[b]Chapter 29: Two kings[/b]

An eerie silence fell over the now scorched fields. Leofric weighed the sword heavily in his hand as he collected his breath behind the helmet's lion faceguard. He stared at Enid who stood on a knee a distance infront of him, his healthy hand clutching against his injured one. The adrenaline subsided and Leofric winced as a surge of varying pain ruptured through his body - realising how much of a battering he had taken in the duel with the Rider King. Leofric did his best to ignore the pain and took a step forward, and then another - he kept going towards his kneeling opponent with his sword at the flank. He stopped infront of Enid.

"You knew that Sorcerer. He's the one you have been searching for?" Leofric inquired and glanced down at the other king, who nodded in silence while powering through the immense pain in his hand. Leofric continued. "Why?"
Enid groaned briefly in agony and then straightened out his posture to gaze up at the northern king. "The Sorcerer is known to me. My advisor knows more than I do on this account - but we need him to power a portal. I will bring all of my people here. Before the end times."
Leforic raised his head to look at the opposite army on the other side of the field. Silence returned, with only the howling wind as company. The breeze tore and dragged in the northern king's black cloak as he stood near statue-like for several moments, before finally gazing down upon Enid again. "I don't know who that Sorcerer is but he has approached me before, there too he asked me to make peace with my enemy." Leofric delayed and clutched the grip around his sword tighter, the gilded flames around the steel flickering. He could almost feel the tension between the two forces and the bloodbath that would follow should he strike down Enid here and now. But his army would triumph - if not in skill then in numbers. It would end this sudden, unwarranted war.
The Northern King's blessed sword pierced the scorched ground with ease, undoubtedly due to its enchantment, and he stepped closer to the Rider King, almost looming over him now.
"There is only one place in this world that could harbour Sorcerers of that calibre. Its people murdered my grandfather. They have wronged my dynasty and made war against my kingdom. You have earned my ire with your unprovoked invasion, outlander, but -you- are not my true enemy. -They- are. This needless conflict must end. I will even help you search for this Sorcerer, and allow you to hold the city and summon your people from their demise - but this ends [i]now[/i]." Leofric clenched a hand together and almost seemed ready to batter in Enid's helmet with his fist alone.
"There will be no more fighting. Nobody else needs to die. All I ask in return is that you release [i]her[/i]." Leofric raised his other hand to point at the radiant creature that hovered above the ground. Enid turned his head in turn to look and huffed out a misty, icy breath. He remained silent and in thought for some time, before turning his head back to Leofric, and then back to his own men. He called out an order and the mages standing at the front ceased their witchcraft to stand down. Only one of them remained, persisting and now struggling on his own - but without the support of the others it was hopeless for him to hold the Lady on his own. Her golden radiance shimmered brighter and white flames erupted around her. In almost the blink of an eye she broke free from the magical chains that had held her, and a minor shockwave ruptured into every direction. She then turned towards the two kings and descended, her shape manifesting into a more prominent female appearance. She approached the Northern King and circled a lap around him while brushing one of her hands along his armour - then she withdrew back and promptly disappeared; her radiance diminished and returned the scorched wasteland into darkness.

Leofric sheathed his sword and looked as Enid, still clutching his brutalized hand, scrambled up to his feet and stared at him in silence, although it was a mutual understanding.
"We're done for today. I will order my army to stand down but we will remain here until the week's end. I will have a tent set up at the foot of the hills in case you wish to have words." Leofric said and turned halfway, gesturing with a hand to the hills where his camp and fortifications had been raised. Enid tilted his head in a slow nod and the two kings then turned, making their way back to their respective armies.