1The interruption of the message between the Archadians sent the camp into a flurry of action. Even so, there was little they could do to rush things, the possibility of further injury to the wounded soldiers held them at a slow pace as they began to strategize a proper way back to Rabanstre during the dark hours of the same night. The Highwaste was a dangerous place even in daylight and so they gathered what supplies left to the, that they could afford to carry and began a slow progress through the mountains.
Unfortunately the pace was strained from the start and though they had volunteers to stay back with those too wounded to survive the trip until help could be sent, they still lost more as they went. To exposure of already grievous wounds and lack of proper treatment that simply wasn't available on the battlefield. Their medics were spread too thin and the wounds to great and again they were forced to suffer more losses as the Dalmascan Order made agonizingly slow progress toward their goal. The life of the King and the well being of the Kingdom rested heavily on their shoulders.
Despite their struggling pace and continued loss of forces, those who died on the way and those who slowed their pace further to accommodate the wounded. Many would have seen simply leaving the wounded behind as a heartless action and even though Vossler found himself fighting to maintain a greater pace there was little comfort in what he did. But Dalmasca had to be saved, and they could not afford to keep a slower pace.
In the end, they still arrived too late.
Tight lipped and weary, they entered Rabanastre and were greeted with relief in some cases and horror in others; a force that had been nearing six hundred strong had been reduced to a fraction of that. Only sixty three returned in the first push though medics and runners and any who would go were dispatched in airships and even on chocobo back to go and retrieve the survivors. Still, the remnants of the once proud Order were staggeringly few.
Their arrival into the Dalmascan capital was met with mixed emotions and before Basch or Vossler could get around to dismissing the troops and seeking care for the wounded; medics and family arrived and were quick to spirit away those who were left standing in a short matter of time. Several troops stood by quietly; those with no family or nowhere to go.
"Rest for now." Basch's voice gathered their collective attention and he bowed his head quietly. "Get some sleep, some food and some rest." As the troops trickled away, he turned to Vossler. "We must warn the King of this treachery." Nodding agreement, the two Knights made for the palace.
Only to find King Raminas gone; left for Nalbina not long ago to surrender to Archadia. They couldn't help but feel dismayed at their failure once more and hurried to explain the situation to the counsel in a state of numb disbelief. It was too late to call the transport back, it had already passed into Archadian-won territory and so they were faced with little other options than to return once more to battle and attempts to save their King.
With the brief snatches of time offered between gathering supplies and pulling together a suitable force of troops still able to fight, Vossler fought back his exhaustion and took the opportunity to get a meal, choosing to forgo sleep for the chance to sit, relax and fill his empty stomach before they were once again shuffled off to do battle. The Sand Sea offered the greatest amount of appeal at this time and after shrugging out of his gear and leaving it in the capable hands of an armorer, something he had never considered doing before because a knights armor was his life, he made his way through Rabanastre.
"I hear things went a bit poorly." The man situated behind the bar offered him a sad smile and went about to getting something for him to eat. "You did the best you could, though Captain and we're all thankful for it." Nodding thanks, Vossler silently accepted the words of encouragement as he waited his meal. "You should get some rest though, you look about as lively as a corpse."
"Thank you. Your consideration is appreciated." Picking up the plate of food as it was offered to him, he sided it with a deep glass of water and moved to a table. "As is your cooking." He'd been so long without substantial food that it the ache that coursed through his gut was nearly overwhelming. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to eat more than half of it.. it had been long enough without anything with field rations that he couldn't manage much of the gourmet meal.
It was here that Basch found him, the other knight already suited in his Dalmscan issue light armor, sword slung from his hip and searching look on his face. In the time given him, it seemed as if the other knight had chosen a bath and a short rest, he looked to be in much better condition than Vossler felt. Gaze falling on his friend, Basch hurried over and took a seat at the table.
"We have a small force manned together; though I fear it might not be enough should we carry out a head on attack. Our best chances of success right now are in a stealthy approach to the matter." Snaking out nimble fingers, Basch helped himself to some of Vossler's unfinished meal with a half-smile of amusement at the light frown shot his way. "Though I fear we will need to be moving soon if we hope to arrive by nightfall."
"It matters not." Rather than watch Basch keep filching bits of his meal, the pushed the plate to the other knight who accepted it graciously and began to sate his own appetite. While the shared meal might have seemed strange to the other occupants of the room, it was something familiar to the two. They'd always stolen food from the other, ever since their earlier days of rations that failed to sit well in the stomach. Puffing his cheeks and letting out a slow exhalation of breath, Vossler took a drink of water and set the cup idly down. "I'm exhausted, Basch."
"Then at least try to sleep. We move soon." In no time, the plate was cleared and Vossler watched in amused silence as Basch attempted to thieve his water next. After several unsuccessful tries, he gave up and called for a glass of his own. "I cannot recall the last time I have seen you looking quite so burned out, Vossler. We cannot approach this without our full focus."
"I'll sleep on the way." Standing, he left the money to pay for the shared meal and placed a heavy hand atop Basch's shoulder in passing. "Not to worry. Things will run smoothly, I have the energy to see to that at least."
