O Saga: Part One: Book of Origins

Tsar Miro’s hands were still shaking from nervous energy. The siege on Kwento had been a failure, but worse, it had challenged the Tsar’s faith. Miro presumed that magic was false, yet he saw it with his eyes. One person could defeat his fleet and affect the course of a battle. How could he have planned for such an affair?

The murder of his wife had destroyed what he thought was possible. After this battle, he was questioning all that he had ever believed. Killing Bishop Rastan was the right thing to do in Miro’s view. The Church had become traitors and conspired against him. Now, he could see their righteous teachings were just another part of their lies. It was the Church leaders all these years that were the false demons. They were charlatans using religion to manipulate the Ishvaran people for the Church’s power and riches.

The Boyars were avaricious rats to Miro; their fall was of their own making. They exploited people and ensured the laws kept benefiting themselves. Tsar Miro knew he needed to show strength in the face of this defeat. The loss shook the Ishavaran troops and the Military leader’s devoutness. Against such powers that they witnessed, who stood a chance?

After the battle, Miro sent messengers across his nation to decree that anyone showing magical abilities should be detained and arrested. A bounty was offered on the heads of these demons. He didn’t think someone with those abilities would be easy to secure, but it might make it more difficult for them to get around. A strategy could hatch if Miro knew the general area where they might operate.

The Tsar was not easily scared. He believed that they lost much because of the pure shock value. Miro observed that this magician overextended themselves in defeating his fleet. It was a weakness he could exploit.

The Tsar could maximize his troops and fleet. When this magician got tired, he’d send in the reserves to overwhelm the remaining forces. The Tsar knew a massive fleet of twenty ships was still coming and would vastly change the tactics.

The Tsar had regrouped in the mountains long enough. He would lead a more significant force back to Kwento. When the new fleet arrived, he planned a second attempt at taking the city.

——-

“My Lord, the city has been abandoned.” Ramsey greeted the Tsar as he came down to the hillside camp.

“Where did they go? Did they flee because of our reinforcements?” The Tsar asked in surprise.

“No, my Lord. They left a short time after the battle. Some stayed behind, but they have been rounded up and are being held inside the walls.”

“This is good. When the fleet arrives, we can make new plans. First, I want all the camps in the countryside brought here immediately. The fleet is bringing supplies. Then we make plans to move West and Teodor.”

“How soon will the fleet be here?”

“They are expected in the next day or two, depending on the weather and wind. Send a dispatch to Commandant Toto in the Capitol. I want metal works sent immediately to this city. This military campaign might last a long time; we’ll need a constant supply of arrows and weapons. I want the captured tribesmen to be used as labor. The fires shall never cease here. For that, we’ll need plenty of wood. Have soldiers bring wood down the river from the mountain forests. This city is now ours.”

——

A small fleet of ships was approaching the harbor, but they were not ships the Tsar recognized. The Tsar ordered his men to take defensive positions around the city walls. In the last battle, these walls had made it difficult to breach. They would use them to their advantage if these ships wanted a fight.

They were flying white peace flags. It could be a trap, but no sign of their intentions was given away yet. Some small boats were lowered as the foreign ships anchored at a safe distance—women in red robes and soldiers in black armor loaded into the vessel and rowed to the docks.

The Tsar organized a detachment of soldiers to accompany him so he could greet these strange new arrivals. The Tsar heard the gossip among the soldiers saying that these were Witches. It could be an opportunity if that is true.

“This city now belongs to the people of Ishvara. Who are you? What’s your business for being here?” The Tsar asked with stern authority.

The boats were unloading the occupants onto the docks. The black armored soldiers marched towards the Tsar first.

They wore thick metal armor and great helms that obscured if it was men or women underneath. They all carried swords of a unique design, one the Tsar had never seen.

Red-robed women walked to him next. They all carried ornate staffs. They wore heavy makeup and hoods that covered their eyes. Some wore long, thickly woven veils covering their entire faces. No one had spoken to the Tsar yet.

There was an instant menace about these people. They were not making any threats. They were highly disciplined and drilled. The Tsar’s troops were whispering amongst each other and trying to look at these strange new folks. There wasn’t a sign of a peep or distraction from these new people. If anything, he already respected their self-control.

A woman dressed in black and red with a twisted horned headpiece was the last off the boats. Judging by how the others yielded to her as she passed, she was obviously the leader.

She walked with a menace and confidence that the King had never seen in an individual. She looked middle-aged with pleasant features. The new lady bowed before the Tsar. She and the Tsar moved to a more private place setting to talk.

