by R. K. Star
“Apologizes my daigon. My natural reflex took over.” She moved over to repair the shattered bone.
Layana underestimated Kristen again, she was used to fighting Jhan. She was not Kristen match, yet.
They practice a short while longer before retiring back to the house to recover their expended energy.
28
Maytrinar, Bressi
Over the span of months Qunor covertly brought over a might some ten thousand strong through the gates of Maytrinar. Maytrinar is the territory under Emperor Daigon Isvara’s empire and was governed by Daigon Donai. Since the disappearance of Daigon Isvara, Donai had to fort up the city to prevent the alliance from overwhelming it and taking it by force. For the most part Donai was successful against the numerous times the alliance tried to breach the gates. Donai was always on guard since the majority of planet Bressi was occupied by the alliance.
Once Nizo led a might fifty thousand strong and sieged the city but it did no good as the city of Maytrinar bordered the crystal sea. The sea flourish with life that could feed the city indefinitely. The sea was land lock and completely surrounded by mountains and harsh landscapes. The geographic composition of the land made a frontal assault the only feasible option hence it gave the occupant of the city a dominant advantage. Nizo was a very calculating man but after waiting two years and two full moons he realized sieging the city would not break the moral of the Maytrinal people. It was then he decided to launch an attack in frustration although he was not frustrated enough that he wouldn’t plan the attack. This was the largest might that march against Maytrinar. Nizo was hoping his numbers would overwhelm Donai and force him to surrender.
Nizo’s might moved in the mask of dark hoping to surprise the watch tower guards and launch a decisive strike before the battle began. A few swift men moved quietly and assassinated the tower guards quickly while the might slowly crept closer. The assassins retreated back into the shadows, almost undetected but in the distant a loud shout alerted the resting men inside the walls. Someone had seen the assassins and cried out nervously. Nizo might darted into action from the slow crawl and rushed to the gates. The archers launched a volley of arrows raining into the unprepared men within the city. The arrows pierced through the un-armoured flesh draining the blood from the wounds. Volleys and volleys of arrows soared up and over the wall, showering down.
When Donai’s might was suited up and armed, they deflected the arrows with ease. Only a few suffered wounds from the volleys when they were protected. Those that was injured initially was unable to fend themselves and were pierced to death. They race up the wall quickly while arrows continued bolting down. Donai’s might did not wait for their daigon’s orders. Once they were atop the wall they fired back at will. Because they didn’t have to volley their arrows over the wall they could maximize their energy into the arrow thereby causing it to travel at higher velocities. The arrows started out in swatches but pierced through its prey with ease. One after the next and suddenly the arrows were coming at Nizo’s might in volleys. Nizo’s might had made it to the gate but it was already heavily reinforced and breaching it would require a few minutes at least. Nizo did a quick calculation and over two-thirds of his might would be either dead or disabled before he predicts the gate would be breached. He underestimated the resolve of the Maytrinal people and now he understood why the city had not been taken.
Nizo ordered a full retreat to minimize his losses. During the retreat, it was difficult to defend against the arrows and many of his men laid to become corpses. After he retreated into the distance he looked into despair not for the sadness of the lost lives but because it would take a while to rebuild his might.
After Nizo suffered that crippling blow the alliance forfeited the lands of Maytrinar. They kept a close eye on the city, waiting on Donai to make a mistake. No daigon would attempt any further attacks but they confined the residents within the walls. The years went by in peace as long as the Maytrinal people didn’t venture outside the walls and everyone soon became placid to one another. That was all to change over a night.
