Louise fidgeted in her chair. She'd been looking forward to learning battle tactics, but her mother's insistence that she treat Momiji as if the tengu was an instructor at the academy made the lessons seem more real. Add in the fact that Satori was hiding in the corner taking notes and Louise was starting to feel this was bigger than she'd first thought.

Momiji was standing next to a table she'd cleared off to place a map. Small flags were placed on various points, in a pattern Louise couldn't figure out. However the wolf woman's eyes were focused purely on her. "So, let's start with the basics. Do you know the purpose of an army, Louise?"

The answer came quickly to her. "To enforce a ruler's will on an area." She'd learned that much from Satori's teaching.

"Good." Momiji smirked. "Now do you understand what that means in full?"

Louise hesitated. "No," she admitted. "I can see how occupying a country is enforcing your will, and I get how stopping an enemy army keeps you in control of an area. But there's got to be more than that."

Momiji nodded. "Better than most fledglings. I think you can easily figure out the last reason too. Tell me, why does your mother need an army to support her? She's better than a battalion of foot soldiers."

"Because-" Louise hesitated, understanding striking her. "Because she can't be everywhere at once. She needs people to catch thieves and bandits, and to round up drunks. One person can't enforce the law on a dutchy."

"Exactly." Momiji gestured to the map. "To rule a land you need people to enforce your rules. If the populace is law abiding and approve of your rulership, you can get away with a few mediocre soldiers. If the populace hates you and your laws, you will need more troops. Which is why in a land with mages and dragons, you still need a bunch of people with spears to line up and fight each other. Because you need an army after the battle to hold your lands and take your enemy's."

Louise frowned. "Wouldn't it be better for a defender to send their mages to attack an enemy's army instead of mustering their own? And I know I've heard of small armies conquering larger provinces. How does that work?"

"Two good questions." Momiji held up a finger. "The first issue is complex. We will come back to it often." She raised a second finger. "As for small armies and large nations, that's a simpler problem. If your army is small you must either reduce the number of people you wish to rule, or find allies to increase your army size. Frequently both. Good examples would be the Mongols, or the successful Spanish conquests in the Americas."

Reduce the number of people? Louise flinched as she realized the meaning. "You mean they slaughtered cities?"

"Not uncommon." Momiji replied. "Conquest is bloody. Even a noble general will be slaughtering their foe's army. This is the truth of war. People will die."

Louise grimaced. It was all true, but hearing it so bluntly didn't make her feel better.

Momiji continued. "This brings us back to your first question. Sending a mage to slaughter the enemy's army. The first problem is your enemy has mages too, and they'll be guarding the army. The second problem is it's very easy for a strong mage to rout an army. It's much harder for one to destroy it."

"What's the difference between the two?" Louise asked. "If you break an army you win the battle, right?"

"Battle yes," Momiji grinned. "War? That's a different issue. I've said you should think of yourself as artillery yes?" Louise nodded. "Well think of a battle between artillery and infantry. The infantry charges. The artillery shoots them. They break ranks and run away. Now what?"

Louise pondered for a second. "The infantry reforms and tries again?"

"Exactly," Momiji turned to the map. "Similarly if you break an army," she removed a flag, "and let it retreat," she placed it next to a set of similar flags, "you may have gained an advantage, but you haven't won the war. Or even taken control of the area if you lack enough people. You've merely removed your enemy's control."

Understanding washed over Louise. "So Utsuho and I can't control an area. We can just prevent anyone else from ruling it. And only until we leave."

"Correct. You need an army to finish off the enemy, and control the land." Momiji folded her arms. "And an army requires supplies. Food. Water. Gunpowder. And all that requires transport, which usually means more food and water for horses. Transport that requires roads, ports, and protection. Let the enemy deny you any of that, and your army will cease to function."

The wolf tengu waved her over to the map. "Now, let me show you the issues of supply, and reconnaissance."

