Chapter 189: Whitefall XLIII
I maintained the slow, unaffected strut until all four of us broke line of sight, disappearing behind the ruins walls. Then I scooped up Annette and broke into a sprint, Alten and Sera flanking me on either side. We had perhaps a half hour before the regiment finished their selections and advanced. Less, if they were organized about it. Banking on less, we moved as quickly as possible, dashing inside the shelled out temple wed previously scouted and selected as our operating base.
Then, I began stripping off the high steel armor, tossing it onto the ground as I went, replacing it with banded leather pieces.
Pity, Sera said, doing the same. I know its ridiculous, but I feel a hell of a lot safer with metal strapped to me than leather.
Too heavy, Alten grunted. Cant hit and run if you can barely run.
At least you get armor, Annette said, shedding her bright dress for a dark slip. I know were trying to get them to see me as a non-combatant, but Im feeling incredibly exposed at the moment.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
Vogrin, movement? I asked.
He reappeared, hovering before me, looking beyond a wall towards something unseen. Feedback from my constructs is facing some interference. Salven and Aetheryas banners are still making their selection. Mari and Zin have finished their selections and are headed towards the ruins. They do not appear to be coordinating. As you predicted, this has turned into a race to the prize.
Good. I smiled viciously. Theyd bought our show at the base camp and taken the bait.
Wait. Vogrin hesitated. Zins banner has stopped. Theyre returning to base camp.
What, why?
I cannot be certain from this distance, but it looks like troops from the infernals banner are calling them back.
Salven. I knew he was going to be a problem.
Dammit. Sera leaned her head back. So much for taking half of them off the board in one fell swoop.
Mari? I asked Vogrin, gripping the top of a pew until my fingers turned white.
They are also being called back but they do not seem to be listening. If anything, theyve picked up speed. Vogrin chuckled. So desperate to prove her worth. That insect you placed in her ear is most certainly bearing fruit.
The plan had been to create a crossfire with the early arrivals and turn as many of them as we could in the chaos. But if we could secure an entire regiment in one fell swoopespecially one made up of the best melee fighters in the regimentthat could possibly be better. Which side?
South, Vogrin confirmed.
I glanced at Annette. Up for the bridge?
Annettes face was pale, but her green eyes radiated with excitement. I can do it.
Sure youre not gonna get in your head about it, like the first few times? Sera muttered.
I can do it, Annette reiterated, staring at me with conviction.
It was a big play so early in the skirmish. But that was the only way this was going to work. If we chipped away at them, eventually the numbers would turn against us.
I made a snap decision and scooped Annette up, blowing through the derelict doors, putting a small amount of mana through the inscriptions on my legs and racing down the main street, leaping over detritus and keeping an eye out for vines or anything else that could trip me up. I glanced over my shoulder. Sera and Alten were falling behind, but that was fine. We needed to get there first. Tell me again, I huffed, What do you do if you get caught out?
Annette looked away.
Annette.
Surrender, she said finally.
Thank you, I said. She was unarmed, and I didnt think the soldiers Cephur personally vetted would go out of their way to hurt an unarmed child, but there was a chance theyd eventually figure out what she was doing. Her sticking it out wasnt worth it if things took a turn and it cost her life.
I approached the south entrance at a breakneck pace, racing against time. If Maris banner breached the sightline of the crumbling wall to the east before Annette got the illusion in place this wouldnt work. I could hear them over the pounding of my heart, as I dropped into the reservoir at full speed, using my inscriptions to cushion my landing, putting Annette down, quickly planting four small sparks at either side of the reservoir.
Maris banner approached from outside, Alten and Seras from the right.
There was a flare of mana as Annette reached up with both hands. A crumbling, decrepit bridge slowly phased into existence. She held it, monitoring the structure as she moved well clear of it and wedged herself into an alcove, phasing into the stone.
The sound of marching ceased. Sera and Altens distant sprinting continued growing closer.
What? Mari looked between all three of us.
The rumor you were told was bullshit, Mari, I confirmed. On my honor as crown Prince of Silodan. We have no intention of taking your banner away from you. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a soldier beginning to crawl out from the pit, waited until the blue ribbon on his waist was visible, then hit him with a bolt of compressed air, knocking him back in.
Then whose banner are you taking? Mari growled. Just because it aint mine and the others are prissy bitches doesnt mean they didnt earn it.
No ones, Sera said If we win this, Cairns creating a fifth banner. Volunteers and the dregs. Anyone who isnt a good fit in their current structure.
Finally, Maris struggling seemed to slow, and her eyes gained a sharp clarity, the berserker rage slowly filtering out of her. It was all bullshit.
Yes.
But not the drinks at the end.
Alten chuckled. Definitely not.
There was a long silence as she absorbed that. I yield.
We let her up, and the large woman walked to the reservoir, screaming for her men to stop. They listened, and within a few minutes they were organized again, though the two-thirds of her number that remained looked understandably cowed.
Vogrin popped into existence. The other banners are organized and moving now. Safe to say they heard the racket.
I swore. How long?
Atheryas banner is fragmenting into pairs, spreading out along the treeline, Vogrin said, then squinted, the fabric that covered his eyes crinkling. Salven and Zin are marching in tandem, approaching the south and east, respectively.
Checking to see what happened to Mari. I rubbed my forehead. In a way it was good, because theyd effectively lost the initiative. But they were being more cautious, which was less than ideal.
What about me? Mari asked. Her expression was still a little wild, but shed organized the rest of her troops and approached with approximately eighty men in tow.
Backup. I gave a quick run-down of our plan, then stopped. Is Salven as good as I think he is?
Mari growled. Better. More tricks than a Panthanian brothel. Disciplined. Plenty of expertise to back it up. But Atheryas going to be our biggest problem once her people get vantages. Thwip thwip thwip til the sun sets.
So Zin first?
Mari nodded. We rush it. Batter him down, bend him over and tear as many ribbons as we can before cover becomes a problem. See that sword of his?
When I said that I did, she continued. Hes fast with it, with strength to match. The man is, hands down, the best one-on-many fighter Ive ever seen. Knocks arrows out of the air like its nothing. Struggles one-on-one if you can match his speed or batter him with power, but if you try that and dont end it fast enough, hell use the swords range to his advantage.
Magic?
Air. Keeps it close range, but hes unnaturally fast with it.
I was beginning to understand why Cephur picked her. Despite her brash, savage demeanor, she could be a pragmatist when the things she cared about werent under threat. And when they were, she was ready to die for them. She was being far more upfront with information than Id expected her to be.
Sera, youre with me. Annette, you good on mana? I was getting increasingly worried about Atheryas banner getting too comfortable. My younger sister nodded, though she looked a bit frazzled as she approached. I leaned down and whispered: You okay? Guessing it was as chaotic down there as it was up here.
Fine, she said, blinking several times. Just a little more intense than I imagined. And hot. Really hot.
Whats with the princess? Mari asked. Thought you dragging her into this was a little weird, but couldnt put my finger on why.
There wasnt really any harm in telling her. If they were going to be my regiment, they were going to know, eventually. I shrugged. Annette did the bridge.
Maris eyes immediately narrowed as she stared down my sister. I was about to divert attention by saying it was my idea, before Mari extended a slow fist towards Annette and held it out. Well played.
Annette, completely caught off guard, tentatively returned the gesture, bumping the side of Maris fist with hers. Well fought.
Mari nodded stoically before she turned to me. What now?
Got any spare helmets lying around? I asked.
