Chapter Four

Emperor Vrok’s host proved to be a moving city. After three months of waiting another entire week was spent receiving and placing them. Everyone spoke softly of the new men and women that arrived. All were without the white bands bore upon the arms of the citizens of Tova. Yet as soon as they arrived it seemed almost half of them prepared to leave. Those children born of Tova disappeared into the mass of the host, only to be replaced by the children of the host.

Each child was first looked at by the tradesmen and women to be taken in as their own. Those trades that seemed lacking were even given the choice from those under the direct protection of the Emperor. Those not chosen were taken back to the host under the direction of Emperor Vrok himself to be educated by his scholars. Each person that arrived at the city took to their roles without question, even without the armbands. Once again Tova fell into a calm hum of activity and once again the city settled.

Building activity outside the city hit a fever as thousands more were added to the workforce. These were those citizens that had not obtained rank or position. Periodically they were gleaned from manual labor and formed into military divisions and sent off for training. Within a month the city supported an army larger than it had ever held. Food, supplies and items for trade never stopped pouring into the city nor out of the city.

For her part, Elidra was able to walk amongst the people with guards close by. They never interfered and they never talked. Any orders she observed them being given was through a series of hand signals. She was amazed to hear all the that arrived was from beyond Dragonspine Mountains, where only the Timeless One had visited and knew of. Very few ever dared venture a path through the mountains and even those that did returned lifeless or near to it. Yet these people that made Tova their own, they were from beyond the mountains. Their strong and masculine bodies, formed hard against the elements gave them a beauty Elidra could not quite put to words. Even in this Emperor Vrok stood above them. While they appeared almost brutish, their knowledge simply left her shocked to silence. Their ways of all aspects of life, so alien in appearance, flowed as natural as the river water itself. It made it easy for everyone follow and take in as their own, including her.

Stopping at the river where she witnessed the previous royal family drown in, she suddenly thought of them. Moreso, in her thoughts was the bitter cruelty in which Vrok himself had ended their lives. No allowance was given for gender or for age. Even those that served the royal family were given no options, no quarter. Yet she could see his reasoning. They had indeed failed the city and the citizens that trusted them for their care. Hammerhold was always independent. None had bothered the city since its creation. Ignoring the deities of the other cities, everyone simply trusted in the royal family and their dedication to the words of the Timewalker. Elidra could only wonder how he would react to see his statue destroyed in their square. What would the old citizens do? Each of his visits seemed to create stories and legends.

“You spoke the day of my arrival of bearing my children and being my wife.” Vroks strong steady voice interrupted her thoughts. Elidra turned to look at him and was immediately lost in his eyes and the power that swam through them. She could never look at him without be awashed by a desire.

“It is still my wants this day my Emperor.” She smiled sweetly and immediately took his hands into hers. She stopped as a coldness filled the barrier between them.

“Then to the Host you must go as your trials are to begin. I have lit a brazier in the center of the city. It will burn so long as you are alive. Beside it, I will sit this night and await your return. Should you have chosen poorly, it will be distinguished and I shall remain as I am now; without a child, without a wife and half of what I am with you.” While his eyes focused on her, his distance could not be ignored, nor could the seriousness of his words.

“I will not fail.” She stated plainly as she took her hands away.

“But will you remain who you are? The Shadows claim the lucky dead.” He stated as he turned and moved toward the center of the city.

Immediately her guards departed and followed the Emperor. She hadn’t noticed the huge brazier that was now the center of the city. It was beautifully crafted and she realized Vrok himself had been working on it. So many strange ceremonies became part of their lives. Non were explained, they were simply performed and others were taught what to do.

Approaching the royal keep, Elidra lost her breath as she viewed a line of people on either side, wrapped completely in white. Nothing of their bodies was uncovered. Even their eyes and mouths were covered in the loose cloth. The moment she stepped between them, their hands were upon her. Carefully, yet purposefully, all articles of clothing were removed from her. Panic wanted to set in, yet she immediately found no shame in her naked body. She stood royally before them, without interfering. She found their touch soft, yet without hesitation.

Once nothing remained upon her skin, Elidra was lifted into a seating position and carried, in slow ceremonial steps, into the keep. The warm air caressed her skin while smokey vapors filled the room. Beyond the haze she immediately saw Emperor Vrok’s generals and one other stood before her naked, yet armed.

As she was set down before them, the general she did not recognize and Kerve approached. With a nod, Kerve placed a soft cloth around her mouth while the other placed a similar cloth over her eyes. The crackles of a thunderbolt filled her mind, yet offered no pain, nor real sound.

‘You are calm when some would panic and flee. The spirits welcome you El’idra given in memory of the Mother Tree, whom they revere.’ The voice of Kerve filled her mind. Elidra could smell the oils of his body as he moved directly in front of her, then moved to her back. As he wrapped his arms around her, she felt his manhood press limp and soft against her buttocks. She stiffened in preparation.

‘I have no desire for that which belongs to my Emperor, mind your thoughts. I accept only what is offered by a woman.’ His weapon was forced into her hand. Quickly she was spun around as the weapon was driven into this body. She could feel the soft flesh give way to the pointed blade. His warm blood spilled upon her hand. Instinct made her want to remove the blindfold as she audibly gasped.

‘Speak your intent without words Empress, my life is in your hands. Should you fail, both our lives are forfeit.’ His minds voice still spoke into hers.

Before she could even think, another voice, a female one, commanded her as it filled her mind. ‘Use your blood power as you would in any craft. As it is you, it must obey you, let go this part of your being.’

Shani’s hands took the weapon from her hands and dropped it. Immediately one was placed on Elidra’s racing heart, another upon her temple. ‘Your mind and your heart must not always agree, but they must always be you.’

