AN: Before I start I would just like to say that a reviewer brought to light some things that I have been doing that aren't exactly historically accurate in terms of Soviet/Russian culture and way that people address each other. That being said I don't really think I can change that now, because it would seem kind of schizophrenic to change it halfway through. I might go back and edit it at a later point in time though to make it more accurate. To all the Russian readers, (who are the second largest group that reads this) sorry about the mistakes. Also one of the readers said I didn't really capture the spirit of the Russian/Soviet Army. What was that like? One more quick thing, I made a mistake about the main gun of the T-55. It uses a D10T 100mm rifled gun, not a 105mm. That's something that the Israelis do to upgrade and export it.
The life of a slave, while lacking freedom and autonomy, is not always the living hell that it is often portrayed as. There are many different types of slaves. Some are bought for protection as bodyguards for their strength and martial prowess. Treated well and valued as one may value a fine coat. Others, to become professional fighters. Gladiators and athletes, highly sought after, their name ringing throughout the land. Glory and riches the likes of which even lords would be jealous of heaped upon them. Food, drink, women, men, whatever those who survive the bloody sands want they receive. For those who prove themselves champions of the sand, freedom is often given, nay, demanded by the adoring masses. For many though, even after earning their freedom they remain upon the sand to display their prowess. Not for loyalty to a former master, but for the roar of the crowd that rises like a tidal wave towards the heavens, reaching an impossible crescendo as steel meets flesh. For the best of them, they rise from being slaves to more powerful than the Emperor himself in the moment of adulation from their fans. Statues are erected of them so all may remember them and the next generation aspire to be them. Becoming deities themselves in the reverence awarded them. The men who began as slaves and became as gods.
Others, such as household servants, have a less dangerous and more mundane existence within a household. Some with kind owners even treated as family by those who they call master. Slaves can have a variety of duties ranging from merely doing menial chores to educating their masters children. Indeed, educated slaves can fetch a fair price, valued for their knowledge and insight they are often bought by noble families or those wishing for a learned man to teach their offspring. They can also be the family cook, a seamstress, a nursemaid, a caretaker. For all intents and purposes it can almost be a normal existence and the luckiest, those who are picked by kindhearted families, know that the title of slave is just that, a title. For how else would a child raised all their life treat a woman who had raised them all their life other than as mother? Or a boy taught the martial arts by a bought man other than as a stern, but fair teacher? The life of a household slave can be harsh, abusive, and dark. But it can also be filled with joy and achievement if the gods feel so inclined.
Other slaves have a more base and demeaning existence. Courtesans, concubines, pleasure slaves, whatever the name the carnal meaning is the same. Merely used as objects for the amusement and pleasure of their masters, many are treated as little better than inanimate objects to be used at will. Discarded once too old or displeasing for their master to bear to look at any longer, much less touch. Doomed to scratch out a living as a cheap whore plying a trade that will no doubt lead to them laying in an alley with their throat slit. Yet even amongst these slaves there are those who become renowned for their various skills. Whether singing, dancing, artistry, seduction, or more carnal abilities they can be sought after. Sometimes even by Emperors themselves, elevating them from the status of simple slave, from object to use and discard at will to an object of worship. The merest whisper from these masters of seduction, of intimacy, will see entire kingdoms brought low. Will see the greatest of men grin like fools and the noblest of knights lay down their lives in an instant. For a kiss, for a whisper, for a simple caress, the fate of thousands can be decided. Whoever has said that a Courtesan lacks power has no idea of the power the best have over the hearts of men.
For another type of slave however, there truly is no hope. No possibility of some semblance of a noble life, no chance at riches or fame and glory. No gentle caress to sway opinion, no grateful student to call on for aid. No hope of anything other than hope itself and a mad dream of one day being free, or of dying. That is the life of a slave sold to the mines.
Forced to work in Hardy's domain, the mistress of the underworld takes cruel delight in taking the lives of those who pray so fervently to her for protection and mercy. Often their makeshift shrines and altars the first to be buried in a cave in. Sometimes their lights igniting the very air itself into flame. Other times whole groups of miners die, fallen victim to some foul air that robs men of life. Those far enough away to escape, unable to because of the chain that binds them all at the ankle. With enough fallen, the rest are unable to run, to escape their death and so much patiently wait for it or use their pick to take off their own foot. Condemning them to merely a different death, one much less merciful.
Some don't see the sun for days, months, years at a time even. Their eyes adapting to the darkness as surely as if they had lived in it all their lives. There is no escape from the mines, no chance of mercy or salvation. The work is backbreaking, the pace unrelenting. Day in and day out, with barely enough sleep to function, barely enough food to live they work. They toil, swinging pick and shovel, filling bags with ore so those with backs now permanently stooped can carry it to the surface.
Whether gold, iron, silver, copper, or mythril, the conditions never vary though the metal may. A mine slave was a slave meant to live in darkness, toil in misery, and die uncared for and unloved. It is a truly hellish existence that never varies in its torment day in or day out. Rains merely making the paths out of the pit muddy and treacherous, burying countless slaves in mudslides. The sun baking their skin hard and crisp like tanned leather, painful to the touch. Many collapsing from exhaustion in the sun, never to rise again, even at the encouragement of the drivers lash.
The lash of the driver, announced by the resounding crack of the whip became such a part of their lives that it made each of them wonder if there had ever been a time in their lives that it had been absent. No one among them seemed to care, no one seemed to ponder it. They were a thousand people of a thousand races and creeds, some separated by generations of grievances, but brought together in their shared misery. To be a slave sold to the mines was to be a slave sentenced to death by any number of means. It was usually a short life, the work, conditions, and nature of what they did nearly mandated as such.
Edgar was one such slave who had defied that logic. He was old, by his count entering his fiftieth season, but to those who saw him would have thought him much older. His frame was gaunt and sinewy, permanently stooped from countless years of carrying heavy bags of ore and rock. His face deeply lined, back and shoulders scarred from sharp and jagged edges of ore that he had taken to carrying all of his life. What little hair he had left was snow white and wispy like gossamer strands, lank against the baked skin of his scalp. Most of his teeth long having since fallen out, the few that remained nubs from eating the hardtack and rotten meat that they were expected to survive on.
He worked with slow and plodding steps, like that of a tired nag, too proud to concede its age and retire to a life of leisurely pasture life, except there was no pride in him. No leisurely life waiting for him. Merely a will to continue on. The reason why was unclear, but Edgar believed, believed that one day he would be free, that he would not die in the mine he had spent his entire life slaving away in. It was a mad dream, he admitted as much to himself, but it was a dream that he refused to let go of. When he could do no more, he held onto that dream to keep sane, to stay alive. In the Big Deep, you had to.
The Big Deep was the largest mythril mine in the Empire, some said the continent. Whether it was true or not was up to debate, but the fact that remained was that the mine was massive. Tens of thousands of slaves worked it and its sisters mines connected by a series of tunnels. Streams of slaves carrying sacks of ore moved like columns of ants, depositing their loads into carts before returning to grab another. All as grungy, dirty, and pitiful as Edgar was himself. The ringing of thousands of picks was a chorus that never ceased, never lessened and never increased. Like the heartbeat of the mine itself Edgar didn't even notice it anymore unless he listened for it.
