*Rosa’s perspective, earlier the same day*

Rosa walked through the camp with a quick efficient step, she was tall with the fine features of an alpha kith, sharp piercing eyes of red and black, brown hair that fell in a long braid down her back, and two small horns that curved gracefully downward from the sides of her head. She wore a dark brown uniform with four gold stripes on the sleeves, a master sergeant in service to the high lords. Rosa had been summoned to the command tent and was on her way there. If the commander thought that he could order her around like one of his graeh he had another thing coming! Her walk was slowed when a soldier half her height stumbled in front of her. She sneered at the blue scaled man as he jumped back afraid to be in her way.

“Apologies sergeant.” He said holding a fist to his heart, a salute.

“Accepted…” She said still sneering though she returned the salute.

All around her were small scaled soldiers, all members of the lesser kith, tens of thousands of them. They worked on tents and camp projects and marched in formations. Being part of the invasion was an honor even if she was surrounded by pretend soldiers. Rosa was here as the commander’s aide, but the role was closer to an overseer, to insure the lesser kith complied with alpha law. Being around them was uncomfortable and she feared that she might develop a rash. The graeh made her feel, itchy.

The army had arrived through the tether yesterday. An amazing feat of the high lords, a link between her homeland and this green hell. The air here was thick with moisture, the soil was full of worms, and it smelled like socks. The only redeeming moment had been to see the little kings face when he arrived to greet them. Perched on his riding beast he had quivered in her presence. He was a smart man and had understood her nobility as an alpha! Her polished horns and freshly manicured hands, her noble features. His warrior had insulted her though, his last mistake! She had painted the green field with him.

“Hah.”

A startled graeh jumped and gave her more room. Amazing how little convincing the human king needed to accept her and the lesser kith as allies. Humans were much more scary in stories. It was an honor to be the first of the real kith to meet them and be in this realm; even if it was with these bottom feeding graeh. She dodged some more of the green growth on her way to the command tent, it was going to stain her new boots.

‘Not a decent road for miles’

…

She wanted concrete and air that didn’t seem so… soggy. Two green scaled soldiers guarded the command tent’s entrance as she approached.

“Out of the way graeh!” She said.

The two recognized her and stepped aside saluting. “Yes sergeant!”

Inside the command tent was a man in a formal suit and coat that sat leaning back with his legs on top of the commanders desk. He had unblemished skin and attractive features without horns. Her heart skipped a beat, he was Asmane, one of the great lords of the kith! She dropped to one knee with her head low not daring to look at him. At the edge of her vision she could see the commander, a lesser kith, serving him tea.

“Master Sergeant Rosa Stone reporting, Lord Asmane.” Rosa said.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Rosa Stone, would you mind if I called you Rosa? I’m not much of the military sort.” Lord Asmane said in a smooth voice.

“Yes Lord Asmane.”

“Oh forgive me Rosa, do just call me Robert. This lord Asmane business is for crowds and politicians.”

“Yes sir.” She said still kneeling.

“At ease Rosa, you have a pretty head but Id rather we chatted face to face. Oh and right, shoo little graeh your betters are speaking, go away.” Lord Asmane said while waving the back of his hand at the commander.

“Yes Lord Asmane!” The commander left his own tent in a rush of quick movement.

Lord Asmane pinched the bridge of his nose as the commander left, not bothering to wait until he was gone. “They really are an adorable unit, you must be proud to have such fine troops.” As Lord Asmane finished he looked at her sympathetically.

“Yes sir.” Rosa said and nodded.

“I understand that the Kingdom of Darnsa has pledged aid to our forces?”

“Yes sir, I persuaded them.” Rosa said.

Lord Asmane chuckled. “Ooh I heard all about how persuasive you can be Rosa, thats why I’m here. You are receiving a commendation for your excellence.”

“You honor me Lord Robert.”

“I was told that you still do not have an imperial blade.”

“Imperial blades are reserved for officers Lord Robert.”

“So they are, Rosa. I brought you this fine imperial sword and dagger to accommodate your promotion to lieutenant. We received your uniform measurements as well. Your new rank and adornments for your commendation are in this box, along with your new orders.” He tapped a wooden box with his boot.

