Chapter 13 – An Uneasy Alliance
"While death and darkness girdle me I grope for immortality." ― Lionel Johnson
...
"Maria-sama," Miki said to gather the other woman's attention as well as open the conversation. Additional chairs had been brought in as well as another brazier to increase both the heat as well as the lighting within the tent. The wet winds and rains continued to lash the thick canvas tent walls outside reminding them all of the raging storm. Yoshino returned with the required items and soon had a steeping pot of tea heating above hot coals. The petite woman additionally brought with her some fruit and cheese that she had been saving for herself and Rei for when they would be alone together later. Rei, upon seeing the food and the plate and recognizing it as coming from their tent, gave her lover a soft smile as well as a nod of approval. Once everyone was seated, Sei-chan drop to the floor at the silver-haired woman's feet, slipping a lose arm around behind the seated woman's legs, holding onto them as if they were the only thing securing her in place. Maria gently reached down and arranged her robes so that she could cover the small child nestled snuggling against her leg as if the material were a blanket. Within moments the small girl was fast asleep gently suckling her thumb. "Is there anything else we can get you?"
Maria glanced down affectionately to the girl sleeping against her leg and gently ran her fingers through the girl's light colored hair. "No, I have all I need right here," she replied as once more her eyes rose to meet those of the Queen's. "I know your resources are nearly depleted and would place no greater a strain on them," she assured the Queen. "Thank you for the hospitality," Maria said as she accepted a cup of tea from Yoshino and took a tentative sip of it. A soft welcoming smile graced her lips as she felt the warmth of the liquid seep into her bones. "I am certain you must have many questions," Maria said as she cradled the cup with her other hand and lowered it to her lap.
"You mentioned earlier that the supply wagons had been attacked," Miki enquired, concern for her own troop foremost in her thoughts at that moment. Without the much needed supplies more of her people would perish. "What can you tell of the attackers and their purpose? Would it be possible to reclaim what was taken? Even a small portion would be helpful as I fear we are hard pressed at the moment."
"I can tell you everything you need to know," Maria replied, "though it is most certainly all bad I fear." Seeing the expectant look upon the Queen's face Maria continued. "There is nothing left of the supplies nor those that were to deliver them," the woman explained. "What was there has been divided and distributed among your enemies." The queen frowned slightly at the mention of enemies. "You have made many people, as well as those they command or report to, uncomfortable Queen Houribe. It was only a matter of time before they banded together against you."
Miki nodded slightly at her words. "It was not unexpected. Rather, more like it was inevitable," she confirmed after a slight pause. "Sooner or later they would realize that they couldn't defeat us by themselves. Today's battle was against the first combined forces of Ookami and Kyuuketsuki. It was a hard fought battle and yet in the end we prevailed." Miki's tone didn't sound like that of a victorious leader.
"Did you?" Maria asked thoughtfully but then continued on before the Queen could answer. "The army you faced was but a small portion of what awaits you on the other side of the storm," she informed all those present. "What you faced was only a quarter of the force that yet remains. They were but the bait for the trap into which you stepped so confidently."
"A trap which is unavoidable is better sprung and quickly dealt with," the Queen replied, only after recalling that Tooru had said those very same words to her in council. Will he be able to say them to me again someday? At that moment she desired for something as simple as the sound of his voice ringing in her ears once again for it would mean that he did in fact live and had recovered to the point of being able to give counsel.
"You seem to know a great deal about the enemy we face," Yoshino said in a voice laced heavily with suspicion and mistrust. "It seems terribly convenient for you to arrive at this time when our need is greatest." Yoshino's position, Intelligence adviser to the Queen placed her in a position of distrust to almost everyone. Information, she had discovered early on in life, was oft far more destructive than an army of soldiers. Just as the correct information could prove to be helpful, so too could false information, if given at the appropriate time, be disastrous. "How do we even know that what you say is the truth," the fiery woman enquired. "This could all be circumstance and our wagons will arrive tomorrow, delayed by nothing more than this unseasonal storm." As if to mock her words thunder detonated overhead leaving all their ears slightly ringing.
