The Sins of the God King

Chapter 15 : Lyferia

The march of the Xeldorians and the Torryn army had finally reached the borders between Ganannon and Widow's Reach. Torryn soldiers rode their horses comfortably, while the Xeldorians were forbidden from using any conjuring, even for transportation. Instead, they were forced to travel on foot. The middle aged Xeldorians were beginning to show signs of struggle after walking for days, some losing their footing on the rugged terrain.

Remo breathed heavily, trying his best to keep up with the journey. Lyferia walked beside him, attempting to assist, but Remo remained silent and ignored her. "I understand your anger," she said softly, "but this is because of the queen's grudge against us for conquering Rym back then. My husband didn't betray us. This is unfair to me and my family."

Remo still said nothing, his mind trying to process the events that had unfolded. "I don't blame you for anything," he finally responded. "I somehow foresaw this would happen sooner or later. I'm just disappointed that it took us by surprise and we didn't get a chance to run away." He continued, "I should thank you for allowing my daughter to go with that general and Lest. At least I know she will be safe."

One of the men behind them, Boney, overheard their discussion. His eyes flared with anger, and he interjected, "Good for you, Remo. But what about the rest of us whose families were taken away, huh?" He then looked at Lyferia, whose eyes avoided his gaze. "And you! I knew something was wrong about you. The sister of the traitor Teska. Pontius is too diligent to allow you and your family to keep residing with us! You all should have been exiled," he spat.

Many heard the commotion Boney started. Numerous Xeldorians broke away from the march to join the protest, their sentiments echoing his. "All this family has brought us is shame and suffering! Enough is enough! I say we take this bitch and kill her!" Boney shouted.

Remo turned around and grabbed Boney's neck tightly. "You shut your wretched hole before I snap this fragile neck of yours," he growled.

Lyferia's demeanor shifted as she stared at the people around her. "I don't owe the rest of you anything... Xeldoria owes me," she declared.

Torryn soldiers immediately noticed the disturbance and aimed their spears at the ones who had broken the march. "Silence!" a Torryn captain shouted. The crowd fell silent and reluctantly returned to their line. The captain then pointed his spear at Remo, whose hand was still gripping Boney's neck. "Release him and get back in line."

Remo quickly let go of Boney and stepped back into formation.

Boney, still furious, couldn't contain his anger. "YOU DON'T OWE US? The Grim King gave us the Rym region, but because of what your sister did, we're thrown into crumbling ruins like rats, destined to be slaves by the kingdom! You bear the sin of your sibling after she died, so don't say you don't owe our people!" he screamed.

The captain pointed his spear at Boney. "I said silence!" he commanded with authority.

Remo turned to the captain and said, "Apologies, Captain. The journey has been taking a toll on us." The captain gave a smug look and returned to his position.

Remo then walked back to Boney. "Stop opening your mouth before you get us into more trouble!" he hissed.

Boney's eyes welled with tears. "My mother, my only family in this world, was taken, Remo! And you're still siding with that bitch? Look at what it brings us by letting her live!" he exclaimed.

Remo, boiling with anger, slapped Boney across the face. "You will listen to me, you good-for-nothing pest. Shut your mouth!" Remo shouted.

He then turned to Lyferia. "It might be best for you to go last in line," he suggested.

Lyferia stood still as the rest of the Xeldorians passed her, each one casting her a discerning look. The wind grew colder as they nearly approached the shores, and the scar on her hand began to itch. Her hands trembled, the weight of the upcoming events pressing down on her. How could she lead when her people despised her? That question consumed her thoughts amidst the commotion. The only answer she could find was,

They have to, or they all die.

She found herself near the end of the line, among the new conjurers, just like her son. She could sense the fear in their steps, their gazes fixed forward but their minds lost in turmoil. A profound concern welled up within her; they were another problem she couldn't solve. Without completing their training, most of them would perish, becoming sitting ducks for the enemies.

"Your own people want your head. Can't blame them, though," said an old man with a receding hairline. It was the battleborn General Fendel, clad in thick iron armor bearing the emblem of Torryn on his chest. "I admit, you folks were a great asset to our defense. But somehow, the kingdom became too soft with your kind and others, leading to this mess."

Fendel continued, "I don't agree with your husband killing the king and lords, but I'm certainly glad those weak-minded lords are gone. They got blinded by the power you Navo'rians possess and manipulated them to their will, forgetting that you are all still a threat."

Lyferia didn't look at him. "My husband didn't do this," she said.

Fendel smiled, clasping his hands behind his back. "Believe what you want, Lyferia. Aren't you glad that this means your husband didn't die on those shores that night?"

Lyferia remained silent, recognizing his words as mockery.

"Regardless, he won't live long enough to see you and your son, because I'll be the one to crush his brains out when I find him," Fendel said, his horse standing still as he remained behind the marching line.

"IF... you find him," Lyferia retorted.

Fendel smiled and then began to laugh heartily.

It had been a week since they started this march. Not letting them ride conjured horses or Galanthos meant they intended to exhaust the Xeldorians. 

'They want us all to die in the battle,' Lyferia thought. 

It wasn't a great tactic for Torryn—making the Xeldorians vulnerable also made the rest vulnerable. Lyferia realized this order likely came from the queen. Queen Leiyuneth lacked substantial knowledge of warfare, being just an entitled, spiteful woman who always got what she wanted. Fortunately, King Eldrick had never considered his wife reliable on war matters, or else the kingdom would have fallen years ago.

"I think we are taking too much time getting to the fort. Maybe you should allow us to conjure horses to ride," she said, turning back to speak to Fendel again.

The general smiled, more of a grin than a smile. "If I allow that, who's to say your people won't escape and run away? Too risky," he replied. "And don't worry about the fort. The Forgers and the other battleborns from Ughren, Widow's Reach, and Emerald Coast are already there."

Lyferia stopped to meet the general's gaze. "You're taking this war very lightly, it seems, General. Do you expect my people to fight the war exhausted? What good does that do?" she asked.

Fendel halted his horse, his expression darkening. "See how entitled you've become, proving my point earlier. You also forget that you are all slaves with the delusion of freedom. You think that because the kingdom allows you to roam around Torryn, earn for your families by doing manual labor, and fight alongside us in battle, that you are free?" Fendel continued, his tone dripping with disdain.

"We just tolerated you, but not anymore."