"Move it!" the crack of a whip echoed in the streets of Qinja; The wealthiest city in Volaria, and one of the few remaining cities that were still under control of the mad Emperor. An old slave in ragged clothing looked towards the golden dome roofs of the houses, carrying two massive boulders underneath his arms, beads of sweat dripped off his pale, grim face. His master reminded him to keep on moving and following the line as he felt a flat hand shoving his back. But then some commotion stirred up at the front. The whole range of slaves was forced to halt as a slaver pulled a young man out and on his knees. The guard pinned him against the stone wall of a house along the street, screaming at him.

"Tell me! What is this sign!"

The man avoided all eye-contact, his fearful eyes staring in the hot sand. "Master, p-please.."

The slave's begging only angered the slaver as he received a punch across his face, a cut in his lip leaking red.

"I'll tell you what this is! That is the symbol of the Flames of Dawn!" The master turned to the rest of the slaves, grabbed the man's arm and violently presented a black tattoo in the shape of a flame.

"Anyone caught wearing these will have that body flayed! The Flames of Dawn is done. No one is coming to save you! Let this be a warning for you all!" He took out his knife and started cutting away the skin of the slave's arm, making him scream and squirm in pain. The high pitched shrieks pierced through everyone's ears. It seemed like the sound of a dying rebellion — the sound of false hope. It only took a while for the man carrying the boulders to notice something else which his masters didn't yet see. In the shadows between two houses in an alleyway, he saw the same symbol painted in white. Another flame, with words written underneath that said, "Flay the masters, four moons."

He wasn't sure what all these symbols meant. The march of slaves continued, and the old slave saw the same symbol over and over again. It then struck him. Something was going to happen within four nights, and his assumptions were only confirmed when more and more people looked towards the skies in curiosity. A flame burned brightly on top of a guard tower, and a massive banner of the Flames of Dawn hung proudly underneath the roof, fluttering in the high winds. The masters were getting anxious, shouting orders to the guards.

"Cut that flag down now! And ring the bells, we might be attacked!"

A pair of squawking seagulls glided past the sails of Marlock's stolen ship. "Guys, there's a ship on the horizon! Heading right towards us!" Areiya shouted on the front deck, squinting her eyes as she tried her best to see the distant ship.

"Can you see its sails?" Marlock asked, holding the ship's helm. In the meantime, Kiera joined Areiya in her view.

"No...it's too far!" Areiya replied.

"We'll go around. We can't risk it!" Marlock said, turning the ship around by spinning the wheel.

"No...it can't be," Kiera muttered. Areiya noticed Kiera's questioning gaze.

"What?" Areiya asked.

"It's Saenna's colours..." Kiera answered. But then, the hair follicles on her arms raised as a menacing roar reverberated through the skies. It came from behind them.

"What was that?" Kiera asked, swallowing a ball in her throat. They all turned their heads only to notice a silhouette of a black dragon diving through the grey clouds and spreading its enormous wings and approaching their ship. Kiera's heart started thumping in her throat as Areiya stepped in front of her with wide eyes, her breath quickening.

"Areiya?" Kiera mumbled anxiously. Marlock didn't even know what to do as he watched the beast fly right towards them. When it approached the ship, its throat started glowing red and revealed a ball of fire when he opened its terrifying mouth. And right when he seemed to spit fiery death upon them, it released a beam of scorching fire in the air and flew overhead. Everyone ducked when its flapping wings created a robust downward wind. It headed back to the distant ships. Kiera gathered her courage to look back, gazing at the dragon with awe and parted lips.

"Raheija..." Areiya muttered. She looked back at Kiera, "It's a Lunarian Guardian...the last one to be specific."

"How do you know?" Kiera asked, still pumped with adrenaline, watching the silhouette of the dragon get smaller and smaller.

"Most of Volarian religion is based upon these. Guardians that were birthed from the Moon. They are the protectors of the "Liefa tronk'eda", or what you call the Tree of Growth. The one tree that holds this world together." Areiya said. The smile on her face when talking about it showed her passion for her religion.

