《Martyrium》


 The Lonely Hill

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    <h2>Jason</h2>


    The vast and flat green field was interrupted by the occasional boulder. The tall grass was dancing with great vigour as the wind was blowing against them, seemingly trying to deter him and his fellow men from their march towards what was hopefully to be their last battle. The short duration in fighting, the enormous lopsided victories, and little to no casualties in these last five months made them confident and walk with a straight back against the harsh wind.


    But it wasn¡¯t an army that was marching onward. No, it was merely a group of five armoured men. Between them was soon to be king, coal with a golden heart, Lord Jason from Windschild. The Lightning, who conquered the entirety of Igelland in less than five months. They would call him coal for his dark skin and spiky black hair.


    ¡°What is Windschild like, my king?¡± Lord Henry asked and put an arm around his shoulder.


    ¡°Stop calling me that, mate,¡± Lord Jason said while keeping his gaze ahead of him. ¡°You¡¯re gonna jinx everything,¡± he remarked.


    ¡°You with yo¡¯ superstitious arse...¡± Henry snorted. ¡°Do you seriously envision us losing at this point?¡± he laughed.


    Jason looked at the handsome man with dark brown hair, fair skin, prominent sideburns and a mullet. The man who ignited his ambition. The man, who fought along with him for four years. His smile was giving him fortitude. He was his brother in battle, and although he had no royal blood in him, Jason would name him Lord for his strength and bravery alone.


    ¡°Do not underestimate The White Viper!¡± Sophon sternly remarked. He walked right up to Jason and said with the air of confiding a secret, ¡°We have a very formidable foe before us! We need to talk strategy at last!¡±


    ¡°Trust me on this for once,¡± he responded in a low voice. Jason didn¡¯t expect him to understand. Sophon didn¡¯t know her like he did.


    ¡°To answer your question, Lord Henry.¡± Jason turned to him. ¡°Windschild is... well... windy.¡± The onslaught of wind just grew in force and loudness, as if to emphasise his statement.


    ¡°You don¡¯t say?¡± Lord Henry shouted over the wind.


    ¡°Lord Jason!¡± Sophon pleaded with him. His eyes grew in his worried impatience. ¡°I heard rumours about The White Viper! How she uses hostages to blackmail lords all over the land! Not to mention the way she savagely punishes criminals and traitors!¡±


    Maybe it was the loud wind that urged him to talk so harshly, in a way the level headed Sophon never talked before.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to lecture me on my old friend, dear Sophon,¡± was Jason¡¯s response. ¡°And her name is Lady Josiane,¡± he added, getting increasingly irritated by the title she acquired some time in the last four years.


    ¡°What is our strategy?¡± Sophon asked at length, defeated. ¡°Why leave our whole army, effectively our only leverage, behind!?¡±


    ¡°It would set the wrong precedent for what I have in mind,¡± Jason explained over the wind, having heeded that question.


    And Jason smiled privately at the prospect of seeing her again, of seeing his home again. He had decided from the very beginning that Windschild would be the last town he would be conquering. Located on a grand peninsula, with a great flat land bridge on which wind was blowing yearlong against all possible invaders from land, Windschild spawned many legends of archers, who controlled the wind and casted arrows forth, with which they reached the farthest of enemies. Jason loved and was proud of his home. He would not inflict it with bloodshed of any kind, if he could help it.


    ¡°Oh... Ohhh! I get it now!¡± Elias shouted. ¡°I know what his strategy is!¡± Jason felt rather than saw Elias¡¯ sheepish grin and slanted eyes behind him. ¡°He¡¯s not going to fight Lady Josiane. Nonono! Rather he¡¯s going to fuck her into submission and make her his concubine!¡±


    A heartbeat had not passed, when Jason stopped, dropped his shoulder bag and turned around. ¡°You will not insult Lady Josiane¡¯s honour again!¡± he yelled and placed a stern finger on Elias¡¯ chest armour.


    ¡°M-My Lord, I¡¯m- I¡¯m terribly sorry!¡± Elias stuttered and put his palms in the air in evident confusion. This was the first time he scolded Elias like this.


    Jason even surprised himself. He turned around, picked up his bag and they resumed their marching. ¡°I¡¯m going to give her an offer, she¡¯ll not be able to refuse,¡± he said to himself.


    Jason didn¡¯t see how Sophon looked curiously at this. And how Henry mouthed his cock at Nils and Elias, who both snickered.


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    <h2>Sophon</h2>


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    In a way it made sense, yes. Surely the young Lord Jason, heir of Windschild, didn¡¯t want to conquer his homeland by brute force. He was coal with a golden heart after all. But his precious nest was now infested by a vicious snake. And they were walking right into its poisonous orifice.


    Obviously, The Lightning held The White Viper in high regards. So much was evident from his unusual reaction to the insult towards her person. It was almost as clear as day now, that the young Lord was planning to betroth her.


    Sophon¡¯s stomach grew a pitfall at this. He had to convince him to turn around. He had to! Think, Sophon! Think!


    How could one deter a young human from a vile love? Impossible, when the poison was so sweet. He didn¡¯t ever see The White Viper in person, he hoped he never had to. But the rumours of her beauty spread across the whole land, just as the rumours of her vindictiveness. Add this to the fact, that they were practically raised together, familiarity obscuring reason, and the young Lord was bound to doom himself in a reckless act, that would cost them everything!


    Lord Jason, smart and brave as he was, was still a young man and had little to no experience with women. Refusing every advance of noble women and prostitutes alike in fierce defence of his honour. Sophon knew his background after all, and the last five months proved his suspicions.


    And now, Sophon understood that he was saving himself for her, of all noble women!


    The howling wind seemed to carry with it a seductive singsong of a deadly siren. And this brave and kind young human, whom he learned to love like his own kind, was walking right into that trap.


    A sharp hiss followed by a thump. They came to a halt.


    Sophon saw Henry, drawing his sword and running in front of Lord Jason with swift speed. Then he and the others saw it as well.


    An arrow has landed five feet in front of Lord Jason. Everyone drew their swords.


    ¡°An attack this early?!¡± Elias cried out, his voice edged with panic.


    ¡°No, this is just a deterrence!¡± Jason explained, although visibly flustered.


    Sophon looked in front of them, then turned around, but couldn¡¯t make out an archer, even though they were on a perfectly flat field. Are they hiding in a trench? he wondered.


    ¡°Will we head back?¡± Lord Nils asked curiously.


    ¡°Too late, we¡¯re already in their range,¡± Jason said. ¡°From now on, everyone will walk at a steady pace and in a straight line! Do not slow down or speed up, no matter what happens!¡± he warned gravely and started marching again.


    ¡°You heard him! Move!¡± Henry ordered, when they didn¡¯t budge immediately, and they formed a straight line with Henry in front, Lord Jason second.


    Shortly later a second arrow landed five feet in front of Henry. Sophon wondered how he could be such a daredevil and not so much as flinch at the deadly projectile, when at any moment one of those could pierce his skull. Then again, he supposed, that¡¯s just a given on a battlefield.


    ¡°How can we be so sure they won¡¯t kill us?¡± Elias asked anxiously.


    Jason half turned his head to regard him. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t try to flee, they won¡¯t kill us,¡± he said much to Sophon¡¯s peril. ¡°This is a test. Just keep moving forward!¡±


    Another arrow landed again five feet in front of Henry. As they marched forward, the arrow, passing between their legs, was almost mocking them. And as they marched forward, more and more arrows landed in front of them, always five feet in front of Henry. But no matter how hard Sophon looked on the plain field surrounding them, he couldn¡¯t make out neither archer nor any trench those could reside in. He looked back to see the line of arrows, which marked the way they came.


    It was a perfect straight line.


    As if they were not arrows casted by an archer, but rather markings of a mason, who wanted to build a straight wall.


    That and the fact that each arrow landed exactly five feet in front of Henry, no matter where he was, told him that the archer, who casted these arrows, was extremely precise. Despite the strong winds, which most surely must have deterred any arrow from its intended path ever so slightly.


    They were extremely precise. Hence they had to be near. But Sophon couldn¡¯t see any archers; couldn¡¯t make them out. What was going on?


    ¡°Bloody Hell! I can¡¯t see those fuckin¡¯ archers!¡± another arrow prompted Henry to voice their shared sentiment.


    ¡°Where is the archer for these arrows?¡± Elias finally asked.


    And the wailing of the wind drowned out their silence, when Sophon couldn¡¯t think of an answer; couldn¡¯t think of a possible logical explanation except for a creeping suspicion that the answer to this enigma wasn¡¯t logical at all.


    ¡°They are probably over the horizon,¡± Jason said.


    And Henry barked a harsh laugh at this. He turned around with a grin walking sidewards, but sobered quickly after glimpsing Jason¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡± he asked, his brows furrowed.


    Another arrow landed.


    Henry turned his attention forwards. His stance betrayed a certain wariness now.


    Over the horizon? Sophon thought. Impossible. It can¡¯t be.


    It couldn¡¯t be. The extreme precision paired with the enormous range despite the chaotic wind. It couldn¡¯t be true. Except¡­


    Sophons cooling fluids started leaking through his silver skin. He was sweating. His silicon heart started beating faster. The pitfall in his stomach grew into a full blown black abyss. The desire to run away was painful to resist. He knew this feeling. He knew it quite well.


    Left-handed magic! he realised, terrified.


    Judging from the range and the precision alone, a very skilled magician at that! Any attempts at fleeing would be met with homing arrows, fast and murderous, piercing through their heads and hearts, carried by a vicious spirit cursing itself wind.


    They couldn¡¯t possibly turn around now. They were already in their range! Fleeing was futile!


    The use of left-handed magic only confirmed for Sophon all the rumours he heard about The White Viper. They were all marching towards their doom!


    Sophon looked back at the straight line of arrows and saw it for what it was. The mouth of a serpent, filled with razor sharp teeth, which only allowed travel in one direction: down its throat. And he could feel the sheer arrogance and the now obvious mockery that radiated from them.


    Sophon closed his eyes in a painful expression and started praying. He prayed to God, Lord Jason may come out of this alive!


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    <h2>Henry</h2>


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    It would have been simply awe inducing, were it not for the fact that he was on the receiving end of these arrows. The archer throwing these was over the horizon, it was just baffling!


    Henry looked around and absorbed the landscape. No mountains, no trees, just a flat green field. It felt like they were out on the ocean, but with grass instead of water. It was such a marvellous sight. The horizon, a perfect circle around them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s gooo!¡± he shouted enthusiastically. He felt Jason¡¯s smile behind him. They were trying to scare them with some measly little arrows. He was ecstatic and eager to prove them otherwise! He was not afraid! None whatsoever, and soon enough they would consume his scrotum!


    His wouldn¡¯t be the only one getting consumed today, it appeared. It appeared that Jason¡¯s stupid abstinence would finally come to an end after Henry had to endure it for four years! He was about to propose to this maiden, whom he was so evidently in love with. And she would accept, of course. No sane woman would refuse the advances of a man, who conquered the whole damn continent in little more than five months! And after the deed would be done, he¡¯d finally be able to talk with his friend about fucking, like two proper men!


    And of course, as his best fighter and tall and handsome guard, Henry would get the most facile time at laying with many female servants as he liked, once he completed the duties the new king would bestow upon him.


    Despite Jason¡¯s immense capabilities when it came to strategising or coming up with a battle plan, he was still in many ways an idiot. Everytime Henry would remotely refer to something sexual, he would blush like a little girl. Although more often than not Henry loved to state things as bluntly as possible, which made Jason cringe and squeal much to Henry¡¯s, Elias¡¯ and Nils¡¯ amusement. He was the only one of them, who didn¡¯t get his rod buttered yet.


    And Sophon¡­ He didn¡¯t know what to think about Sophon. He looked like a human, he talked like a human, but did he fuck like a human? Henry had no idea how reproduction between steelwalkers worked, if they reproduced at all. Sophon was an odd steelwalker anyway for how much he was human-like. Sometimes Henry caught himself forgetting that he wasn¡¯t one. That scared him. The only signs were his silver skin and maybe his white hair, reminding him of the brushes of a broom. As well as his eyes, being a milky white with a black pupil, occasionally dilating exceedingly.


    Henry started wondering if the straight line of the horizon ever had a different shape to begin with, when he started to make out something far in the distance. And sure enough after half an hour he could make out a small hill, slowly growing in their view as they pushed forward. And as they came closer to that hill, he realised that the arrows landing in front of him ceased to appear.


    He braced himself for impact.


    ¡°Of course, she would meet us at this hill,¡± Jason said fondly behind him.


    Henry couldn¡¯t ponder what he meant before he heard a female voice shout: ¡°Hold it, right there!¡±


    Henry looked up to the top of the hill and saw five figures slowly emerge, all of whom were heavily armoured men, except for a woman in the middle. The men each held giant quivers, filled with the same arrows, with which they were being shot at. The woman held a large silver recurve bow crested with a diamond and was almost dwarfed by its size. She wore a lightly sparkling light grey dress with a deep neckline. Henry stared. She was beautiful.


    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t little Jayjay!¡± the woman smirked down upon them and lent her nearest guard her bow.


    Henry laughed. ¡°Jayjay?!¡± he wheezed and turned to look at him. Elias and Nils cringed as well with laughter. Henry didn¡¯t think twice of it and decided then and there he would call him Jayjay for the rest of his life. He would never let him live this down!


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you too, Josie!¡± Jayjay said with fond annoyance. And Henry could feel the heat radiating from his face from all the way where he stood. He peeked a glimpse at Lady Josiane and couldn¡¯t really blame him.


    ¡°And? Did you come to conquer our homeland?¡± she asked in a nonchalant way that caught them off guard.


    The confidence! Henry thought, marvelled.


    ¡°Well¡­ no¡­ we came¡­ for another reason¡­ actually,¡± Jayjay stumbled over his words.


    Henry decided to help him. ¡°We want a peace treaty!¡± he said and smiled his best smile at Lady Josiane.


    ¡°A peace treaty?¡± she echoed him. ¡°Is that true, Jayjay?¡± She walked down the hill, with her hands put behind her back, seemingly non-confrontational, superior. Her guards followed her step and they slowly encircled them.


    Henry exchanged a quick glance with Sophon, and smartly didn¡¯t falter his smile. It¡¯s fine! he thought. Jason knew what he was doing.


    ¡°Almost¡­¡± Jayjay answered her question. ¡°I came here to propose to you! Like promised!¡±


    And Henry resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. Idiot! he thought.


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    <h2>Miriam</h2>


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    The lukewarm rays of a setting sun tinged the desert in an orange hue. The cloudless sky turned blood red. The occasional gentle breeze carried sand, playing the sinister song of a rattlesnake. In the midst of the desert far away from any settlement, the unexpectedly early labour of a young woman prompted them to hastily gather their company and start their ritual.


    Nine women, each clad in their entirety in black veils, surrounded them in a circle and were chanting spells in the ancient azimian language. They carried the labouring girl for four hours, with her constantly screaming and wailing in waves of agony until her voice became hoarse, before they settled in a small dale between the wavy sand dunes.


    After a little more than half an hour, Miriam looked at the blood soaked head that greeted her between the girl¡¯s spread legs. The hardest part was almost done.


    ¡°Push!¡± she ordered her subordinate.


    And Layla screeched through gritted teeth, eyes painfully closed as she tucked her chin to her chest and pushed her still unborn child out.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Miriam ordered with her raspy voice. ¡°Breathe!¡±


    Layla inhaled and exhaled in short and fast breaths. Miriam slowly pulled the child out. It wasn¡¯t crying. How suboptimal, she thought. An alive baby always gave more potent results.


    Miriam drew her dagger from its sheath to sever the navel-cord. She stood up, turned around and laid the babe on the orange sand in the middle of their circle.


    Layla was breathing heavily lying behind her, covered in sweat and sand, totally exhausted. Blood soaked her dress. ¡°No¡­¡± she exclaimed weakly. But like so many times before, her pointless motherly sentiments would not last to see another day.


    Miriam pressed a finger¡¯s touch on the babe¡¯s chest, and with the will of the Goddess she was, spawned a raging blaze with which she set its small body into flames.


    ¡°Nooo!¡± Layla started crying, shedding tears as she helplessly mourned and squealed. Uselessly. The child was dead anyway.


    Miriam scooped up the handful of ash, outwardly betraying nothing of its prior form and life. She stood up and held the ashes of the babe at arm''s length in front of her, parading it for the nine women around them. Instilling fear in them, for they would chant their spells more effectively.


    One of them would die today. The question was, who? Shall it be you? She turned to one of them, who flinched. Or you? She turned to another. Miriam always found the way each of them slightly jumped, when they faced her gaze, amusing. She couldn''t see their faces, but she could see them tremble underneath their veils. This was never getting old! She also thought she could smell their sweat of fear, although it might have been the burned babe.


    Then she looked down at Layla, who was still breathing heavily, and smiled at the cruel idea.


    Using the child''s own mother¡­ How fitting! Why did she never think of it before?


    Miriam moved forward and knelt in the sand besides Layla¡¯s head. The nearest of the veiled women stood up and did the same, and pinned Layla¡¯s arms down.


    ¡°What are- ¡­you doing?¡± Layla asked between breaths, confused.


    Miriam pulled her eyelids wide open each with the thumb and index finger of her right hand, holding the ashes in her left.


    Layla begged. ¡°No! Goddess¡­ please! Anything-... but that! I¡¯m your loyal slave! I¡¯m your loyal-¡±


    Miriam poured the still hot ashes of her miscarriage first into Layla¡¯s right eye, then into her left.


    And Layla screeched at the pain; at the new found darkness she suddenly fell in. They released her and stood up. She started grunting like an animal, foaming from her mouth. Gasping and wiggling. Screaming and shouting. This continued a while, before she started muttering undistinguishable words and suddenly fell spent, barely conscious.


    ¡°What did you see?¡± Miriam demanded from her with her raspy voice. She knelt beside her, grabbed her shoulders and shook her harshly. ¡°What did you see?!¡± she demanded again.


    Miriam stared into Layla¡¯s eyes, each now a black void. She opened her mouth to speak and Miriam put her ear closer to her mutterance.


    ¡°Lightning strike-... white snake-... burning-... egg¡­ dragon-... egg¡­ child of-... light¡­ light¡­ light-¡­¡± Layla fell unconscious. Her chest slowly flattened as she took her last breath.


    Miriam sobered and slowly stood up. She looked at the red line of the horizon, where the sun had disappeared and breathed once through her nose. The slowly impending darkness and cool air of the evening did nothing to soothe the frustration she felt.


    She spent seven months feeding this good for nothing twat raw pork, snake blood, human bones and the afterbirth of black cats, and only got this undermining result? This measly excuse of a prophecy?! Unacceptable! Miriam thought.


    Miriam spat on Layla¡¯s corpse. She had failed her enough times.


    ¡°Get up! We¡¯re heading back!¡± she rasped to her subordinates.


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    <h2>Elias</h2>


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    ¡°Woah! That looks delicious!¡± Elias marvelled at the meals they were getting served. Steak marinated with herbs he never had the luxury to even smell, on top of being well salted. Exotic fruits he didn¡¯t know even existed on top of large leaves of lettuce. Wine, that was supposedly as old as the last kingdom''s downfall. He had seen the rich and fertile lands on their way here, and guessed as much. The livestock was fat and well fed. He had wondered what their meat might taste like and now he would get to find out first hand. And that was merely the beginning. Lady Josiane had promised cake as well.


    Elias was getting a little jealous. The climate in Hossenfeld didn¡¯t allow a yearlong harvest and winter was harsh, while it seemed that Windschild had even warm breezes in the midst of fall. And although the great hall they dined in wasn¡¯t much bigger than theirs, the elegant carvings in glittering marble were astonishing and the beauty of it was impossible not to be envied.


    Elias ran a hand on the table¡­ so smooth! he delighted. He looked at the silverware and the clear glass and the porcelain. It was a supper quite fit for a king.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lady Josiane asked, when they didn¡¯t start dining immediately. ¡°Scared I might poison you, JayJay?¡± she said and smiled sardonically.


    ¡°With you, one does never know, dear Josie!¡± Lord Jason smiled at her. He stopped the maid, who was about to pour wine into his glass. ¡°Remember when you put fire ants in my socks?¡±


    And Josiane hit her head against her chair, when she barked a loud laugh. ¡°I was five!¡± she clarified. ¡°And he deserved it!¡± she explained to Henry, who also rejected the wine.


    Elias saw Sophon gently squeezing Nils¡¯ arm, who subtly nodded and stood up from his chair, walking up to Jason¡¯s side.


    ¡°My friend¡­ I think that won¡¯t be necessary!¡± Jason said but ultimately allowed Lord Nils to taste his meal first, when he saw Henry¡¯s intent look.


    Nils started chewing. Elias started sweating, when he saw Lady Josiane¡¯s slanted eyes, her smile gone. The air filled with electricity when she looked at her guests one after another. Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. Henry neutrally stared back. Elias slightly jumped, when Josiane met his eyes. She was pretty, yes, but she had scary eyes and her silent fury was frightening.


    Then she locked her gaze on Sophon and didn¡¯t falter her intense stare. And Sophon¡¯s glare grew more hateful with every passing second.


    Exactly half a minute had passed, although it felt much longer than that, when Nils finally stopped chewing. ¡°Everything clear,¡± he quietly confirmed and sat back down.


    ¡°Great! Can we finally eat?!¡± Jason asked the table impatiently.


    ¡°You may!¡± Lady Josiane corrected his grammar. ¡°Although, I don¡¯t understand how I¡¯m supposed to take no offence¡­¡± she regarded Sophon. ¡°...given you so subtly accuse me of trying to poison my cousin,¡± she said in her honeyed voice with a peculiar venomous undertone.


    ¡°Wait¡­ cousin?¡± Henry snickered.


