Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene LXXXI
An arrow ripped through Eartaria's heart. The woodland his muddy grave. As the archers, and horse, and swordsmen, and artillery - supplemented and aggrandised by forces from the south - swept through the forest resistance. The sound and smoke, the din of swords and thunder of hooves, hellish and lurid in war. Drua Maleeva followed by ship across the sea, to take up the reins of direct command - though little instruction was needed. Her coming presence giving only added conviction to the intent. Her travel north, like the galloping hordes advancing before her, a howling wind cutting north across the mountains. A natural force; a king's proclamation of war. A blunt stone crushing entire peoples underfoot. Celalah ran, a stray mother-less child underarm, as he tried to find refuge in the forest darkness. Allakat had fallen long ago, back when at least some hope remained that it was worth the fight: a horseman's sword ripping through his thin frame as he readied another round o...