The fresh cut on my neck tingles seeing the hooded man hold his sword as he stands a good distance away from us. He appeared out of nowhere, a trace of smoke appeared before him, and suddenly he together with a dreadful creature halt our near escape.
What's questionable is the fact that I remember a few minutes ago, he was wounded. The arrow pierced him right on the heart, I doubt anyone would have survived that. However, he stood there without a hint that he was harmed, unmoving.
The creature behind him is the most horrifying thing I've seen tonight. My skin crawls thinking about the possibility that it could be what pulled me just now.
A tree-like creature, a bundle of tree branches covered with moss forms its body with four long arms. The most terrifying feature about it is that it doesn't have the head of a person. Instead, there are skulls on its antler-like head. Three skulls on its antlers and one on its right hand. Its only eye is glowing red at the very top center. It looks like a complete mess, difficult to define but it's a horrendous sight.
The creature stood loyalty behind the man who cowardly stood hiding its identity behind that hooded cloak and a mask. The whole area reeks of chaos and smoke coming from the flames that overtook the yard.
The silence is cut short when the man decided to speak, "I believe that we've caused unnecessary destruction over that girl," he points his sword at me and I glare daggers at him, "we don't intend to take this further if decide to oblige and hand her over."
I look at Rhys who steps forward. He scans through the area before chuckling bitterly, "if you thought capturing her would be bothersome, why even try? Now, look what you and your grotesque looking friends have done to our beautiful Kingdom."
Rhys's statement earns a couple of angry growls from the creatures that stood near him and he rolls his eyes, "we're not giving her up, not a chance you pea-brains."
"Beautiful? This kingdom is nothing but a fake! You Dazians have done nothing good but curse the peace of the living," the man snarls.
"How very hypocritical of you to say, your army caused havoc on our land and you're saying that we curse peace?" Rhys turns to me and whispers, "they're as thick as two short planks."
I want to laugh at that comment however this isn't the right time and place. How long are they going to keep this up? I have to agree that this man of Beorene is imbecilic to think that this kingdom would give me up.
"Foolish ones believe false truths," the man laughs, "but we're straying from the point of this mess. The King of Beorene demands that girl be brought to him at once, agree to this and we guarantee peace between our lands. No more war."
Me, as a gift of peace? Dazia and Beorene have always been at war since the very beginning. If what the man stays true to his words that there would be peace at last, maybe it isn't so bad-
"Don't even think about it," Rhys stops me from being consumed in my thoughts. He glares at me, warning me, making me gulp and nod my head.
Faye gets closer to me and holds my hand, "then I think you should know that Rose is under the protection of Blossom Wrinklewing, the keeper of the castle and the fairy in charge of the kingdom," she defends.
I scan through the area to find that we're surrounded by a great number of creatures. However, the knights of Dazia stood behind them, ready to charge from the back when given the signal.
"Attempt to take her, Dazia won't stand and watch. You and your minions will crumble under the swords and shields of Dazia's knights. We reject your offer."
Again another silence falls upon us after Faye concluded the argument. That is until the hooded man's shoulder started shaking uncontrollably. I squint my eyes to figure out what's wrong with him when he lets out an unexpected hysterical laugh. He's a mad man.
His mad laughter causes his hood to fall off of his head and he peels his mask off without a care. The three of us gasp in unison that this man had finally decided to reveal his identity.
I expected him to be much older but he's no older than Rhys. They may be the same age. Though, compared to Rhys he's much smaller in height and size. His hair is unruly and passably dark with a red streak on his messy bangs. His red piercing eyes stand out but the long visible scar on his face, running from the center of his forehead to his left cheek is what catches your attention at first sight.
Unfortunately, the scar ruined his quite good-looking face.
"Well if you insist," he says in between laughter, "your wish is my command," his voice gets darker. Before we know it, his red eyes glow brighter as he gives the signal with his sword.
It came so fast, the tree-like creature under the man's command extended three of its long branch arms towards me at great speed. My eyes widen as it's nearing me but before it could touch any nearer, Rhys beats it by slicing its arms with his sword.
The creature's arms retreated but the sliced part of it drops to the ground turning to ice. I gasped looking at the frozen branch and Rhys's sword that's emitting icy smoke.
Creatures surrounding us charged forward, some turned back as the knights attacked as well. I watch the man disappear making me frantically look around but to suddenly appear upon my face.
"Boo!"
Out of fright, I bring my fist to punch his face but he blocks it, taking ahold of my fist. I swat his arm off with my free hand while taking the chance to kick him on the stomach, causing him to move back just enough distance for me to grab an arrow from my quiver. I aim at his forehead, he smiles before disappearing, leaving a trail of smoke.
My heart almost leaped out of my chest when he appears behind me, choking my neck with his arms, "oh I forgot, I'm supposed to bring you unharmed," he whispers on my ears, giving me goosebumps.
His grip is too strong for me pull so I resulted in the only option, I bit his arm as hard as I could and he screams in agony, pushing me off of him. I come stumbling forward but I kept my balance.
I turn around to take my shot but Rhys already beat me to it. Their swords clashed, their faces can't be described from the heated battle they're having.
Rhys should be the best swordsman I know and the face of the man who's struggling proves it. He then calls to something, "Ada!"
And I might know what he's referring to. I swiftly turn while positioning my arrow and as I come to the target, I let the arrow go without hesitation. It flies straight at the tree-like creature, at its only red-eye.
It cries out an ugly sounding yell. It doesn't even have a mouth so I don't know where that sound is coming from.
My body seems to be on fire, feeling great energy surging throughout my body. I turn to my right as I hear an incoming galloping of a horse. I ready another arrow, aiming for its head but it doesn't go down with just one arrow so I start shooting a couple more.
At this point, I see that we're very much outnumbered. I can also see that our knights are getting tired. The possibility of losing is terrifying.
All of a sudden, the ground starts shaking violently causing everyone to stop what they're doing. Faye rushes to me with a confused look that is until large branches appear from the ground. This scene looks familiar but I can't fully grasp what it is.
In the center of the castle, from the balcony appeared Blossom. Her wings fluttering open and close as it carried her toward us. She floats in the air, glowing a bright divine light. She controls the nature that came to our assistance.
"Ducan, your army has caused too much destruction. More than enough that I'll have to interfere," her voice had changed. It's no longer the same soft and calm voice that I'm used to.
"I believe Faye has already warned you that Rose is under our protection, leave now or suffer the consequences," she warns. The branches darts towards every creature including the man, wrapping itself around their bodies. It would easily suffocate them and end their lives.
Ducan laughs wickedly even though he's struggling to catch his breath, "the King won't let this go, he'll have her."
"Then let him come to me," Blossom replies.
Ducan coughs and goes silent. A cloud of thick smoke covers the area, blinding our sight. I grip my dagger preparing for anything that might happen. It won't be possible for them to escape the branches, it's thick enough that you can't cut through it.
It only takes a few seconds and the smoke had cleared. The beings of Beorene gone, leaving no trace. The moon shines brightly over the castle and the exhausted Dazians.