Donai led a might ten thousand strong heading south west with Isvara’s banner of a blazing golden phoenix ascending. Qunor left Daigon Remi Gene to control his might of ten thousand in the north-west direction while he discreetly disappeared. Gene move under the Walyron banner of three silver crescent moons with the convex curve touching together and a hollow circle in the concave of each crescent. Daigons Donai and Gene did not move stealthy but in the sunrise, they marched quickly carrying their banners obviously visible. They attacked quickly from towns to villages, slaughtering any Alliance troops stationed and plundering the goods. The towns and villages were no match to stand up against a might of ten thousand. Everyone fled quickly when they saw the might approaching. The mights used a temporal shift to travel allowing them to cover vast empty lands therefore they were able to reach multiple towns within the day. Donai’s might travelled south west but looped back north to arrive at the southern gate of the city of Trintissi. Gene’s might travelled north west and looped back south to siege the northern gate of Trintissi. The two mights sieged the city and camped in the outskirts preparing for their attack. They would have attacked immediately but they depleted a significant amount of their energy while travelling.
Daigon Prouve panicked as he saw the two mights stationed outside his city walls. He and his chancellors had an active might around six thousand protecting the city but he was doubtful he could defend the city with such a small might in comparison. Unlike the city of Maytrinar, Trintissi was open all around to the wilderness. There was no geographic advantage. It was a city built on its rich farm soil many centuries ago but the city has seen new daigons ruling it as much as the seasons changed in the past. Prouve ordered his men to reinforce the gates and maintain all active posts throughout the night.
Before the sun rose the horn trumpeted from one watch post to the next alarming everyone within the city that the enemy was moving. Donai and Gene were moving their might, their drums beating in unison signaling a forward march. The two mights moved into a pincer formation letting loose their arrows in large volleys that overwhelmed the defending archers on the guarding walls. It gave the wall breakers a clear path towards the gates and quickly they began wearing down the wall shielding. Prouve didn’t have the men to station the walls and shield the gates effectively. Trintissi was a major trading hub and it had numerous large gates to allow influx and efflux but that made it exceptionally hard to defend. It was a matter of time before he would lose the city and in his case, it would be a short time.
Prouve was a witty, tall and buff man, loyal to no one but himself. Lazy and selfish is what people called him behind his back. He serves the Emperor Daigon Herso but felt no need to sacrifice his life to protect Herso territories. He orders his reaeslave to withdraw his might ten kilometres north west where they will then make way to the city of Onvenssi. Prouve generated a temporal shift while his men were still defending the city. He wasn’t necessarily a coward but he feared death. His reaeslave rush quickly to spread Prouve’s order amongst his chancellors.
Donai and Gene could sense Prouve energy signature leaving in a shift but didn’t stop him or his men from leaving. Their goal was to take the city and that was it.
Once Prouve’s might received his order they left their posts and made way into the city where they could find a suitable place to generate a temporal shift. Some that spent most of their energy on defending had to find someone to pair up with that had enough mental prowess to generate a dispersion array to get them both out. Others that where alone and too weak to shift away quickly removed their armour and blended in with the civilians hoping they would go unnoticed.
Trintissi became unprotected and Donai’s might broke through the southern gate while at the same time Gene’s might flooded through the northern gate. The residents of Trintissi confined themselves inside their homes leaving the streets and roads bare. Donai and Gene wasted no time re-barri
cading all the gates and fortifying the outposts. Gene had several search teams comb through the city looking for any of Prouve’s men hiding around. They could sense the minds of the civilians and if anyone had a connection to Prouve or if they were shielding their thoughts they would be immediately imprisoned for further interrogation.
It was extremely bright on the planet of Bressi as it was a rare occasion. That last few days Bressi had two moons orbiting it and just recently a third moon was pull into its orbit by its gravitational pull. It left the planet of Yhonar and Plitarth naked without any moons.
Donai had his might outside the walls of Trintissi forming gullies and trenches. He knew the Alliance would be at Trintissi soon to reclaim the city but he wasn’t going to make it easy for them to take. Donai paced the western wall for hours before he felt a large energy shift. He could tell immediately it was the Alliance. The shift was about two kilometres from the gates and was beginning a slow march forward. Donai order his might to return within the walls and prepared themselves in the fortified city.
