Post by Tyr on Apr 14, 2006 20:02:11 GMT -8
Chapter 1: Zieg of Elmeare
“Ziegenen, where in the Great Goddess’ name are you?!” a young woman in her early twenties hollered.
“Maya you know where that kit is,” another female, Daness said, “He’s probably off hunting again or just plain playing idiot with the cattle that old man Slon has fenced in.”
The one named Maya answered, “Probably the latter,” she sighed, “Da has been calling him all day so that they could start the hunt earlier and be home before dark.” She ran down the cottage stairs and paced towards the door.
Maya, fourth daughter of Baron Vann Jasson of Elmeare, has been looking for her younger brother all day. She, like all young women of the fief, has been a much laid back person all her life. Though of noble descent, she preferred to clothe herself with a dress made of dried cowhide, like most peasants, much to the dismay of her father. She is very well known in village, not just by the other young women, but also by the growing population of young men; mostly of noble birth themselves that come to their village to train under her father.
Maya continued down the stone path that leads to the farmlands of the fief. Elmeare is one of the larger fiefs that spread across the Kingdom of Ceires. Elmeare has, in its land, a large stone castle built for defenses against both bandits and pirates due to its location. Within the Castle of Elmeare, dozens and dozens of young men come to train as pages, squires and then knights. The person Maya is looking for right now is a fourth-year squire under the tutelage of their father.
As expected, Maya found her brother riding a pure black stallion on meadows. The young woman scratched her head in annoyance then yelled, “Ziegenen if you don’t come right now father is going to hold you back for another year in your training!”
The young man, known as Ziegenen nudged his horse towards his sister, “Maya how many times I have to tell you not to call me ‘Ziegenen’. You know how I hate that name.”
Maya just sighed and leaned at the picket fence, “Fine Zieg Da has been calling you all morning. He wants to start the hunt as early as possible so that you two could come home earlier.” She repeated the message.
Ziegenen, or Zieg as he wants to be called, is the youngest sibling in the Baron’s brood. At seventeen, he is now in his last days as a squire and is about to take the Ordeal of Knighthood to become a knight himself. He dropped the staff he’s been carrying and sighed, “Right now?! It’s too early, game is really plentiful this time of year and …” He fixed his blue-gray eyes at his sister, knowing that there’s no saying no to his hulking father. He slid his hand across his dark-brown hair and gave in. “Fine, tell him I’ll be there,” He then mumbled, “It’s really bothersome when your father is also your knight-master.”
Maya just crossed her light, pale arms across her chest, “Well you can’t choose who your knight-master is going to be. Then again you really don’t have a choice since it is only normal for the heir to study under his father.” She said in a matter-of-factly tone.
Zieg could only sigh. As the only son of Baron Vann, Zieg is undoubtedly the heir to his barony. The baron has almost given up when his fourth child came out a girl but in the end he finally got a male heir. Even though this was the case, being the youngest and only male in a brood of five is really hard on the laid back Zieg. But there’s no choice now is there, he thought; besides Zieg loves his sisters very much.
He dismounted his black stallion, named Darksun, and jumped across the picket fence. Zieg placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled. In thirty seconds flat, a large, white dog came and jumped through the fence just as his master did.
“Hey there Zip chasing rabbits?” Maya approached the dog and scratched the back of it head. Zieg has had Zip for as long as he can remember. His father said that Zip just appeared when Zieg was only four years of age and never left his side ever since. Zieg sometimes wonder why this pointy snout canine even gets old, he has been this limber for as long he could remember. The village healer said that it’s probably because Zip is a half-breed, the result of a union between a dog and a wolf. Zieg has to agree that his dog look more like a wolf than a domesticated canine but Zip has never been aggressive about anything, maybe except when on the hunt.
Thinking about the hunt made Zieg realize that he is not only late for his father’s summons but also with his chores as a squire, he kissed his older sister on the cheek as thanks and took off running with Zip in tow.
