Chapter Ten: A Black Sea of Trees
I
Felix von Sieger, traitor to the empire and formerly one of its Three Generals, decided that he and the Azure Knights would take refuge in Fernest. In order to ascertain what the imperial army was up to, he selected soldiers with excellent scouting skills, then spent several days gathering information. Using what they brought him, he worked out their escape route and the ideal timing. He had finally decided that they would set forth on the morrow when news arrived that upset the whole operation.
It was midday when Lieutenant General Violet von Anastasia came to Felix, but thunderclouds that filled the sky left Fort Zaxxon in darkness.
The Azure Knights, Fort Zaxxon
“Dead...”
A bolt of lightning split the heavens, filling the workroom with white light. When it was gone, all that remained to illuminate the room was the faint glow of the fireplace.
Upon hearing that Paul was dead, Felix found himself at a loss for words.
“Should we delay our departure?” Violet asked hesitantly.
Felix, reeling from the unexpected loss of his intermediary, felt like his lips had turned to lead as he opened his mouth.
“I doubt we will have another chance like this one. We leave tomorrow, as planned. Convey as much to Major General Balboa.”
“Understood. And, ser, I...” Violet struggled to find words. Her gaze trembled like a leaf on the water’s edge. Seeing that she was concerned for him, Felix, with some effort, assumed a lighter expression.
“I’m fine,” he said. Violet shut her mouth on the question she was about to ask, then saluted. Just as she was about to put her hand on the doorknob to leave, she cast a look around the room as though searching for something.
“Something wrong?”
“Oh, no...” she muttered. “Excuse me.”
Against the sound of her reluctant footsteps, Lassara Merlin dispelled her concealment magecraft, then used a spell to draw up a chair in which she sat down. Silky Breeze the fairy, who was hiding inside an old jar, stuck her tongue out at the door.
“She’s sharp, that one,” Lassara observed. “Shows a lot more promise than you, youngster.”
“I suppose so.”
“Hmph. Mind elsewhere, I see. Say, I’m a bit chilly.”
Felix got up heavily from his chair, picked up the wood that lay in a neat pile in a corner of the room, then moved it in front of the fireplace. He gazed at the flames as they reared up cheerfully without really seeing them as Lassara spoke again.
“What are you going to do?” When Felix was silent, she persisted. “No answer, eh? How about swearing anew your loyalty to Darmés in exchange for the emperor’s life, then? I think it’s a rather ingenious plan if I do say so myself.”
“You can’t—?!” Felix spun around to find Lassara regarding him with an evil smile. “You are a bad person,” he said.
“Sorry, sorry. You were just so gloomy. That girl was mighty worried about you, even if she didn’t say it.”
“I’m well aware. I...” Felix paused. “I need to think a little.” He leaned back on the worn old sofa, staring up at the dingy ceiling and thinking that nothing ever went as planned. He was just thinking back on the words he and Paul had exchanged back at Kier Fortress when Silky alighted on his shoulder.
“How about I kick her butt as payback for teasing you?” she asked. Lassara’s eyebrows twitched, and she glowered at Silky.
“You want to go back in your cage, do you?”
“Just you try it!” Silky stuck up her middle finger defiantly.
“Lady Lassara was only trying to cheer me up. Let’s hold off from kicking anything.”
“Lassara’s a sly one. But me, I’m always on your side, Felix.”
“I’m always in a pitiful state around you, aren’t I, Silky?” he said with a self-deprecating smile. But Silky, looking serious, shook her head.
“You aren’t pitiful at all. I don’t think for one minute that you’d give up hope after a thing like this. Besides...” Silky combed her fingers nervously through her hair as her cheeks went pink. “Besides, I’m the only one who can make you feel better.”
Felix hesitated, then said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome!”
Lassara let out an impatient sigh and rolled her eyes at Felix. “You’re too soft on her, youngster.”
“I certainly don’t mean to be...” Felix scratched the end of his nose.
“Yeah, you heard him! You butt out, Lassara!” Silky threw a furious kick at Lassara’s head. Lassara flicked her away with an air of annoyance. Watching the familiar scene, Felix felt a little of the weight in his heart lift. Gradually, his mind began to work, looking for a way out.
There aren’t many who could step into the shoes of a man like that, he thought. And to make things worse, Lord Gruening, the Invincible General, was killed in battle as well...
Death came to all equally. It was a truth from which not even heroes could escape, something that Felix was powerfully reminded of now. After losing two great warriors at the same time, the Royal Army would be facing unprecedented turmoil. If the Azure Knights were to barge into the middle of all that, even if they made it clear that they had no wish to fight, the situation could easily break down to the point where violence became the only option.
My first priority must be the survival of the Azure Knights. No more spur-of-the-moment decisions. I have to proceed with caution.
Felix went back to the desk, his thoughts rapidly taking clearer shape. Before long dusk came, then a night passed. The eastern sky was beginning to brighten as Felix came to his decision.
“Looks like you’ve made up your mind,” Lassara said, bleary-eyed. She rubbed her eyes, a sight that brought up fond memories for Felix of his sister when she was a child. It was the Heavenly Orb mage circle tattooed on her little hand that brought him back to reality.
“I am going to reach out to the commander of the Second Legion.”
Lassara glanced over at Silky, who was sound asleep on top of the firewood. “And here I was sure you were going to bring up a certain girl.”
“Much as I like her, she isn’t one for political discussion.”
“But she’s a lieutenant general, isn’t she? They wouldn’t promote her so highly if she were a moron, no matter how good a warrior she is. I don’t see the need for being condescending.”
“I’m not looking down on her, not at all. It’s just a question of strengths and weaknesses. In any case, I know better than to rely on her except as a last resort.”
Lassara covered her mouth as she gave a wide yawn, then stretched lazily. “Well, far be it from me to interfere with your decisions, youngster. But don’t go thinking I’ll bail you out just like that when danger comes calling. I want no part in any war.”
“Of course not. This is my problem.”
“Hmm. Well, so long as we’re clear.” Lassara strolled from the room, saying she was going to wash her face.
The late Marshal Gladden had had a high opinion of the Second Legion’s commander, who had long held the central front against him without any support. Felix had no reason to disagree, but he did not know the man’s character. He knew that this would be a risky gamble.
It was with a solemn air that the Azure Knights set off from Fort Zaxxon into a chill winter mist that rendered the early morning landscape blank and empty. They marched on without a trace of their former splendor.
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