The 2nd Battalion of the Black Banner Army wasn’t stupid. The battalion’s soldiers knew they were in enemy territory. They were in marching column, but the goblins, orcs and ogres were fully armed and scanning the tree line.

They even had an advance party of scouts that checked the road ahead, looking for ambush spots. Their commander, a relatively skinnier male ofc on a war pig, rode at the front, his eyes attentively scanning his surroundings.

But the first and only warning they had that something was terribly wrong was when someone yelled, “Fire!”

The forest on the west erupted with a volley of musketry. Dark blue jets of magic streaked out, killing the orc commander instantly, as another higher pitched voice sang, building in intensity. His battalion rallied to their officers. The footsoldiers gathering into squads that turned to charge into the woods and musketeers firing back. The odd bow or crossbow holding orc or ogre fired their weapons but by this stage in the war, muskets had become far more widespread.

That was when a roar burst from the other side of the road and the other side of the Alavari column was hit by a wave of humans and other Alavari, trolls, orca and ogres, marked out with blue sashes around their helmets and arms. They were led by an armored knight wielding a sword. They crashed into the flank of the Alavari battalion.

The high pitched song that had been echoing through the battlefield stopped, and a bolt of lightning hit a clump of twenty musketeers, smashing them apart. The musket fire ceased, but a female troll with a mage’s staff led the howling musketeers out of the woods, a red-haired human woman with a hacking sword racing beside her. Over their heads sailed fireballs and smaller bolts of lighting. One knocked down the standard-bearer, the other blew a group of foot soldiers apart. Yet, though the goblins fled, the battalion’s orcs and ogres fought, even though it was sandwiched on both sides by soldiers. But it was a fight of desperation.

Then at the head of the column, the remaining orcs heard the thunder of hooves, as bursting from the trees came thirty horsemen led by an armored female with long black hair. Their morale already flagging, the orcs and ogres broke at the sight. Soon the column of once disciplined soldiers was racing to get away, leaving their wagons, weapons, and even ripping off helmets and armor to run faster.

One orc managed to somehow, in his presence of mind, pickup his battalion’s standard, and run with it. Behind him, he left a trail of dead and wounded, and a force of humans and Erlenberg Alavari that were already starting to cheer.

—

“Good work! Get the wagons supplies and take their armor and weapons. We don’t have much time. Hurry!” Elizabeth ordered.

“Ma’am what do we do with the ones who are still alive?” asked a goblin with a blue sash demoting his home of Erlenberg. She was standing by a wide-eyed whimpering ogre holding onto her bleeding stump of an arm.

Elizabeth paused, “We’re not monsters. Bandage their wounds but don’t heal them. We won’t take them with us, though.”

Frances ran out from the trees and knelt by the ogre who flinched at the sight of her wand.

“Elizabeth, she’ll lose her life if I don’t use magic to disinfect and heal it,” Frances said.

Elizabeth froze, a stricken look on her face as Ginger sauntered up. “Frances, they attacked Erlenberg and you want to heal them? What if we have to fight tomorrow?”

“She won’t be able to fight the next battle. And I’ll be fine,” said Frances. Before anybody could say anything else, she lifted Ivy’s Sting, the sang an aria and before their eyes, the ogres stump healed over with skin. “Is there anybody else? Who is the most injured?”

Ginger glanced at Elizabeth who sighed. “Form a triage line hurry. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

Thankfully, most of the wounded were Alavari and not of their battalion, so Frances and the healers in the battalion were quickly able to bandage friendly, and enemy wounds up.

Meanwhile, Ayax and Martin were ransacking one of the wagons with some of their soldiers. The wagon driver, an orc who’d been shot, sat in the corner of his vehicle, his arm having been bandaged and the gangrenous cloth and bullet having been extracted by Frances. He wasn’t talking but he didn’t stop the pair from handing food, tools and other goods to their compatriots.

“That’s… a lot of tools and equipment. Where were you taking them?” Ayax asked the orc.

“Why should I tell you?” the orc grunted.

Martin picked up a shovel. “We don’t need him to tell us. This is road building equipment. See the shovels and hammers? The pickaxes and wood axes? The rakes for smoothing gravel? That’s all to build a road. The question is why would they need to. There is a road through the Pinewoods.”

Ayax cocked an eyebrow. “Martin, Erlenberg’s army didn’t even use this road to go through the Pinewoods. We used ferries because they were faster.”

“Damn, so that’s their plan. Send battalions to different points in the road to widen it. They just didn’t expect to deal with us,” Martin said.

“Who… are you people?” the orc asked suddenly.

Martin smirked, “I’m—”

“Nobody who matters,” said Ayax.

