The morning bird crowed as the morning sun rose in the bright blue sky. A refreshing sight to behold for many within the walls of Parpanuan.

But Absalom would awake with his eyes weighing him down like grindstones. He couldn't get much sleep as he was thinking about his position all night.
He thought about how this war might escalate and if he was able enough to lead his people in a time of war.

He felt unsure of his war time wisdom and couldn't shake the feeling that by allowing the riders to try and establish peace he had unwittingly made the problem worse. He feared that if it all work out and peace lives on them theen of the west would simply come back again with greater ambition next time. And if things went south and war breaks out that he would have just sent those men to their early graves.

He rose up from his lavish bed and looked around the room. Seeing that his personal servants were nowhere to be seen he looked to his right at his wardrobe. He stared at it for a moment constipating what he was thinking of doing.

"No, no I can't. Not for this." He mumbled to himself as he snapped his head away from the wardrobe. But then he looked back at it again giving the idea a third thought.

He sighed as he knew what he was about to do was wrong. But he needed answers. Answers that no mortal man could ever answer.

He dropped his feet onto the cold marble floor of the bed chamber and slowly walked over to the wardrobe. Upon arriving he slowly creaked the doors open and walked inside.

He pushed through the wall of robes hanging from the wardrobe top and made his way to the back. There he made his way to a secret chamber not much bigger than a commoners hut.

In the middle of the chamber was a large bronze colored medallion with a grey gemstone built into it's middle. Along the edges of this medallion were five unique symbols each representing one of the fathers of reality.

Taking a good look at the medallion Absalom reached out his hand and grabbed it. It was cold and dusty from not being used in nearly fifty years. He brought it up to his head to see the five symbols better.

"Alright let's see if I remember how to do this." He said to himself. He grabbed the thread and dangled the medallion in the air.

"Fathers of reality." He said nervous. "It is I supreme chancellor Absalom of the Parpanuan Republic. May your promise to my ansestors be kept for I request audience with time."

After a moment of silence the gem I'm the middle of the medallion began to brighten up. It's color also started to change from a dead grey to a vibrant blue.

"You seek knowledge child?" Said a deep, calming voice. The gemstone glew brighter as the voice spoke with each syllable.

"Yes father." Absalom replied. "The enemies of Parpanuan raid our borderlands seeking the spoils of your chosen people. It is by this reason I ask for wisdom. What must I do to preserve the legacy of your people?"

The voice went silent for a moment. "I have foreseen this event my child." The voice said suddenly. "Behold the enemies of Parpanuan mount to the number of grains of sand along a shoreline. Their numbers grow by the hour and time is of the essence."

"What must I do father?" Absalom asked gripping the medallion again.

"Behold, your allies have turned against you. For as we speak the kin, jeich and the men of the south muster their forces against you. Therefore, you must reach out to the men of the far north and the far east. Send messengers to the Mogenite hoard in the mountains and the men of the norderus."

Absalom couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But father, the Mogenite hoard is the enemy of all nations. And the men of the norderus lack the numbers to make any substantial difference in our fight." He said worried.

"Be warned my child. The end of Parpanuan is near." The voice said. "Parpanuan will surely fall if these measures are not met."

"But father, what of our allies? How could they turn away from us? Why would they forsake our peaceful nature and turn it around against us?" He asked concerned.

"I am sorry my child, but my time is up. And now for the price." The voice said. Suddenly Absalom felt a sharp pain in his head as a great suction came from the gemstone. He could feel his soul being torn apart and sucked into the gemstone.

He grunted in pain as the suction stopped as suddenly as it started. "As promised, a years worth of life, for a years worth of wisdom." The voice said. "Goodbye my child."

"No no wait! Wait father what about our allies!?" He asked shaking the medallion violently. But it was no use. Time had left leaving the gemstone grey and hollow as it was before.

