***Reader's Notes***152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fOmW3qpbR
-Whenever you read a conversation, you will see a small [At] or similar indication for the language spoken in the conversation. If the whole conversation is in one language, then an indication will be placed once at the start. If the conversation contains more than one language, then the indication will be present whenever the language is changed.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B5ErAllf2
--A list of language indicators for the reader to know:152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpgqCIL74k
English: [En]152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04L6KF8j5z
Alia Terrain: [At]152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MJbcoa3t0
--A list of text types usage-wise:152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ87hsKabpP
Speech text example: "Text".152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhuRAlx0JH
Inner thought text example: 'Text '.
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Chapter 1: The Assault
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdkooXZ9kM
In a grand domed hall, where fine marble decorations and artwork donned every corner giving it an almost divine aesthetic, a call for order echoed throughout the hall. Hundreds of men in fine clothes accented with precious metals broke off their conversations and returned to their rows of seats around the rim of the circular hall as silence settled the place.
"All rise for the honorable King Neprudu!" called the voice. [At]
Everyone in the hall rose from their seats as a well-built old man veiled in shining silver and gold fabrics, donning a silver horned crown, walked into the hall and stood at its center as the people rested on their seats once more.
"Council of SarKila, I am summoned." declared the King in an irritated tone.
A Councilman in the front row stood from his seat and spoke, his voice boomed across the hall.
"King Neprudu you are hereby to explain your illegal actions in front of the Council at once!"
"What illegal actions, Councilman Hefferdu?" The King scoffed condescendingly.
"You invited foreign and hostile troops into our sovereign land," Hefferdu continued, seemingly undeterred "Not only that, but you've also promised them blood-gained SarKilan Lands, all without a single Councilmen knowing, let alone the Council's approval. You have ruled for almost two decades; need I remind you who chooses the King in this land Neprudu?!" Stated Hefferdu as he gestured with his hand to the Council around him.
Unfazed, the King spoke with contempt as he faced his adversary.
"As long as breath moves within me, I am your chosen King, and you shall address me as so, Hefferdu. As for my actions, I made them as the 13th line in the Code of Law permits; I am well within my boundaries to make such decisions."
Whispers instantly sprouted throughout the hall, but its increasing volume could not beat Hefferdu's voice rising in outrage.
"The 13th line? Has old age finally gotten to you, old man?" retorted Hefferdu "The 13th line is written in case anything like The Subjugation ever happened again, I wrote that line myself! Regardless, we have just won a war in the northwest and-"
"There is a threat on this land that is worse than the Laarsans!" The King interrupted, eyes flaming with fury.
"And who would that be?" Huffed Hefferdu sarcastically. "We are undergoing a rise of power and influence; we are favored by the Divine! Is this a ploy of some sort to make your son King after you? You know that will never come to pass."
Nods of approval emerged among some of the Councilmen after Hefferdu's statement. Then, like archers, drawing their arrows all at once to face the enemy, all eyes shifted toward the King, who glared at Hefferdu in discontent before he turned to state an announcement to the Council.
"My honored Council, I am not in the wrong in my actions to ask aid" he began graciously. "However, I will admit to a fallacy, nay, a lie I told to the Council a few weeks ago. My Lords, the Bandit problem on the sacred hill of our prophet, was not resolved. In fact, it has indeed worsened; it seems they have reinforcements and have built a fortification." The King paused, with a sorrowful expression on his face. "For more than a year now that area has turned into a bandit hideout while we were busy fighting a lesser fight with the Laarsans! No soldier we have sent there has returned alive so far."
A fed-up expression materialized on Hefferdu's face. He sighed, then opened his mouth again to continue his speech, only to notice another councilman standing and requesting to speak.
"Your Majesty, my friend, I have stood by you for more than forty years, I have never doubted you a single moment, but please bestow upon us knowledge of this problem. An issue of bandits, even as bad as what you had described, does not justify fifty thousand foreign troops on our soil. The duty of protecting the sacred hill and its pilgrims is the duty of SarKila and SarKila alone as it was instructed to us by the Old Kings."
Neprudu looked at his friend, and sighed once more:
"Dugann, my brother, I have said my words, alas; I no longer see value in this audience so forgive me if I do not continue this discussion."
