Chapter 1Heaven has turned its back upon the Empire.
Or perhaps, it was her that had allowed it to fall.
Solenne spat her blood at the mud, the sword in her hand heavy.
Soldiers ran around in chaos as the orders of retreat are shouted.It was her mercy that had left the Empire to this state.
It was her mistake that had allowed the rot to fester.
It was her own faith that had made her unable to see what must be done.
Now, what little army the Empire left, shattered
And once more. It falls upon her, and her duty to rise.The sounds of soldiers, rushing and shouting as chaos engulfed her camp.
A squad of knights flanked her, swords in their hands as blood and mud caked their armor.
She pressed her hand together, her pinky and ring finger curled in a prayer for forgiveness.
WIll this sin cleanse her soul? Or will this simply be her final one?She sighed at that thought as she stood before a tent.
One, decorated in gold, splashed with red and a three pointed star atop it.
Weapons raised up to stop her, as a knight spoke. "Princess, His Highness is busy."
She regarded them with mild distaste before she swiped the flaps aside.
Followed by the sounds of muffled screams, slitted throats behind her."Ah, sister. What do I owe the visit?" A man muttered, a sordid grin over his face.
His hands cupping breasts and asses of the prostitutes that he surrounded himself with.
She crossed her arms, "Anyone that doesn't wish to die, leave.""What! Wait, nooo." He tried to grab them as the women scattered.
He glared at her, "What is the meaning of this!"
"You ordered a retreat?" She asked, softly.
"I did, so what? We got beaten, it'd be best to just—"
"Our men are barely spent." She argued as she sat by his bedside.
"I'm injured, sister. I can't go out there with a wound." He gestured to his side.
"It is barely a cut." She glanced at it, a small cut of an arrow across his shoulder.
"It doesn't matter, I already ordered it so."She closed her eyes, perhaps this was her fault.
It was her indulgence that had left him in this state.
It was her protection that allowed him to live so naively.
Now, this sin shall be her consequence.She stood up as she threw the sword at his feet, "Take the weapon."
"What!? Why woould…"
She took off her gloves, "I am giving you the chance to stand for your life."
"Giving me… no." His eyes widened as her words settled.
She glared down at his laid form, "Get up, brother."
"I REFUSE!!! STAND DOWN!!!"
She removed her other glove, "Then die as you had lived, coward."
"Wait… stop." he threw his bottles at her, as it exploded across her form.
"Do not resist, this is simply the will of heaven." She muttered, the alcohol streaking across her cheeks like tears.
She embraced his throat with her hand, clenching his fingers as he scratched at her face.
"Die with resolve. Brother, die as the man you had lived as."
Tears streaked down his cheek, "Please… Mother…"
Her eyes hardened. "You had failed God,"
Her fingers clenched, "You had failed the Empire."
His breath hitched, "You had failed your people."
As the lights in his eyes dimmed she whispered, "You failed mother."
His hand sagged as blood dripped from his eyes, the weight of her sin, bearing down.
And yet, she clenched her hand, the blood splashing across her face as flames erupted from her fingertips, dancing between her fingers as it twisted, curled and roared into life.
Swallowing the tent in its entirety as the three pointed star bore down upon her.
The symbol of all she stood for, "One God, One Empire, One People."
She stepped away from her the tent, leaving behind the evidence of her sins as she roared. "My brother has died, his orders has been rendered invalid." She raised her hand as her voice reverberated across the camp, "Gather all the men, cease the order of retreat. We shall make a stand here."
The silence after her words were deafening as slammed her sword down, "And prove our faith to God!"
The ensuing roar consumed the camp as spears struck the ground like thunder,.
The setting sun, dyeing the sky red.
And after it came the darkness.
The flames of her camp roared further, the smoke hiding her army as it waited with bated breath.
She had her fingers together in prayer, her thumb and index curled together as the rest stood in prayer.
A prayer for victory.
And as if the world answered her call, the sight of men appeared across the horizon.
Torches raised and marches loud.
She knew Everine would know her brother would retreat, she knew he understood him.
More than she ever could. He was simply that kind of monster.
All she hoped was she understood herself more than he did.
And so it seems, she did.
Her spyglass surveyed the road before her. The line of troops marching across the paved road.
The officers standing atop the horses, eyes glancing across the tree line.
She waited with bated breath, eyes awaiting a prize as she hid beneath the smoke.
The horses around her, silenced by the spells on their muzzles.
Her knights awaited her orders to charge down with their shields, to tear through the tree line.
And take the head of the man that had burned the Empire she had bled for.
The same man, riding across the road.
Even with the spyglass, his smile gleamed beneath the ashy night, torches around him.
As his red eyes flitted past her, she can almost hear him laugh with the soldiers.
His relaxed smile, unbothered posture as he burned through her Empire, infuriated her.
And yet as his eye locked to her, she understood why called him the "Emperor of Blood".
Through the thick smoke dozens of fireballs pierced through. The intense heat vaporizing trees.
Before it slammed against her lines in a blaze of glory, she widened her eyes before hardening.
Her necklace lit up as she roared with a fierce howl that echoed across the trees. "Charge!!!"
With her voice, came the thunderous roar of hooves, thousand upon thousands charging down.
As flames flickered across her shields, and the trees blurred with their speed.
"Ready yourselves. Whoever takes Everine's head shall be promoted to an Earl!"
The resounding chorus, "Yes, Your Majesty!" Heralded their arrival.
As magic and steel clashed with tremendous forces, blood, bone smashing upon one another.
She tore through the line, with the men by her side. Spears smashing against her armor as she held tight, the lance in her hand lit up as it tore through bodies.
Blood splashed across her face as the sounds of around her lessened, the knights by her side faltered and the horse which stood on, fell.
Solenne stood up, the lance in her hand, heavy as she stared up at the man before her.
His eyes staring down upon her, with a charming smile as he spoke, "So, you've reached me."
"I have." She grunted, the lance in her hand, heavy with burden.
He stepped off his horse, a sword in hand. "I must say, you really were the only one."
Solenne grunted, leaving behind her lance as she charged at him, unsheathing her sword.
He stepped to the side and swatted her sword aside and buried his sword in her chest.
She widened her eyes, as her knees buckled.
He pulled the sword out as he chuckled, "Did that take your breath away?"
He shook his head. "It really was a pity, you realized your potential so late in the game."
"Do not mock me." Solenne whispered, her face warped in anger as she fell.
He caught her in his arms, "I am not, believe me. I've waited for you to change, to accept your heart and be the only one to understand me."
Solenne stilled as she met his eyes, one filled with longing and forlorn hope.
He held her hand, his warmth seeping through her hand. "I did admire you, for so long."
She coughed, "An admirer wouldn't—"
"We never were part of the norm, were we?" He asked, as the last of her consciousness vanished with a single whisper.
"I would have loved loving you."