"Are you taking a stroll around the castle this fine evening?"
Not thinking much of it, Kayla replied.
"No… I was just leaving my father's chambers."
"Oh… Well, do you mind if I accompany you to your room? It is just a simple gesture of chivalry."
Skeptically of his gracious demeanor, Kayla didn't think much of it from him. From what it was worth, Cole was just a pretty boy that was in politics with no combat skills whatsoever. If anything, she could handle herself.
"Sure…"
Awkwardly, they strolled across the castle through the courtyard, silently walking with no means of conversation spawning. Kayla felt out of place as Cole strolled beside her with a strange childish smile on his face. She thought it was quite peculiar, which made her want to laugh at him.
"So…."
Surprised, Cole broke the awkward silence between them.
"How long have you known Allanah?"
For a moment, she is caught off guard that he actually spoke with such normal intentions. From what her father had spoken of him, Cole was labelled as a cold hearted tyrant that mimicked the ideas of his kingdom. But tonight proved otherwise.
"Since we were infants. She is my godsister after all."
Cole looked interested in their affairs with one another.
"Oh… I didn't know that you two were so close. I had dinner with her earlier this evening, and she presented herself as kind of..."
Carefully he thought of the appropriate words to say so he wouldn't offend Allanah or Kayla.
"Defensive… Yea that's it."
"Well she has a lot on her plate. With her father being incarcerated and the two kingdoms trying to engage in civil actions amongst each other, I'm not surprised if she seems a little uptight."
Unaware, Cole & Kayla had nearly made it to her chambers.
"I'm curious about one thing though…"
Lifting her brow in curiosity, she retorts.
"And what is that?"
Abrasive & quick, Cole had stepped in front of her with his arm pressing against the wall; blocking her way. With his alluring smile, he opened his kin eyes to look into hers as he asked.
"What are you willing to do for her, Lady Kayla?"
Instinctively Kayla would have gone on the defensive; bracing herself to either strike or counter any move that he would have made. But his eyes. Something about his eyes grasp her normal senses, causing her to be null of her normal reactions. His eyes illuminated with a strange aura that placed a mesmerizing trance over Kayla that made her feel numb.
"Anything…"
She stuttered to say, but lucid of it. That once charming smile turned into a sinister smirk that casted the true intentions of Cole's encounter with her.
"Huh…"
The grueling details only made Allanah furious of what he had done. The rage in her eyes sparked surges of energy that heated the air in the room, and Allanah's grip upon Kayla's hands became unbearable.
"Allanah…"
She could only imagine the pain she could cause him for what he did to her best friend that she loved as a sister. Using that same ability early tonight on her but failed in the process.
"Allanah!!"
Kayla shouted to break Allanah from her raging emotions.
"I didn't lie to him. I would do anything to protect you.. Even give up my honor to do so."
Allanah's eyes grew wide with shock while her heart broke in front of Kayla.
"Even though he placed some kind of spell on me, I was willing to do anything to keep him from you."
Allanah couldn't even mutter a word to express how she felt towards Kayla sacrificing her own body to protect her.
"You cannot stay here any longer Allanah. You have to go fulfill your true destiny. I won't let you stay here and they find a way to hex you or even worse like your father and I. I won't allow it. I know what he is capable of, and Cole is only the tip of the blade."
Allanah stood to her feet shivering from the disquieting motion from Kayla. Why would she do that for her? She didn't have to!!! I could have found another way!!! Is all that shrouded Allanah's thoughts right now. For the love of her mentor, best friend, and sister, Kayla was willing to do anything to keep Allanah out of harm's way.
"Kayla… Why?"
Caging her sorrow, Kayla rose to her feet wiping away the tears she had shed in front of her. Now the old Kayla was arising and speaking forcibly to Allanah.
"You must leave tonight. I will take your stead since I am next in line after you, King Branston is my godfather. Before I left my father, he was already making preparations for your departure as soon as he heard from you."
Another knock came to Allanah's door. Still stunned by Kayla's self diligence to her, Allanah couldn't focus properly to react to whoever awaited on the other side of the door. Kayla quickly grabbed her hands and held it to her chest.
