In a chilling silence, Ellie exerted all her strength, repeatedly pressing down on Maze's chest, desperate for any type of response. She was kneeling beside the old man atop the only functional carriage they could forage. The feeling of panic at her back as she fought to save the old man's life.
Ahead, the Duchess pulled the roofless carriage while Charles guided the mare. She was surrounded by provisions hastily gathered as a last-ditch effort.
"He's not responding," Ellie said in a state of panic, delivering another forceful blow to Maze's chest. Charles glanced back at a figure behind them and shouted something inaudible. The absence of sound in Ellie's world only amplified her growing sense of dread.
Suddenly, Rose leaped onto the cart next to Ellie, her face etched with concern. "He's not breathing," she said, hoping her words would somehow convey their urgency. "I don't know for how long."
Rose's expression twisted in fear as she gazed at the motionless man. Ellie resumed her compressions on Maze's chest, counting to thirty with each cycle. "Rose, breathe into his mouth twice," she instructed, desperate to revive the old storyteller. She was having a hard time keeping up with the exertion of the compression.
Without a moment's hesitation, Rose leaned down and performed the life-saving action, blowing air into Maze's mouth. Ellie flinched when she felt his body twitch in response, but his eyes remained closed. Rose placed her head on his chest, signalling her relief through a visible exhale.
"He's breathing," Ellie read Rose's lips, her relief bursting forth in tears.
"Thank goodness," she sobbed, aware that enough blood had already been shed that day. She couldn't bear to witness the death of anyone else she had come to care for. She knew the dreadful act she had performed that day would haunt her. That she was certain of. Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see were the blank, lifeless faces of the soldiers she had put down.
Rose drew closer to Ellie, wrapping her arms around her as they both fought against the tears that threatened to overwhelm them.
⚔
Charles fought back the sting of tears, determined to maintain composure in the face of his girlfriend's cries. Instead, he focused on the road ahead, fixing his gaze on the long wooden bridge that stretched out of Sorina, leading away from the human lands.
With Maze incapacitated, Arthur had assumed command, directing the townspeople to recover and evacuate across the Sorina bridge. The aging structure could only hold a few survivors at a time, causing the transportation process to take far longer than what they had.
"Are you holding up, lad?" Arthur signalled as Charles approached with the carriage in tow. "Make your way over now. We’ve just a few villagers left, and we must start thinking about covering our tracks."
Charles nodded, understanding the urgency. "I've sent some men to scatter the remaining supplies in the side streets," Arthur added, shaking his head dejectedly. "Such a shame to waste so much grog."
Charles chucked. "Do you need my help?" Motioning for Rose to take his place beside behind the Duchess.
Arthur nodded. "Could you lend me a hand in guiding the rest of this onto the middle of the bridge?" Arthur instructed, passing a small barrel into Charles's arms.
"Boom?" Charles asked, watching Rose carting away across the bridge. His gaze shifted downward, observing the powerful flow of water rushing beneath them. The river was deep and treacherous, an insurmountable obstacle for anyone attempting to cross.
Arthur mustered a humourless smile. "More like crackle. But you get the idea. Though a lot less dramatic."
After they hastened the remaining survivors, they quickly scattered the alcohol across the surface of the bridge. Charles stood back and marvelled one last time at the aging wooden structure that groaned with the wind and creaked under foot. Arthur sighed and poured the last of the liquor on the wood behind them.
Once they had crossed to safety, Arthur handed Charles a bundle of twigs. "Here, stack these next to the bridge ropes and place some dried grass beneath them."
Charles complied, and Arthur retrieved his flint stones, striking them together to create a burst of sparks that ignited the dried grass. The flames initially flickered weakly but quickly gained momentum.
The wooden structure soon became engulfed in fire, the conflagration crackling loudly as black smoke billowed into the sky. Arthur let out a weary sigh. "That's my entire world right there,” he said, gesturing to the farmland about to be overrun.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
An odd sensation of guilt washed over Charles as he watched the bridge burn, flames devouring the connection to their past. He noticed similar fires raging within the heart of Sorina. Within minutes, the entire town was consumed by the merciless flames.
"The villagers and I have decided that if the blasted King wants our land, we will give it to him," Arthur declared. "But he won't have our homes. We won't let him turn our world into his slave pen."
Charles swallowed hard, realizing they had left their fallen comrades and abandoned homes behind. The future appeared bleak and uncertain.
"Come, let's join the others," Arthur spoke dejectedly, his head lowered in mourning for the loss of their world.
