Chap.1-A Mysterious Enemy
He sighed again, and shook swept the invisible dust off his tattered tunic. It wasn't much, certainly nothing compared to the shining armor and magnificent capes that the honourable knights wore next to him. But then again, he was but a mere farmer's son, a commoner. And only in this room, was his presence tolerated amongst them. In this room, where so many gathered, all were equal in the King's eyes, all having the right to petition their hopes and concerns to the awaiting ears of a king.
His name, was Gilvan, and his last name, uth Kylar, betrayed him as having neither land nor title. But nevertheless, he stood there, his toe tapping impatiently while he awaited his turn to speak to the king.
His meeting, for the most part, was for his concerns for his failing crops that year. It had been a hard year, and the rains had not come as they were supposed to. The crops, in return, suffered. His family was a large one, consisting of himself, as well as 7 younger brothers and sisters. It was hard, for his mother had died after giving birth to her 8th and final child, and his father toiled hard in the fields to bring food to feed the hungry mouths. Gilvan, being the oldest, had come to plead with the king for lesser taxes, and perhaps, some relief providence to help feed his hungry family through these hard times. A page quieted the crowds of people, and spoke loudly.
"Gilvan uth Kylar, please step forward, your request for audience with the King."
Gilven ignored the snickers of the rich knights that regarded his tattered tunic and worn boots with scorn. He stepped forward, and followed the page through a door.
He tried hard to keep his eyes from wandering in awe to the ornate decorations that adorned the audience chamber where the king and queen sat, awaiting his audience. He bowed low, hardly daring to look up at them. He quieted his beating heart, telling himself that he was being silly, that he had done nothing wrong. His father, Thom, had always told him, 'Never be scared of anyone, unless you have wronged.' These words came back to him in a flash, but gave little comfort. Gilvan cleared his throat.
"Your Majesties, I bring concerns from the family of uth Kylar in the village of Rothwilde." He looked up. It was the first time he had ever lain eyes on the King and Queen of Fanelia. They had little to do with the day to day lives of farmers so far away. Gilvan couldn't help but notice that the King, contrary to his belief, was not much older than himself. And the queen, although heralded through the land as a lady of great beauty, had a grace about her that mere beauty would not have achieved.
"Speak your concerns, Gilvan uth Kylar." The King spoke, and his voice was deep, yet young and free of burden. Gilvan bowed deeper.
"Your majesties, I have travelled far from my village. The droughts down there are severe, and the crops suffer. My family, as well as most of the villagers of Rothwilde, are starving. Your majesties, there are 9 people in my family, from myself down to mere toddlers, my mother has died, and my father works long days just to provide daily sustenance. I beg you, please, my family is starving." Gilvan paused, silencing his pride that throbbed painfully. It had not been his idea to petition to the King for food, but only as a final resort had he come. The King was silent. Finally he spoke,
"The drought, Gilvan uth Kylar, I can do nothing about. I do not control the weather, nor can I make it change. But, the starvation, I can stop."
Gilvan looked up, hope in his heart. The Queen nodded, her auburn hair glinting, and she smiled. Gilvan looked at her and understood why her beauty was renowned in all of Gaea.
"Yes, you shall return with 5 wagons of grain, should that not outlast the drought, we shall provide more."
Gilvan bowed low, "We are grateful, your majesties."
The King signalled a page, "You shall send off this young man with 5 wagons of grain."
The page nodded.
Gilvan bowed once more, before leaving the room, his heart perhaps a shade lighter.
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King Van of Fanelia watched the young man leave. The boy, he could not have been more than 16, or 17 years old. His heart felt heavy. Only the beginning of the hot weather, and already droughts were being reported from the southern regions of Fanelia. A hand found his and wound its fingers through his, its warm comfort warming his soul. Van glanced sideways, and smiled at his Queen. How could he ever hope to live, without her there by his side.
