The situation in the town was stable, messy, but stable. Many of the civilians were still in mourning at the loss of life, livelihoods, and property. The damage to their infrastructure was vast and would take years to fully recover. However, many of them were simply glad to have survived. I guess in a medieval adjacent society death can come for you at any moment, so the people face that possibility with a grim stoicism that keeps them moving forward.
Speaking of moving, it was time for us to get back on the road. Some of the town’s people saw us off while we departed, thankful for the aid that we had given them. Many others, however, were still bitter, or blamed us as the cause of their misfortune by simply showing up. It didn’t matter if their own soldiers had sabotaged them, they were just looking for someone to lash out at and we were an easy target. It might not have been fair, but I couldn’t judge them too harshly for it considering everything they had lost.
We moved on, the army beginning its march once more. The early morning air carried a bitter bite, and Kala might have been knocked out by it if it wasn’t for her clutching the warming crystal that I gave her. Some of the other Trelnval in the army weren’t as fortunate as their limp bodies were loaded into the back of carts. They warmed themselves on more crystals or by cuddling up to one of their Droln companions who were given the slightly embarrassing job of snuggling with the frigid reptiles. It was amusing, but sensible as the fuzzy giants practically radiated heat. More than once I had caught sight of Velian riding tandem with Hargon, unabashedly using the big man as a space heater. It made me grin, despite the grim atmosphere as we moved through the fields dotted with soot black snow.
Everyone knew where we were going, what it meant. This was the furthest that the coalition had ever gotten into Thrainian territory, and now all that was left was a straight shot to the heart. I found my leg was bouncing as Kala and I rode in the carriage. My body felt restless. I had imagined this moment many times, yet now that I’m here, I felt lost.
While I still wanted to get my hands around Alathos’ throat and squeeze the life out of him, the path that I was willing to take to get there had changed significantly. No longer was I okay with simply burning everything down, but destruction was inevitable, and I had to be prepared to make difficult choices.
Honestly, I never expected to even make it this far all things considered. Now we were going back to where it all started. This gigantic circular journey was finally coming to a head.
Our trek across the frozen landscapes passed by in a blur as my mind was already miles ahead of us, imagining the state of the city and what we might find. Memories of the past flooded through me. Days spent hiding, running, killing as I escaped torture and a waking nightmare. Now I was back, and I finally had some control over my own fate.
The snowy landscape that passed us by was oddly haunting. Strange winter plants that I had not seen before grew in the spaces between tree roots. There was a shimmering vine like plant that caught my eye as its thin tendrils draped down from a bulbous stalk head like an ethereal umbrella. The tendrils appeared to have ice collected on them at set intervals, meaning it was by design, and it added to the shimmer as it caught and reflected the light. I could only guess as to what advantage that might give the plant evolutionarily speaking, but it looked beautiful regardless.
While the seasonal flora of this world was interesting, it couldn’t distract me forever. After a little over a day, we came across another landmark village. It was built flanking either side of a river, with small wooden bridges that allowed for the occupants to cross over to either side. It didn’t take long for us to figure out that it was empty like the first one we came across. There was nothing but dust and snow left in any of the houses as the residents fled their homes in search of somewhere they thought would be safe. We didn’t bother to stay here, there was still plenty of light left in the day and Durdan wanted to make more progress.
The army's morale was mixed when I walked the rows of tents in the night. Soldiers complained about the cold frequently enough, and some of them held reservations about being able to successfully siege Fulvrist. I couldn’t fault these naysayers for their opinions as the coalition had a history of unsuccessful excursions into Thrianian territory. However, there were those who still had hope and looked forward to the chance of finally bringing peace to the land and the lives of their families. No longer would they have to fear raids by armies, slavery, or the maddened ambitions of a tyrant.
It almost felt like the air itself was changing as we got closer to Fulvrist. An unseen pressure was placed upon everyone in the army. Idle conversation all but died around the fires at night, even from those who were previously voicing their optimism. After several days of marching, we were now only a single day away from the Thrainian capital. It was difficult to imagine what was going through the minds of these soldiers who were about to attempt what many considered to be an impossibility. Some of them might have simply been trying to come to terms with the fact that they might very well die tomorrow.
As I approached the firepit around my tent, and the tents of my friends, I saw them all sitting around it, huddling close together as they fought off the cold. It was strange to see them so pensive when their normal attitude was much more jovial. Every other battle, every fight that we have ever been in together, they kept things light both before and after the fact. Still, it felt like it would be in poor taste to try and force that mood back onto them just so I wouldn’t be uncomfortable.
