It had been hours and the battle still sounded across the Kingdom of Bernbute. The capital, had finished its, rather too easy and warriors were recovering and blood scrubbed off the streets. However, the citizens of Bernbute City were yet to return from across the sea where they sought refuge when the battle began.
Across the sea was a small Island. It was small but beautiful. Also, it was a disputed land. Both the Kingdom of Bernbute and that of Scorcers claimed it to be theirs. One would expect it to be at war at all times but it was the opposite. It had flourished. Several tourists travelled to see and experience its rich culture and lifestyle.
" Should we summon back the people, we need them to collect income!" Lord Elide suggested as he walked into the King's chamber. He sat silently for a while then got up to greet him.
" Lord Elide, always a pleasure to see you!" Arvin said extending his hand to him. Lord Elide extended his too and shook his king's hand.
"Lord king..." Elide started but King Arvin cut him short.
" I am to marry! I have this girl in mind, what do you think of it?" He was in a great mood it seemed, since he did not stop smiling. In fact Elide walked into his chamber and found him smiling.
The news from the King had Lord Elide stunned. He never thought his king would one day wish to marry. Unlike other men, king Arvin was not that interested in matters love, having a family, women...
He stood silently for a while then cleared his throat. King Arvin looked at him smiling ear to ear and patiently awaiting his response, of which he took his time and he did not stop waiting for it.
" My King, that is...that is great!" He finally let the cat out of the bag.
" Yeah!" Arvin said as he walked to his seat. Lord Elide was between excited and worried. He was genuinely happy for his friend and king, but what of his concern? What of the people? Were they to return? If they were to remain in the Island then the city would either sink in debt or collapse in bankruptcy. He hoped. He just hoped at least Arvin had heard his concern and would work on it as soon as the 'happy party' was done.
Meanwhile, the other major Lands of the kingdom were clutching on a straw, courtesy of the Wilds. Many warriors died while the ones alive were getting pretty exhausted. It was ironic they expected help from the king yet they were the ones striving day by night to overthrow him. Honestly, they were not going to win without help and they needed the help as soon as possible. Unlike Bernbute, they had no way to transport their people away from the war. Even if they had, it would not have been as successful as Bernbute.
The king took a sip of wine from his golden glass and stared at Lord Elide, this time, he was not smiling.
" I have a way to stop our civil war. From the letters, the Lords are begging for me to intervene at their aide and in return we will be at peace. What do you think?" He said then sipped the wine, this time emptying the glass as it was the last sip.
" Umm, it is a good plan, yes..." Lord Elide commented but was not allowed to finish.
" Good? Good is not enough!" Arvin said as he got up from his seat and to the table. He poured more wine into the glass then walked back to his seat. He had swapped his enormous happiness with a drinking spree.
" Don't get me wrong but we have to deal with our own problems. We have to get the families back in order to earn the income of which we shall support the other sub- kingdoms!" He stated, expressing concern in every single word. The king kept drinking, as if he was not getting any point from what Elide was saying.
" Lord King!" Elide cried out.
" I heard you! Why are you so concerned about the families? I mean this land belongs to the people and it always will. We should not rush them from where they are, safe!" He responded placing the empty glass on a smaller table next to his seat.
" I know we need them for labor among other things but, we won't be getting any good from then when they are dead, will we?" He explained to Elide, making sure he understood what he was saying and loudly. Elide saw some sense from it, he always counted on him. He never made irrational decisions, only the most sane ones, mistakes were a wonder to Arvin.
" Should I summon the commander?" Lord Elide asked.
" It is fine, we will meet at the King's hall and talk more on the matter. After all, it will be our people we are saving, I am their king anyways!" He stated confidently as he walked to the table again to refill his glass.
***
Nira , the wild man and Welter were still striving to get hold of the leaders of the Wilds and execute them publicly. Okay, not sure if the Wild man would betray his kin but again, they strived amidst all the chaos that had befallen the infamous popular town.
Nira was yet to regain one hundred percent of herself but she did well. Already, tens of the Wilds had painted her sword with blood.
They took cover against a stall in the middle of the town. From it, they could see a Wild man. He was huge and taller than the others. He seemed stronger too. He had long untidy grey hair and long beards too. Unlike the rest of his folk, his chest was also covered with animal fur as well as his feet. He held a large metallic sword and a couple of arrows positioned on his back.
" That is also not a leader!" Nira whispered to Welter. He could not help it but wonder. That man felt like a leader and he was sure he was a leader.
