The birds followed their master’s command and rose back up into the sky.
The Hidden Creature sneered. “And let the fight begin.”
Thetra stood up, drew Slayer, and barely had enough time to parry the Hidden Creature’s blow.
Then he struck, lashing his sword down with all his might, but it didn’t stick anywhere near the Hidden Creature. In fact, it stuck in the ground with such force that he was slashed across the stomach before he could pull Slayer out of the dirt.
Meanwhile, Arek had climbed a tree and was preparing to jump onto the Hidden Creature and distract him, so that Thetra could get rid of him.
But when Arek drew his sword from its sheath, it made a scratchy metal-on-metal sound that made the Hidden Creature look up and discover his other enemy’s location.
But this gave Thetra an advantage. While he was looking towards Arek, the Hidden Creature did not see Slayer whipping toward him until Arek saw what Thetra was doing, and the Hidden Creature followed his eyes to see the sword coming straight at him.
The Hidden Creature dodged it by ducking; Thetra had just enough time to stop his sword from slicing Arek’s leg.
Then the Hidden Creature let out a very high-pitched scream, which startled Thetra so much he dropped his sword on his toe, but luckily it was the flat part of the blade that hit him.
When Thetra looked to see what happened to the Hidden Creature, it was so disgusting it made him want to scream.
The Hidden Creature had stuck his sword into his gut, spraying out blood that splattered on Thetra’s face.
But the real gross part that caught Thetra’s attention was that there was foamy liquid coming out of the Hidden Creature’s body.
Then Arek puked.
“Arrrrrrrrggghhhhh!” yelled the Hidden Creature. “I shall get my vengeance on you two sons of Eouhja!”
Then the Hidden Creature collapsed; the blood stopped spraying, and his stomach juices stopped gushing out.
After Arek was done vomiting, he looked up at Thetra and shook his head in fear. “That was way grosser than anything I’ve ever seen.”
“Aye.”
Then they both returned to the battle with the green-armored and red-armored soldiers.
“Grab your bows!” shouted Mordon.
Rows and rows of troops of the Good Army ran to grab a bow and quiver, and as Thetra grabbed his and notched and arrow, he saw a green-armored soldier flying towards him with a dagger in his hand.
Thetra let go of the string and the arrow shot through the air and hit the soldier in the cheek, killing him.
Then a red-armored soldier snuck up behind him a little too loudly, and as Thetra turned the troop struck with his sword but Thetra reached his bow out as a shield.
The sword cut right through the wooden bow, showering Thetra in splinters, causing him pain.
He drew Slayer and drove the sword into the soldier’s chest.
Then a green-armored soldier appeared with a silver sword, and he threw it straight towards Thitsa, a trooper in the Good Army.
Thetra dove and deflected the sword with his own, nearly knocking Slayer out of his hands.
“Thanks,” said Thitsa.
“Anytime,” replied Thetra. “Now where are the dragons?”
He ran off in search for Valao and Ejarshöh.
Instead he found Arek caught in a net that pinned him to the ground.
“What happened to you?” asked Thetra, staring down at his brother.
“I don’t know. I was just running and this trap fell from that tree up there.” Arek pointed upward.
“Are you alright?” wondered Thetra.
“It’d be nice if I could be free.”
So Thetra cut the net with his blade and Arek stood up.
“Thank you, Thetra,” said Arek, hugging Thetra.
“Anytime,” Thetra said again. “Do you have any idea where the dragons might be?”
“I saw mine fly that way.” He pointed in the direction of the battle.
“And Valao?”
“I don’t know where he went. Most likely with Ejarshöh.”
“I agree,” responded Thetra. “Let’s go find them.”
They started off towards the battle and as they reached the fight, Arek grabbed a bow and quiver.
Then the two boys let out a fierce war cry and charged in to defeat the enemy.
Thetra probably broke his arm, got a minor concussion, and tore something in his toe, but the real injury was when he twisted his ankle.
“Ahhhhh!” he yelled in surprise, falling to the ground.
