The Empire Arrives

The massive force from the Holy Chadtom Empire gathered at the base of the mountain path leading up the City of Connaissance. A single rider broke off from the Army that turned to the south and set itself up into a defensive line guarding against the Windsor Kingdom to the south. The single ride galloped up the mountain path. It took the rider nearly four hours to reach the summit. Once up at the top the rider slowed his horse to a walk.

Everyone on the wall watched his every move carefully. The rider didn't look like an advanced scout, he was wearing a bright red tunic with golden armor. His helmet had a bright blue plume and he carried a golden lance. His skin was a bronze tan and his heavily muscled frame suggested that he was either a knight or an officer. After walking up within hailing distance of the wall, he looked up at the men on top of the wall and called out in a deep voice, "Emmy Lee! Emmy Lee, it is I, Iopolo! Emmmmy Leeee!"

The massive gate opened up and Emily walked out with Captain Alexander beside her. She smiled sweetly and said, "Hello Iopolo."

The rider, Iopolo, tossed his helmet off and jumped off his massive horse and sprinted over to her. He thrust his golden lance into the ground and nearly tackled her into a hug. "Emmy Lee, you see? I have become a man now! My father has agreed to let me come and take you for my bride!"

Emily smiled at Iopolo, "Oh is that it? I see, well, Iopolo, I am afraid I am no longer a Princess. I am no longer worthy to become your Royal bride."

Iopolo's face darkened and then he looked at Captain Alexander beside her and made a surprised face, "Chonny? You are Chonny?" He pulled the Captain into a monstrous bear hug patted his back, "My good friend! Do you not remember Iopolo?!"

Captain Alexander couldn't help returning the hug and back pats, "Yes, it's me Iopolo, I just couldn't see the little boy of my memories in the great man before me."

"Chonny, why have you let my fiancé fall from her Royal birth to become a common?" He frowned as he looked at Captain Alexander.

"I'm afraid many things have happened since we last saw each other, my friend."

Emily spoke up, "Iopolo, my father and mother were murdered and my uncle is now King. My uncle was afraid that I would be killed as well, so he had me renounce my claim to the throne, and my royal status and in exchange gave me this city and my father's wealth."

Iopolo thought for a minute, "Then you are the Queen of this city?"

"The City Lord." She added.

"So it is like this? Then you are the Queen of your own Empire! Then it is Iopolo who must then raise his own standing in order to take you as a bride! I am still unworthy of your hand." He reached out took her hand and kissed it softly, " I, Iopolo Pao'ko-olo of the Holy Chadtom Empire swears to become an Emperor, and return to make you his bride!"

Emily blushed brightly and then said, "Iopolo, if you wish to make me your bride, then you have to make me fall in love with you. That's how a man and woman marry among the commoners and as the Queen of my city, how I will choose a husband as well."

Iopolo made a face and then looked at Captain Alexander, "Chonny, how do you make a woman fall in love with you?" He stared at Captain Alexander only to see a complicated expression on the man's face. "Chonny! You wish to fight with this Prince for the hand of his chosen?" He couldn't help make a disappointed face as if he had been stabbed in the back by his good friend.

Captain Alexander smiled sadly and then took a knee and said in a heroic voice, "Prince Iopolo, when it comes to matters of the heart it is said that none of us, man or woman, can fight against our own feelings. You are my friend, but in this, it seems we must be adversaries. I swear, on my honor as a knight I will not back down. May the best man win."

Iopolo reached out a shaky hand and then pressed it on Captain Alexander's shoulder, " My friend, I understand. May the best man win."

Emily facepalmed as she watched their interaction, "Ok, ok, that's enough, Iopolo, why have you brought your army here?"

Iopolo smacked his fist into his hand, "Ah! Yes, you see the Church of the zombie man has come to my people and offered us coal and raw metals to come here and smash this city. On our way here, we captured a brave General who mentioned that you were here and that the King of the Windsors would come to destroy us if we dared to harm you." He smiled and slapped his palm against his chest, "Once I, the great Iopolo, heard that my Emmy Lee was here... I came here to see you at once! What are some coal and metals compared to the wife of my dreams?"

Captain Alexander thought for a moment and then asked, "Prince Iopolo, the brave General you mentioned is he, Daniel Conners?"

"You mean big bro Danny? No, my men said he was General Gofukyorself." Iopolo shook his head.

Captain Alexander looked concerned, "Iopolo, I am pretty sure that the man you captured is Daniel Conners. Do you know if he is still alive?"

Iopolo's face looked ashen as he grabbed his golden lance and slipped on his ornate helmet before leaping up on to his horse in a display of superior athletic ability and rode off down the mountain in a rush.

*****

An archer from the Windsor Kingdom quietly moved through the forest. He whispered softly, " Dragon Brigade was routed and only a few knights were captured alive. I wasn't able to see if Sir Conners was among them. They are not advancing up the mountain, only a single rider went up, it looked to be an officer."

Leonard frowned and then whispered, "Signal for a full retreat. We need to return to the capital and inform his Majesty."

