Ring of Power

Chapter 11: First Kill

     She was entering a small town far from her home. It had a low wall all around the exterior. There was a giant statue of a man in a fountain that stood in the centre of the market place. She assumed this man was the king who founded the land of Akayon.
​     She walked around the market, looking for nothing in particular when she came across a jewelry stand. She briefly looked at the jewelry and went to walk away, when she realized she noticed something familiar, a small ring.
​     She turned to look once again at the jewelry stand when all of a sudden a giant, black dragon landed in front of the stand. Its evil red eyes glared at her and she looked away, beginning to run. She felt warmth to her back and realized it was blowing fire at her. She quickly jumped behind a house to avoid being toasted.
​     She looked around the corner of the house to see the creature heading straight for her. She turned and ran as fast as she could, running through allies and behind houses.
​     She turned a corner and ran into another beast with red eyes. This one was a serpent and it was also black.   She turned to run, but the dragon was behind her. She was surrounded.
​     She didn't know what to do or how to escape. All of a sudden both beasts opened their mouths. She braced herself for the death she was about to receive. Then both creatures sent a stream of fire in her direction...
​
     Emerald woke shaking and sweaty. She hadn't had a nightmare since her father had died and dreams were few and far between as well. She put her hands over her beating heart and took deep breathes to calm herself down.
​She looked around and noticed it was still dark out. She looked to where Xavier was fast asleep, glad she hadn't woken him.
​     Once her breathing reached a more normal pace, she stood up, deciding to take a short walk to stop her body from shaking. She reached down to grab her weapons and slowly exited her fort.
​     She walked around the fort a few times and went down to the river to walk alongside the constantly rushing water. After her body seized its shaking, she was ready to go back and try to sleep once more.
​     On her way back, she heard a small rustling noise in the night. At first she thought it might have been an animal looking for food or a place to sleep, but when she heard it again (only closer and louder) she knew it was no woodland creature.
​     She slowly reached for her bow and walked to a near-by berry bush. She made it look like she was examining the berries that were trying to grow on the branches of the small bush. Once her bow was out and ready, she reached back for an arrow. She put the arrow on the bow string and pulled it slowly back.
​     She quickly turned around to face where the noise came from and went down on one knee, bow up and ready to fire. She waited there in silence, ready to shoot anything that came out of those bushes.
​     Then the bushes moved and Pyramus stepped out in front of her with his hands up, indicating that he didn't want her to shoot him. This didn't affect Emerald; she kept her bow up and at the ready, she didn't trust him one bit. She knew why he was here but she wouldn't let him beat her this time.
​     Before he could say a word, Emerald released the arrow and sent it flying toward Pyramus. She ignored the fact that his arms were up to indicate he was innocent, she knew better than that.
​     The arrow flew through the air and hit Pyramus. Emerald moved so fast he had no idea what was going on until the arrow lodged itself in his shoulder. Pyramus shouted in pain and reached toward the arrow, he was lucky she missed his heart.
​     While he was screaming and getting help, Emerald ran as fast as she could to her main fort. When she entered, she noticed Xavier was awake and staring at her with worry. Before he could say a word, she put a finger to her lips telling him to stay quiet.
​Once she confirmed the coast was clear, She looked toward Xavier, knowing he wasn't happy.
​     "What happened?!?!" He yelled. He already guessed it was the Guard Patrol, he knew Pyramus's voice (or in this case scream) anywhere.
​     "I went for a walk and was found by the Guard Patrol." She replied.
​     "The old man warned you they were going to be looking for you and you still left the fort?!?! What is wrong with you?!?!"
​     "I know... I'm sorry. Just calm down, please!"
​     Xavier took a couple deep breathes and calmed himself down.
     ​"I'm sorry." He said.
​     There was a long pause; both of them were looking in opposite directions.
     ​"What did you do to Pyramus?" He finally asked.
     ​"Um... well... do you really want to know?" She asked hesitantly, not wanting to tell him for fear that he would get angry once more.
     "Yes." He replied slowly, now knowing it wasn't a good thing.
     "I shot him in the shoulder."
"What?!?! Now he's going to hate you even more!!"
     "I know, but I couldn't get captured again!"
     He looked at her and saw the fear and hurt in her eyes. He knew how much it had mentally and physically hurt her.
     "I understand." He said smiling.         "Why were you out walking in the first place?"
     "I... I had a nightmare. I was scared and shaking so I went for a walk to calm down." She said.
     Xavier gave her a look of understanding. The sun was beginning to rise over the horizon and colour the once dark sky.
     "Sorry I woke you." Emerald said looking up at the rising sun and squinting at its brightness.
     Xavier just smiled.
     After the sun was fully visible in the sky, the two grabbed their weapons and set out to check the traps for the first time in about two days. They split up like usual, not knowing the Guard Patrol was out during the day now as well.
     Xavier walked through the dense underbrush on the forest floor, stumbling and tripping at times. It seemed like the brush was thicker than usual here. He pulled his dagger from his boot, quickly cutting the brush from his ankles and moving on.
     He continued to walk for another 10 minutes. He started to look through the dense brush for the familiar cage he had checked just days before.
     He finally stumbled upon one of the many traps he and Emerald put out to catch game. The old, rusted trap was in its usual spot, hidden deep in the dark brush. It was hidden in the brush to hopefully attract rabbits and possibly a few squirrels. He was surprised and upset to see that the cage was empty.   His heart dropped like a five pound weight was put into the bottom of it; rabbit was one of his favorite meals.   Out of all the cages, this one in particular caught the most game, he couldn't understand why it was empty.
     Suddenly he heard a loud rustling sound from behind. Xavier quickly turned, dropping his hand immediately to his sword hilt, and found himself staring straight into the grey eyes of Langer and his morning Guard Patrol.   They had found him by following his cut out path through the brush.

