Chapter 16: Ominous Days
"General Tagio!" A Crimean paladin yelled as he rode to Melior's main gate. "General! I need to speak with you immediately!"
Tagio emerged and strolled to the parapet. "What is it, soldier?"
"General, our forward camp has been destroyed. Enemy forces are headed this way!"
Among the soldiers who stood proudly by the veteran's side, Wendy gasped. For years she had been training for the day she could prove herself once more for her nation's service. At fifteen she had tried to defend Melior, but her meager skill with the bow left her of little use as fire support for Renning's unit. She had fled into the woods, trying to live like a monkey while avoiding the prying eyes of Daein. It was a good thing she did, for several of the captive female soldiers of Crimea were actually raped by some of the perverted Daein troops who sorely lacked discipline. Needless to say, those who were caught were personally executed by Generals Bryce and Petrine, but the damage had already been done to the women who were willing to give their lives in Crimea's service.
She was so lucky that she wasn't one of them.
But now she feared that she would once again prove her uselessness. No! She had to stand strong and proud. She was a Crimean sniper, albeit an inexperienced one. She had earned this rank through vigorous training under General Geoffrey himself! She could feather more than enough of these Confederate swine. (1.)
Yes, she had to have faith. Faith saved Generals Geoffrey and Tagio. Faith brought Crimea freedom once more. Faith would save them all yet again. Raising her bow, she closed one eye and prepared herself for the swarm. These invaders would taste arrows, and she pitied the fact that these weren't Begnion Imperials. These Confederate idiots chose the wrong side.
And just when the drawbridge closed after accepting that sole surviving knight of the warriors stationed at Tagio's forward camp, the first of Begnion's Confederate paladins appeared. Melior itself was about to engage the enemy, and only Strategy and Ashera could save them now.
Largo lumbered along, dragging his axe behind him.
Calill and Heather walked beside the bulky warrior, and Heather groaned. The road to Melior was boring, and, to top it off, there were only three of them traversing it.
"Why did dey let us go alone? Those 'buds were friends of yerz, right?" Heather turned to Largo.
"De village is broke. Dey need to fix it. Besides, we're stronger then dem when it comes to crushing skulls. We should go help Crimea's soldiers fight while they stay behind to fix the village." Largo explained.
Calill nodded and smirked. "With a first class mage, a first class fighter, and a first class thief here, what do we three have to fear? We can definitely kill off those Confederate idiots and save Crimea. We don't need the villagers to help. They should fix their homes instead of getting in our way."
Heather smiled. "Yep, yep. Largo'll keep the Confederate oafs back while I stab them with knives and you blast them with magic, right Calill?"
Calill just smiled. It was rather fun to be with such simple people.
Nepheene rushed about the fields, when she suddenly tripped over something quite large.
"Owww… Did I hit a rock?" She glanced around.
"Watch where yer going, missy…" Brom groaned as he slowly got up.
"Brom? What are ya doin' here?"
"I saw bandits attackin' my village, so I took 'em out. I grabbed an axe from one of 'em and continued on my way, lookin' for any more attacked fellas. I decided to take a nap after a while, since this armor was heavy, but the moment I wake up you ran into me."
"Oh, s-sorry…" Nepheene stammered. This was so embarrassing!
Brom smiled. "No worries, lass. We oughta head for the capital. Elincia might need our help."
Nepheene nodded. "I gotz so many questions, and I need dem answers."
With that, the pair of country folk headed out for Melior.
Sigrun had arrived, and with her arrival a platoon of the Holy Guard helped take down scores of Kilvas ravens. Apparently the Confederate army found it wise to send scores of the swift birds to attack the Coalition's finest Wind Sage.
Needless to say, they served as excellent target practice for Soren's Tornado tome.
Sigrun landed beside the two strategists, and lowered her head respectfully. Lucia did the same and Soren nodded.
"General Sigrun, I'm glad to find you here, but what of the Apostle?" Soren spoke before Lucia opened her mouth.
"Apostle Sanaki and her majesty Elincia ordered all central units to move out to the various outer flanks. Reinforcements have been sent to all four groups. The Empress should be among the rear flank while Queen Elincia rushed to Geoffrey's aid." Sigrun smiled worriedly. She knew that Elincia had disregarded Soren's advice with that act.