"I can well understand your suspicions and were our positioned reversed I dare say I would have them as well," Maria turned and look towards Yoshino as she replied, unruffled by the only slightly veiled accusations of treachery. "What you are attempting to do," Maria said, returning her gaze to the Queen once again. "It's something that I, and others like me, want to see to fruition. We had to make certain that you were willing to see it through to its end, no matter the cost," she explained to the Queen. "The last year has indeed indicated that you are wholly committed to your cause and so we have decided to make our presence known."
"You say you and others. What others?" Rei asked from her seat next to her cousin. The thought that there may be more than one enemy out there that they had to worry about did not sit well with the General. Ever the tactician, her mind started to rapidly rethinking battle plans and troop deployment as well as supporting supply routes. Rei paused for a moment, her gaze intensifying as she regarded the woman with flowing silver hair. "For that matter, who or what exactly are you? I'm not certain what you did to get across the tent so quickly and not be impaled by Yoshino's sword but it certainly isn't natural."
"You are correct General Hasekura," Maria said with a slight tilting of her head to acknowledge the other woman's words. "There are a great many mysteries in this world, even for one such as myself. For now however I must ask that you indulge me and those with me and allow us to remain a mystery for a while longer." Maria quickly held up a hand to forestall Rei from asking further. "It would take far longer than we have to fully explain everything, General. Perhaps another time when we are not so pressed," she offered in way of conciliation.
"Far longer than we have?" Miki asked in a concerned tone of voice. "Are we set upon some time table upon which we dare not deviate from? Are our enemies even now advancing upon us while we sit here enjoying tea and conversing?"
"It is difficult to maintain a storm of this size and strength," Maria said as she rested a loving hand on the head of the all but forgotten slumbering child against her leg. "It is greatly taxing her strength to have maintained it for three days now."
"You mean that she," all eyes within the room fell upon the sleeping Sei-chan, "created this storm and is maintaining it here?" the Queen asked in disbelief.
"Think of it more as that she gathered it here," Maria explained to everyone. "The clouds are here because she moved them here. They constantly struggle to return to where they should be and so she must continually strive to retain them at their current location. As valiantly as she tries there will always be some that escape or that are used up within the fury of the storm itself. Due to this she must gather in more clouds and from further and further away. Think of it as filling a bag with sand except there is a hole in the bottom of the bag and the sand within continually drains out."
Miki eyed the resting child. If she were to believe Maria then it was amazing what someone so small could accomplish. I can't see where by they would gain anything by lying about such a thing, she thought to herself. Still to take her words at face value is just too incredible. "You mentioned that you could help," the Queen's brown eyes shift to the curtained off portion of the tent, concern and worry evident upon her continence. Focus on the here and now and getting everyone one home safely, she reminded herself.
"I did…and can," Maria replied softly. "Provided we can come to acceptable terms. There is a price for all things." The woman shifted and paused to take another sip of her tea before continuing. "I'm certain if I were to offer to assist for nothing you would most certainly suspect my motives even more."
"Anything gained for free is of little value," the Queen replied, echoing the other woman's words from earlier. "What are you looking for as compensation?" Miki enquired, willing to give just about anything to save her people. "If it is within my ability to grant it I will seriously consider it."
Maria reached out to the table next to her and shifted out one of the maps that were haphazardly strewn atop its flat surface. "I will require a sizable piece of land right here," she said, placing her finger upon a spot on the map some distance from the coast but still near a sizable waterway. The area was located on the eastern side of the landmass, in an area that was not currently under her control.
"What will you do with the land once you have it?" Miki asked even as she sat forward in her chair and regarded the location on the map. There was nothing of note there as far as the map indicated however that was not unusual. "Why there?" The map itself was crude as most were, however they were the best to be had. There doesn't appear to be anything there, not even a farmer's town or fishing village.
"As for why there, it suits our needs and at some point in the future there will be a very large city there," Maria explained matter-of-factly. "As for what I'll do there…," she paused for a long moment and a far off look crossed her foreign features, "Build something wonderful," she finally said softly.
