Chapter Fourteen: The Final Battle
I
An official response from Darmés arrived accepting their proposal. At this, the united forces of Fernest, Mekia, and Sutherland marched for the wilderness that extended over the western reaches of the Principality of Stonia.
The Royal Army fronted one hundred and ten thousand soldiers, the Winged Crusaders forty thousand, and the Sutherland army one hundred and fifty thousand. In all, they formed a mighty host three hundred thousand strong.
Olivia and Felix set out from Galia Fortress with the Royal Army’s vanguard—a force of fifty thousand soldiers that included the Azure Knights—and made their way down the Canalia Highway.
“We should be able to see Canalia soon,” Claudia said wistfully.
A distant, nostalgic expression came over Olivia’s face, and she murmured, “Oh wow, Canalia...”
“You have some history with the town of Canalia?” Felix, who rode alongside them, inquired.
“I mean, I wouldn’t call it ‘history,’” Olivia said with an equivocal smile. Claudia knew exactly what was going through her mind.
“All right...” Felix did not press the matter any further, and soon after, the vanguard arrived in Canalia.
It looks completely different, Claudia thought. The differences were good, of course. The speed of the town’s recovery had outpaced Claudia’s expectations, and its old beauty was beginning to return. In particular, Claudia noted the animated faces of the people in the streets—a world away from the last time she had been here.
People really are incredible, she thought in wonder.
Beside her, Ellis looked around, then said, “Looks like this place escaped the unrest.”
“Well, it lies on a road of great importance. Lord Otto arranged for a decent garrison of guards to be stationed here, so that may have something to do with it.”
The riots that had spread out from the royal capital had distressed Fernest’s leaders greatly. But they had gradually subsided after Selvia’s timely announcement of the Triple Alliance and the declaration that they would unite against the empire’s undead army.
“There’s that, but the hope the prince regent gave the common folk really helped too. If I may speak on behalf of my fellow commoners, we’re people who’ll turn around and decry yesterday’s virtue as evil itself the moment we feel our livelihoods are threatened. We’re not afraid to change our tune when the wind blows another way.”
Claudia could only smile weakly at Ellis’s biting sarcasm.
They continued down the road for a time until, slipping through the crowd that had gathered to watch the army’s progress, three children approached them. Evanson rushed to stop them, but Olivia raised a hand for him to desist.
“Hey, miss, remember us?” The first to run up to Olivia was Emil, the eldest of the three. Claudia remembered the girl with a doll in her arms and the boy with a wooden sword thrust into his belt.
Olivia sprang down from Comet’s back. “’Course I remember you. You’ve all grown.” Grinning, she ruffled their hair. Emil blushed, embarrassed, while the other two looked ready to jump up and down in delight.
Emil threw his chest out and jabbed his thumb at the sword on his back. “Lemme join up to the Royal Army, miss. I wanna go with you to wallop them diabolical imperials.”
“Ehhh, I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
“How come? I’m tougher than I look!” Emil protested, breathing heavily. Olivia crouched down to look him directly in the eyes.
“But if you die, think of how sad your mom and dad will be. Don’t you care about that?”
When Claudia saw the dead serious look on Olivia’s face as she admonished Emil, a certain memory rose up vividly in her mind. Olivia had taken Claudia to visit the merchant house of Ashton’s parents, saying that this was something she had to do herself...
“Welcome!” The moment they entered, a woman arranging goods on the shelves greeted them in a friendly voice. Gradually, however, her smile faded as she stared wide-eyed at the two of them.
“I, erm...”
“Are you Olivia and Claudia, by any chance?”
Surprised to have been identified, the two of them exchanged a glance.
“How did you know?” Claudia asked.
“Oh dear. Whatever am I saying?” the woman said, flustered. “I am sorry. My son wrote ever so much about you in every one of his letters, you see. Not to mention that it’s not every day one sees ladies as pretty as the two of you, even in Fis, so I couldn’t help but wonder...”
“You must be Ashton’s mother, then.” Now that she looked closer, Claudia saw the woman and Ashton had the same eyes.