The mine was guarded my a legion of drivers, legionnaires, and ferocious ork mercenaries. Each as cruel as the other, all willing to strip flesh from bone with oiled leather whips at the slightest provocation. What the provocation could be changing from day to day. Their outposts, wooden towers with a shack a the base dotted the horizon in every direction, with the regional fort not far if they required more men, which they never did. Why would you need more men to watch over the empty husks of slaves? There could be one, and so long as the crack of his whip could be heard the slaves would remain as if there were thousands. Toiling away until they died.
As he crested the final lip of the Big Deep, ready to deposit the sack of ore before returning for another, he heard a noise. One that came through the ringing of picks, the crack of whips, and shuffling of a thousand pairs of feet. Not for its volume did Edgar notice it, but the oddity of it. It was music, so long had since he had heard it it took him a while to even remember what it was. Yet it was not the harp or the lute, it was something else, like a trumpet, but different altogether. So doing as he had never done in his life as a slave of the mine, Edgar stopped and listened. To his surprise he was not reprimanded and slowly it seemed, the heartbeat of the mine slowed, then stopped as eyes looked skyward to where the music was coming from.
Apple and pear trees were a-blooming
Mist was creeping on the river
Katyusha set out on the banks
On the Steep and lofty bank
She was walking singing a song
About a grey steppe eagle
About her true love
Whose letters she was keeping
Oh you song! Little song of a maiden
Head for the bright sun
And reach for the soldier on a far-away border
Along with greetings from Katyusha
Let Him remember an ordinary girl
And hear how she sings
Let him preserve the Motherland
Same as Katyusha preserves their love
Edgar didn't know what the words were, but he did another thing he had never done in all his years as a slave of the mines. He dropped his bag of mythril ore. On the horizon, as far as he could see were iron beasts speaking with human voices, a devils symphony coming from them and nowhere at the same time.
They growled together as one, loudly, but not overcoming the human voices that emanated from them. They hung in the sky like dragons, looking reptilian themselves but with no wings other than stubs protruding from the sides and bubbled eyes atop each other. There were dozens of them and the longer he stared at them the larger they became until he could make out the mottled color of their skin, a black metal tongue underneath flicking this way and that from within fearsome teeth.
Above and below each other, they moved with one purpose as if of one mind. Each seemingly the same distance from each other, but none directly in front of the other. The Big Deep was a massive crater of a mine, stretching for miles with its sister mines that appeared like open sores upon the earth. Dark as if with infection, the mines hemorrhaged ore, dirt, clay, and misery alike. The main mine of the Big Deep was like a stab wound. Deep, ugly, and painful. The size of which was hard to comprehend. Yet there were enough of these beasts that they stretched out until they could cover them all.
The last note died away and for a moment there was utter silence save for the thumping of the approaching beasts, then another tune started to play. Low at first with drums but building in intensity and power until it was like a wave. Then the world around them exploded as the beasts began to howl and shriek at them.
Red streaks of fire erupted from the mouth of the metal dragons, seeking out man and beast alike, chasing them down no matter where they ran to.
The White Army and the Black Baron
Are trying to restore the Czar's throne,
But from the taiga to the British seas
The Red Army is the strongest of all!
The earth exploded around them, throwing up great mounts of dirt, rock, ore, and body parts as the world was stolen away by thunder and magic the likes of with Edgar had never heard of. It was as if Hardy had finally grown tired of their constant pleas for salvation and had decided to wipe them from the earth.
Let the Red Army
Masterfully grip
Its bayonet with its toil-hardened hand,
And we must all
Irrepressibly
Go into a last deadly fight!
Edgar hugged the Earth, praying to hardy for salvation, for the goddess of the underworld to call off her beasts of hell and spare their lives. The hot, dry, stale dirt filling his nose and finding every crevice upon him to fill. The creatures passed by low overhead, roaring angrily, never pausing for breath, heedless of the cries of pain from man and beast alike. Something hot hit Edgars head and rolled away and against his better judgment and fear he looked at it.
Red Army, march, march forward!
The Revolutionary military council calls us into battle.
For from the taiga to the British seas
The Red Army is the strongest of all!
It was an empty brass cylinder, like a vase but too small and hot to the touch. Seamless in its design, uniform in its design. Smelling sharply and unpleasantly, burned powder on the inside like charcoal. Hundreds, thousands of such cylinders were falling from the sky like a brass rain.
Let the Red Army
Masterfully grip
Its bayonet with its toil-hardened hand,
And we must all
Irrepressibly
Go into a last deadly fight!
It dawned on Edgar that these weren't natural creatures, for natural creatures, even dragons did not use metal. They did not make such sounds, nor could they mimic a choir of voices so perfectly as these were doing. These were iron Pegasus, great and terrible. Edgar looked up into the sky to watch the things.
We are fanning the flames of a world-wide fire,
We will raze banks and prisons to the ground.
For from the taiga to the British seas
The Red Army is the strongest of all!
They spat meteors of fire that left trails of smoke in their wake that exploded when they hit something. It was explosion magic, but cast with such skill and speed that Edgar feared the sages capable of such a feat of magical prowess. But where was the light of magic? There was merely the light of flames, the heat and deafening claps as beings and structures were obliterated.
Let the Red Army
Masterfully grip
Its bayonet with its toil-hardened hand,
And we must all
Irrepressibly
Go into a last deadly fight!
As the last notes died away, leaving only the iron Pegasus spitting fire and magic, Edgar saw that there was men inside of the creatures. Men who even now were reshaping the earth around them. Not a single driver was spared, anyone in the crimson livery of the drivers or the legion were sought out and destroyed, explosions rocking the entirety of the mine, threatening to return it to Hardy herself. Most of all though, Edgar saw the symbol painted boldly on the side of the iron Pegasus. A simple red star.
One passed low overhead, making wind tug and pull at the tattered and soiled remains of what had once been clothing, causing dust to swirl up like grasping fingers, reaching greedily towards the Pegasus, but too slow to grasp it, swirling away to nothingness in anger, only to rise again as another passed overhead. The dust choking Edgar and making him sputter. The iron Pegasus were like beasts from Emroy set loose. Each one of them seemed to have more power than a full regiment of Imperial Legionnaires, sending even the fearsome orks running for their lives.
When not a single driver or Imperial soldier remained, they turned and left just as quickly as they had come. Soon fading into the distance like they had been no more than a vivid imagining. As Edgar rose to his full stooped height however, he could plainly see that was not the case.
Every guard tower had been reduced to splinters. Every barracks for their wardens was now a burning crater and those few who remained of their number, stunned and dazed, were soon set upon by now revitalized slaves. Beating them with heavy chunks of rocky ore. Invigorated by the apparent vengeance their fervent prayers had wrought upon their captors. Believing the gods to be on their sides, the former husks of defeated slaves became lions, proud and vicious.
Soon though a new noise was heard and iron carriages with long cloth covered backs appeared with growling sounds. Kicking up powdery dust in their wake from the hard baked road like an approaching storm. There was no horses pulling them though so as to how they moved, Edgar did not know. Yet they drove into the mine and men in mottled clothing emerged, carrying strange staffs of wood and metal. There were many such vehicles, as well as what could only be metal elephants with their long snouts, but they looked like no elephant that Edgar had ever seen. Their growl was deeper, more powerful, and the look of them was such a thing meant to fight and kill.
