|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 4: Captured - Part II

Other people joined the fray as I leapt up onto the wagon and climbed onto the roof of the building behind it.

“Faeris of the Empire, heed my warning!” I yelled angrily, “I am the Archer, and I will defend the people of this city with my life!” The people below raised their arms in celebration towards me before some broke away and fell into battle with their Faeris.

I shot down four in quick succession, aiming for their necks before another troop arrived. I realized we wouldn’t be able to keep it up. Already the rioters’ numbers had been reduced by more than half and the rest were dropping like flies.

“Run!” I ordered, “Run to your homes! Back to your wives and husbands, back to your children.” The men and women nodded and turned heel. They sprinted away, disappearing into buildings or down narrow alley-streets. I could hear doors being slammed shut, as well as windows and shutters. The Faeris may have been more powerful, but years of oppression had led to the humans finding secret ways around. I hoped they would make it.

“Don’t let them get away!” One Faeri commanded. The troop stormed after the retreating rioters. I saw a torch burning on the wall of the building I stood on and lit the tip of two of my arrows. I fired them behind the last rioter where the flames caught onto the spilled ale from a broken barrel and formed a wall of fire between the two groups.

“Why waste your time on them when you could have me?” I yelled before running across the roof. I leapt across the gap between my building and the next and landed heavily, falling to my knees and hands. The Faeri knights followed after me, yelling out for others to join the chase. Arrows whizzed past me, disappearing into the air never to be found again.  I was about to leap for the next building when I felt a strong tap in the small of my back. An arrow glanced away off the protective shell of my armour and I once again thanked the protective gear. I wondered how many times it had already saved my life.

The heavy bump sent me off balance and I fell to the ground, landing heavily on my stomach. The air rushed from my lungs and I lay coughing for a few moments, feeling pain wash through me. I heard the Faeris approaching and struggled to my feet. I checked my limbs, hobbling away from the main street.  How had I not broken something? I had just fallen off a building. I pressed myself against the wall of the alley and prayed the darkness would keep me covered.

Suddenly there was a scream. A child’s scream. I moved towards the end of the alley and peeked out. I saw one of the Faeris had a small child in his grasp. As my face appeared around the corner I saw a Faeri aim his bow at me. I quickly ducked back out of sight and an arrow ricocheted off the corner of the building.

“Let’s see if you will respect the words you just said!” a voice shouted, “About defending these people… these humans with your life.” There was a dark, angry bout of laughter from the Faeris and a distraught sob from the buildings. I glanced around the corner again and more bows were loaded, aiming at me. “Hand yourself over, or I will kill this child, here and now.” I stepped cautiously out into the open, loading my own bow as I walked. “No, my baby girl!” a woman’s voice shrieked, distraught, “No, please! Please, don’t!”

“Silence!’ a Faeri snarled and with a snap of his fingers a bow swivelled and faced a young woman. Silence settled over the area. The small girl looked at me with wild messy locks and a grimy face. She looked just as frightened as I had on the night my parents had died. My resolve melted. I couldn’t let them kill her… I couldn’t.

“Fine, you win.” I snarled, relaxing the string on the bow and placing both arrow and bow back on my shoulders. I raised my hands over my head.. Two Guards stepped towards me and clapped my wrists in iron. “Now let her go.” I said darkly, staring pointedly at the girl. The commanding Faeri gave me a nasty smirk and snapped his fingers again. The mother dropped at the same time as her daughter as two arrows were released.