Thomas was sitting on a bench watching the foreigner’s camp. It had been two weeks since they had arrived and so far they had proven themselves to be peaceful folk. They paid handsomely for supplies and seemed to be especially fond of Pete’s ale. The tavernkeeper as a result could only praise the strangers, even if they looked a little strange. A cough and the sound of shuffling feet announced old man Bill’s arrival. With a grunt he sat himself down next to Thomas.

Blind in one eye, almost cripple and unable to so much lift the sword he carried around Bill still liked to think of himself as a soldier. “Watching the enemy camp boy?” He asked as he searched his clothes for the pipe that seemed to be his only friend. “Just watching.” Thomas replied as his eyes followed two of the strangers riding out of their camp on their equally strange animals. Bill spit on the ground. “As long as you keep your eyes open boy. Somebody will eventually need you to explain how they operate.” Thomas looked up at the old man, who was busy lighting his pipe.

“How so?” He asked. A large stream of smoke escaped Bill’s mouth. “Because we’re going to fight them of course. As soon as his majesty learns of these creatures he will purge them from these holy grounds.” A shiver ran down Thomas’ spine. “Why? They seem friendly enough and their coin is good.” Bill barked out a laugh. “Boy, that is a military encampment, trust me I’ve been in enough of them. The shapes of their tents might be different, but their attitude is the same. Once they get the order they will occupy this town faster than I can draw my sword.” Thomas frowned. “Aren’t they a bit small for an occupation force? I haven’t counted more than eighty of them or so.”

Bill nodded. “You’re sharper than they give you credit for boy. I bet my beard that these are just scouts, the real force will come later.” Thomas frowned. “Who is they?” Bill looked up. “What was that boy?” The old man’s milky white eye looked at him in an unsettling manner. “You said that they think I’m not sharp. Who is they?” Bill smiled an unfriendly nearly toothless smile. “Did I? I don’t recall, must be my mind that is going.” Slowly the old man stood up. “Well I’ve got to get going, gotta watch the road and all that. Keep an eye on them boy, you might learn something.” As he shuffled away Thomas glared at his back.

“Not sharp?” He muttered angrily. He knew people thought he was more brawl than brain, but he wasn’t a complete idiot. Sure, he couldn’t write fancy letters like Will or draw pretty pictures like Anna, but face it not many could. He was plenty smart. Purposefully he stood up and started walking towards the camp. The closer he got the more nervous he became. At the entrance of the camp two guards were posted and they watched him as he got closer. From up close they looked quite intimidating dressed all in black, their hands never straying far from their swords. He stopped two meters in front of them and gulped.

“I’m Thomas mon Maplemore, son of Gilroy mon Maplemore, I’ve come to speak with Sada mon Tarabash.” For a second the guards just stared at him, faces hidden within their hoods, then they turned to each other. A few short sentences were exchanged in their language, after which one of the two turned around and ran off. The other raised his hand in a stopping motion accompanied by something which probably meant stop or wait. As they waited Thomas started to doubt himself. Even if they let him meet with their leader than what was he going to say? Now that he was thinking about it this entire thing was madness. What if Bill was right and these people weren’t all that friendly? He could still turn around and run away.

In the distance he saw the guard returning. A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead. If he was going to run he had to do it now. His feet remained firmly rooted in the ground. He watched as the guard approached. The man wasn’t as tall as he was and if things escalated he was fairly sure he could take him down before the guard could draw his sword. The guards exchanged a few short sentences and then one of them made a follow gesture. Thomas gulped and followed deeper into the camp.

Ɏ

Lieutenant Amon was having a good day. His paperwork had all been finished, his duties were seen too and most of the day remained. He was quietly contemplating what he was going to do with the rest of his day when there was a knock on the entrance post. “Enter.” One of his men entered and made a crisp salute. “At ease Scout Jared. Do you have something to report?” The man relaxed. “There is a human male at the south entrance requesting to speak with the captain.” Amon tilted his head in confusion. “He speaks our language?” The scout made a noncommitted gesture. “About as much as the rest of his kind, sir.”

Amon traced the scars on the right side of his face. “Bring him to me. The captain has better things to do than receive someone who she can’t speak with.” Jared saluted and left. Amon stood up, walked towards the blue fire in the centre of the yurt and increased the fire’s heat. Humans liked it warm apparently. A few minutes later Jared returned with the human in tow. The human was tall, but there was no fur on his face, even though he had a lot of it on his head. Even with the thick layers of cloth Amon could see that the human was strong. Good line material, but lacks the dexterity for a good scout, he mentally noted.

