Chapter 1: A Desperate Act
"Just let me go!"
Tears wouldn't stop falling from my eyes. No matter how much I told myself that everything would be all right, I knew in the depths of my heart that it wouldn't. There was nothing I could do to stop the events that were about to unfold. I think that, above everything else, the feeling of helplessness was the worst. All I could do was hang from the chains that were fastened around my neck and my wrists, pinned to the cold stone wall like a wild animal. I had been locked here for three days, imprisoned for a crime that was no more than a desperate act to keep my family alive. I hung my head in despair, as I replayed the event again in my head yet again.
I had attacked a noble, though not without just cause.
It was early evening as I stumbled into the little town, and the sun was beginning its descent below the horizon making the sky turn fiery with orange and gold. The town was growing quieter by the minute. As I walked the streets I found travelers heading to the inns, and the merchants to the taverns restless after their day of business work. An odd time for me to visit it seems, but I've found it's the best time, because of the busyness of my parent's work. My parents are by no means rich. In fact they cannot even support themselves, let alone me. But they never once said they were unhappy with their lives, even still, I felt obligated to get a job at the age of ten, and had actually moved out of the house at fifteen. After that, they were doing much better, not that they would ever acknowledge my hindrance on them. I'm twenty now, so I had moved away long ago. But came into the town of Kirsla often to visit. At this time of day they were most likely just finishing up with their day's work and relaxing.
Upon my arrival, however, I found that this was not the case today. A nobleman's carriage was in front of the house and I could hear things breaking inside. Concerned, I ran in to see what was happening. I found a man standing above my father with his sword in hand. My mother was completely still in the back of the room, she was bleeding from what looked like stab wounds.
"Akina! Get away from here!" My father cried as he saw me burst through the door. Concern and fear written all over his face
My body reacted to the scene before me as if of it's own accord. I pulled my silver, double-edged sword from it's sheath and charged at the man before me with a rage that I had never felt before.
Though before I could strike him I found myself being shoved to the ground, sword flinging from my hands. There had been another noble in the room that I had not seen. Before I could turn to face my adversary his hands had grabbed me by the waist. I struggled with all of the strength that I could muster, until I felt the cold, hard edge of a blade at my throat. My breath caught.
"You will regret this day, you worm!" A deep, raspy voice whispered into my ear. I looked to my family with a desperate plea.
"Please… just let them go, leave them alone!" I said in a weak voice. Gripping the arm that held the sword to my neck. The noble grinned at me, mockingly.
"Well," the nobleman said, with a laugh, "I guess because the pretty lady asked us so nicely, we'll have to just leave, eh Albel?"
Albel? That name… I knew it all too well. This man was no noble. He was infamous throughout the town. He was a viscous killer with no remorse. He was the leader of the Black Brigade, the most terrifying military faction in all of Elicoor. And I was in his grasp.
"Actually, I think that's a good idea, Carsten…" Albel said.
Carsten's expression changed, "Sir?"
"Yes… lets leave here…this girl's treachery should be well honored," Albel chuckled, "…with a public execution."
"No!" My father screamed, "My daughter has done nothing! Let her go!" At this Carsten kicked him square in the head and he fell to the ground, out cold. I squeezed my eyes shut; I couldn't bear to see my family in this sorry state. I desperately fought the tears that were welling up in my eyes; I refused to allow these men to see my weakness. For I knew they would take pleasure in it.
"You're all monsters…" I said quietly.
"Hmph. Learn this girl, I show mercy to no one," Albel said, tightening his hold on me. I turned as far away from him as I could. "That includes weak little fools such as you and your pathetic family." He then kicked me in my spine, causing my world to fade to black.
Coming back to reality, I made another futile attempt to pull away from my restraints, causing nothing more than a deepening the cuts I had already made from my relentless struggles of the past days. I laid my head back against the wall, fighting the urge to scream. Looking to my left, I could see that snow was falling gently in the night sky outside through the barred window. It was the first time I had even noticed the window at all. I had been locked this cell so long, yet I had never really seen it. Looking around I found it wasn't anything remarkable; three walls made of stone, the other of metal bars, a torch lighting the corridor outside the cell. Was this really going to be the last place I was in before I died?
Exhausted and frustrated, I fell into a restless sleep.
