Mercenary War - Book 2

Chapter 3

         Kikarii lifted his eyes up to the wall, catching sight of Gammir from afar. His standard was made up of a winged horse in front of a large, full tree on a dark green banner. Directly under that, a white flag blew in the wind, signifying they were not a threat. From what the elf could see, the gesture was received as expected. They had slowed to give those on the city walls time to send the news to the commander at the main gate and for the soldiers to confirm they were indeed an ally. A slender, yet hardy blonde rode beside him, her face grim and her eyes dark. Her armor glinted in the light and her sword hung at her side. Ariah pointed over the expanse to the burning fields and fleeing citizens. Kikarii nodded, lifted his gloved and mailed hand and signaled for them to move. They would intercept the mercenaries and cut them off before they could reach the men and women that fled on horseback. Unfortunately, those who retreated on foot were already considered lost. It was the dark reality of battle, but it was a necessary calculation to save those who were able to be rescued. The horsemen behind him shouted their battle cry and charged forward without hesitation. Kikarii and Ariah led them across the tall grass and into what would be certain death for many of them.

         Kikarii stood in the midst of the construction. Tant was becoming a home to wayward and homeless elves since the destruction of Barkit. It was not ideal since the elves were a race most acquainted with the massive forests of their ancestors, but it was somewhere they could call home for the first time in as long as some of them could remember. It had taken a long time to get the word out in a way that would not make them a target, but would alert his people that there was a place they could go to rebuild. His gray eyes watched as the walls of the town were being built a mile or so outside of the original town border. He anticipated the elven people wanting to spread out and maybe even build a community a little separated from those who had settled in Tant decades ago. It had been nearly about a year and a half since Kikarii had permanently settled in the small village. Since most of their elders and capable men had left to serve the queen in Kezna, there were very few people left to watch over and run the town. Traff got together a meeting of those left to discuss the future of the shrinking town. Kikarii was included in the gathering with his wife Ariah, and the decision was made to expand the town and open their hospitality to the wandering elves in the Lowland. The agreement had taken days to come to and Kikarii was honestly surprised by the positive outcome. What was even more surprising, was when Traff had managed to convince the townspeople to elect the misplaced elf to lead the town in the expansion and work to train an army and build walls to protect them. His argument was that once elves began arriving, they were more likely to trust another of their own than strangers they did not know. He also stated that once they became a safe haven for an entire race, they would be targeted by the Lowland kings and possibly even mercenaries. The elf chuckled to himself at the notion that elves cared much for their own kind. They held loyalty to bloodline only. However, his second point was completely on point. They would become a target, and quickly. Once the decision was made, Kikarii began plans for a city wall and sent out word to alert any and all elves that they were more than welcome in Tant.
         Within a week of things being put in motion, the first few elven families arrived, uncertain, at the tavern, hoping to find the person in charge so they could hopefully settle their children and them safely in a home. Kikarii was sent word and he met with them. Their relief was nearly tangible as they spoke with one of their own. Immediately, homes were planned and built, and as the families settled in, they sent word to others to come join them.
         It had been a long year and a half and the walls of this new city were coming along quickly. They had not become a target yet, but that was more luck than anything. Kikarii looked up at the banner of Tant. a deep green flag blew in the breeze, emblazoned with a winged horse in front of a large, full tree.

         The weeks passed and the walls were nearly completed when a carrier bird was caught outside the tavern. It was placed in a cage and the message was carried inside to Traff. The bartender read it over carefully before his face turned grim and he told his nephew to run and bring Kikarii back post haste.
         The elf ran through the doors of the tavern and up to the bar. A man with a cup of ale called to the back. Traff came out and handed the message to Kikarii. He read it over and gritted his teeth. His hand clenched and unclenched. Traff had become like a brother to him, and as such, he had been the only one to learn of what had gone on when Kikarii traveled back to Kezna and the relationship between him, the queen and the king. The line of his jaw was tight and harsh as he clamped down hard in agitation.

