The woman was pregnant, it would be her second child, and as always it would be a daughter. Darea wouldn't have any more children. History had proven that true, for the bloodline, over the last thousand years. One of the children had to survive to continue the bloodline and prevent the revenge of the god. It didn't have to be the son though. They had to wait for the daughter to be born and by their own laws she couldn't be mated before turning sixteen.
That was the situation. The daughter had to be sound and safe, and the son had to die within the next thirteen years. With the son out of the way, finally another clan warrior could claim the daughter and become chieftain. A difficult proposition for sure but not impossible to handle for the most ambitious and strongest clans of the Norgar. They had time, and there was no point in killing Roban before a single clan could feel secure enough to successfully claim the daughter.
So it began.
At first there was no open war between the clans, just an increasing number of challenges between clan warriors. When Athea was born in the winter, it was like a signal to heighten the intensity. The first open battles between rival clans occurred. It was no secret; all Norgar knew exactly what was going on among them.
Other nations knew about the Law of the Blood as well. Norgar didn't care much about other nations, unless they were raiding their villages.
Near countries, like Perrior and Ghota, noticed the lack of raids and a time of prosperity began. Through merchant nations, like Cordan, news about the death of the Chieftain spread and with it stories about the legends of the Norgar. More and more knowledge about the Law of the Bloodtraveled through the lands, it never was kept a secret.
The Queen of Ghota, Leandris, was quick to realize it was in her best interest to support anything preventing a new Chieftain from rising. This goal also appealed to her in a personal way. The heir to the throne of the Norgar was a young boy. The blood of a real god ran through his veins, if the legends were true. What better way to prevent such a godly brute from becoming the next Chieftain, as to get him away from there and make him part of her own stable of pleasure toys. She was young and beautiful, she could wait a few years for the boy to become useful to her.
The legend of the Law of the Blood inspired many a man and woman all over Calmyra. Who said the one taking the daughter's virgin blood, becoming the strongest warrior alive, had to be a Norgar? Some nations had their own myth as well, some even darker, much darker.
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Roban was pacing anxiously outside his mother's bedchamber. To his smiling teacher Kaias he looked very much like a man expecting the birth of his first child - just a bit young himself at five years of age. Finally the expected crying of a baby could be heard. One of the midwives opened the door and waved them inside. Roban walked straight to the bed, where his smiling mother held his new baby sister to her chest.
"Roban, this is Athea, your little sister and future mate. No matter what else you do in your life, no matter what women you take, no matter whom else you may love, she is your one responsibility above all else. Never abandon her and always love her. She will never love another man but you. Loyalty runs with the blood through her veins. That is the Law of the Blood as I know it."
Roban looked down at his little sister's face, her pale blue eyes stared back at him and she smiled for the first time in her life.
The following years were a time of increasing pressure on Roban, his mother and little sister, although Athea didn't notice it as much. Clan guards surrounded the house they were living in. The guards often changed, as indicated by their clan crests. It was easy, which ever clan was the strongest at a given moment secured the house, and with it his claim to the throne. The personal servants changed like the guards. Only a very few visitors were allowed. Kaias, his teacher, was one of them. Kaias was a Norgar, and as such he only taught Roban how to fight. He was a friend and adviser of his father, and a leader of a strong clan on his own.
One day Roban asked him why he didn't try for his own clan to become Chieftain, like the others did.
"Who said I don't or wouldn't when the time comes? To be honest, I was a friend of your father and the thought of killing his only son doesn't appeal to me. That said, my clan will fight to claim your sister should someone else kill you before you become Chieftain. I am too old for the little girl, but my son Wogan is only one year older than you. Meanwhile, I'll teach you to fight to give you the best chance to survive that I can. I owe that much to your father. Does that answer your question?" Kaias asked laughing.
Roban thought about it for a moment, and then shrugged. "Good to know I won't have to kill you. I like you."
Another visitor was a friend of his mother. Tenya had married a wealthy merchant from Cordan and had left Falkath a few years ago to live with him. One day they both arrived on one of Crowen's trading ships and visited his mother. No doubt it cost them a high sum to bribe the guards. Roban wasn't interested in them, so after a short greeting he left.
He spent all his time training with Kaias, or reading books about foreign lands. His mother had taught him to read and write. Norgar usually didn't care much about reading books, but he wasn't allowed to leave the house and there wasn't much else to do. So he often lay on his bed reading to his sister. Gurgling and smiling, she always fell asleep after just a few minutes listening to him.
After the visitors left his mother came to him.
"We need to talk Roban," she said.
He was too young to know that this line from a woman never bode well for men, but he would learn.
"Tenya and Crowen offered to take Athea and me away from Falkath to live with them in Cordan until you turn eighteen. Crowen believes he can manage to take us away secretly, so that no one will know we are living in Cordan. You know you won't be safe as long as the clans can take Athea. They will kill you before you turn eighteen. If they don't know where Athea is, or if she is still alive, they can't risk killing you."
"It would take an army to get you out of Falkath; how will he do it? Can you trust him?" Roban asked.
"I trust Tenya, she is my best friend. Crowen was honest with me, I think. He told me the merchant guild of Cordan offered him a great price if he could ensure you will become the next Chieftain. They believe if you become Chieftain with their help you will look favorably on further trades with Cordan, very favorably. They are merchants Roban and that's what they do. They will spend lots of gold to get us out of here, as long as they believe they will get even more gold in return."
Thinking about it Roban asked after a while, "Shouldn't I leave with you? I could return when I'm eighteen to claim the throne."
"I thought about it, even the merchants thought about it. It's too dangerous. Currently only the few strongest clans fight for the way to the throne. When Athea vanishes they will search for her, but as strong as they are, they are still only a few and they can't search full force without exposing their lands to their enemies. If you leave, former enemies will become allies to find you. They can't let you escape from their grasp, or their plans to claim the throne will be shattered. If you and Athea both leave, every Norgar will search until you are found!" Tears streamed down his mother's face as she explained this to Roban.
So it was decided.
The sixth birthday of Athea was a great celebration. Someone even sent a barrel of the finest Cyrmarion wine for the guards. A little later a band of mercenaries from Kreshya, a nation known for their merciless fighters, entered Roban's home with drawn scimitars. A few of the guards were killed, as well as a few mercenaries, but there wasn't much of a fight. Most of the guards were successfully drugged by the wine.
"Promise you will never forget her, as she will never forget you. She can't Roban, it's in her blood. Promise me!" His crying mother pleaded, holding Athea's hand.
Roban promised staring into his sister's pleading eyes.