“Never forget lieutenant.” Lord Asmane said more serious than before.

She snapped to attention and saluted with her fist. “We return!”

With the salute the official meeting was over and Robert stretched as he stood up. “I will have to see if this …Darnsa has a proper bath. They are human here?”

“Yes sir, humans like in stories.”

Lord Asmane looked shocked for a moment. “I wonder how Lord Darwor will feel about them, I’m intrigued.”

She unconsciously straitened her uniform, Lord Darwor led the Lords Council and had a reputation for severe discipline and he loved the graeh.

“They seem fragile to me Lord Robert.” Rosa said

“Ah, yes. Many humans sure, they are not much better than a graeh. Though the stories are true lieutenant, never underestimate them.”

“Lord Asmane, a single human can paint hundreds of kith?”

“Live long enough and you will see it happen, humans can paint better than any species. Some humans are truly paragons of art.” Robert said as he smiled.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

If Lord Asmane said the best artists were human she would accept his judgment even if it was hard to believe.

“Accepted, Lord Asmane.” Rosa said and nodded with reverence.

“You will make a fine officer Rosa, we are in a new land, do try to make allies in your travels. A friend’s dagger is harder to avoid but they will also paint for you.”

She smiled, “And a friend’s dagger goes both ways Lord Robert.”

He smiled back warmly. “Is it me or is the air soggy here?”

Rosa sighed, “Soggy, Lord Robert.”

“Oh well, nothing like trying to breath underwater. Feel free to use the command tent to change before Lord Darwor arrives. We want you looking your best.” Lord Asmane said as he strolled out of the tent.

Alone, she walked over to the table and opened the box. A tailored black uniform with a silver bar on the collar and “Stone” embroidered on her coat. It was fine fabric and was smooth to her touch. She stripped off her enlisted uniform carefully and placed it on the table. It would now pass on to a younger clan member for the honor of service. The officers uniform fit well, she reached into the box for her adornment.

‘The commendation for peace, such an honor!’

Her new status would elevate her clan, no one would call her a “graeh wrangler” anymore. With trembling hands she placed the adornment on her new jacket. Still in the box were her new mission orders and the commendation paperwork. She decided to read the commendation first.

“Commendation for Peace though the Arts. We acknowledge Rosa Stone for her commitment to excellence in the liberation of the Kingdom of Darnsa for the kith. Her painting inspired a people to join with us hand in hand in a new age of prosperity. Rosa Stone is a credit to the superiority of the kith’s artistic vision for the future.”

Finally, years of service and graeh had paid off. The soggy air was great, she breathed it deeply. It still smelled of… graeh, not a surprising discovery. The orders packet was thick and sealed with tamper wax. Unexpected, tamper wax wasn’t used for orders normally. There was a strong possibility that someone might be trying to kill her. Opening the wax required an open cut and it was just as easy to send a poison seal. She shrugged and cut her thumb placing it on the seal and waited. The tamper wax fizzled and melted, she wasn’t dead.

The first page was a shopping list and included something called a ‘guitar’ and the second page detailed colorful clothing she was to buy. The third page was a… song? Rosa looked around the command tent half expecting to be painted by laughing idiots with blades. There was another page in her orders packet.

“Congratulations again on your promotion to lieutenant. You are now assigned to the fourth platoon of the 424th Logistical Support Company. The quartermaster will be expecting you and has a purse with local money for the purchases detailed on the other pages.

Lord Robert Asmane”

Rosa paused and lightly drummed her fingers on the desk.

‘Too fast, too organized.’

Alpha’s were known for their dedication and efficiency, but paperwork and a tailored uniform a day after the invasion… Lord Robert wanted her for some scheme. If she hadn’t handed the high lords Darnsa this commendation might have been for something like graeh training. Thankful she didn’t end up getting a graeh based commendation, she picked up the bundle of leather and steel that was her new sword and dagger. Red steel, they really were imperial blades, just holding them was making her feel artistic. She gave herself one last look as she finished she stepped out of the tent, Lord Robert was leaning against one of the support poles waiting.

“Im glad my commendation was for something not related to graeh Lord Robert.” Rosa said.

He smiled broadly with teeth. “Walk and talk, lieutenant.”

