Chapter X: Snow In Summer

Lithe 25, 706

It took roughly three days for the army at Fort Branden to cross the Couteau Bridge. Sturdy as it was, there was only so much space for all the men and their supplies to cross. Quinn helped transport goods where he could, but on this particular day, he had something else in mind that he needed to do. He searched through the many smaller camps surrounding the main camp on the south side of the bridge, until he finally found what- or rather, who he was looking for.

There, he found her- a woman in white, with red hair and a small mask that covered her eyes: one of the retainers that Evangelyne had "loaned" to him. She was tending to a pegasus, whispering words to it as she inspected the feathers on its wings. And to his surprise, she wasn't alone- another of Evangelyne's retainers, the dancer, was with her, closely inspecting a short sword. When he approached, the pegasus snorted and backed away from him slightly, which in turn drew the women's attention.

"H-Hi there," Quinn began, approaching the woman in white slowly. "I didn't mean to interrupt, but I didn't get a chance to introduce myself the other day. I'm Quinn. What's your name?"

The woman in white simply looked at him in silence, unmoving, her mask making her expression unreadable. The dancer didn't even look up, simply continuing to examine her blade.

Quinn stopped in front of the woman, trying his best to hide his discomfort from her lack of response. "Um… I just thought that, if we're going to be working together, it… would be a good idea to get to know each other better. " He held out his hand toward her.

The red-haired woman finally reacted to his words, and looked down at Quinn's hand. But to his surprise, she pushed it aside. "I have no interest in exchanging pleasantries," she said firmly. "I'm here because my master has ordered me to assist you. I will carry our my duty, and when we are finished, I will return to my master's side." She turned her back to him, grabbing her pegasus's reins. "Let me make something perfectly clear to you: We are comrades. We are not friends." And with that, the red-haired woman walked away, the pegasus following her lead.

Quinn then looked to the dancer. But before he could say anything, she stood up, sheathing her sword. "Sorry," she began, "but when you've been in this line of work as long as I have, you learn not to get attached to anyone." And just like the woman in white, the dancer walked away.

Quinn could only stare at the now empty space. Had… he done something wrong? He couldn't recall saying anything that the women would have taken offense to: in that conversation, or any other. Then… was it because Evangelyne was so friendly with him? He didn't know why that was, but it wasn't exactly something he had any control over. He looked down at his still extended hand. "She didn't even tell me her name…"

"Don't take that too personally," a gentle voice said. Quinn turned around- it was a third woman, wearing a black bodysuit and veil, her black hair tied into two short braids. The last of Evangelyne's retainers. "Rune and Prim are like that with everyone."

Quinn furrowed his brow. "…Rune? Is that her name?"

"That's what she calls herself, at least." As she spoke, the woman removed her veil, and untied her hair, letting it hang freely around her shoulders. "There we go." She looked back to Quinn. "I'm Zara, by the way."

Quinn his hand again, albeit cautiously. "I'm Quinn."

Quinn braced himself… but Zara shook his hand without hesitation, smiling gently. "I remember you from the Abbey. Evangelyne introduced us to you, but I've been wanting to introduce myself properly."

"Oh! Um, thank you." Quinn couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief from the kindness the Zara had shown him so far. And her comment reminded him of something, a question he hadn't had the chance to ask Evangelyne: "Evangelyne said she was loaning you to us, but… what can you three do, exactly?"

"Right, she didn't mention that." Zara rested her hand on her chest. "Well, I'm a dark mage. Rune's a pegasus knight, and Prim's a dancer. But you probably already knew that last part."

"Wait, you're a dark mage?" Quinn asked, incredulous. "But you seem so… nice." Quinn hadn't known anyone who studied dark magics at the College, but the rumors he'd heard about them painted a rather distinct image- ill-tempered, unwashed with bad skin, constantly mumbling curses at anyone and everyone. But Zara… didn't fit that image at all. The only thing dark about her seemed to be her choice of clothing.

Zara smiled, winding a lock of hair around her finger. "Everyone always seems so surprised to hear that," she replied.

But, before the conversation could continue, Ingrid entered the camp, and approached the two. "Here you are, Quinn. I've been looking for you."

"What's going on, Miss Ingrid?" he asked.

"The last of the supplies have crossed the bridge. Captain Uther is holding a meeting at the main camp to discuss the army's formation as we move further into Burgundy. He expects everyone to be in attendance."

"Okay." Quinn nodded, and looked to Zara. "Do you want to come with us? I'd like to talk a bit more."

Zara put her veil back on. "Certainly. I must admit, I'm intrigued by all the stories Ingrid has told Master Evangelyne about you."

Quinn blinked. He had to admit, Ingrid never struck him as the gossiping type. But before he could reply, the inquisitor conspicuously cleared her throat and said, "Perhaps it would be best if Quinn and I went ahead on our own while you gather your companions. After all, the Captain said he expects everyone to be in attendance."

But Zara simply waved off Ingrid's words. "I'll fill in Rune and Prim later. You of all people should know they're not exactly fans of big meetings." She looked down to Quinn. "And again, I'm really sorry about how they treated you. They're good people. Really."

The next day, the army pressed on, leaving behind a detachment to hold the bridge and keep the supply lines open. They moved at a reasonable speed, but the Pellinore Plains at the heart of Burgundy were vast, and it would take time before they reached the capital, Agravain. Oddly, they encountered no further resistance- this came as a relief to Quinn and other members of the vanguard with less military experience, but Uther and the rest were noticeably on edge. It seemed they anticipated something the others did not.

And a week later, their apprehensions were justified. When Quinn was roused by the morning bells and exited his tent, he noticed first the biting cold- rather unexpected, as Julius had predicted clear skies and rising temperatures during the march to Agravain. Then he noticed something… out of place. The ground and the tents were covered with something… white. In disbelief, he bent down, and stuck his hand into it. Surely, it was just his imagination. After all, summer was literally just days away. But there was absolutely no mistaking the freezing sensation in his fingers.

Snow.

