Interlude: Reunited Out of the Blue
The Southern Quarter of Fis, the Kingdom of Fernest
A man and woman in military uniform walked impatiently by the many shops that lined the streets of the merchant’s district. One, in a general’s regalia, was Major General Neinhardt Blanche, an aide to the First Legion. He was accompanied by his own aide, Captain Katerina Reinas.
“Captain Katerina, procurement of the armor and weapons we’re short on—”
“The order has been placed with Marcos Trading. The goods will arrive at Galia Fortress in three to four days.”
“Food supplies—”
“I have arranged for the bulk of them to be supplied by the Francis Company. After Mekia put in a word for us, Silverwing Traders have kindly offered to help in whatever way they can. I anticipate that we will secure sufficient food supplies before the battle commences.”
Neinhardt was quiet for a moment. “One step ahead as always, I see,” he said after a moment.
“I have a certain superior officer to thank for that. His incessant unreasonable demands have trained me well.” Katerina lightly brushed aside her shoulder-length black hair with her fingertips, looking prim.
I suppose she must be talking about me, though I don’t remember it, Neinhardt thought with a rueful smile. A table outside a shop caught his eye, and he led Katerina over to it.
“General?” she said questioningly.
“We have a little time before our next appointment. Something like this can’t hurt from time to time.” Neinhardt pulled out a chair, then promptly sat down and called over a waiter. He ordered tea for both of them. Katerina’s prim expression turned to one of uncertainty as she lowered herself slowly into her own chair.
“Every so often he makes a sweet gesture like this,” she muttered. “It’s not fair.”
“Sorry? What was that?”
“Just talking to myself, ser,” Katerina said quickly. “You know this shop, then?”
“Oh, no, it just caught my eye...” Neinhardt replied. “Why, should I?”
“In actual fact, ser,” Katerina said, “the chicken terrine sandwiches here are supposed to be extraordinary.” She peeked at him from beneath her lashes like a schoolgirl. Neinhardt sighed, then called the waiter over once more.
“Sorry, could you add a chicken terrine sandwich to that order?”
“Hooray!” Katerina did a tiny fist pump, and Neinhardt couldn’t help but smile.
About ten minutes later, just as their tea was brought out along with the terrine sandwich, Neinhardt’s attention was drawn to a shop across the street, where a crowd was forming.
“Things are really bustling over there,” he commented. “What is that shop?”
Katerina, happily picking up her sandwich in both hands, didn’t bother to look before she replied. “A sweet shop. It’s been all the rage lately.”
“Sweets?” Neinhardt looked back at the crowded shop front. If they were out in the provinces, it would have been one thing, but in Fis, sweet shops were a dime a dozen. Apparently picking up on Neinhardt’s disbelief, Katerina reluctantly set down the sandwich she had been about to shove into her face. After first warning him that the story was only a rumor, she told Neinhardt that the shop was selling sweets made by Duchess Gruening.
“Duchess Gruening?!” Neinhardt exclaimed before he could stop himself. The duchess was, of course, none other than Cornelius’s wife. It was a ludicrous tale.
“I told you it was a rumor.”
“My understanding of rumors is that they usually have more than a little truth behind them.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do about it,” Katerina said, reaching for her sandwich again. “More importantly, your tea is getting cold.”
Neinhardt sipped his tea, watching her. Next, it was Katerina’s turn to notice a different crowd forming. “What could that be?” she wondered.
“They’re very loud.” Looking out over his tea, Neinhardt’s eyes eventually found a girl walking their way, waving happily as a chorus of shrieks broke out around her. Silver-haired and dressed in the same general’s uniform as Neinhardt, it was obvious at once that this was none other than Olivia. The concerning part was her loyal retinue of guards—presumably the cause of the shrieking.
“Major General Olivia, I can’t have you leading those around town with you,” Neinhardt admonished her the moment she got into earshot. Meanwhile, Katerina’s eyes were fixed on the dusksight wolves at Olivia’s feet. The terrine sandwich dropped from her hands.
“Mr. Fish—um, Major General Neinhardt! You’re having tea here?”
