The Sword of Liberation
They had been walking all day, making a wide detour to avoid having to go back through the Gallows. Their small troupe progressed on foot, except for Blaise and the knight of Bel-Amant, the latter holding before him the little Clotilde.
The little girl seemed well recovered from her abduction by Ned. She spoke constantly, exhausting Gonderic of Bel-Amant under the flood of her questions. She wanted to know everything about the knights... and about Shiro.
Once again, the hero with the amber eyes had seduced an innocent woman... The worst was that the Japanese reincarnated had not done it on purpose! Rin Tohsaka, who looked alternately at the idiot in question and the 12-year-old girl, sighed as she looked up.
Artoria, who walked beside her, coughed in his fist to mask her laughter:
- No need to worry, she is far too young to be a rival.
- Still happy that...
Rin stopped and blushed violently, realizing that she had just admitted to being in love with Shiro. Furious against herself and against Saber, the Magus forced herself to speak in a low voice, looking anxiously at the teenager with red hair. Fortunately, he opened the way and the two girls were in the tail of the procession, following Blaise's horse.
- Saber, I... I am absolutely not in love with Shiro! Get this ridiculous idea out of your head... how could a genius like me fall in love with this idiot?
- He is brave, replied Artoria.
- That is true!
- Cute.
-... as true.
- Kind.
-... yes.
- Always willing to risk his life to help others.
-... where... where are you going with this, Saber?
- How long have you known him?
Rin, who always blushed, turned her head, embarrassed. She didn't answer, but her memories were from another life... she must have been thirteen... she was looking at a red-haired boy who was practicing pole vault one night long after school ended. Rin had looked at him, at first mocking and then... admiring. Even at that age, when Shiro set a goal, nothing distracted him.
He was the embodiment of determination. As inflexible as the swords he drew. Except it was made of flesh, no steel...
Artoria looked at her reaction and nodded seriously, the tone of her voice changed. She was no longer teasing or amused, but serious:
- You can refuse to admit it in front of someone else. Only, you must not lie to yourself, Rin.
The Magus still refused to look at Saber, but the knight saw her friend's shoulders collapse:
- When he cuts himself, when he bleeds... I'm the one in pain!" Rin had a little laugh of derision." And you know how difficult it is to prevent this stupid heroic idiot from sacrificing his life to save complete strangers."
Saber nodded, and then took her friend's face in her hands, hardly surprised to discover that her cheeks were wet with tears. Artoria forced Rin to face her:
- You are not alone.
Artoria lured her friend and... put her lips on hers. When the knight released her, Rin gave Artoria a capsized look... intoxicated... it had not been movies kiss:
- That... but... I...
- I was raised as a man. To be a king, a knight, a warlord... the kind of powerful man who attracts women. And then they saw me as a pretty boy... eternally adolescent and effeminate... but a handsome boy. I had many proposals. I learned to recognize the look that women in love gave me. Especially to avoid being alone with one of them.
Despite the tears on her cheeks, Rin giggle imagining Saber hiding in an empty room of her castle to escape a horde of admirers stalking her all over Camelot. No one could imagine the hardships of the legendary King Arthur.
- Trust me, Rin, I learned the cost of hiding my feelings. On Camlann's Red Hill, I cried, cried and cried. Cried over all the dead I could have avoided by opening my heart. I destroyed everything I built because I didn't tell the people around me that I loved them... don't make my mistakes again.
- All... all three?
Tohsaka coughed and replied more clearly:
- Do you think we can do something together, you, me and Shiro?
Artoria nodded:
- What are your fears? That society will not accept such a relationship? I spent a lifetime trying to be the "ideal king," meeting the expectations of others and being what they wanted me to be. The result is not worth it.
- And Shiro will accept it?
A little red appeared on Saber's cheeks, in memory of a certain night in a ruined house in the middle of the Einzbern forest:
- He didn't fight too hard last time...
Shiro walking at the head of the column had a sudden thrill. His fighting instinct warned him that danger was threatening him. He turned around and found only Saber and Rin looking at him, whispering.
The reincarnated Japanese scratched his cheek... did he imagine things?
Their return to Crestshade had been greeted by transports of joy. For years, the population of Verandia suffered on all sides. Between the Black Knights of Duke Atrum Galliasta who oppressed the poor people and the monsters that multiplied in the country, they felt completely abandoned.
