by Aaron Riley
They both went into the living room to find Raldar taking out an old sword from a scabbard. The blade gleamed in the light as he examined its edge. The sword had been in their family for generations but Raldar never had a reason to use it before.
Until today.
Tears formed in Eliden's eyes. “My love, you're not going out there to fight are you?”
Raldar lowered his sword. “I must fight for this village. And for my family.”
“Don't go, Father.” Aiden fell at his feet. “You'll die!”
Raldar put his hand on Aiden's head. “Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise you. Protect your mother.”
Aiden heard his words but he didn't believe them.
Raldar went to the door. “Stay inside. Lock this door and don't open it for anyone except for me.”
Eliden nodded and helped Aiden back to his feet.
Raldar opened the door and Aiden got a glimpse of horses racing past and screams of villagers in the distance.
And then he was gone.
Eliden went to the door and braced it with a wood plank. He wiped the tears from his cheek. “Get to the kitchen, Aiden.”
Aiden aimlessly walked into the kitchen and collapsed at the table. “What can we do, Mother?”
“We stay here until your father returns.”
“What if they get in here?”
Eliden opened a drawer and pulled out some very large knives. “We protect ourselves.” She handed one to Aiden.
Aiden moved the knife from hand to hand, testing the weight and balance. “I don't know if we're going to make it out of this, Mother.”
“I won't let anyone hurt you.”
A banging at the front door silenced them. Aiden went to get up. “It could be father.”
Eliden pushed Aiden back down to the chair. She moved in front of her son and held her knife up. “It's not your father.”
The door bent inwards as someone outside slammed against it. Aiden and his mother could only watch in terror. The wooden bar would only hold for so long.
The door splintered into pieces as a large barbarian with a club burst through. Aiden and Eliden screamed.
The barbarian grinned a mouth of rotten teeth and slowly moved towards the two of them. “Don't worry, I'll be gentle.”
He let out a cackling laugh that sent a chill down Aiden's spine.
Eliden pushed Aiden behind her. “Run now. I'll take care of him.”
“I can't leave you alone, Mother!”
Eliden looked back at Aiden. “Go to the forest. I'll be right behind you.”
Aiden shook his head over and over again. His eyes watered up and he could barely see.
“Go!” Eliden screamed. “I won't tell you again.”
His mother had never screamed like that before. Aiden stood up and went to the window in the kitchen. It was just big enough for one person to fit through. He unlocked the window and it swung outwards.
Aiden looked back at his mother and the barbarian circling each other. He knew that his mother wouldn't be able to handle the barbarian alone. But his mother would surely die if he stayed. If he ran away it would give his mother a chance to run too.
He jumped through the window and landed in a pile of hay next to their hut. Horses galloped past him. He stood up to see a villager in a field get stabbed through the chest with a spear from a mounted barbarian.
Chapter Six
There was chaos everywhere Aiden looked. He spotted the Old Forest and saw a path that looked free of barbarians. When his mother escaped, she would hopefully see the same thing.
Aiden sprinted in the direction of the trees. He jumped over a bloody corpse and spotted a barbarian coming his way but he hadn't been noticed yet. Aiden ducked into one of the huts and waited for the barbarian to pass.
He noticed a body laying next to him. He didn't want to look down at it but he couldn't help himself.
Hugo the stable boy lay there, his eyes open and lifeless. A large chunk of flesh had been taken out of his shoulder. He wasn't going to be getting up ever again.
Aiden closed his eyes tight. He wanted to mourn his first crush but there was no time. He had to get to safety and meet up with her mother. Aiden peeked outside the hut and saw that the coast was clear.
“Take a deep breath, Aiden,” he told himself. “You can do this.”
Aiden took his own advice and then flew out of the hut. He ran as fast as his legs would allow him. Bodies were piled up all around as he went by. Aiden hoped that his father wasn't one of them.
He was close to the forest when he heard shouting behind him. He turned around to see two barbarians moving towards him.
Aiden let out a blood-curdling scream as he scrambled to the tree line.
The two barbarians broke into a sprint for the man as they chased him into the forest. “Where are you going?”
Aiden could hear them yelling at him to stop. He ignored them as he ran through the trees. The sun barely made it through the canopy of foliage, making it too dark to see where his pursuers were.
The will to survive propelled Aiden faster and faster. Their shouts were farther and farther behind him as he made his way deeper into the Old Forest.
A thick root ruined everything.
Aiden toppled face first into the cool soil of the forest. It took him a moment to shake the daze from his eyes. Then he remembered he was in mortal danger.
He flipped over to find the two barbarians hovering over him.
The uglier one with a scar over his eyes dropped his club to the ground. “You're fast” he muttered.
“Please don't hurt me!” Aiden pleaded.
The two barbarians looked at each other and let out a howling laughter.
Aiden hoped his death would be quick.
Chapter Seven
The Rangers of the Old Forest rushed to the village of Icebor. The sounds of battle in the distance excited them.
Darkan led his brothers to the edge of Icebor and stopped them. “Hold here, Rangers.”
