It was once a peaceful expanse, a verdant plain that exuded serenity. Today, it had become a battlefield, saturated with the red of spilled blood. Corpses lay on almost every inch of land. Kaly Tanaka suddenly opened her eyes, revealing white pupils obscured by black. For a few moments, she remained disoriented, unaware of where she was. Her gaze met only the misty, grey-tinged sky, like the aftermath of a persistent rain. A stabbing pain in her lower abdomen startled her back to reality.
She gripped her sword firmly in her left hand, a sharp, silver Ydryys blade. Despite her will to stand up, she was unable to do so. Her gaze wandered around her, meeting only death... All her soldiers lay lifeless. No, this was inconceivable. No one could defeat them. No one could. In a failed attempt to get up, her strength failed her, and the persistent pain overwhelmed her. She fainted again, overwhelmed by suffering and grief.
*
Once, this vast plain exuded peace, far from death. Hundreds of horsemen came to invade it, standing proudly on the flank of a hill. The funereal sight did not please them. The ground was littered with soldiers' corpses. Who were they? Where did they come from? Who had they fought against? Were there any survivors? A man clad in remarkable armor ordered everyone to search for survivors among the dead, and he set to the task. The horsemen left their mounts at the foot of the hill and rushed to the battlefield. Everyone they examined was dead, everyone... They were not like them, coming from a distant land. Their armor gleamed with a silvery metal, displaying a purple fleur-de-lis as their emblem. The man in the distinctive armor seemed to recognize this emblem, like a memory from another time.
After several minutes of unsuccessful searching, multiple voices were heard. They had discovered two survivors, then a third, until the last voice.
"Your Grace! You should come and see!" exclaimed the voice.
The King straightened up and hurried to the other end of the battlefield. A few horsemen were already gathered around a body that seemed lifeless.
"It's a woman, Your Grace. And she is alive," he informed.
The King gazed at this strange warrior, kneeling by her side. Despite the battle scars, she was radiant with authority, with sun-kissed skin, silver hair with white highlights, and wearing the commander's helmet. In her left hand, she held a sword, which the King identified as a Ydryys blade, a rare weapon. This woman must hold a higher rank than Commander.
"Is she alive?"
"Yes, Your Grace, but she is gravely wounded."
"Very well, let's bring the survivors back to the castle," ordered the King as he observed the warrior.
As they attempted to remove the sword from her hand to facilitate her transport, the warrior suddenly opened her eyes, startling them all. She locked eyes with the King, her gaze hypnotic with a familiar glint. The young woman tightened her grip on her sword, ready to act. Anticipating any hostility, the King spoke to her in a reassuring voice.
"Everything is fine, we mean you no harm. Let us help you."
She stared at him intensely before fainting. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the King took Ydryys's blade and ordered a retreat back to the castle. They had found four survivors, all seriously injured and in need of urgent care.
*
When Kaly Tanaka opened her eyes, the grey sky had given way to a golden ceiling. The man she had seen by her side had brought her here, but where exactly? What place was this? Struggling to get up from the excessively comfortable bed, she gazed at the sumptuous surrounding room, decorated with an opulence that seemed almost excessive to her. The purple sheets on the bed were familiar to her, a color she cherished. But she realized she was dressed differently, adorned with a short skirt and a white silk top instead of her warrior's armor. So, she lay back down, waiting for someone to appear.
An hour passed without anyone showing up. Unable to wait any longer, she got up as best as she could, searching for suitable clothing. A simple long black wool jacket sufficed for her. Quietly, she opened the door and looked out into the corridor, which was plunged into a strange darkness contrasting with the opulence of her room.
No one was present, not even the chambermaids. Kaly left quietly, not wanting to encounter anyone in her current state. She ran her hand through her tousled hair while holding her lower abdomen where she had been injured earlier. She walked slowly, unsure of what she would do if she ran into someone. Suddenly, she realized she was cold; winter had set in, unlike her comfortable room with a fireplace. Now in light clothing, barefoot, and only wearing a wool jacket, she felt ridiculously exposed. The persistent pain from her injury added to her discomfort.
Wandering through the long, dark corridor, devoid of doors but intertwined with corridors and stairs, lit by simple lanterns, she finally spotted a window. Surveying the surroundings, she realized she was in a castle, identifiable by the visible ramparts and courtyard. The castle seemed vast, at least from where she was, with hills and forests in the distance. Having left her room, she wondered if she was the only survivor. Now that she had some knowledge of the surroundings and knew the way out, she decided to continue her exploration without fear. She emerged from the corridor to find a double staircase, one spiraling to the right and the other descending into darkness. Kaly sensed a deeper darkness in the spiral staircase, although it was just an illusion, as the other staircase was actually brighter. This one must lead to the first inner courtyard or a more frequented corridor. She chose the spiral staircase, getting lost for nearly an hour in the least frequented areas of the castle.
