Chapter 35 - Wounded

"Multiple lacerations in his sides, a few on his right arm and seemingly malnourished, but otherwise well."

Or something along those lines Eildred thought he heard.

He squinted, pushing himself up from wherever it was he lay, moaning like the dead come back again. He scratched at his neck as if that might quench his parched throat. A pitcher of water had been left at his side. He put it to his mouth as his eyes adjusted to the dark of the tent he was kept under. Bandages were wrapped around his torso, an older one around his leg where the girl named Eksa had stabbed him. His armor and clothes lay neatly piled a short distance away from him. There were more dents and scratches in the black pieces of metal than he'd ever recalled receiving in any past battle. He would need to send them to a smith for repair when next he had a chance.

Eildred dressed and stepped outside, shading his eyes from a milk white sky with patches of blue here and there. Soldiers and horses were everywhere, a few physics in blue skirts and tops scrambling between tents, and banners with a silver eagle billowing in the harsh winter wind. Eildred shivered.

If the duke's armies were this deep into Xenaria, then the force that had ambushed him at the forest was certainly not the only one roaming the realm. If the threat was so dire for Kalin to move, then what of Dahlia? Was she safe?

Eildred looked around for someone in charge. He saw none of the Lotus Knights that had saved him or any of the few men he had remaining with him. Had they already returned to the capital or were they camped elsewhere? Hunger gnawed at his stomach and his limbs still felt too heavy to do any proper fighting. But he had to return to her majesty's side. He was already late by dozens of days and he had no grasp on Xenaria's current situation. He hated not having information. It made him feel indefensible.

A young woman in light leather with a bow and quiver strapped to her back was barking out orders while briskly moving through the encampment. Her brown hair was tied back and her height made her stand out amidst the sea of similarly dressed soldiers. Light cavalry, Eildred thought, nodding to himself in approval. A fast unit for fast responses. But one of their commanding officers was a woman. One who couldn't possibly be twenty and yet was being obeyed without any question or expressions of contempt from her inferiors. She has to be capable for Kalin to have appointed her.

This woman was in charge and that was that. Eildred approached her, willing his weak legs forward, eyes scanning about for his black mare. Oh right. The enemy took her. "Excuse me, young miss, but might I—"

She walked right past him, casting a sidelong frown as if he'd somehow offended her. "Can I get a number on the wounded?" she cried.

"Nine of our own. Thirty-four in total," a shorter woman in a blue tunic responded.

"Thank you Lina," the female officer replied. "And how many White Coats can be saved?"

"Twenty-three," the physic said this time. "Two are too far gone, wounds deep and infected."

Twenty-three, Eildred thought, looking at his feet. A mere tenth of the two hundred that'd been following him had survived the ordeal. "Er, excuse me—" he tried again but the officer cut him off a second time.

"Scouts! Where are my scouts? Does anyone know how far Captain Faren's unit has gone?"

A soldier in a dark grey cloak hurried over, panting for breath with hands on his knees as he stood before the officer. "They're on their way back my lady. They encountered more enemies than us but have routed them all."

She nodded, finally turning to Eildred, scowling, hands at her hips. "Well?"

"Er—"

"Er?" she cried. A few nearby turned their heads. "First you try 'excuse me', and then devolve to 'er', Sir Aegis? That's Her Highness, Princess Elizia to you! But for simplicity's sake, I will accept 'my lady'."

Eildred blinked in disbelief. Kalin Serene had allowed his own daughter onto the field after what happened to his wife? She did seem to bear a resemblance to the duchess, an olive skin tone and near matching features if his memory served right. "Apologies, my lady," he said, lowering his head.

She beamed, lips twitching as if stifling laughter. "It was a joke, Sir Aegis. Oh, you look like you've just committed the gravest sin with your head down like that." She reached up and touched his upper cheek, tugging on his skin with a finger to get a better look at his eyes. "Or maybe that's just malnutrition." She turned around. "Someone get me a spare cloak and a hot meal for Sir Aegis here!"