Blood dripped from Demorac's wound. Darkan knew he should've stayed behind but there was no telling him.
Garel wiped his blonde hair from his eyes. “What's the plan, boss?”
Darkan looked out at the village. Barbarians were everywhere, raiding, lighting homes on fires, and killing anyone that lived.
“I want you each in groups of two. Garel and Belim together. Demorac and Farondil.”
The other rangers looked at one another. “And what about you, Darkan?” Farondil asked.
Darkan ignored the question at first. “I want you to spread out around the village. Contain the barbarians to inside the village. Save anyone you can.” Darkan looked at Farondil. “I will take out any barbarians that happen to escape. Am I clear?”
Each ranger nodded in succession.
Darkan took an arrow out of his quiver. “Then let's get to work.”
The Rangers of the Old Forest spread out around the outskirts of the village. Each group moved into the village while Darkan stayed outside, overlooking the scene with his bow drawn.
Even with his wound, Demorac was stealthiest of the rangers. The spiked mace he held in his grip was anything but. Demorac slipped to side of one of the huts as cover. He could hear a barbarian running around the corner. He swung his mace in a deadly arc and caught the barbarians square in the chest without even revealing himself. A fountain of blood erupted as the dirty man fell to the ground.
Farondil used that chance to stick a barbarian in the back with his rapier. The enemy turned around with blood dripping from his mouth and grinned. The barbarian lifted his heavy axe above his head and Farondil took a step back. But the barbarian couldn't hold the weight and his whole body fell backwards as he exhaled his last breath.
Belim was big, round, and loud. He didn't care about stealth. He walked into the middle of the road with his heavy warhammer in his hands. “Who will dare fight me?”
Three barbarians took him up on his challenge but they didn
't know what they were getting into. Belim might be slower but he was as deadly as any other ranger. The fight was over in seconds and only took Belim two swings of his hammer.
But he hadn't noticed the fourth barbarian sneaking behind his back.
Garel jumped out of the darkness and onto the back of the barbarian. Two blades crisscrossed around the enemy's throat and Garel sliced. They spun around, dancing until the barbarian was dead.
Belim turned around in shock and then let out a laugh. “Trying to steal one of my kills again, Garel?”
Garel stood up and wiped the blood off his daggers. “Just saving your life, asshole.”
Darkan watched the two groups of rangers take out barbarian after barbarian. One slipped out of the village, thinking that he could escape. But Darkan had different plans for him.
He let an arrow slip away that traveled across the village and connected with the back of the barbarian's neck. Almost took his head clean off. Darkan didn't revel in his kill but nocked another arrow and looked for his next target.
A scream came from the trees behind him.
Darkan whipped around and stared into the Old Forest. Someone needed his help.
His brothers didn't really need him anymore. They had already taken care of most of the raiding party. Darkan made the decision to investigate.
He ran into the Old Forest with his bow ready. Darkan had only heard one scream but that was all he needed to pinpoint the location. He moved through the trees like a bird, quiet and quick.
Darkan saw two barbarians with their backs to him standing over a man. He didn't need to wait to see what their intention might be. He let an arrow loose that hit one right in the back. It only took another second for Darkan to nock another.
When the barbarian noticed his friend fall over. He looked over his shoulder right on time to get an arrow through the eye. The man screamed as the corpse fell on him.
Darkan rushed over. The man strained to get the heavy man off him but Darkan was able to push him off with just one foot.
He revealed the most handsome thing he'd ever seen.
Chapter Eight
Aiden was completely out of breath. Either from trying to run from the barbarians or from the perfect example of a man standing before him. His bounding muscles under his tunic, his brown short hair and nicely groomed beard made his heart skip.
Darkan reached out his hand and he took it out of instinct. He felt a spark jump between them but that quickly turned to nausea as he stood up. The smell of blood mixed with dirty corpses was a sickening recipe.
“Are you all right?” Darkan asked.
Aiden looked down at himself. He had a couple scratches but was otherwise fine. “I think I'll be okay.”
Darkan stowed his bow behind his back and his eyes traveled up and down Aiden's toned body. “My name is Darkan.”
Aiden blushed. The only man to ever look at him like that had been Hugo. “I'm Aiden.”
“It's nice to meet you. We should get out of here.”
Realization hit Aiden. “We need to get back there. My parents are in trouble.”
Darkan didn't get a chance to reply. Aiden darted back the way to his village.
Darkan followed and called out ahead. “We need to be careful. There could be barbarians around.”
Aiden could barely hear Darkan over the blood pulsing in his ears. He had to get to his parents. He had to make sure they were okay.
Darkan and Aiden made it to the outskirts of the village. Smoke from burned-down homes filled the sky. The place was quiet. The fight was over.
Aiden ran straight for his house. He opened the front door expecting to see his mother and father standing there.
But the place was empty.
“Mother, are you in here?”
No response.
Aiden went through each room and found nothing.
Darkan entered behind Aiden with his bow drawn. “Looks like nobody is here.”
“My mother was in the middle of a fight when I ran away.” Aiden fell to his knees with tears hitting the ground. “Why did I run away? How could I be so stupid? My mother needed my help. And now she's gone.”
