Tables Turned Thursday

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Writing

"Forget all the rules.

Forget about being published.

Write for yourself and celebrate writing."

-Melinda Haynes

Alrighty.
So today I'm going to just post the first chapter of my new first part of the series.  It's a doozy.  Illum is only sixteen years old in this first chapter.  It is meant to be a type of prologue before the actual story starts - which takes place four years after these events (starting in chapter 2).  The purpose is to establish Illum's fear of magic and disgust in killing.

Remember I have not edited anything yet, so bear with me on this.  Leave your comments and don't forget to share this if you liked it.  Here ya go:

Chapter 1

I knew what I had to do.  I gripped the sword in my hand and ran out to the stables.  I jumped onto the back of one of the saddled up horses and swiftly maneuvered him around.  I moved him at a gallop, rapidly leaving the protection of Bruqon Castle, and entering the shadowy woods. 

They had killed him.  They had killed my only brother.  The Yu Vong Bandits.

No one seemed to care.  No one did anything when he and the other Knights of Bruqon were killed.  The Yu Vong came out of nowhere.  They ambushed him and his patrol.  They mutilated their bodies.

Yet, no one did anything!

Even my own father, who was a knight – a war hero none the less – did nothing to avenge his son’s death.  No.  I had to do this.  I had to avenge my brother by myself.

I clinched the sword in my right hand, remembering all that my father, brother, and my best friend had taught me.  All I could feel was a blind rage towards the Yu Vong.  My hands were shaking with anger, almost making me drop the sword.

All I could think of was my brother, Jason.  He and my best friend Perseus Bruqon were the only two people in this world that I cared about.  Jason was my brother, and they killed him!

I moved the horse along even faster.  I knew where the Yu Vong Bandits that killed my brother were camping out at.  I had overheard some of the Knights of Bruqon give a report to Lord Laehan Bruqon that the Yu Vong were holed up in an abandoned outpost near Cedarville.  I knew exactly where that was because Jason and Perseus had trained me in sword combat there.  Another disgraceful thing that the Yu Vong ruined!

I moved my horse faster down the old path through the woods, passing the road to Cedarville.  The outpost was coming up quickly.  I was almost there.  Almost ready to the avenge my brother’s death!

Then something hard hit me from the left, knocking me clean off of the horse and onto the ground.  The wind got knocked out of me and I became dizzy as someone stood over me.  With my blurry vision, I could make out who it was.  Surely it was the Yu Vong!

I desperately made a mad grab for my sword, which had flown out of my hand and landed a few feet away from me.  But the figure moved swiftly, grabbed both my arms and placed his knee on my chest – pinning me down.  I struggled to defend myself, to hit the figure.  But I couldn’t move.

Then, when I least expected it, I heard the figure say over and over, “Illum stop!”

I stopped moving, thinking that it was my brother’s voice.  Could Jason be alive?

My vision came back and I looked up and saw, much to my gloom, that it wasn’t Jason.  Jason was dead…and he was never coming back. 

The figure who stood over me was Perseus.

I stared up at him, tears filling my eyes and started struggling to get free, crying out, “Let go of me, Percy!  I have to do this.  I have to kill them.  They killed my brother.  Let me go, Percy!”

“No damn it,” Percy yelled shaking me.  “No!  You’re suicidal thinking that you can kill all of those bandits.  Listen to me Illum.  Look me in the eyes and listen to me!”

With tears leaking from my eyes, I looked up at Percy.  His woeful brown eyes looked back into my own.  The wind was blowing enough to make his wavy chestnut brown hair jump around on his head. 

“Jason was my friend, Illum,” Percy cried.  “I want revenge just as bad, but you can’t just jump into a fight without thinking of the consequences.  Killing people is not what it is all cracked up to be.  You shouldn’t rush into dealing out death.”

“It isn’t revenge, Percy!”

“Then what is it Illum,” he yelled.  “Do you really think this is some self-righteous cause to bring your brother back?  Jason is dead, and nothing can bring him back Illum!  Don’t throw away your life for nothing.”

“Get off of me,” I yelled.  “I have to do this.  I have to…”

Percy stared into my eyes as if he was trying to read my mind.  I could see tears beginning to form behind his woeful eyes.  He whispered, “I can’t lose you too.”

My eyes locked onto his as a tear slowly rolled down his cheek.  Perseus was my best friend.  I listened to him, but this time it was different.  This was about my brother.  I had to do something.

So I begged, “Then help me kill them.  You all have taught me how to fight.  I know what to do.  Help me kill them. There were only a few of them who survived their attack.  We could take them together.”

Percy didn’t say anything.  He just shook his head, trying to hold back his tears. 

“Percy, please.  This isn’t for me.  This is for my brother.  This is for Jason.”

“You’re talking about killing people, Illum.”

“These bandits are just going to keep coming back.  They are going to keep killing more and more people.  When does it stop Percy?  When does it stop?”

Percy sighed and gave up, “You do exactly as I say.”

Percy let go of me and stood up straight.  He pulled me up from the ground and said, “Pick up your sword and let’s go.”

I grabbed my sword and started to get back on my horse, but Percy pushed me away from it saying, “They’ll see us coming.  We stick to the trees.”

I nodded and followed Percy.  We moved swiftly through the woods and stopped once the old outpost was in our sight.  Percy instructed me to climb a tree and he followed me up. 

“How many bandits do you see,” He asked me.

I looked over the edge of the tree and began seeing a couple of the bandits.  I saw five heavy set men, wearing very light armor, covered in fur.  They each had a deadly blade.  Then I saw a very tall, muscular man walk out from a tent.  He had a large ax strapped onto his back.  He was wearing iron armor that had recent blood stains on it.

Then I looked over at Percy and whispered, “I count six.”

“Eight,” Percy replied pointing out two archers that were sitting next to the balcony of the outpost.  “I’ll take out the archers.  You run across this branch and jump down to the balcony.  They’ll come for you, so remember your basics.  Use your defensive stances and you’ll be able to push them back.”

Percy drew his bow that was strapped over his shoulder and drew one of his arrows.  He was, after all, one of the best archers in the entire Abatral Kingdom.  He was trained by the Elves, the best archers in the Realm. 

Percy then nodded at me and ordered, “Go.”

I raised my sword and began walking on the sturdy branch.  I had done this a million times before – walking on that branch and jumping down.  I gripped my sword as I got to the edge of the branch.  I took a deep breath, and jumped. 

The balcony to the outpost was only a couple feet down, so it didn’t hurt that bad when I landed.  The archer who was standing at this balcony stared at me, looking rather surprised.  He drew his dagger and began to charge at me, but Perseus unleashed an arrow.  I could hear the deadly song that the arrow sang as it whistled through the air and smashed into the Yu Vong Archer’s chest.  The Archer dropped dead.

Watching the archer die for some reason gave me an adrenaline rush.  I retightened my grip on my sword and ran down the balcony towards the bandits.  I noticed that the other archer had been killed by another one of Percy’s arrows, as he had fallen clear off of the balcony onto the ground, alerting the other bandits to my presence.

I raised my sword as I charged forward.  The closest of the Yu Vong Bandits attacked me.  He swung his sword and brought it down hard onto mine.  I remained in a defensive stance and was able to parry his blow.  I swung up and down, left and right, deflecting every attack that the Bandit threw at me.  Jason and Percy had taught me well.

Soon, I started to notice some of the bandit’s weaknesses.  He had the slightest hesitation in his left arm, probably some old battle wound, and every time he swung his sword it was with all his might.  If he kept it up he would tire himself.  However, I began to notice that two of the bandits were closing in on me.  If I fought against three, just as Percy had warned, I wouldn’t stand a chance. 

So I saw my opportune chance.  He swung hard from the left, his left hand leading the strike.  I started to duck closer to the ground, swinging my sword with all my might from my left.  I could feel the bandit’s sword swoosh right above my head, hearing the deadly piece of metal sing its shrill song. 

As the bandit’s sword crossed past my head, I continued my attack, standing back up performing an uppercut.  My sword cut through the weak fur armor that the bandit was wearing and delivered a devastating blow to the bandit’s chest, causing him to gasp out in pain. 

I semi-circled my sword in the air and thrust it forward into the bandit’s exposed chest, which made a disgusting squishing noise.  Blood almost immediately began to drool out of the Bandit’s wound.  I wanting to look the bandit in the eyes.  I wanted to see him die for all that he and his people did to my brother!

Clenching my teeth in anger, I looked up glaring; but as my eyes met his, my mouth dropped and all I felt was shame.  What had I done? 

I had killed someone.  I was no better than they were!  In that moment, where my eyes were deadlocked with this bandit’s, I was petrified.  I couldn’t look away.  All could see was fear in the bandit’s eyes.  All of a sudden I felt sick to my stomach.  I realized that this was a mistake.  I didn’t want to do this anymore. 

The only thing that brought me out of my trance was Percy screaming, “Illum move!”

My vision came back and I saw that the two bandits had reached me.  They were preparing to swing their swords to kill me.  I tried to pull my sword out of the dying bandit’s chest, but it wouldn’t budge. 

“MOVE,” Percy screamed.

So I let go of my swords hilt and rolled backward.  I watched as the two bandit’s swords cut into the dying bandit’s body and cut him clean in half.

I gasped and watched in horror as the body parts fell to the ground.  I was terrified.  I didn’t know what to do as I lay there on the ground.  The bandit’s charged me, roaring in rage.

However, two nicely placed arrows tore into their chests, bringing them to their knees.  They began to stand back up, clinging to their swords, but they were each hit by another arrow.  They flopped to the ground, with a sickening smack. 

I pulled at my hair anxiously.  My hands were shaking.  I needed to get out of here.  This was too much for me.  I was no warrior. 

Then I heard a stomping sound.  I looked to my right and saw Percy running towards me.

“Are you alright,” he asked as he kneeled down next to me. 