The next hour was a dizzying array of facts and figures. Louise hoped she could steal Satori's notes after because there was no way she was remembering everything. But she was learning a totally different facet of warfare. Something she'd never seen in the stories, or even her mother's books.

"It seems so mundane," she said as Momiji finished her lecture. "But you're right. It has to get done."

"Small details have large impact. It's amazing how often tasks that nearly anyone can perform are the most important," Momiji replied. "It's why I wanted to study human war so badly as a young pup."

Louise looked at the tengu. "Wait, I thought you were teaching me tengu strategy?"

"This is something the tengu have struggled with for generations. My family was one of the first to recognize the issue." Momiji smiled. "And I was one of the few tengu allowed to research logistics with humans. It is why the Great Tengu considers me one of the leading tacticians, despite my age."

Pride rolled off the wolf woman. Pride and something else. "You've wanted to pass this on, haven't you," Louise stated.

Momiji's ears twitched. "I suppose so. After all teaching helps refine one's understanding. It's easier than waiting for a war as well."

"So..." Louise hesitated but she had to know. "Did you lose that match on purpose? Mother said you chose a poor weapon for a duel."

"Hm?" That surprised the tengu. "Oh! True, sword and shield is not best for a one on one fight. But I picked that because it's what I fight with on the battlefield." She shook her head. "No I lost because your mother uses the wind like a human, not a tengu."

"Ah." Louise turned as Satori interrupted. "I see. Wielding the wind instead of guiding it."

Momiji's ears twitched again. "Yes. A tengu would call the wind from behind me. Only a human would think to just form the wind right then and there." The wolf woman shook her head. "A weakness in my strategy. I'd never considered that tactic."

Louise grinned. "So my mom's stronger then a tengu, eh?!"

"Stronger than me," Momiji corrected. "But I'm a weak mage. Aya could throw out a tornado stronger than your mother with a flick of her fan. Your mother isn't weak, but there's much stronger youkai out there."

Louise shivered, but Momiji just clapped her on the shoulder. "Fortunately for you, one of those is Utsuho."

Siesta wasn't used to watching a magician sulk. Marisa however was doing an impressive job of it. She was almost certain the magician was faking it, but she couldn't be certain.

"I can't believe you had a super awesome duel without inviting me!" Marisa flopped on the table. "One chance to fight a magician from a different universe and ya left me high and dry."

"I didn't realize they hadn't told you," Siesta said

Marisa sighed and flopped in her chair. "Suppose that's true. It's not your fault." The witch sat up again and all traces of sorrow were gone. "Honestly I saw the video Hatate took, and it wasn't that impressive. Suppose Youmu might be interested but it was more sword fight then danmaku. And that hurricane is nothing I haven't seen out of Aya."

Siesta shook her head. "You're all so impressive. That was a square rank spell. I won't ever be able to equal that."

"Right out of the gate? No." Marisa motioned to one of the cauldrons. "But with the right ingredients and a day of effort you could put together a spell like that. Maybe stronger if you do it right. With a week you could bottle up a spell that strong. You're really good with potions."

Marisa stood up. "You've gotta stop thinking in terms of the raw power you can chuck about on a whim. Sure that's fun and all, but if you're willing to put in effort you can do damn near anything. You're not a wand waving elementalist like Louise or the other nobles. You're an alchemist. A research mage."

"But..." Siesta looked around at the strange implements and items around her. "I don't understand magic. How can I be a researcher? I'm a maid with a spark of talent."

"Huh." Marisa blinked a few times. "Oh I get it. That's what I'm doing wrong."

She turned around and started rummaging through the books on the table. "Sorry about that. I figured you understood magic because you grew up in a magical world. But that world's magic and our magic is totally different." Marisa turned and handed over two books. "These will be a good starting point."

Siesta looked over the print. "The Art of Magic. Constructing Your Own Symbolism." She frowned. "How do you construct symbolism? And why would that help me understand spells?"

"Magic is the imposition of your will on reality," Marisa stated. "Your will. That's what people have a hard time understanding. If the spell makes sense to you, it'll work for you. Even if everyone else thinks you're crazy. Because it's your magic."

