Of Kingdoms and Chaos

Chapter 1

 Seven years later, in Autumn

The Lonely Forest

"Remind me again why we took this job, cause I ain't liking it so far. It f*****g stinks here." Azariah complained, an angry frown marring his angry face.

"Must you always curse?" Kaynen asked him, as he ducked under a low hanging branch.

"Must you always ask me that question?" Azariah replied, and cursed again when the same branch Kaynen had ducked under, hid him in the face.

Kaynen rolled his eyes, and chuckled. Azariah really was one of a kind. To others, his close friend he considered a brother might seem scary, since anger and irritation always marred his face, but Kaynen knew him better than any one else. While he seemed angry all the time, Kaynen knew that no matter what, Azariah always had his back. Just like he had the twins their backs too.

Kaynen turned his head, and his gaze fell on Elias and Elian walking closely behind Azariah. They had the same face, and almost the same body build, with Elias a bit shorter than his brother. Elian's hair was also longer, and their differences didn't stop there. Where Elias could talk someone's ear off, Elian preferred not speaking much.

They all differed from each other, but they were family. They have been since they met all those years ago, in a small village orphanage. Kaynen would give his life for them, and he knew they would do the same for him. Ever since escaping that horrible place, much had changed for them.

Life as a bounty hunter had it's perks, but sometimes he really wondered if this was the best way to make a living. The prisoner they were after now, would bring in a lot of money, which was why they were currently enduring this unpleasant trek through the lonely forest. It was called that for a reason, since no one lived here. There were no animals either, according to stories and legends.

"Do you know I could have been in a warm bed, with a warm and soft woman, doing delicious things, while drinking my favorite alcohol drink, which is rum by the way." Elias said in one breath, and Kaynen rolled his eyes again. Here we go.

"Yes, we know Elias. This job will bring us enough money to last until after winter, so that's why we took it, remember?"

"Wait. You do delicious things, as you call it, to a woman, while at the same time drinking rum? How the f**k do you manage that?" Azariah mumbled, as he stepped in a large pool of mud.

"It's called multitasking, Az. You should try it sometime. Doing delicious things, and drinking some rum, I mean. It might relieve some of that stress, and make you smile for at least one tiny second. Maybe." Elias replied with a laugh.

"How many times do I have to tell you to not f*****g call me that" Azariah growled, as he tried removing the mud from his boots.

"Why? I love calling you Az. Sounds like Ass. Lovely, isn't it?"

Azariah spun around, and lunged at Elias, but was stopped by Kaynen.

"Alright you two, that's enough." Kaynen said with a smile.

Elias always managed to make Azariah angrier that he already was, and Kaynen couldn't help but find it funny.

"Stop laughing, it isn't funny." Azariah said and pouted.

"Come on man, it kinda is. It's a joke, don't take it too hard." Kaynen said with a chuckle. Elias was still laughing, and even Elian had a smile on his face.

Kaynen loved it when they joked about like this. Reminded him of old times. As he turned around to continue their trek, he suddenly halted, causing Azariah to almost bump into him.

"What is it?" he asked, seriousness replacing the anger on his face.

"We're being watched."

"We were a bit loud. They probably heard about your nickname." Elias whispered with a smile as he bumped his shoulder into Azariah's.

"Shut up Elias. Now is not the time." Azariah whispered back.

Kaynen signaled them, and they slowly unsheathed their swords, except for Elias, who removed his bow from his back.

"The prisoner?" Azariah whispered to Kaynen.

"No, there's more than one."

Kaynen had this weird sixth sense, and while it may sound weird when discussing it, it had saved their asses many times before.

Soft rustling of boots crunching leaves confirmed that they were not alone, and they all scattered behind trees. Kaynen quietly turned his head, and caught a glimpse of a figure dressed in black, moving behind a large dark tree.

He signaled Azariah with his hand, who repeated the same signal to Elias and Elian. Slowly, and quietly they moved from behind the trees, weapons in hand. Elias had his bow, and an arrow nocked and ready.

A sudden swoosh filled the quiet of the forest, and an arrow flew right past his head. He reciprocated by shooting his own arrow, which must have found his target, judging by the cry of pain he heard.

Out of the darkness, figures appeared, armed with swords and bows. There were more than a dozen, their skin pale and eyes white. Completely white. They all lacked pupils, and Kaynen frowned. Something was very wrong.

"Who sent you?" He asked them, and repeated his question when they did not move nor speak.

"Someone powerful." a voice said from behind the white eyed men. They moved aside, and a man walked forward, his skin just as pale, and eyes just as white as the other men. Unlike the others, his eyes were surrounded by crimson veins that looked ready to pop.

Kaynen looked at the prisoner they were supposed to bring back to the city. He looked near death, and sounded like that too.

"What do you mean?" he asked him, but received no answer.

"I don't like this." Azariah muttered, and Kaynen agreed.

Before he could say something else, the prisoner lunged forward, and swung, almost grazing Kaynen with his sword.

He was stopped by an arrow from Elias's bow, and Kaynen pushed him back. The other pale men had also attacked, and the sound clashing of swords tore through the air. As he cut down one of the men, his eyes fell on the twins. They were fighting side by side, like they always did, Elian with his sword and Elias with his bow and arrows. Kaynen then noticed one of the white eyed men moving behind Elian, ready to strike.

Before he could sink his dagger into Elian's back, Kaynen moved, and swung his sword, cutting of the man's head.

"There are too many. Retreat!" he yelled, and the others immediately fell back.

As they attempted to run, Kaynen realized that they would not make it. He halted, and as he turned around, he immediately swung his sword, chopping another head off.

"Kaynen!" Azariah yelled from where he stood, which was a bit further from where Kaynen currently fought yet another white eyed man.

"Go! Go." he yelled back, and groaned when Azariah ignored him completely and ran to him, followed by the twins.

"No f*****g way I'm leaving you behind, idiot." Azariah growled while stabbing his sword through one of the white eyed men.

Kaynen didn't know why he even bothered. He would have done the same thing.

As they all wounded and killed at least one man each, they moved and found themselves running towards the opposite end of where they had entered the forest. Not smart.

They ran with incredible speed and physical agility, while also alert for any sudden attacks. The forest became denser, and they had to cut down branches to be able to pass. The loud sound of water falling in the distance made them run faster. A sudden cry of pain caused them to stop, and Kaynen looked at Elian, who had an arrow lodged in his shoulder. Another arrow flew past them, and Kaynen moved next to Elian. Together with Elias they half carried Elian, and as they ran futher, Kaynen looked behind him, catching a glimpse of three of the white eyed men.

"There's three of them." he said to the others. Azariah looked at him, and nodded.

"Let's finish this."

They moved together, and were almost at the top of the waterfall when a body slammed in Elias. They stumbled and fell to the ground, but Kaynen quickly jumped up, sword in hand. Elian's leg was bleeding heavily, but that did not stop him from joining the fight.

The three white eyed men, including the prisoner all lunged at them. They were now right on the cliff right above the waterfall, and the sound of it almost blocked out the clashing of swords.

"You have to cut of their heads." Kaynen yelled, while blocking the sword of the prisoner. Looking into the man's eyes sent chills down his spine, and as he lost himself in the man's white empty eyes of the man before him, he missed the glint of silver in the man's other hand. A sudden piercing pain in his chest made him cry out, and he stumbled back. A smile formed on the prisoner's face, and Kaynen growled as he lunged forwards, and swung his sword.

