Cull told us that the Crystal Blood would choose one of the Heroes. Something about that person being necessary to the ritual. I didn’t really pay attention to the specifics about the ritual other than my responsibilities and that of my squad. As a member of the Black, I wasn’t the fanatic like those in the Red or the rabble of followers Cull somehow pulled together over the years. We in the Black were all professional soldiers. Anyway, we’re in the chamber with the Crystal Blood on the stone table. We’re listening as the Heroes fight their way through the rabble. At least those fools were decent sword fodder. Then, one of the walls comes crashing down, and there’s this human standing up from the rubble. Before any of us can do anything, the Crystal Blood and this human lock eyes on each other. It was like time stopped and none of us could move. For the time it took for that human to walk to the Crystal Blood, everyone felt like the world was spinning around them. It was at that point that I truly believed in everything Cull had told us. – Interview with Colton Mu, the only survivor of Cull’s Black.
SASHA
Sasha – she still thought of herself as Sasha – saw Rin stiffen at her mentioning the Empire as “home.” After Selene explained what happened to Rin, Sasha half-expected the reaction. It still hurt. She kept up the pleasant facade as she cursed herself silently. If she spent just a little more time with Rin, maybe he wouldn’t have left. Maybe their lives wouldn’t have been so hard for the past decade.
Sasha’s reveille was broken by familiar high-pitched screaming. She shot a quick glance over at Ambassador Tierra, who was politely ignoring the sound of the building tantrum as they neared the sitting room. He even politely ignored the crimson flush of embarrassment highlighting Sasha’s cheeks. Sasha looked over at Rin. There was a new light in his eyes. It both worried and excited her. Perhaps Selene’s crazy idea was right.
“I don’t want to talk to the Mareians!” Princess Illana screamed at the top of her lungs. “I am going to the gardens today! I’ve been looking forward to this all morning!”
“Your highness, this is important,” Selene said, with a pleading tone. Sasha winced. She should have stayed to handle Princess Illana, but she was so impatient to see Rin again. Sasha regretted her decision. Selene was making the mistakes of someone who didn’t deal with the princess on a regular basis.
“If it’s so important, Sonya and Pallus can tell me about it when I return,” Princess Illana said, stubbornly. As Sasha, Rin, Ambassador Tierra, and Major Agnelli walked into the sitting room, Illana spun to put her back to them. Rin lost a half-step when he saw the princess. This might turn out better than she hoped, assuming the princess didn’t terminally offend the other Mareians. They could be touchy around propriety and honor.
“Your highness, Ambassador Tierra is here to discuss the Purists,” Sasha said. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t say Rin was here, but her instincts told her it was important. Princess Illana just waved at them dismissively without ever looking back at them. Ambassador Tierra kept the perfect diplomat’s face, but Sasha saw the flash of anger in Major Agnelli’s eyes at the insult. Rin stepped in front of the others. He was so focused on Illana he didn’t notice everyone else watching him.
“Illana, stop acting like this.” Rin’s hard voice cracked like a whip across the room. Princess Illana whirled around at the sound of Rin’s voice. Her blue eyes were wide with shock.
“You can’t talk to me like that,” Illana said. The words were long-ingrained reflex but lacked any of the normal vitriol. It sounded more like a plea than a command.
“Yes, I can,” Rin said, his voice softening. The room was silent as Rin and Princess Illana stared at each other. Sasha felt as if she were being physically pushed away from the intensity between the two of them. It was just like when they first laid eyes on each other.
“Rin?” Illana asked softly. From his guarded stance, Rin expected Illana to explode in fury. The soft words caught him off-guard. Sasha let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
“Um, yes,” Rin said, his voice shaky. Illana stepped closer, looking at Rin as if he was an apparition that would disappear if she made the wrong move. He kept perfectly still, as if any movement on his part would spook Illana. It was hauntingly familiar to their charming dance they did the first few days after they saved Illana from the mad cleric Cull. Both froze for a long moment. Then, Illana grabbed Rin’s jacket with tight fists.
“Where have you been?” Illana asked in that same soft tone. “No one would tell me where you were.”
“I went home to the Republic,” Rin answered. Sasha’s heart plummeted as Illana’s blue eyes flashed with a familiar anger. Maybe Kurt and Selene were wrong.
“Went home? This is your home. Lisandra is your home,” Illana said, jabbing her finger at the floor. Sasha stared at the princess in surprise. Illana was speaking firmly, not shrilly. In that moment, Illana looked more like the Empress she should have been instead of the petulant child she often was. Rin’s face grew firm.
