Book I: The Three Dynasties

Chapter III

A Stalemate

Hungarian Territory: 543 AD

A solitary figure sits atop a tall black stead, his cold eyes surveying the carnage that he had brought up this savage land. His stead is atop a hill overlooking what is normally a field, common land for the grazing cattle, so that the peasant farmers of this hostile territory can eek out a meager living. However not today, today these farmers are soldiers, today this land is a battlefield. A battlefield soaked in the blood of the fallen, a battle field charred from flaming arrows and boiling tar, this savage land he had fought so hard to pries from the iron grip of the Corvinus clan almost seemed unworthy of conquering now… almost. He watched as his soldiers gathered up the weapons that had been abandoned by their enemies, he watched as his soldiers put the dying out of their misery , sending them from this hell to another, and he watched as the banners bearing the standards of the Corvinus clan retreated into the distance, further and further into the savage forests. As the commotion died down, the soldiers that were left on the battlefield began to look to the solitary figure, as if they were waiting on his command, he removed his crested helmet an unsheathed his sword, holding the blade high in the air he uttered a single word, his voice as cold as ice, made every soldier under his command thankful they were not his enemy "Victory!" Was the word he exclaimed.

"Congratulations Lord Viktor." A voice spoke out as a group of riders emerged from the tree line.

A flash of concern shot across the Warlords face as he turned to face his surprise guests, Viktor was not the only one who was concerned, the voices and sound of the horses had brought Viktor's personal body guards riding to his side. After a couple of seconds Viktor visibly relaxed as he caught sight of the banner his visitors rode under, the golden eagle on a red background, an ancient symbol of the Roman Legions, an ancient symbol of the Vorenus clan. "Arthur Vorenus." Viktor exclaimed loudly. "What could possibly bring you this far North?" The older warlord broke away from his bodyguards and trotted towards the younger General.

"Word had it that the Corvinus clan were attempting to shatter your powerbase here. I thought you could use a hand…" Arthur, the younger of the two leaders cast his glance away from Viktor, to the horizon, where the retreating standards of the Corvinus clan now resembled nothing more than a speck "…apparently I was mistaken. An impressive victory."

Viktor nodded in recognition "I appreciate the gesture, but William was defeated before the battle even began, let him run home to his father and tell him that he has failed to regain what was once theirs. Anyway enough of that, how are things in the South?"

"Things are well Viktor, a couple of skirmishes, we're still trading the frontier villages back and forth."

"You have your own territory to worry about Arthur." Viktor said sternly "Why would you leave your Kingdom to help me defend mine?"

"Because Viktor, my Kingdom is bordered by your land and the Corvinus, if your Kingdom was to fall to them then the old man would be in a position to attack me from two sides. It is in my best interest that you remain strong."

"Is that the only reason?" Viktor half laughed.

"Well… If anything happened to you I suppose I'd miss the conversation… even if you are a miserable old bastard."

Viktor let out a raucous laugh before slapping the Roman clad general on the back "Come!" He bellowed "You can share a drink with me before you return to the South. Tell me, how is your daughter…"

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Alexander Corvinus slammed his fist into the heavy oak table causing his goblet of wine to be spilled "Another defeat!" He bellowed at the men that stood before him "What is wrong with you?"

The three men that stood before Alexander all had their heads bowed, they were his three most trusted commanders, his three most loyal soldier, they were his three sons. Markus and William, the twins that Helena had bore him, they had inherited so much of his strength, they had inherited his legacy, his inability to die. The third man was Henry, his third son, he shared much of his brothers features, a similar mane of red hair, a similar beard, however his was showing sign of grey, despite being years younger than his brothers, his face and body was scarred from years of battle where his brothers looked as if they had never even been in a skirmish.

"He had superior numbers father." William sighed, "He had the high ground… the battle was over before it had begun."

"I fought for years to bring stability to these lands, I have seen off Rome, Constantinople, a dozen Germanic conquerors, I will not lose everything I have built to two tin-pot warlords like Vorenus and Teleki! Markus!"

"Yes father!" He answered readily.

"What is our situation in the South?"

"Vorenus his holding My Lord." He reported solemnly.

"I killed Vorenus's father with my own hand… their family is nothing." Alexander almost hissed.

"Father…" William spoke up "The men we are dealing with now are different to the men that you fought, Viktor is the single best General we have ever encountered, he hold territory from the Northern Savage lands all the way to Moldova, Arthur may not be the General that Viktor is, but he is an excellent field commander, and as fierce a warrior as we have ever come across, you can not expect us to defeat them overnight."

"You have had two decades!" Alexander screamed at them.

"Then perhaps it is time that you took a more active role father." Henry spoke up "The three of you are so proud of you gift of immortality, of your superior strength and speed, the three of you should fight together, to personally take back what is ours.

"I agree." William nodded immediately "My little brother may not be as strong as us…" he mocked Henry messing up his hair as he spoke "…but he is right."

"For once in your life brother I wish you would think." Markus sighed in frustration "The peasants of these lands already have their suspicions about us, if they knew for sure that we were immortal they would all turn on us, we would lose everything."

"It is too late for that!" William screamed "Father what name are you going by now Alexander the IV, Abraham Corvinus? It is only a matter of time before we are found out any way."

