Monday, November 10, 2003
Chapter Two
“Wake-up!”
Why was someone shouting at him? He wished they’d stop his head hurts.
“I said, wake-up!”
Elias screamed at the volume of the words and clutched his head, or at least he tried to. His arms won’t move he tried again only to feel biting pain in his arms. What? Elias opened his eyes and looked down on his arms, a rope ran across his chest and arms. He was tied to a tree!
“Finally!”
The voice was from a girl Elias squinted to see her in the dark. “Why am I here?”
Elias wasn’t sure but he felt like the girl was glaring at him. “Because you did not listen to me!”
“Listen? I don’t underst— Those blackguards!“ Elias ejaculated remembering the fight and the thieves. “I was surrounded, those miscreants out numbered me!”
“Yes, of course, whatever you say, do you mind kicking the key to me now?”
“What key?”
“The one on your foot!”
There indeed was a key on his right boot, it was a silver thing and smaller than most keys he was accustomed to seeing.
“Aim it towards me.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you took it yourself? As you can see I am quite tied at the moment.”
“If you would fail to note, I am chained to a branch!” The girl said, and jingled her up stretched arm.
“Those wretch!”
“Focus, please, sirrah!” She said, jingling the chain again, “Throw the key!”
The girl wasn’t far from him but the possibilities of failure were great. “If I missed?”
“Then pray you aim accurately, unless of course, you favor the prospect of staying the night tied to a tree until the king’s guards arrives?”
Alarm bells rang in Elias’ head conjuring an image of an irate Captain David Lightstone. From the faint moonlight he made out the figure of the girl and took careful aim, he heaved his foot and kicked, the key arced glinting briefly Elias heard a jingle and leaned forward until the rope’s bite stung.
He heard no sound after, anxious he asked. “Did you get it?”
There was a long moment of silence. “Yes, thank you.” The chain rattled to the ground and finally Elias saw the girl walk toward him. It was an awkward thing, tied to a tree, especially if one has acquired a dizzying headache and he was utterly grateful when the girl—Elias could not really determine her age—bent knee and started sawing through the ropes, with he supposed a knife she had concealed in her person.
“It is a lucky thing that you are who you are, Prince.”
“How did you--?”
“No one arrives in Entre with a welcoming entourage such as Lord William.”
“And the ruffians believed you?”
“The ruffians are a traveling band of thieves but they have a code among themselves, more I can say than some nobility.”
Elias frowned. The rope finally gives letting the blood rush in fast and instead of standing he falls ungainly on the grass. It’s cooler there and Elias thinks of staying. A hand, callused and gentle flies across his forehead.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I was just… I’m alright, thank you.”
He was pulled up, and found himself inappropriately leaning against the girl he tries to pull away but the girl holds him. “You’re strong.”
“They’ve must hit you rather hard.”
“Did they take my sword?”
“No. It’s still with you.” She paused and administers the bump at the back of his head. “There is no bleeding I see, but we must consult someone about this nonetheless.”
Suddenly an image of David and his guards brought him to action, this time the girl let him go. “ I must go.” Then he was struck with what he was about to do, leave a woman alone in a dark forest. “I cannot leave you alone unprotected.”
She stared at him as if he were mad. “Must I remind, you, I was not the one who foolishly sought to fight a band of thieves? I don’t need protecting.” Then she took hold of her arm and he was close enough to see her smile at him. “Perhaps, your injury caused more harm, I’ll assist you to the house not far from here.”
It really wasn’t proper, his leaning on the lady but he couldn’t seem to get his legs to move if only he could get to his horse, that is if he still owned a horse, he must have asked the question out loud because the girl told him that there was no horse taken. He was glad he liked the horse. It was getting darker, he should do something, move but all Elias could say was, “Lady, what is your name?”
Again her cool hand was on his face and before darkness could take him he heard her say. “Janna.”
Elias woke to a strange bed and murmuring voices, neither prospect he liked.
“Are you feeling a mite better, sirrah?” Elias turned his head to the sound of the voice an old lady sat by him.
“Yes, thank you. What happened?”
“Oh, Horton’s band gave you a rather strong concoction, the better you not follow them, I wager.” The old lady said, “Don’t you be worrying, young sirrah, I’m a healer of a sort.”
“Where is the young lady?”
“Janna? Oh, she is about.” The old lady grinned at him. “It is a lucky thing you met her.”
A door scraped open and Janna appeared her hair was thick raven hair tied allowing Elias the first clear sight of her elfin face. Her eyes—green – examined him. “Your awake, I see.”
“Yes, I must thank you for your rescue.”
Janna smiled. “Next time, I presume, you’ll listen to other people.” Before he could respond she turned away and started picking-up her pack. “Thank you for your hospitality, Sita but I must be going soon.”
Elias frowned sat-up. “I’m going with you.”
