The Crow and The Rabbit

Confidently, Clemens strode forward, making a large overhead swing at Ferene. She blocked it, holding her own sword at an angle, his weapon sliding off of hers. With a smile, he adjusted his stance, squaring up to fight her properly.

She had no intention of giving him a chance to do that.

Launching herself forward, she swung at him in a flurry of attacks, forcing the mercenary onto the defensive. As he retreated, his men stepped forward, coming to his side. Met with their weapons, Ferene stepped away, the imperial soldiers taking position beside her.

"You're outnumbered, girl." Clemens observed, barking out a laugh.

Wordlessly, Ferene raised her sword above her. She kept her eyes on her foe's face, and didn't have to see what happened behind her. His eyes darted around, seeing the mercenaries of Linara's Legion step forward from the crowd, surrounding the mayor's residence. The large man grew tense, baring his teeth.

"Guess it'll be a real fight, then."

"You will die here." Ferene stepped forward, away from her soldiers. "Your men can choose to die with you, or lay down their weapons and leave this place unharmed."

"I'm going to kill this bitch, and after I do, I'll hunt down any of you who ran." Clemens shouted, leveling his blade, one-handed, at Ferene.

They stared each other down for a moment, and then everything burst into motion.

One of Clemen's archers loosed an arrow. It struck Tanja's shield, not harming the lieutenant, but that was all it took. Clemens shouted and charged forward, his men following him. Ferene met his blade with her own, Tanja and the soldiers following, clashing with Clemen's men. The mercenaries Tullund stationed on the ground rushed forward to help, while the archers on the rooftops fired at the mayor's house. The townspeople screamed, fleeing as the square erupted into a bloody brawl.

If not for her time with Taradira, Ferene would have no idea how to fight at the center of the chaos. She tried her best to copy the way the general fought. Instead of focusing on Clemens, she pushed his blade away, forcing him back so that she could step forward, pressing into his troops, disrupting their hastily assembled formation.

Roaring at his men, Clemens tried to push back, but Ferene again parried his strike. Someone swung and axe at her, and she avoided it. Her training with Relgren, fighting multiple opponents, coming back to her. Another man rushed her, wielding a dagger in each hand. She cut him down and managed to bring her weapon around just in time to block a strike from Clemens.

One of her soldiers fell, and a shirtless man, one of Tullund's, stepped forward, his hands empty. Ferene saw him slap a sword aside and then break the wielder's arm before she noticed Clemens stepping back, nearly at the door to the mansion. She thrust her sword directly forward, the surge of motion catching the large man off-guard, her blade piercing his armor and embedding in his stomach. Rather than struggle with pulling it free, she let go, drawing her short sword and turning to the next target.

The mercenaries broke after their leader fell. Some threw down their weapons, surrendering. Others did the same but ran. Some tried to fight their way out. Ferene cut down two, but her next target dropped his spear, holding his hands up. "I surrender."

She raised her weapon, making to cut his throat, but suddenly there was a hand on her shoulder. "No."

Turning, she found Tanja behind her. "They had their chance to surrender before the battle. These are opportunists."

"They should stand trial, as enemies of the empire."

For a moment, Ferene hesitated. She was no longer fighting for herself. Things were bigger than her. She had a position, and her actions reflected on that position.

"I am the Emperor's Blade. My instructions were to deliver the justice I see fit. They have already had their trial."

The unarmed man fell, bleeding from his neck.

"It seems that our enemy did not fall for the initial bait, leaving the rest of Gallen's plan irrelevant. Do you have an idea, Gelvain?"

Standing on a low hill a day's travel from Barakin, Taradira, Gelvain, and Thoms surveyed the plains in front of them. Somewhere to the west was the imperial army, waiting. Camus had not repositioned to respond to Coryan's forces extending.

"We take Galbr, then. The king's requirements for this invasion no longer matter. If they won't negotiate after their current losses, we should just keep pushing until they do."

She nodded. "It is a good strategy, but can we afford to spread our forces so thin?"

