Asara, the Empress Sanguine

Asara sat restlessly upon her burnished throne, she could hear the messenger coming down the hallway to deliver the news of her campaign into the Ultwere. His hesitant footsteps relaying the message in advance, the news was not going to be to her liking. As the shabby man walked into the throne room, enervated by the distance of his journey, Asara reached for the blade that rest upon the throne's arm. The messenger moved forward cautiously, took a knee at the base of the dais, and bowed his head.

"And what news of glorious victory do you bring me," Asara asked sarcastically.

"I. I fear," the man said stumbling to get the words out, "I fear the army was routed, a total loss."

Asara stood, blade in hand, and casually walked down the steps from her throne to the man. "A total loss." she said in a soft whimsical tone. She slowly brought the knife up twisting it and touching the sharp point to her finger as she descended closer. "What of my generals?"

The messenger could hear her coming down the steps but dared not look up and meet what he assumed was a gaze that would pierce his heart. He cleared his throat and with all the courage he could muster, spoke. "General Gurien fled with his elites, Borlik and his host followed soon after, only General Vincent stood against the barbarian throng. Every last man was slain."

The Empress now circled the cowering man, she could smell the sweat that was pouring from his brow, a smell of fear. "Every last man you say? It seems at least one survived, doesn't it?"

He began to sob softly as Asara leaned in toward him waiting for his answer. He knew he was about to die, mercy was unknown to her. "I am sorry Empress, I was commanded to.." The man never finished his sentence as her blade ripped across his throat, he fell to the floor and with blurred vision caught a brief glimpse of the back of Asara's long crimson hair as she returned to her throne before he died.

She stood in front of the throne for just a moment, thinking or perhaps plotting, then turned to her aid, who had remained quite silent during this meeting for fear of misplaced anger. "Get this coward out of here and summon Tobias," she shouted.

"Yes Empress," her servant replied. He grabbed the lifeless body of the fallen soldier and dragged it from the room.

After he was gone Asara slumped into her throne, resting her head against one arm and casting her feet up over the other. She sighed and muttered to herself "Fools and cowards, I am surrounded by fools and cowards".

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