Jebuthar stood in the control room of his command ship. He smiled and watched out the front window as the automatons cleaned up their broken fellows. He was impressed with Omrai’s military. He had lost more automatons in this fight than in all his battles with the Sendevalians combined. Not many, but still. Omrai had trained his men and beasts well. He had probably been the greatest general in the eastern lands. Until now.

Jebuthar’s Almerian crew was hard at work piloting the ship, one of the few things he didn’t have automatons do. These were his most loyal followers. They had very pale skin (he assumed they were distantly related to the Sendevalians), and long black hair, with eyes that came in a plethora of uncommon colors such as green, orange, and red. Never brown or blue.

They were also savvy with clockwork, mechanics, and industry, which made them ideal for piloting his ships and building his tech. He’d brought them much knowledge from the north, and they repaid him with devoted service.

The command ship sat to the side of the three heavy transports. The battlefield ahead strewn with the dead and dying. Beyond Omrai’s camp frantically retreated. Let them go , he thought, their fear will make my mission much easier.

Omrai would not be motivated by fear. This would drive him to further desperation. His heavy shields had proven moderately effective, and Jebuthar no longer had the element of surprise. Omrai would surely attempt a counterstrike, but Jebuthar hoped he wouldn’t. He hoped Omrai would listen to the fear of his men.

“You asked to see me, lord ?” a familiar voice said with a hint of disdain from behind him. He looked back. Densal Valen, the mouthy princess of Sendeval.

“Densal,” Jebuthar said, purposefully using more familiarity than the princess liked, “I have an important responsibility for you. One I would only trust to the daughter of my strongest ally.”

Densal approached, hesitantly. “Yes?”

“You’re in charge of controlling the eastern tribe. You will maintain them, govern them, and stop any rebellions.”

The princess smiled, “With pleasure.”

Jebuthar had expected such a reaction. But this was the point of the experiment. “My automatons will, of course, keep an eye on you,” Jebuthar said, “You have … traditions when it comes to people you’ve conquered. My policy still stands. You are no longer Sendeval raiding an enemy, you an arm of Jebuthar.”

Jebuthar motioned out the window toward his metal army, “Like my automatons, you obey. You perform my will. Every nation I conquer becomes another arm . You will act in my name.”

Densal’s lips pressed into a line, and she gave a slight nod.

“Feel free to find out if your status as a princess will keep you from my punishment,” Jebuthar said.

Densal frowned. “What about the rest of the Ateyan soldiers?”

Jebuthar raised an eyebrow.

“Why did you stop? You had them in a rout.”

Jebuthar let out a breath. “Do you enjoy war?”

She smirked. “I enjoy conquering my enemies.”

“Do you know why I’m here? Is it, to enslave my enemies, to kill soldiers?”

Densal looked confused. “You just did. You slaughtered them. I’m just wondering why you stopped. We’re here to conquer, aren’t we?”

Jebuthar approached Densal Valen, slowly, carefully, until he stood less than a foot away. Eyes locking. Densal looked angry, but she leaned away from him, as if cautious. But the sneer. That self-righteous sneer...

“I do not fight for power, nor riches,” Jebuthar said. In a flash, he grabbed her hand and twisted, throwing her to the ground. She fell with a painful grunt. She struggled to move, only causing herself more pain. He held her down.

“Let me speak in a language you can understand,” Jebuthar said. “I could snap your arm, yet I do not. Why?”

Densal said nothing, she only scowled and attempted to squirm.

Jebuthar sighed. “Because, we can get more by working together than by destroying each other. I fight to create a world without conflict. The power I gather? It’s not for me,” Jebuthar hissed in Densal’s ears. “Only I can end the eternal war of mankind. Only I can halt pointless death. Only I-”

Jebuthar paused, he let out a slow breath, calming himself. He let her go. He looked at her, trying to find understanding. Instead he only saw the furrowed brow of anger and the frown of fear. She would heed no true learning this day. “You and your father have already sworn fealty to me. You will do what I say or die. Simple enough?”

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Densal got up and rubbed her arm. “What happened to stopping death?”

