Just Another Month or So
After the slaughter of their “emissaries”, the Fresian cities came after Inferno’s army in earnest. She knew better than to engage their full force in direct battle, so she kept her ponies moving and made quick raids on isolated groups and supply lines. But with nowhere to go, they were gradually hemmed in and finally surrounded.
That night, the army camped on a hill, and Inferno called her friends together to discuss their options. Besides O the skald, there was Liquor the craftstallion, Theristis the mage, Vodi the giant, and Fotia and Nera.
Inferno closed the tent flap and turned to look at her friends, silently studying their faces for a moment before she spoke. “Well, we seem to be trapped. I will admit I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this, but I was hoping one of you would have a suggestion.”
The group exchanged glances, but nopony spoke.
“O, what about you? You’re always scheming about something.”
“Sorry, Steph. You’re the tactician here.”
“Li?”
“Nothing that sounds like a plan when I’m sober.”
“I have no magic powerful enough for this problem,” Theristis added.
Inferno looked at Vodi, but the giant just shook his head. Finally, she looked at the twins.
Fotia looked away, but Nera swallowed and said, “The ponies just need to be inspired enough, and they can win.”
“What do you mean?” Inferno cocked her head. “We are probably outnumbered thirty-to-one at least. We’ve never fought even half that many.”
Nera blushed and hid behind her mane, but kept talking. “I doesn’t matter, if we believe we can win strongly enough, the enemy will believe it too.”
“She has a point,” O said. “They had time to attack us before dark, but they waited. They might be afraid of your reputation. If we hit them really hard they might break enough for us to get through.”
“Hmm, thank you, Nera.” Inferno paced across the tent a couple times. “I think you’re right. We have to break out. The question is where? Who is the weakest link in the chain? The Messarans are the most recent addition to their alliance; What do we know about them?”
Liquor spoke up, “They are somewhat less disciplined than the Corsicans and the Sorraians, but some of them are using bows. They can reach much farther than a sling, and the arrows are deadly. The bows have to be anchored to fire, so they can’t retreat quickly like slingers, but we would probably suffer heavy losses as we approached.”
Inferno nodded grimly. “Still, that may be our best option. Sorraia and Corsica have a strong line, as well as a grudge against us. Messara has mostly just heard rumors.” She paced some more. “If we’re going to attack, we’ll need to be quick in the morning. I’m sure the enemy is planning to do the same. I want the whole army awake and ready for battle an hour before sunrise.”
O and Liquor nodded.
“Keep it as quiet as possible. If our plan is discovered too soon, it won’t work. Get them formed up on the west crest of the hill; I will lead the charge myself.” Inferno sighed. “There are only a few hours of darkness left. I don’t think any of us are sleeping tonight. Best just get as ready as we can.”
The stallions all bowed and left the tent, leaving the three mares alone. Fotia walked up to stand next to Inferno. “What can we do, my lady?”
“There’s not really anything for you to do. Just stay close to the army. If we break out, you’ll break out with us. If we are all killed, surrender yourselves and perhaps they’ll spare you. I’m sorry your freedom was so brief…”
“Don’t talk like that!” Nera prodded Inferno with a hoof. “You’re not going to die; you’re going to terrify the enemy into fleeing before you and your friends will be safe.”
Fotia chimed in before Inferno could disagree. “You have to believe in yourself, or no-one else will believe. Come on, if you can’t sleep, you can at least rest. We can help you with that.”
Nera pushed Inferno gently back until she fell onto a couch. “You just sit here and relax. We’ll be right back.”
Inferno sat patiently on the couch while her attendants ran outside. She was curious what they were planning, but she knew they had her best interests at heart, so she just lay on the couch and waited. A few minutes later, they returned with a wash basin and several bags full of supplies.
“Okay, first we need your armor off,” Fotia explained, unbuckling Inferno’s breastplate.
Nera started making trips with a bucket to fill up the basin.
“Tomorrow is going to be a big day, you should look your best.” Fotia set Inferno’s breastplate and helmet on a chair and then spread a towel out next to the wash basin. “When we’re done with you, the enemy will be so astonished by your looks they’ll forget to fight.”
Inferno obediently lay down on the towel. “You don’t need to do this. You’re not slaves anymore.”
“Pfft.” Nera dumped a final bucket of water and set it down near the tent flap. “We know that. We want to help you because you’re our friend, and you helped us. Besides, this is something we’re good at.” She mixed some soap into the water started soaking a sponge in it.
Fotia gathered up Inferno’s long mane and carefully placed it in the basin. “Just trust us, my lady. Relax. What’s good for you is good for all of us.”
The circumstances made some things difficult, but the twins patiently and gently washed their queen. Then they painstakingly brushed her coat and combed her mane and tail. Inferno silently allowed the attention, turning when she was told, and gradually relaxing. Having finished the improvised bath, they directed her to lay on a dry towel and Nera began kneading her muscles with her forehooves, while Fotia started polishing her armor.
“Where did you learn to do all of this?” Inferno asked at last.
