Chapter Ten - The Siege
Louise and Kirche rode into the capital as the sun was setting. It was a bustling city with tall five or six story buildings lined in neat circles surrounding the royal palace in the heart of the city.
But the city wasn't peaceful. They were stunned by panic gripping the people as they hurried with their belongings to flee while armed soldiers were yelling a proclamation:
"This city is now under martial law! Everyone is to clear the streets and remain indoors! Anyone violating this order by his excellency the Duke de Brinvilliers and the provisional government is subject to arrest and detention! I repeat! The vile and unjust rule of House Tristain has now been overthrown by the people! To ensure a smooth transition of power this city is being placed under martial law!"
"That… impossible… why?" said a blank Louise as she glared with wide eyes at the scene unfolding before her.
"Louise! This isn't the time! We need to get out of here now and find someplace to take shelter! Come on!"
"Rii..right." Louise stuttered sadly and followed Kirche as she got her horse going.
The two walked their horses along the road doing their best to be mindful of the people hurrying to close up their shops and run home with whatever they could carry to last them until the crisis abated. Kirche eyed their surroundings carefully and spotted a suitable location: an Inn which had place outside to tie up their mounts and served food. It wasn't the classiest place she'd ever seen by far, but given the circumstances she couldn't be picky. She just silently prayed Louise wouldn't start acting spoiled and whine about it.
Once they were inside, Kirche wanted to whine about it. The bottom floor was the most salacious place she'd ever set foot in, and considering some of the places she'd been... the things she wore... and the things she did... that was saying something. The waitresses all wore the most disgusting of bustiers and the shortest skirts. It was like a scene out of the most trashy novel ever written. With her eye she turned up to the ceiling and silently thanked the Founder himself that Calista wasn't with them. The petite snowy haired Sith might have had an aneurysm.
"Welcome! Welcome ladies to the Enchanted Fairies! Please make yourselves comfortable. Will be you be needing room and board perhaps?"
Never mind Calista. Kirche was about have that aneurysm! Speaking to her was a man with a goatee so sharp she was sure it could cut glass... the most pointy mustache that could put her eye out by looking at it... the reddest lipstick... the blackest mascara... and wore the tightest shorts and what looked like a purple bra. He was also the single most muscular man she'd ever seen in her life. She couldn't imagine what Calista might have done had she been here. She had already complained about the lack of whatever she classed as being 'real men' on their world and if she saw this, she might have gone insane.
"Yes… we'll need a room. We'll also need food; we've been on the road all day."
Kirche took a look at Louise and sighed. She was almost completely catatonic. At least she was following and sitting down on her own. She had that to be thankful for. But for all practical purposes, Louise was completely useless for now.
"This Academy was originally a military fortress. Defending it won't be a problem. The real problem is our supplies. This isn't a military facility your Highness, it's a school. We simply won't have enough here to keep everyone fed for more than three days." stated Colbert as he observed the preparations being made.
The noon sun was shining down in full force and for early spring it was quite warm. The front gates of the academy were being sealed by a large group of the students while the faculty all worked together to levitate a massive steel bar which they then set in place on the large wooden gate to secure it. Around the field in front of the gate the Princess' Musketeers were preparing rifles and pistols for their use.
The Princess had exchanged her regal dress for an Academy Uniform. Considering the volunteers gathered, she chose a black cloak so as not to stand out as much. Anyone who didn't already know her would have just assumed she was one of the students.
"Without the Academy Guard I only have forty eight musketeers. Against a thousand heavy infantry. But I do have a few ideas on how we can thin their numbers." said the Princess.
X2-C3 beeped angrily beside the Princess "X2 = Most powerful"
The Princess looked at the pad she was given and then couldn't help but pat the Droid's head. "I don't doubt it Extwo."
"That's good. I can personally vouch for the loyalty of thirty of our guards and ten of the faculty. The rest I've personally disarmed and secured in the cellars. The Academy staff are currently doing what they can to see about making our supplies last."
Montmorency ran up to her with a group of students behind her. Among them were Guiche, Tabitha, Malicorne and two others. Interestingly, all wore the second year black cloak. The Princess would have thought at least a few Third years would volunteer if the whole class wasn't already capable of joining the battle.
"Your Highness, these are the volunteers I've gathered for you. All of us here are the best at what we do, I can assure you of that." she said firmly.
"That's good to hear. Thank you all very much for your help today. I can assure you it will not be forgotten. Now, I need to know what each of you is capable of."
Colbert cleared his throat, "If I may." The princess then nodded to him as he stepped out and looked over the students gathered.
"You all know what's being asked of you?" he addressed the students.
Each nodded firmly to him with the exception of Tabitha who simply kept her stoic posture.
"Very well. I won't try and talk you out of this. Your lives are on the line here as much as the rest of us. Let me see who we have here…" he said as he looked them over one more time.
"Chevalier Tabitha the Snowstorm. Knight of the Order of the North Parterre from Gallia. The single most promising wind mage I've ever seen. I've served alongside Karin the Heavy Wind, so that's saying something."