As he was walking down the streets of Elmeare, Zieg saw the usual vendors and fake mages that litter the streets. He just shrugged, knowing quite well that there’s no way that they’ll be able to get rid of those people that trick others to get money. Zieg looked at Zip and the dog only tilted his head as if he understood what he was thinking about. Zieg looked at the stand of a meat vendor, intent on buying some jerky for him and Zip to chew on, since they didn’t have breakfast earlier. As he was about to speak to the man that was the vendor, Zieg was slightly pushed. He looked behind him and was about to shout at the rude stranger who pushed him when he saw only a cloaked person. He could’ve sworn that Zip perked his ears in curiosity at the figure that has stop walking.
“Hey, thanks for bumping into me you…” Zieg started complaining but was interrupted.
“My apologies…” said and continued walking, Zieg was flabbergasted. Zip looked at his master and tilted his head. Zieg looked back at his companion and said, “She’s a woman.” The statement was quite true considering the person was at least a hand’s width shorter than he is. The woman turned a bit as if to look at him but turn back around at the last moment. Zieg could only make out a wisp of redish brown hair from under the tan cloak. Before Zieg could say anything else the woman strode away and disappeared between dozens of people that are walking down the dirt street.
“Hey sonny are you going to buy or what?” said the impatient meat vendor. Zieg looked as him and then glanced back towards the direction where the hooded woman went. “Stop daydreaming Zieg, it doesn’t look good on you.” The vendor grinned.
“You know that woman?” Zieg asked as he picked up some pieces of jerky and giving part of it to his partner. The vendor only nodded, “No never seen her around here. She’s probably a traveler.” Zieg nodded and gave a few copper coins to man.
Munching on a piece of dried, smoked meat he just bought, Zieg finally reached his home, Castle Elmeare. To a new visitor the castle would’ve looked like a haunted pile of rocks considering the building’s age, but to Zieg this is home. This is where he grew up and this where he is training to bring pride to his family. That is if his father doesn’t hold him off from graduating as a knight for the realm.
With Zip in tow, Zieg waved at the castle guards and went inside. Finding his way towards his father’s study, Zieg made a mental note to talk to the maids about cleaning the castle hallways. Dust has settled in everything the eye can see but then he didn’t really have to worry. Zieg wasn’t really the interior decorator of the castle.
Finally he arrived; Zieg knocked thrice and swung the oak doors that lead to the baron’s study. He immediately saw the hulking mass that was his father. Baron Vann Jasson of Elmeare is all but small. He towers over his son with his six feet five inches of legs and torso. His wide shoulder and powerful arms gave away his profession, a knight. The baron turned his gaze towards the opened door, his gray eyes full of irritation. He placed the book he’s holding back to a ten foot book shelf and said, “Where have you been boy? I have been looking all over for you.” His voice was deeper than bass giving him more commanding presence than he already has.
Zieg bowed slightly, “Sorry sir, I was checking on Darksun.” Although he was his father, the baron is still his knight-master and being rude would cost him further punishment. The baron tugged at his leather belt to raise his breeches to a more comfortable level and sighed, “Alright enough of that, let’s go. I could’ve just gone hunting myself but it will be a whole lot easier if I have one of the best game trackers in the fief.” Vann howled in laughter and swung his gigantic hand behind his son. Zieg abruptly took a forced step forward due to the force of his father’s pat.
“My lord just let me get my equipment and saddle Darksun.” Zieg immediately ran out and did just that, although he grumbled when he realized he had to go back where he came to get his horse. Zip followed him around as he always did. After fetching his black horse, Zieg went on strapping a short sword on his belt and a dagger in his boot. He also grabbed a long bow and a quiver of arrows, although he knew that he wasn’t going to use them. Zip looked at him and perked his ears. Zieg could wield any blade but when it comes to ranged weapons, he’s as good as a peasant trying to read and write. This didn’t stop him from trying though.
After gathering all his supplies, Zieg met his father near the castle gate, mounted on his own horse, Geldling. The large baron nodded his head and nudged his horse forward to a trot. Before Zieg could follow, he caught the sight of his older sisters on a window of the kitchen. They’re probably training with Maura, the cook. His oldest sister Lian looked out the window and waved at him, both for good luck and goodbye.
