Chapter 12
“The Siege”
During the day, Entity could not find the peace to sleep. Daylight was exhausting and weakened the magic within him, but on this day, he felt as if the sunlight was the only reassuring thing he had left. Sunlight kept the monsters at bay and forced them to hide in the slimy shadows where all vile things dwelled. He leaned on the railing of a guest room balcony and smoked a cigarette – wondering if he truly belonged with the lot of them. He was no innocent man who wanted what was best for the world. Inside, he knew his heart was as black as his charcoal flesh and his greed was as thick as his tainted blood, as it was that very same greed that rendered him a slave to the dark will of ruthless, bloodthirsty queens. He questioned if his defiance was a matter of that same greed for power and freedom, or if it was his long-lost desire to help innocent lives.
It wasn’t until his encounter with Quartz that he began to feel some semblance of the man he used to be. Something about the woman – whether it was her shared woe of powerlessness or her empathy – ignited an ember that was dying inside him, and it put the sorcerer in conflict with himself where nothing but anxious thoughts flooded his mind every time he closed his eyes. What began as a playful attempt to bother the Ensanguined woman out of boredom and a lack of connection to others had grown into something that made him want more than solitude and silence. He wondered if Quartz found herself in the same situation and was curious if she found it just as hard to rest as he did. The sorcerer thought it best to leave her be until dusk.
He was lying on his bed above the blankets with his hands folded over his chest – staring at the ceiling while waiting for weariness to consume him, but his eyes were wide open. He turned to see the woman he found in the cage slipping on a shawl and hiding her dark hair under a veil. She had a rope made of sheets wrapped around her shoulder and a dining knife Entity had given her from his late-night meal in the palace.
“Got everything ya need?” He asked. The woman paused as she was making her way to the balcony doors.
“I do. I owe you my life, Entity.” The beautiful young woman thanked in a thick accent as she faced the man who waved his hand nonchalantly.
“Eh, I don’t need it.” He replied half-interested as his mind still swam with far more pressing thoughts.
“Knowledge of Nacre’s cruelty will spread, and your kindness will be known to my people. I promise you.” She reassured and saw Entity move his eyes from the ceiling to meet her own.
“I’d get goin’ before the sun starts to set, miss –er…” he paused, not knowing her name.
“Neela.” She answered and approached Entity before planting a gentle kiss on his forehead. He blinked in a little bit of shock at an intimate – yet gentle – gesture of appreciation.
“Neela.” He repeated while tapping his finger on his temple. He watched her tie off her makeshift rope and climb down the balcony to safety. He knew there were no guards roaming the courtyards during the day and that the woman would have a clean shot at freedom once she reached the palace outskirts. The act of kindness made him feel a little more at ease with himself – enough to close his eyes for a short nap. He even felt a sense of pride that he hadn’t actually slept with her during the night and instead clothed her.
When dusk finally came and the sun no longer cast its warm rays upon the shimmering city of Destillion, the pounding sound of armored boots marching filled the palace’s luscious courtyard. From the entrance, six rows of fifty hooded Ensanguined soldiers marched out and into the courtyard center. Three hundred soldiers dressed in white hooded cloth, gold-plated armor etched with a hissing serpent on the chest, and masks with the open maw of a cobra that hid their faces marched down the steps in perfect unison. Their legs were layered with golden snake-scaled armor and sharp-tipped toes, and their arms were also layered with the same pattern with Destillion’s mark on each right shoulder. Each row of soldiers carried a unique weapon. The first row held long, ornate recurve bows and quivers, the second held epsilon axes, the third held khopesh swords and round golden shields with a spiraling serpent in the center, and the fourth held two quivers filled with serrated golden javelins. The other two rows held dangerously spiked maces and shields. They stood tall and still with discipline - emotionless and unfeeling.
