by Bri Sailor
“He…he…” she stammered and spun around, the mighty gate closing and the general nowhere in sight.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with you? Tell me! You’re scaring me!” shouted Taryn as she shook the stupefied girl.
“Speak, woman!”
“Back at the gate, it was Saebic. He saw me.” Atreyis stammered. “He saw me, but he didn’t do anything. He just stared… and let me pass.”
Taryn stared in disbelief. “What do you mean? He just let you go? Do you think he’s gone to your father? Are you sure he recognized you?”
Atreyis’ voice was shaking. “Something’s going on. I don’t know what it is but I don’t feel right. We need to get to Ky as quickly as possible and get the hell out of here.”
“Alright.” Nodded Taryn.
The princess stared at the two massive quivers hanging off of her saddle. There weren’t enough arrows in the world for what she was about to go up against. She hoped that the warrior had had some success with unlocking her restraints. The two girls looked out at the black mass that marched towards them, and instinctively reached for each other’s hands. A small caravan of soldiers caught their eyes. It moved towards the open field between the armies.
“There she is!” exclaimed Atreyis.
The warrior was no longer caged but still chained to the stone slab and totally defenseless. There was no struggle or attempt to try and break free. She even seemed indifferent to her circumstance. The soldiers unhitched the horses and one waved a signal towards the wall. At least forty archers trained their arrows on her.
Atreyis’ jaw dropped. “This is going to be impossible.”
It was Taryn’s turn to stammer. “Atreyis, I know you care for this girl, but this is suicide. We will be lucky if we can even manage to come out of this half-alive.
Before the princess could answer a thunderous roaring of voices shattered the relative quiet that had blanketed the battlefield. The Khenná soldiers banged sword and spear against shield and armor and yelled ferociously, giving the Aznurro a glimpse of what they were about to go up against. Various red glowing eyes dotted the black sea. The Aznurro remained silent, patiently waiting for their orders. Blue eyes seemed to be everywhere. A rider with blue eyes was galloping across the front line. It was Saebic. He reached the midpoint and drew his sword and reared his horse.
“For the kingdom!” he boomed.
Deep horns blasted and he took off towards the enemy. The Aznurro soldiers let loose a roaring yell of their own and charged behind him. The Khenná made mirrored movements and the two armies swept into the valley, each desiring the total destruction of the other. The princess didn’t think, she just reacted. With a great yell she grabbed her bow and spurred her horse towards the impending melee, and Ky.
#
Ky kept her cool as she was being pulled out to the middle of the battlefield. She scanned the Aznurro forces closely. They were quite impressive. She looked over at her former army and frowned. She shook her head. It was sloppy and poorly strategized, but to the outsider the Black Army was every ounce of terror and intimidation.
“Shoddy showmanship.” She mumbled to herself.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back her neck raised. There was something else amiss. Their colors were wrong, everything was black with a few gold banners. Not a single dot of red and no banners with the royal seal. Something else was wrong, she didn’t see indication that the king was there. The warrior visibly bristled. The king was always present in battles of this magnitude; it boosted morale and he loved the fight. What the scout reported was false. He was wrong. He had to be. Ultrek was alive.
She squinted at the distance, eyeing everything and everyone, making sure she hadn’t missed something. Her thoughts were interrupted as her platform came to an abrupt stop and left her to her fate. All around her shouting and yelling echoed. She heard a man yell somewhere behind her. Suddenly, the Aznurro gave a war cry and both sides charged straight for her. Then she saw it. Behind the legions there was a heavily armored group of riders flanking a golden chariot. The king’s chariot. But Ultrek was nowhere to be seen. Ky’s stomach tightened and she burned with raw anger. It was Lusha! Every hair stood on end. The rage continued to pit itself in her stomach. The report was true. Of course she was behind everything. The general knew deep down that the witch had it out for her and this was proof enough. If she ever wanted the chance to rid herself of the vile woman, this was it.
