Part 1
Percy
The energy in the air felt chaotic. It was not my first time at war, but the looming sense of foreboding was new. The enemy stood proud in the distance. An army more vast and visibly stronger than ours.
I was a man of 24, while not as young as the newest of the ranks, I had experience beyond my years. I had been instructed and drilled from a young age as a prince of the realm, heir of a king, and general of an army.
There were young men intermixed within the ranks that were not yet fully in their maturity but old enough to wield a sword. I shifted my gaze forward once again to the enemy, unwilling to worry more about their trembling hands and the awkward shifts in their armor.
We had faced enemies with numbers just as large, but they were often men scraped together from farms and homesteads. Not this enemy.
This was the Horde. An army put together by the best warriors of the conquered nations that it plowed through. Somehow incorporating their strengths seamlessly.
The Ganion horde arose a decade ago from a small nation a thousand miles north of here. From the stories, the nation was once splintered into many small factions led by individual chiefs. They were considered fierce warriors who ate, slept, and dreamed of battle. They trained their warriors, both men and women, at a young age to withstand pain, hunger, and exhaustion.
They were never an issue before as they spent their days fighting amongst themselves to ever be a threat. That all changed with the rise of the warlord Loukas. Loukas was a horde warrior that quickly rose within the ranks of his people. His passion for his country ignited with dreams of power led to the unification of his countrymen.
Had that been it then maybe we would not be where we currently are. But that wasn't to be. The neighboring nation, were fools and did not see them as a threat and their greed to possess such a force led to their demise.
They invaded Ganion cocky in thinking that such a country not used to fighting as one would defeat their armies. What should have been a fast destruction of the Horde proved to be difficult under the guidance of Loukas.
It was within that first year he defeated them and thus wet his thirst for conquer. From there they spread. Overtaking one nation like a knife through butter across the land. Many caved immediately and those that did not paid in souls.
Here today, we were one of the last to fold, fighting off skirmishes and small army clashes for months. But it was evident that they were toying with us. They were at our gates. I could do nothing but pray that whatever happened, my parents and sister lived to tell the tale.
Loukas
They had spent two weeks traveling to the gates of Corinth. His curiosity of the small country grew as he approached, as word of his smaller formations come back in a stalemate.
No country had pressed such a resistance. He was more than a little intrigued. As days passed, word of their Prince General filtered to his ears. Percy. An seemed to be an opponent worthy of his sword. Yes, he must meet this Percy.
Percy
The battle, like all wars, was bloody, but unlike times before, it seemed our blood was shedding more. For everyone we cut down, two were stepping in and pressing forward. Day after day, we were fighting hard, but our ground was giving. The dawn of the 8th day came, and I knew it would be our last.
In the distance, an impossibly large war horse that was as dark as night appeared. Its rider was just as imposing and large. There was no doubt that this was Loukas. Every day he led his army, he did not cower in the back but fought fiercely with his men. I had yet to face him in battle, but I felt his eyes on me.
I looked over my shoulder and said, "Open the gates." I waited as I heard the command shouted from my second in command and echo forward.
Metal clanked as the gate-opening mechanism engaged with the pull of ropes from a team of 6 mules. It groaned in protest as it opened slowly, revealing the landscape and the army that lay beyond. I put my hand up in a silent command for the army to stay as I shuffled forward on my horse. My head raised and my eyes focused as I slowly left the safety of my men and rode toward the advancing army.
I knew this was the only chance his men and country would have to leave this day unscathed. I knew my people were not meek and would fight to the last man and the last woman until there was nothing left. I did not want this for them and was willing to make whatever sacrifice, short of enslaving his people, to keep them alive.
There was movement in the Ganion army. It parted as Loukas moved forward with what I assumed was his second-in command. The fact that he was willing to meet was a good sign, but it was far from over, and the anticipation rose as he drew closer.
It became clearer and clearer the size of him. When they were but ten feet apart, it was clear that this man far outweighed me in heavy muscle. Even on horseback, his horse was at least 2 hands taller than mine, appearing statuesque and momentous.
What was most remarkable, though, was his intensity, his commanding strength, and aura. It was no wonder he had been able to unite his country where none before him could. This was a true leader.
I let out a breath as I scanned his face. He wasn't unattractive, his features strong and angular. There was a heavy shadow on his jaw, and a scar was visible, rising from the lower half of his left cheek, extending up to his brow. His eyes were a deep brown, nearly completely black. His corded arms were exposed, nearly as thick as his own thighs, and littered with old scars. A large sword lay at his waist.
