I have compiled all of the chapters into one long thing here, for your convenience!
The sun beat down on Cadan's back like a blacksmiths hammer. His arms worked like clockwork, reaching out, picking the flower buds, and placing them into the basket. The dark green poison the flowers oozed upon contact saturated his gloves, but he knew the master wouldn't give him a new pair even if he showed him the boils and scabs that covered his skin. Cadan had been picking green-death flowers for as long as he could remember, as had his father before him, until the elven slave masters dragged him into the yard, and forced him to swallow one of the flowers. Cadan remembered the way his pupils seemed to melt, and his last words: 'Fight them son, fight those pointy-eared bastards.'
The masters never explained why he had been killed, except for that he was: 'past prime working condition'. Elves were ruthless, and had enslaved the races of men as soon as they had encountered the "inferior" beings. Elves were faster, stronger and more intelligent then men, or thats what the men were lead to believe. Any slave who tried to fight was swiftly cut down, and any who tried to run were run down and gutted. In the field with him today were five other workers. Darius, a lithe, but strong young man who had grown up the Cadan on the plantation. Cassandra, a strong woman, yet not particularly pleasing to look upon. The elves made great sport of this, and she had learned to keep her head down when the masters where about. Joe, an unassuming, brown haired boy with a face of little remark, apart from his striking green eyes. Marie, an old, haggard woman, who had lived on the plantation longer than anyone could remember, even her. Jared, a tall, strongly built man who spoke little, but worked twice as well as the rest put together.
The group had been at work for nearly 3 hours, and the sun was beginning to roast them alive. The elven master stood behind them with a whip. Every now and then he would bend over, and cough constantly for a few minutes on end. They all knew what this meant. He was dying. No one knew where the disease came from, even the best elven scholars could not find a cure. Humans were immune to the disease, and were known to carry it. Millions had been slaughtered to prevent outbreaks of the disease in heavily populated areas. Once the master had finished coughing, he raised his whip. 'YOU!' He bellowed, waving the deadly instrument at Jared. 'I KNOW YOU CAN WORK HARDER! I EXPECT BOTH THOSE SACKS FULL BY MIDDAY!' 'But middays in under an hour sir-' 'DON'T ANSWER BA-' The master broke down into a fit of coughing, and then brought the whip down across Jared's back as if to punish him for his illness. 'YOUR A *cough* DIRTY SPINELESS *cough* DOG LIKE YOUR *cough* PATHETIC SISTER!' He brought down the whip again, and Jared's shirt began to darken as a red patch formed on his back.
'I've had enough of this..' muttered Joe under his breath, and he dropped everything to the ground. Everything except one green-death bud. He winked at Jared, and Jared nodded back. 'YOU!' Screamed the master, and made his way over to Joe, occasionally stopping to cough. 'WHY ARN'T YOU WORKING BOY!?' Joe turned around and stood up straight. At that moment, Jared leapt up, grabbed the elf around the neck, and forced his head back. 'WHAT ARE YOU DOI-' His cry of anger was silenced as Joe stuffed the small, black flower into his throat.
The elf choked, and instinctively swallowed. 'Wha- What have you do-' The elf fell to the ground, and his body shook,and blood leaked from his throat. Jared ripped the whip from his hands. 'Elven shit.' He grunted has he brought the whip down onto the elves face, and tore his features apart. Joe fumbles at the elves belt until he drew out a small dagger. 'Cadan! Cassandra! Marie! How do you feel about escaping?'
The next elf came running round the corner. This one was clearly healthy and in the prime of life. Within a second he had launched forward and knocked Jared to the ground with a powerful uppercut. The elf grabbed Jared by the collar and lifted him, delivering another punch to his ribs. This one connected with a sickening crack. Joe ran to Jared's aid, and planted the dagger squarely between the elves shoulders. The elf cried out in pain, and dropped Jared to the ground. As he turned to face Joe, the rest of the group saw how tall the elf was. He towered over Joe, a good foot taller. The elf reached over his shoulders, and yanked the dagger from his back with a wince. This time it was cadan's turn. He leapt forward, wound up his arm for the punch, and slammed his fist squarely into the jaw of the elf. His knuckles were burning with the pain, but he knew he had broken the elves jaw.