"Master, look!" Quinn looked- Noel stood outside another tent nearby, and wasted no time in shifting into a wolf and diving into the snow, rolling around and barking happily. But while she obviously played, the others who emerged from their own tents could only look on at the vast expanse of white blanketing the plains surrounding their camp.

Quinn looked up, and sure enough, a few small flakes of snow fell from the sky. "Snow?" he asked. "Here? Now?" He never thought much of snow- growing up in Grimhold, he worked the mines regardless of the season- but at that moment, Quinn couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something much more serious than what he'd experienced before.

Another three days passed. The army's once steady pace was now slowed to a crawl. The soldiers had been equipped for a summer campaign, and they struggled to handle the rapidly falling temperature. At the end of the third day, the lower-ranked officer demanded that Uther and Isaac hold an emergency meeting, to decide whether to press on, or fall back to the bridge. The vote was a narrow one, but in the end, it was decided that the army would continue its advance into Burgundy.

In this time, Quinn approached Ingrid several times, asking for her thoughts on their situation. But every time, she refused to answer, or to even acknowledge his presence. She simply sat, or stood with a strange expression, biting her thumbnail. Seeing Ingrid troubled, troubled Quinn in turn, and he recalled her wariness in going to war with Burgundy. But, both the Professor and the Captain had yet to steer him wrong, and with Ingrid seemingly unwilling to open up to him, he deferred to the two mens' judgement, and let the inquisitor be.

Enderi 3, 706

It was now the fourth day since the strange snow had begun to fall. Visibility was poor, and it seemed the snowfall worsened the further south they travelled. But on this day, scouts returned to the camp with unusual reports. On the road ahead, they sighted what they could only describe as a palace of ice. The temperature fell rapidly as they approached, leading them to conclude that the palace was the source of the snow and ice. Uther, intrigued by the report, quickly had the army mobilize to investigate.

It took several hours of hard marching through the snow before they sighted it. But sure enough, several milla down the road, a structure rose up from the ground. It wasn't large, but it towered over the surrounding plains, its pure white walls gleaming in the dull grey fog. But Quinn saw something much more alarming gathered around the base of the palace- tents and pavilions, with countless dark shapes moving among them.

"An army…" he said.

"Hghhh… the scout's didn't mention that," Zara said, shivering. She and her companions were certainly not dressed for the weather. Granted, everyone was suffering, but Evangelyne's retainers suffered the worst of it, though the woman in white, Rune, did her best to hide it.

"Guess that explains why we haven't run into anymore soldiers…" Gwin said. But then, he tensed, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Someone's coming."

From the road leading to the ice palace, three men approached: A young man, flanked by two soldiers. The young man had neat, slightly long blonde hair and green eyes, and from his face, seemed to be only a few years older than Quinn. His armor gleamed in the dull light, and though he had no weapon, he walked with confidence. The men at his sides carried long spears, and did not wear the normal tunics of the Burgundians they'd encountered so far, but rather heavy coats colored a deep red. The man and his bodyguards came to a stop roughly ten peds away.

"Soldiers of Bannon," the young man declared. "I am Merdraut of House Roger, first prince of Burgundy. You will lay down your weapons, and surrender yourself to judgment for crimes committed against my country, and my people."

Uther rode out to meet the young prince, and dismounted. "Prince Merdraut," he said. "I am Uther Maybury, prince of Bannon. It is true that crimes have been committed. But, it is Bannon and her people who have been wronged."

The soldiers flanking Merdraut stepped forward, readying their weapons, but stopped when the prince held out his hand. "What 'wrong' do you speak of?" he asked.

Uther looked to the ground, and replied in a low voice, "My brother, His Majesty King Oswald IV… was murdered by assassins."

Prince Merdraut stepped forward, his stoic expression faltering. "What? Oswald is… dead?"

Uther nodded. "Yes. Furthermore, mere hours after his death, we received reports from Hessen that a Burgundian force was massing on their southern border. No crime has been committed- we simply acted in defense of our ally." Uther then shook his head. "Oswald was assassinated over a month ago- word was sent to your father, King Martel, through your nation's emissaries. Surely, this isn't the first you've heard of this news?"

Merdraut lowered his gaze, troubled. "…It is," he answered in a low voice. "It is not news that I would have wanted to receive in any circumstance, much less these. Oswald was a good man, and a good king. Had you approached us with this news directly, then my father and I would have provided whatever aid you needed in bringing his killer to justice."

Merdraut then looked up, with a cold expression. "But that is not what happened here. Regardless of your reasons, you and your forces have unlawfully entered and occupied our nation, and caused immeasurable harm to our citizens. You will order your armies to withdraw, lay down your weapons, and submit yourself to be judged under Burgundian law."

"Your Highness," Isaac said. "My name is Isaac, commander of the Hessian forces and Archon of the Archonite Order. I won't deny that our actions may seem rash, but myself and others can confirm that Burgundian soldiers entered Hessian territory to antagonize our troops. If both nations are at fault, then perhaps it would be best to come to terms, before more blood is shed. My Order would be willing to act as intermediaries between-"

But Merdraut cut Isaac off: "Your presence here, Commander, places your Order's stance of neutrality into question. And in any case, negotiations are unnecessary. We have named our terms."

Uther turned and mounted his horse once again, the agitation clearly visible on his face. "If you Browns see it as a crime to defend one's ally, then it's no small wonder you have none of your own," he snapped. The captain then spurred his horse, riding around the prince and his guard. "We will have words with your liege. I commend your courage, Prince Merdraut. But one should never be so eager to take up arms."

But all of a sudden, a great wall of ice, ten peds high, shot up from the ground just before Uther. His horse whinnied and reared back in surprise, but Uther quickly regained control. Behind him, Merdraut stood, his fist raised, his hand covered in a thin frost. "You will go no further," he said, icily.

"Majesty!" "Captain!" Elizabeth, Fiona, and Gwin shouted all at once.

But Uther was quiet, looking up at the wall. "…You have a brother, don't you, Prince Merdraut?" he finally asked. "A younger brother, if I'm not mistaken. What would you do, if one day, he was taken from you?"

