Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Ahh…Ogier, my boy. Please, come in.”

Ogier cleared his throat and stepped into General Legance’s quarters. He took a seat across from his superior, who sat at his desk, poring over some documents. He set the assorted parchment aside to give Ogier his undivided attention.

“General Legance.” Ogier said, bowing his head to him. “...Have I done something wrong, sir?”

“Oh, no, not at all.” Legance said, laughing. “...I apologize if I frightened you. Being summoned to my office out of the blue, yes, that must have scared you!”

“Then…what do you need from me, sir?” Ogier said.

“Ogier…” Legance said, leaning back in his seat. “...There’s a reason I’ve always taken great interest in you. I believe you have great potential as a swordsman. …You must know, I do not extend this sort of kindness and privilege to every recruit—much less to mere mercenaries, who have no chance of becoming full-fledged knights of Ostia.”

“...I shall forever be grateful to you for taking me under your wing, General.” Ogier said.

“Excellent…yes, with that attitude, you will go far in this line of work.” Legance said. “...Because I care for you, my boy, that is why I have summoned you here, to give you a warning about…Ostia’s future.”

“Our march’s…future, sir?” Ogier said.

“...Marquess Hector is incompetent.” Legance said. Ogier blinked, a bit taken aback. He had never before his superior speak with such open disgust about the Marquess. “It is clear that Lycia cannot win the war with Bern. Our alliance shall be shattered and our state assimilated. King Zephiel has promised to slaughter everyone. The only ones with a chance of survival…are those who join him, posthaste.”

“S-Sir…!” Ogier said. “That’s…”

“...Treasonous, I know.” Legance said, a wicked smile rising to his face. He shook his head. “...Ogier, you’re still so young and innocent. To you, concepts like ‘honor’ and ‘duty’ still hold some kind of meaning. …When you get to be my age, though, you learn some important lessons. Loyalty is cheap. The only person you should be truly loyal to…is yourself and your loved ones. You must learn to protect those closest to you at all costs.”

Legance turned around, to look at an oil painting hanging on the back wall of his office. Ogier looked too. It depicted a younger version of Legance, posing alongside his late wife and their two young children, in front of Castle Ostia.

“I have a son and a daughter to think of, you know…” Legance said. “...I will protect them until my dying breath. I will protect them…even if it means selling out Marquess Hector to the enemy.”

“Sir…” Ogier said, unsure what to say.

“...General Debias and I are plotting a rebellion against the Marquess.” Legance said. “We shall seize control of Ostia, align our march with Bern, and thus, save everyone and everything we care about. …But what about you, Ogier?”

“Me, sir?” Ogier said.

“Like I said, loyalty is cheap.” Legance said. “I do not expect you to take my side merely because you’re in my debt. …But you do have your family to think of, just like me.”

Ogier fell silent.

“You hail from Baiae—the poorest village in Ostia.” Legance said. “...Nasty rumors have spread across Lycia about your hometown. Apparently, the families who live there are so poor that they cannot afford to raise anyone but strong, healthy boys. If a sickly boy is born—or a girl, regardless of her health—they are put to death.”

“It’s…the merciful thing to do…sir.” Ogier said. “As you say, those of us in Baiae, we…we simply do not have the resources to care for everyone. The weak ones are killed as infants…so all resources can go into raising the strong ones.”

“...Strong boys like yourself, yes?” Legance said. “Tell me, Ogier, did you lose someone to this ritual of infanticide?”

“...My…My little sister…Lily.” Ogier said. “She was born the same year as Lady Lilina…everyone in Baiae was so excited about the arrival of Marquess Hector’s daughter that…many of the girls born that year were named for her.”

“So many dead, withered Lilies…” Legance said, frowning. “How odd. My own daughter was born around that time as well…and we decided to name her Lilina too. Lily, for short. Just like your sister.”

“I see…” Ogier said. “Is she…alright? Alive and doing well?”

“Yes…for now.” Legance said. “But if the Marquess has his way and we are forced into war with Bern…then she will surely perish. As will everyone in Ostia—not just my entire family, but yours too. The entire village of Baiae shall probably be razed.”

“Is that…true?” Ogier said.

“The Bernese are merciless.” Legance said. “They have no use for the weak and the impoverished…but of course, I will try to save your hometown. I will reason with the invading Bernese forces and see if they will spare Baiae.”

“You will, sir?” Ogier said.

“Yes…in fact, I think this may be a great opportunity for your village.” Legance said. “From the ashes of war, Baiae and its people might rise phoenix-like. …The lord who presides over Baiae is a corrupt and cruel man, who levies high taxes and treats his serfs like livestock. …When I seize the throne of Ostia, I will have Baiae’s baron executed. And I will use money from Ostia’s coffers to help rebuild Baiae. I will pour gold into your village, lift everyone out of poverty…and make it so no more Lilies have to die.”

Again, Ogier wasn’t sure what to say. Legance reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“...That shall be your reward for remaining loyal to me.” Legance said. “If you carry out my orders…you and everyone from Baiae shall be rewarded handsomely, I promise.”

“...What are your orders exactly, sir?” Ogier said.

“...First, take this.” Legance said. He stood up and unsheathed a long, heavy-looking sword. Damascened and angular, it looked almost like an elongated blade of an elegant guillotine. “I am entrusting to you my Armorslayer.”

“And what would you have me do with it?” Ogier said, accepting the blade. He had to use two hands to hold it, trembling slightly due to its weight.

“...The rebellion shall take place in three days’ time, one hour before noon.” Legance said. “At that time, you shall be training in the castle courtyard with Sir Barthe, yes?”

