Chapter Thirty Three

Wrath of the Emperor

ANNA

Anna didn't call for a halt even though it was already dark and the sun had disappeared below the horizon hours ago. Her mind was still racing, probably almost as quickly as the horses were galloping at breakneck speed, covering as much ground as they could to catch up to the Coalition.

Since the parley with Hans, Anna hadn't managed to shake that feeling of dread that plagued and consumed her. Now that she knew the truth, she couldn't stop. She just couldn't. Her eyes narrowed as she leaned forward even more, squeezing her thighs against her horse's sides. The thoroughbred seemed to kick things into a new gear, slowly widening the gap between Anna and the rest of her entourage who were already doing their best to keep up at a dangerous pace.

With the night winds in her face, Anna could feel cold sweat forming on her brow again as she remembered the grinning face of her archenemy and his last words to her before departing. I could crush you right now, but no. I want you to live with the anticipation of being destroyed. To have your hope slowly drained from you like blood from a wound. To have everyone lose their faith in you as they realise the wrath you've brought upon them. To feel so mortal.

"Your Majesty!" Lieutenant Evans shouted. "Your Majesty, please stop!"

Jolted from her thoughts by the call from the commander of the Queen's Guard, Anna eased up on the reins and slowed her mount to a canter, allowing the others to catch up to her. As she glanced round at her entourage, she noticed for the first time that the Witch Hunters, along with the rest of the soldiers, looked winded.

"Ma'am, may I strongly suggest that we halt for the night?" Evans tried his best to keep a rigid, formal posture in the saddle. "We've been riding hard since morning, with no breaks apart from a brief lunch and dinner." He waved a hand at the others. "I think we're all exhausted, including our horses. Please, allow yourself to rest too. We have to pace ourselves, Ma'am."

Appalled, Anna put a hand to her forehead. "Yes, yes, of course. I'm so sorry. I was just so eager to get us all back to the Coalition quickly that…" she trailed off. Looking apologetically at her entourage. "I'm sorry. We'll make camp here by the side of the road and resume again tomorrow morning at day break?"

"Thank you, Ma'am." Evans said gratefully, signalling to the rest to dismount. He gave the queen a look of concern. "I know it is not my place but for your own safety, please don't push yourself too hard. We all saw what happened today during the parley and…it was rather horrific if I might say so. You need to rest. Your Majesty."

Nodding in gratitude, she watched as the soldiers and the Witch Hunters dismounted, and did so herself. She found a nearby rock and sat down, her heart still beating fast and her adrenaline up. The soldiers had gone to work pitching her tent for her, but her gaze was already far away, back the way they'd come.

At daybreak the next day, Anna once again led the entourage as they zipped along the snow covered roads and plains, slowly catching up to Kristoff, Frederick and the rest of the column. The Coalition had apparently made good distance with the time Anna bought them, and Anna estimated that by nightfall she and her entourage would rendezvous with the others if they could maintain their pace.

This time, even though she was still preoccupied with how to get the Coalition to safety before Hans and the Imperial Horde descended upon them all, she was mindful to make several stops during the day to allow the horses and men to rest. Both Hansel and Gretel came to check on her to make sure she was doing alright. They'd both been filled in yesterday after the parley, and they too seemed rather perturbed at the notion that their shots had failed to assassinate the emperor. Even Hansel, who was usually the more nonchalant one, had been rather light on jokes and banter over the past two days, and for good reason too. Everyone was on edge after what they'd seen Hans do.

As Anna had projected, she and her entourage finally saw the Coalition's camp at the foot of a hill from afar when the sun had already disappeared. Her tight muscles loosened a little in relief. We made it at last. Riding into the Coalition's camp made Anna deflate even further, feeling as though she was finally back in friendly territory - relatively at least. They were still on Empire soil after all.

As Anna and her entourage rode through the neat rows of tents, soldiers from the various divisions - Arendellians, Einsfeltai, Danish, Molcorrans and Xerflorians alike - all saluted and cheered as they passed by. Waving back, Anna tried to hide the fatigue and smiled at everyone. It warmed her heart to see that her sacrifice paid off.

"Anna!" Kristoff hurried out to meet her before she could even arrive back at her tent, with her assistant Hayley not far behind.

