Tane couldn't believe what he was seeing, it all came to this, everything that he had been trained for... he felt the wind rustle through his hair as he used all his senses to ready himself for the moment. His hand flexed around the handle, and he raised it high above his head, and swung it down fast and repeatedly, he cut down row after row, each swipe a new victory, he went on for hours, and he knew this battle would not be over for weeks. But he was in his element, he had waited all year for this, finally his hard work was paying of. Harvest had arrived.

Sweaty, and covered in wheat, he hung up his Scythe and went in to his lowly house too greet his Father, home from getting some of their tools fixed at the local smithy. His father was gloomy, as had become the norm for the last few weeks, but this night was one of the worst, for Tane was to make the decision of his life, was he to stay with his father, like his father was praying for, or enlist in the royal army.

That night during their evening supper, Tane mopped up the last of his soup from the bowl with a lump of stale bread. His father’s spoon clattered into the bowl, indicating that his meal was also done. Ren started to clear the table of the bowls, as his Father rose and announced that he was going to bed, Tane stopped him
"Father, wait."
His father went stiff and turned slowly to meet his sons eyes
"I have made my decision"

Join the army! Who cares about the farm?

Tane bit his lip and looked it to the eyes of his father “My papers have been filed. I am leaving tomorrow.” Tane flinched, expecting anger from his father; instead he was thrown into a huge embrace as his father forcefully hugged him
He felt the old man sobbing onto him “My son… my only son”
Tane moved his father’s head away from him “I shall return father, this is not good bye”
His father looked at Tane, tears running down his face “I respect your decision. Are you packed?”
Tane nodded “Aye, have been for a week now.”
His father nodded silently “You will make a fine solider, the king would be lucky to have you in his service. Wait here, I have something for you.” The old man went through to his bedroom out of sight, and Tane looked around the house silently, When shall I see this old place again? he silently wondered, as he heard his father bustling noisily in his room. After a while he return carrying a long wooden box “This,” He said, laying the box on the table “Belonged to your grandfather, and his father before that, they all served in the army, and now it shall be passed down to you, the next solider of the family.” He slowly removed the lid of the box, revealing to Tane a long rapier. The hilt of the sword was wrapped in black leather, with the details being made of silver. The scabbard was scuffed and had clearly seen battle before, with the green leather covered scabbard being worn down to the wood underneath. Tane picked up the sword slowly, and unsheathed it, marvelling at the thinness and perfection of the silver blade. Tane looked up at his father, not knowing what to say, his father just smiled broadly and embraced his son again “Go to bed, you have a big day tomorrow.”

Word comes that the King has ordered the invasion of the local village, Tane’s brother is killed. VENGANCE

Waking in the night to the sound of loud knocking at the door, Tane got out of bed and wrapped a cloak around himself. Walking through the house, he heard the sound of several men talking outside the door Have the soldiers come this early to collect me? Tane thought, confused. Opening the door, Tane was greeted by familiar faces looking at him with solemn eyes. Tane could see smoke rising in the distance behind the men’s shoulders. Letting out a short breath Tane looks at the men “What’s happened?” He said, painfully aware of the guilt that appeared on the men’s faces.
One of the men stepped forward “The actions of the mayor of Twynsvale have not gone unnoticed.” he said in a grave voice “His army has taken action against us, the village has been stripped of anything of worth.”
Tane swallowed and looked at the smoke coming from the small village “Are there any injures?” He said with a cracked voice.
The man who had stepped forward looked to the ground guiltily “Some tried to fight, and defend their possessions, but the army was ruthless…” He moved his feet uncomfortably “Your brother… he tried to keep the men from entering his house, but the men murdered him where he stood.”
Tane didn’t move, and this breathing slowed to a near stop “Rob…?” His brothers name left his lips, as rage filled up within him. His heart beat raced, as he ran out of his house in rage, his father’s sword in his hand, running to avenge his brothers murderer’s. Before he had reached ten feet away, he was bought down by heavy arms as the men who had come to his door restrained him from entering the village
“It would do no good for your father to lose two sons on this night lad.” One of the men said, as he pinned his arms behind him. Tane raised his head and looked at the burning village with furious eyes, making the occasional effort to break from the men’s grip. As he calmed, he felt the grip on him be released, as he looked down at the sword in his hand and recognised the emblem of the King’s army. Pulling his work dagger from his side, he wedged the blade under the seal, and ripped it from the scabbard, leaving a black mark where it once was. He dropped the small metal medallion on the floor, stepping on it as he slowly made his way back to the house, followed by the men.

Still grieving for his brother, soldiers arrive to collect Tane for the services he has signed up for.

As Tane sat silently at the table, listening slightly to the men talking around him. His father leading the discussion of vengeance and of search parties. Tane did not contribute, but silently in his own mind made his plans for tracking the men, before they managed to reach the great kingdom’s city. As they sat at the table deep in discussion, the candles burned down to naught but stubs, and the first morning’s light broke through the window.

