The sun dimmed the day after I had arrested the high priest. Judging from the candles and markers, it would have placed us at midday, which turned night. As much a relief as it was, the sun underwent a change upon us by not lighting for a full day. It was quickly becoming difficult to judge what day it was or what time.

My ministers and I stood in the war room, stooping over a map table. The map showed Ire as best as we could determine with brief allowances for all other nations around its borders. Ire occupied the center of the continent, and all others, whether Cynn, Kes, Ne, or Soran, bordered Ire on one side or another. The maps showed rivers and mountains, hills and valleys, towns and castles and plantations and outposts, and finally, the previously known position of various armies.

We hadn't known the position of armies or occupied territories until now. The Ire diplomat had come in haste since my message of aid and bore intelligence we could use. I knew the Ire was desperate, but to reveal the position of their own armies, when I had only offered aid and had yet to provide it, showed how dire it was for them.

The Ire diplomat shifted a flag onto a hill closer to the Ire capital near its center, a flag I did not recognize. Since the Aeterna united them, they had changed their flag and name. They were no longer the disorganized Ne tribes with dozens of flags but a sole force under one banner and with one title.

The Aeterna Empire.

The new flag was a series of three-part circles around an orb. The part-circles did not connect. Each part-circle extended from its circumference towards the center orb with an elongated triangle, not adjoining it but close. Three part circles, three triangles, one sphere. It was an odd design, but the imagery was explicit. The triangles represented towers extending to the sun; the part circles represented the land, and the shape of the entire ring was the same as the world. It was a message of intent. The Empire presented its claim to the world.

I felt dread as a viper encircled my heart. I hated being right in thinking this prophet's ambition was dangerous.

The part-circles could represent cages around the sun as if to say they had captured the god, but since none of the circles connect, the enclosure is incomplete. I was hesitant then if I had guessed the imagery right.

The Ire flags were of an orb encircled by six orbs of contrasting colors, where the six spheres connected to the former. As the flag represented, they comprised a nation of seven regions given holdings from their king.

Our own flag was of a golden bird with a golden orb in its talons it had taken to flight, portraying our hunting god, Kasus.

There was an Aeterna flag next to the Ire capital. Near the Ne -Imperial- border was another Imperial flag. Three other Ire flags scattered around their eastern half, standing tall, and two Ire flags were knocked over on the western half. Clearly signs of defeat. Subsequently, there was a Kes flag near the Cynn border, a Kes flag to the north, a Kes flag on our capital, and a final Kes flag near the Ire border.

The Empire had dispatched a single army, defeated two of Ire's, and approached their capital and its defenders. The rest of Ire was scattered and distant, and reinforcements were coming from the Ne border. The Kes army was scattered, but we possessed the most at this stage of the war.

With the pieces set, the Ire diplomat stepped back for us to peruse. "Thank you for coming," I said again. "This information will be a big help."

"Let us hope so, your highness." The Ire-Blood nodded. He gulped, his frightened eyes tracing the map. "As you would expect, he has surprised us. His war is unlike anything we have seen."

"How long ago did you learn of the Aeterna approaching your capital?" Fereren, my friend and general, asked.

"The day of my departure... four days ago?" He answered after taking a moment to consider. He shook his head. "I don't know. It is difficult to determine the times anymore."

Fereren huffed, seemingly discontent. My ministers said, "Four days by the old ways is appropriate for a horse to go from one capital to another."

The old ways. Perhaps it was, and now if only we knew the new ways of measuring time.

"That would place it just before the last sun strike," Fereren concludes. He looks to the Ire diplomat, full of sympathy. "I am sorry..."

"No..." The Ire-blood whispered, and his eyes grew wider.

"We must assume the capital is lost then." Fereren briefly shares a knowing glance with me. "The sun could easily break down the walls, or worse."

Worse. The castle could be demolished to its foundation, and the king could be dead. The remaining regions of Ire would be without any unifying force... except...

"Where was the high general of Ire when you departed?" I asked the Ire-Blood.

"Defending the capital." He answered.

Damn.

The Ire-Blood struck his fists on the table and stepped back, emotions racing through him too many to name as he grabbed his hair and stumbled into one of my ministers. Tears fall from his eyes, and he struggles to keep from wailing but can only stifle it to whimpers. We say nothing to his portrayal as he collapses to his knees, and nothing can be said to remedy his grief.

The Aeterna is nothing if not efficient. Two kings slayed in a matter of days, and two kingdoms were nearly brought to their knees despite being many times more enormous. The former by swift invasion and the latter by grinding us down. Only the sun knows how the Soran and Cynn are holding up.

"In the... loss... of the capital, who would be able to lead what remains of Ire? Who can unify them?" One of my ministers asked, speaking softly.

