| In the dark and dusty library Bane searched for a book. It was a room he had not been in for what seemed ages. He knew the evil that had awakened but dared not think it. The silveron coming about in mass quantities and the message that was more threat then message made it all clear. Someone had found and awakened the ancient city of the damned that had ruled over the world with its death magic and demon soldiers. About to give up Bane slumped in his chair when the light of the candles caught the red reflection of a book binder. Bane snatched the book up and opened it. It was the one he had needed. Bane ran from the room to find Jade and his war council. Somewhere at the same time a god smiled upon Bane and another cursed his name. Lord Erix looked down at the parchment in confusion. He had been given a new title of Field Marshal and was second in command of the main force and was in command of the elite division that was nicknamed Bloodclaws by the other military divisions and factions. In the letter Bane ordered Erix to pull the elites out of Emmani and hand over control of Emmani to Lord Silvor who was also the silver and black colored leader of the tiger clans. Why would Bane pull his elite forces out of Emmani and replace them with militia. It was a long standing rivalry between the two military factions and Erix knew nothing good would come of this decision. And the order for him to take his soldiers and ride to the Wurmsteeth mountain range was another puzzling thing that he could not fathom. Erix knew the emperor was crafty and dodgy and had grown to trust him in his decisions but this one puzzled even him. He dispatched another messenger back to the emperor and hoped it reached him before Bane left to join the front. Damn these puritans he thought. We don't need another faction fight among our troops. Jade looked down at the book and the drawing she saw almost sucked the life out of her. She read the text under the drawing of a serpent eating what looks like to be a lycan who looks a lot like Bane. Before the age of Elves, Dwarves and Man, there was the age of chaos and in this age the Serpent kings ruled all known lands and seas. Having opened a rift to another realm, the serpent kings had brought over a thousand demons led by the Demon King Tzoukhan. The elder lycan empire rallied against this mighty foe and a war was fought that rivaled the great war of the gods. Demon silveron coated claws and weapons rent deadly blows to the lycans who used brute strength and their own magics against the hordes. When all seemed lost the tomb of Diabolis was stolen from the Demon King by a brave raven lycan named Quint. An ancestor of Jade. He paid with this brave act with his life. The book draws in the life essence of all who touch it for as long as they hold it. All except for the Demon King. Using the magical power of the Covenant of Nature Lord Ilboris, ancestor of the current Emperor Bane, used his life force to throw the demons and serpent kings into the rift and sealed it forever. The cost of this act split the empire into clans and wars broke out among them. The new races of elves, dwarves and man, had come to maturity and with the dragons and other titans began a war with the Lycans who rallied under the Banner of Lord Ashiro who was Banes father. This war was as bloody as the last but the gods personally had intervened into this war and strong magics was born and powerful artifacts were created. During this war a new vile race was awakened. A sickening experiment with half breed demons had created the vampire race. The first vampires were more powerful. They could drain the energy and life force of their victims. The second was weaker but still drained the life force in the form of blood of their enemies which they called food. The vamp?.. The book was missing the rest of the story. Jade looked at it and wondered. A note left by Bane said he was going to Wurmsteeth mountain range. He was going to seek an audience with the dragons she knew but he did not say it. He hated going to the dragons. He had bitter memories of his first wife. His son was lost in the last war and now he stood with his feet planted firmly in war. It seemed to follow him. Watching him ride out in his chariot she watched him go with a small contingent of soldiers with him. The chariot cavalry division was on its way. Looking back over his shoulder Bane sighed. He was leaving his wife again to go fight a foe many times his strength again. The world seemed to enjoy throwing such things at him. The elves would not help unless they were threatened and the dwarves would just lock themselves up in their mountain fortresses. Man, well the High King might hear him out but distrust and hatred festered with that relationship so he avoided it. Again it would have to be those damn dragons he would need help from. Erix knew something was wrong. He could sense it and smell something was wrong with the air. It had grown heavy, almost humid yet it was in middle of winter here. His soldiers complained about chasing shadows and he growled agreeing. He watched the black clouds rolling in from the South and he could see lightening crackling within the clouds. This smelled of sorcery. He did not like it. The clouds were headed for Emmani. "Bring Hawry to me at once. I need his scouts. I want to know what is going on down in Emmani." The soldier snapped to attention and ran off to find Hawry. Banes cavalry came to a large field. Bane stopped the column of chariots. All 250 of them screeched to a halt. The field was where so many of his people had died. They had sacrificed so much for their people. Stepping out of the chariot Bane, with wine bag in hand walked to where the mass funeral pyres had burned. Large sandy spots could be seen through the tall grass still after all these years. Saying a quiet prayer for those who fell under his command he poured the wine out onto the ground and raised his head and roared the war of challenge, of a 100 thousand strong who fell. Lycans in the column all answered the roar with their own and soon the sound filled the valley shaking the rocky cliffs around it. Stepping back onto his chariot, Bane watched his soldiers. Some were still youngsters, born since the last war. They had heard the tales of old and seen legends walk among them. They were mostly in awe. Some old veterans among them chuckled. They too were once awed. Now they are just honored to fight with these legends. Jade sat in her large silken chair. She brushed her hair back with her golden comb. She watched the candle flame lazily burn down. She was tired. So tired of the fighting and killing. The Lycans had lost and regained their empires many times. It was a cycle she had lived through once. She hated fate. She hated the gods who intervened into their lives and tweaked this or that. She most of all hated the fact that she had to stay behind. She looked about her and quietly got into her bed. Again all alone. A small tear ran down her cheek as she curled into a ball and fell into a uneasy sleep. By LLBane |
| Ancient Enemy by LLBane |
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