XXIX. Battle of Mice

Aichlan pushed open the massive double doors to the palace colonnade, Laelianus and his Generals paused and turned to face him, they were already halfway down the grand corridor. The winter's sun had pierced the veil of clouds and bathed the passage in heavenly light from the wall of windows, the Generals squinted to see the figure that had emerged unannounced.

“Ah, Aichlan. Why are you here?” Laelianus asked with a frown, handing a document back to his officer.

Aichlan stormed down the hall to join the king and his council, Alice right behind him as Eth ambled in, shutting the door behind him.

“What is the meaning of this Laelianus?”

Laelianus sighed, resting his hand on his bejeweled sword pommel. “My friend, such informal greetings are fine in private, but I must insist that you refer to me by title in present company.”

“Why is it that my duels were postponed? Why are your armies mobilizing?”

“Such impudence!” Some nameless, red faced noble spat, though did not step from behind his king.

Laelianus held up his hand for the man to be silent. “Reports have come from those scouting the Sorn border, a force of man and beast approaches, they are but days away.”

“Why did you not extend me the courtesy of this knowledge, your majesty?”

“You said you were leaving,” Laelianus offered a smug grin and opened his arms in an ostensibly magnanimous gesture, “besides, I will not leave my capital cities defense in the hands of some rag-tag band of elf and criminals. You I trust, despite your many shortcomings. The offer still stands; I could use your expertise in the coming siege.”

Aichlan grimaced at the faux sincerity and devilish grin, Laelianus wanted a victory, to be able to have Aichlan on a leash safely under his control. “I shall respectfully decline.”

Genuine hurt followed by the twitch of a bruised ego crossed the king's face at the rebuff. “Aichlan, I know well enough that that only means you intend to march your forces regardless of what I say. However, the fact that your armies are recognized by the Briternica alliance, does not give them free reign through my kingdom.”

The doors opened and a procession of handmaidens entered, though odd, no one paid them any mind. Aichlan readied his rebuttal as one of Laelianus’ officers marched over to shoo the women away.

“Unless of course he served under a member of the royal family.”

All heads turned as Aislyn stepped out front the center of the entourage, dressed in a flowing silk gown of crimson, her hair and makeup done in the flamboyant fashion of Marquez aristocracy. Her jewelry was large and expensive, her handmaidens plentiful. Aichlan swore, wondering where the hell she got the money to purchase off of the finery she word and why she was even at the palace to begin with.

“Aislyn? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Why, this is my home General, and I am in your debt for returning me.” Aislyn paused and placed her finger to her chin in thought. “Though given my treatment upon the pirate’s vessels, I should consider us even.”

“Princess Dorso,” Laelianus stammered, his face flushed red. “I am relieved to see you well; I only wish I were made aware of your presence beforehand so a proper homecoming could be arranged.” He shot Aichlan a look of pure loathing and anger.

“Why are you looking at me?” Aichlan replied, equally flummoxed. “I knew of her as a stowaway, not royalty.”

“Do not blame Aichlan Laelianus, after my father’s illness took a turn for the worse with that nun’s dismissal, I went after her. It is good to see that you wasted little time in filling the void of power at his passing.”

Laelianus clicked his rings against the pommel of his sword, looking from Aislyn to Aichlan and back again. If she was indeed the princess, and there was no reason to doubt her claims now, she could sponsor the army giving them much needed support.

“…they cannot fly under our flag princess, they are commoners and foreigners. There is not a noble among them; we cannot even hire them as mercenaries. Aichlan’s standing in The Order only goes so far, and he forsake his title when he joined. You must understand what it would do to morale if such time-honored traditions were suddenly abandoned, that would imply we face defeat and the ensuing pandemonium would be catastrophic. As it stands, we are not on the verge of defeat, but rather we stand ready to conquer.”

“And when is the last time anyone adhered to those ancient laws Laelianus? This obstinacy is unbecoming.”

“Regardless, the laws must be upheld, this world is not completely lost to savagery.” Laelianus retorted.

“Flimsy pretexts aside your majesty, say that there was a noble within General Aichlan’s forces?”

Laelianus looked to Alice as if noticing her for the first time, despite the fact that she was at Aichlan’s side for the entirety of the exchange. “And who is this?”

“Alice Templeton, daughter of Duke Briartach. I am the ‘noble’ of this army, an army that flies the Aes Sidhean flag and bears my family seal.” Alice retrieved a silver ring with emerald settings around a white memory stone from her pocket, thrusting itat Laelianus as Aichlan stood silent and bewildered.

“I trust this shall suffice in verifying my identity, your highness. My father is no doubt on the alliance council, feel free to contact him.”

Laelianus snatched the ring and placed it to his temple. “Why did you not mention any of this beforehand?”

“I did not believe the kingdom of Duvachellé to be so backwards as it were, do you doubt my authority?”

“No Lady Templeton,” Laelianus begrudgingly admitted as he returned the ring. “Your reputation precedes you, this is not the first time you’ve graced my fair city. But that changes your armies standing, no longer under the mercenary guilds protective umbrella; you are a foreign army in my kingdom.”

“As my escorts.” Aislyn quickly added.

