AMBUSHED!

"We have no more time to waste! Now that you have known all that you should, hurry and get to the capital as fast as you can!" Margarita said to her children.

"What was dad's response, ma'am?" Amila asked.

"He's anxiously waiting for you at the city gates. Try as much as possible to stay out of sight because it is not very safe out there. Remember, no one should know he's your brother or a noble from another world!"

"Alright, mam, see you soon!" Amila replied back and went to her horse. Both Ana and Frank were already on theirs. Frank then got off the horse and came back to Margarita.

"This is still too much to take in, but I just want to say thank you, in case I don't come back to this home again!" Frank said, holding her hands.

"My Prince and my son, fate never lies. Your path is clearly marked out for you. We thought we had lost you forever but here you are, just as fate had decreed. So go in peace, I know we shall be together some place later!" the noble lady replied and patted him in the head as a sign of blessings.

"Alright, my ladies, off we go!" Frank shouted as he rode on his horse out of the castle gates. Outside they met the contingent of guards who were escorting them all the way to the capital where Princess Nila was.

The first part of their journey was uneventful as they're across the valley and the plain land from the castle. Then they crossed the river and started making their way through a thick forest. The path was not well trodden because few used the route they had chosen. This was all in effort to stay undercover as much as possible. There was little talk as they went on top speed.

"Wow! I didn't expect you to ride so well, my Prince," Amila said at last when they slowed down. They had come to a rocky terrain where the road steeped down to the river. This was about three quarters of the way to the capital.

"We have horses on earth too," he spoke matter of factly.

"Well, it certainly looks like you really belong here though! One can hardly tell!"

Frank looked at the attire he had been given and chain mail for armour. He was dressed as a soldier going to war. All the ladies were equally dressed in body armours.

Their entourage suddenly came to an abrupt stop when the commander of the guards who was a short distance from them signalled for them to stop. Everyone was silent as they scanned their surroundings.

Peng!

Pang!

Peng!

Three arrows suddenly took down three soldiers.

"Take cover! Get down!" the commander shouted.

They quickly got off their horses and rushed behind the nearby trees. More arrows followed them even in their hiding. After ascertaining that they were being ambushed and identified the location of their enemies, the commander issued signs and they started attacking.

Some soldiers were archers and did a good job fighting their attackers. Others took them on with their swords.

Frank sprung into action and joined the battle. His speed was surprisingly higher than that of most soldiers. He killed many within seconds. The commander even stopped fighting and looked at Frank fighting skills.

"A true soldier and Prince of Amarkale!" he admired him.

The fight was over within ten minutes. They looked at their casualties. Three dead soldiers! All attackers dead!

"For a better tomorrow!"

"For a better tomorrow!"

They quickly rode off and were soon out of the forest. They heaved a sign of relief when they came to the open fields.

"The King's palace is just 5 miles away. We shall get there in the next hour if we hurry!" Amelia said. As she was about to kick her horse, Frank shouted.

"Stop!"

Everyone was dazed. They all looked at Frank as they didn't know why he had made them to stop.

"There's another ambush here!" He said.

"What! In this open space?"

"Stop hiding yourselves! Come out now!" He shouted out into the field. Nothing happened.

One minute passed.

Two minutes.

Three minutes.

"Are you sure of..." Amila began.

"Shhhh!" he shushed her. Just then, thousands of soldiers appeared from thin air all over the plain ahead of them. They had suddenly emerged as if from behind a veil.

Gasped! Everyone except Frank were taken aback.

"What kind of magic is this?" Amila asked.

"The Dark Lord's secret technique of camouflage!" Ana responded. "This is his Army!"

"Oh no! Isn't that Lord Baron Goshepa?" Amila pointed at the man who had come from within the ranks of the army and stood in front of them. They were 30 metres apart.

"Who is Goshepa?" Frank asked not taking his eyes away from the man. Goshepa had a sinister grimace across his face as he stared at Frank.

"He is the Baron of the lands far to the East!" Amila quickly responded.

"But how can he be with the Dark Lord's Army?" Amila was not believing. She knew this Lord to be a noble person of the kingdom for many years.

"He is evil! Seems to me like a traitor!" Frank said and straightened his hair.

"Aye! Goshepa! What is your intent blocking our way with your Army?" Frank spoke. The girls shuddered when he didn't use proper title of addressing a Lord Baron.

"Young man! You must be the stranger that every one is babbling about! But you are no Prince! And I have no absolute intention of letting you go to the palace to brainwash the old men there! You and your filthy woman you calm the princess must die this very day!" Goshepa, much displeased shouted back.

The rest felt their hearts shattering considering the might of the army before them. Not to mention the Dark magic supporting them. But Frank was unbeaten.

"And how do you intent to kill us old man! Just you with this bunch of soulless maniacs?"

"How dare you insult me young man! You are courting death and I gladly grant your wish!

SOLDIERS! FORMATION! ATTACK!"

Goshepa shouted his orders to his thousands of men!