The Glass Empires: Adventures of the Red Dove: The Glass Empires, #4

By S. C. Coleman

It is the eve of the ceremonial signing of the Treaty of Molina, a pact signed by all the nations of the Greater Continent. The Treaty has maintained a shaky peace among the nations, but storm clouds gather on the horizon. While the Age of a Hundred kings has all but past into myth, the scars of the Great Period of Shadow stand as a monolith to a forgotten age. The greed of men shall never be sated. The dark forces, that once ravaged the continent, now threaten to engulf its inhabitants once more. Four champions stake their claims upon this world, but which will choose between selfish greed and a greater good for all. This book will follow the fourth and last character. The Red Dove, a faceless bastard and son of the northern king of Hohen, wears a mask to hide his childhood scars. In conflict, there is always opportunity. The Treaty of Molina, likely to be signed once more, will usher in a new age of prosperity, scheming lords and officials sharpen their knives. Rather than peace, war appears imminent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S. C. Coleman
• Release date: Apr 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201623975

Book preview

Summary:

It is the eve of the ceremonial signing of the Treaty of Molina, a pact signed by all the nations of the Greater Continent. The Treaty has maintained a shaky peace among the nations, but storm clouds gather on the horizon. While the Age of a Hundred kings has all but past into myth, the scars of the Great Period of Shadow stand as a monolith to a forgotten age. The greed of men shall never be sated. The dark forces, that once ravaged the continent, now threaten to engulf its inhabitants once more. Four champions stake their claims upon this world, but which will choose between selfish greed and a greater good for all. This book will follow the fourth and last character. The Red Dove, a faceless bastard and son of the northern king of Hohen, wears a mask to hide his childhood scars. In conflict, there is always opportunity. The Treaty of Molina, likely to be signed once more, will usher in a new age of prosperity, scheming lords and officials sharpen their knives. Rather than peace, war appears imminent.

To my fellow kingdoms, we gather in my halls of this great city of Molina to bring an end to this discourse that has torn our beloved land apart. Let this treaty, our signatures affixed, stand in protection of our realms; that our subjects might live in peace, that we may replace dread with hope, and our dead with children. Thus, I decree, Nicolo of the Rose Flower, King on the Mountain, Champion of the Waste, and Red Skeleton of the Shadow, that every autumn this treaty shall be renewed, with an accompanying feast.

-The Treaty of Molina, Signed beneath the last moon of the Age of a Hundred Kings and the Great Period of Shadow

Chapter One

The Proud Stag

To the North of Molina sits the prosperous lands of House Hohen. Surrounded by fields of grain and the fall harvest, the mighty capital of Hohenburg watches over golden fields, with the eyes of a slumbering giant. Despite the passing of a hundred years, since the last war in this kingdom, House Hohen retained the largest standing land force on the Greater Continent. Proceeding the War of the Second Arcon, also called the Great Fur War and Klasuvein-Hohen War, in which the Klausvein lands fell under Hohen subjugation. Ever since the war, the Hohen forces only grew in size, and the topic of disbanding was never broached. In fact, all of the profits from Hohen lands went directly into the military, and the royal treasury was buckling under the costs. King Freidheim von Hohen the Sixth was the last king to speak of even diminishing the horde of Hohen forces. However, with his son, King Freidheim the Seventh on the throne, none dared even whisper the subject. Some believed that son had murdered father to keep the military at full strength, and the King was far too fond of his elite troops, the most expensive. On the other hand, with such an intimidating royal force, an uprising was unlikely, at least until the situation of the commoner became too extreme. Therefore, the laborers and merchants simply endured the immense burden put upon them. The taxes were high, prices were low, but many feared the good luck of the kingdom would soon run out. In fact, the Hohen lands fed nearly the entire continent with grain and produce. A collapse in their economy could have ramifications for all the kingdoms of the Greater Continent. This gave the Hohen Crown significant power that was envied by all. Thus, the crown and its representatives could price the crops at whatever rate they wished. Watching over it all was the Black Wood Throne, which was kept in the royal palace at Hohenburg. The mighty fortress of Hohenburg had grown crowded over the years, with the poorer inhabitants pushed outside its walls to allow room for the wealthier occupants. This was in part to the security that the city provided, with its large walls and immense garrison. However, the city had become a prison for many, and the commoners resented being cast out of the city. There was little complaint of these problems, as the garrison of Hohenburg would put down any discontent immediately, and without mercy. Under King Freidheim von Hohen the Seventh, there would be no objection, as he ruled with a fist of iron. His Generals would strip the life from any opposition, before it could blossom into a revolt.

Outside of Hohenburg, among the vast fields, long swaths of otherwise useful land had been cleared. These were the famous Hohen Parade Grounds, where the might of the Kingdom would be put on display, and place fear in the hearts its people. On this day, the grounds were covered in the Black, Green, and White uniforms of the fearsome Hohen multitude. The Days of Hohenproden were drawing to an end, and the last of five-fortnights of military exercises were taking place. During Hohenproden, each of the three Hohen cores would cycle out units to attend the event. In all, over one hundred thousand men would practice maneuvers over the space of two hundred days. The Hohen nobles despised these events, at least those with titles in civil matters. Additionally, the soldiery despised these events, as they would have preferred to spend the time with their families. Fortunately, these constant maneuvers made possible enemies of the Hohen state hesitant to strike, and kept the other kingdoms from breaking the Treaty of Molina, signed by every king of Hohen. In Hohenproden, these days of uniform inspections, marching, and marksmanship practice, were watched over by the King. He was joined by his family, the Hohen nobles, and the King’s Guard. The force of the King’s Guard was made of roughly six thousand of the elite Royal Stag Kavalars. The Guard assembled only during wartime and the parades, otherwise it was broken into smaller contingents that guarded the king, his family, nobles, or other charges that the king might designate. The Royal Stag Kavalars, characterized by white and green uniforms, with golden antlered helmets, were joined by a thousand enslaved Wolves of Klausvein.

At this hour, on the parade grounds, the maneuvers had come to an end and the day was turning into late afternoon. Each unit had retreated to individual practice, to hone their field skills for the next day. At the corner of the royal tent square, the sons of the king were busy training their dueling skills. These four heirs of House Hohen were joined by their tutor, Alburteim von Stern, and their dueling instructor Karl Trousten. Although Alburteim von Stern had retired from civic and military service many moon cycles ago, he lived vicariously through the sons of Hohen. On the other hand, the much younger Karl Trousten, the boys’ fighting instructor, had grown up among the old Three Mercenaries Band. He was a warrior from birth. The young mercenary began instilling a dark sense of humor in the Hohen boys ever since he took the position, from a duel with the previous instructor. This dueling master, just nearing his six hundredth moon cycle, occasionally had disagreements with the much older von Stern, who was passing close to his thousandth moon cycle. In fact, not only did von Stern’s skin hang off his bones like an empty burlap sack, but his hands would shake constantly. The legendary old man, and Hero of Lunskar, had even known the King’s grandfather, in the time of the Great Shadows; the wars fought before the Treaty of Molina. Now, the tired old man sat upon a log, leaning on his hickory cane, and watching the boys follow the instructions of Karl Trousten.

Tell me, boys,