III
Northern Perscilla, Twelfth City of the United City-States of Sutherland
The Twelfth City of Northern Perscilla, which shared a border with the Kingdom of Fernest, counted amongst its inhabitants many of the copper-skinned peoples who came over from the continent to the east. Of all the cities in Sutherland, it was known for its beauty, stemming from its seamless union of the natural and the man-made. Standing serenely on the city’s northern rim was Es Ludo Palace, the symbol of Northern Perscilla.
Es Ludo Palace was made up of three structures; an independent tower where Lady Cassandra resided, a hexagonal building where matters of governance and official events were conducted, and a rectangular building atop the great bridge spanning the Curie River that flowed around the palace. The palace was decorated in deep blue and white, and renowned amongst the thirteen cities for its matchless beauty.
The Chapel at Es Ludo Palace
The lavish splendor of the interior of the palace was more than the equal of its magnificent exterior. In such a setting, the wooden chapel seemed entirely out of place. Eight statues of demons lined both walls, their faces all twisted in rage, and they clutched great axes in their hands as if to cow any visitors. From the great censer that rested on the plinth in the center of the space there rose a thin cloud of purple smoke that carried a sweet and alluring aroma. There were no windows; instead, braziers placed at even intervals along the walls cast red light over the room.
“Her Majesty Cassandra is waiting. This way, if you please...” the lady-in-waiting said as she led a giant of a man wearing the pelt of a unicorn draped over his left shoulder into the room. He was Drake sum Gorgon, and he held the rank of first aurion gravis of Northern Perscilla.
The hierarchy of the army of Northern Perscilla differed substantially from that of other nations. The lowest rank was normarion, followed by petrion, argerion petrus, aurion petrus, ferrion, argerion, aurion, argerion gravis, and finally, aurion gravis. Ranks starting from argerion had five grades of seniority, so even amongst soldiers of the same rank there was a significant gap between the first and the fifth grade. All this was to say that Drake held the highest possible combined rank and grade, placing him at the very top of Northern Perscilla’s army.
I suppose it’s too much to hope that she’ll be open to my advice... he thought as he approached the throne and the figure of Lady Cassandra came into clear relief. She had glossy black hair that fell to her waist and smooth, copper-colored skin, and she was garbed in many layers of sheer robes in vibrant shades of red and purple. Neither the bewitching aura she projected nor the false smile on her face was anything out of the ordinary. Drake reached the throne and knelt, bowing his head low.
Scowling imperiously down at him, Cassandra snapped, “What is it today?”
“My lady. I come before you today regarding the invasion of the Kingdom of Fernest.”
“Oh. The details of the date of the invasion are set, you know.”
“Yes, about that, my lady...” Drake said hesitantly. “I think that perhaps we should delay the invasion.”
There was a pause before Cassandra demanded, “Why?” So icy was her voice that Drake felt the chill down to his bones and involuntarily looked up. Cassandra’s smile was in place as always. But with his long years of experience, it only took Drake a moment to perceive the fury that now simmered just below the surface. It would be a confounding nuisance if her mood soured any further. Drake chose his next words carefully.
“Because we have learnt that the Royal Army has turned the tables on the empire.”
“On the empire?” Cassandra said. “That’s a poor jest.” For the first time she let her mask fall, leaving no trace of human warmth there.
“I speak not in jest, my lady. We sent out scouts to Fernest in preparation for the invasion. This should make everything clear, if I may trouble you to peruse it.”
He produced a scroll and passed it to the lady-in-waiting who stood beside him. Stooping, she nimbly mounted the dais and held it out with deference to Cassandra, who deftly loosened the string and let it unroll. A long pause followed. Kindling crackled as Drake waited with bated breath for what she would say next.
At last, Cassandra rolled the scroll back up. Then, to his dismay, she ordered the lady-in-waiting to throw it into the brazier.
“Wh-What?!” Drake exclaimed. Frantic to stop her, he began to rise but before he went any further the lady-in-waiting casually tossed the scroll into the flames. Drake stared at the blackening paper, aghast. A cool voice floated over to him.
“Aurion Gravis Drake, is this triviality why you called me here? I am the ruler of Northern Perscilla. I do not have time to waste on such things.” She sounded entirely bored. Drake couldn’t immediately find the words to argue. The smoldering ashes that had once been a scroll held an account of the defeats of the Crimson and Helios Knights. It was a mere whim of Cassandra’s that had first given rise to the idea of invading Fernest. Drake had reluctantly acquiesced, but only because back then he was so bloated with pride that he had believed Fernest could not stand against the empire. Not only that, he had also neglected to gather intelligence. He would have to ensure that he did not err so again.
If Fernest was making a counterattack, Drake thought the best course of action was to wait and see how it developed. There wasn’t a lick of sense in risking running headlong into the flames themselves.
“Your Majesty, you read in the scroll of the defeats of the empire’s elite forces, the Crimson Knights and the Helios Knights. The Royal Army was in tatters. How they managed to mount an offensive I do not know, but right now they are like a rat in a corner. We would be better off leaving them alone.”
