Kyandi: So, yes, I know in my last chapter, I said I had been awake for a numerous number of hours and that I would sleep, but the thing is...I posted that after a fourteen hour long nap.
Alair: I do not believe you can consider that long of a time, a nap.
Kyandi: Good point. But my point is that I am well rested and back to doing my thing.
Alair: Wonderful. Perhaps we should move on then?
Kyandi: Yep! So everyone, enjoy and review.
Alair: Kyandi-sama does not own The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
Chapter 10 Apologies
Hilmes stared at the sky for a moment before he could get his bearings and climb to his feet. His eyes found Alair as he raised a hand to the bleeding bump in the side of his head. Alair stood before him, her glaive reversed so that she had hit him across the head with the capped end of her glaive and not the blade end. He stared at her in surprise, as did those around her.
"I will not kill you simply from a sense of revenge. It would not bring back my family, my kingdom, or my people. Killing you holds no importance and trying to gain my revenge is foolish." Alair told him.
Her expression had soothed back out, the tension leaving her limbs. She no longer looked angry and her tone was even and blank once more.
"Are you calling me a fool?" Hilmes asked, seeing that comment as a scold to him, who was doing exactly what she would not.
"No. Everyone handles grief and anger differently. To each their own. I, though, will not do it. I will, however, kill you if you threaten my kingling again. That I have no quarrel with killing you for." Alair told him.
That did nothing to please Hilmes, who grit his teeth. Alair had been the princess his father had chosen for him. The perfect bride, chosen for not only her beauty from an early age, or her royal status, but for the military prowess she, as the War Princess, would possess come marrying age. Hilmes wanted everything his father had promised him. The throne of Pars, it's loyal people, and the bride Osorosis picked. A bride he had thought lost but now stood before him.
"You were suppose to be mine and you serve him!?" Hilmes snapped.
Alair's eyes narrowed, the wind catching stripes of her hair to whip them about her face. She took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then let it go. She fixed her eyes on Hilmes' face, refusing to look away from him for a second.
"I belong to no man. My father refused that proposal and Osorosis burned my kingdom to the ground to take hold of me anyway. Only my true alpha can lay claim to me and you are not him." Alair replied.
"We shall see about that. I will take back the Parsian throne, and I will take you too."
Hilmes attacked with more force than before. Alair refused to let him push her about. She was a warrior too, for heaven's sake. She had always, from the day she first drew breath, been a warrior first and foremost and a princess secondly. She would of had no right to call herself a princess of Alhir, if she could not protect it's people as well as lead them. She had failed in the first and had, therefore, given up the title of War Princess.
Alair could not hold back a cry of pain when Hilmes locked his blade with the staff of her glaive and aimed an elbow for her left arm, hitting the wounds there with enough force to split the newer of the two open. Blood ran down her arm as she released her left hand's grip on her glaive and ripped free of Hilmes' lock. She refused to release her glaive fully though.
"Got you!" Hilmes declared reaching for her.
"Get away from her!"
Hilmes and Alair both looked up in surprise as Daryun charged up the stairs, swinging his sword at Hilmes, driving him away from Alair. Narsus blocked Hilmes' retreat to one side, Farangis blocking the other way.
"You mustn't kill him!" Bahman called.
Hilmes looked between the three, his eyes then going to Arslan at Bahman's side, and finally to Alair, being protected from him by Daryun. Daryun moved further in front of Alair, sword raised, when Hilmes turned his eyes on her. Hilmes knew he would have to return another time. He turned and jumped from the battlements. Daryun tried to follow him, but Bahman surged to his feet and grabbed his cloak, pulling him to a stop.
"If you kill him, Daryun, the true bloodline of Pars' royal family dies too." Bahman said.
"What was that?" Daryun asked in shock, turning on Bahman.
Bahman coughed up blood before he could explain. Alair darted forward, catching the old man with her good arm to ease him to the ground when he fell. Arslan joined her at Bahman's side.
"Your highness." Bahman called, reaching for Arslan's hand.
Arslan took his hand in his, offering the dying man comfort.
"I want you to know how sorry I am. I was afraid. I should have trusted my friend's decision. I was a fool not to. Prince Arslan, I beg you. Can you forgive an old fool?" Bahman asked.
"Why? I don't understand. What is there to forgive?" Arslan asked
That seemed to please Bahman and ease him. To Arslan, Bahman had done nothing that needed to be forgiven.
"I hope you will become a fine king someday." Bahman said before his eyes found Alair at his other side. "I knew you, Princess Alairanna, the moment I laid eyes on you."
Alair was startled. No one had recognized her in the seventeen years since the fall of Alhir. It was only if someone saw the coat of arms on her arm that they recognized the once proud princess of Alhir. She had never expected a soldier of Pars, even one as old as Bahman, to know her on sight. All eyes turned to Alair's surprised face.
"But how?" Alair asked.
Bahman laughed, the laugh turning into a cough. Alair, concerned, rubbed circles into his back, tilting him forward some to help him with breathing.