"If they respond to us moving on the city, we enact Gallen's plan. If they don't, we can take it, leave a small force there, and be ready to respond to them trying to retake it. As you said, our coordination is better. They will struggle to keep up with our movements."

Turning to the captain, she gave him another nod. "Good. Send the word to Coryan and Frennich to attack."

"Is there a reason you are having us come up with plans, General?" Thoms asked.

Taking a moment to give him a smile, Taradira turned back to the plains. "If this war goes well, I will be stepping down. Someone else will have to take my place. I want all of you to be ready for that."

"No one can do what you do. We don't have the experience."

"Just do your best."

"Why do you have to leave? Why now? What's special about this war?"

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him fully, looking down at him, into his eyes. "If there is an accord between the Ettsgras and Celngi, even if it comes with Ettsgras having a strong advantage, it will mean years of peace. I have other problems to solve. My own people. I intend to use the good will I have earned with the people of Ettsgras to ask for help with that."

Thoms frowned, thinking it over. Before he could say anything, a messenger rode up the hill, panting, her horse's fur dark with sweat. "General, word from Ettsgras."

"What-the cavalry. What happened?"

"They are sacking villages on our side of the original border. They've destroyed fields and leveled buildings, slaughtered livestock. They let the villagers go if they flee, only killing those who try to defend. The king has ordered the milita to hunt them down."

"Which delays our potential reinforcements." She sighed in frustration. "Our cavalry forces are here, so that force is more mobile than anything nearby. Arnov only has foot soldiers and archers at Naymoor."

"Why aren't they killing the villagers?" Thoms questioned, his lips tight. "It is indirectly disruptive to our supply lines, without directly attacking them, but what's the point of letting them flee?"

"Burden. Other villages have to take care of the refugees. Or they go to the capital. We lose the farms, but still have the people to feed. They are playing to slow us down. Which could mean they are trying to get a better negotiating position."

"Does it change our plan?"

"No. We still take Galbr."

In the mayor's house, Ferene sat at the head of a long table. Tanja sat to her left, and Tullund sat to her right, with Lily directly beside him. Rella sat next to Tanja, Frederick - the unarmed fighter - at her side. Across from him sat Nenhal, awkwardly tall in her chair. At the other end of the table, the mayor smiled nervously at the group.

"I'm not really sure how to react to all this." He started, "I expected some soldiers to show up, not the emperor's blade, not a second group of mercenaries, and not…Hatharen, you said you were? We are all very thankful you saved us."

Searching the house after the battle, they found him locked in a side room. "The emperor looks out for his subjects. We are at war, so unusual measures were taken." Tanja spoke for Ferene.

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"Well, yes. Of course. I was hoping to arrange a celebration, and I also have a small request. If some of you could remain here, to help rebuild and just, watch over the town for a week or two, it would go a long way towards reassuring the people. They all attempted to go about their lives, but they were rather upset."

"We only have nine soldiers." Tanja answered, frowning. Ferene turned her head to Tullund, who raised an eyebrow, then tilted his head to Rella. The two of them looked at her, and she sighed.

"I don't think another mercenary group is what these people need right now."

"Work for the mayor." Ferene cut in. "Tanja, write a contract." The lieutenant blinked once, opening her mouth, but Ferene kept talking. "This isn't the only town here. No soldiers, no militia. Someone needs to defend this land."

"A base of operations." Tullund spoke up. "If you give us an empty building - a barn or a storehouse - we can set up there. A dozen or so men can be in the village, helping rebuild or just keeping watch. A small number that won't put people on edge. We reach out to other towns and villages nearby, start patrols over the area."

Ferene nodded, looking to Tanja. "Fine, I'll write something. We already have some mercenary companies working with the army, one more shouldn't be a problem."

The mayor smiled and nodded, pressing his hands against the table. "Thank you all so much. It is good to see that the emperor's blade is generous if not merciful."

Ferene stood up, nodded to him, and walked out of the room, the others following.

