Tyranny of Steel

After utterly annihilating the Emirate of Tlemcen, Berengar wanted to continue on with the wedding ceremony, but Yasmin had ultimately convinced him that was a terrible idea, and thus the world's many leaders decided to retire for the evening after such an exciting afternoon.

The wedding between Sultan Ghazi Al-Fadl, and Princess Amara Al-Haqq would be postponed for another fortnight, until a time where the smoke which filled the air dispersed. Giving the guests some much needed time to rest, and come to terms with the terror they had endured on this day.

Back in the fatherland, the German media reported to the people that the Emirate of Tlemcen had attempted to kidnap Princess Zara Al-Fadl, and had even assaulted the girl in the process. They then spun the tale as an act of necessary retaliation, and were vastly underestimating the casualties that Tlemcen suffered.

Naturally, the German people supported their Kaiser's decision, and even declared that not enough of Tlemcen's people had died in their retaliation. After all, a foreign prince harmed a princess of the Reich, and there was no price too great to pay for accosting the royal family.

Meanwhile, reconnaissance jets flew over the smoldering ruins of the Arab state, surveying the land for any possible survivors. As Berengar had expected, the entire landscape of every populated area within Tlemcen's borders was nothing but ashes floating in the wind. Every building, every life, every written record was snuffed out of existence, leaving nothing behind. It was as if nothing ever existed in the region to begin with.

The reactions of Berengar's family and guests differed per person. Some were horrified to see such a mindless slaughter of the innocent. While others were happy to see the fire and brimstone still lived within the Kaiser's spirit.

As an outsider to the entire matter, Siv had watched in amazement as the rockets took to the air and annihilated the neighboring country. Naturally, she had many questions on her mind, and thus after tossing and turning in her bed for several hours whilst unable to sleep, the girl decided to visit her father's quarters to ask the man about the things that kept her awake.

When Siv showed up at the Kaiser's room, it came as a surprise to the Kaiser, who opened the door with a concerned expression on his handsome face.

"Siv? What are you doing here at this hour? Are you okay?"

Berengar was dressed in nothing but a silk robe, and was glistening with sweat. Leading the girl to believe that he had been busy entertaining one or more of his wives. Thus she blushed in embarassment as she asked the man the question that she found to be most pertinent.

"Father, do you mind if we go for a walk? I have many questions I wish to ask you about today's... events."

Berengar looked back at his room, to see two of his wives looking rather upset that they had been interrupted, before smiling and nodding his head in agreement with his stepdaughter's wishes.

"Sure... It is not a problem."

After saying this, Berengar shut the doors behind him, and followed the girl out to the balcony of the palace, where they gazed up at the stars above while the cool wind of the desert night gently passed them by.

Siv's platinum hair fluttered in the wind as she gazed upon the moon, not willing to look her father in the eye. She was truly stunned by what had happened earlier in the day, and it took her some time to think through just what she wanted to say. Eventually, she sighed heavily and decided on the blunt approach.

"Father, if I have your permission, may I ask exactly what it was that I saw today? Such destruction... I have never seen it before in my life, nor have I ever heard of such a thing. And I grew up with the legends of the gods..."

Berengar smiled when he heard this, before placing a hand on his stepdaughter's shoulder while assuring her that there was nothing to be worried about.

"Are you referring to my missiles? They are called Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles or ICBMs for short. They utilize a thermobaric warhead, which is capable of significant destruction as you witnessed today, especially when deployed in the tens of thousands.

If you think they are a threat to you or your mother, you do not need to worry. They are perfectly safe and are under lock and key. Only I can authorize their use and there are plenty of safeguards in place to ensure that they don't fall into the wrong hands.

You do not need to worry so much Siv, I would never harm you, your mother, or any of your siblings for that matter. You are all my precious family."

Siv shifted her gaze towards the smouldering ruins of Tlemcen and shivered as a slight breeze passed through her sheer nightgown while kissing her jade like skin. She had finally learned what these weapons were called, yet she still had so many questions, and was quick to voice another one, while still refusing to look into her step-father's eyes.

"Father... how many people did you kill today?"

Berengar looked at Siv with a befuddled expression on his handsome face. He did not even think about this question, even after the missiles had detonated. In fact, the death toll had not even factored into his decision. However, now that he had some time to think about it, he responded in a rather nonchalant manner.

"I'm honestly not sure. My fighters are currently surveying the ruins of Tlemcen to see if there are any survivors. At most, a few nomadic tribes may have survived if they were lucky. I don't know the population of Tlemcen off the top of my head, but it ranges anywhere from a few hundred thousand to a few million. Why do you ask?"

After hearing such a staggering figure, Siv's heart began to bleed. Her ice-blue eyes shifted from the fires of retaliation to her stepfather's carefree expression as she posed the next question she had to the man.

"Why did so many people have to die? Was your vengeance really worth all of this?"

Berengar did not immediately respond to this question, instead he thought about it for a few minutes before speaking his answer in a way that would not anger the headstrong young woman.

"Indeed... A member of my family was attacked in an attempted kidnapping. And while I have the power to make the man responsible and his entire family pay the price. It was not sufficient. There is nothing in this world more precious to me than my family, even if it may not appear that way on the surface.

Everything I have ever done in this life was to provide a better life to my family, and by extension my people. The last time a member of my family came under attack, I raised the banners of war. The only reason the people of the region were spared my wrath was because they shared the same blood and culture as myself, and therefore, they were also my people.

These foreigners did not respect me, but more importantly, they did not respect my daughter, and for that, a price needed to be paid, and a lesson taught. Not only to the perpetrators, but to everyone else in this world who might dare think of harming my family.

The world now knows what destructive power I possess, and every man who yet draws breath, whether they be royalty, or a filthy commoner, will have to think twice before they decide to engage in an act of violence towards my family.

Are the deaths of millions a worthy sacrifice to ensure that the world respects my family? I would say so. But then again, I know full well just how rotten the human race is. There is no such thing as an innocent person in this world, and thus I shed no tears for those who died in the fires of my vengeance."

Siv nodded her head in understanding. Though she understood her father's reasoning for his cruelty, she could not agree with his words or his actions. Still, she did not hold today's massacre against him. Thus, she only had one more question in mind, which she was quick to ask.

"If today, it was not Zara who was assaulted, but instead was myself, would you still go to such lengths to avenge me?"

Berengar looked at his stepdaughter with a confused expression on his face. An act which in Siv's mind confirmed the hidden thoughts she kept deep within her heart. It was always an intense fear of hers that this man did not really see her as family. However, the words Berengar spoke next utterly shattered this misconception.

"Of course! You are my beloved daughter. Even if we are not related by blood, that does not change the fact that we are family. As I have said before, my family must be respected by all and if the world chooses to disobey this law, then let it burn..."