"Ahh, Hitomi, what is it that we are doing wrong?" He sighed, his other hand going up to lift the heavy crown off his head and run his fingers through his unruly dark hair. Sometimes, the weight of the throne was too much to bear. She squeezed his hand reassuringly. She looked deep into his dark eyes, and was brought back once more to that day, twelve years ago, when he had offered his crown, and his heart. She had been torn, between her life back on Earth, and the new life that Van was offering. But, throughout her doubt, and her decisions, one thing had always been sure, her love for him, and his love for her. And so, on that fateful evening, she had listened to her heart, and the jewelled pendant, given her from her grandmother, that was her ticket home, had been abandoned forever. And for the last twelve years, there were no regrets.
"We've gotten out of worse scrapes than this." She smiled, but even her smile was tense.
"Yes, but the scrapes have never affected the People." Van sighed.
Twelve years since the war with Zaibach had ended. Fanelia had been rebuilt, it majesty returning in full, its people returning from its mountains. Good relations ran through the allied countries of Fanelia, Asturia and Fried. And with an uneasy peace with Zaibach, Van had been hoping for a peaceful year. Zaibach, after its defeat in the last war, had been lying low, trading only because it was forced to. Asturia's royalty, King Dryden Fassa and Queen Millerna Aston, were on great terms with Fanelia, often visiting, along with Millerna's Heavenly Knight, Allen Schezar. Freid's king, Chid Zar, had matured into a fine young man, seventeen years of age, and the epitome of his knightly father, Allen Schezar. And although rumored to be having a secret affair, just as sought after yet unattainable as his father.
Another squeeze from his his Queen's hand, and Van quickly slipped his crown over his head as another page announced another incoming petition.
"Just think of after." Hitomi murmured, her smile quirking. Van hid a smile, as knight entered. The petitions never ended, really.
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Gilvan uth Kylar rode through the city gates, the city guards casting him suspicious looks at the five wagons filled with grain that followed him. But he showed the king's seal, and they left him alone, if begrudgingly. His heart leapt with the thought of returning home and telling his youngest brother, Caleb, that he could eat as much as he wanted.
He plodded onward, his mind wandering as the scenery changed.
The distant bordering mountains separated Fanelia from its neighbors of Zaibach and Freid. To the west, lay the ocean and the sprawling empire of Asturia. His village lay right near the border between Freid and Fanelia.
The travelling was good, and the few days that it took to cover the distance between the Capital and his village of Rothwilde, went by quickly. The sun was bright, the shade of the tall trees they travelled under was cool, and the soldiers that accompanied Gilvan on the wagons kept the theives and mercernaries away. Their good company also helped past the time. The commander of the retinue of soldiers rode at the head of the procession, alongside Gilvan. He showed a respect to Gilvan that few soldiers would have shown to a farmer, much less a higher ranking officer. For this, Gilvan respected this commander that much more. The commander's name was Sir Garren von Derwick.
It was the second day of their journey home, and they were near the end of it. Sir Garren pulled his horse up next to Gilvan.
"Good travelling weather; it seems the entire sky is reaching out to embrace the world." Garren's blue eyes shone. Gilvan laughed. Garren was a young knight, hardly past his twenties. He was a romantic, constantly declaring his love for anything and everything that crossed his path.
"Yes, and so it has been for the last few months. Now, if that sky would only look down and spit us out some water.." Gilvan smiled.
Garren chortled, his chainmail clanking.
"You are a funny one."
The final path wove through the forest, and the opening into open fields shone up ahead. Gilvan smiled, happy to be home to his family. As they drew up to the opening, Garren slowed his horse, a frown crossing his face. Before they reached the opening, he stopped. The wagons screeched to a halt and Gilvan looked back to see what was stalling the young knight. Garren's face wore a frown.
"Gil, do you not smell that?" He looked around. Gilvan looked at him curiously, then lifted his nose and breathed the deep air. There was the constant smell of honeywood from the trees, and then the light fragrance of flowers and.....
