Age of arrogance, p.20
Age of Arrogance, page 20
She crafted one spike, then her vision blurred and her empowered form ended as she attempted to create another. Take a deep breath. Focus—
That idea failed when her barrier shattered. She immediately launched a spike, slaying one zephum, but leaving her vulnerable to another one rushing forward. The fact that none of her people were coming to her aid did not inspire confidence. I cannot risk collapsing, she thought, gripping her staff and adjusting her stance. After she had lost her duel against Zeen all those years ago, she had given up on the idea of melee combat. But as the zephum closed the gap, the choice was no longer hers.
She made no attempt to parry his blade, instead, hopping back and tightening her grip. A true zephum warrior would slay her in seconds, but this was a mere husk, a mockery of the once-proud warrior now slashing wildly like an amateur.
After a sloppy swing barely missed her face, she swung the Wings of Mylor up with all the strength she could muster. Fortunately, it was a perfect strike, slamming metal into snout. Unfortunately, the zephum didn’t even flinch. There were no moves available to stop the next swing. It shattered Serenna’s crystal shield, sending them both crashing to the ground in opposite directions.
I hate this bastion. I hate it oh so much, she thought, wheezing on the ground. Several of the worst moments of her life had taken place in this very hall. As bad as they had been, somehow none of them had ever killed her. She forced herself up and crafted a quick spike. It was tiny, sloppy, but sharp—the sort of spell Valor would’ve been proud of. She felt naked without an active barrier or shield but she forced the spike forward, then fell to one knee. The spike tore through his throat and the zephum collapsed with no reaction. It was like slaying a dream—
“Serenna!”
She flinched as Captain Martin pushed her to the ground, taking a sword through his chest. “Serenna, I hope…you find him…you deserve to be…” Someone else's crystal spike impaled both Martin and the zephum Vanguard who had stabbed him.
A mix of adrenaline and terror forced her to rise, entering an empowered form and refreshing her shield. It wasn’t wise, but she rushed down to Martin and cupped his head. “Rest easy, Captain. Your service to Mylor has ended.”
There were still screams but less crashes. The most likely scenario was that melee had overrun both sides, leaving both Vanguards and Mylor’s backline to fend for themselves. Using the last of her empowered form, Serenna formed a spike and launched it, but the sudden blur of vision made it impossible to tell if it hit anything. She then leaned against her pillar and ripped the jug of water from her side.
Dehydration is one of the few feelings that can never be ignored. Oh, Martin, please forgive me, she thought, drinking the full jug and huffing for air. If they couldn’t liberate Mylor, how could they possibly defeat Terrangus? Arrogance would prevail again, perhaps for the final time. If we had waited until after the wedding, could we have done better? What have I done? What have I—
“Senator!” a man yelled, saluting her from above. She was certain she knew his name but everything was too frazzled to piece together. “The enemy has evacuated the main hall, retreating towards the war room. What are your orders?”
Evacuate? Did that mean… “You already have your orders. Follow them and slay every last one. No mercy. No surrender. Force them out of the war room, then flank the side corridors. Begin the assault, I shall join you momentarily.” There was a temptation to ask for his hand to help her rise, but showing weakness as leader was never an option.
Had they achieved victory? Was Mylor free? It felt absurd to even consider. Martin’s body lay there, undisturbed by either side. She would give him a proper burial, but first, she needed a moment to regain herself. Instead of growing stronger, her body was starting to crack from battle after battle. I can’t do this much longer, but…it's almost over. It's almost over…
Serenna took a deep breath, leaned against the balcony, and closed her eyes.
Chapter 35
Realms Upon Realms Apart
Mary sipped her wine as Francis leaned back on his throne. Her husband had never been one for hiding emotions, and annoyance was written all across his face. “Can I pour you a glass, beloved? I swear it helps with the nerves.”
“Tempting, but no,” Francis said with a faint grin. “My mind is my greatest asset. I cannot afford to poison my intellect with war coming to our doorstep.”
