?" Anna turned to see where Melody was referring to.

"To my left. Nine o'clock." Melody whispered, not pointing or fully turning her head to remain discreet.

Puzzled, Anna followed her cue, trying to keep a low profile too just in case. What she saw seemed ordinary enough to her. Well, ordinary enough given the circumstances. King Uxzas was dismissively waving away his escorts dressed in their blue uniforms, and beginning to make his way further away from Helmsley's tent.

"I don't get it." Anna said, perplexed.

"The Molcorrans are camped right behind the Arendellians and Danish divisions tonight."

"And?"

"And he's headed away from his tent to the rear of the camp." Melody said. "Doesn't make sense, does it?"

Anna shrugged. "He looks like he just wants some fresh air and a quiet walk by himself. Can't blame the man. He's still in mourning."

"No, it's not that." The Danish Princess' eyebrows furrowed slightly. "He's acting suspicious. It's…it's something else, I think."

"What makes you think that?"

"I don't know." Melody shook her head. "Maybe I'm being overly paranoid after all these battles and politics these past months. Could be nothing. Maybe the weather's getting to me."

"It's getting to us all." Anna glanced up at the sky as something wet and cold fell on the tip of her nose. It was beginning to drizzle again.

Author's Commentary:

There's nothing worse than to be a soldier trapped on campaign during winter. I've read many accounts of history as well as novels on how armies would halt campaigns during winter and wait out the season before renewing their efforts in spring.

So the idea sort of came to me: what if our protagonists are stuck in the midst of a war campaign against the Empire, and are caught in winter? How are they going to make any progress and how's that going to hinder the Coalition during their battles?

It all makes for a rather interesting premise against a bleak white landscape in my opinion, seeing the story unfold as though it were one of the campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars, with the whole shadowy theme of sorcery of course. Let me know what you think!