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Inside the command tent, Rhaine stood before her staff, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows across the maps spread on the table. “We’ll reach Silver Falls by tomorrow,” she announced. The room murmured with uneasy voices. “Our orders still stand,” she continued. “We are to burn the town. There must be no survivors. The Harbinger is known to take the form of anyone…we cannot afford a single mistake.”
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One of the younger members, Brother Cecil, hesitated before speaking up. “How can we be sure the Harbinger is still there? It’s been days since those orders were given.”
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Rhaine nodded slowly. She had asked herself the same question more times than she could count. Orion’s rebellion, Douglas’s butchery, both had delayed her response, and weighed heavily on her mind. “That’s been on my mind since we left,” she admitted. But it wasn’t just the timing that troubled her. It was everything. What happened with Lucas. With Douglas. The cracks in the Church’s teachings were beginning to show—and with them, her once unshakable faith. She glanced down at her gauntlets, scratched and dented like her beliefs. Before this mission, she had been certain the Church was right. Now... she wasn’t so sure. “We’ll send a group of troops, led by myself, into the town,” Rhaine said. “The rest of you are to make preparations.” She looked around the tent, meeting the eyes of each officer. “I’ll try to lure the Harbinger out.” She spoke with as much confidence as she could muster.
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Brother Cecil raised his voice again, cautious but firm. “No disrespect, Commander, but why would the Harbinger be drawn out?”
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Rhaine was silent for a moment. Then, her gaze hardened. “I doubt a force of evil that great would pass up the chance to humiliate the leader of the Church’s army.” Her tone was final. “You have your orders.” No more questions followed. She dismissed the gathered staff, but motioned for Brother Cecil and Alex to remain. “I understand your concerns, Brother Cecil,” Rhaine said, her voice quieter now. “Which is why I have a mission for you.”
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Brother Cecil straightened. “Anything you ask, Commander.”
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“I need you to stay here tomorrow with fifty soldiers,” she instructed, turning toward the map as she spoke, piecing the strategy together in her mind. “If things don’t go as planned, this position will be our fallback point.”
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Brother Cecil gave a sharp nod. “As you command.”
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Cecil left the tent, leaving Alex alone with Rhaine. He walked over and studied her face carefully.
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“What’s got you rattled, Rhaine? This isn’t like you,” he said, his concern evident.
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“I’m just trying to make sure we have an escape plan… in case we need one,” she replied, her voice lower. “Nothing has gone our way since we arrived. I don’t expect our luck to suddenly change.”
She sat down heavily, weariness settling over her like a cloak.
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Alex gave a small nod. “Can’t argue with that logic,” he said with a smirk. Then, with a sudden flick, he unsheathed his sword and pressed it lightly to her throat. “Have you come up with a plan in case the Harbinger is one of us?”
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“Not funny, Alex,” Rhaine snapped, swatting the blade away. Alex chuckled and stepped back as she continued. “The only thing I’ve managed to come up with is a password, something only a few of us will know. If someone starts acting strangely, we ask for the password. If they can’t give it, we’ll know something’s wrong.” She rubbed her temples, the weight of command pressing down. “Even that has its own flaws and dangers.”
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“I don’t know how much this means to you, Rhaine, but… I believe in you,” Alex said softly. “Anyone else would’ve given up by now. I know I would have.”
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Rhaine found a flicker of comfort in his words but she’d never let him know that. He’d already embarrassed her enough times. “You? Give up?” she scoffed. “I don’t think those words have ever crossed my mind when I think of you.”
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She immediately regretted the phrasing and braced herself.
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Alex’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “Go on, say it,” Rhaine muttered. There was no point trying to stop him now.
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“As flattering as it is that you think about me…” he said in that annoyingly smug tone. “I get it. More pressing matters should fill your thoughts.”
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“Shut up, Alex. It’s not like that. Just… shut up.”
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Alex got up and walked away from her," You know what would make a great password?" He left the tent but not before turning around and he growled like she did before. "I don't think the Harbinger would think of that one."
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----
Outside in the encampment, Thomas sat by the fire with his journal in hand. “Elliot from Stone Bridge, Victor from Elvenberry…” he murmured as he scribbled their names.
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“What are you up to now, Copper?” Dareth asked, strolling over.
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“I’m trying to record the names of our friends before tomorrow’s fight,” Thomas replied. His hand moved quickly across the page as he continued listing the soldiers around them.