Rather than answering, the Ire-Blood merely shook his head repeatedly, seemingly accepting defeat. This wouldn't do. Fereren seemed to read my mind, stepped forward, plucked him by the shoulder cuffs, and pulled him to his feet. "Stand, man! Not all is lost. That is why we stand here now! Presently, who can unify Ire? Let us pray and hope the king fled in time, one of his princes, or the high general, but if we must assume them lost, who remains?"

It takes a long moment before his eyes can focus, and his feet can find stable ground again, but after a moment of deep breathing, he says, "No one. The holdings will turn to city-states. They will seek to unite for their protection but never agree on who to unite under. Some may even..." He paused as if uttering the words comprised a bad omen. "Turn sides or surrender."

If the regions of Ire surrender, then there no longer be a buffer to keep the Empire back from invading Kes next. They may be on us soon and even be approaching our border now. This insight alarms my ministers, and many of them whisper amongst each other. From their words, they are of like mind to me.

Fereren, though, ever dependable Fereren, was of another mind. "Man of Ire, has there ever been a sun strikes at a place where the Aeterna was not?"

"What do you imply?" The diplomat asked.

"I mean, has there ever been a time when the Imperial army was at a place, and the sun struck elsewhere?"

The diplomat took a moment to consider it before shaking his head. "No. Never."

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely."

"Has the sun struck when he sleeps?"

"I... I don't know."

"Has the sun struck during the night, or has it only struck during an already established day?"

"The latter."

I looked to Fereren, curious. "What are you thinking?"

Fereren held the diplomat's gaze a moment, nodded, and looked at me. "My king, I have an idea."

My eyebrows rise in surprise. Around us, the ministers turned silent. Fereren, with our attention, said, "Before we come to Ire's aid, there are two things we must assume. First: the Aeterna is not omnipotent. Second: the Aeterna is not invincible. He is mighty, but we must assume these two things. If the Aeterna is omnipotent, then all plans will be defeated before they begin, and if he is invincible, all plans will be defeated in their conclusion. Ergo if he is either, we might as well surrender now and beg for our lives."

The ministers and I agreed with his assumption and logic. If our enemy was all-knowing or all-powerful, then there would be no point in resisting. The only recourse we would have left, beyond poor stubbornness, would be to fall on his mercy.

Seeing he captured our attention, Fereren pressed on, "Though he is mighty, there are still a few things I find odd about his behavior. He accompanies the army himself; he is present at each battle in which the sun assists them, and it has only been during the day, though the times of day are changing. In addition to my observations, to which you are all free to contradict and argue, the sun has only struck a single place at one time. Is there any to disagree with these points?"

None could argue with it. I continued to watch Ferer', curious but also amazed. With his assurance, determination, and rationality, I felt a weight lift off my heart. The Aeterna had waged war on Ire for a short time, but already it would be that he may yet be contested.

I glanced around. "It looks like none can disagree, general. What is your idea, then?"

"We split the army into many. The armies of one-hundred thousand will be split into armies of ten-thousand, and even fewer into armies of one-thousand and one-hundred. In this manner, we may strike at many places, surrounding, raiding, and directing his attention. It is true, he may bring the sun down upon us, but so long as what we have observed stays true, he will only be able to call the sun's wrath down on one group at a time."

"Not to mention," one of my ministers speaks up, his voice gaining in strength with renewed hope, "Smaller armies are swift while a large army is slow under its own weight. We will dance around him if he gives chase! If he is to respond accordingly, dividing his own army, he will lose his advantage!"

"The second part of my idea is that we do like the Cynn; we strike at night and hide in the day. We allow our enemy nothing to fight."

This part of his plan was received with less energy than before. My ministers whispered amongst each other, unsure or even rejecting the idea. We were prideful people and saw the Cynn as lesser beasts. Though the men I have chosen as part of my government were, hopefully, less corrupt than the group my father selected, it doesn't mean the pride of Kes was no less potent in them. Even if my ministers were to approve the plan, my cynical mind knew, it didn't mean that the officers and commanders would do as ordered. Our army was likely to strike in daylight, no matter our instructions, as a matter of pride.

"What if the sun wakes while we fight?" The Ire-Blood questioned.

Fereren grinned viciously, "Then we scatter and flee too swiftly for him to chase and wait until it is night again. The Aeterna bringing the sun down requires a union of man and god; the Aeterna must be present to divine it, therefore be awake, and for the sun to wake from its sleep to strike where he wishes." He frowned briefly, "I know this plan requires that the patterns and rules stay as they are. If there is ever a time where the sun strikes at night or without the Aeterna's presence, then everything I've suggested will do no good."

"However," Fereren grabbed the Ire-Blood by the shoulders and looked at him firmly. "If the rules stay set, then we will exhaust him. When he sleeps, we will strike. Let him wake up and give chase. We will flee until he sleeps again to strike from elsewhere."

