Editing Tales of Leo Attiel:Volume3 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 1===


The conference would take place after both sides had finished taking their breakfast together.

The location was in the outskirts of Tiwana, the capital city of the Principality of Atall, and, more specifically, in a castle built by the youngest brother to the previous sovereign-prince, in a village where had chosen to establish himself.
A long table had been set up in one of the castle rooms, on either side of which the representatives from Allion and Dytiann faced each other. Presiding in the seat of honour was the witness from Atall.

Dytiann’s delegation consisted of Mordin and Bishop Baal.

When they had received reports, a month earlier, that “Mordin Yanos might be attending,” Atall had been abuzz. He was very much a big-shot. This was the man who held command over the entire military of the Dytiann Alliance, and rumours claimed that he was now calling himself “king”. He had ridden to Atall on a gorgeously decorated air carrier.

Opposite them sat Aventa Navarro, who was the younger brother of Allion’s king, Hugh-Jarl Jamil, as well as Administrative Deputy-Secretary for the capital city.

With him was also the greatly-experienced Hawking Ingram.

According to the rumours which had been floating about, Hawking had been unwilling to come to Atall, claiming that he was, after all, “practically retired”. He had not, however, been able to refuse after being personally nominated by the  king’s younger brother, Aventa.

Finally, the witness from Atall was Branton Attiel, the eldest son of Sovereign-Prince Magrid.

And next to him, with the position of aide to his brother, was the second son, Leo Attiel. He was nothing if not closely related to the incident at Conscon Temple, being the mastermind who had received assistance from Dytiann to defeat Hayden, the commander of Allion’s army. As such, he was more closely concerned with the matter at hand than any of the great men present.

As far as the sovereign-prince was concerned, he wanted Atall to remain strictly neutral throughout the meeting. Accordingly, he had not intended to let Leo attend, given that he was bound to cause trouble, but when both Allion and Dytiann nominated him, Magrid was unable to flat-out reject their request.

Behind Leo, who was sitting at the head of the table, was Stark. He was serving as an advisor to the assistant but, naturally, he had also been tasked with monitoring Leo.

Everyone introduced themselves and exchanged greetings.

The meeting started out comparatively peacefully.

To begin with, Dytiann’s stance rapidly became clear. While justifying themselves to Allion, they did not wish to seem unduly servile. When all was said and done, it was Allion which had first caused all the turmoil. Without any just cause, they had marched their troops towards what was a holy site for the Cross Faith, and so, if anything, Dytiann felt like they should be the ones denouncing the other party. Of course, however, they did not want to provoke a war by relying on that kind of emotional argument.

Broadly speaking, Allion was following the same lines as Dytiann. Although they were censuring Dytiann for having trespassed into their territory, they didn’t want to make it into anything bigger than it needed to be. However, since Dytiann had been caught violating their borders, public opinion in Allion would not accept it if they did not obtain at least one concession from Dytiann.

Skill was required from the representatives of both sides.  

Dytiann insisted that: “Our sole purpose in dispatching our troops was to protect all of the believers at Conscon who share the same God as us.” This agreed with the explanation that Lord Leo had given to the king of Allion, about why he had sent reinforcements.

In other words, they were playing on the fact that their position was the same as Price Leo, whom Allion had more or less forgiven. “We had no intention of invading Allion,” “there is no reason for you not to overlook our actions, just as you did with Lord Leo’s,” they petitioned.

Opposite them, Allion demanded explanations. “Well then, why did Arthur Causebulk cross the border?”

Incidentally, the one speaking for Dytiann was almost entirely Baal. Mordin would occasionally interject with a grunt, or give the very slightest of nods, but he did not speak.

On Allion’s side, only Aventa, the king’s younger brother, was talking – so excitedly that he was practically frothing at the mouth. Hawking’s expression remained uninterested from start to end. Once again, Aventa leaned forward towards those on the other side to press them for an explanation:

“Isn’t it absolutely obvious that you intended to attack Allion under cover of wartime fire from the temple?”

Bishop Baal replied,

“He was there only to create a distraction. As it took place on the battlefield, I do not have the full details, but I believe he intended to cut Sir Hayden’s attacking forces from their headquarters, and so chip away at their morale. Isn’t that right, Your Highness Leo?”

