CHAPTER 7 (Part two)

With the continuous ache all around her body, Mahnu tried not to fall unconscious again. Her fingers, arms, toes, feet and legs were all broken and being pulled away from her body so that she couldn"t heal herself.

They had tortured her so much that even her clothes had been shredded and fallen, leaving her naked. Dried blood nearly covered her entire body and new blood was falling to the floor.

Being able to read their thoughts, answers were found and Mahnu couldn"t help but be resigned to this state.

Thelmos and Eliza had been here all this time...How could I have not known that?

Both had stayed behind when all the others had gone to war, Mahnu could figure out why...Thelmos would have been too lazy and Eliza found...Better things to do.

Another thing Mahnu had found out was that the tablet wasn"t with them so they still didn"t know where The Chest of the G.o.d"s was hidden.

It was made quite obvious that they weren"t going to stop the slavery and work with the human"s. Mahnu also doubted that if she couldn"t talk them into peace then no one could.

She wondered if that was too much of a selfish thought as she let out a small laugh.

As a small amount of blood trickled down from her lips, she wondered if she was truly abanded from all the G.o.d"s now?

Mahnu put her head down in defeat, thinking. Did I want forgiveness from them after all? Did I not know over a thousand years ago that I had gone against them not expecting forgiveness. Had I been in denial all this time? Mahnu sighed.

The candle had breathed it"s last and darkness surrounded her. Mahnu tried to calm her thoughts and zoned in on the King"s sufferings, only then was she able to withstand that little bit more.

…I must get out of here. Talking didn’t work, so I must put them away…Put all G.o.d’s away. It will be my last service to the humans.

...Then, I will eternally sleep.

She thinks of Richard and knows that he doesn"t like her disappearance.

Mahnu closed her eyes, he also found out that I’m a G.o.d...So now it"s over...

Yes, it"s time for all G.o.d’s  to disappear.

3 weeks later

Being outside of the town Brackan, King Richard had to control his urge to march straight into the city all by himself. Looking in the direction of Cental, to the west, he waited for the Loyal Royal Army to show themselves as The King had been impatient for days as he had waited.

"Finally." King Richard says as the Army could be seen in the distance.

Marcus had never seen him like this. Something as drastic as including an army had never happened in King Richard"s reign. Yet, as though he was going to war, here he was finally satisfied the army was nearly here.

“Your Majesty, are you sure this will work? It is very risky, please…”

The King interrupted Marcus, “You know of my plan, I will not go over it in such details again.”

“Your Majesty!...”

“Enough, are they ready?”

Marcus couldn’t settle down, he hesitated to answer knowing that if he answered yes and complied with the King’s plan it could be his and the entire Kralaide’s defeat.

The King as bait to save Mahnu, was putting everything on the line.

Marcus remembered the King’s words, "That is why it’ll work." And his proud nod.

“It’ll work Marcus, she’ll be free.”

Marcus watched as the King walked towards the city, all by himself.

He prepared the rest of the knights to sneak around so that the G.o.d"s wouldn"t get distracted by them.

""I don"t see this as a good plan, Your Majesty."

The King had looked at him, determination in his eyes, "Numbers, Marcus. Spread them out in commoners clothes. Make the town yours in five minutes. Find Mahnu. A call for whoever finds her and all rush to that direction."

Marcus sighed, how had he accepted that as a plan? Seeing the King, like he had finally woken up since a month ago, must have startled me into thinking that this plan would work. There was no turning back now.

The Army was already split up everywhere on the outskirts of the city, ready to go in search or Mahnu.

Mahnu felt Marcus"s suffering over the King becoming bait and felt a rush go through her. She needed to keep him safe. What is he thinking? How can my capture be worth him risking his life like this?

The urge to hit him was so strong that she felt herself become lose from the ropes holding one of her arms.

She pulled at one of her arms and felt pain go through her again as the arm and fingers started to heal.

It had never happened before. Anger giving her more strength. She felt she could get out of such a contrapment.

Pulling at her other arm, it fell limp to her side and Mahnu closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. The pain was almost unbearable. The screams she had let go before, when they pulled and pulled the rope, Eliza had seemed satisfied with her response.

Now, she was angry and trying very hard to not let anyone know that she had started to get free but it was almost impossible!

The throbbing agony in her arms and fingers started to disappear as both attached properly and became normal again.

Letting out the first normal breath in so long, Mahnu cringed as she knew her legs were next. Her legs weren’t fully attached to her, but it was enough for her to feel the pain of it every second pa.s.sing.

Mahnu tried to reach for what was pulling at them but it was out of reach. Her toes were being pulled, her feet snapped at the ankle and her knees were being pulled along with them.

Mahnu grabbed her higher leg and pulled, trying to forget the pain. Letting out a piercing cry and tears, Mahnu wanted to let go but knew that if she could only get her foot free it would be alright. Thinking she had to hurry to save the King, she pulled harder and could feel her leg escape the bound.

