The Shadow of Death

by Timothy Smith

  Cherise’s eyes were fixated on the two, as they had emerged from behind the flames of the village’s. Only slightly behind his men, Razkaul watched with an accomplished smile on his face. Casually, he made his way through the village, beholding his soldiers’ progress.

  Peering directly at Razkaul and Mikael, Cherise revisited her thoughts.

  This is my fault! Maybe if only I had tried harder to tell someone, anyone about the shadowed monsters! Maybe this wouldn't have happened!

  Distraught as she continued to behold everything that was transpiring, Cherise noticed that Razkaul was actually reveling in what was transpiring. That he was actually admiring the view of the corpses he passed on by, the now lifeless husks of her friends and distant relatives. She was astonished that any human could so unabashedly take pleasure in this horrendous scene that was unfolding. And as the fiendish man made his way from house to house, he personally saw to it that everything would be set aflame.

  As Razkaul was gazing around at his work, he took notice of the young girl at the corner of his eye. Eyes now fixated directly at the young Cherise, Razkaul gave a wicked grin, and said something she couldn’t hear but only surmise by him slowly mouthing the words, “I see you.”

  His words sent shivers down Cherise’s spine. Now more terrified than she had ever been before in her life, she surprisingly took little notice in Razkaul himself. Her eyes were locked straight onto the dark monster that lurked over Razkaul’s shoulder. The figure’s appearance seemed to grow larger and more inhuman than it had before. Its sinister form seemed to match the true nature of the man it appeared bound to.

  Like before, the shadowed fiend appeared to be whispering into Razkaul’s ear as Cherise frantically considered the situation.

  Is that monster controlling the man? What is it?! What is it?! What is it?!... What does it want?! Why can’t it leave us alone!?

  As these questions raced through mind, as Razkaul raised his hand slightly before waving down some of his men. Snapping his fingers, he pointed towards Cherise as a clear order for several of his soldiers to take care of her.

  Seeing the soldiers starting to head her way, Cherise’s body seemed to have a will of its own, as she started walking backwards from the hills slope. Still utterly terrified, Cherise’s eyes were now focused on the rooftops of her beloved village’s homes slowly becoming engulfed in the greedy flames. Before long, Razkaul was now out of her sight as the hills ledge obstructed her view of him, and the soldiers’ altogether.

  Caught in a terrified trance as she continued to look on while walking backward slowly, a voice from behind her started to cry out to her. Yelling her name out repeatedly, the voice continually got louder. Still in shock, she remained unfazed even with her name was being called out. This continued until Cherise's shoulder was grabbed onto, and she was pulled back quickly.

  Cherise: “Noo!” She screamed in fright, as she desperately tried to recoil herself free.

  But despite her struggle, the man grabbed ahold of her other shoulder and brought her closer to him.

  Nolan: “It’s alright Cherise. It’s me, it’s alright. Daddy’s here, Daddy’s got you!" He said softly, bringing her face to his.

  Cherise’s anxiety and fear were immediately subsided when she saw it was indeed her father. And noticing that she had calmed down as much as she could under the circumstances, Nolan then took a quick glance to see if any Aelaans’ were nearby.

  Nolan: "I need you to be brave, okay? You think you can do that?-“ And she gave an unassured nod back, but it was good enough for Nolan, as he continued saying, “-We have to leave the village now!” He determinedly said, trying to keep any of his own fear in check, if nothing else for his daughter’s sake, but Cherise could see that he was shaking.

  In her heart, she wished that her father would've remained unfazed, and resilient. But seeing him in this unsettled state did little to help ease her mind.

  Nolan grabbed ahold of his daughter’s hand before running alongside her, as quick as they manage towards their home.

  ────────

  Eagerly both Theo and Adalene waited outside their homes front door for the other two to arrive. Theo was practically dancing in anticipation, as he couldn’t stand the idea of simply waiting.

