Chapter 26

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"308, 309..." I counted the small squares that designed the carriage roof, laying back.

There were 310

I sighed, feeling bored at just waiting. I knew it had probably just been 15 or 20 minutes since they had gone yet when one was waiting, it felt far longer. Sitting up, I rubbed at my eyes that felt strained now from looking to the roof for too long.

And, that's when I heard it.

The unmistakable sound of footsteps crunching along grass. I stilled at the sound, pushing myself further into my seat, my breaths coming out in anxious huffs. The sound stopped for a second and I took the chance to peer out the window, but found nothing. I sank back into the seat again, trying my best to hide and I cringed at how much it felt like that moment with Khalid behind the bush.

I had hid then like a coward too

My own thoughts made me sick of myself and I scowled at how vulnerable I felt sitting like prey in a cage. A pretty cage, but a cage nonetheless, much like how Debra had trapped me. She had confined me; controlled my actions to make me do what she had been deemed fit and I had followed just like I was doing now.

Succumbing.

That's all I knew how to do and I felt shame crawl up my neck in heated waves. I had told Faridha that I was the prophecy and had promised to avenge her yet I was sat here letting others do the work that I had willed upon myself to do.

I breathed out slowly through my nose, but there was no calming the raging storm in me that told me I was doing the wrong thing yet again- succumbing to be the liability that everyone expected me to be.

With these words, I creaked the door open and stepped outside without thought. It was only when I looked around at the tall trees and sun, high in the sky did I somewhat regret what I had done. Enough regret to make me feel guilty for disobeying Emut, but not enough to make me go back in and so I walked ahead cautiously, making sure to tread lightly. If I could hear footsteps then they would undoubtedly hear mine.

I followed down the path where I had heard the footsteps, keeping close to the trees, just in case I would need to hide. I touched across the barks of trees as I passed and, sure enough, Negus was right. They felt lifeless, the bark practically crumbling away beneath my fingertips. I sighed at this; if this was the state of the outskirts then I feared for the state of those within the village.

"I'm sorry Sidi, we did not anticipate them coming "

I ducked fast at the sudden sound of a deep voice, my body on the grass. It was slightly damp beneath my palms, reminding me of a dream I once had. I exhaled, relieved that no one saw me, but I couldn't relax. There was a feeling in the pit of my stomach, one I could not explain. It was as though someone was pushing their hands against my chest, pushing the air out of me. Something ominous had settled in the air and I grimaced at the feeling it was instilling within me, resisting the urge to race back to the carriage. I couldn't run away again; I needed to face this head on.

I peered slowly out from behind the tree only to have my breath get caught in my mouth. I ducked down, face touching the damp grass and my heart beating against the ground. Whatever I saw beside a Chigaru soldier wasn't human and it was stood a few feet away from me. I almost cried when its eerie voice echoed across the trees, sounding neither male or female, but rather a mesh of both.

"Anticipate? 150 soldiers cannot handle 5 children? I believed you better, commander." The voice spoke in a gentle taunting manner, but even I could hear the threat that danced within.

I heard the very audible gulp of the Chigaru soldier he was talking to.

"N-no, we can handle it. We will. Please, Sidi, do not inform the Queen. We will kill them." He stuttered out in a nervous ramble and I almost felt pity for his plight.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted myself off the ground and peered around the tree, steeling myself so I could take a glance. And, sure enough, my eyes hadn't deceived me and there- in the clearing of the trees- was an eerie creature.

It was significantly taller than the Chigaru it was facing, around 8ft- not a natural height. It looked to be neither male or female; its blood red hair cascaded down its back and onto the floor. I noticed how each strand was pointed, like the tip of a sword and moved on its own accord. It was the face that haunted me most, however, and I looked to it as it eyed the Chigaru in an almost bored manner. Its skin was deathly white as though a thin paper had been pulled across its features and its eyes were milky white, protruding out from the skull, further than what would be considered normal.

