Bound by Blood & Parted by Fate

Chapter 04 : The Fall Of Bravadis

Fae's voice trembled as she explained the urgency of her message, her eyes pleading for understanding. Amin, however, remained skeptical. "I cannot simply wake the king for any reason," he said sternly. "You must give me a valid reason."

Summoning her courage, Fae took a deep breath and recounted the vivid details of the vision she had received. She described the dream, the chilling image of the king with a sword piercing his chest, and the overwhelming sense of foreboding that had accompanied it.

"I had a vision of the king's death," she said, her voice quivering with emotion. "I saw him with a sword in his chest."

Amin regarded Fae with a raised eyebrow, his skepticism apparent. "Visions can be misleading," he replied cautiously. "I cannot simply wake the king based on a dream."

Feeling a surge of determination, Fae revealed her closely guarded secret. "I am a priestess of Siwanarun," she said, her voice unwavering. "I possess the gift of prophecy, and I know that my vision was true."

Amin's expression softened, realization dawning in his eyes. "I see," he said, his tone changing from doubt to concern. "We must inform the king immediately."

He turned decisively to his guards, issuing swift orders to rouse the king from his slumber and bring him to the throne room. Relief flooded over Fae as she witnessed Amin's acceptance of the gravity of the situation. In that moment, she felt both the weight of her gift and the responsibility it bestowed upon her. Grateful for the chance to avert disaster, she stood resolute, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with her foresight and the opportunity to safeguard the king's life and the people she held dear.

“Go wake the king” Amind said to the guards.

Amin and Fae were discussing the impending danger. Not long after, they were interrupted by the king's arrival.

His majesty entered the throne room with a quiet grace, his presence commanding immediate attention. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow upon his regal attire, emphasizing his dignified stature. Amin quickly approached him, whispering something in his ear. The king's expression changed to one of concern as he walked over to Fae and Amin.

"What is this urgency that my trusted advisor has brought to my attention?" asked the royal highness in a serious tone.

Fae explained the details of her vision and warned the king of the impending attack. The crowned man listened intently, his face growing graver with each passing moment. The king was hesitant to believe her, but when Fae mentioned that she was a priestess of Siwanarum, his expression softened.

The king made a quick decision and ordered Amin to prepare the army for battle. Fae, however, had a different idea. "We have to evacuate the kingdom," she said firmly.

After Fae suggested evacuating the city, a guard came running into the throne room, his face full of panic. "Your Majesty, the city is under attack!" he exclaimed. "It's the believers of Unmar, they're marching towards the gates as we speak!"

The king's expression turned grave as he quickly gave orders to his guards. "Send a message to the king of Najariyah, we need their aid in this battle," he commanded. Turning to Fae, he added, "I fear it is too late to evacuate now. We must fight to defend our kingdom.”

Fae took a deep breath and turned to the king; determination etched on her face. "Your Majesty, I know a way out of the city. We can evacuate as many people as possible and take them to safety," she proposed.

The king looked at her for a moment, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "It may be too late to evacuate," he said slowly, "but if you believe it is possible, then you must act quickly."

Fae nodded firmly, grateful for the king's agreement. "I will do everything I can to get as many people out of the city as possible," she said respectfully before turning and leaving the throne room.

The secret passage out of the city was located deep within a network of caverns hidden beneath the sand dunes. Fae had discovered it years ago while exploring the desert as a teen. It was a treacherous journey, navigating through winding tunnels and narrow crevices, but it was the only way out of the city undetected. Fae knew she had to guide as many people as possible through the winding tunnels. She set out towards the entrance of the caverns, determined to bring as many people as possible to safety through this hidden escape route.

Fae's heart raced as she sneaked out of the palace, making her way to the secret passage. She knew time was running out, and she had to warn as many people as possible. As she navigated the streets, she heard the sound of battle in the distance.

