Chapter 32

Before the any attack had begun the Lazare had reached out to us to negotiate between royals and leaders of their armies. We approached the hill far away from the battle. Their king Arnell and his royal guards sat eating food and talking.

Me, Alie, Hen, Mia and her attendant along with our security approached the tent. They sky's were being blocked out with smoke and dark clouds a light breeze was hitting us from the west. "Ah princess. Welcome please sit."

"King Arnell its a pleasure to meet you."

He takes out a piece of paper and feather as well as ink. "So here are our terms of your surround. I will have you marry my eldest son and."

"What are you talking about. I am not here to surrender to you." "What are you talking about? Do you not understand the situation you are in? I have already beaten your last line of defense. You are cornered."

"I will not just hundreds of years of our history be put away from history to the likes of you. I thought we could come to terms to end this war."

"And could if you surrender. You are young and a women. You the presence of a man to guide you and put you on the right path."

"How dare!" "Cairo!" We all though this man has not respect for us. Why should we show respect to him. "The kingdom of Isabella has always been ruled by the queen since its founding."

"And that is the problem. Look at your city its people. You allowed non-humans into your city when your people were already starving. You are responsible for this downfall of your kingdom."

"This conversation is meaningless. If you want my kingdom you will have to come down to my castle and do the job yourself. I will never marry into your family."

"You stupid girl. Your just like your mother. She could never know her place in the world." "You have no right to speak her name pig." Arnell halts his men to not make a move. "You have no respect for me as a royal and life. And so I will not show you or your knights any mercy."

"You insolent girl!"

"The princess has given your answer. The Slova will fight to protect this country and we will dispel you from this land."

"How dare a filthy slova talk to me like that!" He's so out of touch. He must have never been to the main land. Royals and nobles there never act like publicly since there image is important to them. But this person shows no ounce of respect or any sorts. 

"Sir please show so dignity in front of the lowly." 

Arnells looks to me and Alie. "Who are you? I have never seen you before." "We are loyal subjects to the princess."

"Hm. Are the bunch Servin has been mentioning?" Servin, not that he mention him where is he? "Meaning you two must know of his secret. His work."

"You've seen it? Based on your reaction toward it. You seemed to think its ok." "My knights will find you two. I can't have people who know of Servin stay alive."

Alie holds me back from attacking him. Of course I understood that if we fight now it will put the princess in danger. His trusted knight captain that fought Hen at the last battle looked me directly in the eyes of me and Alie.

"I'll be right there. I won't run from a fight nor from you." "He's right. Well be ready for you." Before things got more intense Mia had ordered us to leave with her now. "You two made another enemy I see."

"I guess we did. Servin is my enemy and I vowed to kill one day. King Arnell has made him his ally now so he's my enemy now."

"Servin is the biggest threat right now on the battle field. We told you he's been working in the dark arts of magic. He will use it on the battle field. I know it and it will be a slaughter."

"These monsters. How many do you think he has."

"Its hard to say. He mention that only one of his testing's survived after kidnapping so many people. I can only assume one."

"Miss Alie what do you think?" "Its like Ivalyo said. His work hasn't worked out for him all the time. We must be ready for no matter how many he has. We must be ready for it." Terra and Tise had walked in then.

The princess orders here maids to pour a drink for each of us. "Mia this wine is." "Its ok Cairo. This could be my last day to share an important drink with friends and allies."

"What this for?" I asked

"This spirit water. A long time ago there used to be a portal in this land. Before Isabella was found it was the home of mermaids and sirens. The first people of Isabella had lived in harmony and protected them for years. And in returned allowed them to stay here in this land. But one day they had to leave. They had to move on to the other world and for being such great friends to them they had given thousands of pounds of water from the spirit world."

Cairo mentions that there probably a lot more to it then that but. "My father would drink this amongst his family and allies when going to war. Its nothing special. Its a unique taste to water though."

Hen rises his glass. "May the gods protect us." Terra raises hers. "To victory." Then Cairo. "Maybe the great spirits guide our souls."

Alie. "Stay safe and come back alive." Laney. "To our friendships no matter what form that is." Tise raises hers. "May the great tree protect us." Then it was my turn to raise my glass. "To our future."

The princess slowly raises her. She believed this could be our last day alive. Years of her family history could be gone. I admire her just like Alie. To stay strong and vigilant. "To my family and the great city of Isabella."

We gulp down the spirit water and the strange taste we very weird. I can feel the warmth in my body go up. It was like laying in a hot bath. "Lets be ready the moment Lazare attacks the Imperials will attack. So be ready. Try to stay away from each others fights. We don't want to fight them in bunches. Yes general we all said. 

"Lets go Ivalyo. We need to go to Vlatka." 

The armies of Lazare waited for the signal outside. We all had taken our position on were the imperials would be traveling through the city. Arnell watched from his tent looking down at the city. "Such a shame that historical city must be broken."

"Shall we start my king."

"...Sign lets begin Loid." Loid nods and signals the horn. They had a total of trebuchet and there catapults. They lunched there stone artillery at the walls. Some of the knight got caught in the cross fire. They died instantly by the impacted. 

The attack continued on. There trying to wear us down and the walls. Their knights marched toward the walls in their formation. "Archers! Ready your arrows!" Terra gives out her orders and releases them on the knights. They were substantially hit by the barrage of arrows. 

"Ready the oil! if they get close to the doors. Well burn them!" I hope this works. The imperials should be coming now.

As things escalated outside. Alie and I walked through the sewers to get our destination. Before we left Vlatka warned us that the mage is strong. But mages have weakness like any other. Fine it and you will win.

"Were almost there."

"Remember Alie. Stay behind me. I will handle the mage when we fight." "I know. But I won't just stand by and let them beat you down."

"What? You think I'll get be up by the mage?" "Wha.! No I mean!"

"Haha. I was messing around." Alie stops behind in shock of my sudden humor. I didn't realize I was teasing Alie or trying to mess around. "Alie?"

"Ah...nothing. Lets go." We made to the destination where the mage would be at. It was large area were all sewer tunnels connected. In the middle was large hole that was very deep it was pitch black. 

"This is it." Alie was entranced by the place for some reason. "What is it?" "This place. It feels...familiar."

"You've been here before?"

"No...I think a place very similar." Alie must be having another episode of her memories coming back to her. But we can't have that right now. I need her focus. "Alie. Stay focus. The mage will be here soon."

"Yeah...of course." I can tell she's troubled. This place though. I can smell some thing...some thing I've smelled before...looking down at the hole. Some thing bad was happening down here. Before I finished my though the sound of someone walking through the water on the other side of was getting closer.

"Lets get ready." We hid behind some rocks in the walls waiting for the mage. A women appears from the tunnel. Obviously disgusted by the smell and water of the sewer. "Damn it! How can the captain send me here! I have a high status you know!"

"..."

"Forget it Eva. Lets get this over with." Just by her attitude...she must be a noble. And the her noble ornament in hair is proof of that. She bring out ink and writes a magic circle on the floor. "Its time to end this peasant rebellion."

She gets in a praying position. "For the glory of the Southern Empire."