Queen Nacre exited the palace and stood on the first step to oversee the men and was dressed in a white sheer silken wrap that revealed her hips, legs, and stomach. It dragged behind her several feet, and she wore no shoes – only beads of gold around her ankles that wrapped around the length of her legs. She wore her tall complex crown of spikes and a sheer white veil over her nose and lips. Jewels and gold dangled and jingled around her arms and chest in such excessiveness that any light left shimmered and twinkled off the jewelry. Entity and Quartz wore their hoods over their heads and stood on each side of her, and watched the queen raise her arms high. Every soldier bowed to her simultaneously.
“Warriors of the collective three Ensanguined kingdoms, I welcome you to the heart of Destillion! It is a pleasure to see you dressed in some of the finest and most notorious colors in all of Endle. I thank you all for your sacrifice and commend you for volunteering in what will be the most legendary siege Endle has ever seen.” Nacre declared loudly and happily. Entity rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as he found bitter venom in her words.
“Each of you has been tested and proven by the great and noble Guardian himself. He could not have found better soldiers for such a task, and neither could I. As you all know, this siege is to serve one and only one purpose – to rip the wretched false queen Cariphae from the rightful Ensanguined throne of Arithmetia and bring her to justice for the heinous crimes against us all!” Nacre continued as she opened her arms wide elegantly. Entity reached to feel the arrow strapped at his side when Nacre spoke Cariphae’s name.
A loud cracking of the air and powerful thunder rocked the foundation of Destillion when a blinding flash of light appeared before the company of three hundred Ensanguined men. As the light vanished, Guardian appeared before the smoke with eyes blazing white and armor glowing with snaking electricity wrapping around his body. The very ground he stood upon smoldered red hot and crackled beneath his heavy boots. His presence was so great and so powerful that the Ensanguined soldiers dared not look up or stand from their bow. They trembled before the demi-god and sweat beneath their masks with shaky breaths.
Quartz’s eyes widened as she witnessed Guardian’s almighty presence and found that fear had stricken her frozen. She had only seen Guardian at a distance once before but never so close. A faint memory echoed in the back of her mind when she was merely a mortal child being cradled in the arms of Virgoth who told her stories of the demi-god and the horrors he had inflicted upon the creatures of Endle. She remembered the fear she felt when she heard thunder and hid beneath Virgoth’s cape on stormy nights. Every flash of lightning terrified her as she hoped that the white-eyed defender of humanity didn’t appear in front of her and snatch her from her bed in the night. To the Ensanguined woman, Guardian was no hero – but a nightmare incarnate. She took a step back instinctively and Entity noticed the small movement. He too was intimidated but caught Quartz’s worried gaze. He gave her a reassuring nod which didn’t seem to ease her much.
“Ensanguined soldiers,” Guardian deeply spoke – his duel-toned voice bellowing from deep within his broad chest and rumbling passed the soldiers like the very thunder itself, “Nacre has a plan that I will be overseeing. As of this moment, you all are sworn to secrecy. Should you fail the instructions given, you will answer directly to me. If you leave the siege prematurely, you will be apprehended and executed. If you try to drink the blood of Cariphae, you will be executed. You are not to kill Cariphae or lethally harm her, or you will be executed. You are not to speak of this siege to anyone, or you will be executed. You are not to speak my name or reference me in any way during or after the siege, or you will be executed.” Guardian listed as he placed his hands behind his back and lifted his chin proudly like a General.
Entity smirked and tilted his head to the side as he watched Guardian speak to the soldiers.
“If they shit themselves, they will be executed.” He mocked under his breath. The sorcerer did not go unheard however when Guardian suddenly paused and turned to face Entity. Entity lifted an eyebrow, confused as to how Guardian could’ve possibly heard him at such a distance. He was both impressed and suddenly terrified, but the sorcerer’s pride and arrogance kept the smirk on his face permanently plastered across his lips. Guardian narrowed his bright smoking eyes and extended a hand to the sorcerer which made Entity shift uncomfortably.