"Lady Elizia, that isn't necessary. Rather, I need to know the date and for how many days I've been asleep. Also, any information on the current situation. And my horse —er, any fast horse you can spare me. I must be returning to her majesty's side."

"Yes, yes, but you'll need a meal first," she said, dismissing his demands with a wave of her hand. "You've hardly been out a day, Sir Aegis. Find me at the command tent once you've had something to eat. You're in my charge now. I won't hear any complaints."

Elizia marched off before Eildred could get a word out. He hardly had the energy to argue anyway, let alone ride back to Exaltyron. He was weak, there was no denying that. Weak and near useless. But duty called. He'd beaten the cold. Survived many ambushes. Lived through a thorough plan meant to take his life. Mere weakness of the body was not an opponent he dared bow down to.

Or I just got lucky, Eildred thought, remembering the damages done to his armor. How many hundreds of killing strokes and arrows had his plates repelled? He sighed aloud. He was being hard headed. He'd be of use to no one as he was now. A hot meal, he agreed. That would get his blood running and joints oiled. He glanced back at Elizia as he folded back the flap of his tent. Kalin Serene had raised a fine daughter. "The next generation of Xenarian leaders," he mumbled. "Flames burn my soul if I let them inherit a broken kingdom."

***

Elizia slumped forward in her chair with elbow resting on a table and head resting in her hand. Her eyes drooped, the flickering light of candle fire a silent lullaby putting her to sleep. It was barely late into the afternoon, but the past two days had been long ones. She mumbled to herself, staring down at a sheet of paper she'd just written on, trying to make sense of her poor handwriting —more scribbles really, wondering how many times she'd dozed off while trying to write calculations.

The tent flap opened and Azurus stepped inside along with Lieutenant Faren. Elizia jerked awake, eyes stinging and begging to be closed shut if even for a second. "Yes?" she asked.

Faren bowed. "I've routed ten squads comprised of a few hundred foot soldiers, from the western side of Oakwood Forest, my lady."

She nodded. "Any information?"

"Er, two groups were comprised of peasants whom we slayed without mercy. They had poor arms and were slow to flee and well…"

"Momentum carried you forward?" Azurus cut in. Faren nodded in reply.

"But was there any useful information?" Elizia repeated.

"No my lady. These soldiers carry no mark, emblem, or name which they utter loyalty to. They are simply armed men carrying out the task of their superiors. But such a large number of soldiers all around Xenaria could not have sprung from nowhere."

Elizia nodded. "And if any of the High Houses were behind this, father would have known already. One of our enemies from outside have somehow funneled in soldiers without our knowing. Soldiers that don't speak when questioned. The only possible option I can think of is the Thousand Sun City. Their legions roam our lands freely."

"But we don't have solid proof if our enemies claim allegiance to no one," Azurus said. "Her majesty can't make accusations without proof. All we know is that some among them carry flags with the lotus flower of High House Lakris set ablaze. This definitely isn't a ruse. They mean to overthrow the kingdom."

Elizia chewed on her lip, staring down at the paper again. Her head lulled forward and she jerked upright before her sharp nose hit the wood. "Any supplies taken, Faren?"

"We left armaments since we can't carry them. We've taken about a fifty piculs worth of dried meat, beans and biscuits. Some bags were wet and left in the mud, so you can count on biscuits being soggy mush. A couple dozen sacks of oats, maybe a three fourths of them still dry."

Elizia let out a heavy exhale. She dipped a quill in an open jar and scribbled on the paper again. Let's just write down fifty piculs worth of food taken. Add that to the amount I obtained myself and the few extra supply horses that can be used as food if the situation gets dire. She was now nibbling at the edges of the feather. "It isn't enough to feed some five thousand of our men for long," she muttered.

"Lord Serene did say that we could request aid from nearby cities or villages," Faren said.

"Yes, but winter is nearly upon us, Captain," Elizia said just as Sir Aegis entered her tent as well. "I don't wish to burden city stores. I especially don't wish to burden village stores."

