Blood feud(1)

Thousands of tents sprawled across the earth like a vast sea of fabric.

There was no mistaking it was a camp…the city of Baarsha, capital of the principality of Arlania, loomed just a few kilometers ahead, but it seemed worlds away from this bustling military encampment.

Flanking each tents were obviously also torches , at least three to each one.

The thick smoke from these countless fires seemed to build a grey bridge towards the sky , as if they were trying to reach the gods

"Arlania's is like a brothel, at the first sign of coin or sword, you will find their doors more open than a flower in the morning sun."

This was a popular saying among the common soldiers, who saw themselves as lucky to be chosen by their lords to march in such campaigns. After all, there was minimal risk of dying and ample opportunity for financial gain. The emperor himself often rewarded his soldiers with monetary gifts after receiving the new prince's gift

But in reality, these campaigns were often nothing more than grand displays of power and most importantly to boost prestige for one leading the army, since they were always sure to succeed.

Battles were rare, if they happened at all. And so when the Rolmian scouts spotted this moderate-sized military camp ahead of the capital, they couldn't help but scratch their heads in confusion and wonder what game their enemies were playing.

"Well, this is quite a surprise, isn't it? Who knew they had it in them?" One of the scouts commented, his voice tinged with surprise as he surveyed the camp below.

"How many are there?" inquired another, his curiosity piqued by the unexpected sight.

"Considering the tents, there should be at most 8,000," the second scout replied after finishing his count. "Quite a surprise, really, but hardly a danger. I bet they are nothing more than peasants given some spears and told to fight." He chuckled confidently. "They are no match for our army."

"How many are we, by the way?"

"14,000 or something like that," the second scout replied dismissively. "I didn't bother to count our numbers really...."

"Still, do you think the nobles went behind the emperor's backs and supported the prince?Woe to them if they did "

"Hardly a possibility. When was the last time they actually went to battle?"

"Then how do you explain their numbers?"

"Well, I am sure that the prince went all out and-" the second scout began, but he was abruptly cut off by the older of the three scouts, who had remained silent until now.

"Shut your mouth," the older of three scouts ordered sternly, his voice brooking no argument. The two younger scouts fell silent, chastened by his reprimand.

"If you have the strength to blabber your mouth, squint your fucking eyes and look at the heralds," the older scout continued, his tone gruff with authority.

Confused, the two younger scouts followed his instructions, straining their eyes to see the distant figures below.

"I don't really see anything from here," one of them admitted, his frustration evident in his voice.

"They are mercenaries," the older scout explained with a heavy sigh, his expression grave. "The prince probably emptied his treasury and recruited them."

"Well, what's the issue, though?" the first of the two scouts asked, not quite grasping the significance of the revelation. "Apart from the fact that if he had the gold to recruit such a force, then he could have paid the empire for three years consecutively at least?Still I do-"

"The Order of the Betrayed is there"

Silence , silence and then even more silence.The information dawned on them like an avalanche on a small village, sowing destruction everywhere.

A small and little shiver went through the two scouts, they said nothing but they looked at each other, before both of them eyed the older veteran who kept looking at the camp

''T-the emperor , we must go and tell the emperor immediately...'' one of the scouts muttered

''Don't you fucking say?''

The veteran's face twisted as he spurred his horse forward, whipping it mercilessly with his iron-clad heel. He didn't even spare a glance for the young scouts, but they knew they had spoken the truth. The emperor needed to be told.

———————

A rough voice, filled with anger, cut through the tension like a knife. The veteran scout knelt on the hot, sandy ground, feeling the beads of sweat trickle down his cheeks and into his silver-streaked beard.

"Repeat what you just told me,"

"Your grace, we have just returned from our scouting mission and we bring grave news," the scout began to explain, his heart pounding in his chest. "Ahead of the city we found a military camp,their numbers no more than 8,000 . As we approached, we noticed heralds flying above. At first, we thought they were noble heralds, but upon closer inspection, we realized they were not of nobles but of mercenaries. And one of them was a dagger on a black field alongside that of a h-headless eagle-e. Your grace we are sure that it belonged to the 'Order of the Betrayed'. I also..... recognized the banners of Rapid company and The Golden ch-"

"Out!" The emperor's fist slammed down on the table with such force that it split in two, sending cups and wine flying.

The scout quickly scrambled to his feet and ran from the room, fearing that one moment or the other he may have his head sent flying .

The nobles inside the tent stood silent their eyes not daring to meet the emperor's they knew too well that it was nor the moment nor the time to discuss about what to do next, after all the appearance of an army completely disrupted their previous war-plans .

''HOW? HOW THE FUCK DID THEY GET THERE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING IT?!'' The king shouted as he moved towards one of the nobles, he was old , his once blonde hair turned gray , one of his eye was covered by a black patch, a small farewell gift given by Zazanians at the battle of the shifting sand. He was among those that were captured, by custom he should have been treated fairly, still that did not stop them from taking one of his eyes and sending it to his family when the ransom was coming late.

Someday during the cold it would hurt , yet when it was hot it would tremble.... he still remembers the hot knife cutting through his eyeball.

And the memories never left him as sometime during the night he would awake screaming and swinging his arms around like a madman, until his guards called by his wife would come in and restrain him.

''CAN YOU FUCKING ANSWER ME!ARE YOU DEAF? ARE THOSE EARS FOR DECORATIONS?'' The emperor continued shouting as he approached closer to his spy-master. That was not how he usually behaved, normally he was as stoic and calm as a lake , deigning of small smile for delight , and a simple frown when angered, yet none of them was unaware of the reason.

Ugly and past memories probably surged within the emperor's mind .

''I apologise your grace, my spy -''

''YOUR ?''

''OUR, our spy did not report anything like that as a matter of fact we did not even know they had assembled such force, I can not exp-''

''I DON'T PAY THEM AN EYE, FOR YOU TO SAY YOU CANNOT. YOU ARE OUR EYES AND EARS , YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MY INFORMANTS, NOT A BABBLING FOOL. OUT OF HERE , NOW!''

Julian lowered his head, and left , he rarely saw the emperor so angered and he knew better than to disobey him.

''What's the problem?''

The uncomfortable silence , immediately became still.All eyes drawn to the figure of a young man. He looked around in confusion sensing his eyes on him. He had posed such question to the man in his side, yet the silence was there when he spoke, failing to mask his words.

The various nobles did not know if they should pity him or be awed by his ignorance. Not even the time to understand the situation and the boy flew to the ground, his lips broken and few teeth flying out.

The Steel-hand of the emperor , raised to the sky, few drops of blood on it . ''THIS IS THE FUCKING PROBLEM!'' He shouted as he moved his prostethyc towards the boy face.

''SEE THIS FUCKING MISSING HAND , AND DO YOU SEE THIS CROWN I WEAR?HARD TO MISS ARE THEY ? THEY WERE BOTH GIFTS OF THOSE BASTARDS! THAT'S THE FUCKING PROBLEM''