Chapter I

A thick scent of battle fills the air. The skies are cloudy and the wind blows gently. A general focuses his attention to the tree lines. He commands a legion of twenty thousand. They set up their ballistas and ready their bows. Sitting atop his white stallion the general waits for whatever comes next. A lone scout emerges from the forest. Covered in sweat and blood. He rides up to the general and with an exhausted tone and a traumatized expression he said, "M'lord! Me and my troop were just ambushed! I am the only survivor,"

"How many are there?" Said the general with a stoic voice.

"I couldn't tell my lord. They struck like an unwavering swarm of lotus. Marcius and Balder were the first to be killed,"

The wind continues to blow gently towards the imperial line. Men decked in armor wait patiently for their foes to grace the battlefield with their foul stench. The imperial banner, a golden serpent wrapped around a golden sword on a red backdrop flies proudly showing the unwavering pride of the empire. With stern hearts and raised spirits, they wait for their enemies with not a drop of fear in their minds.

The screaming of wildmen and beating of shields could be heard from the forest. Battle was upon the sixth legion. The soldiers armed with pikes form a phalanx formation, the ballistas are cocked and ready, while the cavalry waits in the portion of the forest behind the legion. The sixth hold their ground, waiting eagerly to taint their blades with the blood of the heathens. The ground shakes and the screamings gets louder. Soon enough thousands of barbarians filled with hatred for their civilized adversaries emerges from the forest. The barbarians wear thick fur and leather clothes and are armed with crudely made axes and clubs.

The general unsheathes his sword and he points at the direction of the barbarians.

"Fire!"

The imperial marksmen fletch their bows and they send a hail of arrows hurling towards the barbarians. The arrows penetrate the barbarians' battle worn clothes. The ballistas rain down a firey death on the brutes. The large mass of men clashes with the imperial line. Many barbarians fell upon contact with the phalanx. The well trained imperial soldiers halts the barbarian advance, preventing them from ravaging imperial territory. The entirety of the barbarian army is infront of the imperial line. They outnumber their imperial adversaries by three to one. But the unbreakable strength and morale of the legion allow them to withstand the onslaught of barbarians. For every one soldier that fell ten barbarians fell with him. Emerging from the rear, the imperial lancers charge at the barbarians from the sides. The thundering hooves of the stallions shakes the ground to it's very core. The lancers crash into the horde. They send these uncivilized beasts flying with their steel-tipped lances. The barbarians soon breaks spirit and they try to flee the battle. The gaps within the imperial formation provides a tight escape for whatever barbarian that can still crawl. The battle was finally over. The troops celebrate by raising their swords up high. They all scream "Ithaad Vithaas!" An ancient battle cry that means "Long live honor!"

Back at the imperial camp, the soldiers celebrate their recent victory over the heathens. The general and his personal guard soon arrive. Taking off his helmet, the general reveals his aged battle-worn face, his well-kept fading auburn hair and his kept beard. The general dismounts his white stallion. He heads to his personal tent at the center of the camp.

"General Gaius! I congratulate you on your recent victory," said the camp's quartermaster.

"Thank you mr. Cairus! Hopefully this is the last we hear from these bastards. I am supposed to return to Aurelius by next week,"

"Aye sir! Speaking of Aurelius, I just got word from the war council. They have requested for lancer captain, Lucius Thornhall. He will be sent to Dijikstaa to help maintain imperial influence and to help secure our monopoly in the Xi river trade,"

said the quartermaster as he hands general Gaius a scrolled up document.

"Bring me Mr. Thornhall," said general Gaius as he lets out a sigh.

The quartermaster bows his head and he exits the tent. After awhile, Lucius enters the tent with his feathered helmet in one hand. Lucius Thornhall is a young man, with a strong jawline diamond like eyes and umber hair.

"You requested for my presence general?" Said Lucius with a stoic tone.

"Yes, please take a seat," said Gaius.

"Do you have any problems with my performance in battle?"

"No. No, No...In fact I'd say you're my personal favorite. The way you led that charge awhile ago was perhaps one the best use of cavalry that I've seen in battle,"

"So why did you call me to your tent?"