"Someone recount every bit of information that we have this instant," Eildred Aegis demanded, standing tall in his black armor. He looked rejuvenated now that he'd had something to eat, and far more imposing standing tall in that suit, damaged though it may be. Elizia scowled his way, a bit annoyed at the attempted usurpation of power. She was the commander here.

Eildred's cold gaze met hers and she shrunk in her seat. Weakened, he seemed like a tree starved too long of water, but a mere meal and the aged knight had somehow regained all of his composure and demeanor that she recalled him having when last she'd seen him a years ago.

Elizia decided to acknowledge Eildred's presence as a superior. She was the tired one now. No harm in letting someone with more experience do the heavy thinking for a little while. She rested her head in one hand and leaned forward against the table for support. "Faren, if you don't mind," she said groggily, eyes drooping now that her mind had accepted a transfer of authority. Just need a small nap and I'll give Eildred an earful for his disrespect again. Though Elizia knew she probably wouldn't get the chance. Eildred seemed ready to depart at any moment.

Faren recounted all of their knowledge to which the captain of the Guard merely nodded, expressionless. "The Trillians are one step ahead of us then," he said after Faren had finished.

"Trillians?" Azurus asked.

Eildred frowned his way. "Boy, we didn’t send you to Heira to go sightseeing now did we? Yes, Trillians. They've always been an arm for the Sun City —you were told this. Assuming the worst, they're the only ones capable of inciting an insurrection of this size. And we're shorthanded with most our armies occupied with the Empire."

"But Vicegerent Odain didn't seem—"

"Seem?" Eildred roared. Elizia's eyes snapped open at his thunderous voice. Candle flames shook as if storm winds were passing by. "It would seem to me that you were deceived. Odain has more cunning than I gave him credit for. If we're assuming the worst, your identity was likely compromised. And judging by your following actions, Lady Roxanne was killed right beneath your nose. We've all been played!"

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"That's…no…" Azurus muttered, shaking his head and staring at his boots. Candlelight touched his watering eyes. He looked just as devastated as he had when Elizia had accused him for the deaths of the Draumens.

"So what about this flying woman half your soldiers are crying about, Lady Elizia?" Eildred suddenly asked.

Faren frowned, likely not having heard of the news yet. "Flying woman?"

Elizia stared at a slow drooling drop of wax of her candle. "I don't know," she whispered. "I'm not sure I'd be believing it at all if twenty-five hundred others weren't repeating the same story. A woman, scarred and drugged by the look of it, appearance and clothes much like my mother's hunting garb. She had wings. Butterfly wings but like a stained glass painting with black outlines. And she screamed the Vashiri war cry that mother taught to these soldiers. She can move at blinding speeds and create storm winds. She took ten good men in a flash and tried killing me too, but recognized my face as my mother's and then just left. Flew off into the horizon somewhere towards the north."

There was a silence within the space as everyone considered this occurrence. Eildred grumbled behind closed lips, breaking the lull. "If I recall, Lady Sar'tara hails from the ruined Papillion. A forest burnt by legions of the Sun City. It is…plausible they took a captive. But a captive with wings and powers? Did she have any noticeable Artifacts?

Elizia shook her head. "Nothing but clothes and plain seeming knives.”

Azurus scratched his head. "I saw a tapestry in Heira. Their Goddess, Trillia, the depiction of her in the tapestry was with mosaic wings. What if they plan to use this flying woman as their Goddess? The masses will believe it in an instant."

"Then I must be returning to her majesty's side," Eildred said, brows furrowed. "If we lose the people, we'll have lost this war without even being allowed to fight. Lady Elizia, as much as it pains me to say this, I ask that you send riders out to Torsdale and Red Vine. If the situation is as dire as you say, then we will need the aid of every High Lord. I doubt they've both remained in Exaltyron since I left. Though, knowing firsthand what kind of people Lords Jasim and Agrienne are, they won't bother deploying their employed armies and will instead start a levy to cut costs while trying to turn the situation to their advantage. And as for Lord Coraine… he is most likely dead."

