Post by Lunacyde Prime on Nov 29, 2010 18:44:55 GMT -5
Chapter One : The Prophet’s Bell
“Molly - Molly - Molly”, the words boomed and carried on the wind over waves of amber wheat with a sense of urgency. A young man stood momentarily still, his deep blue eyes gleamed as they scanned the bright horizon. He held a rough weathered hand to the side of his face to shield from the blinding sunset burning like a brilliant torch sinking quickly in the wide open sky.
His figure cast a long shadow, well built and tall mirroring the young man’s powerful stature. His skin was bronze in the light of waning day, kissed by the sun and covered in sweat and dirt. A brown flannel shirt hung from his square shoulders, loosely buttoned, and rolled up at the sleeves. A pair of sturdy, worn jeans peeked out from under the perspiration spotted shirt, covering his legs and coming to a stop as their split ends draped over a pair of brown leather boots cracked with age and use. His normally caring face was angular, his strong jaw tight with doubt, a sinking feeling growing deep in his gut. His cheekbones were rugged accenting the triangular shape of his nose and underlining his worried eyes. Eyes, normally wide and rich with life, but now squinting, nervous, peering out from behind stray locks of straw colored hair.
He scratched his head nervously. “Molly”, he called again, his voice louder, full of desperation. He strode through the tall grass, it whispered and sighed with each stride. “The elders are going to kill me for being out after dark, but I’ll never forgive myself for letting her out of my sight.”, he mumbled under a shallow breath. His heart began to thump louder, and faster, his pace quickened as his frantic footfalls trampled the prairie grass.
His heart was pounding like the striking of a hammer, so hard he almost didn’t hear the metallic clink behind him to the left. He wheeled around quickly his eyes darting to catch a glimpse of what had caused the strange sound. He stepped closer, grass rustling by, and there it was again, the tink of metal striking metal. The tall grassland cast eerie shadows as the sun slipped further behind the rolling fields. He searched wildly for the source of the sound, finally stumbling upon a patch of softly trampled grass.
“Mollandria Elizabeth Rex! What are you doing all the way out here?” He demanded, choking back tears of relief. Before him sat a small girl, about age seven. Her long brown hair was braided and pulled back in a crazy knot. She wore a grimy baseball tee, white with blue three-quarter length sleeves, navy blue sweatpants, torn and spattered with dirt, tucked into mottled black galoshes. She looked up at him with big brown eyes.
“I’m on an adventure.” she replied innocently.
“No more adventures. You can’t scare me like that, you know you’re not allowed to leave my sight. I promised Mom and Dad I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. Do you know what the elders are going to say if they catch us out after dark? It will be lashings for sure. Do you know what comes out after dark? Why didn’t you answer me when I called for you?”
“Ryanus, you sounded pretty angry, I didn’t mean to-”
“Well you did’, he cut in sharply. “Now lets get back before they notice we aren’t there.”
“But I found something”
“What do you mean you found something?”
She stood up drawing something from her hands and gingerly offering it for him to see. There in the crook of her hand lays a silver bell, tarnished, but beautiful nonetheless. It was no bigger than a baseball, crusted with earth, the intricate carving and metalwork covered in dust. He was instantly drawn to it, though he had no clue why. A glimmer of fading radiance twinkled off it’s graceful curvature as the last light of day plunged beneath the skyline. His hand extended forth slowly and cautiously, as if he were going to pet a wild animal, his eyes widening, mouth gaping open. As his skin touched the metal blue sparks illuminated the field, the bell began to glow, white and blue alternating randomly, emanating a powerful, indescribable noise.
Molly could only watch as her older brother floated motionless, eyes glowing, body limp. His hair wafted through the air as if in slow motion, sparks sizzled and skipped, jumping from his body in spectacular arcs. It passed in mere seconds, but it seemed like an eternity, and then it’s gone. He collapsed on the ground seemingly lifeless. Molly stared at him, the color having gone from her cheeks, tears welling in her soft brown eyes.
“Ryanus, Ryanus!” She screamed as she clenched his shirt in her fingers, a single tear dropping from her cheek to his, beading in a perfect circle as she shook him. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” is all that she could manage to say.
