Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 38 - A Conspiracy Against Her?

  "The Republic is not an insular nation. We seek to bring friendship and prosperity to the world. It is through positive relations and trade that peace and wealth are gained, not only for the Citizens of the Republic, but also for the peoples of the rest of the world."

  The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun

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  As Jakob escorted her towards Lindholm’s command room, Ester chewed her bottom lip, deep in thought.

  She still wasn’t quite sure how to feel. It had been… nice talking with the Republican officers over breakfast. They’d asked her about her spells, even included her in a couple of jokes. She didn’t feel like she was one of them, but after her fight out in no-man’s land, things had changed. Now she was someone they could respect. She finally felt like she had value, rather than them quietly resenting her for being in the same room.

  Ester smiled to herself and, despite the weight of her tiredness still bearing down on her and the gnawing ache of her half empty belly, there was a slight bounce to her step.

  When they walked in, Lindholm was looking pensively over the map table, accompanied by Arcanist-Major Norred and a couple of other officers. There were a lot of the little models representing undead on there. Ester quickly looked away before she started thinking about what that meant.

  Jakob saluted in the Republican way, fist over his heart. “I’ve brought Mage Mazar as requested, Arcanist-Colonel.”

  Lindholm ignored him for a moment before she looked up with a thin smile.

  “Ah, yes. I hope you were able to get some rest?” She didn’t look in the slightest bit ruffled. Great Spirits only knew how long she’d been out fighting the liche single-handed, but as far as Ester could see there wasn’t a scratch on her. She looked as worn down by life as she always did, but not one iota more.

  Ester bowed politely in response. “Yes, Arcanist-Colonel, thank you. I think I needed it.”

  “Heh.” Lindholm didn’t quite laugh, but her lips did twitch. “I am not surprised. That was a good performance on your part. I was a bit too busy to observe it, but I have been told all about it. I am grateful for your rescue of Arcanist-Captain Loga and it seems like you have reduced the weight of the forces arrayed against us.”

  “Thank you, Arcanist-Colonel.” Ester hesitated. “Did your, umm, battle with the liche go well?” She winced slightly as soon as she’d asked. It felt like a stupid question. If it hadn’t gone well, Lindholm would hardly be standing there uninjured.

  “Yes.” Lindholm managed to radiate a sense of satisfaction without changing her facial expression in the slightest. “That particular abomination will not be troubling anyone or anything any more.”

  “Good!” Ester surprised herself with her own vehemence, but the memory of that creature kept coming back to her. Abomination was the only good word to describe it. Something like that shouldn’t have been allowed to exist. That Lindholm had been able to kill it was an unmitigated good.

  “Indeed, it is good to see you are so enthusiastic about destroying the undead, although perhaps next time you could hold off until I am ready?”

  Despite Lindholm’s amused tone, Ester felt her face flush. She shouldn’t have let her feelings overwhelm her and attack the creature first. “Yes, Arcanist-Colonel. I am sorry, Arcanist-Colonel.”

  “It is understandable, when you have not seen anything like that before it can trigger reactions. Some freeze, some flee and others,” Lindholm’s lips twitched again, “fight. I know which I would rather have at my side. However, all these things must be tempered.”

  Ester quickly nodded, resisting the urge to giggle nervously at the praise, qualified as it was. “Does this mean that the undead forces have been severely weakened? Since you killed their commander and most powerful undead?”

  “Ah. No.” Lindholm exchanged a glance with Norred. “There is no chance that the actual commander of the undead army here would have risked itself like that. I killed a powerful liche, more powerful than I would have expected under the circumstances, which is worrying enough. However, it suggests that the actual commander is more powerful still. perhaps even a Sovereign unlikely as that is, if we are truly unlucky. Which raises more questions than I want to think about.”

  “A Sovereign?” Ester frowned. “But I thought you had said to Commander Sundt that if it was a Sovereign the fort would already have been taken?”

  “Yes, I find it curious and hopefully a sign that the liche is not at that level. Hopefully I am just being paranoid. In the end, it changes little. We fight until we win, we die or the fort is relieved.”