“Life is easier for a slave with a...luxury skill set.” Nera kept massaging while she spoke. “Fotia and I practiced on each other after seeing somepony else doing it, then told our master that we had been trained in that. He believed it, and we did well enough that he let us keep doing it.”
“We got lots of practice in his bath house, so we really are experts now,” Fotia added. “All things considered, we’ve had a lot of good things come our way.”
“What do you think about making a new city? Am I crazy?” Inferno turned her head to look at Nera.
“Of course not, it’s a beautiful dream.” Nera pushed Inferno’s head back down again. “Everypony thinks about how the world could be better, but you’re actually doing something about it. That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.” She lifted her hooves off of Inferno’s back. “There. How does that feel?”
“It feels wonderful.” Inferno sat up and turned to face the twins. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that you two decided to stay with me. You’ve been a constant source of encouragement, and I’m grateful.”
The twins grinned back at her. “Now let’s get your armor back on.” Fotia held up the brightly polished breastplate while Inferno put her forelegs through the straps and then tightened it snugly in place. Nera carefully placed the helmet, making sure it didn’t interfere with her mane. Then both mares worked a little more on her mane and tail.
“I really love your mane,” Nera commented, “So long and full. We should do this more often.”
Fotia stood in front of Inferno and looked her in the eyes for the first time since they’d met. “Just remember, this has to be done, and nopony else in the whole world can do it. You are the mare who can save us all and lead us to a better future.”
Inferno just stared at the two mares for a long time. Then she reared up and grabbed them both in a hug. “Thank you, I needed that. I won’t let you down!” She let them go and dropped to all fours again, then trotted out of the tent. “Okay, let’s do it.”
Inferno fixed her spear on one side and hung her sword on the other, then went to stand in front of her troops. A little light was visible on the horizon, but it would still be a little while before sunrise. Even in the dark, she could see worry on the soldiers’ faces. This might be a good time for a motivational speech, but it wouldn’t do to let the enemy hear. Instead, she walked into the ranks, speaking quietly to a few soldiers at a time. “Thank you for believing in me. Follow me just a little farther and everything will be fine. I know you can do this. Watch for my signal, you’ll know what to do next.”
After encouraging her troops for as long as she dared, she walked out to the edge of the hill and strained her eyes to catch a glimpse of the enemy camp. She saw their campfires, and occasionally one would be covered briefly. They were already beginning to move about, then. Time was short. Returning to her line, she drew her sword and pointed silently at the enemy, then began to trot down the hill.
As the light level increased with the breaking dawn, her heart sank. The enemy was already arrayed against them in a solid line, spears at the ready. There would be no surprise attack.
Inferno’s steps faltered. It was impossible. She was leading her troops to certain doom, and she would be one of the first to die. Her instincts told her to run and save herself, but she knew there was nowhere to run. The enemy was on all sides, and they had come here for no other reason than to end her life. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the army was falling behind. They were on the verge of panicking too, and there were now several lengths between her and her troops.
Then she caught sight of Fotia and Nera trotting at the front of the line, without armor or weapons, and they were smiling at her. A few feet away, O was leading his wing. He smiled too, and gave her a nod. They thought she could do it.
Believe it, and the enemy will believe it.
Inferno turned her head back towards the enemy, and saw the archers setting their bows. She nickered and increased her trot to a run, increasing her lead in front of the army. Hundreds of arrows were carefully aimed at her heart, waiting for the signal to fire. The enemy commander raised his hoof.
The sun broke over the top of the hill. Inferno’s glossy hide shone almost as brightly as her polished armor, and her flowing mane cast a mile-long shadow on the blinded archers. The arrows flew, landing all around the lone mare, but not one touched her.
Inferno gave a shout and surged forward at top speed. Behind her, the army did the same. The Messaran archers held up their hooves to shield their eyes, but they caught glimpses of the immortal one bearing down on them with flaming red eyes and wild mane. Seeing that their deadly arrows had been useless against her, they lost all will to fight. Some left their bows behind and ran, others fell down on the ground and covered their heads in terror. The commander just stood still and stared in disbelief until Inferno’s spear struck him down.
The Messaran phalanx was made of sterner stuff than the archers, but when their own soldiers came back to them, fleeing in terror, fear spread through their ranks as well. Many of them lifted their spears to allow their allies to pass, and then suddenly, she was upon them.
Inferno was like a wild goddess in equine form. Her immaculate body seemed to give off a light of its own and her mane seemed alive, but her eyes carried a promise of death to everyone who met them. Before they could lower their spears, she was amongst them, slaughtering with sword and spear. The phalanx scattered and tangled back on itself as each pony tried to protect themselves. Inferno’s army found them completely helpless and cut them down by the hundreds.
Inferno reined in her bloodlust enough to notice that the enemy ranks were getting deeper. The other cities had come to Messara’s aid. But the time for fear was over, she knew the battle was hers. She reared up and screamed in defiance before charging to meet the new foe. Once again, she came on the heels of the fleeing Messarans and pushed her way into the heart of the enemy formation. As long as she pushed the attack, her soldiers followed, to death and glory.