Absalom set the medallion back onto it's pedestal and left the wardrobe. He wasn't sure what to make of this. "A years worth of wisdom and he says nothing bout his current allies, what does that mean? Have they already turned against us? Has this been a plan before this year?"

He pondered these thoughts for some time before he was interrupted by someone entering the bed chamber. He whipped his head to face the door only to be greeted by one of his servants.

"Oh, it's just you." Absalom said.

"I know not what that is supposed to mean sir. But you must prepare yourself sir." The servant said in a nearly robotic tone. "Secretary Reginald and Nigel have requested a council this morning sir."

"What?" Absalom said shocked. "How long ago was this calling?"

"Not long sir. But they each have news about the current war situation They thought you should know about sir."

"Oh, yes absolutely." Absalom said realizing he was still in his sleeping robes. Wasting no time he got himself changed and made his way to the council chamber at the very peak of the city.

Rushing through the streets heade his way to the top of the city shoving his way through commoner bystanders as he went.

When he finally made it to the council room be threw the doors open hastily and was greeted by the other council members right away as everyone had already been assembled.

"Chancellor Absalom, thank goodness you came." Reginald said rising up from his seat. "I have some urgent news."

"As do I" Nigel added.

"And, might I add, you seem a little different mister chancellor sir." Timothy said regarding his seemingly sudden but subtle aged appearance. "Have you cut your hair or something?"

Absalom froze for a moment. He had forgotten that his physical appearance would show that he had used the all father's stone. A year of his life had been taken, and with it a years worth of his physical age.

"It's nothing really." He said hoping no one would know what he was doing. "Secretary Reginald, you have some news for us?" He asked taking his seat at the head of the table.

"I do mister chancellor sir. You remember those riders we sent out yesterday to patrol the border lands?"

"Yes, have they been successful in preserving peace with the west?" Absalom asked with a sense of confidence.

"Quite the opposite I'm afraid." Reginald replied. Everyone looked at the general with curiosity when they heard this.

"Some of our men returned last night just before the sun rose. One man from each station as a matter of fact. They have all reported attacks on thier respected sections."

"What!?" Timothy snapped in shock.

"The coalition made several attacks last night upon our remaining farms and outposts. It seems the entire border land had been raided and is now occupied by the westerners."

Absalom was speechless at the horrible news. And he could tell by the look in Ferdinand's eyes that he was heartbroken at the sudden acts of violence.

"Did they mention anything about Thier numbers?" Raphael asked.

"They said there were too many of them to resist." Reginald explained. "But from what each man said, they seem to be more numerous in the north west sections of the border lands."

"So we are looking at hundreds? Thousands?" Fletcher asked for clarification.

"Well I've done some math before the meeting, and if my boys are correct, were looking at an average of five hundred men on each raid." Reginald said.

"Five hundred? Just for a few farms?" Robert bellowed in shock. "Why so many men for a couple farm raids? Isn't that a bit overkill?"

"Indeed it would be, of it was just farm raids." Reginald explained. "But an army of this size cannot be for the sole purpose of plundering. I believe they plan an all out war on Parpanuan."

The room went silent when he said this. Nobody ever expected anyone to declare an all out war on Parpanuan. After all Parpanuan was a massive city, arguably the largest in the world. It's walls had withstood countless waves of hostile invaders and had never fallen for said invaders, not once. So the fact that someone would try thier hand at conquering this great city was concerning.

"So our previous fears are true then, the men of the west have turned against us." Katherine said softly.

"But it does not stop there." Nigel said. "I mentioned yesterday that it would take a while for orders to be sent to my spies in the west. Well, I had received messages from carrier birds that our suspicions have been confirmed."

He then pulled out a map of the continent and placed it out for everyone else to see.

  "If my spies are correct, this coalition started in Viris and spread throughout the rest of the Eupa peninsula, essentially binding a minimum of eleven Eupan factions to thier cause."

"So we were right. There are tens of thousands of men coming for us." Abraham said looking at the map from behind Nigel's shoulder.