He started walking and it looked like they were heading towards the tether.

“What is the most valuable asset in war?” Lord Asmane said while walking ahead.

“Logistical support? Lord Robert.” Rosa said.

“Hmm, not a bad answer, an officer that ignores the needs of their troops would waste them. Though, I need to you step back from your background as an enlisted for a moment Rosa. Think like a general!” Lord Asmane said.

She thought about all the things needed to run a war. Deployment areas and logistical lines and training. Then she thought about the human king she met before on his riding beast.

‘Did they have many riding beasts like that?’

Riding beasts might change where she deployed troops and how she built logistics support. If they had to fight humans on riding beasts it might require special tools or weapons and that might lead to more training. Though the training might not matter if they could find where the riding beasts slept.

‘Ahh’

“Information, Lord Robert”

“Welcome to the 424th our mission is the collection and distribution of information.” Lord Asmane said as he smiled back at her. “You are one of my agents now, look sharp. This morning we are meeting with Lord Darwor as he arrives by the tether. If you see anything, interesting, I remind you to keep your own council.”

They reached the tether, a mostly open field and at its center a sight that defied the imagination. Two massive chains extended out from a rip in the air and teams of graeh engineers were fighting to hold them down. Most of the graeh looked exhausted though anchors of stonework were quickly being built at the base of the chains. The tear was the connection between her homeland and this soggy sock, a wondrous feat of the high lords. Inside the tear she could see a warping of air and shadows that stopped in a disorienting blur.

As she watched a monstrous shadow appeared in the blur. It was coming closer and looked like a large terrifying beast. Startled Rosa jolted and looked toward Lord Asmane ready to alert him. He watched her with an amused expression and the tip of his index finger at his lips. The monstrous shadow grew until a man stepped out of the tear and as he did the shadow disappeared. The man wore a fine formal suit and coat similar to Lord Asmane, It had to be Lord Darwor, they both dropped to one knee.

A cry went up amongst the graeh and soon thousands of them were reverently kneeling in the field for Lord Darwor. The lord talked to them individually using their names and asking about their families. The affair seemed almost affectionate. Soon he addressed her in his quiet voice. His slender hands guided her to up from knelling as he spoke.

“Lieutenant Stone, you saved many kith with your actions yesterday, thank you.” Lord Darwor said.

“My pleasure to serve, Lord Darwor.” Rosa said.

“Robert, the matter of my lodging, what sort of accommodation have you arranged?” Lord Darwor said.

“Graeh engineers are still securing the tether, we are a short stroll from the city, I was considering bartering for an inn.” Lord Asmane said.

“What of that structure over there?” Lord Darwor said as he pointed at the kings castle a massive stronghold near the center of the nearby city.

“That is our new ally’s castle. We are due for introductions later in the day when the other lords arrive.” Lord Asmane said.

“I think we will go now, greet the king before other kith can worm their way into prime rooms.”

“We haven’t finalized our treaty with this kingdom yet, there are no protocols.” Lord Asmane said.

Lord Darwor’s mood changed abruptly, “Robert... have you recently grown a spine I wasn’t aware of? I would be happy to remove it for you if it is going to be a problem.” Lord Darwor smiled at Lord Asmane gently.

…

“Lord Darwor would you like an escort?” Lord Asmane said looking down.

Soon the lords and Rosa were “casually” walking to the city gate with a company of nearly 500 hundred of fully armed graeh. The gate was sealed shut when they arrived. It was a large structure about twenty meters tall with a wood gate just large enough to fit a wagon through. The stone walls looked very thick. If this ended up starting a siege Rosa wasn’t looking forward to planing a wall breach.

“Hail Neighbor! We decided to go on a stroll and visit our new friends in the castle. I’m not keen on getting this suit dirty from sleeping in a tent. Open the gate please.” Lord Darwor said to the nervous gate guards on top of the wall.

“Eh, apologies lord, we were told to seal the gate on account of the large group of…” One of the guards was shouting down.

“They are called graeh friend.” Lord Darwor politely added.

".. eh graeh warriors with you. We also have the garrison mobilizing if you try to force the gate!” The guard finished.

“Oh I see the misunderstanding! These fine graeh with me aren’t here to fight, they are here to clean up.” Lord Darwor said with a smile.

