Ch. IX: Couteau Bridge
Lithe 22, 706
For the next two days, Elizabeth escorted the vanguard to Fort Branden. The rugged foothills of the Anetos were far behind, and all around, they saw only gently rolling, sparsely wooded hills. But although the terrain was easier, the vanguard's pace was slow, much slower than it had been when they travelled over the mountains. The reasons were twofold- their group was larger, to be sure, but mostly, it was because the vanguard could finally breathe easier, now that they were in friendly territory.
Quinn marched near the middle of the column. Ahead of him was Ingrid, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. He hadn't spoken to her at all on this day, but even so, he watched her. And had watched her over the last two days, since their conversation before leaving Fort Felhold…
Ingrid crossed her arms over her chest. "A vision," she said stoically.
Quinn nodded. "Yeah." He held up his hand, looking down at Norn. "Normally, Norn only shows me what will happen in the next few seconds. It's how I saved Captain Uther at Tol Castell. It's what let me get through all these battles so far. But, when King Oswald was assassinated, I saw something… different."
"In what way?" the inquisitor asked.
Quinn took a breath, searching for the words with which to describe his experience. "It was… longer. I saw… people I don't know. Heard voices I don't recognize. I wasn't sure what to make of all of it, until last night. That… thing we fought… it was one of the things I saw." He then shared all the details of his vision as best he could, sharing everything he'd seen and heard.
When he'd finally finished, Ingrid was silent for a while. After several long, worrying moments, she finally spoke. "'The flag of my forefathers…'" she mused. "If I had to guess, that most likely refers to one of the territories occupied by Kherson. As for everything else… I'm sorry, Quinn, but there isn't enough to work with."
Quinn let out a disappointed sigh. It was as he feared- his vision was simply too vague to be interpreted.
For several moments, the two were silent. Then, Ingrid mumbled, "There is something…"
Quinn perked up at once. "What? What is it?"
Again, Ingrid was silent for several moments, until she shook her head, and turned away. "…No. Never mind. When we return to Bannon, you should share your vision with Mother Agnes. She has much greater awareness of world affairs than I do. She may recognize one of the people you described."
And that was that. The rest of that day, Quinn had tried prodding Ingrid for more information, but she simply repeated that he should share his vision with Mother Agnes. Her responses made Quinn suspicious. Suspicious that… she knew something. But what did she know? And, why would she hide it? It wasn't as though there had never been things she was unwilling to discuss. But, if Quinn touched on something that was off-limits, Ingrid would tell him so directly- she had never tried to misdirect him before.
Again, Quinn mulled over his vision. Most of what he heard was incredibly vague, but there were two names that he couldn't place: Navarro, and-
"Heeeey!" someone called.
Quinn looked up, just in time to run into Ingrid. Giving a quick "Sorry," he stepped aside to see the commotion. On the road ahead stood a person, waving vigorously toward the column. A slender woman, with long blonde hair reaching her waist, and bright pink clothes that left very little to the imagination. He'd only met her a few times, but for Quinn, there could be no mistaking that distinct character- his fellow Archon, Evangelyne.
The column came to a stop. Elizabeth spurred her pegasus forward, pointing her lance at the blonde woman. "State yer business," she demanded.
Ingrid hurried forward. "Lady Lecarde," she said quickly, "this woman is Master Evangelyne of the Archonite Order. She's an ally."
Elizabeth glanced back to Uther. The captain nodded silently, and the pegasus knight lowered her lance. Ingrid turned her attention back to Evangelyne. "I apologize, Master Evangelyne," she began. "But-"
But Evangelyne strode past Elizabeth and Ingrid, ignoring the latter's words, and pushed her way through the column, before finally stopping in front of Quinn. For several moments, the blonde woman looked him up and down in silence, slowly circling him. "My my," she said. "It seems like every time we meet, you have more and more women hanging off of you, Quinn."
Quinn stammered, stepping back from Evangelyne slightly. "Uh…"
The blonde woman's eyes darted between the female members of the vanguard. "Quite a broad selection you have. Ah, but you're young- you'll find what excites you in due time. Now…" Evangelyne's tone shifted, becoming lower, more… alluring. "…which of these lucky ladies is the new Ringbearer Ingrid was telling us about? Is it… her, maybe?" Her eyes turned to Raquel, and she let out a low growl.
Quinn could only watch Evangelyne in confusion. "That… would be Noel," he replied hesitantly. He turned, and called, "Hey Noel, come over here."
Noel quickly bounded up in excitement, but for some reason, as soon as she laid eyes on Evangelyne, the girl's smile vanished, and she stood still, as if all the energy had been drained out of her.
Evangelyne, too, stopped smiling as she looked at the younger girl. "Oh… oh, this is…" She trailed off, her disappointed expression clear as day as she circled around Noel. "I have to admit, I was excited to hear another woman would be joining us, but I have to admit I was expecting… more." She gave the younger girl one last look. "…Still, there may be some potential." Evangelyne extended her hand toward Noel, to touch her face. "It may be that in time, our little Noel will blossom into a beautiful flower of-"
But all at once, Noel snapped forward, trying to bite Evangelyne's hand. The blonde woman pulled back, but Noel stood, tense, growling with her teeth bared. "Noel!" both Ingrid and Francis snapped.
"My," Evangelyne said, her tone dark. "Aren't you ill-mannered?"
Ingrid stepped forward, loudly clearing her throat. "Master Evangelyne," she said. "This is… quite the surprise. I was led to believe you were still in Bannon."
Evangelyne sighed. "I know the saying is 'business before pleasure,' but I can't help but feel you take it a bit too far, Ingrid."
Ingrid didn't reply. She simply crossed her arms over her chest, and waited.
Evangelyne sighed again, but said, "…We've had a lot of casualties on our side, more than Parliament was expecting. So, Mother Agnes sent me to Fort Branden's field hospital to help our forces recover. When I heard you were on your way, I decided to come out to meet you."
Uther spurred his mount forward. "How is the army faring?" he asked.
"I know Isaac's the one in charge, but since I'm here, I might as well fill you in on what's been going on," Evangelyne replied. She then turned, and began walking down the road, Uther and the rest of the column moving to follow her.
As they walked, Evangelyne continued: "Our forces have managed to advance into Burgundy and occupy the Rhodan region, but we've been stopped at the Baie de Couteau. Isaac's attempted to press on by capturing the Couteau Bridge, but so far, all the attempts have failed." She turned, walking backwards as she spoke. "I'll be honest- things are not looking good for us. If we can't turn things around, and do it now, then this war is as good as over."
Quinn leaned toward Ingrid. "Why would Mother Agnes send Evangelyne to help, Miss Ingrid?"
"Evangelyne bears the Ring of Power, Amrita" she replied. "It allows her to heal even the most grievous of wounds, whether inflicted on her, or others."
"Oh, it can do so much more than that, Ingrid," Evangelyne added. She fell in step with Quinn, draping an arm across his shoulder. "Did you think looks like this happened by accident?" She pressed herself much too closely against Quinn for his liking, and he tried to pull away. Ingrid simply sighed in exasperation.
The sun had begun to set by the time the group reached Fort Branden, bathing the whole sky in an orange light. The fort standing at the end of the road was not at all like Fort Guyenne: it was larger, its reddish-brown walls built in a circle standing fifteen peds tall, completely contrasting the short square walls and dull grey bricks of the Burgundian fort. A tall tower, built from the same reddish-brown stone as the walls, stood at the heart of the fort. But what shocked Quinn the most was the number of tents and pavilions blanketing the fields outside the fort, packed so closely together that no grass could be seen beneath them. Between them, and entering and leaving the fort, were soldiers without number, some on foot, some on horseback. Quinn recognized the blue uniforms worn by some of the soldiers- the soldiers in Tristan wore the same uniform. So, they must have been Bannish soldiers. But most wore unfamiliar uniforms of green and white- these men must have been from Hessen, he thought.
Evangelyne stepped out in front of the vanguard. "Isaac should be over in the tower," she said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I should be getting back to my patients." She scurried off into the sea of tents, alone.