                   To Kikarii in Tant. As king of Kezna my priority is my people. As husband to Calya, my priority is my wife and child. I am aware that you have taken over the rule of Tant and are in charge of building an army. In desperation I request your immediate assistance in my absence, both as a king and as a husband. If you accept, you will be granted full forgiveness for any prior actions and will be welcome as a permanent ally to my realm, including all military, trade and financial benefits. When you receive this, I will no longer be in the city. I must right the wrongs I have done. However, I have solid reason to believe my city and family will be in danger once my absence is realized by Harta. I do not expect word back. I only hope that you will forgive what has been and assist Calya and my son in my absence.

                   Fallon, King of Kezna, Bearer of the Blessing

         “Alert all elven soldiers and all commanders that we ride out in two days at dawn. Kezna has requested our support.” Kikarii stated curtly. There was a dangerous look in his eyes that even Traff could not place. One of the men at the bar, an elf, rose and, nodding to his superior, left the tavern in haste. Kikarii sat down for a short drink before he started preparations himeslf.
         Traff looked at him warily. “You look like you made the opposite decision than you wanted to. Care to explain your reasoning?” His words seemed sharp, but his tone revealed his concern.
         A deep sigh escaped the other man’s lips. The elf fidgeted with his ale glass and stared into the amber liquid absently. “It is what is best for Tant. If we can build an alliance with Kezna, we will benefit from high levels of trade, low taxes on their goods, protection from the Lowland kings, and I will never have to worry about whether the elves will be united again instead of wiped out.”
         The long haired bartender pulled up a stool and sat heavily. “But the elves are already being hunted. So that point is moot. Are you really making this decision out of genuine concern for the people here? Or for the person you failed up there?”
         Had anyone else asked him that question Kikarii would have responded in anger, but this was basically his brother and his closest friend. There were no lines in conversation where the tavern owner was concerned. “I don’t deny that I am still ashamed of my failure. However, I have just as much guilt concerning Skara and therefore owe just as much to this town. The permanent benefit of having Kezna as an ally will keep our people safe. There has never been a developing city that has had the protection of a realm as well respected or feared as Kezna before now. It is an opportunity I cannot refuse.” He hesitated. “No matter how much I despise the person requesting the aid.”
         Amberly walked up behind Traff and gave him a tight hug, kissing his cheek and winking playfully. A sly smile spread across his face as he watched her retreat back to the room behind the counter. Despite the severity of the situation at hand, Kikarii chuckled quietly. Clearing his throat and turning back to his friend, the red head continued the conversation. “I hope this isn’t going too far, but is it possible that the king’s absence is related to the mercenaries? What if he is doing what no one else could? He knows them better than anyone. He knows their tactics and training methods. No one except him would have an advantage. It would explain why he is so concerned about the queen and the prince. What if he really isn’t the person you knew anymore?”