Neprudu oddly and swiftly closed the discussion with his friend, then turned his attention to address the Council members as a whole.
"Honored Council, all I do and ever did, was for the sake of SarKila. I Neprudu in the presence of the Divine and the honorable Council of SarKila take an oath, that I will be the one to blame for anything that happens after the attack on the sacred hill. I ask the honorable Council to vote on the next king, for if my deeds prove to harm the land, I will willingly end my life with my own hands!"
Upon hearing these words amidst the confusion that the King's words caused in the hall, Hefferdu swiftly stated:
"The Council hears your oath, all who witnessed state that you did so."
The hall echoed with voices declaring, "I witnessed". Shortly after that statement, the Council's session was adjourned; the sounds of discussions and mutterings returned as people flowed to exit the grand hall.
* * *
With heavy steps the King retired to his chambers an hour after the meeting, he sat at his bedside chair and sighed, his mind pulsing from his thoughts forcing him to close his eyes and slip bit by bit into sleep.
As the king's mind was drowning in the dream realm, the door suddenly opened, and a woman in royal attire rushed towards him and sat by his legs yelling with tears running down her face.
"Father I just heard, what have you done?" [At]
"Ah. There is nothing to worry your heart my beautiful Sinnes, all will be alright" The King forced a smile on his face as he woke up.
"But..., you... what will happen after the attack, you do not-"
The King interrupted her with a calming voice:
"I just sent your brother with the finest men and armor that exist on this side of the world, the aid we asked for will not dare to harm us, I made sure of that. The Aid army will just help us kill some Bandits and then go home, that is all there is to it child ... all there is to it" The King said these last words as he embraced his crying daughter.
* * *
At the same time, in an area, more than two hundred miles to the west of the Capital of SarKila blended with scatters of green hills, open plains, and forest, stood a Gray Fort alien to its surroundings upon one of the littered hills.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSYFn7pPLg
North of the Grey Fort near the edge of a forest resided the Aid army war camp, buzzing with the sounds of struck metal and wood saws from thousands of soldiers preparing siege towers, weapons, and mounts; while swamped with the stench of sweat and manure.
As the sun started to set In the Aid army war camp, A thin, robed man weaved through all the men, the filth, and siege equipment until he reached a large white tent. He entered and saw, amidst the messy tent a large armored man with a thick black beard and an eyepatch holding a candle over a table, muttering words to himself as he studied the map laid out before him. The robed man advanced to ask him with a respectful concerned tone.
"Milord, are you all right? What are you thinking about?" [At]
"I do not like this Rebu, something is wrong" The Lord spoke roughly, scratching his chin while staring at the map.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Have you scouted the Fort? What can you report?"
"Ah yes milord, the Fort... it is most peculiar, it seems as if it was chiseled from one piece of stone. To the northeast, the fort holds its main gate while another smaller one lies to the southwest. It has no towers or windows. It is but a large wall surrounding a central somewhat tall structure that files above it three banners, alas, I was unable to view them properly from my location."
"No windows? Perhaps the work of an Ankida..., wait you said three banners? Have you spotted a lot of movement?"
"A lot of movement? Not at all milord, I spotted no movement whatsoever."
"I see" The Lord paused for a moment before asking, "Remind me Rebu, what was the explanation the SarKilans provided on how they lost control over the hill?"
"I think they said that it started two years ago when a band of mercenaries took a few pilgrims hostage to bargain them for some coin. Over time they then acquired more hostages, more men, soon after a camp was built which later evolved into the fort we see today, and in all that time the SarKilans were unable to conquer the Fort, they managed to only impose a siege on the roads leading to it, cutting all movement and supply in the process"
"Two years, that is right when our war with them ended. In any case, have we heard from the SarKilan forces?"
"It seems they are a bit late; they will arrive at sunrise led by their Prince."
"The prince? Is he giving his son? No no, King Neprudu is not one of faith; he would never do something like this. He invites foreign Lords and WarMasters, offers to return blood-gained lands, and furthermore endangers his child. All that just for a religious cause? This does not sit well with me; it does not make sense."
"My Lord if I may ask. If the SarKilans are so untrustworthy, why have we agreed to come here?"
