The streets were in white with few veins of gray stone showing where footprints walked. It was like a city of marble as snow continued to fall but though the sky was clear and bright, there was a subtle dime of black clouds in the horizon. Little sparrows perched atop the red rooftops, ruffled their feathers and shook off the cold that came with the wind that gently blew. The currents coursed through the cityscape, joined by drafts of chimney smoke and ice that sailed above the folks’ heads. They were many but dwindling as noon grew old. The young women and ladies gossiped under their frequented stalls and cafés as mothers packed their groceries and prepared to make way for home. Their older parents had strolled the streets and were already making supper, and except for the few who were too old or were deemed inept for the army, husbands and fathers had gone off to war. Only their children had an extra hour of reason to stay outside for longer, having no school, playing with their friends to pass time. Everyone seemed content with their lives but they all had their separate reasons to think so. The matured knew to enjoy the security and prosperity that they have lived with thus far but they did not know for how much longer this peace would last. Everyday, stocks would perish. More stores were forced close earlier every week and prices continued to hike. Without apprentices to take over their craft, the more laborious professionals ended their work with their generation, unable to make ends meet with much of the young having been recruited for war. Soon, their smiles would have had to face the reality of an invasion and this sight was apparent to the lieutenant-elect who walked down one of the many avenues that had grown quiet. He could imagine that this, the busiest and longest street in all of Haven, was once prosperous but like much of what was once the world’s greatest empire, its golden age was but a vestige. Although it had become a mere playground and a place for gatherings more than it was used for commerce, the people still seemed spirited and the mayor who was in his company was proud of the fire in their hearts.
For an hour they have spoken but their conversations never ran dry. There was certainly much to say between the two who had come from starkly different backgrounds and even more vastly dissimilar homes. But their talks slowly crept from being random chatter to becoming subjects of reality. The lieutenant knew that he was gradually being drawn towards a conclusion that would finally tell him what the mayor’s intentions were but luckily, his patience in conversations have always been his untouched quality.
Returning a flask in his pouch, Rantzau spoke, his breath, warmed with wine, was visible. “When my kœnig heard that wrerædisk, Johannes Meyer, had planned to defect, he summoned our three armies to his banner.” The mayor cleared his throat to warm his voice. “They marched south, hoping to save poor Liechtenstein’s kingdom.” He recounted.
Patrols passed by, recognizing their mayor, and halted in their step not hesitating to give their salutes which Rantzau responded to with a bow of his own. Arminius had not yet grown accustomed to this noble’s humility, thinking that most lacked the sense to care for their own people, and the sight of this modesty struck him everyday as a reminder that the spirit of this nation was what had survived that its neighbors failed to retain.
Together, they continued on their way, Rantzau musing with the skies in his eyes. “But he did not expect that half the country had already turned on the Endende.” The mayor did not sigh nor shake his head in regret like most people would when he recalled that blunder. “His armies were driven across the Rænak, and Dænland was certain to be no more.” However, even by simply speaking of it, the knowledge of the situation soured his mood.
Arminius looked over his shoulder with a breeze brushing against his face. “Can’t your navy aid the king?” He suggested to the mayor, although the thought of even doing so was reckless.
“Inger? (Then?)” Rantzau returned to him as if he had expected him to say exactly that. “The dæk that keeps Radilov caged will have collapsed and my king’s hands would be no freer than being bound.”
From the southeast they came to a city square that joined four main roads. It was in the middle of the old town quarters where an impressive, imperial-aged stone fountain was enthroned. Surrounded by a plaza of red granite, the water drawn from the sea cascaded down its three steps that gave it an impression of natural waterfalls replicated from the exotic natures of the king’s colonies. Instead of Victoria who would usually stand dominant over most Europer monuments, Haven preferred to have a goddess of their own watch over its townsfolk. A statue of the gilded Freyja, the queen of the north, stood in her stead. By the skirt of her dress were her sons, knelt facing in the directions of the three kingdoms, representing the legend behind the Three Crowns. Together, the goddess’s family was protected by guardian valkyries and their mythological steeds, but instead of being littered with tourists and cityfolk, the square had been conquered by children playing around the fountain waters with nothing else better to do in their day. Soldiers watched over them when their parents could not, avoiding the pack who chased each other without a care in the world. It was only the lieutenant and the mayor who found the time to admire the monument of a past age of greatness.
The sight of Freyja reminded the man of what he had summoned the lieutenant for but he was apprehensive of the thought. “Haben, I know he wishes so…” As he neared the fountain, he crossed his arms. “Yet, I cannot understand his absiktne by having me rule in his stead.” Rantzau plainly doubted his own ability.
Standing away from the spray of the fountain, Arminius’s eyes followed him. “He probably sees you as a regent in this time of need…and in the future…” The lieutenant hinted at the king’s probable desire.
The mayor scoffed with a faint grin, dismissing the idea, “That may be, but I am no military man and my administrative læsdungne are still young, which perhaps…” Rantzau flapped his hand in denial but he slowed his words upon becoming revealed to the possibility. “No, that would be beyond sense.” He deduced that he had deceived himself with that thought.
Wondering what had clouded his mind that he did not say, Arminius stayed his question, abiding by his respect for the man. If the mayor did not wish to speak of it, then it may as well have been unimportant he thought. Rantzau leaned on the edge of the fountain, his arms still tightly crossed, resting his foot over the other, as he stared down the sparse road before him. In his periphery, the children played, circling around the fountain with their giggles and laughter, but they had not distracted him. It was clear that he had something that he wished to say yet he wished also not to burden the lieutenant any more than he was going to. He mused in silence and retraced his thoughts as Arminius patiently waited for his mind to collect. The lieutenant seemed magnetized, however, by the sight of the playful young instead that reminded him of an age that was not so long ago. Just that it was as if decades of experience had been forced down his throat during the war.
“I wished to speak with you for one reason but I wish to know before I proceed,” Rantzau began again, bringing Arminius away from his reminiscing. “Does the C…no…does the korporal believe in victory, lieutenant?” The mayor asked the boy, mistaking him for being a seer.
Unless what everything Julien had told him was a lie, it was not possible for him to have known. Arminius looked at Rantzau, bewildered that he would raise this question but he understood that everyone, mortal and not omniscient, wished to know their futures. Even if his answer was false, Arminius planned bring some peace to his heart, but was often subconsciously reminded that he should do no such thing. He turned his eyes to the ground and shook his head.
Rantzau sighed, having felt that a weight had been alleviated from his chest. “Then, I shall be the one to inform you.” Holding a hand over his heart, he prepared to declare everything. “I intend to surrender.” He uttered four simple words.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIrQzegQDF
