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Leon

H umans always fear the night, the time when the great god Ralus swaths the sun in his starry cloak and darkness falls upon the world. They dread what lurks in the gloom, what they can’t see or understand. They huddle around the firelight, thinking it’ll keep the monsters at bay.

But what if you are the monster in the night?

The hooves of my unit’s horses softly thud around me as we crest the ridge and get our first glimpse of the Trovian border. I can’t help but sneer at the sight of this gods-cursed land. I never wanted to return here, but the choice has already been made for me.

“Should we go the north way?” one of my soldiers asks.

“Of course.” The Temple of Ethira’s territory lies to the south, and the less I have to deal with their vile clerics, the better—for them and for me.

The last time I was here, I ripped their land apart and left a thousand weeping humans in my wake. I thought that would be the end of things. But these humans live short lives, and it’s easy for them to forget. Now is the time to remind them what their fae neighbors have to offer.

Not quite yet, however. We have work to do first.

We ride on, the watchful eyes of the gods twinkling down upon us. I love this time, between sunset and sunrise, when the world is shrouded in silence and shadow. Though I can understand why the humans fear it so much.

The night is my playground, and I’m not known for playing nice.