Bab 64: The royal’s army
Still, proving the effectiveness of their formation, the trio managed to escort the two royals safely to the throne room--- with three zombies killed and no injury sustained, the mission was a success.
"We've arrived." Chef Will announced, with his pan on his left hand, he spread his arms wide open---encircling in place.
Even though standing in front of the floor to ceiling door, Elion knew better than to let his guard down, he was scanning the area, making sure no zombies are hiding within the shadows.
The area was in fact too quiet--- as if abandoned in a hurry. It did not leave his attention that no guards were stationed in front of the throne room. Instead, weapons were sprawled on the floor, with droplets of blood tracing back away from the door, towards the hallway. Anyone does not need Elion's expertise to know that there had been a struggle in the area--- an attack the guards most likely lost. Elion looked around the area once more, assuming one or more of the guards had turned into a zombie and is lurking nearby--- but there was none.
The unfortunate ones who were unable to rest are now wandering somewhere inside the palace, their body moving, but their soul long gone.
Lord Ziloh calmly walked towards the floor to ceiling door and knocked three times.
Clicking sounds and rattling of chains can be heard from the other side.
To Elion's observation, the door was made out of the same material as the kingdom's and the palace's gate, pure metal made to protect those inside--- or to entrap them. A material that was once abundant but now rare.
A door like this could make them have more sleep time in the slumps, Elion thought.
The Queen was the first one they saw as soon as the door opened. The Queen passed by the group and rushed towards her daughter.
"My Queen, slow down, it's dangerous!" Cliff reached out for the Queen as he looked around the area, hesitating to take a step outside.
"Ali!" Kiva called for her best friend, but her father stopped her from taking a step outside the throne room.
Queen Kathy ignored the Duke. "Alyssa," she caressed the check of her daughter, making sure she's in front of her. "You're not hurt, are you?" her way of asking if she's infected.
A huge shadow passed by Duke Cliff. King Garrett followed suit without hesitation, standing beside his queen.
"I'm okay, mother." The princess smiled, reassuring her mother. "I'm perfectly fine. Ziloh found me."
"Took him long enough." The queen spat. "But as long as you're fine, my love." She hugged her daughter tightly, not wanting to let go.
"My Queen." Compared to Duke Cliff, Ison Vis took a step away room the throne room, giving advises to the queen. "Let's continue the greetings inside, it's unsafe to leave the doors open for long."
King Garrett's hand was fisted to his side, ready to break the bones of Ison Vis, for daring to command the queen.
"All right." The queen wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulder and escorted her towards the safe zone.
King Garrett composed himself, giving Ison Vis a death stare as he follows closely behind his queen.
Lord Ziloh followed suit, followed by Elion, Maya and Chef Will.
The guards—who Elion assumed as the survivors from the recent attack--- pushed the doors to a close and locked it with heavy chains.
"Ali!" Kiva broke free from her father's hold and rushed towards the princess' empty side, giving her a tight embrace.
"I'm okay," the princess beamed for the first time. "I'm okay."
"I was going to save you, but they won't let me!" Kiva wailed.
"Thankfully, they did not." The princess smiled, letting go of her mother, focusing her attention to her best friend. "I refuse to be eaten by you."
Kiva winced at the joke, interpreting it the wrong way.
"I don't want you to get infected." The princess added. "Do you?"
"No! Of course not!" Kiva hugged her best friend tightly.
Knowing that everybody's safe, Elion could now let go of his tension. Free from the adrenaline, he could now feel the muscle pains all over his body--- especially on his right arm.
Staying in the palace had gotten him rusty.
Maybe he needed to kill more zombies to get in shape.
***
"My Queen" Ison Vis said. "Now that the princess is safe, we must eradicate the infection within the palace the soonest before the whole town finds out and panic."
"The guards, led by Ziloh will take care of it." Queen Kathy ordered.