"Allanah, promise me you succeed in finding them. Promise me you will rid the world from the darkness the Shadow king had spread over our land. If so, I will do all I can here until you return."
Every ounce of her being wanted to say no, but that wasn't the case. Kayla was right and this was the way to make Allanah see to that the prophecy was fulfilled. She nodded; unable to speak with such emotions holding her tongue. Bors entered the room after hearing no word from anyone.
"It is done."
Kayla backed away, knowing that her words had finally hit home with Allanah. She knew that she was stubborn, and would go against any common choice to see that others were taken care of first. In this case, it wasn't about her fighting and leading her people here, but facing bigger odds to preserve everything beyond her treasures.
"But-I"
Kayla didn't want to hear anymore of Allanah's excuses. Before she could even finish what she was about to say, Kayla vulgarly shouted at her.
"This is not your fight alone!!! Quit being an idiot and go damn it!!!"
Truly Kayla meant it. Since her father's incarceration, she has burdened herself in resolving everything that was falling about. Instead of leaning on others Allanah stressed herself to the point of untrusting her own decisions. Letting her hands fall by her waist side, Allanah just stared with a blank glare on her face. Watching Kayla back away, she could see that her tears had returned. Not as before, these were the tears of joy; knowing that Allanah finally realized that she wasn't alone in this fight. Kayla smiles with her cheeks glaring with the moonlit night illuminating her tears rolling down.
" You couldn't see it before, but there are so many people that love you that are willing to lift some of that burden off your shoulders. You need to go, or all of this will be in vain. Don't worry about us here. We can handle our own. "
Finally her mind was made up. Bors standing by her door could see that Allanah had finally come to the conclusion of her trivial decision. Her stubbornness stood as the obstacle that forged the wall that divided her noble duty with her divine destiny. And now it has been brought to an end. She knew that she couldn't wait any longer to leave the capital before Cole discovered it. Presently Ector had already set in motion for her and several other knights to depart underneath the mask of the fog blanketing the city in the early morning. Their horses and baggage were already set and prepared for them to disappear into the cover of the mist. Ector watched as Allanah & the others mounted their horses at the farthest southern gate away from the court grounds, ensuring to Bors that was leaving with her of Allanah's safety outer.
"Be mindful of her Bors. She'll need all the support she can get."
Bearing each other's wrist, taking arms for one final time as a farewell.
"Don't worry."
Cloaked over their shoulders and long hoods, they stood too obscured upon arriving at their destination. Ector strolled over to Allanah, resting upon her steed with her hood shadowing her face.
"You be careful princess."
A smirk grew upon Allanah's face, seeing the rough brute she always knew to show compassion towards her.
"I will. You just don't get yourself killed before I get back old man."
Ector shook his head, not tending to the response of him being spoken to about his age.
"This old man will be just fine. Now get going."
IN a way, it was Ector's style of saying good bye. Short, simple, and to the point if need be, but he was hesitant to truly show that he was saddened that it came to this. All they dreamt of was just a memory now, and this new path had more trivial conquest than any they had ever faced. Allanah & her knights stormed off through the thick blanket of the fog, racing through the winding dark dirt roads that led around the city walls. Glancing back, Allanah wondered who the other two knights were, being that they both had hid their presence underneath the cloak & hood that they all wore. It was little of curiosity, but soon Allanah paid no mind to it. Riding most of the night away, they finally came to the shores of the kingdom; an open harbor that lay northwest of the capital. IN the bay, a small vessel rested, anchored to the docks while an old fisherman hung with his feet dangling from the bow. His straw hat hung low and the straw that he chewed on steadily bounced up and down. Hearing the gallops of the horse, he knew that they had finally arrived. Glancing up, he saw the four carefully making their way down the ledge of the Cliffside onto the beach. Leaping down, the old fisherman with his long white beard and baggy clothes, began to stretch; popping the joints in his back.
"It's about time you got here. I've been waiting for hours."
Dismounting, Bors pulled a large coin sack from his saddle. He tossed the bag over to the fisherman, seeming to be in a rush to board the vessel.
