Under the Olive tree, in front of a small pond Lomu sunbathes with his eyes closed, clutching slim Vera to his chest. Vera half asleep is playing with Lomu’s signet ring while clasped in Lomu’s tattooed hands. The pond and the olive tree stand in the middle of a small platform on a cliffside, a small wooden cabin stands solitary in the shade to the back of the tree and a wooden pathway enshrouded in greenery rises all the way to the top of the promontory upon which an ivory Cathedral looms. The pond has a small pillar in the middle with a burning brazier topping it off. Lomu puts his head to Vera’s blond locks and whispers:
Lomu- I'll come back.
Suddenly something jerks him and Lomu smashes his head back onto the olive tree.
Distorted voice- GET UP LOMU!
The dream ends and the cliffside view is changed to a grieved palm reaching down to Lomu.
Snow falls around as Lomu is lying on his back in the middle of a snowy battlefield surrounded by half a dozen corpses. Bulk of the dead are wearing tattered clothes and makeshift masks, a few are uniformed soldiers. Above Lomu is an outstretched hairy arm of a burly man in armor, who also happens to be one of Lomu’s dearest childhood friends, Amir. Dazed, Lomu grabs on to Amir who effortlessly jolts him to his feet. As he is straightened up he feels his own blood going down his throat. Amir seems twice as big and twice as wide in Lomu’s groggy mind, but that is nothing new, Amir was always different, head or two taller than Lomu, bone pale with chestnut eyes tented by eyebrows as big as branches and a near constant grin on his face, quite a contrast to Lomu’s olive complexion, blue green eyes and a splash of white marks on his pouty face covered with dirty blond hair.
Amir-You took quite a hit, we thought you were lost.
Lomu- who hit me?
Amir- Nobody. You jumped onto a roof of a wagon from that tower, it gave way and toppled over into the vermin's campfire. Everyone thought you were dead, so nobody bothered to actually kill you.
Lomu- So who killed these men?
Amir- We did, thanks to your distraction; but this was not the camp where townsfolk are kept, this is just an outpost. Main camp is up that hill, if a dying man’s words are to be believed. My boys will escort you to Nene while we finish off these bloodsuckers.
Lomu- No, I am fine we..(cough)..We can go together.
said Lomu as he spat out a large chunk of blood hitting Amirs polished breastplate.
Amir- yeeeah I am sorry my friend, but I think you are not lucky enough to survive another battle with that much of you oozing out, and should you drop dead your brother will blame me.
Lomu- I can handle a toss or two far better than you. Besides they will both see and hear your lumbering luminous approach. Better I sneak in and cause distraction.
Amir grabbed at his side and dragged his cloak over as he wiped Lomu’s face which turned Amir’s snow-white cloak into rich burgundy.
Amir- your nose does not appreciate such distractions.
Lomu- stop nagging and wait for the signal.
Lomu approached the camp and snuck in through a thicket to the camp while the main force of the camp was concentrated on scouting their won recently fallen forward camp below. Cursory glance allowed Lomu to mentally tag all visible sentries. They were not locals and clearly not dressed to enjoy the winter wonderland that was this side of the island. They were slavers, brigands and pirates taking advantage of the recent turmoil. As one of them was passing by. Lomu lunged out of the thicket and stabbed him through the neck, he had no time to drag the corpse into the bush as the others heard him; so Lomu leapt to the nearest sentry and slashed him right across the face, followed by fighting two bandits who were sitting by the campfire, he grabbed shorter one by the scarf and pulled him towards the other toppling them over and driving his blade downwards impaling both of them simultaneously. Lomu reached down and grabbed one of the thinner smoldering logs from the fire pit and tossed it into the furthest tent he could reach, setting it ablaze.
As the campfire began to immolate all the bandits rushed out and began dowsing the fire at the back of the camp, some noticed the would-be arsonist and began to encircle Lomu; all the while leaving the entrance to the camp unguarded, just as they were about to attack Lomu, Amir and his men rushed in causing further confusion and panic.
The battle doesn’t last long as the bandits wielding small dirks and rusted blades are no match to the armored and well-armed soldiers, who view this more like pest control rather than a battle.
Having defeated the last of the bandits the victorious men start checking the camp and tending to what little wounds they did receive.
As the bulk of Amirs men rejoined them from down the hill, two knights rode into the now captured bandit camp. Both knights wearing the same green and amber armor as Lomu, though relatively less embellished and far less battle weary.
Horseman- Greetings your highness! Prince Regent demands your immediate return to the capital.
Lomu (looks to Amir)- is my brother afraid I will hide the loot?
Amir- That's absurd He should know better that I will hide the loot before you do!
Lomu (to knight)- Is everything ok?
Horseman- We were given directive to find you and immediately escort you to the palace without delay.
