Day 12

Captain Kumi was leaving, he noticed the lack of guards in the hallways. It didn’t really bother him until he reached the main gate and there were no guards there either. Then he knew, an attack was being made on the castle.

Kumi ran back into the castle. The quiet halls greeted him as he ran for the financier. When he got there the man was fine.

“I paid you in full.” he said looking up at Kumi.

“The castle is being attacked. Lock yourself in somewhere safe.” Kumi said.

Kumi then walked quietly down the passageways listening but all he could here was music and a celebration.

Viola stopped dancing. She thought she had seen someone come in but no one new joined them. Over the music and laughter, she couldn’t hear anything. Viola didn’t take chances. She took out her knives discreetly walked towards the door. It was ajar not closed but not open either. The dancing studio was not a sealed room but rather, platforms on different levels of the castle looked down on it.

She saw movement on the other side of the door. Then it happened. A volley of arrows came from all platforms showering down on the unsuspecting dancers.

The music stopped and where laughter had filled the halls now screams did.

Servant, guards, and earthlings alike suffered wounds.

Viola ran along the sides and saw the first archer, he was reloading. She stabbed him in the face and ran to the next cutting his throat. But the third saw her and shot at her. He also had a short sword which he drew ready to defend himself.

The screams drew attention. The dining halls heard the screaming and readied themselves for a fight.

Kumi saw the archers, aiming at the screaming wounded people below. He killed three before being forced to engage in battle with the hooded men. Viv and her family entered the fight. She ran and slid on the floor, shooting a crossbow arrow into people as she went. Xoma threw knives with amazing accuracy, striking the head of everyone she aimed for. Rider was holding them off with his sword fighting skills. Viola called to them.

“I am glad to see you! I found my sister.”

“That’s great!” Xoma called back.

Viv ran up the wall and did a back-flip shooting as she went. She landed with grace. Sliding her leg along the floor she kicked one over stabbing him in the throat as he landed.

Kumi couldn’t believe what he was seeing. This little package had power. Watching Viv fight and kill with such ease as grace was enchanting. She was by far the fairest of them all!

The attackers retreated and regrouped heading for the throne room. More guards joined the fight but now no one who was who.

Joe was fighting in the dining room “Everyone meant to be here, put something red on.”

Keimoni translated and so most of the confusion was eliminated.

“Where is the queen?” Joe asked.

“She has betrayed us.” Griffith replied.

Joe warned him that if he speaks out against the queen again, she will kill him where he stands. Ambassador means nothing to her!

Keimoni didn’t like translating for Joe.

Autumn was pulled into the fight. An armed man came for her. Drake tried to protect her but was struck by another. Autumn was forced to change into a dark blue panther. Joe put a red ribbon around her neck.

Autumn killed and shredded all who came within her reach. Joe and Zazo held off as many at the door as they could, but the men kept coming.

Autumn roared it was blood curdling. But Namir and Melisande heard the cry however they were engaged in their own fight.

Victoria wanted to laugh. She knew the queen hadn’t changed. But she was offended that her friend left her to die with the others.

Keimoni stood in the corner holding a knife.

“We must get out of this room. Barricade the doors!” Joe ordered.

They barricaded the doors.

General Pan spoke up angry. “The queen has betrayed us. We are trapped and death awaits us.”

Zazo knew Tẽra did not do this.

“Our queen is not attacking us!” he bellowed to the room “She is not the woman you have heard about. She is genuine about her desire for peace! Now if I hear another person say my queen is behind this. I will run you through. Even you my General!” Zazo declared.

Zazo was known by most of the generals. He was a man of honor and could be trusted. If he was so sure he would kill them, maybe, just maybe the queen was not responsible.

“Keimoni, how do we get out of this room?” Zazo asked.

“There is a passage under the table. But not everyone will be able to fit.”

“Why?” Zazo asked.

“It’s narrow.”

Keimoni was in shock.

“Alright. Then our ambassadors will hide in the passage. We will fight off the rest through the smallest door. We will have to control the fight.”

“I am not hiding in a hole.” Drake said “Yair, you should. Keep the truth with you alive.” He instructed.

“My Prince?” Yair objected.

While they were talking Victoria crawled into the passage.

“Are we going to discuss the cat in the room?” Griffith asked.

“No!” Zazo said “Get in the passage.”

Keimoni tried to get into the passage, but Joe stopped him.

“You my little translator are not going anywhere.”

Victoria, Griffith, Yair, Nix, Barron Hill, Glisson and some advisors got into the passage. Ranger wasn’t going to hide. He needed to find Fiona.

The siege on the dining hall continued as the armies of Black Beard Gruff broke through. Town’s folk wearing armor flooded the castle. Black Beard knew that numbers would keep them all busy, and he and his men could take control. A spark of hope had been given and he just kindled it in the directing he needed.