Looking over the army for a moment, Uther turned to the rest of the vanguard. "Alright," he began. "The inquisitor, Quinn, and myself will meet with the commander of the Hessian forces. The rest of you, remain here and set up camp. You'll be on standby until we return. Fiona, you're in charge until then."
Fiona saluted, and replied "Yes, Captain," before turning to the others. "Alright everyone, you heard the Captain. Let's find ourselves a campsite. Move out!"
As the vanguard moved on, Quinn heard Gail complain "Aw… I wanted to see the Professor…"
"Hah. Weren't they supposed to escort us to a town?" Raquel huffed.
But as the others obeyed the captain's command and followed Fiona, one among their number remained still. "Lady Lecarde," Uther said. "The rest of the vanguard is on standby. That includes you."
Elizabeth stiffened, raising her lance as though standing at attention. "Apologies, Yer Majesty, but Aye was asked to escort yew to the Hessian commander. Aye will remain by yer side until mae mission is complete."
Uther looked at Elizabeth silently, before dismounting. "…Very well. Lead on."
Elizabeth did as she was ordered, and lead Uther, Ingrid, and Quinn through the camp and up to the fortress. Many of the soldiers they passed stopped and looked at them, and snatches of conversation could be heard as they passed:
"Who are they?"
"That man in front… that's Uther! Bannon's Captain of the Guard!"
"Where has he been all this time?"
"You see that group he was with?"
"Yeah. They didn't look like a normal regiment…"
Quinn's chest tightened, and he felt himself struggling to breathe. So many eyes were watching him… His pace slowed, and Uther and Ingrid grew further and further away, as Quinn focused all his effort on trying to keep his breathing level.
Before long though, Quinn's feet stopped moving entirely. It was taking all his concentration to simply keep breathing in and out. He turned his head down, to avoid the soldiers' stares, simply focused on-
Something grabbed his hand. He jolted, and tried to pull back, until a soothing voice came to his ears: "It's alright, Quinn. Just focus on me." He looked up, to find himself face-to-face with Ingrid.
Quinn couldn't find his voice, so he simply nodded. Ingrid laced her fingers in-between his, and slowly walked with him to the fortress gate. The warmth of her hand was comforting, and although it was still hard to breathe, he was able to keep moving forward once more. Ahead, he heard Elizabeth say faintly, "Aye have returned with His Majesty Captain Uther, as requested by Commander Isaac." The soldiers nodded and stepped aside, and the group was allowed to enter the fort.
Once he set foot in the fort, it was as though a great weight had been lifted from Quinn's chest. He bent forward, breathing deeply as he clutched his chest. After several breaths, he looked up to the inquisitor. "Thank you, Miss Ingrid," he said weakly.
Ingrid slowly freed her hand from Quinn's grip. "I forgot that you don't handle crowds very well," she said. "Now, Master Evangelyne said Isaac should be in the tower. We shouldn't keep him waiting."
The four entered the tower, passing another set of guards, and climbed the spiraling stone steps that ascended the tower's interior. As they climbed, a man's voice echoed down from somewhere above. "…and the status of the supply line?"
"The supply line is secure," another man's voice replied, much younger than the first. "We've faced some resistance from bandits, but so far, no Burgundians have been sighted."
"Very good." The first man then asked, "Have the scouts reported in yet?"
"Not yet, Professor," the second man replied. "But, they should report back before sunset."
Quinn knew both of those voices very well. In spite of himself, he raced up the stairs, past Uther and Elizabeth, up to the landing. There was a door there, and without waiting, he pushed it open. The room beyond was cluttered with documents and maps, and at the center was a large table, depicting Burgundy and Hessen in detail. But Quinn's attention was focused on the two men standing at the table. They looked tired and scruffy, and their hair was longer than he remembered, but there was no mistaking them- his fellow student, Malcolm, and their teacher, Professor Isaac. "Professor!" he said. "Malcolm!"
Isaac adjusted his glasses as soon as he saw Quinn. "Ah, Quinn. You should've sent word you arrived. We could have come to meet you."
But before Quinn could reply, Elizabeth stepped out from behind Quinn and stood in front of him, clasping her arms behind her back. "Commander," she said. "Aye have completed mae assignment." She was joined by Uther and Ingrid.
Isaac eyed the others. "So you have." He circled around the table, and held out his hand to Uther. "It's good to see you well, Captain."
Uther shook Isaac's hand firmly. "Your associate, Evangelyne, filled us in on the situation."
"I see." Isaac turned back to the table. "I'm certain there's a great deal of nuance she left out, but we can discuss the finer details later."
But before he could step away, Uther reached out his hand, and gripped Isaac's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Professor, but Lady Lecarde and your associate led me to believe our situation was especially precarious. With all due respect, I would like to start discussing solutions as soon as possible."
Isaac turned to face Uther. "I understand your apprehension. But, you must be tired after your journey. Why not rest, and mingle amongst the troops? Certainly, seeing Bannon's own Captain of the Guard would do wonders for their morale. With our recent failures, the army could certainly do with some good news." The professor turned back to the table. "If nothing else, we should wait to convene until our scouts have returned."
Uther was quiet as Isaac walked back to the table, before replying, "Very well. I would like the chance to assess the troops for myself as well." Uther turned away. "We overheard you mentioning your scouts would return at sunset. Let's hold a meeting then."
"As you wish, Captain," Isaac replied.
Uther nodded, and looked to Elizabeth. "Let us be off, Lady Lecarde."
Elizabeth saluted. "Yes, Yer Majesty," she said, before she and the captain left the room.
Ingrid laid a hand on Quinn's shoulder. "We should be off too, Quinn," she said.
Quinn looked back at the inquisitor. "What? Why?"
"You'll need a new weapon to replace the one you broke. The quartermaster should have something to spare for you."
At first, Quinn could only look at Ingrid in confusion. "What're you- Oh. Right." In the heat of everything that had happened, he'd forgotten that he was technically unarmed. He let Ingrid lead the way, until-
"Wait."
Ingrid and Quinn looked back to Isaac. "Is there something else, Master Isaac?" Ingrid asked.
Isaac adjusted his glasses again. "I… just wanted to say I'm glad to see both of you are still alive."
"I'm glad to see you too, Professor," Quinn replied.
"Thank you for your concern," Ingrid added, before leading Quinn out of the room.
Before long, night had fallen. After arming himself, Quinn returned to the tower, looking out over its battlements as he awaited the meeting. The new axe hanging from his belt felt strange- it was heavier than his last, being forged from steel, but would hopefully be sturdy enough to withstand any challenge.
Far below, he could see countless fires spread through the camp outside the fort. Within the fortress walls, upon a well-lit stage, a woman clad in black danced before a crowd of soldiers. Even at his distance, he could see the grace and fluidity of her movements- she must have been very skilled, an assessment the crowd agreed with, if their roars of excitement were any indication.
"Quinn," a familiar voice said. But it wasn't Professor Isaac.
Quinn looked back, to see a plain-looking young man in a long black coat standing on the far side of the tower's roof. "Malcolm," he said.
"I've been looking for you," the fellow student said. "I thought you'd be at your camp with the rest of your unit."
Quinn sighed, and turned, leaning against the battlements. "Sorry. But, you know I don't… handle crowds very well." He looked back. "How have you been?"
Malcolm leaned against the battlement, next to Quinn. "The Professor and I have been well, all things considered. And you?"
Quinn hung his head slightly. "I can't say things have been easy, but… I'm still alive, at least."
Malcolm smiled slightly. "That's good to hear. The Professor said he was surprised by how well you've been holding up. Gail, too."
Quinn paled. Gail had followed him after the Professor had left for Hessen. There was absolutely no way he could have known that she was travelling with him. "How… does he know about Gail?"
"That inquisitor, Ingrid, has been sending in reports to the Professor and Mother Agnes ever since you left the capital." Malcolm then pushed himself away from the battlements. "But, we should save the catching-up for later. The meeting's about to begin."
