Chapter 11: Enemy of My Enemy
"Louise, for the last time, I am fine." Montmorency complained as Louise once again felt the other girl's head for any remaining injuries. "I've had worse wounds before, now let me up."
Not one to be deterred, Louise gripped Montmorency's head just enough to keep the girl from rising from the bedroll. "Last I checked, a wound is a wound. I am not taking any chances." Montmorency halfheartedly struggled, but gave up when Louise made no move to relent. Alone, Louise's doting would have been bothersome, but the presence of Saito made increased the embarrassment tenfold.
The boy in question was busy packing up his camp, if it could be called that. With only a small ring of stones for a burned out fire, a few cooking implements, and a sole bedroll, they had arrived the night before thoroughly unimpressed with his "safe place." Still, he had offered his bedroll to the two girls; an action that won over the suspicious Montmorency. The boy rubbed the back of his head, no doubt feeling the bump Montmorency had given him when she had awoken to find she was being carried by a stranger. While the boy had accepted her apologies, Montmorency was sure he was getting some smug revenge in her embarrassment. Finishing his packing, Saito turned to the girls with a wry smile. "I can see how you two could be mistaken for liches. Terrifying, the both of you."
"And I can see how you could be mistaken for a swordsman boy!" The enchanted sword, Derflinger called from its resting place against the trunk of a tree.
Saito froze at his sword's jab. Glaring over at the blade, he smirked devilishly and replied, "Well, I don't see how that could happen with me using such a crappy sword." Montmorency couldn't decide if the following slew of insults between the pair was humorous or just sad. She settled for a weak laugh.
Apparently satisfied, Louise released Montmorency's head. "It seems healed, just don't do anything strenuous." Montmorency quickly nodded; best to just agree with Louise and escape while her head was free. Louise ignored how Montmorency scooted herself out of arms reach and instead turned her attention over toward her familiar. The small Kyuubey sat at the edge of camp and for once was not watching them, but rather looking into the woods.
Louise had no time to wonder about her familiar, as Saito immediately broke her train of thought. "Could you move? I need to roll that up." Louise rose, turning her attention to the mystery that was Saito. She had told him about their false status as liches the previous night, yet he brushed it off like a silly story. Even the most even tempered of people should be wary about the idea of a lich. He had been more interested in their defense of Tarbes. It was nice for someone to focus on the positive things she had done, but still odd.
With a final tug, Saito fastened the bedroll to his bag. Finally packed, he slung his bag over his shoulder and retrieved Derflinger. "We should head out now. Westwood Village is a half a day's travel."
Time passed as the three made their way through the woods. Idle conversation flitted amongst them as they grew more used to each other's company. "So, are you a hunter then?" Montmorency spoke up, eyeing the two rabbits dangling from the boy's pack.
Placing his hand upon a tree, Saito spoke softly to himself for a moment, making sure he was on the right trail. Satisfied that he had found his landmark, the boy replied. "Nothing so official. I've only been hunting for a month and a half now. With winter almost here, game is getting scarce so I tried to go a ways out from the orphanage." The next words he muttered under his breath, obviously annoyed with a small haul. However, his poor mode was shaken quickly as a large building came into view.
The orphanage, Westwood Village as Saito had called it, was composed of a large log building with a smaller storage shed made from stone, most likely constructed by an earth mage by the looks of it. Children were strewn about the clearing engaged in various activities. A pair of girls no older than twelve was taking clothing down off a clothesline. One of them perked up and spotted the arriving group. "Hey everyone! Saito is back!" Louise was taken aback by the stampede of little feet as the children of Westwood Village rushed to meet their returned elder. Louise and Montmorency held back, not wanting to intrude as Saito greeted the children. Lifting one of the youngest up to his shoulders, he greeted them all with enthusiasm.
What looked to be the eldest boy, maybe thirteen, unhooked the rabbits from Saito's pack. "Is this all you caught? Matilda came back with a buck!"
Saito's head fell and his hand slapped his forehead in shame. "Ahg, she'll never let me hear the end of it!" His exaggerated distress elicited numerous giggles from the assembled children.
"Hey, Saito, who are your lady friends?" One of the children spoke up.
The child's question was answered, but not by Saito. "Louise Valliere and Montmorency Montmorency." It was a voice that both Louise and Montmorency knew well. In unison, they snapped their wands up toward the stone building where Fouquet of the Crumbling Earth stood in the doorway.
"Whoa! Hey!" Saito exclaimed, hurriedly setting the child he held down and placing himself between Fouquet and the girls' wands. "I don't know what's going on, but calm down! This is my good friend Matilda, you can trust her." For a second, Louise thought to make a break for it, but her resolve was broken when her gaze fell to the children crowding behind Saito and saw the fear and mistrust in their eyes.
After a moment's hesitation, Louise slowly lowered her wand. Saito had saved their lives; attacking Fouquet, or Matilda apparently, was probably not the best way to repay him. To her right, Montmorency sent her an incredulous look, but she relented as well, trusting Louise's judgment. "My apologies, it's just that Miss Matilda… looks like someone we know."
The tension in the air refused to dissipate despite the lowering of weapons. "Children, inside. Go clean your rooms." While Matilda's voice was stern, it was the voice of a parent chiding and lacked any real steel. The groans and complaints she received in turn finally took the tension from the air. "No buts. You can't expect Tiffania to do everything can you?" Matilda ignored the children's reluctant groans as they filed past her into the main building and kept her eyes on the newcomers. "Saito, a word." The young man jolted at the danger in her tone.
Leaving the girls at the tree line, Saito made his way over to Fouquet. "Listen, Matilda. I know we aren't supposed to-" Saito's words were cut off as Matilda's open palm impacted the side of his face. The boy stumbled to the side, nearly falling from the unexpected attack.
"Foolish boy!" Matilda hissed; absolutely livid. "I told you not to take in any stragglers. It's too dangerous." Despite her hushed voice, Matilda's anger carried her voice to Louise and Montmorency. Both girls stood by awkwardly; unsure of what to do.