"I think he's scared of you." Tullund observed, catching up to her as she walked out the front door. "Killing those people left an impression."

"It should."

"I guess that part of you can't be changed by fancy titles and uniforms."

Lily finally spoke up, the first time she had talked since joining them before the meeting. "Are you flirting with her?"

Tullund sighed. "I am complimenting my friend, who has moved up in the world. That is the emperor's blade, who carries out justice with the authority of one of the most powerful men alive. I am not flirting with her."

"Good." Lily said, nodding.

"You can just leave, you know." Tullund frowned at her. "You've more than paid your debt to me. No need to keep following me through battles."

The girl shook her head, grinning. "I told you. I'm not leaving until you sleep with me at least once."

The statement caught Ferene's attention. "Why?"

"I'm good at it. I'm not leaving him until I can demonstrate my skills. He showed off so much for me, I want to do the same."

"I wasn't showing off for you. I was doing my job."

"And you are great at it. Let me show you how great I am at mine."

"It isn't your job anymore." Tullund shot back. Ferene looked at the others, and saw no reaction from them - Nenhal was talking to Frederick, and Rella was talking to another one of her men. Only Tanja seemed to find the conversation odd.

"Is this normal?" She asked.

Rella looked over and shook her head. "We all do our best to ignore Lily."

Attempting to take Galbr moved Camus' army. She marched on Barakin. Taradira took to the field, advancing to fight in the open rather than defend the city. Even with her army outnumbered due to being split, she wanted to avoid being trapped.

She also wanted to meet the enemy commander.

Thoms rode a horse behind her, carrying the standard of Ettsgras, as she walked out into the open land between the two armies. Several minutes passed before someone emerged from the ranks of the enemy formation, two large horses riding forward, the second rider holding a pole with the standard of Celngi.

"Are you General Camus?" Taradira asked the first rider. A tall woman, with long brown hair in a tight braid.

Nodding, the general dismounted, stepping towards Taradira. Though she might be well above the typical human woman in height, she still had to look up at Taradira. "Tell me you want to surrender."

"I want to bring the empire to a negotiating table. We can end the war."

"The emperor wants his land back. His cities back. You won't give those up in a negotiation. Talking terms is meaningless. Leave this land."

"You will not beat me, girl. Save your people. End the war."

"I'm going to defeat you and give you to the emperor, just as I did with your friend."

Taradira laughed. "Careful, he might offer me a job."

Her face blank, Camus turned and mounted her horse. "I am not intimidated by you." She yelled, before urging her steed back towards her army. Taradira turned and walked away, not bothering with a final remark.

She didn't need one.

The two armies stood far enough apart that no weapon could reach, but both able to watch the others movements. An hour passed with no large movement from either side - shuffling and twitching, a few small groups repositioning in the formations.

"I hate her." Taradira stated, calmly. "She's patient and completely willing to just waste everyone's time. You'd think that she's the one who is going to live forever. Give the signal for a cavalry charge. Whole force will follow up, but know that the plan is to push forward and then pull back at a moment's notice."

Visibly swallowing, Thoms looked at Taradira, then across the field. "Is that the proper course of action?"

"It is the one we need to take right now. That is all that matters. Relay the orders." She drew her axe-sword and picked up a shield to hold in her left hand. "Let's see how General Camus fares face to face."

As promised, the mayor organized a celebration. The town square, cleared of blood and bodies, was now lit by torches. In one corner, a group of townspeople played fast-paced, upbeat music on drums and a fiddle. Most of the space was filled with people dancing to the music, a cluster made up of the imperial citizens, Tanja's squad, Tullund's mercenaries, and Nenhal's Hatharen, the lattermost standing out due to their height. Ferene found a bench nearby and sat, watching silently. At some point, Tullund emerged from the crowd and sat down next to her.

"I managed to convince Lily to dance in a group, instead of just me." He said with a sigh.

Ferene looked at him, tilting her head. "Do you like her?"

