Tullius looked at the map on the table with marked enemy and friendly positions. There were many small figurines of soldiers, ships, and cavalry moving around the map as the council drew up a battle plan for what could possibly be an invasion from Karash. All of their forces were on the retreat and defensive. If they could not hold the coast of Lake Almarra it would be a battle on their own turf. They still had control of the island at the center, but for how much longer? Tullius examined the map carefully looking for anyway to hold off the enemy, but came up empty. Attrition was the only solution he had in mind. That or diplomacy, but that was out of the question. Their army was not big enough to match Karash. If only Adulin had not been so rash in his decision to take the entire machine army they might have ended the war three years ago.
Tullius was snapped back to reality as the massive doors into the war room opened revealing the Sovereign Knight Sethos alongside General Esmer, leader of the Knights of Agrippina. If Esmer was here things must be bad. The king does not send the Knights of Agrippina unless it is under extreme circumstances. Tullius looked at the map one last time. The only real option they had was to hold the island at the center of the lake for as long as possible until they could come up with a better strategy.
Sethos looked at the map with the pieces scattered about. It was clear that they had yet to come up with any sort if counterattack. He sighed. "Well then seems like the plan is to get more people killed until we can come up with a better plan."
"The plan is to hold them off at the island until we can amass a force large enough to commence another invasion." Explained Tullius.
"And how long do you think that will take? Anyone care to guess?" Sethos looked at the generals and admirals awaiting any sort of response. "Didn't think so. Admiral Tullius I want you to coordinate with General Tercorien and hold that beach. If we lose it we lose our only foothold in their territory. Tullius I also want you to reinforce our forces on the island. We cannot afford to let Karash gain a single inch in our turf. Do whatever you must."
"May I request additional ships?" Asked Tullius.
"As many as you need just get it done." Answered Sethos.
Tullius nodded.
"If no one has anything else to add…" No one said a word. "Meeting adjourned."
Tullius opened his small cigar case and pulled out a cigar. He lit the cigar and let out a puff of smoke. He looked at the map once more. It was a lot of ground to cover. Their fleet was not as big as Ulammar's, but it would have to suffice. He saw General Esmer approach him.
"General Esmer."
"Admiral Tullius a word if you may?"
"Sure… Ah do you mind…" Tullius began wondering if she was bothered by his lit cigar.
"It's fine. In fact I was about to ask you for one." Said Esmer.
"Have at it."
Esmer grabbed one of the cigars and lit it. She took the empty seat next to Tullius and began smoking. "Quite the battle plan our Sovereign Knight has prepared for us."
"Can't really blame him after Tofar… Karash more than made up for it by pushing us back."
"Any news from the king?" She asked.
"None. Several of the Merchant Princes and those of us in the Admiralty Board have petitioned for him to seek a diplomatic solution."
"Us?" Esmer asked.
"Myself and a few others."
"Anyone noteworthy that opposes the war?"
"We do not oppose the war Esmer. We oppose burying our kids."
"Gaeric and Corrax buried their kids."
"They did not have a choice… We do."
Esmer sighed. "Well it's been little over one hundred and twenty years since the war began. I'd say it's about time it ended."
"Any children?" Asked Tullius.
"A son and daughter. My son's just been cleared for training, and my daughter is just five."
"If this were Karash she could already be serving her country."
Esmer let out a chuckle. "Maybe there is some benefit to forcing children to serve as young as that. More meat for the grinder."
"Ain't that the truth." Tullius focused his attention on the map looking at the pieces representing Karash's soldiers. They were so many of them. Those damned legionnaires of theirs were a lot better trained than they anticipated.
"Any kids Tullius?"
"Used to be three… Now I only have one. Lost my two twin boys now I have only my daughter."
"Is she serving?"
"Yeah… She uh… She lost an eye. Thank the Sovereigns that's all she's lost."
"Is she still in Karash?"
"No she… She's on leave. She's due to arrive in the beginning of Bounty about twenty days in or so."
"When did the other two die?"
Tullius focused his gaze on the dot marking Tofar and cursed Adulin in his mind for sending his sons to their graves. "Tofar…"
"My apologies I…"
"I'm not the first to bury a child in this war, nor will I be the last." Tullius heard heavy footsteps behind him. He turned his head to see a tall statue of armor behind him.
"Been a long time Tullius."