* * *

Down in the dungeon Tiffany heard the fight going on in her castle. She cringed that her things were being destroyed and that the fake queen had brought her kingdom to its knees. It never even crossed her mind that it was her fault or her actions that set things in motion.

Tẽra was hiding in the dungeon with Kerri–liana.

“What is happening out there?” Tẽra asked.

“I think we are under attack. They want your head.” Kerri answered.

Tẽra took off the crown she was wearing.

“I failed to bring peace. People are dying and I can’t do anything about it. I failed.”

She sat on the dirty floor in her beautiful dress.

Kerri sat next to her.

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“You did more good in one week that most do in their whole lives. Just because you couldn’t change the world in a week doesn’t mean you failed. It just means fate didn’t give you enough time.”

“Fate?” Tẽra asked “You think fate did this to us?”

“No but I do think that somethings we have no control over and no matter what we do somethings will happen. Live to rebuild once this is over.” Kerri said.

“You crazy, stupid, woman! You destroyed by kingdom!” Tiffany yelled at them from her cell.

“No!” Tẽra said standing up “You did! You killed your people. You cornered them so that they had nothing left to lose. You are public enemy number one by your own choices. I tried to hold a broken plate together. But you! You! Broke it.”

Tẽra was standing in front of Tiffany’s cell.

“You are a selfish little girl, throwing temper tantrums like an un disciplined child. You will never be queen again and if someone deserved to die! It would be you!” Tẽra said her face set like stone.

Tiffany looked at her with defiance.

The woman looked at one another with almost hatred.

Tẽra turned to Kerri.

“Unless that lost heir is found. I will not be returning home. I will not leave this world in her hands.”

Tẽra pointed at Tiffany accusingly.

The prisoners looked at the floor.

Tiffany and Tẽra had been fighting in front of a full dungeon. sixty people who now knew that the queen who wanted peace was not the tyrant Tiffany who they had feared. This was going to be the gossip of a lifetime. If they ever got out to tell anyone.

* * *

General Nathan fought with his men toward the dining hall. He was not sure where the queen was. One of his men had arrived with a prisoner saying he knows where the lost heir is.

The thief LooDay who had been suspected of many crimes was now leading a small group of men into the jungle in search of the lost heir.

The attack happened shortly after his men had departed.

General Nathan heard the screams from the dance studio. When Natrica the queen’s friend held her dancing lessons.

“Men protect our own. To the dancing hall.” he ordered.

They battled their way in.

Viola ran as fast as she could to the next bow man shooting. They fought. He stabbed her in the leg. She stabbed him in the eye.

“I am down.” She called to Viv.

Before she got a reply, Rider was there.

“Get up!” he said holding out his hand.

“Fight I will be alright.” She said.

“Get up!” Rider barked holding out his hand.

He pulled Viola to her feet. He ran with her on his back to a high point. He put about thirty knives next to her.

“Watch our backs. Defend this position.”

Rider then re-joined the fight.

The assassin family stuck together. They fought near each other. Never being too far for aid if needed. Even though this was not the normal type of killing they did. They were very good at it.

General Nathan and his men joined the fight. But no one knew who was on whose side.

Jessica hid behind a basket of things in the corner. She could hear the fight and see some of it, but she was unable to join. A decapitated head rolled and stopped next to her. She puked.

Fiona had been trained for this, but real killing and training were not the same thing and these people played dirty. But she was motivated to live. She was not dying today. She fought and clobbered as many as she could with the curtain poll she was using as a staff.

When General Nathan and his men overwhelmed the room everyone surrendered.

The General battled to tell who was meant to be there and who was not.

“Everyone stay as you are. If you move, you will be killed.” He announced, “Lay down your weapons.”

So, Spice was called to tell who was who. She could only determine so many but not between the new people.

Rachael was glad she had been training with Joe. Today it had saved her life.

Viola called from her high point.

“Protect the queen.”

Nathan and his men bound the unsure people and went to the dining hall where the siege was on. His men tipped the scale in the favour of the queen.

The ambassadors were brought from their hiding hole.

“The queen’s men saved us?” Griffith said surprised.

“Where is the queen?” Joe asked.

“I thought she was here.” General Nathan replied.

“Find and protect the queen.” Zazo ordered.

Then General Nathan remembered that Tẽra had sent a prisoner to him with one of his men. Maybe she had visited the dungeon.

“The dungeon.” Nathan said.

Zazo and Joe ran as fast as they could. When they got to the dungeon, they found Tẽra and Kerri–liana sitting on the floor.

“My queen.” Zazo said “I feared the worst.”

Tẽra stood up.