The elf fell to the ground in pain, dropping Joe's dagger. Joe picked up the fallen weapon, and knelt down, seizing the elf by the throat. 'Please... mercy...' Croaked the elf, but Joe's dagger was already at his throat, and slicing. Blood spurted from the elves throat, coating Joe in a sickening red sheen. This elf also had a dagger, and Joe tossed the blade to Cadan. Masie hobbled over to Jared, and examined his broken ribs. 'Cassandra!' Jared coughed, flecks of blood falling from his lips. Cassandra ran over to him. 'Take the whip, leave me, go!' Joe ran over to Jared. 'Jared were not going without you!' 'I'll die here anyway..' Jared reached out one trembling hand, and faster then anyone could react he tore the dagger from Joe's grasp. 'May the Lord make your arm strong, and your blades keen..' With those parting words, Jared thrust the Blade into his heart, and his soul fled his body with one final gasp.
Everyone was in shock.
They had all expected to die, but not like that. In the eyes of the warrior god, to fear death was to spend an eternity in the shadow of greater men, serving their table in the halls of the lord. Jared had not feared death, he had welcomed it, and he would be welcomed into the arms of the lord for that. Joe was silent now, blood dripping from his arms and head, eyes alight with vengeful fire. "Cadan, Cassandra with me. Masie-' 'I'll stay.' The old woman croaked. 'I will Jared's body the warriors rite, you go, don't worry about me..' 'As you wish.' Half the elves on the ranch were dying, the other half were already dead. This was no longer escape, this was a hunt.
All across the ranch, there was screaming and cheering. Whilst Joe and Jared had murdered their master, so had most of the other slaves on the ranch. A large group lead by a man named Darius were the first to rendezvous with Cadan and the rest of the group. Darius was a tall man, similar to Joe as he was a slight man; however he had strong, broad shoulders, and a wave of bright blonde hair washed across his scalp. At his heel was another man, Dimitri. Dimitri was short, but powerfully built and obviously more muscular than Darius. He spoke with a thick accent. Beside him was George. George was a wild card. He was quiet most of the time, however at the moment he was coated in blood, gripping a dagger in his fist. His dark brown eyes mirrored Joe's, filled with dark fire and silent rage. His brown hair was matted and clotted with elven blood, and he had a scratch running from his left ear to the left corner of his mouse.
'Cadan!' Darius welcomed him with open arms, and Cadan returned the gesture. On the ranch you slept and worked with different people, and Cadan and Darius were bunkmates. Every evening the people in the bunks sat in silent fear, waiting for their friends to return, and more often than not, they never did. 'My friend I feared you had been killed! I heard screams from your end of the ranch, and assumed the plan had gone into motion!' 'You heard correctly.' Said Joe, in a forceful, commanding tone. Cadan had not heard him speak like that before, and he knew something about him had changed. 'Vhats our next move Joe?' Questioned Dimitri. 'We take the armoury, and then...' 'And Zhen?' 'We head into the woods, and hide.' 'Vheres the armoury?' 'Just a 100 yards east of here, around this warehouse.' 'Lets go!'
The group of six was followed by 10 or 20 more slaves, all dressed in rags, and sharing the determination that drove them all on. The door of the armoury was locked, but they kicked it down, the rotting wood splitting quickly. The elf inside was old and sick, and didn't scream when Dimitri slit his throat. 'Grab veapons guys!' Called Dimitri, and the slaves grabbed armour and weapons, turning from a group of outcasts to a formidable fighting force. A young boy had been sent out to watch the farm entrance, but he soon came running back in, the steel helm he wore slipping down over his eyes. 'Dimitri sir! Theres more of 'em! and They've got swords and spears and arrows!' 'Alright zhen.' 'Joe, Darius! Ve have company!'
