“Pelirise, the city of sun and skin. Or so they say. If Atharemine is famous for its thermal baths, Pelirise is renowned for the terraces, the beaches and the lightly clothed women. Hah ! Are there people who actually believe that ? Pelirise is located in the damn north, like every other Free City. What could have made people think that it was all sunny and hot there, I wonder. Oh, there are terraces alright, but the sun rarely shines upon them. Most of the time, terraces are only good for getting soaked by the rain or covered in snow. I tell you, you'd have better chances finding bare skinned women in Atharemine's thermal baths. Which means you won't, either way.

-disappointed tourist”

* * *

Azcheron

“I hate you.”

Erin didn't answer. Azcheron was sure that if he turned his head and took Erin's helmet off, he'd be met with a gleeful smirk of hers.

“I shall behead you one day,” he insisted.

Perhaps she snickered, perhaps she didn't, he couldn't hear because of the sound of the galloping horses.

“But if the lady beheads her beloved knight, who is going to protect her ?” she asked mockingly after a short silence.

The lady – that would be Azcheron, dressed as a noble daughter, a girlish hairdo under his hood – was riding with the beloved knight – that would be Erin, fully armoured to hide her gender –, leaning against the manly cuirass, embraced by the strong arms of the knight.

Officially, a clever disguise to hide Azcheron and Erin's movements from potential Imperial spies, now that Karia was probably aware of their identity. In truth, nothing but a shameful position for someone as prideful as the Saint, and the result of a petty revenge from a spiteful woman. A nasty business about clothing.

We should have gone with the merchant disguise. It works fine as it is, no need for this lady nonsense. But everyone insisted that we should go with Erin's stupid idea. As if they all were plotting against me.

Azcheron and Erin were riding toward Pelirise, accompanied by Rudolph, Vraxil, Saraela and men of the city watch. The Saint had insisted that it would be better to defeat Karia before Atharemine got sieged, away from the city of possible, because a magical battle between them could get messy and rather dangerous for the city and its population. At the same time, Sazael's spies reported that the Great Sorceress and her army had departed from the border to attack Pelirise, exactly as as she told Azcheron and Erin.

Karia would take a bit less than a week to reach the sun goddess' city, whereas Azcheron's party would do the trip in a couple of days. They decided to have their battle with the Imperial army at Pelirise – a much more suitable location for defending against Karia, because it had strong fortifications and was surrounded by water –, merging Atharemine's city watch with Pelirise's army. The risk to see Atharemine attacked while the city watch sent its soldiers away was very low, because Karia's army could get pincered if Pelirise's forces – which were much more numerous than Atharemine's – attacked it from behind while they were busy with the walls.

Sure, Karia was a terrifying mage that could survive being surrounded by two armies, but she wouldn't risk losing too many of her men for nothing. She'd prefer to crush the cities one by one because she had precisely the power to do so. That was what Azcheron believed anyway.

And she won't find out in time that I, the Rahal Saint, have turned against her ! I am a strategical genius. I was born with talent, he smiled to himself proudly.

“I can hear you praising yourself in your mind,” Erin suddenly said.

Azcheron was shocked. “Huh ?”

“I can see your abominable smile in my gauntlets' reflection.”

“You really have to break my happiness, eh ? Having me wearing this pretty girlish cloak isn't enough to quench your desire to humiliate me.”

“Do you want your plan to work or what ? This disguise is the best way to trick Karia's spies.”

Azcheron snorted and sunk back in his own thoughts, away from Erin's revengeful harassment. In truth, he wasn't trying to protect Atharemine, by fighting Karia elsewhere, for noble reasons. Pelirise could very well suffer greatly from their magic clashing and he couldn't care less. No, it had more to do with his handsome reward.

The more people left alive after the war, the better it'll be for me ! If possible, I shall also try to save as many citizens of Pelirise as I can.

That was the main motive. He didn't even know if his reasoning for having the fight at Pelirise made sense strategically speaking, but apparently it did, since they were currently moving an army according to his plan.

Maybe I really am a genius at warfare... Heh, as if.

These days, strategies and tactics were outdated and unfashionable anyway. The cool thing to do now was to send very powerful mages, large armies and big catapults, in order to crush everything with the power of... power. So much power that there wasn't any need to think. That was more or less Karia's strategy : an absence of strategy and an abundance of firepower, manpower, and plain power.

The worst thing was that it really worked well. And Azcheron would do the same thing against her. The strongest of the two would win, the other would perish. Of course, he had no doubt that he'd be the one to stand at the end.

“What was the 'handsome reward' you discussed of with lord Sazael ?” Erin wondered.

Azcheron scoffed. “You're rather talkative for someone so spiteful and vindictive !”

“I think you are the one with the grudge, now.”

“Pfah. Do you really want to know about my bargain with Sazael ? I think... you'll find it very noble and reasonable.”

She grumbled. “...Does that mean I'll want to hit you once I've heard it ?”

“Maybe.”

She kept silent, probably thinking she'd spoil her mood and her revenge by hearing something grotesque. In truth however, Sazael had truly struck a good deal. Contrary to his expectations, Azcheron wasn't asking for riches, properties or women.