         With Kikarii’s military force sweeping across the grassy landscape, the men at the gate changed their tactic and opened the city for those who reached them on horseback. Many were injured and some were strapped down with rope as they lay unconscious on the backs of their own horses, family members or children guiding the steeds to the gates. Taking the advantage their unexpected allies had given them, the soldiers of Kezna cleared the gateway and poured out into the fields beyond, rushing to join the elven defenders who had come to their rescue. The morale of the men had been raised exponentially just by seeing that they were not alone. Fleeing families passed by them, some of the last to escape before the mercenaries caught them.
         There, before the armies, were the group of murderers themselves. The second in command, Anohean, led the group who were now spattered with the blood of the citizens of the realm. Rage boiled up in the elf and the commander of the army of Kezna as they saw the wreckage and gore across their path up ahead. Archers from Tant fanned out on the field, preparing for a long distance attack as the main portion of the allied force charged straight ahead, spreading out across the grass to surround the criminals before them. The clash was deafening and bloody. In moments, the mercenaries, still untouched, had downed more than their number of men and elves. The shock of their strength took the men’s confidence and shattered it almost instantly. The elves pushed forward, seeing that their allies were becoming disheartened. Kikarii surged ahead, his wife at his side as they pushed back the enemy. A sudden call from the other commander made his blood run cold though.
         “Another group approaches the city! Retreat!”
         Parrying a blow and disposing of a horseman, the elf commander pulled his steed around and saw the second half of the mercenary force that had till now remained hidden, rushing to the gate that was letting in more survivors. Cursing under his breath, he nodded to the commander of Kezna and quickly took off toward the city. Behind him, his wife and men caught on quickly and followed at breakneck speed to the gates of the city. They could hear the army behind him lift up a battle cry to encourage the men as the clash continued. It was widely understood that in tight spaces where confined hand to hand combat would be more expected that elves held the upper hand. It must have been a hard decision for the commander to leave the city and his queen in the hands of an ally that had been banned from the city just two years prior.
         The mercenaries broke through the line of soldiers tasked with blocking access to the gate until it could be closed. They thundered into the city, cutting down any people that had yet to hide out. Lit torches were thrown into homes where the flames caught and blazed in seconds. Screams were heard throughout the city. Weeping and wailing echoed off the stones and filled the air. Close behind the mercenaries came the elven force and cheers from the wall. The archers who had gone with Kikarii moved to the front, taking down mercenaries from behind. Those who survived were trampled under their horses against the cobblestone. The success was short lived as the men spun in the saddle and fired back, taking out the archers with terrifying precision. Kikarii gritted his teeth and signaled to his men to advance without relenting. Nodding to Ariah, he veered off down a side street and maneuvered toward the great hall. When he reached a dead end, he leapt from the saddle and grasped onto the edge of a roof. Smoke poured from the houses around him as he pulled himself up to stand and take in his position. He was close to the wall of the courtyard. From where he was, it sounded like the battle was stalled in the town square and was not progressing further into the city. He cursed at having to leave his wife, but he had to make sure the queen was protected. There was no mention of who was protecting her or if she had a place to go with her son. The thought of her being a mother made him uncomfortable. It was Fallon’s child. He tightened his jaw and carefully sprinted over the rooftops before launching himself at the wall. He caught himself on a rock that jutted out, his muscles burning as he pulled himself up. He was already getting tired from the battle in the field and the city. His endurance would never be what it once was, but his elven blood had been able to sustain him until now. He just hoped it would hold up a bit longer.
         After a nearly agonizing climb, he pulled himself over the wall and collapsed for a moment in the dirt next to the castle. His keen eyes looked around, searching for an opening. There was none. Even the servants' kitchen attached to the hall was bolted and barred with iron. This fortress was nearly impenetrable, unless you were a mercenary or an elf, that is. He tried to think of what Fallon might do to protect his wife in his absence. He decided to give Fallon the benefit of the doubt and assume he was genuine and did care for her as he said. Rising, he scanned the yard and the massive building and made his way to the back. There was a large clearing with sparse trees and full of bushes. To a trained eye, it was clear a structure had been torn down and the trees and bushes were planted to cover the damaged earth.
         If something was torn down, then was something else rebuilt? The back of the hall was empty of any windows, doors, or openings of any kind. It looked newly constructed. He looked at one wall. Something seemed off. He could not put his finger on it, but there was something definitely not normal. Then he saw it. His elven enhanced sight allowed him to see the nearly microscopic scratches of the stone against stone where it looked like it could be a door. A hidden entrance inside a wall? If he gave Fallon the benefit of the doubt, this would be a very logical, tactful way to hide Calya and the prince. He felt over the stone and felt the ever so slight difference. He thanked his magical abilities and enhanced senses for assisting him in what would have otherwise been an impossible feat. Pressing in on two seemingly random stones, the door gave way and swung open quietly. He congratulated himself for his correct assumption and made sure the door closed behind him before continuing. Taking all precautions possible as not to be ambushed, he cloaked himself in magic to hide his passing. He found a slight overlap in the rug and checked to find a barely noticeable door in the floor. It dropped down slowly, soundlessly into a black room. He dropped down without so much as a tapping sound onto the dirt below. He tried to replace the rug as best as possible and closed the door again. However, with no ladder, he had to hang from the opening and finagle closing the door quietly with one hand. Pain tore at his shoulder, searing up his arm. He dropped down, grimacing from the burning.
         He looked at the banner and around at the walls. Letting out a soft breath, he moved the crest to the side and pushed on the stone door. It was barred from the inside. Of course it was. He could not expect for all the doors to open so easily. The lock on the trap door was easy enough to work with using his magic. Small tricks like that were easy for an elf. But the magic took energy and was limited beyond those small skills. He knew by trying the stone door, he may alert anyone on the other side that they had been discovered, but that could not be helped now. He waited, trying to think out a plan. As he stood there at a stalemate, he heard the slightest movement behind the door. Someone had heard him and was waiting for him to make a move. He tried his luck. “Your highness?” Silence answered him. His nerves were beginning to get the best of him. The longer he remained standing here, the closer the mercenaries could come. If there were hidden passageways inside the castle, there had to be passageways leading out, too.