Saito recovered and stood up straight. He held his hands out in a calming gesture. "I know, but I couldn't just leave them. Besides, the church was after them. So, enemy of my enemy-"
"Is not always your friend Saito." The boy was cut off as Matilda once again chastised him with steeled words. "Just because they are an enemy of the church, doesn't mean they can see past generations of hate." Louise's brow rose at that. She had thought Matilda was worried because of their previous altercation, but that wasn't exactly "generations of hate."
However, despite the danger in the tone of the older lady, Saito did not back down. "It doesn't mean they can't." He countered, "The church was after them. If I had just left them to wander around in the forest they could have been found." With each word, Saito grew more confident. "They needed help."
"And we help those in need. Right?" A gentle voice joined the group as a lady dressed in a plain green tunic and white sunhat exited the main building. If the stern Matilda was the "father" of the orphanage, then this woman was the mother. Blonde, curvaceous and feminine, her small, calm smile generated a kind and soft aura.
Matilda was the first to speak up. "Tiffania, I told you to stay inside." The woman's voice was strained and belied a hint of fear.
Turning to Matilida, Tiffania offered her smile to ease Matilda's worries. "Saito trusts them. There is only one way to find out if he is right." Apparently, that was enough to get Matilda to relent, though her exasperated sigh belied her hesitance with the matter. Tiffania turned to Louise and Montmorency, meeting their gaze with a weak, cautious smile. Nevertheless, any doubts Tiffania had were pushed aside as she spoke, "My sister Matilda and I run this orphanage with the help of Saito here. You are welcome to stay or leave; no one will harm you, whatever you decide. I am Tiffania Westwood, and I am a half-elf."
Quelling her fears, Tiffania reached up and removed her sunhat. The world stilled as Louise caught sight of Tiffania's ears. Larger than a human's by far, they hung out nearly half a foot from her head and ended in points. Elf. She was definitely an elf; an ancient enemy of mankind. Even now Louise remembered the maids at home telling her that if she misbehaved an elf would steal her away and eat her. As she grew older, childlike horror stories turned to stories of armies crushed beneath elves and their powerful, dangerous magic. They were heathens, enemies of Brimir himself. Tiffania must have recognized the fear that flitted into the two stunned girls' eyes. She shrank back slightly; one arm raised to her chest.
After a moment, Louise realized that this was exactly how she and Montmorency were treated; feared and hated without reason. The church declared them liches, enemies of Brimir. Yet were they not good people? Had Montmorency sought to steal the souls of children? Had she herself blasphemed against Brimir? The answer to all of these questions is no. Doing her best to quell her inborn fear, Louise offered her best smile. "Thank you. This is Montmorency Margarita la Fere de Montmorency and I am Louise Francoise le Blanc de la Valliere. The church has declared us liches, and would have killed us had Saito not saved our lives." Louise's head fell in a deep bow, letting protocol help her to suppress her fear. Montmorency, evidently slower to quell her fear, jerked downward in a bow to join Louise. "We would stay, and seek to repay our debt." When Louise rose, she found cautious, hopeful eyes waiting for her. There was a brief pause, as elf and liches tried to quell their irrational fear in favor of offered kinship.
"Hah! I told you it would be okay!" Saito's boisterous call shattered the tension like a brick through stained glass.
His call was greeted with another smack from Matilda, creating a throbbing bump upon the boy's head. "Pah, I don't see what you're so happy about. I see you only brought back two rabbits." Saito froze as Matilda's words pierced his core. "I on the other hand brought back the biggest buck you will ever see." Sweat started to form on Saito's brow. "What was the bet again? Washing the dishes by yourself for week?"
A rather unladylike snort escaped Montmorency has she tried and failed to hold back laughter. With the dam broken Louise and Tiffania joined in on the laughter, giggling their fears away.
Thunk! The impact of axe on stump sounded as Montmorency split another log. While not as strong as she was while transformed, Montmorency was still having an oddly easy time handling an axe meant for a full grown man. Night was falling in Westwood Village and the chores of the day were nearing completion. Louise herself had just finished helping Saito patch a leak in the roof. Well, more like hand him supplies, but it was still helping. Despite Saito's insistence that no repayment for his rescue was necessary, Matilda had taken Louise's offer and put them to work helping around the village. Something she was rather thankful for really. Freeloading while children worked around her was not something her noble spirit would abide.
Plus, it wasn't like they could leave yet. The cardinal had been ahead of his forces, not alone. Wandering around the forest was a good way to get caught. Better to wait out the search with those who knew the woods. Besides, it wasn't like they were endangering Westwood Village. The punishment for sheltering an elf was execution. If they were caught with liches as well, what would the church do, execute them twice?
Now that she had finished, Louise leaned against a tree and watched her friend display a hint of the supernatural strength her transformation had gifted her with. "Why did you help us?" Louise spoke to the empty grass around her. From evening shadows, two red eyes watched Montmorency. The Kyuubey made no reply. "I know you want the data from me transforming into a witch. All you had to do was wait. Saito would not have known how to use the void stone."
"Grief Seed," the Kyuubey corrected. Louise did not argue with it; she would not be drawn off topic. Instead, she remained silent and waited for her familiar to answer. "You are correct. Monitoring you transforming into a witch would provide valuable data for optimizing energy creation." Neither party looked at each other, both continued to watch as Montmorency cleaved through firewood. "Logically, inaction was the correct course." The Kyuubey began after a moment. "However, there was… The best description would be interference."
Louise glanced over at her familiar, raising an eyebrow. That was the first time she had heard her familiar struggle to describe something. Usually it was cryptic or overly complex, but never stumped. "In that moment, the interference adjusted top priority to delaying your transformation." The Kyuubey had Louise's full attention now. Looking down at her familiar, she found it staring back up at her only to look away as soon their eyes met. "It is not as if you have permanent priority or anything. You just keep broadcasting that interference is all. I will adapt as necessary."
With that, the Kyuubey darted off, leaving a stunned and confused Louise in its wake. Before she could think to pursue it, Matilda's voice alerted her to a new presence. "I need to talk with you." Louise glanced after her familiar, and found no trace of it. Giving up the idea of pursuit, she turned to Matilda.
