Warring Kingdoms - Strife for Victory

Chapter 1 - Reclion's Pride

Thud! My arrow hit a little left of the bullseye. I was regaining my strength from my broken arm, getting better and better at aim. I knocked another arrow but was interrupted from the castle servant, Verjio.

"Sir?" Verjio asked,

"Yes? Do you need anything?" I replied as I shot another arrow. It hit to the right of the bullseye.

"Um.. The king was calling for a meeting. He wants you there." Verjio replied.

A meeting? That should be Bad. I thought.

"Uh, I'll be there." I slung the longbow onto the holding rack and headed for the meeting room. The meeting room was on the first floor of the Castle, one of the biggest rooms. As I opened the door entering the room, I saw all the lords and major warriors from all over the Kingdom. I sat on my respective seat and waited for something to happen.

"So.. Our northern fortress, Rojliorn, was attacked yesterday. We were unprepared and they managed to capture that area. Some of the peasants managed to escape but Lord Zangfer was killed during the battle. Rojliorn being one of the most important fortresses in our kingdom, we are in grave danger." said Ferg'wra, the neighbouring lord, "I sent some troops for help but none of them returned. It seems that the Kerolds are becoming stronger and stronger, and we don't want to loose our kingdom again."

Hmm... So... Rojliorn was attacked? And conquered? That's new I thought to myself.

"Yes.. I have brought you all to decide on what to do for this upcoming battle. I have sent messengers to the different lords who could not attend to ready their troops." said the King Windsor. "Does anyone have any suggestions?"

No one said anything they just stared blankly at the table in front of them. Some of the lords fidgeted with their sword hilts but no one said anything. Even the obvious things.

"Anyone?" King Windsor asked again

Well, I guess I gotta say the obvious, since no one else is saying it I thought.

"The go-to thing would be to prepare for a siege." I said. The other lords agreed. "But we would need to know how many troops they have. We would have to prepare a 1-3 army size for a normal siege."

"It was rumoured that they have 200,000 footmen!" shouted Areko. Many people gasped. There was a long pause.

"Well I guess that is the end of the meeting. You are dismissed." Said Windsor. "Oh, Halt? Can I see you?" He finished.

I turned around surprised. I expected him to ask me to scout, and I really didn't want to do that, for the Kerolds has probably the second best archer in this continent, me being the best, at least before I broke my arm.

"Will you scout ahead for me?" Asked King Windsor.

"Sir, um..." I knew it.

"I know its hard for you to leave your family as soon as you come back, but you still have a pretty good aim. You are our best archer and we need you to scout out that area." Windsor asked. "If you want to, leave after tomorrow. Spend some time with your family before you leave."

"Yes... Sir...." I sighed and walked out.

My God! Why! I thought to myself, Why do I have to do this? Did I do something -

"Halt?"

I turned around to see Adelene, my wife.

"Do you have anything troubling you?" she asked. I looked at her in the eyes and told her my task.

"So.. You are going to leave tomorrow? And you only came back at.... September? Thats like.. Only 2 months!" Adelene complained.

"But, Adelene.. I can't go if you keep doing this.. Also it is the King's orders. I have to go. I should start packing now."

"Halt...." She didn't finish and walked towards the other side of the hallway. As cruel as it is, it was kings orders, and I had to leave. I headed for my room. 

                                                                                            -=+=-

I lifted my pack onto my stallion,  Boreas. My pack mostly consisted of food and camping gear. My sword hung in my sheath and my bow slung on my chest. I was wearing some normal leather armour with steel shoulder-guards. It was time for my farewells.

"Adelene, farewell.. I... take... take care of... take care of our son if I don't make it back." I mumbled to her. Adelene was pregnant with my son, Carson.

"I will.. I will..." She cried as she replied. I hugged her tightly.

"Take care of him.. don't let him be a soldier. Make him a farmer or... a butler or... a chef. Just nothing but a soldier. I don't want him to suffer the same fate as me." I whispered

"I will.. I will.." She replied.

"Halt, take care." King Windsor interrupted.

"I will."

"I'm sorry if this feels like a big burden, but... I'm sorry." King Windsor said as he walked away. Me and King Windsor were close friends and I knew it broke his heart to send me away.

"I hope to see you all later."

I ended my farewells and mounted onto my stallion. My horse also seamed very sad. My horse trotted into the woods, behind the kingdom. I tried to hide my tears but I couldn't. Tears escaped from my eyes as I left the kingdom. I knew it. I couldn't deny the reality of this situation right now. I wasn't going to survive. I was going to die out there. A total miracle had to happen for me to get back to Reclion alive.