Trigger warning: Contains battlefield violence, slightly gory at times. Despite the subject matter there are no explicit scenes of male on female rape, but there are references made to it. However there is female-on-male coercion, reluctance, cheating and betrayal.
This is part 2 of a two-part story, and will likely make little to no sense if you haven't read part 1.
*
The Conquered's Choice
Part 2
*******
3 Days later,
Volren shook the hand of the Conduran general with a wide welcoming smile. "It is good to see you Harxon,"
"Arch-Chieftan Volren," Harxon said, smiling back in a stern but respecting way. "It has been some time."
"Much has changed," Volren said. "We deeply appreciate your growing support, I hope you know that. You and your soldiers will be a valuable addition to our cause here."
"In truth it feels like you barely need us," Harxon replied. "You have this war all but won. We brought far more food and supplies than men, seeing it's probably what you need most, so you don't go hungry waiting for this oaf of a king to see the writing on the wall."
"We will appreciate that too," Volren said with a smile. "These men behind me are our chieftains," he gestured to the others.
He introduced them by name, Crolsef among them, looking pale but standing on two legs nonetheless.
"Bring any mead as well?" Karndel asked as he shook the man's hand firmly.
Harxon smiled, "Of course. We're expecting a victory celebration soon are we not? Though us Condurans prefer a lighter brew than you Kelviks."
Karndel shrugged with a crooked smile, "It'll do."
Harxon continued down the line shaking hands, and said, "You have chosen a cunning leader. He coaxed our avoidant duke out of hiding by hamstringing our city in the only way possible by diverting the river away from our mill. His forces probably could have fought their way in, but it would have been bloody on both sides. I'm sure he understood that, and we respected it in hindsight. I'm glad you were able to forgive our deceit as your forces left, Volren. The king's threats had been vicious."
"I too can understand, in retrospect Harxon, and you've more than made up for it now. I hope your mill is running well again."
"It is, and our trade with Gerundia - thanks again to you, has bolstered our resources enough that we can more than afford to supply you well here. More is on the way in case this king decides to draw out this siege for weeks, though I doubt he can."
"Great news for sure. You've lifted our spirits and taken away much of our uncertainty Harxon," Vol said.
"Were you really uncertain enough to believe Delvor's dirty lies about us turning sides again?" Harxon said with an amused frown. "I promise you, Condurans do not take sides easily or lightly, and when we do, we honour our decision."
"I didn't really, but in times like these we must consider all possibilities," Vol said with a shrug. "We've been trying to put to rest his claim of an approaching army from the remaining regions, coming to support him. We are fairly certain there is nothing within a few days from here at least, but some tell rumours of something brewing further off."
Harxon threw his head back in a boisterous laugh. "Timely! It just so happens the next thing was going to show you was this!"
He handed him a paper with elaborate writing.
"A letter of support from Wegland. Though they are physically distant from Condura, our trade relationship runs deep, as they prize our finer cuts of lumber for their artisans. We have long been allies, and we have easily convinced them to lend their support, as your reputation precedes you, Volren."
Vol smiled as he read the letter.
"An army does indeed approach," Harxon said. "But not for the king. They have levied forces from two of their smaller neighbours in addition to their own. They should be here in two or three weeks. I suspect the king already knew this when he spoke with you. I suppose he wagered you might hear of the army, but not of their allegiance, and fear the worst. The fool."
The other chieftains laughed in delight, but Volren knew how nervous it had made them, and how close the king's lie had been to working.
"From what we have heard, the other remaining regions prefer to sit and watch, staying neutral. No one comes to save this king from his failure," Harxon explained. "Rejoice Volren! Your victory looms near."
Vol smiled and gave another hearty handshake with Harxon, and the other chieftains gave a small cheer, calling for mead-jugs despite the early-morning hour. The men mingled with the new warriors, talking and joking and comparing weapons.
Volren could barely believe it. He had, in his day-dreams as a boy, imagined of one day being a chieftain, or even the Arch-Chieftain, though even that seemed like a ridiculous fantasy. He had never once, in his wildest dreams considered the possibility of being king. Even in the last few days and weeks, it never had quite seemed like a true possibility, but now it was coalescing into reality.
