Chapter 3: Arnold Stronghold

A man was rushing through the forest riding his horse. The horse was so fast that it left afterimages where it ran through. It's noble temperament, strong muscles and unique horn at the head, spoke for it's high birth. Even in the stormy night it's shining white body didn't get a speck of dirt because of it's super high speed. It was as if flying through the forest without making any sound. But it's rider didn't seem to be satisfied. He urged it impatiently, " kian, hurry up."

The man's hair was golden like shining sun which even in dark night can be differentiated. But at the moment the shoulder long hair was dishevelled. His sapphire blue eyes were red. It could not be said that if it was due to anger, frustration or sorrow. His expression was grim. If one looked closely they could find a lot of facial similarities between the man and Lucas. Yes, He was Lucas's father and Alexandra's husband, Arnold Stronghold. If said more particularly he was the king of the biggest empire in Astra, King Arnold Stronghold.

But at this moment, he was nothing like the calm, collected wise king he used to be. He had long lost his calm. His whole world was in turmoil. His wife and eldest son had been missing for more than two days!! And his wife was pregnant and already nearing her labour date. "Damn, i shouldn't have left." Arnold cursed loudly.

.....

It all started three days ago. Alexa(Alexandra) was nearing her labour date. Arnold was not that much worried because his wife herself was an excellent healing mage. Besides the seer said his wife and newborn child will be completely fine. The seer also assured him a long time ago that his child would be blessed by the goddess. So like the goddess it would have silver hair. So as the mother of the blessed child Alexa will also be fine. Arnold was so happy that he could fly. He didn't care about the blessings. It was just that his love of the life, Alexa would about to give him another sweet little pea. The children were after all the evidence of their happy little family, their love. He even arranged a few hundred names for his about to be born child. And this month he also reached the king stage which had been the unreachable stage for whole ten thousand years in the entire Astra. His three children would surely be proud of their dad. He laughed foolishly ear to ear. But as soon as he reached the court he noticed a turmoil. He immediately became serious. The initial foolish smile was nowhere to be seen. The court people saw their king. The pressure made them stood up in unison instinctively. King Arnold walked to his throne magnificently, neither slow nor fast. After he took his seat, he gestured everyone to sit. The ministers sat in two rows at left and right side of king's throne.

" Royal Adviser, You may speak." Arnold commanded.

" Your highness.." The adviser stood up ," The northern border area of our Nevaeh empire is under attack"

"who?"

" your highness, the nearby Helena empire attacked us suddenly without any reason. They haven't even demanded anything. They just attacked."

Hearing the name of the Helena empire he was reminded of it's psychopathic king Stephen Blackmore who always eyed his wife. He frowned. Why he had to listen this good for nothing Psychopath's name in his happy moments.

"How many soldiers he had sent?" Arnold asked.

The Royal adviser grimaced," your highness, the messenger said it was about ninety percent of our entire army."

"Hmm..the messenger? Why, what happened to the communication stone?"

"Your highness they are not working. That's why the messenger came."

"Did you check him with truth seeking stone?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Are you sure? How can Helena's front army increase so much so quickly? And why would that psychopath engage his entire army on only northern border?" Arnold asked solemnly. But he could tell the royal adviser wasn't lying. The Adviser worked for his father and had always been a trustable person.

"Anyway, Ron How many soldiers we have in the border?"

Ron was Arnold's childhood friend as well as his head knight. Ron stood up and gravely said, " only five percent."

Arnold's face became ugly. He said," Ron, take ten percent of the main army and prepare to go to the northern border. I will lead the army. Pass the order to Peter, Mia and Jasmine to lead twenty percent army each towards eastern, southern and western border respectively for future complications. Order Nick to notify the remaining soldiers to be ready for any kind of damage in the capital and lead them."

Peter, Mia, Jasmine and Nick were the most excellent knight under Ron.

" Yes, your highness" Ron replied.

" Ron and General John, you two come with me" Arnold stood up and walked away. Ron and General John followed him.

After exiting the court hall Arnold asked," Is the Queen still in the Rubby palace?"

"Yes, your highness." Said General John.

