Chapter 6 - An unreasoned attack?
Alice burst into the throne room where the King and queen were briefing a group of rooks and knights about the defence of the castle and the counter strike when their eyes met Alice.
"Alice!" The king yelled. "Can you help us please, they took us completely off guard" He seemed in a genuine state of panic whereas the queen was more calm and collect. All of the Rooks and knights were stood to attention at the sight of Alice with the occasional "neigh" from the horses.
"Alice my dear, I hold you to your duty as appointed custodian to the royal circle and request you to aide in our defence!" The queen spoke strictly and cold which un-nerved Alice but she did not appreciate being ordered about.
"I didn't request or appreciate being given the title with out my say in the matter!" She insisted.
The king simply clicked her fingers and the guards in the room all pointed their weapons in Alice's direction. With a feeling of total frustration she spoke out.
"How dare you insist this upon me!" But she looked around at the guards weapons all pointed at her and thought again "but you have persuaded me otherwise your majesties" and smiled, blandly.
"I do not believe my vorpal blade will be enough though" she insisted
Another click of the queens fingers and a croquet mallet was brought to her on a silver cushon carried by an apparently experienced pawn. Alice picked up the weapon and out of instinct began swinging around her like an expert. She finished in a post that made one of the knights shudder as the mallet was under his throat.
"Now that you have your bearings Alice, help with our defence please. We believe once our troops have order we will drive the Red back as their numbers are not too great and their leader seems to be a bishop."
"I understand" was her simple response and she turned to the expectant pieces.
"Right you lot!" she said with an authoritarian voice. "Knights, you will form a line behind our battling troops and when you hear my signal, you will charge through and dispose of the enemy, understand?"
"Yes ma'am!" came the chorus of knights.
"All rooks come with me, we must weaken the enemy as much as possible. If you see the bishop, take him captive. Ready?"
"Yes ma'am!" The rooks replied
"Then take positions, immediately!"
Alice and her temporary troops poured out of the hall into the courtyard where several regiments of pawns were fighting a group of knights who had broken through the main gates into the keep. Alice and the rooks formed a straight line near the steps of the keep, keeping out of harms way for now and the knights formed an vanguard triangle behind them. Alice's' next order was only one word.
"Charge!"
A whoop of cries came from the rooks as they all poured down the steps into the fray along with Alice and her new found weapon. The clash was incredible. The rooks systematically locked in combat with the red force and managed to take out 5 knights in their first attack. Alice knocked one knight with her mallet who burst into a gory mess as the electricity surged through his body with the impact of the mallet upon his horse. The queen and King were watching from a window in the keep.
"She fights bravely for a little girl." Noticed the Queen
"She did fight the Red Queen of hearts my dear!" replied the king "Her bravery is well known"
Alice was string targets viciously with her mallet as if possessed by pure rage. One of the pawns had noticed that her eyes had gone red and she moved with great speed. She was obviously affected by her temper and fury. Another red pawn had been defeated under the blow of her mallet when she paused to regain her sanity that was clouded by her rage when a warning came from one of her rooks.
"BEHIND YOU MA'AM!" he shouted.
With one fluid motion she bent down, rolled over and delivered a fatal uppercut to an enemy rook who was inches away from thrusting his polearm through Alice's back. The rooks head shot up into the sky and came down some yards away stunning one of his own pawns at the time, knocking him senseless. His body dissolved with a whirl of white energy leaving a glowing orb behind, his life force.
This was her chance. She looked around and saw that the attack was winning, the troops were organised and were pushing the Red back through the gates until her eyes focused on an single bishop who was hiding near the gates of the keep. She wasted no time. She aimed her mallet at the essence like a golfer would and stuck it as hard as she could. Her ball shot 50 feet into the air and exploded in a great ball of light and sound rather like a firework. The enemy was distracted for a moment too long.
"KNIGHTS ADVANCE, WHITE FALL BACK!" She yelled.
A great thunder of hooves roared across the courtyard as the white Rooks, knights and Paws fled the field so to avoid being trampled by the oncoming knights. The noise of the thundering hooves and the spectacle of the charging nights clouded the quiet humming noise which produced a black figure on top of the keep.
The knights were successful. They scared the enemy into retreat save for one piece. The bishop, whom Alice took the opportunity to aim her mallet directly at his head. Amidst the white pieces uproar of victory she looked at the bishop who was quivering with fright at the failure of the attack.
"Who sent you?" demanded Alice as her forces gathered around them both with their weapons raised.
"Please don't make your ladyship!" the red bishop pleaded. "He'll kill me if I tell you!
"Who will kill you if you tell me what!"
He didn't have time to reply. A screeching noise similar to a crows wail was heard in the crowd and a small object flew from something on top of the keep towards the bishop with deadly aim. It sliced through the bishops throat leaving him choking in a pool of his own blood leaving no time to ponder his failure. He managed to speak on phrase before he died.
"Alice, The cleric is not the one." He body convulsed once, stopped moving and vanished in the swirl of light. A humming noise was heard briefly and the object shaped like a scorpions claw vanished along with it's owner.