  Ester shivered slightly. “Arcanist-Colonel, you talk about different levels of liche and I understand that Sovereigns are the most powerful, but I do not truly have much to compare to. You were able to single-handedly defeat the liche that we met without any injury, but Arcanist-Subaltern Jakob said that fighting a liche normally required multiple Arcanists to work together. So what is the significance?”

  “Huh. Let me see, you do not have the Frandsen-Brunsvold Scale in the Empire, do you?”

  Ester shook her head even as her ears perked up, maybe Lindholm would explain it properly. “No, I am sorry.”

  “I had assumed not.” What was that meant to mean? “I suppose a Sovereign would be comparable to one of your Archmages. Powerful enough to win battles single-handed and to defeat any conceivable opponent other than another Archmage.”

  “Oh.” Ice speared through Ester’s veins at the idea. She’d never seen an Archmage let loose, but she’d seen the scar in the ground from the Battle of Grathbridge. People said Master Tabasi practically was one. After all, he was so powerful, he could stop time with a single word.

  Lindholm was impressive. Slightly terrifying in fact. But she couldn’t imagine anyone in the room, or even everyone in the room, taking on Master Tabasi. So where did that leave them if they were facing an Archmage?

  Lindholm shrugged as if she’d read Ester’s mind and decided that none of it mattered.

  “I would not let it worry you. I doubt that it is in fact a Sovereign out there. There are not many of them and they rarely emerge from the depths of the Lands of the Dead. Liches are always reluctant to risk themselves and those at the top all the more so. And, if one is here, we will still hunt it down and destroy it. I am here and so is the 13th Strike Regiment. We never lose.”

  “Well said, Sigrid.” Norred replied before Ester could, his eyes shining with almost fanatical devotion.

  Ester looked between the Republican officers. If any of them were worried by Lindholm’s words, they weren’t showing it. In fact, they seemed to be swelling with enthusiasm, like they were ready to run to the surface and go and find the liche that very second.

  They were all mad. The very idea of facing an Archmage was terrifying and that was without even thinking about the horror of it being a liche.

  Ester forced herself to stand up straighter and ignore the fear running through her. A grin spread its way across her lips. This was what she’d wanted wasn’t it?

  “You are right, Arcanist-Colonel. We will destroy it.”

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  “Excellent. Now, I think you have essentially already said it, Mage Mazar, but are you willing to continue to fight after your encounter in no-man’s land? I cannot guarantee your safety, but you are a diplomat and I would be remiss in my duty if I did not ask.”

  Ester blinked at the sudden change of tone. “Yes, of course I am. I do not want to sit underground waiting to find out whether you have won or not.”

  “As I expected. Now, it is good that you were able to demonstrate your skills. I had suspected that there was more to you than a mere civilian diplomat, but now I can be sure.” Lindholm’s cold, blue eyes seemed to pierce straight through Ester. “This means I can make use of you. You are Talented for your age and clearly well-trained. The main things that you are lacking are a bit of experience and any knowledge of self-enhancement. Correct?”

  Ester’s growing bubble of pride was instantly burst by the last few words. “I have never learned, no.” She paused, unwilling to ask, but this might be the best opportunity she got. “Would you be able to teach me? So that I can use it against the undead?”

  “No.” Lindholm’s refusal was instant and blunt. She must have seen the frustration on Ester’s face because her tone softened, just by a hair. “I am not being capricious, Mage Mazar. While I am grateful for your help, there are limits to what I am willing to do. Both practically and politically. In practical terms, teaching you without you risking doing more damage to yourself than to any enemy would simply take too long to be useful. Further, it would be a distraction from what you have shown plenty of ability for - destroying the enemy at range. Not everything is about punching things. Politically, you remain a loyal subject of your Undying Queen, do you not?”

  Ester had to resist the urge to take a step back at the look that flashed over Lindholm’s face at the mention of Her Eternal Majesty. If she’d needed a reminder that the people here didn’t like the Empire, that was an unpleasant one. She was no coward though. She lifted her chin and met Lindholm’s eyes.

