CHAPTER THIIRTY SEVEN

The sunlight came after the cold night.
The Kiro warriors had surrendered slowly. Some that disobeyed killed without wait.
Edgar had discovered that the high rank nobles were all walkers. All had been killed, burnt by the mountain with the villagers watching mournfully.
The villagers had been too eager to accept his rulership.
Most hungry with torn dresses and worn shoes.
Even the oldest elder had thanked him for coming to "save" them.
The sun was up when Edgar was ready to leave. He would send more men to secure his new province, just in case any was willing to rebel against the new leadership.
Edgar was ready to leave. He needed to return your his kingdom first. His men were weary now, their faces grim with dirt and hungry looking.
He moved to the room that his sister and the child slept.
Alexandra was awake.
"Sister" he acknowledged and moved to the child. He shook her awake and shushed her as she panicked
"What did they do to you?" He asked in a gentle whisper.
"She...they...I couldn't see for days" she muttered with teary eyes.
"You're safe now. We return soon" he assured and touched her cheek.
"She's not what she seems" Selene whispered to the Lord.
"Who?"
"The Governess... She's a traitor, she is a friend of the evil lord" Selene told in a low whisper.
Edgar turned sharply to the woman who stood by the window.
"What have you done?" Edgar asked , drawing his blade
"Speak now or I end you where you stand" he ordered angrily. He had thought. But he never had reasons to strongly believe his cunny sister was a traitor.
Her carelessness was not actual carelessness after all, she allowed the walkers enter Sol.
"I may forgive you if you speak now" he added
"I had hoped this will come much longer" Alexandra replied with a dull voice.
There was footsteps which came in abruptly. Two ceased the child who cried out and struggled
"What is the meaning of this?" Edgar asked, alert and angry.
"I have been patient with you too much brother. Your stupid weak rulership. Sol deserves a true heir, not some bastard child" she said and turned to him with a scowl
"I have allowed you too much freedom Alexandra O'alistair"
"Indeed. Says a love child. Your existence annoys me, fool!You are the reason father left mother. The same reason Sol can not be wealthy, we die in penury because you are too weak to rule" she barked
"Is this your scheme for gold. I will rip all titles from you woman!" He yelled
"Too late. I will rip life from you" She said and walked to door
Edgar drew his sword
"Lift a finger and the lady dies" Alexandra stated
"Why are you doing this?" Edgar asked
"I was assuming you'd know. You are a bastard. You deserve nothing from the O'alistair legacy. But of course you're a boy. Nonsense!" She said and walked to the child
"Do not touch her" Edgar said
"Order your men to allow us free passage. Lead them to the edge of the forest and do not come back. Or she dies" Alexandra said
Edgar looked at the fear stricked child again and nodded
Alexandra smiled.
Edgar was led out, his sword left on yhe floor. Two men by his sides. They were worth nothing. It was the child that he pitied. He didn't want to rescue her and then let her die
"Stand back" he told his men that had drawn out swords
"Where are the men?" He asked
"The wounded has been sent back home, the dead has been buried" the man said, eyeing the Governess with hate
" Lead the men...send them off" Edgar ordered
"All of them?" The warrior asked
"All of them" Edgar affirmed
"We can kill her quickly my lord"
"I have spoken"
" For a girl? Did we sacrifice able men only to back down now? Surely my Lord, a mere woman..." The warrior argued
"All of them, send theme away" he stated firmly.
The warrior bowed and left
Alexandra stood as the man left, shortly after returning with about four hundred men, what was left of the warriors.
They all bowed at the Lord and hesitantly filed out of the castle the same way they had come.
The Governess' men stood in their numbers. All four hundred and fifty, Spears and arrows in hand, the warriors of Sol were led to the boundary, the province warriors standing across them. A fence created.
Edgar watched as the last of his men left into the dense forest.
"I will ensure Sol is emptied of those weak men...power is wisdom. Not strength" Alexandra said and turned away "Behead him" she ordered.
Edgar's hands were tied behind his back, the robe a thick ring.
He stared at the princess one last time and closed his eyes. He would not beg. He would not die a coward
"No!" Selene cried out, knocking the unaware guard by her side off his feet. The sight of Edgar defenseless fueling her strength, she drew out his sword, stabbing one that came at her.
Edgar turned to deliver a disabled punch at his executioner.
He blocked the blow of another with this bounded hands and tore away the restrain, breaking a few fingers as he did.
The child had been cornered, she now stood, sword in hand, turning in circles as the men surrounded her.
Edgar drew a sword from the warrior passed out by his feet and attacked. He destroyed the circle swiftly. Leaving heads far from the body. Blood coated the grass.
The snow had begun to fall, the ground was now wet with blood and water.
He pulled the child to his side and defended them both.
The fight went on for long. His muscles ached. His head faint. He was losing strength. The sleepless nights wearing him down. He fought for the child, her alone. His blood hot with the betrayal. He was outnumbered but still he fought, he'd been raised by Horace O'Alistair, a ruthless emperor and losing was what he didn't know.
He heard a gasp and turned. Selene stood behind Alexandra, an onyx hilted dagger protruding from Alexandra's chest.
The child drew out her blade only go plung it in again, she yelped jumped away. Startled by the blood that now gushed.
Edgar moved to drew her to him.
"Surrender now and I will grant you a merciful death" he barked.
One man lunged at him. He fell before he got too near. The men watched with fear and confusion was Alexandra bathed the ground in blood.
"Another? Who else is willing to die for this traitorous woman?" He asked
No one came.
"Go to the castle. Tell the men to sound their loudest bell" he told the child.
She shook her head and clinged to him
"You'll be safe. Go" he replied
She left with a run, disappearing into the castle.
It wasn't long after. The bell rang. A soft chime that grew to a loud ring.
He waited.
The child ran back to him. Breathing loudly.
Not too long after, his men came forward from the forest, sword in hand. Twice the number that had left.
"Lead them off the cliff the northern, every last one of them" he ordered and left.
The shouts and cries came but he wouldn't listen. If they had betrayed him now. They would again. He couldn't risk it.
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The horses were stronger. They moved not as quickly as he wanted with but not as slow as he had expected. The animals were tired and so was he.
The child was leaning on him. Her weight lighter than he liked. Her face was shrunken. Her eyes bigger and almost a lost green. Her hair disheveled. She looked a wreck.
The tents came imto view.
He was eager to lay down. His body worn out.
He had carried his sister's body. Her heavy body now rode in a carriage before him. She did not deserve a proper burial but that, he would give her. For the sake of his father. For the sake of Sol. A noble would not be buried in a strange land.
"My Lord" a female healer cried out as he reached the camps.
More men filtered out. The warriors in their numbers filled the forest. More camped ahead. He was glad to see his men had not been wasted to half. Kiro had underestimated him. He had overestimated Kiro.
"My Lord" the superior healer bowed and reached for him as he dismounted the stallion
"See to the child" he ordered
The man rushed to take the princess from him and entered into a tent, his apprentices going after him.
The tent he entered was large. The matress a heap of clothes and hay.
He unclothed as a small boy entered, holding a bowl to him. He did not even bow.
Edgar accepted the meal and the boy scurried off.
Soon after, an older boy came, bowing and attending to him. His wounds were dressed and his his belly was full before night fell.
He went to see the child twice. Each of which she was still asleep.
He retired for the night. His sword beside him, listening to the noisy forest before sleep took him.