Anton returned to Atros. The Green Moon ships were on their way to Jaka, which would need to be secured against the Goblins, not a minor task. Calo and Sheso bade them a farewell and left, leaving Anton alone with Cetina and Rasha.

"I..." Rasha ran a hand through her braided red hair. "I think I need to have a bath before tonight. I smell like a warrior."

"You kind of do." Anton smiled. "But so do I, really."

Cetina opened the door out of the portal building. "It's not that bad, honestly. When we're travelling its much, much worse. And it hardly stops any of us."

"I still think I should." Rasha smiled. "Do Verona and Kal know yet?"

"I've already told them." Anton stepped outside. "Guess which one of them started giggling inanely."

"What a hard question-"

Cetina stopped and readied to draw her sword. A young Beastkin ran towards them with every ounce of strength he could muster. He only stopped when he realised the sword Cetina levelled at his throat, and the nearby portal guards moving to intercept him.

"Lord Anton!" The Beastkin boy held a partially crumpled piece of paper high and waved it back and forth. "A message has just arrived. From King Leo."

"Already?" Anton held Cetina's shoulder as she sheathed her blade. "Is it the Centaurs?"

"I don't know." The boy was allowed to approach. "They just told me to run and find you. They said you were in The Shadow-"

Cetina snatched the paper from his hands and held it out for Anton. The Beastkin boy was not bothered by Cetina's actions.

"Let's see...Shit. They're already at the wall." Anton clicked his tongue. "Won't be long before they're attacking. Gather as many soldiers as we can as fast as we can."

"I'll let them know." Rasha began to run to the north. "I'll try and catch Calo and Sheso on the way!"

Anton shook his head. "Everything's on hold until we've dealt with the Centaurs. What do you think this Khan Dorgar will be like?"

"I honestly don't know." Cetina checked over her armour. "But I don't think it's going to end well for one of us."

---[]---

Anton stepped through the Qaiviel portal, the frantic note in hand. This time he was not on a hill overlooking the Conflagration, rather inside a simple wooden building. Cetina and several human soldiers waited for him, all with their weapons drawn and shields ready. One could never be certain what was waiting on the other side. On the far side stood a Black Rider Knight, not Bernard, a man whose physique matched and likely surpassed Zac, but certainly one of a high rank. Anton recognized the face but couldn't place a name.

"Duke Anton." The Knights bowed low. "Forgive me for saying this but time is extremely short. Can you meet his majesty on the battlements immediately? The Centaurs will soon be upon us."

"Battlements?" Anton stepped forward. "So long as my soldiers are treated well. They might not look as resplendent as you but they are fierce fighters."

The Knight frowned for just a moment. He recovered and gave a nod, ordering the door to be opened and a clear path to be made.

Anton tapped one of the human soldiers. "Tell them to come through. A couple hundred at most. But none of the...Beasts. Neither we or they are ready for the implications and consequences."

The soldier gave a rough salute and stepped through the portal. Before he could return Verona and Kal stepped through with Calo and Sheso just behind. Rasha had to stay behind. Despite the sheer intimidation she could bring the knowledge they were working with Beast-kin would risk Atros's future just when they were starting to truly grow.

Outside he was greeted with nothing but total chaos. Knights ran back and forth without their armour fully equipped, panicking Squires and Pages behind those with the missing sets. Normal soldiers were equally bewildered, shouting for their company or a commander. Together the swirling sea of bright colours was more than a little disorienting. And worrying. Either disciple had dropped to such a low level or they did not think an attack was possible so quickly. Anton did not know which was worse.

The Black Knight shouted, barely audible over the cacophony of frantic people, and beckoned Anton to follow. The small stream of Atros soldiers cut through the soldiers. Their relative order made the others give them a slight berth, even though their armour was somewhat inferior.

As Anton followed the back of the Knight he tried to gather his bearings. They were still within King Leo's original camp, nestled in the shadow of the wall. The camp had grown considerably, with many more tents and permanent fixtures, like the building they had just left. He also saw proper cook houses, though his body shuddered remembering the assassination attempt, and latrines. They were once at the edge of the camp but the buildings had surrounded and swallowed them.

