Chapter 18: From Prey to Predator
Titania didn't trust Bob, not one bit, but since he did help protect her friends from the Confederate horde, and since he, at least for now, proved to be a powerful and dependable ally, she decided to bear with him for now.
Tauroneo and Jill didn't understand why Titania treated their new comrade so coldly. Yeah, he was a Druid, and Druids had a "questionable" form of fighting, but he had proved to be a useful ally so any rate, Titania and Bob's relationship was the least of their worries.
Ever since Bob literally cleared the way for Jill to cut Goran down with her axe, hordes of Confederate Daein soldiers tried to charge forth, forcing the Daein Loyalist Army to abandon the forward camps they had set up to the east of the Great Bridge's "Daein" battle basically became a stalemate. Izuka's men were too scared to get too close to The Great Bridge, and Tauroneo wasn't stupid enough to send his men on a death march too close to enemy territory. The Daein Loyalist Army held The Great Bridge, while the Confederacy held the rest of Daein.
Tauroneo would often stand on guard, keeping a careful eye on the Daein side of the bridge, both worried that his mislead countrymen would come to destroy his camp and sorrowful at the fact that his homeland was still being oppressed. He would stand there, wondering when he could finally liberate Daein from Izuka's clutches.
And Titania would often stand next to him, telling him that a single person on watch was too risky. After all, the Confederate army was known to be treacherous, and they would be overjoyed to find only one soldier, even if he was a Steadfast General and thus a very skilled veteran, waiting for them. The Confederates would hardly hesitate to take on Tauroneo alone. Because of this, she told him that it would be better if both of them were there, together, so that they could hold off the enemy and their combined shouts would be loud enough to alert the others to come to their aid.
But Jill giggled to herself as predicted Titania's true motives.
The scarlet-haired Dame Knight could often be seen sitting solemnly on her horse, staring toward the nation of Gallia. Everyone who had fought with her in the Mad King's War knew why... Titania was heartbroken. Greil was dead, and she wasn't there for him... She could only let him live on in her memories.
Tauroneo, Greil's old friend, took it upon himself to try to help his comrades as Greil would have done. As the Mad King's War came to a close, he tried to inspire Rolf to become a more devoted archer; to have conviction in his choice in life. He tried to convince his younger comrades that they should not falter even with the death of a dear comrade like Greil, or of anyone else, for that matter. After all, the veteran General reasoned, if you mourned the death of one friend to the point where it disrupted your judgement, then many of your friends would die with you unable to prevent their deaths. The time for mourning could come after one had successfully crushed those who would take your friends from you.
Tauroneo had that bearing about him, the same aura Greil one carried. It was an aura similar to what had inspired Bryce's soldiers to fight so valiantly to keep Melior in Daein hands when the Crimean Liberation Army surrounded and plowed through their positions. It was clear that Tauroneo was a hero, a veteran of many battles who was not afraid to die for the sake of his country and comrades. They could trust his judgment, and, like all the other veterans of the Mad King's War, these men knew they could trust him with their lives.
Titania would sit beside the mustached warrior, and though he treated her with the same respect and friendliness as he would any other comrade, she found herself strangely drawn to him. What was it that made him so appealing? She often questioned her actions as she sat beside him during every war conference or meeting. She found herself hanging around him a lot more often than any of the other Commanding officers of their Allied forces. Strangely enough, Titania found little interest in Geoffrey or Elincia or Ike, and she only hung around Tauroneo, a commanding officer who, frankly, could hardly compare to Gawain in strength.
Yet, in Tauroneo, she saw Greil's conviction. She saw that firm sense of honor that would not fade even in death. Greil wasn't the only strong warrior who existed: there was Ashnard, the Black Knight, Zelgius, Ike himself, Geoffrey, Tibarn, Haar, and even Boyd, but among these men Greil was one of the most heroic. He had the heart of a hero as well as the muscles to back that up.
Even if Tauroneo wasn't so powerful, he, too, had that 'heart,' that state of mind. He'd do anything for his comrades, and they could definitely rely on him.
And Titania realized that, perhaps, Tauroneo carried many of the things that she loved in Greil. Perhaps her relationship with him as a comrade was about to end... Not in an ill way, of course, but in a life changing way. Perhaps, she reasoned, she was in love with him.