Darkan inspected his surroundings. “There definitely was a fight here. A small amount of blood was spilled. Most likely your mother was injured.” Darkan put a hand on Aiden's shoulder. “The barbarian tribes don't always kill. They sometimes take slaves.”
Aiden wiped his eyes and looked up at Darkan. “You think she might be alive?”
“I'd bet my life on it.”
Aiden got up and swayed for a moment. Darkan steadied him. “I need to find my father too.”
He left his home and began turning over corpses. Every dead body was a neighbor or a friend. He broke down crying. But his father was nowhere to be found.
Darkan left Aiden alone to meet with the Rangers. They stood at the edge of the village, cleaning their weapons.
“Everyone all right?”
Garel nodded. “No injuries.”
Belim slapped his big belly. “Unless you count my empty stomach. When are we going to eat?”
Darkan laughed. “You all deserve a big feast after this.”
“Who's the man?” Farondil asked.
Darkan looked behind him at Aiden crying over one of the bodies of the villagers. “Found him in the forest. Name's Aiden. Two barbarians had him cornered.”
Aiden approached the group of rangers. The forest was spinning behind them. His legs were weak and could barely hold him up. “We need to go after them. They took my parents.”
“We can't just yet,” Darkan replied. “We have no idea how many barbarians lie across the river. We need to see the King for reinforcements.”
Aiden tried to protest but his heart was pounding in his chest. Aiden's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he dropped to the ground.
Chapter Nine
The heat of a fire shocked Aiden awake. He found himself in the Old Forest laying next to a campfire surrounded by the Rangers in the middle of the night.
Darkan hovered over him holding a bowl. “Don't try to get up.”
Aiden felt so weak. “What happened?”
“You fainted.” Darkan took a spoon of soup. “Eat this. You need to regain your strength.”
Aiden let Darkan feed him. The soup was thick with meat and vegetables. Aiden savored every bite. “This is so good.”
“You can thank Belim for the food.”
Aiden looked past Darkan but didn't know who Belim was. “Thank you for the soup.”
Belim let out a rumbling laugh. “There's more where that came from.”
Darkan pointed to the rest of the rangers. “Aiden I'd like you to meet the Rangers of the Old Forest: Garel, Farondil, and Demorac.”
Each Ranger nodded as Aiden's eyes fell on them. They looked like a rough bunch.
Aiden looked up to Darkan. “I need to thank you for saving my life.”
Darkan shook his head. “It was nothing.”
Aiden remembered the two barbarians looming over him. The sense of dread he felt was like nothing he ever felt before. “If you didn't come along, I'd be dead...or worse.”
Darkan sat down next to Garel and served himself his own bowl of soup. “You should get some rest.”
“What about the King? Those barbarians might have my parents. I need to save them.”
Darkan nodded. “I will be leaving soon to meet with the King Uzmar. I was worried about you and just wanted to make sure you were safe before I set off.”
Aiden blushed. He didn't know why this stranger cared so much about his wellbeing but he kind of liked it.
Darkan finished his soup and threw the bowl into the dirt. He stood up and hooked his bow behind his back. “The King awaits me, Brothers. Wish me luck.”
“I'd like to come along,” Aiden said.
“The King only meets with Darkan,” Farondil replied.
“I'm sorry Aiden, but I don't think the King would see me if you came along,”
Aiden slumped on his log. He felt so utterly helpless. His parents were out there somewhere as slaves of the barbarian tribes.
Darkan looked at his group a last time before heading into the Old Forest. “Take care of him.”
Farondil nodded.
Chapter Ten
The Castle of Rian with it's tall towers stood on a hill overlooking the entire kingdom. A wall surrounded the fortress with one gate as an entrance.
Darkan exited the Old Forest and came upon the King's Path, a dirt road that ran through the kingdom and led directly to the castle. Various merchants in carriages pulled by horses were coming and going in the night. No one had any idea that the barbarian tribes had just attacked Icebor.
The gate to the castle was open and protected by four guards. They were dressed in red armor and held spears to their sides. Darkan stopped before the gate and was approached by one guard.
“What business do you have here?”
Darkan bowed slightly. “I'm a Ranger of the Old Forest and I have business with King Uzmar.”
The guard was new and didn't recognize Darkan. He looked to one of the senior guards and they nodded at him. The young guard stepped out of the way and let Darkan in.
He walked into the castle and went straight to the royal throne room. The large double doors stretched to the ceiling and was guarded by another few guards.
Darkan bowed before them. “I have business with King Uzmar.”
“King Uzmar has been asked not to be disturbed,” a guard said.
“I'm sorry, but this is urgent.”
The guards looked at each other and shrugged. The two big doors swung inwards, revealing the lavish red room. A dark red carpet led straight to a throne made of gold. Candelabras were situated underneath tall stained-glass windows that lined the walls.
A guard whispered, “Good luck,” to Darkan as he passed.
King Uzmar with his gray hair and beard sat on his throne, his head hung low asleep. The day had been long and the night was late.