Saito may be trustworthy, and Tiffania seemed nice, but Louise had not forgotten how close Matilda, or Fouquet, had come to killing her. "Finally decided to stop watching us and talk a little?" Louise spoke with measure. The woman had not let either of her former hostages leave her sight throughout the day. Something Louise was fine with, as it allowed her to do the same.
Matilda sighed, resignation leaking from her. "Saito is making me apologize." There was a pause as Matilda met Louise's incredulous gaze. "I mean… Look, Tiffania doesn't know what I did before I got back. I'd like to keep it that way." Shifting back and forth, Matilda tried to find the proper words. "I have good reason to hate nobles… But I was starting down a dark road by taking that out on you. If I had actually…" Her voice cut off, not wanting to voice her sinister attempt. "I would not have been able to face my sister again. I guess I lost track of why I was out thieving in the first place… somewhere along the way."
Silence fell on the two as Matilda waited for Louise's response. After a moment of thought, Louise replied, "You came very close to killing my best friend." Matilda made no move to deny the fact. "I don't think I can forgive that. I'm sure I cannot forget it. However, I can ignore it. I owe Saito as much."
Matilda nodded in acceptance, "That's all I can ask."
"You should probably be careful apologizing to Montmorency. She is a bit more protective than I am," Louise cautioned.
Tenderly, Matilda touched her side. "I found that one out the hard way. You have a violent friend." Louise put two and two together, and barely suppressed a chuckle. Blockhead. "So, dinner is ready, do you take wine with your supper?" Matilda tried to break the somber mood.
Louise gave one glance toward the shadows where her familiar disappeared. Then, giving up, she replied, "Yes, I could really go for some wine right about now."
"So I take my leave of my job at the jail and the next day, what do I get? A letter from Tiffania saying a she has bonded with a strange man." Matilda through her hands up in the air in exasperation. With the children put to bed, the five "adults" were sitting around sipping the rest of their wine. While Louise had limited herself to a single glass, Matilda seemed to be drinking away her stress. Tiffania placed her hands over her face to cover her growing blush.
Opposite her, Saito hiccupped from inebriation, though he was still on his first glass. It was like he had never touched alcohol before. The color flooded from his face as he remembered his first meeting with Matilda. "She shows up with a rusty old blade asking me if I preferred castration to death!" If it was even possible, Tiffania's blush grew even greater.
"Hey, I take offence to that!" Derflinger called from his place resting against the counter.
It was Matilda who responded to the sword's complaint. "It's no less than you deserve, lying blade. The only reason you are not still rotting back in that bargain bin was because you convinced me you were a sword-wand." Waving dismissively at the sword, Matilda returned to her story. "So I was ready for him to run or plead for his life, but I wasn't ready for him to rip off his shirt!"
Montmorency nearly spat up her wine. "You what?" Tiffania was red as a strawberry by this point.
Saito held up his hands in defense. "I was just showing her my familiar brand." With one hand, he grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it down. Sure enough, Louise could see runes strewn across his chest. "Tiffania summoned me as her familiar." Montmorency tried in vain to suppress her giggles at Saito's expense, though Louise's curiosity overrode any humor. A human familiar; was it an elf thing?
"I meant familiar bond. Familiar bond." Tiffania mumbled through her hands.
The laughing died down and Tiffania's blush receded as the conversation turned to idle chatter. "So, I think I might be drunk enough to ask, what are you? You aren't liches, I can tell that much." Matilda spoke, holding out her glass of wine and pointing the lip toward Louise.
Louise wasn't sure how to answer, but it turned out she didn't need to. "They are obviously magical girls." Saito spoke up. Both girls' eyes snapped to Saito. They had not told him that Kyuubey had called them magical girls. They had only mentioned they were not liches. As inebriated as he was, Saito ignored the surprise in their eyes. "Just so you know, I am totally your friend. There is definitely no need to befriend me. Go ahead and befriend Matilda though, she could use it." As if he had spoken some great joke, the boy began uncontrollably chuckling.
"How did you know?" Montmorency was the first to speak up, more confused than anything else.
Saito leaned back in his chair and began rambling. "Ah, I'm already in this fantasy setting, magical girls make about as much sense as half-elves and mages."
While his odd words confused the two magical girls, they exasperated Matilda. "Not this again, mister from another world." The ex-thief's eyes rolled and she took another sip of her wine. "I'm telling you, when Tiffania used 'mind wipe' to remove the familiar compulsion from you, your weak little mind got confused. There is no such place as this magic-less land of Jopon."
"Japan." Kyuubey's voice joined the group. The white creature sat in the open window over the counter. Montmorency and Louise turned their attention to it, as it was strange for the Kyuubey to speak up of its own accord. The others did the same for more basic reasons. "The boy is an earthling."
Snapping his fingers in realization, Saito exclaimed, "You were the voice I heard in the forest!"
Setting her glass down, Louise measured her familiar. "That is my familiar, a Kyuubey. Is there a specific reason you showed yourself?" In spite of herself, Louise was intrigued. The Kyuubey usually had something important to say when it spoke up.
Despite her expectations, the white familiar shook its head. "Incorrect Data should be rectified." Now Louise was sure. With the strange outburst earlier and her familiar's current odd actions; something was up.
"Hah! I told you I was from Earth! Wait, how did you know I was from Earth?" Saito tilted his head in confusion. Sure, another fantastic creature didn't really give him pause in this world, but he was fairly sure Humans were the only species capable of speaking back on Earth. Not to mention he had never heard of an animal like this Kyuubey.
The Kyuubey's tail swished once, "While you were busy trying to escape the dimensional hole, I entered to investigate."
"Wait, you mean that green portal? I thought that was because Tiffania summoned me?" Saito leaned forward, obviously interested in this revelation.
Green portal? Summoning? Louise furrowed her brow. Even ignoring the fact that her familiar was claiming to be from another world, it seemed to be stating that Louise had not intentionally summoned the Kyuubey. "So you are saying that I didn't summon you?" Louise began, "That I summoned Saito, and you cut in line?"
When the Kyuubey nodded its head, Louise didn't know what to think. "It's a bit more complex than that, but in simpler terms, yes. I am surprised he found another exit. You must have a very similar frequency to Louise." The Kyuubey looked to Tiffania, who still was dumbstruck with the animal. Upon meeting its gaze, she averted her eyes shyly.
