The Guardians of the Mysterious Golden Throne

by RX105STRIKE

The Indomitus Crusade has begun and the Avenging Son has taken thousands of Guardsmen regiments with him leaving the Throne World defenseless. A mysterious gate appears in Holy Terra and a new threat pours out. With Terra's remaining defenders stretched out battling cultists all across the globe, it is up to the Adeptus Custodes to go beyond the gate and explore this new world.

7. Siege (Part 2): The Golden Apostles

Greetings!

The next chapter is up and I am happy to say the wait is finally over! Thank you for your patience and I hope the wait was worth it. This is by far the longest chapter yet. Expect smaller chapters in the future just so I can post more chapters frequently. The reason this chapter is long was so that I didn't need to break the Siege arc into three parts. I want to conclude this arc now so that I can progress the story in the next chapter.

Overall comments have been very supportive and I am grateful that this story is enjoyable. However, I want to address a few negative ones that share common themes that I have seen. Now all stories will have negative comments and it's the readers' right to have an opinion and perhaps I didn't weave my intentions properly in the plot. For most comments, people wonder why the Imperium is underpowered and why they simply didn't conquer the planet already. I think we can agree that all factions in the Warhammer universe are overpowered in comparison to the GATE universe, and simply writing that would greatly shorten the story to a few chapters. How can one write interesting conflicts and characters if the Imperium goes on the aggression with all their weapons and allies at their disposal? I have seen many old fan-fics go this route and authors get quickly burned out because they realize nothing could fight against an Imperial Titan for example. A las-gun vs a sword will always have a predictable outcome. By having the Imperium's aggression tempered, we can have characters interact with each other, and the Adeptus Custodes explore this new universe without constant predictable battles. Also, a common comment I read was why are the Imperium not xenophobic enough and why no exterminations. Rest assured I have not forgotten the Imperium's zealous fanaticism and there will be purges in the name of the Emperor of Mankind. Lastly, canonically the Imperiumn's bureaucracy is very slow. They react to threats very slowly which is one reason why they keep losing planets to chaos warbands and xeno races like the Tau, because of how slow news reaches to high command. By the time they send reinforcements the planet has already fallen. With that in mind, the leaders of the Imperium will slowly build up their forces and colonize this world once they have the resources. The only way they can enter Falmart is through the sacred Gate, so funneling troops, munitions, fuel, and vehicles into a small entrance will take a while. If they were able to land void ships directly to the planet then the tone would be different for mobilization and colonization would happen fast.

I hope this clears up my intention regarding the direction of this fanfic. Overall the story will be branched differently than the canonical Gate plot with new characters and settings. There will be some snippets of the GATE plot weaved into the story, but overall I think I have been doing a good job creating a new story without making 1:1 mirrored anime plot.

Also, some comments wonder if Guilliman or Lion 'el Johnson will appear in the story. Cannocially, Guilliman is leading the Indomitus Crusade so he cannot simply go to Terra and enter this new universe. The setting takes place at the beginning of the Dark Imperium era so the Lion is still asleep. Later in the plot I may be able to bring one of these characters to speak to the GATE characters but don't expect it so soon.

Feel free to comment for I always enjoy reading them :)

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"Italica, a once thriving trade city on the outer edge of Saderan capital was now transformed into a bastion. The once busy streets in the marketplace were the heart of the city full of life and loud noises from vendors shouting out their wares to the public. But now, it was silent for only the towns guards and militiamen roamed the streets enforcing martial law.

A day has passed since the Italicans witnessed their dead neighbors staked to the earth and since that massacre, the city was on high alert. The wary militiamen huddled by the parapets while looking over the horizon for any suspicious activities. Armed with simple spears, blades, axes, and farming tools, they were led by Princess Pina Co Lada and they relied on her to prevent the savage horde from entering their city.

As commander of the city, the Princess had roughly 700 troops consisting of both town guardsmen and militiamen. In a city able to station a minimum of 1,500 professional soldiers, she knew the city needed to be more well-manned. It was decided that the East, South, and Western walls would each have 150 men manning them. Each of these walls was a Knight commanding them. Pina was in command of the Southern wall, Hamilton took control of the East, and Norma the West. The north wall was decided to be left with a few defenders because a natural barrier would dissuade any invaders from attacking. These natural barriers include a lake which became a natural moat between the wall and the land. The water was too deep to tread, and the lake was too wide making it noticeable for watchers to detect any boats approaching. The only dry land to the Nothern Gate was a narrow road wide enough for a cart to roll through allowing only a few bandits to tread across at a time.

Not knowing which wall would be attacked, Pina held 200 men and women in reserve. Rather than committing everyone manning the ramparts, she divided them into small groups that were flexible to respond and reinforce any threatened walls. The Princess gave the command of these reserves to Sir Greggory and her trusted advisor Gray. The rest of the militia that didn't have a specific job was tasked with auxiliary roles responsible for bringing materials, ammunition, dragging the wounded off the walls, and hauling the great cauldrons full of volatile liquid up to the parapets.

For hours the men on the walls stood vigilant looking across the empty fields anxious for the attack. The sun was at its zenith and the heat was intolerable for those wearing any layers of thick padding or armour. A militiaman was leaning heavily on one of the parapets with a spear in hand. He could feel the heat of the sun sapping away his strength. Weariness was infectious as more men were becoming exhausted both from heat stress and lack of sleep. Some quietly began to wonder if the bastards would even come at all.

Just as the militiamen were becoming lax, Pina or one of her knights would shout encouragement or remind them why they were on these very walls in the first place. On the Southern Wall, Pina shouted these encouragements to rouse the men out of their melancholy. She was followed by a pair of sentrymen holding thick scutum shields, and a young standard-bearer holding the Order of the Rose's flag as it proudly fluttered in the gentle breeze.

The man who was leaning against the parapet would sigh tiredly. After hearing the same encouragement the tenth time, the inspiring messages lose their flare. He rubbed his tired eyes before looking at the vast wheat fields. All he could think about was that dumb bastard to hurry back with a pale of cold water. More people will collapse from heat stroke before they see any battle. Just as he felt hopeless in his dull sentry duties, he could see something stirring the wheat as random areas were swaying more violently than a simple blow from the breeze.

"What?" He squinted his eyes unsure what he was seeing. For a moment he could have sworn he saw a man laying low while dragging himself towards the wall before the vegetation hid him. He felt his blood go cold in fear knowing who was hiding in the thicket.

"The…en-" His throat felt clogged full of stones as the words just couldn't leave his lips. He looked over to his sides hoping someone else saw the disturbance in the fields, but to his shock, his comrades were distracted whispering amongst themselves or deep in thought.

"The enemy…" His whispered tone was becoming louder and clearer, but not enough to stir the city into action.

The man then saw faces emerge from the vast wheat fields and he knew the battle of Italica had begun.

"THE ENEMY IS HERE!" He shouted at the top of his lungs while pointing his spear across the horizon. His comrades all snapped out of their melancholy daze and looked over the walls seeing the same disturbance of the swinging crops.

Once the sound of men shouting became louder, the city's bells rang loudly warning the inhabitants of the attack. The bandits knew their cover was blown and they all stood up and charged to the wall. Dozens of bandits emerged from the fields chanting and shouting armed with swords and grappling hooks to scale the walls. Hearing these men shout stirred the main army out of concealment and ran out to join them,

Archers on the walls ran to their stations drawing their bows and loading their crossbows. Pina stood by their side with a sword in hand

"Hold." She shouted sternly. The savages were still afar and these untrained militiamen can't shoot at that range. They needed to make each shot count.

"Hold."

Several archers' arms were beginning to shake from drawing their bows for too long.

"Loose!" She shouted at last. At the mark, missiles rained down from the walls feeling several of the bandits, but more kept closer.

First blood to the defenders.

The archers kept firing and the city's ballistae swung violently side to side as the gravity-fed weapon rapidly killed a man with each projectile before needing to reload.

Eventually, the bandits brought up men with shields forming a testudo and they slowly advanced at the walls sheltered from light projectiles. They even brought up their archers and crossbowmen to countervolley at the defenders. The militiamen all hid behind the parapets as soon as the arrows began to rain upon them. Several were unlucky as they either collapsed on the floor or slumped over the walls. These volunteers were farmers, traders, and clerks as they all cried out in horror seeing their dead comrades' corpses.

"On your feet!" Pina shouted. "If they climb over these walls it's over."

Slowly, the defenders rose from their feet shooting arrows or throwing rocks at the murderers. For a while, there was this deadly tempo of archers shooting at each other before hiding as missiles flew in every direction. Pina would hide behind her sentries as they provided cover with their shields. They all flinched as the arrows thudded loudly against the broad shields.

Eventually, the bandits in testudo arrived at the base of the walls breaking formation to scale them using ladders or grappling hooks. The elderly, housewives and the young would chuck heavy rocks at the invaders as they slowly scaled the walls.

"Keep them back!" Pina shouted while she waved her sword at a group of climbers before they were doused in hot water from boiling cauldrons. They'd scream in pain as hot water splashed on their faces before falling to the Earth from their ladders.

A young runner approached Pina cautiously staying low to minimise the risk of getting struck by a rouge arrow. "Message!" He shouted.

Pina turned her head quickly to meet the boy. The two sentrymen slid in between the Princess and the messenger providing cover.

"Lady Hamilton is facing strong resistance at the Eastern Wall. She can hold but has urgently requested reinforcements. Sir Greggory is bringing half of the reserves to aid the Eastern section."

"So the main attack is at the East." She noted the fact the defenders at the Southern walls were currently able to hold off an attack without requesting reinforcements. By closer observations, Pina realized there were only a fraction of the reported number of bandits on the field, which meant they were committing their entire force in one area.

She looked at the Western side seeing it was relatively quiet. She looked at the young messenger. "Tell Sir Norma to command the Southern wall in my absence. I am heading to the Eastern section. Also, tell him to send a third of the militia from the West to the East. Go!"

The boy nodded his head and hastily ran west to relay her message.

"Runner!" She shouted and a thin young man with a white armband approached her. "Tell Sir Gray to bring the reserves to the East, now!"

On the Eastern Wall, the situation was dire. Hundreds of the horde were at the base of the walls and dozens were scaling them. Despite Hamilton's best effort to command her small militia to defend against overwhelming odds, the bandits managed to climb up the parapets and a fierce close quarter combat began. The floor was slick of blood from both sides and the dead began to pile up above the walls. Hamilton had to shout at the top of her lungs barking orders amid screams, warcries, and undulating shouts.

She killed her first man when he climbed over the parapet and charged at her. She was never the strongest swordsman for parrying every blow or hiding behind a thick shield was taxing on her muscles. She relied on speed to dodge the deadly blows as much as she could, and never be on the defensive. A lance was her weapon of her choice for she thrusted it into the charging man's heart before pulling away.

She sighed with relief when the Captain of the Guard came up on the wall with his reserves. The sudden flux of militiamen rallied the wary defenders as they managed to repel the bandits off the Eastern wall. Repelled off the wall, however, didn't break their morale, but rather stirred their efforts to attack even more fiercely. A large group of bandits ran to the gate hauling lashed logs and battered it against the heavy doors.

"Brace the gates!" Hamilton shouted in a cracked -broken voice.

A small group of militiamen of different ages ran to the battered doors and used any lumber they could find to reinforce the breaking gate.

"Hamilton!" Pina shouted as she ran towards her wary Paige.

"Your Highness!" She said with great enthusiasm in her voice. She was relieved to find the scarlet princess unharmed.

"Status?"

"We managed to repel the beasts off the wall thanks to Captain Greggory's aid. They are now trying to break the doors."

Pina cautiously looked over the parapet seeing the rabid bandits rhythmically slam the lashed logs against the wooden gate. Archers on the wall loosed volley after volley of arrows picking them off one by one. In response to these raining arrows, the bandits held up their shields over their heads while they battered the gate.

"We should consider rallying to the redoubt," Hamilton shouted.

"No." Pina shook her head. "It's too soon. We can't give ground on our first battle."

"We can't hold this position for long!"

"Gray is coming. We must hold till he arrives with the rest of the reserves. Norma will send a third of the military from the Western wall to aid us. Prepare to the defensive line behind the redoubt if gates do breach before he arrives, then we must repel them.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Hamilton bowed her head before climbing down the steps to prepare for the possible breach through the gate.

In a fierce deadlock, Gray finally arrived at the frontline with a hundred men carrying pikes, gladiuses, and shields. He led his men to the battered gates where carpenters could barely keep the door standing. One of the carpenters trying to keep the gates closed tried to shout out to catch Pina's attention.

"Your Highness!" He shouted. "We can't hold them for long!"

The red-haired knight was about to curse out, but seeing Gray and the rest of the reserves gave her restored hope.

"Gray!"

He looked up and pounded his fist to his chest in a warrior's salute.

"Form a defensive line behind the gate. Do not let them inside."

"By your will!" He shouted before barking orders to his men to form up in formation. His men lined up into 10-man wide and 10-man deep.

Despite being outnumbered, Gray hoped that by placing his men near the possible breach, the bandits would be bottlenecked limiting them to only send 5 men to enter at a time.

The reserves watched as the splinters flew out the shut gates giving the sign that a few more hits and they would break. With each slam, the reserves would flinch as the more they waited near the battered gates, their anxiety grew knowing what waited on the other side. Several reserves vomited to their side before standing to attention. Gray kneeled on one knee praying to the god Emroy to bless him and his men with the courage and ferocity to fight this uphill battle and grant them a good death. He grabbed some dirt from the soil and smeared it on his hands to dry any moisture from his palm before standing on his feet. He then turned around to face his anxious men.

"Scared?" He asked them. There was some hesitation, but several dared to nod their heads.