  And as if she’d forgotten to breathe, after seeing her daughter and husband come within sight at the crest of their hill, Adalene sighed deeply in relief.

  Adalene: “Oh thank goodness! I was so worried!” She said, forcing herself to hold back tears of joy after seeing them returning safely.

  Having made it back to his home with Cherise’s hand in his, Nolan didn’t waste any time for sentimentality, as he briefly stated.

  Nolan: “The Aelaans have attacked the village. We don’t have time to make preparations for the journey ahead. If we’re to have any chance, we have to leave now!”

  After he’d had said those words, the expression on Adalene’s face became distraught. With the mere mention of the Aelaans, she didn't need or want to hear any details. For you see, the Empire had quite a reputation, and she already had a good idea what was happening in the village.

  Knowing that time was of the essence, Nolan pointed out towards the forest just beyond their usual campfire site. The thick woodlands itself could hardly be seen, as the last few minutes of remaining light from the sunlight were nearly spent, and the light from the burning village was mostly blocked by their hill.

  Nolan: “That’s where we’re heading! We have to make for the forest! If we hurry, we’ll be able to make it under the cover of darkness!” He said this with a sincere growing hope in the tone of his voice, only giving his family a second to gauge their reactions.

  Nolan: “We’re leaving now!” And taking Nolan's words to heart, his family were starting to set out on their escape.

  But as fate would have it, immediately after the family had begun making their way towards the forest, they were seen by Imperial soldiers. Arising from the direction of the remaining village, the Aelaans emerged from the edge of the hill.

  Realizing that his daughter had been spotted earlier, Nolan’s heart dropped, and any pretense of certainty and confidence in his voice was lost.

  Nolan: "Oh no." He openly said, wide eyed, with a clear sense of dread.

  After being spotted by the soldiers, Nolan sighed deeply, as if resigning himself to his fate. Knowing full well that his children couldn't possibly be able to outrun the Aelaan’s. Looking back towards his family, Nolan tried to regain his false sense of certainty. Acting as unfazed as possible could under the circumstances, he said.

  Nolan: "Everybody get inside the house. I'll handle this."

  Under normal circumstances Cherise would have complete faith in her father, but aside from the fact that she could hear the shaking in her father’s voice, she also noticed something else. Slowly coming up the hill was Razkaul, grinning all the while, accompanied by his shadowy fiend.

  After seeing Razkaul, Cherise grabbed ahold of her father’s shirt wanting to plead with him to come inside too, but being unable to find the words, as her eyes swelled up with tears as she cried out only one word.

  Cherise: "Daddy!..."

  As Adalene and Theo were already making their way inside, Cherise was resisting her mother’s tugging at her arm until Nolan finally turned around to her. Getting down on one knee, he grabbed Cherise gently by the back of her head before touching his forehead to hers.

  Nolan: "No matter what happens, Cherise. Remember that Daddy loves you." He said softly before tenderly nudging Cherise to her mother.

  Following shortly behind his family to close their home’s door, Nolan turned his attention back to the soldiers who were closing in.

  ────────

  On the other side of the village, the three soldiers had their swords fully drawn, as the stared down Ira and his mother.

  After getting a good look at the features of the two, one of the Aelaan soldiers exclaimed aloud, "Ha! I can
hardly believe it. I'd recognize this filth anywhere. They're the ones from the Toride clan we’ve heard so much about!"

  Even though he said this, the man looked towards the other two who were with him to confirm his suspicions.

  With each a slight nod to one another, the man continued speaking with arms to his sides, "Well lucky us! Did you know that you two may very well be the last remaining survivors? Huddling together like rats."

  The soldier then pointed his sword at both Ira then Haruna, as he started speaking in a stern voice, "Did you two also know that the prophet has ordered us to kill the lot of you on sight?-" His eyes grew deadly serious along with the tone of his ever deepening voice when he said, "-The will of the prophet be done."

