Mighty Hammer Down

by David J Guyton

Uritus ran his thumb over the gold pendant that hung from his neck. This particular one held no magical powers, but he felt more powerful wearing it nonetheless. It was the one that Rommus had created for Mirra, and it brought him a little flame of joy whenever he touched it. She had seen it many times, but she never asked what it was or where it came from. He was amazed that she didn't seem to notice it, but he never rehearsed what he would say if she ever did inquire.

  He pulled a nearby chair closer to his own and kicked his feet up on it. He spent a moment studying the fresco on the wall of the first war with Vindyrion while he waited for his father to arrive. The bright sunlight flooded through the large open windows and lit the painting with an almost unbearable brilliance. Outside the open window he could hear the roars of an eager crowd waiting to hear news from their Emperor. His father had been insisting recently that he be in the room to hear him make his speeches to the crowd from his balcony. He assumed that the Emperor thought that it was some sort of required training for his son's eventual role as ruler of Medora. The thought of it made him yawn.

  A voice came from behind him. "Has the Emperor arrived yet?"

  Uritus turned to see the Earth Legion Commander, Battus Gredda standing in the doorway. "No not yet. He likes to make the crowd wait a while. Is everything ready?"

  "Yes, I will bring the Moon Legion Commander here after your father's speech."

  "Are there any other military leaders lingering in Brinn, or have they all gone off to war?" Uritus asked as he put his hands behind his head and went back to examining the fresco.

  "All the Commanders are gone with their five Legions. He and I are the only high-ranking officers that remain."

  "Excellent. Bring him here after the speech then."

  Battus bowed his head and left the room. Uritus again fingered the charm that hung from his neck from sheer boredom. He wished his father would arrive and give his stupid speech so that this would all be over and he could return to his halls under the city. He was making so many discoveries and advancements that he was nearly numb with excitement; at least when he was able to avoid things like waiting on an old man.

  After what seemed like hours, his father finally arrived. He was dressed in white robes with a dark red sash thrown over one shoulder. Even the man's clothing was boring. Uritus wondered briefly if the man had ever considered wearing more normal clothing with buttons and sleeves and pants. Such clothing was more popular in Vindyrion than it was in Medora, but the look just seemed so much more attractive to him. Robes were just silly unless they were all black. Uritus smiled to himself.

  "Ah there's a smile," the Emperor said. "How is my oldest son? It has been a while since I have seen you, let alone since I have seen your smile."

  "I am well father. How are you?"

  Piro's shoulders slumped a little. "Honestly my boy, I have been better. These times have become so stressful lately, and it is difficult to know what to do. It's especially hard with the General gone."

  "I'm sure it has been. Is there any news from the assassins about catching the girl who stabbed him?"

  "No I'm afraid not. I think that girl is long gone by now. She is certainly not here in Medora anymore, and we just don't have the time to find her. This war is what we are focusing on now."

  "I understand father. I'm sorry that we did not catch her. Perhaps one day she can be brought to justice. Have you heard anything from the General's son?"

  "No I am afraid Rommus has not been seen for many days. He's one to disappear though. He might be off in the woods somewhere. Who can tell?"

  Uritus nodded absently. "Well I hope we see him soon."

  Piro took a deep breath and clasped his hands behind his back. "I guess it's time to address the people of Medora. They need to be told about what their army is doing." He walked slowly to the balcony and Uritus yawned again as his father began to speak.

  "My fellow Medorans," Piro said as the roaring crowd hushed, "I stand before you to inform you all of the events that have occurred in the last few weeks. I am sure many of you are confused and afraid, but do not fear. This nation will stand no matter what evil is thrown at it. Our Legions will not fall no matter what enemy stands before them.

  "It is important to know that we have gone to war not to destroy a people, but to protect our ways of life that we hold so dear to us. It is hard for many to comprehend the idea that war is necessary, and it is their right to voice their opinions on the matter. But know that no Emperor, King or General desires bloodshed. Freedom is the byproduct of war. Without raising arms to defend a nation or its allies, freedom would soon fizzle out like a wet torch. War is as important as peace, for both are corresponding pieces of the same puzzle. I hope that those among you who do not agree with this war can hear the truth in these words, and the sincerity in my heart.

