Chapter 3: Auran

"Sire, the city is under siege, a Sculk is killing people in the city and there is a battle raging at the gates of the city" a guard ran in informing Emperor Gilhelm and his advisors at the throne room.

"gather troops, we are matching out" Gilhelm angry and had enough of this madness caused by Cirius.

"My lord that isn't wise, we will just loose more men and leave the castle undefended" Morgan said, the courts librarian.

"we have loosed a lot of men, do you think is wise we let this keep happening" Gilhelm asked his advisors.

"if we loose all our men, and maybe even win. do you really believe the other provinces and kings won't take advantage of our situation?", Paula asked, an old woman, with grey hair, but very wise and respected in the court.

"But what should I do" Gilhelm asked. And his advisors started mumbling to one another.

Then Paula spoke up "Well if you really want to help your people it's fine, but let your men handle this, while you go and seek help from Auran province".

"Alright, Millan ready the troops and keep my people and my family safe, I'm going to pay my wife's people a visit" Gilhelm said.

***********

Terror, have got fed up running from this beast chasing him. As it chased him, it's destroyed things in the way, breaking into homes drawing people out, killing them and flinging them in the direction of Terror.

Terror stood, raised the sword he had gotten from the dead soldier back in the arena and removed his hood and threw it on the floor. his fangs protruded, his claws got longer, and his body got bigger and hairy, he became a fully transformed black fur werewolf standing on two feet, but his clothing were customized to expand when his body transforms, a very expensive material as of that time.

People spying through shutters inside their apartment, were shocked because werewolves were creatures that stays in the forest, with great strength and a curse of pain every turn or full moon. It was a known story, that the goddess of moon gave them strength to keep her people safe but they got selfish and only protected the rich and powerful so the priest of the goddess placed a curse on them making them go through alot of pain when transforming but it get worst without a sense of control during the full moon. So humans stayed away from the forest of Tamak, the place that is rumoured they lived.

Terror, in his wolf form, charged towards the Skulk when it was distracted trying to break into another apartment, and Terror jumped an impossible height and swings his sword vertically, missing the beast head but the sword went through one of it's wings, it was a clean strike cutting off the beast wing, and the Sculk fell with a big thud on the floor. Now the Sculk extremely enraged at Terror, who had already jumped up on one off the apartment's roof. with one wing flapping it managed to climb up the roof but wasn't expecting what he got next, with so much strength Terror swing his sword with an impossible speed chopping of it's head. Terror transformed back to his human form, jumped down the roof, picked up his hood, along side the head of the Sculk, proud of his kill.

The soldiers who were led by captain Millan, to take care of the Sculk problem, were shocked to see a man holding up the head of the Sculk.

"wow, that is not something you see everyday". Millan said. "Arrest him, his the one who attempted a murder on the Emperor" Millan ordered his men.

The men came over grabbed him, and binding his hands. But he did not resist "well, Gilhelm we will soon meet" Terror said with his creepy smile back to his face.

***********

Cirius has fought his way through until he reached Gilhelm castle in Gully. but mounting the castle walls were soldiers but very few, most of them wasted in battle.

With a smile across his face, Cirius charged into the castle, he and his men fought the final battle with much valor and strength, they were like injured beast with nothing to loose. he climbed up the stairs, reaching the castle door, but nobody is inside, he walked along the passage, but there was nobody, he went to the grand floor nothing, he even checked the bed chambers of some of the valued guest of the castle but nobody either, he reached the enormous throne room still nobody. he went to the royal quarters and had his men check all the bed chambers there, but still nothing.

"who will leave their castle undefended" Cirius asked himself confused "or is this a trap" he thought to himself.

Cirius walked over to the throne and sat down there spreading his legs and in between his legs is the sharp tip of the sword to the floor and him holding the hilt firm, not knowing what to do and not trusting this situation.

***********

General Grim, after receiving a message from a messenger informing him to wait in the Yull forest North of Gully, that the royal convoy will be there to meet him, so he waited but he had only twenty one men in which seven were archers, so he spread them, the archers on trees with their arrow and bow set for any trespassers, and his men scouted the forest for any bandits or spy, he had to make it safe for the royal family to arrive. It took hours but finally he saw the convoy coming with speed.

"Go and tell them to stop, Check to make sure it's the royal family" Grim ordered one of the scout.

"yes sire" the scout said and went out of the forest with three other soldiers. he raised his hand up signalling them to stop.

the carriages came to an abrupt stop in front of the soldier, the coachman leapt down the first carriage. The soldier came over to the carriages checking each and everyone of them before signalling to his general its safe to come out.

The coachman after looking around and seeing that it is safe opened up the carriage in the middle, and out came queen Cecilia, still as gorgeous as ever, and behind her was her daughter Vera. General Grim went forward and bowed before his queen.

"Welcome my queen" Grim said now upright.

"No time for pleasantries, Cirius has breached our castle defences" Cecilia said

"My queen we will get to the root of all this, and all those involved in the city siege will pay with their life" Grim said with seriousness in his tone.

"well we aren't staying here, we have a prisoner in the back, the one who tried to murder my husband, I want you to make him talk, while me and the people in the carriage are going to Auran, my hometown and province, make sure he talks" queen Cecilia said, with firmness in her voice.

at that very moment they brought Terror out of the last carriage, with his hands still in chains.

"what of Dandier"Cecilia asked Grim.

"My queen, we haven't heard from him after the battle at Avi against the Nanakis" Grim said with his voice damp and his head down.

"Everything will be ok" Cecilia said assuring herself and her people.

with that she went over to Terror and gave him a very sound slap across the face, but he still smiled ever widely, with disgust, she went into the carriage with her daughter and they rode away, leaving Terror with Grim

"you think everything is funny right" general Grim said giving him hard punch to the side of the face, it was a powerful punch, because Terror flinched and the smile across his face nearly dropped, but yet he smiled not showing any spirit of weakness.