“No, your not.”
“I am in your debt, I must go with you.”
This time Janna glared at him. “You owe me nothing, you’re free of your debt so stay until you recuperate.”
“I have already, I feel well.”
“Unlikely, anyway my path is different from yours.” Janna said and turned away again, this time she did not look back but marched on, pausing only for her walking stick. “Until my next journey, Sita.”
She was a few meters away when she heard the sound of horses furious she stopped and rounded at the stubborn man. “What are you doing? Were you purposefully not listening to a word I said?”
He grinned, his blue eyes glittering. “Madam Sita said I was strong enough to continue my journey.”
“Why do you persist in accompanying me?”
“I wish to be your guard.”
“Don’t you have other places to be?” Janna said through grinding teeth.
“Yes, but at the moment I have no clue as to where my quest lies,” He said and he grew serious. “I owe you a debt of my life, Men of Yrdle take those debts seriously.”
“You do realize, I even don’t know your name?”
Janna was satisfied to see the abashed expression on his face but her satisfaction vanished as he said. “I apologize, Lady Janna, I am Elias Intares, Prince of Yrdle, son of King Constan and Queen Sofia, brother to—“
“Elias would do.” She said coldly. “I do not need your family history.”
“I apologize.” His horse stamped its foot, signaling its impatience.
“Why don’t you just wait for your guards? I’m sure they’ll be happy to learn what happened to their prince.”
He reddened and he was unable to look at her. “I’m afraid they do not know where I am, I enlisted King Erlan’s aid in escaping my guards.”
“I guessed it,” Janna said and continued somewhat wearily. “Go wherever you wish, you don’t owe me your life and I don’t need protecting!”
“But—“
“Good day.” Janna ignored him and continued her walk, it would be a good three-day’s journey to her destination and hopefully it would be enough to lose this irritating prince.
word count 4,374 only! And I have to end at 50,000! I am so screwed!
“Wake-up!”
Why was someone shouting at him? He wished they’d stop his head hurts.
“I said, wake-up!”
Elias screamed at the volume of the words and clutched his head, or at least he tried to. His arms won’t move he tried again only to feel biting pain in his arms. What? Elias opened his eyes and looked down on his arms, a rope ran across his chest and arms. He was tied to a tree!
“Finally!”
The voice was from a girl Elias squinted to see her in the dark. “Why am I here?”
Elias wasn’t sure but he felt like the girl was glaring at him. “Because you did not listen to me!”
“Listen? I don’t underst— Those blackguards!“ Elias ejaculated remembering the fight and the thieves. “I was surrounded, those miscreants out numbered me!”
“Yes, of course, whatever you say, do you mind kicking the key to me now?”
“What key?”
“The one on your foot!”
There indeed was a key on his right boot, it was a silver thing and smaller than most keys he was accustomed to seeing.
“Aim it towards me.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you took it yourself? As you can see I am quite tied at the moment.”
“If you would fail to note, I am chained to a branch!” The girl said, and jingled her up stretched arm.
“Those wretch!”
“Focus, please, sirrah!” She said, jingling the chain again, “Throw the key!”
The girl wasn’t far from him but the possibilities of failure were great. “If I missed?”
“Then pray you aim accurately, unless of course, you favor the prospect of staying the night tied to a tree until the king’s guards arrives?”
Alarm bells rang in Elias’ head conjuring an image of an irate Captain David Lightstone. From the faint moonlight he made out the figure of the girl and took careful aim, he heaved his foot and kicked, the key arced glinting briefly Elias heard a jingle and leaned forward until the rope’s bite stung.
He heard no sound after, anxious he asked. “Did you get it?”
There was a long moment of silence. “Yes, thank you.” The chain rattled to the ground and finally Elias saw the girl walk toward him. It was an awkward thing, tied to a tree, especially if one has acquired a dizzying headache and he was utterly grateful when the girl—Elias could not really determine her age—bent knee and started sawing through the ropes, with he supposed a knife she had concealed in her person.
“It is a lucky thing that you are who you are, Prince.”
“How did you--?”
“No one arrives in Entre with a welcoming entourage such as Lord William.”
“And the ruffians believed you?”
“The ruffians are a traveling band of thieves but they have a code among themselves, more I can say than some nobility.”
Elias frowned. The rope finally gives letting the blood rush in fast and instead of standing he falls ungainly on the grass. It’s cooler there and Elias thinks of staying. A hand, callused and gentle flies across his forehead.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I was just… I’m alright, thank you.”
He was pulled up, and found himself inappropriately leaning against the girl he tries to pull away but the girl holds him. “You’re strong.”
“They’ve must hit you rather hard.”
“Did they take my sword?”
“No. It’s still with you.” She paused and administers the bump at the back of his head. “There is no bleeding I see, but we must consult someone about this nonetheless.”
