"A revolution is an idea

which has found its bayonets."



Every morning, after breakfast, the governor spent most of his time in the bath-room smoking a cigar with his feet immersed in a mixture of wine, honey and bull's urine which was supposed to relieve his gouty pains, according to the healer.

Every guard, servant and inhabitant of the Castle knew that Longinus became insufferable on such occasions, but nevertheless the newly arrived messenger from Dundee demanded to be received none the less.

On the other hand, the news he had brought from the border, even before the arrival of the first caravans full of fugitives, and which had prompted Adrian to introduce him to his father's presence, were well worth the risk of suffering his wrath.

"A riot?"

"Yes my Lord. The entire population of the Ende ghetto is in a state of revolt."

"And you're interrupting my footbath over something silly like that? I should have you whipped."

"If I may father, perhaps it would be appropriate to treat the matter more carefully. From the rumors circulating, it seems that Sheriff Haselworth is the leader of the revolt. If it's true, we cannot exclude that he manages to get even a section of the people of Dundee to his side. You know how well considered he is among those people."

"Dear me, I knew it. If you offer a bumpkin a bite, he'll want the whole pie in the end."

"Just give me an order father, and I will personally handle the matter."

"Are you crazy? Remember you are a noble. You certainly can't dishonor yourself by fighting stinky monsters. You, messenger. Go find General Ron. Inform him of the situation and tell him to meet me here."

"Yes my Lord."

The General arrived less than ten minutes later already aware of everything and ready to explain his solution to the problem: with only four hundred of his best legionaries, he said, he was ready to crush the rebellion in less than three days, one less than it theoretically took to bring troops south.

But Longinus once again felt compelled to object.

"Am I supposed to mobilize my best soldiers for a bunch of bums? It's out of question. The 3rd Light Infantry Brigade will handle it."

"Governor, the 3rd Light Brigade is made up almost entirely of auxiliaries and young recruits who have never seen a battlefield. Even if we're talking about a simple slave revolt, don't you think we should act more decisively?"

"Are you crazy? Then how should I explain the use of such a force to His Majesty? We are in the midst of the Imperial inspection."

The General was forced to submit, and after having made a further yet usless request to be able to get better trained troops, he took his leave to go to the barracks.

But just when the Governor hoped to be able to enjoy his foot bath again another member of his court appeared in the bathroom.

"Lady Valera. What an honor to receive you in this inappropriate place. What can I do for you today?"

"Mr. Governor, I just heard you have not yet authorized my departure for Basterwick."

"And I'm afraid I won't be able to do that later either. I guess the rumors have reached you too."

"The plague is spreading, and there aren't enough healers in Bastewick to cure everyone. My novice and I could ease the pain of your subjects."

"The safety of the people of Basterwick is close to my heart, but I must also think about your safety. What if you came across those wild beasts?"

"Should I assume you are concerned about those wayward slaves to the point of fearing they might make it as far as Basterwick?"

Longinus nervously gritted his teeth, while his son on the contrary could only bend his lips in a sincere smile of astonishment and admiration in front of the sagacity and velvety tongue of that so apparently defenseless young woman.

"As you wish, life is yours. But if anything should happen to you, it certainly won't be my fault."

"You don't have to worry. Even if it doesn't seem like I can take care of myself. And in any case, Isabela will be by my side." and after making a bow that almost tasted of an insult, she went away

"She's not lacking in audacity." Adrian commented

"In arrogance you mean. And there are those who claim that she will be the next pope. But don't make me laugh. Someone like that isn't going to live long."

A young lioness dressed as an apprentice cleric and an armored woman with the emblem of the Temple Guard embroidered in gold on her white cloak were waiting for Sylvie outside the door.

"Master Sylvie, are you really sure it's safe to leave the Castle now?"

"Vaelia is right, my Lady. The plague is getting worse day by day, and now there's also the problem of rebellion in the south. I personally don't trust the Governor. He's clearly underestimating all this."

"I'm aware of that, Isabela. But now more than ever the people of this earth need to feel the closeness of representatives of Gaia, and to know that someone seriously cares about them."