Silently, Anna dismounted and handed the reins to one of the soldiers. Then, she dismissed her entourage with a grateful nod, They saluted and dispersed, giving the queen and her husband some privacy for their reunion. She rushed forward and hugged Kristoff tightly. Her heart melted as she rested her head against his chest, feeling all the anxiety and worry leave her for those few brief seconds.

"I'm so glad you're alright." Kristoff kissed her and held her close, putting his gloved hands on the back of her head. "You have no idea how worried I've been the past couple of days. I kept worrying that Hans would kill you or have you taken prisoner."

"You really are a sight for sore eyes." Anna mumbled, her face buried in his embrace. She then realised Hayley was still waiting patiently a few feet away to give the couple their well earned moment together, and looked over at her secretary. "You're looking a little on edge, Hayley. Kristoff drill you a little too hard with the paperwork while I was gone?"

"No. Your Majesty. It's just really good to see you," The assistant curtseyed and pushed up her spectacles. "We were all so worried about you."

"And for good reason too." Kristoff took Anna by the hand and led her back in the direction of their shared tent. "You must be drained."

"Oh, you have no idea." Anna said, the exhaustion finally taking its toll. After the past two days of hard riding, her body felt incredibly sore.

"If I might be so bold, Ma'am, how did the parley with Hans go?"

The severity of their predicament suddenly slithered back into her mind again, and she gave an involuntary shudder as she turned to Hayley. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Kristoff stopped in his tracks and faced her, worry and concern in his eyes. "What happened?"

Anna dropped her voice. "Not here. Let's get back to the tent first." She put a hand on Hayley's shoulder. "Find Frederick and tell him I want to see him. He needs to know what we're facing."

###

"Your Majesty," Frederick saluted sharply as he entered the tent. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you made it back in one piece."

Anna couldn't help but let out a chuckle. She regarded the Field Marshal as a fatherly figure, who'd always been there for her and Elsa as they were growing up. "It's good to see you too." Behind her portable writing desk, she leaned forward in her chair and picked up her cup of steaming hot tea. "But this isn't exactly a social call. I have news. Bad news."

From the peripheral of her eye, she saw Kristoff purse his lips in anticipation of what she was about to say. Frederick, on the other hand, had a blank expression on his face as usual. He clasped his hands behind his back in proper military fashion and waited silently.

"You might want to sit down when you hear what I have to say," Anna took a sip from her tea and gestured at the chair before her.

Nodding in gratitude, Frederick sat down.

Anna set down her cup and glanced at both men. "I met with Hans, as planned." She said in a relatively low voice, paranoid that someone outside was listening in. Even her personal assistant couldn't be made privy to such sensitive information. "I knew he was going to try to manipulate things, and this time I planned for every scenario I could think of. But it still wasn't enough," She inhaled sharply, her features growing tight. "I wasn't prepared for this. I had no idea that…that the entire parley was simply a ruse."

"A ruse for what?" Kristoff asked.

"To show me firsthand that he's immortal now." Anna whispered the dreadful words. "He's the new demon host for the Eternal King."

Kristoff opened his mouth for a good few seconds, then shut it. A look of horror clouded his eyes, and he sat back in his seat, a hand rubbing the stubble above his lip. "Hell." He finally muttered.

"I'm sorry, but you might need to bring me up to speed." Frederick had an eyebrow raised. "I have heard stories and myths, but are you suggesting it is real?"

Anna spent the next couple of minutes filling Frederick in on everything the Warriors had told her about the legend of the Eternal King, the prophecy and its fulfilment. By the time she was done, she'd broken out in cold sweat again and her heart was racing.

Unsurprisingly, Frederick looked unfazed, though his lips were formed into a hard line. He looked into Anna's eyes. "So the emperor is an immortal now, and he has no intentions of stopping the war."

"Yes," Anna found her voice shaking. "He told me that he's going to let Kane and the Imperial Horde tear us apart. We must get to Korynes before they catch up to us."

"Not to worry." Frederick said, his tone still confident and reassuring. "Thanks to your plan, we've made full use of your attempt to buy us more time. We're only a day out from Korynes."

"Say what?" Anna felt one of the knots in her stomach loosen.

"If we break camp at dawn, we should reach Korynes shortly after noon." Kristoff spoke up. "Assuming we continue at the killing pace we've been going for the past couple of days."

