50: Fort Miras has fallen (trial part 14)

(Nathan POV)

It was my first time watching a war. Well mostly because there were no wars like this where I came from. I mean there were wars but none like this.

"Pull back."

"LOAD IT THERE."

"QUICKLY."

Soldiers were shouting to convey the orders. Cecilia and Earl were giving major orders. I had become just a spectator at this point. We were fighting at a defensive position. I could not even comprehend any one breaking into the fort using the technology of this era but it did not mean that if it was beyond my comprehension, it was not possible. And right now, it was all unfolding in front of my very eyes. We were being overwhelmed by those guys. Arrows were raining over us. They had already destroyed many of our catapults. Originally their number was way greater than ours and they had brought with them their own catapults. So, now we were on the losing end.

"Damn it. WERE ARE THE SOLDIERS WE SENT OUT BEFORE THE WAR." Someone shouted.

"ONLY IF THEY WERE HERE, WE MAY HAVE HAD A CHANCE." I heard another voice.

"My liege." Earl came running to me in desperation. "What were the orders that you gave to the guerrilla squads. When will they be coming to help us?"

(Hold on just a bit longer commander.)

"I do not know that. I believe I told them to intervein when they feel necessary." I lied through my teeth

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN." Earl was enraged. "Are YOU SAYING THAT MY MEN HAVE BETRAYED ME."

"Lower your voice commander. You are addressing to the king." It was Rena who came to me defense.

"I DO NOT CARE IF HE IS THE KING OR NOT. HE IS THE ONE WHO HAD DOOMED US ALL. BEFORE WE ALL DIE, I AM GOING TO KILL THIS BRAT MYSELF. THIS....."

Before he could complete his threat towards me, we all heard a sound.

*CRACK*

"What was that" Asked Cecilia who was standing right next to me.

"The door is breaking down." I answered.

All the people who listened to me immediately ran towards the edges of the wall. They all looked down and saw the scene unfold. The enemy soldiers were using ropes and hooks to pull down the bridge. Our soldiers were trying to hold the bridge but the other side was simply too strong. Any one could see that they were losing badly.

"We need to act now." I said and then looked towards Earl. "Your insubordination will be punished after the war."

"There won't be anything left after the war. We will lose. Even if we run away, the army will reach us and soon even the capital will fall." Earl fell on his knees. "It's all over. We might as well just give up."

"Somebody carry him. Every body including all the soldiers. We are moving to the castle. We need to move fast. Now everyone, follow me."

We all moved down the castle walls and ran towards the castle. The fort itself was not big. We reached the castle easily. Only a few soldiers were left behind. It was so that the enemy may be delayed as much as possible. We all entered the castle and ran towards the throne room. The plan was simple as hell. We were running away. There was a series of tunnels under the fort and the entrance was in the throne room. There were also many more entrances throughout the fort but the soldiers knew about them more than me. They were all ordered to abandon their posts and enter the tunnels when the signal was given. The tunnels lead to the backside of the fort. Even before the fight broke out, I had placed horses inside the tunnels. There was only a single problem. Every one knew about the tunnels. It was a common practice in this world so it was obvious that the enemy knew about the tunnels. Although they did not know about the entrances or the exits, they could still guess. Besides, that was exactly what we wanted. We needed them to follow us as we ran. Me, Cecilia, Rena, Earl and many other soldiers and high-ranking army men exited the fort on our horses.

"We need to reach the end final point. This is the last step. I do not want any kind of failures." I spoke.

"My king." Some one said. "If I may say, not to be rude but the enemy soldiers are already chasing us."

"WHAT? Already?" I was genuinely surprised. "I knew they would catch up but this is way too fast." I looked behind and yup......… there they were. Enemy soldiers. They were chasing us. At the moment they were a bit far behind but I could tell that they were catching up.

(How the hell are they catching up to us)

At that moment

*SWISH*

An arrow flew past my head. I could not react, I could not doge. It was sheer luck that saved my life. I looked behind again and saw all of them raising their bows.

(Just my awesome luck. How did I forget this part in my plan and how the hell did no one point it out?)