“The Royal Army, a rat? Bold words, Drake,” said Cassandra, tittering as she took out a fan and spread it open. It was too extraordinary for Drake to bear, and before he could stop himself, he burst out in harsh protest. Cassandra’s manner changed at once. She fixed him with a chilly glare.
“You are so very tiresome...” she said. “Though yes, one might reach that conclusion.”
“What other conclusion is there to reach?”
Cassandra snapped the fan shut again. “This is what I think,” she said. “These Crimson and Helios Knights may have put on quite a show of ferocity, but when put to the test, they were revealed to be all bark and no bite. If that’s what they’re using for comparison when they laud the Azure Knights as the empire’s most elite, I hardly think we need expect much.”
“It’s too early to jump to such a conclusion,” Drake protested. “Fernest is the fearsome Land of Lions—only the empire could have brought them to this point. Please, I beg you to reconsider.” He bowed his head low.
With a loud, pointed sigh, Cassandra said, “I understand.”
“You do?!”
“Oh yes, I understand very well. You, Aurion Gravis Drake, are nothing but a coward, and therefore useless to me. I’m amazed you even obtained that rank. Calling yourself a warrior when you’re afraid to fight!”
Drake was about to protest that he was not afraid to fight, but before he could open his mouth, Cassandra ordered the lady-in-waiting to send for Arthur. The woman bowed, then swiftly exited the chapel. Arthur...?! Drake thought in horror, picturing the man’s insolent smirk. Argerion Gravis Arthur, twenty-seven years old, was a stalwart of the Northern Perscilla army. He was a great commander despite his youth, both learned and courageous, but more than anything, he was a man of ambition. He might well have risen to aurion gravis already if Drake, sensing in him a kind of danger, had not held him back at argerion gravis.
“Your Majesty, I bring Lord Arthur.” The lady-in-waiting returned to the chapel with Arthur beside her. At Cassandra’s summons, he approached the throne before dropping gallantly to one knee. Drake found the theatricality of the display repulsive, but judging from Cassandra’s delighted nod, it was having the desired effect.
“Your Majesty,” Arthur announced, “I, Arthur mao Finn, have hastened here as you bid me.”
“You have my thanks. I trust you know why I called you here?”
“I do, Your Majesty!” Arthur replied without hesitation. “You may leave it all to me. I shall conquer the Kingdom of Fernest and offer up its domains to Your Majesty.” It lasted no more than a fraction of a second, but Drake didn’t miss the slight tilt of the head as Arthur shot a mocking glance his way.
“Your words fill me with confidence, just as a warrior should,” Cassandra said. “Someone would do well to take note.” Her eyes slid over to Drake.
“There is no stopping you then?” he said at length.
“Not that nonsense again. Even if the Royal Army has gone on the offensive, they will still be nursing their share of losses. And if the imperial army is retreating, so much the better.”
“But—”
“Enough. Aurion Gravis Drake, for the time being, I decree that you be confined to your residence,” Cassandra announced. “Now, Argerion Gravis Arthur. Let me know when things are ready, won’t you?”
“As Your Majesty commands,” he replied. Cassandra rose from her throne then passed between the two kneeling men and swept from the chapel, her lady-in-waiting in tow. Drake heard her talking excitedly from behind him in a voice that revealed no trace of doubt that Northern Perscilla would emerge victorious.
They remained there in silence until all trace of Cassandra’s presence had vanished from the chapel, then Arthur stood up and made to leave. Drake called after him to wait and he turned with an air of insolence.
“What?”
“You must have seen the scout’s reports. Why are you letting Lady Cassandra do this?”
“Why? Her Majesty desires this war, and so I comply. It really is that simple.”
“Even if the result of this myopic fancy brings ruin down on Northern Perscilla?” Drake demanded. They only had to win. But trouble would come if they lost. Buoyed by victory, Fernest could well mount a counterinvasion.
But Arthur met his fears with a sneering laugh. “Aurion Gravis Drake,” he replied, “Her Majesty relieved you of your duties. I wish to hear no more from you on the matter. You see, I am now the commander leading the invasion of Fernest.”
Drake sighed. “If that’s how it is, I see I have no choice. I will at least take the liberty of observing from a safe distance.”
“I think that would be best. After all, the queen so graciously granted you a leave of absence. You should take this opportunity to rest. Now that you’ve shown yourself a coward, Aurion Gravis, I shall win this victory in your stead.”
“You wretch,” Drake gritted out. “Are you mocking me?” His fingers brushed the hilt of the crescent blade at his belt. He was within striking distance of Arthur, but the other man showed no sign of alarm. On the contrary, he raised his hands, looking amused.
“Mocking you? Me, mock the great Aurion Gravis Drake? The very idea! My words were no more than a plain statement of fact,” he said. “Now, are you going to draw that or not?” When Drake didn’t reply, he said, “Yes, that’s probably wise,” and strode away, laughing raucously.
Drake watched him go, his clenched fists shaking. There was a loud crack as a log in the braziers emitted a great shower of sparks. Drake felt his gaze drawn up to the demon statues standing along the wall. Do you mock me as a coward too? he demanded of them silently. Perhaps it was a trick of the flickering light from the braziers. He couldn’t help but imagine he saw the great stone demons smile.
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