Chapter 17

“So Roberbad, how are you holding out?”

Rangobart glanced around the mess hall after Commander Enz asked his question, making a show of working down a mouthful of his supper. Perhaps his caution was a force of habit from his days at the Imperial Magic Academy. The cafeteria there was suspiciously reminiscent of those found in the Imperial Army’s garrisons, which he decided at some point was done on purpose.

While one rarely had to worry about being poisoned in the Imperial Magic Academy, dangers still abounded. The school was a concentration of every major and minor faction in the Baharuth Empire and one never knew who would be listening to conversations over lunch and in whose hands any information discussed would end up. Worse yet, it was filled with young scions who were inexperienced in the ways of politics and intrigue, so things could potentially go any which way.

The Imperial Army was not as chaotic and vicious as the circles of civilian society – at least as far as he had heard and seen – but Rangobart supposed that things could still happen.

Baroness Zahradnik had quickly finished her dinner and went to attend to something, bidding Rangobart and Commander Enz take their time and enjoy their meal. Unfortunately, it was decidedly difficult to relax while sitting across from a division commander who was now striking up a conversation with him.

Technically speaking, the last few days had seen him attached to someone who potentially had more authority than anyone in the Baharuth Empire, but she never gave any indication that she would exercise it. As a result, Rangobart felt more like a footman or butler attending to an influential noblewoman instead. This was a role that he comfortably fell into, as spares often went to serve in the households of other Noble families and received the requisite education.

Similarly, everyone around her slid into their own familiar and comfortable patterns. The officers from the martial Nobility treated her as one of their own. She was turning into some sort of icon amongst the soldiery at large. Any distinctly non-imperial mannerisms were considered an exotic ‘flavour’ that made her all the more attractive. He was under no illusion that it wasn’t the result of some mysterious calculation or feminine intuition or both, but that idea made everything seem even better somehow.

After settling on how he would reply, he washed his food down with a cup of squeezed Rain Fruit.

“Better than if I was escorting one of the Undead around, sir. I think the entire army thought we would be answering to an Elder Lich or something worse before we had any details.”

“That’s true,” Commander Enz chuckled, settling back into his seat. “It seems strange coming from a Commander, but it’s amazing how much of a difference one person can make. I’ve read the reports from the camp – we went from preparing to bend under the sting of a taskmaster’s whip to happily welcoming the Undead into our ranks. The clergy here in the city temples are suffering from apoplexy at the news. The rest of the command staff are wondering what sort of magic she’s been working on the men.”

“…would it make any sense if I said that she’s just acting normally?” Rangobart asked, “She even feeds people that come around during mealtime.”

Commander Enz nodded at his words, reaching out to cradle his mug in his hands. His index finger tapped lightly against the metal rim.

“So even in the unfathomable Sorcerous Kingdom, a Noble is still a Noble.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, I guess everything makes sense, then.”

“If I may ask, is it like this whenever there’s a noblewoman in a company?”

“They each have their own style, but, in a word, yes. Even that bitter Rockbruise was the darling of her family’s demesne before she got cursed. It only makes sense: a woman from a martial house who decides to take up arms instead of settling down as soon as they come of age is always going to be hellishly strong. In every generation since the Empire’s been the Empire, they’ve been the goddesses of victory that we’ve naturally rallied around.”

So his thoughts of the past few days were correct. The reactions and behaviour he observed were deeply-ingrained elements of the Imperial Army’s culture. Even without that background, a powerful, attractive woman held an undeniable allure in a world filled with enemies who only answered to force.

“So, what are you going to do about what your family put you up to?”

Rangobart’s mind froze at the Commander’s question. He shifted uncomfortably and glowered down at his plate. Commander Enz only wore an amused smile.

“Did my brother show up again?” Rangobart asked, “I apologise for the imposition if he did.”

“I haven’t seen neither hide nor hair of him once I told him you had been assigned as an attaché to Lady Zahradnik,” the Commander replied. “That probably doesn’t improve anything on your end, though.”

He wasn’t sure if there was anything that he could do. Letting Lady Zahradnik know why he had been assigned as her attaché certainly left him free of any feelings of guilt, but, at the same time, the Baroness showed no real indication of interest. If anything, she only cared for her duties and invested all of her time and effort into fulfilling them. Free time was time to do more work and casual conversation revolved around work-related topics.

