A Royal Fate

Chapter 6: The First Attack

The First Attack

It was a thought that crossed my mind man times as we crossed the countryside, gathering the troops that Sir Fredrick's men had recruited. As we neared the capital of Merida, the size of the army that had joined William and I numbered in the hundreds, but I knew that we would still need help in order to take the capital. I tried to think of a way that I could wield all the Soul Sabers at once, but there was no way I could hold six swords at one time. Then, as Merida came into view, I received an inspiration from the Sabers. I now knew how I could use all the Sabers at once, and the Sabers had given me the words I would need to fuse them as one.

The capital city of Radeon, Merida was surrounded by high walls over six feet thick, and the only way in was through the heavily guarded main gate. Even with only the couple hundred troops we had, a siege would be a viable option. However there was a problem with that plan, the common people would be the ones to suffer during a siege, because I knew my uncle would take their food in order to feed his troops. With a siege out of the question, I had to believe that the sight of their princess would turn the outer guards away from my uncle. It was a slim hope, but I clung to it as we neared the front gates.

The show of force had drawn attention from the guards on duty and the wall soon bristled with soldiers. I could see the smoke from oil pot fires being lit and the catapults being loaded. I walked in front of the troops with William to show my rank, and the fact that I was female could not be lost on the guards posted on the wall. I signaled for the troops to halt, but continued until I was within earshot of the men on the wall. William stayed with me until I stopped, but did not show any sign of being in charge. He stayed behind me the entire time, and when I stopped, he dropped to one knee to show further tribute. This was purely for show, but he and I had agreed that if he bowed and groveled, the men on the wall might be more inclined to believe that I am the princess.

I called up to the wall, "I am Princess Sophia, daughter of King Cyrus, and rightful ruler of Radeon. My uncle Rodger, Duke of Chutney, killed my father in his bed and tried to wed me as his puppet queen. I call now not as a warrior ready for battle, but a pleading exile asking for help. I do not wish for blood to be shed on this day, other than that of my treacherous uncle, but I am prepared to attack my home in order to purge this country of evil. I ask you, will you help me?"

I could see activity as my words were passed on to the rest of the men who had not heard, but from the angry tones I knew that Sir Fredrick had not been able to speak with the garrison of Merida. I already knew the answer when the Captain called down, but it still hurt my heart that they had been deceived so well. The Captain yelled, "You cannot be the Princess because Princess Sophia was killed by her kidnapper over three months ago. Sir Fredrick told the king personally that she had been killed and disposed of in a swamp."

I called up in a last hope that I could break through to them, "Sir Fredrick has been in my service ever since he nearly caught me at The Devil's Tower. His men were the ones who spread the truth about my father's murder. If you do not believe I am the Princess, then let me prove my worth to all those who doubt my validity."

I drew the six Soul Sabers, and lay them in a circle around my feet. My voice rang clear as I spoke the incantation the Sabers had given to me, and as I sang the Words of Fusion, the swords began to glow, and their respective parts of the circle filled with their power. "Hear me Soul Sabers, let me become the true heir to the throne, and give me the power to take back my kingdom!" I began the spell that would fuse the Sabers as one, and I could see the men on the wall take an involuntary step back.

"Earth, Wind, Ice and Fire become one, fused together with the combined powers of Shadow and Light. Let thy spirits intertwine, and become the King's Sword, Destroyer of Evil, and the Soul of the Righteous.