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OSVP	By : LotornoMiko Category: +S through Z > Valkyrie Profile Views: 1214 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Valkyrie Profile or the charcters from it. I make no money off of the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-OSVP
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-Fifteen
- 16-Sixteen
- 17-Seventeen
- 18-Eighteen
- 19-Nineteen
- 20-Twenty
- 21-Twenty One
- 22-Twenty Two
- 23-Twenty Three
- 24-Twenty Four
- 25-Twenty Five
- 26-Twenty Six
- 27-Twenty Seven
- 28-Twenty Eight
- 29-Twenty Nine
- 30-Thirty
- 31-Thirty One
- 32-Thirty Two
- 33-Thirty Three
- 34-Thirty Four
- 35-Thirty Five
- 36-Thirty Six
- 37-Thirty Seven
- 38-Thirty Eight
- 39-Thirty Nine
- 27
- 28
- 29
A bath and some clean clothes had done little to improve his mood, Lezard finding he still felt like crap even hours later. His head still throbbed, the headache slow to go away. He was still too sensitive to sound and light, Lezard almost hissing when Randolf gave him a greeting shout. The blonde man's voice had seemed to boom, making the brown hair mage jump in reaction to that unexpected sound.
Randolf merely grinned in response, falling into step with Lezard as he headed to the castle's library. The blonde man was in good spirits, looking robust and healthy. He certainly didn't seem to be suffering any signs of a hangover, much to Lezard's disappointment and envy. It must have shown on his face, for Randolf was chuckling, looping an overly familiar arm across Lezard's shoulders.
"I say! What you need is a bit of the hair of the dog that bit you."
"No." Lezard said quickly. "No more drinking! I've had enough of your special brew to last me a lifetime!" He shrugged off Randolf's arm, then scowled at him. "I don't understand how you can drink so much of that stuff and not be affected by it for days after."
"Just lucky I guess." Randolf had pulled out a flash. From the smell of it's contents, it had to be the same drink he had given Lezard last night. The mage could only make a face, and mutter something about how Randolf must have built up a tolerance to it's potent powers over time. Lezard also thought the man was probably damaging brain cells, might even be ruining his liver with such a horrid drink. But it was Randolf's decision to make, Lezard growling.
"Keep that flask away from me." Lezard ordered, then gave him a side long glance. "You shouldn't be drinking anyway. You've got a report to give."
"Now, now friend. You know it'll take a lot more than a flask's worth to incapacitate me." Randolf retorted, still grinning. "If that weren't true you would have never selected me for this last mission."
"Being able to retain your mind's clarity while drunk was not one of the requirements!"
"Ah, but how else was I to ferret out the local's secrets without a few drinks in me?" asked Randolf. "They would have been suspicious if my cup went without touch. No, drinking was a necessity."
"As much as whoring with the local wenches?" inquired Lezard peevishly.
"The wenches tend to know more about the comings and going of the big shots than anyone else." Randolf was unrepentant. Lezard wondered what he had done more of, the brothels or the taverns on his travels. "I tell you, more secrets are revealed in between a woman's thighs than anywhere else in the world."
"I'll take your word for it." Lezard said stiffly. If there was one thing he had never done, was talk incessantly about private dealings. In bed or out of it, especially not to someone who didn't have a right to those secrets. It rather boggled his mind to think there were fools out there who were revealing information that others would want. Information people would fight for, pay for, even die over.
Fortunately with Randolf's methods, none had had to die for the blonde man to get those secrets. However the use of those secrets would see many dead, all unfortunate casualties caught in the crossfire of Queen Hel's ambitions. It wouldn't just be Odin's own who died, even those who served Hel were in danger, though Randolf's acquired information would do much to minimize the casualties of their own forces.
It was why they entered the library together. A meeting was about to be held. The library though large, was quite crowded under the best of circumstances. All due to the many bookcases that were crammed inside the room's four walls. Every available seat would be taken, and still some would have to stand. But there was no helping it, the library one of the only rooms big enough to both house a a large group, and have only one door to guard against potential eavesdroppers.
There was a mage on guard by the door. Some lesser nobleman who had had the unfortunate luck of being chosen for guard duty. He would keep everyone away, allowing the group inside to talk without fear of being overheard. The people present had been waiting for their Lord and Randolf's arrival, murmuring greetings as the two moved to take their seats.
Lezard nodded back, making himself as comfortable as he could manage. His eyes touched upon the familiar faces, noticing Sameer and Louville had managed to gain seating. Garrant was standing near the window, whose curtains had been drawn closed over it. It left the room dark, and a woman, Lorenta, was in the midst of lighting candles. There was others in the room, little more than a dozen men and women, all important members of Hel's planned invasion.
Lezard knew there were other people. other factions elsewhere that owed loyalty to Hel. But the nation of Flenceburg was the one that would lead the Goddess' other cities, guide them into taking action against Odin. It would happen soon, though not today. Today's meeting was the start of things, the beginning of their plots, plans being set into motion. Or at least, that's what many gathered here assumed. Lezard himself planned to try and delay the actual enacting of the plots, all in order to buy Odin more time, and prevent Hel from gaining more souls to line her armies with.
Lorenta had finished with the candles, joining Garrant over by the window. She'd actually lean against it's sill, more than a little put out that no one had given up a seat to her. No one bothered with ledgers, there would be no note taking. To write down what was said would only invite the opportunity for the wrong person to get their hands on those papers. Everyone would have to do their best to simply remember what was said here, Lezard expecting that not to be a problem with this group. They were the best and brightest Flenceburg had to offer, even if Randolf had a penchant for indulging in women and wine excessively.
Seeing that everyone who should be there was present, Lezard slowly nodded his head. "Let us begin." A murmur of agreement from the group, Sameer gesturing for permission to talk. "Speak Sameer."
"The nation of Flenceburg has been increasing it's productivity." Sameer stated. "The amount of goods we can make and grow are being stockpiled even now. We are as self reliant as we can be, our warehouses full and ready to weather the upcoming problems that may come from our Goddess' war."
"That's good." Louville nodded his approval. "When the fighting starts, we will no longer be able to import things from Odin's lands..."
"I'd be more worried about what will happen if the fighting comes here." Interrupted a man named Hipsabe. "Can we withstand it if our crop fields are razed?"
"Food might become a little scarce..." Sameer admitted. "But our warehouses have enough to successfully feed our people for at least a year, provided we all show restraint with our appetites." A pointed look at the always hungry Randolf, who snorted in response.
"I think you should worry more about our mages." He said. "You know how voracious their appetites can be, especially when they are actively casting spells."
"It's all been taking into consideration." Sameer insisted. "Priority will be given to the battling mages when it comes to food rations."
"It's as it should be." Lezard spoke. "They will need to keep their energy reserves up if they want to be of use in the fighting."
"If Queen Hel has her way..." Garrant said from over by the window. "Then we won't need to do much fighting now, will we?"
"That's the plan." Lezard nodded. They all knew, Hel wanted to avoid as much fighting in the take over of Midgard. Because for every warrior that died in battle, their souls would be sent to the heavens. There they would become einherjar, the soldiers of the Gods. Hel's intentions were to gain those warriors for her own armies, and the only way she could accomplish that was through theft. She had to ensure those warriors did not fight, but died a death without honor. The plagues would accomplish that most handily, delivering those souls into Hel's keep.
But there was danger in using the plagues, in being in close proximity to them. Lezard did not envy those who would be tasked with contaminating the cities, knowing their work could easily result in a death sentence. As if reading his mind, Lorenta was speaking.
"How goes your research, Lord Lezard?"