Mahnu kept her eyes shut and clenched her teeth as the agony started to subside.

“Ahhh!” Her cry made her hit herself and she tried to change the pain to her hands but it was still there. Opening her eyes and wiping away her tears, she saw that the foot from her ankle had fallen off, making blood go everywhere.

Breathing in sharply, through her clenched teeth she reached her leg down to the abandoned foot and waited for it to reattach itself to her. She could feel herself start to faint as her mind was in so much pain.

She waited the tormenting seconds go by as the ache in her leg subsided.

Breathing in and out to calm herself, Mahnu started to look towards her other leg and figured this time she should be able to get the straps free. Bending and stretching, as far as she could, Mahnu found herself free and fell to the floor.

Putting her head to the ground, she closed her eyes tight and waited for the pain in her newly freed leg to subside. As her breathing started to become normal again, Mahnu started to stand up and search in which direction the King would be.

Bursting the locked door opened, with her angered strength, she skilfully put the two guards outside to sleep and rushed out after quickly getting dressed.

You stupid King, she thought as she could feel herself getting closer to him and the other two G.o.d’s.

“What an Honour! For the King to pleasure us with his company…All by himself. What should we do with you?” Eliza smirked.

“I’ve come to negotiate peace.”

“How daring of you, so you know we are G.o.d’s and you still stand before us demanding something like you are equal to us?”

Eliza breathed out a laugh, how obstinate! Then she looked over at Thelmos to see he wasn’t laughing with her. “Thelmos?”

He looked at her, with the same droopy eyes as always, and said, “The slaves outside the Betrayer’s room are unconscious.”

Eliza widened her eyes, what is going on here?

She turned back to the King of Kralaide, standing before her, and saw him sigh in relief. “You!...You deceived us!”

The King started to back away, while shrugging back at them, “Yes, well, if you did want some kind of peace, I was sure I would have heard about it by now. Considering you’ve been here a long time, I thought it wasn’t going to happen.”

“You are just a lowly human! We would never want peace with the likes of you!” Eliza spat out in disgust.

Then smirking, Eliza came up with a great idea, “Perhaps the King of Kralaide would make the best of slaves. Yes, why hadn’t I thought of it before?”

Thelmos sighed lazily, “You did, about a hundred years ago but you decided against it.”

“Why you! Shut up!” Eliza hit Thelmos.

King Richard used that moment to turn and start running.

“Quick, Thelmos, make him a slave.”

“No!”

The yelling voice stopped King Richard in his tracks and he turned to see Mahnu tackle Thelmos and break his neck.

“…Wow!...” He muttered proudly.

Eliza stammered back and glared at Mahnu.

Mahnu stood up and glared back at Eliza. “Did you really think I’d let you get away with it?”

Eliza continued to step back as Mahnu walked towards her. She looked at Thelmos and willed him to heal faster. Eliza admitted she was a little sceptical, as Mahnu before now was totally different. She looked very angry and not showing that defeated look she had given before.

“How did you get free?” Eliza asked, trying to bide some time.

“When I heard the King coming here all by himself, it made me angry!” Mahnu quickly turned to King Richard.  Her glare changed to defeat when she read his thoughts on her being dirty and needing a bath.

Mahnu didn’t have enough time to talk, instead, she raced towards Eliza and snapped her neck.

“Run!” Mahnu yelled at the King.

“Then come with me.” He said, holding out his hand.

Suddenly, a loud whistle was heard from close by.

Mahnu turned away from him, to Thelmos. “I will stay till you and the knights are free of the town.”

“They were supposed to be there to free you, but…It looks like they weren’t needed.”

Mahnu snapped the G.o.d’s newly healed neck again and turned back to King Richard. “And who’s fault is that!”

The King tried not to smile. What a relief, he thought, she"s safe and even angry at me! His desire for her just continued to grow.

"Your Majesty!" The knights stopped on the other side of Mahnu. There were men in commoner clothes coming from all directions from inside the city.

"Mahnu! Your safe!" Marcus said in relief.

"Yes, now go to the King, I"ll stay here till you are out of town."

"But..."

"Do it!" Mahnu snapped back.

"I would do as she says Marcus." The King yelled out towards him, smiling at Mahnu.

"Ah, Yes, of course!"

As the knights ran through to get to the King, they saw Mahnu snap the neck of the female. Whispers went through the troops and they were also starring in awe to her strength.

"I"ll see you soon." King Richard said.

Mahnu looked up and glared at him.

Turning to leave with the army, the King let out a relaxed laugh, confusing many of them nearby.

Mahnu waited till the knights and the imbecile King was out of town and she left also. When she reached the river out of the town, she found a rock and cleaned herself. The rock made her bleed again but the water was washing both the old and new blood away. Unable to clean everywhere, Mahnu clothed herself again and searched where the King was and marched in that direction. He was even waiting for her, giving her directions to find him.

She shook her head, but laughed. How she had missed him!