World of Tiber

Chapter 19: Surprise Attack

Nightbreeze's PoV

I'm exhausted and completely drained. I feel like I did the first time I was beaten as a slave. I don't want to get up or move. I don't want to do anything. I am bandaged but that doesn't help very much. And they barely give me any food. Enough that I can move around and do my new job but not enough to give me strength to leave. They called my bluff or at least part of it. I know most of their secrets. The whole army has been slowly leaving parts of it at a time. The last group is the leaders group. A good number of his army is too far away to come to his aid if his last group is attacked. He keeps trying to seduce me but I don't let him. I know I look super pale and weak. I feel so weak. I just want to go to sleep and never wake up again. I was woken up this morning very early to see the leader. He tried to seduce me again but this time when I wouldn't let him he hit me. I didn't even care anymore. I fell on the ground, feeling so exhausted. I just wanted him to end this. Being alive and part of his army is way worse than being dead. All of a sudden there's a lot of noise outside. I get up slowly and grab one of his knives in his tent. He doesn't notice and we both walk outside. He isn't wearing his armor yet. I have a chance to kill him. I'm surprised when I see Nava walk into camp and get surrounded by part of the Highlord army. She doesn't pull out her swords or anything. Elaethen says “Looks like we got another Elf. Maybe she will tell us more secrets.”

Nava looks at me and I can see she's worried about me. I give her a look back saying don't trust him. 

Nava turns to Elaethen and says “Let Nightbreeze go. If you won't me and my army will kill all of you.”

“She's my Second in Command now. She doesn't want to be with you anymore. And what army? I don't see any army.”

Nava signals and a bunch of warning shots fall all around the army. I know she can't have too many here to help. She's bluffing big time. But I can see Elaethen is getting uncomfortable and believing her bluff. He is so gullible. I whisper to him “Let me go. I can take care of her and her army then I will come back.”

“How can you take care of them? Your weak.”

“I wonder who's fault that is.”

He glares at me when I say that. He says “You can have her. We don't want a fight…. For now.”

Nava says “Tell your army to drop their weapons and back away. I don't want any tricks.”

He orders his army to back away. I walk towards Nava very slowly and he follows right next to me. When we are a couple feet away from Nava I pull out my hidden knife and stab his chest. He was surprised by this and he falls down. It's not a killing blow but his whole army isn't happy. Nava grabs my hand and pulls me away. When we get to the woods I see my clan. A couple of them pick me up and they start running. Others cover us with arrows until we are a safe distance away and they run after us. A couple hours later we get to the campsite but all the people are gone. They set me down slowly and Nava hands me water. She asks me “Are you ok?”

“No I'm not.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Our group and all the Kagonesti’s start to surround me. I see my mom and she tells me in Kagonesti “Come with us. You are the new leader of our clan. These people are nothing. They don't need you. They almost got you killed.”

I can tell Nava, Rosa, and the Dwarf don't understand what my mom is saying. I respond in Kagonesti “No I'm not going with you.”

I get up slowly and continue saying “You left me as a slave. I got captured and you didn't come save me. Do you know what it's like being a slave? Wondering when you are going to die. Trying to get through the pain and injuries hoping you will be saved soon. No you don't know. I wanted to be leader when I was younger but now I don't. I don't care about the old Kagonesti tradition. You left me. The only reason I am not a slave is because Nava saved me. She helped me escape. Dad got himself killed to follow an old and long forgotten tradition. I am not going to be the new clan leader. I don't care at all what you say. I don't care about you anymore. I know you were following all of us the whole time. You came after I got captured again to try and prove that I shouldn't be with them. But I'm not leaving.”

My mother doesn't look happy at all. I almost fall down but Nava and Rosa steady me. They are still supporting me when my mom says “You are breaking our traditions. Our family has always been the leader of our clan. I hope you see how much pain you've caused us. How much you've hurt me. I hope one day you will come back to us. We will welcome you back when you are ready.”

After she says that they all leave. Nava asks “What was that about?”

I don't respond and I start feeling lightheaded. The Dwarf says “She needs to sit down. She's started bleeding again.”

Nava and Rosa help me sit down while the Dwarf works on healing me. Nava says “Next time don't rush off without telling us.”

I smile and weakly respond “Ok mom I won't run away anymore.”

I can tell she's surprised I called her mom then I fall unconscious. 

*Picture at the top of the chapter is Nightbreeze's mother*