The Unearthing (Book I of the Tebel Chronicles)

Chapter 14

The bleak weather persisted into the next day, coating the world in a foggy gloom as the group continued their journey with the mountains looming on their east side. Cyan guessed it was about noon when out of the fog, ahead of the travelers, emerged rows of large white windmills with tan-colored canvas sails, turning slowly in the wind. They were arranged just like houses, widely spaced houses, along a main street. Their shutters and windowsills were painted red or green and many had little window boxes filled with flowers. Cyan imagined that the people here led simple, tame lives given the lack of security in the area. A watchtower had been built a little way from the small town. As they passed under it, Cyan looked up but no watchman stood there. No security risks here then. She wished she could spend some time in this place and meet the people that lived such lives. Her three companions however seemed a little less at ease, and kept looking around as they approached the windmills.

'What do you think, Jess?' asked Kael. He wiped the mist off his face and looked around doubtfully.

'Odd. It seems the town's empty.'

'Unusual for the Iryn Millers not to have lookouts,' said Trey, looking up skeptically at the cloud cover that hung ominously above them. 'I wonder where they are.'

The group went silent as they approached the windmills that were swinging slowly in the cold wind. One of the windmills had chimes on its patio that were ringing rapidly in the strong, chilly breeze. Cyan could hear the bangs of shutters that had been left open. She felt a sudden rush of nerves and unease replace her previous feelings of contentment. Something here was very wrong. She glanced at her companions and saw they all had their hands on their sword hilts. Cyan leant down and loosened the straps on the staff Kael had given her in Carmi. All remained eerily quiet as they made their way down the street.

It happened quickly. All around them men poured out from the windmills. In a flash Jesse, Kael and Trey had their swords drawn and were urging their horses away. Cyan lifted up her staff, but struggled to hold it up while clinging to Aphrachia's reins. She wished she were able to ride unaided by her hands like her male companions.

'Try not to kill them,' called Kael. 'They're only peasants.'

'Then why are they attacking us?' growled Jesse angrily.

Cyan noticed that most of the men didn't have weapons, although some brandished farm tools that looked like they could do as much damage as a sword. Nevertheless it was clear that they were not going to be able to unseat the riders and soon most of them fell back sullenly. Jesse grabbed an elderly man by the scruff of his coat and pulled him off the ground. 'Why did you attack us?' he asked savagely.

'Mercy, my lord! We act on Kotons orders. They said they'll leave our village untouched if we capture the girl with blue eyes for them,' he whined.

'So, you'd give up an innocent person's life to the Kotons?' said Kael scornfully.

'One life for many,' whined the man sourly. 'What's she to us with the safety of our children at stake?'

Jesse released him in disgust and the old man stumbled away. Cyan watched as the residents backed away still watching them shiftily. Jesse and Kael kept their swords drawn, circling on their horses. Trey sat quietly next to Cyan, his sword balanced on his thighs.

'What now?' Cyan asked.

'Without a doubt the Kotons are nearby,' replied Kael, steering Flannan to her other side. 'What do you think?' he addressed Jesse.

Jesse was watching the citizens warily. 'They must have known we wouldn't be defeated by Iryn Millers. I think they'd hoped the millers would lessen our numbers. That probably means there aren't enough of them to take us on with definite victory. That's the only reason I could see for them risking revealing themselves now rather than an ambush.'