Lomu knew these men well and new what they were, loyal, capable and uncompromising when it came to following their masters' words and since their leash was now in his brothers' hands, they also shared his lack of humor. Not to mention the idea of going home instead of wasting a few more weeks on reveries and resettlement issues was not something Lomu would protest right now. Lomu turned to address Amir with feigned regret.
Lomu- Well my friend, I must regrettably leave you with the task of taking the townsfolk back for me. It wounds me that I cannot stay and help you manage.
Amir- I can see you are dying on the inside. I will get the townsfolk safely and (points to a woman kneeling and comforting children) Nene will take care of the kids. Try venturing outside the capital, we would see each other more than once every 3 years.
Lomu looked at the pudgy women giving out the orders and comforting the little children.
Lomu (mounts a horse)- All these years and to think you still drag around your nursemaid everywhere.
Amir- Helps with the headaches! I don’t need to think, Nene just tells me what to do.
Horsemen accompany Lomu as they gallop towards barely visible haze of a dirty green moss on a horizon, a vaguely visible capital city.
Chapter 1
Act 1.1
Capital of Natvra was a sight to behold, city erected all along the edge of the cliffside overlooking the ortus sea. The city was encircled by outer and inner walls, separating the lower and middle classes from merchants, gentry and nobility. Two to three storied houses and mansions dotted throughout the cities both circles. Inside the shadow of the outer wall markets and fairs sprung up, taverns and game halls were booming day and night, and all sorts were bustling in the crowded city, merchants traded, workers plied, minstrels sang, and beggars pled, everyone busy to make ends meat. Inside the inner wall was relative calm, nobles were never in a hurry, but faces of concern washed over all who looked toward the passers. At the end of the inner wall at the very edge of the one of the twin promontories stood the Ivory Cathedral to the holy church of twins, while the other was capped by the royal palace of Natvra. The brown green hew that was part of most building masonry and cobblestone streets décor made the city seem like a giant flower from the distance, both to the sea farers and the caravan riders. And with copper pipes slithering up and down the city streets, streaming heat and warmth throughout the city, from a distance looked merely as vines and roots to an observer. The Royal palace was topped with crimson and ebony tiles making it look like a tulip from the distance and something ominous up close. Sea of armed men surrounded the palace, fully stocked and armed for battle rather than patrol. Men upon seeing the procession parted at sight of the king's younger son. Lomu rushed through the palace atrium cloisters, passing the many local and foreign dignitaries with his favored brisk pace, avoiding any superfluous overtures and quickly mounted the steps leading to the throne room, servants and soldiers parting to give him way. As he ascended it, he did slow down and catch himself acting like he was a child again, staring at tapestries, followed by the judgy eyes on the walls. Portraits of his ancestors covering the massive stairwell, kings and queens of the last four hundred years and their kin, solemn and furrowed all. Closer he got the throne room more familiar they were, until he reached the last turn and his favorite set. First was a family portrait, his father looked regal with uncharacteristically smug look, sitting upon the throne with his two children in the forefront, children were almost opposites of each-other; Vance stood tall, sinewy with slick back hair upon a chiseled face holding a rapier in his hand standing in bright crème doublet and a short cyan cape, while Lomu was dark, round and small compared to his broher who was nine years his senior; and with a hidden face under his hair little Lomu was clutching a wooden sword. Lomu knew the artist hid his face under so much hair not to draw the white blotches at his aunt’s behest. Next to those painting were two large portraits, one for Vance’s mother and another for his, both mirroring their offspring from the portrait before, with a single exception that Lomu’s mother had her face unobscured due to lack of marks he had, having lost her when he was very little, he couldn’t say if this was how she really looked or if it was another artistic flight of fancy like with his picture. One thing was certain, the signet ring he had and the broach his mother wore were from the same set, so he always touched the painting with his ring, uniting with her in some small way. Either way Lomu returned to matters at hand and continued upwards. At the entrance to the throne room, he is met by his aunt as she is walking out of the throne room, dressed in her monochrome clerical robes Edna looked like any other pillar strewn across the palace. And just as the pillars so did she tower over Lomu and exude no warmth.
Edna- And you’re back, twins have mercy.
Lomu- Hi Auntie! I am glad to see you two.
That was the closest they had ever come to a warm greeting and Lomu was not expecting an ancient lizard to show much more.
Edna- Well guess I should be grateful; six months of respite was nice. Go on inside they are waiting for you child.
With those words Edna and her robed cohorts slither down the stairs. Lomu took a deep breath and motioned to the guards to make way.
Entering the throne room, he was greeted by a gaggle of elderly nobles, statesmen, clerics, merchants and what little was left of the foreign dignitaries that remained in the realm. At the end of the hall stood a high pedestal with 4 winged armchairs and a throne in the middle. The armchair to the right of the throne was occupied by Prince regent Vance currently swarmed by clergymen, the other armchair to the right was occupied by his holiness bishop Dim’s half rotted corpus.
