All's Fair in Love and War - Chapt. 5

A week had to pass before all answered the call. To send the message to all the towns and cities the dullahans had been sent to had proven to be quite the challenge on its own right, to say nothing of having them all come. Now, though, Jeremiah saw the close to a thousand dullahans slowly but surely coming to formation.

Rookies at best. It had taken well over an hour to organize the crudest of formations. Just a series of groups each a hundred strong, and each with their own horses for the campaign's supply. Though by no means a proper army, they looked ready enough to march out. He could only imagine what a mess it'd be for their first steps as a coordinated group rather than a mob, but such things would sooner or later need to be ironed out.

"That oughta be it." Said Jeremiah. Close to him stood Valerian and Victoria, watching as their first army came to shape.

"The paladins most likely know of this." Said Valerian. "They'll probably be watching like vultures as you head south, telling the army in Makillae where you are."

"There's no way to avoid that. At least it'll keep them from raiding us."

"Hopefully. Be careful out there."

"I will."

"Jeremiah, I need to ask something of you." Said Victoria, walking up to him.

"Yes?" He answered, turning to her.

"The paladin you... cornered. He had a pendant on him. If you find more, bring them to me."

"I don't imagine those pendants will be anywhere but on the necks of those paladins."

She fell silent, in thought. Even if obtaining more of those pendants was possible, what could it cost? The last one they had gotten one from had ended his life. Could she really ask for more death, just for those pendants?

"I'll see if it's practically reasonable." He said, breaking the silence.

"Not like you'll face paladins either way." Mentioned Valerian.

"I'm counting on not facing anyone at all."

They then noticed a mounted dullahan moving up to them, leading a horse without a rider. When she got closer, they saw that it was Melanie.

"Lord General." She said, arriving to Jeremiah. "Everyone's ready to depart."

"That's your call." Said Valerian, stepping up to him and extending his hand, which Jermeiah shook.

As they let go, however, Jeremiah found Victoria extending her arms.

"Hug." She said.

"In front of the army...?" He asked, almost in embarrassment.

"I don't care. Hug."

With a chuckle, Jeremiah walked up to her, embracing her just as she embraced him.

"Make sure to come back." She said.

"I will."

They let go of each other. Jeremiah walked up to the horse and mounted, to then give one last wave at those who waved back as he and Melanie walked to the army.

---

It had been like the first time. That sense of isolation, of someone she had grown used to the continued presence of departing. Like the time he had left to recruit dullahans, Victoria felt it alien to be alone. Now, however, she could not shake off the sense of impending doom. It wasn't about convincing dullahans to join anymore, it was about marching into Nostrian lands and wage proper war. There was no certainty as to what would happen.

It didn't let her sleep. She was dozing off already, yawning, her eyes growing heavier as she sat by the bench of her villa's lake, but she had found it impossible to sleep even in the comfort of her own bed.

Footsteps approached. Valerian for sure, she thought. To stay out here in the darkness so late into the night must've gotten him worried. When the footsteps stopped by her bench, she turned her eyes to him, but she saw that it was not Valerian.

It was Indrick, looking at her from the corner of her eyes. His presence served to shoot her eyes wide open, heartbeat skyrocketing, all the sleep in her dissipating in an instant as she snapped her hand to the rapier's handle on her waist.

But he hardly did a thing. Not even flinch in reaction.

Paranoia festered. Victoria glanced in all directions, wondering who else had come with him. However, he found nobody. He was alone, as much as she couldn't believe it.

"I assure you, we wouldn't try again what failed so miserably already." He said. "Not yet, at least."

'What failed so miserably'. The words echoed in her head. They had lost a paladin, but it only left her to wonder: Did they know of his fate? For all she knew, they might have believed he was turned into an incubus.

"The paladin--"

"His name was Dirk." He interrupted. "I know what happened to him."

Those blunt words said so quickly and without warning pierced her heart. Without either of them doing a thing, and even with Indrick turning his eyes forward to the moonlit lake, she could only conclude he wasn't here for a fight.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

"You have something that was his."

She already imagined what it was. Rummaging her pocket, she took the glinting pendant he had received from Valerian, that which belonged to the fallen one. What it was, she still did not know, but there was no denying that it held properties beyond being a simple illuminating piece of jewelry. She couldn't help but feel a void sensation from it, growing in intensity the closer she was to it. It did something to the demonic energies in the air.

"This?" She asked.

"Will you give it back?"

She had no reasons to hand it over. Rather, her morbid curiosity dictated she kept it and studied it, but she knew that the paladins would want it returned. If they wanted it back at all costs, then what would they be willing to put themselves through to get it? More death?

It didn't matter, now. She felt a cold touch on the side of her neck. It was unmistakable, the touch of a blade. A rapier he had gotten to replace the one she had taken from him. What a fool she was to let her guard down, she thought to herself.

