Chapter 34 Attacked



The heavy sword was released from its grip and made a loud metallic noise as it fell on the stone floor. The eyes of the humongous man went blank as he collapsed at Jocelyn's feet. A long arrow intersected his throat making his mouth gush dark and thick blood. The second man turned immediately as he lifted his hand and charged against Maik who was grasping his hunting dagger. The man stopped suddenly before reaching Maik as he opened his eyes and his mouth denoting pain. His body tumbled down and he fell on his knees. Maik looked bewilder, not knowing what had refrained the huge man... As the man went down, Am's slender shaking figured was revealed behind this beast holding with both hands the gilded carved sword was once displayed in the living room, but which was now inserted in the enemy's back. She walked forward, pushing harder the sword as it entered deeper in the man's core. It crossed the beast's thorax from back to front and it's sharp point now could be seen in the middle of his chest. The man's clothes now was all stained in red and his body finally plummeted inertly on the cold floor.

The time seemed to stop in Am's living room. It's seemed to be silent as everything happened so fast. Am released the sword as Maik gently soothed her. -"It's fine my sweet. They are dead. Go fetch your coats. We need to get out of here..."

Am was shocked. She turned to Maik shivering. her hands were stained in blood as well as her robe. She looked at herself then she stared at the huge dead bodies lying on the floor of her house. Jocelyn was back in an instant with their coats. As she covered Am, she told her in cries.-"Your voice... you screamed... is back..."-

Am nodded more shaking than affirming. She was looking directly to Maik now. She managed to speak again with a broken voice -"They were after me. They called me Flanna..."

-"What do you mean they were after you?"- Maik grabbed Am's shoulders and shook her as he asked her with urgency.

-"Yes, Maik... they said that someone wanted her head. They came to kill my Am! That is terrible! We need to get out of here immediately before others come to..."- Jocelyn reacted with anguish and desperation in her voice.

-"Nobody will hurt you Am, I swear. But we need to go immediately. Let's get out of here!"- Maik grabbed Am's arm as they walked out the door. Out in the village it was chaos. There were bodies everywhere. Maik, Jocelyn and Am walked amongst the cadavers. There were villagers bathed in blood, others covered in ashes gasped for air. Women and children were gathered around the common area next to the water well. Fortunately most of the dead bodies on the floor were enemies. Jocelyn and Am were crying as they saw the bloody corpses; ones were beheaded, others were dismembered. It was a horrific and grotesque scene. They could see with grief a few women from the village who were crying over their dead husbands' bodies.

-"Maik! Maik! Oh, Maik I feared for you!"- Maeh jumped over his brother and hugged him as she spoke. The she went to hug both Am and Jocelyn.

Vlad came walking with his face and body covered in blood an ashes. He told Maik with a severe expression on his face, -"Maik, we lost six men tonight. Three houses were reduced to ashes... and we found this in one of the raiders..."- Maik emptied the content in the velvety red pouch in Maik's hands, there were golden coins engraved with the familiar symbol of an allied kingdom... the kingdom of Cadocia.



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Vlad mounted his horse and hurried to the castle. He needed to notice immediately of the attack in the village. There were a few things swirling in his head. They precisely came after Am... they were nomads but they carried superior weapons and mounted fine horses... And the pouches of gold and jewels marked with the royal emblem of Cadocia... Were these mercenaries hired to kill Amalthea... but why? Who would want her dead and pay a group of barbaric assassins to do the job?

The sun was almost rising when Vlad crossed swiftly the castle's gate. The Captain was awakened up immediately. Both men met in the War Room. Vlad narrated the events in the village; every detail was described with clarity to Captain Von Freidd. He brought with him a few pouches containing the coins and jewels with the emblem of Cadocia. The captain examined the evidence... and he gave an order. -"Go and wake up the king... it is time of war!"



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Both king Atharo and prince Alasther entered the War Room still wearing their sleeping robes. Captain Von Freidd and Vlad informed of the attack to the village. Vlad showed the evidence and explain that the mercenaries that entered Am's cottage came to kill her and take proof of the fulfillment of their assignment.

-"I need to go and get Am. She needs to be safe behind the walls of the castle... And kill all those bastards! No one will touch her and leave unharmed! No one!"- Prince Alasther hit the table with his fist, making the furniture quiver.

-"Captain, prepare the Black Armada and a few soldiers. But first we need to send message to all the Northern Kingdoms. Peace must remain unaltered in the region. This is a war between Cadocia and Abhainn. No one dares to put in danger my people and send assassins to raid my villages without punishment. They are taking revenge for Katharina's exile... I won't let more innocents perish in this tomfoolery!"- King Ataro commanded.

-"Immediately I will gather my men to prepare an army. I will order to send some troops to the boundary with Cadocia and others to the woods in the southern regions, where the nomads came from. We need to alert the farmers and villagers in that region to be prepared and send groups of soldiers to those villages." - The captain spoke and left the room.

-"Father, I will go and get Am. I will die if something ever happens to her. Katharina would not stop this revenge until she kills Am... Father I love her and I will do anything in my power to protect her and her family." - The king nodded reassuring his son feelings. The prince now turned to Vlad, who was waiting for his orders. -"Officer Vlad, come with me. We are going to bring Am to the castle."

-"As you command, Your Highness."







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