Mark ran his left hand along his icy horns, as he turned to look at Janet sitting in her wheelchair with her mouth gaped, "While these look great, they draw too much attention. Don't you think so?"
Knowingly or maybe unknowingly, Janet nodded her head. With this, Mark put both his hands on his icy horns and squeezed hard while lifting his head.
"CRACK!"
Ice shards rained down around him, as the ice horns shattered. Mark considered the mirror taking a few moments to clean the remaining ice from the brow of his skull. He took from the counter under the sink a cleaning cloth and cleaned his monocle. Placing the Monocle back on, he turned to Janet, "How do I look now? The same as before?"
"Y-yes."
"Very good."
Mark walked back over to Princess Janet and kneeled beside her again. He reached out to take her hand, and she didn't resist.
"Janet... Thank you. Without your forgiveness, I would never have been able to put down this demon in my heart. Can I ask you to do something for me?"
Janet nodded.
"Can you wait with me? See my work to the end, when I have healed your soul. When I have healed your soul, you can make your choice either to stay or to leave." Mark asked softly.
Janet paused for a few moments, while Mark patiently waited for her reply.
Janet finally broke the silence, "I don't understand. Why?"
"What part don't you understand?"
"Why do all this? Why for me? Why break your mark of cultivation...? Your ice horns?" Janet asked while looking down, darting her eyes to Mark to take quick glances.
"In reverse order... I broke my mark because I don't want anyone to know I'm an Emperor Ranked Cultivator. What they don't know will kill them. Low-key, until there is no reason to not be."
"But Emperor Rank! You could rule over these lands! I've been reading the books. I know no one should be around with this power. You could just sweep the lands." Janet spoke breathlessly.
"Ah. Well... One would think so, but..." Mark shook his head.
"If it was that easy, then why would anyone form kingdoms, empires or anything. Because of power. There is power in Cultivation, and there is power in kingdoms. Remember that a million ants can destroy an undead. There is also another prime reason."
Janet looked up to observe Mark as if she had just become familiar with him.
"There are a few undead in this land I have to be wary of..."
"The Holy Witch King?"
"He's definitely one of them. Already an Emperor Rank, and now Mid-Level. A force to be sure, but he doesn't scare me."
"You can feel fear." Janet laughed.
"Yes. Sometimes fear is the correct response, and for The Holy Witch King... He's not scary... His church is... More accurately his faith is." Mark said solemnly.
"His faith?" Janet questioned, "The faith of Deagoth is just a faith that believes in equality and structure."
"Not anymore, haha!" Mark laughed, and a chill stirred in the air.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been getting... Some interesting reports." Mark rose from her side and walked to his desk. He pulled out a small stack of papers, as he sat down.
"This is the information I received this week. It speaks of the rise of a new faith in Deagoth. The faith of the God-King. That God-King happens to be The Holy Witch King."
"So, The Holy Witch King formed a faith with himself as god?" Janet questioned.
"That's just the thing!" Mark threw the papers on to his desk, "He has been recorded clearly by eyewitnesses stating he isn't a god. He actually said, "I am not a god."" Mark said astonished.
"What?"
"YES! But he's still being worshipped as one. There is even a prophet for his faith! This little asshole prophet is either the best snake oil salesman this side of the Underworld, or he knows things we have only begun to understand."
"A... Prophet?"
"My last report was that he left Nogore, the City of Merchants, in Deagoth. When he left he had single handily converted four hundred thousand undead to the new faith on top of those that had already pledged. Faith is a weapon... I know. I use it. Now tell me if that isn't scary." Mark said as he finished.
"Then... What are you going to do about it?"
"That... Well, there are a few things that can be done, but I'm reserving judgement until I get more information. Making the wrong more without knowing anything will always lead to a bad end. But besides his fanatics, there are other... Undead with power here, and I must be weary of them as well."
Before Janet could ask about them, Mark continued, "As for your other questions, Why for me? Because I took you as my wife. That year when We married in your courtyard I meant my words, 'Till true death do us part.' I love you, Janet, and I always will. I promised you that year. I was poor enough, I didn't have a ring, so I promised you that I would heal your illness, and give you the world. I remember you laughed and said as long as We are together."
"I meant what I said, and no one can stop me," Mark spoke with determination.
"Lastly... If you want the last absolute reason... I loathe Deagoth and The Holy Witch King. I will enjoy watching them suffer."
"Why do you hate Deagoth, so much?"
"I would rather not get into that at the moment. What I want to know is your answer. Will you stay with me...? I will try not to call you wife until you have accepted me or if you wish to leave me later, but will you stay for the time being?" Mark asked hopefully.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Actually, you do... I'm sure you have been planning on escaping since we left Jakahn."
Janet's face showed shock.
"Don't be surprised. I know you, even if you don't know yourself."
Janet lowered her head.
"I'm not mad with you. I know you to well, so it only made sense, and yes. I brought you with me knowing you would try. To be honest, I am actually surprised you haven't already tried to make a break for it."
"...Then what would you have done if I had?"
"I would bring you back, even if you did it in the middle of the next battle. I would drop everything and rush back to you. There is a reason no one should know where you are... The rights to the throne of Dragon's Jaw is underway for the last eight hundred years, and you my dear... You have a right to that throne. Your siblings would love to end you. Partly because they still blame you for their mother, but mostly because they don't want any more competition."