As they drew closer, he saw that some of them were elves, noticeable by their pointed ears and each seemed to have a quartet of guards around them. One of which came up to Edgar.
"Are you the new owners of the mine milords?" asked Edgar, careful to keep his eyes downcast from the elf and large men surrounding him.
"No, I am to inform you that the Red Army of the Soviet Union has come to liberate all slaves of this mine and offer them shelter and sanctuary."
"Milord?" asked Edgar, unable to even fully understand what was being said to him.
"I am not a lord, no one here is a lord," said the elf, not unkindly. "We've come to help you and provide you with food, water, and shelter. Would you like that?"
"Yes milord," said Edgar, careful to keep his eyes downcast.
"My name is Rissien, you can call me that if you like."
"As you command Lord Rissien. What would you wish of me?"
"Well if you would like, you can head over to the trucks with the red cross on it. We'll take you back to Mt. Rubicon and you will be given food, water, shelter, and medicine if you so wish it. Only if you so choose though," added Rissien. "If you wish you may leave here and no one will stop you."
"Yes milord," was all Edgar said and began his slow and steady plod towards the waiting trucks as the elf had called them. The same slow and steady pace that he had used throughout his long life of slavery, but there was a spring to his step, a glee now to reach his destination instead of just quiet resignation. Even if what he had just been told was a lie, it was at least a beautiful lie.
Xxx
"Too damned hot," complained Feliks wiping a bead of sweat away from the brim of his cap.
"It's winter back in the Union right now Comrade Lieutenant. I'm sure you could just take a jaunt through and cool off before coming back."
"That is true Comrade Senior Sergeant. All I'd have to do for few moments of brisk, refreshing winter air would be me submitting the proper leave papers, getting processed and screened at the Gate, travel through, be held in quarantine for an undetermined amount of time to make sure I wasn't bringing any bugs back and then I could enjoy the cool air. Then go through the same thing coming back."
"Exactly Comrade, I don't know why you wouldn't do that."
"Me either now that I think about it. I mean I'd be crazy to not want to do it."
"Exactly Comrade Lieutenant," said Boris grinning, his metal teeth shining through.
"Well that looks like them," said Feliks looking at the distant column of vehicles making their way up the winding Imperial highway. Feliks himself was with the majority of his unit, as well as the picket force that had two T-55s and a shilka to their name besides
"Well we had best greet them politely then, shouldn't we Comrade Lieutenant? Hey Luella, what are you eating?"
"Chocolate," answered back the elf taking another bite of the bar in her hand.
"You've been eating a lot of that lately."
"I like it."
"You really shouldn't eat so much of that stuff," admonished the veteran, reaching out to take the bar from the elf, only for Luella to turn her body away and take another bite of the chocolate, glaring all the while. Boris stopped, stunned for receiving his first glare from the elf, or really any kind of hostility at all for that matter.
"Darling too much of that stuff isn't good for you," said Boris holding out his hand for the bar.
Luella however failed to answer, instead taking a huge bite of chocolate like a defiant child.
"Okay, you're cut off," said Boris making to grab for the chocolate, but stopping when Luella crumpled the wrapper around what remained of the bar and stuffed it down the front of her shirt and glaring intensely as the man, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk from the massive bite she had taken of it.
"I don't think you're going to be getting her chocolate Comrade Sergeant," said Feliks.
"I don't think I will," admitted Boris under the withering glare of the petite elf.
"Well they're getting closer anyways," said Feliks watching the approaching Japanese vehicles. The weapons cupola unoccupied on the vehicle with the heavy machine gun and their speed had slowed too. Obviously they were doing their best to not appear to be hostile and not cause a violent reception. One which the T-55s would make short work of with their main guns. The turrets of which were traversing ever so slowly, tracking the incoming vehicles.
A few short moments later and the leader of the patrol group was walking up the embankment towards them, seemingly none too pleased about it. As he got closer, Feliks realized much to his surprise that it was Itami trudging his way up. Bereft of any weapons to boot.
"Hi," said Itami with a wave, walking seemingly unperturbed by the mass of Soviet hardware arrayed in front of him.
"Hello Lieutenant, it is good to see you again, though I am starting to think that we always meet by way of me intercepting you."
"Looks that way," mused Itami. "Though next time I think you'll have a battleship. I mean it was jeeps first and now tanks," said Itami gesturing to the steel goliaths dug into the ground. Despite himself, Feliks actually laughed.
"We don't have any battleships, but we have many cruisers. Unfortunately we seem to be quite land locked here. Perhaps merely more tanks? We have many of those."
"I'd honestly be surprised if you didn't. So uh, thanks for not shooting us the moment you saw us."
"We knew you were coming a long time before you arrived. We pride ourselves on reconnaissance. My superiors are quite eager to meet you and I believe that this is the reason that you came all this way to see us?"
"Well not me specifically. I've got a diplomat with me. Mr. Sugawara, he's the one who's going to be doing all the talking."
"My superiors will be most happy to hear that. As for your other companions, is the apostle among them?"
"No, she stayed back at Alnus," said Itami, noting the apprehension in Felik's voice. "The others are here though."
"So the elf and the other girl are here?"
"Yeah, and someone else we kinda ran over."
"I see. Well if he wishes we are currently accepting refugees at Mt. Rubicon if he wishes to stay."
"Well it's a she actually," mumbled Itami.
"I see. Forgive me for saying, but you seem to travel with near exclusive female company," said Volkov.
"Tell me about it," muttered Itami, moving his hand like a moving mouth. "All the time."
"My condolences," said Volkov with a grin.
"Eh, it's alright. I actually like their company now."
"Well that is good. I believe that we've tarried long enough with idle chatter. I believe we should continue on now. Obviously we'll have to remove the ability of your heavy machine gun to function before we proceed."
"Yeah, I figured as much. You can take the whole thing off if you like. Huh? I think the lady there has a question," said Itami pointing at Luella with her hand raised like a pupil in class.
"Yes, what is it?" asked Feliks, not unkindly to the elf in Russian.
"I thought I saw an elf down there. Is there one in the Japanese party?"
"Yes, a high elf I believe."
"Really?" asked Luella, face lighting up in glee. "I want to ride with the Japanese on the way back to Zhukov then."
"Uh...well, you can't," said Feliks caught off guard.
"But one of my kin are with them."
"It doesn't matter Luella, you can talk with her when you get back to Zhukov."
A look came over Luella's face, a kind of pouting defiance that let Feliks know that this wasn't going to end easily.
"But I want to talk with her now," said Luella stubbornly.
"You have to wait I'm afraid, you can't ride with them."
"Well maybe I'll just start walking down towards them and get in?" Feliks actually opened his mouth a little in surprise at the elf's defiance.
"I won't let you do that, drop it Citizen Luella."
"You can't tell me what to do, you're not the boss of me!"
"Luella," said Boris simply, a tone of parental reproach in his voice. "That's enough."
"But I want to see the other elf. I hardly ever get to see my kin from other villages," defended the elf like a chastised child.
"You're an immortal elf and not in any danger of dying of old age anytime soon, I'm sure you can wait another half hour. Hey, no pouting now." Luella gave an unhappy grunt in response and crossed her arms.
