The sun had set. The town was barren. Only guards and volunteers remained, gathered atop the town walls and around the barricade of the eastern gate.
Torches lit the night, covering everything in a dim, warm hue. But there were no smiles, there was no warmth to be felt. Everyone was shaken and awaiting their confrontation with death.
Above the eastern gate stood two men amid the many guards armed with bows. One wore shiny light armor befitting for an archer or a rogue. The other wore decade-old full plate, a set that was visibly worn down through many battles. And both men stood side by side with helmets off. They wanted the clearest possible view of the mountain road in front of them.
"Did Amma get out in time?" asked the man in light armor.
Nodding softly, Ronner replied, "Yeah. They made it out. I just hope they aren't dragged into this."
"That's why we stayed. To make sure that doesn't happen."
"Don't think that new armor changes anything. Unless you're going to prove that you're not the same crybaby I had to save on every battlefield," Ronner chuckled half-heartedly. "What do you say, Darton?"
Darton chuckled as well and puffed out his chest, "Just cause you're the older brother doesn't mean I'm weaker! Isn't that why you wear all that armor, to make up for your lack of skill?"
"Hey, that's just–"
"Angels sighted!" scouts began to shout from the watchtowers.
Dropping the conversation, the brothers shared one last glance before shifting their full attention ahead.
Soon, everyone atop the walls was able to see the angels marching. Every other angel was carrying a holy lantern as they paraded down the mountain path in their polished, silvery armor. And they were fast.
In the center of the angel battalion was a glowing, golden palanquin. There was no cover, only a golden throne. And on that throne sat a hulking figure.
"Men, stand tall! Not many people have the pleasure of insulting a god in their lifetime!!" Darton shouted with full force. Everyone couldn't help but laugh. But Ronner only shook his head and smiled sorrowfully.
"Ohhhh… How putrid the pests have grown in the absence of their caretakers!" The figure atop the palanquin stood tall while motioning for the angels to halt. Now a mere two hundred bromes from the gate, the god showed his twisted grin. "But no more! Now you'll have I, the great god Iskar, to oversee your care. Together, you'll finally return to your true forms and you'll be blessed with the potential deserving of your devotion!"
"Crux off!" Darton howled, leaning over the wall. "By order of the late conqueror, no god nor devil, no angel nor demon, and no religion correlating with any living god or devil are permitted within these borders!"
"Those are words of a fool long dead!" argued the god, cackling all the same. "It is we deities that make you civilized. It was we deities that offered you power and a means to protect yourselves. It was–"
"It was you fools that dragged our lives through the mud, solely for your every whim!!" retorted Darton. "As mayor of Emor, it is my duty to uphold Frihet law, which states that you and your invading force of forty angels are enemies of the Frihet Empire!"
"Frihet is no nation! Frihet is a delusion created to disarm you of what makes you humans, your faith in the divine!" Iskar cackled. "I am the divine! I am the invitation to your salvation and peace! Join my cause! JOIN MY PEACE!!"
"What peace? You call marching on Emor a sign of peace, trampling every man, woman, and child in glory?!!" roared Darton, solemnly putting on his helmet. "I can see that not a single person joined your cause, regardless of the terror and torture you showed the village. What a failure you are, Iskar! In the face of the conqueror's legacy, you are a stain at best! We've only been free for five years! But none of us can forget the horror that was living under you hypocritical, self-loving imbeciles from on high!!"
Fuming with rage, Iskar stomped on the palanquin and shattered it, landing gracefully and forcefully on the ground. "YOU DARE–"
"WE ALL DARE!!!" Darton's cry rang out.
"WE ALL DARE! WE ALL DARE! WE ALL DARE!"
Chanting along with his fellow citizens, Darton's face bulged in stress from his own anger. He accepted a bow from a nearby guard, along with three quivers, one for each side and one for his back.
Ronner did the same, bellowing the chant with all his might. His helm was back on and he gripped a javelin from a rolling rack a guard brought over.
"WE! WILL! NOT! FALL!" Darton shouted with every fiber of his being, not caring how much spittle fell from his mouth. The guards all calmed their war chants, listening carefully to their leading officer as Darton continued, "FRIHET WILL NEVER FALL!!! Take Emor! Do it! But we will not fall! We will rise! We will rise to face you, you self-righteous hypocrites!"
"How dare–"
Cutting off the god, Darton gave one last shout, "And when you've destroyed our town, know that will only cement your doom! Frihet won't forgive you! And you'll be hunted by humanity's strongest champions! Our vow to the conqueror shall stand! WE WILL STAND PROUD!!"
"STAND PROUD!!!" Everyone repeated the chant one more. "STAND PROUD!!! STAND PROUD!!! STAND PROUD!!! STAND PROUD!!!"