For King and Country (Story #1)
For King and Country
Vivid and vibrant colours danced around the scene. An indigo-coloured lightning bolt streaked through the air, colliding with a dazzling pink, resulting in shards of what seemed like phantom glass that pierced your soul, not flesh.
A new streak of sharp green slithered to the centre of the colour fusion. It was presently joined by a fierce scarlet orb that expanded rapidly, emitting a blinding and intimidating brightness.
Even as I closed my eyes, I could sense the flamboyant colours waging a battle. This was a war unlike others. It was much more than ‘just a war’. It was a war so vengeful, corrupt, and destructive that there were no words to describe the evilness of it all.
The war wasn’t supposed to go like this. The adequate soldiers had fought well, and it had seemed like at the end of the day, victory would be waiting there for us. Just as the opposing side seemed to surrender, a mysterious shadow had weaved its way amongst our soldiers, obscuring all the light.
Our soldiers at the time had thought that it was to their advantage, that the other side was also covered in this veil of darkness, but were they wrong. The opposing side hadn’t played their final card.
In the next hour, nearly half of our men died. The remaining soldiers managed to get out of the gloom, but the blackness had fatigued them, and it showed.
The number of soldiers on each side was even, but while our men were tired, and drowsy, the other side was fresh and energetic with raging war cries, and raised swords.
When I saw that we were going to lose, I, as a general, gave the order to retreat. Alas, the warriors didn’t listen, but kept on fighting. They knew what they were doing was suicide, but they were doing it for the next generation. For their family. For the community. Even if it would cost them their life.
My heart was wretched apart as I stood there, helpless, just watching as young men fell to the ground, hope in their glassy eyes.
Blood stained the grassy landscape below. It was a sea of red, and the enemy were sailing across, ready to enlarge it.
Over the hazy horizon I could make out more enemy soldiers, advancing and joining ranks with the others. At that point I knew that no amount of ambition would grant confidence to our side.
That’s when a resounding melodic sound filled the air. The shadow which had taken the lives of many, dispersed into the air, and the opposing side stopped dead in their tracks.
A new sliver of darkness slithered over to the remaining soldiers. It scattered once more as a loud gong echoed the previous one.
The battle grounds were filled with silence, giving everything an eerie feel.
‘Well, well,’ came a loud thundering voice that trembled the earth at its core. ‘Trantaltamor, I see my shadow was not enough for you.’
‘You are right Dragomirovich, is that the best you’ve got?’ came a second deafening voice. I immediately recognised that second voice. He had been my instructor when I was little, and had trained eagerly for the army. I had grown up with Trantaltamor all my life, and I knew I could always rely on him when I needed to. He was the kingdom’s wizard, and it was quite unusual for him to be outside. Usually he only came out of his private rooms twice a year. For the royal feast, and for the knightings.
‘I hereby challenge you to a wizard’s duel. You know the rules don’t you?’ Dragomirovich’s voice was cold and testy.
‘What are you implying? I know the rules of a wizard’s duel. No one is allowed to interfere with the battle, no using the forgotten language, and whoever loses will become slaves to the others.’
‘Let us begin when the rooster of time crows. I have to prepare myself.’
The echo of the two voices died down, while the sound of muttering soldiers filled the air.
I had to go find out more about what was happening. My feet pounded the moist grass sending clumps of dirt flying into the air. Soon enough, I reached the wizard. He smiled at me, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. The familiar twinkle in his bright blue eyes was gone, and had been replaced by a glazed, teary look.
‘Don’t you worry about me’ Trantaltamor said, grasping me by the shoulders with his knobbly hands, trying hard not to let his voice break.
‘I believe in you,’ I whispered softly. ’Whatever happens we will always remember you as the great wizard of Ulnuricha.
Just as I finished speaking a harmonious whistling sound seemed to make the world stop for a second.
‘The rooster of time?’ I asked, already knowing the answer.
Trantaltamor nodded wisely, and walked down the hill to the opposing side.
All the soldiers were going back towards their main bases to recollect each other. I could see a short stubby man walking from the parallel side. He was dressed in a charcoal black robe, and had hair going around his head like a horseshoe, as well as extensive facial hair.
I would have found this scene funny, if the thought of eternal slavery hadn’t been nagging at me.
After a few seconds, the two bearded wizards met each other in the centre. They were only a couple metres apart, and were both glaring with absolute fury at each other. They both put their hands behind their back, and lowered their heads.
‘3,’
‘2,’
‘1.’
They said simultaneously, and immediately their heads flew upwards, and they retreated their hands from behind their back.
Vivid and vibrant colours danced around the scene. An indigo coloured lightning bolt streaked through the air colliding with a dazzling pink resulting in shards of what seemed like phantom glass that pierced your soul, not flesh.
A new streak of sharp green slithered to the centre of the colour fusion. It was presently joined by a fierce scarlet orb that expanded rapidly, emitting a blinding and intimidating brightness.
Remember this part?
I sat there with my eyes closed, hoping that this awful fight would soon be over. A cry sounded from the battlefields as I was once more covered in light.
The enemy wizard gave a scream of rage. Shadows sliced through the air engulfing me in darkness. I could finally open my eyes. I willed the darkness to clear, so I could see better. Surprisingly it did.
The sight that greeted my eyes was horrible. Trantaltamor was lying on the ground while Dragomirovich was standing over him and cackling. Surely. It couldn’t be.
‘It’s over,’ he shrieked. ‘You are my slaves for all eternity.’
His back was facing towards me, and I tightened my grip on my small dagger which was less of a weapon, and more a representation of which side I was on.
‘My empire will grow, and you will all be helpless…’ I slowly crept towards him, dagger raised. He turned around briskly, and looked me in the eye.
‘Thought you could defeat Dragomirovich with some dagger? You thought wrong. How long I’ve hoped to get to kill one of you ugly beings.’
I wasn’t listening to what the delusional wizard was saying, because I had noticed that Trantaltamor had stood up and was regaining colour in his face.
‘I will put you on an altar, and slowly burn you alive, until you beg for mercy, willingly wanting to die, but I won’t allow you that pleasure. No I won’t.’
Trantaltamor was now behind the wizard but without any weapons, and in extremely bad shape. No, I thought despairingly. Our only chance of winning was lost. The wizard was too weak for magic, and could surely not defeat the evil wizard in combat.
I was heavily surprised when Trantaltamor held out his hands, and pushed Dragomirovich over. Dragomirovich fell down, and screamed in agony. He screamed and screamed, and I thought I would go deaf, but fortunately the screaming soon subsided. When I reopened my eyes, I saw that the once evil wizard was now nothing more than a pile of dust.
I looked quizzically at Trantaltamor.
‘Evil magic makes the person untouchable. It is not compatible with good. The slightest bit of good will turn it to dust.’ explained Trantaltamor.
I stood there with my mouth open, the world of wizardry opening up to me. What things I could do as a wizard. I could go higher than my rank of general. My thoughts were interrupted by a rich and cheery voice.
‘I say that we all celebrate.’
It was the king. He was dressed in full armour, ready to go to battle if need be. He too would give up his life for his kingdom. I smiled as I thought to myself that I would try to be as self-sacrificing as the king and his soldiers, because when you sacrifice something, you don’t lose it, you gain it.
I kept that thought in my head, as I walked into the lit up chambers of the dining hall. Royalty, soldiers, and commoners all mixing and mingling together. It was the start of a new generation.
