The walls were penetrated by a near volcanic explosion launched by a catapult on the outer flank of the river. They traversed the wall swiftly and destroyed the inner keep with metal arrows thrown into midair by bows made of bronze and animal skin. The King of Ardacha shouted as he attacked the front of soldiers with a score of the great knights of the Lord’s Prayer. The front was depleted in time though at the cost of the oldest of them all, Toghormah. As he bled, he led them and guided them onto their next mission, to defend the king and rebuild the citadel in time. “Go, and do not forget the princess, she is the future of our people and carries the blood of the family.” Their father had died long ago and the King, Tigran, though more sturdy than bronze, was only a new heir. He was still fighting to reach the outer walls to push the front back to the river as Toghormah uttered his last breath to Neryas. “Go my friend, and God be with you, if the Lord is pleased, I will be beside him by nightfall. Go, and encourage the brothers.” His throat was bleeding and his foot was shot threw with an arrow, a sword had struck his side though taken out quickly upon penetrating his intestines, his heart was beating and healthy and as he breathed his last, Neryas reminded him of the great victories they had achieved and the great blessings Toghormah had acquired in life. His prayers older than this age, older than this civilization, sung into eternity and brought an angelic guard beside Toghormah. “My sight deceives me,” as his eyes widened, beholding the light of heaven before his death, “the Lord is near.” Upon offering his spirit to the Father, the Knights of the Lord’s Prayer had already defeated the enemy, slaughtering the front and penetrating their cavalry with mere sword and spear in their hands, brought to them by the infantry called to the outer flank of the river, the nexus of the opposing army to their passage and departure back to the forest from which they assaulted the outer walls of the Kingdom of Ardacha. The Knights though the last defense, as the army was not prepared, broke every catapult and weapon before them, dismantling with iron sword every last corrupt machinery that was used against the castle and the King. The princess was led to Island of Yetemia, on a ship that Neryas had instructed them to take. The ship was cloaked in white and could pass through enemy territory towards the islands she desired to see and upon which to live until the King is ready to rebuild what was lost and broken.
“How do we rebuild,” shouted the king in the corridors. “How could this have happened?” He continued to roar as the shameful defeat haunted him for days. “We lost too many! We are a castle fortified by the heavens! And I, the only one here left to defend it, have failed my people, and my father. The Princess, where is she!”
“My Lord, Toghormah is dead,” said Neryas, “I have secured the princess on the ship we call the Veil. She is safe on the outer reaches of the sea.”
“Good, and Toghormah is not dead. He is with us.”
“I saw him, my Lord, with my eyes breath his last.”
“He is with us, Neryas, do not speak this way. I know of what you mean. He is my immortal friend and brother.”
“Who will replace him in number?”
“Hayk is ready," said Neryas.
“Give him his sword and say nothing more. He must begin reading as well. Let him begin with the tract of prayer as Toghormah would advise.”