A single pawn approached the lead rook and gave his report.
"Sir, the remaining red troops had fled back to their territory!"
The sound of this report produced a surge of joy among the white pieces but Alice could not help thinking about what the bishop had gave his life to tell her. She proceeded back to the Holy barrack where a young man was tending to the wounded bishop. Alice was instantly attracted to him. He was about the same age as her, not a huge build but had a strong frame, blond hair with green eyes and seemed to be a doctor of some sorts. Alice had no time for romantic notions though and decided to question the Bishop before he collapsed again.
"Bishop you must tell me about the religion" she insisted.
"Not now!" The man ordered "he is very week"
"Christopher," the bishop spoke very weekly "trust me now leave us!"
Christopher arose and left the barrack angrily and frustratingly.
"He is the medic, he is young but strong willed. Take him with you on your journey."
"Journey? Where am I going" she asked
"You must go to the holy city in looking glass land" replied the bishop. "It is the capital of the invisible grasp of the Religion of wonderland. Only there will you find the corrupt centre of that false religion."
He shuddered as if trying desperately to stay awake, he continued.
"The religion has been trying to gain control for many years, you have not been to church for a while and that is why your faith in this world is so twisted. The people are in danger of becoming slaves again under this strict code. The caterpillar, the cat and I knew this, that's why you were delayed to returning to your world to perform this task for us. Take Christopher with you he will be my guide for you during this expedition. He will inform me via his prayers so don't interrupt him when he is atoning. Do you understand Alice?"
"I think so?" replied Alice, unsure of herself and what she was being asked to do.
"You will in time. Looking glass land is not far away. But be careful, I am convinced he and his master are watching our every move" Alice shuddered at the prospect of being watched all the time, especially as she did not know who was watching her. She Bishop then slided into unconsciousness and a group of pawns came to see him as Alice walked off towards the throne room.
Back in the dark cathedral the master and servant were meeting again in the darkened room.
"The attack was forced back my master but I was able to execute the red bishop and return here before he told Alice anything." Konchuu reported.
His master raised hi hand, palm towards Konchuu. "He failed his test of devotion and was punished for it. He knew the price of failure. But the white bishop has told Alice what she need to know to find her way here."
"A regrettable turn of events, master. Also I bring news the spade guards are no longer willing to help us. We will have to rely on other means" informed Konchuu.
"Do not worry Konchuu. She cannot do the unexpected whilst you follow her. Don't lose sight of her Konchuu or it may be our downfall."
"Don't worry my master," he replied "she cannot escape my eyes, no-one can."
Alice burst into the throne room where the King and queen were briefing a group of rooks and knights about the defence of the castle and the counter strike when their eyes met Alice.
"Alice!" The king yelled. "Can you help us please, they took us completely off guard" He seemed in a genuine state of panic whereas the queen was more calm and collect. All of the Rooks and knights were stood to attention at the sight of Alice with the occasional "neigh" from the horses.
"Alice my dear, I hold you to your duty as appointed custodian to the royal circle and request you to aide in our defence!" The queen spoke strictly and cold which un-nerved Alice but she did not appreciate being ordered about.
"I didn't request or appreciate being given the title with out my say in the matter!" She insisted.
The king simply clicked her fingers and the guards in the room all pointed their weapons in Alice's direction. With a feeling of total frustration she spoke out.
"How dare you insist this upon me!" But she looked around at the guards weapons all pointed at her and thought again "but you have persuaded me otherwise your majesties" and smiled, blandly.
"I do not believe my vorpal blade will be enough though" she insisted
Another click of the queens fingers and a croquet mallet was brought to her on a silver cushon carried by an apparently experienced pawn. Alice picked up the weapon and out of instinct began swinging around her like an expert. She finished in a post that made one of the knights shudder as the mallet was under his throat.
"Now that you have your bearings Alice, help with our defence please. We believe once our troops have order we will drive the Red back as their numbers are not too great and their leader seems to be a bishop."
"I understand" was her simple response and she turned to the expectant pieces.
"Right you lot!" she said with an authoritarian voice. "Knights, you will form a line behind our battling troops and when you hear my signal, you will charge through and dispose of the enemy, understand?"
"Yes ma'am!" came the chorus of knights.
"All rooks come with me, we must weaken the enemy as much as possible. If you see the bishop, take him captive. Ready?"
"Yes ma'am!" The rooks replied
"Then take positions, immediately!"
Alice and her temporary troops poured out of the hall into the courtyard where several regiments of pawns were fighting a group of knights who had broken through the main gates into the keep. Alice and the rooks formed a straight line near the steps of the keep, keeping out of harms way for now and the knights formed an vanguard triangle behind them. Alice's' next order was only one word.
"Charge!"
A whoop of cries came from the rooks as they all poured down the steps into the fray along with Alice and her new found weapon. The clash was incredible. The rooks systematically locked in combat with the red force and managed to take out 5 knights in their first attack. Alice knocked one knight with her mallet who burst into a gory mess as the electricity surged through his body with the impact of the mallet upon his horse. The queen and King were watching from a window in the keep.
