Subaru could do nothing but stare at Emilia in awe. He'd only seen her like this once before: when she was telling Roswaal that she would pass the Trials no matter what.

That she would pass the trials for him.

"I am your partner, Subaru. The only way I'll stay out of the fight is if you do too. Every danger that threatens you, threatens me too. And from now on, we're going to face them all together," Emilia said firmly.

"Emilia…" He murmured.

"I won't leave you," Emilia whispered.

Subaru bit his lip and slowly nodded. "Yeah… I recognize that look on your face."

A moment passed and Subaru wasn't sure how it had happened but he suddenly discovered that Emilia was in his arms and they held each other tight.

"God damn it, Emilia," Subaru almost whimpered. "Why do you always have to be so brave?" Subaru realized that he was crying.

Emilia tittered through her own tears. "I keep wanting to ask you that same question."

Subaru took a deep breath. "You had better not die, Emilia. If you die, I'll never forgive you!"

Emilia chuckled.

Subaru sighed as they drew apart. He wiped his eyes. "Alright. Let's go find Antilles and his soldiers. Then we can all make plans to do yet another thing that's really, really stupid."

Subaru and Emilia found the soldiers just inside the forest.

"Alright, Captain," Subaru said. "I think we have a plan."

Subaru quickly spelled out his idea.

Antilles scratched his chin as he thought it over. "It sounds feasible, I suppose. But how do you plan to distract the soldiers? I completely expect my men to refuse such a suicide mission, nor would I fault them for doing so. Even in the best laid plans, the bait tends to get eaten. Even if you convinced my men to try-"

"I'm not asking your men to do that, Captain," Subaru cut him off. "I'm planning to use mabeasts."

"Mabeasts?!" Antilles asked incredulously. He stared at Subaru and Emilia for a long moment as if waiting for either to confess that they were just joking. "Ignoring for the moment the legal and ethical implications of using mabeasts in warfare, how do you even intend to convince them to attack the camp?!"

Subaru hesitated. Oh, fuck! How am I going to explain this?!

"Subaru has a special bait from his homeland," Emilia stepped in quickly. "It's a very effective mabeast bait. We'll go to a forest not far from here and lay down a trail. The mabeasts will come."

Nice one, Mili! Subaru thought, looking impressed.

Emilia caught his glance and flushed but she looked quite pleased with herself.

Antilles was digesting Emilia's story. "What is this bait called?"

Oh, shit. Not again.

Subaru glanced at Emilia but she hesitated.

Subaru coughed. "It's called… umm… 'Scooby and Shaggy,'" Subaru said lamely.

Oh God. I did not just say that!

"I've never heard of this substance before," Antilles replied in confusion.

"Oh! It's amazing bait," Subaru assured him. "Back home it's what people always use to… lure the monsters into a trap," He finished lamely.

I need to get better at making up names in the spur of the moment! I can almost hear everyone back home laughing at me for this one!

Antilles thought for a moment. "A horde of mabeasts would certainly be an effective distraction," He admitted.

Subaru nodded. "There's a mabeast infested forest a few hours away. Emilia and I will go back there and lay down bait to gather the mabeasts to attack the camp. We'll try to time the attack to happen a little before dawn. We'll rescue Anri at the same time."

While the soldiers got busy with the sesame seed oil, Emilia and Subaru raced back to the Elior Forest on Patrasche.

It was nighttime when the dragon finally stepped onto the snow under the forest eaves.

Emilia whispered, "Subaru, how are we going to find the mabeasts?"

A low growl from the woods answered her.

Emilia held onto Subaru a little tighter and Patrasche took a step back as dozens of wolgarms and a few Guiltylowe began to creep out of the shadows.

"I called them as soon as we were close enough," He answered. "So that they'd be waiting here for us."

Subaru was having misgivings about his plan. I know this sounds weird but… I kind of feel guilty about this. I am risking their lives here. They're just supposed to be a distraction but some of them could easily be killed in this fight. This isn't like throwing them at a group of poorly armed smugglers.

I'll make sure that I tell them to keep their distance. They don't have to kill any soldiers. Just distract them for about two minutes.

The mabeasts continued to gather around Patrasche, looking up at Subaru with loathing. In short order, there were sixty of them gathered around the riding dragon who nervously fidgeted.

Subaru swallowed hard. "Alright, let's go!"

It was well after midnight. Malcolm an Griest had been busy writing letters and making plans for the army but he was finally ready to turn in for the night.

"Prince Malcolm!" A voice shouted.

Malcolm grumbled to himself and turned to see who had hailed him. He wasn't very surprised to see the Generals of the four armies belonging to the other Houses standing there, all looking angry.

"What is it?" Malcolm said with an edge in his voice.

"We understand that you've taken Princess Kairei prisoner," The general from House Hilde said. He was a tall, solid man with gray hair. While they'd spoken several times, Malcolm couldn't remember his name, nor did he particularly care.

"If you're here to congratulate me then I think this could have waited until morning," Malcolm grumbled.

"We're here to demand that you send her away immediately," The Brokvar general said flatly.

"What?!" Malcolm demanded. "You expect me to set her free? Are you all aligned with House Ithil now?!"

"No. And nobody said anything about setting her free. We don't care what happens to her," The Craite General sniffed. "But we're not aligned with you in this matter either!"

"He's right, Prince Malcolm," The Hilde general grumbled. "We're neutral in your war with Ithil. Now, because the princess is here, our soldiers are helping you guard her! You're making it look like our Houses are aligned against House Ithil and aligned with House Griest!"

"As you should be," Malcolm growled. "House Ithil will be extinct in a matter of days and House Griest will once again claim the Holy King's throne. You had better sort out where your loyalties are."

"My loyalties are to Prince Donar," The Hilde general said with disdain. "And I can tell you right now that he'll be furious if we're even giving the appearance of taking sides in this war. Send the Princess back to Sanshi with some of your men. Tonight."

"I don't take orders from you!" Malcolm roared.

"Do it," The Craite General said in a firm voice. "Or tomorrow, we make separate camps. We're not courting trouble from Siros or the Hierocracy."

Malcolm glowered at them. "You are making a very powerful enemy right now."

"We'll pass that on to our Princes," General Brokvar said shortly.

Malcolm scowled at them for a long moment. "One more thing," Malcolm grated. "I want all our forces ready for battle just after sunrise."

"Battle?" The General from Voivode said in surprise.

Malcolm nodded. "The Lagunican army will be here just after sunrise. Possibly with detachments from Siros."

The Craite General looked incredulously. "Prince Malcolm," He said in a tone that suggested he was fighting for patience. "None of our scouts have reported any sightings at all! Much less a whole army!"

"You have your orders," Malcolm said flatly. "I have it on very good authority that the army that guards the princess will attack at sunrise and I intend to be ready for it. Be of good cheer, however, gentlemen. I am absolutely certain that we are a vastly superior force to our enemies and the princess's army will be destroyed easily."

"Prince Malcolm," The Brokvar General grated. "Would you kindly explain to us the source of this intelligence?"

"It's confidential," Malcolm said shortly.

The four generals fumed and turned to walk away, leaving Malcolm standing beside his tent.

Some hours later, Subaru and Emilia sneaked through the dense, tall grass not far from the camp. They'd left Patrasche with Captain Antilles's men. They crept to the very edge of the tall grass, only fifty yards or so from the outer tents in the camp.

The pair crouched low to avoid detection.

"Now what?" Emilia breathed in his ear.

Subaru hesitated. "Mili, you know… this could get ugly right?" He said gently. "We can't risk anyone we bump into inside the camp raising an alarm. We'll need to kill anyone we see, quickly and quietly.

Emilia nodded. Her face was unhappy but it was determined. "I'm not the fainting flower you think I am, Subaru," She said firmly. "And I have very little sympathy for soldiers holding an unarmed girl captive. I don't want to kill anyone but I won't flinch from it either," She said simply.

Subaru studied her for a long moment and then slowly nodded. "Alright. Then sun will rise in an hour or two. We want to be out of the valley before that happens. I'm going to tell the mabeasts to start prowling near the other side of the camp. Then when the alarm sounds, we'll run into the camp. I'll cut through the canvas of the 'jail tent' with Anri's rapier. With any luck, the guards will be gone or at least won't notice us. We'll free Anri and flee back through the field. If we're pursued, Antilles is standing by with fire arrows to set the field smoking to force the soldiers back. Then we all group up and get the hell out of here!"

Emilia nodded. "What about the Acolyte Knights?" She asked.

Subaru nodded. "If we're lucky, they'll get caught up in the smoke and lose our trail too. If not, I'll pop Pridebreaker on them. That should reduce them to ordinary fighters. We should be able to handle them then."

Emilia took a deep breath. "Alright, Subaru. I'm ready when you are."

Subaru hesitated. "Mili, just… promise me that you'll be careful," He pleaded.

"I will," She replied calmly, studying the camp. "I'd ask you for the same promise but I know that you'd break it and I don't like liars."

Subaru gave her a hurt look.

"Come on, Subaru," Emilia said calmly. "The night is passing."

Subaru closed his eyes for a moment.

Well. Here goes nothing.

Subaru unleashed his monsters.

Deann and Duncan were sleeping side by side in their tent. One of the nicer things about being on campaign was, due to the scarcity of available tents, no one could really object to them sharing accommodations.

There was a loud commotion outside and Duncan begrudgingly rose to wakefulness.

"What's all that racket?" He muttered.

"I'm not sure," Deann said in a sleepy voice. "Hopefully Lady Kairei didn't try to kill herself again. The healers were most upset to have been woken up in the middle of the night."

Duncan flinched. Poor girl. Denied even a death of her own choosing… He fought to go back to sleep to avoid the harsh realities of the world for a few more hours.

Deann opened her eyes. "No," She said in deepening concern. "No, this is too much excitement for that…"

The urgent tone of her voice pulled Duncan from sleep and they both sat up.

There was a chilling roar from outside.

Horns blared and men were running toward the other side of the camp.

"Best chance we're going to get!" Subaru said.

Subaru and Emilia sprinted toward the camp as every guard they could see raced in the other direction.

Emilia easily outpaced Subaru and reached the tent, looking around for any guards.

It took Subaru almost another half minute to get there and he was panting and trying to muffle the sound.

"Subaru, don't try to run so fast," Emilia chided in a whisper. "You don't have mana to support you. This is a marathon not a sprint."

Subaru nodded as he drew Anri's rapier and slowly cut a vertical line in the tent canvas from the bottom to just above their heads.

The two slipped into the tent.

Subaru grabbed Emilia and gestured toward the door. Two soldiers still stood guard there, their attention riveted on the disruption across camp.

Subaru made a stabbing gesture at the guards and Emilia nodded, conjuring up her ice sword.

Subaru barely glanced at the cages as they tiptoed past but it looked like Anri and another prisoner were still asleep.

They were almost within spitting distance of the guards, Emilia creeping silent as a shadow when Subaru accidentally kicked a stone.

The guards started at the sound and began to turn around.

Emilia sprang forward and thrust her sword through the first guard's throat. His face contorted in shock as his legs gave out beneath him and he fell to his knees.

Emilia's face was mournful. "Sorry," Emilia whispered apologetically to the soldier as he died.

The other guard jumped and groped for the horn at his belt, raising it to his lips.

At the last moment, Subaru decided not to use his sword, uncertain if he could deliver an instant kill with it.

Instead, Subaru leaped toward him and triggered Indomitable. He drove his fist into the guard's face and his skull exploded in a great glut of blood. The headless body fell to the ground.

Subaru bit his lip, looking at the great puddle of blood spreading across the ground.

Emilia looked down uncomfortably at the spreading pool of blood. "Subaru, should we hide the bodies?" Emilia whispered.

Subaru shook his head. "No point! We don't have time to clean up the blood and the guards being missing from their post would arouse suspicion anyway!" Subaru hissed as they charged back into the tent and raced to Anri's cage.

Anri was stirring from all the noise. The girl looked up with a studied expression of bored disdain. When she saw who was standing there, her eyes opened wide with wonder.

Subaru triggered Indomitable and shattered the lock on the cage door with a single blow.

Anri shoved the door open and flung herself into Emilia's arms.

"Emilia! Subaru!" Anri whispered in joy.

"Anri!" Emilia said, holding her close.

Subaru chuckled, patting Anri's head. "Come on, kid. You weren't really going to leave us without saying goodbye, were you?"

Anri grinned at him.

Emilia shook her head and let go of Anri. "Subaru, we need to get out of here!"

Subaru nodded. "Right. Let's go!"

"Wait!" Anri hissed. "You need to save Julius too!"

"Save who?" Subaru said, looking at the other cage.

Julius Juukulius stared back at him from inside the cage with a glower of profound contempt.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Subaru said in a flat voice. "What the hell-"

"No time!" Anri whispered. "Break the lock!"

Do I have to? Subaru muttered to himself.

"Subaru!" Emilia hissed. "This isn't the time!"

Subaru sighed but triggered Indomitable and broke the cage open.

Julius stepped out of the cage and gave a slight bow, a bow that was directed to Anri and no one else. "Thank you, Princess," He said stiffly.

Julius! I can put you right back where I found you, you know! Subaru seethed.

Subaru shook off his irritation. "Come on! We have to get out of here!"

The group raced out of the back of the tent, Julius pausing only long enough to grab his sword belt from a nearby chest and buckle it around his waist.

The four sprinted into the tall grass and raced through it.

"Emilia! How did you find me?" Anri said in wonder.

"Subaru and I followed your tracks," Emilia explained. "Then we worked with some Siros soldiers to rescue you."

"Princess," Julius said, ignoring Subaru and Emilia, "We need to escape this valley quickly. Whatever distraction bedevils the camp, it will not take them long to resolve it!"

Oh right, Subaru thought. He sent a mental command to the mabeasts to withdraw. He sensed that none had been seriously injured and he told them to run back to the wood.

There's no point in keeping them here. Even if we do need to fight our way out, sixty mabeasts is a joke against ten thousand soldiers. There's no point in them dying beside us.

…Am I seriously concerned for the safety of mabeasts now?

A horn blew behind them.

"OK," Subaru grumbled. "I'm guessing that our grace period has run out."

Emilia's ear twitched. "Subaru, they found our trail!" She said in a worried tone. "I can hear them running through the tall grass!"

"How will we escape?!" Anri gasped.

"Hang on, Anri! We're almost out!" Subaru said, panting for breath as well.

The group broke through the last of the tall grass and sprinted up a rocky hill toward valley cliffs.

Patrasche stood waiting there.

Shit! Can Patrasche carry four people?!

I guess she can. At least for a short distance. We don't have to go very far before they'll give up on coming after us.

And if we need someone to sacrifice themselves, maybe I can talk Julius into doing it…

Subaru scanned the ridge above him for Antilles's men but he couldn't see anyone.

Don't panic! That's good. They're supposed to be hiding. They'll set the fields to smoking when they see the soldiers. Right now, they don't know if anyone is in the fields! Look on the bright side, if you can't find those soldiers then there's no way that the soldiers can!

At that moment, Subaru saw dozens of flaming arrows lance out over the valley and plunged into the tall grass that carpeted the valley and was filled with thousands of charging soldiers.

Subaru paused to look back with a smile that faltered quickly. Subaru saw that the three Acolyte Knights had emerged from the grass, all looking very angry and a handful of other soldiers were with them.

The arrows struck the grass and as Subaru had predicated the areas struck immediately began to smoke, a heavy, greasy smoke that caused a fit of coughing and choking that Subaru could hear from a hundred yards out of the grass.

Then the flames spread. The fire swept across the entire field like a great wave until a patch of the valley hundreds of feet wide burned bright as the sun. The tall grass became towering tongues of flame.

There was a deafening wail as thousands of soldiers screamed in terror and pain.

Subaru gasped.

The four stared at the killing field as did the Acolyte Knights. For a moment, everyone could only stare at the spectacle in horror.

The field burned as if it had been doused in lantern oil. The flames licked at the tall grass in plumes of fire at least ten feet high that completely obscured the field. Subaru was standing a hundred feet from the edge and he still was forced to avert his eyes from the heat.

The enormous field was an inescapable trap for the soldiers. Those soldiers who were standing at the very edge managed to roll out of the burning field and frantically beat out the flames on their bodies. But for everyone else, there was no escape. Just a few feet away from the edge of the field, the fire and smoke were blinding and the soldiers were surrounded by their comrades, all bumping into one another and knocking each other down.

In less than a minute, the screams stopped and there was nothing but coughing and gasping. Then all was silent as thousands of soldiers succumbed to the heat or passed out from the smoke.

Subaru could only stare at the conflagration in shock and horror.

What have I done?! I didn't… This is sesame seed oil not gasoline! I told the soldiers to soak that field in something that you put on salads! I thought that the smoke would blind them! Scare them! OK, I knew that they would get scorched but I didn't… I didn't mean to them burn alive!

Subaru was gasping for breath. He looked around helplessly. Julius gave him a look of loathing and Anri stared at him in shocked disbelief.

Subaru looked at Emilia in desperation. Emilia was crying but she managed to give Subaru a sad smile and wrapped her arms around him.

"What have you done?!" A man roared.

Subaru looked down the hill and saw Malcolm an Griest staring up at him, trembling with fury.

Subaru wanted to ask himself the exact same question but instead he forced himself to laugh. "I'd say that should be obvious, even to you!" Subaru said, knowing that his voice sounded shrill and frightened even to himself. "I just destroyed your army, rescued your prisoners, and led you around on a merry chase like a pack of fools!"

