Two Warriors.

Chapter 12: Loss.

Our armies tore down village after village as we marched through Azgeda lands. We knew the real battle against Queen Nia was yet to come, only then would we celebrate  our victories.
Lexa had not received any news about Costia from her personal guard. It was a risk sending them deep into Ice Nation territory at the height of war, but Lexa owed it to her Plains Rider to try to get her home. I hoped in my heart she was able to achieve this but I knew of Nia's cruelty and for Costia the future seemed so bleak.
We had set up camp to prepare for our progression into the heart of Azgeda. After meeting with the war chiefs and clan leaders to discuss our strategy, Lexa and I returned to the Commanders tent. Dusk arrived along with light snow fall, even in the midst of war some semblance of beauty still remained. This moment of calm wouldn't last long for Heda or for any of us.
Upon entering the tent all seemed fine. It was Lexa who spotted it first. A wooden box with the sigil of Azgeda etched into it had been placed on her bed. Every sense in my body screamed out a warning for it not to be opened, "Heda!"
Lexa looked at me before approaching  the box. I tried to stop her, knowing that it would contain a dark realisation of her worst fears, "Heda! Please, no!"
In her heart she knew not to open it but she had to know. Lexa lifted the lid and glanced inside. Within a second she reeled back as the lid crashed to the floor. I pulled her away and held her close. She struggled to breathe as though the life had been pulled out of her body. She yelled out in anger and pain for what she'd seen, as a tear fell from her eye. Gustus and Indra rushed in, alerted by the screams. They were shocked to see Lexa in such a way and even more so at what resided in that box.
Costia was dead. Kidnapped, tortured and murdered. Her head cut from her body, placed in a box and delivered to the bed of The Commander, the girl she had fallen hopelessly in love with. Lexa never forgave herself, she would never be the same again.

None of us were prepared for the  aftermath of that grim discovery. After a time an eerie sense of calm washed over Lexa as she stood in silence, staring at the box that was still positioned upon her bed. Indra and Gustus were full of fury as they called for retaliation, but Lexa wasn't listening. I knew my Heda and watched as her eyes changed from sorrow to vengeance. She spoke no words to any of us, simply grabbed her sword and stormed out of the tent. I urged Indra and Gustus to follow as I rushed after her, calling out her name, but she would not acknowledge my pleas.
She stormed into the holding tent where the Rockline War Chief was still held prisoner and without hesitation raised her sword and slashed it down hard across the side of his neck. He never knew what hit him as the sharp blade severed his head from his body. Blood covered the floor as all we could is watch the events play out before our eyes. Not a warrior in this world could have stopped Lexa that night. She picked up his head and walked past us in deadly silence into the night air.
The blood from the war chiefs head left a trail in the snow as Lexa walked through our camp. Our warriors moved out of her way, confused and cautious of their Commanders demeanor. Lexa found her horse and climbed on, before riding off futher into Azgeda territory. She was blinded by rage and not thinking of the potential danger she was putting herself in. Myself, Indra and Gustus rallied our warriors and rode off after her.
Finally, we found her positioned on a hillside looking down at an Azgeda war camp. She had killed the lookout scouts and was holding up the head of the war chief for all of Azgeda to see. Her horse reared up as she called out, "JUS DREIN JUS DAUN!" It was a terrifying sight to see. She now had the attention of Azgeda, of their allies and most importantly of Queen Nia.

I sat upon my horse next to Lexa as we overlooked the Azgeda war camp. She never once turned to look at me, her gaze fixed on the riders that now approached. "This is suicide, Heda. We're outnumbered."
My concerns didn't faze Lexa's resolve, "Nia won't attack. She won't kill me this night," her voice now void of emotion.
I frowned, unsure of her certainty, "How can you be so sure?"
Lexa turned to face me, "Because she wants me to suffer." Her life was now consumed by grief she desperately tried to hide.
As the Azgeda riders came into view, we saw The Queen herself leading the way. Prince Roan and her Generals were by her side. Their horses halted in front of of ours as an unsettling silence filled the air. Lexa made the first move, throwing the head of the war chief to the ground in front of Nia, "A gift in payment for mine," Lexa spoke coldly.
The Queen looked at the head and simply grinned, "Rockline will call for vengeance," she said calmly.
"What's left of Rockline can meet my blade on the battlefield as can the rest of you!" Lexa growled back as Nia continued to grin.
"I do believe The Commander is angry. Maybe her personal feelings are clouding her judgement." Nia's Generals laughed as The Queen openly mocking Lexa. Roan remained silent and seemed uncomfortable by the situation.
Lexa soon silenced them all, "I believe the traitorous coward I see before me is clouded by her own thirst for power. You crave what you'll never have, you're a slave to your own madness. That makes you weak!" Nia's grin turned to anger, Lexa's insults striking a nerve, "You know nothing of true leadership, girl" The Queen hissed.
The faintest of smiles played on Lexa's lips as she continued to insult The Queen, "I know exactly how you lead. I know that even your own son is still forcing himself to stand by your side. I know that Costia told you nothing no matter what you did to her because unlike you she walked in this world with honour. You're marked for death Ice Queen. I suggest you make your peace with that sooner rather than later!"