Laelianus laughed aloud, much to Aislyn’s resentment. “Even I wouldn’t require an army for so short a journey Aislyn. There are customs to be followed, times have not changed so much with the arrival of this Xanavien menace that we should forget honor and—”

“Bollocks, do not feign such intentions when you yourself do not believe them to be true.” Alice flipped her hair. “You can’t lie to both us and yourself and expect either one to fall for it.”

Laelianus ground his teeth, his patience taxed to its limits. He glared at Alice for several moments before making his exit, choosing to ignore the comment for the time being. He stopped as he passed Aichlan and locked eyes with him. He stepped forward, leaning into Aichlan to whisper into his ear.

“…Let this go. Go if you must, but I cannot allow this joint venture that you seek. You and yours may stay till the winter festival, in fact I insist upon it. However, what you must do is drop this subject and fall into line as your standing so entails. Now return to your lavishly furnished room, go out and enjoy Marquez whores, or eat some of our world-renowned cuisine. I care not, but leave me to my duties and we shall discuss yours at a later date.”

Aichlan recognized that their eccentric relationship had reached its limit. “What the hell is this about Laelianus?”

Laelianus placed a hand on Aichlans shoulder and squeezed, perhaps harder than he intended. “Much more than either of us could hope to understand or stand against.”

Aichlan nodded as he stepped back. The king had been uncharacteristically obstinate from the start. Aichlan had expected some grandstanding and stolen credit for battle plans and the like, but the outright stonewalling was something his sometimes friend felt was beneath him. For Laelianus to make such an admission meant it was serious indeed. Still, Aichlan was unwilling to concede entirely.

“Do you accept Duchess Templeton and Princess Aislyn’s terms and definitions of the military force currently garrisoned in Marquez?”

Laelianus’ face flushed in anger before he took a deep breath to regain composure. “Quite shrewd indeed, but do not refer to it as a ‘garrison’, you are here as it was my will for you to be here. Do not forget this.”

Laelianus spun around, snapping his cape as he and his generals continued on their way. Aichlan let out a sigh of relief, though it could hardly be called a victory, it was something. At least now his army could operate in Duvachellé should the need arise, which it inevitably would, and he could prove his armies worth upon the battlefield and silence all opposition.

“Ugh, what a contemptible liege that man is. I’ve met many an ill-tempered lord and lady in my day, all bull headed in one form or another, but his obstinacy is without equal. You’d think the world wasn’t at stake.”

“Thank you Alice.”

Alice smiled as she returned her documents to their place. “No thank you, for I am now this army’s commander-in-chief.”

“Very funny Alice,” Aichlan laughed, becoming painfully aware that she was as well.

“Aichlan, she’s right, and I am your host. You’re kind of at our whims as it were.” Aislyn added, failing to contain her giggles.

Aichlan’s smile faded immediately. “You jest…”

“No General and I am going to incorporate some new units into our army. I found a group of mages stranded after the war, they were living as urchins and as their leader—“

“Leader? Alice you can’t lead a bloody choir!”

“First off you’re being an ass; second, leading a choir is a difficult task. Besides, I hadn’t planned on taking over in the tactical department; I’ll just be a figure head. But I will be incorporating some new blood into this army.”

“Alice,” Aichlan sighed, trying to keep his temper from flaring. “Enemies approach, they could be here tomorrow.”

“Laelianus has always been a manipulative asshole, he will fail,” Aislyn stood between the two, halting any further bickering.

“And when he does I need for you to save him. I agree with your methods Aichlan, Osric must be stopped with the Black Gate closed and sealed. Laelianus has always thirsted for power, a slave to his own ambitions. Someone has hold of his strings, no doubt he willingly handed them over.”

Aislyn leaned against the windowsill and surveyed the city below. Aichlan still had a hard time imagining this woman as a princess, she seemed far too worldly, whereas there were people in his camp that were from far more common ancestry that needed primping constantly. She was also insightful; Laelianus was not working upon his own accord, and Aichlan felt she even knew who held his strings. Someone was orchestrating him, and Aichlan did not fit into their plans. Due to Duvachellé’s customs, he had been guaranteed the throne as the former king had no male heir, however his ascension seemed rather rapid from Aichlan’s understanding. The king was two days cold and not yet buried, and Laelianus already wore the crown.

“As far as I am concerned, this palace is still my home, you are welcome to anything and everything. I only ask that you not tell anyone, especially not Odell and Madden. I will tell them over dinner, I just need time to think of how. I will send someone to alert you of the time and place, now if you’ll excuse me.”

Aislyn and her entourage left the same way they came, leaving Aichlan, Alice and Eth alone in the cavernous hall. The only sound between them was the winter birdsongs and the distant sound of music in the adjacent wing.

“So, whit the hell were ye talkin’ about? Seein’ as I’m the only one who daen’t speak that lamia tongue.”

Aichlan headed for the door, clasping Eth on the shoulder as he made his exit. “Not much at all. The rest of the day is yours, try and stay out of trouble?”

“You should do the same Aichlan, no more picking fights.” Alice teased as she playfully jabbed Aichlan in the chest.

Eth stretched and cracked his knuckles. “Why the hell do ye let her boss you around?”

“Because my friend, she is now in charge.” Aichlan left with a smile as Eth stood mouth ajar in shock.

“Blimey, I need someone tae teach me this Elysian shit before we end up light knows where!”