"There is no shame in being afraid. For most of you, this is your first time holding a weapon. Most of you never even killed a man and in just a few moments you will have your baptism in blood. It's what you do next that matters. You wanna run away believing you can outrun death By all means go ahead. Flee. I won't stop you. But, before you go answer me this, where will you go? Where will you hide? The enemy has surrounded us and if we fail to hold them off, they will come for friends, your wives, your husbands, and your children, before they come for you. In battle, you either die alone or die together. I choose the latter. To die alone is a shame. It meant you abandoned your duties to your Princess and you abandoned your duties to protect those that can't fight for themselves."

He points at Pina who was barking orders to the militia on the ramparts. "Look upon the wall is a young girl far younger than us. Rather than hiding behind a gilded tower, she is here to protect this city from the bastards that burnt your homes. Barely nineteen summers old, one day she will be the ruler of this empire, and that is an Empress I would bend my knee in fealty to."

There was a loud bang as chunks of large splinters were flying in every direction and a huge hole could be seen punctured through the gate. Slowly, Gray dawned his closed helm and unsheathed his sword. He felt like a centurion again being on the front line with a sword and scutum in hand.

"Remember why you are here!" He shouted. "There will be songs and poems of our triumph. For the Princess. For Italica!"

The spintered gates finally collapsed and the bandits began to pour inside. Each defender was shoulder to shoulder with a scutum shield in front.

"Pikes!" Gray shouted. Through the gaps of the scutum, long pikes emerged in the front lines. The ranks that couldn't present their pikes to the front were raised to the sky at an angle to deter the enemy from jumping on top of them.

The bandits were forced to stop quickly as the phalanx of spears were in their way. Spears met flesh as the bandits tried to enter the breach by jumping on the militia. The longer the bandits remained outside of the breached doors, the archers on the walls would chip their numbers one by one. This pressure forced the bandits to become coordinated like the days of old as ex-legionaries formed ranks of shields and themselves.

Pikes couldn't pierce through the bandits' shields and eventually, the battle devolved into a shield wall clashing against another shield wall. It was now a game of endurance and attrition as both sides tried to push for more ground. Whenever a man died in the front ranks, the man behind took his place well-rested. The enemy had hundreds to replace, but Gray had only a small finite of men, and the longer he was at the front it was a matter of minutes before they broke and the survivors were forced to retreat to the redoubt.

"Push! Push!" He shouted as he hid behind his scutum shield. It was getting harder to breathe as he was being compressed by the pushing banding in front of him and from the rear militiamen. His shield was constantly being battered as the bandit in front was swiping his sword against it. Seeing an opening, Gray thrust his sword into the man's gut before pulling back. The bandit fell to his knees crying in pain. The old veteran could finally breathe before the next shielded bandit pushed against him once more.

He was breathing heavily as exhaustion made his muscles burn from lactic acid. He would grit his teeth feeling each smack of his shield. At first, the reserves held their ground, but with each passing minute they were slowly giving a foot of ground to the bandits and more of their numbers were seeping into the city.

Unfocused, something swiped against his face and his helm flew off his head. Dazed, he fell onto the Earth and the warm sensation of his blood ran down his face. The rear militiamen quickly took Gray's spot the moment he collapsed. Feet were now stomping on him as the militia tried to desperately push the bandits out of the city. This was no glorious death he wanted to be crushed by his allies feet. He painfully crawled his way to the front. A bandit in front was too focused pushing against the shield wall to see the old veteran crawling out. Gray grabbed his knife and jammed it into the bandit's foot. The man screamed in pain as he looked down wondering how he got wounded. This distraction was enough for the leading militiaman to thrust his pike into his chest.

Just as Gray got up on his feet with a sword and knife in hand ready to die holding the line, thick tar-like liquid was thrown over the bandits' heads from a cauldron on the rampart. The marauders quickly became confused as most stopped fighting wondering why the defenders poured a harmless liquid on them. One bandit quickly dropped his weapons in fear as he smelled the tar-like substance on his skin knowing what it was. The defenders poured a flammable solution on them.

While Gray was holding the line, Pina coordinated an effort to break the bandits bottlenecked at the entrance with arrows and rocks. Now that the large group was compacted in front of her, it was time to pull out her trump card. She doused the bandits in the flammable tar-like liquid and made sure dozens were drenched as several more cauldrons were poured over the walls. A town guard handed her a lit torch and she quickly tossed it at the horde. A great flame erupted as men ran out crying in pain as their bodies were engulfed. Most died quickly from the pain, but several tried to roll on the ground desperate to quench the flames before succumbing to their wounds. Panic began to spread to the bandits and they all decided to flee in terror trampling their wounded and dead.

The Italicans all cheered with joy seeing the bandits flee. There was no better sight than seeing hundreds flee in terror far from their beloved city and celebrate that they all survived.

"We made it!" Hamilton sighed with relief as she leaned heavily on her lance.

Gray dropped his sword and knife before he succumbed to his wounds. He blacked out from exhaustion and his comrades quickly came to his aid.

Norma finally came to the Eastern walls, relieved to find his fellow knights alive. He then took command organizing parties to aid the wounded, rearm the siege weapons, and collect the dead.

Pina stood on the rampart motionless still reeling over the massive incinerated carnage. Ever since trained to become a Knight, she always wondered what it was like to kill a man. She always had this fantasy of gallantly coming to the aid of some damsel in distress and vanquishing the wrongdoer with her sword. She would never consider her first kill was burning dozens of men. The smell of incinerated corpses was something she would never forget. The smell alone was making her feel nauseous as she fought the urge to keep her bile from rising. The carnage and the smell of the dead had stirred the birds to go on a feeding frenzy. They circled the dead squawking in celebration of the feast.

The princess was shocked at how many birds there were as they circled the city like black clouds. When they finally landed, she could see how fat some were as they eagerly stabbed their beaks into flesh. They were ravenous for human flesh. Unknownst to her these birds scavenged months ago from battles in Alnus Hill. Hungry and bold these scavengers were, they even pecked at the gravely wounded scattered all over the bloody field. At the base of the wall, Pina could see one gravely wounded bandit with his stomach sliced open and his innards were exposed to the elements. The poor sod was dying as he lay on the earth moaning weakly while the birds landed on him pecking at his innards.

"Your Highness?"

Pina snapped back to attention with a gasp unrealizing Hamilton approached her and asked several questions.

"I was asking what are your orders?"

"Ah…yes." Pina nodded as she finally sheathed her blade with shaking hands. "Start burning the dead. The last thing we needed is a disease running rampant in the city."

The two feminine knights descended the stairs walking towards the broken gates. Several men were huddling next to the broken doors pointing at various splinters and bent hinges. One of the men was a black-bearded dwarf. The men bowed their heads seeing the Princess approach them.

"Are you the ones sent to repair the gates?"

The dwarf nodded his head. "Ay, that we are. We were just finishing our assessment and made a list of requisitions."

"How fast can you repair it?"

"Well, we first need to build a temporary set of doors and barriers at the entryway within an hour. But to build a new complete set of doors that will withstand a siege will take some time."

"That is not good enough!" She scolded him. "We don't know when they will return and those temporary barriers won't be able to hold them back."

"It is not ideal, but we must carve a new set of doors. These are custom sets and we can't simply replace them with sets from a house. If you want gates that can withstand a siege, you need to build them right."

She could only shake her head in disappointment at the news and wave them off with a gesture of her hand. "Please make the repairs as soon as you can." She commanded before leaving them back to their work.

This was not the news she wanted to hear. Around her, she could see the militiamen and other volunteers picking up used arrows and the dead.

"Where's Gray?" She asked as she looked a bit more concerned not seeing her mentor among the crowd

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In the forest, the bandits were licking their wounds tasting defeat for the first time in months. Morale was low in camp as the vanguard of the group sulked about around campfires. The wounded that managed to return groaned in agony on the earth or cots as none among their numbers were surgeons.

One of the bandits tossed his helmet on the earth angrily. "That's it, lads. Let's go." Several dozen men stood up ready to leave.

Just as they were about to leave, those who willingly stayed blocked the deserters' path with weapons in hand.

"Get out of our way!" The leader of the deserters growled as he unsheathed his blade. The ones that remained loyal all quietly stared at the deserters with cold dead eyes.

Someone was approaching behind the loyalists who were blocking the deserters' path and they quietly spaced out allowing him a path to the front. He was a tall tan man, bare-chested, and with bulging muscles. Deep scares were marked all over his skin some from battle wounds and others were intentional scarifcation of runes and symbols to show his devotion to his new faith. His face was hidden behind a human skull mask covering his forehead to his upper lip. The skull once belonged to his first victim to show his dedication to the dark gods. He had long dirty matted brown hair coated in dirt, dried blood, and other sorts of undesirable filth. His name was Butch, 'The Harvester of Skulls'. Through the eye sockets, the leader of the deserters could see the Harvester of Skulls' eyes. They say looking through one's eyes can see one's soul. Butch's eyes showed nothing but insanity and feralness. His pupils were nothing but pinpricks behind the mask.

"No one leaves." He snarled. His voice was harsh and guttural. It was more akin to the snarls of an animal than a man speaking.

The leader of the deserters pointed his blade at Butch. "I didn't sign up to fight in another gods damn war. You all said that the city was an easy score. No guards, food, gold, and fearful sheep that won't fight back."

"We were denied a war back then. In Italica, we shall offer an ocean of blood to our Patron. He demands it!" He growls had a hint of excitement.

"To hell with this occult shite!" The bandit shouted. "We are going home. We are tired of scavenging for food. We are tired of splitting our shares with you. And we are tired of these preaches. " He then stared at the men behind Butch. "Your so-called Teacher promised the Gods would watch over us and the city would fall. Well, that's a load of shite and this whole thing is just an elaborate scam! If you lot stay here, you are bigger fools than those bastard kings that sent us on those cursed hills."

The entire camp was silent for the believers of their new faith were silently furious hearing this heretic spit out brutal comments of their religious leader. They were just a hair trigger away before they unleashed their wrath upon the deserters, however, no other mortal in camp could match Butch's wrath.

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly. Rather than simply jumping at the leader, he did something quite unexpected. Butch slowly approached the pointed blade and to everyone's bewilderment, the pointed sword pierced into the fanatical bandit's shoulder blade showing no sign of pain.

"What are you…" The leader of the deserters said stunned to find him willingly inflicting pain upon himself.

" I will have your tongue for that." Butch snarled.

Hearing the aggression was a clear sign the deserters would have to fight their way to freedom. Rather than pushing his blade deeper into the Harvertsr's shoulder blade, he violently pulled it out and poised to lop off his head. The masked bandit was astonishingly fast as he dodged the strike just in the nick of time. The tip of the deserter's sword scratched the skull's cheekbone.

The bandits surrounded the two watching and rooting for who would be the victor. Butch kept dodging each slash to the swordsman's frustration. This was the notorious Harvester of Skulls known for his bersker's rage, and yet he was dodging and weaving the sword strikes without raising a weapon to counter. Eventually, Butch stopped toying with his prey and went on the offensive. He dodged the last frantic blow as he collapsed on his knees crouching low and grabbing a jagged rock from the ground. He shot upwards and smacked the swordsman across his head with the rock. Stunned, the deserter fell on the earth bleeding profusely. Before he could rise up, Butch sat on the swordsman's chest pinning him firmly on the earth.

Butch then shouted into the air proclaiming his victory for all to hear before punching the man's face into a bloody pulp.

"Meh-meh-mercy!" He groaned weakly.

Butch looked at him in disgust. He despised warriors showing weakness and crying out for mercy. He yanked the defeated man's scalp to the side to expose his neck and like a rabid animal, the skulled bandit took a bite out of the man's neck. The rabid warrior swallowed the chunk grinning madly with bloody smeared teeth. The deserter began to choke on his blood as he tried to seal the gaping wound with his hands. Butch pulled the dying man's hands away while chanting some sort of prayer to his gods for his victory. He then plunged his hand into the gaping neck and violently pulled the dying man's entire tongue out for all to see. He cried out into the sky with his fleshy trophy raised and his followers all roared in celebration. Seeing the leader of this short-lived rebellion end in such a brutal way quickly pacified the rest of the deserters to drop their arms and surrender.

"Cowards!" Butch growled in anger seeing these pacified men quickly surrender without putting up a good fight. "So easy to rile up and so easy to give up." He pointed at the closest coward. "Pick up your weapon and fight me!"

The man he was pointing at shook his head in fearful panic. He dragged himself backward in fear desperately trying to gain distance between the two.

Furious and still drunk in bloodlust, Butch grabbed a hatchet left from an old stump and suddenly buried the thick blade into the man's head with a loud wet thud.

"Blood! Our Patron demands it! No prisoners. No weakness!"

The fanatic followers of the new faith slowly closed in forming a circle around the fearful deserters. A spear thrust into a yielding man's back and blood gushed out of his gaping chest. This sudden violence was the trigger for dark followers to go berserk and kill their once fellow comrades in arms. Screams mixed with war cries, laughter, and agony filled the air while the soil was becoming drenched in blood.

Several deserters who managed to escape the massacre tried to make a run for it to the edge of the camp. One of the escapees fell to the floor screaming in agony as a thrown hatchet was buried in his spine.

"None leaves the slaughter!" Butch shouted as he chased the escapees with two axes in hand and one by one cuts them down. The last victim was pushed to the earth and like the fanatic's title, the Harvestor of Skulls hacked off the crying man's head for his dark patrons.

The skull fanatic roared out once more relishing the violence, but his cries of joy were cut short as he heard a familiar gong ring. The sound of the instrument quickly pacified the violent fanatics as they stopped screaming and killing their fellow man. A hooded figure slowly approached Butch. He carried a long thin staff to help himself walk. He wore an old torn, grimy robe revealing bandaged puss puss-infected skin. Seeing this hooded man calmed the skulled bandit, as Butch kneeled before him revelantly.

"What is all this racket, my son?" The hooded figure asked. His voice sounded hoarse for an old man, yet his tone sounded full of energy.

"Teacher," Butch said relevantly. "The weak are being culled. Their weakness offends Him. He demands blood!"

The old man raised a bandaged stump to him. "Take me to them."