A moment later a distant horn sounded four short bursts followed by one long causing hidden archers in the forest to start heading south in a hurry.

The disciplined troops from the Holy Chadtom Empire held their defensive ground not even flinching at the sight of the retreating forces coming out of the tree line.

*****

Captain Alexander spoke without thinking, "Why on Hanston would he attack such a large force with so few men, what could be so important that he would throw... His..." He slowly turned to look at Emily and saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Oh..." He pulled her into his embrace and held the back of her head. "You know that idiot is fine. He once fell off a thirty-foot cliff got back on his feet and still managed to kill a squad of footmen. Without uttering a single word of complaint."

Emily pushed him away, slowly turned, and walked back to the defensive wall. She wiped off her cheeks and walked through the gate and walked straight past the assembled city guard unit.

Captain Alexander swore softly and then followed as far as the defensive line taking his place on top of the wall. He shouted loudly, "Close the gates. Standby and hold your fire." He then sat down and leaned against the wall. Any time someone came over to talk or ask him a question he would defer to a subordinate. Finally, Mr. Murray came over sat next to him.

"Want a sandwich?" He offered Captain Alexander half of the sandwich he was eating.

"I think I really blew it." Captain Alexander replied through a dry throat.

Mr. Murray gently patted his shoulder, "No, you haven't blown it, what you have to do is work just a little harder. You really should try this sandwich though, you'll only have regrets if you let this sandwich go without trying it."

Captain Alexander took the sandwich and had a large bite, "Oi, this sandwich. It's the worst thing I have ever tasted."

Mr. Murray nodded and said, "Sometimes the sandwich that looks good, that other people tell you is a great sandwich, really isn't all that it is cracked up to be."

"Then why did you have me taste this sandwich?" He frowned at Mr. Murray.

Mr. Murray smiled and said, "As I said, until you try the sandwich you'll only have regrets."

"I regret trying this sandwich, that's what I regret." He frowned at the rest of the sandwich, "But I get what you are saying. I really haven't tried so I can only have regrets."

Mr. Murray nodded and then added, "Having said that, sometimes the sandwich really isn't as good as you think it's going to be even after trying it. Every sandwich you try is a learning experience that will lead you to the perfect sandwich meant for you."

"You are really serious about your sandwiches, aren't you?"

Mr. Murray tossed the rest of the terrible sandwich away and said, "No, I can't stand sandwiches. I just stole this from Thomas to make a point."

A few meters down the line they heard, "Who was it? Who is the bastard that stole my sandwich!"

Mr. Murray and Captain Alexander broke out into a hard laughing fit.

*****

Later that night Iopolo raced back to his army's camp. He leaped off his horse, "Quickly, where are the men of the Windsor Kingdom?" One of the soldiers pointed to one of the command tents. Inside were the sounds of a man being tortured for information. Iopolo grabbed a bucket of fresh water to clean his face, "Big bro Danny?" He shook his head looking at the unfamiliar face, "Where are the others being held?" One of the men pointed him to another tent.

Iopolo raced over and grabbed a lantern from one of the men outside before heading inside. He found that all of the men in the tent were beaten and bloody. He had to go from man to man cleaning him up and looking at his face. He called to his men outside, "Where is that General Gofukyorself?"

"Ah, we gave him the treatment of a general deserves. He is over there in the officer's tent." The soldier pointed over to a much larger tent.

Iopolo raced over and burst inside. Laying on a bed of furs with two pretty young women tending to his wounds was Daniel Conners, "Big bro Danny?"

"Polo, that you?" Daniel opened his one good eye, "They must have hit me harder than I thought, you can't be Polo, he's a little kid."

Iopolo kneeled down and looked him over, "Thank the great goat, it is you! I was worried that my men had already killed you. My wife to be would never forgive me in a thousand years."

Iopolo smiled and then thumped his own chest, "It is I, Prince Iopolo Pao'ko-olo, big bro Danny. I am sorry about what happened to your men, but I was afraid that Emmy Lee was in danger so I couldn't waste time trying to get to her."

"Emily? Then she is safe?" Daniel tried to sit up but groaned in terrible pain and fell back down on the furs.

He grinned and nodded, " I saw her this very day, I met with her and Chonny both."

"Ugh. Jon. You bastard. Then... Your army isn't here to take the city?" Daniel closed his eyes and sighed in pain.

"No no, my friend, I have brought my army here to defend Emmy Lee. It is the Church of the zombie man who is wanting to take this city. They came to my father and said we could have coal and raw metal if we attacked this place. It was from you that I learned she was here and turned my force here into a shield to protect my beloved." Iopolo stood up tall looking every bit the hero that could sweep a young lady off her feet.

"Polo, if I was well enough, I would punch you right in the nose right now," Daniel grumbled.

"Shall I bring you and your men up to the city?" Iopolo asked with a serious expression.

Daniel nodded and said, "Please, that would be for the best. Polo, we were fighting the battle we should have been, each of us in the right. I don't blame you for the loss of my men. I hope that you feel the same."

"Big bro Danny, it is as you say. In war, one must stay true to their heart and their loyalties."