Day 12

Rachael was bathing off the blood when she heard the villagers attack. She quickly got dressed and found a weapon. It sounded like the battle was moving away from her. It seemed like forever as she waited in her room. Then she heard a gunshot.

‘Chris’ she thought ‘He must be free.’

His words of I will kill you filled her mind. She felt unsafe in her room.

She carefully opened the door and looked. There was no one. She ran quietly down the passages towards the sick bay where Chris had been. When she got there only the dead greeted her and Chris was not among them.

Her heart sank. She heard a scuff behind her and turned into a big man.

“I have one of the queen’s friends.” He called to others outside the room.

They were searching, every room. Killing anyone who they thought was a benefactor of the queen’s rule.

“Hair like that, she really is a friend of the queen.” A woman said to the man.

Rachael tried to pull away. But he gripped her tightly. She tried to hit him but to no avail. The woman struck her with a bronze pot. Blood gushed from her nose. They dragged the screaming Rachael out of the castle and bound her hands and feet.

“Help me!” Rachael screamed.

“Anyone!” she began to cry as fear won.

She knew no one was coming. She was helpless and all the training she had done with Joe was not enough. She was going to die.

They tied a rope to her feet and to the saddle of a horse.

A man then rode the horse from the castle all the way to the City Point. Proclaiming as he went.

“We have dealt a blow to the queen. See the privileged fall.”

Rachael was dragged by her feet behind the horse. She felt her skin getting ripped off and the horse galloped through the lower town outside the castle. Her whole body was bashed, scrapped and torn as the horse ran. By the time they reached the stone streets of the City Point, Rachael was a skinless body that left a trail of blood. They untied the rope from the saddle and left her tied up and mostly dead, to finish dying in the streets.

* * *

Meanwhile in the castle Joe was on a murderous rampage.

Nikki sat with Lakisha and James in their barricaded room.

Spice watched as Rosaleighm embraced killing and she realized she didn’t want this.

Tẽra hid in the stables with her horse Sherralee and Otchulissa.

Viola and Viv found Jacob, Xoma and Rider. The family held the west wing. Killing all who carried a weapon.

Captain Kumi found Kerri-liana.

“Come gosling, we have move.”

Kerri didn’t even correct him on her name. She followed the giant of a man. He led her to the money chamber where he had been taking the stragglers he had found. She looked at the treasurer, Hodge and others she had seen but didn’t know. Even kitchen slaves and workers of the garden’s where there.

“Keep the door shut. Only open for me.” He told the treasurer.

Then he ran off with his sword and the door was closed.

“What is happening?” Hodge asked.

“I don’t know.” Kerri answered.

“Who is that man?” a slave asked.

“Captain Kumi, a mercenary he brought me back to the castle safely.”

“I knew he was not one of the queen’s men.” Hodge said.

“No but he should be.” Kerri said.

Captain Kumi walked quietly through the north wing. He saw a man. He hid himself behind a pillar.

“Declare yourself.” He ordered.

“I am General Nathan. Declare yourself!” Nathan said to Kumi.

“I am Captain Kumi, fighting for the queen.” He answered.

“So am I.” Nathan lowered his sword.

“I do not know you captain. Who are you here with?” General Nathan asked presuming he had come with one of the representatives for the peace conference.

“I returned Kerri… something to the castle. She was lost after a storm, and she hired me to bring her safely to the castle.” Captain Kumi replied.

“Have you seen my queen?” Nathan asked.

“Not since the first attack. Last I saw her she was with Kerri and she didn’t look well.” Kumi replied “I am taking people to the treasury for safety. Kerri and others are there, locked up safely.”

General Nathan gave him a bow of honor.

“May we meet again in better days.”

Kumi bowed in return.

“May it be soon.”

They parted ways and Kumi went on looking for Viv. The woman with the black hair that killed with such grace. Every move had finesse.

* * *

Drake and the other leaders and representatives convened at the queen’s dining hall.

