Rogal Dornian stood upon the shore of his homeland. He had been a general for a long time. He had been a msan of minimal wealth and only just made it into school. He had been regarded as a weakling his whole life.
But he had never given in. His determination was what set him apart from his peers. All those years working in the kitchens of Diliculo. All those hours cattering to the will of the bloated drunks.
He had studied war his whole life. He review endlessly the tactics employed as far back as the time of Eldrania. He scoured texts of lengel ways of war and that of the ramids used against his own people. He review tirelessly the pictures and battle memos of Necropolis. He reviewed the entire city of Helmthorn. Although many thought impenetrable, Regal made sure to review every crack every niche that could perhaps allow the enemy to overflow the plaza.
Regal was almost seen as endowed with the heart of the Grand King. His majesty's foresight and enlightenment. He was a saint to the people of Myocaca. In Swade he was famous for his will at the battles fought in the forests of Sanctus Tutela and his expeditions that had haulted lengel control of the River Blade, which would have in effect crushed the backbone of the past force of Myocaca.
Regal recalled the day when the King died. The day all Bladeists morned. From Swade, to the most southern outreach of bladeists. It had been at sunset. The King had lain in bed. Hardly able to speak. A letter arrived.
The King read. He had smiled. "It was bound to happen, those warriors could not be banished. Pride is to much for them. To think I have seen them fall and rise once more from the ashes."
The King drew His Regal and the King's son, Thranduil, "My sons. Darkness grows near. The forces around us are in motion. I am to weak now to fight them. You must work towards it. I know not where they will come, by sea or by land. Be wary, brothers may turn one eachother. Regal you must watch over these lands like they were your own. You must stir the fires of passion in them once more. I can see it in you. Only you can prevent the future. Be strong my young general to be. My son, you must be to the people as the people are to you. Honor them, love them. I care not for what else you desire, with out the people to follow you, you will be nothing. Do not falter, I beg you."
The king fell into a deep sleep afterwards. That night when Regal was up watching the sunrise. "Beautiful isn't it?"
Regal jumped shocked the King was awake. "Sir you need rest please."
"No, I will no longer be cradled, no longer made out as an old man. It is time that I finally meet the Blademaster. He will set judgment unto me. I will not be any king if I cannot wake at a decent hour. Come Regal, I must tell you something."
Regal walked up to the King and sat in the chair beside him. "Regal, you must know my son's temper. It can be unpredictable. Do you not recall when my son died, the anguish we all endured, but he most of all endured the greatest pain. When I could not execute a man who had no crime but not jumping in front of the carriage that crushed my son. Do you know what my grandson did. He had his bodyguards ordered to find the man and kill the man. I think they killed four before finding the right guy. I had hell trying to fix that. But that child, I see anger and ambition in them. But I do not know what type, if it is so chaotic it cannot be tamed. You must keep watch over him, although you are 10 years his junior you have more coolness to you than anyone. Watch him closely, he is a good boy, do not let him follow are tainted path. You are worthy, I heard how you delt with the rebels and Candolin fields. You had but 75 cavalry men, but you were able to whole up and hold the mob off for 30 hours before aid arrived."
"I lost 49 good men in that mission, but that time sir is greatly over exaggerated."
"So it is" The king smiled. Suddenly he began to cough, blood began rolling down his chest. As the apothecaries came in Regal watched as the King died.
The funeral had been grand. In the harbor of Venustas the King was drifted across the water to his tomb. Adorned with great finery he was put to rest with his father and ancestor's restored tombs.
Regal flinched at the thought. He had been promoted by the new King to War General of the Myocaca ground forces. He had received rumors of invasion. None confirmed yet, but he was soon placing armies on red alert so that in a moments notice they could pick up and move to front lines.
Regal watched the waves as they crashed upon his fortress. He looked at the red sunset. He wondered if he could see war ships on the horizon. As the wind blew fiercely across the shore and the clouds rumbled overhead, he felt no rain.
Regal smiled to himself as he looked across the landscape. "Today is a good day to die." The General walked away in his white shining armor. His legion waited for his arrival. His cape billowed in the wind. The General was a determined man, his red hair defined him in the country. The fire lion they called him. No one could predict what was going to happen.
.
