all to hell and to war once again!” shouted the opposing soldier back at Allan. “How has no compromise with any beast worked for us in the past? Tell me. Tell me!” shouted Allan as he began to clench his fists. “It’s not your kingdom or your people that are on the front line!” exclaimed the Unodite who seems to be steadily challenging Allan. “Did you really think I would sacrifice so many lives to fight a Troll army in the marsh, just so we could be sure we won’t face any more problems in the short-term. No! I refuse to think how we Humans have taught for long. It’s time for change, only a fool would oppose this!” shouted Allan.
The Unodite soldier got closer and got right in Allan’s face and said “You have gone against your father’s command I believe as well as our king did not send us out here to make peace but to throw them out” “I just have and this is how it’s going to be. I am not willing to lose men for a cause that can be averted, however I am willing to make peace and cement a friendship with the Trolls. You do not understand but this will work in the long-term, I am sure of it and you can tell the Trolls want peace just as much we do” responded Allan, speaking loudly, so that all the other could here. “I can oppose this, we definitely can and I am not afraid to take action against this, prince” said the opposing soldier as he tilted his head upwards and locked eyes with Allan fiercely. “I mean no harm to anyone here, honestly. I am not looking to displease anyone but as it stands this is what we are going to do. This is for the benefit of all of us and to anyone or any one kingdom, have trust in me” said Allan as he tried to improve the situation.
Allan then turned around to leave the crowd from where he had entered from. But the path had been closed by the Unodite soldiers and most of them were not going to let him pass. There was a shout from behind “let Prince Allan out of here!” from the soldier that supported Allan. But there was no difference. The opposing soldier then said “we’ll let you out after you consider our demands”. “What demands?!” asked Allan angrily. “Surprise and kill these Trolls with a well thought out strategy, your men will listen to you, the Trolls are weak and without their warriors, now is the time. There is no peace with these savages”. “No! You act as if you have power or any intelligence for that matter” said Allan in full disagreement and truthfulness to the promise he has made to the Trolls. “Then we will take matters into our own hands. Whether you command against it or not”. “I will never allow or let you do this” responded Allan.
Allan suddenly felt scared but the fear was soon overpowered by his anger. This is life outside of royalty, things can change in an instant and this was a bad situation. There is now a fine line between Allan’s authority and a rebellious group of Unodite soldiers. Allan took a deep breath and just as he looked back into the eyes of this Unodite soldier, the soldier went up to him again and gave him the stare of death. The soldier then whispered “I’m not afraid of you, your men or your kingdom. You’re weak and stupid and not fit to be a prince or a commander. I can and will put you in your place”. In a second, something went off in Allan’s mind, he felt it once again, it was almost as if lightning just struck him and before he knew it, he threw a punch straight at the face of the Unodite soldier. This punch knocked the soldier of his feet and he hit the ground. Allan couldn’t tell if he was conscious or not when he threw the punch but he immediately regrets it. Now with his back on the ground the soldiers swerved his feet and kicked Allan’s leg, forcing him to fall as well.
