Chapter 58
At dusk, in a solitary tent, sits the commander who dared to attack Orleans but failed due to Jeanne's intervention. Determined to find a new approach to conquer the city, he faces the great obstacle that is Jeanne herself. To achieve success, it is imperative that he gets rid of her or, at the very least, exhausts her energies to the point of failing to use her powerful golden barrier.
As his ideas boil, a man approaches the tent where the commander meticulously devises his strategy.
"Lord Suffolk, I am deeply disappointed in your lack of skill. Unable to overcome a simple girl," a displeasing voice echoes from outside, interrupting Suffolk's secret plans. Instantly, he recognizes the interlocutor and, undeterred, responds:
"Lord Salisbury, your confidence is remarkable. As if believing you can defeat her would be enough."
Lord Salisbury enters the tent with a malicious smile. A man of average height, standing at 1.75 meters, he sports a thick beard and closely cropped black hair. He wears armor that glistens in the fading light.
"Yes! I have utmost confidence, after all, we are two armies. The probability of Jeanne achieving victory with me as the commander is minuscule. And I must mention that there are reinforcements on the way."
Lord Salisbury takes a seat on a rustic chair placed inside the tent, crossing his legs while casting a challenging gaze towards Suffolk. Despite invading the space without permission, Suffolk chooses to ignore such behavior, focusing on his own machinations.
"But none of that matters. I already know the abilities of that witch. By the way, it is regrettable the significant loss of men you suffered. I would have offered my help, but it was necessary to carefully observe your mistakes and learn from them." Lord Salisbury pokes at Suffolk, painfully reminding him of the defeat he suffered. A sense of indignation surfaces on Suffolk's face, as it becomes evident that Salisbury watched the entire situation from a distance without intervening. This realization only intensifies the repulsion displayed on Suffolk's face.
"Ah, there are two questions that pique my curiosity. Why didn't you order your troops to attack, thus contributing to the breach of the barrier? And why did you make the foolish mistake of using the catapults?" Lord Salisbury attacks Suffolk with his words, poking at his self-esteem.
"Are you here just to insult me? The reason for not attacking lies in the hidden trenches. I was unaware of their location, but now I am fully aware." Suffolk responds vehemently, consumed by anger. The insolent demeanor of Duke Salisbury in addressing him only further fuels his animosity.
"And what does that have to do with the catapults?" Suffolk reveals his curiosity, wishing to understand where he went wrong.
"I noticed, upon careful observation, that your number of catapults exceeded that of the city of Orleans itself. It is likely that Jeanne has hidden them and refrained from using them. However, this remains uncertain at the moment. However, I noticed that your catapults would allow for more shots compared to hers, weakening the barrier. I also observed the moment the barrier regained its strength. But this only proves that, if we persist, there is a possibility to invade Orleans." Salisbury pauses to take a deep breath, maintaining his penetrating gaze on Suffolk. "Of course, you could have used the strategy I mentioned, positioning them in strategic locations that would allow for stone-throwing without suffering retaliation. That tactic should have been employed from the beginning."
Now, intrigued by the spoken words, Salisbury interrogates Suffolk: "Interesting what you say. You have an informant inside the city, don't you? Because it seems like you know about the existence of the trenches, even if you don't know their exact location. It doesn't seem like mere deduction to me." A shrewd and calculating gleam shines in Salisbury's eyes as he directs his gaze towards Duke Suffolk. The possibility of having a spy within Orleans would make everything easier.
"Yes, indeed, I have an infiltrated informant, although he is not at my service but at the king's. Therefore, the chance of them hearing our plans is minimal. However, considering our intention to enter Orleans, perhaps he can assist us." Suffolk expresses his doubts, although he is still willing to try, hoping that the spy within the city walls is willing to cooperate.
"I don't know if you are aware, but the barrier that separated us no longer exists," Lord Salisbury stated, fixing his astute and malicious eyes on the interlocutor.