Quinn followed Malcolm down the steps into the tower, and back to the map room. Most of the other members of the vanguard were gathered in the small room with enough chairs set around the table for everyone to sit. Once Quinn and Malcolm entered, Isaac called out, "Alright! Now that everyone is here, please take your seats so we can begin."
Everyone, except for the Professor and Malcolm, sat. Quinn found himself seated between Gail and Ingrid. Once everyone was seated, Isaac said, "Unfortunately, our scouts have yet to return to bring us more recent intelligence. However, from the information gathered during our previous skirmishes, I believe I can create an accurate assessment of the Burgundians' defenses."
Isaac pointed to a map pinned to a standing board. It seemed to depict the Baie de Couteau, with a long structure stretching over it- the Couteau Bridge- and a number of strange marks drawn on it. "The Burgundians have erected a large barricade on the northern edge of the bridge. There are additional, smaller barricades placed at regular intervals on the bridge itself. Each is manned by a number of archers, making an aerial attack on the bridge almost impossible."
Isaac pointed to a specific mark on the map, near the top. "The barricade at the north end is particularly resilient. In our four skirmishes with the Burgundians thus far, we've only successfully breached it once…"
Quinn sat silently, trying to make sense of the information the Professor was sharing… when all at once, there was a flash of light.
Quinn flinched. But when he opened his eyes, he was not seated, nor even still in Fort Branden's tower. Rather, he suddenly found himself amidst the rest of the vanguard, mid-march. He hurried to fall in step, looking at his surroundings- he seemed to be on some kind of stone bridge, that stretched on without end both in front and behind.
Up ahead, someone broke free from the line, and raced over to the edge of the bridge, looking down. The blonde hair and dark skin could only belong to one person. "Quinn, come look!" Gail called.
Quinn approached the edge, and took one quick look before recoiling. Beneath them, the sea looked far away, as if they were crossing over a second sky. "Ah…" His stomach churned, even though the bridge beneath him was steady. "I… don't think I like high places that much."
"Hey, fall in!" Quinn heard Uther shout. "We're not here to sightsee!"
"Y-Yes, Captain!" Quinn called back, and hurried back to his place in the column.
But before he could reach the others, the bridge beneath his feet jerked violently. He staggered, and almost fell, but caught himself and regained his balance. But then, the bridge shook a second time, sending him sprawling. As he tried to rise to his feet, he shouted out, "What's going on!"
"Everyone, fall back! Fall back, now!" Uther screamed.
But it was too late. The stone beneath him collapsed, and Quinn's ears filled with the sounds of his own screams as he plummeted to the waters below.
A second flash blinded Quinn, and he jolted. He was once again seated in the map room between Gail and Ingrid. He sat, breathing hard, shivering from a cold sweat on his back. It took several second before Quinn realized that the meeting was still going:
"…there is a significant risk," Isaac said, "but I believe that by systematically burning down the barricades on the bridge with Fire magic as we cross, we-"
Quinn then stood up. He swayed slightly, still feeling weak from what he had just seen. But he couldn't let things go any further. He said aloud, weakly, "No."
"Quinn?" Malcolm asked.
Isaac folded his arms across his chest. "Quinn, I must ask that any comments be held until the end of the meeting," he said.
"No," Quinn repeated, more firmly. "We can't go on the bridge. If we do… then everyone here will die."
Isaac blinked, clearly taken aback. "What are you-"
At that moment, Ingrid stood up. "You had another vision, didn't you?" She placed her hands on his shoulders. "What did you see?"
It took a moment for Quinn to collect himself enough to reply. "…we were… crossing over the bridge. Then, the whole thing started to shake, and then… it fell out from under all of us."
The room was silent for a moment, before Elizabeth finally spoke: "And, we are meant to trust this… vision of yers?"
Isaac looked to Elizabeth. "As caretaker of Balor, I would hope you of all people would know better than to doubt a Ring of Power's abilities, Miss Lecarde," he said sternly. "Your captain owes his life to one of Quinn's visions." Elizabeth sank back into her seat silently, while Isaac mused, "Collapsing the bridge…"
"Seems pretty underhanded," Gwin said, crossing his arms. "I wouldn't put it past the Browns."
"But… why?" Julius asked. "Destroying the bridge and isolating Rhodan from the rest of Burgundy would not be to their benefit."
Isaac looked to the priest. "That's not entirely true," he said. "Yes, the bridge is vital for connecting Rhodan to the rest of Burgundy, and rebuilding it would be difficult if it were destroyed. But at present, it's the only overland route into the heartlands a force our size could take, and if it stops our advance, then destroying the bridge will only benefit the Burgundians. All the more if doing so eliminates a portion of our forces."
Just then, something flew into the room through a window, and came to a rest on the table: a raven with black feathers. It hopped across the table toward Isaac, and said in a deep male voice, "Isaac, the scouts have returned."
"Orion…" Isaac replied as he looked down at the bird. "What took them so long?"
"The scouts reported unusual activity, so we sent out a second team from Bertelak to verify their report. Our second team has just returned."
"What did they find?" the Professor asked.
"Their report matches the first team's," Orion replied. "The Burgundians have abandoned their forward positions, and are fortifying their camp on the south end of the bridge."
The room fell silent, as the members of the vanguard looked at one another. After several moments, Isaac asked, "Where are the scouts now?"
"Your team is resting here in Bertelak. We've sent out the second team to watch the bridge for any further activity, but they've been ordered not to advance."
Isaac nodded. "Good. Notify us if anything changes."
The raven nodded in turn and replied, "Of course," before dissolving into a cloud of black smoke.
"This is extremely suspicious," Uther said. "We need to investigate this."
"Indeed," Isaac replied. "We should set out tomorrow with a small detachment to make an assessment. Until then, I believe it would be best to adjourn this meeting."
A thick fog blanketed the fort when dawn broke the next day. The vanguard, along with a detachment of soldiers, set out for Couteau Bridge. By midday, they reached the Baie de Couteau- a gulf that divided northern Burgundy from the rest of the country. Ahead, sheer cliffs of dark stone dropped straight down hundreds of peds into the waters below, and the far side was so distant it simply faded into a dull grey haze. Spanning that distance was an enormous arched bridge of grey stone, wide enough that ten people could walk side-by-side unobstructed. Quinn could only gawk silently- there was no way ordinary people could have built something like this.
"Waoh!" Noel cried, bounding ahead to look at the bridge. "It's big!"
"That's something you don't see every day…" Gwin said.
Uther looked down the bridge, before spotting something. He pointed and said, "Look."
It was just as Orion's report had said. A hastily-erected wooden gate, flanked by two short wooden towers, and countless palisades and other fortifications, stood at the mouth of the bridge, unmanned. Across the bay, numerous columns of smoke trailed high into the sky- although it couldn't be seen at this distance, they must have belonged to the Burgundian camp.
"Yeah, this is a trap if I've ever seen one," Lindow commented, crossing his arms over his chest.
Isaac turned to Uther. "We should set up camp and discuss our options."
"Agreed," Uther replied.
The vanguard quickly erected their camp, and gathered around Isaac's maps to plan their next move. They kept one eye turned to the bridge, expecting that at any moment, the Burgundians would advance upon them. But throughout the day, the bridge remained empty.
"…Can't we just fly over the bay?" Quinn asked.
"We don't have the manpower, or the time, to ferry every soldier and our supplies by pegasus knights," Uther replied. "We need a steady supply line if we're to advance any deeper into Burgundy. And to have that, we need to take this bridge."
"We've gotta get behind them somehow…" Gwin muttered to himself, before asking out loud: "Could we double back through the mountains?"
"No. Even for a small force, that would take too much time," Isaac replied.
The vanguard fell silent. Until Lindow then spoke up: "…I might have an idea."
Quinn looked back- Lindow was there, but further back from the others, standing rather than sitting. "Lindow?" he asked.
Lindow stepped forward, turning his attention to Isaac. "That ring you've got… it can send people to faraway places, right?"
Isaac blinked in surprise. "Bifrost?" He looked down at his ring. "Well, it certainly could ferry a handful of soldiers, but not the entire army. Bifrost's portals can only be opened for a short time, and its effective range shrinks with each consecutive use until it's recharged. We would need weeks to-"
But Lindow interrupted. "We won't need the whole army for this."
