-Steelheart Saga-

Chapter VII - Blood of the Magi

Rynor the Red awaited Krysté and Vana at Queen Marissa's fountain that morning. He turned an hour glass upside down and observed the falling grains, holding the glass in his hand while sitting on the fountain's ring. They arrived at last, both fully armored and equipped.
"Hello again!" Vana greeted with a smile and a wave.
Rynor turned his attention to the duo and smiled, pocketing his hourglass. "Greetings. A stellar morning, is it not?"
"It will be, once we've begun our work." Said Krysté, who was steadily marching towards the Mage.
"Quite right. So, I take it you've had sufficient time to consider my offer..." Rynor said. "Your answer?"
Krysté jutted out a hip, then placed her hand on it, meeting the Mage's gaze with a sassy stare. "It's worth a shot...but if it is a trick, I won't hesitate to put you down."
"Aha, splendid news!" Rynor cheered, rising from the fountain. "I knew you'd make the right decision! That's what makes you our esteemed leader! Ha, glorious day!"
"Settle down, you oaf!" Krysté barked. "Vana's a Lieutenant, if anything, she's the leader."
"Yeahhh, I don't know about that, love." Vana smirked, strutting around her Elven allies. "I've got some seniority, sure, but you're the one doing all the hard stuff, no?"
"What are you talking about?" Krysté asked, her face scrunched up as her eyes darted between Rynor and Vana.
"I mean, the man has a point!" Vana stopped before Krysté, leaning into her personal space. "You're no footsoldier! I can hold my own against the demons, sure, but you? It's like swatting flies!"
"It's not as easy as it looks!" Krysté insisted.
Vana giggled, stepping back and swaying her arms about, dancing to an imaginary tune. "That's because you make it look easyyyy..." She sang.
Krysté stammered for a response, watching Vana as she felt her cheeks turning hot.
"Well then, since we're all in agreement, let us carry on, shall we?" Rynor cut in, snapping Krysté to attention.
"Follow us." Krysté ordered. "We'll escort you to our barracks and introduce you to our superiors. There, we can make our case."
"Lead the way, milady." Rynor grinned beneath his collar.
"Ahead on our merry way!" Vana skipped ahead, gleefully humming as she led the party through the streets of the Royal City. After an hour of walking, they arrived at the Guard's barracks. Krysté and Vana reported to Commander Harold Grunth's chambers, but were instructed to wait for his meeting with the war chiefs to conclude. The trio of Elves sat in the hall, where Rynor resumed his arcane studies, Vana fidgeted with her fingers while humming a merry tune, and Krysté leaned against a wall, her Blod'ven erected at 45 degrees to her side.
The chatter inside the Commander's chamber erupted into shouts, then fell silent. The door opened, and a quartet of officers passed through, making scant eye contact with the Elven crusaders before brushing by. Commander Grunth fell into the doorframe with an exhale. "Word of advice? Never become an officer. It's all politics and cliques the second they forge a slab with your name engraved on it." Grunth shook his head, then refocused on the trio. "Come in." He fell back, standing clear of the doorway.
Krysté retrieved her greatsword, springing ahead and clicking the weapon to her back. Vana shot up to her feet, folding both arms behind her back and swaying her head while following behind Krysté. Rynor dogeared the page he was reading, then shut his book, stuffed it into his satchel, and entered Grunth's chambers, holding his hat down as he pulled the door shut.
The Commander waltzed over to his desk, popping open a bottle of Élez Grand Sherry, holding it up to his subordinate Knights. "Drink?"
"We're fine." Said Krysté.
"A shot, please!" Vana blurted.
"Thatta girl!" Grunth flashed a beaming grin, grabbing a shot glass from his shelf and pouring the Sherry. He put the glass down on his desk. Vana scooped it up, downed it, then wiped her lips.
"Ahhh, hits the spot!" She said.
"Doesn't it?" Grunth downed a swig straight from the bottle, clinking the Sherry against his desk as he crashed into his chair, kicking his feet up. "So, what is it you needed to speak with me about?"
"Ah, you see, that would be me." Rynor stepped forward and tipped his hat to the Commander. "Rynor the Red, certified Arcanist for the Order of Magi. A pleasure to meet you, good sir."
"...Is your hat staring at me, wizard?" The Commander asked.
"I'm not a Wizard, not yet, anyway." Rynor said. "And...he seems to have that effect on people. Pay it no mind."
"Right. You here to join up or something?" Grunth asked.
"Commander, Rynor here spoke with us about a proposition he'd like brought to your attention." Krysté began. "He claims to be here on behalf of his Order, not the Zalanian Kingdom. He believes it possible to broker an alliance between our Kingdom and the Order of Magi for the purpose of combating Nora and her dark army."
The Commander cracked a facetious smile, then burst into laughter. "That's certainly a new one, Mage, I'll give you that."
"Please, sir, I implore you to earnestly consider what is to be gained here." Said Rynor. "I know you may find it hard to believe, but the Magi understand the threat Nora poses to the natural order, better than any nation or army, if I may be so bold! We walk the closest to the border separating our world from that of these demons! With the approval of your King, it wouldn't take much to convince the Magi Council."
Commander Grunth dropped both feet to the floor and sat up straight, locking eyes with the Mage. "Listen, wizkid. You're trying to do a good thing and I think that's very noble for a man your age, but you do not grasp the layers of red tape keeping my balls wrapped up tight on this matter."
"Sir, I must insist, is there not something that can be done?" Vana interrupted, leaning over the desk. "Surely, there will be generals and nobility sympathetic to our cause. Should we not at least make contact?"