"And what do we do if those rebels really succeed in expanding as far as Basterwick?" asked Vaelia "You said it yourself that the human who leads them is a person out of the ordinary."

"To be honest, I admit that I would be really curious to meet him. When I looked Mr. Haselworth in his eyes for the first time I immediately noticed the look of a caged beast ready to run wild."

A war trumpet sounded in the courtyard, and the three girls looking out from the balcony saw General Ron haranguing the troops already lined up on the parade ground and ready to leave for Dundee.

"You're right about one thing, Isabela. The Governor still hasn't really figured out what he's dealing with."



It is normal for slaves who have lived their entire lives suffering from hunger and the hardships of going wild with everything that has always been denied them at the first opportunity.

I had seen with my own eyes the mob storming the villas of the aristocrats the day after the Bastille, emptying the pantries, raiding the cellars and destroying everything else.

I certainly couldn't let that happen.

And to make it clear that I wasn't joking on this point, it was necessary to give some examples; which is why I had allowed Pythus to sneak into the city, since I was sure that goblin would not miss the opportunity to demonstrate his bestiality. His death would not have been a loss, and the message had come through loud and clear to everyone.

Now that the Revolution had officially begun it was necessary to nurture it and carry it forward, so less than two hours after my speech in the square I was already sitting in the meeting room of the town hall, surrounded by the main representatives of the regional administration.

"Septimus. What is the situation at the bridge?"

"Surveillance has been restored and traffic control activity has resumed normally."

"What did you tell the Union soldiers?"

"What you suggested. That the local garrison took power with a coup and the approval of the population, and freed the slaves to recruit new forces. Officially, I'm the one in charge of everything."

"It will be necessary to make a selection. All citizens, men and women, who have any military training, are invited to take up arms and make their contribution. The fort and militia armories should be enough to equip everyone. We will create battalions of five hundred soldiers each, and at least for the moment, we will keep humans and monsters separate to avoid creating friction."

"Wouldn't it be appropriate to show cohesion right away?" Scalia asked. "You're the one who said that distinction should no longer exist."

"There will be time for that. Our priority now is to fend off the threat that's about to come upon us, and we can't do that if every soldier distrusts the one next to him. Commander Oldrick, what's the state of public order?"

"A few fights, but nothing significant. The example you set by killing that goblin resonated with even the wildest villagers."

"How many militiamen are left?"

"About a hundred and twenty. All trusted folks backing this venture."

"We'll group them into a single battalion. Together with Septimus' legionnaires, they will form our elite unit. Mary."

"Y-yes?"

"Commerce needs to remain open. Use all your good reputation with the merchants of the Union. Reassure them that the situation in Dundee is under control despite the coup, and lower prices if necessary. It's important to get as much money around as possible."

"But will the merchants agree to trade with rebels?"

"Besides, what should we trade?" the mayor asked. "The mining activities, the fields, even groceries and shops. At the moment everything is stopped. Many people have even escaped."

"Peasants and those who own land that has already been sown will be exempt from military service. The same goes for hunters. This should provide us with the food we need to feed our population and our army, even if it will be inevitable to allocate more resources to the latter. We will also restart the mines and the timber industry, assigning as many workers as possible. The shops and emporiums will be more than happy to get back to business if they see that despite everything the merchants keep coming."

"And what about the merchants who came from the north? Nearly half of the trade in this region is with the Empire or Eastern Eirinn."

"Those will inevitably be disrupted, but we'll make it very clear that it won't be our fault. Officially, the gates in Dundee will remain open for anyone to do business, so the Governor and the Castle will take the blame. But I wouldn't worry too much about it in your place."

"Why?"

"Because I can assure you that one month from today, the next meeting of this board of directors will be held in the Great Hall of the Castle."

I was used to shock my ministers with catchphrases, and every time it made me laugh to see the kind of reactions such sentences aroused in those who heard them.

"Daemon, aren't you running a little too fast?" said Septimus. "We have less than 2,500 troops to begin with. The Fifteenth Legion alone numbers over ten thousand."

"If it's more soldiers you need, I'm right here!" Grog exclaimed jumping up and unleashing his famous muscles "Me and my boys have been smashing stones since we used to suck our thumbs, smashing heads in comparison will be just a workout!"