Merdraut's expression hardened, and he reached for his belt, as if to draw a sword, though no sword hung there. "I would do what was necessary to ensure the stability of my realm, rather than chase ghosts in a blind thirst for vengeance."

Elizabeth rode up, lance ready. "Stay yer hand, whelp!"

The soldiers readied their lances, and Merdraut fixed Elizabeth with a cold look. "You will not raise your weapon against me."

Uther finally looked to Merdraut. "If it brings justice to the man who killed my brother…" He pointed his lance at the prince's chest. "…then I would readily raise my lance against the gods themselves."

Merdraut's stoic expression finally broke, and his face contorted with anger. "You claim to seek justice for your king," he began, "But what of my people? The people you've slaughtered, and their loved ones that you've left behind! Where is their justice!?" As he shouted, something began to happen to Merdraut. Ice began to coalesce over his armor, forming itself into a second suit of armor of a pure, almost blinding white. Ice began to gather in his hands as well, forming into a long white sword. Quinn couldn't help but to be momentarily captivated by the blade- its edges and symmetry were beyond the skill of any human smith to replicate.

The prince turned his sword, and pointed it at Uther. "It seems that Oswald gave us false hopes. You Bannishmen are the same savages you've always been. Gods have mercy on you, for we will spare you none." Then, Merdraut stabbed his blade into the ground at his feet.

There was an explosive flurry of snow and ice, and those gathered shielded themselves from the sudden gale. But when they looked up, Merdraut and his guards were gone. The clouds above thickened, and snow began to fall faster and heavier than before. Up ahead, great walls of ice began to rise up from the ground alongside the palace, quickly stretching east and west as far as the eye could see, ensuring any route around was blocked. A low, brassy sound echoed across the plains, and the mass of soldiers before the palace began to assemble into rows and columns.

"It seems diplomacy has failed," Uther said, before turning to Fiona. "Lieutenant, send out the call to arms."

Fiona saluted with a "Understood, Captain," before pulling out a small horn, and blowing into it. The air was filled with a second loud, brassy note, and the column of soldiers behind them began to spread out into their battle formation.

Uther looked out, past the army to the ice palace. "This cold…" he began. "Is it Fimbulvinter?"

Isaac nodded as he looked out over the landscape ahead. "Most likely. As a Great Power, it was only a matter of time before Burgundy brought their Ring to bear against us."

Fimbulvinter? Quinn thought. A Great Power? But then, he recalled one of his many lessons under the Professor's tutelage: the Great Powers were nations whose royal families possessed a Ring of Power. Bannon was one such Great Power, founded through the use of Balor. But Bannon was far from the only one. And this cold, the wall and armor of ice the prince made… it must have been the power of Burgundy's Ring.

Isaac then looked to Uther. "Captain, I ask that you go on ahead to the citadel. I will remain here to coordinate our forces."

All eyes turned to the professor. "What?" Quinn asked. "But Professor-"

But Isaac interrupted: "As long as Fimbulvinter's powers are in use, our defeat is inevitable. We need to neutralize Prince Merdraut as soon as possible, and right now, your vanguard are the best men for the job."

"But what about-" Quinn tried to say.

Isaac didn't let Quinn finish- he traced a circle in the air with Bifrost, and opened a portal. Almost immediately, the professor began breathing heavily, a heavy sweat forming on his brow. "This portal should put you behind their wall. Get all of your men through, now. I don't know how long I can keep this open."

Uther turned to the portal, glancing over at the professor. "You have our thanks, Commander. I leave command of this battle to you. Everyone, let's move." He entered the portal. Gwin, Fiona, Julius, and the rest of the vanguard followed. Quinn shook himself, and did the same.

The other side of the portal didn't look that different from where they started at first. But Quinn soon noticed the towering walls of ice behind him, and the absence of any soldiers, enemy or otherwise.

"Looks like Teach was right," Lindow said, looking around. "If nothing else, at least we have an escape route if things go sideways."

Fiona looked up at the walls warily. "Should we be this close to their position?"

"The scouts' reports said the fortress was occupied, but that their walls were unmanned," Uther replied. "In other words… the Browns are confident we won't break through."

"With all due respect, Captain, they might not be wrong," Fiona said. "We're not exactly equipped for a siege in these conditions."

"Well, we just have to get inside, right? All we've gotta do is just get up and over!" Gail looked up… and up, and up at the wall before them. The ice palace wasn't large, but the walls were easily eighty peds high at minimum. Her confident look quickly faded. "Uh… I don't think I can jump this."

Lindow approached the wall, stepping past Gail. "Don't stress too much, Blondie," he said, drawing two dagger, holding on in each hand. "This wouldn't even be the tallest wall I've ever climbed." He pulled back his arm, and stabbed the blade into the ice with all his might… or, so he tried. His blade bounced off the ice, and he stumbled back. He looked down at his dagger, the blade now noticeably bent to the left. He tossed it aside, and gave the wall a few, probing stabs with his second dagger. The ice remained unaffected.

The thief huffed. "Damn. I can't even scratch it." He turned to the others, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Well, if we can't go over… we'll just have to smash right through." Lindow finally focused on someone: Raquel. Soon, all members of the vanguard were looking at her.

"…What?" the witch asked. "Why are you all looking at me?" She then looked at the wall, and huffed. "Alright, fine. Fine. I'll handle this." She approached the wall, muttering "Looks like I have to do everything around here…" before saying aloud, "Alright, stand aside."

Raquel held out her hands in front of her. A ball of flame appeared in the air just in front of her palms, quickly growing in both size and brightness. The fireball struck the wall with an explosion, and…

Nothing. The wall was unaffected, without even a scorch mark to show where the fireball had hit. "W-What?" Raquel stammered, and began concentrating again. Another fireball formed, faster and larger than the last, and crashed against the wall, with the same result. "N… No way," she said. "These flames should be hot enough to melt steel! So why is this stupid ice still here!?" She put up her hands for a third time.

But then, for the first time, Ingrid finally spoke: "That won't work."

All eyes turned to the inquisitor. For a moment, Quinn was stunned to finally hear her speak, but quickly collected himself enough to ask, "What do you mean, Miss Ingrid?"