"Well...I just got word from Aurelius that you are being moved,"

Lucius wrinkles his forehead, not knowing how to take in this new information.

"Moved? Where? I've fought with this legion since I was a junior lancer," Lucius speaks out in protest.

"To Dijikstaa, you'll be put under general Cato's command," said Gaius.

"Ayabad territory!?" said an angered Lucius.

"Lucius....listen to me! If it were up to me I'd let you stay with us. But the war council has made their choice!" Said Gaius with a reasoning tone.

"Fuck Aurelius! Fuck the war council! And FUCK those Ayabad sand slavers!" Said Lucius with a stern tone.

"Listen, Lucius. I am sorry that it has to be this way. But I cannot risk disobeying orders from Aurelius, or else I'd be branded a traitor and be sent to the gallows," said Gaius with a stressed tone.

Lucius lets out a sigh and he nods his head with an expression of dissatisfaction.

A soldier enters the tent.

"General! We've just received word from our scouts. They've spotted a fortified town east of barlus hill,"said the soldier

"Gather fifteen men. Lucius, ready your blade and get your horse! You're riding with me!" Commanded Gaius

The seventeen men gather outside tha camp and they ride out to barlus hill. Atop the hill they spot the fortified town surrounded by a thick forest with only one narrow dirt path leading to the town. They gallop forth, the town is protected by a palisade but lucky for the men the gates were wide open. They ride into the town killing the barbarians stationed there. Many barbarians try to flee but their mere human feet cannot outrun the hooves of war stallions. The town has been devastated and is left in an appaling condition by the brutes. Many houses are burnt, the dead litter the town's roads and the townsfolk are malnourished with many sick and dying. Gaius and his men dismount their horses and the soldiers disperse to search for more barbarians.

"Fear not citizens! We have come to liberate you! Consider yourself under imperial rule once again," said Gaius

The citizens remain frightened as if they went through the most horrid experiences. The faces of most of the townsfolk are still frozen with fear and many have become pale and grisly.

"Sir! We've inspected every household, no barbarians in sight sir," said one of the soldiers

"That only leaves one place then," said Gaius as he points to a worn-out church made of logs and held together by twigs and vegetation.

The mere mention of the church is enough to frighten the townsfolk. The women and children begin to cry and the men break down into incomprehensible screaming.

"Sir, it seems that the townsfolk are wary of the place," said Lucius

"All men to me!" Commanded Gaius as he and his retinue slowly make their way to the church at the center of town. A madwoman stops them at their tracks. She wears a rugged faded white dress while her skin is covered in warts and dirt. She is slender and pale like most of the folk, and her face is shallow.

"For the sake of your sanity! Turn back! Turn back! Abandon hope for the fallen speaks," said the woman frantically.

"Step aside citizen," said Gaius

"No! You don't understand! Death and drakness stalks the town and that pit of damnation is it's lair!" The woman then preceded to tear off locks of her hair while laughing maniacally.

Two soldiers then restrain the woman who begins to weep. They then take her away with her screaming becoming even louder as Gaius inches towards the church. Gaius places his hand on the damaged and withering door, pushing it open not knowing what to expect. Upon entering Gaius freezes with an expression of utter shock and horror. The pews and all the holy relics have been removed and in their place were dismembered body parts and stains of blood. Red candles are lined up on the boarded

windows and in the center layed a dead priest, surrounded by dead rats. But he was no man of the Highfather. He wore a black robe decorated with animal bones and a sheep's skull adorns his head.

Nearby was a vial of poison, it was clear that this man perfered to die rather than be thrown into an imperial prison. And at the end of the church stood an altar. A sculpture of a black dragon with its mouth dripping with fresh human blood. Adorned with severed fingers and decaying flowers

"By the Highfather!.....Burn this place to the ground and have a priest cleanse the town!" Said Gaius with an appalled expression.

The soldiers grab a piece of plank and with the flames of the still burning candles they raze the church to the ground.

"I have never seen such an appalling sight, surely the work of heretics," Said Lucius.

"I fought against barbarians for two decades. I am familiar with their heretical gods and their practices. But I have never seen such a terrifying and bloodthirsty diety," said Gaius.

