The invasion by the tribes was unforeseen even for Valentina. Just like Liza, she had expected that they’d likely keep a low profile for a while. This idea didn’t stem from her being ignorant of the tribes, but rather the opposite. If anyone could claim they had fully grasped the reasons why the tribes had been constantly attacking Zhcted throughout history, that person might as well be awarded for having pulled off something transcendental.
“We’ll set up countermeasures at once. Please have all chief vassals assemble in the council room,” she ordered the civil official who had brought the report, and spread out a map on the work desk in her office.
“Things will become hectic, won’t they? Even though the south is going to become turbulent from now on as well.”
Of course no one besides her could hear that murmur. Valentina pondered while tapping several locations on the map.
At present, neither Osterode nor Bydgauche had any significant military forces. In such a case, Valentina had the option to either have the northern lords gather their soldiers and then launch an assault on the tribes, or move north with Osterode’s soldiers which were currently in the capital with her.
But, as soon as Valentina’s eyes noticed Lebus written on the map, a giggle escaped her lips.
“Come to think of it, I wonder where Tigrevurmud Vorn and his happy-go-round friends might be prowling around by now?”
The sole occasion when Valentina scouted out Tigre’s camp by using Ezendeis’s power was the day when she had attacked Sofy. Ever since then she stayed clear of Tigre and his party whenever she leaped to other regions. On that day, while staying hidden in the shadows of a tent, Valentina had heard Leitmeritz’s soldiers talking. Those soldiers had mentioned that Brune’s treasured sword Durandal was stored in Tigre’s tent.
Valentina suspected that Leitmeritz’s soldiers, which had been involved in Brune’s civil war, might have had to actually see Durandal with their own eyes. And she also knew that Ganelon had been holding onto the Sword of Invincibility. Hence, she wouldn’t consider it odd even if Tigre’s group had obtained Durandal at the moment of Ganelon’s defeat. Durandal was endowed with the power to erase draconic arts.
──I was quite lucky back then.
Not only did she obtain information about Durandal, but she also discovered Sofy wandering around by herself, used that chance to slay her, and managed to escape with her draconic art before anyone else could come running. But, it wasn’t said that it would work just as smoothly on the next occasion. If Tigre were to rush over with Durandal at hand before she could get away, Valentina would end up stranded amidst enemies with her draconic arts sealed. Considering that possibility, she couldn’t afford to act carelessly.
“After all, I’d love to avoid going through the same experience as Eleonara when she got caught by Greast.”
Seeing how she couldn’t scout them out by herself either way, Valentina had no choice but to predict their movements through the numerous reports reaching her. All Valentina currently knew was Polesia’s army having withdrawn, them having announced that Sofy sustained heavy injuries, and them having been sighted near the town of Lecheneaut with an army of less than 5,000.
“Sir Miron claimed that they’d head for Silesia, but I suspect they’re not targeting the capital, but my Osterode.”
Or to be more precise, I am their aim. They should consider it more beneficial to lure me out of the capital instead of attacking the capital head on.
“If I could get them to fight the tribes while heading for Osterode through the northern parts, it’d be just what I’d wish for, but as might be expected, that would be too much of a wishful thinking. It’d be better for me to assume that they’re going to pass through the south…”
When she had considered things up to this point, Valentina shook her head with a bitter smile. She suspected that she might not be the only one having misread that the tribes would stay put. As such, she couldn’t fully discard the possibility that Tigre and his party wouldn’t pass through the north for some kind of reason.
Besides, there was one matter that bothered Valentina. When she had killed Sofy, it wasn’t as though Valentina had launched a surprise attack on the blond Vanadis. She had challenged Sofy to a fight straight from the front. And yet, Sofy not only didn’t try to summon her draconic tool, but she even turned her back on Valentina in an attempt to run away. When Sofy collapsed on the grassy plain, it was actually such a surprise for Valentina that she suspected some kind of trap.
──It didn’t look like she tried to summon it, but couldn’t. Something has happened. Very likely during the battle against Ganelon. Based on that, wouldn’t it be quite possible that they would try to move in a way that’d be unexpected for me?
“I guess I should try to come up with scenarios for the various paths they might take.”
I’ll probably learn what happened during the battle against Ganelon when I ask one of their group eventually. For now I should work out countermeasures while predicting how they might move.
When around a quarter of a koku had passed with the map and her glaring at each other, a knocking could be heard from the door, causing Valentina to lift her face. She thought that a civil official might have arrived to inform her that the preparations for the meeting were finished.
But, she was wrong. The one entering was a subordinate knight of Osterode.
“As milady ordered, we have laid out the iron chain that had been stored in milady’s mansion on top of the wall.”
“Thank you for your efforts.” Valentina smiled at the knight.
Of course this iron chain was no ordinary chain, but one possessing the mysterious power to seal draconic arts. However, she was the only one aware of that.
“Lady Vanadis, if you allow, I would like to know what that chain might be.”
Valentina slowly shook her head in response to the knight’s look that was filled with questions, “I can fully understand that you consider it odd. But, I cannot tell you yet. However, I’d like you to keep in mind that this chain is something important for me.”
