-Grief is the Price, Part 4-

"How are you feeling? Is everything fine after…"

Hailey had woken up after a few hours of sleep and started fussing over me.

Mother was fast asleep in the bedroom, guarded and looked after by members of both Hailey and I's retinue.

"Am I fine?" I asked in a harsher tone than I meant.

I counted out our major issues on my fingers.

"We've got some rogue gods trying to drag us into the all-consuming void, grotesque mutants made from our neighbors and friends, and that bastard bent on destroying the world for a sick fantasy won't stay dead…"

I took a deep breath and let it out in a heavy sigh.

"Yeah, I guess I'm fine," I decided, "You're here, I'm here. We're fine."

Hailey sat back on the couch, letting out her own puff of air, "We've resolved one of those already. We know the gods can't just interfere as they please, so when it comes again we'll be more prepared—or we leave it to the Goddesses. It's their mess anyway, right?"

I laughed, "Saying things like that'll cause your priestliness to fade. But, yeah. I guess we can try depending on them, however fickle they are at times, they came when things were serious enough to need them."

Though next time we might not be so lucky to face Gemini in a weakened state.

Hailey leaned her head on my shoulder.

"I'm glad you're back."

"I was always here, ya' know. Don't think I didn't see how poorly you treated Ruin."

"She was suspicious." Hailey deflected, "Seeing someone with your face acting like a different person, I didn't enjoy it."

"I hear you. Despite that," I lamented, "She actually works hard. I wouldn't be able to do the things I do without her. The divine magick stuff is too much for just me, and when we were facing down Renault and Gemini's powers, the others did their part too. It's weird, I know, but if she covers for me again, I want you two to get along."

AWH, LOOK AT YOU, WORRYING OVER LITTLE ME.

Oh good, you're awake.

DID YOU HAVE A NICE TIME WITH MOTHER?

Yes, actually. Did you have a nice nap?

COULD'VE BEEN LONGER.

You have plenty of time. Hails and I took the day off.

SINCE WHEN COULD WE DO THAT!?

Hailey leaned over and gave me a look.

"You alright? You went quiet."

"Yep," I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her back with me as I relaxed on the couch, "They say if you speak a devil's name it shows up. Apparently it works for Ruin as well."

RUDE.

I laid my head on Hailey's shoulder.

"I know we told everyone to handle things for us…" I left my thought unfinished.

"You feel antsy, huh?"

"There's just so much to do, and I feel anxious sitting around this place. My mind keeps wandering, thinking of the shitty things Renault must have done here."

"Oh, by the Goddesses, now I'm gonna think about it."

It would be nice to say that Hailey and I actually took some personal time. We tried, we really did.

Hikita had been introduced to the other divisional officers while Ruin was piloting and had started to take on her own work, so she left after a brief rest. And with our retinues each halved to watch over my mother, I was pressured to remain with Hails for protection—not that I wanted to split off from her at the moment.

When I asked Hailey about Ignicorus, she told me that she stayed topside, mentioning something about the void presence being too strong this close to the palace.

I wondered what we could even do.

We were both growing bored, and I struggled with a need to keep busy and the want to be close by for when Mother awoke.

Even Akari was growing restless being underground.

So we came up with a game of guessing tactics with our attendants and knights. Hailey made a mock-up map of Axio, using assorted nick-knacks to represent the Vanixian and Renaultian units in play. With access to the open communirune channels, we had a clear picture of the battlefields.

"They're clearing the northeastern suburbs so fast." Hailey commented.

"Lady Aisling is well versed in many urban warfare theories," Flik replied, pouring over the placements on the table, "We spent a great deal of time after the fall of the Empire preparing plans for a capital city counterattack… But they were shelved when we lost contact with any survivors."

Hawken moved some pieces around as positions were relayed over comms.

I added my own opinion hesitantly, "Even splitting the divisions between Julius and her, Aisling has two-thousand fully armed knights, plus overwatch support from the waystriders and mages. While the force is strong, it shouldn't be so easy to move around the city and stay this tightly coordinated."