Dimitri grabbed a crossbow from the rack of weapons, and scampered up the stairs, into the top of the armoury, where there were large windows, perfect for firing arrows. He looked down and saw his fellow slaves panicking and running, mothers grabbed children and ran into barns and sheds. Cocky teenagers and young men hefted swords and shields. Most had never used one in their lives. They would be slaughtered, but who was he to tell them they couldn't die for what they believed in? He had grown up in the woods, before his family had been captured and sold into slavery. He knew how to use and bow, and he assumed that crossbows followed a similar principle. His thoughts began to drift to the time he had seen his sister, only a child of 5, being dragged away to learn to become a cook for some rich and powerful lord. At least she did not have to share his fate.
Cadan was armed with a long spear, and a short sword at his hip. He had never fought in a battle, but had learnt to use a spear when he been a boy. He had worked for a kindly young elf, who would care for his slaves, and feed them well. He had lived on the sea, and had used a spear to stab the fish from the water. He wondered if elves were similar to fish, they were fast like fish, he knew that much. His master had fallen on hard times though, and had been forced to sell his slaves. Cadan had been brought by the ranch owner, and lived there for most of his life.
George was on the front lines. He felt strangely empty as he saw the first of the elven troops march down the small road to the ranch. Earlier he had burned with rage, and lust for battle. Now he just felt desolate and empty, drained of his will to fight. He glanced to his left and his right, and saw men willing to fight and die for their friends and families. He refused to be the one of their number to break, and let them fall. The elves were at the gate now, and forming a line of swords and shields. Then they charged. As the elves ran forward, everything seemed to slow down. Dust was thrown into the air like sand in a pond. George swung the sword in a diagonal cut, sending an elves sword spinning off into the air. The elf swung his shield at him, and George took advantage of this opening. He thrust the sword into the elf, and felt the blade slide neatly between the elves ribs.
Cassandra had been fairly detached from the entire situation until now, as if she was a passenger riding along in the cart. Until now. She brought the sword down, and with a grunt she planted the blade firmly in the elves throat. Blood spurted from the soldiers neck, and he gasped and gurgled, before he slid of the blade and died on the floor. The second elf came at her and she leapt forward, and formed her body into a role mid leap. She gracefully sailed beneath the elves sweeping blade, and manage to regain her balance in time so as to use her blade to detach the elves leg, just below the knee. She finished the job by slicing her blade across the throat, cutting short the screams of agony.
Amazingly, the rebels were winning the fight, and some of the elves were beginning to turn and flee. Except one. The elven captain was taller then the male elves she commanded, which distinguished her from her men. She wielded a short sword and a dagger. As Cassandra watched, she disarmed a slave warrior, and impale him on her sword. Another slave charged her, only to have his sword thrown across the yard, and his throat cut. Cassandra now readied her blade, and prepared to resist. The captains first strike was like a bolt of lightning. It nearly shattered Cassandra's blade, and threw here off balance. The captain continued by thrusting with the dagger, however Cassandra span and missed being gutted. This didn't stop the blade from slicing deep into her skin, and causing her to scream with pain. The elf captain swung her boot up and into Cassandra's stomach, winding her and bringing her to her knees.
As the elf raised her sword to finnish the fight, but was interrupted by a quarrel that spouted from her chest. Swiftly followed by two more in her head and leg. Cassandra looked over at the building behind her, and saw Dimitri waving from a window, brandishing a crossbow. 'Don't vorry friend! I have your back!' Cassandra got back to her feet, and prepared to lead her men in one final push.
The last of the elves were fleeing the ranch, and though they had lost many, the men had prevailed. Joe stood with Cadan and Darius in the main yard of the ranch. 'What will happen now?' Questioned Cadan, unsure of their next moves. 'Well, it stands to reason that the elves won't let us live. They will return with renewed strength and crush us.' Joe twiddled a small pendant he had found in the ranch house, and now wore around his neck. It was in the shape of two waves, curling together, and winding into a circle. The shape represented the elven belief that all things lead to new things, and all actions have greater consequences.
A strong wind was blowing from the east, down onto a small town full of elven women and children, and the men who worked in their kitchens and yards. Cadan looked at the town, and saw an elven school. He could not make out details, but he could see the small blobs that were elven children running too and fro across a field, chasing each other and squealing in playful delight. Cadan turned to face Joe. Joe was also staring into the town, but Cadan could see the emptiness and deadness in his soul. Years of hard labour and robbed him of his finer emotions, and he calculated everything with a cold, logical disposition. 'Theres are barracks down there.' Darius remarked, gesturing toward the squat red building, and the ranks of soldiers forming up out side it. Further out of town there was archery targets and a training field. The town was clearly an important military outpost.