"Luella, you're a hundred and thirty six years old, act your age."
"I want to meet my kin."
"She wants to meet the elf in your group," explained Feliks to a rather perplexed Itami.
"Oh, I'm sure Tuka would love that. Hey, are there more elves in your camp?"
"Yes, many. A whole village in fact. Maybe more, I have not been keeping track of it I'm afraid. Why?"
"Well, Tuka's whole family, her whole village was killed by a fire dragon. She was the only survivor and she's been wandering around ever since looking for someone. I think that she's still in shock or traumatized maybe. I was thinking that maybe being around her own people again would help her out."
"My condolences. If she so wishes she may stay and I am sure that the elves of the village hidden in the glade would be more than accommodating."
"What are you talking about? I heard an elvish name, tell me!" interrupted Luella animatedly. Feliks made a mental note to cut her off of her chocolate in the very near future.
"Would you like to ask that again?"
"May I please ask what you are talking about?" asked Luella, more politely after a moments pause.
"We were talking about Tuka and seeing if it would be okay for her to stay with the elves of the village hidden in the glade. Would that be alright?"
"Well of course, if she wants to st-wait, why does she need to stay with us?" asked the petite elf, tilting her head to the side.
"She had no one else so far as I understand," said Feliks.
"What do you mean she has no one else? Every elf has an entire village, and those that don't are either wanderers or criminals who refuse to repent. And both can go back if they listen to the elders and spend a few decades doing service for the village. How can she have no one else?"
"Her village was attacked by a fire dragon Luella, she was the only one who survived."
"Wh...what?" asked the elf as if breathless, all traces of defiance or childish petulance from before disappearing from her face. Her eyes going wide and face paling. "All...all of them?"
"As I understand it, yes."
"So many," murmured Luella, looking at Feliks, but not seeing him, as if looking through him. Her purple eyes going misty. "Yes. Tell Tuka yes, that the wood elves of the village hidden in the glade will take her in and welcome her as one of our own gladly. I...is she okay? If she requires anything at all she only has to ask."
"She's fine Luella, and the sooner we get going back to Zhukov, the sooner that the other elves can talk with her."
"O-okay," said Luella subdued, standing back by Boris and not saying anything.
"Shall we continue back to camp Lieutenant Itami?"
"Yeah, I suppose we should get this over with huh?"
xxx
Pina had been awestruck by the power and might of the Japanese when she had first laid eyes upon Alnus, even with how brief her visit had been to the holy hill. Iron Pegasus had patrolled the skies and iron elephants had roamed the land, unstoppable, oozing power and killing potential like that of a dragon, but with a hide no spear or bow could ever pierce.
She had seen a barren holy hill turned into a mighty fortress, with a great host of at least 10 000 strong upon its summit, armed with weapons the likes of which had lain entire armies to waste. A single soldier possessing the power to lay waste to an entire century of legionnaires. Such had been the power of the Japanese and their American allies.
To see the power of the Soviets was to not see a host of men, but a horde. Great and vast, blanketing Mt. Rubicon with their numbers and equipment. The mountain, the entire mountain was now a giant city, with a stone wall being built around the entire perimeter of it. Rings of defensive emplacements rising up the mountain like iron bands. Herds of iron elephants sat idle or dug into the ground, metal snouts pointed outwards, as if sniffing for prey. Hundreds of soldiers marched this way and that and labor parties worked with an air of determination setting up all manner of buildings. Carriages like what they rode in now snaked their way up and down the mountain like legionnaires in marching columns, filled to the roof with goods of all sorts.
There was an air to this place, different than that of the one on Alnus. These were not men here merely to defend their homeland against possible invasion. No, this was more than that. The field that they drove through to reach the mountain was pockmarked with craters, round and deep. Charred vestiges of bone and armor yet to be removed, all flesh either burned away or eaten by carrion feeders. There were no signs of warning here like at Alnus, nothing to tell of an intrusion into land someone else now considered to be theirs. Or the possible consequences. The devastation was message enough. Even the last of the grisly remains were being pushed into craters and buried by iron elephants with plows on the front.
"Sir Itami, may I please ask what you know of these...Soviets as you call them?" asked Pina courteously.
"These guys? Not a whole lot honestly. They talked about them a little bit in school, but I never really paid a lot of attention to it. Where I'm from they broke up over thirty years ago into smaller countries. I guess what I can tell you is that it will be mostly Russians that we'll be dealing with. But these aren't those Soviets, these are different Soviets."
"Sir Itami, forgive me for saying, but that does not make a lot of sense to me."
"Tell me about it," muttered Itami, half to himself.
The mood here wasn't of an army on the defense, digging in and preparing for another inevitable attack, it was that of an army preparing to go on the march. An army preparing to conquer and she felt a sinking feeling of dread in her stomach at the thought. She had, no, needed to make peace with both these people and the Japanese. If she could not do that though, then she needed to steal any weapons that the Empire could use in turn themselves.
More than that though, she could possibly maneuver one of the other to suit her needs and those of the Empire. If an alliance could be achieved, possibly through marriage between a daughter of noble blood and a leader of these Soviets,
"I understand that you are the diplomat of the Japanese nation?"
"Yes, my name is Koji Sugawara with the ministry of foreign affairs. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance General."
"Thank you, but I am afraid that I can not entirely say the same Citizen Sugawara," answered Alexandrov, studying the man sitting across from him. He was a young man, perhaps in his early thirties with neat black hair and a controlled demeanor. He looked slim, but fit. His hands however appeared soft and barely calloused. More likely his physique was the result of a fitness routine rather than actual physical labor. A true bureaucrat, one had never had to earn a living off of the sweat of his brow.
Rather than take the meeting in his office like he normally did, they were outside on a patio with a large parasol shading them from the sun and cool drinks in front of them in an effort to beat the heat, which made the distance look hazy almost like a mirage. Waves of heat rising off of the freshly laid asphalt that now wrapped itself around the mountain like black veins. The blood cargo trucks and troops instead of hemoglobin. Despite the measures taken though, both men were dressed formally, Alexandrov in his dress uniform and Sugawara in a black business suit, making both men rather uncomfortable in the heat.
They were only a short distance from the HQ building, on a small rise midway up the mountain looking down upon the descending rings of Camp Zhukov. Several armed guards patrolled the perimeter, but more in the course of their regular duties than added security for the meeting.
"I am sorry that you feel that way General."
"As am I. The conditions of our meeting are most unfortunate. As such I can not tell if this is meeting is a blessing or a curse."
"I like to view this as an opportunity."
"I suppose that is a correct interpretation of the situation we now find ourselves in. Before we begin I should say that I have no political authority over what will transpire in the coming days and weeks. All I can do is advise my superiors of your intentions and motivations, as well as my own suggestion as to how we should proceed."
"I understand, I am of the same position as yourself General. I have no authority to make any lasting deals either."
"Forgive my bluntness, but then why are we talking if neither of us has any real power? It seems rather like a waste of time, wouldn't you agree?"
"I am happy to say I do not General. I was sent to try and stop an unintended situation from escalating any further than it already has. The fact that you allowed me to meet with you says that you wish the same. Am I correct to assume so General?"
