The Semideus

Chapter 4

"My lord!"

King Wallace shifted his misty gray eyes to Tubo, his servant.

"Speak."

Tubo swallowed back his steel saliva while trying to steady himself in order to break the news to his King.

"I've been sent to deliver a message from Ryder. The spy wasn't efficient, there was no one to meet Ryder at his meeting place."

King Wallace averted his gaze from the nervous servant no longer interested in his words. He had led his army all the way from Towan, it had been a week's journey. He must find entrance to the Fallon Kingdom.

"But Ryder said you give him a few more days-"

Tobu immediately went silent when the King sent a glare towards his direction.

"Leave me."

Tobu bowed unsurely and scurried away rubbing his palms together in order to calm himself down.

"Tobu, send George after Ryder. Tell him that my new order is to behead Ryder for his failure to meet the spy as planned."

Tobu's eyes widened in raw fear, fear for Ryder. He had been his childhood friend, he was a good lad.

"Are you sure my Lord, I mean Ryder-"

"Did I stutter Tobu? Now leave before I have your head too." King Wallace seethed.

Tobu scurried away before sealing his own fate.

"And Tobu, tell Raphael he is being summoned."

Soon after, a weaseled old man sauntered within the King's camp. He halted a few meters before the King and gave a short bow.

"My King, you summoned me?"

King Wallace broke his train of thoughts diverting his attention to his chief advisor.

"We are here on their land after seven days of a menial journey Raphael. For years we have searched endlessly for this isolated Kingdom that doesn't engage in wars and we finally located it. I want that sword, I must have it!"

Raphael eyed the King in confusion.

"Then what is holding you back sire? Send your men to tear down the barriers of the Kingdom and retrieve the sword."

"I would, but the spy did not show up as agreed. The men I had sent before us informed me of the impenetrable wall. Ryder, the lead commander of the operation was able to place an informant in Fallon who would be able to give us a secret entrance."

Raphael stroked his chin slowly going over ways to advise the King. The sword was too valuable to abandon, too powerful. Besides, retrieving it would be like taking candy from an infant, the Fallon Kingdom were known for not engaging in wars.

"Was the spy doing this willingly or unwillingly?"

King Wallace shrugged in response. He had blindly trusted Ryder to fulfill his duties without asking for details. For all he knew, he had been corrupted. Besides, an example had to be depicted clearly to his men. Incompetence couldn't be tolerated.

"I suggest that you send the army to surround the barrier as we await the spy. I have a gut feeling they will appear and deliver the side entrance."

King Wallace shifted uncomfortably, he didn't like the idea of sending his men blindly in enemy territory. Raphael sensed the King's hesitation.

"Listen to me sire, those people hide they don't fight. No harm will come to your army."

King Wallace knew Raphael was right.

"Very well. Fetch me Tobu, I have new orders."

"Certainly sire."

Just as the old man was about to exit the King's tent, Tobu came rushing in almost tumbling. Grinning sheepishly, he steadied himself.

"Well, are you going to speak or will you  continue to act clumsily?"

Tobu cleared his throat while rubbing his sweaty palms together habitually.

"The spy showed up, we have the location of the side entrance sire!" Tobu announced giddily.

King Wallace's lips almost tugged up but he refrained from the idea, the sword wasn't in his possession yet, victory wasn't his just yet.

"Round up the army, we have a Kingdom to conquer."

The Fallon Kingdom was known for its elaborate sieges. Hiding within their fortress was their strong suit. This time, they had run out of luck.

"And Tobu, I still want Ryder's head."

Raphael chuckled while shaking his head as Tobu stood transfixed to the spot.

"I don't understand sire... he saw through his duty."

"No, he failed to do it on time. He almost caused me my sword! My order still stands, now do as your told."

King Wallace picked his sword and wiped it using his sleeve. It glimmered under the faint light provided by the moon. It was time for war.

"And Tobu?"

Tobu came to a sudden halt, his palms already aching to be rubbed together.

"Never challenge my decisions. Your duty is to carry out my orders...am I clear?"

Tobu gave a curt nod, bowed and left.

Howard

"Is that everyone?"

Stephen, Peter and Bob simultaneously nodded their eyes roaming across the tavern's hidden floor board and secret door.

"What about the girl?"

The three men looked up at me with confused expressions.

"The girl that you came with Bob, I didn't see her go under, where is she?"

The three of them shrugged nonchalantly. I turned my attention to Bob.

"Let me guess, one night stand?"

Bob chuckled rubbing the nape of his neck in discomfort. We were all looking at him.

"Not really, I just met her a few minutes ago outside the tavern. She seemed a tad lost and me being me offered to show her around. Besides, who could resist such a dime?"

The rest of us grumbled in agreement, momentarily forgetting our present predicament.

"He has come for it."

