Looking from the group of soldiers training in the courtyard, Mandar watched as one of his scouts rushed through the gate and made a straight line for him. Stopping few feet from Mandar the scout knelt waiting to be acknowledged.

“What is it?”

Catching his breath the men kept his eyes from meeting Mandar's, his voice carried over the courtyard as he blurted the words out.

“Ferelis clan has fallen.”

All around them the soldiers froze where they stood, all turned to stare at the men trying to comprehend what he has just said.

Not bothering to rain in the interrupted training session he turned towards the scout fully.

“Explain.”

Taking a deep breath the scout looked Mandar in the eyes.

“According to the information we have, around ten years ago ships started sailing into the mainland on the coast.”

Interrupting him Mandar raised a hand.

“Yes I know that, but they are simple outcasts of speculated empire, which in reality is just a big flying island in the middle of nowhere. Ferelis had them under control, contained at the edge from what we know.”

Swallowing the men continued.

“Well, from what we were able to get from refugees and soldiers retreating towards our borders, they never had them under control. Once the second wave of steal ships arrived they started to push into the valley and slowly taking over the towns and cities. Then the Empire presumably left Ferelis alone for negotiations and long war which ensued for the past ten years.”

Looking up he saw Mandar narrow his eyes.

“But then something happened, we don’t know what yet, but they pushed into the capital and started taking over from there.”

“Then a couple of months ago, the refugees started to trickle over the borders.”

That was about the time I got repositioned into this border city and took over preparations of the army.

“And now soldiers started moving near the borders, resulting in skirmishes to keep them from crossing. But they are desperate, and from the few that surrendered we got the information of the main family being slaughtered, and clan falling apart as we speak.”

Mandar let out a breath which he didn’t realize he was holding.

“So, it is just matter of time before they are all dead, crushed between our borders which they can’t cross and Empire which will either drive them to desperation or leave them to die there. What do we know about this Empire?”

“Not much my lord.”

The scout was picking his words carefully, knowing he had no information and Mandar wasn’t the kind of men you wanted to make excuses to or waste his time.

“Other then basic facts, the Ferelis was really good at saving their face and containing the information from leaving the territory. Until now that is. All we know is that there are around forty thousand soldiers. With steal ships that crossed the purple mist for who knows how long. And they are hungry my lord, they were oppressed for a decade, and now they found themselves in a position to gain land. I doubt they will stop easily, if ever.”

Considering him for a moment Mandar scanned the yard as all the soldiers watching him started to return to their training. His voice carried over the whole yard, powerful and unyielding.

“Take the rest of the day off, go see your families, tomorrow we start preparations for war.”

Turning around he dismissed the scout and went into the castle in the middle of the city where his wife and daughter was.

It didn’t take long, just a month, when the messenger from Atagare family arrived.

The men were dressed in fine silks, in the colors of the main clan, rich green of grass, with white trimming around the edges and cuffs. His entourage encompassed of forty guards and over hundred attendance which took care of everyday necessities during the travel. It became soon clear that he was going to stay in the city for a very long time.

The question was what was his orders and what he was sent to here for.

Mandar contemplated as he watched the constant stream of Green livery and flags with Nara flower entering the city of Ashte.

My city, I wonder for how long is that going to be true.

Turning around he nodded to one of the servants to summon his wife and daughter to the main hall as he prepared himself for the receiving of the guests. Donning robes of heavy linen, servants started putting ornate leather armor on his scarred body. Mandar didn’t like the silk, the armor served him better, decorating and demonstrating his power and position, as much as it made him feel safer.

Knowing if anything happened he can always pull out the sword and get past any problem with lethal force put him somehow at easy, even when knowing he can’t just kill anyone he wants.

Sitting on the raised platform, two rows of low tables lined the sides of the room. Looking for his wife Klaria walked in, sitting on the right side, next to him with Erin on her right. Holding her hand helping his daughter to arrange herself, his mind drifted into the not so far past when Erin couldn’t even sit still without changing direction where her body faced. Now she could stand up and sit in pretty much same position where she started without help. Yet it still made it easier if someone helped her.

She would always need someone, and it can’t be me, I need to start looking for a man who can take care of her.

Glancing at the girl directly behind Erin he spotted Faiya, looking over her shoulder touching his daughter's sides with the tips of her fingers.

Mandar still marveled at the wit of his wife. At first, he doubted his daughter would be able to survive without her mother forcing her to be contained to her room most of her life. But then this girl showed up and soon proved to be the key to his daughter's happiness. They were like sisters, never apart, yet you had a hard time noticing the servant girl if she wanted to stay in her charges shadow.