"We have to. We have to endure, just until we get to safety." Anna replied, her heart beginning to fill with hope once again. "Once we're back in Korynes and have regrouped with Prince August and the Vjormans, we'll be able to hold the city against the Exonians."

"Even Kane wouldn't be mad enough to attempt a siege in winter." Kristoff said.

"I hope so." Frederick sounded cautious. "Field Marshal Kane has been an opponent unlike any other that I've ever faced on a battlefield. His tactics are nothing short of ruthless but effective nonetheless. We'll have to be prepared for any possible outcome."

"We will be," Kristoff agreed. "But first things first. We'll get to the city and rendezvous with the Vjorman division."

"Yes, sir. We will leave at daybreak." Frederick said, then turned to Anna. "You've had a difficult few days. I strongly suggest you get enough rest."

Smiling, she nodded. "I will. Thanks."

Frederick stood up and crisply saluted both Kristoff and Anna before excusing himself from the tent.

Once the Field Marshal was gone, Anna sighed and closed her eyes.

"You alright?" Kristoff asked, walking over to her and massaging her shoulders.

"Mmn. Now that I'm back with you? Yeah," She rested the back of her head on his body. "I'm just worried. We've fought Hans before, but this time is different. Confronting him felt different. He's far more dangerous than ever and I'm really worried that we can't stop him this time."

Kristoff kissed the top of her head. "I wish I could tell you that I know we'll beat him again. But frankly…I don't know. Especially after you told us about the Eternal King." He paused and squeezed her shoulders affectionately. "But I can promise you that no matter what, I'll be right here for you."

Exhaling, Anna stood up and looped her arms around the back of Kristoff's neck, pulling him in for a long kiss. "Thank you for being here."

"Where else would I be?" He gave a small, sardonic chuckle.

"Still don't regret marrying me and getting yourself stuck in the middle of war?"

A small grin crept onto his face. "Never."

HANS

"Splendid." Hans smiled. He glanced round at the general staff gathered in the Command Tent. The senior officers all gazed at him in respect and awe, for all of them knew that their new emperor was already making more headway than his predecessor. The moment he'd taken over the throne, the campaign for military conquest seemed to be kicked into a whole new gear, and everyone in the Imperial Horde was revitalised and ready to crush their Coalition enemies.

Hans could feel it. The admiration and reverence was quite literally radiating off from the men and women sitting in the room. Perhaps that could be chalked up to the powers of the Eternal King residing within him, but whatever the reason was, Hans liked it.

But only one man remained unimpressed. Field Marshal Kane sat at the opposite end of the table, the right side of his face obscured by a half mask which covered up the grotesque scars he'd sustained during the Battle of Arendelle. Word was, Kane still held a vendetta against that archer princess and the mercenary Prometheus who'd beaten him in combat.

Sadly, that vendetta no longer worked in Hans' favour. The Princess of Denmark had escaped with Eleanor and was now still somewhere in Empire territory. Hans had dispatched a platoon of mind-controlled soldiers blessed by the touch of the Eternal King to hunt down the former Empress and the remaining Warriors. He couldn't risk letting them or his predecessor threaten his reign.

And then there was Prometheus. That slippery mercenary had vanished, and till now, Jade hadn't reported in. A damn elusive opponent, Hans mused to himself. A worthy adversary, much like Elsa herself was. Those two really were made for each other. But he wasn't worried on that score. Now that she was a Mage Slayer, it was only a matter of time before Jade caught the mercenary somewhere in the tunnels and killed him. A smirk played on the corners of his lips. How ironic. Being killed by a former ally.

Hans locked eyes with Kane, who himself looked at the emperor with a calm, neutral expression. He didn't like how Kane wasn't afraid of him. Everyone else was, but not the Field Marshal.

"Good night, gentlemen." Hans announced, getting to his feet. "Thank you all for coming."

The senior officers got to their feet and saluted in unison, their parade ground forms perfect. Half-turning to the left, they then saluted the Field Marshal, who nodded and waved them away. Turning on their heels, they all filed out of the Command Tent in an orderly fashion.

Hans watched as all of them left, till only Kane and himself were left. Kane remained silent, studying him with a blank expression. He levelled the man's gaze calmly. "Anything you wish to add, Kane?"

