-Callen-
I got to work looking over the various documents. The nervous mayor awkwardly stood behind me, unsure where to be, as various knights rapidly moved in accordance with the various commands Karia had handed out since our arrival. My focus, however, was on the current circumstances of the town itself. Immediately a problem became apparent. For some reason the mayor of the town decided it made more sense to pay taxes to both Lord Gilbert and Lord Lanious. The justification being that both lords had frequently held disputes over the territory in the past. Instead of declaring allegiance to one or the other, the lords came to a compromise that full taxation would be paid to both lords, but neither would be able to conscript from the town. To further ensure neutrality, the town’s leader was designated a mayor instead of a baron or knight, as is the case in most towns.
The problem being that both lords had already taken a large portion of the town's reserves before the invasion began. With the sudden influx of refugees, the small granary was on the verge of running out. The town had already begun rationing, and various plans to evacuate down the southwestern road were drafted. Our arrival had been just in the nick of time before the town’s leadership led an evacuation to the neighboring town. Which meant that the town wouldn’t be able to provide any kind of support to feed whomever we drafted. I had a team go to inspect the town's warehouses to confirm the circumstances while writing up a report for Karia.
I leaned back, since North Crossing lacked the food we needed to source it from elsewhere. I reached out to Nightshade, but she was upset with her garden having withered so much. Using her for matters beyond her garden (Port Town) was why she had frequently driven away nobles who bothered Port Town previously. Thankfully because of our bond, she felt my intentions to not force her and thus didn’t lump me among the others she had driven out previously. Port Town itself would likely have to focus on food in the near future as its population soared after the refugees from the neighboring towns flooded in. However, even without Port Town and Nightshade to turn to, I still had another option, Callia.
It took only a moment to tell how frustrated Callia was. She grated against the passivity and rule structure of the citadel and deeply yearned to join me in the battle up north. Honestly, I felt Callia might be even more qualified than me to fight, but her Divine Witness trait and low mana suppression skill would draw in not just elves but the whole countryside trying to kill us. At least that's my assumption of what would happen, but my only point of reference was how peaceful the ride to Gilbert City had been when compared with the long campaign we had set off on to the capital. The stark difference in danger was all the comparison I needed to make my judgement. Focusing back on the issue at hand, I reached out to Callia.
“Sis, do you have any access to large amounts of food in the citadel?”
-Callia-
It probably shouldn’t have been a surprise when, only a couple hours after I took out the irritating nun, a tired-looking bureaucrat and paladin knocked on my door.
“Chosen Callia, you’ve been accused of harming Mother Lidia during meditation and prayer hour.” I leveled a glare at the man, but even while irritated, I couldn’t deny that my response may have been somewhat over the top.
“I may have gotten carried away while irritated.” The man just sighs warily at my admission. He reached for a large binder at his side, flipping through it until he reached later sections.
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“Admission of guilt upon confrontation of nonlethal violence enacted upon a leader of the staff. Previous judgments have been dealt with flexibly but with considerable leniency. A minor offense without intent of grievous harm and admission of guilt, though not promptly self-confessed. Examples of punishment include a month cleaning the citadel city, a week in service to the offended, or a fine sufficient to satisfy the offended.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. Thinking it over, I can’t deny that by local standards this level of punishment definitely fits the description of “considerable lenience.” It was easily a decision between a month of community service or the fine, and since nobody here seemed to have much money, I felt confident I had plenty to pay any fine. I opened my mouth to ask what the fine would be, but the man beat me to it.
“Mother Lidia has stated a preference for your service. She feels that you are in need of personal guidance that she can provide. She will not be accepting any payments for fines.” Of course the annoying hag wants to get personal revenge. I can already picture my sentence getting even worse after I snap. Did this lady want violence enacted on her because I just met her today and she seems determined to make me an enemy?
“Is it too late to express a preference for community service? I fear if I am forced to serve Mother Lidia, I might repeat the incident that got me in trouble originally.” The man nods before carefully closing the large book and stowing it.
“Your preference will be accounted for in the internal disciplinary meeting. A messenger will come and deliver the final verdict and punishment some time before the end of the week. Until then you are not to leave the dormitories unsupervised. Food and water will be provided regularly. Should an emergency arise and you are required to leave, it will be accounted for at a later hearing.” With his statement complete, the man shuffled awkwardly back to the platform that slowly drifted away. I shut the door and laid back down on my bed. First day and I was already grounded. I clasped my hands together and gave a quiet prayer that I wouldn’t end up the old lady’s servant. A faint chuckle tickled at the back of my mind, a feeling I distinctly recognized. Immediately my face burns with embarrassment. Of all prayers to hear, why was it that one? The next moment I felt Callen reach out to me.
“Sis, do you have any access to large amounts of food in the citadel?” Well, that sounded like an emergency if I’ve ever heard one! I spring up from bed ready to break my house arrest mere minutes after it was issued.
Storm Herd
Lilia sprang from one deer to the next efficiently, knocking them aside and forcibly splitting the herd while the soldiers behind her braced with their spears planted outward. For a moment it felt like they would be overwhelmed, but that moment passed, and then the next, and the pressure that promised to break them lessened as the herd broke ranks. Fear gave way to hope, and hope found realization in the opening of the tide. The herd had passed them by, and still they stood. Lilia panted, exhausted, Freema’s quiver was empty with her knife dulled, and Jasmine limped on a broken leg. Everyone bore scars, and many hadn’t lasted, but the storm herd had diverted from the road, chasing refugees back to the north. Lilia looked back at those behind her and saw the condition but also felt her spirit roaring as a soft rhythmic stomping of feet and spears into the ground announced their triumph. Lilia held up her bloodied fist in triumph, and everyone gave out a roar, lifting their own weapons.
Lilia shifted her attention back to Lanious City in the distance. The city burned with no sign of anyone stopping it. Small figures darted along the roofs, moving with precision and strength more reminiscent of Callia in the forest. The city had fallen, and the herd of storms had been driven into the survivors. Despite having successfully broken the pursuit, her men weren’t ready to face the elves in a direct confrontation. They needed knights, people who could match and defeat the elves. She was confident she could match most elves, but she was the only person in the entire army who held that kind of strength. Freema was closing fast, but Lilia was uncertain how she would align in a confrontation. After all, the girl was an elf, and she had left seeking an army to free her people. Lilia froze at that realization. Maybe, instead of fighting the elves head-on, it would be better to strike the heart of the invasion. Free the elves and end the war.
No knights would join her expedition, and any adult would usurp her authority. Lilia turned to the men behind her.
“Lanious has fallen. With it, more than half of the north has fallen. We don’t have the strength to fight the elves, but I have a plan that might end the war regardless. Will you follow me?” Lilia was met with deafening silence at first before Freema stood forward. Her eyes were bright with hope and anticipation. Then Jasmine and the rest, one by one like a flood, stepped forward, willing to follow Lilia into the unknown. Nobody stayed behind, as what had been an army of children stood up to follow her even without sharing her plan. The pain of a lost family is motivating some, and the fear of the same is inspiring the rest. Together they set off marching around Lanious, their destination, Port Town.
