Warlord 20
Julian and Miano traveled by foot so they wouldn't be heard crossing the forest. The castle being north of the forest was easy to spot from their location. They headed east to see if they could spot any invading armies. They came upon a small house. Made primarily of wood. Small in size and corrupt in age, the house looked as if it could come down at any moment. Julian, wearing his blue armor and cloak, removed his sword and walked slowly up the house. Miano, wearing a red fleece top and wool pants, followed behind cautiously. Julian knocked upon the old wooden door three times. From the sounds of it, only one person resided inside. Being captain of the elite guard Julian was quite fearless; he only hoped that Miano would be safe.
From the door emerged Rachel. Rachel, in a blue gown with a white blouse, looked at them quite peculiarly. Rachel, being the age of twenty, did not seem the type to be living on her own. She had great height but in her missions pasts she held a sense of companionship. Miano was quite relieved to see their friend standing in the doorway.
"How has life been for you Rachel?" Asked Miano, with his heart still beating, "We haven't seen you since that meeting a few days ago."
"I've been just lovely to tell you truth." Said Rachel, looking radiant as the wind blew past her red hair, "I have been writing about my adventures with you."
"You're a writer?" Asked Julian.
"Yes I write novels about strong women and fearless men." Answered Rachel going back through the house to grab her paper.
Julian looked over the writings but soon remembered his mission, "Well if you're a writer Rachel, I think you should come with us for a real story. We are on a mission for Lady Twanria to scoop at where the invading armies are."
Rachel seemed surprisingly pleased and picked up more paper and a quill, "I'd love to have an ending for my story so I think I will join you."
"It's going to be dangerous." Said Julian, looking at Miano with eyes of disbelief, "Are you sure?"
Rachel walked past them on her way out of her cottage. Miano and Julian followed behind her trying to walk as fast as she did. They didn't know what was to come but what they did know is that they were going to approaching a village soon.
Twanria and Erin had been sitting in the war room ever since Julian and Miano left. Maria was lying comfortably in the sick bay. Erin was scanning the map. She noticed the village, which was considered her protectorate, was stationed below where Janelle's camp used to be. From the North of Janelle's camp was the Castle.
"Twanria, did you know there is a village north of the castle." Asked Erin, "I have never been there before."
"No I didn't Erin." Answered Twanria getting up from her chair to look over the map, "I've never been that far north. I've lived in the Castle for most of my life maybe my mother would know."
Twanria had a servant summon her mother to the war room. While they were waiting Erin noticed something on the map very small.
"Twanria do you know how long this map has been here?" Asked Erin, noticing a small dot on the map, "There is a dot here marked in blue ink."
Twanria looked closely but noticed another dot; "There is a green dot in that village from which neither of us visited. There is another in that village to the east of the castle marked in white. The last one is from the west marked in yellow."
Erin examined each dot but could not tell what they represented, "I wish the King were still alive—"
"Erin why did you call him King." Interrupted Twanria who was truly shocked since she never heard it before, "I've only referred to him as Lord William."
Erin hesitated, but she knew she would have to tell sometime, "The story goes like this Twanria. I knew Lord William, when he was still a King. I knew him before he went bitter. We were friends, very good friends in fact. I was on the elite team with your father many years ago. Back then I was around the age of thirteen and the quickest sword alive. Your father had this code that he would not fight a women and since all the people on the team were men he needed a girl to fight Janelle. I was elected that girl. I was spirited and I got on your fathers nerves a lot and—"
"Wait, you knew my father." Asked Twanria, who was becoming quite frustrated, "How come you didn't tell me before."
"I didn't think you could handle it." Said Erin with the full sound of her age in her voice, "Let me continue. I know what your thinking. You are wondering why I don't have a chakrum and the answer is simple. Though I may have been on the team I quit before they got their chakrums. It kind of makes me wish I had stayed on to get one of those weapons."
"You didn't trust me with the truth after all we have been through?" Twanria Asked, still feeling the force of what Erin said, "I know you may thought it in my best interest but I am nineteen years old."
"Twanria you are still a child." Said Erin laughing feeling quite old, "I am twenty-four. To me you are still quite young. I knew your father, he was a good man and I have something to tell you that may not sound right."
"Tell me I can take it." Said Twanria, trying to sound older.
Erin sighed but she knew she must continue, "Your father was one of the best swordsman in the land. If your father wanted to, he could of killed Janelle. What I'm trying to say is, your father held back because of his code of ethics. He didn't use his best judgment because he, deep down, didn't want to hurt Janelle. Janelle was around my age at the time and she was still a child. She may have been skilled with a chakrum and all but she couldn't compare to your father in the least. Your father let himself get taken in by his code and that led to his downfall. Janelle wouldn't be alive today if your father would have fought her with his full knowledge and power."
"I don't believe you Erin" Said Twanria sounding hysterical, "It can't be true, he had a family to take care of, he wouldn't sacrifice his life just because of some code."
"It's true Twanria." Said a voice coming from the door, "My husband had a total respect for women. We both knew that one day he would have to lose his life to Janelle because he would not fight her."
Twanria's mother entered the room quietly but Erin thought it her turn to speak again, "My decision to not tell you about me knowing your father was helped by this event. If I had never quit the elite force, your father wouldn't have had to fight Janelle and I would have been the one to fight her."
