Chapter Fifty Three
The Petition for Freedom
ANNA
The Coalition had seen better days. Yet they pressed on, moving away from the river bank where they had been cornered and attacked, taking the hill and making their camp there. It made for a good, strategic position to survey the land and they would be able to spot the Imperial Horde if they decided to rally and attack again.
However, General Hydrech had clearly taken the Imperial Horde and retreated farther east into Empire territory. They wouldn't dare to launch another attack against the Coalition, now that the latter had the high ground. An elevated position always made for the most favourable terrain, and it wasn't like Hydrech was stupid. Also, the League of Sorcerers were with the Coalition now.
A day had passed since the ambush on the river bank, and after moving up to the hill, they had stopped there to recover from their losses and reorganise themselves. The Coalition had lost a great many soldiers yesterday during Hydrech's vicious battle of attrition - a trademark of Kane's tactics - and were now down to nine divisions in total, maybe less.
Nine divisions sounded like a strong number, but when put in the larger context, it wasn't really true. Nine divisions to brave the increasingly heavy snow, heading right into the centre of Empire territory. The bulk of the Imperial Horde would be ready and waiting to defend the capital, Exon City.
They were about to enter the final phase of the campaign, and yet the Confederation still found time to argue. A conference was going to be held at the top of the hill in ten minutes.
Anna gazed out at the far horizon as she hiked up the side of the hill, decked out in full winter gear. Her attire reminded her of a far simpler time in life, when she had left her kingdom for the first time in years to find her sister up on the North Mountain. And to think that scaling a mountain and reconciling with Elsa were her biggest problems in life back then.
She lightly scoffed and a rueful smile played at the corners of her lips.
"Something bothering you?" Kristoff was trekking upslope beside her, hand in hand. He was dressed in simple leather and tunic, much like he had been the first time they met, only now his outfit was complete with a military green winter jacket.
"Just thinking." Anna said. He'd changed a lot too, come to think of it.
"About?"
"Remember when we first met?" Anna said as they continued to climb. "Trying to find my sister up on that mountain?"
He chuckled. "How could I forget? You cost me my new sled."
Anna's cheeks coloured a little. "Right."
"What about it?"
"Just made me remember a simpler time. Before all this." Anna waved her hand at the rows of tents pitched on the gentler slope of the hillside and at its base. Rows of military tents stretched out far and wide, equipment laid and stacked neatly on the supply carts and ammunition caissons, horses resting together and cannons limbered.
"Feels like a lifetime ago. A simpler time." Kristoff said quietly. "But if I had to do it all again, everything that would lead up to this moment, I would."
"Oh?" Anna paused for a moment and turned to him. He stopped too. "Why? Everything that's happened since has been chaotic."
"Because I got to do it with you." Kristoff smiled. "We fell in love, we got married, and we braved the storms together. And we're still here with each other. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"That's sweet." Anna pulled herself close to him and kissed him on the cheek. "I wish we had it under better circumstances though."
"Who wouldn't." He muttered after the kiss. "Being stuck in a war with the Empire, damn sorcerers running around the world, a shadowy cult manipulating the events of the continent? I don't recognise this world anymore."
"Me neither." She agreed. "But we just have to press on. Win the war, stop the Crimson Order once and for all, and go home. Close this chapter of our lives behind us, and live the rest of our days in Arendelle in peace."
As she said the words, she knew that things weren't going to be that easy. After the war, there was still the fallout to deal with. An economic crisis to deal with. The Confederation to lock horns with. And with the League of Sorcerers once again in the fold, things were going to be much more complicated.
That was probably the reason why the Confederation had called the conference. One simply couldn't overlook the fact that the League of Sorcerers were now camped on the same hill as the Coalition divisions. Thankfully though, the soldiers hadn't displayed any show of hostility or force. Perhaps they were still reeling from the fact that they had narrowly escaped certain death, and that they had the sorcerers to thank for that.
"Come on." Kristoff looked up, where both Melody and Elsa was standing at the top of the hill waiting for them. "Let's get up there before the Confederation members start complaining again."
Climbing up the remaining distance, Anna and Kristoff met Elsa and Melody, who were also clad in winter attire. The snow had gotten stronger after the battle yesterday, and the cold afternoon air was incredibly chilly.
