Book 5: Chapter 14: The Encampment
Victor once again stood on the prow of an airship, this one piloted by Rellia’s people and equipped for war. He’d noticed the magical ballistae, two on each side of the ship, as soon as it set down to retrieve him, Valla, and their prisoners and captured mounts. When they’d climbed aboard, they’d been greeted by the ship’s captain, a stodgy, old-looking Cadwalli who’d apologized for taking a bit longer than expected—they’d spied the wreck of the previous airship and done a sweep for survivors. The crew had found several mangled corpses but also signs that several survivors might have escaped on foot, traveling toward Persi Gables.
Victor had wanted to seek them out, but Valla had insisted that the countryside was gentle, they’d had hours of a head start, and the airship would have a hard time spotting them in the thick forests approaching Lake Beliss. The captain had sealed matters, agreeing with Valla and insisting that Lady Rellia wanted them brought to safety as soon as possible; they didn’t know what other threats might be imminent where Victor and Valla were concerned. The crew was friendly, though too deferential, and hardly spoke to either of them after that initial discussion. In fact, it felt like they were terrified of the two of them.
He thought back to when he’d first met Valla, back when he’d gone to visit Rellia after their duel in the arena. He remembered how she’d hardly spoken, using clipped phrases. He smiled at the memory, thinking about how she’d been even more perfectly coiffed back then, standing straight as a wooden board. He supposed she had a reputation, not just as Rellia’s adopted daughter, but as a captain in the Legion. Victor leaned forward against the railing, gripping it in his large, strong hands, and smiled, thinking about how Rellia and Lam would react to the changes in him and Valla.
He was his natural size, something over eight feet tall, and he figured he’d keep it that way until he had to go inside a structure again. Why not tower over some people, larger than life? “Especially when we first arrive,” he grunted, squeezing the railing until the wood creaked. He had half a mind to cast his Titanic Aspect spell; let them see whom they’d recruited to lead this expedition—a living, breathing Quinametzin. It was a thought, but he ultimately shook his head, deciding against it. He didn’t need to impress Rellia or Lam more than he already had.
Victor turned to look over his shoulder and saw Valla standing not far away, speaking to an Ardeni in a crisp sailor’s uniform, one with some special insignias on the shoulders. “Hey,” he called, getting her attention.
She clasped the man’s shoulder, said something, then walked over to Victor. “Hey.”
“So, where’s the ship taking us? Rellia’s estate? Some airship dock in Persi Gables?”
“I’d prefer it if we went to the estate, but apparently, Rellia sent orders that the ship is to drop us off at the legion’s encampment. Lam and Rellia are both there, overseeing some final logistical matters.”
“Oh really?” Suddenly Victor wasn’t feeling quite so cocksure; was he ready to be seen by the soldiers he was meant to lead?
“Yes. News of the attack on our airship has escalated things.”
“Right, right.” Victor nodded. “Makes sense. How long do we have?”
“Minutes. We’ll be done passing over Lake Beliss shortly, though too far south to see Persi Gables, and then it’s just a short journey over the bordering woods to the plains where the army is encamped.”
“Damn. All right.” Victor stood up straight, releasing the railing. He’d been watching the passage of the lake, the moons’ reflections flickering oddly over its choppy waters. The ship was low, far lower than Victor imagined airplanes flew, and the view, coupled with the rushing winds, had kept him engaged for an hour or more. “Should I change?”
“No, your armor and helmet are impressive. As you can see, I’m wearing my armor.” Valla reached up to her neck, touching the choker Victor had given her, and he realized she’d kept the top part of her hauberk open so it didn’t cover the sparkling, pale blue crystals.
He smiled and said, “You look great. Are you nervous?”
“Only about seeing Rellia.”
“Right. Yeah, I know there’s a lot between you two, or I’d try to offer some advice. As it is, I have no idea what to say except that she’d be an idiot not to be proud of you.” His words pulled a smile out of her, and she looked down briefly.
“Thank you. I hope Rellia sees it that way. I hope she doesn’t send me off on meaningless tasks to keep me in my place.”This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
Victor frowned. He knew she wasn’t used to receiving much praise, so he added, “Seriously. You’ve accomplished so much! You’re on your way to being one of the most personally powerful people in the world. You captured one of the emperor’s princeps. You’re returning with wealth far beyond what anyone could have reasonably hoped for. Meaningless tasks? As far as I’m concerned, you will be right by my side for this entire expedition. I’ll insist on it.”
“You’d do that?” Valla smiled, resting a hand on Midnight’s pommel.
“Are you kidding me? I need someone with me I can trust no matter what. You and, like, three other people are the only ones in this world who fit that bill, and you’re the only one strong enough. Do you understand? You’re invaluable to me.”
“I,” Valla stepped forward, dropped her hands to her sides, and straightened up. Victor wasn’t a military guy, but to him, it looked like she was standing at attention. She cleared her throat and spoke firmly and quickly, her words chasing each other out of her mouth, “Thank you, Victor! I won’t let you down.”
Victor wanted to crack a joke, to try to lighten the tension in the air, but he knew she was being serious. He saw this meant something to her, so he met her gaze and nodded, then simply said, “Thank you, Valla. I know you won’t.” He turned back to the ship’s prow and said, “Come on, let’s see if we can see the army when we approach.
“It’s dark, so you’ll see their fires.”
“Well,” Victor pointed to the horizon, “it was dark, but the sun’s coming up.” Sure enough, the sky, dark and gloomy directly overhead, was ever-so-slightly paler where the sky met the ground in the distance. He glanced over his shoulder, saw that the sister moons were nearly obscured by the opposite horizon, and guessed the sun would be up in minutes.