"Incredible...the Creed of the Three is quite similar to your religion," Kiera answered. For a moment there, she felt at peace when her fear of the dragon faded — standing on a ship rocking across the waves with her best friend. No slavery or danger around. When Saenna's ships were drawing near, Kiera moved her hand towards Areiya's, and gently held it. To her surprise, Areiya allowed it. Two hands interlocked in front of the setting sun with ships on the horizon. Areiya's hand felt so warm and soft. The sun made Areiya's bronzed skin glimmer.

Though, both knew it wasn't over yet. They knew that only a little while later, they would be confronted with the harsh reality again. They still had to fight a war. But one thing was sure. The end was approaching.

Kiera swallowed, and Areiya felt her hand getting sweatier.

"When this is over...will, you stay with me? I have nothing left." Kiera muttered. She didn't even look at Areiya. But the warrioress saw Kiera's tension. She put up a little smile.

"I will..." Areiya softly nodded.

Three of Saenna's ships finally arrived. Saenna herself was on one of those ships, anchoring down right beside them. Sailors threw down a plank as a bridge connected Saenna and Marlock's ship. The queen wore a white gown with golden epaulettes and jewels, and her golden hair was braided like a thick rope.

"Saenna? We thought you fell into Areyn's trap? We thought you were dead." Marlock puzzled, but he was filled with relief when he realized she didn't.

"I had a trap of my own." Saenna smiled when an eagle descended upon her shoulder, tilting its head towards Marlock, ruffling its feathers. "Now come, we've been searching for you for quite a while. We have things to discuss. The entire world is ready to stand beside us against my uncle. In two days, their world will become ours again."

Marlock remained silent. His eyes twinkled with the setting sun. This was all he ever wanted, and this was his one true goal. To make a rebellion and restore the Lands of Trinity to its freedom. He nodded and held his chest up high. "Kiera and Areiya, put the sails on travelling speed. Let's finish this...once and for all." Marlock said.

"So you're the fuckers who have been ruining Areyn's days lately, eh?" a man giggle emerged behind Saenna. The renounced knight Graham revealed himself, in brand new steel armour bearing Saenna's griffon sigil. His curly hair appeared washed and groomed into a man-bun.

"Who is that?" Marlock asked.

"Sir Graham of House Thornsvale at your service. I want the same ass clown of an emperor dead, just like the rest of ya! Now, are we going to keep gawking at each other or kick some Valquen ass? No offence, my queen." Graham bowed. It only put a smile on Saenna's face.

"Let us not waste any more time."

Two days later...

Two massive mountain ranges separated the two continents of Erye and Volaria. Only one path existed in those mountains that allowed passage. That path was guarded and claimed by a great fortress under control of Emperor Areyn. That fortress decided who could enter or leave the forest lands of Erye. It was also known to be the strongest fortress in the realm, having a reputation of being "impregnable". Officially, its name was Seguja Castle, but this intimidating reputation of a fortress gained its nickname, "Fort Lichcairn". With this information, Marlock, Saenna and Graham gathered around in the war room in their military camp on the road to Lichcairn. The sun was setting, and a few oil lanterns lit up the tent while Marlock gazed at the map. He sighed, shook his head and said, "This is not going to be easy."

"I've stood by Areyn for years." Graham said, "He would defend this fort no matter the cost. I wouldn't be surprised if half his army is waiting for us over there. We can only defeat them in the open field, and Areyn won't do that."

"He'll wait us out in the castle," Saenna added, holding her hands behind her back. "Then, we have to find a way to force his forces to come out. Force an open battle."

"How?" Marlock asked.

"By performing perfidy." Saenna firmly answered.

Marlock and Graham met eyes for a second, both disagreeing with no words. "You want to fake a surrender?" Marlock asked.

"It is the only way we could win this, even with Niru." in which she referred to her Guardian.

"Your Grace, listen to me. You're saying you are willing to sacrifice a big batch of our army with no certainty that this plan is going to work."