He saw Arek running towards him, but in a blurry shape. Yellow dots danced all around in his vision. He tried to sit up but ended up falling back down, for the pain was too much.
He heard his brother’s voice once or twice, but it was faint and far away, echoing.
His ears rung and his ankle burned like fire, but yet he fought to not give himself up to Death.
He was missing important parts of the battle, and as he swam in and out of consciousness, he saw a big green-armored soldier running at him.
There was nothing he could do except wait to die.
But Morchad came in from the side of his view and body-slammed the soldier to the ground, taking his sword and thrusting it through his gut.
Thetra wasn’t sure if this had actually happened or he was hallucinating, but it was terrifying either way.
He saw many troops get bullied to the ground, clashing swords even when was in so much pain like Thetra they were just so desperate not to die.
As for Thetra, he couldn’t stand. Not even move anymore. He just lay there paralyzed, defenseless to any attackers that came his way.
Finally, the battle was over.
Although he couldn’t walk, he managed to sit up, waking up in a hospital bed.
Arek sat at the foot of the bed, playing with a little ball that the army had made a game out of.
When Thetra had woken up, Arek saw him and said, “Hello.”
“Where am I?” wondered Thetra.
“We’re in the army hospital. Quite a nice place, eh?”
“Aye. What happened to my ankle?”
“A very severe break that kills some people. You’re lucky to be living.”
“And the battle?”
Arek hung his head. “We lost. It apparently was the sixth battle of the war, since there have been fights all around the country. As for us, we lost too many. We’ve been recruiting and training warriors of all ages in the past few weeks.”
“Weeks?” asked Thetra. “How long have I been out?”
“About a month. We all thought you were dead until a few days ago when you coughed in your sleep. Must’ve been a deep coma.”
“Must’ve been. What’s the latest news about the renaming the country thing?”
“They attempted one more announcement, but they dropped the microphone in the Capital Castle and you have to wait three weeks before you can reuse it. The three weeks ends in two days.”
“So it wasn’t the dragons who stooped them this time?”
“No,” said Arek. “It was not the dragons.”
“Good to know. But I guess Valao, Ejarshöh, and Ghuar are already known throughout Kiolerasdarque.”
“Aye. And, speaking of Ghuar, he’s actually doing very well in the army. He took out a few thousand soldiers in that last battle.”
“That’s a lot,” said Thetra.
“’Tis.”
“So when will I be able to...fight?” asked Thetra with a little hesitation at the end.
“Two months,” replied Arek.
Now Thetra was awake. “Two months?!” he shrieked. “That’s way too long!”
“Yes, but you are lucky.”
Thetra lay back down in his bed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean we know when Morchad’s Army is attacking.”
Thetra leaned forward. “How?”
“We sent spies up to Stankl Maobn to discover the arm
y’s plans. After five days, the spies returned and reported Morchad’s army will attack in four months, although he is not coming. This all happened last month, so we have three months left to prepare. Once you’re all better, you’ll have four weeks to train for the fight. Am I clear?”
Thetra nodded. “Aye.”
“They will march south in about eight weeks, and they will reach Destville seven weeks later.”
“I understand now, Arek.”
“Very well. For now you must rest, for the morning has become noon, and it is time to eat.”
“I haven’t even had breakfast yet,” protested Thetra. “ Much less lunch.”
“Well then you shall have two meals in an hour.”
Thetra smiled. “Yes, Brother.” Then Arek left and returned five minutes later with a tray full of breakfast items: two pastries, a banana, grapes, cinnamon bread, toast, and water.
“Thank you,” said Thetra, looking down at his meal. He immediately craved the cinnamon bread, and the icy cold water quenched his thirst.
Then he realized he hadn’t eaten in weeks. He began to stuff food in his mouth, and when he was done, he licked the crumbs, cleaning the tray.
Meanwhile, Arek stared at him in amazement. “Was it good?” he asked.
“Delicious,” replied Thetra. “I’m ready for lunch already.”
