by Juliet Lili
“I sent you to do one job” The king rose from his seat, walking toward their direction. He paused near a guard. “But you failed” He dragged a short dagger from its scabbard which the guard held. Nara seethed with anger. The absurdity of this man made her want to tear her hair from her scalp. She had absolute no power over the elves for her to command them to her will. Her eyes tracked the king as he resumed his walk until he stood by her father’s side. The king twisted his head, his angry eyes burning through her skull. “For each day, I do not see an army of elves there will be consequences. Starting today” The guard positioned behind her father suddenly moved and pulled her father’s left arm and pinned it to the table. It felt like a blink of an eye but also seemed like forever when the king brought down the sharp blade on Thani’s pinky finger. Nara’s eyes widened with horror.
“No!” Nara’s protest was drowned by her father’s own agonizing cries. Blood dispersed over the polished mahogany table. Ingrid shrieked, her hands covering her mouth, with traumatized eyes Ingrid gaped at the small finger discarded on the table.
Nara’s tongue locked in her mouth as she watched with despair. Her father cried. Jae tried to stop the spilling blood from where his finger had been with his right hand. To make it even more heartbreaking, one of the soldiers pushed his wife back to her seat, stopping her from rushing to her father.
Dark, consuming rage blazed within Nara. She glared at the king, chest heaving she hissed through gritted teeth. “I am going to kill you.”
“As I have said, each day I do not see an army of elves. There will be consequences” the king stated, ignoring her threat. Nara tensed when he brushed his bloody hand on Ingrid’s head before giving her a sinister smile.
“Lock her up” Lorenz ordered the guards apprehending her.
***
Chapter Sixty-one
The cell had no bed or anything to be used as such, it was empty except for reinforced iron bars to keep its captive inside it. Nara was sitting on the mingled floor, eyes closed, hands folded on her chest with head resting on the rough wall when she heard quiet footsteps approaching. She opened her eyes when the footsteps stopped at her cell.
“The king summons you,” the guard said. It has been two days since she had seen the loathsome king and her parents. Two days locked up in this dim cell, stripped her of weapons
Nara’s reply was to glower at the guard. Keys jingled as the guard unlocked the cell. Guards she hadn’t seen came in and grabbed her by the arm. Nara butt headed one and kicked the other in the crotch. “Do not touch me!” she warned. “I will walk.”
The two guards she had just hit hesitated when the guard who had opened the cell muttered. “Do what she says.”
Fuming, Nara proceeded out of the cell. They lead her through a dim corridor that leads outside. They had locked her within the king’s wall rather than the third wall where the military base and jails were. It appeared the king wanted to keep her close. Again, they entered the castle and went directly to the courtroom.
She found the man she hated with all her heart standing next to her father. Her stomach churned when she didn’t see her mother or Ingrid. “Where are my mom and sister?”
“Back in the house being watched over” the king smiled at her. She glanced at her father’s hand which was on the table. Her chest tightened when she saw the bandage wrapped around his left hand.
“Father” Nara called voice filled with concern.
“I am fine” her father replied reassuringly without looking at her. Jae didn’t want her to see the pain on his face, showing her would only make her feel guilty even though she wasn’t the one responsible for his suffering. Nara shifted her gaze to the king’s hands. She grew rigid. King Lorenz toyed with a dagger in his hand.
“The prince will come soon with the army” Nara blurted. She was lying, but she had to do something, for she knew in her gut what the king was about to do.
“When?” the king cocked his head to the side, eyes watching her.
“Soon” she replied quickly, “Just please do not hurt him” she begged, intertwining her fingers together. The king pursed his mouth in contemplation.
Lorenz righted his head. “I am no fool girl, the half bastard told me everything. The prince wasn’t there when he found you, nor is the army coming.”
“Then why are you doing this to my family if you know?” Nara asked sincerely. Why was he torturing them when they have done nothing wrong? He was unfair and unreasonable.
“Because I can!” the king snapped, looking deranged. “because I am the king!”
He evidently lost his mind. Nara almost shook her head in pity for him, but she had none for him, for all she felt for him was hatred. She wanted to bury the dagger he held in his throat. The sound of hasting footsteps had her turning her head to see the commotion. General Tatu and Barra walked into the room, both wearing their armour. The two men stopped and saluted before approaching the king.
“Your Majesty may I speak” General Tatu requested.
King Lorenz nodded, his attention focused on him.
“Your Majesty, I have received word from one of my men that Kalil army has started to march. If we delay any further, I fear we won’t be able to stop the military from entering” The General spoke. “I request that we also begin to move” the General added.
The graveness of the reality hit Nara. Somehow hearing it from the General made it even more real and terrifying.
“Permission granted,” The king said his tone somber as if he too had recognized the seriousness of the situation. An alliance of two centuries has come to an end. Hope seemed to leave the king’s body. He turned to her. “I guess the only thing you can do is fight for your kingdom.”
“And my family?” Nara pensively asked. She wasn’t going to march if her family were still going to be captives. The king pressed two fingers to his forehead then looked at her. “I don’t care for them, whether they live or die, time will tell.”
***
Chapter Sixty-two
It was the fourth day since the army of thousand Muri started their dangerous course to the Kalil Kingdom under the lead of the king. Nara had been shocked seeing him but then remembered Lorenz was not one who’d want to lose face. Staying behind would have cost him his dignity as a king, and he’d rather die to protect it. He didn’t want to be branded a coward king. Although the king gave the command, the soldiers turned to General Tatu and his commanders for affirmation. The passive insubordination of the soldiers didn’t escape Lorenz nor didn’t fail to piss him. He forced himself to turn a blind eye, for the men were already in terrible moods. Lest he poked a wolf and get bitten.
Gloom surrounded them as they marched. Fear lurked in their shadows during the day and taunted them during the night. No different from the others, Nara stayed vigilant all hours for their enemy could be anywhere. Perched on her horse, Nara peered in the dark woods, scrutinizing the area as they trekked along. Silently she hoped her parents and sister were sailing safely to Amahle. Her family had begged her desperately to go with them, yet Nara had refused. She was going to stand and fight for her kingdom, alongside her comrades. Nara consoled herself with hope her family were going to be safe, and that was all that mattered. If she was to die in battle, she would die with honor and peace.
They were nearing lake Azum when the thunder of horses clapped in the late afternoon. Tension rolled through the army. Several soldiers drew their swords. Nara twisted on her horse and glanced back. She couldn’t see through the armed people behind her. Could it be? She crossed her fingers as she listened to the heavy fast approaching stomps of horses.
Several cheers erupted. Her pulse jumped, anticipation growing. Nara eagerly wanted to confirm her suspicions but managed to stay in course. She continued to ride forward. It didn’t take long for a messenger to approach her and inform her that her presence was required. Nara regarded the two elf princes and the army behind them when they came to sight. Her gaze locked unto her husband, imp
assive face, clad in the dark red armour, he looked formidable and ruthless, not one to cross. Seeing him, had her skin breaking a sweat of relief.
Calemir regarded her in the cerulean armour she wore as she made way to him with composed demeanor that he saw through it. He felt her relief from the sight of him, and his men brought her. When he had arrived home, Calemir had learnt of what occurred in his absence. About the half elf, and Nara having left with him. He had also heard of the imminent war between the two kingdoms was still on. He had sworn that he would aid them in the fight against Kalil and he intended to keep his promise by assembling three hundred elves including his brother and Leena and Finn to join him.
Nara ignored the eyes of his brother and other numerous ones looking at the two of them and said with the deepest gratitude. “Thank you.”
Seeing the trust and faith she had in him in her expressive eyes terrified him. Calemir only looked at her in return.
***
Something is wrong. Nara thought, eyes narrowing. An eerie sensation prickled her skin. She studied the high rolling hills around them. They had crossed the border, and they were now in Kalil, and they were yet to spot a single Kali. The towns they had passed so far were deserted, only encounter they had so far were animals. If the Kalil army had a leg up on them on marching, then they should have encountered them already.
“This doesn’t feel right” she muttered under breath. “No, it doesn’t” Calemir agreed, looking ahead.
“It smells like death” Tarron added ominously. Nara glanced at him. She was torn with his presence and uncertain of his intentions. Was he there to aid her people or the opposite? Perhaps it didn’t matter to him whoever was going to die as long it was humans. Her blood chilled when he looked at her for a little second before looking forward. When the elves arrived, Nara had moved up the lines almost to the very front. She was on the third line, a line behind the king, General Tatu and other commanders and soldiers. Her curiosity of the whereabouts of the Kalil army was answered when they descended a tall hill. Across the vast dried field, General Schmerz and his army awaited. Nara tensed, her whole face turning grim.
A wind of darkness rolled over the army of Murisa. The cerulean dressed soldiers both on foot and horse drew their weapons.
General Schmerz rose his sword high and shouted a battle cry. “Attack!”
The War
Hooves pounded in an earthquake manner against the dusty field as the two armies charged toward each other. Nara gripped her unsheathed sword tightly in one hand whilst she controlled her steed with the other hand. Wind flapped on her face as she urged onward, fierce brown eyes narrowed at the bodies in black armour.
“Shield!” General Tatu ordered as arrows flew high in the grey sky. The front line huddled together and rose their shields high, creating a barrier as several others flanked the king to do the same. A rain of sharp arrows rained down on them, hitting hard on the shields, a few slipping in through the tiny cracks of the barrier and getting their targets. Nara remained at the center as the army broke into a wedge formation. The left and the right wing of the Murisa army returned their foe a favor by hailing arrows upon them as they pursued. The phalanx in tightly knit form pointed their spears ahead. The Kalil warriors withstood their straight-line position even as other men fell to the ground dead from the counterattack.
Almost there General Schmerz clenched his jaw hard, urging his horse to go faster. Heartbeat racing as the steed, sweat beaded on his forehead. Sinewy of hard muscles stretched and bunched under his heavy armour as an intense, powerful sensation glided over his bone. It was the same feeling he had felt when he had performed the disgusting ritual Dagny had conducted. He felt stronger than ever. Schmerz wielded the massive heavy sword with ease in his hand, his whole face turning harsh with unbend determination. Elves or not, he was going to obliterate Murisa. Growling in the likeness of an angry wolf, he swung the blade through the enemy line, chopping several heads.
***
Nara swung her sword as the two armies collided with force and lethal weapons. The phalanx at the front speared the Kali warriors as if they were game for roasting over a camp fire. She wielded the sword in her hand and swung it left and right, stabbing Kali soldiers. She was nervous, but she kept a calm head. Instincts of survival and hunger for winning the war had her fighting fiercely. Breath hitching, Nara leaned back almost flat on the horse when an opponent thrust a sword toward her. The sudden dodging move and her steed’s movement had her body rocking in an awkward rhythm. She let go of the reins and leaped to the ground with a grunt when the attacker advanced on her again. The foe’s sword sliced her steed’s saddle. The horse whined and bolted.
Eyes smarting, she sprung behind the opponent and plunged her sword into his neck. Pushing the body aside, she took hold of the reins and redirected the horse. From the peripheral sight, she caught glimpses of elves fighting. Although the great beings had grace like features and aura, they fought brutally. They moved with frightening speed and attacked with terrifying skills and tactics upon their opponents, drenching their weapons with the blood of the foe.
***
The sky above resembled the ongoing war below, angry grey clouds fought against blue clouds viciously. The blue clouds appearing to swallow the grey clouds…or so it seemed.
Calemir spun on his feet and sliced off two heads with his sword. He was deep in the enemy’s heart, almost surrounded completely by them except for his brother who fought alongside him. Calemir had decided to fight on the ground rather than on his steed. Thus he had swiftly hopped down. Foot on the field, he moved more freely, with slick attacks and counter attacks as oil. The Kali men were almost no match for him, striking them with precise and deadly blows. Being in the thick of the battle caused memories hundreds of years old to claw at the edges of his mind.
