Chapter 31

Amri had ordered the remaining soldiers to encircle and defend the castle at all costs. She knew the rebels would come for her. The disappearance of her husband and Amidal had convinced her of their plot to overthrow her. She knew could not legally keep the throne if her husband and son refused it, so she intended on killing anyone that would remove her. She would kill all those who had claim to the throne.

The dinner hour was approaching when the guards sounded the alarm to let her know intruders were within sight of the castle walls. She hurried to the east drawing room to watch the battle from the window.

She watched anticipating a slew of elfin rebels charge the castle, but only witnessed one man emerge from the thickets onto the road leading to the castle. It was a short man, appearing to be human. 'Could it be?' she thought. 'It is! It's my brother.' She watched him as he ran closer to the gate screaming for sanctuary and offering news of the rebels when one the castle archers fired his shot. The arrow pierced Sevren's heart felling him in mid run. He lay face down in the path of the castle. Amri, disappointed with the display, retreated from the window to pour herself some tea. 'This time, may he stay dead.' she thought.

***

It was just before sunset when the rebels reached the castle outskirts. Amidal had ordered the bands to flank the castle and surround it to the back. The hawks circled the castle to report the position of the soldiers. "They have the secret tunnels surrounded, my lady. We cannot enter through them," reported Sterling, leader of the hawks.

"Then we'll go through the front door with force," stated Medula, the cougaress of the North.

"Aye, my lady, it looks like we must," agreed the she-wolf. "We will join you in the charge against the main entrance."

"My brethren and I still have ways of getting in the castle without doors or secret tunnels," Jacque interjected, "so we will go and find Amri herself and send word of her whereabouts."

"Agreed," stated Lily. "Our attack should be a big enough distraction to allow you to enter safely, Jacque. Medula, you and the she-wolf take your bands with Amidal." The cat and the wolf bowed their agreement and positioned the bands amongst Amidal's group of rebels. "Tobias, you brave steed, take the deer and go with Toame and defend him well."

"Aye, my queen, with honor." replied Tobias.

Amidal raised her blade in the air and cried, "Seize the castle!" The rebels charged the castle with arrows flying and swords drawn. The armies converged upon the castle grounds. Elves fell under the crashing of arrows and swords. Toame and Tokint went around to the east entrance to gain access to the castle. They were met with over fifty soldiers ready to defend their post. The king tried to order them to stand down but he was unrecognized by his troops. The soldiers fired a round of arrows at them. Toame returned fire ordering the animals to help them. Several skunks snuck into the midst of the soldiers and began spraying them as they went through. Many soldiers ran from the smell without regard to the fighting while others started aiming for the skunks.

Tokint had taken an arrow in his leg causing him to fall to the ground. Toame tried to help him but he insisted that Toame continue into the castle. "She must be stopped at all costs, son. Go. I will be fine." He stood up on his good leg and started shooting arrows into the crowd of soldiers. The rebels were there with them fighting the soldiers. The she-wolf and her band of brothers joined the melee. The attacked the front line of soldiers so quickly that they had not the time to react.

Toame made his way to the castle entrance under the cover of the rebels and wolves. He eased the door open and slipped in unnoticed. He found several guards in room shooting their arrows from the window. He and several rebels came up behind the soldiers and ran their weapons through them. They moved from that room into the Grand Hall where they were met by several more soldiers. Their weapons clashed with loud clangs. Toame killed one soldier by running his blade through then took the soldiers sword and ran it through two others. Three rebels were killed and fell at Toame's feet. The sight blood still sickened him and he thought he might vomit at the sight of this bloody war.

***

Lily walked through the melee using her magic to fell the enemy's arrows and protect her allies. She made her way to the castle's west entrance with the help of the rebel forces against her attackers. She slipped in the servant's entrance and found herself in the kitchen. It was empty except for one single skunk.

"My lady," Jacque began. "I am glad to see you made it. Amri has been located in the north study next to the library. She is watching the battle through the windows. She has several guards nearby and she is delivering orders to kill anyone who comes into the castle no matter their allegiance."

"She would kill her own men?"

"She tried to kill her own family, my queen."

"True." Lily noted. "What of the others? Has anyone else made it into the castle?"

"I know not, my lady," admitted Jacque.

"Very well. I will seek the false queen myself," she said as she made her way to the dining hall.

The dining hall opened into the Grand Hall at one end where she witnessed several rebels battling soldiers. She retreated to opposite end of the dining hall that led to the servant's passages.

Amidal entered the dining hall as Lily was about to take the second exit. "My queen; A word, please."

"What do need of me?"

"I must confess I have been forced to make a vow to Amri that I cannot break."

"Of what vow do you speak and why have you not revealed before now?"

"Breaking a vow means death for an elf as our laws demand. I had every intention of breaking my vow to her and accepting that punishment."

"Again, Amidal; what vow?"

"I was forced to vow to kill her family in front of her enemies. Her family in the village as well as her son."

Lily gasped, "Not Toame!"

"Fear not, my queen. I would surrender my life first."

"Then, why are telling me this?"

"I have knowledge of a prophecy concerning the necklaces you and your husband wear. It is written in elfin legend and may be the only way defeat Amri without breaking the ancient laws that guide us. I will be able to keep my vow and spare Toame's life."

"Tell me of this prophecy."

"I am afraid you will not like what it has to say." Amidal explained the prophecy in detail.

"You are correct. I do not like it. How certain are you that this will succeed?"

"I stake my life upon it, my queen."

"Mine as well, it would seem." She studied her face searching for signs of deceit. "Very well. I will choose to trust you. But mark my words, if this fails, I will kill you myself."

She bowed with respect then retreated through the kitchen to take the necessary actions needed to fulfill the prophecy as it was written.