Merendinoemiliano: I wanted something with Sun to be different. I want a little drama and tension.

/*-*/

Wortikur interlocked his fingers, "About ten years ago, I was taken as a slave by Horsa. Truth be told, being a Saxon's slave isn't so bad. In a 'I broke your legs and gave you a wheelchair' way, you're protected from other Saxon raids, you are treated pretty fairly if you are a capable warrior, and you can become integrated in their society after roughly twenty years of work."

Blake nodded while Sun munched on a scone.

Wortikur continued, "We faunus never gave up on our distinction though. We joined a large network of Faunus rights movements, which became known as the White Fang. Two years passed, and I became familiar with Horsa. I realized…that….life as a slave isn't that bad, at least not under Saxons." Even Wortikur sounded surprised, as though he had never thought about it before hand.

Wortikur scratched his head, "The Saxons aren't very 'hands on' with their slaves. A slave is treated more like a renter than a piece of property. You are told, 'Give me 100 cubits of barely every year, and when I have 2,000 cubits from you, I will set you free.' They aren't like Atlesians or Vacumen, who supposedly whipped their slaves. The Saxons just take food every year, and if you starve, that's your problem."

Blake nodded, "Now how does this relate to the White Fang?"

Wortikur smiled, "I am a huskarl, so I pay my debt with my body, fighting and serving Horsa. I fished and hunted with him, fought by his side. As a boy who's father abandoned he and his mother, I guess, Horsa filled that role. Another year passed, and the White Fang riots forced Atlas to dissolve the segregated state. Many of the White Fang leaders in Dar Kunor were emboldened by this push."

"In three weeks time, we will be free!" Horus, the pig Faunus cried. Many of the white fang who met in the stable cheered, and Horus stepped down from the fruit crate.

Alsoutz stepped up on to the crate, clearing his throat to silence down the cheering, "We should approach this with caution. We are not dealing with Atlesians. We are dealing with Saxon-"

"Traitor!" Cried a voice, which William couldn't identify.

"Boo!"

"Coward!"

Alsoutz shrunk down before talking, "Our petition to Gewis got us new plows. We are on the road to a better life, a free life. We don't need to jeopardize that. We can still earn our freedom, like the ones before us."

William knew he was right.

"When our children are eighty!" a voice cried out.

Horus spoke up raising a hand, quieting down the outraged cries, "I assure you, we take care of most of the farming. They won't hurt us. The Saxons will see our strength, our devotion, and they will respect us."

The Faunus began to nod. Did they really know the foes they were facing?

William threw his hands in the air and shouted, "This won't work!"

Germanic shouting was heard, along with a door slam from the farm house. The room was quiet as the Faunus began to rush for the door, only for the barn door to open.

A gruff, red haired Saxon stepped in, snarling, before taking a deep breath. The White Fang was tense, and many looked terrified. The Saxon sighed a long breath, "If you are going to plot rebellion, shut the hell up so I can get some sleep."

With that, he closed the barn door, and not long after, a loud slam was heard from the house.

Horus turned to William and placed and hand on his shoulder, "We do the farming, we do the laboring, we do the mining. They will have no choice but to give us freedom for it."

William shook his head, and pushed through the crowd, opening the barn gate and running, tears streaming down his face from his awareness.

Blake began fiddling her thumbs, "So they began planning riots?"

Wortikur snorted bitterly, "They began planning assisted suicide. These were farmers, accountants, and miners leading the White Fang. They didn't know anything about Saxons."

Sun stretched his arms, "What, big, smelly, blood thirsty monsters?"

Wortikur laughed silently, "You know a little more than they did. When an Atlesian is bitten by a dog, they back off. When a Saxon is bitten by a dog, they break its neck to ensure it will never bite them again."

Blake began to realize what he was saying.

/*-*/

"So Wortikur came to me, and said, 'they are going to rebel, stop them, execute someone.'" Horsa stated with a cruel smirk as sat at the table of the hotel and poured them both a glass of wine.

