Gate: Thus the Brotherhood of Steel Lyon's Pride Fought in Their Land
Chapter Twenty - One - Prince Zorzal
Days had passed, and the loss of two different slaves was driving Prince Zorzal up the wall. He'd been so certain of the superiority that he held above the Brotherhood of Steel. With the disappearance of both Tyuule and Prophet had been a direct hit to his ego. Tyuule was more of a loss. She had been allowing him the chance to feel some kind of connection. Prophet was merely a way to determine the strength of the Brotherhood of Steel.
The fact that she hadn't cracked, that she never truly gave into despair, and that she still managed to resist told him of their character. She was mentally strong, but she was physically weak. If the rest of them were the same, and he had no reason to believe otherwise, then there was no doubt in his mind that they would fall easily enough. His sister's worry was unfounded. Even now he was heading to Italica to visit those that had witnessed the defense of the city by the Brotherhood of Steel.
He wanted to hear their reports, to hear what actually . He wanted to hear the reports from the militia that served, and he wanted to confirm his suspicions that what his sister had told him was an over exaggeration of what had actually happened. He needed to confirm it, because everything about Knight Prophet, as she called herself, led to the fact that the Brotherhood of Steel members were weak. They were physically weak, and thus there should be no reason why they shouldn't fall under their boots when the time came.
Of course, he also needed to find his wayward slaves. Once he was done he would take more. He'd take any of the women the Brotherhood of Steel had, and he'd show them the same mercy that he had shown to Knight Prophet. He would ensure that they understood that their place was under her, on their knees, begging for him to continue. He'd break each one of them, and of course the men would be captured as well.
The Empire needed slaves that would be laborers. They needed those that could not complain about going into dangerous places. They needed individuals that would work until they dropped, and only then would they receive the sweet release of death. All of them, each and every last one of them, would fall to him. He would show that his father's choice of making him the next emperor was the right choice.
He would prove that he could move the Empire into a new direction that would ensure its future forever. He needed to prove it, and he needed to do so soon. The failure to take Alnus Hill so far was a blight on the empire itself, but if he could correct that blight then it would prove that he was truly the next to follow his father. It would prove that his line was the strongest connection to Grognak. He could show that his line, his being, was superior to that of any of his other siblings.
It was his intention to show his father that he truly was the one to lead next. So, he looked out at the countryside as he rode. Another beast girl accompanied him, one of the other slaves he'd purchased, and while she was not as enjoyable as Tyuule she was at least enough to pass the time. The noises she made when he laid with her were enough to gain his attention and desire. Still, she was not as willed as Knight Prophet had been, nor was she as skilled as Tyuule had been. She was merely a way to pass the time.
"Your Highness," one of his guards said as they rode, "We near the city."
He nodded, "Good," he said as they closed in on it, "I wish to speak to the heads of their guards. I want to learn all I can about the attack on Italica, and I want to learn about the abilities of the Brotherhood of Steel."
There was a quiet moment around him, and one of his most loyal guards spoke up, "Your Highness, should you ask we would go to Alnus Hill," he replied, his voice firm, "The reports sent to us sound outlandish. It simply is something that we can't believe exists. We would gladly go and face those that dare to take the most sacred place from us."
He nodded toward the one that spoke, "And I will eventually give that order, but only after I have gathered the troops we need," he replied as they rode near Italica, "Upon the point of traveling there I shall institute an order that all of those of age shall be forced to serve the Imperial Forces for a term of no less than two years. It will give us the numbers we need to completely crush them."
There was a hushed silence around him, and finally another spoke, "Sire, would it not be better to make this decree from the nobles' domains?" the guard asked, "Surely it would be better to gather thar rabble than our own citizens. Simply on the chance that not all of the stories are falsehoods. It would be better to lose those loyal to the nobility rather than those completely loyal to the empire."
He nodded, as he rode atop of his own horse, "That is a good point," he replied as they headed toward the western gate of the city, "We shall pull those to serve from the nobility first, and then we will tap our own if needed."
The gate opened for him, and they moved through it. Around him he saw a city that truly was the central hub of commerce for the empire. Its protection of course was important, but if need be he would be willing to sacrifice it for the greater empire. He could see it rising again, molded into the image of the empire itself, and made completely loyal.
Still, for now it served its purpose, and that purpose was to serve him. The moment he rode inside he saw the marketplace, but unlike before the shopkeepers seemed to be clambering to offer small tastes of what they had to sell. It was odd to see something happening with such passion, but then again it wasn't so far removed.
If anything he felt that the change was a positive one. The idea certainly had merit, and the thought of having the merchants in the capital do the same seemed appropriate. Still, he rode past the merchants, and he headed straight toward the manor. Once there he would inquire what had happened exactly, and he would ensure that the full story was told to him. As he neared he saw a strange carriage. There were no horses, and it appeared to be made of some strange metal.
In truth it looked rather like a large armored animal that just happened to be sitting there. His eyes moved over it, trying to understand exactly what it was that he was seeing. Uncertainty filled him as he eyed it. Such armor would certainly keep blades from getting through. There was the possibility that a catapult would be able to crack the shell, but beyond that he wasn't certain if anything else would.
"Your highness," the guard to this right said, "We've arrived."
He dismounted his horse, and he moved toward the manor that sat before him. Without fanfare or warning he opened the great doors of the manor. He strolled in as if he owned the very building itself, and he moved with purpose. As far as the empire was concerned he was next in line. He would ensure that all of the empire was molded into the form that he preferred. It would be one that fit him, and that served him. So, to him it was understandable that he treated all of the empire as if he owned it.
"I've come to question those that witnessed the Brotherhood of Steel."
"Your highness, we were not made aware that you would be visiting today," a servant said as she moved toward him, "Surely you understand that we would have prepared a grand entrance if we were to know."
He glanced at the beast woman, thoughts of stripping her nude came to him, but he pushed those thoughts down. For now he had a purpose, but perhaps before leaving he could purchase her. He glanced toward the hall itself, "A master does not need to announce when he returns to what it his," he said, his voice firm and hard, "I've come to question those that have witnessed the Brotherhood of Steel, and I demand to have answers."
"Are you Prince Zorzal?" came a hard feminine voice, "Please tell me that you're him."
He looked toward the one speaking. She had her helm removed, but he could see that her features were similar to that of Bozes. He'd not told his sister, but he had considered marrying the noble daughter. She was fetching enough, her bloodline was pure, and she would be able to bare sons for him. When he was finished with her he would merely toss her to the side. Perhaps, if she pleased him enough, he would grant her a small tract of land so that she could live the rest of her days in exile.
He glared at her, "And are you the Brotherhood of Steel? Is it merely full of weak women?" he asked, his voice sounding confident and entitled, "Conquering you should be fairly easy."
"Try it," she said, "I dare you, I double dog dare you to try it."
He growled at her, "Formation!" he shouted, and his eighteen guards formed a barrier in front of him, "Take her, strip her of her armor, and beat her into submission! I will have another slave! Ensure that she lives, because I will ensure that her indigent tongue learns to quiet itself before her betters!"
"Sentinel Reeder, if you wouldn't mind."
A strange whirling sound erupted inside of the hall of the manor, and within a few moments all of his guards lay dead. Prince Zorzal himself stood shocked, and more so he saw the carnage before him. The armor hissed as the woman stepped out of it. To say that she looked like Bozes wasn't a stretch. She was indeed beautiful, he didn't take time to admire her. He instead looked upon her with hate and vicious anger.
"You dare?!"
"Stand down!" the shout came from the one person he would listen to, and he looked to see his father, "Stand down now."
Zorzal looked at his father, and he tried to understand what it was that he was seeing. Why was his father here? How was his father here? He was sure that his father had been at the palace before, so why was he here now?
"Father," he said, his eyes flashing between the woman and his father, "They're our enemy! We must overthrow them!"
"Did you not witness the same as I did?" his father asked as he looked at him, "Did you not see eighteen men slain in seconds? Their power is greater than our own, and the only weakness they have is a love for their people. Their people that you decided to capture and torture."
He stood there listening to his father, "She was captured, a slave, I had a right to purchase and use her as I saw fit."
"Oh fuck this," Sarah said as she jumped toward him and slammed her fist into his stomach. The moment it struck him was the moment that his morning meal was reintroduced to the world, "Get ready for pain."
"Sister, please," came the voice of his sister, "Please, I do not begrudge you, but do not kill him."