         Calya froze at the sound of a man’s voice. It was not Gammir. “Your highness?” Dane’s face went pale and his muscles went taut. He silently unsheathed his blade and moved even closer to the door, listening. The queen sat stock still, terror flowing through her veins like fire. No one else knew about this place. Did Dane lie about this? Did he betray her? He put a finger to his lips as a reminder and pressed his ear to the door. He heard a sigh from the other side followed by a low, quiet muttering. Looking over at the crib, the woman thought over the voice. It sounded somehow familiar, yet she could not place it. Why? Then the voice came again.
         “Your majesty, the city has been overrun, you must consider vacating. You do not need to open this door for me, but they are coming for you and you have to escape. We cannot hold them off forever.”
         He was a soldier. He had to be. She swallowed hard and thought through every soldier she knew. And then recognition dawned on her. She rushed forward and told Dane to open the door. He looked upset, but she insisted, saying she knew the man on the other side of the door. This was a gamble with her life, but she was certain and she had to confirm. The guard unbolted the door and pulled it open, sword already raised to strike.
         And there he was, armored and scarred. Kikarii stood there before the queen, ragged, dirty, bloody, and worn. Even in his condition, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Your highness,” he said again, nodding to her.
         “Kikarii!” She hugged him. “But how are you here?”
         Dane pulled him in and closed and bolted the door once more. “Fallon sent word, requesting the aid of the elves in his absence. It seems that he anticipated a strike once those in Harta were aware that he had left the city. He promised to make an official ally pact with Tant including financial and military assistance should we need it in the future as well as to remove any ban from the city for me. My people could really benefit from that. I guess he really is a king after all.” He spoke quickly and pulled the crumpled letter from inside his armor and handed it to Dane. The guard looked it over before nodding and handing it off to Calya. She read it quickly, recognized her husband’s writing and seal and handed it back.
         “I am glad you came. You said your people, though.”
         He gave a boyish grin. “My wife and I have assembled an army after giving refuge to the elves who were displaced after the destruction of Barkit. Tant is becoming a thriving city now.”
         Calya’s eyes were wide in surprise. “You are married now?”
         He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled again before suddenly looking grave. “Yes. She was the daughter of the commander of the watch in Ynhilay.” He heard her whisper Ariah’s name. “Yes. The same who helped you and Fallon. Now she fights in your city to keep the mercenaries from reaching you. The moment I know you are safely away, I will return to her.”

