The pair followed behind Lady Ann and Knight Soliatus’s offensive push into the city. Bodies littered the stone streets. The rebel forces generally were wearing light green, and had varying amounts of equipment. Some were simple militiamen, others were men-at-arms, and some were even knights. The ones that stood out to Iris were wearing black cloaks with a rose on them. Underneath the cloaks was a wide range of equipment. It was likely they were mercenaries that had been mentioned beforehand. Some civilians or vagabonds were grabbing gear off of the dead. They were slain without hesitation. Iris cared little for them as they simply didn’t matter to the Coven. Not to mention they would be put on trial and likely killed in the Archdukes court.
The largest engagement was at a holdout of trapped soldiers of the rebellion. A few knights were among them. Time was not to be wasted and so Lady Elizabeth took command from the maidens assigned by Lady Ann. Within five minutes the situation was handled. Those still alive after the engagement were dragged outside and executed. The event was beyond boring for Iris, who would simply call out enemies for her maidens to slay. They seemed to enjoy actually having a leader to follow, although Iris didn’t notice their improvement in mood.
The clanging of steel and even loud incantations from the battle were heard. Upon reaching the barracks they were greeted with Lady Ann’s Deacon.
“Deacon Gabela, what’s the situation?” spoke Lady Elizabeth standing in front of the combined cohort.
“The resistance here is most furious my lady, we suspect it was a staging ground.”
Deacon Gabela motioned for them to follow, and Lady Elizabeth gave out orders. Arcane users would tend to the wounded, others would stand guard, she gave Iris a glare.
“And your maidens will be?”
Iris sighed, “Following me inside for support.”
“How hard was that Lady Iris.”
Lady Iris hardly acknowledged her tone. Upon entering the barrack’s courtyard, the rebels were trying to surrender but were cut down without hesitation. The scene was a massacre, only Soliatus and his men were not actively killing any rebels. Instead they stood by a group of well armored prisoners. The stables were on fire along with a nearby warehouse. Suddenly from the main building an enemy soldier was flung out of a window. His body hit the ground hard with a sickening splat.
A loud choir of shouts came from within, “Mercy, mercy!”
After a few moments a group of around ten prisoners were brought down out into the courtyard. The prisoners were bloody and being pushed forward. They were then made to kneel. A group of large, knightly looking men strolled out. These were Lady Ann’s templars, a unit of only the strongest and beastliest knights of the Coven. It was the only unit that was majority male. Their armor was black and silver, with a brown tabard. Upon their helms was a blank white face-plate. Upon the shoulder of one sat a slender, dainty looking girl. Although she looked younger than Iris, she was actually a few years older.
This was Lady Ann, a slender and beautiful woman. She had a similar appearance to that of Lady Iris, although her hair was slightly lighter. She had no armor, only a well tailored and elegant robe. A single silver necklace and a ring sat on her finger. Her hair was covered by a white veil. Her eyes matched Iris in color, a glowing yellow, and behind her a long shadow was present. It being night made this even stranger, but it seemed to dance and have a mind of its own. Upon her forehead was a black symbol of the Martyred Lady .
“Ah sweet Lady Iris and Elizabeth, a pleasure you’ve arrived.” She said this as one of her templars passed her a wet rag. She then wiped the blood off her face and hands. She hopped down from the imposing templar and her eyes narrowed on the pair.
“It seems you didn’t require our help, although your methods are still distasteful. Pure chaos.” Said Elizabeth, staring at some of the prisoners being executed. Their blood stained the grass growing around the courtyard.
Lady Ann sighed at this, “Chaos? How many times must I tell you that it’s calculated.”
Iris spoke up at this, “You should give them a fair fight my lady.”
“Ah sweet sister Iris, you are always so chivalrous, have you stayed your blade?”
Iris sighed, motioning towards her battle-maidens. “They have done the killing, although I care not.”
“Oh?”
“The rebels are unworthy of my attention and blade, if anything it would sully it.”