There was a slight hestation and then he felt another strike, and another. Each one bit deep into his face, bruising it, causing him no end of hurt and anguish. He fell backward, and she rode him down. Her fists struck him, causing his face to turn to and tho. He would later say that he never begged, that he resisted to the end of the beating, but that was not the truth. By the fourth strike he was begging for her to release him, to please let him go.
Instead he was given a beating that he had never felt before. He felt his perfect teeth breaking, he felt something happen to his jaw, and he wanted to weep. The part of him that held his pride and arrogance fell before the child that wanted to continue to beg for mercy. He'd never been so disciplined as a child, and now it was as if all of the discipline that had been set aside for him came at once. One more strike happened, hitting his eye, and then she stood. He saw the look of pure rage on her face.
"Know that you deserve more," she said, her voice harsh, "and it is only your sister's request that you be spared that has saved you."
"F…father?"
He looked toward his father, through the now swelling eyes he had, and he saw no light of compassion, "We will not attack Alnus Hill," his father said, the words bitting deep at his own pride, "And we shall arrange a peaceful negotiation with the Brotherhood of Steel. Although, I feel that you have shown your one true weakness here."
"And what would that be, your majesty?" the woman that attacked him asked, "I would like to know."
There was a brief moment of silence, "The love of your people. A simple knight was captured and taken by my son. Most kingdoms would have written her off. Several would see her capture as a failure on her own part, and yet you displayed great vengeance on her behalf. That is a weakness that some will attempt to exploit."
She turned toward his father, and he laid there, prone, unable to really even raise his head, "F..father, we can win."
She turned toward him and he cowered toward the floor, hoping that she would ignore him, hoping that she would decide that he wasn't worth it, and how he hated it.
"No, we cannot," his father replied, "They are far more powerful than we are, but then there is a reason for the alliance. Your sister has secured our future. She has done so at the cost of her own freedom. She has been claimed by one that is high in ranking in their organization, and thus entered his union with another."
Zorzal looked toward his sister, but it was not a look admiration, "You've betrayed us!" he screeched from his place on the floor, "You whore!"
He could see her flinch, and he growled as he slowly stood, "You baseless whore! How dare you betray us, betray me?!" he screamed, "Do you know what you've done?! Do you even understand what you've allowed your worthless cunt to do?!"
There was the sound of something similar to what had slain his men before and he turned to see another wearing blue armor. Strange symbols adorned the front of it, and he held a weapon that looked similar to the one that killed his guards. He felt his knees go weak as he stood before this new one.
"Say one more word about her," the voice growled, "Go ahead, and I swear that I will make whatever life you have left is to be spent in agonizing pain. Because believe me, you'd be surprised what you can live through."
He swallowed, his eyes felt as if they would pop out of his head, and he shook like a leaf as he stood there. Warm liquid flowed down his leg, staining the pants he wore. A puddle formed on the floor, and he fell to his knees. His head bowed, and he prostrated himself before the one that held the weapon on him. He lowered himself practically to the ground. He dared not say another word.
"Princess Piña," the one that stood over him said, "I won't do it, because you've asked that we don't, but I can't promise that if your brother acts foolish and does something rash that he won't be made to suffer."
There was quiet, "I understand," came the reply from his sister, "I would rather he learn from this, and I would rather that we attempt to make an attempt to make amends toward what has happened."
"This is your chance, I suggest you go find a place to clean up," the male voice said from inside of the armor, "Don't throw the gift of your life away that she gave you."
He stood, and he felt someone move near him. The beast girl slave he'd brought with him stood by him. She allowed him to lean on her, and he nodded. He began walking away, and as they moved away from the group his mind began to think of what would come. He began to formulate the dark plan that needed to take place. He needed to ensure the death of those that dared to defy him. He needed to ensure that their suffering would be legendary, but more than that he needed to punish Piña.
His foolish sister decided to betray him to the Brotherhood of Steel. She dared to beg for mercy for him, and she sold herself to them like some worthless whore. If she was a whore, then so be it, she would service all of his men. He would ensure that they had the chance to feast upon her body until she expired by exhaustion. Even when she screamed for mercy he would not give it. He would ensure that her death was slow, painful, and well deserved.
Such a betrayal would not be allowed. He felt himself led into a room, and his clothes were removed. The beast woman moved toward the tub, and he watched as she activated the sun stones that worked to heat the water. Moments later a luxurious bath was made, and he stepped into it. She stood beside the tub, but instead of simply allowing her to stand there he grabbed her waist.
