Valkyrie's Shadow

Winter's Crown: Act 6, Chapter 15

Winter's Crown: Act 6, Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“Should I wear something more presentable?” Ludmila asked as she eyed the Gate.

“It’s a bit different from your usual image,” Lady Shalltear eyed her up and down, “but I think you still look good. Besides, you understand that Cocytus is always naked, yes?”

Ludmila frowned at her liege's words, then her frown grew as Lady Shalltear continued lightly.

“You could just point that out if he voices any criticisms about your manner of dress.”

“I…don’t think that would be appropriate, my lady.”

“It would depend on the situation, yes?” Lady Shalltear told her, “You have almost the same sense of decorum as Cocytus, so I would say how you carry yourself in any situation would be in line with his tolerances. From your interactions with the others, you should know that we’re not all rigid and inflexible in more casual situations. For that matter, I wouldn’t mind if you become a bit more friendly with me…”

Lady Shalltear turned her crimson gaze up at her, and her lips turned up in a small smile. It was quite enchanting, but the expression did not translate very well to her other appearance.

Personally, Ludmila thought it best to maintain a degree of separation between liege and vassal, and the old forms of Re-Estize that were ingrained into her made it a matter of course. She had no idea how to respond if Lady Shalltear herself expressed a desire to become closer. Sharing the same degree of intimacy with Lady Shalltear as she did with Clara felt too far off: they had grown up as childhood friends of effectively the same rank. Well, that wasn’t the case anymore, as Clara was now a countess, but the fact had already been established beforehand.

She and Clara shared many connections and values, and they were as close to family to one another without actually being so. Imagining Lady Shalltear in the same relationship seemed out of place, yet it felt lonely to refuse her at the same time. If a minor noble like herself was so far removed from the hundreds of thousands of people below her station, then how much more isolated was Lady Shalltear? True friends would be few and far between, and it certainly appeared that way from what Ludmila had seen of her so far.

“I…I think I could manage that, my lady,” Ludmila said carefully, “but maybe not all at once. We have time, yes?”

“Hmph,” Lady Shalltear’s smile turned into a smirk. “For someone who’s happily offering a Vampire her blood, you’re strangely hesitant about everything else in between.”

Lady Shalltear’s hand disappeared into her inventory, withdrawing a familiar crystal decanter. She raised it in front of her face, eyeing the depleted contents with a frown.

“I suppose I shouldn’t be asking for more right now,” she muttered. “Gah, these stupid Goblins are keeping me from my pleasures. Let’s head on over: the faster you annihilate these insolent Demihumans, the faster I can get a refill.”

“Shall we accompany you, my lady?” Lluluvien asked from where she was attending to them from the side.

“No,” Ludmila said, “it’s more important to stay apprised of what’s going on out there. Wiluvien is here to take over, so go ahead and get some rest – we shouldn’t take long, anyways.”

She stepped towards the Gate, then slowed as she felt Lady Shalltear’s fingers press lightly against the small of her back.

“?Protection Energy – Ice?.”

“Where we’re headed is quite a bit colder than here,” Lady Shalltear explained. “You’re good to go now.”

With one final glance at the map, Ludmila stepped through the Gate and into a different world…or at least it felt like a different world.

Her ears popped, as if she were scaling the heights around her own home, or flying around in the sky. At the same time, an oppressive feeling bore down from overhead. She had arrived in the central dais of a grand promenade, surrounded by exquisite stonework of the likes she had never seen before. Statues and monuments lined the way, and rows of titanic columns stretched up into the cavernous ceiling high above. Stately buildings filled the scenery, putting to shame what she up to that point had thought were excellent dwellings provided for her villages.

She was in a city of stone, yet the stone itself was fashioned so well that everything seemed to exude a life of its own. Framed by the picturesque cityscape was a magnificent palace, awash in cool light that flowed over it like waves of icy water. Several squat figures moved in and out of the gate, and she looked again at the statues along the promenade.

