Border between Pannonia and Eastern Confederacy.

A dense forest stood on one side, open plains to the other. The trees marked the territory of the confederacy, Dacia, the main province of the elves and seat of their queen. The plains were claimed by hundreds of tribes, unified by a desire to stay independent. Named after the region they took from the Romans, the Tribes of Pannonia.

Both were nowadays mostly inhabited by elves, though that didn't lessen the tension between them. One side called them traitors for joining the Eastern Empire. The others called them savages for continuing their nomadic lifestyle after leaving the great forest. Trying their luck with roaming the wide plains.

Conflicts had been numerous over the century but it had never escalated into a full out war. The tribes feared to leave the open plains and dreaded entering the dense forests. The eastern elves were always occupied with other plans. An invasion of Pannonia did not seem worth it or feasible.

That was about to change.

The trees of the forest shook fiercely. Animals nearby began to hide and kept quiet. The stamping of massive creatures was the only thing audible.

The sound got louder and the creatures emerged with the crack of branches. It was a hairy creature. A thick pelt covered its entire body. It stood on six legs. Four long tusks grew out of its head, a trunk in between them.

On top of the creature's neck sat a rider. The green elf leaned against a tower attached to the animal's back. The rider was controlling the animal with the help of two small iron chains. Their ends were embedded into the animal's protruding ears. Allowing him to easily control the six-metre big creature.

The tower was manned by eight elves. All of them were carrying two pairs of bows. One big and one small. Nearly a thousand arrows were bundled up around them. Providing enough ammunition for several battles. The tower allowed them to shot from an elevation and gave them cover against enemy arrows.

What started with one creature became two, then four, then ten, then twenty-one. More and more of them left the forest. 126 were it in the end. They were followed by elves on foot or other mounts. Horses were the most numerous, but boars, deer, bears and wolves were also ridden. All of them carried only bows as well.

The stream of soldiers continued to flood out of the forest. Thirty thousand elves stood on the plains as the last contingent of the army arrived. Three creatures emerged, felling a few trees on their way. They looked much like their hairy cousins but had two more tusks. The animals were also hairless, instead, thick white plates covered their skin, an iron armour protected vital areas further.

Two of the three were nine-metre high, the last one ten. Instead of towers, their platforms looked more like the inside of a mini palace.

"Are that all of the war-beasts?", an elven woman asked. She sat on silken pillows. Her long silver hair braided with jewels. White and flawless skin matched by silver eyes.

"Yes, Queen Galvalla. We have 126 olintes and three olintes maxima", an armoured elf answered. He couldn't look more different. Dark brown skin, numerous scars and a bald head.

Two veiled elves sat to the sides of the queen. Both looked at the ground and were silent, unmoving.

"Legate Ivno, how long will it take for you to beat the tribes?"

"That depends."

"On what legate?"

"If they fight or run. I can beat them in a battle, but we will never catch them if they chose to run."

"We are here to take back what rightfully belongs to the east. I do not care to where those primitives will flee."

The eastern army started to array themselves. Forming long lines. Footmen and mounted archers provided the front, the olintes the rear. Everybody equipped his longbow and readied their first arrows.

It didn't take long till they found the first settlement. A dozen tents surrounded by cattle. Several campfires made it visible from afar.

"Riders circle around, footman charge, olintes protect the queen", Ivno shouted loudly from his elevated position. His commands were relayed.

The troops moved forward quickly. The tribe before them had noticed their approach as well. Open plains prevented most surprise attacks.

Two dozen riders managed to flee before the community was encircled. The rest didn't fight back, choosing to surrender without bloodshed. The army closed in. A rope ladder was thrown from the top of the queen's olinte. Legate Ivno climbed down.

He moved through the ranks of the army until he stood in front of the captives. Thirty people altogether, most children and elderly. Reacting too late or too slow to escape.

"By decree of Queen Galvalla, guardian and ruler of all elves, all inhabitants of Pannonia are to be deported to the province of Moesia. There you will be provided ground to settle and taught to live civilised", the legate shouted for the present people. Forces along the border would organise the transport of the people.

