In the early days of the war the Kyrithon Hiereus dreamt of a cleansing flame that would rain down on all adversaries as it had at the founding of the Church. And so, they burned their way across the land for it would never be as pure as the heavens above. It was not until Kenosia and the discovery of the first Mantir that they fully understood the purpose of their crusade. For the stars had seemed so far away, across an infinite cosmos. And the journey to the heavens once thought to be a path of great heights was soon revealed to be a descent into cavernous depths of still deep water.
Chapter 1
The city slept in darkness. There was no moon over Kenosia this night. Storm clouds blanketed the stars and yet the river-wall shown bright. Shimmering Glintclaw flitting through the shadows alongst the banks of the Kallidra. They marched to a strange beat. Scuttling forward and then suddenly breaking to press themselves to the ground. Always together, always as one. A rhythmless, unsettling dance which belied a hidden, far deeper purpose. What were they seeking?
Arios had never given much thought to the small creatures but up close he saw an entrancing beauty in them. A pulsating azure glow radiated from their aprons mesmerizing him as he lost himself in the waves of light. Their coming signaled the end of spring and the beginning of the rains.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Arios jumped as his father placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I wanted to be with you when you saw them up close for the first time,” The light of the passing crabs briefly illuminated his father’s face revealing a furrowed brow and sunken eyes. “It is the little beauties that provide respite from a world mired in strife.”
“Father?” Arios searched his face for answers but the light passed quickly and it fell deep into shadow. A long silence. Although he could no longer see him, he felt his father’s struggle to find the words.
“In times of conflict there is much glory to be made and to one on the verge of manhood the temptation to seize it must be most powerful,” He paused at this and Arios felt the grip on his shoulder tighten. “You will be a fine man, I know this. Though you have never shown much interest in my work… I wonder now if you might consider…” His voice trailed off and the hand on Arios’s shoulder slipped away.
This was it. He had dreaded the question for weeks. On that day he had had been filled with a righteous fury. He had marched out the door with Ilaria scrambling after him pleading with him to wait. They had been halfway to the river-wall by the time he finally saw reason. She had calmed him as she was like to do and together, they had planned for this moment. He was calm now Father would see reason, he just needed to make him see it.
“I hear your words Father and understand their meaning well. But I must ask you, what of Kenosia? Will we let traitors and heretics rule us all? I do not wish to fight but if we allow one such uprising at what point will it end? If anyone can take control then all would be like to try.”
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His father sighed. “Would that ending one war could end them all. One conflict bleeds into the next and on and on it goes. War begets war. The only answer we are left with is to remove ourselves from the cycle not to attempt its ending. Life is more than just the desperate pursuit of power. There is no shame in a life of creation.”
Arios burned at this. “Do you think me a coward?” he shouted. “That I would cling to your words in defiance of honor to excuse myself from the defense of my home and all those I love?”
“Think of those loved one’s son! And think of those who love you! We would not wish to see your life spent on the ambitions of other men.”
Why could Father not understand? It had all made sense with Ilaria but Father never saw things the way they did. “I care nothing for great men and their ambitions. I do not seek glory but neither will I flee from it nor that which it protects.”
Father’s voice grew quiet. “I too wish to protect those I love. Do you not know that I would do anything for you and your sister? This war protects no one. We must protect ourselves but how can we if we are apart? I pray that the fighting ends soon so that you can take no part in it.” He took Arios in his arms, embracing him. “There is great honor as a City Architect. Without us Kenosia would fall to ruin. Please, let me teach you.”
Arios pulled away. “If the Kyrithon take the city there will be no need for Architects. They will burn the city to the ground and salt the earth so that none may return. They are monsters.” Dawn was fast approaching and by its light he could see his father slumped against the river-wall, head in his hands. Defeated. “They are ruthless and brutal, slaughtering all that stand before them. Even those who would not fight cannot escape their wrath. Or have the blind beggars streaming into our city escaped your notice? Would you truly have your family live in world ruled by such heresy?”
“The King would never allow it,” whispered his father. “They don’t have the numbers. Thalorian’s army routes them at every turn. You are not needed there; you are needed here. There is no fighting in Kenosia. It is hundreds of leagues away. We only need to wait.”
“And yet after every victory a dozen more armies spring up to challenge him. The King underestimates these fanatics but there are far more of them than he thinks. There were half a dozen Kyrithon temples in Kenosia herself before the fighting.” Father had sunk to his knees. To see him like this, broken, barely recognizable, was unbearable but Arios needed to make him understand. Still, he lowered his voice to soften the final blow. “I will join Thalorian’s army and then you will see that I was right all along. This I promise you.”
This was a step too far. Such outright defiance reminded Father of who he was, and he was transformed by it. Renewed in his convictions he rose from the ground, eyes blazing. “You are not grown yet, Arios. I had thought to reason with you like a man but you are still a boy and must be commanded as such.” He never raised his voice. He did not need to. It was low and quiet yet powerful and domineering all the same. When Father was like this each word cut through you, breaking your spirit and crushing your will. “You will apprentice for the Architects. You will learn our ways. When you reach manhood, you can do as you wish but until then we will speak no more of war.” He turned and made his way towards the river-gate.
“But Father!”
“Do not test me! I have indulged in this madness for long enough. Tell your sister I had hoped our conversations would remain private.”
Arios felt such a fool. His father towered over him, the sun peaking over the horizon, cast a shadow so large it seemed to swallow him whole. He had thought himself worthy of the challenge, thought his words might move his father. But that could not be so. Father would listen to his words, could even be hurt by them, but he would not be swayed and to challenge his will was another matter entirely. One that he dared not attempt.
“Sir I…” He lowered his gaze.
“Boy…?”
“I wanted to say—” But before he could finish a horn trumpeted from the walls above them! As it sounded horns all across Kenosia began to blow. They rang through the sleeping streets of the city waking its people and alerting them to a new terrifying reality. An army approached the city’s gates. The war had come to Kenosia.