Chapter 75 - The Irresistible Squad Leader

Only half the candles in the sconces along the inn's walls were lit. With no guests around, perhaps the innkeeper meant to save on candles, at least. In the resulting deep shadows, Encrid's own stretched long across the floor. He had spent the predawn hours practicing his sense for the blade. The quiet room, the sounds of soldiers standing guard outside, the sound of his charge tipping her wineglass. He listened, focusing while honing the edge of his senses. He sensed presences and counted the people around him, even estimating the distance to a night bird calling far away. In doing so, he took stock of the range of his awareness. 'Within five paces...'

He could even sense someone's presence. He could hear the rustle of clothing. That prompted a thought.

'Is that possible through hearing alone?' Thinking back to the conversation between Jaxon and the Fairy Company Commander just before the attack, both had already anticipated the ambush. How had they done it? They couldn't have relied on their ears alone. He would have to ask Jaxon later. If it was something he could learn, he wanted to. 'It wasn't a wall this time.'

Perhaps ordinary opponents would no longer force him to repeat today. That didn't mean he intended to die on purpose and trap himself in it. Encrid hadn't changed.

'For tomorrow.'

He always ran with his eyes fixed ahead. That was the driving force that kept him from becoming trapped in today. CRACKLE. POP-POP-POP.

A log broke apart in the fireplace, scattering sparks. Besides his Review of the battle, assorted thoughts flitted through his mind. Sitting with his chin propped on his hand, Encrid recalled the man he had killed.

'Glory to the motherland.' Were they a unit of Aspen spies? What had the man who mobilized that many people been thinking? What did he intend to do after causing so much trouble inside Border Guard? Would there be another attack? Through two squads of soldiers? Would he send an assassin? Following that train of thought, Encrid began to suspect that catching the man who had escaped might be easier than expected. That was when Leona came downstairs.

"You're up early."

"I'm on duty. We changed shifts."

"Oh, I see."

She nodded and approached. Traces of the previous night's events remained on the floor. She seemed to be trying to take them in stride. That would only make her more conscious of them. Focusing on something else would be easier. Encrid knew that from experience. "Is this your first visit to Border Guard?"

"Pardon? Yes." But hadn't Big-eyes said this woman had a difficult personality? She seemed resolute, but so far, she hadn't shown any of Rem's craziness.

'No, I shouldn't compare her to Rem.'

That would be rude. "There are all sorts of legends about the Penn-Hanil River. Have you heard the one about the sword made from its waters?" Bards' tales always stirred the heart. Encrid had memorized a few. They made good conversation and helped keep duty from becoming tedious. In other words, this was simply idle chatter to pass a shift. To someone hearing it for the first time, though, it would be quite novel. "Please, tell me."

Leona smiled and nodded, apparently intrigued. Even though it was a trifling tale, she listened with shining eyes, smiling and reacting from time to time. "So for a while, making swords from river water became fashionable. But none of them could summon the spirit living in the river, as the sword in the story did."

"You're quite the talker."

"I am." Even Rem acknowledged that he couldn't beat his Squad Leader when it came to provoking people with words. And that Squad Leader was Encrid himself. As he nodded, Leona abruptly spoke. "Would you like to come with me?"

Encrid tilted his head.

"Pardon? Where?" She was still his charge. Two squads had secured the inn following the attack inside Border Guard, leaving it empty of other guests, but his duty—the commission she had requested—wasn't over. There were two days left. Of course he would follow wherever she went. "I'm inviting you to come with me when I leave Border Guard." For such an abrupt offer, it sounded prepared. It carried the distinctive inflection of someone accustomed to commanding many people. Sitting quietly, she parted her red lips.

"Come with me."