“Do you have something to say, sorcerer?” Guardian asked calmly. Quartz looked at Entity as well in a panic and shook her head at the sorcerer to discourage him from saying anything he would regret. Entity on the other hand couldn’t help but peer at Guardian’s every detail and noticed something red and distinct on his belt. Like a moth to a flame, his eyes lit up with clarity and astonishment.
“Entity, don’t…” Quartz whispered to him.
“I just don’t get it, is all.” Entity shrugged and looked away to the side. Guardian tilted his head slightly to the side and began to walk up the steps slowly to Entity. “Ya wanna keep all the humans safe and you’re havin’ Ensanguined doin’ dirty work for ya knowin’ well it’s gonna start a war.” Entity continued. Guardian drew closer with heat intensifying around him, and Entity didn’t budge an inch from where he stood though his legs trembled. Quartz looked more panicked with each step Guardian took.
“Entity–“ Quartz protested.
“Such bold words for a slave. Perhaps you have lost familiarity with who I am, sorcerer.” Guardian growled as he came upon the first step and closed the distance between himself and Entity. He towered over Entity and vastly outsized him, but as intimidating and unnerving as Guardian’s sheer powerful presence was, Entity looked up and locked eyes with the soulless white orbs of the demi-god.
“I know exactly what ya are. When this is over, everyone is gonna know too, bright-eyes.” Entity mocked with the widest grin he could muster. Guardian abruptly snatched the sorcerer by the throat with a powerful grip that made Entity suddenly gasp for breath, but Guardian’s clutch was so intense that it clasped Entity’s windpipe tightly shut. Entity’s eyes rolled backward involuntarily as he felt his vision suddenly begin to blur and blossom with colors. He felt such excessive pressure in his skull that he felt like his head was mere seconds away from bursting. He gripped Guardian’s hand and wrist desperately and kicked weakly from the sudden shock as he was lifted from the ground. Quartz gasped and put her hands over her mouth to stifle a cry to stop the abuse.
Guardian’s scowl was deep and terrible, but he took immense pleasure from watching the sorcerer squirm for his life. He wanted nothing more than to crush his neck until his head was severed – and he could easily do so – but restrained himself. He wondered why Entity would be so foolish and arrogant to insult a powerful and noble deity such as himself, but Guardian was far too distracted by the delight of bringing the sorcerer a forced – and much-deserved – silence.
“It seems you have fallen into true madness. Shall I help you come to your senses?” Guardian viciously spat as he held the sorcerer higher until Entity’s struggle became weak.
“He is an idiot, Guardian, but we need him.” Nacre spoke calmly whilst examining the rings on her fingers. Guardian inhaled and closed his eyes briefly, then looked upon the struggling sorcerer with disgust before tossing him down the stairs. Entity rolled down each step and slammed onto the stone with a painful thud without the strength to catch himself. His cheek lay flat against the hot ground while the world around him spun. He gasped for air through a strained windpipe and groaned in pain while putting his palms to the ground for support. Slowly, he lifted himself up but was forced back down to the ground with a painful and heavy boot to his back. Guardian kept the sorcerer pinned and applied more than half of his weight onto him. To any mortal man, it would’ve been enough to break a spine.
“Look upon this thing. What do you see?” Guardian asked the soldiers loudly and watched as they lifted their heads to see the sorcerer laying helplessly on the ground, yet they did not stand from their bow. “A fool who has outlived his welcome in this world. A drunken pestilence who only lives by the grace of your queens.” Guardian insulted. Entity wheezed and tried to get up once more.
“I’ve…been sober…for two days, asshole–“ Entity squeezed out of his lungs as he fought desperately to retain both his morale and pride, only to feel Guardian’s heel drive harder into his spine. He shrieked weakly and balled his fists tightly to endure the pain of the strain on his back.