He nudged Darksun to follow his father. Soon enough they have left the city area of Elmeare and into the Cedar Forest. The woods have always been one of the most peculiar in the Kingdom of Ceires. As they ride under the canopy of the tall cedar trees and pine, Zieg has never felt smaller. The trees here it seemed didn’t stop growing. The older trees easily topped hundred feet and their trunks as wide as his horse was long. He couldn’t help but gape at them.
Zip was following Darksun’s every move, alert to the sound of game from the bushes. Zieg brought Darksun to a halt and jumped down from the saddle. He immediately scoured the ground for any hoof or paw prints that would indicate any sort of game. He found none. He nodded to his father only to get another nod as an answer. Zieg jumped up at Darksun once again and went deeper in the forest.
Around noon, father and son reached a spring that was conveniently in the middle of Cedar Woods. The baron decided to leave the horses there for a while and hunt on foot. Zieg motioned to Zip after he has tied Darksun’s reins on a nearby tree. The black stallion grazed pleasantly on the succulent grasses of the forest. Zieg fitted the quiver he was holding on his shoulder for easy access of arrows later on. He followed his father in the denser part of the forest, where elk and deer would likely rest during the warmer sun of midday.
Zieg couldn’t help but look at his father. He and the baron have never been really close, even though he was his only son. Zieg had heard the castle maids say that Vann wanted his son to grow on his own without the need of a father always telling him what to do. Sometimes he heard that his father resented him to an extent, blaming his birth for the death of his mother. The most attention he could get from his father would be this, hunting together but that was it.
The baron signaled him to look for more tracks, which Zieg was glad to do. Zip helped his master by looking for the scent of potential prey. For hours, their search was in vain. Zieg found the scenario weird. It was still spring and deer and elks should be plentiful. He asked his father, “My lord, it’s really peculiar…why aren’t there any signs of game?”
The baron stroked his wiry salt and pepper beard, “It seems that they’ve been gone for a while, as if…” He paused, “They’ve evacuated the woods.” He lowered his bow to his side and turned to his son. “Let’s try looking for them some more and if we don’t find any signs of deer when the sun’s almost down, we’ll retire for now.” Zieg readily agreed.
Sundown and still no sign of wildlife, even mice and birds were scarce. Zieg started to get worried. He could feel that there’s something amiss. It was as if there’s something that have scared all the animals in these great woods. He abruptly gazed at Zip then his father. Both seem uncomfortable with the situation. Zieg felt his palm tingling and his arm itching. Now there’s really something wrong, he could feel it. Zip suddenly perked his head towards the south, the same direction in which the fief was located. Zieg wanted to ask what was wrong but he decided against it. As if the dog would actually talk and say to him that there really is something wrong.
The baron decided to call it a day and motioned to his son to go back to camp. Zieg followed his father’s orders. They strapped all the equipment they have used to their respective horses and untied their reins. Zieg noticed that even Darksun was skittish.
He tried to calm the stallion down. Suddenly a bright light and loud explosion was heard. Zieg and Vann turned their heads towards where the loud sound came from and to their horror it came from the south, from the fief. They looked at each other and swiftly mounted their and galloped back towards the village.
Just as they are exiting the dense forest, Zieg and Vann saw their worst nightmare. Elmeare was burning. Zieg found himself paralyzed for a moment then angry the next. He kicked Darksun’s ribs so hard that the horse stood on his hind legs before executing the command. Vann followed his son without a moment’s hesitation.
Father and son entered the city gates. Fire roared at every direction. Dozens of peasants lay dead, burned. Zieg wanted to throw up what was remaining of the beef jerky in his gut to the ground. He couldn’t stand the stench of burning flesh. It was so choking that Zieg found his eyes water. Zip started looking around, unfazed by all that was happening. Zieg watched his dog for a moment. Zip dashed towards the direction of the castle. It finally dawned to him…his sisters are in trouble!
“Father…the castle!” He called out then kicked Darksun into a gallop. Baron Vann followed his son with his long sword unsheathed.
They entered the castle courtyard. Where there were once daffodils and tulips, there was flame. Aside from the roaring fire around him, Zieg could hear the sound of struggle from inside. He leaped down from Darksun, unsheathed his sword and kicked the door open. Inside he found a brute of a man trying to have his way with his sister, Maya. Maya on her part seem to have fought the man long enough, that she is drained and tired. Rage erupted inside Zieg’s chest and launched himself at the man. The man was tired too and the adrenaline pumped Zieg overpowered him easily, thrusting his sword against the man’s abdomen.