  “Yes, I am a loyal subject of Her Eternal Majesty. I just do not see why that should stop me--"

  Lindholm cut her off. “Do not play at naivety. You know perfectly well why it matters. I do not wish to cause strife between us now, we are all comrades in arms here in Fort Statvinger and I have no reason to dislike you personally. However, the risk of anything I teach you being used against the Republic in a few years’ time is too high. Far too many innocent people have died and I would not see a single further person more suffer at the command of your queen.” She seemed to realise her voice was rising and forced it down to a more normal, but still harsh, tone. “Maybe in the years to come should friendship grow between our nations, more will be possible, but for now that is that.”

  Lindholm looked back to the map table in an obvious dismissal. Ester just stood there for a few seconds, stunned at the sudden vehemence in Lindholm’s tone.

  The silence stretched until Ester broke it with a blank-faced bow. “I understand, Arcanist-Colonel.” She couldn’t quite keep the disappointment out of her voice.

  Lindholm’s tone softened slightly as she looked back at Ester. “Thank you, Mage Mazar. I would suggest you get some rest. From tomorrow you can be added to the Arcanists’ shift rota. Having an additional fighter with your level of Talent will help us to hold the walls.

  In lieu of saying anything, Ester bowed again and turned on her heel to leave, Jakob trailing awkwardly behind her.

  What had triggered Lindholm like that? She’d thought the Arcanist-Colonel had liked her, or at least been somewhat sympathetic to her. Did the woman really hate the Empire that much? The anger in Lindholm’s voice had been frightening. Particularly when Ester thought of how fast the woman could move. If there was anyone in Fort Statvinger that Ester didn’t want to get on the wrong side of, it was Sigrid Lindholm.

  As she walked through the fort’s tunnels, Ester’s mind was whirling so fast that she didn’t even think about where she was going. Why had Lindholm reacted like that? Was the whole world determined to make sure that she never learned how to fight properly?

  She clenched her hands into fists. Maybe she should just try to teach herself? She was good at working things out. Lindholm had said she might hurt herself. That was what the professors at the Academy said too. She was halfway to thinking it was all one giant conspiracy to stop her from learning.

  As Ester slowly got herself under control, her anger faded and she realised her feet were instinctively taking her back to her room. Perhaps that was for the best. She was still very much worn down from the fighting and some time alone to clear her head would do her good. She glanced over at Jakob, perhaps he’d know why Lindholm had been so vehement.

  “Arcanist-Subaltern,” she chose her words carefully, “I did not mean to upset Arcanist-Colonel Lindholm, but clearly something I said did. Does she have a bad history with the Empire?”

  “Uh, not as far as I know… I’m sorry she snapped at you, but…” he gathered himself. “Mage Mazar, you do need to remember that the Empire and the Republic have been enemies for a long time. Your people have given us plenty of reasons for hostility. The Empire doesn’t need to have hurt us personally for it to have indirectly made our lives worse. We all know people who’ve lost family to the Empire. We know that, given the chance, your queen wouldn’t hesitate to crush the Republic, simply because of everything it represents, because of everything we believe in. I’m sure Arcanist-Colonel Lindholm has nothing against you personally and we all appreciate what you’re doing here. We’d like peace with the Empire, but we fear that it’ll never happen. So no, I’m not surprised that she objected to the idea of helping you learn more combat magic. You don’t have to have suffered like Edvin to have good reason to think like that.”

  Ester felt like her shoulders were trying to climb up to her ears as he went on. She’d known they didn’t like the Empire, but hearing him say it so bluntly was still painful.

  She took a deep breath. She was here to be a diplomat. She wanted to help the Republicans fight the undead. Jakob and Lindholm had both said they wanted peace. So did she. Her Eternal Majesty’s subjects had plenty of reasons to dislike the Republicans too. That just made peace more important. Although… she didn’t actually know anyone who’d lost family fighting the Republic. Was that because the Empire had won? Or because it was bigger?

  Ester’s mind caught up with what Jakob had said about Loga. The Arcanist-Captain had never said anything rude to her though.