Malcolm gaped up the hill and his face turned bright red. A few of the soldiers who had survived the fiery Holocaust began to limp over to him but they were badly burned and their eyes were wide with horror. The fight had been knocked out of them.

Floating spirits drifted among the surviving soldiers like shining balls of brilliant light. The fire was no threat to these glowing spirits.

"Princess Kairei!" Malcolm roared. "I was foolish enough to offer you a quick, merciful death! No longer! You and your degenerate allies will burn for this, just as you burned my men!"

Subaru and Emilia stepped forward, quickly followed by Julius. "Hey! Leave Kairei out of this!" Subaru said quickly. "I beat you! Me! This was my trap that you blundered into like an idiot. I've destroyed your army. And if you want to do anything to Kairei, you'll have to get past me first!" Subaru shouted back, drawing Anri's rapier.

"Subaru!" Anri hissed, grabbing his hand.

Subaru looked at her in surprise as he felt two tiny stones pressed into his hand.

"Take these!" She whispered.

Subaru looked down at the lightning stones.

Alright! At least I have some kind of edge now!

Malcolm, Deann, and Duncan began to climb the hill toward Subaru and his friends.

"You're a fool, boy!" Malcolm snarled. "You are now about to face three of the Acolyte Knights in battle! But don't be thinking that you'll die cleanly in combat! Once you're all captured, you will be brought back to Sanshi and tried for this atrocity. When all the niceties are wrapped up, I intend to see that you'll be given living to the fire just as you did to my men!"

"That remains to be seen!" Julius shouted back as Subaru quickly slid the lightning stones into the rapier. "A wise man once said, 'Forbear celebration until after victory is secured!'"

Leave it to Julius, Subaru thought, rolling his eyes. Even his taunts are overly formal!

"Princess," Julius said in a whisper. "I urge you to flee while you can. This bracelet seals my magic and connection to my spirits. I fear that this fight is without final hope."

Anri shook her head. "I'm not leaving you!" Anri said defiantly, looking at her defenders.

"Bracelet?" Subaru asked. He looked at Julius's arm and saw a small bracelet of shiny black stones wrapped around his wrist. "What is that?"

Julius grimaced. "It is called an Evil Sealing Stone bracelet. They are very expensive and used to seal the magical power of extremely potent foes. Perhaps I should be flattered that the Gusteko soldiers saw fit to waste one on me."

Subaru frowned. "Aren't you going to take it off?"

"If I could do that, do you not think that I would have?" Julius said with an edge in his voice.

Subaru's eyes narrowed. He stomped over to Julius and grabbed his bracelet.

Julius snorted. "You are wasting your time. It is easy to apply such a bracelet to a person but nearly impossible to take it off. It often takes a dozen mages working in concert to remove one! The only person I know of who could remove such a bracelet singlehandedly is Rei-"

Subaru triggered Indomitable and snapped the stones apart. The bracelet came off with a sound like thunder that made them all jump.

The Acolyte Knights paused in their climb, staring up at Subaru in confusion and disbelief.

Subaru stared at the bracelet in confusion. There seemed to be no string that the cold glossy stones were strung on but they still clung together as if they were magnetized.

Subaru shook his head. Figure this thing out later, He thought, tucking the bracelet into his satchel.

Julius stared at Subaru in shock.

"Is your magic back?" Subaru asked impatiently.

Julius shook off his astonishment. "I have some," He emphasized. "Remember that your witchcraft has damaged my connection to the spirits and much of my magic is temporarily sealed," Julius trailed off in a growl as his eyes bored into Subaru's.

Subaru blinked. I damaged his connection to his spirit partners? Shit, I didn't mean to do that. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that Julius is taking a fall. He deserves one. But damaging his connection with the spirits…

Subaru looked down at Julius's wrist where the six spirits still orbited peacefully with no sign of any damage.

Being separated from Beatrice is bad enough but imagine if Reinhard had done something to damage our connection… If I knew that she didn't feel the same way about me anymore…

I'd be furious. I'd want to drink his blood.

Don't tell me that I owe Julius an apology…

Unfortunately, I really can't come up with a good argument against it.

Just do it, Subaru.

Subaru let out a hiss. "I'm sorry, alright?" He said, quickly. "I just wanted to hold you off long enough to escape. I'm still figuring out my power and I didn't know that it would do that to you…" He grumbled.

Julius blinked and frowned.

Anri scoffed. "Hey! Can we talk about who's to blame for all of this, later?" Anri hissed.

"Subaru," Emilia whispered. "When are you going to use your magic on them?"

Julius stiffened. "Subaru Natsuki, do you truly mean to use the same witchcraft you applied to me on the Acolyte Knights?!"

Subaru snorted. "I trust you have no objections?" He asked sarcastically.

Julius's face was stony. "To my shame, no. My death in this conflict means Princess Kairei shall fall for certain and I can not permit this. This pragmatism in the face of witchcraft fills me with shame. A truly good man would refuse to associate with witchcraft, even to save his own life."

Subaru snorted. "I guess that explains why there aren't more 'good' people around. They throw their lives away for stupid reasons," Subaru muttered.

"Subaru!" Emilia hissed as the Acolyte Knights began to climb the hill where Subaru, Emilia, and Julius waited. Anri stood nervously behind them. "Are you going to use it now?!"

Subaru sighed. "I'm not springing that trap until the last moment, Mili. I don't want any of these knights to have second thoughts about running away."

Julius made a sound of agreement. "I must admit that your grasp of strategy is sound, Subaru. You appear to be an admirable tactician, even if that is your only admirable quality. Lady Crusch must have greatly appreciated your counsel during the Whale Hunt."

Subaru burst out laughing, much to Julius's confusion.

Julius shook off his confusion and gave Subaru a look of annoyance. "Subaru Natsuki, it seems that a duel is in the offing. Perhaps we should each choose our targets."

Subaru thought for a moment. "Malcolm an Griest is the target. If he goes down, I'm guessing that his plans for war with Siros go into indefinite hiatus. I'll fight him. I'll try to take him alive if possible."

Julius stared at Subaru in shock and then he started to laugh. "I see that Felix wasn't exaggerating about your confidence!"

"Hm?"

"Felix told me all about the Whale Hunt. He said bluntly that he and Lady Crusch found your relentless optimism and fortitude most annoying."

"Fuck," Subaru bit off a curse. "And just think, I wasted a full two weeks during the Whale Hunt desperately trying to make friends with those jerks! Alright. I'll take Malcolm an Griest. Julius, you good with fighting Deann?"

Julius nodded. "I can't remember the last time I fought without the full strength of my spirits at my side. Without a doubt, this will be one of the most intense fights of my life but I am resolved to succeed. I owe Princess Kairei my life and I will not fail to repay that debt."

Subaru chuckled. "Hey. You're not so bad in the confidence department either."

Julius gave him a slight smile.

"Then that leaves me with Sir Duncan," Emilia said calmly.

Subaru gave her a worried look.

As Malcolm and the others slowly climbed the hill. Even from a distance, Subaru could see Malcolm grinding his teeth. The big man roared, "Know that you will die today and that your death will not be an easy one. Do you have the slightest idea who I am?!"

"Not really," Subaru said. "Do you know who I am?"

Malcolm hesitated for a moment. "No," He admitted.

Subaru shrugged. "Well, there we are then," Subaru said sarcastically.

Subaru thought that he heard Duncan swallow a snort. Deann and Malcolm both gave him a dirty look.

Subaru marched forward and threw back his hood. "I am Subaru Natsuki," Subaru proclaimed. "I call Princess Kairei my friend and I intend to bring her home today! You whelps are impeding my progress. It would amuse me if you would each contend with me and my companions in single combat! If, however, you are all such spineless dogs that you have no stomach for such a contest, then please stand aside so that your betters may pass!"

A few feet behind Subaru, Julius was making strangling sounds.

Malcolm an Griest was purple with rage.

Julius was hissing like a boiling teakettle. "Why would he do something like this?!" He whispered to Anri.

"He always does things like this," Emilia replied calmly before Anri could respond. "Subaru likes to make people angry before he fights them. He claims that it's to prevent his opponents from thinking clearly during the fight but personally, I think he just does it for his own entertainment."

"Oh, Gods!" Julius said in despair.

"Calm down!" Subaru snapped out of the corner of his mouth. "Look! We want them to attack us without thinking so that they'll blunder into our trap. This should do it."

Julius made a face. "You are correct," He admitted, "But this is not at all virtuous behavior to my mind."

"Julius," Subaru sighed. "At the moment, I'm just worried about saving Anri's life. Not to mention our own. I couldn't honestly care less how 'virtuous' my behavior is."

"You little fool! I will teach you respect myself!" Malcolm proclaimed, marching up to Subaru.

"Will you?" Subaru replied in a bored tone. "Maybe you should study the subject a little before you try to turn instructor."

Julius took a position across from Deann while Emilia conjured her ice sword. She approached Duncan who wore heavy armor and carried a heavy flanged mace.

Subaru swallowed hard. Can Emilia handle that? A sword made out of ice is no match for a mace! And her sword certainly won't pierce his armor! Maybe we should swap opponents. But can she fight Malcolm? Malcolm is supposed to be the strongest one! What if-

The few soldiers standing at the base of the hill who had been worriedly murmuring to one another suddenly became silent. Then their faces twisted in disgust and they started shouting, hurling curses and slurs.

Subaru glanced at Emilia and saw that she had lowered her hood. Everyone could see that she was an elf. However, she ignored the curses being thrown from the Gusteko army. Subaru saw Emilia looking back at him calmly. But more than that, her eyes held an unspoken plea. He heard her request as clearly as if she had said it out loud:

Subaru. Please. Trust me.

More than anything else, I need you to trust me. I need you to believe that I'm not just baggage on this journey that we're taking together. I need you to know that I'm more than just someone that you need to spend your life protecting. I need you to believe that we can work together to protect each other. I need you to believe that together we can accomplish more than either of us could alone. Please, Subaru. Trust me.

Subaru took a long, slow breath. He bit his tongue until he tasted blood. Finally, fighting every instinct that screamed at him not to do it, Subaru deliberately turned his back toward Emilia so that he could give Malcolm an Griest his full attention.

This is crazy! Why am I doing this?! Why am I letting Emilia do this? Fuck me, I hate this!

The three Acolyte Knights stood ramrod straight and then they each began to glow. Malcolm gained a red aura, Deann's was green, and Duncan's was blue.

They were close enough for Subaru to see their spirits. They looked like tiny balls of light spinning around their wrists, just like Julius's.

Malcolm drew a huge two handed sword. "I hope that you realize," Malcolm growled. "That you are hopelessly outmatched!"

"Yeah?" Subaru spat back. "Well… I hope you realize that you're just hopeless!"

Malcolm's eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped. Julius winced.

OK that was a very dumb retort, no question, but I have bigger problems on my mind right now.

"I'm sorry, Grease," Subaru said as insultingly as he could. "This isn't really about you but I need to blow off some steam!" Subaru roared.

Subaru raised his hand toward the Acolyte Knights. "Pridebreaker!" He shouted, bending all of his rage at the three knights.

Julius flinched as he felt Subaru's power wash over him like a great wave. His spirits all clung tightly to his arm as if afraid that Subaru would seize them again but the power Subaru had unleashed paid them no heed as it surged across the area.

Most of the surviving Gusteko soldiers had no reaction to it at all but the three knights were driven to their knees with a gasp. The numerous spirits that drifted among the surviving soldiers all shuddered in midair. As one, these spirits all turned tail and fled back into the valley, their glowing bodies dancing across the waving grass in blind panic. Some shot straight out over the cliffs, their bodies streaking through the air like comets and throwing the remaining Gusteko soldiers into mass confusion.

"What… did you do?!" Malcolm demanded as the knights fought their way back to their feet.

Subaru spread his arms wide. "I have given you but a small taste of my vast power! I am Subaru Natsuki! And the magic of this world is mine to command!"

The knights' spirits sped away from their bodies. They all flew to Subaru's outstretched arm and took up orbit around it. In seconds it looked as though his arm was swarming with giant fireflies.

In his mind, Subaru suddenly heard dozens of voices fervently singing his praises.

Emilia stared at the spirits with a puzzled expression. She started to ask Subaru a question, then she remembered herself and turned her attention back to their foes.

Deann and Duncan stared at Subaru in horror. They looked at each other desperately.

Malcolm scowled at Subaru, raising his sword. "I am not defeated so easily, Subaru Natsuki! You have crossed the great nation of Gusteko once too often! Now you will pay for your insolence!"

"Blah, Blah, Blah," Subaru called back. "You going to talk me to death or are we going to fight?"

Sir Duncan was the first to attack. He clapped his visor down over his face and leaped forward. He raised up his great mace and brought it down on the elf girl's head.

But Emilia leaped back and the blow struck nothing but air.

Emilia retaliated by summoning a blizzard of ice crystals that hit Duncan head on like a hailstorm, violently rattling his armor.

When the storm finally subsided, the elf girl stared at Duncan in disbelief. His armor wasn't even scratched.

"I'm afraid that such attacks won't work on me," Duncan said almost politely. "You have just seen my 'Divine Blessing of Magic Nullification' in action. It renders me immune to direct damage by spells."

Emilia's face twisted in outrage. "Again?!" She screeched. "Another person immune to magic?! That is so unfair!"

Duncan blinked and his face grew confused.

Then Duncan mentally shrugged. The fight had already started. He didn't feel the need to warn the elf further.

Duncan swung again, not giving the elf time to recover from her shock. He swung the mace in a great horizontal sweep forcing her to duck under the mace's head. She regained her balance and struck at Duncan's face guard with her ice sword, trying to slip the blade through his visor.

She missed. Her sword chipped and pieces of ice went flying but it did no damage to Duncan. He brought his mace down again and the elf leaped back as the heavy weapon smashed into the ground and kicked up a cloud of dust.

Think! What would Subaru do in a situation like this?

He'd come up with something clever and have no trouble dealing with Duncan. But what can I do? Duncan doesn't have a cape that I can burn to make him vulnerable. If he's immune to magic then I'm helpless!

No. I refuse to accept that. I told Subaru that I wouldn't let him down. That I could take care of myself. That we could do more together than we could do apart.

It would be better for me to die here than to prove that my declaration of strength was nothing but words. If I really can't support Subaru in our ordeals then at least I'll stop holding him back…

Enough of this self-pity! Think! How can you fight this mountain of armor?!

Seemingly out of ideas, she turned to flee up the hill. Duncan pursued eagerly.

"Julius Juukulius," Lady Deann murmured, bowing and spreading her arms and twin short swords wide. Her elaborate robe added an elegance to the gesture, as if she were a butterfly spreading its wings. "I've heard a great deal about you. I am sorry to see that you have taken up with a coward and a mass murderer like Subaru Natsuki. It is a most unfortunate way to end one's life. Regardless of this regrettable fact, I do hope that you will entertain me well."

Julius gave her a calm smile. "In Lagunica, I am considered 'the Finest Knight.' I would hate to disappoint you."

Deann laughed. "My opinion of Lagunican knights is so poor that you would have to work very hard indeed to disappoint me."

Without another word, Deann threw herself toward Julius, her swords flying toward him in a deadly arc that was almost too fast to see. Julius parried her right sword but her left blade thrust toward his face and he was forced to leap back or be impaled.

Deann didn't pause for a second. She continued her relentless attack with both swords. This time Julius parried her left sword but he was forced to fall back to avoid a thrust to his stomach from her right blade. This pattern kept repeating itself, Deann constantly surging forward like a whirling storm of flashing blades and Julius constantly on the defensive, barely able to hold back her furious, unrelenting attacks. He called on his spirits for aid, forced to use all of the limited magic available through their damaged connection to enhance his speed and agility, just to keep Deann's twin swords from claiming his life.

"You have mocked Gusteko once too often, boy," Malcolm snarled at Subaru. "I will enjoy killing you slowly."

Subaru yawned. "I can't help noticing that you seem to do everything slowly. Do you get paid by the hour?"

Despite his seeming boredom, Subaru was on edge.

I need to be careful! I can't use Indomitable in this fight without letting the spirits go and that will put everyone in mortal danger! Make another mistake like I did against Julius and I am going to die. And if I die, Emilia dies with me!

Malcolm raised his massive sword for a quick slice at Subaru's neck. Subaru slipped into Reason and Judgment and managed to parry the strike but it was much harder than fighting against Julius. Malcolm an Griest's swordsmanship might have been far inferior to the knight's but he was a bear of a man and every stroke that he delivered had a mountain of muscle backing it up.

Malcolm came back with another overhead slash. Subaru parried it and had to throw all his body weight into pushing the blade back.

Malcolm quickly stepped back and Subaru lost his balance, nearly falling on his face.

Malcolm went for a thrust but Subaru's rapier was faster and he swiped at Malcolm's face. Malcolm was forced to jump back to avoid it.

The fight had barely started but Subaru was already sweating and panting for breath while Malcolm still looked fresh and relaxed.

Duncan raced after the fleeing elf as she flew up the hill that led to the sheer valley wall. Duncan had spent years training in his armor. He knew that it made him slow but apparently the elf was in extremely poor shape as Duncan had no trouble keeping pace with the girl. He got a bit closer every second as they approached the top of the hill. Duncan had already realized that the elf was running toward a dead end. Once she reached the pinnacle she'd have nowhere left to run. In a few moments, he'd be in range to finally bring down his great mace down a top her head.

However, he felt slightly uncomfortable with attacking from behind.