Lomu marching towards the pedestal and halfway through gave a slightest of nods and proclaimed for the room to hear in the most exaggerated of tones-
Lomu- Brother dear! I am glad to announce that the northern vermin that sought to enrich themselves during our trying times are no more! And our highland citizens are returning to their homes!
Vance (negotiated himself from the clergymen and rose to his feet)- I am heartened to hear that our King and our prince share nothing but tides of victory of late. Rejoice my friends our prayers are being answered and our just acts rewarded, for only the righteous and prudent can know true victory.
Lomu had at that point reached the pedestal, rolled his eyes at his brothers proclamation and fell into his seat at the far left of the throne while the rest of the throne room rejoices and congratulated themselves.
Vance gestured for the room to settle down and turned to Lomu.
Vance- Brother I know I have torn you from your good deeds, however your local duties and respite will have to wait for I have (Vance ruffled through the papers and produced a parchment) a summons from the front!
Lomu not having had time to make himself comfortable shot out of his seat and reached for the parchment, before even unraveling it he looked up at his brother. Though six months are not long he saw his brothers face sunken and sullen, tired and cold.
Lomu- Father?
Vance- His majesty has summoned you, as we speak your men are readying to depart and await their commander.
Lomu started darting his eyes along the parchment, but failing to match written with spoken began speaking while rereading the lines.
Lomu- But as sheriff brother I cannot simply vacate....
Vance retrieved the parchment from Lomu, rolled it back up and held it like a baton.
Vance-Worry not dutiful brother, you have all, but eradicated the thieves and brigands of the capital and as for the remaining aberrance in the outskirts I am sure bishop Dim and I will manage.
Dim, having heard his name, brushed away thoughts that occupied him and slowly straightened in the rightmost armchair.
Dim- You have done Pius work your royal highnesses. History is frugal with examples of the divine blessing, but our kingdom shines with capable leaders such as you. Graciously, Divines has also empowered the church with equally strong hands to assist you...
Bishop raised and banged his belled staff on the marble floor and in response throne rooms main doors slowly opened once again and a dozen fully armored men in full plate grey black armor stride inside, crimson capes with twin gods sigil emblazoned, they can hardly be mistaken for anything other than what they are: inquisitors. They stop at the foot of pedestal and knelt more towards the bishop rather than regent. Bishop pointed to the leader of the group.
Dim - Lord high inquisitors deeds are not few! and not few among are miraculous still!
LHI- my hands but an instrument of your holiness.
Bellowed and hissed the voice from under the full plate helmet.
Vance- And now those instruments will try to wrestle with my brothers' duties as well.
LHI- I... (Interrupted by the bishop)
Dim- Divines demand the best from us all, they will not fail.
Inquisitors prostrated even lower before standing back up. Lomu studied the inquisitors, but as usual none of them looked vaguely familiar to anyone he ever encountered in the city; however, they all did look quite fearsome and imposing, if not downright menacing even when all but one were not looking at him. He brushed those thoughts and returned to matters at hand.
Lomu- I will need time to...
Vance- Your horse is saddled, and your inventory is fully stocked brother, king demands your presence now, delivering this message to you already cost us precious time, dithering will cost twice as more.
Lomu looked to the men and women gathered, most had sent their wealth and kin to the front and had in two years received mostly ill news, anything except Lomu’s immediate compliance would plummet any moral his good news had brought. He gathered himself and acquiesced without any signs of regret.
Lomu-As you command.
Lomu nodded to both bishop and his brother and left the throne room followed by a hundred eyes of the onlookers.
Outside in the courtyard he saw his banners and his men whom he had left months ago to galivant around the countryside fighting the raiders across the north and highlands. His men had joined the swarm of men that were at the entrance of the palace. He smiled at them as they cheered his arrival.
Cavalry and caravan awaited as Lomu approached his steed.
Vance-Wait...(Lomu turned to see his brother and his entourage approach) ...I wanted to see you off, I was cross at others and I was snippy with you whom I haven’t laid eyes on in months. Let say a proper farewell.
Vance opened his arms in an embrace, which was both uncharacteristic of the man and even more so between them.
They embraced, but Vance was not in a hurry to let go.
Lomu (whispered)-What's going on?
Vance (whispered)-The message has the royal seal, but its Mikele’s hand not Fathers. It asked for me, but I cannot leave, or our predicaments will be the least of fathers problems once others begin to meddle.
Lomu(whispers)- Dim knows about the message? hence the inquisitors?
Vance(whispers)- I don’t know, but the message was delivered by a bronze face with Reza’s men so probably Reza knows more. You must hurry.
They let each other go and Lomu mounted his steed.
Lomu- Farewell brother!
Vance-Divine lights be with you.
As Lomu rode off his gaze was fixed only towards the Cathedral.
Under the olive tree Lomu sits embracing Vera and struggling with Vera’s blond locks, while Vera plays with Lomu’s signet ring.
Vera-what are you doing?
Lomu- Making you presentable.