         Dane seemed to relax slightly. “There is a tunnel that leads from here to a forest over the border, straight south. It was built by the royal family generations ago. His majesty had the entrance from a kitchen closed up and had the tunnel extended to this chamber instead to make a straight escape out of the realm.”
         Kikarii gripped his arm. “Take her there. Where is the forest? I will come look for you when all is safe.” It was then that he caught sight of the baby sleeping soundly in the crib. He paused and straightened and then walked over slowly and peered down. The child looked so much like Fallon. He suddenly felt a pang of regret for his years of bitterness. “Take your son and go. Now.” A moment later, he unbolted the door and disappeared.

         Calya nodded to Dane, picked up her infant and an extra blanket and let him know she was prepared. While she hated the thought of fleeing her people, there was nothing else she could do. She could not allow the past to be repeated a second time. Dane hesitated and then nodded back before barring the door and heading to the far side of the room with a torch.

         Kikarii stood at the edge of the courtyard looking down at the city. The fires had stopped halfway to the courtyard and the battle was quieter. Not so many people fought. He was anxious to know how many casualties he had to bury. But there was time enough for those thoughts when this was finished. He swung his sword around in his hand before making his way down the steps and into the street. There were guards at the entrance to the courtyard that turned as he descended. They recognized him instantly and pulled their weapons. He held up his hand in surrender while lowering his blade. “My army is fighting for your city. Stay and guard the courtyard. Do not let anyone through.” The men did not back down. Kikarii sighed and pulled out the message from Fallon. It was his only proof. They recognized the king’s handwriting and signature immediately and handed it back to him. Nodding, they lowered their weapons and thanked him for coming to their aid. “Don’t thank me until this is over.”

         He ran through the streets, seeing people huddled in houses. The houses were overpacked with people that had fled further into the city to move away from the gates. He felt a pang of sorrow deep within him as he ran to meet the soldiers. The noise grew louder as he moved, causing him to slow and duck into an alleyway to sneak up on the enemies. The elves had gained significant ground and there were only a few mercenaries left. It looked like the extra had gone to assist the men in the field again or to hold the gate. This would be easy. He took their distraction as an opportunity. Cloaking himself from sight, he sneaked into the fighting. One man dropped, the second man followed. The last one was taken by surprise when he felt a blade in his neck and the blood spurted out. He had an advantage over the elf he was currently fighting and did not realize he had been caught by a second. Kikarii appeared out of thin air and put his mouth to the man’s ear. “I hope you burn.” Then he pulled out his blade and let the man fall to the stone street. Whistling, he called his horse to him, swung up into the saddle and headed for the gates, his men rallying behind him. Ariah was nowhere to be seen. He forced himself to stay focused as both his heart and lungs burned in his chest. They thundered through the opening at the gate to see the last small band of mercenaries retreating across the field. He scanned the grassland for his wife and still could not find her. Just then a horn sounded. All of the men turned and looked toward the great hall. The castle had been breached. But by who? The elves turned back and headed once again into the city, letting the other soldiers chase the fleeing mercenaries toward the border.

         “I got you in, now it’s up to you to take the queen.”

         “I don’t need you giving me orders. You served your purpose for Yuce. Now shut your mouth before I cut out your tongue.”

         The other man took a step back. “You would have gotten nowhere if I did not assist you.”

         The big soldier silenced the servant by slicing his throat. Cutting out his tongue was too much of a hassle and not worth his trouble. The man on the floor gurgled for a moment before going still. The big man rolled his eyes in annoyance and stalked through the hallways, searching for the queen, his bloody sword held at the ready. If he knew anything about mercenaries and the king, he assumed she would be well hidden somewhere secret. He stalked through the hallways, watching servants and maids scurry around frantically as he searched for something that would be clever enough to conceal a room or hallway. Eventually he ended up at the dead end hallway and looked around curiously. There were three full rooms and a closet on this stretch of hallway. However, it just felt misplaced. Not knowing about the tower that had been torn down in the past caused him to assume there was something there that he was missing. He searched the hallway over and over again before leaning against the end wall. He grunted his anger at his seeming failure. He was lucky to get the servant with the horn out of the way. Although it did assist him in saying he was looking for the breach to ensure the queen’s safety. He slammed his fist against the wall and felt the stone give. Confused, he turned around expecting to see a broken piece of the wall. Instead, the wall looked the same as before. No chips, scratches, breaks, or missing stones. He carefully retraced the motion of his hand and found a stone that had been pushed in. He pressed against it again and watched it give. Nothing happened. He puffed out his cheeks and blew the air through pursed lips. There had to be another spot, right? He kept his hand on the one stone and felt around for any other clue. A second stone moved and he pressed both together. A hidden door quietly opened. He stepped into… outside? There was nothing. No chamber, no hallway, not even a pavilion. He was in front of the woods, in an opening full of bushes. Maybe there was a hidden ground door that he needed to find. This was going to take a long time and he did not have that much time on his hands.

