Reclaiming England. (Nano Novel 2016)

Chapter one: Small beginnings.

       

The courtyard of the church was full, men shouting angrily. A young boy – perhaps fifteen years old – stood at the front of the church, before a large stone. A sword was stuck into the stone, the blade digging deep into the stone.

An older man stood behind the boy, a long beard flowing down his chest. He raised his arms again, and the crowd feel silent.

"You have already seen Arthur pull the sword from its stone. How many times must you see it before you agree he his your rightful king? But so that there is no doubt, is there anyone who wishes to attempt to pull the sword from the stone once more?"

As the man finished speaking, a line began to form. Many people, knights and kings alike all tried their hand, straining and heaving, pulling and lifting. But none could free the sword from its stone casing. More and more tried, trying with all their might, but none could.

Finally, the aged man stepped forward, a slight smile on his face.

"Enough. You cannot deny that it is impossible to lift the sword from the stone. One already has." He gestured to the young boy beside him, who stepped forward nervously. "Go ahead," he said softly.

Taking a deep breath, the boy placed his hand on the sword. He looked over the crowd, licking his lips slightly. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he closed his eyes and pulled.

He barely strained. The sword slid from the stone as if from a scabbard, and Arthur raised it above his head. Merlin stepped forward, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"You cannot deny him his right anymore! This is Arthur Pendragon, son of Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain!"

Maria crouched behind a rock, trying to calm her breathing. She tightened her grip on her gun, breathing in and out steadily. The sound of gunshots made her flinch, but she didn't move, didn't give away her position.

Wait. The signal would come soon. Her turn would come soon. She closed her dark eyes, taking another deep breath of the night air.

This was her first mission. If she could do it without any trouble, if she could help to rescue the young Underground fighter from the America base, she would have officially finished training.

Her part of the mission was simple, while the other men were distracting the soldiers; she was to slip in the back and find where the prisoner was kept. Then she had to free him, using the key that was stolen the day before. Simple, right?

The next sound from over the base was much louder, what sounded like a grenade. The phone on the ground beside her lit up, a single message flashing across it. Now.

Taking a final breath, she turned, looking over her shelter and making sure it was all clear. There was no one in sight, everyone was defending the small base from attack.

Snatching the phone up, Maria shoved it into her belt and sprinted across the field, her father's dog tags clinking together slightly. She made it to the wall – not much more than a low wooden shelf, and vaulted over it. She was in.

There were a few huts scattered around the base, one large in the centre – it looked like it used to be an observatory before the war – and a number of smaller, hastily constructed huts around it. The observatory seemed to be the main base, a silver of light seeping from the door.

A few forms rushed about the other end, shouting and firing guns. Ignoring them, the dark-skinned young girl darted to the centre building, slipping inside.