Chapter 42: Blitzkrieg
"Over there, I think I see something." Gesturing toward a part in the trees, Sofia was aiming for shadows moving along the hillside. The dusk was upon them, and with an eloquent grace Minimus swooped down, landing amidst a smattering of brambles near some large stones.
"This guy is pretty useful. Good job steed." As Amalthea dismounted she vigorously patted Minimus's head.
"Did she just thank me? I didn't know she could do that." Minimus was shaking his mane and kicking up snow with glee at the attention being lavished upon him.
"Neither did I." A soft giggle came from the princess as Amalthea turned survey the landscape.
"What was that?" Amalthea pivoting quickly to Sofia, staring her down for the comment.
"Nothing." Sofia turned, cooing quietly at her horse. "Stay hidden, okay."
"You don't have to tell me twice." He whinnied softly.
A shuffling and muffled thud came from the distance, silencing the women. Amalthea pointed at Sofia, then crept up to the bushes, examining the clearing beyond. Sofia snuck up alongside her, peering over. There were several men surrounding a makeshift campfire.
"Only twelve soldiers." Sofia whispered.
"Which means there are more somewhere nearby." Amalthea countered. Glancing all around, Amalthea was fixated on the trees. "We need to pick off the stragglers before going after this group."
Sofia nodded, and the women set out, ducking around majestic oaks. The river, which Birk had drawn back at the cottage, was more of a thin stream this far inland, barely navigable for a small boat and frozen solid. Amalthea grew the largest smile, then flicked her wand in a series of loops.
"What are you doing?" Sofia whispered, tugging on Amalthea's sleeve.
"Setting a trap for wayward soldiers. Just watch."
Sparks flew from Amalthea's wand, floating down to the frozen surface. As they touched small patches melted and coalesced, until a swath of the river bed surrounding where she stood upon the shore was liquid once more. Then, a boat was conjured, and set to moor along the river, the water freezing round it, locking it in place. Exceedingly proud, Amalthea stood back to admire her handiwork. Sofia, however, thought she'd taken leave of her sanity. "But they'll see it, and—"
"Just. Wait. You might be fast and headstrong, little mage, but you've got a lot to learn still."
Amalthea led her up the riverbank, to lie in wait behind a large boulder. "The key is to understand another's weakness. Then you can exploit it."
"That sounds just awful." Sofia retorted.
"This from the girl who used my son against me to switch sides in this war. Typical."
The young girl's face scrunched up with derision. "Point taken. But I still don't understand why you refroze the boat in the river? Don't we need to, you know, float down the river?"
"I need it to lure the soldiers on patrol out of the woods, just like I did when I drew you out of hiding with that sorcerer." Sofia practically screamed, but stifled it due to the subterfuge they were currently engaged in. Showing her agitation only made Amalthea smile with delight. "See? It works. You're still angry, and a distracted soldier is a vulnerable one. Now, take these scouts. They're hunting for the resistance, and they've already walked by this shoreline, I guarantee it. When they spot this boat, they'll be immediately confused. That's when I strike. Watch."
Sure enough, two soldiers came out of the brambles, running hurriedly toward the boat, making sure no one was inside. Both were rather tall, practically indistinguishable from each other. One bent down to look inside while the other came round it. Watching this play out, Amalthea had been jittery with excitement. She really did enjoy fighting, despite the protestations.
"Where did it come from?" One man asked the other.
The second man stood tall and shrugged, "How am I supposed to know that? It's frozen in the river, are you sure it wasn't here before?"
"I'm telling you, it wasn't here ten minutes ago." The first one yelled back, angrily.
"But, how then?" Both perplexed men stood over the raft, as Amalthea stepped out from behind the boulder.
"Magic." Both men jumped up and pivoted toward her, but it was of little use. At a distance of twenty paces Amalthea struck them both with the sensory distortion spell. Their heads collided as they fell into the boat. Sofia went running to check on the men, but both appeared to be sleeping with minimal damage done.
"Try not to knock their heads next time, okay?"
"I make no promises, and if you noticed, I didn't need to haul their bodies to the boat this way. Win-win." The witch conjured a large blanket, and Sofia gently stuffed extremities underneath it, that both men were now in nestled in the boat, sleeping soundly. Hurriedly she ran back to where Amalthea was waiting. "We can't catch them all this way, can we?"
"No, but you know what to do now." Amalthea stared at her, angrily. "Well, go on! I'm not your mother, go fight some of them instead of me for a change."
"Right, right." Sofia took off, leaving Amalthea and her fishing expedition. Around boulders and bushes she ducked, then heard a quick snapping sound. There were men around the opposite side of the tree. She needed to stun them, but couldn't get a clear shot.
"I wish I was small."
Clinging to the tree trunk, she shrank to the size of a mouse. Up the jagged bark she climbed, until coming to rest on a branch. No less than four men were gathered, one of the taller, younger men detailing nefarious exploits he'd undertaken in a nearby town with young, unsuspecting Friezenburg women. Sofia did her best to block out the tale, instead scanning over their arsenal. Their complement consisted of short swords alone. They weren't equipped to engage in battle. Quickly she ran along the branch tops, over their heads, until a safe distance away.
"I wish to be big." The branch creaked under her weight, but held. One of the men heard and stiffened, beginning to draw his sword. It was now or never. She jumped to the ground and sent a wave of energy, rolling the earth below the men, who caught off-guard went hurtling through the air, landing in the bushes. Just to be sure, she hit them all with the sensory spell. Standing over them with pride, she suddenly realized she was dozens of yards from the river's edge, with no way to haul them. Maybe Amalthea had the better plan after all.
"Ugh."
The river was down a particularly steep slope, though. A sharp flick of the wand, and the snow crystalized into solid ice. With a quick shove each man, all quite larger than herself, they slid down coming to rest along the shoreline. Peering over at her handiwork, she could see Amalthea below, who had felled more soldiers. The pile of men in the boat was growing quite noticeable.
"You've got six more to catch me, little mage."
Back into the bushes Sofia ducked, round stones and brambles with wand at the ready, but was coming up empty. Around a pair of thorny trees she snaked, coming to rest in their protective nook just opposite of where the encampment had been.
The clearing was empty.
"Tired already?"
Barely a whisper, it was still supremely startling. She jumped back, Amalthea grinning over her. "NO, but I don't see any more soldiers."
Amalthea looked around, then a wicked smile grew as she turned back to Sofia. "Then, maybe you should check on that horse of yours."
Sofia's hands flew up, "Minimus!" She was off, dreading that her dear friend had perhaps been discovered. Over boulders and snow banks she jumped, until returning to the place she'd left him. The poor horse was banked up against a set of large boulders, kicking wildly at three guards backing him into this corner. She'd left him too close to the encampment, and he'd been discovered.
"Dormintato!" A blaze of light came streaming from her wand, the nearest soldier dropped to his knees, then collapsed to the ground. As he crumpled the other two men pivoted. The older one closer to Minimus dove to the side, while the one closer to Sofia flung up his hands. "P-princess Sofia! Is that you? Stand down your majesty, we've been looking for you, on instructions from the king."
It threw her off, and slowly the wand lowered. "Wait, did my Dad send you?" The look in this man's eyes was deadly serious, not filled with concern.