"No choice Rebu, King Neprudu offered peace and land for one hill, our people would have rioted if we refused such an opportunity. I would assume the same thing happened with the other Lords and WarMasters of the other nations. Regardless, I cannot shake the feeling we are heading for a trap."
"My Lord, if I may say, we have thirty thousand men from seven states at the moment, with even more on their way, so there is nothing to fear. Even if you wish to attack now, the Fort will fall before sunrise. After that, if the SarKilans choose to backstab us, we can easily out weight them with the new Fort we would be gaining." Said Rebu with a smirk drawn on his face.
"Wait . . . The Fort? Aha! Yes! Yes!" The Lord's eye widened "That is how they plan to do it!" The Lord laughed "Pah! These damned SarKilans. Rebu! Listen to me, the Fort is not full of Bandits; the SarKilan forces are not late! The fort is full of SarKilan troops, and I wager the prince's forces are probably regrouping and gathering their men. They want us to wait for them to arrive, and when we least expect it, they will attack us from within and from the fort itself."
"Oh! I see, most ingenious my Lord! Now that I think of it, the SarKilans claim they sieged the fort for months and no one came into it or out of it, which doesn't hold to any logic, for no one can survive that long without food or water. I bet that's why they plowed the land; they were farming because they knew they were staying for a long time!"
"Plowed, what do you mean?"
"Oh nothing, my Lord, but the land surrounding the fort looks as if it was plowed; I didn't think it was worth mentioning. My apologies."
"Never mind that for now, I want you to call a meeting on my behalf to all the Lords and WarMasters present, I need to address them as soon as possible."
"Right away my Lord, but if you wish to do that the SarKilan Emissary will also be attending the meeting."
"Let him come. I would hate for him to feel left out" The Lord chuckled.
* * *
An hour later, the Lords and WarMasters of the Aid forces, as well as the Sar Kilan Emissary, started to gather one by one around a table in a large tent at the request of Lord Imtahas of Laarsa. The irritated uncomfortable old warriors took a seat around the table, each donning the finest heraldic crested armor their respective nation could provide. They all turned their gaze towards Lord Imtahas who spoke with his usual enthusiastic rough voice:
"My honored guests, Lords Bishmeron of Ekallim, Immaru of Gisban, Mahru of Parzillu and WarMasters B'ikfila of Aszaru and Borenlu of Qannu, oh and Emissary Kannes of course. I thank you all for answering my call at such short notice." [At]
"What is it Lord Imtahas? I thought we were to wait for the SarKilan forces before any battle meeting." Questioned the fragile yet veteran-looking Lord Immaru of Gisban.
"Yes, I would advise against that. If you wait for the SarKilan forces it will be your doom, isn't that right Emissary Kannes?"
The entire room turned its head towards the shocked Emissary.
"Pardon? What did you say, my Lord?" Spoke emissary Kannes with confusion.
"You can play dumb Kannes but we know what you've been up to. My Lords, I believe the SarKilans occupy the fort and only wish us to wait and attack it at dawn when their forces arrive, only so that they can stab us in the back with ease from the Fort itself as well as their armies that will be mingling with our forces."
The mutterings became loud and the Lords asked the Emissary about the truth of the situation.
"M- my Lords I-I assure you we are here to fulfill our duty and liberate the sacred hill in exchange for peace between us, n-nothing more, I-I speak the truth I really do!" Said the Emissary stuttering, his voice filled with great fear.
"Lies!" Yelled Lord Imtahas in a tough loud voice, "You've sieged this fort for months, you could have captured it at any time. But no, you were aiming at something bigger so you created this whole ploy, well I'm telling you it's not going to work you bastards."
The Lords glanced again at the shivering pale Emissary, awaiting his response to the accusations, but Kannes did not prepare for such a confrontation he was unable to speak with all these eyes looking at him. Overwhelmed, Kannes fainted, dropping to the ground with a thud.
Immaru of Gisban looked at the unconscious man and said:
"I don't know about you my Lords but there is no way to know the truth until the SarKilan Prince arrives, but after what I heard from Lord Imtahas I am not comfortable waiting for him, so I ask, what should we do, Lord Imtahas? "
Lord Imtahas looked at the Lords and spoke with excitement:
"We attack now! If we move our forces immediately, we can launch the attack at around midnight, and no one would expect it."
"Then I withdraw" Proclaimed Lord Mahru of Parzillu calmly as he shifted his eyes around the table "This matter is now political and I don't wish to contribute for it or against it."
"It's too late Lord Mahru" Replied Imtahas, "You are a witness to whatever is going to happen, furthermore, if I am right, we would have saved ourselves from certain doom. And if I am wrong, we would be the heroes who saved the sacred hill at a time when SarKila itself couldn't, there is nothing to lose here."
"You should have been a politician. I see, so you offer me no way out huh?" Lord Mahru sighed and replied reluctantly, "Very well, Imtahas, I'll play your game. I will participate, but perhaps unlike you, I fear for the lives of my men, I request to take the rear flank"
"Very well my Lord it shall be done! Well then, my Lords I see nods of approval all around, so if there is nothing else, let's go conquer a Fort!" Yelled Lord Imtahas with excitement.
With Lord Mahru's reluctant approval, the Lords all voiced their approval one by one for Lord Imtahas's battle plan. As night fell work began, with thousands of soldiers marching to the fort through the grassy land and under the cover of darkness.
* * *
In the shadow of the night, and in the grass valley between the hills with limited sources of light, the ranks of the front line started to form at the base of the sacred hill northeast of the Grey Fort. Advancing with the men while riding on their mounts were Lords Imtahas of Laarsa and Lord Immaru of Gisban. They both arrived at a small hilltop overlooking the fort on a neighboring hill and watched as the troops filled the valley of the battlefield.
"The night covers our numbers, but it does not cover the sounds of the marching soldiers Imtahas." Said Lord Immaru. [At]
"I know. We want to make sure they know the bulk of our fighting force is on this flank."
"Ah yes, you sent all of the Ankida with some Cavalry to the southwest, I still don't understand why you did that."
"As we start pushing uphill towards the walls and the main gate, we will signal the Boltlauncher from the back lines, which in turn will signal the Ankida to attempt to take down the southwestern gate."
"Oh no, I perfectly understand the plan, but from what I know of you, is that you prefer men who fight with their hard-earned muscle, not defective men who as they say, abuse the Gift of the Divine."
"Ah! Haha, yes Lord Immaru, I do prefer muscle indeed. But I also prefer to live a hypocrite than to die betrayed at the hands of a SarKilan, wouldn't you?" Said Lord Imtahas in his usual rough voice as he chuckled.
Between the masses of soldiers, Rebu emerged running uphill toward his master as he yelled:
"My Lord Imtahas, my Lord!"
"What is it?"
Rebu sat down to catch his breath for a moment after which he said, "The men are ready! And we have word from the southwest flank; the Ankida await the Boltlauncher's signal! and there is still no movement or even lights sighted from the Fort."
"Good work Rebu, now come and follow me, we will be at the front line and you will be my signal to Boltlauncher."
"If you are right Imtahas, this should be a quick battle." Stated Lord Immaru while scanning at the battlefield.
"Yes, I am right, and yes it will be over before we know it." Replied Lord Imtahas, "Now let us waste no more time, perhaps I'll run into you as we storm the Fort, haha!"
"Yes friend, perhaps so, I shall leave to my flank now. May the Divine favor us!" Yelled Lord Immaru as he rode his mount down the hill.
* * *
Before lightning hits the Earth, and before thunder roars its mighty roar, there is always that moment of peace. A moment of pure silence and anticipation, that peace and anticipation filled the hearts of every man at the battlefield as they all held their breath waiting for the signal to attack and to march towards the sacred hill.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejzXRP0YJ1
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEjSO3if9a
In this small valley hidden between the hills, and near the base of the Gray Fort's sacred hill, thirty thousand men gathered. On the front line of this army Imtahas while riding, took a good look at his forces and then gazed at his target, the Fort. He then grabbed his Warhorn, took a deep breath, and blew in it with all his might, thus signaling the attack to commence. That sound was followed by other sounds of Warhorns all across the frontline just as the men rushed to start their walk uphill.