The wall itself had undergone a radical transformation. While some sections were still old and crumbling King Leo had taken Anton's words to heart and mobilized everything he could. At least a third of the wall was stone, haphazardly laid but sturdy nonetheless. Anton was certain the Dwarves were complaining loudly about such a poor job. Dirt formed the rest, piled as high as the stone. Vertical logs, rammed deep into the soil, acted as a barrier and kept the dirt wall sheer. No horse or Centaur could climb such a thing.

Anton reached the top of the wall section. Soldiers and Knights lined the entire length of the wall, albeit only one deep. All stood at attention, bows and loaded crossbows at their side. Behind them Pages and Squires, and those not old or strong enough, ran back and forth carrying ammunition and medical supplies. It was all very impressive, especially how the banner of the Qaiviel Kingdom, a wolf's head surrounded by a wreath, fluttered pridefully in the strong wind. The men and women did not stand as strongly, many were shaking and trying to hold back a nervous gaze or twitch. The Knights were less affected than the common soldier but they too were still nervous.

The moment Anton looked over he did not begrudge or envy anyone standing along the wall. Once the Conflagration was barren, now it termed with life. Hostile life. The Centaurs formed a massive wall of bodies stretching from one side of the mountain wall to the other. A mere mile or so separated them yet it seemed like they were right on them. The Centaur's jeered at the defenders on the wall, waving their spears above their heads and stomping their hooves, throwing up a thin cloud of red dust. A few Centaurs rode before the lines, occasionally stopping and forcing them back into a cohesive force.

"Hundreds of thousands." Anton whistled. "Anyone would say there's a million of them."

"I can't count that many." Kal said softly.

Cetina emerged at the rear of their small column of soldiers with a small bag on her shoulder. She gave a single nod. The portal stones lay within.

"No wonder Leo was scared." Kal shook her head. "Imagine if...Our home had to face this many."

"This way, please." The Knight asked before setting a brisk pace.

No one spared them more than a single glance, especially when a local commander barked insults for taking their eye off the enemy, as the Knight approached a large raised wooden platform. It sat behind the wall and had the most Knights surrounding it, the Royal Army acting as guards and contributing the majority of soldiers in this section of the wall.

"I ask that your men wait here." The Knight stopped before the wooden staircase up. Nearly a dozen armed Knights watched their every movement like a hawk. "They will be safe here."

"I'm taking my immediate companions with me." Anton announced. He gave no reason why, only stating his intentions.

The Knight had no qualms about it and began ascending the stairs. Cetina gave the orders to their local leaders and followed. Calo and Sheso silently asked if they were needed. Anton wasn't sure but the pair wouldn't last long if Leo decided to turn on them. They would also add to his clout, someone that had the support of the Dark Elves could not be simply brushed aside, not that Leo would but he didn't know about others. Anton gave Cetina a nod and they began to climb the stairs.

A ring of archers, wielding large white bows, awaited them. To one side sat several chairs, protected by the sun's heat with a thick cloth awning. On the other lay a raised table surrounded by many stern and angry men wearing heavy and brightly coloured metal armour. Anton recognize some, Marcus and Castor were not present, along with the commander of the Royal Army, Henri. He was the first to acknowledge their presence.

Leo, King Leo, at first had his back to them as he poured all of his attention to the small figurines on the map. A nearby Knight Order Commander, a garish mixture of orange and green, alerted the King to their presence. Leo's scowl vanished when he recognized them.

"Ah! Anton." Leo waved them forward. Their escorting Knight bowed and hurriedly left. "Forgive me, it is Duke Anton now. How is the new land treating you?"

"Unfortunately, your Majesty-"

The moment Anton uttered the word unfortunately several of the Knights, those with brighter and more vibrant colours looked at Anton with genuine anger.

"-We have only been able to visit once. However I do feel that Hardheim is a lovely city and will someday be a very prosperous place. Thank you, your majesty, for giving me the opportunity to govern Hardheim to prosperity.”

