The bells of the kindrean watchtowers rung viciously, its piercing chimes cut through the stillness of the morning. It rung so early that the moon had not left the sky. Below, the stench of extinguished torches, and charred wood-mixed with the damp earth.
Many citizens awoke in confusion-they had never heard this bell rung till now. But for those old enough to have heard it, fear creeped into their hearts.
An army had stationed outside kindreas walls.
A grizzled figure stood high atop the kindrean wall, his sharp eyes scanning the banners. They widened and his pupils shrank.
"Talorans," he whispered under his breath.
"Close the gates! Archers stand ready!" His voice bellowed across the wall. "You there, send a raven to the castle, immediately!" He said pointing to a young knight.
The knight hesitated, "I don't think that's a good idea, General Arnold," he replied with a determined tone.
"What?" The general turned with an eyebrow raised.
The knight said bowed his head slightly. "I meant you no offense General, but a raven might be shot down by their archers before it reaches the castle. A squire on horseback is a safer bet."
The general studied him for a moment, "What is your name again?" he asked.
"Sir Aron of Bran" the knight replied smirking.
"You've only been here a week and you're already telling me how to do my job, sir Aron," General Arnold said sternly. "Nonetheless it is a good observation, and who better to deliver the message than you" the general continued.
Before Aron could react, the general clamped his hands on his shoulders and called out to the gathered soldiers. "Everyone, sir Aron as volunteered to be our squire for the evening, feel free to put him to work."
Murmurs and laughter rippled through the men, giving a moment of calm in a dire situation. "Still playing knight, farmer's boy?" a voice uttered, immediately lost in the crowd. Aron exhaled sharply, rolling his eyes.
"Well get to it then, but send a raven before you go, its protocol after all," the general said with a smirk on his face.
"Yes sir," Aron answered with a smile.
"And Aron…" the general said calling him back, "Watch that tongue of yours, it'll get you in trouble," The general added.
Aron's grin faded slightly, replaced by something sharper. "If kindrea is at stake, I will say and do what I see fit to protect it sir," Aron said with a fierce look in his eyes.
General Arnold held his gaze for a bit longer before nodding. "Then don't waste time. Go"
The castle of kindrea stood tall, its spires piercing into the night sky, bathed in pale moonlight. The lake surrounding it shimmered, disturbed only by the torches and soldiers stationed at its edges.
Aron smirked as he reached the castle gates. "It seems the raven got here before me,"
"Halt!" a pair of guards blocked his path, crossing their spears. "What business do you have here?"
"I've come bearing urgent news of the enemy army," Aron replied,
One of the guards narrowed his sight. "What kind of news can't be sent by ravens?" He countered stepping forward, pressing the tip of his spear lightly against Aron's chest.
Aron's expression didn't falter, "The kind that can't risk interception or a well place arrow," his gaze unrelenting.
The guard hesitated.
"Let him through," a commanding voice rang out from the top of the gate.
The guards drew their spears back, Aron smirked as he walked pass them entering the palace grounds, where silence hung like a heavy fog. A striking difference from the city, which was consumed by panic.
"Hello Aron," A familiar voice greeted him.
His eyes brightened. "Sir Barnabas, there's no need to come down to greet me." He bowed lightly.
The old knight chuckled. "Don't be silly boy, the king as summoned his council, only he can get an old man like me off my ass," Sir Barnabas said as the two embraced each other.
"So what's this urgent news that can't be risked?" sir Barnabas said lowering his voice.
"I'm afraid the raven as already delivered any news I'm aware of," Aron replied kicking a rock playfully.
"Then why are you here?" Barnabas exclaimed with a stern look on his face.
"I thought the castle could use one more skilled swordsman," Aron said with a smirk.
"We've got more than enough," Barnabas replied.
"Well they say knights trained by Sir Barnabas are worth ten soldiers," Aron countered, grinning, and pointing at himself.
Sir Barnabas chuckled, "your flattery won't work on me, Aron."
"Don't worry sir, I'll be on my way soon, this is probably the most excitement the walls will ever see," Aron said, smiling.
"Ha!" Sir Barnabas exclaimed. "Who knows? Maybe this could be the start of the legend of Sir Aron of Bran."
"That depends on whether the Talorans are brave enough to face me," Aron said, grinning and striking a pose.
"Save the poses for when you're being painted," Barnabas said, laughing. "You should get going now, General Arnold has a temper shorter than he is."
Before the two could part ways the castle gates burst open.
"Coming through! Move or be run over," a pampered called out, galloping into the grounds on his steed dressed in finer armor than most knights. Alongside him two Talorans-one holding a banner bearing a falcon, the crest of their kingdom. The other honed a great sword and clad in armor that would make one pity the horse he rode.
"Sir Victor, I assume these are messengers, their attire tells me otherwise," Sir Barnabas said scanning the Talorans like a falcon.