Maya held on her brother for dear life. Both scared and traumatized, she just buried her face on Zieg’s chest and sobbed. When Zieg asked where their other sisters are, she couldn’t even choke out the truth. Zieg decided against himself that it’s more important to take Maya somewhere safer.
As they stood up, Zieg heard another struggle, this time from outside. Carrying his sister in his arms they exited the castle. Maya has already fainted. Zeig found, to his relief that not all the peasants died and are brave enough to start dousing the flames from their houses.
His relief didn’t last long though. Another man, more of a slender build tackled him to the ground. He punched the man out of the way. As he stood up, Zieg found his father fighting two other men. Because of their clothing, Zieg decided that these low lives were bandits and from the way they fight they’re from the Krytall mountains. Zieg readied himself for opponents of his own. He turned around and found three men sneaking from the castle carrying sacks, of what he thought, containing gold and silver from the castle vault. They’re not just bandits but thieves as well.
Wielding his sword he dashed after them. The men dropped their loot and took him on. Zieg couldn’t remember another day that he was beaten worse than he was here. He swung his sword at them but the men were more limber than they looked. Even with his knight training, fighting four to one against men that obviously have more experience, this battle was a losing one. Zieg handled his own for only few minutes until his opponents have over powered him. One of the men, the slender one he faced earlier, tackled him to the ground. He watched hopelessly as other men took his father.
Baron Vann is a skilled knight but was beyond his prime. He has managed to kill some of the bandits but it seemed that a lot more are coming. Zieg tried to find a way to free himself from the bandit’s grasp to no avail. He watched helplessly as the band of bandits stabbed his father repeatedly. Baron Vann dropped to the ground moments later, never to rise again.
Zieg thought that he too would not make out of this attack alive. He silently lowered his head to the ground accepting defeat. The bandit that was holding him down grabbed a dagger from his belt and raised it, hoping to stab Zieg on the neck. Zieg braced himself for the impact but it never came.
He looked up to see Zip towering over the bandit and ripping out the man’s throat. He couldn’t believe what he saw. Zip’s coat not the white that it used to be but gleaming silver, he’s also far larger. Zieg could’ve sworn that his Zip wasn’t even half that size.
The bandits attacked the hybrid all at once. Zip killed half of them with tooth and claw. Zieg also joined in the fight, taking on two of the antagonists. One by one, the bandits fell. Zieg could’ve jumped in victory, although that wasn’t the case. Zip is clearly waning, he’s growing smaller and smaller by the minute. Zieg ran towards his savior but was stopped by an arrow that pierced his shoulder.
Before he could turn to the direction the arrow came from, two, then three arrows lodged themselves in Zip’s torso. The white hybrid fell to the ground and transformed back to him original form.
Before Zieg could run towards his companion, he heard his sisters’ screams closing in from the castle doors. Two men have his sisters, Lian and Shane, on their shoulders. The two women’s eyes were blinded by pieces of cloth. Zieg gritted his teeth, “That’s enough!” he screamed. Blinded by rage and sorrow he grabbed his sword once again and charged at the bandits. All he could see was them and his sisters. Nothing else mattered. Zieg raised his weapon, aiming it to the bandit’s head, when he stopped dead.
He dropped the sword when he felt something puncturing his back. Two more arrows are lodged on his back when he finally got to turn around. A cloaked figure stood in the fire, seemingly unaffected by the burning flames. The person was clutching a long bow and strung on it was another arrow. Zieg engraved the view in his memory. Fires burning, the wind carried sparks of orange and red westward. The cloaked person aimed the bow directly at him with blazing orange eyes and let the arrow fly. The projectile hit Zieg right on the chest exactly where, didn’t know.
Zieg took the hit and grimaced, that last arrow has more power into it than the others, making him step back at impact. His vision blurred as the wind blew away the hood from the archer’s face. All Zieg could remember was the lady archer’s fiery orange eyes and her voice as she commanded the bandits to let the women go, after that everything went black.
“Ziegenen, where in the Great Goddess’ name are you?!” a young woman in her early twenties hollered.
“Maya you know where that kit is,” another female, Daness said, “He’s probably off hunting again or just plain playing idiot with the cattle that old man Slon has fenced in.”
The one named Maya answered, “Probably the latter,” she sighed, “Da has been calling him all day so that they could start the hunt earlier and be home before dark.” She ran down the cottage stairs and paced towards the door.
Maya, fourth daughter of Baron Vann Jasson of Elmeare, has been looking for her younger brother all day. She, like all young women of the fief, has been a much laid back person all her life. Though of noble descent, she preferred to clothe herself with a dress made of dried cowhide, like most peasants, much to the dismay of her father. She is very well known in village, not just by the other young women, but also by the growing population of young men; mostly of noble birth themselves that come to their village to train under her father.
Maya continued down the stone path that leads to the farmlands of the fief. Elmeare is one of the larger fiefs that spread across the Kingdom of Ceires. Elmeare has, in its land, a large stone castle built for defenses against both bandits and pirates due to its location. Within the Castle of Elmeare, dozens and dozens of young men come to train as pages, squires and then knights. The person Maya is looking for right now is a fourth-year squire under the tutelage of their father.
As expected, Maya found her brother riding a pure black stallion on meadows. The young woman scratched her head in annoyance then yelled, “Ziegenen if you don’t come right now father is going to hold you back for another year in your training!”
The young man, known as Ziegenen nudged his horse towards his sister, “Maya how many times I have to tell you not to call me ‘Ziegenen’. You know how I hate that name.”
Maya just sighed and leaned at the picket fence, “Fine Zieg Da has been calling you all morning. He wants to start the hunt as early as possible so that you two could come home earlier.” She repeated the message.
Ziegenen, or Zieg as he wants to be called, is the youngest sibling in the Baron’s brood. At seventeen, he is now in his last days as a squire and is about to take the Ordeal of Knighthood to become a knight himself. He dropped the staff he’s been carrying and sighed, “Right now?! It’s too early, game is really plentiful this time of year and …” He fixed his blue-gray eyes at his sister, knowing that there’s no saying no to his hulking father. He slid his hand across his dark-brown hair and gave in. “Fine, tell him I’ll be there,” He then mumbled, “It’s really bothersome when your father is also your knight-master.”
Maya just crossed her light, pale arms across her chest, “Well you can’t choose who your knight-master is going to be. Then again you really don’t have a choice since it is only normal for the heir to study under his father.” She said in a matter-of-factly tone.
Zieg could only sigh. As the only son of Baron Vann, Zieg is undoubtedly the heir to his barony. The baron has almost given up when his fourth child came out a girl but in the end he finally got a male heir. Even though this was the case, being the youngest and only male in a brood of five is really hard on the laid back Zieg. But there’s no choice now is there, he thought; besides Zieg loves his sisters very much.
He dismounted his black stallion, named Darksun, and jumped across the picket fence. Zieg placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled. In thirty seconds flat, a large, white dog came and jumped through the fence just as his master did.
“Hey there Zip chasing rabbits?” Maya approached the dog and scratched the back of it head. Zieg has had Zip for as long as he can remember. His father said that Zip just appeared when Zieg was only four years of age and never left his side ever since. Zieg sometimes wonder why this pointy snout canine even gets old, he has been this limber for as long he could remember. The village healer said that it’s probably because Zip is a half-breed, the result of a union between a dog and a wolf. Zieg has to agree that his dog look more like a wolf than a domesticated canine but Zip has never been aggressive about anything, maybe except when on the hunt.
Thinking about the hunt made Zieg realize that he is not only late for his father’s summons but also with his chores as a squire, he kissed his older sister on the cheek as thanks and took off running with Zip in tow.