Her fears were confirmed when she saw a group of Unmar men approaching, their swords drawn. Fae drew her own daggers, determined to protect herself and those around her. She fought with all her might, blocking their strikes and delivering swift blows of her own.

Despite the danger, Fae continued to make her way towards the secret passage, calling out to anyone she saw along the way to follow her. She could hear the panicked cries of the people as they ran for their lives, and her heart ached for their fear.

Fae's heart sank as she saw her grandmother surrounded by the vicious Unmar. Without a second thought, she charged towards them, ready to fight. The Unmar warriors, caught off guard by her sudden appearance, hesitated for a moment, giving Fae the opportunity to strike.

With swift movements, Fae landed a powerful blow on one of the believers of Unmar, sending him to the ground. She then turned to face another attacker, dodging his attack and delivering a sharp kick to his stomach. But there were too many of them, and Fae found herself struggling to keep them at bay.

Suddenly, the battlefield echoed with a scream that pierced the chaos. Fae's head snapped around, her eyes widening in horror as she saw her grandmother crumple to the ground, a fatal wound inflicted by one of the believers merciless swords. The sight sent a surge of pure rage coursing through her veins, drowning out the sounds of battle and the cries of the wounded. In that moment, Fae's determination solidified, and she fought with renewed determination, driven by the need to avenge Maam's senseless death.

"Run, Nae! Take everyone, go

!" Fae's voice, sharp and urgent, cut through the chaos as she screamed at her sister. Nae, wide-eyed and terrified. She had no time to hesitate. She didn’t want to leave her sister here, but she had to save as many lives as possible. Her being here would only incapacitate Fae. Nae knew she was useless in the battlefield, so she fled, disappearing into the shadows of the secret passage.

Meanwhile, Fae faced the last of the attackers, her heart heavy with grief for her lost grandmother. The clash of steel against steel reverberated around her as she fought with all her strength. But even as she defended herself, she knew her fight wasn't over.

Taking a deep breath, Fae steadied herself, her heart pounding in her chest as she prepared for the next wave of assailants. Just as she had finished off the last man with her two daggers, the chilling sound of more approaching footsteps reached her ears. Fae's eyes scanned her surroundings, spotting a group of men advancing toward her. Time seemed to slow as she quickly assessed their numbers and weapons, searching for any weakness she could exploit.

Without a moment's hesitation, Fae charged toward the approaching men, her daggers glinting in the moonlight. The first man swung his sword at her, but she agilely dodged to the side and thrust one of her daggers into his stomach. She twisted the blade, ensuring he was incapacitated before pulling it out and spinning to face the next attacker.

The battle raged on, fierce and unyielding, but despite Fae's relentless efforts, the attackers closed in around her like a swarm of vultures sensing their prey's weakness. She felt the exhaustion pressing down on her, every muscle in her body aching from the sustained combat. Yet, her spirit remained unbroken, fueled by a determination that surpassed the limits of her physical endurance.

As she blocked blows and dodged strikes, the world around her blurred into a chaotic dance of flashing weapons and bloodied soil. In a moment of distraction, a sharp blow struck her from behind, sending searing pain shooting through her body and causing her to collapse on the ground.

The pain, sharp and throbbing, radiated from the point of impact, shooting through her entire body like wildfire. Gasping for air, she clutched her side where the blow had landed, feeling the warm stickiness of blood seeping through her fingers. Dizziness engulfed her, her vision swimming as if the very ground beneath her was tilting and swaying.

Every movement sent waves of agony through her, her body weakened and bruised. She gritted her teeth against the pain, refusing to succumb to the darkness that threatened to claim her consciousness. The battlefield continued its frenzied dance around her, the clash of swords and the cries of battle a distant cacophony.

The last words she heard were, “Keep this one alive,” a distant echo that reached her through the fog of pain. The darkness closed in around her like an oppressive cloak, enveloping her aching body. She fought to remain aware, desperately clutching onto the feeble remnants of her determination, despite the agonizing pain that stabbed through every inch of her.