The emperor's lineage

The plan

Alexandros P.o.v

The smell of dryness hit my senses first making me have second thoughts about coming here. The deserted lands, the land of the barbarians, one might think I have taken a liking to them to cross the wall to be here, but alas I had no other choice. Coming here is a very important part of my plan, another move that my silly brother could not have anticipated.

The wind keeps bringing that awful stench to me, reminding me that I am far from home, but really am I!. I cursed lowly as I proceed into the open land. The thing about coming here is that I only have direction given to me by my mother. I reminisce her words, walking through the dark night, the moon been the only source of light for me.

I stopped for some time to take in my bearing, nothing ahead, nothing behind, left, right empty. I sighed starting to doubt mother’s words of the barbarians finding me. I cursed again when I feel another gush of sand in my sandals. I open the leather patch that held water, gulping it down harshly. I looked up to the moon again, then continue my journey.

The wind gets really strong, then I feel someone’s presence, like am been watched. I look around seeing nothing but empty space, just sand. I feel my sense kick in again before I feel a sharp pain my neck, then regretting not bringing the witch along with me. My vision starts to blur; my eyes flusters then nothing.

I stirred slowly before remembering where I am, my eyes shot open taking in my surrounding. I notice the sun preying into the rag like thing, almost like a tent, some woods, then nothing. My hands are tied behind me; I try to pull it out only resulting in it tightening more. I still feel the heat, suggesting that am still in the deserted lands, I try to turn but stop when I see my legs are bound too.

I soon hear some bickering outside before I see a shadow cast outside the tent. I brace myself for what is about to happen. I soon see two men walk in, I cannot make out the color on their faces, except for the paint they had on. They glare at me before picking me up roughly, placing me on their shoulder, one in the front, the other one behind me.

They take me out of the tent, the sun burning my face as I am not use to it. They soon drop me to the ground in front of a man, I feel sand in my mouth from the force of been dropped. It takes some time for my vision to focus on him, he had long dark hair, brown eyes, heavy beard, typical of a man in the desert, his lips look chipped, cut. I cough a bit before looking up to me, locking his gaze. He looks really well built, he towered over me clearly.

They push me up to my feet, making me face him. Those brown eyes gaze intense, he leaned forward as if he wants to read my eyes. I lean back in turn feeling weird about his actions. I feel his eyes roam me up from head to toe, trying to study me.

“you are of the imperial clan?”, he said with a deep tone, almost even having an echo,

“yes, I am” I replied, “I am the first son of the emperor”

With this he sits in a chair that I did not see there before, “oh just good then, kill him”, he gestured his hands towards the two men behind me, they try to drag me away.

“stop, just give me a chance to explain myself, I have a deal for you”, they stop…”I can help you take down the imperial clan”….

They drag me back to face him, and at that moment I knew I could involve him in my plan. He leaned forward in the chair, resting his weight on his elbow, he thinks for some time before saying,” why should I spare your life?”

“I am the only one who is on your side, I can help you take your revenge”, I say locking gaze with him,

“how, what plan do you have?” he says gritting his teeth, clearly anxious,

“my plan is already in play”, I say with a smirk on my face.