House Leandis

General Balian stared at the night sky.

Not a single star was out, so the world above was pitch black. The night before had been a bloody moon, signifying death nearby. He'd received word of the approaching enemy just a few hours later. Villages had been burned. Families slaughtered. All citizens of the great House Leandis. 

Who dared to invade their mighty kingdom? Such an attack had to be a farce. A pathetic attempt to gain some land and riches.

He wouldn't let such a thing happen. It was his job to prevent attacks like these, as he'd done successfully for the last two years as General.

A gust of wind hit him, causing his long, wavy black hair to sway. He stood on top of the walls of the Capitol, which provided the best view in the entire city. If an enemy were to attack, he would spot them first. 

That brought Balian's mind back to the enemy. Could they be Raiders? Groups of them were known for scavenging defenseless villages. Even then, there was no way they were confident enough to attack the Capitol.

"Six of them, sir," his scout had said. "Headed straight here."

"What did they look like?" Balian had asked. "Armor? Flags?"

The scout cast a look of uncertainty and defeat. "I…I have the sharpest eyes I know. I've learned to trust them as I trust that my own heart will keep on beating. But sir…if I told you what I saw, you wouldn't believe me."

Balian glared. "Tell me. I'll let you know if I believe you or not. Did they wear anything?"

The scout hesitated. "They wore armor, yes. With some of the finest craftsmanship I've ever laid eyes on, sir. And beneath their helmets were these…red eyes. Glowing like the embers of a fire. And that's all. I saw no faces, no skin. But I've never seen anything like them in my life."

Balian sighed, unsure what to think. "Arrival time? Maybe in the light we can identify them better."

"Four hours at most. They marched at a consistent, unyielding pace."

That had been three hours ago. Now all he could do was await their arrival.

Any minute now, General Balian thought. He kept a steady, gloved hand on his sword. This was not his first combat. And it wouldn't be his last. Six enemies? The tremendous strength of the army of House Leandis would wipe them out in seconds. And he had all that power at his command. 

Balian smirked. This would be very entertaining to watch.

"Sir," an approaching soldier said, rushing up to him.

"Yes?" General Balian asked, unsure if the man had spotted the enemy. He gazed into the distance, looking for movement.

"It's not the enemy, General. The king is below. He wishes to speak with you immediately."

Now? Balian thought. Couldn't it wait until after the attack? Yet it was the king. There was no ignoring his requests. 

He sighed. "Stand right here. Look out in that direction," he said pointing. "If you see movement, notify the guards to sound the war horn. Then notify me. Understand?"

The soldier saluted, raising a fist in the air. "Of course, General."

Balian began making his way down the steps of the wall, to the ground floor. There was an armory inside the wall that held all kinds of weapons, to be used by soldiers during an attack. 

A large man stood outside the door. Balian recognized him immediately, even in the shadows. "Sir Lucan." 

Sir Lucan Gunderic was a hero who had protected the king by killing sixty raiders single-handedly. From there he had been appointed to be the king's right-hand guard. The man was a legend around not just the Capitol, but the world. 

But to Balian, Sir Lucan was his best friend. The two grasped hands, nodding to each other with respect. 

"Our king is inside," Sir Lucan said.

"Bad news, I expect?" Balian asked. 

Sir Lucan averted his eyes and nodded. "He seems troubled by something. Please, go inside. I know your time is limited."

Balian patted him on the shoulder gratefully and entered the armory. 

"Sir Balian Hawthorne. Welcome in," said the king. He sat on the edge of an empty barrel, his back against a bare wall. In his hand, he held a goblet, from which he took a long drink while Balian closed the door. 

Balian stepped toward King Leandis, kneeling first, then bowing his head. "Your Grace."

"No need for all of that, General. I'll make this quick. But I need you to be aware of the current situation."

"The enemy?"

"Not the one that is attacking," King Leandis said, taking another gulp from his goblet. "It's a much larger threat than that. It seems House Styte has plans to take over our kingdom."

"What?" Balian asked, confused. "But your daughter…you married her off to their prince. Why would they even consider-"

"My daughter is dead, Sir Balian. I just received word a few hours ago," the king's voice wavered. He was silent for a moment. Then he cleared his throat, looking back at Balian.

"I used to think highly of arranged marriages. My own was arranged, and that turned out wonderfully. Marriages were meant to bind two houses. I just assumed their love was stronger than House Styte's anger. I was wrong.

"A war is coming here. Styte wants our land, our riches, our people. They want everything I've worked so hard to protect. A simple marriage was never going to stop their plans. I should've crushed them when I had the chance…yet I was sympathetic. And foolish."

"I'm…I'm so sorry, Your Grace," Balian said. "What shall we do in retaliation?"

