Bloodshed

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Blood Against Blood

After a short travel, Rage and Swart reached the main city. They entered the royal castle, Rage requested Lom to hold a meeting to inspect the happening at the prison. Everyone gathered in the meeting called by Rage. As soon as everyone came Rage asked the question, “How many men have we got for now?”. The Defense minister answered, “Three thousand bull fighters, two thousand rhino fighters, eight hundred scavenger warriors, four thousand hyenas, and three thousand other species of warriors.” Rage saw the map of city kept on the table and thought for a while, “Sire, send thousand men on each gate of city, there are three entrance, we will give each troop a flare inform them to lit it up as soon as they see any type of danger. As we will see the flare, we will send a reserve troop of three thousand men for help I and Swart will be with the troop so we can stop him. If we did not get succeed in our task the reserve force will be able to stop him as we will reduce his stamina. When did you receive the message about his escape?”

“It was about in the morning; through the shortest route it would take him at least seven hours to reach here.” one of the ministers replied.

“Good then, we must get to work. Sire Lom you can set the plan on work if you find it correct. You can make changes.” Rage humbly spoke to Lom.

“Well, I think there is no need of change but what is the success rate of the plan?” Lom asked Rage.

“Sire, the chances are 78 out of 100, but we ensure you that we will keep him busy until dawn. I know that Hrush will be here by tomorrow. Well, sire I would like to see the chamber of Ash. If you permit me and I think it is necessary.” Rage replied.

“Yes. The maid will take you to the chamber and I trust you Rage, I am sure you will be able to stop him.” Lom ordered a maid to take Rage to Ash’s chamber. Rage and Swart reached the chamber it resembled the sitting chamber in Tirga, Rage asked the maid, “Who used to clean the chamber?”

“Sergeant never allowed any of the servant to clean his chamber, he himself would take care of the chamber cleanliness.” the maid replied.

“You can go now.” Rage ordered the maid. “He used to follow camp rule here too.” Rage told Swart. Swart nodded a yes, he looked unhappy. Rage inspected the chamber thoroughly and then left it.

Time passed down everything was working as per plan all the troops were on the entry gate. Rage and Swart were on the top of the castle waiting for signal to arrive. After a while a flare was signaled on the north gate of the city. Rage and Swart saw the flare. Rage smiled and saw towards Swart and said, “Time for action brother.”

By the time a troop was sent to help the north gate subunit and a high alert was passed in the royal palace. In this situation, Ash managed to get into the royal palace through the underground passage directly into his chamber. The events happened in following order: Ash managed to get to the flare in the north camp and blew it as he knew that troops will arrive for help and the guard at royal palace will be shaded and this will help him to enter the palace and make his motive clear.

Ash opened the lid of the passage that led him to his chamber but as soon as he opened the lid chains flew upon him and ceased him. Ash was sealed by many soldiers by iron chains. Rage entered at the scenario along with Lom, Swart and other ministers, as soon as Ash saw Rage, he stopped his struggle and said, “Never expected to see you here.”

Rage looked down as if he was unable to meet up eyes with Ash. “How did you know about this one?” Lom asked Rage. Rage explained “It was not that easy I inspected the chamber it was all right, but the carpet caught my attention it was at an unusual position, it must be at the center but it was in a corner. It meant that it was kept there to hide something when I rolled it, I found a door, I tried to open it, but it was fastened from other side. It meant that it was built to enter palace without being noticed by the guards. Then I gave each of the troop leader a dove and told him to send it to me just after the flare. When the flared was lit up, I and Swart waited for the dove but it did not arrive, it means the flare was not lit up purposely, to fool the enemy I sent the reserved troop and waited for his arrival right here and the rest is here.”

“Well done Rage. You proved that why Thrash trusted you so much. Inject him to sleep and take him to the royal prison we will assassinate him soon. Before that I will interrogate him.” Lom ordered the soldiers. Ash was injected to sleep and was been taken to the royal prison.

Now there were only two soldiers holding Ash and dragging him. His chains were turned loose. Ash opened his eyes and attacked the soldiers, both the soldiers were of no match to him Ash mocked them off and freed himself, while doing so one of the soldiers saw Ash and he rang the alert bell of the palace, which were placed in each corner to alert the palace.

