The constant coughing in the camps was nothing new to the guards who waited to put anyone to death if they stepped out of line. However most deaths were caused by infections from the mining. It started as a simple cough then escaladed into something worse that kept the victim bedbound and if they didn't receive proper treatment they eventually died from infected lungs and weakened hearts. The prisoners of war never received proper treatment.

                     The Emperor of Mount Lions never had to see it all. He sat in his lavish golden palace far enough away not to see the soot from the quarries, far enough not to hear the coughing and the pick axes, far enough away not to smell the heavy stench of the dead and dying.

                     "Our General out does himself." Empress Olympia, a doe, said as she stretched out on her lounge. "He captures the king of Nagoray in one day, ships him in chains back to us and now he turns his sight on the kingdom. She let the letter drop to the floor.

                     "Bah," Emperor Cato scoffed. "The Nagorins didn't even put up a fight. "I'll be more impressed with your precious general when he takes on a real army."

                     "He already has." Empress Olympia said, "You're just jealous." She rolled off the lounge and went over to where the lion was standing in the window. "You've never fought a battle in your life. The Kings of Carn, Tangia and Sapinfree all went to battle with their troops. Even King Saber put himself in the line of fire but you, like my father in Recomine, are too much of a coward to see a battle." She kissed his cheek then sauntered back over to her lounge.

                     "And look at them Olympia, my impatient hind." Emperor Cato said. "We have them all captive, slaving under our yoke...dying in our mines and quarries." He held his head up. "We are victorious and when your daddy in Recomine is too destitute to take up arms against us then we shall began our extermination." He went over to a model of the kingdoms. "We've already started round ups in Eshkope...just because they hid their king from us I thought they should be first."

                     Olympia chuckled. "Hmm," She thought and fell back on her lounge. "I hear Queen Rose owned the finniest of robes. Since you'll have your genocide and a realm free of undesirables I'd like these as a reward....you know a little souvenir from our conquest."

                     "Very well." Emperor Cato said, "All the finest things will be yours whatever makes you happy."

                     Olympia sat up. "No, Cato you misunderstand me. Sure I want all these things but they are just tokens. The biggest gift you can give to me is to take Recomine...to kill my father. He'll pay for what he did to me and my mother and for marrying that cheap princess in her place."

                     Cato chuckled. "Awww is the wittle fawn still upset at being disinherited? My dear, that was years ago."

                     "And I still hate him!" Olympia sneered, "tossing us out like that."

                     "Your mother led a coup against the crown." Cato said.

                     "My mother was the crown." Olympia fired back. "And they had her executed for exposing my father for what he was, a manipulator."

                     Emperor Cato yawned. "This war is to uphold the pure race of Mounts,"  he said. "Not to spark up some old family feud."

                     Olympia jumped up from her lounge. "You say you understand me, Cato but this you do not understand and it's important to me!"

                     "Yes, yes." Emperor Cato said then turned to the door as a servant stepped onto the threshold. "Do what you like." He waved her off then turned to the servant. "State your purpose."

                     "Sergeant Kassel, is in the throne room, Your Imperial Majesty."  The servant bowed low as the King walked by her. After a moment of pouting Olympia followed.

                     Sergeant Munich Kassel the Gravy's Zebra waited patiently as the Emperor and the Empress assembled before him.

                     "At ease sergeant." Emperor Cato laughed. "Always such a wreck, poor boy." He moved around on his throne until he was comfortable. "What business have you?"

                     "Oh, Emperor, live on to time indefinite," Sergeant Kassel said, "I bring reports from Lieutenant Torotto. He has not been able to discover the whereabouts of the Eshkopean Royal Family. He has followed the river to the sea, but nothing."

                     "And?" The Emperor asked raising one of his bushy brows.

                     "Well Your, Imperial Majesty he request permission to abandon the mission and return to your realm to prepare for the invasion of Recomine."

