and switching directly westwards when the path had split into two. The army could finally see some greenery in the distance at the opening of the path towards the Ranicus Peninsula. Everybody were relieved and the excitement to get out there and leave the mountain was unparalleled by anything other than the starting of battles that they had fought. The air was not tense only the history was. Allan was never assured that all the Unodite soldiers would accept this change so he remained alert and always ready in case the Unodite soldiers he has confronted have deadly plans to disrupt this instance of peace.
They emerged from the path to see a beautiful natural setting and the perfect place for a peaceful group of Trolls to settle. It almost seemed like a paradise to most given what the army of Humans and Trolls have seen in the many weeks prior to this change. Peace could bring war more imminent in this case but this time with greater disunity amongst the Humans. Thus, why Allan always rethinks what he has done and how it may turn out in the immediate future as well as the long term. They continued walking until they reached the coast of Stunt Sea again. It was breath-taking as opposed to the mountain path they had just emerged from. Allan, Capurnicus and the other Human men witnessed the Trolls rushing to the grounds with tears of joy. They unstrapped and unloaded all the wood, straw and other materials gathered from the Marsh and the coast to begin building the settlement. Serai walked towards Allan and said, gratuitously “it is everything you said it would be”. “This is your new home, it is some really good land, not as great as southern Livonia but certainly rich in soil and quite peaceful” said Allan. “You and the Human men do not have to do much just stick around for a day and help a little. You have done enough for us and I just cannot thank you enough” said Serai. Allan nodded a proceeded to give his men a break, not as able as the Trolls to continue such back breaking work and intensive labour after such a long haul. The Human men sat down in the shade as they watched the Trolls begin work before they would, it seemed like the Trolls had expended little to no energy whatsoever during the march from the coast, they were not just determined but they seemed to be possessed.
Allan watched everything happening around and about, alongside his men whilst many Hetheilian soldiers preferred to distance themselves, feeling apart from Allan and the Hetheilian and or dangerously opposed to him. Allan looked over at the group of Unodite soldiers and he saw Valek and two others readying their crossbows. Allan could not comprehend what they were about to do. He then tapped Capurnicus on the shoulder and said to him “look over there. You see them. Now why would they need to arm themselves and ready their crossbows. “To be honest they might just be weary of the Trolls. It could just be that they have not learned to trust the Trolls at this very point in time” said Capurnicus, oblivious to the events that had unfolded when Allan was openly challenged by a group of Unodite soldiers and even had a fight with one of their prominent figures, Valek. Who seems to have some organised authority over those who hate Allan and what he has done. “No I think something else is up. I had a fight with one of the, they are really radically opposed to what I have done” said Allan, worriedly. “Sire I would then advise you to punish them but we need many Unodites to support you in order to be able to do that. But if you go against that rule with insufficient support or evidence, you and I are in big trouble” said Capurnicus. Allan then said “I will definitely follow that rule but if it is a matter of life and death I will do otherwise”. Capurnicus then smiled and nodded in full agreement with Allan.
After about an hour the Humans got into it and started building a simple port for the Trolls while the Trolls built their houses but Serai, his wife and a few others who were on the higher end of the spectrum were building an administrative sector as per the recommendation of Humans. Allan and his men were going to stay until a constitution was established and ensure that the Trolls implement some Human practices. Allan was in knee deep water positioning and aiding some of his more skilled soldiers in the building of the port. Capurnicus was among them, a skilled builder as well as a soldier, acting as an asset to the construction. Allan was impressed, prior to this he had the illusion he had the most experience from his days learning from Wilmot, his mentor but it seems the people who lived their lives as regular civilians and farmers and not royalty prove in the field to be more useful. Allan’s palms were covered in cuts and splinters, he had never worked so hard in his entire life and the pain was nothing he had ever experienced. But he knew he had to do it and that kept him going.
