Krinos Bara

Thanks a lot for your review! I'm truly sorry I needed so much time for this. -.-'

Thank you for the help, that was good to know.

And the title means: "If God is with us, who is against us?" It was the motto of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and is quite fitting for the story, I think.

There were signs of previous fights everywhere. People wouldn't leave their houses anymore and nervously watch soldiers walking down the streets.

Toris had a bad feeling once they arrived in the city. Certainly, it were just his usual worries but still he felt like they wouldn't leave this place anymore. Thick grey clouds were hiding the sun, a cold wind was blowing and even the windows looked like dark vicious eyes. Toris wished they would have chosen another place for the appointment.

Feliks on the other hand seemed to be cheerful as always as the two of them were wandering through the city. "It's not as beautiful here as I thought," he said and scowled at an abandoned ruin. "We fought hard to keep it," Toris said rebukingly and Feliks gave him an "I-know-I-know-glare". "Anyway, where is this place we should meet Katyusha?"

While Feliks suddenly wanted to go to Smolensk as quick as possible, Toris thought it would be the best to make some plans before going there and getting killed. Of course, they just wanted to go there and talk with Katyusha about her desires and wishes and trying to find a solution for the conflict. At least that was what Toris told the rebelling woman in a letter he sent to her. Both of them carried their weapons with them, prepared to strike Katyusha down if they couldn't come to an amicable solution. Still Toris hoped they wouldn't need to do that.

"In the letter I told her that we would meet at the old Western town walls," Toris explained now. "And that is where we are heading to at the moment."

"I knew that!," Feliks exclaimed. "I actually wanted to know when we are finally there."

Slightly bickering they arrived at the former town gate.

The place was abandoned and so it was easy for the two men to discover the single person which was waiting there for them. Toris stopped in his tracks and whispered "Dear God, what is he doing here? This is bad..." Feliks didn't slow down but his expression darkened a bit.

The personification of the mighty czardom Russia himself was waiting for them and to make it worse he was wearing a uniform along with a sword belt.

"What are you doing here?," Feliks asked, not even trying to be polite. Although he was smaller by almost an entire head he did not step back and held his head high. Quickly Toris stood right beside him, ready to draw his own sword.

"Greetings, Poland, Lithuania," Ivan nodded towards them, ignoring Feliks' rudeness. "It has been a long time, has it not? It is nice to see you outside of my capital."

"What are you doing here?," Feliks repeated and only Toris who knew him all too well could notice his nervousness. "Where is Katyusha?"

"I would prefer you to not address my sister this familiar. And it is quite surprising that you would think I would allow you to come near her ever again."

"She's a part of my country," Feliks sounded proud as always when he was talking about his empire. "I can do with her whatever I want to do even if..."

"But we are here for negotiations and we would like to hear her stance," Toris interrupted him, seeing that Ivan had clenched his fists. "Surely we could come to an agreement."

"I do not think so." Ivan's eyes seemed to darken. "I request taking all the lands which belong to my sister. They are rightfully mine as well as my sister belongs to me with heart and soul. I advise you to surrender immediately. You have abused my sister for too long and therefore you shall receive no mercy!"

Toris gritted his teeth. They came here expecting to meet with Katyusha, an angry but not really threatening woman and instead they got a war declaration of Russia himself. Surrendering was no option, it would only weaken their country and anger the nobles.

"It would be two against one. We would be cowards fighting against you now," Feliks said, unusually smartly trying to save his neck.

"No worries about that," Ivan retorted. "I do not mind whether you die as heroes or as cowards."

He really wants to kill us. There was no time for more thinking, Ivan's hand was already at his hilt and Toris drew out his own weapon in one flowing movement.

Seeing that a combat was unavoidable Feliks had got nervous. There was an insecure flicker in his green eyes and his hands were slightly trembling but still he did not retreat.

Ivan raised his sword, the shadow of a smile on his face. "How nice to see you stick to the old ways, too."

