Chapter 49

The gates of Blackmount were wide open for General Haul to pass through. Of course, he couldn't bring all his fifty thousand men into the city but he sure did have five hundred men who followed him behind like lost puppies. A white flag after every one hundred men gap, hence, they were five white flags.

These men were war veterans and they were experienced in battles and martial arts. The people of Blackmount couldn't help themselves but gawk. They were aware of the bell which rang in order to notice them to prepare themselves for battle, but they weren't aware it would be so soon.

Most of them whispered to one another. Several chants surrounded the opening gates. "They are Prophisians, aren't they?" a young boy asked his friends. "I hear they live in ice, ice cold lands," he added and they all laughed.

After the march of five hundred men who passed through the main gates of the city, the gates were then closed leaving thousands of General Haul's men outside. Artemis stood one hundred yard from General Haul guarded by his king's guards and his lords. It was a big day and "the four" wouldn't miss it even if there was a blizzard.

Lord Balrus as usual stood close to Lord Angun, these two were the sneakiest of them four. They were hyped and ready to listen to every drop of word coming from the general. Angun was there to advice and Balrus was there to make sure he sends every word that will come out of the general's mouth to his rodents. Come the morrow, the news of his arrival will be everywhere in Maldonia and other places. General Haul dismounted from his horse and walked slowly towards Artemis, he knelt down with one leg when he reached Artemis. "Your Grace." He spoke loudly.

"Rise, Lord ─" Artemis tried to find the appropriate words to address this outlander, he even looked at his lords for help.

As usual, Lord Balrus never ceased to amaze people, he corrected Artemis. "He is not a lord, Your Grace. He is General Haul of House Harren, Master of armies in Prophis."

Artemis looked back at the general. "Rise General Haul, Master of armies in Prophis." And from there, General Haul stood up holding his sword which was tightened around his waist.

"To what do I owe this visit general?"

"I bring to you fifty thousand trained soldiers fit for battle, Your Grace. I am a free general and that's why I yield the white bird sigil. We are here to assist you in the upcoming war."

"You would fight to put a Mithandir on a silver throne?" Artemis continued to inspect the general.

"I served a Mithandir when I was a young man, Your Grace. About your age. I loved my king and the people loved him too, I wish to avenge him."

Lord Akirbus intervened but first he asked for Artemis's permission to speak and he was granted. "Is it revenge that you seek general?" he asked trying to get something from General Haul.

"I seek justice my lord, and I will put a Mithandir on that throne even if it costs my life."

A silent moment engulfed the air for a moment. The general seemed so tamed, experienced and well informed. Artemis even though he didn't want to be charmed by the general, it was too hard for him not to. The general was a man with ambitions and confidence, he knew what he wanted and he wasn't afraid to go after it.

"I respect a man with a goal in life general. I'm sure you will be comfortable with your men at my uncle's territory; he is housing Lucian Mithandir as we speak."

"And the prince?"

"He is also at my uncle's. You are the first Prophisian to march on the capital, but I'm afraid the crown isn't at war."

That came as a shock to not only General Haul but also to "the four" and King Vaith, and Lord Balon. Just a few days ago, Artemis himself called out for all his ten lords to visit the capital, bells rang for a war emergency, only for him to declare that the crown wasn't at war. While noticing the shock on his men, Artemis dismissed the general. "My men will escort you and your men to House Horriss where you will be reunited with your one true king. Give my uncle the best regards."

The confusion look on the general's face was something that couldn't be hidden. He had a series of questions, but who would he ask to? He could ask Artemis why wouldn't he fight to put a Mithandir on the silver throne, but what answer could come from a twenty-four-year-old young man? He thought Artemis was young and still unaware of how things come to be. 

"I sincerely thank you, Your Grace." General Haul curtsied before Artemis. Artemis smiled, fixed his cloak and walked away leaving the general with his lords.