"You look so much like your mother, Queen Karenza. Those fiery eyes and that lovely face. Except for your hair. That was King Lorcan's. I had met them before, was there when Queen Karenza died to save one of her soldiers. She was a beautiful and amazing woman. Traits, I see, she passed to you." Bahman told her.
Alair's face turned sad, a tiny hint of pink entering her cheeks at being compared to her mother. Her grip on Bahman's shoulder tightened.
"Why did you say nothing if you knew?" Alair asked.
"If you did not say something, I assumed you wanted to leave the past behind. I was willing to honor your wishes after taking part in the destruction of your home. Can you forgive me for the part I played?" Bahman asked.
Alair bowed her head in respect to the old man. He had known her, known who and what she was, and had kept his silence. She had a great deal of respect for him.
"There is nothing to forgive. A loyal soldier does the wishes of his king. If there is one thing Alhirians can respect above all else, it is loyalty to the one you swear to. I hold no ill will towards you, Lord Bahman. Rest assured." Alair told him.
Bahman released a relieved sigh, the last of his breaths leaving him. Alair bowed her head in respect for the deceased. Arslan cried for the fall of the old man until soldiers gingerly carried his body away. Alair stood and offered a prayer for Bahman. When she finished, Arslan turned to her.
"You were the princess in your story, all along. You lied to me when I asked what became of her." Arslan said.
Alair dropped to one knee, bowing her head. She knew that there was no excuse for having lied to him. By all rights, he had the right to order severe punishment on her for her deceit. She would expect no less if he chose to do so.
"Forgive me, kingling, please. I apologize for deceiving you." Alair told him, keeping her head bowed.
"Why, Alair? Did you think I would call you a liar or send from my company?" Arslan asked, the others standing by to watch.
Daryun now understood her question last night. When she had asked him how he would react if someone he thought he knew, turned out to be something else, she had been talking about herself. They knew she was Alhirian, had thought her, at the most, a noble's daughter. Not the princess herself! Though, now that he thought about it, so many things were falling into place. There had been so many signs. Her wariness at letting anyone see her left arm, her age matched up to that of the princess, her knowledge of what had happened in the palace the night her kingdom fell...so many signs and they had heeded none.
"It was nothing of the sort, kingling, I swear." Alair said, shaking her head.
"Then why?" Arslan demanded.
Alair was quiet for a moment before she explained.
"To just admit that I was Alhirian was to open myself to scorn and retaliation. It was painful to think of my lost home. To admit that I was the princess who was the cause of the conflict to begin with...I have too many enemies left and too many demons in my past, to burden you with such things as well, kingling. Fear of making more enemies out of the first human allies I have had since my days at court, kept my mouth sealed to the truth." Alair replied.
Arslan stared down at the top of Alair's head. A princess that would have become a strong commander, taken from her home, her home destroyed, her family killed, and she now knelt before him, her head bowed in humble submission. She should have had thousands of soldiers at her command, shouldn't have had to live the hard life she did, should of had the family now lost to her. Pars had taken that from her, and now she was serving it's future king.
Why?
Was she hoping that doing so would put her in position to regain the land once apart of her kingdom? Was she hoping to put an end to the royal family of Pars completely? No. Arslan doubted that last one. She had had plenty of time to kill him and had done nothing but protect him. Then why was she putting herself in service of the country that had destroyed all she held dear?
"Alair...do you want your kingdom back? To rule over?" Arslan asked.
Alair's head flew up, her answer out of her mouth almost before he finished his questions.
"No! Never, kingling!" she exclaimed with such fierceness it shocked them all.
Arslan was confused, a questioning look falling on his face. Why did she not want her kingdom back? Why did the very idea of it inspire such a fierce reaction from her?
"I was no leader before and I am most certainly not one now. My people are few, spread out across several kingdoms. Most now, the newer generation, would not even know of Alhir except through the mouths of their elders. I lack several qualities required of a ruler. My brother was the ruler, not I. To rule an entire kingdom, even one as small as Alhir would be...I would fail miserably." Alair told him, dropping her head once more. "No. I have sworn my loyalty to you, kingling, and you alone. That means until I draw my last breath, my strength, my cunning, everything I am and will be, is for you to command. I am no princess anymore. Merely a warrior serving her king."
Arslan felt touched that Alair believed so fully in him, but so little in herself. But the latter also hurt him. Alair should have more confidence in herself, needed to.
"But you should hate Pars." Arslan said.
Alair raised her head then, a smile on her face as she looked at him. It surprised Arslan to see the amusement on her face.
"Kingling, I hate only the man who made the order and he is dead. That he no longer draws breath is soothing enough for my wounded heart. I cannot hold the people responsible for the actions and orders of their king. And I will not do so to you. Besides, kingling, I have told you before. To constantly look back is to run into a tree. I am not prone to collision courses." Alair told him.
Arslan smiled as well, knelling in front of Alair and laying a hand on one of hers which rested on her knee. Alair glanced down at his hand in surprise before looking back up at his face.
"Then I will rely on you." he told her.
