A loud noise startled Cailin awake. The village was suddenly filled with screaming and the clashing of metal. Such a strange sound to hear this late on a clear winter's night. A strange sound, period. Cailin regretted that she and Aishwarya had stayed behind this time. Their five other siblings and stepmother would be in the capital by now. And here they were, with someone or something attacking their village. Only hours after a prison cart rolled in for the night, too. In her fright, Cailin attempted to scramble from the bed in search of her older sister. Fumbling in the blankets, she fell to the floor.
"Cailin, what's going on?" Aishwarya called from her cot in the corner of the room. Getting to her feet, Cailin rushed to her sister's side. Seeing her safe was a relief. Aishwarya's right leg had shriveled years ago. No one ever knew why, but they couldn't afford that fancy magic healing folks in the city had access to. "I don't know," Cailin whimpered. The door crashed open, revealing the sneering faces of five young men. "Jackpot, boys," said the man in front. He held a long, curved sword in his hand. "I don't think they'll mind if we bring back some labor." Cailin cowered, the thumping of her heart loud in her ears. She took a trembling breath. Why had mother gone to town? Why had the soldiers come, bearing prisoners? The men spread into the room like water on cloth. Cailin reached at the wall, grabbing the thick-hafted broom they used to sweep out the house. Grinning down at her, the lead man's face changed as he noticed what was behind her; Aishwarya. "Ah, I see..." he said, brandishing his blade with a careless flick of his wrist. In that instant, he appeared hesitant. "Only one of you is useful for labor." One of the others piped up, "Shouldn't take long to take care of a cripple and collect the kid." "I don't know," said the leader. He almost sounded panicked. "He just said to grab money and stuff. These two ain't got it." The other said, "Doesn't really matter, does it? You think the Corvids will take us, we leave empty-handed?" The leader looked back. Before he turned, Cailin could have sworn there was pleading in his eyes. "We got their man out of custody. That's enough." The other said, "Catch them, use them, kill them, or leave them. It makes no difference to me. But, I will be accepted, even if I have to kill you to get a spot." The leader sighed, turning back to Cailin with the gleaming sword in hand. Stepping in, the leader's sword flashed in her eyes. She stumbled back as the sword swiped the broom handle in half, barely missing her chest. Dropping a piece of it, she swung the ruined handle with all her strength. The stick smashed into his elbow, and he grunted, eyes wide. His mouth drooped into a strange frown. The others moved in, each bearing simple clubs. One of the clubs slammed down into her shoulder. Something snapped, and she screamed as she stumbled back into the bed, barely missed by two others. She spotted a club just a moment too late. Her face exploded in pain, and everything went black. Muffled ringing in Cailin's ears brought her into a strange sort of stupor. She lay there, next to Aishwarya's bed. Her sister was cradling her body, wailing, arms covering her protectively. A dark-skinned young woman Cailin had seen with the prison caravan earlier sprinted into the house while the men appeared to bicker amongst themselves. She held in her hands a quarterstaff, wrapped in what seemed to be vibrant green vines. She smashed her staff into the leader's crotch. As he dropped, he lashed out in instinct, his blade passing across her nose, just under her eyes. The other men rushed her, swinging their clubs. She dodged, blocked, and parried deftly. That is, until one of them scored a lucky hit to the woman's torso, causing her chest to crunch. The young woman lay still, breathing ragged. She stared, a strange serenity beaming from bright yellow eyes. A man in black garments entered the room. He glared about the room at the bickering men, their leader finally getting to his feet. "What is this?" said the man in black. The others continued their argument, seeming to ignore the newcomer, but their leader knelt and said something unheard. "I see." His hands lashed out, five silver shapes flashing in the light of a lantern. Five of the men dropped where they stood. The leader looked on in horror at the man in black, as he strode to the last man and stabbed him with a blade Cailin hadn't seen him draw. "To think, only one among you shows me respect, when it is my favor you seek." said the man in black. "Does that mean I made it?" said the leader, voice shaking. The man in black stared at him, flinty eyes unblinking. "That is not a decision for a Rook. I will take you, and these two girls to the Raven with me. He will decide your fates." "And the cripple?" asked the leader. "You dare," the flinty eyes held murder. "Even the Raven himself would not insult one touched by Vrana's wing. We will leave her in safety. " The man who had been the leader deflated under the weight of this man in black. "Please," Aishwarya cried, "Leave us alone." The man in black knelt to Aishwarya, beaming a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You, who have been blessed by Vrana's wing. We will leave you in health. Your..." "She's my little sister," "Your sister, and this girl that was prisoner with me. They will be evaluated by the Raven. Be proud. They will hold a place of honor in the Corvids, for defending one blessed by Vrana." "Please," Aishwarya's voice sounded small. The man in black pulled something from a pouch on his belt. By the time she realized what it was, it was too late. Pulling a mask over his face, the man pulled a stopper from the glass vial and waved it under Aishwarya's nose. Aishwarya's body went limp, and the man in black replaced the stopper. "Forgive me, child of Vrana. But, I really must be going. Sleep well, and may Vrana use you for her mischief." Cailin's eyes closed, the world going dark, as the man in black placed a hand on her wrist and lifted her from the cobbled floor.
0 Comments
|
AuthorLawrence Henry is an aspiring author with more caffeine than time. BTW, here's some of my thoughts on a few varied subjects. Archives
July 2023
Categories |