The Field Marshal eyed him for a couple of seconds more before he finally spoke. "Your ambitions are remarkable, but open to weakness."

Amusing. Hans raised an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

"You are hell bent on destroying the Coalition once and for all and vengeance drives you. But we shouldn't overextend ourselves. Remember that this whole strategy was yours to begin with," Kane said. "Don't forget that if the Coalition is banking on the safety of Korynes as their stronghold, they are sorely mistaken. We will slow the pace of the march, because there's nowhere the Coalition can run where we can't get them."

Hans eyed the steadfast Field Marshal. "I want them destroyed by any means necessary. You claim to be the military expert here, don't you? I'm not concerned with how you do it, just get it done."

"Hmmn." Kane responded, his gaze penetrative as he lapsed back into silence.

"Is that all?"

"No," Kane said shortly. "I want to clarify where we stand."

"Oh? And where would that be?"

Kane crossed the floor of the tent and stopped in front of Hans. He loomed a full head taller and cast a shadow over Hans, cutting quite the imposing figure in spite of his injuries. "I don't know what happened to the Empress, but frankly I don't give a damn. She was insane and had no mind for strategy. She had no business running the Empire." He paused. "But she had something I needed. She had ties to the Crimson Order, as I know you do too."

Hans had to hide the genuine surprise that threatened to cross his face. "I must admit I am impressed, Kane. You're more intelligent and resourceful than you let on."

"I do my homework."

"And your point is?"

Kane stared down at him, the disdain on his features evident as his voice bordered on a growl. "You played us all for fools."

Shrugging, Hans put a hand on his hip, where his rapier lay sheathed. "Can you really blame me for aspiring to greater things?"

"I suppose not." Kane's eyes narrowed. "The blame falls on the empress who was gullible enough to make you consul, and then chancellor. But deep down I knew there was something fishy about you from the moment I laid eyes on you. And I was right."

"Be very careful with your next words," Hans smiled. "You don't want to be demoted for treason."

Kane let out a tiny scoff. "You won't demote me. We both know I'm the best officer this damn army has ever had for generations. Without me in charge, General Hydrech or some incompetent fool will take over. The Coalition will capitalise on that and turn the tide of war, and your aspirations for worldwide domination will crumble and fade like dust in the wind." He towered over Hans. "Go on then. Stop posturing and demote me, if you dare."

Though Hans kept a calm smile on his face, he did his best to quell the snarl that threatened to emerge. The field marshal was right. Kane knew that he was essential to win this war. There was no other commander quite like him.

"I thought so," Kane scoffed again after a long pause and shook his head slowly. "You're a cunning bastard, boy, and you may find pleasure in pulling everyone's strings but you don't get to pull mine. I have some of my own demands to make, now that you're in charge."

"Demands?" Hans nearly growled.

"You know very well what I lost."

"Your family."

"Yes." Kane paused, and Hans saw his eyes soften for a flash of a moment before they hardened again. "The empress promised to use her connections with the Crimson Order to harness the powers of the Eternal King. The same powers that resurrected me from the grave."

"And I presume you want me to honour the same arrangement?" Hans answered. "To intercede with the Order on your behalf?"

"No." Kane smirked. "I studied the supernatural long enough to know its presence when its near. I know what you are now, boy. What you've allowed yourself to become."

Hans felt the Eternal King stir within him, and he let out a controlled chuckle. "Well done, Kane. Well done. You truly are remarkable. The reports about you were sorely understated." He spread his hands. "Very well. I pride myself on being a reasonable man. I will honour Eleanor's arrangement with you. That is, if you hold up your end of the bargain and continue to lead my forces in my name."

Kane's arrogant smirk evolved to one of approval. "Good answer." He turned and walked away, leaving Hans standing alone in the Command Tent.

The moment Kane left, Hans let out a genuine chuckle in spite of the vexation he felt. The Field Marshal was one of the rare few individuals who didn't back down from him. Usually his intelligence and flair for manipulation had everyone in the room at his mercy. But not Kane. And in a twisted way, Hans approved. This ally of his posed a real challenge, one he often did not have the luxury of having. But he was willing to tolerate it. Just as long as Kane holds up his end of the bargain.

"Busy night, I see."

