Chapter 5 The Next Morning
Just as the sun began to set, Ilsa sighed in relief upon seeing the mercenary tavern finally come into view. The familiar building now had several impromptu defenses built up around it. Wagons had been turned on their side to act as road blocks and rickety walls had been built using barrels and tables. Mercenaries were scattered all around, either manning the hastily built defenses or working to improve them. Ilsa noticed Hal and Richard Beauchamp overseeing the sell swords.
Seeing the approaching company, Hal smiled and moved to greet them. Hal's in charge? Ilsa thought, Nah, can't be. The rambunctious mercenary waved to Magnus in greeting and spoke. "Glad you lot were able to find someone useful, the boss will be happy to see that. Head on inside, he'll want a report."
Ilsa, William, and Naran allowed their respective men to rest and followed Magnus, Diane, and Karen into the building. A knowing smile spread across Ilsa's face when she saw the one-eyed tavern keeper standing at the bar looking over a map. His familiar blue and red shirt was replaced by a faded yellow tunic, with chainmail underneath and a sword lying close at hand. "Ah, it is good to see you have returned to us unharmed." The man greeted, sounding just as sincere as always.
"I knew you vere da mercenary general from da stories," Ilsa said, climbing up on a stool to better see the tavern keeper/mercenary general's map.
The eye patch wearing man chuckled, "I was hoping to live out my days quietly; serving drinks and giving advice. But recent events have compelled me to come out of retirement."
"If you don't mind, sir," Karen spoke up, "I believe Magnus can handle the report, I'm going to check Diane for any injuries." The English mercenary hooked her arm around her lover's waist and led the blonde fusilier toward the stairs.
Magnus shook his head and stepped forward, "We moved down the road to Ile-de-France, as you ordered, but before we got more than a few miles we ran into monsters," the young Irishman said professionally, "Ilsa and her lot showed up just as things were about to get bad. Also, they had magic users with 'em."
"Someone want to tell me what the alchemist is doing?" At Naran's question, everyone followed the young Mongol's gaze to a corner of the tavern. Christine de Pizan stood over one of the tavern's tables examining the bodies of dead goblins. The arrogant Italian beauty seemed utterly engrossed in her work, not noticing the eyes on her at all as she carefully dissected the fallen creatures and made careful notes on her findings. William noticed the bones of a skeleton warrior stacked neatly next to Christine's table.
"de Pizan has taken a keen interest in the creatures that attacked us," The mercenary general explained, "Hopefully, she can uncover ways to fight them, or other information that would prove useful." The one eyed man turned back to Magnus, "Speaking of which, I think she'd be interested to hear what sort of magic these monsters wielded."
As Magnus excused himself to speak with Christine, Ilsa leaned over the bar, looking over the mercenary general's map. The tavern was marked with yellow, while several spots in the surrounding area were colored purple. From the looks of things, the monsters were quickly taking control of the countryside. "Doesn't look good does it?"
The young landsknecht looked up at the aging mercenary, who stepped back to address all three commanders. "After the monsters attacked the tavern, many of the mercenaries fled, off to save their own skin, but others stayed. I've been trying to organize them into something that resembles an army, but I need all the help I can get. My hope is to establish a safe haven here, someplace refugees can come to escape these creatures." He paused to let his appeal sink in, "Understand that this is not a contract, there is no reward waiting after the fighting is over. We're doing this to protect the common people."
Ilsa looked back over the map, noticing several positions that just yesterday had been red or blue were now purple, and the one blotch of yellow, apparently the mercenary general's chosen color. The German girl thought back to several moments when Joan, the Black Prince, or someone else would ask her to permanently sign on with one side or the other. She would always politely turn them down. "I'm not a hero." she'd say. Guess I vas wrong. Ilsa turned to the one eyed man. "I'll do it."
The mercenary general nodded approvingly, then turned to the two young men standing behind her. "Me too," William said, though his confidence quickly waded, "I'll uh...try not to slow you guys down."