The other students all did a double take of Tabitha. "You're a Knight?!" asked one of the others incredulously. The stoic girl simply nodded.
"Montmorency, yet to earn a runic name but she's proven to be more than competent in the healing arts. Though, and I don't mean this to put you down, your offensive application of magic is a bit lackluster."
Montmorency simply shrugged, "Water Magic is suppose to be a healing art. But if push comes to shove don't think I can't push back!"
Colbert smiled at her, "That's what I like to hear. Next we have Malicorne de Grandple. Don't let his figure misguide you. He's nowhere near Tabitha's level, but he's more than capable. He's able to cast a particularly potent wind tunnel. The problem is in his control. Once he lets go it has a mind of its own. But considering the numbers we face, that's not such a bad thing right now."
Malicorne smiled proudly at the praise.
"Reynald the Barbeque and Gimli the Blade. Fire and Wind Mages. Reynald is the second best Fire Mage in this school behind Kirche the Ardent. Don't let the code name mislead you, he didn't get that title by preparing food." explained Colbert.
The Princess considered the boy being introduced to her. Reynald was thin and not very well built but she found him quite easy on the eyes. He wore reading glasses and had thick blonde hair neatly combed. He had an air of intellectual confidence about him. She wasn't sure how she figured that but it was the vibe she got from him. He was smart and he knew it. The Princess silently wondered how he got that name but decided she probably didn't want to know lest this image she had of him in her mind be ruined.
"Gimli thinks himself much better than he actually is. Don't get me wrong, he's a master of the Air Blade technique. He's capable and ready for this, if he doesn't overestimate himself."
Gimli had green hair a few shades darker than Matilda's and exuded confidence in his posture. He was clearly athletic, well toned and while he was also good looking, the other boy was probably more to her tastes. Not that she didn't think Gimli could have any girl he wanted, he probably could. But she kicked herself for that line of thinking, this wasn't the time at all. The two boys gave a bow to the Princess as they were introduced. Both seemed surprisingly humble even after what was said about them.
"Last but not least… Guiche the Brass. Earth Mage. His speciality is Transmutation, but self enhancement isn't beyond his capabilities. He's also the son of General Gramont."
The Princess gave Guiche a courteous nod as he bowed to her respectfully.
"Our parents were all very close friends. I hope someday we could be too Mr. Gramont and Miss Montmorency. Now. Here's what I need from all of you..."
"Wait, wait!" yelled a girl with long dark brown hair and a brown cloak.
Guiche looked at the newcomer with wide eyes. "Katie? What are you doing here, you should be with the others!" he declared with concern in his voice, which didn't go unnoticed by Montmorency.
"I'd like to volunteer to help. If I may?" she said with an even tone that implied neither fear nor confidence.
"Katie, you're not a fighter. You're a Chef. A very good one at that. But still." said Guiche as calmly as he could.
"I say let her fight if she wants too. The more the merrier." said Montmorency with jealousy in her voice for all to hear.
"I have to agree with Mr. Gramont. You're not ready for this Katie. But we appreciate your willingness." said Colbert with a calm and compassionate voice.
"That's not true at all! I'm more than a capable Fire Mage! Let me prove it to you!" she declared with desperation.
"Very well Miss Katie. Please show us the most powerful spell you can cast." said Henrietta with a kind tone to the young girl and ignored the looks she got from the others for encouraging the younger girl.
Katie gave the Princess a quick bow and pulled her wand out from inside her cloak and held it away from the group and directed it somewhere she was sure it couldn't cause any harm. She closed her eyes tightly and focused her power as she chanted a spell.
There was a small flame on the tip of her wand which started growing exponentially until it jumped off and hit the ground two meters from her and ignited into a large blob of fire which coalesced into a living Fire Elemental who then bowed very politely to Katie and actually spoke.
"You called my lady?" it asked her with a very polite tone behind its intimidating and burning voice.
Jaws had almost literally hit the floor at what this girl had just done. They were utterly speechless. Tabitha raised an eyebrow slightly but didn't say or do anything else.
Before them was a living Elemental Spirit summoned by this first year magic student. It didn't have a humanoid shape, it was floating in the air and where legs should be was a thin stream of flame. It had very broad shoulders and thick arms with claw like fingers protruding from its hands. Its head was a flame coming forward out from between the shoulders with nothing but two bright yellow lights for eyes. This wasn't a crude magical trick to animate flames and give them form... this was the real thing.
"How...?" was the only thing Colbert managed to blurt out in his stupor.
"This is Aithne. He's a very good friend. When I was younger I helped him with a problem he had and he formed a special contract with me as a reward. He taught me how to use my power to manifest him in the physical world from the Elemental Plane. He's always here for me whenever I'm lonely or need someone to talk to. But today being what it is I think his power can help us." she explained with an innocent and sincere smile.
To say she was impressed would be an understatement. Henrietta was amazed not only at this girl's power, but by the sheer humility she was still showing.
Reynald was suddenly feeling wholly inadequate. His head sunk down where he stared at the ground.