I held my breath as it raised a long hand with long fingernails that curved like the metal of a khopesh.

"Do not inform the Queen? Oh, but I was oh so looking forward to see what she would do." It contemplated in a musical manner before smiling and I stepped back instinctively when I saw its teeth, each one long and pointed. I was surprised it could close its mouth without injuring itself.

The sound of the Chigaru throwing himself into a kneeling position echoed against the dying trees and I watched as the smile of the creature grew at this, its thin tongue licking its lips in delight.

"Just another chance, Sidi! We'll do it, I implore you!" He begged, his large hands clasped together.

The creature laughed at this, the very sound of it caused shivers to run up my spine and I noticed how the leaves of the trees wilted slightly at the noise. It dipped a clawed pale hand towards the Chigaru who had now begun to tremble greatly. I almost let out a gasp when it used the claw of its index finger and lifted the man up by the collar of his top, his feet clean off the ground. His bag and weapons clattered against the floor as he was lifted.

The smile of the creature was gone now as it looked to the man, the very look inciting horror.

"Tell me, what did she make you of again?" It questioned to which the Chigaru looked down, avoiding contact.

"C-clay." He uttered out quietly to which the creature pulled him closer, its long tongue sticking out as if urging for food.

"Now tell me, what is clay when compared to fire?" He asked and I stilled, joining up the dots with what Emut had told me.

The stories he had been told as a child about the creatures that guarded Anouke's kingdom; each was a manipulation of an element.

A fire bakenanouke

The man stuttered for a while before answering.

"N-nothing." He finally let out and then the bakenanouke dropped him down, seemingly satisfied with his answer. The man scurried away as soon as he made contact with the ground to which the bakenanouke sighed.

"Then how can I trust you to succeed?" It mused, playing with the man's life. It was just a game to the bakenanouke; no event that occurred today would be of any consequence to it and the thought made me duck further behind the tree.

It could and would kill me in an instant.

The man stood up at this, a dirty yet shaky grin on his face as he dusted off his legs.

"Negus- my men caught him while the others were busy with battle. We can bring him to you." He said almost excitedly and I felt the sheer panic rise within me as the bakenanouke perked up at this, but shook its head, its hair flying around him, causing a motion of wind.

"No, I cannot be directly involved in this." He said ominously and the Chigaru nodded in respect.

"What must I do?" He questioned and I gulped when the creature smiled widely at the question, its teeth dripping with saliva.

"Kill him." Its command ended in a growl and then it disappeared into the ground with an ear-splitting shriek, leaving a patch of burnt grass. The Chigaru bowed deeply despite the fact that the bakenanouke had disappeared before raising his head and grinning widely. Turning abruptly, he ran back in the direction of the village- a man on a mission.

Negus.

My feet moved on their own accord and, before I knew it, I had raced out of my hiding place and moved to the area of smoked grass, instinctively examining the weapons. There were a couple, but the one that drew my attention was a doublesword, with a gold bejeweled handle in the middle. I lifted it up tepidly and ran in the direction the Chigaru had run with no thought spared to the consequences of my actions.

I could hear the beating of my own heart as I raced through the trees, closer to the sound of battle cries and could feel the fear rising within in. But, I couldn't find it in me to regret.

The soldier had said his men had captured Negus and, now, they were planning on killing him. If everyone was busy with the battle then there was no hope for Negus.

Your fate brought you here, Hanna

I wiped at my forehead as I ducked under the branches. Negus had uttered those words to me, a mere 25 minutes ago and only now did I understand what he meant.

I was supposed to be here, running through the trees, chasing the soldier. It was pre-ordained and I found no ounce of regret in me to at least try and help Negus. For this cause, he was more important; he gave them hope and wisdom. If I was, indeed, useless in those aspects, I would help aid those who weren't.