I took my seat next to Kala as she leaned on me without a word. The silence was deafening, and after a solid minute of nothing but the crackling of flames that cast dancing shadows on the white snow, I decided to break the quiet.
“So, this is it, huh?” Their heads turned towards me as I had their undivided attention. “It’s been one heck of a journey to get to this point. I’ve done and been through more than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams. I have lost and gained many things; we all have, in some way. I may have cursed my luck many times, particularly in my early days in this world as those were the days I lost the most. Now, though, I feel that I’m on the cusp of doing something truly worthwhile. If we win at Fulvrist, we can forever change the history of this world for the better. It will take work, generations of it as grudges and hostility need to be buried beneath the steady march of progress, but we can do it. Before it begins, I just want to thank you all for giving me a chance, and standing beside me even through my crazy, half-baked plans.”
That last bit managed to get a few smiles out of them as my self-deprecating humor hit home. Velian spoke next, though he did so from within a cocoon of blankets, lending to a slightly comical sight of his small pale green head poking out from the bundle. He seemed more reptilian than the actual reptiles in our group at times.
“True. I’ve heard and seen you do some insane shit before. Jorn and Otar were retelling your plan for the heist in Voltrum with the same enthusiasm as an epic tale of heroes long past. Holdrem also wouldn’t shut up about you flexing your divine powers in Yol’vastume. And blowing up the tower? Yeah, that certainly left an impression on everyone. That’s not even to mention all the craziness that happened in Sor’Balvas. Insane things just tend to happen around you.”
A difficult point to argue, but I never got the chance to as it seemed Jorn wanted to speak next. “I can honestly say that my time spent with you has been an adventure and a half. I had always thought that I would serve and die just as an unknown soldier, possibly making it to the rank of officer if I lived that long. Who would have ever thought that I would be following around the champion of the goddess, take down one of the largest slave plantations in the country, and participate in the downfall of Fulvrist? I don’t think anyone in our hometown would believe it.”
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Otar let out a deep belly laugh as his brother finished. “Yeah, I hope you’re ready to meet our mother, because she won’t believe any of this until she talks to you herself.”
The way he said that almost made it sound like a threat, but I could tell it was in good humor. Hargon took the chance to speak next. “I too have experienced more than I could have thought possible. Originally, I had joined the army as part of my obligations as a citizen in a time of war, but I have found a wealth of experience and friends that have been invaluable. I do not believe that I would have any regrets in this life as I can claim with confidence that I have lived it to the fullest.”
That was a rather heartwarming sentiment from the big fella, but perfectly on brand for the type of character I knew him to be. Ulthises was the last of the group to give his thoughts. “You know, when Hargon first suggested that we invite the two of you to our little fire circle I thought he had lost his mind. Sure, Durdan made a good speech, and I felt like we could stand to improve ourselves, but jumping right into trying to make friends with you when you, no offense, look almost exactly like a Thrainian? That felt like it would be problems aplenty.” He grinned a very scaly smile. “I’m quite glad that I decided to gamble on you before anyone else did. I suppose there’s something to be said about seizing the initiative.”
The mood around the campfire had become significantly warmer than it had been only a few minutes ago. I only felt a slight twinge of sadness when I expected to hear from one other person who wasn’t with us anymore. Other than that brief hit of melancholy, my friend’s words filled me with a sense of determination. We will be victorious, and I will ensure that their trust in me is well placed. Fulvrist will fall, Alathos will die, and this whole nightmare can finally be at an end.
There wasn’t much left to be said or done after that point. Everyone simply enjoyed the fire and the calm of the flames dancing in the still air of the night. Only when those flames were reduced to embers did we at last seek shelter and rest in our tents. Kala sleeping close to me was nothing unusual, but tonight it felt like she was physically trying to become one with me via snuggle induced pressure. I was certain that there wasn’t a single part of our bodies that wasn’t in contact, and that was to my detriment as her feet were literal ice cubes at this point. You’ve not experienced a cold winter sleep until you’ve slept with an exothermic cuddle buddy. My only saving grace was that she eventually equalizes her body temperature with my own, but that process takes a little while.
I could tell that she hadn’t fallen asleep yet. Her breathing was a dead giveaway that she remained conscious. Before I could wonder what was keeping her up, she spoke to me in a low voice.
“James,” She began. I hummed to her to acknowledge that I was listening. “Can you promise me that you won’t do anything crazy?”
That was a very vague and unrealistic request on her part. “Kala, many would consider war itself to be insanity. Not only that, but I can’t control the future, so there may come a point where I need to act in a way you wouldn’t like but would still save lives.”
