Chapter 16 - The Huntress

Elizia drew a bowstring back to her chin with ease. She released it, a satisfying twang resounding in her ears, subtle vibrations running along the length of wood. It was a smooth ash wood recurve bow that was perfect for her height. A bow designed after the one her mother used most often for her specific cavalry unit. Though, Sar'tara usually forged her own bows. Elizia knew how to make one of her own, but the result was always crude. She didn't have half her mother's artisan talents.

Nor am I even half the woman.

Sar'tara was skilled in both ranged and melee combat, whereas Elizia was only good at archery. She strapped the bow to her back and slung two large quivers full of newly sharpened arrows over her shoulder. She drew out a shaft from each to double check their points, running a callused finger along the serrated edges of a broadhead with three blades. Slightly more efficient than barbed arrows, but just as deadly. They were designed to tear blood vessels and cause severe hemorrhage. The second shaft in her hand had a sleeker and sharp head, a bodkin point made to pierce mail.

Satisfied with their edge, Elizia put the arrows back in their quivers and pulled up the grey hood of her soldier's cloak. She slowly opened the doors to the armory, squinting in the dark. Rusted hinges creaked like the weakening floorboards of an aging manse as she poked her head out, trying to see if there was anyone in the dimly lit corridor. It was the dead of night, but the garrison was never fully asleep. There were always guards on night duty roaming the interior of the fortress.

Elizia stuck to the walls while moving on the tips of her toes, trying her best to avoid braziers hanging at the sides. She hid in dark corners when hearing low voices of passing guards. She needed to avoid being seen. It had taken her several days to memorize the patterns used by the fortress' guards and learn of which passages were among the most dangerous to tread. She needed to make her way to the stables before dawn or all her efforts would be wasted.

Several turns later, she'd almost made it. Her thighs burned from supporting the weight of her upper body in a crouched position for so long. She needed to round just one last corner and there would be a side door leading outside. From there it was a few dozen more feet, a quick sprint, to the stable sheltering her horse.

Two years without her mother, two years without a mentor she could look up to, and most importantly, two years of the supposed ten year limit that her mother had. Black lines were beginning to show on Sar'tara's hands and feet. The physics said that it would continue to spread until it reached her heart, at which point she would succumb to the poison entirely. Elizia still had so much more that she wanted to learn from her mother. It was becoming increasingly likely that Sar'tara wouldn't wake before Elizia had stepped well into adulthood. I'll make you proud, mother. You'll wake up to see a daughter who's known and feared across Illusterra and revered at home just as you were.

She rounded the corner and collided into the hard leather vest of a guard. Elizia fell on her rear and half the arrows in her quiver spilled out. The guard had his sword halfway drawn when she pulled her hood back. "Wait! It's just me!" she cried.

The guard squinted at her. "Lady Elizia? What are you doing this late into the night?"

"I just wanted to practice," she quickly said, heart racing.

"You ought to sleep, my lady. Don't you have to teach new recruits in the morning?"

She rolled her eyes. Kalin had set her to teaching rather than allowing her out on scouting missions or border patrol. He was afraid of letting her out. Elizia felt caged. It wasn't fair. She couldn't put her abilities to use. Trained recruits were allowed out on the field at as early as sixteen years of age to gain experience. "Well, yes. I'm just…" she quickly thought of something to say. "It's a little daunting. You know, I'm just a seventeen year old girl. There's this one particular recruit… he's really dashing. Father expects a lot from me because of my talent and I just don't want to disappoint. It'd be awkward to fail in front of all those boys too. I already have a hard time getting them to listen to me." Scorched children! What in cinders am I saying?? She feared her erratic heartbeat would expose her lies.

The guard laughed. For some reason, it irritated her. "So even the young lady worries about such things. I would have never guessed, given how you conduct yourself. Don't stay out too long or you'll get dark circles under your eyes."

Elizia gave her best shy laugh and almost choked on her own breath. Given how I conduct myself? What in Flaming skirts is that supposed to mean? The guard walked away and she realized she was breathing heavily and sweating as well. Her legs had gone rigid from fear. She gathered her fallen ammunition and stumbled on her way to the side door.

Cool sowing season air relaxed her nerves once outside. Three near to full moons hung in the sky like a trio of lost treasures drifting in a dark and boundless sea. Elizia carefully peered at every corner for anyone that might've questioned her. There was no one in sight. Guards atop the fortress walls were facing outwards. As long as they didn't turn, it wouldn't be an issue.

Elizia's growing height along with her trained legs gave her one of the most powerful sprints in the entire garrison. Few of her father's soldiers could best her in a fifty yard race. She pulled her hood up and darted towards the stables like the shadow of an eagle gliding beneath silver jewels. She came to a halt before the stable gates, pressing her back to them to hide beneath the dark of its roof, breathing heavily. No one called out. No one shouted. She hadn't been spotted.

