« (Faldara Swifthands) »

The leaders of the Horse Raider tribe and their guests were sitting around the smoky fire that was burning sullenly in the fire pit in the middle of the chief’s yurt. They had been listening with displeasure to Faldara Swifthands report about the Sun priests’ plotting and doings.

They passed a skin of kvass around as they pondered the news.

“It seems to me, as if they are seeking war to glorify themselves. There is glory in war,” offered Boltaris, the tribe’s war chief.

“But not if they send us in to break the line, as they have far too often of late,” Lastatar, the priest of the Stormlord objected.

Most of those present nodded including the tribe’s paramount chief Yondalirio the Relentless.

After another short silence, Sultaax, chief of the Rhino People looked at Boltaris. “Our people suffered grievous losses in their last war. We are still recovering, both tribe brothers and beast brothers. I will be recommending to our tribe to sit this war out. There will still be some volunteers amongst the glory hounds. That will have to suffice for the Sun lovers.”

“The Mara Feldans have been pressing us hard. The Bison tribe will not join the Sun worshipers. We can not afford the losses if we wish to survive,” said Berrisima for her people. Then she turned to Boltaris, “Join us, and we can raid the Mara Feldans. There is glory to be had there, and Sultaax, persuade your glory hunters to join us. Less will die that way.”

There was another short silence as the skin of kvass made the circle of chiefs and dignitaries of the Animal Nomads.

Lastatar regarded Faldara, “The Sun worshipers truly tried to steal your horse brothers?”

Faldara looked at him, “Yes, but it might have only been an overly greedy acolyte.”

Lastatar waved that aside. “It would not have happened if the priests weren’t prone to accept such treacheries.” Lastatar looked round the circle of gloomy faces. “I recommend we stay out of this latest expression of the Sun worshiper’s ambitions. Let us put the Mara Feldans in their place instead.”

Faldara licked dry lips. “We will have to keep a strong guard behind. The Sun priests are vindictive and believe in hostages.”

Yondalirio jerked in surprise and stared at Faldara. “Somehow that has the ring of truth Storm Lord. Very well, we will turn down any offer for our services. It is time the Mara Feldans were – reduced in influence.”

« (General Leontinus Pelaelagus) »

Leoninus sat his warhorse surrounded by his companions. He watched the four hundred and eighty members of the gold shields march by at the head of the army with their six-meter pikes held vertical, as they marched. Their gilded shields and breastplates shone in the sun.

Behind them came the silver shields, also four hundred and eighty strong. Once the two guard units had passed, there came the sixteen thousand pikemen of the temple’s professional army.

Then the light cavalry poured out of the gates. Approximately three hundred undisciplined rogues serving for plunder. They fanned out and galloped past to assume their posts as scouts and vanguard of the host.

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The next to leave the city were the armoured cavalry that represented the nobility and the adventurers. Leoninus made a rough count as they passed, not quite five hundred. He grimaced, there was a grievous lack of cavalry in the host. Hopefully the followers of the Storm Gods, the Animal Nomads would make up for the lack.

Then came the trained militia. They marched past maintaining step. There were some twenty thousand of them, about half crossbowmen, the rest spearmen.

Then came the wagons and pack beasts of the train. General Leontinus looked up at the walls of Sunhame and shook his head in disgust. He had lost the argument with Heramakos, and even at this distance he could see that the wall guards, drawn as they were from the citizen levy, were careless and ill equipped.

He turned and spurred his mount towards the head of the column. His three hundred companions followed him.

« (Cressiida Ioalovna) »

Cressiida watched the army of the Sun Lords leave Sunhame while standing behind the Supreme High Priest of the Sol Triumphant. She stood at ease with her hands behind her back while her trained mind took note of all she saw.

As for Heramakos, he seemed absurdly cheerful. He was grinning as he chatted and joked with his cronies. It always staggered Cressiida that he seemed oblivious to the snake at his back. Ancius Paalogus the snake in question was chuckling at the – mostly stale – jokes his superior was telling.

After the last of the army emerged from the city, Heramakos and his cronies left. Cressiida moved to lean against the parapet and kept watching as the army’s baggage and camp followers staggered after the army.

When finally the entire host of the Council of Stability had left, Cressiida cast a look of disgust at the lackadaisical citizen levy manning the walls. They were both slovenly and ill equipped, not to mention completely untrained and full of resentment. They were not being paid, and were not earning a wage from their regular jobs. Some of them would be facing hunger, for them and their families. She felt an increasing degree of disgust at Heramakos and his priests.

Cressiida made her way to her room in the – mostly deserted – city barracks. She sat herself at her desk and wrote a report detailing the date and time the army left. Giving their numbers, and her honest estimation as to the state of their training. As a postscript, she gave the numbers of the citizen levy, and of their shortcomings and morale.

She looked at the sheets of paper covered with her careful handwriting. She bit her lip, then she pulled up another sheet, and wrote:

“My lord, I suspect we could buy the citizen levy. The Sun priests have made themselves obnoxious to the lower levels of the citizenry. I believe they are ripe to revolt, especially if they should realize that the only forces loyal to Heramakos are the ceremonial temple guard and the priests themselves.”

She folded her report and used a blob of scarlet wax to seal it. Then with the briefest hesitation she took a small bronze ring from her pocket. With one last look at the report she slipped it into the limited storage device contained in the ring.

Tossing the ring in her hand, Cressiida went to find Daaniilius and his shadow bat, Swiftwing. That evening the report would be on its way to the Empire. She didn’t like it, but the Emperor had called her to service. And that was that. It was even in their contract of hire.

« (Lord Heramakos) »

Heramakos dismissed his friends and asking only his trusted confidant, Ancius Paalogus, to accompany him.

Once in his private office, Heramakos sat himself behind his massive marble topped desk and gestured to the decanters on the side table by the door.

Smiling, Ancius poured two glasses and made his way to the desk. Passing Heramakos a glass with white wine, he sat and sipped his brandy.

“Have the messengers we sent to the barbarians left yet Ancius? And our reply to the monsters’ offer,” asked Heramakos.

“Yes my lord, they left early yesterday,” replied Ancius. “But are you sure it’s a good idea to deal with the Mara Feldans. They are monsters, and not to be trusted.”

“Pif! They will furnish us with one hundred of their berserkers. They will die for the glory of our god. And if their people do anything – objectionable, we will have the excuse we need for crushing them.”

“But what about the Animal Nomads, their best will be with our host,” objected Ancius.

“Pif! They are Nomads. They can always run,” Heramakos smiled beatifically. “Then we will save them. And hopefully they will be weakened, but not too weakened.”