There was some softness in Butch's mad eyes as he delicately held the bandaged stump and guided his spiritual leader to the last group of deserters that haven't been mauled by the fanatics. They all stared at Butch and the Teacher with uncontrollable fear.

"Have you all lost your faith?" The Teacher asked. "Do you still cling to the old and go deaf to the new? Listen." he cupped his sole hand to his ear. "Listen. Can you not hear their voices?"

There was silence as the nonbelievers stared at each other in confusion, while the faithful sat on their knees listening to their master's words in rapture.

"Their voices are like a soothing harmony in this broken mind of mine. Open your hearts and the dark gods will see and speak louder into your ears." He leaned on his staff heavily. "I was once like you. I was a simple priest who wasted his life preaching empty words to a crowd deaf to my voice. When I was sent to Alnus Hill, what many of you consider to be a nightmare, I considered it to be a blessing. On the battlefield, I lay on the bloody soil dying. For decades I prayed to the old Gods desiring nothing, but to hear their voice and to hear them recognize my devotion as I screamed out their names. My devotion was rewarded with silence. But the dark pantheon, they heard me and they listened. They recognized my desire to serve and they told me the truth that there are gods out there worth more of our devotion than the old. It was the God of Rebirth that gave me life as I crawled away from the Hills. The God of Blood and Honor gave me the strength and courage to share their messages with other lost souls. The God of Pleasure has given me such joy and happiness as I share their messages. My devotion to them will be awarded with pleasures beyond this mortal realm. And lastly, the God of Wisdom and Change showed me the future that awaits if we continue this path of devotion to them. My sons the future I witnessed was beautiful. "

He raised his arm and stump in an embrace to the crowd. "Kneel before me, children and all shall be forgiven. Kneel and you will live to serve another day to our Gods."

Fear and the sensation of religious rapture instantly brought the deserters to their knees as they all muttered to the Teacher for forgiveness.

The Teacher then stared at the loyal bandits and he could see they were barely able to restrain themselves from ripping each other in bloody carnage. "Help your fellow brothers, children. There is plenty of blood to spill later today."

There was some reluctance, but the men obeyed and helped raise their fallen brothers on their feet. Butch snarled seeing this compassion towards the cowards.

"You disagree with me?" The Teacher asked calmly sensing his disciple's discomfort as the pair walked back to his tent.

"They need to be culled. Their weakness will spread throughout the legion! I will not accept this!"

"They will be in the vanguard." The Teacher argued. "Through penance, they shall take the deathly blows meant for the faithful. Rest assured my son, there is reasoning behind my madness."

"The war god demands blood. Blood must be spilled on this soil. He cares not whence it flows as long as it flows."

The robed elder stopped and stared into Butch's eyes. Very few mortals in the occult could ever stare into the madmen's eyes without feeling any discomfort.

"I am not a military statagist, my son. I am just a humble priest, however, even I see chipping away our numbers is detrimental to your goal of conquering Italica. Do you not wish to rule these lands and become a King yourself?"

He raised up his hand to caress his disciple's cheek. "You must be patient. "Grunha sees you, Butch. You are the first in this world to see the truth and embrace the pantheon. You should be honored, my son. They see you. "

The campfires around the two flickered violently mentioning the Dark God's name. "Slaughtering these cowards will not earn his favor. Thousands of cattle that cling to the old faith are in that city. Their blood will make the God of War howl with joy. Once you have collected eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight skulls of the false believers he will finally recognize you and reward you for your devotion. "

Hearing the priest's words seem to calm Butch down as he sighed softly. The rage within him was quenched like a tempestuous flame dying down to embers.

"Good boy." The priest smiled before he gently smacked butch's cheek.

"We shall attack them tonight," Butch said in a more controlled tone.

"So soon?" The Teacher asked not out of surprise at his disciple's plan but in a testing tone.

"Our first attack may have been a defeat, but we have learned their numbers are small. We concentrate on one wall and they will fall.

"The simplest of strategies are always the best." The priest nodded in approval. "However, what will be so different than your last battle?"

Butch grinned. "Then we shall use them in the vanguard." He gestured in the shadows where large humanoid creatures hidden in the shadows groaned and bellowed angrily. The sound of chains rattling could be heard as the beasts thrashed around. These beasts were captured a few weeks ago and the task of doing so costed dozens of the bandits' lives. Once captured they were fairly easy to pacify after you gave them nothing but pain and starvation them for days.

Once they were mentally broken and submissive they were the perfect tools to besiege the walls and they were very famished...

---

The city's infirmary was packed full of wounded as there were not many beds for all and many were forced to lay in the halls. Bandages were even running low so clean bed sheet linens were used as a substitute. With so many patients crammed together in one building the air smelled of blood and various bodily fluids and the halls echoed loudly of the wounded moans and groans of pain.

Pina and Hamilton were at the entrance of the infirmary appalled to find so many wounded. The smell was mouth-gagging putrid and both had to cover their mouths with a handkerchief.

"Wait here," Pina said before covering her mouth once more with the handkerchief and entering the infirmary. It was difficult to carefully walk through the hall without accidentally stepping on someone. All the Princess could do was apologize and try her best not to make that same mistake twice.

In one of the patient's rooms, the condition was not as different than the hall. There were too few beds for all so the surgeons resorted to patients lying on the bloody floor. Nurses, volunteers, and the Keeps' maids all helped to comfort the wounded. Maids like Aurea had special abilities to comfort the wounded. She sat in the center of the room cradling a dying man's head on her lap. As a medusa, her kind was known to suck the life force out of her prey, but she also could comfort the fallen. She secretes a pheromone that gave those near her euphoria. It was a natural weapon the medusas used to pacify their prey while the creature fed. However, in this particular situation, it was used to comfort the dying before they passed on to the next life.

Pina frantically looked in each patient ward, every bed, and every corner trying to find her mentor. At last with great relief she found him. He sat on the edge of a bed with a nurse-wrapped linen bandage around his head.

"Gray!" She shouted with relief and quickly ran to his side.

Embarrassed to be caught in a moment of weakness, Gray swatted away the nurse's hand. She furrowed her eyes at him disproving his actions of brushing away aid. Once she packed her medical kit and prepared to leave the two knights alone, however, Pina waved her hand gesturing her to approach.

"How is he?" The Princess asked in concern.

"He had suffered a head wound. It is a miracle he is already up. It is recommended he should remain here and rest."

"You know I can hear you." He grumbled as he tried to stand.

The effort to stand was evidently painful as seen on the expression of his face. It took both Pina and the nurse to push him back on the bed.

"Alright. Alright. I'll sit." He reluctantly conceded.

"You shouldn't be up," Pina said sternly.

"Honestly, I'm fine." He said casually. "That guy on the floor deserves this cot more than I do."

Pina could only shake her head with disappointment. She then stared at the nurse. "Can you bring the surgeon over?" I must ask him questions regarding the number of wounded and the conditions of the infirmary."

The nurse nodded and quickly headed out to find him leaving the two knights alone in a crowd of dying men and wounded.

"So, while I was taking a well-deserved nap," He said downplaying his injuries. "What news do you bring?"

She gave him a stern look for the dry humor. "The Eastern gates are completely broken. A set of temporary barriers have been erected till a new set can be built. I am concerned the next attack will be the East and they will all come in force."

"We barely held them off and I do think they will be more wary of our trump card the next time. Even if we clog the exposed gaps, I think it is inevitable they will enter, and we may have to fall back to the redoubt."

"I fear you might say that."

"I suggest we build a third line."

" A third line?" Pina asked incredulously.

"The redoubt might fall, so we should abandon both the walls and the second line. Create a third line in the inner city for us to fall back to."

"What kind of message would that bring to the people?" She argued. "Abandoning the walls, barricading the roads while giving the bandits more ground. While we are trapped, they will use the very walls to repel our reinforcements from aiding us."

"If we give ground, we will be able to consolidate our defenses better. The houses provide a natural channel to funnel the bandits in more controlled numbers for our forces to pick them off easily. We can repel them for days till help arrives."

"Do you truly doubt so little of the work we have done, Gray? Do you believe we alone can't repel the invaders from taking this city?"

He sighed loudly through his nose and he arched his back forward. "Look, I know there is a time to celebrate. I trained you well that you are basking in your first victory, and rightfully so. But don't let that blind you. We barely held them off. If we were here a few months ago training these people how to defend themselves properly then I would agree we would have a chance."

"I am not blind! I know what I am doing."

"Overconfidence is a slow killer. Don't repeat the mistake like the ones at Alnus Hill."

She was stunned that he would even consider comparing her actions to theirs. It was their fault that Prince Zozal, the officers, and the Kings of the coalition failed to see they were outmatched.

She wanted to scold him for saying something so offensive, but to the edge of her periphery, she saw someone enter the room. The man who entered was the head surgeon. If it wasn't for the fact Pina was in an infirmary, she would have mistaken him to be some sort of meat butcher. He wore a brown leather apron over his dirty blood-soaked clothes. His bare hands were dyed red in dried blood.

"We will discuss this later," Pina said before greeting the surgeon.

The man bowed his head before grabbing a dirty rag from his pocket to wipe the dried blood off his face. "To what do I owe the pleasure to have the commander of the city in my humble abode?"

"My companion." She pointed at Gray. "Will he be alright?"

He nodded. " Yeah, he will be fine. I would recommend a few days of rest and monitoring, but knowing these old veterans, he can be discharged in a few hours."

"I am relieved to hear that. Besides my companion, I also want to know the butcher's bill ."

"As of now 68 dead, 15 critical, 83 injured in various conditions."

"That many?" She asked in awe. With so little militia on the ramparts, every wounded and death was detrimental making it even harder to defend all three walls.

"About a third of the injured should be able to return to the wall." The surgeon added to help bring some light to the heavy news.

The princess shook her head as her mind began to flash various plans of what the defenders should do next.

"Is there anything else?" She asked.

"Well besides running low on basic supplies, there is the matter of the prisoners."

Gray looked up with an eyebrow furrowed in confusion. "Prisoners?"

"After the battle, the bandits abandoned their wounded. I brought them here to receive aid before they received justice."

Knowing what she had in mind, the old veteran nodded his head. "Ah, I see."

"Must we give aid to these animals?" The surgeon asked with a venomous tone.

"Aren't you sworn to help those in need?" Gray asked in amusement.

"As a healer, yes I have sworn to help the wounded. But as a citizen in this city. To provide aid to those that wish to kill me, makes me feel uncomfortable."

Gray sighed. " Look, we are not asking you to provide them with a miracle. We want you to keep them alive long enough so we can hang them after this conflict."

"My Knight is correct," Pina added. "For months the roads near Italica have been dangerous to travel. Their crimes of butchering hundreds of innocents will not be left unheard. The people need to be reminded that the wicked shall receive harsh punishment."

"If they are housed somewhere else then I am fine with that. We barely have any room and I do not want my patients mingling with any of those beasts. They have been through enough."

"Very well. I will move them to a tent outside temporarily. I will ask later if Baroness Formal can have them housed in the Keep till my reinforcements arrive."

The surgeon nodded his head. "Thank you, your Highness. Now, if you will excuse me, I must continue attending to my patients."

Once the surgeon left, the two Knights could resume their conversation.

"In public, I would never question your orders, but the surgeon has a point. Why are we taking prisoners? To house them they will need to be guarded. With our numbers dwindling, I don't think we can afford diverting men from the gates. We should also account for the locals. Many won't be happy to have bandits housed near their homes. This could lead to violence, which will require men diverted from the walls to police the local population."

"Do I need to repeat myself, Gray?" She snapped. "Perhaps you were hit on the head a bit too hard to forget our true purpose as the Order."

"No, I do hear you. I just don't think it's a good decision, however."

"Why must you go against me every decision I make now? I came here to see a friend in need of care, but I am greeted with doubts and criticisms."

"Is this because of the Emissaries?"

"I beg your pardon?" She asked in a harsh tone.

"Are you doing all this to impress them? To show the honorable Princess could hold a city with a scrap few defenders? How she brought justice to this city by sentencing the bandits in a theatrical court trial? We don't need a trial. Everyone knows they are guilty. To show mercy to these monsters is insulting to the victims' families."

"Why else do they remain in the city?" She asked angrily admitting his suspicions. "They voluntarily trap themselves in a besieged city, why?" Their actions make no sense unless they have some sinister intentions. Valther wants me to fail. To him, this must be some sort of entertainment to watch how I conduct war and laugh at my mistakes. I will not lose this city and beg for his assistance."

"I implore you, Pina." He slowly stood up. "If we do not prepare a third line, we could lose the entire city. We do not have the numbers to hold the walls. The city is simply too big to defend."

She paced around the narrow strip of the room back and forth fuming with anger. She then stared at the window. She could see the wounded lining up outside of the infirmary waiting for aid. Behind them, she could see several of the keep's maids handing out food to several battle-shocked militiamen. Their shaking hands made it hard for them to scoop up their rations with a spoon.

"Build the third line." She conceded. "The enemy will attack the Eastern wall. Tell Hamilton and Norma to divert any spare volunteers to the East. "

Gray sighed with some relief hearing some sense in his leader's command. "Yes, your Highness."

---

In the Keep news of the city's victory had roused the maids and the orphan children to celebrate. The children spent the day hiding underneath their beds in fear when the attack began. Myui spent the day with the children singing songs, retelling stories, or simply talking to them to raise their spirits.

The children were now running and playing with joy out in the courtyard under the watchful eyes of Myui and several armed maids like the bunny warrior Delilah. The warrior maid forgoes her uniform wearing loose garments and sandals with her scimitar pointing at the Earth and her palms resting on the pommel.

While the children were playing, the Cusotodes were no longer being idle. Their thralls wore flak armour over their red robes armed with las-rifles cradles in arms. They stood close to the Grav-carrier ready to mount up at a moment's notice. Gaius and Nero stood sentry outside the keep's gates with their shields standing by their hip and their blades unsheathed. Thucydides remained stationary as a sentry standing between the Grav-Carrier and Valther's impaled axe.