Miki sat back in her chair once again and thought for a moment before replying. "I don't own that part of the country so it wouldn't be honest of me to agree to your terms, as much as I would like to," she added with a wistful sigh. It would have been easy for her to agree to the arrangement however should something go wrong and she never come to control that area then she would be in a bind. "If we are to become allies then I would rather have it be on a foundation of honesty and trust."
"Exactly what I would expect from you Queen Houribe. I can see why he admires you so greatly," Maria said with a look towards the curtained area of the tent to indicate who she was referring to. Miki followed the other woman's eyes and stared for a long moment as if she could see the sleeping figure past the heavy curtains. "How about we say that should that region come under your control you will then turn a portion of it over to me," Maria counter offered in an attempt to appease both parties.
"And should I never control that section of the continent then what?" Miki asked wanting be certain she fully understood the deal they were discussing. He late father had taught her all he knew of statecraft before he died in battle. It was due to his teachings that she had remained in power so long. Eliminate any possible loophole that the other party could utilize to their benefit, she recalled him telling her on numerous occasions.
"I believe with our aid you will indeed come to possess it as well as a great deal more," Maria offered in way of reply. "However, should that not come to pass; we will select a different area which is under your control." After taking another sip of the cooling tea she added, "I no more wish to take advantage of you than you do of me. We require a portion of land and while that," she pointed to the area on the map without actually touching it, "is the most desirable location, we can make do with others as well."
Miki sat back and thought for several minutes, her brown eyes falling upon Rei and Yoshino, both of whom simply shrugged, uncertain of the person offering aid or of her intentions. "So for a parcel of land I get what exactly?"
"Our assistance for however long it takes to end the war you're currently engaged in," Maria replied. "Once the war is over than we both go our separate ways. The land will be for us to do what we wish with it. Free of interference from Ookami and Kyuuketsuki alike."
"Can you be no clearer on what you intend to use the land for?" The Queen pressed. It wouldn't do to defeat one enemy only to give land into the keeping of a group that could later turn upon us and all we've accomplished. "What do you need the land for? What will you build there?"
Maria regarded the Queen thoughtfully for several long moments as she weighed the woman's words, her intentions as well as her statement about wanting to begin their alliance with honesty and truth. Maria sighed resignedly, her shoulders rising and falling slightly before she finally replied. "A home. I can tell you no more than that."
"How do I know that I am not exchanging one enemy for another," the Queen fired off her questions in rapid succession. "What assurances do I have that you can help and if you do that you won't once all opposition has been removed turn upon us?"
"You have none," Maria replied frankly. "Any alliance between strangers must begin with some level of trust," she stated. "It is very possible that you could turn upon us at the end as well." Maria quickly held up her hand to silence an outburst from Yoshino who fairly bristled with anger that anyone would think such a thing of her Queen. "Anything is a possibility at this time. Those I represent have considered all the options and decided that you were this world's best hope. I, now that I have met you face to face and spoken to you, am even more certain of this fact. We offer you our trust, won't you do the same?" she asked beseechingly.
Miki sat in thought while the others remained silent, patiently awaiting her thoughts on the matter. She knew that should Maria's word prove truthful that her army was in no shape to deal with a force that was reportedly three times the size as her current one. Even if there was no enemy out there waiting for them, without aid soon, her people would begin to die. The Queen nodded once, having reached her decision. "If it means saving my people, as well as preventing more senseless deaths, then I am amicable to your terms. Should I gain control of the area you indicated I will, once the war is over, turn over ownership to you exclusively," she clarified. "If you wish I will also see to it that the humans as well as any Kyuuketsuki or Ookami in the area are driven off."
"Thank you Queen Houribe, however that won't be necessary," Maria replied. "I would prefer not to distance ourselves from the local inhabitants of the area. Everyone, even a Queen, needs help and support."
Miki accepted the other woman's words at face value, having no reason not to believe her. "I do have two conditions however," Miki said before anyone could speak. "First, I need your word that whatever you intend to do, be it establishing a home or whatever, that those that come to live there will never take up arms against my people."
"This land is as much our home as it is yours," Maria replied with. "We, as much as the both of you," she said, her eyes darting briefly towards the curtained off area before returning just as quickly to the Queen, "desire to see peace rein here instead of the mindless bloodshed that has existed till now. We only fight now so that the fighting can be finished once and for all."