                     Cato pursed his lips. "Lieutenant Torotto is usually so reliable. And if we let those foolish Eshkopeans out smart us then the other kingdoms will undermine our military force." He stroked his chin. "Tell him no.  Tell him he can return when he captures me a royal."

                     Sergeant Kassel pivoted. "Yes Your Imperial Majesty. However he has requested reinforcements, if that was to be your decision." He lowered his green eyes.

                     "What the devil for?" Cato demanded.

                     "Your Imperial Majesty, the trails have grown cold the only place left to search is across the Tannel."

                     "The Tannel?" Olympia frowned.  "The uncharted sea?"

                     "Yes Your Imperial Majesty." Sergeant Kassel said. "In the direction of Keeve."

                     The Emperor leaned back on his throne. "I see, Keeve. They mythical land of dragons." He laughed and exchanged glances with his wife. "Really I didn't think our lieutenant was so superstitious. I'll send him reinforcements and if he doesn't find anything in a week he can return home."

                     "Yes Your Imperial Majesty, I'll send word right away." The sergeant said.

                     The Emperor was about to dismiss him then stopped. "Kassel, why aren't you with your cousin?"

                     "Too much time around the mines, Your Imperial Majesty, I'd be too slow, it would take months for my lungs to heal."

                     "Right." Cato said. "So he has assigned you a desk job. How noble of the General." He chuckled. "Say," He remembered. "Didn't he also leave some of the Eshkopean captives in your charge?"

                     "Just one, Your Imperial Majesty." Kassel answered.

                     "Well," The Emperor said. "See if you can't get the truth out of him then."

                     "She's already been interrogated." Kassel shrugged. "She won't speak a word."

                     "Well I want you to try." Cato said. "Redeem yourself from this lack of service."

                     Kassel bowed low, "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

/

Kassel returned home around twilight with the evening air nipping at his nose. It was getting cold in Mount Lions. A snow would fall in early morning hours and melt by the time the sun arrived turning the ground into mud.

                     He removed his shipping boots at the door and put his hat on the coat hanger. After he put the kettle on he went into the living room where the fire was already going. He held his arms over it letting it thaw his body. Hearing a noise behind him and turned around.

                     "Oh, it's only you," he said to the green eyed leopard girl standing in the doorway. He stood up from the fire and waited for her to make a move. He sneezed. "Listen, they're bringing in prisoners of war tomorrow so I'll be very busy registering them. It may mean some of the higher ups will stop by the house. Can I count on you to behave?"

                     Ortensia raised her arms still shackled in heavy chains. They cut into her flesh and she had to wear gauze to stop the bleeding.

                     "Right." Kassel said trying not to look at the chains that were not even appropriate for someone his own size. "Also I need you to tell me where you sent your king. I'll send you back to the integrators if you don't. Do you want to be tortured again?"

                     Ortensia looked at him blankly.

                     "Answer me." Kassel snapped. "I know you at least speak Impa."

                     "No...no, master." Ortensia said. "I don't want that again. It's nicer being your slave."

                     Kassel broke eye contact and turned back to the fire. After facing the flames for a moment he scoffed and looked over his shoulder. "You know," He said, "that's the most you've said since you've been here." He undid the first two buttons of his uniform. "You know, they won't kill you if you confess. The Emperor is sympathetic to children."

                     Ortensia watched him walk across the room and take a seat in a lounge chair. She took her place behind the chair to rub the aches out of his shoulders. Munich tilted his head back toward her. "What's it like..." He asked. "Being a slave? Having to do what someone tells you no matter what?"

                     "You know, Master." Ortensia said as she rubbed his neck. "A soldier always does what he is told."

                     Kassel looked at her in silence until the whistling kettle broke it.

/

High Priest Gavery was adding more embers to the fire bowls when he heard the alarm raised. He looked at Sweet next to him and the two hurried to the poorly fortified temple entrance.