Gilvan's eyes widened. "Burning." He said.
Garren nodded. "Yes."
Without another word, Gilvan slapped his horse and galloped towards the opening. He drove his horse madly, all the while, the awful burning smell increasing every step of the way. The blue sky opened up out of the covering shade of the forest. And in the far distance, his village of Rothwilde was burning.
Gilvan rode the horse to its limit, the wind whipping its mane into Gilvan's face. To his horror, his entire village was burning. Jumping off the horse, Gilvan ran to his own straw-built home, the flames were licking out the windows. The smoke was thick, and the heat stung, but all Gilvan could think about was his family.
"Father!" He screamed, running around the house, the flames pouring out of every window. Horror and despair washed over him like a wave. "Brynne! Kay! Anna!!" He shouted, the hope dying in his heart. He shouted the names of his siblings, hopes that they would answer, they would call back to assure him that they had escaped. "Father!" Gilvan's heard his own voice crack. Despair washed over him. He rushed to the front door, and barged in. The house was an oven. He glanced around, his eyes stinging from the heat and the smoke. Where was everyone?
"Gil! Gil!" A voice screamed, it was on the brink of hysterics. Gilvan looked around, searching for the source of the screams. "Gil!"
He turned, and rushed forward. His sister, Brynne, stood trapped behind a flaming beam that had collapsed. Her face and golden hair was covered in soot. Tears glistened, but she looked brave and collected. In her arms, she held the youngest sibling, Olivia. At her side, Kay stood, supporting his twin Thom, who was bleeding from a large gash on his forehead, and deep burns on his arms. Gilvan took all this in with a glance, and felt numb.
"Brynne!" Gilvan rushed forward, but the flaming beam separated them. They were trapped by the beam and the house's mud and straw walls. Brynne stared at him, unsure of what to do.
"Where's father and everyone else?"
Brynne shook uncontrollably, but she remained upright, her arms around the twins and Olivia.
"They...they took them." Her voice shook more than a little. "Please Gil, get us out." She pleaded. Gil scanned the room for something, anything to extinguish the firewall that trapped his siblings. He grabbed the sheets of the bed, and dashed to the water barrel in the kitchen, quickly soaking the sheets. A huge beam lay on the ground, and the roof had collapsed at the far end of the kitchen. He ran back to the room, the water in the sheets dripping behind him. With a hurl, he tossed the soaked sheet over the flames directly in front of Brynne. She understood immediately. Gilvan grabbed a chair, and with strength that he didnt' know he had within himself, he brought it down, hard on the beam. There was a loud crack, and at the sound, Olivia started crying. Brynne tried to quiet her. Gil brought the chair down again, and wood splinters flew everywhere. He ducked under the jagged edges and the small opening between them. He grabbed Brynne.
"Go! Get out!"
Brynne nodded, then stopped and looked down at Thom. Kay was trying to heave his twin brother up, but Thom's eyes were fluttering, the blood oozing out of the gash on his head was too dark. Gilvan grabbed Kay and pulled him to his feet.
"Go with Brynne, I'll take Thom."
Kay looked unwilling to leave his twin, but even as the spoke, the fire was flaming and the rest of the house was cracking. It wouldn't stay standing much longer.
"Go!" Gilvan ordered. And with one last backward glance, Kay nodded and followed Brynne. They darted out of the house, and Gil turned back to Thom, who lay ashen on the ground. He breathed hard; the smoke was getting thick. One he arm curled under Thom, and the younger boy gasped with pain. Ignoring it, and with a determined look on his face, Gilvan lifted his younger brother. The house creaked. He stepped forward, and ducked slowly under the beam. It was as if time was too slow. A huge burst ripped through the house, and a piece of the flaming roof fell. Gil stepped back just in time to avoid getting buried in the burning debris. Hope welled and died within him. Thom shook in his arms, barely conscious. Then a silver sword flashed, and the debris parted. Garren stood, his face grim. Gilvan instantly ran through, and they ran out of the house. They cleared the house just in time. Just as Gilvan set Thom down, there was a huge explosion, and he looked back at the house that he had grown up in, just to see it go up in a haze of smoke and flames.
