The Knight's Eyes

49: MORSA

Everyone grew silent as the sound of running feet thudded above. He squinted up at Galasia, glowing hand pressed against the metal door. She sprung her hand back almost loosing her balance. Then the door opened from the outside.

"Galasia! What's going on?"

A flood of light poured upon him. He shielded his eyes and stepped away for a second to regain his sight. When they looked back up Galasia was gone and someone else was descending. He unshielded his sword, the guard and any armed man did the same. The women fearfully squeezed to the back of the group.

The person jumped down followed by four others. They were bronzite soldiers of different shades of brown. Upon their heads were helmets made of what looked to be or in the likeness of ice and silver. Their armored uniforms were of the same color but of a darker shade with the Iceburn sigil of a white wisdom tree engraved on their chest. Daggers made of thick glass hung from their belts and swords alike aimed at them. Although, Alsindad wanted to smile in envy of the Iceborne uniforms, their bluish black gazes froze his heart.

The first one, a middle-aged man with a sharp L jawline spoke in a thick language.

"Do you know the common tongue?" Alsin asked hoping they did.

He narrowed his eyes at him, "Where you people come from? Terra?"

"Haven. The village was attacked by Mad Mist and frostbiters."

The soldier to the leader's right mumbled, "Orkram."

"Hmm," the leader agreed then to Alsin. "We saw."

He lowered his sword, "We are only escaping it. Where are we?" he pointed up the ladder.

"Jelvium," he firmly said.

"Jelvume is how we call it. It's one of the three trading ports," Roger whispered to him. "I never knew this tunnel led this far."

"You all trespass. I give you two options. Go back or be arrested."

The murmurs arose behind him. He turned to Roger. "I thought you said this was a port? Aren't ports free to pass through?"

He shrugged confusion crossing his face, "As I know of. Well, I've never traveled this far in a while."

"Maybe Iceburn is still on lockdown," whispered the guard Den who had helped him earlier.

Before he could ask him why the kingdom was on lockdown, the four soldiers began poking their swords. They shouted something in their language. The people screamed. Two more soldiers climbed down and started grabbing people and pushing them up the ladder.

"Come. You waste time. Orkram here."

"Orkram?" Alsin repeated shielding his sword and stepping to the side to let the people by. That's when he noticed a few people had begun traveling back the way they had come. The soldiers did not seem to care and placed an armed stance behind the group. Their glassy eyes were stone hard and dared anyone to fight back.

Soon he was above ground. An evening sun glowed in the sky through the trees. He quickly took in his surroundings. The trees had spread themselves showing more land and space. They stood in between two mountains where army forts blended into their sides. A huge uprooted old tree had been rolled to the side of the open door. Just a yard away stood a thin wooden wall with doors propped open. Horses cladded in Iceburn armor littered the area closest to them, their masters standing beside them.

He followed the frantic group to an open area where soldiers ordered them on their knees. He scanned the area for Galasia and spotted her a few paces away. Her hands were tied behind her back and the left side of her face was bruised. She caught eyes with him and looked to grow extremely angry.