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A Tale of Two Daggers
Chapter 2: Anarchy

Chapter 2: Anarchy

The earth was trembling beneath their horse's feet. One could feel a shiver down his spine upon their sight. They were more ruthless than beasts of the night, more brutal than any wild creature that lives in caves or woods.

Although the king's men were mere human beings. Yet, their acts weren't even close to the cruelty of the animal behavior. With hearts full of blackness and manifested with the madness of pursuing unlimited power. They were tools to do their king's dirty work, imposing maximum order in that tyrannical system.

They were the voice of the king through all of his kingdom's reigns. They were his hand over his domain. None dared to defy their subjection over the public. Their pockets were always filled with money that came from high taxes that the king imposed on his common poor people, killing them every day with poverty.

The king was called Wain, a powerful yet unforgiving king, some said he conspired against his blood-bond brother and hired an assassin to kill him during one of his walks in his garden. They also say that he had prepared an accident where his brother's two young twins' sons would be killed as well, just to ensure that the kingdom remained ruled by his bloodline only.

But no one had minimal courage level to publicly accuse him, there was no evidence and no one from the royal family to replace him. And Absolutely no one would trust a woman to sit on that throne.

Speaking of the women, Wain's power didn't stop at claiming the throne, he also had his eyes on his brother's wife for as long as he remembered. He used her grief and weakness against her, he talked to her about how he was the best option and the wisest choice to keep the royal blood clean and formidable and to prevent anyone from even thinking about harming the queen...

A cunning scheme yet It worked. And a marriage was made.

But that was just the beginning...

Thirsty for more control, He trained a mighty army to conquer the surrounding countries, either that or they would buy peace for a stream of annual tribute. Establishing the large feared empire through the region...

The Martizian Empire.

With each neighbour falling to the horde of his army, he grows stronger with boundless hunger for More money, more influence...

...and more women.

That's right. Alongside his marriage. He had a proclivity for having more women around him. The king was a philanderer, respecting his wife wasn't any of his concerns. She wouldn't be surprised if she witnessed strange women sleeping with the king sometimes. Using her own bed.

And as a result of his actions. Every time he tried to come close to her, She felt disgusted and She constantly pushed him back. She was too weak to give children. And she always looked at him as her husband's brother. She never saw any feeling developing towards him.

She hoped for another kind of husband. Not necessarily must be fed lust for his erotic hunger every hour. But a protector that actually cared. A concept that a desired lover like Wain had never comprehend.

She knew he wasn't to be fully trusted but his corrupted shady wings were better than nothing.

And for that, that tradition came into effect.

Where every few years the king would send some scouts to any random area - suddenly and without any pre warnings- to search for new beautiful "servants" for his palace. Those girls were abducted at a young age against their parent's broken will. Whether she was from rich or poor origins, they weren't making exceptions for anyone. If she was pretty enough then she becomes the king property.

For a any girl, this fate was worse than death; Because it was rumored that whoever enters this palace never leaves it. In another word, the parents often lose their daughters forever.

It was a dark time, where ugliness turned to an uncommon grace.

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(Back to the present day)

"FATHER... FATHER!!"

Richard woke up from his thoughts to see that things were already in motion.

The king's men marched in line with their fearsome horses towards the west gate.

On their true sight, the chaos spread throughout the whole Town. The Other protector's lung for the bells of the town hall. The bells that rang in the most direst hour had came to action. Their sound roared to the ears, Giving a warning signal.

Danger is coming.

The people began to swarm the streets to heed the call, frightened and uncertain of what was going on. Yet, the chief of the town a man in his 50s, with a white small beard and hair managed to calm his terrified herd.

The horsemen bashed into the streets in waves till they reached the centre of the town. They all gathered together in a clutter while a certain distinguishable knight approached the chief man on his strong horse. The banner of the proud Wolf fluttering by his side, pointing out at whom he take his orders from.

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He disembarked, and all of the citizens bowed except Diana. She was amazed why would all of the town worshipped some knights. Shouldn't they bow only to God? and if not, why they are so afraid of them? Who are even these guys??

Her father was alerted how his daughter was not bowing. Part of him excused her, after all it was his fault that she didn't know anything about King Wain's full history. He didn't want her to be engaged in politics too much.

So without a warning his hand bolted and grabbed hers and pulled her down to his side.

"Father, what's going on?"

"Silence". He said firmly but very quietly, leaning close to her ears. "I'll tell you later, but right now, don't make eye contact with them."

"Why would-"

"Later I said and heads down!". His hand slightly pushed her head more to the ground.

"Good evening, chief," The captain heeded with a friendly formal smile to the old leader.

"And good evening to you too, sir. What do his majesty's men do in our humble and peaceful Town, if I may I ask?"

The Captain looked into the chief eyes and saw how terrified he was. The same reaction everywhere he went. It became a habit to be the source of distress in every town he traveled to. A bonus that comes with the job.

