15th of Firstleaf, third month of 984:
Now a march instead of a run, the loyalist army gained distance from the rebels. A fifth of the army being carried by the other fraction, a few soldiers started to drop, for they only had had enough life to hold out so much.
“This is far enough for a few hours, tell them to stop. We will set up a few tents as a hospital for the wounded.” Ordered Noct to Kraus, still being supported by Eve. ‘They wouldn’t be as foolish as to persecute us, I hope. They will have to rearrange their command structure and reign back in the levies. Still, I will order more scouts to be added.’
Hailing, Kraus sent off to his duty, while his eyes still had a portion of the hate of before, he moved with a newfound respect for a fellow warrior. Still having to deal with more pressing matters than his injuries, he turned towards Eve, his eyes revealing he would not budge.
“Call Lantraz here if he has finished healing our injured, I will need help with the countess’ soldiers.”
Eve nodded and rushed to it. The tingling sensation disappearing, he attributed it to his exhaustion. Trying his best to maintain his poker face, he walked towards the last soldiers of the army. While most of the troops had been, in some kind of form, harmed, the slowest soldiers and the ones being carried were dressing lethal ones.
Intruding upon the tents being set, he started to scrape a complex spell circle in the ground, ‘The diagnostic spell should go into the centre….fine tuning I can do with my ring…Metabolic increased….Regeneration spells….Water controllers,...’ Mumbled as the healers congregated into the military hospital.
“....has been set up, Regent Noct.” Interrupted High Commander Kraus.
“Send the half dead here, I will deal with them. Have the paladins started already? Send the worst to them too, let the healers deal with the ones they will be able to heal and let our magic do the rest.”
“Affirmative.” Gesturing to the ‘helpers’, they carried a man whose guts were barely holding on. Dubious eyes turned incredulous once they saw his skin regrow in a blurry show once Noct placed him in the makeshift bed and started healing.
“Next.” Said as he passed the now partially healed soldier a waterskin.
…………..
“How many dead?” Asked Noct when midnight arrived. The hospital he had left was full of injured people who would have to be cared for. Finally having healed his knee, he wielded a walking stick, as he could not afford to put weight on it yet.
“From our initial force of eight thousand, we are down to two and a half.” Mumbled Kraus. Maliz stood behind, her poker face cracking a bit, her small frown revealing her thoughts.
“Ours have gone from six hundred to four hundred, take or give.” Solemnly spoke Andras.
“From three thousand and a half to three thousand.” Said Lantraz, regret apparent in its voice.
“So a total of six thousand against, how many, forty, fifty thousand?” Tried to calculate Noct, His eyes glancing at Eve, who was sitting near him, he forced himself back. ‘Seven hundred dead of ours and five and a half thousand from the countess. So many fallen…And the worst thing is my feeling of relief at having lost no friend of mine’. “No matter, we will win either way.”
Getting up with help from Eve, he walked towards the command table and started to point on the map on it. “We won’t win a fair fight so we will not fight one. I expect you all to know how the wolfmen wage war. We will do the same. We will trap the principal road, we will target their supply carts, we will try to ambush parts of them and deprive them of both sleep and tranquillity. However, the main plan is to starve them out.”
Silence coming to the tent, he continued. “The average soldier needs from one to two kilograms of food per day. An army of that calibre needs, at least, forty tons a day if they do not ration it. They should have prepared enough food to last three to four weeks, double of what's needed to arrive at Ice Garden. Our mission is to burn as much as we can and to slow them and near their time limit. An hungry army will disintegrate in a few days.”
“How…how will we achieve it?” Asked, after gulping, Kraus.
“‘Pressure mines’, a spell which sees a lot of use in the war against the republic. You set the spell, set the weight that will set it off and, once it feels the pressure, it blows up. Illusion magic can hide it fairly well. We will plant as many as we can on the main road. Cavalry charges and volleys of flaming bolts should also help. Our priority targets will be the carts.”
“Wouldn’t they resupply from the nearby cities and villages?” Andras questioned.
“And that's why we will burn down the ones we can after we expel the peasants from there, taking the supplies we are able to carry.” Said, matter of fact, Noct.
“I apologise, I think I misheard?” Andras refused to believe he had heard right.
“Of course, the cities are too hard to do. Lilith is the only city nearby enough to be of any use, but I would bet my right arm they are with the traitors. But I believe it is too far for them to loot or resupply in any large capacity. If we are able to slow them enough before making a last stand at Ice Garden, maybe the Goddess of Luck will bless us with the reinforcements from the Empire, who ought to have come by then.”
“Regent Noct, what foolishness is your mouth spouting?! We are here to save the North, not to destroy it ourselves!!” Said Maliz, as she hit the table with her fist.