"You are. You are more perceptive that I gave you credit for Citizen Sugawara. I would have wished for the initial meeting between our two nations to go better, but I am told that you detained my men and gave them the impression that they would not be released, resulting in their escape attempt which left two of my men dead. After such a thing, it is hard to greet you with open arms."
"Two Japanese SDF soldiers were also killed by your men in their escape and several other soldiers were wounded. Some quite severely I might add. I believe that the scales have been balanced."
"You misunderstand me Citizen Sugawara, I don't desire blood to balance the scales, I just want to know that the people I will be negotiating with will be trustworthy. My men went to you in good faith, a faith that was betrayed. Now you have come to the territory of the Union asking for more good faith in your intentions. I just want to know, if we come to an understanding here, will it be held as best as both of us are able to?"
"I can guarantee that I will do everything in my power to make sure it is."
"Good. That is all I needed to know. If you are worried about some sort of retaliation, you needn't trouble yourself about it. I have no desire to make an enemy out of the nation of Japan or its allies. I agree that things could have been handled better on both sides, but a breakdown in communication led to this unfortunate outcome. If you are of the same mind and can give me assurances that your government will not escalate this situation anymore, then so far as I am concerned this matter has been dealt with."
"I am glad to hear you say that. Japan is not a nation that looks for conflict, especially when both of our nations were brought to this world by tragedies. It would dishonor the dead to add another tragedy to the list."
"Now what's the other thing you wanted?"
"Is it that obvious?" asked Sugawara.
"Painfully so."
"My government has a Diet Summons in effect for several members of our military in regards to our military for an incident involving refugees."
"Okay, but how is this my concern?"
"After the incident on Alnus, the topic of discussion has been broadened to the death of the JSDF personnel involved and the USMC personnel as well. I would like to invite the officer under your command, Senior Lieutenant Feliks Volkov to attend and give testimony. If he were to come and tell what happened, it would do much to ease the concerns of my government."
Alexandrov frowned and took a sip of his drink before answering.
"This request does make me rather...suspicious Citizen Sugawara. How do I know that you simply won't try to imprison or prosecute my man when he is in Japan? Once he goes through your Gate, if you detain him you have a bargaining chip to use against the Union."
"I can assure you that he would have diplomatic immunity and protection while a guest in Japan. At the end of his testimony he would be free to return."
"I see. I am inclined to agree to this request, so long as you agree to a few of mine first."
"What would those be?"
"Two Soviet soldiers are dead. This has some members of the Politburo understandably upset and wanting answers. I propose that in exchange for my man to speak before your Diet, he take three of his men with him, while you and myself, along with three of your escorts make an appearance before the Politburo and explain what has happened. Four men from each side make an appearance to the others governing body and convince the others that what happened was an unfortunate misunderstanding, but only that and nothing more. That and the return of the bodies of the two deceased men. These are my terms, do you accept?"
"In the interest of seeing this resolved in a civilized manner, I do."
"Excellent. I must admit that I am cautiously optimistic about this endeavor that we are undertaking. Hopefully we can resolve any future disputes like this, albeit without the loss of life beforehand."
"That is my hope as well. There is another of my group who would like to meet with you though General."
"Oh? Who would that be?"
"Her name is Pina Co Lada, a Princess of the Empire and leader of an order of knights. I believe she wishes to discuss peace terms with you. Did something I say displease you?" asked Sugawara, noting the look of displeasure on Alexandrov's face.
"No. Just that I do not particularly like nobility, but this is not the place to discuss that. Now that our business is concluded, I suggest that we turn our conversation to lighter topics of discussion. I would also like to invite you to dine with me tonight."
"I would find it a great pleasure to do so General."
xxx
Ianthe spoke many language, four in fact, but even so her elvish was rusty, though rusty was putting it rather mildly. As such, she caught maybe one word in ten, sometimes far less as the two elvish girls conversed rapidly, giggling like long lost friends sharing a secret joke. This had been going on for the past ten minutes and Ianthe was starting to get rather annoyed. She was supposed to be learning Russian, but instead she was now waiting for Luella and this Tuka woman to finish up. They were sitting in an open grassy field used by the Soviet's for physical training and there were a couple of Soviet Soldiers watching them. Nothing too conspicuous, but they were obviously watching them.
"So no one teaches you how to play instruments or do anything in your village?" asked Luella amazed.
"No, we believe that learning how to do something on your own lets everyone experience it in a different way. If everyone did everything the same where would be the creativity in that?"
"I never thought about it like that before. It must take a long time to learn how to do things if no one teaches you though. Isn't that frustrating?"
"At times, but it's more about the journey than the destination. There were times I wanted to toss that harp as far as I could, but I learned patience and in time I became skilled enough to perform in front of others. Do you play any instruments Luella?"
"Well, not really well. I do like singing though and people have told me that I'm good at it. Also, I guess, well, I'm really good at magic," mumbled Luella blushing and playing with her hair.
"Really? I do spirit magic mostly, what kinds of magic to you know?"
"Well, I do a bit of healing magic I guess, and um, other kinds."
"What other kinds?" asked Tuka, pressing the issue.
"Well, everything from spirit for elemental magic. Tiranniel, our village sage took me out one time for trials to see what my proficiency was. She told me to use as much power as I could and try to grow a tree. It's something that everyone does, most people just grow a small bush or something, but I did...more."
"More?"
"Well, I don't know if I should be talking about this, I told Tiranniel that I wouldn't really talk about it. But I guess I can tell you that I was different when I was born, marked by magic I some of my kin have told me."
"You mean your purple eyes?"
"Yeah. They're a little strange to look at aren't they?"
"No, I think that they're beautiful, and you are too."
"Oh, we-well thank you Tuka, I-I think you're beautiful too," stammered the petite elf in reply, blushing quickly at the compliment.
"You're so cute," giggled Tuka, idly playing with a lock of Luella's hair. This was enough to make Ianthe take notice and she raised a questioning eyebrow at what was happening in front of her.
"Oh, well, I don't know about," mumbled Luella turning redder. "Oh, um, by the way. I heard that you might want to live with me and my village since, well, you know. We would be happy to have you and we'd treat you like family and there's a spare house for you to move in to."
"Move in with your village? Well that does sound nice, but I can't leave my father all alone back at Alnus. I swear, I don't know where he goes half the time, but he's almost never around. I can never find him when I need him," said Tuka smiling cheerfully.
"Your father survived? Oh that is wonderful news! You both must come and live with us. Our kin are always welcome in the Village Hidden in the Glade. I had feared the worst when they said you were the only survivor."
"The only...survivor? No, my dad is alive too."
"I know and that's what's so great about it! I know you don't have to say yes right away, but if you and your dad would like to, you can come and live with me if you don't want to move in an empty house. I know that having your own space is nice, but I've always wanted a housemate since I moved out of my parents house."
"Well I'd have to talk to my dad first, but I would love to get to know you better and I'm sure that he'd say yes."
"I hope he does. You know, I admire you Tuka. Going through what you did and being like you are after, I don't think that I could hold myself together like that. I think that I would fall apart honestly, I just can't imagine having to go through that. It actually scares me to have to even think about something like that happening. I hope I'm not being insensitive or bringing up something painful by saying that."
"No, it's alright, honestly I never thought about having to go through it either. My dad and me have always been really close and he's really helped me through everything. Without him, I might have gone insane."
xxx
"Now I would like to ask before we begin, would you like any refreshments? Something to drink perhaps?"