The rest of the Warriors - Tracy, Maui, Deirdre and Janus - weren't with them. Elsa had mentioned earlier that it would be best not to show up in large numbers as it might come across as an intimidation ploy. Hence, they'd left the others with the refugee sorcerers as well as the seasoned members of the League, along with the hundreds of sorcerers camped on the hillside.
Jade, was an entirely different story. Truthfully, Anna didn't know where she stood with the Warriors, and she wasn't exactly prepared to ask either. After the Coalition had set out to cross the river, Anna had given her staff instructions to keep Jade in their sights at all times. Jade had gone back to moping about sullenly, possibly angry and regretful over her actions and the ramifications that followed.
It must have been hell, Anna empathised. Losing her brother, and then getting thrown in prison, only to be tempted and manipulated by Hans - of all people. And to top it off, losing the trust of her closest friends. Honestly, Anna herself didn't know if she could entirely trust Jade again. Was she still one of them? It was a really grey area, and Anna decided to shelf that question for later.
"Are you ready?" Melody asked Anna. The Danish Princess had rested well after the battle yesterday, and was looking fresh and neat, dressed in functional and presentable winter clothes.
"Yeah." Anna set her jaw. "This is our only chance to set things right. To gain a full pardon for all sorcerers on the continent." She looked at Elsa. "For all of you to come back to us."
"Anna." Elsa squeezed Anna's hand. "I could not be more proud of you. No matter what happens, whatever the Confederation decides…"
"They'll abolish the CAST today." Anna cut her off, a gentle but firm tone in her voice. "I'll make sure of it, if that's the last thing we do."
Elsa took a deep breath. "Then let's go."
Anna nodded, and led the way towards the centre of the hill, where a large tent stood. This tent belonged to King Uxzas, who had opted to make his temporary dwelling high above everyone else's. His tent was where the Confederation members were going to be gathered today to engage in another round of arguments. But this time, Anna was determined to make sure it went the way she wanted. This is our only chance.
Frozen over, the crest of the hill was thick with snow. The air was thin and cold, making it ridiculously hard to breathe. Or was it the tension and gravity of the responsibility on Anna's shoulders to steer the conference today? It was hard to tell, but she believed it was the latter.
Two pairs of sentries in blue stood guard outside Uxzas' huge tent. They saluted the small group, and one ducked inside to announce their arrival. The tent flap was pulled back and Anna slipped in first, followed by Elsa, Melody and Kristoff.
Inside, the Confederation members were already waiting. It seemed that they had deemed this meeting extremely crucial, and had shown up early. They probably had a lot to say about the League showing up, especially members like King Uxzas and Duke Helmsley.
Prince August had been impartial through it all, though he did lean more towards Anna and Melody's side. Anna didn't know how he would react and respond to today's conference, but he was the least of her worries.
Fortunately, Marquess Horatio was indifferent, mostly. He was only concerned about charging headlong into battle, thirsty for Exonian blood, and he didn't care much about the sorcerers unlike his mother, the Duchess of Xerflorn. The only thing he cared about was pride and glory, so hopefully he wouldn't be a big problem today.
The rest of the Confederation which included people like the Grand Duke of Archdan, the Prince of Eliqnoir and the King of Rafrantar, were too far away to have a say in the matter. It would take months before they heard of what transpired here, so they weren't really a threat.
"Good afternoon." Anna dipped her head rigidly at the members seated around the long foldable table.
Her personal assistant, Hayley, was standing timidly in a corner, together with a couple of other scribes and secretaries tagged to the various Confederation members. The conference here today was of such importance and magnitude that words and facts would have to be recorded. It would change the course of history going forward.
"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses. Please." Duke Helmsley gestured at the four empty seats at the table, eyeing Elsa in particular. "Have a seat."
There was even a seat for Elsa, whose name had long since been removed from the Confederation name roll. They'd been anticipating her presence here at the meeting today, since it concerned her and her kind. It made sense, since she deserved to have a say in the matter.
Anna watched as Elsa levered herself awkwardly into her seat. The Snow Queen could fight against armies, lead the League of Sorcerers as the Pilgrim, war against villains like Eleanor, Kane and Ingrid, but she seemed utterly uncomfortable here in the presence of the Confederation.