"So what now?" Lucius inquired.

"I return to Aurelius tomorrow. While for you, you should get ready for your trip. Dijikstaa isn't a near place," said Gaius

Gaius and Lucius then mount their horses and they head back to camp.

*Brasidas POV

Brasidas opens his eyes after a long slumber, his body is rested and his mind is recovering. He sits up on the bed covered in goat skin and he takes a long look at his surroundings. His cabin is poorly lit and the floor is covered with a bear fur rug. A lone table stands in the middle of the room accompanied by a bleak grey stool. Atop the table lies a candle holder with a melted candle.

The door to his cabin opens and the ship's cabin boy emerges.

"Sir, our voyage is near an end." Said the cabin boy.

Brasidas goes up to the deck, and in the distance was the shining city of Silversport in all of her glory, shining like snow in spring.

"I never thought I'd see the mainland again." Said Brasidas to the ship captain.

"Welcome to Silversport, second in wealth only to Aurelius herself. Surely an imposing sight," said the Captain.

"Quite frankly I thought that I'd die in the colonies. I was about to buy a house by the Xi river."

"If I may ask what were you doing in the colonies?"

"I was working for the local governor as a member of an organization that did many bad things. I'd rather not go into detail about it. I have left that past behind and I intend to leave it that way."

"What took you so long then?"

"I was just not allowed to leave, but now since I have been called in by the emperor himself I got my reason to pack up"

"And what does the emperor want with man such as yourself."

"I'm afraid that I can't tell you about it, imperial business is not for civilians." Said Brasidas as he was clutching his satchel.

The ship finally arrives at port and the ramp is lowered. The harbour was busy at the waking hours. Children play, fishmongers get in their boats to disappear for the entire day, and merchants unload their goods into their own personal storehouses.

"How much do I owe you?" Inquired Brasidas

"10 silver coins" replied the captain.

"Say, whats your name?" Said Brasidas as he hands the captain a small pouch of coins .

"Meldred, sir."

"Osetian?"

"Yes sir. How about you? Where do you hail from?"

"Tiberius, and one last thing. Where do I find an inn?"

"If you're looking for a drink and cheap prices, I recommend the Sober Saber. A room only costs 2 pieces of silver and you can find it at the waterfront."

Brasidas thanks Meldred and he then takes his first step on the mainland.

In the waking hours of the morning, slaves are escorted to the salt mines, merchants

peddle their wares and the rich are bundled inside boxes carried by their personal slaves. The skies are clear and the wind is calm, the flowers bloom and the bells of the nearby Cathderal calls everyone to prayer with their mighty bells. The everyday grumble of the city becomes louder and louder as Brasidas gets closer to the marketplace. The marktplace is packed with people from all walks of life from craftsmen to the nobility. Much to Brasidas' dismay he only has a few coins left so he'll have to settle with the less lavish luxuries of the city. However the everday noise of the city was eventually silenced as a fragmented scent fills the air. White smoke is emitted from a golden can, held by a masked man. The masked man wore black robes with golden linings and an ornamental brass mask. The people clear up to form a narrow path leading to a house as more of these masked men appear. The men walk in an orderly fashion armed with twisted bronze daggers and long pointed steel spears. The men stop in front of a house where they were greeted by a priest. The priest directs them to the house and 3 of the men enter. It was silent for awhile, until the sound of a woman screaming was made apparent. The men drag out a scrawny middle-aged woman and they throw her down to the pavement.

"Where is it?" Said one of the man in an impatient tone.

The woman refuses to speak instead she continues to weep and shudder.

"WHERE IS IT!?" Said the man in a raised voice.

He slaps her across the face and he continues to ask the woman the same question.

The masked man was about to hit her one more time but before he could, one of the  men step out of the building while holding a crying baby by the ankle. The woman's expression of senseless grief quickly became an expression of terror as she witnesses what can only be her child being dragged out by these terrible men.

"We found it hiding in a wicker basket in the basement," said the man holding the baby.

The woman tries desperately to reach her child but she was held back by the men.

