What Lurks Behind The Trees

Don't fail me, my sword

"He's not going to last long in there," Edmund smirked, "We better prepare for an attack from Venkalth, I think he'll arrive soon,"

"Yes, my king, the Night Slayers are ready, and so are the rest of the men," Rogerus said.

Edmund intertwined his hands behind his back as he watched from the distance. The two sides were now fighting vigorously, some of his men attempting to climb the wall, others shooting their arrows. It seemed in this situation, that arrows were their best option. Edmund knew he could easily overcome Cedric's forces, but he wanted to save his men and dragon for the bigger battle that was to come. This way he could make Cedric surrender in time for Venkalth's arrival, that is if he surrendered. Cedric's men were strong, they had strong armour, strong weapons that they forged from their own riches. He knew he couldn't lay siege on them, they had an unlimited supply of fish from the colossal sea, they had ships which they could use to escape, realistically, Edmund knew this was more so about testing Cedric's will to hold on to his city. If he could claim Cruin it would mean victory, if he could drive him out of his city, it would mean victory.

Edmund smirked, it wouldn't be long before Cedric would give up, he would either surrender or escape, and both were a win for Edmund.

He watched with his brown eyes as black armour collided with silver armour, and in between lay a sea of blood. Edmund's, men wore an armour darker than the night with gold accents slithering through it like a snake. Cedric's men wore silver, the colour of grace and sophistication, yet at this moment they were anything but.

On the other side of Cruin's thick stone walls, Cedric was pacing around ordering his men to do this and that. He was panicking. He could not help the dread that was settling deep in his heart. Something did not feel right.

"Did you inform Venkalth?"

"Yes, master,"

He needed his help. Despite all the chaos and screams of agony, Cedric's ears became deaf to the noise. All he could hear was a loud ringing noise, a high pitched noise that made him cringe.

"Is there something wrong, master?" His guard asked.

But Cedric was oblivious, he could not hear him, his eyes shut tightly, he could only hear his loud breathing fighting against the deafening ringing noise. He snapped his eyes open and instantly all the noise flooded back and he could not help but let out a scream of agony.

"Master!"

Cedric heaved under his heavy armour, he wanted to take it off, he wanted to go back to his wife and children, he wanted to escape this hell. If he surrendered now, it would save them time, money and lives. They would walk away unharmed, they would face consequences, but nonetheless, unharmed.

What am I even thinking?! There is no way I'm letting go of this city.

"I'm joining them." Cedric said.

The guard's face snapped towards him "What?! Master, you don't have to, everything is under control!"

Cedric's face scrunched up "Stop yelling," he reached for his helm, "Everyone needs to fight, that also includes myself. And I make the rules."

The guard sighed in defeat.

"While we wait for word from Venkalth, we can't just sit here and wait-"

The entire wall shook from the impact of a catapult. The wall was not damaged, it wouldn't collapse easily and Cedric was certain of that.

"Spears at the wall!" Cedric heard the commander yell, it seemed like the men had started to use ladders to escalade up the walls.

"Master! They're digging tunnels!" A soldier came running to Cedric, his forehead dripping blood.

"It'll take them days to dig, once they do, I need you to use large bellows to pump smoke into the tunnels, that would surely suffocate them. Also, don't forget the hot sand for the climbers."

"Yes, master," The soldier ran along the wall.

Cedric unsheathed his sword. A silver claymore, that shone in the peaking sun once he raised it to the sky, it's hilt a long-eared owl its wings spreading as the sword's crossguard. A simple sword but placed in the right hands. Cedric's emerald eyes scanned the length of the sword with determination.

Don't fail me, my sword.

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Short chapter, but I'm satisfied with where it ended :) 

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