"Is that what you have been doing, seeking help from the southern tribes?" asked the Commander.
Kyrianna looked off in thought about Lucian. "No, not I. Someone else has brought all this to pass, a great man. He will be arriving soon as well. His name is Lucian and when he arrives you will bring him directly to me." She wondered if he would arrive in time but soon found herself nodding. He would be here.
"But Princess, how will we know this man?" asked Nenghao.
Kyrianna couldn't help but smile at the thought of Lucian in all his glorious armor. "Don’t worry. He will stand out, I am sure of it."
Commander Nenghao bowed, "Very well. Then by your leave, I must be off to see to our men."
"You have my leave Commander. You’re doing a fine job."
Nenghao gave another deep bow, hiding his smile and then turned and ran off. Kyrianna looked to Eliath and the others, her smile faded as she thought of the daunting reality before them.
"Your people will feed off your emotions, whether they be positive or negative. Do not fail them by allowing yourself to despair. Trust in Lucian and in your allies." said Solomon, sensing her emotions.
Kyrianna offered a small smile to Solomon and the others. "I do trust in Lucian, I don't know exactly why, but I do. And I thank you all for this. You have no idea what this means to me."
Tarriel spoke up this time. "We know exactly what this means to you, as it would hold the same meaning for all of us if the situation was reversed. This is a fight not only to save Vorea, but all the tribes. Lucian taught me that."
With that Tarriel turned and headed off after the Commander. "I must discuss how my people might best fit in with your city’s defenses."
When Tarriel was out of earshot Kyrianna turned to Eliath and Solomon. "I get the feeling that she does not care for me so much."
"Tarriel is a proud woman, and you gave her a stinging blow back at the barn. It is not something that her ego will soon forget. But know this, she believes in what we are doing, she believes that it is right and would not let her pride get in the way of her honor or duty." said Eliath. He leaned forward so that he was eye level with Kyrianna. "But do not think that the discovery of you being a Princess or that your name is not Kara, will keep her from challenging you after this is all over."
Kyrianna gave them all a bashful look, she had forgotten all about her lie. "I am sorry that I kept my identity a secret from you all. I just -"
Solomon held up his hand to stop her. "You were simply protecting yourself, you could not be sure of our true intentions. None of us would harbor contempt toward you for this."
"Not even Lucian? He holds much value in honesty," said Kyrianna.
"If I know Lucian,” said Eliath, “which I have his entire life, he will already have his suspicions to your status. And he would respect your silence given the circumstances."
"How did you and Lucian meet?" asked Kyrianna.
"I was sent to him when he was a child and have been by his side ever since."
Kyrianna looked confused. Eliath himself looked as young if not younger than Lucian. And why did he say he was sent? "So you were both friends from childhood?"
Eliath, understanding her confusion, simply nodded. There were times when he forgot the young and limited understanding that the human mind had of their lives and everything else around them.
Kyrianna seemed suspicious but let the conversation end at that. "I must speak with the council, they are waiting for me."
"We will accompany you. Your leaders may need more than your word as proof of our aid,” said Solomon.
Kyrianna doubted that, but nodded in agreement anyway. Her word was never questioned among the people of Vorea, and now she was an Empress, not a Princess.
Solomon turned to the large Ortsk warrior who had come with him to Vorea. "General Argin, find Commander Nenghao and devise a strategy with him for when our army arrives in Vorea."
The hulking General bowed and hurried off.
Kyrianna moved into the council chamber and ushered in Solomon and Eliath. The elders were elated to see her alive and well, but eyed the two foreign tribesmen suspiciously. The room was large and lavishly decorated, showing how rich of a city Vorea was. A long beautifully crafted wooden table stood at the rear of the chamber where sat eight men, the elders of Vorea and the war council. At the middle of the table were two large beautiful chairs that were elevated higher than the others. No one sat in these chairs for they were for the Emperor and his son.