"No General, I am fine thank you," said Pina studying the man who commanded the Red Army as they were called.
He was a man entering his later years, yet he still appeared fit and strong with a scar running along the side of head telling of experience in combat. He appeared to be humble in his dress like the Japanese, forgoing expensive furs and jewelry for plain clothing with ribbons upon his uniform. Functionality over pomp. His boots were polished to a mirror shine however, glassy black and the General's hands were not soft like those of some Imperial generals which bespoke of a man who was willing to do things with his own two hands.
Pina herself had changed into a formal toga with one shoulder strap and tiara, presenting herself before the man as she would before the Imperial senate or the Emperor. Bozes has not been allowed into the meeting, in fact it was just Pina, the General, and an interpreter in the room, with a large and very detailed map of the Empire and surrounding continent on the wall to the side of the General's desk. The farther from Mt. Rubicon that the map got though the less detailed it became.
"Very well, but I'll have my tea. I hope you don't mind. Now Princess, Citizen Sugawara said that you are fairly high ranking in the Empire, a claimant to the throne correct? Daughter of the Emperor?"
"Yes, I am Princess Pina Co Lada, daughter of Emperor Molt and commander of the Rose Order of Knights," said Pina, leaving out the part about being the daughter of a concubine.
The elf it seemed was very quick in translation, allowing Pina and Colonel General Alexandrov to converse almost like they were talking to each other and not through an interpreter.
"I see. Now as you know a state of war exists between the CCCP and your Empire, a war in which you started. As such you are an enemy political leader. A diplomat, but still an enemy. However, we have certain rules and courtesies that we afford to diplomats to allow for communication in times such as these. As such while you are here you will be given every courtesy and every privilege that we afford to all such diplomats. You will not be harmed, you will not be harassed, though we will keep you from documenting the layout of our camp and more sensitive areas. When our business is complete you will be allowed to return unmolested back to your point of origin. This is how a civilized nation conducts itself even when conducting rather uncivilized actions such as war. Would you not agree?"
"Yes I would, and I would like to thank you again for extending this invitation to me and my retainer. I find it regrettable that we have to meet under such circumstances and it is my hope that we can come to some sort of mutually beneficial agreement."
"As do I, though I can not help but wonder as to what you are inferring. Are you offering me a peace treaty, or merely trying to strike a bargain with me yourself?" asked Alexandrov, raising an eyebrow. "I do hope you will forgive my rather blunt nature Princess, it comes from being a military man."
There was something about the way that the General said Princess. As if the word were a bitter fruit or a rotten mean that he was forcing himself to ingest, yet hating every moment of doing so. There was also a firmness to his jaw, like he was speaking to someone that he really did not care for, but was doing so, because it was expected of him. Pina carried on as if she hadn't noticed though.
"No, I quite enjoy the frankness and I hope that such straightforwardness will see this meeting bear fruit. To answer your previous question, the answer is yes. It is my hope that a peace can be reached between the CCCP and the Empire. The incident involving your nation was not the intended result that we desired to achieve. It was a mistake by brash legates trying to make a name for themselves and conducted an unauthorized invasion, but because of the standing of their families it led to a formal declaration of war between our two peoples. It is my opinion that continuing such an ill advised conflict harms both of our great nations and is not in either of our interests to continue it. We have more that we can gain from working together and moving forward as friends rather than fighting each other in a pointless war. That we could be much better as friends rather than enemies. This is what I believe."
"You are a well spoken young lady and I find I must agree with what you have said. I too desire for the fighting to come to an end on favorable terms. For there to be peace, I'm afraid that there would have to be much in the way of reparations," said Alexandrov, stroking his chin as if in contemplation. "You see, when your forces went through the Gate they murdered nearly a thousand Soviet citizens and injured many more in an a callous and despicable act. Such a thing is not merely forgotten by the peoples of the Union, nor is it forgiven easily. To do so would be political suicide for my government, as well as hard to justify the resources spent for such little result. Then there is the matter of the funds expended in the defense of our Union. It is something of a substantial amount. You do understand the costs of running and maintaining an army correct?"
"I am sure that something could be paid for the peace between our two peoples," said Pina grasping onto the General's willingness to negotiate a peace. "I would have to report back to the Emperor of course, but I'm sure that such a thing would not be out of the question. A gesture of good will on your part would go a long way to securing such an agreement if I may be so bold as to say so."
"You may. What would be this gesture?"
"A reduction in the amount of your forces in the Empire. You have many thousands of men here and great many weapons. Surely if you were to reduce the amount you would signal a willingness to negotiate a peace. A sincerity that would go a long way to appeasing both the Emperor and the senate. It would be taken as an olive branch being extended in friendship. It would convince many in the senate of the sincerity of your desire."
"Something of that sort certainly isn't outside the bounds of imagination," said Alexandrov sipping on his tea. "What would you propose?"
"Well, I am here in a limited capacity, but I believe reducing your force by a third and sending a delegation of your own to return to the capital with me would do much to mend the wounds created by this conflict and allow cooler heads to convene. Unarmed of course," added Pina.
"I see," said Alexandrov finishing his tea. "Excuse me for a moment, I am going to get another cup," said Alexandrov rising.
"Of course," said Pina.
"You know, I do like you Princess," said Alexandrov pouring more tea into his cup from a small pot. "You seem well educated and you seem to deeply care for your Empire. I admire loyalty and conviction in a person and I find your initiative to start diplomatic proceedings a testament to your desire to see this conflict ended. All the while risking your personal safety by going into the heart of an enemy's camp when you know nothing about them is a positive reflection upon your character. It is not something that I would have expected from a Princess of the aristocracy. I respect that."
"Thank you General, you yourself seem like an honorable man with virtuous intentions, one willing to put aside grievances and think with a calm head. This speaks well of you and your government as well," replied Pina making Alexandrov chuckle.
"Oh I wouldn't go that far princess, I'm a soldier and as such I've made killing my profession, one in which I like to believe I have gotten quite good at. However I do like to think of myself as a pragmatic man, a peaceful man. I do not believe in fighting any more than I have to fight. Killing no more than I need to kill. If Moscow were to so order it I would abandon this base tomorrow if they so desired. I have no hatred for you or your Empire, I merely do as I am ordered."
"As all good soldiers must, even if they find what they do distasteful. In this regard you are no different than the legates of the Empire and I say that with the highest praise. I'm sure that you've made Moscow very pleased and your desire for peace and as for my own senate I am sure will be happy to know that you are of such a mind."
"Oh they most certainly do agree with how I intend to achieve peace," said Alexandrov sipping on his tea, leaning against his desk and facing the princess.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to hear you say that General," said Pina, breathing a sigh of relief. "I hope at a later point in time we can negotiate for the return of any captives you have captured from the ill advised foray into your territory. One day I hope that we can look back upon this like the misunderstanding that it was. Do I have your permission to relay what you have said to the Emperor and senate?"
"Of course, I want everything I say in here to be heard by your government exactly as I have said it, but I haven't quite finished saying my piece. There is only really one demand that Moscow wants in exchange for peace. Once that condition is met, hostilities will cease immediately and you will have nothing more to fear from the CCCP."
