-Vermilion Palace-
"M'lord."
"Give me lip and I will end you." Robin hissed under his breath. He raised his voice to normal tone. "Thank you, Lieutenant. That will be all."
Zulas bowed, closed the door behind Robin and retreated back to the carriage. "Will m'lord require my services later this evening?"
"Yes, but far later." Robin said. He adjusted his jacket self-consciously. "Park the carriage in the stables and find the servant's mess. I'll send a runner when I need you. Please tell me Dant managed to worm her way into the event."
"Last I heard, she did, but I'm not sure how successful she was." Zulas whipped the reins, riding the carriage away.
Robin walked up the marble stairs leading to Walhart's crimson palace. Tonight, would be one of the semi-annual Imperial Balls, used to placate the nobility. However, unanticipated, a series of victories won by Walhart and Yen'fays' armies had led to a final Chon'sin defeat. And my own victory, Robin reminded himself. Tonight, we celebrate the victory over Chon'sin. Any other ruler would have thrown a separate party for the victory, but it seems that Walhart does not wish to stomach these balls any more than I do. Robin's opinion of Walhart rose several notches.
Tonight is very important. Since the Imperial Ball was also the Victory Celebration, any noble worth his salt (and most who weren't) would be there, currying power and favors. Robin needed powers and favors if he was to survive in this kind of a cutthroat world. I have plans. And those plans require resources.
Robin paused before the massive doors, and adjusted his suit. He had opted for charcoal grey, unwilling to just be plain, but disliking anything flashier. The cut was unique as well, the lapels on his jacket stylized to look like bird's wings. He adjusted the cufflinks (obsidian stones, of course), checked his hair once again, and stepped through. A crier was waiting on the other side, alongside a page who took his cloak. Robin slipped a notecard to the crier.
"Announcing Count Obsidian, Captain in Walhart's Grand Army!" The crier announced.
Robin nodded to the man and tipped him a silver. The crier nodded, bowed, and whispered to him. "My lord, would you care for some advice?"
Robin flipped another silver. "Whatever you can."
"Find a lady, quick." The crier told him. "The early evening is a masked ball. It wouldn't do for an up-and-coming single noble like yourself to be single. You'd attract gossip. The wrong kind. And, might I say your suit is one of the more remarkable ones this evening, but at least you should have a simple mask."
"Thank you, but I have that." Robin said. He removed a thin black object from his jacket pocket, sliding it on. A stylized black mask domino mask, with the ends on each side jagged in both directions to give the impression of wings. "I think this would be appropriate."
Robin walked away, heading towards the dance floor. The floor was moderately crowded, the ball had started a mere half an hour earlier, but it wasn't in full swing yet. Dant drilled him on what to do. Robin hadn't a companion, so he just had to get one. Several women were waiting in the wings of the ballroom' main floor, their very presence indicating availability.
Now to just waltz over there, smoothly ask one to dance, rinse and repeat for the remainder of the evening. Robin thought. He mentally sighed. Right, that's going to happen. Maybe I should have listened to Zulas' advice on the way over here about taking that drink after all.
"Well, who would've thought you of all people would be here?" A nasal and obnoxious voice interrupted Robin's inner monologue. "I mean, surely they had some form of entrance standards, did they not? Or perhaps it's just that your very presence elevates everyone surrounding you, and you got in that way."
On the bright side, I now don't look like a fool standing on the sidelines, by himself. Instead, I'm talking to the Empire's foremost strategist. Robin grit his teeth. On the downside – I'm talking to the Empire's foremost strategist.
"Hello, Excellus." Robin turned around. The plump toad-like man was wearing the same looking robes he always wore, though these were made of obviously more expensive material. It still didn't make him look any better. Excellus also wasn't wearing a mask, unfortunately. Robin really wished he didn't have to see that face. "Were you waiting here for them to announce me?"
"Don't flatter yourself, inferior tactician." Excellus said. "I still haven't forgiven you for what you did."
"Odd." Robin signaled for a pair of drinks from a passing waiter. "I wasn't aware I did anything to offend you."
"Excuses." Excellus gave him a baleful glare. "I don't have time to waste on you, pathetic worm. I just came to warn you. Don't let your recent success go to your head. I don't think I will either."
"Well, now your warning is delivered, so don't let me keep you." Robin said, taking the pair of drinks and offering one to Excellus. "But before you go, a toast to the capture of Fort Beskagar."
"Only a heathen proposes to his own successes." Excellus refused it and walked away.