Miki nodded once, accepting the woman's words at face value, having little choice to do otherwise. "Secondly, we are ill prepared to engage an enemy that is current three times our size, should you reports be accurate."
"They are," Maria assured her before continuing. "As a show of good faith then we will deal with the threat before you. We want this alliance and would be a full partner in it, even at the cost of getting our hands dirty," the silver-manned woman stated.
"I understand," Miki said in a stern voice with a sharp nod of her head towards Maria. "I believe we have an accord then. What will you need from me to ensure the safety of my people?"
"A distance that way," Maria said, pointing towards the north, "There is a large open plain. We will need a small tent erected near the center of it to shelter us from the weather. What we'll need to do will take roughly a day or more. Any disturbance during that time would prove dangerous at best and disastrous at worst. I would suggest that once the weather starts to let up that you gather your forces, those still able to ride or march, and join us there. Leave the wounded here for now and we can circle back for them once we are done dealing with the opposing forces."
"Rei, see to their needs please," Miki stated looking to the lean woman who was already rising to her feet. "Yoshino please help her. I want three handpicked squads of our finest to accompany them for protection. Send two additional squads to act as roving patrols and a final one to see if they can determine the enemy's location. Those acting as guards are to maintain their distance at all times unless directly called upon to approach or if there is imminent need of the protection." Rei and her cousin both bowed and left the tent to see to the preparations as instructed. Miki's gaze dropped to the small child who had slept through the entire discussion. "Will she be alright?" she asked, fearful for the child's presence in a battle.
"I will need her assistance for what is to come," Maria replied, her eyes dropping to peer at the crown of Sei's head even as her features softened. "This is her storm and hence only she can control it."
"Can she really do it?" Mike enquired in disbelief that any person could control the forces of the raging tempest outside. Even as she thought on that a gust of near hurricane strength wind rustled the canvas walls of the tent causing the ropes securing them to creak ominously,
Maria softly smiled as she regarded the Queen. As the silence dragged on Miki finally looked up and met the other woman's eyes. "Why don't you ask that which you truly wish to know," Maria said with a knowing glint in her eyes.
What I really want to know? Instantly thoughts for her army and those within it came to mind. There were those that were injured, many near death already. Considerably more who might be maimed for the rest of their lives who would remain that way without proper medical treatment. To add to that was the realization that their food was quickly running out. If not for the continual rain they would have found themselves short of water suitable for drinking as well. If not for the rain we may have ridden directly into our enemy's trap and have no need of water or food. The list of concerns and worries she held was an every growing one she realized. If I am to be honest with myself though there is only one concern right now that tops that list. The Queen moistened her lips before speaking in a hushed tone of voice, "Can you save him?"
Maria nodded slowly as she replied, "I can, though it may be more merciful not to." Seeing the Queen's startled expression at her words she continued attempting to explain her words. "He has not drunk that which he needs to live in three days and that after a mighty battle which no doubt already taxed his system. His body is currently neither dying nor living but suspended someplace in between the two. Should I heal him and he awakens, he will be no different than a wild animal driven mad with hunger. I suspect that he will not be capable of rational thought and will most certainly attack anything and anyone who happens to be at hand," Maria said. "I honestly can't recall any Kyuuketsuki going this long without drinking blood. His body will start to dissolve almost as soon as he begins to awaken. Without the blood he needs being at hand instantly upon his stirring, he will die. So it may actually be a kinder gesture to complete the matter and end his life here. Having witnessed firsthand the death of one who went without feeding for two days, I can assure you that if there is a more painful way to die I know it not."
"Is…is there nothing you can do?" Miki implored the other woman. The Queen's mind flashed back over the events and battles of the last year that had led to where they were currently. If he had not taken that first step, she thought upon recalling seeing him down on one knee offering up an arrow and himself to her, we would never have even begun this war. Would it have been better for him if we hadn't? Miki knew with a level of certainty that surprised her that Tooru would have continued on with his goal to end the bloodshed with or without her aid. Even if he died trying, she silently reasoned, admiring his determination as well as being a little jealous of someone that committed to their beliefs. Why? Why then did he risk his life to save mine? He could have easily assumed control and continued on had I been killed. It just doesn't make any sense! The Queen just couldn't bring herself to accept the only conclusion for why Tooru would be willing to give up everything he had worked towards, including his own life. Why would he do something like that for me?