Blood covered every part of the floor. The table had brains on it and the wounded from the sick bay were safely in a corner with Spice a physician.

“Who spared our wounded?” Drake asked.

His wounded men replied.

“That woman who stands covered in the blood of the slain. She fetched us from the recovery room and brought us here. Where she protected us. But after her friend was killed” he stopped talking.

Spice spoke up.

“Forgive me speaking to you, my prince. My friend is grieved, and she wants revenge on those who killed her friend.”

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Spice indicated towards Natrica’s body.

“Grief has made her ill and no amount of blood will comfort her.”

Drake looked at Joe who was standing at the far door, she had no expression on her face. A blank look. She was soaked with the blood of the villagers.

Keimoni looked at them.

“My prince, she was a woman without honor or conscience, her fallen friend was the only one who could make her be reasonable. You should fear her.”

Drake saw the fear in Keimoni’s eyes.

Joe marched over to them.

“None leave alive. All who entered the castle to kill, will die in the castle! Keimoni, tell them what I am saying.” Joe ordered.

So, he did.

“They are retreating.” Victoria said.

Keimoni translated.

“Help me hunt them down or die with them!” Joe said.

Her face was as stone. She meant it and everyone in the room knew it.

Yair told Prince Drake.

“We will check the west wing.” Drake said drawing his sword.

All the leaders followed in kind. They didn’t want to die for nothing.

Joe killed every villager she found. Armed or unarmed. She encouraged Rosaleighm to kill as well. The two marched to the main gate leaving bodies behind them.

Drake checked his room. Nothing was taken. He checked Jessica’s room, but she was not there. He found Shane bleeding on the floor next to Pragya.

“They took Jessica. I couldn’t stop them.” Shane said.

Drake quickly gathered his men.

“Search everywhere. Jessica must be found.”

So, the dragon rider’s army began their search.

Drake found Viola, Viv, Rider and Xoma.

“I am Prince Drake of the Skiopia tribe have you seen Jessica?” he asked.

“No, we have not.” Viv said.

“Who is Jessica?” Xoma asked.

“Jessica is a woman with red hair who come to the castle with the Dragon Riders and Shane the physician.” Viola said “She was dancing with us when we were attacked by the soldiers. She is the one who insisted on speaking to the queen. In the sick bay.”

“We have not seen her.” Xoma said.

“How do you know she has red hair?” Drake asked with his hand on his sword.

“Because I made friends with her. She is the one who was nice to Natrica about her dancing group.”

Jacob came out from his hiding place.

“Prince Drake, will I be allowed to be a dragon rider when I grow up?” he asked.

Drake was caught off guard.

“You need to be a Skiopia.” Drake said trying to let him down easy.

“I am a Skiopia, well my mom is.” He blurted.

“Jacob!” Xoma scolded.

Drake looked at Xoma, her daughter that was clearly a Vibash and her son that clearly was not a Vibash. He looked at the caster boy and Viola.

“Are you a Skiopia?” Drake asked Xoma.

“I was.” Xoma replied.

“Was?” Drake asked.

“I have no people anymore, you forgot about us in Fort Rock.”

Drake was ashamed. Fort Rock had been lost to the queen’s men. They had retreated and left their own to die. They told themselves it was to save lives. They had been told that everyone had died, and that the queen’s onslaught was unending. It was lost, there was no hope and no survivors.

“Your husband?” Drake asked.

“Dead.”

“Your children?” he asked.

“Of no concern of yours.” She told him.

“So why are you looking for Jessica?” Viola asked changing an awkward subject.

Drake looked at his men that were with him. He looked at Yair.

He turned to Jacob.

“If you still want to be a dragon rider when you grow up. You will be welcomed.”

Jacob grinned.

Drake then left.

He met Captain Kumi on his way.

“Declare yourself?” Kumi ordered.

“Drake of the Skiopia.” Drake replied.

“Prince Drake.” Yair informed.

“I am Captain Kumi. There is a safe place in the treasury where you can wait out the attack.” Kumi said.