Since the battle began, the Custodes responded with full alertness, but they remained at the Keep observing quietly at the distance. Myui wondered why they would not lend their blades to the Princess, but she felt at ease knowing the keep was well guarded.

After spending all night soothing crying children, Myui was exhausted as she yawned quietly with a hand over her mouth. She quietly watched the children play with growing heavy eyes.

"You shouldn't have spent the night with the children." A voice called out to her. Behind the young girl was the head maid Khaine. "You are not a nursemaid, Lady Muyi. You are a Baroness."

"I know." The young girl said softly. "But, it's the least I can do to help contribute to this siege. I neither can command troops, hold a sword, or mend wounds. I am a child watching those that protect a city that I have recently inherited."

Khaine sighed in annoyance not because of her young Lady's reason but because of how much she reminded the old maid of her parents.

"You truly are your mother's child. You have not only inherited her beauty but also her gentle heart." She smiled as she gently caressed the young girl's cheek. " But you have also inherited your father's stubbornness. No matter what anyone says, once you have your mind set on a goal there is nothing I can say that will change your mind no matter how many times I tell you otherwise."

Khaine watched the children run around chasing each other as if forgetting beyond the keep's walls a battle had recently begun. She then stared at the armed thralls and Thucydides who remained by the Grav-Carrier, which remained motionless for days. Her smile faded as she was reminded of the danger her Lady was in.

She stared at Delilah. "Take the children inside and hand them some jelly tarts. That should brighten their spirits before the next battle."

"Yes, ma'am." The bunny warrior bowed her head and guided the children inside. At first, the children groaned in protest that their fun was coming to an end so quickly, but hearing jelly tarts made them eager to run back to the keep.

Just as Myui took her first step towards the keep, Khaine stopped her by placing a hand firmly on the young girl's shoulder.

"Lady Myui, there is something I must discuss with you in private."

Myui looked at her trusted maid with confusion and hesitantly nodded her head. "Of course."

The two quietly headed to the throne room where both could speak in private without the worry of the children eavesdropping.

"So, what did you wish to discuss, Khaine?"

The elderly maid was quiet which further confused the young baroness. She could see the Khaine's eyes furrow and her eyes looked away as if doubting herself.

"Khaine? You are scaring me." Myui anxiously added.

Reluctantly, Khaine pulled a small vial filled with clear liquid and rested it on her palm for the young girl to see.

"What is that?" Myui asked skeptically a bit time seeing the old maid's expression.

Khaine sank to her knees now at eye level with her mistress. " At the Northern gate is a boat. In case the city falls, you are to be sent on a boat and from there head towards the capital with all haste. Several of the maids will accompany you and hopefully, the Princess's Knights will reach you."

Khaine then gently placed the vial on Myui's palm and gently curled the young girl's fingers over it. "But… if somehow you can't reach the boat... if you get separated from the maids... or if the bandits reach the keep, I want you to drink this."

At first, Myui stared at Khaine with confusion as to why she would mention the escape plan out of the blue, but then her eyes widened in horror as her mouth was agape. She felt Khaine clasping her hands tightly as if expecting the baroness might attempt tossing the vial on the floor.

"No…" Myui shook her head frantically. "I can't."

"I was told by the apothecary the effects are sudden and painless. You will only feel a sudden sensation of drowsiness."

Myui tried to pull her hand away, but Khaine's grip was firm. "I…I can't." She whispered as she fought the tears filling her eyes, but she refused to blink.

"I promised your mother before she passed to the next life I would keep you safe. I would rather burn this keep to the ground before any of these bastards touch you." Khaine said sternly. " I am giving you this because I know what these men are and what they will do if they catch you. I won't have you go through that nightmare like I did. Promise me, Myui you will drink this if all hope is lost."

The young girl began to sob hearing Khain'es grim reasoning. How could she agree to take her own life? She hesitantly shook her head once again.

" Promise me." Khaine pleaded in desperation,

Finally, while stifling her cries, Myui nodded her head at last.

Even a stern woman like Khaine became emotional and she was glad they were both alone in this chamber. A single tear glided down on her cheek. "Thank you." She said with relief before they both embraced.

For several minutes the two embraced emotionally as Myuio cried in Khainee's shoulder while she held the vial tightly to her chest. Eventually, she released her grip on the maid rubbing a handkerchief over her eyes.

A dark thought crept in the baroness's mind as she stared through the window looking at the city below.

"What will happen with the children?" Myui asked softly. Her voice was hoarse from cracking up earlier.

"There is simply not enough room on the boat. A single small vessel will have a higher chance of not being detected during the turmoil. Rest assured I have already made plans." Khaine said as she stood up and straightened out the wrinkles off her uniform.

The young girl closed her eyes knowing what the maid had in mind. "How will you do it?"

" I don't wish to further add such dark thoughts to you."

"You will tell me, Khaine. If I must hold this vial with me, no other darker thoughts can affect me."

"If it comes to that I will have the maids give the children laced jelly tarts before we evacuate. The young ones love sweets and they won't question eating laced ones."

Myui shook her head in disappointment. "So it comes to this...murdering children."

"I have no choice with the dire situation that we are in now. It is mercy"

"Khaine."

"Yes, M'lady?"

"You will find another boat. The children will be evacuated with me if the city falls."

"But, M'Lady we-."

"I don't care if we will have a higher chance of being detected. I will not have you poison them. You are not better than the murderers outside of this city if you kill them."

"There are no boats out in the river. We barely-."

"This is a large city, Khaine." Myui interrupted harshly. "Surely there are fishermen ships we can commandeer. I don't care if you even have to lash barrels together. I will keep my promise Khaine, but you must do this for me I will not forgive myself for abandoning them."

There was a moment of silence, but the old maid conceded and bowed her head. "I understand."

---

It was late in the evening and Italica was still high on alert. Torches and cauldrons were lit to provide lighting and heat for the city's militia. The adrenaline from the earlier battle wore off and the men and women that took up arms against the bandits were becoming weary with exhaustion. Earlier they spent the day celebrating their first victory with songs, dances, and food, but back on the wall, it was silent. On the parapets, the guards are reminded of the threat looming across the horizon.

On the Western wall, Norma casually walked across the parapet monitoring the militia making sure none were asleep and remained alert.

"Courage men." He said to assure the more anxious militiamen. "In three days we will receive reinforcements." Just a few words of encouragement and a pat on the back before he moved on.

Nomra decided to lean against the parapet to rest. Across the horizon was darkness making visibility difficult. Even an exemplary knight like him was becoming exhausted as he rubbed his eyelids. His whole body ached feeling the weight of his armour which he still kept on since stepping foot in this city.

He heard footsteps approach him and he turned to see who it was.

"Peace, friend. An allie approach. "Sir Greggory smiled as he leaned against the crenelated parapet and patted Norma's shoulder.

"Captain." The knight nodded his head in acknowledgment before wincing as he felt the burly man slap his aching shoulder.

"All's well here?" The Captain asked staring into the darkness.

"All militiamen are accounted for. No sign of the enemy."

"That's good. If we are lucky perhaps they won't conduct a raid in the dark."

"We are prepared to thwart them if they do come," Norma said confidently.

Sir Greggory couldn't help but snort. "Are all you Knights this annoyingly optimistic?"

The young knight was taken aback by the old man's comment. "I…"

The Captain waved it off. "Forget it. Just an old man mumbling how tired he is."

He sighed before grabbing a wineskin from his belt and taking a swig of it. Norma could see the red liquid gush out from the old man's lips as it glided down his bearded chin. Once he quenched his thirst and wiped his wet lips with his arms, he handed the wineskin to Norma.

"Oh, I am still on duty," Norma said trying to wave off the drink.

"How many battles have you fought in, boy?"

"Just one."

"Well, one rule you should know from one warrior to another is never refuse an offered drink. Not often you will drink with your brothers. So take every opportunity you can."

"The young knight was hesitant, but he grabbed the wineskin and took a quick sip. Somehow he swallowed the wine in the wrong pipe and he quickly choked up."

"Ay-ya, can't even handle a single drink?" Sir Greggory chuckled while patting on the young Knight's back. "Thank the Gods I didn't waste the good wine with you."

"Sorry," Norma wheezed as he took another sip of wine before handing the wineskin back to him.

"So, I am curious. What made you join the Knights of the Rose Order? I heard you 'lot were just a parade army full of nobles."

Norma snorted. "Well, it's kinda complicated."

"Well try to make it uncomplicated then." Sir Greggory said casually.

"My Father used the opportunity for me to get close the the Royal Family. I was maybe fourteen years old when I joined. He figured our family's prestige would increase if I joined the Rose Order."

"Ah, I see." Sir Greggory said with a bit of disappointment. The story sounded typical with all nobles trying to fight each other for higher status while the poor starved.

"I was the one however who mentioned the Order and Her Highness was the leader."

"Oh yeah? How come?"

"To be honest I joined the Order because there were so many beautiful girls there."

The two tried to hold in their laughter but failed as the militiamen across them looked at the pair in confusion. For once the Captain smiled genuinely. Despite their differences in social status, the two could share their interest in the company of women.

"Well, did your scheme work?"

Norma shook his head. "Sadly, I have not. I was quite the pervy little shite back then. Even nobles have standards." He said light-heartedly. "But, as time went by, Her Highness's message of the Order's duty to protect the innocent resonated with me. Now, those nobles I used to ogle are my proud comrades."

"Oh, gods above." Sir Greggory brushed away the boy's comment. " So what you are telling me is you have not been in bed with a woman yet?"

"Well…" He said timidly. "Duty comes first."

"How old are you, boy?"

"Hey. Hey!" Norma said angrily. "I am not a boy." He then looked away in embarrassment. " I'm twenty-two."

The old Captain was the only one laughing and Noram began to regret sharing a drink with him. "You ain't a man yet till you experience it, boy."

"Ok-ok." The Knight said with growing annoyance.

Sir Greggory then slung his arm around Noram's neck. "Tell you what, Norma. Once this siege ends you should visit the tavern. The maidens love a hero and I wager you won't be able to feel your legs during your journey back to the capital."

Norma could only sigh with frustration while the elderly man kept laughing. His laughter was cut short as the night sky glowed red. A red hue glowed brighter and brighter as men and women on the walls looked up hesitantly. Their questions were answered as the sky rained fire.

Balls of flame were dropped from the sky burning the city below. Townfolks frantically ran out of their homes like panicking ants as the flames impacted on their roofs setting their houses ablaze. Several unfortunate townspeople were directly hit by the flames and they screamed in agony as their skin began to cook from the extreme heat. Several good samaritans tried to put out the fire that was killing the townsfolks with whatever they could find from wrapping them in blankets, hitting them with straw, or using their jackets to smother the flames.

"What in the Hells is happening?" Sir Greggory shouted in confusion seeing the sky rain fire.

"Fire! My Gods, Fire!" A volunteer on the walls screamed as he pointed at their burning city.

Panic spread amongst the ranks like wildfire as the volunteers on the parapet dropped their weapons trying to run back home hoping none of their families were hurt and their valuables burnt.

"Back to your post!" Sir Greggory shouted as he grabbed a panicking man's collar. " If we lose this battle, the entire city will be lost before it's burned to ashes! Now pick up your spear."

Norma was also having a difficult time dragging the volunteers back to their posts. Panic was also affecting him not because the city was on fire, but because they were losing men on the ramparts and none were listening to any commands.

Beyond the walls, there was a guttural roar across the distance that was enough to stop the deserting militia and look over their shoulders wondering in fear what made that roar. More roars could be heard and the sound of heavy footsteps approaching louder and louder followed by the shouts of men.

The young knight looked over the parapet wondering what was happening and he froze in fear not even his discipline could have him prepared for this.

"Trolls!" He shouted. "Archers to your positions!"

Arcehers and crossbowmen that remained at the walls formed a loose line aiming their weapons at the advancing beasts.

"Gods help us!" One whimpered.

Several more volunteers were frantically setting up the few heavy ballistae and aimed the great bolts at the trolls.

Mountain Trolls were massive creatures nearly two-thirds the height of the walls protecting the city. Hands so thick they could use tree logs as clubs. Feet so wide they could crush a man's skull into a pulp. Their ember eyes glowed faintly in the dark. Their brown leathery hide was mangled and bloody with deep scars of the unholy octet.

Four of these towering beasts were rapidly approaching the alls. On their backs was a bandit rider guiding the trolls with spiked reigns. Beneath their feet were rampaging bandits enthusiastic to climb the walls again.

"Loose" Norma shouted as volleys of arrows and heavy bolts arced high in the air before hitting the bandits and trolls. The arrows could easily take down an unarmored bandit, but they were not so easy to penetrate the troll's thick hide.

"Focus on the trolls!" Norma shouted and though his face remained stoic, his voice betrayed him for it had a tone of panic.

The archers and crossbowmen focused their attention on the advancing beasts, but without applying pressure to the bandits, they managed to reach the base of the wall without any harm. Already, they began to pull ladders up ready to climb. Only when the city's heavy ballistae loosed their great bolts at one troll did it finally harm. The wounded beast howled in pain as the bolts finally penetrated its thick hide. Rage from the pain coaxed it to reach the gate faster than its kin.

"Brace the gates!" Norma shouted seeing the troll already banging its fists and club at the doors. The ballistae crew frantically reloaded their artillery while the troll kept slamming its fury at the weakening doors. With each strike, its fists and club the gate was splintering and cracks were widening.

More bolts were shot at the wounded troll and its hide was covered in wooden shafts like some mammal with hundreds of quills to use as a defense. But while this mammal was protected by its quills, the troll was dying from it. Its rider was long dead from the constant barrage of arrows. A lucky shot from the ballistae penetrated through its neck and it weakly clenched on its mortal wound before slumping to the earth. Though one of these beasts fell, three still lived.

At the gates, dozens of militia raised their pikes ready for what lies behind the doors. In front was Captain Greggory with a sword in hand and shield in the other. His rag-tag group all flinched and groaned in fear whenever the weakening gates were struck.