'We've come to far to just lay down and die now. I have a plan.' Cadan and Darius leaned in closer to hear these latest revelations. 'You both know what happens to a green-death flower when its burned yes?' 'Um, no not really.' 'It burns with a bright blue flame, and gives out a thick green gas. I've seen men breath that gas and die with in seconds.' 'What does this have to do with anything?' Cadan was bemused, he could think of no way this could help them now. 'The wind blows east, it will carry the gas down onto the town and...' 'Where will we get all the flowers we'ed need for this then?' 'The storage house there.' Joe pointed to a large barn across the yard. 'It houses tons of green-deaths, just ready to be shipped.' Cadan expressed his doubts about the plan. 'Won't that kill us too?' 'Not if we head to the west, in the direction of the wind.' 'I say we do it.' Exclaimed Darius. Cadan wasn't so sure. 'What about the women and children down there! They're innocent!' Joe sighed and looked into Cadan's eyes. 'Theres no time for mercy now Cadan, your either with us or against us.' With that Joe strode to the warehouse.
Lighting a torch from the brazier in the yard, Joe prepared to toss the lit branch into the sacks of green-death. The barn doors were opened, and the wind was picking up a good speed. 'STOP!' Joe turned to see Cadan standing in the barn entrance, dagger in hand. 'You can't do this Joe! You can't kill all those innocent people!' 'Arn't we innocent Cadan? We've been abused are whole lives, don't we get to fight back?' 'We stopped being innocent when we killed the elf in the fields!' 'Non of those people down there lifted a finger to help us! They'e as guilty as the ones who beat us!' 'If you do this Joe, you will never be the man I thought you once were!' 'I DON'T GIVA A DAMN WHAT YOU THINK!' Joe turned to throw the burning branch, but Cadan leapt forward, slamming into Joe's knees, knocking him flat.
Joe was pinned beneath Cadan, with Cadan's dagger at his throat. 'I will kill you Joe, if it means I save those people down there!' 'Thats were we differ see...' Joe's hands leapt to Cadan's belt, and snatched the second dagger Cadan stored there. Cadan tried to grab Joe's hand but Joe had twisted, throwing Cadan off him. The two men scrambled to their feet, blades ready, they circled each other like two wolves. Cadan lunged first, swiping the dagger at Joe's torso. Joe leapt back and swung with his dagger. Cadan dodged back and replied with another thrust. This one hit home, cutting deep into Joe's left arm. Joe retaliated with a strong swipe. As Cadan stepped back he lost his balance, and Joe seized the moment, kicking out with his leg, and catching Cadan just above the ankle. Cadan fell and crashed to the ground hard. 'I don't want to kill you Cadan, you have been a good friend to me, so...' Quick as lighting, Joe brought his dagger beneath Cadan's leg, slicing through the tendons, crippling his left leg. Cadan screamed in agony, but that didn't stop Joe repeating the process on his other leg. 'YOU BASTARD!' 'Darius!' Called Joe, and Darius entered the room. 'Take Cadan to safety, I will meet you soon.'
Darius slung Cadan over his shoulder. As the walked away from the barn Cadan asked: 'Darius, why didn't you help Joe in that fight?' 'Because I think, I know your right Cadan.' 'Why din't you help me then?' 'Because I, I knew you couldn't win, and we'ed die anyway unless Joe did it.' 'You'd put yourself above those people down in that town then?' They were into the woods at the back of the ranch now, and had met with the other slaves who were swiftly evacuating the premises. Darius turned, and he and Cadan saw the bright orange dance of the barn set alight. Leaping from the flames came long tendrils of green smoke, reaching out to grasp the town below, and suffocate it. 'I'm sorry Cadan, I'm only human.'
THE END
I;ve come to the end of this yarn, and I've got some ideas for the next but I need some ideas for the next! I'm thinking something set in middle earth, with you lot facing off against against a new menace from across the sea.... However I still need feedback and new ideas for the nest story!