    Lady Josiane leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table she tucked her chin on her hands. ¡°You¡¯re a steelwalker, aren¡¯t you?¡± Josiane smiled solemnly at Sophon.


    And Sophon grew even more irate. ¡°And so what if I am?!¡± he retorted, so unlike his usual calm and calculating demeanour.


    ¡°Sophon¡­¡± Jason voiced their shared surprise. Elias never witnessed Sophon this flustered.


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious, that¡¯s all!¡± Josiane said in a brighter tone, and her smile got nicer. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a steelwalker like you before!¡±


    ¡°Excuse him¡­ he¡¯s my advisor and spymaster. Being suspicious is his duty,¡± Lord Jason tried to explain.


    Sophon nervously glimpsed a glance at Lord Jason before he asked, ¡°Are you affiliated with The Black Witch?¡± And they all went silent.


    Lord Jason grabbed his forehead.


    The Black Witch? Elias wondered.


    And Josiane¡¯s expression fell oddly neutral, when the silence stretched. Everyone who stared at Sophon was now staring at her awaiting her response.


    ¡°Who?¡± Josiane asked with a furrowed brow.


    ¡°Do not feign ignorance!¡± Sophon quietly trembled. Elias couldn¡¯t tell whether he was scared or angry or both.


    ¡°Sophon! What in God¡¯s name is wrong with you?¡± Jason heatedly asked him, shielding his face from Josiane with an open palm.


    ¡°She was using left-handed magic!¡± Sophon leaned towards him and whispered, a plea in his face.


    And Jason smashed hands flat on the table. ¡°Are you in all seriousness accusing my future wife of witchcraft and sorcery?!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say ¡®yes¡¯, yet,¡± Josiane interjected.


    And Jason¡¯s head jerked a sharp turn towards her. ¡±What?¡± he asked, his voice uncharacteristically high.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t expressed my approval of your proposal¡­ yet,¡± she repeated slowly, while studying her nails.


    And Elias could have almost laughed at the relief that ran through Sophon¡¯s body. Almost. If he also didn¡¯t see the way his friend froze in place. Poor Lord Jason! he thought.


    Nils awkwardly sipped from his wine. Elias and Henry exchanged worrying glances before Henry offered, ¡°Maybe you two should talk this one out in private¡­¡±


    ¡°Great idea!¡± Lady Josiane said and stood up from her chair. ¡°Please don¡¯t wait on us! Enjoy your meals, before they might get cold!¡± She put her arms behind her back in what Elias now realised was betraying a certain military background. ¡°Should you be in need of anything, you may call for my favourite maids Anna and Chiara.¡± Josiane inclined her head away from Jason. ¡°They are¡­ very¡­ friendly!¡± she said as she blinked Henry and Elias a wink.


    Elias felt Henry smile beside him. Probably contrary to him, he wasn¡¯t so sure about wanting to find out exactly how friendly these maids might become.


    Lady Josiane grabbed Lord Jason by the hand. ¡°Come with me, Jayjay!¡± She led him across the great hall. ¡°And brace yourself! Tomorrow you¡¯ll be disappointed!¡±


    As soon as they disappeared around the corridor Henry started laughing. ¡°He¡¯s marrying his cousin!¡± he wheezed and clapped his hands. And Nils and Elias were starting to laugh as well, for his laugh was extremely contagious.


    Sophon didn¡¯t laugh, but Sophon never laughed. He just looked like he wanted to follow them really badly.


    Elias sobered. A thought gave him pause. They didn¡¯t look like cousins. ¡°Although, by the looks of it, he¡¯s probably not,¡± Elias said.


    ¡°Honestly, probably for the better,¡± Henry said and searched for an affirmative glance from Sophon he didn¡¯t receive.


    Elias grabbed his silverware and started chipping away at his steak, which prompted the other men on the table to start eating as well. And before he even could realise it, the whole thing was gone. It was so delicious! He asked for more, and they brought them more! This was the best food he had ever eaten in a long time! And when the kitchen staff brought in the huge cake, Elias gasped. This had to be what Heaven looked like!


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    <h2>Jason</h2>


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    ¡°You¡¯ve changed things quite a lot here,¡± Jason acknowledged, while looking around her room.


    Josie silently sat on the food of her canopy bed and studied him. He couldn¡¯t read her neutral face and her quiet was unusual for her. Jason dreaded this silence. He dreaded she might expand on her earlier inquisition and outwardly refuse his advance altogether. Jason needed time to think.


    He didn¡¯t have time to think.


    While looking around, Josie¡¯s newly acquired props and accessories were objects of his genuine curiosity, as well as welcomed distractions. He needed to stall time to gather his words and polish his case; to give her the one offer she could never refuse.


    The chess table struck his sight first, the pieces were already moved and in the middle of a game. Jason walked up to it and studied the position. He didn¡¯t miss the eloquent azimian craftsmanship that brought it forth. He thought about provoking her into a game, knowing very well she would probably beat him. Even severely out of practice Jason was pretty good. But ¡®pretty good¡¯ wasn¡¯t good enough for Josie. She would beat him more often than not even when they had been children, in spite of Jason being four years her senior.


    ¡°Uhm¡­ you wanna play a round?¡± Jason nervously asked her.


    Josie leaned back on her arms. ¡°Maybe another day, Jayjay,¡± she promised, with a tender look on her face he had never seen before. Jason had to turn his head away, in order to hide his blush.


    He saw the thick books decorating her study and approached them. Some were in Igellish, others in Azimian. Jason recognized one of the books, ¡®Benjamin the Silent¡¯. It was the dramatisation of the life and reign of the second to last king of Igelland. King Benjamin was a kind and honourable man. However, the world he lived in was not. Jason thought his tutor put it best, when he summarised, He was bound by four horses, each one pulling him in another direction until he and the kingdom was ripped apart. If God allowed Jason to become King, he had to make sure not to repeat Benjamin¡¯s mistakes.


    Next Jason saw the weapons that lined the wall opposite of Josie¡¯s bed. ¡°Woah!¡± he was stunned.


    There was a mace, a couple of different sorts of swords, and a spear. But what struck him most was the giant silver recurve bow he saw on her earlier, the one she used to throw arrows at them. Jason walked up to it and noticed the symmetry of its shape, the metallic hue it was clad in and the huge diamond in its middle.


    ¡°Where¡¯d you get that?!¡± Jason asked, absolutely amazed.


    If any bow could reach enemies over the horizon, it was probably this one. It looked like a steelwalker¡¯s artefact more than anything. It probably relied on some form of right-handed magic, rather than left-handed one. Sophon must be surely mistaken in his assessment. His prejudice, or the false or only partially true rumours he had heard, must have clouded his mind. Josie was beautiful, confident¡­ a genius.


    Jason¡¯s hand moved to grab the bow, but right before he could lay hands on it Josie intervened, ¡°Did you find my father¡¯s killer?¡±


    And Jason¡¯s hand jerked back and his posture shrunk, when she inevitably asked one of the few dreaded questions.


    He didn¡¯t.


    He had no idea where her father¡¯s murderer was, whatsoever. He didn¡¯t know his name, or how he looked. He was completely in the dark on the matter.


    Jason slowly turned around.  ¡°No¡­¡± he admitted and rubbed the back of his head. ¡°But once I will be King of Igelland, I will not only have the resources to facilitate a large-scale search¡­¡° Jason began his case. ¡°...I will enforce laws and order, such so that a tragedy like the one that befell Uncle Julian will never be able to occur ever again!¡± Jason said and cut the air with his hand.


    Josiane slanted her eyes with obvious scepticism. Jason gulped. You are losing her, the thought urged him.


    He closed the distance between them, driven by a sudden wave of bravery, and knelt in front of her.


    ¡°But I need you!¡± Jason said.


    Josiane straightened her back where she sat on her bed and looked wearily down on him.


    ¡°I need your help!" He took her hands. "You¡¯re the most beautiful, and smartest girl I know of!¡± He looked deeply into her light blue eyes. ¡°Well educated and a genius!¡± He looked at the beautiful brown hair lining her pale face. ¡°I can¡¯t do it without you!¡± he hoarsely admitted and kissed her hand. ¡°I need you to be my queen! I need you by my side, if I want to reunite the kingdom!¡±


    Josiane was slowly getting enchanted by his words as Jason put his hand into his bag, and pulled an engagement ring out. It was silver crested with a polished smaragd he had manufactured just for her. She silently gasped at the ring Jason put on her finger. He knew she hated gold and loved the colour green.


    Jason tightly held her hands and they locked their eyes. Maybe it was just the dim candlelight, but her eyes relayed something Jason didn¡¯t quite understand. Something that compelled him to bring his head closer to hers and maybe kiss her. And so he almost did, their lips brushing, before he remembered himself.


    Not before marriage! Get your act together! he reminded himself.


    But just when he decided to pull away, she put her hands around his neck and pressed a kiss onto his lips.


    The newly found heat seemed to invade his head and wander down to his core, making his heart pulse hard against his chest in the process. It was hard to think¡­ yes¡­ so hard¡­.


    Josie broke the kiss. Jason looked into her face, and saw his own desire reflected in it.


    ¡°You want to make me your queen?¡± she asked in a whisper.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Jason breathed, captured in the spell of her eyes, those gorgeous eyes!


    ¡°Then prove it!¡± she breathed back. ¡°Kiss my feet!¡± she ordered in a low voice.


    What? Jason froze with surprise and looked at her. He then looked down to see she already had her boots removed, he didn¡¯t register when she did that. Desire and his curiosity got the better of him, so he moved down to kiss her feet, reluctantly at first. But when he looked up to her face and saw her arousal, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to stop.


    ¡°That¡¯s it¡­¡± she purred. ¡°That¡¯s where you belong¡­¡± she honeyed. On your knees, kissing my feet, she didn¡¯t add. She didn¡¯t need to.


    Damn it, Josie! he thought. She always found new ways to humiliate him, since they were children. He once hated that about her. But now she somehow found a way to make his humiliation pleasurable for him. And it was scary as well as exciting; scary in how exciting it was! She will be the end of him!


    Josie grabbed his hair and pulled, leading him slowly along her leg, which Jason lined with kisses. When his head reached the corner, she lifted her dress to reveal the part of her that seldom saw the light of the day.


    Jason¡¯s blood boiled into his ears. He never saw one in person before, only the illustrations and drawings in medicine books. Was she¡­ was she naked all this time?


    ¡°Kiss me!¡± Josie ordered with a lustful breath.


    But when he wanted to lift his head to do so, she pushed him back down with her hand. Oh¡­ she meant¡­ oh¡­ ohhhh¡­ okay! Jason understood.


    And he kissed her. And Josie started moving to the rhythm of his tongue. Her breathing grew more shallow, as she grabbed his hair and forcefully pressed him against herself, pushing periodically. And the frequency was only rising as she suddenly leaned back, laying flat on her bed, and started moaning.


    Jason listened to her moans, breathed in her scent, her taste on his tongue, her nails digging in his head. He opened his eyes and looked up to her face. Her expression was pained from pleasure.


    She was his whole world now. And all he could think about was how much he wanted to sink deeper into that world!


    Josiane glimpsed down at him, and their eyes met. Her lustful gaze stirred something in Jason. She pulled the strings of her dress astray and laid her bare chest free. She then pinched the end of her right breast.


    ¡°Angh!¡± she loudly moaned as she jerked her head back.


    And Jason felt like he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. She was so unbelievably beautiful! It was getting harder and harder to constrain himself¡­ so hard!


    He needed her! He needed her!


    Jason removed his head from her groyne and Josie high-pitched a protest in frustration. He made room for himself by slightly lifting her and sliding her further back on the bed. He never had cursed the constraints of armour as much as right now, where it seemed like he couldn¡¯t remove this damn pauldron in time. Josie on the other hand didn¡¯t waste any, when she worked to remove his belt.


    The desire in their breathing seemed only to grow with each passing heartbeat, and so did their urgency.


    Finally the last piece of clothing was removed and hastily cast aside. She put a hand on his core. Her pale skin was contrasting his dark one, as her hand slowly wandered down.


    She suddenly grabbed him.


    ¡°Ahh! Not so tight!¡± Jason blurted out.


    And Josie just snickered her cruel smile at him, before she pinched his tip. And he jerked back his hips as he sharply inhaled through teeth.


    Josiane just laughed. Of course she wouldn¡¯t make this pleasurable for him. Of course!


    Jason decided that her time to be humbled was long overdue. He pushed her back flat on the bed. She gasped with surprise. He quickly moved on top of her and pinned her down. There was nowhere she could run away now.


    He tried to kiss her, but her lips were shut. Jason bit her under lip, asking for admission. She gave it to him and opened up¡­


    And he entered her.


    Josie muffled a pained moan in his mouth. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and they hugged tightly¡­ yes¡­ so tight!


    He felt her heart pound in her chest. And Jason couldn¡¯t tell her heat apart from his; Couldn¡¯t tell where she began and where he ended. She would be the end of him!


    To her agony, Jason began to move, slowly at first. He felt her sharp nails run along his back, but the pain eluded him, there was simply too much else to feel.


    After a while her painful exclaims slowly became melodic moans of pleasure. Jason sped up, sinking deeper inside her.


    Some time had passed, when he finally awoke from the deep well of instinct, he realised he was spent.


    They were both breathing heavily, covered in a fine film of sweat. Jason looked at Josie and Josie looked at Jason. Her smile was everything for him. He kissed her mouth. He kissed her cheek. He kissed her neck.


    Josiane¡¯s breathing was hiking. ¡°My Love?¡± she purred in his ear. ¡°May this be enough for today?¡± she asked, exhausted.


    Jason felt the way her legs trembled and how her grip got weaker and realised that she had reached her limit. They both had.


    He rolled over with the protest of exhaustion. She laid her head on his chest and he pressed her against him. He rubbed his head against hers. He breathed in her scent. She smelled of lemons, an odour he just realised how much he had missed. He felt her breath tingle his skin. He embraced her warmth. He was the happiest man alive.


    Josie gave him a long sigh of satisfaction. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I¡¯ve forgotten that you have yet to keep your promise,¡± she honeyed with her beautiful voice.


    He had not forgotten. He will find that bastard and put him to justice! He would do everything for her!


    ¡°I¡¯ve not forgotten!¡± Jason breathed in her hair. ¡°Josie¡­ now with you on my side, there is nothing stopping me! Nothing stopping us!¡± he played at her ambitious side.


    Josie lifted her head at this, and slowly disentangled herself from him. She got up and silently sat on the side of her bed, turning her head away from him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jason asked.


    He saw how she slowly folded herself in place, hugging her middle, her spine now lining her back. It looked a little like she was¡­ like she was¡­


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± he worried and got up to sit beside her. Did I say something wrong? he wondered.


    He wanted to lay a hand on her back so he could comfort her, but her entire body jerked at his touch and she stood up. Jason wished he could get a glimpse of her face, maybe then he would understand what was going on. Josie slowly walked up to her bedroom doors and grabbed the door knobs.


    ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re still naked!¡± Jason chuckled at her, amused by her aloofness.


    He just now saw the tear of blood running along her leg and sobered. He couldn¡¯t ponder it, when Josie suddenly opened the doors and walked out. Jason saw two guards in the hallway, who got interrupted in their conversation from the doors loudly squealing on their hinges, echoing in the hallway. Upon their recognition of their Lady Josiane in her apparent nudity, they were appalled.


    Then Josie spoke, so faintly he just barely could make it out. ¡°Guards¡­¡± she began. ¡±Lord Jason just committed an abhorrent crime against my royal person.¡± She turned around, and Jason glimpsed at her face, awfully neutral underneath her tears. ¡°Seize him,¡± she quietly ordered.


    And Jason froze in place.


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Elias</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    ¡°And till today¡­ he insists that he did everything right!¡± Henry told Anna about Nils.


    Elias knew the story he was telling. He heard it countless times. It was Henry''s cardinal anecdote, when it came time to amuse maidens. He had to smile already for he knew its conclusion.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°I did everything right!¡± Nils confirmed Henry of his insistence.


    Anna chuckled at him. She had a lovely smile and voluminous blonde hair, reminding Elias of his mother. ¡°What was it anyway?¡± she asked Nils.


    ¡°A special oil for love making,¡± Henry preempted his answer.


    ¡°A lubricant, if you wish,¡± Nils corrected him.


    ¡°So, what are you exactly? Some sort of physician?¡± Anna asked Nils with big eyes.


    ¡°He is!¡± Henry boasted of Nils. ¡°A very capable one at that! But when he tested said lubricant with his concubine¡­¡± Henry paused in order to build suspense. ¡±...they both got itchy rashes!¡±


    Anna put a hand on her mouth. ¡°Oh, nooohoho!¡± she laughed. ¡°You mean¡­¡± she pointed downwards with a finger.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Henry confirmed with a big nod and an intent look.


    Anna shut her mouth with both hands and started wheezing, her face blushing red. Elias started to laugh as well. It was indeed a funny anecdote. Anna searched for Nils¡¯ boyish face, who smiled at her through his weary eyes and nodded confirmation. She laughed with vicarious embarrassment.


    ¡°Understandably¡­¡± Nils said. ¡±...next time I came with a bottle in my hands and a promise that ¡®it will work this time¡¯, she grabbed it and threw it out the window.¡±


    Anna chuckled. ¡°Understandably¡­ yeah!¡± she nodded with a grin. ¡°But¡­ could you maybe¡­ make that lubricant right now?¡± she asked and gave Henry a suggestive look.


    The three men all raised their eyebrows in unison. Holy Sophia! Elias thought. She sure is friendly!


    Elias couldn¡¯t say the same for the other maid, who had joined their company under Henry¡¯s request. Chiara just silently watched the wine glass, which she was fiddling in her hand, sitting on the far end of the table. Whether of boredom or something else, Elias couldn¡¯t tell. She had slanted eyes, a sharp chin and smooth dark brown hair and was clad in the same dark blue coat dress lined with silver like every other maid here. He thought she was prettier than Anna, supposedly just as flirtatious, but looked more occupied in her thoughts and rather disinterested.


    Elias thought about sitting next to her and maybe to prompt her to join the conversation. But he couldn¡¯t think of something to break the ice.


    He looked at Henry and Nils, who were still talking with Anna. Then he looked at Sophon, who was occupied with something in his hands, and Sophon decided to reciprocate his attention back at him. He stood up from his chair and gestured towards Elias to follow his step. So Elias stood up and followed Sophon away from the table where the others sat.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Elias quietly asked.


    ¡°Listen! This is very important!¡± Sophon whispered. He shortly glimpsed at the others, who were still in conversation. Elias noticed Chiara now observing them.


    ¡°In the case of my demise, please hand this to Lord Jason,¡± Sophon asked of Elias and handed him a black plate.


    Elias studied it in his hands. It was an elongated thin black plate with the smoothness of a mirror and a perfect rectangular shape just a tad bit smaller than his hand. It looked like polished obsidian.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Elias asked, confused.


    ¡°A light stone,¡± Sophon answered.


    Elias gasped. ¡°A light st-...¡± He gulped. A light stone?!


    Sophon the steelwalker, The Silver General, just deemed him worthy of carrying a light stone! What did he do to deserve this? ¡°Why me?¡± Elias didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re the one most likely to survive¡­¡± Sophon explained. ¡°...and I trust your judgement,¡± he added.


    ¡°I highly doubt that!¡± Elias contradicted. ¡°Henry is more likely to survive for sure! He once overtook six men at once!¡± he tried to discredit his case, and pointed towards said warrior with his eyes. ¡°And survive what in particular?¡± he worried, having registered the implications.


    Sophon moved his head closer. ¡°I am afraid The White Viper might not hand over Windschild without some resistance. It is best to be prepared for everything above anything else,¡± he said with the air of confiding a secret. ¡°Besides¡­ six men might not be sufficient for taking him down¡­¡± Sophon glimpsed over to Henry. ¡°...but a sole woman is.¡±


    Elias looked at Henry and Anna. She just barked with laughter at another of his stories. Then Chiara got his attention again, for she stared quite intently at Elias¡­ or maybe at Sophon. And Elias wondered if these maids did serve another purpose rather than simply entertaining them. He felt determined to find out.


    ¡°Understood!¡± Elias said to Sophon. He put the stone in his pant¡¯s pocket. Sophon patted his shoulder as they separated. Chiara watched them approach the table and he decided to sit beside her.


    ¡°Hey¡­ ehm¡­ I think you¡¯re really pretty!¡± he said to her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Chiara said and gave him a soft smile.


    He glimpsed at Henry, who repeatedly nodded at him, impressed.


    ¡°What were you two talking about?¡± Chiara asked him.


    Elias chuckled to himself. He was thinking she would ask that. ¡°Ah, nothing important!¡± Elias fiddled with a fork. ¡°You could say, I just got promoted.¡±, he tried to be vague.


    ¡°Did you get promoted?¡± Chiara asked him to clarify.


    And Elias looked across the room as he had to ponder whether even admitting as much would be enough to bite him later in the rear.


    ¡°Nah, just temporarily!¡± Elias waved his hand, downplaying the important mission he got from Sophon.


    ¡°So you were given a mission?¡± Chiara asked him.


    Elias looked at her.


    This soft-spoken girl with the rumour of a smile on her lips was so blatantly calculating underneath her curious exterior. Elias gazed into her blue eyes. They were a similar blue as Josiane¡¯s, maybe a little darker, but were nowhere nearly as frightening.


    Perhaps he looked for a little too long, for her pupils started dilating. So he looked away instead, feeling like he was scaring her. He knew that people more often than not thought that he looked brutish.


    A guard appeared at the entrance to the great hall. ¡°Excuse my intrusion, m¡¯Lords!¡± he began. ¡°But the Lady Josiane and Lord Jason have invited you to attend their engagement ceremony!¡±


    And the great hall went silent, everyone just stared at the guard until Henry suddenly stood up and erratically shouted, ¡°Wooo! Let¡¯s gooo!¡± He slammed his hands on the table. ¡°Ma boy did it! It¡¯s done!¡±


    Was it really done? Elias couldn¡¯t believe it. The five provinces of Igelland after over 119 years of separation would be finally united again?