"Normal magics cannot overcome a Ring of Power's abilities," the inquisitor replied sternly. "Only another Ring of Power can do that."

Raquel scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Could've told us sooner…"

"Another Ring…" Uther mused, before looking to Elizabeth. "Miss Lecarde, I ask that you use Balor to open a path for us."

Elizabeth saluted. "As yew command, Yer Majesty," she replied "But Aye must confess: Aye kin only use Balor's power twice a day. Aye fear that is all the strain mae eyes can bear."

Lindow said, smirking, "I guess our fair Lady better make that last shot count, then."

Elizabeth gave the thief a disgusted look, but held her tongue when Uther turned to face the others. "Scouts weren't able to determine the status of the interior. Regardless, we will proceed with standard breaching formation. Fiona, Gwin, and I will take the lead. Miss Lecarde, …you-" He looked to Rune as he said this. "…will provide support from the air. Everyone else, fan out and engage the enemy at your discretion. Julius, son-" he looked to Gideon. "…you'll take up the rear. Now, if you would, Miss Lecarde."

Elizabeth nodded, stepping toward the wall, and closing her eyes. The ring on her finger began to shine with a brilliant red light. Then, her eyes flew open with a loud crack, like a bolt of lightning, and two beams of red light shot forth from her eyes. They zigzagged through the air, bending at impossible angles before finally striking the wall.

The result was not at all what Quinn expected. The entire wall facing them shattered into countless shards, as though it were made of glass, exposing the interior of the ice palace. It was almost completely barren, lacking any facilities, save for a flight of frozen steps leading up to a platform from which one could view the battlefield. But despite the lack of accommodations, the palace was far from unoccupied- Quinn counted at least a dozen men within. A few staggered, clearly caught off guard by the sudden breach in their defenses.

"Everyone, advance!" Uther shouted, before spurring his horse and charging into the palace. The rest of the vanguard followed. Quinn stumbled as he ran, drawing his axe, looking for an enemy. But then, something struck him from the left, hard. It was more like a punch than a blade or arrow, but it still almost knocked him off his feet. And, it hurt. He looked over to the source.

A Burgundian soldier stood not far from him, tome in hand. A mage. The mage didn't wait- he thrust out his hand, sending a shining green arc of solid wind racing towards Quinn. But this time, Quinn was ready. He evaded the spell, and sprinted toward the mage. Mages could deal a lot of damage, but were usually frail- if he could close the distance, bringing that mage down would be easy. The mage tossed another arc of wind, but Quinn held out his axe to shield himself. The arc struck him, and he slid back a few steps, but that was all.

And now, Quinn was finally in range. The mage began hurriedly casting another spell. But he would never finish, not at this distance. Quinn sprinted, drawing his axe back, and swung with all his might from the side. His axe hit its mark, burying itself deep in the mage's side. The mage cried out- Qunn withdrew his axe and struck again, silencing him.

Quinn looked around for any more enemies trying to catch him off-guard. There were none, but he did spot Fiona, circling a soldier, her horse held at bay by his spear. His back was turned to Quinn, so he ran. With a cry, he raised his axe and swung it downward. But the soldier turned- he held out his spear, and twisted it in his hands, deflecting Quinn's blow and sending him tumbling to the side. But his attack gave Fiona the opening she needed. She charged, and ran the soldier through with her own spear. Quinn breathed a sigh of relief- in his position, the soldier could have seriously wounded him. "Thanks for that," he said.

But an unexpected sound came to Quinn- a cry of pain. From Uther. He looked, just in time to see Uther tumbling down the stairs of the platform, finally coming to a rest at the bottom. Without a moment's hesitation, Julius broke away from his position as Uther struggled to rise. The priest held out his staff, bathing the captain in a golden light. "Are you alright, Captain?" he asked. "It is rare for an enemy to unhorse you."

Quinn looked up the steps, his gaze quickly reaching the top, and the man standing there, looking down at them: Merdraut. Instantly, he gripped his axe and raced up the steps. "Quinn, wait!" Uther shouted. But Quinn was too blinded by his anger to hear him. In moments, he reached the platform, raised his axe high over his head, and swung it down at Merdraut with all the strength he could muster. "Hhrraaaah!"

Merdraut raised his sword and blocked Quinn's attack with a calm expression. Quinn pressed down, but the prince's guard held. "Hmm… you wear a Ring, I see," he said, glancing at Quinn's hand. "So the rumors of a new Archon in the Order were true." Merdraut suddenly pushed, and Quinn stumbled back. As Quinn regained his balance, the prince pointed his sword of ice at him. "You may have run roughshod over Burgundy's army with your Ring's power until now, but you will not find me such easy prey."

Merdraut crouched. There was a flash, and Quinn saw the prince rush forward, and swing at his right side. The world moved forward, and the prince charged. Quinn was able to bring up his axe and deflect the blow… but only just. And Norn's vision didn't show him what happened next- Merdraut drew back his sword for a thrust aimed at his abdomen. Quinn tried to leap to the side, but all of a sudden found limbs heavy and sluggish, and he was unable to move fast enough. A hot pain stabbed at his left side, and he fell to one knee.

Quinn gripped his side, breathing hard, pain pulsing through his body. It took every ounce of his strength to move his limbs the way he wanted, and stand back on his feet. He had to end this, quickly. Gathering up all the energy he could, Quinn charged, with a powerful overhead swing. But, an enormous icicle sprouted beneath Merdraut's feet, launching him back over a dozen peds, far out of Quinn's range.

Quinn chased after him. Another flash- Merdraut thrust his sword. Quinn tried to deflect the blow with a swing from below. But he was too slow- Merdraut's stab hit its mark, and pain seared through Quinn's bicep. Quinn staggered back. He tried, but simply could no longer hold himself up, and fell to his knees. He was shocked by his own actions- even with his wounds, he shouldn't have been so exhausted already. The cold… it had to be sapping his strength somehow. And Norn's visions wouldn't help him if he couldn't move to protect himself. Quinn's blood ran cold, as he realized now that he was alone, at the enemy's mercy.