"It is going to work." Saenna asserted, "Because besides owning everything he ever wanted, there's still one thing he doesn't have."

Marlock squinted his eyes, puzzled. But then it struck him, and he shook his head and raised his eyebrows. "No way."

"If he can get ahold of me, he would do anything in his power to do so. I will stand with my surrendering forces. They will come out to...most likely kill us, and that's when you strike."

Marlock licked his lips and switched his stance. "With all due respect, Your Grace, I'm not using you as bait. It only takes one arrow, and this whole rebellion falls apart. Do you even know how important you are?"

Saenna glared at Marlock with her snow-white eyes. "We will never win this war if we don't take risks. If I'm not part of the surrendering forces, Areyn will know it's a trap. But if I'm with them, his emotions might overrule his sensibility. That is the only way we are going to win this war."

"Your Grace, I-"

"That's enough," Saenna ordered. "My decision is final. Half our army will perform the perfidy, and the other half will ambush them in a pinching manoeuvre. It'll be your jobs to convince the surrendering forces they won't die in the process."

Marlock closed his eyes and sighed. "Let us attack at night at least. Our forces will be easier to hide from the scouts that will definitely be all around the place. Only the surrendering force will carry torches, and the others will navigate in the darkness with the help of your Guardian, Niru. How does that sound?"

The Valquen queen paused, then nodded softly. "Good. It seems like we have a plan."

Meanwhile, in fort Lichcairn, Emperor Areyn and his small army of royal guards and armed retainers rode into the gate from the Eryan side, carrying torches. His expression was tense and angry. His servants helped him off his impatient destrier. The castle's commander approached him and kneeled, pinning his sword into the ground in front of him. He wore a red cloak above his steel armour. Long, brown hair touched his shoulders. He was about his forties.

"My Emperor, the castle is yours," he said.

"Rise, Lord Crasmond." Areyn gestured, "Any news on the situation in Volaria?"

The commander rose, strolling with Areyn towards the battlements. Areyn's black fur cloak brushed over the ground. "Yes, Your Grace. There's an increase in revolting slaves. Symbols are going around, inspiring people. It might become a problem."

Areyn scoffed, watching the soldiers working hard to prepare for an inevitable battle. The metal chimes of blacksmiths forging weapons, people rolling barrels of oil around. "She's cunning, my niece. I'll give her that. I hope the revolting slaves have been made into an example?"

Crasmond nodded, caressing the hilt of his sword. "They have, Your Grace. But they will keep turning against us as long as the Flames of Dawn is still active."

Areyn growled, walking up the stairs towards the battlements. "Marlock and his rebellion be damned. Such a pain in my arse. I want every soldier here, well-rested and prepared."

"Already done, Your Grace. My men are as ready as can be." Crasmond said. By now they reached the top of the wall, and Areyn took a halt to watch the distant lands of Volaria.

"And the dragon?" he muttered.

The commander gazed along with Areyn, sighing silently. "There are no records in our history on how to defeat them. But I learnt something else."

They both turned to each other as Crasmond continued, "The dragon that butchered our ambush in Jiron is a Guardian from the Forbidden Lands."

Areyn pulled his brows together and tilted his head. "Excuse me?"

"No one knows how she managed to have one fighting for her, but she does. They can shape-shift into any living being."

Areyn closed his eyes and sighed, supporting himself on a stone crenel. "I thought they were all gone thousands of years ago."

"All but one," Crasmond added, "But we can't focus on how she got it following her. We have to focus on how to kill it."

"Anything can be killed. Find a way." Areyn commanded, turning around to leave, but the commander stopped him.

"We might already have one. I commanded fifteen scorpions to this castle, and my contacts in the Academy of Windlight have sent a few mages."

"Well, are they already here?" Areyn spread his arms.

"No, Your Grace."

"Then make them hurry up," he snapped, turning around and walking back down the battlement, "They can attack us at any moment."