Guiche was utterly speechless, frozen in place with his jaw agape.
Montmorency was also speechless, but for a different reason. She had no idea how she could ever hope to compete against that display of power.
"You may join us." was all Colbert managed to say.
"Indeed. Here's the plan…" said Henrietta with a firm nod.
Agnes rode for all her horse was worth. She backtracked along the same path they took earlier and managed to get onto the main road well ahead of the marching army, but not far enough ahead for comfort. The vanguard spotted her and started firing muskets at her. She turned East and rode on ahead as fast as the horse would go but it was starting to tire. She knew she had enough distance to make accurate shooting impossible. She was arguably the best shot in all of Tristain and if she couldn't hit something at that distance, there was no way anyone else would so she didn't panic.
Some of the mounted vanguard started to chase after her and with her horse in the state that it was in she knew she'd eventually have to fight. Her only hope was to postpone that fight long enough to put distance between them and the rest of the vanguard. Past the treeline ahead of her she could see the central tower of the academy come into view. She was close enough to actually make it without having to fight if she was lucky. So she rode on…
Suddenly her horse fell over. She was thrown off and her world went black. One lucky shot had hit the Horse's leg and caused the fall.
Kirche took a large gulp of whatever passed for ale in the tavern with a disgusted look on her face. "Tristain has no idea how to brew anything decent…" she muttered to herself as she peered out the window at soldiers taking people away who had violated the order to remain indoors. It was dark but the street lamps were lit and she could see well enough.
One of the scantily clad waitresses came up to her and politely tried to get her attention. "Will you be needing anything else mi'lady?"
Kirche looked at her with a small smile, "No thank you. The food was amazing, but the Ale really leaves a lot to be desired."
"My deepest apologies if it's not to your satisfaction mi'lady. If you wish, I could see what else is available that could be more to your liking?"
Kirche shook her head and kept up the sincere smile. "No need to trouble yourself. I'm not picky. And this ale is having the desired effect, so I suppose that's what counts."
"If there's anything at all you need, please don't hesitate to ask me. My name is Marlene and I'm happy to be of service for anything you may require."
The buxom redhead reached into her pocket and pulled out whatever coin she had there. She looked to see two silver coins and offered them to the girl as a tip. When next she spoke, it was in Germanian "Mit tiefer Dankbarkeit. Take this for your trouble. I'm sorry it isn't more but with things being what they are..." she said while gesturing out the window with her mug.
"You're Germanian! I'm so very sorry. I didn't realize that. I should have." she replied in their mutual native language.
"I didn't realize you were as well. But Marlene is a Germanian name, so that's when it hit me. I'm Kirche von Zerbst." she said with a sweet smile.
"I'm honored to meet you mein Jungfrau. I hope we can make your stay here comfortable and pleasant."
"You already have. But there is one thing I need that maybe you or your… colleagues could help me find?" said Kirche while raising her mug to the scantily clad waitress.
"Anything mein Jungfrau. Please just name it. I'm honored to be of service. This establishment is here to fulfill desires."
"I don't think we have the same desire in mind at the moment. I need an elixir of Papaver. Good quality product. Do you think you can help me with that?"
"You, mein Jungfrau? I see. I don't think that will be possible until they start allowing us out. But I'll make discreet enquiries for you. If your need is dire, perhaps by some chance someone here might have some. God knows some of the girls here have strange habits."
After the girl gave her a quick bow and walked away Kirche took her seat at a small wooden round table opposite Louise and slouched in the chair. "You need to snap out of it Louise. The world isn't waiting for you." she said to the smaller girl who was staring a hole into the table with what felt like a dark cloud hanging over her.
Louise shook her head and spoke in a low tone to Kirche. "I can feel everyone's apprehension. Their insecurity, their uncertainties. It's so overwhelming… I don't know how to control it..."
Kirche looked at her blankly. "Ahh… more of Calista's Sith speak."
"I'm surprised you can sense that. Louise. Truly the Force is with you. And so am I."
Louise closed her eyes. It was time she figured this out. She could somehow feel Calista's presence near her but at the same time knew she was still very far away. There had to be an explanation. She took a breath and calmed her mind, pushing her feelings aside and focusing entirely on the Force and how it was flowing through her and all around her.
She felt it, the single strand that linked her to Calista and followed it until she felt herself fully aware of Calista in the distance just out of sight.
"Cali… I can feel you!"
"Indeed. I was wondering how long it would be before you discovered the bond between us for yourself. Well done. I would enjoy it very much if we could continue this exchange, but my time is very short."
"What's happening to me?"
"It's the city. Free of all the streets and buildings. What you're sensing is the Force being affected by the people. Their collective emotions have a strong influence on the Force. Ever heard a saying that's like: Your mentality dictates your reality? Think of it that way."
"It feels awful. Can anything be done about it?"
"One might as well try solving all the problems in the Universe."
"Huh?"
"Nevermind. Yes. It is possible, but it is exceedingly difficult and not realistically feasible. One must first be able to sense the critical point within the system, and know how to affect it in such a way that the ripples the action causes travel to your intended destination."