" General, this time i am giving you the responsibility to protect the Queen. I think Stephen will try something vicious to the Queen due to his infatuation with her. Leora is still in the academy. So i don't worry about her. Please protect Alexandra and Lucas."

" Your highness, you don't have to say this. Prince Lucas call me Uncle. I dare to say that i consider the Queen as my own sister. I will protect them with my life." General John said.

Arnold smiled, " Then i hope to hold my newborn child when i came back"

" Yes", general John assured.

After, Arnold left with Ron towards the Northern border. But as he was nearing the border he became more and more restless. The neighbouring cities of the border was too peaceful. It was nothing like a city full of panic because of war. Two days passed as he reached the border and the scene dumbfounded him. There were thousands of people lying on ground. Some were unconscious and some were bound.

Arnold descended from his Royal carriage. Ron stood by his side. Seeing the huge army with their king himself present the Knight in charge quickly went to report, " My king, this thousands of people are mostly commoners of Helena empire. There were about Ten Master staged fighters who controlled them with an artefact to attack the border. We were about to contact the capital but one of the ten fighters broke our communication stone....my king, if i may ask, can this lowly knight know the purpose of his highness's visit?"

Arnold remained silent. His eyes glowed maliciously. Ron asked," what about the messenger?"

" Messenger?" The knight asked back confusedly.

Arnold stopped Ron."The messenger was probably a spy."

Ron Said confusedly, " my king, didn't he speak in front of the truth seeking stone?"

Arnold sneered," He didn't lie. Didn't the thousands of Helena citizen attacked? No one has asked him if they are fighters or normal citizen....." he paused then asked the knight," Take me to the ten fighters."

The knight lowered his head in shame.," My king, we could only caught one fighter alive, the others committed suicide."

" Where is he?"

" Your highness, please follow" Then the knight took them in a small room. There they found a man lying. He was eying the knight ferociously. But as soon as he saw Arnold his eyes became joyful, not of pureness but of evil.

" Remove the gag from his mouth" Arnold ordered

The knight followed. But instantly the man began to laugh hysterically, "Hahaha...to think the great king Arnold will be fooled.... hahaha... king Arnold, are you sure your wife will be safe back at home. The maids beside her might be replaced-"

"You don't have to worry. General John is there. You should worry about your fate." Arnold said calmly but inside, his mind was in chaos.

The man chuckled, " Really, but what if there was a transporting spell under her bed and she got silently transported in straight to enemy's den... Think king Arnold, is it possible for a pregnant woman to face everything alone?"

The man spoke again,"king Arnold, You are already so strong. Why you have to get a child blessed by the goddess. won't the balance between the empires will be broken if the child grew up? So don't blame us, we have to take such step for the good of all the empires. Don't you ag-"

The man couldn't finish his words when a domineering force pressed him like a mountain. He coughed up blood.

The knight and Ron's situation wasn't good either. Arnold had lost control of his power.

" Arnold!!!!!" Ron screamed his name to make him come back to sense.

It worked. Arnold didn't say a word and rushed outside. He summoned his fastest beast, Kian maned unicorn then he set on the journey of Rubby palace. He covered the two days of journey in only five hours. At entrance of the Rubby palace he was greeted with general's eyes which were full of self blaming, frustration, sadness and helplessness. He didn't need to ask the other to know the reason. He moved his unicorn to go to the seer's temple. As he was nearing the seer's temple he saw her standing near the gate. She had blood tripping from her mouth. Arnold quickly went over the seer," Seer, You-"

The seer interrupted him," I have exhausted my power for two days to find the Queen's location, She is in the dark forest. I will give you a map"

The seer touched his glabella lightly and Arnold could see a clear image of a cave and the path leading to it.

" Thank you"

"Go now. See if you can change the child's fate." The seer whispered.

Arnold didn't pay attention to her previous sentence. He quickly rode the unicorn and reached the Dark forest. Soon it started to rain heavily. But he didn't care. He rode her unicorn piercing the rain. But the forest was too dense. So he had to slow down sometimes. Sometimes he came face to face with ferocious animals. It took him more than five hours when he came in front of the cave.