Dueling Kingdoms - Part 1

Krisanthanese hated her full name, so she commanded everyone to call her Kris. Going out to the woods, in order to practice her sword fighting, was always part of her daily routine. Gripping her sword tightly, she swung it skillfully through the air. She swung it again but this time a loud chink was heard and she hit another sword. The sound echoed through the tall trees, making birds flutter in a frantic rush. Her friend Roy was doing his best to defend his pride. They battled intensely, as if it was to the very death.

Roy swung and grazed her sword and then his sword hit a tree and stuck into the tree. He kicked the sword out of the side of the tree, without hesitation. The sword spun two times in the air and he caught the hilt of the sword with ease and his signature smirk. Just as he caught it, Kris sliced his knuckles unintentionally. Not dropping back, he yelled,

“Easy killer, you’ve made me shed some blood here!”

He swung back and sliced through a lock of Kris’s dark brown hair.

She threw down her sword and ripped off some of the fabric from the bottom of her dress.

“Throw your sword down, you goon, and go wash your hand in the river. Good thing I’m not too attached to my hair! It’s what I get for forgetting to tie it up!”

She held up the strip of her dress fabric like it was a white flag of surrender.

“So, you’re surrendering to me?”

Roy asked with a good natured laugh.

“Ha! Not on your life! I made you a bandage to make up for your injury. This is not surrender in the least!”

They walked over to the river and he splashed some water on his knuckles. Out from the trees, a man rode on a very sweaty horse, calling to them.

“We’re being attacked! The castle is under siege!”

Murphinites had been waiting for just the right moment to attack the people of Grundel. Twenty-four years ago, the king and queen of the castle had agreed to split apart the kingdom. They simply couldn’t stand one another any longer. It was a ferocious splitting of their marriage and their vast wealth. They had twin sons who were babies at the time. One was named Roy and the other was named Coy. The king had taken Coy to establish another kingdom, miles away. Many people traveled with them, as they felt more loyal to the king.

The queen stayed and ruled the castle with her son Roy. Many people had decided to stay there, as they felt that the castle provided them with proper security and familiarity.

They watched, as the man on the horse galloped off. He hadn’t said anything else, and they wondered where exactly he was heading, but there was more important things to worry about at the moment.

“We must run to the castle and fight a real battle now!”

Kris said and she bolted through the woods on foot. They heard a cannon exposition several times. The air quickly turned to smoke. They reached the edge of woods and could see the castle. The enemy soldiers had put up their ladders and many had made it over the castle edge.

“We’ve got to run to the western side of the castle wall, as there are less cannons on that side and we’re less likely to get blown up!”

Roy’s brow was covered in sweat from running through the forest. They continued running close to the edge of the woods which curled around part of the castle. Getting to a wooden door on the side, Roy rapped on the door with the large handle. A woman on the other side peered through the small window to see who it was. Another cannon ball was fired from a canon in the front of the castle.

“Who goes there?”

The woman barked.

“It is I, Roy, son of queen Grundel! Open up! We’ve come to help fight the enemy!”

To read part two, written by Sibley Shamra, follow the link below: