Valkyrie's Shadow

Empire in Chains: Act 6, Chapter 13

Empire in Chains: Act 6, Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Is this really a game that kids play somewhere?

It was unlike the ones that Joachim was familiar with. Igvel was grouped with Redwyn, Destin, a Ranger, and Pol, a Cavalier. They stood on either side of him, roughly a metre away. The rest of the group, including Captain Hawke and Joachim, were loosely positioned in a circle around them. They were instructed to trade spots with the adjacent surrounding members every few seconds while waiting for an order to attack the trio.

?Joachim!?

Joachim padded in, training weapon brandished. Destin noticed him first, calling out in warning. Pol turned just in time to intercept Joachim’s attack with his face. A metallic clank sounded in the crisp morning air and Pol stumbled back with a hand on his helmet.

“Sorry,” Joachim winced.

Redwyn came to kneel beside Pol, checking for injuries.

“A Goblin won’t apologise to someone killing their friends and family, Joachim.”

He looked over to Lady Zahradnik.

“I’m not a Goblin, my lady.”

“I think you make a great Goblin,” the Baroness smiled. “Pol didn’t even notice you coming.”

Another ‘Goblin’ dashed forward with a practice longsword, smacking Redwyn over a shoulder. The Cleric staggered forward onto his hands and knees with a pained grunt. Pol, who was still being tended to, stared up at his attacker in disbelief.

“You just lost your healer,” Lady Zahradnik noted. “Make it a habit to cover your Clerics – everyone will notice them when they stop and tend to the wounded. They’re valuable targets and can be ambushed at any time.”

The exercise continued, but the majority of the attackers got through even when the defenders had become used to the exercise. Against those using weapons with greater reach, it was next to impossible to react in time. The defenders would make half a turn before another victim was knocked down with violent force. Redwyn knelt to heal another drubbed teammate, a frown crossing his face.

“Do we have to hit people so hard in an exercise, m’lady?”

“Yes.”

“…and this was a ‘game’ you played when you were a girl.”

Lady Zahradnik smiled a nostalgic smile, dark eyes glittering as she replied.

“Admittedly, it wasn’t as intense, but that’s what childhood is like, yes? The games that we play; the songs that we sing; the tales that our parents and elders share with us: they’re all lessons and exercises – physical and mental – that prepare us for life as adults. You can tell where someone is from and what they are by the habits that have been instilled in them from childhood. Joachim, don’t scions of imperial houses take up hunting on horseback from a young age?”

“We do, my lady,” Joachim replied.

“There is a reason why Nobles of cavalry traditions have that pastime,” Lady Zahradnik told him. “It trains you in much of what was once required of martial nobles of the Empire – riding skills, coordination with other riders, situational awareness, identifying and pursuing targets. This game is much the same, and, by all appearances, it is not similar to any of the games that the members of this squad have played before. I will spare you the rituals that accompany it since I don’t want to find out who amongst you is a terrible singer, but, as adults, this childhood ‘game’ becomes a drill.”

“Does this drill have to be so rough?”

“Who are the ‘Goblins’ attacking most often?”

Redwyn dusted off his knees as he rose to respond.

“Me, I’m pretty sure.”

“Why is that?”

The Fire Cleric fell silent as he considered her question. The Baroness looked around at the attackers.

“He’s the healer,” one said.

“He can’t defend himself as well as the others.”

“No armour.”

“He owes me money.”

Lady Zahradnik frowned at the last.

“…aside from that last one,” she said, “they’re all valid reasons. Many elements go into profiling one’s targets and determining who to strike first. Destin will notice attackers before they make it to him, so our Goblins have been going after those with lower awareness and thus delayed reactions. But just tapping people won’t do anything in a real fight. Our Goblins have been avoiding Igvel because even if he doesn’t notice you coming, he’s the hardest one to hurt. Pol is in a helm and cuirass so fatal wounds are harder to inflict.

“But Redwyn is nice and vulnerable. He can’t detect most incoming attacks in time. Even if he manages to turn in time he has the poorest defensive capability in the group. Add the fact that he’s a healer and he becomes an irresistible target. This is what anyone that you are fighting will think if they notice him – and they will, eventually.”

“Us Clerics are usually in plate with a shield,” Redwyn said.

“That’s true,” Lady Zahradnik replied, “but a healer is still a priority target, as are mages who would be attired as you currently are. Armour might prevent injury and buy an opportunity to respond if the average opponent gets through to your Cleric, but their spellcasting will still be interrupted. If something powerful reaches them, they’re still going to be injured through their armour. Now, let's add some more defenders…”

Lady Zahradnik added Joachim and three Cavaliers: Yohann, Winson and Varyn. The Baroness nodded and they resumed the exercise. With more members, the defenders were able to form around their Clerics and cover all angles of attack. They fared much better, at least until the ‘Ogre’ – Captain Hawke – attacked.

Even if they were warned of his approach, they were flattened. The only instances where they succeeded against him were when his target noticed in time and could prepare Fortress against the incoming strike.

Lady Zahradnik turned her attention to Destin.

