Chapter 3

Maria and Nora were just finishing up some afternoon cleaning when they heard a scream from outside. Soon the sounds of people yelling came from across the village. Maria rose to look outside but her grandmother cautioned her, her face serious.

As Nora looked out through the window, she could see a group of armed men led by old Roan heading to the Temple. Some of the men were herding people towards the center of the village. Nora saw them casually strike down a villager that tried to resist. As she watched a man following Roan seemed to spot her, causing her to quickly close the shutters.

“Maria leave! Run to God’s Grove now.” Her words were forceful as she started to push Maria out back towards the path to the forest.

“Granny what’s going on, wh…” A loud pounding knock came at the door to the temple.

“Go!” Granny whispered giving her a final push before going towards the door. Maria, hearing the seriousness in her grandmother’s voice, started moving towards the back door.

As her grandmother opened the door the Captain was there glaring down at her. “This is the priestess?” he asked Roan.

“The older one, yes sir” Roan spoke quietly, giving an apologetic look towards Nora, but looking down when he met her eyes.

“Where is she?” the stern looking man said with a dangerous glint in his voice. Nora returned his glare.

A sudden clatter sounded from the back of the temple. The Captain’s eyes narrowed before swinging an arm to knock the old woman aside. She fell with cry and a loud snap as she crashed against the hard cobblestone of the temple floor.

“Take her to the rest.” He ordered one of his men while motioning for the rest to follow. He quickly moved through the temple the and reached the door still swinging that lead towards the forest. A young woman could be seen running down the hill towards it. “That’s the direction of the sacred place” he asked Roan?

“Yes sir…” Roan mumbled his face white. A small smile appeared on the Captain’s face.

He turned back “You five go after her” he quickly grabbed a small clear crystal out of his pocket and handed it to one of them. “Bring her and anything that reacts.” The men immediately set out running towards the forest as the Captain walked back towards where they had brought the villagers.

Maria had heard her grandmothers cry and fought the urge to run back. She could see armed men at the nearby houses and farms dragging people out and towards the village. Fear clogged her heart and she almost tripped, slowing down for just a moment as she approached the forest path. As she entered, she looked back just enough to see men chasing after her, yelling for her to stop.

Maria dove onto the path, her only thought that maybe somehow the god or his guardian could help. They had loyally served it for so long, there was no way it would abandon them now. She yelled aloud, pleading for the Guardian to show itself as she sprinted through the trees.

She could hear broken twigs as the men followed her, forcefully tearing through the narrow entrance as they chased her. Despite her hopes she saw no signs of the beast. She continued to run, her chest crying for air as she started to reach her limits. The knights were right behind her and she could hear the rough sounds of their boots on the soft forest floor. As she broke into the clearing, she yelled out again, asking for help.

A rough hand soon grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. A fist slammed into her jaw throwing her towards the ground. She scrambled back as the rest of her pursuers arrived, also out of breath.

“You damned bitch. Making us run all the way out here” The lead knight spat as he moved towards her.

Maria could feel the bruises already forming and her lip had split under the previous blow. As she struggled to stand, she reached back and took out the small ceremonial dagger she kept with her. She waved it frantically at the men as they approached, screaming at them to stay back.

The knight sneered as he moved closer… And as Maria swiped wildly, he deftly caught her hand, tearing the dagger out and throwing it away. He grabbed Maria again and threw her towards his companions who held her as she struggled. One of the other men glanced over Maria’s body with a lecherous look. “Maybe we should have some fun first before bringing her to the captain.” The others snickered as Maria started to struggle harder.

The first man frowned. “And have the Cap slit our throats if something happens? Gamble with you own life…” His words trailed off as he noticed the slight glowing of the clear crystal the Captain had given him. Yelling at the others to shut up he noticed the old stone plaque and altar along with the bowl that laid on it. He moved forward slowly, sword drawn.

The clearing was strangely quiet and even Maria stopped her struggling, her cry’s catching in her throat. As the soldier approached the crystals glow grew stronger. As he grew closer to the altar, he looked down into the bowl expectantly. But was disappointed to see what seemed to be normal food.

The crystal’s glow continued to glow brighter though. It started to float away from his hand, moving towards the Stone plaque. The glare was suddenly painful, forcing the soldier to shield his eyes. He felt the snap of the chain that held the crystal as he tried to hold on. Wind started to pick up in the clearing and the bright light forced them all back.

In a moment the light disappeared. As they all reeled in the aftermath, their eyes slowly started to recover. A figure stood over the altar. A boy, with darkened skin like the people of the southern lands, Black hair, and simple clothing. He stretched and yawned for a moment before turning his eyes on them.

Seeing the knights and Maria he frowned, arms crossing as he looked down on them. “What is scum like you doing in my resting place?”