The snake was closing in on the bird's nest. The bird knew it couldn't win against the snake, but it still tried to defend its nest and eggs. The bird knew how hard it tried, yet it was not going to win against the snake. Nobody was going to tell the bird to stop, because they knew that no matter how many times they tried to tell it, the bird would never stop protecting its children.
But this time, there was no bird, no snake, no nest or eggs.
There was Sir Edward Kenny.
Weeks ago, the Vikings had left their homeland and were now moving towards England. The Vikings conquered every land they stepped foot on. They did not attack only for land or money. Their motives for war were never clear. They burned down every city that stood in their way.
Sir Edward Kenny was a respected and honoured knight. He was a handsome man in his thirties. He was tall and lean, with a face marked by cuts and bruises, yet never pale. He had a pair of deep green eyes and long hair. He wore a large metal sword with a black cover strapped to his body.
Edward was drinking in a bar between the busy streets of England three days before the war started.
Suddenly, a soldier shouted, "Sir Kenny!"
Edward turned towards the man.
"What is it, soldier?" he asked.
"The Vikings," the soldier replied. "They are coming."
Edward rose from his table and rushed out of the bar. He mounted his horse and headed home.
When he reached his house and opened the door, two little children ran towards him, shouting, "Papa! Papa!"
He hugged his children tightly. His wife, Lisa, stood nearby.
Edward had gone to many wars in the past decades, but this war was different. The Vikings had a much larger army, and they were very powerful.
That day, Edward spent time talking, playing, and laughing with his family. His family was shocked because he had never acted like this before.
Lisa suspected something was wrong.
"Edward," she asked, "why are you acting different than usual?"
"Nothing, Lisa," he replied.
But after he spoke, tears slowly rolled down his face.
Lisa had never seen him crying. As a husband and a father, he had always been brave and courageous.
Edward hugged his wife and said through tears,
"This time... I think I won't be coming back from the battlefield."
Hearing this, Lisa's heart sank. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Why?" she cried. "Why can't you stay with us? Why do you have to go to war?"
Wiping her tears away, Edward answered,
"I can't stay here. I am a knight... a warrior. If I stay here, they will come and kill us all. But if I die, I want to die trying, battling on the battlefield."
Days passed.
Edward spent all his remaining time with his family.
Eventually, the day came.
He packed his things, wore his armour, kissed his wife goodbye, and stepped out of the house towards his horse.
Lisa stood there watching him leave.
She thought he would turn back.
He never did.
Maybe because he was crying. If he turned back, he knew he would never be able to reach the battlefield.
He mounted his horse and began his journey.
He was never afraid of death.
He was only afraid of leaving behind his loving family.
Edward entered the king's palace. The king was preparing for battle and constantly giving orders.
Edward was given a small army of sixty men: twenty-five horsemen, twenty assault soldiers, and fifteen long-range bowmen.
Edward had never lost a war in his lifetime. He climbed ranks faster than any other knight. After the civil wars that devastated the country, he eventually earned the title of "Sir" from the Queen herself.
They finally reached the battlefield.
Edward stared at the castle before them.
The castle stood old and covered with mist. A cursed and negative aura surrounded it. No trees grew nearby.
Edward's eyes remained courageous, but deep down he was afraid.
He knew they were not going to win this war.
Not in this life.
But as a last effort to save his family, his people, and the kingdom of Acyuta, he stepped forward, determined not to die a coward's death.
The king, Edward, and the other knights never told the soldiers that there was almost no chance of winning. They wanted to preserve Acyuta's morale.
The king was young, tall, and handsome. He had inherited the throne while still in his twenties after his father died during the civil war. He was courageous, intelligent, and an excellent manipulator and negotiator.
He had won many wars without even stepping onto the battlefield, fighting not with a sword, but with words and mind games.
Then the day came.
The Vikings had captured the castle.
Everyone agreed that it was time to attack.
But the king stepped forward and said,
"Before starting the war, I would like to talk to the Viking leader."
A slight smile appeared on his face, as though he was plotting something.
Edward stepped in immediately.
"My lord, this is not right. The Vikings are savages. They wouldn't listen to us. It isn't safe to talk to them."
Hearing this, the king replied furiously,
"I am going to talk to them, and you are coming with me. That is my order."
Edward nodded.
He returned to his tent and spent hours trying to think of a way to defeat the Vikings, but he found none.
At last, around 2 p.m., a soldier entered his tent.
"It's time," the soldier said. "You and the king are leaving for enemy territory."
Edward selected some of his men and mounted his horse.
Later, the king joined him.
Edward drew out a purple flag and raised it high.
The purple flag symbolised peace. It showed the enemy that they had not come to harm them, but only to discuss terms.
Even so, Edward searched for danger at every step.
As they moved forward, the king looked at Edward and said,
"Sorry, Edward, for my mistreatment. I just want to secure every possible path to victory."
Edward nodded silently and continued riding forward into the unknown.