The Primal Betreyal #01
Hi guys! This is my first story ever, so don't suspect this to be good. English is not my native language, so there cam be some errors. I'll be happy if someone will read this and tell me, what i should correct. For now: have fun reading this!
He was sleeping in his tent. He dreamt about his childhood, his family and his home...but something wasn't right. Something disturbed him, and it woke him up. He didn't know what it was. "Something isn't right. Why can't I see any stars?" He thought he was sleeping outside, because it was cold and he could hear the rustling of the wind, but it was dark. After a moment his eyes got used to the darkness and he was able to see walls of the tent. That was strange for him. He always had a good memory, but this time he couldn't recognize where he is. "Strange," he said to himself. "Where the fu-" he stopped as the opening to the tent brushed open and a black creature came in. He was greatly afraid when the creature came near. He noticed a flash in its eye. It was a flash of a cold-blooded murderer, ready to attack. The creature raised its hand armored with claws. "So this is my end," he thought. "Killed by some beast in some unknown place. At least it appears to be quick death."
He woke up screaming. He raised his head quickly and looked where he was." What? " he thought "I'm in home again. But this dream... It looked and felt so realistic, like I was really there... Uhhh my head hurts..." What those thoughts he got up and opened the window to let fresh air come inside. He felt cold air sliding through his scales. It was still dark outside, but the new day was approaching. He could see first rays of a orange light at the horizon. He knew, that he'll have to go to work soon, so he went to quickly wash himself. After that, he dressed up, went to the kitchen to eat simply breakfast. He was even thinking about making himself an herbal tea, but quick look into a cupboard, where he was holding herbs, solved problem. There was almost nothing left, not enough for a single cup. After finishing his simply meal he went to work. He was still thinking about his dream. He couldn't remember details. He was trying to clear his head but he failed. "If I can't to do this myself, hard work will help." Wit those thoughts he went to work. He was working whole day on farm. Today was surprisingly hot, so he was tired before he reached a half of the day. He decided to make a little break and end his work after sunset. Nobody was waiting for him anyway. After finishing work, he just simply went to home. Usually he was going to the tavern at the end of the day, but today he wanted to go straight to home. He didn't had money anyway. After he walked into his house he found something on floor. It was sealed letter. He checked out for who this letter was addressed thinking, that someone just made a mistake. But there was no mistake. The letter was addressed to him. There was only his name on it. He stared at his name. "Ardrehir". It looked like someone who wrote this was in hurry. With shaking hands Ardrehir opened the letter. He was suspecting that this letter contains information, that he need to move out from his home, or even from town. But what was in the letter surprised him. Letters looked like written in hurry. "Ardrehir, I know about your today's vision. Meet me at 'The Broken Chair' tomorrow at 8 pm." "Strange" Ardrehir thought. "Whoever wrote this, not signed himself." But that wasn't the only thing that bartered him. From where this person know his name? Ardrehir was sure, that he didn't tell his name to anybody, and peoples that already knew his name died years ago. And the second thing is from where this person knew about his dream? And why he called it a "vision"? Ardrehir was considered about this."Well then" he said to himself "I'll meet this person and I'll see, about what he or she has to talk with me." He put down this letter on a table, and made a dinner. It was simply meal, but that was enough for him. After he ate, he went to have a quick bath and he went to sleep.
Ardrehir begin to slowly wake up. It was cold, and he felt a strange smell. After a while he realized that it was blood. He was in a torture chamber! He was chained to the wall. He tried do break free, but chains was too strong. He made a lot of sound while he moved. That awoke some creature, that was sleeping on a chair on the other side of the room. Creature raised its head and looked at Ardrehir. He knew, that this creature will now start torturing him. He tried once again to break free. The creature laughed. It was a throaty laughter which made blood run cold. The creature walked towards him slowly, whit some kind of knife. Without hesitation it attacked Ardrehir and slashed his shoulder. He felt, his warmth blood flowed down his scales, but he didn't even moved. That made black creature angry. It stabbed Ardrehir in his belly. Ardrehir shouted loud in the agony. He felt, that he is bleeding out. Creature began to laugh again.