"But magic doesn't make sense to me." Siesta pointed at the water dragon scales. "I understand that those can be used in cold spells, because they're cold. But I have no idea why puffball mushrooms can be turned into explosive potions. That makes no sense."

Marisa laughed. "Because they explode into spores. You're thinking fire. I'm thinking boom." Her expression turned serious. "And that's why if you'd tried to make the potion from scratch you'd have failed. I had to show you it worked before you'd be able to form your will into the potion.

"But when you start creating your own spells you'll need to think about what makes sense for you. Obviously there are shortcuts. Something like another person's hair will always have an attachment to the person you took it from. An object you love or hate will always summon up those emotions. But past that? It's all you." Marisa shrugged. "There's a whole set of magical medicines that use belladonna lilies, just because the person who made them really loved the flower. Do what you think is right. Ignore anyone who says differently."

Siesta shook her head. "It just doesn't make sense. Aren't there rules?"

"No." Marisa stated bluntly. "We make up rules to get things done." The magician grinned. "But don't you worry about that. You'll figure it out or you won't, and whichever you do will be the right choice for you. For now, study those books. Learn the rules they tell you. Just remember those aren't the only rules. You can change your spell's paradigm anytime you want."

She opened the book and began to read through. The properties of light huh? Well at least this started to make sense.

Louise had a headache.

Hours upon hours of tactical training were reverberating in her brain like a baggage train. In fact just thinking about a baggage train was causing her to consider supply chains. "Ugh, that tengu's gonna kill me."

"You'll be fine," Utsuho thought at her while preening. "Besides you'll get to use some of that soon! The princess is going to finalize plans with you today right?"

"Yeah." Louise looked over at her traveling pack. It didn't nearly have all the stuff she wanted, but it was easy to travel with. She wished she'd had time to get a proper pack, but she didn't really know how to choose one. Maybe she should have asked Siesta.

The fact that she was so short also was a problem. Why couldn't the growth spurt come faster!

There was a light knock on the door, then Siesta came in. Louise was pleased to see her aide was wearing her cloak. "Is everything ready?"

"I think so," Siesta replied. "We'll likely be taking a carriage to start, so we won't need to worry about supplies until the smugglers take us to Albion."

"I can't believe we're trusting smugglers," Louise muttered. This was a secret mission, but couldn't they still get an official secret group to take a messenger of the crown? Well whatever. It wasn't Henrietta's fault.

Utsuho ruffled her wings. "Well if things go wrong I'll just blast them." Always an option Louise supposed.

There was another knock. "Strange. Could you get that Siesta?"

Siesta opened the door and bowed stepping aside. "Princess."

Louise wasn't sure to be proud or worried that the Princess entering her chambers was getting to be routine. Probably both. She stood. "Your majesty? Did something come up?"

"Not really." Princess Henrietta looked tired. She'd obviously been crying recently, but her makeup covered most of that. "It's something I've been putting off. A part of your expedition."

She sighed. "I believe in you Louise. I know you'll do the best you can. But as the Princess of Tristain I have to plan for the worst as well as the best." She held out a ring and several notes. "If you can't stop the Reconquista army... please return these to Prince Wales. He will have letters to return to me as well."

Louise blinked. That was the royal ring of Albion. Wait that meant... She wanted to smack herself. The princess and the prince were lovers.

Still that only made her more determined. "I'll make sure I can return these to you."

Henrietta smiled. "Thank you Louise. Just make sure you return. I couldn't bear to lose you both." She turned to Siesta. "You take care as well. While we have known each other only a short time, I appreciate what you've done for my friend, and what you can do for our nation."

Siesta bowed. "Thank you princess!"

Utsuho flapped her wings. "Wait don't I get a sappy goodbye too?"

"There's nothing that can kill you," Louise pointed out to her familiar.

"Ah I did forget someone," Henrietta smiled at the raven. "My apologies. Safe travels, and make sure Louise eats well."