Leo nodded, gently waving a Knight to step back. Anton caught Bernard's eye, the giant of a Knight stood on Leo's other side. He looked a little tired, he probably had contributed to the construction effort personally.

The Knight barely moved, so Anton coughed loudly. A quick look from the King was more than sufficient to remind him of his place.

"The wall has been finished." Leo clicked his tongue. "Just. But it should be more than enough to fend off these Centaurs."

Someone had made a very accurate model of the wall. Anton guessed about one fifth was stone, the rest dirt with wooden supports.

"Your Dwarves were a great help." Leo continued. "Though they were less than impressed with what we had to do they made sure we did it right."

"And where are they now?"

Leo pointed to the sprawling war camp, to a small cook house, slightly isolated from the rest of the camp.

"They can eat a lot, let's just say that. And drink too...Probably half of the camp's wine has gone into their bellies."

Anton couldn’t help but smile, lightly tapping the edge of the desk. “That they can. I think we can discuss payment after the battle is won-”

The Knight that had barely moved for Anton drew his sword. Anton’s ears twitched to the sound, behind him Kal and Cetina readied their own weapons, Verona hovered her hand over the clay pots on her hip.

"Who is a mere Duke to speak to the King like that?" The garish knight asked.

Anton did not move his attention away from the table. "I don't recall seeing a Knight with your colours in the battle for Clausonne."

"We are a new order," The man puffed out his chest. "Formed after the battle. We may be young order but we-"

"Be quiet you inbred imbecile." Bernard growled. "You have no idea who you are antagonizing."

Bernard's words shut the garish Knights mouth tight. He took another step to the side, the other new orders lost their looks of condescension while Henri and the older orders almost smiled.

"We still need to win first." Leo mumbled. "And even with your strength," He glanced to the women behind Anton. "And theirs, it will be a long battle."

"Perhaps." Anton mused. "Perhaps not. I remember Alfred mentioning the Centaur clans have never been united like this. I doubt it's a cohesive force. If we can take out their leader-"

"They'll fight amongst themselves." Leo nodded. "If nothing else they'll be disorganized. Does anyone know where their leader, that Khan Dorgar, is?"

"I believe I have located him." An older voice called out from the perimeter archers. Alfred stepped back from the edge with the telescope in hand.

"It's a little difficult to tell amongst the horde but I'm sure that's their leader."

Alfred pointed to the centre of the Centaur horde. There was a small group, right at the front that looked slightly different from the rest. Anton silently enhanced his vision. These Centaurs were much larger than their fellows, their spears were larger and had pieces of metal used in its construction. Anton also saw the Centaur they had chased away during their first encounter. He looked a little more subdued than before. He, and many of the larger Centaurs, occasionally glanced to one Centaur at the front. He was a very impressive specimen amongst the Centaurs. Something about the way he commanded himself and the attitudes of those around him told him that he was the Khan.

"I can see him too." Anton deactivated the enhancement. "Seems to be quite strong."

The new Knights shared a curious and doubtful glance, those that had served with Anton merely shrugged it off.

"Too far?" Leo asked. "What about one of those bird things of yours? Can they not reach?"

“Possibly.” Anton rubbed his chin. “But when they see my Lightning Crow flying through the sky they’ll know something’s up. It might just make them incredibly angry, being such a cowardly way to kill. When they decide to attack I’ll give it a go.”

“It very well might make them angry.” Alfred added softly. “While effective it is a dishonourable way to fight, not that the defeated have much of a voice to complain.”

“How long have they been there?” Verona asked.

Leo kept his eyes focused only her hers, never allowing them to wander for a moment. “A little bit before you arrived. It’s hard to hide that many Centaurs. I’m sure we would have heard them even if they came at...night…”

Leo held his chin. “Why didn’t they? We’d have still had people outside...”

“I don’t know how well horses see in the dark.” Anton looked at the map again. “But I know that humans can’t. Besides, they have the numbers and I don’t think you’d open any gate just to save a few people that were trapped outside. I’m not saying you’re heartless, only that it’d be a very poor decision.”

