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News » The Past that Burned Up: 5
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter Five
The room went quiet as the lord of the house began to speak of a night long ago. "Cindy, you must understand that we are our own people out here. In the order of things, none of us are of the rank of nobility, but we rule ourselves without giving tribute to others. We do however need things occasionally, and in those times we will pay some respect to those that rule the land as a whole.
"We do not claim to be subjects of Dachion. If we have a need, we go to Viscount Aendre. Sometimes we have even gone directly to King Nichixu. Baron Gordalac would like to claim us, but we are clearly beyond the borders of Dachion. Truthfully, Baron Menulk of Yichamb has the best claim to this forest, but we don't give him any respect. If we have a problem, we go directly to the high noble or king.
"That does not mean that we ignore the fact that Dachion is there. We like the products which Dachion produces, and we do trade with Dachion. Sometimes our young men will go into Dachion to look at the ladies there. Sometimes the ladies of Dachion look back.
Cindy does not like everything she learns of the forest people.
The Past that Burned Up
Chapter Five
The room went quiet as the lord of the house began to speak of a night long ago. "Cindy, you must understand that we are our own people out here. In the order of things, none of us are of the rank of nobility, but we rule ourselves without giving tribute to others. We do however need things occasionally, and in those times we will pay some respect to those that rule the land as a whole.
"We do not claim to be subjects of Dachion. If we have a need, we go to Viscount Aendre. Sometimes we have even gone directly to King Nichixu. Baron Gordalac would like to claim us, but we are clearly beyond the borders of Dachion. Truthfully, Baron Menulk of Yichamb has the best claim to this forest, but we don't give him any respect. If we have a problem, we go directly to the high noble or king.
"That does not mean that we ignore the fact that Dachion is there. We like the products which Dachion produces, and we do trade with Dachion. Sometimes our young men will go into Dachion to look at the ladies there. Sometimes the ladies of Dachion look back.
"Your father had a good friend by the name of Daeshelt. He was a short stocky man with a rough disposition that did not please the ladies. Your father, and all the men Daeshelt had grown up with, became married, and he felt that it was time he gained a wife as well. Daeshelt traveled to the nearby domains, but it was in Dachion that he found trouble.
"Shavella was not that attractive of a lady, but the fact that she would rush out to speak to Daeshelt made her a wondrous beauty in his eyes. Nothing stood in the way of the courting process. Shavella's parents felt that she would be taken care of properly. Daeshelt thus was in wonderful spirits as he felt that his life would soon be complete.
"To this day we do not know what happened. Shavella had no other suitor that we know of. Her parents came out here to see the home that Daeshelt had built, and that day was a joyous one as he had all of us come to a wondrous celebration. For all his rough demeanor, Daeshelt was a good man and when he was happy he could bring a smile to everyone's face.
"Some say that he got drunk, and none will argue with that, but whatever happened was the next day and surely the alcohol was gone from his system. The marriage pact was sealed the night before, and Daeshelt had left for Dachion simply to make the plans for when he would gain Shavella. He left in a joyful mood, and we have never heard or seen the man, Shavella, or her parents again.
"We first suspected trouble when the wolves rushed through our woods. A man in this land might be gone for days doing what is necessary to survive. One benefit of Dachion, or any other protected community, are the soldiers that watch for incursions. We of the forest learn to pay attention to the movement of animals, unusual sounds, or others signs to tell us of the coming of danger. Wolves are not unusual threats to us, but we had no warning of these animals and they were far greater in number than a normal pack of animals.
"I swear that I saw Baron Gordalac and a company of men ride their horses among the wolves without being attacked. It was his voice that cried out for your father and mother. For fear of the wolves none of us left our houses, but we felt more threatened by the fire so wearing every item of protection I had in my possession I left when I saw your house burning. I saw your father and mother kneeling before the baron surrounded by the wolves."
Cindy sat and listened to the elder speak. She had questions, but was glad that information was being revealed. It was more facts than she had ever been given concerning why her parents lived in poverty in the city, and she was actually pleased with the bounty of knowledge.
Sapphire however was not satisfied, and pressed for more. "When Lady Surennay came to us this morning, she said that all of your were idiots. Why did she say that?"
All was quiet at the table for a time, but finally one of the younger married ladies at the table spoke, "Those who know won't say. What I can say is that the elder men held a private war against Baron Gordalac."
Lord Gefeld barked, "That is enough, Halady. I will say enough to answer the question. Sapphire, Baron Gordalac's wife, Ginian, is from Hebalsh. Her father was a powerful user of magic, and he had used his powers to destroy some sections of our forest. To get back at the mage, we disrupted the courtship of Baron Gordalac. We did not do anything extreme, and, needless to say, it did not prevent the marriage." The following phrases were mostly mumbled, "And there was no reason to focus on Ulshik and Fomall, because we did it all together."