The king took another gulp from the near-empty goblet. "I don't know all the details, General. Isn't that your job? I want House Styte gone. Destroy them. Do you understand, Sir Balian?"

"Just Balian, Your Grace. I'm no knight."

King Leandis raised an eyebrow. "No? Why not? I'd always assumed…."

"I just…I am not deserving yet. I will accept the honor when I am ready."

A war horn blew overhead. The enemy was here. 

King Leandis hopped off the barrel, taking one last sip of his wine. He tossed the empty goblet to the side. "That's my cue. Defend the city well, Balian. After this…take the army. Ride out with everything you've got. Destroy House Styte." He opened the door where Sir Lucan waited. "Let us go."

Sir Lucan obeyed, giving Balian a quick, sympathetic glance. Then, the two departed for the palace. 

The war horn cried out again, and Balian groaned.

He left the armory and began the climb back up the wall: a seemingly never-ending five levels of stone steps. 

Soldiers rushed past him, moving to their battle stations with haste. 

"General Balian," said a familiar-looking soldier. The one who had delivered the message earlier. "The enemy is here. I did as you asked and alerted everyone."

"Good. Get out of my way. I want to see what these fuckers look like."

Balian reached the top of the wall and looked out into the distance. It was dark, but he could barely see the approaching figures.

About…two kilometers out, he thought. The scout was right. Their pace was unyielding. 

"Soldiers!" Balian screamed, turning around. "The enemy will reach our walls in seven minutes! Archers, ready your bows. My riders, mount your horses. We shall ride out to meet them!"

There was a thunderous cheer from the soldiers, excited to finally see some action. 

"Let's kill them all!"

"They are only six! We'll crush them in an instant!"

"Pathetic!"

"It's a suicide charge. They have no clue who they're going against!"

General Balian descended the steps and made his way to the front gate. A squire stood at the front, holding his horse. Balian pushed past him and hopped on her back. 

Garlin snorted a welcome, and Balian ran his hand through her mane. "You ready?"

The familiar clanking of a chain sounded, and the gate began to rise. 

"Men!" Balian shouted to the fifty riders behind him. "I want all of them dead. They killed hundreds of our women and children in nearby villages. Right now, their deaths have no meaning. And that we will change! Kill without mercy, as they have done to us!"

The riders roared in response. 

Balian turned forward and gave Garlin a slight kick in the side. She took off, and the thunder of horse hooves followed behind. 

They met their adversaries after a kilometer of riding. Balian squinted, hoping to make out more details of the enemy than his scout. Yet, it was the same as the description he'd been given. They wore armor from head to toe, and only two red orbs were visible under their helmets. The one different thing: there were seven figures here, not six. 

Who was the added figure? Balian's eyes made their way to the very back, where a woman stumbled. She wore only a thin nightgown, which was ripped and torn. And even in the darkness, Balian could see her wavy, purple hair. 

"THEY HAVE A HOSTAGE!" Balian screamed back at his men. But what if they didn't hear? What if they trampled this woman thinking she was the enemy?

He couldn't take that chance. Drawing his sword, Balian swung at the first enemy. His sword found its way through a gap in their armor, cutting into their neck. Using all his strength, as well as the momentum from Garlin, Balian was able to decapitate them. 

Garlin plowed through the rest of the enemies and halted in front of the woman. 

Balian dismounted as the rest of his soldiers cut down the enemies behind him. The woman was still in chains, though she was no longer being dragged. He knelt down in front of her, sheathing his sword. "Madam, are you okay? What's your name?"

She looked up at him, tears forming in her bright green eyes. 

"Athena."

She's…beautiful, Balian thought immediately. He quickly pushed the idea away, as he always did. 

"Balian the Lonely," his soldiers always whispered behind his back. "Maybe he wouldn't be so strict if he found himself a woman."

That was my choice, Balian thought. 

"Athena? Are you from a nearby village? Why did they capture you?" Balian asked kindly. She seemed shaken up.

"I…I don't remember," she said quietly. She looked down sadly at the chains around her bleeding wrists. 

Balian grabbed one of the chains lightly. "May I free you?"

She frowned. "Am I not already free? These chains don't truly mean I'm bound. Look. Look down. You too are wearing chains, yet you cannot see them. You…lack freedom more than I ever have."

"What?" Balian asked. She wasn't making any sense. Blood dripped down the side of her head. Maybe she'd been beaten? He began to unravel the chains, which had been tied in multiple areas so she wouldn't escape. "Doesn't matter. Please, let me help you onto my horse. We'll get you to a physician immediately. Can you stand?"

Athena shook her head. "No. I wouldn't dare. Not while they rise."

Balian heard a scream, and he spun around to see a dismounted soldier torn in half by one of the enemies. 

How was it not dead yet? The other five were also rising, some with missing limbs and others with decapitated heads. 

These were no ordinary soldiers. They were monsters.