To strike a clearly inferior opponent from behind is dishonorable. And yet, I have no facility to take prisoners at this time. I am uncertain what a knight is expected to do in such a case. I wish that I could ask for a cessation of hostilities and discuss the matter with Deann.

I'm certain that I know what Malcolm would say: 'Honor has no place in a fight like this. This is not a duel, this is war. One might as well ask if it is more righteous to step on a cockroach immediately or wait until you are sure it has seen you and had a sporting chance to run. However, the fact remains that a roach is a roach and the goal is to step on it.'

Little as I like to admit it, Malcolm's words hold some wisdom. This is a battlefield where one must expect attacks to come from any direction without warning. Death in meaningless battle such as this is always unfortunate but this is the way of the world and it is too heavy for me to shift.

The girl reached the top of the hill with Duncan only a half step behind her. She suddenly spun around and waved her hand through the air. Duncan saw a thin layer of ice form, covering the steep and rocky hilltop just as he put his foot down on it. The elf set herself, braced both hands against Duncan's chest plate and shoved hard.

Duncan was stunned at the strength in the slender girl's arms and now that he was standing on ice, he had no traction with which to catch himself. He felt his feet slide out from under him on the narrow pinnacle. He made a frantic grab for the elf girl to steady himself but she leaped back and he missed.

Duncan fell backwards, tumbling head over heels as his heavy armor brought him crashing all the way back down the steep hill to the ground far below.

A moment later, Duncan hit the hard dirt with a crash. He found himself flat on his back, panting for breath. He looked up at the smirking she-elf and made what he knew to be a futile attempt to rise. His armor was too heavy. He had no more chance to regain his feet than a turtle on its back.

With a growl of frustration, Duncan closed his eyes and passed out.

Deann was a whirlwind of flashing blades and Julius could only fall back, parry, and dodge.

Deann laughed at him. "I'm considered one of the best duelists in Gusteko! Nobody can match my skill with a blade. Especially a duelist with only one sword because you can only parry one of them at a time. It's an elemental question of mathematics, Julius Juukulius. Two blades are always better than one! You should surrender and save your life!"

"I must disagree," Julius said politely. "Nothing in battle is ever an absolute advantage. Wielding twin blades does give considerable advantages but have you stopped to ponder the disadvantages?"

"What disadvantages?" Deann scoffed.

A moment later her rhythm was interrupted as Julius parried her stroke. Deann started to lash out with her other sword but Julius bent all his strength onto his blade and forced her sword's cutting edge back toward her shoulder.

Deann was forced to step back or risk slicing herself open with her own sword. She recovered herself and tried to resume her relentless, whirling attacks.

She thrust her swords forward and Julius again parried her right sword. He had to step away from her left sword to avoid being impaled but this time he forced her right hand back hard and her sword nearly cut into her own neck.

"Two blades are a significant advantage," Julius continued calmly, as Deann fell back and Julius took the offensive. "It allows you to attack and defend all at the same time! However, there are also corresponding disadvantages. For example, because both of your blades are so much shorter than a normal long sword, you have sacrificed reach. This allows me to be able to thrust and parry while you can not respond. Secondly, because you wield a sword in each hand there is no way for you to put all of your muscle behind either blade. This makes it much harder to parry and defend successfully. It's just like my old fencing instructor told me: 'When dual-wielding, any move not an attack is ground lost.' Unfortunately, it is not practical to attempt to do nothing in a fight but attack, unless one only fights opponents of inferior skill and power. I sense that you're noticing that flaw right now."

Julius talked pleasantly but he struck relentlessly at Diane and put her on the defensive. Instead of his normal delicate and precise strikes, Julius now slammed his sword against hers with all of his strength. Deann was barely able to hold Julius back as he slowly wore down her defenses and steadily pushed her backward.

Deann struggled to understand her situation. She'd never been in a fight like this. Julius was fighting recklessly in a way that she had never encountered before. Julius was now dominating the duel but he was also leaving himself wide open to counter-attack. Deann could slay him at any moment but she understood that she would take a death stroke in return.

Deann's eyes widened as she realized that this was Julius's entire plan. He considered his life to be an acceptable trade for killing her.

Deann's back slammed into something. She realized that her back was to a small boulder. Almost too fast to see, Julius's sword swept down at her.

Deann gave a shrill cry of pain and dropped her right sword. She looked down and saw a small cut on the back of her hand. It was a tiny, insignificant wound but it had forced her to drop her sword.

With only one sword, she realized that she had no chance against Julius whatsoever and she dropped her other sword in surrender.

Subaru fought tooth and nail to keep Malcolm an Griest at bay but it was clear that he was losing ground. Subaru used Reason and Judgment to make every parry count but he was exhausted and had barely slept in days. Now he was fighting a seasoned warrior twice his size.

What the hell do I do?! He's stronger than me, more skilled, more experienced and he's gotten more than two nights sleep this week!

What's worse is that this fight is obviously for keeps! I wasn't certain if Julius was trying to kill me during our fight but I know for sure now! The only reason that I was able to hold Julius off at all is because he was holding back! He wanted a live prisoner not a bleeding carcass! Malcolm an Griest just wants me dead.

Why isn't the lightning-sword working? I can see the sparks flying when we parry! Is this guy just immune to pain?!

Subaru parried a sword stroke and then tried slipping his rapier past Malcolm with a thrust at his throat.

Malcolm deflected the rapier with a twist of his wrist and knocked Subaru off balance, forcing him to step back to avoid a slash to the face.

Think! Think as fast as you've ever thought in your life! What is this man's weakness?

His arrogance? Well, yeah you used that to goad him into a fight. Not sure that there's any way to use it to get you out of the fight.

OK. He's big and bulky so he's slower and less agile than me. I'm not thinking that helps very much.

His magic is sealed but in effect so is mine.

Subaru parried a sword stroke and Malcolm stepped back with a curse.

"What did you do?" Malcolm shouted. "That parry burned me!"

He does feel it. Wait a second. Before he was furious at me. Probably too angry to pay attention to minor discomfort but now his adrenaline must be running out.

If I can convince him to focus more on the pain…

Subaru stood there for a long moment and then began to laugh.

He held up his rapier. "Do you see this sword?" He asked. "This is Seethe! Rapier of the Sunless Sky! I stole this sword from the Sorcerer King Taiyang! When he attempted to kill me, I managed to escape and stole his weapon as a trophy and a lasting mockery of my foe! This blade carries a terrible curse on it. Its edge cuts both flesh and soul!"

Malcolm sneered at him. "Do you take me for a child to believe fairy tales such as that?!"

Subaru shrugged. "You can believe what you wish. The longer that this fight goes on, the deeper the wounds it inflicts in your very being will become!"

Malcolm looked suddenly unsettled. He quickly inspected his body as if searching for wounds that he had overlooked.

Malcolm lashed out with his sword again, slashing at Subaru's neck.

Subaru triggered Reason and Judgment.

He's fighting differently now. He's not going all offense, he's feeling you out and being more cautious. You can easily work with this. If he doesn't bring his full muscle into play then the fight is yours.

Subaru parried the stroke and Malcolm visibly flinched and took a step back.

Malcolm redoubled his efforts to win the fight but his swings became steadily more erratic. None of his strikes ever even got close to Subaru. With each exchange, Malcolm seemed more and more sensitive to the electric shock and he flinched back from each parry. Finally, after one particularly hard parry the General yelped and dropped his sword.

Before he could move, Subaru's rapier was at his throat. "I've only got one question to you, Griest: Death or surrender?" Subaru asked quietly.

The General ground his teeth but put his hands up in surrender.

Subaru heard a rustle in the woods as Captain Antilles and his men emerged from the trees. They surrounded the three Acolyte Knights, chaining them up and leading them away. Malcolm an Griest scowled at Subaru as he was dragged away, the big man struggling to come back and clobber him with his bare hands.

Subaru looked down the hill and saw the surviving soldiers running away.

"Subaru!"

Subaru looked back and saw Emilia racing over to him with a broad smile on her face. "Mili! Are you OK?" He shouted running to her and gathering her in his arms.

Emilia held him tight. "I'm fine, Subaru," She whispered with a chuckle. "I outsmarted him," She said proudly.

Subaru sighed in relief. "Mili, I am so proud of you!" He said earnestly.

Emilia gave a contented sigh, resting her head against his shoulder. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that."

Subaru frowned. "What are you talking about? I've said it before. I've said it lots of times."

"Then… maybe I've just been waiting a long time to listen to it."

Subaru looked at her in confusion as they separated.

"Lord Subaru!" Antilles said marching over. "That was a brilliant strategy! This one is definitely going in my memoirs!"

"Remember to spell Emilia and Julius's names right," Subaru commented in a dispirited voice. He looked down over the burned out and blackened field that was covered in bodies. Most of the corpses weren't burned black. The soldiers had obviously died of smoke inhalation or the heat.

"I will, my lord!" Antilles said cheerfully. He gave Emilia another uncertain glance and then walked over to speak to Anri and Julius.

Subaru kept staring at the killing field.

"Subaru," Emilia murmured. "Are you alright?"

Subaru didn't answer.

"Subaru!" She whispered, wrapping her arms around him and holding him tight.

Subaru took a deep, ragged breath. "I read about this trick in a book back home. A famous strategist used to use it all the time. The strategy sounded so… clean and detached when it was written down on paper."

"Subaru," She whispered. "I think… I think no war is clean. You did… what you had to do…"

"Did I?" Subaru whimpered.

Emilia took a deep breath. "You saved Anri's life. And probably her entire kingdom. You may have even stopped a war. You should be proud," Emilia said, trying to sound more certain than she felt.

Subaru shook his head. "I didn't mean for this to happen, Mili. I swear…"

Emilia held him close.

Subaru and Emilia stood there in silence for a time. Emilia wasn't certain what to say and Subaru just closed his eyes and let her support him for a time.

"As little as I like to admit it, Subaru Natsuki," Julius said walking over to them while Anri continued to talk to Antilles. "I am in your debt for your gallant rescue and congratulations are due. Your plan was the work of sheer genius."

Subaru gave a weak chuckled. "Congratulations? Honestly, Julius, after all this, I thought you'd be ready to walk over here and cut my head off!" He murmured, staring out at the field of bodies with a thousand yard stare. Subaru shook his head. "I didn't realize that this would happen…"

Julius frowned. "What do you mean?"

Subaru sighed and covered his face. "I thought… I thought that those soldiers would get scorched! I thought that they would panic and run away! It's sesame seed oil, not gasoline! I didn't mean to burn them alive!"

Julius stared at Subaru in disbelief. "Subaru Natsuki," He whispered. "Are you telling me that you proposed and carried out this plan without the merest inkling of what the consequences would be?!"

Subaru bit his lip and looked guilty. Emilia glared at Julius.

Julius shook his head angrily. "This is beyond ludicrous!" Julius pronounced. "Lady Anastasia, who is not easily impressed, has often spoken of your extraordinary intelligence and vision! Where was that today?! You killed thousands of men by your actions… with no foreknowledge of that being the outcome?! Where you even certain that we would survive the firestorm that you unleashed?! Subaru Natsuki, you are truly a reckless fool! You should not unleash powers that you do not understand!"

Subaru flinched at Julius's words and looked away. He suddenly looked very young and uncertain.

"Julius! You said that it was a good plan a minute ago!" Emilia snarled at Julius.

Julius shook his head. "Indeed it was. A dire choice but a most effective one. Generals and leaders have been forced to make such choices since the dawn of time. It is altogether fitting for a man in battle to measure the lives of his men versus the lives of his foe and determine which need be sacrificed. But Subaru Natsuki has admitted that he made no such decision! He destroyed all of these soldiers by sheer mischance! Would you have used the same technique against unarmed pursuers because you foolishly believed it harmless?!"

Subaru buried his face in Emilia's shoulder and shut his eyes.

"That's enough, Julius!" Emilia snarled at him, holding Subaru protectively in her arms. "Leave Subaru alone! He saved Anri and all of us! If you had a better idea, where was it a few hours ago?!"

Julius stared at Emilia in surprise. "You are… most protective for a witch," He murmured.

Emilia glared at him. "Sir Julius," She said in a hard tone. "My name is Emilia and I would prefer that you address me as such. Perhaps it will remind you that I am person, just like yourself. It's always easier to hate a race or a group because they are faceless and nameless. If you are to hate me, I would prefer that you hated me personally, not what I am."

Julius blinked, his eyes growing wide. He seemed to have no response to this.

Julius glanced down at Subaru who seemed to have crumpled under the weight his own actions. Julius's face softened slightly with sympathy. Julius sighed, "All that being the case, Subaru Natsuki, you have achieved a great victory this day. You defeated ten thousand men with a force of fifty and suffered no causalities as a result! You rescued the princess safely and may have singlehandedly prevented a war. Strategists will study this victory for a thousand years!"

Subaru sighed. "And likely learn the wrong lessons from it," He whispered, leaning back against Emilia who held him close and still scowled at Julius.

Julius nodded with a grave expression. "At the heart of every war is a tragedy. Each war has unintended victims and far too many go unacknowledged. But there was no crime in what you did here today. You were fighting against soldiers engaged in open, hostile action. Not even Lady Crusch could find fault in your decision."

"Crusch can always find fault in my decisions," He said in a weak voice. "It's all just… just so stupid…"

"Stupid?" He asked.

"Griest was the one who did this. Who stirred up all this trouble. Who put all these men's lives on the line. Now he's alive and most of his soldiers are dead. There must have been a better way to…"

Julius looked at Subaru, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps," He admitted. "Perhaps there was a better way. Perhaps you found the best way that could be found. In truth, you'll never know. Still you won a great victory and protected those close to you. That is a triumph."

Subaru sighed. "I guess. But if this is victory, Julius, then I think my hands are too small to hold it…"

Julius looked at Subaru with a thoughtful expression.

Subaru took a deep breath and forcibly tried to shake off his melancholy. He deliberately turned his back on the still-smoldering killing field. Subaru forced a smile on his face. "Anyway, nice work with Deann, Jules! I really can't believe that we all survived that!" Subaru said with a weak laugh.

Julius smiled a little sadly. "Perhaps your vaunted confidence does have limits after all, Subaru."

Subaru chuckled ruefully. "I'd like to think that I'm not a complete idiot."

Julius scratched his chin. "If time permits, remind me to provide you with some instruction in the proper way to handle a blade. I'd prefer that a man known to have defeated me in battle not be…" Julius seemed to grope for a word.

"Completely inept?" Subaru suggested with a smile.

"Hopeless?" Emilia chimed in.

Subaru gave her a hurt look and Emilia smiled at him fondly.

Subaru sighed. "I hope that we can get Griest and his cronies somewhere secure soon. I really want to let these spirits go…"

"Is it tiring to hold onto them?" Emilia asked.

"Not tiring, exactly," Subaru groped for an explanation. "But it is distracting and…" He hesitated.

"And?" Emilia asked.

He sighed. "Mili, you know better than most what a serious injury taking away someone's spirit companion is. Malcolm an Griest certainly deserves to be punished for his crimes but I'm not sure that even he deserves to be separated from his partners. I'll feel better when those three are someplace that they can be contained and I can give their spirits back to them."

Emilia nodded with a knowing look on her face.

Julius was looking at Subaru speculatively. "In spite of all… you are a kind man, Subaru Natsuki," Julius murmured finally. "This… surprises me."

Emilia glowered at Julius.

Subaru flushed, unsure of what to say to that. "Look, Julius, I'm… I'm really sorry about what I did to you and your spirits," He said finally. "I'd never used that ability on spirits before. I wasn't sure what the effects would be. It was… reckless of me to use my power on your spirits without knowing the consequences," He admitted with a sigh.

Julius frowned and thought for a long time. Finally, he sighed and bowed his head. "No. You spoke truly when you reminded me that I myself had brought my dear spirit companions into our duel. In so doing, I made them legitimate targets under any rule of warfare. I must own the responsibility for my recklessness myself."

Subaru opened his mouth but before he could respond:

"Subaru! Emilia!"

They turned to see Anri racing toward them. The girl flung herself into Emilia's arms.

Emilia and Anri held each other close for a long moment. "I can't believe that you came all this way to save me," She said with tears in her eyes. "And you saved my entire realm! With Malcolm an Griest captured, the war is over!"

"That's the best news that I've heard in days!" Subaru said. "Hey, is your arm better?" He asked, noticing her sling was gone.

Anri flexed it a few times. "Yeah, they were kind enough to have a healer finish the mending. They needed to heal me anyway after I tried to…" She trailed off awkwardly.

Julius bowed his head sadly.

"Tried to?" Subaru prompted, looking at Julius and Anri in confusion.

Anri put a smile on her face. "Never mind. I'm just glad that it didn't work. I'm feeling fine, thank you."

Subaru shrugged. "That's great! Oh, and before I forget, why don't you take this back?" Subaru said, unbuckling Anri's rapier and handing it to her.

Anri took it with watery eyes. "You brought honor to my ancestral weapon, Subaru Natsuki."

Subaru looked awkward. "You know, I'm very uncomfortable with all this praising. Can we just go back to everyone thinking that I'm just a lucky idiot?"

"Don't worry, Subaru," Emilia said sympathetically, patting his shoulder. "That won't take long."

Anri laughed.

Subaru gave her a look of annoyance and she responded with a mischievous grin.

Subaru felt the guilt on his heart lighten slightly.