The orc sighed, “Oh come on. You seem like reasonable people.”

“Yup. We’re also not stupid,” said Ayax with a sneer. “Get used to disappointment.”

“Worth a shot,” muttered the orc.

They didn’t want to be too loud, but the camp of convicts and Erlenberg soldiers had celebrated their victory that night with a hearty meal that Frances (being the best cook in the battalion) had overseen.

But before the meal was to start, there was a somber event to attend to.

Four humans, an orc, and a goblin lay inside a series of graves. Wooden boards with names carved on them marked their graves. They, that is the teens, the soldiers, convict and Erlenberg alike intermixed, stood above them, heads bowed.

Clasping her hands, Elizabeth took a deep breath. “Dirk Smith, Linda Rowan, Yvonne Cressing, Harry Halda, York Sun, and Nyce Jay gave their lives to defend Erlenberg. We thank them for what they’ve done.”

With that, the soldiers with shovels began to bury the bodies. Some, those who’d known the six, cried, or wiped their eyes. Elizabeth was tempted to try to hug them, but she held back.

She didn’t know any of these six until today. What she did know, though, was that they died, under her command. It… it didn’t mean their death was completely on her hands, but she was responsible in a way for them.

The thoughts weighed on her head, even as she started to eat her meal.

“Elizabeth, is there anything I can do to help?”

Elizabeth looked to her side to find Frances, sitting beside her. Her friend looked worried.

“I… I’m fine, Frances,” Elizabeth said. She knew she was lying, but she didn’t know what else to say.

She could also tell, from how Frances winced, that her friend knew she was lying. “Elizabeth, if there—”

“Frances, there’s nothing you can do. Just… leave me alone. It’s not a you thing, it’s a me thing okay?” Elizabeth managed a weak smile, just to try to put Frances at ease. It seemed to work as her friend hesitated and got up.

“Okay, if you ever need to talk, I’m happy to listen,” said Frances.

Elizabeth nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.” She watched Frances leave and turned back to her stew. It was hearty, made with fresh rations they’d looted from the enemy battalion. The Otherworlder got two mouthfuls in when she heard something shuffle behind her. It was ever so faint, but Elizabeth’s senses, thanks to whatever magic had brought them to Durannon, were heightened, and she’d trained with one of the stealthiest rangers in the world.

Elizabeth put her soup, picked her warhammer up and stood up, turning around in a fluid motion. “Who’s there?”

The bush shuddered as a female stood up, a female teenager with a tail.

“It’s just me!” Ayax stammered, her hands raised. She hastily brushed a few errant leaves clinging to her hair.

Elizabeth snorted to repress a chuckle, only to narrow her eyes. “Why were you hiding in the bush?”

The troll didn’t have irises, but to Elizabeth, Ayax’s black eyes seemed to shift at the question. Her tail stiffened and swished side-to-side. “I was worried alright? I knew you’d take it hard, but I knew you didn’t want company so I’d thought I’d just… watch, you know? Made sure you were alright.”

“You were watching me?” Elizabeth asked.

“Sorry! I… I’m really sorry. I just wanted to be sure you’re alright,” Ayax stammered.

“Why does everybody feel like I’m going to fall apart. I’ve been doing a pretty good job leading everybody right?” Elizabeth hissed. She stormed off to her tent, but long fingers grabbed her hand.

It happened so quickly that Elizabeth stumbled, only to find Ayax sweeping her up onto her feet, hands on her shoulders.

“Sorry. I… I… I didn’t think you were falling apart, or anything like that, Elizabeth. I know you’re really strong. I li—care about you, as a friend, and want to make sure you were alright,” the troll stammered. “Cuz…. she does too. She feels like she owes you a lot and wants to make sure you’re happy.”

A stab of guilt and understanding wrenched into Elizabeth’s chest. “I know. I… I just… I don’t know even what I’m feeling now.”

“I thought you wanted to be alone?” Ayax asked. Her tail stilled, but still twitched. Elizabeth could watch that tail for a while, trying to figure out what it told about her friend.

She shook her head again, and sighed. “Yes? No? I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Alright.” Ayax sat down on the ground, crossing her feet.

“What are you doing?”

The troll shrugged. “Not talking.”

Elizabeth blinked and rubbed the sides of her temples. “Ayax… you don’t have to.”

“But I want to,” Ayax said. The troll smirked. It wasn’t a mocking one, but a slightly cheeky grin. “If you’d like me to leave then I shall.”

Elizabeth, grumbled, but decided that she’d indulge the troll. Ayax was going to open her mouth sometime.