"Yes, but it gets worse. My spies from the Tallia peninsula have reported rumors of Tallian leaders negotiating with the Eupans. So it may be possible that this is a multi regional conspiracy."

"If those Tallians ally with the Eupans Thier numbers could double in size." Reginald said staring at the map intently.

"Not entirely." Fletcher said. "The Tallian population growth has been in decline for some time now. It will more accurate to say, their numbers would increase two to three."

"That's not much better." Raphael said.

"Well Ferdinand, now do you see what must be done" Reginald mocked.

"I see now." He said saddened. "But I don't know what the divine master will think of this. Someone is going to excommunicated for this bloodshed. But to choose between a regional superpower or a dozen minor powers will be a tough decision."

"Well just do what you can Cardinal." Absalom said. "We are going to need all the help we can get. And if the church will stand with us it will be a great blessing from the Lord."

"Well, now that we have that established, what do we do from here?" Katherine asked. "Those farms were our chief source of food. We only have enough in our coffers to last a couple months, assuming we are put under siege."

"The las has a point," Robert said. "If we are gonna walk away from this with our heads intact, we're gonna need to do something fast."

Absalom stood silent for a moment. He stroked his beard as he pondered the different solutions. "Secretary Reginald, how prepared are our exterior defences?" He asked suddenly.

"A bit dusty but should still be usable." He replied.

"The way I see it we have two options. Either one, we lure them in and slam them with our city defences. Or two, we march out to meet the enemy and try to scatter them before they reach out walls. What say you?"

"This is no option, of course we should ride out to meet them!" Robert barked slamming his fist on the table. "Think about it lads, if we stay here and wait for them to come to us, the people will panic. Not to mention the possibility that they somehow breach our defences."

"Hold your tongue!" Abraham said boldly. "No one will ever breach our defences. This city has withstood hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers. This coalition army is just another rock in the pond."

"Perhaps, but nothing lasts forever." Fletcher said. "Everyone thought the Yaman Empire would last forever. My point being, nothing is unstoppable. Sooner or later Parpanuan will fall, wether by enemy hands, or by internal problems. So we need to prepare for the worst."

"Did you not hear lady Katherine lad? We don't have enough rations to last a war of attrition. We need to act fast and decisive." Robert explained.

"I agree with Robert." Reginald said. "Parpanuan has seen little action in recent centuries. If we stay here we only risk exposing our weaknesses. I say we attack first. I can summon the rider legion to mop up those westerners by the end of the day."

"And what if it's not enough?" Nigel asked. "It was only my spies from the west that reported today. There may be more enemies out there. If we send our calvary to thier doom, what's next? They will all come here and lay siege for sure. Only then we will have six thousand less men to defend our city."

"What about you Raphael? Do you think our towers and catapults are to the challenge?" Timothy asked.

"Well I'll have to have my inquisitors and engineers take a look at the current state of our equipment. But that's gonna take some time..perhaps if we attack first we can make sure we're ready for when a siege does happen."

"Abraham, What do you say?" Absalom asked.

Abraham looked at his wife Katherine for a moment. He knew she wanted to stay inside the city but this might be his only chance for battle.

"It is a tough decision, but I believe it would be our wisest move to attack first." He said taking a second look at Katherine. She knew what he was up to and gave a discouraging look to show it.

"Cardinal Ferdinand, what's you opinion on this matter?" Absalom asked in a gentle tone.

"Please mister chancellor, neither I nor the church wish to discuss means of harm towards our Christian brothers." He said d shying away from the chancellor.

"And you Timothy?"

"With all due respect mister chancellor, I wish to abstain my vote." He said looking Absalom dead in the eye. "Both plans have far too many ups and downs for me to make a clear decision."

"I will respect that." Absalom said. "All in favor of holding out within the city raise your right hand hand now. And those who wish to ride out to meet our foes, raise your left hand now."

There was a moment of silence as Absalom counted up the votes. "Five to two, we shall engage the enemy first." He commanded. "Reginald, get the rider legion mounted up by night fall, we leave first thing tomorrow."

