Prologue

Satti – son of the Mohadus and Moshias; Captain of the Guard of Ahel’Hwalem and Commander of the troops of its ruler – shoved the small sweet ball, made from a mixture of almonds and dates, carefully into his mouth. Normally, such treats were destined for the evening, after a long day of work, but today was an exception. After seemingly endless preparations, he now finally stood on the promenade of the local Hesha’s palace; rested and with a small folding table next to him, a bowl of the sweet balls on top of it, almost as golden as himself. Satti already had some years of service on his back, but his gold-bronze lamellar armour, with the pure white cloth underneath it as a contrast to his dark skin, still fitted him well, despite the many years under the House Haatami and many sweet treats, he has grown so fond of. His closed helmet, with the crescent symbol on its brow, also sat on the table, mildly shimmering in the midday sun.
With dancing fingertips – as he was not sure yet which one of the pieces of candy to pick – Satti finally settled on a second ball. Contently, his eyes gazed over the panorama of the city, in which the annual festivities in honour of the God Miderion were held this very moment. This was also the reason why the Guard Captain barely found any rest during the last weeks. After all, it was up to him, as Commander and Captain of the forces of Ahel’Hwalem, to ensure safety during this event. How grand, that all seemed to work perfectly now.
The city dressed itself colourful, with tarps hanging across the narrow streets, trying to advert the unrelenting desert-sun of the middle of the five seasons a bit. Luckily, a not too strong wind blew over the area, making the heat a bit more bearable, without sending a sandstorm over the desert city immediately. To the West, beyond the city walls, Lake Hwalem glittered in the eastern sun. An Oasis in the endless desert; on its shores Ahel’Hwalem, the ‘golden Heart of the Expanse’. Busily, a few last ships skipped across the surface, as the Swimming Garden in its centre bloomed as green as ever.
A third ball found its way into Satti’s mouth, and the broad shouldered man had to scold himself. “More of these and I will truly bust open my harnish…”, he muttered to himself. Carefully, he pushed the tray with the treats a bit further away from him. Just in case.
A second figure joined him on the balcony, from inside the opulent palace, dressed in a similar armour as Satti. They took of the crescent helmet and bowed before the Captain.
“And?”, Satti asked, and a young man – one of his Officers – took place next to him.
“All quite. The posts are manned; the street secured for the wagons. An excellent lineup for the parade, if I may say so!”
The young man nodded approving towards Satti, but that one waved his praise away. “All right. This is what I like to hear!” The Captain motioned towards the tray with the candy, but his Officer declined.
“I think, the Hesha and his spouse should be coming down the main street any moment now.”, the Officer said instead, giving his superior a small telescope.
Satti took the thing and looked onto the streets below him, on which masses of celebrating citizens already gathered. A movement went through the crowd, signaling the arrival of the city ruler on his wagon. Satti took the telescope to his eye and saw the street in details.
Around the corner came a vehicle dressed in gold and pomp, lead by a honour guard on foot in front of it. The wagon was at least five metre high and needed no beasts to carry it. The Meridians of the desert still inherited the Desert-Ships: Machines from the apex of humankind of the First and Second Era of Mortality. Today, in the Fifth Era, almost no one knew, how these wondrous constructions of early Men worked. But the three remaining Oasis-Cities of Meridia secured pieces of the old knowledge, even if they themselves often did not understand it entirely. It was more about preserving what was there and repairing it, than to create something new. The Desert-Ships were rare and therefore widely sought for in the Expanse, in order to cross the kilometre long and wide desert for trade with the rest of the Known World. The city state of Ahel’Hwalem had the luxury of owning the majority of Desert-Ships, which is why House Haatmi used these special vehicle rather liberally.
Big, tall sails, made from a blueish, transparent material, crowned the wagon like the wings of a dragonfly. On the upper deck, two thrones were installed, on which the royalty sat, surrounded by their personal guard. The vehicle pushed itself past the cheering masses, who celebrated the day on which the God Meridion sacrificed himself, to complete the Wheel of Time. Even if the relationship of most cultures and the Old Gods changed over the Eras, the people of Meridia still held true to the Old Ones and especially the Celestial Pantheon. Unlike most other Humans of the western world, who had forsaken the Old Ones long ago, replacing them with new gods and religions.
According to the Meridians, the Old Ones were more than just idols to be worshipped in temple halls, but living beings, that once wandered the world, living next to the early Mortals with their kind. What western scholars like to dismiss as antique legends and tale, were real historic records of the early and mythical human history for the Meridians; when Mortals and Immortals lived site by site. It was this certain pride, that burned in all Meridians. The pride of knowing the truth and worshipping the only true gods, unlike the rest of the world.