My head whipped towards the direction of the voice. Jack was still sitting at the bar, his demeanor seemingly unfazed by the kingdom's attack.

"Jack you have to go under, it's not safe here."

Jack chuckled, waving off my concern with a flare of his hand.

"You think he will come to the tavern? Wallace wants the sword nothing else."

Wallace? Sword? Had Jack drunk himself to the point of delusions?

"What are you ranting on about Jack?" Peter asked, equally curious.

"Go to the palace Howy. You would never forgive yourself if you weren't there for your father's murder."

I flinched, the words hitting me like a typhoon. The reason I hadn't rushed to my family in a time like this was because of our impenetrable wall. There was no way they would be able to break through our perimeter. Even if they did, the palace was full of safety rooms and secret passageways. My father was completely safe...Or was he? I felt a pit in my stomach, something wasn't right.

"Get down, Jack get behind the counter!"

I had completely lost focus and therefore  had not noticed Stephen step outside. Nonetheless, all of us scattered and  hid within the tavern, it was after all our special skill.

"Should we go through here?" A gruff voice sounded.

"Leave it, its not like the sword is in there. We will probably end up drinking anyway. The King would have our heads if we showed up at the palace staggering." A voice replied.

We heard soft sounds of boots walk away from our safe haven.

"Well we should forever hide in taverns eh?" Bob said in a low voice trying to break the ice.

 There it was again, the sword. What sword? Our kingdom didn't own weapons, except for our small army. Why would a mere sword be special anyway? The Towan people were loaded with weapons, especially swords. And the most important question, how in the name of the gods had they entered past the barriers with no sound of forced entry?

"I am going to the palace. Stay here."

Stephen took a step forward completely ignoring my command.

"Let us move, if their focus is the palace they will not bother scavenging for our people in their hide outs."

I shook my head, knowing that arguing with Stephen about his safety would only give me a lifetime of migraines. Besides, these were the bloodhounds who had killed Terrance, I couldn't stop him from getting his vengeance.

"He is right, we are wasting time."

 Peter seconded approaching the tavern's exit.

"I think I will stay here and watch over Jack, we both know he can't keep his beer down..."

"He is not here." Stephen brusquely interrupted.

 Bob and I turned our heads to where Jack had been previously sitting. I had completely forgotten his presence, he would have answered half of my questions. How did he know the Towan King at such a personal level?

"Well then I will stay here and defend our rum we both know how hard it is to replace such good stock-"

I rolled my eyes impatiently, a good warrior in practice, a coward in the field. None of us had actually tackled an enemy before, Bob was obviously scared.

"If they attain victory do you know where they will come first Bobby?" Peter asked, an evil grin plastered on his face.

Bob swallowed and reluctantly started walking towards us.

The night wind howled maliciously as we stealthily tiptoed through shortcuts only known to us. We quickly reached our destination and I held my breath. I had never seen such a large army before. We had sustained wars prior to this, our losses being minimized to the people who happened to be outside the wall perimeter during an invasion. The last time the Towan people had been here was a fortnight ago but they had retreated, not being able to penetrate the large wall barrier. Terrance had been in the forest hunting, his body had been brought to us, it had been a warning of an impending war. No one had heeded me, if only they had.

"Come on, this way!"

I whispered while taking the lead. I knew these grounds like the back of my hand. Within no time we were pulling a false wall down and entering the palace through the back. My breath caught in my chest as I immediately leapt out to clearly view the scene happening on the ground floor. I was held back by my men in time, otherwise I would have exposed us all.

"Where is the sword? I am losing my patience you old goon."

 A foghorn voice boomed icing my blood. I watched as my father shook his head, his face devoid of any expression. This was not the time to be impassive father, please.

"I would rather die than disclose the whereabouts of the sword."

I flinched at the cold swift movements of the King. Within seconds, my father was lying on the ground, lifeless. The man with the foghorn voice had driven his sword through him. I tried to break free from my men's firm grip in order to run to my father. I needed to prevent him from leaving this world, from leaving me.

"Now that I have fulfilled his wishes, anyone else wanting their desires satisfied for them? Hmm? Well boys, you know what they say, silence is submission."

Excited muttering filled the palace as the Towan men grumbled in agreement. My eyes roamed across the palace. The elders were tied and held down on their knees. I desperately searched for the face that I wanted to see, where was he, where was my brother?

"I know where the sword is, but I will only reveal its hiding place on one condition."

I aggressively detached myself from the men's grip, lurching forward to see Lancelot holding my father's limp body in his trembling hands.

"Name it." The same foghorn voice sounded.

"Ban my brother from the Kingdom, declare him an outcast."

Had my ears deceived me? Clearly this was some sort of ruse. Lancelot's  eyes slowly lifted to meet mine, he knew I had been there all along.