Even with all the haste in the world, there was simply no way for the royal contingent to catch up with those that had gone before.
The sudden flight towards Tarbes was too disorganized, too chaotic, and with too few horses to move the entirety of the force. The mages weren't going to help, they needed to save themselves for the battle to come, and even then there were maybe two dozen of them total with any truly appreciable ability in battle magic. The mightiest amongst them was their new queen, and even she was very much a novice when it came to the scale of battle and war to come.
Even Louise could not count herself as anything more than a survivor. She'd fought, killed, and even fended off demons. Yet a pitched battle the likes of which they rode towards, and with Albion's entire floating navy near enough dedicated to it…
The odds were long. Longer than anyone sane had any right to expect victory from.
But who said the students of Neb, himself a survivor of long odds his entire existence, were sane?
-Siesta-
Returning home deep into the night was not at all what Siesta had wanted.
Least of all with a small army that swiftly set to making camp outside the village limits. The new queen's orders were to make things as smooth as possible for the villagers and to evacuate them towards the capital in expectation that Reconquista would be aiming indiscriminately with their cannons. A thought that had haunted Siesta's mind, unbidden visions of her family and neighbors being consumed by explosions, torn to shreds by shrapnel, and even worse…
It had left her so distraught she'd ended up needing to fly with Tabitha and Sylphid, lest she'd run off far ahead of the army and potentially run afoul of any infiltrators Reconquista may have sent ahead of the main force to scout. She personally scoffed at the idea of being so easily handled by scouts, but Tabitha had trapped her in a small twister and any further argument was moot by that point.
It had at least given her some time to cool her panic. Her family were good people and would likely be amongst the last to leave simply because they'd want to assist the rest of their neighbors in getting out first. It was a point of pride in the family for how they treated those they called neighbors. And dammit if it wasn't likely to get them all killed too.
She'd only been let free of the twister when Tarbes was in sight and she'd calmed enough that Tabitha felt she wouldn't run off. Siesta still very much wanted to, but at this point, trying to do that just wouldn't help. They were already here, and if anything, the quickest way to assuaging her worries was to expedite the process as much as possible.
She felt awful having to be the one to knock on doors and present the orders… but she needed to. The people of Tarbes were loyal citizens of Tristain, but no one liked getting woken in the middle of the night and being told to evacuate your home by dawn. It was better it come from her, a familiar and trusted face, than from some helm-clad soldier that didn't care what needed to happen to make the order stick.
Mr. Jensen… Mrs. Lemmie… even her friend Jen who'd set up such a lovely orchard all those years ago. Each and every she had to deliver the news to, the first time she'd seen them in so long made to be her as a messenger to uproot their entire lives.
Their incredulity she could bear. Their worries and anger she could assuage… but nothing could lessen the sheer hurt she felt at their own realization. That all they'd built was going to be torn down by others and there was nothing they could do about it. That… one of their own was essentially evicting them.
She'd always worn her cloak with pride, after she'd been given it, partially because it was secured to her clothes with Louise's personal seal. It showed that she was a well and true handmaid to Louise, under her personal employ, and it had truly felt like something of honor. A show of trust that had been shown and spoken after their battles in Albion.
Now… it felt more like a brand.
"I'm sorry for this." Tabitha muttered to her as they strode through the chaos of a town being evacuated, heading towards a large hill and the house at its base. "You… shouldn't have to bear this. Let me do this, at least then…"
Siesta shook her head. "I can't let anyone else do this… it's my burden to bear. They need to see me. Know that this is coming from someone they trust, to show… how serious it is. I…"
She swallowed thickly as the house came further into view, figures shifting in the lights coming from the windows. Of course they were all up, hard not to be in all this commotion. God, the little ones must be so upset…
Tabitha stopped her with a sigh and lowering her staff to bar the way. "I can't… I can't let you do this… It's tearing you up…"
"I'd rather be torn than they be in danger." Siesta returned with surprising firmness despite the thickness in her throat. "I… time can heal… the wound of it. But it can't heal the wound of losing them… not to this…"
Tabitha gazed at her with a… almost understanding gaze. Siesta never had asked after the quiet girl's family, it had always felt a bit 'much' with how much Kirche and Louise's came up… Perhaps it had been a good thing.
Regardless, the staff was raised, and they strode forth again. The cloak and dark clothes made her almost blend into the night, the lights from the house catching on the new leather she'd been granted from the royal armory. Not a whole lot of time had been allowed to think on her getting anything from the royal armory, and she sure wouldn't get it now.
She was home… staring down the place she'd spent almost all her life. The fields around it that she'd played in, the small barn that held the few animals they'd been able to afford, and all the tools needed to till the fields and harvest the crops…
She felt herself pause for an endless moment as the full weight of what it meant settled on her. This was… her, as merely Siesta of Tarbes. A common girl who'd had no expectations but to eventually marry one of the local boys and raise a family until she finally died and joined her family in the very land they lived on. That should have been her fate.
What stood before it was her as Siesta of the Zero… if she had to give it a name. It felt kind of odd simply co-opting Louise's old derogatory moniker but it felt… right somehow. Like she'd stepped out of that fate and entered an entirely new place of possibility. Maybe… she could convince Louise to take it up again. Not as something of derision but as something to truly mark this road they've been on and had yet to walk.
Zero… a whole world waiting to rise. Her world, coming into being by her own actions… those that awed her… and those that terrified her.
That brief reminder, the spike of fear towards herself for how easily she'd killed, broke her from the moment. She both was and was not what this house and the cloak of shadow she wore made her. Walking along this border between the darkness of the night beyond, of war to come, and the light of home that burned so fragile.
The sudden dramaturgy almost made her smile as she absently unlatched the gate and walked the familiar path up to the house. Tabitha lingered back, not wanting to interrupt now but close enough to intervene if she felt it needed.
"Siesta?!" Her mother cried as she finally entered the light fully, all seven of her siblings trying to surge forward to greet her, only for broad arms to catch them.
Her father, sharing her hair where Siesta's eyes came from her mother, gazed at her with stern, serious eyes. She'd only ever see them when he'd get bad news or had to do something he felt strongly about… to have them directed at her and her purpose made her heart ache deep in her chest.
"…Mother, Father." She greeted, barely able to swallow the lump of emotion in her throat. "I… I know you're not fools. But I do know… that you're stubborn and… I didn't want anyone getting hurt. There's…"
"Going to be war." Her father answered for her, making the little ones gasp and her mother look away as if stricken. "I figured when I heard the commotion and saw the torches. You want us to leave."
Siesta nodded, gripping her hands together tightly to keep from shaking. "I… Yes. Queen Henrietta has ordered Tarbes to be evacuated. She has pre…prepared shelter and supplies for the whole town. It's only temporary-"
"No, it isn't." Her mother cut through this time, turning to face her again and meeting Siesta's bit lip with a stoic frown. "You'd not be here delivering the news if it was temporary. Why are you even here?"
A true question if ever there was one… last letter she'd sent had placed them as going to La Rochelle, but now here she was delivering this news…
"I…" She took a deep breath, a small pat on the back from Tabitha helping her steel her spine. "I'm here… because upon our return to Tristain, we were there when the Queen made her declaration. My master decided it would be better to arrive and… make sure you were safe."