Elizia smiled at the familiar smell of hay and horses as she stepped inside. The animals took little notice of her. Her face was a regular one and they weren't bothered by it. She walked to the third stabled horse; A dark brown male with powerfully built legs. Valor she'd named him. Kalin had given him to her as a gift for her sixteenth birthday. A hardy creature from the Mahjur Deserts. He wasn't very large as far as warhorses go, but he was one of the fastest in the entire fortress and had the stamina to match. Valor was sitting down when she arrived. He instantly stood up. Elizia hugged his head and stroked his neck. "Hush. Don't make a sound."

Valor brought his neck low and sniffed around her cloak. She took out one of the apples that she'd hidden in her pockets. "Our secret. Be a good boy and stay still for a moment or I won't give it to you." He did as he was told. Elizia strapped a saddle to him and tied her two quivers to his side. She avoided putting a bit in his mouth. Valor was smart. He knew when he needed to run and when his rider required him to stop. She fed him the apple just as the stable doors creaked open, moonlight spilling in. Her heart jumped. She quickly removed her bow and threw it to the side before the doors were fully opened. She pretended to ignore the person and took out another apple to feed Valor, who snatched it between his teeth happily.

"Lady Elizia?"

She turned to face the newcomer, heart pounding. "Oh, Captain Faren. What brings you here at this time?"

"I could ask much the same. Though it seems a little obvious. You really love that horse don't you? You shouldn't spoil him too much. Too many apples aren't good for these creatures." He walked past her, stopping two stalls down.

Elizia clutched the sides of her cloak to hide her clothes from him, lest it be revealed that she wore hard leather over a shirt rather than a night gown.

"I'm just here to check my own horse," he said. "Dawn isn't far off. This will be my first major task as the head of Lady Sar'tara's unit."

Elizia tried to slow her breaths. Her eyes went to Valor's saddle. Faren hadn't been paying attention to it. He would almost certainly ask why the beast was saddled if he'd noticed. She feigned ignorance and tried to keep the conversation going. "Task?"

"You mean you haven't heard? Border patrol spotted a full legion of five thousand down by the ruins of Ekvatana. There are also reports of more arriving at the fortress of Cayra every day. Seems Tarmia's preparing for a campaign. They were dragging a number of siege engines across the river before their army had made it across. They want the ruined city to use as a fort, I assume.

"Seems a bit hasty with a mere legion following," Elizia commented. She was, of course, aware of everything.

"A prelude to prod at our defenses likely," Faren said. "Though the fact they're throwing siege engines suggests they're at least halfway serious. It could grow into something disasterous if we aren't careful. The Lord Commander's tasked me with removing the threat before any reinforcements can back the legion, which we expect soon. Hopefully we can stall any potential large scale invasion they appear to be planning."

"I see," Elizia said. Ekvatana was a city ruined during the ancient War of Ashes. It had never been repopulated in the many thousands of years since. It was about twenty-five leagues from Arcaeus and served as an outpost near the border.

Faren cast a sidelong glance as he checked over his own steed. "Commander Rask and the Lord Commander suspect a trap. That's why we, er, Lady Sar'tara's unit is being sent. We have the fastest horses and can escape if the situation becomes dangerous."

Elizia found herself relaxed all of a sudden, her thoughts going back to what Faren had just said. "Siege engines," she echoed. "Towers or catapults?" It was towers, she knew, but she kept Faren talking, hoping it took his mind away from her.

"Towers," he confirmed. "Strange, isn't it? They must have constructed the towers near the river but far enough from our patrol. Still a lengthy and expensive effort to not follow through with sending more soldiers to follow the towers. It's almost like way back then. These recent attacks have Kazir's name written…" He paused, looking at Elizia again.

Faren clearly didn't mean to mention Kazir. The man rumored to be behind mother's poisoning. Except he was supposed to be blind. She'd heard the story many a time. About how both her mother and father had fought the assassin together. About how Kalin had dealt the final blow, slashing through the enemy's eyes.

"If only I hadn't left her that night…" the captain muttered.

"Faren. It'll be fine. Stop looking at your flaws. I haven't seen anyone try as hard as you." Except me of course. "I don't blame you for mother's condition. And neither does my father. You should stop blaming yourself. Stop looking behind and work towards what you can do. What you can improve."

He scratched his horse's neck. "I'm too negative aren't I? I'm sorry, your highness. I think I'll always blame myself for that night. But you're right. I should look to improve. I am a soldier of Xenaria."

"Right. I'll support you every step of the way!" Elizia snapped her mouth shut, not meaning to say that. It just came out. She had briefly forgotten that she was trying to hide. She stood still while the captain looked over his own saddle.

Faren walked past her again, a smile of sorrow touching his lips. He paused by the stable's entrance, moonlight stretching long his shadow. "Are you coming?" he asked.

Elizia froze. Does he know? The man cocked his head to the side. She breathed a quick sigh of relief when realizing what he meant. "No, I'll spend a little more time with Valor before heading to bed."

"It'll be morning soon. Don't wear yourself out."

Elizia finally relaxed her tensed muscles as the door creaked shut and darkness enveloped her once more. She retrieved her bow, picking off strands of hay that'd gotten stuck in between the string and the wood, and counted to three hundred before slowly leading her horse outside of the stables.

Once out, she mounted and set Valor to a trot. She bound her hair into a bun before pulling up the hood to her cloak as the horse neared the fortress gates. Anxiety and excitement thrummed beneath her skin. The gatekeepers had no reason to question her. There were messengers and scouts frequently leaving and entering the garrison at odd times these days. As long as no one was capable of seeing her face, she was confident that she could get out.

The guards noticed her approaching and called to open the gates. The deep clinking of turning gears and a rising portcullis echoed through the quiet night air. A thick gate opened inward shortly after. Valor passed through the shadow of the arch. Elizia thought she was free when a guard from atop the walls called out.

"Hold! Are you a messenger or a scout? Neither should be carrying two full quivers."

Elizia panicked. She considered forcing Valor to run. That wasn't an option. She'd immediately be considered a suspicious individual and would be hunted down.

Expose herself?

Also not an option. Word would reach her father before the sun rose. The gate guards were especially strict. She had never managed to befriend any of them. She cleared her throat and tried speaking in a deep voice. "I am to scout beyond the Ekvatana Outpost in preparation for Captain Faren's mission come morning. I've been told to station myself at the Outpost afterwards." That last part made no sense. El, you idiot! That was the single worst lie you could have come up with.

"I see. Carry on."

Elizia was shocked. "That worked?" she said aloud in her normal voice as Valor trotted along.

"Pardon?"

"Oh, sorry. Nothing." She urged her horse to start picking up speed. She didn't look back. She was too afraid to. Moments passed. There were no shouts. No horns or bells. She was safe. For now that is. Once she had gotten at the bottom of the Peak, she steered Valor towards the Outpost.

***

Dawn began to break on the second morn since Elizia's departure. Her eyes stung from a lack of proper rest. By now, her father would've realized she were missing, perhaps even correctly assuming where it was she'd gone, but the dead itself would rise from the ground before anyone would drag Elizia's back.

The broken walls of Ekvatana came into view as Elizia slowed her horse to a trot. The stone was grey with age, cracked in many places with green grown over it. Why the city had never been rebuilt, Elizia did not know. The tall towers of the ancient city still stood, and despite its broken walls, the place functioned as a fortress of sorts that the Empire couldn't ignore if it meant to launch a campaign. Its interior was akin to a labyrinth for enemies.

Elizia wanted to access the towers. But she couldn't enter the ruins. No one was to know that she was here. There were at least a thousand Xenarian soldiers inside of the Outpost at all times. A measly hundredth of House Serene's forces, but enough to defend the maze within from haphazard attacks.

If they want to break the outpost, catapults would be far more effective. So why towers? Appealing bait?

Elizia around the city's perimeter, hiding herself amidst a cluster of trees and the sky began to lighten. She dared to get closer to the enemy encampment while the sun had not fully risen. She was armed with her bow, but her quiver was left with Valor. Her only weapon was a soldier's dagger at her waist. She crept up a steep incline and lay on her belly when she reached the top.

Elizia took out a small spyglass that she had stolen from her father's office and looked down at the Empire's forces. They were camped by the riverbank. There were four siege towers standing tall like giant pillars within the camp. Dozens of oxen had been used to pull the large machines and drag them across the only stone crossing in the area. Further yet, a number of catapults were being constructed at the very moment by Empire engineers.

A little north of here was where mother was famed for felling several dozen Ivory Hussars, Elizia thought.

A full legion, fully armed, rested below. Several hundred were riders. They were serious about destroying the Outpost. The attack would begin at sunrise.

But something didn't add up. Surely they weren't expecting to get away with this assault without expecting reinforcements from Arcaeus. What was the plan? Siege the outpost, take it, then hold it from any reinforcements? Then what was the point of using towers from a broken wall? Elizia looked to the ruined city through her monocular, trying to figure why towers were needed. Through cracks in the wall, all she saw was more grey beyond it. Could it be that her father had had a second layer of walls constructed behind the first?

Why wasn't I told of this?

Elizia retreated back to where she had left Valor, feeling a sense of deprivation. If Ekvatana was being turned into a second frontier fortress, why wouldn't that information be made known to her? She bit back a feeling anguish. She was knowingly being kept in the dark.

Kalin still awaited the queen's order to launch an offensive. Elizia wasn't fond of her father's passive response to the relentless attacks. She understood the need to avoid a campaign into Tarmia's heartland. It would be too much a burden on all of Xenaria and many other nobles were against it. But Metsiphon had more than enough resources to mount counter attacks. Instead, the duke simply took on a reactionary role, and now she found that instead of attacking, funds were being put toward tightening defenses.