Alair bowed her head in thanks.
"For now, you need to have that arm looked at...again." he told her.
Alair heaved a sigh as he pulled her to her feet.
"Perhaps I should look into armor." she remarked.
Daryun stepped forward to say something to Alair but a soldier ran up then in a hurry.
"A report, sir!" the soldier said, kneeling.
"Out with it then." Kishward demanded.
"We received word that a Shindran force is breaching the boarder. Their numbers are estimated to be at least twenty or thirty thousand." the soldier reported.
"That's impossible!" Kishward said.
"So large of numbers. They seek to take advantage of the chaos in Pars with the invasion of Lusitania, surely." Alair remarked.
With that in mind, everyone split up to get some rest and to mourn the loss of Bahman. Alair slipped away before anyone could say a word to her, and would not answer her door for anyone seeking to speak to her. Even her wolves were not allowed in her quarters. Whether this meant she would withdraw from them now, or not, they didn't know.
Daryun could only hope that wasn't the case.
-0-0-0-0-
First thing in the morning they met for a war council. Arslan, having spoken with Alair the night before, started the meeting by calling Alair to his side. Alair stepped out of the shadows and up to his side.
"Alair has something to say before we start." Arslan said.
Alair faced them all and bowed. Her arm had been bandaged once more, but she had refused all talk of the sling. From her bowed position they received a shock.
"As some of you know and the others have only heard, I am Alairanna de fleur Alhir, the former War Princess of Alhir. And I deceived you. I must apologize to you all for keeping the origins of my birth and my true name and rank from all of you. I ask that should you see fit to do so, please forgive me for the deception I tried to weave." Alair said, remaining in the bow so that her face was hidden from them.
The others looked at each other. None of them had expected her to formally apologize to them for it. Farangis, the first to draw close to Alair in the group, was the first to speak.
"I see no need for you to apologize. You are loyal to his highness and to us, your companions. That is enough for me." Farangis said.
Alair raised her head to stare at Farangis in surprise.
"I must agree. You were merely trying to blend in with common warriors. It is understandable." Gieve added.
"Princess or not, you're a good warrior and I can find no fault with you." Kishward said with a smile on his face.
"We understand the reasons behind why you did what you did, Alair. That you would even think to apologize for it, is enough. You were before and are still now, one of us." Narsus assured her.
Alair nodded gratefully to them, her eyes turning to Daryun who had yet to say a word. He looked up at her, noticing that her hands curled into her pants. A sign of how anxious she was. It was almost as if his opinion was the most important to her. He looked up into those fiery eyes and held her gaze. She didn't dare to look away.
"You will always, no matter the past, be Alair to us. No matter what you say, I feel I know the real you. I will not accept your apology because there was no reason for you to apologize to begin with." Daryun told her.
A brilliant smile, just like the one he had seen on her face the night before last, lit her face, making her eyes dance with dazzling flames. Several of the captains present gasped in admiration of how much more beautiful it made her. Alair bowed once more in thanks.
"Thank you. I shall endeavor to meet you expectations." she promised.
With that, she took her seat between Daryun and Narsus and the meeting began. Arslan gestured for Kishward to start.
"We are working with rough estimates, but we believe the Shindran army numbers fifty thousand. They have already crossed the river at the boarder and are officially on Parsian soil." Kishward reported.
"Excellent. How much bad luck is going to find us? We have enough to see to as it is." Gieve remarked.
Arslan, his thoughts lost in the events of the previous night, wasn't paying attention.
"Your highness." Narsus called.
"Oh! Apologies." Arslan said.
"If you weren't feeling well, get some rest. We can handle matters here. I will keep you informed." Daryun told him.
"Thank you. I'm well enough, I assure you. Everyone, on to business." Arslan insisted. "We will retake the royal capitol, but before we can do that, we must defend the boarder. We will make a stand against Sindhura."
The others nodded.
"If it will help at all, Lord Kishward, my wolves can act as scouts. With the terrain in these parts, and their attention sat on their task, they are likely not to notice a few wolves. And that is assuming they ever lay eyes on them." Alair offered.
"That is a wonderful idea, Alair. If they will do it, please have them do so. It would spare our men." Kishward agreed.
Alair nodded. She would speak to the three wolves after the meeting. The meeting continued and a battle plan was put into the works. Alair was surprised when she was given command of a small company of fast, fleet footed soldiers that Kishward said "suited" her. After the meeting Kishward introduced Alair to the captain of the company she was to be the commander of. The man was fascinated by Alhirian battle tactics and was thrilled to call her, his commander.
His men, he claimed, would be glad to serve under her for Prince Arslan's cause. Alair only hoped she didn't mess it up. Kishward assured her, after seeing how her mind worked, that she would do just fine in the position. Alair just took his word for it.
When that introduction was done, Alair went to the armory, having the taskmaster give her light, arm guards to protect her arms. It was more armor than she ever wore, but it would save her pain from another well aimed hit.