  With bloodlust in his eyes, the man then slowly started approaching the two. Not willing to go without a fight, Ira gave the soldiers a defiant look before his mother jumped in front of his way.

  Haruna: "Please don’t! Spare my child! He's just a boy! He’s done nothing wrong!"

  Giving off the impression they were well acquainted with ignoring pleas, without any hesitation, the soldiers continued their walk toward the mother and son.

  The soldier in front grabbed ahold of Haruna’s hand before turning her around with a forceful push. The rough display was simply used for the man to hold onto her tightly with a sword to her throat.

  The young Ira lunged at the soldier who’d taken his mother hostage, but before he could reach her captor both his arms were grabbed by the other two men. Ira was then pinned down by the adults, and forced to his knees.

  Resisting as much as he could, it was slowly becoming clear to Ira that he was utterly trapped in place by the two Aelaans. He only was able to lift his head upward to see his mother, and her captor.

  Regardless of the futility of it all, Ira continued to struggle on. The soldiers looked on at his efforts in a wicked delight, laughing at his failed attempts to resist them, time and time again. Each of the Aelaan’s deciding on an unspoken agreement, to make sport of the situation.

  One of the soldiers released one of Ira's arm, and grabbed him by the hair to pull his head up in place, forcing him to look directly towards his mother.

  The man who grabbed him then started to exclaim aloud, "Get a good look boy! This is the last thing you'll ever see! After your mother, the Toride clan will die off with you!"

  With gritted teeth, Ira resisted with all his strength to break free. Still desperately struggling, he still fought on, even though he knew the hopelessness of his resistance.

  Ira: "No! Leave her alone!" He despairingly begged, unable to hold back tears, knowing in his heart that he couldn’t break free of his own strength.

  All the while, Haruna responded to her son’s cries by forcing a smile, as she looked back before saying.

  Haruna: "Iranagi, I lo-" Her words were abruptly cut short by the soldier’s blade slowly making its way across her throat, before casting her to the side as if she were some useless object.

  The young boy looked on in despair as his mother was on the floor gasping for air, and holding her hands over her throat while the soldiers started laughing hysterically. Seeing the state of his mother, Ira yelled out in a dismayed anguish. His agony ridden cry matched the pain of his loss, which only encouraged the soldiers’ cruel laughter. Looking down in clouded tear filled eyes, Ira caught a glimpse of something.

  Through all his cruel laughter the soldier who held tightly onto Ira’s hair, had loosened his grip on him. And when Ira had looked down, he noticed that this same man also had a dagger fastened to leg.

  Filled with rage, Ira steeled himself, as he reached down for the dagger before grasping its handle. Once having a firm grip on the blade, Ira then pulled his arm up, quickly stabbing down onto the knees of the dagger's owner, making the soldier let go of Ira entirely as he recoiled in pain.

  As the soldier grasped his knee, Ira now had his dagger holding arm completely free. And immediately seizing the opportunity, Ira reached around towards his other side, slicing the neck of the other Aelaan who had held him down.

  Ira’s body was now completely free from both his oppressors, as he then turned around to the first soldier yet again. The boy was practical, he saw the effectiveness of his last strike, and he’d settle for nothing less efficient. As the injured soldier was barely regaining a sense of the situation, Ira stabbed then pierced his assailant’s neck, ensuring that the strike would be deep enough to finish the job.

  The last of the soldiers who looked on, witnessed the whole event in frustration and astonishment.

  The Aelaan then spoke at first in amazement, then rage as he said, "What in the… By the gods! I’ll kill you where you stand!"

  He had witnessed enough, and decided to take matters into his own hands. The solder started walking towards Ira with his sword raised high, ready to bring his wrath down on the young boy. Once the man had nearly reached Ira, he was suddenly jerked backward.

  He was stopped in his place by Haruna using her last bit of strength to pull at his leg.

  In frustration and rage, the last soldier demanded of her, "Let go of me, you filth!"

