II
It was just as the battle was met between the Azure Knights and Darmés’s forces that Felix and the others arrived before a cottage in a forest on the outskirts of Olsted. Nearby was a small lake where graceful waterbirds swam, drawing clean lines over its surface.
“Let us go.” Taking the lead, Felix opened the door to the cottage. Inside stood an old man with a luxurious beard. For many long years, Chirac had been caretaker of this cottage. It had been in fact five years since Felix had last seen him.
“It’s been too long,” he said to the old man. “I’m glad to see you well.”
Tears filled Chirac’s eyes. “If it isn’t young master Felix,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “The memories that brings back... But here now, haven’t you turned out a fine lad...”
“‘Young master Felix’?” Beside him, Olivia was staring in fascination. Felix ignored her, instead looking around at the inside of the cottage.
“Time is of the essence. Are preparations complete?”
“Everything is in order, m’lord...” Chirac said, then the genial gleam in his eyes sharpened as he turned an appraising look on Olivia and her companions. “But who might these folk be?” Aside from Olivia and Claudia, they all wore armor emblazoned with the crest of Fernest. It was only natural Chirac would be on guard around soldiers from an enemy nation, even at Felix’s side.
“You need not worry about them. I will vouch for them myself.”
Chirac hesitated. “Very well,” he said. “This way, if you please.”
They followed him straight through the cottage to the opposite wall, then turned right to a door that Chirac pushed open to reveal a staircase leading down beneath the ground.
“You’ll have need of these.” The old man held out torches to each of them in turn. “With a new emperor taking the throne out of nowhere and reports that the Azure Knights have turned traitor, it’s a state of unholy confusion among the city folk. And there’s word going about that any nobles who went to Listelein Palace to express their discontent to the new emperor were executed. Now, I know there’s no speaking of chance where you’re concerned, young master, but you’d best be taking care of yourself.”
Felix thanked Chirac before setting off down the steps lit by torchlight. Teresa, Matthew, and the rest of his personal guard followed, with Olivia and her companions silently bringing up the rear. The path that led away under the ground had been well maintained.
They had barely gone a few steps along it when Olivia asked, “So where does this path let out, anyway?” She did not sound at all nervous.
“It connects to the inner courtyard of Listelein Palace.”
“The palace, huh? That’s nice and handy, isn’t it? By the way, where’s this ‘Darmés’ going to be?”
“Is it Darmés you’re interested in?” Felix had been so concerned over Ramza’s well-being that he had not asked Olivia about her reasons for accompanying him. Even so, he would never have dreamed that she had any interest in Darmés. Naturally the two of them could never have met. “What makes you so interested in him?” Olivia’s soldiers seemed like they wanted to hear her answer too. Though he did not have eyes in the back of his head, he sensed their ears prick up. Claudia, who walked beside Olivia, was looking at her with a sort of agitation in her gaze.
If another commander acted with the deviance Olivia has, even if it was only in passing, it would have earned them at least a murmur of criticism. And yet... From all Felix had seen, none of her soldiers appeared unhappy with her. On the contrary, he got the impression they were eager to be of service. This girl, who could not be far in age from his own sister Luna, had already acquired that invaluable thing—trust.
“You heard Darmés’s voice inside your head, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“Well, the thing about that,” Olivia said, “is that it’s what Z used to do all the time with me.” She said it so lightly, but this was not information Felix could take in without comment. At present, Felix suspected that Darmés was a mage, and potentially a unique type. That was the only way he could have made his voice heard inside their minds, like some divine message.
“Was this ‘Z’ a mage, then?”
“Huh? No, Z’s not a mage.” Again, her tone was so unconcerned that Felix could not immediately think of what to say next.
As if to fill the silence, Olivia asked what their next plan was.
“Let’s split into two groups when we reach the courtyard. Darmés worries me too, but my object here is to secure the safety of the emperor.”
“Okay, then we’ll head for Darmés and draw their attention as we go. That’ll make it easier for you to save the emperor, right?”
“Can I really ask that of you?”
Olivia grinned. “Of course you can.”
Felix was grateful, but from another point of view, he was putting his subordinates in harm’s way. While he agonized over how to proceed, Olivia’s soldiers’ eyes burned with determination.
They walked for a little longer, until at last Felix brought them to a halt in a blind passage. “Here,” he said. Olivia ran her eyes over the wall in front of them, then cocked her head.
“But it’s a dead end,” she said. In response, Felix laid a hand on a section of the wall, then pushed hard. The wall under his hand retracted out of sight as though sucked in, followed by a heavy grinding noise and a shaking as the whole wall began to slide up.
“Oh, I love this sort of thing!” Olivia cried in childlike delight.
“This will take us to the courtyard. Be on your guard.” Turning away from the beaming Olivia, Felix stepped cautiously through the open doorway.
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