“Well, yes, as you can see, but that’s not—”
“Mind if I join you?”
Neinhardt was at a loss for how to reply. If he were honest, he did not want Olivia to sit down. No one who had seen those dusksight wolves up close would have. Having said that, after previously being introduced to them, he found he wasn’t as shaken as he would have been in the past. For better or for worse, he appeared to have developed a tolerance for them.
“Dusksight wolves, class one dangerous beasts...” Katerina whispered. Katerina, on the other hand, had no such tolerance. Moving faster than he’d ever seen before, she scooted around the table to sit beside him, linking her slender arm through his with viselike force.
“I’d really like to sit down,” Olivia said sweetly.
“Those... Are you sure about them?” Neinhardt asked, keeping a wary eye on the wolves.
“They’re well behaved. They’ll be fine.” Smiling, she sat down in an empty chair, then asked, “What are you eating?”
“It’s a chicken terrine sandwich,” Katerina replied shakily. She didn’t take her eyes off the wolves for a second as she spoke.
“Is it good?”
“Y-Yes. It’s delicious.”
“Cool.” Olivia turned to the waiter, who was staring at the wolves as though about to faint with terror, and said breezily, “One of the same for me too.”
The waiter nodded several times, then fled back into the shop as fast as their legs would carry them.
“G-General Olivia. Would you mind if I asked you a question?”
“What is it?”
“Th-They...they aren’t going to eat us, are they?”
Olivia looked from Katerina’s fearful face to the dusksight wolves who sat obediently around her. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
“I mean, dusksight wolves are dangerous beasts...”
“They’re fine. You can even touch them, if you like.”
“N-No! No, thank you!”
Olivia laughed. “Come on, don’t be shy,” she said, then grabbed Katerina’s arm and dragged her over to the head of one of the wolves. It submitted calmly and didn’t move a muscle.
“There, isn’t it the fluffiest, best thing you ever felt?”
“General! General!” To Neinhardt’s not inconsiderable shock, Katerina appeared for the first time since he had known her to be close to tears. Unless he did something, she might even have a breakdown—which would mean twice as much work for Neinhardt. That was something he had to avoid at all costs.
“Major General Olivia, I think she’s had enough.”
“What? Already?” Olivia stared, bewildered, at Katerina, who nodded so vigorously he thought she might shake her head clean off.
“Okay, it’s your turn next, Major General Nein—”
“Look, your food’s here.” Catching sight of the trembling waiter approaching with Olivia’s sandwich, Neinhardt seized the opportunity to deflect Olivia’s proposal. Then, as Katerina glowered resentfully at him, he caught sight of Ashton Senefelder approaching, a look of resignation on his face.
“It’s been too long, ser.” Ashton saluted Neinhardt. Then, taking Olivia by the arm, he dragged her to her feet.
“Just a bit longer, I have to finish my terrine sandwich.”
“No can do. Colonel Claudia is champing at the bit to see you.”
“Come on, she can champ for a bit longer.”
“I suppose you’ll still be saying that when you’re facing a terrifying yaksha?”
At once, Olivia’s face froze in terror. “I-I definitely don’t want that.”
It wasn’t every day one saw such an expression on the face of the Death God that the empire feared so greatly. Neinhardt was naturally taken aback.
What even is this “yaksha” that scares her so much...? Neinhardt became temporarily immersed in the ocean of his thoughts, until Ashton’s voice fished him back out.
“We’ll be going then, General!” he announced. “Patches, Spot, Pooch, you come too. And don’t menace anyone.”
“Grarrr!”
Ashton saluted again, then, taking Olivia—who had a yearning look in her eyes—by the arm, he pulled her away. The dusksight wolves arranged themselves around the pair in a three-pointed defensive formation.
Katerina stared dazedly after the two humans and three wolves. “Did you see that? He was talking to class one dangerous beasts like they were his soldiers,” she said. “Who would have thought Major Ashton was so tough?” There was now a hint of something like admiration in her face.
No, I’m pretty sure he’s just numb to it all... Neinhardt thought. He couldn’t help but feel sympathetic to Ashton’s predicament.
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