Fealty

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As the shadows grew longer and darker, and forest was preparing for the night rest, a man stepped out of the undergrowth and disturbed this relative peace. The muscles in his body prepared for anything, his mind sharp and focused. He clearly wasn’t just strolling around in the woods, he was on the mission.

And his eyes had finally caught a glimpse of the target. A beautiful stag was grazing beneath a mighty oak tree. The man silently lifted his hand, his fingers traveling on his dark tanned skin, removing the sweat from the face. His eyes still fixed on the animal, when he reached to his quiver on his back, grabbing an arrow and place it on the bow.

Lincoln closed his eyes for a moment to concentrate. His mind blank, without any though or emotion, when he string the bow and aimed to the heart of the beast. He released and watched as the arrow flue to the target. He walked thru the dens undergrowth slowly and carefully to find a place, where the animal laid.  He was grateful for such a catch, as the animal would provide meat for a long time. “You fight is over” he quietly whispered, as he found a knife on his belt and leaned to animal to begin work.  

//

She was submerged into bittersweet memories, which could still, after all the time that passed from her death, pushed her to the edge of tears. She tried to think about her real problems, the war that was brewing, the coalition, her people and politics among the clans, to ease almost a physical pain in her stomach, which was triggered by the memories, but she failed miserably.

She pointed her green eyes through the window, to the bluish sky and watched as the sun slowly disappeared behind the mountains and she tried not to think about a single tear that escaped from the corners of her eyes and slide down her face.

A laud knock on the door pushed her out of her thoughts and she begun frantically trying to wipe away any clues of tears. “Enter” she barked, still trying to remove the emotions from her voice. Titus entered and bowed “Heda, our scouts had returned.” He started to speak “the entire army of the Blood clan had gathered on our borders”

Why are they doing that, this is clear provocation and I will be forced to respond, she pondered quietly, but she had another, more important question to ask out loud.  “What about their numbers? “ Titus responded with a worried look on his face. “Heda, reports were inconclusive, but the last time they marched, they had almost 10 times the number of our warriors.”

She gasped, but he wasn’t finished yet. “We need to call all the ambassadors from the clans and prepared our army to march as soon as possible, there is no time to lose, no time for words just for actions, they don’t know the meaning of mercy in war “

She nodded in approval, her face a mask of determination, but inside of her anger was boiling. So much work, pain, patience, travels and even deaths were needed to form the Coalition, but now everything could be undone because of blood lust of a single man, King Alt.

I am so sorry Costia , she though, I have failed you again. Her heart in great pain once again, as she turned from Titus to watch the sunset unfold in the distance.

The next day, she was out of bed even before the sunrise. Her head full of worry about the future, and her heart full of pain about the past. She made her way to the balcony, where her eyes rested on the city below, and her dark blue nightwear swirled in light breeze that was blowing from the mountains that surrounded Polis. Her green eyes were following little figures, as they moved thru the maze of streets, sometimes disappearing into buildings of houses.

She was responsible for their safety and well being and also for survival of the Coalition. The thing Costia died for, she added to herself with sadness flowing thru her like a raging river. But now, again we are on the brink of war and all the lives lost for the cause could be for nothing. That though   waved heavily on her.

As she watched the sun slowly rising above the mountain peaks, something in her changed. Strong sense of determination flow thru her, washing the pain and sadness away, until only Heda remained.

“No king, regardless of the size of the army he possesses, or his brutality, won’t threaten my city or Coalition.” She quietly wowed and promised at the same time. “He will soon learn that crossing me was a mistake and his last one.” With that thought in her head, she turned her back to the sun, and returned to the room. She striped the nightdress and vent to wash herself.  When she was done, she grabbed soft leather underdress and pants, dressing them quickly and then the hands vent for the light mail, metal shoulder guard and boots. She also strapped two daggers on her thighs and put a sheath with her sword on her back, securing all the straps in the end.

She walked thru the door, giving almost friendly nod to the guards outside, and continuing on the hallway to the elevator. She entered slowly and listened to the noise of spinning wheel downstairs. Before the machine started moving, it shuck violently but soon she was descending smoothly and soon the doors had opened. She walked out, again nodding to the guards standing in the room.

On her way to the door she stopped in front of a guard named Kia. “Find Indra and tell her, that her presence is requested in the war room later today.” The guard bowed and exited the room quickly.   

