BLADES AND BONES

Chapter 13: Breaking Barriers

King Trazavan has fought well along with his brave cavalry. However, the Azdamar soldiers proved stronger than their swords and pistols. The old ruler hoped that his daughter has survived before he blacked out. His body lie in the middle of the wheat field together with the others who died fighting. By midday, the dark forces has conquered half of the San Tima territory. The women and childred, including the elderly, made it safe in the Kalmas shoreline that time. If needed, the leader of Kalmas shall send forth his soldiers to help Trazavan's army. Yet a messenger delivered a message that San Tima has a barrier. No one can get in.

"Damn, Azdamarians! They're checkmating the King!", a fist slammed on the wooden table where papers and coral decorations lie. The angry man was the King's ally named Prince Aramati Sekko. Like Yureka, he has a short-temper. His parents died a year ago after their shipwrecked and drowned in the Mediane sea in their trip to the exiled lands, hoping to expand their territory and to find other resources. He was a redhead with the sides shaved, brown skin, purple-eyed, with an average height of five feet, six inches. His quarters was a shanty with low ceiling. The waves of the ocean could be heard in the background, windows were open letting the salty breeze in.

"So what do you plan to do, prince Sekko?", the General asked, fully armored from head to toe in a heavy suit of metal. Their crest showed a narwhale.

"Meanwhile, let's try to break in using force. Then, there will also be a team who will find someone who is an expert in barriers. Go to the Scorched Plains." The young adult leader pointed five of his horsemen to go to the Scorched Plains. All the rest were divided to stay in Kalmas and the others will go forth the borders of San Tima to try and break the transparent barrier.

"So you both agree to the plan? Ready?", Kesk asked the two.

"Yes, sir. ", Jayce answered, at the same time, Ashven only nodded once.

"Okay. Go. Use your strongest powers to break through the barrier while I get ready to come in. Just attack on the same spot.", the farmer gave the starting signal and went to a far spot behind them to avoid getting harmed accidentally.

The Legionnaire unleashed his glorious white aura, his palms forward, emitting a continuously flowing bright beam of light towards the barrier while uttering prayer-like words. His eyes glowed bluer. Simultaneously, the Blackheart member transformed into a huge, reddish-violet dragon with crooked horns at the temples of his head. His brown eyes turned to red on a black sclera. He breathed out green fire from his mouth, taking short pauses in each breath, targeting the same spot where Jayce was hitting. It took less than half an hour until a small crack was seen in the barrier.

"It's working!", Kesk shouted in joy although, he was still worried to death about his friends and the King.

The two powerful companions of the albino pursued their aim. Later, one of the Azdamarian soldiers saw the light that was trying to break the barrier. The spell casters have detected a damage in the northwestern part of their magical wall. They cannot hold it much longer. Hence, dozens of the enemy forces were ordered to destroy the unidentified pursuers. "They're coming... ", Kesk was sweating nervously.

"Don't worry mr. Kesk.", the young one assured.

"He's right.", Ashven spoke normally even in his dragon form. He grabbed the farmer, placed him at his back to ride on. "Kesk, hold tight. We're going in!" The winged monster ran forward to the cracking barrier. Lawson stopped his power in time to let the dragon in. With his horns, he jumped over the fence and shattered the weakened part of the barrier. The legionnaire followed. Kesk hoped that the two will stick to the whole plan: to enter and drive away the invaders. Ashven and Jayce barely got along because of their differences. But now, with Kesk leading them, they displayed an implausible team effort. Sekko's team was at the other side who were trying to break in as well. They used canons. Fortunately, when Kesk's group broke the magical wall, the other side also weakened. A few more blows and the barrier did shatter on their side.

Sekko's army clashed with the dark forces. There were only a few of the San Tima soldiers left, hardly alive. Then they saw a dragon.

"Nobody said there's a dragon here!! ", Prince Aramita got mad at what he interpreted as another bad news but as they observed, the dragon selectively attacked and shot fire to Azdamarians, burning them in their metallic armors that melted in the process. Another bizarre thing showed up, an Angel. "Now there's an angel too?!" He thought that San Tima was filled with weird creatures. He was completely confused. Nevertheless, his team killed the invaders.

Kesk was in the battlefield, not to fight but to warn his allies not to hit the dragon or the angel, having informed the latter before landing. Sekko recognized the farmer as he visited the beach several times in a year to exchange products with them. "So you're with them? I didn't know you can train a dragon! Teach me-!" An arrow almost hit him, if not for his alert soldiers defending him. "Enough chat for now! Just warn everyone not to hit the dragon or the angel! They're with us.", the farmer continued. Further taking the role of a support to medics who were scattered on the plains to search for victims.

Victory was claimed shortly. At dawn, the aftermath was unveiled. Prince Aramati ordered his men to stay on guard. The Legionnaire bid farewell. He shall continue his oath to find other Blackheart members, deciding to kill the corrupt ones solely. "I'll be watching you, mr. Ashven Blackheart.", giving one last warning to the brunet then throwing a golden whistle at Kesk who caught it with two hands. "Use that to call me." Ashven just said, "Thank you for leaving, Jayce Lawson.", and he has chosen to stay by the albino's side. Kesk said thanks to the two and searched for the King. He asked a San Tima knight who answered that King Pejulo was in a tent being treated.

"Kesk!", the King was overjoyed seeing his loyal subject alive and well. He was lying in a bed. A medic was by his side. He could see that the albino was incredibly unharmed without any scratch nor bloody mess while he sustained head injury and stab wounds in the shoulder and knee fracture on the right. "Look at you! You don't even have a scratch! If I know better, you were the one who drove away the invaders! Haha! " Despite the pain, he had time to laugh.

The albino replied a smile then hugged him. He was quite relieved that the humor still lives on the King. "I got help along the way." That was the cue to call for his friend. "Ashven, come in!" The brunet walked inside the tent and greeted the King. "Good day, your Highness.", giving a bow. King Trazavan greeted back with a wave of his hand.

"Where's princess Yureka, your Highness?", the blond asked.

King Pejulo felt like he was stabbed again, emotionally. "You mean, she's not with you?! She left with her party to find you!"

"What? No, I went back here on my own, with Ashven and Jayce. She shouldn't have searched for me...", his hand gripped the fist of the old ruler. The latter giving a sharp look on the albino. They both know why Yureka did that. "I'm sorry. Let me find her." He felt like it was his fault why the princess went missing.

Even in his angered state, the King remained compassionate. "No. You seem tired already. Rest first."

Kesk obeyed his king. He went to the farmhouse. Oh how he missed it. Yet it was almost empty except for the lambs slaughtered inside. He would have to start afresh.

"So what's your plan now?", Ashven asked.

"Sleep."

He lied on the same spot where he slept before he was taken to the forest. The tired albino fell asleep.