He coughed, uncontrollably at first, but soon calmed it enough to speak. A thin trickle of blood ran from his nose “It’s Ok, Molly it’s gonna be ok”. He blinked his eyes, continuing to cough, sitting up. “ It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time”, he started, pausing momentarily. He spoke, not really to anyone or anything in particular. The words just flowed from his mouth uncontrollably. “I saw all the colors I could ever imagine, all the sights and sounds and smells everything in existence rushed over me like a wave, more than I could comprehend and yet I knew what was happening. It sounds so contradictory, so unbelievable, and then I felt a great pain, horrible agony, screaming, I can’t really explain, but I can see things now, colors and movements, energy - it shows me things I couldn’t see before.”
Ryanus cocked his head, straining as if to hear something soft. There was a whisper of the wind, a solemn rush, a low growl, almost indistinguishable. A monstrous form leapt from the shadows. Ryanus somehow felt his body moving without him. Instinctively he rushed the beast, seemingly reacting to it’s lurching movements before they happened. “Run Molly, run and don’t you stop until you’re back home!“ She faltered, eyes wide in shock, “Now, run!“ The creature slashed at him with jagged nails, stained yellow with decay. He dodged the sweeping attack by inches tripping over a rock, and falling backwards. As the beast was upon him he could smell the stench of death flooding his nostrils. Suddenly a small rock struck the creature’s head, it hissed as it turned toward Molly.
Ryanus clambered to his feet, no time to talk, no time to think. He tackled the raging ghoul as it charged Molly. He struck it in the throat with a powerful palm strike. It wailed in pain, it’s eyes flashed in fear and it retreated into the shadows whimpering like a wounded animal.
Ryanus turned to his sister shooting her with a look that could pierce steel, “ I told you to run, will you never listen to me?” He shivered as he contemplated how close they had just come to death, “Come on, lets go home”.
The walk back to the reservation was silent and slow. No need to hurry now, they would be in plenty of trouble soon enough. The elders certainly weren’t the type to show mercy. Ryanus had plenty on his mind and Molly seemed perfectly content to remain quiet for the time being so the only sound was the swishing of grass and the low, slow murmur of crickets. Questions and answers churned in Ryanus’s head like a hive of bees. How did he hurt a ghoul? What had that bell done to him? He tucked it tightly away in Molly’s satchel. Ghouls were supposed to be as strong as five men, savage and vicious, how were they still alive? and what was it doing alone?
His thoughts were interrupted by the large metal gate before him and the abrupt shouting of the two men guarding it. The gate was the only way into the reservation, sturdy dark steel fences stretched out like arms in both directions wrapping around the small community like a mighty hug. Razor wire and makeshift spikes protruded from the fence glinting ominously in the night air.
“Who goes there?” Shouted the first guard a little too harshly. He wore a black leather jacket, biker style and worn in leather pants with tall matching boots, his eyes were black coals sitting in a weathered sunken face.
“Come on and answer or we’ll shoot you right where you stand.“ The second man interjected before Ryanus could even state his name. This man was dressed similarly, but on his head he wore a black leather helmet and goggles, his face was grizzled and severe.
“I am Ryanus Rex, and this is my younger sister Molly-”
“Nice to meet you”, Molly chimed in unfazed by the situation. She was always doing this, interrupting when she should stay silent, always causing problems, he thought to himself.
“Molly, let me handle this! He snapped at her. “As I was saying sir, I am Ryanus Rex and this is my sister, we live here in Cinderhaven , and we would greatly appreciate it if we could be granted passage through the gates to get home.”
“You are aware you are out after curfew Mr. Rex?
“Yes sir, but I assure you it was for good reason. We-”
“Nothing else, we will take you to the elders and they will decide what is to be done with you“ said the second guard in a low flat voice. He whistled and four more similarly dressed men appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Victor, Hugo you two stand guard - Jacen, Markus you two come escort our prisoners with me.”
“Sir I have to ask that you leave my sister out of this, I assume full responsibility for her, let her be on her way home”
“Ryanus, it’s all right” she tried to reassure him.
