Chapter 8

“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.”

“Is there nothing we can do My Liege?” Derrick questioned, briefly glancing towards me as his eyes darkened; the promise of battle looming in the air.

“We can fight Derrick. Until the last man has fallen.” The king growled, slamming his fist into his other hand with determination as he continued to pace. My father only came to a halt when I approached him, causing his eyes to soften as he spoke. “Rid your mind of worry daughter, I will ensure that no harm will come to you or your sisters to the best of my ability. We have never lost a battle, and I doubt that we ever will. But precautions must be taken now that our allies have abandoned us, do you understand?”

I bobbed my head, my eyes filled with sorrow as I moved to hug my father, entwining my hands with his. “Yes father, I understand; though I cannot help but to fear for your safety as I always do.”

My father smiled, gently lifting my chin as he spoke; planting a light kiss onto my forehead. “I will be fine daughter; do not worry for me but for the enemy. I do not take kindly to beingattacked on my own doorstep.”

I giggled, remembering what had happened to the last army who dared to strike the city, my tone light. “Yes father I do believe you are right, anyone who attacks our home must be prepared to be struck down. Especially with you at the head of the army.” 

He nodded in agreement, affectionately pulling me into his arms. “Exactly, we simply cannot lose.”