Soren sighed. Elincia was far too stubborn! "I did my duty as a strategist. I can only hope that she did not put herself in danger… Sir Geoffrey now has the burden of protecting her along with the rest of his soldiers… I'm sure she'll be fine as long as he breathes."
Sigrun gulped. Was Soren only trying to stay calm, or had he truly gotten enough discipline not to get angry when critical officers ignored his advice?
"Well…" Lucia spoke up, trying to break the uneasy atmosphere. "It looks like our units have taken out the enemy… This flank is mostly clear." She pointed at the groups of enemy soldiers running from the Holy Guard and the Crimean troops under her and Soren's personal command.
At that moment, another knight came flying aimlessly by. It was a wyvern knight, and Soren knew full well that no Begnion wyvern knights were stationed anywhere near his unit. They were either in Sanaki's personal unit or with Zelgius on the frontline. This Begnion wyvern knight was either an enemy or an idiot.
Sigrun gasped when she squinted her eyes. She immediately flew towards the knight.
"Lady Sigrun!" Soren yelled. He motioned for Lucia to follow him, and the pair ran towards her.
"Haar! It's been so long!" Sigrun called.
Haar stopped dead in his tracks. "Sigrun? Ah… You look, er, healthy."
Sigrun smiled. "Haar, love, have you been well?"
Haar yawned. "Not really. It's not easy ferrying cargo, especially during a war, you know?"
Soren stopped dead in his tracks when he saw that eyepatch. "Oh, it's just Haar." He sighed, where was Jill to knock some sense into this oaf? They could use definitely use his strength, if only they could knock some willpower into his lazy spine.
Lucia groaned. She hoped that Haar didn't hear him, or he might just fly away after feeling disrespected.
But it looked like Sigrun was taking care of business.
"Haar, speaking of war, have you even noticed what is going on here?" She spoke with a bit of sternness in her voice.
"Sigrun, I'm sorry that you have to risk your neck for the Apostle, but I got deliveries to make, and…"
"Captain Haar."
"Yes?"
"Jill is a Colonel. What do you think of that?"
"Good for her."
"Haar." Her voice began to sound grave. Soren and Lucia, who had stepped closer to listen in on what they were saying, gulped. No wonder why Tanith thought so highly of Sigrun. Sweet Sigrun had a backbone just as hard as Tanith's, and her tongue could be set aflame if she needed it to sting.
"Sigrun?" Haar gulped.
"We've known each other for twenty years, since we were new recruits in the Begnion army, since we were practically children, and all that time I felt that you were an honorable knight… Lazy, yes, but honorable. We watched each other's backs for nearly ten years before you left and joined General Shiharam as part of the Daein army…"
"And then your subordinate, Tanith, killed him and led me to the life I lead now."
"I'm sorry, Haar. As you know, Tanith has always placed duty over everything else… If only the General did not have to die… Damn that Ashnard…" Sigrun's eyes watered a little. Shiharam was her old friend, after all.
"Sigrun, don't get me wrong. It's great to see you alive and well, but did you come here just to share old memories? I have a job to do, and…"
"Tellius is burning, Haar! People are dying from Lekain and Izuka's greed! Jill's fighting for the Coalition as part of the Daein Loyalist Army… I'm fighting alongside the Empress with Elincia and the others. Surely you're not going to leave Jill and I to die?"
"Sigrun… I vowed to lower my axe…"
"In times like these, when you are perfectly capable of making a difference and doing good, would you just sit back and do nothing? Haar, evil like this happened because good men like Prime Minister Sephiran could do nothing to prevent it! Now that you're here, can't you help us make a difference? Can you just sit back and watch Tellius burn without wanting to raise your axe in its defense?" (2.)
"Sigrun…"
"Haar, this is no time for some simple day job. Your country needs you once again… No, both Begnion and Daein need you. You shed blood for both lands, and are you going to sully your reputation as an honorable knight of both countries? Have I put faith in a coward? Are you Haar, my old friend, or have you shed that which made you a proud Captain of both Begnion and Daein?"
Haar stared at Sigrun. She stared right back at him.
He burst out laughing.
"As always, you were very nice and sweet at first, but once someone pissed you off, you'd slowly build your flames until you couldn't hold them anymore, and then you'd let 'em burn. I could smell the smoke coming out of your ears and tear ducts. Alright, fine, I'm in."
Sigrun smiled. "Admittedly you were angering me for a while. I thought you weren't Haar anymore and I was speaking to a shell that used to be my old friend... And I'd have to hurt you. Glad to have you with us, Sir Haar."