Her parents shared looks even as a barrage of questions from her siblings made Siesta briefly turn her attention away. A cleared throat from her father made them quiet, and he let them go to cross his arms in that way he always did when he was about to lecture.
"You're certain it's going to be that bad?" He asked even if he already knew the answer from the way she gripped her hands tighter. "Just up and leaving's not in the blood of Tarbes and you know it."
Siesta firmed her voice around the emotion threatening to burst from her throat. If she simply tried to beg and plead with them to leave, it would likely only harden the resolve… her family was stubborn like that, damn and bless them in equal measure.
"I know it's asking a lot. I know this is basically me coming up to you and asking this whole family to leave the place that's nurtured it for so long. But this house, it can be rebuilt… I'll do it myself if I have to, to atone for asking this…"
She can't help the tears that manage to well in her eyes and slide like stars down her cheeks, the light of her home shining in them. "But please… I can't lose you… I can't lose my family… not when I'm finally turning into someone you can be proud of… please…"
The plea wasn't what she wanted. To appeal to her family's emotions when the uncertainty yet reined, the younglings looking up at her and their parents so confused… Her mother turned away first, clearly not wanting to see Siesta's tears anymore.
Her father stared at her for a long, long moment… then sighed. "…Alright. I'm not going to argue with an order from the Queen, and I'm not putting family over pride. We'll get everything we can together soon as we can, be gone by dawn."
Siesta almost collapsed with relief, but he kept going. "However. You and yours are going to help us. I want to actually see these folks you've been dragged into working with, let alone the kind that's gotten us actual gold coins sent our way."
Oh for the love of-!
Before she could try to get a word in edgewise, her father was already marching the younglings back inside to start packing up. Her mother, equal parts exasperated and amused, finally descended the steps and gave Siesta a strong embrace.
"He's always worried about you." She murmured to her firstborn. "Always and always… but you've gotten so strong, I can tell. He can tell too… we just want to make sure they'll keep being good to you, ok?"
The very idea that any of them wouldn't be good to her seemed almost laughable to Siesta's ear. If anyone wasn't being good to her, it was herself…
"Uhp-uhp, I know that look." Her mother chided gently. "You'll not find an indulgence of such thought here dear. Come, grab your friend and let's start packing. We don't have much time."
Siesta couldn't get another word out before she was being pulled inside. Back home…
Oh heavens, she needed to burn her diary immediately before the rest of the group got here!
-Tabitha-
Siesta's family was… certainly energetic.
Tabitha had been inside the home of this humble family for maybe ten minutes and she'd already been covered in dust, grime, dirt, and other assorted signs of a place well lived in by farmers. Dinner remnants had been splattered, trunks unopened for some time thrown wide, and cloth scraps seemed nearly to snow as the family hurried about in the most fascinating controlled chaos she'd ever witnessed.
The anxiety was clear, even she could tell that, but the family went about the business of packing and discarding almost like jaded survivalists. Only a few items of comfort were allowed inside with clothes and utensils and other necessities. A toy here, a stuffed animal there, a book worn down to crumbling…
It reminded her far too much of the refugees. The poor remnants of the Royalists that even now made for the Academy in a desperate hope for safety. She had to wonder if the children would be ok, if Tiffania would prove as able as Neb seemed to think she could be…
"My Lady." The head of the house called, shaking her from her thoughts. "It might be too much to ask, but could you lend my youngest a hand? She's yet too young to handle moving her own room out fast as we need."
'Yet she's old enough to have her own room?' Tabitha mused for a moment before silently nodding and following the faint sounds of a hemming and hawing voice. That little trick she'd shared with Louise back at the academy had made for much sharper hearing… and now she was getting nostalgic over that night. Great.
She sighed through her nose and started up the stairs, just catching a glimpse of Siesta putting one of her brothers in a headlock before she was on the landing and heading for the furthest door on the right. That voice she'd heard was coming from here, and she could hear the little girl within trying to figure out how to pack all her toys.
For a moment, Tabitha felt herself hesitate. Really, who was she to help a little girl try and figure out what toys to bring? Or help pack or anything of the sort? She was… not just a mage, or a noble, but a trained and molded bringer of death. That was her job, what she was supposed to do, hold the knife behind her back until the right moment-
She knocks on the door before she can think on it further.
"Hello?" Asks the small voice, a young girl of no more than five opening the door. She looked… really a lot like Siesta, albeit with longer hair and a slightly more, heh, impish disposition. Perhaps it was the wilder state of her hair?
"Hello." Tabitha repeated quietly, giving the little girl a nod. "Your father… asked me to help you. May I…?"
The little girl blinked twice before a big smile graced her lips. "Oh! You're one of Big Sissy's friends! Suuuuure, I dun mind!"
Tabitha's hand was promptly grabbed and she brought into the humble room. Not much larger than an average bath chamber, it contained a small bed, trunk, and a window with everything draped in… what was maybe once pink dyed wool and cotton? Now it appeared almost entirely threadbare and torn, bits of scraps here and there even as the little girl led her over to the trunk.
"Ma name's Molly!" The little girl introduced as she settled in front of the trunk. "We heard all 'bout Big Sissy's friends, but now I get ta meet ya! Yer… Missus Tabitha?"
Tabitha kind of wanted to see those letters now if she was so easy to identify! "That… is my name, yes. It seems you… know a lot already, hm?"
"Soooooooome." Molly sing-songed as she picked up one of her worn dolls and held it up to Tabitha. "Big Sissy writes super long letters and we all get round the fire and listen to Papa reading it whenever we get a new one!"
The doll dances a bit. "This one's you! Sissy always says yer the smartest and the bestest listener, so you getta be the one all dressy-dressed!"
Tabitha… can't help but smile a bit, even as she subtly waves her staff. Wind starts to gather things together as she keeps the little girl occupied. It was… better than her being all upset, wasn't it?
"Do you have one for each of her friends?"
Molly nodded and showed each of the dolls in turn, Guiche amusedly the most worn of the whole bunch. Poor Louise's hair was made of multi-colored but faded yarn and Kirche had a couple of pebbles attached to her 'chest'. Ah…
If only seeing this could make her smile. Smile like Molly and not see those wild, mad eyes again…
She very calmly, or as calmly as she could, helped Molly put the dolls away. "Molly, if you don't mind… could you tell me a little more about your big sister?"
It'd at least get her mind off the dolls, even if her voice sounded a little strained even to her own ears.
Bless her but Molly either didn't notice or ignored the strain. "Course! I got all the stories and tellins and bestest things about her you could ask!"
As the magic continued to work and Tabitha calmed down, she started to smile. Molly really was full of stories about Siesta, it was almost like she'd never truly met her friend. Tales of farm-shenanigans, little adventures about town, how often she'd pitch in to help, that one time she apparently took an ornery ox down with her bare hands…?
"And there was this HUGE thud when she finally took it down! Made all the boys all nervous, wouldn't look at sissy or nothin!"
Tabitha giggled, the story allowing the last of the items to be neatly packed into the trunk. Oh but Molly could well have gone for hours doubtless, but all the excitement was clearly starting to weigh on the young girl. She was all leaned against Tabitha's left side and starting to nod, a sure sign she wasn't long for waking.
