2 1 : ATTACKED BY THE DARK WITCHES
PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE BENEATH THIS CHAPTER
***
The king of Haven's Peak sat on his throne at ease in the world he had been born into. His councilmen of elders and advisors sat around him while they delved deep into the matters of the kingdom.
The king had a frown on his face. One that had continued to grace his Majesty's face since the attacks from Eradain had started. One he had hoped he would have put a stop to by now. But the werewolf kingdom was a force to be reckoned with, most especially now that the dark witches were in union with them.
Their desire to take over the world was indeed strong.
" Where did they attack this time? " the king asked with apprehension in his tone.
" The Northern gates... " councilman Ernest replied.
The king closed his eyes in worry fearing the worst.
" ...luckily they couldn't break down our defence but it has been weakened and some of the fireballs they launched at us destroyed one of our armoury's and some of the houses of the villagers. "
" This is bad. Why weren't they moved already?! " the king asked in anger. " Was anyone killed? "
All the councilmen shook in fear knowing well how volatile the king's anger could sometimes get.
" No but there were casualties who suffered severe injuries. " councilman Ernest replied in fear.
The king closed his eyes in pain. He felt lost and wondered if there was indeed a way to help his subjects in these hard times. " Have them moved immediately and make sure those who were injured will receive the best treatment available in the kingdom. " then the king paused and narrowed his eyes at councilman Ernest. " Speaking of which. I asked a question earlier and I am yet to receive a reply. Why...were they...not moved...earlier? "
The councilman gulped and replied shakily. " Your majesty the fault is not mine. Ap...Apparently some of the supplies which were provided were being looted without my knowledge. This caused a slight delay in the construction of the new houses. "
" Delay? " the king asked mockingly. " it seems my daughter is right. You are quite incompetent. " he said tightening his grip on the arm of his throne seat. " Maybe I should let her have her way with you. Then you'd come to your senses and do your job as it should have been from the onset. "
" Your majesty have mercy on me. " The councilman said almost dropping to his knees to beg for forgiveness. " The houses were just receiving the final touch when I saw them on my way here to the castle. I promise I won't fail you next time... " he said raising his head to look at the king with wide pleading eyes.
" Fine. If you say so. But break your word and continue to be incompetent, it won't be just you at my daughter's mercy. It would be your entire family. Is that understood? " the king asked in a cold menacing tone.
" Yes your majesty. You truly are a merciful king. " he replied still breaking out in cold sweat at the king's threat.
He wondered how he was supposed to break the next news to the king without risking his neck.
He looked the other councilmen in the eyes hoping one of them would break the news in his stead but they all avoided his gaze.
He had no choice but to do this himself. " Your... your " he cleared his throat unable to complete his words. " Your majesty, " he finally said in apprehension.
The king rolled his eyes and glared at the councilman who had spoilt his mood. " Speak up now or better yet stop wasting my time with unnecessary mumbles. The last time I checked you were not yet rendered dumb. "
" Y...yes your majesty. You're quite right. " he says clearing his throat once again. " The thing is they sent another message with an arrow which pierced the heart of one of our able soldiers. The arrow had a note attached to it. "
The councilman pulled the bloodied note out of his garment by the breast pocket.
He stood up hoping to give the letter to the king to read but at the command of the king to read the note himself, he froze becoming tongue tied.
" Ex...excuse me?! " he asked in a high pitched voice.
" Sure I can grant your wish by excusing your life out of this world if you don't read that note now. " the king said in a threatening tone, quite mad at how much time had been wasted.
The councilman fumbled to open the rolled up note which he struggled to read after clearing his throat once more.
A habit that had started annoying the king.
He wondered if he should just have him killed right here and now. After all he suspected the stupid councilman of treason.
" Hand her over to us then swear allegiance to us and we just might spare the lives of your people. " The councilman finished reading waiting for the king to demand his head.
But the king payed him no attention rather he pondered the message which the dark witches had left for him again.
He knew why they wanted his daughter but what they didn't know was that she showed no manifestations of being a sister of light like her late mother who had been the most powerful sister of light ever seen.
" Your majesty are you sure she is not a sister of light? " one of the councilmen spoke up.
" She does not have the mark of the white moon and has had no reaction to any of the tests we've carried out. " the king replied calmly.
" I wonder what they would do if they were to find out that she is without magic. " another councilman said thinking out loud.