But Titania shook her head every time she came to that conclusion. It was silly to think that! Tauroneo was a dedicated knight of Daein. She was a dedicated knight of Crimea. Even if their relationship were to become closer, he wouldn't abandon his country for her, and she wouldn't for him either.
Still, she'd spent these years alone... She'd spent so many years as a single woman... Her age was catching up with her, and spending time with youths like Ike and Boyd made her realize how time was truly flying away from her... Perhaps it was time for her to make a move.
With the enemy so afraid of the white-armored warrior that they wouldn't even attempt a raid, Tauroneo found the task of guarding The Great Bridge ridiculously easy. Yet, even if guarding this position was simple, the situation was hardly relaxing.
The soldiers of the Daein Loyalist army were tired, demoralized, and were slowly running out of supplies, so it was a shock, but a merry one, for them to find General Geoffrey riding towards them with several supply wagons and additional troops.
Of Tauroneo's forces, those under Titania's direct command were the first to run forward and greet Geoffrey. They were Crimean soldiers, after all.
The Daeins were less cheerful upon seeing that legendary Crimean commander, but they were definitely thankful when Geoffrey gave them enough supplies to feed them for roughly two years. They had to thank Ashera that gruel didn't look nearly as appealing as it once did.
Titania made a note of every single veteran who passed by her. "Hmn? Where are Lucia, Boyd, Soren, Oscar, Gatrie, or Astrid? Shouldn't they be here?" She asked Geoffrey.
"My sister informed me that she had some business to attend to in Melior. Apparently, she needed Boyd and Gatrie to accompany her. As for Oscar and the others, well, I did not relay an order for everyone to come here, and I suppose they had their own duties to attend to. I could summon them if you are concerned, General Titania, but rest assured that they survived the enemy's assaults and are just fine, as far as I know."
"If you're so sure, then that is enough of a relief. It's just that so many have fallen, and I don't want any one of them to be another casualty."
"You need not worry about that, General. Crimea's Royal Knights and the Greil Mercenaries are some of the finest troops Crimea has ever mustered. A member of either wouldn't fall that easily."
"Are you certain?""Yes, Lord Ludveck. Her majesty Elincia has ordered Tagio to march along with her to meet up with the Daein refugees at The Great Bridge. The enemy has left only a skeleton force at Melior, with fewer than a regiment stationed there."
"Hah! How could Elincia be so stupid? Stationing only a thousand troops in Melior won't save her when I still have tens of thousands under my command! And you say that there isn't even a regiment there? Hah! When I outnumber her primary citadel's troops by over forty to one, let's see what she'll think of her own utter stupidity!"
"My lord, we should strike now if we want to ensure victory."
"Of course, private, of course. Now, inform the rest of my officers of this news. Once our army heads out, Melior will fall!"
"Lady Lucia, they are advancing towards the west gate, with Lord Ludveck at their head, as you predicted." A Crimean sage bowed before her.
"I knew that leaving this tempting morsel would have Ludveck come crawling out of his den. Now, all we have to do is cut him down, and this will all be over. Boyd, Gatrie, I brought you two here to help hold the line. I'm sure that task wouldn't be hard for you at all." Lucia smirked.
Gatrie saluted. "I'd do anything for a lovely and smart lass like you."
"As long as I get to ram my axe into one of those thick Confederate skulls, I'm good." Boyd added.
"Then go, you two, and give them hell." Lucia raised her blade. She had proven her ability as a strategist to lure her enemy out, but now she had to prove her abilities as a tactician and warrior. Could she cut Ludveck down and end the rebellion, or would Melior fall once again?
In the thick shrubbery just south of Melior, Soren's scouts gave their report.
"Enemy forces are advancing, forty thousand strong, for the west gate. Lady Lucia has ordered around five hundred soldiers to array themselves on the western battlements, with another company stationed right behind the gate. She has left three companies and a half to guard the remaining three gates, with about one half of a company in the center of the city, ready to provide the others with aid."
"Is Lucia drunk? She must have gone mad... How does she expect to hold the other three gates with only 150 men each? The enemy has four legions! Those soldiers will probably lose their morale the moment they see the sheer size of the enemy's formations... Very well, once the enemy begins to lay siege to the south and east gates, we will strike. They'll likely breach the north gate, but if we can rush to the southern gate in time, we may be able to keep Melior in our hands and ensure the enemy's defeat. The enemy still outnumbers our unit by roughly three to one, but we have a much better chance of holding them off than Lucia's lone regiment."