“Oh my such a strong statement.” Lady Ann looked at Lady Elizabeth, “I am almost done here.” Lady Ann motioned to her templars who brought over a corpse. It dropped with a thud and its eyes were blackened. Black tears dry upon its face. It wore the armor of a high ranking knight of the rebel duke.
Lady Elizabeth sighed, “And what did this one say?”
“A trap is apparently set at the palace. Oh, we also intercepted a cavalry unit sent to reinforce them. So that will cause them some trouble.” Lady Ann said this while crouching down to the corpse, her eyes glared with disdain upon it.
“Likely to defeat us with superior numbers..”
“Indeed, a smart gamble, and then flank our main force.”
Lady Elizabeth looked back to the Knight Soliatus who was discussing something with his own troops. A group of prisoners bearing the rebels insignia had their hands tied. She motioned towards him, “And what of the Archduke's son?”
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“He intercepted the cavalry, but upon getting back,” she trailed off then put on a false smile. “He disapproved of my methods, said he wouldn’t turn over the captured enemies.”
Lady Elizabeth sighed, “As long as he’ll fight at the palace I could care less, prepare to move on.”
The group prepared to leave, but not before Lady Ann spoke of the mercenaries hired by the rebel duke. Iris had perked up upon hearing the tone of the others. The Order of the Rose was apparently a capable mercenary force. Her eyes widened upon hearing the information. Lady Ann must have noticed her changing expression, as she slowly drifted her way towards Iris.
“Are you bored sweet sister Iris?”
Iris looked at her apathetically and didn’t respond, Lady Ann frowned. “Oh don’t be like that. We are sisters, those of similar blood should stick together.”
“Lady Ann, I find little to discuss with you.”
“Lady Iris how rude, perhaps the mention of the Rose would make you smile?”
“How did you-”
Lady Ann clicked her tongue, “Ah, I saw your expression, would you be interested to know something?”
Iris’s hidden gaze looked at Lady Ann unblinking, “What of them.”
“One of our kin is in their ranks.”
At this Iris’s eyes widened under her blindfold. “A sister? And what will be done?”
Lady Ann nodded, “A slaying, if my information is correct we need to be careful.”
“Does Lady Elizabeth know?”
“Yes I told her upon leaving the barracks.”
Iris was immediately more engaged in her thoughts of the upcoming battle. The duke's palace was now within sight. Although Lady Ann was a fellow member of the coven, not to mention a sister with angelic blood, Iris still felt little for her. Sure, her company could be pleasant, but her attitude and behavior was unbecoming of their kind.
Orders were being given out to the group. Lady Ann and Iris approached Lady Elizabeth, along with Knight Soliatus. A few manors stood on the outskirts with a center road leading into a large plaza. Figures stood around the large entrance, including the rebellious duke himself. Lady Elizabeth turned to Lady Ann.
“Lady Ann, you will take the center as you have the largest force.” Lady Ann nodded at this, and then Lady Elizabeth turned to Knight Soliatus.
“Knight Soliatus, you will be on our left flank to deter any flanking maneuvers. I will take the right, with my battle-maidens.”
He nodded, “Good, as long as I don’t have to fight under her.” He looked at Lady Ann who smiled back at him.
Turning to her Deacon, she followed up, “Lady Cecila, I am entrusting you to lead our arcanist, keep some in reverse for reinforcements.”
“Yes my lady.” She bowed and left. Now it just left Iris, who was fiddling with the hilt of her sword.
“Shall I be supporting Lady Ann as the vanguard?”
“No Lady Iris, I require you to support my arcanist as they will likely be the targets in a flanking maneuver.”
“On the flank as support, but I-,”
“You’ve had enough experience being on the front-line and not listening to orders.”
“I defeated th-,” Lady Elizabeth cut her off harshly.
“You only think about your foolish duels, leaving others out to dry. I need not remind you of last time.”
“Yes my lady,” she paused before bowing to excuse herself, “May I have permission to use my blade?”
