Meanwhile, The Soldiers from Schillingburg had invaded and planned to overthrow King Michael of Willshire.
Greyson rode back and forth with news about the battle. My Soldiers stood strong at the border of Landford but Thomas was nowhere to be found. My heart grew to believe he had been captured by the enemy or killed. So many nonsense casualties.
I’m not even sure they knew what they were really fighting for anymore. King Erich of Schillingburg created a battle which he could not win. He envisioned himself as ruler of all.
“Willshire has always been part of Schillingburg; it was divided because the late King Adam had the stupendous idea of giving both his sons a Kingdom.” Said King Erich to his Army.
“Well King Adam has passed and King Michael does not deserve to run a Kingdom, he has been a pariah. Luck was bestowed to him when his Father passed and he has not known how to run his Kingdom”. He continued.
“I cannot tolerate this anymore. We will go in, overthrow and remove him from power. If he must be killed, so be it! Willshire will once again belong to Schillingburg.” He demanded.
The army cheered in agreement.
He raised his hand as to quiet them down.
“Go and prepared our borders. At dawn we will invade.” he finished.
In Willshire, all seemed quiet. They did not expect what was coming. They did not even have their soldiers truly prepared. I deployed a few of our soldier to watch over Willshire, in case they needed help.
Thomas rode up and down the border.
He was far off from Landford, which is why there was no word on him. One day on his watch, he saw an unusual sight. He followed from a distance, a man and a maiden, who were traveling deep into the woods. Of course, this was not too strange; the strange part was that the man looked a lot like David. Thomas felt since he had been without sleep so long he was seeing things. But he still followed to get a better look. He followed them into the forest. After a short walk, the pair arrived at a cottage.
“That is the cottage Amelia’s father built for her. Who are these people?” Thomas asked himself.
The cottage was abandoned and anyone could have taken refuge there.
“I do not think Amelia had ever told David of this place.” He thought to himself.
Thomas stood quietly in the forest, trying to get another view of the man but to no avail.
He did confirm the maiden was Elizabeth, though.
“Could that be David? But how? David IS dead.” Thomas questioned himself.
In a minute, he was turned around and did not know where he was. He began riding north, or what he thought was north. His mind was so confused after this sight that he could not even tell which direction he was heading. Suddenly in the distance, he could see soldiers but he did not recognize them.
“This must be Schillingburg” he thought to himself.
He jumped off his horse and quietly walked to find an area to rest and hide. As he walked he could not help but think and try to make his mind understand what he had just seen.
“Was it possible? Could that be David? But how? He asked himself.
“Amelia, could you have betrayed me in this manner?” he whispered out loud.
As King Erich prepared his strategy. His soldiers searched the parameter and lined up to protect Schillingburg.
While aligning the troops, William, King Erich’s first Officer heard an unusual sound coming from the forest. He turned to his soldiers and said “I’ll go this way; the forest seems quite alive tonight”.
As he ventured in, he could not help but get an uncomfortable feeling.
“Who is out there?” he shouted.
He could hear the cracking of branches but due to the fog he could not see anything.
After a few minutes, he turned to make his way back and he heard a noise again.
“I hear you. If you were a bear you would have killed me by now. Show yourself Now!” He said out loud.
“Announce yourself or I’ll be forced to protect my land in the name of King Erich of Schillingburg” he affirmed.
He quickly went and retrieved a few soldiers.
“Men, someone is hiding in our forest, it might be a silent coup” he said.
“We must go in and fight for our borders”. He added as they entered the foggy forest.
In a matter of seconds, fighting against the soldiers and Thomas began. He was a very skilled warrior but one man could not overthrow all of Schillingburg’s soldiers. He had slain many by the time Schillingburg overtook him. As the soldiers apprehended him, William grabbed ahold of his arm.
“I know you” he said.
“Oh do you?” Snickered Thomas.
“Yes, you are a Prince. Prince David of Landford, I am sure of it” William answered.
“There you are wrong, my fellow man” Thomas replied.
“No, no I’m correct, you are a Prince, and I know you. I have seen you before.” William continued.
Thomas just smiled and said “Prince David is dead! You have the wrong man, now release me!”
After a short struggle William grabbed Thomas, pushes him down and snarled “Well, no matter whom you are, Prince or not, you are now a prisoner of Schillingburg”.
William excitedly returned to the Castle to advise King Erich.
“Your highness, May I?” He asked.
King Erich turned towards him and motioned with his hand to enter.
“I have a prisoner you need to see” he said excitedly.
“Who is this prisoner, William?” King Erich asked.
“He is a Prince, a Prince from Landford, I am sure of it” William answered.
“A Prince?” said King Erich.
“Well bring him in, this should be entertaining” continued King Erich.
The armed soldiers accompanied the prisoner in and bowed before their King.
Thomas remains standing.
“You show no respect for Schillingburg” said King Erich.
“Who do you think you are, that you do not have to show respect for Schillingburg and its King?” he continued.
“ANNOUNCE WHO YOU ARE!” King Erich yelled as he walked towards Thomas.
He grabbed his face forcefully and repeated “WHO ARE YOU? ANNOUNCE YOURSELF!”
Thomas smiled and answered, “I am Prince Thomas of Landford.”
King Erich began to laugh.
“Are you serious? We captured a real Prince with not even trying” King Erich said amused.
“Well, Prince Thomas of Landford, I don’t care who you are, show respect and kneel to YOUR King.”King Erich commanded.
Thomas did not move.
“You are NOT my King” Thomas responded.
“Very well” King Erich added.
“Soldiers, show Prince Thomas what happens to disrespectful people”. He said as he walked towards his throne.
The soldiers began hitting Thomas.
“ENOUGH” Yelled King Erich.
“Now that you are on your knees, that is better” he said amused.
“So Prince Thomas, what were you doing in Schillingburg? Is Landford planning a coup?” He asked and then began to laugh.
Thomas remained quiet.
King Erich slowly walked back to Thomas.
“ANSWER ME?” King Erich yelled as he hit Thomas with his staff.
“I am here on my own accord, Landford has no such plan. I was just passing through” Thomas replied.
“Wrong Answer, Prince Thomas” King Erich groaned as he pressed his staff against Thomas’ neck.
“BUT I am glad to have you here; I have been told you are a very knowledgeable fighter. I can use that in my army” King Erich continued.
“I will not fight for you or Schillingburg”. Thomas mumbled.
King Erich laughed.
“Oh, I think you will, Prince Thomas. You don’t have a choice in the matter. Let us make a treaty; you fight for Schillingburg and I WILL NOT kill what is most precious to you. Your Mother? Your Sister? Two beautiful women, if I remember correctly. Oh what I’d do to be the first to bed your sweet Amelia.” King Erich said as he made a thinking motion.
Thomas struggled to be released from the arms of the soldiers.
“Relax, Young Prince Thomas, I know you will do as I say, now that you have an idea of what will come to your precious family.” He added.
King Erich walked back towards his throne. He motioned to the soldier and said “Show Prince Thomas his lovely accommodations in our dungeon”.
King Erich sat at his throne and began to clap, “Good Job, William, The Prince will be a great asset, I’m sure of it”. He says.
“You are welcome, your highness” William replied.
“I have the perfect plan, it just came to me.” King Erich said in a low voice.
“We will put the Prince in the front line, I will coax King Michael of Willshire to a meeting as if to end the battles and when he is here, the Prince will kill him” King Erich continued.