Retribution of a Fallen God: Chapter 2: The Emperor's Return
 

It had been a week since the battle at the Bastion, the opening confrontation to what could be the bloodiest war the world has ever seen. Since that day, soldiers had drilled and trained endlessly. Such had been the orders of Grand Marshal Abzadrael.

Captain Garvi Loken's wounds had generally healed, but in his fall, he had cracked a rib, so he was unable to drill with his men. He had instead taken to watching the horizon from the walls. He refused to sit around the infirmary and rot. He figured the best way to recover from his injuries was to keep moving.

Enav Dunedhal, feeling that an injured Garvi should not be left up on the walls alone, had also taken to guard duty. He made frequent trips to the mess hall, snatching food and water and wine for Garvi, to keep his strength up.

"Lord Dunedhal, why are you showing me so much attention? Surely, the injuries of a line soldier like me cant be that important..." he inquired

"Nay lad. Yeh see, yer men look up to yeh. To them, yeh'r a shinin' beacon of hope, somethin that aint seen every day. Yeh'r one of the up an' comin' heroes of the age. Gotta keep ya strong...yer gonna outlive an old fool like meself."

"Well...thank you Lord, but surely you jest. You are a hero of the ages, having stood at these walls for the entirety of this bloody standstill. These five centuries of sorrow. I am not worthy of such compliments..." Garvi humbly said, bowing.

"Nah lad. I never lie. You'll see...maybe it'll be when the final battle is knockin' on our here gates...but you'll see. And so will they." he motioned to the drilling swordsmen in Garvi's company.

"Hey...what's that? Someone's approaching!" shouted a cannon engineer from the far end of the wall. He was pointing towards the south. Garvi and Enav hurried to the engineer, and peered into their binoculars.

"They seem to be...children? And they seem haggard...battle worn. And definitely too small to be an attacking force." commented Garvi.

Enav began focusing on a figure in the front of the formation, cloaked in wolf pelts, and supporting a young boy as he walked. He was smiling softly, and seemed to be encouraging the child.

"By the Gods...I could never forget that face. Hair's different, but that be...that be..."

Enav lowered his binoculars slowly. He began shaking uncontrollably, not sure whether to laugh or cry. He turned quickly, to the gate guards down below.

"Open the gates! By the Gods open the gates!"

"We cant, not without permission from the Grand Marshal!"

"Damn you children, do it before I have your heads! The Emperor has returned!"

Stunned silence. Blacksmiths stopped hammering, soldiers stopped drilling, even dogs stopped barking. A cacophany of chatter broke out immediately. There was no way, the Emperor, alive and returned?

Slowly, the gates swung open, open to the world, a gate to refuge for the haggard and tired students. They had marched without rest, for the Emperor allowed none. No time could be wasted.

No soldier spoke as hardly more than one hundred exhausted and famished students dragged themselves through the gates of the Bastion. Their welcoming party included Enav, with a gigantic smile on his face.

Saigo handed the boy he was supporting to another student, and moved ahead of the group. He smiled, spreading his arms.

"Master Dunedhal...I humbly beg for a place to let these children rest and eat. They are weary from marching and fighting." He bowed low, his voice carrying over the Bastion's courtyard. Those present forever remembered the first words of the Emperor that day; refuge for his people.

"Aye lad, Ill have Captain Garvi show them to the Citadel. Now come here you dang foolish boy!" The armored, aged dwarf pulled the Emperor into a gigantic bear hug.

The cheers of the soldiers shook the ground and scattered loose items. Their Emperor had finally returned.

Iarann watched the Emperor walk in. He was in a mixture of happiness and suspicion. He was happy to see the Emperor but he couldn't help think it strange. He could be a trick, an illusion maybe.

Who knew what kind of magic Morian could deploy?

Black took this as his one and only chance to get in. As the students piled through the gate, he pushed into the crowd. No one seemed to mind his presence, they were all too tired from the battle and walking.

As soon as he made his way inside he saw an old face. It had been quite a few hundred years but surely it was him. 'My my, I never expected to see Emperor Saigo here. Maybe the humans have a chance after all.'

Inspired, he walked up to one of the cheering soldiers. "Excuse me. I wish to speak to your commander. I have some very important business to attend to."

Shalvanis eyed Emperor Saigo with suspicion. In some strange way, she was quite insulted to see him. "I wonder if he is the reason for the strange winds?" she asked no one in particular.

Darenith glanced over at the Emperor, not really joining in the other residents' excitement. He had never really learned much about their emperor, but he knew that he should be dead. This was definitely a living being leading people through the gate. He would have to watch the man carefully.

"Old friend, it is good to see you. You seem well as ever, if not a little gray in the beard." said Saigo with a sly smirk.

"Yeh'r lookin' a little gray yerself. It's good ta have yeh back lad. With you here, we can finally end this bloody engagement."

"I wish it was that easy, Lord. I wish it was that easy. How many men do you have garrisoned here?"

"About twenty five thousand sir, the finest in all the land. We've not seen soldiers this stubborn in all o' history."