The morning sun blinded her for a moment, as she stepped on already hot and busy streets of her beloved city. She started walking slowly, enjoying the fell of the light breeze on her face, but suddenly, a sound of footsteps interrupted her peaceful walk and she turned, only to find two of her guards trailing her. They both nodded in respect and she smiled, to them and to herself. When did I become so tense, so on edge? she wondered and started walking, the smile still on her lips.

The sounds of the street, the smell of the fresh baked bread begin to pour into her brain, removing all the worries, problems that trouble her. These morning walks were her favorite free time occupation, she felt alive, like could breathe in the life around her.

The people on the streets would bow their head; some even kneel as she passed them and she in return smiled, shake hands and found a kind word for everyone, but the children were her favorite travel companions, their laugh, smiles and innocent eyes really wakening and cheering her up.

After some time, she arrived at the market. Here the smell of food was even stronger and her stomach soon begun to beg for food. She entered a bakers shop and bought a piece of bread and an apple. Her guards stayed outside until she came out, and then they followed her to the bench in the shade of a giant tree, where she ate her meal.

When she finished the taller guard approach her. “Heda what is our next destination?” he asked officially. “That is a good question, I don’t know” she replied with a glimpse of a smile. “May I suggest something?” he spoke again waiting for a response. She nodded and he continue the question with a glimpse of fear in his eyes. “In the barracks, there is a training day and I and my partner would be honored if you would allow us to participate.” Lexa nodded slowly “I like the idea, and I might need a good spare session too.” She added, her smile widening.

//

Clarke woke up as the cold, ice cold breeze made contact with her pale skin on the back and shoulders. Her fingers hurrying to find the corners of the fur, which she used to cover herself in the cold nights, but she found a different kind of warmth, the type she wasn’t expecting to find beside her; human warmth. From where she laid, she could only see a dark tan back, with complex tattoos covering the almost entire surface. As her fingers made contact with the stranger’s back, the head begun to fill with memories from the night before.

Gentle fingers touching her cheek, a passionate kiss that ends with entwined tongues, a hand playing with her blond hair, a strong feeling deep inside of her which expands to the sweat area between her legs, tongue moving along the insides of her thighs and the explosion of pleasure that erupted inside of her….

Slowly her fingers traveled up the tanned body, exploring again its beauty and curves, until they reached dark brown hair. She could smell the special scent eradiating from them and again that triggered a wave of pleasant memories.

She moved closer, to breathe in more of this scent. Her body nestle up close to the warmth emitted by the other woman’s body. Her blue eyes closed, in hope that the moment would last forever.

But that was only a wild dream, she discovered as she heard fast footsteps approaching her private chambers. She gently shook the girl, trying to wake her up, before Gallan, her tall and hansom advisor could storm into the room as he sometimes does, frightening or just embarrassing the girl in the process. 

But the body didn’t move an inch, so Clarke just pulled the fur over the brown hair, wondering about the name of the girl, she invited into her bed yesterday evening. She stretched her brain, but nothing smart or useful came out.

But all thoughts about the woman were temporary forgotten, as four masked figures burst thru the door, their swords and daggers poised to strike. A voice escaped from behind the mask of the closest one “search the room for any maps or papers” as he moved closer to the bad, with his sword ready.

The shock, the blond felt was quickly replaced by quite determination and her muscle memory kicked in. Clarke grabbed her blade, which was always at the side of the bad and blocked the incoming strike.

She could see a surprise flashing over the man s face as she jumped from the bad, her lean sword ready, and her blond hair swirling in the cold morning air. She saw his eyes traveling from her breasts to the large scar on her stomach to the place between her lags. She saw lust and desire on the killers face and the blonde smiled. “What a view, an ice princess naked in front of your eyes…” she laugh but the humor didn’t reach her sky blue eyes. “Your wife wouldn’t be pleased I assume…but no worries, this will be your last memory on this world, I promise.”

The man didn’t know how to answer, and she didn’t wait for him. Their swords clashed together and the song of steel rang out. Behind her back she could feel two more masked shapes approaching silently, hoping to surprise her. She dodged the next strike and ran to the side of the room, where she kept another sword.

She turned around, facing the assailants. She bleed a little from cut on her arm and she could fell the blood dripping from her nose but she didn’t care. And her opponents were in fare worse condition, blood pouring from their cuts and one laid in the corner without his head.  

She smiled again and teased them. “What is that, one little nude girl against four, sorry three masked killers and I am still breathing?” they didn’t respond so she continue “I hope that the clan, who hired you doesn’t know how unfit assassins you are.” Their leader growled with anger and charged and the rest followed. 

