The Wanted: Piece of Chapter 1

It's kind of a prologue, but.....

 

Chapter One

Warrenfield, 5009, Friday the 13th

The night was dark and black – the trees whispered and waved in front of the canopy of the moonless sky, and terrified animals darted from their position to safety in a bush, branch, or hole. Every living thing seemed afraid of something on this night – except for one.

The cloaked figure strode quickly and silently across the grass, his hand on his sword hilt. The looming palace rose behind him, teeming with guards and soldiers, but no one saw the hooded form as it slithered across the yard, seeming to blend with the shadows.

The figure – a tall, thin man – reached the forest edge. He slid quietly through the trees until he reached another man. This other man was fully dressed for battle – his shield lay on the ground beside him and his helmet was under his arm. This man looked wary and alert and nodded at the cloaked figure approaching him.

“My lord, the men are ready,” said the armed man.

“Excellent,” hissed the hooded form. “Very well done, Boyd. The palace shall soon be mine.”

“Yes, Lord Veridian,” agreed Boyd. “The men are hiding around the palace, awaiting your orders.”

“Good. We will abide by the original plan, however I have made some minor changes.”

“And what would those be, my lord?”

Lord Veridian turned towards Boyd and threw back his hood, revealing his complexion. He was a bony man with long black hair braided down his back and ebony deep-set eyes. He looked cool, calculating, and the type of man no one would like to have as his enemy.

“Tell your men to kill all who stand against us,” snarled Veridian. “And I want it known – the king is mine.”

~

Rolf Blentley was a renowned lookout.

He was known throughout the kingdom as the best scout there is. He had eyes like a hawk's and was skilled with the sword and was very wise – as a result, he was made the king's advisor as well as watchman. Today, King Holst had seemed distraught and uneasy, feelings the king rarely felt. Rolf was worried about the king, and as a result of that offered to be watchman. Rolf had been up in the tower since eight o' clock in the evening, and now it was almost midnight, and Rolf was getting tired. When you stare at the woods for too long, your eyes start playing tricks on you, and Rolf knew this well.

Rolf lowered his eyes for a second and stared at the stone floor, trying to adjust his eyesight so he may better resume his watching duty.

He didn't see the arrow.

~

“I hit him, Captain Boyd!” an archer shouted excitedly from the nearby forest. Boyd nodded. “Well done, Lesly.” He turned to Lord Veridian who was watching close by. “My lord – Rolf Blentley has been hit.”

“Fatally wounded?”

“Aye, sir.”

“Very well. Tell your men to begin closing in – slowly – and staying close to the shadows. We want to be in the castle before anyone finds Rolf's body.”

“Aye, sir.” Boyd turned towards the archer Lesly, who was well-concealed in a tree. “Lesly. Sound the call.”

“Yes, sir.” Lesly took a deep breath and crowed softly. There was an echoing crow from around the forest in different places and at different pitches.

“They are ready, my lord.” said Boyd, bowing towards Lord Veridian.

Veridian's eyes gleamed with a ghastly hatred. “It is time.” Veridian raised his voice so all could hear. “Move out, men!”

Groups of about a hundred soldiers moved out from their places around the castle, all making their way silently through the forest, following Lord Veridian.They kept to the shadows, and if anyone glanced briefly out the windows they would think that the wind was moving the grass in odd ways. If anyone just glanced out the window, they would not know that an army of two thousand soldiers was silently slithering up towards the castle walls.

But King Holst knew.

Holst had been standing, well hidden, on his balcony overlooking the castle courtyard. He had heard the crows; he had seen Veridian call to his men; he had watched them all move from the forest like large black ants.

Holst knew that his time had come – oh, he would put up a spectacular fight, that was certain, but Holst was losing hope, and quickly. He had sent two thousand of his men across the sea to Oriman, their neighboring country, who was fighting a rebellion of their own. That left Holst with three thousand soldiers – two thousand of which had, apparently, gone over to Veridian's side.

Holst shook his head sadly. Veridian had been his friend for a long time, but lately Holst had noticed that his demeanor had been changing. Veridian had always been sullen, melancholy, and quiet, but now he was bitter, hateful, and was harboring evil tendencies. Holst had heard rumors lately of Veridian bullying the soldiers and harassing the women. He had not wanted to believe it at first, but now as he watched impending doom creep forward towards the castle walls, he knew that those rumors and more had been true.

Holst took a deep breath and slid out of the balcony. Even though he knew he would lose – unless a divine miracle helped him – Holst knew he would have to fight. There would be no surrender for Veridian.

“Wake up,” said Holst gently to his wife, Saphira.

“What is it, Holst?” she asked, stretching and sitting up. “Is it the baby? Was he crying again?”

“No, Saphira,” said Holst sadly. “Lord Morbaida Veridian and about two thousand of my men are approaching these walls now, their hearts intent on rebellion and murder.”

Saphira jumped out of bed, the covers flying. “What are you going to do?” she moaned.

“I am going to fight,” said Holst calmly.

“Not alone, you're not. I'll fight with you.”

“Saphira, you know very well that you can't. You are cunning, clever, and skilled with the sword, but we are up against brute strength and sheer numbers. I cannot fight while worrying about you.”

Saphira's lip trembled for a moment, then she quickly got it under control. “What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to take the baby and run. I don't care where, as long as it is far, far away. Veridian's goal, I'm sure, is to kill me then kill the baby, for he is the heir.”

“Will I ever see you again?”

Holst blinked back tears. He leaned down and kissed Saphira tenderly. “I love you, Saphira. I always will, even if I no longer walk the earth.” He took hold of her hand and squeezed it. “Do you understand that?”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she nodded. “Yes. I – I love you too.”

Holst nodded and let go of her hand. He reached under the bed and pulled out a long sword. He quickly donned a breastplate, helmet, and shield and walked towards the door, nodding towards Saphira. “Take care of him.” Holst's voice caught as he glanced down at the baby boy, sleeping peacefully in his cradle next to Saphira. “And remind him, when he grows older, that his daddy loves him.”

And Holst was gone.

Saphira cried silent tears as she dressed quickly for battle. I will not fail him, she murmured through her tears as she strapped on her dagger. I will keep the boy safe, even if it costs me my life. Reaching for a bundle of blankets, she gently picked up the sleeping baby and wrapped him in the cloths. “Easy now,” she whispered to the baby as he stirred. “Stay asleep, if you can – if I know Veridian, this is going to be a rough ride.”