"Oh."
Mark nodded his head.
"Can I be so bold as to ask one more thing?" Mark looked up with expectation.
Janet panicked. She knew Mark was a male undead. In her latest books, she had been reading on Undead history, and it was almost all the same. Outstanding men liked outstanding women. She had looked in the mirror, and knew she was a beauty, even if she didn't mean to be vain. It was the truth... Did he want to do that?
After a few moments, she replied, "...You may."
Mark indicated with his hand, "I know you must hate your chair. As much as you should stay in your chair, I would like for you to lay on your rug."
"My... Rug?"
"It was your favorite. I brought it with us, but you haven't taken another look at it. I would like for you to try. Maybe it will help you remember..."
Janet was slightly relieved but found an odd stirring in her soul... Like disappointment. She had been feeling a certain way since she had read those books detailing undead soul unions... It made her feel... certain expectations.
She put her thoughts to the side, as she seriously considered Mark's request.
"Al-alright."
She rolled her wheelchair over to the rug, and slide out of the chair. She found that she had a certain familiarity with this action. She laid on the run and found it to be... Pleasant. She snuggled into it, and then she rolled over onto her back to look up at Mark from upside down.
When she looked up at Mark, she almost felt she saw a smile on his skeletal face... But that was impossible. Skeletons can't smile...???
"I... I must admit this is rather comfortable."
"Good, I'm glad." Mark seemed to feel like he wanted to release a sigh of relief. How he wished he had lungs.
"We have a few hours before the battle begins. We need to go ahead and pack up. You can stay where you are. I will have the servants do everything. When We get packed. I will move you further back from the action... We can then wait for the trap to snap." Mark laughed out loud.
*******
Warmarshal Verruca stood in front of her Legion, as she considered the sky to her left. She had already seen the signal from Stephanie's legion, but she was waiting on Warmarshal Ken's and Mossvale's forces. Once they saw the flair, they would rush a frontal assault.
"Lord Commander." A voice sounded next to her.
She looked over calmly, "Yes, General?"
"Some of the Legion have asked for a war speech." General Bryce asked in expectation.
"Alright." Verruca nodded.
Seeing that their Warmarshal agreed, they quickly built a platform for her to stand from the items in the surroundings.
Verruca leaped onto the platform, as it shook slightly from her massive weight. She stomped a few times to ensure her footing and the structural integrity of this makeshift soup box.
She looked across the heads of her legion, as she began to speak. Her voice boomed, "My Warbreakers. War has brought us to the borders of our Kingdom again, and again we heed the call. Our enemies lay outside that gate, and they mock us with their pretty toys that bang on our doors."
Verruca paused for a moment taking in the sight.
"Let THOSE who have been accustomed to warfare rejoice, as WE the faithful now go against the heretics of Jakahn. Let US end this battle with VICTORY that should have been wrought so long ago. Let THOSE who for a time have slept within their armored shells, stir once more on the battlefield, and let THOSE that would be OUR enemies know that the Warbreakers have arrived!
Let THOSE who have brought WAR to our lands know that WE BREAK WAR, AS WE WILL BREAK THEM! Let THOSE who are unsure of VICTORY look to the Sun Skull, and be reassured. BREAK THE ENEMY! BREAK THE WAR! FOR THE GOD-KING!!!!"
An earth rumbling shout was let loose that cause the skin on many Jakahn zombie warriors to tighten... A sleeping beat had awoken, and it looked at them with malice.
"""""BREAK THE ENEMY! BREAK THE WAR! FOR THE GOD-KING!!!!""""""
"""""BREAK THE ENEMY! BREAK THE WAR! FOR THE GOD-KING!!!!""""""
"""""BREAK THE ENEMY! BREAK THE WAR! FOR THE GOD-KING!!!!""""""
"""""BREAK THE ENEMY! BREAK THE WAR! FOR THE GOD-KING!!!!""""""
"""""BREAK THE ENEMY! BREAK THE WAR! FOR THE GOD-KING!!!!""""""
Verruca saw from the corner of her eye the flare in the sky. It was time.
She jumped down from her platform and stood in front of her warriors.
"ARMS UP!"
All ten thousand Warbreakers pulled their dozerblade shields from their backs with their left hands and lifted them high. These Dozerblade Shields called this for their shape. This shield was large and covered them from near head to toe. They reached to their backs with their right hand and pulled their Holy Morning Star Flails. The sounds of chains rattled loudly and strummed the hearts of the Legion.
"Seals!" Verruca called.
A wave of Light from the sky poured down on each Legion Warbreaker. As under their feet rose circles of power. They now glowed with a Zeal of power.
"GATES!"
The gatekeepers watched in awe of this legion, as they snapped back to focus, and with all their strength moved the gate mechanism.
The Gates widened until they could see ahead.
"SHIELDS UP! TO BATTLE!" Verruca bellowed over the crowds as her gorgeous voice stirred the spirits of her warriors once more!
She charged forward with her Dozerblade high, her foot's steps dug into the lava stone-paved road that leads to the south. Her troops followed, and the earth trembled.
Mark stood upon the highest hill looking over the front-lines with Jacob, now that his servants had moved his tents. The rest of the army had done so with their logistics units.
The earth underfoot quivered.
Jacob beside mark spoke low but firmly, "General Mark. They come."