"Every one scatter. Do not run in groups or else you will be caught in the fire." Cecilia shouted

"But no matter what you do, do not lose sight of each other. Try to reach and enter the forest together." I also gave an order. Then I turned towards Rena.

She looked in my eyes and I nodded. Her hand slid inside a pocket and in the next moment she had her wand in her hand.

"Vermillious" She shouted.

Red sparks emitted from her wand and flew up, bursting like fireworks in the sky. The attention of the archers was diverted for a moment. Immediately we all separated. The archers noticed their folly but it was a tad bit too late. We were all now separated. Running through trees and bushes, we made every effort to not lose sight of each other. Arrows were raining on us all continuously but we had to cope with it. At least till we entered the forest. The moment we entered the forest I curled my lips and whistled as loudly as I could. Following me Cecilia did the same and so did Rena. Our whistle echoed in the forest. The sound bounced off the trees and was heard many times. Only after a moment, the surrounding fell silent except for the small rustling of leaves and the galloping of horses.

"Now what brother." Cecilia asked while bringing her horse close.

"Now...…. We keep running."

"What do you mean by that. The enemy soldiers are almost on us and..." An arrow snuzzled past us.

Cecilia maneuvered towards the left while I tilted a bit to the right. I barely managed to dodge the arrow but Cecilia was not as lucky as me. There was not a single arrow but two. Where the first was dodged, the second was coming right after it. Cecilia did manage to move her horse towards the left but the she accidently came right into the line of trajectory of the arrow. The arrow did not hit her. Instead, it pierced the horse. With a shriek the horse fell down and its rider was sent flying. She tried to minimize the damage but she landed on the ground head first. When I realized what had happened, she was already on the ground. I had to go back.

(OH NO SHE WILL DIE)

With this thought in my mind, I turned around and raced back towards her. It only took me a moment to reach her but that moment was plenty for the archers. Several arrows were already only inches away from her body.

(SHIT I CAN'T MAKE IT)

"Portego" I heard a familiar sound.

I saw the arrows all hit Cecilia but then there was no damage. The arrows simply bounced off like they had hit a metal surface.

"What happened??? " Cecilia was confused and so were all the archers.

(Damn... just in a nick of time.)

I reached Cecilia and immediately jumped off my horse. I pulled out my sword and stood in front of Cecilia.

"Take my horse and run." I said

"I can't do that." She replied immediately. Till then Rena had also caught up to us. The assailants were still a bit far but not enough for us to run away.

"Just go. I will hold them off." I pressurized her.

"No, I am not leaving you."

"RENA"

"Yes your highness." She said and lifted Cecilia off the ground.

"Put me down this instant Rena you....." But she could not complete her sentence as the sleeping spell took effect.

"Will you be alright your highness." She asked before leaving.

The enemy archers were almost on us.

"Just go. Besides they will be here any moment now."

"I understand." She put Cecilia on her own horse and grabbed mine as well. "Hiyah" Both the horse became air. I was the only one left standing.

(HAAAHHHH. What the hell man. When did I change so much? Is it because of Kizen? When was I this emotional?)

In moments I was surrounded by the assailants.

"This is amazing. We have the king of Arcadia in our grasp. This is going to get us promoted." One of them chuckled.

I pulled out my sword and took my stance.

"What is it going to be boys. Going to kill me here or gonna take me as hostage." I tried to sound calm.

"Hostage it will be." One of them replied. "You are way too important to lose. At least until you have not passed down the crown to us. Now what will it be Your highness. Will you go calmly or shall we drag you?" They all pulled out their own swords while sitting on the horses.

"Neither." I replied calmly. "It will be you people

"Acting cocky I see. Well, it's going to take but a moment. Get him boys." They all tried to get closer to me. Abruptly, an arrow came flying out of the darkness and struck one of the men straight in the neck. Without so much as a sound he fell from his horse. Due to the sudden turn of events they all froze. And in that one moment, the entire guerilla squad was on them. The man who seemed to be the leader could not even understand what had happened. He turned his head. Left, Right, but as his head turned back towards the front, my face was in front of him.

"Acting cocky I see. Well, it's going to take but a moment. Get them boys." These were the last words that he heard before entering the eternal sleep. He must have felt some serious sense of Déjà vu.