NOVPUBThe road to the eastern lands of the empire was an infamous one to merchants both foreign and native alike. A journey where danger and death were a constant companion every step along the way. And this was due in no small part to the only two paths you can take to reach those lands.
The first and more popular route is through the Diomedes Plains a vast expanse of flat land, dominated by an infinite see of tall green and yellow grass as far as the eye could see, situated between the Juren de Yaachi mountains in the north and the Hadrian Mountains in the south. And as the name would imply, these plains are also the natural habitat of the Diomedes Warhorses; which greatly helped them gain their fearsome reputation, since they often fed on the unsuspecting caravans that so brazenly marched through their lands.
But if one were too fearful to contest his will against those satanic stallions who feast in revelry upon our fellow man's flesh, then he would challenge the second path, commonly known as the Anazoi Canyon; a narrow, treacherous and disorienting corridor that confusedly twists and winds through the Juren de Yachi mountains like a hidden serpent in the thick brush.
Yet that labyrinthine maze of high peeks, steep slopes and jagged rocks, hides non other than the empire's beating heart; for within the embrace of the Juren de Yachi mountains lies the unending springs which feed the Vitar river the liquid life known as water.
Knowing all this, I reply "Very well then, I agree to your suggestion lord Maximillian."
"Excellent!" He happily exclaimed in reply.
"My army will need around fourteen days to reach the canyon. You?" I ask, wanting to set a time for our match, while also trying to deduce any information I can from him.
"Same." He replied calmly, before continuing "So what say you to holding our first day's match on the seventeenth dawn from today. That way we have time to rest our men after such a long march."
"Perfect." I reply, rising from my seat to take my leave.
"See you there then." He joyfully said, with a whimsical wave of his hand.
Yet the moment we were out of sight his playful facade faded like mist in the sun, showing the reality of it's veiled secrets, as a bloody smile emerged upon his lips that freakishly did not reach his calculating eyes.
"Arrogant little brat!" The silver haired beauty hissed "Daring to talk like that to my husband when his fangs have barely been sharpened."
"Don't let your rage blind you, my love. His fangs are nothing to scoff at." Maximillian said, not turning to face his wives.
"What do you mean darling?" Sophia asked with furrowed brows, instantly raising the threat level of this young emperor in her mind.
"It means that I'm going to have a great deal of fun this time." he answered, his words laced with both impatience and excitement.
Yet before they could open their mouths to say any more, Maximillian asked "Has Eliana reported any complications on her end?"
"...The Storm Lord's offensive ferocity is more than expected, but she assures you that it's not more than she can handle and implores you to have fun without worry." Sophia replied, after taking a moment to remember the last message sent from her.
"As expected from her." Maximillian happily announced, before suddenly standing up and instantly vanishing with his wives from the hilltop as they rushed eastward with their inhuman speed.
Meanwhile, I along with my entourage had already remounted our horses and began our long trek back to the camp, but along the way Nizam couldn't contain his curiosity any longer and asked "Brother, how come you didn't confirm lord Sodarus' state during your discussions with the Mercenary King?"
"Because their was no reason to. It was clear that Maximillian had done no harm to him." I calmly answered.
"How so?" It was Cyrus this time who confusedly questioned.
Hearing this, I answer their inquiries with a query of my own "Tell me my dear brothers, do you know the meaning behind Maximillian's sigil?"
Falling into a perplexed silence, the two looked confusedly at each other for a few moments, before Nizam almost instinctively turned toward his master with questioning eyes, so Hekan calmly said, like a patient teacher explaining a normal lesson to his students "The mark of the Mercenary King is a three winged dragon, armed with a sword in one claw and a spear in the other. The battle ready dragon is obviously meant to symbolize, the War Dragon, Maximillian himself. While his three wings were representative of his three beloved wives, who were often called Maximillian's Wings, as many believed that without them, the War Dragon would never have soared so high into the sky."
"But what does that have to do with anything?" The impatient Cyrus asked again.
"Maximillian is famous for never going anywhere without his wives, so much so that many began to jokingly say that even if he were to one day pursue the immoral pleasures of infidelity, they would still follow him to his mistress' bed." I continued "Yet today we only saw his Second Wing and wife Morgana and his Third Wing and wife Sophia, while his First Wing and wife Eliana was no where to be seen."
I paused my words there for a moment, allowing them to piece together the final fragments of the puzzle. Which they very quickly did as their eyes suddenly lit with the light of understanding. Yet Nizam's brows soon furrowed in worry as he asked "But what if it was all a ruse meant to sell us what we now believe?"
Chuckling, I confidently answer "It's good that you thought so far ahead little brother, but you need not worry about that, since that is not how Maximillian likes to do things. He enjoys crushing his opponents in a fair war of wits, and if a slight concession is enough to make sure that I accept to play his game, then he will do so without much hesitation."
"Doesn't that mean that the general has effectively become a captive and a shackle that binds you, my liege?!" Horus exclaimed in shock and rage.
"Indeed." I nonchalantly affirmed, before continuing "But it matters not. Sodarus and his Chimera Knights, along with Khaireddin and his Eastern Fleet are worth such a slight inconvenience."
A moment poignant silence settled over us, before Abraham quickly broke it by saying "It's great to know that we can rest our minds from worrying about the Storm Lord's fate; but my liege, why would you so readily agree to do battle in the Anazoi Canyon? A place that even veteran merchants and woodsmen would find hard to traverse on the best of days!"
"I must concur, sire. The Anazoi Canyon seems like one of the most horrid places to conduct such a major battle in." Isaac was quick to affirm.
"Not necessarily. The narrow path ways, abundant foliage and steep, towering peeks can make for excellent terrain for ambushes and last stands." I replied darkly with mad stained words in a blood starved tone, bringing ghostly chills to all those present.
"But you are correct, that canyon would be an awful place to conduct a war in." I then quickly continued, my voice returned to it's eerie calm.
"Then why accept, my liege?" Abraham asked again.
"For two reasons. The first being that it gives our Qayanian friends an easier time doing what they must than if we fought in the Diomedes Plains and they had to pass through the Anazoi Canyon." I quickly explained as I raised my hand with my index finger raised, which quickly made those who were aware instantly nod in understanding, while those who didn't, which was mostly my brothers, to look at me with even more confusion.
Yet before they could ask, I raised my middle finger to stand next to his brother, as I continued "As for the second reason, it is simply because what we face this time is not an ordinary battle fought for ordinary reasons such as profits, glory or land; but in actuality was only a bored dragon's twisted game of gore and slaughter, played purely for the alleviation mere dullness." My words stunned those who heard them, as many of them had still not made peace with the idea of so much death happening for what truly and essentially was just a game.
Yet before they could even regain their bearings, I continued unflinchingly "A game where the two players are blind to both their own and their opponents pieces, over a board stretching an entire canyon of nearly impassable terrain; where every inch of advantage would cost dozens if not hundreds of lives to achieve..." I paused for a second, before finishing with an amused smile "What a truly macabre chess board you have created this time Maximillian."
