-Legend of the Twin Swords-
By: Kratos the Judgment
Chapter 4: Of Old Friends
As I ran, I cursed my luck. Why did I have to run into these three problem
children anyway? I'm not cut out to be a babysitter. Sure they saved me from
almost certain death, but why couldn't they be a little more reasonable and listen
to their elders. They were going to get themselves killed if they took on their
enemy head on, or from any direction for that matter.
They only had about an hour head start on me; I should be able to make it. As I
ran, fear crept its way into the pit of my stomach. What if they were already dead?
This was going to haunt me for a long time.
As I dashed through the woods, I noticed signs of civilization popping up with
increasing regularity. There must be a town or village nearby. But there was no
time to check my map and make certain. I was headed north, into Sacae. The
people here are often nomadic, so this might be little more than the remnants of
a camp.
Wrong.
When I stepped clear of the woods, I saw a village. There was something going
on in the center of town; some sort of commotion. Then I saw the three kids,
jogging down the slope and into the outskirts of the small town. As I made my
way after them, I realized what must be going on here. Oh no… this was going
to be bad. I ran after them as quietly as I could.
Just outside the center of town, I caught up with them. "Wait," I called. "Don't do
it!" I had one last chance to keep them from throwing their lives away. I grabbed
the nearest one, Ralts, and dragged him into an ally. The others followed.
"Let my brother go!" Rayne demanded. "This isn't your fight."
"Listen here!" My voice was commanding but hushed. "You may be good with
that bow, better than most I'd say, but even Wil and Rebecca, two of the finest
archers I've ever seen couldn't take…" I stopped. Something had changed in
her face.
From beside me, Ralts' voice came weak, through sobs. "They… couldn't"
"What?" my shocked remark came out. "You know them"
"They were our parents" came the response, this time from Rayne.
"That can't be… you're too old"
"We were adopted. Well, actually, we tried to rob them, but they found out and
after seeing us, took us in," Ralts told me.
"They were kind. They treated us like family. We had no home before that."
Rayne was crying as well now. "We can't let them get away with taking those
two from this world!"
I took the children in my arms as they wept. Somehow I had to get these three
out of here now. Perhaps I could work out some sort of plan to help them later,
but escape came first. I looked up at Ernst, but his gaze was distracted by
something above my back.
Pushing the twins towards Ernst, I stood and turned around to face whatever had
caught the older boy's attention.
A booming voice spoke.
"Now that you're not busy," a man said sarcastically, "maybe I can ask you a
question."
The man from whom the voice emanated stood a couple yards away. He was
bedecked in dark armor, over which his long raven hair fell. His eyes, set on his
thin face could have held all the malice of the world in their dark irises. He had
my complete and total attention
"I am the rightful owner of the Katti Umbra, the Shadow Sword. Do you know the
location of the wielder of the Sword of the Light, the Sol Katti? Her life is mine to
take!"
Reviewers will be welcomed – flamers will be spammed.
Kratos