Blood King

Chapter Forty Six

It was finally over.

The battle with those of Labadier was done. A great many lives were lost but it was finally over. Many of the knights of Valdoria, and even those of the Forest cheered that they it was now truly over.

Numerous men now captured and being hauled off to an encampment where they would have them for ransom. That is if the King of Labadier even wished for them at all.

As the cheering died down, many of the men now began to move the bodies of the dead, checking for identifying markers if they were one of their own or of that of the enemy.

"When you find the body of a Labadier knight put it with the others, we will later see if anyone will wish to give their loved ones a proper burial. If there King is a fool then we will at least give them one here on the grounds. Make sure the graves will be deep enough, we don't want anymore animals savaging the dead that's already been done." He told Otharon thusly. "Once we have completely cleared the Tower and changed the flags I will send a hawk to that of Labadier's king. Notifying him that this Tower is now back to it's rightful owner once again."

"Yes, my Lord, in regards to sending word, would it not be better to send a messenger rather then a bird?"

"Not one of our own, and I believe if we tried to send one of the men from Labadier they would only run away from these lands rather then towards. They fear their idiot of a King, for his hot temper and cruelty. Send a bird, unless you want a mother to come screaming that their son is dead." Xavier said simply as his gaze then merely turned to the Tower, as the banners for Labadier fell and were replaced with those of Valdoria a smile came to the young King's face.

It was a smile of satisfaction, pure and simple.

And yet it left the Elven man completely on edge.

"Is something that matter Strikerius?" Xavier asked suddenly and turned to look at him. "You look as though you have seen a ghost of some kind."

Strikerius merely stared at the man before offering a bow. "Congratulations on a stunning victory Your Majesty. It's just like as you said, that this would be the final year any of your men would have to fight."

"Yes," he agreed before looking behind to see the slew of dead bodies from both sides. "Though I am sure a number of my men are more then disappointed that many of them did not survive this fight. We can at least be sure to bring the dead home to be buried by their loved ones." As he spoke a great gust of wind came through, silencing all speech as Xavier looked up to the sky.

Strikerius then followed the King's lead and looked up towards the sky and saw what the King was looking at. For the briefest of moments, the Elven man could have sworn at what he had seen just now.

"What a wondrous sight to behold." Xavier said softly drawing his attention once more. "If Celina were here to have seen such a thing, I'm sure she would be in awe."

He did no respond to the King's thought, instead he merely asked him a question. "Are you alright Your Majesty?" Xavier turned to look at him in silence. "In the battle, it looked as though you had been stabbed."

"Oh?" the King merely replied. "Do I look injured to you Strikerius?"

The Elven man suddenly felt the urge to back away from someone who was clearly much younger then he but refused to break eye contact to look at the King fully. His armor streaked with blood, but it was not of his own. With how many enemies he slew this day even if he were truly injured he wouldn't be able to tell clearly without removing the King's armour.