Just as it had been for the last fourteen days, the Candis's squally weather enveloped the Ethyrian citadel that lingered on its ragged boundaries. Fort Houx, the kingdom's westernmost stronghold, was not half the level of the lowest apex but the mountain range did not hesitate to let the settlers experience a certain amount of its famed inclemency. Frozen rain poured alongside the continuous whipping of the merciless wind which bitter temperature descended from the peaks.
This unfavorable condition precluded the Ethyrian troop to progress further as it aimed to assault the gates of Uxx. For several days, the army remained unfruitful in the fort hoping for the termination of the natural phenomenon. King Troy, who remained with his faithful followers, highlighted the security of his subjects, which was why he commanded the cancellation of the proposed attacks more than once. To prove however, that he was with the army, he stationed himself among them and did not descend to the capital regardless the unavailability of an assault. He was housed with the generals in the fort since five days ago when he ambitioned to lead the assault he thought was necessary for the survival of his kingdom.
The beastly realm of Uxx nestled on the gargantuan peaks of the western mountains had been a serious threat to the kingdom of Ethyr for the last five years. It has continually assaulted the human domination from the day when the mad scientist Aglador first led his otherworldly army of ersatz creatures into the borders of the Ethyrian dominion. King Troy had tried his best to counter the attacks and suppress the ambitious antagonists however the horrible army often prevail over the mortal cavalry, their remarkable beastly qualities highlighted as an edge in every battle. It was as so until the time came when the Ethyrian king finally decided to devastate Uxx before it ruins his kingdom. The exemplary scheme threatened the dominators of the Candis making them rely on the protective inclemency of the mountain weather while retiring in a treacherous stillness – like the calm before a storm.
It was in the keep, while he was in his royal apartments pondering over another scheme prepared by his generals, where King Troy heard a strange voice overpowering the noise caused by the solid droplets. The mysterious voice that seemed to come from nowhere was calling his name. He paused, put aside the maps earlier delivered by his knights and allowed another echo before he did stand up and proceed to a table positioned in the far corner of his temporary abode.
On top of the table, there lay a basin half-filled with water. Troy observed the container from an arm's stretch distance. He heard the voice call again, then, he was certain it came from within the basin. Sighing, he set aside his wonderings and drew near the table. As the king approached the container, he looked into it, watched blankly at the still liquid therein confined and imperiously said: "I hear you and I have come as you wish."
From the water within the basin, there came the strange voice that replied, "There is something I must let you know, your majesty." Then an image loomed amid the stillness of the pacified liquid. It was a living portrait of a youthful male head with a pointed chin and narrow eyes. Then it added, "I have sensed treachery from within your kingdom. It is yet unclear since I am yet to identify what or who can do so. However, one thing is assured – that such a fraud is directed to nothing more than the revelation of the secret."
"But how could it be?"
"The answer to that query, your highness, is yet beyond my knowing. Nonetheless, rest assured that I will hand you information when I gain enough."
"I am afraid the time has come for us to reconsider what we have decided long ago," the king told the image.
"Maybe not yet," then there was an eerie silence. "But if that is as you wish and you would resort to no better choice, then I am most willing to give you a hand. Such matters however will not be accomplishable in a short period. Let it be known to you that what we intend to do is the discontinuity of a process that was initiated decades ago. It will be undeniable that changes will occur prior to and after the execution of such feat."
"If that is then the case, it will be best if we have the situation reserved. We will assure that everything is ready to welcome such a deed regardless if we will resort to it now or not."
"Have you thought about it religiously, your highness?"
"I was thinking about such the previous night while I was scanning the pages of Iorus Canicus and Lexi Navalon. It dawned upon me then that the documents indeed contained illogicalities which if corrected would yield results parallel to that which we intend to put into action. The execution then of our proposition would be similar to the straightening of a crooked path – it is like correcting the errors of history and finding out what is to become of today if such happened yesterday."