!["Charge! Forward! Uphill! Uphill!" Cried Imtahas, "March through the plowed land, ha haha! The bastards thought they'd have time to farm and eat but they didn-" [At]](https://img.wattpad.com/a2b892e5ac3b5a28c5b6e841f4a909ace7d35717/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f62754c7257526a574553503462513d3d2d313238323035323238352e313732333866626535386165363062383734393030303636323237332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280)
"Charge! Forward! Uphill! Uphill!" Cried Imtahas, "March through the plowed land, ha haha! The bastards thought they'd have time to farm and eat but they didn-" [At]
Imtahas was suddenly interrupted, as sounds of thunder and flashes of fire littered the plowed land beneath the soldiers as they advanced over it. Imtahas was caught off guard, he heard his soldiers scream: "It came from the earth! The earth is spitting fire", his eyes widened and he thought to himself 'Ankida? I knew it, they must have also recruited some Ankida, but what method is this to shred a man in a blink of an eye?' Imtahas shuddered his confusion quickly for there was no time to waste, and he continued to order the men to advance uphill as he waved with his sword to draw Rebu's attention.
"Rebu!" Yelled Imtahas, "Run to the back, Fire signal the Boltlauncher!"
Rebu with a nod headed towards the back running; however, as he was doing so, a blinding light struck the entire battlefield, that light emanated from shining red beacons seemingly appearing out of nowhere hovering in place over the battlefield. 'Light? We are exposed!' Imtahas, who knows similar Ankida trickery, quickly realized that the bulk of his forces are now exposed to the enemy; he called out to his men:
"Archers attack! Everyone else with me! Watch your footing and climb the hill, climb the hil-"
Echoes of thuds and distant whistles from afar and above silenced Imtahas once more, the sounds quickly crept closer to the battlefield, and it was but moments later when the entire battlefield was met with ear-splitting explosive sounds, earthshaking blasts, and infernal fire.
Imtahas was thrown off his mount due to a nearby blast, landing not far away, his ears ringing with noise but otherwise remaining unscathed. 'What in the Divine is going on?' He thought to himself as he attempted to get up and look uphill only to see fast flashes of light accompanied with muffled, fast-paced crackling noises coming from the Fort. 'If only some can make it to the outer walls then we might have a chance'.
"My Lord let me help you up!" yelled a soldier as he crouched down offering his hand to help Imtahas.
Imtahas grabbed the soldier and pulled on his arm so he could stand up, but the soldier was struck on the head with something invisible yet so powerful it instantly made him fall on Imtahas, gurgling on his own blood as he died.
Shocked with disbelief, Imtahas felt fear slipping in as he smelled the scent of blood and burning flesh, felt the heat of the fires around him, the shockwaves of the explosions, and heard the screams of many many men. Shoving off the dead soldier, Imtahas attempted to crawl away to the backlines while trying to ignore the viscera and scattered limbs as he went on. His attempt to retreat did not last long, as another blast more powerful than the last arrived to throw him away once more. Landing on his back he started to feel his strength being drained, rendering him unable to move. His sight gradually blurred as he watched the blood, the fires, and the wounded fade away. The blasts, the crackling sounds, and the screams they too started to muffle. In the end, his mind rested, as he no longer heard anything, no longer saw anything, for now, there was only darkness.
* * *
Imtahas opened his eyes, wondering if he was dead. A jolt of pain coursed through his body dismissing that possibility immediately. He was unable to stand so he leaned his back against a rock, his guts were sliced open exposing his entrails; unable to feel or move his legs he knew he was a dead man.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpqZqFfhYV
As he felt some warmth on his skin, he looked to his right and saw the sun rising in the west. A smile grew on his bloodied face. He remembered that he loved to walk in the fields back home with his daughters at sunrise. 'They would have liked this' He thought to himself 'I'll miss them'.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPTuTp5UeY
As Imtahas was throwing his eyes around examining the aftermath of last night's massacre. He did not want to know what went wrong or what happened 'It doesn't matter now'. He gave a final look to his left and saw beyond the sea of gore; on a hill overlooking the battlefield from the east the silhouettes of men on mounts in shining golden armor reflecting the sun's light. They stood there for moments only to move seemingly back where they came from disappearing beyond the hill.
Imtahas chuckled, and said aloud:
"After all, I still die betrayed by a SarKilan".
Imtahas's laughs faded quickly as complete silence settled on the battlefield only to be broken by the occasional wheezing of the wind.
Minutes later, the Grey Fort's gate opened, and a group of men in unusual green clothes stepped out.
* * *
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