"Of course!" Utsuho puffed out her chest feathers.

Henrietta nodded. "Now let's see you off. Count Wardes should be arriving in a little while. He knows your familiar is strong, but nothing beyond that. As far as he's concerned this is a reconnaissance mission."

Louise grabbed her bag. "So how do I tell him about our plan to stop the rebel army? Just have Utsuho blast them?"

"If you think it's possible, I've given him orders under seal to change his mission." The princess smiled. "Specifically that he's under your command. Obviously I can't write down that you'll be starting a war on foreign soil."

"I liked the explosion plan better," Utsuho thought.

She stroked her familiar's beak. "We need to know what to blow up first."

The raven leaned into the petting. "Humans make things so complicated."

Louise led the princess out of the women's dorms trying to get her thoughts organized. What did she need to consider? Probably where the enemy army was, their reserves. Oh yeah and what forces the King of Albion had. That was important.

A shadow in front of her caused her to stumble to the side. She'd nearly run into someone while thinking. "Excuse me." She blinked as she saw Guiche standing at the doorway. The idiot wasn't complaining though. Instead he was staring behind her.

She looked to see he was staring at the princess. Of course. Just her luck to bump into the lech. "Stop drooling at our ruler Guiche."

The man wiped his mouth and kneeled. "Forgive me your majesty. I'm your devoted servant. Command me as you will."

"Montmorency is still mad at you eh?" Louise snorted. Guiche flinched, but remained kneeling.

"Sad wandering crow." Utsuho cawed mockingly.

Princess Henrietta looked down at the man, and Louise noticed something she'd never seen in her friend's eyes. A cold calculation that was kinda scary. Something she'd seen her mother do once or twice. "You are Guiche de Gramont yes? I might have a mission for you."

The fop smiled. "Everything I am is at your disposal your majesty."

She motioned to Siesta. "Louise de la Valliere and Baronet Siesta Takeo are performing a task for me. While I have asked Count Wardes to defend the expedition from misfortune, he obviously would favor his fiance if hard decisions needed to be made. So I entrust you with defending Baronet Takeo on this journey."

"Eh?" Everyone else's jaws dropped. Guiche defending Siesta? Louise had a hard time seeing that idiot defending anyone. And of course Siesta wasn't used to having a bodyguard. And Guiche was still probably thrown off by Siesta's new status.

Still lechery prevailed. Guiche made one of his bronze roses. "You wish is my command majesty. Neither of these young maidens will come to harm."

"Your majesty you wound me. I had not thought a few minutes of delay would cause my position to be lost."

Louise whirled to see Count Wardes standing there. He was dressed in his usual Griffon knight uniform, feathered hat and cape over a buff jacket. It had been years since she'd met him when their families arranged the marriage, but he was still the dashing figure she remembered.

"No slight was intended Count Wardes," Princess Henrietta said. "I just thought a additional mage might have use, since I wish all of you to return safely. In any case I hope my worries are misplaced and you have an uninteresting journey." She nodded. "I shall take my leave so you can get acquainted and plan your travels without me hovering over you."

"Safe travels to you as well your majesty," Wardes said with a bow.

"We'll get this settled for you and be back in no time," Louise said confidently. Utsuho cawed in agreement.

Princess Henrietta smiled and nodded. "Please."

Count Wardes approached as the princess left and held out his hand. Louise blinked for a moment before she realized what he was doing. She blushed and offered her own hand so he could kiss it. "I am glad to see you again Louise. And it seems you've grown greatly as a woman in my absence."

"T-thank you, Count Wardes." Her heart was racing and she felt a really stupid smile on her face. She hadn't received a compliment like that in, well, forever if you didn't count her father. "I'm glad you could accompany us on this journey."

"It is my pleasure." He smiled. "I was greatly ashamed I missed you receiving your title of Chevalier. Stopping a golem in its tracks is no small feat. But sadly I was busy training my knights. I hope you can forgive me my absence."

Louise shook her head. "It's fine. Really! The defense of our country is more important after all."

