If ever there was a twist of fate worthy of a ballad, it is the story of Pallus Parn. Imagine this: a young hero, destined for greatness, apprenticed under the legendary Marteen the Scythe in the art of swordplay. Picture him honing his tactical prowess under the watchful eyes of both Jevin the Fallen and Ela the Huntress. And if that weren’t enough, envision him soaking in the subtleties of political maneuvering from his very own father, the venerable Chancellor Parn. Upon their triumphant return, everyone expected Hero Parn to take his rightful place as the regent to the princess, perhaps even her betrothed. It seemed the stage was set for a tale of noble ascension. But then, our hero made the curious decision to lead the Crystal Guard. Yes, most hailed it as a fitting honor, but my dears, I always suspected otherwise. Why, you ask? What prompted such a move? Whispers in the corridors suggest a connection to the enigmatic disappearance of Hero Acciaio. – Irjin Tindi, society matron, excerpt from an interview for “The Lisandra Times”
SASHA
Sasha poured herself a cup of tea as she focused on composing herself. The range of the siege engines shocked all those in the Golden Observatory. As soon as he realized what the Purists were attempting, Pallus sent a runner to the Sacellum to ask the Suprema if the Aponte Wall could be damaged by those large metal balls. Of course, Pallus wouldn’t have needed to send a runner if one of the Heads – or the Suprema herself – were in the Golden Observatory with them.
“What is that damned fool doing?” Pallus asked through gritted teeth.
“Who?” asked Sasha.
“Marteen. He’s taking a piddling force against those trebuchets,” Pallus said.
“She’s confused as well,” Sasha said. She motioned to where the Edess Kul stood watching the battle from a hastily erected observation tower. The woman’s face was hidden by her trademark black mask, but the body language betrayed her consternation.
“She’s going to send that force Marteen, Kurt, and Rin were trailing up the Boulevard of Light,” Pallus said.
“What makes you say that?” Sonya asked.
“They are the only Purists with muskets,” Pallus answered. “The boulevard is wide enough they can form up proper firing lines. She can march those troops all the way to the Aponte Wall because they will tear through any of Marteen’s cobbled together forces.”
“If she does that, her forces will get too close to the Mareian merchant ships at the docks,” Princess Illana said.
“She may not believe they will involve themselves in an Imperial fight. Or her troops can weather what those merchants can unleash.” Sasha smiled at Pallus’s annoyed tone.
“Try not to let your prejudices show,” she whispered into his ear.
“Everything those Mareians do for us will be a favor owed. And we both know how the Mareians feel about people owing them favors.”
“Please don’t say that where Rin can hear. The last thing we need is the two of you bickering again,” the princess said. The girl was getting far too good at walking quietly.
“With all due respect, your highness, Rin and I would never let our ‘bickering’ interfere with our duty,” Pallus said.
“The two of you certainly had enough practice at bickering while fighting,” Sasha said, with a hint of laughter in her voice. Pallus glared at Sasha, but it only made her laugh.
“Now is not the time for rehashing old disagreements,” Pallus said.
“Lady Sonya, I don’t feel right,” Princess Illana said. Sasha whirled around at the princess’s tone just in time to see her collapse into her chair. Sasha dashed across the Observatory to the princess’s side.
“What happened?” Sasha asked as she did a quick examination. The girl didn’t wince in pain, but she looked pale.
“I don’t know. It was like all my strength evaporated,” Princess Illana said. She tried to rise but fell back into her chair exhausted.
“Get the princess to her rooms now!” Pallus commanded the Crystal Guards in the Observatory. “Call for a cleric to meet you in her rooms.”
“No, I need to be here,” Princess Illana said through gasps of air.
“Your highness, you can barely sit up,” Sasha said. “You’ve never had something like this happen to you before, and suddenly you go weak right when the Purists show up?”
“But Rin,” the princess protested.
“When he returns, we’ll send him to you,” Pallus said. He looked at Sasha. “You best go with her.”
“What about the battle?” Sasha asked.
“I would welcome your presence and your advice here, but the princess must come first.” Sasha pushed down the flutter from Pallus’s words. How many times had she wanted to hear that kind of sentiment from Marteen? Wished Marteen would look at her like Pallus was looking at her at that moment?
“Thank you,” Sasha said, as tenderly as she could manage. She followed the Crystal Guardsman who carried the princess down to the Imperial Quarters.