"Then I have one question Erin" Said Twanria trying to hold back tears, "Why did you quit the team?"
"I quit because of King William and myself." Erin said trying to keep her composure, "King William went into his deep depression and became quite bitter and anything under his name, I didn't want to be a part of. Most of all, I was scared. I was only thirteen. Your father understood that I was to young to fight someone as skilled as Janelle. I knew I would lose. Janelle had as much training as I did. She fought to kill while I only fought when it was necessary. I couldn't bring myself to kill her if I had the chance. Your father let me quit and I went back to my hometown using my skills to protect it from harm."
Twanria's mother walked into the room, "Twanria please don't hold any resentment towards Erin. It was her choice to quite and your father made it easier for her. The past can't be changed. I may grieve for the loss of your father but I do not want you to hold any resentment. Your father died a hero. He saved many in his lifetime. And now since you know the truth about King William, you can now let him pass on also. You know what you must do. You must lead this castle to victory and return it to its glory."
Twanria began to weep more then she had before but she knew her mother was right, "Mother, thanks."
Twanria collapsed in her mother's arms and this sight pierced through Erin's veil of invulnerability and one tear fell from her eye, "Twanria, I am truly sorry for what has happened through your life."
Twanria adjusted herself and she pointed to that spot on the map, north of the Castle, "Mother where is this place."
"That place there is our home village." Said Twanria's mother in a subtle voice, "I also know what the dots are for. Your father showed me this map once before."
Before Twanria's mother could explain what the dots represented Darell came rushing in. He was out of breath and carrying the Square Chakrum.
"Lady Twanria, I have urgent news." Said Darell still trying to catch his breathe, "Katie, Jamiele and Katie's sister Lily have all been captured as prisoners as war. I have a parchment that says if you don't surrender the Kingdom then they will be killed."
Twanria rolled her eyes in sheer amazement, "If this week gets any worst, I will know god is punishing us. Let me see the parchment Darell."
Twanria skimmed over the parchment and read, "King William. We know that you haven't been seen in the land for quite sometime but we have an offer you cannot refuse. We have captured the most noble Lady Kathryn, Lady Lily and Prince Jamiele—"
"Prince Jamiele." Shouted Erin almost falling over, "I didn't know he was prince."
Darell sat in a nearby chair and began to explain, "Jamiele isn't exactly a prince. He is heir to the thrown. Jamiele's father Jammal and Lord William were dear friends. Since Lord William never had any sons he cast Jamiele as his heir to the thrown. Only few know that though. I heard the story from my father. Since Jamiele was never heard of after the incident with Jammal's father, no one remembered or even knew that Jamiele was still alive."
"It's true." Said Twanria's mother, "I heard the story from Krasas, my dear departed husband."
"Wait just a moment." Said Twanria, remembering something, "Justin, Richard and Danielle went back to try and rescues them. If the invading army has them, then what happened to Justin, Richard and Danielle?"
"I have one guess." Said Erin sounding bold; "They probably went to try to save them since the people in the group think it as a hobby."
They all laughed a little but Twanria took control again, "Well we're still waiting for Richard and Julian to return so we can't do anything until they get back. So mom what did you say these dots were for?"
Justin, Richard and Danielle were following swiftly behind the front line of the army. They were not hard to follow since they destroyed anything in their path.
"Isn't the armor their wearing the same as Samuels?" Said Justin making an observation.
"Yes I think it is." Said Danielle who was plastered to Justin's hand.
They heard an approaching army behind them but couldn't tell if it was Twanria's army or the invading army. They kept swiftly behind the trees as not to be seen. The night was soon becoming day, and none of them haven't slept in days. From what Danielle could see, Jamiele and Katie were in a wooden cage being carried by four soldiers. Jamiele wasn't moving. Katie was lying down in the cage beside him. Justin concentrated his mind to his hands and with a flash of light the Square Chakrum appeared in his hand. Danielle was still holding onto the bloody Star Chakrum but she didn't know how to use it.
"I have a plan." Said Justin holding his chakrum at the cage, "I think this will work."
"I don't like your plans Justin." Said Danielle fearing for her life, "Why don't we just follow them so we can see where their camp is."
"Oh come on it's a good plan Danielle." Said Justin pleading.
"I said no Justin." Said Danielle ending the conversation.
They kept closely to the trees watching every movement of the soldiers carefully. Danielle couldn't see if Jamiele was all right. She knew if Jamiele had his chakrum he would be fine. Before they could move another step they heard footsteps from behind them. Silently they looked at the moving bushes and tree limbs. They couldn't see anyone but they knew someone was there. From over the trees they saw the other army approaching. They wore the same armor as the other men on the side of them. They felt surrounded. The three of them took off for the trees. They knew someone was there but they were surrounded.
Running as swiftly as possible they ran into a man who looked a lot like Samuel but something was different. For one difference he had a deep gash within his chest. His eyes were dark and cloudy. His expression made Danielle turn in fear. He removed his sword from its sheath. Justin grabbed his chakrum and prepared to fight. Danielle and Richard ran to the side. Danielle watched and Justin fought for his life against a lifeless soul.