‘HELP ME!’ Elidra’s mind suddenly screamed out. She heard Shani groan and felt her hands tighten.

‘You wound me with your fear.’ Shani answered in a pant. Her heavy breathing was now strong and sweet in Elidra’s face. Before the weapon was placed in her hands, Elidra knew already what would happen. Within moments, using Shani’s weapon, the woman generals blood splashed against her hands, belly and legs.

‘Why do you wait? Yet another voice, calm yet strong, filled her mind. You have found the voice, now you must trust it.’ Old strong hands stroked her face. A kiss placed upon her forehead and her cheeks. Suddenly a piercing pain caused her entire body to shudder. The calm voice now roared. Not just in her mind, but physically her ears hurt from the power of the yell.

She felt his blood, yet Elidra knew not how she had failed. Something was wrong, all around her mental voices turned into mass confusion. Inside her chest, her lungs screamed as fire raged through them. Her mind threatened to collapse upon itself. Then she found the source. As raw as the earth itself, her birthright engulfed her. The screaming voices around her fell into order, as she could suddenly see the entire room around her as if her eyes had been open.

Laying at her feet, their lifeblood spilling around her feet lay Shani, Kerve and Dushot. Two were by her own hand, the third was by her assailent. Her mind’s eye trained immediately upon him as he moved lance the man she previously did not know. It was Emperor Vrok’s scholar Vektori who seemed to keep the general in a stalemate. Before she could understand what was being said by her own mind, her commands came.

“Allow him. Let his threat find truth that I may show his horror.” Elidra commanded Vektori. When he paused, her mind thundered into his. “In this I am the teacher. My people are born with its protection. Trust or be in the way.”

In an instant Vektori too laid at her feet with his blood heavily leaving his body. Elidra turned to face Ulnor. His mind screamed warnings and threats to her, yet already he knew he was powerless against her. Elidra losing all sense of herself lunged at the man, her body afire as the wraps from her eyes and mouth were shredded against her force. She could see his spirit attempting to flee his physical demise. Instantly she trapped his spirit and held in firm. Pulling it close she gave a simple command; ‘oblivion’. In that moment the spirit was gone, his physical body slumped to the ground.

Instinctively Elidra evaluated the worst wounded. Placing her hand over the spurting wound of Vektori, she audibly screamed a shrill cry. The pain seared the arm and hand that was placed over him. She could not draw it away and simply endured the pain as the wound healed and closed. A scar drew itself upon the arm as the pain subsided. Bracing herself, Elidra continued the practice until each general save for Ulnor were healed.

Sweat poured throughout her body. Breathing heavily she examined her own arms to find deep red scars aching upon them. Elidra could see them ever so slowly recede and heal. The covered ones that had delivered her, stood stoically. As she reached out, she found a barrier that barred her from their minds. Pushing harding, she found the resulting force almost causing her to blacken out. She realized they were her some of her guards, more of those that did not speak.

“My Empress.” General Dushot stood before her, completely dressed in a royal suit she could not help but be amazed with. While the familiar skins adoned his chest and shoulders, there were strange yet beautiful links set heavily upon them.

Distressed she looked around and found no evidence of the carnage she had previously been party to. Immediately behind Dushot were the other generals and Vektori. Leaping to her feet, her mind immediately shot out at Ulnor only to return with such a force she found herself sprawled on the floor dazed.

“Please find calm my Empress. The battles of the spirits is not always the same as the battles of reality.” He spoke calmly as he helped Elidra to her feet. “You have passed his Grace has invisionsed.”

“I am disoriented, tired and sore.” Elidra stated.

“It will pass my Empress.” Vektori addressed her. “As you know, I am Scholar Vektori.” He bowed grandly and kissed her hand. Immediately she withdrew from him and covered her arms.

“I saw each of you dieing. Some by my hand and others by his!” She exclaimed as she pointed to Ulnor.

“The battle of unlike spirits.” General Kerve responded. “The healer must have victims and the rebel must attack. It is simply the nature of spirits. But even in this we must accept and exist my Empress.”

“Each of you now belong to me as you belong to my Emperor? But I do not physically belong to any of you, as such none of you have touched me?” Elidra questioned as she looked to each of them. “My trial is at an end?”

As each nodded, they stayed bowed before her. Carefully she walked to each of them and removed a chain link. Once they stood, she held out her hand containing the links. “From this day forth, I shall wear your links within my hair so all may know the service I owe to each of you.”

Saying nothing more she turned and waited for each of them to affix the links to her hair. Once they finished, she strode from the keep into the massive crowd of citizens that roared in triumph as Elidra emerged. Some gasped in shock as her naked form was hit by sunlight. Yet she felt nothing but pride from all of them. As the still morning air blew through her hair, the links chimed. Through the cheering crowd, she walked toward the city center.

Vrok stood proud at the center, his lips wide in a smile that warmed her. If her nakedness surprised him, he gave no sign of it. As she approached, Emperor Vrok removed a ruby link from his own shoulder garb. Without turning her, he wrapped his arms around her and began affixing it to her hair. So close to her, she felt his manhood’s response respond to her form and closeness.

Lifting herself by her toes, she pressed her lips into his neck as he finished. Gently he puller her head back by her hair and hungrily his mouth found hers. After his long kiss, he took his cloak and drapped it upon her shoulders.

“I am not ashamed of my body.” She quietly stated.

“Nor do I wish you to find chill without comfort my Empress.” Vrok responded with a smile. “The path to our bed could be met with a breeze.”

“It could only be a warm wind against our fire.” She smiled back to him as they began to walk to the keep amongst the still cheering crowd. “I am ready to bear a child my Emperor.”

“Then let us spend our day laboring for such fruits.” A boyish smile spread warm across his face.

Retreating to the keep of Tova, the Emperor and Empress strode wrapped in each others arms.