“Molly, what did I say earlier?”, he glared at her.
“Seems you should probably get a muzzle for your sister eh? So young, she doesn‘t know respect yet, I suggest you teach her before I have to.”
Ryanus‘s fists clenched. “Just let her go home, I will take double the punishment, she’s just a child.” He offered his wrists to the guards in a gesture of submission.
“Oh - a child huh“, the first guard mocked in a harsh growl “And what does that make you? You can’t be a day over seventeen kid.” He kicked the back of Ryanus’s leg so hard he fell to his knees. The two guards that had been called over took his wrists and bound them behind his back.
“Sixteen actually“, Ryanus said looking defiantly into the guard’s black eyes. “I am fully responsible for what happened tonight and I am fully accountable for whatever punishment is to be dealt out.”
“Oh and where are your parents? Letting their children run free breaking laws, being wild savages, they don’t sound fit to raise children if you ask me.”
“My parents are dead, we have no family save for each other, I have nothing without her.”
The first guard seemed to ponder for a moment. “Very well. Let the girl go”
“Run along home Molly, I’ll be there soon” Ryanus said as cheerfully as he could manage.
“I’ll make some corn chowder, I know it‘s your favorite“, was all she could say before the guards dragged him to his feet. In seconds they were gone in a flourish of darkness and dust.
“What the hell have I gotten myself into”, Ryanus thought to himself. The Elder Council was as corrupt and vile as anyone he‘d ever known. They used fear to gain and protect their power, preying on the weak and unfortunate souls seeking asylum within the confines of the reservation. It is said that the vampires had promised to leave humans alone so long as they stayed to their reservations, but these weasels and jackals were just as dangerous as what lays outside the walls.
When his family had arrived in Cinderhaven from the East his mother was gravely ill. The Elders, who had a tight grip on medical supplies and care, refused to treat her. So his father, heartbroken, did the only thing he could. He offered the greedy wretches a trade. He offered his service to them in return for the care of his wife. The Elders quickly agreed, sending his father out on a fool’s errand. When he didn’t return they refused to uphold their end of the deal, his mother died, and the council seized all of their possessions. Their land, their homes, photos, truck - everything. They left Ryanus out on his own; parentless, homeless, starving, and scraping to take care of his baby sister, barely two years old.
Thick metal doors crashed as he was pulled through them and Ryanus was jerked back into the present - into reality. The council chamber was handsomely decorated, with fine grey tapestries trimmed in red. The room was well lit, and comfortably heated by three roaring fires. The spaciousness and extravagance contrasted starkly with the dirty, confined buildings and tents found outside. The floor was circular, smooth, and black, a high bench of finely crafted wood arched in a semi-circle around it, and behind it sat thirteen faces, languid and lazy with decadence. They were all dressed in flowing black robes, their beady eyes following the prisoner as he entered the chamber. The guards led him to the very center of the room. The one with the sunken face struck him again across the back of the legs, this time with a thin metal switch. Ryanus dropped to his knees wincing in pain. He looked up at the council, staring down their noses at him like an animal in a trap.
“Ah, that is better”, remarked the High Elder, seated at the direct middle of the semi-circle. “Ryanus Rex, - well, well - you had better have a good reason for being out after dark, hadn‘t you?” His pale plump face looking snidely down at Ryanus.
“Calm and respectful“, Ryanus thought to himself hoping to avoid further problems. “Sir, my sister had wandered off as I finished up my work in the fields, you know how kids her age are.”
There was a buzz of whispers and murmuring, and then he spoke again. “Your sister is of no consequence to this council, you have broken our rules, and you will both be punished accordingly.”
Ryanus felt a spark ignite within his chest, his mouth gaping open. ‘She is of consequence to me! You can’t be serious - she’s only a child of seven.”
“And you are sixteen - you should have her on a leash! Your family has cost us quite enough already Rex.” The pale little man sneered from his high seat. “I find it exceedingly amusing, your name means King in Latin, but your pathetic excuse of a family has done nothing but grovel and beg, leeching on this community. You are beggars and thieves.”
