Chapter Sixty Five

The Camp

ELSA

Pushing aside the tent flap and stepping out into the open, Elsa was immediately met by a chilly evening wind that stung her face. She squinted to keep the wind out of her eyes as best as she could, her loose hair whipping across her face and flying every which way.

"Gahh." Tracy shivered. The former sea witch had never been too good with the cold. She rubbed her arms vigorously. "S-should have bought a winter jacket from that dealer b-b-back in the prison. You think she's s-still alive?"

"Petra?" Elsa asked. In all the chaos, she'd forgotten about the antagonistic woman from the prison library who'd tried to give her a hard time. "As far as I can tell, she's been the League's new unofficial quartermaster. Don't think she's been involved in the fighting."

"That w-we know of." Tracy shuddered. "We h-haven't exactly been around m-mmuch lately."

Elsa sighed. It was too true. There was no real way to know who had died and who hadn't. She and the other senior League members had been too busy to come up with a proper structure for keeping track. Besides, with the hundreds of refugees and former prisoners following the League now, who was to say exactly how many of them there were anymore?

"You g-gonna make me a coat or s-something?" Tracy blew out a long breath of mist. "Or you just gonna l-let me freeze out h-hhere?"

"Oh." Elsa blinked, snapping herself out of her own mindspace. She wriggled her fingers like a pianist would, and a winter coat materialised on Tracy's shoulders, a dark grey fur coat that suited Tracy's goth aesthetic.

"Thanks." Tracy tugged on the coat tighter. She looked at Elsa, who was only dressed in a light blue blouse and travel jacket, and snorted. "Don't you ever get cold?"

"The cold never did bother me." Elsa muttered absentmindedly, glancing out at the rows and rows of tents that now made up the hillside and the plains outside the still burning town of Netheide. "Come on. We need to find Jade."

"Well, good luck to us." Tracy remarked as they set off down the hill. "Gonna be like finding a needle in a barnstack."

Haystack, Elsa wanted to correct her, but decided she just didn't have the energy for it. She'd hardly gotten any real rest since her mission to find Ingrid. At this rate, she was probably going to collapse out of exhaustion sooner or later.

But Elsa knew that things were coming to a head soon, and then hopefully, when the threats had all been dealt with, she could finally have a proper sleep with Janus. She realised that the two of them hadn't really had any chance to share any moments of privacy and intimacy together in a while.

The two women walked through the rows of tents in search of the League's side of the camp. The tents looked a little less organised than usual, with far less discipline and order, but perhaps the officers let that slide in view of the day's earlier atrocities. The ambush and trap had taken a lot out of the Coalition and although the concrete numbers hadn't exactly come in yet, Elsa knew that they'd lost quite a number. But hopefully they would have enough left to face Kane and the Imperial Horde in a final stand somewhere down the line.

Snow was still falling unfortunately, having not stopped since the beginning of the day. It was getting increasingly hard to walk, even with boots. Elsa wriggled her toes to get some feeling back into her worn out feet. If they were going to be doing some hard marching with the rest of the Coalition for the remainder of the campaign, then she would probably have to swap her boots for something far more durable and functional. One problem at a time.

They finally found familiar green uniforms near the left side of the large camp. The Northuldra were not far off, a little more to the left. Elsa stopped behind an Arendellian corporal who was gossiping with a couple of his comrades around a warm fire.

"Your Royal Highness." Those who saw her approaching shot up stiffly and saluted.

The corporal who had his back to her sneered. "Come on lads, it's been a long day but I ain't falling for that one."

Their eyes flicked amongst one another uncomfortably.

"At ease." Elsa said, waving for them to sit.

At her voice, the corporal spun and a look of shock mixed with shame flashed across his features. He scrambled to his feet and saluted. "Your Royal Highness!" He practically barked in her face, quivering at attention. "Forgive me, I-"

"It's alright. Sit." Elsa waved them all back to their seats on the ground, and she heard Tracy laughing openly behind her. "Does anyone know where I can find the sorcerers?"

