ON HOLD (EDITING) Rise of the Dragons: Beginning

Chapter 11

I broke out of the treeline, and skidded to a halt at the border of the middle of the village. My eyes widened at the scene before me. There were villagers running everywhere, fear evident on their faces. Soliders marched through the village, swords glittering in their hands, as the pale sun glimmered off them. 

Screams, cries, and shouts filled my ears. At some houses stood families, blocking the entrance to their houses from the soliders, who waved their swords menacingly at them with harsh, unyeilding expressions on their faces. 

My eyes zoned in on one of the houses, and narrowed with recognition and anger. Liam was standing in front the door to his small house, clutching a sword in his hands, his face grim and determined. His little sister of five, Isabel, was crying behind him, clutching his leg. Liam stood defensively in front of her and his house, blocking them from the two soliders in front of them.

I grasped my sword tighter and strode towards them, anger boiling inside of me. As I got closer I could hear what was happening. "Move and you won't get hurt, boy!" One of the soliders boomed, threateningly.

"What do you want?" Liam asked, not budging. "We haven't done anything wrong."

"That's none of your buisness boy!" The other solider sneered. "Now MOVE!"

I saw Liam set his jaw, and knew that he wasn't going to back down. " No!" Pride swelled up inside of me at Liam's bravery.

"I warned you!" Smriked one of the soliders, and lifted his sword, swinging it down towards Liams' shoulder. 

Liam brought his sword up and they collided in a shower of sparks. Isabel cried out, burying her face in Liams' leg. The anger inside of me turned to rage, as I saw the other solider raise his sword while Liam was distracted. 

As he brought it down, I leapt in next to Liam and raised my sword to meet the one arcing towards Liams' chest. Pain exploded in my healing wrist, as the swords connected, but I gritted my teeth, and using a move Uncle Hetray had taught me, circled his sword with my own and pulled my sword out of the parry. 

I heard Liam grunt next to me as he pushed the soliders sword off his. He glanced at me, his lazy smile playing on his lips, despite our situation. "Lyra." He acknowledged me warmly. 

I returned his smile, before lunging forward in an attempt to disarm the solider in front of me. I didn't work. He brought his sword up and away, before swiping at my exposed chest. I barely managed to block his sword before it hit my chest, and the impact slammed my teeth together. 

I arced my sword towards his chest, fully aware that he would parry it before it connected, but that wasn't my intent. As he brought his sword up, I yanked mine back, and with lightening fast reflexes, twisted and kicked at his chest.

I saw the suprise on his face, an instant before my foot connected. He staggered back with a cry and dropped his sword. As it clattered on the floor,I swiped at his legs with my right foot, knocking them out from under him. 

He tumbled onto the ground with a loud oomph. Suddenly, I felt a hand grab my left wrist and yank me back. Liam. I stumbled, and almost fell, but he wrapped a hand around my waist, steadying me. My eyes widened as a sword swung harmlessly through the spot I'd been standing in only moments ago. 

The hands disappeared and Liam stepped beside me. He swooped down towards the solider I'd knocked down. Isabel stumbled after him, crying soft hiccuping sobs, but I stopped her, picking her up. She screamed and flailed in my arms, until she realised it was me. 

"Its okay. Its going to be okay." I murmered urgently to her. "Can you stay over there for me?" I pointed to a spot beside the door and she nodded, tears running down her face. 

I turned and saw Liam slam the hilt of his sword into the mans head, knocking him out. My breathing quickened, as I saw the other soilder swinging his sword straight towards Liams back. 

"No!" I screamed, and lauched myself at Liam. I hit his body and knocked us both out of the way. We tumbled on the floor, and I ended up lying a few meters away on my side. Liam was lying, slightly dazed, on his back. 

My eyes widended in horror as the mans' sword followed through on its blow. But Liam wasn't there anymore, the other solider was. I gasped in horror, as the sword sliced through the mans' side and buried itself in the ground under him.

I was frozen in shock, as dark blood spread across the mans uniform and across the ground near his side. He was well and truly dead. 

The other solider was frozen, not believing what he'd just done. After a few seconds, he seemed to shake himself out of the stupor, and picked up his dead comrades' sword. I was frozen, straing at the dead solider. Liams' cry snapped me out of my daze and my head snapped up. 

The other solider was stalking towards a frozen Isabel, sword raised, and a dangerous expression on his face. Liam was scrambling desperately to his feet, but he wouldn't make it to her, before the solider did. 

I moved without really feeling it. I shot to my feet, the bow in one hand and the other yanking an arrow out of my quiver. I nocked the arrow as the solider raised his sword at Isabel who was sobbing for Liam. 

Liam who was running towards his sister but wouldn't make it in time. My hand pulled the aroow back and leveled it at the solider. The solider brought the sword downwards, towards Isabels' neck and I let the arrow fly. 

It whistled throught the air and embedded itself in the soliders back, excatly where his heart was. A perfect shot. 

The solider froze midstroke and made a strange, strangled noise in the back of his throat. His hand fell limply to his side, the sword falling out of numb fingers. He collapsed forward onto his knees, making a rasping, choking sound. 

Then he falls back, his knees folded under him, the arrow pushed up till it was poking out of his chest from the momentum of the solider falling onto his back.

My hands fall to my sides and a gasp finds its' way out of my mouth. I'm staring numbly at the solider, who's eyes are wide and staring up at nothing. A look of horror forever frozen on his face. I killed him. I killed him. I words reverbrate in my mind. 

"Lyra." A soft voice, brings me back to reality.

I look up at Liam. Isabel is clutched in his arms, and he is straing at me with his bright blue eyes. "i killed him." I whisper, guilt and shock in my voice. 

Suddenly Liams arms are around me. Isabel is crushed between us, her hands around Liams' neck. "Thank you." he murmered feverently in my ear. "Thay you for saving her. Thank you Lyra." 

I ringing in my ears disappears. Reality takes over and reason washes over me. I killed him to save Isabel. I shot him to save Isabel.  It's okay. It's okay.

"Your welcome." I breath, my voice steady and strong. We let go of each other. There are sounds of fighting and screaming all around us. "Liam, where's you mum?" I ask urgently, taking in all of the action around us.

"She went to get some water, and the screams started about 5 minutes later." He spoke, steadily, but heir was an edge to his voice. He was worried about his mum.

"Liam go find your mum." I ordered glancing at the direction the well was in. "Take Isabel with you."

"Where are you going to go?" He asked worredily 

"To find Kayla." I swallowed. Her mum had gone to the mill for a few days, so it was just her and her little brother of 4, Robin. She needed me more than Uncle Hetray right now. Uncle could take care of himself. She had herself and her brother to protect. 

He nodded understanding in his eyes. "Okay. Stay safe Lyra." 

I sling my bow over my back and pull out my sword. Grasping it firmly, I strode purposefully towards Kayla's house.