Fate of an Empire (Talurian Empire Trilogy Book 1) by Jonathan Pasquariello

wouldn’t listen! I had to make them listen. Don’t make me force
my hand with you…”
    For a moment,
silence rung through Thandril’s head, then with a loud crack, “Now go!”
    The night sky
opened and stars peered down. Nature’s sounds began to sing, and Thandril
sensed he was once again alone.

Chapter
15: Searching
     
    A knock came
on the door, and a soldier hurried into the room.
    “Sir, one of
our patrols spotted the Talurian army. They stopped just before the northern
ridge. They haven’t made camp so we can assume their rest is brief.”
    Ceth leaned
back in his chair, scanning the burnt-out room that he had made into his
temporary command center, absently thinking. He stroked his mustache. “Four or
five hours, I would say…” He twisted up the ends of his facial hair, then
snapped back to focusing on the soldier before him. “Find me Dageros and,
without giving away what we are doing, make ready our departure.”
    The soldier
bowed and left the Kitamite Commander alone in the room.
    He shifted the
maps around on his desk and pulled forward one filled with many notations and
movement reports.
    They should
be here in two weeks. What chance do they have if we fail? Can they overrun
this city with General Saris still alive, and his army fortified inside the Keep?
    A rapid knocking
once again fell on his door. Dag entered without being called in, “Sir? Are you
leaving? We haven’t heard or seen anything from my brother.” He slammed his
fists down on the desk. “We can’t leave him in there! This mission isn’t
finished!”
    Ceth stood
from his seat and looked the young man hard in the eyes. “You will not speak to me in that manner.”
    Dag’s eyes
shimmered. “I will speak to you however I please,” he said defiantly, “Do you
not remember who is royalty here? You are Kitamite, and I am of Merkadia, but
do not be confused…” Dag crossed his arms, “You exist independently of our
great kingdom because we let you! General Vyker will be here expecting to find one
dead Talurian General and an army sitting on their asses up north.”
    Dag took a
step closer to the large Commander, “Now… We will wait for Kaillum to give the
signal, then ignite the flame barrels, as planned. If we have to run with the
Talurian army on our heels, so be it!”
    Ceth looked
down at Dag and said coolly, “I am leaving with my men. You can do whatever you
want. I have known you for years, but today, you act like a fool. You have
strained the alliance with our people. Now get out of my face.”
    Dageros
lingered for a moment, fighting the urge to lash out at the military leader.
“Gah!” He threw his hands in the air and left the building. What are you
doing in there, Brother?
     
    *
* *
     
    Kaillum pushed
through the crowd of people, trying to make up for lost time.
    He entered the
Keep alongside the last group of Talurian soldiers before the gates were sealed.
When they arrived, they were quickly moved to the garrison’s infirmary for a checkup,
and had to remain there, until ordered back to duty. He didn’t have an
opportunity to duck out of the group on the way in there, and even less of an
opportunity once inside the barracks. He played along, but that ended up
getting him three assignments, before getting dismissed.
    Now, he had a
mission to complete.
    He still
looked like himself, save a slight change to hide the ridge along the center of
his forehead, a strange bodily trait that he shared with his brother, and,
until he started using his powers more significantly, his eyes would remain
dull and normal-looking.
    He made his
way past the commissary and then through the food hall, pushing through the
crowd of people buying up any remaining supplies.
    I should be
done and gone by now. Where are the General’s chambers?
    People were
lined up everywhere, getting fed and staking out space for their family. Many
looked sick from the smoky air and all of them were covered with soot. He was thankful
for the