Chapter Six: Twin Lions at Dawn
I
First Allied Legion Command, Kingdom of Fernest
It was the Lachrymose Moon of Tempus Fugit 1000. The First Allied Legion marched forth from Galia Fortress with a force eighty-five thousand strong. With each army’s banners flying proud, they proceeded west for six days until they reached the Kochonn Plains that stretched out to the east of Kier Fortress.
“Give the order for all forces to halt,” said Cornelius, who served as supreme commander for the First Allied Legion. The army ceased its advance on the Kochonn Plains. Another hour’s march northwest would put them a stone’s throw from Kier Fortress itself.
“Well, then. We have made it this far without any notable response from the imperial army. That confirms they are preparing for a siege,” Cornelius said confidently. Beside him, Neinhardt nodded his agreement.
“Everything is going according to plan. The imperials have fallen for it.”
Ten days earlier, royal intelligence agents had come with the report that the Crimson Knights had arrived at Kier Fortress; in other words, their disinformation efforts had borne fruit.
“If the empire loses Kier Fortress,” Cornelius went on, “they lose their foothold in Fernest. That might not have been enough to seize back the advantage before, but now, we have taken the southern and northern lands back. If they have an eye to the mood among their vassal states, they will have no choice but to opt for a siege over a field battle.”
“Still, ideally I would have liked to draw out the Azure Knights too...” Neinhardt said. If the Azure Knights left the imperial capital, it would dramatically raise the Eighth Legion’s chances of success. Capturing Emperor Ramza, the instigator of all of this, could neutralize the entire imperial army.
Cornelius stroked his beard, a wry smile on his lips. “That would be a little too idealistic. We ought to be grateful we drew out even the Crimson Knights. On a different note, are you getting along well with Lady Crystal?”
“I’m not sure, ser,” Neinhardt admitted. “Honestly, I’m never sure what she’s thinking, though for my part, I think it’s going well.”
As coordinator for the First Allied Legion, which included a force of twenty thousand from the Winged Crusaders, Neinhardt had plenty of opportunity for conversing with Lara Mira Crystal. Less than a month had passed since they were first introduced, but from what Neinhardt had seen, she was, without exaggeration, an exceptional warrior.
“She tends to idolize her mistress to the point of obsession, but there’s no doubting her martial integrity.”
Apparently, Cornelius also held Lara in high regard. Her right-hand man, Johann Strider, had also shown himself in training to be a commander of uncommon talent. The guardians, too, maintained a consistently high standard, living up to their reputation.
“Of course, it all comes down to our acting abilities from here on out,” Neinhardt said, looking down to where Lambert was giving a rousing speech in that booming voice of his. Cornelius broke into a grin.
“Acting abilities, indeed. Your area of expertise,” he teased. “I expect good things.”
“Yes, ser!”
A battle was the product of the players working to outmaneuver one another. In a few words, it came down to how long you could go on deceiving your opponent. In this battle, their opponents would be the Crimson and Helios Knights. For deception to be at all possible, they would have to tread with the utmost care.
Can I really pull this off? Neinhardt wondered. Captain Katerina, standing beside him, had assumed a grim expression. With the fate of Fernest riding on the battle that awaited them, she would be nervous.
Neinhardt himself was no exception. He felt a complex jumble of emotions, not quite nerves and not quite exhilaration. Cornelius laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Emotions are wont to run high on the eve of a great battle, but you should let go of some of that tension. Nerves are healthy in correct doses; exceed that, and they are poison. It all comes down to balance.”
Hearing this from the Invincible General allowed Neinhardt to clear his head. At the same time, he felt a little silly to have been seen through so completely. It set him greatly at ease knowing that Cornelius, as always, was keenly perceptive and considerate of the feelings of his subordinates.
“This is changing the subject, but do you think the Second Allied Legion will manage their part?”
“You fear they won’t?”
“If I’m honest, then yes...” Neinhardt admitted. “Their task is greater than ours.”
No one could doubt the leadership abilities of Blood, who served as supreme commander for the Second Allied Legion, and Olivia, his second-in-command, who had crushed the invading Northern Perscillan Army. Neinhardt had never personally spoken to Amelia Stolast, who led their division of the Winged Crusaders, but he had Lara’s assurance that she was a competent leader.
