The Union

It was the largest contingent of cavalry Emily had ever saw or heard or read about . The hors.e.m.e.n streaked across the gra.s.sland, making creases on the gra.s.s as they went . Lance pointed forward, they were a marvelous sight .

Balian"s knights mounted on their own horses . It was futile as their host was but a dust compared to the attacking force . Perhaps that was the only thing they could do- fight until they die, a sad life and a sad end . There was no honor in their resistance for there was no idea behind it .

The hors.e.m.e.n galloped with force . Emily saw the banners of all the tribes in the Great Plains rallying behind those of Castonia and Henry . These tribes had always been at each other"s throats, raiding each other for what little glory and gold they could take- as they have been for generations . These petty squabbles had always been the bane of all Tulosan monarchs and the reason why the west remained as an autonomous region of Tulosa .

But now the banners of old enemies rode together and as one . Emily remembered the vision of the Priestess . An armored man riding on a lion with horses behind shall cut off the serpent"s head . Whether she really saw this or planned as what Erik would have it, the vision came true .

The hors.e.m.e.n made contact with Balian"s knights . It was loud . Broken bones, bleeding wounds, shattered spears and crumpled armor- Emily saw them all . The knights fell like flies and died like snuffed candles in the dark . Some fled but were chased . Emily wasn"t an expert but it was apparent that they won .

It then occurred to her that it was over . The civil war had ended with this battle . The dark spot was now but a stain . She had become the Queen of Tulosa . She would rule and have her page in history beside the giants like Timothy Castonia, Lucia Vanadis, Erik Connnel and Henry Molt . She would be their ally in the wars to come . Perhaps Tulosa was destined for her and she was destined for Tulosa . People would surely talk for generations how she held a small fort against a larger force . She did nothing, she knew that much . The plans and defenses were made by her veterans . But she was the one who remained . She was the one who decided to hold the fort .

Brice and his wife escaped though . That was the only downside of this arrangement . But Emily had learned that there are more to life than revenge . Her mother could rest in peace even if the murderer and his wife roamed free . They were nothing to her now, not even worthy of her attention . She is the Queen, the ruler of Tulosa .

"It is over" Emily said .

**********

It wasn"t over . It would never be over until his breaths stopped . It would continue . He would not rest, not a single day until he comes back to power again . There were allies to be made in the south, powerful allies who feared The Union"s dominance . They would support him .

Balian rode with his knights back to their camp . Only a few dozen remained . His loyal ones were butchered . The remaining of his knights were fighting until the end .

"What now sire?" Dante asked him, bloodied face, bleeding arm and all .

"Calgari" Balian made his answer quick .

"But Calgari is too far away sire . Lutan would be better"

"Stupid boy . Do you think Lutan would still help us? We were lucky they sent us three sqadron of ships . They are afraid of Vanadis . They are frightened by Castonia . I bet they are going to appease the Union with gifts to make them forget this slight . If we go to Lutan we would become gifts"

"And the hostages sire?"

"We should take them with us" Balian cleaned his teeth with his tongue . The iron taste of blood was putrid "The Queen of Calgari has a certain interest in the Priestess"

When they reached the camp Balian ordered for the immediate preparations for their journey . In total he only had about a hundred knights left . He dismounted and made his way towards the tent where the hostages were housed . When he entered, a dagger was protruding on the side of Brice and Sharon was bleeding on the ground .

**********

"Are you disappointed by your daughter"s actions?" Brice asked Rain . There was no mockery in his tone, only curiosity .

"She had grown . I am proud of her . She would have both your heads eventually so don"t worry"

"Not with Calgari"s protection, she won"t . Balian is sending me and my wife to Calgari . We would be hostages but we would still live as royals . That"s a pretty good life . You, on the other hand, will face execution"

"Why does the Queen or Calgari want you?" asked Priestess Seymore .

"Who knows?" Brice shrugged and slumped his feet on the pole . "When I was still the King, she sent me requests to send you to her . And I mean, multiple requests . You two are old pals or something?"

"Perhaps the Great Rider"s wind touched her heart and she wants to bless her people with the Great Rider"s teachings" Priestess Seymore laughed lowly .