“You are to provide a clear path for this delusional cretin. When his task is complete and the Arithmetian queen is subdued, which of you shall bring him to me?” Guardian called out to the men.
“I’ll do it!” Quartz suddenly shouted out as she took a step forward. Guardian turned to her, as well as Nacre with surprise. “I will make sure the sorcerer obeys the task and returns. He listens to me.” She volunteered boldly. Entity wanted to look back at Quartz, but Guardian had him pinned far too hard to budge.
“And who are you to speak so outwardly, girl? Don’t I know you?” Guardian sternly glared at the woman who only took another step forward.
“I am Lady Quartz, Emissary of the Three Queens of Malice, Herald of the Northern Kingdoms, and betrothed to the Sheirun Hau prince – Karuka. Noble-Turned of Virgoth. I have a right to speak, respectfully.” Quartz declared her impressive title and gained a softer look from the demi-god who removed his boot from the sorcerer’s back.
“Quite the title for such a small Ensanguined. Heralds are not meant for battle.” Guardian belittled.
“I can fight well enough to hold my own, your greatness. It would bring me tremendous honor to serve you in this siege and avenge my fallen king. I understand the importance of ensuring your possession of the Arithmetian Queen, and it is a task I will lay my life down for, if it is what you decree.” Quartz bowed her head to Guardian who seemed to enjoy her respect. Entity grinned at the cunningness the woman had as he listened to her pander to the demi-god’s ego and use her title to her advantage. Guardian pulled his teal cape to the side and delightfully grinned.
“Very well then, Lady Quartz. You will be tasked with escorting this parasite back to Destillion when the siege is complete. As for the rest of you, get to your feet!” Guardian ordered, and every soldier stood in unison. Guardian proceeded to open his arms and his eyes grew brighter. Electricity snaked down his arms to his fingertips as a growing rumble began to emanate from the air. Dark storm clouds manifested above Destillion and flashed uncontrollably with lightning. “Fly to Lovelacia and kill every Valaah you see! Slaughter without discrimination and infiltrate the fortress at any cost! Go!” Guardian roared as bolts of lightning struck the demi-god’s hands and cracked wildly all around him. Thunder roared and power surged throughout the courtyard that made the very stone pebbles levitate inches above the ground. Wind swept through in every direction around the soldiers and a blinding white portal ripped open in front of Guardian and stretched outwards to encase the entire courtyard in a circle.
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The soldiers let out a war cry and crouched as hideous, dark-veined, calloused bat-like wings ripped through their white cloth and outstretched themselves in a malevolent display of savagery and bloodlust. Blazing red eyes shined through their masks and one by one, they lifted themselves from the ground and launched themselves toward the round portal in every direction. Entity managed to get himself to a stand and placed his hand on the gold-tipped arrow strapped to his side as he watched the swarm of Ensanguined soldiers fly through the portal in a chaotic splendor. Quartz leaped down to Entity’s side and took him by the hand, then pulled him away from Guardian a few steps while extending her own pearl-white wings.
He looked at her and nodded before the pair turned their gaze to the portal. At the same time, they jumped into the blinding light – being the last of them all to leave. Nacre watched with a calm smile while Guardian sent the soldiers off on their dark mission. Lightning struck the palace’s many spires and thunder shattered the air in a violent storm that ripped at the demi-god’s cape. He turned his eyes to the sky as the rain began to pelt his handsome features, then closed his glowing-white orbs to feel the wind against his cheek.
“Bring my Rexium back to me. My Cariphae.” He softly commanded.
