Summer, 1371

After two years, the War of the Lion and Bear finally came down to Stanton in the form of an advance guard of five thousand heavily armored infantry and five hundred knights, chests covered with a breastplate showing a purple bear rampart and sallets adorned with the Golden Ships of Antium. Near the front of the column, Steward Oda, his armet and suit of armor emblazoned with purple and gold, rode silently beneath streaming Imperial purple banners depicting a bear holding a scythe next to a triskelion. The troops and even commanders quietly muttered among themselves, an air of nervousness prevading in the air. This was a peaceful expedition, but also a show of force. The City of Stanton remained a major question mark to the Jamersonians as they bore down on the Walkerite territories, and its importance was reflected by the powerful Mesilla Division being diverted from the main campaign just to assess the threat.

Despite the air of unease, the column marched loudly, blowing horns to announce their approach. Based on its reputation, there was no chance that Oda’s force could approach undetected, and the Steward thought it better to display their strength and confidence for the inevitable meeting. Small parties of scouts screened the approach just in case.

Farmers looked up from their fields in curiosity, if also weariness at the approaching army. The landscape looked bucolic, with gently rolling hills and-snug farms, the snow-capped Southern Ranges looming in the distance. It was hard to believe this place could be dangerous, if Oda didn’t know its history. The Rock of Corioli had beaten back attacks by Butler’s Wolves, the Freeland Brothers and countless bandit forces, and he was able to see the subtle signs of a battlefield, the well-camouflaged stone watchtowers on the hills, the old redoubts and trenches sinking back into the earth.

Then he noticed the large shadow sweeping over the landscape.

Steward Oda looked up to see a large scaly reptile with leathery wings casually hovering above his column of troops, who halted, frozen or quaking in fear, pointing and cursing quietly at the monstrous creature. Horses and oxen thrashed in fear, and Steward Oda had difficulty even keeping the normally placid Traveller under control. The legendary Stanton Dragon wanted to make itself known to the Jamersonians, and that it was also watching and waiting for a wrong move.

The Steward of Antium silently gritted his teeth. The presence of this demon among humans was insulting and unnatural. He would need to find a way to eliminate this monster in the future. For now however he would need to placate it.
And the people pulling its strings.

As the dragon disappeared back into the sky, the Jamersonian soldiers gradually found their courage and bearings again.

“Keep marching! That is but the beast that guards Stanton!” Oda yelled. "We are seeking out its role in this war, and it looks like its masters want to talk to us. We obey, for the new Dynasty!" After further angry prompting from its commanders, the Mesilla Division continued its slow march towards the city.

***

“A bear with scythe and triskelion. Those are the Jamersonians?” Logan asked.

“They are the Jamersonians, followers of Lord Nicholas Jamerson of Antium.” Sonia acknowledged.

“They claim that Nicholas is related to King Owin through his sister Margaret and that King Nash is unworthy of his father’s throne, letting it fall to chaos as he prayed to the Heavens but failed to rule.” Lawton stated as he read the message bearing the seal of Satrap Lord Nicholas Jamerson. “They want a parley to discuss the role of Stanton.”

Logan was with Rabia, Lawton, and Sonia observing the approaching army from the town watch tower. The Forester was there mainly for the benefit of the others; he had already ridden atop Mera, measured the strength of the army, and assessed the demeanor of its leader, Henry Oda, Steward of Antium and right hand man of Lord Nicholas Jamerson.

“Those are dangerous claims, especially from an up-jumped house.” Rabia muttered.

Lawton pulled out another document, from Lord Fremont at Averbury. “They are advancing fast. Cnaeus and Corioli have joined his revolt while Alba has remained neutral. Lord Jamerson has an army of 45000 soon to be moving into Ardea.”

“Do you know of this Lord Jamerson?” Rabia asked Logan.

“I knew his father Cecil during the Antium Rising." Logan muttered. "He took over Antium from Christian after the former Satap supported the Other Men invaders. A fair man, capable enough. But my lord, his ambition!”

“Well I guess it runs in the family.”

“Have the heralds and messengers sent by the Jamersonians had been truthful with the information about themselves?” Sonia asked her husband.

“We scouted their force and the areas around. They seem to be accurate.”

“Well their requests have been fair, so I will agree to meet this Steward. You will be besides me.”

“That seems for the best, love.” Logan smiled. “Stanton is not so foolish as to fully trust the outsiders, so while we parley, Lawton will call up the militia and man the walls, and I’ll ask Mera to hover around in case anything were to happen.”

