Chapter 164
1038words
I stood at the very edge of the sturdy stone wall of the fortress. The old stronghold which had been the home of my family for many generations was built with tall parapets. These walls had once been alive with the noise and excitement of battle, filled by my brave ancestors who were skilled archers ready to protect our land from any invaders.
Now, however, darkness surrounded us completely and a thick silence pressed down on our group of warriors. It felt strange and unsettling as if we were all holding our breath together, both the defenders standing ready and the shadows that seemed to inch closer and closer to us.
To my left was Ronan. Right now he looks very tense. His usually bright and lively eyes were narrowed, and he was carefully looking out at the land in front of us, searching for any signs of movement.
All around, the generals and captains of the Bloodhound Pack were standing in a tense way, almost like tightly wound bowstrings. Their muscles were tight and prepared, ready to spring into action and show their strength at any moment if necessary.
'Your Highness," Ronan softly called through the mind-link, interrupting my quiet thoughts. 'The night is eerily calm. What do you sense in this stillness?"
I gently rubbed my chin as my thoughts raced through my mind, thinking about the tension that felt thick and heavy.
'I can really feel the pressure from our enemies, Ronan," I responded, trying to express what was on my mind. 'That Augustus has always been much better at putting on a show and acting dramatically than he is at fighting in battle. I can't shake the feeling that he is trying to scare us into submission."
My voice rang out loudly in the minds of my warriors, causing a chill to run through them all. Below the protective walls, my group of fighters was ready and waiting for my orders.
I could hear their hearts beating together much like a drum that was getting ready for the battle that was about to come.
'Everyone listen to me and pay attention," I said, raising my voice so it would cut through the quietness. 'We need to stay alert and watchful! It's really important that we do not let our guard down because we can't take any chances right now."
My sentence came to an unexpected stop when Ronan moved a little and directed my attention toward the field that was situated below us.
'Take a look over there!" he whispered urgently. 'Do you see the mist?"
I narrowed my eyes and looked intently into the darkness ahead of me. An unusual and thick haze slowly crept closer while moving toward our fortress as if it were a living creature. It seemed to be devouring the grass that was underneath it.
It twisted and curled up in strange shapes, like fingers trying to stretch out and grab hold of something. The tension in the air swelled up.
'Listen up warriors! I need you all to take your places right now!" I said, raising my voice, so everyone could hear me clearly. There was a strong sense of authority in my tone. 'Now get ready to pull back your bows!"
My brave warriors sprang into action right away, responding to my call like a finely-tuned machine. They moved without making sounds, each of them taking their assigned post along the battlements set with their bows in hand. I felt a rush of adrenaline flow through me, strengthening every nerve and bringing my senses to live.
'Focus on that fog over there, it is just a trick," I warned, feeling my heart beat faster in my chest. 'Get ready and wait until I give you the signal."
The minutes felt like they were becoming hours as the mist slowly moved closer. With every heartbeat, the silence grew heavier and thicker, making the feeling of anxiety strong and noticeable in the atmosphere.
'Look over there!" Ronan shouted unexpectedly, his eyes fixed intently on an object before him.
Out of the thick mist a figure began to appear. It looked ghostly and very pale sitting on a beautiful horse that was pure white. As the figure got closer to us, we could see more details.
Its skin was as white as bone and its eyes seemed to swallow up all the surrounding light.
The feeling that surrounded this figure was so chilling and terrifying that it took my breath away.
'Ben…" I said lowly, as if I couldn't believe I was actually saying his name.
'Is that truly him?" Ronan inquired with his eyes open wide in complete astonishment.
As I tightly folded my fists into a ball, a deep pain wrapped itself around my heart. I looked at him in sadness and asked, 'What have you turned into?" The question came out of my mouth heavy with all the sorrow I was feeling inside.
The person riding the horse stopped only a short distance away from where I was standing. I could hardly make out what he looked like. His features were so hard to see.
However, when he spoke his voice was strangely calm, yet it carried an unsettling feeling that ran through me and made me feel a little cold inside.
'Little brother," Ben called out mockingly, his voice smooth and slippery, making it sound eerie and uncomfortable.
'There's really no need for you to hesitate or think twice about this. The king who has gone against the rule of Augustus, is actually offering you a chance to be forgiven. If you decide to surrender and join us, there is a chance that you will be spared from any harm. But, if you choose not to let go and continue to resist, you will have to deal with the serious consequences of your refusal, and you may end up becoming a slave to Augustus."
A thick and heavy silence hung in the air around the parapets with everyone staring intently at the changed appearance of my once brother. My heart pounded strongly in my chest with anger and I could feel my emotions boiling up inside me like a powerful wave rising and crashing…