“So they want to talk?” Bernard growled. “With that army behind him.”

“He sent his people before.” Anton shrugged. “Maybe he thinks that he’ll have better luck. This Khan didn’t sound like he was a complete fool.”

“At the very least we’ll get him close enough for magic or arrows to sort this mess out.” Leo summoned a nearby waiting messenger. “Send a Knight out, with a white truce flag. See if they’re willing to be civilised.”

The messenger bowed and sped away.

Leo clapped his hands. “Until we hear from them we’re playing a waiting game.” Leo looked to Alfred, Henri and then Bernard. “Correct?”

“Yes, My King.” Bernard replied. The other two silently agreed.

“In that case I think we should have something to eat.” Leo summoned another messenger. “We can’t think on an empty stomach. Make sure...Bernard, you told me that a full stomach makes fighting difficult?”

“It does.”

“Hmm...Instruct the men to have a quick meal. Don’t want hunger to distract them in battle, nor dull their nerves.”

And this is the same man that murdered his sister in cold blood. The only family he had left. Maybe his wife is a good influence? Or maybe the thought of losing his kingdom drove him a little mad? Time will tell, especially when Atros starts to emerge on the global scene. I wonder if he’ll regret not killing us that day?

---[]---

Dusty air irritated Anton’s nose as the meeting’s furniture was laid out on a small patch of smooth land on the Conflagration, halfway between the wall and the Centaur horde. The messenger had returned with a message from the Khan that he wished to speak with Leo. Obviously it was too dangerous for him to approach the wall so a compromise was made.

Khan Dorgar and ten of his personal bodyguards, at least that’s what Anton presumed they were, stood opposite Leo. Leo had brought several of his strongest Knights along with Anton and Alfred. Verona, Kal and Cetina came with him but Calo and Sheso waited with their small forces near the King’s platform. Chairs and a small selection of drinks and food had been brought with Leo while the Centaurs only brought their spears. Anton seriously doubted any of the Centaurs would partake in the human’s food, on the off chance it was poisoned.

“King Leo.” The Centaur at the centre, standing a full length forward than the others, spoke with a deep and authoritative voice. “I must admit that I didn’t think you’d actually come and speak to me. So many of your predecessors consider my kind beneath you.”

An interesting way to start.

Anton didn’t feel any dampening to his magic and was ready to strike the moment Leo gave the word. His magic was also the only thing that would buy them the time to escape, should the worse happen.

Leo took a slow, deep breath, carefully considering his words. “Many of your predecessors haven’t tried to speak with us. Normally you’d just attack and kill my people. I’m sure you can understand why they wouldn’t waste time trying to talk.”

Dorgar cracked a faint smile. His guards were furious, except the Centaur that Anton had met previously. He kept his attention as far away from Anton without being too overt.

“I’m glad that we’re actually able to speak.” Dorgar smiled and folded his arms. “Perhaps we can actually come to an agreement.” Dorgar nodded to the stone and dirt wall looming behind them. “But so long as that thing is there, I don’t think there’s going to be much talking.”

“The m-Centaur you sent.” Leo pointed to the Centaur trying to avoid their gaze. “Spent most of his time threatening me and my people. We sent him running-”

“-You killed two hundred of my people.” Dorgar’s eyes narrowed. “With terrible magic.”

Dorgar looked at Anton. Anton didn’t attempt a staring contest, there was nothing to gain with a pointless display of strength and masculinity, and continued blinking normally so he was not distracted by sore eyes.

“And you’ve killed thousands of us.” Leo shrugged. “So we’re right back where we started.”

Anton tapped Leo’s shoulder. The King leant back to listen to Anton’s words.

“Ask outright what he wants. This is going nowhere fast and it might be a ploy for some plan.”

“Nowhere fast?” Leo whispered. “I think I understand…”

Leo’s eyes scanned the lines of Centaurs. “Your...Messenger, told us to leave. Why?”