" But then again they will never have the chance to find that out because I will never hand my daughter over to them. " the king replied looking each and every one of them in the eye.
" Your majesty " another councilman said. " this last attack seemed like they were toying with us. My instinct tells me that they want us to give in to their demands. I fear that very soon their patience just might wear out and then we would end up like some of the neighbouring kingdoms who were destroyed by this same army. "
His words brought about a murmur of agreement among the councilmen who looked worried and feared for their lives and families.
" Are you suggesting that perhaps we hand my daughter over to them? " the king asked in an empty cold tone.
The councilman who had spoken fumbled for words as he tried to explain that he was only stating his fears.
One of the oldest councilmen, a man wiser than most who had been quiet all this while finally decided to speak up after sitting back and thinking long and hard on what to do.
" Your majesty if I may? " he asked politely.
" Councilman Sebastian I don't remember holding your tongue but if you so desire my permission well then speak up. " the king replied at his wit's end.
" Thank you my king. Your majesty it is well known that we humans are no match for the werewolves much less the dark witches. Despite the help we've received so far from the few sisters of light who have come out of the shadows to help us we have to admit that we are no match for an army of this sort. " Sebastian said drawing everyone's attention to himself.
The king sat back wondering just where this conversation was leading.
" Perhaps your majesty to fight an army like this we need the help of other creatures who are evenly matched with them if not better than they actually are. " councilman Sebastian said.
For a minute everyone pondered as to what creature the councilman was speaking of.
" Your majesty what if we seek help from the Lord of vampires? " he asked the king.
The eyes of all the other councilmen went wide in shock.
Before the king could utter a word, councilman Ernest interrupted him huffing and puffing like a fat pig as he yelled at the other councilman.
" What stupidity is this?! " Councilman Ernest asked the other councilman. " You want us to seek help from those blood sucking demons, they'd kill our wives and turn our children to become like them! They are even worse than the Eradains. I would rather surrender to the Eradains than become a night creature who cannot even see the daylight. " he had stood up with his face which had turned red in anger and was pacing forgetting that he was in the king's presence.
Although many feared the night creatures, alot hated them too as they seemed to be the most unnatural creatures. Creatures who could never see the day of light but had to walk in shadows. But still it could not be denied that if there was any elite force to defeat the Eradains it was that of Shadow's Kiss, the land of vampires.
" Are you done? " the king asked bringing councilman Ernest back to his senses.
" Your majesty, I'm only trying to give reasons why councilman Sebastian's... "
But the king cut him off. " Your reasons are negligible we have had no problems with Shadow's kiss. And councilman Sebastian just might be right. But if you so wish to offer allegiance to the Eradains I will make sure my daughter's pet has a lovely time with your broken bones. "
" Of course not your majesty. " councilman Ernest replied bowing his head. " I spoke out of turn in the heat of the moment. "
" Next time keep such stupidity to yourself. " the king said not even paying him a glance.
" But your majesty, has anyone seen the vampires or been able to locate them? " another councilman asked. " I believe since the old wars fought they retreated to an unknown place so how do we find them? "
" There have been rumours from the sisters of light. " councilman Sebastian replied in the king's stead. " Apparently the witches and the werewolves are gathering forces to attack Shadow's Kiss so they are in search of a particular sister of light. The sisters of light know their location because they are helping them find this sister of theirs. "
" Why are they searching for this sister? " the king asked curiously.
" I'm not really sure. " councilman Sebastian replied.
" But will the sisters help us? " the same councilman called Donald asked.
" The sisters have always been on our side in this battle. If they know our cause they will. " the king replied.
" I will have my people take care of that. " councilman Sebastian said.
Councilman Donald seemed unsettled still and so asked the question on his mind. " And if we succeed in locating Shadow's Kiss, will the Lord of vampires agree to be of aid to us?... "
This question seeped into the mind of others.
" ...I mean they have a lot to offer us but what do we have to offer them? "
The king looked at councilman Sebastian who had brought the idea of asking their help.
As expected he had a reply but alas not one the king expected or would be in favour of.
" Your majesty, there was another rumour. The Lord of vampires is also in search of a wife. If we could maybe convince the princess? " he asked in fear.
" Convince who?... " the king asked astonished.
It was like a dark cloud had settled over the room.
Author's note
Hi I hope you are enjoying reading this. If not hang on. I promise this will blow your mind. There will be more fun and hilarious scenes along the way. I am sorry I dragged this chapter out, I just had to lay down some ground work.
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