3. The Babarian Hoarde

King Dorian looked at his twin sons as they played the sword with their wooden toy swords with all  seriousness while the soldiers moved around doing their bit. Being a father to the two boys without a  mother had not been really easy. He was really proud of his children and only wished that their mother  had not been murdered in cold blood. He had decided never to make the mistake of leaving any  member of his family behind as the last time had cost him dearly. His wife, Sophia, had been killed by  enemy troops and barbarians from the south and so, he decided that since he could not detect exactly  which of these barbarians had done the deed, he would continue killing all the way south to the very last  of them. Their women and children as well will not be spared. He had only gone hunting with his  brother, Troy, when he returned he saw the massacre. His wife had been impaled with a spear to the  wall and she had been badly tortured obviously. Her naked body showed cut marks and burns. They had  taken their time making a sport of her and he had been late. Luckily, she had hidden the babies in a  basket away from sight and probably fate did not permit it but the babies were alive and only started  crying when Dorian screamed in pain. He had to fetch them a nurse who was given the task of taking  care of them until they were of age. As soon as the boys clocked seven, their father came for them after  of course, killing their nurse secretly. Yes, he had become the monster of whom the fables told of. He  had his brother by his side, a large and strong army, chariots of steel, swords, catapults and more to his  advantage. He was invincible and would forever be so.

The people of Wuwa were the last on this side of the south. He had sent scouts to go spy on them and  when he had gotten the feedback on how weak they were, he knew one thing. They would be really  easy to take on. Taking some of his warriors while the others guard his newly built empire with his  brother, he went for them. They camped out of sight as they drew strategies on how to get them. It was  not hard, unlike the other tribes before them. It took him just one night to conquer them. Night arrows  of steel rained on them before he released fire on the village. This time, he had taken a few survivors as  he would be needing new slaves as the old ones were growing weaker and besides, he needed more  hands. He had those he had not yet put to death dragged to his place of abode. He and his brother  would finally get to sort them out. Of everyone around him, he trusted Troy with all he had. He smiled  and walked past his children as they continued their sword playing. There were other matters that  needed his attention. Someday when Brian and Adrian grew up, they would be just like him and  understand the need to cast fear on all their adversaries. 

As he walked to the arena where the slaves would be sorted out and those for sport separated, he  thought about his sons and what they might eventually grow up to be. Brian had the potential of a  great leader, just like him. He was rather strong and would always protect his brother from potential  harm and pain. Even from their father. He was such a special cute little boy with the strategies of an adult.  Dorian had seen him maneuvering his brother during their sword play. Adrian also was strong but he  was a nuisance. Always causing troubles for both him and his brother. He never thought before acting  and would throw a tantrum when things are not done his way. Yet, amidst his troubles, he would never  let his brother face harm. He was rather fond of Brian just as Troy was of Dorian. The twins of course do  have their moments of angry outbursts, but then, neither could hold out on the other for long. This was  what Dorian admired. This was what had kept his people going all along. His clan had been known for  their spirit of brotherhood. 

The twins had been considered special right from time. They were identical twins but something rather  unlikely separated them and made it easier to identify them. Brian had dark hair while his brother had  his head covered with a golden crown, he was a blonde, just like Troy. Often the brothers would joke on  

how they had been gifted with children that would represent them when they were old and gone. Troy  did have a child too, a daughter that was dear to his heart. Kat, he had called her. She was twelve  and had been betrothed to the son of the king. Yes, they did have a king over their heads to whom they  

paid tributes. No one is ever totally free unless they are dead after all. The king was really close to the  brothers however, and maintained the friendship between them. He gave them the backing they  needed, and they in turn would fight his wars. 

Troy was already at the arena when Dorian arrived. Seated on his chair enjoying some wild cherries. The  slaves were all tied together and huddled closer to each other as obvious fear was written all over their  faces. The remaining sons of the king were kept separate from the others and they tried to seem defiant  even though Dorian could detect the fear written all over them. Troy caught sight of him and threw a  cherry at him.

“I was beginning to think you’ve grown old and bored brother,” he teased Dorian who snickered at him  playfully. 

“I am definitely old, but never bored.” he said and sat down next to his brother. He tried taking a cherry  from the platter when Troy quickly removed it. 

“Not so fast, that was one serving you know, go get yours,” he said. 

“Or I should wrestle you for yours, how about that?” Dorian asked. 

Troy pretended to think about it for a while. Making up his mind, he resigned and dropped the platter.  The brothers looked at each other and burst out laughing. It was time to get down to the business of the  day. 

“I thought they said the king had seven sons, we slayed four, two are here, where is the seventh?”  Dorian asked. 

“From what I heard, he fled into the forest with some people.” Troy said. 

“Then, he must have a death wish.” Dorian said. 

He was sure that since he could not get Kuka and his survivors, the forest and its dangers would. He had  stationed soldiers at their place to oversee the new arsenal he was building there and walls he was  raising. Definitely, no way would any of the survivors attempt to get back unless they wanted to die. To  send the message clearly to them, he had the heads of their king, his sons and their supposed priest  hanging on spears. 

Looking at these ones before him, he was not going to show them mercy of course. The sons of the king  would be used as target practice for his archers as they entertained both him and his brother. He had  caught sight of a young lady that did look beautiful, she would be gracing his bed before he killed her.  Looking at Troy, he could see he had his eyes fixed on one other lady, he could nearly tell of the dirty  things running through his head. As for the others, their tongues would be detached as they would be  embracing their new life as slaves to his will. They were twenty-three of them, he would have fifteen 

sent to the king. The rest would join the rest of the slaves in their toil. Everything was done as he had  instructed and much later, he retired to his chambers. 

The young lady he had pointed out was already in there waiting for him. He smiled boldly as he opened  his curtains. She was tied to a pillar, her hands behind her back. He bent close to her as she held her hair in  his hands, he smelt it and could perceive the scent of lilies and blood on her. She suddenly turned to  look at him and spat on his face. Dorian smiled, he was definitely going to like this one and might not kill  her just yet. He loved his feisty and furious. He was going to teach her loyalty and make her  understand why he was the king of his clan. He was a victor, and to the victor belongs the spoils. Taking  out his dagger, he saw the fear in her eyes. Reaching behind, he cut her loose.