    ¡°Yes!¡± Henry enthusiastically shook his fists.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Elias couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and stood up from his chair. Vouching for the coal with a golden heart was the best decision of his life. He couldn¡¯t wait to bring his brother the good news; the fruits of their labour. The kingdom would be finally united! Igelland would rise from its ashes once again!


    Nils stood up and smiled at Henry and then Elias. It was the biggest smile he ever saw on him, it suited his childlike features. Henry took Anna by the hand and led her from her chair. The two started dancing and she giggled in his arms.


    Elias glimpsed at Sophon, who wasn¡¯t celebrating but instead sullen. Elias thought he didn¡¯t make sense. Lord Jason and Lady Josiane were about to get married, the matter was pretty much settled, Windschild effectively conquered and that without bloodshed. There was no reason to feel apprehensive anymore¡­ or was there still?


    ¡°We can dance later on at the wedding!¡± Henry promised Anna, holding her hands. ¡°Please, Sir guard, show us the way!¡± He left Anna to walk up to the man in silver white armour, who nodded affirmation at his request. The bearded guard turned around and led them to follow.


    Henry and Nils followed him immediately. Elias imitated Sophon¡¯s reluctance, thinking he might interject something. But he said nothing except for giving Elias a dissatisfied smile, and they moved to recover the others.


    They followed the guard around two corners and walked up a staircase. When Elias glimpsed the way they came, he noticed that Anna and Chiara weren¡¯t following them. Maybe they thought it wasn¡¯t their place as maids, but he hoped this wasn¡¯t the last they saw of the both. He wondered if he could dance with Chiara later on at the wedding as well.


    When they cut the next corner, they saw the long corridor lined by twelve guards, six on each side, and on its end a closed double door. Elias noticed how Sophon slowed down.


    ¡°Behold!¡± the guard, whom they were following, loudly pronounced. ¡°Lord Jason¡­ and Lady Josiane!¡± The guard made way for-...


    ¡°RUUUN!¡± They heard the muffled scream behind the doors.


    The double doors suddenly flew wide open, with a swift kick from the emerging figure, who held and released the arrow she was tensing against a giant silver recurve bow. The deafening screech of a hawk followed and forced them to shut their ears. The accompanied strong gust of wind dragged them along, almost tripping them over. And when the dust settled, Elias looked at Henry, who was unharmed. He looked at Nils, also unharmed. He looked at himself, unharmed. He turned around¡­


    He saw a white arrow pinning a black heart to a wall. He saw Sophon lying on the ground with a big hole in the middle of his chest, grey fluid spilling out the gaping wound.


    He was dead.


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Henry</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    "NOOO!" he heard Jason''s voice yell.


    Henry looked at the still body that was once The Silver General.


    ¡°Seems like his human-like appearance came at the cost of his resilience,¡± The White Viper taunted.


    Henry turned towards her. ¡°Bloody bitch!¡± he grunted and charged at her.


    He was fast. Only the farthest two guards could hope to halt him. But he struck one across the face and gracefully avoided the sword of the other. He used the momentum to draw his own sword. Henry didn¡¯t waste time on the vipers numerous tails, instead he was aiming straight for its head.


    But Josiane didn¡¯t waste any time either, for her next arrow was already tensed against the string of her bow. This time aiming at Henry.


    ¡°Josie, DON¡¯T!¡± Jason yelled behind her, his voice rich with emotion.


    And The White Viper¡¯s aim jerked downwards.


    Henry felt the sharp sting in his foot tripping him over. He buffered his fall with his arms, hitting the ground abruptly. He moved to stand up, but froze with a cold blade on his neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± the deep voice of the wielder threatened him.


    Henry lifted his head only slowly as he didn¡¯t want to provoke the guard into slicing his throat. He saw Jason behind the door frame, naked and on his knees, held down by another guard.


    He really didn¡¯t like the picture of that!


    Henry pulled his throwable knife from its sheath and aimed for the captivator''s head. The surprise with which Josiane jolted, at the blade barely missing her head, was surely satisfying. And the unseemly projectile hit its intended target, who trotted on his feet before falling over.


    Jason was freed, but more importantly, he was also armed now. Moreover, he was closer to Josiane than any of her living guards.


    A naked Jason pulled his weapon out of a dead man''s face and quickly closed the distance to a treacherous wench. She had barely enough time to register what had happened and turn around, when he tackled her, pinned her down and held a blood soaked knife against her throat. Arrows spilled from her quiver.


    Jason glared daggers at her. But Josiane¡¯s expression was affectless.


    He felt the guard¡¯s blade tense against his neck.


    ¡°Nobody moves or she¡¯s dead!¡± Jason loudly warned the corridor.


    And Henry felt the guard¡¯s blade lose its grip. That¡¯s ma boy! Henry was proud; proud of how fast he turned things around.


    Now that they took Josiane hostage, they could use her life to bargain for their own lives and escape.


    ¡°Everything alright? Lord Henry?¡± Jason asked, his eyes awfully fixed on his hostage.


    ¡°Except for an arrow piercing my foot? I¡¯m great! Wasn¡¯t better!¡± Henry laughed.


    ¡°And you? Lord Nils?¡± Jason asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine! No injuries here!¡± Nils answered, held in place by guards.


    ¡°Lord Elias?¡± Jason searched.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine as well¡­¡± Elias affirmed, also held in place. ¡°...but¡­ but¡­¡±


    But Sophon was dead, Elias couldn¡¯t speak. He didn¡¯t need to. Henry saw Jason cringe, eyes briefly shut with sorrow.


    Jason took a deep breath. ¡°Here is what is going to happen¡­¡± Jason began his ultimatum. ¡°...you will release-...¡±


    ¡°Guards!¡± Josiane loudly interjected. ¡°If Lord Jason neither kills me¡­ or releases me within the next ten seconds¡­ then kill all his friends!¡±


    Jason scrutinised Josiane with an outraged look and then lifted his brows, disturbed. She neutrally stared back at him.


    She¡¯s bluffing! Henry thought. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her! She¡¯s crazy!¡± Henry urgently warned Jason as well as the guards around them. ¡°We came here to make peace! We still can make peace!¡±


    But Jason fidgeted under Josiane¡¯s cold stare. And his face took on an expression of despair. He dropped the knife.


    ¡°No!¡± Henry exasperated. The blade at his neck tensed again.


    Jason got off of Josie, and she stood up. ¡°Seize him!¡± she ordered the nearest free guards, who immediately moved to follow her order.


    Jason didn¡¯t resist in his naked state, when the two guards seized him by his arms and pulled him up to stand.


    Henry saw how Josiane walked up to him and whispered something into Jason¡¯s ear, which Henry couldn¡¯t make out. She then turned around and regarded the guards, who kept Henry in place.


    ¡°Beat him unconscious!¡± she ordered.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Henry could only produce before he felt the blunt pain at the back of his head, and darkness consumed his vision.


    <h2>


    </h2>


    Henry abruptly awoke to a sharp pain in his foot.


    ¡°Ah! What the hell!?¡± he was irritated and lifted his head to see Nils and Elias at his feet. Elias lifted his left leg, while Nils was grabbing the arrow''s broken shaft, their armour removed, leaving them with plain white garments.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Nils examined.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ no shit, I¡¯m awake!¡± Henry spat. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked, angered.


    ¡°I¡¯m removing the arrow,¡± Nils explained and to Henry''s agony he started doing good on his word.


    Henry grunted at the pain. ¡°Stop! Fuck!¡± he lashed out and pushed Nils away. ¡°I¡¯mma do it myself!¡± He sat up and pulled his leg away from Elias. He grabbed the arrow¡¯s broken shaft, its tip and feathers already removed, and whilst grunting and heavily breathing slowly pulled the foreign body out of his foot. Blood dripped on the bed on which he had laid. Henry felt how the back of his head still hurt and laid back with an exhausted sigh.


    ¡°Let me see that!¡± Nils said and grabbed his left foot by the ankle to study it.


    Henry started scanning his surroundings. The dark cell, in which they found themselves in, was made of three walls of black slate and iron bars with an iron door. It had an elevated and barricaded small window, through which the new moon didn¡¯t emit any light. Instead a torch in the hallway was gently illuminating their cell.


    Henry saw Jason cowering in the corner behind the head of the other of the two beds. At least they gave him something to wear.


    Nils held a piece of cloth up to Henry''s mouth. ¡°Spit on it,¡± he ordered with the gentle authority of a physician.


    Henry felt his throat suddenly dry up. He had to clean his throat multiple times, before he could gather enough fluid, and spat on the cloth.


    ¡°A little more!¡± Nils demanded.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna spit your asshole wet for my cock!¡± Henry slighted him, losing patience less with Nils and more with the whole predicament they found themselves in.


    Nils audibly exhaled through his nose, disappointed. He took the cloth with his spit, wrapped it around his foot and tightly tied the wound shut, making Henry inhale sharply through his teeth from the pain.


    Henry shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± he apologised. It wasn¡¯t fair to hold Nils accountable for what had happened. It wasn¡¯t his fault.


    Henry glimpsed at Jason, who stared back at him from the corner where he cowered, tears in his eyes and absolutely mortified. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Jason cried, as if he guessed Henry¡¯s train of thoughts. ¡°I should¡¯ve listened to him! If I had listened to him, this whole thing wouldn''t have happened!¡±


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t beat yourself up about it!¡± Elias tried to console him. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have known that this would have happened!¡±


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t have known?¡± Henry questioned. ¡°Of course, he could have known!¡± he disputed. ¡°Sophon only tried to warn him multiple times, and he didn¡¯t listen! And look what happened¡­¡± Henry gave Elias an intent look from where he laid. ¡°...he¡¯s dead!¡±


    Jason started breathing unevenly.


    ¡°Crying doesn¡¯t bring the dead back!¡± Henry scolded him. I thought I taught you that.


    ¡°Okay¡­ but what did you do, Henry?¡± Elias argued. ¡°You didn¡¯t take Sophon by his word either!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one giving out fucking orders!¡± he refuted. ¡°I¡¯m the muscle guy. Thinking is his job!¡± He gestured with his head towards Jason. ¡°It was his job and he failed¡­ miserably!¡±


    Jason buried his face in his palm.


    ¡°What happened, anyway?¡± Nils inquired. ¡°I thought she was your cousin. Why would she do this?¡± he turned to Jason and asked him.


    ¡°And why were you naked?¡± Elias asked, perplexed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I-¡­¡± Jason exhaled unevenly. ¡°I thought everything was fine, until¡­ I-... I don¡¯t know¡­ she-... she accused me of-...¡± he stammered. ¡±...she accused me of-... ¡±


    ¡°Spit it the fuck out!¡± Henry lost patience. ¡°What did she accuse you of?!¡±


    Jason wiped away his tears. ¡°We slept together¡­ and then¡­ something changed¡­ I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± he tried to explain, looking down to the floor, ashamed.


    Nils searched for Henry¡¯s look, but he was too busy considering Jason. ¡°Did you... rape her?¡± Nils asked, his tone neutral enough.


    But Jason¡¯s head sharply jerked towards him. ¡°Obviously not!¡± he was incensed.


    Nils scrutinised him. ¡°It¡¯s not that obvious,¡± he said.


    ¡°It is obvious that that whore set him up!¡± Henry asserted. ¡°Ahhh, of course¡­ That¡¯s why the guards didn¡¯t follow his orders!¡± he realised, waving his hand with understanding.


    Henry let his head fall back. Saying that he was frustrated, would be an understatement.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t look like the guards considered him to be the heir of Windschild to begin with,¡± Nils pointed out.


    He was right. Henry thought back to how they were encircling them, when they first met Josiane. And not at any point did a sole guard bow for Jason or show respect in any other way.


    Henry became suspicious. ¡°Did she vet them?¡± he asked Jason.


    Jason considered him. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± he answered. ¡°The guards are first and foremost loyal to my aunt.¡±


    ¡°To your aunt?¡± Henry echoed him. ¡°So her mother?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jason answered. ¡°But¡­ my aunt would never approve of this!¡± he preempted Henry¡¯s accusation. ¡°She loves me and practically has raised me!¡±


    Henry looked at Nils, who shared his scepticism. ¡°You never know with family¡­¡± Nils said in his monotone voice. ¡°Sometimes they may be your worst enemies¡­¡±


    Henry smiled at the ludicrousness. ¡°...as we all learned, undoubtedly today!¡± he added and laughed.


    Elias shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s almost like we''re living in a book of drama! Have the Lords read ¡®Benjamin, the Silent¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Not now, Elias!¡± Henry shut him down. ¡°We need to talk about what happens next!¡± he put forward and looked at Jason. ¡°What is the plan?¡± he asked him. You rode us into this mess¡­ Now get us the fuck out!


    Henry patiently watched him wipe away his tears and slowly straighten up on where he sat and take a deep shaky breath. ¡°There are really only two things we could do¡­ well¡­ one really¡­¡± Jason suggested. ¡°Either wait for my aunt to return, but that would take weeks at least. Or wait for General Arved to come up with something.¡±


    ¡°So it boils down to The Golden General¡­¡± Henry spoke. ¡°Again!¡± He was a little frustrated. Why, he hated that guy! Well¡­ hate was probably a strong word.


    ¡°I wish I could communicate with him¡­¡± Jason said. ¡°...but I left my light stone in my bag!¡± he stressed hopelessly.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Elias exclaimed. ¡°Sophon gave me one for you!¡± Elias put his hand into his pants and pulled out a black rectangular plate. He walked up to Jason and pressed it into his hands.


    Jason confirmed the light stone and grinned at it with sorrow.


    ¡°I hid it, when they disarmed us,¡± he explained. ¡°He was prepared for everything,¡± Elias said gently and put a hand on Jason¡¯s shoulder, and he started crying again.


    ¡°For fucks sake¡­¡± Henry shook his head, tired of this. He felt his foot pulse with pain.


    ¡°Henry?¡± Elias turned his head towards him. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you say you¡¯re being very insensitive right now?¡± he challenged him.


    Henry looked at Nils, who stared neutrally back at him, and rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re right, Elias! I guess I am!¡± he admitted half-heartedly. Nils smiled at him.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Jason hoarsely cursed. ¡°It¡¯s a light stone that requires sunlight!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Elias processed. ¡±Ohhh! Thank the gods, this cell has a window!¡± he remarked.


    ¡°Good!¡± Henry said. ¡°Which means Arved just has to survive the night¡­ No problem!¡±


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Arved</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    It was a remarkable sight, the stars, such beauty. And the remedy in his heart grew, when the ambience reminded him of the nights he would spend with Emily. He missed her. But Arved would see her soon enough again, given the circumstance of their awaited victory. Once Windschild was conquered, hopefully without the need of his intervention, he planned to take her on vacation to the rich and idyllic town that profited from a frequent trade overseas with the Al-Azim¡¯s. He smiled at himself knowing very well already, that she will overindulge herself in various souvenirs and zest at all the cultural acquisitions.


    And of course he wished to see Windschild for himself as well, but not now¡­ not today, not tomorrow. Not as a conqueror.


    Arved knew that in the south the days were longer but the sun was setting more abruptly. And the further they had gone south the more it seemed that way. So putting up camp when the sky still had been a light blue, always felt a little strange, like they could have got out more of the day.


    ¡°General?¡± Arved heard a familiar voice curiously greet him. He turned to see a pale face illuminated by a torch. The thin and tall man, who was his lookalike except in the smoothness of his long blonde hair, respectfully bowed to him. ¡°Pardon my intrusion, general! When the guards told us that you¡¯ve yet to return, we got a little worried!¡±


    Arved considered the man. ¡°It¡¯s fine, commander! I wish to be alone,¡± he ordered him.


    ¡°Your Order!¡± he affirmed. ¡°Do you wish to keep my torch?¡± he offered.


    ¡°No need! I have the stars,¡± Arved declined.


    Commander Sebastian bowed respectfully before he turned around to leave him alone.


    He breathed in the cold air of the night, feeling the gentle breeze on his skin. The way how the wind always blew from one direction didn¡¯t elude him. A constant force upon his side, weak but persistent. Arved turned towards it. Roughly in that direction lied Windschild. If he didn¡¯t misassess the flow of time, and didn¡¯t misread from the positions of the Stars of Hal, about six hours should have passed, since Lord Jason¡¯s departure. Windschild was about a two hour journey from where the army was currently located, so they could be still in the middle of negotiations.


    Lengthy negotiations¡­


    Arved pulled his light stone out and tapped on the rectangular plate¡¯s smooth black surface two times with his finger, white letters appeared on it, but still he didn¡¯t recognize any new message. He should have gotten affirmation by now.


    Lord Jason had claimed that he had a certain strategy, which he wanted to apply. He should know, given Windschild was his native town. But Arved couldn¡¯t stop thinking back on how it had been, when they took over the former capital of the old kingdom; how that brute of a guard couldn¡¯t hold his uncouth mouth, when it came to the duke¡¯s daughter.


    Luckily, Lord Wolfgang, duke of Herzbruch, had been easily persuaded by the might of the steelwalkers, once he saw them approach the capital walls. He was a reasonable Lord, who had put the lives of his men above his pride in the end. Arved had suggested letting him bend the knee rather than banishing him to exile. Not ending his generosity there, Jason even had promised him a place on his council as governor of Herzbruch, as apologies for the slight on his daughter.


    The men, whose lives had been spared that day, were now part of this very army. They would be blessed with a compassionate and brave new king: King Jason, The Tamer of Steelwalkers, The Lightning, coal with a golden heart. Until now he had a good track record of keeping his word, so there should be outwardly no reason why anyone should refuse what offer he might give. At least anyone, who had the land''s best interest in mind.


    So why? Arved wondered. Why am I not being sent a report?


    Arved tucked his light stone away and headed back towards his tent. Something wasn¡¯t right.


    The guards greeted him with a bow. Arved ordered them, ¡°Gather the commanders in the main command tent, swiftly.¡±


    ¡°Your Order!¡± they affirmed and moved to do good on his word.


    Arved went inside his tent and opened the oak chest with his various tools. He retrieved the clock that Sophon gave him and found his estimation of time to be correct. He couldn¡¯t be proud of it, as it also confirmed his worries.


    He left and moved towards the main command tent. Three of the four commanders were already gathered in front. ¡°General! We¡¯re at your service!¡± one of them greeted him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head inside!¡± Arved urged. He saw Commander Sebastian appear from the darkness as they moved to enter the tent. He didn¡¯t waste any time and turned to immediately address the four commanders. ¡°As you all might already know, the last status report is over half an hour overdue,¡± he began. ¡°Obviously, this is not a good sign. Prepare the army for heading towards Windschild as our destination.¡±


    ¡°Are we sure about this?¡± Sebastian questioned. ¡°What if negotiations will be swayed by our threatening appearance, or worse, they¡¯ll be provoked into attacking us?¡±


    He was right, but¡­ ¡°Waiting any longer will risk the lives of Lord Jason and his fellow men,¡± Arved argued. ¡±We have no choice, but commit to the lesser of two evils.¡±


    Sebastian gulped with disapproval. ¡°Your Order!¡± he affirmed with a bow anyway. The other commanders did the same.


    But just when they turned around to follow their orders, they all got startled by the sudden drone that drowned out the gentle wind.


    Arved knew this sound! ¡°The steelwalkers?!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°They have awakened?!¡± He quickly moved past the commanders outside in order to get a better glimpse, and indeed he could see the red blinking lights in the black night, where the steelwalkers were located.


    Arved quickly pulled his light stone out and tapped with his fingers onto it. Still no message¡­ Why should Sophon awaken the steelwalkers without any warning? And by the sound of it all of them: The elephants, the lions, the ostriches¡­ Did something happen to him? he wondered.


    The drone of the steelwalkers was now accompanied by the ever increasing shouting of lieutenants and captains ordering soldiers. The entire army got restless in an instant.


    ¡°Commander!¡± they heard someone shout and the man holding a torch approached the main command tent. ¡°General!¡± he bent the knee upon recognizing Arved. ¡°I¡¯m Captain Dietert from the third brigade!¡± he identified himself. ¡±The division of steelwalkers has gone rogue!¡± he despaired. ¡°They started destroying tents and several soldiers were injured!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Arved outraged. This can¡¯t be Sophons doing¡­ ¡°Keep your distance! Don¡¯t pick a fight with them!¡± he ordered. He turned to the commanders, who were all frozen in place. ¡°You heard me! Defensive stands! Move!¡± And they moved to reestablish the chain of command.


    ¡°Come with me!¡± he heard Sebastian order Dietert. And they headed towards the red lights.


    Arved followed them. He had to see what was happening first hand. They marched towards the droning sound; towards the shouting of men and stomping of giant silver feet, the rhythm with which didn¡¯t elude him. Were they marching?


    Once he arrived at the steelwalkers¡¯ former resting site, he could see the trail of destruction they left behind, and indeed, when he followed he saw them as organised as all time. The elephants with their rectangular bodies in the front, stomping a clear path for the slender ostriches to follow, while the lions were encircling them, threatening off with razor sharp blades anyone who dared to even gaze their way. All clad in their distinctive eerie red light in this blackest of monthly nights.


    Arved saw a line of soldiers steadily follow them on the sidelines, walking sideways along with the steelwalkers. ¡°Keep your distance!¡± he heard a lieutenant echo his order.