A few hours later, clouds rolled into the night, obscuring any moonlight to assist Saenna's perfidy army to navigate. All they had were torches and lanterns, and they were at least a thousand-five-hundred strong. A tense silence ruled over the marching soldiers. In the middle of the march rode the queen, Saenna, together with her royal guard on her white warhorse. A division of cavalry rode into the formation behind her as well. Her army needed to look as real as possible.

The queen looked up, and for the first time, her Guardian, Niru, wasn't around. They were guiding the rest of her army in complete darkness. She couldn't help but feel nervous, feeling chills down her spine. It was listening to the hundreds of hoove beats of the horses that prevented her from losing it. The chilly wind wasn't helping either.

"It shouldn't be long before we arrive, Your Grace." one of the commanders accompanied her.

"How's our morale?" Saenna asked carefully.

"A lot of the soldiers believe Areyn will accept our surrender." the commander said.

Saenna paused for a moment. "And the others?"

"They question your decision. A handful has deserted." the commander answered.

The queen sighed, only to notice a few orange twinkles of light in the far distance. The commander saw it too.

"That's Lichcairn."

Saenna closed her eyes to remain calm, then opened them again to look at one of her retainers intensely. "Ride to Marlock and tell him to prepare the ambush. We only have one shot at this. If this plan fails, we're done."

The retainer nodded and turned his horse around. "Of course, Your Grace." and rode off.

Only a few minutes later, the moment of truth came to dawn. Saenna's army halted in front of the castle. She couldn't see much of it even though their walls were lit up by many torches. Seeing such a strong and sturdy castle between sky-high mountains made her realize how a siege would've been nearly impossible. There wasn't much movement at first on the castle, until finally, the gates opened, revealing one horserider riding out to meet her. Saenna rode past all her waiting soldiers, followed by her guards to the front of her men.

And there the horserider appeared, halting in front of the queen while his horse nickered impatiently, waving his torch around. "You stand in front of Seguja Castle, fief to Lord Areyn Valquen, Emperor of the Oryn Realm, Sentinel of the Great Kingdoms and King of the Citadel of Whitehollow. Your Highness is willing to give you two ways to end this."

Saenna and the commander glanced at each other while the negotiator continued, "Lay down your weapons and surrender. Every soldier and commander of your army will be spared and taken into Areyn's legion instead, and you will face a fair trial along with Marlock. Or refuse, and feel Areyn's wrath rain down upon you."

Saenna looked at the negotiator with a blank expression, the light of her torch flickering in her face. "If there's one thing I learned fighting my uncle is that nothing he does is fair. How do you expect me to believe he will stay true to his word?"

The negotiator, bronze-skinned, let out a soft smirk. "You're right. He never expected you to believe him. But he did expect you to be more clever than whatever you are trying to do."

Saenna didn't notice it yet, but some of her soldiers were looking left and right in fear. But when she did, it struck her like an earthquake. Her heart skipped a beat, and she didn't dare to look to her flanks. Instead, she stared at the negotiator who turned around, saying his last words while walking away. "He won't take prisoners."

Saenna slowly turned her head towards the commotion. And there it was, hundreds of torch lights surrounding her ambushing armies, hearing the clashing of swords all the way from there. She knew they were being slaughtered. Only the enemy had lights and Marlock was completely blind. The army protecting her raised their guard, not knowing which way to face. For Saenna, she felt like she was inside a bubble. She heard her own racing heartbeat; everyone else's voice was muffled. Her breath quickened, and she felt like she was about to pass out at any moment. And when things couldn't get any worse, a loud painful shriek of her Guardian echoed through the skies, snapping her out of her panic attack, darting her head towards it, wide-eyed.

She saw Niru crashing down. Her whole world was crashing down. Her eyes swelled up, tears rolling down her cheeks. The commander beside her needed her attention, seemingly in a panic as well.

"Your Grace, we need to retreat right now!"

But she was too shocked to respond.

