City of Iron: 1. The tale of his life

Xerxes covered his sister's upturned ear with a pillow while his parents stood outside the cottage they called home. They were arguing -for the last time probably- about Xerxes's future; for in the morning, he was leaving.1

The gist of the conversation, Xerxes knew well. Dad does not want his only son to be joining the defunct army of the empire's church, even if it meant an edjucation in magic he would not have recieved otherwise, or two years of salary to come home with. Mom acknowledges the old wood's requirement to provide one son a year to at least the pages' guild. Mom also acknowledged the decision by the elders to have Xerxes join the regular army.2

Really dad accepted it too, he just didn't like the idea. Tensions had been growing between the cities and the old woods. Everyone knew it. The inability to accept each others' way of life -which meant that religion was at the forefront. The city folk worshipped only the creator god, while the people of the old woods worshipped his two sisters, goddesses of life and death.3

Xerxes wondered if the Sky City, with its single goddess ever had these problems. Such civilized people probably had civilized problems. He chuckled thinking about soldiers armed with teaspoons, sugar, and rapier wit, preparing the tea table for battle.4

They were done arguing again, and Xerxes uncovered his sister's ear, pleased that she was still asleep. He pretended to be asleep as his parents looked into his shared room in the attic.5

Through his cracked eyelids, he saw the twisted emotions on his parents' faces.6

Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow I'm gone. Tomorrow I am dead to the world.7

He spent the morning at a town gathering in his honor. It had been some time since the little village of Tancred had given one of their sons to the empire's service.8

The men gave him their blessings and praise, while women cried over him. Younger boys asked him questions he did not know the answer to, but he made sure not to dissuede thier admiration. 9

He paid more attention to the girls. Some of whom had always seemed fond of him, others intrigued by the thought of loving a soldier. He was sure the naiive feeling would pass out of their minds before he ever returned home.10

After training in basic soldier skills at three camps with the most extreme environments the empire had to offer, he was sent off to the Dark Templar Guild. Due to his heritage in witchcraft and his affinity with the spirits of nature, he would thrive in the environment of dark magic taught there.11

The whole time though, Xerxes was surprised. He did not recieve the harsh treatment he had expected. Few, if any, considered him a heathen, though some seemed to think the creator god was mightier than his sisters, but they never boasted it too loudly.12

The whole of his three year enlistment saw little conflict. He guarded a border post for a year, and spent a year with a unit hunting down bandits.13

After completing his service, he was attached to a supply company, headed through his hometown. His orders were to disembark upon his return home. Simple enough. Until it went wrong.14

He was two days march away from his home when he woke up in the middle of the night. Something felt off. The feeling loomed over him all day like an evil mark in the sky. He kept his mouth shut, thinking it was just nerves. By midday, he decided it was nothing, and put it out of mind.15

The company marched into a small village. The fog that had been billowing all day moved in behind them.16

The fog was thick, giving the town an ambient blue grey light. The soldiers rested a while as the commander calmed his suddenly nervous horse.17

The alarm sounded. Someone shouting something about dead.18

Xerxes was the last to raise onto his feet, favoring awareness over action. Bony men broke the fog, knocking bows with smooth confidence.19

Xerxes looked around. They were surrounded. A line of bowmen on one side, cavalry in front and behind, and a wall to the other side. The commander shouted orders, and the whole of the company took a defensive posture, turning into a wall of angry steel.20

The first move was made, not by the cavalry, or the archers. Men jumped over the wall, behind the steel barrier, right into the flesh of the company.21

Once their defence had been broken, a volley of arrows flew into easy targets. Finally after the confusion had been fully created, the cavalry charged. Ten horses on either side, flanked by footsoldiers.22

The first horseman pointed his spear down at Xerxes as he charged, favoring his left side. Xerxes held his shield in the way, and caught a hard blow. It threw his shield arm back, letting him follow through with a hard strike to his foe's back.23

A weak strike to his side caught him off guard. One of the footsoldiers had his sword stuck in one of the plates of Xerxes's leather armor.24

Xerxes came back and smashed the soldier in the head, knocking off the attacker's helmet. He saw his enemy clearly now, as he stared at a grinning skull.25

The skeleton made another attempt, and Xerxes cleaved its neck. It stumbled a moment and fell down.26

Xerxes searched around for a patch of dry grass. He flicked his fingers at it and the grass ignited into an enormous flame. He heated the blade of his sword, and turned to continue fighting.27

Another horseman bore down on him. At the last moment it chucked its spear, and leapt on him with a battle axe. The clumsy attack surprised Xerxes, but it was not at all effective. The axe went long, and the spear fell short. The skeleton dropped somewhere in the middle onto Xerxes's shield.28

Xerxes stabbed it, and its rotted flesh and uniform burst into flames. Xerxes mounted the undead steed and rode through the fray hacking at the bony attackers.29

When the skeletons broke contact, he found himself nearly alone, with only a few soldiers, and no leadership left alive. Arrows rained down on them once more. They scattered and ran for cover.30

Xerxes dropped into a rose bush and blended with it.31

The sound of drunken humming moved through the street. The source it seemed was shrouded by the fog. He heard a panicked yell, and a few clashes of metal.32

The humming continued through the streets. Xerxes heard the continued screams of his fellow soldiers.33

He moved into an alleyway, and the humming passed him by. He sighed releif as it faded. He turned around and a man with fiery red hair and a beard stared back at him.34

A blade slid out of the man's dark green frock coat, and he swung at Xerxes. Their steel clashed, sparks flew off of Xerxes's sword, throwing off his opponent's movements.35

A solid fist knocked Xerxes down. "You know the ways of the woods well young man. There is no hope for your life, but there may be hope for your soul." Xerxes watched the man thrust a blade below his view. The world faded into blood, and that became the tale of his life.36

Rather, the tale of his life before it became interesting.