Prince Tiesto had scattered his men throughout the city, so that a multitude of armed companies each at least fifty strong ran through the eighteen avenues and twenty-six streets that made up the city's central zone. The uprising began in earnest when the rising sun touched the easternmost spire of the Terra Cathedral and the Halrana patriots began to shout the mantra that would signal the start of the battle for liberation and call their people to arms.

"Brown for the earth! Green for life! The birth of a new day!"

Some of the patriots were met by curious citizens, woken by the commotion. All questions were answered: "Meet at the Terra Cathedral! Freedom for Ralanast! Freedom for Halaran!"

Others were met by the swords of the Black Army's soldiers. The clash of steel broke the morning stillness, blood drenched the dusty streets, and as the call-to-arms rang through the Black Army's barracks and the sound of marching boots was heard in the streets, some of the Halrana chose to stay at home.

Prince Tiesto, with Marcus at his side, led his men towards the eastern gate and his rendezvous with Marshal Rogan.

He had never fought in a battle before, and even though part of him was terrified, he also felt the thrill of the uprising course through his veins. With five hundred men at his back — most either boys or old men — Tiesto waved his shining sword over his head and shouted encouragement. The boys' faces were flushed with excitement and even Marcus grinned like a fool.

They passed unchallenged through the cargo district, heading for the eastern gate in a direct line, and Tiesto felt his heart near-bursting when he saw the twin towers of the gate only a few blocks ahead.

The Tingaran legionnaires met them in the broad avenue leading to the gate.

Rogan had tried, but nothing could have prepared Tiesto for the chaos of their first engagement. Both Tiesto and Marcus had been trained in swordsmanship, but Marcus had been a palace guard, and only on border patrols before that. Tiesto had never before had a man try to kill him.

It was worse than he had imagined.

For some reason, when he saw that his numbers were greater, Tiesto expected the legionnaires to surrender, or for some kind of discussion to take place.

Instead, the men of the imperial legion tore into his ranks like a whirlwind, blood spraying through the air as their swords slashed and thrust into Tiesto's men. Ranks of enemy pikemen marched forward in disciplined formation, the front of their column bristling with lowered weapons.

Tiesto remembered Rogan's advice for dealing with pikemen. He turned to Marcus. "Hit them from the side!"

Marcus vanished, taking a squad with him, and Tiesto found himself battling both the column of relentless pikemen and the flashing blades of the legionnaires.