The Kingdom

They pounded on me and screamed excitedly in my face, but all I craved was silence and a place to recover my shattered nerves.

"Backup! Give him some room!" came Thanuel's voice and then, like two guardian Malachim, he and Jarken swooped in beside me and gave me some space to breathe.

Blinking, I looked up into Thanuel's concerned eyes and he asked, "Okay boss?"

"I think so," I huffed out.

He helped me to my feet and half supported me as my legs about gave out on me. I leaned forward on the wall for support and as I did so I noticed something profound. The enemy beyond the wall was utterly silent where before they had filled our ears for hours with the roars of their desire to kill us.

Reversely, it now seemed that the whole valley echoed with the vibration of the elation on the part of the Yesathurim reacting to what had been done.

"I think I'm going to take the rest of the day off."

"Yes, that would be good I think," Thanuel said at about the same moment I felt myself pass out.

*****

I awoke to a groan of pain, followed by realized actual pain. I'd been dreaming of Susori and that she'd been taken from me. I'd been reaching for her when I woke up. Now all I felt was the pain of my ordeal earlier in the day.

Blinking I looked around. It was dark. I'd apparently slept the day away. Some part of me wished that I'd slept the night away as well, but responsibility drove me to my feet.

Groaning, I began to walk, the soreness of my limbs easing up a bit with increased movement. I walked in the general direction of the wall in the need to know what was going on. I certainly hoped that a night assault wasn't imminent as I was not ready for it by any means.

Everyone I came across bowed and made way before me. It was a bit awkward.

Reaching the steps I stopped and winced at the prospect of going up them. The stairs were full of warriors poised to repel an assault if one was attempted.

The warrior nearest me extended a hand and I took it. He heaved me upward a step and in like manner the action was repeated until I reached the top of the wall. In gratitude I turned back to the stairs and the warriors gathered there. "Thank you," I said in their native tongue, which Kuri had taught me years before.

As one the warriors saluted. Their action was echoed by all those on the wall as they noticed my appearance. It would appear that I had won the heart of the army.