Hell Hath No Fury

The intense fighting had been going on for three days. As the scuffles continued, Tyr grew restless because Rana refused to allow his team to help. He felt frustrated as he witnessed hundreds of young soldiers fall, which left a rolling anger in him. If she only authorized them to lend the army aid, he knew they could save many of their comrades.

Rana scouted the battlefield using a large quartz panel that magnified the area she searched. The panel was fastened to a swiveling base that allowed her to survey the field easily. She clicked her tongue as her eyes scanned the back lines.

Since the first day, Rana had deployed two more of the bombs that she received. The enemy forces were now even with her own and she observed the battlefield, looking for the only person she wished to kill. These weapons had a destruction so complete that she needed to ensure she did not waste their potential. Out of the thousands of people who fought for Kochi, she only wanted one, Noa.

At one point, after she killed her brother, their families talked about a marriage between herself and Noa to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. She had always thought he was an attractive man, so she was willing to marry him, but on their meeting date, he brought a mistress with him. That slap in the face made her loathe the man. Now she wanted revenge for his slight upon her pride.

When the sun began setting, Rana spotted him. The brilliant rays lit up the golden streaks in his light brown hair and she could see that mistress sitting in his lap. He sat on a throne and fondled the woman's breasts while speaking with one of his generals. Rana's lips curved into a sinister grin. Her voice sung with an eerie sound, "Found you."

She checked the top of her crystal to read the coordinates. Turning to a messenger she commanded, "Tell them to drop the last bomb. I want it at 43PFL3914898261."

Tyr saw where Rana planned to drop the bomb. He closed his eyes and kept his comments to himself. Not once did she accept the offers of negotiation that Prince Noa had sent. He disagreed with her and did not think so many people needed to die just for her personal vendetta. The man's muscular figure was focused in the crystal's lens while Rana watched with a smug look on her face. Tyr grimaced as he contemplated how Prince Noa made a grave mistake angering this woman.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the last bomb dropped. Red flames devoured the area and ravished the surrounding forests. Tall pillars of smoke billowed into the sky as the light of the fire generated an eerie glow against the black clouds. The soldiers on the fringes, ran from the spreading wildfires while the cinders blew in the wind, chasing after them.

After the spell erupted, it took the Kochi generals a few minutes to realize that their Prince had been killed. Some of them retreated, while others continued to fight. Their ranks were broken, and their forces were being snuffed out.

As Tyr watched the scene unfold he brooded over how this was a war without honor. Neither side sent their real soldiers into battle. Instead of sending fighters, they had ordered their slaves and children to fight this war. The final battle disgusted him and he was sickened to be a part of it. Turning around, he snarled, "We're leaving."

Rana was sipping some wine to celebrate. She raised her glass to Tyr, "Do you not wish to celebrate?" The impending victory pleased her and she had a girlish smile on her face.

With his back turned to her, Tyr looked over his shoulder, "Celebrate what? I don't find joy in seeing so many young lives end. You could've fought and ended it quickly."

While he walked away, Rana laughed heartily, "You really are so naïve Tyr! This is war, why would I go in to fight?" It was laughable how he believed she should put her own life in danger. She was next in line to the throne. She killed her siblings to ensure she would inherit the throne, there was no way she would let herself die on a battlefield.

Since they stood around for the past three days, Tyr had them travel through the night to return to the base. He wanted to put this war behind him and forget about it. While he felt relieved it was coming to an end, he hated how drawn out the last fight had been. Both Kochi and Toowoomba fought their battles with their nobles safely tucked away from the struggle.

The way they had fought this war differed completely from when Marseille struggled for independence. Back then, everyone took part in the skirmishes. They wanted to ensure their country had the least amount of casualties as possible.

Luna watched her brother's unhappy face as they rode through the jungle. "Tyr, you aren't angry at Freyr are you?"

He glanced in her direction and tilted his head, "No, why?" There was no reason for him to be upset with their cousin, so he did not understand where her comment came from.

She nodded with relief. "I was just worried you might be angry that he used the bombs in this war." It unsettled her, but she would not hold it against her cousin.

Looking up ahead, he thought about what his sister said. "No. It's better that we scare Phocée now and use this as a warning. I don't want Marseille to go to war any time soon if possible." He worried about Macha having to fight in a war at her current skill level. She needed time to improve and become stronger.

This made him realize he should push his guild to train harder. It was feasible that he could give them a bonus at the end of the year if they trained for a certain number of hours.