Elizia planned to change that. Even if this attack was a trap, she would not run. The garrison's veterans still told stories of over a decade past. Of their Shining General conquering scheme after scheme. Of the Wolf of Metsiphon ravaging the frontlines. Of The Huntress and how she'd single handedly turned the tides of battles by felling key targets from a distance. These were legends that Elizia had grown up hearing. Legends of her own parents and their soldiers. She wanted to be a part of that. Wanted her own name admired and remembered in that same way.

It wasn't long before she felt the ground tremble. Dust clouds rose behind her. Faren's unit was here. She continued to observe everything with her spyglass. Some four thousand or so horsemen stopped outside the walls of the Outpost. The rest must be patrolling for a hidden ambush.

The captain himself went inside, presumably to use the towers and gauge the enemy's numbers and positioning. The Tarmian legion positioned themselves with their backs to the bridge. They were moderately armed, wearing leather for the most part with thick wood shields. Their lances were short and not particularly ideal to prevent a cavalry charge, and their riders were divided in two groups at the side. Faren came out, leaving a spare two hundred of his unit near the city as reserves. He then ordered a charge towards the enemy.

A smoke signal rose from Tarmia's camp. A signal to whom? The captain should've surveyed the area before engaging…

Faren wheeled his forces around, trying to pepper the enemy van with arrows rather than run straight into their spears. The tactic didn't prove very effective as Tarmia's back lines returned fire. Elizia expected the captain to withdraw, but he instead split the unit further in half, using one half to slam into the legion's side while the other half continued their rain of artillery from the other side.

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As expected, Tarmia's riders moved, though greatly outnumbered. They flanked Faren's unit, prodding at the well guardied rear with spears, but fearing commitment to a visceral melee. A violent battle engulfed their infantry lines. The small black forms of the Empire's lines were getting pushed further and further back. They resisted well, managing to break Faren's momentum and halt his charge almost entirely, but at the current rate, their legion would soon be devoured by noon.

Morning hours passed and Elizia stood still, observing, sweating, despite not having done anything. The air around her felt thick though she were nowhere near the skirmish site. A southward gust blew past her, making her shiver as she watched, feeling useless. She wanted to go, wanted to be a part of it all, but from down below, the sounds clashing of metals and the screams of dying men reached far, penetrating her breast and making her blood run cold. It's okay. We're winning. I don't need to take part.

That thought made her feel like a coward. She was nothing like her mother. She'd been told all about it. All about how Sar'tara had sprung into action for the first time, disobeying Kalin's orders and facing down dozens of mounted riders all on her own. What am I in comparison?

While Elizia wallowed in her own lack of will, three large dromons sailed down the Cinder River at an unbelievable pace. They rode the favorable winds and their sails held the Red Hand of the Emperor. Oars sticking out the sides suggested a slave crew beneath deck laboring to push the vessels to ridiculous speeds.

Elizia felt a sudden lack of moisture in her mouth. The ships anchored, letting loose wide and thick gangplanks that connected the vessels to land. Javelin bearing Empire cavalry poured out down ramps —about three hundred per ship. Faren was winning, the Empire legion half destroyed. But they held and did not rout, holding Faren's soldiers down with the engagement. The Xenarians would soon become target practice if they didn’t pull out. The reserve unit he had left behind entered the fray in an attempt to delay the new enemies and buy time for the others to retreat.

Now! It's now or never, El. You have to do this. They need you.

Did they? Faren was competent. He'd manage somehow, right? Elizia tried hard to convince herself of the fact, tried making an excuse that would keep her from the fight. She ran her hand through Valor's mane. I should just return, she thought while biting down hard on her lower lip. She mounted, looking to the skirmish site again. Elizia swallowed a lump of dry air. It went down slow, rumbling in her belly. She squeezed her eyes shut and snapped Valor's reins. The horse set off, running at its highest speed. Running straight toward the Empire's ships.

Elizia opened her eyes a half minute later. This was it. She was too near to the enemy. They'd seen her now. She could run, but she'd be chased, and Valor had already spent much on an initial burst. She had to turn the tides herself. Had to prove herself to her father, and prove that offensives could be mounted. Nothing short of an overwhelming victory could be allowed.

Calls for retreat sounded from behind Elizia. No! There was no reason to retreat. If Faren rallied and turned his attention to the newcomers, they could win easily using hit and run strategies. But he's held down right now and fears he has no chance.

The Xenarian reserves peppered mounted enemies with arrows. Javelins were hurled at them in return. Horses and men fell before their cries could be heard. The throwing game ended as both groups neared each other. A violent melee ensued, screaming beasts crashing into one another. A stalemate held for flitting moments. The Xenarians were being pushed back as more and more Empire riders joined the fray, slowly attempting to surround the small reserve squad.