Kaly finally emerged into the large courtyard, the place where the inhabitants and lords gathered. She realized she could no longer avoid them; it was time to head to the site of the massacre and reunite with her soldiers. The most direct way was a straight line to the gate, where she would surely find a way to leave the castle. Adjusting her silver hair with white highlights, she ventured into what she perceived as an arena. Shivering from the cold, her bare feet numb and her unusual attire making her appear as a madwoman, she walked straight towards the main gate. Glancing back, the castle seemed even larger and more imposing. The presence of soldiers along the walls worried her, but she continued on her path without hesitation.
*
Perched on the ramparts, the King gazed down at the courtyard where the inhabitants were moving about, wondering what had happened on the battlefield. Lost in thought, he was interrupted by one of his soldiers.
"Your Grace, did you call for me?" he said.
"Yes, how are the survivors faring?" the King asked, turning to face him.
"The Maesters checked on them two hours ago, they were still asleep."
"Good, good. It's better that way, if they wake up they might..."
"Your Grace!" shouted a soldier from the other end of the rampart. "Look!"
The King turned to the soldier, who pointed to the courtyard. He quickly understood that the soldier was indicating a woman with silver hair, barely clothed. The survivor had woken up and could not leave, at least not in that state.
The King yelled, "Stop her from leaving!"
The soldiers stirred, and Kaly Tanaka, in a panic, noticed. At that moment, the wind picked up, a strong, cold wind that caused panic. Still far from the door, surrounded by armed soldiers, she grabbed the nearest soldier's sword, holding her lower abdomen with one hand and the sword with the other, ready to attack. Before she could act, the King arrived running, followed by other soldiers.
"Lower your weapons!" he ordered. "Lower your weapons!"
Everyone obeyed, except for Kaly, who did not feel safe.
"It's okay, you're not in danger," he reassured her as he approached. "Please, lower your weapon."
"I've seen you before. You were on the battlefield."
"We brought..."
"You don't understand, I have to go!" she interrupted. "I need to see them!"
"They are dead, I'm sorry."
Kaly looked at him, completely lost. All of her soldiers, dead? Burning tears stung her eyes. She couldn't believe it. Lowering her weapon, she handed it to the King, who gave it to one of his soldiers. The townspeople had stopped, watching this strange scene. Why was the King interested in a woman in incongruous attire, they wondered.
"I have to go..." she said, looking at him.
"We will take you there, but right now you are not in a condition, and certainly not in that attire. You are freezing. Come, we need to go back."
The King took off his own cape and placed it over Kaly Tanaka's shoulders. Together, they returned to the castle. Life resumed as usual. The King led the survivor to the banquet hall and ordered a warm drink to be served to her. The room was spacious, well-lit, and warm thanks to a large, continuously fueled fireplace. He stood across from her, silently watching her drink. He realized he was fond of her unique combination of black and white hair and eyes. Despite not knowing her identity, he already felt he could trust her, but she needed to be tested.
"Did they all die?All of them?" Kaly suddenly asked in a weak voice.
"Not all of them. We brought back three other survivors to the castle, three soldiers."
"How are they? Can I see them?"
"They were seriously injured, but the Maesters say they will pull through."
"Thank God," she sighed. "When can I see them?"
"Soon. Listen, I'll be frank with you. We brought you back because you were injured, but honestly, we know nothing about you. My question is clear: were you the enemy?" the King asked in a firm voice.
"What?!"
Kaly appeared genuinely surprised by the question. How could he think that her army was the enemy? Then she realized that he was unaware of who they had been fighting against, and that would remain a secret for some time.
"I'm sorry if this shocks you, but you have to understand, we know nothing about you. We don't know what happened on that battlefield."
"I know... We are not the enemies, it's not us..."
"Then who were you fighting against?"
A sorrowful silence filled the air.
"I can't tell you now, but I can swear on all the existing Gods that we are not the enemies," she said, lowering her eyes.
"Okay, I believe you."
"Really?" she exclaimed, raising her eyes.
"Yes. I needed to be sure that you weren't lying to me. I know who you are fighting for, I saw the emblem on the armor, at first it vaguely reminded me of something, like a distant memory. And then it came back to me, Langevin, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Is your Lord aware of what happened?"
"I don't know, maybe, I couldn't tell you."
"I will take care of telling him, what should I put in the message?"
"The army has been defeated, with only three soldiers and the Commander surviving."