His gaze shifted suddenly to the right. Something was moving behind her. The man who'd dove to the side was knocked backward by a flurry of kicks from Minimus as he began whinnying frantically. "It's a trap, Sofia they—"
ZING. Electricity crackled through the air mere inches from her head, electrocuting the man she's been conversing with. Horrified, Sofia spun to see Amalthea standing over the unconscious bodies of three other soldiers. "How could you do that?!"
"No time, fight!" Angry yells came from overhead, as the remaining soldiers streamed over the rocks Minimus was banked up against. The horse bellowed and struggled, Sofia finally realizing he was lassoed to the rock. They'd seen Minimus and laid a trap for her.
Spells went flying, Amalthea fought as if possessed by a demon. A soldier came running at Sofia, arms extended in an attempt to grab her wand. Frightened, she took a step back to aim at him, but saw arms reaching around from behind her. Soldier's gloves were about to latch onto her arm and snatch the wand from her when ZAP. Another burst of energy and the man's arm began to fall, limp. Without time to turn and see what was happening behind her Sofia squared up on the charging soldier, screaming "sensus transmutari!" The blast exploded in his face, and the man, losing consciousness fell to his knees, the forward momentum carrying his head into her legs. He slid down her dress, landing in the snow, unconscious as another came charging at her. Flinging her arm and wand at him she took a step back to give herself enough distance, but tripped over something large that had been laying behind her. As she fell backward she screamed the sensory distortion spell once more. The blast collided with the soldier as she hit the pile behind her rather hard, rattling her. Less than a second later the dead weight of the man she'd stunned landed on top of her, knocking the breath from her lungs. She struggled hard and managed to shove most of this soldier's torso off of her, all while the screams of soldiers and delighted grunts she was sure Amalthea was making as spells connected. Suddenly, there was silence.
"You planning to help me haul these men or just lie there, little mage?"
Her lower half still pinned, Sofia grunted unhappily. "Hey, I took out three of them, and four earlier."
"So you're only twenty behind me then. You seriously need to pull your weight around here."
Sofia struggled to regain her footing and rose to see men littering the clearing. Fortunately, most looked to have sustained minor damage.
Over to Minimus she hustled, undoing the ropes that bound him to the rock. "I'm so sorry friend. Are you okay?"
"I think; I think so Sofia. I really hate this."
Several wing flaps, and Minimus seemed to pass the health inspection. A quick sled was conjured, and men loaded onto it, then dragged to the shoreline, Minimus bemoaning the endeavor.
"Sofia, I really hate to complain, but, can there be less dragging? This is, exhausting."
"We're almost to the river, friend. Just a few more yards."
A second boat was conjured, this one able to hold the rest of the soldiers and Minimus, the river melted anew. Amalthea hurled the last of the men into the second boat, then glanced up at the setting sun before pushing the first boat off, letting it drift away.
"Wait, those men are unconscious!'' Sofia cried, reaching out in their direction.
"So what?"
"So, you're supposed to get these men to Lucinda and Axel further down river, then help her with the incoming battalions. Not let them drift off! If any fall into the water they'll drown!" Sofia stomped her foot and pointed accusatorily at the drifting boat as Amalthea stepped lightly toward Minimus.
"Oh they'll be fine, and so will that annoying little witch-friend of yours. Anyway, they aren't my concern. I need to get to the capital." She stepped up to the stallion, backing away slowly. "Come here, pretty horse…"
"Uh, Sofia, what's she doing?" He stomped and whinnied, as Sofia darted over toward them.
Amalthea lunged, making for his reigns. Instinctually Minimus jumped away, hurtling toward Sofia. One sweeping motion, and the princess shoved herself between them. "Were you actually trying to steal my horse?!"
"Not steal, borrow. You know I need to get to the capital. You can float the men down by yourself, if you're so inclined."
"You're not gonna loan me out, are you Sofia?" Minimus pulled away, neighing in alarm. "I wanna, I wanna… I WANNA GO HOME! I miss my stable!"
"Shhh… It's okay Minimus. I'm not going to let her take you." More strong pets calmed him down considerably before she turned her ire to the fallen sorceress. "First off, can you even fly him?" Amalthea's eyes bulged out.
"I'd have figured it out." She stated indignantly.
An eye roll was all that answer deserved. "Secondly, why don't you just float off? Like you did back at my castle?"
It was Amalthea's turn to roll her eyes. "Don't you know anything? That spell only works for short distances. It's a BUBBLE. Bubbles POP."
"Okay, well I'm not letting you steal Minimus. You can come with me to help Lucinda, then we can go to the capital together, or you can walk."
Turning to gaze at the rolling hillsides covered in blankets of snow, Amalthea grunted angrily, then hopped onto the boat she'd set adrift, emphatically sitting and crossing her arms with indignation. "Well let's get on with it."
Unfreezing the river as they went, it was an uncomfortably silent endeavor. Spells were alternated, branches lifted on a conjured breeze to form safe passage for their sleeping quarry as they propelled the conjured crafts down the river, which deepened as they traveled down steam.
Sofia couldn't help but stare at this woman, floating alongside her. Despite her past allegiances, she seemed to be relishing this opportunity to exact revenge on the Maldonian troops. Amalthea caught Sofia in several sideways glances before becoming irritated enough to call her out on it. "What?"
Realizing she'd been staring, Sofia turned to look at the boulders ahead, steering her boat to the side. "Sorry, I was just thinking about how happy you seemed back there, fighting them."
An ostentatiously loud and derisive grunt was meant to be heard. "You should really be thinking about why they didn't pull their swords on you, not about my mood while fighting."
"Huh?"
Amalthea chuckled to herself, lamenting the situation she found herself in. "You're kidding, right? You didn't notice how none of them drew their swords on you? And here I thought you were pretty observant. They KNEW you'd be out here, somewhere, and they're under orders not to hurt you."
Another melting spell was cast as the boats continued onward. "One of them said the king was looking for me. Do you think it was my Dad?"
"Don't know, don't care, but it means that the Maldonians will do everything possible to NOT harm you, and that is a big advantage."
Minimus began to whinny, stomping backward toward the stern of the boat. "You really think they won't harm me?" Sofia called out to Amalthea, nervously. Perhaps the mantle of 'princess' wasn't as thoroughly cast off as she assumed.
Together they rounded a bend in the river, Amalthea growing serious as she looked ahead. "We'll I guess it's time to test the theory." The elder mage stood, assuming her fighting position. Loud cracks and wails echoed through the canyon cut by the river's path, revealing Lucinda beset by an oncoming horde of Maldonian soldiers.
Explosions cracked, the great mass that must be 'the king's rock' shook from the fury of blasts. "Cannons. Great." The sarcasm exuding from Amalthea was fleeting, as the sight of Maldonian soldiers tumbling down from ledges above to the shoreline below came into focus.
"Help them!" Sofia screamed at the sorceress, pointing frantically toward the men along the riverbank loading incapacitated soldiers onto overburdened vessels. In all the chaos the few boats Lucinda had conjured were woefully inadequate to keep up with the volume of stunned soldiers now littering the hillside.