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"Oh, I suppose that's a good point, Your Eminence."

"I don't think they even had a battle at the last position," I added, "Less than ten minutes after reporting they arrived at House Masson's manor, Aisling's adjutant reported victory, and they moved on quickly toward House Leroux's holdouts."

"They could've surrendered. Or maybe it was vacant?" Hailey guessed.

Flik's face scrunched up. "If we assume the intel we have is faulty and their forces weren't fully present, then another front could be bolstered higher than expected."

I nodded, "There's no way Julius hasn't noticed as well. Which is why Aisling is probably rushing to join his forces before they take Leroux."

"Join him? But that call never… Ah." Hailey snapped her fingers.

The junior knights and Akari—who was trying her best to follow along—seemed puzzled, but both Hailey and I's guard captains had caught on; there was a chance the Renaultians figured us out and were listening to our open channels.

"So," I continued on without explaining; they'd catch on eventually, "Either Leroux or Riviere will have hidden forces. Julius likely already had Mei scout the Riviere manor in advance, and she must've determined if it was short-manned or not. Look at the last calls."

Julius' position, like Aisling's, had been called out steadily, but they were too fast and too exact along the planned route. Even a minor scuffle or actions to clear alleyways would deviate course by a street or two.

The two of them were likely pretending to be aiming at their respective targets, but in reality, on a secure line with just themselves coordinating a combined strike elsewhere.

I racked my brain, recalling a set of records that Ruin had received about the status of our war fronts.

Ruin confirmed the details for me, "If I remember the report right, most of the Renaultian Rear Brigade is unaccounted for. The fifth regiment gendarmerie, including its commanders, hasn't been seen even though they should have been deployed in the noble sectors. Some assumed they've already fled, but what if one of the noble houses paid them off and hired them as a private army?"

"That's at least fifteen-hundred then." Flik sighed.

"Not only the numbers. While they might not all be hardened veterans, they've still spent their whole careers in the city drilling urban maneuvers. Seeing as Renault has been planning this for at least a decade and a half, it would be best to assume they've laid traps and ambushes in the most optimal places."

It was really a question of where the trap was laid and how best to take it on. Would efforts be better spent in springing it beforehand or tripping it and immediately countering?

"Shouldn't we call Commander Adaemus and warn him just in case we're mistaken?" Flik asked with worry.

And let him know I'm sitting here playing war games when I made such a stink about needing a day…

Hailey shook her head, "We could be wrong about a lot of things. Aisling could have simply overwhelmed the forces at Masson, and the fifth regiment might have scattered to the wilds already. Sowing any more confusion won't help, and I trust that Commander Julius has considered things through."

The positions for the Assault-One and Assault-Two raid teams continued to be updated, and the open channel was business as usual.

We wagered silly bets for which of the locations it might be. The knights debated on both the noble manors, arguing about how their defenses and layouts made each more or less desirable a position than the other.

Hailey and I split our guesses, she went for Leroux after carefully considering a myriad of socioeconomic reasons, such as their house head's position as the Renaultian Administrator of Agriculture. I went with the opposite, Riviere, to add some spice to the discussion.

Akari couldn't make up her mind and seemed annoyed at the technical jargon everyone was using to explain the differences between the two. She placed her bet as the only vote on the third option—neither.

We waited patiently for updates, and as the called positions for both teams reached their locations, we held our breath.

"…"

And there was silence.

"Shouldn't there be some acknowledgment if there was a trap?" Aeko asked.

"Maybe we were wrong?" I guessed.

BOOM.

The room shook violently.

Chips of marble ceiling fell onto the makeshift war table, and the knights standing around the table lost their balance.

"What in the Aether?" I stood on shaky feet.

The doors to our room burst open, and a young waystrider entered with a panicked look, "Enemy attack! They're bombarding the tower above us!"

I mentally slapped a palm to my forehead.

OH, LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE FINALLY REALIZED.

