Champions of the Apocalypse Read Free Page A

Synne as she took a sip from her drink.
    “One of the Thirty, I thought that was a story used to frighten children. They don’t really exist,” replied the younger man.
    “Peter. My brother says you are a good student and showing promise, you are not a warrior though, not yet. You know our military is small and like any of the other members of the League, can afford only a few dozen warriors and you have not even finished your training. You must learn to control yourself if you are to become one of my brother’s retainers. By antagonising Cainon, you once more show your lack of understanding and humility.”
    “Understanding? All I saw were a few nomads who were trying to look tough and pushing their way around our lands. Do you have no pride? Don’t you care? I thought you were training in the arts as well?” asked the young man with a strong tone of scorn. “Your brother would fight!”
    The door shut with a loud noise.
    “Her brother would tell you exactly the same, student!” came a growl from the door.
    “Ulric!” said Synne with a happy grin.
    The gruff looking man strolled in, he was a good head taller than Synne and carried himself with the poise of a man that was used to commanding people.
    “Cainon is one of the Brotherhood, the collection of nomadic tribes and bandits from the North East that controls half of the land here.”
    He gestured with his hand for the young man to move out of the way. With a gap created, he sat down in front of Synne and winked at her before turning back to Peter.
    “Most of their territory is in and around the Wastelands. We don’t know how they are able to survive there but somehow they do. Together the Brotherhood is the equal of the League, mainly because nobody else wants to live or travel anywhere near the Wastelands. They are a troublesome and very dangerous people. Luckily, they spend more time fighting amongst each other and fighting the Raiders from the mountains than worrying about us. They fought against us at the last Contest, and if it wasn’t for the fact that the rest of the League sided with us, they would have easily won. If they had won they would have led and this would probably lead to the League being dissolved or worse, open conflict between the League and the Brotherhood just like in the old days. As my sister has explained to you, your actions could cause trouble between us.”
    “I understand, please accept my apologies. I didn’t realise it was quite as complicated as that,” said the young man as he stood up and left the space in front of Synne.
    As he turned to move away, he stopped and turned to Ulric.
    “If I might ask though, why do we follow these rules? Why don’t we fight and run our own affairs? The League is strong, maybe stronger than the Brotherhood.”
    “Fight? You know this, have you never listened to my brother? If the Brotherhood was ever able to unite they would be a power more deadly than any of us could match,” exclaimed Synne.
    Ulric moved a step closer to his student, looking intently into his eyes.
    “There are few of the powerful Houses left now but the League stops any one becoming more powerful than the rest of them combined. This means the League is always able to exercise control over the members. At present, the members could just about match a united Brotherhood in battle, but for how long? What if one member, refused to fight? It was your attitude of war and conquest that led to the scouring of the land and the fall of many of the settlements here. The strongest of the remaining Houses made a decision five generations ago, that led to the first Battle of the Thirty to stop the never-ending war and to let the decision be made with the least blood spilt. You know this!” said Ulric.
    “Yes, yes, I know, I’ve heard this story since I was a boy. When will there be the next Contest then?” he asked.
    Synne sighed and looked at her brother in exasperation. Ulric looked at her, acknowledging her grin before