Uther eyed Lindow with suspicion. "It seems you have something in mind, thief," he said.
Lindow stood up, and walked toward the bridge. "We can use a small team to infiltrate the enemy camp, locate their commanders, and kill or capture them," the thief replied. "If we disrupt the chain of command, it shouldn't be hard to force the Burgundians to surrender."
"Of course one as low as yew would resort to such a vile plan," Elizabeth hissed. "Aye will not sully Bannon's honor with such dishonorable tactics."
Lindow looked back, crossing his arms and giving the pegasus knight a glare. "That's fine with me. You can fight them honorably. And when you get yourself killed, I'll step over your corpse and get the job done."
Elizabeth shot up to her feet, but before she could say anything, Isaac interrupted. "Lindow-" He glanced to Lindow. "-your name was Lindow, right?" When Lindow nodded, the professor looked back to Elizabeth. "…Lindow raises a good point- the direct approach has failed several times already. As things are, subterfuge may be the only way to capture the bridge." He then looked down, bringing a hand to his chin as the thought. "We'll need to assemble a team to assist you. It wouldn't do to send you into their camp alone."
Lindow scratched his head. "Well, I could do it myself," he said. He then glanced to Elizabeth. "I get the feeling our fair Lady wouldn't appreciate that, though."
Ingrid stood. "I'd like to join this team," she said. "I have experience with infiltration."
After a moment, Juno stood up as well. "Hell, I'll come too," she said. "I might not be as sharp as I was back in the agoge, but I know how plenty about how to creep around unnoticed."
Francis stood. Noel tried to stand too, but he gently laid a hand on her shoulder and returned her to her seat. "I believe my skill would serve you well in this."
Uther began to stand. "As Captain, I have a duty to oversee this mission."
"Sorry, but no can do," Lindow replied. "Same with the rest of your entourage. Cavalry would draw too much attention- anyone who comes in would have to come on foot."
Uther returned to his seat with an odd expression. Noticing this, Isaac quickly asked, "May Malcolm and I join you? If you can gather intelligence for me, I could form an effective plan of attack."
Several moments passed before Lindow replied, "…Alright." He then counted on his fingers. "…the people I ran with always preferred to have seven people on a job, so we've got room for one more." Lindow's eyes swept over the rest of the vanguard. "How about… you, kid?" His eyes fell on Quinn.
Quinn jumped slightly. "Huh? Me?"
Ingrid looked to Lindow. "Are you sure that's wise?"
"Wouldn't feel right to have my boss sit things out," Lindow replied. "Besides, if we get into a scrape, we might need a heavy-hitter to bail us out. And the kid is probably the heaviest hitter we've got."
Ingrid simply looked at Lindow with her eyes narrowed.
"Hey look, I'm not just good at what I do. I'm the best in my field. If the kid sticks with me and does exactly what I tell him, then he'll get through this just fine."
Ingrid continued to narrow her eyes at Lindow. But Isaac spoke up: "Well, if our team has been assembled, then we should be off."
"Wait, what?" Quinn asked, confused. "Shouldn't we wait until nightfall?"
"The light from Bifrost would draw too much attention in the dark. And, we'll need to gather intel on the Burgundian camp before mounting our assault. Now would be the best time to go." As he spoke, Isaac drew a circle in the air with his left hand, before touching its center. At once, a portal, shimmering in all the colors of the rainbow, opened in the air before him; at the same time, a light flashed in the mist on the far side of the bay.
Lindow warily approached the portal, and placed his hand into it. When he determined it was safe, he said, "Well, as leader of this op, I suppose I should go in first." He stepped through the shimmering portal, and after several moments, an arm emerged from the portal, waving them in.
"It looks like it's safe," Isaac replied "We should be going." Isaac then stepped through the portal as well. One after another, the members of the team Lindow assembled entered the portal, until Quinn was the last person in the camp. As he prepared to step through the portal, he heard Gail call out:
"Good luck, Quinn!"
He paused, and looked back, trying to think of something to say to reassure Gail. After a moment of thought, he replied, "We have the Professor with us. We won't need luck," before entering the portal.
When Quinn stepped through the portal, he emerged in a world of white. The fog on the south end of the bay was much thicker than in the north, so much so that even his feet were hidden from view. He looked around, but couldn't see anyone right away. "Hey, where'd everybody go?" he asked aloud.
"We're here," Francis replied, and stepped into view. The others emerged from the fog as well; a quick count showed that everyone was present and accounted for.
Lindow pushed his cloak aside and drew a dagger. "I'll go ahead and scout out the Burgundians' camp. The rest of you should wait here. Don't expect me to be back right away- it'll probably take me a few hours to get all the info we need."
Lindow turned, but Ingrid stepped forward before he could leave. "I'll join you," she said. Her tone made it clear that her words were not a request.
"If… you insist," Lindow replied, hesitantly. The thief turned, and faded into the fog, with Ingrid right on his heels.
A few moments passed in silence among the rest of the team. "Okay…" Juno began, "now what?"
"Well, I've been working on a few history lectures for when I return to my position at the College," Isaac replied. "I haven't had the chance to practice presenting them, so I'd like to know if I should make any adjustments…"
Meanwhile, Lindow and Ingrid crept through the fog, heading toward the Burgundian camp. The fog was both a blessing and a curse- it would make it easier to approach the Burgundians undetected, but at the same time, it would be harder to gather intel at a distance. Lindow crouched low, stalking through the dry, brown grass. His "companion," however, walked upright, making little effort to conceal herself. But even so, Ingrid's footsteps were light, almost as imperceptible as his own.
Then, seemingly from nowhere, Ingrid said aloud, "I'd like to use this time to speak to you. Away from Quinn."
Lindow laughed, though more weakly than intended. "Always happy to chat with a beautiful woman. What about?" He tried to play calm in front of the inquisitor, but he couldn't help but find her highly unnerving. And the strange feeling he got from her was… familiar, too. Just like-
"I must admit, I'm surprised by how well you've integrated into our unit," Ingrid said, interrupting his thoughts. "But even so, I don't trust you."
Lindow turned his gaze away. "That's fine with me," he replied coldly. "I didn't come into this line of work expecting to be liked." He gave a small smile. "…Which makes all the attention from the ladies is an unexpected- but not unwelcome bonus."
Ingrid continued, "You're alive now because Quinn took you in as a retainer. Do not forget your debt to him. And if you do anything to betray the trust he has put in you… then I will ensure you regret it."
"Awfully protective of him, aren't you?" he asked. "You should watch yourself- people might get the wrong idea about the two of you."
Ingrid laid her hand on the hilt of her sword, fixing Lindow with a cold gaze. "I don't like what you're insinuating."
"Whoa whoa hey now, there's no need for that." Lindow backed away from Ingrid, hands raised. "Look, I know I owe the kid. So you have my word that I'll have his back. Always."
"See to it that you do. I will be watching you." Ingrid looked away, the cold expression never leaving her face. "Now come. The camp shouldn't be far."
Lindow followed Ingrid. He'd had his suspicions before, but now he knew for certain, though it seemed she didn't.
He and Ingrid… were the same.
It was well past sunset when Ingrid and Lindow finally returned. The others simply waited in the dark, the enemy much too close to risk lighting a campfire, a thick fog still blanketing their surroundings. But eventually, Lindow and Ingrid finally emerged from the darkness. "Alright, I think we have enough to work with," the thief said.
Without waiting for a response, Lindow knelt down, and began to scratch something into the earth with his dagger. It was a cluster of boxes, in a rough circular shape, with X's drawn at various spots on the perimeter. Quinn soon realized that the design must have been a map of the Burgundians' camp, and the X's the camp's guards.
Lindow's comment when he finished and stepped back confirmed what Quinn suspected: "Alright, we managed to map out the Burgundians' camp and where their sentries are posted."
"We're in luck," Ingrid added. "The Burgundians' garrison is undermanned at the moment, and reinforcements are a few days out."
"How many men do they have?" Isaac asked.
