The King And His Goddess Of War

Chapter 11: War

The camp members greeted me with open arms, knowing I was Guardian. My place in the barracks was secluded since I am of the opposite gender, but it was what I was accustomed to at the Academy. A simple hammock, a dresser, and a simple mirror. Nothing over the top and nothing resulting in laying on the muddy ground. 

Since this camp was just for weapons, there were no stationed buildings besides a main building with some bathrooms and a conference room inside. Everyone lived inside pop-up tents with mosquito nets over the top. Some were bigger than others, some, like mine and some other soldiers, had one large room. I had a medium sized tent. The large tents were given to nurses and doctors, which had multiple rooms. The smallest were the ones with small rooms inside- one room for each soldier. It was maybe the size of a twin bed and was lit with string lights all the way through the connected tents.

I sighed and went outside, finding Mighty sleeping in the hay stack they placed out for him. I looked around the area, mud everywhere. It had recently rained- one of the biggest storms they've had in nearly a decade -and the ground was sticky, wet, and crawling with parasites. I rolled my eyes, thankful for the waterproof hiking shoes that everyone was required to wear. They protected anyone from catching parasites. 

I moved past Mighty and into the stationed building where dinner was being served. Here, we had to hunt for our food. They had to get a Hernia child or Lyra child that could manipulate animals for easier hunting so that the small troop positioned here would be fed for a fight here to come.

Everyone sat around wooden tables that were covered in plastic plates and silverware. For the condition that this camp was in, it was pretty damn lucky we even had plates or forks at all. I pulled out some meat from the container, thankfully freshly toasted over the fire oven in the back. I took as much or even less than some of the soldiers got, getting less than I wanted but more than I deserved.

Soldiers made room for me at the tables smiling nicely at me and engaging in conversation. "So, you came here, why?" one named Cole asked.

"Well, war is war, and I was willing to help out after the attack on some of the villages back home," I reply. "I don't want anyone else harmed in this war."

"I'm here to pay for my college, but yeah, I don't want our county to be taken over by Africa. Do you know how much would change? Everyone would have to pay in their currency so people would automatically be broke, some mounts would be taken away like your Griffin, the royals would be overthrown and so much more."

"Did you attend the Academy?" I ask.

"Well, yeah. As a child of Fremus, I had to for at least five years. After my fifth year, I left and went back to my parents. I found out I had a little sister so I supported my family. They're poor, so I joined the war so they wouldn't have to pay for my education any further," he answered, taking a bite to eat.

***

An alarm sounded in the middle of the night and I could recognize this sound anywhere. There was danger going on. A battle raging. I woke up and pulled on my torso armor before taking my sword in hand and slipped on my boots. Outside I could hear Mighty roaring to scare enemies. I rushed out of my tent and found monsters surrounding me. Since I only used my pain wave when people weren't around, I used my strength and pushed them into each other, crushing some bones along the way. I fought my way to another group of soldiers that were pinned against the main building. I stood between them and their attacker, which was one of the larger monsters I have fought. It lunged forward, claws wanting to stab me. Instead, I touched the monster once and it fell to the ground in pain, struggling for a moment before laying limp.

I didn't wait for the soldiers to move on, moving back to Mighty. He was standing around with no enemies to fight. So he and I took flight, attracting monsters to the large mud field we had which stretched about maybe four miles all around. Leading them here would let me be able to do my pain wave without harming any of the soldiers. 

Many creatures followed, but some stayed, which I was fine with. The soldiers could handle those by themselves. But I was surprised at how large they came at us. They were really desperate to get this camp back if they sent so many like they did. Mighty landed and left the area immediately, not wanting to be in pain. They all charged at me but I was ready, my pain building up inside. I could feel pain flowing through my muscles, my veins, my fingers tingling. It hurt to build up so much but it was necessary to save the camp and all the people inside it.

When the first monster came in contact with me, it fell immediately, death consuming it quickly. The chain reaction went around and monster howls filled the air, pain surged through them. I gritted my teeth, some pain coming back at me, but I didn't stop until every monster before me fell, dead.

I fell to the ground, my knees clashing with the now slightly wet mud. It was more like the mud I am used to in America.

Medics rushed to me, asking me if I was fine, and I nearly snapped at them. I just wanted to be alone for a moment. "Please, help the others who need it more than I do," I breathed, leaning on my sword like I did last time. "Some are really injured." They nodded and carted their help away towards others and I got to my feet, walking back to my tent.

***

The light blasted my eyes when I woke up, someone opening up my tent. 

Apparently the General wanted to greet me. "Arianna, you have been requested by the elders to come to the main building," he said, his tone laced with ice. Ha! Laced with ice! You get it? You know, because he's chosen by Alifi? Yeah, you get it. It was funny. "They claim they want to speak to you about Prince Zuka's coronation."

"Why would they speak to me about that?" I ask. 

"They said Prince Zuka personally wants you there," he said, nearly growling every word. "Apparently he finds you likeable enough."

"Excuse me?" I ask.

The General's eyes light up blue with his fury but he can't do anything to me or Zuka would wring his neck. Besides, killing the Guardian would mean a lifetime in prison. "Just because you have a higher rank than me doesn't mean I can't hurt you."

"Oh please, have you taken an army down all by yourself? No, you haven't, otherwise the king and queen would love you," I spit. "But then again, the queen isn't fond of me because of my relationship with Zuka."

"Prince Zuka," he corrected.

"Nope Zuka," I say back. "Now please leave. I'll be there soon."

Of course, I had my clothes on already since it was sometimes freezing during the night, so all I had to do was pull on my boots and get out the door. The building was a mere few yards from my tent, so I just opened the door. Unfortunately, the elders were right there, looking at me. 

"Ms. Heather," one elder spoke up. s**t, First Elder incoming. 

"First Elder," I greeted, plastering a fake smile on my face. "What brings you to Africa?"

"The prince has requested that you would be at his coronation in two months," the First Elder grunted, obviously annoyed that he had to speak to me. "He has been persistent on the idea of you being there."

"Report back and say that if the war has died down by that time, I may be there. If not, don't count on me being there. Besides, he and his wife will need some time without me there to ruin everything," I reply, crossing my arms.

"Watch what you say, Ms. Heather," he warned. "That's your future Queen."

"Maybe," I muttered.

God, I'm starting to hate old people.