Divinity

Chapter Three

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Chapter Three

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            Earlier in the year Koda's men had accidentally breached regional lines that marked the edge of scout-able territory in their land. They had encroached upon Lindberg land, and when this reached Fiona's ears, she was furious. So began the second Aubertin and Lindberg war. The months passed and the tide turned in Fiona's favor. After several pivotal battles, Lindberg forces arrived at the gates of Akatosh, Koda's capitol. 

            Quinton arrived upon the day of the siege of Akatosh. He had been notified that his brother was several ships behind and that it would take months for them to reach Akatosh. But Quinton had much larger things to worry about, such as the ten thousand man army waiting outside Akatosh's walls. The sky was clear, countering the swarming sea of men below. Ballista and trebuchets were lined up in preparation of the attack. Crow warned Quinton that he would have to watch from Koda's room at the highest tower.

            Winding stairs led up to this room, and after climbing these thousands of stairs leading up to Koda's chamber, Quinton was not surprised to find Koda awaiting him. The man had striking white hair, and a slender frame. His hair was mangled, wild, and uncontrollable, just like his personality. There was an eternal blue flame in his eyes, as if his cold, but passionate soul was trying to break its way into reality. Quinton could see death in Koda's eyes, yet this did not scare him. Quinton had seen death before, in Connor's eyes, but he had grown accustom to it, and so death no longer scared him.

            "Welcome, Quinton, son of John. I am Koda Aubertin, son of Tobias Aubertin, and I welcome you to my inner sanctum," a chuckle escaped Koda's lips as he said this. "It is most kind of you to join me," Koda continued, "I assume your brother is on his way." Koda looked to Crow for an answer.

            "Of course, my prince," Crow replied feebly. Quinton took note of this change in attitude, for normally Crow was bold and unwavering in his behavior, yet now before his master he was weak. Quinton discerned that this must have been a reflection of the power of Koda, for if a strong and intelligent man like Crow feared Koda, surely Koda must be a man worthy of fear. "Should I ever fail you, behead me on the spot," Crow said solemnly, as if he was afraid that was what Koda would do.

            "Excuse us, Crow," Koda ordered, and the man abandoned Quinton, he was alone with his prince. "Oh, look here," Koda motioned to the window that looked over the totality of Akatosh, and out onto the fields surrounding it. From this window you could almost see the whole of the besieging army. Koda motioned to a series of trebuchets that had begun to move at the back of the army. "They are attempting to destroy the wall so that their swift-swords, the foot soldiers, might swarm us," Koda chuckled, "what fools."

            Koda raised his hands into the air, and a wall of light erected itself about Akatosh. Quinton looked on in awe as Koda held his arms up and the wall pulsed with an unearthly light. "Quickly, boy, grab the arm stand," Koda ordered, and Quinton staggered about searching for the stand of which he spoke. He spotted an oddly shaped metal wire that looked as if it would hold up Koda's arms. He grabbed it, and slid it under Koda's arms. "I have to keep my arms up if I want to sustain the wall," Koda explained, "this stand aids me so that this shield is nearly impenetrable." Koda turned his head to Quinton and asked, "how was the trip?"