    The steelwalkers'' formation was heading towards the north, they were not fighting the soldiers¡­ they were leaving! And a couple of tents of the third brigade had just happened to be in their way, by the looks of it about six or five¡­ Thank God not more! Arved thought. ¡°Let them be and get out of their way!¡± Arved shouted orders. ¡°Focus on retrieving the injured!¡±


    Commander Sebastian and Captain Dietert echoed his orders, so did the nearest captain and lieutenants. As the chain of command passed through, the squads of soldiers slowly aborted their pursuit of the steelwalkers one after the other, warily.


    Arved followed the steelwalkers just outside the encampment and watched them shrink in his sight as they slowly disappeared in the darkness, until their lights were nothing but the likeness of red fireflies in the night. It seemed like the steelwalkers were commanded by an intelligence, so much he could read from their formation, but that intelligence had little regard for their cause.


    The only ones, whom he ever heard of, who could command steelwalkers were the gods Sophia and Hal in mythology and of course Sophon, who was a steelwalker himself. But Arved didn¡¯t believe in the fake gods, neither did Sophon. Perhaps these specific steelwalkers had simply forged a bond and learned to stick together in these last five months.


    ¡°General? What should we do?¡± Sebastian requested. ¡°Should we follow them?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Follow the steelwalkers?!¡± Dietert inquired, horrified. ¡°With all due respect, Commander, don¡¯t you know the old saying?¡±


    ¡°What old saying?¡± Sebastian turned his head and asked him.


    ¡°¡®Do never tread a steelwalkers path¡­¡¯¡± Arved answered in Dietert¡¯s place. ¡°¡®...reserved for seekers of the gods¡¯ wrath!¡¯¡± He turned around, heading back the way they came. ¡°Forget them! We¡¯re heading south!¡±


    Sebastian and Dietert followed him. Sebastian tried to ask, ¡°Are we going to invade-...¡±


    ¡°General!¡± two commanders approached them, one holding a torch. They bowed respectfully. ¡°Reporting: ¡­¡± one of them spoke. ¡°...about 27 soldiers were injured, 19 lightly, eight severely. No casualties.¡±


    Arved just nodded. ¡°Prepare the army to head towards Windschild!¡± he ordered.


    ¡°Reporting: the second brigade is already prepared, general!¡± one of them spoke. ¡°Fourth brigade is also prepared, general!¡± the other spoke.


    Arved regarded Sebastian. ¡°Prepare the third brigade, commander!¡± he ordered. ¡°And devise a platoon apt in medical care to stay behind and mend the injured.¡±


    Sebastian affirmed with a bow and he and Dietert split hastily from the rest.


    ¡°General¡­¡± Schmidt, commander of the second brigade, spoke. ¡°I was wondering, what will happen to our cargo?¡±


    Arved shook his head. ¡°Putting down camp would take too much time! We wasted enough already!¡± he reasoned. ¡°And the elephants were carrying it anyway.¡±


    Holding another torch Kramer, commander of the first brigade, approached them with a creeping grin on his face. ¡°Mighty general,¡± he nodded. ¡°The first brigade is ready!¡± he promised.


    ¡°Good¡­¡± Arved spoke faintly. He rubbed his left eye, sighed and started brooding.


    He was almost sure now. Things didn¡¯t go as planned. The steelwalkers were for some reason no longer in Sophon¡¯s control. Arved pulled his light stone out one last time to desperately refute it, but the result was the same: no message. All signs were leading towards failed negotiations, and Lord Jason and his fellow men were probably taken hostage¡­ or worse¡­


    If that¡¯s the case¡­ he shall show no mercy!


    After a while Commander Sebastian returned. ¡°The third brigade is now ready, general!¡± he stated.


    ¡°Finally! Took you long enough!¡± Arved berated him. He turned towards the south, an army of 1109 men behind him.


    Arved pulled his sword from its sheath, it was of the same self-healing blade the lions were equipped with, The Lion''s Fang, with a golden shaft crested with a red ruby. The Silver General trusted this might upon him.


    ¡°Stand!¡± he ordered. And the commanders reiterated for the captains and the captains reiterated for the lieutenants and the lieutenants reiterated for the soldiers. A giant wave coursing through the whole mass of flesh and metal.


    They shall dread meaning to mess with The Golden General!


    ¡°March!¡± he ordered and pointed with his sword towards Windschild.


    And he started marching ahead to lead for the whole army to follow.


    If his estimation was correct they should reach Windschild in about two hours. The peninsula was mostly flat land, but if the winds were as strong and depressing as he had heard, it might take longer. Even now with the gentle breeze, he could feel the resistance already slowing them down and it would only worsen as they progressed.


    The wind was against them, their enemies surely had home advantage, but they also were quite outnumbered. This might even be over before it begins.


    But if the enemy should in desperation attempt to blackmail them with threat of injury on Lord Jason¡¯s person, then so be it. A king shall suffer for his people. The new kingdom: his martyrium!


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Josiane</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    Five hundred steely beasts, harder than rock, cold as ice.


    They ran away, when I rose to face them, like red fireflies.


    Five hundred women shall be widowed tonight.


    Maybe even more, all through my arrows¡¯ might.


    Nothing escapes this white dragon¡¯s eyes.


    Not even in the blackest of nights.


    No heart too far for me to pierce.


    No metal stands my arrows fierce.


    I am Death! Death is I!


    Fear me! Beg me! And cry!


    I am your new Goddess now!


    You shall bow before me! Bow!


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Arved</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    ¡°An Attack!¡± one of the soldiers shouted. And the second brigade immediately halted.


    Arved noticed the disruption in the marching¡¯s rhythm and understood it for what it was, before the nearest captain could even shout a warning of arrows, he ordered: ¡°Defensive stand! Halt!¡± And the army halted, as the order was passed on. His personal guards moved in front of him.


    They must be using projectiles, he would have been the first to feel a frontal breach. And Arved knew the legends of this fabled town. ¡°Raise your shields!¡± he shouted and raised his own. ¡°March! And cover!¡± And the entire army followed his example: shielding his face and heart behind a shield, and marching while slightly crouching.


    The armour they used for each soldier was ordinary thin steel plates, light but sufficient enough for arrows only to inflict superficial wounds at best. Their helmets didn¡¯t cover their faces, but that¡¯s what the shields were for. The enemy archers couldn¡¯t really hope to stop or deter them in any way. And they will gain on them surely enough, even if they were to cast arrows whilst retreating.


    Arved looked in the darkness in front of him. The grassfield was flat and any light source would be spotted from a vast distance. The enemy had the foresight to extinguish their lights early on, probably through the insight of a scout.


    Arved heard Schmidt slowly approaching. ¡°General!¡± he hoarsely addressed him. ¡°Reporting: there¡¯s a casualty!¡±


    Arved¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What? How?¡± he demanded clarification, whilst keeping his attention in front of him.


    ¡°An arrow hit a soldier in his cardiac artery!¡± he reported. ¡°He died immediately!¡± Schmidt clarified.


    ¡°An arrow?¡± Arved questioned ¡°It pierced through his armour?¡± he couldn¡¯t entirely believe it.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Schmidt confirmed.


    It must have been a ballista then, rather than an archer. Otherwise it couldn¡¯t have had enough momentum to puncture steel, let alone piercing the poor man¡¯s rib cage in addition.


    ¡°What was the arrow¡¯s calibre?¡± Arved asked to confirm.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± Schmidt answered.


    ¡°Dismissed!¡± he put Schmidt back into formation.


    A ballista might be occasionally lethal enough and with a greater range, but also horribly immobile and notoriously inaccurate, easily overtaken and dismantled should they encounter one. And unless they had stationed a hundred of them on their specific path, and with each one hitting at least on average more than seven soldiers, they couldn¡¯t possibly hope to sufficiently decimate their numbers, only discourage them at best. Highly unlikely.


    Nevertheless, it was severe bad luck that the first hit was straight to the heart, but still no wonder. They were tightly packed in rows¡­ time to change that!


    ¡°New formation: spread!¡± Arved shouted. And as the order was passed on, the army slowly expanded the area it was covering vastly. And with each soldier now having five feet between them, there was plenty of room for a ballista to miss. In fact, the odds of a ballista hitting an individual had decreased dramatically. Especially, when it came to a targeted shot on Arved or any of the commanders, taking the strong wind with its turbulence into account.


    He lifted and turned his head to catch sight of the Stars of Hal. Feeling like roughly an hour and 45 minutes left until they should reach Windschild, albeit only without a stronger wind against them. The sudden gust of which called for his attention forward.


    Another disruption in the marching¡¯s rhythm. ¡°Soldier down!¡± he heard someone shout close behind him.


    Again already? Arved fretted. ¡°Attend!¡± he ordered to summon the four commanders, more out of an unnamable impulse that yearned for immediate clarification.


    Sebastian was the first to arrive. ¡°General!¡± he addressed Arved. ¡°A soldier of the third brigade was hit in the chest! He collapsed immediately!¡± he reported.


    ¡°What?! He¡¯s dead?!¡± Arved asked.


    ¡°Presumably!¡± Sebastian guessed. ¡°But there was no volley fire! It¡¯s odd!¡± he expressed their shared confusion.


    Saying that it was odd was a severe understatement. But could it still simply be a fluke? A lucky streak for the enemy? Was a large multiplicity of ballistas in play? Two soldiers were hit with critical lethality¡­ in the heart¡­ No matter if ballistas or archers, there bound to be missed shots as well. Where was the frequency of projectiles justifying these odds?


    Schmidt, whose position in the army was as close as Sebastian¡¯s, appeared. ¡°General, reporting: no casualties, since the last report,¡± Schmidt spoke.


    ¡°How many shots did the enemy miss?¡± Arved had to ask.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not sure¡­ none were reported,¡± Schmidt said.


    ¡°Tell the captains, the count of the shots, missed or not, is paramount to report. Both of you,¡± he passed the order onto Schmidt and Sebastian.


    ¡°Your Order!¡± they affirmed and left with their instructions, right when Lipov, commander of the fourth brigade, attended.


    ¡°Nothing to report, general,¡± Lipov monotoned and awaited an order.


    Lastly, Kramer attended as well. ¡°Mighty general¡­¡± Kramer began. ¡°...I¡¯m afraid I have to report a casualty!¡±


    Arved had to briefly shut his eyes. He slowly inhaled and exhaled a sigh. ¡°How did he die, commander?¡± he faintly asked. He dreaded the answer.


    ¡°With an arrow to his heart, general!¡± Kramer described.


    And Arved¡¯s breath was stuck in his lungs, and he couldn¡¯t release it except with effort. The cold wind licked the sweat on his brow and he noticed how much stronger the wind had gotten during the last four minutes.


    During the last four minutes three armoured soldiers died from nothing but mere lonely arrows.


    ¡°But there are no other soldiers injured, general!¡± Kramer said as if that was a solely good thing.


    That made it worse!


    Other injuries would at least imply that they couldn¡¯t magically pierce the goddamn heart¡­ all the time! That their precision knew limits! But this wasn¡¯t a fluke! Something wicked was going on!


    ¡°The immediate report of all enemy shots, missed or not, is now paramount!¡± Arved reiterated for Lipov and Kramer. ¡°Annotate the ranks of the casualties when you-...¡±


    It was accompanied by a sudden onslaught of wind and sounded like the loud crack of a whip, and the guard was pushed flat on the ground by its might. It pierced his armour and his ribcage¡­ Arved stared at it, stared at the now lifeless body of this man, his personal guard, who had just walked alongside with him, whom he knew¡­ Maximilian was his name. His features were pronounced in the dim light of the torches. He knelt beside him and took his lifeless body in his arms.


    Four¡­ The number mocked him.


    ¡°General! General, please!¡± Sebastian shook Arved with a hand and awoke him from his still state. Arved looked at him, like he couldn¡¯t recognise him at first. He couldn¡¯t tell how long he had knelt frozen in place.


    He looked around to see the commanders gathered around him, the entire army having halted with them. Arved snapped.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± he yelled. ¡°You do not halt! No matter what happens! Even If I lie dead, face on the ground! You do NOT¡­ halt! You KEEP¡­ marching!¡± he loudly punctuated and stood up.


    Arved grabbed his sword and started running against the wind, leaving the light of the torches. Leaving his shield behind, no use in shielding himself from what he saw first hand!


    He was fed up! They wanted war?! They will get war! And he kept running until¡­


    Calm down, the voice in his head, that sounded a lot like Emily, softly spoke. And Arved slowed down until he stood still, and let his subordinates gain on him. His personal guards moved in front and raised their shields¡­ uselessly¡­


    ¡°General?!¡± Sebastian worried. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± he asked him and handed over his shield, which he had left behind.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± Arved asserted. ¡°Should an arrow hit me, you¡¯ll be acting general, Commander Sebastian!¡± he determined. Sebastian mutely widened his eyes in astonishment. Kramer, who was of the ambitious sort, slanted his eyes, envious. Arved turned to the commanders. ¡°New Order: Lower your shields and march fast and straight!¡± Arved pronounced.


    Kramer wanted to inquire: ¡°General, is that really-...¡±


    ¡°Do as I say!¡± Arved harshly cut him off and turned to confront the wind. He started marching.


    There was no use for a shield against these demonic arrows, he saw that now. But four casualties in four minutes was still a pathetically slow rate. That made 120 casualties in two hours. A thousand men would still be at their doors. Two hours may be enough to eradicate all 85 ranking officials, including Arved, but the army would stay intact and could figure things out on their own.


    The stars moved ever so slightly and the onslaught of wind seemed to grow only fiercer. Only about five minutes had passed, when Schmidt came with the next report. ¡°General¡­¡± he began. ¡°...three casualties, all soldiers!¡± he reported.


    Sebastian came next. ¡°There have been three casualties among the soldiers, my general!¡± he reported as well.


    Then Kramer: ¡°Mighty general¡­ this time around I must sadly report two casualties! Both were soldiers!¡±


    Lipov appeared. ¡°Four soldiers were lethally pierced by nothing but arrows, general,¡± he monotoned.


    What was going on? In what felt like five minutes the rate of the casualties more than doubled. Twelve additional soldiers died!


    Arved heard again the reminiscence of a whip cracking behind him even through the loud wind, which meant the last strike was close. 13¡­ he reassessed.


    Arved thought the precision of the archers must come at a price, at the slow rate they were only capable to fire with. Was there a multiplicity of archers now? And, most importantly, where were they? The alignment of the arrow that killed Maximilian was an indicator of them being in front, so they should have met them by now. How could they fire whilst retrieving? Were these sorcerers on a carriage pulled by mounts?


    Only one way to find out! Arved raised his sword. ¡°Charge!¡± he yelled and started running. The entire army started to follow his example. One row after the other they started to run against the  harsh wind, whilst shouting and yelling.


    This way, should they not be mounted, the archers had little time to span their bows, and they would catch up on them surely.


    The army charged and charged for another five minutes, but Arved was bracing himself for an impact that never came. No archer was unveiled from the darkness. Only question remained, whether this reduced the rate of casualties.


    ¡°Slow down!¡± he yelled the order and let himself fall back. The momentum of some soldiers propelled them in front of him. He shouldn¡¯t exhaust the armoured men that much. Albeit of the light kind, their armour was still heavy. The army slowly decelerated to their previous velocity. Arved could not possibly hope to get a report while everyone was charging and he was eagerly awaiting it.


    Sebastian reported first. ¡°General! There have been three soldiers missing, presumably casualties!¡±


    After him came Schmidt. ¡°General, our count revealed a shortage of four soldiers!¡±


    Lipov reported: ¡±This time around we have five casualties of soldiers, general!¡±


    And Kramer: ¡°Mighty general, three soldiers were killed and two went missing in all likelihood dead as well!¡±


    They reported and resumed their positions.


    17¡­ In the midst of darkness¡­ moving targets¡­ strong winds¡­ all while likely on jumping mounted carriagers¡­ no volley fire¡­ no missed shots¡­ Demonic! Arved could only think. Where are they?! Arved despaired. Where?!


    Arved took a deep breath. Calm down¡­


    Taking everything into account, it wouldn¡¯t be far-fetched at this point to assume that they somehow could designate the arrows paths even after casting them. Demonic¡­ But that would also mean that the initial angle wouldn¡¯t matter¡­ therefore¡­ their possible location could actually be all around them¡­


    ¡°Attend!¡± he summoned the four commanders, who took a whole half a minute to attend in their complete numbers. And Arved felt every second pass quite vividly now. ¡°Report!¡± he demanded, he had to shout from the loud wind.


    ¡°Two casualties were reported in the third brigade, again soldiers!¡± Sebastian began, he had to shout as well. ¡°But General¡­ there is another issue¡­¡± Sebastian continued. ¡°The strong winds have their toll on our torches! We already had a hard time reigniting a bunch of them!¡±


    Arved looked up to the torch one of his personal guards held and saw it flickering violently, at the edges of death¡­ they all were.


    Wait¡­ that¡¯s it! Arved fancied. ¡°Alright listen¡­¡± Arved shouted over the wind. ¡°New order: Kill all torches!¡± He felt rather than saw the commanders furrow their brows at this. But their enemies hid in the darkness¡­  two can play that game!


    ¡°General, are we sure about this?¡± Kramer fretted. ¡°Being in the dark will make us clumsy and slow us down in more than one way!¡± He said, as if Arved didn¡¯t know that.


    How about you shut your fucking mouth for once? Arved wanted to say. ¡°Trust me!¡± he shouted instead. ¡°Also, be advised! The enemy might be all around us,¡° he added. ¡°Dismissed!¡±


    And the command was passed on. And the lights went out. And a wave of darkness expanded over the army. Arved met the stare of his personal guard who held the torch and the man understood.


    Darkness. An ocean of bright stars in the sky. A perfectly flat horizon. Howling wind, all-encompassing. Arved felt his heart beat in his chest. Did it work? The question, remained to be answered, tortured him.


    This time the newest report took 15 minutes, no wonder¡­ communication through signs and flags was no longer possible in total darkness and auditory commands short ranged through the loud wind.


    ¡°General!¡± he heard Schmidt¡¯s voice yell behind him.


    ¡°Here!¡° one of Arved¡¯s guards yelled back to help him orient.


    ¡°General! Things are not well!¡± he despaired ¡°Several captains have just reported now, that whole platoons were decimated, with only their lieutenants alive!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Arved was shocked and panic coursed through his entire body.


    ¡°The number of casualties is over 30 in the second brigade alone since last report!¡± Schmidt pronounced.


    Calm down! Arved had to compose himself. Schmidt almost gave him a heart attack with his initial description. It was probably just a concentrated attack.


    ¡°General?¡± Commander Sebastian called out.


    ¡°Here!¡± the guard answered.


    ¡°General!¡± Sebastian spoke. ¡°A lieutenant found his entire platoon slowly decimated in the last half an hour,¡± he elaborated. ¡°Otherwise the casualties in the third brigade appear to be evenly spread. But there is an influx of them in the last 15 minutes, at least 20!¡±


    So putting off the torches not only didn¡¯t work, but the rate of the killings even increased more. Killing the lights was a terrible idea, slowing them down! But they couldn¡¯t possibly reignite the torches now, not in this harsh wind. Also individual platoons were now targeted, but why were the lieutenants of each kept alive?


    ¡°We have a hard time keeping count in the dark, general¡­¡± Lipov started off, his voice uniform as ever even as he shouted. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard the casualties since last report are above 20, all of them soldiers.¡±


    ¡°Mighty general¡­ I quote one of the captains when I say, ¡®it is as if the wind itself whips the soldiers¡¯ breaths away!¡¯¡± Kramer said, his meandering was not a little infuriating. ¡°I¡¯m afraid, since the last report there have been more than 30 casualties!¡±


    So more than 100 casualties in 15 minutes.... and all of them were soldiers? Why only soldiers? Why not the general or any of the commanders? Why not kill the captains or lieutenants? Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense to cut off the head and intelligence of the army and leave it crumble under lack of directions? Except¡­ except for when it wouldn¡¯t matter in the end; it wouldn¡¯t matter where they would start. It wouldn''t matter to cut leaves or roots, the tree would be dead in the end regardless.


    In the eyes of their enemy, defeat was for them already most assured, their fate sealed the very moment the first arrow struck, they already had lost! So why not indulge oneself in the slow and methodical killing? Why not make this lousy worm of a general suffer? Why not make him realise exactly what he had gotten himself into, when we could kill him in little more than eight seconds?


    You are beneath my notice¡­ Arved could hear the enemy mock him, and he had to grit his teeth in rage. Enough is enough!


    ¡°ATTEND!¡± he loudly yelled to summon the commanders, more out of anger than practicality, the loud wind was stifling his voice. He imagined hearing another whip cracking behind him, he couldn¡¯t be entirely sure.


    By the time the last of the commanders, Kramer, arrived 90 seconds had passed, at least eleven additional soldiers had died. ¡°Way to take your sweet time, Kramer!¡± Arved berated him. ¡°Listen carefully! This might very well be my last command¡­¡± Arved began, the wind trying its best to mute him. ¡°We will trade communication and order for mandatory velocity! We have no choice if we ever hope to outpace the enemy!¡± he explained. ¡°Therefore, prepare the army to charge for the next hour and a half! The orders are: break formation, charge head first until you meet and destroy the enemy!¡± Arved asserted. ¡°Understood?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Your Order!¡± they shouted affirmation in unison. To his surprise none of the commanders objected to his order, not even Kramer. They understood the dire situation and the desperate measures.


    Some soldiers were faster than others with more stamina, which meant their formation would become more than fractured and the army would split up. And in the darkness soldiers would inevitably be venturing ahead alone, each of them would be an easy dish for the Windschild soldiers. But any small bruise or wound inflicted upon the enemy was better than dying like the calf to the slaughter.


    This was The Golden General¡¯s last measure. After this only God could help them out. He knew he was marching onto his death. I¡¯m so sorry, Emily! He wished he could have embraced her one last time. Arved turned his head in sorrow to see the perfect line of the horizon interrupted by the smooth bumpy shadow of a lonely hill against the dark blue sky, with stars slowly setting behind it.


