Tyrant of the Ruined Sun
Chapter 97 - 97: Hamilcar's Expedition 10

The following day, just as the sun peeked it's golden head over the horizon's edge, the black armoured legions of the Eclipse Empire, numbering nearly two hundred thousand strong, along with an additional one hundred and twenty thousand Murathicus warriors, gathered from all the tribes now loyal to the empire, set off in a westerly direction. Their destination as clear as the dawning sun for all to see; they were directly heading to the center of the Northern Coalition's heart; the capital city of the Enkada Clan; Fuithair.

Yet unbeknown to most, a splinter force of only about eight thousand men, dressed and carrying the Dolgan Clan's colours, split off from the gigantic force and began to head southeast in great haste. With non other than Barrafin and another cloaked individual, riding on a resplendent chariot, leading the seemingly runaway column of men.

"Pardon me, Lord Avestan." Barrafin cautiously called out to the cloaked man beside him.

"Yes, lord Barrafin?" Answered Avestan, who was sitting on the hard wood floor, casually reclining on the chariot's inner wall, with his eyes closed, seemingly wanting to sleep in this absurd place.

"Since we are now in the process of conducting the mission and away from earshot, may I ask why I was told to have my men swap clothes and arms with these men behind us?" He asked awkwardly, partly due to his own apprehensive thoughts about this scarred and fearsome looking warrior, who served as Hamilcar's right hand man, and partly because of his own bewilderment as to why they were doing this to begin with.

"To confuse the ears, eyes and mouths of those whose tongues are too cheap or too loose for their own good." Avestan replied in a frigid tone that was practically dripping with malice.

"...You suspect spies among us?" Though Barrafin asked in a seemingly generalized sense, it did not escape Avestan that he meant the surrendered Patriarchs in specific.

"I am not suspicious, Lord Barrafin. I am certain." Avestan answered with a terrifying confidence, which chilled Barrafin to the core, as his mind raced to remember, analyse and dismantle every doubtful word, every shifty action, and even every dubious glance he had ever seen, noticed or questioned before; wanting to know which half-witted ingrate was so recklessly playing with their, and their people's lives.

Yet before he could even fully finish this one thought, Avestan's words rung out again "And even if by some miracle there are no rats among the Patriarchs, we still have well over one hundred and twenty thousand warriors from all over the northern Muraticus lands. Do you truly think that not one of them could have confused bravery for stupidity and decided to take the chance to tell the enemy no matter the cost?" This silenced Barrafin's chaotic mind, as he'd completely forgotten this fact, since not only were his men completely loyal to him, but were even in support of his decision to surrender to the invaders, as they'd seen what their wrath has wrought those who defy them.

"Besides, even if we disregard all of that, there are many among my own people that are weak before the colour gold." Avestan finished with a scornful snort.

Barrafin no longer knew what to say after that, his mind already reeling from all that he heard, as he had never had to consider such things before, even when he was a newly crowned Patriarch and under invasion from their powerful neighbour; he could always depend on his advisors and trust in his warriors. Always! Yet now... even the simple act of breathing seemed to hold the stench of treachery within.

Wanting to avoid his own thoughts, he quickly sought to end the silence which had brought them, so he simply decided to change the topic, asking "By the way my lord, why are we heading east instead of west? As far as I know the Coalition's main forces are there, and there are no noteworthy targets left in the east."

"For the same purpose we camouflaged my men with your warrior's arms; to feed poisoned information to the enemy. But don't worry, all will be clear shortly. For now keep heading eastwards for a full day and don't deviate even slightly, then we'll change course." Avestan coolly replied.

"Change course to where exactly, my lord?" Barrafin asked again, deciding to push his luck, seeing as though Avestan seemed to be in a chatting mood.

But to Barrafin's surprise and for the first time since the beginning of their conversation, Avestan opened his eyes and looked directly at him, making Barrafin think that he'd finally annoyed this northern monster, but to his horror and surprise yet again, Avestan answered with two simple words that expunged the colour from his face, before once again closing his eyes "To Madra."

Hearing the name of his home city threw Barrafin into a whirlpool of agitation and worry, as he wondered why after all that he'd done to avoid them coming anywhere near his homeland, were they still going there, but then suddenly Avestan spoke, responding to his inner turmoil as if he could perfectly hear his panicked thoughts, "Calm yourself Lord Barrafin, if we wanted to do harm to your land we would've already done so."

Avestan's words reintroduced reason to Barrafin's thoughts and calmed his churning emotions, greatly easing his mind.

And so they persisted for the next few days, mostly in silence with sporadic interruptions of light chatter when they stopped to rest, or when Avestan deemed it time to open his eyes for a few minutes before returning to his seeming slumber, until they finally reached their supposed destination of Madra.

And though Barrafin hid it well, a kernel of worry lingered in his heart, slowly gnawing on his nerves leaving them all but shot by the time they reached his city. But to his shock instead of heading towards it, they instead began to veer away from it, heading ever so slightly south of all directions, leaving him utterly baffled and confused as to the nature of this mission and ultimate destination of this annoyingly secretive mission of his.