"Not as swift as I would like." The lie came off his tongue smoothly, Lezard doing a frustrated grimace. "The strain of virus Hel would make use of, is proving particularly resistant to all medicines. I've not yet been able to find a remedy to counteract it completely." That troubled them all, the people shifting uncomfortably.
"Are we in danger from it as well?" Lorenta wanted to know.
"Not at the moment. But if one of our own gets infected...and brings that infection to us?" Another grimace, Lezard shrugging his shoulders. "It would be better to wait until the cures are found."
"But will our Queen wait any longer?" Louville asked.
"Surely she's not so big a fool as to risk her living army to bolster her dead one!" protested Hipsabe. "If anyone will win this war for her, it will be us mages!"
"If that were true, she would have been victorious decades before any of us were born." Lezard pointed out. "No, she needs more than just spell casters. She needs those able to fight, to be able to protect her magic users while they are in the midst of preparing spells. It will take both types working together to gain Queen Hel her victory."
A low muted grumble from Hipsabe, showing he did not think much of warriors, of the protection they would give the mages. "I will make our Queen understand the need to wait just a little longer." Continued Lezard. "I am confidant the medicinal breakthrough we need is just around the corner." Another lie on his part, Lezard having long ago discovered the cures needed to counteract the diseases Hel would unleash on the land.
"Work swiftly but take care." Lorenta advised him with a thin smile. "We cannot afford to lose you, my Lord."
"Thank you Lorenta." He smiled back at her. "But there will always be someone able to replace me should the unthinkable happen."
"None as capable as you though!" protested Randolf. "Honestly, what is Queen Hel thinking, having her best man work with such a dangerous disease?"
"Queen Hel can still make use of me, even if I were to succumb to her plague." Lezard pointed out with a sigh.
"Hmph." Randolf snorted. "You know as well as I do, that when we die, our powers diminish by half at least."
"Ah but is not our Lord the most powerful of any mage to ever exist?" inquired Lorenta. "I think even if his power was cut in half, Lord Lezard would still be a formidable opponent."
"Our Goddess is no fool." Insisted Randolf, having to choose his words carefully to avoid blaspheming. "She will want to use Lezard at his full potential."
"She will want to make use of us all." Lezard said, trying to put an end to such talk. "Even a single mage might make the difference towards victory." He smiled then. trying to appear relaxed. "Don't worry. I have no intention of dying any time soon."
"Intentions are all well and good..." grumbled Randolf. "But even you cannot predict the future." He looked at Lezard, his brown eyes full of concern. "I wish you'd delegate this dangerous work to someone else..."
"I am no coward." Lezard retorted.
Randolf's face flashed his alarm. "I meant to imply no such thing!"
"Nor would I endanger some lesser mage with this kind of work." That was the truth, Lezard knowing few would be able to handle the containment spells needed to keep the disease from affecting themselves and anyone else they came in contact with. Of the mages gathered in the library, only three might stand a chance of managing containment. And none of them were eager to volunteer towards risking their own necks.
"Queen He's plagues will sweep across Midgard." Lezard continued. "They will target Odin's holdings. That fool God will never realize the truth of what is happening until it's too late. By that time, thousands will have died. He won't even be able to muster up a feeble defense with those that remain."
"And then our armies will move in to crush the last resistance." Louville grinned.
Lezard nodded. "By that point, it won't matter if a few die while fighting. It will be slim pickings for the King of the heavens. He will have to make do with whatever einherjar are left from the war with the undead."
There was smiles all around, the group feeling confidant about their chances in invading the heavens. Lezard smiled too, though inwardly he was worried. Hel's plans were too good, too close to seizing victory for the underworld. Lezard could only hope Odin would take to heart his warnings, use the medicines the mage had produced, as well as up the divine protection around the cities. Odin could very well put a blessing so strong it would keep out the worse of the plagues, though Lezard wondered if the God would be willing to expend such a huge amount of energy to do so.
