Chapter 1: Injustice

  Julien

  Julien Adar Ishtar sighed tiredly as he closed the chest at the foot of the bed. He looked up at the time- taker which was just a disk sitting in his window with several ticks carved into the wood and a stick sitting in the middle.

  He had five minutes to get to his history class. He wasn’t too worried though as it wasn’t far. He had his swordsmanship class afterward so he strapped on his training blade before scooping his books off the table in the corner.

  He made his way out not stopping in the common room of his apartment and heading out into the stone corridor beyond. He made his way down the hallway past the many tapestries depicting various heroes raised by the academy and into the main foyer that led to the other classrooms.

  Of course being the premier military officer academy in his country the foyer was properly decorated with richly embroidered drapes and gold etchings that carved various patterns across the walls of the large circular chamber. The floor was a smooth marble that made his boots click as he walked over them. All around the room were lit smokeless torches a gift from the dwarves who had built the fortresslike school. High above the roof opened to the sky separated by nothing but thick glass panes.

  He had been here for three years of his four years now and the sight of the foyer still impressed him. He shook his head and began quickly walking across to the hallway directly opposite of him. As he walked he weaved in and out of other students all in the same black and gold uniforms and pants. Some were talking and laughing others were quickly moving keeping their heads down. Almost everyone was with their squads. They randomly paired each first year with four others and they were forced to get along as they did everything together.

  He was pulled out of his reverie at the sound of his voice being called by a rather boisterous voice.

  “Julien, man did you hear?” Julien slowed but didn’t stop as the first of his squad mates found him. His large well muscled friend clapped him on the back as he neared almost knocking him over. He recovered then glared up at him.

  Aramin Langley a commoner but one of his best friends in the Academy and he was also one hell of a fighter. He stood over six foot, heavily muscled and had shoulders like an beox. His brown hair was shaved close like all their hair save the females were. At his side his oversized training blade was strapped. He moved Aramin’s meaty hands off his shoulders before replying.

  “You know for once I wish you would start a conversation normally.” He said resuming his walk. Aramin easily matched his pace his longer strides keeping up effortlessly.

  He shrugged,” Well? Did you hear?” Julius just glared at him hoping he would get to the point it should’ve been obvious by now he hadn’t.

  “History class has been canceled for the day, in fact all the classes accept our city tactics class has been canceled. Apparently they have something special planned for today last minute and we are to meet in the courtyard.” Julius groaned thinking then quickly realizing he wouldn’t have time to go drop his books off back at his apartments.

  “Are you joking,” he complained. It wasn’t a serious question but a voice answered from his other side anyway.

  “They are most definitely not joking,” Atraya his personal guard and oldest friend said with a smile as she slid up next to him her graceful steps making her seem to glide across the marble. She had her raven black hair up in a braid and her training blade was strapped to her side as well.

  “What’s with the books?”

  “It seems as if our prince wasn’t paying attention in class yesterday,” Aramin stated a smirk playing across his lips.

  “I keep telling him to get his head out of the clouds but what can you do?” Atraya teased. Julius looked back and forth between the two of them incredulous before putting his head down and turning to make for the entrance. As he walked the other two fell into step with him continuing their conversation like they’d never stopped.

  “You know I feel bad for you Atraya, I still wonder how you manage to get stuck with guarding a guy like him,” Aramin smiled at the look Julius threw him.

  “You know… I try very hard,” Atraya said a completely fake sniffle escaping her.

  “Alright enough,” Julius said although he couldn’t help the smile that was starting to break out on his face. He had gotten lucky, he had managed to get people in his squad whom he had worked well with.

  “Where are Carlouse, and Katrina?” He asked Atraya but it was Aramin who answered. They are undoubtedly already in the courtyard waiting for us you know how they are. Julius grunted in agreement then picked up the pace hurrying down the hallway that led to the entrance until he came to the two almost ten foot wooden door that were traced in gold. He pushed them open and as always they opened without a sound. The mid morning sun peddled through the clouds and lit the courtyard in front of them. The courtyard was really just the area in between the inner wall and the Academy proper.

  The walls were nearly ten feet thick and fifteen high with a full stone walkway and crenellations. Off to one side there were the stables where the horses of the both the teacher, visitors, and other nobles kept their steeds.

  Directly in front of them the road was paved with cobbled leading from the gate splitting and going around a beautiful white marble fountain with a statue of one of the immortals on it. Which one he didn’t know but he also didn’t keep track. Then it continued making a nice drop off point for carriages. And to the left of the path they spotted a group of students gathering in their squads most already in formation and waiting.

  Julius spotted the mousey brown haired Calouse his glasses firmly on his face, and the ever elegant Katrina her posture straight and forward her blond hair tied up in a bun. Both were trying to hide smirks as Julius and the others ran up and took up position beside them.