Jebuthar glared. “I will kill those who get in my way. Some death must happen, but the lives saved will far outweigh the lives lost, including yours, if necessary.”

Densal Valen glared at Jebuthar. “You don’t make any sense.”

Jebuthar chuckled mirthlessly, as if to the joke of a child. “I wouldn’t, to someone like you. You, nobles have been taught a selfish path. I am the new path. I am the revelation. I am what the world needs to survive itself . I am the inspiration, the new idea from the realm beyond. I will heal the world and bring it to peace. I hope that, for your sake, you come to understand that.”

Densal opened her mouth, but Jebuthar held up a hand, then pointed. “Get out. You have a tribe to watch.”

Without a word or a bow, Densal left the room. I’ll have to watch that one, Jebuthar thought. He turned around and looked out the window. Left alone in his thoughts for a while. Watching the smoke and the battlefield slowly clear. He hated how much nature was destroyed in these conflicts. He’d have to check on these fields later.

“High Lord?”

Jebuthar looked over his shoulder. Lemri, one of his Almerian lieutenants, bowed, her arms behind her back. She had pale skin, like the others, but her black hair was cut short, the bottom feathering out around her shoulders. She wore the uniform of an Almerian engineer, long grey skirt, with a tight long-sleeved shirt up top.

He smiled. “Yes?”

“I need to send another ship north,” she said, standing up straight and holding a journal in front of her.

Jebuthar frowned. “It’s a little early for that, don’t you think?”

Lemri frowned. “You didn’t use half that much against the Sendevalians.”

“I needed to make a different point to the Sendevalians.”

“Considering how fast the Ateyans broke, I think you made it, milord.”

“Omrai needed to die,” Jebuthar said, gripping the arm of his chair. “As long as he’s alive, they’ll continue to fight.”

She nodded.

He smiled at her, “Thank you, for your help in all this.”

“No,” Lemri said, “Thank you . You’ve given us knowledge. Powers we never dreamed of. We were ahead before, yes. But now, allied with you…” She smiled triumphantly, “They’ll never catch up.”

Jebuthar nodded, “And without your help, I can’t do what I must. I knew your people were the only ones smart enough to understand what I found in the north. Your loyalty will not go unpaid. Send your ship. Get the gravitonium we need. And I need you to contact our man in Koyeji. I have further plans for Ateya which will require his involvement.”

Lemri nodded and left.

Jebuthar took a deep breath. He had someone he needed to speak to also, and decided he wanted to meet with him in person. He left the room, knowing the Almerians would manage without him.

✦✦✦

Narazoth watched as Jebuthar, his Lord, stepped into the room. Narazoth gave a slight bow.

“We did well,” Jebuthar said in an official tone, “his armies will not retake the land we took.”

“It’s a pity so many had to die,” Narazoth said, frowning, “it breaks my heart.”

Jebuthar’s firm face softened, “It is a hard task we’ve been given. Conquer the world, bring it to peace.”

Narazoth frowned, “I sometimes worry. Can we do it?”

Jebuthar’s look grew strong again, “Of course, we can. We’re the only ones who can. We are as inevitable as the seasons.”

“As inevitable as the sun’s rise and fall,” Narazoth said, finishing the phrase with a bow of agreement. “Time itself cannot hope to stop us.”

Jebuthar nodded, and returned to his official tone, “I need you to continue to stay hidden. Most of the nations still don’t know I have a Hiriv monk in my employment. And I want to keep it that way.”

Narazoth nodded, “Yes, my Lord.”

“And don’t speak to anyone, nor let anyone speak to you.”

Narazoth sat in his personal shuttle. “Yes, my Lord, I agree.”

“It’s going to get harder now,” Jebuthar said with a sigh, “any news on Revin Henrir?”

Narazoth shook his head. “Not since the battle. I watched him closely, but the automatons lost sight of him. I believe he survived.”

“I assumed as much,” Jebuthar said with a frustrated sigh. “Be safe, my friend,” he tapped himself on the head, “I’ll be up here.”

Jebuthar left.

We can succeed.

I hope we can.