"Steady. Steady lads." He shouted. "Whatever comes through those doors you will defend your Baroness to the death."

Suddenly, the gates splintered into large shards of wood and the three trolls fought amongst each other being which to enter the city. Like the opening of a floodgate, the bandits rugged through between the troll's feet without the fear of being trampled.

On the parapet, bandits were climbing on the ladder overwhelming the scattered defenders. The remaining militiamen fought desperately to defend the wall from being overtaken and repel them off as they had done earlier in the day. Unfortunately, tonight was not in their favor. The ex-legionaries now field with vengeance and dedication to their dark patrons fought like demons than man. An ex-legionary was battling against a nervous spearman with a sword. The legionare easily swayed side to side from the spearman's thrust and the duel ended when he swung his sword with both hands breaking the haft of the spear. He pushed the now defenseless militiamen against the crenulated walls and smacked his face repeatedly with the pommel of his sword till the man's face caved in into a red mass.

Another bandit was locked in combat with another swordsman. He was always on the offensive while the militiaman was anxiously parrying each blow. Once their swords locked, the bandit leaned forward biting the man's face and ripping off a chunk. Distracted from the pain, the rabid bandit began to thrust his sword into his chest over and over.

"We are overwhelmed!" A volunteer screamed. "We must flee!" A great warhammer struck the volunteer's spin and he collapsed on the earth with a loud thud. Feeling no sensation in his legs, but still in great pain, he desperately tried to crawl away from his attacker. Another blow struck his crushed spine before the death blow obliterated the back of his skull.

"Stand your ground!" Norma shouted before parrying a sword strike. He parried another blow, and another before the Knight found an opening and slashed the bandit's gut before running his sword through his attacker's chest.

One of the troll riders outside of the city pulled on his reigns hard forcing his mount to groan in pain. The troll then raised its arm as a bridge for the rider to climb up the parapet with ease. The rider then pulled out two great axes from his hips ready to strike Norma.

The young knight raised his sword in a guard seeing his rider climb up the wall with both axes raised. Like some savage this rider's chest was bare with many different scars. However, what intimidated Nroma the most was the rider wearing a skull mask.

Several bandits slowly approach the Knight with weapons in hand. Norma was backed against the crenelated wall. They all look at him like jackals hungry to feed on a lone bull straggling behind the protection of the herd.

One of the bandits advanced a step with a spear in hand only to be stopped by the skull rider with a gesture of his axe.

"No! The commander is mine!" He growled and the ex-legionarie took a step back cautiously.

With his back turned to the bandits, Norma hesitantly faced the supposed leader. There was a moment of pause as both warriors asses each other's weapons and strength before the skull rider charged at him.

Norma was on the defensive and not able to counter as both axes struck against his blade. The blows to his sword felt like striking an anvil repeatedly as he felt each strike to his wrists. The savage warrior was growling with frustration disatisfied with the duel with the commander. He thought their leader would give a good challenge worthy of War God's name, but it had been trivial so far. He kicked Norma in the gut and the young knight staggered back a few steps. The skull-masked warrior roared in fury as he pressed his attack. His wild swings forced Norma to take another step back, another step, and another. Through all these relentless attacks, the Knight managed to slash the bandit's chest before being forced to go on the defensive again.

In his mind, he tried to focus on not getting hit while trying to find an opening for a counterattack. Sweat glided across his bow. He parried a blow that would have sunk into his skull, but through blocking the last blow, he didn't see the second axe as it embedded deep into his flesh. Norma's eyes widened and his mouth went slack feeling the pain surge all over. He began to lose sensation in his hands and he dropped his sword. The skull-masked bandit then struck Norma's collarbone with the second axe forcing Norma onto his knees.

"I dedicate this kill to you, Grunha!" The masked warrior shouted into the sky before hacking free the knight's head off.

He grabbed the ponytail of the lifeless head high in the air and his men roared in bloodcurling screams excited to see such carnage in the name of their god.

"Blood for the Blood God!" They all screamed. "Skulls for the Skull Throne!"

Finally, when the trolls stopped bickering each other who got to enter the gate two slipped through the breach. The militia by the gate managed to stop the bandits' advances with long pikes, but when the trolls charged the militia immediately broke.

No matter how loud Sir Greggory shouted to rally his men from breaking, they couldn't stop the giant beasts for no spears or sword could piece their hide. Without any harm, the trolls simply walked through the line trampling the volunteers into mush. A swipe from its club threw men and women violently into the air. With the pike wall broken the bandits ruched through the gaps cutting the stragglers down with ease.

"Fall Back to the second line!" Sir Greggory shouted waving his sword frantically at the wooden redoubt behind the city walls.

A horde of bandits ran towards the old captain, but rather than retreating to the redoubt, he stood his ground. He managed to parry the first blow and ram his blade into the bandit's chest. But, there were too many, and tackled him to the floor while trying to pry the sword out of his hand. They managed to pin him on earth holding firmly each of his limbs.

"Come on!" He shouted. "I'll take you all with me!

He said with defiance as he managed to wiggle his hand free and punch the one holding his other wrist. The bandit recoiled in pain before another man grabbed the Captain's free limb. Another of the bandits climbed on top of him with a mad grin on his lips. The grinning bandit then slowly pushed his thumbs into Captain's eyes. Blood pooled over his face as the bandit dug his thumbs deeper and deeper while he screamed in pain.

"Gurahhh!" Sir Greggory screamed. He felt limbs being pulled violently and he screamed even louder. "Ahhh! Forgive me, Lord Formal. I failed to protect her. Forgive me! Forgive meeee!" He wailed as he felt his limbs being pulled harder and harder.

A wet pop could be heard as the bandits pulled Sir Greggory's limbs out of his socket. The bandit lifted the bloody limb high in the air for all to see. Then one by one they ripped the remaining limbs before pulling his head off.

---

"Bring more water!" Pina shouted as she stared at a burning hall house. The roof and the second floor were engulfed in flames. With each passing minute, timbers from the crumbling house were falling piece by piece.

All over the western side of the city, fire kept raining down on the inhabitants. Panicked Italicans ran towards the wells refilling empty pales while many trying to drag valuables and family out of their burning homes.

Pina grabbed a full bucket from the line and tossed it to the flames. But to toss a small bucket at a raging torrent of flames was not enough as the entire foundation collapsed. The princess dropped the pale in defeat.

Through all this turmoil, she could hear the city bells warning of bandits approaching. She looked in the direction of the western wall and to her horror she could see militiamen running towards her as they abandoned their posts and the sky was red with activities from torches.

"The West? Not the East?" She asked aloud in horror. "To arms. Italica is under Attack. To the Western gate!"

In the Keep's master bedroom, to Khaine's protest, the orphans spent the night with the baroness. Many of the children were sleeping on the floor wrapped in blankets. The youngest of the children slept on the master bed alongside Myui.

The young Lady was sleeping upright with a thick blanket on her lap. She was reading a tome to the children before succumbing to exhaustion. Suddenly, Myui was awoken after feeling someone frantically shaking her arm.

"Mmmm?" Myui's eyes slowly open to find Julkia shaking her. "Oh, I'm sorry Julia. Did I fall asleep?" She asked half awake assuming the children were still eager to hear the next part of the story.

"Fire!" Julia grumbled fearfully. "Fire!"

"What?" Myui groaned rubbing her eyes. Underneath her half-open eyelids, she could see a feint red hue through the window.

She slowly opened her eyes looking at the red blurry hue. At first, she squinted in disbelief as her vision began to focus before hopping off and heading towards the balcony. She opened the doors and nearly tripped on her long robe before reaching the ledge to find her city on fire. The air smelled of ash, black smoke was rising into the sky, and screams of hundreds could be heard even as far from the keep.

The bedchamber doors suddenly opened as Khaine followed by Delilah and an armed demi-human ran into the chamber startling the half-asleep children.

"My Lady!" Khaine shouted in a panicked tone. "We must leave."

"Leave?" She asked incredulously.

"The city is lost. We must head to the boats."

"Lost…" Myui repeated the heavy words slowly. The idea of losing her inherited city in a day fantastical like the stories she shared with the children.

She then stared back over the ledge watching her family's legacy burn away before looking back at her anxious maid and nodded her head reluctantly.

In the hallway, the children were quietly escorted to the northern halls. They all sniffled and whimpered as they held each other's hands as armed maids protecting the group on all sides. The younger children that were too weak or small were scooped up in a maid's arms for speed was paramount.

As the group passed a hall with floor-to-ceiling windows, Myui couldn't help but look outside. She could see the keep's courtyard with the Coronus-Grav carrier. However, instead of the familiar Vexilllus Praetor by its side, she saw a custodian draped in a red creamy cape on his back with a red waistcloth.

"Valther." She whispered in awe.

"My Lady we must keep moving," Delilah whispered softly seeing the young baroness stop and stare through the window.

The young girl was hesitant, but she continued to follow the trailing group. They were soon stopped when a familiar harpy landed in front of Khaine who was leading the group.

"The northern wall is safe for now." Jeshana panted heavily. " I saw none of them near the river."

"Then we still have time," Khaine said with relief.

"But we must hurry. They have breached the Western walls…and they have trolls."

"Trolls!?" The old maid said incredulously. How in Falmart did they get Trolls?"

"Princess Pina has sent all forces to seal the breach, but I don't believe she will succeed."

"Then we must head to the boats with haste."

Wait." A young voice interjected.

Khaine quickly turned to see Myui approaching her.

"Take the children to the boats, Khaine. After some thought, I am staying." She continued.

The old maid's mouth opened in horror as she sat on her knees holding the young girl's hands. "What?"

"I cannot abandon Italica. My people are fighting to protect all of us and I am ashamed that I will silently abandon them."

"No, no, no." You must come to the boats. It's-."

"You are going to tell me yet again it is unsafe?" Myui asked sternly. "That I should seek sanctuary while my people's homes burn and get slaughtered by marauders, thieves, and murderers in which I failed to protect my lands."

"I told you, Myui, I promised your Mother I would keep you safe. I cannot allow any harm come to you."

"Khaine. Are you the Baroness of Italica? Are you sworn as the protectorate of all the villages swearing loyalty to the family Formal?" She asked as she gently pulled her hands away.

"You shoulder a burden vowing to protect one soul. But I shoulder a burden to protect thousands."

But…" Kahine swallowed loudly as she tried to hide her sorrow... "If anything happens to you…well… without a ruler there is no Italica."

Myui gave her oldest friend a weak smile. " No, Khaine. Without the people of Italica, there can be no ruler." She then handed something small to the maid's palm.

The elderly woman looked down stunned to find the small poison back in her hand.

"Keep them safe," Myui said before walking away.

"Where are you going?"

"To seek their help."

At the courtyard, Valther stood by his impaled Castellan, which he left a few days ago before entering the keep. He held his helm cradled in his hand. His cape swayed softly in the wind as he looked up into the night sky. Despite the thick smoke rising into the sky, Valther could still see hundreds of stars through the thick cloud. He was unfamiliar with any of the celestial bodies that could give him a point of reference as to where this world was located in this galaxy. The Custodian began to wonder what stories these primitives shared shaping the stars into constellations. Such envious naiviness to never need to fear the void knowing none of the filthy xeno races would ever touch this earth. A part of him regretted he would never hear such stories soon The Imperium would have a foothold on this world and such heritage would be lost.

He could hear soft footsteps approaching him from behind.

"I see you have decided to stay," He said as he kept his gaze on the stars.

"You knew?" Myui asked in awe.

"Whether it be a small trading city, hive city, or an entire world, whenever its besieged the governors and aristocrats are always the first to abandon their citizens. I know you have planned to leave the city by boat." He slowly faced the young girl. "And yet you remain."

"Lord Valther, is it true three hundred of your kind went through the Holy Gates and destroyed two armies without losing a single man?"

"Where have you heard such a tale?"

"Rumors. I heard them from Princess, her Knights, and my maids."

"And what if I say they are true?" What can such a tale benefit you?"

"If such a force exists, then surely you and your companions can turn the tide to save this city."

The Custodian stared down looking directly into her eyes. His cold gaze gave no hint whether or not he sympathized with her plight.

He shook his head softly and his response made Myui lose all hope.

"I am afraid you are misled. I cannot provide you the aid you seek."

Myui was speechless as no words could leave her lips. She fell on her knees.

"Why?" She asked softly.

"You are not my Captain General nor are you The Emperor of Mankind. I am bound to only give aid to territory belonging to the Imperium if it is within my reach."

She was tempted to reach up to hold on to his knee guard with a shaking hand.

"Why stay in the city after giving warning of a dangerous threat looming? Why stay at the keep when the walls themselves are being overrun? Why not just finish the deed and kill us? Why? Why? Why?"

"I am here to simply observe your people and the Princess."

"For what?"

"For my judgment whether or not peace between our worlds is possible and whether my kind should continue this duty as envoys."

She finally dared to grasp his knee guard. The smooth auramite felt cold against her skin. She almost half expected him to pull away, but he stood still as if allowing her to touch him.

"I beg of you, my Lord. These people have no qualms with you. They have not supported Emperor Molt's invasion of your world. They just want to live quite peaceful lives."

"Such Naiveness." Valther thought. "Such disgusting naiveness."

"If you had listened to my words earlier you would know my answer. I am bound by my Order to aid the Imperium if it is within my reach. I suggest you surrender your city to the Emperor of Man."

"Surrender to the Emperor?"

"Swear fealty to the Emperor of Mankind, forgo all relations with the Saderan Empire, and uphold the Lex Imperialis. If you swear allegiance then I am bound to provide aid."

Hope swelled in her heart hearing there was a way to save her people, but she knew it came at a cost.

"If…. you can save my people from this siege, then I swear fealty to the Emperor of Mankind and Italica shall belong to you."

"To the Emperor." He corrected

"To…The Emperor ."