Sofia leapt from the boat, dodging the unconscious bodies rolling downward. Several peasant fighters stopped hauling bodies and looked up, a few reaching out to stop her, but she dodged them all, charging frantically up the hill to aide her friend. "LUCINDA! LU—" A great explosion rocked the ground below her feet, sending the princess tumbling to the side. The maelstrom of battle settling, there were two men piled on top of her. Again she crawled her way out, to catch sight of Lucinda beset by another incoming wave. Tired, sweating despite the cold, and covered in mud from the tip of her hat to the hem of her skirt, Lucinda fought on.
Planting her feet, Sofia cried out, "Lucinda!" assumed her fighter's stance, and began to chant the sensory distortion spell.
Lucinda's head pivoted to her, flinging her arms up to stop the spell. "No WAIT! "
One of the few soldiers running at Lucinda was knocked sideways by a force unseen, and began tumbling down the side of the hill. It caught the soldiers nearby off guard. Their pursuit of the witch halted, they turned, swords drawn, as Axel barreled through the crowd. Two more men were knocked down the hillside. "Those!" Lucinda cried, as she went for the few remaining assailants near Axel. Sofia turned her attention to the men, not yet unconscious, that Axel had sent hurtling down the slope. "Sensus transmutari!" Their valiant struggles to regain their footing immediately ceased.
Once done Axel straightened, pushing on his back and seemingly in pain. Running quickly over to him, Lucinda was rife with worry. He flashed that quintessential charming smile of his, and Lucinda punched him in the arm after a quick sigh of relief. "Don't worry me like that!" She huffed.
"But then how could I see that cute little face you make when you're worried?" He trumpeted before sweeping around for a quick kiss.
Uncomfortable at watching this display, Sofia stared down at her mud-splattered shoes. "So, uh, I take it you two worked it out."
She managed to look back up at them, they seemed ever the perfect match. As if their arguments had never been. He was gazing into her eyes with a lifetime's worth of love and devotion. "We got over ourselves." Lucinda was actually blushing as she spoke it. The moment was drowned out by the sound of loud warbles coming from the distance. They both broke the embrace, Axel dodging back into a crevice and Lucinda reassuming her stance.
"Looks like the next wave is coming in. Hurry." She pulled Sofia farther around the rock. "I'm glad you decided to come aide the cause friend, but it's actually going well so far. We've already knocked out the garrisons in the woods, these new ones are from the capital. The big problem is their cannons, but-"
"Lucinda, you're tired. I can tell, you're sweaty and-"
"It's nothing I, no we, can't handle, if we could just take out those cannons. But we've got a plan! Some Friezenburgers are looping around to try and take them from behind." The grin spread widely on her face said it all, reflecting undeniable happiness at the state of her personal life above all else. "Look, I'm more worried about Wes and your father. They don't have any magical backup."
Another loud noise came from beyond the rock, this time a series of high pitched screeches. Lucinda froze, and worriedly Axel bounded out from behind the lee of the rock. After a quick check around he quickly glanced over at Lucinda. She gave a half-nod, and he was gone.
"What's going on?"
"Something's not right. Axel's gone to check it out." Sofia quickly assumed her fighting stance alongside her friend, as shouting and the clash of weaponry grew louder.
BOOM.
The earth shook, the great 'king's rock' beside them fracturing. "LOOK OUT!" Sofia cried, grabbing Lucinda away from the splintering boulders. Several had broken off from the rock as another loud "BOOM" of cannon fire echoed off the walls of the canyon cut by the river.
"Oh NO! The rock isn't going to hold much longer!" cried Lucinda. The entire rock face warped with open fissures. "What to do, what to... Uh, ummm…." Lucinda was shaking her wand, desperate for the right spell. None came.
"Me." Sofia stated it in a brief pause of cannon fire. Confusion melted to horror as Lucinda realized what she meant.
"Oh no, don't you… Sofia wait! The plan!"
The princess was off like a shot, rounding the gigantic rock face much as Axel had a minute prior. "The plan won't work if they destroy the rock and can see you! Don't worry, they're under orders not to hurt me!"
"You can't seriously bet your… SOFIA come back!"
Another loud BOOM, and the top section of the king's rock disintegrated, raining down everything from pebbles to great boulders. Each heavy breath she huffed while running was punctuated with minor earthquakes from the rubble impacting the ground, until finally the advancing troops could be seen. They'd brought an assortment of cannons, and had pushed back Axel and the men of Freizenburg to the cliff's edge.
Sofia leapt over the battle lines, taking aim at the nearest cannon, screaming, "Vannisimo!" Loudly. Sparks flew from her wand, her target evaporating into thin air. Several of the Maldonian troops halted their advance, lowering their weapons. As she fell to the mud along the line of scrimmage she managed to lob another spell at the next cannon, disintegrating it as well. Cries of "Hold your fire! It's the princess!" rang out, and the cannons silenced. A whole section of their ranks immediately separated from the main advancement in one orchestrated motion, chasing after Sofia on foot. A few stunted steps backward, and Sofia broke into a full run back around the rock. A dozen yard's start was all that was keeping her from being caught.
Bounding along the path back to Lucinda, she had to let her friend know what was in pursuit. "uuuhhhhhHHHH…...aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA!" Was all she could manage as her whole body jostled under the impact of landing on broken stones. Behind her she could hear the shouting, alongside the increasingly loud thuds of soldiers catching up to her. Then, up ahead she saw Amalthea, wandering slowly around the rock toward the battle. Arms flailing, she watched as Amalthea caught a glimpse of the avalanche of soldiers rushing up behind her. The woman squared up, took aim and launched a spell directly at Sofia. Instinctually she let gravity and momentum take her down to the stones below. Barely dodging the spell, she rolled over the rocky terrain to stop just before Amalthea's feet. Disoriented, she felt a hand grab her violently. Fearing the worst, that a soldier had caught her, she thrashed against the force.
"Whoa, relax little mage. It's just me."
"Thanks." She was covered in several scratches, but otherwise okay. "Wait, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be conjuring boats."
A derisive grunt was all the woman responded, but she did hoist Sofia onto her feet. "There's plenty of boats now, and I try to avoid groping strange men if I can help it. I came to find you, after all you need to fly me to the capital, remember?"
Lucinda came running up. "I heard screams, are you hurt?"
"No friend. I'm fine, just a little shaken up. Amalthea knocked them out." Men littered the ground. With a flick of the wand Lucinda sent them tumbling down the mountainside. "Come on." She yelled, Sofia grabbing onto Amalthea's arm and tugging her back to the rock's alcove.
"What happened with the cannons?"
"They stopped once they saw me." Sofia looked up at Amalthea, who wore a triumphant grin. "Go ahead and gloat. You were right."
"I always am. You people should listen to me more."
"Let's not get into how wrong that statement was this minute." Lucinda chided, then turned to Sofia. "This is… great news! Sofia they won't use the cannons anymore if it means you could be hurt by the rock exploding! And if the cannons have stopped, this battle is won."
Momentary jubilation shared between the girls was broken by Amalthea staring off into the distance. Sofia turned, Lucinda following their gaze, to see the scattered hue of crimson on the horizon.
"I thought the sun already set?"
"It's not the sunset." Lucinda's voice wavered, tears dotting her eyes.
Amalthea's fists clenched. "It's the capital. It's on FIRE."
Sofia gasped as Lucinda shoved her forward. "Go, GO! Save them!"
"Now Sofia. NOW. No more delays." Amalthea was practically shaking.