Ryanus clenched his teeth, “My sister is of age seven, and yet she does work your grown sons have never known. My father died serving you with honor, and my mother died of illness because of you - you went back on your agreement and refused to treat her!” He could barely control the words escaping his mouth, nearly trembling with hatred for these men. “I have done nothing but work to survive since my mother’s death, I have never taken a thing I have not earned, and I have asked of you nothing.”
“You are asking us to turn a blind eye to your transgressions against this council and the community we represent. I will not abide by that Ryanus Rex. We demand reparation for your crimes. We will take the healthiest cow you possess.”
“You can’t do that - we can’t afford it, we barely make it by as is. I promised my parents I would take care of Molly”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep” he smiled sinisterly. “That is all”, he motioned to the guards.
There was a great commotion as the elders began talking to each other, One of the guards grabbed Ryanus gruffly by the neck. The others grabbed his shoulders, lifting him to his feet.
“You can’t do this!” Ryanus exclaimed as the guards dragged him struggling out of the room.
“I just did”
The desperation grew inside Ryanus - he couldn’t let this happen. As the great doors were opening Ryanus exhausted his final option. “We were attacked, by a ghoul!”
“Serves you right for being out after dark, wouldn’t you say?” The other members of the council chuckled. “Now you don’t really expect us to believe this wild story do you? You are a scared little boy, hoping to avoid punishment. Your our story is faulty. Ghouls are pack hunters, you mean to say you survived an encounter with a pack of ghouls unarmed?”
“No, there was only one.” Ryanus bit his lower lip, he had hoped to keep the bell a secret. What was he to tell them when the inevitable question of how he was able to scare a ghoul off came up? Of course as things often did in his life, things didn’t develop as he planned, and the question never came up. Instead he faced the wrath of an angry council.
‘I will not accept deceit in front of this council. You would have us let you make a mockery of the law if your way is to be had.”, raged the High Elder. His face was now wrinkled with anger. “Guards take young Mr. Rex back to his home and bring back with you all his cattle. He will learn the price of his deception.”
Before Ryanus could protest he was struck over the head with a heavy blunt object, sounds dimmed, his head swam, and everything faded to black.
“Molly - Molly - Molly”, the words boomed and carried on the wind over waves of amber wheat with a sense of urgency. A young man stood momentarily still, his deep blue eyes gleamed as they scanned the bright horizon. He held a rough weathered hand to the side of his face to shield from the blinding sunset burning like a brilliant torch sinking quickly in the wide open sky.
His figure cast a long shadow, well built and tall mirroring the young man’s powerful stature. His skin was bronze in the light of waning day, kissed by the sun and covered in sweat and dirt. A brown flannel shirt hung from his square shoulders, loosely buttoned, and rolled up at the sleeves. A pair of sturdy, worn jeans peeked out from under the perspiration spotted shirt, covering his legs and coming to a stop as their split ends draped over a pair of brown leather boots cracked with age and use. His normally caring face was angular, his strong jaw tight with doubt, a sinking feeling growing deep in his gut. His cheekbones were rugged accenting the triangular shape of his nose and underlining his worried eyes. Eyes, normally wide and rich with life, but now squinting, nervous, peering out from behind stray locks of straw colored hair.
He scratched his head nervously. “Molly”, he called again, his voice louder, full of desperation. He strode through the tall grass, it whispered and sighed with each stride. “The elders are going to kill me for being out after dark, but I’ll never forgive myself for letting her out of my sight.”, he mumbled under a shallow breath. His heart began to thump louder, and faster, his pace quickened as his frantic footfalls trampled the prairie grass.
His heart was pounding like the striking of a hammer, so hard he almost didn’t hear the metallic clink behind him to the left. He wheeled around quickly his eyes darting to catch a glimpse of what had caused the strange sound. He stepped closer, grass rustling by, and there it was again, the tink of metal striking metal. The tall grassland cast eerie shadows as the sun slipped further behind the rolling fields. He searched wildly for the source of the sound, finally stumbling upon a patch of softly trampled grass.
