<u>Chapter 45 - Treachery</u>


    A sheet of ice hid the waters of Blackridge River. Cracks marked the surface. Elizia rubbed her hands and blew between them as Faren led her company across a stone bridge wide enough for five horses to stand abreast. She led the rearguard battalion next, using her sharp sight to keep a lingering watch on the horizon behind her, wary of a treacherous attack from Torsdale. She wasn''t expecting it, but caution never killed anyone.


    Smoke from the Corpsefire still climbed from far in the distance, thin now and seeming innocent as if coming from a baker''s chimney. That fire had been burning for hours. The sun was now fully in the west and slowly sinking, and yet, not even a brick of coal had been spared.


    Should have just accepted the betrothal and found an excuse to break it later.


    Elizia shook her head. Those thoughts were of a weak will readily influenced by mere cold. A commander needed to keep a straight mind at all times. Just like father. He wouldn''t ever breakdown in the midst of war no matter the situation. Elizia was only having weak thoughts because her ears felt numb even hidden beneath her hood, and that was making her head ache. Not to mention how pale and ghastly her skin was getting.


    Maybe it wouldn''t have been so bad. Luka Galadin was kind enough. Perhaps his younger brother would be the same? Marriage was still a responsibility to carry on the mainline of House Serene. Marrying into a powerful family like the Galadins would solidify the ties between them and her own House. A proper political marriage that would give Elizia some degree of control over the Iron Mines and allow Arcaeus to strengthen their position along the borders with cheaper supplies.


    It would require Elizia to bear two children though, one to be raised as an heir to House Serene and the other for House Galadin. If she married nobility from a minor house, the man would be the one to change their family name to Serene. That would have also been the case for House Galadin, since it was their second son in question, but their eldest was not likely to produce any heirs. That made Edvard, Luka''s younger brother, in line to inherit the title of ''lord''.


    "Emeria''s birthday must be near," Azurus said, riding beside her. He rode more often with her than he did with one of three battalions of the unit. Likely something Faren had suggested. Azurus wouldn''t be gaining much field experience as a commander like this, but Elizia hadn''t suggested otherwise. She''d really begun to enjoy his company.


    "Did you get her anything?" she asked, regretting having done so almost immediately. Of course he wouldn''t have. When could he possibly have had the time? She turned to him to apologize but saw the ends of his mouth curl up. It was… odd? He hadn''t smiled much of late and seeing that made her feel happy too.


    Someone to love… And here she was thinking of a political marriage. But maybe she could fall in love after the marriage. Maybe Edvard Galadin was honorable and ''handsome'', Elizia almost blurted aloud as Azurus turned to her, pale blue eyes locked with hers. She realized she''d been staring. Was she projecting his image on that of another? She turned her focus back forward as Valor''s hooves clopped on the stone of the bridge. She felt a rising heat in her cheeks.


    "I did actually," Azurus said. "A circlet I purchased from a peddler I met while riding for the capital."


    An almost immediate pang of pain flashed through her chest and disappeared just as quick. She huffed, letting out a cloud that fogged her eyes before blinking it away. Elizia tugged at the top of her hood and pretended to act cold while hiding her blushing face. She wasn''t jealous. It was just the ache at the sides of her head that made her think strange. Besides, it was wholly wrong to covet something that belonged to her friend. She risked a glance at Azurus. He was tapping the side of his horse''s pack. Probably where he kept the circlet. Probably imagining how Emeria looked wearing it, a lovesick grin still on his face.


    Elizia sighed, letting out another vapor plume. She''d begun desiring something akin to a relationship more and more of late. And a subconscious part of her was seeking that from the young knight, seeing as how he was the only male friend she had around her age.


    Valor made it past the bridge. The rest of the rearguard crossed soon after. Elizia turned to check behind her. Still no sign of a backstab attempt. Evening neared and she wondered if it would be wise to call for an early camp. A fresh water source was available to her but the knowledge of enemies ahead and a potential threat from behind gave her pause. Being caught in a pincer with a frigid river between was the last thing she needed. She hadn''t bothered driving the unit hard this time around either, wanting both horses and soldiers in good fighting condition should the need arise when a land advantage was not on their side.


    A rider galloped backwards towards her. "Lady Elizia!" the man cried. She recognized the middle aged man as Benj, one of the first soldiers of Sar''tara''s unit —originally a squad of five hundred. "Enemy camp spotted ahead!" Benj said, rearing his horse beside the line of three soldiers riding abreast to her left. "They''re in position to fight and all armed, but on foot. Lieutenant Faren says there''s no need for us to engage now and that we''d be better seeking safer ground with our mounts. He wants your orders."


    "How many?" Elizia asked.


    "Similar in number to us but, er… armed as I said. Well-armed. Not something our light cavalry can recklessly charge. A few hundred peasants but the rest seem proper soldiers with lean builds from what I was able to glean with my spyglass.”A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Elizia frowned, thinking for a second. Her nails dug into the leather of Valor''s reins as she became increasingly frustrated. Luka reported a contingent of about a thousand from Torsdale that had ridden out. These were mere footmen. But from where would such a large amount of experienced soldiers come from? Legions of the Astral Union that had snuck in perhaps? "Banners?" she asked.


    "The same," said Benj. "Burning Lotus."