"What's with the Sir, Sigrun? You're Sigrun and I'm Haar, like it's always been."
Sigrun laughed. "Of course, of course. Now, Haar, are you ready to give these Confederate traitors a beating?"
"Ready whenever you are."
The enemy surrounded Melior, leaving no chance of escape for Tagio and his brave warriors.
Hiding in one of the villas within the city wall, several of Crimea's richest noblemen gathered together for a meeting of sorts.
"Our good for nothing Queen has let all this happen. We should join Ludveck and overthrow her now that we have the chance. Tagio's too busy trying to hold the rebels off, but why don't we convince him that joining the rebels would save Crimea? That way we'll have this veteran on our side." One of the nobles growled.
"Tagio's too devoted to Duke Renning. Now that the Duke is dead, he will defend Renning's niece's honor to his dying breath. That honor includes holding this capital at all costs. He would not join Ludveck." Another noble sighed, stroking his blonde mustache.
"Then he must be dealt with." The first noble cursed under his breath.
"Easier said than done. Remember that the soldiers stationed here are all loyal to Queen Elincia. Foolish as they are, they are blind enough not to waver from that cause. If we kill Tagio, and are caught, we die and Ludveck will still have to fight to break the gates and take the capital. Granted, Tagio won't be there to stop him, but still his job won't be that much easier." A third noble shook his head while caressing his large brunette sideburns.
"At any rate, we should split up and hide in the various houses. We might be able to help heal those brave Confederate troops if we do. In the end, it's clear that Melior will fall and that Ludveck will be the man who will acquire Crimea's crown, with Elincia and Lucia at his side." The second noble spoke.
"You're assuming that Lucia's smart enough to accept Ludveck. That so-called strategist would never understand the power one has as a mistress of such a powerful man. Besides, would Elincia have enough strength to survive the coming battles? Will she live to be Ludveck's bride?" The first noble laughed.
"At any rate, we should do what we can for Lord Ludveck so that his entry into the capital will not be as painful. Let's go, gentleman, and liberate Crimea from Elincia's weak hands." The third noble stood, and the rest followed suit.
As Djor gathered his troops around him, watching his forward scouts engage the Crimean defenders, a Pegasus knight flew towards him and dropped a single white robbed mage.
Djor turned and scoffed. "Senator, what is it?"
Alviss's eyes narrowed. "The main force is currently engaging Sanaki and Elincia, and yet you've split yourself away from them to strike the Crimean capital. There is no need for us to cause Crimea to collapse as a nation. Our main goal is to force Queen Elincia to stand down. To do that, all we have to do is defeat her and capture her in combat. To destroy Melior would cause too much damage to the people of Crimea. Your tactical sense is quite ingenious, but your sense of humanity might need some work."
Djor scoffed. "You only say that to deter me from gaining the glory I rightfully deserve."
Alviss waved his hand nonchalantly and laughed. "Say what you will. As a Knight of Begnion it is your duty to protect Begnion citizens. If you follow this path, the people of Crimea will revolt and Begnion lives will be threatened. We need to ensure that Crimea will willingly join the Confederacy, not be conquered by it and thus hold a grudge against our people. I wonder why Lekain appointed you as a commanding officer if your actions will only lead to harm for us."
"These dogs must be beaten into silence, not placated with strips of bacon. You assume that these Crimean idiots would see the light and join our glorious Confederacy, but you are in the wrong. Besides, I thought you were for this war. Why do you sound so weak, Senator?"
"I was supporting this war, until I saw how many of our soldiers were slain in Gallia and Crimea. We attacked in the hopes that we could destroy the nations that threatened us, but it looks like we must realize that it was we who were in the wrong. Crimea merely wanted to ensure its own economic security. Gallia simply wanted to live in their forests and ignore us at best. Neither attempted any raids upon our soil. We had Daein's prince Pelleas willing to obey our demands in exchange for peace, and thus we had a foe turned dependent, yet Pelleas is dead and Izuka constantly challenges Lekain, forcing him to make amends day by day.
