A bit of fighting, a bit of chatting, and so forth.

Chapter 58 – The Battle of Arianrhod, Part 3 (Lone Moon)

Valeska whirled around as she fired another arrow at the men pursuing her and Rissa, scoring another fatal hit without missing a step. The man's death caused two others behind him to stumble over his corpse, briefly slowing their pursuit of the two disguised Agarthans.

The two had re-entered the interior of Arianrhod, intending to lose their pursuers in the twisting corridors of the fortress rather than make a straight dash for the walls. Out of the twenty men chasing them, five had been killed, but ten others had joined in partway through the pursuit.

Ahead of her, Rissa peered through the walls of the fortress and saw half of their pursuers had broken away and were moving to try and cut them off in the passages ahead. Knowing Valeska had to be aware, Rissa snatched up a flask of oil as she ran.

Rissa spun around as Valeska ran past her, giving her only a brief glance and a look at the oil flask. Valeska knew what the Nightblade had in mind.

Just as the men chasing them turned another corner, Rissa threw the flask at a nearby torch. The bottle shattered as it struck the burning torch, igniting its contents and spreading fire in the path of the soldiers. One man failed to stop in time and was quickly engulfed in flames.

Growling, a sergeant shouted, "This way! We'll go around!"

Rissa would've smirked at this, but she knew this was only going to buy them a few seconds. And at the rate things were going, the two were about to be surrounded.

The Nightblade rushed back to the Arcus and found, to her shock, that Valeska had stopped right in the middle of a corridor. Peering through the walls, both saw the men of House Dominic were about to find them again. They were now caught between the two parties and about to be boxed in.

"Now what?!" Rissa hissed, not needing to explain the predicament to Valeska.

"This way," Valeska replied as her body turned translucent and she moved through a nearby wall.

Kronya was surprised by Cleobulus using her Phase power, but then realized what the Arcus had planned this all along. Looking where Cleobulus had gone, she saw they were close to the outer wall of Arianrhod. Fortunately, no one was on the other side to see them.

"So much for keeping to our cover," she said sarcastically.

Then, the Nightblade vanished as she Blinked outside.

Two seconds later, the soldiers of House Dominic rushed into the corridor from both sides and were shocked to see their quarry had disappeared without a trace.

…

One hour later…

Shez winced as Simon channeling a healing spell on her legs. The young bard wasn't particularly skilled at white magic, but he knew enough to help with the mercenary's injuries. He certainly couldn't hold a candle to Annette's friend Mercedes.

Watching as the wounds in her legs closed, Simon said, "That should do it. Try to take it easy, Shez."

"Thanks," Shez replied as she got to her feet. Her legs still hurt, but she could tough out the pain.

The mercenary then turned to look at the storehouses. Three of them had burned to the ground, ruining everything within them. The remaining two had been saved, but most of the contents within were damaged by the fire.

"How bad is it?" Averill asked one of his officers.

"We've lost over 80 percent of our rations, milord," said the officer.

"Dammit…"

Hearing the approach of more men, Averill turned to see the soldiers who had been chasing Rissa and Valeska.

"Tell me you have them, sergeant," Averill said, but his tone suggested he expected to be disappointed.

"They're gone, my lord," said the sergeant. "I don't know how they did it. We had them trapped near the northeast wall. They had no way out. But they just… disappeared."

Shez half-expected Baron Dominic to strike the man for his failure. She'd seen many other nobles do worse to their subordinates for less. But Baron Dominic simply sighed in frustration.

"Nothing is simple when faced with the Duchess and her adjutants," said Averill.

"Who were those two?" asked Shez.

"Valeska Luna Mateus and Rissa Aine Gideon. Cornelia's most trusted vassals. They've served her ever since she took power in Fhirdiad."

"What can you tell me about them?"

"Valeska is the heir of House Mateus to the north. She was a graduate of the Officer's Academy at Garreg Mach with highest honors, and she is arguably the greatest archer in Faerghus today."

Nursing her aching collarbone, Shez said, "Yeah, she got me good."

"You are fortunate that she only wounded you. I've seen her hit a bird in the eye while it was in flight."

"Whoa, really?! What about the other one?"

