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"Thank you, Chloe. It was very tasty." — I pushed aside an empty plate, which until recently had wheat porridge with pieces of meat.
"It's just a simple meal, why are you so happy?" — The elf did not understand my pleased expression.
"Believe me, this simple food is nothing compared to the tasteless food concentrates that I have consumed over the past few years." — I explained. — "Moreover, the crookedness of the cook can spoil any food, but you make everythig great."
"Food concentrates? Is this some kind of camping food?" — Olga immediately became interested in a new term for herself, drinking herbal decoction from a mug.
"Not only that. This is a set that includes all the necessary nutrients. It looks like a solid gray brick. It tastes the same, although, admittedly, it fulfills its task. We used it everywhere, not just in the field." — I share the details, taking my portion of drink from Chloe's hands. — "I have a few with me, I'll show you later, so you can feel the difference between this and normal hot food.
"Okay." — The sorceress agreed. — "It will be interesting to see another invention of your world."
"Believe me, after my weapon and tablet, you won't be too surprised." — I have warned an inquisitive woman.
"This does not negate my interest in everything new." — Olga smiled back at me, but immediately changed her expression to a serious one. — "But I wanted to talk about something else."
Chloe and I turned to hearing, I changed my relaxed pose, pulling a chair closer to the table and folding my hands on the countertop, and the girl took the next one.
"What we will do next?" — Olga continued, waiting for us to sit down. Her face at the same time expressed a rather sour set of emotions, which indicates not the most rosy prospects.
"How bad is it?" — I asked her.
"We were left alone. Around us are the Lands of Humans, where dark elves are not favored. Unless it's only as concubines." — The woman's lips curved in an ironic smile, but only for a moment, immediately stretching out again into a thin, tense thread. — "My supporters are in the enclaves of the dark elves on the edge of the wasteland, but this edge is opposite from us, and if we try to go there, we will meet a whole army that will dig the ground with its nose in our search."
"Don't they have more important things to do than catch the three fugitives?" — I asked.
The conquest of human cities, for example, followed by robbery, looting, and other highly cultured" — I made a quotation mark with my hands — "entertainment?"
"You're right, but not completely." — Olga began to explain. — "By stealing us from Vult, you didn't just deprive him of two captives, you deprived him of the symbol that replaces the beginning of his conquests. Insulted him harder to come up with, so he will look for us to take revenge. Otherwise, his own people will not understand him, his authority will be shaken.
"How vulnerable." — I chuckled to myself, folding my arms under my chest. — "However, it is expected. Although unpleasant. But you're not telling all this for the sake of reflection, am I right?"
"Yes." — The elf agreed. — "I will not be able to live in peace knowing that my people are suffering. Yes, they won't be touched right now, but as soon as Vult finishes with Celestine, part of his army will return to the wasteland, and then nothing will save the dark elves. There will be no queen to restrain the impulses of monsters, nor danger in the form of the Order of Seven. Even if insignificant, but forcing them to be at least a little cautious. Only the irrepressible appetite of the leader of the Black Dogs and those creatures that stand behind him will remain."
The girl literally spat out the last words in a fit of pent-up anger. — "For a thousand years I have worked hard so that my people could live in peace, and more than once I had to fail and start all over again. And even though things are much worse now than ever, I won't give up, I just won't be able to forgive myself if I don't do anything."
This woman. She could hide, so that no one would ever find her, judging by what I managed to see. But she's determined to fight a whole fucking army in all seriousness. Alone. Just to help her relatives. She has a lot of strength of spirit, and this causes respect. And I also caught myself thinking that I couldn't take my eyes off that beautiful face. From those eyes that are looking at us now with a mute request for help.
"I understand... if one of you does not agree and considers it too dangerous, but I will act." — Olga said softly, looking down at the countertop. — "I'd rather die trying than know for the rest of my life that I ran away shamefully."
"Mistress Olga!" — Chloe jumped up from her seat and, going around the table, knelt down on one knee in front of the queen. — "Stop talking like that! You saved my life and everything that I have, was and will be, I owe to you! If you think that I would dare to leave you, then you are wrong!"
A warm smile touched Olga's lips, and her face smoothed out, ceasing to look like something carved out of stone.
