Vol 6 Chapter 2 (1/2)

The forest was by no means large and it was filled to overflowing during the rush to withdraw. Some were dragged down by the wave of people and were crushed underfoot by their allies’ horses. Every time a sword was swung, someone’s head flew, but even so, Moldorf ascertained a path of retreat and raced on with his spear in hand, weaving his way through the rain of swords to break through to the forest.

There, Moldorf joined up with the troops who had been sent to detour around the forest and briefly halted his horse in order to personally take up the rear guard. While covering his allies, they gradually retreated. Valiant warriors from all of the allied countries lined up on either side of him. Even now that he had decided they would flee, his spear was not one particle less relentless, and as they chased after their routed enemy, the men from Lasvius' unit were slaughtered one after another.

”Don't chase them too far!” Lasvius himself finally shouted out to restrain his allies. To reiterate, they too were not really in a position that allowed much coordination. It would only serve to increase the number of victims if each attacked haphazardly in order to earn achievements. Better after all to fire bullets or arrows from a distance.

It was quite effective, although Moldorf himself didn't have a single scratch. Before long, the entirety of Garda's army was headed northeast in a cloud of dust. For now, they intended to pa.s.s by the eastern side of Lake Soma to escape to Eimen or else to Kadyne.

The remaining Taúlian soldiers both inside and out of the forest raised a cry of triumph and saw in their comrades' faces the pride of knowing that Garda had been thwarted for the first time since the beginning of his invasion. They had won against Garda's forces.

Ax Bazgan heard their cry of victory as he was rubbing his lower back. His blood had of course run cold when he had seen Moldorf's spear approach, but now he struck a grand pose and accepted the soldiers' joyful voices.

Cherik's army withdrew in almost no time at all.

”Don't chase after them,” Ax issued a strict command. ”I will pa.s.s through Cherik's gates personally and in grand style. Even Yamka will have to accept it.”

The news wasn't all good. The worst of the damage that the Taúlian forces had suffered had been inflicted when Moldorf had charged alone, but what caused Ax's expression to cloud over was that the strategist Ravan Dol had been caught up in it. Apparently, when the strategist was flung from the dragon’s back, he had slammed into the ground with his entire body and had lost consciousness. He was breathing, but his age was what it was. It was impossible to say what his condition was.

Because theirs had been a march that privileged speed, there were few non-combatants in the first wave of troops that Ax was leading. The artillery and infantry troops following behind should have doctors with them, so until they arrived, a tent was set up for the strategist to rest in.

Lasvius went towards Ax. That Taúlia had made a move was largely because of the letter from Bouwen Tedos who had been under Lasvius’ protection.

“As expected of one who has inherited the blood of the Bazgan family. Taúlia’s cooperation was essential for gaining the first military achievements against Garda.”

“What? The western lands were those ruled by the Bazgan family. We wouldn’t not move to protect them.”

His manner of speaking got on Lasvius’ nerves somewhat and an unpleasant expression crossed his slender face, but no word of criticism pa.s.sed his lips. Ax didn’t particularly notice.

“It was because the loyal retainers of Helio did not give up on retaking it that we achieved success. You have my thanks.”

So saying, he offered a handshake.

What a strange man, that thought was written on Lasvius’ face as he returned the handshake. He had an arrogant side and an affable side that coexisted without contradicting each other. Ah, or isn’t it..., he almost smiled as a thought struck him. In short, Ax Bazgan was like a child. He was exactly like the swaggering leader of a neighbourhood gang of kids.

Afterwards, Lasvius issued orders to his subordinates and had them bring Orba over. s.h.i.+que was with him and Ax recognised his face as that of the messenger who had arrived in Taúlia just a few days ago. Furthermore, that messenger had originally been a mercenary hired by Taúlia and he had heard that before that, he had been a gladiator in Mephius, so Ax’s expression showed somewhat mixed feelings.

However, that did not change the fact that when Bouwen had fled the battle at the Coldrin Hills, they had protected him to the last without abandoning him. Lasvius had wanted to introduce Orba to Taúlia’s governor-general but time was short.

“We’ll hold a party later. I’ll be giving you a reward but if you’re expecting something big, it might be a problem in these troubled times,” Ax smiled jocularly.

