The Fell War - Chapter 26

Some two days into the process of producing enough potions to level down all of the prisoners, a procession of knights from Granato came riding up, led by a young woman with silvery-blonde hair dressed in what was obviously ceremonial armor.

“May I ask why the Granato Empire thinks it’s a good idea to ride up to the walls of a city it just got it’s ass kicked by?” Ren shouted down from the ramparts, Alfre and Hadi at her side.

“To negotiate a peace,” the woman called back up, gripping the reigns on her horse tightly.

Ren exchanged a look of piqued interest with her two companions. “Stay there, we’ll be down in a hot second.” She turned to Doremi. “If everything goes south, tell the gunners to shoot.”

The three guild masters made their way down the ramparts and through the more thoroughly rebuilt gate. The woman dismounted as they approached, and Alfre could see the silvery circlet upon her brow.

“And you are?” Ren demanded, royal armor gleaming in the early sunset.

“Cassandra, Grand Duchess of the Granato Empire, Heir Apparent,” she introduced, dipping her head. “And soon I shall be Empress, now that my father has fallen to his paranoia and ambition.”

“You seem…unsurprised by the turn of events,” Hadi said carefully.

“I knew it would happen sooner or later,” Cassandra said with a sigh. “My father always felt threatened by the prosperity of the Fell city and the few Fell kingdoms that dot the land, as if their success somehow lessened his. When he turned to that woman to help him conquer the city…I knew it would end badly. But by that point he would not believe me. I can only hope that I can lead my people better.”

“Seeking peace is a good place to start,” Alfre acknowledged. “Many would want to avenge their fallen king.”

“He fell long before this war,” Cassandra admitted. She shook her head. “Please, I would like to know with whom I speak.”

“You speak to Her Royal Majesty, Ren, Queen of the Crystal Moon Kingdom,” Ren announced, sounding like she’d been waiting all her life to introduce herself in such a way. “Lieutenant Commander of the Fell Army, Sea Hawk, and Favored One of the Wilds.”

“I see,” Cassandra murmured with a more obvious bow. “Greetings, Your Majesty.” Her eyes settled on Hadi. “And you are?”

“Just…Hadi,” he admitted. “I lead a local guild. If you want more titles, you need to talk to Alfre.”

A slender, silvery brow rose as Cassandra’s attention turned to Alfre. “Oh?”

Alfre inhaled deeply as she prepared to recite her ever-growing list of titles. “Alfre Gordon, Your Highness. Guild Master of the Alliance of Frozen Stars, Commander of the Fell Army, Favored One of the Wilds, Blessed by the Great Druid, Death’s Chosen Champion, Light Touched, and Master of the Vorpal Blade.”

Cassandra’s eyes went wide. “The Vorpal Blade? As in the legendary blade of the Fell Queen Alice?”

“Uh…yeah.”

Cassandra shook her head. “Then truly, we would be foolish to fight you now.”

“Hadi here acts like he isn’t also Light Touched,” Ren joked. “Half the guild masters are blessed by one god or another. So, yeah, fighting us would be a very stupid thing to do. Especially now that Orli is watching over our city.”

Cassandra nodded slowly. “I see. Perhaps we should discuss the terms of peace, then?”

Ren grinned, wild and full of teeth. “Let’s.”

Alfre was surprised at how few demands Hadi and the other guild masters made against Cassandra and the Granato Empire. Mostly they just wanted help to rebuild their city and to be mostly left alone. Quests could still be offered, but had to go through new, official channels that Einmora was developing with a few other guild masters that Alfre never really got to know. Cassandra, in turn, only demanded that the woman who killed her father be punished, and was perfectly content to let the Fell handle that nasty business.

“I do hope you would not be opposed to letting me kill her on sight should she near my palace again,” Cassandra said coldly, her legs crossed at the knee and fingers laced together atop her knee.

Einmora laughed uproarious. “Lass, if she comes within a mile of your precious capital you can do whatever you want with her.”

Cassandra smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Excellent. I’m glad we’ve come to agreement. I don’t know what my father was so worried about, you Fell have been nothing but reasonable.”

Makoto shrugged. “Fear of the unknown can push us to do many terrible things. I am glad you have decided to embrace the unknown in stead of fear it.”

“Oh, let there be no mistake, samurai, I feared you,” Cassandra refuted. “There is a reason I came dressed in armor, no matter how ceremonial it may be. You slaughtered my men, and are perfectly capable of slaughter thousands more. This peace is not because I suddenly love you, or even trust you. It’s to keep you from whipping my people off the map. The fact you have no interest in doing so is simply a pleasant surprise.

“Of course, that does leave the question of what your intentions actually are left unanswered.”

“I intend to return to Siniy and find a tiny little cottage out in the Wilds that gave me shelter my first night in Wonderland and live out the rest of my days in relative peace,” Alfre stated plainly.

Cassandra blinked owlishly at her before bursting into laughter.

“Did I say something funny?” Alfre asked the other guild masters, who all seemed terribly amused by her admission.

“No, no, I apologize,” Cassandra said, whipping away a tear. “It just seems so…domestic? That’s not the right word, but I can’t seem to find the word I’m looking for right now. A war hero, blessed by all the gods, just wants to run off into the woods and live in a cabin. It’s not what one usually pictures.”

Alfre shrugged. “I don’t really care what ‘one usually pictures.’ I want to live in peace. I think that’s what most people want. Maybe a little adventure on the side.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Cassandra agreed. She stood from her chair. “Still, I must thank you all for being so open to negotiation. I will inform my people that the fighting is over. I do hope your punishment does as it is supposed to.”

“So do we, Your Highness,” Alfre agreed. “So do we.”