On his way to the palace, he stopped by the armorer and was pleasantly surprised to find his gear not only repaired to total functionality, but cleaned and polished as well; the hard leather stitched back into completeness and cracked plates of mithril replaced with such professional care that the repairs seemed seamless. Grateful for the reprieve, he gave the proud bangaa double the price he asked and had a new set of gauntlet chains all but forced upon him. Rather than carry his load back, he borrowed the shop's back room and changed quickly, tucking his civilian clothing under an arm as he made his way back.
His arrival seemed to coincide almost precisely with the arrival of the troops that had come to fight with them. While many of them were fresh and mentioned that since they had been present at Nalbina, and so had not fought in Nabradia during the slaughter, several of the troops that showed up were the ones that had accompanied their forces and arrived as weary and worn down as Vossler was. Still, the grouping was good and he was surprised to find there were two other knights; albeit young and fresh, that had been added to their ranks.
It was a gut wrenching blow to his already battered focus though, when he learned by speaking with the two young knights that aside from them, himself and Captain Ronsenburg, the Knights of the Order had all been decimated in the previous battles for Nabradia. Though the few knights that had returned from Nalbina and Nabradia were expected to recover; they would never wear the mantle of the Order again. They were the last Knights of Dalmasca left. Basch arrived as Vossler was coming to grips with such devastating news and though he could tell Basch was greatly upset by the sudden tension along his shoulders, they both kept their horror and disbelief to a minimum.
And before he knew it, they were all being directed to the landing pads as a single transport was brought roaring to life. It was disheartening to realize that all that stood between the salvation and destruction of Dalmasca could fit into a single transport. Heart heavy and body responding sluggishly to his commands, Vossler took his usual place in the back of the transport; joined by an equally weary looking Basch. Nalbina was under Archadian occupation and so they needed to be quick and concise with the planning and execution of their mission.
As the transport lurched into the air, they spoke of tactics and strategy, of the layout of the Nalbina fortress and the routes that would ultimately make shorter time in their mission. But as they continued and the sky began to loose its light, Vossler found himself unable to concentrate past his weariness. Basch's voice took on a faraway quality and the relentless rumble of the transport's engines blanketed everything with a strange backdrop of sound. Crossing the Nabradian border, Vossler slumped into a dreamless and exhausted sleep against Basch's shoulder and didn't stir until they touched down outside of Nalbina.
Vossler woke when the ship jostled to the ground, the stirring of soldiers in their armor and the slow shifting of weaponry pulling him from sleep and into a complete state of wakefulness honed by decades of military service. Basch turned and pressed a hand to his shoulder as if to wake him, but Vossler's dark eyes were already open and aware and so he offered a grim smile. The ship was empty before too long and left with instructions to stay close, but far enough to avoid suspicion. When they had secured King Raminas, they would announce their success with a flare and the ship would be quick to retrieve them and spirit them back to the safety of Dalmascan borders.
Nalbina stood before them, foreboding and dark; her great walls stained with smoke and grit from weeks past; chipped and crumbling stone littered the ground around the base of the walls and watchtowers and crushed armor still lay beneath the jagged edges of fallen stone. Once a place of glory, the Fortress of Nalbina had fallen into mournful disrepair. But they knew her pathways still and with little effort on their part they made it quietly inside and encountering only fringe fighters that were easily dispatched, they made it to the courtyard.
Taking a moment to breathe and to gather their plans together, Vossler eyed the new knights speculatively. Untested, they would only do to hold them back and had hesitated each time before engaging the enemy. Basch had already neatly stepped in to intercept a blow meant for one of the unwary young knights. "They will do little but hold us back. Basch."
Eyes flickering back to the younger knights and once more to Vossler's face, the blonde leveled a disapproving frown his way. "You aught not say such things. They will learn and fight well. I'm certain of it."
"We need speed, Basch." Vossler hissed under his breath, itching to be off once more even though they still needed to find the fastest route to the royal chamber. As luck would have it, it was on the far side of the courtyard and on the top floor of Nalbina, sequestered away in a tower corner. "We have little time as it stands."
"Vossler-" Whatever Basch was about to say died on his lips as the alert went up, shouts resounding through the courtyard as the Archadian forces discovered them. Flat footed and caught by surprise, they swung sluggishly into battle, Vossler driving hard into the oncoming rush as Basch hurried to gather the stunned troops. Everything moved as if underwater and Vossler brought his blade up and around in what seemed like slow motion.
The Archadian squad saw him coming, and his roar was drowned out by the rushed orders and war cries of the oncoming enemy. Sword whistling through air, he met the first soldier head on; blade impacting armor with a horrid crunch of armor as the heavy sword sheared through steel and leather alike with the force put behind it. The man went down in a scream, blood leaping from the gash in his armor to spatter across Vossler's armor and face. Kicking the man aside with little remorse, he engaged the next.
They came quickly though. The soldiers split and washed around them to stall the others, coming down on their assembled forces with the shrill chime of conecting blades. Things progressed quickly, Vossler found himself pressed back into the midst of his other troops and though they fought well and the Archadians found themselves on the losing side of the skirmish, he still saw his own men falling beneath the onslaught.
