Prolog

The small unnamed village on the outskirts of the gleaming desert was cold and silent in the early hours of the night. The moon had not yet given way to the sun that would warm the sands and most people were asleep in their Tents and small huts. All in all there were about six dozen of these hovels, and a single well used dirt road that after passing several fields stretched into the distance for somewhere far at its end lay Ebessa the City of Life.

The only sounds in the night was the crackling of the campfires the guards had set up, no one talked or laughed for the air was heavy and an ominous feeling had gripped all that were still awake. Somewhere in the Village a dog began barking and yapping only for it to turn to low snarling and end in a terrified whimper that quickly distanced itself. It was almost as if the animal had felt something so terrifying that it would rather flee than protect his owner.

One of the village guards a young men in his early twenties, sporting rough scruff on his handsome face, glanced from the fire into the darkness. He felt the unease as well as his brothers in arms but cowering around like a scared little maid didn’t sit well with him. By Ethos, he was a fucking guard and not some pants shitting loser, right? He got up and turned to his brothers, his back facing the darkness.

“What has gotten into you guys? Just because some of the people are sick, that doesn’t mean a devil is out to get us! Look there is nothing the darkness to be scared of.”

The very moment he looked over his shoulder, a high whistle could be heard. The men looked up and could barely believe the sight. The young man’s face was skewered with the thick shaft of an arbalest bolt. Several pieces of his bones, brain matter and skin flew from the exit point into the fire and were still sizzling, as the man’s eyes went dull and he fell forward. The flames hungrily devoured flesh and clothing. The rest of the guards were too shocked to even react when several dark figures descended upon them.

When the morning came over the village and the first rays of light warmed the sands, the ruins of the villages were wrapped in ashes, smoke and the stink of burning bodies. In the midst of all this stood a figure that no one of the dark clad soldiers dared to approach. The two markings on the dark grey plate armour were that of a high ranking officer the other the golden spiked ring of the church. The figure walked away from the grizzly sight of over two-hundred bodies burning, not turning around until its eyes fell upon the sight of a soldier kneeling in a hut made from loam and straw. The soldier jerked away in fear as he saw the imposing figure.

“Comander! I’m so sorry!” He sobbed and cried as tears fell to the ground. “But, they’re children! I- I can’t. My daughter she is about the same age maybe I could take them in!?”

The figure looked down at him unmoving. “It is fine, Algoro. I will take care of things from here.”

The man’s face lit up. “Yes! Thank you, I knew you would understand. I’ll leave it to you.” With that he walked out of the hut almost smiling.

When the Commander looked around i was clear why the man had been in distress, behind a dirty blanked cowered two young children, maybe eight or ten years old. A boy and a girl were clutching each other tightly, as they feared for their life. The Commander came closer and finally kneeled down extending one hand. When two didn’t move the Commander sighed and lifted the helmet; underneath it a beautiful face with bright green eyes, and a smile that radiated warmth and protection.

“Hey, you are safe now little ones, no one will hurt you when you’re with me. Come closer; let me give you a hug, okay?”

The two children slowly came closer but soon threw themselves at this angelic figure that promised them safety and happiness. They were embraced in to a tight hug, the woman slowly rocked them back and forth soothing their fears. But before they knew it the warm hug turned into a crushing steel trap. They struggled to get away from the commander, but the woman only pressed them tighter. The last thing they felt was cold steel rupturing their throats, blood and bits of flesh gushing forth. All the while the commander held on; staying by their sides until their life escaped them. When it was finally down she walked away and threw a crystal in the building, it erupted into fire and smoke.

The soldier from before rushed up to her side. “What have you done! They were children!”

The Commander turned around a single tear rolling down her cheek. “Yes, and they already were infected.”