"Well, that was a mistake." Robin sighed. He looked at the drinks in his hand. "Now, what to do with this? I suppose it'd be nice to offer to a lady, but-"
"How generous, sir." The drink was snatched from his hand. Robin turned to look, only to clench his jaw to stop it from dropping. Pale hair, almost silver with a long dress colored to match. She wasn't tall, but only a bit shorter than Robin. A simple white mask with silver trim covered almost all of her face, except for a playful smile. All in all, an absolute beauty had decided to take his second wineglass and was rapidly finishing it. "It's delicious. You must have excellent taste."
"The pleasure is all mine, I assure you." Dant's training shot to the surface of jumbled thoughts in Robin's head. He bowed. "I am Count Obsidian. Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
"Argeni." The woman finished the drink and placed it on a passing servant's tray. "Or, more formally, I am Argenita di Cratez, daughter of the Duke Cratez. Thank you for offering me the drink."
"And, if I may be so bold, would you mind gracing me with a dance as well?" Robin offered his hand.
"A gentleman." Argeni took it, smiling. "I would love to."
And so they did. Argeni was light on her feet, keeping in time to Robin's movements. Dant had done a good job training him in the basics. The dance floor wasn't crowded yet, giving them plenty of room. Even still, they made one of the more elegant pairs under the magnificent chandeliers.
"So, Miss di Cratez…" Robin said as the two danced around the floor.
"Oh, don't start." Argeni smiled. "Please. Call me Argeni. All my friends do."
"And I'm a friend? How generous. I see we're forming a relationship fast."
"Don't get the wrong idea now." Argeni said. "You look sweet, that's for sure, and I like the cut of your jacket, but I'm not sure how I feel about tacticians. You can never tell what they're thinking. Just friends will do fine, for now."
"You know, I think that's the politest rejection I've ever gotten." Robin said, twirling his dance partner. "Not that I asked in the first place."
"You shouldn't be too disappointed." Argeni said. "After all, how would you handle the rest of the lovely ladies you'll dance with tonight if you're anchored to me?"
"Well, I don't think that will be a problem in any event. To tell the truth." Robin gave a wry smile. "I suffer from a crippling lack of self-confidence when it comes to women."
"You seem fine." Argeni smiled. "But I do suppose I have a natural flair for approachability."
"Yes, that's it." Robin laughed. "Must be it."
"I'll tell you what. I have a few friends." Argeni said. The music was winding down. "I'll tell them about you, and I'm sure you can take it from there. You're a tactician."
"Very astute, Argeni. It was nice to meet you." Robin bowed as the music ended. He extended his hand and the silver-haired maiden twirled off, picked up quickly by another dancer.
He danced twice more, each with suitably high-class woman. Robin wasn't interested in either of them personally, but as a bachelor count he had a professional duty for social interaction. Then his next dance was far more interesting.
"Dant? Is that you" Robin recognized the ebony black hair, but not the emerald dress not the mask that came with it.
"I did say I'd show up to help you if you needed it." Dant smiled as she shifted into a more complicated dance, forcing Robin to keep up. "You seemed like you were doing fine, so I decided to have fun too."
"And this is having fun?" Robin sighed. "Do I even want to know how you got here? And where you got the dress from?"
"No, of course not." Dant twirled and stepped up her pace, forcing Robin to attempt to keep up with her. Dant smiled. "What do you think of all this?"
"Why ask?" Robin replied. "I mean, its gaudy, sure, but necessary. The gears of humanity always require grease, and this is the form of it. Why ask me questions?"
"Actually, I'm waiting for you to ask me. You know, the question you ask everyone." Dant said. "Ask me what real power is. Go ahead."
Robin spun Dant, and finished with a bow. "Forgive me, but you seem under the impression I'd do something predictable. What kind of tactician would I be in that case?"
A hand suddenly clamped on Robin's shoulder. He spun around, expecting the worse, but relaxed when he saw a large man with silver-ish hair. A picture appeared in his head with a brief description. "Duke Cratez." Robin bowed to the man. "It's good to meet you. Dant, would you mind?"
The black-haired assassin shrugged, and backed off.
"You've met with my daughter earlier this night." Duke Cratez stated.
"M'lord, I assure you-"
"Save it for the battlefield, tactician." Duke Cratez raised a hand. "I'm fully aware of her actions, and mostly supportive of them. She wants to join your squad."
"My … squad?" Robin asked. "What do you mean? M'lord."
