As of the twenty-sixth day in the third month of the five-hundred-thirty-second year of our glorious empire, the existence of halflings is treason against our emperor. As any criminal charged with treason, the punishment is execution. Any creature which is a half-blood of a human and non-human race, including both humanoid and non-humanoid, will be charged with treason. In addition, the harboring of said creatures shall be considered treason as well, and any offenders will be given the same punishment.
Any persons suspected of possessing impure blood, or suspected of harboring any such illegals, may be investigated at any time and to any extent deemed necessary.
This order is officially marked and sealed by our great emperor.
Emperor Lixin Syd
***
They came to a stop when the soldier’s hand wrapped around their friend’s arm.
The boy looked up at the soldier, his eyes immediately becoming filled with fear.
“Tavor Meragi?”
The boy gave a small nod as he was held in place. “Y-yes sir...”
“Come with me, son. You know why.” He pulled the boy away from his friends, toward a carriage stationed nearby. Two other soldiers stood guard at either side of it, watching the child warily.
He looked back toward his friends and shook his head the smallest bit, before turning around to face the carriage.
One of the friends went to move forward, but the other grabbed his hand so he couldn’t, shaking her head. “We promised...” She whispered.
They just stood there, hands held, as the boy was loaded into the carriage. Moments later, he was gone.
The background of the book cover is by LuDa-Stock from DeviantArt. http://luda-stock.deviantart.com/art/Creature-Textures-01-321725646