Kishward gathered his men while Alair met up with Narsus and Daryun. Narsus nodded in satisfaction when he saw the arm guards, and carried on, leaving Daryun and Alair to bring up the rear. Silence fell over the two as they walked, but Alair kept throwing glances his way.
"I really am sorry for basically lying to you." she told Daryun.
Daryun looked down at her. He could tell she really felt guilty for not telling him. He couldn't really be angry with her. She had all the right to be fearful of sharing who she really was. He was just a little hurt that she hadn't trusted him more.
"So you said. I am not angry with you, Alair. Simply upset that you didn't trust me more." he told her.
"I trust you, Daryun. Perhaps more than I should." Alair told him.
Daryun looked down at her, but she was refusing to look at him, her cheeks turning slightly pink. He was confused to what that meant and doubted she would explain. He was glad to hear that she trusted him though.
"I wanted to tell you, the night you arrived here, but my nerves failed me. Instead I asked a question that probably made no sense to you then." she added.
So that was the point of the question. She had wanted to share with him, and him alone, the truth of who she was. It touched him that she trusted him so much.
"It makes sense now and that is what matters. When this battle is over, you and I will talk more on the subject." he told her.
Alair gave him a smile, grateful that he forgave her and accepted who she was. She didn't know how she would feel if he refused to talk to her because of it.
"Now, should I call your Alairanna? Or Princess?" he asked, more as a joke.
Alair shuddered at the thought. Her nose wrinkled in the most adoreable way that made him chuckle.
"Please do not do that. Alair is more than enough. I did not even like going by either of those when I was a small child still in Alhir." she replied.
"Understood. How do you feel about your commander post?" he asked.
"Truthfully? A little unsure. The men seem willing enough to follow my command, but I cannot help but wonder if I really am the best suited for the job." Alair replied.
"You are a splendid fighter, Alair, and your mind seems made for thinking ahead and in ways others cannot predict. Lord Kishward would not put you in that position if he did not believe you adept." Daryun told her.
"I hope so."
She didn't sound convinced. Daryun laid a hand on her shoulder, pulling her to a stop. Alair looked up at him, questioning in her eyes.
"You will be fine, Alair. And if you find yourself unsure or in need of assistance, you can always look to me. I will help you." he offered.
Alair laid a hand on his and smiled.
"Thank you, Daryun. I shall keep that in mind. Now we best be going."
Daryun nodded and the two caught up with Narsus, outside Arslan's room. The three entered to find Arslan staring out the window at the soldiers below.
"Your highness." Daryun called.
Arslan turned to look at them as Alair adjusted her wolf cloak around her shoulders.
"All is ready. Battle preparations are now complete. We shall be leaving." Daryun told him.
"I see." Arslan said, looking as if he wanted to say something else.
"Something wrong?" Narsus asked.
"Should I not come with you? I know we decided against it, but...I feel like I would be breaking faith with the men if I stayed behind. I'm their prince. There must be something I can do." Arslan said.
Narsus took hold of Arslan's shoulders.
"Your highness, you are now the leader of an army. There are tens of thousands of men at your command. There is no need for you to take to the battle field for every engagement." Narsus told him.
"Are you sure?" Arslan asked.
"Please trust us to command the men in your place. I feel like I can promise a favorable outcome." Daryun told him.
Arslan turned his eyes to Alair, standing at Daryun's side. Even she would be playing the part of a commander in this battle.
"What say you, Alair? As a prince to a princess." Arlsan asked.
"I am not a princess anymore, kingling, but I must agree with them. In Alhir the royals may be expected to be willing to take every risk their men do, but there is a difference between being willing and actually doing so. Your safety is more important. That you are willing to do so, feel it is your duty to the men, is enough. Trust those of us under your command. We shall be back before you know it." Alair told him.
Daryun and Narsus smiled, glad for Alair's agreement. Arslan smiled and nodded, willing to listen to the three of them, since the three agreed.
"Yes, of course. You have my trust. Please do as you see fit. And Alair, please take Lunarwind with you. I enjoy her company, but you shall need her more than I." Arslan said.
Alair's eyes went to Lunarwind, sitting at his side. The wolf pricked her ears at her look and leaned into Arslan's side.
"That is not my choice, kingling. Lunarwind does as she pleases and she is set on being by your side. Wolfsbane and Greyback are enough in a battle like this." Alair told him.
"If you insist." Arslan said.
The three left Arslan then to go join the rest of the army.
"That was it. I assume it was yesterday's events that were on his mind." Daryun remarked as they walked down the hall.
"Well, can we truly blame him if he wishes to avoid thinking about it? He fears failing to ride forth for every battle will break faith with his men. That is not a sentiment one often hears from a ruler." Narsus said.
"Nobody could ever doubt that he has a kind heart. However, it takes more than kindness to rule a kingdom." Daryun replied.
"Does it though? We follow him because of the man he is, because he is just and hopeful and kind. There are worse things to happen to Pars than to be ruled by a kind king. Alhir made it hundreds of years with kings just as the prince wishes to be. Isn't that so, Alair?" Narsus said.
