RISE AND FALL

Shinobi's View
Part 4: The Wrath of a Lord

By: Michelle



While meditating, a merchant rushed into my home. He was huffing and puffing; he seemed scared half to death. I recognized the man so I didn't fear him. I stood up and put my hand on his shoulder.

"What is wrong?"

"Demons.....blood....the gods have sent demons to take our blood." He was clearly hysterical

"Calm yourself." I shock my head in confusion. "What demons?"

"Dragons."

My heart began to race. 'Dragons.' What a topic. "Tell me."

Together we sat down and he told me the story.

**************************************************

"I was making my way to Lord Nahachi's castle with my goods to trade. On my way there, I say an army leaving. They didn't seem human, but I thought nothing about it."

"When I got to the village, I felt ..." His face turn white. "I felt a deathlike presence." He took a deep breath. "So, I decided to investigate. The town was quiet. I looked around and saw swords and bodies laying around."

"Men ... Woman....Children. I don't know why, but I continued to search for a living soul. I found none. I...I made my way into the castle. It smelt of fresh blood." He began to shake. "Then, I saw him. Lord Nahachi. His heart. HIS HEART...."

The man began shaking hysterically. He grabbed a small dagger out and I backed away. He began screaming. "HIS HEART. THE DEMONS RIPPED HIS HEART FROM HIS CHEST." He took the dagger and killed himself.

***************************************************

After I told the Elders about the story, I left with a small troop to investigate Lord Nahachi's castle. The merchant's description did not give justice to the massacre I saw. It made me sick to my stomach. .

Somehow, even with my sick stomach, I made my way into the castle and into Lord Nahachi's room.

"Dear gods."

I put my hand to my mouth. Lord Nahachi was pinned to the wall by a small dagger in his robe. His heart laid on the flood; it looked as though something squeezed it. That wasn't all that was pulled out of his body. Many of his intestines hung from his lifeless body. Blood was splattered everywhere along with his servants bodies

I stood there in shock. How could something have such pleasure in taking lives? What could have such pleasure?

'Dragons' A voice whispered in my ear.

I knew somehow, I had to do something. The dragons must be stopped before they destroy us all.