"She fights bravely for a little girl." Noticed the Queen
"She did fight the Red Queen of hearts my dear!" replied the king "Her bravery is well known"
Alice was string targets viciously with her mallet as if possessed by pure rage. One of the pawns had noticed that her eyes had gone red and she moved with great speed. She was obviously affected by her temper and fury. Another red pawn had been defeated under the blow of her mallet when she paused to regain her sanity that was clouded by her rage when a warning came from one of her rooks.
"BEHIND YOU MA'AM!" he shouted.
With one fluid motion she bent down, rolled over and delivered a fatal uppercut to an enemy rook who was inches away from thrusting his polearm through Alice's back. The rooks head shot up into the sky and came down some yards away stunning one of his own pawns at the time, knocking him senseless. His body dissolved with a whirl of white energy leaving a glowing orb behind, his life force.
This was her chance. She looked around and saw that the attack was winning, the troops were organised and were pushing the Red back through the gates until her eyes focused on an single bishop who was hiding near the gates of the keep. She wasted no time. She aimed her mallet at the essence like a golfer would and stuck it as hard as she could. Her ball shot 50 feet into the air and exploded in a great ball of light and sound rather like a firework. The enemy was distracted for a moment too long.
"KNIGHTS ADVANCE, WHITE FALL BACK!" She yelled.
A great thunder of hooves roared across the courtyard as the white Rooks, knights and Paws fled the field so to avoid being trampled by the oncoming knights. The noise of the thundering hooves and the spectacle of the charging nights clouded the quiet humming noise which produced a black figure on top of the keep.
The knights were successful. They scared the enemy into retreat save for one piece. The bishop, whom Alice took the opportunity to aim her mallet directly at his head. Amidst the white pieces uproar of victory she looked at the bishop who was quivering with fright at the failure of the attack.
"Who sent you?" demanded Alice as her forces gathered around them both with their weapons raised.
"Please don't make your ladyship!" the red bishop pleaded. "He'll kill me if I tell you!
"Who will kill you if you tell me what!"
He didn't have time to reply. A screeching noise similar to a crows wail was heard in the crowd and a small object flew from something on top of the keep towards the bishop with deadly aim. It sliced through the bishops throat leaving him choking in a pool of his own blood leaving no time to ponder his failure. He managed to speak on phrase before he died.
"Alice, The cleric is not the one." He body convulsed once, stopped moving and vanished in the swirl of light. A humming noise was heard briefly and the object shaped like a scorpions claw vanished along with it's owner.
A single pawn approached the lead rook and gave his report.
"Sir, the remaining red troops had fled back to their territory!"
The sound of this report produced a surge of joy among the white pieces but Alice could not help thinking about what the bishop had gave his life to tell her. She proceeded back to the Holy barrack where a young man was tending to the wounded bishop. Alice was instantly attracted to him. He was about the same age as her, not a huge build but had a strong frame, blond hair with green eyes and seemed to be a doctor of some sorts. Alice had no time for romantic notions though and decided to question the Bishop before he collapsed again.
"Bishop you must tell me about the religion" she insisted.
"Not now!" The man ordered "he is very week"
"Christopher," the bishop spoke very weekly "trust me now leave us!"
Christopher arose and left the barrack angrily and frustratingly.
"He is the medic, he is young but strong willed. Take him with you on your journey."
"Journey? Where am I going" she asked
"You must go to the holy city in looking glass land" replied the bishop. "It is the capital of the invisible grasp of the Religion of wonderland. Only there will you find the corrupt centre of that false religion."
He shuddered as if trying desperately to stay awake, he continued.
"The religion has been trying to gain control for many years, you have not been to church for a while and that is why your faith in this world is so twisted. The people are in danger of becoming slaves again under this strict code. The caterpillar, the cat and I knew this, that's why you were delayed to returning to your world to perform this task for us. Take Christopher with you he will be my guide for you during this expedition. He will inform me via his prayers so don't interrupt him when he is atoning. Do you understand Alice?"
"I think so?" replied Alice, unsure of herself and what she was being asked to do.
"You will in time. Looking glass land is not far away. But be careful, I am convinced he and his master are watching our every move" Alice shuddered at the prospect of being watched all the time, especially as she did not know who was watching her. She Bishop then slided into unconsciousness and a group of pawns came to see him as Alice walked off towards the throne room.
Back in the dark cathedral the master and servant were meeting again in the darkened room.
"The attack was forced back my master but I was able to execute the red bishop and return here before he told Alice anything." Konchuu reported.
His master raised hi hand, palm towards Konchuu. "He failed his test of devotion and was punished for it. He knew the price of failure. But the white bishop has told Alice what she need to know to find her way here."
"A regrettable turn of events, master. Also I bring news the spade guards are no longer willing to help us. We will have to rely on other means" informed Konchuu.
"Do not worry Konchuu. She cannot do the unexpected whilst you follow her. Don't lose sight of her Konchuu or it may be our downfall."
"Don't worry my master," he replied "she cannot escape my eyes, no-one can."