“After grasping the basic three Martial Arts in your training,” she asked, “what did your officers instruct you to get next?”

“Sounding Shot,” Destin replied.

“And after that?”

“Things to help us with scouting. Movement, especially.”

Lady Zahradnik nodded silently, twisting her lip before sighing.

“So the Imperial Army treats Rangers as reconnaissance elements and ranged support. I thought it might be the case when I was watching the Second Legion, but it seems that the Sixth Legion thinks the same way despite their new mandate.”

“Is there a problem with using Rangers for scouting, m’lady?” Captain Hawke asked.

“No, Rangers are ideal for outdoor reconnaissance,” Lady Zahradnik answered. “From what I’ve seen, the Imperial Army has developed their military doctrines around certain forms of cavalry combat. The majority of the Imperial Army is cavalry and their infantry serves to support it. Even when fighting on foot, cavalry tactics and formations are more often than not employed. This drill accustoms infantry squads to ambush scenarios that they may encounter on frontier patrols. As you can see, the ambushers will pick you apart. The same thing was happening to the Second Legion in The Blister.”

“I’m no General,” Captain Hawke said, “but I’m pretty sure they can’t just whip out new doctrines just like that.”

“You’re right,” the Baroness nodded, “but changes don’t solely come from the top. They also need not be radical or originate from some unknown source. Frank.”

“M’lady?”

“Take the flank. Captain Ogre, attack somewhere inconvenient. Frank, try to stop him when he does.”

Captain Hawke rushed in from behind, heading straight for Joachim. He made it about halfway before Frank turned him with a Challenging Shout. The Captain’s practice spear glanced off of the infantryman’s tower shield. Lady Zahradnik turned her attention to the line of Cavaliers.

“Could you react to that?”

“After he turned to Frank, yeah.” Yohann replied, “Not when he was going for Joachim – it was too quick.”

“Can you do that, Destin?”

“I don’t have that Martial Art.”

“And your instructors don’t recommend it.”

“No, m’lady.”

“Let me guess,” Lady Zahradnik said. “Because Rangers don’t need it? Because it would be useless while you’re scouting and silly for an archer to draw someone towards themselves.”

Destin nodded. Lady Zahradnik turned to regard her bodyguard.

“Rangers are used as scouts because they can get around quickly, unnoticed and notice things that others cannot. After playing this ‘game’, I’m sure you understand that they will almost always detect incoming attacks before everyone else…but unless they’re directly in the way, all they can do is warn others and try to put arrows into incoming threats. Destin has to recognise a threat to the squad and the squad has to react to his warning. By then, it’s too late.”

The Baroness walked over to stand on the flank beside Frank.

“What role do Rangers serve when they’re in a squad like this, Captain?”

“They’re a wildcard, I guess,” Captain Hawke said. “If they’re not scouting ahead, they’re in the back looking for targets to pick off. Sometimes they’re hidden away somewhere for the same reason.”

“Do they ever stand on the flanks like this?”

“Never.”

“Well, this is where they should be when you’re advancing in squad sized formations.”

Lady Zahradnik turned in place, sweeping an arm out over the surroundings.

“Your scouts notice everything first. This position gives a clear field of view in all directions except for where friendly forces are. Patrol formations in the Imperial Army have two scouts, and you can put one on each end to maximise your coverage.”

“As you’ve seen, your line can deal with frontal threats easily. If you get charged head-on by an enemy, anyone in the line can Fortress it. If a Ranger has the correct tools for skirmishing, they go from relaying information to immediately acting on it, making them ideal for guarding a formation’s flanks.”

Lady Zahradnik produced a shortbow from one of her pouches, as well as several arrows for mock combat. She deftly unlimbered the bow before pointing at Captain Hawke with one of the arrows.

“Captain, take Himsel and Merg and attack this flank...Destin, how far would you say is fair for you to detect an ambush in the woodlands around here?”

“Hmm...about thirty of forty metres if it’s an Ogre and a bunch of Goblins.”

“Thirty metres, then. Go ahead, Captain.”

“…all three of us at once, m’lady?”

“If you don’t mind.”

The Captain exchanged looks with the two Cavaliers. They turned to walk away, speaking between themselves in low voices. Upon reaching their starting distance and turning back around, they hefted their practice weapons.

“Then, pardon our rudeness, m’lady…”

The three men raised their spears and wordlessly charged, splitting into three approaches.

Lady Zahradnik brought her bow up and loosed an arrow, switching to the next held between her knuckles to loose at her next target. The first arrow clinked against the forehead of Himsel’s helmet. His head wobbled for a moment before he fell onto his face. The second arrow struck Merg in the thigh at twenty metres. He staggered and struggled to limp along.

Captain Hawke reached Lady Zahradnik a second later. Rather than retreating to create distance, she stepped into his charge. With the bow in her left hand, she guided his spear to the side and one of her shiny black boots found the Captain’s midriff.

“Whorph–”

The Captain didn’t stop from the Baroness’ kick: he flew in the opposite direction. That flight was interrupted by Merg, who was still limping towards them. The two men tumbled apart after their collision and groans rose from where they finally rolled to a stop.

