The Great War | BFB au

Chapter Three: You Were Playing With Fire.

You drew up some good faith treaties.
I drew curtains closed,
Drank my poison all alone.
You said I have to trust more freely,
But diesel is desire,
You were playing with fire.

   As the battalions trudged through the snowy ground on the outskirts of Ice Cube City, Coiny thought to himself about his family. How were they doing back at home? Would they be okay if he and Pin...didn't come back...?

   He frowned at the unyielding landscape ahead of him. How does anyone live here? He thought, exasperated from their journey through the icy fields. It's so foggy and cold!

   But soon enough, they made their way into the heart of the City, where lanterns glowed nearly as bright as the sacred Flame that began the War, and houses covered in icicles and snow became abundant.

   The palace stood tall and imposing in the distance, like a castle made of the darkest shadows which rejected the cold glow of the moonlight. Coiny looked onward at the palace, and ignored the stares that he and the other traveling objects were given.

   He'd heard all about this place from Quarter but never expected to see it with his own two eyes.

   Coiny caught himself thinking, Quarter must be so jealous! before remembering the purpose of this mission.

   Their City's higher-ups were here to discuss with the leaders of Ice Cube City, and hopefully start an alliance with them in the War.

   He looked over at Pin, who was staring solemnly onward. He grabbed her free hand, hoping that it would provide the both of them even any comfort. He saw her glance at him, a small smile on her face. He smiled back, before continuing to look forward, still trudging through the knee-deep snow.

   The gates of the palace were now clearly visible as they drew closer. The battalions stepped in unison, causing the crunch of the snow to eerily echo through the street. The palace towers stood ominously, and the several guards at the front of the gates stopped to look directly at Loser.

   One guard, a bomb, cleared his throat. "Loser, leader of The Losers' City," he said in a high-pitched voice. "I see, you're here." He unlocked the gates.

  "Thank you," Loser said. "Where is your leader?"

   "She's in the Grand Hall," the bomb said. "The first room at this entrance."

   The battalions walked inside.

   Coiny's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the Grand Hall. It was bright and beautiful. The stark contrast between the dark, solemn outside and the brightly coloured inside was extreme. The walls were made of gray stone, like many of the houses, but the floor was all red-brown wood and a red carpet was laid in the center of the room. Colourful paintings and murals were hung on the walls, depicting scenes of the sun shining bright on snow, of Algebralien-blessed objects, of heroes and historical events, and of Algebraliens themselves.

   All that, alongside several paintings of Ice Cube, one of the leaders of Eight-Names. She was the one who allowed Ice Cube City to become its own City, independent of Eight-Names. They'd fought in a civil war for several years when eventually Ice Cube convinced the others to end it and allow their rebels sovereignty, as long as it meant those rebels wouldn't attack them in the War.

   So, Ice Cube City was very new, and their first leader, Bracelety, was still in power. She was sitting at a long table in the center of the room.

   The battalions filed into the seats. Coiny and Pin were close enough to the front that they got seats right near Loser and Bracelety. The only people closer were the objects of Loser's personal guard, which he'd had before the battalions, two of Ice Cube City's higher-ups, a donut and a paper bag half-full of barf, and some lime jello that appeared to be a jester.