"Like throwing a pebble into a pond?"
"More like the ocean."
"You said it was possible? How?"
"Trust your feelings Louise. You've fully opened yourself to the Force now. Be mindful of your goals and allow the Force to guide you. Also, have no fear for anyone back here. I will not allow them to be harmed. Do what you are meant to do where you are now. We will meet again soon."
"Master. I… I'm sorry. For how I've been acting."
"You don't owe me an apology. But there's someone else there with you who is essential to your future. I can feel the Force binding your destinies together even from here. Trust in her Louise. Earn her trust. Only together can you overcome the adversity you face."
"Yes master."
"May the Force be with you."
"Louise? Hello?" said Kirche while waving a hand in front of Louise's face.
When Louise opened her eyes she found that Kirche had walked over to her and was bending over to wave in her face. "Kirche… drink up. Then let's go upstairs. We need to talk."
Kirche raised her eyebrow at the sudden seriousness of Louise's tone and the resolve in her voice. It seems whatever it was that came over her was gone. She wished the same could be said for herself.
Calista knelt in her meditation position near the horse while she patiently awaited Matilda's return. It was nearly their appointed meeting time.
"Hrrmmm…" was the only sound she made as she nodded her head in her sagely manner. Louise's progress was excellent.
The ground near Calista softened and Matilda came out of it with her arms crossed and her wand held tightly in her hand. Calista opened her eyes and looked over. "For someone who plays in the dirt so much, you seem surprisingly clean." said Calista with a slightly playful tone.
Matilda smiled back at her. "Believe me I'm not. I've got a lot of dirt with me."
"The Force is with us my friend. I've found more ledgers and I'm confident we can link these people to Count Mott. It seems their shady activities have been funding this rebellion."
"I… found a treaty. Between the Duke de Brinvilliers and a man named Cromwell in Albion. They've joined Reconquista."
"The people you were forced to work for in your homeland?"
"Yes… I've been such an idiot! I've been played twice!"
"Don't get mad Matilda. This isn't the time for an emotional outburst."
"This is the perfect time for an emotional outburst!"
"No. This is the time for vengeance. This is the time to purify yourself with the blood of your enemies and break your chains." said Calista from where she was still kneeling on the ground.
"What about my sister? I can't get involved in this! If they find out they could-"
"Matilda! You said you were starting to believe. Take the next step. Join me. And together we can free your sister and we can bring order to this world! Believe in me as I've come to believe in you. The Force is with us! We will not fail!"
Matilda started pacing as she agonized over the decision she had to make. "This whole country is about to burn in war… I can't just..."
"Make a decision. Whatever you choose, I won't stand in your way."
"I'm worried about Agnes. She should have been back by now." said the Princess as she gazed out across the open fields around the academy from the wall above the gate.
"All the preparations are complete your highness. We're as ready as we'll ever be. But I have to ask, do you really think this will work? It's the most unorthodox strategy I've ever heard of for dealing with a siege situation. Not to mention we're outnumbered ten to one." asked Colbert from just behind her.
"My Father's… let's call him what he was for now, Enforcer. He taught me a lot about military strategy. I just wish I never had to put any of it into practice…" said a dejected Princess.
"Don't lose heart your Highness. I'm confident you will win this." said Colbert.
As the Princess started to speak again Tabitha waved her staff ever so slightly...
"I'm not! It's just that... I always wanted to rule with a gentle hand. I wanted to start great public works to make our nation more beautiful and create jobs for people. I wanted to improve Tristain's standing as a center of learning by building schools and recruiting the best minds in every field to teach in them. I wanted to create opportunities for prosperity and have Tristain lead our world into the future not by the might of the sword but by the power of the mind. One day my dream will come true… and if these people want to deny my plans for the future… then let them try! I'll show them exactly how far I'm willing to go to protect my dreams!"
The Princess didn't realize it, but she'd drawn an audience for her impromptu and very candid speech. The students she recruited for the defense, her Musketeers, the Academy Guard, and a hundred other students who were all from Tristain all applauded her in chorus.
Meanwhile just up the road the vanguard of Osmond's regiment was spreading out through the treeline of the nearby forest to observe the Academy and send back reports.
Louise and Kirche were up on the fourth floor in their room. It was a humble room to say the least, twin beds with thin mattresses and modest pillows and blankets. This was no place where nobility would stay but given the circumstances they had no choice.
"Calista is able to communicate with me through the Force and I've just learned how to do the same with her. Through her I sensed the Academy is in danger. But she's working on it and she won't allow anyone there to get hurt." explain a serious Louise.
"That's really vague… anything more specific?" said Kirche with a casual and almost disinterested tone.
"Either I'm just a beginner, or the Force doesn't work that way. All I get are vague images, feelings mostly. But if I had to guess, I'd say whomever is behind this revolution here in the capital is probably attacking the academy to try and capture the Princess."
"So what do you plan to do about it?"