Money, I can win at tournaments or extort from someone wealthy. Castles and lands, I can conquer or steal. And women... Well, I have Erin ? Does it count ?

What he asked for was something he could not gain directly by himself. And his demands were certainly not noble, but they were at least reasonable, considering he'd be saving the north, not just Atharemine.

The demon lord had thrown a condition in the deal, which Azcheron accepted easily. That was to protect his daughter Saraela at all costs. It turned out that the captain of the city watch, despite her initial fear, was very eager to clash swords with the Imperial soldiers, and upon learning that Atharemine wouldn't see any fighting, she decided to go personally to Pelirise. Not that she would make a real difference among all her men – she knew that, of course, but she insisted. So Sazael made this small request.

Whatever Saraela's motives were, whether it was a moral thing, an emotional thing, it didn't matter to Azcheron. As long as she didn't do anything stupid, he or Erin would have no trouble keeping her alive. Probably. Not that anyone here had ever been in a war, aside from a few people like Rudolph. But Azcheron was confident in his ability to kill, and in Erin's. After all, protection merely amounted to killing enemies before they killed the target, right ?

For now, they were travelling in separate small groups through the forest. Once they arrived at Pelirise, they'd have to meet with the local ruler and organize things a bit. And maybe offer to actively protect the town in exchange for... more handsome rewards.

* * *

The next day, Pelirise came within sight. Azcheron understood immediately why his proposal was accepted without much opposition : the city of the sun deity was more of a fortress than a town.

It was built in the middle of a large river. Surrounded by water, the only entrance was via a long, heavily defended bridge. The ramparts made of ochre and orange bricks were tall and sturdy, and towers, machicolations, murder holes, arrow slits were waiting anyone who'd dare approach on a boat. Azcheron had no idea how it would fare against Karia's magic, but clearly her soldiers would be met with a colossal challenge.

A tall, square castle was shooting upward from the city's centre, providing a second stronghold in case the city walls were breached. Some sort of pillars stood on the top of the keep, in place of the roof. Pelirise was smaller than Atharemine, and felt very reminiscent of the Imperial western fortress overall, even though their respective purpose had nothing in common.

“It's my first time seeing a city built on water,” Azcheron said.

“I've seen some, but this one surely looks impregnable,” Erin observed. “I can see why Pelirise would stay idle. They must feel rather safe in these walls.”

Saraela's horse slowed down and came next to Erin's. “The river freezes in winter, allowing raids of bandits to attack the walls, and when it floods, the bridge and some parts of the city can get submerged.”

“Hm. Then they must feel unsafe ?” Erin corrected herself.

Saraela shrugged. “Actually, the bandits never manage to breach or climb the walls, and the people here are usually prepared for the floods. They keep a lot of provisions at all times in case they lose the bridge or get sieged. As far as outside threats are concerned, it is a safe city overall. Safer than Atharemine, I reckon.”

Azcheron whistled. “I'm impressed. For the proud captain of Atharemine's city watch to admit such a thing, it truly must be a marvellous city.”

She frowned, but soon her exasperated expression became one of uneasiness. “A marvellous city, you say... It certainly was...”

“It was, huh.” Erin stressed, as if meaning for Saraela to continue.

“Well, Pelirise is currently ruled by queen Jacille, and-”

“Queen ?” Azcheron interrupted. They'd have to meet her if they were going to plan the defence against Karia. He needed to learn about his allies, just in case.

“...Yes. Jacille has crowned herself queen ever since she became the ruler. She... is a complicated person. She didn't inherit her predecessor's talent for ruling, to say the least.”

“Great,” Erin grumbled. “We love complicated people, don't we...”

Azcheron had the annoying feeling that her remark was targeted at him, but he displayed no reaction. He wouldn't do her the pleasure to show his self-consciousness.

They passed the bridged and entered the city, under the stares of a bunch of sentinels and battle mages. They didn't arrive unannounced, of course – the alliance proposal had already been accepted by Jacille – but the guards were wary nonetheless. Seems like they're ready for Karia's army, eh ?

Inside, however, the population didn't seem to be expecting a war anytime soon. People were still attending to their business and their everyday lives. Perhaps they were confident in their city's defences. Perhaps they weren't even informed that an army was marching toward Pelirise. Perhaps they were simply easy-going and nonchalant. It was the city of sun and summer, after all.

Saraela garrisoned her troops in the city, leaving Vraxil in charge, and then led Azcheron, Erin and Rudolph to the castle. To most of the group, this meeting was about making battle plans and strategies. The Saint went there with the intent of discussing a proper reward, though. He couldn't care less about strategy at the moment, he felt he was beyond such earthly matters.

They climbed the many steps leading to the castle gates. Inside, they were met with more stairs, and... columns. Noticing a trend here... Apparently they weren't going to meet with the queen in the audience hall, or so Saraela explained.

“The summer altar ?” Erin inquired, repeating Saraela's words.

“It's located at the top of the castle, maybe you saw it when we arrived.”

“Oh,” Azcheron exclaimed, “I remember.”

