Chapter Forty Six

Ramifications

MELODY

Melody watched as Elsa disappeared with the rest of their allies, and the Crossing Point closed behind them. Jade muttered something about going back to her room, needing time to process her thoughts. Melody didn't think that she would be able to pull any more shockers. After all, the damage had already been done.

Once Jade had slunk away sulkily, only Anna and herself remained in the shady room they had been using as a prison cell.

"There they go again." She muttered under her breath, staring at the wall where the Crossing Point had once been.

"They'll be back." Anna put a hand on her shoulder. "They'll always come back."

"This time, I sincerely hope so." The stakes had been raised. The game had now taken on a far more lethal nature. Hans just confirmed that the Crimson Order were operating in the shadows, manipulating events for quite a while now.

The biggest threat to the Warriors now was no longer the Blue Wolves, or the Confederation. Neither was the Empire the biggest threat to the Coalition. With this 'High Priest' figure as the grand puppeteer behind the scenes, pulling the strings of all his underlings in powerful positions, the Crimson Order was officially the deadliest enemy the Warrirors and the League had ever come up against.

Also, for the first time ever, she felt out of place. Before all of this, Melody had wanted to return to Denmark to take on more roles and responsibilities as the princess to prepare for the eventuality when she would become queen. However, things had turned out rather differently.

At some unknown point of time during the past few months, she'd found herself wishing to return to the life of adventure with her friends. With Tracy, Elsa, Maui and the others. However, she knew that her world was vastly different now. There was a war to win, and her people needed her as their leader. On behalf of her parents, she was the chief representative of her kingdom after all.

"Something wrong?" Anna was looking at Melody curiously. "Apart from everything else that's been going on, I mean. You look…off."

"It's…it's nothing." Melody said.

"Okay, now you have to tell me." Anna folded her arms. "Out with it. What's bugging you?"

Melody sat down on the chair that had previously been used to restrain Hans, and groaned softly. "It's stupid. Here we are at war with the Empire and now the Crimson Order, and I'm here wallowing in self pity. It's embarrassing."

Anna tilted her head curiously. "Self pity? What for?"

"I was so sure that I knew what I wanted back then before the war." Melody explained. "Being a representative of my people and making their lives better as I prepared to be queen someday. And now here I am, completely out of my league as Denmark's chief representative and swimming with the sharks in the Confederation - excluding you and August of course."

At the mention of Prince August, Anna's lip quirked. Melody rolled her eyes.

"Forget the last bit. My point is, I feel like I'm a fish out of water. No pun intended. Being at the forefront of a war campaign, arguing with political frenemies, it's not what I'm cut out for at all. To a certain extent, I miss being back on dangerous missions with the Warriors and the League." Melody went on. "I felt alive again when I was fighting alongside them to liberate Stormtide and all, but there was something off. Something didn't feel right."

"What do you mean?"

"It just felt strange for a while. And then it hit me after the siege here in Korynes." Melody said. "While I was fighting alongside the skirmishers and in the heat of the battle, everything went on without me. You guys managed to rescue Elsa and capture Hans, all without a hitch. I know it sounds selfish and egoistic, but-" Something caught in her throat.

"But you feel like you've lost your place with the Warriors and the League." Anna finished quietly.

"Exactly." Melody swallowed the lump in her throat. "It was then that I realised, I didn't fit in anymore. The mission went on without me. I…it sounds so self-aggrandising, doesn't it?"

"No, I get it." Anna smiled, unfolding her arms. "You've been with the Warriors since the very beginning. It's only normal that you feel out of place now that everything's gone on without you."

"Janus is the tactician and archer on the team. Elsa is their new leader. Even my best friend Tracy seems to have moved on…" Melody drifted. "It feels like I'm not needed there, and I don't exactly fit in here either. Then what's my place in the world?"

Both girls were quiet for a long moment. It seemed that neither knew how to answer that.

"I can't pretend to know and tell you what you should be doing." Anna finally said. "But what I can tell you is where you should be. Here with us, so that we can help you figure it out. The Warriors will be back, and when they are, we can start thinking about it on the go. Right now, the most important advice I can give you," Anna paused and smiled. "Is to just do the next right thing. Step by step, and you'll finally get where you need to be."

Melody returned the smile weakly. Anna certainly had a way with encouragement. "I'll take that to heart."

"Come on." Anna offered her a hand, and Melody accepted it and was pulled to her feet. "We should get back upstairs. I hate this place."

ANNA

Back up on the first floor of The Central Grand, Anna was pleasantly surprised to find Kristoff waiting.

"Kristoff!" Anna brisk-walked up the last few steps and met him halfway, both of them hugging each other.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer this morning." Kristoff still had heavy eye bags beneath his dark circled eyes in spite of the much needed rest he'd taken last night. His blonde hair was unkempt, and his new clothes already smelled of sweat, evidence of how busy he'd already been in less than half the day.

"You're busy. I know." Anna ruffled his hair. "I just wish you would've delegated more of the work to your officers. I'm sure Frederick's staff is more than capable."

Kristoff shook his head. "Everyone has their hands full. I'm just doing what I can to help. The siege was an ugly business, and there's been so much to clean up."

"Welcome back." Melody said as she came up behind Anna. "You look tired."

"I am." He said, pulling away from Anna. "So, what did I miss?"

"Ah." Anna glanced back at Melody. He'd missed a great ton.

Apparently he sensed it too. "Something happened didn't it? Where's Elsa? Is she alright? What about the rest?"

Anna then launched into an abbreviated explanation of how they'd interrogated Hans, how he'd so willingly given up everything he knew to bait them, and how they played right into his hand again. Kristoff's eyes grew wider at the mention of their old enemy escaping again.

"So he wanted to be caught." Kristoff confirmed. By now his face took on a whole different expression. Not one of exhaustion, but one of intrigue and indignation.

"Right." Melody nodded. "We knew he was cunning, but none of us thought that he'd be able to pull a stunt like this."

"And Jade freed him?"

"Yeah, and told him where the sorcerers were being sheltered." Anna pursed her lips.

His mouth gaped open slightly. "They're going to be attacked."

"Don't worry." Melody assured him. "Elsa and the rest are already on it. They're going to evacuate Swynvort."

His mouth dropped further. "Evacuate Swynvort? How-" he paused and shook his head. "I don't want to know. But on the bright side, at least we now know who's been behind everything."

"The Crimson Order." Melody said.

"And their mysterious leader. The High Priest." Anna added. "Whatever it is, we'll figure out what to do next when they come back."

"Oh, now I remember." Kristoff said abruptly. "Now I remember what I came to tell you both. I'm not back to rest. I came with a message. The Confederation is calling another meeting in fifteen minutes time in the Couriers' Square. Probably something to do with breaking camp and continuing the march."

Anna silently swore under her breath. "You've got to be kidding me. Moving already?"

"Hopefully not." Melody looked grim.

"With the Confederation, I think we know the answer to that." Kristoff looked unhappy and tired, but turned on his heel and beckoned for them to follow. "Come on. We don't have much time."

###

Indeed they didn't. By the time they'd navigated through the war-torn streets of Korynes and reached the Courier's Square - a building meant to hold packages for couriers to pick up and deliver - the rest of the Confederation members were already present and waiting.

They sat at a long table, though nowhere near as well furnished as in a palace or a grand ballroom. It was a simple table made of pine wood, probably having been used to stack packages in the past, but had been commandeered when the Empire turned Korynes into a colony. The room itself was a dusty old place probably used for meetings between enterprising merchants. Still, it was one of the buildings that hadn't been damaged by shell or fighting.

Everyone was in attendance. King Uxzas, Duke Helmsley and Prince August were back after their five divisions had regrouped with Anna's five once the siege was over. With them at the table was Marquess Horatio, who looked impatient as usual. Field Marshal Frederick stood at the side with arms clasped behind his back and figure straight, directly behind the three empty chairs reserved for Anna, Kristoff and Melody.

King Uxzas cleared his throat. "Glad you could join us, Your Majesty." He regarded Melody and Kristoff with a brief nod. "Your Royal Highnesses."

As they returned the greeting and took their seats at the table, Anna subtly studied Uxzas' eyes. There was no sign of suspicion. He most likely believed her lie that the Warriors had escaped prior to their real breakout a day later, and somewhere along the line, the details must have been lost. So her deception was still safe, yet Anna had come away with the confirmation that Uxzas was a traitor, working in secret for the Crimson Order.

As she watched him, she could see a hint of anxiety flickering in his eyes. Did he fear something perhaps? Or someone? What she would give to know what was going on inside the old man's head right now, or if perhaps he had been issued a new mandate by his master in the shadows.

"As you are all aware, thanks to Field Marshal Frederick' tactics-" Uxzas began, disdain and sarcasm lingering just below the surface. "-as well as the timely execution of manoeuvres, the Coalition's ten divisions have sustained minimal losses in the Siege of Korynes, and the Imperial Horde have been forced to retreat over the river. Well done, Marshal."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Frederick's face was characteristically blank.