Ardrehir woke up screaming again. He sat on his bed and took few deep breaths. „Strange, I had nightmare again. Why it looked so realistic? And there was this black creature again. Maybe this guy, who left letter in my house is right. Maybe it's a vision. But what vision? Vision of my death? Or maybe i have nightmares, because of overwork? No idea." Ardrehir got up and went to eat his breakfast. There wasn't much left, only for one meal. „If I won't get money today I'll have to start begging" thought Ardrehir. After eating rests of food he went to work, but he wasn't doing well. He was thinking about letter he become. When he woke up from his thoughts he realized that it was late. He went to the owner of the farm, begging for money.
„You won't get anything before end of the month, you scaly shit! Now begone!"
„Good work you idiot! Now you don't have money and owner of the farm is angry a you." He was blaming himself. „Now everything that I can do is going to this tavern".
Tavern wasn't far from the farm, so he almost managed to be there at the time. He was 10 minutes late. The tavern looked dirty. For sure there were thieves and outlaws there. Ardrehir took a deep breath and walked into the building. Inside was dirty and loud. He smelt sweat and the stink of unwashed bodies. At least it was warm inside, because fireplace was on fire.
„Close the door, you idiot!" Yelled owner of the tavern.
„Sorry" Ardrehir said and closed the door. In the meantime someone walked towards him.
„You!" He said. „You were supposed to be here at 8?"
„Yes" Ardrehir said. „I apologize, that I'm late, but..."
„Doesn't matter" man cut him off. „At least you are here. Come with me."
Without waiting for response, man turned back and walked away, heading to stair. Ardrehir couldn't make anything more than following him. They walked into a second floor.
„Get in there" man said pointing at door.
„You are not coming in?" Ardrehir asked.
„No."
Ardrehir couldn't make anything more, so he walked into a room. Whole room was almost empty, there was only a table with a small candle in the middle and two chairs. Ardrehir sat down and waited. After a while he heard someone climbing up the stairs. Then he stopped and talked a while with men outside the room, but Ardrehir couldn't understand any word. Suddenly doors opened and a man entered the room. He had well build body. Ardrehir could see his muscles working under black clothes. Man had his face covered with black cloth. Ardrehir could see his eyes. His eyes were black, and empty. When man looked at Ardrehir, he felt like light was gone. Mas sat down . They were sitting in silence for a few minutes. Ardrehir couldn't resist it any longer so he asked:
„So, why you wan..."
„Don't talk! You can't say a word, until I'll let you to do so." Man cut him off. His voice was cold and full of hate. „So, you had vision."
„I don't know wha.."
„I SAID DON'T TALK!" Man looked angry.
"I won... " Ardrehir
" SHUT UP " man yelled. "First I'll tell you my name. I'm Saalthen. I already know your name. I wrote this letter. I was suspecting that you won't come. I'm glad that you did this. Do you know why I brought you here?"
"Because of my dreams "
" Dreams? So you had more? "
" Yes. Today's night. This one was longer and scarier than earlier one. "
" Hmm everything looks like he said... "
"Who.." Ardrehir began to speak but stopped in the middle.
"Listen carefully. You have to move out of this town, as fast as it's possible. Soon town will be destroyed and we can't risk your life. Tomorrow start day like it would be normal one. But after existing the town with east gate, don't turn right, just go forward. Keep this direction, until you meet third big crossing. Someone will meet you there and will give you further instructions. Understood? "
" Yes"
"Good. Now begone. "
Ardrehir got up and walked out from the room. No other person moved. Everything he could do know was to go to home. When he finally managed to come back to home, he simply went to bed. This night was calm, Ardrehir had no dreams. When he woke up, he went to wash himself. He packed all things he will need in the journey. But there was a small problem. He didn't had any money, or food left.
