Chapter 5: Krissa

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The fog had continued to roll in for the past hour, it now dragged it's fingers along our stone sea walls, causing many of the watch tower guards to shudder. I might have smirked in amusement but the fog was disturbing me as well, I could not blame the boys. The only good news is that we could now see the first fifty of the ships as their masts stuck out of the fog.

Two of the captains were getting antsy believing that the ships were too close and we needed to fire now but every time they asked I would hold up my hand.I had a  plan and it was already in motion, everything and everyone was exactly where I wanted them. Debra and her scheming family were out of the way, Claus and Selia had given me the real numbers of the fleet and were now out of harms way, listening in on Debra's conversations with her husband and brother-in-law.

I was feeling fairly confident that we could do this and to back up the feeling, fifty masts disappear from view and moments later we hear the boom of their impact against my moonlight wall. Phase One was complete. The captains and watch tower guards turn to me shocked, then the captains fall to their knees and bow their heads in respect.

"My queen, we have doubted you and for that we are sorry"

The first captain, who I had never gotten the name of speaks looking me directly in the eye and I can see that he is sincere. The other captain keeps his head bowed but he is shaking ever so slightly. I let my amusement show on my face but then I could not take it anymore, I laughed. I laughed because I found it funny to have people bowing on their knees to me. I laughed because this whole situation was funny, I laughed because I knew that I was starting to like my kingdom, and I laughed because I hadn't laughed in a very long time and it felt exhilarating.

The captains were looking at me confused, as were the other guards who were standing close by, but I waved them back to their duties as I held out my hands for the captains.

"Get up!"

I grab hold of their hands and yank them back up to standing.

"Never bow like that again and never say sorry when your worries were what guided you."

They both nod their heads before respectfully bowing their heads slightly and turning around to walk back to their stations. I take a few deep breaths to gather my thoughts then make my way to the platform on the wall so that I may speak to everyone.

"Guards of the watch tower, prepare yourself, there is more fun to be had."

And just as I say it another fifty masts come into view before half of them disappear and another loud bang is heard. I feel within myself that the moonlight barrier is down, there is nothing else to stop the oncoming armada, it is up to me and the guards of the watch tower to defend what lies beyond the wall, my kingdom and our home.

...

More masts continue to come into view, one hundred so far can be seen only one kilometre away. I have dispatched messengers into the city to call the people closest to the wall away from their homes. If something were to happen to the innocent and untrained I would break my promise to my mother and die because of it, and that just could not happen.

Five hundred metres now, and I send the signal to the guards to raise their bows. We wait. Two hundred metres now, yet we wait. One hundred metres, yet still we wait. I can feel the fear radiating off the guards as they peer past the closest masts to the one hundred behind them. There are more ships then they expected. Orders to stand their ground are called up and down the lines of guards, the captains calling out encouragement. 

The masts reach the fifty metre mark and I signal the guards to draw back their arrows, aim and prepare to fire. This must be perfect, any mishaps and the plan won't work. I throw my fist into the air and they let their arrows go. I gather up my inner fire and imagine it on the tips of every arrow, wisps of the fire connecting with the arrows around it, creating a wall of moving flame. Screams can be heard as the armada gets a view of the flames. I signal again for the guards to prepare and aim. Once again I throw my fist into the air and they let another volley go. I draw up the fire and connect the now flaming arrows, a second wall of flames come crashing down onto the ships below.

Many of the front ships had started to sink and the ships behind them were on fire. The only problem was, there were even more ships behind the first two lines. I decide now is the time to raise the fog. While giving the guards the signal to once again raise their bows I prepare to not only gather flame but wind as well. When I throw my fist into the air I let out a blast of wind which not only moves the fog back but also propels the arrows forward so that they reach the distance that they need to reach. A little later then before I light the arrows on fire, and on their arch they burst into flames stronger then before, raining down onto the waiting ships and men who are aboard them.

Even though the ships are much further away then before we can still hear the screams of the archers and soldiers who are aboard them, going up in beautiful flames. The guards along the wall let up a cheer of triumph but then I feel Claus knocking on my mental barriers.

They're on your right, look out!

When I look to my right there are indeed three ships full to the brim of soldiers landing in the small section that we decided to leave unguarded. For this reason exactly we left the place unguarded.

"Captain Arnold! Close the gates, it's time"

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