“The attack is over. I am in search of a woman, Jessica who was taken.”

Kumi looked around him.

“Search the dead. There are many.”

Drake ordered that all the dead be gathered to one place, Natrica’s dancing studio. He would look for Jessica and his missing men.

Captain Kumi went and let those hiding in the treasury know that the battle was over.

Kerri-liana decided she was going to stick with Captain Kumi as they went to join the others.

“Please take me to the place where everyone has gathered.” Kerri asked Kumi.

He looked at the bodies lying on the floor and thought if he was escorting her, maybe he would see ‘her’ again.

“When I saw Prince Drake, he said they were meeting in Natrica’s dance hall.” He told Kerri.

“I know where that is.” Kerri led the way.

Everyone followed Captain Kumi.

When they arrived at the dancing hall it was heaps of bodies. The smell of blood made Kerri vomit.

Joe came in angry.

“Some of the villagers have escaped. I saw them running. I need men to help me chance them down.” Joe said.

But she was met with looks of disgust.

“You want us to leave our friends still warm bodies to chance down pond scum in the streets?” Victoria asked.

Joe noticed how many bodies there really was.

Tẽra walked in. Despite her best efforts all she could not hide the tears as she looked at the dead. Then Natrica’s body was brought in.

Silence fell over the room. Joe’s choking back tears broke the silence.

“We will give her a burial that will honor her forever.” Keimoni said.

Tẽra stood outside the door.

Zazo came, bring another body.

When he saw Tẽra crying, he put the body down.

“My queen?”

“My friend is d-dead.” Tẽra stuttered.

Zazo put his hand on her shoulder. Tying to be comforting.

Tẽra hugged him.

Zazo stood awkwardly unsure what he should do. He put one arm around her being careful where he put it.

Nikki came into the room.

“I need help, James is looking terrible. Lakisha will not leave him.”

She looked at the rows and heaps of sorted and unsorted dead.

Then she saw Natrica.

“What happened?” She asked.

“Chris shot her in the head.” Joe answered while covering Natrica with a scarlet cloth.

“I will find him and kill him.” Joe said.

Tẽra pulled herself together. She walked into the room with puffy eyes and a puffy face.

“Today we have experienced loss beyond what can be consoled. We all have been attacked while trying to make peace. The peace conference will go on once we have said goodbye and honored our dead. We will find out who is behind this.”

Tẽra’s face was serious despite the puffiness.

“Pray it wasn’t you. For whoever is responsible Will die and no mercy will be shown as no mercy was shone today.”

“I want everyone slave, free, ambassador, soldier, every living soul in this castle here in this room. We are going to see how terrible our loss is. Then we will honour our dead, and then the peace talks will continue.”

Tẽra looked at Zazo.

“Gather one man from every tribe and search the rooms, bring everyone here.”

Fiona found Ranger in the kitchen.

“You are alive.” She said relieved.

They followed the sound of people to Natrica’s dancing hall. The smell of the dead was overwhelming. Fiona held her nose. Tẽra looked like she had been crying and there was grief on everyone’s face. Fiona looked at Nikki who was holding a bow with a quiver of arrows on her back.

“I am glad to see you. What happened?” Fiona asked.

“Chris shot Natrica in the head. She’s dead.” Nikki told her.

“What!?!” Fiona exclaimed “Why would he do that? He didn’t even know her.” Fiona added.

“Joe seems to be taking it hard. She hasn’t even cried properly.” Nikki added.

Tẽra came over.

“I am so sorry this has happened. We will catch everyone involved.” Tẽra assured.

“How?” Fiona asked.

“With all the leaders here. Everyone has lost too much. Everyone will be motivated to work together to find the people responsible.” Tẽra said.

This made sense to Nikki and Fiona.

Prince Drake came over.

“May I speak with you in private?” He asked Tẽra.

“Yes.”

She moved to the corner of the room.

Drake looked at her puffy face from crying.

“I see you are a woman who cares. I am sorry about your friends.” Drake said.

