"Is it necessary for you to do it yourself?" Rika couldn't help asking.
Thyra was submerged up to her neck in the hot bath pool.
It was the same bath pool on the third floor of the Feitur's mansion. Thyra wanted to smile, but her facial muscles were too stiff. If anything, the smile looked more frightening.
"Do you think someone else could do it?" Rika knew it would be hard for even the most battle-hardened warriors so that she couldn't answer.
"Killing someone while they are trying to live is not the same as killing them in cold blood," Thyra said with a sigh. "I wanted my soldiers to have strong minds, but that would have given them PTSD. They are only teenagers, and that much blood would have made them crazy."
'Aren't you a child too?' The question was on Nisa's mind, but it was Rika who spoke up about it. "What about you?" Rika shook her head, adding, "If I knew this would happen, I would have ordered all of them to be killed last night."
"Is there even a need for you to slaughter all of them?" This time, it was Nisa who spoke. "If we had kept some prisoners, we could have sold them as slaves. Wouldn't that be better?"
"And how are you planning to keep them? We only had about 160-170 effective soldiers. How were you planning to keep 1000 prisoners?"
"I am not talking about all of the 1000. I am talking about the 200 people whom you have kept to put on the show for the civilians. I think that was unnecessary."
"Even for 200, we had to keep at least half of our force to guard them, but we don't have the luxury." Thyra took a deep breath and took a full dip before coming out of the water, saying, "But there is another reason."
"What?"
"Fear."
Both Nisa and Rika looked at her for an explanation as she pulled her hair back. "How long do you think our surprise attack will work?"
"Sorry?"
"They didn't know about us for the first time, and the attack worked because I quickly killed the leader. It was the same the second time. They knew who we were but couldn't figure out our plans. Again, it worked because I got rid of the leader and put someone else in his place. The plan only worked because the facade worked, and they thought we were weaker than we were."
"Sooner or later, they will become aware of our existence and abilities." Thyra looked at Rika, adding, "You remember that general, right? If someone like that leads the army, I won't be able to take care of the opposing leader so quickly. I might not even beat them at all. What will happen then?"
Nisa sighed. So did Rika. They couldn't say it out loud, even if they knew the answer.
However, Thyra said it for them, "No matter how strong they are, it won't always be possible for them to win every time they have a numerical disadvantage. Both of the previous armies to fail on this front had a thousand men or more. If they were to send another army, how many soldiers do you think it would have?"
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned serious. No, it wasn't suddenly. Nisa knew a day like this would come sooner or later.
However, for some reason, after she had joined Thyra's army, her seer ability failed to hit the mark. It didn't happen suddenly. It was happening from the beginning.
She knew she would be getting married on the same day that Thyra proposed. But, in her vision, she was the consort of an old count rather than Thyra's.
She saw Hure's death, which ended with her miscarriage. Although she told Thyra that one couldn't change the future, she saw her prove her wrong again and again.
It made her a little curious about Thyra, but she had never seen anything that was directly related to Thyra.
She followed Thyra. In the Battle of Luxor, she witnessed the destruction of half the army. Yet, there are no casualties on their side.
It made her hopeful for the future. She could have a better future if she stayed with her.
"But what does this have to do with that?" While Nisa was deep in thought, Rika still couldn't get hold of Thyra's reasoning.
"Other than physical strength, what do you think is most important to win a war?" Thyra smiled, adding, "According to a great philosopher named Thyra, you need three things to win a war. Care to guess?"
"Strategy and tactics," Nisa said.
"That's one."
"Will to fight?" It was Rika
"That's another one."
"Discipline?"
"Discipline is needed to build an army, and an army can win a battle. But to win a war, you need propaganda."
"Propaganda!?"
"We need them to fear us." Thyra pointed at her head, adding, "You need to win here before you win on the field. Sooner or later, they will be aware of our existence. We can't stop that. What we can do is control what news reaches them. Rather than being just another army of the kingdom, we want them to believe that we are some kind of crazy beast."
"Crazy beast?" Nisa deliberated for a while before finally asking, "A beast army who can use their heads!? Is that the end goal?"
"Nope, it's fear," Rika answered for Thyra. "She wanted them to be afraid of us. A beast!!" Rika looked at Thyra, adding, "You did act like one today."
"That is half of the second condition. And it was completed successfully."
"What are the conditions?"
"They won't be afraid of us because we want them to be." Thyra slowly climbed up the pool, saying, "First, make sure that no one survives if they fight us. We have done it twice, a couple more times, and will do the job for now."
"The most important aspect of fooling your enemies is fooling your friends." Thyra looked at Nisa, adding, "Tomorrow, spread the news that the army commander is a mad fellow. Anyone who stays in the city will be killed if they don't leave the city in two days."
"Where will they go?"
"It doesn't matter. They will have to leave. When the next army arrives, I don't think they will let anyone live, even if they get back to the city uncontested. Give them some food from the city storage and let them go to Digen. And remember to recruit a few good ones."
"The empire's spies will surely pick up my work today. Even if they aren't here, the spies in Digen would also hear about the rumor when the refugees reach there."
"Will that be enough?"
"Of course not. That is for the final act. We will burn the city to the ground."
"This city?" If Rika hadn't known her before, she should have thought Thyra was a mad woman. On the other hand, Nisa already believed it.
"Not now. An empty stage won't be enough. We have to wait for the actor to come into the city first."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. But I will follow it." Rika added with a smile.
"What else can we do?" Nisa snorted.
"Just do as I say." Thyra had already dried herself and put on the robe. "If we can complete all the plans successfully, you will have an easy time in the second half of the year."
"Okay." Rika nodded, saying, "By the way, I have told Falvia to send someone good to serve you. Or, do you want me to help you tonight?"
Expectedly, Thyra shook her head. Unexpectedly, she turned towards Nisa.
"Don't look at me. I am not doing any of that."
"Prepare some sleeping powder for me."
"For what?"
"I am going to use it."
"You are going to use it on yourself?"
"Yes."
"Are you some kind of Idi…" Nisa didn't get to complete her words as Rika put her hand on her shoulder. Nisa noticed that Rika's expression was grave upon glancing at her. She said, "Just do it."
"I will sleep alone tonight." Thyra smiled and opened the door. Before she left, she stopped and said, "Rika, give it to the people who were present in the city center. Do not tell them, though. If not, they are going to have a hard time tonight."