The Nefaliem's Duty (Ordinal Novella, 1) (5 page)

“She’s with
me.” Volvomich states and I’m aware of what’s going to happen. The
guards glance at each other.

“Women aren’t
allowed in the war room.” Volvomich briefly glances at me before
moves past the guards.

“Wait for me.”
he calls and I nod. Once Volvomich is gone the guards turn to me. I
hold my chin high and say:

“You do know I
have permission to be in this camp, right?” I ask and they’re
silent, “Would you like to question his highness? I’m sure he’d
give you an answer.” I confidently say. Even though we’ve never
met, I’m aware Volvomich would ensure that the others would know
who I was before he’d rescue me. Than that thought alone sort of
annoyed me. I need to be strong, resilient and powerful. To do that
I knew I’d have to fight to take down bigger opponents than me. The
men stepped aside but didn’t take their eyes off of me. I trudge
through the camp and scout out the area reserved for us. I notice
it’s at the far end of the camp. Far from the others. I smile,
Volvomich is smart—wouldn’t want to get too close to the
others.

“You do know I
have permission to be in this camp, right?” I ask and they’re
silent, “Would you like to question his highness? I’m sure he’d
give you an answer.” I confidently say. Even though we’ve never
met, I’m aware Volvomich would ensure that the others would know
who I was before he’d rescue me. Than that thought alone sort of
annoyed me. I need to be strong, resilient and powerful. To do that
I knew I’d have to fight to take down bigger opponents than me.

Once at the
tent, I scan my surroundings. Satisfied with no one trailing after
me, I headed inside and notice it’s bigger than what I expect it to
be. Then again, this is the standard tent for Spartan Knights.
However, we weren’t Spartans but we were Knights. I wonder if it
was the King who insisted we sleep in its confines. Feeling a
little tired, I choose a straw of bed on the ground and crawl on it
before curling up and sleeping. I wake to a whispering noise.
Frantically I glance at my tent doors. It’s closed. I note
Volvomich’s sleeping form at the opposite end of the tent.
Carefully, I tread from my sleeping area and over to the tent exit.
I slip outside and hear the sound of whispering once again. This
time it’s a little different. It sounds as though it wants me to
follow it. I question what to do.
What would Volvomich do?
I
wonder as I stare at the shadows only to realise something in the
shadows is staring back at me. I see it turn its heel and
disappear. “This so isn’t a good idea.” I mutter. I follow after
the shadow, only to hear a voice behind me.

“What isn’t a
good idea?” I turn over my shoulder to see Volvomich staring in the
direction I had saw that person.

“You saw him
didn’t you?”

“I did.” he
proclaims and steps passed me.

“So you must
have heard that whispering, earlier on?” Volvomich doesn’t answer
instead he stares on ahead. I watch him wander a good hundred
metres before he turns over his shoulder and declares. “Are you
coming or are you going to stand there staring at empty space?” he
quizzes. I grumble a curse under my breath. “I heard that.” he
announces at the edge of the forest. I’m not surprised, our hearing
is very sensitive, just as our eyes are sharp. With energetic majic
flowing through our veins we have more than enough power to become
invincible but even that is a vulnerability—or so I’ve been told. I
follow after Volvomich. It’s after a few minutes of wandering
through the forest that I catch a scent lingering in the air.

“What’s that
smell?” I ask.

“That would be
the King.” Volvomich informs he’s silent for a moment before
adding, “You can come out now.” His sharp blue eyes scan the
darkness and I follow his lead. Out from behind a tree steps a man.
By the shadow of the forest, his features are hidden but as he
steps towards the clearing where we stand, I notice his features
are revealed.

“King Eurotas
what are you doing out here?” I question.

“I need to
speak to you two . . . alone.” he announces and I glance at
Volvomich the moment he regards me—I recognise that look masking
his features. We both don’t have a clue as to what the Spartan King
could possibly want but we accept what he needs.

“For what
purpose?” Volvomich asks. I feel a chill in the air and as the two
being to converse about a potential traitor I scan the area around
us. The leaves dance in the evening wind, gently fluttering against
the backdrop of the crescent moon.

