The Ophidians had finally arrived, regardless of when I needed them or not. I would have much preferred having them come to my aid during the siege of the Broken Wall, but history rarely gives us what we want. No Ophidian army came to my aid at the last desperate hour to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. No righteous heroes charging into doom with the sun at their back. All I was given was the Ophidian army and its people coming to settle into the new lands I provided for them.
At that moment, victory had a sour taste on my tongue. My banners flew in the air in all places. The jungle area had officially become mine. In over a year, my forces and through the will of Ile’Sethak, I conquered an entire region. With the Ophidian civilians, building fortifications and landmarks would be easy. In constant day and night shifts, we could turn the overgrown jungle into a thriving paradise for my people. Freed slaves served me with unquestioning loyalty. And yet, I felt hollow. Most of all, I felt the eyes of our prisoner upon me at all times. Kin’Thara. The woman who’s infant I threw off of the mighty fortresses walls. She herself said that I could do anything I wanted with her, for spiritually, she was already dead inside.
A lesser man would have used her for their own pleasure. The defeated chieftess turned slave was quite a prize indeed. Beautiful and regal in all aspects, but I wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her. She deserved better. Whatever the case, she was a prisoner now, though I didn’t need to put chains on her. She stayed right where she was. Where could she go after all? I had killed all that she loved, and she didn’t care if she lived or died. If she were a slave or a free woman. She didn’t even care if she had the chance to get revenge upon me or not. Nothing mattered to her. Anything could happen.
Brutus was far more distant to me than usual. I felt that even he, as violent as he could be, doubled back at the sight of me dispatching a child. I didn’t know what went on through his mind, whether he feared me or was disgusted by me. After all, If I could kill someone so small and innocent, then what would I do to a friend?
Sylithra and the other Ophidians functioned well in their new home. They adapted quickly to the new location, trading their dark subterranean dwelling for a jungle paradise. With all the tribes united under our banner, the sky was the limit. They set up their tents and prepared to settle in to the land that Ile’Sethak promised them. Those first nights were filled with music and celebration. Their instruments flared as they danced by the warm fire and bathed in its glow. The female Ophidians, including Sylithra danced in a special kind of rhythm. It was beautiful to watch them completely lose themselves to the music. The way their fingers traced up their scales, their tails curled around and their eyes flashing brilliantly in the light of the fire.
Octavian and Kallista were far more receptive. Octavian said that my actions had secured a kingdom. Never before had a conquest been more successful. Kallista still had a great deal of respect for me. I shouldn’t dwell on what happened, but look towards the future of our people. Straden and Mil’Tuk trained new legionnaires and animals respectively. Straden trained the men and practiced with them while Mil’Tuk took the local wildlife and attempted to tame them. Soon, we would have beasts like them in our employ. Creatures both great and small being used for our cause.
And yet I still questioned myself. I questioned my purpose and my faith. How far would I go in order to achieve peace in the blasted lands? How much was I willing to do in order to gain victory? How much blood was I willing to spill to ensure that mankind thrived in this hopeless world? The gods watched us fight wars and murder each other as if we were simply pawns in some grand cosmic game. But if I indeed was just a piece on the board, then why not be the one that beat the game?
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
After a lengthy period of time in self doubt, I crawled out of that pit I made for myself. It wasn’t easy. When I closed my eyes, I could still see the child’s smiling face before I sent him to his doom, but in the end, If Ile’Sethak charged me with bringing order to the world, then so be it. I would be a benevolent ruler to those that swore allegiance to me, but to my enemies, they would see just how cruel I could be.
I ordered new armor to be forged. Specifically, a new helmet. Something that would strike terror into my enemies. I had used fear tactics with the crucifixions before. It only made sense that I should look the part. My new helmet was still in the Roharim style. Resting on the temples of the helmet was a laurel wreath crown forged into the helmet. Protecting my face were large cheek guards that reached down to just under my head. The forehead of the helmet had my symbol adorning it. On the top of the helmet was a vertical plume that was solid red. Lastly, there was a mask that protected the majority of my face. I saw it fit to have the mask fitted into the shape of a skull. It was meant to evoke terror in our enemies. My helmet would be the last thing they saw, and I must admit, I reveled in the thought of it.
With a new helmet made, I could play up the reputation that I had developed. If I was to do anything necessary to bring order, then so be it.
***
Several months passed, and I enjoyed the rule over the jungle area. As such, I gave a new name to the region. The nameless jungles would be reborn. In the end, we settled on the most obvious. Hadriana. A simple name, but effective. Our borders were drawn. Our land was full of rich resources, and there was much work to do in order to establish us as a proper power in the blasted lands. I didn’t sit idly by and rested on my laurels. I was preparing for the hard work, but fate had spun a different path for me.
My scouts reported seeing outsiders. They were battered, bloody and beaten. Only a handful of them were left, obvious survivors of an attack. They were brought before me without much delay. The trappings of their garments was a telltale marker of who they were. They were the Uchanti tribe. I had not forgotten how they helped me in my time of need. Perhaps it was finally time to return the favor.
Before me stood all that was left of their force. Two able bodied people, a man and a woman. The rest were injured and taken to be healed.
“Well met, Uchanti.” I greeted them, glad to see friendly faces, but mournful over their predicament. “I’ve noticed that you have many injured in your ranks. They will be taken care of. What happened to you?”
The man was still injured, but at least he was able to stand. He had been battered with cuts and bruises that had dried and semi-healed. His eye was swollen and blackened with that ugly purple and yellow hue. The eye itself was red with blood.
“The one your people call ‘Kai’sar.’ Our people helped you not long ago. Now we come to beg for your help. Our people have been found by a brutal warlord. We are losing the war against his tribe. He slaughters us without mercy and pity. We ask you. We beg you. Please, help us defeat this barbarian and save the Uchanti people. If you don't, our people will surely fall. We’ve been hounded by them, and traveled great distances to meet you. Please. Help us.”
They had saved my life, and it was high time I returned the favor. A chance to do some relative good. I was eager to do my part. Besides, I needed all of the allies I could get. Saving the Uchanti would hopefully create an everlasting peace.
“Your plight stings my heart, Uchanti. Your people suffer. I owe your people a great debt. I will come to your aid. Who is this enemy that would attack friends of Hadriana?”
“A vicious warlord…” He said as he remembered the slaughter. I could see behind his eyes how he was recalling every terrifying moment. It was as if I was inside his head. I could hear the screams that he heard for a moment. “He wore armor as black as night, and he had the horns of a demon. So many of my friends and family died. I had never seen so much blood.”
The bull! I knew the description from anywhere. Not only had I been provided with the chance to help allies, but also to take revenge against my enemy. A chance to repay him for the humiliation that he inflicted upon me. I swore that things would change. That when next I face him, it would be him who crawls in the dirt with broken limbs and a battered body.
I looked to my side and saw Kallista acting as my guard. Once again we would be thrust into the theater of war. This time, my forces would be ready. This time, the horns of the bull would be broken under my heel.