Silence filled the aftermath. Joachim struggled to understand how a three-on-one resulted in abject failure for the side with three.

“What…what just happened there?”

The question that was probably on everyone’s minds was voiced by Gaston, the other Ranger in the squad. Lady Zahradnik waited until the Ogre and his two Goblins picked themselves back up.

“I employed three Martial Arts,” the Baroness counted off her fingers. “The two arrows were…well, let’s just say they were a variant of Called Shot. Are you familiar with it, Gaston?”

“Yes, m’lady,” Gaston nodded. “The instructors say that it should be saved for later, though. Too hard to use properly.”

“While riding, certainly,” the Baroness agreed. “At a distance, perhaps. But do you believe that it would have been ineffective in that attack just now?”

“If they had shields, maybe. As they were, not a chance. I see what you mean m’lady – better than just shouting and praying people react in time. It’d work on a Goblin or Ogre all the same. What about the rest?”

“I used Fortress to stop Captain Hawke’s spear and guided it away. The kick was a Martial Art for skirmishing that I didn’t see anywhere in the imperial manual. It doesn’t do any extra damage but it knocks people back.”

“That was a little more than knocking me back,” Captain Hawke grumbled.

Lady Zahradnik smiled slightly, unstringing her bow and putting it away.

“It depends on who is doing the kicking and who is getting kicked, but it’s still a basic Martial Art. Someone told me that my great grandfather used it as well. I believe it was originally developed to forcefully disengage a target, but even Ogres can be turned into projectiles in the right situation.”

“Passed down through your family…does that mean it’s a school of combat?”

“It should be at least two distinct schools: one from each side of my family. There’s a ‘Ranger’ school and I suppose you can call the other a ‘soldier’ school. They come together nicely, though. I think it might have been part of the reason why my parents were matched.”

Did Re-Estize do things like that? As far as Joachim knew, their Nobles followed empty notions of blue-blooded pedigree. Considering what he knew of her, it was probably the Temple of the Six that had brought Lady Zahradnik’s parents together.

“My point with this demonstration is that Rangers are not simply scouts and archers: we are skirmishers. We have an advantage in ranged combat but are also comfortable in melee. Our repertoire of Martial Arts should offer us the flexibility to go between both. We do not possess the best direct defence, nor do we have the best offence in melee, but we tend to always possess the initiative, acting and reacting first. With the right Skills, Abilities and Martial Arts, we are in the best position to buy time for the actions of others, creating opportunities for others to exploit.

“All of the Martial Arts I used were basic ones, which means that you can eventually learn them as well. Taunts, misdirection, traps, stealth, debilitating and redirecting attacks, high mobility and high endurance – these are all things that you should be leveraging to your advantage. They are also essential when performing reconnaissance in hostile areas and can make your scouting parties a force to be reckoned with on their own.”

Destin and Gaston nodded at Lady Zahradnik’s words. It was obviously not a role they could adopt right away, but Rangers who could think and fight in the way that the Baroness described were of unquestionable value.

“You said you inherited a soldier side too, yeah?” Yohann spoke up, “Can you show us something from that? Using a melee weapon.”

“It’s fundamentally different from the Empire’s schools of combat so it would be difficult for you to adopt my techniques, but I suppose I can show you something…”

She walked over to a row of training dummies lined up along the edge of the field. After examining one of the armour-clad targets for a moment, she turned to hold up her right hand towards Yohann.

“Spear.”

Yohann tossed his practice spear over to the Baroness. She snatched it out of the air and pivoted straight into an attack. The spear drove forward, splitting into three images of itself that simultaneously struck the centre of the target’s breastplate. A loud bang punctuated the air as the training dummy was ripped off of its mountings and sent hurtling into the brush.

The men’s mouths fell open.

Was that a Dragon Fang Thrust? No, it was nothing like it, but why does it seem familiar?

Redwyn ran forward to stand in front of the Baroness. His olive eyes went excitedly to her borrowed practice spear.

“You…you said you were a Clarence fan!”

“Hah?”

Had he gone crazy? Why was he dragging in a character from a story?

“She’s a Clarence fan?” Captain Hawke frowned, “But wasn’t that…”

“By the gods, it was!” Varyn’s excited voice joined the clamour.

Why are you bringing the gods into this?!

“Th-that’s Blossoming Iris, isn’t it?” Winson said, “Ludwig’s signature attack!”

Sounds of recognition and agreement rose from the men.

“It matches the description exactly!”

“I saw some street performers do it for that one battle, but it kinda sucked. This is the real deal!”

It was. It definitely was. But why would a Clarence fan imitate one of Ludwig’s Martial Arts? More to the point, how could one become so obsessed with a character from a book that they developed a Martial Art to imitate them? Since the second volume of Dreams of Red was released less than half a year ago, the young noblewoman had to have been a Weapon Master to develop it so quickly. Fanatics were terrifying, in various ways.

Lady Zahradnik hid the practice spear behind her back.

“It’s surely a coincidence, yes?” She smiled innocently, “Besides, I learned it long before it was…ahem, anyway, let’s continue with our exercises, shall we?”