"Do you really think you will go unnoticed as you approach? It's time to use the catapults!" Lord Suffolk exclaimed, rising from his chair. "Sending the knights may not work, but the catapults have a chance of success now that the barrier is no longer present."
"Don't waste time, send the cavalry to attack immediately. Let's go full force, we won't give them a chance to react," Lord Salisbury ordered, also rising from his chair in a decisive gesture.
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"We won without suffering any casualties," a soldier guarding atop the wall said to his comrade, brimming with happiness for having survived.
"We owe it to Miss Jeanne," another soldier replied, grateful for having Jeanne by their side. "If it weren't for her, the losses would have been considerable."
"Indeed," the soldier agreed, smiling with gratitude. His eyes scanned the field where the English forces were positioned, at least from the angle where he stood, and he noticed a stone being hurled from where the trees concealed them.
"Attack the enemy! Prepare the catapults!" the soldier shouted, alerting everyone around him, prompting them to prepare for the imminent battle.
Jeanne attentively listened to the soldier's words. Even though she was inside the house, her spirit filled with courage as she picked up her banner, which Gilles had luckily placed next to her.
"Hey, wait! What are you doing? You're not in a condition for this," Gilles pleaded, trying to prevent Jeanne. However, she had already raised her banner and proclaimed firmly, "Lord, protect us!"
Ignoring Gilles' words of caution, Jeanne crossed the boundaries of the house, and the golden barrier extended, permeating both the surroundings and the soldiers who were already preparing to take cover. Surprise appeared on the faces of those who witnessed the vigorous rebirth of Miss Jeanne. The barrier enveloped the entire city of Orleans, protecting it. Fortunately, the hurled stone struck the barrier only when it was already fully formed. Several stones, coming from different directions, were repelled, causing a deafening roar but unable to breach the protective barrier.
Jeanne emerged from the house where she had taken shelter, disregarding Gilles' appeals to rest. She could not allow lives to be taken with impunity. She knew the battle would be arduous, but she was determined to endure, even if her body protested. Regardless of her own physical resilience, she needed to persevere. The well-being of the people was in her hands.
"Miss Jeanne! The catapults are hidden, we cannot use them, but they cause little damage!" a soldier on the top of the wall shouted.
"Alright. Let's attack! Gilles!" Jeanne turned to her fellow combatant, who watched her with concern. Gilles understood what she intended, although he was uneasy about her health. However, he would fulfill her wish.
"It's time to attack from the enemy flank!" exclaimed Jeanne as she headed towards the wall. Gilles nodded in agreement, even though she couldn't see him. He immediately set off to carry out the order.
With all the gates open, soldiers began pouring out from all directions towards the enemy troops.
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"French soldiers are advancing. It seems this time they are determined to fight," Lord Salisbury remarked, firmly gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword at his belt. His eyes conveyed seriousness and resolve.
"It appears so," replied Lord Suffolk, also in a serious posture. However, his mind was working tirelessly, calculating strategies to gain an advantage in the battle.
"Perhaps we can use the archers and crossbowmen," suggested Lord Salisbury, glancing back where the archers and crossbowmen were positioned, awaiting his orders.
"If Jeanne doesn't expand the barrier, we'll resort to that option," stated Lord Suffolk, stroking his horse with a cunning gaze.
"She will likely expand it, but that way she will exhaust herself more quickly than before," Lord Salisbury smiled, prepared for the upcoming "festivities."
"When they use their bows, shield yourselves!" Lord Suffolk ordered the soldiers in the front, gripping their shields tightly as if their lives depended on it - and indeed they did.
"Are you planning to fight?" Lord Suffolk asked Lord Salisbury, who tightly held the hilt of his sheathed sword at his belt. He seemed ready for battle, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Yes, unlike you," Lord Salisbury belittled Duke Suffolk's attitude. He believed the duke should fight alongside his soldiers, not remain behind them.
"Someone needs to be the commander, don't they? Since you don't seem to want to assume that role. But I will fight when the time comes," Lord Suffolk defended himself, sensing the disdain in Lord Salisbury's gaze. If they survived, he would not allow the other to defame him before the king.
"So be it," Lord Salisbury replied, focusing his attention on the approaching French soldiers.
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Jeanne, standing tall atop the imposing wall, solemnly whispered amidst the tension, "Lord, grant me strength!" With unwavering determination, she raised the banner in her trembling hands and, with a firm strike, planted it into the stone ground. The impact resonated like thunder, echoing through the charged atmosphere. The standard, adorned with its iconic radiant light, seemed to pulsate with heightened energy. The golden barrier, a visible manifestation of her will and power, began expanding rapidly from the confines of the city of Orleans, advancing mercilessly towards the enemy ranks.
Driven by an unwavering sense of purpose, the French soldiers surged forward in a daring charge. They witnessed in awe as the protective barrier deflected enemy stones, rendering them practically invulnerable to long-range attacks. With hearts aflame with righteous anger and an unquenchable desire for victory, they advanced resolutely, determined to annihilate the English invaders and deny them any chance of retreat or regrouping.
Meanwhile, Antoine skillfully led his team of soldiers along the winding roads flanking the battlefield. Camouflaged in shadows and clad in silent leather armor, they moved like ghosts, capitalizing on every blind spot and catching unsuspecting enemies off guard. The weight of metallic armor would have been an insurmountable obstacle, but the supple leather protections afforded crucial mobility and stealth for their clandestine operations.
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"Damn witch! She actually dared to pull off such a feat. This wretched girl seems to harbor a sickening love for her soldiers," Lord Salisbury bellowed, a sadistic smile dancing on his rugged face. Anxiety coursed through his veins as he eagerly anticipated the moment he would sever the insolent witch's head. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that his action would greatly please the king. Jeanne, France's supposed last hope, was skilled but ill-suited for the monumental challenge she faced. The presence of a woman in command was, in his twisted view, a cruel joke the French king played on them.
"Aren't you concerned about the Crimson Demon, or whatever his name is?" Lord Salisbury questioned, narrowing his eyes with malice. The confirmation of Jeanne's magic, as the rumors had suggested, led him to surmise that Rémy's dreaded strength was also real.
"Why should I be? He's not here. He headed for Argers," Lord Suffolk replied, briefly averting his gaze from the French soldiers dangerously approaching within the barrier. Nonetheless, his calm would be replaced by apprehension if Rémy were present. However, he acknowledged that Jeanne proved formidable and hard to defeat.
"Hahahahahaha! A self-proclaimed Crimson Demon against a blond lunatic! It will be a spectacle worth witnessing," Lord Salisbury laughed, almost on the verge of madness with his deranged laughter. The prospect of seeing that confrontation ignited his imagination. He wasn't concerned at all about the possibility of the blond lunatic being defeated by Rémy. He was well aware of the immense strength of that madman, a brutal being that spared neither cruelty nor mercy.
"To be honest, I'd like to be there too," Lord Suffolk admitted, recognizing his disdain for the blond lunatic. However, his obligations kept him away from that epic duel. Yet, if Orleans were to be conquered, he would finally have the freedom to join the battle.
"He went alone..." Lord Suffolk added with a strangely fascinated tone. The revelation surprised him, making it clear that the boy possessed an unprecedented audacity. The mere idea that the Crimson Demon would face his fate with only his own strength was almost unbelievable.
"Hahahahaha! This must be a joke. I bet that boy has no idea who he's about to confront," Lord Salisbury laughed, the sound echoing like sinister thunder. The mere thought of witnessing the suffering awaiting the young challenger was enough to stir perverse joy in his heart. Perhaps, he briefly considered, he might even lend the boy a hand out of pure compassion if they survived the battle.
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