"Thank you… for your stories, Molly." Tabitha whispered as she smoothed the girls hair a bit with her hand. "You have… a wonderful sister… and a wonderful family. I know you'll be fine…"
Molly nodded tiredly, almost folding on herself before rocking back up. "Is… is gonna be ok… sissy's back an… everything's gonna be ok with sissy back… we'll… we'll come back home an… I can show you all the flowers too…"
Tabitha just nodded as Molly finally fell asleep, her soft snores all Tabitha could hear even over the commotion downstairs. "I'd like that Molly… I'd really like that."
She really, really would.
-Kirche-
"Founder but this is all one big mess!"
Kirche huffed and blew her bang out of her eye as she gazed out over the camp. It was still a small riot of noise down there, ever in the process of getting set up, but she'd climbed one of the local hills simply to escape the noise. She'd lost sight of Tabitha and Siesta in all the hurry, so she had no idea where they were… And bless Montmorency and Guiche but they're guarding their group's chosen spot!
"It's the first proper mobilization in decades and this is all they can muster." She huffed, turning her gaze from the camp to the horizon. "Hearing and reading about vacillating leaders are one thing, seeing the consequences wholly another."
The Germanian had mostly excused herself from the preparations on account of what she could only call patriotic harassment. She was, after all, from the very country that was holding out on them in some bid to take Tristain from her people, so. Honestly, Kirche had expected it and tried to mostly stick to her own prep, but lo, they found her anyway.
"Um… Miss Zerbst?"
Kirche grunted and looked over, glare softening to a small smile as she saw Tiffania approach. "Oh, hey there! It's real noisy down there, don't blame you for trying to get a break from it."
The half-elf smiled weakly, fidgeting with the bow over her shoulder. It was far from the war bow many of the commoners would be using, but it at least would give her something to defend herself with. "Somewhat… um, I came to inform you that dinner is ready, for what little a pot of stew can be called dinner. We've also managed to run off the… rude ones. Or, Miss Montmorency did, at any rate."
Kirche took her not calling them all Lady and Lord this soon as a win. "Wonderful, maybe we'll manage some sleep! …Not, I don't think there'll be a wink grabbed in this whole place."
Tiffania fidgeted a little bit. "Um… I don't think so either, but… We should probably try? I always had to get after the children for staying up late, and the moons are already starting to… come down…"
Kirche softened a bit more. "You're right. We really should get back and rest, but I'd like Siesta and Tabitha to get back first. That train of townspeople, all heading out… we won't see them until her family's well on the way."
"Are you worried for her?"
A snort and Kirche grinned, all morose amusement. "Of course I am, I worry after everyone. I'm just good at being an irreverent voice of action when our little neurotics get too in their heads."
She shook her head, Tiffania's brief gasp reigning her in. "Sorry, that was unkind. I'm worried after all of them, we've been going so hard for so long by this point. We haven't had a full and proper time to rest since… Founder, since before we got to La Rochelle. It's only thanks to you we were even able to replace that potion we lost on the march here."
Montmorency had been ecstatic when she'd come back with Tiffania from a 'scouting trip' during the march. They'd been almost overburdened with wild herbs, enough to replace the endurance potion and leave many more to be dried overnight. Kirche wasn't sure if she'd manage to get any brewing done in the morning, but when Monmon's in a cackling mood, more power to her.
"You are kind…" Tiffania murmured. "I simply… well, I am still very much a stranger to you all and…"
That gets a chuckle out of Kirche, the fiery redhead stepping over to sling an arm over the half-elf's shoulder. "Ahh, don't be like that! You're about to be in the middle of a war and you made food for us, far as I'm concerned, we're already sisters in all but name!"
Tiffania flushed a brilliant scarlet, instantly blubbering, only for Kirche to give her a light tap on the cheek. "Nope, none of that! We're all going to be watching each other's backs out there tomorrow, you included. We're all gonna bleed the same color and we're going to protect each other, that's all that matters. Now if you have some juicy stories you want to tell…"
The teasing lilt on the end made the poor girl's blush deepen even more. Sensing she was on the verge of swooning, Kirche let up. "Alright, alright, I'm done. Seriously Tiffania, we're glad to have you. Even getting those potion regents to hand was already a huge help, to say nothing of just how fast you got that fire going. Almost makes me think you're a fellow fire mage."
Kirche's laugh made her miss the brief flash of alarm in Tiffania's eyes, only finding the embarrassed glint when she looked back. "Thank you, Tiff. Mind if I call you that?"
"N-not at all!" Tiffania answered, managing to find her voice. "Really, I should be… thanking you all… the children and the other refugees are on their way from all this and… well, I don't know what beseeching Miss Louise made, but…"
Kirche chuckled again and gave her a little shake. "Sounds like you got someone to be real thankful to. Best start coming up with ideas while she's stuck in the capital eh? I know alllll her favorite things too, so come on, let's talk how to make her all flustered over stew!"
Yet, just as she started to lead Tiffania on back to the camp, a sudden commotion arose. It was… coming from the south?
"Is that a messenger…?" Tiffania wondered aloud, her eyes keen even in the dark with only moonlight and campfires to brighten it. "They're riding at a gallop for the central tents…"
Kirche frowned. "News, and probably not good news. C'mon, we should at least get down there and let it trickle to us after we've gotten our bellies filled. We're probably not going to get much chance after that."
She had no idea just how little chance there'd be.
-Louise-
"Dammit, dammit, dammit!"
Every thud of hoof and rattle of metal made Louise's heart race all the more as she and the royal party thundered down the path towards the army. Only until dawn, and not even that to actually try and make a sensible formation, they were practically being damned to lose!
She could see that same assessment in Henrietta's eyes whenever she managed to catch sight of her, the now queen riding her personal stallion at full gallop alongside the whole of her personal guard and the knights of her house. What few of the griffon and dragon knights were stationed in the capital sent on the wing to chase the fastest messenger they could send.
Ironically they were sped along by the thud and roll of Neb's own loping gate, his intense snarls doing wonders to galvanize the horses into keeping the pace. All knew that this was already a losing battle, but to have even less time than expected?
Louise cursed under her breath and focused on the road again, banishing all other thoughts. She couldn't afford to be distracted by anything now, not with lives in danger and especially the lives of her friends and family at stake. If Reconquista won here, it would not stop with here, not by a long shot.
She couldn't let Henrietta down, couldn't let Cattleya down. No, all of her focus and magic would be on this, even if she could feel the slow drain of this forced flight taking its toll.
'Please be ok', Louise mentally pleaded to the Founder and any else that would hear her. 'Please let them be ok. Please let us get through this, please… If I ask nothing more of you ever again, it would be to grant this one prayer, please all that is holy and good…'
A rough patch shook her from her thoughts and she directed her steed back on track. She couldn't keep her worries at bay like this, they kept bubbling up again and again. She wanted to meet Siesta's family, maybe hear some less flattering stories, anything other than what could be…
"A terrible trial comes for you." Whispered the voice of Darkness, the now familiar tone of Malassa hissing and slithering about her ear, Louise only keeping herself from yelping by a thread. "Two moons… Passion and Serenity, hmph… soon to join as one…"
Louise grit her teeth, fighting the urge to take her eyes off the road to glare at the wrapped staff on her back. Her horse may be following the herd so to speak, but she had to be careful all the same lest she lame the beast.