There was so much to say but nothing he would have wanted to hear. With all the kingdoms and gods united, their reign was coming to an end. Even Francis should know you can’t win a chess match when it’s pawns against gods. “Very well, but it pains me to see you this way.”
“Oh? And what way is that? Do tell.”
“Francis…”
He rubbed his hands down his face. “There is always a winning move. I just need to find it. Perhaps if you put the wine down, we could strategize together.”
“Sure, I’ll put the wine down. One moment please.” She finished the entire chalice and slammed it on his armrest. “Okay! Let’s put our great minds together and figure this out. Is David still in his prison? I don’t know. What is happening in Alanammus? I don’t know. With all the Vanguards returning through the outskirts portal, did we lose Mylor? I don’t know. I don’t fucking know anything. We are sitting here waiting to—”
“Shut up!” he yelled, then took a deep breath. “Sorry, sorry. I apologize. That was beneath me. All of your points are valid, of course, but where does that leave us? I refuse to believe that defeat is inevitable. For all my flaws, I am not a coward. Not anymore.”
“No, you’re not,” she said, holding his hand. “Sometimes, running away can be the bravest action. I don’t care about pride, honor, or any of that right now. I just want to get away with my family and start over. There is no need to die here.”
“Pardon the interruption,” Arrogance said, materializing into the middle of the throne room. “Let me take a guess…you would like an update on our scenario? Careful now, you may not like what you hear.”
“Lord Wisdom, please—”
“Fucking tell us!” Mary yelled. She grabbed her empty chalice to throw it, but wine began appearing in the glass.
Arrogance chuckled. “Normally, I would advise moderation, but you may as well indulge to your heart's content. David is free, Alanammus is enroute, and Mylor has reclaimed their bastion. Their armies will soon unite outside our doorstop, resulting in a massive force seeking our destruction.”
“Then all is lost,” Francis said, his eyes darting across the room. “Mary, on second thought, I’ll take you up on that offer of wine. Wisdom, any news of the Harbinger?”
“Oh, my dear emperor, your lack of faith is a weakness held by most scholars. No news on the Harbinger front. Our Vanguardians have taken the initiative to begin culling those who are possible suspects. I doubt we’ll catch Death’s target preemptively but, oh, that would be a major victory.” It was absurd that there was no hint of distress in his voice. Was he in denial?
“Why aren’t you afraid?” she asked, not expecting any real answer.
The eyes on the sun mask turned to her. “As my name may suggest, I have never been one to lack confidence. Time will be the judge if said attribute is a strength or a weakness. Still, I cannot help but feel invigorated by this turn of events. Imagine the disappointment when they come here together, the realm at their fingertips, just to simply…fail.”
Delusion is the cornerstone of happiness, she thought, but didn’t say. Mary had dealt with these kinds of leaders in the Terrangus military. The ones willing to charge a fortified position to the death with nothing but promises of glory. Those leaders had tended to “disappear” with no official records of how or why they had gone missing. Unfortunately, making God disappear didn’t seem possible.
“So that's it?” asked Mary. She yearned for her chalice, but Francis didn't seem willing to let it go. “At least with the wedding, you had something of a plan. Are we really supposed to sit here and wait for the entire realm to trample us under their boots?”
Arrogance floated over to them. “Answer me this, my dear empress: when the realm banded together to take out Emperor Nyfe, why was he defeated?”
“Where do I even start? Nyfe had no plan, no contingencies, and his army surrendered at the first sign things were dire. It was the perfect storm of idiocy.”
“Interesting,” he said, laughing as he floated back into the air. “I daresay there is a brain behind that beauty after all. It all came down to loyalty. Treachery is a rather contagious disease, always rooted within the absurdity of freewill. Vanguards cannot and will not falter.”
If that was supposed to be inspiring, Arrogance was wasting his breath. If Nyfe’s soldiers had fought to the last man, the Terrangus military would be a footnote in one of Francis’s history books. “Okay, our strategy is that we can’t lose unless everyone dies. Great.”