"It is. For Alhir, the rulers were expected to be kind, willing to do what they asked of their men, and just. Just as the kingling is. It is because I saw in him what I saw in my brother, father, and even my grandfather, that I felt led to follow him. So I agree. There are several worse things than being led by a king such as the kingling." Alair replied.
"I can't argue that. Now lets be off. I made a promise to his highness and I intend to keep it." Daryun agreed.
Alair nodded as they continued. Once outside, Alair pulled her hood up to keep the snow out of her eyes. She parted with Daryun and Narsus and met up with the company of men she was meant to lead.
"Lady Alair!" their leader, a man named Anders, greeted.
"Hello, Anders. I hope you and your men are ready." Alair said.
"Yes ma'am!" the soldiers replied in unison.
Alair nodded. Wolfsbane and Greyback trotted up to her then, Feng, already saddled and armored for battle, right behind them.
"I hope you men can handle the presence of my wolves." Alair told them.
"We shall endeavor to be as useful to you as they are, ma'am." Anders told her.
"And I shall do the same. Let us all make it back together." Alair said, swinging herself up into her saddle.
"Yes ma'am!" the men cried.
Daryun, from where he sat on his horse, smiled to himself. Alair claimed she was no leader, but the men responded to her as easily as they did to favored captains. He had no worries that Alair would be a fine commander. Alair joined Narsus and Daryun at the head of the charge, her men falling in behind her. Her wolves went ahead, scouting as they were ordered. They would come back now and then with reports on the Shindrans movements and Alair would relay them to the others.
"How are you not freezing, dressed like that?" Daryun asked at one point, looking at the open sided pants and cropped off corset she was wearing.
"Truvelle, the Alhirian capitol, was colder than this for most of the year. Even living in Pars, one doesn't grow out of such things. I am inclined to colder weather." Alair replied.
"Still. Did you have to wear such things?" Daryun asked.
Narsus chuckled to himself.
"Mind your words, Daryun, or others might believe you are jealous for other men to see her as so." Narsus teased.
"That is not the case!" Daryun snapped, glaring at his friend.
"What ever may be the case, does not matter. It is easier to move in clothes such as these. If that means a little more skin than I like, showing, than so be it." Alair replied.
Kishward, leading his company of men, rode up then.
"About time for us to part ways. We'll be going ahead as planned." Kishward said. "Lady Alair, it is time for you to part as well."
Alair nodded. With a raised hand, she signaled to her men that they would be moving ahead now.
"Best of luck, though I know you won't need it." Narsus told the two.
"Of course. Be mindful of yourselves as well." Alair called back, nudging Feng into a faster pace.
Her men sped up behind her as she lead them to the spot that she was suppose to station her men at. Daryun watched Alair at the head of her line of men, her red-orange hair a banner against the sky. She really did look the part of a warrior off to battle.
"I will repeat, my friends, that is one amazing woman." Kishward remarked before leading his men off as well.
Alair kept her eyes peeled as she moved her men into position. She was thankful that they did as she wished when she told them. When they were ready, she remained watchful, waiting for the signal that would have her leading her men into the fray.
"Lady Alair."
Alair turned to Anders as the soldier, on foot, knelt to give his report.
"Please stand Anders. No sense in knelling in the snow just to report to me." she told him.
Anders nodded, rising to his feet.
"Every man is in position, awaiting your order." Anders told her.
"Very good. Thank you, Anders." she told him.
"If I may, my lady. Is this your maiden battle?" Anders asked.
"As part of a company, yes, but I am no stranger to the battle field." Alair replied.
"Then we are in good hands. If my lady will excuse me, I will return to my post." Anders said, bowing to her.
Alair watched him walk away. She had not been bowed to and treated like a lady of royal or even noble birth in so long that it was just so strange. But she had other things to focus on at this moment. The battle would start soon.
-0-0-0-0-
Night fell and from her post, Alair watched the Shindrans come into view. The archers she had in her company were stationed to her left. With her signal they would fire upon the enemy along side archers in another company. At the moment, Greyback was sitting at Narsus' side, wherever the man waited. When she heard the wolf's howl, she would know to signal her men. Sure enough Greyback's howl came. Alair raised her hand and dropped it. Her archer rained arrows down on the Shindrans below.
"Anders, I leave you in command of the archers." Alair told the man.
"Yes, ma'am."
Alair nudged Feng's side, tugging the reins lightly to the side. Feng whipped around and carried her off to the rest of her men who she would lead into a charge to help Daryun and Kishward block off the Shindran army. She silently gestured her men into position and they silently obeyed.
Kishward was the first to ride into battle. His forces drove the men back. Daryun then entered the battle from one side. Alair lead her man in from the other side, cutting down men who tried to attack her. With their combined forces, they drove the Shindrans into the trap Narsus had planned. Alair charged through the men, cutting down those that tried to run a different coarse from what they had planned. Screams of horror rose when some of the enemy were encountered with Wolfsbane and Greyback, the latter charging in from the opposite end of the battle field.