Gondyn Kingston and his wife had cried with joy when they saw their daughter alive. Ned the Reikr had kidnapped the children for years and no one had ever seen them again. Clotilde was the first to be saved. As for Alderman Edwor Moorhart, he paid them the promised sum when Rin placed before him the severed head of the monster that had terrorized them for so long.
In fact, between the parents of Clotilde and the municipality, Artoria, Rin and Shiro received thirty-five Septims... which Saber wanted to refuse. What led to a short argument with Rin Tohsaka... the stinginess of this one was legendary. Fortunately, Edwor Moorhart and Gondyn Kingston urged Artoria Pendragon not to delay any reward. When they affirmed that it was a debt of honor and that to continue to refuse it would be insulting to them, Saber gave up... to Rin's greatest joy.
Meanwhile, the people of Crestshade decided to celebrate their new heroes, including Gonderic and Blaise. While Clotilde Moorhart recounted with children's words the final battle against the sorcerer, tables were set up and the music was heard.
Gondyn Kingston approached Artoria Pendragon.
In fact, he was quite intimidated. The young woman did not resemble his idea of a great knight. She looked like a gracious young teenage girl, an incredible beauty. Her blond hairs, as made of pure gold threads, were wisely gathered in a braid coiled on the back of the skull. The strands left free framed a thin oval face, with the exception of a rebellious ahoge.
However, her emerald-like eyes had a maturity that was unthinkable to encounter in a girl of her age. As for her manners and her maintenance, they demonstrated a great habit of command.
The pictorial description of the sword of light that Artoria Pendragon had used to blind Ned was even more astounding. Gondyn had at first thought that this detail had been invented or exaggerated; nevertheless the knight of Bel-Amant had disabused him.
He placed a pint of beer in front of Saber, who thanked him with a slight nod of her head... as someone who was perfectly aware of his rank. However, the alderman did not feel insulted. He did not detect any contempt in her behavior.
From her eyes, she followed Shiro Emiya dancing with Clotilde... which he actually carried with an arm. The little girl laughed wildly, maybe really happy for the first time in her life.
- Lady Pendragon, may I sit next to you?
- As you please.
Ceasing to follow the evolution of the redhead, Saber turned to him:
- What do you want to talk to me about?
Gondyn Kingston laughed nervously at feeling so quickly uncovered. Partly against his owns will, he took the low tone of a conspirator:
- You are seeking to reunite the Corvus Crystal.
It was not a question and Saber squished his eyes into a slit, suddenly very attentive:
- It would seem to be pointless to deny it.
- The third shard is in the castle of Doomrag, in the possession of the duke. The places are severely guarded. The tyrant has assembled an important army; you will never be able to cross the ranks of his troops. But... there may be a way.
- You have my full attention, Alderman Kingston.
- We... have been preparing for several months to rise up against the tyrant Atrum Galliasta.
- How many men do you have? Are they well armed, trained in combat?
The alderman blinked, surprised by the precision of the questions and tried to answer them as best he could. The inhabitants of Crestshade and the surrounding countryside had secretly raised an "army" of 1,200 men. Alas, apart from about thirty local knights, they were mainly hunters equipped with bows, a peasants' uprising with agrarian tools (scythes, forks, plagues) as weapons and city guards more capable of fighting against thieves than against soldiers.
Artoria nodded, the mine darkened.
Gondyn Kingston realized this:
- There is another movement that wants to overthrow Duke Atrum. It is the Barons Alliance. We have good contacts... for the moment.
Gondyn grimaced, after all the local nobles were hardly more reliable than Atrum Galliasta himself. Only the impoverishment of their own estates because of incessant wars led them to depose the tyrant. They made fun of the suffering of the people.
Artoria nodded her head seriously, seeming to understand the ulterior motives of the alderman:
- Their strengths? What are their numbers? Do they have trained soldiers?
- Yes, Lady Artoria. You can judge it yourself; they have to come to town tomorrow. Their troops are already mobilized and hidden in the surrounding countryside.
- Then why didn't you attack Duke Atrum?
The alderman scratched his scalp, very embarrassed.
- The Barons Alliance only agreed to bring down the tyrant. These lords cannot agree on a battle plan or a single leader. On our side, we are united... except that we hear nothing of the art of war.
