Book 1 ~ Chapter 1 ~ Runaway

One year after the finding of Ponia there came a prophecy. One that spoke of great pain and fear among the entire country. Above all, it spoke of evil in the village of Lim. As the centuries turned the foretelling was lost in the ages. Not a single soul knew of its existence.

 ~April 17, 1000~

Mila’s lips turned up into a smile. She felt heavy like wet clay. Since dawn she had wandered this way and that. Her legs were bare and chilled from the April air. Should I go back and get my stockings? That would take a full hour in itself… why did I leave them by the river?

“Wonder what the guards will think?”

she whispered. A silver tendril of fear slithered down and settled in her stomach. No time remained for thought. For fact the entire day had gone without thinking overmuch as to what rules she was breaking. What is wrong with me today? I just- no! I won’t think of things today. Her heart raced.Above Mila squatted the guard tower. It looked like a dog ready to pounce upon her.

From where she stood she could hear the sound of men murmuring. Their voices carried like that of an annoying bird. Mila stepped closer. She could almost touch the door.

“Your wife! Mine is the most demanding born, yep. Gave me three sons then four daughters. Not enough, eh?”
Mila winced. 
Is that what men speak about when they are alone and married? Do all men speak of how bad their wives are to them? Does Fam do that?

Mila lifted her hand. It trembled like a leaf about to fall. She tapped. The voices halted. Footsteps. They clunked as if the shoes were heavy boots. A lock unbolted. The near bald head of a guard poked out. He gasped.

“Who is it?”
a man said from the depths. Mila peeked over the shoulder of the door answerer. Three other men stood behind. Each looked much the same. Shaven heads, garbed with the three grass design of Ponia’s emblem. Mila took a deep breath. She tried to block out the smell of onions and garlic on the guard.

“Good day,”

she said. The guard stepped outside. Behind him the door creaked shut like a coffin’s lid.

“Can I help you, Mila?”

he asked. Mila sucked on her lip.

“May I look out from the top?”
she asked.

He frowned.

His frown is like the river’s path. It deepens his face.

“Are you allowed here?”
he asked.

Mila smiled. 

“Of course it’s fine! I’m just out for a bit of a holiday today.”

It is not a lie. I am on holiday… just without anyone knowing of it. The man still scowled at her. He had the look of one who had just swallowed a bee. Mila tried to keep a happy face. Her cheeks stung from the attempt.

“I don’t know. You being the queen’s daughter and all… a guard house isn’t fit for the likes of yourself.”

Mila pointed to her head.

“Am I wearing my crown or jewelery today?”
she asked.

He shook his head.

“Then I am no longer related to the queen! Today I am a citizen’s child.”

The man nodded to the door.

“I guess it’s okay. Just don’t touch anything.”

Mila nodded.

“I thank you, good sir!”

She hurried indoors. Out of the chill April air.

What if… no! I won’t even GO there! Mila nodded to the other guards. Each stared at her.

Their eyes bored into her back as she climbed the first stair case. Were they thinking impure thoughts of her? Mam says all guards do so to women. I wonder if it's true? Up. Up.  She halted. Her bottom lip dropped. Before her appeared to be a war chamber.

“Amazing,”

She whispered. Her finger ran across the table edge. The wood felt well worn. Yet- perhaps this was because the guards used it for meals- did they? How many fights had been planned upon this very table? Mila thought back over her history lessons. Many had tried to come through the West Pass in olden times. The West, where she was now, had become known as the place where enemies go. She heard footsteps below.

Her own feet scurried up the remaining flights like a mouse. On the roof top Mila breathed in. She could smell nothing but air. Pure air. The view alone was worth the trip. Her eyes could see for miles. Horse beats! Mila ducked behind the wall. 

Has Mam come to retrieve me? Or perhaps Fam has tired of me sneaking away like a thief in the night! Mila remained crouched. Her ears strained to hear. Below she could make out three horses with one man to each. Has Fam sent out the manor’s man servants? She waited.

Sir Tig of the West Guardhouse sighed. He could hear horses neighing outdoors.

“Come on, you two, come out with me. Torv, you stay here. Can’t leave that girl in here all alone.”