Elizia used her keen sight to identify holes in the enemy's formation. She marked each skilled enemy. Her heart raced. Fear made her arms to tremble. This wasn't a mock trial. She wasn't riding through an empty field, shooting straw dummies. This was real. Too real. She'd never taken a life before. She had never fired an arrow at another with the intent to kill.

It doesn't matter. If she didn't do anything, her mother's soldiers would suffer. They would threaten Ekvatana and more Xenarian lives would be put at stake. Elizia inhaled deeply as she knocked an arrow and drew back, arms still twitching. Valor steadied his pace so that his rider wouldn't lose her balance even with her hands off the reigns. Elizia clenched her teeth. Her arms held still for a breadth of a second. She loosed, hearing the twanging vibration of her string clearer than any pained scream of the dying. The arrow flew true, finding who she'd marked in the eye.

She had taken her first life.

A cold realization settled over her, the sweat beneath her garments feeling like ice water on her skin. Her hawk like vision absorbed all the action taking place in the vanguard. Thrusting spears. Clashing swords. Spraying blood. Flesh impaled and slashed. Screams of fury and pain. And amidst it all, a single arrow through an eye. The man slumped back and fell off his horse. It was sickening. But the cries of pain were more than enough to force down Elizia's nausea. She imagined those cries to instead come from the women and children of Metsiphon. Imagined the horror of what would come if the Empire wasn't stopped. Elizia siphoned air into her lungs. And nocked again.

The following shots were easier to make. She felled man after man in key locations, allowing the Xenarians to hold the line and eventually rout their foes, forcing them to regroup. It still wasn't enough, however. More enemies approached from upriver. A fourth ship arrived and lowered anchor. Elizia alone charged towards new descending Tarmian cavalry. She turned before she reached them and twisted her body, picking off their vanguard one by one by firing arrows behind her. Javelins were thrown at her, Valor staying bare meters ahead of them.

"It's The Huntress! It's Lady Sar'tara!" Xenarian soldiers cried. The reserve unit turned their attention to Elizia as they saw the lone rider slow the new wave of enemies. "Rally to The Huntress!"

Elizia approached allied lines. "A dozen of you, break off and light the enemy siege weapons on fire. The rest of us will push back the enemy!" Elizia cried as the Xenarians received her. "Do not engage! We have superior horses. Run circles and shower arrows. I'll kill their officers so that they don't organize and mount a charge. We stall as long as possible for Captain Faren!"

***

Captain Faren gaped as his reserve unit mounted an offensive against the enemy cavalry. They should have only delayed before retreating themselves. They had successfully routed the Empire soldiers from the first ship, forcing them back and making them regroup a short distance away. Faren thought they were drunk on a minor victory and had grown overeager. But Sar'tara's soldiers were not so inexperienced.

He saw her then. The Huntress in her full glory, charging towards a wave of enemies all on her own. "It can't be…" Tears formed in his eyes. The possibility of Lady Sar'tara's return filled him with glee. He had seen her wounded body. He was the first to discover her lying unconscious and cold, believing her to be dead. After being left to the mercy of the Decade's Curse for over two years, she was finally back. And he was now seeing her challenge Tarmian forces as he had witnessed so many times before.

Faren wiped his tears away, worrying that her body wouldn't be in an ideal condition to fight after so long. The Huntress needed her captain. He wouldn't let her down again. He screamed as he hewed Empire footmen with his sword. His blood became fire. A rush of strength filled him. The legion that'd held his unit down so long at last began to break with two thirds of them fallen. The way was cleared. "To Lady Sar'tara!" Faren cried.

***

Elizia was relieved. Xenarian soldiers were following her without question. She thought it would be difficult to rally them around her, but they were her mother's unit, and they all believed her to be Sar'tara. She didn't bother correcting them. It was keeping morale high. She turned to see Faren finally rushing breaking free of his task with the other thirty-eight hundred he had with him, though, it seemed he was short over two hundred.

Lives lost from our side…

Further back, Elizia's small detachment had successfully lit ablaze the siege towers. Elizia ordered her followers to move out of the way for Faren's charge. He clashed with the Empire's reeling cavalry while she and the reserves continued to buzz around, showering arrows upon their enemy's exposed flank. The fight had mostly become one sided. Tarmia couldn't rally or organize at all.

Elizia sought out leaders of each Empire unit by their uniform and brought them down before they could adjust and shout commands. She killed their bannermen, thereby removing their ability to rally. Panic ensued, and Tarmia began to flee. Elizia didn't let them back on their ships. She shot down anyone trying to ride back up the gangplanks. It forced them to ride along the riverbank. They eventually turned to cross the Cinder River.

