Chapter Eighty-Two: Impediments

"We are proceeding ahead of schedule, even considering our advantage." A lord said to the prince. They were having a meeting in the command tent a few days after the last battle, and Tim sat resting his chin on his palm, completely disinterested.

"The villagers and town folk have been more cooperative that we had anticipated, and the troops have been performing beyond expectations. At the rate we're travelling we will arrive at the regrouping point long before the auxiliary force."

"The villagers are being cooperative because they don't want to die." Tim interjected, bored out of his mind. "Plus, I doubt any of them cared about the whole thing to begin with. Sure, if you'd asked them while the war was about to set off they'd probably be all for it, but that's only because emotions were running high. A few weeks, months, and hundreds of bodies quickly calms people down on the idea. As for our troops walking faster than you thought they would, I'd put money on that being due to the perceived possibility of being eaten alive growing with every passing day. Meg isn't exactly happy to be here."

"Regardless of why..." Edgar said. "That doesn't change the fact that after Delia, we'll be heading straight for the last stop on our little tour. We'll have to wait a few days as the auxiliary force catches up before we can advance."

"Do we really have to though?" Tim whined. "Can't we just take it? It's not like I need more of you, I don't even need any of you."

"We do. There are plenty of wealthy citizens with the means to cause trouble in Oros, and we'll need all the men we can spare to make sure nothing unsavory happens until the new regime is established."

"Oros?" Tim said, confused for a moment. "Oh yeah, that's what they renamed it!"

"Di-... Did you not know the name of the capital city of the country we are invading?"

"Nah, I forgot after they changed the name. It used to be called Erida though, I remember that."

"How has this never come up before now? That wasn't nearly the first time we've mentioned it."

"You're out of your gourd if you think I've been paying attention in these meetings."

"...You know, Tim..."

"Yeah?"

"Back when you came to stay with us after arriving with my sister, I was kind of excited. To me you were this enigmatic figure my father refused to speak of, the only time I'd seen you was when you attended that party, solved the crime that took place there, and spoke down to the most powerful of our country like they were nothing to you. I had dreamed of what knowledge you held, of the skills you possessed, and wished to meet you and speak with you in order to learn from you. The years of studying under my father diminished that somewhat, but I still held you as a figure above and beyond any mortal man. But, after actually spending an extended period of time with you, I've come to realise something."

"...And what's that?"

"You're a prick."

Tim looked at the young prince's annoyed expression, and nodded.

"Yeah, that's fair."

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The army approached Delia, the last major city between them and Richard. As they did, a messenger rode up to them, and told them that the armed forces that were stationed at the city surrendered.

Not willing to take it at face value, Edgar sent Tim back with the man. Arriving in the city, Tim was greeted by a thin man, who presented him with a transport circle and a batch a letters. Seeing as this was their only real means of dealing with him, Tim decided it wasn't a ruse, and the army moved in.

Setting up camp on the East of the city, the army was set to wait for the auxiliary forces to catch up. At Tim's behest, Edgar reluctantly allowed the surrendered forces to do as the pleased, providing they give up their arms, and whilst they were busy dealing with the logistics of the task, Tim decided to have some fun.

With a spring in his step, Tim traveled around the city of Delia, and single-handedly purchased every drop of alcohol with its limits. He returned as night was approaching, adding his new supply to the army's, and by the time Edgar and the lords realised what had happened, it was too late. The entire camp descended into revelry, and even the surrendered enemy forces were roped into it, happy as they were to still be alive. Realising there wasn't going to be an end to this soon, Edgar authorised the purchase of large amounts of food from the city, and the army ate and drank heartily into the night.

Meg, deciding she had no desire to be a part of this, appropriated some money from Tim, and found an inn to spend the night at. She left her undead at the city limits, where they terrorised the locals by swaying lightly, and occasionally moaning.

Mild hangovers abound, the next day was spent with nobody doing very much of anything at all, besides using up supplies. Then the afternoon came around, and lookouts spotted a small army approaching in the distance.

The army prepared to defend themselves, as Tim raced of to meet the enemy. He was a little thrown off, however, when they collectively stopped and showed their empty hands to him. With a frown, Tim led a spokesperson back to Edgar to initiate talks.

"We surrender."

"...Who's we?"

"Everyone in the army that isn't suicidal." The spokesman said. "And our families."

"And under what circumstances was that allowed?"

"The king is preparing for a siege, and he said that anyone who didn't fully believe in his goals should leave."

"Goals?" Edgar mused, but Tim interrupted.

"This sounds like a trap to me." He said skeptically.

"Are you just saying that because you're bored?"

"Maybe."