Both Tane and his father shared the same red eyes and dried tears on their face as they all grew weary. The men stood up to leave and get rest, ready to start rebuilding the community later that day, but as they stood, there was another banging on the door. Everybody in the room tensed up, as one of the men walked slowly towards the door, a flash of sliver hit everyone in the eye as the door was flung open, and the sun hit shining chest plates and bright shields.
“We ‘ave come for the farm boy” One of the soldiers said, looking suspiciously at the group of men “I ‘ope this is not yet another plot against our King now, we don’t want to ‘ave to waste more effort killing you village folk.”
With a sickening thud, an arrow protruded from the bumbling soldiers neck. The other soldier swore loudly, and went for his sword, but Tane was already in the air going to dive at the man. With three swift movements, the soldiers remained still on ground with three large gashes on his neck and face. Panting, Tane stood back up, looking behind him at the blacksmith holding the bow, staring in disbelief at what they had both done. Tane looked around the room at the horror of the faces around him.

Tane’s family and the black smith are exiled from the community for risking everybody’s lives on an act of vengeance.

“What have you done?” One of the men said in disgrace “You have bought on the death of us all.”
The blacksmith lowered his bow slowly; a look of disbelief still on his face as Tane looks at his hands covered in blood “I… don’t know why…” Tane looked up at the group of men, and opened his man to talk again “I-“
One of the men spoke up “Don’t bother” he said gruffly “You can explain yourself to the council. Your thoughtless actions may well bring the end of this village.”
Tane hung his head low, letting his dagger fall to the floor, as he felt rough hands grab the collar on the back of his shirt as he was tugged out of the house towards the still smoking village.
Tane found himself in the council chambers standing before the entire of the council, minus one who had been injured during the raid. For over an hour the situation was assessed, as Tane tried to explain his actions, and the death of his brother. The council took little sympathy of the situation, as the village around them roared their protests at the foolish action. Tane stepped further forward and spoke loudly addressing the entire village “Whether my actions were right or wrong, it will not change the fact that the Kings vengeance shall fall on the community, and not on the individuals that carried out the act. We can help to defend you against future attacks!” he yelled desperately.
The village roared their disapproval at Tane’s proposal. Tane looked up in desperation and his head fell forward as he accepted his fate.
The head of the council stood “The community has spoken. You are henceforth banished from this village, collect your belongings, and you and your family shall be removed from the village.” He turned towards the blacksmith “That goes for you too, though you are lucky not to be being executed for your actions. Tane has displayed his grief towards the loss of his brother, but you have no excuse but for your bloodlust.” The blacksmith nodded solemnly, as he left the council chambers in shame.

Within the hour Tane, his father and the blacksmith found themselves on the outskirts of the village with little more then a small bag of possessions in each of their hands. Tane looked behind him at the village, and then down at the footprints of the soldiers that had rushed past just hours before.

There is a nearby town, go there and consider plans, meeting people with the same goal to see the end of the King.

Together, the three men walked slowly away from the village. None of them spoke as they silently reflected on the recent happenings. Tane could not help but feel overpowering guilt towards the fact that his father had also been exiled; just hours after he had been told that his eldest son had been killed. They walked slowly towards the city of Theocsbury, passing the great gates just an hour before sundown. Finally, the first words in hours were spoken, as the three men agreed to find rooms in the local tavern. They entered the dark and smoke filled room, and walked straight up to the bar.

Within moments, they had hired out three rooms for the night, and dropped of what little belongings they had in them. They arrived back downstairs in the Tavern and sat down on the table.

“Well, we should probably start looking for places to stay long term tomorrow, we can’t afford tavern rooms every night” Tane’s father announced.
Tane put down his mug and looked at his father “I am still going after the ones who killed Rob” He said with aggression
His father sighed “We can’t live a life of vengeance, we have to look after ourselves you know.”
“I won’t let the king get away with this!” Tane said, a little too loudly, causing a few heads to turn
“I’ll go with you” The black smith said, looking at Tane with determination.
Tane gave the man a grateful smile “Thank you”
“And so will I” came a voice from behind them, causing all three men to look behind Tane. A man was walking towards them, a well built body, and wearing an army coat with the king’s emblem ripped off. He had ragged facial hair and was clearly drunk. Tane did his best to ignore him and turned back to face his father “Don’t dismiss me so easily boy, I have my reasons”
Tane turned around to face him “My feud against this country because of the death of my brother does not concern you.”
“No” He replied “But the death of my wife does concern me, we may have separate motives, but we seek the same goal do we not?”
Tane turned to look at the blacksmith, who shrugged his shoulders, Tane looked critically over the man, who had clearly been in a state of drunkenness for several days, and his appearance was not being kept at all “Clean yourself up, and stop drinking. In the morning we can discuss this.”


