The First Fear_The Empowered Ones

by Matthew Olney

  As she spoke, Lizella laughed and shoved her friend into one of the hedges that grew along the side of the path. She giggled and ran off as Elian scrambled back onto his feet and set off in pursuit.

  “I'll get you for that!”

  The two ran through the woods, their laughter echoing among the tall trees. It was late summer in the Northern Imperium, and the leaves were beginning to turn a golden brown in preparation for autumn. The ground was already covered.

  It was always an annoyance to Elian that Lizella was able to run faster than he could. Her long legs gave her the advantage. Both were fifteen years old, but already Lizella was a full head taller than himself.

  They ran for what seemed like hours, and Elian's lungs began to ache. Suddenly, at the edge of a clearing, Lizella skidded to a halt and Elian, unable to slow down crashed into her back sending them both spilling to the leaf covered ground. They disentangled from one another and clambered to their feet. Elian gulped. Stood at the opposite side of the clearing were three older boys.

  The biggest was Ruy, the son of the village blacksmith and with him was Grian and Sac. They were not as tall as their friend but were just as mean. Elian groaned. The boys had spotted him and Lizella. He took her hand ready to flee, but Grian darted to the side to cut off their escape.

  “Well, look what we have here, a pair of piggies. So, freak what's it to be today? Another black eye, or, perhaps a broken bone?”

  The older boys laughed at Ruy's mocking voice. Elian winced, the bruise on his chest from his last run-in with the bullies was still a livid purple. Then, they had beaten him and stolen the sweet roll his mother had made for him.

  Lizella stepped forward, shielding Elian protectively. She held her head high, and her brown eyes stared defiantly at Ruy. 'Wish I was as brave as her' Elian thought, feeling a sense of pride in his friend. That pride, however, was quickly replaced with embarrassment. In their games he often played the role of a hero, in reality, it was the other way around.

  “Hiding behind a girl huh, you little coward,” Ruy sneered.

  “If you were so brave Ruy, why does it take the three of you to pick on Elian? I think it's because it is, in fact, you that is the coward,” Lizella replied her voice full of contempt.

  Ruy's face flushed red with anger as his friends chuckled. Elian squeezed Lizella's hand in warning. It wasn't wise to antagonise Ruy. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled reassuringly.

  “Shut up. Sac, go move her out of the way,” Ruy commanded.

  Sac was around the same height as Elian but almost twice as wide with small pig-like eyes. The fat boy strode over to Lizella, confident that he would have no trouble moving her. He reached out to grab her arm, but as he did so, she lashed out and gripped his hand. She bent and squeezed his fingers the way her grandfather had taught her. The boy cried out as she twisted Sac's fingers into a painful position. Tears formed in the boy's eyes as she forced him to his knees. His chubby face was red, and his whimpering was comical.

  “Do you want me to let go?” Lizella asked sweetly.

  Sac nodded his head frantically.

  “Yes! It hurts!”

  Ruy swore at his friend's weakness. Lizella let go of Sac's hand and shoved him onto the ground. She then glared at Ruy daring him to try something. For a heartbeat, Elian thought that Ruy would hit her, but Lizella's bravery was too much for the bully. With a look of disgust, Ruy helped Sac onto his feet.

  “Fine, you win this time' Ruy said bitterly. He pointed at Elian. “Next time you won't have your girlfriend to protect you. Next time I'm going to break your face!” And with that, the boys turned and fled through the trees.

  Once they were gone, Elian let out a sigh of relief.

  “Thanks.”

  “He's right you know. I won't always be around Elian. You need to learn to stand up for yourself; you’re too kind-hearted. Bullies like Ruy are everywhere, and if you're not careful, you could be hurt or worse.”

  Before he could reply, Lizella took off through the undergrowth. He stood in the clearing for a few moments crestfallen. Did she think him a wimp? His hands knotted into fists. He would show her; he would prove that he was not afraid.