After that, while waiting for the troops following behind, they rested in the area around the forest. Naturally Ax had the soldiers take up battle formations in turn and scout their surroundings at all times. Incidentally, he had sent a messenger post haste to those behind to inform them of the situation and to order a third of them to return to Taúlia. It was not that he was taking Cherik lightly, but it was in case Garda’s temporarily routed army changed its objective and headed there instead.

Meanwhile, Orba was with s.h.i.+que and Gilliam, who he knew of old, and with the mercenaries Talcott and Stan, when they heard a voice say,

“Mephian dogs.”

The one who was insulting them so as to be deliberately overheard was a man who was giving instructions to the sentries posted a little way from where they were. Judging from his equipment, he was a soldier from Helio. Moreover, he seemed to be of the rank of battalion commander as he had a ta.s.sel attached to the top of his pointed, Taúlian-made helmet and a short mantle hanging from his right shoulder.

“I don’t know if it was on Lasvius’ orders, but they’re getting full of themselves for having commanded the detached force. A man who’s more like a boy and who can’t show his face. Since when has Helio been so short-handed that we need to rely on slaves?”

“Yo, s.h.i.+que,” said the gigantic Gilliam while poking a finger in his ear. “I can’t make out this western accent. Are they picking a fight with us?”

“Leave it, maybe it’s a mistake,” s.h.i.+que appeared to chide him in a gentle voice that matched his feminine appearance, but his words as he spoke loud enough to let them hear were far from gentle. “See, if you take out a sword and thrust it at them, they will surely apologise and snivel that ‘It’s a mistake, there’s been a misunderstanding so please forgive us.’ When that happens, we’ll be the ones left feeling awkward.”

That was rare for s.h.i.+que. As for Orba, he turned his face in Cherik’s direction without saying a word. As was his habit when he was lost in thought, he fixed his eyes on a single point without moving, without even so much as blinking.

“That man, I know him by name,” Talcott said afterwards in a low voice. “Surūr Wyerim, the commander of Helio’s infantry battalion. He seems to be in a bad mood but don’t provoke him too much. Apparently he’s more capable than he looks.” As he was saying that, the look in his eyes seemed somewhat amused by the situation.

Regardless, no further incident occurred and the troops following behind joined up with the main force. A messenger came galloping up just as Ax was about to start moving. When he heard his report, he snorted loudly. “So it’s finally come? I was starting to wonder if I would seriously have to march in there.”

An envoy from Cherik had arrived.

Elsewhere, in far distant Taúlia.

“What?” Raswan Bazgan’s cruel-looking face wore an expression of astonishment. “Is this true?”

“Yes…” As he answered, the old sorcerer raised both his palms to the level of his chest and placed them over a strangely shaped crystal ball. It was in the form a skull that had horns and a somewhat elongated snout. While peering into it, he continued, “It appears that soon after our troops left Helio, the soldiers of Helio’s royal family recaptured the city. From there, it seems that reinforcements rushed to Taúlia’s aid and they probably caught Moldorf’s force in a pincer movement. Although I have not seen the outcome, so it is possible that Moldorf managed to prevail against the odds.”

“Why?”

“It seems that a man named Lasvius hid in the Belgana Summits along with his subordinates…”

“Not that!” Raswan barked with a thoroughly irritated expression. “Why didn’t you convey news of Helio’s fall to Moldorf’s troops? Aren’t you capable of instant communication no matter how far apart you may be? If he had had known that reinforcements were coming from behind, Moldorf could have acted.”

“None of our comrades accompanied Moldorf's force. We too are limited in number,” the sorcerer's answer was concise. It held no impatience nor regret nor apology.

Raswan’s lips trembled, but,

“Do not be hasty,” the old man’s voice was cold.

Although Raswan's brain was boiling with anger, he froze instantly. However, he was a man who had steeled himself and who was prepared to turn his blade against his own father. He drew his brows together and scowled deeply at the other.

“If we lose the opportunity to act it will all come to nothing. But with whatever sorcery you lot possess, doing something like changing history is so easy that…”

“Indeed. There is nothing more important than a good opportunity,” the sorcerer interrupted Raswan’s words, “and when it comes to opportunities, there will be as many as one likes later. But it will be over if we fail. My master Garda has great expectations of your a.s.sistance, Lord Raswan, so please do not lose your temper and destroy the chance that more opportunities will come your way.”