  “What’s with the books?” Carlouse asked a look of confusion in his face. “Were we supposed to bring any.” Julius searched his face for any sign of a joke but only saw genuine confusion. Somehow that made it worse. But Atraya and Aramin burst out laughing but before he could decide if he wanted to punch them or hide from embarrassment a quiet settled over the entire group and everyone snapped to attention. Standing straight backed arms down to their sides. Julius and his squad followed suit and nobody dared to look to see the reason. There was only one reason everyone would snap to attention like this. A commanding officer was present.

  A man walked over in front of the group and stepped onto a cart that Julius guessed had been left for the purpose. The man was well built wearing chainmail hauberk over a leather gambeson instead of a uniform. It was clearly well maintained as it gleamed in the sun. Still it was nothing like his father’s Royal Knights. They had full plate suits of armor tailored to them. It was understandable only the most wealthy knights could afford plate armor after all.

  The man wore no helmet and had a broadsword strapped to his waist. His black hair was long and easily reached his shoulders but was very clearly carefully trimmed to keep it out of his face.

  “Good morning Cadets! I am Knight Captain Carsel. Commander of the city watch. I’ve been asked by your dean to take you third years into the city for some real world experience.” He paused reaching up and scratching the back of his head before continuing.

  “Now personally I don’t think you are ready. You’ve been taught to uphold the laws and to stand up against things like injustice. What you are going to see out there will challenge you sense of that if not down right spit on it. So I don’t think you are ready for that.” Julius frowned, he knew the rest of the world wasn’t so black and white but so then did everyone else. It couldn’t really be that bad right?

  “Then why take us?” Another cadet down the line asked.

  The knight captain smiled. “Excellent question. It was decided that you third and fourth years needed a little kick in the butt. A showing of the world you are about to go into a serve in. The military is no clean place you all figured that out the first day you came here. Now you are about to find out just how dirty it can be.” He waved off any other questions. “Now here’s the plan, we will be going down to the city in your squad groups you will do a standard patrol route.”

  “Standard patrol route?” One of the cadets asked.

  “A normal patrol that the guards do on a daily basis,” he clarified. “We will see how you handle real situation. Each squad will be given one route once they complete it they will return here and wait for the others. Each squad will also be followed by one of the town guard veterans. While you out rank them technically we expect you to heed their advice.” He said this last part with special emphasis.

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  Julius got the feeling they wanted them to do whatever the veterans told them to. But making them subordinate to the veterans would negate the reason for the exercise, to see how they handled real duty, so they went with a strongly worded suggestion.

  Then without waiting for any other questions he guestured toward a group of white and green liveried guardsmen who had just come through the gate. They all turned but he wasn’t done. “Prince Julius, I’ll be leading your squad,” he said quietly jumping down from the cart causing his armor to jingle as he approached them. He bowed his head.

  “Your Highness it is my pleasure to guide you,” He said respectfully. Julius easily fell into his court personal holding up his hand.

  “Please Captain while we are here I am just Julius.” Carsel seemed to hesitate but then he nodded walking past them and motioning for them to follow. Julius marveled at his ability to adapt but followed after his teammates.

  “Oh you can leave the books by the cart, I don’t think they will be needed,” the captain called over his shoulder. Julius felt heat rising as the rest of his squad burst out laughing as he rushed over to set down the books inside the wooden cart.

  The city of Ilasium was vast. As the capitol of the Ishtar kingdom it was only expected almost half a million humans lived in its streets. Five districts made up the city. The lower town, the trade district, the market center, the nobles quarter, and the Palace disctrict. Well six technically if you considered the area the Academy sat in was basically a district onto itself. The buildings were all stone with wood shingle roofs and the streets were well cobbled.

  He knew the city wasn’t all so pretty as the upper districts and as he followed the Captain down through the market district and then towards the gates he realized they were probably going to see it first hand. All around them were commoner going about their business their heads down. Most wore basic tunics of brown or grey and a few even had worn cloaks but Julien could see that many wore patchwork or even hole filled tunics the closer to the gates they got.

  But that’s when they saw them. A group of four armored elves were escorting a fifth through the throngs of people. Julien froze fascinated he’d never seen an elf before. In fact to his knowledge they hadn’t come to Ishtar since his grandfather was still king.

  The figures were tall but thin, their graceful movement picking them out from the crowd even if their feature didn’t do that already. They had long silver hair band pale skin with a slight greenish tint you could only see near the tips of their long pointed ears. Their movements were so fluid almost hypnotizing to Juliens eyes. They were beautiful, was his first thought but it was their expressions that broke the fantastical vision of them he was having. They looked around them at the humans all around with utter contempt plain on their faces. Their hate was so visceral it was almost a physical force as many of the younger generations moved to get out of their way.

  Julien saw several older men and women step to the side of the road and bow their heads in supplication. Indignation rose in Julien. Only his father was due such respect. Seeing complete strangers receive it, even if they were elves angered him.

  He hadn’t even noticed he had taken a step towards the group falling out of line with his team until a gauntleted hand gripped his shoulder from behind. He whipped around to see Captain Carsel looking at him with grim eyes.

  “Don’t even think about going over there Your Highness,” he said firmly. The genuine look of concern and even… was that fear stopped him in his tracks his other teammates looked just as grim. Atraya had stepped forward to put herself between the elves and him.

