I once sweared my loyialty to crown and its bearer. I was there to serve and protect the King. But once you will look down and see all those people crowling in the streets you understand why they are asking for vengence. It´s not what they was told, it´s not only their fault they ended up like that. It was a head of man who brought them to their doom they were asking for. The emperor´s head.
Once you´ll awake to see the truth, you can´t carry on with your quest. But are you prepeared to join the enemy to save your people?
I broke my oath. It was the only thing I could do. I was walking among people, saw them suffering. And what did the King do to it? City was too crowded so he decided to start unsensible war against the Kingdom lying to the west. Everyone could enter army. Young, old, men, women. They could choose. Die in crowds or in battle.
But it wasn´t as expected, as a result of declared war, more and more villages in west parts of Kingdom were burnt out. Many refugees increased the population of the city.
There wasn´t much food, nor water, none of nobles wanted to share. Plague started spreading around. From the lowest districts of the city everyone was dying in pain, first beggers, merchants, smiths. Even when entering other disctricts were prohibited, it didn´t stop plague. One district was completly wiped out, you could smell the stink of dead, rotting bodies on kilometers. Noone was able to enter it. Noone wanted to.
I was sent to patrol to the merchants district. I remember how it used to look like. Mighty, nobel houses all sourronded by dozens of people trying to buy goods. Always crowded, as it was that day. But this crowdedness was different. All the stores were damaged, as desprite customers tried to get last food left. Next delivery was about to come in few days.
Broken windows and doors on once beautiful, proudly standing houses were haunted by wind. And noise.
Loud yelling, screaming, crying. That´s all that left.
I was waling among the poorest ones. One of them grabbed my cloak and turned me around. I bare my sword in moment but one look at him persudate me, it won´t be neccery. It was a young boy, hardy got through his childhood, but life left its scares on him. He has no legs and also his fingers seemed crippled. I kneeled down to him. Although in bad shape, he wore no signs of plague.
,,Mister, please help us," he whisperd. He wasn´t able to make louder sound.
,,I see your uniform, you´re one of the King´s elites, aren´t you? You must tell him! He must help us!"
I look to his face. His eyes, so deep, wet. I turned my sight away and stood up.
,,I´m afraid I can´t help you, citizine. Keep your faith."
I was about to leave when I heard his voice again.
,,Than you shall have a war."
I turned around briefly. He lyied on a ground, smiling. I came closer but he wasn´t breathing anymore. Thus was his path. That was were mine begun.
Later that day I was sitting in guardian chamber far from boys dead body. But I couldn´t stop thinking. It was ours duty to protect not only the Crown, but also his people. In this we failed. Instead we sent them to slaughter at battlefield, or just let them die on streets. As the night was passing I made my decision. I didn´t want to server emperor that brought people to doom. No matter if it´ll cost my life.
Few months later, King summoned all his Elite lieutenants. Five most capable of his guards. Everyone mastered his proffesion. First of them , Suda, was my direct superrior, skilled in vast arsenal of melee weapons, from wooden stick to huge mithril axes. Second, Orkin, powerfull mage, oldest of lieutenants. Legends were told about his battles. Third, Lesram, head of King´s spies, always informed about every step someone made in range of houndred kilometers. Ró was diplomat, in his youth he used to be a slave, but was sold to couple of city elves. The last one, Shayira, was the only non-human elite I´ve ever seen. She was like my sister, we grew up together, but her ambitious mind get her further.
The atmosphere got heavy after they left King´s chamber. None of them stood in castle for a long time. None, despite Shayira.
I sensed an opportunity to finally leave this place and find those who succeeded in deserting army, and running of the city. They were making their stand against the Castle. They awaited me.
But I couldn´t left with visiting Shayira. I knew how risky it was, but I trusted her.
As a captine of elite´s archers she had her chamber in south-western tower. The one that had view on plains in front of walls. I was walking carefully and silently, so noone could saw me, fully armed. But I was making more noise than I would like to. When I finally stood, undiscovered, in front of her door, I wasn´t sure what to say.