         Kikarii reached the courtyard and jumped down from the horse. Sprinting to the door, he banged on the giant wooden doors. “The army has come to sweep the castle to catch the intruder! Open the doors!” Behind him a few men returning from the city’s military came to stand behind him. The men were returning from the chase and the fight in the fields. The door cracked open and when the servants and maids saw the soldiers with their men, they threw the doors open and beckoned them inside in a panic. Kikarii had taken his time as he rode up to take account of where the entrance he found was located. Sending the men into the hall, he took two elves with him to scout out the perimeter of the castle outside. The pounding of boots resounded off the stone walls as the soldiers scoured the inside of the castle. Meanwhile, the elves made their way cautiously around the grounds, checking stables, storage sheds and anything else they came across. Having two men with him, quickened his pace significantly. His ears picked up on movement in the grass around the wall nearby and he stopped, looking back to his soldiers who nodded. They heard it, too. This was right near the hidden door. Did the person find it? All three cloaked themselves from sight and tread lightly in the grass. Rounding the corner, Kikarii saw a soldier checking over his shoulder. When the soldier was sure no one was watching, he felt along the wall.

         The man cursed to himself quietly. “Where did you hide your whore, you filthy mercenary? You think I won’t be able to find her, don’t you?” He sounded more sure of himself than he looked.

         He must have found the first door. Kikarii wasted no time. The three elves made their move all at once. He never saw it coming before he fell to the ground, the hidden door swinging open, away from the ends of his fingertips. If he had been just one minute later, he would have missed the traitor and Calya could have been in grave danger. Hopefully she was almost over the border by now. He closed the hidden door before swearing the elves with him to secrecy. No one was allowed to utter a word about what they saw. Kikarii picked up the big man and slung him over his shoulder, his muscles screaming at him in protest. One knee buckled, and he stumble. One of the other elves pulled the traitor from his commander and resettled the body over his own shoulder. Kikarii was almost at the end of his strength. But he could not falter now that things had finally ended. He had to finish here and go retrieve the queen before she was caught in the open with her child.

         Walking in the great doors of the hall, the elf dropped the body of the traitor on the floor for the servants and soldiers to see. “Here is your rat.” The gasp of horror from the servants was more than audible around him. They were disturbed that they had let him in, thinking he was there to help since he was in the queen's army. Some of the older servants shuddered, remembering what happened with King Trayzer decades before. It had happened again and the queen had managed to escape. They just hoped their king was as lucky, wherever he was.

         Kikarii looked around him darkly. He had to find the queen and bring her back. Nodding to the two soldiers he had brought with him earlier, he strode out of the hall and mounted up. The two elves followed suit and they raced from the courtyard and out of the city, heading south to the exit to the tunnels. They could only hope that Calya was safe and no one had found her at the end.

         Days passed since the change of plans. Fallon had been studying a map every time they stopped to rest. They could hide out in some small villages, but there were seven of them. It was not a great possibility that people would be willing to house seven heavily armed men. They could look for an inn or tavern, but the more public the place, the higher chance of being found by the mercenaries. He pressed his fingers against his temples and tried to think. Kole and Ventris came up to him. They were his two best fighters and good strategists. Looking over his shoulder, he saw them standing silently, already knowing his dilemma and hoping to come up with a way of solving it for their leader.

