literature

The Cursed Race - Chapter 2

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Chapter 2- Uprising

I opened my eyes and inhaled sharply.  As I sat up in the dark room a sigh escaped my lips, I couldn't even remember having gone to bed the night before. I stood up and walked over to the small window and opened the curtains. The sun was fighting to rise above the Pelua-mountains. The stone floor felt cold despite my leather shoes, and the air smelled of rain. I looked out over the city and the people already working. A sad smile crossed my face; to me they looked like shadows moving across the street. Sometimes I wondered what the city looked like when it was full of life. I exited my room and entered one of the castle's many corridors. One of the old proverb says that in the labyrinth of Viria, those who do not know their way will peril. The corridor was dimly lit and the light flickered across the walls making the paintings seem alive. At the end of the corridor was an ornate door and behind it, the grand throne room. There were torn banners hanging from the ceiling, their fading colour making them look grey. They carried our seal, a silver raven. Even with the huge windows, the room looked grave, like the rest of the city.

This early the throne room was nearly empty, there was only the king sitting on the throne, his wife, the queen, sitting next to him and some of the elders standing next to them. They all looked like ominous back shadows and if it weren't for the silver crown, the king would've looked just like them. I Slowly approached the black throne and gave a short bow "father". The king's head turned towards me and he gave a small nod to acknowledge my arrival. The elders looked at me and even though I couldn't see their faces I felt them evaluate me, as they always did, and thus the daily routine began. I sighed deeply, nodded towards father and mother and left the throne room.

There were many lecture rooms in the castle but few were still used and most of them were converted to training grounds for soldiers in the beginning of the second age. This one was old and the furniture looked as if they were going to fall apart at any second. One of the elders, Trioh , was sitting behind a small desk, but he rose quickly when I entered the room. It was my teacher and I respected him, he was almost 20 000 years but still had the strength and speed of a youth. Strangely this was the place where I felt most at home, the walls didn't seem as black and the air less heavy. Trioh had taught me most of the things I knew and he and I got along well. Unlike the rest of the elders he didn't only look to the past, but to the future as well, and this made him seem more alive than the rest of the place. He nodded towards a bench and as I sat down it squeaked dangerously loud as if apologizing for being almost broken. Trioh gave me an old, well read, book and our lecture began.

We, like the elves are immortal, but many of us are killed trying to hold our cities and land. I thought of them as I walked through the city's graveyard. Not a day passed without me walking the raked gravel roads. I stopped in front of a small, black grave and sat down. It was the grave of my stillborn baby sister. Most people wondered why I always sat here but there was a kind of peace here that was difficult to find anywhere else in the city. The noise of the town was dulled and everything was calm but it wasn't a happy place. My mother used to be a vibrant and fierce woman but when she gave birth to my stillborn sister, she changed. She now seemed older, weary with grief and she rarely spoke. My father on the other hand was unchanged, pride and reputation first. This was also the main qualities of my older brother. First in line he was everything father wanted. Fierce, prideful and strong, one of the best warriors in the land. Ha also had father’s flaming temper, a temper which made them both unpredictable and even more dangerous. My mother on the other hand was usually soft spoken although these days her voice sounded stressed and agitated all the time. The curse had changed many people in the city although most tried to act as is nothing was wrong, as if to numb the pain.  

I sat by the grave for a while but then I stood up and left; it was time for the one thing I dreaded every day, sword practice. I wasn't terrible at it, but neither was I as brilliant as my father wanted. When I reached the courtyard, where the training always took place, I felt my stomach lurch. The weird thing about always wearing the shioa was that even though I'd never seen another's eyes, I could still feel all of them turning towards me as I approached. Father had always praised those with fighting skills, thinking those without were only fit to be servants. I gave a small nod and felt my hands tremble slightly, father showed no sign of noticing me. Herahl, my training instructor handed me a sword and motioned me towards the practice grounds, I followed hesitantly. Without any warning he launched at me from the right, forcing me to jump backwards while trying to parry. After another attack my sword flew out of my hand "speed Airwyn!" Herahl  shouted and I snatched up the sword from the ground. It didn't take long for the sword to fall from my hand yet again and I heard my father snort at me, then he shook his head and left. "You will get it" Herahl said, almost commanding, and gave me the sword again. The air smelled of sweat and I breathed heavily, charging half-heartedly.    