I heard the sound of rumbling voices and treaded carefully, making sure to stay near the trees. It was only when I saw the commander who I had been chasing that I let out a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived when I saw a disheveled Negus lying on the floor, his cloak tattered. He lay in a crouched position, his arms held by two Chigaru. There were around 8 men there and I knew that I was no match for them.

The others would have been able to do this easily.

I shook the inner demons away and watched intently, thinking of ways in which I could help, but the commander Chigaru spoke, interrupting my thoughts

"I come with good news- we can kill him!" He exclaimed and a few cheered, raising their swords in the air and I clenched my teeth in anger, wanting to use their own swords against them.

I looked around to see if I could do anything, but watched on in frozen horror as a soldier on the left lifted his sword and made his way to Negus. Clenching at the handle of my sword, I edged closer, feeling helpless. I knew I could do nothing, as always, but the burning desire to help within me was causing me to shuffle closer.

"Stop."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when the commander uttered those words, raising a hand. The soldiers looked to him as he placed a hand against his chin in thought before grinning maliciously.

"Take him to the battlefield; I need to go back to grab my weapons. I want to kill him in front of his men and those two whores." He spoke in a crude manner about the others and I felt the blood rise at the way he spoke about them. The soldiers laughed at his words and I watched as they dragged Negus, his knees dragging against the ground. He stayed quiet, his eyes closed as they moved him and I felt the worry build for concern of his health.

The other soldiers followed after, their hands on their weapons and I made note to the direction they went before settling my gaze back to the commander who was moving in my direction. Instinctively, I moved back to hide and the crunching of leaves echoed through the clearing.

The commander snapped his head around at this and I clasped a hand around my mouth.

"Who's there?!" He shouted, demanding an answer and I watched as he walked towards my hiding place. When his question was met with silence, he spat on the ground.

"Oh, we have a sneaky mouse then?!" He questioned, looking around and I felt the recurring flashbacks to the battle day when I was in a similar plight, one in which I had lost everything.

"Found you!"

His face suddenly appeared in front of me and I kicked and screamed as the commander grabbed me by my hair, lugging me out into the clearing. I kicked at his shins, wailing and he slapped me across the face in response, his face marred with annoyance.

"Quiet, bitch!" He ordered, but his command was dampened by the sound of ringing in my ear and I felt my head become heavy. I saw his gaze turn to the weapon in my hand and he shook me with his hold on my hair.

"Oh, lookie here, we have a thief!" He said and I grimaced at his words, feeling the fear rise within.

Focus, Hanna. Focus on the enemy.

Emut's voice rang in my head as the commander snatched the doublesword out of my hand and caressed my face with a calloused knuckle.

"Who knew thieves could have such a beautiful face." He admired and I closed my eyes, leaning away from his sleazy touch to which he laughed.

You're small, so having the element of surpise is really important. Use their own weight against them.

He tugged harder at my hair, making me clench my teeth at the searing pain in my skull. I was pretty sure that the old wound was now open and my hair was just a sticky mess.

Arms tucked in and knees bent.

"What would your mother think?" He teased, raising his sword and I opened my eyes, feeling my heart thump in my chest. I saw the glint of the jewelled sword as it hit the sun and, without thought of the pain, I threw my head back hard, making contact with bone.

I heard the sound of a crunch and a groan as well as the searing pain in my skull, but chose not to waste any advantage time and turned swiftly, spin-kicking his legs out from under him whilst he was distracted.

Use their own weight against them

He fell with a hard thud and I snatched the sword as he looked to me with a sneer.

"What my mother thinks?" I pondered his question, my chest heaving up and down as I looked down at his form.

Arms in and knees bent, Hanna.

He jumped forward like I had anticipated and I ducked under his large arm turning to gaze at him from my peripheral.

"Isis would be proud." I said simply and I only saw a fleeting glance of the shock on his face before I spun the sword and swivelled on my feet to face him.

Thud.

I placed the sword at my side, staring numbly as his head rolled against the grass before hitting my feet, a malicious sneer permanently etched into it. 

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