Dorgar’s face softened, if for only an instant. “My people need your land. The Conflagration cannot support our numbers and they are dying. I will not,” His hoof stomped on the dry dirt, throwing up a tiny plume of brown dust. “Let that happen. If your people need to be removed, then so be it.”

Anton tapped again on Leo’s shoulder.

“Who is this?” Dorgar asked as Leo leant back. “I believe this human is the mage that killed my people. He has the same companions with him, at least their hair is the same.”

Verona twirled a loose strand of her silver hair.

“We were present during the first meeting.” Anton said softly. “It appears he has lost some of his attitude, at the very least.”

Dorgar looked back to Guchugur. The Centaur kept his gaze flat but his rear hooves tapped nervously on the ground.

“But the people of Qaiviel will simply not surrender their lands and their lives for you.” Anton said. Like last time he received no sign of objection from Leo so he continued. “Why should they? It sounds like...How do you have such numbers in a land as barren as this?”

Anton motioned either side. The only plants that grew were small and hardy, slowly eking their way through the larger cracks in the ground. This was near the border so there could be considerably more life further in the Conflagration.

Dorgar folded his large, muscular arms. “There are plants that grow in the Conflagration. Not many, but some. Many large fruits. They are mostly what we eat.”

“Difficult to grow or sustain large numbers of these plants?”

“Why are you talking about plants?” One of the Centaurs asked. He attempted to lower his spear but Dorgar lightly blocked it with his arm, making no other sign he would stop his subordinate. “We are here for your lands. And we will take them, human.”

Anton fought back the desire to roll his eyes. “You said that the Conflagration cannot support your numbers. Correct?”

“Correct.” Dorgar said flatly.

Anton again looked to the near endless lines of Centaurs. “Imagine, for a moment, if we let all of your Centaurs in. How-”

“You let us?” The Centaur scoffed.

“You interrupt me again and I’ll burn you alive.” Anton spoke flatly as possible.

Guchugur began to visibly panic and slowly moved away, using the other Centaurs as living shields. As the Centaur’s muscles began to twitch Dorgar punched the Centaur in the face. His jaw collapsed as Dorgar’s fist followed through, spattering blood and teeth on the next Centaur. The others backed away, their hooves prancing on the ground as the Centaur writhed in pain. No one spoke a word as he slowly rose to his feet, wiping away the blood from his face and returning to his position, none spoke a word or acted like a beating just hadn’t happened.

“You say that you are overpopulated for your poor land.” Anton continued. “Now, you may recognise this as a problem, and are doing something about it. But can you speak for every Centaur out there?”

“I can.” Dorgar spoke without a hint of doubt.

“I…” Anton chuckled. “I doubt that. But let’s say that it’s true. But what about after you're gone,” Anton raised his hands. “Of natural causes. What’s to say that four or five generations later there’s another bout of overpopulation?”

Dorgar’s brow furrowed slightly as he mulled over Anton’s words.

“And they won’t be outside of our lands. But within.” Anton lightly sighed. “Not to mention your...people, have shown that they are more than willing to kill us, not that humans are any better. It’s a huge risk that we are not willing to take.”

The same could be said of the Beast-kin. But we are saving them from slavery...I’m sure the difference in my skin colour to the Seocurians helps a great deal. Unfortunately...

“Are you saying there’s no hope for my people?” Dorgar asked. He wasn’t defeated, rather defiant. “That we’re nothing more than scavengers, doomed to a vicious cycle of death? Until my kind is nothing but dust? Or reduced to such a state that you can enslave us like the Seocurians or the United Empire?”

“You…” Anton tapped his leg. “You seem very intelligent for a...Compared to the other Centaurs we’ve met. This may sound odd, but have you received a formal education?”

Dorgar tried his best to hide it but Anton could see it through the tiny movements of his muscles, the tremors in his legs and the twitches of his fingers.

That’s a bit of a surprise. Certainly not by anyone from Qaiviel. But beyond the Conflagration lies the Mycean City States. There’s a mountain range keeping them separate but there’s probably a pass somewhere. But why would someone teach a Centaur? Someone with a grudge against Qaiviel? I could just force it out of him but then it’d definitely be war.

