Valkyrie's Shadow

Empire in Chains: Act 4, Chapter 7

Empire in Chains: Act 4, Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The Undead column and its imperial escort stayed far south of the River Islein, swinging wide around Oestestadt to avoid sending the city into a mass panic. They stuck to the rural roads, following the broad river valley to Mittelislein. Every hour or so, an entire village was sent scrambling indoors with their passing. This was better than paralysing the towns along the highway, but Rangobart still felt guilty for the waves of terror they created, wondering how long it would take the villagers to come back out.

As for the Fifth Company, they travelled a distance parallel to the Undead, bracketing them to the north and south. In the southern contingent, Rangobart looked over to where Baroness Zahradnik led the column of undeath astride her skeletal horse.

How does she do it?

The young noblewoman seemed entirely unperturbed being near so many insanely powerful Undead. A few of the company’s scouts even said that the most powerful Undead in the entire column was probably the one that she was riding.

“Didn’t they say that they have these Undead all over the Sorcerous Kingdom?”

“That’s what I heard,” Harlow said from his right. “How people there don’t shit themselves breakfast, lunch and dinner is beyond me.”

“We sure they’re even alive in E-Rantel?” Another soldier nearby asked, “Maybe they’ve been turned into Undead too.”

“Merchants say people just keep on as they always have.”

“Hey, Roberbad, aren’t you supposed to be flirting with her or something? Get over there and ask.”

Rangobart doubted that he could even get close. His horse would probably buck him off halfway.

“I’ll get a chance once we set up camp,” he said. “...or not. Are we really riding to the border of Mittelislein in one day?”

“Capn’s got the Clerics refreshing the horses as we go,” Harlow replied. “Should be able to get there by evening.”

“Yeah, and we’ll be half-dead from this long-ass ride,” the rider behind him said. “Isn’t there supposed to be some nasty shit in that forest near where we’re stopping?”

“Druids and Hill Giants or something.”

“It’s what we got these guys for, yeah?” Harlow gestured towards the Undead with his chin, “Maybe they’ll clean ‘em all out while we’re sleeping.”

Just from looking at them, Rangobart did not doubt that they could. Even a single one appeared powerful enough to destroy every city around The Blister.

“You think you’ll be doing much sleeping, Roberbad?”

Rangobart could hear the leer in the voice from behind. His father’s meddling had resulted in far more problems than Rangobart had first realised, which was already more than enough. He glanced over his shoulder to the column of men. Their heads often turned to gaze at the Baroness for a time before looking back to their surroundings.

Screams filled the air as they crossed into the perimeter of another village. Men, women and children disappeared into their homes. Doors and shutters slammed shut.

“We’re not doing anyone any favours here…” One of the Sergeants grumbled, “It’s already winter: why aren’t we going through the fields instead?”

“To be seen,” Rangobart said. “These Undead are here to stay. Didn’t the Captain brief all the squad leaders before we left for the border?”

“He did, but this is still ridiculous.”

“It’s better than starting out by going straight through Oestestadt.”

As an officer, Rangobart was privy to the objectives specific to his company’s part of the operation. The Sorcerous Kingdom was nothing if not thorough when it came to the materials they provided to help with the integration of their leased forces. It was to the point where it seemed that their primary concern was not whether the Undead could function in the Empire, but whether the Empire could function around the Undead.

Knowing what he did, Rangobart could see why they focused on those areas. By leasing the Undead, the Empire had slashed two Legions’ worth of its defence budget. The resulting surplus would be lost if the presence of the Undead affected tax revenues by causing disruptions to industry and trade. The courses of action ‘suggested’ by the Sorcerous Kingdom were all-inclusive: turning the integration of the Undead forces into more a civilian operation than a military one.

The Empire would get used to it bit by bit and the trust of the citizens was integral to success. It was not dissimilar to how the Imperial Army built up its image in the eyes of the people so the military, at least, understood how it worked in principle. Getting the citizens to accept the Undead, however, was another matter entirely.

