As soon as his soft lips met my own they pulled away. The kiss was over in less than a heart beat. He had pulled away before I could even push him back.

My eyes were widened in significant shock at his astounding action. Ivor gave a playful smile at my reaction obviously amused.

"Wh-" I was about to question when he cut me off.

"What can I say, I'm a sucker for cheesy romance and what's more romantic than a goodbye kiss from a beautiful maiden to a handsome man as he goes into battle. The timing could not be better." He winked.

Oh no he won't get away with this!

I kicked him in one of the only few places he did not gave armour covering, his lower shin.

Ivor yelped in pain and lifted his leg up to momentarily clutch it in a futile attempt to ease the pain away.

"That will teach you not to do something like that again without any warning!" I frustratingly huffed annoyed at the idiotic man before me.

"I'm leaving now but I will get payback so don't you dare even think about dying!" I threatened then turned on my heels and marched off.

The audacity he had to be playful in a serious situation like this... I... I couldn't help but let my lips slightly rise up and into a smile.

Ivor you are truly something else.

I was unaware that he was still watching me, a strange look dancing in his eyes and gracing his features. His form was now no longer playful and took on a more serious almost deadly demeanour.

"Please be safe..." He whispered into the wind and let it carry it off before focusing back on the battle before him.

I barely managed to just get off the wall without almost being completely knocked over by rushing panicked soldiers.

I noticed that the gate had been completely barricaded up and tightly secured in place with extra wooden support beams positioned strategically for maximum efficiency.

A lot of the surrounding buildings near to the wall and gate were either partially destroyed, lit up in flames or both as a result of the rapid catapult fire. Debris was everywhere and with every passing minute more was created.

I broke into a sprint after sending one glance back silently praying for the safety of both Ivor and Vorn. I headed in the general direction the centre of the city. Josiah should be in the vicinity rallying troops, relaying orders and evacuating civilians.

Unfortunately the Capital City is massive and I lack the stamina to continue on at my current speed for much longer even with all the adrenaline pumping through my body.

Before I knew it, I was a huffing and puffing mess desperately gasping for air like a fish out of water. My hair uncomfortably stuck to the sides and top of my face due to the sweat I had accumulated.

I placed my hands on my knees almost completely hunching over in an attempt to try catch my breath as I could no longer keep running and that's when I heard it. The loud thundering of solid hooves on hard ground from behind me.

I turned my head around and was met with the sight of an exquisite white horse bolting down the road at very high speed towards me. Some ropes that were attached to the majestic animal were loosely flying and flapping about with each step taken.

I took that moment to stretch out my arms to the sides in an attempt to block its path and stop it. The horse was obviously spooked and very frightened as it skidded to a halt and reared its powerful front legs up. It's widened eyes and loud calls further showcasing it's apparent fear.

"Easy... Easy..." I did not look it in the eyes but rather at its neck and brought my arms before me moving them in slow soothing motions in an attempt to settle the frightened animal.

It took a few minutes but I managed to calm it and I slowly walked forward. I gently clutched its halter once it came within reach.

The horse had no saddle nor bridle but two roughly braided lead ropes connected to the sides of its halter dangling dangerously close to its hooves. I was grateful it had not stepped on them yet. The animal had obviously just escaped from somewhere nearby most likely close to the wall where all the chaos currently reigned.

For some reason this horse looked vaguely familiar. It took a moment for it to click but that's when I realised it was simply because this was the very horse I had stolen from the guard in my flee from the capital after stealing the jewels.

This was the horse I had temporarily named Frosty and released on my journey back for the ball. I was disappointed when I realised that she had been caught and seemingly homed but I was also not surprised. She had been trained after all and was used to humans, she was not some wild animal. She probably would not have been able to survive out in the wilderness for long now that I think about it so it was for the good.

Clutching the two leads, I tied them together in a temporary knot in an attempt to create make shift reins and flipped them over her neck.

This horse was by any means definitely not small and I wondered for a moment how I would mount her without the aid of stirrups. I glanced at my surroundings hoping for anything I could stand on to help me up but unfortunately there was nothing of the sort.

I let out a sigh at the realisation that I would have to swing up into her myself, something I could not do with all this armour on. I made the choice of abandoning large pieces of it that would get in the way and restrict my movements.

Although the armour was lighter compared to my pervious armour, it still weighed me down. I was regretting not ridding myself of some of it earlier as I immediately felt lighter and much looser, my muscles felt free again and unrestricted.

I then clutched a large chunk of Frosty's exquisite long mane in a tight fist with my left hand as I stood to her right shoulder facing her tail end. I used that moment to swing my right leg up and twist my body around to face the front while balancing perfectly on my left leg. The momentum I gained from the powerful swing along with the added strength of my grip on her mane was enough to lift my body up onto her back in one swift movement.

I was mounted. I was glad I took of some of the armour otherwise I would have been met with a lot of trouble in mounting in this manner.

I held the makeshift reins between my hands, clicked my tongue and gave a soft kick with my heels and we were off. I did not have the time to waste and soon later I was in a powerful fast paced gallop. The buildings were whipping past in quick blurs as my soul focus was on the road before me.

