“My Emperor!” A messenger hurries through the great halls of the palace. Krona’s life has been one surrounded by fine jewels, exquisite decor, and abundant luxury. A ruler without pleasure ruins the self and nation. “My Emperor!”
This lonely man scampered about the halls until he found his majesty walking the grounds between two towers. This area, one of the emperor’s favorite gardens, was filled with lovely hues of foreign flora. There were specialized herbalists enlisted to care for and manage the formations. The ruler was enjoying the scent of roses the color of blood mixed with a royal purple; swirled upward in the helix blooming pedals naturally grow with.
“My Emperor!” The man fell to one knee in the proper posture for entering the ruler’s presence. He wore thin leather armor and chainmail; armor visibly lifting and falling with his heavy breathes. Yet, the messenger ensured he looked presentable before royalty.
Both personal guards to Krona Protharian stood with their hands at the ready. One step closer or a thoughtless movement could cost the messenger his life. The emperor sighed heavily as the smell began to fade and reality came back to him.
“What news do you bring?” Krona looked to the man with genuine concern. He’d been interrupted, but the exhaustion on the man’s face confirmed the message’s gravity. “Catch your breath, then speak.” He held up one hand for the servant to rest.
“Thank you, my Liege.” Swallowing back hard, the man’s eyes opened with the grave news. “The city of Carmoss has been attacked. A merchant returned home after trading within the capital to find his city filled with corpses.”
Emperor Krona Protharian had dealt with all manner of tragedies over his years beneath the crown. He’d handled natural disasters, wars, and the hellish mediation of noble factions. Such troubles seemed beneath him, yet something sparked that darkness within all men; though, his was buried far deeper than most.
“What details have you?” The emperor moved in front of his guards who hesitated at his actions. “Speak!”
“The merchant spoke of bodies littering the streets. He says the town was quiet within the walls. He saw no living person. Having his son, he returned as quickly as he could to the capital.”
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“Is there no more detail? Not one bit?” The ruler prized for his keen mind struggled to find an answer to this apparent slaughter within his borders—nowhere near the outlets into the nations beyond. “He found no survivors?”
“None, my Liege. He only,” the man fumbled a bit in catching his breath, “saw bodies. He said they did not look like those of his neighbors. They wore furs. He could only see a few, but they were not of his town.”
“Furs? Not of his town,” the mastermind of defense and turmoil began to pace beside his beloved flowers. The guards and messenger watched with wanting eyes to hear the wise words that would follow. “The barbarians were able to get to Carmoss?” These words were almost a whisper, but his disbelief was palpable. “You!” He turned to the messenger, “Return to the garrison. Demand by my name that they send a squadron to Carmoss to investigate. I want three mages of Gravious Tomlonen’s own choosing to be sent out immediately. Four clerics from the local temples will be conscripted. I want any survivors taken care of. Bring supplies for any you find living. Food, water, extra clothes. I want this handled now!”
They listened to the emperor rush through a list of demands. He continued on to himself and occasionally pointed at one of the guards to add something to the list. “Keep a perimeter checked about the town, but I want search teams to do sweeps with a two-kilometer radius. Bring banners to drape over the walls to show any possible survivors that we’ve reclaimed the town.” He snapped off one demand after another; sure to cover every aspect, each possible outcome for his people or the enemy. “I want archers on post at all times. No watchman is to leave his post until his replacement is standing beside him. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Emperor!” The guards had called over servants that could take better notes. The list had gone on for some time, but the plans had to be made.
This was supposed to be a relaxing day, Krona thought to himself as he regarded the flowers with a longing gaze. Finally a day without nobles filling my ears with nonsense, yet I’d take their company over this.
He played over the information he’d been given in his head. The soldiers, guards, and servants rushed about to complete the orders they’d been given. All for their emperor—for the glory of the empire.
Furs, huh? Krona tapped his chin delicately as he pondered. What horde broke our lines and set upon my people? What wolves snuck through? Did the people fight back? Who would kill so many and just leave? He looked to his flowers as he thought. My mages will find answers. Find me who is to blame, and find me who rectified this invasion.