“Regardless.” Anton dismissively waved his hand. “We cannot risk that. However, I think I might have a solution.”

“Really?” Dorgar gently shook his head. “Since we’re playing this game, and your king seems more than content to let a lesser man speak for him,” Leo, to his credit, didn’t rise to the provocation. “What do you propose?”

“We give you food and agricultural technology until your population stabilises. I imagine your population has grown rapidly after being unified. When there were no more wars or conflicts to keep your population somewhat in check?”

Dorgar kept his calm. Anton wasn’t sure what he expected to gain from this meeting but clearly it wasn’t what Anton was throwing at him.

“Are you suggesting we become farmers?” A different Centaur asked. His tone was nowhere as flippant or aggressive as the other Centaur, he looked at this Centaur while blood dribbled down his lips.

“In a sense.” Anton said. “But if you want to get your people under control, and one day see beyond the Conflagration, without having to spill blood, this is the only way.”

Anton pointed to the wall. “There’s no way you’re going to make it over that without building a ramp made from your own corpses.”

“You think that you can actually win?” Dorgar scoffed. “You may have a wall, a small wall at that.”

It’s not that small. You can’t jump that high. Unless you actually do actually plan to build a ramp out of your corpses.

“But we will win.” Dorgar nodded to his Centaurs. “I’m giving you a chance to surrender to us.”

Anton held out his hand. Guchugur shied away, Dorgar noticed and his muscles tensed. A purple disk of light hovered over his hand. A Large Lightning Crow emerged, the Centaurs muttered as the Crow flew into the air and circled over their head. Dorgar followed the creature as it stopped and began to glow bright. The lightning hue vanished, three lightning bolts smashed into the ground to their side. The Centaurs trotted back in utter shock as the volleys continued. Anton summoned another Large Lightning Crow and directed it next to the other. They flew higher, into the sickly clouds of the Conflagration, and over the front of the Centaur’s army. Both quickly flew back and landed before Anton.

“I can do a lot more than this.” Anton summoned a Small Fire Imp. “And I know that your warriors can’t throw a javelin that high.”

“I-”

“Do you see those soldiers on the wall?” Anton pointed towards the raised platform. The Atros soldiers waited on the very edge of the wall, he could almost make out Calo and Sheso. “The ones that look like me? What do you think they can do?”

“You’re bluffing.”

“They aren’t as strong as me, true. But I do think you can do some basic maths. Not to mention there’s a great many other mages manning the wall too.”

Anton did not know if that was actually true, Qaiviel had many of its mages killed during the civil war, but Dorgar didn’t know any better.

“Mages aren’t a threat to us.” Dorgar spoke dismissively, though Anton knew his eyes focused on Anton’s hands for any sign of magic. “There are far more of us than there are of you.”

“Do you think that we can’t make it back to the wall?” Leo asked. He looked to Anton. “We can…” A smile crept over Leo’s lips. “How strong is your hold over the Centaur Clans?”

“His will is absolute.” The Second Centaur said proudly. “See?” He pointed to the beaten Centaur. “He stands with his Khan, no matter what. No matter where our Khan leads we will follow.”

Leo rubbed his thumb along the tips of his fingers. “But who is to follow you? If I were to die there is someone that will succeed me. There’s no great upheaval or war of dominance to determine who sits upon the throne.”

That’s blatantly untrue…

“But if something were to happen to you, who would rule your warherd?” Leo looked to the nearby Centaurs. “One of them? One has certainly more than enough reason to see that no one from your family ever leads your warherd again.”

Dorgar didn’t seem phased but the wounded Centaur looked a little worried.

Sowing division amongst the enemy? You haven’t threatened them, at least directly. Not yet.

“I’ve never heard of a Centaur that was willing to talk to their enemies, to try and use diplomacy to make your enemy submit.” Leo faintly smiled. “It does indeed seem like you have been tainted by a human’s teaching.”

