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Tanya's Third Life as a Barbarian Queen, Chapter XIX
🕑 Added 2025-02-15 14:02:23 +0000 UTCI will have the chapter as links to download at the bottom of the post. As well as a link to the Google Document page.
Kontia, Temple District.
Nalia of the Yutoi, Lieutenant of the 115th Company.
I hopped in place a few times as Zara listened carefully. She was tall and strong for her age and would be well suited to the battle line if not for the Tanaoi’s baffling restrictions on the age of front line fighters. She moved forwards with cloth scraps and lace, tying down anything that moved or rattled on my body before stepping back and allowing me to hop again.
Zara would return to several rooms I had claimed when we were ordered forwards, to look over gold and trinkets I had collected from parts of the city that had been assigned to my company. Wealth that I intended to use to secure the loyalty of the many disparate tribes under my command.
As Zara adjusted my equipment again I glanced about. Around us hundreds of other women did the same. Weapons were checked, armour donned and strapped down, oil was rubbed on faces and shiny metal. But even with our efforts things would still rattle and clink, it was inevitable with so many people.
Truly the war of the Saderans had brought a totalising change to war itself. Through a lifetime of raiding and conflict I had seen thousands of fighters in one place only in times of peace during Tribe meets or when the Pomi called the Queens together to hold court. Now it was rare for a force less than a hundred to see battle.
Such numbers would be utterly unsustainable in a normal context. Everybody needed to be fed and directed. Such a force would not be established without a very good reason and had only happened in the days before I was born when two tribes abandoned duels, raiding, hostage taking and other forms of diplomacy and sought war against each other. A warband of one hundred persons was an impressive force and often only formed to strike into wealthy settlements to the south or to attempt to loot ancient dwarven ruins.
The Tanaoi raised such formations as a matter of course. A hundred women strong ‘company’ was, as the Tanaoi described it, the ‘smallest combat effective unit’. But I supposed it was not the Tanaoi that had caused such a shift.
When Tyuul called upon all of the Tribes of the Steppe for war with the invading humans she had amassed an army greater than any in all of history. More Lepus than could be counted had stood ready to repel the Humans and then punish them for their arrogance.
But that never happened.
Battle after battle the Humans and their demi human Auxiliaries proved endless. Slay one and six more took their place. Whatever we did we were outnumbered, outmanoeuvred and attacked from the skies by their Wyverns.
But we fought on despite how hopeless it seemed, I was willing to give my life for my people when Tyuul betrayed us. In a choice between an honourable death and subjugation to the Humans she had chosen to become a slave and would choose that for us all. All coordination was undone, entire warbands surrendered themselves to bondage showing themselves to be nothing but craven fools. Some of the Queens were betrayed, others were just as cowardly as Tyuul and surrendered.
It had been humiliating, many thousands threw themselves at the Saderans when the call for surrender came slaying anyone they could in a suicidal final charge. In truth I had longed to join them but I was a selfish person at heart. I do not fear death but I would have it be a glorious one, a painful one for the Saderans. A death remembered and not forgotten.
So I had fled, with so many others to the Tanaoi, to the last organised resistance of our people. I did not know what I expected at first, perhaps simply time to build a warband and strike south, to rape and pillage across Imperial lands until... until I was dead I suppose. Along with the burned settlements left in my wake.
I had not expected the Tanaoi to be so dedicated to a hopeless war, the fools seemed to think we could win this. It was endearing in its own way, like a child overcome with bloodrage.
That had been until word came that their Queen could slay a Wyvern. I did not know what to think now. I did not know where this war would lead us but I was content to be an instrument of war for the Tanaoi for the time being.
One thing I was not content with however, was the creeping influence of the half breeds and of the non-humans. They would strut around with their bangles and jewellery offered to them by the Tanaoi doing so many menial tasks with the delusion that they were irreplaceable, that they were anything more than tolerated.
To correct the delusions of goblins and centaurs was to be met with flogging. That the Tanaoi extended such privileges to the lesser races was baffling.
But further still, every squad had a lowborn ‘Sargent’ who was at least, explicitly not an officer but they spoke constantly of ‘merit’ and how they were given leave to lecture officers whenever they believed themselves more knowledgeable than their betters. Every day such people became more confident in their pretend authority and more than once I had been challenged by a lowborn, by a half breed.
It did not matter that I was often proven correct, that I was better and more knowledgeable than most in terms of war. If they were proven wrong one day they would not remember the next time they challenged my orders, my plans. Even more aggravating was the Tanaoi encouraging such insubordination.
Even more disgusting was how transparent such actions were. The ascension of Delilah of the Pomi was the Tanaoi overplaying their hand. They had exposed themselves to me and no doubt other purebloods of the tribes who were paying attention.