As their long ride wore on and the sun dipped behind the peaks of the Azerlisia Mountains, a camp appeared on the horizon. Rangobart narrowed his eyes at the unexpected sight.

“Was that there before?”

“Who knows?” Harlow said, “Couldn’t have seen it from the highway. They’re set up behind a ridge.”

?Company, halt!?

They stopped at the Captain’s command from the northern column. Several riders unlimbered their bows.

“Bets, anyone?”

“About what?” Rangobart asked.

“Whether they’re Work–”

?Workers ahead. Eld, Korintz, Zint: set up a net all the way to the treeline. Calloway, Senz, Orstein: keep the ridge between you and that camp and get your squads around to the opposite side – same deal. Everyone else, with me.?

The company split up to box in the camp according to Captain Germund’s orders. Rangobart rode forward to join the Captain, noting that the Undead column hadn’t moved.

“Captain.”

“Roberbad. See anything?”

“It’s too far to tell if they have any spells set up around the camp. Should I message the…whose jurisdiction is this? We’re right on the line.”

“Contact the First. The commander can figure that part out. Not that anyone can get to us in time – it’s at least two hours to either city by Hippogriff.”

Rangobart relayed their findings via Message to the First Division garrison in Mittelislein. With an entire company headed their way, the camp was probably already aware of their presence. Workers tended to melt away when they thought they had drawn the wrong sort of attention, so all Captain Germund could do was work with what he had on hand.

“How did the air patrol miss this?”

“I don’t see any campfires,” Captain Germund said, “so they’ve probably been hiding from the start. They’re right up against the forest, so it’s easy to camouflage themselves against aerial surveillance.”

“More’s the question,” one of the Sergeants with them said. “How aren’t they being attacked by angry Druids right now?”

It was a good point. The forest ahead of them was filled with inhabitants hostile to the Empire’s citizens. There was a powerful circle of Druids, Rangers, Giants, Magical Beasts and a sizable population of tribal Demihumans. The cost in lives for the Imperial Army to clear them away was unacceptable, so it remained as one of many stretches of untamed wilderness inside the Empire’s borders.

“You wouldn’t have heard,” Captain Germund replied, “but the Adventurer Guild finally got rid of them a week or so ago. These Workers are too damn good at sniffing out opportunities.”

“Poachers, then…can we handle them?”

“Oh, I’m sure that we have a way to deal with them,” the Captain glanced back at the Undead column in the distance, “but I would rather it not get to that.”

“Like hell these Workers will listen,” Harlow scoffed. “At best they’ll run into the woods and disappear.”

Like Adventurers in the Empire, Worker teams were loosely Platinum-rank and above. The rank and file soldiers of the Fifth Company were equivalent to Silver-rank Adventurers or close to it, but they had the advantage of numbers. Rangobart squinted towards the camp in the darkness.

“How many are there?”

“There are twenty tents. Enough for at least forty Workers.”

They turned at the sound of Baroness Zahradnik’s voice. It appeared that she had dismounted and walked up to join them unnoticed.

“Well shit,” Harlow said, then cleared his throat. “Er, I mean…how problematic.”

Several snorts sounded from nearby. The noblewoman smiled slightly.

“I won’t break if you’re rough with me, Sergeant,” she said. “What will you do, Captain Germund?”

“I’d ask them to come quietly,” the Captain replied, “but how that pans out will depend on how many of them are real Workers. It’s a near certainty that they’ve brought in common labourers to help with logistics.”

Captain Germund’s reasoning was sound. Forty Platinum-equivalent Workers wouldn’t appear so easily on such short notice.

“What are they moving, exactly?” Baroness Zahradnik asked.

“Any high-value goods they can find in that forest,” Captain Germund replied. “The major threats there were neutralised recently. These Workers are helping themselves to the spoils.”

With that, the Captain ordered his men forward. Rangobart dismounted to bring up the rear with a handful of other Wizards – a makeshift ‘squad’ that he coordinated to support the rest of the company. The Baroness fell into step beside him.