Saito's hand rubbed his chin. "That would explain how I got summoned even though Tiffania says she never tried the summoning ritual. But wait, if you didn't expect me to find an exit from that green portal… What did you expect to happen?"
The Kyuubey's tail still as it turned its gaze to Saito. "I exempted minor details from my decision making. However, I assume you would most likely have remained between worlds and existed outside time until you expired."
A moment of silence passed as the occupants of the room realized what the Kyuubey meant. "Louise," Saito broke the silence, "Your familiar is kind of a dick."
The after-dinner conversation had died soon after the Kyuubey had taken to silence. It had been getting late anyways. Soon enough, Louise and Montmorency had been shown a room before Saito dragged a movement-impaired Matilda off toward her room. The room itself was really a recently vacated storage room with some makeshift beds, but it was a far cry better than a cell or bedroll in the woods.
Montmorency held her familiar Robin in her hand, whispering something to it. Louise turned her attention to the Kyuubey at her feet. "You want to explain what is going on with you?"
"No." The Kyuubey spoke before trotting over to Louise's bed and settling down at the foot of it.
Was that… Annoyance? Louise shook her head and prepared for bed. She was too mentally exhausted from the recent revelations to press her familiar on its odd actions.
The following day brought much of the same work as the previous. It felt a lot like being back with Colbert and Siesta in the valley. Saito and Tiffania were open, friendly people and even Matilda was becoming a bearable presence. As long as either Saito or Tiffania were around, it wouldn't get too awkward to be near Louise's one time kidnapper. Louise was currently helping Saito with his sword practice in a rather odd way. The continuous flame she was casting from her wand drained into his sword Derflinger. The magic eating sword was amazing, to say the least. "Ah, that is plenty." The sentient sword spoke.
With her role done, Louise stepped back to allow the boy to once again begin the forms his sword was teaching him. Twice he slashed at an invisible foe and then stepped forward to press the attack. "No no no!" The sword spoke up, cutting the boy off mid swing. "You are doing it wrong again."
Bringing the sword around, Saito complained. "I'm doing it just like you said, why does it have to be perfect?"
The sword rattled against Saito's weak will. "Boy, I have been wielded by the greatest swordsmen the world has ever seen and by the lowliest grunts, too. You know what separates them? Perfection! An inch is the difference between a strong balance and falling on your butt just in time to be run through!" A shiver ran through Saito's body as Derflinger's consumed magic rushed to take control. "Here, let me show you." Louise watched in amazement as Saito's body moved with speed and grace far surpassing his earlier movements. Had she been watching this for the past hour, she would not have believed this sword's abilities. Consuming magic is one thing, but using that consumed magic to control its wielder? That almost sounded like a cursed sword to her. Of course it would make sense for the familiar of a half-elf and savior of liches to use a cursed sword, Louise joked to herself.
The practice continued with Louise refilling Derflinger every ten minutes. It was amazing to watch how fast Saito progressed, though Louise supposed a sword would be the best swordsman trainer. When he was finally done practicing, Saito took the water Louise offered him happily. "So, you were the one who summoned me." He spoke between gulps.
Louise had not expected him to bring the odd subject up so flippantly. She realized she had torn him from his home without asking, without even meaning to. She realized she had no way to send him back to his family, his culture. She realized he had every reason to hate her. "I'm sorry…" It wasn't much, but it was all Louise could offer.
The snort of laughter from Saito snapped Louise's attention to him. "Sorry? I wanted to thank you." Louise watched as Saito looked beyond her. Following his gaze, she found it resting on Tiffania. The half elf was busy teaching a group of children how to knit. "I never really had a purpose until I found myself here."
In that still moment, Louise looked toward Saito and found real happiness in his eyes. True warmth. "You like her?"
From the way Saito's face instantly reddened and how he began jabbering incoherently, Louise knew she had hit the nail on the head. "Ah, well, I just wanted to thank you is all." Louise didn't press him; it was only fair to cut her life's savior some slack. "So, not awkward anymore?"
Nodding, Louise agreed. "Not awkward anymore."
Matilda closed her book on architectural transmutation and looked up at the person blocking her sun. Montmorency looked down with a measured gaze. While the girl was willing to 'follow Louise's lead' as she had said when Matilda went to apologize, she still had a hostile air about her. "Are you going to hit me again? If so, please not the face."
Montmorency ignored the dry humor. If the ex-thief wanted to complain about it, fine; she did not regret her petty revenge. "Louise and I are going to be making a plan. She was hoping we could get your help since you know the area."
For a second, Matilda considered sarcasm. However, her sore side reminded her of Montmorency's hostility when she had sought to apologize. "I can do that."
With a nod, Montmorency turned away. "Come on then."
It wasn't long before the five elders of Westwood Village had convened in the dining room. An old map of Albion was spread over the table. "I'm sorry that this map is a bit out of date." Tiffania spoke apologetically. The map itself had some villages crossed out and others written in. It had obviously been updated over the years.
Louise did not respond at first, instead she watched the doorway where her familiar sat. The beast had shown up to listen in, apparently. Deciding there was no harm in its presence; Louise returned her attention to the map. "It's fine. You have done more than enough." Looking down on the map, she pointed at the town of Saxe-Gotha. "We know there is a church presence here. We need to know how to get in and out of the main chapel and we need to know if there are any missions or large chapels in the surrounding countryside."
Matilda let out a breath, thinking. "Tristain just took Saxe-Gotha; this entire countryside is a skirmish ground." Louise furrowed her brow. She knew Tristain was staging an assault on Albion, but for them to have already taken Saxe-Gotha, her home country was doing incredibly well. "The outlying villages have emptied into the town. Apparently Tristain is sharing their supplies with the citizens, and since the Reconquista looted just about everything, I doubt you will find a soul outside that city. You aren't planning to take on the church are you?"
Montmorency shook her head. "Not exactly, we just need the church's information. They're looking for a void mage in the Saxe-Gotha area. We want to find them first."
"Well that's easy." Derflinger spoke up from his place on Saito's back. "Tiffania here is a void mage. She uses the spell Mind Wipe. Mind Wipe is a Void spell. Therefore, Tiffania is a void mage."