Vera- Have you lost your mind? I will be flogged. stop...stoop (laughs)
Lomu- for red ribbons?
Vera- I am a servant of the church we are not allowed.
Lomu- Even from me?
Vera- Especially from you!
Lomu- do you like them though?
Vera- I love them.
Distorted figure - My lord!!!
Once again Lomu’s dream is unceremoniously interrupted as he is jerked out of the bunk by a loud crash, dazed as he is he rushes out of the cabin on to the deck, torrent of splinters fly into his face. A ship of unknown origins had used the low visibility caused by the rainstorm to ram into Vance’s royal ship the moment they had left the harbor and its surrounding reefs. The enemy had begun boarding the vessel with great haste.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Fierce skirmish on the deck erupted as more than twenty assailants poured from the ship, while Lomu’s retinue and the crew did their best fighting for every inch of space trying to detach the ships from each other; all the while evading incoming arrows. Despite confusion of the ambush Lomu found a moment to spy his main force, but being on his brothers ship he has outdistanced his fleet by almost half an hour so all he saw were lights in far distance flickering like fireflies among the reef belt. Any reinforcements that might have arrived would arrive an hour late and with the rain reducing visibility all they would find is a derelict and drowned men. With the ships linked escape was not an option and abandoning ship would make anyone a good sport for the archers. Lomu clenched his teeth and swung at rowdy pirates as any man standing his last would.
As the losing battle continued the assailing vessels were suddenly overtaken by a group of small ships from behind. To Lomu’s glee the reinforcements had the purple and gold drapes of Quaz. Reza’s ships had arrived. No sooner the purple vessel rammed into the pirate vessel that the first to have rushed in were the Quaz spearman jumping ahead from the ship and finding purchase in the soft of pirate bellies, Quaz archers rained down arrows on the archers from other pirate vessels prompting them to cease firing and ducking for covers.
Following the successful raid from Reza, the remaining assailants were quickly fought back and forced to board their ships to flee, with some of Reza’s ships giving chase. Reza himself emerged from behind the rudder this vessel and boarded Lomu’s ship. Friends greeted each other with a shake and a hug.
Tall and slim with a windblown face and dark oiled hair, Reza was always a center of attention, even on patrol he was dressed elegantly in his houses purple and gold colors, with bejeweled belt and necklace, which was a contrast to Lomu who looked like a mercenary for hire on his best days.
Reza (mock bow)- you have grown your highness, who knew the runt of the litter could become so imposing or at least so wide.
Reza looked around at Lomu’s grateful crew swiveled towards them and bowed.
Reza- Allow me to introduce myself...
Lomu- His royal highness prince Reza of Quaz, the scourge of the pirates, Reza the chain slasher, Reza the unsinkable, with that much oil in your beard drowning is the least of your worries.
Reza- You are right to envy my beard, shows you have taste. There is hope for you yet. It’s a good thing I recognized Vance’s ship, otherwise I would have taken another battle closer to the coast. Where is the good Regent by the way?
Lomu- On the throne where he belongs. But you were not in Laz where you belong, so I had to take second best ship in the harbor. Come Ill serve you this ships finest.
Reza- you'll serve me Myself?
They enter the cabin and Reza tone changes; he removed his headdress.
Reza- your father is dead.
Lomu (shudders, closes his eyes and keeps them shut tight)- how?
Reza- He and commander Mikele were ambushed at one of the estates during the battle. They thought that the nobleman there was an ally, as did I.
Lomu-How did he die Reza?
Reza- From what I gathered your father fought bravely to the end however before reserve forces could reach them one of the Tarls wrestled him into a well where they both perished.
Lomu-In a well?
Lomu sank onto a nearby sac of sundries. He could hear Reza saying his condolences, but his thoughts were with his father. His father was not the easiest man to get along with, but he was kind to him and made him smile. Aside from his friends he was the only family he had that treated him as family, with love. He could always count on his father to protect him from his aunts' vicious rants or his brothers bullying, he may not have understood Lomu, but he certainly loved him and to die in a well, far away from anyone, in a war of others was wrong.
Lomu- A well?! So…
Reza-Yes, nobody knows he is dead only Mikele and royal guards are privy.
Lomu-and you! Which means your father, your 13 elder siblings and the entire court or Quaz.
Reza- Only my father and I. not even MY FOUR elder siblings know, nor can anyone know. If your men lose moral, or worse enemy gains any; we will be smashed to pieces by the Empire, Quaz before Natvra, so nobody else knows.
Lomu- why send for Vance?
Reza- To crown him perhaps, next two battles are decisive which means we need high morale. Vance must have been breathing incenses to send you instead of himself.
Lomu- Vance is a great statesman, but a poor warrior.
Reza- Dim and your aunt are running circles around him as statesmen.
Lomu- Around us all. I will mourn my father after the battle now we need to prepare.
Reza- about that, Mikele sent additional instructions.