“Illana, this city hasn’t been home to me since my parents were murdered,” Rin replied. “When we returned after rescuing you, it was made very clear to me this city was not my home. I was angry at the time, but they were right. I needed to find out what to do with my life.” Flashing blue eyes met unmoving green.
“You were supposed to be here with me,” Illana said. “That was what you needed to do with your life. You promised you would be here with me.”
“Did you keep your promise to me?” Rin asked. Illana looked like Rin slapped her.
“What do you mean?”
“You promised to be with me as well.”
“I tried,” Illana said.
"Maybe you did.” The two stared at each other for another long moment. Then both looked around like they suddenly remembered they weren’t alone.
“Illana, you need to listen to the ambassador," Rin said. Sasha held her breath as she watched Illana. Any other time, Sasha would expect to see Illana lash out at anyone who told her what to do. Instead, there was the rare look of thoughtfulness on the princess’s face.
Goddess, Sasha thought to herself, Kurt and Selene are right. When Illana let herself think before just reacting emotionally to a problem, she was frighteningly perceptive. The trick was getting her to think before she let her uncontrolled passions loose. None of them could reign in Princess Illana except on rare occasions.
“Please accept my apologies, Ambassador Tierra,” Princess Illana said, actual contrition in her voice, “I was rude, and I have no excuse for my actions. Please sit.” The princess motioned to the overstuffed chairs close to the fireplace. Years of dealing with political opposition allowed Sasha to bury her shock behind polite neutrality.
“Seeing loved ones after so many years is bound to bring up long-buried emotions,” Ambassador Tierra said, settling himself in one of the chairs. Relief flooded through Sasha as the ambassador ignored Illana’s earlier tirade. The ambassador looked over at Sasha with a slight knowing smile. Major Agnelli stood impassively at his ambassador’s shoulder. From the set of the man’s eyes, the major hadn’t forgiven the princess’s rudeness quite yet.
“True, very true, your excellency,” Sasha said, “Although it is always a pleasure to see you, I very much doubt you came just to see old friends reunite.” The ambassador’s smile faltered.
“Unfortunately, that is also true,” Ambassador Tierra said, “Hero Volker said you were informed about the Purists marching on Lisandra?” Sasha nodded. How had that rabble managed to find a couple thousand fools to attack the capital, much less getting their hands on that many muskets? The ambassador’s voice brought Sasha back from her dark thoughts.
“Through the course of our normal business in your city, the Republic became aware that some of your subjects are planning to riot sometime in the next couple of weeks. It didn’t make any sense as there didn’t seem to be any inciting incident. Then, Ranger Acciaio and Heroes Volker and Madrigal told me about the Purists marching on the city.”
“These ‘subjects’ you speak of, do you know if they are Purists?” Princess Illana asked.
“At the very least, they are Purist sympathizers, your highness,” Ambassador Tierra confirmed. “Our merchants told my staff they’ve encountered more and more who are being open with their sympathies to the Purist cause. Since my government is concerned over any event that might disrupt trade between our nations – or turn into another Night of Blood and Fire. I brought this to the Chancellor. I was hoping he would recall the Capitol Army, or at the very least, reinforce the constabulary. Unfortunately, since I would not tell your Chancellor how we came about this information, he dismissed it as rumor.” Princess Illana’s eyes flashed with anger, but her neutral face didn’t change.
“Perhaps we should discuss this with the Chancellor, your highness,” Sasha said to Princess Illana. Before the princess could answer, almost as if he was summoned, the Chancellor of the Imperial Diet strode into the room.
Chancellor Kallus Parn was dressed in a fine tunic and pants of deep blue that complimented his long, lean body. His dark brown eyes flashed with annoyance as he surveyed the gathered Heroes and Mareians, but his sharp features were the carefully schooled neutral of a veteran politician. Chancellor Parn shot Pallus a questioning look, but his son said nothing. The Chancellor’s eyes locked on Rin. The mask of neutrality slipped for just a moment. Fear sparked in the Chancellor’s eyes before he tore his gaze away from Rin and focused on Sasha.
“Well, this certainly explains how the Mareians managed to gain an audience with you, Lady Sonya. Especially after I made it clear to the ambassador that the Imperial government would not entertain their careless rumors,” Chancellor Parn said.
“The Diet is not the whole of the Imperial government, Chancellor. Further, the information Ambassador Tierra brought about pending riots is disturbing. Especially in light of reports of a two-thousand-strong army of musket-armed Purists is marching on Lisandra.” Sasha said, slipping firmly into her Lady Sonya persona.
“Ridiculous. Even if that rabble could somehow get two thousand men in one place, they certainly couldn’t form a credible army,” the chancellor said, waving his hand dismissively.
“We’ve seen them,” Kurt said.