The sound of rushing feet came round the rock, Lucinda charging forward, yelling "HEX!" at the top of her lungs. Several soldiers fell to their knees, stuck in newly minted mud. With an extra bounce in her step Lucinda strode forward, chanted "Sensus transmutari" Then promptly flung the men down the hillside "We've got this, so GO!"
"But the soldiers, are you really gonna be okay?" Sofia hesitantly asked.
"Go, go, GO!" Lucinda shoved her toward the hillside, "and be safe. Okay?"
"Come on already, let's GO." Amalthea grabbed at her sleeve.
"Okay."
Down the hillside they slid, jumping into a run at the bottom. They didn't stop until mounting Minimus. As they soared off into the distance, toward the haze of cannon smoke mimicking the sunset.
"I hope I don't regret leaving them there."
Amalthea simply rolled her eyes. "No matter what you do you'll have regrets. If you stay and people in the capital die you'll blame yourself, if we go and those fools die you'll blame yourself." Amalthea was gripping on to Sofia's waist tightly and anxiously peering over her shoulder at the growing crimson mass they were heading straight toward. "Trust me on this, I have a lot of experience regretting things. You've just got to pick the least repugnant option and move on."
"That's awfully pessimistic of you."
"It's a symptom of living. Get used to it."
Minimus was pulling against Sofia's grip on the reigns all the while. "Uh, Sofia, is that reddish glow what I think it is?"
"Yep."
"And we're heading toward the danger?"
"Yep."
"I was afraid you were gonna say that." He whinnied in distress, but there was nothing for it. The capital was coming into view quickly.
The entire town and castle appeared to be engulfed in flames. Screams and the sound of cannon fire were intermixed with the ashen clouds rising high into the chilled air. As they drew closer Amalthea flew into a panic, anxiously looking over the armies colliding below in a sea of fury. "I can't see my baby, set me down horse!"
She pulled Minimus to land behind a few trees alongside the village. The meager cover they provided seemed to be enough. Amalthea jumped, landing in the ankle-deep snow and running toward the battle. After about ten steps she froze, pivoting back to Sofia on the horse. "Well come on little mage, this is IT!"
Sofia turned, looking up to the castle on fire in the distance. She was yanked back rather briskly, Amalthea staring her square in the face, livid. "Listen up, YOU started this, and by Merlin you better finish it. If you run now and my son dies, so help me I will track you down and you will share his fate."
"Then go find Wes and help him, I need to make sure Hildegard's family are okay." Amalthea's brain seemed to explode, reminiscent of broadsiding a water balloon with a bat.
"You're going to go protect those human poachers over your own family? Unbelievable. Well, have fun suffocating in that fire." With that Amalthea was off flinging spells and tearing through Maldonian troops.
"Let's go Minimus."
"You don't have to tell me twice." Off he rocketed into the sky, hoofs beating against the wind as he dodged plumes of smoke and the errant burning branch. Up and over the melting snowbanks he swerved through the air, approaching the castle from the back. That singular mount tree overlooking the village and valley was still standing, as well as the gardens where Hildegard's funeral was held. Minimus slid into a landing alongside the bushes that lined the servant's entryway. "Do you think here is safe enough friend? You can't fit through the corridors inside but we could try."
"Horses aren't really meant to fly indoors, and there may be fighting, and I might get backed into a corner again, and yeah, here is good. I'm good."
"Okay friend. Stay put and out of trouble this time."
Into the castle she crept as quickly as possible. Dishes and other porcelain works were crashing to the ground in distant rooms. Screams and cries were echoing through the long corridors. Luckily, Sofia knew all the back passageways from years of visiting Hildegard as a child. Up the servant's staircase she bounded. At one point the corridor opened to the kitchen. A field of horror lay before her. Blood soaked linens warned her not to linger, but she couldn't resist looking over the carnage. Those kitchen staff who hadn't fled were strewn along the stone tilework. Despite knowing their fates were already sealed, Sofia tried to wake the woman nearest her. She was still warm. The few healing spells Sofia knew weren't working, and doubts crept back into her mind. These were citizens of Friezenburg, just as her Papa and his followers were. Surely this was an accident. Unable to see any signs of life, the old woman's limp body fell back to the tile, Sofia shedding a few tears and mournful words over her and the young man lying beside her. "I'm so sorry. I'm so.." She knew she couldn't linger. If this was the fate of those loyalists still serving the Royal household, she paled when considering what Hildegard's family's fate would be. Off she ran, coming out of the servant's passageways to the second story living quarters. "One, two… three…. Four. This is it." The door was locked shut, and jiggling the handle was going nowhere. Unwilling to risk drawing attention with magic she tried for the diplomatic approach.
"Astrid. Are you in there?" was whispered forcefully.
Nothing.
"It's me, Sofia. I've come to save you and your father."
A faint, "Sofia?" came from behind the gilded doors, then, somewhat louder, "Are the rumors true? You're one of them, aren't you?" emanated from within.
"Well, I want to help the people of Friezenburg to be free, but I'd never let them hurt your family." There was silence. "Please, Astrid you must know what's really going on here. There's a lot of angry people out there. I want to get you and your Dad to safety, before it's too late."
Muffled voices were heard behind the door. The crown princess was assuredly not alone.
The door squeaked open just a crack. Astrid's jet black curls were sticking out. Then, one of her deep blue eyes was peering directly into Sofia's soul. "When my Dad lost his mind, and I had to start managing this horrid mess, they finally told me why this was happening." Admission complete, her head hung low with shame.
"Then you must see that the system is wrong."
Sniffles blanketed the crown princess. "I hate this! All of this. I don't want to fight a war! I don't even care about inheriting power or governing these horrid people! I just want it to stop, can you make it stop?!"
"I want to, I really do, but the people of Friezenburg won't let your family rule them anymore. You understand why, right?"
More sniffles, and the door opened wider. "I know; I could never atone for what my family's been doing. All I want is for my Dad and I to survive this. Please just get us out of here and they can have this mess."
"Done." Sofia grabbed the crown princess's hand, Astrid gasping and recoiling at Sofia's touch. She looked down, and saw blood covered her hands. "I tried to save an old woman in the kitchen, but she didn't make it."
Astrid's face went pale, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Mildred? Oh, old Milly, no." Sofia wiped her hands on her dress quickly then grabbed Astrid once more, the crown princess finally acquiescing to being led down into the servant's stairwell. A woman of similar age ran behind them. To Sofia's surprise Astrid wasn't adorned in her typical violet ensemble, but a gown of similar opulence nonetheless. Instead, this other girl, with hair just as raven's black, was wearing it. The second girl managed to snake her skirt behind the drape that hid the servants passage as shouting voices were heard at the end of the corridor. A large group of peasants went rampaging down the hall, breaking in each door in search of something and setting fire to the corridor. Sofia held a hand over Astrid's face as the family portrait of her, her father and sister was defaced, then burned into oblivion. Quietly Sofia whispered to the forlorn crown princess. "I don't recognize any of them. They must be from the village, and not my Papa's men. My Papa would never condone this."
Astrid looked at the woman alongside her, and the girl nodded. "Eye ma'am. Tis true." She whispered.
Through the tears Astrid nodded as Sofia tried to help her calm down. "Do you know where your father is?"
