The king looked back and gave me a stiff nod before standing to his full height to face his army. “Ready, men? Let’s move!” He waved to the group, then drew his sword before charging at full speed toward the castle.
Miron and I hurried to our feet, then fell in step behind the king as the massive army roared behind us. Once we smashed our way through the gate, the three groups split off. Peter led the Isallan soldiers to the front door, then paused for fifteen seconds.
My previous vision flashed through my head like a familiar memory.
Peter looks at the castle doors, they’re locked so he tries to smash through them with the hilt of his sword. A warning is called out from behind him.
“Peter, now!” I shouted as loud as I could over the mass of bodies. Fortunately, the king had been awaiting my command, and quickly ordered his men to fall back a hundred paces.
He starts running back toward me, he can see my face and I look a touch nervous. He makes it back to the edge of the gate with the rest of his soldiers just as a massive explosion bellows from behind him.
My skin warmed from the heat of the blast. All the soldiers turned back in amazement as they watched the front doors go up in a fiery inferno. King Darius must have rigged the door with a magical explosive to wipe out a chunk of our forces before we even made it through the front door. I pressed a relieved hand to my pattering heart as I took note that not a single soldier had gotten caught up in the blaze.
Killian and his soldiers enter through the front door. They meet no resistance in the front foyer, but find a collection of knights behind the stairs.
Nixie brings up the rear of his group and notices an incoming ambush from the east side of the castle. They cross blades with the Isallan soldiers only ten seconds before she sees Miron and I follow behind her.
I watched anxiously as Killian darted through the flaming entrance with his sword held high. The Sybettians followed behind him fearlessly, while Nixie brought up the rear and snuck a glance behind her. I darted my gaze over at Peter, who was already moving toward the eastern wall with his soldiers at the ready.
The Ashbourne forces met their blades, and Miron tugged my hand to gain my attention. “Let’s go, Elle.” He took off and I ran beside him at full speed, only a half-step behind his long strides.
Fabian notices an Isallan knight with a fresh wound.
“Peter! Over here!” the general’s voice echoed behind me as we crossed the flaming threshold.
Peter kneels down and presses his gloved hands across the wound. Red stains the white gloves, but after a moment of focus, the man begins to stir.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Everything was going perfectly according to plan so far. All my visions were playing out exactly as I had envisioned them, and my warning had appeared to safely prepare each platoon.
Of course the visions are coming true... they always do.
Miron skirted through the halls without a moment’s hesitation. Swords, spears, and arrows clattered and whizzed through the air as we wove between the proud Sybettian warriors.
My feet grew heavier with every step closer we grew to the throne room. I knew what we were doing was right; I knew the safety of the realm depended on our success. King Darius has been a poison, sprouting his thorns and filling the Emerald Realm with his venom for as long as he has reigned. If we didn’t stop him now, then he likely wouldn’t stop until the entire realm crumbled at his feet. It was vital that we stopped him and his devious son, but...
I didn’t want to win. Not now, not if it meant I was leading Miron directly to the throne room that would serve as his deathbed. My heart urged me to pull back on Miron’s hand and drag him as far away from this castle as possible, but as badly as I wanted to save him, I knew it simply wasn’t possible.
Killian knocks out a knight with the back of his dagger, then takes the back hall to the throne room. He skids to a stop and sees Miron and me.
I turned my gaze toward the side hall and right on cue, Killian skirted around the corner. His breaths were heavy and labored, but he was still standing tall. “Where’s Peter?” His gaze darted around in search of the Isallan king.
Miron and I looked behind us, but to my surprise, he wasn’t anywhere in sight. My hand tensed and I shot my gaze to Miron with a fearful stare. “I never saw him enter with us in my visions. What if he got hurt?” My hand trembled beneath the prince’s touch, and he pet the back of my hand soothingly with his thumb.
“Don’t worry. He probably just got caught up tending to an injury,” Miron reassured me calmly, but I could see a touch of anxiety in his expression. “I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he can.”
I swallowed nervously, then looked to Killian for any other reassurances, but what I saw only broke me more. His stormy gray eyes focused on his younger brother and were heavy with grief, and for a moment, I thought I saw them glisten with an unshed tear. “You know, Miron, you don’t have to go in there. I can handle Conan on my own.” His voice cracked for a brief moment, but he cleared his throat too quickly for it to swallow up his words.
Miron’s stone courage wavered for a minute, but he still managed to smile bravely. “There’s no way I’m letting you take down Conan without me. Us younger brothers need to stick together.” He smacked Killian’s arm with a playful grin, and for a moment, I felt my pain numb as I absorbed that brilliant smile.This might be the last time I ever see it...
“Alright, then.” Killian nodded, while taking in a heavy breath. “Let’s go cage the beast.”
Killian stepped up to the door and leaned down to pick the lock. As I watched him work, a soft warmth tickled my cheek as Miron placed a sweet peck upon me. I glanced up at him with heartbroken eyes, and he met me with a sweet smile. “Everything’s going to be fine, Elle. Today the Emerald Realm will be restored to its former glory.”
I squeezed his hand as a thick tear rolled down my cheek. “I just wish you could stay to see it.”
The door clicked open, and Killian rose to his feet. Miron and I stepped up alongside him, and we all stared into the wood as if it was a mirror reflecting the end of a lifelong journey. We shared a silent, yet heavy glance then took a collective breath. Miron, Killian, and I each lifted a free hand and together, we all pushed open the door.