The march of the elven army wasn't met with much resistance, though a problem quickly became apparent. They got fewer captives per community until they got non. Eastern scouts reported a gathering of enemy forces further west. Legate Ivno proceeded to meet them head-on with the blessing of his liege.

Fighting began quickly. The forces of the tribes were completely mounted, nearly all of them on steppe horses. They acted in small groups of thirty to a hundred men. Circling their enemy and letting arrows hail from the sky.

Eastern forces were forced on the defence. Ivno held the olintes in reserve.

"All archers dismount, equip longbows, fire on command of your centurion!", Ivno ordered loudly.

The reach of the longbow proved superior. Pannonian riders couldn't get near enough to shoot their own volleys. They attempted different angles and tactics but were always forced to fall back under the fire of arrows.

The Pannonian changed tactics and dismounted as well, equipping their own longbows. Both sides exchanged arrow fires for hours. Both sides suffered under the volley of the other.

"Send the olintes! Mount your beasts! Charge!", Ivno shouted. The footsoldiers quickly opened passages for the riders and massive olintes. Pannonians climbed up their horses as well. Shooting back at their pursuers while riding further west.

Several more engagements were fought this way. All ending with the same conclusion. Both sides suffered losses and the tribes would have to retreat further west.

The eastern elves began to secure their gains. Fortifying newly gained territory and protecting their supply routes from frequent raids. With every stretch of land they took, the attacks from the Pannonians got fiercer and more desperate.

The invasion moved forward steadily and it seemed the tribes would be defeated. Though hope always dies last.

This time home looked more like I remembered it. The ruins in Napule had been cleared and you could still see wide areas where there were no buildings, but what had been rebuilt was inhabited. It seemed a good amount of people lived here again.

I used this chance to look around a bit. Most notable was that there were no more wood buildings like in the past. Most were built out of marble and a few out of stone and I spotted a single house build-out of sandstone. Probably the residence of a wealthier merchant.

Not much of interest had happened in the city as it seemed. I visited the market with my escort. Listening to any rumours spreading through Italia. The people spoke about their daily lives and how happy they were that the wars have ended. There was however one conversation that piqued my interest.

A merchant was talking with a customer. A varied range of pelts from different animals hung behind the man. I think he was part of the sea-folk. The man was covered by white scales and nine thin tails were bundled up with a piece of cloth behind him. He had something resembling gills on his throat. The only clue to his sex was the tone of his voice.

"I am not lying my lady. I was buying pelts from a village when an Ice giant appeared out of nowhere!", he gestured wildly with his hands.

"Do things like giants even exist?", the human woman asked with an unconvinced smirk.

"They do my lady! And I even have proof", the merchant pulled out a small chest. Locking it up with the key hanging around his neck. White mist spread outwards when he opened it. The temperature dropped several degrees. Cold.

"By the gods what is that?", the woman asked. She seemed to be struggling between getting closer to inspect the item or creating more distance because of the cold.

"That is one of the eyeballs of the giant in question", the merchant answered. He used two hands to elevate the object. It was about the size of my head. It was the source of the cold mist. The hands of the merchant started to freeze over, though he didn't notice or didn't care.

"Okay, okay, I believe you. Now put that thing away or I will freeze to death", the woman said.

"Very well my lady", the merchant did as asked. The cold immediately disappeared as the eyeball was locked away.

"So go on! What happened next?", the woman looked eager to hear more of the story. The merchant smiled now that he had her undivided attention.

"The giant was cladded in thick fur and held a crude spear in his left hand. There were no guards or fighters in the village. Everybody began to panic and we ran to the next village. There we waited for Frankish soldiers to arrive."

"But what about the ice giant? What happened to the village?"

"We returned with an escort of guards. When we reached the village a quarter of it was destroyed. Most livestock was missing. And a dead giant laid in the ruins of a barn."

"Who slew the giant?"

