Two hundred warriors of the Cairn tribe, led by their Dusk King marched into the Villa District. Marek glanced at his warriors standing in the rain. They were covered in blood, so their own, most their enemies’. They had crossed several districts and fought hundreds of Hollow Shade soldiers and battle mages to get here. Most of his warriors had perished, but every life sacrificed was worth it.
They stood in front of the silver gates of an enormous manor, far larger than the neighboring manors.
Of course, it had to be, thought Marek.
This was after all the manor of the Helenes, one of the wealthiest rchant families in the entire Ebon Realm. They were not just a Great House, they were a Ruling House.
Once, long ago, after the fall of the Ebon Lords, the Helenes were only a Minor House, but their leader at the ti betrayed their liege, the Royal House of Thorn. It was thanks to that betrayal that the current Ruling Houses were able to defeat House Thorn in the civil war. Thanks to their contribution, House Helene was elevated not only to a Great House, but they also managed to claim a seat of power in the newly ford City Council, earning the title of one of seven Ruling Houses.
Tamora had told her son Marek the story many tis as a child. He should have learned back then the true aning of her stories; to never trust his aunt, Alessandra, or any Helene for that matter. Their family’s power was ford from betraying others. His mother had paid the ultimate price for trusting her sister. His entire tribe paid that price when Alessandra had sent a small army of rcenaries to slaughter Tamora and leave no witnesses.
Alessandra hadn’t known about Marek. He survived the slaughter and for the last decade, he had done everything to reach this gate.
Marek glanced at Alessandra’s decapitated head hanging from a banner pole carried by one of his n. He had killed his aunt, he had avenged his parents’ deaths, but not the deaths of the countless Cairn people who had been murdered by Alessandra’s soldiers. If he simply left things here, his Helene cousins would one day seek revenge. And the Cairn tribe might suffer again.
The words of Caligo haunted him. Whichever Cairn adults survive tonight’s battle will die by my hand tomorrow.
Marek shook his head. It was too late to turn back now. He needed to end this tonight. The bloodline of Helene would end with him. He raised his hand in a signal, “Destroy it.”
“Yes, my king.” A battle mage stepped forward and channeled Green. Stone spires burst from underneath the silver gates and ripped them off the hinges with a screeching of steel.
A small retinue of guards stood on the stone pathway leading towards the manor, a final line of defense. They wore gilded armor emblazoned with the sigil of Helene, a horse in mid-stride. Their swords practically shined under the magestone light, unblemished by battle. The guards hid their expressions behind their gilded helms, but Marek could see it; the faint trembling, the shifting of the feet, and the way their eyes flitted back and forth. They were afraid.
These weren’t soldiers. These were n who had never had to fight a battle in their lives. Ornants to look pretty and impressive when other nobles ca to visit.
Marek couldn’t help but smile wryly. He knew the Helenes had no standing army, but he still had expected more. He supposed they never expected a war, they never expected anyone would dare tread on the doorstep of the Great House of Helene.
He raised his orichalcum spear and pointed at the guards. “Kill them.”
The valley warriors roared in response and charged past him. The guards broke formation as the warriors neared and tried to run, but it was too late. These valley n and won had known battle since childhood. They were upon the guards in an instant, cutting them down from behind.
By the ti Marek reached the manor’s front door his n had already finished. He channeled a Brown strengthening spell and kicked the door open. The wood cracked and shattered in a burst of splinters.
The front hallway was empty, but he could hear the sounds of footsteps from within. Marek turned around and gestured to half his n, “Go around and cut off any exits. There is only one gate, but they still might try to jump over the wall. The rest of you, search the house.”
“What shall we do when we find them? Bring them to you?” asked one of his battle mages.
“Bring the Helenes to . Kill the rest.”
~~~
Terrified shrieks and painful cries echoed throughout the hallways of the Helene manor. Marek walked from room to room, the planks underneath him creaking with every step. His warriors dragged out maids and servants from closets and underneath beds. They kicked and scread, begging for their lives, but the warriors drew their blades and stabbed them without any remorse. 𝔯АΝ𝖔₿ĘS̈
Marek shook his head. These people were innocent, but so were the parents of his warriors. They were all only children when Helene’s soldiers had attacked. The only cri they had committed was belonging to the losing side.
“Get back!” shouted a man from another room.