"Sorry old man. We had to ride around the gates to be unseen. If we had come through the northern gates, then someone would have noticed."
"Hmph… Sensible."
Opening the bag of coins, the fisherman's eyes galore with the sensation of joy after seeing the large sum of gold coins in his presence.
"Well I be damn… It was a pleasure doing business with you folks."
Tossing the bag over his shoulder, the old fisherman began to scurry away from the dock, making his way along the beach side. But for some reason, he had to ask them as they loaded the boat with their belongings.
"Hey…"
They all stopped in their place, turning their attention toward him.
"If what you are doing is going to save us all, then I am for it. You have the support of the people, so don't forget that."
That was something Allanah needed to hear. Knowing that the people understood her reasoning for leaving them in the hands of Cole & his regime. As hard as it was, hearing those words was a sigh of relief that some embraced the fact that foreign powers must help with the torn relationship between the kingdoms. Tilting his hat, the fisherman resumed his way down the beach to live on in the harbor. The others continued to load their baggage onto the vessel, until a loud crackling sound roared through the air. Turning, all four saw the old man falling into the tide, dropping the bag of coins that fell all around him. From the side of his head was a gaping hole that was caused by a powerful piercing weapon. Allanah gasped in shock at seeing the fatal moment right before her eyes.
"OH NO!!"
"Ahhh!!"
From where the shot that killed the old man came followed from the sharp cliff side from which they came prior. Standing in unison was the Shadow Guard that tended to the aide of Cole's every command; many aligned with coal black armor, wolf pelt collars, and iron black mask that obscured their faces. In the midst of them stood Cole himself, wielding a pistol that was still smoking from firing the horrid fatality of the fisherman.
"It seems that I wasn't informed of any ponders around the harbor this morning."
Unreal, the others didn't know how Cole knew about their departure in such a short amount of time. Tense, they all stood at guard, preparing for anything that Cole may order his Shadow Guard to do.
"Allanah, get on the ship and go down below."
Allanah couldn't believe that Bors would expect her to idle by, while he and the other two knights faced a horde of highly trained Shadow Guards.
"What? No!! Let me help!!!"
Frustrated enough, Bors shouted at her.
"You are no good to anyone imprisoned or dead!!! So get on the ship!!!"
Fearful of seeing Bors angered, Allanah minded to his command, but hesitant to do so. The odds of them surviving against the numbers that they face was unlike, and she knew all too well of this. IN the end, he was right. She was the main reason why they were coming after her; knowing that she is the key to everything they schemed.
"Bring me the girl alive. I don't care what you do to the other three."
Cole commanded. Taking arms, the Shadow guard took their long pole arms that they wielded, and scurried down the cliff side to the beach. Bors and the others made ready, but the two knights that hid undercover leaped ahead of him first.
"What are you two doing?!!"
Tearing away the long obscured cloaks revealed the formidable knights to the guards charging their way for battle. One a tall broad woman that towered even over Bors, who stood nearly as tall as two men. Her broad muscles rivaled those of athletics and her long brunette hair hung well down her back in a long braid. To the side of her shaved temples were tattoos of large bear-like paw prints. Neighboring her was a slightly shorter knight whose prestige appearance was held with the most upkeep. His hair was wavy and long, nearly as Allanah held her hair. His features were well refined, especially with his neatly cut mustache and brow. Bors didn't appeal to the two, placing themselves between the vessel and the shadow guard forces.
"Atlanatia… Christian… What are you two doing?"
The muscular broad woman named Atlantia simply placed a smirk on her face as she retorted.
" We can hold them off until you and the princess get to safety."
Bors was astounded that the two would suggest such a thing; sacrificing themselves to see that Allanah and he would escape the clutches of Cole.
"What?"
Stroking his long refined mustache, Christian implied.
"She is well off with you by her side. Ector trusts you more than any one of us to keep the princess safe."
In all odds, Bors wouldn't dare leave any of his comrades behind. It wasn't in his nature to abandon those that stood to protect the royal family and their allies until the end.
"Nonsense. We need to stand together."
Christian replied.