Valor slowed to a trot, sensing Elizia's hesitation. The Empire army was making a lugged retreat through the waters. A Xenarian soldier rode up beside her. "Lady Sar'tara, are we not going to give chase?"

Give chase? She wavered. They were enemies fleeing, fearing for their lives. Their will to fight was lost. Many of them possibly had families of their own.

"Lady Sar'tara?"

She wondered how it was soldiers managed to fight in the vanguard. How they endured agonizing cries and intense bloodshed so close up. Even just selecting a target and releasing a bowstring from afar was unsettling for her.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Be steadfast, Elizia. These are the people that poisoned your mother. They're soldiers. They're not innocent. She glanced back at the site of the skirmish. At the bodies of the fallen, Xenarians and Tarmians alike. Her gaze drifted to Faren's company and their brilliant blue banners bearing a silver eagle upon it.

The banners flowed freely just as an eagle should.

There was no reason to hesitate. The Empire would not cease in their attacks. Every Empire soldier slain was the same as saving a Xenarian soldier. The same as saving Xenarian citizens and ensuring they lived freely and away from bloodshed. This conflict had no middle ground. There were two sides, and only one with which she could align herself.

She was Elizia Serene. A guardian of Xenaria. She needed to fulfill her duty. She opened her eyes and exhaled. "Hunt them down. Give no quarter!" she ordered.

The words still left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth.

The soldiers howled strange war cries at the order. Elizia had heard her mother shout similar things before. A war cry of the Selharr Vashiri people. They all charged down the riverbank and began cutting down enemies from behind. Elizia once again raised her bow and drew back the string. She had no fear of hitting her own allies. Such doubt never crossed her mind. Her arms no longer trembled, and her confidence soared. She hit all of her targets. Every single Empire soldier slain by her at that moment had fallen from an arrow to the back. They would never know the face of their killer. Never have a chance to retaliate.

See Emeria? The bow is the superior weapon, she thought, crushing the lingering doubts about her orders with thoughts from a more mirthful time.

Tarmia had been routed and their siege weapons burnt to cinders. Elizia had successfully managed to capture four Empire vessels as well. Her first victory —and an absolute victory. Her father would have to acknowledge her now. Instead of being relegated to mere teaching positions within the garrison, he would be forced to recognize her talent and send her out to the field.

I will surpass you, mother.

***

Blood marred Faren's armor and blade. He rode up to The Huntress. He needed to see her face. Needed to know that his commander was still alive and well. That Lady Sar'tara had truly recovered from her plight. He stopped his grey horse just short of the dark brown one The Huntress rode. The woman before him was Sar'tara. But much younger. More refreshed and innocent looking and with brown hair instead of black. And slightly shorter…? "Lady Sar'tara?"

"I'm afraid not," the woman replied. "It's just me, Captain. I promised to support you every step of the way, remember? I meant it."

Faren gasped. "Lady Elizia?" At such a young age, she had taken control of the soldiers and decimated the enemy forces. But it was reckless. Too reckless. Lord Serene would be upset —no, furious.

And yet, Faren couldn’t help but feel admiration. This was Sar'tara's progeny. One with similar mind and skill. Faren was Sar'tara's loyal right hand, and by extension, one who carried his commander's flame deserved his absolute servitude and protection.

He dismounted his horse. "Lady Elizia I-I cannot express, I mean… From this day forth, my life belongs to you. If you'll have me, I would serve under you. My life is yours to expend until Lady Sar'tara's inevitable return. I will be your shield and your spear." Silent mutters ran through the rest of the soldiers. They all dismounted and knelt before the young girl. Would she accept? He failed her mother. She had every reason to—

"I would gladly have you, Captain, but that decision is not mine to make. You will have to make that request to my father. For now, sail these ships to the Grayscale Lake. Inform father of the slaves below deck. All of the siege weaponry has been thoroughly destroyed. It's a complete victory. Gather the wounded. Let's go back home."

Faren got back on his horse. He turned around to see all the catapults and siege towers set ablaze, columns of smoke rising from their crumbling ruins. He had for a while been wondering where the burning smell was coming from. He hadn't been ordered to destroy them. But Elizia had had them destroyed.

Faren scratched his head. His new commander was now smiling wide. He shook his head. She was still young after all. It was like teaching Lady Sar'tara all over again. She would likely be expecting praise from her father, of which Lord Serene was unlikely to give any. The siege weapons were lost. Four mid-sized ships were plenty for a prize, though whether they'd be enough to appease the Lord Commander's temper was a different matter.

***

Kalin grew restless. Two mornings since his daughter had disappeared, and he had a sneaking suspicion as to where she'd run off to. He'd set her to training recruits, hoping it'd be enough to keep her busy. Oh how wrong I was.

Regardless, she'd shirked her given duty. Such precedent would set a bad example for the recruits. Kalin paced in his office, chewing on inner cheek. The only information he had was that of a watchman spotting her late in the night two nights past. She had for certain gone to the outpost, chasing after Captain Faren.

