Chapter 2:  The Merchant, Anwir

As I woke up, a vivid image of green appeared before me. Leaves crunched beneath me as I sat up to look around. A sharp pain thundered through my mind as images of what happened before filled my head. Images of Uncle Laurel being cut down before he had a chance to know what hit him. Images of my mother having her heart ripped out of her chest and crushed before me. My father being impaled by the large sword of the orc. I ran over to a bush nearby to throw up. A throbbing pain started to take pain on my left pec. I looked over it and saw something that looked like a skull branded into my pec. The skull looked to be laughing and crying at the same time.

‘So it wasn’t a dream…’ 

The realization suddenly sunk in. The realization that I no longer had a home. That I no longer had a family. The realization that I was alone.

I started walking mindlessly through the forest as I relived the moment over and over again. 

“ATA! HELP ME!!” I could hear Zach plead as he was being surrounded. The sound of Connor screaming to his brother to stay behind him and the image of him getting cut down that followed. I could hear the screams of the villagers around me getting cut down. The pleads for help that spewed through their mouths and the silent prayers from the people who could do nothing else. 

Trees blurred by as I kept walking aimlessly through the forest with the same thoughts going repeating in my head : ‘Why?’

The rhythmic sound of leaves crunching under my feet were drowned out by the screams in my head. Why? Why did this happen to us? What did we do? I felt rage start to bubble up inside me as I walked. The sound of the leaves crunching slowly turned to the crunch of gravel. I looked up to see an image that sent shock to my whole system. An image of a figure stood looking up at me.

“Zac-” I whispered when he began to speak.

“Why did you let me die?” The calm voice that came out of the small child sent shivers down my spine.

“Wh...at”  I said wide eyed looking at Zach.

“Why didn’t you help me? You let me die.” Zach said in a monotone voice.

“What do you mean?” I choked out, not sure what to say.

Then the image of Zach froze. His eyes went wide as his fog like body was split diagonally.

Before I could react, the image of Connor took his place. 

“Ata, why did you let us die?” His voice sounded through my eardrums.

“I… I-” Before I could answer, Connor cut me off.

“Why did you watch us get slain? Why didn’t you warn us about the ominus aura that was by the hill?” Connor said, tilting his head. “You wanted this to happen, didn’t you.”

My whole body started shaking. ‘What….I wanted this to happen...What is he saying’

As I opened my mouth to speak, the image of Connor was split, and in his place stood my mother, looking at me with the same kind eyes she always did.

“Mom! I wante-” I started to take a step forward as I was cut off.

“Ata, Why did you kill me?” 

These words shook me to my core. I fell to my knees looking up at the image of my mom. Blood started to seep through her dress.

“Why did you kill us?”  She said, still looking at me with the same kind eyes, but they seemed to be fading, almost empty.

A burning sensation filled my chest. My breathing started to stagger and my body felt heavy.

I looked up at my mom to see her too start to fade away, leaving me alone again. 

“I’m….sorry” I choked out as tears started to flow down my face.

I put my head against the ground as I heard the screams of my friends, neighbors, and my family drown out the world around me. 

“I’m sorry…..I’m sorry….I’m sorry” I said as I dug my fist into the gravel. 

As I sat there tormented by the shrill screams of all the people I held dear, a deep hatred started to burn all the way through my soul. A deep hatred for the people who had killed them, and for myself for being so weak. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wallowed for what seemed to be days. The sound of hoofs on gravel and the neigh of a horse awoke me from my torment. I looked up to see a large horse drawn carriage with two compartments.

A young man stepped out of the driver’s seat of the carriage. He was dressed in bright colors and looked to be quite wealthy. Walking with a cane in his left hand, he looked towards me and asked “Are you okay, kid? Why are you laying on the middle of the road?” 

I looked at him but did not respond. He came closer and knelt down, looking at me with concern in his dark brown eyes. I noticed the freckles that covered his cheeks and light brown hair escaping his top hat.

“Are you lost? Where are your parents?” He questioned. 

I winced at the mention of my parents. As if picking up what I was thinking, his look changed from worry to sorrow. 

“Are you alone?” The man asked in a warm voice. I simply nodded in response. 

“Do you want me to take you to where you live?”

I shook my head.

“I have no home…” I managed to croak out.

The man looked back at me, with eyes that almost said that he knew my pain. 

“Do you want to come with me? I’m a merchant and am heading towards the capital, if you’d like to come with, I could see to it that you have a home. They have places there that take care of children like you.” He smiled warmly at me.

I thought about it for a moment, then decided that there was no reason that I should decline. ‘If I go to the capital, maybe I can enlist into one of the guilds that my parents told me of. If I do that surely I can get strong enough to avenge my people.’

“If you would take me.” I whispered. 

The man’s smile grew wider, “Okay! Let's get going!” He stood up and brushed off his brightly colored pants.

I stood up and let him lead me to the first cabin of the carriage. Though I call it a carriage, It was more like a carriage with a storage unit attached to it.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The man opened the door and stepped in. He looked inside the cabin and said to someone “Would you mind driving, I have a visitor and wish to speak with him.” 