Yet when defeat could mean the end of the kingdom, he couldn’t help but fear the worst.
“General Blood and Lieutenant General Olivia both know what they must do. We must focus our attention on doing our best in the battle in front of us.”
“Of course. I beg your pardon, ser!” Neinhardt replied, saluting. Cornelius nodded.
“We know how the enemy will move,” he said. “I will hold a war council in one hour’s time. Let Paul and Lady Crystal know.”
“Yes, ser! I’ll send a messenger at once.”
As he watched the messenger gallop away toward the Seventh Legion, Neinhardt reached into his pocket to touch the bloodstained rank insignia he kept there.
Give me strength, Florenz, he thought. He looked out on Kier Fortress in the distance, a fierce light burning in his eyes.
Seventh Legion Command, Kingdom of Fernest
Senior General Paul and the other generals were taking a meal break when he noticed a faraway look in Major General Osmund’s eyes. Beside him, Lieutenant General Hermann had also realized his neighbor’s thoughts were elsewhere, and his hand on his knife came to a stop.
“You all right there, Osmund?” he asked.
“It’s just,” Osmund said slowly, “the Seventh Legion feels somehow lonely with Lieutenant General Olivia gone.”
Paul wondered if his ears were deceiving him. It was two years since Olivia had come to enlist in the Royal Army, during which time she had risen with unprecedented rapidity to the rank of Lieutenant General. He might have expected resentment from Osmund; he had certainly never thought to hear him say he felt lonely. Otto must have shared Paul’s feelings, for he now gazed with interest at Osmund.
Hermann, meanwhile, gave a meaningful smile. “I wouldn’t have expected that from you,” he said.
Osmund still carried a black spot on his reputation after his lust for glory had led to him falling into an enemy trap and putting his forces in jeopardy in the battle outside the Emaleid Citadel. Now, he looked uncomfortable as he muttered, “I admit I’d be lying if I said I didn’t envy her. But you can’t argue with her prowess after seeing her on the battlefield. What’s important now is winning this battle.”
Paul had no way of knowing what change had occurred in the other man’s heart, but it was clear at least that it steered him well. When he disregarded his ego, Osmund had a fair talent for command.
“I haven’t spent too much time in her acquaintance myself, but I think I understand what you’re saying,” Hermann said, with the wistful look of a person thinking back on bygone days. “She brought a sort of spark to the Seventh Legion.”
Osmund nodded in fervent agreement.
“It’s only natural you two think so,” Paul remarked. “She was like a brilliant ray of sunshine lighting up the Seventh Legion.”
Paul doted on Olivia to the same degree as his own granddaughter, Patricia. Though he thought that Cornelius had shown bold and unerring judgment in putting her in command of the Eighth Legion, the thought that Olivia had gone where he could not reach her was like a cold draft of wind slipping through him.
“Don’t you feel at all lonely with Lieutenant General Olivia gone, Otto?”
“No, I can’t say any such feelings have arisen for me,” Otto replied serenely, “and I would appreciate it if the three of you ceased discussion of such trivialities when we have Operation: Twin Lions at Dawn bearing down upon us.”
Osmund and Hermann looked at each other and shared a strained smile. Paul wore a similar expression, though for a very different reason.
It was true that, now that Olivia outranked Otto, even he was barred from criticizing her in public. But Paul could see clear as day that the other man was anxious for her. Despite his severity to his inferiors, Otto cared more than any of them.
“On that note,” Paul said, bringing them back to the matter at hand, “has there been any change in our predictions for the size of the force at Kier Fortress?”
“None, ser,” Otto replied without hesitation. “Though they must have been aware of our advance on the fortress for some time.”
“That’s to be expected. They’ll be getting a close look at the size of our force around now.” Paul looked down at the map on the table. “They’ve decided to weather the siege, it seems.”
“Considering Kier Fortress’s defenses, it is the obvious conclusion.”
