Silmeria: Hello! Welcome to War of the Lions! A new Yu-gi-oh story that has been sitting on my computer for a long time, but I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Yugioh!
Chapter Two: Atem Ishigami: Dancing Blade of the White Lions
"You have executed one of my lieutenants without explanation nor trial." Atem Ishigami, Commander of the White Lions, stared down at Lieutenant Haga's decapitated head sitting in a wicker basket. "You constantly scold me about doing things right and being a role model that can be looked upon for generations." Atem motioned a gloved hand at the basket. "Imagine my surprise when you come into my tent and hand me the head of one of my lieutenants." Atem met Seto's gaze from across the long table. "I would like an explanation and I would prefer it now."
"He is a snake and coward." Seto Kaiba snarled giving the head a seething glare. "He abandoned his soldiers in the midst of battle and it is because of his actions that we have lost two strategic points that could have been turned into supply routes." Seto leaned across the table and pushed the head and the wicker basket to the ground. "Do you know how many men that wretched snake took with him?"
"I am aware that he took three hundred men." Atem turned to the messenger bird sitting on its small perch. "And I am aware that none of them have returned."
"How long have you known?" Seto returned quietly, slumping back in his chair and allowing the noise outside the tent to overwhelm, if for a moment. "All of those homes - empty."
"Because a man chose to be a coward." Atem finished, his body turning cold at the thought of sending hundreds of letters back to the capital, each sincere and yet formal about the loss of the child, husband, brother, sister, and wife. He was aware that the people of his nation were turning away from this war. That their support was fading like leaves in the wind. And yet, Atem would remain steadfast, and he intended to finish this war so that no more blood would be shed in the name of a King and Queen who turned up their noses at the thought of visiting battlefields to lend moral support. To see their soldiers' sacrifices. To sympathize and comfort and appreciate the blood, sweat tears, and pain they have endured to keep man and country safe. It was because of them that the nobility and common folk were allowed to live in relative comfort while his soldiers sat in camps with tents that could barely survive a harsh breeze and food that he wouldn't feed his hounds back home.
"It seems like I'm not the only one who's angered." Seto shot out, breaking Atem's degrading thoughts and bringing them back. "You look like you want to reattach his head and do the slicing yourself."
"No." Atem murmured, rising from his seat and taking a peek outside of their tent. Outside, soldiers were moving idly, getting ready to settle down for the night. His nose twitched as the smell of meat and wood drifted into the air. He knew it would only be a matter of time before they got tired of the constant bread and cheese. "Haga would have died eventually. I was never counting on him being one of the ones to return. His father looked resigned, almost relieved, at the thought if you want my honest opinion."
Seto hummed, lips turning into a thoughtful frown at that tidbit of information. "I heard he was a hellion at Court and his talk of insect caused his fellow nobles a level of discomfort."
Atem released a snort of bitter amusement. "His conversation about insects was, indeed, distasteful, but his alchemic knowledge of poisons was unmatched. A trait from his Father, I'm afraid."
"Lord Haga is more tasteful in his knowledge of insects. He's quite the charming man. Why, he could make grass growing sound interesting. I find it odd that the man decided to retire from the battlefield."
"He was never one for too much blood." Atem could understand the man's sudden retreat. Especially when he thought his son would carry on his own legacy and bring honor to their name.
So much for that.
"Burn the head," Atem commanded. "And send it home. The least we can do is send someone home."
"And after?" Seto prodded carefully as his gaze landed on the map, lips twisted as he had no choice but to remove two white markers and replace them with black ones - a move that twisted his stomach. He was never one to worry, but with the potential supply routes taken, it would be difficult to bring food and medicine to the troops and the lack of it would make them all the weaker. You couldn't push starving and hurt men to battle. The lack of reward and comfort would cause a rise in desertion and worse, mutiny.
No matter how admirable Atem was looked upon; a commander who couldn't feed and clothe his men made for a poor one and a dead one would soon follow.
"It is best if we head onwards to the Magi Fortress to restock and get fresh men and horses. You know as well I that we are running low on essentials and the men are weary."
"Of course." Seto couldn't hide his relief. He had been hoping that they would return to the safety of their borders for the time being and recoup their losses." "Shall I make for the Sky Dragon Fortress?"
"Do you deem their awakening necessary?" Atem folded his arms and regarded his cousin with a wary look. "You know the Dragoons of Aldeon will take no prisoners."
"And the time for prisoners is long gone." Seto countered swiftly. "If we do not push the White Lions back then they will advance further inland and will take another fortress." Seto's lips thinned. "We are already being blamed for Ft. Ragnarok."
"We had nothing to do with that mass atrocity." Atem snarled, disgusted at the thought of it. The mass poisoning of Ft. Ragnarok had spread like wildfire across Aldeon and Solaria and had caused the war to come to a standstill, both sides were distraught for there were a large number of children whose lives were taken in order to get to Yuugi Motou, Sugoroku Motou's heir and grandson. Thankfully, the attempt failed, but not at a massive cost. Even now, Ft. Ragnarok stood silent and empty - a reminder of a nightmarish event that would not dare to be repeated.
"The Dragoons of Aldeon are not under my command, but yours, cousin, and I ask that you still their hand should they go too far." Atem met his cousin's gaze. "Still their hand if the need arises or they will face the executioner's block and the dawn shall never rise on the Dragoons again, understand?"
Seto lowered his head in a deep bow and in that moment, blood vanished, and in its place, stood two soldiers who would cross blades should the need arise.
"I understand and shall we determine a target for the Dragoons?"
"I am sure that Lord Yuugi Motou would love a dance with the Knight of Dawn and his small squadron." Atem's lips slipped into a small smirk. "As for the remainder, their marching orders would be to Ft. Solaria. I was never fond of that particular nest of spiders. I would ask that you see to it that it is burned to the ground and bring me the heads of Pegaus and Cecilia." Atem gave his cousin a long glance. "I...would hope that it wouldn't cause too many problems with your current predicament."
Seto snorted at the mockery in his cousin's tone. "No." he retorted. "It won't be a problem and I will deal with it accordingly should it come to a head."
"You are playing with fire," Atem warned, the mockery gone in his voice and in its place a touch of concern. "You must be careful that you are not burned in the process."
"I will be careful."
Atem closed his eyes and for a moment, fought against the tightening in his throat. Seto had always been the one to play at politics more than he and seemed to find an almost sense of joy in it, but himself? He never agreed with the dodge and dance of it all.
"See that you do, cousin. See that you do."
"I will send a missive and ride for the Sky Fortress in the morning." Seto placed a hand on Atem's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. "See that you make it to the Magi Fortress unscathed?"
"Yes, My Lord." Atem drawled, his heart easing as he watched Seto gather the head and wicker basket before sliding out of the tent and leaving Atem to his thoughts. He wasn't particularly excited that he had sent Dragoons out and towards the Solarians, no less, but what a quick way to end this entire conflict than to put down one of the main participants? Of course, Yuugi Motou would pose a challenge, even those as strong as the Dragoons, but Atem had no problem striking when the opportunity presented itself.
It was, after all, the reason why he had survived for so long.