“Now that’s going to set the Augurs talking—the commander of the army arriving as the new day dawns, unshaken from an Imperial assassination attempt!”
“Hah!” Victor snorted, surprised at Valla’s creativity.
“You laugh, but I promise you; Rellia will spread the tale. She’s very image conscious.”
“Sometimes I can’t tell if you love her or loathe her.” It had been a long while since he’d seen Rellia in person; he remembered her being beautiful, far younger than he’d imagined, and far more pleasant. He wondered how much had been an act to get him to sign on to this expedition. “God, I was so naive. I can’t believe how much has changed since I fought her.”
“I have grown. Yeah,” he shrugged. “It’s my bloodline. Hey, Edeya! Hey, Polo!” Edeya beamed hugely as he said her name, snapping him another salute, and Polo nodded, a toothy grin spreading his furry cheeks.
“Victor,” Rellia said as Lam stepped back beside her, “I know you must be tired, but might we have a word?”
“He is weary, Lady Rellia.” Valla stepped forward, and Victor felt something like pride in his chest, seeing her looming over Rellia in her wyrm-scale armor, her hand on Midnight’s pommel. “We just fought off an assassination squad and missed a night of sleep.”
“Even so,” Rellia said, glancing over her shoulder. Victor followed her gaze over the platform’s edge and saw that an enormous, hushed crowd was beginning to gather around the tethered airship. “This is the first time the soldiers have seen their Legate. Do you think you might have a word for them?”
“Oh, Ancestors!” Valla hissed. “What sort of ambush is this? He’s not prepared a speech! I thought we’d have days or weeks before you brought us before the army.”
“That’s hardly my fault,” Rellia said, her voice low but hissing. “You should have prepared him for this!”
Lam stepped forward and opened her mouth, but Victor held up a hand and said, “Hold on. You want me to address this army? Right now?” He tried to keep his face neutral, his voice low, but his first instinct was to balk, to refuse; Victor Sandoval might like to fight, but he didn’t do public speeches.
“You don’t have to,” Valla said, angling herself so she stood between Rellia and Victor, facing them both.
“It would be a huge morale boost if you did,” Lam managed to interject.
Victor frowned, recognizing the churning, dark thing in his chest—fear. His strongest affinity was, once again, reminding him that it was often the root of his decisions. “Where?” he growled, trying to cover his nervousness with a bit of anger.
“Here. You’re on the platform; the soldiers are gathering, curious.”
“And you conveniently made no orders to the contrary,” Valla sighed.
“My, but you’re crabby, daughter. We’ll need to have some words, hmm?”
“Indeed, we will, Ma’am.”
“Now?” Victor asked, still fighting a battle of his own, trying to decide if acting in spite of his fear was just as bad as acting because of it. If he refused, he’d be giving in, but now that he knew he was afraid, was the solution to react to his fear and do the opposite? What would Old Mother tell him? He felt she’d say something rather unhelpful, something about not letting his fear rule him.
“In a few minutes. Let the troops continue to gather.”
“I’m loud, but not sure I’m loud enough for six thousand people to hear me.”
“I have something for that,” Lam said, holding out her hand in which a golden chain appeared. Dangling from the chain was a circular black stone inlaid with gold-etched runes. It was large, with thick links, and Victor knew she hadn’t had the device made for herself. Victor took it from her, frowning.
“What’s this?”
“It will amplify your voice for a time, something between ten and fifteen minutes. After that, it will need a day or so to recharge.”
“Come, Victor,” Rellia said, her voice soft but entreating, “Just a few words. Rile them up. Tell them we’ll be victorious. Nothing special; they’re already excited to follow you. Rumors of your exploits have traveled from fire to fire, especially how you bested me in the arena.”
“That’s the least of his accomplishments,” Valla said, surprising Victor. Had she grown so loyal to him?
Rellia scowled at Valla, but Victor forestalled further bickering by lifting the chain over his helmeted head. Once around his neck, he ran a hand over his chest, opening his wyrm-scale vest and tucking the stone medallion within. Before he sealed his armor, he asked, “Do I have to bond with it?”
“Aye.” Lam nodded.
Victor did so, and he felt the chain shorten a bit so it hung in the middle of his chest; then, he closed up his armor. He looked at Polo and then Edeya, trying to see what they might think, figuring they might have a more neutral opinion about things. Polo looked ready to fight, as usual, his moist black eyes not giving away any emotion, and Edeya, well, she looked ready to charge into hell at his command. “Jesucristo,” Victor muttered and received nothing but puzzled expressions in response.
Victor stepped between Lam and Rellia, startling them with the abrupt move, forcing them to move aside hurriedly. He lumbered up to the railing of the landing platform to look out over the tents and the rapidly assembling mass of men and women. “Soldiers,” he reminded himself. These were people signing on to fight to the death, to follow him into unknown lands to face enemies there and along the way. Did they not deserve to know who they were following? Did they not deserve to decide if he was worthy of leading them?
“Just send a bit of Energy into the necklace to activate it,” Lam said from behind him.
Victor didn’t respond but reached up, unsnapped Lifedrinker’s harness, and lifted the great, silvery axe, holding her before him with both hands. “At least I have you, chica; I always have you. No matter the battle I face, even in this one, a battle with my mind, you bring me comfort.”
Always, the axe replied, and Victor grinned savagely.
“He still speaks to the axe, I see . . .” Lam said, perhaps trying to be funny with Edeya or Valla, but her words choked off as Victor reached into his Core, cast Titanic Aspect, and released his aura.