Hearing no further response, Myui feared her mistake of not pledging to the right person was not satisfactory to the golden emissary and she hesitantly looked up. He slowly donned his helmet and his handsome complexion was hidden in gold and silver. His red eyes glowed brightly in the dark. He took a few steps back before turning on his heel. He grabbed the haft of his Castellan axe and pulled the great weapon out of the earth. He stared at Myui one last time before heading to the keep's gates. He said something in the vox quietly and all the amoroued thralls quickly embarked into the hover carrier.

"Brothers." He voxxed in his squad channels. "The city is ours. Defend the wall."

---

The desperate townsfolk were still throwing water into the flames. Columns of men and women who were handling the pales became exhausted from the laborious monotony.

"It's no use, we can't contain it!" A townfolk cried as he dragged an empty pale at his feet. He had been tossing water on burning homes since the battle began.

"All is lost. They breached the western gate." Another townfolk screamed. "All is lost!"

Hearing the dire news, the column of volunteers began to waiver and they all began to drop their pales before running and screaming in panic.

Through this chaos, the elderly wizard, Cate El Altestan, was casually approaching the burning house. He closed his eyes muttering an incantation as his staff began to glow with power. He then waved his staff with an outstretched arm violently above his head. The water in the abandoned pales began to slush violently inside before the liquid flowed out into the air defying the laws of gravity. The weather collectively combined into a large orb floating above the wizard. The orb then began to elongate and slither in the air like a great serpent toward the flames. Above the flame, the enchanted water began to release a torrent of rain and extinguish the flames. With each passing second the elongated water was shrinking in diameter as it kept pouring on the flames.

While the elderly wizard was extinguishing the flames, Lelei levitated in the air to grasp the extent of the damage. She then began an incantation and her staff glowed with energy. Between the houses that are burnt and the untouched, a wall of updraft wind quarantines the flames preventing it from spreading. With the flames no longer growing, Cato could quickly extinguish the rest with ease.

The Italicans cheered seeing the magic castors save their city from the flames. Lelei descended to greet them.

Just a block away from the cheering crowd, several of the town's militia were nearly finished building one of the third defensive barriers made of wagons, wooden fences, and planks to slow the bandits' advance from going uncontested deep in the city. The few militia left to stand guard stood anxiously behind the redoubt though they doubted whether they should stay or abandon their post.

The Sentries didn't have to decide for long when they suddenly heard the heavy footsteps crunching on stone approaching them louder and louder behind their backs. They hesitantly looked over their shoulders fearing the bandits might have outflanked the redoubt, but they were greeted instead by a wall of gold.

Gaius and Nero were shoulder to shoulder running towards the Western Gate with their shields in front and their swords to their side. The mortals were stunned something so large could run as fast as a galloping horse. Every step they take crushed the paved road leaving behind shallow footprints. They didn't seem to be slowing as they approached the makeshift redoubt.

"H-halt." A sentry hesitantly said in growing fear while clenching his spear. The golden pair didn't obey his command as they kept running towards them.

"Look out!" The sentry cried as he dropped his spear before throwing himself to the side. His companions did the same before the Custodians crashed into the redoubt like the force of a freight train.

The Custodians hid behind their shields as they crashed into the redoubt and the makeshift barrier was violently swept away unable to contain the Aurimite-clad giants. As they punctured through they kept on running towards the west without showing any sign of fatigue as if they hadn't punctured through the barrier to begin with. The cheering Italicans celebrating Lelei's deeds all screamed in horror when the barriers were suddenly destroyed. The panicked townfolk rushed to the sides allowing the charging giants through. Lagging behind the golden pair was Thucydides following behind carrying the golden standard with ease as he sprinted past the shocked townfolk.

Lelei felt the air shift violently when one of the Custodians nearly brushed against her. If she stood just a few more inches where she was before, there was no doubt she would have been trampled. It was a miracle no one was hurt. She could only look at the destruction left behind by the Custodes and imagine the carnage they would bring.

"Stand your ground!" Pina shouted as she led her militia to repel the bandits from the crumbling second line.

Pikes from the defenders hastily thrusted through the gaps of the redoubt desperately trying to stop the bandits' advance. The defenders were fortunate the trolls did not break through the redoubt once slaughtered Sir Greggory's men for weeks starvation had made them famished as they scooped up the dead and the dying in their large hands and devoured them despite their riders' violent commands to attack.

Humans make such terrible meals than cattle or a flock of sheep for they were all bone and had barely any meat on them. The trolls were chewing loudly as they pulverized the dead militia's bones for digestion while vitae and saliva oozed out of its lips.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Pina and the remaining Rose Knights desperately tried to rally the city's defenders from breaking. But with each passing minute, their fences were breaking and it was a matter of time before their position was overwhelmed.

"Hold them off!" Gray shouted as he thrust his pike into a bandit's throat. "We are what stands between the people of this city and the bastards!."

After barking repetitive orders of holding the line over and over, Pina's voice finally cracked. Bombarded with so many visual and audio stimuli she froze in shock. She watched helplessly as bandits managed to grab a boy barely a teenager from the redoubt into the mob as he screamed for help. She saw a female volunteer wearing nothing but a torn kirtle stabbed multiple times from pikes and how her male companion wailed loudly from her death. Behind the enemy line, Pina could see many of the bandits looting the dead or killing any helpless stragglers. She saw a bandit grab a man's shirt collar and punch him in the face repeatedly till blood dripped from his nose and his teeth dyed in blood. The bandit then grabbed the now dazed militiamen towards a boiling cauldron currently being heated by a fire. The dazed man struggled against the bandit's grip as he pushed the poor militiamen towards the cauldron. Even with his hands being scalded by the cauldron, the man pushed the bandit off of his while screaming in pain.

"Noo! Gods no!" He screamed in pain before his head was dunked into the boiling water. He struggled and violently thrashed against the burning cauldron before his body went slack. His murderer could only smile in pleasure of seeing such a brutal death despite submerging his arm in the boiling water.

"All is lost…" She muttered to herself after witnessing such brutality. Sweat began to accumulate on her brow as she anxiously watched the city's defenders begin to lose ground. She wanted to shout at the militia to fall back to the third redoubt, but fear gagged her as she saw the trolls finally stop eating and began to begrudgingly advance towards the there was one word she could describe this madness it would be chaos.

"Fall.." Her voice cracked once more as she tried to bark one last command. "...back!"

The trolls trampled their smaller comrades as they finally broke through the redoubt. Militiamen began to drop their weapons and run in terror.

She saw one troll grab an elderly man's leg and swing him violently in the air before repeatedly smacking his body on the earth till his body became pulp while spears and arrows bounced helplessly off its hide. She saw another one swipe his hand and grab the torso of a militiaman running from terror and lift him towards its mouth. The lifted militiaman would helplessly slam his fists against the troll's clenched hand as he was lifted high in the air.

"MAMA!" He cried. "MAMA!" He cried once more before the troll bit down and ripped his head off.

The troll munched loudly on the head before throwing the body to the side. It then stared at the stunned red-haired princess with hungry eyes. Her legs felt like solid lead as her body was petrified in primordial fear. All she could do was raise her sword in a guard. She would never have guessed her first combat deployment would be her last All such fantasies of becoming a hero and a beacon of hope to the weak would soon be digesting in that troll's gut.

"Gray…Hamilton…Norma… I am sorry." She whispered as she took one last deep breath reluctantly of accepting her fate. "I have failed you all."

The troll grunted heavily before it swayed casually towards Pina. With each step, Pina's hands were shaking and her sword was swaying noticeably The sound of screams, battle, and the heavy steps of the troll masked the sound of stomps approaching from behind her.

Just as the Troll was about to swipe his hand and grab Pina, the Princess heard the bark of thunder behind her back.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

A second later, the advancing troll suddenly stopped and arched its back twisted in pain as its chest and face exploded into dozens of its flesh flew in every direction. The explosions startled its rider as he violently fell off his bipedal mount. The troll fell onto its knees with bloody craters all over its upper body. With one remaining eye it stared at the bewildered princess before falling on its chest. The sound of these thunderous barks for the bandits and the remaining trolls froze in fear. They knew well the sound of bolters and the ones who used them.

To the Princess's side, she felt a rush of wind blow across her skin as two golden objects ran past her in a blur. It took her mind to process that the Emissaries ran past her as the shock began to disappear. She sank to her knees as her sword clanked loudly on the earth unable to look away from the carnage they brought.

Few beings could make a troll cower in fear and fewer smaller beings would charge at a troll without any hesitation. Gaius and Nero began to split off as one charged at the beasts while the other dealt with the fanatics. The troll's rider began to shout and tug on its reins to coax the troll to attack. The creature groaned reluctantly but it obeyed and waddled towards the Custodian. It raised its club and violently brought it down with all its might on the Golden warrior's head hoping to smush him in a single blow. Even though Nero was carrying a heavy shield, he gracefully stepped to the side as the club impacted the paved road into a crater. The beast then tried to swipe its impacted club to the side hoping to hit his side. Nero anticipated the troll's attack and quickly raised his Sentinel blade at the troll's head and fired a single bolt round from the blade's built-in double-barreled bolter. The shot impacted on its eye and a large chunk of its face exploded in gore. The rider was blown off his mount from the explosion and he fell on the earth screaming before the impact snapped his neck. The beast still lived but it howled in pain as it arched its back and cradled its wound, which forced the club to change its trajectory giving Nero enough room to duck his head from the blow. Half blinded, the troll barely reacted as Nero reached toward its hand clenching on the club, and slashed its wrist. His blade glowed brightly from disruptive energy and the arcane technology made it easy for the Sentinel blade to pierce through the troll's thick hide while conventional Italican weapons could barely harm it. The large beast managed to pull away its wrist before the final cut and its hand was barely hanging from stringy tendons and bone. It howled in rage as it tried to grab Nero with its remaining hand, but he was too quick as he ran around the troll.

The Custodes would not climb on its filthy hide for the finishing blow, but he would have it kneel before its executioner. After a quick assessment of how to neutralize the beast, Nero stabbed his blade into the troll's knee and pulled his blade free to the side cutting the hard cartilage tendons and ligaments before he dodged another swipe from the rabid beast. For the finishing blow, Nero raised his shield and used it as a ram striking the weakened knee with its lower edge. The bone snapped inwards and the beast howled in pain as he was forced to kneel. Before the troll could raise itself or retaliate, Nero stabbed his sword into the creature's temple instantly killing it. He then violently pulled the skewered head to the earth and the dead beast was laid low.

Gaius ducked his head behind his shield as volley after volley of arrows and wooden bolts rained on him as he ran toward the cowering bandits. He was always moving bisecting the lesser mortals with his Sentinel Blade. No arrows or mortal blades could hinder his carnage as limbs flew in the air after he swung his blade.

With every death, the bandits began to lose their resolve as the ones in the Custode's path wanted to flee.

"Gods help us." One bandit whimpered as he held his sword with shaking hands before he was crushed by the Golden Shield.

"Form up!" A brave fanatic cried. "Shield wall! Shield wall! Grunha is with us! Our devotion will be rewarded!"

Somehow through this madness, dozens of bandits were able to retain their discipline and bunched up shoulder to shoulder with their shields raised. Spears slid out through the gaps as they stood their ground.

Gaius took this challenge and charged the shield wall. He peppered the ones in the front with a few bolter rounds to break up their cohesion before their shields contacted. Bodies exploded behind torn shields and the fortunate ones that were not shot could only scream before Gaius ran through the shield wall. Bodies flew in the air or were trampled beneath his golden heels unable to halt him.

"Stand your ground!" The brave bandit continued. " His skull will be a prize for our.."

His voice faltered as he felt a sudden pain across his neck before the pain quickly resided. He felt nothing at all but a rush of coldness. He could see he was falling and time seemed to have slowed down. He eventually impacted on the road and he was suddenly tumbling across the floor. He wanted to get up, but his body would not rise. Unable to move or blink he could see a decapitated body by his side. The death was fresh as blood kept squirting out of its bloody stump, but something about the body looked familiar. His vision began to blacken and he suddenly realized the familiar body he was unable to look away from was his before he passed.

Pina's jaw dropped as she silently witnessed how just two Custodes brought down a pair of trolls and slew dozens of bandits in minutes. It took an entire army of volunteers to stop the marauders' advances, just two of the Golden Giants halted them. The way they moved in their armour and how swung their weapons was so graceful it reminded her of the stories of how the elves fight. Such brutality they leave behind while performing this elegant death performance is a paradox. She could only imagine what the battle of Alnus Hill was like when an entire army of these golden giants marched through the sacred Gate and fought against two armies. She thought Viceroy Maoi's recount of the first battle was a bit exaggerated of how a few hundred of these golden devils destroyed a hundred thousand of the Empure's finest in a single night. She now realized he was speaking the truth. The Saderan Empire made a mistake invading Valther's homeworld because to them this was not a war this was pest control.

The bandits now lost any coherency of warriors as they all dropped their weapons and ran towards the breached gates. Nero mag-locked his shield to his back and wielded his misericordia in his free hand. His arms swung in every direction leaving blood and chunks of bodies behind. He felt free after days of being cooped up in the Keep. With every swing was a release of frustration off his chest. While his kind was quietly meditating by a candle, combat was Nero's mediation. He was still furious with Valther that they must stoop so low to converse with these mortals as ambassadors of the Imperium when lesser servants could achieve the same results. It was even more insulting that they must be housed in an inferior keep belonging to a child and answer to her whims whenever she wanted answers. They are the Emperor's Companions and they should be by his side not babysitters.

He looked at his chronometer which was located in the corner of his HUD. He shook his head in disappointment. His chronometer stopped at 5.3 seconds.

" Not fast enough!" He noted after timing himself killing a fleeing eight-man group.

He pushed himself harder as he followed another group up the stairs towards the upper wall trying to beat his last time. On top of the wall, there was no escape for the bandits and many decided to take their chances to jump off the wall and run to the forest. However, the height was too high and it was common for their legs to snap on impact or if they were fortunate to die from their gamble.

Nero checked his chronometer once more for a split second before cleaving a man's skull in two like slicing into warm butter. 4.42 seconds it read.

"Better."