"Understood, Master Soren. I will inform you of the situation as it unfolds as ordered." With that, his scout disappeared into the thick undergrowth.
"Oscar, Astrid, you two have stayed by me for some time. As talented knights of the bow and lance, you're the most qualified for hit and run tactics, which are the kind of tactics we'll have to resort to for our opening strikes. Again, I thank both of you for being here."
"As long as Crimea needs us, we'll be there, Soren." Oscar answered for both of them.
"Very well. You men are knights of Crimea, and today Melior is under attack once more. Are you going to let those rebels take the capital, or will we show them how incredibly stupid they are? Prepare yourselves, men, for today we shall prevail!" Soren called as his forces took their positions.
Near the north gate, Lethe and Lyre crouched in the shrubbery with a few companies of Gallians. "If Lucia is reckless enough to risk life and limb, and Soren silly enough to bring so few soldiers to reinforce her, then they will need our strength as well. I guess I'm silly too, bringing so few of our brothers to help join in the fray, but it is our duty as Gallians to help our allies crush this rebellion as soon as possible.
"I know that the enemy outnumbers us greatly, and that our own forces roughly match those of Lucia's in number, but a Gallian tiger can crush four beorc with his paws, and our cat siblings can outrun, outmaneuver, and strike them multiple times before those fools can counterattack. Victory will be ours, so let's prepare ourselves! Once they swing by the north gate, we will make our move. They will hardly expect laguz to show up, so we have the element of surprise!" Lethe growled excitedly.
And so, the Confederate army slammed itself against the west gate. As their troops tried to ascend the walls with ladders and ropes, they were either cut down, or faced a hundred spears and axes striking them in the face. Boyd axed many a snarling Confederate soldier, while Gatrie speared his own quarry. As the enemy began to lose morale, other members of their force began to move out and strike the other gates.
As the northern Confederate flank reached the north gate and began to strike, other forces flew past them to strike the east gate, but they were all cut off and their confidence shattered when Gallians burst out and assaulted their rear. Lethe and Lyre hacked away at their foes indiscriminately, and though the Gallians were outnumbered, they were able to take out countless troops. Confederate soldiers, heavily demoralized by this sudden assault, began to flee every which way, leaving their commanders to die by the claws of tigers and cats.
The situation was no better for the Confederacy in the southern flank, as Soren emerged, slamming them with thunder and wind. Astrid joined him, nailing countless soldiers in the forehead with her bow. From the east, Oscar emerged, and with a few swings of his lance he sent dozens of enemy soldiers flying. With their forces routed, the Confederates fled and Oscar galloped to Astrid's rescue, only to find that both she and Soren had already wiped out their respective flank.
Ludveck, seeing his soldiers dying so readily, tried to retreat, but Lucia was ready for him.
"Lord Ludveck, as the commanding officer of all Crimean forces in this region, I challenge you to a duel!"
"To the death? A pity, woman. You could have sired my children and ensured a greater dynasty of Crimean rulers, but you chose this stupid path. I accept your challenge, but I won't give you the dignity of death upon defeat. Once you recover from this fight, and I win, you'll be mine, understood?"
Lucia's eyebrow twitched. "And when you are defeated, you'll feel a blade hacking away at your vitals, you wretched traitor!"
Ludveck laughed. "Then let's begin..."
He came at her with his lance outstretched.
But she was ready for him.
As he thrust forth, his war horse letting out a vicious neigh, she dodged and flew forward, striking him on the chest before leaping back.
Soren gripped tightly on his tornado tome. He couldn't let her fall, not when he was right there... Her acrobatics skills were quite impressive, but how long could she outmaneuver Ludveck before he took her down? Soren knew that violating this duel would insult Lucia's honor as a warrior, but he definitely didn't want her to suffer the consequences of defeat. He began to mutter the opening lines of a rare curse of wind magic. If he could introduce toxins into his next gale, Ludveck would be debilitated and Lucia would be saved! Standing ready, he prepared to violate her warrior's honor if it would keep her alive.
Lucia, for her part, dodged every attack Ludveck could use on her.
