The Invanders

"Someone betrayed us!" King Tolis angrily mutters.

All eyes turns to glare at Adriel, their obvious suspect.

"No matter how many times a snake sheds it's skin it always remains a snake." Shella says, her voice hoarse with range.

"You think I am the traitor even if I have been with you since the box was found?" Adriel questions, frowning at them. "Why doesn't any of you think of that pretentious werewolf Prince? It's been hours since he left!" He adds and sudden realization dawns on the group.

In their agitation to find the sword they had believed every word the prince had said without bothering to investigate the validity of his story. Now an unknown enemy approaches, and a battle must be fought to protect the city and the box.

Tolis gazes back at the distant army, his eyes able to observe more detail than just shadowy figures marching.

"Their troops include many werewolf soldiers." He notifies, making the group tense farther.

"Let's take this box and escape to your kingdom." Edric persuades.

"That box is our only lifeline. Get your troops ready to fight, they can buy us more time to open the box if you have any silver weapons to kill the wolves." Tolis replies. "I will fight alongside you if that will help your courage."

Edric immediately darts down the stairs yelling, "all soldiers to the gates!" Theo hugs his sisters before rushing away as well.

"Get the refugees inside the city. The ones that are strong can join the fight." Tolis orders the guard closest to them.

He turns and beckons Shella to move back into the hall. Adriel and Mila follow closely.

"We will do our best to buy you sufficient time to unlock that box." He looks straight into Shella's eyes as he addresses her. "Your mother would not have locked it if she thought you couldn't open." He urges.

"I will do my best not to fail you." Shella replies, moving back to kneel by the box, Adriel and Mila join her.

Outside the palace lines of armed men sprint towards the gate, King Edric's yells can still be heard within city streets and commanding figures move to defensive positions.

Within a short moment several battalions have made battle formations outside the city gates.

A few miles to the west dust storms indicate the enormity of the approaching enemy hordes.

"They are at least ten thousand of them gauging from their marching formations". King Tolis says to Edric and Theo as they join the defending army outside the gates.

"Before we engage the enemy, I need an assurance of sanctuary in your kingdom for me and my family." Edric mentions to Tolis in a shaky voice.

"Say no more your Majesty, it's time to show fortitude to the defenders of this city." Tolis reprimands his comrade.

King Edric takes a deep breath before yelling out loud in a voice laced with apprehension. "Today we have a great victory before us! We do not yet know who our enemy is or what they seek. But I guarantee they will rue setting foot in our lands! Hooray to our victory!"

The soldiers hurrah in response but they sound just as fearful as their king.

Tolis huffs in disappointment before steering his horse forward.

"Men of Arwos, I fight among you today because I have faith in you. Faith and courage are what brings victory, not numbers. We will strike at their ranks and when they fail to remain in line Their solidarity will fail, and in their confusion we will put an end to them!" He directs in a strong voice full of resolve.

The soldiers cheer louder and the faces of those on frontline light up with confidence.

Silence pervades as they watch their enemy draw closer and closer to halt about hundred metres away. Roars of their generals echo as they issue orders to assume battle formations. Battalions of werewolves move to the frontlines.

The formidability of the invading forces is conspicuous from afar with battering rams and catapults.

"Are you sure we shouldn't have stayed behind the walls and fought from there?"

Edric asks Tolis in a quavering voice.

"If we had let them get close to the walls with those catapults your city would be in shambles already." Tolis answers, frowning at Edric's fear.

Four men including Prince Ardolf detach from the frontlines of the invading army and ride towards the defending army only to halt midway. Meanwhile King Tolis and Theo followed closely by Edric ride forward to meet them.

Prince Ardolf hides behind other generals and keeps his gaze down like an ashamed man.

"What business do elves have in human kingdoms?" One of the other werewolf generals angrily asks Tolis seeming agitated by his mere presence.

"What business do werewolves have in human kingdoms?" Tolis responds.

"I am sure you have heard of the gracious return of his majesty King Zedon. With the help of his necromancers he has conquered death itself. We come to reclaim what is rightfully his. Hand over the sword or we will kill you and everyone else to get it!" A second general threatens.

"We only have a box not a sword you dummy!" King Edric grumbles, standing behind Tolis.

"Bring that box to us and there won't be a war." The human general says in an assuring voice.

"No. You either leave the way you came or you won't leave at all." Tolis hisses.

"We march for a greater cause than you can imagine. Our great master Zedon has risen with mighty powers from the dark world of the dead. If you choose to defy him it will be to your own demise." The human general menaces.

We will never bow to your master. If it's blood you thirst for you will choke from your own." Tolis concludes steering his horse to turn back. Theo and Edric follow him.

"Archers!" Tolis shouts as contingents of bowmen move to firing positions atop the walls.

"Shields!" The cry from one of the rival generals echoes from the other side followed by a canopy of protective shields spread over the invading army.

Deep growls jumbled with cracking sounds can be heard as herds of werewolves transform into frightening, ravenous beasts.