05-05-2023, 07:35 PM
Lauchenoiria-Kerlile Border
APRIL 1934
“The Lauchenoirians are retreating,” the Kerlian soldier informed Councillor Martina Viallamando.
“Curious,” the Councillor mused. “Given we have not engaged them even once. Is there any indication as to why?”
“We have received word that a terrible storm is approaching,” the solider replied.
“Perhaps,” the Councillor looked her in the eye. “You should have led with that.”
“Ah. Yes.”
The Councillor looked up at the sky, and in the distance there did indeed seem to be clouds gathering – clouds that were so dark they almost looked black. She smirked at the sky. Good; they were unlikely to attack. Her spies had seen their camp. There would be far too much damage after a bad storm for them to press on. She nodded confidently, and then ordered the woman to signal the others to get to shelter.
“Um, excuse me? Are you Martina Viallamando?” came a male voice. She scowled and glared down from her horse where a small man stood holding an envelope towards her. He was dressed like a Lauchenoirian mailman.
“That would depend on who is asking,” she replied, sticking her nose up at him. Upon seeing her face more clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief… and whipped off his hat and fake moustache, revealing ‘himself’ to be a woman of clear Aelurian origin. Martina exhaled, and then got off her horse. “What do you have for me?”
“Iekika did not send that letter,” the woman informed her. “It is a trap; the Lauchenoirians wish you to attempt a rescue to provide them a reason to invade.”
“Typical,” Martina hissed. “Get on, there’s a storm coming,” she said, gesturing for the other woman to join her in mounting the horse once more. Then she set off north at a gallop, ahead of the fast-approaching storm clouds. She did not go in the same direction as her troops, but rather took a left at a side track and made her way to what appeared to be the ruin of a castle, that looked like it had crumbled before the partition of Fleura.
Amongst the rubble, however, a modern building had been hidden in the middle, around which several women were rushing back and forth. Martina handed the horse to one of them, who began leading it to a set of stables also half-hidden on the edge of a thick group of trees; likely one of the northern edges of the Fleurian Forest that was mostly in Lauchenoiria.
Martina led the Aelurian into the modern building, and down into a basement. Inside was a map of both Kerlile and Lauchenoiria; and on the wall was a Kerlian flag alongside an Aelurian one. A pre-Unification Aelurian flag. The Aelurian woman smiled at the sight of that. “Gods and Goddesses,” she chuckled. “I have missed that sight. It is, alas, banned in Lauchenoiria now.”
“The rest of the Council would not have approved such a plan in any case,” Martina sighed, ignoring the comment and responding to the statement from twenty minutes earlier. “They also refuse to fund a campaign to free Aeluria. All of this is from my personal funds, and they will not last much longer if I continue to do this. I’m so sorry that I can’t do more.”
“It’s fine,” the woman said, sitting down, and suddenly looking much older than she was. “The others have, well. Assimilated. I don’t expect we will see our beloved Aeluria free for another century.”
Viallamando sighed, and went to the door to the room, locking it. They were the only two inside. Then she sat down next to the other woman and kissed her. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, stroking her cheek.
“So am I,” the other woman said, tears welling in her eyes. Then, the Councillor and her Aelurian lover embraced; hidden from the world.
APRIL 1934
“The Lauchenoirians are retreating,” the Kerlian soldier informed Councillor Martina Viallamando.
“Curious,” the Councillor mused. “Given we have not engaged them even once. Is there any indication as to why?”
“We have received word that a terrible storm is approaching,” the solider replied.
“Perhaps,” the Councillor looked her in the eye. “You should have led with that.”
“Ah. Yes.”
The Councillor looked up at the sky, and in the distance there did indeed seem to be clouds gathering – clouds that were so dark they almost looked black. She smirked at the sky. Good; they were unlikely to attack. Her spies had seen their camp. There would be far too much damage after a bad storm for them to press on. She nodded confidently, and then ordered the woman to signal the others to get to shelter.
“Um, excuse me? Are you Martina Viallamando?” came a male voice. She scowled and glared down from her horse where a small man stood holding an envelope towards her. He was dressed like a Lauchenoirian mailman.
“That would depend on who is asking,” she replied, sticking her nose up at him. Upon seeing her face more clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief… and whipped off his hat and fake moustache, revealing ‘himself’ to be a woman of clear Aelurian origin. Martina exhaled, and then got off her horse. “What do you have for me?”
“Iekika did not send that letter,” the woman informed her. “It is a trap; the Lauchenoirians wish you to attempt a rescue to provide them a reason to invade.”
“Typical,” Martina hissed. “Get on, there’s a storm coming,” she said, gesturing for the other woman to join her in mounting the horse once more. Then she set off north at a gallop, ahead of the fast-approaching storm clouds. She did not go in the same direction as her troops, but rather took a left at a side track and made her way to what appeared to be the ruin of a castle, that looked like it had crumbled before the partition of Fleura.
Amongst the rubble, however, a modern building had been hidden in the middle, around which several women were rushing back and forth. Martina handed the horse to one of them, who began leading it to a set of stables also half-hidden on the edge of a thick group of trees; likely one of the northern edges of the Fleurian Forest that was mostly in Lauchenoiria.
Martina led the Aelurian into the modern building, and down into a basement. Inside was a map of both Kerlile and Lauchenoiria; and on the wall was a Kerlian flag alongside an Aelurian one. A pre-Unification Aelurian flag. The Aelurian woman smiled at the sight of that. “Gods and Goddesses,” she chuckled. “I have missed that sight. It is, alas, banned in Lauchenoiria now.”
“The rest of the Council would not have approved such a plan in any case,” Martina sighed, ignoring the comment and responding to the statement from twenty minutes earlier. “They also refuse to fund a campaign to free Aeluria. All of this is from my personal funds, and they will not last much longer if I continue to do this. I’m so sorry that I can’t do more.”
“It’s fine,” the woman said, sitting down, and suddenly looking much older than she was. “The others have, well. Assimilated. I don’t expect we will see our beloved Aeluria free for another century.”
Viallamando sighed, and went to the door to the room, locking it. They were the only two inside. Then she sat down next to the other woman and kissed her. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, stroking her cheek.
“So am I,” the other woman said, tears welling in her eyes. Then, the Councillor and her Aelurian lover embraced; hidden from the world.
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax