To Save a Kingdom

Chapter 23

King Theo and the prince Caleb were a force to be reckoned with.

Their army was fresh and ready for battle while mine was exhausted from fighting all night long. I helplessly watched as they cut through our forces as though they were nothing. It was difficult to watch.

I couldn't do anything because they were so far away. Jared and his little group moved closer to king theo. I didn't want him to move. He wouldn't have my protection. For a moment I debated abandoning my perch to go help on the ground. I was more help in the trees than I could ever be on the ground.

Up in the tree I watched the men come closer. They were almost in range coming closer with each swing. My forces were backing up unable to compete.

When Caleb lifted his sword against Jared I let my arrow fly. It pegged him directly in the shoulder. Even from my distance I heard his yell of pain. My arrow was enough to allow Jared the opportunity to kill Caleb. I watched as he ran his sword straight through his stomach to the hilt. Jared stood just inches from Caleb. Watching as the light left his eye.

King theo roared at the sight of his sons body. I looked over to him and we made eye contact. He was staring directly at me with a look of death in his eyes. He barreled towards me.

Jared tried to block him and I helplessly watched as theo shoved his sword into the man I loved. My eyes filled with hot tears.

"No!!" I gasped as Jared went down. King theo lingered for a moment stoping to shove the blade further into Jared pinning him to the ground. I watched as he clutched at the sword then lay still.

"No!" I gasped. "Jared!!" theo smiled at me. The he wiped his hand across his face smearing fresh blood on his cheek. He was a mad man. He continued towards me and I looked towards Jared's body.

What I saw surprised me. Jared was sitting up. He grasped the sword and pulled it out. Jared was up on his feet racing towards me. By now Theo was at the base of my tree.

He grabbed my branch and I fell landing in a pile of weapons. It was a miracle that I didn't get skewered on any of my arrows. Instead they broke under my weight. Theo leaned over me as I tried to catch my breath.

"You." He said. "You killed my son!" I grasped at my sword trying to pull it free of its sheath. Theo saw the movement and stepped down on my hand.

He reached down and grabbed me by my throat lifting me up off the ground as though I weighed nothing. He lifted me high in the air. I scratched at his arms with my nails trying to get free. I couldn't breath. Glancing up I saw Jared just before he collided with us.

Theo dropped me as he toppled over. Jared started pounding him with his fists. Theo's leg caught Jared making him lose his balance. Theo seized the opportunity to pull out his sword and swing. Jared blocked with his own sword.

I scrambled for an arrow to end the fight. If I used a sword I would only get in the way. Over at my crushed pile I searched for a good one. Every arrow had been crushed by my landing. Frantically I looked around. The quiver still up in the branches caught my eye.

Pulling myself up into the branches I climbed higher and higher until the quiver was in reach. There was one single arrow in it. Just enough for me to end things with theo. I dropped down from my perch with the arrow in hand. Then I grabbed my bow. Sliding my arrow into place I waited for the opportunity to take out theo.

Jared was still doing well at blocking Theo's swings but it was evident he was getting tired. Theo used this to his advantage. Using powerful swings his sword collided with Jared's sending the sword crashing to the ground. Instead of killing him theo raised his fingers to his lips and let out a shrill whistle. By that time Jared had his sword in hand.

I didn't understand. Why hadn't theo killed Jared right then when he had the chance?

A low purring sound made my skin crawl and I understood. One of the cats was circling the trees a few feet away. It walked around and around scouting out its prey. I kept my arrow locked on king theo as the cat growled.

Jared was holding his own but it seemed every time I got an opportunity to take a shot theo would readjust his fighting position using Jared to block my view.

Theo whistled again and the cat came closer out of the trees. It looked at me as it stalked closer and closer circling around. Jared was aware of the cat. He tried to get to it while fighting theo but it was useless. Theo knew what he was trying to do so he blocked him.

The cat continued to circle me getting closer. Theo whistled again and the cat leaned back on its haunches preparing to launch itself at me. Jared cried out as theo knocked his sword from his grasp. Theo slammed Jared to the ground.

Then Theo lifted his own sword for a killing blow. The cats muscles were rippling preparing to propel it forward. I took aim. The cat lunged. My arrow flew. Jared's scream filled my ears.