It is a cold day. The inhabitants of the isles of Irena were tired. It had been seven days, since they have accepted the refugees, who fled from the war on the main continent. It was a great hardship on the locals, but they did everything they could to help. For they knew that it was only a matter of time before they would be dragged into this conflict.
They are a proud nation of two hundred thousand. An isolated people, which left the main continent centuries ago, to find peace from conflict. It seems that it had been in vain after all.
The land was covered with palms and wooden houses. Its shores of yellow and soft sand kept the mind at ease. The waves slowly went up and down, it was truly an island at peace. But although the island seemed defenseless, it was surely not. Soldiers were always on guard at the ports and were especially alert after the notice of war on the mainland.
In the crowd of refuges, a woman in a white vail searches for a better view and is followed by two men. The man closest to her was 14 of age, though his strong build would not mistake people in calling him a boy. He is a handsome, brown haired young man, with a sharp dagger bound to his back. But his and the woman’s uneasiness around the crowd made them seem out of place.
The other man, only walking a few feet behind the boy, was in contrast much older. He too had short brown hair, but grew a full beard, which he occasionally stroked with his right hand. He wore a light chest plate and kept an iron long-sword on his right side of the hip. Though he seemed to portray a relaxed persona, his aura did raise a few questions. Those near him could mistake him for a mercenary, though he would be greatly under-equipped.
And as the wind began to sweep the palms lightly, and as the waves grew more resistant, the three of whom we have just spoken stopped in their walk, after they had distanced themselves from the crowd.
“Do you really think this place is safe Ken?”, the woman asked in an anxious tone.
“How often do I need to tell you, this place is as remote as it gets.”, the young man replied in an annoyed voice, “They won’t expect the two heirs of Frankia on some--”
“shshsh! Please be quiet, for Gods sakes! What if somebody could hear us? We don’t have anywhere else to go…”, the older man replied.
The young man, who the woman named ken, nodded in affirmation. “You are right.”, he returned his gaze to the woman, “Isabella, you have heard the locals speak, haven’t you? An attack from Virelia would be nonsense. This place is far from the mainland and also…”, Ken pointed at the port guards, “…this place is heavily fortified, 10 000 men strong I’ve heard. Why would the empire waste its time with such an isolated and neutral people, who, under occupation, would make almost half the ruckus you’d do!”.
At the sight of Isabellas piercing gaze, Ken couldn’t help but release a chuckle.
Indeed, the people, though under hardship, seemed to be calm. Even the refugees were in good spirits, considering they left behind their homes. Isabella was pleased at the sight, it made her realize that she had gone a little overboard. She let out a sigh and looked at the man with the chest plate.
“What should we do now Bione?”, she looked back at Ken for assurance and brought her gaze back immediately.
“Princess, we shall wait. Your highness ordered me to take you to a safe place, until the war was concluded. Though we have lost contact…”, the man looked down for a moment and raised them to Isabella again,” I am sure that your father will march his men to victory. He is a great man! We need only obey his wish.”
“I knew you’d say that… I hope you are right.”, the princess said with a sorrow voice and laid her head on Kens shoulders.
“Don’t worry Isabella. We have enough money for the time being. We only need to wait, like Bione said! See it as a surprise vacation. Nobody can defeat father, you know that.”, Ken let out a smile and looked at his sister, ”The only one who will rise to be stronger… is yours truly…”, he raised his arm and flexed his biceps, ”Ken the Great!”
At his words Isabella immediately headbutted him lightly, though she did grin, and she was thankful to her brother.
After some time, the sun was setting on the isles, and the tired refugees went to their tents. The only ones staying on watch were the guards. Before entering, princess Isabella looked one last time at the setting sun.
The water was shimmering in its orange light and the sky turned darker and darker, leaving way for the stars. Though the land seemed unfamiliar, the stars were the same and home suddenly seemed not so far.
As they closed the tents, the refugees and most of the residents went to bed. The worst part seemed to be over.
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In the middle of the night, a group of soldiers patrolled the great harbor, not far from where the refugees took shelter. Because it was dark, the two of them each had a torch in one hand. The light flickered near their faces and their whole surroundings received a tone of red and orange. As they patrolled the area, the wooden planks made squeaking noises and the sound of the waves splashing against the wooden columns holding the harbor, could be heard in the quiet night.
“Hey Bono, have you ever seen Captain so angry? ”, one soldier said with a small laughter.
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The other soldier turned angry himself but seemingly to try to contain it: “Well, not really. I suppose it wasn’t a good idea to put firecrackers into my shoe’s you idiot.”
“Well, common, don’t be like that. I was only heating them up for you!”, he replied, his laughter now difficult to distinguish from shouting. It was noticed immediately.
“Quiet you fools!”, cried a higher-ranking officer and stumped to them, “I don’t want to hear another tone, the people need rest. If not from the war, then from seeing you two donkeys.”
“Si-sir, you won’t hear another tone!”, replied the soldier who was pranked earlier. The other nodded repeatedly in affirmation. Though still angry, the officer returned to his post.
“Well, that went smoothly”, said the prankster quietly.
“Shut up!”, he replied.
“Don’t blame me if you can’t take a joke…”, he looked at his friend and then turned his gaze upon the end of the harbor, ”Let’s continue the patrol to the end of the harbor, alright.”
“Yeah whatever…”
Both soldiers walked slowly in unison. The harbor was relatively large for such a small island, but it was the only one which allowed commercial and trading ships.
The full moon shone as bright as it could, even the soldiers could do nothing but admire it.
