Suikoden VII

Chapter Four: Part Seven

Chapter Four: Part Seven

"Prince Vahan, Princess Philomena." Elly Drake approached the royals and saluted. "Unit A is ready to advance."

Vahan nodded. "I will give the order to advance shortly."

"Is this really such a good idea?" Philomena asked, folding her arms over her chest. She wore Zelant's black armor over her blue dress. "They would be expecting us to advance from Giant's Passage, wouldn't they?"

"Yes, and Sigrun will leads her forces to engage them," Vahan agreed. "Our older sister will allow herself to be bait if it means to protect any of us. But we know that they only have 300 soldiers, so they will send 100 over the bridge and then the remaining 200 are going to try and ambush us."

"It's a classic tactic called an envelopment," Elly agreed, sliding her hand into the pockets of her coat. "Astraea and Prince Denzel will try to attack us from the rear to make us think they're cornering us."

"But how will they attempt that if we're advancing from the only known point of connection to the small island?" Philomena asked.

"Teleportation," Vahan said. "We saw it. Our scouts reports our siblings and their assists walking a distance away, and then disappearing into thin air."

"It's not a common occurrence in war times, but it had happened in past wars," Elly said. "In my research of the Islands Liberation War, there were eyewitness accounts of entire fleets moving in the blink of an eye across the seas. Astraea Reiser may have discovered this secret as well."

"B-But doesn't that mean Father is at risk?!" Philomena cried out. "They could teleport to Blutkrieger!"

But Vahan shook his head. "If Astraea had that capability, then she would have done it by now. Since she hasn't that means she can't yet. We need to take here out before she can."

"That is why we're sending the bulk of our forces to Alfsberg, Your Highness," Elly added. "From my research, this unusual capability is centered around known landmark, such as towns. Alfsberg is the closest town to us, so that is most likely where the other two units will teleport to."

"It's too bad that Lord Reilly has taken a trip," Vahan sighed, shaking his head. "We could have used his help for this battle. I know that would have wanted to participate."

"We will make do, Your Highness," Elly reassured him. "And we will be victorious. When Princess Sigrun brings her forces across Giant's Passage, she will not find the ambush she believes she is entering."

"Right," Vahan said. "Instead...that ambush will be thrusted upon Denzel and Astraea."

"It didn't have to come to this," Philomena said, looking at Aravine. "But they wouldn't yield. Now we must fight."

"Yes. We will fight—but we will win."

—

Reformation Army vs Vahan Reiser and Philomena Reiser

Royal Army Forces: 500

Reformation Army Forces: 300

Victory: Defeat Vahan and Philomena's units

Failure: Astraea's unit falls

"Your Highness, I must ask you to march behind me," Ferdinand said softly.

"I'm the commander of this unit, Ferdinand," Sigrun said over her shoulder. "I will march with the vanguard."

"It will be interesting fighting on this bridge," Richard said thoughtfully. "It is wide enough for combat, but retreated will be difficult."