The Tanaoi did not elevate any of their own lowborn to positions of authority, no instead they chose specifically to have the lowborn of the Pomi take command over purebloods of many tribes. The message was clear, any who were not Tanaoi were of the same value to them. They did not care that a Yutoi pureblood must consider herself an equal to a Pomi half breed under their system because they had intended such an end from the start.
They would create a new system from the ashes of the old rightful order. Tanaoi purebloods at the top, everyone else below them. It must be resisted, it will be resisted. If the tribes were to unify under the Tanaoi it will be made clear that they were to treat the pureblooded of other tribes as equals.
A bell sounded out over the city, followed by another, the clanging of pans and soon the screaming started. I set aside my musing of the political struggle we had found ourselves within.
Our advance into the city was swift and decisive. Just three companies led by Enya’s ‘command squad’. With a single word we threw ourselves into a run through the streets of the city and over barricades. We struck with such force that many of our number slowed to only a light jog as we encountered ambushes and scattered groups of defenders blind in the darkness.
Just as I suspected, when we struck we did so against only petty resistance. Like kicking down a rotten door. We flowed through the city along a carefully prepared route with such speed that it could only serve to condemn Enya for her trepidation. If she had acted sooner we could have subdued the city many nights ago and accrued all the more glory for it.
The endless blocked streets gave way to an expansive thoroughfare with grand Temple complexes upon our flanks. In the chaos their doors had been thrown open and many hundreds of people from the City had fled to this district expecting it to be free of fighting.
There were terrified shouts and mass confusion as we pressed into the district but none challenged us, for that I sent a prayer of thanks to the gods before pulling several silver bangles I had looted from the city and throwing them to the temples as I ran past.
Many others in our number took the time to throw looted gold, silver and gemstones to the temples in order not to incur the wrath of the Gods for using their temple district in the battle for the city. But the delays such offerings forced upon us were minor and once though the temple district we beheld the heart of the city.
There were several colossal structures that dominated this area. A ‘Forum’ a gathering place as I understood it, an amphitheatre, several large structures involved in governance and of course the expansive governor's palace. Each large structure was separated by roads so large that four wagons could pass each other without issue, refuse filled the streets, evidence of the people of Kontia camping in the street was everywhere but the people themselves were gone.
If there was one thing that Orcs and Humans did better than any Lepus, it was run for their lives.
We formed up in the heart of the city uncontested in the darkness with only a scant few lamps illuminating the streets. The lot of us were shrouded in shadow as we arrayed ourselves before the walled palace as figures peered over the walls with lanterns, aware of our presence but scarcely able to see us in the gloom.
I made my way about making sure my company was all present and none had been wounded in the pathetic skirmishes leading us to the heart of Kontia before I made my way over to Enya.
“We did not take them by full surprise.” Enya bemoaned. “They have a number of defenders inside of the palace that were not moved to defend the companies moving along the walls to the north and south.”
“We have them regardless.” A commander from the Mora said. She was older than most, her greying hair and thinning skin giving her gravatas even as strength left her. “We push now, this is a petty fortification indeed.”
Enya considered for a moment before nodding, turning about to the palace and its eight foot walls topped with decorative spikes.
“We take the palace before the Saderans can respond.” She resolved, with a nod the company commanders each bid for one of the walls. My company was given a place of honour, we would be attacking the front gate.
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Sadera, Aerarium of the Order of the Rose Knights
Bozes Co Palesti, Second daughter and Yellow Rose of the Order.
Few would argue that Pina Co Luda was not beloved by the Emperor. The bastard child of the most powerful man in the world was tall, beautiful and inherited the prestigious strength of his line. She was offered everything, estates, privileges beyond anything a woman was entitled to as well as free access to the treasury of the state.
Indeed she was given everything, except inheritance. She was not, and never had been, acknowledged by Molt Sol Augustus as a claimant to the throne. She did not have the right to claim the ‘Sol’ suffix, nor the ‘El’ of her brothers but she seemed content with that.
In what should have caused a mass uproar, Pina, while still a child, had been given the right to raise a Knightly order in Sadera by her father. I had not understood at the time just how unprecedented a move that had been, being one of Pina’s peers and childhood friends. It had simply been little more than a game to me, how one day Pina had become taken with knightly honours and battle and thus when I came over to play we would march around in armour or try to hit each other with wooden swords.
It had grown tiresome quickly and I had, at the time, longed to return to quiet and feminine vocations and lessons of etiquette alone. Going home with scraped knees and bruises was hardly ladylike, hardly the domain of little girls. Regardless of how much I genuinely enjoyed Pina’s company I had complained to my father in the hope that ‘playing knights’ could be banned and we could go back to less violent and difficult games.
