The Dreamer's Fall

Chapter 52 - Minaan's Great Plan

After the battle, the Ollerinian troops set up camp on a neighboring hill overlooking the remains of the Bernish-Agelian camp. The soldiers had fought well through the night, and commanding lords allowed them to rest for a few days while they processed prisoners and plunder.

Within the new camp, Arthur sat slouched in his desk chair. He was tired. He couldn't recall a single instance in his second life where he had stayed awake through the night, so it was a new sensation to his teenage body.

"Young master, we've brought her as you asked." Foster announced from outside the tent's entranceway.

Arthur lifted his body and sat up. "Come in."

Foster and Jeren escorted Arianna inside. She no longer wore a potato sack, nor was her skin covered in mud. Arthur had allowed her to wear some of the more common clothes he had plundered so she didn't draw attention to herself.

"Now, why was your army running around with so much treasure?" Arthur asked, getting straight to the point.

Arianna sighed. "I would also like to know the reason, but sadly, I wasn't privy to such information. After the Agelians joined the war, all the priests and devout worshippers within Bern began espousing the same warning.

"They claimed Minaan granted them a vision to gather the nation's wealth and flee to Agelia along with a sizeable portion of the nation's population. They said that if we did, Ollerin would fall, and we would be rewarded for sacrificing our land to the invaders at that time."

Arthur shot her a look of disbelief. "And the Bernish nobility were fine with that? They freely gave up their lands and fled to a foreign nation based on the words of some priests?"

"Of course not. Some were unhappy, myself included, but what could we do? Many amongst the nobility are devout and witnessed the vision for themselves. So when they saw Ollerin in flames and heard Minaan's voice ordering them to gather their wealth and flee to Agelia, they didn't question it.

"Bern was already losing the war at that point, and with so many nobles fleeing to Agelia, there was little option left other than to join them, even if we had doubts. At least if we followed them, we could secure our wealth and had the promise of being rewarded by Minaan once the time came." Arianna explained.

Arthur mulled over the new information for a moment. It was certainly worrying learning that Minaan had directly interfered with the war, but if what Arianna said was true, then it meant there would be little resistance in his path to Helagaust. So, at least, his participation in the war would be short.

"Then why attempt to ambush us?" Arthur prodded. "Your army left Rothwel over a week ago. You could've escaped had you simply fled as you claim."

"It was the Agelian duke's idea to attack. According to the priests, the Agelians would be the ones to enact Minaan's great plan. The Bernish people would merely follow their lead. So we had little say in how we were used unless we wanted to be labeled heretics."

"I'm curious. How did you know we were coming to Rothwel?" Arthur asked.

"Duke Verac claimed his father had a collaborator in Ollerin." Arianna shrugged. "I don't know anything else about it."

Unfortunately, too many people knew about Ollerin's war plans, so it was impossible to narrow down the traitor. Still, it was surprising that someone from Ollerin with high enough status to learn the war plans was working with the Agelians and Minaan.

"You've made it seem as if your belief in Minaan is near nonexistent, but I wonder if that's true?" Arthur mused after giving her words some thought.

Arianna shot him a bewildered look. "How could one not believe in Minaan? If he were made up, then where do abyssals come from? Surely you don't deny his existence even if you don't worship him?"