"How will you answer?" The voice of temptation and fear cooed into her ear. "When they become one… is that what you desire, or is all that tethers you still chains to bind you?"
The sulfurous laughter faded from her ear as soon as it arrived, the cryptic remarks only making Louise grind her teeth. The last thing she needed was some foreign goddess getting the idea now of all times was a great time to laugh!
…All the same, she did briefly turn her gaze skyward.
The moons were getting very close together… perhaps there would be a full eclipse during the battle to come. That could be an ominous omen or a sign of the Founder's favor, depending on who you asked… she really hoped it was the latter.
And pray… praying always helped.
That thought carried her the rest of the night. It was a hard, fast, and treacherous flight towards the awaiting forces, but by sheer grit and exhausted steeds, the fires of the camp, and the train of refugees leaving it, came into sight. They didn't have long, their steeds thundering into the ramshackle and hastily built camp as they passed the fleeing villagers.
For just a moment, Louise would swear she spotted Siesta and her family amongst the refugees, quietly mourning she'd not get to meet them this time. Instead, all she could focus on was keeping her horse from running anyone over as the head of their force made all haste for the center of the camp.
There it was that the horses were finally brought to a halt, Henrietta dismounting without aid and outpacing her own guards as she stormed into the central tent, Louise and Agnes only a stride behind and Neb bringing up the rear. He could only shove one of his heads into the tent and still make room for the other advisers and knights to follow their queen, but it was enough.
"Reconquista will be here at dawn." Henrietta announced to the alarmed captains she'd barged in on. "They will rain utter hell upon us, but we must meet them with equal furor. Every earth mage from the weakest dot up is to set to immediate work creating the works we'll need. All else, you are to get yourselves ready for combat as best you're able. Not one of us will face this and remain unscathed, but I refuse to cower in a castle whence our enemy is here."
The definitive authority in her voice sent the captains scrambling to spread the news as fast as they could, Henrietta marching up to the map at the central table and instantly starting to go over it. Experienced she was not, but with Louise and Neb to hand, she could at least do something about it.
"A flat plain with us on the hills." Louise offered as she caught sight of the map too, a glance to Neb showing him nodding. "If we were facing a normal army, we'd be in a good defensive position. There's even a hill large enough we could've propped up a motte if we had the time."
Agnes huffed. "Alas that we face a sky-fleet and all its many cannons. Even the earthworks aren't going to be of too much use unless they get hit in the thickest sections. To say nothing of their massed dragon knights."
"Hit and run will be the order of the day." Louise agreed, the strategy playing out while the actual advisors and military heads made their way towards the tent. "Enough concentrated spell-work would at least bring one of those ships down, but I don't think they'd let us get close enough."
Henrietta scoffed. "No, they won't, and we don't have enough griffons or dragons of our own to give them some extra riders that'd make a difference. No, we need somewhere we can strike from while still avoiding the worst of their… wait, that hill. The one we could place a motte on."
"And what about it?" Neb finally queried as the advisors and generals entered the tent. "Certainly it's large and could provide firing positions for you and the other mages, but that simply lays you all the more exposed and a target."
"Not if we put tunnels into it." Henrietta answered, making the rest of the tent mutter in discussion and wonder at the idea. "It won't be quick without putting some more earth mages to use, but for those that cannot contribute in direct battle, it's the best use we have for them. If our friend Lord Gramont is with us, then his golems can speed the construction forthwith."
She gestures to Agnes. "Get every one of the Musketeers set up in a position to put their muskets to best use. There's enough hills here they can at least put some damage into the Albion Knights without getting blown apart by the cannons."
"At your command." Agnes confirmed, already striding from the tent to see to her forces.
"Generals, captains, let's get the soldiers into whatever positions we can manage as soon as they're set up. We have the ill-joyous position of having to wait for them, so let's at least make sure we're not caught sleeping with our skirts off."
Louise felt herself blush a bit, but most of the commanders scattered to start doing just that. They could all tell this was a nearly hopeless situation as was, but even being able to properly give a bloody nose may be enough to get Germania to throw in with them.
That was the hope anyway. "What would you have of me, Your Highness?"
Henrietta sighed and looked to Louise. "I hate to say it, Louise, but we're going to need your spells more than ever. That healing spell would be saving a lot of lives, but I need to know. How often can you cast the one that saved you and Kirche in Albion?"
Louise grimaced. That spell took a lot more effort than she'd shown at the time, and only desperation had really called it up. She was far from mastering it too, and Founder knew what would happen if something got in the way of it-
Her eyes alight as she gets a better idea. "I may not be able to use that spell as much, but I do have one that can collapse the ships on themselves. It's a bit risky, but I can at least aim it. Can do… I think five of them before I won't be much use in any melee."
Neb cleared his throat, the one head he could manage giving a clear warning in his gaze. "That spell is very powerful, but also very dangerous. It's a circle of magic you shouldn't be capable of just yet, but your own proclivities for blasts has allowed you to shape it regardless. The moment you use it, every cannon in the sky will be aimed square for your head."
Louise met the warning with a stern glare. "I'm well aware it's going to place me in danger, but I cannot withhold it when we've so few other options. If I must, I'll play Verdandi and pop out of the tunnels on the hill, change my position after each spell."
"That will take time." Neb argued back, Henrietta letting them hash it out while her advisors added opinions and ideas for placement of soldiers and knights. "And in the push and crush of battle, you may not have that time. The tunnels will be collapsed, the paths will be ruined, and you could well be buried in the earth for it."
Louise shuddered, horrible visions of being buried alive briefly flashing in front of her eyes before she forced them away. "And I'll… be a much more open target out in the open or on the surrounding hills. Even were I on a fast horse I'd be outrunning the cannons and dragon knights more than contributing!"
"That'll be all of us near enough." Neb countered, a rumble of assent briefly rising from the advisors before they were back to it. "They've got us beat on air power, numbers, and likely even magic power too. It's long odds, we need more than just you."
Louise hummed and opened her mouth, only to be shushed. "Not here. We don't even have the beginning of a plan, let's leave the planners to plan. We can fill them in once we've got something better."
His head snaked out before she could retort, a look to Henrietta giving her permission to follow. Louise did her best to be proper as she went, only to start sprinting after Neb's retreating tail the moment she was out of the tent. "GET BACK HERE NEB, I DEMAND ANSWERS!"
Her shout was barely heard over the din of it all, but she made it to his tail without having to duck and weave too much. His sheer bulk made for a wake that she could follow in somewhat until she could get over to his side and give a smack to his hide that did all the damage of a pebble. It made her feel better dammit!
"We can't afford to not use what we have." Neb began without giving her a chance to start laying into him. "Alone, we're not going to get much done beyond dying for Tristain. But, we do have two things that can help even the odds."
Louise balked and finally got a word in. "You can't be serious! It's one thing to collect these things with the express intent of sending them back so those thrice forsaken demons don't cause havoc, but using the power of your gods in the middle of battle?! We could be smote by the Founder for even trying!"
Neb growled at her, one of the heads turning to face her. "He hasn't smote you yet for the spells I've taught you, so I doubt he'll do so now. This is not the time for your religious sensibilities to bubble up, Louise, there are lives at stake."
"And I don't wish them damned!" She shot back with fervor. "If this stains their souls, then they'll have died and been sent to oblivion instead of proper reward! I can't demand that of them and you know it!"
Neb stopped, Louise bouncing off his bulk with a small grunt. "Louise, we do not have a choice in the matter! If what you saw in Albion is everything we suspect, then Sheogh has already infiltrated your home! It is no longer a matter of gathering artifacts and returning them from whence they came, it is a matter of preventing the escape of the very font of Chaos into a new realm!"
Louise wanted to retort, but swallowed her own indignation. "That… may well be true, but we've no idea if any of this will even help! I can't risk the souls of my friends, my people, on what-ifs Neb!"
"That is why we must retrieve Montmorency and figure out what we can do." Neb harrumphed, only to soften after taking a breath. "Your concern for them does you great credit, and I don't make these words lightly. But there could well be demons in addition to Albion's forces and we must be prepared, end of story. Else we will not be able to find the other artifacts and it's entirely likely that this land, all lands, are doomed."
Louise felt a lead weight settle in her gut. That… all lands? Not just Tristain but Germania, Romalia, even Gallia? The Rhub Al Kali, the Founder's own homeland? Did… that was… they were going to be saving all of that?
It was one thing to maybe think on it a little bit when they'd first learned about the artifacts and set out on this journey, but to hear it spoken so plainly…
Neb's snout bopping her head brought her out of it. "I know it's a lot to add to your shoulders, all your shoulders, but we cannot hesitate. This has grown beyond a personal quest searching for things that should not be here, we are looking at the fate of two worlds."
"But it also means we'll be making the songs and sagas all the more impressive.
That… manages a very weak smile on Louise's lips. Count on Neb to try and lighten the mood after being all serious. "Alright… alright. I still don't like it in the least, and I probably never will, but as you say… we don't have much choice. Let's get everyone together and figure out what these staffs can do. It's a right sight better than what Guiche is going to be doing!"
"AND I RESENT MY OWN SENSE OF DUTY FOR IT!"
Louise damn near leapt out of her skirt at the sudden shout, catching herself just in time to see Guiche marching off towards the largest hill with a small army of… shoddy but sturdy golems at his heels. They wouldn't be doing any fighting, but they weren't meant to with all those picks and shovels.
"…Case in point. BEST OF LUCK GUICHE, DON'T TIRE OUT TOO MUCH, WE'RE GONNA NEED YOU!"
"I KNOW, AND IT'S APPRECIATED, NOW CLEAR THE WAY!"
And thus off he went to almost singlehandedly dig out the tunnel network alongside a few others and the engineers they'd cobbled together. Louise could really only salute him for going off to do it despite the long march here.
"Something tells me that order came right as he was fixing to eat." Neb mused, knowing that scowl came from a man denied his supper. "And tells me further that we should get with everyone before they scatter to other duties. Let's go."
Louise watched Guiche head off for a moment longer before nodding and following after Neb. It'd at least be good to see everyone safe for now… especially Siesta. Hopefully her family had evacuated already and they'd all be together for this mad plan to be worked out.
-Montmorency-
"Are you insane?!"
The sudden cry almost caught Montmorency as off guard as it did everyone in earshot. Neb and Louise had barely arrived before the hydra had started giving his idea of using the staffs for some idea or another. Montmorency was all for most things, especially with a battle literally on the morrow, but using the artifacts?! Including one that had been putting out magic that literally wiped away the personality, damn it was a defense mechanism?!
"We have no idea if these things are going to do much of anything for us! Hell, your 'gods' like to pop in at random and mess with us all the time, for all we know these artifacts are just going to do something to hurt us in turn!"
Her point turned all eyes towards Neb, who looked at once consternated and understanding. "You're not wrong… but truth be told, none of the Six have seen to taking over one of my heads in some time, not since just after I found you all again. I do not know if it is because their focus currently lies elsewhere or if the appearance of the demons has forced their connection to be only surface level at best."
Montmorency noted Louise bite her lip at that, a sure sign she'd stopped herself from saying something. Frowning, she added her own recent happenings with 'foreign gods'. "Well I saw some kind of vision when I grabbed this damn staff. I was… in an ocean, above and below me, and I saw the shade of one of those gods, the Water Dragon you called her. She called me an investment, even as she wondered if I was worthy."
Neb seemed very intrigued by this, instantly looming closer towards her. Tiffania to her right cowered away while Kirche on her left backed up in surprise, Montmorency's vision filled with the curious hydra heads. "Shalassa did, did she? To contact you directly after what happened at the showcase all that time ago… the artifacts must act a partial conduit to them, or else held more portion of them than I thought."
Which instantly turned his attention back to Louise. "…Have you been hearing any whisperings, from the staff?"
Louise stiffened a bit before grudgingly nodding. "Not much… snippets of words, and maybe a sound, but I was thinking I was just tired…"
Neb's grin made all present not the least bit happy, shivers of danger running down their backs as an idea formulated in the hydra's mind. "Then I think we may have an answer to our biggest problem. I will need to prepare, yes, need to find a good spot… all of you, get some rest. You'll need all the energy you can muster on the morrow and I'll not hear a word otherwise!"
And true to his word, he was already loping off into the darkness before anyone could say anything.
Montmorency glared after him for a moment before sighing. "This is insane, utterly insane."
"Well of course it is." Kirche groaned as she returned to her spot of rolled out cloth. "Using two artifacts from another world, with pieces of foreign gods in them, in order to turn the tide on a battle for the fate of Tristain? Anyone else would say we're in a fantasy!"
"Sure feels like one at times." Louise sighed as she gave up on trying to set Neb on fire with her glare alone. "Monmon… I know you mentioned it a little bit on the way here, but have you heard anything recently out of your staff?"
The way she said it made Montmorency raise a brow. "Not really, no… not unless you count the swishing of the Tears inside the gem. Have you been hearing things recently?"
A sudden hush fell over Louise, and it was clear to everyone, even Tiffania, that Louise didn't want to speak. She'd likely heard something, but revealing it was running up against something. Pride? The need to protect? Maybe she was just embarrassed about something it had said?
It didn't matter, the hesitance confirmed that she had been hearing things recently. And much as Neb had said, that likely mean the artifacts had more of their respective god in them than they'd originally thought. And suddenly the idea of any of them falling into Albion or the demon's hands made everyone sick to their stomach.
"You know what, never mind." Montmorency sighed, Louise's visible relief only making that sick feeling grow. "I managed to replace a couple other potions we lost during the flight from La Rochelle with the reagents Tiffania helped me find. The rest need drying before they can be used, but I got a healing potion and a willpower potion. First won't do too much beyond making sure you don't bleed to death, but anything helps. Second gives you a decent second wind for spells, but at the end of the day, those endurance potions we have are still the best."
Kirche raised a hand. "Dibs on the healing! I need something quick if I end up in the thick of things and I don't think I'll have time to wait for anyone."
She pointed at Louise next. "And you get the willpower. Don't think I don't already know your plans, you'll need the extra pick me up."
"When did I become so transparent?!" Louise cried, her objections and stammering arguments only making Kirche laugh and laugh.
Montmorency leaned back as the Zerbst's ploy to lighten the mood worked a charm. "Tiffania, have you seen Tabitha or Siesta? They should've been back by now."
The half-elf shook her head. "N-no, Miss Montmorency… at least, not recently. I b-believe they're still escorting Miss Siesta's family…"
Montmorency sighed and shook her head. "They need to get back soon. Kirche, stop shooting her blood up and go with Tiffania. Grab em and bring them back, I'll try and hammer out something with Louise while you do."
Kirche gave her an odd look, but when Montmorency gestured to her staff of flowing silver and water, the Zerbst made a noise of understanding and stood. "Alright, may as well go wrangle them. You two have fun talking esoterics, we'll get the nitty gritty later when everyone's back together."
With nary another word, or even a sign of hearing Tiffania's protest, off they set. Louise, curious and trepidatious in equal parts, still managed to sit in her chosen spot without shaking out of her boots. "So… what do you want to discuss?"
Montmorency leaned forward, the flicker of the fire casting shadows over her face while the bustle and chaos of the camp kept her voice from being overheard. "What is going on with you lately? You've been running one wrong chord from snapping ever since we met up in Newcastle, and things haven't gotten better. I know you've got a lot on your plate being all leaderly, but there's something else going on. And don't try to hide it, I've been sniffing out people wanting to hide things since our first year."
Louise went still like a deer cornered by hunters. Eyes flitting about in the shadows of the fire, playing with her braid, and what Montmorency would swear was a flash of light from the staff over her shoulder, only for Louise to groan. "Look, really, it's nothing important, I just have a lot on my mind!"
"Clearly." Montmorency drawled, not believing it. "So what's on your mind then? Clearly it's not something you can share with Siesta, or Tabitha, or Kirche, or Neb, or even poor Tiffania that literally has no horse in any race beyond keeping her wards safe."
She leaned on her hand, giving Louise a flat look. "I don't care about anything that could bring you, our friends, or your family harm, Louise. I really don't. We've fought literal demons, I barely survived getting out of Albion, and now we're about to go into a battle for the fate of our home. Whatever you have, it cannot shock me."
Louise whined a bit. "But what if-"
"Louise."
"I can't just-"
"Louise."
"Come on Monmon-!"
"Louise!"
Louise groaned and growled, pulling at her hair and stomping her heels a bit in childish frustration. "Oh, fine! You want me to spill all my dark and gloomy guts all over the ground, then fine!"
Montmorency just shrugged. "I want you to get it off your chest, Louise. You're carrying a lot around, we all are, but you haven't taken any chance to get it off. We've got too much to win tomorrow, there's no time to be carrying your baggage any longer."
"Well I'm sorry I'm worried about my family!" Louise hissed, Montmorency already guessing that one. "I'm worried about my sisters, I'm worried about my father, my mother, and I'm worried that I'll never see them again and if they'll know it's me, or if I'll even survive, or…"
She growled and crossed her arms in a huff. "…Or if they'll accept that their daughter lost her fiancé in Albion."
"Is that all?" Montmorency queried, really not believing that after all she and Guiche had seen thus far. "If we get out of this alive, we're all going to be war heroes. There'll be lords and princes near breaking down the door for your hand."
"A hand I'll never give." Louise grumbled, just barely heard over the crash of a passing equipment cart. "Sir Wardes… he was the only one I ever felt strongly for, but…"
She bit her lip and looked toward Montmorency, who gave her a rare look of understanding and a gesture to continue. A few deep breaths and she did. "…but I never felt the same flame like when I first met him. It was a warmth, like seeing an old, caring friend… not a fiancée… and now he's gone. I… I can't take another man's hand after that, I just can't…"
And here, Montmorency decides to poke. "Because you want a woman's hand."
The sudden gasp and panic in Louise's eyes confirm Montmorency's long suspicions and she sets to calming her down. "It's ok, I'm not going to speak a word of it. But Louise, look, as someone who's been deep into her own romantic stupidity, I can see the signs. You just don't look at Guiche or any of the other boys the same, you never have. At the time I didn't know why, and then when I learned of Wardes I thought I had an answer."
She shifted, leaning forward on her knees this time and keeping a steady gaze on Louise. "However. You've been almost avoiding Kirche ever since we got out of Albion, and you've made no mention of Henrietta despite all but kissing the ground she walks on since you got here. Something happened, and it's shaken you. Shaken you so badly that it gave some things I saw back at the Academy a whole new angle."
Louise, sensing that some kind of jig was up, mirrored the position, burying her head in her knees. She… should probably just confess, yeah. There really was no point in trying to hide it from Montmorency if she'd already figured things out.
"…I like girls." Louise confessed into her knees, just barely a whisper in the cacophony around them, but enough for Montmorency to hear. "Their hair, their smiles, the way they walk, their curves, all that stupid, courtly, romantic schlock… I'm a disgrace of a noble, but my heart yearns all the same…"
Montmorency sighed, no vindication filling her even as her hunch proved correct. So that was the problem, and no small one either. Noble daughters were expected to provide children, and given she'd essentially been getting married off before all this, well… one more sin to the pile it would seem. Small wonder she'd so vehemently protest Kirche's teasing.
Before she could try and offer some consolation though, Louise... kept going. Clearly with that out in the air, there was no stopping the torrent that had been long building in her breast. "It's been torture, Monmon, torture! Having to look away while Kirche's showing off, trying to ignore Siesta's books and how she runs, Tabitha's cute self, it's all driving me mad! Then we had Her Highness show up and we shared a bath and I couldn't stop staring and-and-and-"
She buried her face in her knees, a truly pitiful whine making Montmorency come up short. Now that she said it, it probably was torture being interested in girls while having their friends be so very casual. They were around other girls after all, what was the harm?
Turns out, the harm was to Louise's poor sanity!
Sighing, Montmorency got up and went over to give Louise a side hug, doing her best to offer what solace she could. She'd dug this up, it was up to her to help clean up. "I can't say I wholly understand, but surely they'd not be bothered if you just made it clear to them. Kirche's far too understanding for her own good, Siesta would probably be flattered, and Tabitha would just wonder how in the world anyone finds her attractive!"
"Of course she's attractive!" Louise groaned, instantly regretting it as much as making Montmorency smile for coming to their friend's defense. "They're all attractive, you're attractive, it's maddening dammit!"
That got a small chuckle out of Montmorency. "Aw, thanks for the compliment. Look Louise, I don't really care if you stare at my butt, so long as you know that I'm not interested back, ok? That's all that really need be said, it's not like it's going to make me stop being a friend and comrade to you."
That seemed to relax her a bit, Louise shuffling in place even as she nuzzled her own knees. "That's… kind of you, but at least you haven't nearly had sex with me."
The screech of Montmorency's mind skidding to a halt at that confession was almost audible. "Say what now?"
"…You weren't supposed to hear that."
"Well too bad, I have!"
Louise's head thunked against her knees and she groaned again. "You're not gonna let this lie, are you?"