Unlike Feefeita and Pina, I did not have endless boyish energy in my youth.
My father had refused, aggressively so. He, and just a scant few others, had worked out then just what Molt had done. So I would play with Pina, along with several other girls, all noble bastards or second and third daughters. We would go day after day to learn how to ride horses, how to put on armour, how to fight with swords. Our youth as ladies was stolen from us though I don’t fault Pina for that, she was just as much of a means to an end as the rest of us.
It was only when Molt encouraged several young petty noble boys, most bastards themselves. To join in the ‘game’ that I had started to wonder just how serious the order was. What had started as a child’s fantasy had been given trainers, a budget, a chapterhouse inside the great city of Sadera. What should have been a passing interest became an obsession. Pina only became happy when atop a horse with a lance in hand, she only became satisfied when flying a banner in one hand and offering alms for the poor with the other.
Every new member, every childish outing, every mastered strike or fighting style became an opiate to Pina, because it was only as a Knight, it was only through her little game when her father would offer her praise. It became painfully obvious after years of faithful service to a childhood friend that Molt had not so much as spoken to his daughter.
Until she had decided to play a role that suited him perfectly. What was once cold indifference became direct favour. She would have everything, money, wealth, prestige, freedom. But most of all, she would have his love. The only thing that mattered to her.
All it cost was running every day until she vomited and then running some more. Casting a sword through the air until her soft hands became calloused and firm. A lifetime of injuries and physical pain. She would sacrifice everything for a smile from a man she barely knew.
She did not understand, or perhaps did not care, what she had become.
What her little game had become. Because it never was her game, it was his.
I watched as the young woman in question reclined upon a marble throne, eyes playing over a missive sent to her by the Emperor himself and once again struggled to truly understand if she knew.
I looked about at the audience hall, at a game that had long since gotten out of hand.
Hundreds of men, bastards and third or fourth sons of Sadera were seated at long tables, laughing and feasting. Amongst them were many more ladies, likewise the dregs of nobility without wealth or prestige to call their own. The product of prostitutes and concubines. The shameful output of a noble class that spanned a colossal Empire.
Besides them were ‘advisors’ or ‘men at arms', lowborn veterans and aging experts of war who kept to their own tables but ate gladly of meat and exotic fruits that would befit the table of a minor king.
What had once been a game had become a lifeline, the only means to earn a wage for the people the Empire no longer had a use for. Every day more sons denied any inheritance or veterans too old for service made a pilgrimage to the Rose Knights and pledged themselves to Pina.
More daughters born out of wedlock, girls not fit to be wed due to ugliness, accusations of degeneracy, true or not or perhaps just poor breeding sought to find favour with the Rose Princess. Often they found it, Pina was strict with her training but for girls seeking a clean bed and food, as well as a husband that had some claim to nobility as well as a wage but was not terribly picky. A short service in the Rose Knights was perfect.
A service pledged to the people of Sadera, to be kind and charitable, to be chivalrous and strong. And, of course, a pledge to serve Pina Co Lada. Who herself was absolutely loyal to her father.
A Knightly Order utterly loyal to Molt Sol Augustis located right in the heart of Sadera. A city that strictly banned all to carry weapons or don armour. Unless you were a Knight of course. Before the Rose order there were two groups that had the right to carry arms in the city.
The Praetorian Guard, a force of five thousand pledged to defend the Imperial Line and the Senate. And the Wyvern Knights, whose chapter houses expanded to almost every city in the Empire. Now, without a single vote in the senate, a new order had been formed. None had bothered to protest its formation as its membership had once been but children.
But children grow up.
Now the Rose Knights, or as enemies of Molt had come to call us, the Bastard Knights, held uncontested dominion over the streets of Sadera. Pina had many dozens of communal bakeries and kitchens to feed the plebs and had eagerly deployed her Knights to suppress riots at Molt’s direction. She delighted in organising parades of men and women in shining armour though the streets of the great city.
Because Molt delighted in the swords at our hips as we marched.
I once again looked to Pina as she set aside the missive and collected herself. All those years ago my father had seen through the game. He had understood what Molt was doing. The Rose Knights, unlike Legions who were forbidden from marching within a hundred miles of the city of Sadera. Unlike the Praetorian Guard who had a fixed number and strict duties and unlike the Wyvern Knights who were limited by the number of drakes that were born every year.
The Rose Knights had no limit. No laws restricted our conduct, no rules restricted our recruitment. We were a weapon that Molt Sol Augustis had forged decades ago, one pointed at the heart of the Empire. An army that explicitly swore no oath to the Senate.
All it had cost him was the manipulation of one little girl who just wanted his attention. Just wanted her father to love her.