Act 1.2
Having arrived on the Quaz shore, Lomu’s freshly mobilized troops marched for 5 days until they reached the outskirts of the battlefront, with the sun to the east they charge up a hill where they saw a gruesome sight. Grand valley, which was once filled with vineyards and orchards now hosted 3 armies kicking up a storm under the scorching sun.
Natvras main army under Mikele’s command had been clashing against Tarl Imperial garrisons, while the bulk of Tarl imperial forces were engaging with the hosting Quaz army.
As the main armies or Quaz and Tarl fought each other, Mikele's forces rushed the fortified garrison from the flank while Lomu's forces blackened the sky with arrows from the hill. The small fort that held enemy catapults and siege weapons was soon overrun and atop the hill the command tents were surrounded. Blades and spears, axes and maces, arrows and slings cut the air until only the allied forces remained and the Tarl fort and surrounding towers were turned into kindling.
Having seen the fall of the flank imperial forces sounded general retreat. After the battle Lomu decked out in his father’s armor was greeted by Mikele approaching from the other side of the hill.
Commander Mikele- Great Victory your grace! The men are heartened by your presence. Your regimental rescue couldn’t have come at a better time.
Lomu- We are literally the only people on this mound that have heads attached, why are you pretending I'm father?
Mikele- keep your vizor down boy! If even a stray glance catches something off, rumors will spread like the flames atop these towers. Rumors are deadly, same reason I’m pretending this arrow does not hurt. Keep morale in check. But in all honesty, I am happy to see you my boy.
Lomu- Three weeks you kept it a secret, it couldn’t have been easy…Thank you for this. where is he?
Mikele- more like five weeks. Back at the estate, where he died. His royal guards hold vigil, but we cannot retrieve him until the front is pushed or war ended.
Lomu- This war was started by Dim and Edna pestering father, maybe if Vance takes throne, he will call them back.
Mikele- should the news spread, the imperial forces will rally, they already outnumber us. If they decide to pressure your subjects into questioning the war we will be broken; they can and will crush us and Vance's rule will be short after-which we will all join you on your merry hunts in highlands… my darling wife included.
Lomu- Edna in the woods, that part terrifies me. So how long will this farce go on?
Mikele- another month, two maybe.
Lomu- and what about home?
Mikele- what about home?
Lomu- Ever since this war began the country has been swarmed by slavers and murderers.
Mikele- War breeds atrocities, opportunists come in all forms, foreign and domestic.
Lomu- You have no idea uncle.
Mikele- We will soon return and you can educate me.
Lomu- If we win (stands)
Mikele- When we win. It’s really good to see you again, but I reaaaaally need to deal with this arrow, see me to my tent you grace.
Act 1.3
Under the Olive tree two silhouettes are sitting in the pond by the brazier.
Distorted voices-Tell me about these scars.
Distorted voices- Tell me about that one first.
Distorted voices- Do you love them though
Distorted voices- Don't go
2 years! 2 years pass since Lomu had left the shores of Natvra, Quaz land of spent abundance and endless battles behind him Lomu feels heartened as his ship slowly sails into the port. As they dock the once bustling and vibrant port city of Laz which had every color of the rainbow glimmer in the wind looks duller and broken to Lomu from the deck of his ship. Royal guards disembark followed by Lomu, dock is filled with women and children swarming merchants and fishmongers; at the far end Reza stands with a small retinue greeting newly arrived refugees with bread and amphoras of milk.
Reza sees the royal procession disembarking and brakes off from his previous activity.
Reza bows- My lord, It is such a joy to see you at last.
Lomu embraces Reza
Lomu- My friend it has been ages.
Reza- Well the more inland your campaign went the less my ships had use, so I took to my favorite pass time.
Lomu- you must be sore, try sleeping on your stomach.
Reza- Second favorite, hunting pirates. As the legation and a noble servant of both our nations I took to protecting our routes once more.
Lomu- You need not elaborate, your legendary deeds reached even the canyon rawl, the famous chain breaker by day and a soup kitchen master by night.
Truth was nothing reached Lomu as the war was a caravan of disasters, but ever since he was a child he knew Reza who despite looking as young as Lomu was 15 years his senior. As a child he had been given ships and leave from his court to do as he pleased, so Reza took upon himself to chase pirates, slavers and care for the dispossessed.
Reza and Lomu outdistance themselves from others.
Reza - Is....your father here?
Lomu- yes, Mikele arranged for his ...travels.
Reza- Mikele not coming?
Lomu- No, after the battle at the dredge fields he decided to convalesce and took up residence at the fort your father provided. I haven’t seen him since.
Reza- Charmer like him will have someone to lick his wounds don’t you worry. Let’s get out of here, we shall drink and celebrate your return. Come let’s rest and you can regale me with your tales in my homeland over some nice brew.
Lomu- I would rather march straight home. I won’t be able to rest a moment while he (gesturing back) is like this.