"Get up, my girl." — with one hand she gently lifted Chloe's head by the chin, and with the other she took her hand and pulled it towards her, urging her to rise. "I am no longer a queen to kneel before me. Especially you.
Getting up next, Olga hugged her ward and put her chin on her shoulder. — "I'm glad you're with me. Thanks."
"Mistress... please don't ever offend me by doubting again." — Chloe said in a trembling voice. — "Whatever happens…"
"I won't." — Olga Whispered back to her. — "I'm sorry."
This cute, almost family scene made me a little uncomfortable, but at the same time it was nice, because outsiders usually don't show this. Although, what kind of outsider am I now? The shit that threw me here clearly knew who I am choosing, now I physically can't leave these two against half the world. I don't know where I got it from, but back on Earth, being a weapon, I couldn't even think of trying to somehow deviate from my purpose, feeling responsible not only for my squad, which, consider, I brought up, but also for all of humanity, because without people like me, it could not cope in the fight against the aliens. But I wasn't alone, after all. I had thousands of clones like me on my side and millions of ordinary soldiers who shed blood on the battlefields every day. Instead of me, these girls are alone, although they have no less responsibility on their shoulders. I just have to help them. Not even with a leash in the form of Martha, but myself, sincerely.
Besides... if the tower was able to find me and drag me here, maybe I can look back on Earth? This is quite a goal!
"Well, I have no choice!" — Having cheered up from an unexpected idea, I also got to my feet and attracted attention with a clap of my hands. — "If you don't believe me, ask Marta."
"I confirm." — My personal revived glitch immediately made itself felt.
"Oh, of cource you confirm." — He muttered back to her without malice. — "But you and I have to live now, so I'm not offended. Almost."
— "I'm glad to hear it. Almost."
I didn't have time to say anything witty. The hugging girls broke away from each other and turned to me, and judging by the slight blush on their cheeks and slightly trembling ears, they were rather confused by the picture that they showed me. But I didn't like Olga's look. There was shame.
— "Kay, you…"
— :Wait." — I held out my hands, palms out, interrupting her in mid—sentence. — "Before you start talking about how sorry you are, listen to me. I am satisfied. Instead of rotting in the ground, I'm alive and well, and all thanks to you. Let it sound ugly, but it was your misfortune that became my salvation. Yes, with conditions in the form of a voice in my head that could kill me if I hurt you, but, damn it, who would you have to be to do this to someone who, albeit unwittingly, gave you life? In general, the price suits me quite well."
I come closer and take the beauty's palm in my hand, covering the second one from above, ready to retreat at any moment if she doesn't like something. However, there was no negative reaction, only the eyelids opened a little wider in surprise, and the color on the cheeks became brighter. What is she doing? Although it looks beautiful on bronze skin…
Oh, she knows how to be shy. And I'm embarrassed. The warm palm in my hands is very soft and tender to the touch, I barely restrained myself from rubbing my cheek against it or kissing it, it would be too much. But the main thing is done, I have eliminated the funeral mood, and this is the main thing.
"On Earth, I fought for my people just like you" — Looking into golden eyes, I say, lowering my voice. — "Therefore, I understand well how you feel and share your aspirations. And I'll help save yours. You can count on me."
"I... got it, and... you can let me go." — Olga answerd confusedly.
"Oh..." — I release the girl's hand from the grip and take a step back, putting my hand behind the back of my head. — "I'm sorry."
There was an awkward silence, broken only by the sound of our breathing and the shuffling of our feet on the floor. However, not for long: Chloe, who was boring me with her eyes even when I took her mistress by the hand, trying to say something at this time, which was noticeable by the way her face changed during my speech, as a result, instead of a personal question on the tongue, she asked a question about the case and quite logical. — "Mistress, what are we going to do?"
"Um, really." — I perked up, feeling the opportunity to dispel the situation by switching it to a constructive way. — "You told us all this for a reason and you've already thought of something, right?"
"Yes. To save my people, we need to deal with Vult and his gang. I have some thoughts, but they are still unclear and I would like to hear your opinion about them." — The Queen turned around and went deeper into the room. — "Let's go back to the table, we'll need a map."