" He is!" He said confidently.
" No, he is not! Use your powers then, you will tell me!" She assured him.
" You are forgetting something, I cannot find out about that! I only have a single power!'
He said , eyes still fixed to the gigantic man across from them.
She stared at him, trying hard not to laugh.
" Didn't you say you know everything that happens?" He asked, this time laughing softly.
He felt bad about her reaction but it was not time for grudges. Himself, he knew that the Wilds were the only creatures who could end his journey on earth, he was not yet contended with living, perhaps.
"Okay, let's do this, how about we find out?" She suggested.
" What do you have in mind?" he inquired, turning his concentration to the wild man in their company.
Nira noticed what he was suggesting and she was not on board.
" Not my wild man!" She affirmed.
" Your wild...whatever! Speak of your plan, we need to do something, hundreds of people are dying!" He said panick all over his face.
" First we draw attention of all the wilds to us. Make them follow us then we attack that huge guy over there. If we kill him and they escape, fine. If he kills us, better!" She said almost walking out from the cover. Welter held her by hand and pulled her back. The Wild man in their company did not like it as he held his sword pointed straight to Welter's neck.
" Easy boy!" Welter said to him then let go of Nira's hand.
" That is not a good plan!" He showed his concern. "How do you intend to capture their attention anyways?" He continued.
She smiled at the wild man then turned to Welter.
" Do you have anything in mind? We have to work with haste or more people will die! Umm, we run to them and then back here. Or we hold the man hostage, if he is the leader they will try and rescue him!"
It felt like a dreadful plan but there was no other way. He had to agree to it so they divided. The wild man followed Nira while Welter embarked on a lonesome quest. They tiptoed carefully and silently until they were only a few centimeters from the giant wild man. It was then that they felt it was impossible to capture him. They stood across each other behind him communicating through signals only.
***
Bernbute's army was getting ready for a rescue mission across the Kingdom. They were divided into five groups, each with five hundred men or more. One group was further divided into two. Two hundred and fifty men were to travel to the island and ensure safety of the women and children camping there and the other half was to safeguard the city, in case of future threats.
Bernbute city had a large number of warriors. Before the Wilds attacked, they were over five thousand men.
The other four groups were to be supplied to the sub-kingdoms; Merria, Oldor, Great Pines and Aldova. Among the four, Aldova were the true allies of the king and the most silent of all.
The troops left the city on horsebacks and the gate was closed. Every troop had their own task and supplies and commanders. They also left in haste, to save what was left before nothing was. The forefathers and the forefathers before them and so on had held the land for their descendants-them, so there was no room for failures!
Each commander was dedicated to lead his team to victory at all costs since the army was the best in the land and the various tactics they were exposed to made them mightier.
**Merria**
Unlike other armies, the Bernbute army were civilized and more cunning as dangerous. They tied their horses in a nearby forest since they might need them and taking them to war would most likely have the horses killed.
They further subdivided into four and surrounded Merria's Capital- New Hawk. The Merrian warriors on top of the fortress saw them, but not all of them. Just a single subgroup. Though they were at war with Bernbute, they let them in. The other three subgroups found their way inside the fortress unnoticed.
The Wilds in New Hawk were not that many and also exhausted. The Bernbute army did most of the work, it was like taking out the trash to them. They immediately left for other towns and villages in Merria as Merrian forces remained at New Hawk securing their capital.
It was a long fight before Merria was liberated from the Wilds. Immediately their mission was done, they travelled to aide the other groups.
**Oldor**
Oldor was not that affected by the attacks anyway but a rescue army was sent anyways. They had a good fight and soon, they were free from the little number of Wilds that set foot there.
**Great Pines**
This was the most affected of all. The army was three quarters by then as the groups done with their assignments had come to aide.
The wilds held the advantage for a while, attacking fiercely. This time, some warriors from Bernbute fell too as those of Great Pines. It was getting dark and the battle was still ongoing. There were plans to retreat but the king's command was sound in their minds, 'only come home after success or die but do not retreat. We shall overcome this apocalypse and more!'
The warriors fought with all their strength and might, shifting strategy after strategy until they saw changes. The had the wilds cornered towards the Pine forest. As soon as the wilds took cover in the forest, they saw it fit to retreat from it and set it on fire, and so they did.
Warriors of the Wilds screamed in pain as they tried to flee the forest. Bernbute warriors stood around the burning forest and shot arrows to every Wilds' Warrior that tried to flee until they cleared all of them.