The sun beat down on Cadan's back like a blacksmiths hammer. His arms worked like clockwork, reaching out, picking the flower buds, and placing them into the basket. The dark green poison the flowers oozed upon contact saturated his gloves, but he knew the master wouldn't give him a new pair even if he showed him the boils and scabs that covered his skin. Cadan had been picking green-death flowers for as long as he could remember, as had his father before him, until the elven slave masters dragged him into the yard, and forced him to swallow one of the flowers. Cadan remembered the way his pupils seemed to melt, and his last words: 'Fight them son, fight those pointy-eared bastards.'
The masters never explained why he had been killed, except for that he was: 'past prime working condition'. Elves were ruthless, and had enslaved the races of men as soon as they had encountered the "inferior" beings. Elves were faster, stronger and more intelligent then men, or thats what the men were lead to believe. Any slave who tried to fight was swiftly cut down, and any who tried to run were run down and gutted. In the field with him today were five other workers. Darius, a lithe, but strong young man who had grown up the Cadan on the plantation. Cassandra, a strong woman, yet not particularly pleasing to look upon. The elves made great sport of this, and she had learned to keep her head down when the masters where about. Joe, an unassuming, brown haired boy with a face of little remark, apart from his striking green eyes. Marie, an old, haggard woman, who had lived on the plantation longer than anyone could remember, even her. Jared, a tall, strongly built man who spoke little, but worked twice as well as the rest put together.
The group had been at work for nearly 3 hours, and the sun was beginning to roast them alive. The elven master stood behind them with a whip. Every now and then he would bend over, and cough constantly for a few minutes on end. They all knew what this meant. He was dying. No one knew where the disease came from, even the best elven scholars could not find a cure. Humans were immune to the disease, and were known to carry it. Millions had been slaughtered to prevent outbreaks of the disease in heavily populated areas. Once the master had finished coughing, he raised his whip. 'YOU!' He bellowed, waving the deadly instrument at Jared. 'I KNOW YOU CAN WORK HARDER! I EXPECT BOTH THOSE SACKS FULL BY MIDDAY!' 'But middays in under an hour sir-' 'DON'T ANSWER BA-' The master broke down into a fit of coughing, and then brought the whip down across Jared's back as if to punish him for his illness. 'YOUR A *cough* DIRTY SPINELESS *cough* DOG LIKE YOUR *cough* PATHETIC SISTER!' He brought down the whip again, and Jared's shirt began to darken as a red patch formed on his back.
'I've had enough of this..' muttered Joe under his breath, and he dropped everything to the ground. Everything except one green-death bud. He winked at Jared, and Jared nodded back. 'YOU!' Screamed the master, and made his way over to Joe, occasionally stopping to cough. 'WHY ARN'T YOU WORKING BOY!?' Joe turned around and stood up straight. At that moment, Jared leapt up, grabbed the elf around the neck, and forced his head back. 'WHAT ARE YOU DOI-' His cry of anger was silenced as Joe stuffed the small, black flower into his throat.
The elf choked, and instinctively swallowed. 'Wha- What have you do-' The elf fell to the ground, and his body shook,and blood leaked from his throat. Jared ripped the whip from his hands. 'Elven shit.' He grunted has he brought the whip down onto the elves face, and tore his features apart. Joe fumbles at the elves belt until he drew out a small dagger. 'Cadan! Cassandra! Marie! How do you feel about escaping?'
The next elf came running round the corner. This one was clearly healthy and in the prime of life. Within a second he had launched forward and knocked Jared to the ground with a powerful uppercut. The elf grabbed Jared by the collar and lifted him, delivering another punch to his ribs. This one connected with a sickening crack. Joe ran to Jared's aid, and planted the dagger squarely between the elves shoulders. The elf cried out in pain, and dropped Jared to the ground. As he turned to face Joe, the rest of the group saw how tall the elf was. He towered over Joe, a good foot taller. The elf reached over his shoulders, and yanked the dagger from his back with a wince. This time it was cadan's turn. He leapt forward, wound up his arm for the punch, and slammed his fist squarely into the jaw of the elf. His knuckles were burning with the pain, but he knew he had broken the elves jaw.