Nobody around them dared to intervene. Allan was enraged but before he knew it the soldier started kicking his shoulder with such force, Allan was in a lot of pain and it was the same for the Unodite soldier. Allan crawled backwards and sprung to his feet, this was mirrored by the Unodite. The soldier’s eyes were seething with hatred. Allan thought to himself, what has he ignited? The soldier then went in for another attack to hammer Allan’s face with his fist. With as much anger as his assailant, Allan swiftly grabbed the incoming fist and flashbacks of when his mentor, Wilmot was training to fight a Human opponent. It was coming into play. The soldier swung his other arm in a second attempt and Allan grabbed the shoulder to stop his opponent’s arm and before his opponent knew it, Allan leaned back and kicked him in the stomach. Right after impact, the soldier was sent to ground once again by Allan. Years of hardy training and good nutrition from a life of a prince really showed Allan’s physical prowess. Screaming at the top of his lounges the Unodite soldier came in again and charged Allan, this he manged to hit him in the chin. This did not fade Allan, not backing down the exchanged punch to their upper bodies. At last Hetheilian soldiers came in to stop this and restrained both them. It became apparent that both were bleeding from their mouths and had fought with the intention of beating the other into submission. The Unodite soldier was thrown to the ground by the Hetheilian soldiers who had just rushed in and forced to get onto his knees. “Prince Allan are you in need of help?” asked one of the soldiers worriedly. “No, no. I’ll be fine for now, good soldier. We seem to have bigger concerns” replied Allan as he staggered towards the Unodite soldier who was now on his knees. “This man thinks that what decisions I have made and stand for are going to put the Human kingdom in jeopardy. He claims I am foolish to have made such a plan. I stand by my word and to those who support me, no one will be in jeopardy, this is not a risk I promise. I witnessed the sacked village of Zanten as well and we’ve punished the Trolls enough for it. Have trust in me, this, this is the way to go!” exclaimed Allan. “Good soldiers of Hetheil, release this man” said Allan in recognition of this man’s objectives as he too wants peace for the Humans, only he views the resolution to be one that requires war and extermination.
Just then, marching could be heard and all the Humans and Trolls watched a mass of Troll warriors lead by Serai, emerging from the marsh. These Trolls were the fighters of the Troll horde and the force was quite large. Allan chuckled and said “thank goodness we didn’t take this army on especially in the marsh”. The Unodite soldier who was just thrown to the ground then viciously spat and walked off. Allan just could not believe this situation; never could he imagine that any Human would ever oppose Allan’s decision to such a radical extent. Allan was starting to have second thoughts about this, he had seen how many people in the crowd opposed him and as result pondered more about the reaction from the Unodite king, the Unodite people and his father’s the Unodite people, perhaps he has overlooked the prospects and outcome of peace with the Trolls. He began to walk towards Serai to greet him, when a soldier of Unodos approached him and started walking beside him. The soldier said “not all of us are against you sire, know that and we will support your idealism when we are questioned back in Maredos”. “Thank you, good soldier. I just have fears that a majority will disagree. Oh yes, what was the name of that soldier?” asked Allan. “Him? His name is Valek and like my king, his father was killed in the Great Tri War” replied the soldier. Then it hit Allan, those that see his Idealism as foolish are those who have had traumatic loss to the beasts and compromise is virtually a non-existent option for them. And he has witnessed this throughout his experiences, as far back as when he and his father met the king of Koros and the Diamonheimian king till the experiences he has had in this campaign.
Chapter 6 Part II
There was a repeating pattern and it was clear to Allan that this pattern could spiral out of control and is bound to come back around at Allan. Allan snapped out of it and made the decision to stand by the promise he has made to the Trolls, at all cost as he believes that this is the way to prosperity in the future. “Think that’s all of them, you can summon your other army now Prince of Hetheil” said Serai as he approached Allan. “Great news Commander Serai, I’m off to sound the trumpets” said Allan thankfully as he ran off to gather his army trumpeters. Before they all knew it, the trumpets were loudly sounded. Now all Allan, his men and the Trolls had to do was wait once again but this time for his advisor to make their way to them through the marsh.
&n
bsp; On the other side, Allan’s advisor and his men heard the trumpet signal. It was their queue, it’s time for them to move. After waiting eagerly for so long the excited advisor was now finally able to give the command. “Into positions! Double time!” commanded the advisor. As expected the Hetheilian soldiers were the quickest to their feet and got into their positions rather fast but something was not right. Some of the Unodite soldiers whom he had command over for the time being were standing but were not getting into marching positions. “Soldiers of Unodos! Our salvation shall greet us soon! Into marching positions!” commanded the advisor. One or two of them got into their marching positions but the rest remained where they were, some with arms crossed and giving defiant stares at the advisor. Impatient and wanting to get moving, the advisor walked over to where they were and loudly said “soldiers of Unodos, it’s time to go!”. In response one of the Unodite soldiers softly said “Yes it certainly is”. Allan’s advisor was experiencing what Allan was experiencing