"Yes they seek an audience with the king" Sir Victor replied as he dismounted. He caught the gaze of Aron with the corner of his eye. "If it isn't the farmer's boy. Is there a reason you're just standing there," sir victor asked, looking him up and down.
"I was just…"
"Make yourself useful and take my horse to the stables," Victor said giving Aron a nasty side eye.
"It'll be my honor…sir," Aron replied rolling his eyes.
As he left Barnabas leaned in and whispered "nobody likes him." Aron smiled.
Before they entered the castle, Aron stole a glance at the Taloran soldier. He carried himself with ease despite the magnitude of steel he wore. The marks on his armor signified the battles he'd won.
As Aron put the horses away one thought lingered, through his mind, "I wonder how strong that Taloran soldier is." He smirked, brushing the horse's mane, "I'll have to find out one day."
Inside the castle, the footsteps of the Taloran soldiers echoed through the hallways, like battle drums. The once busy corridors, usually bustling with maids and workers, were eerily empty. The Talorans accompanied by sir victor and Barnabas who's hands were never far from their swords, strode forward.
The doors to the throne room swung open before they could reach them. "It seems my arrival was quiet anticipated," Victor spoke, grinning.
The atmosphere in the room was thick as an oaks tree, The Kindrean banners-a silver stag on crimson-flutter near the cracked stained glass windows. Council men, advisors, and knights stood like statues, watching as the men entered slowly. The Talorans stood unbowed, their presence a razors edge against the firelight.
A silhouette stood beside the throne with its back to the Talorans, basking in the moonlight pouring through the cascading window behind the seat of power.
"A Taloran has not stepped foot in kindrea for almost a hundred years. So why is your army stationed outside my kingdom," the king spoke.
They was a brief silence, broken by murmurs echoing through the room like embers from a flame ignited by the king's voice.
"Silence!" the king exclaimed bringing the room to a deathly quietness as he turned around.
The Talorans stepped closer to the king. Sir victor and Barnabas mirroring their footsteps, their hands steady on their swords. Like lions stalking their pray.
The Talorans took of their helmets off. The armored one had scars that ran all over his face which contrasted the one holding the banner, who looked more like royalty. "My name is Phineas of the house of Barl," the banner man said, "I am here on behalf of his royal highness king Navin of Talor." He continued.
"We have no quarrel with you or your kingdom, king of kindrea. We simply ask that our army is granted safe passage through your city, for it is the only road that leads far north," Phineas said.
The king smirked. "You want me to give a foreign army of almost four thousand passage through my kingdom?" He burst out laughing, the whole room joined in, but the Talorans who remained stone faced.
"The Dangards are building a bridge not too far from here, Maybe ask them for passage," The king said to with a heavy tone, his eyes blazing.
Phineas smiled and said softly, "I'm sure you're aware of our…history with the Dangards."
"Quite aware." The king said, sitting on his throne. "You're on your way to settle a quarrel with them, if I'm not mistaken."
"But…" he added leaning back on his throne. "The Dangards have been an ally of ours for more than two hundred years, surely you see the absurdity of your request."
Phineas added tilting his head. "You claim alliance, yet I see no Dangardian Banners in your city, That Bridge they're building must sting." His smirk widened, "Your kingdom as thrived because it holds the only passage to Dangard, it must have hurt watching the king of Dangard build his own bridge. Trade must be bleeding dry."
The king's jaw tightened, "Get to your point."
"The only reason your kingdom thrives is because of Dangards favor, now that your ties are broken, do you think they'll ride to your aid if we lay siege?" Phineas giggled as he spoke. "After all they've made it clear that they no longer need you."
Phineas boots scuffed against the marble floor, the grating noise cut through the silence of the room as he stepped into the king's shadow. "Or you can choose to open your gates and save your kingdom, king…what was your name again?"
Sir Barnabas drew his sword instantly, "you just lost your head, boy."
The second Taloran drew his blade a breath later, his presence lay heavy on Sir Barnabas. But sir victor's sword lay steady on his neck.
Victor grinned, His heart thumping with excitement. "Go ahead brute! My blade is itching for blood."
The kindrean knights leaped forward spears first. In seconds, the Talorans were surrounded.
The king stood up, and walked towards them. Lifting Phinehas's head with the tip of his sword.
"I am Edward the third of Kindrea. And if you think an Army of four thousand can conquer this land, you'll learn the hard way." king Edward said with a thunderous tone. "Leave before your soul's part ways with your body."
Phineas chuckled. He turned, striding past the bristling weapons of the knights, his head held high. "Come, Grekon," he said to his brutish companion.
At the door, he turned. His cloak whispered like a dead man's breath. The corners of his mouth bent to give an eerily smile, like a blades edge-thin, sharp and meant to draw blood.
The kindrean knights edged closer to him, their weapons hungry for blood.
"Two days, King Edward," Phineas called. "Then the gates fall."
The throne room held its breath as he left.