The Sword Maiden

Wrenched

"Ravine! Ravine!" cried out my father, seeing me. One of the guards raised a fist to punch him but he kept yelling. "Run Ravine! Run! Find Derrek! Run!" The guard punched him and his head snapped to the side.

I starred at him. How could he urge me to run when his wife would die if I did? "Give up Ravine, I will kill her," called out Corban, looking for all the world like he would.

How no Ravager attacked me during this time I will never know. I mean, I was a wide open target, totally focused on what was happening before me. One easily could have taken me down.

But one didn't and I locked eyes with mother. She mouthed the word "Go." I bit my lip. Would Corban actually kill her? How could I leave without knowing if she was alive or dead?

"Give up Ravine! You have till the count of ten. One, two, three..."

Suddenly mother raised her foot and stomped Corban's. Let me tell you, that can hurt! Corban howled in agony, lifting up his foot, and mother knocked him backwards. His knife scrapped her skin, causing a thin line of blood, but nothing that wouldn't heal.

"Go Ravine!" cried mother, turning and attacking. That's when the meaning of that glance she'd shared with father became clear to me. They'd never were going to escape themselves. They intended to make sure that I would.

"I'll come back!" I yelled. "I will come back!" I wasn't sure if they heard me or not. But as I turned and ran, that's what I chanted to myself. I'm coming back. I'm coming back. I'm coming back...

A Ravager jumped in my way but I dodged him and continued running. As I reached the edge of the woods I looked back. Corban had wrestled my mom to the ground, fresh scratches dripping blood. He looked up, searching for me. His eyes locked with mine.

It was known, without a doubt between us, my promise. I will come back. I will find you. I will rescue my parents. With that I turned and bolted into the woods, the image of my mother pinned to the ground and my father's hands wrenched behind his back forever in my memories.

I don't know for how long I fled. I didn't even really know the direction I was going. I just knew I had to get as far away as possible from the Ravagers.

I stumbled over a root and face planted in the dirt. I was exhausted. But still I picked myself up and doggedly trotted on, this insatiable desire to go driving me. I knew Corban would do everything to find me. I'd become his personal enemy.

It was night by now. I heard no sound but the hoot of an owl. Finally I slumped against a tree. I needed rest but I couldn't relax knowing that Corban was out there, hunting for me.

I leaned by head back. I'd sit here. Just for a few more minutes. Then I'd get up.

If you haven't guessed by now that plan didn't work out. When I cracked open my eyes fresh sunlight was sprinkling through the trees. I growled with frustration and pushed myself up. I'd fallen asleep. I couldn't believe it. After all my parents did to help me I fell asleep!

As I heaved myself up I became aware of the dagger I still clutched tightly in my hand. Blood still edged it. I scraped it off and stuck it in my belt. At least I had one weapon.

I didn't know where I was going, I just knew I was heading farther into Thathia and away from Ravagers. With the sun up I adjusted my course slightly so that I was walking more in the direction of my former home. I had to find Derrek.

Finally, with the sun high, I stumbled out of the forest and onto a road. I knew this road, it was the one that lead to and from our village. Many fresh tracks from the wagons that had carried us away marked it.

I slowly walked down it. Now that I was so close to home I wasn't sure I wanted to be there. A irrational dread urged me to turn around.

Suddenly it was there. Right in front of me. My village, or rather, what had been my village. I sucked in a breath and tears stung my eyes.

For a long time I just walked around. I brushed black ashes and sobbed when I found a slightly charred doll among them. I brushed it off as best I could. I didn't know who it belonged to. I did know that the little girl who loved her was probably worried about her.

Clutching the doll I continued my walk. I came to the burned down village hall, which I had laughed and danced in less than a day ago. I stepped on its burnt remains and wondered at my innocence that I felt had been burned to ashes just like my village.

I came to the place where the Vinum had been. I'd never tasted it. The glass I had dropped was in several large pieces, somehow having survived the flames.

I picked up the pieces, gazing at them. Tears dripped onto it, cleansing the glass of the grime. In a fit of rage I screamed and threw them. One of them shattered against a tree.

I had been wrenched away. Wrenched away from my home, only to come back and find it was no longer my home. Wrenched away from my people. Wrenched away from my family.

That's when I promised myself. I promised myself that I would not let myself taste a drop of Vinum until my parents were there to see me drink it. I wouldn't, not until I found them.

That's when I looked up and found the sword point at my face.