Than in one
moment, I sense it. “Sir.” I prompt. “I felt it.” he confirms.

The King who is
now before us, I feel regard me with a questionable gaze. “What . .
. the wind?” the King presses as he looks around.

“No.” I say.
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you why we Nefaliem are considered
formidable?” Volvomich questions.

The King is
silent for a moment than says: “No.”

Volvomich is
silent, my queue to explain, “We are able to sense energy levels as
we are made of ancient energetic magic. Something we often refer to
as
energetic majic
. It’s the existence or life force of an
individual or an inanimate object. Depending on whether it’s living
or inanimate will determine its initial energy level. A living
person will have a higher energy level than say a rock.”

“How can you
sense a rock? It’s not alive.” the King smartly inquires.

“Like I said
the initial energy level. It will be there in the background but
not as a presence but as an actual presence of an animal or in this
case a
Spartan man
.” I stare in the direction I sense the
presence of a man. Within a split second something separates from
the unidentified man and flies towards us. I’m quick to step in
front of the King and deflect it with my blade. Something I realise
is a throwing knife. The knife sticks into the ground and I glare
at the darkness. I sense several more knives are tossed towards me,
using my short blade I deflect them all. I feel Volvomich sprint
towards the shadows. With his super speed he’d be more than able to
catch whoever is causing so much problems in seconds he disappears
but I hear everything that follows after.

The sound of a
body is smashed against the bark of a tree. A gasp escapes the lips
of the stranger and I hear Volvomich growl-like a dragon. He’s
pissed and the enemy knows it. “Who are you?” Volovmich darkly
answers.

There’s
silence.

“Don’t make me
ask again. I’m a
very
impatient man.” Volvomich warns and I
feel the King shift behind me.

“What’s going
on?” he asks.

I hear the
sudden sound of tearing flesh. Than the agonising scream of the
man. Volvomich must have harmed him somehow. “Are you going to
answer the question or should I tear off another finger?”

“Trust me. You
don’t want to know.” I reply. The King falls silent and I hear
another voice.

“Father?” I’m
quick to scan the shadows and notice the King runs to his son who
appears to be around my age. “Why are you out here?”

“Jaheem, I need
you to return to the tent.”

“But—” the son
begins. In the background of their conversation I hear everything
Volvomich is doing and everything the stranger is spilling. I
already feel sorry for him. I know for a fact he hasn’t just lost a
finger but several. That thought alone makes my stomach queasy.

“It’s not safe
here, your highness.” I declare with utter concern. If there is a
man several feet away with an agenda to assassinate the king than
my fears for the prince would be correct.

“But why is my
father here?” the Prince asks.

“Son you
mustn’t be here.” King Eurotas hushes. I nod my head. He really
shouldn’t be here. The royals shouldn’t even be in the same
company. It’s true. The royal family is considered to be a priority
target by many. Many have already attempted to assassinate
them—explaining why the members of the royal house must have their
own knight. Someone who I’m certain is dead and if so who will be
there to protect this family?

“I know father
but I came to make sure no harm has come to you.” Jaheem announces
and I can’t help but awe at the sight. Both males regard me with a
risen brow.

“What it’s a
sweet sight,” I utter than I notice a loud snapping sound. Using my
super speed, I grasp the King and the Prince before swinging around
a boulder and forcing them to the ground. Wind blows around us and
I hear several trees fall over before snapping. I feel something
collide with the boulder we hide behind. Something flies through
and the next thing I notice, Volvomich is unconscious several feet
behind me.

“Stay down.” I
order. The King and the Prince nod in union and I take off to
Volvomich. I notice he’s face is a little chalky. Then I notice
blue blood pools out from his scales. I regard the sight in horror.
There is very few things in this universe that can harm us and I
fear the one thing that can is in the hands of our enemy. I hear
the sound of footsteps heading towards me and I take note of the
figure. He’s dressed in black armour and his features are concealed
behind a black face plate much like our own but I notice he’s
uniform isn’t that of scales. It’s something different. “Who are
you?” I ask.