Ingrid answered, "About twenty-five able-bodied men in all."
"And their commanding officers?"
"Just one- someone named Varrot." Ingrid adjusted her cap. "We weren't able to identify the target, though."
"I see…" Isaac studied the map in silence, and began mumbling to himself: "…the guards are mostly concentrated on the north and south ends of the camp- no real surprise there, since they'll be watching the roads. There's a few sentries on the east and west sides, but…" He then pointed to two blank spots on the top of the map. "What about these parts here?"
"They're by the cliffs on each side of the bridge. There's nothing over there," Lindow replied.
Isaac regarded the blank spaces for several moments, before he said, "I think we've found our entry points."
"What should we do, Professor?" Malcolm asked.
Isaac knelt down, and traced two arrows in the dirt. "I think our best plan should be to split into two groups, with each entering through one of these points. We'll search the camp, avoiding the sentries, and neutralize the commander."
"Sounds easy enough," Juno said. "How should we split ourselves up?"
Isaac was quiet in thought for a few moments. "Lindow, Quinn, and Malcolm will comprise the first team. Miss Ingrid, Francis, and yourself will comprise the second, Miss Juno."
Ingrid looked down at the Professor. "And what about you, Master Isaac?"
Isaac drew a circle in the dirt beneath the map of the camp. "I'll observe the camp at a distance. If any of you are compromised, I'll move in and draw the Burgundians' attention away from you."
"All by yourself?" Francis asked, incredulous.
"I was chosen to be an instructor at the Arcane College for a reason," the replied, with a strange, boastful tone Quinn had never heard before. "These fools have absolutely no idea who they're dealing with."
With the plan laid out, the group waited for another hour to pass, ensuring that all but the sentries would be fast asleep, before approaching the camp. Here, they parted ways- Lindow's team would approach from the west, while Ingrid's team circled the camp, to approach from the east. Professor Isaac moved to a safe distance south of the camp, out of sight of the sentries, to observe the two teams.
Lindow crept through the darkness silently, with Quinn and Malcolm not-so-silently following in his footsteps. Fortunately, the sentry patrolling the west edge of the camp was on the south side, far enough away that the three would neither be seen nor heard. Before the three reached the camp, however, Lindow held up a fist, signaling for the three to stop, and turned to face Quinn and Malcolm. "Alright," the thief began. "Remember, we're here for Varrot. Nobody else. Stay out of sight, and avoid picking any fights if you can help it."
"What are we supposed to do if we run into someone?" Quinn asked.
"I'm not saying not to fight back," Lindow replied. "But every person we kill other than the target can draw unnecessary attention And we can't stay put for too long. The longer we stay still, the easier it is for someone to find us."
"I'm… not so sure about this now…" Malcolm said, hesitantly.
Lindow turned back to the camp, looking to Malcolm from over his shoulder. "Don't worry. Just do exactly what I do, and do exactly what I tell you, and you'll be just fine. Now let's go."
The three entered the camp. They remained crouched low, the lines of tents beside them shielding them from view. Quinn couldn't help but jolt slightly at every snore, every shifting sound that sounded from all around. But Lindow showed no reaction to the sounds at all. It seemed he truly was a professional.
But all at once, there was a loud shuffling from one of the tents. Lindow stopped, as did Quinn and Malcolm, before pointing to the left. Quinn didn't understand at first, but Malcolm seemingly did, as he and Lindow quickly squeezed through the small gaps between the tents, and entered the next row. Quinn followed them, and looked back; a man had emerged from one of the tents, and stumbled through the row where the three had just been, grumbling.
Once the man was out of earshot, Malcolm said in a low voice, "That was close."
"Way too close," Lindow replied, looking to Quinn. "You've gotta be quicker on the uptake than that, kid."
Quinn shrank slightly. "I'm sorry…" he whispered.
The three continued onward. They stopped several times when strange sounds emanated from the tents, but fortunately, no other soldiers emerged. As they stalked through the camp, Malcolm said something aloud, something Quinn hadn't considered until that moment: "You know, I just realized- we have no idea how to find this Varrot person."
Lindow glanced back. "Well, officers are usually nobles, so they're used to higher standards of living than the average soldier. Keep your eyes peeled for anything that seems out-of-place: a tent that's bigger and fancier than the ones around it, or a sentry…"
The thief trailed off. Quinn easily figured out why- voices were approaching their position. A man and a woman, speaking to one another. At first, he thought it was the other team. But he quickly realized the voices were unfamiliar to him, and the two were speaking much too loudly to have been his comrades. Furthermore, there was a light approaching as well- surely, the others would know better than to light a torch.
Lindow motioned again, and the three hid themselves from view behind the tents. As they did, they heard a woman's voice ask, "…And the status of the coalition force on the north end of the bridge?"
"They appear to be yet another scouting party," a man replied. "They've set up camp, but have not advanced, and we haven't received reports of any major troop movements away from Fort Branden."
"Strange… the Bannish aren't usually so cautious," the woman said.
Lindow glanced out, before motioning for Quinn and Malcolm to look as well. The two young men peered out between the tents- on the other side of the line, just a few peds away, were two people. One was an ordinary-looking Burgundian soldier, but the other was a stern-looking woman, with blonde hair pulled into a small bun.
"What's with that lady's outfit?" Quinn whispered. The woman didn't wear the standard wine-red tunic of the other soldiers- rather, she wore a red coat with long tails and sleeves, and bright gold buttons.
"I think we found our officer," Lindow replied. "Gotta love 'em and their fancy uniforms."
"So we've found our target," Malcolm said. "What now?"
Lindow looked to Quinn. "It's your call, kid- take 'em down now, or wait for them to split up."
Quinn peered out again- the man continued his report, and it didn't seem it would end any time soon. He recalled what Lindow said- if they remained in place too long, they would risk being discovered. Both the soldier's and the woman's back were turned, so it wouldn't be difficult to sneak up on them… but sounds from any struggle would doubtlessly draw attention.
Quinn inhaled, and steeled himself. They would simply have to take their chances. "Let's take them out."
Lindow nodded. "Alright then." He silently drew a dagger. "I'll get the commander. You take care of the bodyguard."
"What should I do?" Malcolm asked.
"Watch our backs. Magic is a little too noisy for what I have in mind." He looked to Quinn and said, "Wait here," before creeping out of the gap between the tents. Quinn waited, until he saw Lindow's head poke out from a gap a few tents down, on the other side of the man and woman. The thief said nothing, simply tilting his head to the two. But Quinn understood- You go first. I'll follow.
Quinn nodded in reply. For a moment, he thought about the best approach- should he rush the soldier, or creep up slowly, and spring his attack at the last moment? He drew his axe from its place on his belt and tensed- he should be close enough to rush the two before they could react. He drew in a breath, before darting out from between the tents, and charging.
In moments, Quinn reached the man and woman. The two had only just begun turning toward the sound of his footsteps. The guard never stood a chance- with his back turned, he caught only the barest glimpse of Quinn before his axe bit into his neck. The woman stumbled back as the man fell. "Wha-" But before she could say anything or draw her weapon, Lindow darted around and behind the officer, and held his blade against her throat.
"Normally I'd say 'Someone forgot to shave this morning,'" Lindow said wryly. "But that might be a little awkward for you, now wouldn't it?"
The woman's eyes darted between Quinn and Lindow. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?" she hissed.
Lindow touched his knife against the woman's throat, making her flinch. "Oh no, see, that's where you've got things wrong. People don't get to ask questions when they're in your position."
But then, there was a loud shuffling from one of the nearby tents, and a man emerged into the next row. "What's going on out-"
He never finished. At that moment, there was a flash, and a clap of thunder. A bolt of electricity struck the man, and he fell. Quinn turned to the source- Malcolm, standing with a tome in hand, wide-eyed, as if unable to believe his own actions.
"Kid, what the hell!? I thought you were supposed to be smart!" Lindow barked.