Suddenly an image of David and his guards brought him to action, this time the girl let him go. “ I must go.” Then he was struck with what he was about to do, leave a woman alone in a dark forest. “I cannot leave you alone unprotected.”
She stared at him as if he were mad. “Must I remind, you, I was not the one who foolishly sought to fight a band of thieves? I don’t need protecting.” Then she took hold of her arm and he was close enough to see her smile at him. “Perhaps, your injury caused more harm, I’ll assist you to the house not far from here.”
It really wasn’t proper, his leaning on the lady but he couldn’t seem to get his legs to move if only he could get to his horse, that is if he still owned a horse, he must have asked the question out loud because the girl told him that there was no horse taken. He was glad he liked the horse. It was getting darker, he should do something, move but all Elias could say was, “Lady, what is your name?”
Again her cool hand was on his face and before darkness could take him he heard her say. “Janna.”
Elias woke to a strange bed and murmuring voices, neither prospect he liked.
“Are you feeling a mite better, sirrah?” Elias turned his head to the sound of the voice an old lady sat by him.
“Yes, thank you. What happened?”
“Oh, Horton’s band gave you a rather strong concoction, the better you not follow them, I wager.” The old lady said, “Don’t you be worrying, young sirrah, I’m a healer of a sort.”
“Where is the young lady?”
“Janna? Oh, she is about.” The old lady grinned at him. “It is a lucky thing you met her.”
A door scraped open and Janna appeared her hair was thick raven hair tied allowing Elias the first clear sight of her elfin face. Her eyes—green – examined him. “Your awake, I see.”
“Yes, I must thank you for your rescue.”
Janna smiled. “Next time, I presume, you’ll listen to other people.” Before he could respond she turned away and started picking-up her pack. “Thank you for your hospitality, Sita but I must be going soon.”
Elias frowned sat-up. “I’m going with you.”
“No, your not.”
“I am in your debt, I must go with you.”
This time Janna glared at him. “You owe me nothing, you’re free of your debt so stay until you recuperate.”
“I have already, I feel well.”
“Unlikely, anyway my path is different from yours.” Janna said and turned away again, this time she did not look back but marched on, pausing only for her walking stick. “Until my next journey, Sita.”
She was a few meters away when she heard the sound of horses furious she stopped and rounded at the stubborn man. “What are you doing? Were you purposefully not listening to a word I said?”
He grinned, his blue eyes glittering. “Madam Sita said I was strong enough to continue my journey.”
“Why do you persist in accompanying me?”
“I wish to be your guard.”
“Don’t you have other places to be?” Janna said through grinding teeth.
“Yes, but at the moment I have no clue as to where my quest lies,” He said and he grew serious. “I owe you a debt of my life, Men of Yrdle take those debts seriously.”
“You do realize, I even don’t know your name?”
Janna was satisfied to see the abashed expression on his face but her satisfaction vanished as he said. “I apologize, Lady Janna, I am Elias Intares, Prince of Yrdle, son of King Constan and Queen Sofia, brother to—“
“Elias would do.” She said coldly. “I do not need your family history.”
“I apologize.” His horse stamped its foot, signaling its impatience.
“Why don’t you just wait for your guards? I’m sure they’ll be happy to learn what happened to their prince.”
He reddened and he was unable to look at her. “I’m afraid they do not know where I am, I enlisted King Erlan’s aid in escaping my guards.”
“I guessed it,” Janna said and continued somewhat wearily. “Go wherever you wish, you don’t owe me your life and I don’t need protecting!”
“But—“
“Good day.” Janna ignored him and continued her walk, it would be a good three-day’s journey to her destination and hopefully it would be enough to lose this irritating prince.
word count 4,374 only! And I have to end at 50,000! I am so screwed!
Sunday, November 09, 2003
chapter 1 cont'd
It would be near sunset and a mile since he fled from Erlan’s keep, with blessings and change of clothes. It would be nightfall when David would realize that he had been hoodwinked. David would be surely sore a great reason why he sent the white bay flying down the paths Erlan told him to take.
Sweat lined his brow and Elias chanced to wipe it back handed and resumed his pace. The scent of wood and dried soil filled his senses, but sooner he heard a sound of voices, gruff and untutored.
He paused, reined the bay and listened there beyond a group cautiously he slid of the horse and crept nearer to judge if they were friend or foe. Friend he would reward with a meal, foe the steel of his sword. There he saw beyond the shadow of tree and bush three men of large stature, one held a brown sack as if offering. Elias peered further and gasped in outrage, they were thieves holding a girl— the young woman from the port Elias was sure, no woman he knew had that coloring that bearing—at dagger point.