"Good...good." Saigo cast his gaze over the assembled soldiers. Word had spread quickly, and it seemed like the entirety of the twenty five thousand were gathered, to see their Emperor. "My people...soldiers of the Bastion of Dawn's Light...you stand now at the climax. The climax of an epic story, told throughout history. This story, the never-ending, swirling maelstrom of war and peace, ever dancing, never ending. Alone, you cannot end the cycle...and alone, I cannot end the cycle. Neither can the Naoronians, neither can those in Ultherathor. But together....together, we can stop it. Stop this bloodshed and hatred...and let peace reign, now and forever!"

Another tumultuous roar. Saigo smiled outwardly, arms spread, embracing all; however, inside, he felt a terrible pang of guilt. There was no guarantee that they could pull this off. Even with the mightiest fortress known in history, with the most dedicated and skilled troops ever known, with the most powerful and resolute leaders the free world could muster...it would be a tough fight.

"Lord Dunedhal, what is the name of the leader of this facility?" asked Saigo

"His name be Abzadrael Stormshatter. I can take you to him at once."

"Let us go then. Sunev, Elvilad, please come with. Students, follow the good captain...Garvi, is it?"

"Aye it be, Lord Emperor Kusunoki." said Garvi, bowing low, despite the pain.

"Bah, cut the formalities soldier. I am but a man like you. And that goes for all of you...my name is Saigo. That is what you will call me."

All were inspired by the Emperor's humble, down-to-earth nature. Some could not help but shed a tear. He truly was a God amongst Men. Such benevolence had not been seen in five centuries.

*****

Morian was beyond furious. He gripped a slavegirl, no older than fourteen, by the face, and shattered her skull against the side of his iron throne. His shouts of fury caused loose items to shake, the barely contained energy causing the already deceased bodies of slaves to twitch as if still living. Sidian had relayed his story with a quiet, calm voice. He did not fear Morian's wrath, for he knew the tyrant would not kill him. He was needed, to make those in Saigo's company suffer, at least mentally and emotionally.

"Lord, just because he really is alive does not mean that all is lost. No matter how powerful a man he is...our army is massive, filled with demons and dreadful beasts that have not seen the light of day in thousands of years. He cannot kill them all."

Morian spit on the ground near Sidian's feet. "It does not matter how many he can kill, or whether he can be killed. His presence will bring the old Alliance back together. And behind that accursed wall..."

"Do not fret Lord." Gaius Asmodeus entered the throne room, a smug smile on his face. "Lend me one hundred thousand of the Legio Dominatus. I will deliver that wretch's head to you within two weeks. Plus...this will keep them on their feet, while Praxis rallies the bulk of the real invasion force. I have dwelt long on this matter, and this is the most favorable option."

"I would never doubt the words of my Strategist. Those in the past that have done so have died miserable deaths. But if you fail, trust me, I will wear your skin as a cloak."

"No worries my Lord. You will not need to take your skinning knife to me, I assure you."

*****

Halberdier Private Joss had immediately joined in the celebration; he was amongst those whom believed that the Emperor's return was a godsend, that his presence will somehow eradicate all evil from the world. He was interrupted from his celebration, however, when an odd, dark figure tapped his shoulder and asked to see the commander.

"Well, sir, as you can see, the commander is just a little busy..." he pointed to Saigo, walking towards the Grand Marshal's quarters, and then up to the Grand Marshal's quarters itself. "I am not in any position to dictate, but I would think it would be best to wait a little...ah, I know. Follow Captain Garvi, over there with those students from the Academy. Just bunk with them, and I will let the good Lord know whenever he is not busy."

"Very well then..." Black said walking away from the soldier. He would soon find himself in a room with people he would have to resist feeding on. In the meantime he would allow the celebrating to die down and await his audience.

"Meh lord, rejoice. This "barbarian" be the Emperor...Emperor Kusunoki has returned, and is standing right before you!"

Saigo bowed low. He did not like the man's tone of voice, but he could forgive him, considering the state he was in. He must be stressed and overworked, if his armor looked like that.

"Grand Marshal Abzadrael...you have done an admirable job defending this keep. I humbly request that you join me tonight, for a meeting of minds. We must plan, if we hope to defeat the traitor."

"Lord, though I know you are eager to get this war over with, as we all are, but all are not here that should be here. Plus, my feet are weary from a week's march carrying a child, without real rest. It would not be a problem to reschedule this talk for around sunset, would it? That should give us six or seven hours of rest..." Saigo asked politely, but Abzadrael really had no power to say otherwise.

"Insufferable man. I could see why he would perform well as commander of this keep; he's brutal." he thought to himself.

"Plus, it would give you time to change into something more...presentable. Same goes for me." Saigo laughed, taking a look at his tattered wolf pelts. "Er, Elvilad...you told me my swords were somewhere in this building, right?"

"Aye Lord, in the statue of the dragon."

"Good good. Lord Abzadrael, could you do me a favor and show me where this dragon statue may be? Inside are a few...effects, that I quite miss."

"And so here we are... 'safe', at last." Auvrea commented to Phoenix, her head hung wearily forward, hair draped over her eyes, from force-marching the entire distance with no rest. They were all exhausted, and even Saigo's rallying cries began to fall upon deaf ears. He was a very good man, but even goodness could not overcome grim mortality.

"Maybe... Maybe we can sleep for once?" She chuckled weakly, glancing around at all of the troops celebrating. Celebrating what? Their inevitable deaths? Or... Perhaps ones worth dying for?

She smiled.

Yes, that was it. Back at the academy... They were all good deaths. They had to be.