trial and error

!~+~! the swarm !~+~!

I watched as the candle light flickered across. The small room. Tufts of multi-colored fabric draped across the roof. Adorned with lights. Armour stood on the armour stand near the door. And the sword and shield in their places "this won't be THAT bad. Other than that, I have the smallest room here. I'm pretty set off.'' I jolted up as the door slammed, "phoenix?" a voice boomed across the small room. I swifty turn my neck "king....?" i'd lower my self to bow but he stop me "no need." he stepped to the side. Revealing the princess. My eyes flicked from the king. To her. And back to me. Continuing to kneel down. "No.need. You've been bumped up" he said in a slight chuckle "to...what exactly?" I said. Raising an eyebrow the princess butted in. pushing her father slightly to the side "you'll be protecting me! Great right!" she said quite eager. Her father chuckled once again. "It's a pretty self-explanatory phoenix. I trust you'll do a great job,''I nodded as he left "alright! Let's go!" She said, "I won't be much use without my gear." I quickly put on my armour and sheathed the sword and shield. Opening the door for her, she skipped off. Me following close behind. She made her way to the stables fairly quickly mounting a snow white stallion. "Get yours" i tilted my head to the side "i get one?" she giggle and nodded. "Pick any!" i made my way to a black mare and hoped on. Trotting to her side "lead the way" she sped into a gallop me following close behind. She made her way to the central tower, far away from the castle. She drugged up the stairs. Onto the top. She lost her balance as the earth shook below us "what's that..?" I shrugged and looked around, my eyes landing on the turrets surrounding the castle. They had a strange purple glow. I panicked as more purple glow poured from the top. As spider like machines made to protect swarmed everything. , panic mode set in "get down!" i scooped her up and put her onto the back of the white horse. Untacked the other one and let it go. Before getting on the white horse and galloping toward the castle "why are you going near it!" she said "you WANT your dad to live don't you?'' She stayed quiet. Holding on. I grabbed her hand and pushed through the front gates. Shouldered past the people swarming out. I soon found the king, covered in ash, "get up were leaving!'' I said, grabbing his hand desperate to pull him forward. "As long as were out of the gates we'll be okay!" he coughed "take ayla and leave"

"I REPORT TO YOU AND YOU ONLY I'M NOT LEAVING" he stood "if you responded to me. Then follow my orders.'' I felt tears form in my eyes as I grabbed her hand and hurled her into the sea of people. Once I reached the end I threw her onto the horse heading for the bridge. I felt as if the horse shot backwards. Something hit it. Both of us flew off its back. I saw as the machine approached the purple smoke increasing its lower body. . i panicked and stabbed the handle of the sword into the eye. I felt as if the machine powered down before typing over lifelessly. I yanked my sword out and grabbed her hand again, pushing her into the dark brush. I heard the same noise behind me and before I could turn around I pushed Ayla to the side. I felt as if the laser burned through my left leg. I threw a small stick into the crevice. Jamming it. I watched as the machine yanked and trugged around. "C'mon." ayla followed close behind. I'd knock down the door of a ruined house. Clear holes inside the windows and walls. I sat down wincing as I hit the ground "are you hurt!?" ayla said. Rushing to my side "ah, yeah of course not. Im just.fine" i said through gritted teeth "i can understand sarcasm." she said. Backing off a bit "great. Cuz i'll use it often" she sat down next to me as i wrapped my leg with a small bandage "why are you so cold?! You seemed to love my father. What's different about me?" I sighed. Standing up "were leaving. This place is overrun. And if they can do whatever they did back there. I don't doubt that they can search fairly well." she stood. Her hands clenched into small fists ''why don't you answer me!? If my father died then that would make me the queen!" she barked. "Until I see your fathers body. You are nothing but a child to me," she scoffed. But followed close behind "where are we going now?" I pulled up a small map. The ends were charred. But most of the map was readable. I ignored her. And started walking. "Wait! You can't leave me though!" she said. Speeding up "then speed up" I felt as she walked beside me. The gavel crunching beneath our shoes "phoenix!" I hear her screech. I flipped around and ran my sword through the monster behind her. Unamused. The edge of my sword stained with red. I shook some off and placed it back in its sheath. Ayla looked at me. Then the sword, then the monster. "How- you know what never mind." a sudden shadow cast over us, the split peaks of the mountains casted the large shadow. My ratted and torn cape flickered to the side

Let the trial begin