The loud slamming was heard at the doors of Horsa's hall. He rose, and ordered his servant Einfeldz back to bed. Horsa walked down from his two-person bed, the covers barely crinkled as he slept on top of them. Horsa didn't grab the axe on the wall as he walked down the stairs. Anyone who would attack at night and knock on the door was clearly stupid, cowardly, arrogant or a mixture of the two. Horsa could kill them.

He opened the door to find Wortikur, panting, teary eyed, and hunched over. This stirred a level of concern in Horsa. Not out of affection, no Horsa hadn't yet gotten attached to the Faunus boy. It was because for the first time ever, Wortikur had come to Horsa in the middle of the night.

Wortikur spoke before Horsa could ask the obvious question, "They are….*pant*….. a rebel- *Pant*- lion. Stop them please * Pant*!"

Horsa asked, "What do you mean? Explain Yourself"

The Faunus recovered his breath and began to reveal the entire plot. Their rebellion, their word and instigators. When he finished, Wortikur asked, "Surely you can stop this. This is suicide. Can't you kill a ring leader, or a high official, or make a decree?"

Yang put the glass to her lips, and tasted the dry taste that made her mouth recoil.

Horsa shook his head, and lowered his nose into the half-full glass of wine, and took a long snort before pulling away.

Yang recoiled, "What are you doing?"

Horsa shrugged, "One of my Atlesian slaves told me I was drinking wine, how did he say it, 'like punch'. Apparently, there is a ritual for drinking wine." Horsa then took a sip of the wine and swirled it around in his mouth, "I have to say, I do get more flavors from it this way, but it still feels as strong as 'punch'."

Yang leaned down, getting ready for the depressing story that Horsa was going to tell, "Did you do it, execute someone?"

Horsa set his glass down, " No. I understood why he wanted me to. A mentality of, 'better one of us dies and discourage the rest from suicide, than all of us dying together.' But I didn't kill any Faunus. Not yet at least."

Yang blinked, feeling a sense of dread for her next question's answer, "Why? Don't you enjoy killing?"

Horsa ran his finger's along his chin, and Horsa's face contorted to look like he was thinking hard, "I don't enjoy killing per say. I enjoy fighting, as all Saxons do. Killing itself is more just an extra piece of fighting. I didn't kill a Faunus because I would be killing someone else's slave, and that would be more problems for me than I wanted. But there was also another reason."

Yang scratched her head, wondering where he was going with this, "What?"

Horsa sighed, "You lesser people often judge people for thoughts. You imprison people for planning rebellions, and that provides stability. But it removes a very important aspect of culture, which is freedom to think. We Saxons won't kill someone for thinking about a rebellion, because most people are cowards and weak, and back out when the time comes for them to make a choice."

Yang shifted. It made sense, in an arrogant, spiteful way, "So what did you do?"

Horsa snorted, "I can't just kill anyone's slave. And I can't command a Saxon to do anything, much less a slave or servant. They will hopefully cower down before anything comes of it."

Wortikur shook his head, "No, you don't understand-"

Horsa raised his hand, and Wortikur nodded, quieting down, "I trust your people to be smart, and not do something so stupid. But if they should rebel, you have to decide: are you a Faunus, or a Saxon?"

/*-*/

Noryc looked at Ruby, "So Wortikur comes to Horsa and Says, 'oh please mighty Saxons, stop the white fang from rebelling, kill a few to save us.'"

Ruby blinked in surprised, grabbing a sticky bread ball called a 'roll' at the table. "Wow, he didn't sound very fierce. What did he say?"

"He said 'No, If they rebel, we will respond, but they aren't that stupid. But you have a choice to make: Are you a Saxon, or a Faunus?'" Noryc smiled, "Then told to go alert the Grand Chief Gewis of the coming rebellion. Gewis heard me, and told me to be on guard if anything did come. I told Horsa the same thing."

Noryc shook his head, "Why did you wake me?"

Horsa stood over the Berserker, "Deliver a message to Gewis. It concerns the White Fang and their growing ambitions."

Noryc drowsily rose, "I am a Berserker, a servant of Wotan, not you-"

"YOU ARE WHAT I SAY YOU ARE!" Horsa shouted, snarling, "Now Go to Gewis, and tell him the White Fang are plotting a rebellion. Then ask him for backing should we need to crush it!"

