The morning air in Quyaz held a serene calmness, its quiet contrast striking given the news I’d received. Over the past few days, I’d come to appreciate the city’s beauty, with its domed architecture, open squares, and narrow streets reminiscent of a style that felt deeply rooted in the Middle East back home. I had almost begun to settle into this peaceful pace, thinking that perhaps we’d have a few more days before the next call to action. But as I received the summons from Sultan Unquid that morning, I knew those peaceful days were ending.

Only I had been called from my group, and oddly enough, not to the palace, but to a tent set up outside the city. When I arrived, soldiers were already stationed in every direction, securing the perimeter and radiating a sense of urgency I’d seldom seen. This wasn’t like the last meeting. This time, no one even bothered to check for my weapons. A soldier nodded at me, gesturing that I was expected, and led me past a line of guards standing at attention.

The midday sun was beginning to rise, casting an almost oppressive heat over the land, amplifying the tension that already filled the air. In front of the tent, I saw rows of chairs arranged hastily around a stage, its wooden frame slightly uneven in the dust. Unquid’s chair sat empty on the stage, the focal point, exuding a sense of authority and waiting to be occupied. As I took my seat in the front row as instructed, my gaze wandered over the faces around me—soldiers, a few officials, and what appeared to be influential figures, each one casting glances at the empty stage with a mixture of anticipation and unease.

Moments later, the Sultan entered, his presence commanding immediate silence. He strode to his seat on the stage, radiating a sense of purpose—and anger. His face was a mask of fury, barely restrained, and when he finally spoke, his voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Gentlemen," he began, his tone deep and seething with barely contained rage, "I come before you with unexpected, yet fortuitous news." He paused, surveying the crowd, his gaze intense. "I had hoped to give my nobles time to send their full support before capturing Valandian territory and putting King Derthert’s head on a spike. Yet, it seems our enemies have made a grave mistake.”

The crowd around me murmured in surprise. Unquid raised his hand for silence and continued, his voice gaining momentum. “The Valandians have marched onto our soil with a mere thousand troops, and by all accounts, they carry no reinforcements. They made a suicide attempt to seize one of our castles near the border, a stronghold they believe would weaken our defenses. But they’ve miscalculated." He allowed himself a cold smile. "They didn’t know that our full force was gathered here in Quyaz, waiting. They doubted my strategy, thinking they could outwit me after a few minor skirmishes."

The Sultan’s words were sharp, his rage only seeming to fuel his enthusiasm. "Today, we march with three thousand of our finest soldiers—three times their number—to meet them head-on. We will protect our lands, defend our people, and send those heathens who defile our gods back to the dust from which they came."

A strange energy pulsed through the crowd as the Sultan’s words sunk in. He looked directly at me, his expression softened but still commanding. “Step forward, Augustus.”

I did as he asked, feeling the weight of countless eyes on me. Unquid addressed me, gesturing toward the audience. “Translate my words for the benefit of our Valandian and Imperial allies.”

My mind raced to remember each line, each turn of phrase as I began to repeat his speech, first in Imperial and then in Valandian. I tried to capture the same passion and conviction, knowing that the effectiveness of the Sultan’s rallying cry depended on it. As I spoke, I could feel the eyes of everyone around me, their expressions a mixture of apprehension and fervor. I finished, and for a moment, there was silence—a stillness charged with anticipation.

Suddenly, a voice broke from the crowd. A man, rugged and broad-shouldered, stood up, his eyes locked onto the Sultan. His accent was thick, his Imperial broken but clear enough. "Why not give instructions in Khuzait?" he asked. “Do you not consider us equals?”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The murmurs rippled through the assembly as he stared down the Sultan without flinching. I could see a few sidelong glances and heard the shifting of feet—questions, perhaps even doubts, brewing among the crowd. The Khuzait man’s eyes flicked to me, suspicion coloring his gaze.

Unquid did not hesitate. In what little Imperial he seemed to know, he offered an apology. “It is not my intention to disrespect any who fight by my side,” he said, his tone surprisingly diplomatic. “All who defend these lands are bound to me by loyalty and will be rewarded as such.” His gaze softened as he nodded towards the Khuzait man, who seemed mollified, at least for now.

Before I could process the moment, Unquid lifted his hand, signaling the end of the audience. He then performed a brief religious ritual, one I recognized from previous observances, and dismissed the gathering with a command to prepare our troops for the march by dawn.

When I finally returned to our quarters, I found Silvana, Sora, Nathanos, and Leon gathered around, chatting amongst themselves. As I approached, they fell silent, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

“Gather up,” I said, taking a breath, feeling the weight of the message I was about to deliver. “We’ve received our orders. Sultan Unquid has called on us to join him in battle tomorrow. The Valandians have overstepped, trying to seize one of castles at the border. It’s our job to reinforce the Sultan’s forces and show them the consequences of marching onto Aserai soil.”

Silvana’s face hardened, her eyes narrowing in focus. "So, this is it, then? Our first true test with the Aserai army?" she asked.

I nodded. “Precisely. And we’ll be joining an army of three thousand to face a force a third of that size. The Sultan’s confident, but he’s angry. His pride’s on the line here, and he’s making no secret of it.”

Sora looked thoughtful, then worried. “The Valandians may be outnumbered, but they’re fierce, Augustus. They don’t shy from a fight, even when the odds aren’t in their favor.”

I nodded, sharing her concern. "That’s why I need everyone prepared. This won’t be a simple skirmish. We’re up against seasoned troops who’ve likely planned for reinforcements to come."

Leon, who had been listening intently, chimed in. "So, what's the strategy? We’re just to march alongside the Aserai soldiers and await orders from the Sultan?”

“Essentially,” I replied. “Though I’ll see if we can gain a position on the flanks. With our numbers, we have the advantage of surrounding them, cutting off their retreat. But we’ll have to be nimble, stay alert. I don’t trust the Sultan to be watching our backs.”

Nathanos grunted in agreement. “The man wants his glory. He may let others take the brunt of the charge just so he can ride in at the last moment.”

Silvana smirked, glancing over at Nathanos. “So we keep our heads low, and we watch each other’s backs, then. No glory hounds here.”

I nodded, feeling a surge of pride at the loyalty in their words. "Exactly. We go in, we get the job done, and we come out alive. No unnecessary risks, and we take every advantage we can find."

With the meeting over, others dispersed to prepare themselves.

As the day wore on, I gathered our troops and briefed them on what was to come. I saw each soldier donning their armor with an intensity they hadn’t shown before. Even Timothy, who had lost his arm, had a fire in his eyes that spoke to his determination to be of help in any way he could. He approached me, his voice steady but low.

“Augustus, I… I know I’m not in a position to fight, but I want you to know that I’ll find a way to contribute. Even if I have to carry supplies or tend to the injured.”

I clasped a hand on his shoulder, feeling the weight of his words. "Timothy, you’re part of this group. You don’t need to prove anything to me or anyone else. Whatever you can do to help, it will be more than enough."

As I finished my rounds, I took a moment to look over our assembled force, feeling a strange mixture of pride and trepidation. Tomorrow, we’d be tested as we never had been before.