Wiping her face, Astrid gestured toward the old wing of the palace. Sofia pulled her down the stairs, through the servant's passageways, and up the secondary corridors. The poor girl behind her was stumbling and trying to navigate the impossibly frilly dress through the tight servant's entrances, but she was alive. Suddenly Sofia stumbled. Her grip on Astrid meant the girl followed her down with a heavy thud, knees colliding with the stone ground. Despite her best effort, Astrid yelped. Sofia reached down to see what she'd stumbled over.
It was a leg.
Horrified, all three girls inched away from this poor soul's final resting place. They held their breath, as the sound of rushing footsteps neared. The ornately decorated girl gripped Astrid's hands, holding back tears. "Tis what I thought. Be safe your majesty."
With that, she was gone, clacking her heels loudly as she rushed out into the main corridors in a full sprint.
"No wait, we've got to stop her, they'll think she's you and kill her."
Astrid pulled on Sofia, who had attempted to lunge after her. Harrowed, Astrid pulled Sofia in to whisper, "She wanted to do it. She kept saying that a decoy was the only way to get me out. I tried to tell her not to, but..." Astrid couldn't continue.
The rush of footsteps and shouts began to diminish in the same direction the girl had fled.
They passed through another servant's hall, this one adjacent to the throne room. From behind a heavy embroidered tapestry that hid the servants entrance she could see an influx of men, and stopped moving forward to halt the clatter of Astrid's shoes on the stone floor.
Several peasants were turning over furniture and checking behind draped pillars for something. Nervous they'd be discovered with no escape, Sofia pulled her wand to the fore.
Finally, one approached the king's throne, and found whatever it was they were all searching for. With the hunt halted, the man creeping closer to their position abandoned his pursuit, setting of a huge but silent sigh of relief in the girls. A series of calls, "Eye, it's over here." Was passed along. Confused, Sofia looked over at Astrid, who was crying silently.
"What did they find?" she whispered.
"My Dad's crown." Sofia whipped around, and saw the man reach behind the king's throne, pulling the signature piece so emblematic of Friezenburg's ruler. All the men in the room went rigid, squaring up upon the approach of heavy footfalls.
As the steps grew closer Sofia was filled with dread. Not for her own sake, but the torturous thought of who these men were waiting for.
She recognized a few of them from Birk's village. "Please no, please not him, anyone but him. He can't condone this. He promised."
Out from the row of men stepped her father. He gazed into the crown, then took it into his hands, clasping it tight to his chest and closing his eyes. So filled with righteous satisfaction, he let a wicked smile loose as his head tilted upward to the fresco-painted ceilings above.
"It is done men."
Cheers erupted from the peasantry gathered in the great hall, enough so that it drowned out Astrid's cries of anguish and Sofia gasping pleas.
Over the jubilation Birk shouted, "Have you found the family?"
"No sir. Only a peasant maid disguised as the princess." Was echoed through the halls, to the snickers of some of the men. It turned Sofia's stomach to think of the valiant girl's fate.
"Then get on it. They must be accounted for."
Peasants went scrambling, leaving Birk alone in the throne room, the crown still clasped to his chest. Astrid couldn't see what was happening, she was huddled in the shadows with her eyes screwed shut trying to stifle the tears. Sofia could only stand and observe, how this man whom she knew as nothing but honorable, was indulging in the toppling of King Aaron with an all-consuming gusto. "No, this can't be happening. He promised not to hurt them." Sofia was whispering to herself, stroking Astrid's hair to calm the girl alongside the turmoil kicked up inside her.
Slowly Birk paced up the few ornate steps, turned to look out over the throne room and by extension the whole of Friezenburg that lay beyond, setting the crown upon his head.
"I am now, worthy." He said, almost triumphantly, as he relaxed into Aaron's throne.
The next few minutes passed with soldiers coming and going, and eventually Birk departed the throne room as it began to fill with smoke, leaving Sofia a burnt-out shell of numbed emotions. Her innocence abandoned in that antechamber, she forced herself to keep going, for Astrid, but the swirl of thoughts about Birk's actions and motivations raged through her.
Why had he taken up arms against the king? Of all the disillusioned former slaves why had he been the one to lead the rebellion? Sofia told herself it was because they needed an organizer, that he had been the one to protect the other's in the mines. That he had impeccable honor. But that expression her father wore, and his words when he triumphed over the taking of Aaron's crown, how they haunted her as they approached the second story balcony.
A heap of blankets that coughed was cowering in a corner, Astrid quickly flying to its side. From the pile emerged Aaron, sallow and sunken, a full greying beard and disheveled hair to match. Astrid reached under his right arm, navigating his reluctant frame to the servant's passageways. "My people need me." Came from the fallen king in barely a whisper.
"Daddy, we need to go. It's not safe. They've taken the castle." At the sight of her ailing father, Astrid had found the resolve she needed to cope with the situation.
Suddenly he grew violent, struggling against her. "No, my people worship me, they don't know all the things I've done to keep them fed, and safe. Our kingdom would crumble without me." He started shoving against the girls. "Where is my daughter?"
"Daddy, I'm your daughter. It's me, Astrid. We need to go."
"No, no, my other daughter. Where is your sister? Where is my little Hildy?! She'll straighten you out!" He'd started shouting. Afraid he'd draw attention to their position, and terrified of what her Papa and those men might do to him, despite his promise they would remain unharmed, she let go.
"This isn't working." Astrid finally released him, but kept silent as Aaron went back to muttering about Hildegard. Suddenly an idea came to Sofia, one born out of her youth.
"King Aaron, this is Sofia, Rolland's daughter."
That brightened his mood considerably, restoring some of his lost sanity. "Rolland. My… friend."
"Yes, Rolland. He wants, no needs, you to help him, in Enchancia."
Aaron's brow furrowed, as if concerned for Sofia's stepdad. "Rolland wants me, to help him?"
"Oh…uh, yes, he does." Astrid chimed in. "He really needs your help Daddy."
A faint smile grew on Aaron's face. "My friend, Rolland, needs me. Of course, of course, anything for Rolland. Let's go help him."
A collective sigh of relief, and Aaron was being shuffled down the servant's stairs and out the building, Minimus in sight. "Where is the coach? The footman? The servants? We never travel with less than a full complement of men at arms." Aaron was looking around, expecting to be waited on. Quickly Astrid came to the rescue. "Uuuhh but look! Rolland sent one of his famous flying horses to escort us."
"He… did." There was a moment of panic, until Aaron smiled. "Well of course he did. You know Rolland and I were on the Royal Prep flying derby team together? We were the best of chums, he and I."
Aaron mounted the horse, grabbing the reigns like and old pro, Astrid hoping on behind him as best she could. "Uh Sofia, why are they getting on me? Sofia?"
"I need you to take them to Enchancia, understand?"
The sigh of relief from that horse was exuberant. "Oh that's wonderful Sofia we're finally going home and… wait, why do you need me to take them? Aren't we going together? Sofia?"
Astrid had finally negotiated her way onto Minimus, and reached out a hand to Sofia, but then quickly realized there was no way the three of them could fit. Astrid clung to her father, unwilling to leave him behind.
"It's okay, go."
"But what about you? Won't they hurt you when they find out you helped us escape?"
Shaking her head, Sofia stroked Minimus's mane. "Once you're in the air you'll be safe. Just let Minimus steer, he knows the way home." Slowly she turned to her companion of the last decade. "Isn't that right, friend?"
