The Union 248 Woe to the Innocen

From the military fortifications built around the bridge and the way the camp was organized, it was apparent that King Corey wasn't an amateur. A sea of trenches and tunnels were built between The Union's legions and the Hadean army. A series of catapults, ballistae and towers were erected in strategic locations. Some portion of the trench had walls. Although he couldn't see it, there were probably spikes, caltrops, pitfalls and other traps hidden in the winding trenches.

The Hadeans had come prepared for this grit. They were well-informed too. Hellfire cannot burn what is hidden beneath ground. If Timothy ordered an assault then the towers, catapults, ballistae, traps and the trenches themselves would grind the legions bit by bit. After that they would have to face the bulk of the Hadeans.

He grimaced and felt a tinge of annoyance at the Hadean King. Hadea had been lost. Only its capital city remained in the hands of the Hadean Royalty. The people they conquered now sang praises to the Union. King Corey should have the sense to surrender. But the King remained adamant. He was going to make the Union's advance as painful as possible. And for what? For glory? For the laughs while he drank sweet Hadean wine? Useless.

Timothy was on his horse in front of the sea of Castonians. They were four legions in all. Hardened, tested four legions of Castonians would burst through any fortifications. King Corey would be dead soon as well as thousands of Hadeans. The Long River would flow red.

But Timothy had a better and less bloody way. It would reduce the casualties and make their advance faster but it would be sinister. Too sinister for his liking.

"How many deaths would it take to take the bridge?" Lucia asked whose horse just trotted near him.

"Three to four on our side in a direct assault. A little less than that if we employ some tricks. Would be bloody anyway"

"I don't want it to be bloody Tim"

"I do too. Everyone does. Nobody wants a bloody outcome. Nobody indulges in death. That's why we need him. We need his gift"

"And his dagger if needed"

"Yes" Timothy sighed "Dagger"

The Castonian legions camped about half league from the trenches. Timothy ordered for it to be extra neat this time. A neat and orderly camp would intimidate the enemies. Towers and defensive earthworks were built, not inferior to the defenses of the Hadeans. Sentries were placed all over the camp. Hounds were taken from the kennels for sniffing out spies.

Shadow was in front of him and Lucia was by his side. For his strange look and attire, Shadow was a bit shy. It was a jarring far cry from his first encounter with the man. Back then, Timothy's heart raced like Tulosan steeds charging.

"I haven't been seeing you lately" Timothy said.

"I was just occupied with work Your Majesty"

"And good work" Lucia turned to him "His efforts had been useful in Inkit"

"Indeed" Timothy nodded "You are a fine man Shadow. Loyal and with talent. But tell me, why are you going this far for us?"

Shadow looked surprised by Timothy's question. His lips curved and his eyebrows met. "Because you two are the Eternal Pair. Like my father, you have the gift of eternity. You will end the tyranny of my father and stop the cull" Shadow retreated into a slouch "After you are done with your own wars, that is."

"So our gift is being born over and over again huh? That feels a bit weak"

"Not weak King Timothy. Never. Your gift is wisdom, sharpened through eons. You also have information and knowledge regarding our world"

"But we don't" Lucia sweetly leaned on his shoulder "We don't remember anything. Not a bit."

"Soon you will"

"Maybe" Timothy eyed Lucia. Whether Shadow was right or not, the way he sees her would never change. Even of they did betray each other in their past incarnation, it doesn't matter. He swung his look at Shadow. "We have a mission for you"

Shadow shifted on his seat and clutched his hat. "This is not an ordinary mission right?" He smiled, flashing his gold tooth. "Given, none of my missions were ordinary. But I feel that this one is more so."

"Because it is not moral. W want to ask for your consent in this because you will suffer part of the guilt." Lucia said.

"Not moral. Guilt." Shadow repeated as if mincing the words. "Let me hear it then"

"We want you to abduct the Hadean Princess" Timothy revealed.

Shadow looked up to him. "Given" Shadow paused a for a bit. "That is indeed not ordinary. Abducting a Princess would not be moral. But it is too shallow of a crime. Kidnappings happen all the time. I don't see why you need to ask my consent."

"Because abducting a Princess is actually the easiest part. We want to make her a hostage, a leverage to force the King to surrender. King Corey is known to love his daughter with all his heart." Lucia said and then hesitated to put into words the next part. "We are desperate. Eastern Canton is on fire. Sarah Wismar has returned. We need Hadea's surrender as soon as possible. And so we will threaten to kill the Princess if King Corey doesn't surrender"

Timothy felt uneasy hearing the plan put into words. He wasn't proud of it. Lucia wasn't too. The Hadean Princess was innocent of this. And she could become a casualty.

"That is... dark" Shadow said, eyeing the carpet.

"It is dark. A less darker version of this is to assassinate King Corey but that wouldn't work. Another would rise in his place. This is the fastest way to gain passage without losing thousands of lives." Lucia further explained. She glanced at Timothy. "We want you to make the decision whether you should do this or not. You are the only one who can pass into their lines unnoticed. But we don't want to lose your support by the end of this. You see us as the perfect rulers, kind and moral. But we are not perfect. Far from it. The King and I have our faults."

"If the Princess dies by our hand then we will encounter a fiercer resistance from the Hadeans" Shadow said.

"That is why we need to keep this a secret. The Princess would just vanish as if she just ran into the night and we will give a secret letter to the King on what happened and what we want. Only the three of us and King Corey would know. Even the Generals would be blind about this. The Hadeans wouldn't know and even if King Corey points the disappearance to us, he will not have a proof."

"Would we really execute her if King Corey declines?"

The question still remained without answer for Timothy. What would happen if King Corey refuses to lay down his arms? Would they really execute the Hadean Princess? Can they do it? But a threat without weight is a bad thing.

"Maybe..." Timothy frowned "maybe a finger would be a warning. Or an ear. I'm not sure. But I think we will keep her alive. There was no point in killing her for real. But it is inevitable for her to suffer in the process." He met eyes with Shadow "Would you do it?"

Shadow was silent for a long time. He shifted his crossed legs several times before finally talking. "My father once told me that the world is not a perfect place and would never become one even if we do everything in our power. He said that the imperfections are natural. When I first confirmed your identities, I was ecstatic. The two of you are fated to free my people and stop the cull. But I did not put an unreasonable expectation on you. I knew all along that dark and difficult choices like this must be done. I will go and I will not blame nor lose my confidence in you even if this turns bloody. Woe to the Hadean Princess."

Chapter end