  *

  Elian made his way back to the village his thoughts focused on the events of the day. He no longer cared that he was sure to get a smack from his mother. Instead, his thoughts focused on what Lizella had said. Emerging from the woods, he crossed one of the fields surrounding the village of Fork. In the distance, the gleaming snow-capped Torvus Mountains towered over the valley, and the clear blue waters of Lake Josi shimmered. The village got its name from the way the Awth River forked around it. Elian crossed the narrow stone bridge that crossed the fast-flowing waters and headed toward his father's workshop.

  Fork wasn't a rich village; it only had a dozen or so thatched cottages and a single tavern. Most of the villagers plied their trade as woodsmen and fishermen. Being at the edge of the Supreme Imperium the authorities paid it little interest. As long as the monthly quota of lumber and salted fish was met, the local Baron left them alone. Elian reached the village square that lay at its centre. He hurried by the marble statue of the Supreme that towered over the nearby buildings. As was the norm, the statue was that of a stunningly beautiful woman her arms spread wide to reinforce the fact that her reach was long. To vandalise the statue meant execution. After crossing the square, he rounded a corner to find his father, Helias, stood outside his workshop.

  Elian's family were a rare thing outside the cities. Helias's skill as a carpenter meant that he had earned his freedom. The local baron, recognising his talent had allowed him to set up a workshop and even allowed him to earn a little money. Such a thing was virtually unheard of in the Imperium. Out of all the families living in Fork, Elian's and that of the local stonemason were the only ones granted serf status. To be a serf meant that you were the next rank up from slave. It allowed Helias to travel and sell his wares outside of the Northern Imperium, albeit at heavily taxed prices.

  Piles of logs stood in rows outside, and the sound of hammering came from within. In his father's hand was a chisel, in front of him a half-finished piece of furniture.

  At seeing Elian, he smiled.

  “Oh boy. When your mother sees the state, you're in you are going to get it. Elian, are you alright?” Helias asked as he noticed the forlorn look on his son's face.

  “Ruy threatened to beat me up again. Lizella stood up to him, but it's embarrassing. I want her to think I'm brave and that I can look after myself.”

  Helias smiled and pulled Elian into a strong hug.

  “Ruy is a lot bigger than you. If you want to beat someone who's bigger than you then you have to rely on other things besides strength,' he said tapping Elian's forehead with a finger, ‘you're a smart boy Elian. Use your head, and you can find a way to beat that bully and impress Lizella,” he added with a wink.

  Elian blushed. He'd had a crush on Lizella ever since she arrived in the village. He remembered the first time he had seen her. She had been at the market her long blonde hair trailing down her back and her big brown eyes had been wide with worry. Her family had been sent by the ruling baron to make up the numbers in the village following a bout of plague that had killed off a quarter of the population. In the Imperium, it was extremely rare for the lower classes to move between settlements freely. At seeing her, his young heart almost skipped a beat. He had offered to show her around, and from that day they had been best friends. Lizella was no longer the frightened girl she had once been; now she was tough and confident. Elian's father often joked that she had more confidence than the Supreme. His mind raced as he digested his father's words. 'Use my head, that's it!' Elian thought. Helias chuckled at the expression on his son’s face.

  “Uh-oh, looks like I've given you an idea. Listen, son,' he said bending so that he was at eye-level with Elian, 'being brave is about knowing when to act and when to let things go
. I know Ruy and the other boys pick on you and that you feel like you need to stand up for yourself, but perhaps you should think about why people like that do the things they do.”

  Elian looked at his father, confusion in his eyes.

  “Ruy has had a hard life. His family are slaves, and so, like many, he takes his bitterness and frustration out on those around him. He is not as lucky as you Elian. When you come of age you will be free to carry on the family trade, or, you can strike out on your own. Ruy will never have that opportunity. Instead of being angry at him, try and relate to him.”

  Elian pulled a face at the suggestion. Ruy had been mean to him for as long as he could remember. Could it truly be down to jealousy? Even so, that was no excuse to be so cruel and vindictive. The bruise on his chest throbbed with pain, a reminder that his father was wrong. He had to stand up to the bully. Otherwise, nothing would change, and Ruy would continue to think that he could pick on him.

