It was a dark, snowy night in the middle of February, there was peace between the two Deltan kingdoms, or so Czar Ivan Poltrov (II) thought. King Jothium Xavi of Caronia had been smuggling his men into the capital of Foexsia, the other Deltan kingdom. Since the great divide of DeltaSource, both kingdoms had been at enmity with each other, attempting to restore the original DeltaSource with its own ruler and ideologies. Jothium had approached Ivan speaking words of peace and expressed a desire to create peace between the two kingdoms. Ivan blindly trusted Jothium, and agreed to establish trade routes between the two kingdoms. Using these trade routes Jothium smuggled 1,000 of his best men into Petersburg, the Foexsian capital. In the dead of night he led his men to sack the palace.

Prince Dmitri was awoken by Draug, the captain of the Czar’s guard. Draug shook the young prince awake. “Your highness, this is no time for sleep, we must flee.”
Dmitri rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he sat up. “Draug, tell me exactly what is going on.”
“Jothium deceived us, your father, the Czar is dead, slain by Jothium himself.”
Dmitri looked at Draug in shock, “please tell me this is one of Malik’s jokes, is this really true?”
Draug shook his head grimly, “I wish it were so m'lord gather what you need, my men are barely holding up.”

Dmitri nodded as Draug left the room to secure horses. Dmitri put on his clothes, royal apparel modified for everyday use, rich and flashy, while still practical. He chose to only wear armor on his arms, opting for light chainmail underneath his regular clothes. Strapping his sword to his side, he left his room and made his way through the palace. He hacked and slashed through the armed men attempting to kill him.

“Your majesty!” Draug called out as Dmitri came into view. “Stay here” He told Anastasia, Dmitri’s sister. Draug ran to assist Dmitri, cutting a path through Jothium’s men.
“I’m glad to see you are safe, your highness.”
“How is Anastasia?”
“Safely mounted, ready for us.”
Dmitri nodded, breathlessly. Mounting his own horse, more of Jothium’s men came into view. He rode through them, knocking them down and using his sword to keep others away. As he rides away, he here’s his sister cry out. Looking back, he sees an arrow pierced through her heart. “NO!” he cried, but it was too late, she fell off her horse, dead. Dmitri moved to turn around but Draug prevented him, “Don’t throw your life away for revenge m’lord.” Dmitri nodded as he held back tears, nothing would ever be the same.
“Sir, the prince and captain of the guard managed an escape, the rest are dead.” one of Jothium’s men reported. Jothium looked at him coldly, his answer as icy as his stare.
“Tell me captain, how is this good news? So long as the prince is still alive, he poses a threat, and we wouldn’t want our united DeltaSource crumbling now would we?”
“No sir wa wouldn-”
“THEN FIND THEM!”
“Right away sir.”
The captain scrambled out of the room as Jothium sighed, he wouldn’t let some 16 year old Poltrov Prince ruin his nation.
Dmitri sat on a log with his head in his hands. He looked up at Draug, his eyes bloodshot.
“What now?” his voice was little more than a whisper.
“We hide until we are strong enough to face Jothium, he outnumbers us 500 to 1.”
Dmitri nods “I say we should hide in the southern forests, it’s warmer, more isolated, and the people will be more sympathetic to our cause.”
“I agree m’lord.”
Dmitri and Draug trudged through the snow to an isolated inn, they had to trade their horses for cloaks to hide their identity. They paid for their room, which was quite small.
“What makes you think this inn is safe m’lord?”
“It is owned by an old friend of mine, he was the one who taught me how to ride. I’d trust him with my life. He once told me if I ever needed anything, just simply ask.”

Days passed as Dmitri and Draug went from village to village, town to town, sometimes they had to fight Jothium’s men in order to get by. Eventually they reached their destination. Along the way they gathered more men and supplies. They chose a spring deep in the southern forests of Foexsia, out of the way, and out of sight.