“It's where queen Jacille makes... sacrifices to the goddess. To honour Pelirise and ask for sunlight and summer through the year.”

Everyone kept silent. Sacrifices, hmm ? Maybe the Imperial propaganda isn't all lies and untruths. Eventually, they reached the highest floor, and were asked to wait in front of some massive, dark red painted doors.

“Queen Jacille will receive you shortly,” a servant announced. “She is overseeing a ceremony and wishes not to be disturbed.”

As they waited, the silence was broken by noises and screams coming from the other side of the door. Those are clearly the sounds of someone being dismembered, Azcheron thought. There was no doubt, he remembered how it sounded when Mirna was ripping off the limbs of the mercenaries on the island. And then there was an incongruous, childish laugh.

Curious, Azcheron turned to Saraela. But she was staring at the ground, as if she already knew what to expect and refused to speak of it. Erin was frowning, and even Rudolph looked disturbed by the laugh.

While they were pondering about this ceremony, the doors opened, revealing one last flight of stairs leading upward, to an luminous opening. Once they climbed, they were standing in the summer altar. A flat, slabbed roof with several tall columns on the edges. Nothing else separated the altar from the gaping void – a deadly fall toward the city's grounds. The sun coming through the pillars was somewhat blinding, but nobody could fail to see the bodies nailed against the stone columns.

Human bodies.

At the centre of the altar, a procession of people dressed like priests, with golden and red robes. Once they noticed Azcheron's group, they vacated the altar after bowing to the two remaining figures. An old lady and a young girl turning her back to everyone.

Saraela neared the girl and bowed. “Queen Jacille.”

The girl was apparently busy with something, and didn't answer. The old lady spoke in her stead.

“Captain Saraela, it is good to see you again. The queen gives you her sincere apologies for the delay, but the ceremony couldn't be interrupted,” the lady said in a slightly uneasy voice.

“I understand, counsellor Yva,” she replied in an equally timid tone, glancing at the girl. She turned her head and motioned for the group to approach, before introducing them.

Needless to say, these introductions were merely etiquette. Counsellor Yva was probably already aware of their identities, since she was obviously the one in charge here. They all looked at the girl, waiting for her to finish whatever she was doing, and Azcheron realized that she had been groping a corpse all this time.

“My queen,” Yva said, “you will stain your clothes at this rate, and you have guests.”

“Clothes... Clothing ! Aunt Yva, what is the most fitting clothing ?” the queen asked, finally showing her face as she turned toward the counsellor. The girl was barely nine or ten year-old, covered in blood and displaying a smile that led to believe she was highly lacking in sanity.

“I'm afraid I do not know.”

“Human clothes, of course !” the girl exclaimed as she carved out the ribcage of the corpse and tried to wear it like a coat. “Oh ?”

She seemed to have finally taken notice of Azcheron and the others. She glanced at Saraela, gave her a nod and a smile, then stared blankly at the Saint, Erin and Rudolph.

“...Humans. Humans ? Aunt Yva, there are Imperial spies in my castle ! AUNT YVA ! YOU TOLD ME WE SACRIFICED THEM ALL ! YOU LIED !”

And she started to cry. Counsellor Yva rolled her eyes, sighed, and crouched to pat queen Jacille's back. “Here, here.” Yva grimaced as she realized she was patting the ribcage-coat, instead of the girl. “They aren't Imperial spies, I promise you, my queen. You executed all the spies, rest assured. Look, they're all here, on the columns. The villains, all dead ! These humans, here, are nice humans, they shall help you defend your people. They mean no harm to demons, see ?”

“You promise ?” the queen managed to ask between two sobs.

“I swear it before the goddess Pelirise and the other deities. Now, wipe your tears, my queen, and greet your guests.” Queen Jacille nodded and made a curtsey in front of Azcheron's group. Seeing the uneasy looks she received, she proceeded to awkwardly shake the hand of each human, one by one.

Is this supposed to be an Imperial custom ? Trying to befriend us, maybe ?

Azcheron could hear Erin gritting her teeth. Her expression betrayed her cringing and frustration. As for him, he didn't really know what to make of the queen. She obviously had a large quantity of screws loose, but setting her dubious mental prowess aside, her genuineness was somewhat touching. Perhaps she had a difficult childhood. Perhaps she was ill ?

The human coat was still creepy, though.

“Now,” Yva said as she walked toward the red gates, “I would like to hold a war council while we still have time before the Great Sorceress attacks.”

“I agree,” Saraela replied, waving for her companions to follow inside.

Queen Jacille ran alongside the two demons. “We should use the walls to protect the city and kill all the enemies !” she said, brimming with confidence.

“...Yes, my queen. That was my opinion as well,” Yva answered flatly. The queen seemed overjoyed to hear her counsellor acquiesce.

As Azcheron and Rudolph walked behind Saraela, the queen and her advisor, the Saint noticed that Erin was dragging her feet, looking dejected. He waited for her to catch up, and she finally bothered to speak.

“This is not going to work, I tell you.”

Azcheron grinned. “It'll work. We'll make it work.”

Erin exhaled deeply and followed Azcheron into the castle, leaving behind the sunny altar and the nailed bodies.