The sun loomed high above Lichcairn. It wasn't long before the sun started setting again. If everything went right, this night, all the slaves around the Lands of Trinity would rebel against their oppressors. Everyone was anxious about it, but few showed it. Saenna's army garrisoned in the fort, recovering and preparing for the true battle. The battle for the Citadel, to finally end Areyn's tyranny once and for all.
Kiera crouched before a stream of water in the courtyard, ruling out any noises. She was cleaning her sword with a rag, washing off the dried blood from the blade. It was on that moment she actually realized that she ended lives and almost died in the process. Only a few weeks ago, she never would've been capable of doing that. What would her family think if they knew what had become of her? A killer. A stone-cold killer.
"Kiera!" she looked behind her, noticing Areiya approaching with a smile on her face. Kiera returned the smile weakly. "Hi!"
"Queen Saenna wants to talk to us. She might have a special task for us before we attack the Citadel." Areiya said, but then her smile faded. "I know that face...what's wrong?"
Kiera stood up and shook her head, sliding the sword back into its scabbard. "It's fine. I'm just remembering who I'm actually fighting for."
"You know you don't have to do this, right?" Areiya reassured.
"I know." Kiera answered, "But I feel like I have to. To avenge my parents. My entire family. I mean, what else can the last of the Bloodcrests do?" Kiera said, putting up a weak smile again.
"And avenge you will." Areiya finished softly, "Come, let's not leave the queen waiting."
Kiera followed her friend inside the keep, passing a pair of guards at the door. When they entered, an oozing smoke and the smell of melting candle wax filled the hall. Surprisingly, this castle had a throne as well. It was made of black, sharp stones, shaped in the form of a lion's head. At the front of the throne stood Saenna, surrounded by captains and commanders. Once again, in her elegant, winged armoured gown. When the girls approached, a few commanders stepped aside, watching them almost judgingly.
"My queen, we're here," Areiya said.
The queen nodded. "Good.", then waved her military leaders away, turning to the black throne and brushing her hand over the smooth stone of the armrests. "My grandfather used to sit on this throne during the Valquen Reign. This very castle was his fiefdom. I'm not sure if he made this throne himself, but it wouldn't surprise me. Volaria wasn't part of the Lands of Trinity back then. This castle was originally built to keep out foreign invaders. I remember my father telling stories about him. How he fought off all the attacks from the Volarian kings. Thousands of Volarians died, and only a few of my grandfather's men." she circled around the throne, resting her hands on the sharp manes. "And now I've retaken it. Never will Areyn dishonour my family again." she then gazed at the two girls and continued.
"But this war is not won until he is dead. I know you two are capable of great things. You have shown me during the battle for this castle. That is why I have a task for you before I lay siege to the Citadel. This task will even our odds, maybe even give us the advantage. A better chance for victory."
Kiera and Areiya glanced at each other, both wondering what'll come next.
"I want you to sneak into the capital, use whatever asset necessary, but don't show around your faces. I will provide you with a few bowmen who will help you get whatever you need to get inside, but they will not come with you inside the city."
Kiera and Areiya stalked between bushes and trees along the treeline beside a trade route, wearing hoods and keeping their heads low. A cart approached, pulled by two horses and a rider. It was escorted by two Valquen mounted guards. Areiya took the lead, crouching down and gesturing two bowmen in the same hooded ponchos, pointing towards the trade cart. They took a position, nocked an arrow and waited for the riders to come closer. "Wait," Areiya whispered, squinting her eyes, her pupils wide. Her face was covered with stripes drawn with dirt, so was Kiera's. The cart approached, and Areiya took out her own bow and took an arrow from her quiver.
"Take the shot."
And so, the two bowmen drew their strings tightly and released them, sending arrows straight towards the guards. And before they knew it, both guards grunted in pain after the thud of the arrows plunging their bodies. Their lifeless bodies slid off their horses who run away in fear, even the cart rider's horses trampled and nickered anxiously. Before he could tell them to bolt, Areiya jumped out of the vegetation and aimed her recurve bow at the trader.
"Where are you going?" she asked confidently.
"T-the c-capital, please don't hurt me!" the trader stuttered, his hands shaking.