Alair stood up in her stirrups, raising her glaive to bat off a man who tried attack her. She whistled, summoning her wolves to her.
"Greyback, Wolfsbane!" she called.
Rajendra, the Shindran prince leading the enemy forces, looked up, watching Alair as she charged through is forces, her wolves joining her. He watched as the woman with fire for hair and eyes vanished into the swell of men, screams falling in her wake.
Between Daryun's forces, Kishward's, and Alair's they drove the Shindrans back. Then a group of archers, with dummies dressed as the Shindran first prince's forces, attacked from the rear. Lost among the enemy's number, Alfreed and Elam deceived the enemy, driving them to the left and out onto a frozen lake where the sheer weight of the enemy's men, broke the ice.
Rajendra escaped falling into the water and landed on the shore, turning to look back at his men. He could not believe this had happened.
"A nightmare. This cannot truly be happening." Rajendra said.
"I have a message of some urgency for Prince Rajendra. Where is his highness?" Narsus asked, he and Daryun riding up behind the Shindran prince.
"A prince fights beside his men. What is your message?" Rajendra asked.
"This is him. The man we seek." Narsus said, Daryun drawing his sword.
Daryun attacked Rajendra, Narsus a step behind him.
"I'm afraid for you, the battle is over. You will be coming with us." Narsus declared.
Rajendra fought them both off, slipping past them both and riding off.
"You will not survive our next encounter." Rajendra called over his shoulder, failing to pay attention to his front.
An arrow took down his mount, sending the prince rolling to the ground. When he looked up, he was looking up at Alfreed's sword point and the sharp point of Alair's glaive. The two women looked down at him, a grin on Alfreed face. Rajendra flinched when Wolfsbane stepped up to Alair's side and growled at him. Alair laid a hand on Wolfsbane's shoulder calming the beast.
"You're a very pretty man, but one move and I will kill you." Alfreed warned Rajendra. "Right, my friend?"
Alair nodded, turning her glaive so the blade flashed in the moonlight. She carefully slid the blade under Rajendra's chin, forcing him to lift his head to keep from having the blade cut his neck.
"Pretty, Alfreed? He has his looks, but I would not choose pretty as the word to describe them. As for killing him...one wrong move and I will personally detach your head from your shoulders." Alair added.
Rajendra did not fight them. He was tied up and carted back to Peshawar. Once there, he was sat before Arslan. Lunarwind circled him, sniffing him, growled once and returned to Arslan to sit at his side between his throne and Alair who stood to Arslan's right. Despite feeling fear of the large she-wolf, Rajendra laughed.
"I can admit when I've been beaten. You've outwitted me brilliantly." Rajendra said.
Arlsan looked at Rajendra before turning his eyes to Alfreed.
"You took him, Alfreed?" Arslan asked.
"I and Alair." Alfreed confirmed.
"That was very well done." Arslan praised.
"Us? We did nothing. We succeed thanks to Lord Narsus' genius." Alfreed replied.
Arslan smiled at her, turning to Alair who was rubbing fingers between Lunarwind's ear, keeping the she-wolf calm as she eyed Rajendra.
"Well done to you too, Alair." he told her.
"I was only following the plan set before me, kingling." Alair said, bowing her head in thanks for the praise.
Arslan nodded, turning to focus on Rajendra. He pushed himself to his feet and approached Rajendra.
"I had heard that the Parsian prince was small, but I thought the reports were exaggerated. Well then, what plans do you have in store for me? Will you make an example by exacuting me in front of my men?" Rajendra asked.
"No, Prince Rajendra. I'm Arslan, crown prince of Pars, and this is Peshawar Citadel. I realize the means were somewhat crude, but I needed to invite you here for I wish to speak with you in person about something." Arslan told him.
"Crude? I'll say. In my country, an invitation does not often involved being tied up and hauled away." Rajendra said as Narsus, Daryun, and Alair came up behind Arslan.
"Of course not. You have my deepest apologies." Arslan told the other prince.
Alair stepped up to Arslan's side, Lunarwind standing between them. Daryun stepped around her, drawing his sword to cut the rope tying Rajendra. Wolfsbane and Greyback growled at the man, their way of telling the foreign prince to remain seated. Rajendra did, fearing the wolves would rip him apart.
"Perhaps now it would be easier for us to talk to one another as equals." Arslan said, smile on his face.
"Yes, as equals. I'm willing to hear what you have to say." Rajendra agreed.
"Good." Arslan said, turning to Alair.
Alair held up a hand. All three wolves backed down, falling silent and allowing Rajendra to get to his feet. Rajendra glanced at the beast.
"Quite unusual soldiers, these three." Rajendra remarked.
"They are Alair's soldiers. Quite loyal and fierce." Arslan agreed.
Rajendra looked at the wolves and then at Arslan.
"Alair?" he questioned.
Arslan turned to Alair, gesturing to her.
"This is one of my companions. Alairanna de fleur Alhir, the former War Princess of Alhir." Arslan said.