The silver-manned woman sighed heavily as she pondered the matter. "I suppose if he were able to feed as soon as he awoke he might be able to survive with no permanent injuries. If you can bring in three boars and tie them to the bed, that should suffice," Maria counseled. "I would strongly suggest though that no one be within the tent upon him awaking. I have little doubt that they would be killed instantly."
"I understand," Miki stated. With the army near starving and no supplies forthcoming the Queen knew that there wouldn't even be a single, little alone three of them, boar available. Even the recently slain horses had been butchered and added to the stew pots in order to feed those in dire need. "I will stay with him," she said, her voice firm with resolve.
"You know you risk your life as well as the very cause you have worked so diligently towards this past year by doing so?" Maria more stated than asked. "Should he kill you upon recovering consciousness it is most certain that your people will have no other option than to execute him in kind. Queen of the Ookami are you really willing to risk everything for the sake of a lone Kyuuketsuki?"
"I owe him a debt," Miki explained quietly. "He saved my life as well as my sanity and I repaid him by nearly disemboweling him for his actions." The Queen shivered at the memory of the feeling of her sword sliding into his body. Unconsciously she wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the cold that danced down her spine. "Call me foolish however I do not think he will kill me."
"There are some fates worse than death," Maria replied cryptically to the Queens words as she held the other woman's gaze for a long moment. "Then again perhaps rather than a fool you are actually braver than you think?" Maria said as her lips slipped upwards into a smile.
"Perhaps a good portion of both," Miki offered with a chuckle. "What kind of lunatic would wage war with a Kyuuketsuki instead of against them I ask you?" Miki chuckled nervously, suddenly finding herself fearful for the first time in her long life. She knew very well that she could in fact die if she was not careful and the cost of her death would be the ruin of everything she had worked so hard for with Tooru over the last year.
"One who sees the bigger picture and realizes that there is more to life than a single race or species," Maria told her. "If all of you could learn to see past your hatred I believe you would see that you have far more in common than you think you do." Shifting in her seat she leaned down and gathered the sleeping Sei-chan into her arms before looking back up and locking gazes once more with the Queen. "If you are certain in this course of action," she watched as Miki nodded once that she was. "Then I will see to it that you're not disturbed till our return. It's the least I can do," she added as she effortlessly got to her feet. "While I am busy in there," she stated with a nod of her head towards the curtained off area of the tent, "I would suggest that you speak with your General and explain that no one is to enter this tent until such time as I return or you leave it yourself. Make certain they are aware that regardless of what they hear or don't hear, they must not cross the threshold." Maria walked the short distance to the opening into the curtained off section of the tent before turning back and adding in a serious tone, "I won't be held accountable for what happens to you, him or any person that enters this tent once I leave." Having said her piece the woman disappeared into the darkened area of the tent and the injured man in need of her assistance.
Miki quickly rose and stepped outside into the rain and storm to speak with Rei who was patiently awaiting her. Rei swore that none would attempt entry into the tent no matter what should be heard. "I'm counting on you Rei-chan," Miki said as she rested a hand upon her closest friend and advisor's shoulder. "See to our army and make certain they are ready to march when the time comes." Rei could do little more than nod, realizing that her Queen was doing what she felt was proper. It wasn't Rei's place to tell her otherwise, especially knowing that were their places reversed she would do the same.
Author's Note:
It's an every present struggle while writing not to rush things in telling the tale. Now as things begin to develop in both the past as well as the present, it becomes even harder to maintain nice steady pace. I can but hope that you'll continue to enjoy this tale that is wrapped around the girls we all know and love so dearly.
Kind Regards,
EJ Daniels
All characters within this story, unless otherwise stated are the sole property of Oyuki Konno the original writer of the Maria-sama ga Miteru light novel series.
(4936 - 120512)
