Chapter 31 Thunder and Lightning

Chapter 31

Thunder and Lightning

 

                Lightning snakes across the black night sky as thunder shakes the ground, deafening the sound of the fire’s popping. Nicole pulls her cloak tightly around her body as she sits by the light trying to warm her body. The rain was so sudden it was by luck that they managed to find an area where they could set up camp. Her tent was placed at an overhang that was protruding out of the mountain side. It was nice, considering it kept the rain from directly coming down on her, but it allowed it to pool around the entrance. Her fire was not far from the pooling water and if she brought it and closer in, she’s smoke herself out. It was a rotten night. She looked across to see other tents, and some small fires within the tents. It would be horrible if the tents caught fire.

 

                Nicole tightened up again and let her mind wander away. Only a few weeks ago did she take over her seat. And two days after that she insisted on returning to war, information or not, she set off. Accompanying her were over five hundred thousand men. Roughly a quarter of the remaining army they had. Sarwar was accompanying her as well, but right now he was with the scouting party out ahead. She was bored and alone. No one else came with them really. Just the two of them, and Jorn but he was always busy. Everyone else was left back home incase anything happened. None of the solders came near her. They feared her, probably how they feared her father. She’d heard them whisper about it. Nicole wasn’t really bothered by that, she just hated the feeling of being alone. The spirit in her father’s blade that she believes is her father has been quiet. After teaching her how to control her gift it said it would return when need.

 

                With a stretch and a yawn she curled up in her blanket and cloak and starred in to flames as they danced. She poked her fingers out and pointed. After a little focus a small trail of black lightning shot out to the fire and made a soft thud sounds as it hit. Then it disappeared. Oh how she was bored, and what was worse was, it was only half way to night when the storm came in. She wished with all her heart it would pass so they could continue. She could see Talson in the distance.

 

                Sarwar walked with the scouting party, they’ve not seen anyone for quite some time so it seemed safe. Talson was in clear view, while still at least a days’ march away. He wasn’t sure at all what Nicole has planned to once they get there but he trusts her. Hopefully that won’t be a mistake. He continued to walk until they noticed lights in the distance. Even in this heavy rain they could see the lights. From what they tracker could tell from his map, there was to be a town ahead. So they headed to it slowly and swiftly in the wet night.

 

                As they came close to the edges of it Sarwar started to get a sense of familiarity from this village. That something happened there. He wasn’t sure what I was. As the slipped past the out farm house they started to approach the main cluster of buildings, most likely the how center. They kept to the edges of it as the move alone checking each light. No traces of enemies yet. It wasn’t until Sarwar noticed that there was no light in the biggest building that his worry started to grow. They crept toward the building. They moved around it slowly until they were sure it was safe to move in. One of them slowly pushed the door in slightly. He looked inside then in shock quickly backed away. When Sarwar looked he realized what I was.

 

                It was packed with blue plate armor and weapons. Practically to the ceiling. Sarwar gathered all the men that were with him and explained for them to check every house and get a count of how many men, solder men, were in each house. As they did so Sarwar walked inside and looked at the armor. It was hot to the touch, as if it was alive or producing heat. All of the blades had edges sharper than anything he’d seen before. It was completely different and new. As she stepped back he noticed the others were returning. The leader of them steps forward.

 

“How many men?”

 

“Well Sir… more then we can handle.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Sir, every house has at least ten men inside of it sleeping, even the houses out in the fields. It’s a Camp for them.”

 

“No guards? To watches? Are they that relaxed here?”

 

“It seems so. What should we do?”

 

                Sarwar walked over to the gate and leaned back. He looked around in the dark and wasn’t sure what to do. But something was still bothering him about this place. Lightning ran across the sky again lighting everything up. Sarwar’s eye widened and he saw where they were. It was the very same town that years ago he and Knight came to, killing the army stationed here. And now fate has him here again. The words Nicole spoke before he left still rang in his head.

 

‘If you find them in their tents asleep, if you find them drunken in the bars, lying with a whore, gambling, or eating. Kill them. No mercy, no prisoners. I don’t want a soul found to remain alive. When you go to kill them, make the all suffer, make they regret life.’

 

                Sarwar knew very well what to do. And it was best that he listened to her. She sounded just like her father, with the same cool voice and emotionless expression. It wasn’t a request; it was an order to herself, from her heart. She planned to kill them all.

 

“Men get the horse’s ready to leave I’ll meet you all there.”

 

                As they all left, Sarwar went to each building, one at a time, craving a symbol in to each one then placing a fine powder in it. After visiting them all he quickly head off to meet the others. It had taken some time but I was needed. After he met with them and mounted his horse he turned to look back at the buildings before signaling to head back. The horses took off in the night returning to camp. Thunder boomed once again, and lightning ran once more across the sky, only when it did this time, all of buildings erupt in to flames. The screams of men dying could be heard over the roar of the rain. These flames would not be put out any time soon.