Legends of Ardonia 3: Color Balance

Chapter 12: Civil War

A division of soldiers were trekking through the snow at night behind the Walls of Time, heading for the first Ardoni shrine ever constructed. The division consisted mostly of Northwind soldiers, but there were warriors from other kingdoms as well. The waves were crashing against the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Small icebergs bobbed in the waves of the freezing water. A Hydraphel soldier turned to one from Northwind.

Hydraphel Soldier: "By the Gods, how do you survive in temperatures like this?"

Northwind Soldier: "You get used to it after a while I guess."

Felden Soldier: "Why did we have to do this at night? It's freezing!"

Northwind Soldier: "Toughen up, forest boy."

A few of the soldiers laughed at the comment. The front of the division turned the corner to see a figure leaning against the shrine. They were dressed in casual, warm clothes with a sword on their back.

Haden: "I don't think it's that bad. It's actually quite nice tonight."

The soldiers readied their weapons as they came to a halt.

Northwind Soldier: "Stand down, Haden. You've done much for Northwind and it would be a shame to die to your own soldiers."

Haden: "It would be a shame, but I've never really been one to follow orders."

He stopped leaning against the stone and stood up straight. His brown hair and beard swayed in the breeze. Some of the Northwind soldiers had regret in their eyes.

Northwind Soldier: "You don't want to do this, Haden. You're hopelessly outnumbered."

Northwind Human: "Probably, but not hopelessly."

From the shadows, several Northwind humans with shields, swords, and Droug guns emerged, showing their support.

Northwind Human: "You should be ashamed. Haden is the rightful leader of Northwind and you know it."

Northwind Soldier: "This won't change anything. We will apprehend all of you if we have to."

Haden: "It doesn't have to be this way."

Northwind Soldier: "You are interfering with Northwind business using armed force. You are now a traitor of Northwind, so yes, it does have to be this way."

A human on Haden's side was outraged.

Northwind Human: "How could you say that?! After everything Haden, Ava, and the Ardoni have done for you, for all of us!"

Hydraphel Soldier: "The Ardoni have been the cause of violence in Ardonia for centuries and Emmilia endangered Sir Killic's life. Are you really going to defend them?"

Haden: "Who freed your kingdoms when no one else did? Who saved your families when you were in peril? Who destroyed Galvatron? We owe our lives to the Ardoni. I will always defend them."

Northwind Soldier: "Then you will fall with them as well. Kill them all!"

The Color Balance soldiers charged Haden's men. Swords struck shields as the two sides fought each other. Haden activated the flame enchantment on his iron sword and attacked, his sword streaking through the darkness around him. A few people were knocked into the river around the shrine. A soldier stabbed a person in the leg with his sword, causing him to fall down and clutch his leg in pain. Haden stepped to the side as a soldier lunged at him with a spear. He ducked under the swing of the spear, then broke it in two with the flame of his sword and kicked the soldier down. Some people had been seriously injured. Haden was tackled and pushed to the edge of the cliff by the Northwind commander leading the Color Balance. His fire sword left his grasp and deactivated on the grass. Haden's allies were too occupied with the rest of the enemy side. They were indeed outnumbered, and were starting to lose.