Marek walked in and ducked underneath the doorway. The man was waving a dagger around as two warriors slowly closed in on him. The man stiffened at the sight of the giant dire human. Marek’s presence seed to swallow the entire room.
The man paled and gripped the dagger with both hands. “Y-You… S-Stay back! All of you stay back!”
“Wait,” said Marek.
The two warriors glanced at their king questioningly.
“Your clothes, they’re nicer than the others outside. Who are you?” asked Marek.
The man licked his lips and swallowed. “I am Henry of House Helene, and I—”
Marek hurled his spear. The glassy black spearhead skewered Henry and pinned him to the wall. He choked blood and spasd for a few heartbeats, then fell limp. Marek walked over and yanked the spear out. The body fell over unceremoniously.
“That’s three cousins. There should still be one more. Rose, I think. Keep searching for her,” said Marek.
The warriors glanced at the unnaturally giant gaping hole in Henry’s chest before nodding and sprinting away. Marek didn’t bla them. The spear had blasted a hole through his cousin’s chest almost as if an explosion had erupted in his heart. The spear had flared with power right before he struck. It wasn’t the first ti it had happened tonight either.
The spear was growing stronger, he could feel it humming with energy in his hand. It resonated with his desire for revenge. Ever since he had entered the city he could feel the spear awakening from its slumber, soon it would whisper its true na to him.
A warrior rushed into the room. “My king! We found her!”
Marek gripped the spear tightly. “Lead the way.”
The warrior nodded and led him to a small storage room hidden behind the kitchens. A woman and man were kneeling in front of a few valley warriors. The man’s lip was split open from when no doubt he had been punched for fighting back.
The two said not a word, but the defiant anger in their gaze was clear. Marek looked them over and spotted a silver horse dallion lying around the woman’s neck.
“Leave us. Go search for any other stragglers,” ordered Marek.
His warriors bowed and walked out.
The man and woman wore nothing, save a pair of fine silken night clothes.
“You two were sleeping? You two were sleeping as your city burned and your soldiers died defending the wall…” Marek looked down at them, “Is that right?”
Neither spoke, but the man spat blood at his feet in defiance. Marek ignored him and glanced at the woman, “Is this your husband, Rose?”
She glared at him but still said nothing.
Marek nodded with a smile and hovered his spear right underneath the man’s jaw.
“Wait, no! Stop! Please!” yelled Rose.
Marek pulled the spear back slightly. “So is he your husband, hm?”
“...Yes,” she admitted.
The man swallowed hard and glanced at his wife, “Rose, don’t—”
Marek smacked him across the face with the back of his hand. His head snapped back and he tumbled over. He groaned in a daze, a pair of bloody teeth lying a few paces away.
“Tom!” Rose cried out.
“Tom, is it? Don’t worry, I have no interest in Tom,” said Marek dispassionately.
“What do you want!? I’ll give you anything! Just please, spare him!” Rose begged.
“Do you know who I am?” asked Marek.
Rose narrowed her eyes. “You’re valley-born. And a dire human…”
“Yes, I am.”
“...You’re Marek, the war lord of the Cairn tribe. You’re the one who killed my mother during the parley.”
He leaned in close, “Yes, but do you know who I am?”
Rose frowned. “What? I don’t— I don’t understand what you’re getting at. What do you want!?”
“What do I want…?” He stepped back and stared at the wall in thought. “I’m not sure I even know anymore… I’ve given up so much to get here. I’m not sure there’s enough left of to want anything anymore.”
Rose looked at him, confused, but she thought it best to not say anything.
Marek noticed her gaze and sighed. He reached underneath his tunic’s collar and pulled out a silver dallion. “Do you recognize this?”
Rose’s eyes lit in recognition, “That’s…” She glanced at her own dallion hanging from her neck.
“Yes, it’s the sa as yours. But it is not your mother’s, is it?”
“...No.”
“Nor is it your brother’s or sister’s. No, this dallion once belonged to my mother, Tamora Helene.”
“Your… mother?” she frowned.
“Yes.” He held the dallion between two fingers, “This was hers until she reached out to your mother with a letter. When Alessandra found out her twin older sister was alive, well, she couldn’t have my mother return ho as heir of this family. And so, she had my mother murdered.”
Rose’s eyes widened in understanding and horror. “You— You’re…”
“I am the son your mother failed to kill.”
“Then this— All of this, it’s because of Tamora,” she whispered.