"Kavasir how's the horn?" Tullius asked as Kavasir transformed and his horns protruded from two holes in his helmet. One was fully grown and the other stopped halfway.
Kavasir laughed. "Fuck you! Come here."
Tullius stood from his chair and embraced his longtime friend. "How've you been?"
"Lousy." Answered Kavasir.
"Well it seems to me that the two of you have a lot of catching up to do. I will take my leave now gentlemen." Esmer then saluted Tullius and Kavasir, and both returned the salute. "Thanks again for the cigar."
"Anytime." Responded Tullius after which Esmer left the two men alone.
Once Esmer was out of earshot Kavasir resumed his conversation with Tullius. "The Knights of Agrippina huh? Shit must be bad."
"You can't even begin to imagine. So what's a Champion doing here?" Asked Tullius.
"What can't I visit an old friend?" Asked Kavasir as he removed his helmet and smiled.
"You never were a good liar. It's why Koto cut off your horn remember?"
"Fuck you! That was your fault!" Kavasir then neared his friend. "Get us a place safe from prying eyes and ears."
"Well I was planning on returning home today."
"Been a while since I saw the old 'ball and chain'. How's her swinging arm?" Asked Kavasir as the two left the war room and headed outside the building towards the carriages. Tullius put out his cigar and threw it at one of the trash bins.
"Where to General Tullius?" Asked the driver.
"Home." Answered Tullius.
The driver nodded and waited for the two to get on board before driving off.
Tullius looked outside the window into the bustling streets. "The streets in Karash once looked like this. Now it will be our streets to be filled with piles of dead bodies."
"Our insurgency in the Kaulkan States did little to slow them down." Said Kavasir.
"Did you know Kavasir that in Karash they do not have prisons?" Asked Tullius.
"What do you mean?"
"They execute their offenders of any crime against the state. No matter how petty it may be. It's what made them so effective. 'Fall in line or get executed.'"
"Great sales pitch." Replied Kavasir.
"Indeed. And now we will be facing down the entire might of Karash's military. All those too afraid to stand up to their government…" Kavasir sighed. "Fear it would seem is also a great motivator."
"Took them a while to get their army together. Well at least the Aephonites won't be joining them this time."
"Tibrin?" Kavasir asked remembering their retreat from the country.
"Yeah we lost three thousand soldiers in ten minutes."
"We're here sirs." Said the driver as he stopped the wagon.
"Thank you driver." Tullius pulled out three silver crowns and handed them to the driver. "Keep the change."
"Much appreciated."
"Ah actually would you mind waiting for me I still have business elsewhere." Kavasir handed the man a gold crown. "For the trouble."
"Will do sir."
Both men walked towards the front entrance of the manor, and were greeted by one of the servants.
"Sir Tullius, Sir Kavasir welcome back."
"Where's Nau?" Asked Tullius.
"She's in the living room." Answered the servant.
"Thank…" Tullius was immediately cut off.
"What the fuck took you so long!?" Yelled Nau.
"Here comes the ball and chain." Whispered Kavasir to Tullius. "Nau it's been a while!"
"Fuck you Kavasir! And fuck you too for making me and the servants wait!" Nau flipped them both off.
"Love you too Nau." Said Tullius as his wife held up her middle finger to his face.
"Now hurry up and get your asses inside dinner's getting cold. Ignatius prepare another dish for fat ass over here." Ordered Nau.
"Will do ma'am. Sir Kavasir if you will…"
"Ah actually I'm leaving soon I wanted to talk to Tullius about something important." Said Kavasir.
"You'll have to eat alone today too Nau." Said Tullius.
"If you pull this shit again when Hephaestus is home…" She grabbed Tullius' shirt and pulled him closer. "There is no army, Sovereign, or Divine in this world that will save you." Nau then walked away with the servant in tow.
"Seems that Gaericism hasn't rubbed off on her." Quipped Kavasir.
"She's just stressed is all what with Hephaestus, and me stuck in headquarters all day it's catching up to her."
"I'm surprised she didn't pull out that ball and chain out of her ass and beat us with it."
"Doesn't mean she won't someday if Hephaestus doesn't come back the next time. C'mon let's head up to my study."
"Lead on."
Kavasir followed Tullius up to the second floor and walked down a long hallway with doors on both sides of the hallway. As they walked Kavasir noticed a Sovereign Sethos idol hanging from one of the doors.