“Well then, my name is Amon mon Tarabash, I’m Captain Sada’s first subordinate.” The human swallowed. “Well then, my name is Thomas mon Maplemore.” He said in an accent that made Amon cringe. “Your people’s language is awful, it is as if you want to breath out all the words at once. A bit like bird noises.” In the corner of the room Jared could barely repress a chuckle as the human, Thomas, just looked confused. One of the patches of fur above his eyes rose and he said something in his language, which Amon didn’t even bother to try and understand.

“Tell me, Thomas mon Maplemore, what are you doing here?” He emphasized his question with hand gestures. After repeating the same question twice the human finally seemed to understand. Excited he started tittering in his own language, followed by gestures. “Are you making anything of this?” Amon asked Jared. “I think he wants to learn our language, sir.” The scout said. Amon put his fingertips together and gave Thomas a long hard look. “That might actually not be a bad idea.” He mused. “But how to go about it?” Suddenly he stood up and walked around the table. “Alright Thomas mon Maplemore, I’ve decided. You will learn our language. Jared here will be your teacher.” Jared looked up in alarm. “But sir I’m not a teacher. I’ve never thought anyone anything in my life.” Amon smiled broadly. “Than consider this a learning opportunity.”

Jared looked like he was about to protest when he suddenly realised Amon was his superior. “I believe that is all. Thomas mon Maplemore, I wish you the best of luck and I hope you will understand me next time we talk. Jared don’t bother bringing him back to me if he doesn’t, I can’t abide their language. Dismissed.”

Ɏ

Thomas officially had no idea what was going on. The guard, who appeared to be called Jared, seemed to be having an argument with Amon, who was clearly the more important one of the two. After the argument was cut short Amon said some things and then both him and Jared left the round tent. He had the feeling he had failed as they walked through the camp. After a few minutes he however realized that they weren’t going to the entrance of the camp. He looked at Jared, who stopped and stared back at him. “Jared mon Bakar.” He said a little awkwardly. “Thomas mon Maplemore.” Thomas replied just as awkwardly.

“Jurta.” Jared suddenly said, pointing at one of the round tents. “Round tent.” Thomas replied, a bit sheepishly. They started walking again, but instead of silence Jared constantly pointed at different objects and named them. After about an hour the two relaxed a little in each other’s presence. They ate lunch together in a larger communal tent where every pair of eyes seemed to be on them.

The food wasn’t what Thomas had expected it to be. Thin slices of fish wrapped in some kind of green leaves. It was a little strange to see no potatoes or any kind of vegetables, but the Visius seemed to care little for them. They also seemed to do little in terms of cooking. Everything was eaten raw and only a strong tasting tea was served hot.

“Sada.” Thomas noticed as the first Visius he had ever met entered the tent. Instantly everyone was on their feet, including Jared. “Qusar Sada.” He growled at Thomas as he dragged him upwards. As one man the entire tent saluted. Thomas followed the gesture vaguely. Qusar Sada nodded and said something. The people in the tent sat down again, but the atmosphere had changed. Everyone was sitting straighter, conversations were shorter and quieter. He had questions, but lacked the words to ask them.

He pointed at Sada. “Qusar Sada.” He then pointed at Jared. “Kashar.” Jared replied, pride sounding through his voice. “Amon?” Thomas continued. “Mulzim Amon.” It sounded like Jared approved of his line of questioning. Thomas tried to think of the third Visius which had been in the tavern, but he couldn’t recall his name, so he stayed silent. He spent the rest of the day with Jared learning the names of objects and repeating the ones he should already know. As the sun sank behind the horizon Jared led him towards the edge of the camp again.

He pointed towards the setting sun, then pointed towards the east and finally to the entrance of the camp. The two guards that were stationed there gave them curious glances, but kept their own council. Thomas gave Jared a thumbs up and walked away. He took his time getting home, repeating the words he had learned, especially practicing the different titles. When he entered his house it was well after dark and his family was having dinner.

