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His Imperial Majesty Ironhawk XII sat astride his might war charger with the shadow of fear gripping his heart. An old man, with his leonine head of white hair, he was still physically intimidating. His back was still straight, his eyes still bright, and his mind as keen as the edge of a blade. Yet he was not as swift, strong, or hardy as he had once been. Age had caught up with him, as it had with all men. Yet it wasn't his death that had cold fear gripping his heart and twisting it's icy blade in his guts. It was the death of his sons, his heirs, the ancient bloodline of his ancestors that send the chilling fingers of terror caressing his unbowed spine.

His horse sensed his unease, shifting beneath him with nervous snorts, pawing the ground restlessly. It tossed it's head, bit and bridle jingling as it did so. The Emperor, placed a steadying hand on it's neck, noticing the faint tremors in his fingers with disgust. If his pair of trusted bodyguards noticed, they either pretended not to or made no note of the incident. In truth, they were just as nervous as Ironhawk, only for very different reasons.

"Liege, are you sure it's wise...?" Captain Balric Vurr licked his lips and glanced warily about him for the uncounted time that night.

Ironhawk sighed and looked ruefully at his trusted Captain. "She has protected my family for six generations. She will not fail us now, in our darkest hour."

"But Liege, it would seem that this time, she has failed. Your eldest sons lie dead, who knows what has become of the youngest...."

A single glance from Ironhawk quelled Victivus's words and the younger of the two bodyguards eased his horse back a pace from the Emperor. Ironhawk shook his head, voice ringing clear with conviction when he finally spoke again. "She has never failed us. She will know the path clear of this tragedy." For a moment the three of them waiting, once more in silence. Then, without warning, the horses grew spooked and skittish. War bread chargers suddenly acted like ladies palfreys beset by hounds. Ironhawk smiled grimly. She was near.

And suddenly there she was, cresting the small rise in the road before them, steed illuminated against the backdrop of the luminous moon. The panicked cries of horses filled the air as the Emperor and his guards struggled to reign in their terrified mounts. The horses sensed far more acutely the unnaturalness of the pair that was swiftly approaching. Not to say the three men did not.

Only a fool would have thought the pair were natural. The steed was as black as sin, light refusing to touch either it's ebony coat or the black tack it wore. Only its eyes, gleaming malevolently red, sparked against the darkness, glittering like freshly spilt blood. It came to a stop and the astute person would have noticed that it's hooves made no noise upon the hard packed earth of the road, it's tack made not the slightest of whispers though armor plates could clearly be seen to impact one another.

It bore on it's back, a slim figure all in black. A long black cloak, tattered edges flapping in the wind, wrapped the figure like a shroud. But the pair of hilts that loomed over each of the figures shoulders' were clearly defined in the silver moonlight, access to them impeded not in the slightest. They bore the look of well used, but well kept weapons, subtle magics shimmering lightly along their exposed surfaces. The figure inclined it's head to the Emperor. "Liege, you sent word that you wished to see me?"

The figure reached up a black gloved hand to push back the hood of the cloak, revealing the pale countenance of a maid barely into her eighteenth year. Yet in her ruby eyes glowed a horrible vitality, a wisdom that encompassed far more than her youthful countenance should have been possessed of. Her skin was pale to the point of pearl-like luster, an almost glowing white that seemed to drink up the light and reflect nothing back. Tendrils of scarlet hair escaped the crown of braids that wrapped around her head and looked desturbingly like rivulets of blood running down her face. She smiled, scarlet lips pulling back to reveal pointed canines, the mark of her true nature.

Ironhawk smiled warmly at her, the pressure of his fear easing somewhat at the sight of the vampire. "Destiny, I am so glad you could spare the time to answer my summons."

"I was anticipating it." Her voice, like her eyes, was old beyond her years and imbued with far more charm than that of any siren. She studied him sadly, shaking her head. "I knew this day would come Liege, as you knew."

Ironhawk restrained his guards with a simple gesture as they both gripped the hilts of their weapons. "Be not fools, she speaks only the truth." With a humbled air, Ironhawk turned to face Destiny once more. "You allowed these attacks."

"The Goddess demanded it. I could neither sway her decision anymore than I could have prevented the Thirst that comes with my Gift." Her black steed moved forward, allowing the vampire to come close enough to reach out and lay a slim hand on Ironhawk's shoulder. "Be strong my Liege, your line is not lost. The fools invaded the Chapel and were struck down for their impertinence. Your son's devotion to the Goddess saved his life, Silverfish lives."

