Day of Saints and Soldiers

A Holiday fanfic of the Powder Mage series, by Brian McClellan. Set some months after the end of Blood of Empire, Vlora is taking part in some casual war games with her men.

Vlora stalked with the utmost care through the snowy forest floor. Each step was deliberate, and almost agonizingly slow, as the tip of her boot pierced the powdery white surface, inch by inch. Every sound she could avoid making, she had to. Her target was likely the most perceptive man in the world. If she gave herself away, even the slightest, that was it for her.

She moved as a ghost through the trees, thankful for the lack of biting cold wind, though she’d have been happy to have the howl to mask the sound of her approach. Fortunately she knew right where her target would be, so she could time her stealthy approach to the last few hundred feet. A small ridge overlooked a space where the forest split, giving whoever occupied it a perfect  sharpshooter position over where Vlora’s men would be doing battle soon.

And sure enough, there he was. She knew him too well. It was just a glimpse, but she spotted the silhouette of a man, through the trees. Seeming to still be undetected, Vlora stalked to within twenty yards, positioning herself a few degrees behind the man, to his left. He was covered head to toe in winter clothing, and even if Vlora was looking from the front, his face would be covered, just as hers was. But even so, she knew exactly who this man was.

Taniel Two-Shot. War hero. Near demi-god. Her adoptive brother. And she had a clear shot. Slowly, she leveled her air rifle at Taniel, keeping it away from her body as she brought it up, so it didn’t knock against her gear. Putting it to her shoulder, Vlora aimed down the length of her barrel, and settled the sights on Taniel’s back. 

Air rifles were made specifically to kill powder mages. Vlora never thought she’d use one. Let alone use it against Taniel.

The rifle popped and hissed, as the round left the muzzle. There was only the smallest of delays between that, and the impact of the round on target. Vlora’s aim was true, and Taniel never saw it coming.

And now his back was covered in bright pink paint.

Taniel let out a shout of pain, which Vlora chuckled at in amusement. The rounds weren’t designed to kill, but the rifles still were. From the sound of it, even through his thick coat, Taniel would be sporting quite a bruise later, from that hit. Taniel turned to face Vlora, just as she got to her feet. He removed his protective mask, which might have revealed his face if not for the thick beard he was sporting for the season.

“Vlora? When did you get back there?” He yelled out, astonished.

Vlora removed her own mask, before replying, “Just now. But it took long enough to get here. I thought you would’ve heard me long before now.” Vlora slung her rifle over her shoulder, and made her way over to Taniel’s position.

Taniel returned to his seat on the rocks, as Vlora joined him. “Honestly, I was betting on Pole taking you out. Shows me for letting my guard down, it seems.” He said with a smile.

“Almost got me, but her and Olem killed each other about an hour ago.” Vlora took a seat beside him, leaning her rifle against the rocks. She saw Taniel’s air rifle propped up beside him.

“Damn!” He said in surprise. “Nothing gets past that guy.”

“Tamas picked him for a reason.”

“You both know how to pick your men, it seems.”

“For different reasons. Though, I don’t know for certain that Tamas wasn’t sleeping with Olem.”

That got a laugh from Taniel. “If he was, he might have been a little easier to deal with in those final days.” He breathed a sigh, before changing the subject. “Don’t you have soldiers to lead into battle?”

“A truly great leader trains men that don’t need you to lead them into battle.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Also, I don’t want to.” 

“Theeere it is.” Taniel chuckled. 

“It was enough effort to track you down, and take you out, so that’s enough of a win for me.”

“Not like you to pass on a battle.”

“Most battles are to defend my country and kin, or stop megalomaniacs. I’m content to let my men splatter each other with paint, for their amusement. Besides, I want to spend time with family.” Vlora smiled softly at Taniel.

“Alright, now I know you’re lying.” Taniel laughed. “I’ve been waiting for your fist to hit my face, since Landfall.”

“I’m not that bitter!”