Hans nodded. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Hello, Salvadore."

The Bastrusian priest emerged from behind him, trailing a fading cloud of mist. He was clad in the flowing brown cloaks of the Crimson Order, the hood veiling his eyes and the excess cloth hiding much of his figure.

"Right on schedule, as always." Hans glanced at him. The Mage Slayer had become a rather valuable ally as of late, helping to transport him from one place to another in no time at all; not unlike Eleanor's own demon powers or that Ha'naeth's unique teleportation sorcery.

Salvadore responded with a single nod. "Are you ready?"

"Yes. It's time I paid a visit to my dear Elsa to see how she's doing," Hans stepped up to the Mage Slayer. "Take us back to the catacombs."

A cloud of dark grey mist materialised from Salvadore's hands and obscured the entire Command Tent in thick, black smoke. Soon, Hans could see nothing in his surroundings except the dark clouds and the shadowy figure of the man before him. After a few moments, the mist cleared, dissipating almost as quickly as it had appeared.

Hans glanced around. They were once again in the underground base of the Crimson Order, far below the surface of the Kalneron Cathedral in the heart of Exon's capital. The deathly stench had grown familiar to his senses now, and so had the stains of blood on the stony ground and rocky walls of the cave. The cloaked priests in the foyer looked up upon his arrival, their voices dying down. Even Lord Magnus, High Priest of the Crimson Order, stopped in his tracks, his wrinkled face pale and grave.

Something's wrong. Hans' eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"

The Mage Slayers glanced at one another, some averting their eyes from the emperor's confused gaze. But the High Priest began walking in his direction.

"Magnus." Hans demanded. "What's going on?"

The old man looked uneasy. "There is something you must know." His cracked, raspy voice grated in Hans' ears, annoying him all the more.

"Tell me."

"The mercenary. The masked man." Magnus continued slowly. "He broke into our stronghold. And he…freed our prized prisoners."

Dismayed, Hans stared at the High Priest as the words sank in. Without warning, he pushed past Magnus and ran through the tunnels leading to the cells made to hold the most dangerous of prisoners. As his feet pumped the ground, his heart raced, his mind hoping that his ears had deceived him. That the old fool had been wrong. That she was still there.

Debouching from the tunnel, he stared at the cell that stood alone in the centre of the cavern. It was empty, the shackles left lying on the ground with no trace of Elsa.

"No!" He snarled, punching the wall with all his might. Rock chipped off and crumbled to dust. Blood dripped from his knuckles but he didn't notice. His head pounded, his heartbeat thundered. Everything began to swirl and he breathed heavily. He dropped to his knees, furious and in distress. And inside him, the Eternal King stirred.

Pathetic. The Eternal King's voice rang in his ears like a deathly whisper.

"Enough." Hans growled.

See where your indulgence for revenge has led you? The Eternal King taunted. You wanted to torture her. Break her body and spirit. And then marry her. But you took too long savouring your victory. And now your precious little Snow Queen is gone.

Blood stained the ground as Hans clenched his fist. "Silence."

Your love for theatrics and torture will be your downfall if you don't get rid of them, the Eternal King warned, his whisper dangerous. You will destroy both of us, and you will have failed again, just like you always have.

"Get out of my head."

The Eternal King cackled, sending chills down Hans' spine. Don't you see? I can't. You're stuck with me, Hans Westergaard. Unless you're willing to give up your powers and become a mere mortal again?

Hans gritted his teeth, his body quivering with rage.

No, I didn't think so. If Hans could see the manifestation of the Eternal King in the flesh, he imagined that the demon had a smirk on his face. You see, that's where your predecessor failed too. Once you've tasted godhood, there's no turning back. And that's the trap, you fool. You won't dare to part with me. The Eternal King let out a rumbling roar of laughter. And that makes you mine.

"What do you want?" Hans snarled.

No more theatrics. No more waiting. Get rid of our enemies once and for all, the Eternal King thundered. Find the Snow Queen and her cohort, and destroy them all. Now that she's free, she and her allies pose the greatest threat to our reign. Eliminate them, the same way you're trying to eliminate Eleanor Tal Yin. Only then will we have the freedom to rule the world.

"Yes," Hans said through clenched jaw. "I will destroy them all."

