The Freedom chronicles: The War for Freedom

Chapter 2

5 years. It has been 5 years since the night of the fall of the Kingdom of Arilias, to the kingdom of Elcarin. Connor Flynn had just turned 20. Dressed in a green shirt and brown pants, with brown leather boots. His brown eyes matching, his messy brown hair and pale skin. Connor was not very tall, but he was fast on his legs. He was now a messenger due to his skill as a horse rider. He was both quick and fast both on and off a horse. He delivered important messages between the Fidem camps. The Fidem. The name of the allied armies that fought together against Elcarin. Connor had been in the Fidem for two years. He still remembered the day Elcarin soldiers came marching trough Gryphem and Lord Andrei speaking from the large podium in the town square. He said that Arilias now lay under the Elcarin rule and that the royal family was dead. As proof, they had displayed the bodies of King Alexander and Queen Marielle in the town square for three days. The land was mourning their loss and started protesting. But it was quickly shut down by Elcarin soldiers. Who killed everyone who protested or resisted the Elacrin Rule. But one thing the soldiers couldn't stop. Was rumours. There were rumours going around, saying that Crown Prince Nicholas and Princess Selena were alive. Even though they were told that they were dead. Connor started believing the rumours after one year in The Fidem. It was a day he was joining sword practice with some other recruits. Connor had been sparring with another recruit named Fhilip. Tall, a couple of years older than Connor, with blond hair and green eyes. "Look." Fhilip had said and nodded at something behind him. Connor had turned and seen captain James Rodgers. The son of General Fredric Rodgers. One of the leaders of The Fidem. Beside him, a young girl walked. Looked like she was around fourteen or fifteen. Dressed in a simple Green dress, long blond hair and green eyes. She walked gracefully and held her head high. Connor had seen hear five years earlier. Even though she had been younger, he could still remember her clear, green eyes. Sitting in a carriage driving around in Gryphem. It had been the day of the coronation of the Crown Prince. "That is Princess Selena." Connor said shocked. It erupted a wave of whispering and mumbling around them. She was alive. The Princess was alive. Then was the Crown Prince alive too, had been the question many had been asking themself. Even if they didn't know, the Princess brought hope and motivation to the Fidem. A light in the darkness. That there was still hope to win back their freedom.

Connor smiled back at the memory as his horse was riding down the road. During the past ten months, he had travelled all across Arilias. Delivering messages. Connor enjoyed travelling. Seeing new places. New adventures. He was currently in a forest, a few miles east from Gryphem. He was on his way to The Fidem main camp that was located a two days ride north from Tryve. Just before the border to Elacrin. Connor was carrying a message from a small camp near the village Villam. Elcarin had tried before with previous messenger carriers, to get information from them. Kill the carriers and take the letters and reports. That was another reason Connor was chosen to become a carrier. He had a great memory. He would memorise what he was supposed to deliver and burn the paper afterwards. So far he had avoided Elcarin soldiers on patrol, but his luck would eventually run out. It was the horse that warned Connor that someone was coming. The light brown horse stopped, lifted it's head and twisted its ears. "What's wrong, boy?" He asked. It was then when Connor heard it. Hoofs drumming against the ground. Connor turned in his saddle and looked behind him. Five horses came running towards him. Each carrying a man in armour. Connor recognised the armour on the soldiers. The black armour decked them from head to toe. And the black chest plate whit the symbol to the Elcarin kingdom. A black, three-headed dragon with a red background. "Oh boy." Connor whispered as he dug his heels in and made that horse run.

"Come on!" He said. The horse was running at an amazing speed. He threw a look behind and saw the soldiers were falling behind. Connor looked back at the road in front of him. He could outrun them on a horse. Just a little further, and he would be safe. But it wouldn't end there. Connor heard it before he saw it. He managed to stop the horse just in time. A large metal chain had suddenly been pulled up across the road. It would have tripped his horse and thrown him off if he hadn't heard the sound from the chain. "Whow! Whow! Easy boy!" He said to the horse trying to calm it down. The horse whined and lifted its forelegs. "Easy." Conner said softly and stroke it across its neck. The horse calmed down but was still uneasy. Rattle from the bushes and between the trees mad Connor look up and look around. Elcarin soldiers stepped out of the forest onto the road and surrounded Connor. His horse stepped around uneasy. Connor looked desperately for a way out. But to his annoyance, he couldn't see any. The soldiers closed in on him. "Step down from the horse, or we will have to force you." One of the soldiers said. A red stripe on his armour on his arm showed that he was an officer. Connor, seeing that he didn't really have any choice, climbed down from the horse carefully. As soon as his feet touched the ground, two of the soldiers charged forward and pulled his arms behind his back. "Search him and the bags." The officer ordered. Connor could now see his face since he had taken off his helmet. Shoulder long, blond hair and dark blue eyes. An arrogant, evil smirk was on his face. Connor tried his best to resist as the soldiers patted him down, looking for anything. The other soldiers searched in his saddlebags. But found nothing other than a brown cloak, a brown leather water bag, a piece of bread and a pouch that contained a few gold coins. "We found nothing sir." One of the soldiers said with a gruff voice. The officer turned to Connor. "Where is the information from the rebels?" He snapped. Connor did his best to keep a calm face. Knowing fully well that he couldn't reveal anything. No matter how much it will hurt. "I don't know what you are talking about." Connor said keeping the fear out of his voice. A hard blow was delivered to his gut. Connor grunted and coughed. "I ask again." The officer hissed as he pulled his arm back. "Where is the information?" Connor looked up at him. "I told you I don't know." He said. The officer snorted. "We will see how long you can keep saying that." He said. The officer turned to his soldiers. "Restrain him. We will take him back to Gryphem for further questioning." He said and claimed up on one of the armoured horses behind him. "Yes, sir." The soldiers holding Connor said. Connor tried to pull himself free as he heard the rassling of chains behind him. His arms were pulled in front of him and one of the soldiers came and fastened the shackles. He felt the shackles close around his wrists, pinching his skin. After that, the soldier fastened a long rope to the shackles. The other end fastened to the saddle on the horse one of the soldiers was riding. Once the rope was fastened tight and secure, the soldiers holding him let go. "Let' move out!" The officer said and steered his horse down the road. Heading east. Towards Gryphem. That once was the capital in the great kingdom of Arilias. Now, just a city in the Elcarin Empire.