"Your little band has made quite a name for themselves." Duke Cratez. "Calling in every favor you had to gamble it all on a risky venture, and succeeding has made you a rising star within the military. If we had a few more of you, we'd win against Rosanne in no time at all."
"M'lord flatters me." Robin bowed. "I merely got lucky. That's all."
"Well, luck is one of those things that can't be taught, you know. Regardless." Duke Cratez coughed. "Argeni recently graduated from her academy as a troubadour, and she wishes to be placed within your army."
"Odd, m'lord." Robin frowned. "I was under the impression that noble women were all but in General Pheros' legion."
"Ah, yes. Sore topic, that." Duke Cratez dropped his voice. "You see, Pheros has romanticized the idea of women at war. Not that I'm opposed to it at all! But, you see, the ladies of the court have gotten this … notion that they need to fight. Including the ones that have no business doing so. You understand. So they call in favors, and Pheros gets forced to take them."
"She must not like that." Robin said, slowly. I'd hate it, personally. I suppose chucking them on the frontlines and getting them killed would stop new ones from joining, but then you have a bunch of irate nobles. "How did Pheros deal with it?"
"She assembled a squad of all of them. It's nicknamed the 'Damsel Brigade' and they're completely useless. They've never seen combat." Duke Cratez shrugged uncomfortably. "It's gotten to the point where any noble gets reassigned there upon joining Pheros. And my Argeni wants to be useful. She's decided that she wants to join your division."
"A troubadour, you say?" Robin considered.
"Yes. Excellent, if I do say so myself." Duke Cratez said. "She'll just heal from the back. All the paperwork has been filled out, and we just need your approval. Would you mind?"
"Yes."
"Excellent." Duke Cratez said. He frowned. "Wait, did you just-"
Robin pushed the Duke's hand off his shoulder. "You daughter is exceptional, but I'd rather not include members into my ranks just because a high-ranking noble asked me to. It's no different from Pheros. And I don't just expect my healers to stay behind. If Argeni proves herself to me, I see no reason not to accept her, but I won't do it right now, based on nothing more than your request. It's nothing personal, just good tactical policy. Good evening."
With that Robin spun and walked off. I'm paying for that. I'm absolutely paying for that. But I've got principles.
-A Few Hours Later-
"So, I hear you turned down my father's offer." Argeni flashed a brilliant smile at him.
Of course she managed to be seated next to me. Robin internally scowled. His feet hurt. He didn't think dancing would be any more strenuous then fighting, but it seemed that he was wrong. Different muscle groups. Of course. Stupid nobles. He couldn't see Dant anywhere near him, so he'd assume the worse, that he was without backup and dealing with a (potentially) crazed stalker. You know, I don't think any tactics book I read mentioned how to deal with those. Of course, that could be because none of those authors had that problem. Why can I remember every page of those treatises, but not anything before that?
"It's impolite to keep a lady waiting, you know."
"Of course." Robin inhaled. Why can't the announcements commence? "Look, Argeni, like I told your father. If I accepted you just because of your position, that'd make you no different from the girls you're trying to distance yourself from."
"Ah, but there is a key difference you forgot about." Argeni looked at him. "I'm me."
"I get that." Robin nodded. "This is the second conversation I've had with you, and you've impressed me. You're a lovely, well-spoken woman, and I'm sure you're a terrific troubadour on top of that. I have no doubt, once you prove your worth, you'd make an excellent addition to my team. But that's kind of the point."
"You know, I think that's the politest rejection I've ever gotten." Argeni sighed. "Nicer than Pheros, anyway. She adamantly refused to consider my request to join her personal squad. Of course, I did admit that I wasn't a devout of Naga like she was."
"Really? I heard she renounced her claim."
"Well, apparently not." Argeni sighed. "I mean, she did, but I insulted Naga and she kicked me out almost immediately. I read the situation wrong. It's not that I mind non-violence – I'm a healer! But this whole belief in peace just gets to me."
"You're a believer in non-violence, but not peace." Robin blinked. "What."
"More or less. Does that make me weird? I think problems can be solved without needing violence, but I'm not sure we'll ever reach the state where we can just have peace everywhere, you know? And even than usually fighting is a quicker and more permanent solution than any other. Peace is pretty much just a lie." Argeni bit her lip. "Oh, now I've said too much and you'll never want me in your squad."
"Actually-" Robin was cut off as the announcements started.
