A tale of shadows

26

Chapter 26

Nyrrea

We have reached the river. And I don't know what Xavier did. But there was no people by the river. We had captured some boats, little ones. So we were floating on the river, heading to the palace. There was something in the river. I looked over the boat. In the water. and it was not something. "I did not think they could fucking swim!". I said to Mascu. "what are you talking about". Mascu now started to look in the water. there were snakes swimming under us. but not attacking us. they were just... there. " don't make any sudden movement". I said to the boats behind us. "the snakes were huge. I looked more closely in the water. and then I realised why they were not attacking us. "Mascu, they are sleeping". He now looked at me. he took a deep breath. "everyone stop paddling and let the boats flow forward on their own. Thank the gods we were already close to the palace. The place was inside a mountain. If you wanted to go in, u needed to go under the waterfall.  And the waterfall was right in front us. the snakes are the guards. And the river flowed us true the waterfall, letting us in the palace. The palace doors were in front us. the river was going underneath it. the boats hid the floor, you could they the boats to the floor and step out of it. so we did. Everyone was now standing before the doors. I looked around. Everybody was ready.  I opened the doors. "fuck". Someone sad. I was right, the throne was a tree. It was before us. it  was beautiful, the throne was carved from the  trunk of the tree. The rest of the tree going up all the way true the mountain. There was a hole in the mountain were the tree went to. also the only source of light that came in. stairs lead to the throne. At the side were little waterfalls. Heading in the ground. Form the tree were hanging two flags, the sign of there kingdom.  but if we wanted to go to that Thorne. We needed to go true the army of liaga. They were here. guarding the king that was in the throne. Talking to a girl. it looked like they were arguing, so they did not notice us. but the liaga's did. They were made out of the branches from trees, Their hair as well. Their arms and legs looked like the trunk of a tree. Some leaver were on the branches.  And they did not have swords. there was tree branches coming from there hand heading towards us. before I knew it some of my warriors were  caught by the ankle and held in the air. Then another brand went right true their hearts. That did caught the attention of the king. Two liaga's were also standing near the girl. only she did not look afraid. She looked... hopeful. She had honey brown skin, with wite hair almost to the ground. She wore a wite dress. that shined in the light. She was gorgeous. the king also head that honey skin. Only he had short wite hair, he also wore a white pants and a white shirt. His crown was made out of tree. Flowers and leave sticking from it. father and daughter, that's why they looked alike.  King and princess.  The kill yelled attack and now more liaga's were heading towards us.  my warriors pulled out there swords and started fighting the liaga's. aza and mythos wo where by mine and Mascu side, no were running to liaga's. biting there hands of. And killing them . but Mascu stayed by my side. I let the power run true my veins. My eyes turned black. Ans I summoned the shadows. The king now was in pure shock, and scared.  My warriors were stuck in the branches from the liaga. I made shadow go around those branches and going right true it. cutting it in half. The warriors now fell from their grip and to the ground.  But it did not stop the liaga's. they only continued stronger. Now there were snakes coming from the tree of life. The throne. They were coming down, but stopped. The princess was raising her hand. I looked to her. And she gave me a small nod. What? the snakes retrieved. My focus back  on the liaga's. some walked over to the walls, placing their hand on it. and branches now walked over the walls. To the doors, they were closing us in. "destroy the throne Nyrrea". Mascu said as he pulled out his sword. Right, the throne. I summoned my shadows making way for me. there was now a wall of shadows in front of me, making way for me. the liaga's  attempted to go true it but to no success. I run forward heading straight to the throne. The king had  a group of liaga's around him. I was close enough. I was planning to struck the tree of life, with my lighting. I have a little work to do on my aim. Bit when I am close to my target, I can do it.  shadows were around me. fighting the liaga's who were trying to attack me. I went on my knees. The king now laughed. He taught I was bowing for him. oh if he just knew. I bowed my head down. closing my eyes. I raised my right hand in the air. And lighting was crackling in the sky. I did not need to look that the smile of that king was gone. I opened my eyes and looked to the tree of life. I looked at the king. As our eyes connected. Lighting struck the tree. not once. But tree times. The tree was set on fire. I raised. The king jumped from his throne. His protecters now were on flames. In second his army of creatures were ashes on the floor. He walked to me. "who do you think you are, destroying my army". He yelled in my face. " is this your way? Yelling people's faces letting them crumble and bow before you". I looked him in the eye. he was very angry. I laughed. "I will give you a choice. Bow before me. or die". He laughed. "I will bow before no woman". I looked to my side. Where aza joined me. "u are from the kingdom of the wolves?".  i was still looking at aza, I pointed my head to the king infront me and aza moved. She now stood behind her. "im not". Aza now bited his leg and then his other. he fell on his knees. I looked down on him. aza joined my side again. "I killed the king of Loxeadi. He punished my anscetors, killed my parents. I have taken over his kingdom. sadly no people. They all died in my rage. I found letters, people begging him to save them. From your kingdom, and the others. He did not grand them than saving. But I shall". The prinsess now walked to us. my head turned to her. " u are to save us?". us? I looked at her confused. But she was close enough I could shee the bruised on her face and her arms. Then it klicked. I looked back at the king. "u would hit ur own daughter?". I said angry. " I wanted a son. my wife did not grand me that, so I killed her. I wanted to kill her to". he looked at his daughter. " but my advusers were against it, it would make a bad picture".  A bad picyure? The only reason he dindnt kill his own blood. "ur hatred for woman run so deeply?". He smiled then nodded. "well then. Shall not give you a choice". I walked behind him. I bent down so I spook in his ear. " it is kind of ironic is it not?". I took out my blade. " what is it".
"that you got killed by a woman". I took my blood over his troat. Blood spilling from his neck. In second the king fell to the ground. I wiped my blade on my shirt wimping the blood away and placing it back in it holster. I looked to the prinsess. nod even a tear. " u control the snakes do you?". I said as I petted aza. making sure she is okay. She was. ."how did you find out?". gods. Her voice. She was young. " they listened to you". she shyly looked away. "I was not lying. i want to help you all. Free you from all the kings. I am just getting started.". she looked at me. " u probaply want to know my snakes have spared your friend". Thank the gods. "they are your friend aren't they?". I walked to her. Her bruises now very noticble. "yes, yes they are.". I took her arm. She flinches. "I wont hurt you I promise". I told her. Trying to be as gentle as promised. My mother hated me. but she never layed a finger on me. and I remember how that hate was. What the prinsess was going to could omnly be worse. "he beated you?". I didn not need to say the king, she understood. "yes, but only when I did something wrong". She said it like she deseveres. Her bruises were new. "mascu". I called him over. "even when you did the worst thing you could ever think was possible, your father beating you, is not right".  she looked away from me. looking at the ground. Mascu stood besides me. the prinsess looked at aza. then looked ayway. as she did something wrong. " bring her to meave. She knows what urbs can help it". I looked at the prinsess. " this is mascu. he also was mistreated for a long while, he wont hurt you. he will bring you to a friend on mine. She will help". I looked at her for any sign she did not want to. bus she only nodded. She looked again so short at aza before looking away.
"that is aza, she is my ra- my wolf". i will not confuse her with my people story. " do you want her to go with you?'. I asked her. She looked at me. and a sparkle came back in her eyes. she noddes. " go with her please, hurt everyone who tries to hurt her. I do not care if it is my own people.".  "gladly".
Mascu escorted the princess out and aza went with them. I looked to my warriors standing before me. And the ones that were now on there way to the gods.
" bring them with you to camp, we will give them a prober funeral". They all nodded and started.  Before mascu and the princess were out the doors she said. " they are still in the forest, but my snakes wont hurt them". I nodded. "thank you". then I realised what she was. I read a book about it. the snakes could be controlled, but only by someone who has been mistreated and needed there protection.
The snake princess.