“I’m sorry my lord, my orders…” The gate guard started to say as fire erupted from Lord Darwor toward and through the wall and gate. The burning gate ripped from its hinges blasting though the opening and the wall around it was shredded apart as the forceful flames blasted everything in front of Lord Darwor. The guards on wall and voices beyond screamed as everything burned. The gate was no more, around where the hole had been the stone was black and molten. Rosa had reflexively covered her face from the heat, she pulled her arms down and saw beyond the wall that the devastation continued into the city. The gate had smashed through she assumed part of the garrison assembled to stop their visit. Molten rocks were flung from the wall around the gate with great force smashing into buildings and starting fires. There were torn bodies on the ground and even some of the walls. The remaining soldiers still alive were mostly in shock or injured, the few still fit to fight grouped up and faced them while trembling.

A soldier charged through the ruined gate and Lord Darwor stood with his arms at his sides. The blade clanged against the lord's face doing nothing but jarring mans arms from the force of the hit. In exaggerated slowness Lord Darwor grabbed the man while looking at the group of soldiers behind him and slowly pulled. When the screaming stopped he dropped what was left of the soldier, still looking at the rest of the soldiers he spoke.

“I think you would make fine kith, the price of admission is one life. Bring my graeh a head for yourself and anyone you want to live in my grand new world. Work as a team, go now or die here.” Lord Darwor said to the remaining men his coat now red.

The grouped men looked at each other in horror. A taller man separated from the group and walked over to one of the wounded from the earlier blast and brought his sword down ending the wounded soldiers life.

“For the kith!” The man shouted.

“Good initiative sergeant, organize the rest of these men.” Lord Darwor said with his quiet voice.

A group of graeh broke off from the main unit and cut strips of cloth from the dead. The graeh painted the strips with fresh red and made armbands for the new recruits as they needed them. The graeh would hug and back slap the recruits as they passed out the bands, cheering them on. What followed was a massacre, the city quickly turned on itself. Frantic people killed each other or tried to flee the chaos and spreading fires. The graeh followed behind new recruits encouraging them and securing chokepoints around the city as the fresh recruit force grew. The morning passed quickly and most of the city was secured by early afternoon.

“I really hope they have a warm bath at the castle. Robert and Lieutenant Stone… please just paint the rest of the inhabitants of the castle after we arrive. I’m ready for some relaxation time.” Lord Darwor said as he stepped over some fresh offerings.

“Lord Darwor, what about their king?” Rosa asked.

“The king of what? The garrison I liberated at the gate, or the fine city that will be mine by nightfall. If there is an army, it’s either on maneuvers or doesn’t exist. That sword didn’t even hurt lieutenant, they might as well come at us throwing rocks. At least we found some willing recruits and a place to build, we just need to take out the trash.” Lord Darwor said.

Rosa nodded. Behind Lord Darwor one of the corpses started to twitch and move.

“Ugh, so foul.” Lord Asmane said as he watched the jerky movements of the body.

What was left of a woman stood up and faced them. Her body was in tatters though a purple light shown in her eyes. Her head was held in her hands.

You arrive, the pretend gods have finally come to sit on paper thrones.

The head’s mouth didn’t move as it spoke but the expression on its face was damning. Her words were like nails painting her insides. Rosa fell to the ground in pain. Lord Asmane staggered and held his head and Lord Darwor grit his teeth. As the figure started to speak a second time the body began to burn with purple flames.

NATIONS WILL FALL AND PERIL HAS ARRIVED. HOPE IN SMOKE, THE MOON AGAIN SHINES HER SILVER LIGHT. IN THREE DAYS MY ENEMY SHALL KNOW THE FIRST OF THREE CURSES AND ALL WILL KNOW THEM TRUE.

The woman in the flames fell and her body turned to ash, the purple fire gone like it had never been. Lord Asmane walked over to the spot where the body was a moment ago kicking around the spot with a boot.

“Witches are worse than undead.” Lord Asmane said.

“Accepted…”Lord Darwor said in his quiet voice, he looked angry.

The three continued on to the castle, Rosa was looking forward to relaxing and doing some painting, tonight she would get to use her favorite color.