“Mollandria Elizabeth Rex! What are you doing all the way out here?” He demanded, choking back tears of relief. Before him sat a small girl, about age seven. Her long brown hair was braided and pulled back in a crazy knot. She wore a grimy baseball tee, white with blue three-quarter length sleeves, navy blue sweatpants, torn and spattered with dirt, tucked into mottled black galoshes. She looked up at him with big brown eyes.
“I’m on an adventure.” she replied innocently.
“No more adventures. You can’t scare me like that, you know you’re not allowed to leave my sight. I promised Mom and Dad I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. Do you know what the elders are going to say if they catch us out after dark? It will be lashings for sure. Do you know what comes out after dark? Why didn’t you answer me when I called for you?”
“Ryanus, you sounded pretty angry, I didn’t mean to-”
“Well you did’, he cut in sharply. “Now lets get back before they notice we aren’t there.”
“But I found something”
“What do you mean you found something?”
She stood up drawing something from her hands and gingerly offering it for him to see. There in the crook of her hand lays a silver bell, tarnished, but beautiful nonetheless. It was no bigger than a baseball, crusted with earth, the intricate carving and metalwork covered in dust. He was instantly drawn to it, though he had no clue why. A glimmer of fading radiance twinkled off it’s graceful curvature as the last light of day plunged beneath the skyline. His hand extended forth slowly and cautiously, as if he were going to pet a wild animal, his eyes widening, mouth gaping open. As his skin touched the metal blue sparks illuminated the field, the bell began to glow, white and blue alternating randomly, emanating a powerful, indescribable noise.
Molly could only watch as her older brother floated motionless, eyes glowing, body limp. His hair wafted through the air as if in slow motion, sparks sizzled and skipped, jumping from his body in spectacular arcs. It passed in mere seconds, but it seemed like an eternity, and then it’s gone. He collapsed on the ground seemingly lifeless. Molly stared at him, the color having gone from her cheeks, tears welling in her soft brown eyes.
“Ryanus, Ryanus!” She screamed as she clenched his shirt in her fingers, a single tear dropping from her cheek to his, beading in a perfect circle as she shook him. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” is all that she could manage to say.
He coughed, uncontrollably at first, but soon calmed it enough to speak. A thin trickle of blood ran from his nose “It’s Ok, Molly it’s gonna be ok”. He blinked his eyes, continuing to cough, sitting up. “ It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time”, he started, pausing momentarily. He spoke, not really to anyone or anything in particular. The words just flowed from his mouth uncontrollably. “I saw all the colors I could ever imagine, all the sights and sounds and smells everything in existence rushed over me like a wave, more than I could comprehend and yet I knew what was happening. It sounds so contradictory, so unbelievable, and then I felt a great pain, horrible agony, screaming, I can’t really explain, but I can see things now, colors and movements, energy - it shows me things I couldn’t see before.”
Ryanus cocked his head, straining as if to hear something soft. There was a whisper of the wind, a solemn rush, a low growl, almost indistinguishable. A monstrous form leapt from the shadows. Ryanus somehow felt his body moving without him. Instinctively he rushed the beast, seemingly reacting to it’s lurching movements before they happened. “Run Molly, run and don’t you stop until you’re back home!“ She faltered, eyes wide in shock, “Now, run!“ The creature slashed at him with jagged nails, stained yellow with decay. He dodged the sweeping attack by inches tripping over a rock, and falling backwards. As the beast was upon him he could smell the stench of death flooding his nostrils. Suddenly a small rock struck the creature’s head, it hissed as it turned toward Molly.
Ryanus clambered to his feet, no time to talk, no time to think. He tackled the raging ghoul as it charged Molly. He struck it in the throat with a powerful palm strike. It wailed in pain, it’s eyes flashed in fear and it retreated into the shadows whimpering like a wounded animal.
Ryanus turned to his sister shooting her with a look that could pierce steel, “ I told you to run, will you never listen to me?” He shivered as he contemplated how close they had just come to death, “Come on, lets go home”.
