1214-01-12
Chirp!
The room smelled faintly of rosewood, a scent that I barely noticed anymore. My eyes wandered across my room. To Liora asleep at my side, her blonde hair a mess. To the toy across from me, that had fallen in the night.
I should really get that fixed, I think to myself.
Slowly, I get out of bed, pulling the blanket over Liora. A small, scared smile creeps onto my face as I watch her.
Quietly, I leave the room, easing the door closed to avoid waking her. My footsteps lead me down the hallway to a place I had not been allowed to enter before.
The War Room.
The room is draped in red and black, with the flag of Ahk's sovereignty covering nearly every inch of the walls. At the center is a massive table, maps spread across its surface with tiny markers resembling soldiers and troops scattered over them. At the far end of the table stands a chair unlike the others—a throne, really. Its red and black cushion bears the same flag, one I know all too well.
High-ranking officers line the walls, and two familiar generals stand to either side of me—Voss on my left, Hector on my right—each holding flags. The room is silent, waiting for my approval.
I walk to the throne and sit, placing my hands on the armrests.
"Well, look who's here," Hector chuckles. "Adrian."
Hector is an old man, his hair white as linen and his gray eyes still burning with fire.
"Hector," I reply with a nod. "You may sit." I gesture to the soldiers standing around the room, granting them permission to do the same.
I turn my attention to the map spread before me, the map of the battle to come. A heavy silence falls over the room as the weight of what lies ahead settles on everyone's shoulders.
"The map is wrong," I say, looking at Voss and Hector.
"What's wrong with it, Your Majesty?" Hector asks.
"Piruen is written as Pirues," I reply, pointing to the error.
"Ah, you're right," Voss says, scratching it out and writing the correct name.
"Voss," I say, turning to him expectantly. He nods in understanding.
"They have about 21,000 troops stationed at Vieu, Ichi, and Dios," he reports.
"In total?" I ask, surprised.
"In total, Your Majesty."
"Do we know how they're spread out?"
"About 7,000 per city."
"And how many do we have?"
"Approximately 12,000, Adrian," Voss answers.
I stare at the map, my mind racing to formulate a plan. If we attack Vieu or Dios, will Rainsford, Ichi, and the other cities come to each other's aid? The room grows heavy with silence as I deliberate, but Hector interrupts.
"Worshippers of the dragon must be slain," he says, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
"And what do you suggest we do?"
Hector leans over the table, briefly scanning the map before shifting the pieces representing our forces.
"We rush Ichi. It's the most isolated, and it will take their forces at least a day to react."
"And if they sit tight?" a soldier asks.
"Then we surround them, cutting off their reinforcements," Hector answers, confidence dripping from his tone.
"That's a war on two fronts," another soldier points out.
"We shouldn't risk that," someone else chimes in.
I look to Voss. "What do you think?"
"I agree with Hector, Your Majesty," Voss replies, moving the markers on the map. "Even if they surround us, we'll have the upper hand."
"We can't win a war on two fronts," a soldier protests, standing firm. "I won't command my men to die in a senseless conflict."
I take a deep breath, studying the map again. An idea forms. "What if we split our forces and attack both Vieu and Ichi simultaneously?"
"That could work," Voss says, splitting the pieces on the map to represent a dual assault.
WHUUSH
A shadow flickers in the corner of my eye. I turn sharply, and there she is—Shino, bowing beside me on my right.
Disgust flashes across Hector's face.
"It's good to see—" I begin, but Hector interrupts, grabbing Shino by her hair and yanking her away from me. He throws her to the ground behind him like she's filth.
Shino's black hair falls over her face, and her dark eyes glint as she rises.
Dragons had an otherworldly effect on their followers, transforming their hair, eyes, or even bodies. In Wara, the worshippers were known for their unnaturally white hair and ocean-like eyes, no matter their age.
No one truly understood why, but one thing was known without doubt: those who worship the beasts called dragons deserved death.
"Hector!" I yell, slamming my hand down on the table.
"Step back, Adrian!" Hector snarls, his grip on Shino's hair tightening. "The heretic overstepped her bounds."
"Hector, I command you to stand down!" I say, reaching for the hilt of my sword.
Hector sighs, disappointment heavy in his expression. "I can't believe Warrior King Aldric allowed this," he says, dragging Shino back by her hair.
Why doesn't she resist? Why doesn't she fight? I think.
"Allowed what?" I demand.
"The daughter of a heretic inhabiting the War Room!" Hector roars. "Our soldiers dream of even stepping foot in here, and yet she strolls in without a second thought!"
With that, he slams her against the table, blood splattering across the map. Shino coughs, her body limp.
"Hector, you're way out of line," Voss says, drawing his sword.
Hector continues, his voice a growl. "How can you trust someone blighted by a dragon?"
I step forward, helping Shino off the table. Her body bears fresh scratches, and patches of her black hair are missing.
"Hector…" I say, my voice low.
"What, Adrian?"
"I AM YOU KING"
"And."
"And just because you're Liora's father doesn't mean I won't send you to your death," I say coldly.
"NOW SILENCE!"
Hector smirks, a twisted satisfaction in his expression, but he steps back.
I turn to Shino, who is bowing once more, as though the previous encounter had never happened. "What did you come to tell me, Shino?"
"I went to Dios," she says softly. "I overheard that if the worst comes to pass, they plan to retreat to Kima. They have ships waiting at Toki to carry them there."
"How can you trust her?" Hector snaps.
"I suppose we'll never know," I reply. "But we'll have to act."
"You don't trust anyone, do you, Hector?"
"Men lie, women lie, but money—money never lies," he laughs.
"Here's the plan," I announce, silencing the room. "Hector, you will lead 7,000 soldiers to attack Ichi. Voss and I will lead the rest to attack Vieu. Both attacks will commence on Sunday, the 16th of February ."
"Why the 16th?" a soldier asks.
"It gives us enough time to prepare and ensures both attacks happen simultaneously. If we're not coordinated, they'll reinforce each other."
"What happens after Ichi?"
"Once Hector takes Ichi, we'll meet before heading to Kima."
"And Dios?"
"We'll trust Shino's words."
The soldiers exchange hesitant glances, murmuring amongst themselves before nodding in agreement.
"At Kima, we'll lay siege, surrounding the city until they run out of food."
"What if we run out first?" another soldier asks.
"We'll bring enough provisions for three years," I answer. "Though I doubt it'll take that long."
"Why so much?"
"Just a feeling."
"This won't work," Hector sneers. "The Dragon of the West would never surrender or retreat."
"The Dragon of the West is still human," I reply firmly. "And every human wants to live. If necessary, I'll kill him with my bare hands."
Hector's expression shifts to one of surprise, then amusement, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"And Shino," I say, turning to her. "If you so desire it, you may claim his eye"
"Wha—"
Shino moves with blinding speed. Her blade flashes, and in an instant, Hector's left eye is gone. He screams, the sound raw and guttural, as blood streams down his face.
Despite the agony, a twisted grin forms on his lips.
"We leave on the 15th," I declare. "Prepare your men."
"Of course, Your Majesty."