"There's nothing I can do. Calista is on it, that means Matilda is probably working with her. I don't think anything can stand up to those two if they work together so I'm not worried. I'm honestly worried about what we're going to do here. We need to know what's going on out there."
"Honestly Louise…" started Kirche who then lay herself down on her bed. "I'm tired. It's been a long ride, I had a great meal and really lousy ale. I'm going to sleep. If you want to figure out what our game plan is, wait until tomorrow. Right now there isn't anything either of us can do. We have to wait until they start letting people go outdoors. So until then you should get some sleep too."
"Our game plan? So you're still willing to help me?" asked a very curious Louise.
"Sure. Why not? Sounds fun. Good night." said an increasingly incoherent Kirche as she fell asleep.
Osmond rode at the front of the column of soldiers surrounded by officers as they moved up the road towards the academy. Night had long fallen by the time they reached the fields around the school ground.
"Lord Osmond. The vanguard reports they've sealed the academy gates shut and that the Musketeers, Academy Guard, faculty and some students have manned the walls. They're prepared to fight." reported a scout.
"How did they know we were coming?" asked an officer beside Osmond.
"We captured the Captain of the Musketeers as she was making her way back to the Academy. It's possible there were others with her who made it back ahead of her and warned them." added the Scout.
"Bring her to us. We will interrogate her. In the mean time I want our engineers and mages to prepare siege weaponry. I want siege ladders and a battering ram ready as soon as possible." commanded Osmond.
"What kind of defense do you think they can mount Osmond?" asked the officer while the scout rushed off to carry out his orders and another officer turned around to head down the line to the engineers and mages.
"With just the Musketeers and the Academy Guard? Nothing. With some of the students? A little bit of something. Much of the staff are still loyal to me and I'm confident they will prevent anything insurmountable from going up around the academy. Our main focus should be breaching the gate. Failing that, there is the south wall which is weak from erosion. It wouldn't take too much to breach it."
"I have to ask. What about the Princess herself? You've instructed her in magic have you not? Is she anywhere on her Mother or Father's level?" asked the officer.
"Her Father's, no. Her mother's, possibly. But she's a water mage. No matter how powerful she is, without a constant source of water to manipulate she's at a disadvantage. If it starts raining we'll be in trouble, but since the weather is favorable there's no cause for alarm."
Malicorne held out his arm as his owl familiar landed on his forearm and looked into his eyes. "Your highness. My familiar says they're here. Out past the treeline. They're coming. Over a thousand soldiers." he reported with apprehension.
"Now I'm really worried about Agnes, Calista, and Miss Longueville." they should have been back well before Osmond.
"I wouldn't worry about them your highness. Miss Longueville is really quite a powerful mage. Miss Zarkot is… well, I actually take pity on anyone who decides to get in her way. I'm not sure about Agnes' abilities but she's in good company." said Colbert.
"Extwo, has there been any word from Calista?" asked the Princess as she peered down to her new protector. Its only answer was a sad tone which was obvious enough that the Princess didn't even need to check the pad she was given to understand it was worried too.
"Your Highness. I have an idea, if I may be so bold?" asked Guiche.
"Yes Mr. Gramont?"
"My Father and his soldiers are currently on security duty near the border with Gallia. I can not more strongly vouch for my family's loyalty to the crown your highness. If we could send word to him, he could be here in two days."
"How would we reach him? We'd have to send someone out. Lord Colbert, have any of the students summoned any flying familiars a messenger could ride?"
All eyes suddenly fell on Tabitha.
"Tabitha has the fastest familiar by far. She summoned a Dragon!" said Montmorency with pride for her classmate.
"Truely? Lady Tabitha, could we impose upon you to lend us the aid of your familiar?" asked the Princess.
Tabitha took a long moment to consider it before nodding.
"Thank you very much. Mr. Gramont, could we impose upon you now to go to your father and ask for his aid?"
"But your Highness, don't you need me here to-"
"No Mr. Gramont. You've done your bit, and exceptionally well I might add. I'm confident we can get by without you until your return. Please make haste. Once we've broken the siege I'll need his soldiers to travel with me to ensure whomever supplied Osmond with his little army is dealt with."
"Yes. Your Highness."
There wasn't much sleep to be had that night. Tension was high throughout the academy. Most of the student body was hidden away in the dining hall. Couples huddled together for security, others cuddled up with their precious familiars for any warmth and security it could offer. The Academy staff worked diligently to preserve whatever food they could with whatever was available to them. Marteau sharpened the biggest knives he had and Siesta looked at him nervously.
"Marteau? What are you doing?" she asked him.
"Getting ready. If they come in here there's no way I'm letting them hurt anyone." he answered her coldly.
"You're not a fighter Marteau, you're a cook!" she said to him incredulously.
"That's where you're wrong Siesta. I don't talk about it but I used to be in the army. I can and I will protect you all if it comes to it. Now stay focused on what you're doing. We need the food to last as long as it possibly can."
"I hope Louise is alright… wherever she is." said a wistful Siesta.
"I know she is. That girl's getting a lot stronger. The best thing you can do for her is to worry about your own well being." said a very serious Marteau.