"No, I'm not! You almost had sex with someone?! You, Ms. Chastity?!"
"Har-har." Louise droned, not looking up at Montmorency's shocked face, still stewing in her own bubbling emotions. She clearly couldn't get a lid on them now and Montmorency was getting the brunt of it. "…It was Kirche. We'd gotten separated, Siesta was trying to run to Newcastle, we found a hollow, we were exhausted, and… she was warm. We were just trying to wash in the spring and she was washing my hair and…"
"I kissed her."
That… that was huge! If Louise had wanted to deflect, she could've just called it Kirche taking advantage of their exhaustion to try for some physical comfort, but Louise initiated?! Holy crap, she was going owe Guiche so much money! How in the world did he clue in that something had changed in their relationship when they'd all barely seen each other in Newcastle?!
"And she… kissed me and… it was nothing like the books, but she was so beautiful and… oh, if I hadn't ruined it and remembered why we were there, I could've fooled myself it was a dream after it was all said and done."
She sighed again, Montmorency just kind of… rubbing her back in an attempt to console. "I haven't been able to really look at her the same way since… not outside of fighting. And now I'm afraid that if we confront it, she'll hate me or… or…"
"She'll reciprocate." Montmorency finished for her, quietly. "And you can't have a Valliere in love with a Zerbst."
Louise nodded mutely, tongue already switching subjects. "And then there's Siesta and Tabitha… my handmaid, my partner, we're supposed to be inseparable… but now I'm scared. What if I can't remember myself next time? What if we're stuck in a situation we don't think we'll survive, say to hell with it, only to get out and have to live with the consequences? I can't do that to them… Siesta's already had to get her own family to evacuate, and Tabitha's only really started to be herself it feels like…"
"And what if they feel the same." Montmorency finished again, making Louise shrink in on herself. "Oh Louise… I'm sorry, I had no idea you were feeling like this. I just thought you'd been kind of in denial that they were your friends, ya know? Didn't think you were worrying after how you liking girls could hurt them."
At least to her view, that seemed to boil down what Louise was well and truly worried about. Misplaced, most likely given the world-threatening demons and such, but still real. It was something that Montmorency could see forming with the likes of Sir Wardes prior to his engagement with Louise. Relationships were sticky and fraught like that…
"And then Her Highness pulled me into that shower…"
Another mumble Montmorency was clearly not meant to hear. "…Louise, if I might be honest, tis more a wonder how you seem to have attracted them in the first place. Might I be blunt with you?"
"Whenever are you not?"
"Point taken. Louise, look. You were a brat. You were walking around foisting your family name about with no ability to show for it and a really shitty disposition. I know how you got there now, understand it, but you were a complete nonce. I don't think Tabitha gave you more than a passing glance, Siesta didn't know who you were, and Kirche was well and truly malicious at the time. So ask yourself, how in the world did they get attracted to you, hm? And don't you dare say you've tricked them, they're smarter than that."
"I don't know, what do you want me to say Monmon?!"
Montmorency gave her a small whap upside the head. While she whined, Montmorency laid out her case. "Think about it you overly worried maid. You turned yourself around, started putting more effort where it could be seen instead of hiding it all the time. You gave up on the whole 'effortless proud noble' persona and just started being more yourself. I distinctly recall Kirche changing her tune even before Neb came around, and Tabitha was starting to work with you in the library. I may not have changed my opinion much, but then you marched up and saved Siesta. I didn't appreciate it at the time given Guiche was still a fop, but look at it from her perspective."
She finally made Louise look at her. "You went in and saved her job, her livelihood, because you didn't think it was right. Didn't matter she was a commoner; all you saw was an injustice and you stopped it. That is more what I think you are at your core, and the moment you stopped trying to be Lady Valliere and started being Louise is the moment those three started looking at you different."
"And judging by what I've seen and you said, Her Highness quite likes it too. At this point Louise, the wonder isn't that you've got women with their eyes on you. It's that you're worried about their safety and happiness so much that you're willing to deny everything to keep things the same."
Louise just stared at her in slightly slack-jawed awe, even Montmorency not sure where that speech had come from. But she stood by it, even as her gaze bored into Louise's own, trying to impress what she said.
"Talk. To. Them." She pressed on when it was clear Louise's voice had abandoned her. "Don't let what could or almost happened change the fact that we have fought, bled, and killed together. All of us were there when we took our first life, all of us were there when we nearly died in that cavern under Albion. We're going to stick with you through thick and thin, so for the love of the Founder, grow a spine and stop being a maid!"
She let go of Louise, her sudden passion extinguished. "I know it's hard, I do. I wasn't willing to forgive Guiche until I was literally dying, but we were starting back on the road a while before. And that, despite everything, is at least partially thanks to you. So, if nothing else, if we survive this, I want you to stop thinking everything is your fault. It's that last bit of crummy arrogance it feels like, and you cling to it like a drowning man does a raft."
She stands and brushes off her pants. "But that's for after we make it out of this alive. Come on, let's try and put our heads together to figure out what in the flim-flam Neb's going to try and have us do with these things. We can think on all the rest of that after, yeah?"
And for the first time since they'd made the capital.
Louise smiled.
"Yeah. Thanks Monmon."
"I live to be the wise one, now get over here before I smack you."
-Guiche-
"It really is going to be a slaughter, isn't it?"
Guiche sighed to himself, the musing question all he let himself speak. Gazing out from the large hill, even as his golems carved it into the next best thing to a rat's nest of a fortress, he could almost see the darkening sky. The ships to come, their cannons roaring as dragons screeched down from above.
All those earthworks wouldn't help. Maybe if it were ground cannon and the like, but Albion's Navy? No, this hill would likely be the only semi-safe refuge in the whole area by the time the golems were done.
And there wasn't one damn thing he could do about it.
His gaze wandered back to the camp. Soldiers were starting to pour from it, taken from their tents and meals in order to man positions and dig what trenches they could. Those would be the only decent defense against what was to come, and even that held no safe harbor from the dragon knights.
"Were it that we'd had even a week." He grumbled to himself, wondering where his father and brothers were. Doubtless they were in the southern half of the country, the news of war only just reaching them by now. If they had a week, the whole of the Gramont and their allies would be mustered in force, as would the Vallieres and all their subordinate houses. It would be much grander a sight than this, where they dug in the loamy soil in search of protection from the rain of iron to come.
He shook his head, it wasn't good for him to think like this. Getting down in the depressing reality would embolden no one, least of all himself, and that couldn't be tolerated.
A glance up made him frown. The moons were growing closer. If there was an eclipse tomorrow, shadowing the battlefield… might they make better use of that? Would Reconquista try to use it to make the soldiers and wavering nobles surrender outright?
Everything seemed possible, here on the eve. To know that so many were bound to die for their country, it made sick flutters dance through his gut. For what, a crusade? They'd tried that many times before and always been repulsed with nothing to show for it, why would this be any different? Why waste more lives…
And there were the demons too. Working with and through Reconquista, a part of it. What crusade was it when you cavorted with the very forces of hell? What crusade was it when demons rampaged amongst the people of your own country?