"But to fight as the Cynn do..." A man argued.

"If we must." I inserted myself firmly, removing the argument. "We remain a noble nation. We will win, but to win, we must see here and now that the ways of war are changed."

The ministers continued to whisper amongst themselves. I feared my words had not swayed them for a moment, but after that moment, they looked to Fereren in agreement. We had a plan. I smiled. Now we needed the reinforcements to arrive.

I stepped forward next to them, "We should dispatch the army forth from the border, to start with. Fereren would you like to" I stopped.

In attendance at the meeting was a servant who regularly left a servant passage by the table for food and drink. A wall rug concealed the servant hall from view. This was quiet and subtle and was the only entrance allowed during the meeting because servants were instructed to not disturb the assembly. The primary door to the war room had been barred firmly with orders to not be disturbed until we were done.

In haste, an armored soldier burst out of the passageway and entangled in the rug. He rolled in it until he was cocooned. The more he tried, the worse it was.

"I bring a message to the king! Is he here?!" The soldier yelled.

Ferrin and I shared a glance. The soldier's tone was panicked. He was so strangled in the fabric that we could not unbind him, even with the three of us. Fereren took his blade and cut it to release him.

"Yes, I am here," I announced myself. "What message do you have for me?"

The man took a breath as soon as he was free. He looked for me and, on finding me, bowed himself to the ground and said, "My king! I bring word from your captain of the guard. The high priest was removed from custody and is already persuading the people against you! A riot is breaking out!"

(needs more from here.)

Whispers and alarm broke out among us; even Abhdan fell unusually quiet and severe. I saw Fereren's face turn red with fury, and seeing it provided me the strength to not think negatively but to bring out my own anger.

"Removed?" I caught on to the keyword. "By whom?"

"That, you will have to ask the captain. He did not disclose it!"

"Why not?!" I demanded. The soldier took a step back from me.

Fereren inserted himself, setting a hand on my shoulder to reel me in, "Military messages are deliberately short, so he can remember it well enough and not disclose anything if caught. It is not his fault."

"Fine," I muttered. I took a breath. "How widespread is this riot? It couldn't be too far, as little time as has-"

"My king." The soldier gulped. "It's everywhere. The entire capital."

My eyes widened in shock. Was it a rebellion by the nobles I sent home? Did the effects of the sun have a more significant impact on morale than I imagined, and were the priests' words not just skepticism on their part but a more general conviction that the prelate is now igniting? Had my brother hidden an army within the capital?

"Then we shall deal with them appropriately and ruthlessly." My ministers declared.

"No!" I refuted them. "I will not have the people slaughtered. The sun has been afflicting our people as much as anyone else. They could be of their own accord, or the priests could instigate this. There is not enough to go on yet."

We opened the door and were immediately overpowered by noise. The walls and doors were thick so that no noise passed within or out, but the servants and guards ran about fretting. A few minutes and questions later, I was standing on the palace courtyard walls with the city guard's captain.

Beyond us in the darkness were thousands of lit wards and torches across the city of people bearing swords and protesting. A few fires had broken out, and immediately on the royal road (the road going from the southernmost gate to the palace gate in a straight line) was an ocean of men, women, and private soldiers bearing the standard of the priestly order.

Immediately in front of them, leading the way, were the priests, the high priest, and the chancellor.

"Well, this explains how he was 'transferred' from custody," I whispered.

"Should have killed him when we had the chance!"

"Should have, would have; I doubt we will so easily have that chance again now that he has displayed his loyalty."

My more pressing concern was drawn to some men in front of the mob. This group of men wore some garments of the city guard but had the armor covering stripped from them and were without helmets. They were bound by their hands and feet and sat before them as hostages. As soon as my head protruded over the wall, the hostages were pulled closer, but still at a distance.

"Damn." My captain whispered, turning to me; he said, "Do not be baited! My men and I would never ask you to submit yourself for us! We have enough forces here to hold out and wait for reinforcements."

Fereren nodded and added, "My hawks are swift. We need merely to endure three days, and my fastest will be here. Word will spread; men will still come even if my hawks are caught. Sieges could last months, even years! They have no true power here."

"The Aeterna and sun are coming against all of Dyson, and here we are squabbling over a throne. I am not afraid of those beneath us, but those above us." I whisper. "Look up, and what do you see?"

"Darkness. It is night."

"Look beyond it."

"Ire?" Fereren questioned. I point into the sky. "South Ire. Ne. The Ref Islands. The sleeping sun?"

"Time is short for all of us. We don't have months or years to deal with them before something significantly more monstrous comes, and no one will be prepared for him, especially if word spreads. Because if word of this spreads, all those loyal to the chancellor and myself will turn on one another, and we will be exhausted tomorrow when the enemy comes than we are today. I will go down and see what they deliver against me."

