The Second Archon War: Superbia Hominum 13

Superbia Hominum 13: Hail to the Chief

Once more, the Sleeper had awoken, and the Prince marched to war. Over the past 24 hours, the shimmering wall of death on the Southern Front of Poland was advancing along the highway towards Rzeszów, though only at a walking pace. And once more, the Knights of Favonius and the Polish armed forces prepared an assault against their most dreaded foe. But with one notable difference.

This time, they had POTUS on their side. 

Flying in formation alongside Hero, Ajaks, and Dorothy, Alexandria plowed into the storm, protected by the faith of the moth-cleric. It galled her to have to rely on something as ephemeral as faith to keep them safe, but Barbados clearly had a vested interest in the outcome of this fight, which meant he was willing to lend them a small portion of his power.

It never even entered into Alexandria’s mind that she now lived in a world where Faith and Belief were real, tangible things, and that Barbados very well couldn’t have helped them without the belief in his divine power, but such realizations relied on a more open mind than hers. 

“Get ready, we’re heading into the Tsaritsa’s storm wall! The Sleeper’s storm is right behind it!” Alexandria shouted over the radio.

She got a professional “Roger!” from Hero, a hearty, “Za wolność!” from Ajaks, and a “Winds, Guide us!” from Dorothy. What an odd group. But desperate times created odder alliances. 

They passed through the icy winds of the storm wall and into the shimmering hell that was the Sleeper’s domain. Dorothy’s prayers were heard and answered, and a bubble of safety surrounded the capes, so long as they stayed in tight formation. 

One of the Azure Witch’s creations popped up next to Alexandria Veer right! He’s not much further now! But there’s something interfering with my specters, I can’t get any closer. 

“You sure they’re not just being torn up in the storm?” Alexandria grunted as she followed the ghost’s guidance. 

Maybe, but this doesn’t feel right. Be careful! 

They were already going to fight the First Harbinger. Worse was to be expected.

Driving forward near blindly, they at last emerged into a large open space, though the shimmering bubble still trapped them overhead. Alexandria immediately threw up a Cryo shield, but she needn’t have bothered: Below her were arrayed an entire battalion of Fatui, the majority of them capes. That wasn’t the worst of it.

The worst of it was the woman standing next to the Sleeper. Not the Tsaritsa, a small mercy there, but the Witch. 

Ah, President Alexandria. So good of you to join us. And your darling husband as well! Such good timing you have. I’ve only just arrived, the Witch cackled, rising up on a broom of all things alongside a coterie of flying Fatui capes. 

Ah, Tartaglia! It is time for our rematch! And this time, you don’t have that damn oni with you. A pity…but I shall seek him out for his finale later! The Sleeper bragged, swishing about his cavalry sword. 

Bless the fact that all the Harbingers seemed to share the Tsaritsa’s love of the pointlessly dramatic and long-winded speeches. It was about the only advantage they had at this point. 

“Aim for the Sleeper first. We don’t take him out, and we can’t escape. This time, put him down for good,” Alexandria ordered, drawing the Bailey Silver and Ivory Hilted Cuttoe and pointing it at the foes. She liked to imagine General Washington doing that just before he charged the redcoats. “CHARGE!” 

With a roar of “RUSSIA AND LOVE!”, the Fatui counter-charged even as Alexandria and her allies swept towards them. The capes met in a barrage of tinkertech bolts and elemental reactions. With a single sweep, Alexandria cut down three Fatui with George Washington’s Sword, the blade burning with power as it arced through the air. Hero blasted two more Fatui out of the sky with an elemental raygun, while Dorothy flapped her wings and let loose a burst of anemo that dropped several others. Ajaks was fighting with half a dozen combatants, his spear arcing through the sky. With a touch, he would send one fanuus plummeting for the ground as he switched their personal gravity, or sent others colliding with one another. 