"We know how this will turn out. So we have to do our best until you have escaped out of the harbor."
The utter hatred of this situation placed a disguising frown upon Bors' face. Atlantia & Christian had served with Bors & Ector for decades, and had returned just to fight for Allanah & the people suffering during this time. Yet he had no choice. Like Allanah, his loyalty to his people was trumped by a greater cause other than his own. Sheathing his sword, Bors beared one final glimpse of the two before departing for the vessel; embracing that this will be the last time he would be able to see his comrades in this world again.
"Be strong you two. Your honor and legend will live on."
Bors then raced to the vessel where Allanah waited cautiously to escape. She watched from the bow, ensuring that it was Bors and not someone else racing towards her.
"Where are the others?"
She asked as Bors boarded the ship.
"They are staying behind."
Allanah couldn't believe that they would stand alone against the numbers they faced. Frantic, she blurted.
"We can't just leave them out there!!! They will die!!!"
Infuriated by this, Bors snaps back at Allanah berligently shouting.
"You think I don't know that?!!! They made their choice, and we have to accept that!!! They are giving us time to get away from here!!"
His bold heavy voice stunned Allanah, placing a spell that halted her words from shouting anymore. Lifting the anchor and starting the engine, Bors raced to get the vessel up and running as fast as possible before the Shadow Guard reached them. On the beach, Atlantia & Christian stared down the oncoming foe charging for them with every intention to kill. Atlantia took her stance, unleashing a steaming wave of aura from all around her.
"You ready?"
Unraveling a long golden whip with thrones and an iron tip from his backside, Christian replied.
"As always my dear."
The Shadow guard lifted their lances, glaring with a black miasma like aura around the tip of their blades. Atlantia burning with aura unleashes a mighty roar that quaked the earth beneath her feet. Surging with rampaging power, Atlantia morphed into a massive wild bear with claws & fangs thicker than sheets of iron. Christian steadily idle by waiting for his attackers to engage. Unraveling his golden whip, he laid the iron thorn rose stem onto the sand; lying there like an extension of a tail.
"Heh…"
He said with an exhilarating grin on his face. Filled with excitement, Christian couldn't wait to begin the onslaught. Unleashing his whip, he casted the iron stem towards his foe; hurling towards the guard as an iron spear.. Instantly the tip of his weapons skewered through one of the leading shadow guard's armor with ease. Yanking back, he flung the decimated corpse into the air and threw it towards his comrades to at least stun them for some time. Atlantia on the other hand charged in full force; slashing & tossing limbs, torso, and armor everywhere. Ravaging through the horde of soldiers hurling themselves into the massacre. Bombarding them with waves of soldiers, Atlantia & Christian held their own against the profusely yet numb warriors. Cole observed their unique abilities that have rarely been seen before outside of his nation. Holding his hand to his cheek, he watched as his men were battling the two with prestige, skill and power.
" Intriguing. We never knew that the Knights of the Round had such a unique ability in maugkei. The woman possesses transformation maugkei that is common in the Quake kingdom,, and the other has a rare armor manipulation maugkei that is taught mostly in the Heaven kingdom. They have collected an arsenal of warriors at their disposal."
Mildly his curiosity got the best of him, but his sense of disposing of the two knights interfering with his arrest grew most tedious quickly.
"Oh well. Such a waste."
Drawing his long silver revolver from underneath his long cloak, Cole took the savage Christian into his sights from the high vantage point he held. Continuing his assault upon the numbers of guards heeding to apprehend them and Allanah, Christian's mind stood focused on buying Bors time to escape. Glancing back, he saw that the ship was breaking away from the docks, beginning to drift into the wall of the fog to disappear.
"Hurry!!!"
A loud thundering crackled through the air. Christian stunned by the sound, suddenly felt a sharp piercing pain growing within his chest. Looking down, he saw the stain of blood pouring out of his armor and the agonizing pain gradually numbing his body. Falling to his knees, Christian glanced out at the departing ship, feeling that he had accomplished what he promised to Bors & Allanah. The blood came spewing from his mouth, casting a sudden shiver of chills throughout his body while his vision became blurred. His eyes had fell dull from the light brown shade he possessed, nevertheless knowing that the end had finally come for the old knight. Allanah watched from the bow, Christian staring out to them from the shore. Her heart ached as she watched several shadow guards impale his body with the tips of their blades, but not before hearing his final whisper that carried in the wind.