“How often do problems like this appear?”

“Between Workers, highwaymen and smugglers,” Rangobart replied, “two or three times a week. Something as large as this poacher camp is rare. I’ve only been in the army for three months, but I’ve read that it might be once a season per city region. Thieves always show up once there’s enough incentive and there seems to be an unlimited supply of people willing to gamble with the law.”

As he spoke, the Baroness studied him from the side. Rangobart tried his best not to react to her gaze. Ahead of them, the camp was abuzz with activity as the company hemmed them in from three sides. Rangobart and his mages went to stand behind a shield wall formed out of two squads of heavy infantry.

“Target the civilians,” he told the mages. “Don’t waste your mana trying to stop the Workers.”

Captain Germund’s voice sounded over the field.

“You are trespassing on the Crown Lands of the Baharuth Empire,” he said. “By the will of the Emperor, you are ordered to stand down and await inspection!”

“Crown Land?” A voice shouted back, “This here’s no one’s land! Adventurers cleaned it out, not the army!”

“Yeah!” A woman voiced her agreement, “You can’t just walk in and claim everything like you did all the work!”

Idiot. Who do you think paid those Adventurers…

Not that reasoning with Workers would get anywhere. They were men and women who didn’t adhere to any regulations and thought that they had a right to dictate which laws were fair and which ones weren’t. At the same time, they often felt entitled to the protection of imperial law and the same life that proper citizens of the Empire enjoyed, taking advantage of the fruits of progress built on the legitimate efforts of others.

In short, they were what happened when irresponsible children happened to hold personal power. Criminals with no accountability who often hid behind some idea that they were being virtuous or exercising free will.

?Draw steel!?

Spears were brandished; bows raised.

“Final warning!” The Captain shouted, “Stand down!”

Weapons, crates and bags were cast to the ground as men and women complied. About a quarter of them bolted for the trees.

“?Extend Magic – Flare?!”

Rangobart cast a spell, which was echoed by the other mages. Orbs of brilliant light illuminated the camp from overhead.

?Company, advance! Zint; Orstein: not too deep.?

At Captain Germund’s order, the two Ranger squads split off and gave pursuit. Rangobart raised his hand over the plate-clad shoulders of the infantry as they slowly advanced. Behind the closest wagon in the camp, several men looked out at them fearfully. Rangobart cast another spell.

“?Sleep?!”

The men collapsed. Across the camp, the scene repeated itself as they cast spells to pacify the civilian labourers. With the potential threats dealt with, the company was free to sweep over the camp, securing it within minutes.

Rangobart let out a quiet breath as he surveyed the surroundings.

“Should I call for transport, Captain?” He asked.

“Yeah. Good work, Roberbad.”

With a nod in his direction, Captain Germund left to join the men waiting at the edge of the forest. Rangobart cast a Message spell, connecting with the communications officer at the First Division garrison.

?Roberbad here.?

?That was quick. Report.?

?We’ve taken the camp. We’re going to need…?

He looked around at the tents and stockpiles around him.

?…a dozen wagons, just to be on the safe side.?

?Acknowledged. Casualties??

?None so far, but our Rangers are pursuing a few that fled. The Clerics should be able to cover anything from here on out.?

The woman on the other side of the Message reviewed the communication once before ending the contact.

“No!”

Rangobart turned his head at a panicked shout from the treeline. Between two soldiers was a man sitting on the ground with an arrow sticking out of his knee. He pushed away the hand of the Cleric attempting to tend to him.

“I said no!” The man shouted as he kept swatting the Cleric’s attempted ministrations away, “I can’t afford it!”

“You’re going to end up with a limp,” came the Cleric’s exasperated reply.

“Are you deaf, woman?” The man seethed, “Get off me!”

“Leave him, Chara.”

The Cleric frowned over at Captain Germund. After a moment, she rose and walked off with a sigh. The injured man lay back down with a pained groan.

“Are the temple schedules different from Re-Estize?” Baroness Zahradnik asked from beside Rangobart.