As he was walking down the streets of Elmeare, Zieg saw the usual vendors and fake mages that litter the streets. He just shrugged, knowing quite well that there’s no way that they’ll be able to get rid of those people that trick others to get money. Zieg looked at Zip and the dog only tilted his head as if he understood what he was thinking about. Zieg looked at the stand of a meat vendor, intent on buying some jerky for him and Zip to chew on, since they didn’t have breakfast earlier. As he was about to speak to the man that was the vendor, Zieg was slightly pushed. He looked behind him and was about to shout at the rude stranger who pushed him when he saw only a cloaked person. He could’ve sworn that Zip perked his ears in curiosity at the figure that has stop walking.
“Hey, thanks for bumping into me you…” Zieg started complaining but was interrupted.
“My apologies…” said and continued walking, Zieg was flabbergasted. Zip looked at his master and tilted his head. Zieg looked back at his companion and said, “She’s a woman.” The statement was quite true considering the person was at least a hand’s width shorter than he is. The woman turned a bit as if to look at him but turn back around at the last moment. Zieg could only make out a wisp of redish brown hair from under the tan cloak. Before Zieg could say anything else the woman strode away and disappeared between dozens of people that are walking down the dirt street.
“Hey sonny are you going to buy or what?” said the impatient meat vendor. Zieg looked as him and then glanced back towards the direction where the hooded woman went. “Stop daydreaming Zieg, it doesn’t look good on you.” The vendor grinned.
“You know that woman?” Zieg asked as he picked up some pieces of jerky and giving part of it to his partner. The vendor only nodded, “No never seen her around here. She’s probably a traveler.” Zieg nodded and gave a few copper coins to man.
Munching on a piece of dried, smoked meat he just bought, Zieg finally reached his home, Castle Elmeare. To a new visitor the castle would’ve looked like a haunted pile of rocks considering the building’s age, but to Zieg this is home. This is where he grew up and this where he is training to bring pride to his family. That is if his father doesn’t hold him off from graduating as a knight for the realm.
With Zip in tow, Zieg waved at the castle guards and went inside. Finding his way towards his father’s study, Zieg made a mental note to talk to the maids about cleaning the castle hallways. Dust has settled in everything the eye can see but then he didn’t really have to worry. Zieg wasn’t really the interior decorator of the castle.
Finally he arrived; Zieg knocked thrice and swung the oak doors that lead to the baron’s study. He immediately saw the hulking mass that was his father. Baron Vann Jasson of Elmeare is all but small. He towers over his son with his six feet five inches of legs and torso. His wide shoulder and powerful arms gave away his profession, a knight. The baron turned his gaze towards the opened door, his gray eyes full of irritation. He placed the book he’s holding back to a ten foot book shelf and said, “Where have you been boy? I have been looking all over for you.” His voice was deeper than bass giving him more commanding presence than he already has.
Zieg bowed slightly, “Sorry sir, I was checking on Darksun.” Although he was his father, the baron is still his knight-master and being rude would cost him further punishment. The baron tugged at his leather belt to raise his breeches to a more comfortable level and sighed, “Alright enough of that, let’s go. I could’ve just gone hunting myself but it will be a whole lot easier if I have one of the best game trackers in the fief.” Vann howled in laughter and swung his gigantic hand behind his son. Zieg abruptly took a forced step forward due to the force of his father’s pat.
“My lord just let me get my equipment and saddle Darksun.” Zieg immediately ran out and did just that, although he grumbled when he realized he had to go back where he came to get his horse. Zip followed him around as he always did. After fetching his black horse, Zieg went on strapping a short sword on his belt and a dagger in his boot. He also grabbed a long bow and a quiver of arrows, although he knew that he wasn’t going to use them. Zip looked at him and perked his ears. Zieg could wield any blade but when it comes to ranged weapons, he’s as good as a peasant trying to read and write. This didn’t stop him from trying though.
After gathering all his supplies, Zieg met his father near the castle gate, mounted on his own horse, Geldling. The large baron nodded his head and nudged his horse forward to a trot. Before Zieg could follow, he caught the sight of his older sisters on a window of the kitchen. They’re probably training with Maura, the cook. His oldest sister Lian looked out the window and waved at him, both for good luck and goodbye.