Kyrianna moved around the table and sat in her father’s chair. Some of the elders looked to each other and whispered. One man, named Tetsu Monsunai, stood up. He was the youngest of all the elders but the most prominent. He was the richest man in Vorea, after the Imperial Family. Having inherited his riches from his family by founding and creating the system of trade for Vorea, he used them to gain power. Kyrianna had met him on several occasions and never got a warm feeling about him during those meetings. She had heard her father talking about how he disliked the man many a time and yet because of his influence among the people, he had to indulge him. After all, Tetsu provided many jobs and gave much charity.
Now he stood and gave a low bow to Kyrianna. "Your highness, we are all very happy to see that you are alive and well," he paused allowing the others to nod in agreement. "However, that seat was for your father, the Emperor. No woman has ever sat among the council. Forgive us, but it is not your-"
Kyrianna slammed her hands down on the table and stood up, leaning towards Tetsu who was on the other side of her brother’s seat. She couldn't believe what he was saying, telling her that she was not welcome at this council. "How dare you speak to me in this way at my father’s table? He was the Emperor and my brother was to assume the throne when he passed. But they are both dead, along with my mother, murdered!" Her voice was on the verge of breaking.
"Being the only child left alive, as is customary, I assume the throne as Empress of Vorea. And in so doing, I establish a seat at this council. If that is going to be a problem and you would like to take a vote to have me removed, then all in favor stand!" Kyrianna remained standing with Tetsu. If only three more stood then she would have doomed herself, but not one of the elders stood up. They all looked to Tetsu who slowly sunk back in his chair. She had won this fight, but knew that there were many more to come in the future with that one.
Kyrianna signaled for Solomon and Eliath to stand in front of the table. "These two men are representatives from two of our neighboring tribes, Yavasura and Ortsk. Both will affirm to you that their tribes have sent their armies to our aid." She thought it might be a risky boast, saying that Eliath was a representative from Yavasura, knowing that Lucian had gone there only because they would not send aid, but she trusted that Lucian would honor his word.
"There are also five hundred Culdorans approaching our southern gate this very moment." The elders started to stammer on in worry and Kyrianna had to raise her voice. "They are here to help. Their leader meets with Commander Nenghao now, discussing how they might further our defenses."
Tetsu stood again, fixing Kyrianna with a glare before addressing the other elders. "What are five hundred supposed to do against thousands?"
The room turned quiet as all eyes looked to Kyrianna for a response.
She pushed the heavy wooden seat back and stepped around her brother’s seat to stand face to face with Tetsu. She thought about slamming the webbing between her thumb and forefinger into his throat, crushing his windpipe. "Another three thousand ride from Culdora to aid us. And even five hundred more than what we have would be better than nothing." Her voice was low and laced with poison. "If you wish to tuck your tail between your legs and run north to join the enemy then so be it, but I doubt that I could keep my archers from riddling your back with arrows as you flee."
Tetsu's eyes went wide and his mouth hung open. The other elders had similar expressions. To be so openly accused of being a coward and even worse, a traitor, was unthinkable. They
all waited to see how Tetsu would react. He looked as if he was trying to speak but could not form words. And his glare could not produce the heat that radiated from Kyrianna's. He fell back into his chair and stared at the table, offering no return.
Kyrianna stepped back and allowed him to maintain some of his honor. "My father always spoke of you as an honorable man,” she lied. “I know that you are afraid for our people but you must realize that our only hope is to trust in our neighbors and I believe that my father would have done the same."
The other elders were nodding in agreement. In bringing up her father’s name and honoring Tetsu with such a compliment in front of them, he could do nothing but be humble. If he acted out in front of the others now, he would bring more shame to himself then anything Kyrianna might have said. She had used honey dipped words to place him under her foot and there was nothing he could do about it. He offered her another gracious bow.