"What in Scorched earth was she thinking?" he muttered rhetorically. He knew exactly what. She hated teaching archery classes.

No.

She hated not being treated equal to her skill in general. Hated not being allowed to use the full extent of her abilities. Kalin rummaged through the papers on his desk. Faren was told to station himself there whether he succeeded in his mission or not. Someone had leaked the secret construction Kalin had ordered at the ruins. Else Tarmia would never have brought siege towers. But they only sent one legion, suggesting a possible trap. And Elizia decided to go now of all times… "Argh!" he cried, running a hand through his hair.

If only Sar'tara were here for the girl, he wouldn't have made such stupid errors. If only he'd sent his daughter out on reconnaissance missions, she wouldn't have gotten it in her head to partake in an actual skirmish. Kalin continued to tap his foot against the floor. Elizia had never taken a life before. There were plenty of stories of new soldiers standing paralyzed in fear amidst a battle. At worst, she would find herself in the thick of things, ruining Faren's mission and endangering herself. At best, she'd get scared and run back home.

As if. Elizia had pride enough for both him and Sar'tara. He could only put his faith in her and pray for a safe return.

Kalin went over a paper he had received several days prior. A letter from Dahlia herself. She expected to hold a court meeting soon in which she planned to declare war. The First Chancellor was supposedly on board. And she had sent Azurus to Heira to spy on the Trillian Order's leader. Dahlia was playing a dangerous game. But that much was necessary.

The threat of the Astral Union was very real. They needed to be dealt with. By declaring war, Xenaria's focus would be shifted to the east. It would give the Union the perfect opportunity for a hostile takeover of the nation. It seemed Dahlia wanted that. She planned to bait them by using war with the Empire as a diversion. If the Trillian Order's heads exposed themselves all at once, they could be rounded up in one fell swoop. It was a daring plan that Kalin suspected Eildred Aegis to have had a hand in making.

A plan he hoped would be successful. Just imagining Sar'tara one day waking up to the fact that her second home had been taken over by her most hated of enemies made him shudder.

The vast majority of the plan depended on how much Azurus would be able to uncover on his own. Kalin had high hopes for the young knight as did Eildred. If the Trillian threat could be neutralized without major issue or civil distress, then the campaign into Tarmia could begin in earnest.

Arcaeus Peak's bell towers rung loud. Three chimes. That meant the homecoming of soldiers. Kalin looked out his window. Captain Faren had returned, and at the head of his company was Elizia, sitting upright and full of pride. "She's so much like you, Tara," he whispered. "Too much like you. If only you had disobeyed me too that day…"

Kalin awaited a formal report. It wasn't long before his daughter entered his office, wearing a wide, gleeful smile, likely expecting praise. He planned to give her the opposite. "Speak," he commanded, standing before her with arms crossed.

Elizia gave a full recounting of what occurred, using more words then necessary, and saying 'and then' way too often like some scam artist of a storyteller. She especially emphasized the captured ships. Kalin still waited after she had stopped speaking. She looked as if she had more to say. He remembered that look very well. Elizia didn't always want something. But when she did, her mouth would twitch and her eyes would wander just about everywhere but on him.

"Father, I want to be assigned to Captain Faren's unit," she finally said. "More specifically, he wants to serve under me."

Expected. Faren was a loyal soldier, and though Kalin doubted anyone would question her talent, he didn't want to promote a seventeen year old to the position of a Legion Commander. It was far too early for Elizia. "You had classes to teach this morning and the last," he said.

"I did," she answered, her tone dismissing the matter entirely.

It wasn't appropriate. Letting her go would set a bad example for her. Kalin took in a deep breath. And then he slapped his daughter hard. He half expected her to cry out in rebellion as children her age would. Instead she stood mute, head tilted to the side and lips slightly parted in shock.

Elizia blinked. She turned back to him, cupping her red cheek. He expected the outburst to occur at any moment. Instead, he was met with quivering lips and watering eyes, making his chest ache terribly.

Kalin held his daughter's head against his chest, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? Look. I know you want to prove yourself but… Hahhh. I treated you unfairly. I'm sorry. But don't you dare ever leave like that again without letting me know."

"Mhm," the girl said, crying.

"I'll try giving you tasks suited to your abilities, alright?"

"Mhm."

He pulled her away. "What was it like? Your very first battle."

She wiped her eyes. "Exhilarating," she said after a while. "And scary. Very scary. Killing a person, it's easy not to think about it in the moment, but afterwards… I don't like it very much."

"Is it heavy?"

"Heavy? Yes. I-yes. It's heavy," she admitted.

"Good. It should always be heavy. At no point should you take pleasure in taking a life. Now, was being restricted the only reason you decided to go out without consulting me?"

She looked away. "Yes."

Kalin's eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms again. "You have a habit of averting my gaze when lying. Tell me the truth, Elizia."