The doors slowly opened and the entourage walked in. The men slowly walked towards the dais glancing at the people around, he focused on Mandar. There was confidence in his stride which Mandar didn’t see that often in his presence. The men felt powerful and something about it rubbed Mandar the wrong way, Klaria slowly shifted, turning her side slightly towards the men.

Reaching the tables the messenger smiled and slightly bowed towards the ruling family. Hearing the rustle of the fabric behind him he nodded his head.

“First of all, let me extend the greetings from my master to the head of the Atagi family. His Highness is pleased with the way you took over this city and training of its soldiers. I come here, based on reports of a fall of the Ferelis clan.”

“Yes, we have received reports of massive amounts of refugees trickling into our territory from the inner cities. Since the border cities and towns are on the brink of collapsing as well, we expect the fighting to start soon.”

“What have you done with them so far?”

It didn’t slip Mandars mind that it was more of an afterthought than a real question.

“Contained them near the borders, I tried not to kill them, but we simply can not let them into our territory.”

Smiling the men continued.

“Good, with Empire on our borders we will be forced into war, which quite frankly we don’t want to fight. Is it that surprising?”

Realizing his mouth slightly opened Mandar hardened his face.

“No, not really, we all saw what the eighty years of war did to the southern clans. They will not recover for decades to come if they survive at all. And this Empire seems more dangerous then we were willing to consider them.”

“Exactly, so we need to push the refugees back over the border for Empire to deal with them. And reinforce our defenses to prevent any enemy soldiers from getting anywhere near our border.”

The messengers face couldn’t hide the slight smile upon mentioning the words.

“I’m sure you wonder, why am I here. Well, I’m to prepare this city to be set as the base for an army which will pass here to push Empire back deeper into the Ferelis territory.”

Mandar shifted and his hand squeezed the wooden stool. A low murmur ran through the room as the implication of the message spread among all attending. Feel of discomfort and fear settled over the room, the only sounds were that of the suffering wood and low breathing.

“You want to turn this city into the bloody checkpoint for the fucking army?”

Mandars voice was the same, he rarely raised voice near his daughter, yet it made him all the more terrifying to those who knew him.

“Please calm down, of course, it is not something I want to do, His Highness decided it is necessary.”

Staring at Mandar for a few moments the men continued in an attempt to remedy the situation.

“You, of course, stay in the leadership position of the city. The guards stay at your command, I will only prepare the city for the arrival of the men of his highness.”

It is the same as taking over the damned city without fighting.

Realizing there was a need to persevere the face of the current leader, himself, Mandar knew this was just for the benefit of those around them. Rising his hand Mandar indicated to his servants.

“My men will escort you to guest chambers, you can start the process as you see fit. Will you require anything?”

“Access to the city administration, other than food and drink, not much.”

Bowing to Mandar the messenger followed the servants into the side doors between the tables.

As he left, Mandar sank back into his seat thinking about how to handle the little fucker. He knew he couldn’t just go against the men if he didn’t want to jeopardize his family. Yet when the soldiers come, they would turn the city inside out, leaving it miserable, drained land.

There was no city that could accommodate the whole army safely. Civilians were going to suffer, they would be hungry, some would die.

A lot of them would die.

And what for? So the soldiers can move on to kill more civilians running over the border.

Mandar had no compassion for the Ferelis clan, they would be too much strain on the economy of this clan and strain the border cities to the brink of collapse. They had to be stopped, killed, but his people counted on him to keep them safe and prosperous. He would have to put his own measures into place to make sure the city itself survives this war.

Because the war was coming, once the civilians are put down, or forced back, the Empire would cut through them easily, wiping out the whole population of Ferelis so they themselves can survive.

And then the Empire will march on clashing with Atagi itself, in a war which would put this land into chaos. Turning around he looked at his wife, who seemed ill at ease, doing a good job looking the part of calm and composed women in support of her husband. But he spent too much time with her to be fooled so easily. Her eyes told him all he needed to know, she was scared.

I swore I would never make you unhappy again, you being scared means I’m failing.

Clenching his teeth he glanced at Erin, she looked more confused than scared, which was somehow calming. But then an idea popped into his mind. He would be probably called into the war sooner than later and the chances of him not returning weren’t exactly small.

And Klaria might will more power to stay alive in case something happens.

Turning ideas in his head he soon came to decision to contact some of the families which were considered as potential suitors. Something scratched at the back of his mind, as he glanced at Erin's closed eyes, deciding to ignore it, Mandar left the room with the attending people rising and bowing low.