A few hours later, Antilles's men were preparing to head back to Siros. Antilles and Anri were having another long discussion. The Acolyte Knights were under heavy guard. Without their spirits or weapons, they were no serious threat.

Subaru and Emilia stood in the forest not far away with their arms wrapped around one another. Their legs were both wobbling and it was unclear who was supporting whom.

Patrasche dozed nearby.

Subaru yawned so wide that he thought his head might split open. "Mili, when was the last time that we slept?"

Emilia frowned and shook her head. "Honestly, I'm not sure, Subaru," She confessed. "I think that's probably a bad sign." She thought about it. "It's been at least three days now."

Subaru rubbed his face. "You know, Mili, I think that we're doing something wrong with our lives," He moaned.

"If we are all preparing to depart," Julius murmured, walking over to them. "Perhaps I should take my leave as well."

"You might want to talk to Anri before you take off, Jules," Subaru yawned again. "She might be able to help you get back quicker. Man, I hope that we reach Siros tonight. All I want is a bite to eat and a soft bed to collapse in."

"I feel the same way," Emilia moaned, burrowing her face into his shoulder and sounding like she was already half asleep. "That sounds heavenly."

Julius looked off into the distance thoughtfully. "A sound point. If the Princess could be persuaded to lend me a wyvern, it would save me a journey of many days," He murmured.

"Worth asking," Subaru shrugged. "Mili, I have to sit down or I'm just going to fall over."

"Agreed," Emilia murmured as the pair slipped to the ground and leaned back against a tree trunk. Subaru wrapped his arms around Emilia and she closed her eyes with a smile as she cuddled closer.

Julius started off into the distance thoughtfully. "I must return as soon as possible," He mused. "I must reassure Lady Anastasia of my continued good health. And the sages' council will be jubilant now that the risk of war from Gusteko has been at least temporarily removed."

Subaru snickered. "If you say so. I've never seen anything 'jubilant' in those cranky old men!"

Julius gave him a slight smile. "Perhaps not."

Subaru frowned. "Wait a second, what war?" He asked in confusion.

Julius's smile faded. "I assumed you knew. Gusteko has threatened war because of you!"

Subaru and Emilia stared at him. "What?!" They asked together.

Julius stared at them with thinly veiled irritation. "You attacked a village and an army camp in the Princess's company! How did you expect Gusteko to respond?"

"Wait a second!" Subaru protested. "We didn't attack Iruk, Elsa did and while we're on the subject, if Emilia hadn't stopped her, Elsa absolutely would have wiped out the entire village!"

Julius glanced away. "I am aware," He admitted reluctantly. "Aldebaran, Felix and I investigated the village. There were no casualties at all but there was significant property damage."

Emilia looked guilty.

"Would you rather the cost have been in property or lives?" Subaru asked pointedly.

"That is not the point, Subaru Natsuki!" Julius said heatedly. "Your actions have tangible consequences on the world around you! Something you seem to be steadfast in your determination to ignore! You can not simply wander around in another country doing as you please! Your actions reflect on Lagunica!"

"Why?!" Subaru objected. "I only lived there for two months and I'm pretty sure that I'm a permanent exile at this point! Why does anything I do reflect on Lagunica?"

"You are a candidate for the throne," Julius said sternly. "This has yet to be stripped of you and your actions reflect on the kingdom!"

Subaru rolled his eyes. "Perfect. The one time that the sages' council could have done me a favor by acting quickly, they drag their feet."

"Subaru Natsuki, by your actions, you are strongly implying an alliance between Siros and Lagunica! The other provinces of Gusteko will not just be able to ignore that!"

"There is no alliance, Julius!" Subaru reminded him. "I am just a private citizen with a little magic and I moved to Gusteko to get away from politics. What makes this any different than a thousand other emigres?"

"Do not be obtuse," Julius snapped. "Your power goes beyond anything that I have ever encountered. It is conceivable that your strength might even exceed Reinhard van Astrea's! The sages' council can not simply let you depart to another nation on your own impulse."

Subaru stared at Julius for a long moment. "Julius. You make it sound very oddly like the sages' council thinks that I belong to them," He said in a warning voice.

Julius shifted awkwardly. "Each nation guards its national assets carefully. Reinhard van Astrea, Cecilus Segmunt of Vollachia, Halibel of Kararagi, and 'the Mad Prince' of Gusteko. Any of these individuals leaving their birth nation behind would fundamentally shift the balance of power on this continent!" Julius took a deep breath. "You do have my sympathies for being entangled in this situation which you did you ask for but that does not absolve you of the need to use your power responsibly. You must return to Lagunica immediately."

Subaru shook his head. "Julius," He sighed. "First of all, if Emilia and I went back to Lagunica, we're both going to be in mortal danger since lots of people want to kill Emilia, so that's a hard pass. Secondly, how does my going back to Lagunica preserve any kind of balance?! You just said that each kingdom has one person who is exceedingly powerful right now. If I went back to Lagunica, it would have two. How is that going to work out?"

Julius made a face. "A valid point," He admitted. "However, if excessive power is to be vested in any kingdom, I would prefer it to be in my own nation whose goals I understand and can rely on."

Subaru shook his head. "No deal, Julius. Emilia and I are going to find a way to restore everyone's memories of her, then we plan to rescue our spirit partners, and find a nice, quiet place to disappear. The world can forget all about us and we'll just ignore the world."

Julius's face twisted into a sneer. "Do you really expect the world to simply forget about you?" He scoffed.

Subaru shrugged. "If we can stay quiet for long enough, sure it will! But that's in the future. First, we need to help Anri finish cleaning up this mess."

Julius looked up at Anri who was still talking to Captain Antilles. "Another matter of concern," Julius murmured. "Have you considered the consequences of your rescue?"

"What consequences?"

"You destroyed a sizable army, Subaru Natsuki," Julius said patiently. "And much of it did not belong to House Griest. The other houses will surely be incensed by the lives you took and the damage you caused."

Subaru flushed. "Hey! Those soldiers may not have all been working for Griest but they were all guarding Anri and they all tried to get her back."

"This is true," Julius replied. "And by a strict interpretation of the 'rules of war,' you were indeed within the right. However, the other Houses have been badly weakened by this disaster and they are likely to blame the Princess for this. At this point, Siros has effectively conquered Sanshi by depleting much of its manpower and capturing its Prince. This will grant House Ithil a vast amount of power. A noble who suddenly surges in power and influence often makes the rest of the nobility nervous," Julius warned.

Subaru sighed. "Julius, what the hell else should I have done?" He asked incredulously.

"Nothing," Julius admitted. "You did rightly to save the Princess. And… myself," He admitted reluctantly. "However, a righteous intent will not protect you from the consequences of your actions."

Subaru rolled his eyes but before he could respond, a figure lurched out of the forest shadows.

Julius immediately put his hand on his sword.

"Subaru? Emilia?" She whispered.

Subaru and Emilia stared up at the blond woman. Her formally fine clothing was mud splattered and in shambles. Her arms had several deep scratches and her face was drawn as if she'd been on short sleep for days.

"Victoire?!" Subaru asked.

Victoire coughed. "Is… the princess alright?" She asked weakly.

"Victoire!" Anri cheered, rushing over to her.

To the woman's clear surprise, Anri caught her in a hug. "I'm so glad that you're safe! Are you alright?" Anri asked.

Victoire sighed. "I have had a fucking miserable time of it! I was attacked at the inn. Something is giving our foes clear vision of our entire intelligence network. When I figure out who's responsible for all this shit, I'm going put the little fucker into a juicer and squeeze-,"

"Victoire!" Anri said, looking revolted.

Victoire looked at the Princess apologetically. "Well, like I said, I've had a shitty couple of days. Did you ever figure out how the fuck they know our every frigging move?"

Anri scowled. "When I get a chance to interrogate Malcolm an Griest, that will be my first question. Honestly, I used to think that we had an informant but only magic could give him this kind of knowledge of our movements."

Victoire trembled with exhaustion. "I barely escaped that crappy inn with my life," She admitted. "I was shit out of ideas so I tried to make my way back to Siros while trying to avoid all the fucking people who were trying to kill me! I checked a drop box and I found out that you'd been captured by House Griest so I came here as fast as I fucking could. Are you… alright?"

Anri grinned at her. "Never better, Victoire. Subaru, Emilia, and Julius rescued me and ended the war!"

Victoire stared at them wide eyed for a moment. Finally, she gave Subaru and Emilia a shy smile. "Damn! Maybe I was wrong about you fuckers!"

Subaru gave a weary chuckle. "Thanks, Victoire. That means a lot coming from you," Subaru sighed.

"We're going to be headed back to Siros now, Victoire. You should come with us," Anri told her.

Victoire nodded. She tried to take a step and nearly fell, forcing Anri to catch her and lower her gently to the ground.

"Thank you, Princess," Victoire coughed. "Also, I heard from your grandfather before coming here. He's been worried sick about you. He sent this letter through the network," Victoire handed her a sealed envelope.

"Please note that the seal is unbroken," Victoire said as if by route.

"I note that the seal is not broken," Anri said at the same time. She spoke in a bored voice as if she'd heard this many times before.

Anri carelessly ripped open the letter.

Anri read it with a huge smile on her face. As she read further, she put a hand to her mouth. Her smile broadened but tears started to well up in her eyes and she looked like she might cry.

Subaru felt an urge to look away and give her some privacy.

Anri cleared her throat. "Well, we should start heading back to Siros."

"Right behind you, Princess," Victoire said in a weary voice. "I promised you that I'd get you home after all!"

"Yes, you did," Anri smiled at her. "Also, Victoire, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, do you think that you could call me 'Anri' from now on?"

Subaru almost laughed. The normally dour and cynical Victoire lit up like the sun and she nodded with a foolish smile.

Subaru coughed. "Uh, Anri?" He murmured. "Any chance of a wagon ride to the city? I'm pretty sure that if Emilia and I try to ride Patrasche to Siros, we're both liable to pass out and fall off."

"Easily arranged," Anri smiled. "Captain," She said turning to Antilles who was just walking over. "Can you locate a wagon for our friends?"

"Of course, Princess," Antilles said slowly, staring at Emilia doubtfully. "Um, begging your pardon, Princess, but do you really mean to bring a witch back to Siros?"

Anri gave the Captain a look of such rage that the old man took an involuntary step back. "Emilia is not a witch, Captain!"

"Right!" The Captain agreed hastily. "But… are you sure you want to bring her back with us? I mean, folks might react badly to their princess associating with a… half-devil."

Julius scowled at him.

Emilia flinched and Subaru face-palmed. "Antilles!" Subaru shouted. "The only reason I haven't already flattened your nose is that I'm too fucking tired to move right now!"

Anri drew herself up to her full height. "Captain, you will not speak so to my cherished companions in my presence!" Anri said in a very formal tone. "For too long has Siros followed the ignorant, offensive practices of the rest of Gusteko in regards to demi-humans. I mean to put an end to this foolishness, right here and now!" She said firmly.

Antilles looked dubious but he was smart enough to hold his tongue and simply bow low.

As the sun set, they arrived at Siros.

Subaru and Emilia were rudely awakened by the sounds of applause and thunderous cheering. They sprang up in the wagon, looking around in confusion.

The entire city had turned out to celebrate the end of the war and the return of the Princess. They lined the street to the palace for a mile. Siros was a fraction of the size of the capitol of Lagunica or Ganaks but it still boasted a population of many thousand and it looked like they had all come out to welcome the Princess home.

The military procession back to Siros instantly turned into an informal parade. Anri and Julius led the way, mounted on Patrasche. The riding dragon was clearly enjoying all the attention. Anri was graciously waving and receiving cheers from her people.

Subaru and Emilia followed directly behind them, looking completely out of place in their open-box wagon that was being pulled along by a grumpy old Earth dragon.

The entire city seemed deliriously happy to see their princess returned safely and bringing victory and peace with her.

Then the locals saw the wagon following Anri.

Because they'd just been awoken from a sound sleep, there had been no time to pull up their hoods and Emilia's hair and ears were plain for all to see.

Emilia started to pull up her hood and then let it go with a sigh, realizing that there was no point.

The locals cheered at the top of their lungs for the Princess but after she had passed their gaze fell onto Emilia and their expressions shifted into worry and concern. The citizens shifted from cheering to murmuring to one another in worry.

Subaru sighed. "I'm starting to get the impression that Siros is a lot less progressive than Anri thought."

Emilia made a face. "Well," She said slowly. "They're not throwing things at us yet. Or trying to kill us. Honestly, this is the nicest town that we've seen in quite some time."

"That's true," Subaru admitted. "And sad," Subaru added.

Emilia chuckled for a moment but then her face grew grave. "I don't know, Subaru," She murmured. "Maybe staying in Siros isn't the best idea."

Subaru shrugged. "We don't have to stay here if we don't want. We'll help Anri get settled and go through the Archives and hopefully find a cure for your curse. Once we know how to reverse the curse we'll go find it, cure you, recover the spirits, and then we can disappear to wherever you want."

Emilia chuckled and shook her head with a rueful smile. "Subaru, you make everything sound so easy."

Subaru laughed. "Well, something ought to be easy after all this! I don't see how any of that could be harder than pissing off two separate kingdoms!"

Emilia giggled and they watched as Anri received accolades from her people and flowers were thrown ahead of her as they made their way to the palace in the center of the city.

"Anri certainly is popular," Emilia observed.

Subaru shrugged. "It's good for her. It'll help build up her confidence," He said. He paused. "Although it did just occur to me that we don't seem to be getting any of the credit for ending this war."

"Does that bother you?" Emilia asked.

Subaru snorted. "Nah. Actually, it's pretty refreshing. But I am still pissed off about the fact that we will definitely be given full credit for trying to burn down Ganaks!" He grumbled.

Emilia smiled fondly at him. "Subaru, I still don't understand how in the world you managed to do that!"

"I didn't do it!" Subaru protested. "It wasn't my fault!"

Emilia looked at him skeptically but her smile broadened. "Subaru, I have a very hard time believing that something just happened to explode while you were there and yet you were in no way involved," She said teasingly.

Subaru sighed. "It really is 'pick on me' day, isn't it?" He chuckled.

Emilia gave him a peck on the cheek. "You know, it might be for the best that we're here. We're distracting the people from thinking about another very important question regarding Anri," She mused.

Subaru frowned. "What question is that?" Subaru asked.

Emilia smirked at Patrasche's riders. "Wondering who that knight is and why he's riding with Anri…"

Subaru chuckled. "I don't know. I think that everyone speculating about what their relationship is, just might please Anri. And as far as I know, Julius is single…"

The procession reached the palace and Anri and Julius dismounted Patrasche. A groom was standing by to take the dragon from them.

Subaru and Emilia climbed out of the wagon.

"Hey!" Subaru called to the groom. "Take good care of her. She's had a long road. She needs a little rest and relaxation!"

The groom looked at the strange man in the dirty robe with confusion, probably wondering who he was and if he could really give him orders but the groom just nodded and led Patrasche away.

A group of soldiers led Malcolm, Deann, and Duncan out of a heavily guarded carriage. Their arms were chained together. Deann's face was haughtily defiant, Duncan's grim, and Malcolm's was livid.

"Princess," Captain Antilles said, walking up to Anri. "With your permission, I'll bring these prisoners to the dungeon."

"Very well, Captain," Anri approved.

"I'll find someplace suitably uncomfortable for them," Antilles smirked.

Anri folded her arms across her chest. "Captain," Anri said in a warning tone. "They are not to be mistreated."

Antilles grumbled something under his breath but nodded.

Anri turned to face her friends. "Come inside! I've already sent word ahead to prepare a feast! My Uncle and Grandfather are expected to arrive tonight as well. My dearest friends and my rescuers many times over, our fighting days are done!"

Subaru and Julius shared a pained look.

It's weird to be on the same wavelength as Julius but I'm pretty sure that we both just thought 'jinx.' Or whatever the equivalent term is around here.

"I'll be along in a minute," Subaru said with a yawn. "I'm just going to go check on Patrasche real quick and then I'll be up."

"Don't take too long, Subaru!" Anri said cheerfully. "I want to eat!"

"I shouldn't be long," Subaru replied, walking away. "Unless I get lost in another maze-like palace and need to find a servant to direct me…" He muttered to himself.

Julius and Victoire went to freshen up while Anri brought Emilia directly to a large and elaborately furnished room.

There was a massive canopied bed in the center as well as many elegant chairs and a writing desk. It even had a private bathroom.

"Emilia, this will be your room. Yours and Subaru's. It will be set aside permanently, always unoccupied to use whenever you wish. I hope that you'll use it often."

"I hope so too, Anri," Emilia said warmly. The girls took their seats in a pair of comfortable chairs that let them look out a huge window over the enormous palace courtyard. It was dark outside but the lights were shining in the city not far off.

Anri hesitated. "Emilia, have the two of you… thought about what you might do after finding your cure and reuniting with your spirits?"

Emilia sighed. "Not really. That's occupying all of our attention right now. Once we accomplish that, we still need to lift the curse on my people. They're… frozen solid."

Anri nodded. "Yeah, I know. I hope that you can find a solution to that problem in the Grand Archives as well. But… once your quests are complete, I was hoping that you and Subaru would consider coming back to Siros. I'd like you to dwell in the palace with me. Forever, if you're willing."

Emilia frowned. "Why? I mean, that's certainly very generous of you but why are you so anxious for us to stay?"

Anri coughed. "Well. I feel like we've become very good friends after everything that we've been through together and… I don't have many friends," She admitted. "Honestly, I have no friends left after the war except Victoire. My closest companions were my Shadow bodyguards and they're all dead now. It's… hard to find people that you can trust when you're royalty, you know," She said with a somber smile.

