*Dovore Riage*
As my horse trudged on its way through the gates of Alostyr, I got an ominous feeling that we would not be welcomed with a wave of good will, that I had so hoped for.
My mission was to raise an army for Lorcan. But what would be a truth, was we weren't in a position of being able to achieve our goals.
Our goals I thought with a smirk, I'm only doing this due to the advantage he has on me. Other than that, I paused and felt Marwyn's cold breath on my neck, the hairs on my neck stiffened, we'd be safe. Marwyn sat behind me, pale and sickly. Where was I supposed to go with him. The circumstances of our trip had changed drastically and all it did was weaken our hold on any leverage to exploit from the Warden of this City, whom ever he was.
I clenched my teeth, as I went through the large sand stone arch, walls either side that were manned by Rhakri. Surrounding and enclosing us.
Each one dwarfing us and the horse. I looked from man to man assessing their expressions, apprehension, weariness and slight amusement at what was to come. They wore leather sandals and dull linen pants of sort, that left them easily mobile. A belt to support their pants made from the hide of different animals and some had scabbards tied on aswell, that held curved longswords. But many others wore leather straps the wrapped around their shoulders, supporting the dual curved blades, that were akin to a sickle on their side or back.
They were terrifyingly huge, with claws that seemed like talons, it would slit a man's throat with ease. I couldn't help but shudder in fear, I was alone in a far away land. Even the greatest of warriors wouldn't have stood tall against such a domineering race. Every warrior was muscular and lean, built to carry at least two of a normal man back home. Their skin a blood red, some Rhakri were layered in black tattoos, that depicted bouts of great glory across their bodies. Their faces were plain to look at, not that different to an average Arvorian. But at the sign of any emotion changed that. When they smiled a snarl spread from ear to ear showcasing sharp pointed fangs and teeth, that seemed too canine like, to be eating anything that wasn't made of flesh and blood. How did men win a war against such ferocious beasts.
Another shudder ran through me as I thought back to when I was a child and father had told me, about the horrors of war.
In the Rhakr Invasion over one and a half centuries ago, after the siege of a castle who's name was long forgotten. Forces led by Sir Harwin Horsfall 'The Brown Mane' and King Lyonel Riage 'The Round' came upon a great tragedy, corpses by the tens were either hung from trees or ramparts with their entrails, dragged from their bodies and thrown a skew about the halls and walls of the castle. It was a tragedy so great and numerous that even as I think about it, I can't help but wonder what fear the children and lady of the castle must have felt, seeing every knight, guard, soldier and Lord dead before you, a blood hungry basilisk that was no doubt covered in blood, gazing at you, as an animal would it's prey. The haunting screams of a child being ripped in half by a seven foot carnivore and being devoured before all whilst another Rhakr, I couldn't bring myself to say the rest of that sentence even though I knew well what I was to say.
Men say the King himself was so humiliated and disgusted that his people would be defiled so awfully that he ordered the castle and all within to be burned to ashes, to hide his shame and grief. Of course not long after King Lyonel was himself killed and his head mounted on a spike for all to see as the Rhakri invaders rode to Lorcamir, to confront the fallen king's son. From those years forth, common fool to arrogant King knew, the Rhakri as war waging, bloodthirsty, almost monstrous and mythical in thought and very being to be feared and dreaded as the conquerors of our time. Due to the severity of all within my father had softened the story for me but by later accounts I found out the darker picture that I wish I had not. My father, how would he feel now seeing his son and daughter utterly broken and parched stumble through a city of Rhakr.
Two guards stopped me, and I nearly jumped from my horse as the one with the gauntleted arm with a grey iron steel spaulder and a violet cloak that adorned his back. In broken common tongue his voice sounded oddly calming as if instead of talking to a seven foot warrior, I was talking to a child of war. "You! Are the..... eee..... missary from..... Lor..... can", I nodded in response.
He began leading me and Marwyn away down the streets, each building was made from sandstone and some had makeshift wooden stalls attached to them, decorated with gold and orange ornaments and jewellery. The people now didn't seem like cannibal crazed warriors, but contrary they seemed oddly like any other people, smiling and laughing, families strolling down the dusted lanes and open yellow streets.
I felt Marwyn's breath become shallower and I gently tapped the Rhakr, he didn't feel my touch at first so I tapped his shoulder again, this time he turned to face me with a bewildered expression. I pointed to Marwyn who was slumped over my shoulder. He seemed to understand what I meant and picked up his pace, as we went faster down the streets a sigh of relief escaped me, maybe it won't be so bad after all. The Rhakri might not be a race totally devoid of consideration. I let my whole body ease for the first time in days as we approached a truly magnificent structure.
In the very centre of Alostyr their was the royal palace of the House the controlled the city. In a sleek black stone, the coated every inch of castle or palace what ever it was, it was breathtaking. The large spire at the centre reflected the entire city below, like someone was just after painting an elevated view onto the spire.
I smiled in reverend awe and admiration of the structure as we entered what was a sanctuary like area where individuals rested and healed from their wounds. I clambered off the horse and with the help of the Rhakri I took my brother to the nearest bed. I reverently brushed a strand of hair from his face and whispered three words that I may come to regret. "You're safe now brother".