                     "Up in the sky!" Someone shouted and they looked up.

                     The sky blackened with military trained hawks each strapped with explosives.

                     "Everyone inside!" Gavery shouted.

                     Like one beast the hawks turned and the commander gave the signal to release the first waves of explosives. They whistled down into the town blowing out windows cracking the cobbles stones and over turning wagons.

                     The bell tower was blown off the school sending the brass bell crashing through the mansion roof and into the foyer taking the chandelier with it. Crystals scattered across the floor crushed under the feet of panicking students.

                     "The temple basement!" The Principal ordered. "Run."

                     The school emptied as everyone fled for better shelter. Explosives rained down rocking the mountains splitting the earth as the students struggled to run with their backpacks on their backs.

                     Sweet covered her ears to deafen the cries of her frightened neighbors as they perished all around her outside the temple. "We have to help them!" She cried to Gavery. Before he could stop her she raced into the courtyard and took flight into the smoke choked sky.

                     Over the screaming Gavery could hear the pounding at the temple door as the walls rocked. In the next room he could hear the panicked voices of the temple family as their fortification failed.

                     The Mounts stormed the temple hooting and hollering. At the head of their army they carried their staff decorated in the two banners; one yielding the Mount Lions Triangle and the other the superstitious triad symbol.

                     Gavery tried to grab it and throw it out but was pushed back. "You can't do this!" He shouted as the soldiers tore down the silk curtains and kicked over the bowls of fire so ashes and embers stained the floor.

                     Just when it seemed the desolation wouldn't end a whistle sounded through the temple. All the soldiers dropped what they were doing and stood at attention as the stallion General strolled in. He tilted back his chin and looked at the destruction with his one cold blue eye. When his flaxen bangs fell in his face he tossed his head to clear his vision.

                     "Boys, boys, boys." He clicked his tongue. "How disrespectful of you. Don't you know this is a holy place?"

                     Gavery didn't look into his face. Instead he watched his shiny shipping boots as he walked across the embers. "What have my soldiers done, priest?"

                     "Nearly desolated our temple." Gavery said with his head still low. He watched the General out of the corner of his eye as he examined the walls of the temple.

                     "Well that's a shame. Apologize to the High Priest, boys." General  Roman Kasper said and the foot soldiers looked at him in confusion. "Did you hear me?" The perlino stallion snarled, and immediately the soldiers stammered apologies in Impa. "It's a shame they've done such damage, I always fancied seeing the ancients monuments of the Holy Lands." He looked back at Gavery. "That's what we call Nagoray back home. Home sweet home."

                     "Do you ever get lonely for it?" Gavery asked. Maybe he could bring the General around.

                     "Of course." General Kasper said. "But soon all six realms will be owned by Emperor Cato and Empress Olympia so it won't matter where I roam." Another explosion rocked the ground. "You've been conquered High Priest!" He whinnied loudly and kicked over another fire bowl sending embers glowing across the saddened sky. "And just to be sure you understand..." He blew his whistled and the soldiers again stood erect. "Level the temple!" He ordered. "Leave no stone unturned! Kill any who dare tries to stop you!"

                     The roar of the soldiers filled the room as they continued their loot.

                     "Storm the palace! Show Nagorins that the scum of the earth does not deserve to live in splendor. Kill all royal blood!"

                     Gavery knew it was over for him but he couldn't help but laugh. His laughter became so loud that it erupted through the temple drowning out that of the General and his soldiers.

                     "What, may I ask, is so funny?" The General demanded, spitting when he talked.

                     "You can set out tomorrow," Gavery said. "You can set out this minute, but you will never find them." He laughed as the General's look became even more deadly. "What, did you think they'd stay and welcome you?" He bent over laughing stabbing at the General's pride. "Looks like the master nation loses out against the most primitive!"

                     "You'll regret that." General Kasper snarled.

                     "My soul is prepared, General, long prepared."