Ruin's voice was tinged with condescension.

Why didn't I even consider…

Of course, if the Renaultians were listening in on the open channel, they would've known our whereabouts if they had someone who knew about where Mother was being kept and the hidden palace's location.

"We're evacuating," I ordered, "Before the ground collapses in on us. Nothing over open channels, tell Aullis to get the scholars and remaining Seekers out of the depths and head through the passage back to the palace—carefully, if they encounter any resistance, they should stay on the defensive."

My knights kicked into action, rallying the standby and sleeping shifts for Soren and Alistaire's group that were stationed with us to deal with Renault. Their orders were to smash his head in a jar or something they could carry and leave with the Seekers.

I pushed open the door to the adjacent room, where Mother was sleeping. She had already woken, and the few guards and attendants looked to me for clarity.

"Pack your things. Akari, please stay with Mother. If anything seems weird, summon a barrier and wait for me."

"But—"

"I'm sorry, kiddo. I know you wanna go with me, but you're the strongest for defense and the one I can trust to keep everyone safe."

Akari's face clearly showed her dislike of the idea.

"Airis," My mother called my name firmly, "I'm coming with you."

"The hell you are."

"Airis."

"I just got you back!" I snapped.

"…"

"Haah," I sighed, "Behind me. You'll stick with Akari and stay behind us at all times. Only if things are really dire are you allowed to act."

I glared at all the knights present.

"That's an order for all of you. Restrain my mother if necessary, but she shall not be placed in harm's way."

"Airis, there's no need for this coddling. I'm fit and ready to fight. You know how tough I am, even your father—"

"Please, just stop." I cut her off, "Yes, I know how strong you are. But I'm not so weak to need my mother to kill my enemies in war."

I looked at Akari, "You'll be right behind us, okay? Please keep Mother safe."

She returned a firm nod.

We started off topside, climbing the passage up to the guard tower amid the blasts and shakes of the Renaultian bombardment.

I was blinded by the sun as we emerged.

Gods, just how long were we down there?

Our mages had already encased the tower with a series of barriers, limiting the damage to the structure, but the shock-waves of the impacts still reverberated through the walls.

I found the ranking officer, a calm-faced elven man in black and crimson armor—a Knight-Protector going off his rank insignia—overlooking the tower battlements.

"Report."

He looked over, and his demeanor shifted for a brief moment. With a graceful motion, he snapped to attention and saluted.

"Hail, Your Imperial Majesty. Knight-Protector Anherst reporting as ordered, two brigades worth of enemy soldiers rushed the gatehouse below and began to assault our position with long-range area of effect spells. We immediately prepared defensive barrier-shells and are holding for a response from Command. All comms have gone dark since the bombardment began."

"At ease. It's as I feared then."

"Your Majesty?"

"Ah, I suspect the enemy has found a way to listen in on the open channels. Any orders from Command would be countered immediately, and our positions given away."

His face paled.

"No need to worry, Knight-Protector. Look there."

I pointed past the masses of enemies in formation to a plume of black smoke speedily approaching. A field of crimson trailing behind.

"Seems the Scarlet Wing Commander finally got his toy running."

An enormous aetherflux-powered war-engine shook the ground as it made its advance on the semi-fortified positions below. Its gilded, crimson wing-like arms cranked back as it was readied to fire. Iọ-ton'ic runes lit up as three spellcasters on top of the thing poured magicka into it. A fiery ball of magick took form at the seat of the weapon, growing in size until it raged as bright as the sun itself.

"Fire the rune-cannon!" the machine's commander, wielding a massive wrench in the air like a baton, screamed at the top of her lungs. She was clearly way too excited.

Warder First Class Lira, the eccentric artificer that had become close friends with my sister, was piloting the massive tank.

She waved at me with a smile as the flaming sphere raced toward the Renaultians, vaporizing an entire column of them into nothing but blackened shadows on the streets.

"Huh, does this mean I won the bet?" Akari excitedly said to herself.

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