"I'm sorry," Emilia replied.

Anri reached out to Emilia and took her hand. "Emilia, I really want you and Subaru to consider becoming my closest advisers. I'm likely to be crowned within a few years and I need your help. You told me how you dreamed about making a world of equality between humans and demi-humans. We can start that together, right here! You could help me prove to everyone that demi-humans in Siros are welcome and that their rights will be protected. If Subaru lived here and kept inventing then in ten years, Siros would be the technological hub of the entire continent!"

Emilia frowned. "That does sound pretty nice," She admitted. "And I'm as reluctant to say goodbye as you are. We'd have to resolve our current problems first, of course."

"Of course," Anri nodded. "And I'll help you in whatever way I can."

"But," Emilia said slowly. "After we get our lives back, I… I was really hoping to settle down somewhere with Subaru. Maybe in the forest and… start our family. I was hoping to get away from… all the craziness of the powerful people and nobility."

Anri chuckled. "There's enough room in the palace for as large of a family as you could want!" Anri assured her. She hesitated. "As for the rest," Anri smiled sadly. "I'm not sure that it would be that easy, Mili."

"What do you mean?"

Anri took a moment to organize her thoughts. "OK, so I don't know if you realize this but… you and Subaru have literally shaken the world with your footsteps," Anri said seriously. "You're changed the fates of whole nations in a matter of weeks! You and Subaru represent power," Anri said gently. "And people tend to gravitate toward power. They're either hoping to make use of it or they feel threatened by it. I'm not sure that the two of you could really just… disappear," Anri concluded sadly.

Emilia looked stricken.

Anri chuckled ruefully. "Yeah, I know how you feel. I have a similar problem. Some days, I wish that I could just go running off down the road and never look back."

Emilia shook her head. "You'd never do that, Anri," Emilia said fondly. "I know you too well. You're too responsible to ever walk away from your family and your people."

Anri shook her head with a knowingly smile. "Yeah, I know you too, Emilia. You have the same problem that I do," Anri pointed out. "You don't have it in you to just go off into the forest somewhere and disappear. You'll always try to help the people around you. I'm absolutely certain that you'll spend the rest of your life trying to help. The only question is how."

The Acolyte Knights were marched in chains around the castle toward the dungeon entrance. All of their hands were bound by the same length of chain as they were gently led along in single file.

Malcolm was trying to muster up whatever strength he had left. True, the demon Subaru Natsuki had torn away his bonded spirits but Malcolm had been a master spirit arts user for decades and he could also draw on ambient magic from the lesser spirits in the world around him. Malcolm had been building up a magical charge for hours now, waiting for the right opportunity.

The Siros soldiers led them through an old and poorly maintained covered bridge over an almost dry riverbed. The floor was sound but the roof and walls were full of holes. There was some sign that the castle staff had been trying to repair this bridge. There was construction equipment lying all around. Malcolm specifically noticed a block and tackle hanging out one of the holes in the wall. A large pile of timber lying below in the stream bed was tied to that rope.

Malcolm also spotted a burning torch hung on a wall of the bridge and quickly made his plan.

Deann will get out of here. If it costs me my life, my daughter will get home safely!

Canmore is safe but he's just a boy. He needs someone to guide him.

"Duncan," Malcolm snapped.

"Sir?" Duncan said in surprise. Malcolm hadn't spoken in hours. And he almost never willingly spoke to Duncan at all.

"You have precisely one chance to convince me that you're good enough for my daughter!" Malcolm grated, staring hard at the tackle.

Duncan followed his gaze and his eyes widened.

Malcolm summoned up all of the magic he'd gathered and with a mighty heave, he broke the chain around his wrists.

The soldiers were too shocked to react as Malcolm grabbed the burning torch off the wall and swung it at their faces, forcing them to stumble back to protect themselves.

Duncan and Deann quickly pulled the chain out from their own shackles.

Malcolm threw himself at the soldiers giving them no time to think or react. Fire is a potent weapon in close quarter combat and Malcolm blinded the soldiers by swiping the torch at their faces and then followed up with powerful punches that broke bones.

Some of the soldiers bolted away screaming as the torch's fire seared their faces and burned their eyes.

One soldier's clothes caught fire and he was forced to drop to the ground and roll, desperately trying to put it out.

A horn echoed across the ground as the alarm was sounded.

"Get her out of here!" Malcolm roared.

With neither her magic nor her swords, Deann was almost helpless but Duncan was a powerful man and he beat the soldiers back with heavy blows.

Deann shouted, "Father! Hurry and-"

Duncan grabbed Deann around the waist and jumped off the bridge, grabbing onto the rope.

"No!" Deann screamed, reaching back for her father.

Malcolm fought like a lion to protect his cub. He had already accepted his death as long as Deann got away safely. He had no weapon except for the torch but he was a mountain of muscle and he forced the soldiers back step by step, using the heat of the flames.

The tackle lowered Duncan and Deann to the ground safely and quickly, the massive pile of timber going up the other way.

Duncan let go of the rope when they reached the ground and the timber fell like a rock. Malcolm heard the timber smash into the ground and knew that the tackle had been reset for his own escape.

Malcolm prepared to make his own leap to safety when he heard a blade being drawn from behind him.

Malcolm spun around to protect his back and he thrust the torch toward his new foe but the man's blade knocked it aside easily and Malcolm found a sword at his throat.

Malcolm looked down and saw the monster Subaru Natsuki, staring at him with cold appraising eyes. He'd swiped a sword from a wounded soldier, lying on the floor of the bridge, and he now held it against Malcolm's throat, hard enough to dimple the skin.

"OK, Malcolm," Subaru whispered. "You want to come dead or alive? It makes no difference to me."

Malcolm fumed and dropped his torch. The flames sputtered and went out.

The soldiers rushed up to Malcolm to secure him. The ones knocked to the ground slowly regained their feet with help from their fellows but only a few seemed seriously injured.

Malcolm glanced down over the dry riverbed and saw Duncan fleeing as fast as he could, Deann thrown over his shoulder and beating his back with her fists as she commanded him to let her go back.

Ha! That halfwit was finally useful!

"Do what you want to me," Malcolm taunted, as the soldiers bound his hands. His face twisted in a grin of savage triumph. "My family will endure. That's all that matters. Even if you torture me to death, I've still had the last laugh."

Subaru stared up into his bearded face, his expression inscrutable. Finally, he nodded with a sour expression on his face. "I guess I have to respect that at least, Griest," He said begrudgingly.

Malcolm looked at him in surprise.

"Lord Subaru," Captain Antilles said, having finished tending to his injured men. "Thank you again for your assistance. If not for you, they would have all escaped!"

"Not a problem, Captain," Subaru said handing the sword back to the injured soldier.

Antilles sighed. "I'm not looking forward to telling the regent about this…"

Subaru looked at Malcolm. "Please hurry up and put this guy somewhere he can't stir up anymore trouble. Also, you should send search parties after those two."

Malcolm snorted. They'll never find them. I taught Deann wood lore myself. She knows how to disappear and survive in the forest.

"Right away, Lord Subaru," Antilles saluted and the men started to drag Malcolm away. "Forget the dungeon! Bring this man to Kalicos prison right away!"

Subaru watched the soldiers drag Malcolm away and then shook his head. He glanced at his left arm which was still swarming with balls of light. His mind was filled with strange voices that were constantly whispering loving endearments.

"And since those two are still on the loose, that means I need to keep holding onto you guys," Subaru grumbled to the spirits.

Subaru returned to the main entrance and saw Emilia, Anri, Julius, and Victoire come flying out. The horns and other alarms had brought them out of the palace on the run.

"I can't believe that we already lost them!" Anri said in despair after Subaru explained the situation. She buried her face in her hands. "My Uncle is going to be beside himself!"

"You still have the important one," Subaru reassured her. "As long as you have Malcolm, I doubt Sanshi would dare to attack."

Anri sighed. "Yeah. Thank you for that, Subaru. If not for you, we would have lost all of them."

Anri shook her head and made a show of putting aside her worries. A rictus grin spread across her face. "Well, there's a banquet waiting for us and it's getting cold! Let's all go and dig in!"

Everyone followed Anri into the palace and down the halls. Anri and Emilia were chatting animately and Victoire followed silently behind.

Subaru noticed that Julius was walking slowly and looked like he had a lot on his mind.

"Something wrong, Jules?" Subaru whispered.

Weird that I would ask him that. Funny. I guess sometime following that battle, something changed for the two of us. At least… I don't feel like we hate each other anymore. I wouldn't call us friends but… I wouldn't exactly call us enemies either…

Weird.

Julius looked pensive as they stopped to talk. "Earlier today, Captain Antilles asked if I would consider accepting a position in Siros," He whispered.

Subaru chuckled. "Doesn't waste any time, does he?"

Julius shook his head. "Under normal circumstances, I would have refused immediately but I still owe a debt of my life to Princess Kairei. All the same, I have sworn my loyalty to Lady Anastasia. I confess that I am deeply conflicted. If Princess Kairei wishes me to stay-"

"Jules," Subaru cut him off. "I am sure that Anri didn't ask Antilles to do this. As a matter of fact, I doubt that she'll be happy when she finds out that Antilles went behind her back."

Julius looked down the hall as the girls entered the banquet room. "Servants often overrule their master's wishes when they fear that they are in danger," Julius said darkly.

"What do you mean?"

"Subaru," Julius said, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "Captain Antilles informed me that he fears that the Princess is still in peril. There's as yet no explanation for how Sanshi forces were able to locate the Princess or how they destroyed so many of her Shadows and safe-houses."

Subaru frowned. "Anri mentioned that but she seems to think that they were using some kind of magic to track her. They did find you in the deep forest after all. I'm sure that we can squeeze some answers out of Malcolm an Griest."

Julius bowed his head. "Subaru Natsuki," Julius said in a tight voice. "I am… uncertain of my course. My duty requires me to return to report to the kingdom and to Lady Anastasia with all speed but… I fear for Princess Kairei's safety. Can I truly depart in good conscience?"

Subaru frowned. He patted Julius's shoulder. "Look, Jules. Emilia and I aren't going anywhere for a while. We definitely won't abandon Anri until we're sure that she'll be safe. Even if we're spending most of our time out in the Archives, we'll still be close enough to keep an eye on things. You should head back to the capitol as soon as you can. There's got to be a lot of people worried about you. After all, you will need to fly that wyvern back to Siros after you make your report. That means that you can double back here and check things out before you take the long, slow trip back overland."

Julius nodded slowly. "Thank you, Subaru Natsuki, for your wise counsel. I must endeavor to satisfy all my obligations without fail. Lady Anastasia is doubtlessly worried about me. I must return straight away to reassure her and to ensure that the sages' council does not escalate hostilities with Gusteko."

Subaru nodded. "Give Anastasia my regards. Now that I'm out of the running for the throne, I'm sure that our relationship will improve greatly. Tell her that I'm still very interesting in pursuing a business deal with her for my inventions."

Julius nodded. "I most surely will, Subaru. I hope that my Lady and the kingdom will grant my request to return here forthwith."

Subaru scratched his chin. "Also, you might tell Anastasia that there are going to be serious economic opportunities in Siros shortly. Once the other Sanshi army is gone, the trade lanes will open up again and commerce is going to surge. Siros has been through a devastating war and they'll need significant materials to rebuild. Anastasia could make a fortune if she positioned herself properly before that. Point that out to her and she might even order you to come back to ensure that Anri stays safe. And to make sure that Anri is properly grateful to Anastasia when the dust finally settles…" He said with some amusement.

Julius gave Subaru a pained look. "To paint such a vivid picture to Lady Anastasia would feel very much as if I sought to manipulate her. I am… uncertain that this is knightly behavior, Subaru."

Subaru chuckled. "Very perceptive of you, Jules, because I'm not a knight," He said in amusement. "Look, all you have to do is just tell Anastasia what I said, OK? She'll read between the lines. Anastasia and I have always understood one another very well."

Julius nodded. "I will do so."

"One more thing, Julius," Subaru said lowering his voice. "When you go back to the capitol, wear a hood over your face and don't take it off until you can declare yourself in a crowd."

"What do you mean?" Julius frowned.

"We found the bodies of the Ganaks soldiers who attacked you. Griest's men massacred them. That means that, whoever gave the order for you to be killed, they probably don't know that they failed yet. Make sure that lots of people know that you came back from Gusteko safely so they don't have a chance to try again."

Julius nodded slowly. "I will be guided by you in this," He said.

Subaru nodded and the pair continued down to the banquet hall.

The banquet table was easily able to seat forty and it was piled high with food. Subaru thought this was an enormous waste but he kept his mouth shut. Anri didn't need to be second-guessed right now. Subaru and Emilia dug in with gusto. They'd eaten nothing for two weeks but field rations and a few vegetables.

Anri was nursing a glass of wine. "What an adventure. It's like I've been living in one of my romance novels! I was lost in the woods, hunted by assassins, and all alone. Then I met heroes that protected me and helped me to win a war!"

Subaru chuckled. "I hope that you're not looking to write a 'sequel' any time soon, Anri."

Anri laughed. "No, thank you! I've had my fill of danger and peril for a while. I just want to have a nice peaceful couple of years where my people are safe to rebuild and lick their wounds! My next adventure will definitely be found in the pages of a book!"

"That fucking works for me," Victoire commented, taking a long swig of wine. "I've dragged my ass across Gusteko lengthwise four or five times since all this shit started!"

"You may wish to watch your back, Subaru Natsuki," Julius said calmly, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "You have singlehandedly reshaped the political landscape of two nations in a matter of weeks. Kararagi and Vollachia may already be conspiring to murder you before you take an interest in their affairs as well."

Subaru stared at Julius. "Julius," Subaru cracked a smile. "Did you just make a joke?"

"Of course not," He said with a straight face. "Perish the thought."

Anri laughed.

Subaru chuckled. "Any word on your relatives?" He asked Anri.

Anri nodded. "My Uncle should be here soon. My grandfather will hopefully be here sometime tomorrow. And Gael is with my Uncle as well. I'm dying to see him."

"Your brother?" Emilia recalled.

Anri nodded. "I hope that he's OK…"

Subaru scratched his chin. "Wait, so your Uncle took your brother… on a military campaign?!" He asked incredulously.

Anri's face darkened. "Gael had better be OK," She grumbled.

Julius sighed and stood up from the table. "I am completely full. And alas, though I would joyfully remain here with you all for much longer, my duty beckons and I must return home."

"No! Not yet!" Anri protested.

Victoire stood up. "Oh what the hell, I need to stretch my legs anyway. I'll show you the way to the wyvern roost, Sir Julius."

Julius approached Anri and delicately kissed her hand.

Anri turned bright red.

"Princess," Julius said softly. "I owe you my life and I shall never forget that debt. You are a woman of exceptional courage and character. My life has been greatly enriched just by coming to know you."

Anri's breath was coming fast and she seemed at a loss for words.

Subaru carefully hid a smile.

"You offered to do battle to protect me against many foes, Sir Julius," Anri spoke up. "I assure you, you will always be welcome in my halls."

Julius smiled at her. "I am truly grateful, Princess Kairei. The more often I find myself in your divine company the better shall I be pleased."

Anri blushed and broke into a broad smile.

Julius smiled at her and turned his attention to Subaru and Emilia. His face wasn't friendly but there was no hostility in it.

"Subaru Natsuki, Miss Emilia," Julius spoke in a neutral tone. "It seems that it is our time to part for now."

Subaru made a face. "Julius," Subaru said awkwardly. "We've never been friends but you're a good man. Maybe we'll get a chance to know one another better when all of the dust from this mess finally settles. Please give my fond regards to Lady Anastasia and tell her that no matter how the royal selection ends, I hope that we will have a long and productive business relationship."

"I most surely will, Subaru Natsuki," Julius said, taking his hand.

Subaru hesitated and took a deep breath. "Also, Julius, would you perhaps consider doing me a favor?"

Julius looked intrigued. "You did save my life," Julius said slowly. "What would you ask of me?"

Subaru sighed and looked at the spirits dancing around Julius's wrist with longing. "We had… two spirits in our care. I think… I hope that Reinhard and Felt are looking after them now. I have no concerns that they are being mistreated but Reinhard and Felt don't know much about taking care of spirits. If it would be at all possible, could you look in on them and ensure that they are as safe and comfortable as possible?"

Julius nodded, his face sympathetic. "Consider it done, Subaru Natsuki. I will seek them out straight away and ensure that they are well kept. And I will convey to them that your heart is desolate because of your separation."

Subaru gave him a sad smile. "Thank you, Julius. I am deeply in your debt," He said with a bow.

Julius looked back at Anri. "I wish you to know that I am inordinately proud to have known you, my lady, and my life is far better for it. I am grateful to have shared in a small way in your adventures. It was far more than a man like myself deserves. I hope that we will soon be together again, united once more for mirth and celebration."

The knight gave a formal bow and then followed Victoire out of the hall.

Subaru and Emilia pretended not to notice Anri's tears at his departure.

Captain Antilles had returned to report that Malcolm an Griest was secure in a cell in a nearby prison and Subaru had released the spirits in his care with relief.

Deann and Duncan are still out there but I can't just hold onto the spirits indefinitely. The next time that I need to use Indomitable I'll have to let them go.

It's better for everyone tracking them to just assume that they have their magic rather than to have it sprung on them by surprise. Besides, if Julius is any example, they'll take a good long time to recover their power.