“Yes sir” A deep voice echoed back. 

A large man stood up from his seat of the carriage and walked towards the entrance. With every step the carriage creaked under his weight. Although I didn’t get a good look at him, I did manage to see a huge broadsword on his back. ‘Mercenary I guess.’ I thought as I started to walk into the cabin. 

“Oh where are my manners! I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Anwir, and like I have mentioned before, I am a merchant. It’s nice to meet you….” He gestured to me as if asking my name.

“Ata.”  I replied 

“Ata! A pleasure to meet you!” He bowed and then took a seat. Looking at me, he gestured to a seat across from him. I quickly walked over to it and took a seat.

“So, Ata, tell me about yourself, if you don’t mind. It’s going to be a long journey and I think this will help pass some time”   

The carriage started moving as I began introducing myself to him. For some reason I felt I could trust this man. I told him where I was born, about the village I lived in. I told him about the villagers that lived there, about Connor and Zach, about my Mother and Father, and about the eccentric guy I came to call my uncle, and how he was the village chief.  I told him of all the happy moments I had with them, of all the times Uncle Laurel would come in unannounced and get scolded by Mom. I told him about all the “surprise attacks” of Zach, and all the teasing of Connor. I told him about Mom’s godlike cooking, and about Dad’s sword ability. I told him about how both Mom and I are Envoys. His eyes sparkled at that, but I ignored it and kept telling my story. I mentioned  how Connor and I sparred every morning, and how hard we both practiced. 

Time passed as I told him my story. By the time I had stopped, the sun started to set. 

“You seem to have a lot of good companions, Ata. Do you mind me asking why you aren’t with them now?” He questioned. 

My happy mood had quickly darked at the mention of it.

“You don’t have to if it is complicated.” He reassured me.

“It’s okay...I’ll tell you.” 

I began telling him about the sensation I felt around the hill that day. The sensation that made me freeze after hearing the crash coming from the entrance of the village. I told him about how I watched Uncle Laurel get cut down in front of me. How my father fought to protect us, and how my mother died protecting me. I told him about Zach and Connor, and how Connor tried protecting Zach even after death. And how I sat there and watched as all of this happened.

I looked down cursing my weakness.

“Ata, There is no need to curse yourself for what happened. They died protecting you, didn’t they? Don’t you think that they would want you to lead a happy life instead of a vengeful one? Keep your head up Ata. You are what your parents fought for. They wanted you to live a happy life, even if the cost was there own. Don’t let that go to waste.”

I looked up shocked at what I heard. ‘How could I not try to avenge them?!? I should just let the ones who slaughtered my village go?!’ I couldn’t help but be confused at what he had said.

“That is what I think at least but, hey, to each their own.” He added after seeing my angry expression.

I changed the subject and asked about his story.

“Oh, you want to hear about a lowly merchant such as myself? HA! As you wish, I shall tell you my story!” Anwir replied, almost striking a pose.

He told me how when he was young he wished to be a knight, and how his father had gotten sick, forcing him to take over the family mercantile business. He told me of his many loves, all unrequited, and how he slayed a basilisk “with this thumb” as he held up his thumb. He told me of how he has traveled all over the continent and met many new and interesting people. 

“What kind of stuff do you sell?” I asked him.

He perked up at the question. “Oh I sell a wide variety of supplies, hoho a wide variety indeed.” He laughed creepily. I didn’t pry deeper, in fear of what I might find out.

“Anyways Ata, it’s getting late. You should get some rest, you’ve had a rough couple of days.” He looked at me with concern.

“You’re probably right...Okay I’ll try to get some sleep. Good night Anwir.” I said as I laid back into my chair.

“Good night, Ata.” He replied softly, blowing out the lantern in the cabin.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” 

“ATA! HELP ME!!!”

“ATAAAA!” 

Screams filled my ears as I looked around into the darkness that enveloped me.

Images of the villagers getting slaughtered started appearing around me. Suddenly I was back in the village. In front of my lay my mother, with a hole in her chest and a look of shock on her face. I watched as the villagers were getting cut down while I couldn’t move. 

‘No!!! Not again! Stop!! Please!!’  I started screaming but the words wouldn’t come out.

Suddenly the place was black again, but in front of me stood my mother. 

“Why did you kill me Ata?” She asked in a monotone voice.

“I...Didn’t” I choked out.

“Why did you kill me and your little brother?” She put her hand on her swollen stomach.

“N...No..” I started to shake. My whole body trembled. 

“I’m sorry...I’m sorry...I’m sorry” I repeatedly said when suddenly something shook my body. I opened my eyes to see Anwir looking at me with concern.

“Are you okay? He asked.

“Yeah...I’m fine...Just a nightmare.” I said as sweat ran down my face.

He looked at me apologetically and said “Well we’re here...Let’s go!”

Anwir got up and walked to the door. He motioned me to follow as he walked out.

I got up and walked towards the door. I looked out and gasped ‘So this is the capital!’

Chapter End