  "Some time ago a Vindyri woman tried to kill General Tirinius. We believe that it was part of an elaborate plot to disrupt the Medoran army. The woman has escaped and has probably returned to her homeland by now. We believe that she and others have orchestrated a plan to weaken Medora so that the Bhoors can overpower us when they reach our borders. They are busy attacking the Vindyri for now, but without Vindyrion standing strong to our east, there would be nothing stopping the Bhoors from bringing war to us.

  "Our army is the strongest in the known world, but the Bhoors outnumber the Vindyri and Medoran troops combined many times over. We had no choice but to send five Legions into Vindyrion to assist in battle. We must fight them before they can bring the war here where there are innocent people in every corner. I have sent those five Legions to battle so that you all may remain safe here at home. Two full Legions still protect the Medoran homeland.

  "Many of you have husbands, brothers and sons in the army who are marching to war as I speak. I will not lie to you and tell you that they will all return unharmed. Many men will die in this war. It brings me a great sadness and a heavy darkness to my heart to say such a thing, and I know that the words hurt you all as well. I can only offer my hope and my prayers to the gods that your loved ones will come home safely. For those that do not return, know that they are fighting not only for you, but for your children and their children.

  "The Bhoors are a people who are bent on instilling their twisted ideology in every living human. If we refuse to accept their ways, they will kill us. They have already chosen us as their enemy, long before any of us were born. They have a powerful drive to destroy freedoms like the ones we enjoy. I have seen these men torture and kill in the name of their god. They feel no regret for their actions because they truly believe that what they do is right in the eyes of their god.

  "There are some of you, and many Vindyri who have somehow come to believe that most Bhoors are decent and innocent, and that only a few of them have done these evil things and caused a great and noble people to be judged unfairly by the rest of us. There is nothing further from the truth. These people are dangerous, and can never be trusted; not a single one of them. I have studied my enemy. I have read their books. Their blind hatred is evident on almost every page. I urge all of you to go to the Great Library in Taburdum and read their writings. Do not let the kind words of those who refuse to see evil warp the truth. You will find truth if you look for it. Trust no Bhoor for any reason, for his teachings tell him that you are his sworn enemy forever, no matter what.

  "There is another weakness we can find under the stones here at home. That weakness is blind acceptance. Many of you have come to believe that all people must be accepted into our society no matter what kind of people they prove themselves to be. No matter how twisted and cruel a person may be, or how damaging his presence might be, some of you have the idea that it is wrong to hate him or take action against him. I must be getting very old, for I cannot think straight when I consider this. How can you possibly think that accepting everyone and everything is correct? Where do you draw the lines? When an evil man comes to take your child away and kill him, has he finally proven he is evil? Coul
d it be that we simply don't understand him and we must grant him the things he desires simply because it is wrong to refuse to accept him? When did madness replace rational thought?

  "It pains me to say these things to you, for you all know that I am a man who tries to see the good in things and not the bad. It is not wise to say such negative things to the people, but I cannot ignore these threats to our freedoms any longer. Medora is crumbling, rotting from the inside while our enemies beset us from without our walls. We have become content in doing nothing, thinking that things will remain the same as long as we make no changes to our lives. I must tell you, fellow Medorans, that freedom is not constant. Freedom does not maintain itself. Along with every privilege we are granted, new weaknesses are born. Those people who do not have the best intentions for mankind will abuse those weaknesses to dismantle the system. We must be ever watchful, and guard our ways as a hawk guards his territory. We cannot waste time emulating the dove; we are the hawk.

  "I present to you two scenarios. In one, I use Medora as an example. We have always treated the Bhoors as they deserve to be treated. We exclude them because they have proven themselves to be dangerous. We accept the Vindyri but only loosely. For the most part we have been able to maintain our value system, at least until very recently. The other scenario is Vindyrion. They have opened their arms and hearts to the Bhoors and look at what is happening to them now. They are losing their culture and their lives because of these ideological madmen who have crept slowly into their nation. The Bhoors do not care that they destroy cultures in accordance with their religious teachings. They care only to spread the word of their god.

  "I claim that our value system has deteriorated recently, but not nearly as badly as in Vindyrion. It can not be blamed on anyone but the Medorans, but we have somehow started to listen to the quiet voices from Vindyrion who tell us that acceptance is the only answer. Those voices whisper to us that we are wrong to be successful and exclude others while they are starving, when in reality all any nation needs to do is adopt our system to become successful. We would never force a nation to do this, and in return we should not be forced to conform to any other nation's ways. Freedom clears the path for success, and oppression turns that path to sticky mud. This is not a secret that we keep from the world.