Although Leo was supposed to be an observer, Baal seemed intent on dragging him into things at this point. The tone he spoke in was mild, but his eyes were darting poison.

At that moment, Stark, pretending to pick up a sheet of paper which had fallen to the floor, whispered something in Leo’s ear.

“I do not know the full details either,” Leo’s answer was concise. “Although I too was certainly present on the battlefield, by the time I arrived at the temple, Sir Arthur had already been killed in battle. However… what the lord bishop has just said accords with what I later heard from the people at the temple.”

By presenting it as second-hand knowledge, Leo pulled himself away from the whirlpool of arguments he had risked being dragged into. In so doing, he also gave some measure of support to Bishop Baal, but Allion’s interrogation did not end there.

“I hear that in your country, there is a tendency to view Arthur as a hero? And that he is even being seen as a saint who ‘sacrificed himself for God’s teachings’. Are you aiming to exacerbate people’s hostility towards Allion?”

“Absolutely not!” Bishop Baal interrupted so forcefully that he was spewing spittle.

It was actually true that Arthur was being treated as a hero. Or, more accurately, it was true that the higher-ups in the Church were acting that way, so Allion’s concern was entirely reasonable. The aim, however, was not to stoke people’s fighting spirit.

Instead, the problem was Leo Attiel, whose fame was resounding throughout Dytiann. The people in those religious lands were singing the praises of the prince who had faced the mighty Allion in order to defend a temple of the Cross Faith.

“Why didn’t Dytiann do anything?”

“Surely the temple must have asked for help from Dytiann as well? But the top-brass in the Church are afraid of Allion.”

“To think that even a tiny country like Atall took action, even though it only has a distant connection with God’s teachings – the Church really is deplorable. Normally, they always look as though everything they do is in accordance with God’s will, and they’re quick to preach His teachings, but when they need to protect His devout followers, they just run away.”

The Church had come under repeated criticism. It hadn’t been so very long since the civil war had died down in Dytiann so, if, at the time, the situation had developed into war with the mighty Allion, the people would likewise have been outspoken in their condemnation. Yet, for the same reason that the civil war was so recent, the Church feared nothing more than this sort of criticism.

Which was why it needed to loudly proclaim that, “our Dytiann fought to defend Conscon. This victory was not achieved thanks to Lord Leo’s courage or prudence, but instead owes far more to Arthur Causebulk, the commander of the Sergaia Holy Rose Division, who took action even at the cost of his own life.”

Allion’s side naturally understood these circumstances, it was just that they wanted the extra ammunition to fire at their opponents.

Given that everyone there understood the circumstances, nobody was remotely interested in Baal’s rebuttal. They all knew that nothing that was said was true. And naturally, for that reason, those who heard him were as impassive as walls, and Baal’s words merely bounced off them in vain. However –

“Arthur left for the front on my orders.”

Everyone there turned their startled gazes in the same direction.

Towards Mordin.

He had one brawny arm stretched out on top of the table, and his other palm was placed on top of it. If Leo’s memory served correctly, he had remained in that same position since first entering the room.

“There is no cause for regret when a warrior bravely offers his life in a foreign land on the orders of his liege, and in accordance with the Divine Will. We were not especially holding him up as a hero, but merely asked that prayers be offered so that his soul could find peace. And the people simply responded to that call.”

The tone in which he spoke was low, but it was heard far more clearly than Baal’s raised voice.



A little after noon, they took a short break.

Once the representatives had left the room, Leo called Percy over to a corner of the room.

“What do you think?” He asked briefly.

Percy had also been in the room from the start, mixed in among the pages, and so he had witnessed the full proceedings. He thought for a moment before answering.

“It looks as though both countries have their own circumstances to consider, and want to avoid an open confrontation. Both sides are attacking lightly while waiting in ambush for the opponent to make concessions.”

“Yeah.”

There was always friction between countries. They wished to avoid attracting hostility from other lands but, at the same time, if they appeared weak, then they would lose support from their own people. They constantly had to weigh in the balance the twin dangers of having other countries send troops against them, and of rebellion erupting from within.

“In Allion, fights are still breaking out in the wake of its wars of expansion. From what you hear, the king himself is constantly galloping off in all directions to suppress them or to act as mediator. Well, then again… rumours say that the king loves being personally present in battles and war.”