Good, the Eternal King boomed. Secure your reign, Westergaard, and then we can move on to the next phase of the plan.

"Which is?"

First things first, my friend. Destroy our enemies, and then you will know what comes next.

Then, as quickly as the voice in his head had come, it vanished. Hans could almost feel as though the Eternal King was retreating back into his shell, residing deep within the recesses of his mind and body. And just like that, the storm in Hans' head ceased, leaving only anger in its wake.

What have I allowed myself to become? Hans stared at his bloodied hand. Already, the wound had closed itself, leaving fresh, unbroken skin. He'd always been in control of every opponent and every possible outcome. But had he unwittingly fallen into the Eternal King's trap? Had he not considered this? Had he been outplayed and outmatched by the age-old demon?

Hans' face tensed as he stared up at the empty cell before him. What if the demon was right? What if he was nothing more than a shell now, unable to live without the Eternal King? Unable to give up all that power?

"Your Imperial Majesty," Lord Magnus' voice came echoing from down the tunnel.

Hans levered himself to his feet, the blood on his knuckles already drying and leaving behind no trace of a wound. He turned to see Magnus debouch from the mouth of the tunnel, dragging Jade with him by the arm.

"This witch failed to stop the mercenary." Magnus drawled, shoving Jade forward. "Her failure allowed the enemies to escape."

Glancing at the former Warriors before him, he saw only the shell of the girl. She stood before him, eyes open but empty. Empty of her soul. Magnus and his priests had succeeded in brainwashing her into becoming a Mage Slayer. But she had failed to finish the task he'd given her a week ago.

"Shall I have her executed?"

"No," Hans said quietly, pushing a stray lock of dark hair away from her face. She didn't flinch. "My dear, I know you're capable of so much more, so I'm going to give you a second chance. Find the mercenary. Find the Ha'naeth. And most importantly, find Elsa. Then bring them to me."

Jade bowed, her posture rigid and stiff. "As you command, Your Imperial Majesty." She turned on her heel and stalked back towards the tunnels.

That just left Magnus. The High Priest was sweating underneath his hood, Hans could smell it. He let out a tiny chuckle. "I suppose you have your new task cut out for you then."

"What do you need?"

"Rally every last Mage Slayer. Turn them loose upon the city. Comb each apartment, block by block. Scour every street, every alley." Hans grabbed the old man by the scruff of his cloak and pulled him close so that they were at eye level. "No one rests till my prisoners are found. No more games this time. I want them all dead by my hand." He whispered, his grip tightened on the man's cloak. "Secure me my prisoners, High Priest, or I will strip the Crimson Order from you. I'll hate to have to replace you with some incompetent fool who might run your Holy Crusade into the ground."

Lord Magnus swallowed. "I will capture them."

"Good." Hans released the man and let him stumble backwards. "Tick tock, Magnus. Tick tock."

He watched as the High Priest hobbled away quickly to carry out his bidding. Hands clasped behind his back, Hans narrowed his eyes and set his jaw. I will send the Imperial Blitzguard. The Mage Slayers. The Elemental Sorceress herself. The Warriors will fall, and I will stand atop their bones. The Eternal King stirred within him and he gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body tensed. No one controls me, man or demon. I am in complete control.

Author's Commentary:

The main villains in this series really are my pride and joy. Ingrid Grendstav, an old witch who's willing to manipulate and kill because she's desperate to prevent herself from dying. Eleanor, a tyrant who goes out of her way to prove to herself that she's better than her sister, and also simply because she can.

And then we come to Hans and Kane. Hans was always going to be the smartest man in the room. But then again, since Book 1, I wrote Kane to be an extremely intelligent, cunning and commanding presence too. So what happens when both villains butt heads?

I thoroughly enjoyed writing the tension between Hans and Kane, and how Kane walked away from the conversation with what he wanted. Hans is a class above his enemies, but not everyone is beneath him. Certainly not Field Marshal Kane.

And then we have the ultimate villain of the entire series, that's been set up since Book 2. The Eternal King. We learn that he's the only one who has a hold over Hans. Hans knows he can't live without the Eternal King now, not when he's tasted true power. But is Hans deluding himself that he can control the demon? Or is it controlling him? It's going to be hard to top these villains if I do decide to continue this series after Book 6, but I do have some ideas :)