Four guards and four doom hounds flanked Herbert as he stood before us.
He wore black armor, a cape draped at his back, his blonde hair flowed in the wind, the wrinkles on his face non-existent.
"We meet again, Natalya, and under the same circumstances, you're leaving without saying goodbye," he placed a hand on his chest..
"I'm hurt by your actions"
Steeling my spine, my eyes connected with his, showing no sign of fear. "And hurt is what you will be if you don't let us go" I snarled, even as dread slowly crept in as I felt the power wafting off him. Drazhan and Damon must have felt it as well, because the sound of their swords leaving their scabbards rang behind me, orange and blue light shone from my peripheral, the magic imbued in their weapons flaring to life.
Herbert released a dark laugh, the sound echoing around us.
"Look around princess, you're in my domain. If the doom hounds and my hooded guards or the many other beasts that lurk here didn't already tell you, I have the upper hand"
And he did. I know that if he wished, he could call on his forces to kill us here and now and we would be overwhelmed. I let all those thoughts escape my mind, leaving only the fact that he called me princess. My teeth ground together at the thought.
We could not fight him, not here. We were at a disadvantage.
He knew this, and that is the reason why I won't give him the opportunity to bait us into a fight we will not win.
And so I did the only thing that came to mind.
"Take Damon and go wait for me by the horse" I told Drazhan.
"And leave you here with them? Not a chance!" he responded, certainty in his tone.
"I'm no longer afraid of him, I'm stronger than I was before. I'll meet you there soon. Go, Now!" My tone left no room for argument as he grabbed Damon and turned to leave. "Be careful" Damon said, as they walked away.
The guards etched closer, as if to chase after my friends. My magic swirled around them, trapping them in place, soon thereafter, they began to screech in pain as my magic burned them from the inside out.
Flames exploded from the sides of their bodies and they fell to the ground with a thud.
Herbert chuckled, "Impressive, you're definitely stronger than the last time we met,"
He stretched his hands, a crimson circle appeared before him, quickly tracing into a rune, it glowed brightly as red magic shot rapidly towards me.
A green portal tore through the air before me, the blasts directed at me passing through. Another opened behind his beasts, shooting his magic at them, they died without so much as a sound.
When the dust settled, Herbert stepped forward unmarred, a slow clap followed.
"Very well done"
"You should learn to bow before your sovereign" I snarled.
"I will never bow down before anyone ever again!"
Multiple crimson flames shot in my direction, but I quickly blocked them with a shield of green light.
It was just a distraction.
Spikes rose from the ground around me, coming rapidly towards me.
Spikes impaled my body as my blood dripped crimson. Herbert smiled in satisfaction.
I was behind him in a second, emerald flames shot from my fingertips. He was able to dodge them, but was ultimately hurt at the side.
My false body was a distraction too, one that would have worked all too well if he wasn't so observant.
He appeared atop one of the trees, the side of his armour where my magic hit had melted, revealing his bare skin underneath.
"Almost caught me there.. almost though. But sometimes, almost is not enough"
The sounds of marching echoed through the forest, dread coursed through me, legions of his hooded guards now marched towards me, but these ones were different.
Their eyes glowed a deadly crimson under their hoods.
Herbert stared at them with a proud gaze, "They are the new and improved model, but don't worry, once I've added more of them to my army, I'll be unstoppable.
They continued their march relentlessly, their approaching proximity alarming.
Flames shot from my fingertips and onto the incoming army, I shot another blast at the branch he was standing on.
The attack caught him by surprise and he lost his balance, giving me the opportunity I needed to run.
"Your escape from this place does not hinder my plans, so I'll let you go. Taking with you the illusion that you live to fight another day. When the time is right, I will unleash my forces and take this kingdom for my own, finally taking my revenge on your pathetic family"
His words echoed behind me as I ran, It hadn't fully registered in my mind, until I left the dark forest behind.
~
Three days of rigorous riding finally came to an end as the gates of Temeria loomed ahead. Tyrant galloped faster as beads of sweat dropped from my forehead, courtesy of the blazing afternoon sun. Tyrant had no problem taking the weight of us three, war stallions were far stronger than average horses and none more so than Tyrant.
Herbert's words still rung in my head, along with the realization of his plans in my vision.
He wants to take revenge on my family and take over the kingdom with an army of his creatures, but the question still stands.
Why?
He always seemed loyal, though i never trusted him, he always gave my father decent counsel, when it didn't involve slaughtering witches to near extinction of course.
"It's the queen!" A guard bellowed from one of the watch towers, alerting the guards at the gates below. "Open the gates for the queen!" Another resounded.
The iron gates creaked loudly as they were opened, six guards rode out to meet us, Amenadiel leading the ride.
A sob almost tore through me at the sight of him, the few days that had gone by without seeing my friends and family felt like a lifetime. The sun bounced on his armor making it glow as he met us half way and slid from his mount.
Shock rippled through his face as he said, "you're back!"
"Don't look too excited now" I replied.
Drazhan and Damon slid off Tyrant, so did two soldiers as they offered my friends their own horses.