Lady Elizabeth's wary blue eyes looked over Iris. The yellow within them was slight, but she still had angelic-blood. Iris found solace in that, surely she would understand, the foes we may face could be like us. “We have reason to suspect one of our sisters will be on the enemy side,” she paused, gauging Lady Iris’s reaction. “I can’t tell if Lady Ann told you or you simply do not care.”
“She did your ladyship.”
“It's troubling news to say the least.” She rubbed her eyes and put on her mask. The visage of the Martyred Lady upon it. Her bright blue and yellow eyes shone through it. “Stay your blade until you see our misled sister. Then do what you do best.”
Lady Iris nodded, she would follow her orders to her best ability. But deep down she did hope to see this half-angel. Iris relayed her given orders to her battle-maidens. The group began the march upon the traitorous duke's palace.
The Duke Gawain marched out of the palace to meet them. Around the Duke Gawain stood the honor guard and regular infantry. The honor guard were tall, burly, and heavily armored men with the light green of their Duke. Their armor was ornate and well made. Each carried multiple weapons, and would prove to be a challenge for Lady Ann’s own heavily armored troops.
On the left flank was the Duke’s son, Count Randion, a knight with dark green armor. This was in similar fashion to all royalty of the region. The tabard laid over the top was of light green and golden green. These were the colors of the rebellious duke. His son and him both had a similar appearance, dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
What drew the eyes of the leaders of the coven were not the Duke, rather it was the small group behind the Duke. One in particular stood above the rest. She had an angelic presence, one of which was hardly mistaken. Upon her rested the dark cloak of the Order of the Rose. Her associates wore a similar cloak, all their faces hidden except for below the nose.
Lady Ann whispered under her breath, “Angelic surely, but not pure-blooded.” Her gaze was fixed upon the women.
“Yes, it seems that is her,” Lady Elizabeth nodded. Iris was also able to sense her. Knight Soliatus looked at them in confusion.
“Come its you and your fathers war, let us speak to the Duke.”
The Duke Gawain stepped out in front, as did the other two. “I didn’t expect you to dabble in the politics of nobles.” He spoke with resolve and was confident. “Surely you do not intend to upset the balance of power?”
Lady Elizabeth cast an incantation on her voice to speak louder, her voice boomed over the soon to be battlefield. “Yet you forced our hand, as your war has ravaged the land.”
“Why now? We have ravaged the land under the Archdukes banner?”
Lady Elizabeth simply shrugged, “I am but a humble servant of our Martyred Lady, and have been ordered to fulfill my duty.”
“Ah, a so-called angelic disciple of the Goddess Aurora, and yet your lady was banished from heaven.”
“A disciple who served the Goddess and sacrificed herself, yet you twist words. And for what end?”
The Duke Gawain spoke with a hint of cynicism. “It is a mere example of the many falsehoods present in our world.”
Lady Elizabeth responded in kind, “A falsehood like your rebellion? Perhaps you would surrender to correct this falsehood?”
“I should ask you the same thing, Lady Abbess Elizabeth. Even with your intervention we outnumber you two to one. Not to mention we still have some cavalry.”
“My cohort is worth twice as many as yours.”
The Duke laughed at this, “Oh? We have our own angel, and my numbers should not be laughed at.”
“Numbers? You jest, what are numbers against our skill?”
The duke’s face started to become red with anger. “Enough, your Coven has no right to intervene in the realm of nobles. The cowardly Archduke is simply using you, just like he did us.”
At this Knight Soliatus clenched his fist and shouted, “You are a snake, a viper, who only strikes for personal gain!”
The Duke simply snorted at this outburst. “The Archduke’s heir, a shameful example of our fallen values. A bastard and the only male heir, how disgraceful.”
Knight Soliatus’s face turned red and he shouted back at the Duke. “I have heard enough, let us end this.”
Lady Elizabeth coughed, clearing her voice, “And thus the Coven of Her Martyred Lady agreed with the heir’s statement.” Her eyes portrayed a smile, “We will give you no quarter, just as your men at Volkstein.”
“Damn you, you venomous witch! We will enjoy exposing your hubris.”