AND: This is the only real chapter you're getting tonight. It's super long, for me, and morbid at some points. There is blood and descriptive scenes of battle and death. If this makes you squeamish, do not read. You have been warned.
Disclaimer: See previous.
Chapter 14
"The Battle of the Keep"
The sky was clear, so clear and pure that day. It was a day those of the Keep would remember for the rest of their lives, especially Eva.
Three hours after dawn, it began. Royal harriers were spotted on the horizon heading toward the Keep. The rebels took to action. Harriers took to the skies and landwalkers took to the mountains. Others got their weapons ready and stood guard at the entrances. Archers took aim.
The Naurasians and Eva were gathered together and taken to a secure area. Pith and Spring were with them. The battle for the Keep was beginning and it was going to be a bloody day.
Screams filed the air as both sides of harriers met in the sky. The birds screeched war cries. Bloodied bodies, both animal and human, hit the ground with loud squelches. The landwalkers had found a large contingent of royal wolf-mounted soldiers. The rebel cats circled them. Assassins and sharp shooters picked them off one by on. Blood stained the ground red.
"How did they find us? Very few know where the Keep is in relation to the mountain," Spring muttered. Eva shifted from foot to foot. She could feel something was wrong. There was something really wrong. Nagali placed a hand on her shoulder.
Eva remembered one of her previous lessons with the elder woman. Nagali had told her to trust her instincts.
"Something is really wrong," Eva muttered. Everyone turned to look at her.
"What do you mean?" Pith said. Nagali gave her shoulder a slight squeeze. Eva closed her eyes and bowed her head. She submersed herself in the spirit world, where all things are revealed. Her eyes snapped open and she stared at Pith.
"Traitor," she whispered. He growled at her and lunged at her with his sword. Aikka met him and defended Eva. Spring stared at her brother in shock with tears forming in her eyes.
"You blood traitor!" she yelled and pulled out her dagger. Pith never stood a chance. It was either be killed by his sister or by Prince Aikka. Spring's dagger stabbed him through the back to the heart. Pith slumped in final death. Spring fell to her knees. Tear streamed down her eyes.
"We aren't safe here," Nagali said. "He probably told them about this place."
Nods and agreements went through the group. Ahn grabbed Spring's arm and pulled her up onto her feet. The group sneaked from their hiding place. Unfortunately they were spotted by a harrier, a very special harrier.
"Die!" Princess Forestfoot, daughter of Waterfist, called out. The group dodged out of the way of her arrows. Nagali looked up at the young, brown haired woman from the ground. Forestfoot dismounted from her black hawk. The bird took one look at Forestfoot with sad eyes and took to the sky.
"Forestfoot," Spring hissed. She pushed away memories of her brother and focused. She couldn't loose herself yet. Her Queen was in danger. Weapons were drawn, even Eva even pulled out her staff. Nagali turned her gaze to the young Queen ad smiled softly. Eva had already prepared herself for this battle. She was ready, Nagali thought. She was ready to fight for her people.
"Well, well, if it isn't the little rebels. Guess you figured out who the spy was?" Forestfoot said. Spring stiffened and hissed at her. The false princess laughed.
"I guess you're planning to try to kill the Heir," Spring said. "The key word here is try."
Forestfoot laughed. "Of course I'm going to kill her. My mother is the true Queen of Elysian, not some beggar girl you found on the street."
Eva growled and clenched her staff. All of the Naurasians were tense and moving their hands toward their weapons. Aikka moved closer to Eva. Spring growled and pulled out her last dagger. Nagali smiled ruefully. The wind howled with the cries of the dieing. Blood curdling screams filled the air as the fighting got closer to the Keep.
Forestfoot pulled out a dagger and lunged. Energy flared out over her weapon. She never noticed the young Naurasian prince's blade in her path to Eva. Her eyes widened and turned to her executioner. Her body shook from shock as her body lost precious red life-essence from her middle. The prince's sword had severed her portal veins. Her eyes were widened and skin rapidly paling. She closed her eyes and left the living word. All the while, bright red blood dripped on Aikka and the ground. The prince removed his blade and her body fell to the ground.
There was no time to think about what they had just witnessed. The gates to the city fell to a group of cat mounted royal soldiers. Rebels scattered, and the group found themselves pinned between a rock wall and the soldiers. Nagali grabbed Eva's wrist. The Queen turned to look at the elder.
"It is time to prove you are the Queen to your people. Stop them here, and tales of your actions will spread to the common people. They will rise to you. Never doubt in the power of those who will follow you. Civilians are the most overlooked warriors," Nagali said and released Eva's wrist. Eva nodded and turned her attention to the soldiers who were advancing on them.
"You are the Queen, a Force of Nature, you have the power to win. You just have to find it," Nagali whispered. Eva's eyes changed. They gained flecks of gold, a sure sign of an Elysian getting ready to use a lot of power.
Cold shivers of anticipation went down the rebel warriors' spines. They could all feel the tension in the air. Hands shifted on their weapons. The royal soldiers were the first to make a move. Leaping off of their mounts, they were met by the rebels and Naurasians. The animals backed away and watched the brutal battle. Nagali gave a sad smile to what she was seeing.
"Is this her only gift?" she whispered. "Is death the only thing she can bring to her people?"
Blood stained blades. Bodies hit the hard stone ground and rolled out of the way of decapitating slashes. Eva continuously attacked her opponents. Her staff was not doing as much damage as the bladed weapons, but not wanting to stop to switch to a sword in the middle of battle, she fought on. She slammed her staff's head into one of the soldier's stomachs and gasped as blood came from the hit. Pulling her weapon back, she gasped as she now saw a blood stained blade popping out from the top of the staff. Her simple staff was a very Elysian weapon call a cuspis, a hidden spear that reacted to its' master's will. No time to think about it. Eva turned her weapon on another. Blood stained the ground a dark red.
Despite their best efforts, the rebels were being overwhelmed. Nagali knew what needed to be done. She stood from her kneeling position behind the warriors.
"My Queen, summon one to aide you! Hurry!" the elder yelled. Eva nodded and held out her hand. A white light flared around her and flashed brightly, blinding everyone nearby. The world become white to Eva
"You have done well, little star," Nagali said from behind her. Eva spun around and saw the elderly woman she had come to see as a grandmother standing behind her in long white robes.
"Nagali," Eva whispered.
"I have nothing else I can help you with but this. Remember, child, when this is all over, you no longer have to fight. It is a choice," the elderly woman said and bowed. "My name is not Nagali. I have been called a name you have heard quiet often by now."
"What? Who are you?" Eva whispered.
Nagali smirked. "I am Alistar, former Queen of Elysian and your ancestor. Walk the path of the warrior, but don't forget who you are." The old woman grinned. "One more thing, tell the prince how you feel. It will make your mother so very happy."
The whiteness faded and Eva was back at the battle ground. A large white wolf stood above her. Nagali was no where in sight.
