16. The Kingdom of Vidrena
The Kingdom of Vidrena
Fintan
Their allies were divided with a small legion loyal to Wilouhby still in Arkan, Fintan’s troops marching north to Gail, and Kaiden’s taking over the newly conquered Vidrena.
Their resources were stretched and vulnerable.
The board was not set up for a victory and Kaiden would need all the pieces in the right spot before he could make his move.
The last priestess of Qualan.
Interesting how one person could change the fate of an entire realm. The king must be burning with anger at the fact that it’s a woman. Fintan smirked as he pulled his horse alongside Kaiden who had stopped.
“Behold,” Kaiden said quietly. “The great Kingdom of Vidrena.”
What was once a vibrant kingdom full of hardworking citizens, bustling trade, and craftsmanship now glowed red with Arkan fire.
The tall towers were clouded with thick smoke, ash, and embers.
Vidrena had fought bravely for months. Its siege would go into the history scrolls.
The wounded lay in heaps across the outer walls.
The surviving soldiers were grim with agony and pain at their loss.
Vidrena had always been a beautiful kingdom.
Each upstanding citizen doing their part to keep what was once a thriving city, the jewel of Peraynia.
The bustling trade routes were in constant flow in and out of the city.
Carts of silk, spices, jewels, timber, coal, and resources which plenished the entire realm ran through Vidrena’s borders.
Now all that stood was crumbling ramparts, smoke-filled corridors, and broken souls.
The infamous city had fallen. Another Arkan victory.
“Imagine,” Fintan said softly. “If we only knew what we know now, we could have stopped this.”
“No, we couldn’t,” Kaiden said.
As long as the king was alive and ruling, solace was a distant dream. They would need all the help they could get. Unfortunately, they only trusted two other warriors who completed their inner circle.
Hopefully Cahira uses her wits instead of her blades to convince Aradia.
The thought kept crossing his mind like a phantom wind.
If not, then the war — their realm — was lost before they even began.
Cahira would be responsible for wiping out the only hope they had for bringing the king down.
The realization chilled him to the bone, making him nauseous, knowing the temper the princess possessed.
“Let’s move.” Kaiden clicked his tongue, urging his horse onward.
Fintan rode across the plains beside Kaiden.
A warning bell tolled behind Vidrena’s walls, deep and thunderous, reverberating in his chest.
What the depths?
Once. Twice.
Fintan kicked his horse in the flanks, galloping ahead of the incoming danger.
Five. Six. Seven.
His head jerked toward the tree line as ear-shrieking roars filled the air, making the hair on his arms stand up.
He knew those shrieks. They had destroyed a few of the vile creatures just days ago, but it seemed more took their place.
His blood ran cold as the shouts and screams of panic filled the outer village.
People scrambled for the safety of the city walls, Vidrenian and Arkanian alike.
His horse flew into the city. He stopped outside the walls and jumped down, drawing his sword across his back in feline grace.
“What’s happening?” Kaiden shouted, stopping the first soldier he found.
“It’s skaraks! They’re at the northern gates,” she yelled, scurrying off.
Fintan followed, ushering in people as he went.
“Leave it.” He grabbed an elderly lady who tried to move her cart of silk. “If you value your life, run.”
“Fintan.” Kaiden’s shout filled the air as he searched for help in a sea of panic.
“I’m here.” He waved, giving the lady to a young soldier. He sprinted toward where Kaiden stood. “Where’s Jasper and Rhydar?” he asked breathlessly.
“Hopefully at the gates with some men.” Kaiden’s eyes burned bright. Adrenaline made a small vein on his neck throb.
“Skaraks are here too?” Fintan took in the outer village. Chaos would soon be upon them. “How? Why?”
Kaiden pushed past him running toward the city. “That’s what we’re going to find out.”
Fintan’s heart pounded against his chest and his muscles warmed at the sudden exertion. A lifetime of training kicked in as he inhaled deeply and puffed air out, keeping stride beside Kaiden.
Kaiden roared orders left and right, grabbing children, helping mothers and rounding up men who were able to fight.
“Every able-bodied man or woman who can fight follow me,” Kaiden yelled.
Arkanian warriors swarmed around them as they followed.
Vidrenian soldiers frowned at taking orders from their enemy, but the power radiating off of Kaiden left no room for denial.
Together they ran toward the north wall of the city.
One army. There were no enemies but the monsters at their walls.
Fintan hid the smile as he noticed Vidrenian’s soldiers closing the gap behind them, joining them in the race to the barriers.
This was unity. This was the change they would bring about.