“My peace conference was attacked and all I could do was hid in the dungeon.”

Joe looked them.

“I am glad you are alright.” Joe said.

“I am not.” Tẽra said “How am I going to bring peace now?”

“The same way as before. This does not stop or break you. This is your world now. Lead it.” Joe said.

General Nathan come in with some of his men.

“Find out who attacked my castle.” Tẽra said “The conference will continue.”

“There are many wounded and dead.” Zazo said.

Tẽra walked towards the dining hall. Bodies lay on the floor. Blood splashed on her shoes.

“Hey.” Tiffany yelled “I am the queen!”

But no one paid attention.

Tẽra reached the dining hall. Her ambassadors were safe. But some of the others were not so lucky.

“We will honor our dead. Count our losses and continue tomorrow. This has been a day of devastation. But it will not break us. Be alert, find your people. The person responsible will be found.” She said looking at Griffith.

Then Tẽra added “Do not leave the castle. Or you will be seen as the guilty running. It would be unfortunate if my men killed one of you by accident.”

“Are you saying you still want peace?” Drake asked.

“Yes.”

“How do we know this was not you’re doing?” Drake asked.

“If I wanted you dead you would be. Do you think I could endanger my own friends and leave them to die with you? Or should they not have just killed you as soon as I left instead of fighting by your side? Why would my men fight each other?”

Tẽra waited for an answer. The room was quiet as they considered what she had said.

Zazo looked at Drake with disdain.

“I warned you not to doubt our queen.” Zazo picked up his sword.

“No more killing today.” Tẽra said “Let them doubt. The truth always comes out. Find out whose men attacked me.”

Nikki sat on a bed shaking. She had been hit with an arrow in her right arm. The new girl Jessica sat on the bed next to her. She was shivering. She had cuts and scrapes.

Shane and Spice and others patched up and covered the dead. Their faces expressionless and unreadable.

Natrica had been hit with multiple arrows. She was sleeping due to the herbs Spice made her drink.

Rachael had a bad cut on her left arm and right leg from being in the fight. She had killed her first person.

The dead and wounded kept coming in.

Ranger ran in. When he saw Fiona, he rushed over. They hugged.

James was breaking out in purple spots and Lakisha was still missing.

Tẽra walked in with Zazo and Joe.

“What happened?” Tẽra asked.

Viola answered in English.

“We were dancing and having fun when arrows flew at us. It was someone named Black Beard Gruff. His men started a revolt against you. I am glad you are alive.”

“Black Beard?” Joe said.

A sinking feeling in Tẽra stomach made her want to be sick. She had called Zazo back and left Black Beard.

Joe ran over to Natrica.

“Will she be alright?” Joe asked.

“I don’t know.” Shane said “We are going to remove the arrows. But she has lost a lot of blood.”

Joe looked at Fiona.

“Your boyfriend can heal people. Tell him to heal her!” she demanded.

“Calm down.” Fiona said.

“Tell him to heal her.” Joe barked.

Joe looked like she was going to kill everyone.

“Are you sure it was Black Beard’s men?” Tẽra asked Viola.

“Yes. They were. Some are alive and wounded in the room next door.”

Tẽra went into the room next door with Kerri and Viola.

Captain Kumi was laying on a bed.

“What are you doing here?” Kerri asked.

“I was stupid. When I realized there was an attack happening, I couldn’t leave. No one knows me so they presume I am one of Black Beard’s men.” He said.

Kerri called for captain Kumi to be taken to the room next door and to be unbound.

“This man brought me here safely. I paid him fifty gold pieces.” Kerri added.

“Did you now.” Tẽra said.

Kerri grinned a silly grin.

“I am back safely.”

“My queen.” Captain Kumi said to Tẽra.

“What is your name?” Tẽra asked.

“Kumi.”

“Are you are a skilled fighter?”

“Yes, my queen.”

“What work do you do?” Tẽra asked.

“I provide protecting to travelers for a price. Slave traders are my biggest customer at the moment.”

Captain Kumi was moved to the other room. The dead were being laid on the floor so the ambassadors could come and identify who was part of their party.

“I guess dancing was a bad idea.” Jessica said.

“No, it wasn’t. It was fun and the castle would still have been attacked. We just might have been alone in the room without the Dragon Rider’s army nearby to fight for us.” Shane said.

“Caelin would have been in the room with us.” Jessica said.

“One man couldn’t protect you. I think this was proved back at the palace. Even a boy took him out.”

Jessica smiled an awkward smile.

Viv, Rider, and Xoma came to Viola.

“Are you alright?” Viv asked.

“I will be. Where is Jacob?” Viola asked.

“Hiding in our room. He will be fine.” Xoma said.

