Cetiri - Prologue

"Rogtak! Get over here!"

From the recesses of the giant, dark room, a creature came out, hideous, and with spikes protruding from his back and claws and teeth as sharp as swords, he seemed to be his own weapon arsenal. He was hunched over, and his eyes glowed yellow as he spoke.

"My lord, you have need of me?"

The man who had called him sighed, "Yes, Rogtak, else I wouldn't have called you here! Anyway, what news have you on the outlying lands?"

Rogtak snickered, and you could hear the satisfaction in his laugh, and the man knew that whatever Rogtak was going to tell him was going to be good.

"We have advanced into the outlying lands, my lord. The dark magic you provided us has helped a great deal with ravaging the land. Soon, the people will be at our feet begging for mercy."

The man smiled a devilish smile that would send chills up your back if you had seen it with your own eyes. He rose from the large throne adorned with the bones of those who had opposed him in the past. It seemed that no one had ever escaped from him.

"Is anyone aware of my identity?" The man asked.

"No. The people believe that my kind act alone. In fact, your spies have found out that it is rumored that you are alive no longer."

"Ha, even better. Eventually I will reveal myself to the people of Lothara, when I am sure that my plan will succeed. But for now, we continue as planned."

Rogtak shifted where he stood. It seemed that he had something to say, but was nervous about saying it.

"Rogtak? Have you something you wish to tell me?"

"Oh... Well... My armies are curious about our payment. The land that you have promised to us. They are growing restless, my lord. They demand more payment."

The man walked down the few steps that separated the platform his throne stood on from the rest of the floor, purposely going as slow as possible. Rogtak backed up a few steps as the man approached him.

"Rogtak, I brought your people back from near extinction. And now you demand more payment from me? Remember this, Rogtak; I can wipe out your people just like that." The man snapped, emphasizing the power he had over Rogtak and his people. And it was true. Rogtak was the king of his people, and after decades of war, there was only a small population of his kind left. When the man heard of this, he decided to use it to his advantage. He met with Rogtak and told him that if he and his people did his bidding without question, he would restore them to their former glory, and then some. Needless to say, Rogtak accepted the deal. But there was a terrible price to pay. "You swore that you would serve me as long as I helped your people. You wouldn't go back on your word now, would you?"

"No, my lord. You have done much to help my people."

"Good. Now go. I have things to do."

Rogtak turned to leave, and once the big doors pounded shut, the man walked across the room to the giant world map he had stuck to the wall. It was easily twice his size. He was his fingers over the yellowing paper, tracing the path he planned to take that would eventually land him in the capital city.

"Soon..." The man then moved his hand to his side, and drew back his billowing cape to wrap his fingers around a bejewled dagger like a python around its dinner. He slid it from the sheath that held it and twirled it around in his hands. The, with one swift move, he thrust it into the letters of the capital city, Eluhar, just as if he were killing the king himself.

"Very soon..."