"I do not fear the changes, your majesty, but then I fear the fragility of the process. Correcting the errors of the past is like unlearning what had been implanted in one's intellect for years to give way to a new knowledge that would assuredly be in opposition to what was primarily known. It would be a difficult, lengthy, and delicate process, which outcome must be raised to a sublime perfection. It will be all or nothing."
The king sighed deep and thought for a while. He stood striding towards the basin supporting himself with his two hands extended above the table. Then he said, "We cannot live in lies any longer. Uxx is becoming powerful as the days go by and Ethyr had been disempowered almost proportionally. The truth has to be set out; and the truth is that Uxx will never surrender unless they have put their hands upon what the royal codes of Ethyr is hiding. There is no safety for my kingdom as long as this secret subsists among us. I love my people and I cannot bear the idea of risking them for the security of that which the earlier kings protected for pride. Conceit is not a priority for me nor will it be for my kingdom. I would rather bow down before the Seven Thrones than seat in Gobhy stepping over the welfare of all Ethyr."
The magnanimity of the statement struck the listener in as much as he revoked a sudden response. There was only silence that followed – a silence disturbed by the sound of the inclement weather.
Then the one on the image said: "If you speak in the presence of the Seven Thrones in as much as you did now, then there is so much more you will be proud of than just standing independent of their authority. You showed me how fit you are as king, your highness, and if such nobility would remain as master of Ethyr after all the queries will be justified then even Chier would subject herself to you."
Hearing the compliment, King Troy smiled. "Do as you must," he then told the other, "our scheme will be substantiated." The conversation ended.
Wearied yet hopeful, Troy returned to his bed pondering over the weight of the decision he had only committed. He was silent but the weather proved otherwise thus sleep did not come to him swiftly.
The monarch lied above his bed observing how powerfully the Candis wind pushes against the battlement walls. He dismissed every disturbing thought eager to put himself in a pacific instance. Then he closed his eyes while his audition adapted to the stormy noise. He was ready for sleep.
Not long however, the noise developed from that which obviously was caused by storm to that which signaled war. Alongside the rustle of the solid rain, the gongs started to sound. Steel clanged against steel as men rush with weapons. Shouts began to overpower the whistle of the wind.
"Your highness!" the familiar voice of a general awakened the king fully as he slammed the door open. "We are under attack," the speaker hurriedly explained as he allowed the doors to swing violently behind him, together with two squires, he rushed to arrange the king's armor while continuing: "A battalion made its way through the storm and to the fort, there is a big number of them – so much that we doubt the probability of our victory."
"Call for the council," the king remarked as he stood up. "Bring them before me instantly," then he dismissed the general.
Hurriedly, King Troy, assisted by the two squires, wore his full battle armor – first his chained mail over which the velvet green tunic that bore the emblem of Nevel Ethyr, the Ethyrian coat-of-arms, in its chest, then he tightened his belt upon which he fastened his sheeted sword, lastly, he covered his back with his velvety cape. Then he commanded the squires to arrange his steed.
A moment after the squires left, three generals, all in full armors almost similar to the king's own and wet with the moisture of the iced rain, entered the king's quarter. The last of them was he who informed the king about the assault, and it was he who hurried to clear the king's table and arrange a map of the region containing the encampment.
The second general, who was obviously more senior than the last, explained hurriedly while plotting out areas in the map, his hands beginning to shake: "According to the watchmen on the turret, the battalion we are about to face loomed from within this mountain, it is then deemed that a pass invisible to us is found therein. They are currently at a distance that we cannot stop anymore, there is no time left for us to arrange ourselves outside our walls since as we speak, the battalion of innumerous monsters is decreasing the stone throw's distance between us. Therefore, your highness, it is best that our troop attack from within the fort, in the best that we can, we must not let this army penetrate into the fortress. Arrows will be our primary defenses. They will be positioned atop the walls to prevent further progress while we arrange the army in the bailey. It is most possible that they will break into the citadel however; it is for this for which we will prepare. Our troop will be assembled ready for an attack the moment the enemies enter the wooden gates. While this progresses, we will assemble another troop with less members to accompany you as you exit through the gate on the other side of the fort, we cannot risk your safety here, your majesty, and it is our principal task to secure you at all costs."