King Vaith refused to remain behind while Artemis was making according to him, "Unreasonable decisions." He confided in him, begging him to accept the crown was at war whether he acknowledged it or not. Artemis's answer wasn't so nice. "What do you know about wars and kingdoms, King Vaith? Maldonia is not Santagar, and it's sure ten times the size of Doha. Let them fight if they want to, I shan't mingle in Prophisians business."

Vaith was struggling. "What about your uncle?" he asked.

"What about him?"

"Wouldn't you help him?"

"He has Iron Falcon's support and possibly Old City by now, and the general's fifty thousand men. He started this war and he shall end it himself."

Artemis walked away, this isn't what Vaith expected. He thought Artemis was smart, and the most important thing is that, he thought Artemis would help out his uncle, Lord Aethelind. Vaith came to the capital because he wanted royalty and wealth, but also to persuade Artemis into joining the war for his own benefits.

While all the saga with armies and men was going on, Aurora was with her grandmother inside the outlet. They talked and got to catch up for an hour, Aurora knew her true powers and Visera promised to help her. Aurora finally felt safe and hopeful, she was confused by her own powers not knowing what to do, but finding her grandmother was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

"I have always wanted to do this Aurora, it's your mother who forbade me from finding you."

"Why didn't she want me to be tested?"

"Because she thought it was dark magic, which it isn't. Being a seer is far from being a witch."

"Am I the chosen one who will lead the battle of mighty lions and dragons?" Aurora kept asking.

Visera held Aurora's hand, "We have to make a journey for that child. We should go, right now," she said and then quickly stood up. Visera closed the outlet and started to gather her things, mostly bottles full of portions and old cloths.

"Right now?" asked Aurora, she was shocked because it was too fast. "Shouldn't we ─ I can't leave."

"You have to Aurora. They are waiting…"

"Who?"

"The ones who will test you, our leaders who will lead you to your powers. You will be able to see things after you meet them, very much clearer. What do you see now?" Visera stopped packing and turned to Aurora. "Did you see kingdoms burning, people wailing?"

Aurora was suddenly excited. "Yes, you can see it too?"

"Yes, I can. No one knows how many years from now, but it isn't a war with Prophisians. This war will be different, if you want to save him, you will come with me."

"Artemis?"

"Yes, the longer we stay, the more he will be in danger."

"But… I'm to marry him Babushka. I've seen myself sitting on the Sweet Waters throne, beside him," added Aurora. "I can't leave."

Visera placed her things down and then walked to Aurora who looked worried and unhappy. Visera hugged Aurora tight and shushed her when she started to cry. It seemed the years they were separated and denied their connection, finally caught up to them.

"It'll be alright child; I'll save you."

"How?"

Visera stabbed Aurora with an injection containing a sleeping portion, and suddenly Aurora fell down. It was a sleeping portion for seers and any sort of a person with supernatural powers. Once Aurora was down, Visera gathered the rest of her things and then she carried Aurora to her cart. The cart was pulled by a brown male mule, at the back is where she stacked her things and then covered Aurora so she won't be noticed. Visera climbed to the seat in front of the cart and jump started the mule. "Ha! Ha!" she screamed and the mule's hooves grunted the ground hard as it raced towards the back gate of the city.

Visera was no fool, it's always risky to pass through the front gate of Blackmount since there were way too many guards and Aurora was the most famous woman in Maldonia at that time ever since Artemis declared his intentions to wed her. The back gate wasn't so crowded and most of the people there were pastorals and farmers and drunkard people who had nothing to lose nor anything to give to the crown. They lived with hopes of neither gold nor power but ale.

When Visera passed with her cart, no one even turned to get a look. They were so focused on their own chores to even care who she was. And right through there, that's how Aurora was taken away from the capital, and this time even the rodents weren't aware of what was going on. King Vaith summoned Lord Balrus to the courtyard the next day. He was still shocked because of Artemis's decision to not support the war, nor his uncle. It so seemed Vaith had something else in his plan to gain from it, or why would he be so wroth with the decisions Artemis made.