“Empress!” The guard half kneeled, half fell on the stones. I waited for him to catch his breath before asking about the message. “Empress. The youth is approaching the city.” I set my book down. “How far away is he?” “No more than a day's ride my lady.” “That doesn't give us much time does it.” I turned to the guard. “Your name is Bhuzeir right?” “Yes your highness.” “Alright then Bhuzeir. I need you to evacuate all civilians, city and palace personnel before they get here. There's no telling how far the battle will range.” “Yes Empress.” I thought for a moment before calling after him. “And Bhuzeir, make certain that you get Perel out. He has a tendency to hide.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This one was fast. There's usually a few hours after we get everyone out before the attackers arrive but it couldn't have been more than a half an hour. The wind was blowing the dust from the riders up over the rampart I was standing on. I waited until the youth had reached the open city bridge before going inside. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He made quick time through the city. I didn't have to wait in the throne room long. He was young and small, not much older then Perel. A child. Of course he was. They always were. “So, boy.” My voice boomed, echoing across the vaulted hall. “You've come to challenge me.” This one was rather quiet. He didn't argue with me. Didn't plead for me to “see the light”. Didn't give his own speech. Just gave me a wordless grimace and raised his sword. I walked over to him with a lackadaisical stride. “Well I see you’re not too chatty. That's good. I don't like people who run their mouth.” We both stood ready. Sword tips nearly meeting. The tense moment before a fight. Energy sparking off both of us. Waiting, building like water behind a dam. Then an explosion. Attack. Parry. Riposte. Step forward. Parry. Lunge. Retreat. Bait. Beat. Block. A stray bolt of magic blasting a hole in the far wall. He was well trained. I was actually having to put effort into not being hit. Minutes passed and his demeanor changed. He was tiring and panicking. He had realized that there was no way I couldn't win. I began to gain ground. Driving him back toward the throne. He stumbled on the steps. Flailed his sword in one last attempt and struck me shoulder. And then... It was over. The spell broke. The energy was gone and had left the smell of blood, sweat, and singed clothes in its wake. I dropped my sword and lifted the boy up onto my throne. I waved a hand in front of his face, muttering the words to a spell under my breath. His eyes changed. It's not that they weren't focused, just focused on something in the distance, on what I was showing him. “What's your name?” “Peter.” His answer came back soft and quiet. “Peter. I had a brother named Peter. Tell me Peter what do you see?” “The world. This world.” “You're not from here are you Peter?” “No. But neither are you right?” I smiled sadly. “No I'm not...Have you enjoyed it here?” He seemed to think for a minute. “Yes I've loved it.” “Do you miss your home?” “Yes. But it would've been worth it to save this world.” “It's alright Peter. You did wonderfully. It wasn't your fault.” I strengthened the spell. He could no longer hear me, couldn't even tell he was in the throne room at all. This was always the worst. I took the knife off my belt. He didn't feel a thing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I shifted the body in my arms to put my hand onto the stone wall. “Ostium invenire.” Glowing lines spread into the shape of an archway and I stepped through into the darkened room. The walls of the mausoleum seemed to loom, eagerly awaiting another occupant. I gently set him down in an empty space and laid his sword across his body. It was only after I re-entered the throne room that I saw how hurt I was. My clothes were soaked and stiffened with blood. The world began to swim before me. I shot two bolts of magic skyward before falling to the ground and blacking out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I groaned and put a hand to my pounding temples as I sat up on the bed. “Good you're awake. I don't have to tell you how foolish it was to not call for assistance earlier then? That sword hit an artery.” The old apothecary shuffled over to me. I flopped back down. “I feel awful Goudis.” “Well you did almost bleed to death so I wouldn't expect you to be feeling too peachy. By the way Dhind has been pacing a hole in my rug for a few hours now. I'll let him know you're awake.” A moment later the door was nearly torn off its hinges as a towering mountain of a man ran in. “Sierra!” “Yes, Dhind I'm alright. No need to worry.” Dhind sat down beside me. I've always been impressed by the strength of any piece of furniture that can hold him. Goudis saw his chance to make a timely exit and took it. Dhind spoke as the door shut. “You almost died this time.” “Yes. I did. The Elders are at least having the foresight to prepare them a bit better now.” “Sierra, do you believe what you’re doing, what we're doing is right?” A long quiet. “No. No i don't.” His surprise was obvious. “Then all of this? All the iron rule, the warmongering, the dead children, this-this has all been for nothing?!” I sat on the edge of the bed and put my hand on his. “Dhind. I never said it was for nothing. I said it wasn't right. All that fighting I did. Becoming the Divine Hand. That was right. I freed people. I freed the land. I just didn't free them from the right person. Someday someone will come who can defeat me. They will kill me. But I know that if they can do that they can vanquish the Elders.” “Do you...How will this…” He sighed. “What about Perel?” I took time to plan my words before I spoke. “Perel has a moral compass like I have never seen before and the courage to stand up to anyone, even us if he believes they wish ill to a person. He will be just fine. Even with me working against him. We are the nebula. He is the protostar. He is going to take our rubble and build a kingdom to be proud of. He will outshine all of history.”
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