  As the soldier yelled this out he briefly turned around to look back down at Ira’s mother. It was a splits second’s moment of distraction, but it was all that was needed to give Ira the opportunity to lung forward at the man.

  Temporarily distracted by her intervention, the soldier couldn’t react fully to Ira’s bold attack, as he turned his attention back to the child.

  Ira leapt forward, stabbing his dagger directly between the eyes of the last remaining assailant. His dagger still remained lodged in the soldier’s skull after the attack. After receiving the blow, the Aelaan was amazingly still standing upright for a few seconds before his eyes slowly rolled to the back of his head before collapsing backwards.

  Only once the soldier’s body had hit the floor, did Ira turn his attention towards his mother. Throughout her pain, Haruna forced one last smile for Ira before her eyes grew lifeless, and her body became motionless.

  Ira: "Mom no. Don’t leave me! Mom!" Wanting to believe this was all just a terrible nightmare, Ira got down on his knees.

  And he continued pleading to Haruna with the slightest hopes for a response that would never come.

  With his situation demanding it, eventually he had to accept that his mother had passed. Finding the resolve to move forward, Ira began wiping the tears from his eyes, as he pulled out the dagger from the soldier’s forehead. Preparing himself mentally as much as he possibly could under the situation, gritting his teeth in hatred and pain to accompany his tear stained eyes, Ira ran out of his homes door.

  CHAPTER 6 – LOSS

  At Cherise's home, Adalene was in a panic, as she looked for anything that could help in their present situation. Once she found what she was looking for, the anxious mother turned towards her children, before grabbing ahold both of them longingly for fear it might be her last chance. Shortly after, she let go of her children to point to their table.

  Adalene: "I want you both to hide under there, and don't make a sound or come out no matter what you hear. You understand?" And trying to show courage, Theo was about to volunteer for something reckless.

  Theo: "But Mom I-" But his words were cut off by his mother insistently saying.

  Adalene: "Theo, you’re growing to be a fine young man. Isn’t that right? I want you to be strong, and look after your little sister, okay? She’ll depend on you... Do you think you can you do that for me?" Slightly disappointed, Theo straightened himself out before nodding and grabbing ahold of Cherise’s hand, urging her under the table before him.

  Seeing that her children were in as safe a place as they could be given the circumstance, Adalene then frantically searched their home until finally scrounging up a cloth. Covering the table, the fabric only partially hid the two underneath.

  Due to its low quality, the tattered linen of the loosely knit thread was partially see through, so there was little
chance it could be of much help in concealing their presence should anyone look under. Still, it was the best that could be done for a family that lived so modestly.

  Through the holes in the tattered cloth, the two siblings both anxiously looked at their small home’s only door leading outside. In hopes that her body in between the door and her children would possibly conceal their presence, Adalene nervously stood in front of their table.

  ────────

  Just outside the front door of Cherise’s home, Nolan now stood before a half a dozen Aelaan soldiers. He wasn’t particularly armed, but the way he was built somewhat called for the extra attention. Nevertheless, the futility of fighting these armed men forced the hulking man to entertain other options. Having his arms to his sides, he gestured that he wanted to strike a bargain.

  Nolan: "I don't know why you've come here but we don't want any trouble. If it’s land you want, if it’s money, any other of my worldly possessions. You can have them! They're yours!" He said while trying to keep a straight face, but his appearance betrayed him.

  As drops of nervous sweat fell down his face, Nolan knew full well that it was more than a desperate hope to strike a bargain with the Empire. He’d heard far too many countless stories of the Aelaans previous exploits, and in any of them, the Empire were never known to have shown mercy.

  Not to his surprise, it seemed his attempt at bargaining had fallen on deaf ears. With their swords drawn, the soldiers that stood in front of him kept silent in deference to their leader’s approach.

  Once Razkaul arrived, Nolan knew immediately he was in charge by his attire, and the unspoken respect the others gave him.