Still, their advance was stymied, and there was no clear path to either Harbinger, as both seemed to be content to sit back and allow their minions to do the dirty work. Even worse, as Dorothy’s concentration on her prayers waned, the Sleeper’s power began to constrict upon them from behind, meaning they had no possible path of retreat and were getting hemmed in. With retreat impossible, Alexandria vowed to go down with at least one of the Harbinger’s blood on her blade. 

“Cover me!” she snarled, then created another plow of Cryo and simply bulled her way through towards the enemy, sending dozens of Fatui flying as she knocked them aside. She slammed into where the Prince had been, but he managed to dodge to the side. Now her position was even worse, with the Prince on her right, the Witch on her left, her allies trapped behind her, and Fatui closing in on all sides. 

I never even got to formally take office. So much for my presidency, was the ironic thought that floated through Alexandria’s mind as she raised the sword of the First President, and prepared to go down fighting. 

This is the price of defying the Tsaritsa! The Witch cackled, her eyes sparking with madness as she conjured orbs of Cryo and Electro. You should have knelt when you had the chance, mortal, for-

WHEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED. 

The thundering melodic voice was heard not so much in Alexandria’s ears as it was in her mind. She wasn’t alone, as the Fatui all flinched, looking about themselves wildly for the source of the sudden musical interruption. A moment later, pounding drums and an electronic guitar rift rent the air, and a tear appeared in the Sleeper’s storm to the rear. 

What is this!? The Prince gasped, clutching his head and reeling. That voice, that music…this cannot be! He was not to interfere!

The Fatui all quailed, while the Witch snarled and raised her spells on high. It is a trick! Do not lose heart! Get into formation, you fools! Take this meddlesome president down before-

A cry for help in time of need, await relief from holy league

60 days of siege, outnumbered and weak

Sent a message to the sky, wounded soldiers left to die

Will they hold the wall or will the city fall

Now that the voice had spoken again, Alexandria recognized it. Not Barbados’, but rather that of Capri Cohen, with her wife Naomi joining in for that last part. She barred her teeth in frustration. 

“I don’t need any damn gods to win this for me!” she roared, and smashed through three Fatui, sweeping her sword at the startled Witch, who through up a barrier of Electro mixed with Cryo to try to stymie Alexandria. Her sword came down on the spell, and any normal blade would have melted or shattered by coming into contact with such a potent ward. This blade, however, had been wielded by America’s greatest and most legendary hero, and the spirit of the Modern Cincinatus still infused the blade. 

Dedication

Dedication

They're outnumbered 15 to one

And the battle's begun

The lyrics of the song washed over Alexandria, but she had no attention for it. Washington’s Sword cleaved through the barrier with a burst of power, and now she had come to grips with the Witch herself. The shocked look on the Harbinger’s face made the pucked red scar her last fight with a member of Cauldron had left her trembling, and Alexandria couldn’t help but grin. 

I see you have stolen power as well, Yankee! Well, my power is not of mortal men, but of the God of Love herself! Witness the knowledge I have gained and despair!

A blast of ice and lightning drove Alexandria back a step as the Witch transformed, elemental power wrapping about her grasping hands like a thousand tentacles reaching out from her, her dress elongating and her mask fusing with her face to turn the once beautiful woman into a hook-nosed crone. Alexandria fought off the tentacles, battling for her life, as thunder filled the air. Only when the Witch looked behind Alexandria, mouth agape, did she realize it was not the sound of lightning, nor even guns that she heard. 

Hooves. 

Then the winged hussars arrived!

From behind, a line of horses one hundred long and five deep crested the hill at a full gallop. The jangling of metal wings on the steady breeze could be heard, and metal armor and weapons glinted in the sunlight. Banners bearing the flags of Poland and the royal crest of Poland could be seen. In the first line rode two priests with brown cassocks over mail, one bearing a golden crucifix, and slightly behind, another with the Angel of Freedom. 

