The fires crackle on their torches as the cold night wind blow upon it. The men and women of Joraal decent crowd up to a stage made of wood and lit with torches. She walks on stage, covered in armor, her steel sword on her hip and her crossbow on her back, she speaks, “We plan the siege tonight.” She said. “We won’t let ourselves down nor shall we let our people become mindless slaves to those who took them.” The room cheers with a glorious cry as the officials clap their hands silently.
The crowd settled and one cried out a question, “How shall we go about this? We attack the Higgins farm, yes? How shall we accomplish such a thing, the place is covered in armed guards and ready to attack any and all who try to invade.”
She smiled. She had her men pull out a weapon, a weapon of mass destruction. Ancient it was, but an effective mode of war. “This is a catapult. We found this in a ruined castle over to the east. Broken down, we had the men pulling it fix it for a cause such as this.” The crowd smiled to this weapon as every member felt more faith in this act. “We have what we need to use this and if all else fails, we have more men and women to fight with us and are willing to fight and die for our revolution. Tonight we make ourselves known, after killing the king’s best men, all his officials, all that hold the English Army are gone. We make ourselves known to our actions, we are ready to fight and finally take on the king’s awful rule. Are. You. With. Me!?” The crowd roars with glee as their spirits change to a war torn heart.
I hear the giggle of a joyful child with her happy family. I look and I see her, the girl with the gift, smiling and playing in her family’s fields. Her laugh invades all sound as the workers by her picked the crops around her, smiling at her. The only joy I have seen in a farm in so long. She runs out of the crops, the brush of toe, and stops to stare at me. I felt her eyes on me as she waved. I looked behind myself and there was a forest wall with no one to see, no one to wave to. I raise my hand and wave slightly as she laughs even more. She steps towards me and asks, “Are you an angel?” I felt wings spring out of my back for a moment, but I was far from one. I reply with a nod. “Well, you look like one to me. A mean one.” I felt like smiling, but I had nothing to grin with. “But a hug can turn means into nice people.” I look curiously. “That’s what my Pa use to say.” A man came to check on her.
“What are you doing, little darling?”
“Nothing…”
“Were you thinking on going into the woods again, little lass?”
“No… I was talking to him.” She pointed to me with her little hands, but the man only saw her point to the woods.
“You weren’t talking to hermits were you?”
“No! I was talking to the angel!” He looked into the woods again.
“Was he wearing a robe?”
“Yes…?”
“That’s a hermit, little darling. Don’t talk to them, they can steal you and you will never come back.” She stared at me as the man took her back into the fields. I raised my hand and waved. I saw that smile again as she did the same back to me.
I hear the paper of a gift in the distance. A wrinkle of hard paper over an object, tied to a colorful string. It was Jeremy, and in his hands a gift for someone. It was night. Seems time has passed. Jeremy hiding in the brush in the fields with the gift to his back. He climbs into the window of the Joraal shack house. His father was on his desk, reading the book of legends. A creek, his father turned towards him. “What are you doing here? I thought you were staying for tonight.”
“I know, Noama, but I couldn’t help that it was your birthday today.” He holds up his gift.
“Why you didn’t need to do this.”
“I had to.” He hands him the gift. He marvels at the colorful string for he has never seen so many colors in one object. He unites and and unveils his gift. A golden compass, covered with patches of rust with no needle in it. Khal`En looks disappointed.
“What is this?”
“It’s a Terminus, I helped M`Aiq buy this off his shelf. It sat too long and I thought you would like this.”
“It has no needle, how am I going to use this?”
“Noama, it’s a different kind of compass, it can locate any location you know.” He grabbed the Terminus and pressed a button. It shined as it gave off an image of the land he was in. “Where do you wanna go, Noama?”
He looks towards his desk and read the title in the book of Legends, “War of Terria.” The image moved and showed the land he named, with the name said in his language. “It’s real!” He screamed as he heard footsteps nearing his door. “You have to go, Jera. Take the Terminus with you.”
“But, you can-”
“No time. Just leave now.” Jeremy left in the shadows of the fields as Khal`En jolted in fear. He put his book in the box and places it under the bed as the door swung open. Guards stood in front of the doorway, looking at Khal`En with a shadow under their eyes.
“The master wants to see you, Khaja.”
“What for?”
“That’s not to be discussed here, Khaja. Now move your feet!” He stood for the guards as they grabbed his shoulder. Fear grew in his mind, hoping his son wasn’t caught and that his son won’t have to be beaten in front of him again, nor did he want to feel the pain of a whip again. Walks outside of the shack and heads towards the master’s cabin. Those fears started to become more and more real to him now, it was now a possibility. He enters the cabin, the maids stare at him in shock, whispering to each other, questioning why he was here. He is taken to the master room, him sitting, faced towards the fire, taking swigs on his priceless brandy.
“Sit down, Khaja,” he said softly, “sit anywhere you feel comfortable with.” Khal`En looks around and saw a lone, wooden chair and pulled it out to sit. “You know, I never learned your name. I know we met many a time, but your name is oblivious to me.” He turned to look at Khal`En, “If you wish to tell me that is. I understand if you don’t.” He looked at his master in confusion as he takes another swig from his brandy.
“Khal`En… Sir... “
“Well, Khal`En. I want you to do something special.” Khal`En glanced towards the fire as his master’s eyes were piercing his soul. “It’s a bit risky, but I believe you of all khaja can do this correctly.”
“What is it you wish of me?” His master hands him a knife.
“I want you to change someone’s mind.”