    Azurus tensed at that. He always seemed on edge when seeing the lotus of House Lakris burning. It was the official flag of the rebellion it seemed. The deposing of House Lakris as House Zz''tai was deposed before them. Wouldn''t that give me a claim to the throne if this rebellion succeeds? She shuddered at the thought. She wasn''t ready for such a responsibility. She didn''t think she''d ever be ready for it. Besides, Dahlia and Emeria would need to either be killed or captured for that to happen. That would mean both Sir Aegis and Elizia''s father would fail in their tasks of protecting the royal family. Unthinkable.


    "We can try riding around them and put their backs to the river," Azurus said. "That makes sure they can''t advance further and burn farms and small villages. Or even recruit from them if that''s where the peasant portion of the army is coming from."


    Elizia twisted her mouth. She looked around, though not sure for what. The sky was turning orange. Engaging now with night so close was not something she wanted. And if the enemy unit was as armed as Benj suggested, then her unit''s harass and run tactics would be near useless. Arrows on heavy armor would be like buzzing flies with some hornets mixed in for the occasional shaft that found a weak spot. "We can''t much blame peasants for joining their cause," she said.


    "No. Not when a sizeable force arrives at your village. The threat alone is enough to convince them to join," Azurus said, pinching between his eyes. He was still plagued by the farmers he''d mercilessly slain. "This is the same force we''ve been tracking for a while, isn''t it, scoutsman Benj?"


    Benj nodded. "The same. I wouldn''t mistake them."


    "And were they as well armed as they are now when last you saw them?"


    "Er, no, Sir Azurus."


    Elizia breathed through her teeth as she squeezed the reins in her hands. "That whoreson! Jasim Galadin is selling arms to the rebels to profit off the civil war!" The soldiers around her muttered curses of their own. "Riding around would put their backs to the river, but that exposes our flank to the riders that had sent out from Torsdale. Assuming this is all for profit, five thousand of our horses and a few dozen wagons is worth a fortune."


    Especially when so many of the horses were of the expensive desert breed. Elizia rubbed Valor''s neck. She couldn''t imagine him under another master.


    "Should we return and seek refuge in the city?" Azurus asked. "I don''t think Lord Galadin would dare attack the Silver Eagle banners in plain sight of the citizens."


    "And then what?" she said, glaring at the knight. "That''d be playing into his hands. I would rather not be indebted to him." Yet, that seemed the safest option. She was the commander. She had to consider what was right for the lives of her men as well.


    But I promised father I''d succeed. I promised to make mother proud. Against a legion of heavy infantry and the possible threat of a thousand enemy riders. And dusk quick to approach. Think, El, think! What would father or Rask do if they were here?


    "We could… take Torsdale," Azurus said softly. "Accuse Jasim of treason maybe."


    She frowned his way. Never did she expect such words from him of all people. Azurus who she saw as a depiction of justice. Was this still the same man that had sworn to protect the people of Xenaria? The same man that was breaking and crying because of the lives fate had forced him to take in the name of duty? "That was a dark joke, Azurus. Really dark." He turned his head away. "Benj, tell Lieutenant Faren he can continue. We will position ourselves around these enemies, but make sure there is a wide distance between us. I doubt they''ll attack us at night. And I want an ample network of scouts watching for riders from Torsdale that might be looking to stab us in the back!"


    Benj nodded and galloped off. Elizia left the rearguard to Azurus now that she didn''t think it necessary to keep glancing back. At least two miles were kept between her riders and the enemy camp. She saw them standing in ranks, cautious, their armaments glimmering like gemstones as a fiery sun''s light reflected off their surface. Not even the snow blanketing the dead grass of the fields shown with such majesty. It only irritated her further. She didn''t need a monocular to know those weapons and armor were new. She lashed out with Valor''s reins, and only slowed him once reaching Faren''s side at the front.


    "I want a good five miles between us and their camp, Faren." No harm in being prepared even if she wasn''t expecting a night raid.


    "If I may, my lady, I don''t think we have the means to destroy this rebel legion. At least not without significant casualties. I predict a loss of somewhere between a fifth to two fifths and a whole host of injured who we cannot carry during winter. That''s the best case scenario. Worst case we lose even more."


    "What would you have me do?" Elizia asked.


    "Well, no one sleeps in their armor. Except perhaps the Queen''s Guard. Though, I doubt even they would wear their iron shells when nights have been exceedingly cold."


    Elizia thought long and hard. Conducting a night raid had crossed her mind. But leaving their precious supplies alone during that time? If the supplies were destroyed then, her small army was doomed. A night raid would preserve her men''s lives from a drawn out melee. A loss of supplies would kill them in the long run, but that would buy time to search for food elsewhere.


    The immediate potential to preserve her forces versus the long drawn out preservation of them. The choice was obvious. And it wasn''t like an attack from Lord Galadin''s detachment was guaranteed. She could also take precautions to hide her wagons.


    "Yes," Elizia agreed. "A night raid. This very night too. Use our superior mobility to decimate their camp and force them to run to the river. It won''t be hard to tell friend from foe if all our allies are on horseback while all of them are on foot. And we can take their supplies as well."


    "I don''t recommend focusing on their supplies," Faren said. "We''ll want to cause fire and chaos."


    Elizia nodded, though disappointed. There was much spoils to be had if they succeeded. But she didn''t have the wagons to carry so much ironware. All nearby territory was under control of High House Galadin, so she couldn''t quite trust mounds of weapons and armor to any local villages or farmsteads. She shook her head, grateful for once to the cold air clashing against her skin as Valor galloped forward. Thoughts of spoils could wait. She needed to put her full focus on the inevitable battle mere hours away.