She expected the horse to be overjoyed, but instead he looked ashamed. "I can't leave you here alone Sofia, you're my friend, and even though I'd rather be in my stable, well, always, I could never leave you in a place like this."
"I'll be alright. I need you to be the hero and save them, okay?" The horse's mood brightened considerably.
"The hero, that sounds nice. But are you sure?"
"I'm sure. If you want to, you can always come back. After all, you know where Papa's village is."
He whinnied, then galloped off into the air, Aaron hollering, "weeee" into the distance.
"Thank you for everything, friend."
A loud crack snapped Sofia out of watching them sail off into the night. The branches above her were beginning to break from the fire's rampage, now taking off through the gardens. Momentary worry for her Papa made her consider reentering the castle to look for him, he was after all still her father, but she saw in the distance a great gathering of men outside the main palace entrance, one wearing Aaron's crown.
"He's alive."
Confused, and hurt that he'd forgo his promise on the royal family's safety, Sofia darted off toward the village and active fighting beyond instead of confronting him outright. Through the palace gates, now twisted, and over large stumps of trees that seemed to have doubled as battering rams she climbed, landing in the soft snow outside the sheltered walls that kept the masses at bay for so long. Should she bolt off into the fray? And if she did, whose side would she support?
Keeping those she cared about alive through this seemed paramount. On that thought she sought out her cousin, timidly calling out, ""Wes, Wes… where are you?" over the burned out shells of buildings. It seemed as though the peasants in the capital had seized the opportunity to join the open revolt, tipping the scales in favor of the resistance. Several shop windows had been smashed in, the entire main plaza seemed completely abandoned. Stepping out of the shadows slowly, the whizz of weaponry flew past her ear. Falling backward, Sofia turned to see a Maldonian soldier on approach, sword drawn. His jacket was partially burned, his humanity all but lost to the battle, he was aiming to maim.
"Sensus Transmutari!"
He fell backward, landing on the remains of a windowpane, further shattering it with his weight. Sofia ran to his aide, tugging desperately on his arm to flip his body over. Thankfully, he'd sustained only minor cuts to his back. He did, however, have formidable injuries to his stomach from some prior incident. Injured, it seemed as though he'd been left behind by his unit as they retreated from the city. While sitting there, casting heaps of healing spell on this nameless, unconscious man in some desperate attempt to save his life, the image of the bodies in the castle refused to subside. "Please, no more deaths, please!" She looked up to survey her surroundings, that someone with greater healing knowledge than herself might through some miracle happen to wander by.
Disregarding the danger, she called out in vain. "Help! Somebody please help! This man is seriously wounded!" Nobody came. After a series of deep breaths, Sofia attempted the healing spell she'd learned when her thigh had been struck by shrapnel from Edith. All confidence in herself, her motives and the righteousness of the resistance dimmed, she could only watch as healing magic dribbled down into the man's stomach. "PLEASE!"
There was movement. Only a shadow, it was coming from behind the broken window of the apothecary. "Please! This man is hurt, please help him!"
A young girl, perhaps a year or two younger than Sofia, peered out from behind the wall. The girl was wincing, head darting around to make sure no one could see, then as quickly as she was able bolted toward the man on the ground.
"Neil, NEIL!" Gingerly she lifted his head off the ground, settling it gently in her lap and doing her best to suppress the cries.
"You know him?" The girl stroked his face, lovingly.
"He's not like them. He's good. Since they came to our city he's been protecting me from the rest."
Sofia looked down at the man, realizing all her assumptions about him had been wrong. True, he was Maldonian, but not the enemy. He was only protecting this girl.
Suddenly her hand was grasped. It caught her attention, the spell stopped, and the girl retreated as quickly as it had started. "Sorry, I… are you Sofia?"
"Uh, yeah. Do I, know you?"
"Oh no, I'm not important enough, but it's you! It's really, really you! You've come to save us!" The fear melted away from the young girl.
"I don't know if I can save anyone."
"Of course you can! Everyone knows about you, the princess who came from nothing and used her power to liberate our people!" The girl was actually smiling, then stroked the injured man's head. "I was so worried, I didn't know what to do for him, but please, will you save him? I know he's Maldonian, but he's a good person."
Sofia took another deep sigh and refocused on the healing spell. "Keep a look out okay, I'm going to try my best."
"Oh thank you! Thank you!" Steadier, more confident healing magic streamed out of Sofia's wand as the girl started to ramble. "You're a miracle, thank you so much! I only work at the shop and Nicodemus, I mean my boss who owns the shop, was taken when the fighting started. Neil stayed to protect me because all the exits from the city were blocked and everyone was dying and he loves…" The girl suddenly grew even more nervous, a well-kept secret almost exposed.
"It's okay. I think he's healing, and you don't have to hide your feelings from me. I'm glad that you both could look past this ugliness." Sure enough, the wound began to close, punctuated by joyous sobs of relief from the girl.
"Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much! How can I ever repay you?!" exclaimed the ecstatic girl.
"I should be thanking you. After all, you reminded me of what I need to remember about all this. Just keep him safe until he wakes up."
"But that's not enough, here, take this, all of this!" She reached into her pocket, pulling vial after vial of diamond dust out. The expense immeasurable for an ordinary citizen of Friezenburg, Sofia could only surmise why that particular ingredient was stuffed into her pocket.
"No, that's okay, I don't need any of that, but…. I guess…" Sofia looked over at the apothecary, remembering her promise to Cedric. "Do you have any horntail?"
A great grin grew on the girl. "Oh yes! Please take it all!"
Sofia helped the girl drag her lover under some shelter formed from falling beams and roofing slats. It provided partial cover, lest some roving band of peasants bent on revenge came through. "Get his uniform off him, just in case." The girl nodded, then set about stripping the man of his emblems as Sofia hurried over to the shop. There, on the fourth shelf along the back wall was a vial of horntail shavings, exactly what Cedric needed for his injuries. Gently she grabbed up the bottle, thinking of him and how distraught he would be to know the danger she was just in. Quickly pushing those thoughts aside, she stuffed the entire stock into her dress. It clanked against something, but before she could remember what was in her pocket the girl outside screamed.
Wand drawn, Sofia leapt through the broken shop window, squared up and took aim, "SENSUS…."
It was her Papa, and an assortment of others. The look on his face was none too pleased to see her. Staring him down, she honestly felt the same. Her anguish must have been apparent, for Birk immediately flung both his hands up, the men around him freezing.
"No stop, please NO!" The girl was crying, desperately trying to pull her lover from one of the peasant's grip.
"Let him go!" Sofia cried, stomping forward with wand drawn.
"Let him go." Birk reiterated.
The man pulled back. "But, he's a soldier, a Maldonian one."
"I know, I know." Quietly Birk steeled his gaze to Sofia, then proceeded to bark out commands to his followers without breaking his stare.
"Fan out and find anyone injured."
A chorus of "yes sir" floated through the town square as men dispersed. Sofia never wavered in her stare either, the both of them standing tall, facing each other down.
"So you came anyway, despite my pleas. What if this man had hurt you?!" He'd flung an arm toward the man lying prone on the ground. The girl had curled around his head and chest, to shield her lover with her body.
"If I hadn't come he would have died from a stab wound!" Sofia yelled back. She'd never spoken to her father in such a manner. The forcefulness took Birk aback.