There were no windows. the room was lit only by candlelight and its warm light danced on the walls. Bathing was a very private and appreciated thing in Helioth but you had to be careful keeping the water bubbly or  you could accidentally catch a glimpse of your reflection in the water and die I shut the door and bolted it carefully so that no one could stumble in. With a quick movement I removed the shioa from my head and took of my gloves. I let my fingers trail through my hair, shut my eyes and smiled. Being alone without having to worry about being seen was a rare and welcome occurrence. I discarded the rest of my clothes letting my eyes rest on the warm water in front of me. A happy sigh escaped my lips as I lowered my body into the warm water, relaxing completely. The silence around me was calming and it seemed like I was the only one alive at that moment. I stretched my hand out towards the water and concentrated. A small stream of water rose slowly from the pool-like tub and it circled my hand in elaborate shapes. I dropped the water back into the tub and listened closely for any sound of someone approaching. Magic, the forbidden art, was strictly forbidden but I had never been able to resist it. It was a fine and precise art and came easy to me. There was no sound. I exhaled and stretched out both hands. This time two streams of water rose and circled my hands. They moved up my arms, around my head and across the room. A voice in the back of my mind told me that I should stop this before I got caught but the excitement kept me going anyway. Just when I was about close my eyes in concentration there was a sharp knock on the door. I dropped the water with a startled splash. "Please go away" I thought to myself and submerged my head under the water. There was another knock and then a voice said "Airwyn, get out of the water and come, father wants us". It was my oldest bother Kalen. I sighed deeply, not wanting the rare moment to end so soon but I knew that it was unwise to keep father waiting so I got out of the water and put on my clothes again with a small frown, the smell of sweat still lingered on the thick leather. Then I carefully put the shioa back on my head, my wet hair making it damp, and opened the door. "There's been an attack on our southern boarder" he said and we started walking towards the throne room. Attacks weren't unusual these days but they were increasing in number while our defence diminished. But something in his voice made me wary and I stopped. "What about it?" When he didn't answer I grabbed his shoulder. "Kalen, what is it?".  "Airwyn they broke through the Southern wall". I blinked and shook my head "that's impossible". "No, they used gnome-catapults" Kalen put his hand on the door-knob. "You do understand what this means Airwyn? It won't be long until they're here". He opened the door and I followed him in. The Southern wall had stood for thousands of years and was the only thing protecting the southern border from the ogre-like creatures living in the drogh-dessert, the dak’ri. "Kalen" I whispered "how could they have used gnome-catapults, the gnomes are in the north, they shouldn't even be able to reach the south.". He shook his head and motioned me to be quiet as we approached the throne solemnly. The throne room was filled with people, like black shadows they loomed in a circle around the big throne. We stopped in front of the throne, made of ebony and with delicate ornaments covering the back. "Father" Kalen started but father raised his hand to stop him. "You've all heard the news" he said grimly "the ogres have breached the southern wall and we must prepare for war" there was a pause "I will send my oldest son, Kalen, to defend the border, may the gods be with us". The silence was deafening and my brother nodded in acknowledgement. "No" I blurted "he won't be able to keep the ogres from coming, even with the entire army at his command. We should evacuate and gather at the inner wall" father's hand rose again "Silence! It will be as I command" he said and then rose from the throne.

"You dare question my command in front of our subjects?" Father was furious. I could always tell; the short, sharp movements and the angry pacing gave his cold, calm voice away. We were standing in brother's dimly lit bedroom.  "You know I'm right" I simply said. "You will never question me in public again, do you understand?" there was a pause "do you understand Airwyn?" "Yes father". I answered dully. With that he left the room and the door closed behind him. My brother sighed heavily and straightened the already straight bed sheets. "You have to learn when to stay quiet little brother, you shame us all with your outbursts". I opened my mouth but closed it again and turned around to leave. "It doesn't matter if you're right or not, you know that. We have to seem united, or chaos will break out. And fix your shioa, it's all damp" Kalen's hand was on my shoulder now and I shook it off "I know. You would rather die than loose the family's oh so brilliant reputation". I replied coolly and left the room with quick steps making my way to my room.

I sat down on my bed, then stood up only to sit down again wondering how father could be so blind to the truth, I wondered angrily. There was no question about it, the kingdom would fall if he didn't open his eyes and swallowed his pride. I looked to my side and saw a book flowing in the air, just inches above the bed; in my agitation I had unknowingly suspended the book midair. I grabbed the book and put it on the bed slightly alarmed. This was bad. If someone should see me, a royal prince, do magic, there would be no telling what the consequences would be. I took a deep breath and stood up again to put the book in the bookshelf. As I reached the shelf I looked out the window, seeing the familiar black shapes moving about. A dark premonition lurked in the back of my mind and I wondered just how long our race would survive now that we had little defence left.
The second chapter of my novel. It's been quite some time since the last upload but I have one more chapter almost ready. Please tell me what you think but keep in mind that this is my first attempt at writing.
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