Fall of an Empire: Lesser Gods, #1

Prologue

Gaelen watched as the nobles shoved more and more food into their mouths. He was sickened by their gluttony, but they were there under invite of the King. The food in front of the swordmage was just as tantalizing as the rest. He pushed aside the hunger and resumed his task. King Larian suspected foul play that night and Gaelen had been chosen to root out any mages that might be plotting against the King. His compatriots, Ellos and Ylaren, each had their own specialty to compliment his. The massive, axe-wielding, Ellos stayed alert watching for any soldiers while Ylaren had the job of spotting assassins or thieves. The three had worked together on numerous occasions, all of which had ended well for them and their employer.

Anything? Their crew leader, Albon, asked.

The high priest hasn’t touched his wine, Gaelen repled, still somewhat unfamiliar with magical communication.

Is he devout? Unless he worships one of lesser-known gods, his tenets likely speak against drunken revelry. Which deity does he worship?

Wenthel, Lord of Harvests.

Keep an eye on this high priest. Wenthel oversees the harvests of the vine. I find it strange that one of his followers would avoid the fruits of his god.

Gaelen sighed as he looked up at the high priest. The man war far too weak to be a real threat and there was no hint of magic about him. Albon entered the room from one of the side chambers and stood between the King and the priest. He whispered something in Larian’s ear and the King’s eyes went wide. They both turned toward the high priest. The feeble looking man stood up from his chair and rebuked the two of them. Gaelen stood up from his chair and drew his sword. The feel of the room had gone sour. He had the sense that there was a powerful magic at work. A sharp pain exploded in the center of his back. He spun as he crashed to the floor. A foul looking creature stood over him with a bloody knife in hand. The thing’s lips curled up into a sadistic smile, revealing a set of fangs. It licked the blood on the knife before kneeling next to the dying swordmage.

May the shrouded one embrace you, it said.

Chapter 1

The ocean spray pelted Sven as he leaned against the railing of the ship. A light fog had permeated the air that evening. He let out a sigh as he turned back from the railing. Katya held little Brya in her arms while Otto held onto her leg. The blacksmith squinted as the winds picked up. He motioned for them to head back into the cabin as the sails ruffled in the wind. The Captain nodded to them as he looked up from his desk. His ship was too small for multiple cabins and he had agreed to let them use his own. Sven and the Captain headed back on deck. They stared out over the water for a moment before either of them spoke.

I’ve made this trip hundreds of times. Something isn’t right with the winds. We’ve been fighting them since we left port. The fog too. I tell you, blacksmith, something bad is on the horizon, the Captain said.

That isn’t my area of expertise. I’ve noticed changes as well. The three kingdoms have taken an interest in my wares of late, Sven said.

The Jerugal Empire is gearing up for an invasion, or so the rumors say. This war has stretched on for years, but their new Emperor seeks to end it. The three kingdoms have been putting all their resources toward the defense. They are looking for an advantage against the Empire. Where do you fit into all of this?

Things have changed lately. Some of my normal wares have become infused with magical properties. I can find no rhyme or reason to it, but it is happening. The three kingdoms got wind of it and promised me a great deal of gold in exchange for my services.

Choosing sides can be a dangerous move these days. Though failing to choose can be just as bad. Both sides have been destroyed great swaths of the disputed lands in their efforts to end the war. Many innocents have been caught in between. I would advise caution for you and your family.

Sven nodded as he looked over at the Captain. His words held a wisdom that seemed to stretch beyond that of what he would have expected for a simple ship’s Captain. The gods may have already made the choice for me, the blacksmith thought, they’ve certainly made their presence known. Sven looked down at the knife that hung from his belt. The dagger has been his first enchanted weapon, which should have been impossible without an enchanter on hand, even then it wouldn’t have held its enchantment for more than a few days. In the mind of the blacksmith, this impossibility meant divine intervention. His new job arming the people of the three kingdoms allowed greater access to his wares, something that he believed the gods desired of him.

