Father.
My men were unable to locate Prince.
Frost can't finish his sentence. The lifeless body of his father lay on the muddied ground. Frost drops his weapons and sprints over to Vergla, dropping to his knees.
No. No. No. No. No.
Tears begin to rapidly form in the orphaned son's eyes as his mind frantically attempts to comprehend the situation. His soldiers behind him look on, speechless.
Father, Please say something. Please, please, please, please.
Vergla has long left the realm of the living and does not respond.
Father. Go back to me.
Frost's words fall on deaf ears as his head falls to his father's chest in tears. Frost's men stand rigidly, but they too cannot contain their emotion, tears flowing from their eyes. Frost slowly rises to his feet, turning to face his soldiers.
Let. Let. Let the four tall queen take his place.
The soldiers all simultaneously bring their armored fists to their chests in acknowledgment. The glacier born have lost their greatest and this war is more dire than anyone could have expected. For days, the battered Stormborn people trudged along, the few things they could take with them carried in sacks, bags and boxes. Tired children clung to the backs of their parents. Some walked alone or with a younger sibling. Tempest saw it. All of it. She knew the reality that some of these children were orphaned by her orders. How would they see her once they could understand a ruler making sacrifices for the survival of her people? Or the one who sentenced their parents to death? Gael watched his sister observe her people.
I see that look on your face, Sister. You made a difficult choice. But none of our people would be here if you didn't make a choice at all.
What if there was another way.
Tempest? There was no other option.
I was right there. If I had focused on that abomination, stayed with him, done more, the Glacierborn would still have a king. Maybe I should have never called for aid.
She sinks back into a blank stare as they continue.
If you didn't call for aid then, we wouldn't have survived. None of us. Now you have your people and they have you.
And what does that matter? With the glacier born rooted and the Infernoborn unwilling to help, what chance do we stand against someone as proficient in the dark arts as the Apothecary was? We don't even know if Midas will take us in. All of this was a mistake. Gael.
The walls of the Infernoborn capital, Infernus, were now clear in view.
I know Midas did not come to our aid, Sister. We both know he is not a cruel man. He will take us in. I promise. You.
That Tempest said nothing, but the look on her face was one of deep seated rage and distaste. Midas slouched on his lavish throne amidst a vast empty throne room. These days he didn't get many visitors. He couldn't shake the dream he had a few days prior. His choice was running through his head, teasing his brain with the idea of the alternate decision.
How many had been condemned to die? How many of my own did I save by sending none?
The Stormborn people had no reason to suffer, no reason to die, he thought. Then again, he and his people owed them nothing.
If this new dark disciple was truly a follower of the Apothecary, then anything I would have sent wouldn't have mattered.
Midas brain was wracked with the thought of his city being the one attacked by this dark force. If he was the one in need of aid, would the other kingdoms have come to him with every admittance of guilt? There was the other path of thinking.
They would have been foolish to send anyone. Besides, Infernus is more suited for a war than the scattered villages of the Stormborn.
Midas wholeheartedly believed that it was ultimately the most logical path he could have chosen. He just couldn't shake that dreadful feeling.
I did what I had to for my people. Any ruler would do the same.
Suddenly the throne room doors shifted open and Midas looked up to see his general Incendior.
Sire, the Stormborn. They are at the gates of the city. My men are standing by for your orders.
Then we'd best not keep them waiting, my friend.
Midas steps to the edge of the top of the gate, overlooking the countless storm worn peoples standing before the walls of Ny Furnus. Midas scans the crowd until he hears a call from the front.
Midas. Open your gates for my people.
So you did survive after all, Lady Tempest.
No thanks to you, our home is lost, homes destroyed, families broken. And that is because we lacked sufficient aid from our allies.
I was doing what was right for my people. Lady Tempest, it seems you have done the same.
Midas gives Tempest a serious look.
Why come here? Your best bet would have been going to Vergla. He and his righteousness is dead.
His army is broken. Running home, preparing for the coming darkness.
All sense of pride leaves him as those words enter his mind. Midas breaks eye contact and turns to Incendior with a dour expression painted on his golden skin.
Open the gates. Send the Stormborn to the new manors in the Eastern district.
Sire, your people waiting for those houses? They won't be happy to Hear this.
Open the gates and send them there. Have a detachment accompany them. They are our guests now.
A feeling of reluctance stirs within the General before he agrees.
Right away, my lord.
Incendior turned to his men.
Open the gates, Captain. Have your men take them to the eastern manors.
The guard nodded, stepped away, and the gates opened for the storm. Tempest's rage subsided into surprise. She looked to Gael, who gave her a simple smirk and a nod.
Take our people and get acclimated, brother. I must talk to Midas alone.
Alone, Tempest, what are you planning on doing?
I'm going to speak with him, that's all.
We both know that's not your plan. Look, I know I couldn't hold you back even if I was there. All I can do is advise. Do not jeopardize this alignment with Midas. He has wronged us. But if we are to believe him, he is trying to rectify that mistake. We will need him and his resources.
She takes Gael's words to heart. She smiles.
Just don't kill him, okay?
Gael puts a hand on Tempest's shoulder. He steps away, calling to their people.
Almost there. Everyone, come with me for just a moment longer and we'll have a place to rest.
The Stormborn refugees pick up their things, take the hands of loved ones, and slowly trudge to their temporary homes. Midas looks down to the people now flooding through the gate of his great city. He sees Tempests standing, looking up at him. He bows his head in respect and she starts into the city. Midas turns and makes his way down the golden steps of Infernus's front gate, mentally preparing himself for the shift he has invited into his kingdom. If Tempest was the same as he remembered her, he was about to have quite the conversation.