On the two thrones sat the ruling Hesha of Ahel’Hwalem and his spouse. Irajò Haatmi’fhagye, son of the previous Hesha Arwash Haatmi’sehaata; who Satti liked to describe as the ‘greatest ruler of Ahel’Hwalem’. Except of course, when the relatively young Irajò was nearby. Then he was ‘the greatest ruler of Ahel’Hwalem’.
The son of the old Hesha was tall, like his father, and seemed like a warrior of elden days in his polished golden armour and the tall cloth-headdress. But Satti knew better, as he was the one who trained the young man in combat. Irajò was good, but not the best with the blade. This did not stop the young Hesha though from bragging with his skills at any opportunity. Truth be told, it was one of the only things Irajò of the city did, besides celebrating lavish feasts and being able to count his thoughts on one hand. For Satti, he was nothing more than a better nobleman; and Ever-Princling. But his spouse was something else entirely.
The petite woman next to Irajò, with her deep dark skin and shaved head, looked like a porcelain doll next to her husband, in her thin gold-white dress. But Satti knew better, as he always did. He saw that there was more to the ‘new pretty spouse of the Hesha’ early on. He even thought to remember seeing her as a young girl; as a servant to the previous Hesharia inside the palace. For she was nothing more in the beginning. A maid, that charmed the prince and now holds a throne next to him.
The more time Satti spent serving Hedeh, the more did he understood the clear mind inside her attractive head. The intrigues; the calculated distance. Today, he could not say how many people lost their heads in some palace-backrooms, due to her orders and plays for power. While Irajò enjoyed his spot in the light, Hesharia Hedeh Haatmi’aslai built up her own domain behind her spouse’s back. She pulls the strings in the city, and all she had to do, is make Irajò think her ideas are actually his.
Satti noticed early on, but also understood, to not stand in her way and the changing climate inside the palace, like some other generals of the old-guard. He liked being her tin soldier. Especially, as she always took good care of those, who are of service to her.
He swayed the telescope to the site and investigated the soldiers, he ordered along the promenade, with certain satisfaction. Like a wall of steel and sharp glaives, they stood between the wagon and the cheering people at the site of the street. Warriors in golden armour – similar to the one of their Captain. Even on some of the flat-roofed buildings, with their colourful sandstone facade, Satti stationed some archers, to keep an over watch of current events. All this, combined with numerous personal checks in the city and an increased guard presence made the Ahel’Hwalem more safe than ever. Nothing could go wrong on such a celebration.
The Commander grinned at the thought. And all the other military advisers of the other Oasis-Cities always teased him for his lacking defences.
“Whose a holey dyke now…”, he said to himself quietly.
“Come again?”, his Officer asked, but Satti waved him off again. He instead gave the telescope back to the young man and kept his cheerful mood.
“Rarely have I seen such good work. I will double the wage for the Guard his week!”, he declared with a grand smile.
His Officer bowed deeply before Satti. “Thank you, Commander!”
Happy with himself and the world, Satti finally treated himself to yet another piece of candy. The Officer also took the chance to look upon the city through the telescope, in order to marvel at his superior’s work.
But in that moment, the man hesitated; took of the scope, only to gaze through it again, seconds after. Satti noticed the odd gesture and turned around to the soldier.
“What is it?”, he snarled at the Officer.
The man shook his head. “I think, one of the roof posts is absent…”
Immediately, Satti grabbed the scope out of the Officer’s hand to look for himself. After a few moments, he found the empty roof, which should be manned by at least four archers.
“Those lazy dogs!”, Satti erupted. The parade would come by this spot any moment now. “If they think, they can steal themselves away, to raid from the banquet! I will drag them personally through the entire Expanse! Halved wages for all the Guards!”
Then, the old warrior halted, as a few figures started to move on the building. But instead of seeing the golden outlines of the city guard, they were draped in beige cloth, almost invisible in the city’s sandstone vista.
“By the Ten.” Cold sweat started to run down Satti’s brown, while the Officer seemed concerned. And as The Captain was watching the strangers, they jumped off the roof onto the passing Hesha-Wagon with a certain nonchalantness.
Satti immediately threw the scope to the site and grabbed his helmet of the table. “Call all available men. Bring the horses too!”
Without hesitating, the Officer saluted before the Commander and joined him towards the inside of the palace to round up the troops. On their way, one of them tipped over the table, and the small sweet balls rolled over the balcony.

Nobody noticed the figures at first, who jumped on the Hesha-Wagon like felines. The crowd around the vehicle was loud, the soldier in front of them were stoically looking forward and the post, who should have seen them, was lying blood covered on the rooftop. Even the Hesha’s bodyguards did not see the strangers at first, letting two of them sneak up upon the nearest guards on the ship deck. It was even easier, than their benefactor promised them it would be. With sharp curved blades, they cut through the cap between helmet and harnish. Two bleeding guards fell over the site of the wagon, landing near the cheering citizen. Panic erupted immediately, so things needed to proceed quickly now. Like the assassins hoped, the panicked crowd made it more difficult for the soldiers to reach the wagon. The parade stopped and the remaining bodyguards took position around the Hesha pair, their spears and curved swords drawn.
