Where there had been a man was now a brittle black colored skeleton underneath flowing red robes. The remains were oozing upon the ground with small steam rising from their remains. Tiberius watched all of this with odd wonder. He stood for a few moments longer, thinking on what the wizard had said in his madness. In his bones, he knew it was true.
He knew that civil war against one kingdom was a delicate matter. He knew the other nine could be swayed against them. He knew that if White remained unchecked, he could persuade the people of his kingdom against the empire. It was then all a slippery slope between fighting the King’s men and fighting the innocents. Between being a liberator and being an occupier.
Dark thoughts for dark deeds ahead. After one last fleeting glance at the human sludge on the ground, Tiberius turned and left the tent.
For some time, he wandered around the camp, gathering his thoughts. He knew he had to speak with his father on the way forward, but not yet. He wasn’t ready to bring these troubles to his father’s already anxious mind. There would be enough time for discussions and plans later. For planning and war. For the hardship and suffering of all that was sure to come. For now, at this moment, he was alive; and he wanted to enjoy it. If only for a brief moment.
Chapter 28
The War Council
Dawn had swiftly risen over the Imperial camp. While many of the soldiers and knights of the empire still slumbered on, it was the rangers who arose first. They were marshalled in a large clearing near where they camped to begin their day as they usually would, with vigorous and intense exercise. Abandoned were their leathers and furs, replaced instead with simple undergarments. A few of the soldiers on guard through the night stared at them in awe. Even the heartiest among them had not the mind for exercise in such cold and unforgiving conditions.
At the head of their formation stood Trevin. His spirits lifted, and his body felt renewed beyond measure. He felt the stiffness in his back and legs from so many hours of constant vigil over Tiberius that he practically begged for exercise to release the tension he felt. Yet as he began to pass out the orders of the morning, his voice caught in his throat, and a sly smile broke the stern face he wore in front of his men.
From behind the mass formation of men and women, Tiberius slowly passed, heading to the front of the assembled group. All chatter was quickly silenced at his arrival, and all eyes in the group were pinpoint focused on him. He strode through them with purpose and vigor in each step. Pride and respect beamed out from his men as he took his place next to Trevin. After a brief nod and smile to one another, they turned to face their men.
He smiled at his men. His beloved and trusted rangers, and simply said, “Hail, Rangers."
“Hail!” they replied exuberantly.
“I must apologize for my absence, but I see First Sergeant has kept you all ready and able for combat, nonetheless. While we have much to discuss on the things to come, this morning cast all doubt and confusion aside. This is a glorious morning to be alive and to be in the service of our country. And I think we could all do with a little morning run."
He walked through the throng, stretching as he went until he led them to a wide path in the woods that he had fought in so many nights ago. He turned to look at each of his men in the face, studying them intently, determined to commit each of their faces to memory. Beyond them, he could see his father standing tall and proud outside of his tent, a smile etched on his face. Tiberius shot him a brief nod before turning away from his men and heading off on a brisk run, the rangers at his back trying desperately to keep his grueling pace.
He led them through the burnt woods and into the wide-open country beyond. Every so often, he would turn to inspect his men. Their faces were stiff and frozen but still bore broad smiles. This is where he belonged. With his rangers, out in the wild doing wild things. He knew this moment would be fleeting in the times to come. But he wanted to hold on to it just a little longer.
An hour later, they returned to the camp. The exercise had done much in terms of clearing and focusing his thoughts. While his own mind was made up, he dared not go against his father and emperor’s wishes on what he desired to do next. He could see the way to victory laid before him clearer than the Imperial Road. Though he had not the heart to say it just yet, he knew he would have to leave his rangers again.
“I reckon I’d know that look anywhere,” Timothy said with a smile as they walked back to their small section of the camp. “You’ve got something on your mind, don’t you, sir?”
“Of course he does,” Zachary said, joining them and placing a large piece of tobacco in his cheek. “Of course, the big mystery is what would be crawling around his brain?”
“He aims to leave, and continue his quest with the Dragoon and Mage,” Trevin said solemnly from behind them. The three men spun to see him standing just outside of their circle, his face grim and sad. “Am I right, sir?”
"What makes you say that, Trevin?" Timothy asked, also placing a piece of tobacco in his cheek.
Trevin held his gaze on Tiberius as he answered. "He went to see the prisoner last night. Without the emperor or the High Sorcerer present."
"Sir!" Zachary demanded. "Why would you do that? What if he had some foreign trick up his sleeve."
"He didn't, boys," Tiberius replied, breaking his gaze from Trevin. "His power was bound to the shape of the Revenant. And without it, his body was failing him. He died as the sun rose this morning."
"Well, what did he tell you then?" Zachary asked.
"Things I am not prepared to discuss here."
"But it is true then," Timothy cut in. "You do mean to leave again, don't you?"
Tiberius stared at Trevin, the feeling of heartbreak and love washing over him before he slowly nodded in reply. “The First Sergeant speaks true. I aim to continue on the quest that I had pursued. After all that has transpired, my heart compels me to see it to its end.”
They stared at their commander for a few moments, weighing his decision in their minds until Timothy flashed a devilish grin. “Ah, don’t worry none, sir. We didn’t need your help anyway. Not with Zachary and me around. And old grumpy grump here,” he finished, motioning to Trevin.
“I know you don’t need my help, boys. That is why my mind is at ease over having to depart. But nevertheless, I do have some parting instruction to pass out.”
“What parting instruction, sir?” Trevin asked.
“Watch this,” Tiberius replied with a sly smile.
He directed his friends to follow him to a nearby table that he quickly mounted. “Hail, Rangers!” he boomed out over the sea of people. A hearty and thunderous reply returned to him, bringing a broader smile to his face.
“Though I am beyond elated to be amongst you again, I am afraid our reunion will be cut short,” he began. “You all know me as a plain and honest man; therefore, I will speak plainly and honestly to all of you. This very day, I will speak to His Majesty regarding the manner of the unfinished mission he dispatched me on. A mission that I aim to see fulfilled.”
The Rangers turned and gave each other worried looks. The thought of entering in the fierce fighting they all knew was to come gave them pause, but not fear. Never fear. For the Rangers of the Axton Empire never knew fear in the face of combat. Sensing their apprehensions, Tiberius raised a hand to silence them.
“Take heart, warriors. For though we travel two separate roads, our destinations are the same. And although I will not be able to join you in the glorious battles to come, I do have some departing orders to pass.”
He invited his three most trusted friends to join him at the table, much to their surprise. “First, seeing as our ranks have swollen in the past year, I have decided that the need for more First Sergeants is in order. Therefore, let it be known that from this day until the last day, that Zachary Trex and Timothy Shepherd shall both hold the position of First Sergeant of the Imperial Rangers!”
A mighty roar went up over the crowd of rangers. His friends rec
oiled in surprise at his words before a deep feeling of honor and responsibility crashed on them. He motioned them to return to the ground and now brought Trevin to the front.
“Now, I’m sure many of you are wondering why we would have three First Sergeants. Well, rest assured, we will not,” he placed a tender hand on Trevin’s muscular shoulder. “All of you know Trevin has been a formidable leader in my absence. Indeed, I would not be out of line to say that he is perhaps the finest ranger in our ranks today.”
Another mighty cheer rang out over the crowd before Tiberius continued. “Yet now, we stand on the brink of war against the mad King White. And for this campaign, the rangers will need a commander in the field.”
The air was sucked away at his words. “I name Trevin Moore as the acting commander of the Imperial Rangers! I grant him the same authority and power that is due to this title and position. He shall have complete control over the actions of our order and will lead you all to glorious victory! Hail, Trevin Moore! Commander of the Imperial Rangers!”