There was a beat. "Is that a big deal?" Saito asked, breaking the silence.
Louise nearly slapped her forehead at the ignorance of the statement. Matilda settled for slapping Saito upside the head. "The void is a sacred, holy power. If Tiffania were human, she could be declared a saint for casting one void spell, let alone being able to repeat the miracle." Tiffania seemed to be overwhelmed at the implication. The girl was currently blushing up a storm. Calming her sister could wait, Matilda decided, instead she turned her attention to Louise. "While I think we can say that this plan to find a void mage was successful, I would be very interested to know why you wanted to find my sister."
It was a tough call. Jump for joy that she had found the void mage or laugh hysterically at how easy it had been. Louise settled for getting a lucky break just once in her life. Glancing toward Montmorency, Louise looked for her friend's resolve; finding it, Louise retrieved the ring from her finger as Montmorency did the same. A faint light escaped as the two gems reverted to the natural egg shapes of their soul gems. "The church calls us liches… They are not entirely inaccurate." Louise caught a hint of steel in Matilda's eyes. Tiffania's blush disappeared as she looked at the wondrous gems with amazement. "Without intending it, we separated our souls from our bodies. We found records that Brimir may have had a way to put them back… We were hoping that as a void mage…"
Louise let her voice die out and looked at Tiffania expectantly. Somewhere within her, hope began to form. She still couldn't believe she had found a void mage. The very idea, she still didn't believe it possible. Yet here was a supposed void mage before her. "I-I" Tiffania stuttered, and then dropped into a bow nearly hitting her forehead on the table before her. "I'm sorry; the only spell I know is Mind Wipe." A pit formed in Louise's stomach. She had always known this was a long shot, but to have her end goal say it was all for nothing, that they never had a chance to begin with. No… Push the feelings down. Calm.
Halfway through calming her fluttering heart, Louise nearly jumped with fright when her familiar landed on the table before her. "Stop that." Louise leaned back in shock. Just what- "Construct," The Kyuubey turned to Derflinger, "if you know of one void spell, then you know of more, correct? Where can one acquire knowledge of these spells?"
The sword hummed thoughtfully, "Brimir left knowledge in the four void artifacts. Your best bet would be 'The Founder's Prayer Book,' probably."
With a flick of its tail, the Kyuubey spared Louise one glance before hopping off the table and trotting away. Louise was half tempted to go after her familiar and demand answers. However, Tiffania nearly burst. "I-if I can, I would really like to help." She bowed, once again coming dangerously close to hitting her head on the table.
Montmorency raised her hands to placate the half-elf. "Umm… I think we should be the ones bowing here." In spite of her previous fear, Montmorency was more than willing to latch on to another chance at restoring her soul. "Then I guess we need to be planning about how to get The Founder's Prayer Book then, right Louise?" It took a second, but Louise shook herself out of her funk.
Louise glanced around the table, realizing all eyes were on her. Montmorency offered support and looked for hope. Matilda kept a measured gaze, obviously only worried about her sister's wellbeing. Saito looked completely oblivious. And Tiffania… Tiffania's eyes welled up with pleading. This girl, her will to help someone she just met. Honestly, Louise was touched. "Well, the book is a treasure of the Tristain Royal Family. Henrietta would carry it to war to gain Brimir's favor. She and I are childhood friends, I could probably convince her to lend it to us if we can sneak in to meet her." For a brief moment, Louise felt a pang of guilt. Long ago she had decided to never use her friendship with Henrietta for personal or political gain. Even if she couldn't see Henrietta often, she had been Louise's sole friend. That thread of light had been something Louise would not sully with a political play. Still, this was different. She promised herself it was.
"If we agree to this," Matilda began, only to stop when the pleading eyes of Tiffania met hers. "Okay, Tiffania can help you; I see no problem with her learning more magic." Matilda shot her younger sister a solid look, "However, I have a condition. You go retrieve this book during the latter half Advent Festival. That's only a week away. There will be a temporary truce during the festival so you won't be drawing scouts back to the forest and if you go during the peak of the celebration, half the army will be drunk as well.
It barely took any thought for Louise to come to a conclusion. Waiting in safety for a week was a small price to pay for the help they needed. Plus, even without the condition it was the best course of action to go when the chances of conflict were at their smallest. "Okay, Montmorency and I leave in one week." Louise turned to Montmorency to be greeted with an affirming nod.
The week passed with surprising speed. After a couple days, the children of Westwood Village had grown used to the newcomers. Days passed, chores were done, Matilda and Saito even got one more hunting trip in before there was snowfall; something Matilda had insisted on bringing Montmorency on due to her strength. Louise had waited until Montmorency had hauled back the deer before pointing out that she had been used as a pack mule. Saito again returned the loser with only some fowl and a rabbit. It made sense that a thief would be so good at tracking, Louise concluded, you had to know how it was done to avoid being tracked yourself.
When the snow did fall on the fourth day, it fell in blankets. The final three days of waiting were spent inside with a bunch of cabin-fevered children. They could only let small groups out in shifts since they only had enough snow clothes for a few. Saito took to telling a story of a golem with a soul named Astro. As frivolous and odd as it was, the story was fun to listen to and kept most of the children entertained.
When the day for them to leave came, the two magical girls were seen off by the assembled occupants of Westwood Village. Tiffania stepped forward and handed Louise a scarf. The elf had insisted they take her snow clothes to keep warm, and now she was fussing with Montmorency to get a scarf around the girl's neck. "Fine, mom." Montmorency relented, gaining a ripple of giggles from the children.
"We'll be back either tonight or tomorrow." Louise spoke up; talking to the more business minded Matilda. The elder woman nodded in return. Placing a hand on Montmorency's shoulder, Louise nodded toward the door. A chorus of goodbyes called after them as the two made their exit. When the door closed behind her, Louise spoke up in the sudden loneliness. "South to the edge of the forest, that'll put us close to a road, according to Saito." Montmorency swallowed once and nodded. Then the two girls made their way toward the city of Saxe-Gotha, laboriously trudging through the knee high snow.