"Yes… you're right. But you take care also Marteau. She'd never forgive you if you did something stupid and got yourself killed here!"
The next morning Osmond's army was positioned in plain sight of the front gate of the Academy. Tensions were at their highest as the Musketeers and the still loyal Academy Guards lined the front wall with rifles at the ready.
"Aithne?" asked Katie to her elemental.
"Yes my lady?" he responded.
"Do you think we have a chance here?"
"This strategy of your Princess is… unheard of. But it has great potential. She is bold. Innovative. So yes. I believe it can work."
"If it fails... You'll protect me won't you?"
"I swore that I would. I may not be the most powerful of my kind, but I will not allow you to be harmed dear Katie. But if I may, I think your participation in all this is premature. Your own powers are not ready for this and I think you know it."
"I know. But I can't just sit back and do nothing. So many of the others said it isn't their problem. It isn't their fight. I don't know how they could be so…"
"Cowardly?"
"Apathetic. Actually."
"Humans are a complicated race. Capable of so many extremes. Extremes of creation and destruction. But you can not have one without the other. The old must be swept aside to make way for the new. That's what was missing from your Princess' dream. But that's what about to begin here. The old must be swept aside to make way for the new. As a Mage of Fire, you should know this."
"I always thought of Fire Magic as something that was just meant for destruction. It's why I never wanted to get involved in anything like this."
"Yet here you are. When a forest burns it is the end of all life in that forest. But in the wake of the destruction life begins anew. In the wake of the destruction this will cause life will begin anew."
"He's right Katie." said Montmorency who came up to stand beside the girl.
"Montmorency? Hi."
"Hey. Listen. About Guiche. If you want to be with him I won't get in your way. But just be honest with me."
"I don't. He's just a friend now. A very good friend. That's all. He wants to change himself. The reason he's been avoiding you is because he doesn't feel like he's worthy of you right now. He has a lot of things he needs to sort out."
Montmorency blinked, she wasn't exacting this at all and the look on her face made Katie laugh softly.
"He's really a good man deep down. It's just that, because of things… things he's buried deep down inside, he can't move forward with his life. Have faith in him and be patient Montmorency. He'll come around."
"Ever since Calista wiped the floor with him I haven't spent any time with him at all. He's been with you all this time, so I thought that the two of you had…"
"No. We haven't. And we won't. Honestly. I don't feel for him that way anymore and he doesn't feel for me that way. Like I said, we're just good friends. Nothing more, nothing less. So if you still want to be with him you have nothing to fear from me."
"That's good. I'm glad we had this talk."
"I hope we can be friends too Montmorency. I've heard so much about you from Guiche and I think we have a lot in common."
"I'd like that." answered Montmorency with a smile.
The Princess couldn't help but smile at the pair as they continued to converse. It was one of those little sights that reminded her that she'd set the right course. This was all worth protecting.
"Are we ready to begin?" asked Osmond to one of his officers.
"We are. Would you like to ride out to parley with them?"
"No. The Princess is stubborn. She won't surrender. I'd wager she has one or two tricks up her sleeve to try and defend the school but we'll overcome them. Has the good Captain given us anything useful?"
"No my Lord. She hasn't."
"Very well. We can't delay any longer. Send out the troops. Remind them that the Musketeers are excellent shots with their rifles but they can't hold out against us for very long. Once the siege ladders are up, get the mages in there. I want as many of the students alive as possible, but kill any who attempt to fight."
"My Lord, if I may? Their supplies have to be very limited in there. We could just blockade and wait them out?"
"No. The Scouts already reported that a dragon was flying out of the academy last night to the south. The owner of that Familiar isn't one to flee from a situation like this. I'd wager she's gone to summon reinforcements. Probably to General Gramont along the Gallia border. We won't stand a chance against him without the rest of the army."
"But if we take the Academy and he arrives, won't our situation just be reversed?"
"Not if we have the Princess. With her we hold all the cards. Now, am I going to stand here and explain myself all day, or may we get work?"
"Yes my Lord."
"They're coming! Everyone stay calm! Musketeers, fire only on my command! We want to draw them in as close as possible!"
"Now we find out if this plan of yours can actually work." said Colbert as he walked up to his position on the wall and held his staff at the ready.
"We need to keep their attention on us as much as possible. Lady Tabitha! Mr. Gimli and Mr. Malicorne! Get ready! Just like we talked about! Once they're in make turning back around a very bad idea for them! Fire mages, wait for my command! Musketeers and Academy Guard, hold your fire until they step past the first marker!"
Katie took out her wand and stood on the wall between two of the Academy guard. They each gave a her a courteous nod and she gave each a kind smile in return.
"Katie!" yelled Colbert down the line. "Remember that spell I taught you. We only have one chance to make this work!"
Katie nodded down at Colbert and sighed to the two men on either side of her. "No pressure…"
"Miss Montmorency! I need you here with me now! It's almost time!" yelled the Princess as she held up her silver jeweled scepter. Montmorency pulled out her own wand and stood beside the Princess. The two gave each other a firm nod.