Merdraut walked up slowly. "I have spent years mastering Fimbulvinter's powers," he said. His voice was calm, as though he hadn't exerted himself at all in their battle. "Dedicated myself to studying its every nuance, every potential application. The outcome of this battle was decided long before either one of us set foot here. There could be no other end." With a calm expression, Merdraut raised his sword.

…but his gaze darted past Quinn, a layer of ice instantly hardening around his head to form a helmet. And not a moment too soon- an arrow struck where his cheek would have been, breaking in two. "A feeble-" But before he could say anything else, he was struck with a massive fireball. The explosion blinded Quinn, but he felt something grab him and lift him up. He struggled as he was laid against something, but a hand grabbed his wrist and a cold voice said, "Stop that."

There was a rush of cold air as Quinn's vision finally returned. He realized he was the back of a horse- or rather, a pegasus in flight, seated behind… Rune.

"Wha- you!?" he stammered. "You just-"

She turned her gaze forward. "I'm merely upholding my duty. Nothing more." Rune tugged on the reins, and her pegasus dived to the ground, landing at the base of the step. Climbing down was difficult for Quinn- whether it was because of the pain, or the cold dulling his senses, he couldn't say. But at the very least, he was safe- the rest of the vanguard was there, guarding the steps, forming a barrier between him and Merdraut.

"You owe me one," Raquel said harshly.

Gideon rode up and held out his staff. "Here, this should help." The staff glowed, and Quinn was bathed in a golden light. The pain in his side faded, and his limbs became lighter… at least for the moment. "Are you okay?" the young man asked.

Quinn nodded. "I… think so."

"You're lucky it's so cold. It constricts your blood vessels- with a wound like that, you could've easily bled to death."

"We've mopped up the rest of the soldiers," Uther said. "Prince Merdraut is the last man standing."

Francis's back was turned to the group, his gaze turned to the top of the hill, bow drawn back. "He's not following us," he said. Indeed, Merdraut simply stood at the top the steps, sword planted in the ground by his feet, looking down at them silently.

"Smug dastard probably thinks there's no need," Juno said harshly.

"He's strong," Quinn admitted. "A lot stronger than I thought he'd be. We need a plan to bring him down."

Lindow clapped his shoulder. "We all jump him- there's your plan. Skill can't beat quantity once the number's high enough."

"No," Ingrid said, shaking her head. "We need to be intelligent about this. And at any rate, with that armor protecting him, it's unlikely that anyone but a Ringbearer could harm him."

Ringbearers, Quinn thought. So, just him, Elizabeth, and Noel. Quinn thought, and an idea came to him. "I think I have a plan," he said, and looked to his fellow Ringbearers. "Noel, Elizabeth, I'll need your help with this."

He shared his plan with the rest of the vanguard. Noel agreed immediately. Elizabeth was hesitant, but when Uther gave the plan his approval, she assented immediately as well. Ingrid seemed unconvinced; Lindow stepped up, telling the inquisitor that the two of them could step in and bring down Merdraut if the plan began to fall apart.

With everyone in agreement, the vanguard prepared to take their positions… when someone called out, "Wait." The dancer stepped forward- Prim, if Quinn was remembering her name correctly. "I know you've already laid out your plan, but I can do this much for you, at least." She twirled, and leapt, in a graceful dance. Quinn was… enraptured- he'd seen her skill from a distance, but to see it up close… When it was over, Quinn felt strangely invigorated. It felt as though his muscles would burst. Was it some kind of magic, cast through a dance rather than a tome? But he then shook his head- now wasn't the time. They had an enemy to face.

"Thank you," Quinn said, before he turned, and climbed the steps, alone. The others went their separate ways, to take their positions for the next fight.

Merdraut was waiting for Quinn in the middle of the platform. "You return," he said. "I will offer you one more chance to lay down your weapon and surrender. If you do, I will grant you mercy. You cannot hope to defeat me, and I would rather that no further blood be spilled today." His tone was calm and measured, as it had been when he'd first demanded the vanguard's surrender.

Quinn readied his axe. "I can't do that," he replied.

Merdraut's gaze hardened. "Then you have chosen death." He readied his sword…

But what Quinn said next made Merdraut pause: "I was there, you know. When Oswald was killed. He died right in front of me. The last thing he ever said… was asking if his brother was hurt." Quinn looked at his Ring. "I had a vision of it. I thought I'd saved him. But… I was wrong. I might not have killed Oswald, but in my own way, I'm responsible for his death." He turned his gaze back to Merdraut. "Somewhere out there, someone knows the truth. Someone knows why Oswald was killed. I owe it to him to find that person and bring them to justice. I owe it to Oswald, to Captain Uther, and… I owe it to myself."

Merdraut was quiet, seemingly unmoved. "I am certain there is someone who knows why Oswald was killed. And I can assure you that neither I, nor my father, are responsible," he replied, his tone harsh. "But it is clear that you will not accept our pleas of innocence. Whatever the truth may be about the circumstances of Oswald's death… you will not not find it." Merdraut raised his sword, and pointed it at Quinn. "You will die here. On your own, with your meager skills, you could never hope to best me."

Quinn couldn't help but allow a smile to creep over his face. "I guess it's a good thing I don't plan on fighting you alone, then." He then raised his axe up over his head.

A sharp crack reverberated behind Quinn, and the air became incredibly hot, as two beams of red light arced sharply around Quinn and raced toward Merdraut.

"What-" But before he could respond, the beams struck the prince, shattering his armor of ice and sending him reeling. He held up his fist, gritting his teeth, but the icy armor that covered him would not reform. "What, Fimbulvinter isn't working!"

Now that Elizabeth had acted, it was Noel's cue. Heavy footfalls and the sound of claws scraping against ice filled the air as a massive black beast bounded up the side of the platform. Merdraut heard it too, and turned, just in time to see Noel leaping at him, arms pulled back for a merciless swipe of her claws. But he leapt back, out of her reach. She bounded up to him, swinging wildly and snapping her jaws at him. But the prince was fast, deftly weaving through her swipes and bites, though Noel's relentless flurry of attacks left him no room to retaliate.