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In the depths of Arithmetia where the lava boiled high and the winds blew wildly, Cariphae had dressed appropriately for a much-anticipated venture to the surface with tall, heeled, laced leather boots thick enough to withstand thorns, tight leather pants for excessive walking, and a fitted leather corset with arm-length gloves and a tight black shirt with a tall collar and low-cut neckline. Black metal shoulder pads and layered yet light armor on her legs offered a tougher appearance. Brass buckles fitted her clothing securely with a plethora of belts to attach various packs to her hips and thighs. She had managed to braid her extensive locks of gold into tightly woven bundles that kept it well off the floor and out of her face complete with black twine to keep every braided bundle tightly together. Her jewelry was safely locked away. Her crown was under lock and key by her bedside and wrapped in the veil Captain O’Dweller had given her. The hellish queen tightened a belt around her waist that held a scabbard which she promptly slid an impressively decorated brass-guarded Sabre into.
Cariphae turned to face her vanity mirror and overlooked her appearance one last time. There was new life in her fiery orange eyes that she could only describe as genuine excitement and nervousness. It had been two centuries since she felt sunlight and saw the lush green of the foliage, and it made the woman’s white-hot heart rapidly pound against her chest. She inhaled a deep breath and exhaled calmly to soothe her anxieties - collecting herself and mentally preparing herself for all possibilities of misfortunes. In her mind, she knew there was nothing too great nor too significant that she couldn’t handle.
The time of stagnant suffering was over. It was now time to move forward.
Cariphae left her bedroom and made her way down the grand stairways and winding hallways with guards at her side, eventually reaching the activated Ianuae platform where Amdusias and a grey, beastly stallion with yellow-hot hooves awaited her. He had already opened the Ianuae for her. The Valaah General was dressed for the journey with multiple packs strapped to his waist and back, and he carried the reigns to the eight-foot-tall anxious horse to keep it from trotting off. The horse panicked at the sight of the Ianuae’s great surge of power and loud whirring that it struggled against Amdusias’s pull on its reigns. It had several leather packs filled with the essentials for travel as well as two sheathed swords and two large brass shields on each side of its rear. Its black tail and mane were braided tightly, its eyes were steaming yellow-hot, and its nostrils flared with smoke rushing from its lungs. It was a stallion that the queen loved more than all the rest and she approached it to place her palm on its hot neck softly.
“Easy, Mollitium, easy.” She soothed the stallion and looked to see Amdusias step aside once the horse had calmed itself in its owner’s presence.
“We are prepared for a maximum of two weeks on the surface, your majesty.” Amdusias placed a fist on his chest and received a nod of approval from Cariphae.
“It should not take any longer than that to accomplish our mission, Amdusias.” She reassured him as she lightly pulled at a few buckles to check if they were secure enough.
“I would hope not. The people will begin to question where you and I have gone.” He responded. There was a loud roar of thunder that made both the General and the queen snap their gaze to the sky over the tallest tower of the fortress. The sound was so abrupt and loud that it made the steed rear back and squal in terror. Cariphae fought to grab at the reigns and pull the stallion back down, but it kicked furiously against her pull. Bright flashes of horrible red lightning struck across the skies and the brick foundations vibrated from the sound that only made the stallion kick and buck until it finally darted away from Cariphae and Amdusias.
“What is that?!” Amdusias hollered as the two watched the red lightning form a distinct circle over the fortress. The black clouds swirled towards the ring of electricity faster and faster before igniting into a blazing white portal. Cariphae narrowed her eyes at the phenomenon and witnessed floods of Ensanguined soldiers swarming out and around the portal.
“An attack.” She answered before looking at the high walls where her soldiers patrolled. “Attend to your stations! Ensanguined are assaulting! Mobilize and defend! Sound the horns!” Cariphae roared with power and authority in her booming voice before running towards the fortress entrance. Amdusias ran behind her with his massive hooves pounding against the hot bricks. The Ianuae was left activated behind them.
“You heard her, men! Ready yourselves and light your arrows!” Amdusias added as he unbuckled the packs on his hips to drop them in his dash, as did Cariphae. In mere seconds after the orders had been given, a Valaah soldier with the head of a stag reached the top center tower of the fortress where an enormous, weathered horn sat situated upon a stone platform. He blew with ferocity into the horn that let out a grand bellowing call that echoed throughout the kingdom. Several more horns blared from two other towers. The soldier was harshly snatched from his station by an Ensanguined and thrown from the tower – hitting a platform below. More Ensanguined soldiers swarmed the other towers, killing the Valaah and tossing them into assembling soldiers below and into the surrounding lava lake.