Tig heaved himself off the floor. Chess pieces flew in all directions. The wooden men clunked against the northern wall.

“Drat it! Now we’ll have to start all over when we return,”

Torv said.

He sighed.

“Probably some farmer begging for us to kill some wolves.”

Tig snatched Torv by the shoulder.

“Enough! Have you forgotten why we were put here? Shape up or I’ll shape you, and I promise you won’t like me doing it!” 

Torv backed up.

“Fine!”

Three, they left the safety of stone walls. None bothered to look out the window. Outside stood three Kar'lee. Each wearing mail shirts and kilts. Each bearing arms. Torv looked this way then that. Horses were gone. Only the three Kar'lee were seen.

“Can I help you?” Tig asked. He could smell beer on the breath of the man with red bandana.

“We come here to clear the way!”
he yelled.

 Tig shook his head.

“No way, I will not give in. You had best return home.”
Tig’s mind reeled. Was someone actually ATTACKING? The red hat man leaped forward. He shoved his sword into Tig’s face.
“We’ll fight for it!”
he screamed.

Tig drew his own weapons.

“And we will defend!”
he yelled. Torv and Jem drew with him.

“We fight unto death!”
Tig yelled.

He brought his sword up and met the red hat man’s strike.

Tig had no time to notice the other two. His entire body bent to destroying the man who dared challenge. Chaos reighned. Tig became aware that the men about him were losing. He himself noticed a trickle of blood making its way down his side. Had the sword pierced through his mail?
Tig had no time to look. The other man was upon him he could do nothing but fight.

“You will die and open the way for all of Ging to enter! Your sweet country will soon be overrun!”
the man screamed. Tig said nothing. His breath labored. His heart pattered. Almost stopped. 

The trickle gushed. He felt dizzy. I am going to die, he thought. His eyes flitted a moment up. He could just see the top of Mila’s head. Her eyes watching. He gasped. His eyes returned to the man opposing him. Failed. Failed at the only job ever given him. For a moment Tig did not see the presant.

“Your only job is to protect the heir. You do so by ensuring no enemy gets through. If someone gets through nobody is safe.” Tig gasped. He felt cold steel enter his body. His chain broke completely. He gasped. Body hunched over the sword protuding from his middle. His eyes rolled. He fell. On his back he looked up. Saw Mila’s terrified eyes. Her open mouth. How pretty she is, he thought. Then he was gone. No longer occupying his body.

Mila gasped. They were dead. All but the one charged with staying inside with her. He, she knew not where he was. Her heart beat so fast she could not tell one beat from another. Am I to die today? Will I be killed by these three brutal men? I wonder… do they kill quick or let you suffer? Mila grimaced. Below she could see the victors hovering over the bodies of the losers. They smiled.

Mila trembled and shook. She could hear them speaking.
“Check the floors. There might be more guards in there. Can’t have anyone telling tales.”
Mila stopped breathing. She lay flat upon the stone. Her cheek felt frozen against the stone. A pebble bore into her cheek. She heard a scream. “That’s all of them. No point looking more. I don’t hear any breathing or anything.”
She heard a whistle. Then horses.
“Back to camp! We must tell the captain. When you tell don’t add nothing. Facts only, or it’ll be your heads!”
Horse sounds faded as did the men. She waited. The sun moved along in the sky unaware of the evil act just preformed under its light. Mila stood. There was nothing more to see. Her eyes strayed from touching the dead guards. Her feet moved of themselves. Faster and faster. Down the flights. Around a corner. She nearly tripped in her attempt to get down as fast as she might.

On the ground floor the body of the man who had let her in lay. She gagged and vomited. The entire area smelled of blood. Outside it was no better. She looked to the way help lived.The closest trusted help was by the lake. A long road of at least three miles.

God must have brought me here today. He must have, so that I could bear the news to others. That must be why this has happened.

Mila ran. Soles in her slippers already thin frayed.

“I will make it,”she said.

Her path was clear. Forward, along the road. To the rich man’s manor then to home. The village of Lim must now an attack had been made. An army camp lay nearby ready to march.

This is war.