P.S. 4 – Chapter 44.9

It seemed to Aoife that leading a Verglas army should feel uncomfortable. A year ago, she had only led Iceheart and Carraig knights into the mountains, no time to bring more. But now she was leading a full army, an act she wasn't meant for. She was Eirwen's shield, not her sword. But the sword was off elsewhere, so it was her duty to defend through offence. Hence her being at the frontline, despite her pregnancy having required her armour to be adjusted.

This shouldn't be her place. She shouldn't be used to it, she shouldn't be having an army following her command, rather than just treating her as the deputy. Even as Aodhán's second, which often had meant leading while he was off playing decoy, she still hadn't been in charge herself. She felt as if she shouldn't be taking to this like a duck to water.

She knew, though, that she did have the experience. That she also had been in charge of training at the Verglas estate, where she had supervised hundreds of knights, teaching them not just her own techniques but several others. Leading them during plenty of training exercises, improving her own leadership abilities while she was at it.

Part of her knew all that. The rest of her felt as if she could never compare. Two geniuses had fought a war for years on end, with tactics that rivalled each other and outsmarted plenty of more experienced commanders. Aoife still didn't feel as if she belonged with them, didn't feel like an equal. Yet they insisted she was excellent, and she was proving them right, as the eyes of her opposition showed.

The independent countries near Iceheart had sent representatives and leaders, to evaluate her and negotiate or fight. And she could tell from their eyes, they were nervous. In part due to her pregnancy, but mostly simply because they were incredibly intimidated. To see hundreds of knights from various territories move in sync as if they were a single unit, that was a frightening sight. And Aoife had positioned her troops well, to instantly be able to seize control of the battlefield if need be.

One of the leaders scraped his throat, a new one whose name she didn't know yet. "I do not wish to be rude, Lady Carraig, but please tell me that if we were to fall to blows, you will not lead the charge. I do not doubt your competence, but the idea of fighting a pregnant woman feels far from comfortable."

She smiled widely, knowing full well it didn't reach her eyes. "You're welcome to wait for a few months and face me then? That way, I can let loose. You wouldn't know how many techniques I have to avoid using due to my pregnancy. It'd be great if you could wait until I can face you in person."

He chuckled in an embarrassed manner, the rest looked awkward but remained mum. She decided she might as well keep the initiative. "Besides, there's two things wrong with what you said. First, even if I were to lead a charge, none would be able to get close to me, never mind harm me. I have dozens of knights here that can take my place as Bulwark of the West, including my personal guard. And second, I'm no longer Lady Carraig, but Duchess Verglas. Eirwen gave me that title the very moment she was made Archduchess."

Nervous eyes as they were trying to process that. The man spoke once more, indicating he had an important position in this alliance. "We were unaware. Forgive us our lack of courtly etiquette, but we do not know what an Archduchess is exactly. Could you enlighten us, your Grace?" Oh he was quick and clever. A dangerous combination.

"Territorial rights, basically. A Duke or Duchess gets their authority from the Crown and can do a lot, but only within their own dukedom. They have no right to wage war on their own, nor to expand their territory. That's why the Mad Duke provoked Verglas into attacking him, because a war of conquest would never be tolerated. And it's why the Crown wanted to tear Flameheart away from Verglas again."

There was a twinkle in the man's eyes, and in a few others. Oh she recognised that. They realised something and enjoyed their conclusion. The man still politely waited for her to continue, even if he was clearly suppressing the urge to be clever. Time to dangle the bait they already were expecting.

"When the Crown made Eirwen Archduchess, they basically gave her permission to handle the West as she sees fit. So she can wage war on her own, expand, unify with other dukedoms, or even found new ones. And it meant she could formally make me Duchess. Though we wedded last year, she couldn't give me that position before. Now she could. So since three days ago, Verglas has an Archduchess, a Duchess, and a Duke. Delightfully confusing, no?"

A few chuckles, but she saw the calculations in their eyes. The way they were observing her and hers. Trying to evaluate the knights, see if any kind of pressure was possible. Who of them could convince Verglas they were a prospect partner worthy of respect?

Again the same man showed his cleverness by speaking instead of just studying. "That does sound confusing, your Grace. Perhaps nicknames are in order. Do you know of any that wouldn't offend the Archduchess? We are well aware that her old moniker isn't suited or appreciated." Oh he really was too clever. Aoife already could imagine this man managing to become Duke of this area.

"I'll have to ask her how she'd like to be called. But perhaps you should all discuss for a moment or two, while we wait for the Commander to arrive." Blazes. What a slip. She blamed the war situation for her mistake. Even her own knights were surprised by how she had used Red's old position.