  “What do you mean Arcanist-Captain Loga suffered?” She couldn’t quite stop herself from asking.

  Jakob sighed deeply. “I shouldn’t have said that, it’s his business.” For a second she thought he’d refuse to say anymore, but eventually he kept going. “It was his father. He died at the Battle of Grathbridge. Obliterated by a Mage. Apparently there wasn’t even anything left to bury.”

  “Oh.” What could she even say to that? Loga had never gone beyond avoiding her company. Except during the walk back to the fort, when he’d struggled not to be rude, but even then he’d been grateful to her. “I am sorry.” It didn’t seem like enough. “That is why it is so important that we work together. I do not want anyone else to die, we should remember who the real enemy are.”

  “Yes.” Jakob nodded slowly. “I know. We all know that, but you wanted to know why Sigrid was how she was. We’re glad you’re here, but memories run deep.”

  There wasn’t much to say to that and the two of them fell into silence.

  It didn’t take much longer for Ester to reach her room and it was with some relief that she went in. She didn’t think she could face talking to anyone else for a while. Especially not a Republican.

  She turned to face Jakob from inside the door. “Thank you, Arcanist-Subaltern, I think I will rest now. I need to recover from the last fight if I am going to be any use in a fight.”

  “Of course, Mage Mazar.” He hesitated. “Don’t take what I said to heart, we all know you saved Edvin’s life and that you’re a decent sort.”

  He offered Ester a tentative smile, which she couldn’t quite bring herself to return. She could almost hear the unspoken for a crown-licker.

  “Thank you, Arcanist-Subaltern. I will see you later.”

  She gently shut the door in his face and threw herself down onto the small, uncomfortable bed. Why did life have to be so difficult? She was doing her best, but sometimes it just felt like the world was against her. The Republicans certainly seemed to be against her. Even when she risked her life to help them, they still wanted to tell her all about how terrible the Empire was. It wasn’t fair!

  Ester lay there, staring up at the stone ceiling with watery eyes. Surely it must be possible to win them over. Even if they wouldn’t teach her any of their combat magic, they’d have to treat her as a proper comrade when she was fighting at their side. Right? She sighed heavily and rolled onto her side.

  The world wasn’t fair, despite everything Her Eternal Majesty did, and there was no point lying there being miserable about Republicans. It wasn’t like they could be trusted to think about things sensibly or honourably anyway. She needed to be focused. Maybe she’d win them over, maybe she wouldn’t, but if she didn’t survive it would hardly matter either way.

  She needed to do something productive. That always made her feel better about the world and her fights had given her an idea. It was going to take a lot of work though.

  Ester sat up, thoughts of unpleasant Republicans already fleeing her mind as she started to think. She absently groped for her belt knife and put it on her lap. The array was already coming together in her head, but she’d need to be very sure that it would work before she risked ruining the small blade.

  Her finger traced out the shape of runes on the knife, her lips silently shaping the words behind them as she thought. She’d never heard of something like this being done before. That didn’t mean no one ever had, but it did make her wonder whether it could really work. Visualisations of the Schema flicked through her head and were dismissed almost as quickly as they came. She’d work on that for a couple of hours and then she’d get some sleep.

  Ester bit her lip and focused on the Schema. A moment later, the arrays of runes fled her mind as a new thought came to her.

  Lindholm had seemed very sure that the fight with the liche was inevitable. She must have known that before they ever left the fort.

  If she hadn’t known Ester could fight, why had she brought her along? She hadn't even warned her about what would happen. Had Lindholm tried to use the liche to kill her? Was it just a more subtle murder attempt that she’d only foiled because she’d been better at fighting than Lindholm had expected?

  Ester shuddered at the thought. Sleep might be harder than she’d thought.

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  Dramatis personae:

  Ester Mazar - Chartered Mage, what could you possibly object to in the Empire and Her Eternal Majesty's benevolent rule?

  Sigrid Lindholm - Arcanist-Colonel and war hero, I don't hate you, I just hate everything you stand for.

  Jakob Rostad - Arcanist-Subaltern, please try to be more diplomatic Sigrid.