Malcolm could only stammer in reply. "I'm sorry, I-I didn't even think about it…"
The rest of the camp may have overlooked Quinn and Lindow's struggle, but there would be no ignoring the thunderclap from Malcolm's spell. Other soldiers emerged from the surrounding tents, and the sentries approached from the edges of the camp. The confusion quickly turned to angry, indignant shouts as the mass of soldiers surrounded the three. Quinn and Malcolm backed towards Lindow, retreating from the spears and swords pointed in their direction.
The woman laughed, despite Lindow still holding a blade to her neck. "Hahaha… didn't think this plan of yours through, now did you?"
Quinn stood with his weapon raised, regretting his hasty decision. The three of them were outnumbered, surrounded on all sides, and there was no sign of the second team, not that the six of them put together would have been able to beat the mass of soldiers. The only reason they were likely even still alive was because they had Varrot as a hostage. And if they killed her, the enemy soldiers would more likely attack rather than surrender. Quinn glanced down at his hand, at Norn- they may have to make a break for it, and Norn might be the only way to get the opening they need…
But before Quinn could contemplate that plan any further, a voice from outside the camp called out, "That's quite enough!"
All eyes turned toward the source. Isaac walked calmly up the road, a torch blazing in his hand.
The sentries that were closest rushed to confront Isaac, lances raised. "Who the hell are you!" they barked.
Isaac came to a stop. "My name is Isaac, Archon of the Archonite Order, wielder of Bifrost! If any of you value your lives, you will throw down your weapons, and surrender!"
The camp was quiet. Then, Varrot burst out laughing. It didn't take long for other soldiers to join her, and before long, the Burgundians' laughter echoed over the bay. But soon, Varrot composed herself, and called out to Isaac, "You're hardly in any position to make demands from us, Archon!"
Calmly, Isaac adjusted his glasses, and continued forward. The soldiers closest to him stepped forward to block his path, weapons raised. "That's close enough, old man!" one shouted.
Isaac remained calm, extending his hand to his side, and opening a portal. One of the sentries stumbled back from the flash, while the other held firm. The professor looked back to the soldiers: his tone was calm, as if he were casually speaking about the weather, as he said to them:
"The portal I just made connects directly to our camp at Ft. Branden. All I have to do is give one signal, and every soldier in our army will march into your camp and slaughter every last one of you. You've lost this battle, Commander Varrot- whether you choose to lose your lives along with it is entirely up to you."
One of the soldiers waved his weapon in Isaac's face. "You're bluffing!" he shouted. The professor didn't flinch.
But then, Commander Varrot said something Quinn didn't expect. "Stand down."
All eyes turned to the woman. "Commander?" one of the Burgundians asked, incredulous.
She lowered her gaze slightly. "That man… everything that man said is true. Throw down your weapons, and thank the gods that the only wounds you suffered here were to your pride."
The soldier in front of Isaac hesitated… but in the end, he relented, and threw his lance down. The remaining soldiers cast aside their weapons as well, one after another, until all were unarmed.
Isaac entered the camp, weaving through the disarmed soldiers, until he was alongside Quinn. "As of now, all of you are claimed by Hessen as prisoners of war. So long as you conduct yourself to the standard conventions of war, we will treat you fairly." He turned his gaze to Lindow. "Mr. Lindow, please disarm Commander Varrot, if you would."
"Gotcha." Lindow reached with his free hand, and the sword hanging from Varrot's belt dropped to the ground. "Oh, what's this we've got?" Lindow took notice of something, and reached into the Burgundian commander's pocket, despite her protests. He pulled out a slip of paper, and held it out to Isaac." Hey Teach, why not read this out loud for everyone."
Isaac took the note, reading it in silence. "I see…" he said. "You truly were planning to collapse the bridge."
Quinn looked to the professor, stunned. He knew what he'd seen in his vision, but even so… "What, really?"
"Indeed," Isaac replied. "A team of mages were to use Thunder spells strike a number of the bridge's key support points. Each strike on its own would have heavily damaged the bridge, but wouldn't have been enough to compromise its structural integrity. But several strikes, happening simultaneously… that would have been a different story." Isaac then looked to his right, and called out, "You can come out now, Miss Ingrid."
Ingrid, Francis, and Juno then emerged from behind a row of tents at the east edge of the camp. "Our apologies for not intervening," Ingrid said, adjusting her cap. "But Master Isaac seemed to have the situation under control."
Varrot's eyes swept across the seven. "Bested by seven soldiers…" she mumbled. "I almost wish you had killed me. To spare me the humiliation."
"I must commend you, Commander Varrot," Isaac said, turning his attention back to the woman. "Against any other opponent, your plan would almost certainly have succeeded. But… you had the misfortune to meet us." He stepped past her. "We should take the prisoners back to Captain Uther."
So, the two teams led their prisoners across the bridge- one team in front, the second watching the rear. Lindow's team led the column, accompanied by Isaac. As they marched, Isaac looked down to Quinn, and said, "It seems I owe you an apology, Quinn."
"Huh? What?" Quinn asked, confused. "Why?"
"I must admit that even with Miss Ingrid's testimony, I was skeptical of your abilities. But this…" He held up the slip of paper. "…is your vindication. If we had advanced over the bridge as initially planned, then all of us would almost surely be dead." Isaac brought his hand up to his chin. "I'd like a chance to study your Ring's powers in greater detail. If there are stimuli that can induce Norn's effects, I believe it would be a greater help to us."
"Yeah…" Quinn replied, looking down at Norn. "Right now, the visions just… come and go. I don't really have any control over them…"
The group fell silent, before Lindow then looked to Isaac. "That was a pretty bold move, Teach. Didn't think your Ring could reach that far."
"Hmm?" Isaac asked, confused. "Oh! That. I was bluffing. Bifrost wouldn't have been able to fully reach across the bay, much less back to Fort Branden."
Lindow blinked, incredulous. "Wait… you were bluffing? What if they'd called you out?"
Isaac scratched his chin. "Well… I supposed we should thank our lucky stars they didn't."
Lindow shook his head in disbelief. "Huh… guess that's an Archon's reputation for ya." He then mumbled something in a low voice. Isaac didn't hear it… but Quinn did: "…no wonder the Company didn't take chances with you guys…"
"…hey… Hey!"
Quinn jolted awake. He stumbled to his feet in the dark, and fumbled around to find the opening for his tent. When he finally pulled the flap open, he was met by a blonde woman in revealing clothes.
"Evangelyne…?" he asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
She looked down at him. "I'm tending the field hospital. Where else would I be?"
"The field hospital? But that's in Fort-" Quinn then remembered. He was in Fort Branden. He, Lindow, and everyone else had marched the Burgundians across the Couteau Bridge back to their camp. He remembered Uther's stunned expression, and wondered what had surprised him more- that they'd succeeded at all, or that they'd captured so many prisoners. He remembered Uther and Isaac making the decision to march the prisoners all the way back to Fort Branden, where they had the facilities, and the numbers, to hold them securely. He remembered that it was well past dawn when the group finally returned to the fort, and by then, it was nothing short of a miracle he was still standing. The last thing Quinn did remember, was Ingrid taking hold of him, and gently walking with him to the vanguard's camp.
Quinn shook his head, and said, "Never mind. Did you… need something?"
Evangelyne beamed at him. "I have something for you. Come with me!"
Without waiting for a reply, Evangelyne grabbed his arm and dragged him out of his tent. Quinn protested, "H-Hey, don't pull so hard!" but his complaints fell on deaf ears as she pulled him through the camp, and into the fort proper. When she finally let him go, Quinn noticed they were in front of the stage he'd seen a few days earlier. But before he could fully get his bearings, Evangelyne held out her arms and proudly proclaimed, "Ta-daaa!"
Quinn looked. It was… Evangelyne's retainers, waiting around the stage. The black-haired woman was sweeping the ground in front of the stage, the pink-haired woman sat on the stage's edge, and the red-haired woman leaned against the wall all the way at the back of the stage. All three looked to Quinn. "Um…" Quinn began, unsure of how to respond.
"Alright my lovelies, gather 'round!" As the three retainers gathered, Evangelyne asked, "You know how I can't leave the field hospital, right? Well, I was talking to Ingrid and Mother Agnes, and we've come to an agreement. I'm gonna loan my retainers to you! Aren't I just so thoughtful?" She smiled, her expression indicating she expected some kind of praise for her actions.