Prince August cleared his throat and nodded at Elsa. "Welcome back, Your Royal Highness. It is good to have you back at the table."
"Thank you." Elsa smiled politely. "And I would like to thank you all for agreeing to my being here. I believe we have a lot to discuss."
"Yes." Uxzas' voice was like a knife, and Anna couldn't help but wonder if his allies in the Crimson Order had reached out to him. Perhaps he had a mandate to make sure that sorcerers remained as fugitives and enemies of the Confederation. If so, it would make things a whole lot harder. Anna pursed her lips slightly at the thought of that.
"I'm sure we are all aware of why we're here today." Uxzas continued, his eyes travelling around the table and resting on Elsa. "We need to address the elephant in the room."
"Or the sorcerers infesting the hill, so to speak." Horatio quipped inappropriately, drawing the stares from the others.
Duke Helmsley looked stiff as usual, evidently unhappy that Elsa was allowed to be at their conference. However, he remained quiet for now.
"The League of Sorcerers made a public appearance yesterday," Uxzas ignored Horatio's comment. "Arriving in full force in the hundreds."
Helmsley peered at Elsa with disdain. "How many witches do you have with you, pray tell?"
"Close to eight hundred." Elsa answered calmly. "And please, do not call them witches. They're men, women and children. They're only human."
"I beg to differ." Uxzas said tersely. "You're all a danger to this world. Magic and what not, you and your kind pose a threat to our continent's safety and stability, and I will be damned before I let you all jeopardise that now when we're in the middle of war."
It was time to pull out the winning cards. "If they really are the monsters you make them out to be, why did they come to our rescue yesterday?" Anna said coolly, staring straight into Uxzas' eyes. "They could have left us all to die at the hands of the Imperial Horde."
"Sentiment." Uxzas levelled her gaze. "Just because your sister was too sentimental to let you die doesn't mean the rest of them aren't savages."
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, you're wrong." This time it was Melody who spoke. "I was out on that battlefield yesterday, together with the skirmishing battalions. I saw the sorcerers come to our rescue. They put themselves in harm's way so that we could survive. Why would they all do that?"
"Because their leader asked them to." Helmsley answered stiffly. "That doesn't make them all saints and martyrs."
"Some of my people got hurt. Some sacrificed themselves." Elsa said, anger entering her voice. "All so that the Coalition would live to fight another day. If all of us is as evil as you claim we are, we would've sooner left you all to perish."
"They didn't have to help us." Anna said, feeling for the first time that she had the edge in the argument. "But they did. And that's saying a lot, considering that this council wrote them all off as criminals even though many of them did nothing wrong."
"They were forced to live as outcasts and refugees, hunted by their own people and locked up in Stormtide." Melody added. "If any of you were in their position, would you choose to stick your necks out and possibly sacrifice yourself for the people who branded you as an enemy?"
"Them being here is a threat to our safety," Uxzas hissed, though it was clear that he was slowly giving ground. "They're dangerous."
"If we wanted to, we could have turned on the Coalition at any time since yesterday." Elsa had gained some confidence. "Attacked when you were all weak after the onslaught from the Imperial Horde. But we didn't, because even though you labelled us as witches and monsters, we aren't."
"Sorcerers are people too," Anna picked up where her sister had left off, before Uxzas or Helmsley could get in another word. "Human beings who are different, many of whom didn't choose to be born with their abilities. And yet they displayed courage and valour yesterday when they saved us all. Don't you think that should at least count for something?"
Anna took the moment to glance round at the faces around the table. Helmsley still looked stiff, Uxzas unhappy and indignant, Horatio's expression a mixed bag and August seeming to agree with her.
Melody cleared her throat before speaking again. "I think the evidence speaks for itself. Sorcerers aren't our enemy. They're on our side, and they should be allowed to be free."
"Absolutely not." Helmsley sounded aghast at the suggestion.
"We're in the heart of Empire territory now." Anna gestured towards the east, where somewhere beyond lay the Capital of Exon. "With our forces weakened and no doubt be opposed by greater numbers in the coming days, are you really prepared to continue the campaign without the help of the League?"
"Field Marshal Kane and the majority of the Imperial Horde are still out there." Kristoff said. "We're not prepared to face Hydrech's forces again anytime soon, let alone Kane and the rest!"