As the head of the prisoner fell from his body, Kaynen dropped his sword and stumbled backwards towards the edge of the cliff. His gaze landed on his friends, who had managed to kill the other white eyes men. Azariah's eyes found his, and Kaynen could hear him call out his name. He looked down at the dagger in his chest, and the blood seeping out of his body. As he felt his vision slowly go black, he stretched out his hand towards Azariah who was lunging at him. But it was too late, and he felt his body fall backwards. The pain in his chest was gone, and he felt oddly, at peace.

He managed to blink on last time, and then.........everything went black.

King Kade sat at the head of the war table, and lazily listened at what one of his military advisers was saying.

"Get to the point." he said with a bored expression.

"My King, the shortage of food and other supplies is causing a bit of tension within the ranks of the army, and patrols. Healthy crops are less and less every season, and with winter around the corner—,"

"And? Why do I have to care about crops and all that?" Kade answered while leaning back in his chair.

The adviser cleared his throat, and looked at the other men sitting at the table.

"Uh, because you are the King?" he answered, visibly uncomfortable.

Kade ignored the man and looked at Eric.

"I made you head of the Bureau of Agriculture for a reason." he said as he stood from his chair.

"Do your job or else I will have to find someone else who won't disappoint me." he added and walked out of the room. He didn't have time for trivial things like this. He was bored out of his mind. But what to do?

As he walked through the Royal residence, he couldn't help but grin. As a young man, he had always wondered what the royal residence of Viridia looked like. The stories always mentioned how grand and beautiful it was. The most beautiful castle in all of the Kingdoms. And now as he walked through the halls of said kingdom, he had no choice but to agree with the stories.

Servants scattered the minute they saw him, and he smiled. They knew their place, and if that wasn't the case, a quick beating or chopping of a limb would be the solution.

As he continued walking, a tune fell from his lips. He slowed down, and grinned. Speaking of solutions, at the end of the hall, was the solution to his boredom. With her dark red hair wrapped in a bun, like all servants, and slender body with curves in all the right places, she was a sight to behold.

When she saw him walking towards her, she stiffened. Perfect.

The other servants had all disappeared, and as he walked closer to her, she took a step backwards. He loved it when she acted like this. He stretched out his hand, and stroked her cheek before grabbing her by the throat.

"Let your hair loose." he whispered, and watched as she immediately did what he asked.

When her hair was loose, and hanging down her shoulder he smiled.

"Perfect." he whispered as he pushed her against the wall, his mouth slamming against hers. He lifted her against the wall, and pulled one of her legs up. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, and he chuckled.

His hand fumbled with her skirt, and slipped under it.

"My King." a voice said quietly, and Kade groaned. He slowly turned around with a glare.

"If you weren't my brother, I would have have had you killed for interrupting me."

"There is urgent business to attend to." Baylor replied, his stony face fixed on the woman Kade was currently playing with.

Kade chuckled, and moved back from the woman. She stood on shaky legs, her eyes red from the tears that were still rolling down her face.

"Today is your lucky day, my sweet. Run along now." he said, and chuckled as she stumbled away from him.

He turned towards his brother, and grinned.

"Now what is the urgent business that requires my attention?"

Baylor's expression did not change at all, and Kade laughed.

"You know little brother, I've noticed your distaste for my, what should I call it, eventful activities with the red haired servant. Tell me, do you have something you would like to say to me?"

Baylor's hand moved to the hilt of his sword that was hanging from his hip.

"You are king. You are free to do whatever that may please you. I do not have anything else to say."

Kade smirked, and clapped Baylor on his back.

"Very good little brother. Very good. Now let's go attend to business, shall we?".

Kade thought about his red haired servant, and for a short moment he looked back at the place where he could have had her if Baylor hadn't interrupted him. Sometimes it seemed like he was doing it on purpose. But never mind that, he would have his fill of her before the day ended. He could already feel the heat of her skin, and how it felt to be inside her. He liked it when she tried to fight against him, he reveled in it. She was feisty, that one. And delicious all together.

He did not care what his brother thought. If he wanted something, or someone, he would have it. He would have her. 

After all, he was king of all.