"Alright, it will be done as quickly as possible. So, you are the Commander of the army."
"Yes, but you already knew that.
"I knew because of your helmet, which is very recognizable, as well as your armor and your sword, a Ydryys blade. It's a very rare blade, where did you get it?"
"It was given to me. Where are our equipment?" she asked.
"You don't have to worry, all your armors and other equipments are safe, where no one can steal them. You will get them back when you are recovered, you and your soldiers."
"I don't really have a choice."
"Exactly. I will take you to see them, but then you must promise to stay in bed. A Maester will take care of you, and when you are fully recovered, you will be our guests of honor. Is that acceptable to you?" he asked.
Kaly Tanaka agreed. The King brought her to his soldiers, all weak but recovering quickly, just like her. Then, she returned to her overly comfortable room and obeyed the King. As long as she was not recovered, she could not be of much use.
The King knew she was from Langevin, aware of her role in the Army and her importance, but he still didn't know her name and hadn't dared to ask. She knew he would be surprised to learn who she was. But something about him seemed strange to her, the way he looked at her. It was as if he had already seen her. She constantly wondered where this sensation came from. Kaly also felt this, she knew it now, she had seen him before, in Langevin.
He was Lord Bloom, from the Kingdom of Erboras. She found herself in Erboras. Lord Bloom had come to Langevin years ago, when she was just a little girl. That's why he had recognized the emblem, why he knew the blade of Ydryys, and also why Kaly seemed familiar to him. She would inform him when the time was right. But for now, she needed to warm up and rest.
*
Night fell on the Kingdom of Erboras. The dim lanterns hung everywhere gave the castle a strange glow. King Bloom had finally retired to his royal chamber, the day had been eventful and he had feared it would never end. He remembered every detail, the battlefield, the corpses, the four survivors, the Commander's escape, until the Master informed him that she had finally fallen asleep. King Bloom hoped it was finally over and that he could sleep. The guards, positioned along the ramparts and on the towers, also hoped for a peaceful night after the day's events. However, a commotion near the main gate caught their attention. One of the last guards to be awakened soon realized that it was three large dark animals, probably wild dogs, but he could only be sure at dawn. He observed them for a moment and then returned to his post, eagerly awaiting the end of his shift.
*
Two knocks on the door pulled Kaly from a restless sleep. She wondered if she had really slept at all. Too weak to make a sound, she didn't respond. Two more knocks, then a female voice asking if she was awake. Kaly blinked and sat up with difficulty.
"Yes, I am. You can come in," she said weakly.
The door opened slowly, and a plainly dressed chambermaid entered. She appeared to be in her forties or older, with her hair pulled up in a high bun and wearing a beige dress. Despite the tired lines on her face, she seemed very active. She had a comforting smile and carried an armful of assorted laundry.
"I arrived about an hour ago, you were sleeping and didn't answer me," she said as she put down the laundry. "How are you doing?"
Kaly looked at her, meeting her gaze, trying to understand her interlocutor, as she usually did. Then, after a brief moment, she responded that she felt fine but strangely weak.
"It's normal, my Lady, you are just recovering from a terrible injury. You are and will still be weak for some time."
"Is it the Maester who affirms that?"
"Oh yes! He came to see you, she said, maybe it's inappropriate, but he wanted to see if you were, um, well, still alive."
A pause. The chambermaid looked calmly at the survivor, trying to reassure her.
"I don't find it incorrect, he is a Mestre and I am injured."
Two new knocks on the door. The chambermaid went to open it a crack. A soldier stood behind it.
"Madame," he said to her, "is the survivor visible?"
"You may come in," Kaly asserted with a voice that tried to sound strong.
The soldier entered, made a slight bow, and spoke:
"The King invites you to his meal."
The chambermaid and Kaly looked at each other, aware of what that meant.
"I am simply delivering the message, Madam. If it is a problem, I'm afraid you may need to speak to the King directly. Ladies."
The soldier made another slight bow and left, closing the door behind him. The chambermaid let out an imperceptible sigh. The survivor was far from recovered from her injuries, and yet the King wanted her already. She could barely stand. She couldn't go, or she would risk fainting during the meal. She had to refuse.
"I'll manage," Kaly said, as if she could read her thoughts. "I'll be fine."
"Unfortunately, it's not up to me or you to decide. I think it would be best to ask the Maester. What do you think?"
"Very well. Go ahead. Hopefully that will reassure you," she said, smiling.
The woman left, leaving Kaly once again alone with her thoughts in a room that did not suit her. She did not want to be here; she wanted to retrieve her men, whether fallen in battle or not, and return to her homeland. She wanted to prepare for what would come next...
Comments