“Tsar Miro, thank you for allowing us to dock without hostilities.” She said in a thick, foreign accent. She spoke in Ishvaran, which is not the common language most people use to communicate. It meant she was educated to Miro. It also told him she would understand if the Tsar tried to be sneaky.

“You know me, but I don’t know you.”

“My loyal subjects call me Mother Superior.”

“But others call you the Witch of Hagar,” Miro said.

“People will call you what they will, but that is their problem. We are not Witches. Just because a woman uses magic doesn’t make her a Witch. We happen to have a different point of view on a great many things.”

“Where I come from, anyone who uses magic is seen as a Witch or worse.”

“We are simply a Coven that dedicates itself to a power greater than our own. We are a spiritual people.”

“One rooted in darkness, dark magic.”

“Light or dark, it is all part of one whole. We embrace the whole.”

“Seems convenient.”

“And those who hold to the light and good never do anything wrong or dark? I’d say it’s more convenient to give yourself the illusion you aren’t capable of both. For instance, A Tsar would never kill a church leader or Aristocrats?”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, our Coven doesn’t judge you.”

“You call yourself a coven but are not Witches?”

“You call yourself a Tsar but are not a tyrant? Titles and names aren’t everything.”

“They aren’t meaningless either. Just like wrong doesn’t mean the same as right.”

“There is no such thing as right. There is only point of view. Truth is an illusion, as it depends on who defines it.”

“There are universal truths.”

“No, there is only what is true today. Something held as sacred and true today may not be so tomorrow. Circumstances change. There has never been anything in this world that isn’t affected by change.”

“Some would say love. The love of a parent to a child.”

“I wouldn’t know such things.”

“That is your loss. Why are you here? Surely, it isn’t for philosophical debate.”

“Many reasons.”

“Name some. Why come to a city where you might find danger?”

“We watched a battle the other day. We were coming for supplies. It seemed prudent to wait; now we have returned to make a deal for resources.”

“And what makes you think I will grant you these resources?”

“Because I don’t think you are a fool. We could destroy your entire army and this city now if we wished.”

“So what is holding you back? That is if what you said was true.”

“Because, like I said, we only want resources. We are happy on our Island. Islands do have their limitations, though. We have had an arrangement with this city for a long time. They granted us access to certain resources, and we left them alone. But you are interfering with that right now. We only wish to extend the same arrangement.”

“What do I get out of this bargain?”

“We are willing to ally with you. We want to expand our resources too. We offer soldiers, strategy, and something you don’t have, magic.”

“Magic?”

“Well, you call it magic. Many of us can channel the power of the O element. You saw what that could mean for you. You saw the one in golden armor and his power. We can offer that to you.”

“You saw him but did nothing to help us?”

“There was no reason for us to. We were waiting to see who won the battle and make a deal with them. But it looks like you’re in control now.”

“If you’re as powerful as you say, why not just take any land you want? Why do you need me?

“We just want resources. We are not looking to rule.”

“Yes, you are. You want to place puppets around the globe who dance to your orders.”

“We help who help us.”

“You mean who you control.”

“I mean what I mean.”

“What resources are you looking to have access to?”

“That is for us to know. We take what we want to take when we want to take it. For that, I offer you power beyond your wildest dreams. My Sisters are educated in a wide variety of fields. I offer their expertise to you and the skills of our personally trained soldiers. It is a very fair deal.”

“Sounds more like a deal with the devil.”

“We destroy devils. Don’t make us destroy you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“You are turning this city into a labor camp; you need soldiers to help guard the prisoners. I can offer you men. It would help if you had ships to blockade trade routes; we have ships. You need help interrogating information out of captives; we have skilled interrogators. We are giving a lot and asking a little.”

“I’m not hearing a little. I’m hearing you want it all.”

“And you don’t?”

“What makes you think I believe in your magic? Maybe you are a fraud. What makes you believe I’d lose all faith over one battle?”

“What makes you think I care about anything you believe? I’m asking to form a mutual alliance, not a conversion.”

“Who would be in charge if I said yes to this agreement? Somehow, I think it will be you.”

“As I said, mutual alliance. You remain the King, and your troops remain yours. Our Coven will be separate. My forces will listen to your commands up to a point. I will assume you will have your secrets, and I will have mine. You have designs on conquering all of Qamata; our Island may have been in your sights. This helps to ensure our Island remains ours.”

“If you are afraid that we might try to take your Island from you, what if we could? What if my Armies and Navy make you our prime targets? What if I don’t need you?”

“You don’t want to try that. You don’t want to provoke us. We came here in peace. Here’s what will happen if you threaten our Island. We would destroy every ship you possess. We’d kill every last one of your soldiers and maybe their families. You would be spared, but I’d make you watch as your cities burned.”

“And all of this is because you have a so-called power? What if I said prove it? Prove you have any power.”