"Maybe I'll manage to borrow some."
He walked into a door. There was something on the floor. It was a small package. Ardrehir opened it. He found letter and another smaller package. The letter said:
"There you have some money to buy food for the journey. That's not much, but it should be enough."
"Hmm that solves the problem" said Ardrehir. He took money, left house and locked the door. As Saalthen said, Ardrehir walked out from the city with east gate, and followed the road. Near first crossing he found a horse. Ardrehir didn't know what to do.
"Should I stole this horse? He definitely belongs to someone, he's saddled... But why he is walking freely?" After a while he decided to take this horse. He knew, that someone is probably looking for this horse, but Ardrehir wanted to reach crossing as fast it's possible.
After he mounted horse, someone walked away from bushes. He had sword and chainmal. Ardrehir heard movement behind him. He saw 2 more guys with crossbows. It was a trap. "Shit" he swore quietly.
"Get off the horse!" shouted men with a sword.
"What do you want from me?" Ardrehir answered.
"Get off the horse, or I'll shot you in your head!" said one of the mans with crossbows.
"Stay calm, I'm dismounting right away" Ardrehir said. One of the mans took horse away.
"Now," said man with sword, "tell my why you stole my horse?"
"I didn't stole it!" Ardrehir answered quickly. "He was standing on the middle of the road!"
"And that's reason why you took my horse, huh?"
"Yes." Ardrehir didn't wanted to tell this guy truth.
"Pff...Tie him up!"
"What?? Please, no!"
"Shut up! You stole my horse and you think, that I'll let you go without punishment? No way."
In the meantime one of the men unwound the coil of the rope, when second still aimed a crossbow at Ardrehir. He just gave up. Without any weapon he couldn't resist. They would kill him right away. Suddenly Ardrehir had an idea.
"If you'll let me go, I'll give you all my money"
"Give it to me" After Ardrehir gave him money, guy started to laugh. "You think, that I'll let you go? You are so naive. Thank you for extra money!"
"Perfect" Ardrehir thought. "Now I've lost money too. I'm such an idiot." After a while he was tied up. Everything he could do was only to follow those bandits. Ardrehir knew, that he was supposed to go straight to the meeting point. And now he's taken in woods. Maybe he'll manage to flee under the cover of night. Ardrehir doubted that he would make a success of it. Those bandits weren't that stupid. After a while they reached hideout on the small forest clearing. One of the bandits tied Ardrehir to the tree. One of thugs made a fire, and second prepared the meal. Of course they ate it themselves. When smell of cooked venison reached Ardrehir, his stomach rumbled. He didn't ate for almost two days. Ardrehir didn't bought any food, because he wanted to go out as fast as he could. At least bandits gave him some water.
It was getting late, when the other group of bandits walked into the hideout. They started to shout at each other. Ardrehir couldn't understand any word. He felt, that it's his chance to escape now. But he wasn't sure, if he should escape now, or wait until night came. Now bandits were busy by each other, but during night, he could hide easily. But there was the risk, that bandits may get calm before night, or one group kill another. Ardrehir decided to run now. He was tied to the tree, but that wasn't a problem. Thugs forgot to tie his tail. And his tail was trained enough to get him free. Ardrehir simply untied the rope and freed himself. Now he began to slowly back to the trees line, still watching bandits. After he reached the shadow of the trees, he turned back and run between trees, but he watched out for dry twigs, that could break making noise and giving his position.
After few minutes of run he reached the road, and sit down at the edge of it. When he rested, simply started to go back to the crossing. That was all that he could do. At least he was a little closer to it. After an hour he was in the meeting point. Someone was sitting near sign. When Ardrehir come closer, man raised his head.
"You are Ardrehir?" He asked.
"Yes, that's me."
"You're late."
"I know, some bandits stopped me."
"Did they..."
"No, they stole my money, and tied me to tree, but I'm fine. They didn't got that letter too."
"Good. Now come with me. I was supposed to give you more instructions, but now it's bit too late.