The walk itself was not the worst thing Louise had endured during her adventure, but it was a heavy thing. It was like the moment before they had sallied out against the Reconquista invasion force, but hours long. They were lucky the Kyuubey was such an easy target of stress relieving jokes. The familiar hopped through the snow ahead of them and was constantly falling through and digging itself out again.
It was nearly evening when the two reached the edge of the woods. While cold, traveling in the darkness was the safest move. If worst came to worst, Louise could always fly them to safety. Stepping out from the woods, Louise's eyes looked across the countryside. In the distance she could see Saxe-Gotha twinkling with its many lamps. Yet, there was another mass of lights in the countryside. The realization hit Louise like a ton of bricks. The Reconquista army was marching; Louise had spied the torches of the advancing soldiers. "They're breaking the Advent Festival Truce…" Montmorency voiced the thoughts they were both having.
A flash of pink heralded Louise's transformation. Now was no time to be stingy. "We need to warn Princess Henrietta. We need to go." Montmorency didn't object and was soon aboard Louise's staff, the Kyuubey stuffed safely in her jacket. The two girls lanced off into the frigid night sky. Even covered in layers of wool, Montmorency shivered as needles of cold sank into her skin. Transformed, Louise's costume barely provided any form of warmth, though if it bothered her she did not show it.
Even as Louise passed over the walls of Saxe-Gotha, she met no resistance. Bellow she could see soldiers fighting amongst themselves. If they were spies, traitors, or men controlled by spells, Louise did not know and she did not care. She needed to get to Princess Henrietta; she needed to warn her friend. As Louise soared over the confusion, she spied the airships at the back of the town. From the massive amount of people boarding the fleet, the army was most likely in full retreat. Upon realizing that, Louise let out a breath of relief. If that was the case, Henrietta would definitely be aboard the flagship. Montmorency must have come to the same conclusion, "The Flagship is the Dauntless!" She called over the howling winds, pointing toward the great battleship.
Right, Louise realized, they still had an objective. She had nearly forgotten in her fear for Henrietta. Dragons took to the sky near the airships and sailed toward Louise, obviously having spotted the intruder. Louise grit her teeth, she had no time to lose them. With the Reconquista advancing she needed to meet with Henrietta and leave as quickly as possible. When Louise made no move to adjust her course, Montmorency let out a worried warning, "I hope you know what you're doing, Louise."
"Transform." Louise commanded in return. In a flash of gold, Montmorency's snow clothes fled before the light of her summoned garment.
As the dragons approached, Louise banked slightly and allowed them the altitude. The lead dragon knight slowed and fell in beside her, recognizing her deference with caution. "You there! Riders! State your business or be struck from the sky!"
Summoning up her best commanding tone, Louise called back to the dragon knight, "I have no time to deal with you! We are the saviors of Tarbes! We seek Princess Henrietta!" Louise hoped with all her heart that her partial deception would work.
One of the younger riders spoke from behind his captain. "Sir! Gold and Pink riders clad in white! She even is riding a silver staff! They are here to save Tristain again!" His voice was giddy, something that drew a sigh from his captain and nearly drew one from Louise herself.
Recovering from his subordinate's poor presentation, the captain spoke to Louise, "Even if you are indeed the Angels of Tarbes, I cannot let you past. You have to understand-"
"Do not misunderstand me child!" Louise interrupted, taking the idea of being an immortal angel in stride. "I will defend Tristain from all who seek her harm. If you impede my progress, I will strike you down as well. I deferred only out of respect for your service to Tristain." The stunned look upon the captain's face was what Louise had been waiting for. Turning at an angle no dragon could match, Louise pelted through the dragons and sailed toward the Dauntless.
Louise strained to hear behind her, but refrained from looking lest she show her hand. After a moment, the Kyuubey's voice filled her head. "They are not following." Taking the offered help, Louise let out the breath she had been holding. Getting into a fight with her own country in the middle of the army would have been troublesome, to say the least.
The two fake angels landed on the deck of the Dauntless and didn't spare a glance to any of the stunned sailors. It was important to keep up the aura of an angel. Striding toward the captain's cabin, Louise stopped only when the door to the cabin opened and Cardinal Mazaline, church advisor to the throne, stepped out. Louise had met him personally on many occasions and he was sure to recognize her. What mattered was if he was loyal to Tristain, or to the Pope. His eyes studied Louise with burning intensity. Then, after what seemed to be an hour, he spoke, "The Angels of Tarbes." With a bow, he moved from cabin doorway to let them by.
It took every bit of resolve Louise had not to let out a breath of relief. Maintaining the best noble stride she could, Louise walked through the doorway to the captain's cabin, allowing it to be shut behind her. The room itself was elegant, royal in every way. Yet Louise ignored the luxuries around her in favor of the woman that stood in the back, looking out the grand window toward her people. "Cardinal," Princess Henrietta spoke, turning as she did, "What was the probl-" Her voice cut off as she spotted Louise rather than her adviser. "Louise!" She cried, her voice cracking as she did.
The two old friends were in each other's arms in moments. "Princess Henrietta." Louise spoke, her wall of nobility falling in the private company of friends.
"Louise, my dear Louise." Henrietta held her friend close. "I knew the church was wrong. You have not an ounce of evil in you." The Princess pressed her friend closer. "I did everything I could to hamper the church Louise, I swear."
There was not a doubt in Louise's mind that Henrietta spoke the truth. "Thank you..."
Wetness fell upon Louise's neck. Princess Henrietta was crying, she realized. "I've been so alone. Wales died, Agnes was injured, and you disappeared. I could hardly bear it."
Louise gave one final squeeze, and then reluctantly broke apart from her friend. "You have no idea how much I want to stay with you Princess, but I cannot stay." Henrietta's fearful eyes searched Louise. "Montmorency and I are close to a cure for ourselves, so very close. We need the Founder's Prayer Book. I know it is a lot to ask, but I need you to lend it to me."
Realization flooded into Henrietta's eyes before they fell in shame. "Louise, I have done something terrible."
Many a great warrior expected to die in glorious combat only for disease to take them in their own bed. Was it ironic or just tragic that she who had long expected to die from wasting disease in her own bed was to die in combat? Cattleya pondered to herself atop the hill. Below her, an army 70,000 marched toward her; their slow, rumbling process caused the very ground beneath Cattleya to shake with fear.