"Lords and Ladies of Valm!" A herald stood at beside the throne where Walhart sat. "Under the leadership of Walhart the Conqueror, we have once again been successful! The last holdouts of Chon'sin have been destroyed, cracked like a nut, and are now part of our glorious empire. As such, the Conqueror will now distribute the lands and titles therein…"
Robin paid most of his attention to the announcements. A scribe would deliver a copy to his manor within the month. One of the commanders who had loaned him men had been given a title, alongside a decent amount of land. Robin made a mental note to send the man a gift to court his allegiance. Yen'fay, surprisingly, received almost a quarter of Chon'sin.
Almost certainly games at work. Robin surmised. I know Excellus had been pushing for him to receive nothing from Chon'sin. That means there's a group of nobles using Yen'fay as a cat's paw to push out against him. Regardless, he must be on a serious leash for them to give him the means for a minor rebellion. I wonder what that is.
"And now, we would like to offer promotions." The herald announced. "First, is Count Robin Obsidian. His military rank will now be Colonel, following the successful seizure of Fort Beskagar. In addition, he will be given the fort, with all the additional manpower necessary allotted to him."
Excellent. Robin smiled. I now have access to five thousand men. And, should I be awarded much more land, I might even get a new noble title, or two. The one problem is that Fort Beskagar is a quarter of the continent away from my manor, but I think that won't be a problem. The real problem is going to be-
"I protest!" A voice loudly croaked.
Of course you do.
"The so-called honorable Count Obsidian is nothing more than a traitor waiting to happen! His promotion must not be allowed to occur!"
"That's it." Robin muttered under his breath. I'm doing something about Excellus. He stood up and spun to face his accuser, one inferior tactician named Excellus. Robin pointed at him. "Prove it! Your accusations are baseless, and I have faithfully served the Empire since I was recruited within it."
"With pleasure." Excellus gleefully rubbed his hands. "Aside from your bungling of orders during the first operation you ever took part of, which almost lead to the death of all your men, you also have been drilling your men in non-orthodox means. You've lead your men into an ambush, you are indirectly responsible for Captain Glass, a fine officer, being killed. And, to cap it off, while even I must admit your tremendous risk at Beskagar paid off, you did so with the knowledge that Yen'fay was in the area and could reinforce you. You were in contact with him!"
You misdirected those orders. I drill the men unorthodox because your drills revolve around using the front lines as a giant moving meat shield. Glass was killed by WALHART for being incompetent. And, yes, Yen'fay was nearby during my operation, I was not in contact with him. Robin mentally refuted the arguments. Can't say most of those out loud, of course. I'll take the critique about the ambush, though.
"So you're saying I'm incompetent or a traitor?" Robin asked. "Both are clearly not true. We both know that every tactician has bad days." Well, I don't, but time to choke on humble pie. "You'll have to do better than list a very small list of minor shortcomings to prove that I'm not worthy."
"Oh, I think you are worthy. Just not of becoming Colonel." Excellus smiled. "Remain what you are. It will make things better for all of us."
"You don't have that authority!" Robin yelled back.
"Amusing!" The two squabbling tacticians turned to see Walhart standing up from his throne. "I thought you might amuse me, Count Obsidian. I am pleased to see I am right. But you will have to win your own battles. I will not simply speak to give you what you want. Take it for yourself. You will have to end this battle of warring tacticians by yourself."
"Hah! See, the Conqueror refuses to endorse him! That's tantamount to rejection!" Excellus crowed.
Robin was about to spit back a reply when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Argeni looked at him, a coy smile of her face, as if to say You could use my help, can't you? Robin inhaled deeply. He closed his eyes and nodded.
A second later, Duke Cratez rose, pointed to Excellus, and thundered. "YOU! What gives you the right to deny your rival's promotion? We all know the reason. You aren't as skilled as you would like, and you don't want a challenge to your position!"
"Tch!"
"Yes!" Another noble stood up. "My cousin, once removed, died because you gave bad orders!"
"Let the Count take the promotion!" "Give it to him!"
Robin just smirked as he watched Excellus's face turn a variety of perplexing and interesting colors. Worth it. Completely worth it.
-Vermillion Palace-
"Evening, Robin." Zulas waved as Robin exited the building, followed by a cloaked figure. "You've got a shadow."
"She's coming with us." Robin said. "I told her I'd accept her if she proved her worth. And, well, she did. I'm now a Colonel, and we've got another lieutenant. Well, technically, you're a major now, but I just prefer calling you my lieutenants. Hope you don't mind."
"Not at all." Zulas shrugged. He bowed to the woman. "My name is Zulas, Count Robin's first lieutenant and most loyal soldier. And who might you be?"