    He lifted his sword and ordered his last order: ¡°Charge!¡±


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Jason</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    The sun¡¯s rays were shining through the small window. The wind was howling outside, its familiarity would have been nostalgic in any other circumstance. Jason¡¯s abrupt way of awakening told him that he hadn''t slept at all. He had held Sophon¡¯s light stone tightly in his grip the whole night. Once he saw the bright speck of light on the ground he became animate immediately. He stood up from where he sat, his joints protesting after becoming stiff from hours of sitting in the same place. He placed the black rectangular plate into the illuminated spot and waited.


    He stood up to observe the others still sleeping. He had to painfully exclaim at stretching his back. The hard ground and walls were most surely not comfortable to sit on, lie on or lean against. He let Nils and Elias take the remaining bed¡­ he didn¡¯t deserve a comfortable, warm bed¡­


    Because of his lack of judgement Sophon was now dead! It was his fault! Why should someone else suffer in his place?


    He taught him so much; taught him about the secrets of the cosmos, the right-handed-magic; taught him the just laws of God and gave him hope and confidence in himself. In a whole year he was more of a father to him than his own father by blood was for his whole life!


    And he had told him that he had become over 210 years old! 210 years¡­ 210 years were now simply gone! Nothing left! And it was all his fault¡­ It was all his fault!


    Damn it! Jason buried his face in his hands and inevitably started sobbing. He desperately tried to hold it in, but to no avail¡­ the tears wouldn¡¯t stop flowing.


    Weak¡­ he heard her voice berate him. And sadness made way for anger, when he suddenly had to swing his fists beside him and grunted with deep frustration. Why?! Rage made him bend his back and he shut his eyes as the tears flew uninvited.


    When he opened his eyes again he saw the light stone on the ground, a bright glimmer reflecting on its black surface, and maybe it had seen enough light now to work its magic.


    He picked it up from the ground and swept his fingers over its smooth surface¡­


    And white letters appeared¡­ the first which he read were:


    <h2> </h2>


    Do not call the ones dying on God¡¯s path dead!


    They are very much alive, but you wouldn¡¯t understand!

 Children of the Wind

    <h2>Anna</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    Anna swiftly passed the fountain with the sculpture of Princess Phoebe. She eyed the numerous gardeners watering the plants. Some of the lemon trees in the royal garden had already grown bright yellow fruits in the past few days. Anna had always adored those lemon trees and could never await their yearly harvest, going hand in hand with the Golden Heart Festival, the great celebration of Princess Phoebe¡¯s arrival in and foundation of Windschild.


    But an unripe lemon had been plucked without her notice last night. That she had heard it only through rumours from the other servants first was a little insulting. Between the shouting and moving of the guards, they had been ordered to move to their chambers and lock the doors. Later that night Chiara had informed her that the trap Lady Josiane had set for Lord Jason had been sprung.


    She scanned the gardens for her lady and hastily tread the gravel path between gorgeous red roses and purple bright lilacs. She found them in one of the gardens'' many gazebos, their favourite place.


    ¡°No way he did that!¡± she almost shrieked and closed the distance. The sword leaning against the marble table briefly took an astonished glimpse from her.


    ¡°Would you keep it down?! I can¡¯t concentrate!¡± Chiara growled at her.


    Anna was chastised, before she even had a chance to register what they were doing. Why, of course, they were in the middle of their typical morning routine, but as of late they stopped bringing a board with pieces altogether. Everytime with this game Chiara seemed to become a wholly different person, so unpleasant. She would rely on her masterful ability to poison Anna¡¯s cheery chakra with nothing but a few wind up words, sometimes solely with a frown.


    ¡°King f5,¡± she made her next move.


    ¡°Now, now, have you forgotten about the elephant? Tower f4¡­¡± Josiane closed her eyes and smiled.


    ¡°King e5,¡± was Chiara¡¯s response.


    ¡°Tower e7, checkmate,¡± Josiane finished the game. Chiara gazed up to the air, perplexed.


    ¡°Ohh¡­ Josie won again¡­ what a surprise,¡± Anna gasped with feigned shock.


    Chiara gave her a scolding look. Anna was just glad they had already finished their tedious game, usually taking quite longer than this. She couldn¡¯t fathom how anyone could possibly have the patience for it, let alone to play it in their heads like two lunatics.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it!¡± Chiara despaired. ¡°I had a queen!¡± she put forth.


    Lady Josiane sipped from her tea before she placed the cup back on porcelain. ¡°Yes, you had a queen¡­¡± She smirked at her. ¡°... a useless one tucked in a corner,¡± she berated her opponent. ¡°Meanwhile I had two active towers,¡± she took pride in and finally turned towards her with a smile. ¡°Now, you have my full attention, dear Anna,¡± she spoke gently.


    Anna couldn¡¯t muster the words at first. She had heard about Lord Jason¡¯s imprisonment, but among other things; outrageous things. ¡°I heard-¡­ What-¡­ did you-¡­ What happened last night, m¡¯Lady?¡± she decided to ask in broad terms, scared she might draw her ire otherwise.


    Lady Josiane straightened her back on where she sat and stretched her arms. ¡°A lot of things happened last night¡­¡± she ventured with a half-yawn. ¡°You have to be a little more specific.¡± She grabbed her tea cup again and gestured for Anna to sit down with her hand.


    She sat down beside her on the marble bank and nervously stroked her hair, a little hesitant. ¡°Lord Jason¡­¡± Anna began. ¡°I heard¡­ that he had-¡­ he did¡­ something to you!¡±


    Josiane chuckled. ¡°Well, what did you hear precisely? Describe it!¡± She grinned at her and then sipped from her tea.


    Anna leaned forward. ¡°I heard that he¡­¡± Anna gulped and remembered how the other servant had put it. ¡°...he violated¡­ you?¡± she high-pitched, the word almost stuck in her throat.


    Her lady put her cup down and suddenly formed a scowl. ¡°You want some tea, dear Anna?¡± she asked her evenly and pointed towards the white porcelain teapot with blue ornaments. ¡°Go ahead¡­ Suit yourself¡­¡±


    Anna tensed at her diversion, the coldness of her voice, and eyed the teapot and started shuddering, disturbed.


    Josiane cackled. ¡°Of course I wasn¡¯t violated!¡± She disclosed, amused, and laid a hand on her chest. ¡°Oh, Anna¡­ what¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re so tense!¡± she pointed out. ¡°Usually, you¡¯re not one too shy to pry!¡± She grinned at her.


    And Anna exhaled sharply at her gruesome joke and was relieved. She put her elbows on the table, buried her face in her hands and sighed deeply. ¡°I really thought-¡­ I was so scared for you, m¡¯Lady!¡± she put forth.


    ¡°I¡¯m flattered! But your concern is wasted on me,¡± Josiane said and crossed her arms. ¡°You should worry more about Jayjay¡¯s fate.¡± She smiled sardonically.


    Anna and Chiara exchanged a glimpse before Chiara asked, ¡°What do you intend to do with him?¡±


    Josiane leaned forward. ¡°Right now, nothing,¡± she responded. ¡°My mother shall execute the appropriate punishment for him in time.¡±


    Chiara blinked at her. ¡°Don¡¯t you always complain about how Lady B¨¦atrice is too lenient?¡± she pointed out.


    ¡°Only she has the legislation to officially disown him,¡± Josie responded. ¡°Any punishment I would exact now would only lessen my mother¡¯s sentence,¡± she continued. ¡°Although, admittedly¡­ It would be quite funny seeing him beg to keep his balls!¡± And there was her smile again.


    ¡°Eww... please don¡¯t!¡± Anna made herself small and jerked her hands around her head and winced, remembering quite vividly the last time Josiane made her attend the ordered castration of a convict, who drunkenly had ruined the life of one of the town girls on a fateful night. Her lady snickered at her, amused by her squeamishness.


    Anna turned her head to the sound of crunching gravel and saw the court physician Sir Kostas approaching accompanied by the captain of the house guards. They bowed down respectfully.


    ¡°There you are, Sir Kostas!¡± Josiane addressed him. ¡°Let us not waste further time on this matter!¡± She folded her hands. ¡°In the eastern dungeons you will find a humanoid steelwalker corpse locked away in one of the cells,¡± she described. ¡°It¡¯s an odd example to say the least and I need you to dissect it and study its anatomy.¡±


    Sir Kostas eyed her curiously, then nervously gave a brief glimpse to the captain of the guards. ¡°Uhh¡­ M¡¯lady¡­ steelwalker corpses¡­¡± he hesitated. ¡±...are known to spontaneously come back to life, to combust or even to explode,¡± he worried, a plea in his face.


    ¡°I have a feeling this one won¡¯t explode, you¡¯ll see it for yourself,¡± Josiane answered. ¡°Besides, Captain Timur will accompany you with aid and monitor the corpse at all times.¡± She gestured to the captain with her hand. ¡°You may take the corpse wherever you feel comfortable as long as it¡¯s hidden from plain sight.¡± She smiled at him. ¡°You¡¯re dismissed!¡±


    Sir Kostas merely stared at her and a couple heartbeats passed before he and Captain Timur bowed down respectfully and turned around.


    Anna watched them leave, feeling like Sir Kostas was understandably anxious about the whole assignment. She liked him. He was maybe a little reserved but always kind and respectful to her. Never looking at her chest except for a medical inspection. And he was handsome for his old age.


    The sword leaning on the table got Anna¡¯s attention again. ¡°What is that?¡± she had to wonder. It wasn¡¯t like any blade she ever saw. A matt silver with a prominent rainbow hue and a golden shaft crested with a polished ruby that eerily resembled an eye. ¡°It looks gorgeous!¡± she adored the sword and stood up to reach for it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch the sword!¡± Chiara warned her. ¡°It bites!¡±


    Anna gave her a sneer. ¡°Ha-ha! Funny!¡± she said wryly. But when she laid hands on it, she felt the painful shock. ¡°Ahrgh!¡± she elicited a shriek. The ache in her hands forced her to fold them and bend in place, her eyes tearing up. Josiane barked a harsh laugh.


    Chiara sighed. ¡°Told you!¡± she spoke to Anna, disappointed.


    It was the sort of shock one might occasionally get from touching scratchy wool or metallic door knobs but vastly more painful.


    ¡°Aww¡­ poor thing is furious, for it got separated from its master,¡± Josiane pitied with a smirk.


    Anna had to stare at her, brows raised in question before she realised she was talking to the sword. Anna eyed it again. ¡°It¡¯s-... It¡¯s not really alive, is it?¡± she had to wonder.


    ¡°It¡¯s a trophy I earned from last night,¡± Josiane proudly mentioned, whilst studying her nails. And Anna remembered overhearing the guards talking about how she had defeated an army of over thousand men in the dead of the night, all by herself. She had thought it to be absurd¡­ but here leaning against the table was the proof. Anna side-eyed her awfully.


    ¡°You seem to be in an exalted mood this morning,¡± Chiara pointed out. ¡°What circumstance owes us this pleasure precisely?¡± she surveyed evenly.


    Josiane scrutinised her. ¡°You mean other than the joy I feel from completely and utterly destroying my enemies?¡± Josiane leaned back on the marble gazebo¡¯s sims and closed her eyes. ¡°Nothing in particular,¡± she smiled and played with a ring on her finger.


    Upon realising it Anna sharply inhaled. ¡°Wait¡­ a new ring!¡± she shouted eagerly and grabbed her lady¡¯s hand. Chiara leaned forward in order to give it a closer look as well.


    Anna mustered the symmetrical stone with its unique shape. ¡°That¡¯s such a delightful green!¡± she cutesied.


    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting shape!¡± Chiara put forth. ¡°It¡¯s a dodecahedron!¡± she observed.


    Anna gave Chiara a brief churning look, scorn on how someone could be such a know-it-all, before she asked Josiane, ¡°Where¡¯d you get it from, m¡¯Lady?¡± Anna smiled at her.


    ¡°You know, dear Anna¡­¡± her lady began. ¡°...you always boast to us with your various lovers and how they make you gifts and so forth¡­¡± Josiane side-eyed her with a sly look. ¡°What shall I say¡­ other than that I got a little jealous!¡± She grinned at her.


    Anna gasped. ¡°Oh my gods! My lady has an admirer?!¡± she shrilly whispered and exuberantly clapped her hands on the table. ¡°Who is he? Who is he?! Whoishe?!¡± she asked in quick succession.


    Josiane smiled at Chiara, who neutrally glimpsed back. ¡°Try to guess, dear Anna,¡± her lady prompted her.


    ¡°Oooh¡­ okay!¡± she grinned. Anna would love to play this game! ¡°Uhhm¡­¡± she pondered. ¡°Is it that one young guard with curly dark brown hair?¡± she guessed. ¡°What was his name again? Jon?¡±


    Josiane chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s none of the guards, no,¡± she narrowed it down.


    ¡°Aha!¡± she realised. ¡°So it¡¯s the new apprentice cook! Felix! He¡¯s such a charming boy!¡± she swarmed and pulled both arms on her chest.


    Chiara pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°For the love of the gods, Anna, just put one and one together, already!¡± she said, so early quite annoyed by her guessing.


    Anna furrowed her brows. ¡°What?¡± she was confused. ¡°Who else could it be?¡± she wondered.


    Josiane laughed. ¡°It¡¯s Jayjay, you little dummy!¡± she revealed and Anna was dumbstruck. She stared at the ring again and sobered, vividly sensing the thought Lord Jason must have put into it. Suddenly she started feeling a little bad for him.


    ¡°Honestly, I can¡¯t comprehend what the fuss is all about!¡± Josiane spoke. Anna thought her lady must have picked up on her before she remarked, ¡°It hurt like hell!¡±


    And Anna merely eyed her for a whole breath, and as realisation suddenly dawned, she sharply inhaled. ¡°No!¡± she breathed with wide eyes.


    ¡°There were certainly other ways to make things seem authentic¡­¡± Josiane continued. ¡°But oh well, Anna¡­ you made me¡­ very¡­ curious!¡± She winked at her with a grin.


    She couldn¡¯t really mean¡­ ¡°But you said-... I-... eh-...¡± Anna stammered and searched for Chiara¡¯s eyes, who gravely stared back at her. ¡°But m¡¯Lady!¡± she shrieked at Josiane. ¡°You¡¯re still underage!¡± She frowned at her pitifully.


    Josiane shut her eyes. ¡°You should have thought of that earlier,¡± she admonished her. ¡°And again¡­ your concern is flattering¡­ but wasted on me!¡± she reiterated her previous disposition.


    Anna wanted to inquire, but was put off by an unnerving glance her lady gave her. Rather she was no longer assured of the contents of her lady¡¯s heart. ¡°Why would you imprison him at all?¡± she had to reflect on it. ¡°What did he even¡­ do?¡± If he didn¡¯t¡­


    And Josiane gave her a measured look before she said, ¡°He¡¯s a traitor! A treacherous spy!¡± and looked away. This wasn¡¯t the first time she called him that. But Anna noticed the missing smile on her face as she said it now, and her sombre voice. So subtle that if she didn¡¯t know her so well, she would have missed it. It was probably best not to question her further about it¡­ ¡°But-...¡±


    ¡°Enough banter!¡± Josiane cut her off harshly, making Anna wince. ¡°Rather tell me about any intelligence you two have gathered from the day before,¡± she spoke sternly. ¡°Begin!¡± she ordered them.


    Chiara began immediately. ¡°I must probably not start on how the steelwalker you killed had the highest authority in Jason¡¯s crew after himself, as I have obvious reasons to believe you already knew that,¡± she reported as if she already had practised what she would say in advance. ¡°They haven¡¯t talked about anything noteworthy, pointless anecdotes at best,¡± she put forth. ¡°The nobleman from Wasserturm appears to be a physician and has a concubine.¡±


    Anna felt the need to add: ¡°I found that out!¡± She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her lady jesting her useless.


    ¡°What about the guard?¡± Josiane queried.


    Chiara''s gaze fell down and she brooded a little. ¡°If I had to guess¡­¡± she answered. ¡°From what we know about Lord Jason¡¯s journey, he probably has a background as a mercenary,¡± she argued.


    Lady Josiane thoughtfully frowned and slanted her eyes. ¡°He certainly fits the profile,¡± she said in a solemn tone.


    Anna thought back on the way he smiled at her and sighed dreamily. ¡°He was so kind and charming!¡± she swarmed.


    Chiara responded with an annoyed sigh. ¡°He was ribald and obnoxious!¡± she rebutted.


    Anna looked at her scornfully. ¡°Maybe if you weren''t so stuck up, you¡¯d have a lover yourself one day!¡± She smirked at her and searched for an affirming glance from her lady she didn¡¯t receive.


    ¡°I have little to no interest in coquetry or what poorly tries to resemble it,¡± Chiara quickly responded with her monotone voice.


    Anna knew her well enough to not miss her hidden offence. ¡°Oh really?!¡± she rebutted. ¡°You certainly looked your part, when that blonde bear with the mop charmed you!¡± she put forth with a satisfied smirk.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Josiane wondered at length, side-eying Chiara slyly. ¡°Will we be able to infiltrate the Von Hossenfelds¡¯ court after all?¡° she entertained a bane idea.


    Chiara¡¯s eyes widened with what would pass as perturbation for her and Anna immediately regretted telling Josiane this part. ¡°Actually¡­ it looked more like¡­ he was just making friendly conversation,¡± Anna tried to smooth it over, smiling at her lady nervously.


    Despite being at odds with her most of the time, the thought of losing Chiara felt like losing a sister.


    ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± Chiara carried on, earning a curious look from Josiane. ¡°...there was a moment when the steelwalker and the heir of Hossenfeld were inquiring confidentially. And the steelwalker handed him something dark in colour, but I couldn¡¯t make out what it was precisely,¡± she mentioned.


    Lady Josiane crossed her arms and thoughtfully rested her index finger on her lip. She then leaned forward to grab a hidden bag from underneath the marble bank. ¡°Did it look like something akin to this?¡± she asked while pulling out a black rectangular plate.


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Nils</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    It was bad. It was downright awful. He had seen the redness around the wound growing since the first day of their shared imprisonment, an early telltale sign of an infection. But when he had gripped the iron bars and repeatedly called out for the guards, they would not answer, only appearing in the hallways when they brought them food and provisions and would change the bucket toilet.


    Indeed, they had to discharge in front of each other and the disgusting smell emanating was renewed every time they did, not at all aiding in a sanitary environment for any wound to heal conducively.


    After the first night, the guards had also been searching the cell on multiple occasions. Jason had had the foresight to hide the light stone from the guards behind a loose brick on the wall, rightfully convinced that Josiane would have eventually found out and let the guards try to confiscate it.


    Nils had pleaded with them for antiseptic ointment, or even wine or liquor but to no avail, they ignored him. The hole in Henry¡¯s foot had a noxious green colour now, after three days without proper cleansing.


    He poured water on linen and carefully washed the skin around the wound. Nils stood up and nervously eyed Henry¡¯s face, who had his eyes closed and was covered in sweat. He put his hand on his temple, noticing how his fever became worse with every passing hour and his breathing increasingly hoarse.


    Elias stood up from where he sat on the bed across the cell. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look so good!¡± he finally noticed.


    That¡¯s putting it mildly, Nils thought and pulled himself back from Henry.


    ¡°Will he be okay?¡± Elias asked with clear worry.


    Nils rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand, dejected. He turned towards Elias. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he remarked. ¡°If we don¡¯t rely on drastic measures soon, he might perish,¡± he disclosed in a whisper to confide from Henry.


    Elias just stared at him, at a loss of words. Nils reciprocated a grave look. ¡°W-What drastic measures?¡± Elias quietly queried, with a tremble conveying he had already well understood the connotation.


    Nils frowned. He had to bite his lower lip, and his throat became suddenly dry. ¡°We have to cut off the limb in order to fend off the infection,¡± he explained.


    Elias just stared at him, disturbed, and then gulped. ¡°Cut off how?!¡± he raised a fair point in a whisper.


    Nils hopelessly shook his head. They had been disarmed during their incarceration and the guards would certainly not lend them any blade. Yet they might still help, given the dire situation. They had to communicate the gravity of Henry¡¯s condition by any means.


    Elias gave a hoarse sigh in exasperation, and seemed to have had the same train of thought as he turned around and walked up to the iron bars and grabbed them. ¡°Hey!¡± he yelled in the hallway. ¡°HEEEY!¡± he shouted even louder and repeatedly hit the iron bars with might.


    That¡¯s one way of trying, I suppose¡­ Nils thought.


    Jason, who occasionally slept during the day now, awoke to the tumult and sleepily lifted his head. Nils exchanged a look with him, and pointed towards Henry with nervous eyes. Jason immediately became animate and stood up from the bed to examine Henry, laying a hand on his forehead.


    ¡°Our friend is sick!¡± Elias yelled. ¡°He needs help!¡± he shouted. ¡°HEEEY!¡± He slapped and kicked the iron door.


    Jason moved back to the corner of the cell and mustered three handfuls of slate from the ground, one of which he pressed into Nils¡¯ hand as he walked up to Elias and gave him one as well. Jason started hitting the bar of iron with the stone, Elias and Nils joined him in hitting the bars as mightily as they could, resulting in a great deal of noise. ¡°HEEEY!¡± they started to yell and shout repeatedly in unison as the stones slowly cracked in their hands.


    And surely enough, their efforts would not go to waste as after a while, finally, two guards showed up. ¡°Quiet the noise!¡± one of them barked. And they ceased hitting the bars with stones upon their arrival.


    ¡°This is an emergency!¡± Elias hastily spoke. ¡°Our friend¡¯s foot is horrendously infected!¡± he said and pointed towards Henry. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t get treatment now, he will die!¡± he pronounced.


    The guards exchanged a look. ¡°You jest us for fools?¡± one of them jumped at Elias.