It did not take long before people came into view. It was a large crowd gathering shouting angry rants and fearful cries. Soldiers were trying to create order but were failing miserably. The people were unhappy as they tried to push over and passed one another trampling and stumbling over each other in their wake.

My eyes raked the each frightened and angry face of both the crowd and surrounding soldiers. I could not see General Josiah.

Urging my reacquainted steed to the left in an attempt to find my way around the crowd and possibly find the source of the hold up, I bolted off just about skidding around the corners of the sharp back alley ways.

Unfortunately the paths were narrow and old crates and barrels were scattered about in them creating small obstacles. I clutched Frosty's mane in slight fear as she either jumped over or smashed right through them demolishing them completely in a totally unpredictable manner.

I was almost relieved when we reached a wider road. I had arrived exactly where I had intended. The road pooled into the main road leading to the palace gates were the crowd seemed to be gathering.

From the distance I could see a couple of soldiers were trying to hold the civilians back in great struggle as they tried to push through. I caught sight of the very man I was looking for, Josiah. He seemed as though he was about to address the crowd but two men who at first glance looked like normal civilians approached him from behind and said something to him.

He gave a nod and dismissed them right after before he addressed some of his troops.

I eyed the two men who had just spoken to him in slight curiosity, they carried themselves in a unique way. I could tell they definitely knew how to fight and were most likely well trained in combat. Although not noticeable immediately at first glance I realised they were also carrying weapons.

Before I could think anymore on it, Frosty jumped forward in a panicked fright as a loud explosion was heard nearby towards the west. Immediately loud warning bells went off.

I managed to stabilise myself and calm Frosty down just in time before I fell off. The large crowd was obviously startled at was happened and began pushing off in the opposite direction trying to get away.

Josiah was shouting out orders to avoid a stampede. His voiced was laced with authority clearly showing his rank.

A few minutes later a knight came bolting in a frantic manner from the direction of the explosion. The knight's beautiful armour was covered in small splatters of blood and dirt. He also seemed to be injured slightly.

Josiah, immediately taking note of this approached him. The knight said something to him, Josiah's eyes narrowed and he asked the knight something to which the knight replied by simply shaking his head.

Not a second later the knight was grabbed by the shoulders and yanked off his horse. To which Josiah in turn mounted it and took off in the direction the knight had just came from.

He left his men and the knight behind startled not giving them a second of reasoning and leaving them to deal with the chaos.

Something was obviously wrong, very wrong and it had to do with the explosion and what the knight had just told him. I had immediately has assumed the explosion was a result of the battle at the western gate as it had come from that general direction but judging from Josiah's reaction I was beginning to doubt my theory.

So I decided to take off after the General. I had unfortunately lost sight of him but logic led the way for I knew where he was headed. I was shocked when I came across a very familiar large building half destroyed in places and partially on burning in places.

The prison had been blown apart and prisoners were rushing out killing the guards and anyone else who dared to stand on their way of freedom like savage animals with whatever items they could find turning them into weapons.

I caught sight of Josiah who had already dismounted and was entering the prison from the side through one of the destroyed walls unbothered by the chaos of fleeing prisoners and ignoring the screams and cries of help from the dying prison guards.

Something definitely was not right.

Unfortunately I was not concentrating when suddenly Frosty's halter was roughly grabbed by filthy hands. Another prisoner came to her side and pulled me off roughly throwing me to the ground not a second later.

My breath was completely knocked out of me and I was left winded on the ground unable to move.

The two prisoners were fighting over who got the horse when another one came in from behind and jumped on Frosty's back stealing her away in the process. I couldn't do a thing as it all happened so quickly.

I managed to finally stand using the wall of the building beside me as extra support. More and more prisoners were swarming out of the prison like a colony of disturbed ants.

I needed to get around them if I wanted to see what Josiah was up to but I could not. I needed to think.

I could hear the some of the fighting taking place as the battle reigned on defending the wall and west gate in the distance.

I analysed my surroundings making sure to move out of the way from the oncoming rush of prisoners so that I would not be knocked over or shoved about or worse killed. I noticed a wooden door leading into the very building I wanted to get around.

Thinking rather than walking around that it would be better just to walk through, I took the chance and I reached for the door. I was relieved when it opened with a slight turn of the handle indicating that it was not locked making my life significantly easier.

I took a step into the darkened building and immediately something felt very off. There were knocked over chairs and other furniture lying about, I could make out some light splatters of blood marks on some of the walls and parts of the floor. It looks like a fight or something of the sort had taken place here.

Following the trail of blood into the next room I let out a gasp and nearly puked at the unsightly scene I was greeted with.

A body covered in large gashes and deep wounds was slumped against the wall. There was blood everywhere pooling all around it. What was most disturbing was the large gash across the stomach.

Small parts of intestine and a few other organs were hanging out from said gash which I had barely managed to identify through all the blood. My own stomach churned and I had to move my gaze up.

Cold dead eyes stared back at me. The man wore no armour but a bloodied sword lay nearby his body. Although his clothing was covered in blood I could still make out the remnants of dust and flour from earlier...

The destroyed body before me was General Josiah of the Royal Guard.