"But, sweet pea..."
"DON'T, just don't you dare call me that. Not now." Sofia's hands were shaking, worrying Birk. "How could you?! You PROMISED not to hurt Hildegard's family!"
Birk went tense as a stone, barely able to strain words out through his locked jaw. "I intended to keep that promise, Sofia, but we have yet to find them and I fear for their safety unless found."
"Don't even try to tell me that! I thought you were noble, that you had morals, that this whole fight was about liberating Friezenburg's people!" Overwhelmed, Sofia arms started flailing. "I thought, of all the people in this conflict, surely YOU, my Papa, would be the one to stand up for what was right. But I was wrong, wasn't I?"
He took a conciliatory step closer. "Sweet pea, stop and listen before a rash decision is made."
"NO! I don't believe that you're doing this for the good of the people anymore."
"Sofia, it's not what you think." He'd stepped even closer, within arm's reach. There was a small satchel on his side, and Sofia knew, Aaron's crown must be in there. She lunged forward, grabbing the bag from his side. Before he could react she'd flipped open the lid, revealing the glittering object. Clasped in her hand, she shook it accusatorily at him.
"Then why do you want THIS?! Why is THIS so important to you?!"
Birk's mouth flew open. "How did you… You were in the castle earlier, that's why we can't find them, isn't it?"
"YES, I WAS there, and I'd save them again! The only thing I wouldn't do was trust you!"
"Sofia, stop this. I'm your father, will you please just calm down."
"NO! No I won't calm down until you tell me why you're really doing this?! WHY!"
"BECAUSE!" Shouted Birk, "I would never be worthy of your mother without it!"
She'd never heard him yell. Stunned, Sofia went silent. Birk snatched the crown and satchel from her hands, stuffing it back inside the bag and affixing it once more to his waist. "Sofia, I know it's been many years, but that doesn't change the fact that Rolland stole my wife from me. The only way I could ever compete for her hand was to be his equal, and, now I am."
She broke into convulsions, so upset by his words. Her hands clasped to her face in a vain attempt to find composure. "The war, all these people's lives, Hildegard and Desmond, did they mean nothing to you?"
"Of course they do sweet pea, I never wanted anyone to get hurt, but a king who would sell his own people does not deserve to rule. You know that."
"But did you even TRY talking to them? Or did you go straight to fighting them, because you knew what you wanted all along was his country and… Oh no, that's why you were so insistent on taking the capital, wasn't it?! It wasn't about liberating the people at ALL!"
Sofia had lost the battle against her emotions, flinging her wand at the crown more as a pointer than as a weapon.
"Sweet pea, there was no way my people would have stood for him staying in power."
"So now they're YOUR people? Just stop, I can't listen to this."
He took another deep breath, once again getting closer. "We are ALL people of Friezenburg. That includes you and I. Sofia, whether it was today or a hundred years from now, Friezenburg would have eventually been free. Think of all the future generations that won't have to worry about their loved one's disappearing. Think of all the family's that can just 'be', left to themselves, to live their lives, freely."
"I think about that, all the time. Do YOU, Birk? DO YOU?! Just look around at this! Is THIS what you wanted for your people?!" She flung her wand accusatorily at the young girl quietly sobbing over the unconscious soldier, clinging to him lest he might be torn from her grasp.
"Sofia that's unfair."
"What's unfair is those servants in the castle lying dead! For what? Not agreeing with your ideology?!"
"Sofia it was my intent to keep everyone from harm, but these are a people living under siege and torment. Do you know what's been happening to the citizens of the capital under this occupation?! I cant control their rage Sofia. I can only try to do what's best for them, restore their freedom."
"You say you want what's best for them, but you don't! You're just like everyone else, all you see is what YOU want. Mom…" Hurt, and tinged with the shame aiding him to this end, she started up at Birk.
"Mom would never approve of what happened here, or of you after what I just saw!"
His breath caught in his throat. Behind his eyes she could see the pain those words brought him. Smoke rose from the burning cinders lining the ground as in the distance the sounds of weapons clashing and screams had given way to cheers of jubilation. In the solitude of the main square she stared up at her father. The once-noble man retreated inward, searching for words of conciliation.
To see him wounded like that tore a gash into her soul. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't…"
"You asked if I think of the people's happiness. It consumes me. I think about you and your mother, and how happy we would have been together if not for the actions of those who wield power over our lives and control our fate. It just all became clear when we were chatting outside the hut in the woods a few weeks back. These people needed a leader, and I needed to be worthy of Miranda. It wasn't malicious, on that you have my word."
Crowds came streaming into the square, jubilantly banners with Friezenburg's flag were tossed about the square, as song broke out among the liberated people.
Tell the world, we made them pay!
The people have won the day!
Who brought us victory?
To that we say,
Birk Balthazar, he led the way!"
Sofia felt on the verge of retching. Birk was pulled from Sofia, hoisted involuntarily onto the shoulders of some ecstatic men as the chanting continued, on repeat. Unable to stand and watch this celebration she pushed her way through the crowd, away from Birk who was reaching out to her, and off into the scattered remains of what had been the capital city. There, seated upon a rock was her cousin, Amalthea bandaging a wound to his arm. He caught sight of her before she could flee, running her down with Amalthea only a step behind.
"Sofia, are you hurt? You're crying." Scanning her over, Amalthea batted him back.
"Sit and rest, son. She seems fine enough, physically." Amalthea turned, looked Sofia over and smirked.
"Well, do you get it now? There are no winners, only losers in war."
She bolted toward the woods, away from the crowds, the jubilant masses, Westin calling out to her. Overwhelmed with the desire to be comforted, she ran. Over the clearing, through a field in the blackness of night, toward Birk's village and Cedric's waiting arms.
The further from town she got the darker it became, until the sound of bleats and hoof beats against the wind broke her concentration.
"SOFIA, Sofia is that you?!"
It was Rolland. Sofia held her wand up, illuminating the tip and saw the shadow of a large flying horse, much bigger than Minimus, landing in the clearing beside her. Dismounting from it, the figure rushing toward her was indeed her stepfather.
In the glow of her wand, she could see that he was consumed with worry. Not a trace of anger or malice to be found.
Arms gripped her tightly into a hug, him lifting her off the ground and spinning round, then practically collapsing with relief. "Dad… what are you doing here?"
"I've been out looking for you ever since you flew off. Oh Sofia, I've been so worried about you dear, and when we saw that the city was on fire, I feared the worst."
"Oh Dad, I… I… You're really not mad at me? I thought you'd be furious that I started this war."
Strongly he stroked her hair. "Never, Sofia I know you would never do something unless you were sure it was the right thing to do. I just want to understand what happened, how he led you astray."
"Oh Dad, I... he?"
The clearing illuminated further, revealing more than just her stepfather. Three of Rolland's bravest knights had also set down among the snowdrifts, alongside the source of the extra light, one Edith, now adorned with Royal insignia. She beamed with an unnatural exuberance at having finally succeeded in stealing Cedric's position in life.
"Why is she here?"
"She?" Rolland turned to see his mage beaming, "She's my royal sorceress, I brought her here in case I needed magical assistance to rescue you from this madness."
