Long live the king

Chapter 11

A huge castle laid in front of the army. Flags waved in the light breeze, their colours were blue and purple, mixed together so it looked like a whirl. In the middle, there was something black, but it was difficult to see what it was meant to be so far away. Big windows decorated the castle's towers, they reflected the sunlight. There was one tower in every point of the compass. More was difficult to see because of the village in front of the castle. The village was filled with noise that reached the army. Col took a deep breath, soon the alarm bells would ring and cause chaos to the soo peaceful day. The king held up his fist in the air, a sign for the soldiers to stop and await further orders. Seconds later the alarm bells rang. Their sound spread fast through the air, together with terrified screams, running feet and the rattling from weapons and armours. In just a couple of minutes, a provisional and confused army was gathered in front of the army from Nimadia. The Teyorean queen rode through her army, she had a golden armour and a white beautiful horse. Col felt a sting in his heart, the white horse reminded him of Note. He fought the tears that wanted to break free and tried his best to lock up the pain again.

- Keir, king of Nimadia, why are you attacking my people and kingdom? the queen's voice was beautiful. It sounded like a singing bird and yet like a cold winter night.

Col's father rode forward, he drew his sword and took a deep breath, preparing himself to answer.

- Renia, queen of Teyorean, I think the answer is obvious. I know we tried before in the past and failed, but at that time we didn't have what we have today. I'll give you one chance to give up and you will be the only one to lose your life. Or you could watch your people get slaughtered.

Renia didn't even answer, she turned around and spoke to her army. They cheered, raising their fists in the air. Keir turned his attention to Col, his eyes glowed more with the hunger for power than Col had ever seen, it was like the king didn't saw the human behind every armour, to him they were just pieces in a game. But Col saw more, he looked at his enemies, sorrow filled eyes. He saw the humans behind, he saw the women and men that he was about to kill. Col jumped off his horse, he tore off his shiny helmet and threw up in it. When there was no more left he sat on the green, soft and lifeful grass. Just some seconds later his father joined, but not to have a friendly conversation.

- It's time, son. Stand up and kill them.

Col shuddered, it was one thing to ignore someone, have a normal fist fight or going on a hunt, but slaughtering an entire army, he didn't want that on his conscious.

- If that's your answer than I have no choice, you will fight for me even if you want it or not, the king walked away again and mounted his horse.

- Soldiers! If my son doesn't get to his feet and fight for me you will not be the ones to fight the next battle. It will be your children and if you don't have one it will be your relatives' children.

- Are you insane?! You can't let children fight!! Col's voice was childish compared to his father's harsh, demanding and terrifying voice.

- Then kill them, it wasn't a scream nor a whisper it was way worse, the words seemed to dig themselves into Col's brain.

He gazed at the army once more, watched how they patiently waited for orders. They were humans, men and women who only did what they had to. Just like me. Col sighed, he rose and throw away his helmet, it was unnecessary for him. Then he mounted his horse and locked up is feelings in the darkest corner of his heart, the only thing left now was to summon his power, his snow. He sought deep within himself, trying to find that tickling feeling in his fingertips, the way his power made him calm down, like every worry in the world disappeared for a while, the feeling of being free. Since he had already tasted the sweet taste of his power it took less time than before to find it. Soon black snow fell from the sky, creating a tragic landscape. The silence of the falling snow seemed to push away all other sounds. The enemies looked at it, some with fascinating eyes, some with plain terror. A few tried to catch it to study it more. 

- Snow?! You think snow can defeat us, Keir? Can defeat Teyo...