“Father! Father!”
“Yes daughter?”
“There’s two soldiers here to see you.”
“I’ll go and speak to them, go and find your mother.” The father approaches the entrance to his home and greets his visitors, “Yes, what is it?”
“Sir, the council requests your presence.”
“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”
“I’m sorry sir but its of the utmost importance you come at once.”
“So be it, let us go then.”
The father leaves with the two soldiers, and upon his arrival at the council chamber all eyes turn to him. A member of the council wastes no time in addressing him, “We believe your brother is alive, and over the past decade has been nursing his master’s empire back to health.”
For a moment he’s speechless, his brother has been presumed dead for years. “Who’s brought you this information? How can you be sure?”
“A scout, after exploring the northern regions, discovered a large encampment flying an unknown banner. He was then discovered, but not captured or threatened. They only wanted him to carry a message, a message for you.”
The same scout approaches him and hands him a small scroll. He opens and reads it to find himself torn to pieces. “I’m going to leave at once, alone. There is no threat here, if this really is my brother he only wishes to speak to me.”
“And so we’ll wait for your return, council adjourned.”
With haste he left everything behind in hopes of being reunited with his brother. He took nothing with him, no weapons or armor. This was not to be a meeting of enemies, but a meeting of brothers. No amount of wind and rain can hold him back, he pierces through it all unphased. His burning love for his brother fuels his unstoppable advance through the wilderness; until he reaches the appointed destination by his brother.
After days upon days of travel, he finally makes it home; to his real home where he and his brother were raised. He enters the long abandoned home and reminisces of all those times he and his brother quarreled over the things of children. He smiles as he scans the walls, trying to put the pieces back together.
A harsh but noble voice speaks behind him, “Hello, brother.”
He slowly turns and replies, “So, you really are alive.”
His brother stands in the doorway, blocking the sunlight, “Yes, the wounds you left me with took some time to heal, but I endured and rose from the ashes.” That’s when his brother stands aside and allows the sunlight to enter their home, revealing the scars that stretch across his face. “I’ve summoned you here to ask for the neutrality of your kingdom.”
“What’s this about?”
“My kingdom is growing, it spreads ever further across the land every day. Not by force, mind you. I’ve changed the way empires grow, through diplomacy do I add the other kingdoms, as vassals, to mine. They see the prosperity we bring to any who join us. I knew it wouldn’t be long before one of your scouts discovered us, and so when one did, I took my opportunity to see you one last time as my brother.”
“What do you mean? We’ll always be brothers, always! I love you, always have. I never stopped thinking about the day I lost you.”
“Touching, it really is, but when the war begins; we’ll meet on the battlefield once more. Unless, you decide to serve me, and finally we may stand side by side no longer enemies but allies.”
“You know I’ll never abandon my kingdom, nor the symbol that we stand for.”
“I know, I always knew, which is why this will be the last time we look upon each other as family. Pass this message on to your king, you may either join us or keep to yourselves. If either of these you choose no hostilities between our kingdoms will exist, but any signs of intervention from your kingdom will be seen as an act of war; and we will show no mercy. Farewell, Soren.”
Kludd takes flight leaving Soren to ponder all that is to come, for the war in the north is about to begin.