The walk back to the reservation was silent and slow. No need to hurry now, they would be in plenty of trouble soon enough. The elders certainly weren’t the type to show mercy. Ryanus had plenty on his mind and Molly seemed perfectly content to remain quiet for the time being so the only sound was the swishing of grass and the low, slow murmur of crickets. Questions and answers churned in Ryanus’s head like a hive of bees. How did he hurt a ghoul? What had that bell done to him? He tucked it tightly away in Molly’s satchel. Ghouls were supposed to be as strong as five men, savage and vicious, how were they still alive? and what was it doing alone?
His thoughts were interrupted by the large metal gate before him and the abrupt shouting of the two men guarding it. The gate was the only way into the reservation, sturdy dark steel fences stretched out like arms in both directions wrapping around the small community like a mighty hug. Razor wire and makeshift spikes protruded from the fence glinting ominously in the night air.
“Who goes there?” Shouted the first guard a little too harshly. He wore a black leather jacket, biker style and worn in leather pants with tall matching boots, his eyes were black coals sitting in a weathered sunken face.
“Come on and answer or we’ll shoot you right where you stand.“ The second man interjected before Ryanus could even state his name. This man was dressed similarly, but on his head he wore a black leather helmet and goggles, his face was grizzled and severe.
“I am Ryanus Rex, and this is my younger sister Molly-”
“Nice to meet you”, Molly chimed in unfazed by the situation. She was always doing this, interrupting when she should stay silent, always causing problems, he thought to himself.
“Molly, let me handle this! He snapped at her. “As I was saying sir, I am Ryanus Rex and this is my sister, we live here in Cinderhaven , and we would greatly appreciate it if we could be granted passage through the gates to get home.”
“You are aware you are out after curfew Mr. Rex?
“Yes sir, but I assure you it was for good reason. We-”
“Nothing else, we will take you to the elders and they will decide what is to be done with you“ said the second guard in a low flat voice. He whistled and four more similarly dressed men appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Victor, Hugo you two stand guard - Jacen, Markus you two come escort our prisoners with me.”
“Sir I have to ask that you leave my sister out of this, I assume full responsibility for her, let her be on her way home”
“Ryanus, it’s all right” she tried to reassure him.
“Molly, what did I say earlier?”, he glared at her.
“Seems you should probably get a muzzle for your sister eh? So young, she doesn‘t know respect yet, I suggest you teach her before I have to.”
Ryanus‘s fists clenched. “Just let her go home, I will take double the punishment, she’s just a child.” He offered his wrists to the guards in a gesture of submission.
“Oh - a child huh“, the first guard mocked in a harsh growl “And what does that make you? You can’t be a day over seventeen kid.” He kicked the back of Ryanus’s leg so hard he fell to his knees. The two guards that had been called over took his wrists and bound them behind his back.
“Sixteen actually“, Ryanus said looking defiantly into the guard’s black eyes. “I am fully responsible for what happened tonight and I am fully accountable for whatever punishment is to be dealt out.”
“Oh and where are your parents? Letting their children run free breaking laws, being wild savages, they don’t sound fit to raise children if you ask me.”
“My parents are dead, we have no family save for each other, I have nothing without her.”
The first guard seemed to ponder for a moment. “Very well. Let the girl go”
“Run along home Molly, I’ll be there soon” Ryanus said as cheerfully as he could manage.
“I’ll make some corn chowder, I know it‘s your favorite“, was all she could say before the guards dragged him to his feet. In seconds they were gone in a flourish of darkness and dust.
“What the hell have I gotten myself into”, Ryanus thought to himself. The Elder Council was as corrupt and vile as anyone he‘d ever known. They used fear to gain and protect their power, preying on the weak and unfortunate souls seeking asylum within the confines of the reservation. It is said that the vampires had promised to leave humans alone so long as they stayed to their reservations, but these weasels and jackals were just as dangerous as what lays outside the walls.
When his family had arrived in Cinderhaven from the East his mother was gravely ill. The Elders, who had a tight grip on medical supplies and care, refused to treat her. So his father, heartbroken, did the only thing he could. He offered the greedy wretches a trade. He offered his service to them in return for the care of his wife. The Elders quickly agreed, sending his father out on a fool’s errand. When he didn’t return they refused to uphold their end of the deal, his mother died, and the council seized all of their possessions. Their land, their homes, photos, truck - everything. They left Ryanus out on his own; parentless, homeless, starving, and scraping to take care of his baby sister, barely two years old.
