The Angels were making short work of the Irinian aerial mages, who were taken by complete surprise. Suffice to say, in the state that the two armies were both in, neither was ready for anti-air combat. The mages all suddenly descended down, probably being given the order to retreat before they were completely wiped out.

  Seeing this, more Angels descended from the clouds above, but these were specialized in ground attack, and soon, concentrations of Irinian infantry were blown away by marauding Angels. They were met with sparse counterattack, charging their spells high in the sky, before swooping down and unleashing large explosions. Regardless, the Angels were small in number compared to the Irinian army at large, most of the fighting was still on the 7th’s part, to which they weren’t getting off easy.

  It was only a few minutes after the arrival of the Angels that white flares were shot up on the side of the Irinians – The international symbol for a ceasefire, and a potential surrender.

  “Hold you fire!”

  Alisson ordered, and the word spread across the battlefield. Slowly, the two armies separated, and began an intense staring contest, a testament to the discipline of both forces. A rider came forward with a white flag, declaring to Alisson,

  “Her Excellency Count Nariseer Barindough Iquaintseer requests an immediate end to hostilities! The 87th will hereby withdraw, ceding this battlefield, and observe a period of armistice for one week! Is this arrangement favorable?”

  Alisson frowned in thought for a long moment.

  If they continued this battle, the outcome was uncertain. Sure, the 87th may be completely wiped out, but even with Angel support, the 7th would no doubt be annihilated in turn – Irine simply had more men. It seemed Nariseer no longer deemed this engagement as anything but a battle of attrition, and thanks to the Angels, it was no longer favorable to Nariseer.

  In essence, it was a request to do battle another day, for both sides were at a standstill. As much as Alisson hated to admit it, he couldn’t afford to lose potentially fifteen-thousand men in a single battle, just to destroy the 87th. Sure, he had Augen’s forces, but with so little men, he doubted he’d be able to put up a fight against the rest of Irine. He needed to pull back, lick his wounds, take council with the Angels, and continue with the plan he had been working toward. If anything, if Nariseer retreated to where Alisson believed she would, then this was a perfect arrangement.

  Alisson rose his hand. “Aye! Tell her I agree. We will attempt to disentangle and withdraw as well, and we will not engage the 87th for a period of one-week.”

  The rider similarly raised their hand and nodded, and then returned back to Irinian lines. There was always the option to break the ceasefire, but Alisson saw no value in a sneak-attack. The 7th was probably in a bad shape, and would need a few days to regroup just like the 87th.

  The two armies disentangled, much like two lovers post-coitus. Their movements were slow and unsteady, attempting not to graze the other. Alisson took a deep sigh as the last of the Irinians left his vision. He suddenly broke into a smile.

  “We got through this one, didn’t we, Ce-?” He turned back to Celis, riding behind him.

  She gave him a blank stare which halted his words. His face darkened and he promptly straightened himself before addressing the men,

  “Start medical procedures at once!”

  He swung out his arm. The 7th relaxed its formations, and spread out to nurture wounded soldiers and recover the dead. An Irinian unit came not long after to ask if Alisson would allow them to recover their own dead, to which Alisson allowed.

  Stolen story; please report.

  A familiar Angel then landed by Alisson. Throne Constantius.

  Alisson smiled and extended a hand. “My thanks, Constantius. The Angels are the reason the 7th still stands this day.”

  Constantius took Alisson’s hand firmly.

  “We did agree to an alliance, Alisson. We have merely done a small favor unto you.”

  Constantius informed Alisson that medical Angels were on their way. A field hospital would be established for the 7th, which was great news. In addition, the HACA was fully ready to supply the 7th logistically. By air. Large flying transports were being readied to supply Alisson if he was ever in a pinch, and although the HACA lacked the sheer capacity to feed thirty-thousand mouths on their own by air, they could certainly help.

  He also told Alisson that Michaela had seen fit to grant him full control of a military detachment. Alisson now had his air support. A wing of a couple hundred attack angels would be stationed with the 7th, who would be able to relay intelligence that their high-altitude ‘AWACS’ units gathered. In effect, he would have eyes on the 87th at all times.

  It was wonderful news. Alisson was truly thankful for the level of support the Angels were giving in him. They were treating the 7th like their own unit to attack Irine with, since they lacked their own substantial ground army. The Angels saw this as their chance to be liberated from the threat of Irine, for good. It was all hands-on deck for them.

  He wondered then why the Queendom had such an opposite level of support. Did they not trust Alisson that much to deal with Irine? Or perhaps they didn’t consider Irine a threat anymore? He didn’t try to decipher their thoughts further, and focused on what was next.

  Constantius caught a glance of Celis standing behind Alisson, and furrowed his brow.

  Alisson shook his head. “May we speak in private?”

  Constantius and him went off a good distance from Celis. He probably shouldn’t have, but he told Constantius all that had happened since he left the HACA. About what happened to Celis. He had kept it so bottled up all this time…It felt good to tell someone about his plight.

  Constantius closed his eyes and nodded solemnly, looking out across the fields of the 7th below. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,” Constantius laid his eyes on Alisson. “…and endures all things.”

  Alisson averted his gaze, clenching his fist. Constantius continued, “I believe there may be a way to save the young Celistine. If you would allow it, we can take her back to our monastery, and attempt to vindicate her from Sidonia’s influence.”

  Alisson’s eyes brightened. “You think its possible?”

  Constantius nodded. “If the Lord wills it. If nothing, she will be safe away from the battlefield. It is a great vice, the control of another, that we have been seeking to defend against. Celistine may serve as a proof of concept.”

  Alisson looked out across the fields. Taking Constantius up on his offer was heretical, plain and simple. A direct violation of his loyalty to Sidonia.

  Alisson briefly shivered, images of Celis, bound up and disheveled, flashing through his mind. Ashlynde on the gallows. That could be Celis, if he once more disobeyed Sidonia. Before long a hellish shiver overtook him, Constantius all the while looking over him.

  “I’ll…have to refuse.” Alisson finally mustered the strength to decline, taking a deep breath.

  He jumped when Constantius laid a hand on his shoulder, looking up at him with scared eyes.

  “It is your choice; but putting the word of your overlord before the wellbeing of Celistine, is that love to you?”

  “It’s to keep her safe…” Alisson muttered to himself, his teeth starting to chatter.

  “Very well. Our offer will still stand, if you change your mind.”

  Alisson shook his head. “For now, let’s just focus on the war at hand.”

  Constantius and him parted ways, leaving Alisson with a well in his stomach. He succumbed to his base emotions, and whisked Celis away to his tent, sitting there with her for a while, petting her.

  “You’re going to be okay…you’re okay…”

  He stroked her, his hand quivering against her motionless body. He tilted her head to see her eyes, but regret doing so as those empty beads graced his vision.

  Overall, the day was won.

  Alisson hadn’t started the day with the intention of defeating the enemy commander in a decisive engagement. By contrast, that was Nariseer’s case. This was still a victory, albeit one that came at a heavy price. The death toll came in later that night.

  Five-thousand. Nearly a third of his forces. The battle had been much bloodier than he had thought. The agreement to peace was certainly the right call – If Nariseer knew how bad the 7th had been hit, they probably wouldn’t have stopped the battle. Alisson hugged Celis tighter as the messenger left his tent.

  If it weren’t for the Angels, more men would’ve been lost, but thanks to their medical support, many were saved to fight another day.

  Alisson grimly stared into the back of Celis’s head.

  ***