A Smash of Kings

Chapter 21: The Chosen Few

The white walls of Sarasaland's capital were covered in fire and ash. Two hundred yards from the gate sat the siege engines of the Ylissi Army, all lined up in a row. Ike had devised a system, where every other engine—be them trebuchets or catapults— would fire onto the city, followed by the other engines minutes later while the other ones were reloaded with artillery. Most of the tall towers along the wall, used for reconnaissance and archery, were targeted first and destroyed easily. However, the rest of the wall stood strong.

Behind the engines were tents of the invading force, where the soldiers awaited further instructions; shifts for the trebuchets and catapults rotated thrice a day, while the other engines only twice due to their lack of usage. From the comfort of their tent of the Small Council, placed right in the middle of the Ylissi camp, Lucina and the King went over Robin's most recent letter, sent in the opening hour of their shelling campaign. As Marth finished the letter, Roy entered the tent quickly alongside Ike; the two men were sweaty, and Roy breathed heavily.

"Your Grace, two squads of Sarasaland's troops tried to leave the city through the southwest gate," Ike told, "Shulk's men wiped one of them out, and the other retreated back into the city."

"Good," Marth nodded, "Any word from Lucario?"

"Yes, Your Grace; there's been minimal activity in the Port of Sarasaville," Roy panted, "I was just there with a small squadron; we met a small fighting force, and put them down with no casualties taken. When Lucario arrived, the Sarasa navy only had four ships on water, and they were easily destroyed. After that, crickets."

"Very good," Marth grinned, "Keep the pressure on. We'll await Robin's next raven and re-evaluate our next steps then."

With that, Ike and Roy left the tent. Marth took a breath and put the letter down, turning to his Hand, Lucina. "By now, the Senate is in an emergency meeting, probably discussing how to best defend the city," Marth told his Hand, "Either that, or discussion an... Impeachment."

"Can you impeach a monarch?" Lucina asked.

The King shrugged and sat back in his chair, "Perhaps not, but that small Delilah Bluebell-sect of radicals grows by the day... How they remove Daisy from power, I do not know. The longer that they're trapped inside the city, with a well-maintained army at their doorsteps, the quicker the Flower Princess falls.."

As the King reached for a candlestick, then Robin's letter, Lucina could hear their artillery cracking at the city walls, each crack seemingly becoming more explosive and devastating. When King Marth lit the letter aflame, blowing the fire to feed it, Lucina asked, "What will happen when the Senate has power?"

"Most likely, they'll surrender the city to us," the King said, thinking out loud, "Hopefully, we won't have to dispense many soldiers until then."

"The best outcome is a surrender, surely," Lucina agreed, "I think you are being generous with that timeline. The moment we stop shelling, they'll send troops out in an attempt to break our line... At least, as long as Daisy can veto her Senators."

The King nodded and slightly frowned, "Then we must be ready. I do not want to sack this city. The Flower Princess thinks us to be power-hungry savages, who will do anything to bring this place to heel."

"Let's prove her wrong, then," Lucina replied.

****

After he was granted permission to the castle, Robin, still dressed in his white garbs, was escorted across Daisy's long hall. As they crossed the marble floor, Robin could tell that the shelling campaign was taking a toll on the city, evident from the black smoke blocking out the moon above him. They went behind the throne, and into a door. Inside the door was a small war room, complete with Flower banners lining the walls, a table with a map of the city with movable pieces, and various swords. Robin was let into the room, and his escorts stepped out to stand guard. He saw Lilah, a few other Senators, and the Flower Princess surrounding the table.