"However, it is my opinion that we cannot rest long." Helmsley picked up the conversation. "According to reports you've handed us," he glanced at Frederick. "Your reconnaissance teams have spotted the enemies not far east from the city of Korynes in a small village called Netheide, where Hydrech has managed to rally them and are planning to strike back."

"Yes, Your Grace." Frederick said. "However, I must add that-"

"Hence, we need to act quickly." Helmsley cut him off. "No doubt Hydrech has requested larger numbers and Field Marshal Kane will send him more. If we don't act fast, the Imperial Horde will be upon us again with fresh Exonian troops, and with the damage already done to the city, we won't be able to fortify our position enough to defend against a counter siege."

"Pardon me, Your Grace." Frederick managed to interject quite firmly but with military decorum. "As I was about to add, it might very well be a trap that Hydrech wants us to spring. Given the terrain, I believe he wants to bait us into attacking him, and then consume us in a double envelopment manoeuvre. A competent officer such as himself would no doubt think to employ it. With Netheide to his back and the hill in front of the river, he can afford to launch a surprise counter-attack against us without fear of being outmanoeuvred."

"Be that as it may, I agree with the Duke." Uxzas said shortly. "We have to act."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Helmsley sounded satisfied.

"I for one, do not agree." Anna said, levelling the gazes of the two older men at the table. "Our troops are tired, and we don't have the strength to launch into yet another battle so soon. Besides," she gestured out the window, where it just happened to be snowing again. "I don't see either side can fight if this weather continues."

"Snow or not, we should attack." Horatio refuted. "The snow isn't thick. And we can't let the Imperial Horde strike first. We have to take them by surprise!"

"Did you not hear what the Field Marshal said?" Kristoff said sharply to Horatio. "It could very well be a trap set by Hydrech."

Horatio glowered at him, but neglected to say anything rude in response. A prince consort outranked a marquess after all.

"We need to think about our troops." Melody spoke up. "They've been on hard marches for the past week, only to deploy into a siege at the end of it. Our men need rest, otherwise they will mutiny sooner or later. Or abandon us, at best."

"They will do nothing of the sort." Uxzas snapped. "They are here for one reason, and one reason only. Because they signed up to fight for peace, and they will fight when we tell them to."

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, you're wrong." Prince August said in a respectful tone. "Soldiers are merely men after all, and men can get tired just like you and I. If we throw them into battle again this soon, morale will be dangerously low and greatly reduce our chances of victory. Besides, we've taken losses of our own and haven't completely recovered yet."

"Not to mention that there's still reorganisation that needs to be completed, more promotions and replacements, and that's not forgetting the distribution of new ammunition and rations among many more things." Kristoff added.

"Oh, come on." Horatio threw his hands up. "Our troops are tougher than that. We've got the bastards on the lam. Worry about administration later. We need to strike now!"

"Horatio, can you think rationally for just one second and stop thinking about throwing yourself into the heat of battle just to satisfy your craving for violence?" Anna said vexedly, staring directly at the marquess who scowled back.

"We can't do it." Melody agreed. "The best we can do now is to fortify our positions here. Field Marshal Kane, General Hydrech or whoever's in charge on their side won't be crazy enough to stage a battle in this weather. It's only getting worse."

It was true. The snow was getting stronger and thicker with every passing day and soon marching would slow to a snail's pace. No effective fighting would be able to be accomplished, and the campaign would grind to a frustrating halt in the middle of nowhere.

"Please." Anna pleaded. "Let's think about this. We need to dig in over the winter and fortify our numbers. Meanwhile, that'll give the logistics ministries back in our kingdoms time to send us more food and supplies for the next leg of the campaign. If we make our winter quarters here, we'll be stronger and more prepared to end the war once and for all once spring sets in."

"And give the enemy the chance to fortify themselves too?" Uxzas jabbed a finger in the direction over the fallen bridge. "They're weakening and they're desperate. We need to seize our opportunity now, and crush them before it's too late!"

"You think that's all they have out there?" Anna's voice rose slightly. "You think the Exonians are stupid enough to make their last stand over at Netheide? This will not be the end of it. Please, listen to reason. We need to quarter here over the winter!"

"Enough!" Uxzas thundered, making Anna and a few others start. She glared at him as he regarded her with cold eyes. "We shall put it to a vote. Those in favour of continuing the campaign, cast your vote."

Duke Helmsley lifted his hand, glancing disdainfully over at Anna and her allies. Horatio's hand shot up almost immediately like an excited schoolboy eager to go on a tour of the city.