"Get out of the cart," Areiya commanded, still pointing the tip of the arrow at the man as he did what he was told, keeping his hands up. She relaxed the string and put the bolt back into the quiver and wrapped her bow around her torso, taking the man's hands and tying them down on a tree. "Kiera, check his ledger."
Kiera climbed onto the squeaky cart and looked into the man's travelling bag. A compass, pouches of gold, dried meat, and then finally, a small notebook. She opened it and read what was written inside.
"It's steel from Etheon, a whole bunch of it. Supposed to be for the Citadel. We're in luck." she said. Talking about Etheon reminded her that her homeland was still thwarted by Areyn's slavery. A reminder that her family is dead.
Areiya walked up behind the tied trader and sent her fist across the side of his head, knocking him out. "Let's hope he'll be gone for a while so he can't raise the alarm."
She then waved off the bowmen. "Alright, here's where we part. Go back to Saenna and tell her the first stage is complete. If we're not back within a day, something went wrong. Don't risk the rebellion saving us."
She then climbed on the cart, taking the reins. "Alright, Kiera. I think you should hide into the back. It'll already be suspicious if one guardless woman approaches the city. I'll do the talking."
Kiera nodded, "Alright." and jumped off, climbing into the back of the covered cart, hiding behind the goods. Areiya whipped the reins, shouting "Hya!" as she rode towards the city.
The two girls approached the capital. A massive city with three tall towers standing high inside the capital. The fattest one was the White Tower, serving as the Royal Keep, housing the Sky Throne. A ring of thick, stone double walls encircled the city, with a moat in between them. A pair of guards with spears and light steel armour halted Areiya.
"Halt! State your business. This city is in lockdown, best scurry off."
Areiya showed the trading agreement and permit. "Emergency. Etheonean steel for the Emperor's soldiers."
The guard walked up to her and inspected the permit. "Konan Vesmir? Seems like a name for a man to me. You're clearly a woman. What's a woman doing trading work anyway?"
Areiya scoffed. "Why do you think I have such a name? My parents wanted a boy, so they raised me like one."
The guard sighed and looked to his friend, who shrugged. "Alright, you can come in. But don't cause any trouble, the city is on edge."
And just like that, Areiya and Kiera got inside thanks to the naive guards. The massive gates opened, and Areiya calmly rode through them. The mood in this city was way different like all the others. It was as if this was the only city that didn't have to deal with the fear of being enslaved. People smiled, children were playing across the cobblestone streets. It felt like a whole different world. Areiya rolled down the road towards the Lower District, where they could dump it into a forgotten alleyway. When they did, Areiya jumped off her horse, and Kiera jumped out the cart, both taking off their hoods to avoid suspicion and walking through the street as if nothing happened at all. Kiera looked up, seeing clouds brush against the top of the White Tower. She knew Areyn was so close, and that she walked into the lion's den. Then, Saenna's voice played back in her head.
"Once you get inside, I need you to sabotage their defensive weapons. Mounted crossbows, ballistas, trebuchets, anything that can do a number on our army."
A few guards just walked past the two girls as Areiya kept her eyes in front of her. "I saw some weapons on the northern wall. It's exactly where Saenna will attack."
"Since getting to those weapons will not be easy, I also informed my few spy contacts in the city to help you. They will be disguised as two city guards guarding the tower closest to the blacksmith. Just say the words..."
Areiya and Kiera approached the two guards by the blacksmith's tower that connected to the city's outer walls. "Paint the skies, make it ours."
The guards nodded and stepped aside, letting Areiya and Kiera in. They walked up the spiralling staircase, ending up on the battlements of the northern wall. The spies followed them, and there were weapons. Just like Saenna expected. A row of giant ballistas, similar to the ones in Fort Lichcairn that killed Niru, Saenna's Guardian.
"These things are deadly," Areiya muttered.
The wall had many guards patrolling them, that is why the spies pretended as if Kiera and Areiya were siege inspectors, role-playing each time a guard passed by. When the guard passed, Areiya used her knife to cut the strings and hiding them at the same time. And on they went to the next, and the next, until they arrived at the final one. Kiera noticed the sky darkening. She looked up towards the setting sun. Nightfall wasn't too far away anymore.
"Hurry up, we're running out of time," she said.
"Right. Cutting the string." Areiya said, sabotaging the final siege weapon."