Cariphae ran with impressive speed down the hallway with her heels sparking against the bricks. Amdusias trailed behind her and snatched an axe and shield from a resting rack.
“Amdusias, get to the gatehouse and seal off all the high towers! Arm the east and west battlements with every archer we have and keep the drawbridge lowered! I want foot soldiers deployed in the city streets to defend the citizens. Pressure the Ensanguined to fight on foot here in this bailey, leave no airspace safe!” She commanded as she ran past several Valaah soldiers before grabbing a heavy brass shield complete with a gauntlet from a soldier who offered it to her.
“Yes ma’am, but what of your armor?! We are not prepared for combat! You need time to dress for battle!” Amdusias yelled back. Cariphae withdrew her Sabre in her mad dash for the bailey across the fortress.
“There is no time! I need no armor to fight heathens! Go now, GO!” Cariphae replied sharply and Amdusias turned down a hall that led towards the east gatehouse. Cariphae ran alone and gave the same orders to every Valaah soldier that passed her with their swords and shields ready.
Ensanguined soldiers dove through the air skillfully with their weapons at hand – swooping passed the towers and landing on ledges while Valaah closed the heavy metal hatches to each one. As the intruders did their best to break the hatches off their hinges, arrows of defending Valaah flew upwards and pierced their wings and backs – pressuring the offensive Ensanguined to leave the hatches and fly out of range. Several Ensanguined archers stayed put and took cover to return fire. Valaah took their positions at the battlements, firing incendiary arrows through the air at each Ensanguined that flew too close to the towers and forced them to fly lower. The battle cries of Valaah and Ensanguined alike were deafening while the terrified shrieks of the citizens below echoed through the fortress walls.
Ensanguined soldiers armed with axes and blades turned their aggression towards the scrambling citizens while Valaah foot soldiers ran across the drawbridge towards the city. Ensanguined landed in the streets and with monstrous speed and strength, they plunged their weapons into any unarmed Valaah citizen that could not escape quickly enough. Squeals and cries resonated as blood poured into the streets before the soldiers finally arrived to forcefully engage in direct combat. Flapping wings of the blood-sucking beasts lifted the Ensanguined soldiers off the ground and away from the Valaah, and they flew deeper into the city to draw the soldiers further away from the fortress.
Amdusias ran along the eastern battlement with his shield in hand and a heavy iron axe in the other. His beastly voice howled out orders to the dozens of Valaah archers that fired their arrows with deadly precision – shooting the Ensanguined’s wings and torso until they fell into the bailey below.
“Keep them pressured, men! Force them to the ground!” Amdusias roared before swinging his axe with tremendous force to brutally slice an Ensanguined soldier in half as he dove toward the archers with his axe. The Ensanguined screeched and splattered black blood across Amdusias’s face and shield. The body crashed into a tower wall and fell to the bailey where it was trampled by the heavy hooves of Valaah foot soldiers. They all violently stabbed and beat the Ensanguined until he was dead before moving on to the next enemy.
“Sir, they wear Destillion’s colors!” An archer screamed over the sound of battle before an arrow pierced his back. The Valaah archer shrieked as he was thrown forward by the well-aimed arrow and tumbled off the wall. Amdusias turned to look up at the tower where Ensanguined archers perched. The Valaah general took his comrade’s bow and loaded an arrow to shoot back, landing the arrow into the archer’s neck. The enemy fell from his position and tumbled down the tower where Valaah brutally finished killing him.
“To your six, men! Look up!” Amdusias warned, commanding the Valaah archers to turn and fire at the Ensanguined archers above – dropping them one by one and forcing them to take cover behind the ledge while others dove and rushed to dodge incoming arrows.