"And those not in favour?"

Anna, Melody, Kristoff and August raised their hands.

Uxzas looked down his nose at Kristoff. "Might I remind you that you are not considered a member of the Confederation? You may be the Prince Consort and Commander-in-Chief of the army, but you are simply here as a courtesy to accompany your wife."

"You've got to be joking." Kristoff said through gritted teeth.

"No, I am not." Uxzas said brusquely.

Simmering on the inside, Anna found that she had nothing she could do. Uxzas was right, after all. Damn him. Under the table, she placed a hand on Kristoff's tightened fist and gave a gentle squeeze.

Kristoff narrowed his eyes and lowered his hand slowly.

"Very well." Helmsley drawled. "It looks like the vote is split down the middle."

"As it usually is." Anna said curtly.

"As protocol states, when it comes to an unfortunate result like this." Uxzas glanced round. "The most senior member of the Confederation should have the responsibility of having the final say."

Don't you play that card again. Anna wanted to scream, but she knew that he was right again. As maddening as it was, he was only following protocol that had been set in place by stiff old men from generations past. There was nothing she could do about it.

"And so," Uxzas went on, a note of triumph in his voice. "I say that the Coalition marches at dawn. We will confront Hydrech's numbers - reinforced or not - and crush them. We will not hesitate a moment longer if we want to end this campaign quickly." He began to lift his voice, possibly in excitement. "The snow, the rain, and not even ten more Exonian divisions are going to stop us. Not when we're this close to victory!"

Helmsley, more calmly, inclined his head towards Frederick. "Plan your strategy, Field Marshal. We will break camp at dawn."

"Yes, Your Grace." There was an evident tightness in Frederick's voice, intentionally put there by the nuanced officer. Even he had lost his patience.

###

"I don't like it." Kristoff said. "They're effectively sending our people into a trap. I'm sure it's a trap."

The Confederation had just officially concluded their "council of war" and dispersed back to their comfortable quarters in the city of Korynes. Only Anna, Melody, Kristoff and Frederick were left in the Couriers' Square.

"If it helps," Frederick said. "I shall try to prepare contingencies for if General Hydrech decides to attempt a double envelopment. Though I cannot guarantee that it will be a successful counter, given the terrain we're on and the uncertainty of how many troops Hydrech has waiting for us. The river and bridge makes it impossible for us to send scouting parties for reconnaissance."

"Do what you need to." Anna patted his arm. "I trust you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Frederick saluted. "Your Royal Highnesses."

"I wouldn't like to be him right now." Melody said after Frederick had left. "That much weight on his shoulders to carry the Coalition to victory."

"But somehow he'll manage." Kristoff said. "He hasn't survived in this business these many years for nothing."

"But this is the Imperial Horde we're talking about. Not just any other flimsy army commanded by some incompetent officer." Melody said.

"We'll survive." Anna didn't know if she was reassuring the others or herself. "We have to. We haven't come this far only to fail now. I only wish the others hadn't been so damn eager to fight."

Kristoff sighed and glanced outside. The snow was still falling slowly and the sky was grey, darkening fast. "I should go. With the new orders, there's stuff to take care of."

"Nonsense." Anna fixed him with a firm stare. "I want you to rest. You look awful."

"I'm fine." Kristoff insisted, bags below his eyes protesting otherwise.

"I'll have Hayley run down to Frederick and tell him to activate his staff to deal with whatever needs to be done." Anna steadfastly stood her ground. "Go to bed. Your queen commands it."

"Pulling the queen card on me now?" Kristoff grumbled in a low tone.

"Yeah I am," She stared up at him fiercely. "Go to bed, and I'll join you soon. We could use another good night like yesterday."

A small grin broke Kristoff's grumbling. He kissed her and slipped away. From the back of his departing figure, Anna could tell that her husband was actually actually relieved to finally have a break and to enjoy another undisturbed night with her.

"Your husband's going to work himself till he drops if you don't step in." Melody mused.

"Can't argue with that." Anna said, staring out the window again. Very soon the snow would get so thick that it would be damn near impossible to continue the campaign. They'd be stuck somewhere in a no man's land blanketed in snow, vulnerable, cold and lacking food, all while waiting for the enemy to deliver the coup de grâce. What then?

Author's Commentary:

"What's my place in the world?" I think a lot of us can empathise with Melody. Some days we're just caught in a rut, realising that we don't know where we're at and how to keep moving forward. I wanted to make Melody's predicament very relatable to our own reality where we face similar emotions and thoughts. I'd hoped it would give her character arc something fresh after three novels.