Alcingeria

Chapter Fifty Nine: No Turning Back

Chapter Fifty Nine No Turning Back:

Thursday July 8th 1690

A few hours had passed since we spoke with Estaire. She assured us she would make all efforts to find the research facilities and storage areas, and that she'd contact us as soon as she could. I was in my room with Lawrence. I was pacing the length of the room, as I had been for the last few minutes.

"Is... something wrong, sir?" Lawrence asked nervously as he came in. "You seem to be a little on edge."

I couldn't tell him about how my friends and I had to stop one of the biggest wars of all time. I didn't think he'd tell the Queen, but I simply couldn't risk it. With the plan already in place, all we had to do now was wait on Estaire.

"What? No, nothing's wrong."

I could tell Lawrence wanted to say something, but he didn't question me. I could tell without a doubt that he didn't believe me.

"I've been hearing that Queen Yuka wants to invade Delron, and that she's making preparations," he said. "I'm on edge myself. The other servants are in a panic, I don't think anyone knows quite what to do."

"That makes all of us," I sighed. "Alcingeria will be at war for the first time in decades."

"Decades?" He asked. "Ah, yes. That little blemish in an otherwise peaceful few centuries; the Five Year's War. Delron and Vulrock were actually the belligerents, funny enough."

"Yutsa joined Vulrock at some point, didn't they?" I asked, recalling the bit of history I knew. I wondered if it would happen again.

"Yes, Vulrock and Yutsa have been on good terms ever since," he explained. "They're actually our primary trade partner."

Just then, a knock came at my door. Lawrence walked over and opened it to reveal Stella.

"Hello, Miss Hannigan. How may I help you?"

"I'm looking for Redmond," she explained. "Could I borrow him for a little?"

"By all means," he stepped aside and I walked out into the hallway. Stella led me downstairs.

"What is it?" I asked. "Another meeting?"

"Yes, the others are waiting in Estaire's room. We're waiting for you."

"Great," I smiled nervously. "Any news?"

"I've heard a few guards discussing how almost all the machine guns are imbued with dark magic now," she paused, "Redmond, if we don't stop this war..."

"I know," I cut in before she could say any more. "I know."

We walked down the familiar staircase and into the grand entry hall. We saw a few guards headed here and there. Men dressed in military uniforms hurried back and forth. We both watched them as they hurried by.

"I've noticed that every time I see someone in a military uniform, it's always a man." Stella remarked as she watched the troops. "It's a little bothersome, you know?"

"I guess," I shrugged. "I wouldn't really know, to be honest."

"It's not like we're prohibited from joining the army, it's just harder for us, that's all," she explained. "It's just been a long time since I saw a human woman in power. Minus royalty, of course."

I'd seen a few female fighters in my day. None of them were proper military, just freelance mercenaries and thieves like my friends and I. I'd watched a few of them and I had to say, nothing's more dangerous than a woman with nothing holding her back and something to prove.