Reza- And after all this time can anyone but you vouch that that’s your father?
Lomu- He was preserved, he didn’t look a day older when I saw him at the estate, Guards told me nothing changed. However, I would like nothing more than to bring him home now.
Reza- Of course, of course I understand, forgive me. I will give your men my best horses and you can ride tomorrow.
Lomu- I would prefer to travel now and without razing any suspicions from the onlookers, I will go with one of your caravans, I’ll just add one more boxed cart to the mix.
Reza- What a wonderful idea, I feel addition of a few warriors to out cargo will only ease my nerves as well as make their entry passed the inquisition checkpoints easier. give me an hour and I’ll arrange it.
The hour passes quickly for Lomu who takes great care at directing the transfer of his father's remains onto a thoroughly inspected caravan cart. when Reza returns, they go to the stables and after introducing them to the caravan and positioning the new cargo Lomu bids farewell to Reza and they ride out. Not the first time Lomu had to keep a low profile while traveling within his father's domain. Olive green skin with splashes of white and burnt hands covered in strange marks, no regal kinship could negate the effect of this combination on commoners. It was hard to enough on the nobility, so whenever he and his brother were touring the realm with his father, he would be hidden in Edna’s palanquin, a form of torture on its own. And this time it is for his fathers benefit that they are hidden.
As they are traveling for about a few hours the sun sets and they reach the crossroads to the capital, they are met with men holding torches and barring the way forward, causing not a small commotion.
Torchbearer- Holt! The way is closed.
Royal Escort- by whose orders?
Torchbearer- No orders Sire, this morning some bandits fell upon some unfortunate merchants carrying blubber to the capital, you march that way at night you’re bound to get stuck or poisoned and if someone lights a torch you’ll get scorched altogether, not to mention you’ll burn everything along the way.
Lomu- We need to get to the capital now!
Torchbearer- only this road is sealed! Feel free to go through the woods.
Royal Escort- we will have to go slower and probably lose an entire day; Laz is hours back we can still make it till midnight and go via the sea.
Lomu- No, Reza said the waters are crawling with pirates. We had best take another way by land. We could go to the Barburg, we can stay at the monastery there and take an early lead in the morning.
They swiftly change directions and ride off. Leaving the gathering travelers to find their own way.
Torchbearer- damnit.
The caravan takes the road to Barburg, road from Laz to barburg is mostly fields and farms, Lomu looks upon endless fields being farmed by peasants. Frail, tired old men and women dragging bushels and barrels, stacking and heaving. All the young and able are either on the battlefield or in the foundries, the task of feeding the country is on the back of the elderly yet again. After hours of marching through the fields they reach a fork on the road, one path leads to the shoreline the other into the woods, they have to venture into the forest; on the other side of which is the small village of Barburg. While trudging through the forest they are ambushed by archers who take out the caravan reigns and force the defenders to dismount and shield themselves from arrows. After two three volleys some of the bandits rush into melee. During the skirmish archers and fighters keep pushing the defenders away from the cargo trying to capture the entire caravan instead of looting it. However, as the confusion of the initial attack settles down the battle-hardened defenders can regroup and using the trees are barriers approach and retake the caravan with Lomu personally backstabbing bandit leader as he was franticly trying to kill the caravan elder. Having seen their leader killed, the remaining bandits quickly melt into the trees.
Escort- My lord they are retreating.
Lomu- take the head the rest will scatter, everyone ok?
Escort- Not including you, we are down to four and most of the merchants are spent, but Barburg is not far off we will manage my Lord.
An hour later the caravan reaches Barburg. Once a small village of foreigners known for their brews, now a hovel with emaciated denizens. Caravan is met with a garrison of highland soldiers patrolling the village. Lomu keeps looking around the quite village, he remembers that as a teen he spent a happy summer in here training as a soldier near where the monastery was being renovated, met some of his friends here and the village was full of laughter, now not a child in sight, not even a sound of laughter. Only scared and tired people with guards walking around glaring from under their helmets. As Lomu reaches the central square of the village he commands the caravan to hold and addresses the locals.
Lomu- What is this? Since when is the garrison in here? Who’s in charge?
As Lomu demands an answer a familiar face dressed in fine robe struts out of the gate.
Amir- Who else but you my lord (followed by bellowing laugh)
Lomu seeing his old friend jumps of his mount and hugs Amir as only a brother would.
Amir-before you ask, I have been designated as the sentinel of this region, by your brothers request no less. I didn’t know you were back I thought you were out on the mainland buggering the Tarls.
Lomu- I just landed.
Amir- And you came straight for me! Reza must be seething with envy HAHAHA. Let’s go inside where its warm these robes only protect me from gods' ire nothing more.
Lomu- I need to store my cargo first (lowers tone to a whisper) away from nosey onlookers.
Amir to a soldier- Send the caravan to the outpost, have it stationed in the center.