Eventually it all whittled down to the cries and groans of the dying and wounded, the Archadians had fallen, though their numbers were again reduced. Vossler made the rounds, face set into a look of grim disappointment and he tilted his head back to eye the stars. Time was running quickly out. "It is as I feared. They're slowing us down."
Basch knelt over one of the young knights, slumped heavily against the wall and surrounded by a fall of corpses, both Archadian and Dalmascan. Vossler grimaced as he noticed the other young knight who had accompanied them on the ground; eyes staring lifelessly at the sky that he himself had been watching. Pushing down the feeling of illness that sank into him, he strode over to Basch while the rest regrouped. Unable to lock back his compassion, Basch was coaxing the young boy to his feet.
Pacing restlessly behind Basch, he knew that what he said would not change the other knight's mind. Where Vossler was focused tension ready to break for need of securing his king, Basch's concern was toward each troop as well as the success of the mission. This one was not hurt badly, and would likely be of some help to them.. But he was stunned and dizzy.
Frowning over his shoulder, the reprimand was clear in Basch's eyes as well as his voice. "Do not say that. Not all of us are here for love of battle." The barb was meant to sting and found it's mark. Rather than respond to it though, Vossler scowled and turned his head away, shifting restlessly. "He fights to defend his homeland." And there was the real reason. Basch had told him before that he was a refuge from Landis, his home swallowed by encroaching Archadian forces. Seeing his own plight in the younger knight, he urged him onward. Grunting irritably, Vossler turned and stalked off a few paces to survey the damage wrought by their skirmish.
Though he shifted restlessly, waiting for Basch's work to be done and the boy either left behind or brought along. He was too young.. Likely knighted for the sole purpose of accompanying them to save the king, much like his other knight sprawled broken and dead across the ground only several feet from where they stood.
Standing guard, he directed a small perimeter be set up while they regrouped, Basch spoke to the young knight in hushed tones and Vossler paid little attention. There was something on the wind.. And as the two spoke behind him, he strained his ears. Restless nerves jarred against one another and eventually, he could stand little more hesitation. Swinging his body around toward the other two in an attempt to communicate the urgency of the matter, he voiced his displeasure with in growling tones.
"It's time Basch." He interrupted sharply, rewarded when the two looked back to him. "Save the discussion for later. We must reach the king before they act or all our efforts will be in vain." They all knew what was at stake and couldn't afford to waste time on idle conversation. Swift action was needed! Was he the only one that felt it?
"I'm aware of the situation." Apparently they were all on thin nerves, Basch's disapproval made it clear that he didn't appreciate the interruption. In the following tense silence, they heard the unmistakable sounds of approach. Shouting resounded once more over the courtyard - Archadian backup was swift in coming. Growling under his breath, Vossler reached over his shoulder for the comforting weight of his blade.. Were they to suffer such disruptions time and time again?
Basch charged past him, stopping short to place himself between the oncoming Archadians and Vossler's attempts to charge. "Vossler, go ahead." Setting his jaw, Basch reached for the blade at his hip. "I will handle these rabble."
There was a long moment of hesitation on his part, even as his troops hurried past to the courtyard gate. For a moment, Vossler couldn't bring himself to leave his friend's side despite the danger that surrounded them all. Left hanging between them was a sudden unease and an feel of ill fate.. Across the short distance that separated them, they shared a look of acute uncertainty, perhaps Basch felt it as well. Shaking it off as simple nerves, though he hadn't suffered those in relation to battle for some time, Vossler moved into a soldier's salute, hands fisted over his hip. "Godspeed."
What shot through his system as he turned to catch up with his troops felt too similar to abandonment as he left Basch and the small remainder of troops he commanded to face down the rush of Archadian soldiers. But he managed to steel himself against it and reminded himself that this was greater than them all. King Raminas' safety came first and foremost.
It did little to ease his mind though as he rushed into the halls of Nalbina, that he heard the sounds of battle behind him once more. The quick clash of blades, the heavy impact of armor and shields that pitched through his confusion to take hold of a part of him that wanted nothing more than to turn back to the fight and throw himself against the Archadian might; side by side with his friend. Side by side with one of the three knights of the order that still lived..
They had lost much. They would not lose the King as well.
Pushing all the effort he could muster into keeping ahead, he pushed it all out of his mind and focused on leadership. Pushed out the thought of the loyal Dalmascans that lay dead in the courtyard behind him, the sight of blood pooled on the mist-charred ground and most of all, the sight of Basch squaring off against an Archadian squad with nobody to fight at his side but weary troops and a helpless young knight.
"Onward men. We will not fail the King." And yet, the feeling remained that they were facing something they couldn't overcome.. The halls of Nalbina swallowed the sounds of their footsteps as they pressed onward toward the chambers. Failure could not be afforded. Basch would catch up. He always did. And when this was over, they could afford the time to relax and recover from the damage they'd taken.
Vosslers thoughts gave him little comfort. Fate whispered to him that it was not to be so. The feeling of unease and loss plagued him as he led the onward charge.