Raven's Soul. Volume 1
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– To get there we all have to die first, and I'm not going to die yet! – chuckled Derek. – Andrada, my treasure, deserves the highest honors, and when I return to Sturfjell, I will reward her properly!
– But don't take her to your bed: I don't think she'll like it, for everyone knows she's proud as a wolf! – Bergil laughed loudly.
The whole kingdom knew of the king's love affairs, and he did not hide them.
– Her surname is a fox," the king grinned.
– A fox, then! Such a fluffy, affectionate fox! – Bergil laughed again, but he was the only one laughing: the other warlords stared at the ground, for they dared not mock His Majesty. Only Bergil, Derek's best friend, could afford such liberty.
– My friend, I think it's time for you to get married! – Derek smiled, squinting his eyes. – How do you like our Hedda?
– No way! I'll kill you! I like being a lonely bear! – Bergil grumbled unhappily and hurried to steer the conversation in another direction: "I thought maybe we could give our warriors some wine. They deserve it!
– I want sober warriors," Derek cut him off. – The wine will come after we've won, so tell them that.
– As you say, Your Majesty. – Bergil bowed to the king and left the tent.
– You too are free to go," Derek ordered the commanders, and they left him alone.
"I'll bring my daughters a nice crown each," he decided, sitting down on a roughly chipped wooden chair with a mug of water in his hand. During the war he had always observed a rite of sobriety so that wine and honey would not cloud his judgment. – Lamar has a wife and a daughter, and they must each have a crown worthy of my daughters' heads. I must remember to give orders that Lamar and his family are not to be touched: they will be executed in public, in the main square of Sturfjell, as will their vile relative, the murderer Daryal."
The night passed. The morning came. The warriors, rested and full of vigor, were just waiting for the king's order to storm the hated R?vann. Huge brass cannons were placed in front of the walls of the city, ready to crush the stone with their iron cannonballs and bury thousands of enemies under the rubble of houses and the royal palace. All that remained to be done was to wait for the loud signal of the king's horn, calling for fierce merriment.
At noon the low song of the brass horn blew through the camp of the men who were already standing in squads: the archers, with their large bows and quivers full of arrows, stood before the numerous crossbowmen, whose arrows could fly much farther than those of the archers. Each warrior knew that this would be the last battle, and anticipated celebrating the victory with good wine from the cellars of the demon king's palace.
The cannons were the first to fire: their heavy cannonballs collided with the high walls of the city and broke them, but the men had to spend several hours and use almost the entire stock of cannonballs before gaps were formed in the mighty thick walls of Ryowan.
– Attack! – The king shouted loudly, and the glittering, shimmering army of heavy armor moved against the high walls of the city doomed to destruction.
The warriors stormed into Reuvanne like a deadly hurricane, sweeping away the demon defenders, flooding the streets, burning houses and killing all those who had not had time to hide in the huge cellars of the royal palace. The demons fought desperately, but they could not resist the battle-hardened warriors of Kaldwind, and their light, beautiful armor offered little protection from the swords and axes of their enemies.
The city was drowning in blood and wailing, and Lamar, hidden in his chambers, could hear the demons who were loyal to him dying for him.
– Soon they will be here! – He whispered and leaned back heavily in the soft red chair. – My people are dying… And I'm sitting here like a cowardly dog, waiting for that son of a bitch Derek Merkswerd to cut off my head! And not just me, but Varma… And my Sylvia, my Scarlet Flower… What am I doing? Fool!" He jumped to his feet, ran out of the chambers and, without answering his wife and daughter's questions, rushed down the steps to the gates of the huge court square.
"It's not too late to save at least the remnants… At least these streets, these mothers and their children… I need to get to Derek!" – thought the doomed king feverishly.
But he didn't have to look for an enemy: Derek and his army were already standing in front of the gates, trying to knock them down with a huge wooden, iron-clad battering ram.
– Open the gate! – Lamar shouted to the soldiers gathered in the square, ready to give their lives for their king.
– But, Great One! They will kill you! – exclaimed the chief of the guard.
– Open the gates! That's an order! – The king bared his teeth, and this time no one dared to disobey him.
– My love! No!" cried Varma, who had followed her husband out of the palace.
– Father!" Sylvia, who had also run out of the palace, exclaimed in surprise.
– You were right, my daughter, but I was blind! – Lamar shouted to her. – I will ask Derek for peace! If only he would accept my plea!
At that moment the great carved gates swung open and people rushed into the square.
– We ask for peace! Peace! – King Lamar shouted to them.
– Go to the Devil, you monster! – Bergil mockingly shouted back at him: he was one of the first to arrive in the square, and with his sword he was slaughtering demon defenders left and right.
– All halt! King's orders! – King Kaldwind's own loud, menacing voice suddenly sounded, causing his soldiers and Bergil to lower their weapons in displeasure, and immediately the demons and the Rossi dynasty were confronted by their greatest enemy, Derek Merkswerd, who had almost destroyed their great kingdom.
"So this is what he is like, this mortal!" – Lamar thought with a frown, but slowly made his way towards his enemy.
– Lamar! Don't you dare humiliate yourself in front of him! – Varma shouted angrily.
– Mom!" Sylvia grabbed her mother's arm. – Father knows what he's doing!
– Varma, be quiet!" Lamar said harshly to his wife, causing her face to crinkle in distaste and Derek's warriors to laugh out loud.
– So now you want peace? – Derek asked the demon in charge coldly.