"Yes supreme chancellor!" Reginald said with a salute.

"Meeting adjourned. Return to your stations men." Absalom ordered. One by one the council dispersed and scattered throughout the city to Thier work stations.

With a tap of his shoes against the stone floor echoing throughout the corridors Robert stepped into the storage facilities. He would need a lantern as it was dark as night in there as the place was located at the very bottom of the city where the light of the sun never shows.

Fortunately they remember to keep a lantern at every entrance to the storage facility. Robert reached his hand out to grab it but felt nothing but the stone pillar it should be on.

Just then an erie light crept up on him from the side. Robert looked at the light and jumped two feet in the air. He froze for a moment as he recognized the person holding the light.

"Lady Katherine! Ya scared the living daylight out of me las!" He bellowed with adrenaline coursing through his viens.

"I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting anyone else to be down here." She said softly. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I assume the same thing as you las. Taking a new inventory on our supplies." Robert said stepping closer to her.

"I suppose an extra set of eyes will help." She said turning to face one of the many shelves. "We better get the new inventory done before Absalom finds out that the report we gave him is outdated."

"Agreed." Robert said moving his eye patch to his other eye.

"Hey, what's the matter las? You look like you just lost something dear to ya." He asked seeing the saddened look on her face.

"It's nothing. I'm fine." She said with a sense of hallow confidence.

"Come on now, I'm your uncle. You can tell me anything. What's eatin ya las?"

"It's Abraham." She said with a sigh. "Every day he says how he belongs on the battle field and that given the chance he wouldn't hesitate to serve." She said holding back tears.

"Your afraid of losing your husband eh?" Robert asked grabbing her by the hand. She made no answer to his question. Just looked away to one of the nearby shelves.

"Look, I understand your concerns, really I do. But trust me, there are some things that he's gonna have to learn for himself." He said trying to comfort her.

"Listen, I understand his drive for war really I do. I was just like him when I was younger. I dreamed of fightin for the republic, gaining the glory of a warrior. But he and I are two very different people. I was born into a fighter clan. Warfare is in my blood. These old bones are built for battle. But him? He's a spoiled rich kid. When it comes time for him to draw a sword, he's gonna realize just how terrible war actually is. And when he is faced with killing or be killed, he's gonna come runnin  back home. Runnin back to you." He said gripping her hand a bit tighter.

"Trust me las. There is no talking him out of it. So might as well let him see first hand the horrors of war. He will be back. I promise you that."

"Perhaps your right." She said softly. "But still, I can't shake the feeling that when he is called up to arms, he won't return from it." She said with a tear leaking from her eye. To this thought Robert was speechless.

But he was right about not being able to talk him out of it. For as they spoke alone in the darkness Abraham was already at the barracks. He was in the same spot as last time eavesdropping on the generals plans while at the same time mustering up the courage to ask to join the campaign.

"Alright men listen up!" Reginald barked as his junior officers stood in formation. "Tomorrow we launch the counter attack on the men of the west. Most of the enemy forces are consolidated in the north west sections of the borderlands." He said unfolding a map onto a table for his officers to see.

"Now the plan is to split our forces in two, and hit the enemy in their exposed flanks. Once they realize they're encircled the enemy will scatter like cockroaches. Any questions?"

"Yes general, when do we plan on executing this mission?" An officer asked.

"We ride out this evening. But we will set up camps here, and here. Exactly due north and west of the city."

"But why though? Why set up camp so close to home?" Another officer asked.

"Surprise my boy, surprise. They will expect us to ride out tomorrow when the day is young. But by having our armies stationed so close to them we can launch the counter attack before they even realize we left the city."

"Mister Reginald?" Abraham said suddenly. Everyone turned to face him as he presented himself. But he froze for a moment. He actually hadn't mustered the courage to talk yet. He thought that if he just started talking the rest would just fall into place. But now everyone was watching him and he had no idea what to say.