“Manpower is a resource in war and it is not that valuable without a good reason. Those farmers are of no value to us, only their grain. Our men? Our men are currently invaluable to be able to stop the traitorous Duchess. Will you rather risk a civil war with countless deaths and sentence this whole army? How much worth have to you the more or less two thousand peasant lives from the fifteen nearby villages? Six thousand soldiers? Fifty? How many lives will you trade for your personal slumber to be as comfortable as possible?” The hands of Noct started to clench.
“Still, this method is monstrous!! Expelling them without anything but what they dress is condemning them to freeze! We have no right to make this decision!” Retorted Kraus.
“I have no right to not make this decision, High Commander!! It is tremendously easy to diss my strategy but, can you think of another that brings us so close to victory here?! It is my duty to bring us even one single percent closer to victory!!” Punching the table, he continued, “As of now, six thousand lives depend on me, if I fail, I bring those to the Nether with me. If we win, maybe more will be saved!! Go ahead, take this duty from my hands. Promise me a victory and I will applaud you, Kraus. Let me sleep at night knowing I did not have to make the hard choices.”
“Is it really necessary to loot them out of everything they are worth? They will die before reaching a safe haven.” Stated Kraus, dodging the question.
“That’s a sacrifice that I am willing to make. That I must make. And you both know this is the only strategy that may grant us some semblance of initiative back. Did you know that Ice Garden has a population of fifty to sixty thousand? How many would die in the battle, how many in the following looting after our defeat? We cannot spare anything to help them and we need the food. We will sack them ourselves, if they comply they are free to go.”
“And if they are not?” Asked sarcastically an angry Kraus.
“I gave you orders. You will abide by them.”
“And what if I refuse?” Kraus threatened.
Noct, shrugging, said, “It is not my army who needs the food, isn’t it? If you are willing to halve our army and null our hopes, feel free. Not that I would let you.”
“We could hunt for the….” Maliz started.
“For three thousand men? On the run?”
“How can you be so merciless?!” Maliz snapped.
“This is war, my future Liege, war is merciless. And I have yet to hear anything that is not insulting my resolve. Where are your brilliant ideas to deal with this situation? I know you ought to have something that will put High Commander Salamander to shame, as you are so confident in criticising my plans!”
“Enough!” Now it was Andras who interrupted, “We agree on the severity of our situation….” Chewing his next words out, Andras snarled, “We have our orders and we are soldiers. I agree with Regent Noct, for I have no other idea to solve the….”
A messenger entered the tent where they were discussing and, out of breath, screamed, “A convoy of the Ashen Barony has arrived!”
Thanking the Gods, Andras nodded in relief.
“How much?”
“Twelve carts, my Lord!”
“Enough for…10 days with rationing. Not good enough even if we add what we could be able to hunt.”
“Wouldn’t that leave us the ability to let the villagers leave with enough food to arrive at Ice Garden?” Asked one of the Paladins from Lantraz’s escort.
“Well, yes. We wouldn’t need to totally ravage their silos to meet our demand now.” Apported Andras.
“If they accept leaving their livelihoods and homes, yes.” .
“May I be bestowed the honour of commanding this mission?” Kneeled the Paladin.
“Wouldn’t my orders go against your faith, nameless one?”
“Yes, my Lord. That’s why I am sure I will be able to, and can promise to, convince them.” Bowed.
“Shouldn’t my forces be enough, Regent Noct?” Asked Kraus, trying to save those villages.
“I do not trust your’s, High Commander.” Turning to the paladin, “You shall be escorted by Eve’s Sisters and the rest of your comrades. You have a day for every village, if you fail, the Sisters will torch it. Am I clear?”
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“Cristal, my Lord!” Said, gratefully the Paladin.
“Anything more?”
Maliz and Kraus shaked their heads with reluctance, they knew they would not get anything more, despair setting in after knowing than an undead would save or doom the villages. Andras and Lantraz did not add anything either, having accepted the necessity of it.
Noct nodded and, ire coming to his voice, said, “You are all dismissed except Lantraz, who is to remain.”
Lantraz jumped a bit.
……
“So, Lantraz, can you tell me who I am?” Asked Noct in a monotone.
“Yes! You are our Lord and Creator, Noct of the Ashen Household, magic bi…”
“And what are you in this relationship?”
“...your vassal?”
“Excellent. And what should a vassal do?”
“Obey his Lord’s orders!” Said Lantraz, smirking under its helmet.
“And what did I order you?”
“To not get involved.”
“And what happened?”
“Well, I wanted to carry out a true army drill as training, and I so happened to choose thi…”
“Do you find it risible!?!” This last punch managed to break the table and draw blood from his hand. “You could have carried everyone, including you, to oblivion!! You joined a war I explicitly told you not to!! You have participated in a reality I never wanted you all to join!! And, not content with that, you carried your brothers!! Tell me, how many died because you chose to ignore my orders?!”
