NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: The Price of Allegiance
The cacophony of battle roared around him as Liam stood among the chaos, sword shining in the light of a fast-risen dawn. The fate was cast; he would fight for the Kingdom of Eldoria, the ultimate beacon against the tyranny of Altheris. However, that too weighed heavily against the consequences of his error. He almost felt crushed by the betrayal of Altheris, and this last meeting wouldn't be easy either.
Clara appeared beside him, her celestial bow drawn, its string faintly bright against that storm of emotions in her eyes, "Are you ready for this?"
"Yup," responded Liam, tightening his grip on Darkfang.
"We don't have options left. If we fail here, Eldoria falls, and it takes with it all the dreams for which people are fighting for freedom."
The two kingdoms met again in combat, and now the last blow was prepared for the battle. Once again, as fire was added to fuel their passion, Eldoria's forces stormed forth, carrying high the token-the radiant golden phoenix. In the opposite direction surged forward from the shores of shadow the dark-armored bloodlines of Altheris.
Among the throng that is mustering around the battlefield, Liam found Lord Kael- his bright red armor gleaming as the blood freshly poured. He was barking commands, the jagged broadsword slicing through eldorian soldiers as though they were paper. Liam had the feeling that with him lay the last chance for ending this damn war.
"I'm going after Kael," Liam told Clara.
"Are you out of your mind?" she exclaimed, letting fly an arrow to kill an Altheris soldier. "You can't take him on your own!"
Clara hesitated but nodded-totally feeling without doubt in him. "Don't die."
Pushing through the battlefield, Liam cut down his enemies with a ferocity born of purpose. Darkfang felt alive within his hands as its blade hummed as if it shared the same level of determination with him. Arrows from Clara's bow flew past him, finishing off deftly those who dared come close.
Finally, the moment Liam had awaited: Lord Kael stood at the end of the entire marauding. The general turned to face him with the last bit of smirk lining his lips.
"So the traitor shows his face," said Kael, dripping contempt, his voice barely above a whisper. "You really think that switching sides helps you? You're just a pawn in this game."
Liam stayed silent. He rushed at the general while swinging Darkfang up into the air. Kael met him at the same point, swords clashing deafeningly loud. The sparks flew as they collided, as if the very ground below them would tremble from the power of the blows.
Kael was stronger, more experienced, but Liam fought with desperation and resolve. He evaded a heavy downward swing but managed to score a shallow cut onto Kael's arm, the general barely flinching as his smirk widened. "You're better than I thought," admitted Kael. "Still not a match for me."
The two keep going at it, seeing the rest of the world become a still blur full of swaths of devastation and bloodshed. The movement got slower, and Liam's breaths became ragged, but he refused to give way.
Then came a blinding light: Clara had loosed an arrow, charged with the celestial bow's full power, and the missile thudded into Kael's chest, knocking him backward. Liam took the chance, plunging Darkfang deep into Kael's armor.
The general let out a noise that resembled a guttural roar, the sword slipping from his grasp. He bent double on his knees, falling over with blood roiling out of his body to better stain his naturally red armor.
"It's finished," Liam pronounced as he drew out his sword.
But Kael shot him a glare, his mocking grin replaced by a sneer. "You think that changes anything? Darkness will never, ever be extinguished from Altheris."
At last, Kael crumpled down, leaving his soul writhing within the blessed-breathing kingdom.
The fall of Lord Kael sent tremors through the ranks of Altheris. It broke their morale, and Eldoria was pushing the advantage with the army driving them backward. The battlefield grew silent with remaining Altheris soldiers surrendering or fleeing.
Liam and Clara stood side by side as they watched the banner of Eldoria go high up. The war ended, but victory tasted bitter.
As the Eldorian commander neared them to thank them, Liam's thought wandered to the Altheris folk who had, just like himself, fallen prey to the lies of their kingdom. He knew this was not just victory for Eldoria but an opportunity to rebuild something better.
Clara sat a hand on his shoulder, "We did it," she said softly.
"Yeah," was Liam's reply, but the voice was weighed down with losses sustained.
The sky above shimmered, a signal to the end of challenge. The battle field faded away and was no more, replaced by the ever-familiar glow of tower's chamber.
An archway stood before them as the path open to another stage, its runes glowing softly throbbing. Liam looked towards Clara, then towards the creature, cuddled in his shoulder; the shadow-like creature yet somehow adorably made, which had hatched from the egg, chirruped softly, almost encouraging him to walk forward.
"We're not through yet," Liam said, stepping toward the archway, "but next time I'll be able to face whatever this tower throws at us."
With Clara at his side and their new ally following, Liam stepped through the archway, ready for the next challenge.
To Be Continued...