Series: The Mountain: Book 1: The Awakening

Forgotten Memories

A slow, monotonous clopping sound, slivered past his ears as a slight tremble beneath massaged his body. 

'What's happening?' Liam thought groggily, eyes still closed. 

As he lay there listening to the lazy thuds, a chill spread over him numbing his entire body. Panicked by the sudden inability to move, Liam's eyes fluttered open, blinking rapidly as they adjusted to the light filtering through from a white canvas overhead.

'Wait, Canvas?' he thought wondering how he'd gotten here, 'The last thing I remember was the..the..!'

Sharp pains ran through his head as he tried to recall where he'd last been. 

'Why can't I remember?' he questioned mentally. 

He lay in silence as if expecting someone to answer his question. Unable to move or remember anything beyond his name, Liam lay quietly as he tried to analyze his current predicament. With limited mobility, he surveyed his surroundings carefully. 

'A hard, wooden floor with a white canvas spread over the top, paired with a slow clopping sound could only mean one thing,' he surmised, 'I'm in the bed of a wagon.' 

His deductions had only served to birth a slew of new questions, 'Who was driving the wagon and where were they taking him? For what purpose did they bring him along?'

As these these questions filled his mind, the previous numbness, slowly began to dissipate. With the familiar, warm feeling returning to his body, Liam wiggled both his toes and fingers as he tried to move his limbs. After a few seconds of struggling, his hands were now able to move fluidly. As he felt around his surroundings, Liam froze as his hand grazed what felt like human flesh. Startled by the sudden development, a jolt shot through his body as he sat up too quickly. Reeling in pain from his sudden movements, Liam stared at the heavily injured woman beside him. Hoping her face could potentially jog his memories, he studied her closely. Between her bruised chin alongside a couple scratches on her cheek, Liam could tell that she'd been through a lot. Partially blood-soaked bandages were wrapped neatly around her forehead, carefully avoiding the entanglement of her long, jet black hair within the wrappings. Her left arm, which lay gingerly atop her torso, was placed sturdily in a makeshift cast.  Her stomach, although not as severely injured as her head, was covered in cuts and bruises. Despite the various wounds riddling her body, her physique was in no way average. From slightly muscular arms to her well toned legs, every bit of her suggested that she came from a military background. Inspecting the uninjured hand, he'd grazed earlier, Liam discovered several calluses dotting her palms which further cemented his theory on her origins. 

"The hands of a swordsman," he whispered unintentionally. 

Surprised by the hoarseness of his voice, Liam coughed softly as his eyes roved about the wagon. After a few moments of searching, he locked onto his target. Propped side by side, were two swords as slender as the injured woman's physique. Several assorted pieces of bloodied armour were packed neatly beside the swords. Shakily climbing to his feet, Liam made his way to the blades, steadying himself on the wagon's sides as he went. Nearing the weapons, a small crest painted on the wooden crate's surface, stole his attention.

"Where have I seen that before?" he asked aloud, voice a bit clearer. 

As the memory of the familiar symbol lingered at the edge of his mind, a dizzy spell overcame Liam forcing him off balance. Afflicted by the sudden vertigo, he stumbled  headlong into the discarded pieces of armour with a resounding crash, dragging both swords down with him.  

Recovering almost instantly from his tumble, Liam froze as a muffled voice called, "What was that noise?"

Liam remained silent as he picked himself up off of the armour.