The elf fell to the ground in pain, dropping Joe's dagger. Joe picked up the fallen weapon, and knelt down, seizing the elf by the throat. 'Please... mercy...' Croaked the elf, but Joe's dagger was already at his throat, and slicing. Blood spurted from the elves throat, coating Joe in a sickening red sheen. This elf also had a dagger, and Joe tossed the blade to Cadan. Masie hobbled over to Jared, and examined his broken ribs. 'Cassandra!' Jared coughed, flecks of blood falling from his lips. Cassandra ran over to him. 'Take the whip, leave me, go!' Joe ran over to Jared. 'Jared were not going without you!' 'I'll die here anyway..' Jared reached out one trembling hand, and faster then anyone could react he tore the dagger from Joe's grasp. 'May the Lord make your arm strong, and your blades keen..' With those parting words, Jared thrust the Blade into his heart, and his soul fled his body with one final gasp.
Everyone was in shock.
They had all expected to die, but not like that. In the eyes of the warrior god, to fear death was to spend an eternity in the shadow of greater men, serving their table in the halls of the lord. Jared had not feared death, he had welcomed it, and he would be welcomed into the arms of the lord for that. Joe was silent now, blood dripping from his arms and head, eyes alight with vengeful fire. "Cadan, Cassandra with me. Masie-' 'I'll stay.' The old woman croaked. 'I will Jared's body the warriors rite, you go, don't worry about me..' 'As you wish.' Half the elves on the ranch were dying, the other half were already dead. This was no longer escape, this was a hunt.
All across the ranch, there was screaming and cheering. Whilst Joe and Jared had murdered their master, so had most of the other slaves on the ranch. A large group lead by a man named Darius were the first to rendezvous with Cadan and the rest of the group. Darius was a tall man, similar to Joe as he was a slight man; however he had strong, broad shoulders, and a wave of bright blonde hair washed across his scalp. At his heel was another man, Dimitri. Dimitri was short, but powerfully built and obviously more muscular than Darius. He spoke with a thick accent. Beside him was George. George was a wild card. He was quiet most of the time, however at the moment he was coated in blood, gripping a dagger in his fist. His dark brown eyes mirrored Joe's, filled with dark fire and silent rage. His brown hair was matted and clotted with elven blood, and he had a scratch running from his left ear to the left corner of his mouse.
'Cadan!' Darius welcomed him with open arms, and Cadan returned the gesture. On the ranch you slept and worked with different people, and Cadan and Darius were bunkmates. Every evening the people in the bunks sat in silent fear, waiting for their friends to return, and more often than not, they never did. 'My friend I feared you had been killed! I heard screams from your end of the ranch, and assumed the plan had gone into motion!' 'You heard correctly.' Said Joe, in a forceful, commanding tone. Cadan had not heard him speak like that before, and he knew something about him had changed. 'Vhats our next move Joe?' Questioned Dimitri. 'We take the armoury, and then...' 'And Zhen?' 'We head into the woods, and hide.' 'Vheres the armoury?' 'Just a 100 yards east of here, around this warehouse.' 'Lets go!'
The group of six was followed by 10 or 20 more slaves, all dressed in rags, and sharing the determination that drove them all on. The door of the armoury was locked, but they kicked it down, the rotting wood splitting quickly. The elf inside was old and sick, and didn't scream when Dimitri slit his throat. 'Grab veapons guys!' Called Dimitri, and the slaves grabbed armour and weapons, turning from a group of outcasts to a formidable fighting force. A young boy had been sent out to watch the farm entrance, but he soon came running back in, the steel helm he wore slipping down over his eyes. 'Dimitri sir! Theres more of 'em! and They've got swords and spears and arrows!' 'Alright zhen.' 'Joe, Darius! Ve have company!'
Dimitri grabbed a crossbow from the rack of weapons, and scampered up the stairs, into the top of the armoury, where there were large windows, perfect for firing arrows. He looked down and saw his fellow slaves panicking and running, mothers grabbed children and ran into barns and sheds. Cocky teenagers and young men hefted swords and shields. Most had never used one in their lives. They would be slaughtered, but who was he to tell them they couldn't die for what they believed in? He had grown up in the woods, before his family had been captured and sold into slavery. He knew how to use and bow, and he assumed that crossbows followed a similar principle. His thoughts began to drift to the time he had seen his sister, only a child of 5, being dragged away to learn to become a cook for some rich and powerful lord. At least she did not have to share his fate.