On the west wing, Agatha watched from the barred windows as arrows and Ensanguined swept by the view. Her eyes widened at the disbelief that a siege was underway, and she backed away from the window. Suddenly, an Ensanguined soldier crashed against the glass and glared at her with hungry red eyes. Agatha gasped and then shrieked when the soldier punched through the glass – shattering it – and grabbed at the metal bars to tear them from their bolts. Stone cracked and the bars were tossed to the floor before the soldier crawled in.
“Come here!” He hissed with a sickening grin and ripped his dagger from its sheath. Agatha hissed back and bared her own fangs at the Ensanguined. The soldier lunged at Agatha and swiped the dagger downwards, but the advisor was quick and nimbly dodged the attack. She then grabbed a standing candelabra from the floor and swung the heavy metal base at the soldier – viciously clubbing him across the face and throwing his mask to the floor.
The soldier stumbled away and grabbed his dislocated jaw, snapping it back into place with an ear-piercing crack. He sharply turned back to face her to reveal a deep bleeding gash across his jaw that slowly sealed itself and healed. His blazing red eyes glowed with rage and let out a feral snarl. Another Ensanguined soldier began to crawl through the window and took a stand beside his comrade. Agatha backed away before looking at the carpet. In a rush, she held the still-lit candles from the candelabra upside down and lit the red carpet on fire. It spread quickly and formed a temporary barrier between her and the soldiers. She threw the candelabra at the closest soldier and saw him duck to avoid it with impressive reflex. The two soldiers hissed at the tall flames that licked up the walls and spread to the wooden picture frames. They shouted and watched Agatha pick up the front of her dress to sprint down the hall. One painting on the wall was of Cariphae sitting on a regal chair with her crown, and Agatha stood beside her. It was eaten away by flames.
Outside the fortress, two Ensanguined soldiers flew beside one another and held their shields in front of them to deflect Valaah arrows.
“Rush the fortress, we must provide a distraction for the sorcerer!” One soldier exclaimed. The other nodded and raised his axe high above his head. He threw it down and it slammed into a Valaah’s skull. The Valaah dropped dead instantly.
“Soldiers! We target the fortress now! Draw the false queen from her keep and into the open!” The other Ensanguined shouted and a collective uproar from the Ensanguined soldiers erupted. All Ensanguined who flew now spun and dove towards the bailey of the fortress where dozens of Valaah soldiers stood ready. The Ensanguined with shields were the first to lead a line and picked up incredible speed while diving. The Valaah braced themselves with their own shields and held their spears forward. The Ensanguined’s speed and protective line of shields punished the Valaah soldiers by deflecting their spears and throwing them to the side like a battering ram. The devastating blow shattered Valaah shields and allowed the Ensanguined to make a landing at the gate of the keep. As the Valaah stood to recover, the Ensanguined spread outwards and attacked them without hesitation. Axes and swords pierced Valaah flesh while others violently attacked the front doors that lead into the fortress.
Cariphae made it to the front entrance of her fortress where she could hear the pounding of the Ensanguined’s weapons and the roars of both forces battling against each other. Agatha was rushing down the steps with the ends of her dress in her hands, looking concerned, confused, and out of breath.
“Your majesty, Ensanguined have breached the west wing!” She exclaimed. “They are coming in through the windows! What are your orders?!” Agatha asked in a panic.
Cariphae watched as her soldiers pushed themselves against the door to keep it shut. She spun her blade in her hand and approached the baying doors while her eyes caught fire – bleeding yellow flames of fury.
“They dare attack my fortress and break their treaties. They will pay dearly. I want those hallways blockaded!” She growled in fury as her skin began to glow brighter like wildfire with each step she took. Her hair glowed and a circle of fire burst into life at her crown. Heat radiated off the hellish queen and her soldiers looked upon her with eyes wide and full of awe. “NOW!” She roared, making a dozen of her soldiers flinch at her tone and take off upstairs to blockade the west wing.