"Go Allanah… Go."
Atlantia became outraged to see her comrade fall to a devastating end. As Allanah, tears swelled in their eyes from the loss of one of their own. Bors felt it deep within, aching that another knight that served with him for decades had perished. Gripping the wheel of the ship, Bors held his composure; holding strong for Allanah's sake. Roaring to the heavens, Atlantia's ravishing cry hurled a wave of power across the white sand, showing the pain that she felt. In the opportune time, the shadow guards struck and bound her limbs with Sickles & chains that bared stronger than Atlantia's might. Anchoring her down, the shadow guards that were unseen to them emerged from the faint shadow of early dawn. Many rose to pierce her in the belly and tear her insides viciously without remorse. This pain was unbearable, causing Atlantia to revert back to her human form. Cole observing the defeated knights brought a somewhat pleasured feeling; smiling in a somewhat triumphed feat. Except for the voyage that had left with Allanah into the sea, purged the smirk from his face. The vessel was a vague image in the wall of fog, but that didn't stop Cole from taking aim one more time with his revolver. The gold lace that was branded on the pistol surged with an aura that emerged from Cole's shoulder. Firing with the force of a cannon, the bullet that soared through the air pierced the veil of the fog with ease, and somehow struck Allanah far left in her chest. The fortitude of the bullet threw Allanah across the deck, tumbling into the cabinet of the ship. Bors quickly turned to race toward Allanah, quivering from the raging bullet that tore through her chest.
"Allanah!!!! No!!!"
Bors dashed as fast as he could by her side, but before he could even lay his hands upon her, another bullet ripped through his throat. Bors somehow withstood the impact of the attack, but stringing on to life barely. Drowning in his blood, Bors staggered to Allanah step by step with everything he had left before falling to his knees. Trying, Bors crawled to her merely inches away with the last of his strength, but it wasn't enough. Before the world faded to black, Bors held his hand out to grasp her small finger tips barely moving. Lying there, Allanah didn't think of death approaching, but those that needed her back home and out in the world that relied on the Oracle to bring the kingdoms to salvation.
"I failed them… I failed you father…. I failed you Kayla… I...I."
It was cold, even while the sun cracked the horizon of the sea, it still felt colder than before. Her necklace that she wore laid next to her in the pool of blood pouring from her wound. The ruby hanging from the carved silver cross suddenly evaporated into a mist..
"You have got to be fucking kidding!!"
Was the last she heard before the world around her slowly grew into a void of nothingness. In a daze, Atlantia looked to face the brute that would bring the end to her life. Her eyes gazed upon Cole with her foggy yellow eyes that slowly faded from this world and fell upon Cole standing over her.
"So please tell me, where did Allanah think she could run off to?"
With one last smart ass remark, Atlantia spitting blood from the side of her lips chuckled and said to him.
"As far the hell away from you. Heheh…"
Cole nodded, figuring he wouldn't get a straight answer from her, but it was worth asking in her final moments.
"So be it… I'll just have to tell everyone it was an accident at sea, until we recover your bodies…."
Then again, he thought of something else.
"Well most of your bodies."
With one final dreadful act, Cole put the fatal bullet in her head from his silver pistol..Falling to ground before him, Cole paid no mind anymore to her and commanded his guards.
"Go after the ship and recover the bodies. Allanah shouldn't be too far from death's door to be saved. Dispose of the rest."
Caring on, they did just so. But Allanah gripped onto the strength she had, turning over to see Bors lying face down upon the deck bleeding more profusely than her. Allanah's vision had become a bit blurry, but before blacking out she saw someone or something step in front of her. Fading into darkness, Allanah only could mutter a few words before the shadows consumed her.
"I-can't die- yet."
There was a sigh, and one last voice spoke out to her.
"Hmph"
To be continued....