    ¡°No!¡± Elias gave the exasperated response and shook his head, perplexed.


    ¡°Sir Kostas!¡± Jason pointed out. ¡°He will be able to tell you from a distance that the foot is infected!¡± Jason pleaded.


    The other guard gave Jason a strange vindicated look. ¡°Sir Kostas¡­¡± he began. ¡°...has been notoriously busy these last two days.¡± The guard smiled at him.


    Jason just silently stared back, frozen, and then seemed to make sense of the guard¡¯s beam, widening his eyes.


    Lord Jason had already weighed up with Nils how things might not be hale and hearty for General Arved, given his absent response to Lord Jason¡¯s messaging through the light stone.


    Henry gave a minute uneven cough. Nils felt the urgency to act increased. ¡°I¡¯m a physician as well!¡± he put forth. ¡°I am well capable of amputating his foot but I will be in need of the necessary paraphernalia!¡± he explained.


    The guards exchanged a glimpse before they laughed. ¡°Why should we give you this para-thing?¡± one of them spoke and poked the other with his elbow.


    Nils gave them a neutral stare. ¡°Because if you don¡¯t, his death will be your fault,¡± he made the argument. The guards eyed him incredulously at this. He gestured towards Henry. ¡°Your lady has imprisoned him, and not killed him¡­ for a reason,¡± he furtherly explained. ¡°If one of her precious hostages would perish because of your lacklustre supervision¡­¡± he pointed out. ¡°...I just wonder what she might do¡­¡± He gave them their vindicated smile right back.


    The guards exchanged a look with their brows raised. One of them rubbed the back of his head before he said, ¡°Alright! But try anything vacuous and you bunch will lose more than just one foot!¡±


    It took them a while, but better overdue than regretful. Piece by piece the guards brought them anything Nils could bargain for: Five fresh linen cords, two clean knife blades and a bone saw, two copper pots filled with heated water, and even antiseptic ointment. As well as summoning two additional guards aiding in keeping Henry fixed in place and a flaming torch in order to heat the blades. They ordered them to form a line along the back wall of the cell as they brought the utilities in, closing the iron door behind them.


    It was now his turn to act¡­ Alright! Come on¡­ don¡¯t waste further time! Nils had to incite himself, a single bead of sweat running along his face. Everything was ready; set in place. Things now depended on him¡­ ¡°I will need your help as well!¡± he requested from Jason and Elias.


    The two additional guards moved to fixate Henry¡¯s torso, while Jason and Elias would lift and fix his leg upon Nils¡¯ request. Nils dipped the knife blades and the bone saw in the left copper pot with hot water and repeatedly cleansed them with a linen cord. He handed the guard, who held the torch, one of the blades. ¡°Please hold the knife within the flame,¡± he instructed him. He then grabbed three of the cords and handed two to Jason and Elias one each. ¡°Tie it around his lower leg as tight as you¡¯re able to!¡±


    Nils took it to himself to tie the third linen just above his ankle. Luckily the circular spread of the gangrene hasn¡¯t reached the lower leg yet. Disarticulation from the ankle should be relatively risk free.


    Henry, who was asleep up to this point, started grunting, certainly feeling the blood slowly leaving his foot. Even though he was delirious from the fever, he might still react volatilely. And given his tall and muscular stature, Nils would rather have that to be avoided. ¡°Make sure to hold him in place with all might,¡± he urged everyone. Elias repositioned himself over the end of the bed.


    Nils took the other blade knife. The first incision should be through the achilles heel¡­ he turned around to face the foot¡­ the most painful incision. A sharp blade met hardy skin¡­ Hopefully the lack of blood was sufficiently paralysing¡­ He exchanged a nervous glimpse with Jason and Elias, sweat running through their brows.


    Nils took a deep breath. Here goes nothing! And with a sweep pull he cut through the-...


    ¡°AAARGHH!¡± the scream echoed through even in the small hallway. He almost lifted two heavy men, who had to jump on him with all their weight in order to hold him in place. He gasped for air and coughed repeatedly and grunted with pain.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine! It¡¯s good! Everythings alright!¡± Nils shouted back, partially to calm down Henry, partially to convince himself that the incision had been indeed without complication. ¡°Let him breathe!¡± Nils ordered the guards, who slowly relieved Henry from their weight, still holding him in place.


    Blood leaked from his ankle, not a small amount. Nils glimpsed into Elias'' face, who grimaced with a horrified grin. He turned around and put the blood soaked knife into the right copper pot.


    He gave Henry a measuring look. He was still gasping for air and was now covered in even more sweat. But the most difficult part was still lying ahead of them¡­


    Nils grabbed the last linen cord and wiped some of the blood on his ankle away with it and then repeatedly rinsed the cord with water from the right copper pot. He searched for Jason¡¯s eyes, who was fixing Henry¡¯s knee and frowned regretfully. ¡°Make sure the cords are tied tightly, m¡¯Lord!¡± Nils drew his attention only marginally, but Jason eventually fastened the knots.


    The next incision¡­ would sever the saphenous vein.


    Nils turned towards the guard, who held a blade above a flame¡­ ¡°Sir¡­ May I?¡± he asked with an open hand for the seething knife.


    The guard handed him the slightly rose glowing piece of metal only steadily over, in reverence of it. Nils took it with the same reverence and moved it into position¡­ He took a deep breath and counted internally up to three¡­ and then¡­


    The seething knife gave flesh and blood a kiss eliciting a sharp hiss. ¡°YEARGHHH!¡± Yet another scream echoed through the dungeon. This time he struck one of the guards in the face and Jason had to jump on Henry in his place. He fell this time quicker on his back, the fever must have exhausted him quite much already. His breathing was still fast and his face even more feverish.


    The vein has been successfully severed yet burned shut. He  circumcised the ankle further then put the second blade into the right copper pot. Much blood was still running its course, which Nils patiently wiped away. Bone was now laid bare. He rinsed the cord he held again with water from the right copper pot, the bone saw waiting its turn in the left.


    Elias, who was lifting Henry¡¯s leg, started quivering. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much of this I can take further¡­¡± he exhaled through gritted teeth and shook his head.


    Nils eyed him solemnly. ¡°Almost done,¡± he tried to reassure not only Elias but also himself. All that was left were four or five vigorous thrusts with the bone saw. ¡°Grab his foot and ankle with both hands¡­ hold them tightly in place¡­¡± he ordered Elias, while he pulled out and cleansed the most coarse of the blades with water.


    ¡°He fell unconscious!¡± Jason pointed out.


    Nils put the bone saw back into the pot and swiftly walked up to Henry to examine him. The guards were now clapping him on his cheeks.


    ¡°Please seize that!¡± he warned the guards sharply, making them stop. He put two fingers on Henry¡¯s neck to gauge his pulse and waited... His pulse appeared to be steady and regular... after half a minute¡­ ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± he observed.


    He proceeded in rinsing the bone saw with water, wishing Henry had fallen unconscious much earlier than this.


    He turned around with the saw in his hand and put himself into position. Nils searched for Elias'' eyes, who stared back with not a little agitation. He waited for him to nod confirmation. Elias decided to stare away at the wall before he nodded his approval. Nils attached the bone saw with a sweep. It sounded like cutting a small piece of wood. And finally after six consecutive thrusts the infected foot was cut off. ¡°Alright¡­¡± he heaved a sigh of relief and closed his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡±


    Elias dropped the freshly cut off foot convulsively. Removing his blood soaked hands immediately, he staggered backwards until his back pressed on a black slate wall. He slid down to a cower, exhausted from the endeavour.


    Jason pulled himself back from Henry and started slowly pacing the cell with utter dejection, one hand covering his face.


    Nils still had to ask the guards for additional fresh linen cords, which he would soak with antiseptic ointment and tie around the stump. The coming days he must make sure to exchange them frequently and keep the guards on their toes with that in mind.


    This was his first amputation¡­ not the first he had witnessed in his schooling, but the first he had to carry out alone...


    Although successful¡­ he already would contemplate a different line of work. And fate would have it, he wouldn¡¯t be the only one¡­


    Nils glimpsed up to Henry¡¯s sweat covered face, who was soundly asleep now like the whole ordeal didn¡¯t happen.


    Poor bastard¡­ he thought.


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Sina</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    Under the scorching noon sun most of the bedouins of their tribe were holding their qailulah in their tents, even the most diligent amongst them did sleep at this hour. It was seemingly the only way to stay cool and escape the thick flickering air.


    But a keen eye would always spot the gaping entryways on grande rocks erected throughout the desert. These caves seldom saw a ray of the sun penetrating them deeply enough and were a refuge for the more delicate creations of The Great. Amongst them were spiders building eloquent webs, gorgeous caterpillars, centipedes with golden furs and hatchlings nourishing on them.


    Sina and her sister, Raqiya, preferred their own solitary company in these cool caves over their fellow tribesmen. Even with the spreading rumours, having reached them through the coursing wind, the men¡¯s hostility had only declined marginally. Reduced to more glaring eyes rather than sharp tongues.


    They had heard word about their lost brother returning. There was only one thing that would benefit her and her sister from their kinship: the fear and respect he would instil upon their fellow tribesmen, leading them to leave them mostly alone as long as Sina didn¡¯t go out of her way to provoke them unnecessarily, which she was tempted to do often.


    Sina had been waiting for her brother for seven years. She couldn¡¯t even remember his face. The only association she had with him¡­ was the colour red¡­ a red fountain, actually. The sun shining on sand, red with human gore¡­ from a sliced throat¡­ a woman with the same brown skin as hers, forcefully held in place by his hand grabbing her curly dark brown hair. The same hair as hers, shining a brilliant orange through the setting sun¡¯s rays. Her golden eyes affectless, as if she already had died long before.


    That woman had been their oldest sister¡­ and with Sina then being four years old, her death by their own brother¡¯s hand had been engraved in her eyes as her first memory of this world.


    Sina understood exactly why The Great had shown her that horrific event when she was young and innocent; when her mind hadn¡¯t been sullied by the abhorrent superstitions of the worshippers of Hajjal.


    A deep hatred had been instilled into her for the enemies of The Great, by The Great himself! How grateful was she for it! She would rather spend the entirety of her living days rotting away in this cave, than participate a second in their ill ways! She was the only sane person among them, even her sister was more sane than them!


    So it seemed a murder had yielded a greater purpose for it benefitted her with wisdom and knowledge, albeit something that must be avenged sooner rather than later¡­ for the damage done¡­ had been permanent¡­


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the cool air great, Raqiya?¡± Sina asked her with affection in her eyes from where she cowered.


    ¡°Bleargh! Aueghhhee!¡± Raqiya confirmed with an enthusiastic shrill, smiling.


    Sina grabbed her bag and searched through it. ¡°Look what I found the other day!¡± she teased melodically.


    Raqiya became animated immediately and jumped over to her. ¡°Ihaaahhh!¡± she jolted, when Sina pulled them out. She then watched her with pleading eyes.


    Sina gave her a beam. ¡°You don¡¯t have to ask every time, just take them!¡± she put her hand closer to her and Raqiya understood.


    Sina had to laugh at her greedily snatching the dates away and eating them up one by one. Her sister loved dates and she had no doubt she would die if that would mean a lifetime supply. At last there was one thing those filthy worshippers of Hajjal couldn¡¯t take away from her.


    As long as the desert would be occasionally blessed by rain, flowers would briefly bloom even on the most barren earth. As long as there were fruits like dates in this world, her sister would occasionally smile and jolt with happiness. For those rare moments alone, she promised The Great she would stay alive.


    For that¡­ and of course¡­ She couldn¡¯t die as long as he roamed this world alive¡­


    Justice needed to be served!


    She pulled the knife out of her bag and gripped the blade by its hilt and eyed its reflection bitterly. Soon! she promised to herself.


    Suddenly a loud horn blew in the distance. Sina needed no time to realise that it wasn¡¯t the one her tribe used for the alarm of raids. No¡­ rather this horn was foreign! Which meant¡­ which meant strangers were blowing it¡­ He has arrived!


    ¡°Nah!¡± Raqiya exclaimed. ¡°Ngahhh!¡± she worried with big eyes. She then suddenly stood up, shouted and rotated in place convulsively. And Sina had to wonder whether or not her sister could feel their brother''s presence slowly creeping up to them.


    Sina stood up and hid the knife underneath her robe. Justice¡­ she determined. Justice must be served! She moved to leave the cave. ¡°You stay here!¡± she sternly warned Raqiya with a finger, who initially started following her.


    Raqiya moaned with protest and worried glances, but ultimately ceased following her. Her exclamations echoing behind Sina, as she left the caves and steadily walked towards their tribe''s encampment.


    The scorching sun in its zenith burned on her shoulders and forehead even through her robe. Inhumane was anyone, who would travel at this hour, but that was quite fitting for the monster he was.


    The horn sounded again. Her blood was slowly boiling up. Sina didn¡¯t notice how she started running. Her face grimaced with hatred. You are as good as dead!


    She arrived at their encampment and swiftly ran between the tents in the direction of the horn¡¯s origin. She found the whole tribe gathered; gathered around and muttering amongst themselves. She forcefully squeezed herself to the front¡­ but as much as she scanned with her eyes for the big bulky man he was described as¡­ in his place instead¡­ were two women.


    Two women in long black robes. One who blew the horn and the other¡­ the other was the tallest woman Sina had ever seen. She was tall but strangely slander with sheer white skin and long oily black hair. Her eyes were glowing red. A looming ghostly shadow seemed to be accompanying her, despite the sun at its highest point. She held a long staff ending with a sickle in her left hand.


    One glance at her was enough to tell that she was a demon in disguise. Sina¡¯s disappointment quickly made way for fear.


    Then the woman started talking. ¡°Worshippers of Hajjal!¡± the raspy voice spoke up betraying an old age, silencing all mutterance. ¡°I¡¯ve come to announce¡­ the arrival of¡­ a new goddess!¡± And the swing of her staff summoned ghostly blue flames roaring high towards the sky, leaving the men and women of Sina¡¯s tribe screaming and shouting in awe; leaving no doubt on whom she pronounced as the new deity.


    Sina nervously looked around, sweat running through her face, as she found her fellow tribesmen trembling and slowly bowing down, prostrating one after the other.


    And the irony¡­ simply became too much to bear.


    Sina snapped at them. ¡°Will you bow down and take a woman as your god, after raping and sacrificing your own daughters and sisters?!¡± she screamed at the top of her lungs. ¡°How do you reason?!¡± She fell on her knees, despairing at their idiocracy.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to detain a maiden from your ranks, unsullied and chaste!¡± the tall woman rasped. ¡°That is my decree!¡±


    And Sina had to widen her eyes with perturbation. Oh no¡­ she was disturbed. The piercing gaze of her tribesmen searing on her back, even more depressing now than the scorching sun.


    Then she heard the familiar voice. ¡°Sina is the only virgin amongst us! Take her!¡± Chachiya, a girl roughly her same age, spoke avidly and pointed at her.


    The man beside her got up. ¡°We left her untouched, for her brother is the feared Ibn Kan!¡± he explained, gesturing towards Sina with an open palm.


    And suddenly the demon was in front of her. Sina jolted with horror, looked up to meet the red eyes of a serpent and started shivering. ¡°Is it true, child?¡± the serpent asked, as her big slender white hand cupped her chin. ¡°Are you chaste?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t answer; only quiver under the predatory gleam, frozen in place. Yet the self-proclaimed deity smirked confirmation.


    She then released her. ¡°Tie her up!¡± she ordered her newly acquired followers.


    And the spell of fear was broken when Sina felt the heavy hand on her back. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± she hissed as she reflexively pulled out her knife and stabbed the intruding hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Argh!¡± the man exclaimed painfully and fell back, holding his now blood soaked hand.


    A group of men of her tribe slowly creeped up upon her from all sides. Sina desperately swung the knife around to keep them away, but they quickly got hold of her wrists from behind and twisted them around her back, forcing her to the ground, pressing her right cheek on the hot searing desert sand. She dropped her knife.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± she demanded and grimaced, while struggling against the weight of the man pinning her down. She felt the knot painfully tying her wrists together.


    ¡°Now, now, we¡¯ve got ourselves a feisty one!¡± the other woman in the black robe spoke.


    The men of her tribe forced Sina on her feet. The serpent approached her again and removed her headscarf with her free hand and started combing her short hair and swept the sand off of her cheek. She cupped her chin again and pulled her face closer to her. ¡°Now you belong to me!¡± she rasped in her deep voice. ¡°I shall grant you one wish!¡± she whispered.


    Sina glared daggers back at her, then she had to avert her eyes towards the way she came, the wind seemed to blow that way.


    She had to carefully examine the situation. If she would leave her behind then Ibn Kan would eventually return and¡­ The Great alone knows what he would do with her. The demonic figure in front of her was in all likelihood more preferable to the company of their brother.


    ¡°My sister¡­¡± she began ¡°I wish you to never separate me from her!¡± Sina proclaimed hoarsely.


    And a shiver ran through her spine when she saw her new master snicker with a cruel smirk. ¡°So be it!¡± The Black Witch decreed.


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>B¨¦atrice</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    She had been furious when she had heard. She was still furious. She knew she shouldn¡¯t have entrusted Windschild in her supervision. Two months hadn¡¯t passed and Josie was already out for trouble, with inspiring events already impending disastrous consequence and scandal. Lady B¨¦atrice had no choice and had been forced to leave Qat al Ahmar earlier than planned.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    A whole lot earlier than planned, thanks to her daughter. Josie always found new ways in going astray. That girl never learned what the word shame meant.


    She slowed her mount, when she reached the courtyard, noticing the construction work and scaffolding that lined it and which hadn¡¯t been there two months ago. Windschild never needed walls or big ugly castles, but one could never deter that stubborn Josie from the idea, little megalomaniac she was.


    B¨¦atrice halted and dismounted her horse and handed her to the farrier, who led the mare to the closest stall. Two guards approached her and bent the knee. ¡°We are elated by your safe return, m¡¯Lady!¡± one of them spoke. She wished she could say the same.


    ¡°Bring me to my daughter!¡± she ordered.


    ¡°Your Grace! Lady Josiane already expects you in the great hall, m¡¯Lady!¡± The guards stood up and stanced way for her to lead.


    And B¨¦atrice knew a moment of pause. She hadn¡¯t sent a pigeon in advance, that could have informed Josie about her early departure. She shouldn¡¯t suspect her daughter of espionage, but the same suspicion fueled her anger, especially now when the element of surprise was taken from her. She hastily moved forward and entered the villa followed by the guards, walking the corridor to the great hall.


    Josiane was sitting in the large chair in the middle, B¨¦atrice¡¯ chair, hands folded and a big smile on her face. The great hall had been mostly emptied. ¡°Mother! How lovely, you''re back!¡± she spoke, all fake honey.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?! How dare you imprison your cousin?!¡± she could finally demand after a week of edged travel over sea then land.


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so dearly as well, Mother!¡± Josie honeyed.


    ¡°Spare me your pretence!¡± B¨¦atrice hissed at her daughter, and felt a moment of satisfaction, when that fake smile finally fell flat.


    ¡°From where I come from¡­¡± Josie studied her nails. ¡°...we greet each other formally before launching into blind accusations, especially when we are family!¡± she said and looked defiantly up to her.


    What was this? Some sort of game for her?! ¡°From where I come from, we do not unjustly imprison anyone¡­ especially when they are family!¡± B¨¦atrice retorted.


    ¡°Unjustly?¡± Josie asked, incensed. ¡°Are we talking about the same family? The same cousin?¡± she asked and had the audacity to look appalled. ¡°The same cousin, who banded with a bunch of peasants and dastard mercenaries and violently overtook the whole land?¡±


    ¡°Your aunt will-...¡± B¨¦atrice tried.


    ¡°The same cousin¡­¡± Josie continued. ¡°...who took the aforementioned army of peasants and mercenaries and put them on standby just over the horizon?¡± she spoke and gestured with her hand out the window to her left.


    And B¨¦atrice admittedly recognized that her daughter had at least a reason. Jason would never hurt her of course, but maybe she thought he could. B¨¦atrice was inclined to doubt it, but maybe she was just scared.


    ¡°The same cousin¡­ who tried to coerce his underage cousin into marrying him?¡± Josie finished her rhetoric.


    And B¨¦atrice froze.


    ¡°What?¡± she asked.


    And Josiane¡¯s smile returned. It wasn¡¯t a nice smile. ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± she chuckled. ¡°Said he wanted to make me his queen! Look!¡± she said, and demonstrated the ring on her middle finger.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying¡­¡± B¨¦atrice could only bring out.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m finally engaged, dear Mother! It is truly sublime! He loved me so passionately on our honeymoon!¡± Josie high-pitched in a mocking imitation of a girl in love.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± B¨¦atrice exclaimed. It must be a cruel joke!


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth!¡± Josie relaxed in her chair, folded her hands again and crossed her legs.


    You don¡¯t know what the truth is! she thought. Josie¡¯s satisfaction of B¨¦atrice¡¯ mortification was misplaced. It wasn¡¯t disappointment in Jason¡¯s actions, for she knew Josie never shied away from painting him in a bad light. Rather it was disgust that B¨¦atrice felt.


    ¡°Did you-... did you-... did you lay with him?!¡± she trembled. B¨¦atrice could feel the blood in her neck and dreaded her daughter''s answer.


    ¡°If you¡¯re asking, whether we had luscious sex¡­¡± her daughter grinned and studied her nails. ¡°....yes!¡± she purred.


    And B¨¦atrice¡¯ hand itched to slap her. Just what was wrong with her?!


    She gritted her teeth. She doesn¡¯t know, she reminded herself instead, and practised patience. You have to tell her!


    B¨¦atrice clenched her fists. ¡°He is your brother¡­¡± she hissed through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Josiane chuckled with raised brows, taunting.


    ¡°You imbecile! He¡¯s your brother!¡± B¨¦atrice yelled at her.