"Uh… th-thanks?" Quinn said, confused. "We… I'm sure we'll put them to good use."
Evangelyne laughed as she approached Quinn, and draped an arm over his shoulder. "Now I want you to listen, and listen good," she said, in a low tone that was becoming too familiar. "I'm not giving my retainers to you. You're only borrowing them. So I expect you to bring all three back, alive, and in one piece. If any of them die on your watch, you'll be answering to me. And don't think you can do something stupid like trying to seduce them away from me. Understand?"
"Umm…" This time, Quinn was too afraid to respond, rather than too confused.
But a savior unexpectedly came when a comforting voice called out: "Master Evangelyne!" Both Quinn and Evangelyne looked, to see Ingrid approaching. When the inquisitor reached them, she said, "I don't mean to interrupt, but there's the matter regarding Noel."
"Huh?" Evangelyne asked, letting Quinn go- he scurried over to the inquisitor's side. "What matter?"
Ingrid calmly clasped her hands behind her back and stood tall. "Order regulations require that a new Ringbearer be brought to the nearest headquarters for verification."
"Oh, right, right." Evangelyne sighed. "Alright then. Bring the girl over."
Ingrid departed, returning a few minutes later with Noel. As before, the normally cheerful girl's demeanor changed in the blonde woman's presence, and Noel flinched when Evangelyne approached. She tapped Noel's shoulders with her and arm and said hurriedly:
"By-the-power-vested-in-me-by-Mother-Agnes-I-hereby-name-you-an-Archon-of-the-Archonite-Order-and-grant-you-all-the-rights-and-privileges-therein." She clapped Noel's shoulder. "Now get out there and win us a war."
Evangelyne turned, but Ingrid stopped her. "Master Evangelyne," she began with a stern tone. "Just what was that display supposed to be?"
"What? I'm the Order's co-founder. I can initiate people as Archons if I want," Evangelyne said.
Ingrid crossed her arms over her chest, a strange expression on her face.
"I can't leave the fort, and you know Isaac can't spare the troops to send Noel up to Corburg. At least this way, she can aid you in an official capacity." Ingrid remained unmoved.
Evangelyne then crossed her arms too, and narrowed her eyes at the inquisitor. "Not that I owe you an explanation. I can do what I like. Now if you'll excuse me, I have duties to be returning to." The blonde woman then wheeled around and walked away.
Ingrid called out, "Wait, Master Evangelyne, you know this isn't…!" She trailed off, and let out a heavy sigh. "You'd think a founder of the Order would have more respect for the regulations she helped to codify."
"Uh…" Noel asked, trembling. "What happens to Noel now?"
Ingrid knelt down, to look Noel in the eye. "Well, when this war is over, you'll have to be trained at the Abbey, like Quinn. But until then, nothing will really change." She gripped Noel's shoulders. "You'll help us, won't you?"
"Does Noel get to stay with Master?" Noel asked.
"Well, you would be the master, but…" Ingrid nodded. "Yes, you'll be able to stay with Francis."
Noel leapt for joy. "Yaaay! Noel has to tell Master!" And she hurried away.
The next day, the Hessian and Bannish force began moving away from Fort Branden, establishing camps and moving supplies across the Couteau Bridge. Quinn was among the many aiding in this task, when…
"Quinn! Excuse me, Quinn!"
Quinn looked back, to see Professor Isaac hurrying towards him. When the professor reached him, he hunched over, breathing heavily. "Hah… apologies, Quinn. But, I'd like to ask you something."
"Uh, sure," Quinn replied. "What is it, Professor?"
"I wanted to ask you to stop by my tent when you have some time."
"Alright…" Quinn looked to the line of soldiers and carts beside him. "I mean, I'm kind of in the middle of moving supplies, but I can stop by when I'm finished."
Isaac nodded and said, "Excellent, that's good to hear. I'll see you then," before departing.
It would take a few hours before Quinn was finished with his task, and once he was done, the sun was hanging low in the western sky. He was tired, but even so, he sought out the professor's tent, as promised.
As he approached, Isaac opened his tent and ushered Quinn inside, saying. "Oh, you came! Excellent, excellent. Please, have a seat." He turned away, and began rummaging through a large sack.
"What's going on, Professor? Why'd you call me over?"
"Well…" Isaac began. "I was hoping we could resume your studies."
For a few moments, Quinn could only stare in stunned silence. "You… can't be serious, Professor."
Isaac turned to face Quinn, a hefty tome in hand. "Oh, but I am, Quinn."
"Professor…" Quinn was unsure of how to lighten his words. So, he simply said what he thought, unfiltered: "Professor, we're at war. I really don't think now would be the best time for studying."
Isaac adjusted his glasses. "On the contrary, now could not be a more perfect time." Then, the professor asked an unexpected question. "Tell me, Quinn- what is a soldier's greatest weapon?"
"Uh…" Quinn didn't answer right away. What was a soldier's greatest weapon? An actual weapon seemed too obvious- it had to be something else. Discipline? Willingness to follow orders?
But Isaac answered that question for Quinn: "A soldier's greatest weapon… is the mind. And just like any weapon, it must be constantly maintained, else it loses its sharpness." The professor added, "Miss Ingrid mentioned how you missed your studies. And it's good to take your mind off the battlefield, if only for a while."
Quinn was quiet. Continuing his studies, now of all times? It wouldn't exactly do him good to be worrying about sums while out on the battlefield. But at the same time, he would be lying if he said there hadn't been times when he wanted to go back to the College, to pick up where he'd left off. So, Quinn eventually answered, "If you think it's what's best… then I'd to keep going. W-With my studies."
"Excellent." Isaac handed Quinn the book. "Now, do you remember where we left off?"
"Uh…" Quinn was silent for a few moments as he tried to recall. "We were… studying the ancient city-states of Doria, right?"
Isaac nodded in approval. "Good, you still remember. Now, as you may recall, our calendar begins with the founding of the Imperium of Mosk, but many Doric city-states were established decades, if not centuries before the reign of Emperor Daein…"
The sun had long since set when Quinn emerged from Isaac's tent. In resuming his role as a teacher, the professor had gotten a bit carried away, and had profusely apologized for keeping him so late. But once Quinn stepped outside the tent, he was greeted by a strange sight: Malcolm, sitting at the ground, looking up at the sky.
Malcolm must have heard Quinn, as he looked back and said, "Hey."
"Oh, hi Malcolm," Quinn replied. "Did you… want to talk to the Professor?"
Malcolm shook his head, and turned his gaze skyward again. "Oh, no, it isn't anything like that. I just came out here to watch the stars."
Quinn looked up to the sky, dotted by countless stars. He couldn't help but to be reminded of his old life, in Grimhold, and said out loud, "Back in Grimhold, I never really saw the sky in the day. When I did see it, it was at times like this. At night."
"Hmm," Malcolm hummed, and then looked at Quinn. "Say, Quinn…" he began. "What do you see when you look up at the night sky?"
Quinn was taken aback. "Huh?"
"Just look up, and tell me what you see. You don't have to think too hard about it."
Quinn looked up at the stars, squinting. "It… just looks like a bunch of dots to me."
Malcolm laughed. "I don't blame you for thinking that. You'd be wrong, but, I don't blame you."
Quinn looked to his fellow student. "What do you mean, 'wrong?'"
Malcolm replied with a question of his own: "You know what constellations are, don't you?"
"Yeah," Quinn replied, nodding. "Professor Isaac said sailors use them to navigate, right?"
"That's right," Malcolm replied. "But, there's more to constellations than simply to find your way." He looked up at the sky. "Every star tells a story, Quinn. Stories of heroes, and monsters. Of gods, and demons. Tales… from when the world was young."
Quinn looked up at the sky as well- the stars twinkled silently in the darkness. "What kind of stories?" he asked.
Malcolm climbed to his feet. "I'll need to check my notes, and see which constellations are out this season. Come back in a few nights, and I'll tell you all the stories I know."
