An Ascendant of Kings (An Embers of the Past Series Novel, #2)

Gazing out across the banks of the Sewai River filled Nishan with both a sense of contentment at its beauty, and dread of the chaotic battle raging across its fertile banks.

The Golden Sun arose in the east, casting the mountains of the Carth Dominion in radiance. The arid grasslands of Khopeshi, within sight of the Sewai, shimmered in a golden haze of light.

Thousands of warriors lay fallen in the fields of emerald papyrus and overgrown river reeds. The furious fighting had left their bodies scattered on the Sewai River’s banks. Cannon fire and flaming arrows scarred the land with constant bombardment.

Holding the line in a loose formation across the lesser hills rolling away from the Leviathan’s Crossing, arquebus-wielding Lantern Hawks answered the enemy with thundering salvos. They were the backbone of Akopia Kingdom’s light infantry. Utility was their specialty in matters of close combat and ranged warfare. The Lantern Hawks had long been known for their use of black powder weapons to punish their enemies from afar, in addition to their versatility when engaging troops up close on the battlefield.

Hundreds of rifles ignited from Radeha Citadel’s curtain wall in timed salvos. Even from the opposite side of the Sewai whence Nishan and his companions had come, the sound deafened him. Every volley scythed through the charging ranks of the Zar Legion, advancing on the thinned-out Akopian front line.

The Lantern Hawks traded plate steel and heavy armor for lighter variants, crafted from ebony leather and garments of dark silk. Others wore tunics and scarves of bright colors on their armor. An arsenal of utility items and high-quality weapons compensated for what the Lantern Hawks lacked in defense. In contrast, the formation of hundreds of Zar’qin legionnaires organized on the other side of the battlefield presented itself in the traditional formation of neat, disciplined ranks.

The Zar’qin, or “slave guard” in the Carthite dialect, were a corps of volunteers from the Carth Dominion’s Zar, the slave caste. Potters, miners, scholars, and individuals from various walks of life were trained through rigorous trials, transforming them from ordinary servants into unflinching warriors. In exchange for their unwavering loyalty and years of service, the Zar’qin stood elevated above others in their caste. An accelerated path to freedom was the highest reward a Zar legionnaire could gain in the final years of their career.

In their thousands, the Zar Legion charged beneath elaborate battle standards snapping in the dust and wind. Clad in garments of cream and crimson layered over with chain mail, their ranks gleamed under the Golden Sun’s scouring glare. The Zar’qin’s aesthetic stood out from both the Akopian forces and the shining masters, the Children of the Sun.

Nishan registered a second bombardment thundering from Radeha Citadel. Their cannons and marksmen had adjusted their aim, using the Zar Legion banners as markers for their artillery crews. Entire Zar’qin formations vanished amid the devastation. The wet soil of the riverbank heaved in explosions of dust, blood, and dismemberment.

Slowly, survivors emerged from the blackened smoke, dazed and staggered. Debris rained down on their fractured ranks as the Lantern Hawks cut down those who remained. The enemy advance fell apart, and the Zar legionnaires were routed.

Riding alongside him, Sabir, Nishan’s most loyal companion, cried out.

“Draw steel and charge!”

A scimitar slid out from the scabbard fastened on Nishan’s belt. He whipped the blade in a flourish until the weapon felt comfortable in his gauntlet. His companions drew steel around him and raised their swords overhead, shouting war cries as they rode onto the battlefield. Together, Nishan and his retinue galloped away from the bridgeway behind them, storming across the arid plains of Khopeshi.