Chapter 4
889 Words
4
Naveen shivered as she stepped out her door into the crisp winter air. The red sun peeked over the horizon, casting a pink glow in the sky in the east. It was cold already. The winter would only grow colder. A light layer of snow covered the ground. It had only just begun. Roosters crowed in the distance. Naveen would miss her village of Anius. However, she knew in her heart it was time to go.
There was nothing left for her in Anius. Her friend was gone, and her family had died years ago. It wasn’t like she had a husband, nor did she particularly want one. Besides, no one would understand her secret. She’d have a harder time hiding it if she had a husband. They’d call her a witch and hang her. She was better off alone. Yvanya had known. But she had kept silent. Even during her prosecution and hanging, she hadn’t said a word. She had protected Naveen, and what had Naveen done? Let her die? Not try to stop the hanging?
Naveen hung her head low, mentally kicking herself for all the things she’d failed to do to save her best friend. Though, what could she have truly done to save her? There were three dragonriders, which meant three hard-trained weapon masters, and three large dragons. She was nothing compared to them, even when considering her talent.
She brushed her auburn hair from her eyes as she strode to the center of the village. Everyone else was already awake and about. The dragonriders had left to who knows where. Probably to torment another village. Now, the villagers were left with the job of burying the dead.
Graves were being dug, and bodies were carried over to them. Naveen turned away when she saw her dead friend. Her eyes clenched shut. She couldn’t face her dead friend today. She could barely face the other villagers. Something had to change. Naveen planned to leave.
When she turned around, she nearly ran into Leland. Naveen smiled at him. He’d always been kind to her.
“Good morning, Leland.”
“Morning, Naveen. Are you leaving so soon?”
“I can’t be here. This … this is too much.”
“I know. It seems ... unjust in a way.”
“It is unjust. I knew all these people, and some I may not have known well, but others I did. They were not traitors.”
“Keep your voice down. This is no time to stir the pot. The Dragonia Empire is looking for any reason for a hanging lately,” he whispered.
“And why do you think that is?”
“I heard a rumor. Mind you, I don’t know if it’s true, but the rumor is the resistance won a battle,” he whispered.
“They actually won a battle against the empire?” Naveen gasped.
“As I said, I don’t know if it’s true. And if it is, I doubt the empire was prepared for the battle. Might have caught them by surprise.”
Her eyes gleamed. “Still, that is something.”
“No, Naveen.” He shook his head. “Don’t you be getting any wild ideas.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Too late.”
Naveen strode past him, into the center of the crowd. She glanced around and climbed to the top of one of the large dirt piles. Everyone turned to face her as she cleared her throat.
“Today is a sad day. We have lost loved ones and we have lost friends. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we know they were not the traitors they were made out to be.”
“Naveen,” Leland whispered to her through clenched teeth.
“No. I will not be silent. We knew these people. They were not traitors. They were friends. They were family. It seems clear to me the Dragonia Empire is attacking villages, hanging easy targets. All to scare us.” She took a deep breath. “Why would they want to scare us?”
Everyone kept silent.
“Can’t you see? They’re scared. For the first time, the Dragonia Empire is scared. They are scared of the resistance. That’s why they’re trying to scare us from joining. Listen, I’m not a part of the resistance. I am not one they deem traitor. But, after seeing them slaughter innocents yesterday, I will not stay idly by for them to continuing killing whoever they choose. I am leaving. I will search for the resistance. I will join them. And somehow, we will stop the Dragonia Empire. Think about what side you’re on.”
A few people in the crowd nodded. Others looked at her with disgust or hatred. She didn’t care. She’d said what she needed to say. Who took the message to heart was on them.
Naveen clutched her satchel as she climbed down the pile of dirt to a separating crowd. Leland stomped over to her.
“You shouldn’t say such things. They may come for you next.”
“I don’t care.” She scowled. “Let them. I’m not going to live the rest of my life in fear that they may want to murder me one day for doing nothing wrong. I’m not going to hide. I’m going to do something to try and stop them. I cannot let the empire get away with slaughtering innocents. Will you join me?”
He shook his head. “I will not.”
She nodded in understanding. “Will you pray to the Creator for me?”
He nodded. “That, I can do. Honestly, I wish you the best. I hope you succeed.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Leland.”
Naveen turned around and made her way out of the village. She wasn’t alone.
- Writer