“A Dwarf city…” Ludmila said. “Where are we, my lady?”

“Feoh Berkana,” Lady Shalltear said. “Capital of the Dwarf Kingdom.”

Ludmila marvelled at the vast city stretching beyond her sight, recalling Lord Mare’s notion about an underground world that existed below the notice of surface dwellers. The idea no longer seemed so distant and unknowable to her. The world is vast, as people might sometimes say when visiting E-Rantel from their towns and villages in the duchy, yet saying so now seemed like a sort of hubris in itself. The world was immeasurably more vast than the thoughts that accompanied such statements implied, beyond the meagre imaginations of those who had lived in one place for their entire lives.

As they passed through the gate on the way to the palace, they crossed between a set of Dwarf guards. They did not move to challenge them, but Ludmila examined them intently all the same.

“I didn’t know you fancied that type,” Lady Shalltear quipped from the side.

The Dwarf Ludmila was looking at started coughing, and Ludmila shot Lady Shalltear a look.

“I was examining their equipment,” Ludmila said. “Smith Kovalev made a comparison of the Hobgoblins’ equipment to Dwarven work, and I was seeing how closely they matched.”

Seeing the Dwarven metropolis in person, Ludmila realized that a large, underground kingdom might be found anywhere. It probably didn’t even have to be Dwarves. Whoever was supplying the Goblin army could be anywhere under the Southern Border Ranges, or even beneath the wilderness itself.

At the entrance to the palace proper, they came upon an insectoid being that Ludmila thought she had seen before at the Great Lake.

“Lady Shalltear,” it straightened to salute. “Welcome. Is there something we can help you with today?”

“We’re here to see Cocytus,” Lady Shalltear said. “He should be in, yes?”

“Lord Cocytus is in the war room,” the insectoid being nodded. “Follow me, please.”

The insectoid being snapped to attention again and spun on its...heels? It marched off into the depths of the palace, through the cavernous halls of carved marble. They were led to a large chamber – everything just appeared inordinately large in this place, especially considering who it was supposed to accommodate – where they found Lord Cocytus standing at a long table with several retainers, a row of important-looking Dwarves, and what appeared to be their aides.

“Shalltear,” he nodded. “Baroness Zahradnik. Welcome.”

“Cocytus,” Lady Shalltear returned his greeting. “I’ve brought Lady Zahradnik to discuss a certain matter with you.”

“A…certain matter?”

Lord Cocytus cast his gaze in Ludmila's direction, and she lowered her head in a curtsey.

“Good morning, Lord Cocytus,” she said, “I hope the day finds you well.”

He responded to her greeting with a brusque grunt, and Ludmila felt a warm smile creep onto her face at the fond memories that it evoked.

“I hope I've not interrupted anything urgent,” she said. “How goes the organization of the army?”

A blast of cold air washed over the table, causing the maps and reports laid upon it to flutter under the various weights placed upon them. It looked like Lord Cocytus was consulting over something with the Dwarves - markers were placed over much of the Azerlisia Mountain Range, with a row of pieces lined along the Dwarven highway leading down into the Baharuth Empire.

“Organization,” Lord Cocytus said, “requires data. Conflict. To test ideas. It is quiet here...so far. Hm…these: Commander-in-Chief of the Dwarf Kingdom military; Guildmaster of the Merchant Guild.”

She lowered her head respectfully towards the two Dwarves who were indicated by Lord Cocytus’ gestures, then looked down at the map around the highway again. Lord Cocytus had stationed a portion of the Sorcerous Kingdom’s army in the Dwarven passes, presumably so they could both display their quality to prospective clients in the Dwarf Kingdom. There was also the chance to gain some experience fighting the tribes that were tempted to raid merchant traffic. Based on Lord Cocytus’ statement and the placement of the pieces, however, it looked like they were locked in a giant staring contest instead.