"I believe you're being too passive!" she declared, fists closed, still looking at her feet. "Mother is… she was poisoned by the Decade's Curse. They clearly mean to torment you. It is infuriating. I don't want to hide any longer. And instead of attacking, you're spending resources fortifying the ruined city. A fact that was kept from me, for some reason. I've proven myself, father. I don't want to be left in the dark regarding what is and isn’t being done. Allow me to command Faren's unit. Let us mount an offensive. Please."

"An offensive on what, exactly?"

"We could raid their countryside like they do ours. We could take from them—"

"Elizia! Did you just say raid the countryside?" Kalin demanded.

"Er… yes?"

"And who is it that would be most affected by this?"

The girl swallowed. She lowered her head, seeming to shrink. "Innocent peasants probably."

"Probably?"

"Most certainly," she grumbled.

"Elizia, recite the Three Principles of a Leader."

"What?"

"Go on. You were taught this very early on, were you not?"

She frowned, as if not understanding his intent. "Preparation, Level Headedness, and Resolve.

"Mhm. Now, are you acting level headed?"

"That's besides the point," she protested. "Of course out on the field, I'll be level—"

"Elizia!" Kalin said, raising his voice again. She flinched, shuffling back. "Answer me this. For what purpose did you destroy the Empire's siege towers?"

"So that they wouldn't pose a threat?" she said after a while.

"How exactly were they posing a threat?"

"If we left them be, they would've been used to attack the Outpost."

"But from your report, you had them burned when the tides of battle were in your favor."

"Oh," Elizia said with blunt realization. She blinked several times as if that would absolve her of her errors.

"It's why I asked Captain Faren to station himself in Ekvatana after the mission. The city's reconstruction was kept secret because I wanted it that way. You accuse me of spending uselessly on that project when Ekvatana could be useful in keeping a closer eye on the Thousand Sun City, and on the city of Ostirin. We would have two fronts from which to either attack Tarmia or defend ourselves. You're telling me you never considered something as simple as this?"

Elizia did not answer. She carried the look of shame in her still wet eyes.

"So, were you, and are you as of now, acting level headed?"

"No," she said with a barely audible whisper. Another tear fell from her eye.

Kalin shook his head. "You're as stubborn as your mother. This is the part where you recant your accusations of me being passive."

Her gaze fell back to her feet. "I was too nearsighted," she mumbled.

Kalin pulled out a map of Illusterra, spreading it out on his desk. Ekvatana would need another year at least to complete a pseudo remodification into a feasible fortress. Now that its construction had been revealed, Tarmia was unlikely to relent in its attacks. Another powerful garrison so close to their borders would be much more than a headache to them.

Kalin's eyes ran down the Cinder River. "Ostirin," he muttered. It was Tarmia's only access point to the Aegis basin. "We can use the ships to cut off all goods that the Empire receives via water routes. And Ostirin is also right beside the Thousand Sun City…"

"Father, we aren't going to attack the Astral Union and the Empire are we?" Elizia slowly asked. "I know mother's homeland was destroyed by the Union but taking them both on is reckless."

"Of course we aren't. Don't let the Astral Union bother you. I was thinking of something else." He looked back at her. "You're doing hard labor for a full cycle. Disobedience is disobedience. I can't let my own daughter break the rules either." He paused, wondering if there'd be protest. There wasn't. She was surprisingly good at acting the part of a model soldier at times. "This includes stabling horses, shoveling manure, cleaning the mess hall, polishing armor, whatever it is that needs doing. You're lucky the First Princess is coming in a few days' time. Or I would have had you laboring for two cycles." There'd been a slight twitch of her eyes when he mentioned cleaning and shoveling manure. She was still the daughter of a duke after all. My daughter. "Scratch that. I think I'll have you do it for two nine day cycles after all. You are dismissed," he finished, taking a seat at his desk again.

Elizia coughed, but still did not utter a word. She gave a short and formal bow before turning to leave. She stopped at the doorway. "Daddy?"

"Mm?"

"I'm sorry for worrying you," she said softly. With that, she was gone.

Kalin smiled. When last she'd called him 'daddy', she'd been nine. She'd broken the ceramic flowering pot on his desk that held Sar'tara's everflower. Luckily, Sar'tara had managed to place the soil and flower in a new pot without damaging the flower. Elizia had cried then.

Daddy, I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I promise, she'd said. It had been genuine and sincere.

Kalin eyed the everflower at the corner of his desk. It had a bright green stem and closed pale blue petals. Elizia's blood held the same powers as her mother. He worried for her fate on the field, should she ever be wounded. Worried more about her alikeness to her mother attracting Kazir's attention, should rumors of The Huntress spread again. It was something he'd need to shut down.

He leaned back in his chair, hands at the back of his head, eyes closed. "When will you wake, Tara?" he mused.