"Dead? How?" Faren asked.

"The reclamation of Kovar failed," Eildred said grimly.

Elizia rubbed her temples. "So we've lost the naval advantage we had over Tarmia, they continue to put pressure on us from the land, and the Sun City has started a rebellion in our backyard." And someone from mother's past is being used as a weapon and deity figure. She stood from her seat and walked past the three men, nearly tripping over the legs of her table. "I'm going to clear my head," she said, glancing at Azurus as she headed out. He was still blinking back his anguish.

Her task remained unchanged. Find and destroy as many legions bearing the burning lotus banners. Azurus and Eildred would most likely be returning to the capital with the rest of the Queen's Guard. She wished for at least Azurus to stay. She could have used a friend and idle conversation partner. Not many of those when you're born a princess.

"The duchess would be proud," Elizia heard Eildred saying. "She's grown to be very capable."

Elizia looked up at a flame filled sky. She tugged on her hair and undid the knot, letting it hang like a half cloak behind her back.

I know mother would be proud. I know that better than anyone. But what good is 'would'? What good is it if she can't see me as I am now?

She stopped walking, staring down at the dark yellow blades of grass before her, cold and dying. What good is it if mother were to wake now, burdened by what has become of Xenaria and anxious for father and my safety? The grass would turn green again come sowing season. Sar'tara would open her eyes again. She just had to. And when she did, a spring of serenity would greet her. Or she could awaken in any other season. But it would be blissful regardless because all the strife will have ended. "And I will take part in ending it all," Elizia vowed, closing her eyes and breathing in, cold winds caressing her ears and pushing against her hair.

***

A dim ray of light still shone over the horizon when Azurus at last found Elizia. She was still moving through the camp, speaking quick words to her soldiers and checking over spare gear. He shook his head. She said she was going out for a breather but was still working hard. An exemplar leader. She'd really forced herself to grow up since her mother's poisoning. Just like me during my orphan years.

"Shouldn't you have someone else checking that for you?" Azurus asked, approaching her from behind. She was now checking over her unit's supply packs." She grunted without turning around. He crossed his arms. "You should rest, El. You were falling over during the meeting."

"I know. Just looking over these for a bit," she grumbled, finally turning to face him. Even in the dark, he could see the vague swelling beneath her eyes. It didn't fit on her pretty face. He noticed her hair untied.

"Captain Aegis wants us riding through the night. He's eager to return to the capital. I thought I should say farewell."

She snorted. "You're making it sound like we won't be seeing each other again."

He smiled. "Tell Emeria I love her if you see her before me." She rolled her eyes at that. "And take care of yourself too."

Elizia hugged him suddenly. "You too. Don't let what's already happened get to you. You're stronger than that. I know it."

"I won't," he assured her, returning her hug. His eyes went wide as something sharp stabbed his forearm. Azurus threw Elizia to the ground, noticing a bolt stuck through his bracer. A bolt that would've pierced her nape had he not returned her embrace at that exact moment.

Elizia let out a small yelp as she fell. She glared at him, feeling her hand for splinters. "What are you—" she cut off upon hearing the hiss of him drawing iron.

Azurus peered into the dark. A shadow was darting between the horses. He flexed the fingers of his left hand to test their function, then ripped the bolt out with a grunt. No blood on the tip. The bracer had slowed it enough and the mail beneath had stopped it entirely. A dull ache from the impact remained. A pungent smell flowed from the tip. There was no moonlight to verify, but what else could it be but poison? He handed the shaft to Elizia. "Someone wants you dead," he whispered, seeing the shadowy figure dart closer.

A group of soldiers sat together, laughing around a fire not a few dozen steps away. They didn't seem to have noticed the attack. Azurus didn't raise the alarm. It could cause chaos and allow this assailant to escape. Elizia seemed to be thinking much the same.

