The huge courtyard in the center of Castle Raynes was completely filled with soldiers standing in perfect formation. Though their attire was not uniform, they all held their heads high as part of a single army, all of them fighting for the same cause. The soft light of dusk encompassed them, warriors of the shadow all decked out in black and gray. What light that there was bounced off their eyes, causing the illusion of gleaming reds in the coming night. On a wide balcony, overlooking it all, stood Lord Rathernal in all his glory, a grin upon his face and his eyes like flames bursting through the glowing darkness.

Seregor stood at attention, placed at the head of his soldiers. Behind him and to his right was Dauth, appointed his second in command. Both watched the balcony and the emperor, the mask upon Dauth’s face void of emotion.

Feeling anxiety and revulsion swirling in his stomach, Seregor wore a slight sneer upon his face. So much for leaving with as much haste as possible, he thought to himself. Rathernal, of course, had to assemble as many of his glorious soldiers in the courtyard to address them before they marched off into battle. The silence was almost deafening as all awaited Rathernal’s speech. Beneath the shining breastplate of mithril, Seregor could feel beads of sweat forming. The courtyard was hot, undoubtedly due to the great amount of people packed into it so tightly.

As he waited, his mind was hard at work. They’d be heading into battle at long last. He despised all the constant bloodshed, the brutality that he would see in the fields. But he would choose that over Rathernal without hesitation. Rathernal would say what he felt would rouse the soldiers into a bloodthirsty frenzy, and then they would have to amass outside the castle, making last minute checks on all their supplies. It had been thirteen days since the meeting, and everything had thankfully gone according to the plan. Troops numbering fourteen thousand were gathered for the attack. He hoped that rest of it would go without trouble.

There was, however, one thing he had to do before they set out into the war once more. Everything had been so hectic lately that he hadn’t had much time to speak with Anylia, and now he was determined to at least say goodbye in person. He planned to slip into the castle and see her as the others made the final arrangements.

“I greet you, my invincible drow army!” Finally, Rathernal had begun. “Today you all will embark on a journey to our first victory, one that will set in motion our ultimate triumph over the world. I will not keep you long. I will not hold you back. You are soldiers, and you are the best at what you do. It is because of you that our empire will stretch across the world. None can stand against us. It is the will of the gods that we will be victorious. Never have doubt. With the strength of the immortal, I now send you. Go and slaughter our enemies in the name of your people, your emperor, and your gods!”

It was a short speech for Rathernal, but powerful nonetheless. The troops did not break out into cheers like a crowd of peasants. These were soldiers to the very core. They remained stiff, ridged. They were drow, they were proud, and they were highly disciplined. Seregor could feel the pride and joy emanating from Rathernal. Finally, the lord’s dreams had been realized. He was an emperor, and this was his magnificent army. Seregor was still confused as to how this all came to be. Proclaiming oneself emperor is not an easy task. Rathernal had done so without the slightest bit of opposition.

All knew what to do. Simultaneously, the sound shaking the castle, all the soldiers turned for the gate and began marching. Outside were several thousand others that could not fit inside the courtyard, waiting for the rest to begin the final checks.

“I will return shortly, Dauth. Make sure that everything goes unhindered without me,” Seregor said to his friend as he slipped into a door within the tunnel leading to the outer wall of the castle. Anylia knew where to meet him, it wasn’t far from here.

With haste, he strode through the corridor, the sheathed blades upon his belt slapping against his legs. He’d have to make some changes to this battle attire that Rathernal had insisted he don. It was far too noisy, a bit uncomfortable, and the breastplate was so well polished that it could be used as a mirror. In combat, that would only make him a greater target. Archers would be able to spot him from afar without trouble and single him out, enemy soldiers would deem him as important and therefore top priority for capture. He’d have to dull the shine drastically before real combat came his way.

Finally, after passing dozens of wooden doors, he turned down another hallway and came to the small storage room. Anylia was already there, sitting on a crate with her back to the door. Her head was hanging slightly, likely in sorrow. She turned to look over her shoulder as he entered, immediately rising.

“So you’re all ready to go?” she asked in a soft voice.

“Aye, we will be departing shortly.”

A silence stretched between them. Anylia kept her head down, a frown on her lips. Seregor’s hand rose and slid through his hair, pulling it back, and stopping at his neck.

“I will miss you,” she told him, her gaze floating up to him.

“And I you,” he replied, his eyes dull. She rose, lessening the space between them, wrapping her arms about his chest.

“This armor is so cold.”

“I know, Anylia.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled away from the embrace. “War is cold.”

Both of them frowned deeper. He knew that war was cold only in spirit. The fires were scorching, the action was hot. Just wearing armor alone raised one’s body temperature, especially in this season.

“I have come to say goodbye,” he explained as he studied her features, making sure they would remain in his mind. “When this is all over, I will come back for you. No matter what, I will come back, and take you away from here. Far away.”

Her eyes began to water as she looked into his. Her expression alone told him what she wanted to ask.

“Yes, I promise it. You have my word. I will come back for you.”

She was quickly holding him tightly again, pressed up against the breastplate. “Thank you, Seregor, thank you.”

Seregor blinked. At that moment, he was sorrowful that he had to leave her, happy that she would await his return, and confused. She suddenly seemed so eager to leave all this behind. Something was amiss. He looked down to her. “Anylia.”

She pulled her face back, cheeks dark and moist, tears still rolling down her smooth skin. She did not let him go as she looked up at him.

“What happens here?”

She shook her head, eyes shutting.

“Please, answer me,” he pleaded with her. It was now tugging at his heart.

“Nothing happens here, Seregor. I…I am just happy. You are the first person to show me…” She trailed off.

He knew that there was something else behind it. He could believe she was happy. But Anylia was hiding something from him. This bothered him almost as much as Rathernal did.

“Please, tell me. I am concerned for you.”

“Nothing Seregor. I am just a servant. I do nothing else…but serve.”

Seregor’s teeth dug into his lower lip. “Very well,” he said, the words paining him. Leaning his head forward, he placed a soft kiss upon her forehead. The disgust with Rathernal that usually filled him was now eaten away at by worry for Anylia. “I will make sure you are happy, Anylia. You will no longer have to serve others, I’ll see to it that you will be able to do things for yourself. Be strong while I am away.”

She nodded and brought a hand to her face to wipe away the tears.

“Take care of yourself,” he whispered softly to her. He paused in thought, searching for something more to say. Finally it came to him. “I love you.”

Tears began to stream down her face once more as she embraced him tightly. He rested his cheek upon the top of her head, his arms slipping around her. He wanted to stay there holding her forever. But he had to fight. He had to say goodbye.

“I must go.”

“Please don’t, Seregor.” Now she was pleading with him.

He wished that he could say alright, that he could tell her he would stay and then do so. But he couldn’t. He was a soldier at heart, and no matter how much he hated combat, it was and always would be in his blood. “I must. I am sorry, but it is my duty. I will keep my promise to you though, you can be sure of that. I will come back for you.”

Before he could realize what was happening, their lips had met. His love for her grew, spreading from his mouth to the rest of his body. At the same time, his heart was heavy, for he had to leave. He pulled back from the kiss after a few moments.

“I will miss you. Don’t give up hope. I will return.”

She was still crying when he turned about. He hesitated for just a moment. He couldn’t bear to leave her. But he had to. Setting out down the hallway, he felt like he was leaving a piece of himself behind. Despite this, he did not feel any lighter. He was slowed, weighed down. He left her with a heavy heart, and marched off into battle vowing to himself that he would return or rot in hell.