What is this!? The Witch gasped, clearly taken aback. Her soldiers recoiled as well at seeing the first cavalry charge in 60 years, which appropriately enough was the successor to the Battle of Schoenfeld, when Poland had last thrown off her occupiers. 

Not taken aback, the Prince swaggered forward, flourishing his sword. Stand fast, men! These fools ride mere flesh and blood, and are no match for the Tsarista! Obliterate them!

As if to show the way, he flung two orbs of shimmering death at the charging cavlary. 

Then the winged hussars arrived!

Coming down they turned the tide

Both of the orbs were knocked away by a glowing green breeze, born by the words of the unseen singers. Alexandria gritted her teeth, furious to see the charge. 

And even more enraged that she had needed it to save her.

She tried to take out her fury on the Witch, taking to the sky and launching a barrage of icicles at her foe. Behind her, the Winged Hussars slammed into their foes with the full fury of metal and steed, the blessings of god driving their lances home as they trampled their foes underhoof. 

Still, even with the music in their ears and the blessings of Barbados, the Hussars did not have things all their own way. The Fatui’s bullets struck down many a horse and rider, while the crash of elemental energy and parahuman powers crushed more. Even the Sleeper was able to cover the the protections on several riders and swallow them up, even as lance after lance was driven home into his body. The Harbinger swayed on his feet defiantly, rainbow light leaking from his chest. 

Then a rider with an Electro Vision set on their breastplate rode in with a sword that blazed with the green winds of Barbados. Sweeping low, she cut the Sleeper down, his body falling as his powers exploded. The one who had struck him down wheeled away, their mount racing away. Others were not so lucky, as even the blessings of Barbados were not able to repel the surge of power as the Sleeper returned, the Prince’s mortal coil destroyed once more. 

“This isn’t over between us!” Alexandria snarled, and the Witch’s cackling laughter stung worse than any possible wound as Alexandria retreated herself. She had the satisfaction of seeing the Witch flee, and many of the Fatui consumed by their own ally. 

The triumphant music continued to play as Alexandria zoomed back across the battlefield. As she drew closer to the forward base, she saw the source: a stage woven of the winds, floating about 100 feet off the ground, where the Tone Deaf Bards continued to play. Well, not all of the Tone Deaf Bards. Just the mortal ones.

Capri was glowing with purple lightning as she belted out the lyrics, her guitar glowing with power as she played. The drums echoed with the pulse of freedom as Naomi pounded out the beat, and Alexandria could only grit her teeth in frustration. While Barbados was nowhere to be seen, his influence was obvious: that had been no normal music, and it was still repelling the Sleeper’s power, which was clearly battering against an invisible wall as the Winged Hussars withdrew, its power only slowly eroding the barrier. 

“Only that damned bard could rob victory of its sweetness,” Alexandria muttered, then schooled her face into a pleasant expression as she landed at the rally point, where Hero was already waiting for her. 

“You damn near gave me a heart attack!” Wyatt said, hurrying forward to throw his arms around Alexandria and give her a tight squeeze. 

For a moment, she was able to let go of her resentment and anger, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath of her husband’s scent, and his love. If there was one thing that kept her going every day, it was this man and his love for her. 

“Sorry. But we had to end it. And I would have if it hadn’t been for that damned god interfering,” Alexandria whispered. 

Wyatt just gave her a squeeze, then they turned to watch as the Winged Hussars returned. Ajaks had forsaken the skies, finding a helmet that was just a bit too small for his head and jamming it on and taking a mount of a man who’d fallen. He was riding beside the rider who’d ‘slain’ the sleeper: Colonel Pawłowska managed to look grim even in victory, though she had a satisfied smile on her lips. When she saw Alexandria, she raised her silver sword in salute. The eyes of the eagle on the pomel glowed with a green light, and Alexandria had a fair idea of who had supplied the arms and armor. Though she did still wonder where Venti had found 500 war horses. 