"Of course, name it," said Pina, elated at the way the meeting was going. This was going much better than expected, better than her wildest imaginings even. She had been prepared to offer a great many things to the man even. Slaves, land, titles, bribes really, but now she was glad she had not done that. He seemed like a man who would have been grievously offended at such an offer.
"Well the only thing that Moscow really wants is your unconditional surrender and submission to the CCCP. Anything less, well, there's really no point in discussing anything else," said Alexandrov calmly sipping on his tea.
"But General, you said that you desired peace!" exclaimed Pina, a sick ball of icy dread forming in her stomach.
"Oh I do and I've always gotten peace. You see, my Union isn't unaccustomed to being invaded by imperialist warmongers. We have a long history of people who view us as inferior, or backwards, trying to conquer and kill us. Take our land and inheritance for their own. In some cases eradicate us entirely for being 'subhuman' in their words. In every event we have always managed to make peace through the utter defeat and submission of our enemies. I said that I am rather blunt when I speak so I'm not going to sweeten this in any way for you Princess. For peace we demand unconditional surrender, secession of land, access to resources, and whatever else my government may deem that they so desire. Oh, and most definitely an end to your practice of slavery and Feudal system of governance."
"B-but the senate, the Emperor will never accept an unconditional surrender, it can't be done! They will raise another army, a greater one that before! General, my lord surely you wish for such wanton death and violence?"
"Princess, please, never call me a lord again, and no I don't want more bloodshed. I do sincerely wish for this fighting to come to an end, I abhor needless killing and death. Honestly sometimes I find it despicable, but that doesn't mean I won't soak the ground red regardless of my feelings if you stand before me in defiance. There are reasons that Moscow will never negotiate with you, ideological ones that I don't have the time or will to explain to you at present, but also practical ones that I will in fact explain to you. Do you know how many men we lost repelling your army of mercenaries and auxiliaries?"
"No," said Pina, her voice affecting the same emptiness that she felt inside, feeling numb.
"Not a single one. In fact your army of over 150 000 strong never got within half a kilometer of our outermost defenses. We obliterated it in matter of due course. It was nothing to us. Less that that, it was target practice. As such, we have no reason to negotiate other than from a position of absolute strength. You are not our equals and I will not pretend you are. Then there is how your Empire behaves. It appears expansionist and aggressive, conquering weaker states and territories, incorporating them into the Empire or making them tributaries. Enslaving entire races and peoples, depriving them of their freedoms and basic human dignity. I find this state of affairs intolerable as does the rest of the proletariat. Do you deny this?"
"No, I do not, but I must also add to that the fact that the Empire engages in preemptive wars to eliminate any threats to it. We have been invaded by barbarians before, are still raided by them in the farthest reaches of our holdings. They kill the men that they don't take as slaves, burn the buildings, rape the women, and commit terrible horrors on the children. Because of this we have learned that if we wish to live in peace we must first attack those who could harm us before they have the chance to do the same to us. In doing so we build roads, schools, aqueducts and bring medicine to those who before our legions marched had none of that. The Empire is a beacon of hope and progress in this land. We bring prosperity and knowledge to those we bring into our domain. Surely you must understand this?"
"Of course I understand your reasoning Princess, it's sound for the level of advancement of your civilization. But now let me tell you this. You are primitive compared to us. Barbarians in the eyes of our people for your massacre in Kiev. Evil in your system of governance. A threat to the safety of our people, albeit a relatively minor one. Using your same logic, could I not wage a war until I had entirely conquered the Empire and its people, disposing of its nobility that I and my government see as infectious? I believe I delve into the realm of ideology on this explanation, but the Red Army was founded with the desire to free the Russian people from bourgeoisie capitalists and those whom presumed to be our lords. From people who treated us no better than chattel to be sent to die on a whim by those who cared nothing for our plight. We freed ourselves so that we could end the suffering of our people that had been brought upon us by uncaring nobles and in doing so create a better life for ourselves. Which I might add we successfully did. So now when another nation, one which so resembles the Tsar who so mistreated us attacks us, we aren't so inclined to be forgiving."
"General I understand what you are saying and the comparison is easy to make at first glance given your position, but it is out of context. I admit that I do not fully understand why you despise the Empire and the Emperor so, but please allow me to explain our actions. Had we known the extent of the civility of your nation, we would have used words rather than swords to greet you. We are used to tribal barbarians who know nothing but violence and debauchery in the new lands we discover. Ones who would rather sacrifice our people to their gods than greet us in friendship. To survive we have had to become barbaric as you would say in some ways, but that is only to protect the inner core of our Empire which is good. The Empire is just, it provides services, government, and protection to the people under its domain. It is not perfect, I freely admit that, but it is what it has to be to survive what is placed around it. If we had cast down our arms and embraced solely culture and learning, we would not last out the year. If we stopped sending our legions into tribal lands, they would keep raiding us, eventually growing bold enough to launch an invasion in earnest. We made a mistake, one in which I implore you to allow me to correct. Anything that is within my power to grant you for even the opportunity to do so I will gladly give. Even if the price is my own body."
"Princess Pina, I understand that you are passionate about this, but please don't lower yourself to such a degree. I respect you too much for that and you should respect yourself more than that as well."
"I do respect myself General, but I love the Empire more. I would do anything for it, endure anything for it. Please, I beg you General Alexandrov of the Red Army, beg you upon my knees, end this war. Show yourself magnanimous in victory and allow the Empire to remain whole. We will give you land and territory, money and titles, but we can not agree to that which you ask. My father will never agree to it," said Pina leaving her chair and sinking to her knees before Alexandrov, head bowed in subservience. "I beg you for mercy General."
"You ask for a mercy I can not give Princess. There will be no peace between us, only war. I see very little that will change that."
"General, please reconsider," implored Pina.
"I can not. Now I am afraid that unless you are willing to offer an unconditional surrender, there is nothing else that we have to discuss. Take care Princess."
Xxx
"I would like an apple."
"I would like an apple," repeated Ianthe slowly, forcing the foreign words and vowels off the end of her tongue like they were digging in their heels and doing all they could to thwart any attempts to be spoken properly.
"Good, you're doing really well Ianthe," said Luella encouragingly, the elf having been nothing but supportive throughout the whole session.
"Yeah, but with a terrible accent and I know I'm not going to remember all of these words tomorrow," grumbled Ianthe.
"I'm sure that you'll do better than you think. It's not a race and the more you use it the better you'll get at it. Just start using Russian words when you can and I'm sure you'll learn it in no time. Besides, you're really smart so I know that you can do it."
"Thanks. If nothing else your encouragement if appreciated, though your faith may be misplaced."
Ianthe and Luella were on a grassy field kept undeveloped within Camp Zhukov for sports and recreation. Undeveloped, but the grass cut to a uniform length and unnaturally square, barren of bushes or trees.
Luella was dressed again in the mottled clothing of the Soviets, while Ianthe was in her black drake skin clothing, her form fitting shirt lacking sleeves and showing off muscles earned through hours of rigorous training, currently being put to use to keep her head off the grassy turf.
"I don't think it's misplaced, I'm sure that you'll learn it in no time. By the way, have you had this stuff called chocolate?" asked the elf offering a brown square to Ianthe.
"No, I haven't," admitted the mercenary, sitting up and taking the proffered chocolate.