But then, he launched himself into the air with an icicle, far above Noel's reach. Without hesitation, he threw his sword of ice at the black beast. His aim was true, and as he landed a few peds away, a new sword in hand, the blade struck Noel in the leg. The black beast cried out, and morphed back into young girl, crying in agony.

"Noel!" Norn began to shine, as black scales erupted from Quinn's arm. He rushed forward- Merdraut turned to him, his placid expression morphing to one of shock. The prince held up his fist, and a thick wall of ice shot up in front of Quinn. He simply lowered his shoulder and smashed through it as if it were nothing more than a glass window. He swung his axe at the prince in a blind fury. Merdraut weaved through the attacks deftly, but again had no opening. But even in his bestial form, the cold slowed Quinn, and after one missed swing, the prince retaliated with a slash of his own. Quinn roared in pain, the blade of ice slicing through the scales that had, until now, repelled every attack. He locked eyes with the prince, and with a roar, swung his axe with all his might.

Merdraut brought up his sword. But Quinn's axe cleaved through the icy blade with ease, shattering it. The prince leapt back, and thrust out his hand, a new sword coalescing in his grip. But Quinn rushed forward, pulling his arm back for a powerful strike. Again, the prince tried to evade… but Quinn was faster, slashing his axe across the prince's leg. Merdraut cried out and fell to one knee, raising his fist- the icy armor began to form over his body once again. But Quinn was undaunted- with a wild snarl, he pulled back his axe, gripping it with both hands, and let loose a wild, blindingly fast swing.

Merdraut's breastplate shattered like glass under the blow, and the axe buried itself into the prince's chest, right below his collarbone. The prince let out an agonized cry, unlike any sound Quinn had heard from him before. With a strong pull, Quinn wrenched his axe free, the scales on his arms retracting, and Norn falling dark. The battle was over- even the beast within could see that he had struck a mortal blow.

Merdraut retched and doubled over, thick streams of red running down the remnants of his armor of ice. But the prince didn't fall. Instead, he brought up his hand, and laid it over his wound. In that moment, Quinn finally glimpsed the Ring, Fimbulvinter. A simple band of pure white, like the ice it summoned. Ice began to form within Merdraut's wound, but unlike the rest of the prince's creations, it was stained a dirty, ugly grey. Quinn could only look on in shock, as the prince slowly climbed back onto his feet, albeit heavily hunched over- Merdraut must have frozen the blood in his own veins to staunch his wound.

Still hunched over, and with a shuddering breath, Merdraut looked to Quinn. He wiped the blood from his lips with his arm, and said weakly, "Look around, Archon. Look, and tell me… how many more have to die… for the sake of… your justice."

Merdraut fell to his knees. He put out his hand, and another icy sword formed in his grip. But to Quinn's surprise, he simply planted it in the ground in front of him, and leaned against it to stop himself from collapsing completely. The prince said nothing else- he simply took a few weak, shuddering breaths… before finally falling still, and silent.

Then, Merdraut's ice armor, the ice at Quinn's feet, the ice walls of the palace all began to… evaporate. They grew smaller and smaller, releasing vast billowing clouds of white steam, before vanishing entirely, leaving Quinn standing before the fallen prince on a grassy hill. The clouds too began to dissipate, and the sun shone brightly in the blue sky above. The fields remained blanketed in snow, but it would no doubt melt without Merdraut's Ring, Fimbulvinter, to sustain it.

The only ice that remained was the sword still in Merdraut's grasp.

The rest of the vanguard hurried up the hill. "What happened?" Uther asked. "All the ice is-" But the captain fell silent, when he laid eyes on the fallen body of the prince. "…I see." Then, hearing Noel's cries, looked to Julius. "Julius, see to the wounded. We will secure the body."

Julius nodded. "Understood." The priest hurried to the fallen girl. "Now Noel, I need you to hold still…"

Quinn then heard footsteps rapidly climbing the hill. He turned, but it wasn't an enemy. "Captain!" Isaac called. "We've successfully routed the Burgundians' main force." His prideful expression faded when he saw Merdraut's body. "And it seems that you were successful on your end as well."

"So it seems." Uther replied. "Send for a detachment to secure Prince Merdraut. He may have been our enemy, but I won't have anyone desecrating his body…"

Uther's words faded, as Quinn stared at Merdraut's still-kneeling body. He turned, looking out over their battlefield. He wondered, how many bodies clad in red laid out there? How many of their own men had died in this battle? And how many more would die in the next? How many more people would have to die… before Oswald would be avenged?

"Quinn!" Uther said loudly.

Quinn jolted. "C-Captain?" he stammered.

"We're returning to the main force to tend to the wounded," the captain said. The rest of the vanguard had left, and a few soldiers were lifting Merdraut's body onto a stretcher.

Quinn let out a long breath, Merdraut's final words echoing in his head. "Captain… are we… doing the right thing?"

"Quinn?" Uther asked. "I know things are difficult, and I can understand losing your nerve, but-"

Quinn shook his head. "No, I haven't lost my nerve. It's just… why are fighting this war?"

Uther's expression became stern. "My brother was murdered. Someone out there is responsible, and I won't rest until I find them, and make them answer for what they've done." He turned. "Let's go."

Uther walked away. Quinn followed in silence. He said no more, but his mind raced, finally understanding Ingrid's apprehensions. Something… was wrong. Quinn thought he understood their situation. But Merdraut's words cast light on missing pieces of their narrative, places where information didn't quite align. Something… was missing.

But Quinn couldn't put his finger on what it was.

Quinn awoke with a gasp. It was dark in his tent, and at first, he saw nothing. But he could certainly feel something- the weight of something resting on his chest. Something… warm.

The thing resting on his chest stirred, and in a sleepy, confused voice, mumbled, "Mmm… good guy?"

"Gaaah!" Letting out a surprised cry, Quinn bolted up from his bedroll and stumbled out of his tent. A moment passed, before the flap of his tent lifted, and a confused Noel peered out.

"Noel!" Quinn shouted. "What're you doing in my tent!?"

"Good guy looked cold. So Noel wanted to warm him up." Noel replied in a kind tone, as though what she'd done was perfectly normal.