Naran sighed in resignation, not unlike a prisoner that had just been condemned. "Well, I can't leave if William's staying." The young Mongol shrugged. "Everyone's gotta die sometime, might as well do something good before my end."
#*#*#
The next morning, Joan sighed as she awoke, rising into a sitting position and stretching her arms before her morning prayers. The French heroine knelt and rested her elbows on the bed, her forehead rested on her folded hands, and silently thanked the heavens for her good health and safety in light of what she'd seen the day before, and prayed for the safety of those close to her.
With a closing amen, Joan rose to her feet and it was at that moment that she noticed the English flag outside her window. For a brief second, Joan was back in Rouen, locked in a cage as the English wondered if they should hang her or burn her at the stake, the king she had served so fervently content to let it happen so he could have a martyr to avenge.
Joan shook the memories from her head. You're safe 'ere. she told herself, You're a guest of ze prince, you can leave zis room whenever you like. As if to prove this to herself, Joan threw on her outfit, again sans the armor, placed her trademark flower in her hair and walked out the door. Not knowing the castle or where she intended to go, the Maid simply wondered the halls, nodding cordially to guards and servants that she passed. Just as Joan was beginning to relax, and even feel a bit silly for her minor panic attack, she heard the sound of violent coughing from around a corner.
Looking around the bend, Joan was surprised to find Prince Edward supporting himself against the wall, taking deep breaths occasionally interrupted by coughs. "Are you alright, your majesty?" He may have technically still been her enemy, but Edward was a prince and Joan would so him the proper decorum.
Edward pushed himself off the wall as he turned to his guest. With the morning light at her back, Joan looked almost angelic to Edward's slightly addled eyes. Shacking such thoughts from his mind, the prince cleared his throat, looking like an embarrassing secret had been found out as he stood just a bit shakily. "Yes, I'm fine." he said with a nod.
"You don't seem fine," the unconvinced French girl said.
In truth, Edward felt awful; he'd had to force himself to eat for days, which kept up appearances but left him feeling like he was about to vomit and made sleep difficult. "Just, I'm..." the prince wearily rubbed his eyes, finding it hard to think of a convincing lie. Finally, he simply gave up. "Please don't tell anyone about this. My men...they have an image of me. The great and noble prince that will lead England to greatness. They need that now more then ever."
After a few silent moments, Joan smiled and gave the prince a reassuring nod. "I understand, Prince Edward. When everyone seems to be watching you, counting on you to be zeir savior..." Joan remembered breaking down when she thought no one was looking, "ze pressure can be a bit overwhelming."
Edward smiled gratefully, "Thank you, Joan."
"Excuse me, my prince!" Iamarl's voice echoed down the hall. Joan looked around Edward as he turned around to acknowledge the assassin. "There's a situation outside. Actually, I think it would be best if you both came."
#*#*#
Meanwhile, Ilsa was surprised at just how good it felt to be waking up in her bed at the tavern. Stretching until she heard a satisfying pop, the stocky girl made her way into the hall and down the stairs. She wondered if it would be appropriate to give the barkeep turned commander her breakfast order, though it became irrelevant when she noticed several bowls of oatmeal laid out on the bar.
Taking a bowl, Ilsa noticed Karen and Diane sitting at a table, thankfully far from Christine's impromptu laboratory, and moved to sit opposite the girls, good naturally muttering "Guten Morgen.*" with a nod.
*Good Morning
"Morning, Ilsa." Karen greeted with a smile, then elbowed Diane in the side when the blonde didn't say anything.
"Good morning, Ilsa," Diane said, shooting Karen a glare, "So, you joining up, or packing up as soon as you've got some food in you?"
"Meine boys und I are staying," Ilsa said as she took a bite. The landsknecht commander regarded the two women for a moment, "You know, Magnus alvays seemed like a hero type und Hal just vants to fight, but I never thought I'd see you two going pro bono."
"Well a bunch of damn monsters running around is a special case, isn't it?" Diane said with a shrug.