KERMAC EASED THE WAGON along as they neared the border into the three kingdoms. King Willem had upped the number of patrols since the rumors about the Empire’s planned invasion. The dwarf was well-known across human and dwarven nations alike. His specialty was the wide variety of weapon types, but his general fares were accepted as well. Official armies were more likely to buy his spears, swords and shields, but the local populace and many of the roving mercenary bands liked to think themselves skilled with axes, morning stars, and other various weapons from his inventory. All that mattered to the dwarf was the sale. He cared little about how his customers fared in battle. This gave him a reputation among elves and some of the more concerned humans, but that never stopped Kermac.

Back so soon? One of the soldiers asked as the wagon slowed to a stop.

I go where the customers are. With the Empire breathing down your necks, this is the place to be, Kermac answered.

More of the same?

Seven wagonloads this time, plus five more tomorrow and six the day after. I’ve brought every wagon that I own.

We understand the money is good, but we appreciate your bringing us these supplies all the same. King Willem will want to purchase most of your wares, you should head for Inado as fast as you can.

Kermac nodded as he spurred his horse forward. The advice given by the guard was sound, but the dwarf had a riskier plan in mind. He looked over at the border fort as he rode past. The structure was small compared to those that bordered the disputed lands, but that said more about the southeastern fortifications than anything. On his first visit to the three kingdoms, there had been a simple village there, but the fifty or so years since had not been kind to the three kingdoms. The humans’ ability to adapt had been the only thing that saved them during the war against the dragon warlord. Their luck has held longer than it should have, Kermac thought. His opinion was shared by most historians, human or otherwise. The civil war had followed the war with the dragon warlord. Now, Emperor Jeros IX’s armies knocked on their door, threatening to topple the remaining three kingdoms. The dwarf shook his head as he thought about the history of the kingdoms.

Something the matter, sir? Ranse, one of his trusted employees asked.

Just thinking about the volatility of the human race, lad. You’ll come to see it in time, too, Kermac replied.

I’ve already seen some of it. Twenty summers may not be much to our people, but for half of my life the three kingdoms have been at war with the Empire.

Aye, I’ve seen three of their wars in my lifetime, lad. Before the war on the dragon warlord, there were six kingdoms. That war lasted fifteen years. Soon after that, a civil war started and eventually resulted in three kingdoms and the disputed lands. Now, they are at war with the empire. Altogether, they’ve been at war for more than half of my eighty-nine years.

What of the elves? I know little of how they ended up as servants to the three kingdoms. How can such proud warriors be subservient?

Simple, they don’t see it as subservience. The elves brought together the seven kingdoms. Three belonged to the elves and four to the humans. One of the human kingdoms broke off and became what is now the Jerugal Empire. Four centuries later and a warlord invaded, defeating one of the human kingdoms. Both humans and elves alike were disappointed with how it was handled and the five kingdoms fought. In the end, the human controlled kingdoms were victorious, but they accepted their elven allies as a part of the three kingdoms, Kermac replied.

That would explain Elwyn.

Aye, but enough talk. Look sharp lad, we want to spot potential customers or bandits before they spot us.

ELWYN GAZED DOWN AT the map in front of him. His scouts had reported the latest in the Empire’s troop movements, giving him an up-to-date view of the situation. He slid one of the figures around the back behind where the Empire’s army was depicted and two in front of it. We’ll crush them from here to the other side of the disputed lands, he thought. His Lieutenants rushed out of the command tent to deliver the new orders. The elven General let out a sigh as he turned away from the map. A seemingly endless stream of wars had taken their toll on him. His people were warriors, but they preferred to choose their wars wisely. They saw the humans as something of warmongers for their recent wars.

Why must we be so plagued with these wars? Elwyn wondered aloud as he exited the tent.

We have thrown our lot in with the three kingdoms and so their wars have become our wars, Nyna replied.

Priestess, I had not seen you. Your words ring true, but we have as much stake in these wars as the humans.

We have been lax in our responsibilities. Our kind has always balanced out the more rash side of the human race.

Is it not presumptuous to think that we should be the world’s arbitrator? We are no better than the humans, the dwarves, the goblins, or any other race. Our place is beside them, accepting our part in all of this.