Herso had a might about thirty thousand strong and Gailli Cofa had a might about forty thousand strong behind her. Cofa was the third master of the Alliance. She had long blond hair on a head with thick rugged skin. She was not particularly beautiful because her features were sharper and lacking soft undertones. She was a tall woman with broad shoulder and stood proud.
Herso position his might to the north and formed a concave around the border while Cofa did the same on the southern border. They began their assault simultaneously and as their men advanced forward arrows began to soar out from the wall towards them. Herso and Cofa stood back and watched from the distant as the slaughter began. They couldn’t waste time climbing through the gullies and trenches as that left them extremely vulnerable so they had to create a quick temporal shift to transit through the area. It didn’t take long for the two large mights to overwhelm the city of Trintissi. The mights reach the gates and began breaking the reinforced gates.
Donai could see the city was about to be breached and with his reaeslave and maids he quickly left the front lines. He had no intention of holding the city of Trintissi. He left his might to fight while his party move to a deserted store and created a temporal shift to leave the city. He was headed back for Maytrinar. Gene with his reaeslave and maids was about to form their own temporal shift to leave the city as well.
After expending most of his remaining mental prowess, Donai managed to shift himself with his reaeslave and maids just a few kilometres from the wall Maytrinar. Quickly they ran towards the city gates but a flash of dark green light collected in front of him. The light faded into the sky and Prouve with his reaeslave and servants appeared.
“Leaving so soon Daigon Donai?” Prouve said with a smirk on his face.
“Just returning home, would you like to come in for a drink?” Donai responded sarcastically.
“Hahaha, I’ve always admire you Donai.” Prouve reached the hilt of his blade. “We better settle our affairs here and now.”
Donai tried to keep his composure but he was drained. His body ached for oxygen and his muscles throbbed with the sting of needles piercing his flesh. His mind was floating away from his head and it took every effort of his mind to stay focus on Prouve.
“You’re no match for me Prouve, I suggest you turn around and not make a fool of yourself.” Donai revealed the two daggers that his cloak concealed behind his back. It had a gruesome hook at the end of the tip for gouging out fleshing.
“Normally on any given day I wouldn’t be your match but something tells me you’re fatigued.” Prouve was right on with his assessment and he wasn’t worried facing off with Donai. On the contrary, Donai looked panicked and fearful. “You’ve bunkered up in your fortress long enough but you made a foolish mistake taking the city of Trintissi.” Prouve drew his blade from the sheath and his reaeslave and servants back away to give him space.
Donai’s reaeslave and maids backed up as well but their faces were cautious. Donai gripped his daggers firmly but the grasp on the handle felt feeble. His daggers were light so he didn’t need to rely on his strength he just need to utilize his speed.
Prouve was about to make a move but Donai rushed at him to show strength. He moved quickly and slid his dagger across Prouve’s waist sheering through the fabric and making a skin-deep cut as Prouve twisted away from the blade. Prouve followed through the turn of his body with a swing of his heavy blade. Donai leapt out of the way and Prouve’s blade smashed into the ground making a deep indentation. Prouve advanced forward at Donai swinging his bulky blade elegantly with ease. Donai swayed away from each swing as he didn’t have the strength to parry it. Prouve readily noticed Donai was dodging every one of his swings and not parrying any to counter. It gave him free control to dictate the battle.
one…two… and three Donai count just as the oversize blade was lifted up for another swing. The blade of Donai’s dagger gouged through the right thigh of Prouve as Donai tucked and rolled underneath. Prouve made a soft gasp but muffled it quickly to hide any signs of pain. Donai spun back for another quick attack to gouge the left thigh hoping to immobilize him. Just as he raised his dagger to slice the flesh, Prouve’s fist caught the side of his cheek bone and smashed him backwards. Prouve blade swung quickly now, ready to cleave Donai in half at the waist. Without time to leap out of the way, Donai quickly brought up both of his daggers to parry the blow. He put his strength into the daggers to hold it firmly as if it was a wall protecting his life. He reinforced the edge of his daggers just as Prouve’s blade slammed into his daggers creating a deep indentation. Prouve focus his strength into this strike, he knew Donai couldn’t dodge it. The power in his swing would easily hack Donai into two pieces but his daggers prevent that. The knock-back energy Donai received sent him soaring into the distance. He flew and pounded into the ground and rolling a bit before the friction stopped him.