"I'll act as bait," she said, motioning towards the soldiers. "I'll run towards the soldiers and see if he comes for me."

"No," Azurus hissed. "You could be shot. Hide behind me as we walk bac —El!" he cried with as hushed a voice he could. She was already running towards her men, a dagger in her hand. He chased after her just as she fell flat on her face, her ankles tangled with a bola, dagger flying out of her hand. The hooded figure stepped between her and her soldiers. He meant to carry out his task in silence and escape just the same. Anyone looking his way would assume him a normal soldier wrapped in a cloak on a cold night. Azurus opened his mouth to cry out a warning but something round flew his way. He blocked it with his damaged bracer, but it exploded upon impact, sending up a cloud of smoke hampering his breath and vision. He coughed, waving his hand.

A weapon was slowly drawn, that ringing of metal unmistakable. Azurus caught sight of Elizia sitting up, shuffling back on her rear while trying to undo the ties around her ankles. He roared, his throat itching with terrible fervor, and grabbed Elizia by the back of her collar, dragging her back with all his might just as a blade arced down before her. She let out a cry and an icicle of pain went through Azurus' heart as he saw dark liquid slowly stain her front in a line from her solar plexus all the way down to one thigh.

The attacker clicked his tongue, stepping in while veiling his face to block the smoke still hovering in the air. "Assassin!" Azurus managed to say through a renewed coughing fit, sword held in one hand, though standing with poor posture. He wasn't sure if he'd said it loud enough. But a group of four soldiers were running towards them, spears in hand and screaming.

The assassin glanced behind him. Azurus took the opportunity to lunge, keeping his teeth clenched to prevent from coughing. He struck hard but slow and his attack was easily parried. He swung again, feeling immense pain in his chest and heat in his face from holding in his breath. A few more seconds and the soldiers would be upon him. The assassin deflected the attack and hopped back, opening up distance. The crossbow hanging from his belt fell. He turned to face the soldiers, taking a ready stance as if actually planning to take them. His hand reached down to his waist to draw a second blade, but a quick turn of his head and he sheathed his weapons instead, hurrying off. The camp was alerted and stirring.

"Come back!" Azurus said, after a violent coughing fit.

"Bow!" Elizia said, her voice higher pitched than normal. "Someone get me a—" she stopped herself, eyes falling upon the fallen crossbow. She crawled towards it on all fours, the poisonous bolt in her hand. Her blood dripped to the ground. Azurus thought he noticed strange glowing flowers through his stinging eyes. Flowers that Elizia crushed with her knees as she crawled by. He shook his head, dismissing his sight as delirium and reaching out to her.

"El, stop! You're —ack!" he coughed again. "You're hurt." She was already loading the bolt into the bow and cranking it back. She aimed towards the fleeing shadow. The bow clicked and the bolt flew, finding the assassin's back. He stumbled but continued running, eventually falling in what Azurus assumed was a succumbing to poison. Elizia dropped the bow and collapsed on her back, chest rising and falling faster than that of an expended horse.

Her soldiers huddled around her. "Captain!" they cried one after the other.

"Carry her to the medic tents," Azurus ordered, but they were already doing so.

***

Azurus paced back and forth as Lina, the unit's head physic, sniffed at the assassin's blade. She scraped the edge with a knife, careful not to touch the part that still had Elizia's blood on it. A light blue substance was scraped off and the physic sniffed at it again. She dropped both weapons and rummaged through a pack, pulling out jars of dried leaves and powders.

"Well?" Azurus asked. He'd been told that Elizia's wound was shallow, but her breaths were sharp and quick and her complexion utterly pale. No one was allowed in her tent save other physics.

The woman turned to him, gathering up her belongings in one arm and placing them on a table. "She's been poisoned as suspected," the woman said. "It is one that I recognize, luckily. I have the contents to create an antidote within a few minutes, but a lot will depend on the lady's own will."

"Is there not a more effective antidote you can create?" Azurus asked, knowing his question was silly. Surely Lina was doing her best.

