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Chapter 8

My father smiled slowly at the memory of my mother in battle, though it soon faded as he began to speak; his tone low and yet, stern. “Your mother came from a family who raised their children into war, females or not. I do not want that life for you my daughter; I do not want you to witness all that I have.”

“Father it is my choice, I want to train; to be a part of the thing that keeps our kingdom safe and free of pillagers. I want to aid you and our armies, not sit back and watch while the men fight.” I crossed my arms suddenly, sharpening my tone with each word as my eyes blazed with determination.

“Sanctus, I will not allow you to be become involved in our war. No matter what you attempt to say in order to convince me. Do you understand?” He questioned, glancing towards Derrick who had remained silent; keeping his views all but hidden.

I turned to glance back at my guardian, knowing that he shared the same views as my father; though how could I accept that this was the end of the conversation? That I would never do what I could to protect the people as my brothers did?

No, I simple couldn’t become what my sisters had; I couldn’t shame nor dishonour my mother’s memory as they always had with their feminine views.

Strolling around the castle as though they deserved everything they had without giving anything in return, nor caring for who they injured to get what they wished.

I wanted more than that, more than the binds of my gender would permit me, I wanted to fight.

Continuing to argue against my better judgement I turned back to glare up at my father, his towering mass looming over my petite frame; showing that I was truly a child.

I forced my tone to appear strong and willing, increasing the pitch of my tone as I voiced my own views with strength. “No father, I will fight; with or without your consent.”

“Enough!” He bellowed, slamming his fist into one of the nearby pillars as his anger rose; reaching dangerous limits.

I jumped, recoiling back at my father’s sudden outburst; my heart thumping recklessly against my ribcage.

I turned my head away from him with the same swift movement, tears defiantly slipping down my cheeks. It was a strange thing to witness my father angry with anyone other than the council, but it also sent terror rippling through my mind; disguising all that was good in him for only a moment as his fist connected with the pillar, cracking the heavy stone. My eyes burned as tears continued to spill from my eyes, each breath seeming harsh and sorrowful whilst my shoulder trembled.

Why could he not see it from where I stood? – I questioned myself hesitantly, shakily wiping the tears from my eyes – not understand that I wanted more than this life; that I wanted to fight?

I flinched when he placed a hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me into his arms as I sobbed; his tone now once again soft and loving. “Calm yourself daughter, I will not harm you.”

I lifted my head to gaze at my father, his eyes no longer showing any hints of anger, his radiating blue eyes filled with only care. I laid my head against his chest, attempting to calm my tears. I knew that he would not harm me as he did to those who faced him on the battlefield, though not allowing me to fight seemed to hurt more than any strike I may face. He loved me and that I would never doubt, but the prospect of fighting seemed important to me, more so than anything else. Why could he not understand that?

“I know that you want to fight, but I do not want you to be harmed Sanctus. I do not want to lose you as I did her.” He whispered softly before planting a soft kiss onto the top of my head, his arms wrapped around my shoulders.

I gasped lightly, now realising why he seemed so cruel, why he lost his temper in my presence when he never had before. He was afraid. My father was afraid of losing me because I was just like my mother, because I resembled her more than any of my sisters. He feared that if I followed him into battle I would not survive, leaving him with no one who could truly understand him the way I did. No one that saw him as a person not just a king, but a father. Someone who care for his children above all else. Above that of power and honour, and above even his own life. How could I argue with that? Persist in being angry with him when all he did now was attempt to protect me, to keep me by his side.

“Father I ... I’m sorry.” I sobbed lightly, burying my head deeper into his chest as I thought of all he did for me. All the times that he fought to protect me.

He shook his head, laughing slightly as he moved to hold me at arm’s length; his tone filled with pride. “Never apologize for fighting for what you believe in daughter, know that I am proud, only I will not lose you for the sake of honour. That is too much of a price to pay for you to feel like you have achieved more than your destiny has foretold. Though one day, when I believe you are ready, perhaps we will discuss this again. This time, with less harsher tones.”

The tears stopped suddenly as I smiled, knowing that the conversation was over and that there was hope in the future. Yes, I would not fight today, nor would I begin training tomorrow, but one day; I may fight alongside my brothers and my father. Creating my own honour and pride. “Then I will never apologize for what my heart craves again father, the next time we speak of this I will not give in so easily.”

“I would expect nothing less daughter.” He chuckled, smiling as he patted me on the shoulder; a subtle way of telling me that he was proud of my determination, of my will to fight.

Derrick cleared his throat suddenly, grasping the attention of both my father and I as he spoke; his tone seemingly business-like. “Sorry to interrupt your grace, but we have not yet discussed why you called us here.”

My father nodded, releasing his hold on me as he turned towards his most dear and trusted friend. “Ah yes, of course. We have a new army marching on our borders Derrick, one that we may not be able to defeat. I want your word that you will protect my daughter at any cost and no matter what you have to do. Whether it means running, or staying within the walls of this castle.”

My guardian nodded as my eyes widened, his stance changing before he held out his hand; waiting for my father to take it before he spoke. “You have my word My Liege, I will not fail you.”

I watched them in silence for only a moment; my curiosity peeked as I took a step towards them, my tone cracking slightly. “Father? What is going on?”

Turning to glance down at me, my father smiled; attempting to seem reassuring, though somehow, he failed. “It is nothing of your concern Sanctus. I have it under control.”

Both Derrick and I raised a questioning eyebrow, though it was I who spoke when the eerie silence stretched further between us. “Father please, I know that something is wrong, otherwise you would not require my guardian to give his word on such a matter of urgency.”

My father sighed, turning away from my guardian and I as he began to pace; shaking his head as if he were in some kind of internal battle. His tone dark and furious, “We are under attack, the vampires have moved further into the boundaries of our land and have taken several villages just outside the city. I’m afraid that soon they may be outside this very castle and our call for assistance from my father has been left unheard.”

I gasped; my hand flying towards my mouth as I reared back in shock. Why would grandfather ignore our calls for assistance? Why would he not come to our aid as we did for him on so many occasions?

Derrick growled, shaking his head as he moved to stand before my father; his broad shoulders quaking with fury. “And what of our other allies? Have they replied to our request?”

“Yes my friend, several have replied though none will come.

I am afraid that we are on our own and there is no hope to win this battle. The leader of the damned creatures, Mortem has over five hundred thousand vampires at his command. This is a fight we have not faced before.

Odds that we dared not dream of.” My father explained with a heavy sigh, his eyes no longer radiating as they had only minutes before.

I shook my head, unable to believe that we would not win when we had never lost; surely there was a way. Some possibility that our allies would show at the last minute to save the day as they did in books, or a hero to come forward and claim that he would save our kingdom from all of its enemies.

There had to be a way. There must be. If not, what would become of our people? Our home?

“How many soldiers do we have father?” I asked hesitantly, nervously wrapping my arms around my stomach.

“Not nearly enough my daughter, we have a small amount of one hundred thousand men at arms. We are outnumbered fiveto one.” He explained, once again turning to glance at my guardian. “More and more refugees are piling into the city and I fear that we will be unable to protect them. Let alone ourselves.”

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