I knocked.
Once she saw me standing on stairs, she smiled and invited me over.
,,What are you doing here? Aren´t you supposed to be in your quarters?"
I got covered deeply in my cloak.
,,No, not anymore."
She looked suprised. As an elf she used different patterns for logic and I was almost sure, she was awaiting my arrival. But I wated for her response.
,,What do you mean?"
,,Shayira, I can´t. Did you see what´s happening down there? People are starving, dying. I can´t serve someone who don´t care about it."
,,So you´re deserting."
It was more to a notice, than question.
,,Come with me," I said instead of answer.
She turned her sight, reminding me of myself, few months ago, in merchants district. I knew she won´t go. I wasn´t sure she could left, nor she wanted to.
She steped to the chest next to his bed and opened it. When she turned back to me she held sword. She handed it to me.
,,Take this than. Can you feel warm comming from its grip? That´s the magic waiting to be released. Use it wisely."
I knelt down and lean down my head, holding the sword. It was like her blessing, more I could ever hoped in.
,,Thank you, my lady. But I can´t accept the weapon that..."
I stucked in the middle of sentence. I couldn´t even stand the thought about anything like that.
,,Weapon that will once kill one of us? Let it be our faith, my friend."
I noded and turned around. I stoped just for a while, whispering :,,Than we shall have a war."
Couple weeks after were Lesram´s spies searching across the forestes. But none of them could find me. When I was sure I wasn´t chased anymore I joined the group of refugees. They were hiding in a forest town Melendrith, under protection of wooden elves. Whole structure of buildings were natural, no more than branches and leaves, but together they made this place look like living city.
I was welcomed by Hel´aeth, local leader. The staircase to his chamber was made of fall leaves, colored to yellow and brown, but strong enough to hold me and elf walking next to me. Room itself was solitar. Just desk, two chairs and bed.
I knelt down as Hel´aeth entered.
,,Don´t need to be on your knees, young man. It is me who seeks your help."
I stood up and came to sit on chair, as he offered me a seat. I waited.
,,It is most fortunate you came here. We are not looking for a violence, although many of our youngligs blame you for our exile. But there´re humans that set its camp to north-west of here. I´d like to ask you for help."
I never thought about denying him. I felt warming heat comming from a grip and blade of my new sword. I got feeling, that by accepting this offer I´ll discover more about the current crysis. And the way how to end it up quickly.
,,Speak, please."
,,I want you, to talk to them. Discover what are they looking for."
,,But I´m a deserter. An exile."
,,Others of your kind are injured and can´t go. We asked nothing in return for our aid, but we need this problem to be solved."
,,Problem to be solved? You want me to get rid of them?"
Elf smiled mysteriously. He shook his head.
,,We don´t want to cause violance."
I noded. Feeling within me grew stronger. There was something in this quest that could determinate my destiny.
,,I´ll begin as soon as possible."
I was deep in the forest. Rays of sun ended far away from ground. Silence. I couldn´t hear birds singing, nor boars sniffing. I found traces on the ground, leading me directly to the human´s camp. But I decided to hide around for a while and watch them closely. It was just a small camp, with two fireplaces around which there were three men sitting. I knew there was one more, sitting in a tent. I watched them, but couldn´t hear them. I was afraid to come closer, it wasn´t that long when I was chased by those men.
I waited till one of them stood up.
,,I´ll come back soon, get your dirty hands off my plate!" he shouted.
As he went out of sight of his companions I stood by him and raised my dagger. I put it near his throat.
,,Keep silent," I whispered from behind, ,,and come with me."
We walk slowly far enough from his camp. I threw him to tree trunk and rised my sword immediately aim on his heart. He seemed scared, but he didn´t recognized me. Therefore they were searching for someone else. Or something.
,,Who are you?"
,,I...I´m just a simple peasant. I joined army to feed my family, please."
