Principality of Fanoss
"They are truly foolish." Count Rekkar Him Zorra said to no one in particular. After another court session calling for even more of the budget to be diverted to war preparations, the sixty-seven year old count needed to unwind. Now most nobles would go hunting, or visit the theatre, but Rekkar preferred to enjoy the moonlight from the comfort of his personal balcony.
Since the assassination of the late Prince Herald Sera Fanoss, the condition of the Principality had only deteriorated. Rampant poverty, increased numbers of the homeless, and neglect of vital infrastructure. 'So many problems that could be addressed, yet the fools call for even more of the crowns revenue to go towards war. Bah! If we went to war with the kingdom now, the Principality would collapse.'
Despite his best efforts to point out how pointless, not to mention disastrous a war would be, the princesses would always listen to Garrett and his warmongering cronies. In the end, Rekkar could only keep his head down and stay alive.
The count took a sip from his chalice, the sparkling vintage leaving a pleasant note on his lips. Suddenly a women's voice came from within the dark of his room. "You seem to have a lot of your mind Rekkar."
The count's eyes scanned the room, but failed to find the voice of the source. "Court always leaves me with much to consider."
A throaty chuckle echoed in response, giving him the chills. "What a polite way to describe it."
The count carefully reached for the revolver he had hidden under his chair. If the intruder was an assassin sent by Garrett, then the count would be damned if he didn't take them down with him.
"Oh there's need for that old friend." Rekkar could barely hear the footsteps, as a figure appeared as though born from the darkness itself. As they stepped into the moonlight, Rekkar noted that the woman donned a black and red armor that seemed to absorb the light. She was rather tall for a woman, with long raven black hair that reached her waist.
As she closed in, Rekkar noted that her eyes were like brilliant rubies, the same eyes as the young princesses. In fact they were the same eyes he had known many years ago. "I never thought you would come back to this place, princess Brianna Sera Fanoss."
The figure chuckled softly. "I go by Beatrix now, it's been sometime Count. Did you miss me?"
Rekkar gave her a flat look. "Amidst accusations of kinslaying, you disappear for eight years. Now you returned after all the trouble I went through to get you out of the country."
Her eyes narrowed in amusement. "Ah yes. I'm the dastardly woman who worked with Holfort to kill my brother and his wife in order to seize the throne...at least, that's what Garrett and his ilk claim. I wonder if next they'll blame me for next? Perhaps the drought in Viscount Dunbore's territory is my work as well?"
The count snorted. "True or not, the Black Knight has supported their claims. His voice gives their accusations considerable weight, enough to convince the young princesses of their validity."
The mention of her nieces caused Beatrix to reflect on the memories implanted by The Company. The faces of two young, merely seven and five hugging the legs of her younger self, red eyes filled with innocence affection. Hertrude sitting up straight, trying to eat like her beloved aunt, while little Hertrauda accidently spilled some Bolognese on her blue dress. Beatrix smiled, remembering how she helped wipe the sauce off the young girl's dress. Even knowing that those memories were implanted by Leon's employer, she cherished them so. Then again as she was Company manufactured clone, all of her memories were implanted, so it made little difference to Beatrix.
Seeing a soft smile spread across the face of the former warrior princess, the count felt comfortable relaxing his guard. "You miss them greatly?"
As Beatrix met his gaze, Rekkar could see the longing in her eyes. "Not a day goes by that I don't regret leaving them behind. That I don't egret failing to protect their parents... for failing them."
Beatrix's eyes narrowed as she clenched her fists in rage. Her sudden change in mood caused to Rekkar to recoil slightly. "That's why I will hunt down every son of a whore involved with my brother's death. I shall make them feel the same pain that they inflicted on my own family, and now I have the forces at my disposal to do it."
The maniac light in her eyes caused Rekkar to almost feel sorry for Garrett and his traitorous ilk. "And what will you do about the Black Knight? He is the hero of Fanoss. So long as he throws his weight behind the prowar faction, they will have the support of the people."
Beatrix tapped on her forearm, which displayed the image of a pompous noble adorned in expensive clothes, wearing an excessively large hat. This was followed by the screechy voice of none other than Garrett Him Zolgar himself. "I don't see the point in waiting. The kingdom's military strength is made up of left overs from the last war. With our top-of-line fleet, we should have no issue crushing the Holfort scum like insects."
A mountain of a man adorned in black armor responded in with a voice like mountain, deep and weathered, yet holding strong. "Be that as it may, the Kingdom out numbers us more than three-to-one. We must ensure that our supplies are sufficient to maintain a prolonged campaign. The extra time will only benefit us. As a few more years mean several dozens more Principality-class battlecruisers will join the armada."
