(eng) Morgan Rice - Of Crowns and Glory 01 by Slave Warrior Queen

Author:Slave, Warrior, Queen [Slave, Warrior, Queen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Rexus!”

Rexus turned to see a frantic Nesos sprinting toward him, and his heart flooded with dread. Nesos had been dispatched on an important mission, so his being here couldn’t be good, Rexus knew.

Nesos skidded to a halt right in front of Rexus, dust stirring the air, and rested hands on knees while he panted.

“I just came… from northern Delos and… the Empire soldiers are everywhere… saying new laws are being enacted, they are hauling off… firstborn men, slaughtering… anyone who refuses,” Nesos said, still breathless, sweat running down his face.

Rexus’s blood curdled. He shot to his feet and took off at a run toward the main entrance of the castle. He had to warn the others.

“Next they will attack Delos east, then west…and finally south,” Nesos said, trailing after him.

Rexus had an idea.

“Take with you a few men and send every dove we have to warn our supporters,” he said. “Ask them to meet below North Square as soon as possible and with as many weapons as they can carry. We will free these firstborns so they can join the rebellion. I will gather the supporters here and ride out immediately.”

“Right away,” Nesos said.

It begins here, Rexus thought as he ran toward the others. Today they would make a stand and kill in the name of freedom.

Within moments Rexus had over a hundred men and fifty women assembled in front of the cascading waterfall, ready on horses, weapons in hand. As he explained the plan to the revolutionaries, he saw fear in their eyes. A fearful warrior would not win any battles, he knew. And so he stood before them to speak.

“I see in each of your eyes the terror of death,” Rexus said.

“Fear you not death?” a man yelled from the crowd.

“Yes, I do. I have no wish to die. But more than fearing death, my deepest fear is living the rest of my life on my knees,” Rexus said. “More than fearing death, I fear I will never know freedom. And these firstborn men can help us attain that.”

“But we have children!” a woman yelled. “They will be punished for our rebellion!”

“I have no children of my own, but I know the fear of losing someone dear. If we win, your children and your children’s children will never know oppression the way we have. And would you not rather your children follow in your example of courage than your example of fear?” he said.

The militia grew ghostly silent, and nothing but the roar of the waterfall and the occasional neighing of a horse could be heard.

“Do not fool yourselves into believing the Empire will give you liberty,” Rexus said.

“I, like many here, are with you, friend,” a man shouted. “But do you think we have a real chance at winning this war?”

“The war will not be won today,” Rexus continued. “Not tomorrow, even. But eventually, we will win. A people who demands freedom will in the end claim it.”

Heads nodded and a few lifted weapons into the air.

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