Alair bowed to a thoroughly shocked Rajendra. It was Narsus' idea after he found out about Alair's royal background. Many, even after the fall of Alhir, heard and feared the names of the royal family for they had been the strongest warriors in all of Alhir and the leaders of some of the world's fiercest fighting forces. To openly declare that the former kingdom's War Princess still lived and was a member of Arslan's army, would make enemies think twice before challenging him. Alair had agreed, despite having a dislike for her former title.
"The lost Alhirian princess? I do not believe it." Rajendra said.
Alair unwound the bandages around her left arm, baring the crest burned into her flesh. Rajendra was convinced at the sight of the royal coat of arms. That done, Rajendra and his officers, were invited to join them for dinner. Alair was sat between Arlsan and Rajendra, taking over the job of pouring the two's drinks. She disliked being the front of attention, but she would do as wished of her by Arslan.
"You may find our hospitality somewhat limited, being in the boarder lands as we are." Arslan told Rajendra as Alair poured him his drink.
"It will do." Rajendra replied.
He gulped down his drink, letting out a sigh when it went down.
"That is good! Boarder lands or no, this is delicious. We don't have anything like it in Sindhura." Rajendra said, holding his glass out for a refill.
Alair refilled his glass for him. Arslan smiled, turning to face the others and raising his glass.
"Be welcome all. Eat and drink your fill." Arslan told them.
Cheers went up as the men dug in. Alair sat down the jug she was holding and picked up her own food.
"Prince Arslan, I had been told you were still a child, but your leadership earlier was brilliant. You out witted me and that is no small feat." Rajendra said.
"A last, I cannot claim credit for our victory. I was aided by my friends as I ever am." Arslan replied.
"Ah, you call them friends and not subjects. I find you a most intriguing man. And to have the assistance of the infamous War Princess of the once great kingdom of Alhir? I had heard the royal family of Alhir had been killed." Rajendra said.
"You must not believe all that you hear, Prince Rajendra. I am as cunning as my wolves and had people looking out for me back then. I survived this long because of their care and the care of my wolf protectors." Alair told him.
Rajendra's eyes found the three wolves currently lazing about the room. Lunarwind remained at Arslan's side while Wolfsbane lounged at Daryun's, happily taking food when the warrior offered it. Greyback was laying off to one side of the room, resting.
"Very intriguing." Rajendra said. "Now come, you two must drink as well."
Alair looked down at the cup, uneasy. She didn't like drinking. It was next to impossible to keep her wits and she didn't like how overly affectionate and clingy she became. Arslan was just as weary about the idea of drinking, but was willing to do so.
"I-uh...sure." Arslan said, reaching to take the cup.
Farangis though, took the cup instead.
"If your highness and Alair, do not mind, I will keep our guest company." she said, sitting between Alair and Rajendra.
"I do not mind at all." Alair said, getting up to let Farangis take her spot.
With relief, Alair moved and took a seat next to Daryun instead. She heaved a relieved sigh when settled.
"You seemed to balk when offered a drink. That is new." Daryun remarked.
"I am not a heavy drinker. I can hold my own well enough, mind you, but I turn into a person I do not recognize in the mirror when I have had one too many drinks. I lose my wits and for so long that has been the only thing to keep me alive." Alair replied.
"I see."
"And what of you, Daryun? Are you a heavy drinker?" she asked, looking up at him.
"I drink now and then, but not exclusively." Daryun replied.
"As a leader of men in battle, you have to have a clear head, so that is good." Alair remarked.
"Speaking of battle...you did well in today's." Daryun told her.
"In truth, I was shaking in my boots with fear of messing up and getting my men killed. I am glad to say that every man in my company came back." Alair admitted.
Daryun chuckled. The idea of Alair shaking in her boots was so laughable. Though he supposed all commanders were that way at one point in time. Alair looked around the room, watching the others.
"I never thought I would find myself sitting in a room filled with others, enjoying a meal after a victory won on the battle field." she remarked suddenly.
"Did you believe you would die in that house with only your wolves?" Daryun asked.
"I very well may have if you, the kingling, and the others had not found me."
"Then I am glad that we did. It would be a shame to lose one such as you." Daryun said.
Alair looked at him in surprise. She had not been expecting such a comment from someone, anyone, and especially not from Daryun.
"Do I want to know what you mean by that?" she asked.
Daryun's cheeks colored slightly.
"You are more than you think you are, Alair. I am personally glad to know you." he told her.
Alair couldn't help a smile on her face.
"And I can say the same for you, Daryun. I got to see the commander in you too and not just the warrior. I can see why the kingling trust you so. You would make a very strong alpha in the world of wolves." she told him.
"And I suppose that is meant to be a compliment." Daryun said with a laugh.
"But of course. Every pack needs an alpha, so to speak." Alair replied, smile on her face.
The two continued to talk, remarking on Gieve's red face the more and more he drank. When he finally fell over, Alair raised a hand to cover a small, curt laugh. Daryun smiled at seeing her enjoying herself. Rajendra didn't look too far off from being completely drunk himself.