  "We ride to war to protect our culture and the things we love. We ride to war to help our friends in Vindyrion who cannot defend themselves any longer. I have sent our Legions from this land so that they may defend your lives without bringing danger to your doorsteps. Each of those soldiers marches into the east with pride in his heart, knowing that even if his life is lost, our liberty and culture will not be. While terror and sadness may grip him before the battle is through, honor and pride will remain. His blood might stain the ground, but his spirit will remain in our hearts and bring us joy when we look to the Medorans skies, searching for that elusive limit to our abilities. We will never find that limit as long as we are free from oppression.

  The Emperor spread his arms wide before the people below him. "Be proud that you are Medorans. Never take your freedom for granted, for it is not. Remember your values and teach your children to be honest and stand tall in this world. Do not listen to the foolish voices that tell you that such freedoms are wrong to fight for. Be ever watchful, like the hawk, and know the signs that tell you that your enemy is leaking into your society like some vile poison. Never surrender. Never forget the lessons of the past. Never forfeit our ways to accommodate the culture of another people, and these lands will remain free and proud forever. Now let us ride to war. Now let us bring this mighty hammer down on our enemies! Long live Medora!"

  The crowd below cheered loudly and almost shook the walls of the Emperor's Hall with their booming praise. Uritus rolled his eyes before his father turned around. "That was a fine speech father. But do you really think that Medora is indeed in danger from within?"

  "I do. I did not say it to the people, but I think the Mages have something to do with it. I believe they are part of the problem, whispering their own lies about Medora, and softening the armor of our society from the inside."

  "How can you say that? Have you ever spoken to the Mages and asked them what they thought was an ideal society?"

  "No I have not. Such a secret organization cannot be trusted to tell the truth about their intent. Would the Mages ever stand before the people of Medora and be honest like I was in my speech? They will not even show their faces," the Emperor said as he turned and looked up at the grand fresco on the wall in front of him.

  Uritus got up and came to his father's side, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Father, they do show their faces. You just don't know who they are. It's wrong to judge them before you know anything about them."

  "I know more than you think I know, my son," he said, still staring up at the painting.

  With a violent thrust Uritus stabbed his father between his ribs. His face twisted in pain before he let out a horrible scream. He gently guided his trembling father to the floor.

  "Shh, quiet father. Be still. I don't want you to suffer. Just relax and the pain will go away quickly."

  "How?" the Emperor managed to ask.

  "How what, father? How could I do this? Your rhetoric is tired father. Your ways will die with you, and I will replace them with my own. You were too blind to see that I am part of your little problem with society." Uritus shook his head at his father and ran his fingers through the man's gray hair. "You are so foolish that you can't see that it was in fact your ways that were wrong. You cannot rule an Empire in that fashion. Someone will always be there behind you with a knife, waiting for the right time to stab you."

  Piro coughed up blood as his lung filled with the hot, sticky fluid. He brought a weak, quaking hand up to Uritus's throat in a pitiful attempt to strangle his son. His face contorted in agony as Uritus twisted the knife in his ribcage, scraping the bone and severing more tissue.

  "Now father, I told you to be still. In a moment you will be dead and you will no longer feel pain. Be thankful that I used a knife and not my powers to send you directly to Inshae."

  "Inshae?" the Emperor whispered.

  "Yes father, Inshae. I am a Mage. Actually, I am the Red Master Mage. It was me who secretly plotted against you and your moronic system of rule. Freedom is a joke. Medora will no longer be free under my control, and I am willing to sacrifice the majority of the Medoran army to achieve my goals."

  Tears began to wet his father's eyes as he stared up at him. He took a deep, ragged breath and tried to muster the strength to speak. "Take my life, but not Medora. Please save Medora."

  "That is exactly my intent, old man. I intend to save this Empire from fools like you and your fathers before you. My motives are not all altruistic, I do desire power, but I am sick of the way you cater to only the wealthy, and you ignore the poor. I will force the wealthy to care and provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. Did you ever bother to think to ask me what I thought about the matter? Did you ever think of the idea yourself? We cannot live in a society where people are allowed to succeed while others are left to struggle. Men like you would call me evil, but my way is the only just and fair way. It is your way that is evil. You have been so blind and stupid."