"Besides," Karen added, "if the monsters kill everyone, there wouldn't be anyone left to pay us in the future." The redhead tapped a finger against her temple. Ilsa shrugged in acknowledgement of the her logic.
The three girls continued to eat and chat as a handful of other mercenaries filed down the stairs, Magnus and Hal joining them at the table. Just as Christine began to dive back into her research, the mercenary general approach the five of them. "Shakti and her men never came back yesterday. I need someone to head out to the west and find out what happened."
"I'll go." Magnus said quickly
"Whose Shakti?" Ilsa asked
"A creepy witch who only comes out at night," Hal explained, "Everyone calls her 'The Destroyer'."
"Wouldn't be surprise if she was with ze monsters like ze barbarians." Diane muttered.
"That's a load of crap," Magnus said as he rose from his set to collect his equipment.
"Are any of the rest of you willing to go?" the mercenary general asked.
Ilsa glanced around the table and noticed no one seemed eager to step up. Sighing, the little dopplesoldier set her spoon down and rose from her chair. "I'll go vith you, Magnus."
As she and the young Irish mercenary moved toward their lockers, Ilsa gently but firmly grabbed William by the arm and dragged him along. "C'mon, Villiam," she said cheerfully, "Ve're going to rescue a lady dey call, 'Da Destroyer'."
"We are?" was the boy's uncertain response.
"Also," Christine called, lightly dashing up to the mercenaries, "If you could catch a live goblin for my experiments, it would greatly help in my research. And I would reward you, of course."
Magnus and Ilsa shared a long look as they mulled over the alchemist's offer. After some thought, Ilsa shrugged in a 'sure, why not?' kind of way and Magnus turned to the Italian beauty. "If it's at all possible, we'll try and get you your goblin."
Ilsa patted William on the shoulder and continued to drag him toward the weapons rack.
#*#*#
de Rais road at the head of his knights, la Hire marching at his side, and most of their remaining troops behind them. The French host was marching toward the castle believed to be the English headquarters in what little of Normandy they still controlled. As they approached the castle wall, a single arrow flew down toward them, landing less than a yard in front of de Rais and startling his horse.
"That's quite close enough," a girl on the wall called, "we can hear you frogs from there."
"Frogs!?" la Hire indignantly yelled back, "You're the one in all green!"
"Enough!" a serious Englishmen in an eye patch sternly said, "Why have you come here, Frenchmen?"
de Rais sat up straight on his horse and addressed the one eyed man. "Our scouts reported French troops bearing ze banner of Joan of Arc being led inside zis castle. Is ze Maid of Orleans 'ere?"
"She is," Chandos confirmed, "Prince Edward brought the girl and her troops in yesterday. She's been treated well, as would any guest of the Royal Family."
"Bullshit!" la Hire shouted
"la Hire."
"Release Joan or we'll smash our way in!"
"la Hire!" When the big man finally looked at him, de Rais fixed him with a stern look. The long haired knight worried that the face obscuring collar of his padded coat would hurt the effect, but thankfully the big man seemed to get the message. Turning back to Chandos on the wall, de Rais spoke diplomatically. "With zese beasts running loose, I doubt either of us can afford to fight each ozere. Release the Maid, and we'll go in peace."
On the wall, Joan and Edward had finally joined the scene. Joan looked out over the field and quickly spotted her two friends at the head of the French forces. "Thank ze Lord," she muttered. Leaning over the side of the wall, Joan waved her hand and called out, "la Hire! de Rais!" When the two men looked up at her in recognition and surprise, Joan continued, "What Chandos says is true, Prince Edward and his men have treated my well."
Seeing the literal army of French troops in front of him visibly relax at the girl's words, Edward breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Joan. "Once you and your men have gathered your belongings, I will have my men open the gates."
Hearing this, Joan turned to regard the prince then glanced back out at de Rais and la Hire's men. The force was considerably smaller then she remembered. At the same time, Joan had clearly seen that the English Army had been badly worn down as well. Joan stepped back from the wall to address Edward directly and said "I 'ave a better idea."