The Princess looked to her left, and then to her right, and then forward at the incoming soldiers. There were several hundred, Osmond was only holding a very small portion in reserve. She grinned mischievously. Overconfidence was about to become the mantle of her very first victory in battle.
"Rifles! Fire at will!" ordered the Princess.
Agnes was tied to a tree beaten and bloody with only two guards on her. One of the two knelt down and started fondling one of her generous breasts with a sadistic grin on his face. "If you're not going to talk there are other ways you can be useful. You have no idea how many men have had wet dreams about the famous Musketeers."
"You know what turns me on?" said Agnes with a suddenly very frightening and cocky grin on her face.
The man's head suddenly twisted and snapped while the other man was impaled through the throat with a rapier.
"Women with impeccable timing." she said as she spat some blood at the man who lay dead before her.
"Sorry we took so long Agnes. We had to wait until they started the battle to make our move." said Matilda.
Calista untied the ropes and set Agnes free, then held out a bundle to her, it was her longsword, and pistol. "Can you stand?" asked the Sith.
"I can fight too. But what I really want right now is a drink."
"When we get back to the Academy I have a great bottle of wine from Albion we can open together." said Matilda with a smirk.
"Osmond is on a hill close by, observing his troops. We can take him now and end this. Are we ready?" said a stern Calista.
Agnes put on her sword and drew it from the sheath, then cocked her pistol. Calista drew out her Lightsaber staff as Matilda held her wand firmly and transmuted it into a main gauche. She pressed a button at the base of the blade and two spring loaded blades flipped out to form a fork like weapon.
"May the Force grant us strength…" said Calista as she ignited her staff.
The three women grinned at each other before running out of the treeline for the first group of soldiers they could find.
"To arms! To arms!" yelled one of the soldiers at the top of his lungs before said lungs were incinerated by a stab to his chest from Calista's lightsaber. Agnes and Matilda came up beside her and the two cleaved their way through the reserve infantry. These simple conscripts were absolutely no threat to these three women.
One thing started to bother Calista: the alarm was sounded, but once they got through the platoon of men they encountered there were no more alarms being raised. By now the rest should have been in a panic to meet them in combat.
The two others noticed this too and once the last of the soldiers was dead at their feet they walked with curious expressions towards the hill. There Osmond stood with his officers and their guards. All of them were staring at the Academy with dumbfounded expressions on their faces. The same was true of the two hundred or so reserves that were scattered about.
Osmond turned to look at the three woman and threw his staff at ground before them. "We surrender." he said.
Matilda picked up the staff and walked over to Osmond, she bonked him on the head with it hard enough to knock the old man out while the officers all pulled their swords and stabbed them into the ground while walking off the hill where they started ordering their men to lay down their arms.
As Matilda gazed out across the academy she too was stunned by what she saw. Calista and Agnes eventually stepped up beside her and widened their eyes as well.
"Holy shhhhit!" was all Agnes could push out of her mouth.
"Thank you Agnes. I was looking for the right words." said Matilda.
Calista started laughing uncontrollably.
"What's so funny?!" demanded Agnes.
"Nothing. It's just that... after all we've been through... How we were... ready... to charge... this army... and take its leader... against impossible odds... without any hesitation…"
Matilda got it and joined her in her mirth, the two fell on each other laughing uncontrollably.
"And when we get here… they just... surrendered to us... without a fight…" said Matilda who started holding her sides from the pain the laughter was causing.
Agnes' rock hard persona broke and she too fell to her knees in a fit of laughter. The three eventually ended up shoulder to shoulder unable to contain themselves from the humor of the situation.
The Previous Day
Guiche was using his magic to dig a moat around the front of the Academy. He was sweating buckets from the toll the power was taking on his body. "This is ridiculous! Why do I have to do this all by myself?!"
"You're the only Earth mage who signed on Guiche. Come on you're doing great! You're halfway there!" said Gimli.
"What are you, my supervisor? And does the Princess really think this crazy plan is going to work?!"
"I don't know Guiche. But you gotta admit, it's so crazy that it just has to work!"
"You realize that I'm the one doing all the work in this stupid plan right?" said a very disgruntled Guiche.
"That's what makes it even better! Now dig! Dig!" said Gimli with excitement.
Meanwhile the Princess and Montmorency were by the river using their magic to gather a large amount of water. They combined their magic to collect it into a large ball they could both manipulate and use to fill the moat Guiche was busy preparing. Nearby, X2-C3 and two Musketeers stood guard.
"This plan of yours Princess. I still can't decide if it's genius or madness." stated Montmorency.
The Princess smiled sweetly, "Remarkable isn't it? How often those two things tend to coincide? Your Father and my Mother did a lot of things more crazy than this together."
"Yes…" started Montmorency as the magical exertion started to wear on her. "I've heard the story about the Tidal Wave… and the Tornado. I've also heard the story about how the Manticore used to dive bomb and glomp your father…"
The Princess let out a hearty laugh at that one. "I loved hearing their stories growing up. I wish they didn't drift apart as much as they did. I wish we could have all grown up together like they did."