"I am not giving you an option." He added.

Slowly, she raised her hand with the pendant. Indrick took it before he lowered the rapier.

"Do we really have to keep this war going?" She asked.

But Indrick kept silent, staring.

"We can live in peace." She continued.

"We can't."

"Why? Is what you're trying to achieve so important to you, that you're willing to kill and die for it?"

"You lead a nation built on top of the dead. Death should be common currency to you."

"...What?"

"Do not toy with me, lilim." He said, only for Victoria to remain in confusion. "...You don't know?"

"Know what?" She asked.

Instead of an answer, she received the same gaze. Past a second, Indrick faced forward and waved his hand in an incantation, soon disappearing.

---

They had marched past the border. Their safe haven from the great army of Nostrum was now behind them. To the far east stood Makillae, the fortress that cemented Nostrum's power in the region. Chances were, they would have to overcome it if they wanted any hope of Nostrian surrender.

That is, assuming they ever surrendered.

The dullahans seemed to share the anxious feeling. They had all turned dead silent the moment the border was crossed. Paranoia and fear festered in full, but at least he saw that they did not let it get to their heads. He could not blame them. Most if not all hardly ever imagined taking part in a campaign against The Order.

He looked at his map one more time. Afterwards, he looked at his surroundings. It should be the place, he thought. He focused on the horizon ahead, and soon he spotted it properly, the tiny dot of a small town far, far away.

"Our target is up ahead." He said to the mounted dullahans by him, with Melanie next to him. All turned their heads, listening intently to his words. "I want the cavalry heading there first. If they find no resistance, they should start burning the farms around it and watch for any reinforcements. If they do see resistance, they should come back and alert us. The infantry will advance at their own pace and loot the place. Remember, this place is supposed to be undefended, so don't push it if there are defenders. Understood?"

"Understood!" Said the officers in unison, rushing off to relay his orders.

In short notice, the cavalry galloped forward towards the town.

---

It had been days since their departure. Judging by the distance, by now they would have arrived.

Though days ago a thousand dullahans had stood, now it lay empty. Only the foundation of the buildings remained, workers taking a break. Victoria walked along the designated areas, some labeled only by four sticks and wire, and others already built upon.

There was no limit planned, however. There was space and gold, along with manpower if more dullahans arrived, so the only limiting factor would turn to be the training process. Those who had left for Nostrum had no training whatsoever, tragically enough. Nostrum's army would no doubt be well-trained and disciplined. Perhaps they'd be far greater in number as well, having had more than enough time to prepare at their leisure.

In her mind, the dreadful question still lingered. The question as to whether they will return, or if these grounds will remain desolate.

"So this is where you were."

She turned her head, to find Valerian walking up to him.

"Hey." She greeted.

He turned to look at the foundations she had been staring at. It didn't take long for him to pick up the hints, to figure out what was in her mind. Victoria made no effort to hide it, after all.

"Do you think they'll be fine?" She asked.

"Are you that worried about them?" He answered. Victoria, in return, remained quiet. "Remember that Jeremiah isn't an amateur. He knows what he's doing. We don't know how it's gonna go, but what I can tell you is that we made sure to prepare as best as we could."

Silent and still, Victoria pondered.

"We didn't get any more raids after he left." She said. "They are watching him. They are following him."

"I know. He knows." He said, to then step over and put his hand over her shoulder. "But what would he think if he found out we were doubting him so much? That he's doing his best, and here we are almost expecting him to fail?"

Though she tried to answer, nothing would come out.

"You're stressing yourself out. It won't do you any good. Let's go back and figure out what to do after he comes back, alright?"

"...Alright."

---

Little by little, ink gathered at the tip of the quill. It grew until it fell back into the bottle as a droplet. Such was her boredom that she stared at it happening over and over, wetting the tip in more ink as drops fell. Her head lazily rested on her hand, soon aching by how long she had been in such posture, imagining that now she'd have a gigantic red spot on her cheek.

What else was there to do, though? Not even paperwork was left. Sighing out loud, she stood up and walked to the front door, figuring a stroll would clear her mind.

Outside, however, an unusual sight greeted her. Though she'd have expected to see at least a few servants tending to their duties, she saw absolutely nobody. It seemed as if the villa had been entirely deserted.

"Lady Victoria!" Called a woman, her footsteps rushing up to Victoria. There Victoria saw her, Marie the kikimora arriving to her.

"Where's everyone?"

"Did nobody tell you? The army is returning!"

Their return. It had left her in enough disbelief to keep her standing still and quiet. No wonder everyone would run to the villa's edge to watch. On the other hand, was it not too early for a return? It mattered not. Her questions would soon have their answer. Victoria and Marie rushed off to the entrance of the villa, to find there all the people she had seen missing. Even Valerian with Catherine on him was present, impossible to miss. As she arrived to his side, she saw afar the silhouette of the army returning. Like a weight dropped off her shoulders, she felt it a blissful relief that it was the same size it had left as.