"They're camped much farther on the left flank, Ma'am." A sergeant gestured towards the edge. "The Field Marshal wanted the sorcerers to help guard our left flank in case of another ambush. God knows these Exonians are ruthless bastards." He balked for a second, realising that he had cursed in front of her. "Pardon me."

Elsa smiled. "So all the way in that direction?"

"Yes, right past the Northuldra and another few more rows down that way."

"Thank you." Elsa said gratefully. She paused. "I hope you're all well."

The soldiers around the fire exchanged glances.

"We're all that's left of our company." One of the corporals said.

"Oh." There were seven men by the fire. A company usually had about two hundred. Elsa immediately felt horrible, her throat going tight. She knelt down beside them. "I'm sorry for your losses."

"We lost most of our friends today in the fire." A private said quietly but with anger in his voice.

"This is madness." The sergeant was indignant. "Moving this far out into Empire territory. And in this damn weather, no less."

"Are the nobles going to let us quarter over the winter?" The first corporal asked Elsa. "Or are they going to keep pushing us till we all get slaughtered by the Exonians at their gates?"

"I-I don't know." Elsa admitted, feeling awful. She wasn't exactly privy to the Confederation's discussions anymore, but she was quite certain they would continue pushing the Coalition deeper towards Exon.

"I wish I could tell you things will get better." Elsa said quietly to the band of soldiers who were all looking to her for any good news. "But I really don't know. All I can offer is my gratitude and support in any way I can, however much that's worth. I'll do my best to fight alongside all of you. I hope it's worth something. Convey that to the others, would you?"

"We will. Thank you, Your Royal Highness." The Arendellian soldiers got up again and ripped off textbook salutes in spite of their exhaustion and demoralised state.

Levering herself to her feet, Elsa gave them one last grateful nod and smile before moving off again with Tracy in tow.

"Well, you do know how to lift a soldier's spirits." Tracy remarked.

"How many more of these men have to die before we end this war?" Elsa asked angrily, half to herself and half to Tracy.

"I don't know." Tracy put a hand on Elsa's arm. "But our best bet is to take down the Order and hope that everything else will crumble."

Wishful thinking, but that was the only hope they had left. Elsa nodded.

Some ragged cheers and tired salutes were raised as Elsa and Tracy went by. Everyone recognised their former queen and apparently the soldiers on this side of the Coalition were happy to have her back. Thank heaven for small comforts.

They crossed from the rows of Arendellian tents into the Northuldra's side, where things were immediately visibly different. The Northuldra were dressed in their traditional leathers and rugged fabrics meant to withstand the winter, and they still looked to be holding fast to their cultural practices and rituals even though they were on campaign.

As she and Tracy walked through the Northuldra camp and received waves and greetings, Elsa thought back to a year ago when she'd just settled down into her life with the Northuldra. So much had changed since then. Being plunged back into danger and leaving that peaceful life behind, getting stuck in conflict with the Empire, and everything else that had followed since then.

Elsa wished that she was still living with the Northuldra in the Enchanted Forest, free from her cares and worries as queen. But it seemed that she had traded that for being stuck in the middle of a war, surrounded by sorcerers who were counting on her for her leadership. Well, at least even though I'm out here, the Northuldra are here with us too.

She spotted Honeymaren and Ryder, now captains among their tribe, speaking with a few of the other tribesmen as they carried buckets and forage. The siblings turned when the others acknowledged Elsa and Tracy.

"Elsa!" Honeymaren opened her arms and gave Elsa a warm hug. "It's good to see you."

"Likewise." Elsa returned the hug. "It's been too long."

"Glad you brought your sorcerers." Ryder grinned, lifting a hand to Tracy. "We need all the help we can get."

"Do you need something from us?" Honeymaren asked, exchanging a handshake with Tracy.

"No, no." Elsa said. "Actually, I was just passing through and thought I'd dropped by to see how you all were doing."

"We're doing fine, as fine as we can be under the circumstances." Ryder waved at the flames in Netheide that were now slowly beginning to fade like a dying bonfire.

"Were you all in there when it happened?" Elsa asked worriedly.

"No, we were actually part of the rear reserves." Honeymaren said, to Elsa's relief. "The Field Marshal wanted to keep his best skirmishers for the final battle. No sense in losing us now when we'll be of more use later."