Donai’s reaeslave gave the maids the order to hold off Prouve as he rush to aid Donai. The reaeslave lifted up a barely conscious Donai and helped him to his knees, he knew they had to keep moving towards the gate of Maytrinar. Four of Prouve’s servants were approaching them at rapid sprint pace. Prouve’s servants jumped towards Donai ready to cut through his flesh to take credit of slaying him. “Exzana,” Donai’s reaeslave cried. The servants turned to avoid the lashing force but it hit the one furthest to the left knock him back and he fell unconscious to the ground. He released the locking mechanism on the sheath of his right wrist and three darts shot right out and pierced through the neck of the servant furthest to the right. Black blood oozed out from the tiny orifices and the poison in the darts quickly spread throughout the body paralyzing him. One servant brought his sword up to swing at him, the reaeslave quickly push Donai to the ground preventing his daigon from receiving harm and the sword grazed him slightly on the shoulder. Donai’s reaeslave swung his left arm as he unlocked the mechanism on the sheath and a hidden assassin blade popped out that slit the throat of the servant. The servant quickly placed a hand over the cut to prevent the blood from pouring out. The last servant took a swing from behind but the reaeslave duck before his sword could cut him. A few more swings came from the servant but it was all dodged too easily as Prouve servants was not trained for fighting. The reaeslave slipped his blade in and out quickly through the eye socket before the servant even knew what happened. Donai’s reaeslave helped him back up and continued towards the gate.
“Stand down if you wish to live,” Prouve snared at Donai’s two maids.
They did not respond but drew their swords. Prouve limped forwards with his blade raised as they clashed together. The two maids were holding their ground almost equally against the wounded daigon. The maids’ hands started to shake after parrying against Prouve a few times. Prouve was a strong man and each time they clash against his blade it sent a shockwave that travelled through the sword and up their arms. Prouve brought his blade against a maid, she attempted to block again but as
the blades clashed she felt her arms were crippled and wasn’t able to hold onto her sword. Her hands had a steady tremor and were weak from the brute force hammering against her. Prouve brought his blade around quickly and down against the maid who was defenceless now leaving a gaping wound from shoulder to thigh. She tipped her head down slowly to look at the wound and fell to the ground as soon as she saw it. The other maid seized the opportunity and captured Prouve’s helpless reaeslave.
“Dropped you blade or I’ll kill your reaeslave,” she ordered.
“Kill him if you must, either way you will die,” Prouve responded. He slowly limped towards her.
She felt the adrenaline rush to her head. She pulled the reaeslave back as she stumbled backwards. There was no way to escape. She held her sword close to the neck of her captive. Prouve continued towards her. Her heart was beating faster than a drummer angrily pounding away on the drums. She opens the throat of her captive and pushed him forward at Prouve and turned to make a run for it. Prouve pushed his reaeslave aside and as if his thigh wasn’t cut he began sprinting for her. He was much faster than her and took a swing with one hand as he came from her back. The blade cut through her as a hot knife cuts butter leaving two separate pieces falling to the ground.
Prouve looked into the distant but Donai was too close towards the gate now, he wouldn’t reach him in time.
A white flash of light appeared far into the north from Trintissi as Gene and his group stepped from the light quickly sneaking away from the massacre at Trintissi. Gene took a few steps and as if he ran into an invisible wall he stopped dead in his tracks. Kaven was sitting on an elegant chair he brought with him and was enjoying his evening liquor in a fine gold cup. He was talking to his reaeslave who was standing with his maids. Kaven turned his head slightly to amuse himself with the ghastly expression Gene had on his face. Kaven could taste the sweat coming from Gene’s forehead and the blood coward deep away from the skin leaving him ghostly pale.