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Into the Icy Darkness II: The Next Generation
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1654871" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>“So, what is so special about a ‘paladin’ running about? They are warriors, are they not?” Royukgan asked in confusion. Vintressa shook her head, and cleared her throat. The High Commander of Hieroneous had left several hours before, and Vintressa was hoping she could bounce ideas off her beau’s mind.</p><p></p><p>“No... paladins are sworn to a certain religion, vowing to do their deity’s work on this world,” she started to explain. She gave a slight smile when Royukgan’s face lit up in recognition.</p><p></p><p>“Oh... like an order of fighting monks then?” the foreign prince asked. When Vintressa nodded yes, he nodded in understanding. “So, this... Evermyn... broke all the bonds of her order? Ah... I see how it was so unusual.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes... and unfortunately she managed to disappear into the woodwork, just like the Erelion children,” Vintressa added sourly. After Tesseron had reported what she knew about Evermyn, the city security people had been notified. Even now, they knew nothing, save a few people of that description broke into the now dead goblin Chamoval’s antique shop.</p><p></p><p><em>If we can find her and follow her, she’ll lead us to Elsidor and the Erelion devils before they find the Fire Stone!</em> Vintressa’s mind had reasoned the day before. Now, it looked like the window of opportunity was closing... rapidly.</p><p></p><p>“Well, shouldn’t you let your vaunted security personnel handle that?” Royukgan asked. “Considering the three messages laying on the table in front of you?”</p><p></p><p>Vintressa looked down at the coffee table in front of where she sat. Three letters, stamped with the seals of the Imperial Governors of Chalcedon, Erelia, and Montador, blazed white against the coffee table’s ebony wood.</p><p></p><p>The Princess gave a sharp growl, the contents of the letters flashing into her mind once again. All three regions lay to the east of the capital, close to the area where the captured Erelion messages indicated the rebel army would be massing. And all three letters reported that there were various, “delays,” in the governor’s marshalling the local levies to impede the rebel progress.</p><p></p><p>“Yes... I suppose I should,” she said with resignation. Her mind went back to the numbers game it had gone through when the letters had arrived only a half hour prior.</p><p></p><p><em>Mother has two score thousand, father has the same... how many could the rebels put together if they can combine their armies?</em> Her mind ran through the names of the nobles listed, but with a grunt of frustration, she realized that while she knew who they were, she didn’t have the slightest idea how many troops each had.</p><p></p><p><em>Assume five thousand each,</em> her mind thought. She knew that while some, such as the small Baron of Freyburg, would barely be able to put together one tenth that amount, there were others such as Erelion himself, who could easily marshal several times the amount. Her mind agilely went through the additions. <em>Fifty major nobles... five thousand troops each...</em></p><p></p><p>“I wouldn’t worry about those letters much,” Royukgan said absently. “As a foreign prince, in my opinion, your Imperial Guard is full of some of the most disciplined troops I have ever seen. Eighty thousand of them should handle... what is it?” his voice dragged to a halt once he saw Vintressa’s face.</p><p></p><p>“No... that can’t be right,” Vintressa said softly, her eyes locked on the distant problem. She shook her head, and looked at her friend, eyes slightly wide. “For a major noble in your realm, would five thousand be a good guess on how many troops they could marshal?”</p><p></p><p>Royukgan’s face squinted slightly as he went into thought. “No, that’s a tad low, actually. If I had to guess, the Bey of Shi, the smallest of the nobles in Han, could pull maybe three thousand. Most of those would be culled peasant lev-“</p><p></p><p>“They’re marching into a trap,” Vintressa said softly, the numbers dancing in her head.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“Vin... <em>are you insane!?</em>” Royukgan snapped a few minutes later as he desperately tried to keep up with the Princess. He’d seen her when she was stalking through the Academy at this breakneck pace. Usually she was hell-bent on something, and no one, not any of the great wizard’s there, her friends, or even her parents would dissuade her.</p><p></p><p>Her eyes flashed towards Royukgan, their blue taking on an icy, steel hue. Her rapid stalk through the palace had not changed pace... if anything she was moving faster.