Power, control, ambition… all of its excesses brought into stark view with such a deal. It made him all the sicker thinking about it, but he could not entirely banish it. For he'd been of similar mindset not too long ago. Trying to upstage his brothers with petty relationships, impress his father, feh. What a naïve boy he'd been.
"There's no guarantee any of us will live." He spoke to the wind, eyes turning back to the field that would host their struggle. "We only just survived our first brush with death, and now ever longer odds are placed before us. Will I get to hold Montmorency again? Will Kirche tease and needle us? Tabitha share her sardonic wit or Siesta groan at our antics? Will our familiars yet leave us?"
He didn't know. Even now Verdandi worked his little heart out assisting in the tunneling efforts. He was such a good friend, a valiant defender, and truest brother near enough. He'd even comforted him when it seemed Guiche's chances with Montmorency were entirely gone.
"It seems you really did answer the call of a poor wretch needing aid." Guiche mused as his cloak of white and gold fluttered in a night's breeze, hand settling on saber while he gave the night sky and its many stars a final look.
"And it's time for this poor wretch to start paying back that aid, tenfold.
-Daybreak-
A night of pure tension passed with all the speed of sludge in winter.
Minutes crawled by bit by bit, even the most intense tasks seeming to not pass more than a couple minutes at a time. Trenches dug, earthworks created, barriers erected, and soldiers in position to hold against the very descent of the sky itself.
Upon the greatest hill, riven and filled with holes from which mages stood at the ready, was Henrietta. In the best armor she could be fitted for, she still cut a regal figure, even if the breastplate had been forced to come from an ornamental set. The large gem in the center wouldn't do her much good, but it was better than nothing.
'Of all the times for the armorers to be in the midst of repairs' She mused to herself as only some parts of the gift Neb had sent her shifted with her motion. A wand to one hand, a hefty glaive in the other, she was about as ready as she could be.
Her people were as ready as they could be… even if she did wonder what in the ever living hell Neb was doing further down the slope, working so feverishly at some task that had consumed all the night and had yet to finish. It didn't really matter, she could only hope whatever it was would do them good.
For above them, in the brightening light of day, loomed Albion's airforce. Now under Reconquista, four dozen ships ranging from what she believed were transports designed to deliver troops to the three great ship-of-the-lines. Each one of those monsters had almost 100 cannon to each side, and even the smallest of the war ships had 24. A broadside from any would rain utter destruction on all that was targeted, and that wasn't counting the numerous dragon knights flitting about in their squadrons and patrols.
As of yet, they'd not attacked. Probably hadn't expected there to be even token resistance, let alone a dug in position. Perhaps they were simply trying to figure out their best plan of attack.
"They're awfully bunched up." Agnes noted, her personal guard there to defend her through thick and thin. "They look more like they were getting ready to land than blow us to pieces."
Henrietta nodded, a glance back showing her cadre of officers analyzing this as well. "True… I wonder perhaps if our scouting reports weren't a tad alarmist. Certainly that's most every ship Albion's likely to have, but to draw this close without even firing warning shots…"
She looked to the officers. "Tell the soldiers to ready themselves for attack, but send word to Lady Valliere above all else. If she can manage it, I want her to target the lead ship with her most powerful spell. If they begin firing, I want that behemoth to burn before it can bring all its guns to bear."
She didn't hear the confirmations before she was stepping forward and lifting her glaive, the dawn-light shining on the metal. It was to be a beacon, combined with a spell that would signal the beginning of their defense. This was for the sake of Tristain, of all Halkegenia.
They could not fail here.
-Louise-
"Founder Neb, what are you doing?! We should be taking positions; the damn boats are right there!"
Her frantic gesturing towards the Albion navy LITERALLY RIGHT OVER THEIR HEADS did nothing to dissuade or even get Neb's attention. One of those ships could have blown him in two and the halves would just keep at the work!
Huffing, she looked across to Kirche, who was helping guard while Neb's conscripts of Verdandi, Flame, and Siesta (the poor girl) assisted him in whatever the hell he was doing. "And we're sure the villagers are safe?"
"Last word got to us, they're all down in the capital or near enough to it." Kirche answered, silently glancing over to Tabitha who was watching the sky with Sylphid, geared from head to toe in their armor. "Not much else we can do for em, but darn if they don't move quick. Your dad always that much a hardass, Siesta?"
The handmaid nodded, her daggers turned to the task of carving runes into the soil. "Yes, and he was likely to be the next headman when the current retired. I don't see why Lord Francois wouldn't have agreed to it either, so… here we are."
Louise sometimes forgot that there was indeed a local lord that ruled this section of the kingdom. He was helping command along the front where his fire magic was likely to be the most useful.
"So here we are." She finished instead. "I'm glad your family got out ok, Siesta… and I'm really sorry I didn't get to meet them."
Siesta smiled at her, clearly as relieved as could be. "I am too… they were asking after you, but I guess they'll just have to wait until we return to the capital."
Louise was about to say something when Tabitha waved at her. "What's wrong Tabitha?"
Tabitha worked her jaw, eyes still on the sky. "…Something's wrong. It's not getting any lighter."
…Now that she mentioned it. Louise looked towards the sky and noted much the same, it hadn't really gotten any lighter even as dawn broke and should have started to fill the earth with sunlight. Something really was going…
"An eclipse." Kirche grunted, shielding her eyes as best able while trying to get a good look. "Both of the moons are starting to cover the sun. Let's hope that's a sign of favor from on high, I know we could use some."
Tabitha and Louise sighed and nodded in mutual agreement. They could only hope it would help keep Monmon and Guiche safe in the tunnels where they'd be the most effective for now. Healing and repairing the tunnels when the cannons inevitably rained…
"At least we get to see something rare." Kirche kept musing as Neb froze, Louise's concern jumping as she kept talking. "There hasn't been a full eclipse in almost a century."
Neb promptly uttered an oath so foul it almost turned everyone's hair white, every head turning from the work towards the growing darkness of the eclipse. "It can't be… no, no… It can't be, we must get in the tunnels, now!"
He took no protest and no objection, every head seizing one of the girls and familiars to start bodily dragging them toward the tunnels, his sudden desperation only worsening their worries and growing unease. What about an eclipse would be so-?!
The very air changed.
From one breath to the next, a weight settled on the entirety of the field. From the lowliest conscript to the highest knight, all shivered and shuddered as dread settled into their guts. The very world darkened, the sun disappearing behind Serenity and Passion, the twin moons covering it in a near perfect eclipse.
It was only that fact that saved them.
Another breath and the world was plunged into bloody red light, the eclipse brightening in direct blasphemy to the holy event. A blood-tinged veil over the sanctity of the celestial bodies.
And the impossibly large arm of naked sinew and black-iron claws that caressed it for all to see.
Dread and horror soon joined the weighted air, the claws digging into the face of the bloody eclipse with a terrifying shriek the likes of which Halkegenia had never heard before. Rents and wounds dug into the face of the eclipse, rivers and deluges of blood and gore pouring from the tortured face of the holy.
And it began to rain.
Not water, not even blood.
It began to rain the servants of Sheogh, their hellish howls, cries, gurgles, screams, and roars shattering the horror of all that was holy being sullied beyond repentance.
The Eclipse was here.
Founder save them all.