Lezard inwardly grimaced, knowing in the end he could only make suggestions to the God. It was up to Odin if he made use of the suggestions or not, though Lezard had a feeling he himself would suffer for any losses Odin occurred. But he didn't so much as shudder, keeping his calm facade up as he gazed at the people around him. "Randolf, why don't you tell us just what you've discovered in your two weeks away from Flenceburg?"
Randolf grinned, and nodded. "As you know, I spent much time visiting several cities. Including that of Odin's most holiest strongholds, that of Crell Monferaigne."
"And I take it by your grin you have something substantial to report?" asked Sameer.
"My time was not wasted." Randolf nodded again. "The city stronghold is immense as you all are aware of. They've many protection spells on it, though nothing boosted by a God's blessing." Randolf chuckled "It will be child's play for our own mages to unravel those spells."
"But will we be able to unravel them without the original casters aware of the spell's destruction?" inquired Lorenta.
"You need to even ask?" Hipsabe demanded. "As if a mage abandoned by Queen Hel could ever hope to be half as powerful as those blessed by our Goddess. I dare say we can destroy those spells, and none would be the wiser. Not until the plague rolls in, and many have died from it's contamination."
"Randolf, what say you?" Sameer asked, and all eyes were drawn back to the blonde man.
"I did a minor testing of the protection spells. They're strong, but not so strong that we couldn't break them with ease. The real problem lays in how many there are. It will take some time and a great number of mages working together to get them all."
"Can it be done from afar?" Lezard asked, knowing they couldn't send a large party of mages inside the stronghold. Only a small party like Randolf's could move without suspicion in the city, and that party had been too small to deal with the amount of protection spells Randolf had discovered.
"Hmm...I say yes. We don't have to be inside the city to break it's protection." Randolf's brow furrowed, the man concentrating. "If you can get within a half a mile of each spell's location..."
"And do you have the locations?" demanded Louville. "And what of the spells INSIDE the city's heart?"
"We will have to send in someone to take care of the center of the city." Randolf sighed. "I've seen the maps, did the calculations. The center falls short of the half mile radius, no matter what direction you approach it from. By my reckoning, there are three spells in the heart that needs canceling out."
"Sounds easy enough then." Lezard thought it might be too easy for his own liking. "What else have you discovered?"
"Oh the typical things you'd expect." Randolf grinned. "Free drink causes no end to the amount of talking certain people are willing to do. I've learned the schedules of the mages that power the spells."
"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Hipsabe demanded. "We could solve all our problems by targeting those casters!"
"No Hipsabe." Lezard demurred. "If we start killing off Crell Monferaigne's mages, Odin will become suspicious. We can't risk that...if Odin so much as thinks Hel is making a move, not only will he end this sham of an alliance, but he will brings arms against us. The last thing Hel wants is a battle that will bolster the number of souls the heavens gain."
"We'll have to be subtle." Agreed Sameer. "We can't actively kill off those mages. We'll have to chance it with the plagues, hope the sickness Hel sends takes care of Odin's mages."
"Don't know why you're so worried about them." Randolf said. "The power I tasted, can't compare to what we're capable of. However! I have information that will help sneak our mages into the city. Between the taverns and the brothels, I learned just who shirks their duty for women and wine, and how often. It will be no hardship to do away with those guards, or to sneak in under their watch. There's even a guard on the city gate who is prone to bribery, providing the gold is a large enough amount."
There was other things Randolf had discovered, the man detailing those who were prone to make trouble, and those who were not. There were more guards then Lezard had expected, who slacked off while on duty. Guards who slept too much, drank too much, bullied too much. Randolf seemed to know many names, along with the time and locations of where each of these men would be. It wasn't hard to come up with a plan based on the timelines Randolf provided for them.
The group was satisfied by the time the meeting was over with. They felt confidant of the plans, thinking it would only be a matter of time before Crell Monferaigne fell to Hel's plagues. Lezard didn't know for certain what would happen. He didn't know if Odin would give him that city, or if the God would weave his divine protection over it. The God was just that unpredictable.
