02 The Win and Defeat

As King Herald stands with the Rashald soldiers, their morale boasted but the ram was still ramming the gate. Then, King Herald commanded to shoot flame arrow onto the ram to set it on fire. Soldiers heed the order and starts to use flame arrow. Soon, the ram set on flame and unable to use. However, the ladders attack is still ongoing. King Herald and all defend with their lives on stake.

Meanwhile...

(East Gate)

Minister Baldwin gives out order to half of the troops stationed on East Wall to move out and help out the North Wall. The East Wall commander in charge opposes the idea but Baldwin scold him for being not follwing order and kill him on the spot. Thus, the strength of the East Wall army reduced to half. East Wall soldiers were worried as they receiving news of bloodshed on North Wall but on their wall, nothing is happening to them. Khartagu main force is still stationed there, not moving an inch, just standing there like a mannequin. Suddenly, the soldiers on patrol murdered by Baldwin's personal army and replaced by them one by one.

(North Wall)

With a sudden reinforcement sent by Minister Baldwin to North Wall, King Herald has no doubt as he believes on Baldwin action is to help him to defend the wall and that is Baldwin strategy.

King Herald and the North Wall soldiers keeps on defending. Never that they will realise, after the first reinforcement reach, there will be another force following behind.

(30 minutes ago, East Wall)

After Baldwin personal army replaced the soldiers on patrol, Baldwin gives out signal to Khartagu and opened the gate. Khartagu and his army marched in the city. Baldwin brought his family and greeted Khartagu at the gate. To his horror, Khartagu ordered his guard to capture Baldwin and his family. Baldwin was shocked, he asked, "Great Leader, what are you doing?! I did as you want! You promised me that you will not kill my family!".

Khartagu smiled and said, "Indeed I will keep my promise of not killing....Guards, keep Baldwin's beautiful sole daughter into my tent and his wife ... into the tent of the greatest warrior of today's war."Then, he laugh out loud and struck his blade towards Baldwin. Baldwin last sight was his beheaded body ; his both wife and daughter the second before everything ends....

After the first batch of riders numbered 20 thousands entered the city, the riders commanded by Khartagu to attack the North Wall from inside and the remaining army will march to the castle. On the march, they slaughtered all man and old, capture young woman and children.

(Back to North Wall)

The troop that approaching after the reinforcement from East Wall starts to kill from behind. King Herald was shocked as he saw that. Why there is Khartagu's army in the city! He quickly gives out command to retreat to the castle. Sound of horns being blew to sounds the retreat signal. However, with both front and back being attack, the Rashald army was unable to retreat nor attack. Soon, they were being surrounded.

"My King! You shall live on and revenge for us! We will open up a route for you!", Captain of Kings' personal guard said to King Herald. The commander of Khartagu laugh out loud when he heard this. He shout, "None of you shall leave here alive...hahahahahha"!

"Kill!!!"

Khartagu's commander and King Herald was shocked and curious who shouted that.

Suddenly, a group of young man, armed with swords breaks into the formation from behind and create a safety route. "For The King!" Shouted by them. The formation by Kartagu's army becomes a mess and one young man reach King Herald.

"My King, the castle has fallen, the kingdom has fallen but with you alive, we can stands up once again! Please leave with us!" said the young man.

"How can that happen?! Where is the queen and princess??"asked King Herald.

"The Queen protected the princess and died....then the princess she..."

Before the young man finishes his sentence, a blade chopped by breaks the conversation. It was the Khartagu's commander. The young man push the King away and confront the commander. He rush in and stabs his sword towards the horse's neck which the commander riding on. The horse jump up and drop the commander. The commander fell on the ground and roll himself further to stand up as the young man stabs his sword towards the spot where he fell. He stood up and ask, "Bastard! What is your name?! How dare you try to kill me, The Brave Tharaki!". The young man did not heed his words and run towards Tharaki. Tharaki was angered and he lift up his blade, ready to chop the young man into half. He chop down but young man side step to the right side evaded the attack and countered with a slice to Tharaki left arm. Tharaki's left arm was sliced off and blood spills out but the attack did not stop there. The young man takes the opportunity and place his swords onto Tharaki neck. He said ," This mark the end for Brave Tharaki".

*Bishieek

The sword slices Tharaki's neck and the blood spills out like fountain. Tharaki kneels down as he slowly fell on the ground...lifeless. The young man earns the victory but the war did not stop eventhough the commander been killed. The other barbarian soldiers act even delightful when they sees the death of their commander because they know as he killed there will be another spot for them to climb up above the others. They starts to kill mercilessly to earn battle points. This scene scare out the young man and King Herald.

Soon, one by one, the soldiers of Rashald Kingdom died and their blood paints the wall to the ground. King Herald, personal guards, the young man and the remaining 100 soldiers were captured. The vice commander of the Khartagu's army took control and ordered to bring them to the castle. Along the way, dead bodies of Rashald Citizens can be seen laying on the ground, stabbed in the heard, body parts everywhere and the most evil was the barbarians are raping in the public. The women are screaming for help, some are shivering in fear at the corner and children's cry can be heard.

King Herald cried when he see's these scene. All the soldiers were in despair. Even the young man couldn't hold in and tears flow down his face. King Herald thanks the young man for his bravery to save him and asked for his background. The young man replied, "My King, I am Lemu, the second son of the old guard, the younger brother of the skinned guard. My father had died because of grieves due to my brother's death and left me with my younger brother. " .... "I am sorry , My King. I'm unable to save you and the Kingdom.". He bow down his head and cry.

King Herald was touched and he tell Lemu not to feel sorry as he had did his best. Deep in these men heart, hatred and sadness conquered them. Tears stop flow but blood starts to be seen. Some soldiers felt too despair as what happened to their family and friends, to the kingdom. They had betrayed the oath they had made during enlistment, the oath to protect the kingdom no matter what happen till death. Now, they are just a captive like an animal inside the cage, unable to do anything. One of soldier bite his tongue to kill himself. Just like that, a man life gone forever. There were no reaction from the barbarian who saw the death of the man. In their mind, there will be only the strong will live; the weak will fall.

Soon, the group of captives reach the castle and all brought to the front of Khartagu.

"Kneel beneath the feet of our Great Leader, Khartagu!" shouted by one of Khartagu's retainers.

All the legs of captured Rashald citizens including King Herald were hit by the Barbarian soldiers to kneel down.

"Well, well ,well, the King of Rashald Kingdom, King Herald" said Khartagu. His voice echoed the hall. "You once said the barbarians do not have the strength, do not have the intellectual, cannot even compare to a little child of Rashald Kingdom. Now, open your eyes! Your kingdom! Your beloved Kingdom! Is now mine...." said Khartagu. Khartagu evil laugh follows on as he finishes the sentence.

"I am sorry for what I had said and what I had done to your tribe but please the civilians are innocent. They have nothing to do with this. Please let them go", begged King Herald. Khartagu gives out a kick towards the chest of King Herald and he shouted in pain but Khartagu did not stop after one kick. He kept on delivering multiple kicks on King Herald body until King Herald vomitting blood.

"My King!", outcried all Rashald Kingdom's soldiers.

Khartagu gives out a big laugh as he watches the soldiers expression. Then, he ordered all soldiers who outcried earlier to be killed.

"No!!!", yelled King Herald.

One by one, the soldiers got beheaded. Blood flush out from the body like a fountain. Red hot blood splashes onto the floor non-stop. The first one gt beheaded was the captain of the personal guards for King Herald. King Herald eyes flowing with tears as he kept on shouting, "Stop...Please Stop.. I'll do anything, Please Stop!". When the moment Lemu head almost got chop, Khartagu gives out signal to stop the killing. Khartagu kneel down in front of King Herald and push his head onto the floor. "Lick it! Lick the blood and I will consider from continue to kill your man...", said Khartagu.

King Herald did not hesitate and he lick the blood which were spilled by his personal guards' captain.

Tears dripping off King Herald's cheek as he lick.

All the barbarians including Khartagu gives out a big laugh as they watching King Herald lick the blood of his own retainer. Then, Khartagu ordered his retainer to throw King Herald and other captives into the dungeon. As the soldiers bringing the captives towards the dungeon, a messenger arrive and whisper something to Khartagu. Immediately, Khartagu and two of his retainers walk away with the messenger.

(Dungeon)

In the dungeon, only darkness can be seen, rats crawling can be heard and death can be smell. The air in dungeon was hard to breath in, the temperature is cold enough to keep the ice from melting. If one wishes to know when its the time, day or night, they will need to ask the prison's guard. Each one of the captives, armor was removed, only a thin layer of clothes remain. One by one, the captives separated into different cells. Some have to spend the night with rats, some need to spend the night with human bones and some with both. Coincidentally, King Herald and Lemu were placed next to each other.

After the soldiers finished the duty, they leave the dungeon without sparing a torch in the dungeon to give the prisoner some warm.

"Lemu" called King Herald.

"Yes, My King" answered Lemu.

King Herald did not hesitate at once after the enemy soldiers left the dungeon and he ask Lemu for his baby princess whereabout. Lemu tells King Herald that the princess has been taken to the safe house at the south district of the city under the protection of his uncle, Lawwis when the enemy attacked. During the process, Queen Mari was killed as she threw herself towards the enemy soldiers to buy some time for Lawwis to bring the princess to safety.

King Herald was happy that his princess is safe but sad that his beloving Mari has been killed. Then, he just sit at the corner of his cells in silent.

Suddenly, the metal gate of the dungeon entrance can be heard opening and multiples of footstep are approching the King Herald's cell. Instead of opening King Herald's cell door, the prison guard open Lemu's cell door. Three of the guards walk into the cell and beat Lemu. Then, they drag him out of the dungeon with both hands tied. All prisoners were shocked of this sudden event.

(Three hours later)

Lemu was brought back by the guards. To the horror, Lemu was stripped off and his face was punched until even his own father will not be able to recognise him. In this cold dungeon, Lemu's life is in danger. One of the prison guards exclaimed, "If any of you wishes to be like him, just tell me and I will gladly help you with it". Then, he slap his own ass and make some lewd face. Another guard then make another announcement, "Anyone who is willing to gives out the location of the princess will be given a chance to live on and.....will be rewarded." Once he finish the sentence, he did not wait for the any of the prisoners to respond and left the dungeon with other guards.