Garrett scoffed. "So what if they outnumber us? The frontier nobles lack the strength to threaten us, and their treatment means that many of them would happily defect at the first sign of trouble. Besides, we have the Sacred Flutes to overcome the kingdom's number advantage. And even if all that failed, that's why we have you, the great Black Knight. I know you've gotten up there in age, but surely you can still crush the Holfort scu-"
Bam! Rekkar watched as the black knight punched a hole clean through the castle's wall, causing Garrett to go still in shock. "I helped you eliminate the late prince for the chance to get revenge. I will not let my chance for vengeance be jeopardized by your short-sighted greed. Have I made myself clear?"
Garrett quickly shook his his in affirmation. "Ye-ye-yes, but of course. I am merely thrilled at the thought of avenging our great nation's humiliation at the hands of the kingdom." The black knight stared down at the rat-like Garrett for a few tense seconds before turning heel, and leaving Garrett to wipe his sweaty forehead with trembling hands.
Rekkar looked at the sight in shock. He had heard that Alzer the technology to record ones voice and actions, but he didn't think it was so lifelike.
"You needn't worry about the Black Knight's influence for long. By the time I'm done with him, the people shall spit on the name Vandel for a thousand years. I will make him watch as his precious revenge is ripped away from him and crushed. When I'm done with him, he shall come to envy the dead." Beatrix's eyes were drowned in a cruel light that sent shivers down the old count's spine. "The only question is, are you in, or are you out?"
Rekkar quirked an eyebrow. "What would you require of me? I have little military strength to offer, what with the prowar faction having prevented myself and my allies from getting our hands on the lastest generation equipment. This has left us with only our existing stock of ships and armor from the last war."
Beatrix smirked. "You needn't worry about that my dear count. I am one of the founding members of the Ironblood Legion. Our commander has given me access to a handful of factory ships to use as I see fit. By the time we're ready to act, the warhawks will find their equipment isn't as 'top-of-the-line,' as they think."
The old noble mulled it over for a few seconds before coming to a decision. "Very well. You shall have my help, I will contact the other nobles who are still loyal to your family."
Beatrix gave him a bewitching smile. "I knew I could count on you, old friend." She slowly began walked over to the bannister before spinning around to once again face Rekkar. "Continue to keep your head down. I'll contact with this," she said as she threw a small grey rectangle over to the count. "That's a Legion cellphone, I can use it to talk with you anywhere in the eastern Principality."
With that, Beatrix flipped over the railing! Rekkar got up and ran to bannister, only to see who he assumed was Beatrix flying away in a miniature knight armor.
'I am getting far too old for all this excitement.' Looking between his wine glass and the bottle, Rekkar shrugged picked up the bottle. It was going to be be one of those nights.
===
Holfort Capital
Inside the Hidden Treasure Inn, business was booming. With tables filled by laborers and clerks from across the western district gathered to take a load of after work. At one such table, three friends sat gossiping about the rumors going around.
"Have you fellas heard about that hearing that happened a few days ago? I heard that some high nobles tried to take a shot at the Legion, and ended up making fools of themselves." Said Gerald, a middle aged clerk who works at the docks.
"Really? I heard the queen herself tried to punish the Ironblood Commander for arresting his bitch of a step-mum when she tried to steal from him. Thing is, the Commander ain't even there when it happened." Said Jameson, a knight armor technician in his twenties, currently working for the city gaurd. "What about you Roy? If anyone knows what happened it'd be you, what with working at the academy and all that." He said to the last member of their group.
At mention of his job at the academy, number of other groups stopped their own conversations to listen in. "I did happen to hear a very interesting tale, but-" he cautiously looked around before leaning in. The whole room seemed to quiet down, all interested in what caused the normally jolly Roy to act this way. "-you lads didn't hear this from me, got that?" He looked between his companions with a serious expression. Gerald and Jameson both nodded, along with a few of the eavesdroppers.
Roy took a deep breath before his expression eased just a bit. "Alrighty, so there I was, just pruning the bushes behind the girls dorm, when I hear some girls voices from the other side of the bushes. I decided to stay out of sight after I heard them mention how the Marquis managed to drive a wedge between her majesty and the Legion, but his plan to restrain the Legion failed. Now I've heard of two Marquis in the kingdom, Frampton and Fraser. As far as I know, Marquis Fraser is still guarding our eastern borders from those Rochelle bastards, so that leaves only one, now doesn't it?"
Roy could hear a number of gasps from the others in the tavern. Jameson had a thoughtful look on his face. "Frampton...Frampton, I feel like I know that name."
Gerald chuckled. "I sure hope so, man's the Minister of Defense."
