A Pacifistic Sword Saint

Cheers and laughter filled the campsite as Maude made her way to the emperor’s strategy tent. How anyone could possibly feel joyous prior to going to war was something Maude couldn’t understand. And no amount of alcohol could possibly undo the knot that seemed to have permanently found its way into her stomach.

The thing that surprised Maude the most about the camp, though, was how pervasive the reek of alcohol and body odor were. She had stepped into her own tent in hopes of escaping the stench, to no avail. The smell seemed to be a part of the very fabric of the tent and bedding she had been issued. She still had yet to resolve how she was going to be able to get a decent night’s sleep throughout any part of this war.

In the rumors Maude had heard through the grapevine, the emperor threw a huge celebration before the armies headed out each in their own direction. Maude had also been surprised to learn that the emperor did not go to battle at all unless he deemed it necessary to go. While it made sense to some extent for him to stay protected in the palace, she also thought it strange that he would send others to defend the country he ruled over, and not participate himself.

The emperor’s strategy tent was in the quietest part of the camp. Though Maude could still hear some of the din of celebration, she noticed that it was significantly muted than it had been by her tent.

Maude pulled back the flap, and stepped in a room with a couple dozen other people, her father, and the emperor. The vast majority of them seemed to know one another already. Most of the people seemed to be middle aged, and several looked as though this wasn’t the first war they’d fought for the empire. Grizzled beards, and scarred arms dotted the room. There was one man who had an eye patch over his left eye. Maude assumed he was probably missing it.

She noticed that there were a handful of younger people, herself included, Silas, and a couple of other young men who looked right around her age. Both of them were standing near Silas, and both had dark circles under their eyes.

They’re afraid, she thought. Just like me.

She couldn’t help but notice that she was the only woman in the room.

Her eyes met Silas who smiled at her and nodded, as if he was inviting her over to him. He was on the other side of the tent.

Just then, the emperor turned and saw her standing in the doorway. “Ah!” he exclaimed. “The empire’s sword saint has finally arrived.” Standing next to the emperor, her father started clapping. Soon, the whole room was all clapping at her arrival. She bowed, but noticed a few of the older men were frowning deeply, and the man with the eye patch was speaking to someone next to him in a hushed voice.

“Doesn’t that mean everyone is here?” Duke Holloway asked once the clapping had subsided.

“That’s correct,” the emperor agreed. “That means we should get started.”

On the wooden table that everyone was gathered around was a map of the continent. Ainsworth Empire took up the vast majority of the land, with a few small kingdoms on both sides. There were several pins that had been put into the map, most of which were along the border between Ainsworth and the kingdom of Aulbert, which was the largest kingdom to the east. There was one blue pin that was over the border into the Aulbert. The frontline unit. Maude grimaced, thinking of all of the live that would be lost in that unit.

“Welcome all,” the emperor said, waving his hands wildly as if he was trying to portray excitement. “I appreciate your service to the empire.”

More like slavery to the empire, Maude thought.

“Unfortunately we are gathered for a less than joyous occasion, as the Aulbert kingdom has declared war on us. Duke Holloway and myself have been working this past week to put together units and leaders of units. Thankfully the Aulbert kingdom has not been able to do much damage to our border patrols in the meantime. However, it’s only a matter of time until that changes,” the emperor said. “For now, our plan is to send the majority of you all along the border to help defend several points where we believe the Aulbertians may attack us. And we are sending one elite unit into their territory where we believe their most elite troops will be headed.” The emperor pointed to the blue pin on the map. “Though most of the rest of you can choose where you go, this one we have assigned.”

“To who?” eyepatch asked.

“To the one and only sword saint of the empire,” the emperor said, meeting Maude’s eyes. “Lady Maude.”

The whole room was silent as all of the heads swiveled to look at her. Then it erupted into chaos.

Fuck, Maude thought to herself. I wonder if this is the result of disobeying the emperor’s request for me to go to war.

“Silence!” Duke Holloway shouted.

“Lady Maude will be leading some of our most elite troops into the fight,” the emperor continued. “We think this combined with her sword saint abilities will be the most surefire way to take out the enemy’s elites.”

Eye patch scoffed at the emperor. “She’s just a young yuppie who ain’t never seen a day o’ battle,” he said. “An’ you think she’s gonna be able to wipe out an elite unit?” He shook his head. “I don’ knows why you think any of these young yuppies are capable o’ leadin’ a war when they ain’t ever even fought in one.”

The emperor looked antagonized. “Are you questioning my judgment?” he shouted.

“She ain’t neva’ even fought in a war, an’ you want her to lead one?” eye pitch asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Maude has been studying the art of war for nearly ten years,” her father said. “Her sword skills and capabilities far outclass that of the average swordsman.”

Maude felt her eyes widen. That was a first. Hearing her father compliment her swordsmanship so highly was not something she ever thought she’d hear in her lifetime.

One of the men with scars dotting his arms let out a guffaw. “I think all of us in this room know that studying a textbook for war and being in a war are two very different things. Pardon me, your eminence, but she should be no more than a foot soldier. Having her lead is a huge waste of resources.”

Several of the men in the room agreed. Maude met Silas’s eyes, then bowed her head, feeling cold heat rush through her core. This was the part of herself that she’d hoped no one would ever see or call out; her blatant incompetence.

The emperor banged his fist on the table to get the room to fall silent again. “I understand you all have concerns and I don’t disagree with your concerns. We have analyzed all of our incoming data from all of our spies and believe that this is the best move. We need the rest of you all along the border to secure it.”

“This is not about the glory she’ll get,” Maude heard one of the men mumble. “This is about people’s lives.” She felt her face flush redder, and found herself staring at the grass on the floor.

“Lady Maude leading will drive up morale, and she will have the capability to strengthen all the individual swordsmen in her unit,” the emperor continued. “Now that she is of age, she is an obvious choice to lead our troops to success. Does anyone have any further concerns about this?”

I do, Maude thought. She knew better than to open her mouth, but every fiber in her being was screaming for her to protest, or to run away, or to get out of it somehow!

“Excellent,” the emperor said. He looked back at Maude. This time, she did not meet his eyes. “Lady Maude, we expect your army to utterly crush the Aulbertians.”

“Yes, your eminence,” Maude mumbled.