"I can see them." Announced Strom, from beside Axus and Daren. They had cut down any stragglers or the few resisting mercenaries left on their way there, but by now, most of their opponents were dead.
Strom wasn't surprised that he hadn't seen many citizens during the whole ordeal. Most had already fled the kingdom in hopes of finding a better life outside of famine, disease, and war. What few residents remained were shut in with locked doors, awaiting the final outcome of the long dreaded battle.
Roman soldiers spread out in the space below the palace and its steps. A semi-circle of armored soldiers lined the cobbled street with the three men standing in front.
Daren, Axus, and Strom walked towards the steps, with Strom and Axus stopping halfway, and Daren proceeding forward alone.
Amira stepped forward to greet the general with a cunning smile.
"And who might you be?" She said sweetly but with a hidden venom in her voice.
"It does not matter." Shrugged Daren before pointing behind the woman.
"The kids? Unharmed, I hope." He stated.
"That is correct. And my necklace?" Amira responded.
A sparkling silver and red veined necklace swayed in the fingers of Daren's hand that he raised between the two of them.
Amira's smile widened.
"Hand over the trinket and I'll leave the kids at the front of the palace doors." She aggressively stated.
Daren shook his head while putting the necklace back into his pocket.
"And I'm sure your escape is guaranteed, I assume." He said while chuckling.
"That is correct. Only in the fairness of a deal, right?" She persuaded.
"What about the warrior who was with you before?" He asked while changing the subject.
"Who? Marcus?" Amira said while laughing.
Daren looked back and saw Strom nod.
"Yes? What of him?" He asked again.
"He's fine. He should still be back at the meeting point Strom left him at." Amira replied while glancing at the soldier in question behind the general.
"Now, again, my safety? It is guaranteed?" Asked Amira who became more serious.
"For the crimes you've committed, I don't believe you deserve such a thing. My personal opinion of course." Flatly stated Daren with narrowed eyes.
Amira rolled her eyes before responding, "And what you bastards have done isn't the same?"
"We are creating a peace that the continent hasn't seen in a millenia." Argued Daren.
"With bodies in its wake of course." Sarcastically replied Amira.
"I'm not here to discuss ideologies. Hand over the children and I'll at least guarantee your life." Firmly stated Daren while pointing to the hostages.
"That's not how this little deal of ours is gonna work. Either you hand over the necklace and I walk away, or…"
Amira walked over to the prince and raised his chin with the blade of a dagger.
Daren didn't flinch or show any break in composure. In contrast, Strom's hands reflexively moved to the hilt of his sword while taking a step forward. However, a hand from Axus stopped him.
"Let Daren handle this." Whispered the commander.
Strom nodded and stepped back into position, but his nerves remained anything but calm.
Amira noticed the riled appearance of Strom, and a small smirk formed at the edges of her mouth.
"Where's your brother Strom? I haven't seen him in a while." She sarcastically stated to upset Strom even more, while keeping her mixed emotions hidden.
Veins began to form on Strom's forehead as he used all his focus to remain in his position.
"Last I saw… He was being surrounded by you bastard Roman dogs." She continued to goad.
Strom tightened his fists as he looked over to Axus.
"What's she talking about?" He asked the commander.
Axus shook his head and kept his hand in front of the riled soldier.
"Stop the lies you cunning bitch! Here, take the necklace, but don't expect to get far!" Yelled Daren who tossed the necklace over to Amira.
He hadn't shown it, but small beads of sweat currently ran down his neck, while the cunning woman had begun to shallowly cut into the young prince's skin with her dagger.
Daren could clearly see that Strom was nearing his limits. After hearing the story about his friend's mission, he could understand his frustration. However, he could not afford to let Amira injure the hostages any further.
If he did, he was unsure whether Strom would still be able to remain put. Inevitably, the young soldier would disrupt their whole plan if he made any rash decisions now.
'Come on kid. Don't lose it yet.' He pleaded within himself.
Amira still held the dagger to the young prince's throat as she reached up and caught the necklace with her other hand.
"Come on, let's go." She ordered the children as she slowly backed up the stairs leading to the palace. The young prince tearfully remained in her control with the metal of the curved dagger still pressing against his throat.
His sister watched her brother with teary eyes, but silently and obediently followed behind them as she was tugged by the rope connecting them. The princess remained silent in fear of accidentally causing her brother's premature death.
"What are you doing?" Angrily questioned Strom as Daren returned to the two men.
