Ambrose let out a frightening growl as he battled with his emotions. He had to stay calm. Holding Sev's severed head, he walked back to the castle and on the high walls where the archers resided. No one dared get in his way, all staring wide-eyed at the head he held in his hand.
As he found a spot where he knew everyone would see, he speared Sev's head on a pike and stuck it in a crevice of the walls. Releasing a thundering roar, all duels halted and stared up at Ambrose and the head before them.
The rebels visibly quaked in fear as they saw the head of their Second-in-Command. Some shouted for their king but he was no where in sight; many began to retreat and run for their lives because they knew that they'd join their lost comrade.
"Kill all of them!" Ambrose bellowed.
"Don't!"
Ambrose's nose flared at the familiar voice. He flashed his eyes below to find Alexander mounted on a horse. "What is the meaning of this, Alexander? Are you going to just let those rebels leave freely? After all they've done?!"
"Of course not." Alexander turned and faced his men. "Capture all of them and send them to the dungeons. They will be trialed."
Ambrose ground his teeth together as he held his tongue. He would obey his Prince's demands.
"Alexander!" An out-of-breath Abraham came running toward him. His hair matted with sweat and cuts on his weathered face. "Where did you tell Keira to stay with Sylvia?"
"The hidden temple in the forest," Alexander, his eyes furrowing at Abraham's distraught face. "They're fine-" He stopped mid-sentence as he was overcome with fear. His mind quickly linked to his wife's and he felt her entire being shake.
"You fool!" Abraham chided. Whistling for his horse, he looked up at Ambrose, locking their gazes together. "She's in danger."
~*~
"Kari."
Keira froze as the voice came from directly behind her. "How...?"
"Drop your sword, Kari. I'm not here to hurt you."
Rage built in her as she whipped around to face him. "Did I not tell you that my name isn't Kari?!" She swung her sword at him but he dodged it with ease. Minding her temper, she focused at her task at hand. She had to keep Sylvia safe. "My name is Keira," she spoke between clenched teeth.
"Oh my love," Cyril's eyes turned soft. "No darling, that was the name of our daughter."
"Now I know you're a complete lunatic." Keira charged at him and executed attacks with great precision, finally causing Cyril to draw his own sword and counter.
Deflecting a blow, he shouted, "Kari stop!"
"Shut up!"
Their battle raged on for hours. The once beautiful, untouched temple was now a mess of chaos. Candelabras flung all across the room, tapestries torn and ruined, glass shattered and benches broken. There was nothing left unscathed.
Keira was drenched in sweat and her lungs were greedy for air. Pure adrenaline ran through her veins and the sole reason that she still managed the strength to fight. Her opponent was in just the same state.
~*~
"What did you find out?" Alexander questioned, urging his horse to go faster.
"I was looking through the accounts of your last war and the lists of soldier. On the list was a general in your father's army named Cyril, he is now the leader of the rebellion. He knows every place where you'd take Sylvia for safety."