“You saw this army? And did nothing to stop them?”
“We didn’t see their army exactly. We saw their camp near the Ghaln Mountains. Their Prior told us the army was marching on Lisandra – led by the Edess Kul.”
“And you believed him?” the chancellor asked, with the barest hint of mockery.
“We saw their camp and fought their rearguard. All of whom were armed with muskets,” Marteen answered, standing up. “If their remnants were armed with them, why wouldn’t the main force be similarly equipped?” Every so often, Marteen would speak in the professional cadence he picked up from his time in the Reclamation Army. Sasha felt the pang of pain as she saw the ghost of the man she fell in love with. If only he could keep that control when not in combat.
“So, you ran into a few men who claimed to be Purists and happened to have illegal guns,” the chancellor said. The chancellor sneered at Marteen in a way Sasha was very familiar with. “Were you even sober when you ran into these so-called Purists, Madrigal?” Much to Sasha’s surprise, it was Rin who answered.
“It was a recently used encampment for a large number of troops. The ones we fought were armed with the same kind of muskets currently being supplied to your soldiers by the Republic under the current trade treaty. Including clean marks from the official Republican Armory. That would indicate a well-organized and well-supplied force, not a rabble of rebels.” Rin and the chancellor traded intense glares for a long moment. Sasha instinctively knew something happened between the two men. When this crisis was over, she was going to find out what it was.
“Chancellor Parn, you have statements from three Heroes of the Empire informing you there is a threat to my city,” Illana said, her voice a strong and calm soprano. “Combined with what the ambassador told you about possible riots, there is enough reason to recall the Capitol Army from its training and declare a state of emergency.”
“Your highness, I understand why you would feel that way, but I disagree. Based on the dubious nature of the ambassador’s information, recalling the Capitol Army before its training is completed is not warranted,” Chancellor Parn said, with a forced warmness. Illana fixed the chancellor with a cold glare.
“I am not willing to take that risk. I have asked, and now I am ordering you to do this,” Illana said.
“You don’t have that authority until your coronation,” Chancellor Parn replied. “Moreover, under the terms of your regency, Lady Sonya cannot give orders to any military units except the Crystal Guard. Until your coronation, only the Diet can declare a state of emergency for Lisandra, and I control the Diet.”
“You are putting this city – my subjects – in danger,” Princess Illana said, the slightest hint of a threat in her cold-iron voice, “There will be consequences.” Chancellor Parn studied Illana, as if reappraising the princess.
“Perhaps,” the Chancellor replied, after a long moment, “Nevertheless, I, as the Chancellor of the Diet, cannot declare a state of emergency simply because of a rabble of fanatics. Especially not on such dubious grounds. I’m sure your highness understands the Empire cannot be seen as to be panicking in the face of a peasant uprising. Especially not while being watched by the eyes of our current trading partners.” The chancellor flicked his eyes at the ambassador.
“You’re making a mistake, Parn,” Marteen said through clenched teeth. The Chancellor looked at Marteen as if deciding whether the swordsman was a real threat. Kurt put his hand on Marteen to restrain the elf. Satisfied, Chancellor Parn turned back to Sasha and Illana.
“You can rail against my decision all you want, but I’ve discussed this with the Diet, and they are in agreement,” Chancellor Parn said. “I would remind the Crystal Blood that even she is bound by the laws of the Empire.” Chancellor Parn shot a venomous glare at his son before striding out of the room without waiting for the princess or Sasha to dismiss him. Both women watched him go with shocked looks at the public slight.
“My father has decided it is time to dispose with the polite fiction he and Lady Sonya are ruling in harmony,” Pallus commented before walking over to stand next to Sasha. Sasha shot him a furious look but said nothing.
“Be that as may, Colonel Pallus, I must protect my city even if the Diet refuses to do so,” Princess Illana said, her voice steady.
“So, how do we defend the city?” asked Marteen.
“As the chancellor said, the Diet controls the armies, but we control the Crystal Guard,” Princess Illana answered. She turned to Pallus. “Colonel, call up your reserves.”
“Your highness, even with the reserves, the Guard is only four hundred soldiers. That’s not going to be enough to protect the city from two thousand Purists,” Pallus said.
“We should alert the constabulary,” Sasha said. “Colonel, could you ask Chief Constable Dalan to meet with the Crystal Blood?”
“Even if the constables join us, it’s not going to be enough, is it?” Princess Illana asked.
“No, your highness,” Kurt answered. Princess Illana frowned as she paced. Sasha noticed Rin’s eyes followed the princess as she walked back and forth.
“Where do we get more soldiers?” Princess Illana asked.
