********* (I Love You) Chapter LI: BattlefrontsFollow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Okay, I wanted to get this story out before I got off from my first job, so I’ll edit it in about an hour condensing Part VII’s chapters into one neat post. EDIT: Done.

In the meantime…here is the opening to Chapter LI, and therefore Kasho VIII.

Read, review, and enjoy.

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)

Kasho IV- Suriyoru (Closer)

Part V- Secrets (Hiou)

Kasho VI- Hanarebanare (Apart)

Part VII- Longing (Akogare)
---
Bonus Story: Rainfall Memories

For Prishe.

*****
Funny...

How when you finally meet someone interesting, you only have enough time to say "Good Bye".

Spring bursted out of the snowy gloom, and with it the effects of the war was starting to take it’s toll upon the people of Tavnazia. Everyday I could see the prices for various fruits and dietary staples going up in price, only to be marked out a few hours later as news of the latest beastman victory came rolling through the streets.

We were losing the war against the beastmen, and it was becoming obvious to everyone.

***
Chapter LI: Battlefronts
***

"The purpose of this meeting tonight is to discuss recent developments here within the Marquisate and abroad. I am going to hereby ask all of you to lay aside your petty arguments for the sake of the safety and future of our beloved Tavnazia."

I looked up at the white-haired Marquisat from where I was leaning against the wall. Even through my armored eye slits, I could tell that his eyes were burning with a fierce red glow as his slightly wrinkled elvaan hands gripped the edges of the cherry table. His voice had a commanding tone to it, and I couldn’t help but smile a tiny bit at the thought that if this man was any bit like his ancestors, than the Kingdom certainly had picked the right family of vassals to manage the Tavnazian Archipelago in their staid.

"First order of business…the food shortage across Vana’diel. With the defeat and fall of Garliage on the Eastern front outside of the Grandy Duchy the beastmen have been attacking various foodstuff suppliers in La Theine and also Rolanberry Fields, causing a huge loss of crops. How can we ensure that there is enough left over to kept the troops well fed, along with the civilian population? I’m open to ideas."

As the Marquisat finished speaking, I shifted my weight around from one leg to another and then quickly swept my eyes along the other people in the room. After a moment, an nervous hume figure stood up, and turned towards the Marquisat. His voice was rather mellow, and I found myself growing rather sleepy just from hearing it’s monotonous sound, along with the six or seven other individuals all gathered in the room.

"We have been working on trying to modify our deal with San d’ Oria by trying to get more crops sent to us in exchange for us being willing to lend them even more of our troops to fight in the conflict for the Kingdom’s safety. Currently, we have lent out thirty-nine percent of our total forces, including twenty-four percent of our warlocks’ division. The proposed deal will cut our forces down even further, with forty-five percent of our forces being sent our abroad to fight for San d’ Oria."

With that comment, the hume sat back down in his chair, a loud squeak emulating from where he then leaned back slightly in it’s plush backing. Inside my helmet, my sleepy faze suddenly turned into sharp concern at the current number of troops gone and the numbers that were being bargained with.

"Marquisat...may I address the floor?" I asked respectfully and carefully, knowing that the only reason I had been invited to this meeting was because of some agreement that my home nation had with Tavnazia that was tied into my being posted here.

The Marquisat waved his hand at me in a small half-circle motion, indicating that I could go ahead.

"I suggest that we immediately terminate the deal we have with the Kingdom of San d' Oria, or at the very least cut down on the number of troops that are being sent away from the Marquisate. With all due respect, all of you are seeming to forget that we don’t exactly have the numbers or resources of one of the main four nations at our disposal, and I am sure that we won’t be able to count on Aht Urhgan to lend us any help either."

However, I was rather surprised to see the Tavnazian leader clear his throat as soon as I said this.

"Commander Dimitri, how prepared are our forces for an assault upon us by the beastman tribes? There ARE reports of the beastmen in the surrounding areas holding various 'war games' more often than they have historically. Do you think at our current level of readiness, we could repel an invasion force? And if so, of what size?"

I thought for a moment, my mind quickly flashing over the various training sessions that we have had over the past few months. "Honestly, if the beastmen decided to send anything more than two divisions here, we will be ruthlessly overwhelmed in a few short hours. We are woefully undermanned to defend this nation."

With that, a black-haired Elvaan that I recognized as the minister of homeland affairs stood up and turned towards me. I could tell that he was blind in his left eye due to a deep slash that marred his otherwise perfect face.

"Commander, recent San d’ Orian intelligence that was given to us has indicated that the beastmen are planning to launch a major offensive upon their own kingdom. Indeed, that was the reasoning behind why the king sent their national treasure, the Lightbringer, to us for safekeeping. If we don’t try to support San d’ Oria, they might fall under beastman control, and that would be bad for both us and your own home nation. I am not too fond of this arrangement personally, but we have no real choice in the situation. Our people NEED food, and San d’ Oria needs troops."

I nodded in agreement, still wishing that this all wasn’t the case as a short period of silence descended upon the room. As I then contemplated taking one of the melon juice containers that was laying on a tray in the middle of the table and then draining it down in one gulp, I saw the sole door in the room creak open soundlessly and what I recognized to be the same person who had welcomed me into the Marquisate only a few months ago stepped into the room.

"Si-" he started to say before he was cut off rather rudely by one of the other room’s occupants, someone that I didn’t recognize.

"Is this important enough to disturb a meeting that the Marquisat himself had personally called?," he cracked out at the soldier, letting his presence be felt all through the room as he exerted his superior ranking upon the lowly guard.

As soon as the general said that, I had a sinking feeling that I knew what was going to come next. While the soldier fumbled to open his mouth again, I pushed out from against the wall and then maneuvered my way past the soldier and started to head towards the staircase that would lead me to the central war room two floors away.

As my gloved hand slammed against the swing door and opened me out onto the spiral stairs, I could faintly hear the news as my metal shoes slapped the stone stairs by two's, all the while willing my body to go up faster.

"There have been sightings by the night-watch guards about beastmen starting to flood into quadrant L-7 from the beaches of Oceaneade in Lufaise Meadows..."

Fin- Chapter LI: Battlefronts

Edited, Jul 1st 2006 at 10:57pm EDT by Nightsintdreams