Zalia and Tristan stood atop the walls of Ostoss as the remainder of Hildebrandt’s people moved through the gate. They had needed to wait for another three days before the group had arrived, a short enough wait now that the twins were there to protect the town.
The original reason Zalia had come north was to try convince Glemp’s people to come down and help out with the war. While she hadn’t managed to do that, she felt that the remainder of the Morning’s Shade would be an equally powerful ally for what was to come.
They needed to take back the capital and kill or disable the thousand eyed monster that now lived there. That would mean fighting through a city filled with undead, if Zalia was right, along with fighting off the corrupting aura that would slowly kill them. Her own aura ability protected her from it to a degree, yet it was the power of Ro-ak, otherwise known as Nateysta, spirit and god of mysteries and forests, that had held back that aura enough for her to actually function.
Both the starlight wolf and the heat and stone spirit in the mountain would be able to do the same, if they could ever be convinced to actually take part in the fight.
For now though, she was happy enough that she had managed to get one group of people to help, even if it did seem like they had been on the verge of doing so anyways.
“What now?” Tristan asked from beside her.
Zalia pushed off the battlements and turned about to look down on the milling group of powerful fighters.
“I’m not sure. How has the enchanter gone with integrating my ritual into the shield?”
A small smile flickered across Tristan’s still weary face.
“Failing to accomplish anything at all, except exuding an abundance of frustration.”
Zalia smiled too, though she wasn’t exactly happy it hadn’t worked out yet. If the Enchanter managed to copy the effects, it would be a great boon to the town. It was just slightly amusing that the Enchanter, despite all of his disdain for her type of rituals, couldn’t copy the effects.
“Maybe I should go see if I can help at all.”
Tristan turned about to face the city interior as well.
“Maybe, though you’ve already done a lot for us.”
“Perhaps not as much as you think. I want them to go south to help the army retake the capital.”
Tristan sighed.
“I thought as much. I’ve been thinking about what we can do to protect these people. Come with you to the army camp? It feels weird and… wrong to abandon Ostoss after we’ve finally managed to settle things a little. With Ember’s help, people seem to be looking a little better. It won’t be long until the farm grows big enough to feed us all with more farmers flocking to help by the day.”
Zalia had given it some thought as well. It would be a good opportunity for them to evacuate if there ever was one. A population this large on the move would need quite a large number of people to protect them. The Morning’s Shade would be the perfect group for that. They could go north to the mountain and take refuge with Zen and the others there.
“Maybe one or two of the Silver rank members can stay here to help you defend, once the Enchanter has the shield up and running?”
They only had sixteen Silver rank members in the group, so it would be an impactful reduction to their strength. Saying that though, there were still enough strong fighters that they could make an impact either way.
“That might work, are you sure they would be okay with that?”
Zalia chewed at her bottom lip, considering. Best to ask.
“I’ll go ask now. I don’t even know that they will come down to help the army.”
Tristan nodded.
“I should come greet our saviours as well, I guess.”
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Together, they came down from the walls to meet Hildebrandt. They had to push through a few people but finally managed to get to the front of the group.
“There you are Zalia. Want to lead us somewhere a little more private?”
Hildebrandt was looking about at the wide-eyed refugees and townspeople who were watching the large group. Whispers of ‘Morning’s Shade’ were spreading through the crowd. Zalia had forgotten that they were a group of people held in a somewhat mysterious light to most of Endaria.
Not a lot of people had met a member, let alone knew one properly.
Tristan gestured down the street.
“Please, this way.”
Hildebrandt started moving in the pointed direction, the crowd moving out of the way.
“And you are?”
“Tristan, currently in charge of Ostoss’ guard.”
Hildebrandt pat him gently on the shoulder.
“By what Zalia has told me, you should be commended on your defense of Ostoss, considering how little you have to defend it with. Well done.”
Zalia saw Tristan’s hands twitch like he meant to salute.
“Thank you si… Thank you.”
She smiled. A touch of authority and he fell back into his old military ways. Some things weren’t so easily unlearnt.
Hildebrandt looked up at the protective dome as they walked.
“And who is responsible for that?”
Zalia followed her gaze.
“A Silver rank Enchanter, Barrier specialisation. It’s quite impressive I have to say.”
“I’d agree, I can’t see a single flaw in it. That takes quite a bit of expertise to accomplish.”
Zalia coughed.
“He is… let’s just say obsessed with symmetry.”
Hildebrandt looked down at her, stepping around a patch of filth on the road.
“Ah, well that explains it. I’ve met a few who go that route with their enchantments. It makes for quite perfect pieces but their ability to adapt is lacking.”
“Oh, really? That explains why he has been having trouble integrating my own ritual into his own work. Do you have any advice around that?”
Hildebrandt snorted.
“Yeah, don’t even try. I’ve seen your rituals, I can’t think of any two less suited types of magic to try and make work together.”
“That’s… unfortunate.”
“It is what it is. There is a time and place for both types of magic.”
While she trusted Hildebrandt’s knowledge of magic, both as a high ranking person and as a leader of one of the most well informed groups in the kingdom, she had to disagree. Hildebrandt seemed to imply that it wasn’t impossible and they should give up but Zalia felt like there must be a way. Nature was certainly chaotic where the Enchanter’s magic was orderly yet there must be something that both shared, a bridge to make them work together.
She gave it some thought as they walked, losing herself in thought until they arrived at the food hall turned barracks.
They managed to fit all of the Morning’s Shade members inside, the space made for a much larger number of people. Once everyone was settled, Zalia found Hildebrandt once more. She wanted to return to her family who were still at the farm, but needed to settle some details about what came next first.
“Hildebrandt, I want you and your people to come back with me to the army camp so that we might combine forces and take back the capital together. The issue we are running into is that without you here, Ostoss will not be safe. It won’t be possible to evacuate all of these people in any short amount of time and the only idea Tristan and I can come up with is leaving a few Silver rank members here to protect the town. What do you think?”
Hildebrandt looked around at the members of her group, making sure no one was within easy earshot.
“I’ll be honest Zalia, I’m not really sure what I’m doing. Matthias and the Hidden were the planners, the thinkers. My main job leading the Morning’s Shade was in defending the city and occasionally leaving to fight some beast or the other. I can show you how to best defend this town but… when it comes to the best way to fight off this invasion.” Hildebrandt sighed. “I’m afraid that just isn’t in my skillset. A result of both my Wisdom and Intellect not being linked I suppose.”
She laughed nervously, as if she were admitting a crime.
Zalia gave an encouraging smile.
“I feel like I’ve got no idea what I’m doing almost all of the time, if it’s any consolation.”
Hildebrandt laughed again, a little more openly this time.
“Well, that’s comforting.”
Zalia couldn’t help but feel bad for the woman. She had been saddled with the responsibility of the entire order after the Hidden had been taken into custody and Matthias had disappeared.
“Then how about this. We leave the twins here to defend Ostoss, as they are the fastest people you’ve got. Then, we take everyone else here and go down to the war camp where Lady Indis and the generals can do all the thinking about what to do next.”
Hildebrandt leaned back in her chair.
“I like the sound of that.”