He nudged Darksun to follow his father. Soon enough they have left the city area of Elmeare and into the Cedar Forest. The woods have always been one of the most peculiar in the Kingdom of Ceires. As they ride under the canopy of the tall cedar trees and pine, Zieg has never felt smaller. The trees here it seemed didn’t stop growing. The older trees easily topped hundred feet and their trunks as wide as his horse was long. He couldn’t help but gape at them.
Zip was following Darksun’s every move, alert to the sound of game from the bushes. Zieg brought Darksun to a halt and jumped down from the saddle. He immediately scoured the ground for any hoof or paw prints that would indicate any sort of game. He found none. He nodded to his father only to get another nod as an answer. Zieg jumped up at Darksun once again and went deeper in the forest.
Around noon, father and son reached a spring that was conveniently in the middle of Cedar Woods. The baron decided to leave the horses there for a while and hunt on foot. Zieg motioned to Zip after he has tied Darksun’s reins on a nearby tree. The black stallion grazed pleasantly on the succulent grasses of the forest. Zieg fitted the quiver he was holding on his shoulder for easy access of arrows later on. He followed his father in the denser part of the forest, where elk and deer would likely rest during the warmer sun of midday.
Zieg couldn’t help but look at his father. He and the baron have never been really close, even though he was his only son. Zieg had heard the castle maids say that Vann wanted his son to grow on his own without the need of a father always telling him what to do. Sometimes he heard that his father resented him to an extent, blaming his birth for the death of his mother. The most attention he could get from his father would be this, hunting together but that was it.
The baron signaled him to look for more tracks, which Zieg was glad to do. Zip helped his master by looking for the scent of potential prey. For hours, their search was in vain. Zieg found the scenario weird. It was still spring and deer and elks should be plentiful. He asked his father, “My lord, it’s really peculiar…why aren’t there any signs of game?”
The baron stroked his wiry salt and pepper beard, “It seems that they’ve been gone for a while, as if…” He paused, “They’ve evacuated the woods.” He lowered his bow to his side and turned to his son. “Let’s try looking for them some more and if we don’t find any signs of deer when the sun’s almost down, we’ll retire for now.” Zieg readily agreed.
Sundown and still no sign of wildlife, even mice and birds were scarce. Zieg started to get worried. He could feel that there’s something amiss. It was as if there’s something that have scared all the animals in these great woods. He abruptly gazed at Zip then his father. Both seem uncomfortable with the situation. Zieg felt his palm tingling and his arm itching. Now there’s really something wrong, he could feel it. Zip suddenly perked his head towards the south, the same direction in which the fief was located. Zieg wanted to ask what was wrong but he decided against it. As if the dog would actually talk and say to him that there really is something wrong.
The baron decided to call it a day and motioned to his son to go back to camp. Zieg followed his father’s orders. They strapped all the equipment they have used to their respective horses and untied their reins. Zieg noticed that even Darksun was skittish.
He tried to calm the stallion down. Suddenly a bright light and loud explosion was heard. Zieg and Vann turned their heads towards where the loud sound came from and to their horror it came from the south, from the fief. They looked at each other and swiftly mounted their and galloped back towards the village.
Just as they are exiting the dense forest, Zieg and Vann saw their worst nightmare. Elmeare was burning. Zieg found himself paralyzed for a moment then angry the next. He kicked Darksun’s ribs so hard that the horse stood on his hind legs before executing the command. Vann followed his son without a moment’s hesitation.
Father and son entered the city gates. Fire roared at every direction. Dozens of peasants lay dead, burned. Zieg wanted to throw up what was remaining of the beef jerky in his gut to the ground. He couldn’t stand the stench of burning flesh. It was so choking that Zieg found his eyes water. Zip started looking around, unfazed by all that was happening. Zieg watched his dog for a moment. Zip dashed towards the direction of the castle. It finally dawned to him…his sisters are in trouble!
“Father…the castle!” He called out then kicked Darksun into a gallop. Baron Vann followed his son with his long sword unsheathed.
They entered the castle courtyard. Where there were once daffodils and tulips, there was flame. Aside from the roaring fire around him, Zieg could hear the sound of struggle from inside. He leaped down from Darksun, unsheathed his sword and kicked the door open. Inside he found a brute of a man trying to have his way with his sister, Maya. Maya on her part seem to have fought the man long enough, that she is drained and tired. Rage erupted inside Zieg’s chest and launched himself at the man. The man was tired too and the adrenaline pumped Zieg overpowered him easily, thrusting his sword against the man’s abdomen.
