Sons of a minor noble, Estrios and his brother dream of the glory on the battlefield. When the largest empire of their time sends a great army to invade their lands, they are called upon to stand against overwhelming odds and certain death. Estrios and his brother must survive the march to the coast while being pursued by a relentless rider bearing a golden torc. Failure means witnessing everything that they hold dear being laid to waste by the Elahkarian Empire and their subjects. *Note: there is no magic in this story*