"Hah! I'm surprised that you actually graduated from the Crimean Military Academy!" Lucia taunted her opponent.
"Woman! You think you can insult me like this?" Ludveck twirled his lance and pointed it at her. "I am Ludveck, Duke of Ardor. Unlike your miserable Fortress Delbray, I kept Ardor wealthy even during the Daein occupation. While you miserable incompetents continued to hide or fight the Daein warriors and thus risk the lives of our Crimean citizens, I kept everything secure and everyone safe and happy. You have no right to make jokes at my expense, you wretch!"
Lucia could only giggle. "You hide behind that wall of pride, but I wonder how swiftly I can knock out those bricks?"
"You may call it pride, but that shows how you have no idea of respect. No wonder why you insist on this incredibly stupid course of action…" Ludveck laughed. "Surrender, woman, for it's all over for you."
Lucia raised her silver sword. "We shall see about that." Darting forward, she startled Ludveck and his horse, in spite of its training, shirked back from her sudden advance. An armorslayer slipped out of its sheath and fell from Ludveck's side. With quick hands, Lucia confiscated the weapon.
Ludveck glanced uneasily at the sword. With one slice, his tough armor would be no more.
Lucia laughed. "The tables have turned, haven't they, Duke Ardor? Tell me, why exactly did you betray your country twice? You kowtowed to the wants of King Ashnard, and when Ashnard fell you pretended to serve our Queen. Bastian and I saw through your façade, so by the time you rallied your men, we already had plans for you."
"Then how, exactly, did you allow me to gain so much power, woman? Melior will be mine in moments, and your plans will come to naught."
"That's what you think, Ludveck. That's what I wanted you to believe from the start. On the contrary, Master Soren has already taken down many of your veterans, and the Lady Lethe, leading several Gallian soldiers, has taken care of many more. Your forces are routed, and will soon be decimated. You've fallen for my trap, and I'm afraid I can't let you leave."
"Huh. She's incredibly stupid to the end, and arrogant too. Perhaps I was wise not to take a whore like you as my mistress. Goodbye, Duchess Delbray. You'll die, witch, and all of Crimea will curse your name once I become King."
Lucia just smiled as Ludveck reared his horse and moved in for one final charge.
She leapt to the side, and as Ludveck reared his horse to attack her, she jumped and thrust the armorslayer forward.
Any beorc warrior would know and fear the might of an armorslayer. Though it was not very durable compared to many other swords, the blade still slashed through armor with ease. It wasn't exactly like cutting butter with a knife, but such swords could still break armor quite efficiently. Only a blacksmith would know how to forge such a weapon, and an armorslayer was unstoppable in the hands of one who knew how to use it. Lucia was one of these people, and her blade cut through Ludveck's chest guard.
The traitor gasped. The sword had pierced his lung.
Blood began to flow from his mouth as he gagged, and Lucia let go of the sword, leaving it impaled in his body. Duke Ardor twitched as his body spasmed, unused to this foreign metal object having invaded the areas where lung tissue should have been. Though the sight was bloody and brutal, unfit for a lady's eyes, Lucia did not bother to look away. To say she enjoyed the sight would be a lie, even if it was Ludveck, the head of Crimea's traitorous forces, who was suffering. The fact was, she could not look away, for Ludveck might be able to kill her with his lance with his dying breath.
Ludveck's body twitched, and he tried to raise his lance to attack her, but his hand lost its grip and the lance plummeted from his grasp. He gave her once last desperate stare before plummeting out of his saddle. Once it collapsed on the ground, his body twitched like a fish that had just been thrown out of water, and finally moved no more.
The warriors of Crimea, both Royal and Traitor alike, could only watch the scene in shock. Lethe and her Gallians watched the scene with grim eyes, for they too were hardly amused at this gruesome sight.
Ludveck's men immediately dropped her weapons.
And Lucia collapsed on her knees as well.
Though her enemy had surrendered, though she had emerged victorious with few casualties on her side, Lucia could not smile.
She had killed a man… No, she had tortured him to death… But somehow she did not feel so guilty. Did that make her any more moral than Ludveck?
Soren approached her, trying to comfort her, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Lucia's mind was in shambles. Was she a monster, or was she merely fulfilling her duties as a Crimean Royal Strategist?