Elion scanned the area, there were only about a dozen of guards inside and upon seeing their eyes, fear remained from their previous encounter. Elion had a hunch that when chaos came to them not too long ago, most of their comrades had fallen and they had no choice but to back down--- or else, all of them would have gotten infected. Elion considers this as bravery, real soldiers know when to surrender. But them, going out there in their current mental state would be dreadful.
The Queen is asking for the impossible--- a suicide mission, Elion thought.
"No," Maya knowing Elion too well, whispered beside him. "No." she repeated.
Elion, not wanting the sacrifices of the fallen guards to go to waste raised his hand. "I will go with Lord Ziloh." he said, talking directly to the queen herself.
The Queen regarded him for a minute. "And you are?"
"Ziloh, the princess' attendant." he bowed to the queen.
"You're my daughter's, let her decide." The queen decided.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" The princess asked Elion.
Elion nodded, resolute. "Yes."
"All right, I'll allow you to go with Ziloh."
"Stupid Idea." Maya whispered beside Elion. "Suit yourself, die out there, we're attendants in here, you keep on forgetting that." she crossed her arms on her chest.
Elion whiffed in the air, it smelled like meat and oil. He turned his head to the side to see Chef Will sitting on the floor at the corner, with a pan and induction, cooking something.
"Who wants chicken brains?" Chef Will asked to no one in particular.
Like chickens in a pen, the royals ran towards him, forming a line.
Elion saw the dented pan, Elion was sure that it was the same pan he used as a weapon.
Surprisingly, Lady Kiva did not rush in line to grab some food, instead she stuck to the side of the princess, with a longing look towards the line for food.
The clean-up team was gathered by Lord Ziloh. A few guards were resolute, gathering all the remaining courage that they have. But most of them were scared, afraid to step out of the room.
"Those who are afraid." Ziloh said nonchalantly. "Doesn't need to come." he looked at Elion.
Despite of the lord's offer, nobody backed out.
Ziloh walked towards the door and opened the door, stepping outside of the safe zone.
***
Ziloh was leading the group with Elion at his side, the rest are on the back, too afraid to rush in front.
No plans were made, no formation was shared--- strategies that are a must during battles.
For Elion, this was a disaster about to happen. Many would be killed--- if not all of them. Elion having his doubts as to why such a serious matter was entrusted to the young Lord. Elion positioned himself at Ziloh's side, waiting for any instruction, but all Ziloh did was to ignore him--- to ignore everybody. When a zombie rushes towards them, Elion would behead them without hesitation. Ziloh did not say a word at him at all.
But then, Ziloh lifted his hand to the side--- stopping Elion from running forward.
Ziloh had no choice but to stop on his tracks, so does everybody following them from behind.
One of the guard's shield fell on the ground with a tang, grabbing Elion's attention. He grabbed it hurriedly as his helmet slid down to his eyes. When the guard fixed his helmet up, he squinted his eyes, seeing what was about to approach them, he stretched out his hand and pointed out far, his mouth hanging open.
Elion back his attention back in front and saw two tiny shadows coming towards them. "Be on guard! Raise your weapons!" he announced.
The guards followed on instinct, standing in position, bracing for an attack.
Elion was about to rush once more facing the enemy before it could pass by the inexperienced guards, but Ziloh stopped him from moving forward. "This one's mine." he smirked.
"But…" Elion, about to say it would be dangerous.
"Don't underestimate me, perishable." A gush of wind passed by beside Elion and Ziloh was gone.
Elion observed as ZIloh welcomed the two infected dogs--- all by himself. Elion, having experienced to kill one, knew that they were harder to deal with than infected humans. Elion raised his sword and marched towards Ziloh to assist him. One of the dogs, the white one, pounced on Ziloh.
A shriek of pain echoed in the hallway--- it was not of Ziloh's.
Elion stopped on his tracks and brought the sword down to his side as he witnessed Ziloh crushing the zombie with his bare hand, releasing it still-dead on the floor, and as he follows by splitting the other one in half.
"Clean up the mess." Ziloh said, finally giving his first instruction.
Elion was wrong, he underestimated the royals, the guards were not properly trained for a reason, there was no need to---when they have an army named Lord Ziloh.
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