"Do you know why I assigned all the orcs and minotaurs to restore mining rather than the military?"

"Because otherwise it would be too easy?"

"Because the big target is always the most attractive. You'd turn into a pincushion even before going to head-to-head. The time will come for you to go into battle too, but for now I need you to get the mines working again."

"When that's the case, leave it to us. Give us wine, cider and lots of meat, and we will empty the Khoral of everything in it."

At that moment, someone knocked on the door, and I was more than sure I knew who it was.

"Perfect timing. Come in."

Of course, no one jumped for joy to see Borg's ugly fat muzzle appear in the doorway; indeed, Scalia and Septimus were almost on the verge of taking up arms.

"Calm down. I was the one who asked him to come. As you said, we need all the help we can get, and you all know very well how good Borg is at finding anything that can help us."

"However, this pig..." Scalia tried to protest

"Each commander makes war with the soldiers he has. Anyway Borg is a too precious resource to give up in the name of some moralizing or just because you don't like him, especially at this moment."

"Well said, my friend. As for you gentlemen, you can rest easy. Your exalted supreme commander and I have already discussed the matter at length. My loyalty to him and your cause is beyond question."

"But for how long?" growled Septimus

"So, Borg? Do you have what I asked you?"

"Even if I'm the best of all there is a limit to what I can provide. But luckily for you, the goods you requested were already available to me."

That was obviously not true. I had placed the order months before – and paid for it in gold – when my plan was just starting to go into motion.

On the other hand, I certainly couldn't go and tell people that what had to appear at all costs as a naturally born was nothing more than the consequence of what I myself had provoked.

Luckily for me, everything for Borg had a price, including his silence; and besides, he was too smart to let the opportunity of his life slip away just as a matter of honesty.

As for the goods, it was undoubtedly something that in that part of Erthea was becoming very difficult to find, and for this reason it did not fail to leave everyone speechless when they saw the pig's thugs unloading it from the wagons.

"Cannons!?" exclaimed Oldrick.

From my point of view they were nothing more than toys, impractical, imprecise and with the dangerous tendency to blow up, but still useful for those like me who knew how to get the soul out of any fire mouth.

Borg had found six, large-caliber and terribly heavy, as well as lacking carriages and wheels.

Seriously, is this really the best that Erthea has to offer in terms of artillery?

"I haven't seen one since the Border Wars. It was actually a splinter from the explosion of one of these things that took my eye away."

"There are some in the fort too, but they're nothing more than bulky bollards. They never even trained us to use them."

"Daemon, what exactly are you going to do with it?" Scalia asked

"Isn't it obvious? Use them for the war ahead."

"But to do what? We are not to besiege a fortress. And even if we were to use them to defend the village, the towers and walkways would crumble after the first recoil."

"We're not going to defend a damn thing, Septimus."

"What!?"

"A revolution is victorious only when the old government is overthrown, and a government certainly cannot be overthrown by staying behind a wall."

Oldrick was a veteran, so it was quite obvious that the idea I was proposing seemed more absurd to him than to the others.

"Are you planning to engage the Imperial Army in open battle with a few legionaries, a few conscripts, and an army of rebel slaves?"

"The Commander is right, this is madness." said the Mayor

"Not if we will establish the conditions and choose the battlefield. And with these at our side, victory is absolutely certain. Scalia, I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Order Tarto and the other boys at the sawmill to get right to work following these plans. It is necessary that everything be built by tomorrow. Grog."

"I'm here."

"I need the mine foundry to start making big iron balls right away. These things are useless without ammo. Giselle."

"At your orders."

"Take some volunteers and search the village and its environs inch by inch. You need nails, stones, bolts, things like that. The harder and smaller they are, the better."

"And what do you want to do with then, if I can?"

"You'll see. As for you mayor, get me some horses. Sturdy, working beasts that can pull heavy loads. Since we only have three days, for this battle we will deploy only those who already know how to fight and it will be possible to join battalions right away. Scalia and Septimus, you will command the slave and human units, respectively."

"Count on me."

"And on me too."

"Oh, and one more thing. Find me a ceramist and a horse too. A white one, if you please."