"Com-... The Mountain Blaze is coming?" She was grateful he covered up her slip and used a moniker everyone recognised.

With a broad smile she replied. "Yes, soon. I can feel mana flowing his way as we speak. He should be here soon, together with his escort. All thirteen dozen of them."

Wide open eyes betrayed their shock. They already worried about Aoife's force, which numbered hundreds of knights and even more soldiers. That many reinforcements, led by Red, cemented their upcoming defeat, should they choose combat.

They withdrew for deliberations, while Aoife caught herself smiling still. She had missed him and had worried about him, even if he had frequently informed them of his status. Blazes, it'd been less than a week, but her heart was already beating fast at the thought of his arrival. She needed her own crystal soon, so she could stay in touch with both of them. And so she wouldn't unfairly feel that being out of sight might make them slip away from her.

Mana flowed his way, more and more as he came closer. It would have been worrisome if she hadn't known what he was doing, condensing all of it into stones and crystals. If he had ever done this during the war, she would have assumed he had broken into madness and was destroying himself.

Closer and closer, a dust cloud coming into sight as over a hundred horses at unhealthy speed approached. She lacked Eirwen's ability to subtly sense physical details at a distance, but she didn't need it to know her opposition was nervous. Good, that made consequences clear. Now just to dangle rewards in front of them. They already suspected, but negotiations needed to confirm said suspicions.

As he finally came within range, she could tell they all were exhausted, but not as bad as she had feared. Even their horses were still reasonably okay, even if they definitely needed their rest. With a grin that she could sense even from this distance, he brought his horse down to a trot, but kept his mana swirling, the resulting breeze providing her with some comfort. Ah, she had missed him. The way his senses gently wrapped around her, ignoring everyone else, he had clearly missed her too.

Their opposition made their way back, clearly trying to be just a bit slower than Red, so it didn't feel as if they were intercepting him. Understandable. They were people that often clashed with each other and outsiders. They knew how not to come across as needlessly intimidating. And when they needed to.

"Aoife." He was grinning as broadly as she was. Ah, he actually was brimming with madness today. She had learned to recognise it, even when he was hiding the signs. Not today. Today, he laid it out for all to see. He was Eirwen's hound, but today, he was unchained. Aoife, and Eirwen, just had to say a word, and he would strike.

He turned his horse away from her, into the direction of their opposition. "I see you have intimidated them well." She nodded. They weren't positioned to attack, more to retreat while fighting if Verglas chose to come for them. He knew she knew, so he didn't waste more words on it.

Their opposition made their way back, and now their positioning made clear they let the one man act as their representative. He bowed his head politely, which felt unnatural on him, made Aoife's skin crawl a little. "Your Grace. Your presence is unexpected but welcome."

Red grinned in turn. "Giric. You're an excellent liar. Save your flattery." Aoife barely held in a chuckle. She could already imagine Eirwen rolling her eyes at Red knowing the man's name, and his deliberate violation of etiquette as he told them all to stop trying to be falsely polite to him. Setting the tone for the conversation.

They all blinked at that. Giric replied. "Ah, that surprised me. Very well. So may I ask who we will be talking with today? Both of you?"

A voice rang out from nowhere. "No. With me." Aoife's smile grew greater as her heart warmed at hearing Eirwen's voice.

Between Red and Aoife, Eirwen's image took form, until she was visible in full detail. Just as pregnant as Aoife, though still stately. Her ancestral blade by her side. She held up her hand and Red took it. But then he dismounted and they all could tell that she was actually supporting him. Materialisation at its finest, and that from a distance. A sealed and mostly useless card, Red had called it once. Now, Eirwen wielded it as the weapon it was.

Giric swallowed hard. He knew. But there was a sparkle in his eyes, a grin beginning to appear on his face. He was enjoying the show of force. "Greetings, your Grace. We definitely didn't expect you."

Eirwen nodded but kept quiet while more images appeared, Duchess Ashwood and Duke Beirn now also present, even if not in the flesh. Once they were solid in appearance, Eirwen spoke once more, and it felt as if she was truly there. "My husband here carries a communication crystal we've been developing. Soon, we hope to be able to supply all our nobles and allies with one." A threat and a promise.

Giric had finally dropped his polite facade as he looked at the five of them. He grinned at them. "You truly all are monsters." He meant it as a compliment. If he hadn't, Aoife would have killed him where he stood. But no, she could tell. The man was loving this and admired them.

Eirwen smiled, small but sincere. "Thank you. Shall we?" With a nod, they made it to the main tent to begin their negotiations. And Aoife knew. Soon, the West would be even greater. Until nothing could threaten Eirwen ever again.