"Poisons that are meant to kill work quickly, sir knight," Lina said, binding her dark hair and pouring out the contents of some of her jars into a mortar. She ground down with a pestle. "The faster the antidote is administered, the higher the chance of recovery. It hasn't been that long since Lady Elizia was hurt, but it has been long enough for the result of the antidote to be uncertain."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked, staring at the array of jars before the physic as if that would help him understand what each ingredient was for.

"You can wait outside," Lina said in a tone that hinted annoyance but wasn't outright disrespectful either.

He flushed with shame. He nodded, though Lina's back was turned, and left the medical tent without word. Lieutenant Faren was pacing back and forth before Elizia's tent, Sir Aegis standing there as well in all his damaged armor, arms crossed.

Faren strode up, lips turned down and tears at the corners. "Anything?" he asked Azurus.

"She's been poisoned," Azurus answered, and the captain's expression turned near ghastly.

"No. No no no. Not twice while I was there. Not again. We made sure to be on watch since that day with Lady Sar'tara. I've always had guards posted around the camp perimeter and at the young lady's tent. And we've been on the move since departing the garrison. How could there be a Wickar assassin so far here…?"

"Lieutenant, it will be alright," Azurus assured the man, resting a hand on his shoulder. His mind was wrought with worry but he couldn't show it. "Maybe this assassin was hunting you to begin with?"

"Hunting," Faren echoed. "Hunting. Hunting. Yes. That's the only explanation. That Flame Scorched son of Ash, Kazir. Taking Lady Sar'tara wasn't enough for him. It's all our fault. He must hate the name of The Huntress. We put a target on Lady Elizia's back."

"It's no one's fault but the attacker's. The physics said they can create an antidote. Elizia will be fine." He kept out the parts regarding uncertainty. But she would certainly survive. She wasn't so weak as to succumb to this. If only I'd been mindful of the smoke bomb. If only I'd pulled her away faster.

Don't let what's already happened get to you she'd said. Azurus stood before the tent where Elizia was being treated. He wanted to at least see her before leaving. At least bid a proper farewell.

Eildred placed a thick hand on his shoulder. "Boy, we should get going."

Azurus nodded reluctantly.

"You want to stay a little longer don't you?"

He nodded again. How could he just leave his only other friend in this state? Emeria was safe at Arcaeus. Queen Dahlia was at the capital. He had a duty to return but it wasn't as if he was abandoning the crown. The entirety of the Lotus Knights present would be returning with Captain Aegis. But if Azurus were to leave now, he would feel as if he'd abandoned Elizia.

"You can stay if you'd like."

"What?" Azurus asked, surprised and joyed at being given permission.

Eildred turned to Faren. "Do you have room for another commanding officer, Lieutenant? The boy could use the experience."

"It just so happens our mystery flying woman killed one of our officers" Faren said in a grim tone. He nodded toward Azurus. "Lady Elizia could use a friend now. We'd be more than grateful to take him in."

"But…" Azurus said, thinking up no counter arguments, wondering why he was even bothering trying to think of one when he wanted to stay.

"But what? Are you going to argue against what you want, boy?" Eildred said with a frown. "You'll still be serving the crown. Leave her majesty's wellbeing to me and you worry about our esteemed Second Princess here. This is a chance for you to shine as well. Spread the name of Azurus the Whirlwind and take your place within the heart of anxious Xenarians. Let them know you as the hero who saved them. Regardless of what our enemies have planned, the nation is in strife and the people need hope. They will hold he who saves them from this turmoil in high regard. Someone will need to take up the mantle of the Thundersword. I'm growing old after all. And I know none else with your talent."

Azurus managed a weak smile. "Nonsense. I still can't best you in a duel."

Eildred clapped him on the back. "Not with that attitude you can't. Protect her well. Lord Serene has no heirs otherwise. Without a Serene, Arcaeus Peak and all Xenaria has a grim future."

"I will," Azurus said, pressing a fist to his chest in salute as his mentor and captain turned away.