"Hard to say. Most of the carcass had been eaten. I was lucky to find the eye. Part of the remaining skin of the giant had turned purple, other places were burned. The guards said it was killed by a wyvern and a hell-hound later ate the rest of the carcass. Saying the animal fled when it saw us approach."

"So nobody knows what really happened?"

"No idea. I don't think wyvern venture north so far. Probably another monster headed south and killed the giant. There are plenty of unknown nightmares in the endless ice", he patted the pelts in front of him. "So this good piece costs 10 ducats, I scavenged it from the giant's corpse myself. This is a rare pelt, nobody hunts so far north but the giants. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

"Eight."

"Nine."

"Deal!"

I left the market. Thinking about what I just heard and saw. It was one thing to be told that the king of the ice giants changed the climate with only his presence. It was another to see the eyeball of a dead giant cool down its surroundings. I was glad that the duchy wasn't close to any of the border regions. Though that might change in the future.

I also wondered if Quintus was responsible for the kill of the giant. Poison and fire would fit him, but it could also have been like the merchant said. We do not know what else lives beyond the borders of civilization.

We reached my family's mansion. The escort was housed and Cycnus followed me inside. The guards and servants around and inside of our estate greeted me.

"I wish I could have been there. I could have fought that ice giant barehanded", Cycnus proclaimed.

"I would rather not lose my most capable bodyguard."

"So you imply that I would lose!", Cycnus voice echoed throughout the mansion.

"I did not …."

The voices of my siblings interrupted my answer. Ivy, Iris and Silas ran up to me. They had grown a bit again. Questions and answers were exchanged.

"Where is Quinti?"

"His name is Quintus. Somewhere north."

"How long will you stay?"

"A few days."

"Can we visit Roma?"

"Not yet, but soon you can."

"Who is that?"

"Cycnus, a friend and my bodyguard. A minotaur. He saved my life more than once."

"Thank you Cycnus! Come we have to show you something."

They were like the tide and I felt like driftwood. Left at their mercy. Even Cycnus seemed a bit overtaxed by the quick exchange. It took him a moment to follow us. We ended up in the garden.

"Look!", Ivy was the first to show me whatever she wanted to share.

There was a pond in the garden. Something that had not been here before. Behind the pond was a full-grown tree with apples. My sister outclassed me several times in magic it seemed.

"Igni", I tested my own magic. Ending up with a tiny flame that died after two seconds. How unfair the world was. I focussed on my sister again. She sat between the tree and pond. Closed her eyes and seemed to concentrate.

"Luxuri, movere, vivet, vige, auxili, simul", Ivy repeated that sequence again and again. She clearly had practised a lot. Nothing happened at first. I was preparing to comfort my sister. If magic took one thing it was time.

I swear my heart stopped for a moment when something did happen. I took several steps back and pulled Iris and Silas behind me. All out of reflex. Cycnus had a hand on his axe.

The roots moved and the tree stood up. The water of the pond coiled around its trunk and branches. Ivy looked exhausted. She looked back at the tree, then to us. A wide smile on her face. Silas and Iris smiled back.

"That is amazing. Can you control it?", I asked intrigued.

"Yes", she took a few steps back from the tree. "Altum."

The tree, or should I call it a golem, it did look similar to the things Niloticus used for our training, crouched down and then jumped. He didn't jump high. Maybe ten or twenty centimetres. But he did make an impact. Something shattered in the house when he reached the ground again. A window opened, my mother looked out.

"Ivy how many times … Lucius you are here already? Come up we have some things to discuss. Ivy, we will talk later." She closed the window.

"Oh-oh", was what Ivy said in response. I smiled at her. It seemed this wasn't the first time that this happened.

"Don't worry. A few days house arrest is the only thing you will get", I said, still smiling. My sister glared back.

"Funny", she responded.

Iris wanted to show me her skills with the bow and how she had trained with Remus a bit. Silas also wanted to show me something. He said Romulus showed him how to use a sling. He claimed he could hit the tree from over ten metres away. I had to put my siblings off until later. I would make time for them.

"Cycnus entertain my siblings. I will be with my parents for a while. Have fun", I left and headed upstairs.