Tears of gratitude spilled from Ironhawk's eyes, the first tears he'd ever cried since the passing of his wife twenty years before. And even then, never had he cried in front of his men, his guards. But Destiny had seen his tears before, had seen many tears from many Emperors, and her hand gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "He is well trained, your youngest son. My brightest pupil in years. I am sorry that he will not serve the Goddess as one of her Own but the Empire too must have it's share."

Ironhawk's eyes dried, his hand coming up to grip the vampire's wrist. "There will be those that shun Silverfish. He was given over to the Goddess from birth, his tender years wholly in the care of you and those like you. It is not the same as simply having you for a trainer, Destiny. The people will balk at an assassin on the throne."

Destiny's inhuman smile flickered across her face. "Those that do are fools. Silverfish will not allow his ties to us to interfere with his duties to the Empire. He is, altogether, too smart for such a foolish mistake. In time, the people will see that he is compassionate and kind, merciful and just, and swift to defend his people. His cunning shall keep the Empire whole when it otherwise might crumble. And we of the Goddess's Own shall keep to the shadows as we always have. And I shall watch him, as I have done since your revered Ancestor required my aid to reclaim the Throne during the God Wars."

Ironhawk nodded. "Your Goddess has obviously given you insight old friend. I shall do my best to prepare the people for his rule." The Emperor froze as the saddest smile yet crossed Destiny's features. And he knew. "I won't have the time to do that... will I?"

Destiny quietly removed her hand from his shoulder, stroking tender fingers in his hair and across his cheek. "When you were little you were always escaping your Protector. I'd always be sent to find you and I'd always bring you back, telling you that as much fun as he wasn't you needed to be safe. When you were a young man, I taught you some of my art and your guard doubled. I told you to go nowhere without them, that you had enemies at your back. And then, when your wife died, I told you to pick a third guard and keep him as close as your own brother. You heeded my first two lessons...but you have failed to heed my third."

Her horse reared suddenly, frightening those of the Emperor and his guards into doing the same. When Ironhawk finally gained control of it, Destiny and her black horse had faded into the encircling shadows. He cast about, lost and disoriented by her leaving him to die. "Destiny! Destiny! Damn your Goddess!"

It is always a foolish thing to taunt the gods but it is idiotic to insult them. At that moment, a dozen black bolts were released from crossbows that encircled the Emperor, a dozen men drawing blades and rushing in. Within moments, all that was left of Emperor Ironhawk XII and his guards was a swath of bloody ground and a trio of cooling corpses. The twelve assassin's raised bloody blades high to the sky, letting out a victory cry. "Hail the Black Arrow! Hail! Hail! Hai-"

The last 'Hail' died in gurgles of blood, a line of crimson arcing in the night as a single throwing star completed it's lethal circle. Hands flew to throats as blood oozed from between clasped fingers, the murderers of the Black Arrow falling slowly to their knees. The bloody star was poised in the air, caught neatly between two black gloved fingers.

Slowly, Destiny brought the star to her mouth and licked it clean of blood before tucking it into one of the many pouches in her outfit. For a moment more she sat astride her shadow steed, gazing sorrowfully at the gory swath of road. The Emperor's steed stood not two hundred yards off, blood streaming from it's flanks but very much alive. The Emperor's bloodstained cloak still tangled on the saddle horn. She sensed the presences that emerged from the night behind her, summoned at her command. "Bury the guards, return the Emperor's body to his chambers. Clean and bind his wounds as best you can and make sure none see you. Wrath of the Goddess be upon you if this is not done."

A pair of robed figures stepped forward, bowing from the waist. "As you command Ascended."

The third figure slowly approached her stirrup, gazing up at Destiny thoughtfully. "And what shall I do?"

Destiny gazed down at her lieutenant. "Make sure the contracts are fulfilled, that the order of the Own is maintained."

He smiled, revealing fangs of his own. "And where might you be going, if I may be so bold as to ask?"

Destiny stretched out a hand, one of the black crossbow bolts leaping into her open palm as if on a string. She twirled the bolt in her fingers, fangs glimmering in the moonlight. "Hunting. These 'Black Arrow' fools could become a nuisance of themselves if not attended too. The Goddess will brook no challengers. Only her Own are sanctioned to kill."

The man bowed his head respectfully. "Yes Ascended."

Destiny watched him thoughtfully as he turned and walked to where the Emperor's steed waited, loosing the bloody cloak as he swept up into the saddle. He turned the horse, meeting her eyes as he slowly guided it back toward the carnage. He smiled at her again and she saluted him, inclining her head ever so slightly.

Her words echoed softly on the breeze, reaching his ears and bringing a satisfied smile to his face. "Hail Silverfish, Emperor of Man."

Keyword: An Emperor's Destiny

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