Moss clung stubbornly to the crumbling stone. Heedless of the cold air, or the pouring rain, it clung to the ancient castle. In the cracks that had resulted from age and war, the moss thrived. General Val’kez looked down on the soft, green growth. Despite everything, that moss had grown on the stone, high in the mountains. Like it, Val’kez had needed to thrive where others would die. In this, he had succeeded. There was far more to do, however.

Turning from the open window, Val put the moss and the midnight storm from his mind. In the cold, small room before him, five of his commanders stood, huddled near the struggling fire they’d built in a small hearth.

‘For generations, the destiny of humanity has been chained by the three Powers of the Universe. While they stand removed from our struggle, they yet refuse us the freedom to expand our strength. They lock away the beings who bore this world through the darkness at the beginning of time… They proclaim to us what we are to do. If only Buri knew what I’ve discovered… If he could simply speak to the force we intend to set free…’ He shook his head.

‘What do you plan on doing, General Val’kez?’ a stout man asked. He was bald, and his face held little intelligence, but for Val, such a thing wasn’t needed from the man. He was a brute. Val’kez was content to let the man live as one. Such a man served him well, and would, in what was to come.

‘I will take the Taintless Blade from Buri. Nothing has changed, Deret.’

‘But, General… Master Buri was-’

‘I don’t care for what he was!’ Val’kez growled, taking a step toward the man. Deret shrunk against his advance, sinking into the group of men. He looked away, pretending to tend to the small fire.

‘Even so,’ Galak, Val’kez’s second in command, grumbled. ‘They do pose a threat… None of us possess the power that you do, General. Unlike you, we bleed. We are at risk.’

‘We will not engage them, unless it becomes unavoidable. I will engage who I must. For you, it will be to keep anyone from escaping. The Taintless Blade will make me unstoppable. I must have it. If we are to bring war against the Djinn, the Sorcerers and the Goluems… I will need it.’

‘Our army isn’t assembled, yet. If we take losses before we reach Dwell, we might be routed.’

Val’kez shook his head. ‘No. We are protected. The old god has told me.’

‘Does his influence reach so far?’ Galak asked.

‘He is bound, but he still speaks to me. Our armies will be more than enough to deal with the Dwel guardsmen.’

‘Then why bother with this sword?’

‘If we are to free this god, Galak… we must have blood drawn by the Taintless Blade. One way or another, we must gain this, before moving on… Before reaching Akri.’

‘All this magic… I don’t like it, General. Your armour is one thing… but my skin sets to crawling with this talk of dark oaths…’

Val’kez glared at the man. He flexed one of his armoured hands. ‘With time, Galak… you will see. Everything I do, every sacrifice I make… In time, it will all be worth it.’

Galak bowed at the neck. ‘Of course, General…’

Val turned back to the window, looking into the raging storm. He took a slow breath. ‘Ready the men,’ he growled, striding to the window. ‘And bring me my sword. We march in an hour… At dawn, Buri will fall…’

Galak bowed again. ‘By your command, General.’ He turned, striding from the room.

‘All of you… Get out!’ Val’kez hissed.

He heard the rest scatter. He heard the whispered fear. He knew all of it. What he planned to do terrified them. As it well should. By any means, Val would free this wretched world from the slavery it was bound to.

The Powers… They would fall. If Buri was a casualty of this war, so be it. They had both made their choices. Val’kez had heard the old one speak. Buri had not. No matter what happened, no matter what he did, Val’kez had to obey the old god.

There was no other way.