Quinn could only stammer as he tried to compose himself.

Noel tilted her head in confusion. "Why does good guy look upset? Noel did the same thing all the time with Master."

Quinn then remembered. Until recently, Noel had lived as a wolf for a long time- long enough that she'd forgotten how to speak, and dress herself. So, he shouldn't have been surprised she didn't understand the… implications of sharing a bed with someone. But even so. "Noel…" he began gently. "There's… it's not… proper, for a boy and a girl who aren't related to sleep in the same bed."

"Why though?" Noel asked.

"Because… because that's how it is." Quinn didn't know how to explain it. But there were rules in society people had to follow, and that was that.

She crawled out of his tent, and back on top of him. "But why?" she asked, wide-eyed.

Answering her questions was difficult enough. But with her resting on top of him, any reasonable thought became nearly impossible. Quinn searched for something, anything to use as an excuse. He finally blurted out, "A-Ask Miss Ingrid!"

Noel looked disappointed, but finally stood. "Okay…" she said sadly, and wandered away.

Quinn watched her leave, only returning to his tent once she was out of sight. He would probably earn a lecture for his troubles, but… explaining social norms most likely fell outside his duties as an Archon.

It was still early in the day, but Quinn was hard at work. He swung his axe at a target he'd set up, trying to improve the speed and accuracy of his attacks. Quinn had thought his training at the College would suffice, but after his battle with Merdraut, it was clear he had a long way to go.

After several moments, however, he felt an odd sensation, as though something were watching him. He looked, and saw Uther standing nearby, watching with a hand on his chin, a serious expression on his face.

"Captain," Quinn said. "Did you need something?"

"Yes, actually," Uther replied. He stepped forward. "It was something I noticed in our last battle. Could you show me how you hold your weapon?"

"Uh, sure…" Quinn replied, not quite sure what the captain was getting at. But he did as he was asked, gripping his weapon tightly.

Uther looked on, and said, "Hmm… as I thought," a hand on his chin, before drawing a sword hanging from his waist. "Now, I want you to attack me."

"Wait- what?" Quinn stammered, completely flabbergasted.

"It's alright. You will not harm me." He lowered himself into a stance, sword ready.

Quinn could only stare at the captain in surprise. But Uther didn't move. It seemed he was serious. So, Quinn would be as well. He rushed toward the captain, raised his axe, and swung with all his might, as though facing Merdraut again.

Uther tensed. He… turned his sword in his hands, and batted the axe aside with it. The shock from the impact caused Quinn to lose his grip, and the axe fell to the ground with a heavy thunk. Quinn stumbled back to a safe distance, his eyes darting between the axe and Uther, wondering just how the older man had disarmed him so easily.

Uther stood, leaving his stance. "Take up your weapon again."

Quinn did as he was asked. But then, Uther approached. "This time, hold it here." The captain pointed to a part of the shaft about a third of the length from the bottom. Quinn didn't understand, but did as instructed.

Uther stepped back a few paces, lowering himself into his stance again. "Now, come at me one more time."

This time, Quinn didn't hesitate as he rushed the captain, swinging his axe from the side. As before, the captain's sword seemed to turn in his hands, and he batted the axe aside. The blow reverberated through the weapon, but although Quinn stumbled, his grip remained firm. He quickly stepped back, readying himself, but Uther sheathed his sword with a satisfied smile. "It makes a world of difference, doesn't it?" he asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Quinn asked, confused.

"Axes are relatively short compared to swords," Uther began, "so it's a natural instinct to grip the very bottom of the shaft, to extend its reach. But doing so means you have less control over your weapon, making it easier for an enemy to disarm you. Holding your weapon at that position gives you a better grip, and distributes weight properly. It'll make your weapon easier to control, and strain your muscles less."

Quinn looked down at his axe. It seemed to sit more comfortably in his hand now. And, he had noticed his shoulder was unusually sore after battle. More so than the rest of his body.

Uther continued, "I'll continue to observe you on the battlefield. If I notice any openings in your technique, I'll bring it to your attention so we can correct it."

"Uh… are you sure?" Quinn asked, hesitant. It wasn't that he was ungrateful, but… "You have a whole army to lead. Do you really have time to help me out like this?"

Uther gave a reassuring smile. "I would do this for any one of my men. In fact, I was going to lead the troops with some combat drills. Perhaps you would like to join us?"

Quinn returned his axe to the hook on his belt. Combat drills… no doubt there would a lot of eyes on him. But, if it would improve his chances of surviving the next battle, then he'd put up with it. "I think I'll take you up on that."

Noel wandered through the camp happily. There were so many exciting sounds and smells to investigate. Her instincts were going wild, and if she were in her wolf form, her tail would be wagging endlessly.

But something caught her eye in all the activity. A man, with glasses and blue robes, sitting calmly. Noel knew the man- he'd helped her the other day. Julius.

Noel bounded up to the priest. "What's smart guy doing?"

Julius looked up at Noel, expressionless, an open book in his hands. "I would like to believe the book in my hands makes the answer to that rather obvious."

Noel sat down next to him. "Can Noel look too?"

The priest was quiet, making Noel nervous. But eventually he replied, "You may. Quietly." He turned his attention back to his book. Noel looked at the book, curious… before realizing that Julius was being very quiet.

"Smart guy…" she said. "Will you read your book to me?"

Julius turned a page, without looking up. "I apologize, but no. That would disturb the others."

"Okay." Julius resumed reading. But in the corner of his eye, he noticed something. Noel's face was scrunched up considerably as she looked at the pages. And that was what she was doing- looking at the pages, not reading the words printed on them.

Finally, he looked to her and asked, "Is there something the matter?"

Noel looked to him in return. "How can smart guy read that book? There's no pictures!"

Julius adjusted his glasses, a realization coming to him. "Ah. I believe I understand now. You are unable to read." With a sigh, he closed his book and stood up. "This will not do," he said, before walking away.

Noel bounced up to her feet, and into Julius's path to stop him. "Where is smart guy going?"