From behind her Sofia could see more light traveling toward them. Footsteps set Rolland's knights on edge. Their swords drawn, Edith looked itching for a fight. To preempt her Sofia flung her hands up.
"No wait, please, I've seen enough death today!"
Rolland gestured for his knights to lower their swords, "I've always valued your opinion, Sofia. If you want me to talk to them, I'll talk." It was thoroughly reassuring.
Men rushed into the clearing, Westin letting out a great sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness cousin, you're safe."
"YOU." Rolland was none too pleased to see the youth.
"Um, Dad, this is my cousin. I know you didn't exactly part on the best of terms, but…"
Out from behind her cousin stepped Birk. A seriousness fell over the field, as icy wind whipped over the snow. The look of death upon him, Birk took pointed, deliberate steps toward the king of Enchancia.
Rolland relaxed his grip on Sofia's shoulders, extending a hand out. "Hello, I am..."
"I know who you are." Birk replied curtly. "Please release my daughter."
Rolland's eyes bulged, his arms falling to his sides. "You're…"
"Sofia's father." There were perhaps twenty of Birk's followers surrounding the gathering now, several with torches.
Edith grew nervous, backing up to Rolland to defend him if the need arose.
"Then it's true. You did survive the war." Rolland stated as calmly as possible, given the circumstances.
Birk only stared the man down. Rolland stepped closer to him, again reaching his hand out. The offer was rejected, and Rolland regained his composure. "Are you the leader of the rebellion, then?"
"He is our liberator!" chanted the increasingly riled up peasants.
Sofia glanced between them. Rolland stood almost a foot taller than Birk. His handsome yet slender frame a stark contrast to the rugged, muscular Birk. But more so than appearances, Rolland was actually trying to reach out to the man, while Birk remained a stone unmovable.
"Well then, Birk, Sofia has told me of the plight your people have suffered from."
"At your hands!" shouted a peasant.
"Death to all Royals!" screamed another.
"NONE of that." Birk bellowed. The crowd grew silent. "There has been enough death today."
Rolland remained steadfast, trying to smooth over the situation. "Yes, there has. I wish I would have known the truth sooner, it was only after Sofia revealed the origins of the war that I found out what's really been happening between your kingdom and Maldonia."
"LIES!" Was screamed by several peasants. Birk remained silent, crossing his arms in a show of strength.
"It's true!" Sofia chimed in. She turned to Birk, softly stating, "He didn't know about abductions or the mines."
To that, the crowd fell silent. Birk looked around, watching the reactions of his people when Sofia spoke. "Why have you come, King of Enchancia?"
"To save my daughter from this mess."
"She is MY daughter. She is of Friezenburg."
"But she's part of my family! I've loved and cared for her as my own for years! Sofia, you have to know that I always considered you my own, right?"
Back and forth between the dueling men she glanced. "I…" She was caught, forced to choose sides. This morning she would have flown to Birk's side, his staunch defender. But now…
"You are not worthy of her. You, Rolland of Enchancia, are guilty of helping those who would oppress us, are you not?"
Rolland glanced around, fully conscious of the displeased murmurs coming from the group of armed peasants, now numbering close to forty.
"I… did help them. But I intend to correct it."
Death threats began streaming out of several peasants. "QUIET" Birk blared over their anger. "You cannot place yourself on the right side of history any longer, Rolland."
"But what if I offered you the full might of my armies." Several men gasped, and the crowd quelled. Emboldened, Rolland stepped closer to Birk. "I have, at my disposal, the mightiest navy, one which can best Maldonia in any contest, and the bravery of my knights is renowned. If I am unable to negotiate the release of all Friezenburgers still held in Maldonia I would be willing to let my men fight alongside you, in the name of justice."
Unable to believe what was happening, Sofia pivoted to stare at Birk. He'd just been offered the golden ticket to removing Maldonia completely from Friezenburg's shores.
"And what does this cost, Rolland of Enchancia? Any offer too good to be true is a falsehood."
"All I ask is that you stop fighting, for now, and let me try to negotiate an end to the bloodshed." Many of the peasants jumped into open revolt. Sofia had to fling her wand menacingly at several to keep them from ambushing her stepfather.
"He's in league with King Aaron!" One cried.
"He's trying to trick us!" shouted another.
"NO! No he's not!" yelled Sofia. She took a step toward Rolland, overwhelmed at this man whom she'd thoroughly underestimated. "He's trying to save lives."
Her stepfather smiled, enraging Birk. Her Papa stomped closer. "Do you think I am bind to your true intent? You have a habit of taking what is not yours, Rolland of Enchancia."
Rolland knew exactly what that meant. He stood resolved. "You're right. In addition to a pause in the fighting, I want Enchancian citizens to come home with me. Surely as her father you would want Sofia to be as far away from this fighting as possible."
"Indeed, I have asked her to return to safety many times." Perhaps, despite the deep seated hatred for Rolland, Birk was on the verge of doing what was so clearly right for his people.
Shouts among the peasants grew. "He wants to take our mages away so that we'll lose!"
Rolland's brow furrowed. "Mages? Sofia's not a mage. She's my daughter."
"You're after Cedric!" Westin hollered, "He's Enchancian too! I won't let you hurt him again!" The young man flew into a rage, stomping forward with wand drawn. Birk had to physically restrain the young man.
Rolland's eyes bulged, his hands tightened, and he practically hissed. "HE SURVIVED?!"
The king was now staring down Sofia, who looked with dismay at her cousin. "Yes. I've been healing him."
"Sofia, don't you even realize what he's done?! He's a MURDERER! He killed my Anne!"
"Is this true?" Birk had stepped closer to Sofia, eying her reaction.
Cornered, she had to admit the truth.
"Yes."
Quickly she reached her hands up, "But that's not the whole story, he really wanted to kill Rolland and— "
"Sofia what are you saying?!" Distraught, Rolland was shaking his hands. "Would you not have minded if I were the one to die instead of Anne?"
"No, no I'd never want anyone to hurt you, I love you Dad."
It seemed to ring through the clearing. Though she'd blurted it out, it rang true. Despite the strain, and the horror he'd inflicted upon Cedric, she did still love him. Softening, Rolland seemed filled with forgiveness for her. It was thoroughly baffling, considering how much damage had come to their relationship. Birk had enough, using his body to block Rolland's affectionate stare.
Tenseness filled the air, as Birk weighed the options. Rolland stood firm, reiterating his deal. "My military might for a temporary truce, Sofia's safety, and Cedric's head, preferably detached from his body but if you can't stomach that I'll do it myself."
Birk sunk his head into his hands, and took another look back at the capital, burning to the ground. It was clear he wanted no further bloodshed, and Rolland had provided him with a clean exit. There was no mention of restoring Aaron to the throne. He'd be able to keep the crown, and all that entailed, and he'd be able to ensure Sofia stayed in Enchancia, as he kept insisting that's where she should be. But Cedric, he would surely die if this deal was struck.
Was the life of one man, who'd confessed to murder, worth a protracted war? Sofia wanted with all her might to cry out against this deal, but was it pure selfishness? What about Old Milly, lying dead on the palace kitchen floor, or that servant who'd sacrificed her life to save Astrid. How many more lives would be lost in the selfish saving of Cedric?
Tension swirled as Cedric's fate now lay in Birk's hands. Finally, her father's head rose, arms dropping to his sides.
"My decision is..."