The rest of the assassins joined the first two on the Dune-Ship, attacking the guards with quick and agile hits. Far away – down the street towards the palace – a group of horseback soldiers pushed a way through the fleeing crowd. The wagon had two ladders on each site as an emergency entry point, besides the stand near the palace at the end of the street. Some brave soldiers on the ground started to climb them, only to be attack from above by the assassins. The Heshas were seemingly caught on top of their own ship.
Satti was furious, as he and his riders only advanced slowly towards the parade. Some of the other archer-posts tried to fire at the attackers from the other site of the road, but many hesitated, as the assassins were rather close to the Heshas now. Instead, the cutthroats pulled forth their own short bows, using the blue sails as cover and shooting at the archers in return. Only a few, well aimed or lucky shots hit the assassins, killing merely one of them. Nimble, they dodged most attacks; even those from the bodyguards. It appeared they were more dancing with the soldiers, than fighting at times. One by one, the well-trained guards around the Haatmis fell, as Satti saw from his horse. Engulfed with rage, he started to hack at the people before him with his sword, to finally create a path towards his masters.
Overcome by anger and surrounded by the assassins, Irajò drew his own decorative sable. “By the name of Vendlor the Just, I will cut you all to pieces!”
He attacked one of the strangers, who dodged the Hesha’s blade with ease. A second jumped forward to quickly end Irajò’s life, but the Hesha managed to catch his opponent’s hit in the last seconds, only to under go the assassins attack in return. Blood and guts poured forth from the body of the assassin, as the blade of the Hesha actually managed to hit his mark and run through the belly of the attacker. The surprise of the Hesha’s abilities was clear in the eyes of the other killers, who were not ready for such resistance from the young man. Not willing to ‘play’ with the pup any longer, all of the attackers started to approach the Irajò and Hedeh.
The Hesha of Ahel’Hwalem saw himself surrounded, as more figures jumped onto the wagon from nearby roofs. They were also veiled, but also taller and clothed in colourful linen. The armour underneath the cloth seemed antique and their faces were hidden behind motionless masks of gold; mimicking the perfect interpretation of human features.
To Irajò’s big surprise, the newcomers started to assault the assassins; matching their speed with ease. One by one, the murderers fell, while the giants did not even bear a scratch on them. A brave assassins managed to hit his opponents blade out of their hand; already feeling himself the victor. But the tall stranger performed some quick motions with their now free hands, creating a shimmering blue light between their fingers. Lightning fast, a ball of blue fire hit the assassin, throwing them over the edge of the Dune-Ship. The still smouldering body hit the ground right new to Satti, who finally managed to reach the wagon with his riders. Together with the reinforcement, he climbed the latter to the deck, only to find the Heshas surrounded by veiled giants.
The Commander raised his blade in challenge, only to be halted by Irajò: “No! Don’t, good Captain. These heroes saved our lives!” Only now did Satti notice the dead assassins around the strangers. Carefully, he and his men put away their swords, still surrounding the strangers to be safe.
The people around on the street also noticed the change and looked back to the parade; cheering, even if still a bit shaken and unsure. Irajò stepped forth, together with an unharmed Hedeh, and to the surprise of all, bowed before the giants. A murmur went through the crowd.
“I, and my enchanting wife, thank you for your timely help. Without you, Ahel’Hwalem would be missing two beloved Heshas.” The masked figure did not appeared tired from the fast-paced fight at all, in the meantime. Hedeh hesitated, as she thought to see a light coming from underneath the golden visage of one of the strangers.
“This city and her people are in your dept, just like the House Haatmi. But I do need to ask: Who are you, dear friends?”
The giants looked towards the crowd, that had gathered around the Dune-Ship, turning towards it and away from the Hesha. With quick movements, the removed the disguises around their faces, sending a shock through the mass of people. Some of the citizens just stood there; others fell to their knees and started to pray to the Old Gods. Irajò himself had to take a step back; shocked by the appearance of their saviours.
Satti had to swallow hard and murmured to himself: “By the Ten…” Even he, almost unwillingly, fell on one knee before the creatures.
In front of the people of Ahel’Hwalem stood ten figure: Human, but with golden skin and eyes made from gemstones. An unnatural, heavenly light radiated from their flawless features, while they gazed upon the Humans beneath them; bathing them with their sheer presence of light. One could have mistaken them for bronze statues, given life and perfection in every corner and fold of their visage by their creator.
These ten were no mere Humans. Or at least no mortal ones.