“Thanks dear. We shall be ready for whatever this Steward Oda has in store for us.”

***

After several message exchanges, the meeting was agreed to be held at the Southern end of Stanton’s fortifications over the River Road Bridge spanning the narrow but deep cut of the irrigation canal. A day later, and a score of heavily armored swordsmen acting as ceremonial guards accompanied Steward Oda to the bridge, bearing flags and with blowing trumpets. On the other side, Elder Sonia Potter walked up, accompanied by Logan Durham, Rabia, Fink, and some of the best fighters from the city the Forester could find. They had no flags and no trumpets, but the were armed and armored well, and Logan at least knew they could fight. The remainder of Oda’s forces stood in a ceremonial line within eyeshot behind him, facing off against Lawson’s militia tensely watching from the walls.

As soon as the delegation from the city arrived, Steward Oda turned to Logan and bowed.

“Logan Durham, Forester of Stanton, Dragon knight, I come in the name of Lord Nicholas Jamerson, Lord of Antium, the true heir of the throne of Nalbin. You are a hero and a legend from the Great War. I call on you to -”

“Forester Durham is just a defender of this city.” Sonia loudly interrupted with a frown. “Speak to the Elder of Stanton if you wish to have a productive parley.”

“Listen to the Elder.” Logan coldly added.

Steward Oda awkwardly backed up and turned his attention to Sonia, taking care to bow slowly and deeply either as regretful compensation for the mistake or for mockery. It was hard to tell.

“My apologies, Elder.”

The Steward quickly recovered from his stumble to present his message.

“Sonia Durham, Elder of Stanton, I come in the name of Lord Nicholas Jamerson, Lord of Antium, the true heir of the throne of Nalbin. Stanton has remained a bastion of strength and justice and glory all through the dark days of the Great War, the Freeland Revolt and the Scarlet Plague. I now call on your people to join our righteous cause and help overthrow the weak, decadent, and corrupt Walkerites, who have brought nothing but weakness and death to humankind." Oda quickly concluded. "We will make Auxia great again.”

“I fought for Owin Walker in the Great War.” Logan interrupted. “When Antium joined the Northerners-” the Forester noticed the edge of the Steward's mouth twitch “-when we defeated the Other Men at the Gates of Caldern and finally when we took the Queen on the Neva. King Owin was a brave, intelligent and resourceful leader. I was greatly disappointed that Stanton was left on its own when the Freeland Revolt broke out, and more so when the Red Plague decimated my community, but when the king died I mourned his passing and I further take issue with the overthrow of his heir.”

“Old King Owin was capable enough, but Nash is a bast-”

“Until I believe information otherwise, Nash Walker is the son of Owin Walker.” Sonia interrupted, shushing Logan with a hand.

“So, you deny the righteousness of my liege?” The Steward shot back.

“I am not denying anything. But I will be fair in my judgment. And I will defend Stanton over it.” Sonia suddenly seemed to grow in strength and stature, standing to her full righteous glory to glare down at the Jamersonian commander.

“Is your lord assessing our strength? Is he aiming to seize Stanton? Because I assure you it would be costly.” She added.

Oda shied away, his hands shot up, and he quickly gave a not-particularly reassuring smile. “No, no, the Freeland Brothers have shown everyone the strength of Little Alba’s defenses. It would be sufficient to us that Stanton remains neutral.”

The City Elder settled back down and nodded solemnly before turning her back on the Steward. “Very well. I will discuss matters with the rest of the council.”

“Take your time but know that Lord Jamerson is ten days’ march away.” The Steward called back.

***

“What a jerkwad.” Logan muttered under his breath when he joined the meeting with the Council at the Drunken Hind. “I’d like to see his forces test our defenses.”

“That won’t happen. The council has already decided and I’ll be making it completely clear that we will not support the Walkerites in this war.” Sonia replied. Bidgewell, Foshka, Rebecca and the rest of the Council nodded in agreement.

“What?” Logan looked up in surprise.

“We are not an army. We are a people who have managed to carve out a comfortable and peaceful life on the edge of the Wilds. This has already been bloody and costly. That battle you casually mention picking with that Steward there? People will get hurt. People will die. Our people. Not soldiers, but your friends and neighbors." Sonia shook her head. "No, this is not something will so casually allow.”

“Mera will probably-”

“Mera is your friend Logan, and you said he has a mate and family now. Are you going to go risking his life for this?”

Logan was agape.

“Logan, we are tired of war and tired of fighting. We just want to be left alone.” Foshka stated.

