Titular - Blake Daugherty (read out loud books txt) 📗

Chapter One
Camden looked from the brush he thought they had escaped. Ever since they had been on the run he had not had a moments sleep. Over the fields, across pastures, through copses, fording rivers never stopping except for a drink of water and a Helgian bread. He was suddenly tired. Unlike a man of his should be he thought. We could have stopped five miles back went through his mind. When we passed the last thicket by the paddock at Mr. Schtiels farm. Who they were running from he still had no idea. He thought wise to not worry about what but that they just got away. That was enough for now. He had never seen anything like them. They hardly seemed human but they had to be. He was the size of a man but hairier. They had walked on two legs. Of course they were men. Camden was smart enough to figure out that the grotesqueness was due to some sort of armor. They had gruesome swords and were likewise armed with axes, maces and hammers.
He had heard of other races but never before had he seen them so up close. One had almost taken off his arm with an axe before he could get from behind his bench at the feast. Up until now his life had been easy enough. Easy for a farm boy on the outskirts of the realm anyway. They, his folk, a free life far from the cities that had sprung up in the area half a millennia ago on the banks of rivers and shores of the lakes that were further to the west. Here was mainly wilderness with a village here and there where trading was made.
He would miss Slaerkind. He looked to the West in way of thought. Had they run in this direction by instinct heading towards the more populated areas or had they just by chance because of the way they had attacked the gathering from every direction. He could tell by that type of ambush that they had the intent of slaughtering and enslaving everyone. He wondered what thad happened to his Father and his Mother and to Beena the sweet girl chosen to pour the Helgian day milk.
These men had come to conquer that much was certain. By how they attacked and on a feast day. They must have a different religion or gods to attack on a sacred day. All these thoughts ran through his head as he tried to soothe his aching legs. He had not had time to think until now. I should have stayed and fought he thought. But then he remembered he had no choice. All he knew about that was that Naham, the priest, grabbed him by the arm and told him to move.

“We should go back.” He said voicing his thoughts.
“ NO! We can not it is most urgent we reach the next town, Vintilaria, We were merely on the outskirts of the invasion.” Naham replied.
“But what makes you so sure this is an invasion?” Retorted Camden using Naham’s word and not believing it.
“ Did you see their weapons? Those were implements of war not a pillaging party from the sea.” Nicolsa the Black Smith replied. He was the third in the compliment that made up their party. Could it be true? Had he been the only one that missed such details? Both Nicolsa and Naham had noticed these things. Had he been that much head over heels in Beena? Beena, gone now. Probably carted off to be a wife for one of these strange vulgar pillagers. The raiders had been getting braver not just attacking and leaving like in the past. He had heard that they were starting gto camp along the shores near the Dark Cliffs. Maybe it is true. Leapt into his mind. Maybe they’re not just brave maybe is an invasion.
“We must get to the king.” He said. The full import of what he had just experienced coming fully into his mind.
“He had to know what is happening. We have to talk to him.” He stated.
“Are you just now starting to realize” asked Nic.
“This is big! Bigger than US! Where do you think they are now?” Camden wondered aloud to the party.
“Everywhere.” Was the priests only reply.
Then after a moment. “ These heathens threaten our way of life. You do know that don’t you boys?”
“But they’re just Skraeling raiders. Was Camden’s Reply.
“Not anymore. Now they are armed warriors.” Was Nic’s dripping answer.
“How far is the nearest town?” Camden wanted to know.
"About a days journey. We will sleep here tonight. You must get me to the nearest town and from there a city. I must talk to the council. Speak to no one of what you have seen. They will not attack a town of the size of Vintilaria yet.” was Naham’s sole conjecture.
Beena, Camden thought. What will become of Beena? She might be on her way to the Skraeling lands of ice or becoming an unwilling wife on this very shore or dead. Who knew. Anyway she was no longer his promised. She had been taken from him like flax before the scythe or sweet grass torn by cattle’s hooves. He had to see the king.
Yes, life had been simple. He woke every morning to do his chores before daylight. Simple tasks really anything that a young man would do. His first labor had been to milk. Migda was a good brindle that never complained or lowed at his milking. He wished now that he was milking Migda. His world had changed in an instant. He no longer had a home or family or friends. Just a middle aged priest and a blacksmith his age, seventeen, were what were left from his village. What tin the name of all that was right was going on? He said a quiet prayer that the gods look over them and then he looked to Naham.
“What do we do now?”
“Now we rest.” Naham replied and he did.


Chapter Two


Camden woke at first light. Squinting he looked around to see where exactly he was. Then it came back to him. The events of yesterday came flooding through his brain like a shot of whisk on a cold winters night. His village had been destroyed. He and two others were all that was left. Now he had to get to the king. He sat up stiffly the running of the prior day affecting his limbs. Naham was already up as well as Nicolsa. They were beginning to mke preparations to break camp. The yellow tunic and green leggings that he worn were torn in places from his run through the countryside. However, it was nothing compared to what could have happened to him. He still had his money pouch from the day before that he had taken with him to buy trinkets for Beena at the feast. So he could buy more when he came to Vintilaria.
"We are ready to move out." Naham informed him.
He had nothing to do but grab some water from a nearby spring and he was ready to leave with the rest of the party. The sun had just crested the horizon when they st out.
"How far is it again?" Was the question that Nic posed.
"Two Days from here." The sage replied.
For two young men that were never more than a half a days walk from anywhere two days seemed like a long way. Nicolsa harrumphed and began to set out West. Camden fell in stride by his side. He had never really known the smith that well. One would think he would having lived in the same village but Camden had lived outside the village about a mile so he never really had much time to spend with Nic since there were other people his age mostly the Braerly twins to keep up with. And Beena. Beena had been the innkeepers daughter and ever since he could remember he had courted her. Since he was little they had been in love. Everyone knew it. It was common knowledge. They had been promised to be married. The next spring she was to give the wreath of laurels on Helgian day and he was to offer her the ribbons for hand fasting. She was to keep them until the next feast day in three months and they were to exchange vows in front of Naham who would have pronounced them with all the other marriageable people that were taking part in the ceremony espoused. All that was over now. He would never smell the lavender in her brunette hair again. He would never again bring her spring flowers. I better buy a sword at the next place we come to he thought to himself his thoughts moving from his lost love to the matter at hand. If there is a war to be fought I must be there. I can not run like I did last time. If we were not so peaceful we would have been ready for an invasion. instead we are ripe for the picking he mused. His thoughts fell back onto Beena and what she would be wearing today when he came to see her if things had been normal what flowers he would have brought. Something pastel they go with everything. He kept himself to thoughts of her and before he knew it the day had half way passed. Before he realized it the sun was at it's zenith and high over head. Thanks be to the gods that it was not a hot at this time of year or it would have been a long day for all three of them. Shortly after noon they stopped for what lunch they had. They had to ration as much as possible from what they carried with them. It was a custom to carry a days of