The torches to the Ceremonial Palace were lit and showed the winding way through the swamp. Maury and her mamay and papay rushed down the path made of stone from the nearby mountain ranges. Maury barely noticed the wildlife that splashed in the murky water and flew overhead. The sun was hidden in the foliage and swamp trees always gave the whole path an eerie and reverent feel to it. Now it was terrifying. Screams and shouts had echoed through the town and wiggled through the swamp.
Maury scanned the other faces of the survivors as her family passed them on the path. No Mikael or any of his family. Maury felt a lump growing in her throat. Her papay grabbed her hand and hurried her up around the last bend to the unceremonious entrance of the Palace. It was a low-hanging stone archway that led into an open grassy clearing surrounded with stone pillars carved into crescent moons and circles representing the sun and stars. The top of each pillar held a bowl of oil, lit up now to reveal a huddled mass of townspeople. Maury still couldn't locate Mikael.
"Papay, Mikael isn't here." She couldn't help her voice rising in pitch. "He went back into town."
Her papay kneeled down on the damp grass "He'll be here. You have to trust him."
"But those awful cries coming from the village. One of them could be him! He could need our help."
Her papay grabbed her arms. "We cannot go out there. We have no weapons, no training. We don't even know who those people are out there."
"And neither does Mikael!" Maury pulled away and glanced back at the archway as a few more stragglers made their way in. A large man dressed in nothing but a tunic wrapped around his waist and a satchel led a group of similarly-dressed workers to the archway and they began to guide people in and check for injuries. The large man, Iva, Maury thought his name was, stopped every able-bodied man that entered and led them off to the side. He spotted Maury's papay and gave a gesture for him to join. He stood and kissed Maury on the forehead. She could hear his rapid breathing and the smell of sweat.
"Be brave little one. Stay here with your mother."
"Invaders!" The shriek came from outside the Palace, causing everyone to turn that way with a communal gasp. Maury wiped her chapped lips with her sleeve and meant to turn back to her mother, but the group of survivors turned to full panic mode as the first pirate stampeded through the archway. She was knocked over in a mob of bodies that pushed to the back pillars and began to leak out into the swamp. Maury put one hand over her head as she tried to stand but a boot to her side forced her back to the ground with a sharp breath.
"Papay! Mikael! Mamay!" she called out. The last of the survivors passed by and she finally stood. The sight before her caused an instinctive hand to her mouth. Iva was hqcked with an axe tp the chest and slumped into a pillar. Her papay was on the ground, blood splattered across his back. One pirate was collapsed in the entrance, but three more has crossed into the clearing. One spotted Maury and rushed her. Maury stumbled back, slipping on the wet grass. A massive hand came down on her ankle. she kicked out at the pirate who easily dodged it and gave a swift kick to her side. Maury thought she heard something crack and a cough wracked her body as she doubled over.
The pirate hauled her to her feet and held a thick dagger to her neck, holding her as a human shield. Through eyes blurred by tears Maury saw the other two pirates cut down from behind as soldiers clad in red and white charged through. There were at least a dozen, including two with bows. They halted as they saw the last pirate holding Maury.
"Put her down." A soldier stepped forward with silver wings decaled on his helmet. Maury now saw some sort of bird crest on his outer tunic in the dim light of the burning cauldrons.
The pirate snarled and Maury squirmed as she felt his breath on her head and spit slide down her neck. She gasped as he tightened his grip on her collar. Her knees were shaking and if he let go of her she would collapse without resistance.
"Very well. Bowie." Winged Helmet pointed his sword at Maury.
One of the archers stepped forward and in a flash nocked and loosed an arrow. Maury shrieked and squeezed her eyes shut. Suddenly she was falling. She hit the ground, and before she could open her eyes the pirate crushed her into the ground. She convulsed as her ribs were pressed into the ground. Something warm rolled down her cheek and dampened her hair. As darkness clouded her consciousness and eye sight a great weight was lifted off of her and she was rolled on her back.
for the first time in an hour she took in one deep breath which i mediately sent her into a coughing fit. Her side pounded with every move. She forced her eyes open. Someone had one hand on her head and was running it through her hair, and another along her side.
A young face looked down on her. Dark eyes, white teeth. He turned back to Winged Helmet.
"Blood is just from that scum. Her sides are swelling and probably bruised, but she'll live." He turned to Maury. Stay as still as you can. Our physicians will be here as soon as they can."
Maury opened her mouth to speak, but the solider was already walking away. Maury took a deep breath and tried to lift herself off of the ground, but trying to sit up felt like lifting a back of rocks off her stomach. She sank back onto the wet ground. The soldiers were huddled nearby, wiping off their blades. There was a rush of footsteps and they were in defensive poses at once. Maury heard a slight chuckle and one of the soldiers yelled "you idiot," as the newcomer entered the clearing.
"General Boullion. I've accidentally discovered something I think you'll be interested in seeing for yourself."
"I've got a mess to clean up here, private. Speak candidly."
There was a pause before the private spoke again. His voice was a loud whisper as if he had a secret he couldn't contain.
"I cut down one of these slag Sadorians about a quarter mile from here. It was a bit of a struggle and we ended up in a deep end of the swamp. As I held him under water he threw a handful of mud in an attempt to cloud my eyes. He missed and I finished him off bu-"
"To the point!" Boullion snapped.
"Uh, yes, right. Sir, there's no other way to put this, but that there are rare minerals in this swamp. I dug out what I thought were simply rocks from my gauntlets and boots, but among the slime there were colors I've never seen."
There were a few murmurs from the group, but it was Boullion who spoke after half a minute had passed. "Mark the spot and then return to the village. We'll sort put what we can tonight, check for survivors, stragglers, injured, secure our perimeter, and tomorrow I want you at my tent first thing."
Maury heard footsteps as they left. She rolled to her side with great effort and pain, inhaling as she pushed herself to her knees. A figure across the opening, one of the bodies Maury had presumed was dead, was mimicking her motions. A chill ran the length of her spine. The figure turned, blood-soaked. Then Maury saw her Papay's face, and sank her head into the ground in relief.
"Maury!" he hoarsely yelled. She heard rather than watched him make his way to her. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her to her feet. He swept her off her feet. she wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his misty eyes as tears welled in her own.
"Papay. I thought you were dead. I thought I was goi-" she choked on her words and buried her face into his chest.
He held her tight as he walked. "Oh, dear child, I will always be here."
Maury's mind raced to Mikael at those familiar words. "Papay. Mikael. is he okay? We have to find him."
He adjusted her in his arms. "We will. But first you need to see a physician. I will look for Mamay and then I will search for Mikael. I promise. You must rest. It's all over. Those were Astorian soldiers. I had heard rumors of pirates from Sadoria invading along the coast, but I never thought here. We've nothing for pirates to want or to gift these soldiers if the grain barns were destroyed."
Maury said nothing, wincing with every step as she jostled in her papay's embrace. She looked up to the sky where - through the swamp trees- the stars twinkled above in a sea of darkness. They looked so calm, so innocent. As adrenaline was leaving fatigue was setting in. They exited the swamp and were back on the road along the Arthuroan Fields within fifteen minutes. they went along in silence.
"Papay?"
"Yes?"
"Were you hurt? I saw blood. It looked horrible."
"It wasn't mine. I was hit across the head and fell unconscious"
"You didn't see the soldiers?"
"No. But I am grateful they arrived."
"Me too."
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