“We will never be left alone…” Logan muttered quietly.

“It is unnatural to fight forever.” Bidgewell added. “They say your old friend the King of Eroland is attacking Tassure again. Fighting up North was too much even for you.”

“Our community has not recovered from the Red Plague and the Guest Family Massacre.” Sonia finished. “Please don’t make us suffer more.”

Logan slowly sat down. “You are all correct.”

“So are you Logan, but we need to prioritize the present.”

“Alright.”

***

“You come bearing news to my lord?” Steward Oda asked when Sonia appeared before the parley again.

“I do.”

“What should I relay to the new emperor?”

“Tell your liege that Stanton and its protectors will remain neutral in this conflict. We will sit out this dispute, but will respond to any and all threats to our community itself.” Elder Potter finished.
Before he realized it, Logan found himself adding in. “Try if you wish. But your forces would not be the first to dash to pieces against the Rock of Corioli.”

Silence pervaded through the meeting. Jamersonian footmen shifted awkwardly. Logan’s hand gripped his awlpike tightly. Sonia shot a furious look at her husband before turning back to the Jamersonians.

“Forgive the crassness, but our Forester is proud and sure of our defenses. We do not seek to add to conflict, but we are perfectly prepared if conflict comes to pass.”

The Jamersonian commander still had his hand on the hilt of his sword, but the moment of awkwardness finally passed. Steward Oda nodded.

“That is acceptable to my lord.”

***

Logan watched quietly as the Steward of Antium bowed to Sonia and rode back to his forces. A few minutes later, after discussion with his subordinates, Oda’s forces gave a polite ceremonial blaring of trumpets and then turned around, and began marching away from Stanton. After watching them disappear, Sonia frowned and turned to her husband.

“Logan, have Mera keep an eye on that army, and make sure they don’t turn back or try anything sneaky on us. I don’t like him any more than you do.”

The Forester nodded as his wife headed towards home.

A half hour after the meetings have broken up, Logan was alone at the bridge. A large gust of air then the slight tremor of the earth signaled his friend landing.

“So what do you think about this Mera?” Logan asked. The dragon had been listening in above the clouds, and the Forester was interested in the views of the Guardian.

Mera shrugged. “Well, I don’t trust them. I'll keep an eye out, but I doubt they’ll try anything more now. They’ll more likely come back when they consolidated their power.”

“I agree. But everyone in Stanton is exhausted. They’re not willing to fight if they could delay it.”

“Well if they come back, I’ll just burn them all to a crisp. Nothing to worry about.”

Logan turned to his old companion with curiosity. Mera seemed content and unconcerned, with almost a dreamy, distracted look to him, which was quite a difference from his usual high-strung cynicism in the past. Logan wondered how much the dragon’s mate and family had changed his friend.

That was selfish of him, the Forester quickly admonished himself. He should be happy that Mera had found such a satisfying family life. Meratezatgh was still the Stanton Dragon, and he should be able to face off anything Steward Oda or the Jamersonians could throw at them. Still, Logan Durham felt a nagging pang of doubt about the whole thing.

“Yah...nothing to worry about.”

***

“Steward Oda has returned with the Mesilla Division.”

“Good. Send him in.”

Ten days later and the Mesilla Division had rejoined the main army, and Steward Oda went to visit his commander and comrade.

Steward Oda entered to a hearty welcome from Nicholas Jamerson, Stratego of Antium and claimant to the Throne of Auxia. Tall, imposing, with a chinstrap beard and a scar over his left eye from a childhood duel, Jamerson looked every inch the emperor he was aspiring to be. That stately visage was now broken by genuine joy at seeing his old friend.

“How was the visit Henry? Those River Triangle folks give any trouble?”

“No, thankfully not Nicki." The Steward laughed. "The parley went well, all things considered. Stanton will not join us, but it will also not help the Walkerites. That’s probably as well as we could ask for. They remain wary of our revolution.“

Stratego Jamerson nodded solemnly, then went to place a new marker atop the large campaign map unfurled on his field table. “They are right to be wary of us, because we must deal with them eventually. The dragon is too great of a threat to remain in our rear, even if Stanton claims to be indifferent. Like the Miscabbards however, Stanton is something to be resolved in the future.”

Steward’s Oda raised one eye. “Perhaps the Miscabbards would be interested in this demon?”

The Stratego stopped.

“They may indeed be useful.”

---

The Kinks - Drivin'

From  fatxolotl!

Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43892989/