Chapter 16! Prepare for intense scenes (not really)
King Zachary looked down at the gate from his study window. The invading army had completely ignored the town and walked up to the gate. They didn't try to get in or anything. They simply set up camp. A soldier would occasionally yell taunts or insults up at them.
Zachary stared sadly as Mornhavon himself walked through the camp.
"I don't think we're going to get out of this too easily." He spoke sadly.
"There's always a way."
Zachary grabbed his wife's hand and pulled her closer to him. She smiled sadly and wrapped her arms around him.
"We might not find it in time." Zachary told her. When they were first married he had been so shocked and angry that he was on his deathbed when it happened. But after being married for two weeks he found himself loving her strength and ideas.
Estora, his Queen, wasn't just a pretty face, but she was also smart and strong in the way of court intrigues way. It took him only a few days to realize that he loved her.
"What do you reckon they'll do when we can't hold out any longer?" Estora asked as she looked over the army.
"Probably kill us, but I won't let that happen to you. You'll have to go out the King's avenue."
"No, no, no." Estora immediately refused.
"You'll go out. Once all this has settled down." Zachary took a deep breath and placed a hand on his wife's belly. "You and our child can come back and free Sacoridia."
"I'm not leaving without you." Estora grabbed hold of his hands.
"You'll have to." Zachary lent down to kiss her but the door was thrown open.
"Your majesties." Fastion bowed low. "It's a white flag. Mornhavon is coming to negotiate."
Mornhavon was left waiting. Zachary had made sure of that.
A table was set up in the entrance hall. Laren, Fastion and Bernard were the only ones to come in with the King.
Zachary walked in and sat right down opposite the monster.
He'd brought two men with him. Truman and Greg were their names but Zachary hardly looked at them.
They sat there looking at each other for a while. Zachary trying to figure out why he was here and Mornhavon was smirking.
"So, King Zachary, I feel like I already know you." Mornhavon's grin widened.
"What makes you say that?" Laren could tell that Zachary held his King's mask firmly in place.
"I've been inside Karigan and Annora's heads many times."
Zachary wanted to punch that stupid grin off his face but then he would probably be killed.
"What is it you came to discuss?" Zachary demanded.
"Have you noticed that we haven't attacked your people yet? We have no problem with you or your people."
Zachary looked questionably to Laren and she nodded with a surprise on her face.
"I came here to give you a way of getting out of here with most of your people alive."
"Most?" Zachary asked immediately.
"Everyone except the obvious exceptions." When Zachary didn't answer he continued. "There are two farm boys that I'd like and also I want him." Mornhavon pointed at Bernard. "I also wouldn't mind Stevic G'ladheon."
"What do you want with these people?" Zachary growled.
"Just for fun." Mornhavon smiled at their horrified expressions.
"People aren't toys for you to," Bernard stood up in anger.
Mornhavon pointed a finger at him and the weapon fell to the ground. Zachary jumped to his feet.
"Relax, he's just asleep." Mornhavon yawned at their distress. "Sit down."
After everyone was seated he spoke again.
"I never liked him. Now, our goal is a very simple one. It's to find the source of magic and to use it. Eletians use up too much magic so we'll get rid of them most likely." Mornhavon's smile left as he spoke of serious things.
"You want me to help you annihilate a whole race?" Zachary asked completely disgusted.
"Exactly." Mornhavon's smile froze and a shadow seemed to pass over his face. "I'll leave you to think about it."
Mornhavon stood stiffly and walked out, followed by Greg and Truman.
"He's planning to destroy a whole race?" Laren asked.
"Apparently. What do you think the source of magic is? And why does he want Bernard, and Stevic and the two farm boys?" Zachary asked.
"He's obviously planning something with Karigan, hence Stevic, and Bernard is Annora's father and I know she has two step brothers." Fastion spoke from the shadows.
"What does Annora have to do with this?" Zachary said frustrated. "Bernard met an injured woman and fell in love with her. They had a child but Bernard left before he knew what else happened."
The group looked down at the sleeping weapon. "Donald, come and take Bernard to the medical wing." Zachary called out.
"We can't join Mornhavon's mission." Laren said.
"You're right. ARGH!" Zachary yelled in frustration. He pushed the table over angrily, fell into a chair and held his head in his hands. "What are we going to do?"
He cried out, tears of frustration in his eyes. Sadly no one had an answer.
Okay the next chapter will be the fight scene but I felt like I needed to write about what was going on at the castle :D Good luck!