They all stood there, on the sandy path, a small group. Garren stood with his retinue of about 6 soldiers apart, while Gilvan stood with the remnants of his torn family. Brynne stared wide-eyed with shock. In her arms, Olivia lay quieted. Her pale snow-white hair was dirt covered, and she sucked on her thumb. Kay stood protective over his twin Thom. Gilvan knelt over Thom, checking his pulse. It was weak, and fluttering.
"How did this happen?" Gilvan asked, to whomever happened to hear. Brynne drew closer, and she sat down, in the shade of one of the wagons. Her face was drawn and her ice-blue eyes were huge.
"A..a beam fell on him." Her voice rose barely above a whisper, but Gil heard all too clearly.
"Who did this?" He asked through clenched teeth. Brynne shut her eyes.
"Soldiers. They came, and...they just took everyone away."
Gilvan tore his tunic, and wound the strips of cloth around the deep gash in Thom's forehead. He stood up, after checking that Thom was comfortable. Kay sat near Thom, watching over him vigilantly. He turned, as Garren approached them. His face was serious, and his blue eyes were dark.
"There are a few more survivors, over there." He pointed to a group of huddled individuals. One of them, whom Gil recognized as Leera Burrton the baker's daughter, was in hysterics. "So far, we've figured around four troupes soldiers came through here, probably an organized attack judging the result of such a clean attack." Garren paused, as Gilvan's eyes continued to scan the survivors. None amongst them was any of the missing of his family. Garren extended a hand and clapped Gil on the shoulder, "How many?" he asked.
Gil drew a shuddering breath; it hurt to think. Brynne stared up at him, and he prayed that she wouldn't cry, because he was dangerously close to it himself. But she just watched him, her eyes too big on her small face.
"Four. My father, AnnaLisa, Tristan and Caleb. All were younger."
Garren nodded. Then turned, "We will continue searching."
Gilvan nodded.
Suddenly, Brynne stood up and ran towards them, leaving Olivia to sit playing in the dust.
"Wait!"
Gilvan and Garren turned to look at her. She seemed to shrivel under the commander's blue-eyed gaze.
"The soldiers, they took father, and I think Caleb and Tristan were taken too. Maybe..AnnaLisa's with them."
Garren narrowed his eyes, "Took your father? Did they take all the males?"
Brynne shrugged, then closed her eyes, "I...I don't remember. I..only know that because when I looked out to see what all the commotion was, they were leading father, Cale and Tristan away. You see, the twins me and Ola were inside, and Father was out, buying bread from Baker Burrton with Cale, Tris and Anna, when the soldiers came. I think the soldier's didn't know we were in the house, cuz I got real scared and I told the twins and Ola to be real quiet." She shuddered visibly, "We didn't get taken..."
Garren nodded. "I see." He looked at Gilvan, who had blanched slightly at Brynne's account.
"See to your family, I shall speak to the other villagers." He turned to go, but Gil placed a hand on the soldier's elbow to stop him.
"Wait, Garren, what are we going to do?" He tried to keep the tremor out of his voice. Garren sighed,
"I don't know yet, Gil."
Gil sighed, and turned, his eyes dark. He felt empty, and gratefully numb to the pain that threatened to overflow. His village, the only home he had ever known, was lost, gone forever. Sadly, he stood amongst the ash that was his home. He kicked at the dirt. The wind carried it away, along with the memories of his past. What did he have now? Nothing, his mind echoed back. Something caught the corner of his eye, it was sticking out amongst the rubble. A doll. A simple ragdoll. He picked it up, and held it, his eyes scanning its soft texture, his fingers holding it gently. His heart wrenched. It had been AnnaLisa's.