His feelings mixed in so many directions. His mind spun with all he would need to do, all he would need to learn, who he would need to keep close, and keep distant, who would help him, who would be a liability. So many decisions, and so little certainty.
*******
1 week later,
A loud cheer rose up triumphantly from Volren's army as the large white flag lifted above the city walls, flapping gloriously in the wind to signal the king's surrender.
The warriors and chieftains around him shared ecstatic shouts of victory and hugs, slapping shoulders and backs and laughing in jubilation.
"It worked!" Karndel shouted, shaking Vol's shoulders excitedly. "You sly, convincing bastard, it worked!"
Vol smiled.
They had been starting to have their doubts about how long the king might try to hold out, and what he might do out of increased desperation. Brief skirmishes of archers, being more of an annoyance than a threat, were most of what had transpired since the assassination attempt. A couple of mangonels had been built on the wall to launch flaming balls of pitch at them, but simply backing up the army line by 50 feet made them all but useless. They had tried and failed once to breach the gate with a battering ram. They had been constructing a larger one, but Vol had almost wanted it to fail. He had feared the bloody rout and the chaos that would follow if they were to invade the city by force.
He had eventually taken inspiration from Zea and her letters. Two days ago, as he daydreamed of her, he had the idea of simply appealing to the people of the city. He would send them his own letters of his intentions and petition for their support in overthrowing their failed king. It was simply a question of how.
After discussing it with the chiefs they decided the letters should be signed by everyone of importance OTHER than Volren, asking the people to join them in their adoption of Volren as their new king, who would spare their lives, share their food and drink, and rule with honour, in working to reinvigorate their broken realm. They decided to scribe out dozens of copies and attach them to dulled arrows to launch over the walls and into the city.
They weren't sure if anything would come from it. However, last night there had been sounds of some type of disturbance, and then smoke from at least one fire inside the walls. Now, in the early afternoon, finally, the white flag flew.
Vol wondered if they had killed the king themselves or if he had finally seen reason. He saw the gate lower and a rider with another white flag on his saddle trot out towards him with five others following. He would get his answer soon enough.
"I come in good faith with a message from King Delvor, to Volren of Kelvia!" the rider shouted from under his helm as he approached.
Volren stepped forward as the rider stopped. "What does he say?"
"The king invites you into his city and bids you to meet him in his palace today, to discuss the terms of his peaceful abdication."
"Does he simply invite me or my army as well?" Vol asked.
The rider hesitated.
"No matter, my army will enter regardless," Volren said. Then shouted louder so those on the walls might hear it, "Send this message not only to the king, but to his generals, his army, and his citizens. I accept the king's plea to abdicate peacefully. If he agrees to hand over the city and the crown without bloodshed, I will spare his life to be exiled. My warriors will enter your city peacefully and shake hands with your citizens as brethren of the realm. If they are hungry, we will share our food. If they are thirsty, we will share our mead. Just as our letters promised. I hope that tonight will be a night of celebration, and tomorrow will truly be a new dawn for the realm."
The messenger nodded, "I will repeat your words to the king and the people in the city as well. Unless you wish to follow me now and tell them yourselves."
Volren shook his head, "No. We will approach the gate in three hours and enter the city then."
The messenger nodded again, seeming unsurprised, "As you wish. We await your approach," he said with a flat voice and then turned to ride away.
Volren turned to face his army and his chiefs, with a cautious determined smile.
"Gather all the chiefs to meet in my command tent," Volren instructed. "Get the army to gather what they wish before they enter the city, and instruct the warriors to prepare to greet the citizens peacefully and fraternally, but to have their weapons handy, and keep their eyes open, just in case."
His heart raced with nervous anticipation. He wasn't sure when it would stop.
*******
"Are you sure Balia?" Volren asked. "I feel like I'll be less nervous if you're at least nearby. By rights you should be next to me, at my side."
"Yes I'm sure," she said. "I know I probably should be, but I'm worried the moment I see Delvor or Zarina, my tempers will flare and I might do or say something that would ruin the whole ordeal. I don't want to put your crown or the city in jeopardy."
Vol sighed, reluctantly agreeing in his mind that she might be right, "Okay, whatever you think is best."