Daren sighed while slapping the young soldier on the head.
"You fool… Stick to the plan. Axus will handle her, once you see those doors open, go and retrieve those kids." Ordered Daren.
Strom silently bit his lip while nodding his head in acceptance.
"Follow me." Commanded Axus who saw the doors of the palace begin to move.
Strom swallowed his anger and followed the commander.
The kids were unharmed, yet still bound by the ropes, at the palace doors.
"You take care of them, I'll find that woman." Ordered Axus.
Strom didn't agree, but he still made sure the kids were safe before returning them to Daren. He then turned and chased back after the trail of Axus and Amira.
"What are you doing, you idiot!" Shouted Daren behind him.
Strom was a good soldier and always followed orders, but right now, the anger and fear for his brother clouded his better judgement.
'What happened to my brother? Where is he?' Was all that remained in Strom's racing mind.
Thunder and clashes of metal rang in the corridors of the palace as Strom ran through them.
'Axus must have caught up to her.'
He needed to get there quickly before his commander slaughtered the vile woman. If Amira died, he may never discover the truth about his brother's whereabouts or situation.
"Amira!" Shouted Strom as he entered the throne room.
Flashes of white light and dust from the crumbling pillars in the throne room obscured Strom's view. He unsheathed his sword and waved his other hand wildly about in front of him to clear the dust.
As the dust cleared, Strom found Amira, clutching two daggers in her hands that blocked a spear point towards her face.
"Wait!" Strom yelled out as Axus powerfully spun his spear.
The other edge of the spear smashed down onto the daggers in the woman's hands, shattering them like glass.
"You bastard!" Screamed Amira as she rolled to the side.
A bolt of lightning charred the marble flooring where she previously had knelt. Bolts of lightning penetrated the floor repeatedly, like homing missiles that trailed after the dodging figure of the woman.
Amira looked up at the commander's unforgiving expression and saw Strom's panicked face behind him.
She smirked before calling out to him, "He's gonna kill me like how your brother was slain!"
The woman's false pleading crushed Strom's heart.
'Aaron… is dead?'
He felt his legs go numb as he stared at the woman, who was still frantically dodging the commander's assault.
"I've had enough of this cat and mouse game. It's getting boring." Mercilessly stated Axus as he raised his spear towards the ceiling of the palace.
Thunder ferociously boomed much louder than before, above the Zephyr palace.
"What is that bloody idiot doing now?" Shouted Daren outside of the palace, after hearing the noise and seeing the mass of dark clouds now densely gathered above the building.
"Die." Axus quietly muttered as he thrusted the spear down onto the marble floor causing it to crack.
"No!" Screamed Amira as she tried to flee from the large circle of blinding light that lit the floor beneath her feet and all around her.
"No!" Yelled Strom, who ran towards his commander with an outstretched hand.
But both were too late.
A thick arcing tendril of lightning burst through the ceiling of the destroyed throne room and smited all within the flashing radius of light.
For a moment, in the bright circle of light, a dark shadow blinked for but a split second. Amira's screams were cut short right before the lightning obliterated all within its area of impact.
"Aaron!" Shouted Strom as he fell to his knees beside the commander.
Axus looked at the man kneeling beside him before stomping the butt of his spear into the floor on the other side of them.
"Let's go Strom. It's done." The short man announced emotionlessly.
Strom refused to get up. Morelike, his weak legs would not allow him. The cruel words of the spiteful woman still rang in his ears in an endless replay.
"I-It… No…" Was all the young soldier could mutter.
"Come on, the men are waiting." Said Axus while picking up the crumbling soldier.
Strom was dragged out from the palace like a lifeless corpse as Axus drug the man over his shoulder.
Daren, who was waiting for them outside the palace, had a darkened expression upon seeing the two men.
"Amira?" He asked Axus.
"That bitch got fried." Axus replied heartlessly.
"Take Strom. He's experienced a little too much during this mission and needs to rest." Ordered Axus before handing over the young soldier to Daren.
"What about his brother?" Asked Daren.
Axus looked over at Strom's unconscious state.
"Burn the corpse with the rest of the deceased."
"Yes sir." Solemnly responded Daren with his head bowed, while supporting Strom's limp body.
"I'll meet with the officials and legionnaire. Just, worry about getting him back on his feet. We have a lot of work to do from here on out." Said Axus before walking back down the steps of the broken palace.