[MR] War of the Wings ][

[David Ritterskamp]

DISCLAIMER:

This is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to actual persons or events is 
purely for the sake of schtick.  Any resemblance to actual places, well, 
that’s verisimilitude.

WAR OF THE WINGS:
PART THE SECOND

HAIL VALHARIC IMPERATOR!

HAIL ARIELLE IMPERATRIX!

It is with a deep sense of satisfaction that I report to Your 
Imperiousnesses that the Legions of the Prefecture of Sacred Stone were 
successful in repulsing the ultimately-futile encroachment of our neighbors 
to the East.  So much so, in fact, that when we sent our scouts into their 
Lands to look for further evidence of rebellion and seditious activity, 
there was quite literally none to be found.  Thus did We proclaim Victory, 
and much celebration was seen to take place in our cities, and towns, and 
villages, and…well, frankly, Your Imperiousnesses, pretty much anywhere 
three or more citizens of the Prefecture did gather, there was celebration 
and merriment.  Many stories of battle were told and heard, and the few 
members of the populace that failed to take part in that storied event were 
heard to wail and gnash their teeth at their utterly horrible luck.

BUT NOW, yea, EVEN NOW, Your Imperiousnesses…

Y’know, there’s got to be a shorter word for that.

Might I suggest “Emperor”, sir?

That only covers one of them.  Don’t Annoy The Empress.

Well, confound it, man!  What do I call them?

I don’t know, sir.  I suppose we’d better just fall back on “Your 
Majesties.”

Fine.  “Majesties” it is.

[it was discovered, just a bit too late,  that the scribe brought in to 
record the missive to Their Majesties took his instructions (“take this down 
word for word”) somewhat literally. –ed]

BUT NOW, yea, EVEN NOW, Your Majesties, while the soldiers and artisans of 
the Legions of Sacred Stone rest content in their labours, our scouts bring 
word of a new [scratched out:  “enemy] opportunity to the North wherein the 
[scratched out: ”foul and treasonous”] misguided Baronial Army of Black 
Diamond Prefecture does seek to take from us our most recently hard-won 
gains.

But FEAR NOT, Your Majesties…we have dispatched our very own Legion LVIII

What’s that in normal numbers?

Fifty-Eighth, sir.

…we have dispatched our very own 58th Legion to the north to rout out the 
scoundrels.  As Your Majesties are surely aware, the 58th is an entire 
legion of our best troops.  They have never failed.  They send word back 
that they have made their way up the Emperor’s Highway a good number of 
miles, have crossed the border into Black Diamond, and have stopped to 
resupply.  The few enemy troops they have encountered have been [scratched 
out: “slaughtered”] taken prisoner and put to work in the camp.  The 
commander of the 58th Legion indicates he expects no significant resistance 
until he travels further north and east, to the first of the population 
centers in the Prefecture of Black Diamond.

The remainder of the Legions of Sacred Stone Prefecture await either a 
counterstroke by the enemy, or Your Command to Attack.

I remain, Imperator, Imperatrix,

Jonathan Blackbow
Commander of the Legions
Sacred Stone Prefecture

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