It was hard to see it now as the tall and handsome woman stood up and addressed the hall. Few would suspect she had any weakness, any vulnerability, after a lifetime of playing the role of a chivalrous Knight.
But I knew Pina, all of her inner circle did. More than she knew herself.
“I must answer the Emperor's summons.” Pina said softly to the colour knights of her inner circle. “He wishes to speak to me about the Formal clan calling a vote to war.” She confided.
“I don’t understand.” Kati said with a huff as she set aside a plate of finely cut chicken. “I thought Formal was a Dove but he calls for war?” She shook her head. “Not the least that it is a war already won, Zorzal has defeated the barbarians of the steppe last I heard.”
“It’s politics.” I answered, taking a polite sip from a silver cup of a rather disappointing mead. “The Doves don’t want war.”
“So why call for one?” Pina asked, genuinely confused. I was once more taken at how truly innocent Pina was.
“They believe the vote will fail.” I shrugged. “It is a risk certainly but I believe that is the intention.” The other girls at the table seemed to think about my words as Pina simply sighed.
“I detest politics.” She proclaimed and got to her feet with an easy grace. “Perhaps my father will know more.”
“You are going now?” Kati got to her feet and moved to Pina’s side.
“It is an important matter according to the message.” Pina confirmed and I lifted my disappointing drink at the pair.
“Farewell.” I intoned and was joined by a dozen other voices. Some of the knights in the hall must have noticed Pina readying to leave and soon hundreds were offering their own well wishes to the Princess.
I watched the pair leave, Feefieta El Kati and Pina Co Lauda had been inseparable since they were children, it went without saying that wherever Pina went so to did her closest friend and confidant.
I waited a short while after they had departed before making my own excuses. I made my way to the stables on the expansive Rose Knight chapterhouse estate and took a horse before riding out into the outskirts of the endless city of Sadera towards my fathers estate.
Molt never called upon his daughter unless he needed something.
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This might be the longest chapter so far.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ur-6n8DvgWTUiqBES8AmuE91FfvKPn3XHdyvwvbaXjo/edit?tab=t.0
Comments
De Vaney John
The implied juxtaposition between Tanya and Molt is terribly fitting here. Both have turned to the young to raise their armies and challenge the traditional order of things with their peers mostly none the wiser. The difference here is that the Emperor is only changing a tiny portion of his society to maximum effect while Tanya is changing the way her entire species operates in an effort to win a war. The other difference is that Molt is very aware of what he's doing while it might take Tanya a lot longer to realise just what raising an entire generation's worth of the free members of her species as a giant unified army truly means not just for the Lepus but the entire continent of Sadera. Gone will be the days of a double digit raiding force. After the Saderan Empire withdraws or falls, the raiding parties of the Lepus will be large and well equipped enough to overrun entire city-states with little resistance.
Tony
I really like the idea of Nalia and other pure bloods creating their own faction, the problem i see is that after so many Lepus dead and enslaved, I'm sure the Pure bloods are going to be even less than the usual, and Tanya most likely promising everyone to be measured by meritocracy rather than just bloodlines will have them having to prove that they are indeed the best of the best to keep their leadership roles. They don't seem to understand that their old traditions and ways got them almost destroyed, its easy to enforce ruling when you're powerful, but when most of their people see Tanya and her tribe as their sole saviors is going to be a lot harder to gather people specially among the young ones, when most if not all of them see their old leaders failing them while Tanya keeps getting victories.
Old Hammer
Nalia is going to be trouble she is forming an informal cadre of detractors that will definitely push back against Tanya. It also seems she is building a secret war chest of her own to bribe and persuade other Bunny Warriors to her side. I would definitely be unsurprised if she has not reported all the loot she has taken, if I recall correctly from when Deliah joined leaders of are entitled to 1/10 of loot before having to kick up to those above. What you have done with the Rose order is fantastic and very interesting to see. I like the concept being a knightly order made up of the leftover sons and daughters of nobility. It really makes you get why they would be loyal to Pina. How you showed Molt using Pina to make a loyal army tied to his will is brilliant. By doing so you also show his skill a long term planning, great stuff!
Verified Mustelid
It's a long chapter, but a good one. Gives us much more insight into Nalia's mindset and her problems with Delilah and the Tanaoi, as well as progressing the situation in Kontia. Nalia definitely isn't fully thinking things through though, as Delilah likely got her place in Tyuule's bodyguard through sheer merit rather than being pureblood, making her a very deadly warrior. Also, Booze!.. Bozes is here! The hairdrill Knight arrives. With the Rose Knights normally operating from Italica in the original story, this reading of them being Molt's way to have armed soldiers in the Saderan capital is one I hadn't considered before. Cunning of him. He's pulled a Goge Vandire and made his own version of the Sisters of Battle directly under his command.