"There's still time your highness. We're not old people with nothing but stories of the good old days yet. We're living the good days right now."
"You have a very good point." said the Princess with a bright smile.
Back inside the Academy Colbert and Reynald were working with Katie to teach her the spell they would need to make the plan work. There was a small table lamp on the grass a few meters from her… Katie aimed her wand and chanted the spell she was taught, "Ignite!" she yelled and the lamp burst into flames. The two applauded her.
Later in the day the moat was dug, and the water was deposited. The Princess and Montmorency had actually overfilled it slightly which left everyone awestruck at the two girls drenched in sweat and over exhausted. They looked at one another with pride at what they'd just accomplished.
"Now it's my turn again…" said Guich with a sigh as he pulled out his wand.
He started the farthest end of the moat and started depositing the petals of his rose wand into the water. Then he looked down at the immense task before him and shook his head. There wasn't time to waste angsting over the size of the task, it had to be done. Though he did figure out a new technique along the way to multiply the rose petals and regenerate his wand much more efficiently so not only did he accomplish his seemingly impossible task, he discovered new abilities with his regenerating wand to get it done faster. At the end of it all he stood on top of the wall and chanted his spell… "Transmute: Oil" he commanded and the rose petals all melted into the same oil he used against Count Mott, the same Oil used to fuel lamps…
"Rifles! Fire at will!" ordered the Princess.
The Musketeers and guards fired the first volley into the incoming attackers. As they started dropping the shooters all picked up a second rifle, fired again and started reloading. Tabitha, Gimli and Malicorne used their power to make the wind blow the smoke from the gun power down towards the incoming army, there was so much of it it would help cover up the smell of the oil in the moat.
"Now! Wind Mages! Block their retreat!"
The three mages nodded at each other. The two bows touched their wands to the tip of Tabitha's staff and worked together to create a tunnel of wind behind the advancing army that threatened to shred them should they come into contact with it. A few of the slower soldiers who thought they'd be safer lingering in the back of the formation discovered first hand how potent it was.
"What does the Princess hope to achieve? They can't possibly maintain that wind tunnel long enough for it to actually do any serious harm." observed Osmond.
"Right Montmorency. Let's do this!" the two girls nodded firmly to each other and closed their eyes.
It took a lot out of them to bring all that water to the moat but they didn't think about that. It was all or nothing now and they wouldn't have to move all that water very far. Once the soldiers were close enough to start putting up the siege ladders and noticed the moat and the smell of the oil their fate was already sealed. The moat was shallow, it didn't have to be deep. The length was also irrelevant, they just didn't know which side of the gate they would choose to charge, so they didn't even have to use it all. Henrietta and Montmorency drew the water up and once the wave was at its apex Colbert yelled…
"FIRE MAGES! NOW!"
"Ignite!" the three plus Katie's Elemental companion said at the same moment and the wave dropped down over them and bathed them in flaming oil. The water didn't put out the flames, oil and water just didn't mix and once it hit the ground there just wasn't enough water left to make a difference because Henrietta and Montmorency quickly worked to make the water recede separating it from the oil. Eight hundred soldiers were washed in fire.
Once it was done Tabitha knew what had to come next. The two boys with her knew as well and nodded. They refocused their magic to give the air a gentle breeze to further fuel the flames. The oil ran out faster, but so did the victims.
Katie turned away and fell to her knees beside the inner wall and started throwing up, the two soldiers beside her were instantly at her side to make sure she didn't fall over the edge. The stench of burnt flesh was overpowering and the wind mages didn't have enough left in them to do anything about it.
That morning in the Capital Louise tossed and turned in bed before waking up with a loud scream with her hand over her chest. Kirche shot up and was instantly at attention in the center of the room with her wand drawn. She was still fully dressed since she hadn't bothered to change and just slept on top of the covers.
"What the hell Zero?!" she yelled incredulously when she realized there wasn't any danger.
"I'm sorry Kirche… it was just… a bad nightmare. I think."
"What kind of nightmare?" asked Kirche.
"A big wave… and then it was a wave of fire. It was like a thousand people suddenly screamed in terror and were suddenly silenced. I feel like something awful just happened."
"It was just a dream Louise."
"Yeah.. sleeping in the same room with the biggest pyroslut in the world is bound to give me nightmares." said Louise with a dry non-aggressive tone.
"Yeah. There you go. That must be it. Let's get some breakfast."
"Sounds good. I'll be right down. I just have to do the morning meditation."
"Meditation? You, Louise?"
"Yes... I've decided I'm going to start training with Calista again once this is all over. But for now, all I can do is just maintain what she's taught me so far."
"I've heard meditation is suppose to be good for you. Helps with all sorts of things. Mind if I try with you?"
Louise gave Kirche a skeptical eye and shrugged as she sat on the floor in her usual meditation posture with her legs crossed and her hands resting on her knees.
"Alright. I'll try and teach you. Just sit down on the floor any way you find most comfortable."
It was a small thing to bond over. But it was something to start with.