"Stand down, Lieutenant." Grunth ordered. "I'm in a pit with the Royals as it is. They've still not forgiven me for absorbing you into their army."
"Oh, come on, I've more than proven myself by now, no?" Vana asked.
The Commander shrugged. "The Queen isn't fond of Elves. I've no control over that!"
"So our request has been denied, sir?" Krysté asked.
"Hmm..." Commander Grunth squinted, rising from his chair and staring out his window, spectating the civilians outside the barracks. "Try the Captain. He's in their good graces for sending the Private to a dangerous post like the Shadow Wood. Heh, I'd kill to see the look on the Royal Family's faces when they learned of your survival..." He smirked, shaking his head.
"Hold on, what was that about the Captain sending me off?" Krysté asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I said what I said!" Grunth spat. "Don't waste your breath asking me. Talk to Sir Ulrich. If he gives you the boot, consider your request formally denied. Not much else to be done about it at that point."
Krysté saluted, and Vana snapped to attention at her side. "Understood, sir. Sorry for taking up your time."
"Nahhh, you're the ones I like talking to." Grunth flashed a cheeky smirk their way. "Now beat it! I'm gonna go have lunch."
The Elven trio strolled from one end of the barracks to the other, arriving at Captain Ulrich's chambers to find a clear hallway and a closed door. Krysté knocked. "Sir, it's Private Krysté, here with Lieutenant Vana and a volunteer Mage!"
"It's open!" She heard from behind the door.
Krysté opened it and stepped through, her companions following her inside. The Captain sat at his desk, painting a model ship. He glanced up, smiling at Krysté. "What brings you in, Knight?" He asked.
Krysté stood at attention. "Ahem, we just came from Commander Grunth's chambers, he told us to speak with you. The Mage here, Rynor, was sent by the Order of Magi, who he is requesting we negotiate an alliance with."
The Captain set down his ship and brush, then sat back, eyebrows raised. "Huh. It's a big ask, but I admit, it's a sound idea."
"Finally, someone appreciates the brilliance of my plan..." Rynor murmured at the back of the room.
"Suppose I can mention it to the bosses." The Captain said. "I can't promise anything, though. Keep your expectations low, Private."
"Thank you, sir." Krysté saluted.
"At ease." The Captain groaned.
"Woohoo, Lady Krysté!" Vana spanked Krysté's rear, causing her to jump. "That's how you get things done!"
Krysté whipped around, her eyes alert. "Wh—What was that for!?"
The Mage and the Captain watched the women with mutual interest.
"Huh?" Vana glimpsed the Captain staring at them, then noticed Rynor watching from the corner. "Oh, uh, I got a little over excited there..."
The Captain cleared his throat. "Mm, will there be anything else?"
"Actually, there is something." Krysté turned back towards Captain Ulrich. "Commander Grunth mentioned it was you who transferred me to the Shadow Wood. He said I was selected because it was a particularly dangerous post, and our bosses didn't want me to survive." Krysté sat on the edge of the Captain's desk, glaring back at him from over her shoulder, her eyes sharp. "Is it true?"
"Oh, that." The Captain grunted.
"If you'd rather not say in front of the others, they can wait outside." Krysté offered.
"That won't be necessary, Private. I haven't anything to tell you they can't hear." Said Captain Ulrich. "It's like this. The brass took a particular interest in you ever since you were Knighted. They noticed your...unorthodox reports. Imagine the fear you put into those men's hearts. A young woman, going out on solo patrols fresh out of training, culling beasts and demons alike as if it were child's play. Even worse, an Elf girl, capable of all that."
"Tch, you're saying they have some kind of grudge?" Krysté asked.
"A phobia is a better word for it." The Captain locked eyes with Krysté, his expression stern. "You're aware how the Kingdom treats your kind, correct?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course." Krysté flared her nostrils.
"Right, well, think about it like this. A survivor of a race with a long standing hostility towards Humankind joins our ranks, and she's doing things even our senior officers can't manage. Alone." The Captain said. "The men at the top? The ones giving me orders? They don't want you to succeed. They're worried you'll turn that anger on them, and work to destroy Kristenalia from within, to avenge your fallen Kingdom."
"And you signed their order to transfer me to a suicide mission!?" Krysté snapped.
"Krysté..." Vana stepped in, tugging at Krysté's arm, only to be shoved back by the flick of her forearm.
"Unlike them, I knew you could handle it, Private." The Captain said. "For the record, I think it's appalling the way our Kingdom shuns your people. I don't care that you're an Elf. You're a damn fine soldier, and that's exactly what we need, what with hell itself barreling down on us from every corner of the globe!"
"It still doesn't make sense!" Krysté shot up, glaring at the Captain. "I was loyal to your legion. Why would you—"
"You stand a better chance if they think you're away from the front lines!" Ulrich fired back, rising to meet Krysté from the other side of the desk. "When I make my request, I'll make no mention of you, or that your Mage is Elven. We'll have better odds that way. Trust me, Private. I am not your enemy here."
Krysté sighed, backing down at last. "Do what you must. I will see my crusade through to the end, whether it be among the ranks of the Kristenalian Guard or else wise!" Krysté stormed out, the Captain shaking his head as Vana turned to follow her.
"Lieutenant!" Said The Captain.
"Yes, sir?"
"Keep her out of trouble." Ulrich ordered.
Vana nodded. "Will do!" She rushed out in pursuit of Krysté.
Rynor sighed. "Such an explosive girl. Must the fairest maidens always be the most volatile?"
The Captain didn't dignify the question. He merely shot an irritated glance at the Mage.
Rynor tipped his hat. "Until next we meet..." He scurried out of the room, following his companions as Krysté marched out of the barracks.