"Please be safe." Elsa clasped Honeymaren's hands in her own.

"We will." Honeymaren smiled.

"Hows that boyfriend of yours?" Ryder asked.

"Damn, does everyone in the Coalition know?" Tracy quipped from Elsa's side, earning her a scowl.

"He's doing alright. I guess." Blushing slightly, Elsa turned back to Honeymaren and Ryder. "Haven't exactly found time to settle down for a proper date or anything since everything started."

Ryder looked up at the sky, where snow continued to fall relentlessly. "Well hopefully you'll get the chance soon."

Elsa smiled. "Here's hoping."

"You looking for your sorcerers?" Honeymaren asked, gesturing behind her. "They're camped farther out from here. Just a few more rows beyond ours."

"Thanks." Elsa hugged her and Ryder at the same time. "You guys be careful."

"Right back at you." Ryder grinned.

"Awfully chummy, aren't you?" Tracy noted as she and Elsa went off again in search of the League.

"Friends from simpler days." Elsa let out an involuntary sigh as she navigated past a knot of tents that were tightly packed together, and crossed over into the sorcerers' territory.

Many of the faces that looked up at the duo as they passed by were unfamiliar. The price of having too many people in the League. This part of the Coalition camp felt even less like a military one, lacking all the regimentation and discipline of a proper battalion, but no one dared dispute their effectiveness in the field.

According to the buzz around the camp, the sorcerers who were involved in the battle today had tipped the scales quite a bit in the Coalition's favour. Perhaps the Coalition soldiers from the various divisions were beginning to take to the idea of having the League on their side. They needed all the help they could get in the days to come, and they knew it.

At least a few familiar faces popped up here and there as Elsa and Tracy passed through the encampment. There was the prison's black market dealer, Petra and her goons. Then there was Monco, one of the thieves who had been incarcerated in Stormtide too, and a good number of refugees the Warriors had rescued over the months as well.

Elsa saw three young children swathed in thick furs staring at her from the corner of her eye, and turned. She instantly recognised them as the kids she and the others had saved in Turnsheim. Ramsey, Silva and Carlos, the three young refugees who had been fending for themselves before the Warriors had found them. They looked healthier than they'd been before, and waved to Elsa. She waved back, glad to see they were still alright.

Then she remembered where they were now, and felt considerably less pleased. Guilt took over instead. This is no place for children. They'd traded a life being hunted by Blue Wolves to a life in Empire territory. Elsa didn't know which was worse, but felt horrible that she couldn't do anything about it. Where else could she send them?

There were also a few groups of rookie sorcerers who were just learning the ropes, many of whose names Elsa didn't even know. There were just too many of them. And finally, Elsa saw three of the League's veterans who had been present since she'd first joined the League.

Holli was busy healing some of the wounded who had been involved in the day's fighting, having set up a makeshift medical tent. There was a line that stretched back a few rows, with people waiting to see the young "Witch Doctor". Elsa suppressed a smile. She'd always known that Holli would be useful on the field one day to aid as a medic.

Vonco, a young sorcerer not yet out of his teens but already a veteran, stood watching Holli work with a faraway look in his eyes. By his side was yet another of the veterans, Cova, a girl who could manipulate the animal kingdom to do her bidding.

They both noticed Elsa and Tracy approaching and intercepted them.

"Elsa. Tracy." Vonco greeted them. "Good to see y'all back."

"How's things going?" Tracy asked.

"We have some casualties from today." Cova nodded at the tent. "But nothing too serious. The Coalition soldiers had it worse."

"Any of our own didn't make it?" Elsa asked anxiously.

"A few." Cova said regretfully. "But we're lucky it wasn't worse."

Damn. Elsa pursed her lips. There went another few lives. Another few who'd put their lives under her charge, only to meet their demise on the battlefield. She knew this was war where people were bound to sacrifice their lives for the greater good, but it still felt awful all the same.

"Do you know where Jade's tent is?" Tracy changed the topic.

"Yeah," Vonco waved his hand at the last row of tents by the rear of the camp. "She's been pretty much holed up by herself most of the time."

"We left the new girl outside to keep watch. Venetia, I think her name was." Cova added. "Queen Anna sent us a message to keep an eye on Jade."

"Thank you." Elsa said. That was rather smart of Anna, though she really didn't know how Jade had felt about being watched like an enemy. However, she knew that this was the time to make things right with Jade.

Truthfully, she didn't know how to broach the subject on Jade's betrayal back in Korynes, but hopefully the words would come to her now. All Elsa knew was that she had to reach out to Jade in the hopes that the elemental sorceress could be trusted to return to their side in this fight.

Arriving outside Jade's tent with Tracy, Elsa was annoyed to see Venetia snoozing outside with arms folded, her head bowed and in a deep sleep, a small oil lamp by her side. So much for keeping an eye on Jade.

Tracy nudged her with her boot. "You're supposed to be on guard, you pig. Wake up."

"Huh?" Venetia snorted and stirred. She opened her eyes lazily and yawned when she saw Elsa and Tracy standing before her.

"Weren't you supposed to be guarding Jade?" Elsa echoed, feeling mildly exasperated.

"Oh, yeah. No sweat. She hasn't made a peep since I got here for my shift." Venetia waved away their concern nonchalantly.

Elsa glanced at Tracy, who shrugged. She decided that she was too tired to give anyone a scolding right now. Pushing aside the tent flap, Elsa bent over and entered the tent cautiously.

"Jade," she called out as she entered the dark tent. "We need to talk." It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the unlit surroundings and another to realise that the tent was empty.

No. Heart skipping a beat,Elsa hastened into the tent proper, and dropped to her hands and knees, feeling about for the bedroll. Her hand touched sheets that were cold, and her heart sank.

"What-" Tracy came in after her. She too stopped in her tracks. "Son of a bitch. She's gone!"

"Go back," Elsa whirled round. "Go back and tell the others. They need to know Jade's gone. Get them down here now. Go!"

Without a word of protest, Tracy nodded and promptly pulled open a Crossing Point which cast a purple glow across the small room. She vanished into the portal to tell the rest of the Warriors the bad news, and it closed up behind her, plunging the tent back into pitch darkness.

"Venetia!" Elsa snapped. "Your lamp!"

A lamp's glow entered the tent and Venetia poked her head in. "What's going on?"

Feeling her anger rising, Elsa gestured stiffly at the empty bedroll, not trusting herself not to say something she'd regret.

"Oh." Venetia went quiet. "My bad."

"You didn't see her leave the tent at all?" Elsa demanded.

Venetia held up her hands in defence. "Nope, I swear. Didn't hear a peep outta her since I got here."

"And you didn't think to check inside the tent?"

Venetia's cheeks grew a little red, and not from the heat of the oil lamp.

Wanting to blurt out something furious, Elsa instead settled for a defeated sigh. "How long ago did you get here?"

"An hour ago?"

An hour. That would mean wherever Jade was, she had an hour's head start. Groaning in exasperation, Elsa snatched the lamp from Venetia and began casting about the tent hastily.

"What you looking for?" The former thief asked sheepishly.

"Clues. Anything to tell us where Jade could have gone." Elsa gritted her teeth.

"Ummn." Venetia scratched her nose. "I'm sorry. Should've probably stayed awake."

"She was gone even before you arrived." Elsa said as she overturned the contents of the tent, scrambling about on her hands and knees. "It's not entirely your fault. It's mine too. If only I'd kept her close, none of this would've happened. I should've seen this coming."

"Do you need any help?" Venetia asked, trying to sound useful.

"No." Elsa tried hard not to sound harsh.

"Right. Uhh, I'll be outside if you need me." Venetia ducked out of the tent rather quickly, perhaps sensing the tension that Elsa was exuding.

An idea occured to Elsa, and she went back to the bedroll. Pulling back the sheet and the soft backing behind it, she felt about for something. Anything. And then her hand scrapped against a piece of paper. Her heart skipped a beat and she pulled the paper out hastily.