“Customers?” A man of medium height and build with a kind face poked his head out from the back of the shop. Ashton’s mother beckoned insistently to him.
“Dear, look, the girls from Ashton’s letters.”
“Hm?” The man looked at them. “Well, I never! We’re most grateful for all you’ve done for our son.” He hurried to take off his hat, then bowed low.
Claudia and Olivia introduced themselves properly, but now, facing Ashton’s parents, the words refused to come. Time went by and they got nowhere.
Amid the uncomfortable silence that followed, Ashton’s father broached the subject.
“Something happened to him, didn’t it?” he said.
Words rose in Claudia’s throat, only to scatter like clouds before taking form.
Ashton’s father’s gaze on them was comforting. “I only had to see the pain in your faces to know.”
“My goodness, whatever are you rambling about now? I’m sure he only stopped off at the bakery across the road. He always did love Martha’s honey bread. That boy, I don’t know. One would think after so long away, he’d come and see his parents first...”
Ashton’s mother kept on babbling away, but she knew her son wasn’t coming. She knew, but was pretending not to know, stubbornly refusing to accept reality. Claudia knew with painful clarity just how she was feeling—it was the same folly that she had gone through herself.
With considerable effort, Olivia assumed a stern expression, clicked the heels of her military boots together, and raised a hand in a proper salute. “I am here today to inform you that Lieutenant Colonel Ashton Senefelder was killed in action.”
“Deary me, that sort of joke is not the thing I thought to hear from such an angelic—” She broke off as Olivia continued to stare at her in silence, her expression unchanged. “He... My Ashton...is dead...?”
Ashton’s mother looked dazed. Wobbling on her feet, she drifted off out the back of the shop. Ashton’s father watched her go with an air of concern before turning to them with a mirthless smile. Just looking at it, Claudia felt like her heart would burst. She clenched her fists tight.
“Ever since he became a soldier I knew, somewhere deep down, that this day might come. I knew it, and yet...” As he crumpled his hat in his hands, Olivia took a step forward. She took a pen from her pocket and held it out. Claudia was not about to interfere.
“This belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Ashton. I hope you’ll take it.” Ashton’s father stared down at the pen, then silently shook his head. Olivia couldn’t hide her confusion. “But why?”
“My son sent that to you in death, Olivia,” he said, his eyes full of compassion.
“How did you know...?”
“That pen was another thing he wrote about in his letters. I think it made him awfully happy to get a gift from you. He wrote pages about how grateful he was. I can’t accept this from you. You keep it with you, Olivia, just as you have until now. I’m sure that’s what Ashton would have wanted.” He gently wrapped Olivia’s fingers back around the pen. “Olivia, Claudia, you have my thanks for taking the trouble to come see us on behalf of our son. His was not a long life, but this I can say for sure: he cherished every day he spent with the two of you.”
First Ashton’s mother had gone out back as though in a trance. Now his father gave Ashton’s treasured possession over to Olivia’s care. It ate away at Claudia, growing into a devouring fire that left her heart in agony. The moment before the door closed behind them, she heard Ashton’s father let out a wail that would stay with her for the rest of her days...
“I don’t want my mom and dad to be sad,” Emil mumbled, hanging his head.
“Thought so,” Olivia said. “So I won’t take you, but I appreciate the thought.” She took the bag of sweets she kept strapped to Comet’s back, then handed it to Emil. “Here, this is a thank-you gift.”
Emil opened the bag, then broke out in a grin. “Sweets!” he exclaimed. The other two kids let out shrieks of glee. Then he paused. “Are...are you really giving us all of these?”
“You betcha. Share them with everyone, okay?”
“Okay! Thanks, miss!” The children waved enthusiastically as Olivia set off again.
If Ashton could see her now, his eyes would pop out of his head, Claudia thought. Was it his death that made her grow up? If so...I can’t imagine anything crueler. As she gazed after Olivia’s receding figure, Kagura whinnied.
