Chapter Three
The ceremony was over and everyone prepared to leave. One of the emperor's servants had gone to fetch Kris' horse, but after a while the servant still did not return. Nearly everyone was out the door and the fretting bird had fallen asleep from boredom. Kris guessed that her stubborn mare did not allow the minion to get close. Kris smiled to herself as she leaned against the wall. That horse had been born to two wild horses and Kris had worked so hard just to earn its credit (her stepfamily wouldn't give her another one). Now that stallion wouldn't listen or allow anyone else to ride her. Finally, Kris decided to go find the horse herself. Just as she suspected, her mare was still in its stall and the servant had been knocked to the floor. "You can go," spoke Kris, useless human being. The servant left with thankfulness as Kris rode back to the arena to get her stuff.
Kris carefully tied the cage containing the sleeping bird to her horse. However, when she mounted her horse, the rocking had caused the Blue Streak fowl to wake from its short nap. Already irritated for being confined, she start fussing in her cage again. Tseer! Tseer! She called. Kris ignored the beating and rode towards the exit with everyone else.
Later, Keah! Keah! This new call caught Kris' attention, her newly acquired bird, out of nowhere, was desperately warning her to go back. Kris dismounted and stared fiercely into the eyes of the falcon of which was begging to be freed just a while ago. Kris began making a purring sort of noise mixed with a tint of high-pitched notes.
Surprised, the bird began making the same noise that Kris was making. Kris, like Tyre, was somewhat special. Tyre, having the strong abilities of a wolf, Kris had the strong abilities of a bird. Intimately, she had a pair of abjured silver-blue wings and retractable talons on her hands and feet. Her hearing was exceptional and her sight was just as acute as her hearing. She could speak the bird language and was a rarest half-breed of her kind.
Many of the other people with her abilities had the same traits, but only one in a trillion half-breeds of her Clan would one come out with a pair of wings like hers. If anyone were to find out about Kris' little secret they would immediately hunt her down for 'human wings' that contain healthy elements. These healthy elements could not be duplicated elsewhere and they can heal any disease, illness, or wound. Kris shivered at the thought of being separated with her veiled limbs. The Blue Streak continued crying out even when Kris had understood and began calling everyone to come back in. Setting the unsettling bird down on the arena floor, Kris left it there to pick up later. Remounting her horse, Kris rode out. The fickle bird was warning Kris that there was to be an attack on the people as soon as they all left. Many had already left the doors and only a few were left inside so when Kris got to the door, the assault had already begun.
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There was screaming and utter chaos, everyone was panicking and some were already dead. Even though Kris could only count thirty opponents, many of the spectators could not defend themselves against the weapons. Kris rode out into the crowd and beckoned everyone to retreat into the stadium, pathetic humans, so easily distracted. How can they not even think about running back to the stadium for shelter?
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Tyre and Li, seeing what Kris was attempting, joined her and began to do the same. At first they were trying to defend the citizens, but when they saw Kris guiding the people to back to the stadium it suddenly hi them that it was better for the people to defend themselves than for them to defend the people. Arrows were shooting out from the bushes and Kris had to concentrate on calling the people in and stopping the arrows at the same time. When most of the crowd had obeyed, Kris, Tyre, and Li still had somewhat of a duty to search for lost and separated wanderers. One of the lost wanderers was Prince Tethys. Although he was covered with guards when he left, the confusion through the whole ambush left the young prince alone. Prince Tethys had heard the calls to go back to the stadium, but he could not find the door. In his desperation of looking for the entrance, he was unaware of the incoming arrow that was shot from the nearby bushes.
"Watch out!" cried Tyre, but he was too far for Tethys to hear and Tyre could only sit on his steed as he watch the arrow creep closer for the prince's heart. Then all of a sudden, Tyre's eyes caught a blur of blue as his semi-royal highness fell off his horse and rolled onto the floor.
Tethys was shocked; he was sitting perfectly fine on his horse one moment and the next thing he knew he was rudely shoved off. Tethys was forced to pay a little visit to dirt, which was very uncommon for him, as when he tripped, one of his servants would break his fall or catch him. Tethys got back up and stood up straight. Brushing the dirt off of him as soon as he could, he then shouted in anger, "Who the…? What in the world are you doing? Look what you've done to my clothes! I'll have your head for thi…"
Tethys stopped; his fire was immediately lessened from the surprise he was looking at. Kris was slowly getting to her feet and blood was dripping down her arm. Kris had saved the prince, but in doing so, the arrow had hit her instead.
Tethys, being too proud to thank anyone, jumped back on his horse and said, "I never asked for help, nor do I need anyone's help, especially not from a girl." Tethys cleared his head and was able to find the entrance as he ambled towards the door to the amphitheater.
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Li had already returned to the arena and Tethys had just reached the door. Tyre could clearly see that Kris was in misfortune because many of the arrows no longer had many targets and Kris was standing there like a sitting duck. It was clear that Kris, being badly injured and drained of energy, could not stand a chance to try and dodge them all. Eventually one would find it's way through and reach its target. Pushing his horse into a full gallop, Tyre snatched Kris off the ground by her uninjured arm and flung her behind him. Looking back, there was a bunch of arrows protruding from the ground just where Kris was standing.