"Is that the twins' room?" Asked Kavasir.
"Yeah we… We haven't entered since they left with Adulin." This was the main reason that Tullius stayed away from home. To have to walk by this room every single day took everything from him.
"C'mon." Said Kavasir as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder slightly pushing him.
"Yeah."
Both of them entered the study. Kavasir stood near the entrance whilst Tullius opened the cigar box he had on top of his desk. Tullius tapped his finger on the opened lid before closing it again.
"Are you quitting now?" Asked Kavasir seemingly surprised his friend did not pull out a cigar.
"It's empty. Nau must have thrown them away." Tullius sighed and sat down.
"So about what I had to tell you." Kavasir began as he pulled a chair and sat down. "We figured out how they were able to defeat Spyre's machines in Tofar."
"How?" Asked Tullius.
"It would seem that a legionnaire spy managed to get a hold of one of the control rods. Even more surprising was that the spy was confirmed to be one of the so called 'Heroes of Tofar.' It's one of those… Spooky kids that they call."
"Spooky kids?" Tullius raised an eyebrow.
"It's what the legionnaire spies are called, but that title is only reserved for children. Apparently this 'spooky kid' was undercover and stole the control rod. From there all he had to do was hightail it back to Karash and reach the machine army."
"Fucking kids…"
"Fucking kids indeed."
"Was there more to this?"
"I heard a rumor... Maybe more that the kid may have had help from the inside. Not sure who, but whoever it might be... Is probably also responsible for the death of those guarding the rod."
"What do you mean?"
"It's impossible for a lone child to take on thirty armed elite guards. Especially given how we found them."
"How were they..."
"Eviscerated." Answered Kavasir not even letting his friend finish.
"Any leads?" Asked Tullius.
"At first I suspected Fang what with her trained wildabeasts, but... She wasn't posted here and she had her pets with her."
Tullius thought of anyone that could pull off such a feat but no one came to mind. At least nothing human that is.
"Also turns out that they are sending another wave to Karash. They'll make landfall sometime midseason not sure when. As for me… Well I and the rest of the Champions have the illustrious job of holding the fort here in Liebe."
"How many defenders?"
"Almost half a million maybe more."
"Let's hope it makes a difference."
"You and me both."
"Kavasir… I need a favor."
Kavasir smiled. "Last time I fought your wife she almost… emasculated me."
Tullius sighed. "It's about Hephaestus."
"That is a mighty dangerous line you're crossing there Tullius. You better think about the next words you say." Kavasir's eyes changed.
"I will not bury my daughter!" Tullius slammed his hands on the desk as he stood up against Kavasir who was still seated.
"You don't get to choose. We need every soldier we can muster if we are to…"
"Fuck you Kavasir! And fuck Dol-Sur! And most of all fuck the Sove…"
Tullius was cut off by Kavsir who transformed and stood against him face to face. Kavasir activated his Dragon Eyes ready to pounce his friend. "Watch your tongue! Need I remind you that just because you are a member of the Admiralty Board does not mean you won't go unpunished."
"I've already buried two of my children. I will not bury the last one. If I have to relinquish everything I own then so be it. I will gladly give up my life for my daughter too if that's what it takes."
"Just like King Gaeric herself. You're not the only parent who's sacrificed their children for their country and you won't be the last. Learn to live with it."
Tullius smashed his forehead against Kavasir's. Blood trickled down Tullius' forehead as he pushed against Kavasir. "Fuck you!"
Kavasir smiled then laughed. "Ha glad to see that melancholic look on your face is finally gone!"
"Tch… jackass."
"I can't promise anything, but I'll see what I can do. If this does come back to haunt me however…"
"I'll take the fall." Answered Tullius.
Kavasir nodded and left.
Tullius sat down exhausted from the ordeal. He opened his cigar box and pulled out a cigar. In truth the box was filled, but he never smokes when he is nervous. Tullius pulled out his handkerchief and wiped the blood off his brow. He heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me." Responded Nau.
"Come in."
"Aren't you going to join me for dinner?"
"Yeah I uh… Just a moment."
"Hm…" Nau turned her back to Tullius ready to leave the room. She stopped at the doorway. "If for any reason Hephaestus doesn't come back… I want a divorce." Then she walked away.