"Do you like it?"
"It's really sweet," answered Ianthe, moving the chocolate block around like it was a lemon slice. "Too sweet for me I think."
"Well I guess it's not for everyone," said Luella, watching Ianthe seemingly struggle with the chocolate square, before finally eating it with a grimace.
"So when will the Lieutenant be heading out on another mission? My sword arm is starting to get flabby."
"Tomorrow last I heard."
"Really? That's excellent news," said Ianthe, eyes lighting up with excitement. "I mean my new equipment isn't ready yet, but I have a steel longsword as well as several lances and a bow so I won't be useless. Oh, and I do have a mail shirt that I can wear. Tell me, what time does he wish us to rise at?"
"Well...we're not going," said Luella with a nervous smile.
"What?" deadpanned Ianthe.
"Yeah, it's just going to be him and a few of his men along with the Japanese. Um, Ianthe?" asked Luella noticing the working jaw of the mercenary like she was going to chew through her own cheek.
"That duuuuumb, fuck!" vented the mercenary pounding the turf at their feet. "I almost get murdered by a gods damned apostle saving him and he wants to go back? I should shake his head to see if anything rattles inside!"
"Ianthe, you need to calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down! Not now, not when my liege's life is on the line."
"Here have some chocolate."
"I don't want any damned chocolate, I want to strangle my liege!" fumed Ianthe, hands clenched in front of her like she was grasping a certain officer's throat. "I swear by the gods he's trying to get himself killed!"
"But it will be alright, he's been promised immunity by treaty. They can't harm him."
"Is that true?" asked Ianthe, slowly lowering her hands after pondering for a moment.
"Yes. They won't harm him and he and his men will be armed. They will be safe."
"That is reassuring, but I have to be able to go with them. Luella, I understand that you do not normally do these sorts of things, but do you know who I would have to bribe to get in with the Lieutenant's delegation?"
"What?!" squeaked Luella, her mouth agape. "Y-you can't do that. The Red Army-the General himself authorized this. You can't even talk like that. If you try to give a Soviet soldier money in exchange for services, both you and him would be in serious trouble for doing that. You'd get kicked out at the very least, and, well, I'd miss you."
"I would miss you as well," said Ianthe, once again taken off guard by Luella's frank admission. "But the fact remains that I have to be with the Lieutenant."
"I know that you have to be his sword and shield, but don't you have to obey your lord too? I mean you can just wait here until he gets back if that's what he want right? I mean he has to obey his superiors too."
"Little elf you have a strange way of calming down you know that?"
"Well I was always told that I was good with kids, all it takes is a little patience and understanding."
"Did you-nevermind," said Ianthe, cutting herself off. Coming from anyone else she would have taken it as a jab at her personally, but from the elf she wasn't going to think too much into it. "Luella, what would you do if you couldn't go home?"
"But I can, it's right over there," said the elf simply, pointing into the distant forest.
"Okay, but what if you couldn't?"
"Why wouldn't I be able too? It's not very far-"
"Dammit Luella, pretend that you can't!"
"O...kay."
"Sorry. But what would you do if you couldn't go home?"
"Well...I suppose I would keep working for the Soviets. I would be sad, very sad, but I'd try and move on as best as I could."
"And then if there was a chance that you could go back what would you do for that?"
"Well...I guess I would do anything," said the elf quietly, playing with the grass. Ianthe understood Luella's feelings on the matter, why she had suddenly become so gloomy. Elves, high elves and wood elves especially were a race unto themselves. They could, and some seemed that they really would, live forever. A day was no more than the blink of an eye to them. A year, perhaps akin to the time one would afford to a daydream. They were, for all intents and purposes, immortal. Yet they were beings that longed for the presence of others, for companionship. That needed it like they needed air to breathe. But who could be their companions, when they remained young forever while everything around them aged and changed? They could watch barren plains grow into a mighty forest, then watch that forest be cut down and turned into a mighty kingdom. Watch its descendants rise and become prosperous and powerful, before falling into ruin and the mighty kingdom turn back again into barren plains. Themselves the only witness that it had ever been there at all.
In a way, the immortality of the elves was a curse as much as a blessing. They were the witnesses of history, but they were solitary witnesses. They were the only permanent thing amongst the shifting sands of time. No matter how much they loved something, no matter how greatly they cherished something, it would eventually be worn away by the ravages of time. The only thing that they had that would last forever, was each other. To be cast away from their kin, unable to return, would be to wander the halls of eternity alone. Ianthe did not wish to upset the elf with the thought, but she had to make her understand.
"Have you ever been to Messalon Luella?"
"No."
"It's an island, a series of them to be exact. It's a trading hub, a meeting place of the entire world. Traders from across the sea bring spices, fabrics, and brightly colored birds the likes of which you've never seen. Their clothes are odd and their customs are both strange and alluring at the same time. The water, it's not just blue, it's a pure blue, the kind you can see right to the bottom in and you can swim in the water all day if you like. The beaches are a fine white sand, soft underfoot that almost massage your feet as you walk. The days are long and warm, but not hot. You may wear whatever you wish and when it rains it never lasts for long and there's a peach tree in every yard. They grow fruit all year round and they grow as big as your fist. Nearly bursting with juice that you may pluck from overhead as you walk. That is my home, it's where I grew up, where my father is and I can't go back there. I'm not allowed back until I can regain my honor. I have-need to be with Volkov everywhere he goes. If he does something important and I'm not there with him, there will be whispers that he either does not trust me enough to go with him, or else I am not skilled enough, or valuable enough to be taken along."
"But those would just be rumors," protested Luella.
"Yes, they would, but rumors that would ruin any chance I have of returning. I am kenos, I am void. My word means nothing right now, nothing to nobody. Only my actions can save me, only my actions can set me free. I need to be with the Lieutenant and quell any doubts about my honor. I need to have something that proves to me that I'm still worth something."
"Well, there might be one way," said Luella pursing her lips in thought. "I could see if I would be allowed to go. If I could, then I would be able to convince them to let you come with me. After all, anytime a Wood Elf goes to a distant land they always hire a bodyguard. It's a cultural thing, and you would be that bodyguard."
"That's Great!" exclaimed Ianthe, causing the petite elf to let out a yelp of surprise as the silver haired mercenary embraced her in a hug. "The gods are on my side this day, only chance would have such a custom in place! With every day that passes I owe you a greater debt teacher, how can I ever repay you?"
"Oh, well, you don't really have to do anything for me. I'm just happy to help a friend," mumbled Luella, blushing heavily.
"As you wish teacher, but I do wonder where does that custom come from? I would have never imagined such a tradition from the Wood Elves."
"Well, because there isn't one, but they don't know that." A shy smile made its way onto Luella's face as she said that.
AN: Reading about the Roman Empire I found it interesting to note that they never saw themselves as the aggressor in any of their wars. They always saw what they were doing as protecting themselves from barbarians or removing a threat to themselves before it could fully manifest itself. So I decided that a similar point of view would be logical for the Empire to explain why they act like they do.
Also I had this sitting at 12k words on my computer for a month, but I could never get it to fit as I wanted it too, so I just cut a bunch of stuff out to make it move along faster instead of making another chapter of them going back to Alnus. Also Skyrim was my cocaine for a couple of weeks.