† Monday, October 13, 2008
Here's the next part of Jabel.
He woke up with a start.
The first sharp intake of breath forced him to cut the second breath short. There was a sharp pain in his right chest. Feeling for a knife Jabel felt certain was there, he eventually realised it was most probably a cracked rib. Taking shallower breaths, he tried to gather his thoughts. "Check for injuries after every fight." Elan reminded, his voice resounding in Jabel's mind. As he gingerly checked himself before getting up, he tried to force Elan's voice out of his mind, knowing that he must get out now, he can have all the time after that to cry when he was safe. His arms and hands were fine, just blistered from gripping the unfamiliar shield. He bent his legs and tried moving it about and apart from a huge throbbing bruise at the calf and a dried cut on his thigh, his legs were alright. Taking a slow and long breath, Jabel lifted himself slowly, using his hands instead of jumping straight up in case he had a fracture or a torn muscle he might have missed. Wincing in anticipation of pain, he was relieved when his legs held up well even after being thrown and tossed about. His eyes, now attuned to the darkness, noticed a small fire somewhere in the distance. Jabel took another long breath and tried to sneak towards the fire.
Suddenly, a loud noise shattered the silence of the woods. Crouching down immediately, Jabel reached wildly for his daggers but realised soon enough that someone had stripped him of his weapons and his chainmail. Cursing silently, he crept up as best as he could to the edge of a large tree just behind the origin of the noise.
Jabel almost laughed out with relief when he saw the figures. All of them sported the distinctive style of the allied Greitus Duchy, loose leather jerkins trimmed in white. Thank the gods for his grandfather, who frequently made his rounds among the nobles, even though he was technically a priest. As Jabel thanked the gods profusely, he did not notice the slim figure creeping towards him. Before he could take a step forward, a dagger was held against his throat. "And who might you be, young one?" the feminine voice whispered directly into his ears. Jabel managed to cough out his hometown, with the dagger held firmly against his throat. "Oh, a neighbour!" the voice laughed and the three figures standing in the clearing turned immediately towards them. The dagger fell from his throat and Jabel felt it instinctively, the sharpness of the blade did draw some blood. "Sisters, its alright, our friend here is from Calris!" the voice laughed again as Jabel noticed the last figure on the ground. It was one of his brother's soldiers. Before he can turn and try to comprehend the situation, a dagger hilt, his dagger for that matter, flashed down and knocked him cold again.
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For the third time, Jabel awoke with a start. He groaned aloud immediately, now feeling the gash near his ear which he had picked up back at the parapet and the new gash where the hilt had connected with his head. Instinctively, he reached up and realised someone had dressed his wounds. His chest was also bounded tightly by two belts, belts from other murdered soldiers Jabel thought, so he could breath evenly without affecting his cracked rib. He swore out loud when another bump connected with his gashes and he realised how he had been waken; he was lying dangerously near the edge of a wagon that was bouncing off the dirt road at high speed. As Jabel pushed himself up against the side of the wagon, he noticed another figure beside him. It was Tomarias, the lieutenant of his brother. The giant was similiarly stripped of his weapons and armour, but was tied very sercurely. Jabel moved silently beside Tomarias. If he could wake him up, maybe they still have a chance to escape whoever betrayed them. He immediately set to work, trying to untie the knots binding Tomarias while nudging him insistently with his foot. "Morning, noble of Calris." the same feminine voice suddenly sounded from behind him. Slumping in disbelieve at his stupidity, Jabel was knocked out cold once again.
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A foot prodded him gently. The nudging became more insistent after a while. "Aw, forget it." a deep voice sounded from above him and someone trod on his bruise. Jabel screamed to conciousness, jerking up and tucking his thigh under him. reaching for his rib and the bruise at the same time. As he gasped for air at the pain, the bastard laughed and his heavy footsteps thudded away from him. Tearing his blindfold off, Jabel was helped up simulteneously from both
sides. "Sire? You alright?" the soldier on his left asked quietly as the other soldier took the blindfold from his clenched fist and retied it firmly around his eyes. "sorry, we have to convince them you're blinded so we can stay beside you." the other soldier hastily whispered as he pushed Jabel's hand away from tearing off the blindfold again. The soldiers started supporting Jabel firmly as they started walking.
"How long have I been out?"
"A whole day sire, since the Rogues turned you in."
Oh, they were Rogues. Jabel thought dully as the pain from the gashes started throbbing again.
The Rogues were an ancient guild allied to the Empire after Empress Joyce came into power. But the diversity of its members prevented them from being eradicated fully.
"Managed to sneak your daggers back though sire." the soldier who had blindfolded him sniggered as he slid the daggers into Jabel's belt. Jabel suddenly recognized the slimy voice.
"Theadin?!" Jabel hissed out immediately, turning to strike the thief.
Theadin laughed as he dodged the blindfolded Jabel easily, all the while still gripping tightly to his shoulder.
"Sire, is this the thanks I get for returning your daggers?" Theadin asked in a mock affronted tone.
"And who are you then?" Jabel turned abruptly towards the soldier on his left.
"Kanean, sire. And please stop resisting, we have no other choice." Kanean replied dejectedly as he held Jabel's left arm and guided him along at a faster pace.
"Get away from me Theadin!" Jabel spat as Theadin grabbed his right arm.
"Alright, alright..." Theadin muttered, amused, as he slinked behind them.
Great, Jabel thought, a thief and a gambler out of the hundreds of men that should have made it out.
"We did not betray Calris sire, we were still locked up when they attacked." Kanean sighed, reading Jabel's thoughts. "They thought we were condemned and made us follow them until they can find what to do with us. They are gang-pressing every man they can find to prevent your brother from escaping." Kanean continued.
"Jacob? He's alive?" Jabel asked excitedly, despite himself.
"Aye, he was knocked out by Tomarias, some of the men escaped with him." Kanean confirmed in a happier tone. "By the way sire, you're supposed to be a cook's boy, the rogues tried to convince them otherwise but thank heavens you look too young for any right-minded baron to send his young son to the frontline." Kanean muttered darkly.
"What use is a blind cook's boy?" Jabel asked incredulous at their stupidity.
"Don't worry, they evidently lack someone who can even boil potatoes, if those were the black lumps in our soup the barbarians cooked yesterday." Theadin replied from behind.
"Those were'nt potatoes Theadin, I've checked." Kanean laughed as Theadin pretended to retch.
Jabel could already feel the warmth in their relationship, and was glad nonetheless that even though they were scoundrels, the Calrisian loyalthy still burn in them and that was enough for Jabel to be thankful for, now that he is amidst the enemy with no clear way out.
snippets . @ 7:20 AM
