Blades of Death

Chapter 15

The army stopped once they had neared Petuk. 

"What should we do now?" Khizo asked Triston.

"Wait for the siege weapons to arrive." Triston said.

"And what should we do until then?" Cloris asked. "Do you know the layout of Petuk?"

"I do. Petuk is guarded by high walls with archers patrolling the entire wall. Reaching it's Palace too isn't easy with the most able-bodied men guarding it. Behind the Palace is a dense forest which makes it easy for someone to flee." Triston explained. 

"So it is not going to be easy." Khizo stated. 

"Unfortunately, no" Triston replied. 

The reinforcements arrived sooner than expected—Ten devastating catapults and a troop of twenty soldiers. 

"You took your time to get here. Let's hope these siege weapons work nicely." Triston said to the reinforcements. 

"Are you willing to test them?" One of the soldiers smiled. 

"Of course. Get these weapons closer to the city walls." Triston commanded. 

Once the majestic city walls of Petuk was visible with archers guarding it, the soldiers set to work. As soon as the ten catapults were loaded, the soldiers fired all of them in perfect unison, tearing away chunks of rocks from the wall and knocking down the archers. The remaining archers started shooting at them but Triston commanded the soldiers to deflect the arrows with their shields. 

Cloris took aim with his bow and started shooting at the archers with his arrows. More archers joined Cloris. 

An army of Petukian cavalry was sent after them but before they could reach their target, the catapults knocked them down. A few seconds later, a portion of the wall was destroyed too, providing a passage for Krimighan army inside the walled city.

"Krimighans... Charge!" Triston let out a battle cry and lead the entire army inside the city. 

As soon the Krimighan army entered the city, it clashed with the Petukian army, unleashing massive bloodshed as soldiers were slaughtered from both sides. 

Khizo and Cloris rode together through the battlefield, keeping their shields raised to block any attacks while using their other hand to stab soldiers as they tore through the battle. 

Once both of them had crossed the battle area, they realised how doomed the Krimighan army was. Petuk reinforcements were coming from all the sides and the tiny Krimighan army was no match for them. 

"We need to kill Davis fast before they wipe away Triston's army." Cloris said. 

"Let's go then."

Together, they rode through the parts of Petuk where there was no trace of any war except that the roads were all empty. Everyone was hiding inside their houses. 

"I don't think anyone is paying attention to us." Khizo said. 

"Yes," Cloris replied. 

"It's a beautiful city though. Even in such a situation, I can't help but observe it." Khizo stated. 

While the city was just as congested as Krimagha, it was in perfect formation. Everything was well planned to form a particular pattern. The streets were kept neat and the houses were more beautifully decorated. Almost every house had a balcony, something that only the richest people had in Krimagha.

"Think about it. We will be the king of this city if we win the war." Cloris said.

"But we're not here for that. We are here to get my revenge and fix what we had done in our rage." Khizo said.

Finally, the Palace appeared before their eyes, designed in the most magnificent way. It was golden in colour and so shiny that people would think the entire palace was made of actual gold. Statues and other carvings decorated the wall. Another tower was protruding from the roof of the palace. There was a huge window at the topmost region of the tower which slightly revealed a royal room. 

"We need to get to that window. This must be the room of Davis." Khizo declared. 

"It won't be very easy." Cloris pointed at the huge army of archers that were standing on the roof of the lower part of Palace. There was also a platform above the tower where a few more archers were standing. The entrance of the palace was guarded by men carrying axes and heavy swords.

"We'll tackle the guards later. What should we do about the guards?" Cloris asked Khizo. 

"I have an idea. Every enemy has its weakness. These soldiers are very slow." 

"So what should we do?" 

"Send Aron and Cal to them. Then let's see them chasing the horses."

"Good idea." Cloris smiled. 

The brothers let the horses run wild. The horses went straight towards the guards guarding the Palace and knocked one of them down. Almost all of the guards went after the horses leaving only ten guards behind to guard the Palace. 

"What will we do about the remaining guards? We can't defeat ten such soldiers in combat." Khizo stated. 

"I'll handle them." Cloris replied. 

"What?" 

"It's okay, I'll just do what Aron and Cal are doing. It'll be alright." Cloris assured. 

"How will I handle the archers then? I am not good with archery." 

"How will I make it better for you? I cannot shoot arrows while climbing up." Cloris said, "Anyway, use my shield too. Using two shields will provide you with more protection."

"Thank You" Khizo replied as Cloris handed him his shield. 

"Good luck," Cloris said before going to the guards.

"A Krimighan!" One of the guards shouted. 

"At first, I thought I saw cows. Then I realised that you were soldiers." Cloris mocked. 

"Catch that Krimighan fool!" One of the guards shouted and all others went after Cloris leaving the entire Palace unguarded. 

Taking use of the opportunity, Khizo aimed and then shot his crossbow just below the window. He then slid both his hands through the handles of the two shields and then started climbing up the Palace using the rope attached to his crossbow. 

"Krimighan soldier! He's trying to reach the king!" One of the archers on the lower roof shouted as soon as he spotted Khizo climbing up. 

The archers launched a volley of arrows at Khizo from both sides causing him to climb up faster. He found himself deflecting the arrows with his shield without even having to think about it. Being overwhelmed by the arrows, Khizo also found himself climbing up quicker than a monkey to save himself from the arrows. 

When he took a final leap to jump inside the King's room, he found Davis waiting for him, unarmed. 

"So, who are you?" Davis asked casually. 

"Khizo Leigh. The son of Larry Leigh. Rings a bell?" Khizo asked as he came towards Davis. 

He delivered a stroke to Davis with his sword but Davis dodged it. Khizo delivered more strokes but Davis dodged them all. 

Frustrated, Khizo sheathed his sword and then kicked Davis on his chest, sending him to the ground. He then repeatedly punched Davis on his nose.

"Of course I remember all of it very well. Your father was such a pain. He believed that he could actually stop me." Davis said

"And then you sent an army to kill him?" Khizo asked. 

"Nay, I went there myself. I remember it all very well. Your father seemed quite shocked on seeing me. He came to attack me but my soldiers overpowered him. I then stabbed your sister and then your mother in front of him and then I ended his reign with the same knife." 

Anger and tears mixed Khizo's face. His hand started shaking with rage. He wiped the tears from his face before reaching for his sword. 

"I killed all of them with this same knife." Davis took out a knife hidden behind his royal golden robes.

Before Khizo could realise what Davis was planning to do, he was stabbed on his gut with the knife. Blood gushed out from his chest and the pain blurred his vision. All he could remember was being dragged by his hair and thrown out of the window before his vision turned black.