For a moment, he hesitated. "Yes. She's a good friend."

Once again, she found herself filled with the odd urge to speak. To say things she normally would never say. Tullund always made her feel this way. She didn't consider it before, but he shared a lot of past experiences with her. Maybe that was it.

She took a deep breath. "You should sleep with her."

Her statement caught him by surprise. His head snapped to her, eyes wide. "What? Why?"

"She wants to sleep with you. If you do that, you'll make her happy. Probably make you happy as well. If she dies tomorrow, and you never did that, how would you feel?"

"What are you talking about?"

Closing her eyes, she breathed out, slowly. "There was someone who asked me for a kiss. Just a kiss. I said no, kept my distance. Then she died. It wouldn't have changed anything, but I wish I had kissed her. At least once."

Tullund looked back at the crowd, his hands on his knees. "I never expected you to be giving me advice. Or to be saying this kind of thing."

"Are you going to do it?"

"If I said I wanted to sleep with you, would you do it?"

"I don't want to sleep with you."

"What if I don't want to sleep with Lily? Do you still think I should do it?"

Ferene smiled. "You don't actually want to sleep with me. You do want her. You've forgiven her, haven't you?"

"She didn't know if she could save anyone. She stayed quiet because she was scared. She's just…she's just a scared girl. And…it's complicated. I'm scared of what might happen after."

"Because of that woman we killed. I don't remember her name. She hurt you."

"Larren hurt me, yes. And now she's dead. And my wife is dead. And Amelia is dead. Everyone I get close to dies. I'm scared the same thing will happen to Lily."

Ferene stood up. "Both of us want to get away from our past. You wanted to become a farmer. You became a soldier. You can become someone who can protect her."

"Where are you going?"

"I want to dance with Nenhal."

"Going to sleep with her?"

"No."

Screams and clashing metal surrounded Taradira. The cavalry charge opened a hole in the Celngi line, and she was right behind them, taking the opportunity to leap into combat. Swinging her sword, she cut down soldiers left and right, an unstoppable force. The difference in numbers, however, proved too much. It did not take long before her push was driven back. Thoms called the retreat, and Taradira stayed just a few moments, making sure her soldiers were all moving back before she started walking backwards, raising her shield to protect herself from a barrage of arrows.

Camus responded to her charge as best as she could, and successfully drove them back. Then, in her typical cautious way, she did not pursue. Taradira ground her teeth together. Why? Did she expect a trap? Was she just trying to avoid losses and minimize fighting? Which was it? Did she want to end the war or not? Her choices didn't make sense, but the two armies separated, pulling away, leaving the part of the field where they clashed littered with bodies and discarded weapons.

"Report." She shouted when she was out of the enemy's range, dropping her battered shield to the ground.

Thoms was at her side immediately. "Estimate we came out even. Which is-"

"Still going to leave us outnumbered. Right." Taradira finished for him. "Let's get back to Barakin. She won't follow us. Figure out what's going on at Galbr. I need to know if those two captured it or if they need assistance. And send word to Arnov - I want half of his forces to move up here."

A grim look crossed Thoms' face, but he nodded. "I'll see it done."

"Gelvain! Where are you?" She spun, looking around for her other captain. The fact that he didn't report to her after the battle meant-

A man stepped up, the loop of rope around his shoulder marking him a lieutenant. "General, I'm Lieutenant Fulk. Gelvain was wounded in battle and I took over for him."

"Where is he now?"

Not speaking, the man turned, leading Taradira towards a patch of ground with men laying down, medics moving between them. Following Fulk, they found Gelvain, the man on his back, staring upwards blankly. His uniform stained so thoroughly red that Taradira couldn't even see the wound that caused it.

From looking at him, and from the lack of anyone tending to him, she knew that if he wasn't dead already, he would be soon. Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head back, and let it out. "Captain Fulk, you're permanently taking charge of his forces."

The man blinked once - just once, to his credit - before standing up straight and giving her a salute. "Yes, General!"