The Union

When she was little, her father would always lecture her about honor and justice. She believed in those things. She still does. But the way she became a spy, a person with shady honor, was also because of honor itself. She thought that honor meant following what is right and what was promised. But she had found that sometimes, things were not that easy. Life had complications.

If not for the person she betrayed, she would have already died. By the ways of the Wismarines and the Eastern Cantonese, hanging would have been her fate. But her neck didn"t touch the noose. Her feet didn"t fall from the platform. Her life didn"t end. Strange. It was strange. The person she deceived was the one who saved her.

Harold opened his eyes. Those murky brown eyes were still teary. Harold had been beaten by his own royal guards. It must have been such a pain for a King to suffer a beating from the same people sworn to defend him. Harold lost consciousness just after the Falconhead returned him to them.

"Ash" He smiled, showing his crooked teeth. He looked around "W-where are we?"

"Mythrille. But you need not spend worry. Those people can"t hurt you now. King Timothy and Queen Lucia are here. They will protect us"

He nodded. A lowered head followed "I am s-sorry"

"For what?"

His cheek shaded red "For t-taking your maidenhood"

Ash laughed and buried her face on the mattress. A few coughs later and she said, "I gave it to you. It was of my own decision"

"Still, it must h-have been awful"

"It was" Ash agreed "The first time I vomited in disgust. I just closed my eyes and told myself that I am merely doing my duty. The second time was more welcoming. I got used to it. But why are we having this talk?" Ash smiled "It is a little strange talking about this now"

"Because I s-still love you. I know that we have more important t-things to deal with but do I have a chance?"

"Every person has the right to courtship" Ash said, not closing her doors yet not promising anything.

Harold held out his hand "Then let us s-start by being friends. I am Harold"

Ash shook it with a smile "And I am Ash"

Knocks rang against the door. A moment later and Ash saw King Timothy and the Queen.

"You are awake. The moonbringer probably took effect. Good" Her Majesty Lucia said.

King Timothy, on the other hand, went closer and cupped Harold"s forehead. "No fever. You"ll be fine. Eat well and recover"

"I s-should get up but I am unable"

"You shouldn"t bother. We are equals anyway. Canton would join Tulosa, Castonia and Vanadis, yes?"

"I am s-smart enough to know that we are not equals. Canton is to b-become your va.s.sal and I w-would become your va.s.sal King"

"Then that makes it easier for both of us. You are right. We desire you as our va.s.sal. But don"t worry, we will be fair" King Timothy grinned "Now, I hate to discuss politics and diplomacy with a man recovering from his injuries but time is a commodity. Tomorrow we will leave for Hadea and Inkit"

"So soon?" Ash blurted "King Timothy, Mythrille and Cloudcliff are still resisting. Yesterday I heard that twenty-five acts of violence were committed against our stationed soldiers. With you leaving us, the rebels would become bolder. A month at least. Stay with us for a month to stabilize the situation here"

"Unfortunately we can"t. When do you think Sarah would return with the bulk of the Wismarine forces? I bet the King of Wismar is already debating with his advisers right now on what to do. My estimate is a month. Add a half to that if we are lucky. Sarah will return in a month. Before then we should bring Inkit and Hadea into our control"

"Impossible" Was all Ash could say. The look on Harold"s face also emits similar opinion. Taking Hadea and Inkit in a month is impossible. Haubern alone had formidable defenses.

Queen Lucia stepped forward to join her husband. She put both hands on Ash"s shoulders "Nevertheless we can"t have enemies at our back once Sarah returns. King Timothy and I would try our best to make it so. We will leave two legions here, one at Cloudcliff and another at Mythrille. Use them well. Retreat to Heraldshome if needed but maintain our hold in the east for as long as possible"

"Still" Ash shook her head "It would be a difficult task"

"We know" King Timothy eyed Harold. There was no insult in it, just truth. Harold was indeed weak and the four of them understood that "You don"t have the expertise. Well we are employing the help of someone who knows how to do his job well. Someone tested and we trust could hold the east while we rummage in the west"

"Marquis Erik Connel" The Queen said before Ash could ask.

Ash of course knew about the Marquis of Castonia. His exploits in Tulosa were known to many. If he was coming, then she and Harold don"t have anything to worry about. People say that Marquis Erik was almost as good as King Timothy in the field. Having capable subordinates was truly a gift.

But the last news Ash had heard about Marquis Erik was his wedding in Greenwater. It was known that he had taken a Vanadian baroness as a wife, further strengthening the bond between Vanadis and Castonia. That was the problem actually. Greenwater was far from Mythrille. She and Harold would be helpless for a long time before Marquis Erik could arrive.

As if reading her mind, King Timothy looked at her and said, "A month. He will arrive in a month. You would have to hold Eastern Canton for a month without us or Marquis Erik to help you. Not too difficult right?"

Ash nodded. It wouldn"t be too difficult a task. But somehow, as she looked at Harold and herself, she doubted that they could hold Mythrille until King Timothy returns.

**********

Several days later, near Sweetvine, Hadea

The garrison was broken. Splintered shields and corpses scattered like grapes during harvest. The Spearman only saw a rush of men in black mails. They were on forced march to reinforce Sweetvine against the enemies. Unfortunately, the said enemies moved faster than they thought and went behind them.

One charge was all it took, a single true charge followed by infantry. They were broken, routed. He was one of the lucky ones who survived. His spear was split in two. His thin gambeson armor was torn. His helm was at least intact. But his spirit and his courage- gone.

The flags of Castonia and Vanadis fluttered in the air. The bearers wore proud expressions. They had to be, the Spearman thought. The flags they were holding were of the two nations currently plowing through Hadea and Inkit. Canton had fallen. The whole nation of songs had gone silent under the Union"s attack. Hadea would be next. Inkit then after.

He raised his mudled face and spitted the soil from hia mouth. A group of people on horse then approached him.

A crown. A glinting crown with two diamonds on both sides and a purple amethysts at the center. The wearer had dark eyes and darker hair. His face was young. He had no beard, and if he did it was too short to be noticed. Timothy Castonia, the spearman knew. He was the King who humbled many. Behind the King was a beauty unmatched. Her face was calming, thin nose and perfect cheeks. Her hair was flowing on her back and a crown was also on top of her head. Her youth was oozing and yet her wisdom can"t be denied.

The King dismounted and approach him. His walk was slow and had the weight of a true royal. The guards rushed and patted him before the King could squat to lift his chin.

"Do you know who I am boy?"

Boy!? The Spearman felt a tinge of insult. He was a couple of years older than him. How dare he call him boy? But as he looked at King Timothy"s eyes he saw what the King of Castonia meant. To him, everyone was a mere boy.

"Yes" he managed to answer "Timothy Castonia"

The King nodded and looked around "Then..." King Timothy again met eyes with him "Do you fear me?"

He wanted to be tough. He wanted to say that he wasn"t afraid even if that would be the last thing he says. But he couldn"t. He was indeed afraid. In the end he nodded.

"Do not be afraid" King Timothy"s voice was music "You are not my enemy. But as for your King...Oh things are different. He should be afraid for we are coming. Yes, we are coming"