One of Jothium’s men grumbled, “Mercenaries, we don’t need them, especially these one from the Legion.”
Jothium looked at the mercenaries, they called themselves the Wolfpak and had a near perfect record.
“You charge a great deal for your services men, I hope they are worth the price.”
“You give us the target, we give you their head, that’s our guarantee.”
“Prince Dmitri Alexander Poltrov is your target, he is causing me a lot of trouble.”
“Royalty eh? Gonna cost you a bit more then.”
“You’ll get your money when I get his head.”
“Half first remember, that’s our policy.”
Jothium grumbled as he had his men give the money to the Wolfpak. His son Claude watched as they left. After they left Claude turned his father.
“Send me also.”
Jothium raised an eyebrow, “I thought you considered Dmitri a friend despite me telling you that the only reason you would be near him was to foster a feeling of security.”
“I’ve realized I was foolish father, I’ve learned now.”
Jothium sighs, “You may go.”
“Thank you father, I won’t miss, I never have, never will.”

Dmitri washed his face as Draug gave him the spy’s report.
“Legion mercenaries huh? He really wants me dead huh?”
“It would appear so.”
“Alert the others, knowing the Wolfpak, they followed our spy.”
“As you wish.”

As Draug left, Claude drew his bow at full strength, he never missed a shot, and he didn’t plan on ending that streak today. As he aimed, he thought about what he was about to do. He was about to kill an old friend in cold blood. Thinking now back to his father, and all the lies his father told, all of his deception and underhand dealings, could he really fight for that? He shook his head, aimed, and took his shot…

Dmitri looked up with a start as a member of the Wolfpak fell from the tree behind him, arrow in his heart. Looking around he saw Claude.
“Claude! I didn’t see you coming, why are you- wait did you come to kill-”
“Yes, originally I did, I’m sorry.” Claude interrupted
Dmitri nodded
“Thank you Claude...”
“For wha- Oh, that guy, don’t mention it. Tell me, how many men do you have with you?”
“Less than 50, maybe 36? Are you going to try and help me take back the kingdom?”
“Yes, you need much more manpower though, I can give you a year, on this exact day next year, I’ll leave the drawbridge down for your men, if you don’t come then, you won’t get another chance, do you understand?”
“Yes, thank you Claude.”
Claude held up his hand as he walked away “Don’t mention it.”

During the following year, Dmitri fought off the Wolfpak and amassed an army 650 strong. He would attempt to take back his kingdom and rule it justly. He nearly lost his life to the wolfpack many times. Claude returned to his father and never said a word about Dmitri to him.

It was a dark, snowy night, not unlike that fateful night one year ago. Claude left the drawbridge down and helped Dmitri and his men enter the palace. His men fought valiantly against Jothium’s. Dmitri made his way to the throne room along with Claude, together, they opened the door. Two guards armed with halberds attacked Dmitri as he entered, but were quickly finished off. The two guards next to the throne Jothium sat on readied their weapons but stopped as Jothium stood up.
“DMITRI!” he boomed “A bold move, I shouldn’t have expected less from one that wanted to disturb the peace of a united DeltaSource.”
“A nation united by treachery is still divided.”
Jothium laughed “Your father was a fool, he never would have been able to unite the Deltan people like I have.” He drew his sword and added “This blade has bathed in the blood of your father, and now it shall feast on yours!”
Dmitri assumed a guard stance as Jothium approached. Their blades clashed, steel hitting steel. Both swordsmen sweating, neither gaining the upper hand, both equally matched. Claude and Jothium’s guards both watched, blood was drawn, but neither duelist mortally wounded. The battle lasted over an hour. Dmitri soon saw his chance, he made a feint and disarmed Jothium.
“You killed my father, took my kingdom, and now your crimes have caught up with you.”
Jothium laughed nervously “I’m sure we can reach some agreement Dmitri, don’t be rash...”
Dmiri shook his head “You didn’t show my father mercy, neither will I show you any.” and with that Jothium was beheaded. Claude slew the guards and approached Dmitri. “I guess that makes you the king of Foexsia now.”
Dmitri nodded, “And now DeltaSource is once again divided, Foexsia and Caronia.”
Claude shook his head, “I shouldn’t be taking on the burden of ruling, it’s much too tiresome, plus a united DeltaSource is better for everyone. On top of that, you’ve always wanted to rule a united DeltaSource, I remember how when we were younger you talked so much about it. Be the Czar of DeltaSource, not just Foexsia.”
“Claude….thank you.”

Dmitri’s coronation took place two days later, he was crowned Czar Dmitri Alexander Poltrov of DeltaSource. He swore to rule justly and fairly, and swore to protect the peace, little did he know how hard it would be to fulfill the last part.