Cadan was armed with a long spear, and a short sword at his hip. He had never fought in a battle, but had learnt to use a spear when he been a boy. He had worked for a kindly young elf, who would care for his slaves, and feed them well. He had lived on the sea, and had used a spear to stab the fish from the water. He wondered if elves were similar to fish, they were fast like fish, he knew that much. His master had fallen on hard times though, and had been forced to sell his slaves. Cadan had been brought by the ranch owner, and lived there for most of his life.
George was on the front lines. He felt strangely empty as he saw the first of the elven troops march down the small road to the ranch. Earlier he had burned with rage, and lust for battle. Now he just felt desolate and empty, drained of his will to fight. He glanced to his left and his right, and saw men willing to fight and die for their friends and families. He refused to be the one of their number to break, and let them fall. The elves were at the gate now, and forming a line of swords and shields. Then they charged. As the elves ran forward, everything seemed to slow down. Dust was thrown into the air like sand in a pond. George swung the sword in a diagonal cut, sending an elves sword spinning off into the air. The elf swung his shield at him, and George took advantage of this opening. He thrust the sword into the elf, and felt the blade slide neatly between the elves ribs.
Cassandra had been fairly detached from the entire situation until now, as if she was a passenger riding along in the cart. Until now. She brought the sword down, and with a grunt she planted the blade firmly in the elves throat. Blood spurted from the soldiers neck, and he gasped and gurgled, before he slid of the blade and died on the floor. The second elf came at her and she leapt forward, and formed her body into a role mid leap. She gracefully sailed beneath the elves sweeping blade, and manage to regain her balance in time so as to use her blade to detach the elves leg, just below the knee. She finished the job by slicing her blade across the throat, cutting short the screams of agony.
Amazingly, the rebels were winning the fight, and some of the elves were beginning to turn and flee. Except one. The elven captain was taller then the male elves she commanded, which distinguished her from her men. She wielded a short sword and a dagger. As Cassandra watched, she disarmed a slave warrior, and impale him on her sword. Another slave charged her, only to have his sword thrown across the yard, and his throat cut. Cassandra now readied her blade, and prepared to resist. The captains first strike was like a bolt of lightning. It nearly shattered Cassandra's blade, and threw here off balance. The captain continued by thrusting with the dagger, however Cassandra span and missed being gutted. This didn't stop the blade from slicing deep into her skin, and causing her to scream with pain. The elf captain swung her boot up and into Cassandra's stomach, winding her and bringing her to her knees.
As the elf raised her sword to finnish the fight, but was interrupted by a quarrel that spouted from her chest. Swiftly followed by two more in her head and leg. Cassandra looked over at the building behind her, and saw Dimitri waving from a window, brandishing a crossbow. 'Don't vorry friend! I have your back!' Cassandra got back to her feet, and prepared to lead her men in one final push.
The last of the elves were fleeing the ranch, and though they had lost many, the men had prevailed. Joe stood with Cadan and Darius in the main yard of the ranch. 'What will happen now?' Questioned Cadan, unsure of their next moves. 'Well, it stands to reason that the elves won't let us live. They will return with renewed strength and crush us.' Joe twiddled a small pendant he had found in the ranch house, and now wore around his neck. It was in the shape of two waves, curling together, and winding into a circle. The shape represented the elven belief that all things lead to new things, and all actions have greater consequences.
A strong wind was blowing from the east, down onto a small town full of elven women and children, and the men who worked in their kitchens and yards. Cadan looked at the town, and saw an elven school. He could not make out details, but he could see the small blobs that were elven children running too and fro across a field, chasing each other and squealing in playful delight. Cadan turned to face Joe. Joe was also staring into the town, but Cadan could see the emptiness and deadness in his soul. Years of hard labour and robbed him of his finer emotions, and he calculated everything with a cold, logical disposition. 'Theres are barracks down there.' Darius remarked, gesturing toward the squat red building, and the ranks of soldiers forming up out side it. Further out of town there was archery targets and a training field. The town was clearly an important military outpost.
