(A/n: Hello, this is my new story. I'm not sure how far I'm going to go with this. It's based off of a dream I had last night, so I felt compelled. This takes place way before SOTL, and I'm making up the events and happenings of Tortall. So, as always, enjoy and review!)
12th year of the reign of Warlord Towlead
301 H.E. (Human Era)
Ducal House of Braylan, Tortall
David knelt next to the cradle of his sister's twin daughters, letting Eliza play with his finger as she giggled happily. Alexa was fast asleep on the other side of the cradle, oblivious to her twin sister's amusement. Perhaps, if sixteen-month-olds were capable of envy, she would wish she was awake. David was their favorite uncle.
A commotion outside the fief's walls caused the men in the vicinity to reach warily to their sheaths. Tortall was in shambles, and anything out of the ordinary could usually be blamed on Scanran invasions. If that was the case, the Braylans wanted to be ready.
Sir William, the twins' father and master at Braylan, rushed over the David. Eliza frowned as the young man took his finger away.
"It's them," William said darkly, sword in his hand. "Warlord Towlead's army."
David paled. All across Tortall, Towlead had invaded fiefs, taking the occupants by storm and allowing his Scanran citizens to enslave them, in their own homes. Any sight of the Red Flag meant almost certain doom.
The men armed themselves and tried to bar the door. Their attempts were fruitless. Within minutes, raging Scanrans had broken into the house, scattering women, men, and children.
Eliza and Alexa screamed as the enemy swept around them, gathering men and women like fishermen pulling in their nets. Only William, his wife Karyn, David, and David's boyhood friend Colin remained fighting.
The melee worked its way to the balconies. These were the pride of the Braylan house. They overlooked the beautiful River Bonnet, high above the sparkling water by 120 feet. Now it was a war zone. The Scanrans took out long, flailed maces and ropes to gather up the last of their opposition.
"Come on, old man," taunted a Scanran captain in Common. "Give it up now!"
In one quick movement, he had grabbed Karyn's dress. She screamed. William reached out.
"No!" He yelled. "I'll--I'll go. Don't hurt her!"
The captain grinned a rotted-tooth smile. His soldiers dragged William to the ground. David and Colin ran at them. A soldier attempted to seize David, catching his shirt in his gloved hand. The garment ripped off the young man as he jumped away.
"No, David!" Karyn shouted. A hand was promptly clapped over her mouth.
David and Colin were backed against the balcony rail, Scanrans advancing on them from all sides. Colin caught his friend contemplating the 120 foot drop to the water below.
"You aren't thinking?" Colin asked, breathing heavily.
David glanced at the soldiers advancing on them, waving his sword vainly. "It's better than slavery," he said briskly.
Colin shook his head. "You'd never make it, David. That drop--" A flailed mace struck him about the chest. He dropped, unconscious.
David cast a final, fleeting look at the people around him, and jumped.
That was twelve years ago. My name is Eliza of Braylan, and this is my story.