"Do you want to … spar … maybe?", Cycnus asked.

"No", they replied. "Hide and seek?"

"No."

I entered the office and both mother and father were awaiting me.

"Mother, father, nice to see you again."

"Lucius come here and sit. We have much to discuss", father said.

"Nice to see you as well", mother added with a smile.

I sat down. A map was the only thing laying on the table.

"I am here to verify your intentions", I said while looking at the map. It covered all of the civilized world. All states were drawn in and the latest territorial exchanges had been corrected as well. No Empire of Britannia, Numidia with a new access to the sea and no Northern Alliance.

"We have to plan for the next war", father answered. "And you need to be involved."

He started to position pieces on the map. First ours and then that of our neighbours. Slowly the board was filling up with legions and navies.

"The east is preparing for several wars. And we think that one of those will be against us", father explained. Pointing to the legions in Hellas and Dacia.

"But they haven't rebuilt their fleet", I said. "They can't land legions in Italia unless ..."

"Unless they come overland. First Illyricum and Pannonia, then Raetia, then we", father finished. "Though maybe they will first deal with Charlemagne."

Father continued to explain different scenarios and march routes the enemy could take. I listened and stared at the eastern pieces. They had at least seven times our numbers. How were we supposed to beat that? I asked father what his plan was.

"We are not alone Lucius. The Duchy of Sardinia, the Duchy of Corsica and the Carthaginian Republic stand with us. Even if they only want to protect themselves from being conquered by the east."

"So you managed to create the alliance?"

"We did. Their fleets are heading towards Bari and their legions are on them. Carthage will operate independently. They fear to lose their home if they leave it unprotected."

"Okay. But what is the plan?"

"The legions will fortify the border. I want the east to think twice to head south. We win if they fight Charlemagne first."

"Do we?"

"You, Remus and Romulus will use the three legions to attack the supply lines of the east. You will also secure Italia. Raetia will have pulled back by then or they will have been defeated. Duran will set over towards Illyricum and cut the supply lines a second time. He will also stir up rebellions in there."

Father had a plan. And I liked it. Getting the east and Charlemagne to face of would be the best outcome, but there were a lot of ifs in his plan.

"What do we do if the east heads straight for us?"

"Then Duran lands behind them in Italia and disrupts their supply lines. Meanwhile, we burn the ground and retreat as far back as possible", father said. I paled slightly. Burning down Roma? Never!

"I understand", I would need to make sure that we do not have to use father's second plan. I would need to come up with something better instead.

"There is more to discuss", mother joined the conversation. She looked slightly hesitant. "We will have a meeting with all of our vassals. We want to introduce you formally as heir."

I didn't see the problem. Why was mother looking like that?

"And you will have to guarantee the nobles in southern Italia their rights and their land. The nobles in Sicillia their rights, lands and autonomy", mother explained. Father stopped me from answering immediately.

"This is not negotiable Lucius. I have made promises and what you did in your province is okay only because none of our important vassals held titles there. But our loyal vassals are the pillars of this duchy. Their children sit in your council. They will not accept an heir that plans to remove them. We will not name you heir without the promise. It would mean another civil war. Only this time we stand alone and will lose", father spoke slow and with determination.

I nodded. Hiding my mixed feelings. I wanted to get rid of the old government system. But father was right. Everybody would turn against me. Nobody in my council would help me with taking away their families position. I didn't like the choices presented to me.

"Lucius if you", mother started.

"No. It's fine", I said. "I can do so much. Father is right. I should think more about who our allies are and who not."

I wouldn't be able to pass reforms like in my province. But I could take small steps to change things slowly and with the consensus of the vassals. I would have to.

We continued to exchange details and my parents advised me to stay here for two weeks. I should attend several meetings, meet foreign guests and envoys. Meet the vassals of course. And directly help with the management of the entire duchy.

My return to Roma would be delayed. I would need to exchange orders and information viva paper and ink. I would take this chance to learn what it would mean to take father's and mother's seats.

Though there was another problem that popped up in my head. If I take father's position as duke, who should be duchess at my side?