Diamond Heart

The Plateau Kingdom of Wanna'Ah - 1000 years ago.

Wanna'Ah was under attack again and this time they were sure to fall. Insy had been watching the campfires all night, and when they had suddenly been doused, when the night became quieter than she imagined death to be, she knew they were coming again.

The Quort had been trying to take Wanna'Ah for a hundred years, and for a hundred years they had failed. Their warriors were well known for their ferocity, their ability to leave kingdoms in ruins, their people led from the rubble in chains. But Wanna'Ah had remained strong. Twice the Quort had come to Wanna'Ah that year, twice they had been turned away. Now, every soldier behind their walls knew there would be no surviving a third attack.

The king had led their men from the gates nearly and hour ago in anticipation of an attack by night. Insy was his eyes, she would warn him of movement and then man the battlements. If there was no response within the hour, Insy would evacuate the women and children up the mountain paths and into the Cave City, Wanna'Ah's greatest defense and biggest secret. Once inside, they would be safe, no one would know where they were. Their people would survive to rebuild.

She sent her falcon with the message that the fires were out, that the Quort were coming, and waited, praying the reply was swift. Her eyes watched the sky for any sign of her bird or their enemy's arrows. Soft boot stuffs ascending the stairs had her whirling, dagger out. "Princess."

Insy relaxed, instantly focussing on the bent head of jet black hair. Tur looked up at her, though he remained bent in half. Even then, in the middle of a crisis, a smile creased the corners of his eyes and toyed with the edges of his lips.

"What news is there?" She turned her back to him, a silent signal for the warrior to straighten and approach.

"My scouts say the paths are clear. The snows haven't come yet. They'll reach the city in a few hours, probably before dawn if they leave now." He took his place at her right side. "Has your father replied?"

She shook her head. There was still time, the hour candle she'd lit was only half burned. "I don't like the quiet." She whispered.

Tur reached for her hand. She let him take it. "I know." Insy looked at their joined fingers and felt her emotions swirl up. She caught herself memorizing every flick of his hair, the curves of his ear, the half of his mouth she could see. His eyes found hers. "We'll make it, Insy."

"Whatever happens, whatever, you have to promise to get Vix to the Caves." Tur opened his mouth but Insy reached up to kiss him quiet. "Promise me."

For a few hellish moments Tur looked like he would say no. Slowly he nodded. Insy raised an eyebrow. Tur rolled his eyes. "I promise, no matter what, I will get Vix to the Caves."

Insy kissed him again, gently, softly. There was only a third of the hour candle left. Insy squeezed Tur's hand. "Send them up the paths."

He sighed, bowed his head and let go of her hand. "Majesty."

She turned as he began descending the stairs. "Vix has to escape. She is your priority. These are your orders." He nodded once more and then he was gone, boots Scuffing the stones until only silence remained.

Insy eyed the hour candle, they had ten minutes to prepare for an attack they wouldn't hear coming. The four commanders her father had left with her were waiting at the door to the watchtower. They all bowed, Insy waving them up before they could lower more than their heads. "My father has not sent word. The women and children must be given time to get to the Caves."

"Do you have a plan, Maesty?"

"Station a few archers along the battlements. I want every other man into the courtyard eaves." She met each pair of eyes. "We're going to need the black powder barrels."

They dispersed to carry out her orders and all too soon Insy was under the eaves, crossed swords strapped to her back, her soldiers around her. Their goal was simply to hold the line, to give the vulnerable time to get away.

Insy offered a prayer to the God's for her people, for Tur, for her soldiers and finally, for herself. She hoped that when Death came for her it would be quick.

Silence had bunched around them, every soldier had their muscles tensed, ready to spring forward and attack.

A torch trap at the entrance to the courtyard was triggered causing an explosion to tear through the courtyard. The light illuminated a team of ten invaders dressed head to toe in black. Each one carried a wickedly sharp, crescent moon blade, its scabbard strapped to their hips. Nearly all the blades were already coated in blood. Insy hoped her father's and had been clean.

She signaled the two waiting sentries with an owl hoot and watched as they chipped flints and ran. Another two explosions lit the night showing Insy four of her enemy were dead but another fifteen had emerged from the darkness. Her archers used the light, showering arrows into the invaders, pushing them to the centre of the courtyard.

"We hold the line." She whispered. Everyone around her nodded, gripping their blades tighter. Insy freed both her swords, her last thought was that she wished Tur was fighting with her. She let out a war cry and together they broke cover.