Taking a scroll tied with a string from the shelf that was there, Olga returned and spread it out on the table. Chloe and I surrounded her from both sides and began to examine the map drawn on the scroll. It was a rather schematic drawing without precise designations and scale, but made qualitatively and even beautifully.
"Now we are here." — She pointed her finger at the section of the map on which the tree icons were depicted. — The nearest city to us is Feoh, it is a border town and will be the first to fall under the attack of the Volta army, which will advance from here."
Next, her finger moved from the icon of the aforementioned city, which was really located close to the forest, just above, where a mountain ridge was drawn divided in half by a gorge. Beyond the ridge itself, the territory was signed as "the lands of the dark elves". — "This is the only section along the entire border where many people can be safely held at a time."
"What about the small ones?" — I asked just in case, realizing that most likely it is possible.
"Yes, and most likely, the entire border area is already filled with such pathways. They are used for the exploration and destruction of border villages from which the city feeds." — Instead of the elder elf, the younger one answered, confirming my thoughts.
"It means that if we leave the forest, we risk running into one of these." — I concluded. — "It is unlikely that the detachments are large, so we will fight back, if anything happens. What can you say about the Feoh?"
"The population is about ten thousand people, of which a thousand are garrisons. Quite experienced, it's worth saying. The walls are strong, high, and inside there is a castle of one of the Order of the Seven, Alicia Arcturus." — Chloe answered again.
"What kind of bird is this Alicia?" — I asked.
"Young — only 20 years old. Naive and inexperienced." — Olga took the floor. — "Lives with tales of knightly honor and dignity."
"Well, I won't say that this is a straight bad trait." — I shrug my shoulders. — "What else?"
"You don't fully understand, she transfers her vision of honor to others, believing that other people do the same honestly. Which is a bad trait for a princess." — Olga exlained.
"Princesses? Is she the daughter of an elven priestess?" — I asked in surprise.
"No, she's human. The heiress of the royal dynasty of co-rulers of Celestine." Olga explained further. — "Parents are dead, having become a victim of intrigue. Of course, there is no proof who did it.
The woman spread her hands and I nodded understandingly.
An honest princess... accordingly, she will keep her word. And a city with a good defense. It looks promising.
"And how do you assess their chances to fight back?" — I asked the following question to clarify another important point.
"Low." — The elf answered. — "The forces are too unequal, I can't say for sure, but not less than ten to one. And if in a normal situation such a scenario is acceptable for the protection of a fortress wall, then in this case everything is somewhat different. Firstly, there are probably Vult's accomplices in the city who can harm the defenders from the inside up to the opening of the gate, and secondly— monsters. A very powerful force if applied correctly, and Vult knows how to use them.
"Yes, it's really an unimportant situation. And everything is aggravated by the fact that by taking Feoh, Volt will become much stronger." — I agreed with Olga's opinion, adding my conclusions from what I heard from above. — "If I read the map correctly, after this city they will open the road far into the country and gain more resources, money, recruits and slaves."
"And then there will be no stopping them." — Chloe summed up the brainstorming session. — "So we can't let Feoh fall.
"That's just how to do it?" — The queen asked, thoughtfully propping her chin on her palm. — "We are cut off from the dark elves, but we can't just show up at the Feoh and say, "Hey, we'll help you!" They just won't understand us, and it's dangerous. Still, Celestine and I are still enemies.
The room fell silent once again. Having dealt with the layouts, we thought about how we should try to solve the problem. And no matter how I thought about it, it turned out that besides actually coming to Feoh, nothing would work out. Not in a short time and with the strength of three people (which is funny, only one of them can really be considered a person, and then with a stretch). But Olga's arguments in the form of a joyful greeting, as a result of which they may try to put us on a bottle, are fully justified by the age-old enmity and the reputation of both the girl herself and the dark elves in general. But you have to go there, otherwise there is no way. The only place, in fact, where you can stop the army.
Olga's description of the local princess came to mind again. According to her, I roughly imagined how she could behave. Naive and honest. Just the thing for the plan I just came up with.
"And why not do so?" — I catch Olga's gaze, which had wandered around the room from one object to another before.
— "What exactly?"
"Feoh. I think we need to go there." — I said, smiling slyly. — "Not openly, but on our own terms…"