ARQUE
Thetra gulped down the water, ate all the food, asked for seconds and stuffed those down his throat as well all in two minutes.
And it was a big meal.
“Well,” said Arek, “That looked good.”
“’Twas. I really enjoyed the fried rice and the stew, it was warm in my mouth; it made me feel good.”
“That’s a nice feeling. Whenever you feel good. I love it too.”
For the next few days Thetra was bored out of his mind. The only special things throughout the day were seeing Arek and eating. Any other time, he just lay in his bed, his ankle throbbing.
But two days after he woke up, something happened. A voice rang down from the clouds, shouting, “We shall not be interrupted today!”
Thetra immediately knew that Bewaldt was striking back at the dragons, proving that they did have power over the country, and now no one could stop them.
Kiolerasdarque had to be renamed.
“It is time to make a few announcements!” continued Bewaldt. “First, we would like for Valao, Ghuar, and Ejarshöh to know that we, Bewaldt, are against you! You are our rival enemies and we look forward to seeing Morchad’s Army win the war!”
Bewaldt wants Morchad to win. They’ve never wanted Morchad to win, thought Thetra. Is it really just because of the dragons?
“And I know Morchad can hear me now, as can the whole country! Morchad, you shall be victorious! Defeat Destville!
“And now I would like to announce the new name of this country—Arque!”
“What?” exclaimed Thetra in his hospital bed. Now he was mad. “Get me out of this place, I must conquer Morchad and Bewaldt! I’m fine, I can walk! My ankle is fine, just let me go!”
“Thetra,” said Arek, who was standing in the doorway through the whole announcement, waited for Thetra to stop thrashing. “It’s alright. We’re fine. The new name doesn’t affect anyone; I don’t know why you’re angry. It’s just a name.”
“I know but I grew up with the name being Kiolerasdarque my whole life. I don’t know what else to call it.”
“Arque,” said Arek, but just the name set Thetra off.
“No! I refuse to call it that! I have always said Kiolerasdarque and I always will!”
But now Bewaldt was unhappy with Thetra. The voice in Capital Castle boomed out, “Thetra Eouhjasson! You must be arrested, for every citizen in this country must call it Arque! Guards!”
Guards came over to Thetra and one picked him up, threw him over his shoulders, and marched to the Destville Prison, Arek yelling behind them, “Don’t take him! He’s hurt! He’s my brother! If you take him you take me!”
Another guard turned around. “Very well.” Then he walked over and picked Arek up and threw him over his shoulders as well.
They took them to the jail on horseback, Thetra and Arek slumped on the guards’ shoulders.
It was late in the night and by the time they arrived at the prison, Thetra and Arek were asleep. The guards had to shake them awake in order to put them into hand and ankle cuffs, which hurt Thetra in the ankle because it was so tight.
They escorted them to their cells and threw each of them in a different one which were next to each other, so that they couldn’t look at each other.
“How long?” yawned Arek, wondering when they could get out of the jail.
“Five months,” replied a guard.
Arek looked up at the guard, startled. “But Morchad’s Army is attacking in three months!”
“Well, it seems as if your army is going to lose,” said the guard.
“You’re on Bewaldt’s side?” yelled Thetra. “You work in Destville and yet you want us to lose!”
“That’s right,” responded the guard.
Arek shook his head. “I can’t believe you.”
“That’s too bad, because it’s true.” With that, the guard threw the cell doors shut and locked them tight.
After a minute or so, Arek whined. “Thetra.”
“Yes, Brother?”
“You may think I’m a coward right now, but I’m scared.”
Thetra shivered at the thought of his older brother being frightened.
“Arek, it’s alright. We can escape before the battle with the Good Army and Morchad’s Army.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about, Brother.” He paused. “I’m scared because I don’t want to die like mother and father.”
“Oh, Arek, they aren’t allowed to murder us right on the spot. They must release us in five months, else they lose their job.”
“Right, but what if they would rather kill us and lose their job than keep it and set us free?”