Even so, his family expected results regardless of reality. Rangobart looked across the table at Commander Enz.

“You’re a spare, too. Has this ever happened to you?”

“Hmm…I wonder,” the Commander’s smile turned evasive. “House Enz is already about as wealthy and powerful as it can get without sticking out too much, so certainly nothing as aggressive. Though once I made Commander and was granted a title, the marriage offers sure started piling up. Opportunities are to be seized, or so they say.”

“What did you do?”

“I got married,” Commander Enz smirked. “It never stops if you don’t – just ask Count Anoch. Better to accept the best match you can get and do your duty.”

The sound of the bell from the garrison’s temple drifted through the window, ending their discussion without a resolution to Rangobart’s problem. He followed Commander Enz back up to the second floor of the garrison keep. Many members of the Second Legion’s general staff were already assembled in the central hall.

Rangobart made his way over to stand beside Baroness Zahradnik. General Kabein arrived at the last, sparing little time for pleasantries.

“Welcome back, Lady Zahradnik.”

“Thank you, General Kabein. Has anything about our situation changed?”

“If you’re referring to word reaching our adversary,” General Kabein replied, “it doesn’t seem to be the case. Our scouts have noted no movements from the interior suggesting that the Viridian Terror’s minions are being dispatched to confirm what’s going on out here. As for any progress we’ve made with planning…”

The General gestured at the map on the table, which was now littered with markers and sheets of paper filled with notes and numbers. Lady Zahradnik leaned forward as she examined the disposition of forces.

“This timing seems rather convenient,” she said.

“Our operation was purposely timed so that the option was available,” General Kabein corrected her. “The tribute to the Viridian Terror always comes after the autumn harvest has been settled and the type of treasure that she prefers has been gathered.”

“Does she always come out to observe the delivery?”

“Always,” the General nodded. “She’ll have minions present to deliver it to her lair, as well.”

As Rangobart understood it, the offering of this tribute was done with a degree of ceremony to appease the sensibilities of the Viridian Dragon Lord. He didn’t pretend that he understood why Dragons did what they did, but she considered herself the rightful sovereign of the area around The Blister and the fact that the Empire also laid claim to the same land was of no consequence. If the same thing happened between Human nations, a conflict would have surely broken out.

“So this ‘option’,” Lady Zahradnik said. “How do you plan on using it?”

“It’s the only time when we know where she’ll be for certain,” General Kabein said. “We believe that it’s the best opportunity to hit her with everything we have. You mentioned that a concentration of Undead forces would be a significant threat, yes?”

“I did, Your Excellency. However, posing a threat to a Dragon is not the same as killing one. Do we have a way to keep her on the ground?”

“The best we have on hand are the ropes used for ship riggings. She’d break out of those as if they were woollen thread.”

Lady Zahradnik frowned down at the map. Though Commander Enz considered their task a ‘fresh challenge’, Rangobart couldn’t see any effective measures that they could employ. Mundane materials were insufficient to physically restrain an Ancient Dragon and even Fluder Paradyne’s strongest spells would be resisted, never mind magic from the regular mages of the Imperial Army.

“How about the chains used for your city gates?” Lady Zahradnik asked.

“They’re currently attached to the city gates,” General Kabein answered. “It wasn’t something that entered our consideration. Are the Undead strong enough to throw dozens of tons of chains over a Dragon?”

“With some practice, I think the Death Warriors and Death Cavaliers might be able to manage it. At the same time, while chains are better than rope, I don’t think they will hold her for long unless they’re enchanted. Our Frost Dragons can rend steel with their claws and none of them are remotely as powerful as an Ancient Green Dragon. For now, let’s assume that she breaks free – what do you believe she will do then?”

“No one has fought her before and lived to tell the tale,” the General replied. “We do know how younger Green Dragons behave, however. If significant injuries are taken, they retreat deeper into the trees. It’s next to impossible to pursue them unless they’re crippled somehow – the inhabitants of The Blister are extremely territorial.”

“I guess you were right, Dame Verilyn,” Lady Zahradnik sighed.

Confused looks appeared on the faces of the men around the table.

“Of course I’m right.”

Rangobart jumped at a new voice that came from directly behind. Everyone in the room turned their attention to its source.