Count Wardes nodded, then turned to Siesta. "Ah and you must be Baronet Takeo. You and Louise must forgive me. The mad ramblings of Count Mott had me worried for a second. I should have known my dutiful Louise would not betray oaths made so quickly."

"A pleasure to meet you," Siesta said.

That again. Louise looked over at Utsuho. "Do you think you could ask a flock of crows to pester him for a few months?" She was really tired of hearing about him.

"Not sure if they'll do it, but I'll ask," Utsuho replied.

Count Wardes turned to their last member. "And you are...?"

"Guiche du Gramonde," he said bowing and presenting a bronze rose. "The princess requested my aid defending the lovely Ms Siesta here, and I jumped at the chance to serve beside a distinguished figure as yourself."

"Hm." The Count's expression changed. It was the calculating expression the princess had used before. No actually, Louise corrected herself. It was harsher even then that. It was the face of someone considering if they might have to kill someone. Why did Wardes look like that?

The expression vanished after a moment though. Perhaps she'd imagined it? Instead he nodded. "Well I suppose this would be a good teaching opportunity. If the ladies would forgive me for a moment, perhaps you could show me your skills?"

"Of course!" Guiche made a meaningless flourish and summoned his bronze valkyrie golem. Then he paused. "Ah, but I'm sure you can easily defeat me."

"Just figured that out Guiche?" Louise muttered. Utsuho croaked a laugh under her wing.

Count Wardes just chuckled. "Probably. But I shall hold myself back. Please, show me the skill of your golem. I'll give you my advice after."

"Of course!" Guiche moved it forwards in a dangerous lunge. But Count Wardes just slapped the point aside.

The battle continued for a minute, Guiche's golem stabbing and Wardes parrying. Louise wasn't sure what anyone was supposed to learn from this. It was the same moves over and over. Surely Guiche had to realize he wasn't getting anywhere?

And then with a sudden blur it was over. Wardes was standing in front of Guiche, sword at the young man's throat. "First battle?"

"Yes," Guiche managed to squeak.

"I suspected." Wardes sheathed his blade. "You treated it like a joust rather than a fight. Your golem is a footsoldier in a war, not a knight in a joust. Fight with all her power." Wardes tipped his hat. "And consider learning to use a sword yourself. Your foes will strike at you directly, and your golem is limited by your own skill."

Guiche stared with wide eyed admiration. "Thank you sir! I shall take your instruction."

As Count Wardes walked away, Louise moved to his side. "That was nice, but you really think that playboy can make anything of himself?"

"How harsh!" Wardes smiled. "I feel that boy might be able to rise above his current status." His expression soured. "If he's given the chance. War is not as forgiving as training."

"Let's hope we can skip this war," Louise muttered.

"With my power victory is certain," Utsuho reassured her.

The first leg of the trip had been without much incident. Louise felt sorry for Siesta, who'd had to listen to Guiche's bragging for the ride. But it seemed like he was still too confused with her status to do more then boast.

Count Wardes on the other hand had been nothing but gentlemanly towards her. Oh he'd threw out a few double entendres, but unlike that Kirche it was always subtle. Louise found herself blushing several times.

Utsuho hadn't helped either. Constantly preening and talking about holding contests to determine the best nestmate. What was that bird thinking?!

In any case, they made it through the first leg of their journey in good time. The inn they'd rented was very well provisioned. Two rooms and a small eating area for the four. Probably something for traveling nobles. They'd start losing those amenities as they got further from the capitol, but she was going to enjoy it for now.

Currently they were all sitting around the table, a pot of the inn's stew between them. Count Wardes was talking about a skirmish with Germania a few years back, to Guiche and Siesta's amazement. But Louise found her attention only partially there.

"What's wrong?" Utsuho thought while nuzzling her ear.

"I dunno. Maybe I'm just nervous," Louise sent back.

The raven hopped down to peck at the bread. "Maybe you should ask about the mission then. Get more prepared."