But deep down he was both happy and regretful, as even though he was happy these men wouldn't step foot in his city, he had hoped in his heart of hearts to return home, so that his tired soul may take sanctuary in it's comforting hold, even if briefly. But... sadly it didn't seem to be.

Then suddenly, the previously quiet Avestan said "The journey from here on out will be tens of times more hectic and dangerous than it is now, and the men must be in prime condition for what is to come, so we'll rest here for a few hours before continuing on."

Understanding the meaning behind his words, Barrafin struggled against the upward pull of his lips, before quickly bowing to him in gratitude, and then bolting in Madra's direction as fast as he could.

Within minutes he was before the wooden walls of Madra, yet instead of going through the gate, he instead leapt over the walls before anyone could notice him, and quickly made his way through his city like a thief in the night.

The reason being is that he didn't want to deal with the hassle of explaining to everyone why he was back, and alone for that matter. He knew he only had but a few precious hours and he was determined to use them to the best of his ability.

So he continued to sneak his way up the large hill, upon which Madra was built, constantly avoiding any crowded areas at this late hour of the night, which constituted the inns and taverns of the city, since most of the people would be peacefully in bed by now; until he finally reached the gilded halls of his forefathers.

Which, although also mostly made out of wood like the rest of the city, it was by far the most glamorous building present.

Slipping into his own home through a secret passage only known to him and his family members, usually meant to smuggle his family out of the castle in case of emergency, he now bastardized it's use to enter it, all the while thinking to himself what his father would say if he were here.

Once inside his house, Barrafin let down his guard and quickly made his way to the main hall, from which he could access the rest of the castle, but once there he saw an old, hunched maid with aging grey hair tied up in a neat bun.

"Nanny!" He called happily to the woman, who raised him like a second mother.

"My Lord!" She yelped in surprise, before rushing to his side as fast as her feat could carry her.

Yet she didn't have to, as she was suddenly enveloped in his arms before she could even register it, before he started to joyfully twirl her around in his arms, much like she used to do for him so many years ago.

"My lord, how many must I tell you not to pick me up like this! And how can you still call me nanny after all these years? What would the others think if they saw like this?!" The old woman quickly rebuked him half heartedly, like she always did when she was caught up in his antics.

Yet Barrafin merrily laughed at this, before bringing her back down. "My lord, what are you doing here? And when did you return? And..." The old woman, much like a concerned mother began to question him ferociously.

But before she could finish, Barrafin quickly said, interrupting her "I was nearby and decided to swing by for a moment, but I only have a few hours before I must return. Now then, where is my lady?"

The old woman paused for a moment, before saying in a voice that betrayed her aching heart "Where she always is these days, my lord. Taking care of... the guest." She finished her words in a whisper, fearing someone might listening to their conversation.

Barrafin's joy was quickly dampened by the news, as he bent low to place a kiss on his nanny's head, saying "I see. Thank you nanny, I'll see you later."

He then quickly left the main hall and went to the furthest and most isolated guest room in the castle, where through the cracked door he saw his beloved wife, sitting tearfully next to a bed with a pale man, who looked no different than corpse laid, the only indication of his life being the raspy breathes he took with great effort.

"Blathnia." He called out.

The pretty woman spun her head around, causing her raven hair to circle around her in a resplendent twirl, as her large, teary green eyes locked on the figure of her husband just out side the door.

The exchanged no words, as they simply stepped towards each other and held each other in a tight embrace. "All will be well, and what is not will be mended. I'll make sure of it." Barrafin sweetly whispered in her ear.

"I know you will." She replied with unwavering confidence in his abilities. Confidence even he didn't possess.

Yet he could not bring himself to enjoy this rare moment, as his eyes were inadvertently drawn to the corpse like man upon the bed, who was non other than his oldest friend, his brother in law and the last Patriarch of the now extinct Olgan Clan; but most importantly he was the condition for his surrender on that fateful day.

Barrafin then spent the next few hours with his darling wife, not leaving her side, savouring these sweat stolen moments between the two of them, before he had to return three hours later. And though it was short, it was enough for him to remember why he does what he does, and why he must do what he must.

Returning to the temporary camp ground where rested for a while, he found them already in formation and about to depart. "If you'd returned any later, I might've had to leave you here and press by myself. Though, of course that would mean you would've had to face lord Hamilcar's wrath all alone." Avestan said as he appeared like a ghost beside him.

Barrafin awkwardly smiled at the man's words, before bowing down and saying "Thank you for this. It truly meant..."

"You need not say anymore, for I, more than most, understand the value of home." Avestan swiftly stopped him, saying with a reminiscent gaze, so uncommonly gentle Barrafin nearly thought the real Avestan was replaced with an imposter when he was gone.

But then all that doubt vanished, when he sternly said "Now then, since we're done here, let's out."

"Very well." He replied, before asking "But where is it exactly now that we are headed? You never told me."

"To the Tamarthul Clan." Avestan nonchalantly replied.