Chapter 33

Book:His Female Bodyguard Published:2024-5-1

In a distance, the Vauldins were gaining more ground. They were mounted on their war horse, each with a bronze helmet and a sword by their side. The others watched their leader charge a couple feet ahead of them but they kept a reasonable pace with him.
Timothy grimaced as he noticed that they were approaching fast from the horizon. He was perched on a watch tower. The walls were aligned with archers who were waiting for his signal to release their deadly arrows. The rest of the men were on horseback on the earth, ready to fight for their kingdom.
It was only early afternoon but they were already at war. He thought for a second if he could live to see the next day but scolded himself. He promised Izzy that he would stay alive. That he was invincible. Seeing his enemy equipped on those horses made him feel small. He was only one man. There were going to be men who die and he could be in that percentage.
“Timothy, they are gaining ground. Should we proceed to attack?” Treyton asked next to him.
Timothy wasn’t sure what to make of Treyton. He was a respectable man and they had met on more than one occasion. They were even acquaintances but Timothy wasn’t entirely sure this man was safe when it came to Izzy.
Obviously he was worried for her own well-being. He let go of the feelings he had developed for her when Irene, a friend who was a maid, had come up to him while Izzy was away. They were acquainted but they had spent several days together. Before he left, he even gave her a peck on the lips. Both of them were fairly surprised but neither of them had denied what had happened between them. Timothy felt his lips twitch upwards.
“Not yet.” Timothy concentrated at the arrival of their enemy. He felt his men’s tension as they stood nervously for his order. He knew that if he sent them too quickly, they would be too far apart which meant holes in their perimeter. Treyton nodded besides him, knowing this fully well too.
“Do you love her?” Treyton suddenly said.
Timothy looked around him. They were the only ones in the watch tower and there was no one else Treyton could have targeted that to.
“Do you mean Izzy?” Timothy asked, bewildered by his question. Here they were ready to go to war while he asked him about his feelings towards Izzy.
“Yes, Isabelle,” Treyton replied matter-of-factly.
“I do love her but not in the way you are inferring,” Timothy replied hastily. He saw the Vauldins coming closer and was startled at how quickly they had come into view. He had missed his call to give to his men all because of a question about Izzy.
“We’ll talk about this later, you and I,” Timothy promised, knowing he had to keep Treyton away from Izzy. She had duties to fulfil.
“Order your men to attack now!” Timothy yelled at the other watch towers and burned a huge torch in the middle of the tower that signaled the command for attack. Soon, all the other watch towers had lit their fire and the men began charging at the Vauldins.
“I will go join now,” Treyton announced, getting ready to leave but he stopped midway. “If I don’t make it, will you let Isabelle know that I love her?”
Timothy flinched at the bold words Treyton told him and suddenly felt pity. Even if Izzy loved Treyton, Timothy knew that they could never truly be together. However right now, Treyton needed support and confidence so he bent down to wear he was already on the ladder and gripped Treyton’s arm.
“I will,” Timothy heard himself say and gave Treyton a strong squeeze. Relief flashed Treyton’s eyes and he nodded with a new determination settling on his face.
Timothy watched Treyton jump to the ground safely and ride his white horse to the battle ground. Timothy wished him luck and set his eyes on the horizon again. The two sworn enemies have finally struck the first blow and the battle began.
With each passing minute, Timothy felt anxious and his stomach was unsettling. He watched the tiny figures below him, looking for someone he knew he could spot from a mile away. The leader of the Valudins. The one who killed his father. Today, he told himself, was the day he would avenge his father’s death.
As the battle raged on, Timothy saw his men falling back, their forces slowly diminishing. They were well outnumbered and he knew it wouldn’t be long until they broke through the barrier. He signaled one soldier to come up to his tower. The soldier immediately came to him, ready to act at his request.
“It won’t be long until they reach the border. I want you to warn the village leaders and evacuate everyone. Then make your way to the castle and tell the king to get ready.” Timothy hated ordering his soldier with such grave news but he had to warn them.
“Yes, sir,” the soldier said, paling a bit. Timothy simply nodded and looked back at the battle ground. They were definitely getting closer as he saw some of the Vauldins escape through their offense. More and more began to go through the barrier and the men in the battlefield began to move back, losing ground.
“Archers get ready,” Timothy spoke with great authority. He held his right hand up in the air so that they would see his signal. The archers along the wall all drew their bows, ready for another signal of release.
Timothy saw the second line of horsemen waiting for a go. He twirled his left hand and pointed straight towards the incoming Vauldins and the remaining men on horseback left their station.
He didn’t know how long he could hold them off before they broke through the gates but he prayed that a miracle will come. With a last prayer of protection, he pointed his right hand down, releasing the arrows.