After hours of intense labour the men had to take breaks more frequently but the Trolls they were not going to stop, no they kept on going. Watching everything, a small group of Unodite soldiers prepared themselves. Out of plain sight Valek addresses them, the group’s leader. Valek wants to further the disunity between the Trolls and Humans as he believes it is the only way for the Humans to have ensured safety. Willing to die for a cause he believes is righteous, he is going to change this one way or another. He stood up with a crossbow in his hand, a skilled archer he knows his way with a bow and arrow, he says to the men who are on his hide and share his view “Allan, the prince of Hetheil as lead us to benefit and enemy, he is a fool and must see the error of his ways but that is not our priority. We need to kill these Trolls; it is what we came here to do. I don’t want to kill, none of us do but this time we must. Later, when we conduct the assault on the Trolls, do not hesitate, do not waste a second and make every shot counts. Sadly, however if any Human tries to stop you, you know what you have to do”. A short moment of silence came about the group. Until Valek erupted with utter anger and resentment “The Trolls are beasts. Our kingdom has suffered too much at their hands. We cannot stand for them to be free here, disaster will only repeat itself. Our families suffered and even our former king was killed. You cannot trust these beasts. There is no time for peace because all they want is war! And they only way to have peace is to give them the war!” There were a dozen men who were listening to Valek speak. All willing to commit to this. They will bide their time until a point in the day when the Trolls and Humans were ready to rest after becoming dog-tired after a long day of construction work.
The sun was beginning to set and so were the Trolls and Human who had been constructing all day. The following day was to be the point where the Humans and Trolls split, Allowing Allan and the Humans to head to the wall and officially complete their campaign. Still walking around and doing final checks and fixes. Allan wiped the sweat of his forehead and continued working alongside his troops and the Trolls. Meanwhile Valek was about to emerge from behind a small rock formation near to the site of construction with twelve others ready to launch a deadly and sudden attack on the Trolls, countering any Human response even if it meant killing one of their own or even Allan. Their hearts were racing as they were about to begin the attack. The plan was to race towards the settlement, shooting at as many Trolls along the way. Once they were at the settlement they would set some building on fire. The killing and injuring of Trolls would stop until these dozen Unodite men were killed themselves. Valek took a deep breath and said “Let us begin!” before charging out and right at the site. Valek found a target, knelt and fired a round at the Troll. It went straight into the side of the Trolls who then roared in pain.
Chapter 6 Part IV
There was no turning back now. Allan instantly looked at the Troll, bearing witness to the agony that he was not able to prevent. These men stormed the ranks of the Trolls who had their vitality consumed by construction work, terror then gripped all. Of these twelve marauding Unodites, two were armed with a sword and a torch in each hand. No one was suspecting this, it was an utter shock and the Trolls were falling one by one. Allan was temporarily stunned but the anger that had consumed him days earlier returned and it overrode his fear and sprung him into action. “Soldiers of Hetheil! Soldiers of Unodites! Stop them!” shouted Allan. Capurnicus had already started responding, sending some men to collect water from sea with their buckets to
put out the fires that were going to be started. The Unodite rebels had covered too much ground and were advancing steadily on the settlement, leaving dead, dying and wounded Trolls in their wake. Allan had already grabbed his sword and shield and was running as fast as his legs were carrying to combat these men. He rammed into one of them in the rear with his shield breaking the Unodites shoulder and sending him to the ground. Without hesitation, a furious Serai stepped in and club this Unodite, with one fatal blow.
Serai and Allan locked eyes for a moment, both could see the anger in one another and before either knew they continued the pursuit. Serai hurled an axe into the back of another of Unodites, killing him. Attempting to stop Serai another renegade Unodite soldier immediately turned around and aimed a crossbow at Serai. Another Troll then knocked him off his feet, emerging out of nowhere and giving him a knockout punch to face. But the arrow found its mark on Serai’s thigh, the Troll then slumped to ground in agony. Soon all saw smoke rising into the air.