I watched him closely. He didn´t look like soldier in any case. His body was shivering in fear.
,,What are you doing here?"
,,We came to search for an artefact for the King. I don´t know anything about it. We were supposed to look for caves nearby. That´s all I sweare!"
,,You work for King, you deserve nothing but death."
His eyes got wet, but I didn´t feel mercyfull.
,,I´m just a peasant! I had no other choice, please, let me go!"
,,So you will tell your friends, I´m here? I´m sorry now I have no other choice."
I stabbed his heart before he could say anything. His yelling was dampped by wall of trees, so noone could hear us.
,,In scream you was born, in them you shall pass."
I turned around and headed back to my post.
Any of man´s companions didn´t seem to be curious about their missing party member. Another man came out of closer tent. He looked down to soliders and spited under their feet.
,,Back to work you scum!"
This was my oportunity. I had to wait till soliders dissapeared and than rush into the commanders tent. One of man headed diractly to companion´s body, but I couldn´t concerned about such things now. I drew away a blanked creating entrance to tent. Commander was turned backside to me, he thought it is one of his underlings.
,,You must be deaf indeed. I told you to get back to work. And you better do, if you don´t want me to feed King´s crows with your guts."
I took dagger out of my belt. But he turned faster than I could act. He caught a grip of his sword but something made him stop. He stared at me, confused.
,,You?!"
His voice get through my mind like a sharp piece of glass. I recognized him. He was little to human, but still was one of us. I have never spoken to him, but rumors were fast. He was called The king of lies, Diplomat. Ró.
,,You betreyed our order. There´s nothing you can do to clear your."
,,Nor I wanted to..."
He rised his sword prepeared for battle. I saw no other option, dropped down dagger and rised my sword as well. Its powere get through fingers to my body, blade shone in fire-orange flash. Ró lowered his sword a little, but still looked at me with hate.
,,This sword. Shayira gave it to you? Interesting. I have to tell the Kings once I´m done with you."
Strike I didn´t expected, but parried. It took me a while to find back stable ground. In meantime Ró was striking again. I dodged what gave me clear oportunity to finish him. I striked using my wrist, to use less time. I hit his backs, but armor stoped my blade to reach flesh. He fell down. I kicked him, turing him around that way. I aimed my sword to his throat, so he wasn´t able to move without hurting himself. He breathed quickly.
,,What are those artifacts you are looking for?"
He spitted. Wiht a fast blow I torn his sleaves with flesh on his arm. He yelled in pain.
,,Will you tell me?"
,,All right, all right! I´ll tell you, but you will pay me for this!"
,,I´m doomed alredy, now speak!"
He took a deep breath, looked at me as if he rated me, but when I pushed edge of sword more to his through, he started to talk.
,,Few months ago Orkin´s underlings found a note in old books. It told a story of young warrior that fought for free people of Melendrith. Despite fact that he himself was infected by plague he carried on in his quest and found a weapon that helped him solve all the aggresion and diseases his people suffered from. At the end of the book is writen : Those who desires for power won´t suceed, only in time of great need weapon of might power will be discovered, through hero´s blood and dragon´s tears."
,,So now you belive in fairytales."
,,It´s not a fairytale. We found and tracked a dragon. He´s hiding in caves nearby."
,,And you want to posses this weapon..."
,,...so the King can solve his people´s problems."
I looked down to his eyes, trying to find any clue of lies. There was none. The king of liers. Diplomat.
,,I don´t belive you a single thing!"
,,You don´t need to, you think you fight with those who want to let die all the mankind in kingdom, but fact is, you have joined those who kill humans."
,,Enough!"
My sword flew through his throat like air. No more of those lies. I thought. But doubt started to grow within me. What if he wasn´t lying. Damn bastard! There was only one way, to find out. Follow traces of the dragon.