"I need to gather instructional materials," Julius replied. "I am sorry, but I must be going. But I ask that you come back around this time tomorrow so we can begin your lessons."

Noel tilted her head. "Lessons? For what?"

Julius replied matter-of-factly: "I have taken it upon myself to teach you how to read."

Noel tilted her head the other way. "But, why? Master always read for me."

Julius scowled slightly. "That may be. But that was when you lived as a wolf. You are a human now. And there are certain skills that you will need to learn if you wish to be a productive member of society. Come to my tent tomorrow. And try not to dally." He stepped around her, mumbling, "Would the convoy have any reading primers, I wonder?" leaving Noel behind, alone and confused.

Night had fallen, and the army had ceased activities for the day. Quinn wandered the camp, searching for a certain someone. Fortunately, her distinct attire made her rather easy to find. She sat in front of a campfire, a book in her hands, still wearing her mask. He knew that he probably should just leave the woman be. But when he looked at her, he felt a… nagging sensation. It wasn't that she was particularly unusual-looking, but she seemed… familiar, in a way he couldn't place.

As he looked at her, Rune suddenly said out loud, without looking up, "If you have something to say, then say it. Otherwise, leave."

Quinn was taken aback, but approached- hiding was pointless now. "I'm sorry," he said. "But, there was something I wanted to ask you."

"No," she replied flatly.

Quinn stammered. "I… haven't asked anything yet."

Rune turned to the next page of her book. "I don't care. My answer is no."

Quinn sighed in defeat and turned away. He didn't know why he expected a different response.

But before he could walk away, he heard Rune huff. "…Ask your question."

He looked back. He hesitated to ask, but… she'd given permission. And she might have taken offense if he declined her offer. So, Quinn asked. "Could you take off your mask? Just for a moment?"

"No."

"I… I see." Again, he wasn't particularly surprised. In the end, perhaps he would have been better off leaving things alone.

But then, Rune surprised Quinn by asking a question of her own: "Why would my appearance matter to you, anyway?"

Quinn scratched his head, nervous under the woman's scrutiny. "I'm sorry. I know it's not any of my business, but… you seem really familiar to me for some reason."

Quinn fell silent, unsure of what else to say. He expected that Rune would snap back that he was right that it wasn't any of his business, but she remained silent. He was just about to turn away again, when she asked, "You studied at the Arcane College, right?"

He looked back, unsure where the conversation was going, but answered, "Yeah, I did."

Rune closed her book, turning her attention to Quinn fully. "In the central hallway of the west wing, there's a gallery with portraits of all the College's notable instructors. The third to last painting on the northern wall on the east side. That is where you recognize me from."

Quinn searched his memories for the gallery at the College Rune described. It was faint, but he did recall a portrait at that spot, depicting a beautiful woman with bright blue eyes and long flowing red hair. He only remembered it because Professor Isaac's portrait was to the immediate right of it. "…how would she know about such a specific painting?" Quinn muttered.

Rune heard his words, and answered: "I know about it because it's a portrait of me."

Quinn stared at the woman in white in shock. "You? Wait, you were a professor at the College? When?"

Rune stood. "I think you've asked more than your fair share of questions for today." Her tone, and her expression from what little he could see of her face told Quinn that their conversation was now over. And then, she walked away, without another word.

"Her… a professor?" Quinn had a hard time believing it. Rune's personal skills left something to be desired… but perhaps it wasn't so strange after all. If him- without any appreciable magic skills- and Gail, being… Gail could be admitted as students, then… perhaps anything was possible.

Rune- Rune is somewhat unique amongst the cast. She was one of the characters who was retained when the story was revised, but she was also one of the first characters to be made in the story's original concept. She was directly inspired by Seres of Tales of Berseria in both appearance and personality, and would even bear variants of that name for quite some time, though it wouldn't be until the revision that I would start seriously considering a new name for her. Of all the characters from the original concept, she was the most fleshed out, with her backstory being almost entirely established and retained in the current story. Ideally, she would be voiced by Brina Palencia.

Prim- Although Prim and Zara were much less fleshed out than Rune, they made the transition from the concept to the story's current incarnation all the same. Initially, Prim was completely infatuated with Evangelyne, but over time, this infatuation would change to apathy, for both Evangelyne and the world as a whole, initially present in Rune, and spread to the other retainers. She was also initially envisioned as a mage, but after the revision, she would become a Dancer. Despite the name, Prim has no connection whatsoever to Primrose from Octopath Traveler- the similarities in their names was purely coincidental. That said, Prim would take some inspiration from that game, in the form of her outfit- however, her outfit was inspired by H'aanit's dancer attire, rather than Primrose's. Her ideal voice actor would be Brianna Knickerbocker.

Zara- The last of Evangelyne's retainers was the least well-defined before the revision. After the rework, she became a Dark Mage, and by extension, a Tharja copy. Over time, though, the stalking tendencies were transplanted to another character, and for a little while, Zara had no personality to speak of. But after a bit of consideration, I decided to make Zara a sort of anti-Tharja, inverting all of Tharja's character traits, and becoming a warm, friendly, maternal character. Appearance-wise, she takes most of her cues from the Yorha Operators from Nier Automata, primarily 6O. If she were to have a voice actor, it would be Stephanie Sheh.

Merdraut- It was somewhat inevitable that in the course of the story, the characters would face wielders of Rings of Power who opposed them. Although the first chronologically encountered, Merdraut was actually added fairly late to the story, after the main cast and a good portion of the supporting cast and antagonists (being added after his own younger brother). Although from a France analogue, Merdraut's name is actually derived from the Welsh variant of Mordred. In terms of archetypes, Merdraut is a straight Camus, fighting to protect his nation. Like other characters who have a somewhat important role in the story, he was named, but I didn't have a clear image of what he looked like, but in the end, took some cues from Flynn Schifo from Tales of Vesperia. If he had a voice actor, it would probably be Cam Clarke.
Merdraut's Ring, Fimbulvinter, derives its name from Fimbulvetr (or Fimbulwinter), the three-year long winter in Norse mythology that precedes Ragnarok. Its ice-generating abilities are too broad to be narrowed down to a single inspiration.