Conventional military wisdom held that a successful siege required that the attacking force outnumber the defenders three to one. On top of that, this was a battle the empire could not afford to lose. They would meet the Royal Army’s assault with unyielding resolve. It was, therefore, the rational choice to utilize the defenses of the fortress to whittle down the attackers. All common sense pointed to the Royal Army being at a decided disadvantage, and yet for once, Paul was inclined to be unreserved in his approval of the imperial army’s choice. After all, now it went without saying that the First Allied Legion would be able to turn the course of the war in their favor.
“A bad move on the imperial army’s part,” Otto said, a wicked grin breaking through the cold exterior that earned him the nickname “the Man in the Iron Mask.” Hermann and Osmund looked at him, then at each other, like they’d seen some strange new beast. Only Paul correctly understood Otto’s smile.
“I’m sure the lord marshal reached the same conclusion,” he said.
Otto looked over at the tent opening and said, “We should receive a messenger shortly.” His prediction was soon to become reality. The tent flap lifted and a messenger from the First Legion hurried in.
“I bear orders from Marshal Cornelius. Your presence is required at a war council at the main command tent.”
“Orders received. You are dismissed, soldier.”
“Thank you, ser!” Paul watched the messenger leave, then rose quickly to his feet.
“Otto.”
“A horse is waiting for you, ser.” Otto, it seemed, had sent out the instructions in advance, for now an attendant came leading Paul’s horse. As always, he was one step ahead.
“Let’s be off, then.” Paul mounted up; then he and Otto set off together for the main command tent.
Winged Crusader Command, Kingdom of Fernest
“It looks like it’ll be a siege.”
“It’s unexpected, isn’t it? Our predictions put the imperial forces at around even numbers with our own. Knowing Lady von Berlietta, I thought for sure that she would take the field.”
“They can’t afford to risk it.” Lara gazed up at Kier Fortress with a probing look in her eyes. After having suffered defeat after defeat to the Royal Army, the imperial army’s momentum was a shadow of what it had been. There was no doubt that this was largely thanks to Olivia.
“Oh, that’s right. The news took me rather by surprise.”
“News? Ah, that. The report said he died of natural causes, didn’t it?”
“It did. It must have been a heavy blow to the imperial army. The wind seems to be turning in favor of the Royal Army.”
It had been a week since the owls had brought the fresh news that Gladden von Hildesheimer was dead. Gladden had not only led the Helios Knights, he had reigned supreme over the whole of the imperial army. His death was felicitous news in the face of Operation: Twin Lions at Dawn, but Lara had not breathed a word of it to the Royal Army.
Mekia’s true objective was to see the empire and Fernest bring each other down. Their current alliance with the Royal Army was no more than a provision for the future. Thus, Sofitia had instructed them that there was no need to share what they knew.
“Do you think these twin lions will be successful?” Johann asked.
“It all comes down to the Eighth Legion. At this stage, it’s impossible to say.”
While they conducted this grand farce at Kier Fortress, the Eighth Legion would engage the Azure Knights in the imperial capital. The plan was that they would break through to Listelein Palace and capture Emperor Ramza XIII. If they were successful, Sofitia expected that the imperial army would sue for peace.
But... Johann had heard what had happened to the Northern Perscillan Army when they invaded Fernest. Olivia had led the Eighth Legion, replete as it was with new recruits, to a resounding victory against them. Yet despite their numbers, the Azure Knights were formidably strong. It was clear that though Olivia and Ashton might display exceptional leadership, there would be a gulf between their forces and the Azure Knights. It looked to Johann like the odds were very much against the Eighth Legion.
Meanwhile, Olivia and Felix were closely matched. If they crossed blades, it was likely that neither would come out unscathed. By Johann’s estimation, Felix had a physical edge. But that only applied up until Olivia started using magic. Loath as he was to admit it, Olivia’s magic far outstripped not only his own magecraft, but that of Lara and Amelia as well. The magical essence, the inexhaustible source of external mana she drew on, defied all reason. Olivia said she wouldn’t use magic except in the case of a threat to her, but, put another way, that meant if she did feel threatened, she would use it without hesitation.
Once she lets loose one of those spheres of light, it’s all over. Even Felix couldn’t withstand that... He remembered the great boulder that had vanished without a trace before his eyes.
“You’ve been looking very stern lately, Johann.”
Johann looked up and saw Lara watching him, a smile on her lips. Recalling that Sofitia had said these same words to him just the other day, he gave a strained smile.