“Your majesty, if the Ensanguined enter the front gate, they will gain access to everything, what shall we do?!” A soldier struggled out as he pushed back against the door desperately. The head of an axe slammed through the wood beside his head, narrowly missing his skull.
“Open those damned doors.” She demanded. The Valaah did not hesitate to obey the bold command and howled in unison to pull open the front doors – revealing a screaming Ensanguined soldier with his axe raised high to chop into the first thing he saw. When his red eyes laid upon the Arithmetian Queen, he froze – as did the rest of the Ensanguined who stood at her door. They were expecting Valaah, not the queen herself who held pure rage and bloodlust in her gaze.
“Welcome.” Cariphae scowled before slicing her Sabre across the Ensanguined’s throat, beheading him with a clean cut, and watched as his head rolled to her feet. Black blood erupted from the severed neck, spraying over his comrades. The shock and fear left them vulnerable for a valuable second that the queen did not hesitate to use to her advantage. She rushed the soldier to her left and slammed the edge of her shield into his torso and pinned him to the wooden door – hearing him let out a blood-curdling cry before dying with a gruesome gurgle of blood spilling from his mouth. His lower half had been severed and fell to a heap at the queen’s foot. She ripped the shield free and the torso fell as well.
The soldier on the right hissed and swung his sword down at the queen and missed as she stepped to the side to dodge the attack. The Ensanguined reared his sword back with intense speed, but the queen was faster and grabbed his upper arm with the gauntlet in her shield, then dug her nails into his armor so tightly that she pierced the protective metal and hooked onto his flesh. The soldier screeched in pain before feeling his right arm become ripped from its socket and torn from his body. Using his own arm, she slammed the severed limb into his torso with such brutality that it sent him flying across the floor with an opened ribcage. His lungs had been liquified from the impact and splattered across Agatha’s dress – making her scream in horror. She crushed what remained of the severed arm in her hand so tightly that it split in two and fell to the floor.
She took in a full view of Ensanguined and Valaah battling in the bailey – examining how many enemies were in her fortress and what threats they presented. Her quick observation only gave her far more questions than answers. There were so few soldiers and not a single commander. No leader, no flag holders, no warnings, and yet they wore Destillion’s colors. Agatha approached behind Cariphae without fear knowing well that her queen would quickly disband any attackers that came near.
“Destillion soldiers?” Agatha asked worriedly as she stepped over the severed Ensanguined head carefully.
“Nacre has declared war, and this is her message.” Cariphae replied and wiped her blade clean against her forearm. “Get to my office and lock yourself in. Move everything you can in front of the door.” Cariphae ordered Agatha and turned to face her soldiers. “Escort Lady Agatha and kill whoever comes in through those windows. Block them all with whatever you can find! If all else fails, set everything on fire and retreat, they fear flames.”
“But, my queen, your broadsword above the mantle–” Agatha protested and gasped loudly when another Ensanguined soldier rushed the door. Cariphae grunted and pounded her boot against the ground – sending forth a violent shockwave of flames to rise from the ground and ignite the Ensanguined near-instantly. The soldier screamed and fell in front of the queen, and she lifted her other foot and smashed it into his skull to splatter blood and brains outwards like an insect. She twisted her boot and gave her advisor a stern glare. Agatha watched the gore in horror before turning and fleeing as her queen commanded. The queen looked to her Valaah soldiers and motioned her head to Agatha. “Defend her with your life! Move!” She ordered, prompting two Valaah to nod and follow the advisor.
Cariphae turned back to face the battle outside and slid her sword across her shield to rain sparks across the ground she walked on.
“If it’s war you desire, Nacre, then you shall have it.” Cariphae bellowed before dashing into the midst of the bloody battle.
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