Lucas walked with Rederick toward the mountain slope.Kruger, Albaras, and Morsan had already gone up,while Lucas’s detachments stayed behind.In the dead of night, as they walked, they saw an orange glow rising from deep within the woods.Almost a day away.

  Both looked at each otheras Lucas returned to his detachment to give orders to move out. Rederick held his place,waiting for his assigned regiment.Ten men came to him, and together they walked into the forest. Lucas took the rest and walked around it with torches in hand.

  Rederick moved through the forest with his company.They came not only closer to the fire,but the fire came closer to them as well. The men-at-arms who followed Rederickhad already drawn their weapons out of instinct. Accepting that the weight now had to be carried. Unlike Rederick, who still carried everything on his back and at his sides.Still, they looked determined to push through.

  Following Rederick closely up the mountain. ’Ready, boys. In the dark is where you find nightmares,but remember, nightmares are just dreams.’ Rederick called out to the back.

  Some of the men showed a grin. Relaxing more in their stance. Instead of holding battle-ready, they began following Rederick’s lead, doing as he did.Putting their shields over their shoulders. They kept their swords in hand. Walking ever farther toward the fire.

  Lucas moved around the forest with his men. Half had bows at the ready, while the others had spears and shields. The ones with spears bashed them against their shieldsto make as much noise as possible, the thunder of war. Once a figure came into sight an archer picked them off. Their path was slow yet undeniably loud.As darkness moved in the forest beside them.The enemy was mustering for an attack. Lucas kept his men moving.Whatever the enemy might bring. Their armor and their weaponswould push back the rabble and bring order to this part of the land.

  Let them gather. around. Lead them away from their homes. Let them attack when the moment comes. That means the plan works.That means the rebel scum will be swept away by hunters and warriors. For glory and protection. Lucas swung his sword in the air. His men turned toward the forest, shields at the front. Archers in the back. Enough space between the shields so that the archers could fire. Lucas and a few others with torchesthrew them into the forest,lighting up the grass beneath. Shadows were seen,and the archers loosed arrows at them.The shadows went deeper into the forest. Lucas and his men stood still, ready to follow the fire that lit their way to their enemies. Lucas took his shield from his back,the thunderbolt of his house lighting up with the orange glow of the fire, replacing its white.The meaning of its strengthturned into one of wrath.

  ‘FOR THE EMPERIUM!’ Lucas yelled as his men entered the woods.The fire followed around them as if it were a living torch. Lucas followed the fire line, as if it were an arena.‘CIRCLE!’ he commanded his troops to close ranks.Most of the front line had taken position as the mob began their attack.They jumped through the fire. The wind seemed to slow with each one until it deafened. The archers reacted swiftly at their backs, already letting their arrows fly until the spearmen could take their place.

  As the mob rushed in, a light rose into the sky in the distance, far beyond the forest fire. A golden and purple glow mixed together. A reverse lightning bolt. The fire of hell burning towards heaven. Lucas gaped at it. Noticing that the mob and his own soldiers were also drawn to its glow.Lucas yelled at them to get back into position. While the mob screamed in victory, as if they had already won the battle.Lucas took one final look at the light as it disappeared into the sky. His soldiers were already busy setting up a defense. The mob knew what it meant. That light.If they were so glad about it, then what would it mean for us?Lucas turned his head back to his detachment.They followed their orders to the letter. Driving away the rabble who tried to force themselves into the circle. The archers moved swiftly between the shields. Waiting for any of the mob to try to jump over the shields. It took a moment before the attack stopped.

  Lucas could feel what that light might mean.’Attack up the hill. Take them down. Don’t let them reach the light’s source.’He called out. His men acted swiftly. From a circle into an open line with their archers in between.They began to march up the mountain. The forest fire was still growing in the distance.

  The detachment moved deeper into the forest. Banging their bloodied spears against their shields like thunder.Archers who hadn’t used their torches took them up.

  ’Let them know we are here. That the Emperium has seen them. That theStraumr’s have arrived. LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. FEELING AND SOUND. WE WILL BRING.’

  He held his sword high, pointing up the mountain. His shield was close at his side for quick movement where needed. They all knew they were being followed, yet they could do nothing during their advance. Lucas knew what would happen if they reached their destination. Hold to the plan, his honor. The burning desire to commit what he believed was the righteous act of killing rabble. A bright future awaits.

  The smell of the forest fire came their way. Ash. Burning... Skin? As they smelled it, they stopped. Lucas turned around. ‘Can you smell that? Do you want that to happen to this county, or are we here to put an end to this?’Spears were raised in the air.Lucas turned, and a beast’s shadow was seen as it blocked the fire behind him. ‘Greetings, humans.’ It said as it turned its bo-staff, which had crescent blades like axes at either end.‘For those who have already been sacrificed, I will say this only once. Turn around.’ It said. Lucas looked at it. There was no mistaking the figure. A beastkin. ‘You are the one ruling this mob?’Lucas wrung out. ’The wild was granted to your kind. Civilization was entrusted to ours.’ His men moved into a line.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The beast turned sideways as if ready to run.What would be different for those creatures upon seeing the might of the Emperium?

