“What is on your mind Mandar?”

Klaria shifted on his chest, propping herself on hands while putting one of her legs over his.

Feeling her bare skin Mandar traced fingers over her lower back. It was fifteen years since Erin was born and the years started to show on Klaria's face. The stress and pressure from the empire near the borders didn’t help.

At the beginning when the Empire soldiers destroyed the Ferelis clan it becomes clear they didn’t really want to continue the war. Staying on their side of the border slaughtering the old population, while other clans didn’t do anything to help. Everyone was watching in silence as one of the continents most peaceful and dominating clans was torn into pieces.

If anything we helped to kill the survivors. Took their riches and lives, calling it the revenge for the old war.

Over the years Ashte transformed into something new, it was no longer just a military city, now it was the biggest trading hub in the whole territory. The clan head could no longer ignore the Ashte as it becomes more prosperous and powerful than the capital. New traders went into the border city first, knowing they would find anything they wanted there, from fabrics and spices to exotic materials and animals.

Atagare was losing face and they couldn’t do anything about it. Yet it was bringing sleepless nights to Mandar, knowing they weren’t likely to just sit around and wait to lose all the control of the city.

They want it back, they need it back, but they can’t risk upsetting the balance while we are the first line of protection of the territory.

When the army of the Atagare started coming into the city ten years ago, they were preparing for a war, for being attacked. The civilians suffered the most, with the food running short and the snow falling sooner than expected the bodies in the streets soon started to pile up.

The surrounding villages and smaller towns were slowly abandoned, when the winter was two years in, it becomes clear that the Empire soldiers had other problems to solve rather than continue the invasion.

As if they never saw or expected long winter. Well, nobody did, a years-long purge of winter happened in the last twenty years and they are never so close together. Is something changing?

With the thousands of soldiers stationed in the city and constant stream of refugees, they started running out of supplies just in two short years and the snow was still falling. None expected the long winter at the time, the longer ones come only once in a generation, yet this one was here only after twelve years since the last four years of darkness.

The only reason we survived was that the Ferelis has fallen.

Mandar knew they had to do something, to procure more food and wood. The granaries of the nearby towns were empty and most of the animals were hunted down in the area. It was Erin, who gave him the idea, she was much smarter then he gave her credit for.

“If you can’t feed the soldiers send them out to get their own food, send them out to bring food to the city.”

The Ferelis was ripe for picking, the Empire didn’t have the men to cover the whole territory, to station enough soldiers in each city in each castle and fortress to stop the raiders. And Mandar didn’t have just raiders, he had an army, thirsty for blood and hungry for the fight.

In the following weeks, the army has left the Ashte and in the next month, the city was full of grain and dried meat again. The Ferelis were rich, prepared for long winters, for cold and hunger, ready for anything.

Other than iron ships from the mist.

The peaceful days were coming to the end, in the last two years, the soldiers were able to establish a trade route of steel ships flying across the ridge into the purple mists. And more were coming, each couple of years a few more ships were constructed and transported more people and provisions to the continent.

None believed it possible, the ridge was a dead-end of the continent, red stones and trees covered the edge. The red bark of the Paloc was rarity exclusive to the clans living on the edge of the continent, the source of envy and prosperity turned into poverty and fear.

The purple mists lurking in the empty space gained new recognition, once a source of ave and reverence in the name of the gods, turned into the stories told to children to keep them in the bed at night.

What else could be out there? Who else is hiding behind that mist?

Gaining momentum the Empire started to move the troops towards the borders. Establishing new outposts and building fortresses of the like they have never seen before. The current head of the Atagi was young but smart, he knew he could no longer tolerate the Empire, nor could he risk the repetition of the Ferelis massacre.

At the same time finding a new way how to deal with the Mandar’s growing influence, he issued new orders. It was time to stop cowering behind the walls in their own land, waiting for what the other side decides to do first.

Take action first, if you don’t, others will. He knows with time the Empire will be stronger and stronger, while we are the same, growing used to the peace day by day.

Looking Klaria in the eyes he knew he could no longer stale.

“There was a messenger from the Atagi, the new leader can no longer stand still and risk invasion into our territory. I was tasked with gathering the army and leading the main assault over the border.”

Klaria tensed as she processed what he has just said. Biting her lower lip her body trembled.

“Are you leaving into the war?”

“Yes, there is still some time, before the army assembles and before we have rations in place. That would take around a month, after which I will have to leave.”

Not looking away from her eyes he continued.

“I wasn’t able to find suitable men for our daughter, but that I will just blame on her, for being so picky. And you, for supporting her in it.”

His smile wavered as Klaria wasn’t having any of it. Exhaling, he tightened the grip on her hips, his hands grew stronger with time, while her body grew weaker, softer. He still saw her as the only women he would ever hold, but he could tell the years have changed her, refined her.

Yet her confidence was shaking, realizing her prime days are gone and that Mandar is still young and strong.

“Is there no other way? They have to know you are getting old to lead an army into the war.”

His face screamed as he turned his eyes to the side. She grabbed his chin, forcing him back.

“Don’t give me that look, I know how I look and Erin makes me remember my age every passing year.”

Pouting at her she couldn’t help but chuckle, they were well past any quarrels or misunderstandings between them.

“You know the answer to that, I’m lord of this city, the moment I took the oath I received privileges like no other. I also accepted the burden of responsibility tied to it, no matter the cost. Including command of armies, our clan will send into the war.”

Laying back down Klaria wrapped her hands around his neck, snuggling closer, her nose touched his neck.

”There is no convincing you is there.”

“You would have to convince someone else, someone in the ruling family to let me stay here and send someone else out there to fight. On the other hand, I have probably the best chance of getting the job done and coming back.”

Pushing his fingers into her hair he squeezed her black, straight hair.

“You should know by now that commanders don’t really fight on the battlefield. I’m the last one to draw the sword and lead my men into assault. If I were to die it means the whole army is slaughtered and we will be invaded. Everything will be lost.”

Kissing the top of her head he inhaled her scent, she smelled of Nara flowers, which was unusual for her. Klaria usually smelled of more earthy flowers the ones showing their resilience or grass in the garden. He preferred the Nara, young and fresh, rich and sweet, like his wife just ten years ago.

He could feel it in his bones, getting older, weaker, and as much as he didn’t want to worry his wife by admitting it. He was eager to go into the battle again, to prove himself just one more time. To hold the steel outside of the training ground in combat with another man trying to take his life. That feeling of pumping the heart and boiling the blood in your veins proving you are alive.

But not wanting to worry her and some strange pull to return to his daughter, forced him into a fight over what he knew, he wanted and what he felt he needed to do.

“I’m going to be fine.”