Chapter 01

Letum watched as the broken and bloodied body of his half brother fell to the stone courtyard below. Serves you right, you bastard. Ironic. Soldiers and Enforcers alike flooded the area, and people shouted indistinctly. Letum took several steps back, he’d been spotted, but they wouldn’t search the tower until it was too late. The tower in question overlooked Democracy Plaza, and stood directly across from the capitol building.

Letum’s father had let the empire strangle itself on the noose of democracy, something no ruler had done since the empire of Oran was founded. Over a millennia ago. He doesn’t even follow his congress’s new laws. Hypocritical son of a whore. Caligo was his name, and he held several titles. Emperor, King, Godmaker, and most recently, President.

Footsteps sounded behind Letum, confident and rhythmic. Oh Atra. Daughter of southerners, and the original bloodletter. Letum didn’t turn to greet her, as was their way.

“That leaves you.” Her voice was smooth, and undisturbed by her mask. Letum had never seen her face, except for her eyes. Purple things. The back of her head was uncovered by the mask, which showed her platinum blonde hair. A marker of her southern heritage. Letum’s own mask showed his red eyes and hair, a marker of his own heritage. Few in oran had both red eyes and hair. It was isolated to the emperor’s family, and those close to them.

Letum smiled, though she couldn’t see, and met Atra’s eyes. “Final heir.” Years of work had done this. Now the empire would be brought to it’s knees. Atra extended her hand, and nodded. Letum took it, nd thye made their escape. Letum’s 20 spikes offered a variety of powers. 20 people died that i might rise. Of those powers, was that of wind. He used the wind he summoned to force the pair off the trade tower, and to the west. He forced the wind down, letting them land comfortably.

“We need to speak with the western leaders.” Atra said, feet up on the table in the abandoned diner they owned. It was in Caligo’s name, but it was never touched.

“You have contacts right?” Letum asked. She usually kept them close to her chest, but now was the time to be forthright.

“Kennus Howler was the arms dealer I used in the south, the guy is odd but will give us what we need. He is a southerner at heart, but doesn’t want representation. He’s a good guy. And then there’s Kalva Brekka. She once helped us form an army.”

“We can trust them not to blow up the emperor though, right?” Letum’s words were sharper than he’d intended, and Atra narrowed her eyes.

“We can trust them. They were wary of the violence in the south. That is why they are in the west, and now parts of the upper society.”

The western dominance of Oran was Lethka, Vana was to the south, and Konra to the east. Konra supported everything the emperor did in the capital, Lethka was wary, seeking change, and Vana was revolting en masse. Letum and Atra weren’t trying to end the empire, it would be far better to regain control, and end the practices his father had instituted. Fear did nothing. Support was everything.

“We should leave in the morning. The skies will be watched constantly for flyers.” Letum said, removing his hard black leather mask. It kept a minimal amount of heat in, but still it made him sweat ever so slightly.

Atra agreed, but didn’t remove hers. She never does. To Letum it was always worth a shot. He’d never seen her face but longed to. They’d systematically let the empire bleed together, but Atra remained a mystery. Perhaps this is why he was drawn to her.