“Thanks for helping me.” Viola said to Rider.

“Mmmm.” Rider responded.

Prince Drake walked in. He went over to Jessica. Yair was by his side as usual.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I will be.” Jessica replied.

Rider looked at him.

“It that the prince?” he asked his mother.

“I believe it is.” Xoma said.

“Prince of the Skiopia tribe?” Viv asked.

She had never met a prince or a queen before. No royal member really.

“It makes sense he is here and not his father. Always found his father to be…” Xoma stopped talking.

Drake was looking right at her.

“The woman he is with is from earth like me.” Viola told them.

“I think she said her name was Jessica. But I met a lot of people today so I might be wrong.”

“Why is the prince talking with a woman from earth?” Viv asked.

Shane came over.

“Hi I am Shane. I will be examining you.” Shane said in vernacular.

Viola pretended she didn’t understand him.

“Sorry what?” she asked in English.

“I am going to examine your leg.” He said “So where are you from?” Shane asked while examining her leg.

“Germany. I am an air-hostess” she said.

“Very nice.” Shane replied.

“I am from Canada, and I am a doctor.”

“How many of us here are from earth?” Viola asked.

“Lots, it seems that everyone from earth had the same idea. Go to the castle. I almost didn’t come. This world has been rough.” He said.

“Tell me about it.” She replied.

“This is going to hurt.” Shane said.

He pulled the knife out putting a cloth over it. He began stitching without anesthetic.

Viola gritted her teeth.

Shane kept taking.

“So, you made friends even with a language barrier. Jessica my travel partner managed to do the same. She had made friends with the prince. I think they could be happy if she stopped running and just enjoyed life. But she will never be able to do that. But somehow the prince still likes her.”

Viola grabbed his arm. Pain all over her face

“STOP TALKING!” she said slowly threw gritted teeth.

“Was just trying to make it easier.” Shane said.

Viola couldn’t take it anymore. She screamed.

The whole room looked at her.

Spice come over with some numbing herbs that she rubbed on.

Ranger’s people arrived.

Tẽra was happy to see them. They spoke with Ranger then approached the queen.

“We are here to help your friend. But I see many are wounded. Shall we help them?”

“Please” Tẽra said.

She stood in the doorway.

Jessica sat up.

“That’s the queen. I need to speak with her.”

“It’s not proper.” Yair objected but Jessica hobbled over.

Drake watched.

“Your majesty, I am Jessica Wildness and I really need to speak with you.” Jessica said doing a bad curtsy.

“You must be the earth girl who tazzered my Viden.” Tẽra said looking at her.

“He kissed me. I was just defending myself.” Jessica defended.

“So, you are from earth, and you want to go home?” Tẽra said.

“Yes.” Jessica answered surprised the queen already knew this.

“Welcome to the club. Your fellow earthlings are all in this room. They also want to go home. But they have no way getting home. However, we have been looking and there is a positive possibility.”

“Are you from earth?” Jessica asked.

Tẽra looked at her with a raised eyebrow “I am the queen. Graciously hosting all earth people.”

Jessica wanted to be bold, but she decided against it.

“Thank you” she said in English.

Jessica was walking back to Drake when she turned and asked.

“How is it you understand English?”

Josephina came over and laid a strong grip on her arm.

“If you expose our queen, you all will die. I will kill you first if that happens.”

Jessica looked at Joe. She was going to say something. But Joe’s eyes told her better. The woman was covered in blood. Other people’s blood and she looked like she was still in the mood to kill. Also, she genuinely didn’t care. She was afraid of nothing. Not the queen. Not the dragon riders. Nothing. She would kill them all, walk away and be just fine.

Jessica gulped.

“Ok”

Drake came over.

“Is there a problem?” he asked Joe.

Joe didn’t answer. Zazo came over.

“Is everything alright?”

“That’s what I was asking?” Drake said.

“She doesn’t understand you. She is a warrior from a faraway place, and I saw today why the queen keeps her around.”

Drake had fought with Joe and Zazo. He had seen how proficient Joe was at killing and he didn’t like Joe being near Jessica.

Shane went with Drake to the next room to doctor up Drake’s men who were still alive but unidentified.

Shane saw Pragya laying on the floor with the dead.

“Pragya?”

He checked her pulse. She was dead.

“No, No, No” he said.

He stared CPR.

“Please No!”

Drake watched feeling sorry for the man. His woman was dead.

Shane tried and tried but she was not coming back. He sat on the floor holding her hand. Tears rolled down his checks. Drake ordered no one to disturb him. The attack on the castle had been too costly.

Who was this Black Beard who was responsible?

“Find out who attack the castle. Bring him to me alive.” Drake told his men.

He wouldn’t stay alive after Drake had him.