As the smell of blood and fire filled the air, Ardis searched the corpses for anything valuable.. The screams of the wounded and the foul smell was something he had gotten used to after all these years of battle. "No, please don't!"-yelled out a wounded enemy soldier as he was put to rest. The thick woods denied light from the Sun filling the battlefield with darkness. He himself was still bloody from the fight. The hot, thick, red liquid streaming down his face, his black hair now becoming red. Sometimes he would find gold or silver, sometimes it was a family heirloom which he then left with the deceased. He prayed for each fallen warrior he passed, no matter was it friend or foe. As Ardis was looting a corpse it suddenly rose up and spoke:"Did my wife survive the birth? Is my child alive?" Ardis took a step back and stumbled in horror. He opened his eyes again and the man was lying on the ground like a cut down log. "I must be tired"-Ardis consoled himself and continued to loot. He began to sweat intensively. His heart was racing and his mind was clouded. He felt like he was lost in a mist with nowhere to escape. Suddenly, a deep, harsh, loud voice woke him from this nightmare. "Come, Lord Craven, we have to collect the payment from our glourius king"- said Lorin sarcastically. The companys leader. As soon as you see him you know this man kills for a living. Tall as an oak, shaved tattoed head and a black beard as thick as a bears fur. Even though he has become rich after years of fihting he always dresses in fur with a hood fashioned from a wolfs head. "Right away, commander"- Ardis responded and climed on to his horse still shook from the recent event. "How many"- asked Lorin. "8 this time." Ardis responded. "Good, you are becoming a better swordsman every battle." The rest of the ride continued un silence. Lorin was rarely the one to start a conversation and Ardis was still smitten. The dark, thick forests of Muskundir made Ardis uneasy. He had a feeling that behind every tree there was soemone lurking in the shadows. Faces of people he had just killed damning him for eternity. He couldn't hold onto the reins anymore and he almost fell from his horse. Luckily he managed to stay on balance. For the rest of the ride he focused on riding and didn't look up so he wouldn't see the faces again. When the pair arrived at the camp it was as silent as a graveyard. Everyone in it was anxioussly waiting to hear the news from the battle. "Halt, who goes there?"-asked the gurad at the entrance. "Your saviour"- responded Lorin as he was getting off his horse. The camp was encompassed by wooden stakes in case of battle with two-headed, black eagle banners everywhere. "Come with me."-said the liutnant as he led them to the biggest tent decorated with red and yellow embroidery. Surrounded by guards, with grim faces Ardis felt a knot in his stomach. "The mercienaries bring the news of battle, my king". "Speak!"-said the king impatiently. The king wasn't in his formal attire, but also in his armor. Ready for whatever news may come. His face was firm, without emotion, but in his green eyes there was a glimpse of fear of what might come next. He was about Ardis age, but commanded a much bigger presence. Ardis and Lorin knelt and Lorin spoke:"We won, your majesty. We outflanked the Ascorian army and captured some of their commanders. "Good work"-responded the king. "How many men did we lose?" "About five hundred your grace."-said Lorin. " A pity. My liutenant will give you the gold. You and your men can rest in my camp tonight if you wish" "Thank you your majesty"- Lorin accepted gratefully. When the rest of the Black bears arrived the celebreations began. It was a large band of warriors. Around a thousand to be precise. They wore animal fur and each one of them had a bear fang attached to their belt asa symbol of unity and ferociusness. "And then, he charged at me full speed. My sword still on the ground, I started to pray.", Coban fell to his knees mocking the prayer, "O great lord of the stars, I know we havent talked much, but I need your help, save me I beg of you", he stood up and looked to the sky," and then he responded", Coban started to laugh," the bastard slipped, hit his head on a rock and died right in front of me." The campfire erupted with laughter. Ardis was used to Cobans stories. A drunken Coban stumbled and fell onto Ardis. "Hahahaha, always there to catch me, arent you my firend?" -murmured Coban. "I ve gotten used to it after saving your ass for the last ten years."-joked Ardis. "Remember that time I fell in to the river and you pulled me out with a branch from a tree. Hahahaha, you were strong even when you were a brat."