"When you're done with the siege weapons, the spies will take you to your next and final task. Thanks to the information Sir Graham gave me, you will sneak into the dungeons and open up the way into the sewers. But it's going to be easy. The dungeons are right below the White Tower. That place is crawling with guards. But manage to do this, and a third of my men can sneak inside and surprise Areyn from within."
The girls followed the two spies down the wall towards the White Tower. More and more guards patrolled the streets, the closer they got to the tower. This time, Kiera and Areiya pretended to be prisoners, captured by the spies. They approached the guards at the dungeon entrance, once again asking, they asked about their business. One of the spies did the talking.
"These two scoundrels were trying to steal a poor woman's necklace. A few days in a cold cell will do them good." The guards nodded and grunted.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Damn thieves..."
And in they went, walking down the stairs into the chilly hallways of the dungeons. Kiera couldn't help but look inside almost every cell she passed, and every time it was occupied. Scrawny, starving men and women. She stopped watching when it became too much. They arrived at another staircase that went down, the same staircase Graham used to escape. It indeed leads to the sewers, but the hatch was sealed...as expected.
"Since Graham escaped through there, they probably sealed it. The spies will handle it, but this might be the most dangerous moment of your task. They will try to break through, it will make a lot of noise, and take a long time. The closest cell to the hatch will be opened and unoccupied. When a guard approaches, get into the cell, and the spies will do the rest."
The spies were hammering onto the steel seals of the hatch with chisels while Areiya and Kiera stood on watch.
"We're making too much noise..." Kiera muttered.
"Saenna warned us for this. Just get ready to get into that cell." Areiya answered. It was strangely silent behind her all of a sudden, and when she looked, she noticed one of the spies raised his sword to strike her down. With quick reflexes, she grabbed the spy's sword hand with a groan and twisted it, followed by a kick in his stomach.
She then diverted her attention to the other spy, equipping her dagger and stabbing it right into his throat after a quick spin with her body. She finished off the other spy by kicking the spy's stomach, sending him flying against the wall.
"No...they defied Saenna?..." Areiya asked sceptical, with blood on her face and dagger, watching the two lifeless bodies.
"Alright, keep watch Kiera, I'll continue trying to get this hatch open! No time to waste!" Areiya said, grabbing a sword and smashing the hilt against the steel seals.
"Uh, Areiya, s-stop." Kiera stuttered.
"No need for that, girls." a voice emerged from the hall. Areiya stood up and spread her stance, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly. "Get behind me, Kiera!" she growled.
Kiera walked behind Areiya, and her heart started racing when she saw who it was. A robust built man, wearing a tunic with black boiled leather and a thick black fur cloak. Black curly hair and a golden crown with jewels resting on his head. It was Areyn. He approached them, with at least twenty soldiers behind him. He rubbed his firm beard and let out a smile.
"A shame for these men. They were very loyal to me. Even more loyal than my own niece." he said, looking offended.
"Stay back. I can cut through ten of you like butter. My friend will do the rest." Areiya muttered, keeping her sword in front of her.
Areyn chuckled, but his smile quickly faded. "Drop your weapon, or your death will be slow and painful. I hate asking a second time."
Areiya was breathing heavily, eyeing every soldier, and especially Areyn. But Kiera laid her hand on Areiya's shoulder carefully. "Areiya...we'll never get out alive."
She kept glaring at the Emperor, then dropped the dagger with a grunt, casting a smile on Areyn's face again.
"Good. Shoot the tribe girl in her legs." Kiera's eyes opened wide, throwing her hands in front of her "NO!"
Two men holding crossbows fired their bolts into Areiya's legs, making her groan in pain and fell to her knees. "Please stop!" Kiera whined, holding our her hands.
"Shoot the other girl too and bring them to my throne room," Areyn said coldly. Kiera stepped back as another bolt pierced right into her shoulder, yelping loudly. When both girls were shot, four soldiers approached them and grabbed them by the shoulders, dragging them through the dungeon. Areiya, despite being shot in both her legs, still struggled like a captured wild animal. "Let us go!"
"LET US GO!" she screamed.
----------------------------------------
Saenna watched into the Eryian horizon on top of Lichcairn's keep. Vast stretching forests and crinkling roads and rivers. The sun was setting, and the two girls haven't returned yet. She noticed a presence next to her. It was Marlock.
