The Kingdom of Eldasar

Chapter 5 Attacked

“We should start making our way back, it’s nearly dusk its dangerous at this time” the general lifted me up from his lap standing, wrapping his arms around me. I hadn’t realised it was so late the General and I hadn’t conversed being in his arms had felt so good, it felt peaceful the first time the memory of my mother and brothers didn’t haunt me.

As we walked the hilt of his sword was rubbing against my abdomen bruising it, I tried moving away from him, but he pushed me closer to him making me wince in pain.

“Quite we’re not alone” I looked around terrified the woods were getting darker I could just about make out the trees, we could hear rustling and crunching of someone close by. I clutched the general closer grabbing hold of his arm, he pushed me behind him my back hitting a tree trunk he stood in front of me, unsheathing his sword. With his empty hand he held mine squeezing it with assurance, stepping back so clause I could feel the heat of his body. “Stay quite, and if I tell you to run. You run and don’t look back, I’ll find you” there was determination and promise in his voice he brought my hand up and kissed it letting his warm lips linger there.

We heard grunting and murmurs, there was a group of people I held on to the General tighter, shaking with fear, I looked around his arm I could see the outline of four men walking our way I quickly hid behind the Generals broad back. The four men came closer stopping there bickering, “What are you doing on our land?” I heard a very gruff voice say I buried my face into the general’s back. The general held his sword up twisting it in his wrist as if the sword was an extension of his hand.

“Last I checked these woods belonged to the king” the General brought his sword up holding it threateningly, the sword was massive and probably weighed more then me, he held it like he was holding a feather.

“Ha the king, what’s he going to do the man is dead on his feet and has some barbaric dog doing his dirty work. These woods are mine, and if you want to live leave and never come back.” His words sent rage through me how dare he insult my father, after everything my fathers done for these people, the sacrifices he’s made for these people. I pushed away from the General running to the man standing a few feet away from us his face looked surprised looking at me, I advanced on him clenching my hand into a fist slamming it against his face.

“How dare you! My father has done so much for you! You will respect him!” I screamed at him, I felt the general pull at my hand but the man in front of me was quicker he wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me flush against his muddy body that smelt of sweat, I couldn’t see his face his beard was over grown. The man held a knife to my throat, his small regiment had axes and knifes. I looked up to the general not frightened anymore I knew he would get me away from these philistine men, he was calm but I could see the anger burning in his eyes, his eyes had turned molten gold the colour of his eyes when he turned into a wolf. He was angry I feared for the men.

“The barbaric dog is very close to turning into a wolf, let my mate go and you will die quickly” he spoke calmly but the man that was holding me his body started to shake with fear. The knife he held he pushed it against my neck cutting my skin I winced in pain struggling in his arms. The general eye fell on my neck he swung his sword around killing the two men standing next to us, instantaneously he swung his sword around on the other side of us killing the man on our left. “Let her go” the man holding me pushed me to the ground and started running, the general pulled out a sai from his thigh throwing it at the running man, the sai hit him in the back of his head he crumbled to the ground. The general walked to the man pulling his sai from his head wiping it on the dead mans clothes and placing it back on his thigh he cleaned his sword and sheathed it. He came back to me crouching down to me lifting me up and placing me on a rock, looking at the wound on my neck, he ripped the bottom of his cloak and wrapped around my neck. He placed his hands around my waist making me wince he quickly let go, “he hurt you there?” I shock my head, “don’t lie to me,” he whispered, “can you walk?” I tried getting up but my ribs were really painful.

“Help me up please I can walk once I am standing” I wheezed the man had pushed me really hard, the general frowned at me but he helped me up gently I held on to his arm wincing, he bent his shoulders down placing my arm around his neck lifting me up into his arms.

“I should never have brought you out here I apologise my princesses I have broken my promise with your father you got hurt, your in pain, I will be punished quite rightly I deserve the death penalty I committed high treason.” He was looking ahead his expression was in anguish he his jaw was clasped shut, the thought of any harm coming open him sent more pain through me like I was stabbed by his dagger. I lift my hand placing it on his cheek he breathed in a deep breath leaning into my hand.

“You saved my life” he sighed finally looking down at me holding me tighter to his body, I rested my head on his chest,

“Its my fault you were in the forest hence its my fault you got hurt, I should have been quicker, I should have just killed them.” His voice got louder he spat out the last part, making me shiver in fear,

“Then you would have murdered them in cold blood,” I moved away from his chest looking up at his face which was stone cold.

“Good riddance, who cares is they die they are a plague on your land I should go and kill them all! I will go and kill them all once I have you safely back in the castle” I jumped out of his hold landed on the muddy forest floor leaning against a stump of a tree. He Looked surprised reaching out for me I cringed away from him,

“Don’t you dare try touching me I will have you beheaded” I slapped his hand away making my own hand ache. “You murderer, you barbaric animal, you think you can go around killing people who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to take anyone’s life? If you go out and kill people in this forest your killing some innocent people who are tying to make a living for there family’s because they can’t get a job or make a living any other way! You monster.” I didn’t realise I was crying, the man I had started to fall back in love with hadn’t changed one bit he was still and will always be a ruthless killer, the man I was distained to be with had not a ounce of tenderness could he ever love me or would he end up killing me.

He had taken a step back from me looking at me in wonder his grey eyes looked like a storm was brewing the had gone darker his eyes looked like dark clouds about pour out with rain.

“People like the ones that attacked us moments ago made me the man I am, I don’t want other people becoming who I am. I will stop them before they do to others what they did to me.”