Valkyrie's Shadow

Birthright: Act 5, Chapter 13

Chapter 13

A pair of footmen greeted Ludmila outside of the barricade.

“Welcome back, Lady Camilla,” one of them said, and they straightened to present themselves.

“Did the others return safely?” She asked.

“Yes, my lady,” he replied. “Lady Gagnier has retired for the night, but Lady Corelyn and Lady Wagner are still in the pavilion, if you wish to speak to them.”

Ludmila nodded and left him to his watch. The men and women working inside the camp seemed to behave no differently than when she had departed earlier in the evening: carrying the same, relaxed atmosphere despite what was going on in the countryside beyond. Walking past the campfire and the sentry nearby, she entered into the pavilion, stepping into the brightness cast by the magic light.

Clara jumped when she appeared out of the darkness, stifling a light cry.

“You did that on purpose!” Her friend said, staring at her wide-eyed with a hand over her chest.

“I did what on purpose?” Ludmila said.

“Popping out of the nothingness like that,” Clara said. “Your brothers did that as well, stalking around like cats. I should really buy you a bell to wear or something.”

“I thought we decided that it couldn't be helped,” Ludmila said. “Our entire family is a long line of Rangers. Moving this way is like breathing to us.”

“Back then, at least someone had a chance of noticing you,” Clara replied. “Even the footman guarding the pavilion didn’t detect anything until I spoke just now.”

Ludmila twisted around to look at the footman, who was stammering in an attempt to reply. She had passed by him along the way, not even a metre distant.

“It’s not as if I was trying to sneak in,” Ludmila said. “Why are you so jumpy anyways? Did something happen?”

“Several of the relocated groups moved to hamlets nearby,” Liane said, “so there we were just discussing whether they would appear here to cause trouble since they’re so close.”

“I see,” Ludmila said. “I don’t think they would come after an armed camp – most of them had the look of common labourers and such.”

“That’s how it mostly seems,” Liane agreed, “but it’s hard to know for sure. The Shadow Demons’ assessments range from ‘laughably weak’ to ‘low level fodder’ so, while the general information we receive is mostly accurate, some specific things cannot be spoken for.”

Lady Aura had mentioned something along those lines a few weeks ago as well. While the young Dark Elf was an unfathomably proficient Ranger, there was no one else near her level of skill when it came to tracking, physical reconnaissance and target assessment. According to her, the Sorcerous Kingdom mostly relied on direct observation with powerful servants or through divination magic in cases when it could be applied, so Lady Aura constantly had her hands full with tasks only she, a few of her beasts, and a bare handful of others could do relative to the sheer number of powerful servitors at the Sorcerous Kingdom’s disposal.

Shadow Demons were no exception to this. Their ability to operate in the darkness undetected and get into hard-to-reach spaces with relative ease was undoubtedly useful, but their reporting was limited to directly seeing and hearing things, or stealing evidence that they happened to come across. They did not care to make inferences – nor did they have the knowledge or expertise to do so – and neither could they track their targets beyond keeping them in sight and tailing them. Even trails similar to the one that Ludmila had found and followed to the Re-Estize border, which was one any decently trained Ranger would have probably spotted, were mysteriously beyond their ability to notice.

Recalling the field at the end of the trail, she withdrew the plants she had collected and placed them on the table. The loose pile looked not much more than a fistfull of wild plants, but Ludmila did not recognize it as any sort of crop cultivated by the farms in the region.

“I found a field of these plants stretching north along the border a short distance from the highway,” she said. “I have never seen it before. Do either of you know what it is?”

Clara looked down with an expression that suggested she shared the same ignorance regarding the sample as herself, but a displeased expression appeared on Liane’s face.

“This is contraband,” she said. “I’ve only seen the processed form personally, but it matches the appearance of Laira in customs manuals.”

“Eh?” Clara blinked, “This is Laira?”

“You’ve seen Laira Powder before?” Ludmila asked.

“Yep,” Liane said, “too many times. A few times a week, our men would discover caravans trying to sneak it past E-Rantel to the Empire. We were hanging around forty smugglers a week last autumn, but someone’s really trying hard to get it going in the east. The Imperial authorities would keep complaining to us too, meaning that we didn’t catch everyone. All we could do was show them just how many we were stringing up – there are so many desperate and oblivious idiots out west that they seem to have an unlimited supply of runners for this stuff. Did you find these plants while you were in town?”