"oh you think you are hard right"Grim said to Terror, turning his head to his men "put up flames and leave the metal poker in it for at least an hour, let's see how hard he will be then" Grim said to his men.

"May I ask, where is your Emperor let's get this over with" Terror said, with this words both him and Grim let out a wild laughter.

"You are really mad, imagine the nerve, what makes you think you will leave here alive" Grim asked, back to being serious. "you know what, bring the poker now" Grim said.

Terror, with a very serious tone "Don't dare or you'll regret this"

"Haha, so you've lost your sense of humor" Grim said with a little laughter.

***********

General Aidan reached Gully, seeing the awful sight in front of him, half of Gully had burnt down, many were dead and the ones with severe injuries but still alive were very few, one could even count them. the whole city was deserted, but with only 83 men by his side, he went into the city strolling cautiously, of his surrounding. The magical carriage holding the druid, his men were riding at his back but nothing seems to happen.

"Seems you have done it, my Lord" Aidan said mostly to himself.

With time they reached the castle, and they saw only six guards in the armor color of Mardadus mounting the castle wall in defence. they reached and lowered the gates for them to come in. they rode in, general Aidan raised his hands and they came to an abrupt stop, he dismounted his horse then walked into the castle, to the throne room, where Cirius was sitting on the throne with two guards by his side standing.

"I don't understand, it seems we overestimated the out come of this battle, because it sure looks too easy" King Cirius spoke up.

"at least we have the druid" Aidan said trying to calm Cirius, who was in deep thoughts.

"I have a very bad feeling about things, Everyone leave us" Cirius said and immediately everyone in the throne room excused them

"what is the matter my lord" Aidan asked.

"you have being my best friend right from childhood, and I trust no one else but you, do you think it was wise of me attacking now." Cirius said.

"if not now then when my lord, do how you see fit, if you are to be an Emperor, then you'll, Not that I ever doubt you" Aidan said.

"Well thanks, I will not be a coward now, increase our defense at the wall and send Bella back to Mardadus to gather more men, I doubt this battle is over" Cirius said.

"Yes my lord, but we only have 460 men and they are for defense" Aidan said

"bring them all"Cirius demanded

"My lord, is that wise" Aidan asked.

"Just do as I say and bring the Druid in" Cirius ordered him with a smirk on his face, with that Aidan went to inform his men of their king demands.

through the small window with iron bars of the metal carriage, they threw in a dark gas, that made Dandier pass out

***********

Arriving at Auran, is Gilhelm atop his stallion with 6 Soldiers by his side. Auran well now is ruled by Arion, the son of late King Vulga. They welcomed Gilhelm with open arms, the castle is not as enormous as his, but it was grand, and the street were clean, and the statue of gargoyle were use as decorations atop the castle's sides. he dropped down from his horse and walked up the stairs into the castle. they led him to the grand floor of the throne room, which is filled with green color everywhere including the throne, with a touch of gold.

Arion stood up from his throne "Well My in-law, and our Emperor, we welcome you to Auran" Arion says with a smile on his face.

"No time Arion, I will like to speak to you alone", Gilhelm said with haste In his voice, Arion signalled everyone to excuse them, and after few minute the throne room was empty.

"As I speak to you your sister is on her way here, and my castle is under siege, Cirius has taking over, and I'm here to ask you for few men" Gilhelm said, throughout no Emperor has ever ask for men or had help from any of the 26 kings, it angered him a bit he wasn't expecting it during his era.

" and I need help for fortification to, during the period of the city healing" he also requested.

Arion smile "No problem, after all you are family, But Auran need independence and I know you will be the Emperor Again" Arion said trying to take advantage of this situation.

"Arion, are you serious right now, why take advantage, when I'm at me weakest" Gilhelm asked fuming.

"All I want is Auran to be an Empire, all alone, without being under any law that isn't theirs, just that little and yet you refuse" Arion said.

"That is no small fit, there will be war from the 26 kings, and right now I'm at my weakest, if they should hear I gave you independence as you requested, the other kings will need explanation or there will be war which your men and mine won't win we will be sitting ducks, just one king and I'm forced to vacate my kingdom" Gilhelm said getting very pissed.

"Then I'm sorry there's nothing I can do to help" Arion said turning his head in the opposite direction.

"Arion, your father and mine, had a deal why go back now" Gilhelm said sounding very disappointed.

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At that very moment, queen Cecilia arrived with her convoy, stepping down from her carriage, the ladies in waiting and her former chat mate ran towards her, welcoming her.

she went straight to the throne room with her entourage. but two guards stood at the door, informing her that the king and are husband are inside, and they are not to be disturbed.

"I demand an audience with the king and Emperor" so with force, her and the soldiers behind her, they barged into the the throne room.

"I don't give a damn about the deal, all I care is the well being of my people" Arion shot back refusing to look Gilhelm in the eyes.

"What is going on here" Queen Cecilia asked walking in.

"everything is alright sister"Arion said.

"no it is not, he refused to help" Gilhelm was boiling with anger, arguing with Arion

"why Arion" she asked

"all I need is an independence, and he refused giving me that" Arion said.

"But you know if he does that, another war will rise, and we aren't strong enough for that now" Cecilia said.

"Then it seems no deal"Arion said with finality in his tone.

"Ok let's say you help us, you will have to give us time to heal, before we can give you your so called independence" Cecilia said with Arion picking interest again. she turned to her husband with pleading eyes.

"it is still dangerous, they could attack us, and it will take a very long time to conscript men into our army to make up for what we have lost. But well till we are strong enough, I will do it, just give me 2000 men now, my province needs our help" Gilhelm finalized