“And how many we saved?! Do not dare to throw dirt in their sacrifice, my Lord!! They fought to save you and all of these sapients!! They fell as true warriors!!”
“I couldn’t give half of a rusted copper coin for all of these unknown soldiers’ lives, Lantraz!! I care about yours’!!”
“And we care about your’s!!” Now bellowed Lantraz. “You may not find it so valuable, but how we ourselves feel about it is not your matter to decide! They, we all chose. In our full capabilities. None remained behind. They made their bed willingly and fully aware that they may have to lay in it for eternity!” Calming down, it continued, “I could have been more proud of my siblings, yet they rest without graves. And we knew the possibility. We fought for what is right, pardon me for the insolence, but you have no right to deny it when you also fought so desperately for it.”
“Fools, all of you…. I commend your bravery and selflessness. They are more, you are more than what I deserve. But it is from that knowledge that I am repulsed by your decision.” Sighing, he continued, “Not that it matters. What’s done is done. If you won’t retreat then I will lead like I have always done.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way, my Lord.” Lantraz kneeled.
“I have not forgiven you still, Lantraz.” Darkly said Noct.
“And who are you to tell us what to or not to do!” Finally snapped Eve, who hadn’t left the tent. “Don’t you always tell us to think for ourselves? Well, today everyone did, and now you say ‘No, this isn’t how you are supposed to be free!’?!” Grabbing him by the shoulders, it screamed, “You almost died today, again!! And that was with our help, Noct! You may not care about you, but we, I, want you to live for Gods’ sake!”
“Fine, you both can play your lutes for all I care. Freedom to die is what you want? Well, welcome to the battlefield, we have that in spares of spares.” That tingling sensation coming back, he grabbed his wound on the side, trying to see if it had reopened. Disentangling from Eve, the pain of the old injury grounded him, even if the treatment from Lantraz and Sorak had dulled it by a lot.
Looking back at Lantraz, “I expect you to obey me from now on.”
“You got my word.” Bowed Lantraz
“Dismissed.” ‘In the end the treatment lasted too long, we will have to camp here for the night…’ “Before you go, tell the High Commanders we will start marching at dawn. Also, tell Kal to see me tomorrow as soon as he is able to.”
Lantraz hailed and left.
After a few seconds, Noct turned and said, “You too Eve.”
Once alone, he reclined in his chair. ‘And now, who the hell was with Andras that made him abandon his duties?’
…….
Samil was on her knees as her father lectured her.
“Let the kid off the hook already, High Commander.” Tried to bargain Ilkos, having gotten angry at the overheard ‘You are a disgrace to your mother!’. He had been eavesdropping for a while and his fury had grow enough as to not care. “She was worried about you and, after all, she did fine for it to be her first battle.”
Turning to the new insolence, Andras snapped, “With all respect, soldier. Why are you here? She is my daughter to educate as I see fit.”
“I am here because this lady here saved my life, and we dwarves know how to repay our debts. No need to humiliate here where others can see her. Revealing her as an unsolicited comrade is punishment enough.”
Falling for the bait of that underhanded insult to his daughter, he followed with, “Should I try you for insubordination? I repeat, return to your post.”
“Nah.” Ilkos sat on the ground near her, putting a hand on her shoulder as she silently cried. Now in a low voice, “I heard some of the stuff you said and it wasn’t nice, High Commander.”
Anger flaring up, which he couldn’t quite grasp under control after such a long day, he snapped and grabbed the hilt of his sword, “I gave you two warnings, there won’t be a third. Get out.”
“Are you really going to drop so low, High Commander? We are in plain sight.” Smirked Ilkos, knowing full well such a competent commander would back off before damaging his image in the troops eyes.
But what Ilkos was dealing with was a parent, and Andras was not subscribing to such niceties. Strengthening the grip on the sword, he started to bring it out from its scabbard before a hand stopped him.
Turning to look at the third offender of the day, he saw Noct, staring him down with a stone cold gaze. “High Commander Andras, did you receive the new debrief from High Commander Lantraz?”
“Wh…what are the new orders?” Regaining his sanity,Andras answered”
“We will march at dawn. Start the preparations.”
Noticing what he was trying to do, Andras tried to argue, “Lo…”
“Start the preparations, it is an order.” The gaze of Noct dropped on the two soldiers, his poker face not faltering after recognising Samil. “Were these soldiers disturbing your duties? I guess a flogging of ten strikes should be enough. You can tell the ‘squirrels’ of those unlanded knights, they have been lazing too much for my taste.”
“Wait a moment, Lord Noct! This is nothing of that sort!”
“Then get to my orders.” Noct closed in and whispered, “She is now a soldier and you are her commanding officer, treat her like that or i will treat her like it. For Karax’s beard, we are officers, Andras. Act like we must or go back home with your daughter. Keep this unprofessional crap and I will be forced to relieve you of your post.”