</p><p></p><p>“Vintressa! Please!” Royukgan desperately changed tack. “I am merely the third son, I do not head armies, but even I know that is patently foolhardy!” </p><p></p><p>A sharp turn later and the two were coming up the hallway towards the Princess’ royal chambers. Several manservants stood about, and it was in front of them her barreling form stopped.</p><p></p><p>“You!” she pointed, “Fetch for me the wizard Aegrifyr! You, find the Chief Court Mage!” The sharp tone of her voice gave the command all the urgency neccessary.</p><p></p><p>“Vintressa! If you’re going to do this,” Royukgan shouted again, trying to be the voice of reason, “At least take more with you! What the in the Nine Hells do you think barely a hundred guardsmen, five wizards, and you can do against an army of over ten score thousand!?” <em>I have all the respect in the world for your personal bodyguards, and I love you, Vintressa... but even I can see the odds...</em></p><p></p><p>“I don’t know, I’m thinking that part up as I go,” the princess replied coolly, resuming her march. Two hands shoved her chamber doors wide, and she promptly charged towards the dresser that contained her ‘normal wear.’ A quick minute later she had tossed aside several items until she pulled out some riding jerkins, and a light chain shirt. A few seconds later, she was behind a changing screen. “Now, are you going to help, or not?” she asked.</p><p></p><p>For a split second, Royukgan paused. His own mind edged towards the political, and the consequences of what action he chose weighed heavily in his mind. Interfering as a royal in the revolt within another nation could draw his father into the mess... a potential disaster. But not acting might cost him something else he held dear...</p><p></p><p>“Yes... someone is going to have to save you from this hare-brained scheme,” he sighed finally. “And here I thought I was in love with a cool headed, clear thinking princess!” he snorted.</p><p></p><p>“Who says I’m not clear headed?” she challenged from behind the screen, before emerging in her jerkins and chain shirt. </p><p></p><p>The armor itself made Royukgan wince. Normal chain shirts covered the torso down to the thighs, with short sleeves to cover the shoulders and upper arm. Hers had the shoulder and arm portions removed, leaving those areas only covered by her traveling clothes... nothing that would stop an arrow or blade strike. Nothing one should wear into battle... and while Royukgan trusted his own reflexes to keep him safe, he knew Vintressa was not nearly as fast as even Raven... let alone him.</p><p></p><p>Vintressa saw his eyes looking on disapprovingly.</p><p></p><p>“What? It interferes with my spellcasting,” she pronounced simply, before putting on another thin tunic that covered her armor and the jerkins underneath.</p><p></p><p>“You <em>cannot</em> ride out into battle like that!” Royukgan snapped. “You’ll just get yourself killed! Valaron is the battle-minded one, this is his realm! Yours is...”</p><p></p><p>“So you are saying I can’t handle myself?” Vintressa’s voice asked dangerously as she strapped on the rapier she’d used to wound the assassin not long ago. </p><p></p><p>“No, that’s not what I meant,” the prince tried to correct himself.</p><p></p><p>“That’s damn near what it sounded like,” she replied icily, before rumaging around in the same location she fetched her sword. A split second later, he found a rapier thrust into his hands. “Here... protect yourself with this.”</p><p></p><p>“I... I don’t know how to use this,” Royukgan stammered. “It is not a jian, or a mao deng...”</p><p></p><p>“A blade is a blade in desperate situations,” Vintressa thrust the sword towards him. “Practice with it, it’ll give you further reach than those little daggers you tossed at people,” she growled. “Or are you saying you need help taking care of yourself?”</p><p></p><p>The prince’s nostrils flared, as rage coursed through his veins. A vicious, biting reply leapt to his tongue, until his mind intervened before it left his lips.</p><p></p><p><em>She is under immense stress... that is why she is being so... sharp.</em> Royukgan’s short, shattering reply died in his throat.</p><p></p><p>“A blade is more effective when its wielder understands its strengths and weaknesses,” Royukgan replied slowly, measuring his words to avoid making the argument any more raucous, “...and I’d do better if I could be taught how to use this. As for my <em>sai</em>, I have known how to use them for the better part of seven years... and for being small, they <em>can</em> be effective,” he forced a slight smile. His hopeful humor had its desired effect, and Vintressa noticeably relaxed from her former, bristling stance.</p><p></p><p>“I can teach you,” she said simply, adding a weak smile of her own. “Now, we need to get ready, as I doubt Aegrifyr or Aeron will be very pleased once they hear what I have in mind...”</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“You’re riding out with <em>what?</em>” Vintressa’s former teacher sputtered.</p><p></p><p>“Your two eminent personalities, myself, Royukgan, and a hundred members of the Household Guard,” Vintressa replied calmly. She’d hoped if she relayed the news in a normal tone, it might reduce or delay some of the shock. No such luck.