“See? I can feel the punch coming already.”

“Oh, to the pit with you! I can be sentimental, you brute. Look,I’ve even brought you a gift, in spite of you being yourself.” Vlora reached into her coat, pulling out a long, only slightly crushed, ribbon-tied box. She handed it over to Taniel, whose brow shot high in surprise. “You had better appreciate the effort. It’s hard to go gift shopping for someone who can buy half a country.” She snarked, as she folded her arms.

“Pit, you really did this. Shows me, for teasing. You really didn’t have to.”

“Oh, just open it.” Vlora interrupted.

Taniel chortled, “Yes, ma’am.” Loosening the ribbon, he opened the box, revealing a large assortment of small, filled chocolates. The sweets were an array of colors and shapes, and each looked like it was lovingly crafted by the hands of an artisan. “Gurlish Delights…” Taniel remarked, seeming touched by the gesture.

Vlora was pleased with his reaction. Gurlish Delights were considered by many to be the greatest sweets in the world, and were a hassle to get, beyond the exorbitant price. The family behind them would not sell them to you, unless it were as a gift to someone else. Wouldn’t necessarily stop one from lying, but the tradition is largely respected. And anyone who is caught breaking it is banned from ever buying them again.

“Well you certainly solved that riddle. This might be the only gift in the world you could have gotten me.” Taniel said, amused. “Thank you, Vlora… I really don’t know what to say.”

“”Happy Day of Saints, Taniel.”

“Happy Day of Saints.” Taniel replied. “And in keeping with the holiday spirit, I formally return the gesture, and offer to share these treats with you.” He pontificated, as he dramatically laid the box of treats between them. 

Vlora chuckled, and nodded in acknowledgement. “I humbly accept your gesture, and will happily partake of this gift with you, in kinship.” she returned, with her own playful formality.

They each took a chocolate from the box, and sat back on their rocky perch to enjoy them. The candy was cold at first, being out in the winter weather, but it drank deep of Vlora’s body heat, quickly matching her temperature, and melting away in her mouth. The chocolate was more than just sweet. The taste flowed, and washed over Vlora’s tongue, like silken sheets. This particular treat had a raspberry filling, tart and chewy, made in house with fresh raspberries, and somehow maintaining that fresh taste even now. The flavors mingled on Vlora’s tastebuds, whisking her away, so subtly, she hadn’t even realized she’d closed her eyes. She opened them, upon swallowing the magical confection, and turned to find Taniel having a similar experience. 

“Kresimir…”, he expressed, as he slowly awakened from his chocolate trance, eyes drifting open. 

“By gods…”

They let the moment hang, as words failed them, until something caught Vlora’s eye.

“Ummm, Tan?”

“Yes?”

“What is that?” Vlora asked, pointing to a bright orange stain adorning a distant tree trunk.

“Oh, that. Well, I was bored waiting, so I tried a little experiment.”

“And what science did you see fit to inflict on this poor tree?”

“I… wanted to see if I could get my two-shot technique to work with paint rounds.”

“Ha. I was wondering why I sensed powder on you. Did it work?”

“After half a dozen tries? No.” He indicated toward the ground between them and the paint splattered tree. “If you look really carefully, you can see where the paint rained down, when my first few tries popped mid air.”

“Excellent work.” Vlora picked another of the Gurlish Delights, and popped it in her mouth. Cream filling. Delightful! “You know, you really have to teach me that trick, sometime. With real bullets, of course.”

“Heh. Sure. I’ll come by after the snow melts, and we’ll get in some range time. We’ll see if you can pull it off.” He said with a grin.

“You don’t think I can?”

“I think you’ll end the day with a headache, and pissed off.”

“Heh, alright alright, war hero. We’ll see.”