- I see. You want me to take command of your army.
- Yes...
Saber only thinks for a few moments:
- I accept. However, you must understand that you are entrusting me with a very difficult task.
She was about to add something when Shiro approached to take her by the hand:
- Come and dance!
Artoria Pendragon became confused:
- I... I didn't want to.
Without listening to her protests, the young redhead tore her from her stool, taking her to participate in the farandole of the inhabitants.
In the end, Shiro practically had pull Saber at arm's length. She had not really tried to resist but... the young woman was content to follow and her face showed a sad and resigned expression.
As soon as the dance was over, Artoria let go of his hand and returned to sit down. The amber-eyed hero followed her.
- Do you hate dancing so much?
Artoria startled and gave him a troubled look. She smiled... or rather tried to smile, the result looked like a dark grimace:
- This brings back bad memories.
Shiro acquiesced. When he was his Master, the young man had access to her memory. He had seen the immense throne room of Camelot and the lords of the kingdom dancing before their king. And she on the big chair, alone in the midst of laughter. Loneliness, that word was the simplest summary of King Arthur's reign. As referee of the factions arguing over the kingdom, Artoria could not associate with any of her vassals on pain of breaking the delicate balance they formed around her. This had finally isolated her from everyone.
- I understand, he replied softly.
Saber glanced at him and shook her head:
- I don't think so. You know who Hueil was?
The young redheaded man thought for a moment, but it didn't mean anything to him. That said, he did not know the time of his former Servant so well.
- No.
- He is one of my youth companions, even before I snatched Caliburn from the Selection Stone. He came from the region you call Scotland. In my time this country was being invaded by the Scots, a people of Ireland who will eventually give their name to the region. My adoptive father, Ector, had welcomed a Pict lord who had been exiled by the Scots. His son, Hueil, was one of my first companions. Uther had just died and the Britons were fighting with each other for his crown as much as they were against the Saxons. I was already participating in the struggles and I was injured in one of my first battles. But... I was still very young... I was jealous of girls my age who went dancing. Dressed as a woman, I snuck into a nearby village on a holiday. Except that Hueil was there too... he recognized me and could not help laughing at me because I limped: "the dance would be beautiful if it were not the thigh".
Artoria stopped, looking at the bonfire around which the villagers revolved. Shiro hesitated then asked the obvious question:
- What happened next?
- I... I ran away. And I told Ector everything. His anger was terrible... not really against me, rather against bad luck. He started by banish Hueil so that he could not tell our allied that he had discovered that I was a woman. However, afterwards, Ector began to think that this would not be enough. He rallied all our allies... Hueil did the same to defend himself and we met... at the Battle of Kellydon Forest.
Artoria passed one hand on her face and stopped to look at her shaking fingers:
- It was a tough battle. Victorious, I chased Hueil on the run and managed to capture him. After all the bloodshed, I had no choice. I ordered that it be beheaded immediately (1). The monk Gildas, the son of Hueil, forced me to pay heavy repairs and then did not cease to blaming me, accusing me of wanting to tyrannize all Britain. There were many who believed his sermons and opposed me.
Saber had a pale smile:
- Once in my whole life, I wanted to be a girl like everyone else and have fun. Only once... How much I paid!
Short of words to answer, Shiro held the love of his life in his arms.
The next day the meeting with the rebel barons took place. It was a group of about ten feudal lords smelling of arrogance. The continual wars that shook the Rivenspire region gave them the opportunity to shine on the battlefields. In addition, they gathered around them an army made up of knights of their houses, feudal guards... and the same mixture of hunters and peasants that made up the bulk of the forces raised by the municipality of Crestshade. In all, the Barons' Alliance had a thousand men. Except it was not an army. But the Alliance had no leader or common command, and the lords arrived at Crestshade arguing over stupid primal squabbles.
Artoria Pendragon welcomed them on horseback and in armor, Caliburn on the belt. The king of Brittany appeared to them surrounded by the knights of the city, and a hundred armed militiamen.
Her beauty, her royal air, the magnificent sword and the ordinance of the troops around her left them speechless. It was the effect of her "Charisma" competence. It was not a supernatural characteristic but only years of commanding troops and negotiating treaties. Saber knew perfectly how to impress allies and opponents.
