Chapter 105: A Sister’s Farewell

It was a brutal battle. Every inch of the walls had fighting taking place. Bodies piled up as high as men in some parts as soldiers crawled over them covering themselves in blood and flesh. Fires raged all over and the air was thick with smoke. Harun watched as the endless horde was assaulted. They had been forced off the walls after a lengthy hour-long siege. The gate had finally opened and they had to be abandoned. The retreat was swift and Harun had many to rally his men and keep morale high despite the first breach.

His hand ached, and his swings were weaker than they should have been. He couldn’t count how many times he had almost been killed due to losing his strong hand, but it was the miracle of Khors or luck, that he had managed to survive so long. That being said he looked at his men that lined the walls with him. They shot down the invading army. It was noticeably smaller, showing the casualties taken. Yet he also saw the Principality. The horde that had threatened to destroy them, although still large, looked thinner. He was lucky they couldn’t bring in the siege towers knowing it was over if they could, but knew the gate was weaker than the first one. It wouldn’t take as long for it to fall.

Harun watched as the ram threw itself into the gate. Anything poured on it failed to work. Alexei had made sure to create something that could withstand any punishment thrown at it. He saw as ladders were thrown up and people tried to scale climb up and create an opening. It was unsuccessful for the most part, but a few stragglers managed to pull it off and create an opening on the second wall.

Harun could only grit his teeth and watch. He couldn’t use a bow anymore and no one was close to using his sword. Yet he knew that he had a more important role. He watched as the ram beat the gate. He could hear its eventual collapse. "SEND REINFROMENTS TO THE GATE! THE WALL WILL HOLD FOR A WHILE!" He sent the call along the wall, his voice carried by other commanders who knew how much they could sacrifice to lose. He turned back and watched as the wall placed on it grew in size and nodded, before refocusing himself on the issue on the other side.

Ivan was happy. He stood behind the ram, a distance away and watched the gate slowly crack open. Thousands of his men had died in this initial siege, but it was worth it. They had done what they had failed so many times before, and broken through. His eyes didn’t break from the ram. It had been ten minutes since it started and he could see. A couple more hits and it was open. He reached for his sword and walked forward, his army following behind. He had time to reorganise the majority of his force and now it was time for the second wave to begin.

He saw the gate break, swinging open. Behind he saw the wall or defenders. Fury and defiance all over their faces. They had already readied themselves for death. They were ready to defend their homeland no matter the cost. It got Ivan’s blood flowing seeing such a thing. They had disappointed him so far, being weak and lethargic. It wasn’t the tales he had heard before that had defended the Sultantes Northen border since its creation.

Now he saw the real deal. He saw the battle-hardened warriors who had kept his ancestors at bay for so long. Ivan ran through the gate leading the charge. His yells and cries ignited the blood of those behind who copied. Ivan’s smile grew wider as he closed in. It was like a child had seen a toy shop and was allowed to buy anything they wanted. Raising his shield, he almost jumped into the wall of blades. Swinging his sword down, he cleaved a man’s skull in half with the initial attack. The clash created a defining noise that silenced everything.

One of his men had to pull Ivan back quickly. A sword stuck his location a second later and Ivan had a face of disbelief looking forward. He had gotten lost in the moment and nearly paid for it. "IF WE SURVIVE! I WILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE REWARED HANDSOMLY!" Ivan shouted before breaking into a lighter and returning to the fight. The random solider laughed as well throwing himself into the fray.

"MORE MEN TO THE GATE!" Harun gave the order seeing how many were charging through it. The wall now only held the bare minimum. More were able to scale the wall due to this, but were quickly dealt with. He didn’t know what to do. Stay up here or go down below. He was near useless in a fight now and being up high gave a better view of the battle. But he knew his presence below would need a morale boost. Gritting his teeth he made his choice. "YOU ARE IN CHaRGE OF THE WALL! DO NOT GIVE IT UNDER ANY COST!"

Harun ran down the steps. He stood at the back and watched as he saw the mad swarm that was the principality. He could see Ivan’s face as he fought like a wild beast, having no regard for his safety. It was a stark difference from what he had heard about him before. Either his reports were wrong or the man was different today.

Still, he knew that Ivan fighting like this, leading from the front was a great confidence boost. As long as Ivan didn’t waver his men wouldn’t. He could see that effect. The level of trust they had in him. It was nothing like Alexei who inspired loyalty through meticulous planning in everything he did. Ivan had less strategy but had a wildness to him that made everyone around wish to fight alongside him.

It was sad. He was unable to do that anymore. He was disabled and forced to stick to the back, unable to take more dangerous positions, threatening to get in the way. He could only watch from afar and order his men. It worked for now because they wished to defend their home, but what about in the future? Who would follow a man who didn’t risk his life alongside his people?