    And Josie¡¯s grin froze in place. ¡°What?¡± she blinked and was struck dumbfounded.


    B¨¦atrice was suddenly very aware of the two guards¡¯ presence and side-eyed them before she lowered her voice accordingly. ¡°Aunt Michelle isn¡¯t really his mother¡­¡± she whispered. ¡°...I am!¡±


    And Josiane¡¯s confusion made way for her surprise, and as realisation dawned, surprise made way for a slowly impending wave of disgust. And with her own disgust reflected upon her daughter¡¯s face, B¨¦atrice now realised that she had told the truth.


    Her children¡­ had laid together. B¨¦atrice shuddered. She wondered if this was the gods¡¯ way of punishing her for disregarding the oath of marriage.


    ¡°Who¡¯s his father?¡± Josiane asked in a sobered whisper.


    ¡°Still the azimian King,¡± B¨¦atrice answered in a low voice.


    ¡°Were you engaged before or after Aunt Michelle married him?¡± she slowly asked. And B¨¦atrice knew exactly what she was trying to do.


    ¡°Quit changing the subject matter!¡± she hissed at her daughter. ¡°I hereby decree¡­¡± she commanded loud enough for the guards to hear. ¡°...that you will release your cousin Lord Jason from his imprisonment. You must apologise to him, and you will disband this unholy engagement in an instant!¡±


    ¡°I will most certainly not!¡± Josiane retorted equally loudly. ¡°He was invading my homeland! Our homeland! And I defended it!¡± she gestured to herself with a hand to her chest. ¡°I did it! I, and I alone!¡± she shouted. ¡°They were in the thousands¡­ thousands! But no match for a true child of wind!¡± she boasted.


    ¡°You¡¯re forgetting yourself!¡± B¨¦atrice sternly remarked.


    ¡°I am forgetting myself?!¡± she asked, all offended dignity. ¡±Not the crazed conqueror, who was groomed by your azimian overlords?¡±


    B¨¦atrice furrowed her brows. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she sweated at her daughter''s implications.


    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s easy to feign oblivion, when the subject matter is your precious son!¡± Josie smirked a poisonous smile as B¨¦atrice side-eyed the guards. ¡°I heard the way he talked! ¡®God¡¯, he said. Not ¡®gods¡¯!¡±


    And B¨¦atrice paused a heartbeat or two before she defended him, ¡°He may believe in whatever he wants!¡±


    Josie looked defiantly up to her. ¡°If you believe¡­ that I will set that foreigner¡¯s bastard on free foot for him to exact his misguided jihad, then you¡¯re wrong!¡± she punctuated.


    ¡°I will no longer listen to this!¡± B¨¦atrice declared. ¡°If you do not intend on freeing him, I will do it myself.¡± She turned to both of the guards. ¡°Bring me to Lord Jason¡¯s cell!¡±


    ¡°Your Order!¡± the guards affirmed and waited for her at the other end of the great hall.


    B¨¦atrice moved to leave, but her daughter stood up from her chair and wouldn¡¯t leave matters simply be.


    ¡°Yes, walk away! Go and hug your little boy!¡±


    B¨¦atrice ignored her.


    ¡°You know, until now I never actually believed Father when he would tell me that you were a whore.¡±


    B¨¦atrice ignored her.


    ¡°But I suppose¡­ you are the kind of woman who enjoys getting insulted, beaten¡­ choked¡­¡±


    B¨¦atrice stopped.


    Something inside her broke.


    She slowly turned around, trembling, and glared hatefully at the face that smirked back at her.


    ¡°Guard¡­ Bring me a whip!¡± she quietly quivered.


    She didn¡¯t see how they exchanged a short glimpse, and one of them moved to fulfil her order. She didn¡¯t hear the next words the girl in front of her uttered, only saw her taunting face. She didn¡¯t register it at first, when the guard returned and pressed the heavy whip in her hand. She wordlessly moved towards the girl, and the guards understood the assignment.


    Two heavy men dwarfed the little girl, when they grabbed her and tore apart her dress, revealing her naked torso. She fought them, but they lifted her, turned her around and violently shoved her to the ground. They held her in place, on her knees, her back facing a whip.


    B¨¦atrice did not think twice. She didn¡¯t think at all. Her arm moved on her own.


    It was only when she heard her loud and painfully screech, echoing throughout the great hall, that she suddenly was her daughter again.


    B¨¦atrice looked at the big gash on her daughter¡¯s back. T-that¡­ that deep¡­!?


    She dropped the whip. Stifled a gasp with her hand, her eyes teary.


    ¡°I-Is¡­ is that a-all?¡± Josie trembled, her voice intensely waving. And as brave as a facade she put on, she was shaking violently. Breathing heavily. A fine film of sweat on her bare skin. And an ugly and thick red line along her whole back.


    ¡°Bring her to her room! See that she gets the proper care from the physician!¡± she urged the guards, her voice shook.


    As they carried her away, B¨¦atrice didn¡¯t dare to look into her face, but she could peripherally make out the redness in it and that she was crying.


    In the sixteen years of her daughter¡¯s life, she never saw her cry once before.


    A sudden vertigo overcame B¨¦atrice, forcing her hand to grip her head. She needed to sit down, and tottered to her chair where Josie was sitting a couple moments ago.


    She shouldn¡¯t have lost patience! But that was impossible with a daughter like Josie, who knew exactly how to push her buttons. B¨¦atrice thought about what she said and knew exactly who fed her these venomous words. Four years dead and that man was still haunting her through her own daughter.


    A maid appeared in front of her. ¡°M¡¯lady¡­ shall I bring you wine to ease your mind?¡± she offered.


    ¡°You shall bring me my nephew!¡± B¨¦atrice quietly demanded without looking up, her voice betraying the impending tears. ¡°And yes, wine as well, please.¡±


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Jason</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    Hungry stray dogs roaming the streets and drunken men clad in dirty linen emulating them. Women of the night in their pursuit of exchanging sickness for bread. Children with arms thin as branches of young trees, leaning against the elegant gilded stones of tall buildings, juxtaposing a far richer past.


    He loathed this town. Unsanitary and poor. Not the first time he thought of a town this way and certainly not the last.


    Jason observed children running through the alleys and had to smile at the sight, thinking they were playing, until he saw a man clad in a robe run after them. ¡°Hold the thieves!¡± the man yelled. He only now saw the fruits the little ones were holding as they disappeared among the crowd of people.


    Jason sobered. It wasn¡¯t the town folks fault. They didn¡¯t know better¡­ they didn¡¯t know about disease spreading and the error of indignation. They didn¡¯t know about the trialled life of an orphaned child or the crooked foot of a beggar. Or perhaps more accurately¡­ they had just become accustomed to all of it.


    Whatever graceful kingdom the history books described, Jason saw none of it, a rotting shell of its former glory at best. Something had to drastically change¡­


    His sword and black leather armour with the insignia of the Red Wolves relayed his involvement with mercenaries, a powerful deterrent against thieves and thugs. The profession was not only effective in the acquisition of gold and wealth, but also in keeping it.


    Yet strangely Jason wished someone actually would muster the courage to rob him for a change. His bag felt heavy¡­ with a weight that differed from a purely physical one.


    He felt the sudden thrust on his shoulder and reflexively grabbed the hilt of his sword.


    ¡°And?¡± he heard Henry¡¯s voice laughing, who pushed him along the road. ¡°Found what you were looking for?¡± he asked.


    Jason continued walking the road. ¡°No,¡± he simply answered and looked ahead.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Henry carried on. ¡°I found a woman with the biggest bosom one could imagine. Too bad she was a prostitute¡­¡± he described.


    Jason turned his head around and gave him a look of surprise, wondering if Lord Henry after three whole years picked up on some of Jason¡¯s moral codex and finally had developed a sense for honour.


    ¡°Yeah...¡± said Henry. ¡°I saw Lieutenant Kramer¡¯s dick when we bathed in the river last week¡­ Thing scared me shitless!¡±


    Jason grimaced at him. ¡°Say no more¡­¡± he shuddered the picture out of his head and walked ahead, only to stumble over something, having to catch his step.


    Rather he stumbled over someone''s leg. ¡°Oh, excuse me!¡± he quickly apologised. Then his eyes fixed on the figure sitting on the ground and leaning against a wall.


    ¡°Oh, no worries!¡± the strange male voice answered, sounding almost like two people talking at once. Jason scrutinised the figure. He was clad in a brown robe and was bandaged over his arms, legs and face. Only his milky white eyes and the bridge of his nose weren¡¯t covered, revealing a matt silver skin, the kind of which he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly where he saw before, but eerily familiar.


    Pity slowly crept upon Jason¡¯s face, when he realised that this poor man was most likely suffering from a severe form of leprosy. Almost immediately he put his hand into his bag and retrieved one of his bundles filled with gold coins. He emptied half of it into his hands.


    ¡°Really?¡± Henry inquired. ¡°You wanna give him that much?¡± He was amused. ¡°You do realise, you risked yo¡¯ weak ass for that butter?¡±


    Jason knelt down in front of the sick man. ¡°Please¡­ I kindly beg you to humbly accept my alms.¡± He handed him the pile of gold. The bandaged figure eyed the golden coins in his hands, before he looked up to Jason. His pupils started dilating exceedingly, making Jason¡¯s hair stand on end.


    ¡°You can use it to get to Wasserturm,¡± he suggested. ¡°It¡¯ll be a two week journey from here,¡± he described. ¡°There you¡¯ll find scholars, who profusely have studied various diseases and their cure.¡± Jason forced a smile on his face. ¡°You might find your salvation there!¡±


    ¡°Ma boy, you¡¯re wasting yo¡¯ time and money!¡± Henry pointed out. ¡°He will probably die before he even gets there!¡± Jason felt Henry shaking his head above him.


    ¡°This is a kind gesture, indeed¡­ in light of a misunderstanding,¡± the bandaged figure spoke with a ghostly voice. ¡°I just wonder¡­ where in lies the motivation for this noble conduct precisely?¡±


    Jason stood up and exchanged a brief glimpse with Henry. ¡°Well¡­ my tutor always told me, how nothing we own is really ours¡­¡± he explained, not noticing Henry rolling his eyes. ¡°It is merely lended by God and therefore can be relinquished in an instant¡­¡± He opened his palms. ¡°So we must find ourselves giving away graciously, to remind ourselves of this simple fact¡­¡±


    Henry widened his eyes with a smirk. ¡°Bunch of bullocks! You don¡¯t see any of these faggot nobles sharing their cakes! And yo¡¯ stupid god still keeps them fat and rich!¡±


    ¡°That reminds me a lot of azimian philosophy¡­¡± The bandaged figure stated, ignoring Henry. ¡°What is your name? Where are you from?¡± he asked Jason in succession.


    ¡°Me?¡± Jason pointed at himself. ¡°I¡¯m Lord Jason Von Windschild,¡± he could not help but admit and put a hand on his chest. He could feel Henry side-eying him with raised eyebrows at his admission, for trusting this stranger with his true identity immediately, when he hadn''t told Henry over their first whole year spent together as mercenaries.


    ¡°You¡¯re a long way from home, m¡¯Lord,¡± the bandaged figure spoke and slowly stood up.


    Almost immediately Henry pulled Jason back behind him and grabbed the hilt of his sword. ¡°Hold it!¡± he sternly ordered. ¡°State who you are first!¡±


    The bandaged man froze and seemed to consider his next words carefully. ¡°I intend not the least bit of harm, especially not against a kind soul!¡± He lifted his hands and showed his bandaged palms. ¡°I fear the punishment of a mighty God!¡±


    He gazed up to the sky. ¡°I am quite the relic, actually,¡± he began to introduce himself. ¡°My mother named me Sophon.¡±


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>B¨¦atrice</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    Sir Timur, captain of the house guards, and Madam Lusia, the housekeeper, were standing in front of her, arms folded, debriefing her about all the events that played out in her absence. Timur reported how crime rates had gone down with a prideful gleam; how the construction and resource acquisition for a planned fortress had begun, financed through strategic blackmail and ridiculously high taxes; how over hundreds of hostages were taken, eleven of them nobles.


    How in a single night an army of over a thousand men were fend off, confirming Josie¡¯s audacious claim.


    Contrary to Timur, Lusia seemed to be finally relieved about her Lady¡¯s return, after being kept over two months under Josiane¡¯s relentless thumb. And B¨¦atrice was determined in putting an end to this madness.


    When the subject matter came to Jason, B¨¦atrice became restless in her chair and covered her face behind stiff fingers, agitated. Madam Lusia gave an account of outrageous rumours that circled throughout the town. Captain Timur was swift to label him a rapist, while Madam Lusia¡¯s eyes conveyed indignance. It became crystal clear to B¨¦atrice that Josiane had the guards¡¯ utmost respect and admiration on her side, if she could manipulate them so easily to become culprits of this unspeakable stunt. Something she had most definitely inherited from that bane of a man.


    It didn¡¯t elude her how the guards and servants were wearing armour and garments gilded with silver in place of gold, which she ordered to be revised immediately. That girl¡­ Her father¡¯s grip on her had been tighter than she had thought; than she had hoped for. A silver snake was the blazon of Krichtier as opposed to the golden heart pierced by an arrow, the insignia of Windschild.


    Why, this¡­ this was essentially treason¡­ But she couldn¡¯t muster the strength to reproach that girl anymore, let alone talk to her.


    Two guards brought him, dragging him harshly by his arms on either side. B¨¦atrice stood up. She didn¡¯t lay eyes on her son for four years.


    He had grown a little and even had an ungroomed stubble now, probably stemming from his time incarcerated. She gave him a relieved sigh and a wide grin. ¡°Release him¡­ and leave us!¡± she ordered the guards, who let him go immediately and started removing his shackles.


    Upon hearing her voice he was surprised and finally dared to look up. The guards left along with Timur and Lusia, who was the only one who bowed for B¨¦atrice whilst leaving.


    Jason looked at the woman in a black wide dress with the same pale skin as Josiane, and the same dark brown eyes as his; the person, whom he thought was his aunt. She had a royal bob with smooth raven hair, where his hair was full of spikes. He was mortified until she opened her arms to invite him into an embrace. And relief ran through his face followed by tears of joy as he closed the distance to embrace her firmly.


    Jason had a strong odour, but she didn¡¯t mind, nothing a nice warm bath with soap and lemon perfume couldn¡¯t fix. Then she remembered and broke the hug by pushing him away.


    ¡°I¡¯m-...¡± he could only stutter before B¨¦atrice slapped him across the face, hard enough to leave a red mark. He staggered backwards and was taken aback, reciprocating her angry glare with a confused one.


    ¡°Sleeping with your cousin?!¡± she shrieked at him. He should have been smarter than this. ¡°I thought I taught you better than this!¡± B¨¦atrice yelled.


    Jason put a hand on his cheek. ¡°I had the most noble intentions, I swear!¡± he high-pitched, like he was the boy from four years ago again. ¡°I wanted to marry her,¡± he admitted and his gaze sank regretfully.


    ¡°Make her your queen¡­?!¡± B¨¦atrice outraged. ¡°...for a supposedly reunited kingdom?!¡± she couldn¡¯t help but deride the mere idea.


    Jason dropped his hand and just gave her a frown, almost pleading. And B¨¦atrice slightly softened her expression. ¡°Have you forgotten how the Von Hossenfelds have killed your grand-aunts and grand-uncles?¡± she serenely tried to appeal to his senses. ¡°I assure you the townsfolk have not; the house guards definitely have not!¡± she followed up. ¡°They almost eradicated us!¡± she whispered at him gravely.


    Jason widened his stance. ¡°That was over 50 years ago,¡± he put forth. ¡°The people responsible are long gone. Their children do not inherit their crimes!¡± He cut the air with his hand.


    How he could muster to keep defending those savages was beyond her. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± she admitted and a brief glimmer of hope bloomed on Jason¡¯s face. ¡°But matter, it does not! No spilled blood merely dries in this world!¡± she rejected him, cut the air with her hand.


    And her heart flickered in face of his disappointment, with which he turned his head away from her. He was still the same, sensitive boy¡­


    B¨¦atrice put hands on his shoulders but he refused to meet her eyes. ¡°You have responsibilities as my heir!¡± she reminded him with a smile. ¡°You know what this means! And I love you from the bottom of my heart!¡± she reminded him again, but his dejection was persistent.


    She tightened her grip on his shoulders. ¡°Because you have allied yourself with the Von Hossenfelds some of the townsfolk regard you as a traitor, who wanted to coerce his cousin into becoming his slave wife,¡± she alarmingly relayed the rumour to him, shaking him slightly. And B¨¦atrice found herself imitating his cringing at the disgusting accusation. ¡°Rings vile! Doesn¡¯t it?!¡± she high-pitched with shame.


    Jason uneasily released a breath and shook her hands off his shoulders, frustrated. ¡°Aunt¡­ why did she do this?¡± he asked her with despair, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.


    And B¨¦atrice was awfully reminded a lot of a conversation she had with her own mother nineteen years ago, where she had been on the other side of it. Sometimes men see you as just another piece of meat¡­ she heard her mother answering. Nothing more!


    ¡°Her father¡­¡± she reflexively spoke instead. ¡°...had fed her unseemly ambition. Don¡¯t you already know that?¡± B¨¦atrice answered him. ¡°She would seize every opportunity to delegitimize your claim as heir,¡± she finally realised herself.


    Jason wiped away his tears. ¡°I thought¡­ marrying her would resolve any dispute of inheritance,¡± he admitted solemnly his gaze fell to the ground.


    And suddenly anger filled B¨¦atrice again, when she was reminded. ¡°Behind my back?!¡± she outraged, infuriated. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have consulted me first?!¡± She glared at him.


    And his gaze wandered even further down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he admitted weakly and B¨¦atrice could bear this no more.


    She sighed the tightness off her chest. ¡°Bear witness, that it will be alright,¡± she had to reassure him. ¡°But let me advise you, marriage is not the end of disputes¡­¡± she finalised her lecture, already tired of it all. ¡°But rather the beginning.¡± He finally met her eyes again. ¡°Take it from me!¡±


    She didn¡¯t need to say anything more, her eyes relayed her bitterness clearly, yet B¨¦atrice couldn¡¯t bear to dwell on the past for too long.


    ¡°I have exonerated you from all the crimes you have been accused of,¡° she felt compelled to change the subject. ¡°The guards should treat you with the proper etiquette again.¡± Jason slanted his eyes at this, seemingly doubtful. ¡°It goes without saying that I trust your judgement to never touch your cousin again!¡± she said sternly and raised a finger. And if she has retained any ounce of sanity, she shouldn¡¯t tempt you either¡­


    ¡°Regarding the rumours¡­¡± she added. ¡°I plan to graciously reduce tax on the townsfolk, in your name.¡± She gave him a beam. ¡°Surely that will nudge their memory of my dear credible nephew!¡±


    Jason silently nodded and reciprocated a smile to her¡­ but it felt artificial. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± he said again.


    ¡°It will be alright,¡± she answered in a low voice with compassion. ¡°How about you go and get yourself clean,¡± B¨¦atrice suggested to him. ¡°You¡¯ll find your room untouched yet sanitised.¡± She caressed his left shoulder.


    He nodded again and silently turned to leave. And B¨¦atrice thanked the gods for at least giving her a son, who didn¡¯t need much reproach, was aware of his mistakes and tried to correct them.


    ¡°Jason?¡± she made him halt mids leaving and turn towards her. ¡°We will have lemon cake later,¡± she rejoiced and forced a smile on her face. ¡°You two will talk it out, make amends like you always do, and¡­ and everything will be the way it used to-¡­¡± she tried before she stopped. When she saw Jason¡¯s face shift, B¨¦atrice realised how desperate of a wish it sounded like.


    ¡°She¡­ killed¡­¡± Jason hissed, gritting his teeth, clenching his fists. He quivered so intensely, unable to finish his sentence, her kind and compassionate boy transformed into a dangerous brute of a man right before her eyes, so full of rage he was. Tears spilled yet again.


    And B¨¦atrice realised, with horror, how large the rift was these two had carved out between them, that it no longer could be bridged this time. And B¨¦atrice was reminded, with horror, of history; of the last time how a sibling feud ripped apart an entire kingdom; of how their ancestor, Princess Phoebe, fled to these lands in murderous pursuit by her vindictive brothers.


    She couldn¡¯t allow this to happen¡­ No! Not with her own children!


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2> Jason</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    It was unbearable! He needed answers! And he needed them at once! He knew he should focus on releasing his friends first, but the bitter ember of betrayal set his insides ablaze, it was excruciating! He turned around, showed his aunt his back.


    ¡°Jason, wait!¡± his aunt exclaimed but he didn¡¯t bother to turn around this time. ¡°I punished her already! There is no need to feel-¡±


    He walked away, leaving the great hall with his aunt behind. He couldn¡¯t constrain his legs any longer, they led him around two corners, and up the staircase, but instead of turning him right to lead him to his chambers, they turned him left with sovereignty.


    He walked to the end of the corridor, the last turn to her room, and saw the crack on the wall, where¡­ where his black heart had been pinned.


    It made him even angrier, guessing she kept that fracture in the wall as a trophy, the kind of foul prance she would indulge herself in.


    He turned his head away in disdain and noticed the two guards on the other end in front of the double doors, distracted in conversation. Immediately Jason backtracked out of sight and considered his surroundings for a potential weapon. Approaching one of the windows of the corridor, he opened them and was greeted by a strong breeze. He pulled on the iron chains of the window shutter and then gave the wooden shutter two mighty kicks to break the iron chain loose. Then he turned the corner slowly, aiming for a casual demeanour, pretending a slight limp with a bend back, the chain rolled up in his right hand hidden behind him.


    When the guards took notice of him, they became stiff and dutifully put on their neutral faces. As Jason limped towards them, expectedly, they did not open the doors. He positioned himself until he was only two leaps away from the guard on the right.