Kyrianna returned to her seat and waited a moment before speaking again. "We are faced with a seemingly impossible task, because it seems that we are alone. But we are not. Three thousand more come from Culdora, another five thousand from Ortsk, over sixteen thousand from Kaheendra and Sanjeera along with nearly a thousand from Yavasura-" she was cut off by Tetsu.
"Added with our force of eleven thousand, that still leaves us outnumbered nearly three to one." He bowed his head, not wanting to seem insolent for the interruption.
"We have these walls, replied Kyrianna. “For hundreds of years they have stood against all attacks. Our defenses are sound." She stopped when she saw that the others shared hopeless expressions. "It is all that we have. If we do not fight with all our hearts, then we will surely be overrun and our people will perish."
She slapped her palm down on the table, commanding their attention as she stood up, rage burning through her again. "A wise man once told me that as leaders, our people will feed off our emotions whether positive or negative. We must trust in our friends, our neighbors. We must give our people hope, for without hope we are already doomed and our existence already sealed. If you elders, as leaders of our people, can’t do this, then I look to you as traitors and I will feed you to our enemies.”
That had all of the elders staring at her with shocked, and some angry, expressions. She continued on without missing a beat. “This council was created by my father’s father in order to help him rule, but the royal family still maintains absolute rule over the tribe. I have no more time for this bickering. This council is over. You may either take up a sword and join the ranks, or strip yourselves of the emblem of Vorea and leave my city at once. But it will be as I said it before. I will not stop my archers from riddling your backs with arrows as you run."
Without another word, she leapt over the table to land next to Eliath and Solomon then stormed out of the chamber meaning every word of what she had said. Both men followed after her and tried to hide their grins after witnessing the expressions on the faces of the elders.
"Princess indeed," said Solomon, and Kyrianna looked back at him and frowned.
"I fear what else in my kingdom has rotted since my father’s murder,” she said.
"I am sure that it isn’t anything you will not be able to handle, Empress Kyrianna," said Eliath.
Kyrianna stopped walking and turned to the two men. She looked as though she would speak but only stared at them for a moment before turning and starting out again. She was going to ask that they not call her Empress. It was a title that she never thought she would wear and the circumstances surrounding her rise in power threatened to tear her heart out of her chest.
"Where are you going?" asked Eliath, wondering if what he saw in her eyes was still the shadow of torment she had suffered at the hands of the people she would now fight alongside.
"To the armory,” she answered, offering nothing else.
Eliath watched her walk away and then turned to Solomon. ”Will you stay with Tarriel and try to keep her from charging into the middle of the northern army all by herself. I believe I will have my hands full keeping that one safe." He gestured to Kyrianna.
Solomon nodded and clasped wrists with Eliath. "I agree with you my friend, you must keep her safe. I wouldn’t like to miss the look on Lucian’s face when he returns to find the truth about her."
Eliath smiled and gave Solomon a slap on the shoulder before turning to catch up with Kyrianna. He also looked forward to the reunion of those two.
The Agony of Anticipation
The day gave way to night then light came again, and the northern horde still had not attacked. Vorea had completed their fortifications and Tarriel's five hundred warriors had been positioned among the Voreans. Those that were the better archers were put along the wall to complement Vorea's archers.
Solomon found Tarriel towering over Commander Nenghao, yelling and pointing in the direction of the enemy. "My warriors and I have always fought in small units. It is how we train and if you try and split us up among your ranks we will not be as efficient. We must stay together. You have my archers on your wall, the other three hundred will remain with me, and we will support your western flank since that is where you are thin."
The Commander threw up his hands. "We are thin there because of the mountains. It is more likely for the enemy to push us on our eastern flank, which is why I have placed more units to combat that."
"And if the enemy does something that you do not expect? What then? My warriors and I will cover your western flank. If you wish to move what units you have there to your eastern flank then do so, my decision is final."