“S-So you are saying that there is no worry that the countries of the west will join hands and engulf Garda then.” Raswan was anxious that he not be taken lightly. Garda had said that he would leave Taúlia in his hands but he was not so naive as to leave it at that. In preparation for when he became governor-general, he had to keep in mind how to place himself on equal terms with Garda, who would have subdued most of the western lands.

Nnh, as Raswan’s violent expression shattered, the blood drained from his dark brown skin.

The sorcerer didn’t say a thing. He only laughed. A soundless laugh.

A moment later, he repeated his words, “Do not be hasty.”

In the end, Raswan Bazgan had no choice but to postpone making his move in Taúlia. As he looked out the window at the streets of Taúlia that were entirely bathed in the light of dawn, Raswan persuaded himself that it was a sign that his luck still held that his notification had not yet reached the soldiers and that they were still unaware of the situation.

Part 2

“Garda tricked us,” at the meeting set up within Cherik’s castle, King Yamka the Second made his appeal in tears. Invited there were Ax and several commanders. Representing Helio were Lasvius and his second-in-command from the Dragoon Corps.

“You were tricked. And you think that explains everything?” If Ravan Dol had been at the meeting, he would have rebuked his master at that point, but unfortunately the elderly strategist was still unconscious. Ax’s stern face was flushed scarlet. “The fact that Cherik joined hands with Garda is a fact proven beyond doubt. Let’s hear your reasons, what kind of sweet promises tempted you and what the h.e.l.l were you thinking mobilising your soldiers and turning your bayonets against my Taúlia?”

“W-We didn’t think that we would be setting ourselves up against Taúlia. That was, those soldiers at the border were only there to protect the country after we heard that Helio had fallen and…”

“In that case, you sure moved quickly. Your soldiers left Cherik with amazing speed and took up formation by the border before the battle at the Coldrin Hills had even ended.”

Ax jabbed at him with his words. His head down, Yamka pa.s.sed his hands through his thinning hair over and over again, then, wiping his sweat away,

“Garda’s forces sent me a threatening letter. Attack Helio from behind or you will be the next target. Naturally I didn’t give in to that threat. We mobilised our soldiers to show Garda Cherik’s military might. But that was what they were aiming for. So that they could pretend that Cherik and Garda truly had joined hands and have you, Lord Ax, misunderstand, thus blocking Taúlia’s movements.”

“Oh ho,” Ax scrutinized Yamka the Second’s face which had been pallid when they had entered the room but which had become red as he spoke. The words he had marshalled together seemed reasonable enough but,

If that was Garda’s plan, it was really crude. He couldn’t have predicted how Cherik would react after he’d simply threatened them. Ax was aware that without Ravan there, his own personality might play to his disadvantage. Dammit. Should I leave it at that? No, if I press on here I should be able to draw out some information about Garda.

He was truly poor at detailed negotiations like these. When Ax fell silent, the room, naturally, could only also be wrapped in silence. Sunlight flooded through the window. Because it was so extremely bright, each and every speck of the dust that enveloped the room was plainly noticeable and Lasvius, who was by nature fastidious about cleanliness, had been making a sour face for some time.

Yamka II desperately scrutinized the two men’s expressions.

Incidentally, the Taúlian soldiers had currently set up camp in the outskirts of Cherik. It couldn’t really be said that they created an oppressive atmosphere. This was an example of Ax’s magnanimous personality. Having sounded Yamka out, he had allowed Cherik to hold a small banquet in welcome to Taúlia’s soldiers. Several people serving in high office in Cherik were also taking part.

Ax guessed that the people of Cherik and the common soldiers probably hadn’t been aware of their country’s connection to Garda. Although power rivalries were constant in the western lands, Cherik, just like Taúlia, was a country that had been born when Zer Tauran split apart. The countries that had handed down Zer Tauran’s customs and traditions still shared a unique bond so that even if they had been at war until just the day before, they would immediately stand shoulder to shoulder against a foreign enemy. As such, Cherik would not easily have accepted the presence of Garda, he who had thrown the West into disarray.

Therefore, just as Yamka had said, was it not likely that the soldiers truly have been given instructions to “Strike at Garda’s army as it comes from Helio”?

From here on, Cherik would become an important base against Garda. Because of that, Ax didn’t want to harm its people or make them feel any warier than necessary. Which also meant that he couldn’t cut the king, Yamka II, too deeply either.

Tsk, Ax gave another small click of his tongue and changed the subject by asking Lasvius about the situation in Helio.

