Part 2: The beacon... of betrayal

The cold wind bit into Dorian's skin as he and Erik led the scavenger through the crumbling streets of Decus' outer walls. The kingdom's fortress stood dark and gloomy, a beacon of survival in a world where nothing else had endured. But Dorian's thoughts were clouded as he glanced over his shoulder, watching the scavenger stumble along behind them. The man had been cooperative, though he had yet to speak much. His fear was palpable, as if he knew there was no escape from the consequences of his actions.

As they approached the main wallof House Decus, the towering walls that had protected their Imperium for generations, Dorian's gut tightened with a suspicion he couldn't shake. The scavenger's eyes kept darting around, too alert for someone who claimed to be just searching for shelter. There was something more, something hidden behind those wide eyes.

The gates creaked open sand pouring down from the walls, and they were ushered into the inner sanctum of the kingdom. The stone streets here were better maintained, though even this part of Decus felt odd. In the distance, Dorian could see the impressive spires of the central citadel, where House Decus' leaders made their decisions. It was the heart of the Imperium, and it was here that the scavenger would face the harshest judgment.

Inside the citadel, Dorian and Erik escorted the scavenger down a narrow, dimly lit corridor. A few flickers of light emitted from dying glowstones, casting long shadows along the walls. The Kingdom's interrogators, known for their cold efficiency and ruthless precision, would soon be upon them.

"Sit," Erik ordered, gesturing to a stone chair in the center of the room.

The scavenger hesitated for a moment but obeyed, his hands shaking. Dorian stood by the door, watching as two interrogators—Kara and Liam Dutchess—entered, both clad in the dark robes of House Decus' elite. Their faces were hard, trained for dealing with threats, and Dorian could sense the weight of their presence, even if they weren't directly engaging the scavenger yet.

"Start talking," Kara's voice was low, menacing. "Who are you, and why were you in Decus territory?"

The scavenger swallowed hard, wiping his brow with a trembling hand. His mouth opened, but the words that came out were hesitant, broken.

"I'm just… just a wanderer," the scavenger said. "I didn't mean any harm—"

"Enough of your lies," Liam cut in, his voice like gravel. "We don't take kindly to those who trespass. Especially those who try to use our lands for their own purposes."

Dorian stepped forward, his hand tightening around his sword hilt. There was something off about the scavenger's story, something that didn't sit right. But before he could speak, the scavenger's eyes flashed with fear as he spoke again, his voice growing more desperate.

"Please," the scavenger pleaded, his eyes darting to the floor, as if weighing something hidden in his mind. "I... I didn't want to, but they made me. They'll kill me if I don't. House Malum—they—they'll come for you."

House Malum.

The name hit Dorian like a sudden punch to the gut. Malum was one of the oldest and most dangerous rival Imperiums, known for their brutality and their merciless approach to acquiring Cibus. Their soldiers were feared across the galaxy, and their ambition for conquest had never wavered. Dorian knew that if Malum was involved, it wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about war.

"Malum?" Kara's tone shifted, her eyes narrowing. "You're telling us that you're working for House Malum? That you're a spy?"

"No!" The scavenger gasped, his hands trembling more violently now. "I swear, I didn't have a choice. They... they told me to signal them. If I didn't, they'd kill my family—my wife and child."

Dorian glanced at Erik, whose face was as unreadable as ever. He had been quiet throughout the interrogation, but Dorian could see the wheels turning in the older warrior's mind. They had all been trained to read people, to understand when someone was lying and when someone was telling the truth.

"How did you signal them?" Dorian asked, his voice cold, but curiosity getting the better of him.

The scavenger's face paled, and his hands shook as he pulled something small from beneath his ragged tunic. It was a device—a beacon, crude but effective, designed to send a signal across long distances. The glow of the beacon's power flickered faintly in the dim light, its interface barely functional, but still enough to send a message to House Malum.

"It's a signal," the scavenger said, almost in a whisper. "It doesn't have a long range, but it's enough to tell them where I am. Where you are. They'll come for you now... they know you've found me."

Dorian's stomach turned. The scavenger had betrayed them, but in the cruelest possible way—he'd been forced into it. The beacon wasn't just a signal; it was a death sentence for House Decus.

Meanwhile, in the blackened skies above Torva,

The beacon's signal had reached its destination.

Aboard a ship belonging to House Malum, Titus, a ruthless commander, stood at the control panel, his hands over the old-world controls. The ship—powered by stolen Cibus—had been orbiting Torva, waiting for the right moment. 

"Prepare the troops," Titus commanded, his voice sharp and unwavering. "This is it. We move on Decus. We take their Cibus, we crush their strength, and we take what's ours." As Titus spoke it was almost disturbing, he was a pale muscular man with no hair.

His second-in-command, Armon, gave him a grim nod. "We've waited long enough, Commander. The signal's clear. They won't be able to stop us."

Titus smiled darkly, his mind already racing with the possibilities. It wasn't just Cibus he sought—he wanted Decus to fall. House Malum had always envied their rivals, and now, with the scavenger's signal, it was the perfect moment to strike.

Back in the citadel of Decus, the mood had shifted from interrogation to impending war.

"We have to prepare," Erik muttered, stepping forward. "Now."

The entire room seemed to stir with urgency as the reality of the threat settled in. Kara and Liam shared a look, their expressions grim.

"Call the army. Raise the defenses. We need to move fast," Liam barked.

Dorian looked at the scavenger, who was now staring at the floor, his shoulders hunched in fear. There was no turning back now. His betrayal had sealed House Decus' fate.

"You might have saved your family, but you've condemned us all," Dorian said quietly, his gaze cold. "You're lucky we don't execute you on the spot. We'll see if your family's life is worth what you've cost us."

The scavenger looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and relief. "I didn't want to, but I had no choice."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling heavily on everyone present. Dorian knew that war was upon them. The call had been made, and House Malum would not wait long before descending upon them.

"Prepare yourself, Dorian," Erik said, his voice hard as steel. "War is coming. And we fight until the last breath."

The dark grim sky of Torva began to rise, the Malum's ship unable to be seen.

Multiple guards began rushing to the kings room to protect him from impending doom, scattered footsteps from thousands of Torva soldiers could be heard as they preparaed and slid on their plated dark armors. 

As the sounds of alarm bells began to echo through the citadel, Dorian's heart sank, but his resolve hardened. This was it—the world of Torva had always been a fight for survival, and now, the greatest fight of his life had begun.