"With Phoenicis, Crimea, and Gallia intent on cutting our throats, and with Goldoa beginning to show signs of refusing to send adequate supplies or reinforcements for our troops, our position has only grown weaker. Our country has lost many of its gains. And you tell me that this war is for our benefit? Before we make things any worse, let's not strike Melior. We must force Elincia to stand down and thus stop this endless bloodshed. Ludveck reminds me of Izuka each day, what with his constant demanding of supplies and soldiers. I doubt he'll be reasonable once he does conquer Crimea. Reestablishing ties with Elincia and mediating between the two Crimean factions should be our goal. We should strive to end the fighting, not perpetuate it, General. I hope you understand my sentiments."
"Get out of my face, you pathetic excuse for a Senator. I came here to kill these Crimean dogs, not listen to your cowardly whimpers. I hope that Ashera will be kind to a cowardly soul like you." Djor raised his sword. "Leave, before I fix the mistake of your appointment as a Confederate Senator."
Alviss scoffed. Turning his head, he groaned: "And with men like you in our ranks, our nation will face its darkest hour… If only we had the prudence to inspire and unite our fellow nations, rather than provoke them into destroying us." He quickly remounted his bodyguard's mount, and she flew them far into the distance, towards Castle Seliora.
Tibarn rammed into an enemy paladin, sending him flying.
Kieran ran in the midst of several fellow paladins, and with a swing of his axe, his foes fell like chopped wheat.
Drawing a bow, Kieran aimed and took down a raven, startling Janaff quite a bit.
"Kieran, you chose a bow as your second weapon?"
"Of course! As an honorable knight of Crimea one must be ready to assist one's country in any way possible. I will prove to that dastard Oscar that I can serve Crimea far better than he from near and far!"
"Um, sure, just don't point it too close to me or my men…"
"Why are you afraid, Sir Janaff? Honorable knights of Crimea never attack their allies. This bow is meant for foes in the sky, not for friends."
"Sure… I hope it stays that way…"
"It's General Zelgius! Men, with those blasted hawks and that traitor in the Crimean ranks, we cannot hold this line. Let's get out of here!" An enemy gold knight yelled as he turned around and started to run.
The soldiers with him looked at each other. With a nod, they too fled the scene.
"A traitor? I'm an honorable knight of Crimea, you fools! You face the wrath of Sixth company commander Major Kieran! I… Eh? They're running away. Cowards!" Kieran turned and looked at Zelgius and Tibarn.
Zelgius stabbed his sword into the ground. "Perhaps I came too late… Congratulations on defeating the enemy, your majesty." He bowed to Tibarn.
Tibarn blinked. "Janaff, do you see any of our other flanks in trouble? We should come to their aid if that's the case."
"I'm on it." Janaff flew high into the clouds.
"Now we shall finish off what's left of the enemy and head for Melior… There are far too few troops here. Why would Lekain send so few to strike our position if he knew we'd be here? Furthermore, Melior has relatively minor defenses, and since less soldiers than we thought struck us here, I have a feeling that they're headed for Crimea's capital. We should go reinforce Tagio at once." Zelgius shook his head.
Elincia dropped the Amiti on the ground and slid off the saddle of her Pegasus.
Geoffrey quickly slipped off his own horse and caught her.
"I'm… So tired, Geoffrey…" She panted.
"Elincia… It's alright. The battle has been won. Our forces are safe for the time being." Geoffrey muttered, simply holding her.
Lethe and Lyre looked on. It was sweet how Geoffrey cared for his queen, but everyone knew that the fight was far from over.
At that moment, Janaff came flapping over. "The frontline has been cleared, and as far as I see it our allies in the right flank have decided to gather together after taking out their quarry, and the rear flank is heading this way."
"So we were all victorious… How many casualties do you see?"
"Too many… But I don't see any of the vets from the Mad King's War among them. We'll need to talk to Soren and Ranulf to figure out exactly how many fell."
Geoffrey sighed. "And just when I thought we could celebrate our victory…"
Janaff shook his head. "Be happy that your family's still mostly intact, Geoffrey. With the kind of hell we just went through, we could have had it far worse."
1. One of the things that annoyed me about Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn was the lack of playable female Snipers/Marksman. Now Enjorlas feels redundant because we already have quite a few guys who can serve as mounted archers. We need a girl Marksman who reminds us of Neimi (yes, she's based on Neimi, so sue me), so now I've made one. Savvy?
2. If you remember, Prime Minister Sephiran died earlier in this story in Sanaki's service. He is (or was) not the Magnificent Bastard he proved to be in Radiant Dawn. That honor (or more like dishonor) now goes to Senator Lekain. Sephiran is a victim of the Confederacy, not one of the guys secretly in charge.