Chiron

I stood up and shook my newly reformed head. I turned to my men and scowled at their difficulties moving in the panic. If only I could get to Darius, or even the mysterious Spiral Master…

"Bring the priests to safety!" I commanded. I didn't know where their headquarters was or how many there are. I could issue a kill order on any spirals found. Or better yet use them as bait. I turned and headed for the palace. The commoners on the streets were trying to get a closer look at the chaos. I pushed through them. A girl with silver hair saw me and began to run. I smiled, I'd have her burned as a sacrifice to Follen soon enough. I reached the palace, it's walls 28 meters high. The biggest palace in the world. It's white walls reflected the sunlight, they were almost blinding. The black and red flag billowed in the winds at the tops of the tower. I approached the large wooden doors. The Inquisitors at the gates bowed and let me in. I walked straight to the princess's bedchamber barking at anyone not working on something along the way. I knocked on her door.

"It's me", I said.

 I heard rustling from inside. "Come in!" I entered and looked at the princess Elara laying in bed in a scarlet nightgown. 

"Your majesty, it's almost noon. Are you okay? Are you sick?"

She laughed and walked over to me. "I'm fine," she said, putting her arms around my neck. "Just… bored." She smiled at me.

I cleared my throat. "The Spirals have released a prisoner today. Another one of their kind."

She frowned. "You caught none of them? Learned nothing of their plans? Saw a face? Anything? I shook my head. She sighed and let me go. "You've failed me again Chiron. Give me good news."

 I smiled. "Most likely they will recruit the boy into their cult, and I suspect an attack on the night of The Festival of Life."

"Continue."

"I will use the chaos to get some alone time with the boy and learn the secrets of the Spiral." 

"And how do you plan to do that," Elara inquired sitting on the side of the bed.

I sat next to her. "His name is Darke Darmatrov, and he has a sister Diane who works at the Sleeping Inn as a bartender. I will use her as leverage. No doubt he can't completely trust the Spirals so quickly and with what I've learned from his old neighbors previous, he has deep loyalty and love towards his sister."

Elara slowly ran a finger down my jawline. "Oh and what about me. How much do you love me?" She looked up at me.

"More than anything", I breathed. I must control. I must. I leaned down and kissed her and she kissed back. I pushed her flat on the bed and began to undress.

Hours later I began to dress myself. Elara lay sleeping, wrapped in the blankets. I left the palace and went to my home. A simple wooden 2 floor house. The sun was setting so I lit a few candles. I undressed myself and grabbed a flagrum. I put it over my shoulder and yanked it up, tearing my flesh. tears filled my eyes and I continued flogging myself. I regened quickly but my power couldn't keep up, leaving scars all over my body. I've failed at my duty yet again. WHIP. I've let a prisoner escape. WHIP. I slept with Elara on duty like a fool. WHIP. If only I didn't exist! WHIP. If only THEY didn't exist. WHIP. Why did the gods afflict us with this curse! WHIP. Why isn't father here to guide me. Whip. Why.

I stop and tremble there and let my curse try it's best to stitch me up. I have to go to the front lines tomorrow to make sure General Peterson is doing his job. It's been too long since I've heard from him. I need sleep to be able to stand his insults and shouting without bisecting him. I made a quick prayer to Clair and Kroteth, Goddess of purpose and guidance, and the God of Wisdom. Then went to sleep and contemplated the best ways to kill Darius.

Early the next morning I eat a quick breakfast of boiled eggs and warm bread then I mount my horse and head south to Peterson's camp. I get there around noon and observe what's happening. Everyone is scrambling around, preparing for battle. I ride into the camp and see Peterson struggling to attach his scabbard to his belt.

"What's going on here." I ask.

"A scout found a nearby Nortan camp advancing on us."

"How far away are they and how big is their force?"

"They're about an hour away and they have at least 9000. 6 times my force!" 

 I grimaced. There's no time to call reinforcements and if we retreat now they will march to the city. With everything going on, we can't be under siege. A few miles back is the town of Bismuth and the Dark woods. It could perhaps give us a fighting edge.

I rubbed my temples. "Retreat to the town of Bismuth, they have three of their own ballistae, me and 1000 of your men will hold them off and kite them to the woods and your 500 will flank them."

"O-okay." He nodded and turned. "Force 93 you are with me. 92 and 94 with Chiron. We ride to Bismuth." I fixed his scabbard and sent him off with his Inquisitors. After a few minutes I saw the Nortan army begin to appear over the horizon. I turned and gave the order to retreat.

At Bismuth the people had already fled and the 3 ballistae already prepared. Peterson was actually useful. I put 18 men to load and fire the bolts and the rest waited outside the town walls prepared to fight. The second I could see the army I ordered them to fire their bolts. The blazing spears flew into the Nortans and exploded. They began to charge. 

"Reload and fire," I shouted and readied my bow. My Inquisitors did the same. I let another round of bolts fire before I gave the order to fire. We fired a volley of arrows at the army. They continued to charge. "Retreat and fire!" I commanded. We began to try to kite them to the forest as planned but they set up a shield wall in a testudo formation. They continued toward us ignoring the town they followed us closer to the woods. A volley of their own arrows rained down on us, one catching me in the lung. I tore it out and it began to heal. "Charge!" I bellowed and Peterson's force came out of hiding from the buildings in Bismuth. I charged their wall, drawing my swords, and used their tilted to springboard myself into their army. I began to hear thunder and it started to rain. I proceeded to wreak havoc on the Nortans, cutting off heads, limbs, impaling, the works. My Inquisitors didn't disappoint either. Cutting down their disorganized force. 

After only an hour we killed 8800 of their men and took the rest as prisoners. We only lost 300 Inquisitors. I laughed at the sky and let the pouring rain wash the blood off my armor. This is exactly how I want to exterminate the Spirals. It was so refreshing. It was time to put my idea into effect. We'd capture any silvers we can and send them to the mines. Where they could suffer and be useful to their kingdom. Now I just need to make sure the girl Diane is captured by me.