“Yes, well, lately I’ve been lucky enough to be beset by troubles.”
“Personally, I prefer it to that frivolous grin you always used to wear.”
“You set my heart all aflutter, Blessed Wing Lara.”
“Now if only you’d learn when to stop talking,” Lara said with a snort.
“I’m afraid I was born this way, so there’s little hope of a cure,” Johann replied. “But be all that as it may, I hope, for the sake of us achieving unification, that the plan is successful.”
Whichever way the scales tipped, the battle to come would only be to the advantage of Mekia. What was more, after their visit to Fernest, Sofitia had King Alfonse wrapped around her little finger. Johann felt a shiver of awe at his mistress’s charisma.
“Like I said before, it’ll all depend on the Eighth Legion, in the end. Meanwhile we’re depending on the leadership of the Invincible General.”
“You’ve spoken to Marshal Cornelius too, haven’t you? What did you think of him?”
The highest-ranking man in the Royal Army and possessor of such renown that his name could be found in history books, his reputation as the “Invincible General” was alive and well after his decisive victory over the Helios Knights on the central front despite his age of over seventy summers. Johann’s first impression upon seeing the marshal in person for the first time at the banquet was of a man of astounding tranquility. Upon seeing Cornelius burning with vigor as he rode forth from Galia Fortress, however, Johann had wondered for a moment if he weren’t looking at a different man entirely.
“I’ll tell you one thing. You would be a fool to disregard him just because he’s old.”
“I could never underestimate the Invincible General,” Johann replied. “Speaking of which, why did you send Amelia with the Second Allied Legion? If you’ll excuse me saying so, I really think I would have been the better choice.”
Johann and Lara both knew that Amelia loathed Olivia. Johann, who had something of a rapport with Olivia already, thought he would have found it easy to work with her. He was therefore more than a little curious as to why Lara had sent Amelia instead.
“As a simple warrior, she is more than adequate. If we are to install the Seraph as supreme ruler, however, we need Amelia to gain more experience.”
You have high hopes for dear Amelia, then... Johann thought. Lara’s usual harsh treatment of Amelia made sense as a sign of her high expectations. He doubted Amelia appreciated it, however.
“Then I have nothing further to say on the matter.”
“Well, I do.”
“And what might that be?”
“Hold your promiscuity in check. You have your position to consider.”
“I appreciate your concern, but don’t you know the old saying? ‘Great men are great lovers.’”
“Who are you calling a ‘great man’? You really are all ta— Who’s this now?”
A soldier with a single star on his left shoulder slid gracefully down from his horse to come and kneel before Lara.
“Blessed Wing Lara, there is to be a war council. Your presence is requested at the main command tent.”
“Very well. Tell Marshal Cornelius I’ll set off immediately.”
“As you command, ser!”
Lara jumped down from her silver chariot, then ordered an attendant to ready her horse.
“Are you coming too, Johann?”
“No, I think I’ll stay behind,” Johann declined, arranging his face in a serious expression. The stifling formality of such occasions disagreed with him, but he knew if he said as much that Lara would force him to accompany her. Unfortunately, Lara saw right through him.
“First Historia, now you,” she said with a sigh. “This is war, you know. Can’t you take it a bit more seriously?”
Astride her white horse, Historia’s eyelids kept sliding closed, the interval before they opened again lengthening every time she jerked awake. Lara glanced at her in exasperation, then put her hands on her hips and heaved another deep sigh.
Johann knew where she was coming from, but he had his own thoughts on what war was about.
“War, in its fundamentals, isn’t meant to be taken seriously. When you get down to it, it’s nothing more than mass murder. Even wild beasts don’t stoop to such levels.”
In times of peace, anyone who killed another person was named a murderer. Kill enough people in times of war, however, and you became a hero. Johann could follow the logic, but he still couldn’t understand it.
“You’ll forgive me, Johann, but I’m not in the mood to philosophize on the nature of war with you. Tell me again after the seraph achieves unification of the continent, and I’ll be all ears.”
Taking her reins in her left hand, Lara leapt elegantly into the saddle; then, with a few of her personal guard accompanying her, she galloped away. Johann watched them go with a sigh.
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