"Your Grace!" he insisted. But still nothing. He grunted and turned his horse around...hearing distant screaming from the darkness. Screaming? And then everyone else heard it too. Hundreds, no, thousands of approaching hoofbeats. A screaming stampede.

"Damnit!" the commander shouted in frustration, terrified to his soul, "Everyone shields up!"

In desperation, the trembling soldiers raised their guard, preparing for whatever was charging at them. Some even dropped their weapons and ran away. But not Saenna. Regaining most of her senses, she released a sigh of relief instead. When the stampede arrived, thousands of horseriders rode past her army towards the castle, ignoring her entirely. Everyone except for two, halting their horse right in front of her army, carrying torches. It was Areiya and Kiera.

"Whatever your plan was, it didn't seem to work." Kiera smiled, "Why don't we save Marlock and take that castle?"

The queen looked at her flanks, seeing Areiya's tribal warriors were breaking Areyn's ambush. She took a deep breath and turned towards Lichcairn. A sudden look of determination appeared on her face. "Let's mobilize and hit them with everything we've got. They're weakened."

Suddenly, the gates of the castle opened, and hundreds of soldiers marched out, creating a wall of shields across the entire width of the canyon. Kiera, wearing a leather corset with a flame symbol engraved in the chest area, rode her horse beside the queen.

"Seems like we'll have to get through them first."

In the meantime, Marlock's forces joined Saenna's. He approached, covered in blood and his armour dented. "My Queen, I'm sorry about Niru." he panted.

Saenna shook her head. "There's no time for grief. We still have a castle to take."

Marlock nodded and stepped forward on his horse. "Let's show these fuckers the fury of the Flames of Dawn!" he raised his sword over his head, "CHAAAAAAARGE!"

And then, thousands of riders and footsoldiers charged the castle, following Marlock up front. Even Kiera and Areiya joined the attack. Saenna, on the other hand, had a different place to go. She turned around her horse and rode towards the place where Niru crashed down. Her royal guards followed her. And there it lay, motionless on the ground in the form of a griffon. A giant scorpion bolt stuck through its belly.

She dismounted and broke down in tears. It was weakly breathing in pain, releasing soft cries. She fell to her knees beside it in the sand, not even caring whether her dress got dirty or not.

"I'm sorry, Niru." she sobbed, gently running her hand over its feathers. It pained her so much to see it suffering greatly. It then released its final breath and began dissolving into tiny glimmering particles, flying into the sky. The last Guardian of the World Tree was no more. Saenna watched the dust disappear, only crying harder. A loud explosion forced her attention to the castle, watching Areiya's riders breach through the shield wall, forcing openings for Marlock's army.

Marlock charged first, screaming with his sword raised above his head. He charged into the enemy lines, swinging his sword. The enemy deflected it, but he failed to deflect the second as Marlock plunged his sword through his stomach. The rings of hundreds of swords clashing together and the screams of dying men haunted Marlock. Suddenly, Marlock faced a spearman, thrusting his spear towards him. He moved his shoulders just in time to dodge it and grabbed the pole, yanking the man closer so he could toss him to the ground. An approaching scream from behind startled him as he felt their sword digging into his steel pauldrons. The commander turned around and grabbed the man by the throat before plunging his sword through his stomach.

"PUSH, MEN!" he screamed, his face dripping with blood.

Tribal warriors rode criss-cross across the battlefield, picking off enemies one by one. The increasing gap in the enemy lines told Marlock they were retreating. He wanted to shout but had to jump back to avoid getting hit by a panicking horse.

"Charge the walls! Get the ladders!"

Groups of soldiers ran towards the castle carrying ladders. The retreating forced bashed on the closed gate, but it didn't open. They screamed in fear and desperation, suffocating each other. Marlock's men closed in, pinching these panicking forces together and slaughtering them like pigs.

When they reached the walls, the men on the battlements were tossing boulders and pouring down boiling oil on top of Saenna's army. They raised their shields to form roofs, but that didn't always work. Oil still flowed through the gaps. Marlock heard a lot of screaming to his left, and when he darted his head towards it, he saw a ladder falling down along with a dozen soldiers clinging onto it.