Unarmed, vulnerable, and stuck between two charging armies was not the way Ky wanted it to end. Using the knife that Taryn gave her she had managed to break the locks of two chains on her legs and the iron collar, but she was still trapped. She closed her eyes and called upon her deepest strength. Her eyes snapped open and were glowing a fierce red, using the surge of power she exploded up from the platform with everything she had. The chains snapped with incredible ease and she flew through the air. Landing on the ground, she immediately looked back.
“That was too easy.”
Now was not the time to investigate. The roar of the armies grew closer as she pulled of the remaining chains, keeping two of the longer ones. Her ears perked up at the sound of whistling. She looked up in time to see a cloud of arrows ready to fall on her. In a split second she flipped the wagon on its side, protecting herself. Hundreds of arrows buried themselves in the wood. She peaked out. No more arrows, but the first wave was almost upon her. She wrapped two chains around her wrists and charged at the Khenná soldiers. Burning red eyes, black war paint, and a death warrant for the witch, she dove headfirst into the fray with a vicious roar.
An arrow whizzed past the warrior and barely caught her shoulder. Blood ran down her arm. She didn’t even notice and picked up speed. A red-eyed soldier was running straight for her. He was ready to skewer her with his spear. Ky swung the chains over her head and let them fly. They made direct contact with his head, the blow nearly severing his head from his body. He fell to the ground. The blonde warrior was swarmed by the black mass of bodies, disappearing from sight.
Black crashed into silver as the armies clashed. Blood was quickly beginning to soak the ground. Arrows and bolts flew. Axes and swords swung. Spears heaved and shields splintering.
#
Atreyis couldn’t believe what she was about to do. All around her soldiers were yelling and screaming. They were getting closer to the inky black mass. She watched in awe as Ky broke out of her chains and breathed a sigh of relief. But the warrior didn’t try to get away, the princess should have known better than to expect her to leave a fight. Instead she quickly flipped over the wagon. Atreyis glanced over her shoulder and saw the storm of arrows fly over her head and barrage the warrior. Her heart stopped for a moment, but the general emerged, unscathed. She didn’t waste any time and sprinted headlong into the oncoming mass swinging deadly chains overhead. She took out a soldier and disappeared into the black.
The princess spurred her horse faster. She had to get to Ky. The front lines clashed. She trampled the enemy under her horse and jumped into the black, bow raised and eyes glowing blue. She shot left and right, connecting with enemy soldiers. One by one she felled them. Taryn was a little distance off and was holding her own. The war raged all around her and the bodies started piling up. The princess was slowly cutting her way through the darkness, trying desperately to find Ky. A red-eyed soldier started running straight for her. He threw a small battle axe at her head. She narrowly dodged it. Just as she was about to take a shot at him there was a huge explosion and she was thrown violently from her horse.
#
Taryn braced herself. This was not going to be like anything she had ever trained for. Even though her mother was the captain of the guard and however skilled fighter she was and however great a teacher she was, her daughter had never experienced anything more than a small fight or dual. Taryn had faith in her swordsmanship, but this time the enemy was stronger and greater in number. She tried to put out any negative thoughts and just focus on the task at hand, staying alive a
nd keeping Atreyis alive. The princess was on horseback beside her. She suddenly looked over her shoulder. Taryn whipped her head around and saw the cloud of arrows flying towards the now free Ky. She hardly believe that the warrior had actually managed to free herself, Ky must be even stronger than she originally thought. The young fighter watched in awe as the warrior ran straight for the enemy without fear and dove in.
Taryn followed Atreyis into the fray and began her assault. With her eyes glowing blue she swung her sword with impressive force. The two girls eventually became separated but Taryn made sure that she could see Atreyis. She was grateful that they were both still alive. Before long they were too far away from each other. She pulled hard on the reins and angled herself back towards the princess. There was a red-eyed soldier that looked like he was about to attack her. Taryn spurred her horse. The man threw an axe but it thankfully missed. She was nearly upon them when a loud explosion suddenly threw her horse.
