By Hanny Morag
Blood splashed like a tap running without control. “Oh, I thought you were smart and brave.” He mocked him while his veins were left open, and the blood level in his body kept reducing like a river gradually running dry. Asher laid down helpless on the floor after Nabar stabbed him with a poisoned blade.
There was no one to help, and no one around him could tell the king about Nabar and the doom he has brought to the land. Nabar slowly faded out of sight as Asher’s eyes kept closing till he could no longer see anything, and his body went cold like the ice from the freezing mountains of the west.
It wasn’t long after Nabar left, Gaius found Asher’s lifeless body on the floor with no one to help. He decided to rush him to his house and try reviving him, but what can he do to a body that has given in to the cold arms of death. He reported to the palace immediately, but what seems to be an act of humanity turned against him to be an everlasting trap.
He narrated his story to the king how he found Asher and tried helping, but Nabar was fast to counter his story and turn it against him. Nabar insisted that Gaius killed the man in his house, but since he is a famous person in the city, he decided to report it to cover his tracks.
No one seems to understand why Gaius would want to kill Asher, so prince David suggested they give the man the benefit of the doubt and follow him to the scene where he found Asher before following him home. Nabar, Prince David, and few men accompanied him to the place, but what they saw was beyond their imagination.
At the scene where Gaius said he found Asher and tried to help him, there was no evidence to prove he was stabbed at the location. There was no bloodstain nor any sandal print that looks like that of Asher. Gaius was already getting scared because he understands the repercussions of everything happening.
They all moved to Gaius’s home, where they found the body of Asher and a knife covered with blood beside him. It was a horrible sight. Without giving Gaius the chance to say any word, the guards chained him and took him away to the cell where he would stay before judgment would be passed upon him.
The situation in the city grew worst daily. More people kept falling under the control of the unknown enemy whose voice could manipulate anyone, regardless of age. The armies that would be able to stand and fight when war becomes an unavoidable nightmare kept reducing because David understands the effect of compromise on victory. He won’t risk putting them on the line.
Tribute was paid at the sanctuary in honor of Asher’s death. His passage was already known to them, and they must honor it. A light bearer was sent to the royal palace the next day with an important message. “The army of darkness will be on the move soon. You must be prepared else the city would fall.”
The king understood they must meet the enemy outside the gate of the city while other soldiers remain in the city to guard it. They could have strategized on moving everyone to the city fortress, but it is risky because they would kill each other before the war is over since they are divided against each other. They decided different locations would be used for safety sake.
“It is time to return home with the girl, but Lilian will remain here with us. You must hurry, or the city falls.”
“The little boy Aryan is destined to be beside her as a helper. Take good care of him. Remember also that Tobi, the leader of all the dark lords, is nothing compared to his master Kazar.” These were the last words of Queen Reene to Nacca as they departed from Lilithian to Hashmaim.
During their stay, Nacca had a lot of discussion with lord Cavalla and queen Reene. With his great white hair, the old wizard understands that Hashmaim will face lots of trouble once the little girl’s presence is sensed in the city.
They continued their journey back home with the hope of meeting things in good condition, but deep within, they know they might be hoping in vain.
The evidence at Gaius’s house made it seem like he was responsible for the death of Asher.
His arrest was ordered immediately by Nabar. No one could question the evidence pointing Gaius as the killer of Asher. Not even David could do anything about the situation. He walked out of the room a sad man because Gaius is a man of high integrity. He would love to help him get out of the terrible situation, but there is nothing he can do without solid proof. Just like smoke escaping into the air, the truth slowly disappeared with the death of Asher. Nabar was the last person to leave the room for reasons best known to him.
Nabar began to understand his secret might be open sooner than imagined, so he decided to speed up the process of taking over the city before things get out of his control for fear of the unknown is beginning to dominate his mind. He wouldn’t want to take any risk. He decided to send a secret message in the dark to the enemies of Hashmaim.
Although David’s heart was heavy and could not eliminate the thought of the real enemy as someone they all know, he continued with war strategies to prevent the enemy from catching up on them unexpectedly.
David went to visit Gaius in the cell, where he awaits final execution. He told Gaius he is aware of his innocence, but he has to prove it with substantial evidence that is not yet available. He returned to his men to continue battle plans because it is essential to prevent the enemies from entering the gate.
Everything was in place except for the increasing rate of people rebelling against the king. It became the source of the city’s problem. It is terrible, but no one seems to know what to do since the elders have not come out of the sanctuary in decades, and Nacca is somewhere on the sea hoping to get to the city fast enough before it is taken.
“It is time. Gather the armies” These were the words from Tobi when he received the information sent by Nabar. The dark lords gathered with swords ready to ride out and destroy the city of Hashmaim once the order is given to them. They began to assemble armies in hundreds till they became ten thousand while all the armies of Hasmaim numbers three thousand. It was a hopeless battle, but the people of Hashmaim were yet to realize.
One of the dark lords was put in charge of the armies by Tobi. He would lead them to the city of Hashmaim to destroy everything that comes their way.
A thick voice like a rumbling thunder filled with fear and terror came from the dark to address the armies who seems prepared for the destruction of the armies of Hashmaim. A voice they only get to hear when rage fills the heart of the master.
Tobi walked out from the darkness of one of the towers of his castle. “Great armies of Salizer. I bring you greetings from Kazar, our master, who is more than excited about your dedication and loyalty. The day has come again for us to conquer territories and take the land of the mortals forcefully. We will make them bow to us. Above all these, you must find a young girl who wields a special power and bring her back to me dead or alive. Now march for ruin and destruction. March now to Hashmaim and never return without victory.”
They departed from Salizer in their vast numbers. They were so many that they looked like ants marching to a new colony. The only difference is their size and weapon. The drum of war began to sound along with the songs of destruction. Hashmaim has no idea of what is coming even though they have been warned about it.
Nacca, Zarius, Aryan, the little girl, elder Kabuza, and a Lilithian prince (Prince Balin) journeyed back to Hashmaim to save it from destruction. They have sailed for two days. Prince Balin, one of the skilled sons of lord Carvalla with remarkable war records, could feel their closeness to the city.
Balin has never lost a battle, so lord Cavalla told him to accompany them back to Hashmaim.
The armies of darkness have moved on foot for two days without the knowledge of prince David and his soldiers. War will be upon them in two days.
Prince David, his top soldiers, and some trusted men of the king, including Nabar, gathered around the table in the lower hall to discuss the war plans they have. Every secret that was meant to aid in defeating the enemy was revealed to the real enemy without knowing.
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