Anger coursed in his veins before thought could provoke him to wiser action Elias rushed forward, releasing sword form sheathe, the three had yet to notice him for he ran gently—rash though he was, he knew something of tactics of surprise—the young woman however did notice him an alarmed expression overcame her. Frightened Elias supposed of the thieves.
He collided with the ugliest sending the man sprawling over; he took hold of the girl’s hand and pulled her behind him. “How dare you attack a lady!” he hissed, holding the second at sword point and the other with his gaze.
The two thieves looked at him in anger and confusion of a sudden he felt something pinched his arm, Elias checked his response not risking to sound weak. “I am not a thief, lady, I am here to rescue you.”
“I did not need rescue!” The girl said, the same husky, melodious tone he heard earlier in the day.
“Of a certain, you did. They were taking your things.”
“I was giving it to them!” She hissed, “It is much wiser thing to do than your foolishness!”
That startled him. “You would rather these buffoons have your belongings!”
Another pinch and this time he did react. “Would you stop pinching me, madam!”
“If you start having more care with your words!” She said. “I have no need of your rescue!”
Elias did not like the laughing contempt he saw on the thieves’ faces, he checked the fallen one and saw to relief he had hit his head on bark and stayed unconscious. “You’re foolishness brought your need for rescue! Now hush, for I will dispatch of these petty thieves.” Elias watched in grim amusement as the laughter faded from the thieves faces.
And with no more words Elias launched himself to the thieves, meaning to scare them with his sword, he heard the girl scream. “Foolish!”
Then the stockier of the thieves met him with a dagger Elias feinted to the left and to the right and met steel, he lifted startled eyes to a newcomer with a long sword similar to his only by structure Elias fought at him until he drove back the two fighters and, the two fighters was joined by another and another, until he realized he was overwhelmed in numbers and he paused. It was then he looked around him, on top of trees and beyond the trees.
The whole wood crawled with thieves, Elias wondered why the king allowed such thieves to thrive, but went no further than that thought as he felt a large, cool object strike his head and it was dark.
word count 2,628
It would be near sunset and a mile since he fled from Erlan’s keep, with blessings and change of clothes. It would be nightfall when David would realize that he had been hoodwinked. David would be surely sore a great reason why he sent the white bay flying down the paths Erlan told him to take.
Sweat lined his brow and Elias chanced to wipe it back handed and resumed his pace. The scent of wood and dried soil filled his senses, but sooner he heard a sound of voices, gruff and untutored.
He paused, reined the bay and listened there beyond a group cautiously he slid of the horse and crept nearer to judge if they were friend or foe. Friend he would reward with a meal, foe the steel of his sword. There he saw beyond the shadow of tree and bush three men of large stature, one held a brown sack as if offering. Elias peered further and gasped in outrage, they were thieves holding a girl— the young woman from the port Elias was sure, no woman he knew had that coloring that bearing—at dagger point.
Anger coursed in his veins before thought could provoke him to wiser action Elias rushed forward, releasing sword form sheathe, the three had yet to notice him for he ran gently—rash though he was, he knew something of tactics of surprise—the young woman however did notice him an alarmed expression overcame her. Frightened Elias supposed of the thieves.
He collided with the ugliest sending the man sprawling over; he took hold of the girl’s hand and pulled her behind him. “How dare you attack a lady!” he hissed, holding the second at sword point and the other with his gaze.
The two thieves looked at him in anger and confusion of a sudden he felt something pinched his arm, Elias checked his response not risking to sound weak. “I am not a thief, lady, I am here to rescue you.”
“I did not need rescue!” The girl said, the same husky, melodious tone he heard earlier in the day.
“Of a certain, you did. They were taking your things.”
“I was giving it to them!” She hissed, “It is much wiser thing to do than your foolishness!”
That startled him. “You would rather these buffoons have your belongings!”
Another pinch and this time he did react. “Would you stop pinching me, madam!”
“If you start having more care with your words!” She said. “I have no need of your rescue!”
Elias did not like the laughing contempt he saw on the thieves’ faces, he checked the fallen one and saw to relief he had hit his head on bark and stayed unconscious. “You’re foolishness brought your need for rescue! Now hush, for I will dispatch of these petty thieves.” Elias watched in grim amusement as the laughter faded from the thieves faces.
And with no more words Elias launched himself to the thieves, meaning to scare them with his sword, he heard the girl scream. “Foolish!”
Then the stockier of the thieves met him with a dagger Elias feinted to the left and to the right and met steel, he lifted startled eyes to a newcomer with a long sword similar to his only by structure Elias fought at him until he drove back the two fighters and, the two fighters was joined by another and another, until he realized he was overwhelmed in numbers and he paused. It was then he looked around him, on top of trees and beyond the trees.
The whole wood crawled with thieves, Elias wondered why the king allowed such thieves to thrive, but went no further than that thought as he felt a large, cool object strike his head and it was dark.
word count 2,628