  "Not blind?I?see," Piro managed between irregular breaths.

  "You see nothing father. You are a disgrace. I am ashamed to bear the name Tecadelion," Uritus said as he felt his father slump from his soul leaving his body. He twisted the knife a few more times to make sure that he wasn't faking, and then wiped the blood from his hands on his father's robes before standing. He took a deep breath as he prepared himself mentally for what he had to do next. The painting on the wall once again drew his attention as he waited for Battus Gredda to bring the Moon Legion Commander to the room. It was not long before they arrived.

  "The Emperor!" the Moon Legion Commander shouted when he saw his bloody body on the floor. "What has happened here?"

  Uritus turned to hi
m calmly, his hands behind his back. "It was the oddest thing, Commander. I was watching his speech, and then when it was over, you arrived and stabbed him."

  The man could only look confused for a second before Battus ran him through with his sword. The man screamed and fell to the floor, clenching his open wound in an attempt to keep it from killing him. His efforts did little to stop the hot blood from pouring out onto the marble tiles beneath him. Battus did not give him a chance to speak, but stabbed him several more times through his back, opening his body for his soul to escape.

  "Very well done, Battus. You serve me as well as a Commander as you do a Mage. You will not go unrewarded in either of your positions."

  "Thank you Red Master."

  "Now that you are the only remaining Commander in Medora, and I am the new Emperor, I give you command of both the Earth and Moon Legions. We now have no opposition. Our plan is unstoppable now."

  "Again, thank you Red Master. It is my honor to serve you and Inshae. Are you prepared for what needs to be done?"

  Uritus took a deep breath as he stared at the bodies on the floor. "Yes Battus. I am ready. Do not cut me too deeply."

  Battus pulled the dead Commander's sword from its scabbard and swung it at Uritus, grazing his flesh across his chest and stomach. Uritus recoiled but made no sound. He bent over, hugging his middle, but summoned the bravery to extend his arm to allow Battus to make another cut. When he finished, he slumped himself down in a nearby chair and tried to comfort his wounds. Battus went to the corpse of the dead Commander and ran the blade through some of the blood to make it bloodier. Anyone who might inspect the scene would think that the Moon Legion Commander had come there to stab the Emperor, but Uritus, taking the man's sword, managed to slay him. Of course, the Commander had injured Uritus before he died.

  "Remove your shirt, Emperor, so that we can tend to the wounds," Battus said.

  Uritus loved the sound of being called Emperor. "Go get the supplies, I am not that badly hurt, and I must contact the Zidaoz anyway. My wounds will still be bleeding when you return. Hurry now."

  The man left and Uritus closed his eyes halfway. He thought that perhaps he could heal himself, but he had never tired that sort of thing, and besides he needed to appear injured or the people of Medora would never believe his story. He let the idea slip from his mind as he thrust himself into the world between worlds. He hoped the Zidaoz would not take long to answer.

  Stars flew past him as he navigated the darkness. He dove and weaved through massive clusters at blinding speed. Finally he came to the soul of Zidaoz, and thankfully, he answered rather quickly.

  "Ah, the Medoran. What news do you bring?"

  "I cannot stay for I am injured, but everything is going according to plan. The Emperor is dead and I am now ruler of Medora. What progress have you made?"

  "Congratulations on your Emperorship, Medoran. I will not keep you if you are injured; besides I am in the middle of something. Just know that we are on our way into Vindyrion now. Most of my army is already there. The Dirujen have been very helpful in translating some old text."

  "The beast can read?" Uritus asked.

  The Zidaoz laughed. "No Medoran, the Dirujen is not a beast like we thought. The Dirujen are a people. However they do have control over animals and even people, and they are eager to help us. They tell stories of other great beasts that live in their lands, and we will see what we can do about finding them and using them in the war."

  "Good. We will need them. Medora has sent five Legions to war. You should see them on the horizon fairly soon."

  "Excellent. I must go now, Medoran. I hope your wounds heal well."

  Reluctantly Uritus returned to the real world where the hot pain stung his body. Battus walked through the door with exaggerated concern, with several servants following him. They kneeled and began tending to his wounds.

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