As the blades collided with force, the song of pain, death and steel could be heard again. The blond used her speed and stamina to dance around the room, slashing at her enemies, dodging their attacks. Her blade becoming bloodier by the second, her gold braids sprayed with arterial blood gushing from the wounds of her dying would-be killers.

Suddenly she slipped on the bloody floor and a blade almost cut her arm of, but it stopped in her shoulder. She didn’t scream when the pain flooded her senses, many times before she could fell stronger pain than this.

Her blue eyes were steel when she looked up to the man in front of her. She could read the shock written in his eyes when she grabbed the blade with her right hand and pull it out of her shoulder, ignoring the spray of blood coming from the wound and the pain coming from her cut hand. “Nice try, but you should have aimed a little more to the left; it’s a little hard to cut thru the shoulder with an almost dull sword.” She pointed out, pulling the blade out of his grip and standing up.

The man charged at her with a dagger in his hand; what a beautiful hilt, a thought crossed her mind when she cut him almost in half with a swing of her blade.

She looked across the room, accessing the damage they had done. All four lay dead on the floor, their bodies badly damaged, stab wounds still bleeding slowly, limbs and other body parts missing. A soft noise floated to her ears, for a second she didn’t  recognized it, but then her brain made the connection, and she dive to the ground for safety, as a knife flue right throe the spot, her head was a second before.

Her eyes meeting the brunette in the corner of the room, as she lowered her throwing arm and grabbing a bloody sword from the ground. The hart in her chest started vibrating from the pain, sadness and betrayal. “What are you doing?” she could hear her voice cracking with emotions “we just meet yesterday, why are you doing ….” She still couldn’t understand when suddenly all the pieces came together and she understand.

The women in the corner laugh without any humor. ”you should have seen your face right now, Clarke” were her first worlds in that bloody morning. “I still remember the filling of your lips  on mine, your hands traveling all over my body, thank you for that princess, I will never forget…..” her words cease in the middle of the sentence and she look down, the pain clearly visible on her face, only to see a hilt of a sword sticking out of her chest. Her lungs were making last breaths, as the brunette slides to the ground, her eyes still staring at Clarke, stubborn to the end.

The blonde sits on the bad, recovering from the shock, the pain that is raging inside of her. The air is thick from the metallic smell of blood, death and other fluids. She is quietly falling apart, her hands begun to shake as the adrenalin rush from the battle slowly die down.

She still can’t believe what just happened. The girl she meet the day before, trying to kill her, four armed and masked man braking into her chambers, again trying to kill her. Nothing new for her; she thought as her lips begin to curve into a sad grin, but still all of this must be connected somehow, and she would came to the bottom of this mass, she swears .

Filed with new found determination she stands up, again looking at the blood sprayed walls, bodies cut to pieces and her look even wonders to the girl in the corner. She shakes her head, trying to think what to do next. She grabs a leather shirt and pants; both sprayed with a red liquid and slowly knell to every corpse, looking for any clan marks they forgot to remove. Her search is fruitless, she finds nothing.

A loud gasp escapes her, as she walks throe the door. The two guards stationed in front of her room are lying on the ground, their necks cut open. “Your fight is over” she quietly whispers, as she closes their eyelids with a gentle touch.   

Her insides are now filling with anger as she walks to end of the hallway, with her still bloody blade in the inured hand. Her laude voice echoes through the still quite corridors and rooms. “Guards, to my chambers!”

For a second there is no response. But then countless footsteps and laud orders could be heard all around her. First to reach her, are two of her personal guards Echo and Val. Both man accustomed to sounds, fell and smell of the battle, but she could see glimpse of fear and sickens as they approach her room, the stench of death still in the air. “My princess, what happened here?”  The older one asks with disbelieve in his eyes. “Val I had visitors this morning and they tried to end my life…” the blonde explains, almost amused by his unofficial, almost ordinary way of talking to her. “I see…and I guise they failed” his smile now clearly visible. The blond just nods in agreement, her mind elsewhere.

His younger partner removed his eyes from the killed guards in front of the door and looks inside. He swears loudly as he turns to Val. “Look, there was five of them, and they are all dead now…cut to pieces….and the blood, it everywhere” he tells Val quietly, his voice full of disbelieve, but also with fear and a slight disgust over the bloody scene inside. Val doesn’t bother to reply, he has seen the efficiency and brutality of the blonde in combat first hand; he witnessed the single combat between the ice queen and princess, the event that changed the history of Azgeda forever.

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