Butch growled in anger seeing his men all fleeing the battle trying to escape the Golden Devils' fury. It was like reliving the battle of Alnus Hill where victory was impossible. He tied Norma's head around his belt using the dead knight's long ponytail.

"No!" He howled furiously. "Cowards!" He caught a fleeing comrade with a hatchet violently into the deserter's gut before catching another fleeing man's neck.

He looked into the wide-eyed man who was clenching his neck before throwing him forward. "You will fight or you will meet my blade!"

Despite being a savage berserker, Butch was no fool. He was still a mortal and he knew he couldn't take one down alone unless their dark patrons blessed him with gifts. He decided to jump off the parapet and onto his waiting troll's back. A large beast like a troll had the strength to compete against these lesser giants, but the creature was too slow and clunky. He needed to find the witch.

The submissive creature groaned having the berserker on its back once more and its reigns pulled aggressively. Despite his efforts to have the creature move, the troll stood still as if hiding itself behind the wall from the Custodes.

"You will obey!" Butch growled as he pulled on the spiked reigns harder and harder, but the stubborn creature refused to move.

Impatient, Butch grabbed his hatchet and sunk the blade into the creature's skull. The troll howled in pain trying to brush the rider off its back. It thrashed violently smacking its back against the wall while flailing its arms trying to grab him. Butch was nimble enough to avoid getting smushed against the wall and small enough to avoid getting grabbed by its hands. He sunk his hatchet into the troll's hide over and over till the beast finally obeyed his commands.

Thucydides casually approached the shocked princess with his tracking for targets. With one eye, he had to turn dramatically from one shoulder to another. Whenever he saw a bandit run towards him he would aim his Sentinel Blade and loose a bolter round. The cacophony of the bolter made Pina clasp her hands over her ears. She watched in horror as bandits exploded in front of her.

"Such power…" Pina muttered in horror as she watched a man's torso ripped apart with broken ribs exposed before he fell on his knees and fell forward.

The earth began to shake as she heard a deafening roar above her head. She looked up to see the Coronus Grav Carrier floating idly above her. Its rear ramp opened up and the red thralls jumped out with lasguns and auto rifles in hand.

"Move! Move! Move!" The leading Thrall barked waving his arm violently to tell the remaining thralls in the carrier to jump out.

The armoured thralls formed a loose line flanking Thucydides on both sides weapons raised joining their golden lords in battle. Even with the mortals, Pina was shocked that even the thralls were armed with superior weapons. Unlike the golden warriors' weapons, red energy was ejected out of the Thralls' lasguns with loud snaps leaving behind gaping wounds on bodies.

"Even their servants are powerful…" She noted.

Thucydides fired the last round of his bolter before cleaving a bandit into two. "Reload!" He shouted before impaling another man in the gut to the hilt and embed the tip of the blade into the bloody earth.

A thrall, with augmented arms carrying a bulky backpack full of bolter magazines, slung his rifle over his shoulder and ran up to the impaled sword. With augmented arms, he was able to grab the heavy magazine with ease and pull out the blade from the earth before performing the ritual of reloading to such a sacred weapon.

Once the thrall slammed a fresh magazine into the sword, he pulled it out of the bandit's lifeless body. "Weapon is armed, my lord!" A few seconds later he tossed the sword to Thucydides.

The old Custodian was using his Misericordia while the thrall was reloading his Sentinel blade. His one eye was becoming a liability as he was not used to fighting half-blinded. He held the aquila standard cautiously making sure none of the vermin touched it. Several times the bandits charged at his blindspot and he had to parry their blows with his forearm making sure the standard was not harmed before executing them.

When he heard the thrall notify him his sword was rearmed, he quickly sheathed his misericordia blade and caught the sword in the air. He growled in his helm with frustration as he barely caught the hilt. From a human perspective, they would have seen the Custodian effortlessly catch the sword before he swung the blade into another man's flesh. But to him, he felt the hilt slip an inch from his grasp, and to his kind, this was a mistake they could not tolerate.

From blade, bolter, and las-shots, it was unthinkable to witness so many people butchered in a matter of seconds. She felt something warm and wet and warm soiling her leggings and she looked down slowly. Her breath got caught in her throat as she realized blood from the bodies near Thucydides gushed out into a pool and it was soaking into her leggings. She yelped and awkwardly sat on her rear before crawling away from the blood only to stop when her back smacked against something hard. She winced feeling the back of her skull strike against something hard and she looked up wondering what stopped her and her blood ran cold as a pair of red eyes were staring back at her.

She quickly realized as she was crawling away from the gore, her back smacked against this new Custodian's shinguard. This Custodian was armed with a formidable halberd in one hand unlike the swords the trio of Custodians were armed with. Despite the giant wearing a golden helm, Pina knew his identity.

"Valther…"

Valther stare lingered on her for a few more seconds before nodding his head.

"It pleases me that you are preserved." He said ignoring Pina's comment of forgetting the proper honorific when addressing one of the Emperor's Emissaries. His voice was deeper and distorted through the vox grill.

"I…" She whimpered for the first time when speaking to Valther she felt this uncontrollable fear as if she was standing near monsters than men.

"Get up." He commanded. "An aristocrat shouldn't sit in a pool of blood."

She sniffled and with shaking legs, she hesitantly stood up while men were screaming in agony around her.

"Good." He said once she got up on her feet. " Do you still believe your Empire can win this war? Do you still have fantasies that you can out best me after this battle has concluded in your favor?"

Pina flinched hearing how loud his voice was through the vox grill. She wanted to retort at the chastisement he would say about the inferiority of her people, alas she could only stare in awe and fear.

"Do you believe your reinforcements would give you the edge in numbers to intimidate a servant of the Emperor to change the Imperium's terms of peace?"

"I…well…no…" She fumbled on her words pathetically.

"Then, witness." He pointed to the carnage with the tip of his Castellan Axe. "To the Emperor's wrath manifested to those that oppose His will."

He then took a few strides forward leaving Pina alone to watch how the Adeptus Custodes dealt with bandits. He approached his Vexilla seeing how the old Custodes was having difficulty fighting with one eye.

"Thucydides." He said softly.

"I am fine." The old Custodian said sternly hearing his companion's soft tone.

" You should have an implantation. There is no shame in.."

"I will be fine, Shield-Captain."

Valther was taken a bit aback hearing such aggression from his old friend. "We shall discuss this later then." He said before striding forward to join his other companions in battle.

His Shield host was efficient in the art of killing as there were barely any targets for the Shield Captain. Ahead of him, Valther could see the breach clogged full of men trying to flee. There were so many bodies all trying to squeeze through any gaps it was inevitable some were being crushed to death against the walls or feet trampling over them.

He found his target and his cape was thrown up in the air from the sudden rush of air as he was now sprinting towards the breach. He reached the clogged breach with his Castellan axe raised high for the killing blow like reaping a wheatfield he effortlessly sliced ten men in two blows.

His chronometer on his HUD stopped after delivering the kill. "2.78 seconds." It read. Not a bad tally.

Once Valther finally hacked his way and took a step outside of the city walls he could see a handful of bandits fleeing on the open field reaching towards the forest. It seemed like this battle would end in a handful of minutes. There was no point chasing these prey. His objective was to keep the city safe. Just as he was about to vox his Shield Host their progress, he saw a bisected torso that caught his eye. He reached down grabbing the carcass's neck to get a better look at the dead man's face. He squinted his eyes seeing a familiar mark.

Be wary." He voxed to his companions as he tossed the body to the side. "They are servants of the Great Enemy. "Purge Protocols. Spare the strong ones for questioning."

He closed the vox channel knowing his Custodes would heed his command. He cursed quietly in his helm. How did they not see these obvious signs? They were lax assuming these inferior savages were ignorant of the warp. This changes everything for the Adeptus Custodes' continued participation in handling peace talks with this world.

Valther then opened a vox channel with the pilot of the Coronus Gav Carrier. " The enemy must not escape. Conduct strafing runs outside of the city."

"Compliance." The pilot said before the vox was cut off.

The Grav Carrier's idle engines roared to life as it flew over the walls shocking the inhabitants of the city it was capable of flight. They had never expected something so large to fly. Its twin-linked Lastrum Bolt cannon began to fire sporadically tracking and targeting anything within its sight. Its turret swiveled side to side firing blue light across the horizon vaporizing the bandits into ash. Crossbowmen and archers feebly tried to defend themselves shooting volley after volley at its metal hide, but nothing could pierce it.

With the carrier slowing down the rate of bandits fleeing beyond the reach of the Custodes, Valther advanced with his Castellan Axe raised firing at the backs of the enemy. Several fleeing marauders riding on horseback jerked their reigns back seeing their only escape blocked by numerous strafing runs from the Coronus Carrier. Seeing a lone Custodian advancing towards them from the rear, the riders agreed courageously that if they cannot flee then they must fight.

"Come on! If we cannot flee then we must show Grunha we are still worthy of his cause!" The leading rider shouted.

The riders were hesitant, but they coaxed their horses to gallop with spears, swords, and bows drawn. The riders with bows and crossbows managed to loose a volley without falling off their mounts. A courageous attempt, but useless as Valther spun his weapon snapping the arrows and bolts before they could impact on his armour. Even though none of their weapons could piece his golden skin, parrying these blows was just to ease his growing ire at hearing the weapons thud against him.

Valther lowered his axe to his hip firing several rounds of his bolter at the riders and their equine beasts. Both rider and horse instantly fell once the bolt rounds exploded within them. Once his Catellan axe ran out of munition he resorted to melee combat. The first rider that was within the Custodian's reach had both his horse's head decapitated and his torso bisected from a single swing of the great axe. The second rider that approached Valther with a spear poised for a killing blow had the rider's horse bisected into two and the rider flew in the air before smacking into the earth. The golden warrior swung his axe over and over as blood from equine and cultists rained down to the earth.

Several riders broke off their charge heading back to the forest thinking they had a better chance with the Coronus Grav Carrier. The last rider that courageously charged at Valther had his sword raised ready to strike him down. The Custodian jerked his head back avoiding the blade from scratching his neck before grabbing the galloping horse's neck as it ran past him. The horse whined loudly feeling the Custodian's firm grip on its neck and it was unable to shake his hand off. Valther violently raised his arm forcing the horse to stand on its hind legs forcing the rider off his mount. The rider fell on the hard earth shouting in agony as something in his body broke. Valther clenched his fist tightly crushing the horse's windpipe and the beast fell on top of the fallen rider. He screamed even louder feeling the dead weight of the horse crushed his lower body.

"Remain where you are," Valther growled before advancing forward.

---

"NO! This cannot be!" Butch shouted as he watched helplessly as the golden carriage rained down death.

His troll hid its face in his hands clearly distressed by hearing the bolters and the Golden Devil's flying carriage. It managed to waddle its way to a young female demi-human. She was a siren with green feathers stylized as hair on her head. She also had bird-like talons for feet which was an evident sign she was not human.

"Witch!" Butch shouted at her on top of his mount. "Do something."

"What do you want me to do? I have no ways of combating… that-that thing!"

"Use your magic and burn it down." He growled as if magic was the simplest solution to solve all problems

She snorted. "You fool. Are you blind to realize it is all over? We can't fight against the Devils. We must flee."

"Have you also lost your faith like the spineless cowards surrounding us, Witch?"

She snorted. " I am only doing this for the loot. But there is no point in fighting if I can't spend it."

Furious, Butch jumped off his mount and brandished out his axes ready to add another skull for his dark patron. The magic castor began to glow in a green hue ready to stand her ground from the mad berserker.

Just as Butch was ready to leap on top of the demi-human, their short duel was interrupted as blinding white light flashed their eyes disorienting them before they heard loud howls of a loud creature in pain. The Grav-carrier above saw the lone troll below and the gunner quickly scythed it down from its twin-linked- Archanus blaze cannon. The blue beams pierced into the troll's skin effortlessly like a hot knife through butter killing it instantly before leaving behind grotesque holes behind.

The two bandits felt the heat from the laz-beam as it pierced into the troll. The dead creature collapsed on the earth with a loud thud. Loose dirt was thrown high into the air obscuring the two bandits' surroundings. The two dueling bandits began to cough violently after being engulfed in a cloud of dust. Blinded, Butch swung his axes violently in the air hoping one of his blades would sink into the witch's flesh. The siren was coughing violently as she desperately tried to avoid the swinging axes. Being engulfed in a powder of fine dust, she was not able to verbally cast any spells with her coughing up every other word.

Knowing she was at a disadvantage, the magic castor retreated hoping to escape out of the cloud of dust to regain the upper hand. Hot on her heel, the blinded berserker relied on his ears to follow the retreating demi-human. Defensless, she tried to utter a spell and her body began to glow once more. Every other word she uttered, she coughed up dust, and just as Butch was close enough to strike her back, she finished casting her spell and slammed her hand on the earth. A gust of wind began to expand in a radius blowing the dust and Butch violently away.

The mad berserker was flung into the air and tumbled violently on the earth. He howled in pain as he stood back up wielding only one axe and he lost the other one as he was thrown in the air.

"You would rather kill me than run?" She spat with venomous remarks as she saw Butch crouching in a combat posture.

"There can be no mercy to the faithless. I should have killed you the moment I saw you. I do not know what the Teacher saw in you."

"Perhaps the old man couldn't resist a good-looking gal." She taunted before a ball of flame appeared above her fingertips.

She could see the hatred in his eyes and his jaws grinding his teeth. It was clear her words struck his faith in his elderly master and she cautiously stood her ground bracing for a charge. She just needed one good shot to immolate him and it would be all over. Just as she was prepared to fling a bolt of flame at him she saw a small golden object growing larger and larger behind Butch's shoulder. Her scowl expression instantly melted to an expression of dread and to Butch's confusion he quickly looked over his shoulder.

"At last…" He smiled as he quickly lost interest in fighting the siren and faced his back toward her.

The Golden Devil was running towards them with his long halberd in hand. His red eyes stared into the mage's eyes amplifying the mythos that these creatures were not men but monsters. She hesitantly took a few steps back. Despite her feathers providing her with insulation, she felt her skin grow numb with coldness. She wanted to flee, but she knew it was too late.