“Thank you. I am sorry about your loved ones.” Tẽra replied.

“I will accept the offer of betrothal. I ask one thing of you. Please find Jessica my companion. She was taken during the battle.”

“Jessica the girl from far away?” Tẽra inquired.

“Yes.” Drake answered.

“I will put my best men to the task. I will keep you updated to everything I find.” Tẽra told him.

“Thank you, my queen” he said.

Zazo and the chosen men from each tribe returned with everyone in the castle, great and small, free, slave and earthling.

Lakisha was yelling at the man carrying her.

“Put me down, I am friends with the queen. She will be so angry!” Lakisha yelled.

“I sent them.” Tẽra said.

“Why?” Lakisha asked angrily.

“So, we can count the living.”

James was sat against the wall.

Kerri walked over to him.

“I was worried about you.” Kerri said.

“I was so worried about you.” James said to her weakly.

“What happened to you?” Kerri asked.

“A magic spell or potion. Either way I am dying but Lakisha will not accept it.”

“Accept that you are dying, why should she?” Kerri asked shocked.

“The Mystic Healers tried to heal me, but I became sick again and this time it came back quicker. All I do is make them sick as well.” James weakly told her “Strangely” he added “I feel better now that you are here”

Kerri sighed.

“I don’t want to be in a relationship with you.” Kerri said annoyed that he brought it up again “You just not my type.” She added not entirely sure what her type was.

James didn’t respond. Her being there did make him feel better. Not comfort better but a better, better.

Viola and the assassin family got brought in as well.

“I am glad you are alright.” Viola told Fiona.

“I am glad you are also alright.” Fiona replied, “You are injured?”

“Yeah, didn’t want those red eyed people in my head after the first attack, it reopened during the second attack.”

“Do you know who attacked us?” Fiona asked.

“Not yet.” Viola said.

Ranger came over. He greeted Viola and stood with Fiona. Nikki came and stood with them.

“I am Nikki” she introduced herself to Viola.

“Have you not met my sister?” Fiona asked.

“I don’t think so.” Nikki replied.

“I am Viola. Fiona’s sister.” Viola introduced “I saw you when we were all dancing. I believe you have befriended my sister.”

“So how have you been?” Fiona asked Viola.

“Fine.” Viola replied not wanting to explain she had been taken prisoner, attacked, saw a real live dragon face to face, and learnt to speak and understand the language through the kiss of a girl.

Spice went to check on James. His symptoms looked less. As if the purple was returning to polka dots instead of all purple.

Spice call Keimoni to translate.

“You are looking better. When did you start feeling better?” she asked.

“You will think it’s funny.” James replied.

“Please tell me” Spice urged.

“Kerri-liana came over and spoke with me. Then I started to feel better.” James said.

Spice ran to Kerri-liana.

“I think you have something magical. James says he started to feel better when you were talking with him. Please show me what you are carrying.” Spice asked.

Kerri frowned at her.

She began to take the thing out of her pack.

As she took out the book the wizard had given her Spice’s face lit up

“Where did you get that?”

“I met a wizard while I was lost in the storm. He gave it to me.” Kerri said, “But I do not understand why a book of lineage is so important.”

“The wizard!?!” Spice was so delighted.

Spice had heard stories, but she doubted the truth of them. Only every fifty years??? How old was the guy? She had begun to think he was a story meant to give people hope even when there was none.

“I need your book” Spice said, “I think I can make James better.”

Kerri reluctantly gave the excited Spice her new book.

Spice promptly pulled off the cover.

“Don’t!” Kerri cried, “Why did you do that?” she moaned.

“Because if the wizard gave it to you then there is magic to be found and I just found it.”

Spice took a small piece of wood that was a crest of some kind.

“How did you know?” Kerri asked.

Spice just smiled.

Then she broke the pendent and crushed is.

Kerri stood it horror.

“I didn’t even get to take a picture of it” she complained.

Spice put it in water and made James drink it.