After dinner, the trio retreated to Anri's private rooms which were big enough to be a luxurious apartment all by themselves.

The group had barely sat down when a tall man with ashen blond hair and a long, haggard face walked into the room. His clothes were muddy and traveled stained.

"Uncle Radu!" Anri said, jumping up and giving the man a hug.

The man held her tight. "Oh, Anri!" He sighed. "I've been so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry, Uncle," She said contritely.

The pair separated and Radu laughed. "Now I find out that my little niece has grown into a hero! I want to hear the full story! I've been hearing a thousand different tales the entire way home and I can't believe half of them!'

Anri tittered then her face grew serious. "Uncle, is Gael alright?"

Radu smiled. "He's fine, Anri," He soothed.

"When I heard that you'd taken him with you the front, I thought-"

"I know," Radu said calmly. "I had no intention of letting him fight! But after the first safe-house was attacked, I had to take him out of the castle. I couldn't tell where it would be safe to leave Gael so I just kept him with me. I can't say that he enjoyed it but he is doing well."

Anri sighed in relief.

"Why don't you go see him?" Radu said gently. "It will give me a chance to wash half the dust of the continent off my face and then we can all talk about your big adventure!"

Anri nodded. "That sounds great. Why don't you two come with me," She said to Subaru and Emilia. "I'd like you to meet him."

They nodded and followed Anri out of the room.

Boy, that kid must be excited to see his sister again. I'm looking forward to this. It'll be just like having Petra around again.

Well, if Petra was a boy, I mean. It'll be just like having Lucas around again?

Nah. Lucas is a little pain in the neck.

Anri led them down the hall and to a room with a pair of soldiers standing guard outside.

Subaru frowned. "Anri, guards?" He asked.

She nodded sadly. "We don't want him to go wandering without anyone there to watch him…"

Subaru cocked his head in confusion.

Anri seemed to debate saying something, then just shook her head and sighed.

Anri opened the door and they stepped inside. The playroom looked like it could belong to any small boy. There were stuffed animals and toys everywhere.

Someone sat in the corner holding a tiny rag doll.

Subaru stared. This can't be right! That guy's my age! Hell, he's several years older!

Subaru and Emilia looked at each other in shock.

Gael was a tall, well built young man of about twenty. He had blond hair and an earnest open face. The first thing that one would notice about him was his blue eyes. They were bright, too bright.

"Hello, Gael," Anri said in a soothing voice. She knelt down next to him. "I've really missed you. Have you been OK?"

Gael didn't look at her, his attention was completely focused on the small rag doll that he cradled in his arms. "I've been fine," Gael said calmly, lifting his doll up in the air with a big smile. "It was a rough trip but I was OK. I had Anri!"

Anri's smile became strained. "That's right, Gael" She whispered. "You always have… her."

"We're home again, Anri," He crooned to the doll, cuddling it. "We'll be OK now. I'll always take care of you."

Anri sighed sadly. "I'm sorry that you had to be taken out of here. I'm sure that was really scary for you. I'm really sorry that I couldn't be there to take care of you…"

"Oh that's alright. We had a tea party!" Gael replied.

"Hello, Gael," Emilia said slowly. "It's very nice to meet you."

Gael made no sign that he had heard her. "Anri," Gael asked the doll conscientiously, "Do you want some more tea?" He appeared to listen to the doll carefully then nodded his head. He got up and walked to a tiny table that was made for children and sat down there. He looked ridiculous, sitting in the tiny chair. He proceeded to dip a tea spoon into an empty cup and then fed the doll sips of tea.

Emilia stood there awkwardly.

"Please don't take it personally," Anri whispered to her. "Gael doesn't interact with other people. He barely interacts with me and even then… he doesn't really know who I am."

Subaru's face twisted in sympathy. "He's sick?" He asked gently.

Anri nodded. "He developed this… 'brain fever' a few years after our parents died. I've been trying to look after him ever since I was ten. That's why I was so worried about how he was doing. I'm the only one who can make him take his medicine or make sure that he eats. He… never acknowledges me directly, or anyone else for that matter, but… sometimes he does what I ask him to."

"I'm so sorry," Emilia whispered.

Anri sighed. "Don't judge him by the way he is now. When I was younger, he was a wonderful person. A hero to the entire kingdom, extremely heroic and kind. I really looked up to him. In some ways, Julius reminds me of him."

"Was he a knight?" Subaru asked.

"Oh, yeah!" Anri nodded. "He was ranked first among all the Acolyte Knights before he even turned fourteen!" Anri said proudly. "That was why I started studying medicine, actually. I thought that by learning healing techniques, I could be useful to my brother and his friends on their adventures. I was desperate to go along with him. Then… a year or two after he was promoted to First among the Knights, he got sick…"

Subaru didn't know what to say. "That's… awful…" Subaru said helplessly.

"Hey…" Gael said slowly.

Subaru blinked as he realized that Gael was staring directly at him with a puzzled expression. "I know you. Aren't you Betty's Subaru?"

Subaru's jaw dropped. Anri was staring at Gael in shock.

Gael giggled, a high pitched sound at odds with his strong and well-built appearance. "You are! You're Betty's Subaru! And Puck's too!"

"How… do you know Beatrice?" Subaru gasped.

"Everybody knows Betty!" Gael replied dismissively. He hesitated. "Betty and Puck really miss you…"

Subaru's mouth worked but no sounds emerged. "Are they… safe?" Subaru asked, uncertain if Gael could even know the answer.

"They're fine," Gael said immediately. "They're about to take a little trip."

Subaru frowned. "A trip where?"

"They're going over there!" Gael said, pointing with confidence out a window. He looked up at Subaru expectantly.

Subaru sighed. "Thanks, Gael. That was… that was really useful…"

Gael beamed.

"Gael talked to you!" Anri gasped.

"Anri, how does he know about Beatrice?" Subaru demanded.

Anri shook her head. "Gael has… strange powers. But he's never been wrong about these sort of things. If he says that your spirits are safe then I'd bet my crown on them being fine." Anri shook her head. "I can't believe that he spoke to you…" She said in disbelief. "He's never spoken to anyone but me…"

Subaru hesitated looking at Anri's awestruck expression. He tried to think of some way to keep the conversation going. "Gael, what about… Felt?" He asked reluctantly.

"I think she's OK," Gael said without much interest. "I can't see her very well. She's quite dim."

Subaru made a face. "Actually she's amazingly clever. Frankly, I think your sister and Felt would get along great if they ever met."

Gael frowned. "Anri and Felt would be friends?"

"Sure!" Subaru shrugged.

"That's not what Gael means," Anri interjected quietly. "He uses the term 'dim' to describe people who he's not very… aware of. They're dim because they're hard for him to see. I never really understood how this worked and he naturally can't explain it now."

Subaru looked puzzled. "Felt's… dim?" He asked Gael.

Gael nodded. "Her boyfriend is as bright as the sun though. Almost like you," Gael added, looking at Subaru.

Subaru wasn't sure what to say.

Anri, Emilia, and Subaru looked at one another and Gael returned to snuggling with his doll.

Finally, Anri sighed. "Well, let's go talk to Uncle Radu. A lot has happened that he'll need to know about."

Subaru and Emilia nodded and left the room, with many backwards glances at Gael.

Anri lingered for several moments, watching Gael cradle and comfort his 'sister.'

"Anri," Radu whispered. "I don't know what to say!"

Upon returning to Anri's apartments, Radu had been there already, nursing a bottle of strong liquor. "I don't need food," Radu had said. "I need something to help dissolve all of the field rations I've been eating over the past few weeks! They're clogging up my belly and they won't move!"

Radu had listened to Anri's story with baited breath. Occasionally he asked a question but for the most part he just seemed shocked.

"Anri, your parents would be so proud of you," He whispered.

Anri bowed her head with a rueful smile.

Radu chuckled. "It won't be long before I'm bowing down to you!" He nudged her.

"Come on, Uncle. I won't be crowned for years."

"Oh, much sooner than that," Radu replied in amusement.

"Huh?"

"I've been hearing from the nobles ever since you defeated the Sanshi army. They're been pressuring me to step down and let you take over," Radu said in a pleased voice.

Anri blinked. "I can't be crowned yet! I'm too young!"

Radu shrugged. "Actually, Anri, you can be crowned whenever you have the support of a majority of the nobles. Several of the heads of the minor Houses of Siros have been broadly hinting to me that they were prepared to back your claim to the throne immediately. They urged me, respectfully of course, to get the hell out of your way. For reasons of my health," He finished, sounding amused.

"They threatened you?!" Anri asked incredulously.

"Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to call them threats," Radu chuckled. "They were very polite, after all. They just encouraged me to find other employment. Quickly."

Subaru burst out laughing at the shocked look on Anri's face.

Emilia elbowed him.

Subaru cleared his throat. "No, I understand how they feel," Subaru said. "You deserve it, Anri. Really. You're done amazing things. The nobles are right to want you to lead them."

Anri bowed her head. "Come on, Subaru, what have I done?" She sighed. "All I feel like I've accomplished is to stand back and watch you guys do everything."

"So?" Emilia asked intently.

Anri stared at her. "Emilia, if the nobles want me to be the ruler only because of everything that you did, then in what way am I-"

"Anri, you need to stop thinking that you only deserve credit for the things that you did without the help of anyone else," Emilia said firmly. "Stop thinking that you don't deserve credit for what others helped you to accomplish. That attitude will only make you miserable and your doubts will eventually consume you. Yes, we helped you to win your war but we did that because you convinced us to. You made us want to help you see your goals realized. Those are the traits of a leader. Nobody can do it all on their own. A real leader knows how to convince everyone to work together for a common cause. That's what you did, Anri, and that's why these nobles want you to lead them."

Anri stared at Emilia in disbelief.

Subaru wrapped an arm around Emilia's shoulder. "That's my fiancee," He bragged.

Emilia blushed.

Anri didn't appear to know what to say. "Anything… else that we should talk about?" Anri asked, desperate to change the subject.

Radu made a face. "Well, there is one piece of unpleasantness that we should discuss," He said slowly.

"What's that?"

Radu sighed. "Anri, you realize that you brought foreigners into Gusteko affairs when you recruited Subaru and his elf-"

"Emilia!" Subaru grated.

Radu flinched. "And now the other great Houses are likely to be livid about it," He finished apologetically.

Anri looked outraged. "Uncle! What else should I have done?! Are you telling me to denounce them after everything they've done for us?!"

Radu held up his hands. "Wait! I didn't say anything like that!" He said quickly.

Anri glared at him.

Radu took a deep breath. "Anri, you're going to be the ruler very soon. You need to start thinking like one. I'm not saying that you making an alliance with Subaru and… Emilia was a bad idea. I think that they're extremely valuable assets as well as loyal friends to you and loyal friends are worth cultivating on their own merits!"

"So what are you saying?" Anri asked, still not mollified.

Radu sigh, "Every asset you ever gather will have two edges. You need to be prepared for both the benefits and the pitfalls. A leader needs to minimize those pitfalls and that means she has to see them coming," He said in a placating voice.

Anri frowned. "What pitfalls, Uncle? I don't see them."

Radu sighed. "Gusteko is mostly a reactionary, xenophobic country. Foreigners have never been welcome here, especially demi-humans, even if Siros is somewhat an exception. You broke House Griest's back today and sudden power plays make the other Great Houses and the Hierocracy nervous. You made an alliance with Subaru Natsuki, someone whom many in Gusteko view as a killer and a monster. They might move against us."

"If I told the other Houses that Lagunica also now views me as a killer and a monster," Subaru muttered to Emilia. "Do you think they'd decide to change their minds just to be contrary?"

Emilia poked him in the side.

Subaru shrugged. "Just a thought," He murmured.

Anri thought about it then shook her head. "Uncle, I'll admit that this is all possible but I think it's most unlikely. What will the other Houses do? Griest was by far the strongest House and we pushed them back. What other House will step up to fill their shoes? Are you worried about a consortium of Houses all geared to oppose us? I don't think that's even remotely likely. If Malcolm an Griest was free then I could believe that he'd rally the other Houses to the cause but I don't see Deann doing that and certainly not Canmore. Deann is more likely to immediately try to negotiate her father's freedom, probably offering reparations and a peace treaty in exchange."

Radu nodded. "I agree that's the most likely outcome but keep all the possibilities in mind, Anri. Remember, a leader's primary job is to think of all the bad things that can happen and then to make sure that they don't."

Anri thought that through and nodded.

"The bigger problem deals with the destruction of the army," Radu added.

Subaru moaned and rubbed his face. Emilia took his hand and squeezed it tight.

"It was a very dark business, Uncle, but I can't say that I feel all that sorry for them," Anri sniffed.

"Nor do I," Radu agreed. "But the other Houses had lent forces to House Griest to threaten Lagunica. That… complicates things."

"Uncle, Julius mentioned that but I still don't understand it," Anri said. "Why were the Great Houses looking to pick a fight with Lagunica?"

"Well, I wasn't invited to the meeting personally," Radu said archly. "Malcolm an Griest doesn't trust me for some reason. All I know is what your Grandfather's Shadows were able to dig up."

Anri nodded.

Radu sighed. "Apparently, the other Houses decided that Siros had made an alliance with Lagunica and that Lagunica was determined to intervene in Gusteko internal politics."

"What?!" Anri asked in disbelief.

"After you and Master Subaru attacked the camp at Trolleheim," Radu explained. "The other Houses took it as undeniable evidence of Lagunican forming an alliance with Siros. They decided to join forces to march an army down to the border, make a lot of noise, and then politely ask Lagunica to mind its own business."

Subaru snorted. "I might have saved them an awful lot of trouble. Julius assured us that Lagunica was certain that Gusteko intended to attack. This could have spiraled out of control pretty damn fast!"

Radu nodded. "True, and I'm beyond grateful that you rescued my niece, but the other Houses are likely to be incensed. You wiped out nearly half of Griest's standing army and the other houses suffered heavy loses from the forces that they offered as well. They're going to be pretty angry…"

Anri looked unsettled.

Radu sighed. "Well, I'm about ready to hit the hay. I'm an old man and I need my sleep. Especially after a long campaign. Feel free to start planning your coronation tonight, Anri. Maybe after you're crowned, I'll get to sleep in once in a while."

"Uncle," Anri said fondly, rolling her eyes at him.

"Are you going to stay up?" Radu asked.

Anri shook her head. "I'm ready for bed too but I want to talk to Emilia and Subaru before I do."

Subaru, Emilia, and Anri gathered in the room that Anri had gifted them.

They sat in comfortable chairs surrounding a bright lamp on a small table.

Anri's fingers flexed as she sat there biting her lip.

Subaru and Emilia shared a worried glance.

"Anri," Subaru murmured. "Is something wrong?"

Anri took a deep breath. "It's time for me to confess my sins," She whispered. "I've been hiding something from you since the day that we met."

"Huh?" Subaru asked.

Emilia's eyes widened.

Anri sighed. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small black book.

Emilia's eyes widened. "Wait. That's the book that I took out of your satchel, Subaru! The one that I tore a page from to write the note!"

"My satchel?" Subaru said in surprise. "I had a book in my satchel?"

Anri bowed her head and handed it to Subaru.

Subaru took it with a confused frown. It was a plain black book without any markings on the cover.

Suddenly his eyes widened. "Wait a second! This is the book that I found on Petelguese's body! The one that Beatrice told me not to touch!"

"What?! Then why did you put it in your satchel?" Emilia asked in disbelief.

Subaru hesitated, fumbling for words. "I… I don't know. I just… kind of did. I forgot all about it!"

Anri bowed her head in shame. "Subaru, do you know what this is?"

"Um, …no, not really," Subaru admitted.

Anri took a deep breath. "Subaru, this is a Witch's Gospel!" She whispered.

Subaru frowned. "Wait, those things that…" He trailed off.

Anri frowned. "What?" Anri asked.

"Nothing," Subaru replied.

Yeah. Let's not talk about all my 'buddies' in the Witch Cult right now.

Subaru shook his head. "Anri, what exactly are these things?"

Anri thought for a long moment. "Have you ever heard of 'Findláech of Moray?'"

"No," Subaru and Emilia said together.

Anri nodded. "The Witch's Gospels are famous in Gusteko. They're a very popular plot device in many fictional stories. The most famous of these stories is actually one of my favorites. It's an old play called 'Findláech of Moray.'"

Subaru sighed. "Fine, I'll bite. What's the play about?"

Anri sighed. "Findláech was the third son of the King of an imaginary kingdom. Findláech greatly resented the fact that he wouldn't inherit the throne. One day, while fleeing through a forest to escape mabeasts, he met a witch who offered to change his destiny. She claimed it was just a kindness offered to somebody whose greatness had been ignored by the world. So she gave him a Gospel."

Subaru squinted. "OK, so just to ask a dumb question, what do these Gospel things actually do?"

"They predict the future," Anri said quietly. "According to legend, they can manipulate fate and lead their owner to whatever future they desire."

Subaru's eyes widened. "Well, that's pretty impressive!"

Anri nodded slowly. "So Findláech thought as well," Anri agreed. "He began to use the book to see the evolving future. It told him secrets that he used to neutralize or disgrace his rivals and occasionally it told him how to kill them.

"Eventually, Findláech has murdered both of his brothers and his own father and become King. He next attempts to conquer an enemy kingdom to the north on the Gospel's advice. He gathers a great army to destroy his enemies. On the eve before battle, Findláech reads the last page of the Gospel and it says 'My good pawn has played its last move. Thus I sacrifice thee. You die anon.'"

