Vain: A Kingdom In Flames

Chapter 22: Escaping My Brothers Grasp. Twice.

          As I sleep, I cant help but think of the irony. This will be the second time I’ve escaped from Varock. We are awoken by the rapid knocks on the door. Through the weeks, we have been meeting at the chapel at different times. Today there will be a feast, ‘in celebration of so many seeing the true light.’ We will all meet shortly after we are awoken. The priest is to be knocked out inside his home om the other side of the city, by Cameron, who snuck out earlier tonight. He should be waiting behind the preist’s house. Only this side of town is awoken early, the other side is allowed to sleep without fear of meetings of rebellion. I am just about to exit with Jerimiah when a guard bursts in the door.

          “Alright peasant, time for a sear-“ He stops. “What is this?!” He points under the bed to the dead guard lying, then up at me. “And who is this?!”

          We pull our swords at the same time and I say, “You know who I am.”

          I swing my sword and the last thing that exits his mouth is my name, “King Danny Vain!” He falls to the floor and I look to Jeremiah.

          “We have to get to that chapel before he is found!” He nods and I tuck my sword behind my cloak and I, Jerimiah and his sons make our way to the chapel. On the way we are stopped by a guard. He looks at Jeremiah. 

          "You have a problem my friend?"

          "No sir."

          "Oh but I think you do!"

          "No sir, I don't," he says timidly.

          "Your face is far to close to where I want to hit!" He says this as he hits Jerimiah. He falls to the ground, and before I can retaliate, several more guards come from the ally way.

          "You don't want to do that, son," one says.

          Another says, "The law says we can kill you all if you resist." He shoves me, and just to patronize I fall. They begins kicking Jeremiah and begin laughing. When they are done they spit on us both, and despite my boiling anger I leave it alone. The children had ran behind a building in fear, but have now returned to check on their father. The middle aged man rises, surprisingly tough, and grabs my arm to help me up! In my chock I even let him. We continue to the chapel, despite his wincing. He his pretty tough for his age. I knew he was strong, he works in a lumber yard, but I didn't know he could take a hit, or several! When we get there I see Cameron, but what I also see is disheartening. Cameron enters the chapel, but at least fifteen guards surround the place. I get in and we all sit. We wait and wait as everyone comes in and finally a guard pokes his head.

          “Hey, where is the priest?!”

          A man rises and says, “We don’t know, he isn''t here yet.”

          In a stroke of genius Cameron says, “May we gather to pray for our priest? I fear he may of met the same fate our last priest has!” The guard agrees but says, “I’ll send someone to check on him.”

          We all gather and when we are vary close I say, “Ok, here's the plan, we have to be gone before the priest is found, we will brake this window. When we escape, stay as close to the wall as possible. When the guards on the wall look over, there's a less chance they will see you.”