"What happened?" Amenadiel asked, but I wouldn't talk about it, not here.
"Let's get inside first, I would like to see the rest of my family"
He nodded sharply and we rode in silence into the city.
~
Upon entering the palace, I ordered that Drazhan and Damon be taken to the medical ward. It wasn't that I didn't trust that my magic did the job, it was because I wanted to calm my worrying mind.
"Where is the hand?" I asked a passing servant, she looked startled at the tone of my voice, but I couldn't blame her, anxiety and nervous swirled within me like a tornado.
"In his quarters resting, your majesty. They all sustained grevious wounds. Healers are with them as we speak"
With a nod of thanks, I jogged towards my cousin's room, banging the door open without bothering to knock.
Acrisius Darrowmere lay in his wide bed made of wood, his eyes were closed as a healer stood beside him, applying a salve on the multiple cuts and burn marks on his torso.
My eyes teared up at the sight.
What exactly had happened out there?
The healer, a young woman who appeared to be in her twenties, with short dark hair and blue eyes stopped applying the salve on his wounds when she noticed my entrance. "Your majesty, you're back!" Her eyes shot up.
I gave her a sharp nod. "Thank you Amanda" I said, my tone demanding that she left. She hesitated for a second before she packed her things and exited the room.
I stared at my cousin as he lay on the bed, his breathing coming in ragged. I rushed to his side and sat on the small space by his left. I brushed his soft brown hair, tears pouring from my eyes as soft sobs escaped from my throat.
"I'm so sorry Ace, I'm so sorry" he didn't respond, couldn't. Not yet.
Emerald magic poured from my hands over him, I poured so much more energy this time, willing my magic to heal all wounds, both external and internal.
Beads of sweat poured from my forehead.
I was going to heal him. He was going to be okay.
His burns began clearing up, his flesh cuts as well. I watched in astonishment as his skin knitted together. I could feel that his internal wounds had been healed as well through my magic.
A sob escaped my throat once more, I was healing him, he was going to be okay.
His breathing was getting even, I felt the calmness that washed over him as he took a deep breath.
The relief that washed over me was palpable.
After getting myself together, I smiled softly at him and walked out of the room, leaving him to rest.
~
After exiting my cousin's quarters, I was directed to Nathaniel's rooms and I healed him as well, though he didn't receive as many injuries as Ace.
Kaida had healed most of her wounds by drinking some potions she brewed.
I had my much needed bath and changed into a flowy night-blue gown. My body felt refreshed and helped to relax my muscles from the strain they went through.
But I couldn't rest though. Much to be done.
Kaida, Nathaniel, Amenadiel, Damon and Drazhan were healed thanks to magic and were strong enough to attend an emergency meeting.
We sat around the table, everyone looking better than they had a few hours ago.
Accounts of their various missions were shared, except for mine and what i had learned of Herbert's intentions. Apart from that, it was good news all round.
Word had been sent by Nathaniel's vassals, they would arrive in two days time with their an army.
Ten thousand strong.
I thanked him warmly for his support.
Ace's party had also succeeded in their mission, not withstanding the major injuries they sustained.
Twelve thousand slave soldiers now assembled in our barracks and will make their way here in an hour for me to address them.
In addition to that out of the twenty-four witches in Herbert's protection detail, fifteen had surrendered and agreed to join my cause, the rest had been killed or fled.
But as a precaution, Kaida had locked them in the dungeons and rendered the area devoid of any magic.
Smart.
~
We discussed for hours on different issues and what I had missed during my time away until I was up to speed.
It was time to tell them.
"We have a new problem" I announced, silencing the chatter around me. Damon, Drazhan and I exchanged a knowing look, because we knew what I was about to say.
"Herbert was in the dark forest, he's basically made his domain, surrounding himself with hooded guards, doom hounds and goddess knows what else.."
Chatter broke through the air at my words, asking what should be done, discussing mobilization of troops.
They all went silent as I continued. "He wants to take over the kingdom and revenge on my family for reasons unknown to us"
It was as though the air had been sucked from the room, no one made a sound, no one spoke.
"That's ridiculous!" Nathaniel said "He has no claim to the throne"
"Apparently he doesn't need one, only an army powerful enough to take it for himself" Kaida countered, "He probably has an army of those doom hounds, hooded guards and Trovaks, which gives him the upper hand if he uses them in outright war"
"Not to talk of an army of witches loyal to him" Nathaniel added.
True.
But I came to the realization on the ride back home from the dark forest that we'd have to fight fire with fire.
We have to begin mobilizing our troops and making our alliances, an advantage we can have over him or what would put us on equal footing with him would be our numbers.
And something else.
My voice echoed through the room as I spoke, "We need to marshal our forces and make our alliances. If we have the numbers, we could be on equal footing with him" my words were met with nods of approval, giving me the courage to press on.
"We need to get those witches wholly on our side, so they can imbue magic into our weapons and armor. We'll need all the advantages we can get because we're no longer fighting a war on one front, but on two"
And by the goddess we would win.