“Hold on,” Francis said, taking another sip before he put the chalice down. “I dare say he makes a valid point. Aside from loyalty, Vanguards are superior in every way. Besides, it's only Mylor and Alanammus. Nyfe had to face all four kingdoms at full strength. We are facing weakened armies that are unprepared to attack head-on.”
I married a fool, she thought, though maybe it was the wine. “Have you no memory? We stormed the gates and laid waste to Terrangus’s entire defenses. Surrender was the only option. Otherwise, we would still be clearing out their bodies from the trade district. Francis, you are not Nyfe. Can you sit there and claim you have no issue with overseeing a massacre?”
Francis probably didn’t realize how long he paused. “Fair but…what is the alternative? I already told you, I would burn every kingdom to the ground in order to give our son a future. Perhaps the realm is calling my bluff.”
“Enough of this,” Mary said, taking her chalice back. She took a quick sip then said, “Victory isn’t random: it comes to those who prepare for tomorrow. We need maps, blueprints, generals who know the ins and outs of the kingdom. We need…”
“Silence, for starters,” Arrogance said with a chuckle. “It's already handled, dear empress. In fact, I came here not to discuss any of that nasty business, but to pose a question. Do you recall what happened when the rioters nearly took your heads?”
Mary recalled all too well. Her Francis had become a monster, using the Herald of Arrogance to burn friends and foes alike. It had saved their lives, but in doing so, it had cost much, much more.
Francis sighed. “How could I forget? While I do admit it's an interesting thought, the idea of losing clarity again is…unwelcome.”
“No,” said Mary. “You both swore to me that would never happen again. We don’t need it.”
“Don’t need it?” Arrogance chuckled. “Just a moment ago, you were quick to rattle off things we need, and now that I offer one of them, you protest. You are a difficult woman to please, Empress.”
“What exactly are you proposing, Lord Wisdom?”
“While I am quite brilliant,” Arrogance said, somehow without a hint of shame, “battle strategy has never been my forte. However, I do believe I have figured it out. Despite centuries of theory and debating formations, it's rather simple really: the more powerful side always wins.”
How could he be so foolish? If that were the case, the entire realm would be under zephum rule. “Spoken like a man who has studied war but never participated in one. Perhaps we could make inane statements to the enemy until they grow bored and leave?”
It was a badge of honor any time she could get Arrogance to groan, though it usually came with a cost. “We sway the imbalance of power with two words: Royal Vanguards.”
And there it was. She always knew the day would come. No tyrant can rule completely if their puppets are allowed to think. It was important not to react. The only solution was to flee, and by panicking, Arrogance would ensure that escape was impossible. Perhaps he had already done so.
“That cannot happen,” Francis said, to her utter shock. Was this the moment? Would they finally defy Arrogance and accept their fate, for better or for worse?
Instead of an outburst, Arrogance simply chuckled. “Would Francis make a liar out of Francis? Just moments ago, you claimed you would destroy our entire realm to ensure your son’s future. Well, I have offered you the flint. It's up to you to strike a fire.”
Francis stepped away, keeping his head down. “I will elaborate on my position. I will indeed accept your offer to become a Vanguard. However, I will never entertain the idea of Mary doing the same. Is that clear?”
“Oh, you may have your father’s eyes, but I can hear Mommy’s voice soaring from your throat. I would prefer Mary as well. However, I am a compromising god, if nothing else.”
Mary dropped her chalice, not flinching as it shattered. “Wait. What the fuck is going on? Francis, you cannot possibly consider such madness. You are a father!”
“That, my beloved, is precisely why I must do this. The time for lies has ended. There is no running away, no new life awaiting us. It's impossible to run from yourself. Believe me…I’ve tried. Take care of Calvin. You were always his favorite, anyway.”