There was no point in going back, from where I came. If I wanted to find a dragon´s cave I had to follow man heading different way. His heavy boots left traces noone could miss. It wasn´t hard to find him. But i didn´t want to run straight to him, so once I came close enough to rock massive, I decided to leave his foot steps be. There were enough victims that day. I followed a river that seemed to have riverhead in mountains. From all I had seen that day, I was comming back to city. I could smell of rotting bodies in the air. I have never been here before, but I watched this area often from Orkin´s tower. He told me, that once he would find a mighty source of power there. He sensed it somewhere close. That was the reason, why he chose tower oitlooking mountains. Nothing more than rock.
I came to waterfall. Its noise almost tore my ears of my head, but despite the pain I started to feel I moved closer. There was something beyond it. I tried to touch fallin water, but flow was too strong. I recalled Shayira´s words. Sword posses magic. Waiting to be released.
I rised my sword, its blade was dim, no trace for fire flash. I sinked it down to the river, trying to cleanesed blood from Ró´s body. So it could wash away with flow. But it didn´t. His blood was floating to the waterfall entrence. When it reached it, steam faded, for a moment. Those was his words. Through hero´s blood and dragon´s tears. Even though I wasn´t sure I´m the seeked hero, I cut my wrist and sinked my dagger to water. Touch of my blood erased barrier, entrance was clear.
Inner cave wasn´t large. I stepped into its second part through rocky cope. Dark inside denied me from seeing much, but other sences were sharper. I heard deep, slow breath comming from distant parts of cave. Snarling. Rustle of bad wings flying under the roof. My smell. Badly consumed meat, fustil air. I doubted any artifact could be burried here.
Suddenly the air was crossed by firewave of deadly heat. Sparking bolt nearly hit me. I was stunt by heat wave. Even when I wanted to turn back and walk away, I couldn´t. There was a voice in my head. Whispering at first. Speaking up. Comming closer. I rised my sword. Its blade was now orange, enlightning range of one meter. I had no other choice than went to the cave. To the fire and flames. Closer I came brigter my blade was. As if it would some sort of alarm, warning me. Danger was ahead.
,,You came here to disturb me youngling?"
The voice came from nowhere. And everywhere. Every rock shouted and whispered at the same time. I heard it with my ears, but knew it came out of my mind. I got dizzy.
,,Are you sure the weapon should be released now? Too early youngling, too unpredictable you are."
My sword lightened enough space. I saw enormous paw, with sharp claws. Almost as big as my torso. The voice seemed sharper, awaiting my answer.
,,I came here, to save my people, I passed your test, I opened the water barrier!"
,,Did you? Does the spilled blood of a hero make you rightful carrier of my secreats?"
,,It was my blood that was spilled!"
Voice was quiet. It was thinking. I dared to come closer. Paws continued with thick scaly legs. It was a dragon, I know that much.
,,You claim yourself a saviour?"
,,I don´t! Nor I care about names I´ll be named! My people is all I care for!"
Silecnce. Longer than before. But voice in my head was whispering. Clearly than ever before. Those were doubts, that was fear. Was it really why I came here? To help those who can´t help themselves? Or I seeked for a vengeance?
,,No! You are too unpredictable!"
The intensity of his voice almost knocked me down. I know only one outlet off this situation.
,,Through hero´s blood and dragon´s tears. Prepear to die, dragon!"
I ran forward, willing to cut and tore anything in from of me. But than, another flash light. The heat. Fire circle appeared all around me. Heatwaves came from every direction. I felt like boiling. Sword itself was fiery. I barely could hold it. But I still did. With every step I made closet to the fire boundry it got hoter. My knees were shaking, I sweated. I was only three meters away from boundry when I couldn´t carry on. I dropped my sword a fell down.
,,Too weak, too weak you are. My secreat can be taken by violance."
I tried to stand up, but pain within was too strong. Fire burned my skin, as it did with my hope. I crawled to the center of ring. My voice was weak, unhearable. I wasn´t prepeared.
