The Mercenaries

Seth

Seth stood there unable to move. In shock, he looked upon his parents, both dead on the floor. Mia sat next to their mom's body, sobbing. How had this happened? His body felt numb. He blinked, their mom had asked him to do something, but his mind was working sluggishly. The cellar, he thought. There are bags packed in the cellar. Motions robotic, he moved to the cellar door and stumbled down the stairs. Behind a stack of dusty boxes he found a pile of saddlebags. Trying to ignore the fact that there were four sets, he found the two meant for Mia and him, which he identified by the clothing held within, and threw them over his shoulder. Now running, Seth rushed up the stairs. Mia still knelt on the floor, her eyes wide and panicked, but now dry. He gently took his sister's hand in his own and helped her to her feet. Together, they exited through the back door, leaving the bloody scene behind them.
They ran through the field to the barn, the sound of the bell and screaming voices following them into the stables. Seth tacked the two best horses, secured the saddlebags, and led them from the barn. He lifted his sister onto the saddle, handed her the reins, and promptly mounted the other horse. Knowing that his sister could easily keep up with him on horseback, he took off at a gallop down the hill and towards the populated part of town where the houses and businesses practically touched. They followed the cobblestone path to the main road that led out of town. The streets were crowded with soldiers and people, but they got out of the way fast enough once they saw the two horses racing towards them. The soldiers were busy raiding houses and paid little attention to Seth and Mia. Smoke rose from burning buildings, women hugged their children to their chests, and several family's dead bodies lay bleeding on their doorsteps, a warning against resistance.
Thoughts raced through his head. Vaguely, he recalled a fight he had had with his father this morning. What had it even been about? He hoped it had been important... I can't believe my last words to him were harsh ones.
Seth closed his mind to such thoughts and tried to remember everything his mother had told him. We are to go to Ley City, he recalled. He had gone there several times with his father while he had been bargaining about trade agreements. Luckily, he thought he knew how to get there, but unfortunately, it was a several weeklong trip.
Cobblestone gave way to dirt as they left Ironhaven, but until the sound of the ringing bells faded, Seth refused to slow their pace. The horses breathed heavily, their sides heaving and their bodies lathered in sweat. Finally, he relented to continue at a trot. The sun had disappeared behind the horizon and the glow of fire could be seen from the town. Smoke from the flames clouded the stars and moon from view, sending them into a complete and utter darkness. Knowing that riding in the dark was dangerous to themselves and their horses, he steered his horse from the path and into the cover of the trees. He looked over at his sister who was whimpering softly. Holding the reins, Seth dimounted and led his horse to his sister's. While it was too dark to see her face, he could see from her silhouette that she was cradling her arm. He remembered the terrible scream she had made and shuddered. "Can you walk?" Seth asked.
She nodded so he lowered her from the saddle and took her horse's reins. They would need to settle down for the night soon. He thought about what his father had taught him over the years: how to hunt, how to make a camp, and most importantly, how to wield a sword. All of which could prove useful in the coming weeks. Though he wasn't very skilled with a sword as of yet, he hoped it would be enough to defend himself and his sister. He winced at the thought that his father's sword still remained at their house.
Seeing a small clearing, Seth tugged the horses in that direction. The horses were tied to a low-hanging branch and their saddles and saddle pads were hung on nearby branches. Mia sat down on a log and watched as he made a small pile of wood. Looking in his saddle bags, Seth was grateful to find flint and steel alongside a medium-sized dagger, riding clothes, nonperishable food rations, a small blanket, a canteen, and a collection of maps. He tossed Mia her saddlebags and told her to look through it. Bending over the wood, he struggled to start a fire while Mia listed, "Clothes, a blanket, a knife, a journal, some food, a canteen, and a supply of healing items. Wait... there's a second journal...," she paused, "...it's mom's."
Seth looked up in surprise. Their mom, during her time as a healer had kept a journal of all of the various uses of different herbs. It had been one of her most prized possessions. Mia had been being coached by their mom to learn the art of healing, so he supposed it made sense that she would pass it on to her.
The fire finally lit. He walked over to his sister and sat down next to her. "Can I..." he started as he reached over to the thick leather bound journal.
She nodded and he took it from her hands. He flipped through the filled up pages. Small, neat writing and detailed illustrations covered every page. He stopped on the last one. It read, My gift to you, Mia. In the hopes that you'll continue my work. P.S. I've included your own journal as well, because I'm sure you'll find out even more than I did. Silently he passed it back to her. She read the note and tears filled her eyes. Mia looked away and rubbed her eyes furiously. Seth reached over to put his hand on her shoulder, but accidentally brushed against her arm causing her to cry out in pain. He snatched his hand back immediately and said with alarm, "Mia, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she gasped, "Just fine."
"Would you let me see it?"
She hesitated before gingerly bending her arm away from her chest. Seth took a sharp intake of air. A black snake coiled around her arm, which he had expected, but the skin around it was inflamed an angry red. Not only that, but the skin was cracked with blood seeping out.
He dug into Mia's bag and found a large leather pouch. Inside were a collection of small vials, bundles of herbs, and bandages. "Which ones?" he asked Mia helplessly.
"The vial of clear liquid and bandages," she said immediately.
He grabbed the correct vial and a roll of bandages and passed them to her. With a shaking hand, grasped the vial. "Open it," she directed.
Seth pulled the cork free. Mia carefully poured a small amount of the liquid into her bleeding flesh. She bit her lip, and winced as she did so. The vial was handed back to Seth and with his help she managed to bandage her arm.
After everything was put back into Mia's saddlebag, he looked over to see her eyelids drooping.
"I'm so tired," Mia whispered.
"Shhhh. You can go to sleep now," Seth answered.
She crawled off of the log and curled herself into a ball on the forest floor. After finding her blanket, Seth spread it over her. Within minutes her breath had slowed and her eyes had closed. Looking at her as she slept reminded him of how very young age was. Only seven. But then he had to remind himself that he wasn't much older. He was eleven. And he couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility that had fallen on him.
For the first time since his parents' deaths, Seth allowed himself to cry. They were gone, they would never come back, and now he had a sister to take care of.
But, at least he and his sister were alive.