In fact, Maiya would ordinarily only have been here to keep an eye on the situation and ensure that any Order raider casualties were disposed of swiftly and without prying eyes intervening. The Order generally took care to retrieve their dead, but sometimes they needed a little help. Plus, she figured that Tiyana would need some supervision.
“Understood, madam. I simply thought someone of your position would want to take control more directly.”
I really don’t! Stop pestering me!
“Give me your assessment of the current situation,” Maiya replied.
“The raiders have attacked the garrison from three of its four cardinal entrances. West. South. East. Our forces are holding up well, slowing their progress.”
“Casualties thus far?” Maiya asked, though she already knew. Runners had been reporting every minute on the current situation.
“No deaths, only minor injuries. The raiders have been careful to ensure minimal casualties. They disengage quickly and avoid conflict where possible.”
Just then, another runner arrived to make his report.
“Sir, madam, report. East wing, we’re holding ground. Nothing amiss. Shall I relay new orders?”
Oh great. Here it comes.
“Madam handmaiden,” Commander Rohin began, “what would you do in this situation?”
“I think this is your decision to make, Commander, but if you must know, I would reallocate some troops from the eastern wing to the west.”
“True, the western wing is falling a bit too quickly, don’t you think? Very well. Relay orders to have six troops relocate from the east to the west.”
Of course, Commander Rohin didn’t have an inkling as to the Order’s true nature, but he did know that Kin’jal was offloading slaves to them. As did most in the garrison who’d worked here long enough. That part was a bit of an open secret.
“Yessir!” the Balarian runner said, forming a fist to his chest in salute before running off as another runner took his place.
“Sir, madam. Report from the southern flank. I’m pleased to say we’ve nearly driven off the invaders.”
Both Maiya and Rohin furrowed their brows.
“How are they being driven off? We left a skeleton crew there. Even with Spear’s Edge, they shouldn’t be able to accomplish such a feat. At best, I expected them to slowly give ground.”
Got a bad feeling about this… Maiya thought, thinking of a certain blonde princess.
“Yes, sir. Tia and Spear’s Edge have successfully driven them off. She personally injured a half dozen invaders. After that, they seem to have abandoned their attack, instead focusing on the other wings.”
“Madam, I thought you’d instructed Spear’s Edge on this…”
“Oh, believe me, I did,” Maiya replied, grinding her teeth. She didn’t even have to feign her anger this time. That princess really knows how to get on peoples’ nerves, doesn’t she?
“I will deal with this myself,” she said, storming out of the command room.
Swiftly navigating the halls, it took her less than a minute to arrive at the scene.
Injured Order raiders nursed their wounds while their comrades shielded them from her attacks.
Tia fought recklessly. Her attacks were swift and brutal, and her party stood well back.
“Tia!” Maiya shouted, but the princess didn’t respond.
“I’m sorry,” Haymi said, running up to Maiya.
“You were supposed to keep her in check.”
“We tried to stop her. We really did. She always gets hotheaded when it comes to demons.”
“Is it the demons? Or is it me?” Maiya asked, but the mejai didn’t reply.
“Nobody keeps our princess in check when she gets hotheaded like this, I’m afraid,” Vason replied. “Not unless we outright attack her. We’re bound by an oath, I’m afraid. Can’t exactly cross blades with our liege, either.”
“If I restrain her, will you interfere?”
Haymi and Vason shook their heads.
“Then stay back and instruct any Balarian Guards who come this way to divert to one of the other wings.”
Maiya didn’t bother pulling punches. She opened with an Icicle spell aimed directly at Tia’s cuirass.
The spell landed, and while Tia’s armor bore the brunt of the impact, Tia fell face-first.
“Leave us until I have this sorted,” Maiya said, addressing the man who looked to be the raider leader. “Take your injured with you.”
The leader nodded to the others, and they broke off the attack, retreating away with their injured.
“Tiyana Matali! Stand. Down.”
Tia rose to her feet, glaring at Maiya. Maiya walked up to her, putting herself in the middle of the princess’ vision.
“I gave you an order, Tia.”
“Oh, right! You did, didn’t you? Well, what can I say? They attacked me first! It was self-defense. What would you have me do? Roll over and die?”
Ahhhh, she’s insufferable! She’s just doing this to piss me off, isn’t she? She’s not used to being ordered around, and she’s trying to get back at me for it. Vir, why in the realms did you join a party with her at the helm? Wait. No.
A sudden fear flashed across Maiya’s mind. Does he like her?
Vir had never shown much of an interest in Maiya, and to be honest, neither had she. Not really. They’d never seen each other that way. It was his business to like whoever he wanted. Just…
A knot formed in Maiya’s chest as her thoughts ran rampant.
Why her? What’s she got that I don’t?
“Well? You gonna stand in my way all day?” Tia asked, breaking her out of her reverie.
Grak it, why am I even worrying about this? And now, of all times?
Yet try as she might, she couldn’t squash the feeling. Like she was about to lose something terribly precious.
“You said you’d cooperate,” Maiya said softly, before firming her tone. “You don’t seem to understand your position here, princess. A word from me to Princess Ira, and I can make your brother’s life such a nightmare, he’ll be begging to fling himself into the Ash. I can easily send your countrymen into poverty. I can bankrupt your coffers and cripple your economy. Do you really want to make an enemy out of me?”
Maiya could do none of those things, of course, but Tia didn’t know that.
“Sure, sure. What do you want me to do?”
“Go protect Commander Rohin.”
“I doubt he’s in need of any protection, with all the Balarian Warriors you’ve posted there.”
“I didn’t ask,” Maiya said, fed up with the spoiled brat. Tiyana Matali truly was a princess in every sense of the word, except for the one that mattered.
She’s nothing at all like Ira… Maiya thought as Tiyana spun on her heel and stormed away.
Maiya sought the west wing. Having just received reinforcements from the east, the soldiers were actually pushing the invaders back, though they’d retreated far enough to yield several jail cells to the raiders, who worked swiftly to break the prisoners free while their frontline warriors fought valiantly.
She paused, taking a moment to appreciate the Pagan Order warriors’ form. Where the Kin’jali arts were utilitarian in a basic manner, the Order fighters were equally streamlined, just that they used a range of tactics, from firecracker grenades to smoke gas to screeching whistles… and even sand.
Vir would get such a kick out of this, she thought.
One-on-one, the Order troops likely held the advantage against the Balarian Warriors, a feat few could ever accomplish. Moreover, the raiders moved with a beautiful efficiency Maiya had only seen among the Balarian Elites. They had done this before, and they were very good at it.