With their sharp protests ringing in my ears, I turned and walked down the steps of the rampart. I approached the gate. Many portcullises, royal included, had a doorway into a part of it, allowing passage without lifting the entire thing. Typically outer city barriers were closed to keep Night-Blood out, and royal gates were habitually down. At least in my father's time. I had half a mind to amend the policy and unlatch the royal gates to allow the commoners access to the courtyard, at least before today. Thankfully, with the riots and mobs, I had not done so.

"Select four of you to flank me and open the side door," I ordered my pestering captain.

He sighed and did as I commanded. Four were selected, and we exited the front gate through the door. The guards went first, and I followed when the coast was clear. Enough lights were illuminated to show our surroundings. Despite the sun's eye being shut, the city was no less bright.

I stepped forward a little. Above me, several archers lined up, and more guards appeared at the door to ensure my exit was secure. Seeing me approach, the chancellor and high priest stepped forward enough that we could hear each other. My brother, Caius, was just behind them, overshadowed by their larger size, watching in amusement.

Funny, I didn't consider my brother the cunning type. Backstabbing was well within our usual rivalry, but only in the most direct manner.

Their advance was cut short by an arrow landing between the chancellor's feet.

"Come any closer, and it goes right between your fat eyes!" Fereren yelled from above.

The chancellor sighed, "So impolite. I put in the effort to wear smaller clothes over the spring."

"Despite his grotesque manner, he means well. For me, not for you. Are you all well?" I pointedly asked the hostages. Their reactions were mixed, but they were alive, at least.

"Let's get this over with."

The High Priest stepped forward. He motioned for the hostages to be released, and a few minutes later, they passed me by to enter. I looked back at the captain and mouthed the word 'inspection.' The last thing we need is fake hostages. He nodded.

I returned my attention to the priest. "You have my attention."

"Under these circumstances, you will peacefully turn over the throne. Since your rule started, the lord Kasus has turned his sun against us, and the people are suffering. What's more, I have received a vision. The attacks will not stop, and so long as you assume the king's role, the sun will bear its full fury upon us all!"

"Right." I nod. "And how many smoking shrooms did that take?"

"Be indignant, your highness, but there is no foundation on which to stand. You have overlooked the people, half the lords, and the anointed for the eye of heaven has appointed another. Not even being the heir to the king is enough."

"My brother, I presume."

"The one and same."

Civil war it is.

Further words are given as to terms. It is remarkably peaceful, albeit a lie. Give up our weapons, and we will be spared. My nobles and I will be put under house arrest and exiled to a quiet, out-of-the-way holding, where we will be kept out of the way and die there. They probably are not lying about the servants and guards; they like to be pampered with serfdom. My nobles and I will likely have our fates altered at the last second to something more permanent.

I can call their bluff over the people, but my instincts tell me it is a losing battle. Ours is religiously zealous blood. At the priest's word, we went to war in exterminating and enslaving a whole blood. No king is chosen without the authority of Jesus, the god of hunters, the great hawk, and the sun within its talons.

The chancellor, priests, and my brother hold the most significant portion of holdings but are equally the most incompetent. Among my lessons from Abhdan and in Ire, which I have seen proved many times in history, is that when corruption replaces competence, the foundation is lost.

I am confident in the long run, I can win. Replacing the priests will not be difficult if I can be allowed to prove myself and gain support. However, the problem is that it would be in the long run.

We don't have a long run.

Whether the priest recognizes it, the same vision he bluffed me with is the same nightmare I have every time I close my eyes. This is one bluff I cannot call.

I turn and walk back into the gate without a word. The chancellor and high priest are visibly surprised, and my brother is... disappointed?

I look between those loyal to me, who would die in a second if I ask. Even now, the royal guard stands prepared to defend the walls to the end, swords and spears at the ready. Fereren looks at me expectantly, but Abhdan sighs, knowing me well.

I take a breath and force my decision. I avert everyone's eyes. "There is a servant passage in the wall. Order the servants out through there. They will be spared. The rest of you, unwilling to die, take on servant clothing and join them in the crowd. Fereren, you will send a few nobles out that way to rush north. We can't have everyone here for this."

"Understood." My friend says slowly, unsure of what I will say next. Abhdan raises an eyebrow curiously and begins humming.

The servants leave with a few choice nobles and a few more from among us that have second thoughts about dying, and from the word of the guards on the walls, they leave safely into the crowd and disperse.

I walk to the stairs of the palace beside Abhdan and sit. Fereren and the guard captain share an uneasy look. To confirm their worst fears, I say, "We cannot consider a civil war. Throw down your weapons... and open the gate."

—---------------- (9/18/2022) Edit