  “I have to stand up to him. Otherwise, he will just continue to pick on me. Perhaps if someone showed him that he shouldn’t treat people that way he will stop.”

  Helias stood and placed his hands on his hips a look of respect in his eyes.

  “A noble idea Elian. Perhaps you are right. Standing up against cruelty is something every man should aspire to. I just wish other men were like you; all men should be free...” Helias's eyes widened as he realised what he said. Elian gasped. Such words if heard by one of the Imperium's informers would be deemed as heresy, and the punishment for that was death.

  “Forget I said that son,” Helias muttered. He glanced around wide-eyed and sighed in relief. They were alone. The nearest person was old Graf who was banging away in his workshop.

  “Now be off with you, I suggest you get yourself cleaned up before your mother gets home,” he added. Elian could see the fear in his father's eyes. Despite all of his talk and pride of them being serfs, they were still slaves. Slaves to the fear of the Supreme.

  *

  Elian left his father and carried on down the dirt track that acted as the village's main street. His parent's cottage was on the opposite side, to get there he had to pass by the smithy. As usual, the blacksmith Trin was at his forge. The man was massive with arms the size of tree trunks. Just like his son, Trin had little respect for Elian and glared at him as he hurried passed.

  Elian looked to the sky. The sun was beginning its descent in the west. He figured that it would be another hour before his mother returned from her duties at the baron's manor. Like his father, she was a serf and served as the baron's bookkeeper. The ability to read and write was incredibly rare amongst the lower classes, and so his mother was treated well for her services. Finally, he reached the little stone cottage. Ivy grew over the front of the house and wildflowers bloomed in the garden. It was small and cosy; it was home.

  As he went through the front door, he began to peel off his filthy clothes. Once in his undergarments, he chucked them onto the pile already awaiting washing. He then went to his bedroom and took a fresh tunic from the cupboard. 'My face is still a mess!' he thought as he caught a glimpse of himself in the small oval mirror that hung above the fireplace. The cottage was comprised of a small living room, his bedroom, his parents' bedroom and a small kitchen area at the rear.

  He noticed that the pile of logs was running low. He headed to the back of the cottage and went outside via the backdoor. A little stream trickled at the end of the garden where his father grew various fruits and vegetables. Picking up the bucket that was just outside the back door he went to the stream and filled it up with icy fresh water. The towering mountains that loomed over the valley provided the villagers with ample water. Ice traders often passed through the village as they made their way to and fro from the frigid peaks.

  Once the bucket was filled, Elian took a deep breath and plunged his head into the icy water. He gasped as the cold hit him. Feeling refreshed he scrubbed his face clean. His mother would never know how filthy he'd been, he thought happily. After cleaning up, he then took the axe that lay next to the woodshed and set about chopping up some firewood. Gathering firewood from the forest was one of his jobs, as was collecting water from the stream and river. With his tasks completed his thoughts drifted back to Ruy. His eyes settled on his father's gardening shovel.

  “That's it!” Elian cried as the idea struck him like a lightning bolt. He knew how to get some payback on the bullies.

  *

  Despite thinking that he would get away with it Elian's mother had been furious at the state of his clothes. As usual, Helias had tried to defend his son, but Dora would have none of it and had sent Elian to bed early with no supper. Lying in his bed, Elian could hear his parents talking in hushed tones in the living room.

  “It's time that boy became a man. When are you going to start training him as your apprentice? He needs a trade, something to stop him from these childish games. I spend all day working for that pig of a baron, the last thing I need is to come home to him and his foolishness,” Dora complained.

  She had always been a stern woman who had little patience for the tomfoolery of youth. Whereas the other boys had been allowed to play in the mud, she had forbidden Elian from doing so. She had a thing for cleanliness and despised dirt, which explained why the cottage was spotless.

  “Are you ok my love?” Helias asked softly. Dora seemed more on edge than usual.