     Emerald walked through the dense brush, she knew not to cut the brush from her ankles because it would leave behind a distinct trail. She was in no hurry, well... she was a bit hungry, so she slowly crept through the forest.
     When she came across the narrow river, she followed it up stream until she arrived at a small waterfall. Behind the waterfall was a small opening, barely big enough for the trap she had hidden inside. She reached inside and pulled out the small metal cage. She was disappointed to find the cage empty. The small pieces of grass and berries she had put in the bottom a few days earlier were still in place, wet and hard from the water in the opening.
     Her heart was heavy as she returned the cage to its small home, refilling it with fresh berries and grass from the pack she had on her back. She slowly stood and started walking in the direction of the next trap, hidden not far from this one.
     She stopped in her tracks, hearing a scream from the other side of the wood. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but she could tell the voice definitely belonged to a young boy.
     She quickly moved through the trees toward the voice. As she got closer and the voice grew louder, she could hear what he was saying. At his words, she stopped dead in her tracks... it was Xavier and he was calling her name.
     "EMERALD!!" She heard him call.   After she realized it was him yelling, she snapped into action. She ran in the direction of his voice, fear stabbing at her heart, mind racing. Why would he be calling for her? What happened? Was he in danger or did he just find something hidden in the brush?
     She could tell by the tone of his voice that, sadly, it was not the latter of her thoughts.
     She sped through the forest, branches hitting her face and chest, heart racing as she started to worry.   Xavier had stopped yelling and she knew that was bad sign.
     She continued to run in the direction where his voice came from before, trying not to lose her footing. After what felt like an hour, she came to a spot filled with brush. She slowed and caught her breath, slowly walking through the dense brush. She noticed a spot where the brush was cut with what looked like a dagger. She knew instantly this is where Xavier was, he hated the brush getting wrapped around his ankles. She told him never to cut it, but it looks like he forgot that tip and it got him into trouble.
     She noticed the cage hidden under a large tangle of the dark brush. It had fresh berries and grass in it, just recently replenished. They were the same supplies she was carrying in her pack, meaning Xavier was not far from here.
     She noticed that the leaves in the bushes near-by were disturbed, like someone ran through them. She followed their path until she got to a small clearing. In it stood Xavier, surrounded by eight members of the Guard Patrol.
     The captain was holding Xavier by his short brown hair, tilting his head back and holding a small dagger under his chin. His face was covered in dirt, he must have been knocked to the ground after trying to run. Emerald saw a look of fear in his eyes as the man holding him whispered something in his ear.
     She had had enough of the Guard Patrol showing up and hurting her, her family, and now her only friend. They had gone too far, and she was going to stop them, once and for all.
     She pulled her long bow off her back where she tied it to keep it safe. Then she reached into her quiver and pulled out one of her purple-feathered arrows. She placed the arrow on the bowstring and pulled it back until her pointer finger touched the corner of her thin lips. She focused on her target and let the arrow fly.
     The arrow shot through the air with ease. Speeding toward its unknowing target, and finding its mark.
     Emerald watched as the arrow buried itself in Langer's chest. He never saw the arrow coming, he just stood there, a shocked look on his face. Xavier looked at Langer with a mixture of relief and horror. He recognized the purple feathers instantly.
     Langer looked at Xavier, mouth and eyes wide open in shock from the fatal blow. He dropped the dagger and it fell to the ground with a soft thud. He looked down at the arrow and reached for it, trying to pull it from his bloody chest. He never got the chance however, because at that moment his eyes closed and he fell to the brush covered ground never to rise again.
     The other members of the Guard Patrol just stood there in stunned silence, not knowing what they should do. What if they were next? Finally, they all turned and looked at each other, horror evident on their faces and in their panic-stricken eyes.
     Then, they all turned and ran for the village, not wanting to confront Pyramus and inform him of the murder, but not wanting to stick around in these woods either.