Rage and Swart, who were sitting with Lom saw towards each, “We need to go.” Rage told Swart and both started running towards the sound of bell in there way they saw Ash, fighting with soldiers. Rage looked towards Swart and nodded his head.

Ash mocked every soldier coming in his way, then in his way came Swart. Ash stopped and looked at Swart. Swart was holding his bow and pointing towards Ash. They were standing in the gallery walk near the practice battleground of palace. Swart warned Ash, “A step ahead and I will shoot.” Ash smiled and took a step ahead. Swart shot at Ash but Ash dodged the arrow. But as he turned back, he got a heavy punch from Rage which made him fall from the gallery to the battleground.

Rage and Swart jumped down, by this time Lom and other ministers had reached on the gallery above the battleground. Ash got on his feet and touched his mouth and said, “Still not that effective.” “How did you managed to escape the fainted state?” Rage asked Ash. “You are not the one who has got all the brains. I carry the antidote of sleep medicine. I knew that someone had got information about my secrete pathway. I changed the plan, let myself caught and I already took the antidote, so the medicine did not affect me, I waited for right turn, but the alert system turned down my plan. Well I will still execute my motive but a bit late.” Ash explained.

“Enough of talk now its better to fight.” saying so Rage attacked Ash. Ash dodged punches of Rage, Rage was fast, but Ash was always on alert none of Rage punches could touch Ash. After a tough dodging Ash pushed Rage away. Rage drew his sword and approached Ash, Ash jumped away and managed to avoid the cut of Rage sword, Ash took out his own sword, swords clashed with each other but none of the warrior could tear the others skin.

Time was passing by; Rage and Ash were standing apart Rage signaled Swart. Swart drew an arrow and loaded on his bow aimed Ash and fired at Ash but Ash was on high alert he dodged the arrow. Then came a swinging attack from the sword of Rage to tear the skin of Ash but before it could touch the skin of Ash, Ash put his sword for defense. The attacks of arrows started, along with the slashing sword of Rage. It was difficult for Ash to maintain the speed. After a bit struggle Ash got at a safer distance from Rage and said, “Awaken beast form.”. No sooner did Ash say those words than his body started to transform. A black fur started to cover his body, his nails turned into sharpen ones, his eyes were not the normal one but that of a panther. Ash was no longer a man but a panther walking on two legs.

Ash turned into his beast form this doubled his stamina, attack, speed, defense all the parameters were increased. Lom saw at Ash, “I don’t know where, but I saw those eyes.” Both Swart and Rage together could not hold Ash at a bay. Ash was turning there every strategy up and down. Rage said to Swart during the battle, “If this continued, we both will exhaust our stamina you engage him; I am going to summon beast form.” Swart saw towards Rage in astonishment but Rage did not care about his despair look. Ash attacked them Swart defended the attack. Rage spelled, “Awaken beast form.” Then happened a thing that astonished every person watching the battle. Rage was a black panther.

The battle grew more intense, only the glave that was stuck to Rage armor could distinguish both the warriors. “They are brothers.” one of the ministers spoke. “But still there is no mercy in the war it is what it is.” Home minister spoke to rest of the ministers. Lom was surprised to see the fighting spirit of Rage.

The battle grew more intense, Swart fired an arrow on Ash but he missed the target. The arrow distracted Ash, Rage took advantage of the situation and threw his glave at Ash, Ash was fast but not fast enough, the glave teared the skin of his hand and bleeding started, the blood was red in color.

It was dawn by the time, the sun went down in the west with the last ray of sun both Ash and Rage lost their beast form. Ash reached one of the gates to underground passaged and escaped the battleground. Rage due to insufficient stamina reached the door late but the door was fastened from other side.

Rage and Swart went to their escorted chambers. Lom and other ministers went to meet them. Lom entered the chamber Rage was lying on the bed and Swart was preparing drink for him, “How is he doing?” asked Lom. “Quite well just a short dizziness due to heavy battle.” Swart replied. “We might have caught him.” Rage moaned. “It’s all fine. You proved yourself, you both did well.” Lom spoke to Rage.

After a short pause a servant entered the chamber and told Lom that Hrush has entered the palace. Lom said a goodbye to Rage and Swart and went away. Behind was left the brothers that witness a great pain of fight against own blood.