"Lord Abraham. It's a bit odd seeing you here. Isn't there an architectural project you have to work on or something?" Reginald asked.

"Actually... Mister Reginald, sir... I was wondering if."

"Go ahead, spit it out kid!" Reginald urged.

"I want to help you fight off the westerners!" Abraham barked suddenly. The room went silent for a moment before an officer broke out in laughter.

"You guys hear this? He's head of the architectural district and he wants to fight in a battle? Bwa hahahaha!"

As the man collapsed in laughter other officers joined in as they took found it quite funny. The idea of a spoiled aristocrat on the battlefield.

Abraham couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He honestly wanted to fight and the generals thought it was a joke?

Well, all but Reginald who remained silent while his officers tore themselves apart with laughter.

"Listen Abraham," Reginald said putting his plated hand on his shoulder. He then slowly escorted him out of the barracks as he spoke.

"I get that you want to fight. Your a young man looking to get some kills under your belt. But this is the big time. The hard stone. The battlefield is no place for inexperienced recruits."

"Then by all means educate me." Abraham said. "I want to fight. And I am willing to do what ever it takes to get me out there. Please just let me go. Even if it's just one battle let me fight."

"I'm sorry boy. I just can't accept you in our ranks." Reginald said leading Abraham to the exit.

"But why turn me down? Everyone needs experience to become great. How am I supposed to get that if I'm not granted the opportunity?" Abraham protested.

"Ok, look, I'm gonna be brutally honest with you right now okay? Some people have what it takes to be  a warrior, and some people just don't. Me, I understand strategy and battle tactics. Robert, he's got more kills than he has years in his life. But you?" He said sticking his finger into Abraham's chest.

"You're skinny as a twig, you can barely mount a horse. And your mind is built for architecture not battle plans. So like I said before. Some people are made for war, and some people are not." He said gesturing the two of them with his hands.

"But hey, don't beat yourself up for it. There are plenty of things you can do for the republic that the rest of us can't. Your the lord of the land. Do you have any idea how many people would give up their children to have the title you have?" He said trying to cheer him up.

"All I'm saying is, you should try to stick with what you're good at. Don't try to be something your not okay?"

Abraham nodded yes while looking down at the ground with a defeated expression on his face.

"Ok, good talk. I'll see you around later kid." Reginald said patting him on the back. He then turned around and returned to the rider army.

"Now as I was saying, we ride out this evening to the north and the west. We'll cut down their week sides and press in on them from both sides. Any further questions?"

The rest of the men looked at one another. But none of them had anything else to say.

"Very good. And remember men, we are peace keepers first?"

"Warriors second!" The officers shouted in unison.

"Now mount up! We ride for the borderlands!" Reginald shouted with a charismatic tone.

Meanwhile back at the top of the city Cardinal Ferdinand was at his desk writing a message for the divine master of the holy order.

To the divine master I call upon thy wisdom in regards to the grand city of Parpanuan. The enemies of democracy lie in wait for battle against thy allied people. A threat that I shalleth call upon thy holy champion for aid and guidance. I ask thee for directions in our mission to spread the good news of our lord and savior what might be the best course of action that they servants must adhere to.

Sincerely Cardinal Ferdinand.

Having finished his letter he rolled up the paper and pressed a wax stamp to seal the ends together. He then went over to a bird cage that lay in a corner of his chamber right next to a window. Sitting inside this cage was a white dove with a piece of string at the bottom of the cage directly under the bird.

Ferdinand took the bird with one hand and took up the string with the other. He then proceeded to tie the letter around the birds ankle in a little bow.

Having the message ready for departure he then went to the window and gently tossed the bird into the sky allowing it to fly off in the right direction. "God speed my friend! God speed!" He called out as the bird flew off.

After the bird had gone he took a deep sigh of exhaustion. "By the lord this is getting messy." He said to himself. "I pray the Lord in heaven will show me the path to righteousness in this matter."