Artoria did not wait for the barons to recover from their initial shock to invite them to the Aldermen's Chamber where she immediately began to organize the attack against Atrum Galliasta. The precise questions she put to the lords gave her an idea of the capabilities of the army of the rebels. She also inquired about the tyrant's army.
And things weren't in their favor.
They had gathered two thousand two hundred men, a good half of whom belonged to the category of "levees". A levy was a troop of non-combatants conscripted to participate in a battle. Without experience of war, often poorly armed, their morale remained weak. The militiamen of Crestshade were inhabitants of the city who had received a minimum of training. In fact, only knights and feudal guards used to carry arms.
Opposite, the army of Duke Atrum had at least two thousand men. A good part consisted of levees, militiamen... and bandits. The rest was formed by the fearsome Black Knights. Better fighters, more numerous and much better equipped, they outranked in every way their equivalents in the rebel troops.
If only the Count of Bel-Amant had joined the uprising! His army had at least a thousand men, including many professionals. Perhaps because he was mischief to the barons - who were jealous of him- Gonderic's father had kept his distance from the Alliance. In any case, he constituted a fourth faction in Verandia and the only one not involved in the revolt.
While the King of the Knights was thinking, the barons had recovered a little from their surprise. One of them, stood up:
- Lady Artoria, why do you speak as if you were the designated leader of the alliance gathered to bring down the tyrant?
In fact, Saber had been waiting for this intervention for some time. She straightened herself to stare her opponent right in the eye:
- Sir Jehan de Lyoret, the city of Crestshade has given me the honor of offering me the command of its forces. This army outnumbers the armed forces of the various barons. I am competent in the art of war. As a stranger to this country, I wish that I continue on my way and therefore am not your rival. Therefore, it seems to me to be the most suitable to lead.
The Baron de Lyoret looked away. The eyes of this knight seemed to read to his soul. He felt... dirty. Impressed, he no longer dared to retaliate.
However, his neighbor, a disfigured colossus wearing an armor of plates decorated with spikes, began to growl:
- We do not need a little girl to give us orders!
Artoria turned to the military boor:
- Sir Estienne de Vignonne, do you question my command?
He burst out laughing:
- God-blood! For sure! I'm not a baby who still has wet ears.
- So you think you're a better fighter than I am?
Baron de Vignonne spitting on the ground in a contemptuous manner:
- You want me to prove it to you, girl?
The King of the Knights rose and opened the door that led to the court.
- After you, my lord.
Gathered around the two combatants, the barons held their breath. Estienne de Vignonne was an atrabilary lout whom her peers feared. However, he was also the best fighter among them. A good half feared that he would lead them. Although he was a man of war, the only tactic he knew was to go straight for it... but many, often the same, feared his defeat just as much.
Baron de Vignonne stood on the edge of the spectator circle. He raised an ebony Zweihänder that covered itself with flames, a magic weapon of some renown called "La Colérique".
Facing the colossus in dark armor, the girl was wearing ordinary plate armor. However her sword - which she called Caliburn- was to be a weapon of great renown in view of its guard and its golden pommel, like the inlays of blue enamel.
Contemplating her adversary without fear, she waved the blade towards the sky. It was illuminated with a light similar to the radiance of the sun:
- Behold the Golden Sword of the Victorious!
Although Vignonne's face was invisible behind his helmet, he seemed hesitant before throwing himself forward. In spite of the savagery of the assault, the baron knew showed subtlety. He cracked vertically but twisted his blade in a vicious way. However, much more was needed to lose Artoria. Her instinct foresaw it. There was a shower of sparks when the two blades met.
Vignonne grew, confident in his strength. Rather than struggle - although her Dragon Core allowed her to do it- Artoria strongly preferred to break, jumping aside with the grace of a cat. Carried away by his impetus, the baron took a few steps in stumbled and turned to attack again, enraged by his first failure.
Keeping his sword closer to him, Vigonne changed the "game", using blows requiring less scope. Apparently, he was now suspicious, looking to gauge his opponent.
There was a series of rapid exchanges which the eye found difficult to follow. The sparks burst out in every direction and when the two combatants broke, the barons were surprised to see that none were injured. However... Vignonne blew like a blacksmith, his chest rising rapidly. While in front of him, Artoria Pendragon's forehead did not show a drop of sweat.
