Keira's Fire

Chapter 3

My father returned from that trip in only three days. My delight at having him home so soon lasted just long enough for him to announce that our people were going to war and that he'd be leaving right away again. As would Ian, who was nearly eighteen.

I was crushed that they would be gone for probably a very long time, and I was afraid to admit being terrified that my father might be gone forever. Papa was so wise and strong and skilled at everything, I couldn't imagine someone ever being able to harm him.

I knew essentially nothing of politics, but it quickly became apparent that the benevolent kings from the story were no more. Papa explained that the High King was a greedy man who felt entitled to our land and plenty of money in the form of taxes. Those taxes were in addition to the amount already required of our own king. The High King felt that it was his right to be able to draft the young men from all over the land into his military so that he would be better prepared for foreign wars he wished to wage for conquest of even more land, money, and power. Papa said the king also thought he should be able to require young women of his choosing to be brought to his court. I didn't understand why that would be a bad thing. It sounded like a dream come true for Cecily. But the look that passed between my parents when Papa said it told me it was anything but good.

And so, two days later my father and brother, along with the other able-bodied men of the village, left to wage war on the High King. I had no way of knowing then, and Papa's confidence gave no indication, but it was a war our people were ill prepared for. If all of the kingdoms would have united against the High King, he wouldn't have been able to demand anything from us that our own kings didn't also agree to. But the land was divided. Some of the kings weren't interested in conflict and, as the High King's mandates wouldn't affect them personally, they didn't bother to object. They decided it was the lesser of the evils when compared with war. The kings who objected didn't have the resources alone to outright refuse for us all since the High King's kingdom was larger and much more militarily stable.

Our village and many others trained boys to fight but they couldn't be considered a real army. And they were no match for the military might of the High King.

Perhaps we still would have had a chance if all of the people would have united despite the absence of their king's influence. Unfortunately, many had no desire to stand with the rest of us. Particularly those with money were dissuaded easily with promises of favors and being granted impunity on their sons and daughters for a price.

Although not the poorest village, ours was not one of great wealth, and our people would have no such option. Thanks to Papa's many skills and hard work, our family was probably one of the most wealthy in the area, but we still had no hope of coming up with the sums the High King would require for such impunity. It remained to be seen if we could even afford the taxes.

Our people fought bravely and, considering the odds, it was commendable that they lasted as long as they did. But within six months, our men were slaughtered mercilessly. The High King was so outraged that the people would dare rise against him, he allowed no one who fought to live.

We only learned this information because Jeremy, against my mother's wishes, decided he could wait no longer to join the fighting. He came upon the last conflict and, from a tree in the distance, watched unseen by the enemy as they murdered every last one of our men. Even the ones who surrendered and begged for mercy. Jeremy said he couldn't stand to watch, but that he was paralyzed with fear until the army had gone.

I never saw my mother so withdrawn before, not that I could blame her. But I was already heartbroken over the loss of my father and Ian, and I was frightened of what was to come. My mother's reaction only fueled my fears and sadness.