Noryc nodded, feeling the creep of fear in his heart. Johan's booming voice ushered in through his son at that moment, and all Saxons feared and respected The Strongest Saxon.

Noryc ran, bare foot, only carrying his axe on his back. He ran for thirty miles( 48 Kilometers) in four hours. He wanted to die by the time he got to Gewis, but the urgency in Horsa's voice told him that would be foolish.

He slammed his axe against the Grand Chief's door.

Gewis opened the door, "What do you want?" His snarl and grouchy voice indicated an interruption.

Noryc swallowed his exhaustion, "I am Noryc, Berzerker of Horsa the Pale Horse, who brings a message."

Ruby shook, "Were you all worried?"

Noryc shrugged confidently, "I don't exactly have fear. But Horsa's concern was enough for me to go and a least report it."

Gewis closed the piece of paper, "He was right to not act hastily. I would have had to bring him to justice. Prepare for battle, and gather any warriors you might need. Tell Horsa to make preparations to deal with any uprising that might come, and that I will aid him should he be the first victim of their onslaught, I will aid him."

Noryc nodded, and began to run back. He was too flawless to be exhausted.

Noryc smiled, remembering the day. He was faithful, and loyal. No one could dispute it.

/*-*/

"I was tending to my church when Wortikur, formerly known as William, walked in. He was quite distressed." Dougal recounted, sipping the tea that Wiess had prepared.

Wiess leaned in, curiously, "What was wrong?"

Dougal recalled, "The White Fang was apparently planning a rebellion, and he asked me for support."

"Please, Brother Dougal!" Noryc pleaded, "You have to excommunicate them, or something. Declare a vision that God forbids the rebellion."

"I will not!" The Missionary proclaimed fiercely, "I will not lie and tarnish my soul and the integrity of our faith, even for a noble cause. I am not Catholic either, and even if I was, I wouldn't excommunicate over personal beliefs."

Wortikur grabbed the pastor and tried to shake him, "This is beyond 'integrity of the faith' or the 'tarnishing of souls'! This is life or death!"

Dougal took a deep breath to calm the aggressive thoughts that came with Saxon biology and loud noises, " People die every day. I do not love this fact, but it is true. Pray to Lord Jesus that wisdom will deter them from such an act, or pray that the response will be merciful." He did not expect Wortikur to actually pray. The boy had been more a ritual worshipper, rather than a true believer.

But the young boy fell on his knees, "Father Lord. I haven't been very devout, nor have I fully believed you existed. But if you do, please, spare us from the coming horrors. Grant the Saxons mercy and forgiveness. Please Lord. Amen."

Dougal set the tea down on the saucer, "I had never seen the boy so afraid. I would discover why, and would a lot more understanding."

Wiess asked in a small voice, terrified yet intrigued by the ominous message, "What happened?"

Dougal smiled sadly, as his heart still grieved in both the loss and response, "Two Deaths, Raedwald Gewisson, and Ivar Raedwaldsson."

/*-*/

Wortikur shook as the memory of the message came back to him, "The news came in, and I knew I hadn't been heard. They had burned alive, a father, who had thrown his sons out the window to save them."

"Master Horsa, I come to you, begging for mercy." William pleaded, on his knees, with his forehead against the ground, "I am confident that they will offer a wergild of sorts."

Horsa remained silent, but the quiver in his exhale betrayed his anger.

William waited for a moment, before backing up. As He turned, he heard his master's voice.

Wortikur snorted in tragic irony, "It's funny. If anyone else had been burned, The White Fang would have died, and justice would have been served. But the Saxons were so busy trying to save Raedwald that the White Fang fled."

"A horn of mead." Horsa said, softly.

William turned slowly, "What, my lord?"

Horsa rose from his chair, "A Horn of mead, A hunting trip, a great feast and tales of adventures. These are the things I have been denied to share with my nephew." His voice was shaky with guilt and anger, "I have been denied the right to see my great-nephew's first steps, to train him as I did his father, to give wisdom as my father did me."

He walked across the floor, "Why do you beg for mercy?"

William swallowed, "For the Faunus?"