Once again Vignonne rushed forward and Saber remained passive.
The two blades collided with violence, flames and golden brilliance fighting against each other. Estienne de Vigonne used all his brute strength to break the guard. And Artoria folded aside while twisting Caliburn to deflect the Zweihänder. As the opponent stumbled in front of the King of Knights, her foot struck him in the stomach.
The colossus wavered, holding his stomach. Despite the armor, the man had had his lungs emptied by the shock and barely held on his legs. As Artoria did not take advantage of his weakness, having simply returned to caution, with her face concentrated, Vignonne returned to her little step, very cautious.
This time, he was determined to use all his skills of fencing this... "little girl" could no longer be underestimated. Apparently, he struck again like a bully. It was only a feint called false point or short point, a technique that Vignonne had learned from an imperial master of arms. His Zweihänder spun horizontally, targeting the head. The defender then had to raise his blade to guard... and the attacker changed the stroke of the blade to hit the throat. It was a style that required a quick change in the position of the hands on the Zweihänder but it was almost unstoppable.
Again, Artoria contorted herself to the side and deflected the blade with a single backhand. Her fighting instinct had warned her of the attack, allowing her to counter.
Vignonne's mouth fell for a few moments and Saber leapt towards him. It was so fast that he did not have time to make a gesture. But she simply struck his blade with enough force to pull it from his hands.
Happy, the young woman retreated:
- Shall I continue the fencing lesson or have you had enough, my lord?
Furious, humiliated, the baron threw himself on his weapon. Then, he raised the sword over his head to shoot it down with all his strength.
Artoria vanished to the side and La Colérique sank deep into the paving, projecting pieces of stone from a distance. Before Vignonne could lift the blade, Saber immobilized it under hit foot. This technique called Coup du paysan was one of her favorites when it came to confronting bullies. She had used it against Diarmuid ua Duibhne during the Fourth Grail War(2), but the latter had easily countered it.
Swearing, insulting the Aedras and the Daedra, the immense warrior tried to tear La Colérique from the ground, but the weapon did not move. Saber simply laid Caliburn on her enemy's throat:
- In a real fight, I would have blown your head off your shoulders, Mr de Vignonne.
- Who... who are you?
- Knight Artoria Pendragon, of the Order of the Rose, servant of King Eadwyre of Menevia. I have fought orcs, ogres, lichs, and wyvern. The sword in my hands is Caliburn, the Golden Sword of the Victorious. Do you recognize me as Dux Bellorum (3)?
Renouncing to recover his weapon, the colossus stood up:
- I have lost, honour compels me to accept and support you, Knight...
Saber was about to speak again, but she saw Gonderic de Bel-Amant breaking the crowd of barons. The knight was at the end of his breath:
- Lady Artoria, my father is here... with the remains of his army. The... tyrant attacked my domain and took the count's castle.
Count Thibaut de Bel-Amant had a grey face. He looked without seeing the many wounded and terrified children who had taken refuge in the temple of Mara. He contemplated his memories, the burning villages ravaged by the robbers in the service of the tyrant Atrum Galliasta. The most prosperous estate of the Duchy of Verandia had been ravaged by the torches, the adults killed for the taste of killing, the children kidnapped for some evil purpose, the women... it was better not to think about the fate of the women.
- I did what I could to delay the enemy but there were too many of them and the Black Knights... each of them is worth two of my men! In the end, I had no choice but to defend my castle. They built siege machines like siege-towers and rams while they clubbed the ramparts with mangonels and trebuchets. They even sent decomposed corpses to trigger epidemics.
The count shook his head, overwhelmed by the disasters he had just experienced:
- I left behind volunteers, wounded and sick... then I ran away with everyone I could save.
Artoria Pendragon and Shiro listened looking gloom, Rin reflected. It was she who said:
- In retrospect, it was obvious that Atrum Galliasta could not stand idly by the revolt. He reacted very well, in fact, attacking the strongest of his enemies before he joined the rebellion.
Thibaut de Bel-Amant grimaced:
- My own opinion, young Magus. Even though my escape saved the poor innocent who had taken refuge in my castle, I doubt the Black Knights would release their prey. They must be after me and will be here any minute.
