Forty eight

My days are plagued with leading and making decisions for the army, my nights are cursed with me dreaming about Orel torture, I wake up screaming and struggling against Elison hold. He took a guard post outside the tent at night while I sleep to protect me not only from my nightmares but from anybody who wanted to harm me too. I was barely hanging on to my sanity. The only reason why I could still function was my unborn child.

“Lady Themis, are you listening to me.” Elison voice jarred my consciousness back to my current location, which was listening to what Elison was saying about the commanders we needed to inform that Orel was with the enemy and he isn’t listening to my suggestion of not inviting anybody to contest my rule for the main time. “I am sorry, what did you respond me with?”

“I said that it was best they hear the news from us than from other commanders, it will not endear you to them when they learn that you are keeping things from them.” Elison repeated as I squeezed my face into a grimace. “What’s wrong, is it the baby, is he giving you discomfort.” Elison rushed out.

“No, no. I am fine. The reason for my expression was because of the words you said. They are true and I guess that I have no choice, the challenges you will receive this way will be less than the ones you were supposed to receive.” I voiced as Elison looked at me shocked.

“The reason you don’t want to tell them was because you wanted a few to fight me?’

“Yes, you don’t have to sound so shocked at my reasoning because of it.” I mumbled as he smiled.

“Thanks for the care but I can handle them. That is the reason why I am second of the commanders, I could win against all of them and I still can so don’t be bothered.”

I nodded at his reply but that didn’t help me feel relieved. I knew that I still needed to take a stand. “Now, what are we going to do about my tribesmen? They were the ones who sold us out.”

“Do you have proof?” Elison asked.

“You know that I don’t.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t you say nothing? You know that I need to punish them.” I tell him.

Elison sighed. “Give me the list of those you think are involved and I will find ways to make them confess to the truth.”

“Thank you Elison, there is nothing I could have done without your help.”

He stood up and bowed to me as he turns to leave the room, I barely caught his words. “You are the wife and heart of a man dear to me. I will protect you till my dying breathe.”


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I was in the tent with Dyane prodding my body when Elison arrived, rather than him saying anything, he just stood by the flap of the tent and waited for Dyane to be done. “What is the news?” I asked him but he shook his head at me. Something else I was slowly learning. I might be the Warlady but Orel is the warlord, his commands even though he is not around still supersedes mine.

“Everything is in the right condition.” Dyane declares.

“Good, now will you tell me what going on in the camp?” I asked Elision again not bothering to hide my irritation.

Normally, he would have smiled or at least his eyes would have been less tensed but none of those happened. His lack of humor frightened me more than anything else. “What happened Elison?”

“I didn’t need to find something to pin on your former tribesmen, Warlady.” Elison said as his face grew red.

“Why?” I asked noticing the change of color and knowing it is certainly not from shame from not being able to follow my commands.

“The bastards were merry making when I crept up on them with some warriors. They were talking about how they weakened the Dar Empire and the gain they made. They were celebrating the capture of Orel and the news of you being in a long lasting sleep.”

I chose to focus on the least news first because my brain was still having troubles processing what Elison just said. “I have been awoken for some time now.”

Elison looked at me with eyes ablaze, his face was red and I knew it was taking him a lot of self-restrain not to leave here and kill those who are responsible for Orel absence. “The warriors are not fools, they all know that we are amidst enemies. The only reason they knew that you were in a long lasting sleep was because, the camp was in chaos when you were found. Nobody saw the need to update them on your condition.”

Tears fell from my eyes. “I was right, they were responsible.”

“Themis…” Elison started but when I turned my gaze to him, whatever he saw in my eyes was enough to make him swallow the rest of his words.

“Gather the commanders in the middle of town square, tell some warriors to bring out the torture equipment, send Boan and five guards he trust to come escort me and Dyane from my tent to the town square.”

“What do you plan on doing?” Elison asked me.

“I plan on channeling my husband rage on those who sought to harm him.” I said as I turned my face from Elison silently dismissing him. Elison stayed for some seconds before releasing a defeated sigh then he left the tent.

“My lady?” Dyane cautiously asks.

“If you cannot handle seeing me as a monster, I would strongly suggest you remain within the camp.”

“I can handle it.” Dyane said silently.

“Good, I need you to help me change into my trousers, any color that hides blood would be best and also find my ceremonial sword. This meeting is going to be a ceremonial one.”

“As you wish Warlady.” Dyane said softly with a bow then she leaves. I stood up still feeling the rage within me build up. They dare to sell the Warlord out. They with receive the wrath of the Warlady before begging for their deaths.


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Orel Pov




Pain. That has what my days bled to, I know no measure of time passage. My time is plagued with pain and torture, they wish to break me, they think that I will break. There is just one reason why I will break and that is my wife. She is safe and that is all that matter.

The bastard who double as my torturer comes and stand in my front, I don’t see him though, I don’t remember the last time I saw. He was scared of my eyes so he always make sure they never heal fully. I can make out shapes and difference in light, the only reason why I knew he was in front of me was because he blocked my view of the light. “War lord.” He chuckled. “You are no war lord, you are nothing. Just a bag of bones and information I need. Tell me where the warehouse of the Dar Empire is.” He demanded, gripping my hair.

I could barely feel it.

I am used to the pain. “And why would I do that?” I asked him chuckling, the sound grated my throat, when was the last time I was offered water to drink? It has been too long.

“I might agree to free you quickly from this life.” He replied.

“I will survive this.” I tell him. “If only to kill you, just know that I will.”

“I would like to see you escape and try.” He pronounced as I smiled.

“You are not normal.” He concluded as he punched me in my chest. I doubled over as far as the chains would allow me, wheezing as breathing for me turned into fire.

My ribs were broken and it felt like… pain. More pain than usual.

“Still sticking to your former stand?” He asked, his voice cruel.

“Bas. Tard.” I breathed out as loudly as I could. He punched me and then started to inflict more pain on me. His method, I would commend if I was not on the receiving end.

Nausea increased. In, out. My consciousness slowly fades. These times are the ones that matters, I am at peace, I can pretend I am with Themis and block out the pain.