“A demonstration? Are you sure you want me to?”

“Yes.”

The Mother Superior gestured to one of the women in red robes just outside the door to bring her something. They handed her an ornate staff with a unique element decorating the top. Then, the Mother Superior turned to the Tsar with an emotionless face and pointed her staff at him.

The Tsar wanted to laugh at her because nothing was happening. He waited in wonder.

“Is that it? Is this your magic? I’m not impressed.”

He was about to call his guards and have her escorted back to her ships until he felt something in the pit of his stomach. It was a sharp pain. The pain was spreading slowly outwards. He tried to move his feet, but he couldn’t. He tried to speak in protest but found he couldn’t.

He felt the weight of his body floating slightly upward. He couldn’t believe it, but he was lifting off the ground. He couldn’t be more than a half foot off the ground but remained there. He had no control of anything. His legs and arms began to spread apart like an invisible rope was pulling them.

There was enormous pressure forming at the joints. The pain continued to spread from his stomach and grew increasingly more intense. The women in red robes kept out any of his men who could intervene.

The Witch stood there calmly as if nothing was happening. The Tsar’s limbs felt like they’d be torn from his body at any second. He might have begged for her to stop if he could speak. He couldn’t bear the pain much longer.

“Do you need more demonstration? That is but a twitch of my smallest finger.” The Mother Superior said coldly.

The Tsar could suddenly find that his vocal cords had returned. “No, that is sufficient.”

The Tsar returned to his feet, and the pain went away quickly as if nothing had happened.

“If we are to have an alliance, you will never do anything like that again.” The Tsar commanded.

“You were the one who wanted it. Didn’t you hear you should be careful of what you wish for?”

“I didn’t think…” The Tsar paused.

“You thought I might zap a rock or something? That can be done, but I enjoy going against expectations.” The Mother Superior said with a devious smile.

“I’m sure you get pleasure from many things.”

“We have taken vows; we don’t take pleasure from anything.”

“That might be the first false thing you’ve said.”

“I understand you don’t like me, but we don’t need to like each other to have a deal. Do we?”

“I think we have an understanding.”

“Good. I like it when people understand me.” The Mother Superior said as she turned and left for the docks.

The Tsar felt this was a lousy deal but knew he had no choice. They would help him get all that he wants, but that’s usually when the ground falls from underneath you.

——

“Do not fear, my people.” The Tsar shouted to the crowd. He had gathered all the soldiers into the city and stood on the wall above them. He needed to be strong and assertive.

“We have made a strong alliance. These Coven and black armored soldiers will work with us, not over us. You see, even people from faraway lands want to support our expansion. People see our rising power and want to join with us. We are descended from mighty warriors and feared empires. We are returning to the glory of days when every land looked to us with respect and fear. “

“We were leaders in art and architecture. We made advances in science and medicine. The day is approaching when we will lead the world into a great new era where everyone shall have food and medicine. Everyone will have land, not just the Boyars. Today, the city of Kwento is ours; tomorrow, the world.”

The soldier’s resolve had been shaken after the first battle of Kwento. The alliance with the Witches has reinvigorated the war effort. The momentum from the tragedy of the settlers was already gone. The new coalition reinvigorated the Ishvaran soldiers.

The Witches Black Legion quickly helped round up the camps and bring them all to Kwento. The red-robed Witches, who all went by names starting with Soror, had been interrogating the Qamata people as they were brought in. They could look into the minds and extract information the Qamatans didn’t want to give.

So far, the information they’ve retrieved hasn’t been explosive. It consisted of things already known. Most of the leaders and people of Qamata had gone West to Teodor, which made Teodor the next city to fall.

The fleet of twenty ships had arrived. The Tsar received the supplies he needed and fresh soldiers. Three boats would remain to blockade the harbor of Kwento again. The rest of the fleet was heading for Teodor.

The Shadow Covens Sorors lead the Black Legion. The Witches preferred to be called Soros and not Witches. The Shadow Coven and not Witch Coven. It was taking time to adjust.

The Tsar commanded all the troops, including the Shadow Coven. Field Marshall Ramsey was to oversee the Ishvaran troops. The fleet would attack from the North Sea, While the Ishvarans would attack from the West. The Shadow Coven would lead their forces in reserve.

Sorors Dominus was left in charge of Kwento. General Ptolemy of the Black Legion troops around the fortress, while Generals Cassander and Lysimachus led troops to secure the borders and trails behind the main force. These new Blak Legion Generals had been tasked to take troops and create checkpoints for coming and going into the region. They were to catch all messengers and stragglers trying to help the Qamatan people.

The Tsar knew he was riding to certain victory.