His face remained unencumbered by a helmet. His leather pants strained to contain his large muscular thighs that straddled his horse. They looked just as powerful as the rest of him. I realized indignantly that he did not look nearly as worn as I felt, which spoke to his endurance. I looked back at his face and noticed a brow quirked up, despite the rest of his face remaining impassive.
He had been watching me as I perused his body like a courtesan. I felt my cheeks flame, but I refused to turn away.
I breathed out, realizing I had held my breath, and drew my horse forward another foot. He remained unmoving. Fighting the urge to clear my voice like a novice cleric, I spoke.
"King Loukas of Garion, I am Prince Percy Aurel Marcanto, son of King Rionatinor and Queen Maressa of Corinth. I formally requested to offer terms of surrender for the survival of my people."
He tilted his head and his eyes twitched, and if I didn't know any better, I would think he was disappointed.
A voice that seemed to rumble up from his chest made my own breath catch, and I swallowed hard. "What exactly would be your terms for surrender, Prince Percy Aurel Mercanti, son of King Rionatinor and Queen Maressa of Corinth?"
My eyes narrowed. Was he mocking me? Bolstered in anger, I pressed on. "That all those who peacefully surrender would be allowed to remain untouched. My men, the people, my family, everyone. They will not be enslaved; they will go about as if this war did not happen. We will fall under your rule, however, you will allow my family to continue to rule as stewards. No rape, no killing, no imprisonment."
His second next to him exploded in laughter. I gritted my teeth but refused to allow my eyes to stray from him. He raised his hand, and the laughter died off. "And how would that be beneficial to me when I can just take all that, dispose of you, and send my own stewards in place?"
I raised my chin higher. Do not waver Percy.
"Loyalty, Your Highness. You would have our loyalty. My people are strong, they are fierce. We are willing to die for our loyalty if given our freedom. But we will fight tooth and nail till there was nothing left but fire and ruin if you take that away. Our only goal is to take as many of you out as possible. We will not win, but we will die happy knowing that we would cripple you," I spat out. His second pushed forward with ill intent and was once again stopped.
"Who are you to threaten me?" His voice had deepened, and I clutched my reins tighter but refused to look away from his narrowed eyes.
"Little Prince, you play a dangerous game, but I respect your courage. Too bad that it is not enough."
He swung his horse around and said over his shoulder, "Prepare yourself, my little acula."
Panic stole my breath, and my mind scrambled. No! He could not leave!
"Me!" I shouted.
He stopped, but he did not turn around. I pressed on. "You will also get me... I will serve you!" I couldn't stop the words that tumbled from my mouth. I jumped off my horse and stumbled forward, around to the front side of his horse. I ripped off my helmet.
The sun blazed in my eyes as I looked up at his shadowy figure. "Me."
It felt like an eternity before he motioned beyond me. The steel that I barely acknowledged withdrew from my neck, but I dared not breathe, even as I felt the fresh, sticky trail of blood from the small cut it left rolled down my neck.
"You've got some balls on you, acula." His voice seductively deep.
He nodded, "I accept your terms. Make your arrangements. I expect full surrender of all your people by this time tomorrow. My men expect to eat." He leaned forward, raising his hand to clutch my chin.
"Understand this, little prince, you will be completely mine." He released me and fell back to his army.
Loukas
When the little Prince rode up, I couldn't help but grin at his fearlessness. Not many were able to face his army by themselves confidently and without a second thought.
He was competent in his horse, his armor gleamed, and his exposed forearms showed lean, strong muscle that spoke of his training. This was not a lazy prince. He had a grimace on his face and spoke his title with confidence. I was impressed, even when he threatened me.
I did not know why I accepted his terms, but when he stood before me bare-faced with a sword pressed to his neck, he lost his train of thought. The vibrant big green eyes pleaded with him. His lashes looked soft. And his curly light brown locks lay damp against his forehead and sides of his face. He may have had the body of a lithe warrior, but his face was... beautiful.
I spoke and could not take my words back, especially after I saw the relief flood his face. All I knew was that for hours after, I rubbed my fingers together, remembering the feel of his strong yet supple jaw.
The next morning, the gates of Corinth opened at dawn. My army was unimpeded as we marched through. Their army was unarmed in a show of faith but remained wary. There was a feast presented for my top commanders and me, and the restaurants were all opened for my men. There were very few small pockets of resistance that were quickly dispensed with.
