The Storming Of Verjhe

Chapter 1

"Wake up!!"

Darian woke up with a jerk. He blinked his blurry eyes as scruffy dark blonde hair and a demented smile came into focus. There were only two of those around here, so that had to be his companion Dave.

"What could you possibly be so happy about 6 am in the morning?" Darian asked groaning as he shielded his eyes from the bright light pouring in from the windows.

Houses in the Septagon were rumored to have windows made of glass that could change color and show views that didn't exist. However, over here windows consisted of broken wooden boards nailed together with the sole purpose of 'letting in cold wind and light at unwanted times' as Dave said. This room where they spent most of their free time was a dark solitary one with a sloping ceiling, located on the far left of the house. There was only one opening, which was basically the door. The rest of the room was boarded shut with wooden planks to cover the gaps. Well, there was one gap that could be considered an opening. A small hole hidden away behind one of the table legs, which the builders of this attic had forgotten to close, and their only actual window into the outside world.

The house had been built on the far end of the village, the attic being high enough to look over one of the subsidiary streets. When Darian and Dave lay on their stomachs they could see children playing almost all day around the village, the cows roaming randomly and the women gossiping on the street sides. Once they had even gone up and asked Madame Risch, the informal lady of the house, whether they could go out and join the other kids too, but she had just laughed bitterly and sent them back up.

They were allowed once a week into the village around noon, but there wasn't really much point in it, since most of the inhabitants were usually asleep at that time. Still, those special days were better than the rest and hence coveted.

"Have you been listening to me at all?" demanded Dave indignantly as Darian tuned back in.

"Um yes?" said Darian sheepishly

"Liar, you haven't! Ughh I'll just tell it all again" said Dave speaking without a break as Darian rolled his eyes.

" Anyway, apparently there is a special meeting today, so Madame Risch wants us out of the house so.." he said pausing for effect, "Drumroll please"

Darian just looked at him.

"Ughh you have no flair. Fine, hear it like this only. We have the afternoon off!!"

"That's unexpected, didn't we already get one two days ago?" asked Darian in shock.

"I know, that's what I thought too, but I obviously I'm not going to ask her why," said Dave shaking his head. "I am not that stupid"

"Don't flatter yourself," Darian said as Dave grabbed the nearest thing and chucked it at him in retaliation.

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The village was quiet as usual, this time of the day. Most of the villagers had fallen asleep after a heavy lunch and the rest few were gathered below thatched roofs and front porches, out of the way of the sweltering afternoon sun.

"Those men look unfamiliar, don't they?" remarked Dave nudging Darian in the direction of some people clothed in black milling around the back of the florist's shop.

"Yeah, they are certainly not from around here. Looks like somebody forgot to give them the memo of the afternoons being hot in this village." Darian said as he gazed at the men shielding his eye from the sun.

They turned around the corner and continued walking down the lane before suddenly coming to a stop in bewilderment, a few yards from their destination.

" Are you seeing that?" Dave muttered to Darian as they looked at the conspicuous sight of a man hunched behind a bristly bush in the florist's garden, a stark contrast to the normal-looking flowers arranged in pots. "What on earth is Biller doing?"

Biller was the handyman at the house, though he scowled and sloped around the house more than he fixed things. He wasn't amiable to anyone, except perhaps Madame Risch who he devoutly listened to.

"I think he is trying to pluck some bristles off that bush for Madame Risch. After all, bristles do suit her personality more than flowers." said Darian dryly.

Dave let a muffled chuckle out, as they quickly entered the baker's shop lest they got spotted.

The baker was a slightly balding man with beady eyes and a bulging stomach, who peddled gossip as his secondary profession. He gave them a quick searching glance before continuing to talk to his assistant, as Darian and Dave picked up the pastries they wanted and approached the counter. They were usually given some money on their days off and were free to spend it as they wished.

"We would also like two of those" Darian said pointing to a tray full of baked pies behind the counter and the baker bent down to fetch his gloves.

"What do you boys think you are doing?" growled a voice suddenly from behind as Darian turned around, only to come to face with Biller.

"Well I think I'm buying pies, but if I'm delusional or dreaming, please feel free to prove me wrong." said Darian standing his ground.

"You know you are not supposed to be here" said Biller angrily.

"And grown men are not supposed to be hiding behind flower pots but that's being done." retorted Darian as Dave snorted beside him.

"Don't worry, we won't tell Madame Risch about you becoming so shy about buying her flowers that you hid in the dirt," interjected Dave nodding sagely and patting Biller on the shoulder. "Your secret is safe with us"

"Y-you boys. I was not buying her anything!" spluttered Biller as he looked furiously between them before settling on the curious face of the shopkeeper.

He grabbed them both by the shoulders and started dragging them out of the shop.

"Hey! Let me atleast get those pies" said Dave indignantly as he tried to shake Biller off.

"Keep walking," said Biller in a dangerous voice "The only pies you will be getting are the ones you will be cleaning off the table as a punishment"

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Heyy, everybody! This is the first story, I am sharing on Wattpad! I would love to know what you all think in the comments! I'm always open to suggestions on making the story better and would be delighted to read them and respond. It would also really mean the world to me, if you could vote....

Thank youu 

Looking forward to hearing from you guys!

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