It was growing late, and most were beginning to feel that enough had been said. Some were fidgeting in their chairs, and others felt their chins sagging as the drink and the hour sent signals to their body that it was time for rest. Most however expected the purple horse to ask another question, although were grateful when Sapphire's head moved from the window, although became agitated when he spoke.
"Something is happening out here!"
Thoughts of rest were cast aside by the adults at the table. All rose with some going to the windows and others moving to step out the door of the large house. They knew the land and what to check for signs of threats. The animals were quiet, although restless. There were creatures disturbing the leaves of the forest, although there was no heavy plodding of steps. The window was shut and those outside quickly stepped back in order to bar the door as all came to an agreement.
"Wolves."
Cindy cried out, "Sapphire!"
Lord Gefeld declared, "Better him than you."
Lady Surennay had tears come to her eyes as she shouted, "NO! We were fools before, but I will not bring doom to all of us! Bring Sapphire inside!"
"Then our house will burn with all of us inside!"
Cindy ran to a window as she loudly stated, "You people are idiots. Now I know why my parents went to Dachion."
The shutters were opened, and the young lady climbed out before anyone could stop her. As a number cried out her name, and a few more hit the windowsill as they desperately tried to reach her before she could get away, Cindy rushed to her horse. Sapphire was not saddled, but such did not bother him or the lady, although she told him to move to the barn.
The purple horse replied, "We do not want to let the wolves in the barn, Cindy."
"Lord Hivarn gave me a sword, Sapphire."
"You don't know how to use a sword."
"Do you want me going out there without a sword?"
Sapphire felt that his mistress had a point, so rushed her to the barn. The barn was shut, but the stable hand opened the door at the lady's pounding. He did not just bring her the sword, but the saddle and bridle as well. Cindy was proficient enough with readying her horse for travel, but with the man's aid Sapphire was properly dressed to carry his rider in a minimal amount of time.
As the two left the barn, the men were pouring from the house with swords and other weapons in their hands. Sapphire stopped not knowing whether to lead the men or follow. Cindy however was making her decisions without considering her elders.
"Take me back to my house."
"Your house is burnt down, Cindy. It won't protect you."
"The wolves are looking for us at our house, Sapphire. I want to go look at them."
The purple horse did not know how his mistress came to that conclusion, but he did not feel that now was a time to argue with her. Sapphire did check to be certain that he saw no wolves in his immediate area. Once he felt that rushing off into the forest in the dark of night would not send them directly into an ambush, he started moving in the proper direction.
Those of the house saw the horse and rider move into the forest, and called after them. Neither could see well in the dark, but a soft glow in the direction they were heading helped prevent them from running into trees or other major obstacles. Lights from the torches and lamps of those following also aided them in safely traveling.
Sapphire stopped recognizing the signs of wolves ahead. It was not a sighting of a member of the pack as it made an independent random movement, it was not the recognition of a wary canine face looking back, but almost a carpet of large dog-like forms was revealed when someone held their lamp up high. Cindy did not ask her horse why he had stopped, so Sapphire trusted that she also saw the wolves. He only waited for her decision on what to do now.
"Let us move off in that direction, Sapphire. The elders know more about this situation than they have told us, so we can sit back and watch."
The purple horse felt that command was the best decision that could have been made. He swiftly stepped where his mistress had indicated and chose a position where they would have a good view of the local elders and the wolves. Agreeing with the location, Cindy dismounted to watch and listen with her horse.
The wolves did turn towards the arriving people. They did not start growling, or moving towards them, but held their position. There was some repositioning of forms as a barded horse carrying an armored man moved towards the approaching crowd. The steed did not leave the circle of canines, but standing near the edge it stopped.
It was Lady Surennay that spoke, "We are not going to be foolish any longer. You leave us alone, and don't go after that child or her horse."
The voice was strong, although had a hollow tone, which replied, "All of you are failures. I have not forgotten what you did, or that my justice was taken from me. I will now finish my task that was started long ago, and vengeance will be mine!"
One of the men, Cindy noted that it was not Lord Gefeld, said, "We will not be scared of your wolves this time. We will fight."
"Fools, I don't care about you. I care about HER!"
The eyes of Cindy, Sapphire, and the people of the woods went wide as the wolves broke from their circle to dash towards the young lady and her purple horse.
And some characters you met earlier reappear in a different light.
Posted by TerishD on Saturday, March 18, 2006 (07:00:00) (940 reads)
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Re: The Past that Burned Up: 5
(Score: 1 )
by Thema on Sunday, March 19, 2006 (16:39:34)
Well now!
Abundant typos, and syntactical errors notwithstanding; the odd surprise or two awaits :¬)
Hurry up number 6 
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