Argeni threw back the hood of her traveling cloak. She looked up at Zulas, and their eyes met. "My name is Argenita di Cratez. But, please. Call me Argeni."
"Argeni, huh?" Zulas smiled. "It's my pleasure to meet you."
"I assure you, sir, I'm just as touched." Argeni said. Robin waited for her next comment, but none came. It was then Robin noticed a faint blush of red on Argeni's cheeks. No way. She wasn't lying when she said her type wasn't tacticians. Guess it's rugged, battle-scarred soldiers. Argeni smiled a bit. "Are you driving us home?"
"That I am. The Count needed a reliable footman." Zulas opened the carriage door. "M'lady."
"A gentleman." Argeni smiled and got in. She waited, then noticed Robin wasn't following her. "Are you getting in as well, Count?"
"I'm afraid not." Robin said. "I'll join Zulas at the driver's seat. We've got things to discuss." Robin closed the door and swung up beside Zulas. Zulas started the carriage, leading them out. Robin waited until they left the palace, gave a slow count of twenty, then broached the subject. "So, Zulas, about Argeni..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Zulas sighed. "You want her, right?"
"What? No!" Robin said. "I mean, she made it very clear she wasn't romantically interested in me. I just don't want the two of you dating. I'm not sure I could stomach that dynamic."
"It wasn't going to happen anyways." Zulas said. "I'm willing to put fifty gold that she's engaged to someone else. Bloodline curse."
"You blame that for everything."
"Trust me, I would like not to." Zulas sighed. "It's always royalty, it's always mutual, and there's always a reason why it doesn't work out. And it's only the men in my family. My sister had it lucky. No curse at all."
"You have a sister!?"
"Yup. Two years older than me. Married with two kids." Zulas said. "The younger one is going to be soldier, like me. The older one is smart as a whip. I'm hoping she makes it into a cushy administrating job with no fighting."
"Can I hire her?" Robin asked. "I'm going to need more staff."
"No, you idiot. She's still in her early teens. I'm not that old." Zulas cuffed him. "Wait a decade."
"I'll hold you to that." Robin said. "So – sorry about Argeni."
"Not as sorry as you'll be." Zulas sighed. "It's going to get worse. Trust me. And even if you expel her, it'll still be bad. I don't know what we did to get it, but the bloodline is bad. Trust me."
Robin glanced over to his dejected first lieutenant. "You know what, Zulas?"
"No, but I like the tone in your voice." Zulas said. "It's that crazy tone you use when you do something reckless."
"To hell with military protocol! And to hell with fate!" Robin said. "Maybe married couple fight better on the battlefield. I'll have the two of you test that, mark my words!"
"Fist." Zulas offered it to Robin. Robin stared at it blankly. Zulas sighed. "It's a symbol of a promise between men. Make a fist and hit mine. Not too hard, but nor soft either. Just do it."
Robin looked at it curiously. He curled his hand into a fist and connected with Zulas's. Zulas pumped his other hand. "Yeah! I've got the best tactician in Valm on my case! Let's do this!"
-Count Obsidian's Manor-
It was a long day. A long day. Robin had started drafting letters congratulating the commanders he hoped would be his allies after he got back, on top of arranging completely separate living quarters for Argeni. (Dant had refused his offer, something about 'not being pampered'.) Argeni was scheduled to run drills tomorrow, so he could gauge her base skill level. On top of that, he had to find a way to let a commoner like Zulas marry in to the di Cratez family, and, if Zulas was right, maybe even find an excuse to break up an engagement.
It was, therefore, completely expected that he'd be surprised by the intruder in his study.
"Well met." A shadow detached itself from the wall and walked in front of his desk. "You asked to see me?"
"Gah!" Robin jumped. "Please tell me you didn't teleport in here."
"Fie." The figure removed her black headwrap. "I was trained in Chon'sin's stealth arts. Slipping into a manor of this sorts was naught but child's play."
"Well, I guess I better run a few drills." Robin said. "I take it you're a good assassin."
"No. Walhart's style of leadership means that most of the ones worth killing are the hardest. That, and I dislike assassinations. It is a coward's way of fighting." The woman bowed. "I am Say'ri, the last princess of Chon'sin, leader of the Rebellion. It is my honor to meet you."
"You took quite a risk." Robin stated.
"I received your message." Say'ri said. "I spent the last week scouting to ensure that there was no trap. That aside, I felt it is worth the risk. Why do you want to meet with me?"