Thunderous booms of hail and applause exploded from their formation. Each man and woman assembled there held their arms aloft in praise of their new commander. Even though they would have desired Tiberius to be at the head of their formation, they could not imagine anyone more suited for the honor and title than Trevin.
“Commander,” Tiberius said, facing Trevin. “Take charge of your men.”
Trevin stared at Tiberius hard, his eyes softening from the surprise and elation he had felt to love. After a few moments, he nodded in reply and placed his hand on Tiberius's shoulder. “Thank you for the honor, sir. I will not betray your trust, nor your love,” he whispered.
“I know you won’t, my love,” Tiberius replied, smiling. “Now, take command of your men.” He hopped down from the table just as Trevin began issuing orders of the day. Now that his men were sorted, he was eager to speak with his companions.
The rangers bowed low to him as he walked through them. He patted each of them on their arms, wishing them good fortune in the days to come. He hoped to be amongst them again but was content knowing they were safe in the hands of his trusted friends.
He wandered around the camp, taking it all in. He knew that this camp would look small in the coming weeks and months compared to the forces yet to arrive. A force equal to the one that had invaded Narzeth would soon be marshalled; with them would come the full fury and might of the Imperial army. He just wished they would all have the wisdom to know their enemy from their friend when the fighting against their fellow countrymen started.
Before long, he found his companions sitting near a fire tucking into their breakfast when he plopped down in a seat between them.
“Well, that was a little dramatic, wasn’t it?” Shayla said.
"What was dramatic?" Tiberius asked sheepishly.
"That little impromptu ceremony with your men just now."
"Oh, you heard that?"
"The whole of the empire heard that ruckus," Michael interjected between mouthfuls of food.
“Cut me some slack. I couldn’t just up and leave them,” Tiberius replied with a laugh. “And besides, it has been a long time since I have seen my men, and my heart was eager to be with them and lead them again. If only for a moment.”
Despite a face full of eggs and bacon, Michael's curiosity spoke for him. “I’m so confused.”
“Tiberius turned command over to Trevin,” Shayla answered plainly. “He knows that in the battles to come, the rangers will need a true commander at the head of their formation.”
“Again, I’m confused. Where will you be if not with your men in battle?”
Tiberius thought for a moment, weighing his choice in words carefully. “I mean to speak with my father this morning. Or rather, I mean all of us to speak with him on what we should do next. And while my mind is already made up, on my honor, I cannot act on it without his blessing.”
“Why do you speak so cryptically?” Michael asked.
“He means to continue our quest to the outpost but cannot in good faith ask to do that given the threat of insurrection and war,” Shayla replied.
Michael spun his head quickly between his companions. He had assumed that he would continue that journey alone and that Tiberius would wish to continue the fight that had been brought down on them by King White. “Is this true?” he asked finally.
“Aye, young Mage,” Tiberius replied. “Shayla speaks true. Before, my heart was torn between being with my father and with my men in the fight. Yet now that I have talked to the Narzethian, I know our quest is of the most importance.”
Michael's jaw dropped. "You talked to the Narzethian? Alone!? Well, what did he say?"
"I think it best if you hear what I have to say once we are all in council together."
They sat in silence for a while. Michael lost in his thoughts, and his two companions surveying the scenery around them. After a time, it was Shayla who finally broke their quiet.
“I have had these thoughts too, Tiberius. But like you, I am sworn to the defense of our homeland. Yet, after what you and I went through, what they all saw in Michael’s spell, and the Narzethian wizard…” she stopped, thinking hard. “I think the true heart of the struggle lies in the world beyond. And if the dwarves speak true, which I do not doubt they do, then the outpost will hold the answers. And if not the answers, a means of obtaining the answers.”
“Well, this is most fortunate then,” Michael said after a few moments of contemplation. “As I mean to continue that journey myself.”
“I know you did,” Tiberius said, standing to stretch. “And we can’t very well leave our friend to enter the unknown by himself, can we?”