“Where have you been all day boy? I haven’t seen you since this morning.” His father said as he sat down. Thomas made some noncommitted growls as he heaped potatoes on his plate. “Anna dropped by when you were gone.” His mother said. His spoon froze halfway to his mouth. Anna had come by? “What did she want?” He said as casually as he could. His mother puckered her lips. “I believe she wanted to borrow some thread, but she seemed awfully sad that she missed you. Maybe tomorrow she will have better luck.” Quickly Thomas shovelled a spoonful of potatoes into his mouth. “Can’t, I have to be somewhere tomorrow.”

His father glanced up. “You have somewhere else to be than with a pretty girl who enjoys your company? You dim boy?” Thomas frowned. “No, I just have something else to take care of. Something important.” His father threw up his hands. “Calm it boy, meant nothing by it.” Thomas picked at his food. “No one ever does.” An awkward silence fell over the table. “You okay son?” His father suddenly said. Thomas looked up and saw legitimate concern in his father’s eyes. He gave him a wide smile. “I’m good dad.” His father nodded. “Well okay than. Mary I’m going out, Steve’s cows are acting up again.” His mother nodded as his father got up to leave.

“You better do right by that girl boy, she’s a sweet kid.” He grabbed his coat and stepped outside. Briefly the winter cold was let in sending a shiver down Thomas’ spine. When he looked up his sister was staring at him with a malicious smile. “So.” She started in an innocent voice, dragging out the o. “When are you going to ask Anna to marry you.” The sound of dishes falling on the floor made Thomas look up in alarm. He locked eyes with his mother, whose face was afire with excitement. “Nobody said anything about marriage.” He quickly said.

His sister’s smile grew even wider. “Oh? Than why did I find this in your bunk?” She held up a handmade wooden ring in the shape of two antlers crossing each other. “Oh shit.” Thomas uttered before he was smothered by his mother. Outside the cold winter wind blew, but for the people inside it was as if spring was just a single dawn away.

Ɏ

The augur was dreaming. She was fully aware of this, she had done so many times. In her dream she was a hawk flying over the cold Northern provinces of the Solestian Hegemony. She was flying towards the mountains where she would find something dark, something evil, or at least that was how she interpreted it. Over forests, plains, hills and rivers she flew, getting ever closer towards the mountains. She passed over a village, briefly wondering about the strange buildings that had been erected next to it, but she needed to go further North, the dream demanded it.

Her wings were getting tired, but she needed to push on, there was something she had to see. Over mountains and valleys she flew, alone, tired, cold. Just a little further and she would see. Just a little further and then she would know. She cleared the final mountaintop and there it was, the thing she had come to see. A massive gate. But as she looked disdain filled her. The valley it was sitting in wasn’t empty. Instead it was alive with movement. Fortifications of dark grey stone were being raised. Already the entrances to the valley had been sealed off by walls and towers.

She flew over the fortifications, trying to ignore the abominations patrolling them. Souls bound to metal, the idea only made her shiver, to see it in practice was horrifying. As she entered the valley she could see them, standing in neat squares, unmoving, waiting to reap destruction. Hundreds of thousands of them. Wherever she flew she saw nothing but preparations for war. There was a central structure that was pulling her, the dream wanted her to know, to see. Just a little longer. She was about to fly into the structure when something grabbed her out of the air.

A hand of black blood dragged her towards another part of the camp. In her bird form the augur couldn’t move, couldn’t escape. The place she was taken to stood apart from all the other tents and buildings. Real fingers closed around her and she was turned around so that she could see her captor. The creature looked at her with a mean grin on its face. Its teeth were sharp, like needles, its eyes pools of darkness. “Hello little bird, who is that looking through your eyes?” The thing said in words the augur shouldn’t have understood, but did.

It was like something reached inside the augur. In her bed in Lodanium, the capital of the Solestian Hegemony, the eyes of the augur shot open, but it wasn’t her who was watching through them. “You live in a nice place little spy. It will look beautiful aflame I bet.” The augur’s eyes closed again. The grin of the creature didn’t subside. “Our time was short, but pleasant. Do come again little spy, next time I will take full control.” The sound of crushing bones filled the cold night air.

The augur awoke with a scream, covered in sweat. Next to her a man shot up. “Lyra, what’s wrong? What did you see?” The augur tossed the covers aside, not minding her nakedness and hastily started dressing herself. “Lyra what’s going on?” Arterious, crown prince of the Solestian Hegemony, got out of bed, a confused look on his face. “We need to warn your father.” The prince, now alert looked up in alarm. “Of what? Straight answers please.” The augur looked up, fear in her eyes. “Of the army of monsters that is marching on his border.”