         Ventris had an idea. ”Sir, what if we split up over here,” he pointed, “in the eastern Lowland. There are some small villages close together. We can go in groups of two. We will be able to remain within a day’s ride of everyone while we are there. If the mercenaries find one village, the others will be alerted in time to act.”

         Fallon hated the idea of splitting their number up into two’s. However, his point was valid. They would be less suspicious, close enough together, and if they were found, the rest would receive word quickly enough. This would allow them to stay in the village inns without raising any suspicions. If that sentry had been able to return or contact anyone from the fortress, the priorities of the mercenaries would change. It is possible they would even give up their normal lust for killing just to ensure his annihilation. But that also meant they may begin taking hostages in order to draw him out and rid him of his advantage of staying hidden. Fallon was hoping that this would end sooner rather than later. It was beginning to look as if he would be wandering and hiding and hunting indefinitely. He looked up from the map to meet Ventris’ eyes. “It’s a good plan. Let’s make sure the others know while we eat.”

         They walked back to the campfire and sat down just as food was being handed out. Tonight, the meal was berries from the bushes near the road and meat from two large birds that Kole had hunted during their travels. The meat had not been cooked in a stew this time, but instead had been salted, cooked on hot stones, placed on some dried bread and covered with some coveted butter. It was not a fantastic meal, but it was filling and was far from the worst tasting thing they had eaten. While they ate, Ventris summarized his plan to the rest of their group. Fallon leaned forward, looking them each in the eyes intently. “Keep in mind that the mercenaries may take hostages in order to bargain with their life for yours. I…” he paused, knowing that his next words would make all of them uneasy. “I cannot tell you what decision you should make if that happens. We are not here to punish innocent people, though some may suffer. If they bargain someone else’s life for yours, the choice is yours alone to decide what to do.”

         Kikarii and his men flew over the tall grass as if they had wings. They were pushing their steeds hard and they knew it. He had to reach Calya before someone else did. The wind whipped past their faces, pulling at their cloaks and blurring their vision. Twenty minutes later, they had slowed and were crossing over the southern border. The elf commander began looking for the grove of trees that Dane had described to him. His keen ears and eyes were tuned to the landscape before them as he searched the trees. Then he spotted it. The gathering of trees was not a separate grove, but instead was a grove inside of a small forest. Before the three men even arrived, Kikarii leapt from his saddle and sprinted to the spot, searching for any sign of an exit to the tunnel. And then he saw it. It was a small shed, barely large enough to hold two weeks of food. He ran to it and pushed through the door. On the floor was a rug. He moved it away to reveal a door in the floor. Pulling it open, he spotted a ladder and jumped down without using it. His elven sense of sight allowed him to see in the near blackness of the tunnel. He ran down it as his soldiers looked in behind him.

         “Keep watch!” he yelled back at them. They did as they were commanded as he continued to run. There was a flicker of light up ahead and he heard footsteps scrape before someone stopped to listen. “Your majesty!” he shouted into the dark.

         “Kikarii?” he heard the woman’s voice from up ahead. The footsteps started again, sounding dull, and increased speed until the elf was face to face with Calya and Dane. “You found us. Does that mean it is safe to return?”

         “Yes. For now.” Taking a long look at Dane and the baby snuggling quietly in the queen’s arms, He looked past them. “Never let Dane leave your side, even when you sleep or relieve yourself. One of your soldiers betrayed you and found your hidden chamber. He is no longer a problem, but I have yet to discover if he was working alone in the castle. If Fallon put Dane over you and his son, this guard must be an exceptional soldier. However, I request your permission to remain in Kezna temporarily until we can confirm there are no more traitors present as well as ensuring no further attacks will threaten you.”

