The castle courtyard of Lada kingdom
Past midnight
Its been some time since the lioness and the rabid dog started their clash.
A clash of raw power and toughness against speed and swiftness.
/clang/
"Aaaah"
"Eeeyah"
/clang/ - /thud/ - /swoop/
The sounds of thier clash reverberated throughout the castle alerting everyone.
"This is the perfect opportunity"
Even the vigilant thief who was busy climbing up the Palace roof remarked on it,
The queen's chamber:
When the guards left, Mari closed the doors shut and went to Mea who was still shaking in fear. The sound of the warriors clashing was nerve racking to the both of them, as they were still inside the chamber with Mea clasping her hands together praying to the god, and Mari still clenching his fist shut on to his amulet. In a low tone he talked to Mea,
"If the queen's guard is defeated then the commander will send the guards to capture us, if the queens guard win we might still have a chance at escaping. "
As a reply a soft voice from Mea ringed in Mari's ears
"then shouldn't we leave right now, when they both are busy fighting each other?"
She was right the guards had all hurried to witness the fight between the both of them. But there was a small problem,
"If we leave now, not just the guards the entire city will be on our look out including the queens guard. As other track us down to capture us so will the queens guard we can evade the others somehow but not the queens guard. Didnt you see how they are everywhere" said Mari with thoughtfulness.
Since they entered the queens chamber in thier way to find a place to hide, they had literally triggered a fight between one of the most strongest warrior and one of the most secretive groups in the entire country.
An act which might topple the balance of power from the hands of the queen to the ones aiming to control her and her guard nagas.
To the nobles who seeked power, powerful and loyal spies was more valuable than supplying an army to keep them in power. For it was not battles or numbers which kept their power but strategies of the night and the ability to gain, control and even twist information, all of which the fellow Naga, the mistress's of night excelled at.
Add to it the long standing hatred and disdain towards the queens guard which refused to aid the army in times of war and thier secretive nature, all of this meant that the hatred towards the nagas where through the roof.
"If not for us none of this would have happened"
as the words left his mouth he noticed how Mea's face changed from fear to guilt. Mari held her hand to calm her down and assure her that it was ok.
The warmth which was building up between them, calmed them both as they held their hands and sat shoulder to shoulder with thier back against the cold walls of the chamber. And then emerged a feeling of hope which polished itself into that of a bright future. Their bright future, and as a small smile of gratitude towards each other curled their lips they both said in their mind in unison
"Maybe all of this was for the best." as they both slipped into a slumber after their tiring endeavor.
The castle courtyard-:
/clang/ - /step/ /step/ /step/ - /jump/ /slam/
BAM
THUD
CUT
THRUST
BLOCK
SWIRL
SHATTER
The noise of weapons and armour colliding, stone getting crushed, earth shattering and edges chipping, Beamed through out the entire castle and reverberating back and forth.
Hours passed by the moon has went back into hiding as the first rays of sun reached the kingdom. The rising sun and the arrival of dawn slowly warming up the air and eating away at the lingering cold of the night.
But they have yet to stop.
The guards watched in awe and surprise without as much as a blink to witness the marvel unraveling in front of them.
As times passed by the spear and the armour of the commander was damaged beyond repair. The pristine armor of the commander made of the highest quality of steel found throughout the continent, has now gotten grinded down and chipped at the edges. The spear head has been reduced to nothing more than a mere jagged spike. With it's wooden shaft snapped in half. A testament to the weilders brutal strength.
The lioness held on to herself with her knife edges gone and a small sliver of metal, the spine of the knives was only left on the hilt. Her entire body broken and the clothes which wrapped around her soaked in her own blood.
Both of them are exhausted both are weakened, both of their weapons shattered and broken to an extent that rendered both of it more akin to a child's toy than a weapon of war.
Hours of fighting, defending and attacking each other as both tried to rip each other into shreds has weakened them both. Yet even as they struggled to stand, incapable of delivering another blow or defending oneself. They still moved in to continue fighting.
The amusement they once felt at the beginning of their encounter is now gone, nowhere to be found, both of their bodies are screaming in pain and begging to them for rest. But even at this state they refused to admit defeat, their bodies still managing to stand up that too barely, by their sheer will alone.
As the guards stood frozen not knowing what to do. As their hearts gripped on to dear life. A huge noise echoed throughout the castle and made it's way into their ears
/CRE,CRE,CRE,CRE,CRE,CRKK,THUD/
The sound of the chains which held the castle gates coming down lowering the gates, reminded them of their jobs and it's duties.
In a Jiffy they surrounded the Naga pointing their spear and shouting at her to surrender.
In fear of death no one dared to even step closer to her.
Through the castle doors left unguarded, the queens carriage entered the castle. And as she did the yelling of the guards draw her attention. Confused of what was happening she ordered that her carriage to be taken to were the noise came from.
The lady who was inside the carriage looked out only to be shocked by the sight of broken stables and the shattered floor and the ruined courtyard. And from the back of the carriage a hooded figure bolted in front of the carriage and to the commander who was standing motionless. She placed her sword and yelled at the guards
"Drop your weapons this is the queen's guard, you are on the verge of committing treason against her highness"
The roaring voice of this lady made them turn around and panic and as one of the guards raised their voice
"Who are you, how dare you---"
He froze in place seeing the approaching carriage and the insignia on its door.
/roll/ /roll/ /halt/
The carriage then rolled to the courtyard and came to a halt. Its doors flung open and the queen stepped down.
Her majestic red gown and her jewel embedded velvet crown glimmering in the fist rays of sun light which fell on the courtyard.
"Her majesty!"
The guards greeted her and kneeled at her presence. She calmly walked over to the motionless commander and ordered the Naga to let go the man. Then she signalled the maid who was with her to go and tend to the Naga which stood there refusing to fall.
She saw the shattered walls of the armory and signaled the guards to leave and take their commander to the doctor for treatment with them.
The Naga which came with the queen looked at the shattered glass window above the tower and with three swift steps jumped up
/climb/ /climb/ /climb/
And looked in and then jumped back down and whispered something in the queen's ear .
"Huughh"
The queen sighed with a worried look on her face and then spoke,
"Take Hina to the doctor and put her to bed, once she wakes up i want a full report on what happend. You may leave now "
She said as she dismissed the both of them.
As the maid carried Hina, the broken lioness, she spoke,
"My queen forgive me I have failed you by exposing my existence in your chamber as the last guard. And by fighting the commander only to fail. I have caused you trouble. I dont deserve to live any more."
With an angry tone the queen replied
"Your punishment will not be death. It will be your continued service to me. And you did nothing wrong in the first part you were simply doing your duty"
"Now go take rest. There is something I have to take care of "
She said as she moved to her chamber's.
To be continued.