The Fey Conquest, # 15— "Preparing a Stand"

[Short stories. Images generated by hotpot.ai]

At this hour, messengers who were raised throughout the militia had relayed that the Net Region had largely found refuge in Stonehall, a mighty fortress erected in ages past, when there had in fact been war in the land of Iceglass. This included their various Patron Espers and their vassalaries, meaning with its powerful garrison, it was quite unassailable.

The people of the Net region had left in haste, carrying their supplies in wagons while Weez and his raiders ravaged the countryside. The Tyrant had cornered several fleeing trains of villagers, including the Seahorse Villagers and Quahog Village, plundering their espers and goods, and enslaving the rest. The Fey were shocked by how little merited the death sentence by the hands of Weez and his lieutenants, and were utterly broken when they witnessed what he did to those who thought to escape or resist.

Maka was hardened at the fall of a growing number of townships, and had no tears left to shed for the weak and generally unimportant Seahorse and Quahog villages. In fact, if she were to choose which villages to fall, it would have been these, unless the Village of the Barnacle had been an option.

Though there were stragglers who were bound to be caught by Weez’s mounted warriors from Ivalice, the Net Region was at last safe from The Badger, her people preserved in the impregnable fortress of Stonehall.

Meanwhile, the land Northeast of Iceglass Fountain, the Winter Region, was under the primacy of The Boar, his birth name being Morris— called “The Pig” by his absent enemies. It was believed he was foolhardy, because if he had any tactical sense he’d have taken his men and charged directly for the Villages of Steel and Forge, yet he was making a comfortable gamut of the Winter Region.

Morris, with the Infernal Esper’s own luck, had invaded regions of infamous Patron Espers; The Town of the Nymph Esper, the Town of the Thief Esper, and the Town of the Brawl Esper. From these towns he had gathered a large number of willing followers; the robbers and thugs happily joining Morris in pillage, and showering the town of the Nymph Esper with favors in exchange for their company. A separate Fey Leader, without any ready connection to Maka, named Jerikos Mure, Had galvanized the Northeast to seek refuge in two garrisons, depending on their vicinity to the raiders. These were Winter Garrison, an old but well-built fortress of the Winter Esper, while the others fled west to find refuge in the Town of the Steel Esper. Quite idiotically, The Town of Steel saw no urgency in the plight of the refugees, complaining about how they planned to compensate the denizens of Steel for taking care of the refugees. They also insisted their guests pay worship to their various statues of the Steel Esper, which were thought to be incarnations of the actual Steel Esper.

Though others were in attendance, including Japheth, Warren, Skerrit, and Jaryst the Lancer, it was only Maka and Doctor Karval who spoke, them being the undisputed brains in their base of operations, which was still Looking Glass Monastery.

“What of the Conqueror? The White Tiger?” said Maka.

“His army appears to be the least powerful in numbers, but there are some things you should know,” said Doctor Karval.

“...Go on.”

“He’s proven difficult to crack. Our own people informed on us regarding the ambush at the Night Village, with disastrous results.”

“Why would they do such a thing?”

“The invaders do not fear the covens, cabals, or their dark espers. In fact, they despise them and anyone who serves them, and have been going out of their way to put them to the sword. The ones who have been freed from them love Swain the Tiger. Meanwhile, The one called The Fletcher forces the native conscripts to take the magicite of the dark espers and bear them as runes. The pain of accepting dark magicite is likened to giving birth.”

Maka swallowed.

Then she said, “Are the Lancers succeeding in readying the militia?”

“Because they aren’t on the march, our militia is making headway much faster than the invader’s, and they are determined to defend our native soil. However, the Order of the Spear falls short of the martial prowess of the invaders.”

“... why do you gotta tell me the truth?”

“It is my solemn duty, milady.”

She sighed, tired as usual, yet her will was strong. “We have two mighty fortresses that will buy us some time. Winter and Stonehall won’t fall any time soon. As for the ones who won’t take refuge, well… this is war.”

“Eventually, thousands of our people will seek refuge in Sovereign Valley, if the Tiger makes it past the Fortress of the Golem.”

“Golem!” exclaimed Maka, “Isn’t that as strong as Winter?”

“Stronger,” said Doctor Karval, “But the Tiger is more cunning than the other three Tyrants, and we’ve never faced enemies with runic magic at their disposal.”

“If even one of those garrisons fails, I’ll make ready my ace in the hole.”

“Milady, it wouldn’t do to withhold information from me…”

“Well, if it’s a mistake, it’s my responsibility.”

Doctor Karval said nothing.

The ace in the hole was herself, offering her hand in marriage to the Conqueror. That had been the words of both Naori the Oracle and Leonyde himself. But as per usual, getting there from here wasn’t always what it seemed when the journey first began.