"I will not let those monsters roam freely amongst the Coalition!" Uxzas had his teeth bared, face twisted in indignation. "I'll be damned before I allow that to happen."
"Your Majesty. The way I see it, you have two options," Elsa said, her shoulders squared. "Contend with the Imperial Horde in the heart of Empire territory in the state the Coalition is in and get crushed, or accept our help and stand a chance to finally end this war once and for all. We are on your side."
Anna stood up. "We need the League to fight the Empire." She said matter-of-factly. "Otherwise this whole campaign would have been for nothing." She glanced at Uxzas, Helmsley and Horatio. "You were the ones who insisted we press on through the winter, as insane as that is. And now you're telling me that you don't want to use every resource to our advantage?"
"I-" Uxzas started helplessly, blinking.
"Would you rather uphold a ridiculous treaty that discriminates human beings than stand with gifted individuals who are willing to fight by your side?" Anna asked intensely. "I implore you all. Abolish the CAST. They deserve their freedom as human beings." She paused for dramatic effect. "And we need the League of Sorcerers. They are our only chance at finishing this campaign and going home victorious."
With that, Anna sat down again, watching the Confederation members with bated breath. From the peripheral of her eye, she saw Elsa and Melody glance at her, and she gave them a tiny nod. Underneath the table, Kristoff squeezed her hand as if to say "well done". She squeezed back, hoping that this was not all for nothing.
Marquess Horatio was the first to break the silence. "Whatever. As long as we win the war, who cares how we go about doing it? I say we ally ourselves with the sorcerers. You all saw how they decimated the Exonians. That was marvellous. We need that kind of edge if we're taking the fight to the Empire."
Anna deflated slightly. That was one less person to worry about.
"I quite agree." Prince August said, his voice clear and composed. "Not with the marquess' reasoning, but with Her Majesty's." His eyes met Anna's. "The CAST needs to be withdrawn. Discrimination and fear of the sorcerers isn't the way. They deserve better."
Anna deflated further, nodding in gratitude at August, who lightly dipped his head at her in response.
"It seems that the vote has been cast." Anna studied Uxzas and Helmsley carefully, watching for their reactions. "The majority is in favour of having the CAST repealed."
Uxzas' face grew red. "You all can't be serious." He glanced at Helmsley.
"I'm afraid Her Majesty is right." The duke said reluctantly. "The rules are as such. This is a confederation after all, not a tyranny. We must adhere."
Internally, Anna smiled though on the surface she kept her features neutral. For once, Helmsley's love for doing things by the book had come in handy.
"The CAST will have to be repealed." Helmsley went on, though obviously unhappy at the outcome of the conference. He glanced at Uxzas. "I'm sorry, old friend."
Uxzas was very quiet, as if considering his options. He had none left. His features hardened further, and his voice was clipped when he spoke. "Very well." He said grudgingly. "Since all of you have spoken. The CAST will be lifted effective immediately."
Anna heaved a sigh of relief. She wanted to explode with joy, but she kept her hands in her lap and her face serene. She could only imagine how elated and liberated her sister was now feeling.
"But I'm warning you all." Uxzas hissed like a man who knew his days were numbered. "You're making a terrible mistake. Letting the sorcerers loose. A can of worms re-opened. There will be a reckoning."
"With all due respect, Sir." Elsa said coldly. "The only threat around here is you."
"And the Empire, of course." Anna said, anxious to steer the conversation away in another direction now that the decision had been made. "We need to figure out what's our next move."
"I think you've all made it abundantly clear that you wish to pursue the Imperial Horde all the way to their doorstep." August glanced at Helmsley, Uxzas and Horatio. "The only question is how we are able to go about doing it."
As the meeting went on, Anna couldn't help but let her mind drift for a bit. With the CAST repealed, Uxzas was sure to come under heavy fire from his allies within the Crimson Order for not ensuring the success of their plan. Anna almost felt a little sorry for Uxzas, knowing that he would have to answer for his failure. But it did serve him right, after having made the sorcerers' lives hell for months.
What mattered now was that the League was finally free. They'd won this battle, and now they just had to win the two remaining wars. The war against the Empire, and the war in the shadows against the Crimson Order.