It was something she couldn’t explain even when confronted about it by a reliable subordinate. Now that he’d been told so by his lord, even the knight couldn’t probe any further into this.
Valentina had handed out this order for the sake of preventing an infiltration by Elen and the other Vanadis. She didn’t believe that they’d come attacking the capital with their armies, but she deemed it as possible that they’d try to enter by themselves. With Elen’s Silver Flash, scaling a wall would pose no problem, and even Mila’s Frozen Wave seemed capable of instantly creating an ice ladder. Even if it’d be impossible to completely lock them out, it was still better to prepare at least some kind of measure in advance.
The knight left after saluting, passing a civil official on his way out. Hearing that the council was in full attendance, Valentina left her office.
◎
A region called Balş existed north of Piwa. It was a huge plain endowed with a large lake in the west, and a big river flowing across Balş’s center. But then again, both the river and lake were frozen solid during this season. The ice crust was sturdy enough to allow groups of armed soldiers walking on it without any cracks forming.
“How regrettable.” Mila lamented in apparent vexation when she confirmed the ice’s thickness.
It wasn’t just her either. Elen, Liza, and Olga embraced the same feeling.
If they could have used their draconic tools, they could have deliberately allowed the tribes to cross the frozen river, just to destroy the ice layer with their draconic arts when the enemy had arrived in the middle of the river. This might have allowed them to throw the enemy in disarray by dividing them.
“Let’s refrain from asking the impossible.” Liza shrugged her shoulders.
Arma Zirnitra had erected its camp in front of the frozen river as they had decided to confront the tribes in this area. After talking it over, they had decided on Liza taking on the role of supreme commander. Elen would lead Leitmeritz’s army, Mila Olmutz’s army, and Liza and Olga Lebus’s army.
In the morning two days later, Liza received a report stating that the tribes were heading their way.
“It’s just as planned.” Liza commented calmly.
Ever since they had built their camp in this area, Liza had regularly dispatched scout units to spy on the tribes’ movements. Fighting spirit lit up in her odd eyes.
“I think it’s slightly regrettable that we’ll be the only ones allowed to raise our cups for a toast.”
The neighboring lords hadn’t answered Liza’s call. But then again, she didn’t really feel disappointed or discouraged by that. After all, it was easy enough to predict. Besides, it was also possible to interpret it as a chance to wrap up this whole story without any outsiders learning about their draconic tools having lost their powers.
“Tell all units to vacate the camp. We’ll meet the enemy on the field around noon.” Liza ordered her soldiers while making the hem of her dress sway.
◇◆◇
Elen was getting everything ready for the battle in her own tent while having Lim help her out. Compared to the hustle and bustle outside, the atmosphere inside the tent between the two was chilly and silent.
Elen put on shoulder protectors, breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves atop her uniform. Moreover, she affixed two guardless daggers to her belt, and a somewhat bigger short sword on her back.
“Are you going to make use of the short sword and daggers?” Lim asked with a face clearly showing her not having expected it.
Elen nodded with a serious expression, “It might become necessary in this battle. Ludmila and the others mentioned it earlier as well.”
Waiting for Lim to separate, Elen drew the short sword on her back. She slashed it from the right to the left, swiftly swapped to an underhand grip, and swung it down from above. Her swordsmanship was fluent without any wasted movements. Even after becoming a Vanadis, Elen had never shirked on her training.
Once she sheathed the short sword, Elen finally hung up a longsword at her waist. It was a common steel sword. It was heavier than Arifar, but that weight allowed Elen to feel a reliability from it.
“Lady Eleonora, as expected, I should be in front…” Lim suggested, anxiety coloring her eyes.
This was a proposal as her best friend, and not as her aide.
While feeling grateful, Elen shook her head, “It must be me who stands at the front, Lim. Besides, I sure hope that you haven’t already forgotten about the day before yesterday.”
In the evening of the day they’d built their camp in this area, Elen gathered all of Leitmeritz’s soldiers and made them line up outside the camp. Standing atop a podest, Elen had looked down at her men. The light of the setting sun had dyed the land madder red, but only her vicinity had been painted over black by the shadows formed by the mass of soldiers.
“There is something I must tell you before the end of the day.” Carried by the wind which made the whole place even chillier, Elen’s voice had reached all the way to the back of the rows. “To put it in simple words, my Arifar was broken.”
Shock had engulfed the soldiers. Elen had boldly taken on their stares which were either filled with panic, anxiety, or confusion. Her silver hair had fluttered in the wind.
Waiting for the soldiers to calm down to a certain extent, Elen had continued, “Until just a little while ago, strange events with fairies and ghosts kept occurring, didn’t they? We exerted all our powers in order to make these things stop. And as a result of that, Arifar broke. You could also say it sacrificed itself for us.”
The last sentence had been Elen’s true feelings. She believed that their draconic tools had passed their power to Tigre while exceeding their own limit in order to save them.