  “What’s the problem?” He asked his confusion rising. “They must be Envoys from the Great forest I should greet them.”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Katrina hissed stepping closer her voice dropping to a whisper.

  “ I doubt this is a friendly visit,” the Captain agreed eyeing the alleys around them like he was trying to find the best place to stash him away.

  “What do you mean the Elves are our allies,” he protested getting dubious looks from the rest of his squad.

  “More like Overlords,” Carlouse stated definitively staring at the elves a faint look of displeasure on his face. Ever since the end of the Great War they have controlled most of what happens in all human kingdoms.”

  “I’m with Julien I don’t see the problem. They haven’t come here in a generation,” Aramin said looking around at the others seemingly just as confused as Julien.

  “The Great War didn’t just end?” Atraya said quietly her eyes still fixed on the elves. She seemed to be studying the polished green and gold leather armor they were wearing. Her eyes were fixed in the massive bows that were strapped to their backs. The one in the middle had no bow but held a golden staff in his slender hands his opulent purple robes billowed as he walked. A look of utter dismissal was plastered onto his face.

  “They ended it,” Carlouse finished for her. “We lost in the war were crushed over ten thousand years ago.”

  “Yeah but surely they still don’t….” Julien began but was cut off when a scream tore through the hustle and bustle of the city instantly quieting it. The elves had stopped, Julien noticed. Without thinking he moved forward trying to get a better look. He weaved through the crowd to see a young boy who had apparently not moved out of the way in time.

  One of the elven guard had stepped forward and drawn his sword a look of annoyance on his face. The blade was a thin curved thing that barely looked thick enough to butcher a pig with much less carry into battle. It had ornate silver etchings along the scabbard and glowing green runes etched into the blade itself.

  With a shock Julien realized the elf was going to kill the boy. Then he was moving, he’d like to say he had thought about it or that he had weighed the options. But he really hadn’t. The cruelty and casual indifference shown by the elf as he raised his sword over a defenseless young boy was too much for him.

  The boy had fallen over onto his back trying desperately to get away from the Swordsmen. He raised his arm in a desperate attempt to ward off the sharp blade. But then Julien was there putting his training blade, which was real steel but dulled for training in between the boy and the elf curved sword. The look of terror in the boys brown eyes burned itself into his memory. He doubted he would be able to ever forget them.

  The elf backed up in surprised his face showing utter shock. Julien became aware that the whole street had gone silent of several feet in all directions. The elf guardian in front of him sneered and raised his sword again as if it didn’t matter to him who he cut down. But then the sword of several other swords being drawn could be heard from behind him and Julien knew his squad had arrived.

  Atraya moved in front of him. “Get away from the Prince she snarled pointing her blade threateningly. As one the other three elves drew their blades as well.

  “What do you think you are doing dog!” One of the elves demanded pointing his blade straight them. His voice accented heavily

  “Remove yourself our we will kill you and them move you.”

  “Try it, and I’ll get to have a little fun,” Aramin voice said from his other side and Julien briefly flicked his gaze over to him before stepping forward.

  “It is I who should be asking you what are you doing. You are envoys if I’m not mistaken. Why would you kill a child for simply being in your way?” The elf in the middle didn’t speak it was the lead elf guard who spoke his low voice sending chills down Julien’s spine.

  “ a dog who can’t recognize its master’s approach should be put down,” he replied simply.

  “W… What,” Atraya sputtered an intelligible growl escaped from Aramin on his other side. Julien opened his mouth to reply to the mad elf’s statement, when Captain Carsel was suddenly in front of them all pushing them all back with surprising force. He didn’t even spare Julien as glance as he stepped forward before bowing low to the elf in the robes.

  “Lord envoy I am terribly sorry for this offense these are the youngest of the academy officers they have been taught very little about your esteemed race as they don’t start their foreign studies until they turn eighteen or their fourth year. They are only in their third year. And as the kings son you can see why he would feel the need to protect his people.” When the captain stopped Julien’s mind spun. Why was the Captain apologizing it was the elves who had stepped out of line.

  For the first time the robed elf turned to look at them like he was just noticing the whole scene. He curled his lip in distaste apparently finding whatever he saw in Julien repulsing. His thin slightly hooked nose twitched as if he smelled something odorous.

  Then he spoke in a low sonorous tone. “I shall give you this one and only chance should this happen again their will be far greater consequences and I don’t want to see that one again within my sight,” he said flicking his fingers as Julien. The captains shoulders began to sag in relief but the elf continued.

  “But first a lesson is in order lest he forget his manners again.” Julien didn’t even have time to wonder what he meant before a forced slammed into his chest picking him up and throwing him across the square. The next thing he knew he was on his back a few feet away.

  There were cries of alarm and moving feet as many people in the crowd that had gathered scattered in fear. But it all sounded far away. His body felt heavy and his ribs didn’t feel as if they were in the right place. The last thing he thought before unconsciousness took him was, what the hell had just happened?