“Rates for healing are scaled according to the cost of living in each region, my lady,” Rangobart replied. “They should be the same as any area of Re-Estize or Roble with similar economic conditions, as far as I know.”

“So he’s unemployed.”

“Possibly. Or he has debts. Or maybe he’s bad with money.”

Baroness Zahradnik eyed the injured man for several more seconds before turning her attention to the forest. As a former Noble of Re-Estize, she should have been aware that people sometimes couldn’t afford healing for one reason or the other. Or was there another reason behind the question?

“Is healing handled differently in the Sorcerous Kingdom, my lady?”

“Fundamentally, it is the same. Compensation for healing varies by both economic conditions and cultural standards.”

“Cultural standards?”

“Our citizenry is made up of many different races,” Lady Zahradnik explained. “Human temples do not hold an exclusive licence to regulate divine magic: there are more tribal Shamans and Druids than there are Human Priests.”

He couldn’t imagine how complicated that could become. Even the odd priest of a foreign faith was enough to drive the Temples of the Four crazy in the Empire.

“Still,” the Baroness muttered, “I’ve never witnessed anyone refuse healing magic so vehemently.”

“You haven’t?” Rangobart frowned, “How does everyone pay for it?”

“It depends. Healing potions are the main source of healing in my demesne for the time being. It’s a frontier territory, so materials are cheap and the local Alchemists ensure that we have an adequate stockpile. All of my subjects have at least one healing potion on hand; those who are exposed to workplace hazards have more.”

“I can see that working for a frontier territory with a small population,” Rangobart crossed his arms, “but what about developed lands with high population densities and a lower ratio of Priests or Alchemists to subjects?”

“Healing happens on demand in that case,” Lady Zahradnik replied. “It’s not as quick or convenient as using potions, but efforts are being made to increase the ratio of Priests and Clerics.”

A nation ruled by an Undead sovereign was actively increasing the ratio of Priests and Clerics? It didn’t make much sense to him, but pursuing the validity of the matter would likely get him nowhere.

“Can everyone still afford healing magic in those developed territories?”

“It might not be a fair comparison since the cost of living is lower in the Sorcerous Kingdom, but yes. If one cannot immediately afford healing magic, the Temples or whoever healed them will send an invoice to the local lord. We then collect the fees over time, which usually isn’t long since discretionary incomes in the Sorcerous Kingdom are higher than those of the Empire’s average citizen.”

“That is a very enviable position to be in,” Rangobart raised an eyebrow. “Your revenues must be incredible.”

“Oh yes,” Lady Zahradnik smirked, “I pinched myself every time I reviewed my summer tax revenues to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”

He didn’t think she had any reason to lie, but what were they doing differently? Re-Estize was notoriously poor when it came to the average commoner: how had the situation changed so drastically with the advent of the Sorcerous Kingdom?

Perhaps his brother might know, but he never shared that sort of information with him. Neither did his father. They were only ever open-handed with knowledge when it came to the role they had in mind for him at any given point. Rangobart had, of course, heard the rumours of Undead being used as labourers, but that did not change crop or livestock yields. The only thing he could reason out was that the population had dropped drastically, resulting in more land per tenant.

Was she purposely not mentioning that side of the equation? He couldn’t blame her, if so. The massacre at Katze Plains was so firmly entrenched in the Second Legion’s minds that many could only imagine that the ensuing occupation of E-Rantel was just as horrifying. Baroness Zahradnik probably had no choice but to bow under the threat of the Undead sovereign’s overwhelming might.

Or, despite present appearances, perhaps they had broken her by doing something like butchering her subjects. No, that couldn’t be right – it was said that Momon and Nabe of Darkness had pledged themselves to serve the Sorcerer King under the condition that the citizens of the Sorcerous Kingdom were not unjustifiably subjected to such atrocities.

As Rangobart continued to consider her situation, his brother’s stupid scenario drifted to the forefront of his mind.

A grieving, frightened young noblewoman, desperate for someone to comfort her. You could be the man that fills the hole in her life.