Maya held on her brother for dear life. Both scared and traumatized, she just buried her face on Zieg’s chest and sobbed. When Zieg asked where their other sisters are, she couldn’t even choke out the truth. Zieg decided against himself that it’s more important to take Maya somewhere safer.
As they stood up, Zieg heard another struggle, this time from outside. Carrying his sister in his arms they exited the castle. Maya has already fainted. Zeig found, to his relief that not all the peasants died and are brave enough to start dousing the flames from their houses.
His relief didn’t last long though. Another man, more of a slender build tackled him to the ground. He punched the man out of the way. As he stood up, Zieg found his father fighting two other men. Because of their clothing, Zieg decided that these low lives were bandits and from the way they fight they’re from the Krytall mountains. Zieg readied himself for opponents of his own. He turned around and found three men sneaking from the castle carrying sacks, of what he thought, containing gold and silver from the castle vault. They’re not just bandits but thieves as well.
Wielding his sword he dashed after them. The men dropped their loot and took him on. Zieg couldn’t remember another day that he was beaten worse than he was here. He swung his sword at them but the men were more limber than they looked. Even with his knight training, fighting four to one against men that obviously have more experience, this battle was a losing one. Zieg handled his own for only few minutes until his opponents have over powered him. One of the men, the slender one he faced earlier, tackled him to the ground. He watched hopelessly as other men took his father.
Baron Vann is a skilled knight but was beyond his prime. He has managed to kill some of the bandits but it seemed that a lot more are coming. Zieg tried to find a way to free himself from the bandit’s grasp to no avail. He watched helplessly as the band of bandits stabbed his father repeatedly. Baron Vann dropped to the ground moments later, never to rise again.
Zieg thought that he too would not make out of this attack alive. He silently lowered his head to the ground accepting defeat. The bandit that was holding him down grabbed a dagger from his belt and raised it, hoping to stab Zieg on the neck. Zieg braced himself for the impact but it never came.
He looked up to see Zip towering over the bandit and ripping out the man’s throat. He couldn’t believe what he saw. Zip’s coat not the white that it used to be but gleaming silver, he’s also far larger. Zieg could’ve sworn that his Zip wasn’t even half that size.
The bandits attacked the hybrid all at once. Zip killed half of them with tooth and claw. Zieg also joined in the fight, taking on two of the antagonists. One by one, the bandits fell. Zieg could’ve jumped in victory, although that wasn’t the case. Zip is clearly waning, he’s growing smaller and smaller by the minute. Zieg ran towards his savior but was stopped by an arrow that pierced his shoulder.
Before he could turn to the direction the arrow came from, two, then three arrows lodged themselves in Zip’s torso. The white hybrid fell to the ground and transformed back to him original form.
Before Zieg could run towards his companion, he heard his sisters’ screams closing in from the castle doors. Two men have his sisters, Lian and Shane, on their shoulders. The two women’s eyes were blinded by pieces of cloth. Zieg gritted his teeth, “That’s enough!” he screamed. Blinded by rage and sorrow he grabbed his sword once again and charged at the bandits. All he could see was them and his sisters. Nothing else mattered. Zieg raised his weapon, aiming it to the bandit’s head, when he stopped dead.
He dropped the sword when he felt something puncturing his back. Two more arrows are lodged on his back when he finally got to turn around. A cloaked figure stood in the fire, seemingly unaffected by the burning flames. The person was clutching a long bow and strung on it was another arrow. Zieg engraved the view in his memory. Fires burning, the wind carried sparks of orange and red westward. The cloaked person aimed the bow directly at him with blazing orange eyes and let the arrow fly. The projectile hit Zieg right on the chest exactly where, didn’t know.
Zieg took the hit and grimaced, that last arrow has more power into it than the others, making him step back at impact. His vision blurred as the wind blew away the hood from the archer’s face. All Zieg could remember was the lady archer’s fiery orange eyes and her voice as she commanded the bandits to let the women go, after that everything went black.