“No,” Ludmila said. “It was being grown in Re-Estize.”

“So they’re harvesting the ripe plants and hiding it on our side of the border?” Liane pondered the information, “Or maybe they’re stealing the crops from whoever is growing this on the other side. We have no authority to act across the border – we can only deal with problems on our side…did you find anyone?”

“I followed a conspicuously empty wagon,” Ludmila said. “They stopped to load themselves full of this cargo before trying to escape to Re-Estize. It was only after I backtracked to see where it all came from that I found the field.”

“Hmm…” Liane tapped her finger lightly on the table as she examined the county map. “So they’re using the Sorcerous Kingdom as a shield against authorities in the Kingdom? No, that can’t be right. This should be something from when we were still all a part of Re-Estize – fields of Laira don’t just pop up in a month. Whoever is doing this was using Ramposa’s demesne as a shield against retaliation from the neighboring territory for stealing their Laira, or just covertly growing it in the neighboring lands to keep themselves out of trouble – or get their neighbors into it. Or maybe they were going to use this to smear Ramposa’s reputation and weaken his position in the Royal Court in exchange for something…or all of the above? I wouldn’t put it past House Fassett to orchestrate that sort of thing.”

“I wonder how long that has been going on for,” Clara said. “Would they dare to resume smuggling it through the duchy after merchant traffic returns to normal?"

“Now that we know that this is happening,” Liane said, “it would be nearly impossible unless they use unknown routes. Assuming that they’re as common as the Undead servants you see around the city, Shadow Demons stationed at checkpoints can just pop into every wagon to inspect them for contraband if they can learn how to identify it. If they can’t, they can always bring back a sample for customs officials to verify without the smugglers even noticing that it’s gone missing. The Sorcerous Kingdom’s forces are much better than regular militia when it comes to using direct methods to enforce laws where the verdict is clear.”

Ludmila placed the Laira back into her belt pouch, and Liane spoke again.

“You’re going to want to burn that so the seeds don’t scatter all over the place,” Liane said. “Don’t be anywhere close or downwind when you do, though, you’ll turn into an idiot.”

“Eh?”

“I’m serious,” Liane said gravely. “That stuff is used in places where Human slaves are considered nothing more than livestock, so their owners get them addicted to Laira Powder to ensure that their assets stay docile. If you’re exposed to it long enough, you’ll be reduced to livestock too. Some genius thought it was a good idea to market that filth in Human nations – more to the point, they probably didn’t even care about its effects. Half the smugglers that we sent to the gallows claimed that what they were doing was a harmless and legitimate business for a medicinal or recreational good.”

Ludmila tied the pouch shut; then she tied it again.

“So,” Ludmila said, securing the pouch to her belt again, “we’ve stirred up one side, and tomorrow will be Campbell’s turn. Did anything happen in the past few hours that requires us to adjust our plans?”

“We’re not even sure how large of a portion of Jacqueline’s power this even is,” Clara said. “We’ll need to see how they react to our next visit, after we’ve cleared out these groups that she’s sent everywhere.”

“After we visit Campbell tomorrow,” Ludmila said, “I’ll remain near to his village with two Shadow Demons and start dealing with his underlings. The third Shadow Demon will stay with you: just in case they try to lash out at us in retaliation.”

“How could they even justify that?” Clara said, “Would they simply act under the assumption that we're the source of their woes and come after us?”

“With few other parties to blame, it’s possible that they might come to that conclusion,” Liane said. “They could even rouse a mob or use their ‘bandits’ against us and claim that they had nothing to do with it. Considering what we know, it’s ludicrous of course – but this is the sort of tactic that would have worked back when our liege only cared enough to collect taxes from his far away throne. All this information we’ve put together makes it harder and harder to see how they can be anything but what they’ve been rumored to be this entire time.”

Ludmila frowned. Out of the four of them, Liane was the quickest to condemn what they had discovered in Fassett County. Perhaps her experience dealing with a wide range of people as a scion of House Wagner had led her to develop a keen eye for making sense out of such details in a short period of time, or maybe her experiences contributed to her judgmental attitude…Ludmila did not know her well enough yet to understand which it was.

