And they’re going to die for my plan and my orders. She’d prepared herself for this to some extent, but it was hard to face now that it was right around the corner. She didn’t mind fighting herself, but this was different. She had never experienced sending her comrades to their deaths before, and it made her heart ache to do so. But everyone’s already resolved themselves to this. I’m the only one still having second thoughts this late in the game.
Gaius made a point to speak to her as the king sometimes, making it clear that she worked under his will as leader. She appreciated the thought. In a military organization, responsibility lay with the highest-ranking person, and that wasn’t Sashalia. Logically, she understood all this, of course. But still... She bit her lip, nails digging into her upper arms. No, that’s exactly why. I have to make the most effective use of them. The lives of the kobolds.
And in this situation, the only one who could do that was Sashalia. She would expend the lives of the kobolds because that was how she could repay their friendship and trust.
I will defeat the enemies of Sir Gaius and the kobolds. I can’t stand on two feet and wield a sword anymore, but I can support everyone from here. No, I can thrive here. I can stand beside him, here.
Just try it, enemies of mine. However many hundreds of you come, you will all fall. Right here, this command center, this board... This is my battlefield.
＊
The next day came and those resting to ready themselves for the battle awoke and set about making their final preparations.
Sashalia had already headed for the command center from Gaius’s residence, and Darke and Emon were heading to the square where everyone was to gather. The last one remaining, Gaius, was speaking to the children before he left.
“You won’t go away like Mom did, right, Uncle? Right? I don’t want you to go away... Tell me you won’t?” Fluff was mustering all the strength in his tiny body to cling to Gaius’s leg. Even if he didn’t fully understand the situation, he could pick up on the strange air all around him.
“Of course I won’t. I would never leave you.” Gaius spoke calmly, gently patting Fluff’s fuzzy head. “Blossom, take Fluff and go to Red Eye’s house. Listen to what the missus tells you and take shelter with everyone there.”
“I hate this. If I were a little bit older, I’d be able to fight with you, Uncle.” Amber Blossom ground her teeth in frustration.
Gaius put his other hand to Blossom’s cheek and stroked it gently. “It’s just too soon this time.”
And after soothing the children for a short time, he told Blossom, “Okay, I’m counting on you.”
Blossom nodded reluctantly, sniffling, and pulled a whining Fluff off of Gaius’s leg, teeth and claws and all, dragging him out of the house.
As he watched them leave through the entryway, Gaius could see non-combatants from all over the kingdom taking shelter in the same way as the sun rose. Similar scenes of parting were playing out everywhere, as fathers and sons went off to battle. Gaius watched them silently for a time.
This was something he’d seen countless times before. He was used to it. But that didn’t make it any easier. I pray their true partings take a much different form. He took up his sword to make that a reality, and to fulfill a promise to a friend.
＊
In the square, everyone was dressed in their battle attire, checking the status of their arms and armor. Gaius was likewise knelt down next to Claudette, checking the slack and knots on the ropes tied around his mud golem steed.
“What are ye doin’, old man?” Dwaemon asked from behind Gaius.
“I don’t know how many times I’ll be crossing blades today, and weapons become unusable for all sorts of reasons. I’m taking plenty of spares on Claudette. Plus... I don’t want to worry about magic and arrows.”
Emon took a closer look at the golem and noticed weapons tied to Claudette’s body, almost like vegetables being strung up to dry in the sun. There were axes, spears, war picks, and Gaius’s trusty faussar. “Aha, I get it, ye’re hangin’ all these weapons on ’er for armor.” The pieces of metal hanging down the steed’s sides did indeed look protective.
“Mm, there’s that too.”
“How’re ye gonna ride her this way, though?”
“I’m not. She’s just going to come with me. You could say she’s my porter-slash-shield.”
Emon gave a noncommittal humph before sulking and grumbling, “Aww, I wish I were in yer unit, too.”
“Why? You have a very important mission.”
Emon was stationed at the command center to defend it. This was partly because he didn’t have the forest maneuverability or offensive strength required for their strategy, but also because Gaius had pushed Sashalia to station him there.
“I know. Well, see yeh.” Of course, to Emon, it seemed he was being removed from the front lines because of his inexperience and not because he was more suited for a different position. Still, a younger Emon would have complained a lot more. The fact that he hadn’t meant that the dwarf was learning.
“Emon.”
“What?”
“I leave the defense to you. I know you’ll protect them, no matter what it takes.”
Tactics, suitability, the possibility of the enemy breaking through the defensive line... there were many ways Gaius could try to convince Emon, but he didn’t mention any of them. He didn’t need to. He knew that was all it would take.
“...S-Sure I will! ’Course I will! Just leave it to me!” The boy’s eyes sparkled as he clapped a fist to his chest. “I won’t let ’em lay a finger on Sashalia or any o’ the old biddies at the command center!”
“I know you won’t.” Gaius patted Emon on the shoulder after seeing that the young dwarf had accepted his orders. He then headed to the command center to meet with the spirit messenger who would be paired with him.
＊
“Caaaptain Daaarke, ma’aaam!”
“Hm?” Darke stopped when the unfamiliar voice called out to her. She turned around to see a blue-furred kobold stretching up to stand as tall as he possibly could.
“I too wish to join your attack squad, Captain Darke, ma’am! Please allow me to accompany your unit!”
“I believe Lady Denan decided the battle formations. I can’t say I approve of you abandoning your assigned unit.”
“I was not assigned to a position by Her Excellency!”
“That’s strange...” Darke cocked her head and thought for a moment, then turned back to the kobold and quickly hit upon the reason. The blue kobold was too young. “How old are you, pup?”
“I just reached adulthood a few days ago, ma’am!”
“Don’t lie. I saw you just recently swarming around Sir Gaius with the other pups.” He was probably the equivalent of a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old human. Darke didn’t know his exact age, but he was clearly still young enough to be called a boy. His body was well-developed enough that he was bigger than the average adult, however. Before living in this village, she probably wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference.