The Kingdom of Cards

Chapter 6

Yao and Berwald were suddenly pushed back by a massive shot of wind. The wings of the dragon flapped ferociously, then hung over the edge of the building.

"Yao!" Berwald shouted, "Take my hand, I'll swing you up here!" He reached out and took his hand, and, with all of Berwald's strength, he hefted him up onto the roof. Berwald swiftly stuck an elbow over the ledge and pulled himself up. Yao went to him to help, but he waved him off, "NO TIME!"

The king had broken from his trance, now focused on the dragon, which was attacking again. He was on his knees with one hand up, but the dragon was not slowing down any longer. "Alfred go!" Yao ran toward the dragon and pulled out a knife, the dragon kept his focus on Alfred.

Yao slid underneath it, running the knife along it's stomach. The dragon lashed out at him and then, unbalanced, fell sideways, off of the roof. With a huge boom, the dragon lay, twitching on the cobblestones below.

"Berwald!" the yell caught Yao's attention. He look to the source of the voice. Mathias. He looked to ledge where he left Berwald, but he was gone. He glanced at Alfred who was slowly standing up in a daze. Yao, after seeing him alive, went to where he last saw Berwald. He was dangling off the edge of the balcony below, he must have slipped and caught the edge. He only had one hand left gripping the side.

Yao leapt down and pulled Alfred to safety. Berwald gave a thumbs up to Mathias, who was now alone on the roof. The black dragon had managed to pull itself to its feet and was now in combat with Mathias, along with it's red guard. Berwald breathed heavily, "Need new plan................ It's not working........... Mathias........." he sighed, and sat against the wall.

Yao climbed up the roof and called for a rescue team for Mathias. He then went to check on Alfred, "we need a new plan.... I've sent for Mathias. He is all that is left of the black special forces... we need to get help from the other kingdoms.... I can't think of way out of this..."

Alfred was barely still standing. He looked as if he might pass out, his face pale. He dropped his head to his chest. "I have one idea..." He brought up a hand slowly, then the other.

Yao gripped his shoulder, "No..." the dragons were suddenly thrown from the roof, even the village was suddenly pushed back by some invisible force. Alfred grunted, and crying softly, his shoulders shaking, he fell to his knees. Yao kneeled and held him, trying to comfort him. He looked up to Mathias. He was okay, though confused about what just happened. The dragons roared just a little outside the village. They were held back by some kind of force field.

Alfred weakly, barely audibly, whispered, "I put..... Arthur.... in... charge..." he sighed and slumped over in Yao's lap.

Berwald, breathing heavily like he just ran a marathon, limped toward him, "Yao... so.... What's the...." he saw Alfred and his eyes widened.

"He's fine, but until he gains consciousness, all orders are to come from Arthur," he said, staring up at Berwald. The tall general picked up the small king in his arms. The king's breathing, slackened until he could no longer hear it by time they sat down "something's wrong." Berwald stated just as the dragons broke though the force field.

Yao tried to feel his pulse, but it was gone, "Alfred!" Berwald laid him on the cobblestones. He remove his coat, but Yao couldn't find any injuries. Yao took his hand, holding it tightly and closing his eyes. After a few seconds, Alfred gasped for air. The force field was once again renewed and the dragons were pressed back once more. Yao looked up to the general "Berwald, please go find someone willing to house the king, somewhere fortifiable please."

Arthur, who had come running after seeing Yao and Mathias pass the stables, saw the limp king and gasp, his eyes seemed to blaze for a moment, with a fire... a look of anger touched his face then it was gone. He ran to them.

"Alfred!" he cried, cradling his face in his hands, thoughtfully smoothing back his blonde hair. Teardrops fell on his ashened face.

"He is okay, my queen. The force field is taking so much from him. I can heal him though as he destroys himself. Berwald is looking for shelter for us. Until then," he bowed slightly, "You are the King of Spades." The entire courtyard bowed.

Roderich saw this and swiftly passed out.

*Later*

When he awoke, Ivan was peering over him, "Roderich..." he started, but he failed to hear the rest as he lost consciousness once again.

When he came to a second time, he was back in his bed at the Club's castle. He sat up. 'Where-" when he realized where he was, he sunk back into bed.

Eduard stood, "Oh! Roderich, you're awake!" he said.
Roderich sat up, "What are you doing here? Get out of my room!"
"Ivan wants to speak to you...." he said, ducking out the room as the tall man walked in.

Roderich cringed. He looked mad. Like, really mad, "So, Roderich, I heard that Elizabeta had a vision."
Roderich sucked in a breath.So it wasn't a nightmare, "Yes, she sent me to protect you and Alfred," he looked down, "I sorry I have failed."
"Alfred is fine for now, but you left Elizabeta here..."
"I left the trio to protect her..."
"Well, she and Raivis are gone, the others say they left for the Diamond's kingdom." Ivan slowly walked across the room and sat on his bed.

"Well it's not my fault that the queen is so impulsive," Roderich argued.
"Well, it is now. You are in charge of bringing her back." Ivan got up to leave.
"Ivan, I'm not.... I'm not a guard! I'm not like you, why don't you and Elizabeta get that?"

He threw a sword on the bed, the cold iron touch his hand, blood blossomed from the small cut, "Figure it out if you want to say here, Roderich, you decided to make this commitment." he looked over his shoulder. "If not, you can go running back to your cousin in the Hearts," he slammed the door shut.

Roderich, picked up a book from the bedside table and threw it. it fell a few feet away from the door. He heard Ivan laugh out in the hallway. Roderich sighed, why me?

*Elsewhere*

King Francis walked down the steps, his queen following close behind. He greeted the Queen of Clubs with a smile, "Ah, Monsieur and mademoiselle, what brings you here so late in the evening? And I suppose that Ivan is coming?"

"No," Elizabeta said slowly, noticing how they both let out a slight sigh of relief, "I'm just here to give you a message, then I must be going."

Lili came all the way down the stair like an angel, "Oh, dear," she said, "You must stay for tea at least." Before, Elizabeta could say a word, the nineteen year old had already started walking her up the stairs. Raivis followed close behind.

*Menwhile*

Roderich pulled his horse to a stop. He fell to the snow as the horse skidded on the icy ground. The horse snorted and looked down at it's fallen rider.

Roderich stood in the icy wind, and dusted the snow off his thick green cloak. He looked out, from the horizon to the mountains, following it down into the valley. He sighed. His breath blossomed white in front of him in the frigid air. If he took the trail through the mountains, he would arrive at his destination sooner, in about 8 hours, maybe, but the icy slopes and thick snow were extremely dangerous. He looked at the sun, it's faint rays sinking below the horizon.

He climbed back onto his horse and urged him into a gallop, heading for the tall mountains.

At least this away I'll be there by midnight.
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I can't think of anything to say this week 👍🏼

Names you need to know:
Gilbert- Prussia
Peter- Sealand
King Ludwig- Germany
Queen Kiku- Japan
Feliciano- Italy
King Francis- France
Queen Lili- Lichtenstein
King Ivan- Russia
Queen Elizabeta- Hungary
Roderich- Austria
Toris- Lithuania
Eduard- Estonia
Ravis- Latvia
King Alfred- America
Queen Arthur- England
Yao- China
Mathias- Denmark
Berwald- Sweden
Lukas- Norway
Tino- Finland
Kyle- Australia
Im Yong Soo- South Korea
Queen Emma- Seychelles

I'll see y'all later 👊🏻