Lifting the lamp closer, she took a closer look at the paper. It was folded and crumpled, looking as if it'd been sat upon and pressed to be concealed beneath the bedroll without anyone noticing. Placing it on the ground of the tent, Elsa straightened it out with one hand and pressed it firmly with her knee. Then she lifted it again and squinted with the aid of the lamplight.

Forest clearing at ten tonight. Three miles east from your camp. High Priest will be there with the Crimson Order to meet you personally. Good luck.

-Hans

Elsa felt the blood drain from her face and down to her toes as she read the words. Paper in hand, she sat down hard. Her head began to spin. This cannot be happening.

A new Crossing Point opened, and the tent glowed purple once more.

"Elsa!" Anna was the first to spring out of the portal, followed closely behind by Melody, Janus, Maui, Deirdre and finally Tracy. "What's going on?"

"She's going to meet the Crimson Order. Tonight." Elsa shook the piece of paper in her hand as if it'd personally offended her.

Melody took the paper from her hand. "Lord Magnus will be there."

"Hans promised to arrange a meeting," Janus recalled, sounding somewhat surprised. "He kept his word."

"She made a deal with the devil." Maui said. "And now she's going to meet him."

"We need to stop Jade before she does anything else stupid." Deirdre hissed. "God only knows what Magnus is planning to do with her."

Tracy snatched the note from Melody. "Says here the meeting's at ten in the forest clearing down east."

"What time is it now?" Elsa asked.

Hurriedly, Anna pulled out a family heirloom pocket watch from her coat. "Eight minutes to ten."

Melody held up a hand. "Hold on."

"Yeah, sure. We got all the time in the world." Tracy scoffed.

"No, listen. We can still make this work." Melody insisted.

"How?" Anna asked in bewilderment.

"Jade's going to meet the Order in the forest tonight." Melody said. "Which is our best chance at taking them down." She looked round with slight excitement on her features. "Don't you see? We've never been able to draw them out into the open. We've never been able to fight them face to face. But now we have our first chance. All we have to do is get to the meeting point and ambush the Order and Lord Magnus!"

Elsa frowned. "You make it sound simple, but it's going to be hell facing them without any preparations. We don't have a plan."

"There's no time!" Deirdre slammed the side of her fist into the side of the tent, and the entire structure wobbled. "We need to go now!"

"She's right." Melody said. "I hate to admit it, but there's no time for a plan."

"Seven minutes." Anna said tightly.

Exhaling sharply, Elsa ran a hand through her loose hair and wanted to pull out a few clumps. Her friends were right. There was no time. Their window of opportunity was closing fast. It was now or never.

"Alright," Elsa relented as she let out another sharp breath. She rounded on Tracy. "Can you get a lock on Jade's whereabouts?"

"Yeah." Tracy shut her eyes tightly, palms facing upwards and muttering a spell underneath her breath.

"Six minutes."

"Got it." Tracy's eyes flew open. "I have her location. She's already at the forest clearing."

Before Elsa or the others could say a word, Tracy flung her hand outwards and a Crossing Point opened promptly. There was an air of urgency like never before, and everyone began filing through the portal. All except Anna, who obviously had her own pressing duties with the Confederation. Elsa turned her head before she entered the portal. "Will you be="

"I'll be fine. Go!" Anna motioned urgently with her hands. "Save Jade and stop the Order. End this once and for all."

"We will." Elsa promised and stepped through the Crossing Point.

Author's Commentary:

One of my favourite moments of writing this entire story is the scene where Elsa talks and sympathises with the surviving Arendellian soldiers, the ones who are all that are left of their company. It really presents a bleak perspective of war and the aftermath of battle, and I really wanted to write it from Elsa's eyes. I hope the scene was an impactful one.

And on a separate note, after three books of pulling the strings behind the scenes, the Crimson Order is out in the open! We're finally going to see a showdown between our heroes and the shadowy cult, the Crimson Order. Will this be the end of the war, or will this encounter open up another fresh can of worms? Let's find out next.

Also on a side note, sorry for not posting last week. Just a little bit about myself: When I'm not a university student, I'm a freelance photographer and videographer, and the past two weeks have been so busy that I haven't even had time to open my writing suite. Hopefully I'll get more time in the coming days :)