'We've come to far to just lay down and die now. I have a plan.' Cadan and Darius leaned in closer to hear these latest revelations. 'You both know what happens to a green-death flower when its burned yes?' 'Um, no not really.' 'It burns with a bright blue flame, and gives out a thick green gas. I've seen men breath that gas and die with in seconds.' 'What does this have to do with anything?' Cadan was bemused, he could think of no way this could help them now. 'The wind blows east, it will carry the gas down onto the town and...' 'Where will we get all the flowers we'ed need for this then?' 'The storage house there.' Joe pointed to a large barn across the yard. 'It houses tons of green-deaths, just ready to be shipped.' Cadan expressed his doubts about the plan. 'Won't that kill us too?' 'Not if we head to the west, in the direction of the wind.' 'I say we do it.' Exclaimed Darius. Cadan wasn't so sure. 'What about the women and children down there! They're innocent!' Joe sighed and looked into Cadan's eyes. 'Theres no time for mercy now Cadan, your either with us or against us.' With that Joe strode to the warehouse.
Lighting a torch from the brazier in the yard, Joe prepared to toss the lit branch into the sacks of green-death. The barn doors were opened, and the wind was picking up a good speed. 'STOP!' Joe turned to see Cadan standing in the barn entrance, dagger in hand. 'You can't do this Joe! You can't kill all those innocent people!' 'Arn't we innocent Cadan? We've been abused are whole lives, don't we get to fight back?' 'We stopped being innocent when we killed the elf in the fields!' 'Non of those people down there lifted a finger to help us! They'e as guilty as the ones who beat us!' 'If you do this Joe, you will never be the man I thought you once were!' 'I DON'T GIVA A DAMN WHAT YOU THINK!' Joe turned to throw the burning branch, but Cadan leapt forward, slamming into Joe's knees, knocking him flat.
Joe was pinned beneath Cadan, with Cadan's dagger at his throat. 'I will kill you Joe, if it means I save those people down there!' 'Thats were we differ see...' Joe's hands leapt to Cadan's belt, and snatched the second dagger Cadan stored there. Cadan tried to grab Joe's hand but Joe had twisted, throwing Cadan off him. The two men scrambled to their feet, blades ready, they circled each other like two wolves. Cadan lunged first, swiping the dagger at Joe's torso. Joe leapt back and swung with his dagger. Cadan dodged back and replied with another thrust. This one hit home, cutting deep into Joe's left arm. Joe retaliated with a strong swipe. As Cadan stepped back he lost his balance, and Joe seized the moment, kicking out with his leg, and catching Cadan just above the ankle. Cadan fell and crashed to the ground hard. 'I don't want to kill you Cadan, you have been a good friend to me, so...' Quick as lighting, Joe brought his dagger beneath Cadan's leg, slicing through the tendons, crippling his left leg. Cadan screamed in agony, but that didn't stop Joe repeating the process on his other leg. 'YOU BASTARD!' 'Darius!' Called Joe, and Darius entered the room. 'Take Cadan to safety, I will meet you soon.'
Darius slung Cadan over his shoulder. As the walked away from the barn Cadan asked: 'Darius, why didn't you help Joe in that fight?' 'Because I think, I know your right Cadan.' 'Why din't you help me then?' 'Because I, I knew you couldn't win, and we'ed die anyway unless Joe did it.' 'You'd put yourself above those people down in that town then?' They were into the woods at the back of the ranch now, and had met with the other slaves who were swiftly evacuating the premises. Darius turned, and he and Cadan saw the bright orange dance of the barn set alight. Leaping from the flames came long tendrils of green smoke, reaching out to grasp the town below, and suffocate it. 'I'm sorry Cadan, I'm only human.'
THE END
I;ve come to the end of this yarn, and I've got some ideas for the next but I need some ideas for the next! I'm thinking something set in middle earth, with you lot facing off against against a new menace from across the sea.... However I still need feedback and new ideas for the nest story!