She landed hard and blacked out. When she opened her eyes, sky, beautiful blue sky; smoke began to fill it and debris was raining down on her. Her head was swimming and her ears were ringing. She rolled over and tried to get up. Bodies were scattered all around her and her horse was nowhere to be seen. He must’ve thrown her and run. She wobbled as she attempted to stand up. There was a smoldering crater with chunks of flaming rocks scattered around it. She looked back at the wall. There were more flaming masses hurtling over it. Her head felt like someone was crushing it in a vice. Reaching up, she felt around and looked at her hand. No blood. Her senses were starting to come back. Where was Atreyis? She panicked and searched for the girl, she was nowhere to be seen. Fear gripped her heart. Adrenaline pumped through her veins.
“Atreyis!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Atreyis!”
There was no answer. She stumbled around in a daze looking for the princess. A large battle axe was nearby. She went to grab it, but something white caught her eye. Holding on to the axe she ran over to it. It was Atreyis’ sword! The princess had to be around here. There was a dead horse laying some distance away. She ran to it. There, laying in the dirt, still clinging to her bow, was an unconscious princess.
“Atreyis!” Taryn dropped to her knees and tried to wake the bloody girl.
#
“Atreyis!” the fighter shook her. “Atreyis! You’ve got to get up!”
The princess’ eyes rolled open, thankfully she was alive, however disoriented. She couldn’t focus on anything.
“Atreyis!”
The princess’ head was pounding. She couldn’t tell where she was. It was dark and there was yelling and screaming all around her. She willed her body to move but it didn’t listen. Everything felt like a lead weight. The last thing she remembered was a soldier charging for her, and then…nothing. She tried to get up again. It sounded like someone was calling to her. She tried to answer but couldn’t. The voice got closer. Some was shaking her and yelling. Atreyis tried once again to open her eyes. They listened. The world was nothing but a colorful blurry mess. Her eyes rolled back in her head.
“…got to get up!” yelled the muffled voice.
She tried to open her eyes again and was greeted by the sight of a very dirty and bloody Taryn.
“Come on, Atreyis! You need to get up!” yelled Taryn.
The princess groaned and rolled to her knees. Her world was slowly coming back. She stood on shaky legs and tried to take in her surroundings. There were dead horses and bodies everywhere and some sort of smoldering crater.
“Wha—” she started.
Taryn’s hands shook as she tried to put the princess’ sword back in her scabbard. “Your father started the catapults!”
Atreyis closed her eyes, her head was pounding. In a panic she reached around her back.
“Where’s my horse?” It felt like all of her thoughts were cloudy and running together.
“Forget about the horse. I lost track of Ky, we should turn back! We have to get out of range.”
What does she mean she lost Ky? Ky? Wait. That’s right. She needed to find her. The princess scanned the carnage for her horse. She spotted the beast and stumbled towards it.
Taryn was beside herself.
“What are you doing? We have to leave, now!” she screamed.
The princess retrieved a quiver from under the horse and slung it over her shoulder.
“I’m going after her.” She said seriously. “I have to.”
She didn’t give her friend time to object and took off in the direction she last saw the warrior. Ky had to be alive still, she could feel it. The battle raged on. Taryn raced after the princess, knowing full well that she wouldn’t be able to stop her. She was a woman possessed. With glowing blue eyes Atreyis had engaged with a soldier. Taryn tried to assist her by was stopped by two more. They weren’t Descended but put up quite a fight. One of them caught the back of the young fighter’s leg. She spun around and found her opening and took the soldier’s head off. The second stuttered and she nearly cleaved him in two with her heavy battle axe. She put a foot on the dead man’s chest and worked the axe out of his shoulder. No sooner had she pulled it out two riders on horseback came at her. Taryn spun around and heaved her weapon at one of them and it buried itself in his chest, knocking him off his mount. She quickly grabbed a sword off the ground.