</p><p></p><p>“Highness,” Aegrifyr stumbled onward, mind in confusion, “you realize that 100 will not have a chance versus the <em>200,000</em> you refer to! You are a clever girl, surely you see this!”</p><p></p><p>“Yes... and I am thinking ahead of you, Teacher,” she smiled. Her delay arguing with Royukgan had given her time to think, and she had already found one thing in her favor. “When we ride, we will not face all 200,000 at once. If we don’t act, my mother and father <em>will</em> have to face them all at once!”</p><p></p><p>Aegrifyr sighed, and rolled his eyes. “You know your numbers, Highness! 100 versus 5,000 is still horrible odds, nearly as bad!”</p><p></p><p>“104, Teacher,” Royukgan’s voice jumped in. <em>If I am jumping into this, I might as well back Vin. I trust you, love...</em> “And that number is magnified if we have one of the greatest enchanters in the Empire, as well as one of the most powerful wizards all around on our side.” <em>A little well placed flattery...</em></p><p></p><p>“Prince Wei Royukgan Liaodeng!” Aegrifyr snapped, using Royukgan’s full name, “Do not tell me that you, too, have fallen into this mad thought!” The wizard’s robes swished angrily across the palace floor.</p><p></p><p>“How long of a ride is it... to a location that we could catch them on the march?” the other wizard present asked rather calmly. Aegrifyr spun towards the Chief Court Mage, eyes ablaze with disbelief.</p><p></p><p>“Are you backing this madcap idea as well?”</p><p></p><p>“I have seen stranger ideas come to fruition,” Aeron replied simply. “Though before we go into battle, I’d prefer we’d have an idea what is to happen. And I’d like to bring several other Court Mages along... perhaps ten.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, if one mage is good for firepower, ten more won’t hurt,” Vintressa reasoned. “And its not like we would be increasing the force by much... 104 to 114.”</p><p></p><p>“Do you have <em>any</em> idea what the plan will be, once we catch this vast host on the march? We cannot go charging in, blades above our heads!” Aegrifyr grumbled.</p><p></p><p>“Hmm... we could enchant some of their number, and make them march in circles,” Royukgan offered.</p><p></p><p>“We can think enroute,” Vintressa countered, already rising. “We do not have much time... likely some of the rebels are already moving towards the marshaling grounds as we speak. The sooner we can get there, the better... “</p><p></p><p>The image of her mother and father, riding into battle against overwhelming odds... they’re forms surrounded, being crushed by the rebel masses…</p><p></p><p><em>If I can’t stop some of them...</em> Vintressa’s mind thought, before shuddering. <em>Enchantment… might work…</em></p><p></p><p>The princess’ young mind was already working furiously when the orders were discreetly issued to head out.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1654871, member: 15043"] “So, what is so special about a ‘paladin’ running about? They are warriors, are they not?” Royukgan asked in confusion. Vintressa shook her head, and cleared her throat. The High Commander of Hieroneous had left several hours before, and Vintressa was hoping she could bounce ideas off her beau’s mind. “No... paladins are sworn to a certain religion, vowing to do their deity’s work on this world,” she started to explain. She gave a slight smile when Royukgan’s face lit up in recognition. “Oh... like an order of fighting monks then?” the foreign prince asked. When Vintressa nodded yes, he nodded in understanding. “So, this... Evermyn... broke all the bonds of her order? Ah... I see how it was so unusual.” “Yes... and unfortunately she managed to disappear into the woodwork, just like the Erelion children,” Vintressa added sourly. After Tesseron had reported what she knew about Evermyn, the city security people had been notified. Even now, they knew nothing, save a few people of that description broke into the now dead goblin Chamoval’s antique shop. [i]If we can find her and follow her, she’ll lead us to Elsidor and the Erelion devils before they find the Fire Stone![/i] Vintressa’s mind had reasoned the day before. Now, it looked like the window of opportunity was closing... rapidly. “Well, shouldn’t you let your vaunted security personnel handle that?” Royukgan asked. “Considering the three messages laying on the table in front of you?” Vintressa looked down at the coffee table in front of where she sat. Three letters, stamped with the seals of the Imperial Governors of Chalcedon, Erelia, and Montador, blazed white against the coffee table’s ebony wood. The Princess gave a sharp growl, the contents of the letters flashing into her mind once again. All three regions lay to the east of the capital, close to the area where the captured Erelion messages indicated the rebel army would be massing. And all three letters reported that there were various, “delays,” in the governor’s marshalling the local levies to impede the rebel progress. “Yes... I suppose I should,” she said with resignation. Her mind went back to the numbers game it had gone through when the letters had arrived only a half hour prior. [i]Mother has two score thousand, father has the same... how many could the rebels put together if they can combine their armies?