- In this case, it is an opportunity to end them.
All turned to Artoria, who had just spoken, with a definite expression:
- Don't worry, I have a plan.
The Black Knights arrived the next day. According to the battle plan prepared by Saber, some peasants indicated to the enemy scouts that the remnants of the army of the count of Bel-Amant had sheltered in the Gallows' Woods.
They did not pay attention to the bird that hovered above them, except that it was a familiar created by Rin. Its unique eye recorded everything. Through one of her spiritual gems, the Magus projected the images received to her friends.
It was an undeniable advantage to be able to spy so easily on the enemy army and Artoria took full advantage of it.
She was particularly interested in the Black Knights. Their armor tints of this color revealed nothing of their appearance. They rode great steeds, clad in red and gold; and are armed with a mace and a kite shield. Their helmet had no plume.
The other combatants consisted of a mixture of statutory archers, certainly hardly motivated, and masked-faced brigands, carrying broad swords and small circular shields.
The Oliphant started ringing in the shade of the woods. Artoria got into the saddle and took a long spear which was handed to her by a squire.
- Get on with it!
On two ranks, militiamen and peasants, hunters behind, the army of Crestshade set out. On wings the small cavalry were gathered.
Artoria's plan was simple. It was simply a matter of attracting the Black Knights into the forest to confront the remnants of the army of the Count of Bel-Amant.
Except that taking advantage of the canopy offered by the trees, the troops of Crestshade and the Alliance of Barons had positioned themselves on both wings and were preparing to close the trap.
When Artoria arrived close enough to the battlefield to find out what was going on, she was pleased to see that her plan was going smoothly. The army of the Count of Bel-Amant and that of the Duke of Verandia were facing each over under the shades.
Of course, the forests and red foliage of the autumn partly obscured the fighters, but the two armies were not yet in contact, simply exchanging arrows.
As her army advanced, Saber discerned movements among the groves. Troops were changing positions. They had just been discovered and the enemy leader redirected part of his troops to face the newcomers. Instead of staying in a defensive posture, he even sent these troops forward. At the sound of the trumpets and the determined march of the infantry, it was visible that they were going to charge.
- Stop!
Her order was echoed from close to close and the army stopped. Arrows began to fall among the foot soldiers of the front line. Some fell, wounded or killed. Already, Shiro - at the head of the archers- launched the counter-attack. The features of their own bowmen focused on the troops advancing towards them and there too soldiers fell.
However, like the thunder roll, the Black Knights moved beyond the infantry to charge. The shock was very violent, and the casualties immediately heavy. Atrum Galliasta's elite army certainly deserved its reputation.
Just in front of Saber, a unit of these ferocious knights - if one could call so torturers without honor- threatened to wrap the left wing of his infantry. The horsemen smashed the heads with a massive blow, bringing down the militiamen so that their mounts could trample them.
- With me! In step!
At 50 meters, the knights lowered their spears.
- Charge!
The spears held horizontally through the breasts of the Black Knights. The shock was enough to break the enemy's ranks, but Artoria drew Caliburn. The sword ignited with a golden glow. Rushing into contact, she broke the helmets and shields, causing death around her.
The Black Knights broke, defeated, terrified.
However, enemy infantry were now in contact. Bandits and Black Knights fighting on foot attacked the ranks of her army. Saber waved her sword:
- Reform the line.
Beckoning her knights to follow her, the former king of Britain stood on the side of the enemy and charged them.
- Trace On.
Shiro materialized an ebony arrow and notch it on the big black bow he used. Sent with unthinkable force, the arrow crossed a large part of the battlefield before piercing a great welder in ornate armor who commanded a group of officers on the rear of the enemy formation.
- Trace On.
He next stroke struck a banner bearer who collapsed, dropping the banner struck by the sea serpent of Atrum Gallastra.
Shiro wasn't content with killing at every shot; he was always targeting the enemy lords, the flag-bearers and all the other opposing champions.
Next to him was Rin. Concentrated, she followed the confrontation thanks to her familiar. Suddenly, she startled and called her neighbor:
- Shiro, some Black Knights are coming at us.
In fact, they were the enemy riders repelled by Artoria. When they were routed, they had withdrawn before resuming their calm. After observing the battle, they found a place they thought was vulnerable to attack... the archers who surrounded the two reincarnated Japanese.
