Journey to the North (On Hold)

Chapter 1 Everything Lost

Chapter 1 Everything Lost

I

"Hurry up Ana, please! Only bring with you the most essential things. I'll go for the jewels and gold. We might need that!" Anibal told his wife and he ran to the next room to take some valuable things with him. Gold and jewels could buy food... or freedom if needed.

Anibal heard a sharp female scream nearby followed by a thumping noise that came from the rear end of the house. Goose bumps raised all over his skin and a cold shiver ran up through his spine. The Al-mugāwir soldiers were already there! He needed to move fast and take his family out of the villa immediately. Anibal clutched one of the swords hanging from the wall. It was a valuable treasure, but its sharp blade will serve to kill a few Benimerines.

He left the alcove taking with him the gilded and luxurious sword and a sack with some gold and silver coins, important documents and fine jewelry. In the hall, he ran quickly to meet his wife Ana, his son Augusto and a few maids that helped carrying the few things they thought were needed. Anibal was sweating cold. Adrenaline mixed with fear pumped in his veins at a tremendous speed.

"¡Vámonos! Let's go! They are already here!" Anibal followed the women and his son out of the house. There was a cart waiting for them outside to take them out of Lérida. The servants in the front yard loaded a few more things and the riders awaited for the order to depart at any moment. Anibal, Ana, Augusto and the maids crossed the front door of the manor and swiftly mounted the chariot. "Hurry up! We must go now!" Anibal yelled. They were mounting the wagon when an approaching barking was heard. It was Amón, the Spanish greyhound puppy that came running out of the house.

"¡Papá es Amón! Amón! Amón!"Augusto jumped down the cart to grab the little dog.

Both Anibal and Ana reacted terrified. "Noooooo! Wait Augusto!"Anibal yelled, but the boy was already running after the dog.

"¡Augusto hijo, vuelve acá!" (Augusto, my son! Come Here!) Ana climbed down the chariot and ran to get her son who was already coming back with the puppy in hands.

All of the sudden, a tall and dark figure emerged from the shadows and grabbed little Augusto fiercely in his arms. The puppy fell on the floor. "Nooooooo! Augusto!" Both Anibal and Ana cried. Ana was running, getting almost there. Anibal sprinted after both when the imminent danger was revealed in the form of a Moor soldier. He needed to rescue his wife and captured son.

The maids' sharp cries were heard from the cart. The male servants ran to defend their masters armed with sticks and blades.
The Moor held little Augusto tight. Ana screamed and ran the faster than she could! Anibal followed her! Ana was finally a few steps away from Augusto, who cried and shivered, staring helplessly to his mom. The boy extended his arms to Ana. Ana was extending her arms to reach her son.
The dim light of the torches and the full moon reflected on the metal of the blade the man gripped. It took only a second for the mercenary to slide the blade on the tender skin of the boy's neck. A red line drew in Augusto's throat and his eyes went blank. The soldier threw the boy's inert body to the ground still bleeding to death.

"Augusto, nooooooo!" Ana kneeled first to check on Augusto. Nothing could be done. She was late for a second... Augusto was dead. Ana reacted overpowered by rage and revenge. She quickly was on her feet and attacked her son's murderer. She punched him and kicked him infuriated, but she didn't move a single hair on the strong man. The tall Moor dressed in chain armor contained Ana's furious attack. He laughed at the woman's futile and feeble strikes. With the same dagger that he had ended with innocent Augusto's life, the assassin pierced the woman's womb with a single stab. The dark skinned Moor slid out the dagger. Ana let out a voiceless cry. Her eyes went blank as she plummeted on the floor!
Anibal got there the second after his son had been assassinated and his wife badly injured. He quickly punched the man's face knocking him down to the floor. Anibal clutched the dagger thrown on the floor and stabbed repeatedly the Moor. Stab! Stab! Stab!
Blood splattered everywhere! Anibal's hands, clothes, face and chest were stained with the blood of the moor. "Master! Watch out! Behind you!" One of the servants warned his master who reacted immediately. There was another invader behind him ready to attack. He stood up with the dripping in blood dagger still in hand. Anibal faced the other mercenary, dagger gripped tightly aiming the moor soldier. The Spaniard blowed a first strike but he was hit on his head. Darkess enveloped him and he plummeted on the ground.

II

Anibal cried a sea of tears kneeling in front of the stakes where both his beloved wife and son had been hung by the bloody Moors after the raids in the villa. A dozen more dead bodies were displayed in one of the most horrific scenes. It was genocide... a holocaust that seemed to be taken out of one of the final chapters of the Book of the Revelations. The crows and vultures flew circles high in the cloudy sky. They perceived the smell of blood and rotting flesh. It would be a feast for the hideous birds.

Anibal was left alive... Why? He rather wished to be dead as well. The man had lost what he loved the most. Anibal grieved and he contemplated feeling demolished the hanging corpses of Ana and little Augusto. Their ghastly countenances revealed the vicious and brutal way in which they were killed... and Anibal wasn't able nothing to save them. They were murdered in front of him. A profound guilt and mourn invaded his whole existence. Sadness was not enough word to define what he felt. He threw himself on the ground and writhed in pain and sorrow. Reaching his wife's cold, bloody, and dirty feet he stroke them... and kissed them. He wished to revive her with every touch. Anibal prayed and prayed... then cursed the bastards that took his family away from him.

It was a chaos in the villa. Everything was reduced to ashes. The few servants and maids that survived the raids walked amongst the wreckages of the villa, taking with them the little they found. A few books, tapestries and furniture were everything left after the fire and destruction. The cart was to be loaded with all they could. After burying Ana and Augusto, Anibal would leave Lerida. It was not a safe place anymore. Greed, hate and war invaded his paradise home in the form of a terrible army, taking with it his most valuable belongings: Ana and Augusto.

*** This is the first chapter of an ambitious project. It's not going to be uploaded regularly because I want to take care of the details, time and places the story will take place. I want it to be the more accurate in terms of history as possible.

Here is where Anibal's journey to the north begin. This is the prequel of The Maiden's Song, the second of three books on Historical Fiction, adventure, fantasy and lots of romance. Let me know what you think. Leave your comments and votes if you liked it!