"Prince Rajendra." Arslan called.
"Yes! Prince Arslan. How may I be of service?" Rajendra asked, snapping to attention.
"Shall we continue our earlier discussion?" Arslan asked.
"Certainly! I would like nothing more." Rajendra replied.
Arslan sat down next to him.
"Except...I can't quite recall what we were talking about." Rajendra asked.
Alair leaned towards Daryun, speaking lowly.
"I believe one of our currently present princes is more drunk than he thought he would be." she remarked.
Daryun nodded in agreement. But with Rajendra drunk, his thinking would be compromised and it would make him easier to back into a corner.
"I would like to enter into an alliance." Arslan declared to Rajendra.
Rajendra sat his glass down and turned to face Arslan, giving him, his full attention.
"I'm listening." he told Arslan.
"My proposal is simple. You're fighting to be recognized as the Shindran heir. I'd like to help you achieve that goal." Arslan told him.
"And in exchange you'd ask for my help in your war with Lusitania." Rajendra guessed.
"Yes. Its a fair deal, all things considered." Arslan said, making Rajendra laugh.
"How will you hold up your end of it? You're a prince without a kingdom, just as the dear Princess Alairanna is a princess without a kingdom. I fail to see what you can do to help me." Rajendra said.
Alair's eyes shifted to Rajendra but she didn't show any other signs of taking note of the prince's remark about her.
"What did you sa-"
Arslan held out a hand to cut off Elam and stop him and Alfreed from coming any closer.
"That's not important at the moment. Now I hate to be indelicate, but I do hope you haven't forgotten your current situation." Arslan said.
"That sounded very much like a threat. Harming me would be very unwise. I'm warning you, my men would not suffer such an insult lightly." Rajendra warned.
"I would not do something so barbaric." Arslan assured him.
"Especially when there is no need. Not when you consider the information we've already given Sindhura." Narsus said walking up to stand beside Alfreed.
"Which would be?" Rajendra asked.
"Why, that crown Prince Arslan of Pars and Prince Rajendra of Sindhura have formed an alliance, based upon friendship and respect for each other's goals." Narsus replied.
"But I haven't said-"
"And furthermore, that the prince, eager to bring peace and order to the kingdom of Sindhura, has begun a march upon the royal capitol of Uraiyur." Narsus added, cutting of Rajendra.
"That would make any royal look the part of a traitor." Alair remarked lowly.
"Bastards! I can't return home now! They'll kill me for a traitor!" Rajendra snapped.
"Rajendra. You were always going to challenge first prince Gadevi. We've done nothing to truly change your plans. All we did was slightly accelerated their unfolding." Narsus replied.
"It is not what I wish, but I could use you to negotiate with Prince Gadevi instead." Arslan added.
Rajendra looked as if he was close to snapping but slowly that turned to laughter.
"I am bested again. Pars has a very clever prince." Rajendra said.
"Then we can expect your cooperation." Arslan said.
"Yes you can." Rajendra agreed, getting to his feet. "Consider me your alley. I shall aid you in the defense of your kingdom. And I believe I can offer something of interest for your lovely, fiery princess friend."
Alair looked up as all eyes turned to her. Alair got to her feet to face Rajendra.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Does the name Griselda ring a bell?" Rajendra asked.
Alair's eyes widened. Griselda had been the name of one of her ladies-in-training. A daughter of a noble family raised at court along side Alair to one day be her closest fighting companions. Griselda had been six years older than Alair and like a protector and big sister wrapped into one fierce, little package. Alair had thought the girl lost to the flames that burned her palace to the ground.
"It does. How did you know?" she asked.
"Lovely young lady, Griselda. She serves as a personal aide to my lord father. All she has ever spoken of is her former lady, the young princess of Alhir." Rajendra told her. "And there are a few other men and woman of Alhir blood in the royal capitol of Sindhura. The men make up a small company in my father's army. No more than a hundred or so men, though. I have no doubt that if they knew their princess lived, they would return to your side. A devoted bunch they are." Rajendra told her.
They could all see the longing in Alair's eyes. She wanted her people, safe and sound, and back with her. Rajendra had hooked her. But she wasn't a fool.
"What do you want from me in return for my people?" she asked.
"Nothing like that. If, with the help of the prince you serve, I succeed in being recognized as heir, I will gladly free them from their service to my kingdom." Rajendra told her.
Rajendra had just, effectively, ensured that Alair would fight hard, move heaven and earth, to make his goal possible. Daryun glanced at Narsus. They both knew that in the next battle, Alair would be in the thick of it. Daryun would be watching Alair closely.
Very closely.
END
Kyandi: This chapter actually turned out longer than I thought it would.
Alair: That is a good thing, yes?
Kyandi: That is a wonderful thing!
Alair: Then good.
Kyandi: I have a few more chapters I have to get up, though, so wer're going to move on.
Alair: I am ready.
Kyandi: Right! Everyone enjoy and review.
Alair: We shall return soon.
Kyandi: Bye-bye!