"I know little about Rissa, the heir of House Gideon. She was a recluse before she joined Cornelia's court. But from reports I have heard, she is a master with a dagger. Together, she and Valeska have proven to be powerful allies of the Duchess."

"And now, thanks to them, your army's gonna go hungry."

"Yes. Cornelia is nothing if not a schemer. With our stores decimated, she will likely spread her forces to cut off all access to Arianrhod in order to starve us out."

"So, what's your plan then?"

"I need time to think on our next course of action. Attempting to break out of the fortress could end in disaster, and I suspect it is just what she wants us to do. For now, you should see to your mercenaries, Shez. I will speak with you once I have come to a decision."

Shez sighed at this, knowing it wasn't going to be easy to break the bad news to her men.

…

Cornelia gave Rissa and Valeska a wide smile at hearing their report.

"Fantastic work, both of you," said Cornelia. She then turned to one of her generals and said, "General, deploy our forces to surround Arianrhod. Blockade all roads leading in and out of the fortress and send patrols to watch for any movement from House Dominic's men. Do not allow any of them to escape, and do not allow anyone outside to reach them."

"At once, milady," said the general, who turned to give orders to the Dukedom's soldiers.

"Your vassals are most efficient, Duchess Cornelia," said Count Rowe. "But should we not have struck while the enemy was addressing their fires?"

"Why would I do that, Elmore? We are in no rush to eliminate them at this point."

"But we give him the chance to– GCK!"

Elmore choked as Valeska strode up to him and grabbed his neck, putting enough pressure on it to hurt.

"Hold your tongue," Valeska said as she glared Elmore in the eye. "Before I tear it out."

Elmore let out a short choke to show he understood the archer's threat. She roughly released him, to which he coughed as he stumbled back.

"How forceful, Valeska," Cornelia said sweetly. "There is no need for us to resume our attack yet. We need only trap Averill and his army until their hunger makes them desperate. Then they will make a mistake. We will be ready when they do."

"A-As you wish, Duchess Cornelia," said Count Rowe.

"Ladies, let us indulge ourselves in my tent."

Cornelia led Valeska and Rissa into a large tent in the middle of the camp. Once inside, Cornelia channeled her Mana to an orb in the center that began producing a field around the tent. The field would ensure no one could see into the tent from the outside, nor could they hear anything within it, unless they passed through the field. Of course, no one would be able to do such a thing unannounced, ensuring the three Agarthans would have their privacy. The soldiers of the Dukedom knew well enough to keep their distance from the field. Even so, the Agarthans knew it wasn't foolproof, so they listened for any sign of an eavesdropper.

"How did your mission go?" Cornelia asked her two subordinates.

"Why do you always ask us that?" said Cleobulus.

"Cleo, you say that as though it were a bad thing. I truly do value your work as an Arcus, unlike the Agastya."

Cleobulus huffed at this, doubting the Magistra's honeyed words.

"Well, I had fun," said Kronya. "Sixteen victims. Mmm, leaves me all tingly inside."

Kronya briefly massaged her own breast as she said this.

"Did any of them give you trouble?" asked Cornelia.

"Just that one girl."

"Oh? What girl?"

"Just some mercenary," said Cleobulus. "Fast, but still a beast."

"I would've killed her if you hadn't butt in, Cleo," said Kronya.

"You were taking too long with her."

Kronya scoffed at this, knowing Cleobulus always preferred a quick kill.

"I take it the storehouses were destroyed," said Cornelia.

"Baron Dominic's men showed up faster than expected," said Cleobulus. "But the mission was a success. All five storehouses were burning before he showed up."

"Did you confirm their destruction, Cleo? I don't think I need to remind you of what happened with the mockingbird."

Kronya snickered at this. She always loved it when Cornelia rubbed that mistake in the Arcus's face.

"The Thermites all went off. They wouldn't be able to put them out."

"I'm holding you to that, Cleo. I'd hate to be waiting here for weeks. What about the traps?"

"The southwest side was cleared. They'd need weeks to fix them."

"Why'd we need to disable them if we're trying to starve them out anyway?" asked Kronya.

"Just in case," said Cornelia. "Averill might be more stubborn than I imagine. But we'll see in due time. For now… I think the two of you deserve a reward."