Yet, true to her word, the troll said nothing. Just sat there, watching Elizabeth, or the fire as the Otherworlder ate her stew. Even when once in a while, when Elizabeth met Ayax’s black eyes, the troll said nothing, but she did avert her gaze away.

It wasn’t an awkward silence, though, but a comforting one, broken up by the crackle of the embers. The dim light lit the two girls as the background chatter of humans and Alavari surrounded them.

“Ayax?” Elizabeth said suddenly.

“Mm hmm?”

Elizabeth met Ayax’s eyes again, and took a deep breath. “There’s something I need to ask… well, tell you about… both really.”

The troll seemed to brace herself. “Uh huh?”

“You have a crush on me, right?” Elizabeth asked.

The troll’s expression was one of genuine confusion and Elizabeth wondered if she got it wrong. Until Ayax asked, “Uhhh what does that mean?”

“You like me, romantically,” Elizabeth said, her eyes narrowed, watching the troll.

She expected Ayax to panic, splutter, or perhaps even lie, but the troll merely nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“You… what do you know about the religion I follow?” Elizabeth asked.

“Not much. Your God seems a lot like Amura and Rathon, and Galena if they were all put together. But Frances did tell me that it tells you you aren’t supposed to marry or engage in a relationship with the same sex,” said Ayax.

“She did that?” Elizabeth asked, feeling her cheeks start to burn, almost unable to look Ayax in the eye.

“I was asking her what people believe in your world. She also said that I should give you some space to figure things out. She didn’t say what things exactly, just that you needed time to figure if you liked girls and I shouldn’t just tell you my feelings.”

Elizabeth sighed in relief. So Frances hasn’t told Ayax everything, which was nice of her. She’d been trying to in her own way, support her.

“Why does your religion say you can’t have relationships with the same sex?” Ayax asked.

Elizabeth closed her eyes. “I don’t know exactly. I was too young when I came to Durannon… three years ago now. All I know is that it’s not something you’re supposed to do because It’s a sin and… I believe God has a reason for it.”

“And you think listening to your God is important, right?” Ayax asked.

Elizabeth nodded fervently. “He’s… given me a lot of good guidance. Inspired me to be patient and a listener. To smile when it’s hard and to find hope when sometimes it’s just hard to. True, his church… hasn’t always done the right things, or taught good lessons, but I can’t just abandon it.”

“Ah. I can understand that,” said Ayax.

Elizabeth glanced back at the troll. “Wait, you’re fine with it? I thought you said you were interested in me?”

Ayax made a face. “I mean... I’m not completely happy about it, but… that’s kind of what I like about you Elizabeth.” The troll smiled. “You’re truthful to yourself, even if you don’t understand something completely.”

Elizabeth knew she was blushing, and staring at Ayax. How could she not? The troll wasn’t the person… man, or woman, that she thought she’d be interested in but her forthrightness and uncomplicated approach to life was refreshing. That and she has this cat-like grace that drew Elizabeth’s eye.

“Ayax, I do think that I like you in that way. I just… Well, I want to go home. It won’t be fair to you if I have a relationship with you and leave you,” Elizabeth said.

“I don’t mind. I’ve said it before. I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.” Ayax sighed. “Oh I’ll cry about it but if you’re alright with it then I’m alright. But you’re not ready now, right?”

Elizabeth, shut her eyes to try to hold back her tears, and managed a nod.

“I’m sorry.”

Ayax grinned. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I can wait for a bit.”

The Otherworlder felt her cheeks warm again, but this time, she forced herself to meet Ayax’s gaze.

“Thank you, Ayax.”

Frances watched Elizabeth and Ayax whisper quietly by the dying embers, two cups of Hearthsange in her hands. Her best friend and cousin were sitting close together, but not touching. In her head, Frances knew that she should feel happy that Elizabeth was working through what she felt with Ayax.

Only, she felt a dull ache in her chest. She tried to ignore it, to quash it, to not feel the jealousy that curled around her heart.

Frances knew she shouldn’t be jealous. There wasn’t anything to be jealous about. It was good that her friends were happy and finding people they could talk with right? They didn’t need to spend all their time with her, and all her emotional and personal problems. She should certainly not feel jealous that they had potential partners who could love them and treat them well.

She spun on her heels and walked away. Maybe… maybe she could find Martin and he’d have time. She’d seen him by his tent with Ginger.

Only, as Frances approached, she’d quickly realized that the pair were in the tent, and inferred what they’d been doing from the sultry tones coming through the thin material. Sighing, she turned to leave, but that’s when she heard Ginger ask a question.

“How are you friends with Frances by the way?” Ginger asked suddenly.

“What do you mean?” Martin asked.