"Isn't it too early for them to return?" She asked Valerian, only to gain his confused gaze.

Afterwards, Valerian shifted glances to Marie, who looked back just as puzzled.

"For what day it is, it doesn't seem that strange." He answered.

"What do you mean?"

Valerian's confusion turned into a smirk.

"You're telling me you don't know?" He asked.

"I'm not in the mood for this, Valerian."

"Your birthday, dummy."

Victoria had been left blank-minded, spacing out. She hardly even remembered what day it was. Valerian still smirked, all while Marie suppressed a grin.

Though quite rude and almost insulting to be let known in such manner, she no longer cared. Jeremiah had never missed a birthday of hers, and to see him return safe even in these tough days warmed her heart. She couldn't hide a dumb smile that grew from ear to ear as much as she tried, forcing her to partly cover her mouth with hand out of slight shame. All present stared ahead, watching the army approach from the road and walk up to the villa, feeling the vibrations of a thousand steps draw ever closer.

They soon arrived to the very same strip of grassland they had departed from, showing exhaustion as some immediately sat down or outright dropped flat to the ground. As the army stood in place, Victoria and the others saw Melanie come closer on her horse. In due time she reached the lilim, dismounting in front of her.

She was alone, however. Much as she glanced around, Jeremiah was nowhere in sight.

"Lady Victoria..." Said Melanie, hardly any wind left in her lungs. At the same time, she took off her helmet, only for it to fall to the ground.

"...Where is Jeremiah?" Asked Victoria.

"He..." She said, lowering her head as she paused. "He fell to Nostrum."

Silence.

Victoria stared blankly. So did Valerian. So did Marie and the servants that had gathered close enough to hear.

"...What?" She asked.

"Their army ambushed us when we got to the first town, cutting our retreat path..." She explained, still with her head low. "They must've outnumbered us over ten to one, and no matter what we all did, it all... It all failed. They overran us, surrounded us on all sides, and... and then..." She sniffed, catching her breath that turned erratic after moments. "...the Lord General lost his life."

Victoria's mouth opened slightly, trying to speak but no words escaped at first.

"You're joking..." She whispered in an inaudible voice, seeing Melanie sob to herself. At that very moment, she grit her teeth and violently grabbed the dullahan by the front of her clothes. "You're joking!" She shouted, startling the dullahan who could only helplessly lock eyes, streams already running down her cheeks. "This is just a sick joke! Say it! It's a joke!"

But Melanie could do nothing but stare, seeing how tears began forming and falling from Victoria's eyes as well.

"Jeremiah is with the others in the army over there, isn't he?!" Continued Victoria. "He's just hiding! He just told you to tell me this, just so that he could jump out and say, 'Happy birthday! I came back in time! I wouldn't miss it for anything in this world!"

No response, just a grim silence that served as much as an answer.

"I'm sorry..." Sobbed Melanie.

There was no more agony in Victoria's heart. No more indignation. No more emotion. This wasn't happening.

There was no way it could have been happening.

Jeremiah had been with her ever since she was a little kid. She had even just now figured out he was a Lord General. He even had an army for himself, now.

It didn't add up. Was he not supposed to succeed in that raid? Why would it end there, after so much had been done? Why now?

Blank mind. Numbness. It was as if time itself had stopped, and all around her ceased to exist. The strength in her hands weakened till she let go of Melanie, only to stand as petrified as the dullahan was.

After a moment of stillness, she finally moved. She turned back and in slow steps took the road back home. All others watched, unwilling and unable to say a thing as an oppressive silence took hold in the villa.

When she reached her door, she didn't bother closing it. It remained open as she mindlessly walked over to her bedroom. She reached her bed and let herself go, falling on the blankets with her head's side now on the pillow, to remain immobile as her shattered thoughts tried to reform. Her tears began to dampen the pillow, until she sniffed and began sobbing, narrowing her eyes, unable to escape the reality of the situation.

Had it been a nightmare, she'd have waken up already.

No. It was all real.

It was all happening.

She squinted her eyes and grit her teeth, grabbing the pillow and digging her face into it, letting out a furious, muffled shout at the top of her lungs. Then, heavy breathing.

"Why?!" She shouted, still muffling her voice with the pillow. Her expression then contorted in anguish and fury.

This would never end.

Nostrum would never stop.

Any hopes of peace now were fairy tales at best.

In order for there to be an end, she would have to force it on them one way or another, no matter the cost.

"Nostrum..." She muttered. "I'll not rest until all of Nostrum turns into a demon realm!!"

---

Index
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