"Damnit! Get the ram!" he shouted, feeling oil pour on top of his shield. Some of it ran down his arm, making him groan in pain as his skin sizzle and steam. The pain got so bad that he began screaming in pain. He couldn't hold on, and he had to let go. He let go of his shield, but it didn't fall? Grasping to his scorched arm, he noticed someone else held his shield above him. It was Kiera, covered in blood and bruises as well. Her pupils were wide, and she had this animalistic look of fear in her eyes.

"I got you!" her voice cracked, panting. This wasn't what she expected from war at all. It seemed like the world around her played in slow-motion. She saw soldiers drawing their final breaths when arrows stuck through their bodies. They fell down ladders, breaking bones with their heavy armours. She could see Areiya's tribe warriors weren't used to sieges either. She didn't even know where Areiya was. She lost her during the battle. Kiera. Kiera!

"Kiera!" Marlock snapped her out of it. She looked at him with shaking hands.

"I got this!" Marlock added, taking back his shield. By now the roofed battering ram arrived, rolling in front of the wooden gate.

"Stay under the ram. You'll be safe there!"

Kiera nodded and squeezed through attacking soldiers. She yelped out loud when a boulder crushed someone right in front of her, blood splattering on her face. She stepped over bodies, losing her footing several times. She had to be careful not to be trampled when she did. Then she finally reached the gate, but it was already overfilled with soldiers taking shelter underneath.

"Let me through!" she shouted, trying to squeeze and push her way underneath the canopy of the ram. But they weren't moving.

"Let me...through!" she groaned, almost whining. Her heart pounded in her throat, and she had nowhere to go. Being on the verge of a panic attack, she decided to run away from the castle, jumping over bodies and not looking back. She was breathing so hard she felt like she was about to pass out. And right when she was about to pass out, a piercing pain radiated through her lower back, forcing a painful yelp out of her and she crashed into the crimson dirt. The pain only worsened as she felt at it, noticing an arrow tipped with her blood sticking out of her stomach. Her hands covered with her own blood, she started sobbing. "No, no, no.." and desperately tried to stop the bleeding. Why was it bleeding so much? Only then she realized, blood poured out in the rhythm of her heartbeats. Releasing weak cries, she looked towards the grey skies, and the last thing she heard was approaching hoove beats. She lost unconsciousness.

"Kiera!" Areiya screamed, jumping off her horse and falling to her knees beside her friend.

"No, no, no, no! Kiera!" Areiya shook her, but she didn't respond. Noticing the arrow sticking through her stomach, she took out her knife and cut off the tip. Her hands were shaking.

"GET THE HEALERS!" she howled, pulling out the arrow from the back, blood pouring out. She ripped off a large piece of her own cloth corset and began wrapping it around Kiera's waist. It didn't seem to have any use as blood merely leaked through it.

"WHERE ARE THE HEALERS!" Areiya cried, pressing her hands on both holes.

Finally, after it felt like hours, a group of healers and soldiers arrived. They pushed Areiya aside and snapped at her. "You shouldn't have pulled the arrow!"

They were white-robed, and all wore a gold necklace of a spiralling symbol. They worked together in perfect rhythm.

"Someone, help her on her side!" one of them said. While a healer pulled the unconscious girl on her side, another one rubbed her hands together, sparks shooting out of her hands, muttering something in a strange language. "Fa Firnia!"

When the healer removed her hands off of each other, her palms were blazing red. She crouched down and placed both her hands on both bleeding holes, scorching them. Kiera's skin sizzled, but the wounds melted together. Areiya could do nothing but watch, crying. She never saw Kiera like that. So...lifeless and pale. Two other healers chanted something else, turning their hands into gentle lights. "Hi Hoarfeiya"

They gently pressed their hands on Kiera's head and chest, closing their eyes. Seconds of silence went by, and the healers busy trying to heal Kiera started sweating and panting. Kiera did not respond whatsoever. One of the healers watching turned to Areiya with their brows pulled together, softly shaking their head. The warrioress broke down in tears and crawled towards her. The healers gave up and provided Areiya with space. She sobbed, grabbing Areiya and putting her head on her lap.