“Well, I like her… a lot. I can see myself maybe being a good friend, but you… well you’re a guy, and you and her are quite different people

Frances froze, she needed to leave. Eavesdropping was not a good way to learn things. And yet, she couldn’t move. She could only wait as the silence stretched on.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” said Martin.

Her grip tight around the cups, Frances bit her lip and tried not to cry. She had to leave. She couldn’t stay—

“How do you describe it when you just… get a connection with someone?” Martin asked. He snapped his fingers. “Like that. We showed up in the same mess tent, it snapped into place. I don’t pretend to think that I’m as close to her as Elizabeth is, and I’m not family like Ayax is. But I’m happy to be there for her, and she’ll always have my back.”

“So, she’s kinda like your little sister?”

Martin must have either nodded or mumbled something because Ginger promptly asked.

“Aren’t you worried she might get jealous of what you and I have?”

“Nah. Frances is practically a saint. If anything, I feel a little guilty.” Martin chuckled. “You should have seen her a year ago. She was so shy, but now she’s so much more confident. I did my best to help her, but honestly she improved by her own effort.”

Ginger didn’t reply immediately, but Frances could hear shifting blankets and a yelp from Martin. “Martin, she cares about you, deeply and appreciates you. She um… warned me today about hurting you. You don’t need to feel guilty, my knight in shining armor.”

“Knight in shining armor?”

“Yes. Now, enough serious talk. I’ve always wanted to try this… think you’re strong enough—Oh!”

Frances walked away before she could hear more. She no longer felt the burning jealousy in her heart.

The cold shame that bowed her head, though, was infinitely worse. Her friends thought so highly of her. Yet, the moment they found people to be happy with, she got jealous?

Frances swallowed, she couldn’t rely on her friends forever to feel normal, she needed to try, at least, to give them space. To grow as well, and not just stifle them with her own problems.

The problem that haunted Frances, though, was whether she actually could stand on her own.

The next morning, they’d gathered the troops and the commanders were all sitting around a map that Martin had brought with him

Elizabeth pointed at the road running through the east side of the Pinewoods. “Right, so we know they’re widening the road from the Eastern Pinewoods to Erlenberg, so here’s my plan. We’re going to take two days to rip up the road as much as we can and then get the hell out of here.”

“That’s a good plan, but should we even stay longer in this forest? We’ve bought Erlenberg several days already,” Martin said.

“We ambushed one battalion and fought off two ambushes. We barely bought Erlenberg time they didn’t already have,” Elizabeth replied. She pointed at the road. “That road, if we can cut it, can hold up their entire army.”

“Can’t they just go around it by going through the western Pinewoods?” Ginger asked.

“Where the Silverstream River protects the west side of the city,” Ayax countered. “I get that we’re in a dangerous place Ginger, but it won’t get any better retreating to the city. We need to pick the battles we can win now.”

“And die? We have no support and we’re outnumbered,” Ginger exclaimed.

“Frances, what do you think?” Elizabeth asked.

With all the eyes on her, it took all of Frances’s will to not just wilt. It didn’t help that she could see the benefits of both and was going to be happy to go along with either plan. Only now, her friends seemed to be looking to her to break the tie. She didn’t want to do that. She wanted to ask her friends if they could just… work it out, compromise.

But… she had promised herself to stand on her own, hadn’t she?

“I like both plans, but I think we should compromise. Take one more day to break down the road, and then retreat for Erlenberg.” Frances smiled in what she hoped was in a placating fashion. “That way we can delay the Alavari army, but keep ourselves safe.”

There were nods around from the rest of her friends and Frances's shoulders sagged in relief.

“I like that plan. Let’s do it,” said Elizabeth, grinning. She folded up the map. “There’s one more thing we have to do, though. We’ve got about three hundred soldiers under our command, we need to reorganize. Ginger, Martin and Ayax, you’re each going to be in charge of a company. Frances, you’re going to be my second-in-command.”

“Me?” Frances squeaked.

“Mm hmm!” Elizabeth smiled. “Is that alright?”

Frances blinked and straightened. “Yes.”

“Great! Finally, we should actually give ourselves a name. I asked around and well, I think we have the perfect name.” Elizabeth turned around and called out to some soldiers standing off to the side. “Bring our new flag over, please.”

The soldiers, chuckling, brought a rolled up flag over and helped Elizabeth to unfurl it. As they did so, Frances saw her friends were all grinning or looking rather amused for some reason.

The flag was blue, and made up of stitched together lengths of wagon canvas and spare cloth. On the white field of the canvas, was a blue lightning bolt streaking across it.

“We decided on the Lightning Battalion because every single one of our fights seem to include you throwing lightning at things. What do you think?”

Frances couldn’t help it. A grin split her face as she examined the flag. “I love it.”