Chapter 9

I sat there on my bed listening to my mothers explanation. I could see the sadness in her distant look as she talked about their life in Calstonia.

According to my mother one evening when I was just a few months old my father came to the cabin by the lake in a rush because the king of the north had been growing more suspicious of my fathers behavior. He told my mother that they would have to leave in a hurry, he had overheard King Ragnar and the queen talking to their advisors about a prophecy the queen had seen. In the prophecy the queen had a vision that a child was to be born of light and dark with powers so grand that they could rule over any place in peace or cause the most deadliest of destruction. It was after my father heard the news the queen then informed there king she knew who this child belonged to.

———" I had a version my king of your precious Daniel holding an infant girl in a cabin." Said the queen with mischievous smile forming.

"That is impossible, General Hastings is the most loyal of all my chosen and knows it is forbidden to father children." King Ragnars voice boomed!

"But my king you know my visions are never wrong, and didn't General Hastings second in command Christian just mentioned how his lord keeps taking patrols by himself in the night hours? "Said the queen raising an eyebrow.

The king slammed his fist onto the table, with a loud crunch you could hear the wood split beneath him.

"Guards,"yelled the king!

The guards standing outside the door of the kings chambers rushed inside.

As the guards stormed into the room they all stood in formation awaiting their kings orders.

King Ragnar paced about the room with clear agitation written across his face, he turned to his men and with a menacing smile he said loudly "kill the general and bring me the child he protects!"

Daniel raced down the stone steps in the secret passageway through the west side of the castle that lead to the forest. Just before the tree line he could spot three Guards on watch. He invoked his cloaking ability and the shadows covered his body. He crept closer to the forest. When he got into the tree line the shadows dispersed and he was visible again. As he raced through the woods lightning fast he could hear the soldiers gaining on him. Daniel stoped in a clearing and cloaked himself again while drawing his sword. The first soldier came into the clearing. Daniel thrusted his sword into the mans back just below the soft stop under the ribs and up piercing his heart. Blood pooled into the soldiers mouth as he dropped dead to the floor. Daniel raced on into the black of night.

When he made it to the other side of the forest he could see the cottage next to the glistening lake. In the window he could see Rose holding a sleepy Alison. He was almost there when an arrow passed in front of him piercing the tree just inches away from his head. Daniel turned around and just missed another one flying by. He looked up and could see an archer just above him on a branch. Daniel pulled a knife from his boot and launched it into the trees, with a load thump the man fell to the ground breaking his neck. His pupils went wide as he laid there crumbled on the ground.

After the archer was dead Daniel raced on he could hear more soldiers as they ran along the forest breaking branches beneath them. He thought to himself maybe 5 minutes before they made it to the clearing.

The door to the cottage flew open. Rose turned and saw a frantic Daniel standing there panting, trying to catch his breath.

"Rose my darling we must go, the king has found out about the baby and has sent men here to kill us and take her away." Daniel said gravely.

Outside closing in on the small cottage we're about 20 soldiers waiting to strike Daniel and Rose down. Christian stood there with the men signaling them to stop their advance.

Rose peered out the window and could see the cottage surrounded by men. "Daniel we're trapped!" Cried Rose as she clung onto Alison.

Daniel drew his sword and turned towards the door. "Rose when I leave this cottage I want you leave through the back window nearest to the woods and I wan you to run to the castle."

The men outside started to advance once more with torches lite ready to use to smoke them out.

At that moment as the men yelled to invoke fear a loud bang of thunder roared from the sky and lightning crashed in the path of the men.

Inside the cottage Rose clung to her daughter as the baby was engulfed in gray cloud and lightning flashed from it.

A storm had been brought on so suddenly the soldiers ran to the tree line for cover. Each man struck down one by one with bolts of lightning the screams of torment filled the small clearing as they're flesh peeled from their bones. The grass drenched in a mixture of mud and blood seeping into the ground as the rained poured from the heavens carting the souls of the dead down to the fiery pits of hell.

When the last man lied dead on the ground Christian ran back to the shadow kingdom in retreat being the only survivor out of his regiment.

The sky quickly peeled back the dark clouds and let the sun burst through engulfing the darkness In the clearing. The baby in the cabin Laid peacefully in her mother's arms as if nothing had been wrong just moments ago.