         Her guard nodded. “I do agree that this seems to be the wisest course of action. I accept on behalf of the king. If he requested your presence to protect the queen and her city in his absence, then I have no doubt he would desire your lingering presence until all is in balance once more. If her majesty has no argument, then, let us head back.”

         Calya nodded her agreement and tightened her hold on Trayzer.

         Kikarri led them out of the tunnel and the shed and let Dane ride with Calya on his horse, while he rode with one of his men. Their horses were bred for speed, distance, and strength. They were the ideal war horses, able to carry massive loads easily which made carrying two light riders a simple feat. Now it was time for Kikarii to find his wife.

         Dane and Calya entered the hall with the young prince and were immediately surrounded by servants and a few healers, both those who served the royal family and civilians. While they were being escorted to her chamber, Kikarii had dropped off the soldier he was riding with so he could recover the commander’s steed. Digging in his heels, he took off across the bloodied grass in a desperate attempt to find Ariah. He had stopped a few soldiers here and there to ask if she had been seen since she was not in the city. No one had seen her since she rode through the gates with him. He had ridden by those who were beginning the arduous process of picking up the bodies of the deceased in the field just beyond the walls. She was not among them. In a panic, he turned his attention further from the city walls. The greater distance he rode from the protection of the city, the worse the carnage became. His stomach turned. He passed the place where the battle had taken place. It appeared that the soldiers of Kezna had barely managed to overtake the mercenaries. Beyond that, the killing was even more brutal and merciless. The bodies of the fleeing villagers were beyond both recognition and comprehension. Kikarii tasted bile and despite his earlier regret for the bitterness he felt towards Fallon, his rage erupted anew at the site of the innocent children and families. The man spit into the charred dirt in hopes of stopping the nausea from worsening. He still had not found his wife. Riding slowly to take in the sights had made him want to vomit, and the more he saw, the more he feared the worst. He was about to turn back, refusing to think that she had ridden out this far, after the fleeing mercenaries, when he heard a moan. Someone was still alive. He dropped from his horse and picked his way cautiously through the bodies that littered the grass all around him. Putting a sleeve over his nose to keep out the scent of blood, he scanned the bodies in horror. A moment later, he caught sight of it. Bright blonde hair and the glint of armor. His stomach dropped and his heart clenched in his chest. He rushed across the space, tripping over limbs and corpses to reach the soldier. Ariah lay there, barely conscious, another moan escaping her throat. She was covered in blood. How much was hers, he could not be certain. This was Fallon’s fault, again. If he lost his wife, he vowed he would kill the mercenary king. Gently, Kikarii lifted his wife from the gore, an agonizing cry coming from her throat. Tears pricked his eyes and one rolled down his cheek. But his expression was not one of sorrow. It was one of unfiltered rage and hatred. No one would get away with this.

         A cry went up from the walls of Kezna as a lone rider approached. It was a soldier. It was an elf. Gammir waited a moment to be sure the rider was not a threat before calling for the gate to be opened. Kikarii neared the gate, covered in the blood of his wife, his face solemn and cold. Gammir’s face lost its expression of relief when he saw Ariah. “Come, Kikarii. We have beds for the wounded at the tavern. There is a doctor there caring for the injuries of soldiers and civilians alike. We will call for another if necessary.” Kikarii allowed a few men to carefully take the woman from the back of the horse and carry her to the tavern. He dismounted, not even bothering to tie his mount, and followed them. His exhaustion was evident and Gammir tried to suggest he rest while they treated Ariah. He refused and pushed any away that would try to convince him to leave her side.
         At the tavern, in a bed, they cautiously removed her armor and started washing the blood to figure out the severity of her wounds. As the blood was cleaned away, it was discovered that she only had one real injury. Apart from superficial cuts and bruises, she had been stabbed in the side, under her ribs. The blade had missed her organs and her state was mainly from loss of blood. Kikarii was informed that she would indeed recover, but they would have to stop the bleeding immediately.