Chapter 3 The Loss Of Soldiers

Audrey was on her feet before the clock could make another tick sound. She was in her night dress and she was disoriented for a few seconds before she gained her strength and composure. She reached for her sword which never went too far away from her bed since the rogues started attacking and picked up her boots. The noise outside intensified and she could hear feets hurrying pass her door. The guards and all the domestic staff in the house were scrambling past, either to go out to the fight or to hide in a safer place.

She felt the adrenaline rush up her spines as she shrugged out of her night dress and slipped on her trousers and boots. She was soon done and she took in deep gulps of breath. Just then, the door to her room banged. She rushed to the door and held the knob, ready to open it but the voice out in the hallway made her stop. "My lady, the Alpha said you should not leave your rooms, you are safe here, the rogues have not been able to penetrate the pack house and the men are out there trying to keep them away!" The person said breathlessly. Audrey knew it was one of the guards and she shook her head in disappointment. Her mind was made up, she was going to go out and see how well she could help. She had not stayed out all day in the sun to train only to have to hide behind closed doors. She stood there, time was ticking. "My lady, are you in there? Did you hear what I said?" The guard from outside her door asked. She knew the guard would not leave until he was sure she was inside and had received his message. She sighed, she had to make him leave so she would be able to leave her rooms unnoticed.. outside, below her window, she heard the wails of the men that had been struck by sword and she could not decipher which one was the voice of hee men and that of their attackers. She ached to hold her sword against the throats of their enemies and she desired above all things to be out there, fighting. The voice came again, this time, accompanied by quick and desperate rasps on the door. The guard was afraid she was not inside and he seemed ready to break the door down and come see what she was up to inside the room. "I got your message. You may leave now" , She replied from inside and she heard the sharp intake of breath from the other side. The guard was relieved. She hoped that none of the men had been stationed by her door to make sure she did not step out. She opened the door slowly and there was no one in the hallway. She was relieved as she stepped one booted feet on the hallway. She heard the noises still coming from behind, down her window. She was worried with every sound that the air swept up to her ears. She was not sure where her parents and her brother were but she was sure they were safe, wherever they may be. She began to run down the hall, the guards, she reckoned had all left the insides and were either by the gates or standing watch by the windows that led up to their room upstairs. Audrey was running with her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. She would draw the sword at the slightest opportunity and she would use it just as she had learned and practiced. She was soon by the door. It had been bolted and there were two guards standing watch. She lowered her head as she reached them and spoke huskily. "Let me pass, I have orders to shout to the men out there by the Alpha", She told the guard at the door. He looked at her skeptically but then, the situation at hand did not need him to scrutinize any one amongst them too much. The only people they were to scrutinize where those who did not belong to their pack and so could be potential threats and enemies to them. Audrey knew she had passed easily because she had lied that she had orders from the Alpha to shout to the men fighting.. it was a crime to lie in the Alpha's name and it could be punishable by death, hence, no one ever did. The guards had not questioned her when she had said so because they could not convince themselves of the possibility of someone lying with the Alpha's name. She was soon running out to the gates where the men where trying hard to keep all the rogues away. There was bloody battle going on there and she had her sword in her hand as she joined forces with her men and fought the rogues. After a long time of futile attempt by the rogues, they began to fall back and retreat.. most of them were injured and most seemed to be losing interest in the fight even though they were well armed. Audrey was pleased with the work the men had done.. she too had fought brilliantly and had struck a few of the rogues with her sword. "My lady! How are you here with us? Do you know how risky this is?" Audrey heard a voice beside her suddenly. She had not hidden her face while she fought and she had snarled and grunted as she used her sword. The men had only seen her as one among the many soldiers fighting, they had been too engrossed with the task at hand to pay her close attention and see that she was not just one of their soldiers, but the daughter of the Alpha. They would be in trouble if she was hurt and none of them wanted that, but now, the Beta had seen her amidst the chaos and had recognized her. Or perhaps, it was Because the rogues where retreating and the battle was becoming less fiercer. "I am here fighting and defending the Burning Mountain pack and I will do it even at the expense of my life because I put the pack first!" She replied.. she was a grown adult and knew what she wanted and what she was doing and it irritated her when the lot of them tried to dictate her life for her like she was clueless on how to live her own life. She knew her reply was going to bother the Beta but she did not mind. He could worry and make as much fuss as everyone else, she did not care. "This is not your war to fight, Audrey. I will be here and see you get hurt, leave this place at once and run into the pack house. The men here are capable enough to see that the rogues are kept away!" The Beta said. The Beta, Kade was scared for her and furious at the same time that she was stubborn but there was not much he could do to make her retreat and go back to the pack house. He wondered how It was possible that she had been granted access outside the pack house when the whole place was in chaos. He would go back later when the whole fight had quelled and he would find out the incompetent fellows that had been at the door and had granted Audrey Access outside the pack house when she ought to be in her rooms, away from the troubles. "You know I will not run away from this place and go back to the pack house. I had come out here to fight the rogues and defend my pack in the best possible way I can and you want to send me away? That is impossible, sir and you know that", She said. Just then, an arrow was shot towards them, its target was Audrey and she ducked very quickly. The arrow missed. She changed her position and ran away from where she had been standing. The Beta ran after her, horrified. "Young lady, that was very close. Please let me take you back to the pack house where you will be safe! " He shouted behind her. She was not paying any attention to him as she joined the men in the front. The rogues where coming back with full force and she saw them, even in greater number. They had also been become embolden and they were now pushing back at them with even more force, pressure. Audrey heard the commands shouted by their leader who had on his helmet like everyone else except her. She was not on an helmet and the only thing she had was the breastplate and shield which she had retrieved from an injured soldier who was being taken away to the pack house to be tended to.