[/i] Her mind ran through the names of the nobles listed, but with a grunt of frustration, she realized that while she knew who they were, she didn’t have the slightest idea how many troops each had. [i]Assume five thousand each,[/i] her mind thought. She knew that while some, such as the small Baron of Freyburg, would barely be able to put together one tenth that amount, there were others such as Erelion himself, who could easily marshal several times the amount. Her mind agilely went through the additions. [i]Fifty major nobles... five thousand troops each...[/i] “I wouldn’t worry about those letters much,” Royukgan said absently. “As a foreign prince, in my opinion, your Imperial Guard is full of some of the most disciplined troops I have ever seen. Eighty thousand of them should handle... what is it?” his voice dragged to a halt once he saw Vintressa’s face. “No... that can’t be right,” Vintressa said softly, her eyes locked on the distant problem. She shook her head, and looked at her friend, eyes slightly wide. “For a major noble in your realm, would five thousand be a good guess on how many troops they could marshal?” Royukgan’s face squinted slightly as he went into thought. “No, that’s a tad low, actually. If I had to guess, the Bey of Shi, the smallest of the nobles in Han, could pull maybe three thousand. Most of those would be culled peasant lev-“ “They’re marching into a trap,” Vintressa said softly, the numbers dancing in her head. “Vin... [i]are you insane!?[/i]” Royukgan snapped a few minutes later as he desperately tried to keep up with the Princess. He’d seen her when she was stalking through the Academy at this breakneck pace. Usually she was hell-bent on something, and no one, not any of the great wizard’s there, her friends, or even her parents would dissuade her. Her eyes flashed towards Royukgan, their blue taking on an icy, steel hue. Her rapid stalk through the palace had not changed pace... if anything she was moving faster. “Vintressa! Please!” Royukgan desperately changed tack. “I am merely the third son, I do not head armies, but even I know that is patently foolhardy!” A sharp turn later and the two were coming up the hallway towards the Princess’ royal chambers. Several manservants stood about, and it was in front of them her barreling form stopped. “You!” she pointed, “Fetch for me the wizard Aegrifyr! You, find the Chief Court Mage!” The sharp tone of her voice gave the command all the urgency neccessary. “Vintressa! If you’re going to do this,” Royukgan shouted again, trying to be the voice of reason, “At least take more with you! What the in the Nine Hells do you think barely a hundred guardsmen, five wizards, and you can do against an army of over ten score thousand!?” [i]I have all the respect in the world for your personal bodyguards, and I love you, Vintressa... but even I can see the odds...[/i] “I don’t know, I’m thinking that part up as I go,” the princess replied coolly, resuming her march. Two hands shoved her chamber doors wide, and she promptly charged towards the dresser that contained her ‘normal wear.’ A quick minute later she had tossed aside several items until she pulled out some riding jerkins, and a light chain shirt. A few seconds later, she was behind a changing screen. “Now, are you going to help, or not?” she asked. For a split second, Royukgan paused. His own mind edged towards the political, and the consequences of what action he chose weighed heavily in his mind. Interfering as a royal in the revolt within another nation could draw his father into the mess... a potential disaster. But not acting might cost him something else he held dear... “Yes... someone is going to have to save you from this hare-brained scheme,” he sighed finally. “And here I thought I was in love with a cool headed, clear thinking princess!” he snorted. “Who says I’m not clear headed?” she challenged from behind the screen, before emerging in her jerkins and chain shirt. The armor itself made Royukgan wince. Normal chain shirts covered the torso down to the thighs, with short sleeves to cover the shoulders and upper arm. Hers had the shoulder and arm portions removed, leaving those areas only covered by her traveling clothes... nothing that would stop an arrow or blade strike. Nothing one should wear into battle... and while Royukgan trusted his own reflexes to keep him safe, he knew Vintressa was not nearly as fast as even Raven... let alone him. Vintressa saw his eyes looking on disapprovingly. “What? It interferes with my spellcasting,” she pronounced simply, before putting on another thin