Allowing his bow to dissolve into bluish particles, the young redhead traced Kanshou and Bakuya before placing himself outside the archery ranks.
The Black Knights appeared from the woods, about thirty men in heavy armor, carrying masses and shields adorned with blazons. Their steed wore steel headplates and fabric bards.
Shiro focused on:
- I'm the bone of my sword.
Around him, the air burned with energy still poorly controlled. Electric arcs were flashing, drawing shapes... that materialized: a dozen swords. They made their way to the enemy horsemen and crossed their ranks in a great splash of blood, the neighing of the horses and the bodies thrown to the ground...
About ten knights had passed the carnage and continued to make their way. But
Rin Tohsaka pulled two runes out of her pocket and threw them on the floor:
- Tiwaz... Hayalaz !
The first rune meant "uncontrolled force" and the second "force of nature". The wind began to swirl around several knights and snatched them from the ground to release them in altitude... horses included.
The carnage that had just fallen on their already thinned ranks would have been enough to make them doubt having really hit in the right place. The worst was yet to come... the sound of a horn rang on their right revealing knights who were charging, led by Artoria Pendragon.
The King of the Knights threw herself into the fray like a dragon. Caliburn struck heads from all sides and cut enemies in half. Within moments, it was a rout.
Artoria Pendragon pursued the fleeing enemies, however, seeing an enemy troop on their right, she cried:
- With me !
The knights' steeds did not leave her while she threw herself at the robbers. They were at least three times more numerous than the valiant knights who attacked them, yet the fight was decided in a few minutes.
No enemy could approach Saber and survive. Her gold-clad blade shattered the dull swords of her enemies, smashed their shields, killed and mutilated. Accustomed to looting terrified villagers, the bandits in turn discovered powerlessness. They fled in every direction and Saber pursued them, trampling and ruthlessly slaughtering the fugitives.
An enemy that survives is an enemy that will seek revenge.
A dead enemy feeds crows.
She was born in hard times and became much acclimatized to the incessant wars of High Rock.
While her men were pushing in front of them, some bandits who had surrendered, Artoria looked at the battle around her, seeking where to intervene.
Nevertheless, everywhere the same vision welcomed her. The troops of Atrum Galliasta had broken their ranks and fled fiercely, pursued by the victors who converged on them on three sides.
Saber smiled.
The battle was victorious.
Shiro watched Saber come back to them. She was covered in blood. The hand holding Caliburn was red to the elbow, while scarlet projections marked her armor and face.
The young Japanese felt a pinch in his heart. He was still horrified to see her like this. Even though he knew it was someone else's blood, Shiro still found it as unnatural that such a beautiful girl had spent her life going from one battlefield to another.
- You arrive on time; Rin wants to show you something.
Intrigued, Artoria jumped to the bottom of her horse and approached the Magus. The latter had removed the helmet of several Black Knights. The faces were those of brutes, the cheeks filled with beards, the low forehead. Humans, but as if they had turned back the path of evolution to regain the appearance of man-monkeys of the Stone Age.
- You've seen people like this before, asked Rin.
- Yes, during the siege of Wayrest. The barbarians who opened the drawbridge... they looked the same.
The three youngs shivered together, realizing that they were once again facing a curse from Angra Mainyu.
(1) Strange as it may seem, I did not invent this story. It is a popular tale where Arthur disguised as a woman was recognized in a village party by Hueil. I just changed Artoria's motives a little (the Arthur this popular storytelling was just angry that he was mocked for dressing up as a woman). Hueil is a historical figure, it is the father of Saint Gildas (or Gildas the Wise, author of De Exidio Britanniae, one of the few texts of the time which reached us) and the fact that he was killed by Arthur is precisely attested by the Vita Gildae of Caradoc of Llancarfan. The battle of the Kellydon forest is mentioned in the Historia Brittonum, one of the oldest sources on Arthur since the text was probably written a hundred years after the deeds by Rhun son of King Urian of Rhegged... Ironically, Urian of Rhegged was integrated into the Arthurian cycle under the name of Urbain, where he is the father of Yvain, the lion knight.
(2) Second fight against the Launch of fate/Zero. Saber also uses it during the only fight against Berserker in Unilimited Blade Work.
(3) Chief of War.