"Those girls should've been back by now. Do you think something happened?" he asked.
Saenna kept looking into the horizon. "I hope not. Haven't heard anything of the spies either." she turned to Marlock, and for the first time, he saw the worry in her eyes. "If Areiya and Kiera fail, I might have my doubts about winning this war. Even with millions of revolting slaves."
Marlock sighed and supported himself on a stone crenel. "They still might return. If they don't, we just have to give it our all. We'll even die trying if that's what it takes."
"We'll die trying." Saenna repeated, "I hope you're ready."
"Are you?" Marlock asked.
"No.." Saenna answered, looking down. Seeing Saenna like this was strange. Losing confidence, scared. But then again, he didn't blame her at all. The odds were very much in Areyn's favour.
"I can stay by your side during the fight, Your Grace. So that you're not alone." Marlock said with a softened tone.
"I already made my plans, Marlock," she said while digging into her chest underneath her gown, taking out a small golden pin representing a griffon with two elegantly spread wings.
"Marlock of House Borgon. Are you willing to be my Hand? To be my sword and shield and guard me and the realm with your life? Will you counsel me to the end of your days?"
Marlock smiled a little, a playful expression. "Are you going to execute me now as well?"
Saenna returned the smile uncontrollably, with a small puff of breath.
"I do.." Marlock said, sliding his sword off his scabbard and kneeling in front of her, holding the tip his sword on the ground.
"My sword is yours, my queen. Until the end of my days."
Flocks of birds flew by the top of the White Tower. The setting sun shone the last faint light it could provide through the windows. Kiera and Areiya were shackled by their necks, the chains fixed to one of the six pillars, closest to the throne. Their wounds were patched up, stitched and bandaged. They sat against each other, awaiting whatever fate was next. Areyn hung back in his throne, drinking a cup of wine. It was only him and the girls. He groaned and stood up, placing the cup beside his throne and pacing towards Kiera and Areiya.
"You know, I feel honoured. The two famous girls that brought an army of savages to fight against me are sitting...right in front of me." Areyn smiled, "But, I heard that didn't go quite as planned, did it?" his tone hinted to the fun he was having in using his intimidating posture and speech to scare the girls. Though Areiya wasn't easily scared. They both remained silent.
"I mean, they're savages. Couldn't expect any more of them, right?"
"Watch your tongue, rihtkha" (manwhore) Areiya growled, death-staring into Areyn's eyes.
Areyn opened his eyes widely to Areiya and chuckled. "No. You're a savage? I mean, I should've known by those ugly markings on your face but really? You got abandoned by your own people?"
He burst into laughter, infuriating Areiya even more. She couldn't keep her eyes off of him. In her mind, she was killing him in thousands of different ways.
"I'm sorry. I think I remember how they abandoned you. By the work of my sweet nephew Valmir, eh? He was supposed to bring you to me a while ago already. But I knew when his ship turned around, he didn't survive. Did he?"
Areiya couldn't hold her mouth. "Oh, it felt great seeing his pretty face bashed into a pulp. The same is going to happen to you."
Areyn paused, looking at the tribal warrioress. "Is that so?" he started pacing towards her and crouched, rubbing his beard again. "I don't like your attitude. Getting shot in both of your legs didn't cut it did it?" he said, once again, eerie air looming around him. He reached inside his cloak and showed a dagger in his hand. In the meantime, Kiera was looking out the window to see the sun nearly setting completely. She knew what was going to happen when night fell.
"This is what freedom does to people. It makes them feel strong...confident. Another reason to REBEL!" on his final word, he stabbed the dagger into her leg, making her release a loud shriek. He twisted the blade slowly as well. Areiya screamed in pain, it echoed around the room, even the birds on the window sill flew off.
"STOP!" Kiera screamed, the rattling chain stopping her from getting to Areiya. He pulled out the dagger, giving Areiya time to breathe. "I have given everything for my house to thrive. I am not going to let it get destroyed by a mere savage and a damn peasant!" once again, he stuck his dagger into Areiya's other leg, yet making her release another scream of pain.
