Slave War

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“Father!” – he called again mentally. Silence.

“For treason to the Fatherland,” said my brother, looking contemptuously into his face. – For the murders of our men, as well as their wives and children. For a betrayal of sorts. For dealing with dark forces. Rigvel, son of Corvell, is found guilty. Cut off his head!

They say that before death your whole life flies by. I don’t know how the living learned this secret of the dying, but images from the past cascaded into my thoughts.

***

I was ten years old. I remember that day more vividly than others, because then my life changed. Our father raised Dominic and me. My mother died during my birth, and Corvell never found a worthy replacement for her. Maybe that’s why he loved Dominic more than me? Maybe he believed that I was to blame for the death of his beloved? Or was it just my imagination? For a long time I tried to remember my father’s face, but now it appeared in the blackness.

– You are an adult, Rigvel. Of course, many boys your age play pipes and fight with wooden swords. But there are always more demands on high-born people. I think you are ready to defend the Fatherland.

All men, when born, must lay down their lives for the interests of the rulers. This is their fate.

– Of course, father. As you say!

– Dark times, son, have come. Many people don’t see this because they are stupid; others try not to notice, turn a blind eye to obvious things, but the evil is strong. Dark shamans will bring winds of death to our lands. And they are led by the new Dark Lord, Zaaron. He is of royal family, so he was able to gather a huge army, which would fall like an avalanche on the whole world. You must make a contribution to building a bright future and to the fight against evil.