"This is how the Highfather protects your everydays!" Said the man

"By removing this HERETIC from society we cleanse this filth of a city,"

The man lays the baby on a nearby table. The other man gives him the twisted dagger, and he raises the dagger above his head while he mutters a prayer. With all his might he plunges the dagger the child's chest while the mother watches in horror as she witnesses the death of her baby.

"THE HERETIC IS DEAD!" Proclaims the man.

The crowd then utters their own prayers, many of them falling to their knees to weep.

"Take the body and burn it! And take this witch to the house of black. The great celanser shall decide her fate there," said the man.

The still weeping woman is then dragged by two of the masked men and they disappear into the crowd. ‏

*Julius & Samantha POV

A young prince sits on a window, looking out at the seemingly endless blue summer sea. With long flowing dark brown hair, a strong jawline, an amazing physique and sparkling blue eyes, this prince was the dream of many women across the world. He is a man of sixteen years but yet his intelligence rivals that of the oldest masters. He wore an elaborate white top, paired with black trousers, a black shoe decorated with golden etchings and not mention the finest pieces of Jewelry adorns his already lavish ensemble.

"Are you done brooding yet, little brother?"

The prince stares away from the breathtaking view to see his sister standing in the archway. She is equally as stunning as her brother emitting a radiance that would attract any man that passes. She too had long flowing dark brown hair with a round face and eyes that shines like sapphire.

"I'm not brooding, go mind your own bloody business Samantha!" said the prince with an annoyed tone.

"Julius Mattias Serveiian, I have known you for sixteen years, I have already figured you out at this point and I know when you're brooding or not!" said Samantha

Julius holds on to his cold demeanor despite his sister's beratating.

"I will push you down to the rocks if you don't talk to me you little squidfish!" Said Samantha in an impatient and raised voice.

Julius thens lets out a sigh "Well it's about father, we're far from Aurelius and theres no telling if he's either whoremongering, draining the imperial treasury to fulfill his vanity or picking a fight with the senate."

"You'll be emperor soon enough brother, considering father's rather excess-filled lifestyle. And you must stop brooding and actually do something about it,"

"What can I do about it? Father puts me down at every opportunity he gets and even if he listens it never sticks to him."

"Thats because you act like a docile deer in front of him. Show your claws because right now you're weak! And if you remain weak you will be devoured by the senate, pretenders and worse yet uncle Tyrus!" said Samantha in a rough tone.

A servant then entered the room in a hasty manner.

"My lord, my lady! Someone is requesting an audience with you."

"Who is it?" Said Julius

"Some brawny looking bloke with a funny mustache. He specifically requested for lady Samantha, he's waiting in the harbor,"

Julius and Samantha along with a small retinue of guardsmen rush down to the harbor. In the distance was a medium-sized vessel with black rugged sails. In the harbor stood three men, one of them was a brawny man with a long scar that ran through his hairy chest and another one that ran across his foggy right eye. The man held a large rusty axe while the others had rusty swords, making it clear that they weren't there for peace.

"My lady, we have come to take you back to the pirate king so you can finally be his bride," said the brute.

Samantha snickered and said "You can tell that sea rat, Ivallus that he can die in some far-off island alone! Becuse I'm not going back to his whoremongering ass!"

"That was not an offer!" Said the man as he raises his axe to his waist.

Samantha walks up to him and they stare at each other for a moment. Samantha with all her might and speed stabs the brute through the skull with her concealed dagger. She then precedes to kick his still bleeding body to the blue water turning it red. She then looks at the other two pirates who just looks at her with utter fear.

"Go tell that son of a whore to find a new bride because I am not coming back! And if I ever see him again, he will end up like this poor bastard!" The two men hastily get back to their row boats and they begin rowing as fast as they can.

"Why did you do that!?" Said Julius

"They were starting to piss me off!" Said Samantha

"Ivallus will come back with an army of angry pirates! They will collect our heads!"

"So? We will fight them,"

"With what? Seven to twenty guards! Ugh! I told you courting a pirate was a terrible idea! At least that was the one thing me and father can agree on," Julius said with a disgruntled tone.

"Hey! You thought of him as a brother once! You're not too innocent yourself, Julius!"

Samantha then angrily marches back into the their summer estate mumbling all the way.