"We must work together only then we can prevail!" She said unable to hide the fear in her voice.

" No! This is my kill! None will deny me this glory!" Butch shouted before he foolishly charged.

"Wait!"

He panted like a feral beast as he ran towards the golden giant. He clenched his axe tightly ready to break into the Devil's hide and claim its head. He salivated at the thought he could finally have his vengeance for the humiliation these giants inflicted on him and the reward he might receive for offering a prized skull for Grunha.

Between the two charging warriors was a large elevated rock. Butch used the rock as a boost to lift himself high in the air ready to drop his axe on the Custodian's head. In the air, however, one cannot react or dodge your combatant's attacks and the golden warrior flicked his axe quickly enough for him to smack Butch's side with the lower end of his haft and swatted him to the side. The blow instantly broke ribs and ruptured vital organs like his lung and he spat up blood before he tumbled on the earth motionless.

The giant swatted the madden man effortlessly like swatting a pesky insect to the side without breaking stride. To the siren's horror, she realized Butch was not his target but herself. She shook her head in disbelief. Why her? What crimes had she committed so offensive that she brought the wrath of these devils toward her? All she ever contributed to this siege was burning a few homes. Arson was a petty crime compared to the list of murders the infamous Butcher inflicted upon these people.

She then howled in frustration flinging fireballs at the advancing Golden giant. To her dismay, the giant was fast weaving to the side effortlessly avoiding the projectiles. He then lowered his halberd and fire erupted. Just as she was canting out another spell explosions erupted around her feet startling her which broke her concentration and the spell interrupted. The bolter rounds were a distraction to stop her from casting. He was just a few meters away and she needed some distance between the two. She began to run back and quickly casted a new spell. She could hear his thudding footsteps growing louder and louder behind her back and her avian instincts were screaming into her mind to run faster. She managed to finish casting the spell just in the nick of time for she was a spear length away from the golden monster. A wall of fire erupted from the earth like a volcano separating the two. She stopped to admire her work believing the wall of flame was a temporary barrier to give her some respite. Her admiration was unfortunately cut short as to her horror the golden warrior emerged from the flame unscathed like a demon emerging from the gates of hell itself. She instinctively lifted her hand to cast a defensive spell, but in the blink of an eye, her raised arm was gone from a swipe of his great halberd leaving behind a bloody stump.

She cried in agony as she lay on the earth writhing in pain. The pain was so unbearable she couldn't even utter a spell to stop the bleeding. Tears were gushing out of her eyes as she clenched on her wet wound. She opened her eyes and her cries were reduced to whimpers as she saw the golden warrior towering above her watching silently. She pathetically raised up her bloody hand in defeat.

"Please…please." She begged. "Sp-pare…"

"Remain where you are, if you wish to live." The giant growled softly.

She gulped nervously and repeatedly nodded her head.

Valther opened a vox channel to the Grav Carrier. "I have prisoners requiring medical aid immediately. Contact our allies that we require Anathema Psykana to bring a prisoner to the Tower"

"Compliance." The pilot said and the Cornus Grav-Carrier broke off from its strafing run and flew towards the Shield Captain.

As the carrier landed near the wounded mage, Valther was retracing his steps where he swatted the bersker to the side. It didn't take long for him to find the man lying on his back. To the Shield Captain's disappointment, he may have hit the small mortal a bit too hard. There was a noticeable concavity on his body where his haft smacked against his ribs. Even with aid, he wouldn't live long. It was a surprise the man was still conscious as he was weakly breathing raspily.

"Who do you serve?" Valther asked firmly.

Behind his skull mask, Butch was smiling at the giant with bloody red teeth. He coughed up weakly more blood as it trickled across his cheeks and he defiantly said nothing.

"Do you know what you worship?"

"Gods." The man whispered in agony.

"Who shared with you such knowledge of this cursed faith?"

He began to cackle with laughter and despite having a ruptured lung, his laughter grew louder.

"You will die, if not by my hand but from the angels of Grunha."

Grunha. A word in Gothic this man spoke so fluently despite never speaking the Imperium's native tongue before. It confirmed Valther's worst suspicions. In translation to their native tongue, Grunha meant...

"Khorne." Valther mentally said.

Rage was boiling in the Custodian's gut and he quickly bent down grasping the dying man's face and lifting him in the air. The wounded fanatic growled in pain and with his last remaining strength he tried to tug the Custondian's grasp from his head.

"Gahhh! I do not fear you, demon!" Butch howled angrily.

Valther raised the man just high enough so there were both at eye level. Between the golden warrior's thumb and index finger, he could see the man's eye through the skull mask eye socket.

"It pleases me to know that you will not soil yourself on my boots," Valther said coldly.

Butch snarled weakly and tried to scratch and punch the Custodian's wrist but it only left gave him bloody fingertips and bloody knuckles. Applying firm pressure around the defiant man's head quickly stopped him as he was now writhing in pain.

"Grahh!" He howled. "Grunha! Grunha!" He shouted at the sky. "Give me strength to slay this demon!"

"He cannot hear you," Valther said softly as he applied more and more pressure on the man's face and his skull mask began to crack.

"Wh-what.."

"Would you like to hear a secret my kind has kept for ten thousand years? In return for such knowledge, you must give me your life."

The more pressure Valther's grip on Butch's face was, the more the skull mask was fracturing.

"There are no gods. The beings you worship are not gods. They care not of their mortal worshippers and the one you worship does not care about you. To them, this is just a game to amuse themselves. We are just the many small pieces on a regicide board and we are tired of playing it."

His grip on the small mortal was becoming fatal as every orifice of Butch's head was beginning to leak blood. All he could do was cry out in agony.

"Would you like to hear something amusing?" Valther asked in cold amusement. "The beings you call gods have fears. If a god has fears is it really a god? The one they fear is not another god, but a man. A man worthy to be called an Emperor of an entire species. One day that man will rise from His throne. It may not come tomorrow, a century, or another thousands of years, but one day He will rise and He will banish the evil that has been plaguing His empire. And if I live to see that day, I will take great pleasure witnessing your kind eradicated."

With a final violent squeeze, Butch shouted in agony for one last second before his eye was ejected out of his eye socket from the tremendous force around his skull before it was completely crushed in Valther's clenching hand. The lone Custodian then relaxed his grip and the once-feared Harvestor of Skulls splattered lifelessly on the cold earth.

---

Back at the besieged city, victory was finally achieved as the dead and wounded bandits littered the floor. Behind the wooden fence, Pina and the defenders of Italica were still processing what they all witnessed. There was no cheer or laughter like in the morning when the city's defenders won their first victory, but silence.

Pina began to silently weep, not because she was silently relieved this nightmare finally ended, but rather because her nightmare had just begun. She never had thought a group of men could die so fast. An entire army was decimated in less than an hour when it would take weeks conventionally. Maio was right for they would all die if they went up against the Imperium of Man. Through peaceful subjugation as a vassal may be the only way to survive.

Her melancholic trance was broken when she heard a soft voice approaching her. She moved her head towards the voice and she gasped in horror. A dying bandit was crawling towards her bisected from the waist down and his entrails were trailing behind him. He should have been dead long ago from the sudden blood loss.

"Blood.." He groaned as he weakly tried to pull his body towards Pina.

"What?" Pina asked hesitantly.

"Blood!" He said more firmly as he stared at Pina with rage in his eyes. "Blood for the blood G-"

A large golden foot slammed down crushing the bandit's head instantly killing him. She was so focused on the dying bandit, that she didn't see the Custodian approach him and she yelped in horror. With such revulsion over the bandit, Thucydides ground his heel on the crushed skull as good measure before lifting his foot off. He then silently stared at Pina as if wondering if she heard anything forbidden from the bandit before leaving her alone.

The old veteran then approached his armoured thralls who were kicking at dead bodies making sure they were dead. "We have enough for processing. Burn the bodies. Leave no trace."

In a marquee near the infirmary was where all the wounded prisoners from the first battle were kept. Each prisoner lay on wooden cots with their ankles shackled to a large wooden beam in the center of the marquee. Given the bare minimum of treatment, most of the imprisoned patients were groaning in pain.

Hearing the screams of the townfolks some of the minorly wounded prisoners would sit up cheering out loud knowing they would soon be set free. They would bang their bowls against any hard surface to create noises for their comrades to find them.

"We are over here, boys!" One laughed as he banged his bowl against the floor.

"Just a bit longer." Another prisoner said comforting another who was in a more serious condition.

The marquee's entrance flaps were spread wide open but rather than being greeted by a familiar face, a pale man wearing a red robe slipped inside carrying a large bulky object in his hands.

"The hells are you?" A prisoner asked skeptically.

The thrall flipped a switch and the pilot light was lit on his flamer. With great pleasure, he pulled the trigger, and the entire interior was lit on fire. Prisoners screamed in horror as they were doused in liquid fire. One of the burning prisoners frantically pulled on his chain as a last act of desperation before succumbing to his wound. Another prisoner was weakling crawling across the floor till his shackles prevented him from crawling any further while his skin was sloshing off his bones. The thrall wasted more of his precious promethium to kill the crawling prisoner before burning the entire marquee down.

The city was once more engulfed in flame and smoke and the villagers could only watch silently in horror as these red-robed humans spat fire burning everything that was touched with signs of corruption. Through this violent madness, the sun was rising bringing forth a new chapter to Italica.

Myui was riding a white horse that was guided by Persia and Delilah was by her young mistress's side. The young lord discarded her night attire and instead wore a formal pink dress. The air smelled thick of death making her gag, but she refused a handkerchief from Persia to cover her mouth with. All around her were charred bodies all gnarly and twisted with their mouths open as if capturing a glimpse of their pain before they died. Her face remained neutral, but her hands were gripping the reigns a bit tighter.

She finally reached the redoubt seeing familiar faces amongst the silent crowd. She saw the princess petrified and motionless like a statue while her paige and mentor were trying to shake her out of her shock.

Ahead of the young rider she saw the Custodians monitoring their thralls works while their great golden carriage flew over the city's walls and landed gracefully nearby. She saw three of the Golden Titans' armour still immaculate with not a drop of blood staining on them despite leaving behind a carnage of death. Only Valther showed signs of death as his hand was painted red in vitae and drops of blood splashed across his faceplate. With his halberd in hand, he reminded her of the infamous apostle Emroy, Rory Mercury. With the sun slowly rising, the morning light glowed behind them and their armour glowed. They were truly apostles of death.

With the help from her maids, Myui dismounted her horse and hesitantly approached the Shield-Captain. She pulled up her dress just slightly so that the hem of her clothes was not soaked in blood. To her maids' reluctance, she commanded them to stay by the horse's side and she slowly advanced toward the Emissary.

"Lord Valther." She said before giving the Custodian a quick curtsy. "As per our agreement, I am most grateful that you have saved Italica and her inhabitants from total destruction.

Hearing the young lord's words snapped Pina back to reality and she pushed Hamilton and Gray's hands off her arms. "Agreement?"

The Shield Captain slowly looked down staring at Myui. She couldn't help but shiver in fear and remind herself that behind the golden mask was a man and not a monster.

She cleared her throat before speaking once more. "For honoring your side of the agreement I am here to personally honor mine." She slowly kneeled before him shocking both the townfolks and the Rose Knights. " I, Myui Formal, Countess of Itilica, hereby surrender myself and swear fealty to the Emperor of Mankind."

His silent response made her nervous and she looked up in confusion. Was he not satisfied with her response? Perhaps he intended to alter the deal with more demands.

"My Lord?"

She looked up to find the Shield-Captain staring at the crowd behind her. To further add to her confusion, the rest of his companions still had their swords unsheathed and they slowly took positions behind him.

While Myui was formally declaring her intentions, Valther's mind was heavy with conflict. It was clear their mission of peace was in shambles now that signs of Chaos were evident in this world. He was not sure whether these people had worshiped the dark pantheon unknowingly since the beginning of their history or the opening of the Gate brought these entities to this world quietly poisoning the inhabitants' minds for these past few months. It was up to the Inquistors to investigate this matter, not the Emperor's bodyguards.

He looked away for a moment as he debated what should he do next. Should he accept the young lady's surrender and eventually allow these inhabitants into the folds of the Imperium or take drastic measures? He was not sure if several bandits managed to escape hiding in the woods or hiding amongst the townspeople. If this was just an isolated incident the safest measure would be to euthanize them all. Corruption was difficult to destroy for as long as one false believer lived ready and the cycle would continue. However, if he eradicated everyone in Italica, there would be no point in peace talks and bloody conflict would be inevitable. The Imperium was not ready for global conquest while cultists still ravaged Terra.

Like a cogitator, his mind was rapidly going through dozens of risks and rewards scenarios to determine which was the right course to take in seconds.

Cogitatning…cogitating…cogitating.

"Is everything alright?" Myui asked hesitantly.

Finally, Valther made his decision. With a flick of his Castellan axe, he leveled his weapon ready to fire in a heartbeat. His targets were the demi-humans for they were the only hostiles that could pose a threat to him. He didn't even need to give the command to his Shield Host. They all reached the same conclusion and they will not hesitate to open fire on the crowd once he fired the first shot.

Valther's fingers were sliding towards the trigger mechanism to fire his bolter and just as his finger was curled tightly to squeeze the trigger he felt a warm presence making his muscles seize up.

"Stop."

He heard a voice and his body obeyed before he could he could think. The command felt like lightning; striking his head and the bolt radiating to his entire body. The sensation felt as if his heart skipped a beat. Behind his emotionless helm, Valther's mouth went slack, his eyes wide in disbelief, and his breath was slightly unsteady as his lips quivered. His companions hesitantly look at him wondering why he didn't fire his weapon.

To an Adeptus Custodes, there was only one individual he would obey without hesitation. The one individual Valther had been patiently waiting for a vision from. The one individual who created them as his companions.

"My Lord." He whispered in awe and reverence.