“Bono, what beautiful creation, don’t you think?”
“Please don’t continue about the refugee women, Talean I really had enoug--”
“Not that you idiot. The Moon. ”, said the soldier named Talean. As he corrected his thoughts, the two soldiers reached the pavement and Talean collapsed his chest on the parapet, obviously distinct from a soldier.
“Oh, yes, you are right.”, replied Bono, while looking at the moon in admiration. He lowered his eyes and saw Talean, ”You are a soldier God dammit, behave like one!”, he couldn’t help but criticize Talean’s posture.
Standing more upright, the soldier now only rested his elbow. “It’s a perfect night. Too bad man ruins it with his imperfections.”, he shifts his gaze from the moon to the deep ocean, “Out there he is. Like us, but yet so different.”, as he saw how confused Bono was at his words, he gave a sigh. “I am a poet, remember?”
“I hear it for the first time.”, said Bono with a monotone expression. Talean gave another sigh.
“Wait Talean”, the soldier added abruptly, “Do you see that?”
“What?”
“That light in the distance! There is a flickering light, right there!”, he pointed it out to him.
“You’re right…”, said Talean slowly.
Bono turned his eyes back to his friend: “Another refugee ship?”
“No…”, his expression slowly turned into horror, ”The captain. We need to alert the captain!”
The soldiers started running back to the port entry.
“Enemy ships! Enemy ships approaching!”, screamed Talean. At his words, Bono immediately followed suit. The island was under attack.
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A deaf tone suddenly appeared in Kens dream. People starting to cry out and the sound of fire spreading to him became more and more clear. The voices turned sharper and sharper. At once he wakes up by the horrified cry of a woman. Cannon balls are heard drifting through the air, making a high-pitched sound, and demolishing targets on impact with a deafening explosion.
“Out of the tent, all of you!”, a soldier suddenly opened the tent and screamed, “But remain at the beach, the city is being bombarded.”
Ken looked in horror, he turned his gaze to Isabella, but she didn’t believe what was happening. How could Virelia attack an island so far in the east? Both were frozen in place, and it was Bione who shock them back to reality.
“Out with you both, now!”, he yelled in this brutal atmosphere. His words on par with those of women screaming in the outside, and both Ken and Isabella still almost unfazed. He got closer to them and talked in a lower voice, “Take your leave immediately and stay near the ocean levels. I need to get something.”
Both now looked at them and Ken was the first to react. He took Isabellas hand, and almost pulled her out the tent. While the screams and roars became louder, Ken tried to ignore everything and went further down the beach, where more and more people were gathered.
“Look there Isabella…”, Ken turned his head to Isabella, “…we are not alone. We’ll just wait with them and all will be fine.”, though he was still frightened, he gave his best to conceal his emotions. But Isabella still had the broken face she had before.
Many women were crying, their children following suit, maybe because they saw the chaos that unfolded on the island, the loud cries and sounds of canon balls crashing, or they couldn’t stand the sight of their mother. Most men were silent, not knowing what to do. All they could do was wait out here, as they were told.
Isabella looked at them speechless, horrified, all while trembling. Their own plan had failed. They were lost too, just like all those people she was with now.
When both arrived, they could do nothing but look at the chaos. Ken took Isabella and tucked her head to his chest. Bione was still not here, and it made him uneasy. He looked at their tent from afar and was able to notice a shadow moving. Shifting his eyes from the tent to the other side, he could now see from where the enemy ships were attacking from. Everyone started to crouch to the sand, so he followed suit and pushed his sister to him
Though far away, he could see the ships from the bright yellowish lights the canon explosions created, sending chaos upon the city. What followed was a sound of slicing through the air, like waving a stick fast enough to create a high-pitched noise, only that the sound was duller and heavier. Ken followed one canon ball with his eyes, which seemed to come from the flag ship, although maybe one of the larger ships. It pierced through the air, and it came nearer and nearer. Ken could feel his heart getting tighter and tighter. He felt as though suddenly there was a vacuum inside him. And as it came closer, and as the people turned their screams into inhumane cries, he buried his sister in a tight grip, as though fearing the end.
“Agggh!”, the explosive sound was so loud, it seemed to burst Kens ears. Since he used his hands to cover Isabellas ears, his hearing was instantly paralyzed, creating an intense ringing noise.
Though in pain, he looked around and saw everyone still here, crouching on the sand. He turned his face violently, trying to figure out what happened and immediately noticed the harbor, with the military hideout, being completely obliterated. The wooden pavement was in pieces, many of which now floating in the ocean. The guard post was full of large gaps and had its foundation ripped apart. It was all completely unrecognizable.
Soldiers ran around in circles, seemingly unaware of what to do. Even the officers were unable to control their subordinates. What made matters worse: a crew ship was approaching the shore of the other side of the now destroyed harbor.
All Ken could do was hold Isabella down to the ground and protect her as a shield. Everyone was on their own now and with his ears paralyzed, he couldn’t do anything but hope it will be over soon. All the while his inability to do anything was killing him from the inside.
From the ground, he could see how the enemy soldiers attacked the high-ranking officers, who wore a black hat and were distinguished easily. In total despair, some guards threw their weapons on the ground, put up their hands while kneeling and surrendered. It was total chaos. Fire was everywhere and Ken could barely keep his eyes open because they hurt so much.
A large force suddenly pushed him down to the ground. It was Bione, doing the same to the two, what Ken had done to Isabella. They could do nothing but hope and pray.