Horsa stared William down, "What are you? I ask you make that decision, before it is too late."

William was stunned, and horrified.

"What did you say?" Blake asked, already knowing the answer.

Wortikur's tension finally brake, "I sold my race for my life. I gave them up and became a Saxon. The Saxons loved me, because it looked like loyalty to my master over my race. But the truth is, I was a scared little boy, desperate to survive."

/*-*/

Horsa frowned, and Yang his hand, seeing the emotional distress Horsa felt.

He spoke with a calmer voice, "I lost my nephew and his son that day. I began preparing for the right time, then it happened."

Horsa unloaded the last of the 24 foot( 8 meter) boxes, and his men returned to work, drilling. Now he awaited the messenger.

And Horsa waited, drilling more and more.

And Horsa wait, planning and pondering.

Until one day He arrived.

Horsa smiled, "Gewis, White Horse of the Saxons, approached me. He wanted something from me."

"Hail brother of mine, who's wisdom was great, and who's strength is greater. I am in mourning." Gewis said, his voice raspy from anger and tears.

Horsa turned, shocked that he had come in person, and was not still staying alone to think, "Hail brother of mine, who guided me, and aided me in my journey. Who took care of my lands while I was away, I too mourn my nephew and his son's passing. Why have you come?"

Horsa poured whiskey into a tankard, and Gewis took it greedily. Though the tankard was full, Gewis drank it in seconds. Horsa couldn't blame him, as his was empty almost as quickly.

Gewis faced his brother, "I have come to you with a request."

Horsa nodded, "A messenger would have been fine. Speak it and I shall do it, if possible."

Gewis's breathing became heavy and Angry, "You were right. I should have crushed this rebellion early. I had too much compass for these animals. I want you to ensure a rebellion like this never happens again. That is my wergild to Raedwald, for my inaction. I came in person, because no messenger can hold the sword of grief and vengeance I carry. But you can."

Yang asked, "What did he want?"

Horsa smiled sadly again, "He wanted to ensure a rebellion would never threaten a Saxon child again."

Yang nervously coughed, "So, uh, what did you do?"

The three armies spread out, carrying the large 24 foot(8 meter) boxes. One went east, on went west, and Horsa went south. The two Horsemen's men, united in this action.

/*-*/

Dougal swallowed, "I remember reading that night, Romans chapter 13 verse 4."

Wiess was shaking, "What does that mean?"

Dougal sighed regretfully, "If you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is an avenger, who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."

/*-*/

Horsa's men surrounded the city, blocking its exits with the carriages. This city was Faunberg, named for the Faunus who moved there after being freed. Now it became a hub for slaves and freemen alike, who had time to sell and buy produce from each other.

The air was tense, as Faunus shop keepers eyed the exits, aware that something was going to happen soon.

Horsa signaled on of the box carriers. He opened it to reveal a 22 foot(7 meter) long pike. Several boxes were opened simultaneously. The shop keepers shifted nervously.

Thousands of pikes were unloaded, and Saxons began to walk in the streets, answering Horsa's call.

He finally bellowed, "The gods will sort the grain from the straw! WE ARE THE SICKLES!"

Horsa drank the wine vigorously, "I made sure a rebellion never happened again."

A metal crash was heard outside, and Horsa walked to the window, "That's what they want to steal huh?"

Yang walked over and saw it. A cargo ship full of large metal crates being unloaded.

/*-*/

Wortikur trembled, "I was there. I saw the example made. No rebellion would ever occur again."

The smell of blood filled the air. Wortikur smelt it before he saw it. A forest, planted in a day.

The fleshly limbs hung down, dripping with red sap. The fur served to indicate who had died, as birds picked away at the facial features. No teeth, as ravens and crows had picked the mouths clean, the muscle displaying the shocked faces that made the forest look full.

It surrounded the barren city, indiscriminate with the size of it's victims. Children, women, elderly, free, enslaved, all were chosen.

At the entrance of the city, stood Horsa, the Pale Horse, admiring his work. When Wortikur approached, horrified and mournful of the loss, Horsa simply said, "Never again."

/*-*/

We are coming up on the end soon, see you all then.