“I suppose it’s to be expected, my lord,” Ludmila said. “If their objective is raiding, Demihumans will tend to only go after suitably soft targets. The only ones that will attack what you’ve set up here are those who seek a challenge.”

“Aye,” the Commander-in-Chief said, “and that’s just fine with us. We’re trying to get our Kingdom back on its feet – picking a fight with the entire neighbourhood is an unnecessary detour.”

She glanced at Lord Cocytus to see how he reacted to the Dwarf’s words, but she still had no idea how to read him. Was he looking for a chance to put his soldiers to the test, or was he satisfied that they were ensuring that the highway remained secure? She supposed that the impasse here would provide the Adventurer Guild time to complete their expedition without the entire mountain range erupting into war.

“If that is the case,” Ludmila said, “I should make my visit here quick so you can return your attention to matters of security. My Lord, I would like to offer my assistance in the training of your soldiers.”

Lord Cocytus’ head shifted imperceptibly in her direction.

“Explain.”

“Have you received my report on the Demihuman army amassing in the upper reaches?” Ludmila asked.

“Yes.”

“As of last night, they have attacked the Sorcerous Kingdom. With this attack comes full justification to retaliate against their forces beyond our borders. After the first two battles, however, it occurred to me that it is actually a rare opportunity for the Sorcerous Kingdom’s army.”

“I see,” Lord Cocytus said. “An opportunity. Training for the army. But is this allowed? You…are Shalltear’s vassal. This responsibility – this duty – is yours. Theft of rightful duty…distasteful.”

“We’ve an interest in settling the matter quickly,” Ludmila said. “While I am reasonably confident that I will be able to resolve the conflict with what I have available to me in due time, the delays it is incurring against development and production in my demesne is undesirable. Lady Shalltear, too, has a…vested interest in a return to regular life there. As a noble of the Sorcerous Kingdom, I must consider how the greatest service to His Majesty may be rendered, and I should not squander this opportunity by excluding others who might benefit.”

Lord Cocytus remained silent for a long while, and her inability to gauge his reaction made her want to fidget nervously. Had she correctly expressed herself? To the side, Lady Shalltear betrayed no hint in either direction.

To Ludmila, the most prominent aspect of the Sorcerer King’s servants was that they were chivalrous beyond human measure. Duty was coveted, and chances to prove fealty through action and accomplishment were priceless. Land, wealth, influence and personal glory were insignificant in comparison to the prestige and recognition that came with feal service to their liege.

After what felt like several minutes, Lord Cocytus reached into his inventory and withdrew a thin, leather-bound booklet. It slapped down onto the table to slide in front of her, and she picked it up to peruse its content. Within were lists of formations and various proposals for their use.

“Choose,” Lord Cocytus said.

She continued leafing through the pages until she came upon what appeared to be a standard-looking infantry troop: two Death Warriors, ten Death Knights, and a single Elder Lich commander. Well, it would almost certainly spell doom for another nation, but it was a regular infantry troop by the standards of the Sorcerous Kingdom. The description at the top of the page even labelled it as a ‘Standard Formation’.

“Death Knights appear to be the most plentiful,” she closed the small book, “and they’ll be able to come away with more than just training.”

“Er, wait,” the Guildmaster said, “aren’t they being used here?”

Both Lord Cocytus and Ludmila looked at the Dwarf. He shut his mouth and swallowed behind the banded braids of his beard, face growing pale. Ludmila winced internally. They were supposed to be promoting good relations with the Dwarf Kingdom, not unintentionally cowing them into silence.

“We should have quite a number of them, yes?” She reached for an answer to the Dwarf’s concerns.

“Yes,” Lord Cocytus nodded. “They will be dispatched. How many?”

“Send as many as you’d like,” Ludmila said. “I will rotate as many as I can through the ongoing conflict.”

“Rotate?” Lord Cocytus tilted his head.