Thick metal doors crashed as he was pulled through them and Ryanus was jerked back into the present - into reality. The council chamber was handsomely decorated, with fine grey tapestries trimmed in red. The room was well lit, and comfortably heated by three roaring fires. The spaciousness and extravagance contrasted starkly with the dirty, confined buildings and tents found outside. The floor was circular, smooth, and black, a high bench of finely crafted wood arched in a semi-circle around it, and behind it sat thirteen faces, languid and lazy with decadence. They were all dressed in flowing black robes, their beady eyes following the prisoner as he entered the chamber. The guards led him to the very center of the room. The one with the sunken face struck him again across the back of the legs, this time with a thin metal switch. Ryanus dropped to his knees wincing in pain. He looked up at the council, staring down their noses at him like an animal in a trap.
“Ah, that is better”, remarked the High Elder, seated at the direct middle of the semi-circle. “Ryanus Rex, - well, well - you had better have a good reason for being out after dark, hadn‘t you?” His pale plump face looking snidely down at Ryanus.
“Calm and respectful“, Ryanus thought to himself hoping to avoid further problems. “Sir, my sister had wandered off as I finished up my work in the fields, you know how kids her age are.”
There was a buzz of whispers and murmuring, and then he spoke again. “Your sister is of no consequence to this council, you have broken our rules, and you will both be punished accordingly.”
Ryanus felt a spark ignite within his chest, his mouth gaping open. ‘She is of consequence to me! You can’t be serious - she’s only a child of seven.”
“And you are sixteen - you should have her on a leash! Your family has cost us quite enough already Rex.” The pale little man sneered from his high seat. “I find it exceedingly amusing, your name means King in Latin, but your pathetic excuse of a family has done nothing but grovel and beg, leeching on this community. You are beggars and thieves.”
Ryanus clenched his teeth, “My sister is of age seven, and yet she does work your grown sons have never known. My father died serving you with honor, and my mother died of illness because of you - you went back on your agreement and refused to treat her!” He could barely control the words escaping his mouth, nearly trembling with hatred for these men. “I have done nothing but work to survive since my mother’s death, I have never taken a thing I have not earned, and I have asked of you nothing.”
“You are asking us to turn a blind eye to your transgressions against this council and the community we represent. I will not abide by that Ryanus Rex. We demand reparation for your crimes. We will take the healthiest cow you possess.”
“You can’t do that - we can’t afford it, we barely make it by as is. I promised my parents I would take care of Molly”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep” he smiled sinisterly. “That is all”, he motioned to the guards.
There was a great commotion as the elders began talking to each other, One of the guards grabbed Ryanus gruffly by the neck. The others grabbed his shoulders, lifting him to his feet.
“You can’t do this!” Ryanus exclaimed as the guards dragged him struggling out of the room.
“I just did”
The desperation grew inside Ryanus - he couldn’t let this happen. As the great doors were opening Ryanus exhausted his final option. “We were attacked, by a ghoul!”
“Serves you right for being out after dark, wouldn’t you say?” The other members of the council chuckled. “Now you don’t really expect us to believe this wild story do you? You are a scared little boy, hoping to avoid punishment. Your our story is faulty. Ghouls are pack hunters, you mean to say you survived an encounter with a pack of ghouls unarmed?”
“No, there was only one.” Ryanus bit his lower lip, he had hoped to keep the bell a secret. What was he to tell them when the inevitable question of how he was able to scare a ghoul off came up? Of course as things often did in his life, things didn’t develop as he planned, and the question never came up. Instead he faced the wrath of an angry council.
‘I will not accept deceit in front of this council. You would have us let you make a mockery of the law if your way is to be had.”, raged the High Elder. His face was now wrinkled with anger. “Guards take young Mr. Rex back to his home and bring back with you all his cattle. He will learn the price of his deception.”
Before Ryanus could protest he was struck over the head with a heavy blunt object, sounds dimmed, his head swam, and everything faded to black.