Man turned north. Ardrehir could see a small village there. "Where are we going?" he asked
"To my house. You will stay there for a night. It's not safe out during night."
"Thank you." Ardrehir said.
"I bet, that you're hungry."
"Yes, a bit... Maybe even a little more than a bit..."
"I'll give you something to eat too then."
"Thank you" Ardrehir repeated. "I have one question..."
"What's is it?"
"What's your name?"
"For what do you need it?"
"You know my name, you're offering me food, bed, so I want to know your name too."
"Hmm... I think, that it'll be safer, if I won't tell you my name"
"Why?"
"Because if someone will torture you to get information I will be safe... At least until you'll say them where I live."
"And why someone will want to torture me?? What the hell is going on?"
"Because... You'll know when it'll be good time for it. Now speed up, or night will catch us."
After a while they reached house. They came just before dusk. When they walked into a house man showed chair to Ardrehir. "Sit down. I'll be right back. Do whatever you want, but don't touch this black cupboard." Man took a small package and went somewhere outside. In the meantime Ardrehir lighted up the stove. He wanted to boil some water. He started to look around for it. After a while he noticed, that there is a barrel full of water outside. He took a bucket and went outside. He filled the bucket and got back. Ardrehir poured the part of water from the bucket into the pot, and boiled it. After a while he found some herbs too. Ardrehir did 2 mugs of herbal infusion. He sit down again and started to drink. At the same time man returned.
"I see that you already settled in." man said laughing.
"Yes. There is a cup for you."
"Thank you. I brought something for you."
"Really?"
"Yes. I brought you some food, so you won't be hungry, when you'll go to... the place I'll tell you."
"Thank you."
"No problem. For now I brought roasted chicken breast and some bread. After you finish, you should go to sleep, you have to go when the dawn come. Your bed is upstairs, in the second room from right."
"Thank you." Ardrehir said again and started eating. That wasn't much, but it was enough to satisfy his hunger. After he finished he went to sleep, as the man said. He didn't felt asleep easily. He was simply lying in bed for two hours thinking about his life. It was not much to recall. His past wasn't also nice. Ardrehir had in the memory main unpleasant situations. He had years of the slavery in his mind. Years of the homesickness. Childhood. Lost family. Dead friends. War.
He had only one good memory. When he was on his first hunting. He was seven years old. He was so excited because of his first hunting. His dad woke him up two hours before dawn, so they had time to prepare and go out before before the first rays of sun will light the earth. Ardrehir was so happy, when he found deer's track. After a while they found three dears.
"First I'll show you how you to shoot, and then you'll try."
Ardrehir just nodded, staring at deer.
"Look at me." said Ardrehir's dad. He took the arrow out of the quiver and put it on to the bowstring. With efficient movement he tightened the bow, simultaneously raising the bow. He aimed and shoot. With the quiet clatter the arrow fell out from the bow. After a moment it hit straight on the head of the deer, killing her outright. After deer felt on the ground, Ardrehir asked: "How did you do this?"
"Years of practice. Now it's your turn"
Ardrehir took the arrow out of quiver. He tried to put it on the bowstring, but he almost drop it, because he was staring at the deer.
"Keep calm. You don't need to hurry. This deer is not going anywhere."
Ardrehir took a deep breath and calmed himself. He was concentrated on his target. After he put the arrow on bowstring he tried to do the same thing as his father, but he failed.
"Keep calm. First tighten the bow, then aim."
Ardrehir did what his father said. He raised the bow. He aimed at deer. More with hope than certainly he shoot. Ardrehir closed his eyes. After the second he heard pain of the deer. He shoot it right where he aimed. After another second deer felt dead on the ground.
"Good job, son!" Said his father. "You'll be a good hunter."
"I... I shot it... B-by the first arrow..."
"Yes, you shoot the deer."
"Haha, I've got to say this to my friends!"
"Easy there, first we need take them to home"
That was his only good memory. At least the only one, that he remembered.