A Kaskian Story: Leaon, the Kings General

Chapter Five

"Welcome back General!" The guards standing outside the Capital greet as the Felein marches his soldiers through the gate and into the city, ignoring the guards greetings and gasps as they recognized Leaon's prisoner in the wagon. The cool breeze from the mountains greeted him as he walked down the main street of the Capital, citizens hustling about as they prepared to open their shops. A horn bellowed behind him seconds before another echoed ahead of him followed by a third as the signal of his arrival alerted the King. The inhabitants of the city murmured as they passed what was left of his regiment, seeing the worn look across the soldiers faces and damaged armor. It was only when they saw the Anvil Warrior chained in the wagon did the crowds go silent.

Leaon marched on as the city fell silent. The citizens feared their King, never openly opposing Cladon. The sight of one of the ruler's most prized possessions being returned and defeated crushed the hopes of the people of Kaskia. They believed that their salvation would come at the hand of the Anvil Warrior and the Lightning Arrow, the nation's greatest heroes. The only sounds echoing the city were that of the soldiers' feet hitting the ground with each step and the horses' hooves clopping down the cobblestone street. The inner walls grew larger the closer they got to Cladon's castle that rested on the far side of the capital, always in the shadow of the mountains. Leaon could see the tower within the walls that loomed over the city with that ever-ominous balcony that the King would stand on, gazing over his country.

"Open the gates!" A guard yelled as they neared.

Leaon raised his hand for his soldiers to halt, then gave the signal for the prisoner to be removed from the wagon. Shizrin and Reshmi grabbed Erik by each arm and ushered him forward as the General led them within the walls of Cladon's castle. Wood creaked and echoed over the silent city as the gate was shut behind them. The Felein marched the soldiers closer to the castle, only stopping a few yards away from the steps before kneeling, his eyes towards the stones beneath him. Seconds later, the sounds of his soldiers' armor rattling, assured him that they too knelt.

"Kneel!" Reshmi ordered as she kicked the back of Erik's leg, forcing him to his knees before joining him.

They waited and waited. Leaon could feel the eyes of the King on him from the balcony above. He dared not look away from the ground, knowing all too well how Cladon could see it as a sign of disrespect. All was quiet, the city knew what it meant that the Anvil Warrior was captured and refrained from making any noise before the King sent the signal for them to continue with their day. Seconds turned to minutes, soon it was well over an hour that Leaon and his soldiers knelt, waiting for the King to make his presence known. At last, Leaon heard the noise he had been waiting for. A quick rush of the wind followed by the sounds of leather boots landing on the concrete ground. Cladon had teleported in front of them. His footsteps echoed as he paced back and forth, gauging the soldiers and their prisoners.

"You have finally come home." The King stated. "After all these years, you have returned. You ran, hid like a coward, abandoned your fellow soldiers in the midst of battle."

Cladon continued to pace back and forth in front of the soldiers, analyzing their gear, their numbers, their wounds. "Leaon. Who used magic?"

"His child, my lord." The General replied, raising his head to meet the King's gaze. "The child of the Anvil Warrior and Lightning Arrow."

"Interesting." Cladon responded, scratching at his long brown beard. "Where is this child? Where is the Lightning Arrow?"

"General Kerd has the Lightning Arrow and is continuing to search for the children." Leaon answered, still kneeling before his King. "The mother managed to let herself get captured so the children could run. We found a squad killed by the child and two unknown accomplices."