"Eh, no sane monarch would want your cult in their kingdom . Great Rider this, Great Rider that . All of you reek of horse manure . When I was still King, do you know how much headache the west gave me? Your backward and barbaric way of life is a curse for Tulosa"

"My son begs to differ" said Shirley"s mother "He once told me that it is admirable how the believers of the Great Rider would struggle to buy scented oil just for their faith . He said that if only the believers of the Omniscient are as pious as us, violence and war would not exist"

"Master Tobias is pious but you"ve heard the rumors . Piousness alone cannot bring peace" Sharon said .

"Maybe my son is quick to generalize after all but he still have a point . Faith is a strong force . Use it good, use it bad and you"ll have a result" Shirley"s mother said to the former Queen .

"You have a quick grasp on philosophy . But still . . . "

Shirley was the first one to see it . Her shock came before she could scream and her voice was stuck on her throat .

With a quick move, Royal Guard Rain stabbed Sharon"s chest with a dagger . Rain"s arms were free of the chains .

Blood wetted the aged woman"s dress . She grimaced in pain and her breathing became slow .

"No!" Brice leapt towards his wife with hands still chained . His wails were true and loud . He cried as he looked at his dying wife "Sharon don"t leave me . Talk . Scream at me . No, never mind . Just stay silent but breathe . Help!" Brice called but the guards were away "Help us you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!"

Sharon was on her last breaths . She smiled towards Brice, the first smile Shirley had seen from the former Queen . After that her eyes closed and never opened again .

"It took me several days to free my hands but it was well worth it" Rain said in a cold voice "The two of you will not escape justice"

"She was innocent from my sins!" Brice screamed while looking at the corpse "I was the one who did you wrong . I was the one who caused you pain . She loved your daughter as if her own! I know it . I saw it for many years . In her own way she loved Emily . I would have made Emily disappear a long time ago if not for her! And you killed her, took her away from me . It was my sins, not hers!"

"A life for a life, a wife for a wife . Equal sins, equal justice" Rain walked towards Brice and stabbed him on the side . The old former King accepted his death while looking at his wife . He didn"t even flinch as the blade entered his side .

The others inside the tent were shocked . Shirley"s eyes were dancing inside their sockets . She just witnessed two people die .

Someone then entered the tent . Balian"s face was b.l.o.o.d.y and grim . It turned darker when he saw what happened . Balian"s companion, six knights, hit Rain into submission . The Royal Guard was on the ground with bleeding but smiling mouth . He was again chained .

"You fool!" He pointed at Rain "The Queen of Calgari offered me a good amount for them!" Balian stared at the former monarchs of Tulosa . His fuming anger slowly ceased "Dante!"

With Balian"s call, a knight in armor entered . He was big with thick arms and had a wide chin .

"Sire?"

"Dispose of these two corpses" Balian gritted his teeth "Haul the rest with us"

Shirley, her mother, The Priestess, Earl Kolla and Rain were dragged by knights outside . But when they exited the tent, several hundred mounted knights already surrounded them . Unlike Balian and his men, the knights wore clean armor, shining under the sun . There was no trace of blood or dirt in them .

One of the knights raised the visor of his helm . It was her brother . Henry looked gallant in his armor . His knights were like banners of light . Henry looked at her and their mother before saying, "There"s no escape Balian . The Omniscient made it so . Let them go . You know you already lost"

For a moment, Shirley saw Balian"s expression turned mellow . She saw tiredness on his eyes . It was as if the old knight reflected on his life and just saw the futility of it all . Balian nodded weakly as he released Shirley from his grasp .

Shirley and the other hostages were taken by Henry"s knights . It was a nice feeling, being safe at last . For the past month she had been wondering each day if she would live another . Now she and her mother are safe .

"You don"t have the qualification Henry . Will you still take the cape of the Grand Master? The book of knights forbids it"

"Sometimes rules must be broken for the greater good . That is my burden, my sin . But I shall carry it until the day I pa.s.s the cloak"

"Nelson taught you well" Balian smiled "I wish you luck for your further path Henry . May the Omniscient bless you with strength and may you never stray from your path"

Balian raised his own sword towards his stomach . "Will you permit me with this last honor?"

"You deserve that much" Henry said

Balian nodded slowly . He raised his chin . In a calm voice he said, "All hail Grand Master Henry Molt"

Shirley closed her eyes when it happened . She cannot bear seeing another person die today . When she opened them, Balian was on the ground- lifeless . It was over .