“You don’t have a militia?” Rin asked. “A city this size is bound to have hundreds of veterans. You don’t have a means of calling them up?”
“Well, technically, any veteran would be part of the reserves, but the reserves are formally under the Capitol Army,” Sasha answered. "We can’t call them back to duty.”
“I know that look Sasha. What do you have in mind?” Selene asked.
“Kurt, you and Marteen go into Lisandra and round up every veteran and willing person you can find. We will ask the citizens of the city to prepare for a siege and defend their homes. Officially, they will be forming volunteer units. Make sure that is very clear. Volunteer units. If they refer to themselves as anything else would allow the Chancellor to disband them."
“I think we can dig up just the people you’re looking for,” Kurt said, getting up and dragging Marteen out.
“What about the Sacellum?” Illana asked. “We need the Suprema to raise the Barrier, integrate the paladins into our defenses, set up aid stations-”
“I don’t think that will be possible, your highness,” Selene interrupted.
“Why?”
“The Suprema will not see the threat from the Pursits,” Selene cautioned.
“Then I will make her see things my way,” Princess Illana replied. “We will go see the Suprema and explain the situation to her.” Selene’s face was impassive, but her husband Robar was uncomfortable with the princess’s plan. Princess Illana’s gaze settled on Ambassador Tierra.
“Ambassador, you have a cadre stationed at your embassy,” Princess Illana started, but the ambassador stopped the princess with a raised hand.
“I apologize, your highness, but I must remind you that the Mareian Embassy is accredited to the Empire, not the Crystal Palace,” Ambassador Tierra said, regret heavy in his voice, “By the terms of the Republic’s treaty with the Empire, if the Chancellor refuses to ask for our assistance, I cannot provide you with military support.” Princess Illana’s eyes glowed with annoyance, but her face kept its polite neutral stance. Sasha was impressed. This was a new princess. Major Agnelli caught Rin’s eye and nodded towards the ambassador. Rin smiled and cleared his throat. Ambassador Tierra looked over at Rin.
“Did you have something to contribute, Ranger Acciaio?” the ambassador asked.
“Sir, I came to the Empire tracking down a human sorcerer who is implicated in a ritual murder in the Badlands,” Rin said, “My investigation has determined my quarry is working with the Purists as a part of the army approaching Lisandra.”
“Of course, yes, thank you for the reminder,” the ambassador said, a knowing smile spreading across his face. “Ranger Agnelli, as the senior ranger, I’ll let you handle assisting Ranger Acciaio in capturing his quarry. I wouldn’t dream of interfering with a ranger’s hunt.” Ambassador Tierra turned back to the princess.
“As I said, the Republic cannot officially assist you against the wishes of the chancellor. I’m sorry that we cannot do more. If you will please excuse me, I must go talk with the ships down at the docks to inform their captains of the attack. Since you will be meeting with the chief constable, I will ask Ranger Acciaio to remain here to discuss his quarry with the local constabulary.”
“Of course, your excellency,” Princess Illana said, her eyes dancing with amusement, “I understand your position, perfectly. I’m sure there will be ample opportunities in the future for our nations to work together.” Ambassador Tierra stood, bowed, and walked out of the room with Major Agnelli in tow. The senior ranger looked at Rin and tapped his chin with his forefinger and index finger. Rin returned the gesture as the two Republicans left. Mareians and their strange hand signals. It was like an entire separate language with those humans.
Sasha pondered what other suggestions she could provide the princess. She was delighted to see this new side of the princess. Kurt was right. They just had to get Rin and the princess back together. Why couldn’t they have figured that out years ago and saved the two of them so much hurt? As she watched the pair of them cautiously circle each other, Sasha made a decision.
“Your highness, if you will excuse me, I have to go speak with a few people before the chief constable arrives,” Sasha said, standing up. "Selene, would you and your husband come with me? I’d like your opinions.”
“Of course, Sonya,” Selene said, a smile spreading across her face.
“You two should use the time to catch up," Sasha said as she started to walk out of the room. Rin froze as his eyes went wide.
“Lady Sonya, I don’t think it would be appropriate,” Princess Illana said, her cheeks turning a rosy pink as she shot a furtive glance at Rin. Sasha erupted in laughter.
“Sweet Goddess, the two of you are precious,” Sasha said, “Your highness, I’m leaving you with Rin. You remember Rin? The one person we could always trust with you.” Sasha grabbed Rin into a tight hug.
“I’m so glad you’re back, Rin,” Sasha said, a tear coming down her cheek. Releasing him, Sasha gave him a more serious look.
“Don’t do anything that we would all regret.” Without another word, Sasha strode out of the room.
Chapter Thirteen