Word comes that the King is personally coming to the city. Plans of assassination are discussed

The following morning, as the sunlight breached over the city walls and flooded Tane’s room with sunlight, he awoke to masses of movement below his room’s window. Begrudgingly he sat up and walked drearily to the opening and looked down onto the streets. A small crowd of people were gathered around the tavern door but Tane could not see what they were looking at. He roughly pulled on a shirt and left the room, heading downstairs. Because of the crowd outside, he knew opening the door would be a mistake, so he made for a small window behind the table that they were sat at last night, the drunkard was still asleep in one of the chairs. Careful not to wake the man, he gingerly put one leg out of the window and pulled himself outside. He joined the gathering crowd around the Tavern door and saw a piece of paper had been pinned to the door, a large red crest of wax was in the bottom right hand corner.

“By the order of the King,
The citizen by the name of Orin has this morn been announced a Lord, appointed by the King, along with all duties that go along with this rank. Further to this, he shall hence forth be named governor of Theocsbury, with all tax to be paid and set by his lordship.
In celebration of this event, King Marcus shall be attending the ceremony two nights from the arrival of this notice. All good citizens invited. Not welcome to slaves or freedmen.
Marked as the words of King Marcus.”

Tane read the notice, anticipation rising fast as he reached the end. Immediately, he felt as if everyone in the crowd knew what he was thinking. Without hesitation he stepped back away from the gathering, and snuck in back through the window in which he left. Returning to his room, he shook his father and the Blacksmith awake and told them what he had read “But don’t you see? This could be our opportunity, he will be here! Within daggers reach” He said, thrusting his fist into the air. Before his father could reply to the suggestion, a low, slow laugh started from behind them, and dread ripped up Tane’s back.

The drunkard from the bar the previous night overheard, and has a suggestion of his own.

Tane turned slowly, petrified to see a guard or, knowing his luck, the king himself to be stood behind him, ready to strike. His heart was in his throat as his eyes slowly reached the door. Relief filled his body, as he looked upon the white haired old man that they had sat with last night.
The man continued to laugh slowly, and it took a few seconds for Tane’s relief to give way to the situation. After a few moments, Tane straightened up his back “Who do you think you are? Sneaking up on people like that!”
The man stopped laughing and looked at Tane curiously “Well, with an attitude like that, you’ll never get any help.”
“We don’t need help!” Tane said, proudly.
“Oh, no of course not. I mean, everyone knows the kings only weakness is arrogant farm boys with no training. Now last night, you may well have seen me as a drunk or a waste away, but today is a new day, and there is no mead in my body to slow my thoughts any longer. You are too quick to judge Tane, my boy.”
Tane’s eyes widened a bit in shock “How do you know my name?”
The man laughed again “Because you have the stealth skills of an enraged behemoth, you may think you had me fooled with your false name, but it does not work so well when you keep calling your family by their true names.”
Tane shook his head “Alright, go on then, what’s your plan? Tell us what we have done wrong and make it perfect.” Tane then looked at him with mock expectation
“Now, I don’t pretend to know a lot about fighting, I was naught but a horse trainer before the king waltz into my life and destroyed everything...” He trailed off; Tane could almost see the memories moving beneath his eyes. He closed them for a moment, before opening them slowly and continuing. “I can’t train you to be a fighter, that much you must deal with by your own methods... all I have is contacts. Eyes all over the city. Do not think we are the only ones who want the king dead... He may come across as a popular king, but the plebs are not as easily swayed as he thinks.”
Tane looked baffled at how much the man had told him “So... if there are so many enemies, why would you even want me involved? Why would you need me? An ‘arrogant untrained farm boy’?”
The old man smiled slightly “Because lad, I know that look in your eye. Of course, people will say they want to see the king dead, but would they raise their hand in battle? No, they have their children, their wives and their lives to think of... but you, you are already a fugitive, and you my boy are what this war needs... A hand to deliver the bloody strike.”

Then I ask myself the same question.

Will there be a second version?
I like it

sonovagun.... forgot about this... give me a week or so to think of potential plot lines (a lot harder when you guys can flip me upsidedown every day) and I'll fire this up again...

Then I ask myself the same question.

Ren Wrote:sonovagun.... forgot about this... give me a week or so to think of potential plot lines (a lot harder when you guys can flip me upsidedown every day) and I'll fire this up again...

This is over a month now :evil: :evil: :evil:

"OR SO"

Besides, it's not even been nearly a week on Mercury or other such planets.

Then I ask myself the same question.

Ren Wrote:"OR SO"

Besides, it's not even been nearly a week on Mercury or other such planets.

I forgot to reply to this but if u wanna know the closer to the sun the faster time goes (earth time) the further away from sun the slower the time goes......
+
1 Earth week = 3 and 2 days Mercury's time

smart ass

Then I ask myself the same question.