In probably the most truthful moment I had with anyone, I shook my head no. 

“I warned you,” Percy yelled.  “This is what it is like Illum.  We have to stop them here, or they will go get more bandits and chase us.  Pick up your sword and fight.”

I nodded.  I stood up and walked forward, still shaking.  I found my sword still sticking out of the chest of the bandit who was sliced in two.  I stared horrified at the dead bandit’s terrified face that was sprinkled with blood.

“Pull it out,” Percy yelled as two more bandits charged at us.

I nodded and gripped the hilt of my sword.  I pulled it out of the chest, revealing its blood covered blade.  I closed my eyes and took a step back at the sound of flesh being torn from inside the man’s body as I removed my sword.  I almost vomited.

“Hold it together Illum,” Percy yelled.  “We got this!”

Percy shouldered his bow and pulled out his sword.

“Back to back, just like we practiced,” Percy ordered.

I put my back up against his.  Feeling his back up against mine gave me some level of comfort, knowing that my best friend was standing with me.  That he wouldn’t leave me.

But hearing the bandit’s approaching us, screaming war cries, I slowly became terrified.  I didn’t want to die, but I didn’t want to kill either.  The man who I had killed had been mutilated, almost like Jason had been.  I was no better than the Yu Vong.

“Steady Illum,” Percy whispered softly.  His voice seemed to calm my mind somehow.  “Steady.”

I took a deep breath, trying to find my center; even closing my eyes.  I exhaled, feeling all the fear flow out of me with my breath, and opened my eyes. I gripped my sword tight as one of bandit’s charged at me.  I took a defensive stance as the man swung his sword with only his right hand. 

I swung hard, parrying his blow and swiftly swung back to the right cutting into the man’s torso.  In my swing, I brought my sword up and back down, cutting across the man’s chest.  Both deadly strikes made a loud slicing noise, like the ripping of clothes. 

The bandit grunted in pain, but raised his sword again, trying to kill me.  I quickly, almost instinctively, swung my sword to meet his.  Only this time, I hit his sword stopping the attack, then I twisted my sword over his blade and thrust it forward, causing him to lose his grip and allowing his sword to fly out of his hand.  My hands moved desperately to maneuver sword and deliver a killing blow to the bandit’s heart.  The bandit dropped dead.  I removed my sword from his chest.  Breathing heavily, I turned around to see Percy finish off the other bandit. 

Percy then turned to me and asked, “Are you alright?”

I nodded out of breath, “I’m ok.”

“Where did their leader go,” Percy asked.

As I prepared to answer, there was a loud roar and Percy was hit so hard that it knocked him to the ground.

I looked up in terror to see the giant of a man towering over me, with his ax in hand.  He had the look of pure hatred in his dark brown eyes as he clenched his teeth evilly.  The man swung his ax and I raised my blade.  I was surprisingly able to parry the blow but had to take a few steps backward to regain my balance.  This happened about two more times.

The third time, however, I couldn’t hold the bandit.  He swung so hard that he knocked my blade clean out of my hands.  He then kicked me to the ground, which felt like getting walked on by a horse. 

I clutched my chest in pain as the Bandit leader roared, “Bruqon fool.  You both will pay for this!” 

He prepared to raise his ax over me.  Accepting the end, realizing I was wrong for coming here and that this was my payment, I closed my eyes and looked away. 

But then I heard the Bandit start growling and choking.  I looked back and saw that Percy had jumped on the Bandit’s back and was squeezing the bandit’s neck with his arms.  The Bandit dropped his ax and reached up, grabbing Percy’s arm and throwing him down next to me. 

Percy groaned in pain I looked up in horror as the bandit retrieved his ax.  He prepared to swing his ax on Percy roaring, “Lord Vong will be pleased to know that another Bruqon Knight was killed!”

The Bandit roared and began to swing down.  I didn’t know what to do, but this was Percy.  He was my best friend.  I would die before him.  So I screamed grasping at the air trying to somehow stop the bandit from swinging his ax onto Percy.  

SNAP!

The disgusting sound echoed through my ears.  It was followed by a loud thud and complete silence.

I opened my eyes, seeing my hands clenched in the air, shaking terribly as though they were possessed.  I leaned up and saw the bandit leader lying on the ground, his neck in an awkward position.  He appeared to be dead. 

Still shaking horribly, I looked over at Percy who was sitting up as well.  I was breathing shakily, not sure what I had just done.  Percy stared at me, with some fear creeping into his eyes.

He then asked me, “How long have you been able to use magic?”

“I can’t use magic,” I replied terrified, tears rolling down my face, realizing what I had just done.

“You just did,” Percy said.  “You just snapped his neck using magic.”

Still shaking I stared at Percy absolutely petrified and said, “Don’t tell anyone about this.  Please…”

Percy nodded.  We both looked at the dead bandit leader.  I couldn’t stop thinking about how much of a monster I could be.  If I had magic and I could do this…I didn’t want to learn how to use it.  Not if it meant killing.

Not if it meant this…

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Pictures drawn by me
Video 1