“Who educated you?” Anton asked. Dorgar raised a brow. “From Mycea? Who was the one that taught you these things?”

That alone caused tremendous dissent amongst the Centaurs. His physical prowess and leadership ability gave him any authority over the Centaurs, but his human influence was a terrible blight on him. Would that be enough to turn the other clans against him?

“If you were to spread through my lands, even peacefully, I doubt you would submit to my rule.” Leo took a deep breath. “So...We will not let you into our lands. Nor negotiate anything, beyond,” Leo glanced at Anton. “Assisting you getting your people under control, and to no longer be little more than a rampaging horde. When you can stand next to us there will be more to discuss. Until then, there is little more to say. You can’t make it past the walls. And even if you did, you’d have to deal with the entire army of the Qaiviel Kingdom. I wonder who you’ll send first in first?” Leo looked at the wounded Centaur. “Perhaps your people will be the first to feel our arrows. If you were to charge in the one place your corpses might be enough to build a ramp. No?”

Though the Centaurs had professed loyalty the wounded Centaur did not look happy. Khan Dorgar had unified the disparate clans through force, resentment undoubtedly lingered, just waiting for a chance to enact their revenge.

Dorgar folded his arms. “Leave us. Now.”

“But…” The bloodstained Centaur’s stance hardened. “Yes. As you wish, Khan Dorgar.”

The Centaurs sped away, even Guchugur. He was the last to leave, watching his Khan with terrible worry as he trundled away.

“Something they cannot hear?” Anton asked softly.

Dorgar sighed. “The clan leaders will not accept this. They will not accept anything less than total victory and your submission.”

“That is a serious problem.” Leo murmured.

Dorgar said nothing. His stance hardened. Anton didn’t want to push him any further, lest he lash out and try and kill the King. If their Khan died right now the hordes would attack before they could reach safety, unless that was the plan. Cetina had the portal stones but there was no way the Centaurs could know about something like that.

“I don’t think he’s got anything more to say anything.” Leo said. “He has no reason to speak. But…” Leo sighed. “It appears we’re at an impasse. If you wish to discuss potential means to help the Centaurs civilise, send a single Centaur to the wall and we can discuss things further.”

Leo signalled for the Knights to retreat back to the wall.

Anton didn’t leave, Verona and Cetina stepped forward to pull him back.

“Khan Dorgar. Talk to your people. Tell them what we’ve told you, what we’ve offered to your people. There is no need for bloodshed, if you are willing to take a different path than despoiling, conquest and an endless cycle of death. We can provide you with the tools and food you need for the transition into something more stable.”

Dorgar’s brows furrowed as he looked to the harsh, broken ground.

“I’m sorry that I killed your people.” Anton bowed his head. “But I will not hesitate to do it again, to use every magic and ability I have if you attack us.”

Without waiting for his response Anton left. Dorgar watched them leave in perfect silence, with only the wind whipping up the dust around him.

---[]---

“An interesting tactic.” Leo sipped at his goblet of wine, barely suppressing his smirk. “But it seemed to be effective. Not one piece of magic, bolt or arrow, not even a drawn blade. And yet…”

Beyond the wall the Centaur hordes had fractured. Their lines were no longer cohesive and were beginning to turn on one another. The Centaurs on the flanks were breaking and fleeing deeper into the Conflagration, those near the centre began to ball up and form distinct groups.

“He actually tried to convince them.” Anton mused as he ate a small blue fruit. “I do feel a little sorry for Khan Dorgar. He wanted the best for his people, but it just wasn’t to be.”

“Your offer wasn’t a bad idea.” Leo patted Anton’s back. “If he accepted immediately his herd would have turned on him. But those other Centaurs heard him. They would have told their clans and it seems like they all think that’s why he even met us in the first place. And then there was that last bit you threw at him. See? They’re already starting to disintegrate. This is…Beautiful.”

Shouts, audible even over the vast distance, began to emerge from the Centaur herds. The groups at the back began to flee. There were no fights yet but Dorgar’s herd was disintegrating before their very eyes.