She was a little fox girl, meek and humble, and she would do. He pulled her into the water with him, her slave clothes now soaked, and she found them ripped from her body. She was pushed forward, and he heard her delightfully squeaky voice begging him to please think of his health. She was a good slave, and he would promote her higher. Of all of his servants, she was the only one that he could trust at the moment.
He pulled her back onto himself, and he didn't care which place he entered. She let out a painful yelp, and he enjoyed the warmth that surrounded him. He pulled her back against him, forcing her to lean against his form. She whimpered as she was kept there. She made the small mewling noises that he was so fond of. She was the perfect pet, the perfect servant, and yet she did pale in comparison to Tyuule. The defiance that Tyuule gave him in the beginning, the determination to keep some semblance of herself, it had been addicting.
Still, this one was worthy enough. He kissed her neck, causing her to stiffen, "I've decided," he said as he began taking his suffering pain out on her, "You truly are mine. No other shall enjoy you, and eventually I may decide to promote you to an actual servant."
"Y..Your highness," she groaned as he used her, "Y…you're too k…kind."
He enjoyed her, taking all that she had, giving nothing back, and ensuring that was made well aware of her place. He soon finished with her, and leaned against him breathing hard. He felt her smaller body struggling to recover, "Now, bathe me."
She nodded, and he felt her pull loose from him. She grabbed the soap near the tub, and she began to use it against his skin. She was careful, her hands delicate, and he took notice that she took special precautions to ensure that the places he'd been struck were tended to lightly. She treated him with care, with a lover's touch, and it made him realize that she was worthy of his attentions. She would never be worthy of taking a place beside him, but she was worthy enough to be given special attention.
"Tell me, what is your name again?"
There was silence for a moment, "Kaede, your highness, my name is Kaede," she replied her hands never stopped moving, "I am honored that you wish to know my name."
He studied her, "Of course I would want to know it," he said as she continued to care for him, "You've proven yourself worthy of my attention. And thus you've proven yourself worthy to become a servant. After today I shall keep you by my side. I shall ensure that you are given a place worthy of someone who supports me, and I will let you watch as I cut those that dare oppose me down."
He assumed that her quiet manner was the fact that she believed his words were honorable, full of promise, and worthy to be worshiped as much as he was. Of course he didn't know that her quiet manner was actually because she felt that if she answered truthfully he would have her put to death. That his foolish declaration of retribution would end up killing him. He had no idea that she didn't want to be his servant, but she knew no other way out.
She was a mystic of her kind, a spirit summoner, and quite talented at it. But the very chains that bound her also bound her power. She was little more than a toy, a plaything, and left to the wants and needs of a foolish prince that had no business ruling an empire. He had no place making orders, or even believing that he could fulfill the duties that would be thrust upon him. He would be little more than a puppet, and she knew that.
But she couldn't say a word of that. She couldn't because she knew that doing so would be death. Still, he didn't know her thoughts, he only knew what he wanted to believe. He wanted to believe that she marveled at him, and he allowed her to clean him. Her tender hands washed away the blood, and then when it was done, she stepped from the tub. A towel was grabbed, but not for her. She held it out for him, and he took it. He dried himself, and wrapped it around his waist. She was left nude, wet, and now cold since they were out of the water.
"Find a room that I may rest in, and discover if there are garments worthy of a prince," he said to her, "Do so, and I shall reward you further."
She nodded, turned, and he watched as she left him. Standing there alone he felt the pain of everything that happened. The actions he took on her had helped, quite a bit, but he was still hurt. Still, there needed to be something that he could do. His sister would be no help, none at all, but perhaps there could be something else done. He would speak to his other subordinates, and he would ask of their thoughts. Perhaps there was a way of rousing discourse with the Brotherhood of Steel that wouldn't require them to directly attack them.
If the people of the Empire, especially those on the frontier, were to see that the Brotherhood of Steel wouldn't help them then it could help his own cause. He could turn them away from them. He could make them rebel against the Brotherhood of Steel. It was an option, but he needed those who had a far better idea of how to pull such actions off. He needed to gain more allies, and he needed to ensure their loyalty. There was much to do, and he had to start quickly. He had to ensure the suffering of all that dared to oppose him.
