The Crusade
Prologue
Part One
Part Two
"Being a Veritasan general is harder than in any other country, do you know that? You always have some insane priests getting these ridiculous 'world-changing visions,' and everyone expects you to fulfill some ancient prophecy while simultaneously saving their damned lives. I should have been a fish-seller."
-Stratikrator Thanatos
Part Three:
The Stratikrator and his disciple stood on Telerion. The walls of the mountain formed a natural barrier to the southern side of Pax, and down below the scraping of mortar on stone could be heard, as the blue-cloaked Architects shouted orders to a swarming wave of workers. Smoke rose from the forges of the city, twisting around the mountains before the wind blew it out to sea.
They had stood in silence, gazing down on the city, for a long time. The people had begun to mutter about the Stratikrators disappearance, and they needed to see him. The Stratikrator had nearly lost his mind down there, so it was just as necessary that he see them.
Host-Lord Vespasian felt the tension growing between them, and he spoke first.
My lord Stratikrator, he sighed, I think I know what you saw down there. But Xenophon, you are almost like a god to these people! Seeing his commander wince, he lowered his tone. You cannot vanish into the earth like this. All of Veritas looks to you, they need you.
The Stratikrator held his head in his hands. What I might have seen in that chamber
it hinted at things still darker, buried deeper in the earth. I have no idea how deep this goes, and the truth will outlive me. But I am starting to understand
Understand what?
Why he did it. Why Strategius attacked Veritas and overthrew the Assemblum.
But, everyone knows that the Autorex did it to tear down the corrupt leadership that had allowed Veritas to decay.
Xenophon smirked. Perhaps. But you are right, Vespasian. The Stratikrator is a seeker of war, not a seeker of knowledge. I was never a soldier, like you
but I forgot my duty, and my loyalty. The truth will have to wait.
Vespasian felt frustrated. Xenophon, you are like a father to me, and I know that there is more to this than meets the eye. But I swear to you, if we win this war, I will follow this truth that you speak of until the end of my life. Will that satisfy you?
No, it does not. Because I, who knew you as a young child living on the streets of Lux just like I once did, never wanted you to take up this burden. But the people of Veritas could have no better steward, and no better Stratikrator.
The Host-Lord was overwhelmed. Truly
my lord
I do not deserve it.
You remind me of a Stratikrator from the past, called Gregorian. He was brilliant, and he loved his nation, but was ambitious and proud. In his pride he died, poisoned by the Assemblum of New Veritas. You have all his brilliance and ambition, without the pride. That will serve you well.
Vespasian knelt on the ground, white cape flattened behind him in the dirt. I serve the will of the Stratikrator and the Assemblum.
You truly became Stratikrator long ago, my friend. That is why I leave this burden to you. You will face Khemri here, and you will win. You see, you are the White.
The white, my liege?
Its nothing, just something I read somewhere. They call you the Disciple in the city, you know.
Yes.
I will go to regain Exilsium, but there I will die. Your life will see Veritas reunified, either as a new nation, or as a conquered one. I pray that it is the first.
Vespasian smiled, but the sadness in his eyes was clear. I have never doubted, not once, that the One would not fail us. Every day, when I see that His sun still shines on His glorious earth, my trust in Him is renewed.
At the coming battle, you may see one in black armor. He is a brilliant general, but a broken man, and holds nothing but hatred for our people. He was once a fair man, but in the chaos of the Liberation, agents of the Order supposedly killed his family.
Vespasian thought for a moment. But any assassinations were personally approved by you, or so they say.
Exactly. This leads me to believe that Khemri ordered his family killed, and the murder blamed on the White Rose, in order to prevent him from sympathizing with the Valin cause. They knew he was wavering.
I see, but even if he learned this, I doubt that he would believe me, or stop his attack.
You may find the information useful. Now Vespasian, I must go. The Stratikrators face was emotionless. We will not meet again.
The men embraced. Not until Paradise, at least, Vespasian said inaudibly. Turning to leave, the Stratikrator looked over his shoulder. I have left a book for you in the Eyrie. You may find it useful before the end. He walked off the mountain.
Host-Lord Vespasian looked silently for a moment at the city. Then he turned and went down another way.
---
The Stratikrator rode once more through the City of Flowers, and he wished a silent farewell to Salvation. The city was beautiful, but only under a strong Stratikrator and a wise Assemblum could it one day be restored to her former glory. Vespasian will not fail me there, he thought with a smile.
The sun was going down, but he saw that a funeral procession was winding its way through the city. He detached his horse from the guard of Rose Knights surrounding him to approach an elderly woman following the crowd.
My lady, who died here?
She curtsied politely. My lord, the High Scholar of the Hall of Knowledge.
The Stratikrator remembered the elderly man with a twinge of sadness. He had been helpful and kind during their short meeting, and he made sure that several books from Lux were sent back to Salvation for him.
Yes, yes, she mused on, Ilianos was a good man, always kind, always honest
The Stratikrator smiled politely and turned away, spurring his horse toward the docks. It was only as they boarded the ship that he realized what he had heard.
Ilianos.
The ship pulled away from the dock, and sailed for Exilsium.
Are you not the same person who went into a three hour spell about telling me how great China (and the chinese farmer) is? You should realize by now that I mean nothing by my jokes (such as reffering to you as the superhero wanna-be ;]) and they're really nothing. And I reufse to take my statement about Guangfei back- out of the Big Three, you scare me the most 
.
It's rather hard to take such a comment seriously when GPS coordinates are sitting right there (and have continued to do so). No, it's all a trap so I can yell at people, you've figured me out! 