The captains of each unit, who stood at the front of each row, were apparently satisfied with Elen’s explanation. They had probably realized that the timing for the unusual phenomenons having stopped had matched with the timing for Arifar having vanished from Elen’s waist.
While sensing their gazes pinned on her face, Elen had further explained, “I might have said that it broke, but Arifar will recover before long. I can tell as its master. However, it’s not like it’ll be back to normal today or tomorrow. Rather, it’s not going to happen anytime soon. At least I’d like you to assume that it won’t happen during this war.”
A commotion ran through the ranks. Voices of relief and delight transformed into sighs and disappointment. Elen pursed her lips, waiting for them to quiet down.
Then, while gazing at her men, she had declared, “Just as always, I’ll fight while leading the charge. This is the duty of a Vanadis, and my own pride. I shall promise you that I’ll make sure of your brave fighting with my own eyes while brandishing my sword.”
While she had kept talking, the dusky sky had continued to darken, the soldiers’ face gradually becoming indistinguishable. However, she could clearly tell that many of them were staring at her with bated breaths.
“Me having remained silent about this until today was owed to my own hesitation. That’s inexcusable. Accordingly, I shall allow you to not join the battle front, however only limited to the battle against the savage tribes. Those wishing to take this offer can wait in Piwa for the battle to end. I have already talked it over with the city. You don’t need to report to me either.”
Bringing it to a close like that, Elen had ordered them to break up.
This was what took place the day before yesterday.
“Certainly, you have told the soldiers that you would lead the charge. But, I cannot believe that they would be disappointed by you, assuming you were to command the army from the rear. I believe that it is of highest importance for you to remain standing on the battlefield.” Lim objected with an unhappy face.
Elen placed a hand on her shoulder, “Sasha said before: If I use my draconic arts too much, the soldiers will start to only look at the draconic tool instead of me.”
Alexandra Alshavin, whom Elen referred to as Sasha, was a former Hidden Princess of the Luminous Flame and Elen’s dear friend. Agreeing with her advice, Elen had always kept in mind to hold back on her usage of Arifar’s draconic arts. But, now that she tried to think about it, she wondered whether the overuse of draconic arts might be a prime example. In the sense of it being unfitting behavior for a Vanadis.
“Lim, you see, I think I was being tested. No, I think it’d be better to describe it as being called into question. To see whether I’d be able to be a Vanadis even without possessing a draconic tool as someone who had been chosen as Vanadis by a draconic tool.”
Four years had passed since Elen became a Vanadis with fourteen. Elen had governed Leitmeritz as its ruler, and fought on battlefields as commander over the soldiers she led. She had made blunders, and also suffered defeats, but she had strove hard to gain their trust. In the meanwhile, Arifar had always been at her side.
Elen wondered how the people and soldiers of Leitmeritz looked at her. Did they offer their loyalty to the holder of Arifar? Was Eleonara Viltaria just a random pebble at the roadside for them without Arifar? Or had she managed to get just a little of their approval as a simple girl called Eleonora?
Elen stated to her best friend with a beaming smile, “Please allow me to fulfill my duty as Vanadis.”
Lim couldn’t answer at once. She closed her eyes for a few moments, receiving Elen’s unshakable determination with her whole body. Feelings transformed into heat, which then spread in every corner of her body.
And when she opened her eyes again, a resolve that wasn’t inferior in any way to her best friend, dwelt in Lim’s eyes.
“I shall also do everything I can.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Suddenly, they could hear Rurick’s voice calling for them outside the tent. The two exchanged a look, nodded, and left the tent. Rurick wore full armor, holding his helmet under his arm.
“The soldiers have assembled outside the camp.”
Guided by Rurick, Elen and Lim exited the camp.
A thousand soldiers and 500 war horses had orderly lined up in ranks underneath the wintry sky with its tinge of gray coloring the clouds. The black dragon and Leitmeritz’s flags violently fluttered in the wind.
“Not a single person has gone to Piwa. All of us wish to fight under your command, Lady Vanadis.”
While listening to Rurick, Elen surveyed the soldiers in front of her. She couldn’t find a single soldier not fully prepared and armed. Their faces were brimming with fighting spirit.
Something welled up from deep in her chest due to the zeal passed on to her. Elen forced herself to tighten up her lips as they were about to relax, and she had to pay attention to not start crying.
“You might have heard from your captains, but the enemy numbers around 20,000. Our side fields 4,500.” Elen raised a voice, completely omitting any prefaces. “It’s true that there’s many enemies. But, remember Dinant. We crushed 25,000 enemies with a mere 5,000. Compared to that time, this will be a walk in the park.”
Some laughters were audible among the soldiers. Some of those in front shouted cheerfully, “While it might be presumptuous, I shall show you, Lady Vanadis, that I can be useful enough to cover for Arifar!”
──I’m a truly lucky woman.
Elen drew the longsword at her hip, and hoisted it high up in the air.
“It’s time to grab victory!”
Accompanied by battle cries, spears, swords, shields, and flags were energetically thrust into the air. The same scenery repeated itself at Olmutz and Lebus’s armies as well.
◎
————— End of Part 6 —————
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