“Savages.” Leo leant against the wall. “What can you expect from beings such as them? Dorgar probably looked like some human wearing…” Leo rubbed his short trimmed beard. “Not the best comparison…”

“I did mean what I said.” Anton received an odd look from Leo. “If they became a little bit more like us, not a rampaging and ever expanding horde, shackled by exponential growth and its subsequent decimation, then we could be good allies.”

“Really?” Leo squinted with one eye at Anton.

“Imagine a Knight riding one of them.” The nearby Knights scoffed, even Bernard looked a little off-put by the suggestion. “Not only would the Knight be able to fight but the Centaur itself. They could react faster than any horse, not needing instructions. Hell, the Knight could be an archer and be a very effective skirmish force.”

“It could be.” Henri said. He and the other members of the Royal Army continued to pour over the map. “But I don’t know many would stomach to ride such a thing.”

I’m sure you’d say the same about the Beast-kin.

“Perhaps a distant dream.” Leo murmured. “The United Empire used them in their armies, but that was a long time again.”

“Do we continue building the wall?” Bernard asked. He nodded to the moving mass of Centaurs. “Doesn’t look like they’re going to attack anytime soon.”

“Of course you should.” Anton almost scoffed. “At least completely made from stone. High towers and a garrison to man it all the time. Maybe some sort of Wall Order...Instead of Knights have archers and crossbowmen. Even if the Centaurs are dealt with, in whatever manner, there’s bound to be something else out there. And I’m honestly surprised that the Kings of Qaiviel ”

“I wonder what would have happened if Dorgar wasn’t so smart?” Verona wondered aloud. She shrugged as everyone laid eyes on her. “I mean, he tried to be clever, about what he wanted. If he’d just attacked the moment they arrived...Maybe they would have made it over, riding on piles of their dead.”

“Sometimes a direct attack works best.” Kal mused softly.

“I’ll make sure the walls are taller.” Alfred said softly. “We’ll need to expand the base so it can support its height and weight. But it can be done.”

Leo nodded. “Very good. Very good. Thank you, Duke Anton. The Qaiviel Kingdom is thankful and truly grateful for your continued assistance.”

Anton looked back to the fracturing warherd. Fights were beginning to erupt, blood spattering the dusty ground as the Centaurs charged at one another. Anton did feel quite sorry for Dorgar as years of work unravelled before them, and without the Qaiviel forces having to raise a single weapon.

Just goes to show how fragile it all really was. Just talking to your enemy is enough to bring down your entire army.

Anton sighed loudly. “Looks like we aren’t going to be needed until they unite once again.”

“Give us a few winters and we’ll push into the Conflagration and we’ll wipe them out.” Leo smiled. “Then we won’t need this wall and all the land beyond will be ours.”

“The land that not even the Centaurs want.” Alfred quietly added.

Leo’s excitement was diminished slightly. “Perhaps. But there is certainly something valuable out there. If not we’ll have removed a major adversary.”

Anton did not agree with the total genocide of the Centaur race but there was little he could do right now for so many. Without Leo’s support there was no way he could help hundreds of thousands of Centaurs. Regardless, he did not believe the Centaur’s issues were inherent to their genetics but a result of their environment; more Centaurs in a herd meant more foraged food and strength to fend off their neighbours. It was advantageous to have many children in their current situation but not once they reached more bountiful lands. Their population would explode exponentially, devastating the land and continuing a vicious cycle of exponential growth and decay.

Perhaps if they were raised like us, away from such a hostile place, things could be different. However, they’d be inadvertently taught by their elders if we just brought them along, like the Beast-kin, unless they were removed completely...I wonder if that’s how early man managed to train wolves and dogs? Not by taking in a whole pack but only their pups. Obviously their parents wouldn’t be happy, but only if they were still alive. I wouldn’t do something like that...But…

Anton watched the Centaur warherd unravel before them, unsure of exactly how to feel as he watched a might force rip itself to bloody shreds while they stood safe behind a wall, drinking wine and eating succulent food and laughing. A mocking laughter directed at their hated and foolish foe.