"Damn," Subaru murmured.

"Findláech is furious at being tricked by the Gospel but they're committed to battle now and can't retreat. Findláech throws his Gospel away in a rage and goes into battle. He meets the enemy King on the battlefield who reveals that he too has a Witch's Gospel that directed him to attack Findláech. Findláech tries to tell him that they've both been tricked but the King doesn't believe him and Findláech no longer has his own Gospel to prove it. They fight and Findláech dies. Then a guard comes up to the King and tells him that Findláech's reinforcements are approaching. By the end of the battle, almost everyone on either side is dead.

"The witch has the closing soliloquy," Anri continued. "She comes to the battlefield to recover her Gospels and explain that she wanted both kingdoms destroyed and the Gospels were her tools to manipulate greedy and ambitious fools to do it. She mocks all the characters for being foolish enough to believe that they could wield her power as their own."

Subaru looked baffled. "OK… What exactly is the moral of this story supposed to be? That Witchcraft is dangerous?" Subaru asked.

Anri hesitated. "There have been countless stories over the years, likely almost all made up, of mortals who somehow acquired a Witch's Gospel," Anri explained. "A few stories claim that the bearer achieved great wealth and status but most are cautionary tales. According to legend, anyone may hold a Witch's Gospel but no mortal can actually possess one. Only a Witch can bend the Gospel to her will. Anyone else might be permitted to read the Gospel but it will still do the work of its true master and guide them toward whatever future she most desires."

Subaru and Emilia shared a long worried look.

Emilia shook her head. "Anri," Emilia said in disbelief. "You… stole this out of Subaru's satchel?!"

Anri jumped. "No! I didn't steal it! It was given to me! I hadn't even met you yet. At first, I didn't even know that it was yours!"

Subaru and Emilia looked at each other for a long time. "Then who gave it to you?" Subaru asked.

Anri sighed. "Well, I'm not really sure."

"Anri," Subaru sighed.

"The day that we all met," Anri began. "I was in hiding in the woods with my bodyguards, not far from the Elior Forest. There were only a few of us left. Victoire and a group of other Shadows had separated from us, trying to divide our foes. Elsa was hunting us as was another monster, a freakish, twisted little man with razor sharp teeth. We'd managed to lose them but we knew that they'd find us again quickly. My guards were all resting. Because they'd worked so hard that day to keep me safe, I was keeping watch. It was almost sunup.

"Suddenly, I noticed someone was standing out in the trees just beyond the firelight. The figure walked closer and I desperately tried to wake up Marcus and Hunnicutt but they slept as if they were dead. When the stranger entered the firelight, I knew that they weren't human. They were… unnatural. They wore a black hooded robe that seemed as if it had been spun out of shadows. No matter how close they got to the firelight, I couldn't see what they looked like under their hood. In fact, it seemed like they brought the darkness with them as they walked into the camp. The closer they came, the dimmer the firelight became.

"The figure saw me shaking my guards and she said, 'You won't be able to wake them like that.' I asked who she was. She said, 'Someone who wishes to see one who is doomed. Someone who pities fate's fool. Someone who can see your future and offer you a better destiny.'"

Subaru looked puzzled.

"She told me, 'You will die before the sunrises and with that, your ancient line will crumble into dust.' I told her that I wasn't dead yet."

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Well, she sure talks funny. Do you really remember what she said word for word?"

"They're quotes, Subaru," Anri replied. "I remember them because they're all direct quotes from the witch in 'Findláech of Moray.'"

Subaru rolled his eyes. "Of course they are," Subaru shook his head in disbelief.

"She took this book out of a… a pocket, I guess," Anri continued. "She said, 'I offer you this, a key to your own best destiny.'

Anri looked pained. "Um… Then I asked her if she could please stop pretending that we were on stage. She seemed to find that funny," Anri recalled.

Emilia shook her head sadly. "Anri, did you really talk back to a witch?" She sighed.

Anri flushed. "Well, I'd had a very long day…"

Emilia looked at Subaru accusingly. "I blame you, Subaru. Anri is mouthing off to witches because of your bad influence," She said, only half serious.

"Mili, don't you start," Subaru sighed. "There are no more witches, they're all dead except for Envy and she's been sealed away. The sooner everyone gets that through their heads, the sooner that they'll leave you alone."

"If she wasn't a witch then what do you think she was?" Emilia asked.

Subaru shrugged. "I don't know. It might have been a Sin Archbishop. Or maybe just some lady who knows a few eerie magic tricks. We know that the witches are all gone though so let's dismiss that possibility from mind."

"Anyway," Anri said, "I didn't take the book. I told her that I knew what play she was quoting and the whole moral of the play was not to mess around with witchcraft. She chuckled and asked if I was sure that was the moral of the story. She told me that if I didn't accept her help, I and everyone in my party would never see the sunrise. She could help me survive and protect my people if… I accepted the Gospel."

"So you took it?" Subaru asked.

Anri nodded. "I… I had to try to keep my people safe. No matter the cost," She said in a small voice.

Anri sighed. "She gave me the Gospel and told me that the Gospel could guide me to my own best destiny. I tried to read it but it burned my eyes. The Witch laughed and told me that only one proffered by a Witch could read a Gospel. She laid her hand on the Book and murmured something. After that, I could read it. Then she walked away. I read the Gospel. It told me that my House was doomed unless I could find 'the man from beyond the Great Waterfall.'"

Subaru sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Alright. What happened next?"

"The Gospel told me how to save my party. It told me how to lead the group away from the traps that Elsa had created. We were OK for a few hours. However, the Gospel warned me not to cross the river so I told my guards not to but they overruled me. They thought it would be the best way to get our pursuers off our trail. We crossed the river and blundered directly into an ambush. Elsa cut down my guards left and right. Hunnicutt managed to get me out of there. The Gospel told me to flee into the forest so we did since Hunnicutt had no better ideas. Elsa pursued us but we blundered into a group of mabeasts. Elsa was attacked by a huge pack of mabeasts and that let us get away. Unfortunately, the mabeasts also came after us. That was where you found me, Emilia."

Subaru gave Anri a hard look. "What about the note?"

Anri blinked. "What note?"

"The note that was left behind in the cottage the day we met?" Emilia snapped.

Anri shook her head. "I had nothing to do with that. The first time I came to the cottage was with you, Emilia. I swear."

Emilia's eyes were like flint.

"Alright, so what happened next?" Subaru grumbled.

Anri sighed. "Emilia saved me from the mabeasts but I'd lost the Gospel with my other things when I fell out of the tree. I wasn't sure what to do next and the Gospel was my only asset to try to save my people! I had to get it back. So I tried to persuade you to let me grab it before we left the forest. I knew that I needed to get home but I had no idea how I could get there without running into Elsa again so I just guessed that I should head to Rixum. When I got the Gospel back, it told me to go to Iruk instead and told me that the ingredients to make the 'Draught of Unquenchable Flame' were there. I had no idea why it told me that, it's a pretty obscure recipe after all, but after Subaru was injured by the Black Water, it turned out to be vital information.

"We went to Iruk and I made the medicine. It was right around then that Emilia told me that you were from beyond the Great Waterfall. I was sure that you were the man that the Gospel had told me to look for-"

"I doubt that there's too many of us," Subaru mused.

Anri sighed. "Then Elsa showed up and Emilia fought her off."

Anri looked at Emilia in appeal but she looked back doubtfully.

Anri bowed her head. "Emilia was badly wounded. I checked the Gospel and it told me that if we went to the army camp we could find medicine. I wasn't sure how this was going to work," She admitted. "But the Gospel hadn't steered me wrong yet so off we went. We cured Emilia and I started asking you to help me save my people.

"When we returned to the forest, I checked the Gospel and it warned me about the invaders and that they would flood the forest if Subaru didn't stop them. So I lied and told you that I'd seen the tracks and sent you after them."

Subaru glowered at Anri.

Anri sighed. "We left the forest again and we met up with Victoire. After we arrived, the safe-house was ruined and Vera was dead. I was at a loss. I checked the Gospel and it told me to go to Ganaks and find 'the Paladin,'" Anri hung her head in shame. "But I couldn't talk you guys into bringing me with you into the city. You left Emilia and I behind and then later Emilia did the same. We'd failed to follow the Gospel's script and I wasn't sure what to do next. The Gospel told me that I had to choose whether to save myself or the Paladin. I wasn't sure what that meant at the time but now I think that I had probably made my choice when I rescued Julius from his betrayers.

"I checked the Gospel tonight and it told me that it belongs to you and that I should give it back to you," Anri finished quietly. "So… I did."

Subaru and Emilia exchanged a grim look. "Anything else?" Emilia asked in a hard tone.

Anri shook her head. "You know all the rest. I don't want there to be any secrets between us from now on," She said fervently.

The room was quiet for a long moment. Emilia was scowling at Anri.

Subaru sighed. "Anri, why all the secrecy? Why didn't you just tell us?" Subaru asked in a soft voice.

"Tell you what? That I was holding a Witch's Gospel?" Anri asked incredulously. "How would you have reacted to that?!"

Oh, don't worry. Lots of the folks I've dealt with lately have one. It's bordering on trendy these days.

Emilia glared at Anri. "I trusted you!" She whispered. "And you've been lying to us from the beginning!"

Anri bit her lip. "I didn't lie, Emilia," Anri protested in a weak voice. "I just… didn't tell you everything…"

Emilia shook her head. "I don't want to hear it, Anri! A lie of omission is still a lie!"

Anri hung her head in guilt.

Subaru sighed and took Emilia's hand. "Look, it's been a very long day for all of us. We all need a good night's sleep. Let's just… figure this whole thing out in the morning."

Anri nodded and went to leave the room. She opened the door and then hesitated, looking back at them. "Are you… planning to use the Gospel?"

Emilia and Subaru looked at each other. "I don't know," Subaru said honestly.

Anri sighed. "I would have died if I hadn't used it. The Gospel is powerful. But…" She trailed off.

Subaru waited a moment. "But?" He prompted.

Anri bit her lip. "Did I ever tell you what my favorite dramatic scene is?" She asked.

Subaru actually chuckled. "No. I don't think that ever came up," Subaru said with a smile.

"It's from Findláech. Findláech first meets the witch accompanied by a dear friend, a wise companion named Lochamber who expresses his doubt of the witch's intentions and he urges Findláech to cast the Gospel away. He says 'I will give you one final piece of advice, dear friend. This book has a will of its own. Do not trust the lies that it spins. If you truly feel that you must, then take from the Gospel what you need but never forget that the dark presence within its pages is not your ally.'"

Subaru just stared at her.

Anri left the room without another word, pausing only to give them a last lingering look before shutting the door behind her.

Late that evening, Donar, Patrick, Vlad, and Argus gathered in Pardochel.

"Are we expecting anyone from House Griest to attend?" Donar asked.

Patrick shrugged helplessly. "I expect that they're pretty busy right now. They've lost more than half of their armed forces in the disaster today and their realm is exhausted from the war regardless. Not to mention Malcolm himself was captured."

"I simply can't believe it," Argus muttered. "How did this happen?"

"Only a handful of my men returned from the disaster at the Valley of Winds," Patrick replied, nervously biting a nail. "Most were badly burned and some may not survive. They said that the army was destroyed singlehandedly by Subaru Natsuki."

"The Butcher of Arlem," Vlad hissed.

"Butcher doesn't do him justice," Patrick mourned. "The few survivors who returned to my forces after the disaster are well known to me. These are strong and stouthearted men but even they were quivering with fear to remember living through that fiery hell. They shudder whenever Subaru Natsuki's name is mentioned. My people have taken to calling him 'the Fire Witch.'"

"Fire Witch?" Argus muttered.

Patrick nodded. "My soldiers reported that Subaru set the entire valley ablaze with a wave of his hand and thousands of men burned alive in seconds! I've also heard rumors that Subaru Natsuki nearly burned down the city of Ganaks but that they managed to contain the fire after he fled," Patrick replied. He shook his head. "My astrologer warned me of sudden blazes and great heats. I should have seen this coming."

The other princes groaned.

Donar frowned in thought. "My soldiers told me that the blaze was started by fire arrows."

"Be sensible, Donar!" Argus scoffed. "Fire may spread fast in dry grass but nothing like this! This had to be witchcraft. No normal means or magic could cause devastation on this scale."

"I don't understand," Donar murmured. "Why would Subaru Natsuki do this? Why would he bear us such malice?"

"Does a witch need a reason?" Vlad grumbled.

The other princes ignored Vlad. Where they had lost about half their armies, Vlad had lost nearly all of his. He wouldn't maintain control of his own province for much longer. He might even fall to being considered a lesser House before the seasons turned.

"Perhaps he did have a reason," Patrick said in a grim voice. "Remember, Subaru Natsuki was the heavy favorite to be King of Lagunica. Apparently they're electing a King and that means that the candidates need to do something truly impressive. That puts certain ideas in my head. After all what's the best way to impress the nobility with your power and achievements?"

"I don't know, what?" Argus asked.

Patrick looked at the men in disbelief. "Does the term 'conquest' ring a bell? As in, 'the Lagunican conquest of Gusteko?'"

Argus and Donar stared at Patrick in horror.

Patrick rolled his eyes. "Please! None of us are children! I can't be the only one thinking this! In one move, Subaru Natsuki has crippled the armed forces of most of Gusteko! Conquering the north wouldn't be easy but it would be entirely feasible, especially with that quisling Kairei providing the southerners with a safe staging area to operate from!"

"The Lagunicans don't have the balls to come up here and start trouble!" Vlad snapped. "They know what's waiting for them up in Gusteko lands!"

Patrick gave Vlad an annoyed look, then dismissed him from thought and continued. "If I were Lagunica, I'd be ready to move into southern Gusteko in force. House Griest is too exhausted to fight back and House Ithil must have already made a deal with them so it would safe territory to occupy and operate from."

"Our Houses may have been weakened, Patrick," Donar said slowly. "But Lagunica can't expect us to roll over that easily. Our Houses are still strong."

Patrick shook his head. "For generations, we've all depended on House Griest's army to defend us. They were the ones with the largest armies. What's worse, Lagunica may not be interested in conquering our Houses. If it can take just the southern provinces and maybe one or two more, then it could have enough of a majority to try and put the candidates of its choice on the Holy Throne. Has anyone else been wondering why assassins were hunting down our children and grandchildren for the past few months?" Patrick said in a deathly voice. "The only two candidates left with any serious chance for the Holy throne are Kairei an Ithil and Canmore an Griest. Two individuals who are either now or soon will be under Lagunica's thumb!"

The Princes stared at each other in horror.

Donar covered his face. "Oh, this plan has been well laid. All is lost!"

"That's enough of that, Donar!" Argus poked him hard. "You're one of the few men in this world that has my respect. Don't throw that away now!"

Donar took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes. I needed that. Thank you, Argus."

"Right," Argus grumbled. "So the question is, what are we going to do about all this?"

"We must face reality, gentlemen. We lack the strength to oppose the dragon kingdom," Donar murmured. "Perhaps we should consider a negotiated settlement?"

"We're not that desperate yet!" Argus scoffed.

Donar looked at him incredulously. "We're not?!"

"We should hold off on submitting to Lagunica. Or Siros for that matter," Patrick grumbled. He thought for a moment. "Perhaps we can make a campaign in the north more unattractive."

"How would we do that?" Argus asked.

"What if something happened to Kairei?" Patrick mused. "If House Ithil was dissolved, Lagunica would lose its ally and its beachhead in the northern wars. It might be enough to make them rethink the wisdom of a campaign."

"How would we arrange that?" Donar asked. "It's dishonorable in the extreme to deliberately attempt to eradicate another House."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, old man," Vlad muttered.

"She's a quisling! There's only one appropriate fate for traitors!" Argus snapped. "Personally, I'm less worried about justifying her death than I am in pulling it off! House Ithil may be exhausted by the wars but it still stands strong. It might still be too much for the three of us to tear down without destroying ourselves in the process!"

"Four of us!" Vlad shouted.

The others ignored him.

"Besides," Argus continued. "She apparently has a pair of witches guarding her! If we attack Siros, who knows what kind of spellcraft they'd throw against our people!"

"Maybe that's the answer," Donar mused. "The people of Siros can't be happy that the Princess is harboring witches."

"As I understand it, they aren't," Patrick replied. "But as of right now, Kairei is the hero of the age in Siros. She ended the war and captured Prince Malcolm so the populace expects a very favorable treaty to be signed. If anyone in Siros doesn't love their princess, they're being very careful to keep it to themselves."

"The Hierocracy might get involved," Donar mused. "They'd be livid about witches in Gusteko."

"If House Ithil was stripped from the rolls of the Houses again, what of it?" Argus scoffed. "They survived two hundred years like that! They've only been back on the rolls for about a decade. It won't cause any significant disruption in their lives, especially with Lagunica now supporting them more than Gusteko ever has!"

Patrick shook his head. "We need to hold a summit immediately. We must understand Ithil's intentions and clarify that they will not be permitted to completely upend the balance of power among the Houses. We also need to contact Lagunica and find out what they're planning."

"For some reason, I doubt that they'll just tell you what they're planning, Patrick," Argus said dryly.

Patrick shook his head. "I have contacts in Lagunica. There are several powerful nobles who owe me numerous favors. I can find out what the Sages' Council is up to. Just give me a few days."

Subaru and Emilia were both ready for bed but a shower sounded wonderful.