"No, General Annas," the king argued in a calm manner. "I will remain with the army and we will all try to defend this fortress in as much as we can. If there is, indeed, no time left, let us not prolong this conversation. Bring the archers to their positions and had those with their swords ready for the opening of the gate, I will personally lead the attack."
With no further discussions, the generals and the king put an end to their discourse. Almost all at the same time, they exited the keep to the iced rain outside. Squires had arranged the king's steed prior to the monarch's exit and he mounted the beast, saddled with elegance and armored with safety, as soon as he stepped out of the keep's entry. A squire who followed close behind the royalty from within the interior delivered to him his gold-plated shield and helm.
Solidified rain continued to pour and the strong wind kept on blowing while the king and two of his generals arranged the columns of men facing the entrance of the fort. Above the gate and throughout the walls, the archers have started to shoot with their crossbows. The moist environment precluded the use of fire in the said encounter. This is undeniably in favor of the enemies who were used to the wet atmosphere of those notorious mountains.
A moment passed when a loud thud was heard. It was clear that the enemies have reached the gate and were trying to open it with a battering ram.
Observing this, the king and the generals with him gave the signal for an attack. "Wait until they have unbarred the gate. Only then will we face our enemies. Remember the plan: we will push them out of the entry."
While they await the forced opening of the gate, the men, wet in their armors, led by their king, murmured their silent prayers. The beating of their hearts played in unison with the thuds on the gate and the screams of the fallen archers. There is no more retreat.
Fort Houx was a relatively new citadel. It was finished only three years ago as a primary defense against the ambitious Uxx. Built on the gentle slope of one among the lowest mountains of the Candis, the fortress is obviously vulnerable. The unkind stony giants with their perfidious peaks, which surround it, never promise security. They are oftentimes more of enemies than allies. The fortress walls were surely penetrable since they were outcomes of poor construction resulting from the inconvenience of the unpredictable weather. Fort Houx may easily give up. The king thought of these while he stared at the callous peaks towering over the crouching post. However, he did not allow the almost realistic pessimism to dwell within him. Troy depended on the firmness of his and his men's will as he induced bravery into his heart.
Then at last, the portcullis broke open. In came the armored cavalry of Uxx, brave and confident. Dismissing the solidified rain, the army of magnars pushed towards the interior of the fort. With weapons of steel held high and roars echoing in the turbulent mountains, the group of huge half-man, half-buffalo monsters crowded the gate, raging towards the organized series of men.
King Troy raised his sword and on his horse, led the cavalry at his back. The soldiers of Ethyr, organized in a series of lines, valiantly approached the enemies wholeheartedly willing to defend the only citadel they have established in the Candis.
Halfway from the keep and the fort's broken gate, the two opposing armies clashed. Hundreds of men set aside their compassions as they slaughter without mercy. Weapons and armors clanged against each other. Fallen men and beasts began to carpet the craggy ground. Blood flooded alongside the melting ice. The bailey became a battlefield.
Amidst the crowd, the king swayed his sword as his steed pushed the enemies off guard. He fearlessly pierced a magnar in the heart and then turned to cut the head of another. Two more enemies approached from behind him but he managed to defend himself by his shield and kill the monsters with his sword. This went on in almost similar occurrences until an enemy's arrow hit the monarch's steed. The beast struggled in pain and the rider jumped off the falling animal. This turned the favor of fate against the king.
Without his steed, the king can push no further. He remained where he stood while continuing to slash as much monsters as those his sword can reach. The enemies however outnumbered him. While he was in a sword fight with one, two more assaulted from his sides. The magnar on the left pierced him a few inches below his heart.
"The king!" he heard one of his men exclaim. Losing his balance, King Troy fell to ground seeing a number of his soldiers nearing to aid him. The amount of blood that poured out of his side was too much that soon, he lost even his consciousness.