“Shut the fuck up,” she raid, rushing over and grabbing him. “You want to discuss running away? Then what do you call this? Don’t leave me here alone…”
“Not alone, Empress,” Arrogance said, who had floated farther away. “You are surrounded by friends and loved ones, one of whom is about to become very powerful. Still, it would be more efficient if you joined your husband. Wouldn’t you relish the idea of using magic? I just cannot get the zephum to master it, but I could place all the elements at your disposal. Trust me, it's as fun as it looks!”
“There is always a winning move,” Francis whispered, refusing to look her in the eye. “Unfortunately, this one comes with very long strings. But knowing you and Calvin are safe makes all costs irrelevant. I cannot fathom what will occur next. If it is…unfavorable, then please, remember me at my best.”
She let go, resisting the urge to scream. Why do intelligent men always make the most foolish mistakes? “Before you throw your life away, come and say goodbye to your son. I want him to have a pleasant memory before his father becomes a monster.”
“I cannot do that.”
“No? After everything, you can’t even give me that?”
“Not out of spite,” said Francis, who cautiously stepped towards her. “If I see his little face, my courage may falter. Why are you so angry with me? Do you think I truly want this? I…enjoy my life. I have a proud position of emperor, a loving wife, and a child I love an unquantifiable amount. Probabilities never lie. This is the only outcome in which Calvin is safe.”
“Serenna promised she would take care of him. Even if we lose ourselves, all this, and everything, there is a future out there waiting for him.”
“My beloved,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I am incapable of believing such convenient lies, particularly from the woman who tried to murder me on my wedding night. I have read and reread the history books, trying to find an example that offers hope. Rest assured, there are none. Royal families face destruction after a takeover. It is the natural order of things.”
“You don’t know that for certain.”
“Indeed, I do not, but that is precisely my point. I will not risk our son to odds that would make a gambler blush. Please don’t hate me for this. I will not claim it's a perfect maneuver, but it's one that offers a chance of victory.”
“You’re not the one I hate. This is your fault,” she said to Arrogance. “Was one kingdom not enough? You had to destroy Boulom and Terrangus? Damn you for coming into our lives.”
Arrogance did a yawning gesture with his spectral hand. “Is that all, Empress? Surely, you could insult me better than that. Tap into that tiny brain of yours. Use some naughty language!”
“Everyone, stop,” Francis said. “Our fates are intertwined. If we resort to bickering among ourselves, we have already lost. Lord Wisdom, please wait for me in the conversion room. I must request a moment alone with my wife.”
“Granted, but do not linger. You know how I just hate waiting.” Arrogance faded from the room, leaving the two of them alone, together but realms apart.
“Mary, I—”
“I love you,” she said, pulling him close and embracing him. Could Vanguards be reversed? Maybe if they somehow defended Terrangus, Arrogance would be so giddy he would consider giving…
Of course not. Tyrants never relinquish control.
“After reconsideration…may I see him? If only one last time?”
“Of course. Don’t lose faith, Francis. If there is a winning move, I swear I will find it.” He didn’t answer, so she held him by the hand and guided him upstairs.
Calvin was sleeping, watched over by two healing mages and a Vanguard. While she never appreciated having Vanguards in her chambers, she may as well get used to it with her husband soon to become one.
“He’ll understand as he grows older,” Mary said, if only to break the silence. The despair on her husband’s face as he watched their son sleep was as clear as the candle flame illuminating their chambers.
“The Haide family line is filled with regret and trauma. It would be best if he simply…didn’t think about me at all.”
“When he’s old enough, I will tell him the truth. I will tell him his loving father was a gentleman, a scholar, a ruler with incredible ambitions…and despite his greatest fear, a man that never became broken.”
His eyes welled with tears as Francis whispered something to his son and kissed him on the forehead. “Let us proceed. I am prepared to face the judgment I have forced upon thousands of our own people.”
She took him by the hand. “We could grab Calvin and flee. I don’t care where. Just…anywhere that isn’t here.”
“Here is now and everywhere. Be strong, Mary. It's time for me to go.”