Emilia went first and she had a beatific smile on her face after she emerged from the bathroom, wearing in a fluffy white robe. Not long after, Subaru exited the shower feeling almost as if he'd been born again.

Man, how long has it been since I got clean? And I'm not talking about 'that time Emilia and I spent in that pond' kind of clean.

My last shower, if you can even call what they offer in the army camp a shower, was right before we killed the whale.

Subaru found a similar fluffy white robe in the bathroom and put it on before exiting. He found Emilia sitting on the bed with a dreamy expression on her face.

Subaru looked around the room with a frown. "Mili, where are our clothes?"

"Oh, a maid came and asked if she could clean them for us so I gave her yours too. She said she'd have them back to us first thing in the morning."

"Let's hope so or we're not going very far," Subaru murmured, sitting down beside Emilia.

Emilia looked momentarily downcast. "Subaru, I'm still pretty angry with Anri. I don't like secrets. How do we know that we can really trust her?"

Subaru sighed. "Lets… not borrow trouble right now, Mili. We have enough problems on our plate as it is."

Emilia nodded slowly. "What are we going to do with that Book?"

Subaru thought a moment and then shrugged. "I guess we'll try to read it?"

"It might be dangerous," Emilia warned.

Subaru rocked his head back and forth. "I mean, it didn't hurt Anri, right?"

Emilia nodded reluctantly.

Subaru grabbed the book off the night table and opened it.

He turned to the first page. Emilia glanced at it and immediately jerked her head away, shutting her eyes tight.

"Emilia?" Subaru asked in alarm.

"I remember now," She murmured. "I tried to read the book when I was looking through your satchel to find paper for a note. It burned my eyes but at least it had blank pages for me to use."

Subaru stared at the seemingly ordinary paper, puzzled. "What do you mean 'it burned your eyes?'"

"The letters were hard to look at. It felt like I had double vision or the letters kept changing shape," Emilia explained with her eyes still shut.

Subaru stared at the book and then shook his head. "I don't know what to tell you, Mili. It's not doing anything like that."

Emilia peeked at the book through one eye and quickly shut it again. "It is to me!" She said helplessly.

Subaru nodded. "Maybe this is something to do with me having an Authority and you don't," Subaru suggested. He quickly scanned the Book. "Huh. I wonder if Anri sees something different than I do. I don't see anything about her in here at all. Anyway, I'll read it to you," He said, turning the book so the cover faced Emilia.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Subaru cleared his throat. "'Only a fool throws away knowledge of his enemy.'"

Subaru froze. "I remember now. That was the only line in this book when I picked it up. I read that line by accident and I thought it made sense so I put the book in my satchel. Then I… forgot all about it."

"Subaru, do you think that the Gospel might have made you forget about it?" Emilia worried.

Subaru frowned and thought about it. "I don't know. I mean… maybe," He admitted. "But I found the Gospel on the day that I first came to the Sanctuary and things got so crazy after we arrived that maybe I forgot about it all on my own. Besides, wouldn't an evil, magical talisman want me to remember it? It seems like it would make more sense if it tried to manipulate me to use it a lot rather than forget all about it."

Emilia sighed and shook her head. "Just keep reading, Subaru," She murmured. "Let's get this over with."

"OK," Subaru said. He read the next line. "'The Harlequin plays his own game. He does not play with you, he simply advances a pawn. The Frost Queen stares through a mirror darkly. She will never pass the first trial until she illuminates the lies that she tells only to herself."

Subaru put the book down with a sigh. "You know, as far as prophecies go, these really suck. I barely understand what they mean and they're talking about the goddamn past! What good is a prophecy that you can't understand in advance?!"

"I don't know, Subaru. Let's just finish reading the book. Is there much more?"

"No, I don't think so," Subaru replied. "'The hunters follow the miasma. Great power breeds great fear. Be careful how you reveal your power lest you be betrayed by those you trust.'"

Subaru sighed. "This is all clear as mud," He complained. "I mean, I understand what it's trying to say but I only understand it because we already did it!"

"Anything else?" She murmured.

"'You walk in the protective shelter of the Witch's shadowy garment. Many eyes seek you but all the witches are blind. They listen for the song but only two witches can hear you. You carry three instruments: the Litany, the keepsake, and the heart of the spirits. Each pursuer hears two but they all sing the same melody.'"

Subaru put down the Gospel. "Mili, I thought the witches were all dead! Why is everybody talking about witches all of a sudden?"

Emilia just shrugged.

Subaru sighed and kept reading. "'A normal man's destiny flows like a river but who can predict the path of a drop of water in a wide, open sea. Even the Gospel struggles to perceive the web of destiny beneath the Witch's protective shadow.' No idea what that means. 'Even a True King is not a bottomless well. Take on too many burdens and all will suffer for it.'" Subaru closed his eyes with a sigh. "Let's just… move on. 'The Quest for the Book begins with the Silk Merchant of Picoutatte.'"

Subaru paused. "What book?" He asked rhetorically.

Emilia shrugged.

Subaru sighed. "Really helpful. Although, I have to give the Gospel credit. At least that one was short. This looks like the last line in the Gospel. 'The Mother of a Thousand Young strains to see through the keyhole. The Black Goat of the Wood has many eyes but they all turn red when she contemplates the King of Pride.'"

Subaru closed the book. "Well, that was a huge waste of time. I don't know why Anri even thought that this was useful. It seems like for whatever reason, the Gospel was giving her much more specific instruction that it gave us."

Emilia just shook her head looking pensive. "Subaru, let's forget about any more witchcraft for the night. Are you ready for bed?"

Subaru nodded. "Oh, you better believe it. I'm not as tired as I was, thanks to our long nap in the wagon but a night in a real bed sounds wonderful!"

Subaru tucked the Gospel into his satchel and they quickly undressed and slipped under the covers.

Emilia made a contented sound. "We haven't been in a bed like this for a long time. It's so big and soft."

"It's too big!" Subaru said in mock irritation as he pulled her closer. "With all this room, how am I supposed to convince you to snuggle up with me?"

Emilia giggled. "I bet that you can think of a way."

Subaru kissed her.

"Subaru," Emilia said, her face growing serious. "What do you think about us… staying in Siros? I can't deny that I'm still very angry with Anri for lying to us but… I'm worried about what might happen to her if we abandon her."

Subaru frowned. "Well, we certainly won't be going anywhere for a while. Even if the Grand Archives does have the information we need, from what Anri has told me, the place is huge! It might take us weeks just to dig the information out!"

"Honestly, perhaps that's for the best. But what about after that?"

Subaru thought a moment. "We'll make certain that Anri is safe but if the cure we need is somewhere else, I'm not going to hang around here. We've been through hell, Mili. I'm not going to rest until we've reunited our family and they remember who you are."

"I know that, Subaru," Emilia said, snuggling up against him. "And I feel the same way. I mean, what will we do after we have our family back together?"

"Heal your people," Subaru said meaningfully. "I haven't forgotten, Mili. After that's done, we're free agents. We can do whatever we want. Whether that's live in the forest or come and stay with Anri. We can do whatever makes you happy."

Emilia sighed. "Subaru, what would make you happy?"

Subaru thought for a moment. "I just want our family back together and safe. That's all I want," Subaru said seriously. "Everything else is negotiable. We have a ton of problems and I just want to put them behind us."

Emilia's face was grave. "Subaru, I know that we have a lot of problems to deal with. But, just for tonight, do you think that you can help me forget about them?"

She gave him a deep, slow kiss.

Subaru and Emilia might have actually slept later the next morning but they were awoken by the maid returning their clothes.

In all fairness, she was trying to be quiet but Subaru and Emilia immediately snapped awake as soon as they heard the door open.

"Who's there?!" Subaru demanded of the frightened maid.

The maid wasn't sure what to do when two clearly naked people challenged her with harsh looks and raised fists. They both looked prepared for battle.

The maid threw her hands high over her head and stood trembling in place. "I was just bringing your clothes back, sir!" The maid squeaked.

After dealing with that minor embarrassment, Subaru and Emilia got dressed and went down to the banquet hall where they found Anri, Victoire, and Gael who was endeavoring to feed his doll.

Anri had changed out of her traveling clothes and was dressed in an elaborate green gown. It was somewhat low cut in front and the key rested on her breast like some strange amulet.

Anri perked up as soon as they entered the room. "Subaru, Emilia! Good morning!"

"Morning, Anri," Subaru and Emilia murmured sitting down across from her.

"How did you both sleep?" Anri asked anxiously.

Emilia closed her eyes. "Everything is fine, Anri. You can relax," She murmured in resignation.

Subaru grinned at her. "My Mili can't hold onto a grudge," Subaru told Anri with a chuckle.

Emilia poked Subaru in the side.

A maid brought Subaru and Emilia some scrambled eggs and glasses of juice.

"I'm afraid that it looks like I'm going to be rather busy today," Anri sighed. "Uncle Radu has arranged for me to start meeting with the noble houses and laying the foundations for my coronation."

"Congratulations," Subaru murmured.

Anri looked pained. "Any chance that you two would consider hiding me in the forest?" She asked plaintively. "Just for a decade or two?"

"Sorry, Anri. You've got to man up for this one," Subaru chuckled.

Anri rolled her eyes heavenward. "Someone needs to explain to me how I won the war and yet find myself in a worse position than I was before."

"Hey, Princess," Victoire murmured. "If you're really going to be dicking around with those noble cucks all day, then do you want me to drag these two over to the Grand Archives? I can help them start to tear the place up looking for their cure."

Anri thought about it and nodded. "That's actually a very good idea, Victoire. Would you mind helping them get started?"

She shrugged. "Nah. Unless you'd see fit to give me a vacation instead. I know this really swinging joint in Vollachia with nude dancers. I haven't been there in way too long."

Anri looked at Subaru and Emilia. "My grandfather will be your best asset to try and locate the cure but I don't expect him back until sometime this afternoon at the earliest."

Subaru shrugged. "Well, we can give it a try anyway."

Anri nodded. "I'll hold dinner for you. I'd like you to meet my Grandfather. He's a wonderful man and a Patriarch of the Holy Church."

Subaru nodded. "Sounds good."

Anri untied the large ornate key from around her neck. "Subaru Natsuki," Anri said formally. "By my right of succession and the sovereignty of my crown, I grant you unfettered access to the legacy of my people. Please guard them well as they are more precious than any treasure."

Subaru nodded gravely.

Victoire reached out her hand but blinked in surprise when Anri passed the key directly to Subaru.

Anri looked at her apologetically but Victoire waved it off.

Subaru took the key. "Thank you, Anri," He said seriously. "I will take good care of what you have entrusted to me and I vow that I see it returned to you safely."

Anri smiled. "I have no doubts."

"Take good care of them, Victoire," Anri urged her. "Also remember you can use my name now!"

"Yup, I'll be all over them…, Anri," Victoire said awkwardly. "I'll make those librarians earn their keep!"

Anri got up from the breakfast table and waved goodbye to Victoire, Subaru, and Emilia. "Goodbye! I'll see you all this evening!"

"Alright, so here are the fucking Archives," Victoire said, climbing out of the carriage that had stopped just outside of the city.

Subaru followed Victoire out of the carriage and gaped at the enormous building. "Holy shit! This thing looks like a fortress, not a library!"

The Archives was squat and square and had no windows. It was easily six stories high and was made of heavy flagstones and what looked like concrete.

Can they even make concrete here? Maybe they have something similar?

Huh. I wonder how you do make concrete. Maybe it's not as hard as I'm imagining.

"Well, no shit," Victoire said with a lofty smile. "This is my people's goddamn treasury! This is the repository of all knowledge that we've been entrusted with guarding for fucking centuries!"

Subaru squinted up at the towering building as Emilia followed him out of the carriage. "I guess you guys take the term 'guarding' very literally. If you hadn't told me, I'd assume this was a prison or the treasury instead of a library."

The empty carriage trundled away back to the palace.

"Hey, just for your information, I hope that you jokers both appreciate what a fucking honor that was," Victoire said, not unkindly as they walked up the stairs to the fortress-like Archives.

"What an honor what was?"

"Being given the Princess's fucking key!" Victoire snorted. "Only the royal family has access to the key. The royal family's Shadows are permitted to hold the key only on super frigging rare occasions. Never has an outsider been entrusted with holding it. You have been fucking honored. Believe me!"

Subaru nodded slowly. "I'll make sure to mention that to Anri next time I see her."

"The Princess… 'Anri,' Victoire corrected herself awkwardly, "Was seriously fucking lucky to have run into the two of you. Frankly, the thought of what might have happened without you two dopes watching out for her gives me the chills."

"I think that you're underestimating Anri's determination," Emilia replied. "She would have found a way to save her people, with or without us."

Victoire shook her head. "Last night, Anri told me all about your adventures. I couldn't fucking believe it. If anyone else had told me this story, I would have figured that they were bullshitting me! Singlehandedly slaying a Snow Blight and the Black Water? Defeating the Bowel Hunter and an entire regiment of Sanshi soldiers? Facing a Sin Archbishop and breaking out of a fortified city? Overcoming an entire motherfucking army of Sanshi soldiers? Every single one of those things would be impossible. All of them fucking together? That's a miracle. All I can say is that it was a frigging lucky day for the Princess and Siros in general when you two found her."

Subaru sighed. "It has been a long, difficult road, hadn't it, Mili? So many of the people that we thought were friends want us dead now."

"I know, Subaru. And it may get worse before it gets better," Emilia replied sadly.

"Don't worry," Subaru said, taking her hand. "As long as we're together-"

"We can do anything," Emilia finished.

Less than an hour later, Anri had a splitting headache. She'd been sitting in a comfortable chair in the parlor, dressed up like a decorative doll and mouthing vapid pleasantries with a variety of nobles while saying nothing of consequence. Not that there wasn't a huge number of important and time critical plans that needed to be discussed and solidified right away but the nobility didn't seem ready to go there yet. For whatever reason, the nobility appeared to feel that finishing this elaborate and meaningless song and dance of vapid pleasantries with Anri was very necessary.

Uncle Radu was in attendance but the nobles paid him no mind as his regency was now clearly in its twilight. Several times, Anri looked at Radu in mute appeal, begging for a rescue from this tedium.

Each time, Anri had seen Radu bite his cheek to avoid laughing and shake his head.

His eyes said: Sorry, Anri. You're the ruler in all but name now. I've been dealing with this frustration ever since your mother died. Now it's your turn!

Anri checked a sigh and started thinking about what sorts of tedious and unpleasant tasks she could assign her Uncle to pay him back for all this.

The discussion was going nowhere fast and it looked to be headed even deeper into irrelevancy when a tall, heavyset man walked into the parlor. He had a long gray beard and his face was very good natured.

Anri's face lit up. "Grandfather!" Anri sang, jumping out of her chair and flinging herself into his arms.

"Oh! My little Anri!" The old man crooned, holding her tight. "All grown up and already a hero! Your parents would be so proud of you!"

Anri took a deep breath and her eyes were watery as she slowly pulled away. "I got an awful lot of people killed, Grandfather."

He rubbed her shoulder. "Sometimes that too is a leader's job, little one," He said sympathetically.

Anri bowed her head.

"Ah!" Radu coughed, giving Anri cover to cry for a moment. "I trust my lords will excuse our princess for the time being. Family matters do precedence after all. If you gentlemen will accompany me, I'll be happy to discuss our strategies for resolving the southern front," Radu said cheerfully, shooing the men out of the parlor.

Radu looked back at Anri and flashed her a wink.

Anri smiled at him through watery eyes before turning her attention back to her grandfather.

Gustov shook his head in wonder. "Ah, Anri, you will be a great ruler of Siros. After a victory like this, Odglass and the Hierocracy might even take note! My granddaughter, Holy King!"

Anri blanched. "Don't say things like that, Grandfather! I'm already going to be overwhelmed just ruling Siros. Now you want to make me responsible for all of Gusteko?"

"Can you think of a more capable candidate?" Gustov asked simply.

Anri looked pained. "How about… literally anyone else?"

Gustov threw his head back and laughed. "Ah, my little one. Confidence will come to you in time. But enough worries for the future. How is Vera?"

Anri's eyes widened. "Vera?"

"Yes. Is she well?"

Anri bit her lip. She searched for the right words. Finally, she sighed. "I'm sorry, Grandfather but… Vera didn't make it. She died in Stoneybrooke. I'm sorry. I thought that you knew."

Gustov's face fell. "Oh no," The old man began to weep. "I'd hoped that she would take over for me when I'm no longer able to administer the Archives…"

"I know, Grandfather," Anri said, holding his hand.

"This war has been terrible. So many lives lost pointlessly! Too much killing in this world, too much death. Not enough respect for people, for tradition, for life. I don't know, I just-" Gustov cut himself off and looked down at his granddaughter in embarrassment.

Anri nodded, patting his hand.

Gustov gave her a sad smile. "Dreadful business. You've brought honor and glory to your House simply by surviving all of this," He sighed. Gustov stopped and thought for a moment. "Wait. If it wasn't Vera than what Shadow were you with?"

"Victoire, Grandfather," Anri explained. "The one that you sent to meet us in Pardochel and she's been helping us ever since. She was the only one in the party who survived. I'm planning to have her transferred to my own personal guard."

Gustov frowned at her.

Anri rolled her eyes at him. "Come on, Grandfather. Do you need her that badly? I'm entitled to a few guards.

"Anri," Gustov said intently. "I know the names of every single Shadow we have. Who is 'Victoire?'"