The Kingdom of Noitcif

Chapter Thirty-One - The Invasion

  "They're here."

  Espen's eyes fluttered open, taking in the sight of his throne room, the colorful rug, and finally, Camilla's face staring down at him. He had been sitting in his throne - as the large windows provided a perfect view of the portal in the sky - but he must have dozed off. After all, it had been nearly one in the morning when he checked the clock last.

  "I have to go," the king announced, leaping to his feet - the chain mail under his emerald green robes clinking as he did so.

  Fleet had ordered him to put on a full suit of the thinnest, most protective – and expensive – armor in case he happened to get attacked. Espen glanced at Wesley, who was positioned at his side, a sword gripped in his hand and a dagger in his sheath. He nodded, as well.

  "Espen," Camilla suddenly exclaimed as he began to descend the stairs to the door.

  He turned, and saw the lady-in-waiting's blue eyes fill with tears.

  "You know... no matter that Lee Rose feels the same way... you'll always be my son," she told him, taking him by the hand.

  The king stared back at her, and then his mouth twisted into a smile. "Thanks... Mom."

  And he truly meant it.

  "King Estevan!" was the first thing Espen heard as he opened the double doors of his throne room, Camilla and Wesley standing on either side of him.

  "Yes?" the king inquired as Fleet jogged up to him, worry written all over his smooth face.

  "They are coming from the sky portal, heading in a northeastern direction. They seem to be circling the castle before invading. There are about ten fighter planes in all, and Engres' plane is located right in the middle of the procession."

  "Ten-?" Espen gasped, but quickly regained his bearings. "Tell the knights positioned on the neighboring islands to come at them from the back when I sound the bugle."

  "Right, my king." Fleet saluted and pulled a message channeling device out of his pocket and began to whisper into it.

  "The question I have is why Engres does not decide to use those message channelers instead of... what are they? Talkie-Walkies? It would save him a lot of trouble," Wesley murmured.

  Espen quickly directed his attention to the sky. The dimly lit rainbow portal was strewn with huge black objects flying towards the castle, as if trying to calculate the best mode of attack. The moon was full, so Espen could still track each plane even as they left the backdrop of the portal light.

  "At that rate, they'll take awhile in getting here," he thought, trying to think out the best strategies.

  "Wesley?"

  The knight at Espen's elbow instantly perked up.

  "What time is it?"

  "Almost three in the morning, my king," he replied with a yawn.

  Espen nodded, and watched as one of the Ytilaer planes began to make a slow arc in their direction.

  "Where are the knights at that portal stationed?"

  "They should be at the spot that the planes are passing now, hidden in the clouds," Wesley answered as he pointed and squinted at the window.