Her confidence showed: she was certain the position she offered was better. Leona truly believed it. After all, this was the Roquefried trading company. Though it fell a little short of Rengadis and the other great trading companies, it wielded considerable influence in the region. The company had established trade with the Shepherds of the Wastes in the far north of Penn-Hanil; the Black Leather Guild, a group of hunters said to be capable of slaying even a dragon given enough preparation; and the Glacier Rangers, a glacier-protection organization whose members lived deep in the mountains, keeping company with nature. Those three were its principal trading partners. It also possessed a map embodying the experience of its previous head, who had traveled throughout the continent of Penn-Hanil. Known as the Roquefried Trade Route Map, it recorded the company's trading journeys. A treasure among treasures, it cataloged each trading company's specialties and the fastest routes. Anyone who stole and sold it would never have to worry about making a living again. That was the Roquefried trading company. Anyone might covet it. Someone of the previous head's bloodline, in particular, might consider it theirs by right. That belief had likely led to yesterday's brazen attack. 'Drawing a blade first, here of all places.'

That was what angered her. Why choose now to be so bold? She shared not a drop of his blood, yet she was working so hard to honor the previous head's last wishes. Why did her rival disregard all of it? Yes, without those last wishes, she would never have had to come this far. And what had they been? ["Before you kill each other, at least try to reach an agreement. Will you do that for me, Leona?"] The previous head had raised her like a daughter. Yet he was also someone she couldn't readily call her father.

'The company, and his own flesh and blood.'

He had made that final request because he couldn't give up either. Leona understood how he felt. He had raised her to grow the Roquefried trading company, but he couldn't simply cast aside the man who carried his blood. That was why she was here, in Naurilia's Border Guard—the last bastion she had chosen for talks without blades. Without the previous head's dying wishes, the succession struggle would have ended long ago. And now an ambush? Drawing a blade in Border Guard, no less?

'Idiot.' Her wandering thoughts came to an end. Her gaze settled on the man who had saved her in her moment of peril. The first thing that stood out was his lake-like eyes. Those blue eyes were so captivating they almost seemed imbued with magic. Black hair, blue eyes, a well-trained body. And a handsome face to match. It was enough to catch her interest. 'He really is good-looking.'

And he was highly skilled. The way he had charged into the room and overpowered his opponent! Then there was his character, asking for nothing in return. After saving her, he had said only that it was his job, and her heart had raced. That was when it began. She wanted him. She wanted to take him with her. "I promise you a better position and better treatment than you receive now." Encrid had nothing to consider. It wasn't as though he had never worked as a trading company guard. If Krona were his only goal...

'That wouldn't be bad either.'

Living as the sword of a growing trading company would be fine. But he had a dream, had found a path forward, and was walking it, however slowly. He had no time for distractions. "No, thank you."

He sat with both hands on his thighs and his back straight. An unequivocal answer, delivered from an upright posture. When refusing, it was best to be clear. Encrid knew that from experience. Leona's eyes wavered.

"It's unbecoming to cling to someone who has refused you."

Jaxon's voice came from behind them. When had he come downstairs?

"Indeed. Unbecoming."

The Fairy Company Commander added her own comment. "I see."

Leona neither flared up nor grew irritable or petulant. She merely nodded calmly.

"You're satisfied with your current position."

Not quite. But staying here did give him a path upward. "Ah, my business..."

The innkeeper had appeared and was heaving sigh after sigh. The blue of the predawn hours was gradually turning to the yellow of daybreak. Morning had arrived. "The company will cover your losses," Leona repeated.

It seemed he had brought it up to hear that reassurance in the first place.

"Oh, if you'd be so kind!"

The innkeeper rubbed his hands together as he spoke. Leona watched and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll be receiving visitors around noon, so please prepare for them."

"Yes, ma'am."

She looked accustomed to issuing orders from her seat. Soon her nurse came downstairs, and Leona excused herself, saying she would rest. Then Jaxon approached.

"There are plenty of pretty women in the city. You needn't get involved with a trading company's heir."

He hadn't gotten involved. He had refused her. Encrid had plenty of experience attracting women. His looks weren't going anywhere, after all. And a well-trained body was an excellent means of displaying one's charms in any number of ways. "High-grade soldier Encrid."

It was the Company Commander. Without approaching, she called to him from where she stood, her posture and tone unchanged, then asked,

"Are you something of a womanizer?"

"... No."

"Do you flirt with every woman who passes by?"

"I do not."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." Surely she was joking. It had to be a joke, but her expression was utterly serious and her eyes perfectly calm. That made her difficult to deal with.