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“No doubt to celebrate our glorious exploits!” Dareth said with a grin.
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Thomas nodded. “Exactly. So the history books get our names right when we defeat the Harbinger!” he shouted, raising a fist into the air. The nearby soldiers turned and gave him awkward looks.
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Dareth cheered loudly and stood next to Thomas, "The man said we are going to win tomorrow boys!" Slowly, one by one the soldiers got to their feet and started cheering as well.
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“We’ll drag this worthless Harbinger in chains all the way to Trendell!” Dareth proclaimed loudly.
More and more, the soldiers' cheers grew. Soon, other men around nearby campfires joined in, starting their own celebrations.
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Thomas remained silent, simply taking it all in. "Here they were, he wrote in his journal, men no older than boys, standing on the verge of history—legends in the making.
They came from every corner of the Church’s reach. Some were orphans raised by its hand, others from families so poor that the only way they could eat was through service. They spoke of home—the ones they had, and the ones they made up.
They didn’t know what tomorrow would bring… but they knew what they would bring to tomorrow. They would leave nothing behind, and they would make sure the forces of the Creator marched with them."
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“Put it down!” Dareth called out cheerfully to Thomas. “You started all this!”
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Thomas nodded and tucked his journal away. “Victory!” he shouted.
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“Victory!” echoed across the sea of soldiers.
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From the command tent, Rhaine watched. Her strength, once cracked, surged anew. “Victory!” she shouted, her doubts melting away into the night.
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Alex paused, a rare smile tugging at his lips. “Victory!” he echoed.
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The night was painted with firelight, camaraderie, and faith. Even the lightning bugs seemed to celebrate, their soft glow drifting like stardust through the camp. With each call of “Victory!” more tiny lights filled the air, dancing among the men like blessings from the heavens.
After the final cheer faded into the stillness, the soldiers retired to their tents. One by one, they fell silent. Now came the time for private thoughts and silent prayers, quiet glances at those they called brothers. They didn’t know what awaited them, but they were ready to meet it head-on.
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Little did they know what Tyler had planned.
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“If you tell me an animal told you the Church’s army is near, I might…” Tyler said, waving his handkerchief with flair. “I will blow you up.” He mimicked an explosion with his hands.
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The young woman shook her head. “No, Lord Grand Marshal of the Legions of Hell—”
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Tyler clapped a hand over her mouth. “I swear, can none of you get it right?! How about something simpler?” He pulled his hand back, grinning. “The Charming Prince of Annihilation! Let’s try that!”
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She nodded quickly. “No, Charming Prince of Annihilation, no animal told me. I saw them myself.”
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Tyler took a step back, eyebrows raised in amazement. “Now we’re getting somewhere!” Tyler said, excitement creeping into his voice. He had been waiting a long time for his guests to arrive.
“Come with me,” he motioned to the messenger. “These Church types are all the same. They’ll march a squad right into the town—can’t help themselves with all that righteous pride. That’s why I want you to take some of the fire-starting materials and prep the houses. Let’s give our friends a warm welcome tomorrow.”
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The young woman twitched, feeling something crawling in her hair. She reached up and pulled out a writhing maggot.
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“Charming Prince of Annihilation?” she asked, holding it up and looking to Tyler for some kind of answer.
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“Oh, you’re dead, dear,” Tyler said cheerfully, waving his handkerchief. “Everyone here is.” He moved on without missing a beat, caught up in the momentum of his master plan. “On my signal, you’ll light the houses. And when you’re on fire, I want you to run out and attack the leader.”
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“Won’t that hurt?” she asked quietly.
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Tyler shook his head. “Of course not. You’re already dead,” he said, brushing off her concern. “Now hush—I need to picture this.” He closed his eyes and lifted his hands in front of him like a director framing a scene. “As your Charming Prince of Annihilation commander, I demand a certain level of spectacle.” He smiled, speaking to the invisible stage in his mind. “The houses on fire.. check. You walk out, not screaming because you’re already dead—check. The soldiers turn to face you in horror... and boom! I blow the dam and drown the rest!” He clasped his hands in delight. “Then the citizens, my beautiful little corpses, charge their troops from behind!” He paused dramatically. “Now tell me—is that not the greatest plan you’ve ever heard?”
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Silence.
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Tyler opened one eye, then the other. He was alone. “Where did you go? Did you even hear your part, at least?!” He spun in place, arms raised in exasperation. “Rude!”
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