It was a strange request, but Quinn felt no need to deny his fellow student- his friend. "Alright. I'll see you then."
It was dark when Uther awoke. But that was alright- as Captain of the Guard, his day always started earlier than anyone else's. He normally started by putting on his armor and warming up a few sword drills, but based on the gurgling in his stomach, that would have to wait. Putting on his boots, he stepped out of his tent-
"Good morning, Yer Majesty," Elizabeth said.
"Ah," Uther replied, taken aback. "Good… morning, Lady Lecarde." She was standing right outside his tent, arms clasped behind her back, not even shivering in the cold morning air. "…How long have you been waiting out here?"
"Only a few hours," she replied matter-of-factly, and continued: "Aye've taken the liberty of constructing an agenda for yew and yer vanguard to follow today." She held out a sheet of documents to the captain.
Uther looked down at the documents. "I… see. I'll need to take the time to review it." He began walking away from his tent.
Elizabeth quickly caught up with the captain, walking in step with him. "Aye have also taken the liberty of inspecting yer equipment. Aye've replaced a few worn straps on yer armor, sharpened yer weapons, and reshoed yer mount."
"Miss Lecarde, that was-" Uther began.
But Elizabeth continued: "Aye've also inspected our food stocks, and found a number of deficiencies. Aye've already sent a notice to our supply line requesting they correct this."
"Miss Lecarde…"
"Aye've also noticed yer accommodations are somewhat lacking as well. Aye spoken to the quartermaster to see if more appropriate accoutrements can-"
"Miss Lecarde!"
"M-Majesty?" Elizabeth stammered, clearly taken aback. "Is there something not to yer satisfaction?"
Uther shook his head. "Not at all. In fact, I should commend you for your hard work." He took a breath. "…but perhaps it would be best to finish your report after I've finished my business here."
"Business? What manner of business would yew-" she began to say, looking around. She quickly realized where Uther had been headed- the camp latrine. "Ah. Of course." She quickly turned away, hiding her face- it was the first time that Uther had seen Elizabeth so flustered.
Uther turned away. "Miss Lecarde, there's something I'd like to say," he said aloud.
"Yes, yer Majesty?" She remained facing away from him, not even turning her head slightly to better hear him.
"I would prefer that you not call me 'your Majesty' while on campaign. 'Captain' will suffice."
Elizabeth nodded. "As yew wish, Majesty."
Uther sighed, but said no more.
"Julius? Julius!" Gwin called. But there was no answer. It was time to move on, but the army couldn't go anywhere until all soldiers were present and accounted for. And although it was unlike Julius to be late for anything, the priest was missing. Gwin was the first to volunteer to search for him, so here he was, searching the countryside around the camp. But, Gwin liked to think he knew Julius, and had an inkling of where the priest may have been.
And sure enough, as he climbed a particularly tall hill, he heard a familiar voice. When he reached the top, he was met by a familiar sight- a priest, clad in blue, with his back turned. "Temperature is a mild 72 degrees. Light breeze from the north." As he spoke, Julius wrote in his notebook. He then turned his gaze to the horizon. "Hum… the cloudfront to the east could prove problematic if the winds shift…"
"Hey Julius," Gwin called. "We're getting ready to head out. We should head back to camp."
Julius stopped writing and looked back. "Oh. Is it that time already?"
Gwin approached. "What're you doing out here all alone?"
"I was attempting to make a weather forecast for the next week," he replied, and put away his notebook. "But I suppose that can wait for now. Let us return to camp." He walked past Gwin, and down the hill.
Gwin hurried to catch up to his comrade. "Oh yeah, you've always been trying to predict the weather, haven't you?" Gwin asked. "Why is that?"
"It is important to understand how different weather conditions affect an army, both on the move, and on the battlefield. By predicting the weather, we can modify our strategies to overcome adverse conditions." Julius glanced toward the knight. "As I recall, your field manual has a rather extensive section on that very topic."
Gwin laughed nervously and scratched his head. "Ahahah… I must've missed that part," he replied sheepishly. "Well anyway, keep up the good work, I suppose."
"Indeed. Although I already serve as a medic, I will do my utmost to provide aid in any way I can."
"That's fine. Just… remember you have people all around you to back you up."
Julius gave a small nod. "I shall endeavor to do so."
Most of the army was asleep at this late hour. But for Lindow, the night was a time for work, and in any case, sleep would not bring the thief any rest. He sat before a small, dimly burning fire, sharpening one of his knives against a whetstone. But as he worked, he couldn't help but feel that there was a presence lingering nearby. With a sigh, the thief set down his knife and said aloud, "If you have something to say to me, then come out and say it."
A figure stepped into the light, but not one the thief had expected. "Uh, hey, Lindow," Quinn said, nervously.
"Hey," Lindow replied. "…did you need something, kid?"
A moment passed before Quinn answered. "I wanted to ask you something," he replied, hesitantly. "You… know people, right? Like, people who… know things, and sell what they know?"
Lindow picked up his knife, and continued sharpening it. "That's a dirty stereotype. But, one that happens to be true in my case; I've got contacts all over. Why do you ask?"
Quinn again hesitated. "I was wondering… if you could find some information for me."
Lindow looked up. "I gathered as much. Though, I get a feeling this isn't for… official business. So what're ya lookin' for?"
"It's not anything bad!" Quinn looked down slightly. "I just… want to know… where my parents came from."
Lindow raised an eyebrow at Quinn. "Kind of a strange request. Can't you just ask them yourself?"
Quinn looked down, sadly. "My parents… both died when I was young."
"Oh…" Lindow looked away, scratching his head. "Y-Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem." He looked back to the young man. "Well, I can help you out. But you'll have to help me, too: You want info, then I need info in return."
"About my parents?" Quinn asked. "What do you need to know?"
"Anything you can tell me about them."
"All I know is what the people in my hometown told me." Quinn touched his chin as he thought. "They said my parents and I came to Grimhold on a merchant ship. And that not long after we arrived, the whole island was hit by something called 'the sweating sickness.' A lot of people died from it. Including my parents. I was about three or four when my mother died- it's… the first thing I can really remember."
Quinn looked to Lindow. "I didn't really think about it when I was younger, but now… I'm curious. From what everyone said, it made me wonder… if I have any family anywhere else. I was raised in Grimhold, but I'm pretty sure that I wasn't born there. So… do you think you can help me?"
Lindow scratched his chin, pondering what Quinn had told him. "Huh…" Admittedly, it wasn't much… though the mention of the sweating sickness sounded promising. "I'll get in touch with my people and pass on what you told me. We'll see what they can dig up."
"Thanks Lindow." The young man turned and left.
Lindow hung his head slightly and mumbled, mostly to himself, "Can't make you any promises, though, kid."
Isaac: The first Archon created after the revision. For a long while, though Isaac had a defined role in the story as Quinn's teacher, I didn't have much of an idea as to what he looked like- only that he wore glasses, as Julius wore glasses to emulate him. It wasn't until late that he would gain an appearance, inspired by Cyrus from Octopath Traveler, though with much shorter hair. After naming Isaac, I noticed the accidental trend of the Archons before Quinn all having names that started with vowels, and deliberately chose to keep it going. In terms of archetypes, he would be a straight Wendell. If he had a voice actor, it would ideally be Alistair Duncan.
Isaac's Ring of power, Bifrost, was named for the rainbow bridge connecting Asgard and Midgard from Norse mythology. I created it because I realized a lot of the Rings I'd made at the time were mainly offense-oriented, and wanted to make a break from that.
Malcolm- Created to replace the unnamed Raven expy from the original concept, Malcolm, unlike his teacher, always had a somewhat well-defined appearance, inspired by Robin from Awakening. A lot of the characters who appear have some major trauma in their backstory, but for Malcolm, I wanted to move away from that, and have him be a largely normal individual, albeit one with a penchant for storytelling. Archetype-wise, the closest would be the Arlen, but even that is a very loose fit. For a little while, his name was "Marcus," because I thought up the name Malcolm, but didn't write it down and subsequently forgot it. Would ideally be voiced by David Vincent.