Lasvius gave a matter-of-fact account of the succession of misfortunes that had befallen Helio, from the defeat at Eimen and King Elargon’s death in battle to the civil war that had arisen within the country.

“Were those who rose in rebellion tricked by Garda?”

“At this point in time there’s no way to verify that, but perhaps it’s possible.”

Lasvius then talked about how the mercenary commander called Greygun who had been invited to Helio had been connected to Garda and bout how he had betrayed his allies at the battle at the Coldrin Hills.

“Greygun, huh?”

As Ax gave him a brief look, the king of Cherik coughed violently and turned the other way.

Greygun, the commander of the Red Hawks mercenary group, had originally been a man employed by Cherik. Trouble had arisen between him and Yamka, and he had been expelled from the country. The whole sequence of events of how he and his seven hundred soldiers had then been hired by Helio was unnatural. Considering the connection between Yamka and Garda, it was more plausible to suppose that rather than them falling out, Yamka had sent Greygun to destroy Helio from inside.

Even though Lasvius’ feelings towards Yamka were anything but kind, not a hint of those emotions coloured the commander of Helio’s dragoons’ sharp features. He too probably realised the importance of Cherik’s role in the future. He kept an iron self-control over himself.

There’s no helping it, we’ll have to put off dealing with Cherik until later, Ax decided, feeling unamused. Everything would have to wait until after they had gotten rid of Garda’s army. It wasn’t too bad if he thought that after this, he would hold the means to gain the upper hand in negotiations with Cherik. Perhaps he would be able to seize some of the management rights to the rich granary region around Lake Soma.

“Garda's army that we fought today. They were the units stationed at Helio. What was their actual condition?”

“Bluntly, they were a mish-mashed troop. Just like in Helio, they all seemed to obey Garda because their people have been taken hostage.”

“A strange tale. With that way of doing things, even if they were to annihilate all enemy powers, they wouldn't be able to govern. What is Garda thinking?”

“Well who knows. But...”

“But?”

“Isn't that precisely Garda's weak point?”

As he quietly made that a.s.sertion, Lasvius’ expression, which had until then been as cold as ice, thawed as though from the intensity of his emotions and changed into something that was yet neither anger nor joy.

“For the people, even if their home country is overthrown, even if the ruler changes, as long as their living conditions improve afterwards, they will adapt to the new system and the new country name. But since there is no government, the people’s hearts remain constantly wrapped in anger. They yearn for their country’s name, they await the day when their true royal family will reclaim the throne, and if they can’t bear to wait, they raise their fists themselves. There’s no doubt that Kadyne, Eimen and the others in Garda’s power are just as we in Helio were. So if today’s military accomplishments of ours were to spread throughout the West, it could become our one great opportunity.”

“To topple Garda’s army?”

“Yes.”

Only Yamka II seemed uneasy at hearing the vigorous conversation between them and stayed apart from the two who had immediately started talking about defeating Garda. So the demon fell, he thought to himself as though it was someone else’s business.

What he had told Ax was of course complete nonsense. He had most certainly forged a connection with Garda. But now, he was not entirely sure about his motives for linking himself to the sorcerer.

One reason why Yamka had concealed the truth from Ax was of course because he had been thinking of Cherik’s future, but the true reason why he couldn’t openly admit to it was because,

If I tell others, they’ll mock me for a fool.

One night, more than half a year ago, Yamka II had seen a dancing girl in a dream. With her elegant dancing and her somewhat strong beauty, she fit Yamka’s tastes more than any woman he had ever seen before and so perfectly matched his ideal feminine image that he believed their meeting was surely ordained by the Dragon G.o.ds.

After she had finished performing her dance, Yamka had s.e.x with her within his dream.

“You my lord will one day be the one to rule the southern half of Tauran,” the dancing girl had whispered in his ear. He heard more such idle talk after their intimate liaison. But when he awoke from the dream and as he was savouring the vivid memory of it, the dancing girl’s whispered words reawakened Yamka II’s half-forgotten desire for supremacy.

Could it be a prophetic dream sent by the Dragon G.o.ds? Just as he was wondering that, a troupe with a certain dancing girl had visited Cherik.

“I received an invitation from his lords.h.i.+p,” she had announced when she appeared at the castle gate. Yamka had summoned her before him with uncontrollable curiosity and expectation. And sure enough, she and the dancing girl in his dream were like two peas in a pod.

