The Dawn Of Abnega

Chapter 1

ELLIO

      Nestled between the rolling, green hills that led to The Erenell Empire and the rigid mountains that framed the ocean to the northeast laid a busy village full of traveling merchants and lethal, merciless warriors. The village is the only place on the continent that rebels against The Erenell Empire so it is the first place my oldest friend, Ketha, says I will find refuge from the empire. Anywhere else and they would find me and punish me, so I must go, even if it is a place known for its brutality.

I am hesitant to seek shelter in a village I do not know much about besides it's cruelty, but I do not have much of a choice. Any other village under The Erenell Empire would give me up to the royals without mercy. This place, though—this very foreign and strange place—does not like the empire and would likely house me in spite of the royals, even if they do not favor me. I could likely win them over with the boyish charm I am often complimented about, but that is a worry I must prioritize later.

I can not get ahead of myself, I remind internally as I run. One panicked stride at a time.

A sharp arrow wizzes past my head, cutting through the air with a threatening whistle and I am reminded that going to Steelbury—or Abnega—is not up for debate, but rather, a means of survival. Even if it is a scary place full of ghoulish stories, my pursuers are already catching up to me.

"Stop there, Scoundrel! Surrender yourself for your crimes!" One of the men mounted on a steed behind me shouts as he chases me through the rolling, green hills.

I roll my eyes and hop the long, makeshift fence made of tree branches, separating the rest of the rolling hills from a herd of sheep grazing behind a barn. "Fucking dramatic much," I mutter under my breath as I push my legs ever-forward.

From the barn where I've unintentionally cornered the sheep, I can already hear the sounds of a busy market harmonizing with the heavy waves crashing against the shore to the northeast. The road leading into Steelbury stretches between myself and the ocean, giving way to my pursuers chase, but the fence kept their horses from getting too close to me so they can capture me. The fence didn't stop their arrows, however, which is still causing me the most trouble.

One of the men on his horse manages to fire an arrow directly into my shoulder blade, causing my body to slightly twist on impact before I reach to clench the wound. The weak leather armor I wear over my torso manages to take most of the blow from the arrow but it still pierced my flesh and is repeatedly scratching me as I run. Without slowing my pace, I rip the arrow mercilessly from my armor and toss it into the lush grass under my feet.

I am so close. Just a few more feet.

"Cease," a booming voice shouts up ahead.

I avert my eyes towards the dirt road by the cliff's edge, where two more men on horses unsheathed their swords and turned their steeds to block the road to Steelbury. I recognized them by their flashy attire of vibrantly dyed blue leather and blindingly shiny armor. They are royal knights from The Erenell Empire. Every village under Erenell's rule has royal knights patrolling the streets, for the village's safety and to make sure Erenell doesn't lose control of their land.

Which seems strange in this rebellious village. They do not like the empire. Surely, they can not enjoy having royal knights frolic through their territory. And even more, the royal knights must report Steelbury's gnarly antics to the royals, who would be aghast and faint if they heard the same stories I did growing up.

The merchants chasing me halt their own steeds at the sight of the royal knights ahead but I can't afford to stop. It isn't until the old merchants point towards me and draw the royal knights attention towards me that I realize I am also going to be in trouble. If they had just kept the conflict on the road, I maybe could have just slipped passed them and disappeared into the village. If only...