Chapter 16: A Tragedy

Airk ran straight for Raina's room. The impending attack by Nockmaar had him thinking of his wife and child. He needed to know they were safe. He found Raina in her chambers with his mother Larissa at her side. Airk looked relieved to see her safe.

"Airk, my love, what's going on?" Raina asked, noticing her husband's relief.

"Nockmaar is preparing to attack us. They'll be here by nightfall," Airk explained.

"For certain?" Larissa asked.

"Yes, I came to see if you and the baby were alright," Airk replied.

Raina's hand went to her large belly. "We'll be alright."

Airk drew two swords and handed them to Larissa and Raina. "I hope you don't have to use them."

"You taught me well. Even in my current state I can carve through Nockmaar soldiers like a cake," Raina reassured him.

"I just hope you won't have to," Airk said.

"Don't worry. I will look after her and the child," Larissa assured him.

Airk was comforted by the strength of his mother and wife. He was assured that they would be safe no matter what the danger.

"General, you are needed on the wall," said a foot soldier.

"I'll be right there," Airk replied.

Airk did not want to leave the room. He wanted to stay and protect his wife and child. His heart was with his family, yet his mind was with his men. Raina could see the torment in her husband's eyes and she held his hand.

"Go. We'll be fine," she reassured him.

Willing himself to go, Airk bent down and kissed Raina's growing bump.

"Promise me you'll come back," Raina said.

"I'll always come back," Airk whispered.

Airk stared in her eyes before he filled her in his arms and their lips clashed.

"Now go and fight those Nockmaar b******* for our us," Raina whispered.

Airk smiled. "Yes, my love."

Night had fallen over the battlements of Galladoorn. As night came, so did the thunder of thousands of Nockmaar soldiers. Pounding their spears, the thousands of Nockmaar soldiers shook the ground. Airk and Ronan watched from the battlements as their enemies shouted down below them. Airk got a chill down his spine as he saw Kael leading them, but he did not let that fear show in front of his men.

"Draw arrows!" Airk cried.

"Draw arrows!" cried his soldiers.

Airk waited until the first wave of Nockmaar soldiers were in eye shot before he signaled his men. "Loose!"

"Loose!" cried his men.

The first wave of Nockmaar soldiers fell like flies but behind them came another wave rising.

"Draw!" Airk cried.

"Draw!" repeated his men.

Airk waited once more until the next wave were within eye shot of his men.

"Loose!" he shouted.

"Loose!" his men shouted.

The next wave faltered but at their backs came another wave.

"Fire at will!" Airk commanded.

A flurry of arrows sped through the air, hitting Nockmaar soldiers but barely dinting their numbers. Airk looked on as the Nockmaar soldiers began to climb the walls using ladders.

"Swords! Swords! To the walls!" Airk cried.

Airk and Ronan nodded to each other as they drew their swords. They knew one might die or the other. Patting each other on the back, they went off to the walls to fend off the ladders. Airk stabbed a soldier before knocking the ladder back, sending it crashing to the ground atop hundreds of Nockmaar soldiers. Drawing his sword, Airk prepared to cut down another ladder. Before he could strike, he was struck on the wrist from behind. Airk cried out in pain as he cut down his assailant and then sent the ladder careening down. Airk quickly wrapped his wrist in his shirt as a makeshift bandage before he continued into the fray.

"General, we need you on the ground!" cried his foot soldier.

Airk raced down below to meet his soldier. On the grounds of Galladoorn, Nockmaar soldiers had clashed with Galladoorn forces. Airk drew his sword and charged into the fray.

"First wave, push!" Airk cried.

Airk and his men pushed through hundreds of Nockmaar soldiers, carving through them like a chicken. Amidst the fury and red chaos, Airk had lost sight of Ronan but he had got the sight of General Kael.

"You die!" cried Kael.

Airk furiously blocked a vicious blow by General Kael before striking back at him, missing the General by inches. Kael pounded on his shield over and over, like a wave crashing upon rock. Kael knocked away Airk's shield and sword and punched him, pinning him against the wall. Kael tackled Airk against the wall, pummeling him over and over, giving him no release. Kael punched him and sent him crashing to the ground. Kael towered over him as Airk looked up at his doom. Before Kael could strike, he was stabbed in the knee. Airk quickly dove for cover and looked up to find Ronan at his side.

"Sure I wasn't meant to save your a**?" Ronan asked.

"Just glad you did," Airk said, relieved.

Suddenly, Airk heard a thunderous sound.

"Oh, kick my a**!" Airk cried.

From behind them, Nockmaar soldiers were battering their way into the city. In seconds, the gates cracked open like a duck egg.

"They've broken in! To arms! To arms!" Airk cried.

Airk raced to the gates and his heart was beating in his ears. He heard the screams of women as Nockmaar troops entered the castle. He hoped that those screams were not that of Raina or Larissa.

"Sure up the door!" Airk shouted.

Airk's men quickly brought a door stop to defend the gates. Before Airk could react, a hail of arrows rained down on them, piercing his right shoulder. Airk cried out in pain as he and his men drove the Nockmaar soldiers back and shut up the gates. Airk turned his attention to the soldiers in his city and then suddenly his heart sank.

"Raina!" he cried.

Nockmaar soldiers swarmed into the castle walls, killing anyone who stood in their way and taking any woman they could find. Hearing the chaos in the castle walls, Raina and Larissa were prepared. With swords drawn, they prepared to meet their attackers. Nockmaar soldiers swarmed into their chamber, with Raina and Larissa at the ready. Raina hid at the wall and pounced, slicing the throat of one while Larissa threw a chair, knocking one off balance and cutting off his leg. Raina parried with another soldier before bringing his head down on her blade. As brave and viciously as the women fought they were no match for the numbers that awaited them. In moments they were surrounded by dozens of Nockmaar soldiers, with their metal at their necks.

"Go on. Kill us, you Nockmaar b*******!" Raina spat.

The Nockmaar warriors simply sent Larissa to the floor and Raina was bound and dragged out of the castle.

Airk, bloodied and bruised, fought his way through the chaos of his battered castle.

"They're in retreat! They're in retreat!" cried his soldiers.

Something isn't right, Airk thought.

Just then, Airk heard a cry. "Airk!"

Airk wheeled about to find Raina, bound, being hauled away by Nockmaar warriors and his blood chilled. "Raina!"

Airk charged forward, desperate to reach his wife, but he was met by a flurry of arrows. Before he could pursue any further, Raina had disappeared in the chaos.

"No! Raina!"

Airk had saved his city, but he had never felt greater loss. He had failed in his duty as a husband and a father and he dreaded what awaited Raina at Nockmaar.