Suikoden VI

Chapter Six: Part Seven

Part Seven

"What?!" Tamara exclaimed, her eyes going wide.

"It's as reported, my Lady," Nigel said, struggling to keep his voice calm. "The heathen Liberation Army leader Daunte has personally taken Kader. And we're getting reports of rebel forces advancing from the south. At least 600 Liberation Army soldiers are on the move!"

"Wh—How did the Liberation Army get 600 soldiers to my provinces without detection?! Or is this just another secret being kept from me?!" She pressed a hand to her forehead as he breathed fast and heavy. She could feel the rising panic inside of her and she didn't know how to contain. She squeezed her eyes shut and dropped her forcing, doing quick breathing exercises. Calm down, Tamara. You need to be calm. You're a leader, act like one!

"Then it was good luck that Sheikh Lažov decided to run his drills in your territory today," Imbuka said calmly. "With your combined forces, you can easily slay Daunte and his measly 600 soldiers."

"That's right!" Tamara gasped, elation filling her heart. "I'll mobilize the 500 soldiers we have here and send word to Sheikh Lažov requesting aid! There's no way we can't win this!"

"With our forces and Sheikh Lažov's 400 soldiers, we will most certainly win," Imbuka said with cold reassurance.

"Lady Imbuka, how do you know how many soldiers Sheikh Lažov is marching with?" Nigel asked in confusion. "The soldier you sent to meet him hasn't returned yet."

"That is not something a Private needs to worry about," Imbuka retorted coolly.

"Enough," Tamara interjected. "We need to move out now. I'll march with the vanguard. Imbuka and Nigel, you will be my support members."

"Yes Lady Sheikh," Nigel said, saluting.

"If I may, my Lady," Imbuka said suddenly. "You traditionally command an infantry unit. Infantry is not my specialty. My specialty is rune archers. I think it would be best for me to lead my own rune archer unit, take the rearguard, and initiate the attack on the field."

Tamara stared at her for a long moment. "B-But...I'll need my second-in-command. My previous second-in-command rode with me in my unit into battle."

"And that was an older gentleman with years of infantry experience," Imbuka said. "Do I look like that person."

"Y-You cannot leave our Sheikh without her second-in-command when she's leading the vanguard!" Nigel shouted. "And especially to just command the rearguard position!"

"How dare you raise your voice to ME?!" Imbuka shouted. Her piercing voice made both Tamara and Nigel jump. "I will NOT be spoken to like that! Especially by a—"

"Enough!" Tamara shouted again. "We are wasting time! Imbuka, go and get a rune archer unit ready for battle! Nigel, I am hereby promoting you from rank of Private to rank Master Sergeant! You will serve as my acting second-in-command while Imbuka leads her unit!"

"M-Master Sergeant?!" Nigel sputtered. "But my rank has never been so high!"

"Well now you're a Master Sergeant now!" Tamara opened a cabinet and quickly pulled out the necessary emblems to show Nigel's new rank. "Pin these to your uniform before going downstairs!"

"Y-Yes, my Lady!" Nigel hurried from the room.

"The High Clerics will not be pleased to see you give such a hefty promotion to a soldier who was demoted," Imbuka said warningly.

"What do you think the High Clerics will care more about?! My promoting Nigel, or the fact that the Liberation Army seized one of my towns and are freely marching through my domain?!" Tamara waved a dismissive hand. "We need to get the message to Sheikh Lažov that he needs to hurry here. In circumstances like these I'll have to use a messenger pigeon. The ones we used for the northeastern provinces though were more familiar with Keiran Umed—"