''I can sort of see it'' – Leo was reminded of the king that he had only ever met once. Among Leo’s acquaintances, the one he most resembled was Claude Anglatt. Their positions and outward appearances were completely different, but they were alike in that they were both brimming with energy, and both seemed bad at staying quietly in one place.

“Meanwhile, in Dytiann, it has been five years since the civil war came to an end, but no doubt they want more time to consolidate their ground. It was certainly unexpected to learn that Mordin, the army’s supreme commander, would be coming here, but, from that alone, it is clear that they want to avoid a head-on collision with Allion.”

That a man in Mordin’s position had come in person was, in itself, a mark of Dytiann’s consideration for Allion.

“That being the case, how’s this meeting going to end?”

“In Allion, the notion of subjugating Dytiann will be brought up because of this. Those voices won’t be particularly loud since, thanks to Sir Claude’s ‘achievement’, they did not take any direct damage. Still, the king is as he is. And from time immemorial, retainers have taken their cue from their king’s personality. With the younger warriors at its centre, the momentum will build up.”

Percy’s reading was to prove accurate.

Once the meeting resumed after the break, Allion launched itself into an offensive. In contrast to earlier, it was Hawking who spoke.

“We would prefer not to have to listen to your country making long, drawn-out excuses again. We want firm promises. We would like you to guarantee to us that, from here on, Dytiann will sever all contact with Conscon Temple, and that you will not send soldiers to that area again,” he stated firmly.

Across from him, Baal grimaced. Conscon was conveniently located as far as Dytiann was concerned. If they could maintain their connection with it, it would make a very good defence if Allion made a push towards the east. Moreover, Conscon Temple was displaying gratitude towards Dytiann over the recent incident. If they could use that to build up their relationship, Conscon’s usefulness would further increase.

Besides which, there was also the loss of Arthur. Baal had known Arthur since the later had been a child, and he did not want his death to go to waste. In spite of himself, he became emotional.

“If it’s a matter of firm promises, then we want the same. And in the first place, if Allion does not send soldiers against the temple, we will have no reason to dispatch our own…”

While Baal looked ready to take up the fight, Mordin cut his words short by raising his hand.

''Wow, what huge hands!'' Unconsciously, Leo opened his eyes wide.

Mordin was so huge that Leo really couldn’t compare, and even his face would probably fit several times over in the surface of Mordin’s own.

Baal was also startled and bit back his words. Just now, he had almost said that ''it’s because you sent soldiers that we sent soldiers'', but that backward and forwarding of blame had already been endlessly exchanged through letters and messengers before the meeting had started, until both sides had grown tired of it. Which was what had led to both sides sending envoys to meet face-to-face.

If he repeated that childish exchange now, it would harm the authority and the whole meaning of this conference. After bringing Baal under control, Mordin seemed to swiftly reach a decision.

“We have no intention of bringing fights into holy grounds.”

The meaning behind those words was that he accepted Allion’s request.

Having obtained the commitment they had asked for, Allion’s side might have been expected to leave things at that for now. Yet if anything, Hawking, the veteran, did not stay his hand and attacked with such vigour that his earlier lack of enthusiasm for the meeting seemed impossible to believe.

“Then next…” he went on to add further stipulations.

Baal’s expression changed once more. It wasn’t just him: emotion even flitted across Mordin’s face, which had so far remained expressionless. Hawking had suggested that Mordin go to Allion’s capital and meet the king in person.

Of course, he did not go so far as to say that Mordin should offer obeisance to the king as his retainer, but the humiliation that he was going to force onto the commander of the crusading army was very close to that.

The problem was that Hawking’s provocation was not only aimed at Dytiann; it was also meant for Atall, which had been contenting itself to act as a neutral party.

Percy’s analysis had been correct, and neither Allion nor Dytiann wanted war with one another. However, Hawking’s assessment was that ''Atall will also want to avoid any deterioration in the relationship between its two neighbouring countries''. And it was with that in mind, and with the intention of observing Atall’s attitude, that he had deliberately made a request that Dytiann would never comply with.

''Will the observers from Atall try to soothe us, or will they try to persuade Dytiann?''

Simply put, he was virtually holding a blade to their neck and demanding – “Which side will Atall choose?”