Crusade

Chapter 3: The Capital

For the Majority of the trip Valkyrie was telling Xersera the main events of the war that had taken place in the Kingdom of Heaven and how she had lost her parents. She went over how she had lived in the village where the enemy had first appeared, they had climbed mount Velorne, the mountains base was on the earth and the peak reached the kingdom of heaven, it was the only way in or out without one of the amulets, aside from falling to your death.
“At first, there weren’t too many, so the army was able to get to the village to hold the walls. But then more came. A lot more, around twenty thousand came up all at once, we had a force of five thousand strong defending the village and it was overrun, then we retreated to where a sizable force was gathering. For a long four years there was a huge back and forth struggle. Until we lost a fort at a place called Pellenor, we lost not only the castle, but the rest of our cavalry was garrisoned there. So as you can imagine, from there it was downhill for us. And no matter how many demons we killed, there were more to take their place, it’s as if they were breeding them faster than we could kill them. And just when we thought we could hold them at bay for a while, Lucifer himself appeared, ploughed through our lines like we were insects under his boot... I think you can guess what happened from there, Lucifer is the one who gave me this.” Valkyrie said pointing to the gash on her arm. “His family has the power to transfigure into dragons, as soon as they learn how to do it at will, they are one of the most dangerous things alive.”
“And how can he be stopped?” Xersera asked, he sounded worried.
“Only by the Archangel it would seem, and he’s dead.”
Xersera felt like a large stone had landed in his stomach “Dead?!” he couldn’t keep the fear out of his voice, a massive dragon killing everything in sight, just thinking about it terrified him.
“Apart from me, there is supposedly one other survivor, her name is Annevelyn, she is said to be in your capital, that is why I must go there.”
“The Capital is a huge place, do you have any idea where to start looking?”
“Well I know nothing about your cities, so I think that answers your question…”
“Well if you’re going to stay a while, which I’m guessing you’re going to have to, you’ll need my help, and I think it would be best if you posed as my advisor for now, at least in public.” And Xersera began to explain what she would have to do.

A day or so passed before the tall walls and turrets of the Corinthian Capital city were visible in the distance, “There it is” Xersera announced, “Welcome to the grand city of Tahlius!”
As they got closer to the city they noticed something strange. The giant main gates and the portcullis were both shut tight, and there were no people to be seen, even though it was only just past midday. They went to leave their horses in the stables, but they too were devoid of human life. After they left their horses they approached the main gate, the sheer size of the walls and turrets became apparent, they were the biggest in the empire, it was no wonder the city had survived four sieges through its long past.
“HALT!!” came a shout from the wall, they both stopped in their tracks and looked up the wall and they couldn’t see anyone. “What is your business here!? And don’t try anything lest you want an arrow through your head! I have twenty archers with bows trained on your every move!” the voice shouted again.
Valkyrie started and ducked down, her arms covering her head. Then an arrow whizzed past and landed over three metres from either of them.
“You and I both know our archers are crap shots Lazarus! None of them could hit us from that distance if they tried” Xersera shouted up.
There was a long period of silence before the portal door beside the main gate opened and a muscular man with a short trimmed beard and moustache and short black hair appeared. He walked right up to Xersera and glared at him for a moment.
“How is it you can always call my bluff?” He asked.
“When you live with someone for fifteen years you tend to get inside their head” Xersera responded, with equal sternness.
The man suddenly broke his glare, cracked a smile from ear to ear and the two embraced.
“Ummm....” Valkyrie muttered, unsure of what had just happened, Xersera was hugging the man who had tried to have them shot.
“Good to see you again friend!” the man said.
“And you Lazarus! Now, would you mind telling us why the gates are closed?” Xersera replied.
“Ah yes, quickly, I’ll explain inside. And who is this? Finally got yourself a girlfriend?” Lazarus gestured towards Valkyrie, grinning again.
Xersera went red in the face and managed to say, “N-No, she’s my adviser.”
Lazarus just looked at him with an even bigger grin, “If you say so” he shrugged, “now quickly come inside.” Lazarus ushered them in through the portal. And what was inside was a surprise even to Valkyrie.