They fell silent for a time. Just enjoying their candy, and watching the winter scenery. Vlora had never felt so calm, and relaxed. Despite the harsh winter chill. Nothing mattered. She could just sit, and appreciate nature. Not even think. And enjoy the company of family. She was starting to think she should do this more often. Travel, see the world, go on hikes, and not for the purpose of making war on the people there. Perhaps Rosvel. That sounded nice.

Vlora suddenly heard the faint pops of air rifles. The two teams had made contact, and were somewhere nearby. As sudden as that, soldiers started pouring into view, filling the spaces between the trees. The trees themselves were quickly coated in bright pink and orange paint.

“I think they're a little excited,” Taniel remarked, cheerfully. “They’re not used to having so many shots, without reloading.”

“It was tempting to just empty the magazine on you.” Vlora teased.

“Heh, I’m thankful for your self control.”

The battle waged on, soldiers glowed bright between the trees as they were struck with paint. Practically none of them were actually going “out” though, when they were hit. 

“Your men lack discipline, Field Marshal. They don’t seem too interested in following the rules.” Taniel chided, sarcastically.

“They’re having fun. I won’t blame them. It’s no fun to be taken out, before you get to do anything.”

“I know the feeling…”

“Then do understand.” Vlora smirked. “But, when we start using this for proper training, I’ll have to crack down on that. Until then, it’s nice to have a battle that… doesn’t matter. With no expectations. No stakes.”

“Could get used to that life.”

“Yeah, you could…” Vlora trailed off, ponderously.

The men below looked to have worked out a system, it turned out. Those who were hit, dramatically feigned injury, as their comrades dragged them off to “patch them up”, before returning them to battle. Amusing, and Vlora was pleased at the ingenuity. 

“Do you really think you’re gonna go back? The life is… still for you?” Taniel asked, his tone sobering.

Vlora didn’t answer immediately. “I don’t know.” She turned her gaze down, wondering if she truly didn’t know, or if she did, but just wasn’t ready to say. “I haven’t decided.”

“After everything you’ve done. What we’ve seen. You’ve certainly earned a retirement, if you took it.” 

“After everything we’ve seen, I feel like I shouldn’t. If some megalomaniac finds another ancient artifact, or some god from beyond invades the world. Some two-bit dictator decides they’re exactly what the world needs, or if the bloody Pit itself opens up… I couldn’t just sit on my lavish estate, drinking tea, pretending everything’s alright. That people aren’t dying.” 

“I don’t think I could argue that. Let's hope disaster gives us time to relax first, at least. I’ve hardly even explored my lavish estate yet.”

Vlora chuckled. “You’re wife’s a god, and rules an empire. I’m sure you’ll handle disaster just fine. Regardless, I still have a year and a half, before I even have to make a decision, anyway.” She glanced down at the, still nearly full, box of chocolates. “Do you plan on finishing those?”

“It’s not everyday I get Gurlish Delights! No, I’m making these last. It’s a nice excuse to come by, and chat, over delicious chocolate.” He answered, as he popped another confection into his mouth.

“That sounds nice, actually. I look forward to it, brother.” Vlora turned her gaze back to the stalemate in the forest below. Both teams were holding their positions, firmly, and were absolutely coated from head to toe in vibrant pink and orange. “If you’ll excuse me a moment, I think I have some commanding to do.” And Vlora rose from her seat on the rocks, and stepped to the edge of their little cliffside. 

She took a deep breath. “CEASE FIRE!” 

Both sides ceased, immediately, as Vlora’s shout echoed through the forest. All eyes turned to her, each soldier ready to jump the moment she told them.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” her voice carried out at that perfect, practiced, volume of a proper commander addressing her men, “I am overjoyed to see you are all having fun, but it is my displeasure to do as the commander does, and ruin it. As good of a time as it is, if we don’t start calling these hits, we’ll be here all day. And it’s quite the long walk back. So we are going to discuss some… adjustments to the rules.” Vlora bent to pick up her own air rifle, holding it across her chest. “And to ensure compliance, these rules will be judiciously enforced by the two best damned shots in the Nine.”