Free Aegis of The Gods: Book 00 - The Shadowbearer by Terry C. Simpson Page B

Stefan’s brows climbed his forehead. “Galiana,” he whispered. Another knowing smirk from Nerian was all the confirmation he needed.
    “Don’t look at me that way,” Nerian admonished. “She volunteered for the task. Besides, the Tribunal has been spying on us this entire time. I cannot trust any of their Matii.”
    “Despite all the years they helped in our battle against the shadelings?”
    “Do not be naïve,” Nerian chided. “We use who we must as they do us. Alone, we could never muster enough Matii or weapons to fight the shade’s last invasion, but together, a united Ostania did. In taking credit for bringing us together, the Tribunal gained their hold in Ostania.”
    “And we’re united now, aren’t we,” Stefan said, finally understanding some of the purpose of his last few years of service. “On our own.” He couldn’t bear to look at Nerian with the knowledge of how the King used him.
    “Not quite,” Nerian said. “But we are close, oh so close.” His voice gained a sudden fervor. “Don’t you see? We are stronger now. We no longer need to rely on the Tribunal to defend us. We can protect ourselves. Eventually, we can chase them back across the sea where they belong. Ostania can once again be whole.”
    Stefan regarded the man he once held in such high esteem. “What then?”
    King Nerian chuckled. “After that my son, the world is ours.”
    “A dream, sire. You’re living a dream. I guess the Granadians will simply bend knee and let you claim their lands. Their Matii will no longer fight for their cause but for ours instead.” Stefan made no attempt to hide his sarcasm.
    “That my son is the beauty of it all. Come.”
    His body tense, Stefan followed at the King’s heels.
    Nerian strode with purpose, head held high. He stopped at the edge of the battlements. “There, this is why I needed you to come home.” The King pointed out to the fields beyond the eastern walls.
    An army numbering in the tens of thousands, no, hundreds of thousands covered the plains. The Quaking Forest of Setian flew from every battle standard. The absence of flags displaying lightning bolts striking in front of the sun was more than a little disconcerting. That absence, the lack of the Tribunal’s Lightstorm, was a stark revelation of the King’s intention.
    “What—”
    “Matii,” the King declared. “Our own.”
    Stefan stared dumbly at the mass of bodies below. The green with crimson sleeves represented Dagodin, and from the unnatural gleam of their swords and spears, they wielded divya. How had the King found enough Matii to imbue so many weapons? Next to them he counted several legions in green and gold tunics and pants—Alzari. “How did you find so many Forgers?”
    “Because of you, son.” A wild grin split Nerian’s face. “Once you defeated the Astocans, it gave us the last supply of Matii we needed. We may have warred with each other, but long ago, the kingdoms came to an agreement. Whoever conquered all of us would lead a united Ostania to overthrow the Tribunal. The other kingdoms decreed that all Matii must enter military service. Here in Seti, we sent out High Alzari to recruit Matii or forcefully take any who would dare shun my commands. I chose not to make the requirement public until I thought we were ready to face the Tribunal.”
    Or to avoid any Matii fleeing beforehand .
    “Now, that day is here,” Nerian continued. “All that remains is for you to say yes, you will lead them.”
    “I thought Cerny was next in line.”
    “He has proven to be a tad unworthy.”
    “What if I refuse?”
    Nerian gave him a mirthless smile. “Come now. You will not refuse. I have done away with titles endowed by the Tribunal. We shall revert to our own. From now on, you are no longer Knight Commander, but General Stefan Dorn.”
    Stefan shook his head in denial. How could Nerian have changed this much?
    “Go home to your wife and think things over.”
    “I don’t need