sliced through his abdomen. He then wheeled his sword
above his head to take another swing. However, the guard vanished
before Lysandros’ sword connected with his neck.
Lysandros turned to his injured queen
and sat down to support her head on his lap. Seconds later, Remus
slid on the ground to reach her, not caring as his knees cracked
against the stone floor.
Rage and guilt filled Lysandros’ as
his usual kind eyes widened in fear. He turned to Remus, ashamed of
his late arrival. “Remus, I came as soon as I saw Romulus enter the
gates. I’m so sorry.”
Remus did not acknowledge Lysandros’
statement. Instead, he caressed his wife’s hair and gently placed
his other hand over her wound. Remus looked at Lysandros and said,
“If you leave now and make it to the Forest of Slàinte, on the
Northern border of our kingdom, she will live.” Remus’ eyes
silently begged Lysandros to save his wife.
With the hand not covered in Alina’s
blood, Remus gripped the back of Lysandros’ neck and pulled him in
so their foreheads touched, hiding his distressed eyes. He
struggled with his words, opening and closing his mouth without a
sound. His grip tightened on Lysandros’ neck when he finally found
his farewell, “You are the best soldier in my army, Lys. You,
Brian, and Cailean have been by my side for centuries, since before
we left Palatine Hill. I owe my life and my family’s lives to you
three. You are like my brother, Lysandros, never forget
that.”
A lump formed in the back of
Lysandros’ throat and his breath caught in his chest. Unable to say
a word to his long-time friend, Lysandros nodded once as water
filled his eyes.
Remus smiled, pleased that Lysandros
returned his sentiments. He then forced himself to let go of Alina,
slowly sliding his hand from her skin as Lysandros stood. Lysandros
carried Alina towards the secret passage that lead away from the
palace.
Brian seeing the pain in his friend’s
eyes placed his hand on Remus’ shoulder. “All will be well. Fate
always has a plan that works out in the end.”
“And to what end will fate leave us?”
Remus hung his head as he spoke the philosophical question of a
dying man.
Brian sighed, “Remus, there is nothing
more either of us can do now.”
“It is not only to Alina I am
referring, and you know that. Do not speak to me as if I have a
child’s mind.”
“I am well aware of what you speak of
but my answer stands. There is nothing more we can do to prevent
this. We must see it through…” Brian’s words trailed off, losing
his conviction.
Remus studied Brian’s face and asked,
“Why look so somber, o’Conaill?” Comprehension finally set on
Remus’ face as he realized what troubled his friend. “Ahhh you have
seen the end of this battle. Care to share?”
Brian took a deep breath to calm his
nerves. He needed to be strong for his faltering friend. “Your past
events sparked a prophecy coming to collect. Your…our actions
secured our present predicament. This battle must be fought and one
of the two must die.”
“However, those who survive this
battle can change the forthcoming,” added Cailean.
Brian stopped, silently thinking how
much to divulge to Remus before the battle began. “Remus, there is
an older prophecy created centuries ago during a great era of war.
It is written in stone to ensure it passes. The Power once lost
will be discovered and our world we will be at peace again. So fear
not; despite the fate of today there will be mercy
tomorrow.”
Boom!
The sound of the Druid shields
exploding rang throughout the palace. The violent vibration threw
Remus and the soldiers to the ground. Brian and Cailean were the
only ones left standing. They immediately faced each other and
raised their hands so their palms nearly touched and began
chanting. Blue light emanated from the brothers’ palms as they
recited their spell. The light expanded to envelop the room,
warming everything it touched.
The light flickered
above his head to take another swing. However, the guard vanished
before Lysandros’ sword connected with his neck.
Lysandros turned to his injured queen
and sat down to support her head on his lap. Seconds later, Remus
slid on the ground to reach her, not caring as his knees cracked
against the stone floor.
Rage and guilt filled Lysandros’ as
his usual kind eyes widened in fear. He turned to Remus, ashamed of
his late arrival. “Remus, I came as soon as I saw Romulus enter the
gates. I’m so sorry.”
Remus did not acknowledge Lysandros’
statement. Instead, he caressed his wife’s hair and gently placed
his other hand over her wound. Remus looked at Lysandros and said,
“If you leave now and make it to the Forest of Slàinte, on the
Northern border of our kingdom, she will live.” Remus’ eyes
silently begged Lysandros to save his wife.
With the hand not covered in Alina’s
blood, Remus gripped the back of Lysandros’ neck and pulled him in
so their foreheads touched, hiding his distressed eyes. He
struggled with his words, opening and closing his mouth without a
sound. His grip tightened on Lysandros’ neck when he finally found
his farewell, “You are the best soldier in my army, Lys. You,
Brian, and Cailean have been by my side for centuries, since before
we left Palatine Hill. I owe my life and my family’s lives to you
three. You are like my brother, Lysandros, never forget
that.”
A lump formed in the back of
Lysandros’ throat and his breath caught in his chest. Unable to say
a word to his long-time friend, Lysandros nodded once as water
filled his eyes.
Remus smiled, pleased that Lysandros
returned his sentiments. He then forced himself to let go of Alina,
slowly sliding his hand from her skin as Lysandros stood. Lysandros
carried Alina towards the secret passage that lead away from the
palace.
Brian seeing the pain in his friend’s
eyes placed his hand on Remus’ shoulder. “All will be well. Fate
always has a plan that works out in the end.”
“And to what end will fate leave us?”
Remus hung his head as he spoke the philosophical question of a
dying man.
Brian sighed, “Remus, there is nothing
more either of us can do now.”
“It is not only to Alina I am
referring, and you know that. Do not speak to me as if I have a
child’s mind.”
“I am well aware of what you speak of
but my answer stands. There is nothing more we can do to prevent
this. We must see it through…” Brian’s words trailed off, losing
his conviction.
Remus studied Brian’s face and asked,
“Why look so somber, o’Conaill?” Comprehension finally set on
Remus’ face as he realized what troubled his friend. “Ahhh you have
seen the end of this battle. Care to share?”
Brian took a deep breath to calm his
nerves. He needed to be strong for his faltering friend. “Your past
events sparked a prophecy coming to collect. Your…our actions
secured our present predicament. This battle must be fought and one
of the two must die.”
“However, those who survive this
battle can change the forthcoming,” added Cailean.
Brian stopped, silently thinking how
much to divulge to Remus before the battle began. “Remus, there is
an older prophecy created centuries ago during a great era of war.
It is written in stone to ensure it passes. The Power once lost
will be discovered and our world we will be at peace again. So fear
not; despite the fate of today there will be mercy
tomorrow.”
Boom!
The sound of the Druid shields
exploding rang throughout the palace. The violent vibration threw
Remus and the soldiers to the ground. Brian and Cailean were the
only ones left standing. They immediately faced each other and
raised their hands so their palms nearly touched and began
chanting. Blue light emanated from the brothers’ palms as they
recited their spell. The light expanded to envelop the room,
warming everything it touched.
The light flickered
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