Thetra thought about this and finally said, “Then we will fight them. It’s weird how they didn’t take our weapons but I’m not complaining.”
Finally, Arek seemed satisfied, if only for the moment. “Alright, Brother. I’ll be thinking about some escape plans.”
When they woke up the next morning, it was Thetra with the plan.
“Alright, so I’ll draw my sword at breakfast, when the jailer comes, and stab him. Then whoever’s closer will grab the key and unlock both of our doors. Understand?”
“It’s that simple? How will you draw our swords without them noticing?”
“Oh, they have to notice. We cannot let them notice. I just stab them when they slide the bread and water through the doors.”
“It’s worth a try, but it might keep us in this place longer if we fail.”
So when the jailer came, Thetra quickly drew Slayer and drove it through his stomach.
He dropped the key right by his ear.
“Grab it, Arek,” said Thetra in delight that their plan had worked.
Arek reached forward and just missed the key, but he had touched it and knocked it farther away.
“Oh, Arek!” scolded Thetra. “Are you serious? You had to knock it away?”
“It was an accident!” Arek snapped back. “And now you’ve set off an alarm!”
Thetra listened and realized that he had in fact set off an alarm.
A guard rushed to Thetra and Arek’s cells, and did something that Thetra had not been expecting. He unlocked their doors, grabbed them, and took them with him.
Along the way to the exit door, another guard grabbed Arek and threw him over his shoulders, and the first one did the same with Thetra.
“Where are we going?” asked Thetra.
“You’re being transported,” said Arek’s guard.
“To where?’ wondered Arek.
“Mthanl,” responded Thetra’s guard as the two guards threw the boys onto horses like before.
/> With that, they started for the Mthanl Jail.
MTHANL
Mthanl’s jail smelled horrible—of rotten eggs and sweaty bodies.
As they entered the prison, a man welcomed them, saying, “Hello, Thetra and Arek Eouhjasson. Right this way please.”
Thetra wrinkled his nose and Arek said, “It’s you who smells bad.”
The man turned around. “Nice to meet you too.” He held out his hand for the boys to shake. “I am Lord Ruetas.”
“Stinky Ruetas,” muttered Thetra under his breath.
“Quiet!” barked Ruetas, his face red with embarrassment. “I don’t need any fools to say I smell bad.”
Thetra and Arek stopped making fun of him.
“Now,” said Ruetas, glad to talk without being embarrassed. “We have an important matter to discuss, don’t we?”
“I do not know, Lord Ruetas,” said Arek, confused. “I’m still confused about what Thetra did wrong.”
“He said a false name.”
“And you get arrested for that?” pressed Thetra.
“You do. Also, you committed another crime. I’m sure you’re well aware of this one, eh?”
“No,” said Thetra.
“Well, Thetra, you stabbed a jailer in Destville, did you know that? And yes, this is a crime.”
“Is it? I never would have guessed,” said Thetra in a sarcastic tone.
“Aye. Doesn’t it amaze you?” replied Ruetas in a sarcastic voice as well.
Then Lord Ruetas led them where he was going before he was interrupted by Arek and stopped at a very wide cell.
“You two are lucky, for you are in the same cell. All the single cells are occupied.”
“Mthanl must be a bad city,” murmured Arek.
“’Tis. Now get in!” demanded Ruetas.
Thetra and Arek got in the cell and Ruetas locked the doors behind them and smiled. “Have fun rotting, because you’re going to be here awhile.”
“How long?” asked Thetra.
“Forever!” yelled Ruetas and he turned on his heel and left.
Arek sighed. “I hate my life.”
“Don’t say that!” scolded Thetra. “We’re fine. We just...are having a little bump in the road, that’s all.”
“No, it isn’t,” responded Arek. “We’re never getting out of here and it’s all” Arek stopped. “It’s all my fault.”
“No!” yelled Thetra. “I was the one who said the false name. I stabbed the jailer! None of this is your fault, I promise.”