"No!" Alexander snapped "Your brother is right, it is too much of a risk, we must not reveal our gifts to the population, but we can not continue like this."

"Then what do you suggest father?" Henry asked.

"Send emissaries to the North, and to the South, I wish to meet with Viktor and Arthur."

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"You are going to negotiate?" A soft voice spoke to Alexander as he sat alone in a darkened room.

"What choice do I have…" He sighed wearily "…If I am to live forever, I do not want to be at war forever."

"At least you will not live alone." The voice told him as a beautiful Slavic woman placed herself in his lap "You have your sons… and you have me."

"I knew there was a chance that the boys would inherit my gift, but Helena you have not aged a day since you conceived them."

"I know." Helena smiled gently "I carried them for nine months, we shared everything, you passed on your gift to them, and they passed it onto me… your strength… your memories… your life force. My only regret is that fate did not bless Henry with the same gifts, how is a mother to watch her youngest son wither and die?"

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There is a commotion at the fortress that Viktor calls home, a single horseman riding under a white flag approaches the huge gates to his compound, his loyal body guards have him surrounded, as his archers take aim from their hidden location. The rider discards his flag and dismounts his horse as the gates are opened for him.

"You must be a fool." A confident voice greeted the rider, as a tall handsome man in full armour approached him "We do not take to kindly to servants of the Corvinus in these parts."

"I am here to speak with Lord Viktor." The rider spoke calmly.

"Well unfortunately for you he is busy." The man replied.

"Then I will speak with one of his advisors."

"They are all busy as well." He replied sarcastically "You may talk to me."

"And who might you be?" He asked

"My name is Kraven. Now what do you want."

The rider produced a scroll from his sleeve and presented it to the young nobleman "Lord Corvinus desires an audience with your master."

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"Lord Viktor!" Kraven spoke breathlessly as he ran to catch up with his master.

"Who are you?" Viktor spat indignantly.

"His name is Kraven, My Lord." One of his advisors spoke up "A young nobleman from Moldova, forgive his interruption he is young… eager to please."

"What do you want?" Viktor sighed in boredom.

Kraven eagerly handed Viktor the scroll so that his master could read it. "The old fool wants to meet with me and Arthur." Viktor allowed himself to laugh "He must be getting desperate. Very well, send a messenger to tell him that I accept, but only if the meeting takes place here… After all it is not uncommon for harm to befall Corvinus's enemies. Kraven…"

"Yes My Lord?"

"Take some men, and go to see Arthur, tell him I would like to offer him my hospitality."

"Right away My Lord." Kraven bowed as he hurried off to carry out Viktor's wishes.

"Is he from an influential family?" Viktor asked one of his advisors.

"Not really My Lord." The advisor replied.

"So it does not matter if anything happens to him?"

"Well there will be no repercussions My Lord, but the boy does show sign of promise, it would be a shame to lose him."

"Hmmm." Viktor nodded "Send the Hibernian with him, see to it that he comes back in one piece."

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Kraven breathed a sigh of relief as he and his entourage finally rode into the gated court yard of Arthur's fortress home, the ride had been a long and hard one, the moonless night did little to put him at ease. He was relieved that Viktor had sent a half dozen armed men with him, but there was something off putting about one of them, he never spoke, he carried the weapons of a savage, he did not wear armour and his face was adorned with blue paint. Although the man was not an impressive size, there was something terrifying about him.

"You must be Kraven!" A croaky voice called out as the young nobleman dismounted his horse.

"I am." He nodded "To whom am I speaking with?"

"My name is Eli." The old man spoke firmly "I am Lord Arthur's Viceroy."

Kraven cleared his throat and stepped forward "I am here to invite your Lord…"

"I know why you are here." Eli interrupted him "Corvinus sent a messenger to us as well, if you need any refreshments I suggest you get them now, we ride back to Viktor's territory tonight."

"Tonight?" Kraven asked, a little surprised at the revelation.

"Tonight." A voice confirmed, as Lord Arthur stepped into the court yard "Viktor's courtiers seem to be getting younger."

"I am quite capable My Lord." Kraven bowed.

"I meant no offence boy." Arthur reassured him as he looked passed Kraven to the men that accompanied him, his eyes became fixed on the short man, masked in blue paint. "A Celt." Arthur smiled slightly as he inspected the man more closely "Where did Viktor get this one, Gaul, Britannia?"

"Hibernia." Kraven corrected him "Apparently his chief offered his family as a goodwill gift to a Roman expedition, he has been under Lord Viktor's employ for several years now."

"Viktor will have to tell me all about it." Arthur nodded "Come… Kraven wasn't it? You can ride with me, apprise me of the situation."

"Are you not taking your carriage My Lord." Kraven enquired as he pointed to the luxurious coach waited in the courtyard."

"No." Arthur replied "The carriage is for my daughter… speaking of which… Eli, where is my daughter."

"She is coming My Lord." The Viceroy bowed.

"Ah there you are!" Arthur called out as the slender form of a slavic angel appeared in the courtyard and practically glided towards her carriage. Her slender body was clothed in a gown of the finest silk, her hair dark as ebony, her skin pale as snow, upon her head rested a thin gold band adorned with emeralds."

"Father." She greeted him with a curtsey.

"Kraven, this is my daughter… The Princess Amelia."