Edgar sighed deeply, and turned back to the spokesman. "We aren't in the business of taking prisoners. Keep yourselves out of trouble and you can do as you please."

"We're grateful for your mercy Your Highness, but... There's another problem."

"And what would that be?"

"Oh, I don't know..." Tim interjected again. "A large number of families displaced from their homes at a moment's notice and sent towards an encroaching army that has a habit of showing mercy, from a city preparing for a siege. Call me insane, but something tells me they didn't pack dinner."

"They were encouraged to leave in order to drain our resources and force our hand..."

"Not to mention reducing strain on them, and ensuring the likelihood of a revolt is practically nil. Not a bad idea all in all."

Edgar looked over at the spokesman, who, with nothing to say, could only hang his head in apology.

"Well, we have to feed them." Tim said, and Edgar turned back with an expression that showed his turmoil over whether or not he agreed.

"It's not even a question of morality and ethics." Tim continued, and two other men looked at him in confusion. "I mean, if we don't, Meg'll kill us both."

The spokesman frowned, but Edgar just nodded to himself, before a questioning look crossed his face.

"Could she kill you?"

"I hope so, cause the alternatives she has are far worse."

Edgar grimaces, decided he didn't want to know, and got to work.

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By the time the sun was ending its daily journey across the sky, the army's supply of food had taken a noticeable hit. The nearby city had aided them somewhat, but they didn't have much surplus to begin with, and couldn't afford to just give it away. Troops were being sent back to Spara to ask for more supplies, and Edgar was considering pushing forward with a small force, and having Tim remain in the capital until the inevitable resistance was finally quelled.

Meg was asked to help as well, but the only option she had immediately available would be mass summoning food. This would require a tremendous amount of energy in order to supply enough for everyone however, and as Tim pointed out, that would only deflect the problem elsewhere.

In the end, the question for what they should do was answered for the time being, by a letter sent to them from the auxiliary army.

"Tim." Edgar called out, entering the tent Meg had taken for her own, where she and Tim were trying to figure out a way to solve their crisis. "We have a problem."

"I know." Tim said. "The army rations are awful."

"The auxiliary army has been flanked on their way to us." Edgar continued, ignoring the idiot. "The enemy went through the Gods' lands during the day, and came back into Athene from the lands of the God of Darkness."

"Greeeeat." Tim said. "Now I have to go running in the precise opposite direction we're supposed to be going. Have we considered that this may be a trap?"

"Yes, but it would appear that they aren't ready yet. The enemy forces look like they're going to bide their time until they've coordinated with the capital's forces. They're heading for Themil, which our force pass-"

"Oh fuck that." Tim said, leaving the tent.

"Wait, where are you going?" Edgar asked.

"To make sure they never get there."

"We have to explore our options, you can't just-"

Edgar stopped, as Tim promptly kicked off the ground, and shot out of the camp. He watched him go for a moment, before turning back to Meg.

"Is there something I should know about?" He asked.

"He doesn't that place." Meg replied, reading over some of the materials Thomas had left with the main force. "He probably just wants to make sure there's no reason for him to end up there."

"...Why?"

"Hell if I know."

"Sir!" A messenger ran over to the tent.

"What is it?"

"It's the citizens sir, turns out a lot of them are sick. What should we do?"

Edgar sighed, and turned to Meg. She looked back at him for a moment, before putting down her reading, and standing up.

"You know, I haven't been ill since I became ageless... Guess I'd have to find out whether that was luck some day."

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Night fell, and the troops that had gone around Prince Edgar's auxiliary force were approaching the town of Themil. They could see the beacon fires on the old wall of the town in the distance, and were steadily heading for it in the dark.

The general of this small force rode at the front, leading the army forward. He didn't like moving in the night, but they were almost at their destination, and would be safer once they reached it. Staring out into the bleak dark, he looked to the sky at the clouds that had suddenly moved in from the East, blocking the low hanging moon. Cursing his luck, he turned once again to the town in the distance, as he felt the wind push at them from the open plain.

Then, as if an icy rain had smothered him, he felt chills spread through his body, and a loud crash erupted from behind him. With fear gripping his heart he turned to face the noise, and the desperately raging beast removed from him his fear, along with his life.

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Feet sank in a sea of bodies, Tim took a moment to stare wistfully at the lights in the distance. With a sigh, he turned around, and looked back to the wagons that had been following the army.

"Well, at least that solves that problem, for a little while at least... We'll have to step things up a bit."

Tim looked between the multiple that held supplies for the army that didn't really need them anymore, and groaned to himself.

"Urghhhhh... I'm going to have to make more than one trip."