The war room was a cauldron and the atmosphere was quite suffocating as the stench of sweat and ink filled the atmosphere. Drusus lay his arms on the table, and they both were in the dim light of candles. A plan of the battlefield lay on the table as a rough sketch, with several maps strewn around. Theo tapping the borders of the map let his eyes run over them, scanning every route and then using a pen to mark certain spots where the south had dominated. "We need to encircle them."Drusus raised an eyebrow, his face a mere few inches away from his own, his eyes narrowed in thought, working out the strategic details of the conflict. "We have had our archers fixed on the mountainside to shower arrows upon them. They are restrategizing to escape our attacks. If we can take away their escape and attack from the front we'll pin them."Theo flitted his eyes towards the rays of success, his jaws clenched, ready for a battle. "In this case, we have to put our fastest ones on the sides. They'
Cyrus POVThe war was still raging outside wildly. The South had been very unprepared for the attack and the new strategy they had had faltered due to our strategy. It was getting quite obvious that we would be victorious in the war. It was getting late and after several hours of fighting, I decided to go back to the war camp. A general was going to take over my place, and the men who had fought from morning till night were to retreat and those that would fight from night till morning were going to replace them. I rode my horse away, exchanging positions in an orderly manner so that despite the switch, we would still be able to attack the enemy effectively. As I neared the war tents, I slowed down a bit and then pulled on the reins of my horse to make it come to a halt. I swung down from it, breathing heavily, and made my way to the entrance of the tent where Agnes was kept. "Is she awake?" I asked the guards who stood in the front."Not yet Your Majesty," they responded in unison
I stormed into Lord Xeik’s tent with fire and brimstone visibly burning in my heart for having been deceived. The material of the canvas tore again and brought me to the sight I almost stopped breathing. The interior stank of sweat and the desperation before death hung in the thick gloom.There was a woman dressed in black standing still before me; she was fixing a thin black veil to Lord Xeik’s wrist. The material made his arm disappear as if it were a black cloak that was destined to bring in his evil end. He clung there at the top of his tent with all his strength; his face red and sweating with fear and agony.His eyes popped out wide open as beads of perspiration glistened on his skin, his curled lips looked like a scream kept inside. His tendons flexed at his neck and the rest of his body followed the muscular attempt of him to escape.Looking up from my chair, I saw the woman turn toward the door the moment I walked in, her eyes clearly focusing on me. Then I was startled becau
Anger was gone, leaving the sadistic smile on Agnes’s lips as a cold, shocking feeling enveloped her heart and squeezed the life out of it. She felt her heart racing and her body stiffening, The fear seeping into her and then choking her as it surrounded her chest. His breath momentarily hitched and she remembered the danger she had led Cyrus into. The burden of the mistake almost suffocated her as it pressed against her chest ready to overpower her.Fear kicked in making her drive like a woman possessed. She hurried out of the tent, forgetting the pain it the wound inflicted on her by Xeik. The sound of her bare feet striking the sound like that of a death rattle. She kicked up sand as she went moving about madly. Each tent looked like it was a never-ending maze; after a few moments, she glanced around searching for a figure as distinctive as Theo’s.The silence gave her a feeling that the atmosphere was suffocating on her. Agnes stepped into the armory tent enraged and with determin
It was at this that Theo looked around himself, taking in the decimating war that had claimed the lives of so many people. The dead bodies were crying in his head, and the sound of swords clashing still rang in his ears. Death had its particular smell, a nauseating odor that seemed to penetrate even the spaces between his fingers. The battlefield was a grotesque tableau of shattered lives and broken dreams, with the bodies of fallen warriors lying in grotesque contortions, their lifeless eyes staring blankly at the darkening sky.The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the acrid tang of smoke, mingling with the earthy smell of freshly churned soil. Flies buzzed around the corpses, their droning hum adding to the eerie stillness that had settled over the camp. The once vibrant grass was now matted with gore, a grim reminder of the fierce battle that had raged here.After an hour of searching, the exhausted victors watched as the dying light stretched the shadows of the f
The next morning Cyrus faced the army at the center of the battle, holding up Xeik’s head for everybody to see. The atmosphere glowed expectantly in combination with the sickly stench of burnt meat and a lingering smell of gunpowder that always hung in the air. The warm glow of the sun the next morning generated shadows stretching over the field over the debris of the battle that had happened the day before. Armor, swords, and shields were demolished; dead bodies of warriors were scattered around. The sky above was dark, grey, and heavy with the smoke of ashes and the wind carried the weak, dull moaning of people who were lost in the fires.With a look of desolation and resolve, Cyrus looked at the aftermath of the tragedy. His face was now smeared with dust and perspiration, his lips tightened into a narrow grim line as he spoke to the remaining soldiers of the South pack. ‘Put away your arm,’ he instructed, sharply yet still tired. "This battle is over." His eyes roamed to and fro o
"Enough!" Castilla's voice boomed across the camp, commanding immediate attention. The battlefield fell silent as she emerged, her presence authoritative and intimidating. The early morning sun cast long shadows, illuminating the scene with an eerie glow. The remnants of smoke from the battle hung in the air, mingling with the scent of blood and fear. The metallic tang of the bloodshed mingled with the earthy scent of the trampled grass, creating a nauseating mix that seemed to seep into the very soul.The camp was a chaotic tableau of the aftermath of war: bodies strewn across the ground, some still and others writhing in pain. The sky above was a canvas of reds and oranges, the dawn breaking through the smoky haze. The remnants of campfires flickered weakly, casting a ghostly light over the fallen warriors. Birds circled overhead, their cries a mournful counterpoint to the silence below."Bring Cyrus and Agnes forward," Castilla ordered, her voice cold and calculating. "If they resi
In the midst of the confusion, Cyrus and Agnes seized the opportunity. With swift, precise movements, they disarmed the soldiers holding them. The clang of metal rang out as they turned the soldiers’ weapons against them, swiftly ending their lives. The ferocity of their actions was a testament to their desperation and resolve. Blood spattered across the dirt, mingling with the morning dew, creating a stark contrast that highlighted the brutality of the moment. The adrenaline coursed through their veins, their senses heightened as they moved with lethal efficiency, driven by the need to survive and protect their loved ones.Panic spread among the remaining South pack soldiers. Their ranks, once confident and disciplined, were now fractured under the onslaught. Their eyes darted wildly, searching for an escape from the chaos that had engulfed them. Audrey and Castilla, realizing their plan had crumbled, attempted to flee. Their frantic steps were cut short by a group of Northern soldie