    Then he stated his intention, ¡°I wish to converse with the Lady Josiane,¡± roughing his voice to further the facade of illness. ¡°May I pass?¡± Jason plainly asked.


    The guard he addressed, turned his head and questioned the other with his eyes, who sternly shook his head.


    Sensing an opening, Jason seized this chance, dropped the act and jumped two leaps. The guard on the right could barely react and turned his head only for an iron chain, rolled up in a fist, to break his nose. His companion watched him fall over, and drew his sword.


    One feint¡­ no¡­ better two feints! Jason planned as he fell back and started to swing the chain in circles with half of its length.


    The guard on the left slowly approached him, Jason took a step forward and then back to give him the first feint, which prompted the guard to exact his own feint. Then Jason¡¯s second feint made him swing his sword with full commitment, easily evaded by Jason who countered with a spin, striking the guard with the furthest end of the chain right on his bare head.


    The guard, now disoriented, tottered backwards. Jason whipped the chain and hit him again until he fell down on one knee. He knocked him out with a final blow to the back of his head and he fell flat on his stomach.


    The other guard was still conscious and slowly stood up, still covered his face with both hands and groaned in pain. It was evident he was a rookie. If Jason wasn¡¯t so aggravated, he might have even felt sorry for him. Jason forced him down by kicking his knee and gave him the same treatment, kissing him good night as well.


    Their helmets were tucked in their respective corners, they didn¡¯t even bother to put them on when Jason had approached them. Underestimating him meant he had successfully portrayed a physical impediment. It probably also had helped that he was smaller in size than the two. Nevertheless he expected the house guards to be a little more cautious than this.


    ¡°AHHH!¡± he heard her scream muffled behind the doors, startling him. Is that the punishment Aunt talked about? he wondered.


    He threw the chain away, approached and carefully opened the doors and saw Sir Kostas hover over a barebacked Josiane. She was laying on her stomach, on her bed, tightly gripping her bed garments, her face buried in a pillow. Jason could hear how heavily she was breathing, groaning in between breaths.


    Jason walked in and closed the doors behind him.


    Sir Kostas briefly turned his head and gave him a short glimpse then continued on his work. He had brought with him his leather case containing medical equipment located on the end table, as well as a bucket made out of copper full with water. ¡°Almost done,¡± he evenly promised her.


    Josie painfully cried out, as Kostas furtherly stitched the scar on her back shut. The appropriate emotional response to this was probably vindication for Jason¡­ but in its place¡­ he felt pity instead¡­ and something else he couldn¡¯t name¡­


    Kostas pulled on the thread in order to tie a knot and turned to his leather case to pull small scissors out. He then cut the remaining thread, leaving a knot. ¡°There,¡° he finalised the stitching.


    Josie removed her face from her pillow to look at him, when she noticed Jason. If she hadn¡¯t heard him entering or struggling with the guards, then she didn¡¯t elicit a reaction to his presence. Instead her tear-smeared face locked her eyes on him until she gave him a scowl. ¡°Sir Kostas¡­¡± her voice was rugged. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Leave us!¡± she ordered him.


    Sir Kostas glimpsed shortly at his leather case before he remarked, ¡°But¡­ m¡¯Lady, I have yet to clean the wound and apply a salve,¡± he spoke.


    ¡°Leave. Now.¡± Josiane sternly demanded.


    And Kostas turned to leave. Jason noticed the uncharacteristically meek way he was conversing with her. The thirty years this man purportedly had spent as their physician should have earned him a more fitting stature¡­ instead he was worked by her like a mule. He shortly halted beside Jason to give him a face with anxious concern, the object of which could have been either of them. Then he left through the doors, closing them behind him.


    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t my dear fianc¨¦!¡± she spat the word like a curse, her voice almost rasped.


    Jason fell back and turned the left door knob in order to lock the doors, assuming his aunt or Kostas might turn up with more orderlies in tow.


    ¡°Came to revel in my anguish, I see!¡± Josie assumed.


    Jason blinked at her. You think anyone is as rotten as you?! He wanted to retort, but restrained himself from doing so. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who thinks that way,¡± he said evenly instead.


    He walked around her bed and into the restroom adjacent to her chambers. There Jason took his time to finally wash his hands thoroughly with some soap. With the dirty feeling on his hands, which he had to endure for two whole weeks, now finally washed off, he reentered her room with a towel in his hands, drying them.


    Noticing the paraphernalia left behind on the end table, he decided to finish the work Sir Kostas had started. That was the least thing he could do for him. Jason walked around her bed to the leather case filled with medical equipment and threw the towel over his shoulder. He pulled out tissues, he then soaked one of them with water from the bucket.


    ¡°The conditions you hold your prisoners under are simply terrible!¡± he said evenly. He wished she¡¯d lift her forehead from her pillow to take in his disdainful face.


    ¡°Not any prisoner¡­¡± she answered, her head still buried, the silky tone that accompanied her voice being restored. ¡°Just you!¡±


    Josie jolted initially as he touched the skin around her wound with the wet tissue. ¡°Should I feel special now?¡± Jason asked sarcastically. ¡°I bet you tell that to every prisoner,¡± he remarked.


    Josiane chuckled shortly at this, then went stiff from the pain of her wound, making her groan. Jason methodically cleaned the left side, careful not to touch the scar itself. He switched out the tissues, first soaking it with water again, and started cleansing the right side. The scar was located a little left to her spine and reached over her lower back and almost reached her-¡­


    Jason shook himself. She killed his mentor and left him and his friends locked up in an unsanitary cell to rot. So he should probably think of something else rather than how curvy her buttocks looked.


    Josie was quiet now. The lack of her taunts definitely made this easier. He could simply leave her to fall victim to the same affliction Henry had suffered from last week, leaving her to die. Poetic justice¡­ It would be what she would deserve¡­


    Or¡­ he could tie her up to torture her¡­ right now¡­ and it would be all justified¡­


    Instead he took the same kind of pastel green bottle filled with salve Lord Nils used for Henry¡¯s stump from Kostas¡¯ case and removed its cork. He dipped his fingers repeatedly into the bottle and started smearing its content along her back. Josie sharply inhaled through teeth whenever the salve made contact with her fresh scar and her sharp polished nails dug in her bed garments. But other than this¡­ she gave him nothing¡­


    He made sure to apply the salve unsparingly around the area of her scar as well, the way he had observed Nils doing it with Henry. Lastly he pulled out a roll of dressings from the leather case, unfolded them in length, cut them with the scissors and covered the whole wound twice. He carefully pressed the air between cloth and skin out by swiping over it with a gentle finger¡¯s touch.


    He took the towel from his shoulder and wiped his hands clean, as he turned away from her.


    ¡°What happened to my delegates?¡± Jason asked her and awaited a response. He waited for a witty remark or a taunt, or an annoyed sigh. Anything. But Josie didn¡¯t respond, she merely kept silent. And a weird feeling started seething up inside of Jason. A kind of anxious concern, with something entirely else hidden just beneath the surface.


    And he looked up to the wall; the wall opposite to her bed with various weapons, where she kept that giant silver recurve bow again. And the same spear, and the same mace, and the four swords¡­


    Four¡­ including the addition of another one, which wasn¡¯t there two weeks ago, clearly distinguished by its matt silver with a rainbow hue and its golden shaft.


    And the anxious concern broke, giving way for the black seething flames underneath to emerge and put his core ablaze. Jason widened his eyes with sheer perturbation, awfully fixed on the sword. An invisible force seemed to slowly drag him towards the wall; towards the blade crested with the odd red stone, which gave the impression of twitching like a restless eye, convulsive in the same manner as Jason grabbing the hilt of the sword. And a spell came cast. And the two vessels of rage started sharing their grief.


    Jason could feel The Lions Fang quiver with this emotion just as the blade could feel him quiver with it.


    He turned around, shaking. A dark shadow couldn¡¯t deepen his hateful scowl any further. That viper was lying on her bed, her nude back inviting in more than one way. Inviting to shred her into pieces, until nothing of her was left. Inviting to split her apart¡­ split her apart¡­ split her apart¡­ what are you waiting for? Do it! Kill her! Jason¡¯s shaking heightened and heightened it did, until it became unbearable. Kill her! His hand lifted the blade and he approached the bed. Kill her!


    And he split apart what he couldn¡¯t perceive in his wrathful delirium, pieces haphazardly flying left and right¡­


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Sophon</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    And suddenly the wood cracked, split asunder by the blistering heat, pieces haphazardly flying left and right¡­ they raised their hands to shield themselves against the charred shreds and the sudden increase in sparks.


    Jason heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Next time I¡¯ll cut the wood into smaller pieces,¡± he promised.


    The fire was illuminating this late winter night and painted the coarse trunks of mature pine trees in a warm and pleasant orange. The moon was a thin sickle and hardly spent a light, so the night clad the woods around them in pitch black darkness. Except for occasional faint lights in the distance which the night watch of these mercenaries carried, while roaming through the woods.


    He had led the young human with him to this small clearing, outside of their encampment. Sophon preferred this solitary company to those, who were spiritually ragged and prided themselves with their theft and murder. The youngling never needed much convincing to follow him away either.


    He had observed him closely the last three weeks, even accompanied him to a raid and watched him fight the day before. A local baron gave the Red Wolves a well paid undertaking to clear these woods from a large group of bandits, who were frequently raiding the main trade routes. He was pleasantly surprised to observe a sort of discipline within him even in the midst of battle, even when his life was at stake. He avoided dealing lethal injury the best he could, and did so successfully most of the time¡­ most of the time¡­


    Sophon mustered him, causing him to turn his face away, the flickering light of flame pronounced his features and deepened his grim frown. ¡°You must think lowly of me¡­¡± he bleakly stated, surprising Sophon with a rather subdued expression, conveying a certain melancholy, which the quiet dignity, he had carried himself with so far, did not let on.


    Curiosity raised within Sophon. ¡°How come?¡± he asked, but could already guess the reason.


    Jason shifted on the stone he was sitting on, and gave an exasperated sigh. ¡°You saw me¡­ killing¡­ that man yesterday,¡± he expressed through shut eyes, and Sophon felt confirmed in his suspicion. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the first time I murdered someone, since I left my home,¡± he confessed. Sophon saw his face tense his cheek muscles in disgust with himself. ¡°It¡¯s just so ironic¡­¡± he continued. ¡°I would vow to capture my uncle¡¯s murderer, just to end up a murderer myself.¡± He lifted and let his right hand fall, gesturing.


    Sophon did not say a word, and decided to simply listen to him, sensing the importance of this moment. ¡°I told myself¡­ ¡®As long as I¡¯m trying to sift him out, I¡¯m on the side of justice¡¯...¡± his voice started to waver, and his face shifted into a bitter grin. ¡°But I¡¯ve been doing this for three years now-¡± his voice cracked, and tears flowed from his eyes.


    And when Sophon saw this human, in his young age already filled with so much remorse, he felt the tug on his own heart and his cooling fluids leaked through his eyes as well.


    Jason continued. ¡°How am I supposed to eradicate the evil in this world, when I¡¯m trapped and engrossed in it myself?!¡± he eyed him for an answer, upon noticing the shared tears, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    ¡°First of all¡­¡± Sophon approached him, but was interrupted by the creeping presence of another young human, who held one of the lanterns roaming the woods in his hand. He was among the few of the mercenaries who were clad in steel plates on top of leather along his shoulders and chest, apart from his rank, he was strong and agile enough with it. Contrary to Jason, he had marginal regard for the lives of his adversaries, so much Sophon had discerned about him the day before.


    Henry shortly glimpsed at Jason then turned his head to have a glimpse at Sophon and started cackling. ¡°If this isn¡¯t rich! You¡¯re both crybabies! Ahahahaha!¡±


    Jason snorted, and gestured for Henry to take a seat next to him with his hand. ¡°Please come, lieutenant,¡± he spoke.


    Henry didn¡¯t bother to sit down. ¡°Say, steel pipe, didn¡¯t know yo¡¯ kind could drop beads like that!¡± He knelt towards Sophon to get a better glimpse. ¡°What is that even? Milk?¡± he asked, grinning.


    Sophon tried to answer. ¡°My bodily fluids are for the most part an amalgamation of-...¡±


    Henry raised his hand to cut him off. ¡±Don¡¯t bother! I don¡¯t understand a word you¡¯re sayin¡¯!¡± he expressed. He put his hand on his chest. ¡°I will excuse myself from you, my dear lords of the crybaby kingdom!¡± he muttered with a deep voice in a mocking imitation of royalty. He bowed down, twice, the lantern in his left hand started swinging. ¡°Respectfully!¡± he said in the same tone and turned to leave.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± Jason asked of him.


    Henry briefly turned around to make an obscene gesture. ¡°Always am!¡± he responded and slowly disappeared in the darkness, until only his lantern remained, seemingly floating ghostly through the air.


    According to Jason, the platoons under Captain Arved¡¯s command were the least bloodthirsty among the Red Wolves, hence why he had joined them. But this Henry seemed to be the odd one out of the odd ones, in that he only passively spared anyone who didn¡¯t come running with a sword at him, and expressed pride in the number of vagabonds fallen to his hand. Despite this, Arved still had him promoted to a lieutenant. Perhaps Sophon had yet to observe his true character, or perhaps he had been promoted for that very reason, to better keep an eye on him.


    Sophon dared to look at him. Jason¡¯s face turned sullen again. And a dreadful possibility came to mind. ¡°Excuse me, but I must query¡­¡± Sophon began. ¡°Have you ever killed non-combatants?¡± he tried asking in a neutral tone.


    Jason shook his head. ¡±No¡­¡± he answered and Sophon was relieved. ¡°But I¡¯m working with men, who have¡­ and do¡­ isn¡¯t that enough?¡± he queried with a scowl.


    He was right. It might as well be just as nefarious. ¡°Yet you have made the first step for betterment¡­¡± Sophon rejoiced. ¡°And you will find for those who repent and mend their ways that God is truly all-forgiving, most-merciful,¡± he pronounced the good news.


    A sudden gust of wind took hold of them and made the flames flicker. Jason¡¯s scowl disappeared, instead he looked into the fire lost in thought. Sophon decided to aid him a little further. ¡°Who do you imagine your greatest enemy is?¡±


    Jason eyed him shortly, and processed for an answer. ¡°I have no enemies¡­¡± he said after a while.


    ¡°Yet here you said, you wanted to eradicate all evil¡­¡± Sophon put forth. ¡°What do you imagine the root of all evil to be?¡± he prompted him to think.


    And Jason gave the exasperated response: ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± he let his head fall in front and eyed the earth. ¡°There are so many moving parts in the world and different perceptions¡­¡± he continued.  ¡°I only have a general notion,¡± he admitted and pulled his head back up. He stared into the flames. ¡°I believe it is like fire.¡± Jason spoke. ¡°One can not fight it with another fire, but rather with the cool waters of justice.¡±


    Sophon felt another tug on his heart and had to avert his gaze.


    Seemingly driven by a sudden thought manifest, ¡°Is it greed?¡± Jason asked whilst looking up to him curiously.


    Sophon put a smile on for him. Of course he would think that¡­ ¡°It is arrogance,¡± he corrected Jason and put his matt silver hand into his robe¡¯s pocket to retrieve one of his rollings of grinded quartz. He unrolled the dark brown paper and licked the white powder with his tongue.


    ¡°Arrogance?¡± Jason inquired.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he affirmed and threw the piece of paper into the flames. ¡°The delusion of thinking one is above others or above reality,¡± he explained further. ¡°Knowing this¡­ let me ask you again¡­¡± he gave a brief pause. ¡±Who is your greatest enemy?¡± He gave him the time and silence to really think it through.


    Jason was deep in thought whilst resting his index finger on his lip, spending significant time in this position, until he suddenly widened his eyes with understanding. ¡°Is it myself?¡± he asked Sophon solemnly.


    And for the first time in over a hundred years Sophon had a genuine beam on his face.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± he answered.


    <h2>


    </h2>


    <h2>Jason</h2>


    <h2>


    </h2>


    And suddenly the wood cracked, split asunder by the raging blade, pieces haphazardly flying left and right, the eloquent pieces made out of smooth sanded wood. Chess pieces. The Lion Fang even cut the ground underneath the chess table, as if the floor was not made of stone-hard marble but rather cake.


    Jason slowly calmed his breathing. Then closed his eyes and took a deep breath which he released along with his wrath. He removed his hands from the tilt. The blade, erected on the ground, only let him go begrudgingly, for the promised fury did not slice its intended target.


    Josiane merely gave a chuckle muffled behind closed lips. The inappropriate reaction was disturbing in face of her nearly dying at her cousin¡¯s hands. And Jason thought that something must be deeply wrong with her!


    ¡°Why would you do this? Why?!¡± he angrily yelled the question at her and grunted with frustration.


    Her response was immediate and stern, ¡°I¡¯m no trophy you can put on your pedestal as a spoil of your ill-conceived conquest!¡± she spat.


    What? he processed. She was the only one thinking this way¡­ ¡°Are you seriously-...¡± he gathered his words. ¡°Are you¡­ you of all people, in all seriousness accusing me of vanity?!¡± he put forth, with pure indignation. ¡°I never saw you that way!¡± he punctuated.


    Josiane merely laughed. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed! Still the same pathetic weakling you were, when you left!¡± she pronounced in an almost elated manner. ¡°Weak and a fool!¡± she added grimly. ¡°That¡¯s why you couldn¡¯t find my father¡¯s killer, even if he was right in front of you!¡±


    How¡­ dare she?! Jason had enough but there was no arguing with her ungratefulness, never had been. ¡°And you?¡± he spinned it on her. ¡°You¡¯re not nearly as smart as you think!¡± he grinned demeaningly at the back of her head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it have been more wise to at least pretend to accept my offer, become Queen of Igelland and seize control from within?¡± She must have at least thought of it at some point, if not considering it.


    ¡°Would it have been more wise to walk into a court where your most powerful advisor was filled with mistrust and disdain against my person?¡± Josie evenly threw the question back at him. ¡°You thought you were ruling over them¡­¡± she honeyed. ¡°... but I saw enough to recognize that, in reality, they were ruling over you!¡±


    And Jason frowned with wide eyes at the unnamable suspicion that rose within his heart.


    ¡°You seem to have lost sight of one obvious actuality¡­¡± Josiane continued sternly. ¡°...which is that I¡¯m family!¡± she tenderly finished, the contrast hitting Jason off-guard.


    Was she playing at-...


    ¡°I saved your life in ways unfathomable to you, from threats you were unable to even perceive,¡± she continued swiftly.


    The familiar headache, accompanying his confusion, which he had been subjugated to throughout his late childhood, forced Jason to shut his eyes and grab his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Then please¡­ enlighten me! What is it that you know and I don¡¯t?¡± he asked the curly hair on her neck, his hand rising and falling in gesture, exhausted.


    Josie turned her head on her side. ¡°Oh, Jayjay¡­ There are so many things you don¡¯t know!¡± she spoke and her cadence suddenly sounded so much like Aunt¡¯s it churned Jason¡¯s insides. ¡°Suffice to say, I saved you from becoming a pawn of that metallic cancer!¡± The cadence broke on her distasteful admonishment. ¡°You should be grateful!¡± And the usual venomous undertone in her speech returned.


    Jason gritted his teeth. ¡°I should become your pawn instead!¡± he retorted sarcastically.


    In response Josie merely lifted her left foot, the one she made him kiss two weeks earlier. ¡°That¡¯s where you always belonged, and you know it!¡± she purred.


    And Jason turned away, revolted by his lapse of judgement, and ashamed for the rising desire within him. She¡¯s trying to confuse you¡­ He shut his eyes again. She is lying like she always does¡­ he reminded himself. I am my greatest enemy! he reminded himself. Leave her room! Leave it! Now! he urged himself.


    He took his first steps towards the doors, decidedly refusing to look at her again. ¡°Your greed for dominance is insatiable!¡± Jason hissed. ¡°You will never catch me yielding to it again!¡± he asserted.


    Josiane chuckled behind closed lips. ¡°Are you sure?¡± He could hear her grin in her voice.


    ¡°I am! Use all the left-handed magic you want!¡± he shouted. ¡±You will never own Windschild!¡± He cut the air with his hand.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just spare us both the inconvenience and get it over with now, Jayjay?¡± she spoke wearily. ¡°I¡¯m lying here¡­ vulnerable¡­ waiting to be pierced by your big¡­ hard¡­ sword!¡± she purred.


    Jason widened his eyes, unsure what she was playing at. He truly couldn¡¯t fathom what she possibly did expect from him; what the end goal of her little game was. Was she risking another strike with The Lion¡¯s Fang, a lethal one, merely so she could taunt him? Did she have trust in his patience that much? Just leave the room! He moved again. His hands grabbed the door knots.


    ¡°Since you gave me the courtesy to testify what is hidden beneath your heart¡­¡± she made him halt. ¡°...allow me to reciprocate the honour,¡± she spoke evenly with a fry in her voice.


    And Jason braced himself for whatever lie she might conjugate, or whatever taunt or demeaning insult she was about to hurl at him. She couldn¡¯t possibly ever try to say that she loved him without it being deception; without it furthering a self-serving cause.


    But nothing could have prepared him for what Josiane was about to reveal:


    ¡°My bleeding¡­ is a whole week overdue¡­¡±


    And Jason¡¯s body seemed to register the implications first, when his heartbeat increased in frequency and he restlessly unlocked the doors and opened them to hastily leave her room. His breathing turned into light pants, when his Aunt appeared around the corner at the end of the corridor with Sir Kostas and a couple of guards in tow. When he saw his aunt¡¯s horrified eyes, full of worry, he realised she was merely, unbeknownst to her, reflecting to him his own face to the same abhorrent prospect:


    Him killing his own blood.