“Each group that I use will participate in two attacks each,” Ludmila explained, “after which they will be sent back with a full contingent of Squire Zombies. There are over a hundred thousand enemy soldiers to get through, so you’ll end up with the requisite number of Squire Zombies per Death Knight at your disposal once everything is said and done. I’ll have to figure out what to do with the rest of the corpses that pile up, but that can wait until later.”

The Dwarves stared at her, expressions aghast. Why were they doing that? She had gone out of her way to assuage their concerns, too.

“I see,” Lord Cocytus nodded. “Elimination of intruders. Army training. Expansion of forces. Restoration of productivity. Shalltear…hm…what did she want?”

Ludmila exchanged a look with Lady Shalltear, who seemed to be silently trying to will her to come up with something.

“Erm…she wanted my demesne to return to normal as well. I am her sole contributor, after all.”

Lady Shalltear offered a brilliant smile at Ludmila’s words and nodded in agreement. She probably couldn’t tell Lord Cocytus that Lady Shalltear wanted an entire army snuffed out so just she could get a bottle of her blood.

“To render the greatest overall service,” Lord Cocytus mused, “in Lord Ainz’s name…personal recognition; thirst for acclaim, set aside.”

“House Zahradnik has never pursued such things, my lord,” Ludmila said. “We’ve always faithfully fulfilled our duties to our liege, regardless of how little recognition we received. For a defender of the realm, the realm comes foremost.”

“Devotion to service,” Lord Cocytus said. “Laudable. To have others – serving like this – would be good. Your results, anticipated. Keep the book: for future use.”

With that, Lord Cocytus released them. On the way back out through the promenade, Ludmila finally let out a breath of relief.

“Does Cocytus really make you that nervous?” Lady Shalltear asked.

“…it’s not my being fearful of Lord Cocytus, my lady.” Ludmila answered, “You may perhaps find this strange, but he carries himself in a manner that is similar enough to my father that I can’t help but act a certain way around him.”

“It will cause a great deal of confusion if you start calling him ‘my lord father’.”

Ludmila let out a laugh despite herself.

“He is a bit too big and blue for that,” Ludmila said. “But you might not be too far off the mark, in a way. Lord Cocytus’ mannerisms are quite comforting to me, and a bit sad at the same time.”

“If Lord Cocytus is like your father, then is there anyone that resembles your mother?”

“People say that I resemble my mother quite a bit.”

“Well, I’m not sure if that pairing can work,” Lady Shalltear said as they approached the platform upon which they had arrived. “Was there anything else you were interested in here before we return?”

Ludmila swept her gaze over their refined surroundings. She was curious about what she might be able to see in Feoh Berkana, but another thought crossed her mind as she watched the Dwarves head up and down the city streets.

“There are most likely a great many things of interest to me in this city,” she said, “but, for some reason, the Dwarves with Lord Cocytus reacted quite strangely. I’ve come to understand that Demihumans are fearful of me for some reason, but why would Dwarves act that way?”

“That should have been your discussion with Cocytus, no?” Lady Shalltear replied, “Even if we have engaged in amicable relations with the Dwarf Kingdom, most are still generally wary of His Majesty’s servants. You, on the other hand, just strode in and spoke with him without flinching – you even smiled quite nicely at one point – and then you proposed that the massacre of an army a hundred thousand strong be the subject of a training exercise…of which many would be turned into Undead.”

Ah–

“The population of the entire Dwarf Kingdom is just over a hundred thousand as well,” Lady Shalltear added, “so I’m sure some interesting parallels must have been running through their minds.”

Ludmila sighed. So much for being friendly with the Sorcerous Kingdom’s diplomatic partners.

“I’m beginning to believe that I’m just doomed to having everyone fear me.”

“When it comes to strangers,” Lady Shalltear said as her Gate opened before them, “it is better to be feared than loved, yes? Considering your duties, I would consider it an advantage.”