-yelled Coban before passing out in Ardiss arms. Ardis carried him to bed in their shared tent, prayed and went to sleep. For Ardis sleep was always harder then the battle. "I love you"-said a small, blonde man as he kissed his bride. The next moment Ardis sees him on the ground with his sword in his throat. "Promise me you will come back", he hears a voice of a crying mother as he stabs a boy in his heart. He had eight visions that night. He woke up covered in sweat in the middle of the night and decided to take a walk. This experience wasn't anyhing new to him. To Ardis it was as natural as a hangover after heavy drinking. He walked outside the camp for a while and then stopped at an open plain away from the light of the torches so he could look up at the sky. This usually calmed him down as he felt closer to God. "I see I am not the only one who cannot sleep"-said a cloaked man in the dark. Ardis preapered to draw his sword, he wasn't sure if it was a vision again or a real person, but after getting a closer look he dropped to his knees and said:"Your majesty". Get up soldier there is no need for such formalities here"-responded the king. Ardis was stunned, this wasn't the cold, stoic "king Elias with a face of stone" he had heard about. "I saw you with the Berserker today and something intrigued me about you". The king turned to Ardis and said:"Most soldiers, like you are silent in front of me because they are afraid, but I didn't see fear on your face. I saw disgust. I wonder what caused that?" Ardis hesitated to respond, "don't worry, I wont punish you. I want you to tell me the truth. I know most are afraid of me and hesitate to tell the truth, but I think you are different." "I didn't make that look because of you, your majesty", responded Ardis with a nevous tone in his voice," It was what we were doing." "But you were gettig paid, all the men I know are happy when they are."-responded the king in confusion. "I cannot stand the notion that the lives we took today are equal to the money we are getting. To belittle life to a value of gold to me is a sin."-responded Ardis with a hint of anger in his voice. "I understand your point, but that is how our world works. I hired you so I don't have to take away anymore boys from their mothers arms.",they both webt silent for a moment and looked at the stars," If you are discontent why don't you leave?"-asked the Elias. "I need money to fullfil my dream and I owe Lorin everything I have. I cannot just abandon him"-responded Ardis sliently." Hmmm, I see. Most men that fight for me are here to defend what they love. Be it a person, a home or something else. What do you fight for,soldier?"-asked the king. "I want to regain my familiys honor and recalim my home.But sometimes I am not sure. But even when I am I don't know if achieving my goal is worth it."-said Ardis solemnly. "I feel the same. I am sure you know, but I inherited the throne at a very young age after my father fell in battle. Ever since then we are constanly under attack because other kingdoms think I am weak. I want to defend my kingdom and its people, but sometimes I think to myself it would be easier to escape and leave all the responsibility to others", said the king as both men gazed at the stars, "Well, I must go now. See you at the battlefield, soldier." "Goodbye, your majesty"-responded Ardis. He returned to the camp shortly after a prayer. In the morning most of the soldiers were still drunk from last night. The entire camp reeked of urine and alchohol. "Has the commander told you how long will we be staying here?"; asked Coban still hungover from last night. "No, but I assume as long as the king pays us"-responded Ardis. "Apparently we are going to Lomas to get on ships and then sail to and attack Gelunt"-continued Ardis. "Going straight for the capital is preety bold. Are we sure that "the face of stone" knows what he is doing?"-asked Coban while fiddling with the hilt of his sword. "Lorin is advising him, I am sure we will be fine"-said Ardis trying to calm him. "The only thing I am worried about is the snow." In truth Ardis was also nervous. Ascoria is a place where many say the cold is the true enemy. While riding to Lomas a handful of Bears stopped at a small inn off the main road. "Come with us Ardis, it will be fun. Try to take your mind off things"-Coban tried to convince him. "I cant. I must do something in Lomas before we leave"-responded Ardis hastely "I know you are lying. You always avoid these types of things. Relax for once. The guys here don't have anything against you. Please just once"-Coban pleaded. "I am sorry Coban, I really cant"-said Ardis and rode off. As he was leaving he heard some of the other soldiers say "He really is craven." Ardis was still under the impression yesterdays events. His mind started to rest easier once he saw the sea and the great port.. The houses were made of stone and the rooves of thatch. The streets were wide and there were people everywhere. A town brimming with life. But he noticed there were a lot more beggars then he had expected. He went to the town square to the curch. It was a small one, but still beautiful. Like most other churches it was a dark blue color with white doors. Inside was a red carpet and at the end a quartz altar with four white stars. Its windows were small and star shapes and were the only source of light during the day. The ceeling was painted black with white constellations on it. He prayed, repented and continued on his journey. "Oh boy", called a maid in white dress sing-songily to him," I want to be the one to take care of you."