The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Ninety

Third party POV

"Fen, go warn the others. Call the Duchess' grandfather and uncles as well. Go there first.  We will try to keep her at bay as long as we can." Fenrir instructed his son who nodded and ran as quickly as his feet could carry him.

"Dennis, get the horses. You will need to ride as fast as they can."

"You don't have to remind me." Dennis turned to the other men. "You wanted to know why we follow your daughter so devotedly? Follow quickly and you will see."

Dennis followed Fenrir on a horse, barely able to keep track of the much faster man, several horses following behind as they followed a clear and straight trail of destruction that the young woman had clearly made as she passed through.

They followed as closely as they could, seeing her just barely plowing through the treelines like a rampaging and stampeding beast as she ran.

Fenrir himself was a speedster, but a berserker's aggravated state was difficult for many to keep up with, even other berserkers could barely reign in one of their own when aggravated.

She continued to move strangely, causing those following to nearly fall off their horses several times as trees and boulders were either flattened in her wake or thrown aside or simply plowed through completely. Commander Havenhell followed the group as closely as he could, his body used to being put through grueling battles and long nights turning into days or weeks of constant wakefulness. He watched as the red headed young woman gained ground faster than they could, barely able to keep himself upright and aware of her movements.

His men followed closely, brutes like him hardened by countless battles, but none of them could explain the fear they felt for the child at the forefront.

The trees gave way for a giant clearing leading to the mansion lit up in festivities enjoyed by quite obviously the Royal family as well as many that were easily identified as nobility.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Fenrir shouted as loudly as he could, hoping to warn them to watch out for the Duchess he finally seemed to gain on. He moved quickly, throwing his body forward and grabbing her, causing them to fall together into several tables.

Glass and cutlery as well as wood and splinters scattered everywhere. Harley Havenhell was first to get up, still in an agitated state, but Dennis was next to reach her, jumping from his horse as his skin turned to mimic steel both in feel, look and weight. His body heavily landed on hers, his grip around her  like a vice as he held her tightly. The men who had known Dennis when they were all still living in the Duchy felt shock as they watched the small woman stand with him heavily laid on her, her hands gripping on his arms so hard that the sound of steel straining was heard regardless of the screaming and chaos of the festivities.

Several other men tried their best to help get her restrained, some producing chains and braces that they seemed to keep in the small bags at their waists. It was as they watched several men try their best to restrain her for several minutes when a deep roar was heard and a bear as large as a house with the little Fen riding on his back with an older woman broke through the other side. It stopped and quickly let the two riders off before it ran right for the Duchess.

Dennis and the rest of the men broke away a moment too soon, narrowly avoiding being trampled by the beast so large one paw would cover the largest man's chest if stepped on. It swiped at the young woman, causing the screams of several around them to ring out loudly in fear of the blood and gore they anticipated seeing. Even the young prince and older commander felt their bodies freeze in shock, unable to move forward to help. However, unlike they feared, the young woman not only blocked the blow with one arm but also maneuvered to kick at it with one powerful swing of her leg. The dull thud resounded over the crowd, and everyone now at a safer distance stood to watch the sight with horrifying awe.