'I wish she'd stop now.'

"I see."

The Company Commander nodded. He went outside for a breather, only for a squad member from Second Company's Third Platoon to greet him.

"If you go around seducing every woman you pass, what are men like me supposed to do?"

Well, that counted as a greeting, he supposed.

"Who does?" "First the Company Commander, now the young lady of Roquefried. Whew! The irresistible Squad Leader. Simply irresistible!"

That admiring exclamation came from the Platoon Commander. Encrid knew his face, too. He had often been temporarily assigned here and there for assorted missions. "It's nothing like that."

"Nothing like that, eh?"

"He says it's nothing like that."

"Nothing like that, he says!"

Several soldiers echoed the words back, as though repeating orders. Suddenly deployed to surround an inn inside the city, they apparently had nothing to do. It was understandable that they were bored. There had been no further attacks, nor any sign of one. Yes, he understood their boredom, but...

'That doesn't mean I appreciate them passing the time by teasing me.' Rumors were always frightening things. Sure enough, before long, another rumor spread far and wide, prompting Krais to say this when he visited the inn: "Seriously, Squad Leader, you slept with the head of a trading company in just one day? How did you manage that? Even I'd struggle. The young lady of Roquefried is famous for being stuck-up. Prickly, too."

"She's not prickly."

"Oh, come on. That's not true."

"Since you're here, make yourself useful."

"Pardon?" Instead of engaging in pointless chatter, Encrid gave Krais a job. He didn't bother clearing up the misunderstanding. Krais knew the truth and was teasing him too.

"One of the attackers escaped. Find him." The fugitive. Encrid wanted to know where he had gone. The Aspen spy who had died by his sword had called for glory to his motherland as he died. It would hardly be satisfying if the man who had plotted the whole affair survived.

'He should pay for what he's done.'

That was the natural and right order of things. One could even call it proof that justice was alive and well. Besides, the unit would soon issue orders to find him. Encrid didn't want to leave him alone, either. If you started something, you had to take responsibility. How could he abandon all his men and run? Having declared himself an Aspen spy, he couldn't be allowed to leave alive. "Understood."

With the night guild, they could learn about almost anything that happened in the city. That was an advantage. Finding one man shouldn't be difficult.

'And it brings in Krona from time to time.' Once he saved up some money this time, he thought he might buy a decent shortsword or guard sword as a secondary weapon. He had liked the guard sword very much when he tried one before. Ragna had also recommended carrying a shield, but he hadn't readily taken to it. He would learn if necessary, but if raw strength was his particular forte... ["You'd be better off wielding your sword with both hands in the first place. Still, it's good to have a shield on the battlefield."]

Ragna had said that, too. As a light infantryman, Encrid did know how to use a shield to some degree. What was the purpose of an army? It valued the strength of a uniformly trained many over one exceptional individual. It was common knowledge that a standardized ten-man squad, all trained alike, was stronger than one with two outstanding swordsmen mixed in. That standardized training included shield formation drills. His squad members had merely gone through the motions, but Encrid had diligently learned those as well. He simply hadn't improved easily.

'It still doesn't feel natural.'

He thought that every time he picked up a shield. As Ragna had said, wielding a sword with both hands felt like a much better fit. Whether he used a shield or not—if he became someone who could defy the rule of strength in standardized numbers, it wouldn't be much of a concern. Not long after Krais left, a man with spite written all over his fleshy cheeks arrived with a dozen or so soldiers. One of his guards caught Encrid's eye: a man with narrow, slanting eyes and arms hanging loosely at his sides. At his waist was a rapier, a slender sword with a long, thin blade. 'He looks fast.'

That was Encrid's immediate impression. The man made no particular effort to conceal what he was. It seemed an expression of confidence.

'My sword is fast. But knowing that won't help you stop it.'

His posture and manner seemed to say as much. The man with both cheeks puffed full of spite was named Polid. He was Leona's rival in the succession struggle. As soon as he entered, he claimed a table, sat down, and spoke.

"Hey, go get Leona."

The person he had addressed as "hey" was Jaxon. Naturally, Jaxon ignored him.