-as she hugged him. "No thank you. Just a bath please"-responded Ardis whie removing her hands from him. He liked baths. They were a place of comfort where he could be alone with his thougths. He often took baths with his mother when he was a small child. As he was walking to the docks he decided to go to the famous Saphire market. He never saw something like this in his life. "There must be a thousand people here"-Ardis thought. The market was filled with everything you could imagine. From meat, vegetables and even live animal and slaves to the finest jewels, most colorful, finest fabric and the rarest of spices. The noise was so loud you couldn't hear yourself think. Vendors and customers haggling, children laughing and money clincing. People and languages that Ardis has never seen or heard before. At one point a girl of about ten years of age approached him. "Three eagles for an hour", -she told him. Her clothes were ragged and her feet bare. Ardis took a step back in shock and stood in silence for a moment. "If you wont take her I will."-a man came, gave the girl three gold coins and left with her. Ardis was apalled and furious. His eyes turned red, his skin crawled with disgust. He ran after the man punched him from behind and threw to the ground. The girl screamed "Stop, please stop", but Ardis continued. His mind turned black, he wasn't himself anymore. The hatred he bore for this man was such as he killed one of his own. He gasped for breath from exhaustion as the man fell unconsiuous. Meanwhile the girl had escaped and as Ardis came to his senses he started to run before she could call the guards. He stopped in an alley and lied down to rest. He looked at his hands covered in blood. As a mecenary and a warrior he has killed many times, but it was always someone who was trying to do the same to him. This was the first time he had acted so impulsively. He always hated men like that, but he had never acted on it. He got back up an told himself:"It must be the heat making me act like this." He knew it wasn't. In the back of his mind he knew those nightmares would haunt him tonight. When he regained his strength he continued to the port. "Is everything alright?", asked Coban, "You seem a bit dazed." "Oh it is just the heat"-said Ardis looking at the sea. "Look Ardis, I know most people treat you badly, but we have always been there for eachoter. If anything is bothering you, you can tell me."-said Coban worryingly, "I know, and that is why I am so grateful to have you as a friend."-Ardis responded as he put his hand at Cobans shoulder and smiled. The port was as majestic as the market. Hundreds of ships with different colored sails transporting all kinds of goods as the sound of the waves crashing resonated through the air. "Ardis, come, you will be in the cabin with me."-said the commander. "Yes sir", Ardis responded. "I am not a knight so cut out that sir nonsense"-said Lorin annoyed. While climbing on the ship Ardis saw the king on another, much larger one. This time in his bright red cape with a white outline and a white shirt with a sword in gold scabbard with a ruby in its hilt. From that moment Ardis understood why he inspired men all around him. Ardis and Lorin put their things in their room and prepeared to leave. "Are you ready boy, the see here can be rough and the battles afterwards wont be any easier"-said Lorin to Ardis while smiling. "I am commander. But I wanted to ask you something. Isnt it strange for you to fight your own people and attack the city where you were born?"- asked Ardis while shaking his head. Lorin sat down and responded "Of course it is. I have always been a proud Ascorian. I knew some of the commanders we captured from my days in the army. But that is the past and the present is much different. And most of their army is from the south and not from my northern clans so I am not afraid that I will encounter a friend . After all if I refuse to fight our company will lose reputation and my men will be discontent and I cant afford that. One day, when you are the commander you will understand that.", said Lorin as he smiled," Now go and make sure everything is ready before the journey, Lord Craven." As they set sail Ardis admired the sight of ships with bright red sails with two-headed black eagles on the azure sea like red stars in the sky on a clear night. "You really do get seasick."- said Ardis as he slapped Coban on the back. "Oh fuck off."-responded Coban leaning over the ships fence. In the night Ardis had the vision. He saw both the man and the girl. The girl crying and pleading for him to stop and the man covered in blood. He didn't know if he really killed the man, but to him it was just as bed. Ardis couldn't sleep so he went outside of the cabin to look at the stars. He revered the sky, but was always fascinated with the sea. It reflected the godly ceeling on this sinful planet. You could reach out to touch them, but they would dissapear. He knew they werent there, but theye were still so close to him. Mesmerised by the sea he began to walk off the ship, but suddenly he stopped. He heard a soft, womans voice carried by the wind saying:"You will die soon, Ardis Elentior. You must die so another can be born."-he turned around petrifed, but there was no one there. His breath became shallow and his heart was beating like it was about to burst from his chest. "No, no it cannot be.", Ardis thought, "I cannot die yet. I must not die before reclaiming my familiys honor." He ran back to the cabin and began to pray. He tried to go to sleep but couldn't. He stayed awake all night. He didn't hear the voice anymore, but he kept repeating the four words in his head:"You will die soon".