“Oh, I’m all right,” Claudia reassured the horse. Kagura knew what to do without Claudia even having to touch the reins. With a clatter of hooves, she set off after Olivia.
The vanguard left Canalia and continued westward across the Plains of Ilys. They stopped off at Fort Caspar to rest and resupply. It was on the second day of their stay that the inevitable happened. Felix and Olivia were standing on either side of a map of Listelein Palace planning their next move when Matthew came with the news.
“Are you certain?”
“I could hardly mistake our former allies.”
“How many?”
“A little over twenty thousand.”
There were around eighty thousand soldiers stationed at Kier Fortress, weren’t there? Even assuming they had sustained losses in the battle with First Allied Legion, twenty thousand was too few if they meant to exterminate the Azure Knights.
“I certainly don’t plan on losing, but if I’m honest, I’d rather it didn’t come to that at all,” Matthew said, raising his hands with exaggerated helplessness.
Felix looked at Olivia. “What do you think?”
She pressed a finger to her cheek. “I doubt Darmés would break his promise after all this...”
“I agree. There are some relevant circumstances. I sent a letter to Rosenmarie explaining everything and, acknowledging how unreasonable a request I was making, asked her to join us.”
“Rosenmarie von Berlietta, huh? That takes me back...” Olivia said wistfully. “But that means she must have come to join our side, right?”
“I just hope it will be that simple...” Rosenmarie wasn’t the sort to go in for cloak-and-dagger, but she was calculating. The knowledge prevented Felix from being entirely pleased by the situation. He couldn’t gauge her intentions.
“Well, wondering isn’t going to get us anywhere,” Olivia said. “Let’s go talk to her.”
“I suppose so...” Felix said. “I’ll have the Azure Knights standing by just in case.” He gave Violet instructions, then he and Olivia went to find Rosenmarie. Outside the castle walls, the air thrummed with murderous energy.
“Look who’s here! Playing together nicely, I see,” Rosenmarie drawled. The ranks of the Crimson and the Helios Knights loomed intimidatingly behind her. Her tone was playful, but there was no laughter in her eyes.
“I’m impressed you found us.”
“Don’t you go maligning the shimmers’ intelligence expertise, now. Dear me—Lord Felix, once of the empire’s Three Generals, has forgotten even that?”
Rosenmarie’s sarcasm was in fine form. Felix couldn’t help but smile. “Is that what you came here to say?”
“That was half the reason.”
“And the other half?” When he asked her this, Rosenmarie glared at Olivia. Of course that’s how it goes, Felix thought, sighing at the predictable turn. Olivia, meanwhile, gave Rosenmarie a cheerful smile and a wave.
“Long time no see, Rosenmarie. Looks like you’re doing well!”
Rosenmarie spat on the ground. “Still all sunshine and rainbows, I see. We’ve got a lot of unfinished business, you and I. As I’m sure you remember.”
Olivia only smiled and didn’t reply. Felix glanced sidelong at her. She’s totally forgotten, hasn’t she?
“And I mean to get what I’m owed.” No sooner had she spoken than Rosenmarie kicked off the ground and—
Two swords crossed, but Olivia’s wasn’t one of them. “What the hell are you doing?” Rosenmarie hissed. A stir rumbled through the knight orders behind her.
“I should be asking you that,” Felix replied. “I’d thank you not to make this all about your concerns.”
A beguiling gleam came into Rosenmarie’s eyes. “You’re not getting out of my way, are you?”
“This is foolishness. There is still a lot you don’t know, Rosenmarie. Surely this can wait until after you hear us out.”
Rosenmarie hesitated, then said, “Fine. I owe you, so I’ll go along with this for now. But whatever you have to say had better be worth it, or I will be picking up where I left off.” She took three steps back, then jerked her chin up, indicating for him to continue. Felix returned Elhazard to its scabbard. Then he laid out what had happened since he’d sent his letter.
“All right, so setting aside how insane that sounds, you’re saying that the one really behind this is a god of death who’s manipulating Darmés?”
Felix indicated with a grave nod that she was correct.
