Kingdom of Power, of Courage, and of Wisdom

Dragmire's War - Year Later

-Somewhere in North-Eastern Qin-

Hooves beat as rain, the horse's heart pumped as a powerful engine. The horse was bred and trained for speed, and today it was needed, as the messenger pushed it to its limits. Fire and smoke was at his back and arrows were in his side. The enemy's spears reached for him, but the horse, with divine purpose, proved to be beyond their reach.

The enemy riders pulled back, allowing the Qin horseman to escape. A few pressed on, but the captain called them back. He told the bow to be lowered and the sword to be hilted.

"Sir! The scout!" They argued. "We can kill him!"

"General Harken was very clear. He wants Qin to know." A raspy voice said from behind them.

Their vice-general, Mangoku, was sitting on a pile of the bodies. He was a tall, lean man with thin white hair, fanatical eyes, and a haggard appearance. He was naked atop a pile of woman. He sat poised and still, staring into the abyss with wide eyes. The soldiers under his command moved through the streets ruthlessly killing survivors, slowly and as determined as death. Their eyes were as wide and haunting as his own. Dread and the stench of death flowed from them like a wind.

The soldiers not under his command kept a fair distance from him and his men. Rumor was he had boiled a few of his victims and eaten them, and while all of the Zhao were angry and lacking in mercy, there was a haunted presence from him that put them off.

Commanders of hundreds and of thousands were sent to the surrounding villages to continue the work. Wherever these detachments arrived, tragedy followed. They salted the earth, burned the villages and trees and crops, butchered the beast and livestock, and raped, pillaged, plundered, and enslaved the woman, boys, and girls. They killed all of the men and weak and old. They did not cease in their singular objective to massacre and lay waste to everything they touched.

He rasped, "Let them come. We will make them remember Chouhei. In... in the end. They can no longer run. Take it all in Qin... breathe it in... Our darkness. Our curse. Have a good taste of it. This is only the beginning of your suffering."

-Kanyou, capital of Qin-

"I bring a message for the palace! Let me through!" The messenger called. He dared not slow his horse down even as he entered into the public gates of Kanyou. He yelled out repeatedly while waving the flag of Qin, and the people scattered frantically. He could have slowed down, but he refused to, even if it meant trampling someone too slow to get out of his way. Thankfully he did not, as he created enough of a stir that he was given a clear path to the palace gates.

"I bring a message! It is urgent! Let me into the palace!" He yelled up at the gate keepers. He clutched his side painfully. His horse halted onto shaky legs and blood dripped from its nose. "I bring urgent news from the east!"

The gates opened, and a horn was blown alerting the inner gates to also open. Seeing the palace before him, the messenger prodded the horse on further. The horse took a moment to catch its breath before continuing on. The horse took him through the final gate, and the rider pulled it to a halt. Royal Guard gathered around him.

"Help me, I am wounded. I must speak with the princess!" He exclaimed.

The Guard helped him from his horse. The moment his weight had left the steed, it collapsed dead. He prayed silently that Farore would watch over the beast in the next realm, for it did its job unto death. He only hoped it had bought them enough time.

"You may not speak with the princess, you may, however, speak with me." Chancellor Impa said from the steps. Having heard the gate horn, she stepped out to see what was the matter. Ryo, Elder, and a few others also stepped out and approached.