“I wouldn’t hear of it,” Shayla said with a small laugh. “The boy may be a strong wizard now, but he’s still a boy.”
“Hey! I’m sitting right here!” Michael exclaimed.
They laughed at his incredulity before Tiberius said, “Let me in on a secret, young man. We are companions and friends, yes, but we are more than that now. After what we have endured, our very fates are now intertwined. We are bound to each one another in both deed and in trust and honor. So, as you can see, Shayla and I owe allegiance to not only our country but to one another. But we will speak of these things later.”
He hopped over his seat and rushed off to his own tent to bathe and change, leaving his Shayla to continue poking fun at the young Mage.
An hour or so later, they sat in the emperor’s tent along with the generals of the Imperial army and Trevin. After small pleasantries and courtesies were rendered, Tiberius stood proudly and walked to the middle of the circle they had formed.
“Your Majesty,” he began proud and firm. “Generals and Marshalls of our grand army, I have called this war council as is my right as commander of the Imperial Rangers. You all know me to be a prudent and honest man. So as such, I will speak so with you.”
All eyes in the room were fixated on him as he spoke. Barely anyone could muster a breath they were so enthralled with his presence and renewed vigor.
“When my companions and I set out from the capital at the behest of our emperor, it was under the most secretive of circumstances. We were bidden to travel north, beyond the Forgotten Mountain, and into the Land Beyond. We were sent in search of the answer to the greatest mystery of our time. A mystery, that if left unanswered, would lead to the greatest change in our country since the very founding of our glorious empire.”
“And what, pray to tell, is the mystery you sought to answer, Commander Tiberius?” one of the generals asked.
Tiberius turned to his father, who gave a slight nod in approval before turning to face the general. “My lord, magic is leaving our world.”
Silence hung on them as though a great anvil had fallen on each of their chests. Tiberius said nothing to break the tension, instead waiting for the inevitable scoffing and questions he knew were to come.
As if on cue, a flurry of incredulous chatter broke out among
st the generals, each of them swearing in utter disbelief at Tiberius’s words. Yet, he continued to stand firm and unmoving as the words flew all-around before slowly dying out. Finally, he turned on the spot surveying the seated men.
“Are you all finished?” he asked with a sly smile.
“Commander Tiberius, we do not mean any disrespect to you or to His Majesty,” another general with a fiery red beard piped in. “But how in the name of the heavens do you expect us to believe such a claim?”
“Master Tiberius speaks true!” Michael burst out, standing quickly to his feet. “On my honor as a Brother of the Magi, he speaks true.”
The red-bearded general scoffed at Michael’s words. “Please! You will have to do better than the word of a boy! Especially when all of us witnessed the magic he wielded last night.”
“What about my word?” the emperor asked flatly. All eyes turned to him at once. “I believe both of these men, and I believe the Supreme Sorcerer that rules our city in my stead. I believe them for many reasons, but the most obvious one to me should have been the most obvious to you. Why would Tiberius, the commander of the Imperial Rangers, war hero against the Narzeth, lie?”
No one dared speak in protest to their emperor’s words, nor could they argue his logic. Silence fell like a harsh thud in the room until the red-bearded general finally said, “What is your quest then, Commander Tiberius?”
“Our aim is for the dwarven outpost,” Tiberius said. “And I aim to depart this afternoon for the Ice Steps as was our goal before. Yet, I am honor-bound to our country's defense, and I am honor-bound to rooting out the traitorous King White. But I am adamant that with all we have seen since leaving the capital, the way forward to victory lies beyond the mountains.”
“If that is your aim then, sir, then I am adamant that you take ten of my best men with you!” the red-bearded general declared.
“Nay! Tolenor’s men might have proven valiant against White’s thugs, but they are no match for my marines! And you may take a whole legion of them!” another general proclaimed.
The Spirit of The Warrior: The Axton Empire book 1 Page 35