It was tragic. She was sure. Tragic that she had joined up with the war effort to get into Albion just to go to where her sister was going. The description of the Angels of Tarbes had been obvious. Louise had either been seeking access to Albion or had been seeking to protect Tristain. Both possibilities meant that Cattleya's best chance of finding her involved conscription. Of course, then she was able to turn the tide at the landing battle, and continued to win battles with the power of the Void. Princess Henrietta had even gifted her with the Founder's Prayer Book.
How could she leave the army now? She had become a symbol, people depended on her. Louise would have stayed and fought. Louise would not have given up. She was strong like that. So Cattleya would be strong too. Even if she couldn't find her sister, she would protect Tristain long enough for Louise to come back to it. She would make her little sister proud.
Hefting the tower shield strapped to her left arm up, Cattleya tested its weight again. It was heavier than the kite shield she was used to, but still light enough that she should be able to move freely. With her free hand, she checked the straps on her breastplate one last time. Each was properly secured, just as they had been the past three times she checked. With a breath of resignation, Cattleya drew her sword-wand, its sharp edge ringing as it escaped its sheath. Most likely the advance scouts of the army were beginning to take notice of her. Time to make the entire army notice her.
Words of power left Cattleya's lips with practiced ease. The strange, volatile nature of the void crept up within her. Wound, don't kill. Cattleya silently pleaded to her power. She had done it before; wounding all and killing none. Right now she needed to do it again. This was not an army she could defeat, but it was one she could slow. "Explosion!" Cattleya called out to the advancing army. Cattleya's Void lanced outward without a trace. Only Cattleya could feel the raw power leave her. Then, in a single instant, power erupted within the army. The white flash of destruction lit up the night sky, sending men and demi-beast alike soaring.
Cattleya took a deep breath and refrained from casting again. She needed to slow this army and collapsing from willpower loss was not the way to do it. Instead, she began the chant for the earth dot spell, Rock Throw. It was short, simple and took very little power. In rapid succession, she launched volatile miscasted earth spells down at the army. Her aim was terrible and the spell simply failed in a grand explosion, but Cattleya's target was big enough that her aim did not matter. The army was quick to draw back, leaving only a few to gather the wounded from her initial assault. By the time the army had escaped her range, Cattleya was sure she had taken down at least a tenth of it. Not enough to truly stop it, but enough to slow the march.
What really mattered was how long she could hold this hill. If they moved in force, she would just hit them with another explosion. Instead, they would have to send small groups of units to engage her. Well, let them come. "I may not have mastered the Rule of Steel, but I can imitate Louise's Iron Resolve." Even in the face of all the world's troubles, she would persevere.
The army's first response was expected. Archers too numerous to count raised their bows and drew them back. Countless officers ordered their missiles loose at once. Cattleya could actually hear the rumble of the wind as the barbed raced into the night sky. This would not end her.
Bracing herself beneath her tower shield, Cattleya held firm against the torrent of arrow. Countless though they may be, arrows fired uphill with the untrained hands of farmers could only howl uselessly against her shield. As quickly as it began, the thunder of arrows stopped. With a lurch, Cattleya whipped her shield to the side and stood. The few arrows that managed to stick to her shield fell from it, not having the power to dig into the thick steel.
Cattleya stood in the sole clear patch in what had become a sea of arrows. She stood proud and tall, striking fear into the army below her. A new incantation left Cattleya's lips as she picked out numerous battle mages preparing their staffs. The mages below were the first to finish their spells. Each sent up a blast of fire. So numerous were the balls of flame that the plains of Saxe-Gotha lit up as if it were day. Yet Cattleya did not falter. Even as her skin burned from the heat, she continued to chant. Then, as the flames were upon her, she released her second Void spell.
"Dispel!"
A wall of power extended outward from Cattleya, snuffing the magic flames from existence as it past them. This time, there was nothing to speak of the Reconquista's assault. No seas of arrows to show their failure; only the memory of crushed magic and the immovable figure on the hill.
"Stand tall." Cattleya spoke only to herself. If she belied any fatigue, the Reconquista might try running her willpower dry. She could manage one, maybe two more dispels before she would be at her limit. If they fired again, she would have to charge.
Luck favored Cattleya however, as a group of light cavalry sallied out. Cattleya smirked; she had chosen this hill not only for its height, but for its steep incline. No heavy cavalry could climb it and a light charge would fail. She refrained from attacking once they were in range; best to draw this test of her abilities out as long as possible. She was here to stall, after all.
The squad of about twenty horsemen hit the hill and kept charging upward, rapidly losing speed as they did. Silently, Cattleya offered an apology to the horse she was about to harm. When the horsemen were about halfway up the hill, Cattleya loosed another miscast earth spell. Half the squad fell before the spell, and half those remaining lost control of their panicking steeds. Again, Cattleya released a miscast spell, yet the remainder had spread out to avoid being taken out all at once. Two toppled in the explosion, and the three remaining neared ever closer to Cattleya.
With no time for a full incantation, Cattleya relied on the first spell she ever learned, Pebble Skip. The cantrip was a one word spell for amusing a budding mage; yet powered by the volatile Void, it served as a great single target attack. The left most rider took the spell in the chest and was launched clear off his steed.
Cattleya's knees bent as the final riders fell upon her. Their horses broke through the sea of arrows, a wake of broken shafts flying out behind them. Each rider couched their spear in preparation. The riders expected her to dodge or brace her shield. Cattleya did neither. She knelt low to the ground and slanted her shield as low as possible. If there was one thing Cattleya knew, it was animals. These were light cavalry. They were not trained to trample like heavy warhorses. Sure enough, Cattleya did not feel the crushing weight of horses upon her shield; she felt only the scrapes of two spear points unable to find purchase as the two horses jumped over her.
Instantly, Cattleya rose, cantrip on her lips. The miscast spell hit the closest rider in the back and sent him spiraling away. The final rider reared his horse round and looked at his opponent. He found only a dismissive wave of a sword-wand before he too was sent flying unconscious through the night.