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Kris was trying to stay alert, but she could barely keep conscious. Just listening to Tethys complaining after she just saved his life was giving her an even worse of a headache. That arrogant bastard, if he weren't prince I'd who him a thing or two, thought Kris regretting her action. Saving the prince was not the top on her priority list. Being lifted off the ground did not help Kris' headache either. Kris got dizzy and she could feel her attention slowly slipping from her grasp. The previous battling and sudden movements in warning the villagers of danger had drained her energy and losing blood was not a very good thing to occur at the moment. Kris felt her head droop and land on a surface. The plane felt warm compared to the cold air surrounding her. From there Kris was only half-awake.
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Tyre was riding as fast as he could before the arrows could catch up and at the same time, tried not to go too fast that Kris would fall off. Kris' horse was obediently trailing them with equal and if not faster speed. Tyre would sometimes feel gentle, but rude nudges as Kris' horse clearly did not appreciate her riding another mount. Tyre had almost reached the door when he felt Kris use the space between his shoulder blades as a headrest. Listening to her soft, but weakening gasps, Tyre ran through the door and the doors were slammed shut. Tyre dismounted and delicately set Kris down.
Kris quickly recovered from her energy crisis, but could feel the burn still flaring on her left arm. As Kris gradually opened her eyes, she heard a voice say, "Lady Tai, are you alright?" Kris shook her head, her head was still dizzy and the world was still spinning before her eyes.
"Lady Tai, is there anything I can get you?" the voice spoke again.
Focusing, Tai saw Tyre staring at her, ugh do you have to be so close? I need air here.
"Yeah I need some air and a surpassing life."
Tyre backed off a little, "Hah hah, very funny. Now really do you need anything?"
Kris began exaggerating, "Hmm… let's see I'm injured in the arm, a foot long arrow is sticking out of my arm, I barely came out of consciousness, and now you're ask me if I need anything?! Whatever, get me two pieces of cloth and some water."
"You there, go get two pieces of cloth and a bucket of water!"
Lady Tai? Wait, wha… Kris was still confused and had not straightened everything out. As soon as the cloth and water was brought to her, Kris cupped her hands together and splashed the cool water on her face. This woke her up instantly and everything that had happened was cleared up. Kris' arm stung in an inferno of pain and the salt from her sweat did not help. Taking one of the two pieces of cloth, Kris soaked it in water and began sopping up the dried blood that was left all over her arm. Grasping the arrow still attached to her upper arm, Kris closed her eyes, and abruptly yanked as hard as she could. Kris could see Tyre turn away from the sight of the event. How pitiful, and you call yourself a warrior, thought Kris.Quietly moaning in pain, then relaxing in ease, Kris set the arrow down and began wiping the incoming blood. Taking the dried piece of cloth, Kris wrapped and tied it around her arm, covering the deep wound.
When it was all over, Tyre informed Kris, "The emperor said he wanted to see you 'as soon as you are able.'" Kris nodded and tried getting up by herself, but she was still too weak and collapsed in exhaustion. Seeing this, Tyre helped Kris up and wrapped her arm around his neck. Slowly taking a step at a time and using Tyre as support, Kris could see that the survivors were scattered in the arena and as well as in the stands. All of them were scared and were huddled in separate bundles.
When Kris got to the emperor, he could see that she could not hold a standing position for very long, and commanded for two chairs to be brought forth and instructed them to sit down.
Kris sat down and Tyre did so as well. "Thank you for saving my son," began the emperor, "Obviously he won't admit it, but I did catch the entire thing. Is there anything that you would like? I know you want nothing, but I don't think that this kind of heroic feat deserves nothing."
Kris shook her head, her temper was starting to bubble up again, but she was too weak to show it, "With much respect your honor, I want nothing."
The emperor relaxed for a moment, "My dear child, you are so humble, but I'm afraid I cannot let this one slide. There must be something that I can do for you."
Kris had the heaviest bearing of temptation as she did want one thing, but it could not be helped. Kris shook her again, but this time instead of saying no, she spoke, "If your majesty insists so much, then I would like to put the wish on hold just as the other wish I was offered. Yes, I do not want anything, but this might hold me value in the future."
The emperor rubbed his chin and nodded in agreement, "Very well then. If you ever want anything, then you may approach me at any moment to make your request. I will inform my guards. Unfortunately, the soldiers at the arena door are still present and have no intends to leave soon. I have no strategy and now we are only in the position to wait."
Kris thought about the situation, how can humans not even know about the forceful pull of the earth? Regulars can get so dull and boring. How do they even survive in life if they can't even think in the slightest strained situation?
""That's not quite true," Kris replied.
The emperor and Tyre looked at Kris, "Oh?"
"By launching an offensive attack, we could have our soldiers shoot arrows from above. Our arrows will have much more force, and if the enemy were to respond, their arrows will be pathetically weak from the pull of the earth. I devise that if we attack from above, the enemy will have no choice, but to flee or die."
"Hmm… what do you think Tyre? Do you think Lady Tai's strategy will ward off our attackers?"
Tyre wondered why he couldn't think of this before, "I do believe that Lady Tai has come up with an idea that none of us have thought of. It's worth a try."
The emperor smiled and made an order to his commander in chief of his armed warriors, "You are to gather all the sharpshooters you have as well as bows and arrows. We are going to be shooting from above and these two fine commanders-in-training will be assisting you. Find the third symbol from Emerald City, he should be running up and about with the survivors. As soon as we run out of arrows, the enemy should be weakened or on the run, at that time you may go on an all-in assault. We have few arrows and I do not want them to go to waste, is that clear?!"
"Yes sir!"