Chapter 11: I Was Not Born Ruthless, I Was Made Ruthless

Cobrantes, now the age of seventeen had survived her first war! The army was near the outskirts of Lusidor in the city of Jora. After defeating their enemy Qemor had grabbed Cobra's hand and they had run off into the city to enjoy the celebration of victory. They had survived and taken the western land of Jora from barbarians, as the King of Lusidor, Kailif called it.

"How does it feel! Being free and alive!" Qemor came and plopped beside Cobra under a nearby tree. The soldiers had a fire pit going as they drank and smoked. Laughing and cheering filled the air. Grateful that they had lived to see another day!

"It feels wonderful!" Cobra took another swig of the bottle of ale they had plundered from one of the nearby buildings! All around them there was destroyed buildings and debris, but that did not stop them from enjoying life.

The celebration went on as the soldiers all gathered around, cheering and shouting "For Lusidor!" It had been five years since Cobra had trained to become a soldier with Qemor. On that fateful night she had gone by faith and not by reason. She had escaped the royal castle and not looked back! She was free! She could finally forget about all of her troubles and make a better life for her!...with Qemor!

Qemor placed a brief kiss upon Cobra's cheek as they snuggled. Several women danced with the men around the fire, throwing empty bottles of wine into it, as they downed drink after drink.

"I can't believe I'm free Qemor! You did this…" Placing her hands on either side of his head she stared into his eyes. She could see the frost from the cold night on his breath. His face was rough with stubble and his hair was wooly and unkempt.

"No, you did it. I only went by what I saw in you."

"And what was that you saw?" Waiting to hear his undying profession of love, Cobrantes smiled widely at him.

"A queen." Qemor whispered against her lips as he swooped in for a kiss. But before he could connect his lips Cobrantes jolted her head back dodging it. Her eyebrows were mashed together, confusion evident on her face. Why would he say something like that? Before she could open her mouth to question him she was interrupted.

"Line up!" General Bera was riding his horse up to the crowd of soldiers by the fire. He and several other generals were trailing behind captives with them.

Cobra and Qemor quickly fell into line with the other soldiers to await orders. Trying to see over some of the men's shoulders, she waited anxiously. Surely they would not be sent back into battle already? Especially with the soldiers as intoxicated as they were. Some even trying their hardest to stand without tumbling over.

"The King of Lusidor thanks his mighty warriors who came through at the darkest hour! We have captured Jora from the barbarians! And pray that it may never fall in their hands again!" The main general started his speech, cheers erupting out from the drunk mens mouth, causing him to raise his hand to silence them once more.

"We still have time to rejoice, but first! We must finish what we have started! We must finish our mission and cause! We must show the MIGHT of our KING!"

The generals pushed the captives to the front allowing the light to flicker over them clearly now. Cobrantes' eyes widened as she recognized the wife and son of the leader of the Jorans. Afil Khan. There were several other women and children as captives but her eyes could only rest on her.

Cobrantes had allowed the woman and her son to escape while in battle earlier that morning. Swearing to spare their life if they ran as quickly as they could. An act of mercy. As Cobra's eyes connected with the General's she already knew. There was no mercy here.

"You! Come forth!" Bera pointed his sword at Cobrantes ordering her to step out from the crowd of soldiers. He knew! He knew she had freed them and went against the orders of the King!

Shakily, she appeared from the crowd. Walking carefully over to the general without making eye contact, she took a brief glance back at Qemor, as though asking for him to save her.

"I nominate you….to finish what we have come here for." The general handed his sword off to her and took a few steps back. The boy, shaking profusely, had peed on himself while in his mother's arms. Afil Khan was shaking her head and begging for her not to kill her son. Take my life, but please spare my son! She said in her native language.

"She's a woman and he's a child." Cobrantes looked back up at the general, eyes filling with tears as she begged him to change his mind.

"You're a woman….and someday you might have a child thanks to those men and women behind you." A few of the soldiers chuckled at the sarcasm from the general. She could tell that they were seasoned soldiers and this type of massacre was all too normal for them.

"How about this… you rid the mother of having to witness her child dying. Kill her first." The general's voice was very grim. Only seriousness as he directed his order again. She knew that she would be the first to die of the three if she did not fulfill the order. Either way…they were going to die. A slow painful death. Or a quick one.

"Cobra…do it!" Qemor's voice was heard over the crowd that had started to get antsy from how long she had been waiting.

Her vision blurred from tears and her breathing shallowed. She couldn't breathe! She couldn't think! Her hand clutched the sword's handle tightly. It was almost too heavy for her to lift. She was shaking too much! Qemor wasn't looking at her anymore. He was looking at something at the other end of the crowd of soldiers. He was nodding at something….

And then there he was. At the back of the crowd of soldiers was a silhouette. A tall man stood at the back of the crowd with jet black hair pooling down his back and a tattoo of a dragon across his chest. Did no one else see him? He stood there, staring deep into her soul. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound would come out!

Then her consciousness was gone. Cobrantes clearly knew what she was doing but had no control or remorse for it. She coldly turned the sword towards the woman. Do it. You will avenge them all. Even yourself. The man's voice was in her head! Lifting her sword to place it high above the Khan's head she forced it down just as her vision went black. She remembered everything. Yet forgot…everything.