An Unexpected Reunion

The queen sends Julien to take Lyone. Gabriel, who was with him, meets Gianni on the way. Gabriel lies about who leads the charge. Gabriel takes him back to Erlain, where the queen camps.

Unlike Basille, Macreigh has no army to defend against the Gallians. The garrisoned troops kept the front gates shut. The queen orders a siege of the city. However, as soon as the Essenian troops saw the queen's flag fluttering below the ramparts, they immediately surrendered. The captain presented themselves unarmed before their captors. The scribes and historians would later write the battle as the Siege Against the Fickle or Sophia's Siege.

Having no practical strategic value in the grand theater of the war, the queen returns civilian rule to the city. The ruling family of Macreigh perished as soon as the invaders set foot in the city. Their loyalty to the crown was immeasurable. The queen appointed a regent to govern the city and the territory of Macreigh until a formal appointment and decision from the Capital would arrive.

The citizens of the liberated city welcomed the Gallian forces with open arms. The city coffers and what little food they had were offered to the queen's armies to help with the struggle, but she refused them all. Such a compassionate act attracted the hearts and minds of the people of Macreigh.

The queen and her generals retired in the city villa once belonging to the Klaus nobles. Its halls once satisfied the thirst of the invaders, who trampled its flower-filled gardens and dirtied its linoleum. But now, the liberators rightfully restore it to its former glory—golden magnolia and carnation-filled greens and shining linoleum floors.

"From here, the center and the left armies would head further down south," Queen Sophia points to Posseth, the last territory before the Grandiflora domain. "To prevent our armies from being pincered, Prince Julien shall head west and liberate Lyone and Lancalster. I've received word that the enemies in Lyone have been greatly weakened by a detached unit. Sweeping up the remnants of the enemy should be quite an easy task. Lancalster, however, is a different story."

"Its Capital, Calcister, is the second largest city in the south. I understand the degree of seriousness of this operation." Prince Julien agrees. "If we take it back, we take a large part of the south back."

"Excellent, we march on the morrow."

"Can I make a request, your Majesty?" Gabriel steps forward. "Can I serve under the right army?"

"Your talents are useful in the left army…," Queen Sophia pauses. "But I guess, your commanding officer's effectiveness in battle dulls not even with your absence. I permit your transfer to the right army. Dismissed."

After the generals and officers exit the tent, Gabriel approaches Prince Julien with a warm, friendly hug. The aura and presence of his master provide an essence of nostalgia that permeates through his being.

"I've heard rumors that Gianni has gone missing. Is this true?" Gabriel pats the prince's shoulder. "tell me those rumors are not true. Tell me…"

"It's true," Julien grips Gabriel's hand. "I lost him on a battle, when a force from the east took us by surprise."

"Did you find a body?"

"I've sent all my spies. He is still alive."

"So, he's out there somewhere."

Lyone is northwest of Macreigh but heading there would mean exposing Gianni to greater risk. What if the Essenians get to him first? What if he accidentally stumbles on the enemy camp? What if he gets ambushed? These thoughts clouded Prince Julien's mind driving him to gallop his entire army northwest.

In half a day, they were five leagues from Macreigh. With their current pace, they would get to Lyone. But even after getting to Lyone, their time constraints would not cease. Their task is to eradicate the remaining forces scattered throughout the territory—a task requiring time.

The left army arrives in Lyone. Julien, at once, divides the force into multiple squadrons—each to scour Lyone and eradicate the remnants of the enemy forces or allow them to surrender—to quicken the operation rather than moving as one whole body. Within three days, every squadron must report at the Lyone-Lancalster border.

Prince Julien leads a squadron and takes the long route circling the entire domain. Gabriel, on the other hand, positions himself close to the border. He deduces if Gianni is out there, he must be somewhere in the proximity of the border.

A day passes. The remnants of the Essenians were mostly deserters—who either gave up and resided with the locals or wished to travel back to their homeland—which hastened their work. Julien's instruction to the squadrons was clear—let deserters go but apprehend or defeat those who choose to take up arms. Dividing the army into small groups allowed for greater coverage, and they may just finish in three days or shorter.

