Prologue
Warning
The courtyard was wide
and long and in the corner carriages of hay lay
slanted without a horse .A t the helm workers
with large pick forks moved the hay from the
carriages and carried it in blocks to the
stables for the horses. The yard floor was
covered in strands of straw outside the side
doors into the many stables that houses the
horses. Guards stood on the battlements watching
out ahead some stood on the tall towers that
overlooked the whole yard and out at the long
and winding road that ran into the green fields
that ran for as far as a man's sight could
carry.
Dogs barked at the chickens that fluttered about
in their pens stirring them into frenzy while
the workers removed the eggs laid. The yard was
a busy place with smaller children running
playing games and others coming and going
through the large gate that stood tall open and
leading onto the long road.
Captain Tiberius watched from the tall tower on
the left side of the castle wall at the long
fields the sun in his face and the blue sky
brightly above he felt the warmth of the day
ahead on his flesh. He stood watching a loner
racing ahead on a white horse the rider looked
to be one of the warriors of a patrol that often
patrolled the border. Tiberius thought it
strange the rider was alone, and from the look
of him he seemed to be in drastic hurry in his
approach.
"Captain is it me or does that rider look
injured." Corwin the sergeant at arms asked.
Tiberius studied the rider's pattern as he
approached and turned to the bold headed
sergeant.
"Looks to be doesn't it." Tiberius said.
++++++
The guards at the door dropped their spears to
the ground with a clang to rush to the aid of
the warrior who approached and fell from his
horse with a thud across the stone floor.
Tiberius rushed past them and dropped to one
knee to help the warrior. Tiberius noticed the
large gash across his face from the dripping
blood that spattered down to the path. He turned
the warrior over and removed his helmet placing
it to the floor. The warriors body was limp as
he panted for breath his eyes rolled and blood
spilled from his nose.
"Who did this to you lad." Tiberius asked.
A small gathering of a crowd emerged at the gate
looking upon the fallen man curious to see for
themselves who he was. The guards bent down next
to Tiberius looking upon the injured soldier.
"We didn't s, see them until it w was too l
late." The warrior said through a whisper.
Tiberius looked to the guards.
"Get those people back and have the surgeon
prepare a bed."
"Sir." One of the guards said reclaiming his
spear and entering back into the castle.
The other three guards also reclaimed their long
spears and began dispersing the gathering on
seers. The crowd grumbled at been forced back
but knew better than to argue with the guards.
Tiberius clutched the warrior closer.
"Who lad who do you speak of."
The man still limp looked up at Tiberius's
leathered face blood dripping from his mouth and
now lacing his hair in red.
"Warriors o of R Rogarth and The Dark Lord." The
man almost blacked out as he coughed up more
blood that trickled down his face.
"Rogarth you say."
"I I rode all day. It was a massacre they
stormed the bastions of Featherhead and crushed
the defence. I it w was too l late for u us."
The man coughed again spitting more blood this
time it spread across his chainmail chest.
"Vorticodian warriors charged the battlements
followed by the masses of the Dark Elves."
Tiberius suddenly felt un easy with a queasy
feeling running from his stomach to his throat
creating a lump like feeling .
"How many of them were they lad."
"L listen there w were a scouting force. At
least five thousand strong."
"A scouting force. For what?"
"before we fell We caught glimpse of the Dark
lord Argamoth. They were a head an Invasion.
Ninty thousand strong at least."
Tiberius tweaked his lip in a curled looking
around him at the crowd been dispersed.
"An invasion you say to were?"
"Here Kromoriah. They s spared me to give word
of their coming. They want the throne they are
here for genocide. The lord told me himself. He
is here to take Kromoriah." The man suddenly
coughed one last spout of blood then faded into
Death.
Tiberius laid his body softly on the ground and
watched as the surgeon arrived followed by Lord
Seth.
"Put your tools away healer. He's already gone."
Tinerius said wiping the blood from his hands.
"What happened." Asked lord Seth.
"The Invasion has started my Lord." Tiberius
simply said. |
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