He smiled to conceal his disappointment and placed a hand on the chief shoulder.

"Easy old man, Calm down before your heart explodes". Then he looked at the huge mass of people gathered behind the chief in anticipation.

He took a deep breath to yap the news. "We will not harm you. However, My king's orders are clear, we are hereby sent by him to search for new girls to join his palace. Help us so we can leave as fast as we can"

The last line was like a lightning strike on Richard, the protector's hair stood on end, nearly turned to white. He knew sooner or later that that moment would come, but he never foresaw it to be so soon.

He looked at his daughter...If one of those men saw Diana, that would be it. She will be taken on sight and her future will be eternally forlorn at that tyrannical palace. He will lose the only one that keeps him going in his lonely life. He will lose his daughter forever.

The captain nodded for his men to pick only the beautiful girls and left the other lucky ones.

And this is when the true anarchy began...

Like a swarm of hornets upon a beehive. The men spread across the streets, storming every house. Unlike the captain, not all of his men were tolerant like him. They exercised viciousness and harshness while they breached every house with their legs, determined to spot beauty where it lingers.

There were crying and shouts everywhere in the town. where the men sweep clean, abducting girls from their parent's arms. The mother's screams were combined in an unrecognizable cheerless symphony to hear. Every house was under attack. Fathers started fights they could not win. Each time a girl is about to be taken. The father comes to face the soldier. But only to be beaten and humiliated in front of the daughter he desires to protect.

Showing the daughter and her mom a display of dominance. How the father, the leader of this family is a pathetic good-for-nothing man who practically can not protect the women he loves. If they resisted even more. The extremists do depart but after beheading the whole family.

Using that chaos, Richard quickly ran to his house along with his confused daughter in his hands who didn't know what was going on. Luckily for him, the search was still a few blocks away, which gave him about 3 minutes to act.

He closed the door behind him with all the locks it had shut. He dragged a chair and sat on it. Hands between his head. His Heart beats rapidly. His mind raced to find a solution...

"Bribe them? No, they already sleep on beds of money"

"Beg? Too stubborn to listen"

"Escape Endora? There is nowhere to go. I am not going to turn my child into a fugitive in her own land!"

He was running out of time and choices. The sound of horses could be heard at his doorstep any moment now. Till he remembered one item behind his house...

A cart of hay. He was supposed to protect and escort safely to a nearby market in another adjacent town called "Shan" the day after. But the merchant had a problem and temporarily left it with Richard's hands till he returned later.

It was his only chance.

He got up and was ready to grab Diana. But the girl had enough, slipping her arm out of her father's grab in objection

"Could you please stop pulling me with you everywhere and tell me what the hell is going on outside?!"

Richard faced her, still breathing heavily.

"Look, those men you saw earlier, are taking the most beautiful girls in the town and that includes you, so either you hide in that pile of hay that i will show you and don't make a sound until I return to you or you will be taken away from me forever..."

"But why, why the-?!"

"I don't have time for this Now! Please, My Dear! Just follow me, and if we go through this safely, I will explain everything in time, I promise!"

Diana stared at her dad, she felt anger that there was no clarification to her terrorized curiosity but also pity that Richard would carry the burden of facing those soldiers alone. She had many unanswered questions. But feeling the threat in her father's voice made her nod in understatement. At least for the time being.

Richard bashed the back door of his house open as he spotted the perfect spot to hide his daughter.

When they reached the cart, her father supported her. Yet, Before Diana jumped to the hay. She halted, looking back at her father. She couldn't stand the terrified look in his black round eyes.

So, instead...

She jumped between his arms. hugging him tightly for a couple of seconds. Resting her hands on the back of his head. The sensation of her being between his shielding arms, Reminded him of the past days when she was a child who used to be hugged whenever she was afraid of the nightmares she had.

"I won't let them take you away!" He hugged her back, with a glimmering tear sliding over his cheek.

"I know you won't, Father" she smiled, wiping the drop with her hand.

She turned around to jump into the hay.

"Wait, here take this, that's your final option"

She looked with nervous eyes.

"Hold on, that's my d-!!"

"Just take it! and pray you won't use it"

She nodded hesitantly and took the object. Then she jumped in the hay. Gross, uncomfortable and with impossible small space to breathe as it is. It was for her good safety.

Richard stood there checking every corner of the cart making sure there was nothing visible to whoever passed by. There was no window for tripping now. He made up the hay well, concealing any suspicious traces at his best, Before returning to the house through the back door.

Before he touched the back door handle, He looked back with sad looks back at the cart, one last time. Checking if he forgot anything. There wasn't any room for flaws, not with Diana on the line.

He didn't spend 17 faithful years raising up his little girl so it can be taken from him just like that. How could he call himself a father, if he couldn't protect her? What would his wife think of him if the most precious gift she handed to him was lost?!

That said, there wasn't really much to do now but to hope that this day doesn't end with a tragedy.

The moment he opened the back door, the front door started knocking...