Amir to Lomu- It will be guarded from all sides, besides we will be able to keep an eye on it from the Monastery and its far enough so no locals will chance it.
Night falls over the village, Amir and Lomu sit in the Monastery's open rookery overlooking the forest.
Woman enters the balcony with some wine. Upon seeing who it is Lomu gets up and delivers fraternal kiss to the cheek.
Lomu- Is that really you lady Nene?
Though defrocked long ago portly woman still dressed in the style of a cleric, a simple dark tone robe. Her face was showing some wrinkles, but her size lacquered over any imperfections and left only an oval with button brown eyes hidden within a sea of eyelashes.
Nene- You have grown my prince, no not grown ...matured.
Lomu- I did not expect to see you here, either of you.
Nene- Had your friend been kind enough to marry and sire some children for me to care, I would be gladly back in home tucking them in.
Lomu- unfortunately Amir De Lester can do very little without his nursemaid, so you would have to attend the consummation.
Nene- Attend? I’d have to tug him back and forth.
Amir- I am just drunk enough to fart both of you off this balcony. Vance will probably not mind!
Nene- So long as Nene tells you how.
Lomu and Amir grin like idiots at that, while Nene refills empty goblets.
Lomu- Why are you here?
Nene- You haven’t told him?
Amir- I thought I would after we supped.
Lomu- what?
Nene- The war, it has bled us dry. While your fathers at war, he took most of the people who managed this island with him. Bandits', slavers, raiders and all others that Tarls gave free passage to here have almost burned the countryside to the ground.
Lomu- What is my brother doing?
Amir- Best he can, but he has no army, no sheriffs, nothing, few garrisons and fewer men to hold whats in between them.
Nene- and the inquisitors.
Lomu- are they not enough?
Nene- they would be, but the inquisition is using the sheriffs seal in conjunction with Bishop Dims edicts to fight its own war against heathens with little interest in man-made laws.
Lomu- a crusade?
Nene- something like that, but not as sanguinary. The capital was sealed as off “due to impending calamity” whatever that means.
Lomu- but why are you here?
Amir- the town has been ravaged, few citizens remain I am here to ensure that culprits are captured and killed.
As they speak the stars which were dotted around in the sky begin to fade and an orange hew rises from nearby forest.
Nene- By the twins! What is that?
Amir- An attack! SOUND THE BELLS!
It takes a few moments for Amir to put on his boots and everyone to regroup and saddle up, but not twenty minutes later the riders reach the outpost, sentries are dead, and the newly secured cargo is missing.
Amir- I am sorry my Lord, I did not expect the attack.
Lomu- I should have.
Amir- They took everything.
Royal Escort- My lord, this was a fight not an incursion.
Amir- So?
Lomu- So where are the attacker's bodies?
Amir- I....
Escort- they took them, but they had wounded as well... They are near.
Lomu- Pan out find the tracks and pursue!
It didn’t take long for a group of man with torches to find glistening black pools of blood. As the group followed the tracks deep into the forest, they split into further teams in order to cover more ground. Lomu and Amir encountered some wild animals on the way, frenzied from the smell of blood they lunged at Lomu, but were swiftly cut down. After a short track through the woods, they reached a bandit camp in the woods. Bandits had arrived not long ago and were visibly exhausted by the haul, they were surrounding the campfires and among the loot were children held in cages.
Amir- this is some kind of slavers camp, are those the ones that ambushed you?
Scouting ahead they saw part of the caravan being prepared for an egress.
Lomu- Maybe. We cannot wait for the others! I cannot lose him.
Amir- ... wait..What?
Before Amir could inquire further Lomu rushed through the thicket followed by Amir in his robes.
Lomu and Amir rush into the camp taking the nearest bandits by surprise, Amir barrels at the bandits half naked while Lomu dashes and dances from one bandit to another. As they inch closer to the caravan more and more bandits rush them. Sounds of battle echo throughout the forest reaching Amir’s soldiers and Lomu’s knights who promptly join in. Having moved closer to the caravan, they see more children tied up in cages. While Lomu moves forward Amirs guards stay back to protect the children, Lomu gets closer still, unfortunately the cart with king’s body is rushed away with half of the caravan.
Lomu- We must stop them!
Amir- Men! Take the children to the monastery we will deal with these vermin ourselves. Come my friend there is a shortcut to the road ahead we will overtake them there.
As they rush through the woods, they see the Caravan following a crescent path which will soon let Lomu overtake them. Bandits see the duo and franticly begin firing arrows at them. Unfortunately, while both avoid incoming volleys with ease what Lomu doesn’t see is a pit that is masked by some leaves and falls into it, losing consciousness in the oblivion.
Act 1.4
Under the Olive tree Lomu embraces Vera while looking at the sunset, as usual Vera is playing with Lomu’s signet ring.
Lomu- this place is amazing.
Vera- It has its moments.