His worry apparently showed through his eyes, Randolf suddenly thrusting the flash in front of Lezard's face. Immediately the pungent smell of Randolf's special brew assaulted him, Lezard jerking back with a scowl. "No thank you!"
"Sorry. Looked like you could use a drink." Randolf said, then proceeded to finish off the flask. "What's troubling you, my friend?"
"Who says I'm troubled?"
"It's plain to read off of your face." Randolf told him. Sameer who had not yet left the library, drew near with a nod.
"Is it the diseases you work with? Is that what has you so worried?"
"Not at all." Lezard insisted. "My work is progressing well with that."
"Then what?" demanded Randolf. "You've been borderline tense this whole meeting." Lezard was surprised, thinking he had hid his unease well.
"Have I?" Lezard wondered out loud, then shrugged. "Just have a lot on my mind..."
"We all do." Agreed Sameer. "Which is why the wedding will be a welcome break from it all." His look became shrewd, Sameer eyeing Lezard. "But somehow I can't help but wonder if your...frustrations are not born of your impending nuptials, rather than anything to do with our Queen's invasion."
"Am I that easy to read?" Lezard asked, sighing. "I've made a mess of things with Lenneth." It wasn't an easy admission, his shoulder sagging as he talked. "She's so...so angry with me now."
"Angry? Why?" Randolf wanted to know. Lezard and Sameer both fixed him with an annoyed look.
"Why do you think?" Demanded Lezard. Randolf looked as though he was in deep thought, clearly trying to puzzle it out. Sameer would sigh loudly in response.
"I take it the lady did not appreciate you in Randolf's words, trying to kiss her senseless?"
"No. Not at all." Lezard admitted. He would not go into detail, would not admit that he had tried to do more than kiss Lenneth. All in an attempt to protect her honor, and save himself the embarrassment of her rejection.
"I know!" Randolf grinned, hardly looking apologetic. "If kisses won't work, then try gifts."
"Gifts?"
"You know...flowers...jewels!" Randolf explained.
"Do you think she would even like those things?" Lezard asked.
"Why not? She is a woman after all. They like receiving things." Randolf insisted.
"Ah..." Sameer interjected. "It might be wiser to wait and discover more about your betrothed. To find out what sort of things she likes, before you just start throwing things at her, in the hopes she'll react favorably."
"Sounds wise." Agreed Lezard. "Unfortunately I don't know if she'll let me near long enough to get to know about her!"
"You have to try though!"
"For once Randolf and I are in complete agreement." Added Sameer with a sardonic smile. "Seek her out, engage her interest. TALK to her."
Lezard knew he was a coward then. "I have work to do...those cures won't discover themselves."
Sameer sighed. "Your work can wait for another day...your relationship with Lenneth is just as important as the work you do for our queen." Lezard knew that to be true. And yet he continued to hesitate. To the point Sameer let out an exasperated sound. "You'll never have more out of your relationship with her, if you don't take risks. Yes, there is the potential to fail, to be rejected. But there is also the chance to succeed!"
"He's right! You should go for it!" Randolf exclaimed. "Besides, it's better to make amends now, to find out where you stand with her, rather than wait until the wedding night. Because to have an unhappy bride will be the true disaster."
That decided it, Lezard not wanting Lenneth to be unhappy. "Very well." He said, rising out of his seat. "You've both convinced me. Thank you." He paused for a quick acknowledgment of his words by both men, and then left the library. He was in far better spirits than he had been all day, Lezard determined to seek out Lenneth and somehow fix the mess he had drunkenly made last night.
To Be Continued of course!
I want to thank Kaelin for his help. He gave me all kinds of suggestions for strategy tactics. Some used here, some maybe used later in the fic too. His help was invaluable, and guided me towards things I hadn't thought of in regard to the info Randolf would have found out. So thanks again Hun!
Michelle
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OSVP