Tears slipped down Rose’s cheeks. She bit her lip, “You already killed my mother. Your revenge is over.”
Marek scoffed softly. “Revenge…? Revenge is a strange thing. It never ends with only one death. It always cos back to haunt us. If I let you go, you will co back to finish what your mother started.”
“No, no I won’t! I swear it!”
“Only a fool would trust a Helene.”
“Gods, I’ll do anything. Please, what can I say to make you believe ?” she whimpered.
“Even if I did believe you, the Helene line has been a blight on this world for too long. I know because I’m one of you. So, I’m here to end it. Once and for all.”
Rose bowed her head and closed her eyes. “...Then spare my husband, please, he has done nothing to you.”
“You’re right, he’s done nothing… Neither had I, when your mother’s rcenaries ca to my tribe.”
“Wait! Please, for Stjerne’s sake, wait!” she cried.
“Everything is going to be okay,” Tom smiled shakily at her. He looked away and stared at the stacked crates in the corner of the room. “I promise.”
Marek slamd the butt of the spear into Tom’s temple. His head cracked open in a burst of blood and brain matter.
“NO!!” Rose shrieked.
A stifled cry escaped an empty crate. Marek frowned. He drew close and slowly opened the wooden lid. A small boy was crouched inside. His blue eyes were filled with tears. The child looked up at him and Marek saw the terror in his face.
Marek froze at the sight and sha gripped his heart.
Rose tackled him from behind. “Tristan, run away!”
Marek stumbled back a step. He yanked the woman’s hair and flung her aside. She grunted in pain but she staggered to her feet and rushed him again. He pulled his arm back and thrust the spear into her chest. She gasped a hollow raspy sound and her legs buckled underneath her. He tried to pull the spear away, but she grabbed his arm with her trembling hands.
“R… Run…” she mumbled.
“Get off !” Marek pushed her away and she fell haphazardly next to her husband’s body. He turned back to the crate, but the boy was already gone.
~~~
Nora smiled sympathetically, “Just a little further.”
“I’m right… behind you,” said Freya between ragged breaths. The battles at the shade wall and dical encampnt had taken their toll on her body. Even with the cold rain falling over her, she could feel her insides burning up. She was at her limit.
“We can rest once we get to my ho,” said Nora.
Freya scoffed. “You know you don’t look much better than , either.”
“Trust , I know. I can barely walk straight,” she admitted softly.
“Get down!” Freya abruptly tackled her to the ground.
“Ow! What are you—?”
A dragonbane flew overhead and passed by.
Nora felt a chill run through her body at the sight of the monster. “W-What… What in all the bloody realms was that thing!?”
“The creatures that destroyed the wall,” Freya muttered grimly. “What is it doing in the Villa District? None of our main forces are anywhere near here.”
“It was flying towards the district’s north side…”
“North Side? Do you know anyone over there?”
“House Mora’s manor. Feli’s there… You don’t think…?”
Freya shook her head. “Relax. There’s no way a monster like that would be going after an ordinary human like Feli.”
“Yeah, you're right, I’m just being paranoid,” Nora mumbled.
Freya leaned on Oginum and pushed herself to her feet. “Let’s get going then—”
A small boy turned the corner and slamd into her.
Freya frowned, “Hey, kid, what are you—?”
The boy looked up at her, breathless. His cheeks were burning red and his eyes were pink from tears.
“Tristan Helene…?” Freya muttered in recognition. “What are you doing here? Where are your guards? Where are your parents?”
“What is a Helene doing here?” Nora whispered.
He tried to speak but he couldn’t stop crying.
“...It’s okay.” Freya hugged him and glanced around warily, “Everything is going to be okay.”
“Mom, Dad, they…” Tristan buried his head into her chest and sobbed quietly.
“What happened?” Freya whispered.
“Get away from the boy!” shouted a valley warrior. Several more warriors rushed into the street.
Freya grabbed Tristan and pushed him behind her. Nora stepped up next to them and raised her hands, ready to cast at a mont’s notice.
Freya hefted Oginum and tried her best to hide her exhaustion. She snarled at the warriors, “I’ve killed plenty of you tonight, what’s a dozen more?”
“You won’t find any victory here, dwarf.”
Freya and Nora stiffened at the voice that had haunted their dreams for the last year. Marek stepped out from behind his warriors, orichalcum spear in hand. “I’ll say it once, hand over the child.”
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