Lomu- how is it that nobody ever comes here?
Vera- few are allowed, fewer still manage.
Lomu- You are. aren’t others like you?
Vera- I alone tend to this flame like others tend to others, this place is used for a single ceremony occasionally. Otherwise, it is unavailable, Sacrosanct even. Also, you should know by now, there are none like me.
Both chuckle.
Lomu- what ceremony?
Vera- Bishop ordains the high inquisitors in this pond…
Rain has started pouring into the pond and droplets of rain and the dawn light awaken Lomu, who is slumped in the pit having smashed through the wooden spikes with his armor as he tumbled down. Miraculously avoiding any serious damage.
He regains enough strength to crawl out, looking around he sees no signs of anyone. Dazed he makes his way back into the bandit camp hoping to regroup with his men however he finds it abandoned with no sign of his or Amir’s men. Cages that housed children are also missing, as he moves through the camp, he comes across a pyre with some bandit corpses already ablaze in it. Suddenly the crackling of the fire is drowned out by the sound of massive footsteps approaching. From the side of the tent a giant of a man appears with a leather mask and heavy grieved boots. He is carrying two more bodies to the pyre. Seeing Lomu he tilts his head in acknowledgment, then adjusts his grasp on one of the bodies and hurls it at him, which Lomu narrowly avoids only to be pelted by another corpse. While Lomu is struggling back to his feet the brute reaches the pyre and picks up his weapon.
Lomu gets back on his feet and unsheathes his blade. He charges at the brute while dodging a flying cauldron and evading the rushing maniac, having delivered a couple of slashes he realizes that the leather and pelts make it impossible to cut through with a bastard sword. He is forced to dodge and weave until he catches the fact that although the enemy is large and powerful, he is not very skilled with his weapon and even less comfortable in his mask. So Lomu pivots himself to position pyre directly behind him. As the lumbering monster rushes, he dodges his glaive and tucks under the brute hitting his sheens, forcing him to lose balance and topple into the pyre burning the giant. While trying to get up the giant drops his weapon, giving Lomu enough time to grab it and delivers a couple of hits to him including a slash to the brute’s forehead. Wound gushes blood into the brutes’ eyes blinding him. Blinded and enraged the Lumbering idiot attacks him barehanded, but in his frenzied state repeats the same mistake and falls into the pyre headfirst and dies as the mask melts around him.
Lomu backs down from the pyre and lets himself take a moment to calm down collapsing next to the giant. As he is catching his breath he examines the mismatched attire on the giant, upon closer inspection he sees a mark under his forearm, he then checks the body of another dead bandit who was destined for pyre, same mark – inquisition marks. Lomu wonders how someone marked by inquisition found himself out of their grasp.
Lomu having more questions than answers, marches toward Barburg the same way as he came here initially. As he approaches the town, he sees a few of Amir’s soldiers and one of his royal escort dead. He opts not to take the main entrance into the village and takes a detour only to be met with more bandits that have taken over the town.
Having noticed archers perched on the rooftops Lomu tries to avoid fighting the bandits in the open and lures them from house to house. Having cleaved through at least 6 bandits with this cat and mouse game the bandits fall back and Lomu is free to continue his way toward the monastery. As he reaches the village center town hall doors fly open and a huge man in all white armor emerges from the within with a clergyman in hand, seeing Lomu he drops the monk and rushes at him. Unlike the giant in the bandit camp this one is superb in both offense and defense, predicting all Lomu's moves and answering them with bone shaking ferocity. Forcing Lomu to drop the glaive and rearm himself with his trusted blade. Blow after blow Lomu finds no way to pass the giants defenses while the giant keeps rag dolling him around the square. It dons on him while flying from one of the giant backhands that a prolonged duel will lead to his death as he can hear the approaching bandits surrounding him, fleeing is also not an option; but continuing to fight conventionally will lead him nowhere at all. So, after a brief, but strained duel Lomu switches to the Tarl way of fighting style that frustrated him to no end during his time at war. Lomu gambled that since the ivory knight was so adapt at his style, he would be less acquainted with that of Tarl sword master. The gamble pays off and Lomu’s new combination of pivoting thrusts manages to catch the giant off guard long enough to make him lose balance and fall on one knee. Now of equal height with the opponent Lomu pressed his advantage and delivered consecutive blows culminating in a final blow being a vertical upward slash at his head, unclasping helmet visor and sending giant tumbling into the town hall wall behind him, collapsing in-between tables. As he rushed towards the fallen foe, he had to admit to himself that Tarls style of swordplay was significantly easier for him to master and use, perhaps it was his mother’s blood that gave him proclivity to it. The giant broke free from the debris and looked up at incoming Lomu, when gazes met the assault ceased, because behind the broken vizor of the ivory helmet were the sweet and kind eyes of his friend Amir. Before Lomu could react, he felt the world darken as he was hit from behind and collapsed into oblivion.
End of Chapter 1.