“Indeed.” Ogier said. “Three days from now, right before noon, that is when Sir Barthe, Dame Gwendolyn, and myself meet up for our regular training drills…”

“...Bring this sword with you.” Legance said. “And kill them.”

“...Th-That’s…I…” Ogier said.

“With an Armorslayer, you should have no issues slaughtering them both with ease.” Legance said. “That fool, Barthe, I know I shall never be able to buy his loyalty. And dear Wendy…not only is she the sister of Sir Bors, she also cares deeply for Lady Lilina. She too shall never be convinced to join our side. …Yes, it’s quite unfortunate, as I’ve known Barthe and Wendy and Bors for so many years now, but…well, someday you shall understand, Ogier. Adults must make tough decisions sometimes. Some things—some people—must be sacrificed for the greater good. That is merely the way this world works.”

Ogier looked down at his reflection in the finely-polished blade of the Armorslayer.

“...But I can count on your loyalty, can’t I?” Legance said, smiling.

“S-Sir…I…” Ogier said, clearing his throat and gazing at the General. “If…If you promise to…help my village then…I…how can I…refuse…?”

“...Excellent.” Legance said. “I’m sure the people of Baiae will remember you as a great hero for this decision, my boy. …Now then, I must ask that you take your leave. I have much to prepare for, as you can probably imagine.”

“...Thank you, sir.” Ogier said, bowing.

He turned around and left General Legance’s quarters. He scurried back to his small bedchamber in the castle barracks and hid the Armorslayer in his wardrobe. Before closing the door, he found himself staring at the huge blade for several minutes straight.

“...Lilina…” Ogier whispered. “...What on earth…am I supposed to do…?”

__

“Wendy!” Barthe barked. “How many times must I tell you to not hold back!? Even when you’re merely sparring with another as practice, you must treat it as though it’s a real battle.”

“S-Sorry, Sir Barthe!” Wendy said as Ogier lended her a hand, helping her to get back on their feet. The three of them were standing in the courtyard, with Barthe supervising Ogier and Wendy as they partook in a couple rounds of sparring. “...Sorry, Ogier. I just…didn’t want to hurt you…”

“It’s alright…” Ogier said, smiling at her. “I…appreciate it.”

“Ogier here, he has the spirit of a true warrior.” Barthe said, patting him on the shoulder. “I know, on the battlefield—when push comes to shove—his resolve will not shatter. Wendy, you could learn a thing or two from him. Bors really has spoiled you rotten…”

“I truly am sorry, Sir Barthe…” Wendy said.

“...That’s fine.” Barthe said, sighing. “Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh. …Gods, this Bernese invasion has really brought out the worst in your teacher, I’m afraid.”

“It’s quite understandable, sir…” Ogier said.

“Still…it’s true what they say.” Barthe said. “War really does make an animal of us all. …Wendy, you may take a quick break. Ogier, draw your blade! Let us spar.”

“...Right.” Ogier said, unsheathing his weapon.

“Hm?” Barthe said, laughing suddenly. “Oh ho, an Armorslayer? How crafty. Where did you get a sword like that?”

“I…I just…um…” Ogier said.

He was interrupted, suddenly, by blaring war horns.

“...What on earth!?” Barthe said.

“Sir Barthe, those horns…does that mean…!?” Wendy said.

“Impossible…” Barthe said. “...Our scouts were certain…the Bernese forces were at least a week away from entering Ostian territory…”

“Are they here already?” Wendy said.

“There can be no other reason for those horns…” Barthe said. “Unless…”

Ogier again found himself staring at his blade, in total silence. Barthe and Wendy had their backs turned to him.

It was now or never…

He grabbed the hilt of his Armorslayer with both hands.

…Then put the blade back in its sheath.

“...Sir Barthe! Dame Gwendolyn!” Ogier said. “We need to get inside the castle, now!”

“Huh?” Wendy said as she and Barthe turned toward him.

“...I’ve heard rumors of…a rebellion brewing…” Ogier said. “We need to hide ourselves inside the castle or else we’ll all be killed!”

“A…rebellion!?” Barthe said. “No…It can’t be!”

“Come on!” Ogier said. “Lady Lilina is in trouble!”

__

“...Oh? And what do we have here?”

Ogier was the first among them to burst into the throne room. He found Legance upon Marquess Hector’s seat.

“G-General Legance…!” Ogier said. He raised the Armorslayer and pointed its tip at Legance, who merely laughed in return.

“...You dare point that blade at me!?” Legance said. “By the Gods…it’s true, isn’t it? The people of Baiae really are among the stupidest men and women in all of Lycia, hm?”

“Don’t…say such things…!” Ogier said.

“I wonder…what would your sister think about all of this—?” Legance said.

“Don’t…speak of… her!” Ogier said, charging at him.

Steel clanged against steel. The young mercenary and the man he owed everything to grunted and shouted and screamed. Ogier’s blade sliced through Legance’s purple armor as though it were paper.

“Loyalty…” Legance wailed as Ogier cut him down. “...Loyalty…the cheapest damn thing…is loyalty…!”

__

Ogier walked out of the throne room in a dazed state. A few minutes later, he heard footsteps. Barthe, Wendy, and Lady Lilina too were rushing down the hallway, heading right toward him.

Lilina embraced him suddenly.

“Ogier…!” Lilina said, tears in her eyes. “You’re…alive! Oh, thank the Gods! Thank…you! Thank you, sir!”

Ogier looked at her, then over her shoulder at Barthe and Wendy, smiling back at him.

“I…I don’t…” Ogier said, his brow furrowing suddenly. “I…just…don’t know…Lilina…”