Nodding in respect, Alexandria raised her own sword in salute. Whatever she did, she had to continue to court the Polish. Not just for what would happen in this war, but after. They could not afford to see Europe divided up amongst the Archons, and Poland could be a key part of humanity’s bulwark against encroaching gods. 

Encroaching gods. When had Alexandria accepted the Archons really were divinities, and not simply an alien menace? She supposed Contessa was rubbing off on her. 

The song had come to an end, and the stage above them lowered back to the ground before dissolving, leaving the two musicians and their instruments on the trampled earth. Both were dressed for war, wearing leather armor and the tabards of the Knights of Favonius, though theirs had a small harp in gold on above the Anemo Sigil 

“Uh, hello, Madam President,” Naomi said in near flawless English. Interesting. The two of them had been singing in Spanish to Alexandria’s ears, which on further reflection made no sense. More work of an Archon. “We thought perhaps you could use some assistance.”

“Would have been better to know ahead of time, but it worked out, and we stopped the Sleeper. Thanks for the assist,” Alexandria said, extending her hand. She couldn’t let her personal dislike of the pets of Archons get in the way of winning this war. Too much was at stake. 

“Venti, he is not one for doing things the normal way, yes?” Capri said with a much heavier German accent. 

“Speaking of, where is he?” Alexandria asked, her eyes very deliberately roaming around. “I thought he’d be with you.”

“He sent us ahead to help, and blessed us before we came,” Naomi said with a small shrug. “For now, this is all he can do without interfering in mortal will. That’s very important to him: as long as this remains a battle between mortals, he won’t interfere. Not directly.”

“A battle between mortals?” Alexandria snorted, then looked over her shoulder at the shimmering wall that still battered against the win. “Right. I have a feeling that the Prince still isn’t really dead. Just Sleeping.”

“Ah, then we shall have the pleasure of fighting him again, yes?” Ajaks laughed, striding over with Colonel Pawłowska. 

“I lost fifty men in that charge,” the Colonel said grimly. “I’d prefer to avoid more casualties like that.”

“But what a glorious charge it was! Truly, Barbados has the soul of a poet!” Ajaks laughed, hefting the Hussar helm he’d doffed and grinning. “Where did you get these?”

“Some, they are being made by Venti, the rest, they are coming from museums,” Capri said with a roll of her eyes. “Surprised I am that old relics is being worth using on the battlefield.”

That made Alexandria have to fight to keep her expression calm. It seemed the cat was out of the bag that museums were actually arsenals waiting to be looted. Cauldron would have to step up its efforts to secure the most powerful pieces now. 

“The weapons are all from Barbados though. He said they were Favonius Swords and Lances he had lying around. Where, I can’t even imagine. He seems to just pull them out of the wind,” Naomi said with a grin. 

“They are good steel. I’ll thank him in my prayers this evening,” Col. Pawłowska said, drawing her blade and holding it up. The blade was of a silvery metal that Alexandria recognized as alien in origin, and had a glowing green vein running through it. Still, though the hilt was rather ornate, it looked like a functional enough blade, much like her own. 

“If the two of you can at least hold back the Sleeper, that will go a great way to securing this front, and even turning back the Fatui,” Alexandria said, folding her arms in thought. “Eidolon was able to push them back up north as well. We might be turning this war around.”

“That’s part of why we’re here. The other part is the peace talks,” Naomi said. “Specifically, the proposed prisoner exchange. Have you taken many POWs?” 

Alexandria frowned, glancing at the Colonel. “We have, though I’m not certain now is the time for dialogue. With a more secure victory under our belts, perhaps.”

“There will be peace when the last Fatui scum is driven from Polish soil. Not before,” the Colonel growled, and Ajaks gave a firm nod of agreement. 

“And Ukraine is free as well,” a new voice added as Cookie strode up. She nodded to Capri and Naomi. “Good to see you two. But I am so kicking Venti’s ass the next time I see him. You show up right as we’re launching our counter-offensive with 500 horses and armor? That damned spoony bard.”

“God works in mysterious ways,” Ajaks laughed, which caused the Colonel to give a small smile and Capri and Naomi to groan. 

“Either way, the Dendro Dragon is arriving tomorrow to act as the arbiter in the talks. They’re to be held here, with Princess Kollei and the Harbingers coming as well,” Cookie said. “I’ll be sitting in, as will Capri and Naomi. I take it you’ll be there as well, Madam President?”

“Myself, Eidolon, Legend, and a few other Protectorate capes,” Alexandria agreed. “Though Colonel Pawłowska will be leading the delegation, of course.”

“Ah yes. The talks,” Ajaks said, his brow furrowing. “Have you been-OOF!”

The Colonel withdrew her elbow from Ajak’s midsection. “This oaf will be there as well, though he has promised to keep things quiet. We’ll get Sir Amber back, along with the other prisoners. Never you fear.”

“If only we had someone of high value to trade,” Naomi sighed. 

“Don’t sweat it. Come on, let’s get some grub before Itul eats everything in sight,” Cookie said, and the knights and bards headed off.

Alexandria watched them go, then turned to the Colonel. “Then we’re going forward with the plan?”

The Colonel nodded. “Cookie is aware. Naomi and Capri are not. The Grand Master will read them in if Barbados hasn’t. There’s no possible way he doesn’t know. We’ve discussed it under the open sky, and God knows I’ve prayed about it. He seems to be giving us his tacit blessing.”

“Then why not tell them now?” Ajaks muttered, rubbing his rib, though Alexandria doubted he was even slightly bruised. 

“The fewer that know of the plan, the better,” Alexandria said firmly. “If we can assassinate a couple of Harbingers, all for the better.”

“Not the Princess though,” Ajaks said, which caused Alexandria to raise an eyebrow. She didn’t take him for a squeamish one. 

“She’s the one rational voice in the Russian camp. And, well, if one thing were to bring the Tsaritsa herself here, it would be harm to her daughter,” Ajaks said with a shrug. 

Alexandria nodded slowly. “Of course.”

After a bit more talking, the two groups broke up to rest and debrief, with Hero falling in silently beside Alexandria, as he had been through the entire conversation. “Your thoughts?”

“Drawing out the Tsarista is priority one,” Hero said. “And the Princess is a liability. We take her out, then we take out the Tsarista. Russia dissolves back into Warlordism and stops being a threat. Everyone wins. Well, except Russia, but they should be used to it by now.”

“And this isn’t influenced at all by your maiden name being Baronsky?” Alexandria asked.

Wyatt’s expression darkened. “Eszcze Polska nie zginęła,” he stated, though he somewhat mangled the pronunciation. 

“No. And not on my watch,” Alexandria agreed. One way or another, she wasn’t going home without a dead Harbinger or god to show for it. 

“Excuse me!?” Naomi gaped at Cookie, hardly able to believe her ears. “You can’t possibly be serious, Cookie! That’s…that’s a-”

“Damn good idea,” Capri interrupted, putting a hand on Naomi’s arm. “We’re in.”

Whirling, Naomi looked at Capri, aghast. “But, but…that’s a betrayal of trust! We can’t-”

“For Amber, we can, Naomi,” Capri said, her eyes sparking purple. “Because the Ruskies sure as fuck aren’t coming to the table in good faith. So why should we?”

Naomi bit off a further response, turning back to Cookie, who seemed rather blase that she’d just declared her intent to sabotage peace talks.

“We’re not doing anything too fucky. Just making sure that one way or another, Amber walks away from this with us, and not mind controlled. You can do that, right?” 

“I don’t…I’m not sure,” Naomi said, feeling a throbbing headache coming on. 