Once again Cattleya planted her feet and stared down the army before her. She half expected them to launch another wave of missiles at her, or maybe arrows and magic at the same time, but perhaps the groaning and weary crawling of the soldiers on the hillside was enough to deter them. Whether they refrained due to honor or fear of moral drop, Cattleya was glad they decided not to kill their own men in a ranged attack.
She was not as glad when she saw seven dragon knights take to the sky. A dragon alone was dangerous, a mage atop only compounded the danger. These would be the elites of the army, something she had hoped they would hold off using a while longer. With no way to help it, Cattleya took a deep breath and readied her shield. The dragon knights kept their distance as they circled around her, testing her range. This was a well-trained team; each rider was even spaced from the others, offering Cattleya no way to strike a group down. Cattleya's head darted back and forth, tracking her enemies.
Without warning, the first of them dove toward Cattleya. Her sword-wand was up in under a second and the concussive force of a miscast dot spell knocked the beast from the sky. Two more dove towards her, each opposite the other. Rather than cast again, Cattleya began chanting as she flew into motion. Dashing directly toward the dragon to her right, she dove forward and under it before it could unleash its fire. Rolling upright, Cattleya planted her shield just in time to meet the blast of dragonfire from her second opponent. Heat curled around her and threatened to steal the air from her lungs, yet she continued to chant. Cries of the regaining dragons sounded from all around as the rest of the squad fell upon her. Each dragon released flame, each rider released spell. Cattleya finished her chant.
"Explosion!" The torrent of power crushed outward from Cattleya. Spell, dragonfire, beast and rider alike were swatted away in its wake. The blinding white light engulfed the hilltop, forcing the army below to avert its gaze. As quickly as it had been summoned, Cattleya's power fizzled. Only the sounds of dragon body thumping into the ground around her and her own labored breaths could be heard.
Cattleya's instincts screamed to her. Not thinking, Cattleya dove to the side just as a dragon landed where she had been standing. The beast spun on her, its rider flopping unconsciously on its back. Fear flitted into Cattleya's heart. Her magic was tapped out, she might have a cantrip or two left, but that was it. Smoke flitted out between the dragon's teeth. It was preparing a breath attack. If she blocked she would only be snapped up by those jaws. That meant there was only one option.
With all the resolve Cattleya could muster, she charged the dragon. "I may not be as powerful as mother…" Fire rumbled in the dragon's throat and Cattleya's remaining shreds of magic rumbled with her. "I may not be as smart as Eleanor…" The dragon opened its mouth and Cattleya raised her sword-wand. "I may not be as strong as Louise…" The concussive force of miscast cantrip exploded within the beast's mouth. Rearing back in pain, the dragon released its fir into the night sky. Enraged, it turned to the charging Cattleya and launched forward, jaw open with rows of glistening teeth rushing to meet the Valliere. Then, just as the beast was upon her, Cattleya smashed her shield into the beasts head, knocking herself around it as much as it aside.
"But I am me!" Cattleya's sword slid into the dragon's inner ear; the one soft spot on the armored lizard. As large as the beast was, it crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut when the blade pierced its brain. "And I know animals." Twisting, Cattleya pulled her sword-wand from the dead dragon.
With labored steps, Cattleya made her way back toward the edge of the hill. Once again, she planted her feet and waited for her enemy. Answering her unvoiced challenge, two more dragon knights took to the skies. Cattleya once again reached within her to claim her power, yet this time she found nothing. Not even a scrape of willpower for a cantrip, she was out. "Willpower burnout, huh?" She spoke weakly to herself as the dragons knights approached. That meant she would need to get them in melee range. Maybe get on top of one. That meant she would need to block the first flame blast.
Cattleya raised her shield before her, or at least tried to. Her arm made no move to follow her command. Wearily, she looked down to her numb limb. "Right, burnouts usually cause blackouts." She remembered the lesson on magic overextension vaguely. She was so focused on inspecting her arm that she didn't realize she was falling until her back hit the grass.
Sound became muffled as the dragon knight landed over Cattleya. Well, she had definitely delayed them long enough, right? It had been a good stand, mother would definitely be proud. The dragon's mouth neared Cattleya and she waited for the end.
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
A voice raged against the heavens and the earth. It raged against the night. It raged against Brimir himself.
Cattleya's vision faded in and out. There was the dragon. Then there was the night sky. Then the vision of her sister Louise fell over her, tears in her eyes. Ah, she had died and gone to heaven. Well, if she was with Louise, it was good.
Montmorency did not speak. She simply held fast to the wounded body of Louise's sister as they made their escape from the Reconquista army. She knew Louise was fast on her staff, but she had never seen her move this fast. They hit the forest before the army could even think about pursuing. Her thoughts drifted to what Louise had said to Princess Henrietta.
"Louise, I have done something terrible." Louise's brow furrowed and she searched her friend. "Your sister Cattleya has the Founder's Prayer Book. I left it with her in hopes of protecting her…" Fear gripped Louise, what was wrong with Cattleya? "The generals ordered her to hold off the Reconquista army, she has gone to meet them."
What? The idea didn't make sense to Louise. How could they send one person against an army? How could they send Cattleya? "She is a void mage! The generals didn't ask me! I should have called her back! I-"
Henrietta was stopped when Louise placed a finger to her lips. "I would love to have a heart to heart and convince you that I forgive you, but I am now on a deadline. So I'll be brief." Louise did not push down her swirling emotions, she harnessed them "Henrietta, you are my dear friend. I have never thought, nor will I ever think ill of you." Placing one hand on Henrietta's shoulder, Louise looked into Henrietta's fearful eyes. The Princess looked back to find no hate in her childhood friend's eyes. "I can tell that you are feeling alone, but remember, I will always be your friend." Henrietta nodded hesitantly, "Now I have a sister to save. I'll see you later, my dear friend."
With that, Louise spun on her heel and exited the cabin, Montmorency in tow and ready for battle. The two left behind Henrietta, standing alone in the cabin. Yet, she was not alone. For the first time in a while, she did not feel alone.
A/N: Just want to give a big credit to my beta reader A Dark Alias! Everyone give a thanks for his awesome proofreading!