That wasn't a bad idea. Louise waited until Count Wardes was finished, then interrupted Guiche's praise. "So, what do you know about the Albion civil war? I've gotten reports from my parents and the princess, but I imagine they're out of date."

Everyone else blinked at her, the cheery mood around the table subdued. "Ah, quicker to business then I thought, my Louise." Wardes nodded. "Very well, I shall explain what I know. I've been tasked with keeping an eye on the war so I perhaps have the most information.

"The king and his loyal troops have been driven back to Newcastle. Rumors have the garrison anywhere from five hundred down to fifty mages, facing off against at least five thousand troops under the banner of the Reconquista."

Louise nearly choked. "Fifty against five thousand? That bad?!"

Guiche seemed even more stunned. "But... how could the royal family be so outmatched? Is there some sorcery at play?"

"No." Wardes shook his head. "Just cunning politics. Albion was a hotbed of resentment to start, and Cromwell turned that to his advantage."

"Um..." Siesta shrunk into herself but managed to steel herself and speak up. "My village is near Albion, and while we don't get a lot of traffic, the commoners who came through before the war didn't seem to think King James was cruel. How did the populace turn?"

Wardes sighed. "The royal family was not deliberately cruel, but incompetence can become a form of cruelty. The King was frivolous with spending, and let his vassals tax too heavily in response." He smoothed his mustache. "Those ambitious vassals who wanted to take the throne for themselves gathered enough to hire a large number of mercenaries. And when Cromwell began his divine crusade, well they were happy enough to join his peasant band."

"Crusade?" Utsuho clacked her beak. "Are they hunting down youkai?"

"Good question." It obviously wasn't youkai, but there wasn't many things to crusade against. Louise looked up at Wardes. "What is Cromwell claiming to do? Isn't killing the king against the teachings of Brimir?"

Wardes snorted. "Yes, but he's claiming now is the time of reunification. That the nations need to join and claim the holy land from the elves."

Ah right. That made some sense. Reclaiming the holy land was something the church constantly preached about. But there were some gaping holes in that plan. "How is he going to pull that off? Albion just had a civil war, it can't take on the rest of the nations alone!"

"Indeed!" Guiche laughed. "To think that is absurd."

"All the nations alone? No." Wardes agreed. "However will we fight together? Gallia just had its own civil war, and their new King is a fool. Germania and our Tristain are uniting, but there's many years of bad blood as well. A fragile alliance like that might break at any point."

"It still seems a losing battle," Guiche said with a snort. "We should break them easily."

Louise on the other hand felt more grim. "Just because they lose, doesn't mean we win. If Cromwell does enough damage, Germania might skip the 'marriage' part of unification."

Wardes grinned. "Ah you've learned well Louise. I'm impressed." Louise basked in the man's praise for a moment before his smile faded. "Though I fear the truth is even worse. Cromwell's plans have support outside of Albion. There's plenty of ambitious nobles who want to be one of the chosen to claim the holy land. And of course the most faithful commoners are interested as well. Treachery is all about."

"Why now?" Siesta asked. "The elves have been quieter than usual, and the Pope hasn't made any big speeches about reclaiming the lands."

They all turned to Wardes, looking for a possible answer. The man sat for a bit in grim silence, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I've heard rumors that they believe a great catastrophe will strike soon. Within our lifetimes. Only by retaking the elven lands can our people be saved from destruction."

Louise blinked, then sniffed. "How convenient." Utsuho croaked in agreement. "'Trust us, there's a cataclysm coming up and you have to follow our lead or else.' They'd better have something stronger than that when they plead for a truce."

Guiche and Wardes' jaws dropped, but Siesta managed a giggle. "That's Louise."

Count Wardes managed a chuckle as well. "A fiery spirit. I look forward to seeing what you and your Utsuho can do."

Well I'm back. Completed Nano and then collapsed for a while. These chapters are harder as well, since I have to be much more careful with setup. Soon bird based beatings again. Soon. But hopefully I can keep things interesting until then.