For Ludmila, their time here had been a rather unpleasant process overall: every stroke that painted a clearer picture of House Fassett only served to further undermine what had once been her unwavering confidence that, to be a noble, one must surely also act how she thought one should. Hopefully this was not a common occurrence: E-Rantel only had about two dozen nobles left.

Ludmila’s train of thought led her in yet another unpleasant direction.

“If I arrived to investigate one of your fiefs,” she said, “how would you react?”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table, making her wish she had never asked. Only a brief moment passed, however, before Clara spoke beside her.

“I suppose that I would like to be informed first,” she said. “I would be glad to have help rooting out this sort of thing if it ever made its way into my lands somehow, since I would never knowingly allow it.”

“Same here,” Liane agreed. “I already mentioned how I didn't think we were able to catch every smuggler taking advantage of the traffic flowing to the Empire, so I’ve no illusions that my oversight is perfect. It would be nice to know what is going on before you pop up and drag me off into some dark hole, though.”

“You two seem to be handling my new duties better than I am,” Ludmila sighed.

“To be a noble is to be bound to many things" Clara said, "and duty is foremost amongst them. I’m sure you already know this as well as we. It would be a bit unreasonable to treat you like some sort of villain for it.”

“The more successful you are at it,” Liane added, “the more our own standards are upheld. It’s no great loss to see crime and corruption eliminated, and rule of law reign.”

“That’s the problem, though,” Ludmila said. “My duty is to assist with Lady Shalltear's own. In this instance, it may seem like I’m upholding the law, but it is ultimately just a coincidence. My duty is to defend the realm, and uphold His Majesty’s order…which just so happens to mirror the spirit of our laws. There might come a day that I may be duty-bound to act against someone for reasons that they never thought were wrong, or simply because he considers them his enemy.”

“His Majesty has been benevolent in rule thus far,” Clara said, furrowing her brow, “and has made great strides towards ensuring the prosperity and wellbeing of his subjects. Is there something you know that suggests otherwise?”

Ludmila shook her head.

“Not that I know of – Lady Shalltear thinks the world of him. I cannot claim that I completely understand everything, but it might be safer to say that we should act as if he is an absolute ruler rather than one who is bound by law. We exist by his whims, so in order to continue existing, it is in everyone's best interests to carry out his will.”

“Then the laws…” Clara said limply after hearing Ludmila’s words.

“Are instituted by His Majesty’s will,” Ludmila said, “so he can just as easily replace them, if he so wishes. Even so, we are also bound to them as long as they stay in force…and so are the members of the Royal Court when it comes to the administration of the Sorcerous Kingdom. Due to the various interpretations of His Majesty’s will, however, you may find some seemingly arbitrary things happening with no apparent reason or precedent.”

“Shouldn’t Florine be awake to hear this?” Liane said, “This is the first I've heard of the like…how can we hope to survive such a seemingly random thing?”

“All we can do is strive for positions which help us gain a better understanding,” Clara said, “like Ludmila has. There’s no point in complaining about it – we were all at the mercy of His Majesty’s whims the moment E-Rantel was annexed. The only way that we might be able to do something about it is in the ways we already know as nobles: through our contributions and our influence with the powers of the realm. Even if it is just a little bit, we can at least try to keep the worst from coming to pass.”

“The strong do what they can,” Liane muttered, “and the weak suffer what they must...except that we’re the weak, just trying to act as the strong.”

“It’s what we must do regardless,” Clara said, “and we have a duty to our own vassals as well. The only nobles who believe they can simply lead easy lives are fools.”

“I wish I could enter under Lady Shalltear's service,” Liane huffed. “At least she actually communicates with her vassals and Ludmila appears to be flourishing under her.”

“It’s barely been two months,” Clara said. “Our rapport with His Majesty may improve as time passes. We just have to become important enough to notice, perhaps.”

“Well, let us know what that feels like when you get there,” Liane said. “In a few years, you’ll be too prosperous to ignore. Florine and I still have a long way to go by comparison, unless we can find some sort of edge like you and Ludmila did.”

“Me?” Ludmila was confused.