"Are you sure this is the way to the queen's army?" Gianni stares at the woody landscape surrounding the road, "we've moved away from Basille and now Macreigh. We might as well reach the Northwestern Provinces."

"I saw an army hurriedly riding northwest to Lyone," Luke replies blankly, "they waved a flag of carnations—which means…"

"It was someone from the royal family."

"It could be the queen or someone else," Luke fastens his pouch around his waist, "regardless, we must head there."

"It could also be Prince Julien," Gianni softly whispers holding back the anticipation that he feels, but loud enough that Luke hears it.

"Could be."

The pair makes it through a thick grove definitively reaching Lyone. Coincidentally, at that exact moment, Gabriel and his squadron inspect the grove at the border. They stumble upon each other and almost immediately, Gianni and Gabriel recognize each other.

"I finally found you," Gabriel dismounts and runs toward the physician, "you have no idea how worried I was."

"Gabriel, it is such a surprise seeing you here," Gianni welcomes him with open arms, "is the prince with you?"

"Prince Julien?"

"The forces that went through here were waving the banner of the royal family," Luke grabs Gianni's shoulder, "we must present ourselves before them to continue the fight that Sir Leon started."

"It is the queen's banner," Gabriel replies. "Unfortunately, the queen's army is camped at Erlain in Posseth—three days ride from here. I can take you there."

"Have you heard of the whereabouts of Prince Julien, Gabriel?" Gianni innocently inquires, "we were separated in Basille and he was dueling that enemy general. I want to know if he is safe."

"He is safe," Gabriel reassures him, "he is with the queen in Erlain."

"We must ride to Erlain as soon as possible," Gianni grabs the hems of Gabriel's chest pockets. "He must know that I am safe. I cannot fathom the thought of him worrying about me."

"Fatigue must have sapped your strength," Gabriel releases Gianni's grip from his outfit. "Come now, you must rest before travelling. Forcing things would result in worse things than the thought of the prince's worry."

The night descends on the sky. Eventually, the plain and the groves beneath it are swallowed by the darkness. They settle on the mouth of the grove letting time pass. The knights prepare meals for their guests. Gianni checks their injuries one by one, giving what care he can with the number of materials he possesses.

As darkness engulfed the entire landscape, Gianni retires along with Luke. The knights rotated watch.

"The rest of you can go and continue your task," Gabriel bids to the knight squadron, "I'll guide them to Erlain. We need two other horses to travel." He closes in on the knights, "Do not report this to the prince. I serve the queen and she will have your necks if you disobey me."

"Understood, sir."

Acquiring two horses—one for Gianni, the other for Luke—the three set off for Erlain.

Three days after, Prince Julien finishes liberating the entirety of Lyone. He summons Gabriel to his tent to report their situation, but no Gabriel responds to the summons. He inquires about the knights assigned to him, but they themselves don't answer. Their silence frustrates and angers him. Why would they keep silent? Are they afraid that they might incur my anger because Gabriel was slain?

"What happened to Gabriel?" he asks calmly at his patience's end, "I'll ask one last time." Still, the knights refuse to answer.

He threatens them with insubordination and calls on a lieutenant to apprehend them.

"He told us to keep silent, your Highness," a knight finally breaks the silence. "He said that if we report anything to you, the queen will have our heads."

"Now why would the queen have your heads if you report to me?" Prince Julien wondered, "reporting to me as your commanding officer is vital and necessary. Now answer my question, where is Gabriel?"

"He is with the two people we found on our campaign, your Highness."

"Who are these two people?"

"A squire and a physician."

"A physician?"

The knights recalled every moment from their route to their parting with Gabriel. Prince Julien's heart burned with anger. Gabriel's actions—he questions his motive, his intent—what led him to do what he has done?

'Why did he drag my mother's name into this? Does my mother know of my feelings for Gianni? Was Gabriel working under my mother all along? No, that can't be possible. But this is my mother we're talking about. If she does know, then Gianni is in grave danger. I should go rescue him, but if I come back bearing no results her wrath may even be greater.'

A dilemma befalls the prince. If he moves his army to Lancalster, he may never see Gianni again. But if he refuses and moves back to reunite with him, then Gianni's life would even be in greater danger.

Julien crosses the border, preparing to attack Calcister, the second-largest city in southern Gallia.