“Just like old times huh” Tarron shouted several feet away.
Calemir glanced at him briefly. Tarron flashed him a grin before spearing someone. Unlike him with a sword, his older brother choice of weapon was a two-headed spear. An old time favorite weapon of his. Calemir didn’t respond. Instead, he continued to wound his opponents. He could feel the tides of the war were in their favor. But that was not the case, within a blink of an eye, the tides began to change. As if the Kali warriors had been feigning weakness to fool them, they began to fight with astounding vigor, bellowing howl like cries. A blinding fury emitted from the Kali warriors as they fought back and tore through Muri warriors. An angry black armored man zeroed on Calemir. Calemir trained his keen eyes on the man, brows knitting as he observed him. Beneath the helmet, the man’s face was swelled, teeth gnashing like an animal.
Calemir clashed his sword against the man’s when he charged toward him. Blocking, Calemir stared at the man’s raging eyes. The man’s pupils expanded and shifted to gold hue as those of a wolf. What the heck?
The man snarled at him madly, with elongating teething.
***
The Transformation
Schmerz plowed through the battlefield, throwing foes and friends alike aside as he charged forward to his target. King Lorenz. A chill shot up his spine, causing his bones to shudder as black spots swam in his vision. His skin burned with a fever, muscles shivering ever so lightly. He shook his head like a rabid dog, fighting off the pull for a little longer. He wanted to kill the bastard king before he succumbed to the beastly calling. Irritation crossed his face when he saw two men stand in front of the king, with a shield and sword waiting for him. Strength and speed of a wolf, he bounded and ran faster, wielding the sword with two hands. His sword clashed with a strident pang against his opponents’. His lips pulled back into a snarl, revealing his gums and yellowing teeth. He battled barbarously against the enemies enclosing around him. Through the fighting, someone kicked his hands making him drop his sword. Schmerz spun on his feet, grabbed the attacker’s hand with one hand and with his other hand, Schmerz hit him hard on his throat with his elbow. The attacker collapsed to the groun
d.
Angry the king hid cowardly behind his men, Schmerz decided to use his fists. A good soldier needed not a sword to slay his foe, his hands were good of a weapon as was a honed blade. He fought hard, cracking skulls and breaking limbs with his own hands and feet. The more he fought, the more the pull grew stronger, his pulse beat like a heavy drum beat, his fingernails grew to claws that tore through his enemies’ flesh. Schmerz face contorted harshly when the opposing General dashed ahead of the king.
***
Trepidation grew within Nara. Whilst she fought, she glimpsed with gloom and fear at a couple fellow warriors as they fell under their foes brutality. Her people and even several elves were falling to the ground dead like flies. Their opponents fought with incredibley inhuman strength, growling and snarling like wolves. They attacked with abandonment, no caution and without fear, with only one sole purpose of destroying them. What is going on with them? Nara pondered at the back of her mind as she discerned their glowing golden eyes. Before Nara could ponder on it further, a strong hand she hadn’t seen grabbed her by the collar and yanked her forcefully down from her horse. Nara hit the rough ground with a painful grunt which she had no second to nurse.
Nara was springing to her feet, ready to defend herself when it happened. A man jumped over her mount, missing her within seconds and tumbled to the ground a foot before her. Her mouth fell as she watched with shock. Before her very own eyes the Kali warrior began to change. The man let out an agonizing howl as his face turned into a snout, teeth sprouting to sharp yellow canines from his widening jaw. The man shook violently, bones twisted, cracked and reshaped. Nara watched with horror as the man grew in stature, his whole physique transforming against the confines of his armour which he tore through with his dagger like claws which had replaced his human nails. Fur coat spread over his once human skin, tuft ears protruded upward. The man resembled more of a wolf each speeding minute. She jerked back when an arrow shot into his thick skull.