We should never have sided with the humans in the civil war. They may have been in the right, but there was no reason to attach ourselves to them in such a way.

They gave us no other choice. The world does not welcome us as they once did. We needed the humans as allies to be certain that we could survive.

The two elves ended their conversation as they watched the army begin to march. Their own roles didn’t require as much urgency, but the army moving also meant moving the command post and the medical tent. Elwyn glanced over at Nyna. Her presence was both a comfort and a worry. She was the best healer in the three kingdoms, but she was also a close friend. This war will have its share of casualties, he thought, hopefully she will be safe behind our lines. The years had not been kind to the elves. Their numbers had dwindled due to the recent wars. Elwyn was particularly perturbed by this fact and it influenced how he dealt with fellow elves.

XANDROS CACKLED AS he sharpened his sword. The goblin’s blade was significantly worse quality than those of his fellow imperial soldiers, but he liked to keep it well maintained. His orders had come directly from General Wallek. He turned to his small group of goblin warriors. They were all following suit and sharpening their swords. Xandros was to wait for Ryzar and then head into the disputed lands with the assassin and raid the towns closest to the three kingdoms. The hope was that the raids would force the three kingdoms to investigate the attacks. Where is that assassin? he wondered, this mission could bring us much glory. As if upon calling, the assassin strode out of the darkness and stood near the fire. His near seven feet in height had him towering over humans, dwarves, and goblins alike. He wore a hood and cloth that covered most of his face.

You’ve arrived, assassin, good. We are yours to command, Xandros said.

The Emperor spoke highly of his goblin hordes, I do hope that you won’t disappoint, Ryzar said, his voice sounding as deadly as he looked.

We serve the Emperor with our lives.

Have you been informed of our mission?

Pillaging and raiding the disputed lands.

Yes, that is the first step. When I am satisfied with the amount of chaos we’ve sown, you will head north and meet up with the main column of the army. Understood? The assassin asked.

Of course, but what about you?

Our paths separate when I say. I will infiltrate the three kingdoms and assassinate their leaders.

You’ll stand out like a sore thumb.

The Emperor has taken care of it. Are your men ready to march?

Yes, assassin, Xandros answered.

The goblin motioned for the others to pack up camp as the assassin stared off into the night. They slung their packs over their shoulders and followed the strange being into the unknown. Xandros could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he hurried forth. The assassin’s thirst for blood was contagious. Best to keep an eye on this one, the goblin thought, he is far from normal. He found himself wondering what it was that the Emperor had put in charge of his small band of miscreants. Too tall for a goblin and too bulky for a troll, the assassin was both quick and powerful. The goblin couldn’t help but feel as though Ryzar had been created with the sole purpose of killing. A shiver went down Xandros spine as he tried to shove the thought away.

THE HUNTER KNELT DOWN to examine the dirt. His eyes were attuned to detect that which few others could. The pulsing lines came from the north, meaning there was a magic node nearby. He grabbed the spear off his back and followed the magical roots toward their origin. A group of glowing objects appeared up ahead. They protect their nodes, he thought, what strange creatures. A projectile shot up into the sky. The light source was both natural and magical, undoubtedly a beacon to warn the mages of an intruder. Orryck took a deep breath as he centered himself. The majority of the glowing objects were blue, indicating a pure magic user or construct, but two of them were red. He crouched low as he peered over the fallen log. His opponents were five mages and three constructs. Two of the magicians glowed the crimson red of an unclean mage.

You’ve had your fun, now reveal yourself to us, the center mage, whose glow was the brightest and bluest, said.

I am not here for you. Two of your number are slated for death, the other three may leave without incident, the hunter said.

I’ve known the four of them for years, I would put my life in their hands.

Their magic is tainted, twisted, and corrupt, much like their souls. They are the pawns of an evil god. I can see it with my eyes.

The mages hesitated as the hunter approached. He could see the three untainted magicians were beginning to question their vile companions. His appearance had seemingly alerted them to what they had already suspected. We shall see if the mages of the mainland are worthy of my prowess, he thought. The leader of the mages looked back to Orryck.

How do you know that they are corrupted? He asked.

Vile magic always corrupts, but their souls may have been tainted before they tasted the sweet waters of malignant magic. They must be stopped. Their mere presence near the node could have adverse effects. I believe the only reason the fount stays pure is your own presence, the hunter replied.

Why should we believe you?

I am a stranger to you, you cannot go on my word alone. However, I suspect that my words have struck a chord that already exists within your minds. A suspicion that your fellows are not trustworthy.

What if we refuse to participate in the battle? One of the other virtuous mages asked.

Then I shall end them myself.

Our order requires that we stay our hand against others within the order, but we will not stop you, their leader said.

His words were met with a snarl from the corrupted mages. Orryck smiled as he approached the two. One of the mages thrust her staff forward, sending an icicle at the hunter. He rubbed the bracelet on his left hand before charging forward. His bracelet lit up as the icicle crashed into an invisible barrier. The two mages attempted follow up spells, but the hunter’s tools cut them off from their nodes. Two quick thrusts with his spear and the mages were down. He dropped down to one knee and said a prayer of thanks before releasing his hold on the magical node.

AURICK STOOD AT ATTENTION with his hands behind his back. Not all of the recruits had chosen such a stance, despite it being a safe choice for nearly any situation. This particular instructor, Yve, cared less about the rules and more about the results. Her eyes came to rest on Aurick, the youngest cadet in the latest batch of officer trainees. She glanced down the line at the others before taking a step back. The opening ritual was well-known, but not without import. More often than not, instructors singled out two students. One to represent the highest potential and one to represent the lowest. This meant little once the lessons began, but it would give a starter reputation that each student would either need to live up to or need to get rid of.

Are the three kingdoms so weak that all we can muster is this bit of riffraff? Yve asked.

We will more than live up to the reputation of the officers of the three kingdoms, Aurick answered, after a bout of silence from the rest of the cadets.

His answer was met with the hushed whispers of his fellow students. Some echoed his sentiment while others implied his nose would need a good cleaning. The instructor looked over her students, stopping periodically to further examine or intimidate some of the cadets. Her gaze melted the smiles and sneers from the faces of Aurick’s fellows. He couldn’t help but feel as though there was a fairness behind those eyes that put his mind at ease.

Maybe there is one or two of the dozen of you that can make it as an officer. The rest of you will be given a chance to be drafted into our army as regulars, she said.

HIGH PRIEST SARIN LIFTED his glass of wine in the air before taking a giant swig. The room was now devoid of savages. Their insistence on slobbering over food, smacking their lips, and lack of overall decorum had put the high priest on edge. He nodded to his henchmen, signaling that their work was done for the night. What a great night it has been, he thought as he stepped closer to the King. This Albon and his crew had made things a bit more interesting for Sarin. Enough so that he decided to bring them along as well. His master asked for no such thing, but they both knew he enjoyed to gamble.

Not like he can kill me if he doesn’t like it, he muttered as he placed the necklace around the King’s neck.

A few moments later and he had similar jewelry arrayed on the four who had tried to stop him. He took a deep breath before tapping the ruby on his own necklace. The world around him vanished, replaced by a cold dark nothingness. He shivered as he waited for his destination to materialize. His master, on occasion, enjoyed making others wait in what he called the void. The man can be downright obnoxious, he thought, if he can even be called a man. Killick’s humanity was not a topic that many brought up to the master of shadows, as he called himself. Sarin knew him as a man once, but that had been over a century ago.

I see you’ve been busy, the master said.

Merely doing your bidding, Killick, Sarin replied a his master’s study appeared.

This is four more than I asked for. What purpose do these others serve?

They nearly saw through my disguise in time. I spent over a year gaining the King’s confidence and it took them less than an hour to identify me as the aggressor.

You never cease to intrigue me, Sarin. I want you recruiting for our march to the Jerugal Empire. The goddess of death hungers. Our neighbors to the north have given up on their gods. The shrouded one stirs. He is restless. His mistress seeks to walk among us. Our time is coming.