An astonishingly gorgeous Elf walked over to stand on Lady Zahradnik’s left.

“Where the hell did she come from?” Commander Moen’s sword was half out of its sheath.

In response, the Elf pointed to one of the doorways without turning her attention from the table. As one, the general staff looked at the sentry there, who shook his head unknowingly. The detail stationed to guard the war room had veteran Rangers and Rogues who should have been able to detect even an Adamantite Adventurer in the well-lit and unobstructed conditions, but they all looked equally shocked at the Elf’s sudden appearance.

“This is Dame Verilyn,” Lady Zahradnik said. “One of my vassals. My apologies for the abrupt introduction: she arrived mid-discussion, so I thought to introduce her at the next opportunity.”

Rangobart glanced over at the new arrival. Since she was styled ‘Dame’, it should mean that she was a true Knight, but…

Does the Sorcerous Kingdom grow beautiful women? Do they pop out of the ground one after another?

He had seen his fair share of attractive women, but, despite being an Elf, Dame Verilyn eclipsed nearly all of them without contest. She was tall and slender like Lady Zahradnik, but her frost-white hair and elven features gave a cool and pristine look reminiscent of the untouchable wintry peaks of the Azerlisia Mountains. Rather than competing for the attention of admirers, Dame Verilyn and Lady Zahradnik seemed to complement each other – as if they were meant to be taken in as a single scene of feminine beauty.

Would yet another woman appear at some point? Surely there couldn’t be one that was even more spectacular than the last.

General Kabein cleared his throat, snapping the men out of their trance.

“Welcome, Dame Verilyn,” he said. “Lady Zahradnik mentioned you being right about something…”

“If you wish to fight a Dragon with insufficient strength for a direct challenge,” Dame Verilyn replied, “you must first put yourself in the mindset of an immortal being. If you could live forever, at what point do risks become untenable?”

The expressions of the men around the table turned thoughtful.

“I see,” Commander Levres rubbed his jaw. “You mean to say that, as powerful as an Ancient Dragon is, their behaviour can still be exploited to our advantage. We may be effectively powerless in an absolute sense, but we can still influence how her power is utilised.”

“That goes for most beings,” the Elf shrugged. “It will of course depend on the individual and their experiences, but each species of Dragon has a certain nature that can be relied upon to factor into their behaviour. Green Dragons are malevolent schemers and manipulators, so they will fall back on this nature if presented with what they believe to be a clear threat. As long as we don’t back her into a corner, of course.”

“So caution will stay her hand,” General Kabein said, “and we can work to limit what she believes to be viable courses of action. That gives us a lot more to work with than we thought. But now that we’re thinking like this, it sheds light on a whole slew of problems we haven’t considered before.”

The General gestured to the map on the table, towards The Blister dominating the centre.

“Unless we can decisively strike her down in a single encounter,” he said. “We have to clear The Blister. If we injure her, she’ll retreat into the jungle where she will be healed by her minions. There are tens of thousands of Demihumans in there so she can probably maintain that pattern indefinitely. Eventually, she’ll figure out what risks are reasonable and, at that point, she’ll pick apart the Undead forces. Once she’s done with them, we’re next.”

“We’ll have most of the divisions near Enz or on their way here,” Commander Moen said. “What if we moved to eliminate the tribes supporting her?”

“Fighting the tribes in their own territory will be a nightmare,” General Kabein replied. “Not to mention slow. If a division gets caught in there by the Viridian Terror, they’re dead. All of our efforts in bringing the territory under the Empire’s control still hinge on not having that Dragon around.”

“Smaller groups then,” Commander Levres said. “Heavy on Rangers and Rogues with a few regular companies and Death-series servitors to support them. If they’re careful, they can clean house without word getting out.”

“And if we run into Lord-types?” Commander Enz asked, “Fighting one will incur extreme costs.”

“That’s what our new friends are for, yeah?” Commander Levres glanced over at Lady Zahradnik, “Besides, if things are the same as always, Demihuman Lords will be a nonexistent problem.”

“If,” General Kabein pointed out. “I’m of the mind that we can make this work, but our plans need to be refined to the point where early failures don’t result in our obliteration. We have two days until the tribute is expected – let’s see how far we can take this.”