,,Now hear me youngling. If you succeed passing this barrier, you shall have the weapon you seek. If not, burn in the flames to purify yourself."
I touched my sword. Its grip left scar on my palm. The heat came again, even more intensive than before. I slashed with my sword, hopeing it would make me a path to get through. It didn´t happen. Than voice came back to my head. It was so familiar. I used to know it once. But I wanted to forget now. It was mine. My voice swearing loyialty. It was my voice telling me about everything I promised and broke. I did lose my honor. How could I be a bearier of hope. How could I save people suffering in their homes. I couldn´t even keep an oath given on my life. So should it be. I roared, running straight to the flames. I wanted to end it up right there. I didn´t deserve this.
When flames touched my skin, I was learnt a whole new scale of pain. But shortly after it cooled down. It was freezing. No more burning thoughts in my body. I laughted. So this is the end, I thought. I felt free. Unchained.
Suddenly I appeared on the another side of circle. The fire was slightly burning but not hurting me anymore. I looked down to my hands. Not a single scratch, nor scar. Right in front of me was standing old dragon. Looking down to me. Awaiting. I knelt down a put my sword on a ground.
,,You are bold, but you have got much to learn. I´ll promise given."
I torn off a huge part of his own skin. I looked up to him. Drops of dragon blood fell down to my face. I was amazed. Dragon lyied down. I saw straight to his eyes. One bigger than my head. Smoke was coming out of his nostrails. Broken teeth told how long was this beeing alive. And now it was dying, from his own will. To help me. To keep promise.
,,Take my heart. Eat it, while it´s still beating. Than you shall have the weapon."
I didn´t understand. I wanted to ask something, but than I realized he was dead. I wiped away his blood from my face. I had no idea what was about to come, but I did as told.
His heart was still beating when I took it of his dead body. Compering to other parts it was tiny. Blood seeped down to my wrist and ground creating lobolly on a floor. I made my firt bite. My face covered in blood and I felt sick. But despite this I continued. When I finally ended my cloths were all bloody, I felt weak. I fell down to my knees once again. Darkness was all around. And voices. My head exploaded in new pain. I caught my noll, but it didn´t seem to stop it. And then pictures came. Just flash of lights brifly following each other. Without sence. I got feeling that if it last longer my heart would stop beating. I screamed, couldn´t stand the pain. Pictures in my head got sharper. There was blood. Battlefield, screams. Than I finally saw something known to me. Shayira standing on a peak. Prepeared to shoot. Her eyes seemed wet. I know what was about to come. I screamed up.
My last thought was to her. As a last beat of my hear, taking any hope. I felt down. Floor was cold. A couple of bats flought over my head before I felt unconsciousness.
Komentáre
První dojem
Jsem zvědav, co jsou zač ti lidé, co se utábořili severozápadně od lesních elfů, snad to nebudou nějací hrdlořezové!!
....a hele, zrada, koukám že už máš hotovou další část :D
Zaujímalo by ma, taký ten mierne strelený, uletený slovosled a štylistika,
Je to s tým podstatne ťažšie čitateľné, ale vyznieva to originálne.
Hmmmmmmm.... Máš tam nejaký prekladač? Aj s mojim komentárom to urobilo harakiri...
Povedzme
Pohadka, som ťa dnes prvýkrát objavila, asi budem mať čo čítať!
S tým štýlom je to zaujímavé...
Stretla som sa s tým len na FB, že som napísala koment správne a mi ho automaticky preštylizovalo.
ej prosím ťa :D
Ale dobrý dôvod sa dá nájsť na všetko :)
Príjemnú zábavu pri čítaní :)
Neviem, čím to je... :-)) Či si navolil čosi, alebo ja preťukla, ale napíšem
Je to celkom dobré, prekvapko.
Trošku som ti kukla na texty, vyzerajú byť dobré. Budem ma´t čo čítať.
Tak zatiaľ pá, idem to tu prekusnúť.
:)