“Well, they’ve clearly recognized you for whatever reasons,” Liane explained, “and something earned you Lady Shalltear’s favour. You’ll have to tell us that tale one day.”

“We’ve digressed from our current task quite a bit already,” Clara said. “Rather than chatting into the night, we should really get ourselves some rest.”

Liane yawned involuntarily at the mention of sleep, and Ludmila thought that Clara's words were more for Liane’s benefit than their own. Retiring to the carriage which she shared with Clara, Ludmila lay staring at the ceiling of the carriage. Even at this late hour, she was not quite ready to fall asleep yet. Clara shifted under their sheets to turn and face her.

“Can it be done?” Clara asked.

“Can what be done?”

“The nuances and implications that come with your new duty scare me to death,” Clara's soft voice shook. “That we are so powerless that all we can do is wait to die if the wind blows the wrong way one day. I was so desperate to think of any way that could help – even a tiny bit – that I said what I did...but you know more about this than I.”

"While it is true that His Majesty may make decisions that may result in drastic changes from the status quo,” Ludmila said, “as long as it is something that doesn’t immediately end everything, I think we can manage in the way that you described. Liane thinks I have some sort of advantage, but I think you have an even greater one.

“While I cannot say for certain, it seems that every member of the Royal Court has their own preferences and interpretations when it comes to His Majesty’s Will. For instance, the Prime Minister might be more distant than we would like but, after His Majesty's directives, I think that what she’s done so far shows that she appreciates a smooth and comprehensive administration when it comes to her duties. The three of you are far better at this than I am – I can barely keep up with the tiny amount my own demesne puts out. What you demonstrate through the management of your own fiefs will speak volumes to her, and you are far superior to me when it comes to the politics of the court.

“Just like you were granted new territories, Liane and Florine should be able to as well if they can impress the idea that what comes under their administration will go towards creating the realm that His Majesty desires. Together, we can work towards impressing upon the Royal Court that we, too, genuinely seek to uphold His Majesty’s will.”

"And what is His Majesty’s will?"

Though many weeks past, Lady Shalltear’s declaration still resounded clearly in her memory.

“It is the will of Ainz Ooal Gown, the Sorcerer King, that his domain stands as a beacon of prosperity and harmony for all the world to see. By the grace of His Majesty, we are afforded protection as his citizens. It is the will of the Sorcerer King that his people shall not want for shelter or provision; that his people are provided with the security and stability to thrive – regardless of their talent, occupation or station.

“Those who strive to serve under his rule shall be rewarded in equal measure. Those who dare to bring harm to what is his shall be granted no quarter.”

Clara looked at Ludmila curiously through lidded eyes.

“Those are not your words,” she noted. “Who did you hear this from?”

“They were the words of Lady Shalltear,” Ludmila replied. “A declaration in an alley deep in E-Rantel, before a crowd of hundreds of frightened and desperate people.”

“I wish I had been there as well,” Clara murmured. “If that is what it is, then…”

A shadow crossed over her friend’s face.

“Even with this assurance,” Clara said, looking her in the eyes, “do you not worry that one day you will be turned against those you hold dear in order to carry out His Majesty’s will? Do you ever worry about a day when your spear might be directed against me?”

“Why such silly questions? You should know that this has always been a part of being a noble; it is not unique to the Sorcerous Kingdom – they just have the power to ensure that the desired order is upheld.” Ludmila’s lips turned up in a lopsided smirk, “As for you: you are the very last person that I worry about when it comes to that sort of thing. For Clara Corelyn is every bit as austere as Ludmila Zahradnik.”

Ludmila’s smile grew teasing, recalling something she had heard recently in Clara’s village. She raised a hand out from under the covers, poking Clara in the cheek.

“The Radiant Jewel of the Riverlands.”

“That’s just something the people came up with on their own,” Clara said with a flush of embarrassment.

“Yet that is what you are,” Ludmila told her. “A noble of radiant brilliance, a precious jewel that brings prosperity and wealth to her subjects. An Angel made flesh, bestowing her benevolence across the land.”

Ludmila withdrew her hand, and her smile faded somewhat.

“Yet, at the same time, people somehow forget: when it comes to the precepts of order, Angels are every bit as unrelenting and ruthless as Devils.”