Jameson pointed at Gerald. "That's it! Frampton was the fella who increased the budget for the city guards to buy some new knight armors. But why would the Minister of Defense try to restrain the Legion? It just don't make any sense!"
Roy looked his friend dead in the eye. "You remember the Offleys?"
Jameson and Gerald both nodded. "Of course, who could forget those pirate noble bastards! The Legion delivered righteous judgement on those scum!" Jameson spit on the floor.
Roy nodded. "Yeah they did, but that's why the Marquis was fuming mad! The Offleys were his right hand."
A series of shocked gasps responded from around the room. Gerald and Jamesons' eyes went wide in shock. Gerald recovered a bit faster than his younger companion. "You can't be serious Roy. Them Offleys were arming pirates, no way the Marquis would keep em around."
Jameson nodded hurriedly. "Yeah he's the Minister of Defense for cryin out loud!"
Roy shrugged. "It's the truth. Makes a lot of sense too, after all, a Minister of Defense is a hell of a lot more important when there something to defend from, isn't that right?"
The room fell eerily quiet for a few seconds, as the tavern-goers exchanged concerned looks. Gerald gave his friend a stern look. "Are saying the Marquis let the Offleys fund pirates, for what? So he could can gain more pow-"
"I'm not saying anything, Gerald. Just thinking things seem a little too suspicious, and that's all I'm gonna say about that." Roy finished off his flagon before laying several copper coins on the table. He got up to leave, but was stopped by Jameson.
"Hold on a sec, just one more thing I want to know!"
"What now James? I've already said way too much already."
The younger man looked a bit worried. "I just want to know, you heard them noble ladies taking about the Marquis driving a wedge between the Queen and the Legion. What's the deal with that?"
Roy sighed before sitting back down. "Okay fine. Ya know how the Legion is a Mercenary group, right?"
Jameson blinked. "They are? I didn't really know what they are to be honest with ya." The younger man's cheeks turned a lighter shade of pink.
Gerald chuckled. "They hunt pirates and collect the bounties, James. That's a mercenary."
Roy nodded. "Exactly. They might be patriots, but their still mercenaries. So when they were tasked by the king to defend the entire frontier, naturally they expected for the kingdom to sign a contract for their services. When no mention of compensation nor contract was made, the Legion sent some letters to the court trying to get their contract sorted out, but they didn't get any word back."
Jameson nodded, while Gerald had a confuse face. " And what's that got to do with the wedge you mentioned?"
Roy gave him an irritated glare. "I was getting to that. When the Ironblood Commander's right hand woman was called to the hearing, she revealed this fact in front of the whole court. Not paying the Legion, or any other mercenary company for that matter, makes the royal family look bad, really bad. Thing is, it isn't the royal family who typically handles mercenary contracts, but the Minister of defense."
Gerald nodded in understanding. "So by doing nothing, he made it look like the royal family was trying to cheat the legion out of their pay."
Roy got up. "Yeah he did, and that's all I'm saying. Now if you gents will excuse me, it's been a long day. Remember, you didn't hear any of this from me." He said as he met the gaze of as many tavern patrons as he could.
Making his way home, Roy kept a look out for any tails he had picked up. A few false turns, and a double back later, he finally arrived at his apartment. Entering his home, he didn't spot any signs of forced entry. Feeling safe, he finally took a second to relax.
With a grin he went to his small bedroom and took off his work boots. Sliding out a pin, he carefully removed the sole to reveal the small compartment within. He carefully pulled out the small cellphone from its snug indent.
After booting up, he came to a blank white screen. He put his finger over a biometric scanner on the side of the device. With a beep, the device booted into a simple UI.
Clicking on the text widget, he was greeted by a simple keyboard and empty text bar. 'Frampton and Offley connection revealed as requested. Target audience seemed very receptive. Awaiting further orders.'
A few seconds after sending the message, he got a reply. 'Carry on as normal, while observing the situation on the ground. A small bonus has been left for you at drop point c-31. Keep up the good work.'
Ironblood agent Royce Becker smiled. While he might not be cut out for combat operations, that didn't stop him from helping out in other ways. And if he gets to be rewarded for doing his job, then that was even better.
---
AN: Alrighty, that is chapter 13.
So now we get to see what the paper trail for Beatrix really is! Lost princess of Fanoss whom Vandel and Garrett used as a scape goat for Hertrude and Hertrauda's parents murder. I wasn't planning this when I first brought Beatrix into the story, but that quickly changed when I realized how well each of the girls fit into one of the major noble houses.
Anyway, I already have the first section of the next chapter done, so hopefully I'll be able to get that one out to you guys within the next two weeks.
As always, I hope you all have an awesome day!