Nenghao's jaw dropped. He had probably never been talked to in such a way by someone other than a superior, much less a woman. He thought to argue more, but seeing the flaming glare that Tarriel gave him was enough to make him realize that she would not be moved. Even as intimidating as she was, he would not give way completely, being somewhat stubborn himself. "Very well, cover the west flank. I will move those units to the east."
"Do as you see fit...Commander," said Tarriel as she cut her eyes at Nenghao who only rolled his in return and marched off.
"You might try being more tactful with your new allies," said Solomon after Nenghao was away.
Tarriel gave him a blank stare. "That was very tactful. Had one of my own questioned my judgment ever, I would have stung their face with my gauntlet. Besides, he does not know how we Culdorans fight, how could he presume to tell us what to do?"
"He is the military leader of a nation that is under siege. He is under great pressure and is trying his hardest to keep it together. Consider that, when you speak to him please."
Tarriel looked at Solomon for a moment before speaking. "You are a wise man, Solomon," she said as she started walking off. "But I have no idea what you’re talking about. We Culdorans find that in times of war and carnage, only then can one attain inner peace and clarity. It is the true test of a warrior."
Solomon just rubbed his temples and followed Tarriel. He knew the day he met her that Tarriel's head could very well be thicker than her armor.
The day pressed on and sun was nearing the horizon when lookouts started shouting. But it was not the cry of an attack. A messenger was coming to the gate. Kyrianna met the man with Eliath and Commander Nenghao. He was a short but powerfully built man with a thick neck that held many gold and silver chains. A long gruesome scar ran down the side of his head, past his cheek to the edge of his jaw. His one ear had been cleaved off leaving only the lower half. Kyrianna had never seen such a scarred man, but he seemed to carry them with pride. The look in his eyes told much of his ability. Kyrianna did not doubt that he was dangerous.
"I am Tavar. Lord Thaluzont wishes to speak with your leader to discuss his terms of surrender."
Kyrianna wanted to take the man's head off right then but Eliath’s hand on her forearm calmed her somehow. Before she could speak, Eliath addressed the man named Tavar. "We will speak with your Lord."
Kyrianna gave Eliath a heated glare but when he turne
d to her and winked, she knew that he had no intention of granting any terms. The two rode off several hundred yards into the field, meeting Thaluzont half way between the northern horde and the army of Vorea, stretched out along the front of the city walls.
When Thaluzont arrived atop his Boroon, chills ran through Kyrianna's body. She had never seen such an imposing sight. He was a mountain of a man, larger even than Eliath, and his armor made him seem larger still. She almost couldn't bear to look into his eyes as though her very soul might be sucked into the black voids. She knew without question that she could never hope to defeat this man alone. She wondered if anyone could.
His atrocious armor was made of blackened iron and bone. An iron plated human skull made up one of his shoulder pads and several smaller skulls, children’s perhaps, where formed into his other large shoulder pad. A giant labrys was strapped to his back and atop the weapon, between the curved blades, a long spike jutted through another small skull, a child’s skull. His thick gauntlets and shin guards where lined with spikes and jagged metal ridges. An assortment of horrific looking weapons dangled from his thick leather belt.
Even more daunting was the gargantuan on which he was mounted. Kyrianna had seen such beasts before but only in fields, towing a plow and such. This monster was covered in the same shiny black armor, set with its own spikes and razor sharp jagged edges. A long iron horn protruded from a plate on its forehead, complimenting the two long natural horns that jutted out of the side of its skull sweeping forward nearly three feet past its snout. Even the trained war horses seemed on edge about the beast. At least that is what Kyrianna thought.
Eliath was seeing Thaluzont in an entirely different perspective. His skin started to burn as he stared at the monster for what he really was. Eliath could see the evil emanating from the half-man. He was the spawn of one of his brethren, a nephilim, capable of great power. Eliath could not believe what he was seeing. It had been ages ago when the last of the nephilim were thought to have been destroyed. These creatures were not born evil but with such ability and power they are often easily manipulated by the dark forces.
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