A Line is Drawn
1266 Words
Listen up everyone, this is probably the last meeting in this abode, because my cousin Kera is super emotional and I fear this could be the very weakness the lords would try to prey on."
Pamel stopped to take a deep breath.
The room was lit from three giant candles, positioned in the corners around the room.
About twelve peasants including Jon, a sentry's brother, gathered round a table on the floor, discussing how they could escape from the capital city back to their homeland Dreg, where they were taken from.
Pamel had earlier rebuked them from ever speaking of going back to Dreg.
According to him, it was either they revolted here and get thrown back to Dreg or they created a new home in Rieo.
"There's been rumours about a newly established force, known as the chiefs elite archers. And from their title, one could easily tell their agenda."
"Death" said another peasant from the far end of the room. He stood in a corner poorly lit from the candle.
"Tonight, we move this to a whole new habitat."
"Move what?" Asked Castillo.
Pamel walked away from their midst, he went into the basement and after what seemed like forever, he came with a towel, holding with both hands a large illuminating egg.
"Woo…Hooo…woo" Castillo expressed surprise.
"Wow, wow!" The peasant at the far end of the room drew closer.
His face was eeriely similar to some face Pamel had seen lately.
"Are you a sentry?" Pamel asked. The word 'sentry' sent shivers through the skin of the others.
"No… Although my brother is_"
"What!" Impatient Castillo jerked. He was going to raise a fist on the poor peasant, but Pamel intervened just in time.
"You may have your seat" Pamel gestured to the chair for Castillo to sit.
The egg continued to illuminate and the light from the egg flickered. It wasn't just any radiant light, it was a colourful and dull illumination.
"Feels amazing to be here" Steam say. Steam appeared to be the tallest in the room, though he was far from the wisest.
Steam always wanted his opinion known. He loves being recognized wherever he went.
Kera returns home and gently knocks on the door.
The peasants are greatly alarmed by her return. Frantically they hid themselves.
In a room with less than six corners, hiding was almost the same as insanity.
"What you doing Pam? The egg!" Castillo yelled but Pamel kept his cool.
When no response came from the room to Kera, she squeezed the door knob and pushed the door open.
It was dusk, but Kera could still tell the shape of a human if she saw one.
The dim light outside, immediately flooded the room and exposed the peasants hiding.
Kera stared back at Pamel, then at the glow from the table.
"Wow"
"Pam?"
Pamel threw his face from hers.
"Pam!"
"What Kera. What?"
"What's that Pam?" Her voice began to loose thickness.
"It is what it is." He frowned.
She drew closer inside the room, kicking Steam who was squatting next to it, he changed his position still squatting though.
"Go ahead and touch it."
Kera touched, kissed and fondled the egg.
"It's a dragon's"
"What!" She shrieked.
Pamel rushed towards her. He cupped her mouth with his palm, to prevent her from shrieking.
You may get up now, she's fully aware y'all are here.
Bashfully, they stood up and rearranged themselves.
"I've got a plan." Pamel smiled.
"Castillo, what's the update from the sanctuary of young dragons?"
"Well, almost as usual. Though while eavesdropping, I overheard two sentries talk about the new behavior of Chief Medard. They claimed he was already infected with the dragon sickness and he now had their Vision, smell and fury.
"Cain?"
"Pam, the chiefs have passed a law to the nobles. All chiefs would now only be addressed as gods.
To be precised, chief Dylan proposed this new law and Chief Medard found it very welcoming and appealing.
"Jon?"
"Nothing yet, though I've heard rumours about an imminent water scarcity"
"Kera?"
"Oops, am sorry, I meant Cain_"
"Get down everyone!" Cain screamed.
Cain, always double checked everything. His greatest desire was safety for all.
'clankkkkk'
'Seeeeeewwweew'
Arrows rained inside the room, like air filling an empty space.
"Lights" Cain yelled.
Pamel took off his black thick boots and kicked them over to Cain. Cain thrust them against the window on the other end of the room two candles fell next to the locker where the dragon egg was situated.
Pamel shook his head. A clear signal that this was bad.
'Seeeeeewwweew'
'Clannkkk swoosh'
Arrows filled the room, striking numerous targets but not the humans in the room.
"Cease Fire" an archeress cried.
'seeeeeewwweew'
The last arrow hit the wall of the room and fell back to the floor.
"Now!" Pamel yelled. Cain stood up hastily, dived to where Kera was with a firm thumb, over turned the table filled with candles. The room was now as dark as night.
"We the elite archers kg the royal dynasty have come to seek out one called Pamel. Release him to us and live, or face the consequences."
"Castillo, Cain." Pamel called out to his two closest friends.
"I'd have to give myself to them for the safety of everyone."
"But…" No buts.
"You have to the count of seven, to make a wise decision."
"One…"
The voice sounded pretty familiar. It was Valerie's.
Valerie is a skillful archer in the dynasty. She have been enthusiastic about archery since she was six.
Now, she stands tall in the game of archery. She's among the three best archeress in the dynasty of Rieo.
Pamel didn't want to take any chances, for an arrow could go through his head before Valerie may recognize his face.
They first met at Rieo's shooting gallery when she was seventeen.
Then Pamel was twenty. Pamel claimed she was the first person to show him a bit of kindness and courtesy.
"Five!.."
Pamel had handed Cain and Castillo a place to meet with him and Kera, should they escape death from the mob of archers outside.
"Six.."
"Faster Kera, faster!" Pamel took and raised Kera at the back window of the room, they climbed their way out and fell into an old pit dug by Pamel secretly, only at night, to aid for a quick escape in times of trouble.
"Seven!" The last count sunk deeply into the ears of everyone in the room.
"No!" Cain screamed. Pamel had left the dragon egg in the locker, only making his way with the stolen map and his cousin Kera.
Cain stood up to see if he could swiftly grab and toss the egg through the window Pamel and Kera escaped from, but he was too late.
"Archers attack…" Valerie cried.
They shot a dozen more arrows into the room.
About three pierced and penetrated through Cain's heart.
"Noo… nooo" Castillo wailed in agony, while the rest cried and shared in the pain.
Cain dropped to the ground, soaked in blood from the arrows pierced in his heart and tears from other peasants.
The elite archers kicked the doors open and aimed towards every direction in the room. The peasants were out numbered and skilled.
Jon the sentry who aided Pamel in the past tried to resist.
He punched Valerie with his cuffed hands and spat on her face. Valerie smirked, pulled out an arrow, placed it on the bow, dragged and shot Jon dead.
"Seize them!" She commanded.
- Writer