During the last decades the weapons with which they learnt to fight in their youth had become more and more old-fashioned. Modern firearms were getting popular and fights between two single men had become rare in modern warfare. Still, Toris preferred the old sword combat, proud of his fighting skills and since Feliks valued old traditions he carried his sword with him, too.

Without a further warning Ivan attacked.

Fightings between two immortals wasn't even comparable with fightings between humans. They were so fast, so agile, so much stronger than any mortal could ever be. The determination of their entire people was shown in their actions. Any mortal who would have come near them during a fight would have been erased as easy as picking off a grass stalk.

Toris and Feliks were attacking from both sides, trying to hit a vital spot of their enemy. Yet, Ivan was twirling around too quick for them and his fast movements made it look like he was wielding four swords at the same time instead of just one.

Although being in superior numbers Feliks and Toris were soon forced to take one step back after another. And finally Ivan came close enough to pierce Feliks' chest with his sword. He wasn't wearing an armour like during the Medieval times and so the blade easily cut through clothes, skin and flesh. Ivan took a step back, watching the blood dripping from his blade while Feliks collapsed with a soft cry of pain.

"That was a little easy," Ivan commented with a soft mocking smile.

It was the first time Toris really hated him. He could literally feel a cold growing inside of him and all of a sudden he knew that he could win this battle.

When they came here they expected to fight against Katyusha. They were not prepared to meet Russia, just as he was not prepared that Toris would keep on fighting. He could see in it Ivan's face. Certainly he had expected Toris bursting into tears and surrendering once seeing his companion falling. As long as he was lowering his guard, Toris had a chance.

With a shout of rage he rushed forward and with a quick turn of the wrist he slashed Ivan's arm, knocking the sword out of his hand. With a clank the weapon fell to the ground and Toris pointed his own blade at Ivan's throat, ready to pierce through. With triumph he saw that there was a hint of fear in the Russian's eyes.

"Get away from him!"

Toris looked up in surprise when he heard the familiar voice screaming out. The next moment he felt his eyes widen in disbelieving surprise.

No one else than Katyusha herself had shown up, holding one of these modern guns in her hands. But what was even more shocking than the weapon were her looks.

Katyusha was dressed like a man, she was even wearing a uniform. To make it worse she had cut her light blond hair short. No one would have taken her for a man, that was simply impossible with a body like hers but still, Toris needed a moment to recognize her.

"Didn't you hear me?," she asked angrily although her voice was slightly trembling. Toris took a step back but his sword remained in his hands. Ivan closed his eyes for a second and then darted an angry glaze at his sister. "What are you doing here? I told you not to come! This is too dangerous for you!"

Katyusha rushed towards him, trying to both watch her brother and their enemies. "I wanted to help you! Are you hurt somewhere, brother?" The honest concern in her voice impressed Toris somehow.

"I am fine," Ivan harshly answered. "Now step back and let me handle this."

He tried to pick up his weapon and cringed slightly when he put weight onto his injured arm. Toris knew it would be easy to defeat him while he wasn't able to use his entire strength but Katyusha still pointed her gun at him and he had no doubts that she would use it.

"We better let them escape," she said softly before nodding towards Toris. "Go home and take care of your injuries. You'd only lose if you tried fighting now. And your friend would only bleed to death."

Toris gritted his teeth and nodded then. Without a word he turned around and knelt down beside Feliks who was still breathing and pressing a hand against his wound. His face was white as a sheet, his clothes speckled with blood. "You'll be fine," Toris murmured as he helped him get up. "He didn't stab your heart."

And yet they had lost Smolensk. They just had to hope that this wasn't a bad omen.

Eh, that chapter sucked.

I learnt, no more fight scenes in English. xD

A historical note:

When Ivan says "It is nice to see you outside of my capital" he refers to a war between Russia and Poland & Lithuania from 1609-1618 during which they invaded Moscow, but were later defeated and driven out of the country again.

Also, in the beginning when Toris says "We fought hard to keep it" he refers to another war with Russia from 1632-1634 in which they were fighting over this city and which ended with Poland and Lithuania keeping it.

Anyway, please tell me what you thought of it and if I should continue this story or not.