Nearly an hour passed. It was a bloody and chaotic fight, full of madness. Despite the strong defence, the overwhelming number of soldiers charging through the gate began to overwhelm the defending force which had no way of replenishing their numbers. The wall had long fallen and archer fire rained down from above, killing people who had no clue how they died.

Harun could only watch as his thousands of men slowly were stripped away. He saw the mountain of bodies form. He saw how some who weren’t dead got buried underneath them. Their limbs reached out, hoping that someone would pull them out. He saw as Ivan who increasingly got covered in wounds never stopped. He saw blood fly through the sky, dying those next to it. He watched the air get thicker; smoke and blood mixing to create a horrid stench.

Harun stood blankly. Unable to focus. The war was lost. He was sure he was going to die. His home was going to disappear. He felt the urge to cry but didn’t. "ugh." In his moment of weakness, an arrow flew from above, impaling his arm. He felt another, pierce through his chest and then his shoulder.

He looked at the battlefield in front and up on the wall. He looked down at the sword in his hand, the thing he took so much pride in before, now no more than an ornamental piece. He saw his men butchered. He could tell he was going to die. He slowly turned, seeing the wide doors that led into Ali’s castle. He slowly trudged his way to the, taking another arrow into the back of his shoulder. He threatened to fall, but held himself, stumbling. His men knew the gate was now lost, and those that survived, ran to the castle, hoping to make a stand inside of it.

Ivan walked forward. He stood outside the doors of the castle, a smile wide on his face. He had taken his men further than anyone had ever before. He saw the piles of bodies littered around the floor and paid them no heed. It was a battle and he thanked them for their sacrifice, but they all knew it was a possibility to die. Despite this Ivan flicked his finger forward, his men charging in, once again following his lead.

Inside it was a whole different atmosphere. Zahra sat in her room, reading a book. She could hear the war going on outside. Hearing a knock on her door a gentle smile spread on her face. Only one person knocked like that. "Come in." She spoke pleasantly and a beaten Harun walked in.

Zahra stood up throwing the book to the side, catching her brother in her arms who slowly fell forward. "zahra." Harun’s voice was weak and caused silent tears to fall from her eyes. Yet she didn’t let him see, having to remain strong for her brother. "run. leave me. please live." It was a desperate plea as his body fell closer to the ground. He had long ripped out the arrows in his body, knowing he was going to die. Zahra gently cradled his head and fell to her knees placing his head on her lap.

She ran her fingers through his dirty hair, not caring about how stiff it had become. "run zahra. run." Harun’s voice trailed as he repeated the same line over and over. Her free hand covered her mouth, refusing to make a noise.

"I’m here with you Harun. Rest. Please." She fought for her voice not to break. She tried not to stumble on her words but knew that she had probably failed. She looked at the faint smile on Harun’s lips spread as his eyes closed.

"i’ll rest a little, then sister. tomorrow we will go out." His voice was almost silent saying the last words. His hand weakly reached out for her trying to grab her hand on his head. She caught it, clutching it tightly.

Ivan walked through the corridors of the castle. He saw a faint light coming from a room. Using his sword he pushed it open, seeing the kneeling figure of Zahra play with Harun’s hair as she cried. Ivan dropped the sword to his side and Zahra looked up at him, a polite smile on her face.

He could see the heartbreak on her. "Princess." He said softly, "If you wish I can allow you to become a sister of Gaia." He knew it was the wrong time to tell her this, but he didn’t know what else to say. He had just got her brother killed. He didn’t know what to do.

"Prince." She no longer hid her sorrow. "Would you kindly move my brother to the bed? He wants to rest." She asked the question and Ivan could only lightly nod. He walked forward, seething his sword. With great care he picked up Harun’s body, placing it on the silk covers.

Zahra stood up, her knees covered in blood. She walked to the desk and opened its drawer, pulling out a vial of clear liquid. Turning to Ivan she put on a smile free of malice or hate. She didn’t blame him for her brother’s death. "Thank you for your offer." She walked over to Harun, stroking his hair once more, "But my place is here. Please can you leave me?" Ivan saw what she planned to do and nodded, silently exiting. He closed the door tightly behind him and stood outside not allowing anyone to enter.

Zahra opened the lid of the vial. She placed a gentle kiss on Harun’s forehead and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Forgive me Khors. But you must understand why I do this." With a silent prayer of forgiveness, she downed its contents making her way around to the other side of the bed. Lying next to her brother she grabbed his hand and closed her eyes, listening to the chaos around the castle until she fell asleep.