As Charles crossed the bridge, he couldn't help but notice the stark contrast on the other side of the river. Gone was the expanse of lush farmland that seemed to stretch endlessly. Instead, he found himself standing on the edge of a vast valley, its floor covered in a sea of bronze grass that swayed gently in the breeze.
Arthur joined him, surveying the new landscape with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Well, I never thought we’d end up here.”
Charles nodded, his eyes tracing the undulating waves of grass that seemed to extend into the horizon. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen before.”
They took a moment to absorb the scene, the silence broken only by the whisper of the wind through the grass.
"We'll need to tread carefully," Arthur cautioned, breaking the silence. "Who knows what lies in store for us? But one thing's for certain, we won't be returning to the farmlands of Sorina anytime soon."
Charles made his way toward the surviving villagers and found Ellie still atop the carriage. He crouched by a survivor's bucket and offered a comforting smile to a young woman who had slumped beside it.
"May I?" he asked the girl.
She wiped away a tear, nodding in permission.
Charles dipped a cloth into the water bucket, wringing out the excess liquid, and then approached Ellie.
He lifted himself up and handed the wet cloth to Ellie with a tender smile. The two knelt beside the still form of the exhausted traveller, Maze. Ellie accepted the cloth and gently dabbed the old man's forehead. Charles felt a rush of affection as he watched her. Despite enduring an apocalypse, thrust into a world of magic, and robbed of her hearing, she still found the strength to care for an old man.
Maze breathed deeply in his slumber, and a glimmer of hope sparkled in Ellie's eyes.
"He may yet live," Arthur spoke softly, returning from the riverbank with a fresh bucket of water. Surrounding them were wounded villagers and their families tending to their injuries. Rose flitted between groups, distributing supplies and organizing the young and able.
Charles caught the scent of burning wood in the air, carried from the bridge downstream. A thick column of smoke rose into the afternoon sky. On the opposite bank, the burning ruins of Sorina stood as a testament to their sacrifice. Behind them, a dense green wall of vines concealed the unknown threat that lay northward. Charles doubted that any amount of firepower could breach its defences. In response to his thoughts, a resounding echo reverberated through the air, and many heads turned to witness a purple plume of smoke. Another failure by the event casters attempting to breach the wall.
The vines remained steadfast, growing ever stronger.
Arthur shook his head in disbelief. "Maze once told me long ago that a great war was imminent. I believed him, yes, but I never thought I'd witness it in my lifetime." He turned to Charles, offering a weak shrug. "It seems you and your girlfriend arrived at the worst time."
"Lucky us," Charles chuckled half-heartedly, reminiscing about his first encounter with Maze. One particular statement Maze made lingered in his mind. "You seem like interesting people, and interesting things happen around people like you."
They fell into idle silence as they helped reinforce a nearby wagon together. Beside them, Rose admonished a young farmer who had accidentally broken one of the few remaining water pails.
"What happens now?" Charles inquired.
Arthur shrugged. "Maze told us before that we would have to travel to meet his friends. Having spent most of my life in Sorina, I'm not sure who these friends are. So we must wait for Maze to awaken before we proceed. In the meantime, we'll need to find a safe place for these villagers."
"Everyone’s safety is our top priority," Charles said as he quickly glanced towards Ellie.
Arthur watched where Charles was looking and added, “yes, everyone.” He then finished securing the wagon and walked away to stand beside Rose. Charles then laughed to himself as Arthur defended the young farmer against Rose's tirade, a reminiscent smile playing on his lips. It reminded him of his own childhood with Karn, their similar traits and taste for trouble.
He glanced at the miscellaneous items strewn near Maze and noticed one of Maze's bags. Curiosity piqued, Charles cautiously opened the large satchel and peered inside. Amongst the clothes, he discovered a green tome, seemingly hidden away.
Intrigued, Charles instinctively picked up the book and flipped through its pages. As his skin made contact with the pages, black ink rippled into existence. He recalled Maze's words and searched for the appropriate section, finally locating the page labelled ‘Connecting Events.’
Placing two fingers on the circle beneath the text, he spoke a name. "Karn."
Like before, slender strands of light shot forth into the distance. One streaked over the wall of vines, disappearing into the heart of the great city. Two more ran side by side, extending northwest. At least we're on the right side of the river now, Charles thought, hoping that his best friend was safe.
Wait for us, we’re coming, he thought.
Closing the book, he delicately returned it to Maze's bag.
Ellie looked up at him and held out her hand. He smiled and gently caught her hand in his. He squeezed three times while mouthing the words, "I love you." She mustered a grin then squeezed three times back. They then embraced each other in silence, finding solace in the moment. For now, they were safe. Tomorrow would come, and together they would face whatever it would bring.