The Sleeping City

Chapter Six: Burning Memory

"We're surrounded! Divide and conquer! Elders to the enemies in the trees! Everyone else protect the village!" My dad shouted over the screams; he was standing now, sword in hand. His face was as stern as ever, and even now those running by gave him a look of admiration. He was their brave leader giving the orders they needed as flaming arrows began to rain from the skies. I was probably the only one who noticed the fear in his eyes.

He kept shouting orders and reflecting arrows as they came. He didn't look at me, but he began to make his way towards me. I saw a man standing on the roof behind my father I tried to warn him but there was no time, the man was already getting his bow ready. I fumbled for a knife from my belt and threw it at him. The man fell back instantly, out of sight.

Father saw what I did and stared at me for a moment with a proud look before pushing my sword into my hands.

"Take your mother's sword and go Eresse. They're here for you. You must go before they find you."

"What do you mean they're here for me?" I was confused, why would they attack my village for me?

"No time for that!" He said cutting another arrow in half and running towards the trees. He told me to stick close to him.

I had seen duels between the elders before but watching them fighting now was completely different. To be an elder you had to pass all of the villages training, and even then only those who were handpicked by the head could become one.

Their movements were fluid, and their lashes were without hesitation. The scene in front of me unfolded in all-out chaos, but even between the arrows and the burning trees, I saw a man covered in ash jump between two trees and strike down an archer with his sword.

Mother once told me the best things would look the most beautiful when they burned. I never understood that until now.

I looked back at my burning home. Fire consumed everything I had ever known and loved. It even engulfed the sky itself.

"Pay attention!" Father yelled as he blocked an arrow that was about to hit me. It brought me back to reality, and we continued to run towards the trees.

"Wait! Cora! I almost forgot about Cora! She's in our house. Our house is in flames, and we have to go back for her." I began to run back, but father grabbed my arm.

"You don't understand Eresse. They are looking for you! The sooner you leave, the sooner they will figure out that what they are searching for isn't here. I will save her. You have my word. But you must go first." Father said. At that, I nodded my head and speed towards the trees. Years of training together made Father and me two sides of the same blade. Our moves complemented each other and step we took was coordinated with the other.

We watched each other's blindsides as we reached the forest and arrows began to come from all directions. We slashed at the ones that were sure to hit. I felt Father grab the back of my gear and prepared to be thrown. He threw me towards a man standing on a thick branch on a tree in our path. The man let go of his bow and reached for an axe at his side but he was too slow and I cut him down. Father caught me and we continued to run.

We were almost to the tree line when my side began to burn; it was suddenly much harder to move. I put my hand on my side and felt the warm wetness immediately. The arrow had only grazed me, but it had cut deep.

I wondered why I hadn't even heard it hit until I looked up and saw it out of my father's back. He had stopped running too, and he turned to look at me. He had blood in the corner of his mouth, and in the light of the flames behind me, I saw his now pale face.

"You go on, boy. This is as far as I can go. I'll return to our village and stop them." He said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Father there's an arrow...No," I said and turned.