  Behind the beast, some rabble came into sight. He moved his bo-axe to his side. As he told them something. One second he stood there; the next, he had closed almost half the distance. He was one of those types. Lucas called out, ’S!′ That was enough for the men to understand what needed to be done. Arrows flew toward the beast as he descended.

  Even as some of the arrows hit true, the creature didn’t stop.Spears were thrust forward to pierce him with his own momentum.A spear pierced his shoulder, yet he still didn’t stop.He rammed into the shields, forcing them to break under his charge.Even as he tumbled through them. Lucas pointed toward some of his men. ‘Take the rabbits. The lion is mine.’Lucas made his way toward the creature as his men took position and slowly advanced toward the rabble.’Lucas Straumr, your personal judge, jury, and executioner.’

  The beast rose with a growling laugh.‘How appropriate to call yourself that.’

  As Lucas moved closer, he disrupted the beast’s speech. ‘I demand your name. The rest I do not care for.’

  The beast rose, now standing three heads taller than Lucas ’Remember this, human. Grummulde of the Terrans.’ He spun his bo-axe as if in practice.Lucas could hear some of his bones crack. A smile crept up. Lucas braced his sword against his shield to stabilize it for a thrust. Grummulde tried to run toward him. His own leg failed to gain the momentum of his usual blitz.

  Lucas put one knee forward and his other leg back. Ready to brace for the charge. Grummulde thrust his bo-axe from his side.There was no way that a wounded beast could do anything, especially if he was just the leader of some rabble.

  Lucas parried it with his sword, and as Grummulde got closer, Lucas bent through his knees, making himself smaller.Using his shield to bash the leg where he could have sworn he had heard the creaking sound.

  Grummulde took his distance with a snarl.Twisting his bo-axe and bringing it down on top of Lucas. Lucas could only lift his sword, letting the bo-axe glide beside him.In his lower stance, Lucas could do little in return, already pressing his shield into his opponent and needing his sword to keep the bo-axe away.He slowly tried switching the positions of his shield and sword. Looking straight at the open space between the legs where a sword could be slipped in.

  Grummulde pulled his bo-axe back, making sure the blade would catch between the edges of its axe head.Then he thrust it into the ground, using his stature and stance for more power to force Lucas to let go of his blade.

  While losing a blade is not optimal, it does open other options. Lucas pulled out a rondel dagger, grabbing whichever weapon he could reach first. As Lucas stabbed, Grummulde yanked his bo-axe toward Lucas. Slashing his armor around the throat and tearing into the arm that held the shield. Before Lucas could make use of that arm, Grummulde felt pain course through his leg. Even though Lucas wore a open helmet, he gave Grummulde a headbutt..Knocking them both away from each other.Lucas got up, picking up his sword beside him.As he stood, he rolled his other arm to test how it felt and how it moved. ’Though one and fast one, rare to see a beast with multiple abilities.’

  He moved his shield to his side while using his sword to hold everything off on the other. ‘Lightening doesn’t die by wounds.’ Trying to look high and mighty. Nobility would never stoop so low as savagery.

  Grummulde leaned against his bo-axe, which was buried in the ground to hold him up.‘No, it already dies in its descent.’Then he pulled his bo-axe out of the ground. ’Second verse, let’s see if it is the same as the first.’he said with a smirk and a growl.

  Lucas moved closer, ignoring his wounds that were bleeding into his armor.The blood got into his mouth with each breath he took.The open air burned in his wounds.Grummulde could barely stand with the dagger in his leg and the other leg almost broken. Yet he still dared to stand proudly.As if he were equal, as if he had a reason to keep fighting like us.What would await him if he won?Only a meal from the corpse he defeated, surely.

  Both closed in. Grummulde tried to thrust at Lucas’ leg. Lucas brought his shield down to stop it. Pushing the bo-axe away and closing the distance.Grummulde dropped his weapon and leapt at Lucas. Lucas thrust, but because of the sudden movement, couldn’t aim where he wanted.Letting the sword glance off the armor into the air. Grummulde crashed into Lucas. Tearing at him with his claws. Lucas tried to push the beast off him,as Grummulde tore at his face.Foul trickery of a beast. Lucas could feel no fear, only anger. How dare he attack with nail and tooth.

  Grummulde wanted to remove Lucas’ remaining eye.Before his nails could reach it, arrows came flying in One hitting Grummulde’s shoulder and another hitting him in the cheek.Grummulde rolled off Lucas. And scurrying away into the darkness as some men of Lucas’ detachment came to him. ‘The rabble that was with the animal is dealt with, sir.’ one of the men said as he knelt next to Lucas and began treating his face with the few supplies they had.Lucas wanted to bellow out orders. That waiting would do nothing for the future. Only a gurgle of blood came out. He stared into the sky.The animal had escaped.His men stood still, and he himself could only lie and think in pain as his adrenaline faded under the night sky.

  Grummulde dared to get back up, almost falling over again, as he had nothing to lean against. Instead, he used the trees around him for support and slowly walked down the mountain path, until he lost feeling in his body and slid to the ground. Using all his strength, he crawled against a tree, just to sit more comfortably. He pulled out the rondel to hold as a weapon. A last act of defiance if Heiron’s men came, or those soldiers. No good men would bleed here again. No heroic act would lead to death.