The goddess of death will make an appearance? This is a joyous event. Will not the other gods seek to destroy her? Sarin asked.

Some may risk open confrontation and others will seek champions and pawns. The world is changing, my apprentice. We must change with it. Tonight we open the vault of treasures. You and one of your minions shall get to choose items from the vault.

ENAYRA WATCHED AS HELLENE lifted her staff into the air. Water welled up from below the ground, creating a large ball. The instructor twisted her staff and the water began twirling around her. A swath of the water separated from the rest and a spout of fire shot out form the center of the hole. Hellene let the water fall back down and reabsorb into the ground. She turned toward Enayra and nodded. The apprentice wizard stepped forward and raised her own staff. A chunk of dirt lifted into the air and formed into a wall in front of her. The wall opened in the center to allow for a burst of air. Enayra let the dirt fall before turning to her teacher.

Well done, your form is getting better, Hellene said.

Why must I learn to combine by elements when attacking? Enayra asked.

Power is not everything, child. We must learn to improvise. When a magician sees their opponent using water magic, they expect an attack from that element. If you hit them with the opposite element, you may be able to take them by surprise.

You are teaching us to fight other wizards?

Yes, Meronia is not the only nation capable of training magicians. Nor do all those who we train stay on the right path. The world can be a dangerous place, especially for magic users. We must be vigilant.

I was under the impression that our lessons would focus on dealing with the coming invasion.

You think that the Empire has no magicians? Hellene asked.

No, I suppose it would be ignorant to think that, Enayra replied.

You are not ignorant, you are young. However, you are also learning quickly. We are going to send you to join the three kingdoms defense force.

I’m not certain that I am prepared for that.

You’ll do fine. General Elwyn has a contingent of mages that you will be a part of.

EMPEROR JEROS IX CLENCHED his jaw as he watched two of his Generals argue. He wanted to confront them, but he couldn’t afford to let them see him lose control. The reputation of the Emperor had already taken enough of a hit from the recent assassinations and the newly appointed Emperor wanted his subjects to fear and respect him more than they had his father. At the same time, he had to be careful not to look as though he were wresting control from his injured father. Death would be a boon for him, he thought, even if he is family. His surviving siblings were much easier to get a handle on. Neither had aspirations of taking his throne. They were happy living in the lap of luxury. The Emperor pushed aside the thoughts of his family as Halifan, one of his most trusted Generals, approached.

Have you managed to secure your place as Emperor? Halifan asked.

My father could present a problem if he ever recovers. Mostly everyone understands that we need to unite under a new Emperor. Not all of them agree that it should be me. Jeros replied.

Krinus would not dare take over as Emperor and I cannot imagine anyone else having the backing to make such a move.

True, but we must stay vigilant. He is not only volatile General in my army. If even three were to unite together, they could form a decent sized resistance.

Wellak and I are yours to the end. You only have five Generals, my lord. The only person Davrik hates more than you is Krinus. For now, we are safe. We should focus on repaying the three kingdoms for their treachery.

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve already arranged for Ryzar to infiltrate their kingdoms and eliminate their leaders.

Do you trust him? Halifan asked.

No, but his mission is not one that he will return from. We won’t be dealing with him ever again. I just hope he can deal some amount of damage before they catch him.

I knew you were the man to give my allegiance to. Keep these orders between us. We do not want our enemies knowing our true strengths.

THE WANDERER THREW dirt on the campfire before slinging his pack over his shoulder. He set off toward the other side of the valley. The Jerugal Empire controlled a vast expanse, most of which he had already seen in his travels. Their neighbors were on his list of places to visit. Rumors of dragons and other legendary beasts had drawn his attention. His goal was to seek out renowned landmarks and hunt down rumors of the impossible. He considered himself to be more of a wandering adventurer than a historian, a sightseer, or a hunter. The pursuit of these grand locations and beasts was for personal gain and not for others. Strangers sometimes found this short sided of him, but he cared little for the opinions of anyone else. He took in the surrounding valley one last time before heading out. The valley exited onto a decent sized road that stretched forward through miles and miles of farmland. His presence on the road was mostly