tunic that covered her armor and the jerkins underneath. “You [i]cannot[/i] ride out into battle like that!” Royukgan snapped. “You’ll just get yourself killed! Valaron is the battle-minded one, this is his realm! Yours is...” “So you are saying I can’t handle myself?” Vintressa’s voice asked dangerously as she strapped on the rapier she’d used to wound the assassin not long ago. “No, that’s not what I meant,” the prince tried to correct himself. “That’s damn near what it sounded like,” she replied icily, before rumaging around in the same location she fetched her sword. A split second later, he found a rapier thrust into his hands. “Here... protect yourself with this.” “I... I don’t know how to use this,” Royukgan stammered. “It is not a jian, or a mao deng...” “A blade is a blade in desperate situations,” Vintressa thrust the sword towards him. “Practice with it, it’ll give you further reach than those little daggers you tossed at people,” she growled. “Or are you saying you need help taking care of yourself?” The prince’s nostrils flared, as rage coursed through his veins. A vicious, biting reply leapt to his tongue, until his mind intervened before it left his lips. [i]She is under immense stress... that is why she is being so... sharp.[/i] Royukgan’s short, shattering reply died in his throat. “A blade is more effective when its wielder understands its strengths and weaknesses,” Royukgan replied slowly, measuring his words to avoid making the argument any more raucous, “...and I’d do better if I could be taught how to use this. As for my [i]sai[/i], I have known how to use them for the better part of seven years... and for being small, they [i]can[/i] be effective,” he forced a slight smile. His hopeful humor had its desired effect, and Vintressa noticeably relaxed from her former, bristling stance. “I can teach you,” she said simply, adding a weak smile of her own. “Now, we need to get ready, as I doubt Aegrifyr or Aeron will be very pleased once they hear what I have in mind...” “You’re riding out with [i]what?[/i]” Vintressa’s former teacher sputtered. “Your two eminent personalities, myself, Royukgan, and a hundred members of the Household Guard,” Vintressa replied calmly. She’d hoped if she relayed the news in a normal tone, it might reduce or delay some of the shock. No such luck. “Highness,” Aegrifyr stumbled onward, mind in confusion, “you realize that 100 will not have a chance versus the [i]200,000[/i] you refer to! You are a clever girl, surely you see this!” “Yes... and I am thinking ahead of you, Teacher,” she smiled. Her delay arguing with Royukgan had given her time to think, and she had already found one thing in her favor. “When we ride, we will not face all 200,000 at once. If we don’t act, my mother and father [i]will[/i] have to face them all at once!” Aegrifyr sighed, and rolled his eyes. “You know your numbers, Highness! 100 versus 5,000 is still horrible odds, nearly as bad!” “104, Teacher,” Royukgan’s voice jumped in. [i]If I am jumping into this, I might as well back Vin. I trust you, love...[/i] “And that number is magnified if we have one of the greatest enchanters in the Empire, as well as one of the most powerful wizards all around on our side.” [i]A little well placed flattery...[/i] “Prince Wei Royukgan Liaodeng!” Aegrifyr snapped, using Royukgan’s full name, “Do not tell me that you, too, have fallen into this mad thought!” The wizard’s robes swished angrily across the palace floor. “How long of a ride is it... to a location that we could catch them on the march?” the other wizard present asked rather calmly. Aegrifyr spun towards the Chief Court Mage, eyes ablaze with disbelief. “Are you backing this madcap idea as well?” “I have seen stranger ideas come to fruition,” Aeron replied simply. “Though before we go into battle, I’d prefer we’d have an idea what is to happen. And I’d like to bring several other Court Mages along... perhaps ten.” “Well, if one mage is good for firepower, ten more won’t hurt,” Vintressa reasoned. “And its not like we would be increasing the force by much... 104 to 114.” “Do you have [i]any[/i] idea what the plan will be, once we catch this vast host on the march? We cannot go charging in, blades above our heads!” Aegrifyr grumbled. “Hmm... we could enchant some of their number, and make them march in circles,” Royukgan offered. “We can think enroute,” Vintressa countered, already rising. “We do not have much time... likely some of the rebels are already moving towards the marshaling grounds as we speak. The sooner we can get there, the better... “ The image of her mother and father, riding into battle against overwhelming odds... they’re forms surrounded, being crushed by the rebel masses… [i]If I can’t stop some of them...[/i] Vintressa’s mind thought, before shuddering. [i]Enchantment… might work…[/i] The princess’ young mind was already working furiously when the orders were discreetly issued to head out. [/QUOTE]
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