The Last Battle on the Tavin Trail

Sergeant Inen Taira took a moment to bask in a moment of personal satisfaction as he rode at the head of the formation of troops. A platoon, they were comprised of nearly forty men with a healthy mix of magicians to ensure tactical flexibility. As they were in the open plains where visibility was optimal, he had arranged the bulk of the troops in line formations with a scouting element to extend their group's surveillance.

Of course, he expected the possibility of enemy action; in fact, he almost relished it. Let them come... it would allow him to demonstrate his leadership under fire, possibly earning him back that promotion he had lost. To that end, he had briefed the soldiers before they left, pushing hard for them to be alert and not to take this as any routine transfer. He reminded them of the recent actions by the insurrection movement and that the prisoners they were transporting were some of the most dangerous enemies of the Kingdom, summing up his speech with a brief reminder of their patriotic duties.

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"Focus on your breathing... concentrate on the energy around us... and imagine channeling it through the crystal like a lens," Keiko instructed. "Lady Amberbrooke taught me that theoretically, anyone in this land can be taught to channel at least a minimal amount of magic, if they open their minds to it."

"If that's true, then why aren't we seeing everyone using magic?" Akiko asked.

"Mana alone is just raw energy," Keiko explained. "It needs to be focused, and that's usually where these crystals come into play. What separates the dabblers and the more dedicated, at least at the middle levels, is willpower and access to these crystals. Think of them like a lens, and you're trying to use your will to focus energy through that lens to produce something tangible and that becomes your spell. A simple crystal uses a small amount of energy and is pretty easy to cast. A powerful crystal uses a lot more, and that can take a lot more willpower, which if you're not experienced, will take a lot out of you. Really complex spells could take multiple crystals or even multiple casters, and even I'm not at that point yet."

"What about what you pulled off that night when we escaped with Masako-chan?" Akiko asked.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Keiko promised. "For now, try focusing your will through this crystal."

"What does it do?" Akiko asked trepidatiously.

"Creates a group of glowing balls of lights, that's all, nothing dangerous," Keiko reassured. "We're starting off with something harmless. Even if you totally muck it up, the worst that will happen is a few loud pops and maybe a stinking puff of smoke."

"That's... reassuring," Akiko cringed as Keiko guided her hands to holding the crystal and held her steady.

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Jun walked into the common room of the Inn the group was staying in after having conferred with their other magicians. "Ok, that was one of our spies down in Brettling at the Lykaris southern border. They've just left town and, assuming they travel at standard speed for a wagon train, it should take them four more days traveling through open plains before they reach the edges of the great forest."

"Any chance we just attack them before they reach the forest?" Keiko asked.

"They'd see us coming long before we even got into arrow range," Hiroshige shook his head. "The number of men they have means an attack force far too large to conceal with illusions and they'll have magicians of their own to counter that tactic anyway. Besides, they may very well kill our people if we don't get the initiative on them."

"Alright then, forest town plan it is," Akiko concluded. "So, we need to get to Shapwick first, under cover. My thought is, if we can get some of the Empire's guards to start fights, maybe commit some crimes against the townspeople, the town's guards will have to intervene. While they're distracted, we'll break our people out, then sneak them out under cover of darkness."

"That's your plan?" Masako snorted dubiously. "Look, I get what you're going for, but I've been living with the Empire's men for months. They're not going to fall for something that shallow. A few drunk guards aren't going to go beyond maybe some of their lower ranked men getting sent to cells for the night; their internal discipline is too good for that. To get the kind of response you're wanting is going to take something... well, you might not like what I have to say."

Keiko blinked at Masako's statement, "Wait, you're not thinking about...?"

"If you want them attacking the townspeople, or better yet, the town guard, they need to believe they're under attack, and that means some of the soldiers are getting killed by people in town or at least so it will appear..." Masako suggested.

Both Akiko and Keiko looked at Masako with stunned expressions, as Jun and Hiroshige took a moment to think. "Did you have a way to actually make that happen?"

"My weapon lets me engage multiple opponents if I need to," Masako explained. "If I can get a town guard's uniform, I can keep them busy. Just make sure the rest of you are ready to free your people in the confusion."

"You're talking about, what, assassinating some of the Empire's men and framing the town guards?" Akiko asked. "Isn't that a little... hardcore?"

"As opposed to what? Killing them face-to-face?" Masako asked.

"I..." Akiko started to reply but couldn't really answer. She had wanted to be above board with her tactics, telling herself that she wouldn't stoop to her enemy's methods, but Masako's idea made too much sense and there was too much at stake. So why did it make me feel so dirty?

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Sergeant Kenji Takeda's attention shifted as he saw Sergeant Inen Taira's horse drift back from the lead position and rode alongside the prison carts as the caravan made its final trek with the forest coming into view.

"You know... speaking as a fellow military man... one of the few who share the common experience serving under the illustrious Captain Fujiwara... I have to ask, didn't you ever find it tiring serving under a so-called living legend?" Inen mused. "Come on, you can tell me the truth... it's not like there are any officers around to report you for conduct unbecoming or undermining the chain of command?"

"Really..." Kenji replied drolly. "That's what you got for your short time serving with the man? Did it really reveal your inadequacies that much to serve under a great man like Captain Fujiwara that you feel the need to tear him down after his passing?"

"Oh, come now... you never once found yourself disappointed when you saw him up close with that reputation?" Inen snorted. "The medals, the stories, all practically made it sound like he could walk on water. Surely there had to be something that left you wondering what all the fuss was about?"

Kenji took a moment to compose himself. As far as he knew, this may be the last free air he was going to breathe, but he was going to be damned if he was going to spend it listening to this little man's ramblings. "During the battle against the Northern Shirai Empire, our company was tasked to capture then hold the Agnor Valley that holds the main roads between the Talon Mountain range. You may have heard how fierce the Shirai forces fight for their lands, I can assure you they're all true. We took the first bridge before their forces rallied. The Captain took a hit early on. He could have pulled back; most would have and delegated the attack to his second to tend to his wound, but instead he stayed. It was the last choke point leading up to the Tavin trail where they hit us the hardest. We took the lead position, but they made us pay dearly for every inch. I personally watched Captain Fujiwara save at least a dozen men that day through his actions, both with his prowess in combat and personally rescuing soldiers who needed evacuation back for healing. Eventually, even he was forced off the line for a time due to his injuries, but we did take the Valley."

"A lovely story," Inen dismissed. "Perhaps you'll entertain your fellow inmates at the Island once we arrive." They pulled into the forest. He ordered the troops into a narrow formation to fit the trail as he moved back to the front of the column. He then reminded everyone to be extra vigilant and asked the magicians in their party to cast spells of alertness. If the ambush was coming, it would most likely be here as they were on the final leg of the journey into the town of Shapwick, their last stop before heading to the edge of the Loch Murshard. Once in town though, he felt fairly secure. Between his forces and their watch, he doubted the insurrection forces would engage the whole town. Baron Lykaris knew who ruled this land and he had his people properly loyal. If the infidels dared to show their faces here, we would be ready.