Cornelia strode toward Kronya and cupped the assassin's left breast in her hand. Giving her a soft moan, Kronya wrapped her arm around Cornelia's neck, letting the Magistra pleasure her while Cleobulus watched.

"Care to join in, Cleo?" asked Cornelia.

"Not for now," the archer answered before she strode out of the tent.

"Tch, typical Cleo," said Kronya.

"Hush, dearie," said Cornelia. "She can always join in when she wants."

Cornelia ended her sentence by kissing Kronya deeply.

…

Later that evening…

Averill looked out at the Dukedom's campfires and scowled. The enemy was being given hearty meals and plenty of mead to fill their bellies, while his troops had been dismayed to learn they would have to ration what they had left.

Just when he thought he knew the depths of Cornelia's cruelty, the duchess proved him wrong. He knew she was taunting them. His men would be starving and miserable while her soldiers would be fat and happy. The notion of it sickened him, especially since he knew Cornelia would want him to feel that way.

Unfortunately, he had no choice but to play into her hands yet again.

"Hey, you sent for me?" said Shez as she approached Averill, escorted by one of the Baron's men so she wouldn't get lost.

"Shez, thank you for coming," said Averill. "I assume your men aren't happy with the rationing."

"We've dealt with it before. They're pissed off, though."

"A sentiment I share with them. This was not how I imagined things would play out when I took Arianrhod."

Shez paused for a moment before she said, "Hey, if it's any consolation, we're still with you."

"Is that so? Your men don't wish to abandon this place?"

"Pretty sure we wouldn't get very far if we did. Besides, we've got our integrity to think about."

"Your integrity?"

"Trust is just as valuable to a mercenary as coin. We fight for the highest bidder, sure, but when I take on a contract, I see it through to the end. Wouldn't look good for me if I ditched you or stabbed you in the back, right?"

Averill smiled and said, "I appreciate your honesty then, Shez. And it would seem I owe you an apology."

"Don't worry about it. We've gotten out of worse scrapes than this."

"I do not speak of our current predicament. When the battle started, I questioned your integrity. You were absent from the walls, and you came to me for the promise of riches. As such, I was uncertain of your trustworthiness. But when I saw you wounded from your battle with Rissa and Valeska, it became clear you were on my side."

"Oh. Well, don't beat yourself up over it. I did kinda make a bad first impression with that whole 'you only need me' thing."

Averill chuckled at this.

"Hey, I gotta ask something: Why'd you stab Cornelia in the back?"

"You're implying that I was loyal to her. Nothing could be further from the truth."

"Okay… but then why'd you take the Dukedom's side?"

"Because when this war started, I was in a position where I could not hope to win if I opposed her and her allies. I did not fear for my personal safety, but I knew she would make those under my protection suffer the consequences if I defied her. Taking her side was one of the hardest decisions I've made in my life."

Shez nodded at this, realizing Baron Dominic's position. Thinking it over, she felt she probably would've made the same decision if she'd been in his boots.

"So, why take this place, then?"

"When Count Rowe lost his army in Ailell, I saw an opportunity to cut Cornelia off from her Imperial allies. With Arianrhod under our control, we could have staged raids on convoys from Enbarr on their way to Fhirdiad. The idea was to force the Duchess to pull forces away from the eastern front and give His Majesty, Dimitri, an opportunity he could exploit."

"Huh, good plan."

"A shame, then, that it's going so poorly. I underestimated the Duchess yet again, and now we're paying the price for it."

Shez said nothing as she looked out at the Dukedom's fires.

I'll leave the chapter here. Sorry, but I just started Genshin Impact and it is so damn good.

I dipped a little into Shez's Support with Petra in this one. That one's actually pretty well written. Shows you why it's not a good idea to stab your employers in the back if someone bribes you.

I also dipped a little into a scene from Age of Empires 2, specifically in the Saracen campaign's third mission. In it, the Saracens control an oasis and pour water from it into the desert sands, while parched Crusader knights watch in dismay. That's just cruel, and kind of the same thing that Cornelia's doing. Psychological warfare's a bitch, isn't it?

Finally, when I refer to Cleobulus using Thermites, just think of it as some Agarthan firebomb tech. Real life Thermite grenades are a thing, after all.

The fighting's not over yet, so we'll come back to it on Monday. I hope exploring Teyvat won't make me forget to do the chapter.