  “The Baron was in a foul mood today. Word came from the capital that he would have to increase his quota. Apparently, there was an incident in the south, from the rumours it sounded as though an Empowered One was involved.”

  At hearing the words, Elian slid out of bed and placed his ear against the door. Everyone had heard of the Empowered Ones; they were just myths, stories that old folks told children, but if that was true then why was his mother talking about them as though they were fact.

  “You don't think it has something to do with...?” Helias asked, leaving the question unfinished.

  “It can't be. We've been careful. No one can know,” Dora replied, her tone nervous.

  “I'm sure your right. I'll make sure Elian comes to the workshop with me tomorrow. C'mon it’s late let's get to bed.”

  Elian frowned, he could no longer hear his parents and the living room was plunged into darkness as they blew out the candles. He clambered back into bed and waited. He had to be sure that his parents were fast asleep before he set about enacting his plan.

  An hour went by, and the house was silent. As quietly as he could, Elian got out of bed and tiptoed over to the bedroom door. He had got into bed with his clothes on to avoid making any noise getting dressed. Once again, he placed his ear against the wooden door and listened. Silence. Smiling, he carefully opened the door and crept through the cottage until he reached the back door. He took his cloak off the peg on the wall and lifted the latch, wincing at the squeak it made and went outside. The shovel was right where he had left it. He put on his cloak to protect him from the night's chill and picked up the shovel. He knew just the spot where he would set his trap. With a rush of excitement, he hurried towards the woods.

  Chapter 3.

  The woods were a scary place in the depths of night. The tall Aspen trees cast strange shadows and the night time wildlife gave it an almost alien feel. In the distance, an owl screeched. The temperature had dropped as Elian had worked, but he had barely noticed due to the exertion he had put into his master plan. For hours he had been digging the hole that he would use to get payback on Ruy. Most villagers were too afraid to enter the woods in the dark, but Elian was committed. He would prove that he was no coward.

  With one last effort, he scooped out another pile of earth and added it to the growing mound beside the hole. Sweat dripped off his brow, and his clothes were damp with perspiration. Satisfied that it was deep enough he hauled himself out, his arms trembling from the night's labour. He lay on his back and looked at the sky above him. It was a clear night, a
nd the stars shone like a sea of fireflies. The moon was high and casting an eerie glow on the slumbering world below. Elian felt at peace when looking upwards; it made him wonder what else was out there. Were there other worlds like his own? Was someone just like himself lying on their back and looking at the same points of light? He liked to think there was. He also wondered if their world was like his own. One ruled by a single person. A being that had lived for centuries and possessed powers that could enslave an entire race. Elian had heard the murmurings of the people before, but it had been a surprise to hear talk of freedom come from his own father's mouth. Helias was a man who obeyed and who had always done as he was told. Whenever the baron's men came to the village to demand more supplies or taxes, Helias always agreed and never showed resistance. And yet, he had spoken about freedom. Then, of course, there was the strange conversation Elian had heard before sneaking out. Perhaps his parents weren't as submissive as he'd once thought? The idea both excited and terrified him. There had always been whispers of a movement known as the Liberators, a group of escaped slaves that tried to fight the Supreme and her Imperium. The authorities did their best to suppress the rumours, but it had been hard for them to hide the mass escape of slaves that occurred the year before. Travelling pedlars had spread the tale far and wide, and most of those had in turn been hanged for doing so. Elian wondered if his mother's words about the rumours of an Empowered One was related to the rebels. His father would no doubt tell him to keep such thoughts to himself, and he would certainly do so. He wasn't an idiot. Informants were everywhere.

  With a groan, Elian got to his feet. His legs were wobbly from exhaustion, and his eyes were droopy. He wasn't done yet, however, first, he had to dispose of the dirt pile and then cover up the hole. It was going to be a long night.

  A rustling sound came from amongst the trees. He froze. Heart racing, he slowly peeked out over the rim of the hole. He almost cried out as he spotted a tall, cloaked figure moving quickly among the trees. Almost as quickly as it appeared, the figure disappeared amongst the undergrowth.