The man doesn’t
say anything instead, he attacks. I leap out of the way and avoid
being burnt by a green angry flame. There’s energy radiating from
his fingertips in green waves. He has power something which is
beyond dangerous as I know for a fact—this man is here to cause
severe damage. I regard the royal family and call, “Run!”

I notice the
stranger observes the prince and the king carefully before he
begins throwing green flames at them. I flip to my feet and kick,
feeling the power of my energy flowing through my leg and out my
feet, green fire erupts. The man back flips away and sweeps sending
flames towards me and I butterfly flip over the flame and stand on
my feet. He regards me for a moment and I stand with my hands out
ready to fight. I hear Volvomich climb to his feet, no doubt, he’s
regained consciousness. I don’t need to look over my shoulder to
know where he is, I can feel his presence behind me. Not too close
but close enough to help me keep this man away from the king and
prince of this planet.

Behind the man
in black there is several more men dressed in different attire.
Several wore blue Nefaliem robes, others wore Spartan red and gold
peplos and chlamys, while others wore Babylonian attire. This group
appears to be diverse and to my surprise on the same side.
What
has caused this?

“That would be
the Dark Cartel.” Vovlomich announces.

“What’s that?”
I ask. A man dressed in all red, steps forward. With dark hair and
golden-red eyes almost bronze he smiles a smirk that is set alight
by the moon revealing the planes and curves of his features.

“The Dark
Cartel, is what the United Council would consider, politically and
morally incorrect.” the man announces.

“And who are
you?” I demand.

“Why little
Nefaliem, I’m known as General Taheal.” the man declares, slowly
twisting his arms behind his back and threading his fingers
together as if he were having an ordinary conversation with a
friend. “Why don’t we work together? Hmm?” His brow raises a little
and I subconsciously squeeze my fists a little tighter.

“Not a chance.”
I remark. “The Dark Cartel and the United Council are sworn
enemies. There’s no way I’d help you let alone work
with
you.”

He sighs,
“That’s a shame. I figured a child from the all-powerful Nindo clan
would understand but given your words. I’m made clear of where you
stand.” His eyes are dark and sharp. “Kill them both.”

Volvomich
appears in front of me. I notice he didn’t use his warp majic like
some would, instead, he used his super speed. He stands ready in
front of me to fight and I regard him stunned, “What are you
doing?” I demand, “I can take care of myself.”

“They’re after
their highness’s. Stop them!” he declares and throws a fist, but I
notice it isn’t just a punch instead, his energy moulds into
something different—it’s like a projectile was shot from his
fingertips big enough to wipe out all seven men in one move. Some
stay down others crawl to their feet. “Go now! Remember your
mission. Protect the royal family!” he barks. I nod and take off
after the king and his son. I hear several explosions. I hear
Volvomich fighting the men, both physically and with the power of
our energetic majic.

I run through
the forest, feeling my eyes sharpen in the darkness. Feeling my
nose tingle before the scent of their majesties are at the tip.
Just as I catch their trail I feel something slam into my left
shoulder. I’m flung across the forest. I land in a pile of trees. I
move to sit up and rub my aching head. “Ow, who the heck did that?”
I ask.

“I did.” I hear
a voice behind me and I sense an attack. I’m not sure what but I
evade in time and watch as the trees splinter under the attack. The
fist of the troll I had taken down earlier, is lodged into the bark
of the trees. He pulls his hand away and stands to face me. His
eyes lock with mine and I recognise those golden eyes, “Remember
me?”

I stand with my
fists ready to fight and I watch as he saunters over to me. His big
feet carefully glide along the base of the fallen and uprooted
trees. “What do you want?” I demand.

“What does it
look like?” he growls. “I’m after the head of the royal
family.”

I glare, “So
what you want to kill the king is that it?”

“Why else would
I be here?” he retorts. Growing angrier by the second I launch
myself at him, I throw a fist but am surprised by him catching it
and pushing me back as if I were a mere feather. My back collides
with the bark of a nearby tree and I watch as he moves over to
me.