• Chapter 1: Footsteps Unheard

    Lightning struck the ground. Rain was battering the sides of the house and the wind blew like a stampede of cattle attempting to run from some wild beast. Rebecca lay awake in her room staring at her ceiling. She found it miraculous that the rain didn’t seep through the wooden structure. She could hear her father, Parry, snoring in the room over. She wished she could sleep just as deeply.
    Her mind started to wander to things other than the worn foundation she lived in. She thought of her fiancé, Wil, whom lived only a ways down the road from her. He had asked her to marry him not but a week prior. She raised her hand over her eyes to admire the beautiful ring she had received from her lover. She wondered what he must be up to.
    Yet again, lightning struck the ground and thunder vibrated the air making her jump. As she sat up in bed to catch her breath she looked out the window into the darkness of the night. She saw a light on some distance away. She knew it must be Wil, seeing how he hardly slept. He preferred to spend his time writing poems for her. She smiled to herself as she thought of all the sweet letters he had written to her, as well as all the gifts he’d bought with the little money he possessed.
    She got up and made her way to the cellar for a snack. She lit up a candle and searched the shelves for a slice of bread which she happily consumed. She then returned upstairs to find that her father had grown quiet. She tiptoed back to her room, knowing that if she was caught up at such a late hour her father would suspect she’d been over with Wil. He was heavily against the marriage but relented to it because Rebecca was so happy. He would have preferred her marry Hector, the son of one of the Elders.
    When she crawled into bed she felt quite blessed, as her father got up shortly after. He kept muttering under his breath about danger approaching, though Rebecca had no clue how he could know. But no sooner had she been thinking this than the watchtower at the gate sounded its bell. She sat up in bed, alarmed. Parry rushed into her room, not taking a second thought to why she was awake.
    “Get dressed! Its not safe here, you have to get out of town along with all the other women and children!”
    “But Father, why must I leave?” she replied.
    “Crenrah must have overcome the forces at Toclan, there’s no other explanation for it, you have to go!”
    “Very well Father…” she sighed as she climbed out of bed yet again. She started to get dressed when her father left the room. He had rushed outside into the downpour. She had no idea at all what might have inspired Crenrah to attack Reglon, of all places. It was not strategically placed, being in the middle of the mountains and offering no tactical bonuses if it were to be taken. It was more like a death trap.
    Innelia had been at war with Crenrah for just shy of ten months, and it had taken its toll on Innelia’s army which hardly had any hold on its western half. As Rebecca rushed out into the pouring rain she noticed all the women and children were filing towards the mines.
    “Excuse me?” she asked one of the women.
    “Yes, Rebecca?” the woman replied. It was Minerva, Wil’s mother. She had dark grey hair and a soft voice. Rebecca had always admired her gentleness.
    “Oh, Ms. Minerva, I didn’t mean to bother you, but why is everyone heading for the mines?”
    “Funny you should ask. It would appear the Elders put into effect the mines as a means to escape should we ever get attacked. Under the encouragement of Wil no less”
    “Wil is always so thoughtful,” she smiled.
    “Indeed that boy is,” Minerva agreed.
    “Mother! Rebecca!” Wil cried as he rushed over to them. He was soaking and panting. “Crenrah is at the gate, you have to get out of here.”
    “Alright Dearie, just don’t hurt yourself, your poor mother would be heart broken,” Minerva said.
    “As would your poor fiancé,” Rebecca said, she hugged Wil tightly, trying not to let worries into her head.
    “Don’t you worry alright? Mother, Rebecca, I promise I’ll be alright.”
    “You’d better be…” Rebecca said, unable to keep tears from her eyes.
    “You’d better hurry!” Wil turned away, not wanting to see her cry.
    “Yes, you’re quite right Wil,” his mother said. “Come now Rebecca.”
    “Alright, I’m coming…”
    “Umm… Rebecca…” Wil whispered, gently grabbing her arm. “If I don’t make it back…”
    “You will.” Rebecca attempted to smile.
    “But if I don’t, I love you.”
    “I know…” This time she really smiled, she gave him a hug as tightly as she could. Wil lifted her chin up from his chest and gave her a small goodbye kiss. As their lips parted Wil gave a final whisper. “I promised…,” he whispered softly and Rebecca smiled softly.
    “You’d better go now…” Wil said, concerned.
    “Y-yes…” Rebecca stuttered. She was blushing from the kiss. She turned away and ran into the pouring rain, tears streaming down her cheeks, to meet up with the others. Wil watched her disappear into the darkness of the night before he ran in the opposite direction, towards the armory and the gate. He took up his dual swords which he had custom made for himself.
    Wil joined the resistance line which was positioned on the interior of the gate, which had been blockaded. Crenrah was hammering the steel doors its rams, the gate seemed about to burst open. Wil glanced to his sides; Hector looked quite afraid to his right and was muttering incoherently. To his left Al was gripping his lance tightly, ready to die for his village. The gates burst open and Crenrah troops began to charge and the rain seemed to turn to ice as the evil spread into the village.
    The Elders gave the command to charge. Wil lead the front line directly into the heart of the advancing enemy. He was quick to dodge and strike, but it was hopeless with enemies closing in on all sides, their numbers seemed unending. Lance thrusts missing by mere centimeters, Wil thought for sure it was all over as a cavalier came down on him.
    Al came rushing to his aid, fending off a good eight or so soldiers and the cavalier, allowing Wil time to regain his balance. Together they and what little remained of the front line held the gates. The Elders commanded the second line to move in. This time Hector was to lead the charge, but looking around Wil didn’t see Hector anywhere. He didn’t let it bother him, one wrong move and he could die right there.
    “AL!! This way!!” He called out. Al came rushing, along with Perry to Wil’s surprise.
    “What do you think you’re doing Boy?! Being a hero?” Parry demanded.
    “No, I’m giving our people enough time to get away, what do you think?” Wil replied, rather annoyed.
    “Well at this rate, none of us are going to survive!” Al pointed out.
    “Follow me!” Wil said, and he rushed into the midst of his enemy.


    ~Property of Colin Rose, the author of this novel~