"Please...don't do this." Areiya cried, gently running her hand through Kiera's hair. "I love you..."

"Where am I?" Kiera asked, standing between strangely shaped mountains. "Am I dead?" The sky was green, and the clouds raced by as if time fastened. Her hair wavered with the rushing wind, and a giant bright and white owl-like creature towered in front of her. When it raised its voice, it sounded aetherial, angelic.

"I have been watching you, from the very start, Kiera Bloodcrest."

Kiera gazed at the owl in awe as it continued. "While you may have run from this fight, you never ran from the fight within yourself. You have fought those battles courageously and with sacrifice. But your fight is not over yet, Kiera."

"Who are you?" Kiera asked.

"My name is Ara. I am what your people call the Deity of Life. My soul resides deep within the Tree of Growth and its roots. You will not remember any of this, but I have forged this destiny for you. I knew this moment would come that I would have to speak to you. That there would be a moment where you would lose hope. That moment is now, and your destiny is not yet fulfilled. Return now, to Areiya, and unify your brothers and sisters. That is, and always will be your destiny."

Ara spread their giant wings, and Kiera's vision went white.

Suddenly, Kiera gasped for air over and over again, her eyes wide open. Areiya couldn't believe it at first, but she then smiled widely and cried tears of joy. "Kiera! I can't believe this!"

"Impossible..." one of the healers muttered.

Kiera looked at Areiya, and a weak smile cast upon her face. Areiya then hugged her tightly, maybe a little bit too tight as Kiera groaned and chuckled. "Ow!"

"Don't ever leave me again!" Areiya sobbed in Kiera's shoulder. A distant howling horn divided them, and as they both turned their heads towards the castle, Marlock's men were celebrating on top of the walls, raising their weapons and shouting in the air. Lichcairn had fallen.

A few hours later, commander Crasmond and his fellow commander were brought before the queen on their knees in the courtyard of the fort, having Kiera, Areiya and Marlock stand beside her. Piles of bodies burned outside the gate, creating an awful stench.

"I have come here with only one goal. To overthrow Emperor Areyn and rid of all the slavery that is happening under his wings. What my uncle doesn't understand is that I will crush everyone who stands in my way. Usually, I would kill you two right where you stand, but I am feeling generous, and willing to give you a choice. Join me, and when this is over, you can return to your homes without the need of watching your back. We will leave this world a better place than we found it. Or..."

She looked at Areiya and Kiera and nodded. They both headed over and walked behind the two commanders with a dagger, holding it against their throats. "You die."

"W-we will join you, q-queen Saenna." the commander next to Crasmond stuttered.

The queen turned to Crasmond, who looked at her with a grudge. "How about you, Lord Crasmond?"

"With all due respect, Lady Saenna, but you will never be my queen. What you don't realize is that every man burning in these piles never had a choice. It was either fight for Lord Areyn or become a slave. That is why you will never take the Citadel. What you've seen here is nothing compared to the army waiting for you in there. Besides, where is your Guardian now?" he spat on the ground, smirking.

Saenna didn't bat an eye and remained her cold, blank look. "Those soldiers did have a choice. You said it yourself." She slowly stepped forward. "I'd rather die a slave than die fighting for such a disgrace of a human being."

Crasmond nodded. "I'm sure Areyn would like to have you as his slave. He would fuck you bloody every day. Tell me, are you a virgin? I won't surprise me, to be honest. Just a fierce woman like you-"

Saenna nodded to the two girls behind as they slit their throats, blood gushing out as they collapse, gurgling and grasping at their throats.

A lot of people watching had chills down their spine.

"Send the bodies to the Citadel. I want my uncle to know that his fate will be the same."

She walked past the bodies and the two girls, followed by four tall royal guards.