She sighed as she pushed her head into my chest a little more. “I know it’s selfish of me, and I know that you always do what you think will save the most lives, but I can’t help but worry. Please, at least say that you won’t give any more of yourself to this war. I still want you to be there when it’s over.”
“And I want to be there with you. That will never change.” I wrapped my arms around her and held her close. We stayed like that for a little while longer, but eventually I felt her steadily fall asleep, and soon found myself following her lead. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
The following morning, we packed our things and set off with a sense of urgency about the army. Even Durdan was caught up in the fervor, though I had a feeling that it was for a completely different reason. There was an underlying concern in his eyes as he directed the troops to saddle up and get the supply train moving.
He was not alone in that nervousness. I could feel a malaise in the air that tingled at the back of my mind, telling me that something wasn’t right. The feeling only grew as we got closer to Fulvrist. Instinct is a mysterious, and often scarily accurate, sense.
After only four short, and paradoxically, lengthy hours, we were on the outskirts of Fulvrist’s territory. We passed by the farms and fields that were covered in a thick layer of snow. The last time I saw these fields they were in the middle of harvest season, and the lush greens and golden fields were now a monotone color. It was rather fitting for it to look so bleak considering what we were here to do.
Soon enough, the first signs of the city appeared on the horizon. The large structures and walls looked like small blobs in the distance, shimmering as the numerous crystals that existed throughout the city glittered in the light, visible even from miles away. I remembered when I first entered the city and was amazed by all the sights and sounds. It had appeared to be such a magical place, literally. The only shame was that dark clouds hung over it all.
The city only got larger, and more intimidating, the closer we got. The towers that jutted out in even intervals along the walls posed one of the greater problems that we would have to deal with. I imagined that they each contained similar defenses to what had been present at Yol’vastume. Unlike that last time, I don’t think any of us would have the luxury of being able to sneak into the city to attempt a sabotage of the towers.
As we got closer, though staying well out of range of their defensive artillery, more details could be made out. All along the walls there were humanoid shapes. At a distance, I thought that these were just soldiers, standing guard and waiting for us to arrive. However, the darker truth would become clear soon enough.
My eyes went wide as I noticed that the forms atop the walls were not those of Thrainians, but of the various different races of the coalition. We had found the missing slaves, and they were all tied to poles that were spread equally across the entire length of the wall. My mind was reeling as I processed what I was seeing. The conclusion my brain came to was anger, and my jaw locked as it built to a boiling point inside me. The people restrained on the walls didn’t even look to have proper clothing on them, so they were being exposed completely to the elements in what could probably be considered a form of torture.
I wasn’t alone in my rage either. It was slowly beginning to spread throughout the army as more people noticed it and spread the knowledge around. A quiet rumble of hatred was starting to grow into a dull roar. I began to worry that things may get out of hand, and someone may try something stupid if we couldn’t get a handle on things.
Thankfully, Durdan was ahead of me in this regard. He rode on his horse in front of the army, calling out in a commanding voice. “Officer, get control of the men! If anyone so much as steps out of line, I’ll have them whipped in front of the whole army. We cannot afford mistakes right now.” That kicked everyone into gear as the officers moved with purpose now that they had solid commands to focus on. Even as they worked to fulfill his commands, he continued to bark orders at them. “Once everyone is under control, get to work on setting up camp and constructing the siege equipment. We’re going to tear those walls down brick by brick.”
I watched the soldiers all around me scatter as they got to work preparing for the coming siege. I decided to share a few words with Durdan and approached him as he stared at the walls of the city. Beneath that calm exterior, I could tell that he was feeling the same fury we all were.
“Honestly,” I began, “I’m surprised. I truly did not believe that Alathos could go any lower than he already had. Apparently, there’s no depths the coward won’t sink to, so I have to imagine we will only be seeing the worst of his imagination from this point forward.” Durdan grumbled a bit, a complaint or insult rumbling in his throat but not making it out. “Do you have a plan to deal with this? How do we siege the city without putting them at risk?”
His voice rumbled, lower than what he normally sounded like. “I don’t know. We must take the city and unseat Alathos. If he is hiding behind the innocent, and no solution presents itself, a difficult decision may be required.” I could hear the conflict in his voice, and the idea of that decision alone made my heart sink into my gut.
That bastard is going to have hell to pay when I get my hands on him. We had time to think at the very least. The army still had to set up a siege camp and prepare the appropriate equipment for the task at hand. That process alone would take a few days at the very least. All the while we would be forced to watch the slaves suffer in the cold, a prospect that would undoubtedly have an impact on morale. I just hoped that nobody would do anything foolish and get even more people killed.