The Desolation of Light

Chapter 13~ We leave at Dusk

                                     Chapter 13~ We leave at Dusk

        A smug expression was plastered to Kovoth's face as he scanned the area around him and the huddled crowds below. To Wite, he resembled an arrogant king perched on a golden throne, or some haughty nobleman draped in the finest line of furs, calmly staring out his window at the starving peasants outside. There wasn't a sign of sympathy or concern on his face that should have been there for a leader. There wasn't even remotely a hint of concern. No, Wite was disgusted that someone in Kovoth's position could be practically beaming while looking down into the haunted, injured eyes of the villagers. These were people that had lost their homes, families! Husbands, wives and children. They had been attack, injured; their safety and lives had been brutally wrenched from them, yet here Kovoth had the nerve to act as if nothing had happened.

          Without even thinking, Wite balled his hands into fists. He could feel his nails stabbing into his skin but all he cared about was what Kovoth was about to say to those poor, broken people.

          "Fellows!" Kovoth stepped forward on the mountain and brought his hands out in a broad gesture to the villagers. A few stepped back as timber tumbled down the side of the mound. "We have all suffered a tragic lost. We were attacked! Cast out! Forced to live in these desolate caves in the mountains as if we're nothing more than fearful animals."

          "Hey!" A few Beast-tamers crossed their arms at his remark, and a nearby mountain lion growled from its place next to its Tamer.

          Kovoth smirked. "Well… most of us anyway." He ignored the grumble that followed. "We deserve better than this. We're not a group of cowering wretches. We shouldn't have to live like this, and we won't! I won't allow it." He watched the crowd below him as if daring someone to object. There was a chorus of mumbles, but when no one spoke, he simply nodded and continued his speech. "You see, I am tired of living as if the sky will fall tomorrow. If there's going to be another attack, then we're going to fight! We're not going to sit here like a dumb group of cattle waiting to be picked off."

          "And how you suppose we do that, wise guy?" Wite didn't recognize the man who stepped forward, but he was clearly one of the villagers. "If you hadn't noticed there's probably only two or three dozen people left alive. Most are injured and even more have never picked up a weapon in their life! Do you suppose we all just stay here and learn to wield a sword; while those… those.. creatures come raining down on us at any moment? Far lot of luck that did for the rest of your soldiers. Just as many as them fell and they actually could fight."Several of the villagers were nodding in agreement to the man's words and even Wite had to admit he spoke sense. These people wouldn't be able to fight. He could tell that just by looking at them. Bandages were wrapped around many of the villagers' bodies. Others carried crutches or had to lean on the other villagers for support. While some were still bleeding from the damage they had sustained. There were old men and woman grouped near the back. They wouldn't be able to fight. Neither would the huddled children next to him be able to take on a dragon. Kovoth's idea was suicide! He would end up getting them all killed!

          "Yeah!" Other people were joining in, spurred on by the man's brave words. "Why are you in charge?" "What about the General?" "Where is he?" "He'd know what to do."

          Kovoth gritted his teeth in fury. "The General is dead," he hissed. Immediately a hush fell over the crowd. Wite felt as if the air had been knocked straight out of him. The General… was dead? Others cried out in horror, unable to believe the brutal truth.