After the threat cooled his head, he realised his folly. Thankfully, he had had the smarts to carry the discussion to a secluded zone and only Ilkos had listened in. Backing away a few steps, Andras nodded and went to coordinate with the captains.
“Well, I cranked up another debt on the same day, ain’t I something.” Grumbled Ilkos.
“Soldier, while I appreciate your bravery, you ought to understand your position. Next time I will not be so forgiving.” Drily said Noct. “Disrespecting and interrupting the punishment being delivered by an officer is a big enough affront as it is.”
“Must you really stick to the officer bullshit? We are alone for Grabas’ belly!” Laughed Ilkos, the cold gaze of Noct not mattering to him.
Sighing, he continued, “I have a duty to carry out for all of you, and you have one to me.”
“Aye, aye. I will return to my post, Lord Noct.” Sarcastically, Ilkos said, after a few steps he muttered, “And thanks for the save.”
Not answering, Noct now engaged Samil. “Shouldn’t you return to your post, unexpected soldier?”
“You are angry with me too, right? For being selfish and coming here?” Said between sobs.
Finally dropping the act, Noct sat at her side and muttered, “You know, today I have heard enough about personal freedom and liberty to last for a year. You are a grown woman past your age and you are able to make your decisions, as wrong and foolish as they may be.” Smirking, finding the change from receiving end to talker entertaining, he continued, “I am sure you almost died today. You don’t have what it…” Eyeing her face, he corrected, “You didn’t have what it takes to kill a man and, stories be damned, knighthood and war are not the business you thought they were. The more you know…, right?.”
“I am sure your dad didn’t want this life for you, but you had to charge right in it, didn’t you?” He stopped to laugh for a bit. “He is feeling betrayed, you broke his trust after all. And now that he knows that you are here, all of the worries he would have had if you had joined from day one are hitting him at once. You turned into what he would have never wished upon you, a soldier who faced its first trial. And, while he is being the angriest I ever saw him, he is thanking all Gods and Demon Lords for your survival in that fight.”
Samil, calming down a bit, continued to listen.
“The thing you do have to ask yourself is, do you regret coming? Or would you have regretted more not coming? Not every act will make you feel proud of it, but it may have been necessary.” Looking at her, he said, “Stand, Samil, you followed what you thought was right and needed to be done. That in and out itself fills me with pride for my disciple.” An evil smirk blooming out, he added, “Of course, I will still chew you out when we return and, if you die in the following days, Andras is going to kill me, but know you do not need to regret acting for what you feel right. Regret not trusting your dad with that information.” Raising up and dusting himself off, he ended with as he extended his hand to her, “Of course, acting thinking it's the right thing doesn’t necessarily make it the right thing, but it is a good start. Now, soldier, return to your post.”
…………….
Eve silently entered Noct tent. It had grown used to the patrols and her gaseous form helped her to remain hidden from the tired lookouts. ‘What a joke of an alliance. We save their lives and we are expelled to mount our own campament where they cannot see us.’ Cursed inside. It knew it would end like this, not that it cared. It saw the meat bag army as tools to keep Noct alive and, if the wall of flesh was bigger, less arrows would fall on him. Nevertheless, the fear and hate still bothered it. They had only done ‘good’ things for them and their only reward was this shallow semi tolerance.
The sounds of a turning Noct grounded it again. It stalked towards him and grabbed his hand, an act that stopped the worst of his nightmares and the pain and fever from his injuries. Resisting the enticing charm of his neck drenched in sweat, it controlled its hunger.
Eve had never seen this image of its Lord before it had started its little plot. It had always thought of him as a being that was unaffected by weakness, of unparalleled will and one who always did what needed to be done without a second thought. Reality had shown it the truth and it had not lessened its image of him. It had teached it the meaning of pity and compassion, of worry and fear for another. It had come to love Noct even more after seeing his weak side, for it had come to understand that he pushed on despite everything, caring for those useless things that he still lost sleep to. He doubted, he regretted and he feared and tried to learn from his wrongs, thing it found most charming.
Lightly caressing its hair, it watched him calm down. Eve knew it had to make haste but something was stopping it. Was it regret? Remorse? Love? Not wanting to end this little heaven it had found? It did not know. What it did know was that its plot was working. Noct had started to act strange around it and had stopped pushing it away when it touched him. ‘Only a few more times and I can bring you out of this Nether. I can save you, make you, me, us, everyone, happy.’.
With some reluctance, Eve brought its month to his neck and bit as gently as it was able to. The flavour of his blood almost overpowering her like always, it focused on just letting time pass as it drank drop of blood after drop, as little as its hunger let it. Disentangling herself and breathing out, it let its saliva do its dark job.
Caressing some scars on his shoulders, it bestowed upon him a lover’s gaze before leaving as silently as it entered, determined to shield his skin from more of those blemishes.
……………..