The dancing girl gave her name as Tahī. What happened after that was like a continuation of the dream for Yamka and he only had a hazy memory of it. Tahī herself had vanished just before Yamka launched his military operation, leaving only the words, “I will visit again later,” behind her.

Was she just an illusion? He wondered, now that the entire plan had collapsed as it had.

“But there’s no explaining it,” the discussion that Cherik’s king had stopped paying attention to continued. Ax groaned, his arms crossed. “Those guys advanced their army after us, who were headed to capture Cherik, and not towards Taúlia which was empty. It’s hard to imagine that they could have seen through Ravan’s plan so easily. You could always say that at about the same time as the troops left Taúlia, spies lurking in the city sent them that information, but even then…”

“The information travelled fast.”

“Too fast. What kind of method did they use?”

He gave another quick glance towards Yamka, silently asking if he didn’t have any information about Garda relating to that. Actually, Ax had been seized by the thought of asking him directly: Hey, how did you contact Garda but seeing that Yamka’s face had gone pale again and that he was shaking his head, he probably hadn’t been informed about it in any detail.

You worthless excuse of a man. How could you trust a guy without knowing his real intentions, the arts he uses or his real nature?, he wanted to yell. He swallowed back his emotions however.

“Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds don’t use flames and whirlwinds to destroy armies like in the legends, but it’s worth thinking that they might use some even more terrifying techniques,” he said.

Since each of their movements were in danger of being seen through, at the very least they could say that it wouldn’t be a war in which they could overwhelm their opponent with superior force of numbers.

Given our victory in this fight, how will the other Tauran countries move? They would need time to ascertain that.

After that and once he had left Cherik castle, Ax, along with Lasvius, went to show his face at the banquet.

The soldiers from Cherik who were acting as their escorts stood to attention. For their part, they probably had the feeling that the misunderstanding with Taúlia had been resolved. But even if they were to hold official peace negotiations sometime soon, Ax, was not exactly happy. He had after all almost been driven into a truly desperate situation.

“This way,”

After chatting with the soldiers for a while, Lasvius led Ax to a different place. He had chosen several soldiers beforehand from those who had raced in reinforcement with him and had invited them to a bar in Cherik. He had a governmental official from Cherik prepare a carriage and headed there with Ax.

The sun was almost at its zenith, but the sky had gone grey, clouds had appeared and an unpleasant wind was blowing.

The carriage, with a dozen brawny soldiers following behind it, pulled up in front of a large bar on Cherik's main street.

There were very few places where women could work in Cherik so unlike other countries, there were no women waiting at the tables. As he walked into a rather squalid room where the paint was chipped, a crease appeared between Ax's brows.

Regardless, the soldiers that Lasvius had chosen were in a secluded part of the shop. They were the mercenaries that included Orba.

Ax Bazgan.

From behind his mask, Orba observed the man who approached towards them. As the mercenaries rose from their seats one by one, he lowered his eyes a little. There was no need to speak of it again now, but Orba had been the body double of the Mephian empire's crown prince and had himself commanded soldiers. Where the southwest of Mephius bordered Taúlia, the countries had crossed swords and he had met Ax Bazgan face to face at that time. Because of that, now that he had taken off the 'mask' of Gil Mephius, he didn’t really want to talk too closely with him. And so, he had intended to remain silent there, but –

“I didn't have much time earlier, but I forgot to give my thanks for saving Bouwen, huh? You rendered great efforts for Taúlia’s sake. And you played a key part in our victory this time too.”

“We didn't do anything.”

Opening his mouth, Orba was vexed at his own timing. Any way you looked at his att.i.tude, he was being arrogant for a mercenary.

Having drawn everyone's attention to himself and while ignoring Gilliam, whose face was scowling Again, Orba spoke.

“The ones who saved General Bouwen, as well as ourselves, were Captain Duncan and Taúlia’s soldiers.”

“This fellow's att.i.tude is sometimes somewhat misguided. Please try to forgive him,” Lasvius smothered a smile.

“What? You were originally a mercenary hired by Taúlia. You don't need to stand on ceremony,” Ax looked at the masked man with displeasure stamped across his features but then he gave a single nod. “Is that right? Duncan, huh.”

Naturally, Ax had also been informed of the death of Duncan, who had been attached to the Fifth Army Corps as commander of the mercenaries.

“He was a good man. Eventually I was planning to have him command regular soldiers rather than mercenaries.”