“We’ll talk to Venti, but I’m leaning towards yes. He’d want Amber to be free too,” Capri affirmed. “If nothing else, have Dorothy there to sing with us. If anything were to break the Dancer’s control, it would be Venti’s power. He’s all about freedom, and that’s sure as shit the opposite of it.”

“But still! If we grab Amber and run…that completely ruins the chance of further peace talks!” Naomi desperately pointed out.

Cookie shrugged. “The Poles and Americans are onboard, and the alternative is Lauren launches a one-woman suicide mission to get her completely platonic bestie back.”

There was no way Naomi bought what those two had going on was straight, even if Lauren was supposedly dating Hospitaliar. But that was a distraction. “Yes, but still…that means there is no chance of peace.”

“There never was. The Poles will keep fighting until either they’re all dead, or the Russians are gone, and Alexandria seems ready to back them to the hilt. Shit, when was the last time a Head of State was leading from the front? They’re all in on this,” Cookie said with a shake of her head. “And we cannot afford for Poland to ally with the avowed anti-Archon Americans after this is all done. Almost better for the Tsaritsa to conquer them.”

“Katherine!” Naomi squawked, even more horrified by that.

“She’s just being real, and frankly, she might be right. They worry me, Naomi,” Capri said with a shake of her head. “They’ve been antagonistic towards every Archon since they’ve arrived, and the one time they get buddy buddy, the Tsarista stabs them in the back? They’re out for blood, and Venti’s on the list once they deal with the Tsaritsa.”

“Then why work with them at all!?” Naomi cried desperately. “If this is Alexandria’s idea…”

“No, it’s Lauren’s. And you know why. Because much as I hate to admit it, the Protectorate is five times the size of the Knights, and they’ve got stronger capes to boot,” Cookie said in disgust. “And they’re all that’s keeping the Fatui from just drowning us in bodies. Shit, do we even HAVE anyone who can go toe to toe with a Harbinger?”

“Me,” Capri snapped, and Cookie rolled her eyes at the same time Naomi did. “What? If anyone is Barbatos’ champion, it’s fucking me and you know it.”

“He hasn’t turned you into a monster like the Tsarista does the Harbingers, dear. Don’t go picking fights you can’t win,” Naomi sighed, rubbing Capri’s back as her wife fumed. 

“We’ve got some above average capes, and you two are in that number. But what we don’t have is an Eidolon or Alexandria. So for now, we need the Americans. As long as the goal is fighting off the Bear, we stay buddy buddy. And since they’re all in on plan ‘rescue Amber and fuck the Fatui,’ we’re doing this. Now, are you in, Naomi?” Cookie said, meeting Naomi’s gaze steadily.

Biting her lip, Naomi closed her eyes and whispered a short prayer. What should she do here?

It’s up to you, Naomi. I’m not fighting this battle for as long as I can. But when I do, get everyone and run. Run as far as you can, Venti whispered in her ear. 

That made Naomi shiver. “Venti says it’s up to us…but if he does intervene…we take everyone and evacuate, and fast.”

“I ain’t dumb enough to stick around and see two Archons rumble,” Capri said with a shake of her head. “If that’s what this is going to turn into…all the more reason to get Amber out while we can.”

Reluctantly, Naomi nodded. “If that’s what it takes…then yes. But…do we tell Tessa?”

“Fuck no,” Cookie said with a shake of her head. “She’s not on our side.”

“But Tessa is-”

“A neutral arbiter. If Kusinali wanted in on this party, she’d have declared war already. She hasn’t. She isn’t our enemy, but she’s not here to back us up. So she stays in the dark,” Cookie said firmly. “But I’m glad you have our backs. Just have that song of Freedom ready when I give the single.”

Then she stood and left, leaving Naomi feeling sick to her stomach. She’d hoped for peace. But this…this killed that dream dead.

“Relax. We’ll handle it. And if we can’t…well, maybe for once the spoony bard will step up,” Capri said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Yes…but that’s what I’m worried about,” Naomi sighed.