Chapter 13: Betrayal
Dawn arose and when Airk awoke, he was surprised to find that Raina was not by his side. He was already anxious with the looming battle that awaited him and Raina not at his side made him all the more nervous. He woke and dressed in his armor when Raina emerged from the lavatory in her dressing gown. Airk was relieved to see her but perturbed to see she was sweating.
"Raina, my love, are you alright?" he asked. "You're sweating and death white."
Raina nodded and drew herself up. "I'm just fine, my love. I'm just worried about the battle is all."
Airk scoffed. "Do you doubt my talent with a sword, my love?"
"It's not you, I doubt, my love, it's him I worry about," Raina said pointedly.
Airk held her hand. "Raina, my love, you have nothing to fear. I will come back to you, and I believe Madmartigan. He might be a fool, but he does have some good in him. I've given him a chance to prove it, and when the time comes, he will."
"For all our sakes, I hope that you are right," Raina said.
"My love, what are you talking about?" Airk asked.
Raina was deathly white and she was shaking from head to toe. Airk had never seen his wife in such a state and he feared the worst.
"My love, are you well?" he asked. "You tremble and your cold to the touch."
"Indeed we are quite well," Raina replied.
"We?" Airk asked.
"Something wonderful has happened," Raina replied, showing Airk a round belly. "Airk, my love, I'm pregnant."
Airk was floored. He did not know the words to say. He did not know if he was ready to be a father. He was fearful for the safety of his child during these warlike days.
"Thats...wonderful, my love," he whispered.
"Airk, I'm afraid," Raina said, trembling with every word. "If anything happens to you or if Galladoorn should fall, what happens to our baby?"
"You don't need to fear, my love," Airk reassured her. "I will come for you. This is a happy moment. Our baby is a blessing. Let us treasure today."
Airk held his pregnant wife in his arms and held her close. Despite his reasurance, Airk could not fight the warning in his heart. If Madmartigan should betray him, Galladoorn's forces would be weakened. He deeply worried for the safety of his wife and unborn child but he vowed in his heart he would not let harm come to them.
That afternoon, Raina along with Lady Larissa and Princess Carissima had gathered to farewell the Knights of Galladoorn as they rode out to Land's End. Raina wore a vibrant purple gown with a gold circlet upon her head. From one of the ladies of the court, she took a cup of wine and raised her cup in toast.
"Knights of Galladoorn, of Cashmere, the Court of Galladoorn and Cashmere salutes you!" Raina declared.
In a thunderous roar of horses, the knights of Galladoorn road out of Cashmere bound for Land's End. Raina kept her eyes on Airk and his shining armor until he disappeared from her sight. She worried about her husband in battle. She feared for their unborn child should Galladoorn fall. Raina prayed that Airk would lead Galladoorn to victory for the sake of their child.
After a month on the long road, the hearty of Galladoorn had made it to the rocky shores of Land's End. Airk was at the front of the caravan, his father, Ronan and Madmartigan beside him. Airk thought about Raina on the long journey and desperately wanted to get back to her. Airk did not let the thousands of Nockmaar soldiers deter him as he and his father stood at the forefront of the soldiers.
"Shield's up!" Cayne shouted.
Wave after wave of Galladoorn and Cashmere shields covered the tiny corridor as Nockmaar arrows littered the sky.
"Return fire!" Airk shouted.
Galladoorn and Cashmere arrows filled the sky as they fell upon Nockmaar shields and soldier. The Nockmaar army drew their weapons and charged, falling upon Galladoorn and Cashmere swords and shields. In the tiny mountain range, wave after wave upon Nockmaar soldiers fell upon Galladoorn and Cashmere metal. However, the Nockmaar offense would not give up as their men kept coming. Blood flowed the ground until it was as a river. In all of the soldier upon soldiers, Airk had lost sight of Madmartigan.
"Madmartigan! Where is Madmartigan!" he cried.
Suddenly an arrow flew and pierced his shoulder. Airk cried out in pain and fell back. The bloodthirsty General Kael loomed over him like a shadow. Before Kael could strike, his blow was stopped by the ring of Cayne's sword. Airk could only watch on in horror as his father dueled Kael with sword and even his bare hands, taking many wounds.
In all the chaos, Ronan managed to find Airk and come to his side. "Airk, Airk, we have to order a retreat!"
"My father is the general and he gives the orders!" Airk replied.
"Your father isn't coming back!" Ronan protested. "You're the general now. Sound the retreat!"
Airk looked around and saw droves of Nockmaar soldiers overwhelming his men. He could not find his father or General Kael among the red chaos. Although it burned him to do it, he knew he would not have an army if he did not.
"Retreat!" he cried.
The men echoed the retreat and mounted their horses and thundered out of the cavernous waste. On that tragic day, Airk became a general.