“A god of death...” Rosenmarie muttered. The corners of her mouth twisted up as she stared wolfishly at Olivia. “Got your ass handed to you, huh? You had it coming.”
“Yep, I was helpless,” Olivia said, straight-faced.
Rosenmarie spat again, then said irritably, “I can’t believe you went and got beaten by someone else. Don’t tell me the two of you are stupid enough to think that if you work together you can defeat this god of death.”
“I’m not saying anything like that. Still, together our chances are a lot better than just mine alone.”
“The fate of humanity now rests on her shoulders,” Felix added, resolution in his voice. “In order for her to be at her strongest when she faces the god of death, I cannot allow any harm to come to her.”
Rosenmarie scoffed. “You’re crazy. This is a god we’re talking about, right? I know you have this ‘good person’ thing going, but running into a battle you can’t possibly win is taking it a bit far, don’t you think?”
“To reiterate, the fate of humanity is at stake.”
“I couldn’t care less about the fate of humanity, and I’m not going to disgrace myself by compromising my convictions.”
“Now I see. This isn’t about reason. Well, if you mean to always put your own need for revenge first...” Accepting that he had no choice but to remove her, Felix reached for his sword. Tension crackled in the air. Then Rosenmarie gave him an exasperated smile.
“All right, you’ve made it clear how determined you are, so cool it, all right? You’re always so stubborn.”
Felix felt a rush of indignation hearing this from Rosenmarie. He still did not take his hand off his sword.
Rosenmarie’s expression turned serious. “You’re sure that Emperor Ramza is himself again?”
“He is an honored guest of the Kingdom of Fernest,” Felix said, his mouth tightening.
“Ah...” Rosenmarie said, then she narrowed her eyes at Olivia. “Apparently I owe you now, so just this once, I’ll help you out. However! Once this is all over, we’re having a rematch. And I’m not taking no for an answer,” she added threateningly.
Olivia backed away from Rosenmarie a little but nodded.
To be sure, Felix asked, “Perhaps this comes a little late, but are you sure about this?”
“Just a little late. As you can see,” Rosenmarie said, pointing over her shoulder with her thumb. “I’ve brought a premium selection of the craziest bastards in the Crimson and Helios Knights with me. Don’t be afraid to expect great things on the battlefield.”
“You’ll hurt our feelings calling us things like that, m’lady!” called a broad-shouldered soldier, drawing a roar of laughter from her knights.
“Now, we have orders from the great Emperor Darmés to hunt down the Azure Knights,” Rosenmarie went on. “You’re clever, Felix, so I’m sure you catch my drift.”
“You’re going to pretend to search for us, I suppose?”
Rosenmarie smirked. “See? No need to go advertising myself as a traitor. Twenty thousand soldiers should do for appearances’ sake. If only you’d done the same, Felix. But it’s too late for that now.”
Felix, who recognized that he had allowed his emotions to control him for a time, had no defense. He avoided meeting Rosenmarie’s eyes.
“But then, if it weren’t for that painfully sincere streak of yours, that lot wouldn’t have stuck with you this far.” Rosenmarie glanced up at the Azure Knights on the ramparts, bows at the ready, and nodded to herself.
“We needn’t worry about Kier Fortress moving against us, then?” Felix asked. He didn’t see Rosenmarie’s chief of staff Oscar, which meant the man had to still be at Kier Fortress. Felix was familiar enough with Oscar’s character to know he wouldn’t be thrilled about what Rosenmarie was doing.
“He’s torn between his loyalty to me and his pride as an imperial soldier, but I wouldn’t worry. But remember this: if I think I’m on the losing side, I’ll have no qualms about turning on you.”
Felix couldn’t help but observe that if she really meant to betray them, she needn’t have said anything—she could have just quietly done it when the time came.
“You’re not such a bad person yourself, Rosenmarie,” Felix said with a wry smile. Rosenmarie spat again with even more vehemence than before.
Amid the swirl of ambitions and ulterior motives, the greatest figures of the age came one after another to the field where their fate would be decided. The final battle was about to begin.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login