Chapter 33 - Shocking Setback

"This is not happening, tell me I'm hallucinating" the Alpha King groaned moving mindlessly to the edge of the sundeck.

He obviously wanted to have a closer look at the battlefield. He must have been hoping to see something different but it had already happened.

All he needed was to be true to himself and accept that. His men had fallen. They were mauled and killed by the invaders.

"They have fallen but this is the first bout. It is nothing to worry about" Queen Teresa consoled him.

"I am not worried about the number of bouts. These men were dead if I could see clearly. And I'm very sure my eyes were not playing tricks. It is happening for real" he gasped breathlessly and moved closer to the edge like he wanted to descend on the battlefield from the sundeck.

"Be careful, Henry" she cautioned him but he didn't yield. She rushed to his side and pulled him back.

"Do you know what you are doing? You want to commit suicide for losing about hundred men?" she yelled to get him back in his right mind.

"This is not about a hundred or two hundred men. I have experienced this before. That is how it will go on until they kill the last of our men" he was almost in tears.

"And jumping down to your death will put an end to that?" she reprimanded him. "You know what your problem is. There is only one problem with you and that is what had brought you here to the sundeck" she continued.

"Problem?" he turned to her to give his whole attention. "And what is that?" he asked eagerly.

"You can't trust other. You only believe in yourself. That is James down there representing you but you don't believe him to deliver. Youbelieve only you can be everything" she criticized him.

"And do you think James can end this?" he said furiously pointing to the battlefield. "He has surely never experience this before in his life. This is the work of sorcery. Tell me how he will tackle that?" he asked in anger

"Is that not what I am talking about? He can't do anything because he is not you. Whereas you are also going down there to wield the same sword they are already wielding. Or do you have anything planned that I don't know about?" she held his clothes to pull him closer as she spoke energetically.

The Alpha King breathed deeply. He heaved a sigh of relief and turned calm.

"Believee in James, there is still going to be a day that you won't be around here anymore and this kingdom will need him. Relax and watch what will become of Darnley after your death" she urged.

"I know we both know I am dying but I am sure I will still live close to twenty years so please let's not talk about that yet" he said softly and turned away. It seemed the mention of death had made him sad.

"I didn't mean it that way. I just want you to retain your clear head" she said calmly.

"I will watch as you wanted. But when I notice that there is no other way out, I will rather die down there than watch my own fall from here" he breathed heavily. He obviously believed in the last part of his words.

"James will do it. I have faith in him" Queen Teresa realized this is what James wanted. After raising up everyone's hope then he would save the day.

Michael had been lazy. He was supposed to be here by his side but he claimed he already have a plan panned out. She would be touching for him if he happened to be down there.

"See, he has no clue. Not him, not the general" the Alpha King pointed to them as they slowly moved down from the top of the wall.

"You said you will watch, not complain. Wait and see what he is going to do" she moaned.

"The sun will soon be up then they will be at advantage" he whined.

"They would have worn out by that time even if they are winning till that moment" she encouraged.

"Worn out?" the Alpha King paused to stare at her. He chuckled, he found what she said funny. "These are soldiers that are only in flesh and body in our eyes. They are not human. They don't have lives. They don't die" he proclaimed.

"Let's wait and see. I believe in James" she pretended.
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James came down from top of the wall with General Brewer and the others. He was looking very displeased. He breathed heavily as he looked around at all of them.

"Do you now see what I was talking about? We have underestimated them and now we have paid the price with hundred men" he psised and sighed.

"It is time I take the role by myself. I will go out there and decimate this enemies myself" he said sternly.

"No" General Brewer objected. He moved right into his front to be face to face with him.

"You are not going out there. We should protect you. Once the head falls, the whole body will wither and die away" he explained and turned back to his men.

"Like the Alpha heir said, we have underestimated the ability of the enemies and we have paid the price. We should now restrategize and correct our mistakes" General Brewer took a pause. He started at the men round like he was studying them.

"We all see what happened out there. It is enough to take the bravery of anyone. But I will want you to discard the thoughts that they are immortals. Immortals exist but they can be murdered too" he was only trying to instill courage in his men after he noticed they were broken and shattered.

"They rise back from the dead" one of the soldiers cried.

"Yes, come here" General Brewer waved at him. He walked out to his side. "I can see you are scared. It is normal for anything with a heart. But you should learn to use your fear to your advantage" he put his hand on the soldier's chest.

"What is your name?" he asked calmly.

"Tides" he was now shaking visibly.

"You know I am as afraid as you are" General Brewer made his face like he was scared. "But there is something scarier than going out there to fight" he continued and he was making Tides eager.

"If you go back and I go back and everyone of us here run away from this war. And those monsters made their way in. Attacking my wife and my child is scarier than facing them. I know you have a woman and a baby too" he patted Tides as he shook his head.

"Nia" Tides moaned.

"Now we will go out there to fight for Nia" General Brewer brought out his sword and smiled at Tides.

"For Nia" he roared and raised up his sword.

"For Nia" all the soldiers chorused.

"For Nia" Tides raised up his own sword and shouted. He had obviously regained his confidence. He turned towards the gate screaming as he moved outwards.

James was surprised. General Brewer really had a way of manipulating people. He quickly collected himself together.

"Stop!" James roared. He wanted Tides and the soldiers that had been marching after him to stop but none of them listened to him.

"Your Highness. This is what we need. Men that are ready to die. You will see the outcome very soon" General Brewer made his way back on the wall.

"They are marching to their death, General" James declared.

"Are you suggesting we stop fighting so that we will not die?" he asked and chuckled.

"I will go out there and stop these people easily" he claimed.

"Your Highness, the truth here is you cannot best any of those men going out in a fight. What is you chance against people that are destroying them?" it seemed General Brewer was mocking him.

"That is only if those men bested you" James drew out his sword angrily. He made a stance inviting General Brewer for a fight.

General Brewer walked back to him unarmed.

"Draw out your sword and let us see who is better at it" James said with a threatening voice.

"Your Highness, the Royal blood are trained only in self defense. They are not trained for war. And you are one of the Royal Blood that are not properly trained" General Brewer laughed.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" James asked.

"I don't need a sword to fight you" he laughed again.

James charged at him with his swords raised high above his head aiming for General Brewer's forehead.

General Brewer rushed at him, he bent down and swept James' feet off the ground. James fell down and rolled on the floor.

"That is enough unless you wanted to have a broken back" General Brewer offered him his hand to lift him up.

James refused it. He stood up on his own, shook dirt off his body and climbed onto the wall.