"To ask you questions." Robin stood up from his chair, and faced the window. "If you've done some digging on me, you know I was conscripted into Walhart's army. I made Captain shortly thereafter. Now I'm a major, and there's talk of my being one of the youngest to reach Colonel. Of course, that's judging from my looks. I have amnesia, so I don't remember who I am."
"That has not stopped you from being effective."
"No." Robin shook his head. "But it has made me ask questions. Why do you oppose Walhart?"
"Walhart is a tyrant! A conqueror!" Say'ri said. "Do you ask why I oppose evil?"
"Yes." Robin said softly. "I guess I do."
"Is it not obvious to you that those who seek that which isn't theirs is wrong?"
"Wrong?" Robin shook his head. "No. Say'ri, that is human. Human is to seek that which we do not have. It is only when seeking brings conflict that it may be wrong. And that is not always the case."
"How do you mean?"
"Conflict." Robin said. "Walhart wishes the Chon'sin lands. You wish for them. Who is right?"
"We are. The lands are ours." Say'ri said. "Ours by ancestral right."
"There are two main types of war." Robin said. "War for gain. War of ideals. In a war for gain, the aggressor rarely holds the moral ground. Walhart's realm has ample resources. If he was attacking Chon'sin for Chon'sin bounty, that would be wrong."
"I ask again." Say'ri said. "Will you aid us?"
"A war for ideals is different." Robin said. "In that, it makes no difference as to who the aggressor is. If Walhart's ideal of strength is morally superior to the Chon'sin philosophy, it is Walhart duty to conquer your lands."
"And do you agree with Walhart's philosophy?" Say'ri asked. "Do you believe in the strong over the weak?"
Robin sized Say'ri up. She had twin swords sheathed at her side, had snuck into his manor without alerting his guards, and was Yen'fay's sister, if she was telling the truth about who she was. On the other hand, Robin had Dant crouched beneath his desk. If we fight, I can win. Robin thought. But if I do, that only proves me correct within Walhart's philosophy. I am attempting to see things Say'ri's way.
"I … do not believe in Walhart's philosophy." Robin said. "Currently."
"Then we are not enemies. Currently." Say'ri relaxed from the position Robin had suddenly realized she was in. "Good. I did not wish to come to blows. Had you responded in the positive, I would have been forced to play my hand to strike first."
"I would like to meet with you again. I will have my hands full preparing for the invasion of Rosanne, so you should not be worried, but given that, I give my word that I will make to effort to turn any more of my pursuits after you until after we meet again." Robin said. "Can I trust you?"
"I have trusted you, so yes." Say'ri nodded, putting her headwrap back on. "Fare thy well, Robin. And mayhap tell your bodyguard to breathe quieter next time." With that, the Chon'sin princess disappeared.
"I don't like her." Dant rolled out. "But she is good, I'll give her that. Maybe next time I'll put effort into concealing my presence."
"Dant." Robin said slowly. "How do you feel about her?"
"An idealist and honorable to her dying breath." Dant said. "I'd hate to cross blades with her. It's those that value things greater than their life which are truly dangerous."
"Good." Robin said. "I'm planning a joint operation with her Rebellion."
"I thought you were attacking Rosanne. She's not going to help you do that." Dant said. "I don't care, of course. Our contract is valid, and I remain loyal to you until it is up."
"Like I told Say'ri. I'm not quite certain I believe in Walhart's ideals." Robin unrolled a map. He pointed to a spot on it. "This is Bastein Castle. It's a Rosanne stonghold not fifty miles from their border. Once we break the walls, someone will need to lay siege and conquer it. Thanks to my miraculous win at Fort Beskagar, I've been given the task of taking it."
"And what's you plan?" Dant said. "Seems like a hard battle to win, doesn't it?"
"That's only if I was planning on winning it." Robin looked at the map and chuckled. "I need you to deliver a message for me, Dant. Two, in fact."
-Report to REDACTED from REDACTED, XX/X/XX-
This is crazy! In retaliation for the border skirmish, Plegia has attempted an assassination of the Ylissean Exalt. Get this! The blue-haired mask fighter from the Feroxi arena? Apparently, she was there! Fighting alongside the Ylisseans. Heck, if the rumor I heard is true, she might be directing them now, but I can't be sure. The source of information was just overheard mentioning that, and he was on a clear sugar high.
A/N: This looks like a good place to stop the first batch of chapters. Halfway through the first arc, all of Robin's OC squad members have been introduced, and things are heating up. See you next update! (...or at AO3, I suppose. But please read it here, I could use attention. And besides, this will guarantee the updated version.)
