Crimson Strongblade

Riding is one of the few things that I enjoy in life. The thrill of the speed and the air on my face are just one of the few perks of riding. It is relaxing.

I like riding. Infact I might even love it.

But no longer. The humans have ruined it for me. They ruin everything.

When they put my body on the horse back I was relieved that my plan is working. But soon the time for regret came. When the horse started moving. At first the horse was at a running pace. I bounced up and down on my stomach. It felt painful being constantly hit on the same spot but it was tolerable. It’s not like I can switch sides or correct my posture. What other choice did I have than to tolerate it?

But then the horse took a galloping pace. And then, I don’t think that I need to explain how every gallop of the horse made me bounce higher and smashed me on the same spot again and again.

Oh! The pain. Seriously, beating are much more enjoyable than this.

But pain was not the only thing that bothered me. I was pretending to be unconscious and I had to let all my muscles loose. Therefore every time I bounced up and down, the horse’s hairs made its way inside my nose and mouth. And in order to not ruin my plan I could not close my mouth.

Being in the army nearly all my life, I have eaten and drank the best and worst of things but a horse’s sweat and hair is not something anyone would enjoy.

It was surprising that I did not fall of the horse given how much I bounced. Must be because I am heavy. That must also be the reason why the horse was sweating extra.

It would have been better if they had dragged me back to the fort. Atleast something I loved would not have been ruined for me then.

All the while I told myself that it is a necessary sacrifice I make to do the impossible.

Finally the time came when I am taken inside the fort.

I hear the fort’s gate shut behind me but we still keep riding. I hear the shuffling of weapons. The officers barking orders.

I take in as much information I can so that I can assess the formation and defenses for I need everything I can get my hands on if I want to succeed.

We finally come to a stop. A man dismounts and orders, “Officer. Take him to prison. Commander will be there soon. Take 5 archers with you and keep their bow drawn and arrows pointed at him in case he awakens. Mark it soldier. Keep him alive. It is not every day we capture a blade general.”

“Yes sir.” The officer replies and I hear the man’s step leaving in the opposite direction.

“You there. Carry this vile creature to the prison and you 5. You heard what the commander said. Come.” The officer orders.

Since I know that I will be watched with vigilance. I need to take precautionary measures now.

They would definitely need to keep me dosed since they would prepare for the some retaliation which they would consider imminent by my army for taking me hostage so I had already prepared for an anti-sleeping pill and just in case an anti-poison pill.

When the soldier took me off the horse I used it as an opportunity to get the pill from between my cheek and gum and put in under my tongue so that I can swallow it on a moment’s notice.

My actions go unnoticed and I am being carried inside the prison.

“Do you thing he will wake.” Says the first archer

“He…” The second replies but is cut off.

“I don’t want to hear a word from any of you. You are to keep your mouth shut, eyes peeled, arrows pointed at the prisoner and stay alert.” The officer scolds the soldier. Normally I like his kind of people. Sharp and alert.

But I am not liking them much right now.

I lay there in the position I was put, not moving a muscle.

I kept lying there until finally I hear 5 pair of footsteps approach my prison cell. The door to my prison cell opens and 3 pair of footstep enter. 2 of them sounds lighter than they are suppose to.

“Here is your prize commander.” The man who went to fetch the commander spoke. Which means that one of the two light weighted man is the commander.

“Do your work Ranar.” Orders a woman. She is one of the two light weighted people that entered my cell and if she is the one ordering than that means she is the commander.

How is this possible? This fort belongs to the heavenly kingdom, right? Could it be that the fort change hands?

Throughout all my life in the military I have never seen heavenly kingdom let a woman serve in the military. Let alone a position of commander of such an important fort.

“Yes princess.” Says Ranar.

Princess? That explains a lot. It would be impossible for an average female of heavenly Kingdom to reach such position but with influence and backing like the princess here had, it is possible. Hard but possible.

I prepare myself for whatever is to come?

This Ranar fellow comes and places his hands over my head.

I feel him trying to enter my mind subtly but I do not let him. I was taught to shield my mind from all intrusions no matter the circumstances whether it be sleeping or in the midst of battle. And right now I have nothing to do except shield myself from him. So there is no way this human will be successful.

He keeps trying to pass my mental barrier and break into my mind but he is just tiring himself.

Seeing that his efforts are being wasted. He becomes aggressive. He lashes out at me and burst of energy one after the other but I keep reinforcing my mental barrier. Until finally it all stopped.

“I am sorry princess but I would need time to break into him. His mental defense is the most tough which I have faced until now.” Says Ranar in an exhausted voice.

“But can you do it?” The princess asks in a slightly worried voice.

“Ofcourse princess. It will take some time but I will succeed.” Replies Ranar tiringly.

“Very well Ranar. Go rest for now. It is late in the night. God has given us their blade general. These demons are bound to retaliate. Preserve your energy for them.” The princess says to Ranar.

“If you do not mind princess I would like to work on him. I am sure I will be successful soon.” Ranar requests humbly.

Really? He thinks he will be successful.

Laughable. He can never do it. Not with that weak will of his.

The princess does not seem to reply. She must be contemplating her choices.

“Very well. You may stay and work on him. However keep these guards in cell with you incase he wakes up.” The princess orders.

“If you don’t mind princess. I would like to be alone when I work on him.” Ranar requests

“No the guards will stay. He could wake up.” The princess replies sternly.

But Ranar doesn’t back down and humbly says, “I will give him a strong sleeping potion. I have it on me.”

Again the princess stays silent while thinking of her options.

“Fine. But a few guards will remain outside the cell. Give him the potion infront of me for the sake of my mind.” Replies the princess. Cautious one. Isn’t she.

“Thank you for this great opportunity princess. You will not regret this.” Ranar replies excitedly.

I take the pill out from underneath my tongue. Ranar part my lips and puts the bottle to my mouth. The liquid pours in. When the bottle empties, he removes it from my lips and replaces it with his hand to force me to drink.

I drink the sleeping potion and anti-sleeping pill and cough a little as it should have been expected from an unconscious person.

“Come Lieutenant. To my office. We must discuss our defenses and hope the God grants us yet another quick victory like this one.” The princess addresses the man who brought her here and I hear them leave the cell.