Everyone practically sprinted back to Orn, not caring anymore about how exhausted they were or the heavy load on their backs. The Dule giants ran frantically throughout the streets; everything was chaotic. The men and boys prepared for battle because they knew Akaidish would not come alone.
“Do you think Akaidish will declare war today?” Caro asked Seilen as they prepared for battle.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,”
“What I still don’t quite understand is why or even how he can declare war. He doesn’t even reign over Dule, and Dule has never done anything but help the sister countries. He can’t just come in and take over,”
“He doesn’t need a reason. That’s been his plan all along: to infect the whole land with his filthiness, not just the sister countries. Once he brings the darkness to Dule and the giants surrender to it, everyone else will fall at his feet.”
“Why don’t we just keep him from entering Dule?”
“That will never happen. But we can keep him from infecting our country by taking a stand against him. That’s what the war is for.”
It made sense, but something still just wasn’t clear. Everyone ran hectically about the streets of Orn as they prepared for war. The women and children were moved to a safe haven in case war did break out.
“How are we going to bring the Light back to all of the countries?” Noble asked, directing it towards Belbriv.
“We defeat Akaidish.”
“And then everyone else just turns from the darkness to Light?” Jon assumed.
“You make it sound so simple,”
“I never said it would be easy. This war is going to be like oil and water; they don’t mix at all. We won’t be able to turn everyone from the darkness back to the Light, but we will turn…”
Before Belbriv could finish, Cal came running up to them, shouting Belbriv’s name.
“He’s here… and he’s a…”
Cal was completely out of breath.
“Calm down. He’s what?” Belbriv asked.
“Akaidish… he’s across the river… and he came alone.”
They looked at one another in confusion.
“He demands a meeting with you,”
***
Belbriv didn’t want to take any chances of there being an ambush, so he was accompanied by Raiblic. Akaidish stood tall across the river, fire lighting his eyes. He held on to his panting horse’s reigns to keep it from wandering away, but his gaze was fixed strait for Belbriv. Soon, they stood parallel to one another with only the flowing water between them.
“I see you brought a friend! Are you really that weak that you bring help?” Akaidish taunted/
“He needs no help to take down your kind,” Raiblic defended.
“Then tell me, why did you accompany him?”
“I don’t believe you came here to ask such questions, Akaidish, so let’s stop with the small talk.” Belbriv told him.
“I am King Akaidish, you conniving man! I will be spoken to as no other!” his voice boomed.
“You are not my king,” Belbriv reminded him.
Akaidish’s tone Lightened, but his anger did not.
“No… not yet anyway. I came because you took something of mine.”
“We have nothing that belongs to you!” Raiblic shouted.
“Oh don’t you? The three children from Bef… you didn’t take them?”
“They came by their own free will, Akaidish.” Belbriv answered.
“So they are here.”
Akaidish’s anger was bone-chilling.
“You infect their minds with you so-called ‘Light’ and make it sound glorious, then lead them to this…” Akaidish spat in the river.
Raiblic began to advance toward him in fury when Belbriv put his arm out in front of his chest.
“You come to our country because of three mere children? Come now, Akaidish, what’s three compared to all the rest?” Belbriv asked in a teasing tone.
“Too bad your wit isn’t as tall as you are, Belbriv,”
“Ah, but it is certainly a shame that your comebacks are as small as your heart is soft.” Raiblic huffed in amusement.
“Mark my words, Belbriv, I will conquer this entire land and have these people begging for their souls at the foothold of darkness. And you, my friend, will be tortured in so many ways your skin will hang from your body. And all those who choose not to follow the darkness will watch in horror as they wait in line for their own deaths. I will be back with all my army and will drive you so far into the ground you will never have even known the Light was once in existence.” Akaidish seethed through gritted teeth.
He mounted his horse and turned towards to Mountains of Bow.
“This isn’t the last you have seen of me, Belbriv,”
The dark king rode away in full-sprint. Raiblic looked at Belbriv, whose face was hard as stone.
“Belbriv?”
The giant turned on his heels and looked at Orn.
“We have a war to prepare for.”