The second rider was barreling down on her. She raised her sword to attack Taryn, but the fighter was faster and knocked her off as well. The woman tried to get to her feet but Taryn caught her neck with her blade. Seizing her opportunity, the raven-haired girl jumped into the empty saddle. She chased down the first horse and caught his reins. She gave her horse a kick and led them both to the princess. Atreyis had finished off her foe and was running. Taryn pulled up next to her and slowed. The princess leapt into the empty saddle. With their new steeds the girls charged through the masses once more, returning to their hunt for the general.
Chapter 15
Toran stood on the wall walk above the gate, eyeing his troops. They were ready. The Khenná were flowing out of the tree line in one black mass. Now was the time. He turned to Saebic and nodded. The general acknowledged him and turned to a soldier at his side. The man promptly raised up his very large horn and blasted a deep note. The camp sprang into action. In no time all of the Aznurro forces were ready. The king puffed up his chest. There was no way they could be beat. Ultrek was out of his mind for thinking that they could attack here and win. The troops filed through the gate and spread out along the wall. He looked to his priests and gave the signal. The three bearded and robed old men stood in a circle and linked hands. They bowed their heads and stood as still as statues. A slight glow started to surround them. The more they focused the brighter it became. Suddenly, the light took shape and flowed around them and cascaded over the great ironwood doors. Toran smiled. With the priests protection there was nothing in this world that could break the gate now.
The king held his breath. Everyone was in place. The archers were trained on Ky and the catapults were loaded down and ready to go. The yells of war rang out and both armies charged at each other. Toran barely noticed. His eyes were pinned on his captive. Any moment now it would all be over. He watched with baited breath. Suddenly, the general broke free of her chains. The king was beyond rage.
“She’s free! Archers! Fire!” he commanded, gripping the stone wall and seething with anger.
The archers let loose their deadly barrage. Toran didn’t move a muscle. This was it. But the warrior saw the attack and used the wagon as a shield. A deep red flush creeped up the king’s neck and his eyes glowed blue. He raced down the stairs and jumped onto his horse.
“Open the gate!” he roared.
The priests dropped the magical barrier and the doors groaned open. The king raced through and the heavy doors slammed closed behind him and the priests raised the barrier once more. Toran mentally kicked himself for being so foolish. He should have had a spine and just done what should have been done in the firs
t place. Ky should have been executed the moment he discovered her identity. And now she was free and running back into the waiting arms of her army.
He reached the fighting and cut through with ease. This was not the first time he had seen battle and deep down he knew it wouldn’t be the last. The enemy was beginning to advance. He reached for his small ram’s horn and gave three short blasts. He looked behind him, there was movement along the wall. In seconds flaming rocks and explosives were launched from behind the wall and hurtled towards the enemy. The fiery masses exploded on impact and took out hundreds.
He returned his focus back to the fighting at hand. He engaged anyone he could and dealt with them swiftly. With his focus on the battle he didn’t see the gate open and two more riders on horseback charging towards the battle. His mind was focused on one thing: finding Ky and killing her.
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Ky was getting closer to the golden chariot. She was covered in grime and blood, her rage fueling her. She fought through the onslaught, not caring that she was attacking and killing her own men. They stopped being hers once Lusha sunk her claws into them. But none of that mattered. Another red-eyed soldier ran at her and she heaved a spear with her all and drove it through his chest with such force that he flew backwards and impaled another soldier behind him. The warrior briefly stopped and disarmed the body of its sword and continued on her bloody path. Her rage pulling her closer and closer to the witch. Nothing was going to stand in her way. Finally, she could see Lusha. The she-devil was perched in her ill-gotten chariot, her onyx black armor glinting in the sunlight and her golden cape blowing in the wind. It was as if she knew Ky was there. She shifted her gaze from the battle and locked eyes with the warrior. She smiled wickedly and said something to the officers that surrounded her before driving her black mares off into the forest, her evil laugh carrying on the wind. Ky felt herself shaking with rage. She couldn’t see straight. White-hot anger flowed through her veins and she felt like she was going out of her mind.