Legends: The Knight of Helm (#1)

Chapter 27

The dark haired maiden cried as she was dragged by heavily armed men, Azera was her name; she recalled her home land of Dechoneus as the misery fell over her. Her tears ran down her already wet cheeks, coming from her purple eyes. Her long lashes blinking twice to rid herself of her soft sob, not because she was done crying, rather because she had mourned for release for three days. Her whaling, to the soldier's pleasure, had ceased to be the cries of banshees. They had left tracks in the sand they had now began to see a safari, and each man grinned with joy as they sat down around the newly beginning grass plains.

They had set camp for the night, the woman having little to no energy left as she sat against a tree, only tears rolling down from her sour and weary body. She was in shackles and chains, even a mighty sorceress such as herself couldn't use magic when constrained. Her thin frame stood no chance against the strong sturdy men who had taken her captive. She now only hoped for solace in her new life of slavery.

Agular began to track the three separate tracks laid before him, another set seemed to carry more people. He assumed this was the one with the woman, and other captives. Azera was said to have the power to enter into the realm of Hell. Volohs could have nothing great planned with this discovery. He was only a day or so behind.

Azera's head was placed into her arms as a soldier walked up to her, kneeling before her to speak, "My lady, please eat."

She looked towards the man, her piercing eyes peering into his heart and soul, "Your actions betray your words!"

The man's eyes fell to the safari floor as he replied, "Indeed they do, however, I will not let a young lass, such as yourself, go hungry. I might not be the greatest man, but I have honor, and chivalry. Will you please eat and drink?"

The man's humble attitude seemed to soften the mourning of Azera, and she took his bread and water. He smiled as he sat next to the woman gazing at the stars.

"Lovely aren't they? The stars I mean." The man said softly, "reminds me of my darling wife at home."

Azera was quit, as she ate the man's supper, letting him continue to his heart's desire.

"I find no pleasure in war, and find myself questioning why we do somethings. All I know is that it's for the greater good."

Azera held her peace, wanting to smash the man's skull in. They had slaughtered her people, and took the survivors captive.

"The beauty of the stars reminds me of hope, and why we are doing this. We do this to bring to pass the will of the gods. Volohs, the son of the king, as foretold in prophecy, has been chosen to form the Helmish Empire. I understand not the gods, only that they have man's best interest at heart and mind."

"If you follow such a holy pleasure why did you slaughter my village?" Azera said, not being able to hold back her rage.

"Woman, I give you peace, for we killed not the defenseless but the armed. If not them, it was us. Do you proclaim that your people have never fought for a god? If so, look upon your history. All men are religious creatures; we worship money, gold, the sword, honor, and even gods. Less none be true, men still would worship themselves if nothing else. At the least, we act in a noble cause. Volohs, our king, has sought peace at every turn. Was it not your king who ignored his father's command? Was it not your king who broke honor? I say, when has Volohs broken his word?"

Azera was quite, there was no argument to be had. After all, it was war, if they had not killed the guard at her village, they would have most definitely would have killed them, but somehow that seemed okay, and alright. It was King Henry who broke his word, not Volohs, King of the West. She knew what the soldier spoke was true, their cause was noble.