"Your kind of people needs to be taught what discipline and obedience mean! Once I dealt with my sister and this petty rebellion, I will deal with whatever is left of YOUR people!" Areyn shouted, showing his teeth and holding his face close to Areiya's. Breathing heavily, Kiera watched the sun disappear. She closed her eyes in full anticipation.
Areyn pulled out the dagger again. "Do you think I will keep enslaving people? Once my cities are built, they will be released. I can see it. I have seen it. People remembering House Valquen as the greatest house there ever was, owning the biggest cities Oryn had ever seen made of black stone. Our banners fluttering in the wind as they praise our name. Yes...your rebellion is built on embarrassing misunderstandings."
"If you had to enslave people to get it, you don't deserve it," Kiera growled, getting Areyn's attention. He chuckled.
"According to...who, exactly? I am the most powerful man in Oryn, nobody can tell me what I deserve and what I don't deserve."
Kiera noticed Areiya's pale face, a puddle of blood forming underneath her bleeding legs. "Areiya needs help, or she will die, ple-" Kiera said.
"Kiera, it's okay." Areiya interrupted her weakly.
"No, you're not okay. Areyn, please, killing us won't gain you anything." Kiera begged.
"You're right. It won't. As a matter of fact, I can't kill you both." Areyn looked at Areiya, "Just one." and stabbed the dagger into Areiya's side once again. An ear-deafening scream followed as Kiera could hear the crack of her ribs.
"NOO!" Kiera yelped, desperately trying to get to Areiya, but she was still bound to the pillar. Areyn pulled out the dagger, and more red flowed onto the marble floor.
"Don't do this, please!" Kiera cried as Areyn cleaned his blade. "I will be right back."
He trotted out of the throne room as Kiera pulled on the chains, seeing Areiya closing her eyes halfway, losing all the energy from her body.
"Don't give up, Areiya! We'll get out of here!" she whined, using her hands to pull the chain as hard as she could, but to no avail.
"K-Kiera," Areiya muttered weakly.
"No, shut up! I will get us out of here!" Kiera said, straining herself on her binds, groaning.
"Kiera, please stop." Areiya continued. A flash of lightning followed by a loud thunder filled the throne room.
"Kiera, look at me!" Areiya raised her voice, at least to the extent that she still could. Kiera looked at her, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Areiya, please...don't do this to me." she whimpered, reaching her bound hands to Areiya's, and held her hand.
"It's time," Areiya whispered.
"No. No, it's not." Kiera sniffed.
"Kiera..." Areiya groaned, resting her head on the pillar, her breath still heavy. "We both knew something like this could always happen when we joined the Flames of Dawn."
"We can still save you, I just need to get out of these binds, and then I can stop the bleeding and get you to Saenna, she will get the best healers, and you will be fine, you will-" Areiya muted her by hushing and squeezing her hand.
"You've come a long way. I want you to know that. When I met you, you were a scared little girl. Look at you now, I made a warrior out of you." Areiya smiled weakly, having difficulties with breathing, sucking up the little bit of air she could.
"Don't leave me, please..." Kiera cried, her hands were shaking.
"We don't have a choice, Kiera. Can you promise me that Areyn will pay? He deserves to die."
"I promise..." Kiera answered, her voice squeaking and shivering. Her face flushed red.
"You'll be able to live in a better world with Saenna as the Empress. I know it."
Kiera felt Areiya's grip on her hand weakening. It pained her so much to see her like this. Kiera was too overwhelmed by emotions to respond.
"I love you..." Areiya added. It only made Kiera cry more, staring in her beautiful eyes.
"I love you too." Kiera closed her eyes and looked away with tears dripping on the ground. And then just like that, Areiya's hand relaxed, and she released her final breath. Kiera wailed. At that point, she had lost everything. First her family, now the only friend she ever cared about. She kept holding her hand tightly and didn't want to let go. She wanted to hug her so bad, but it was such torture that she couldn't. Suddenly, she started singing a lullaby, with a shivering voice.
Goodnight, my angel,
Time to close your eyes,
And save these questions for when the dawn will rise,
I think I know what you've been asking me,
I think you know what I've been trying to say,
I promised I would never leave you,
And you should always know it on a clear light day,
Wherever you may go,
No matter where you are,
I never will be far away.
When her lullaby was over, several distant explosions reverberated through the skies, shaking the tower.
Saenna's siege began.