15min fic #79
Nov. 3rd, 2004 05:27 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
annarti.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
yrae
Title~ Breakaway
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ All mine~
Notes~ 15 minute fic, word 79. No, it's not Blade Archer. This idea just popped up, so I've gone with it.
~ ~ ~
Aki struggled through the throngs of people who always lined the Main Road when the King’s Own returned. She didn’t want to be a member herself, but she so loved the elegant creatures upon which they rode.
Once she managed to get to the front of the crowd with all the other children, she was able to catch sight of the group of riders approaching from the far end of the road, and her cheers rose with those of the people surrounding her.
As the horses drew closer, Aki frowned. The people up the road had fallen silent, or were talking in hushed whispers amongst themselves. Certainly there was no cheering. Their eyes were all morbidly fixed on the horsemen, their steeds’ hooves now echoing loudly down the eerily silent cobbled street.
The General’s horse no longer had a rider.
Aki’s mouth opened slightly as her eyes gaped at the chestnut stallion. She was just as dumbfounded as everyone else. The Own was made up of the best warriors in the kingdom. Nobody was better than they were, but somehow, only fourteen had returned this time.
The Own drew nearer, and Aki could see several arms in crude splints, bandages and clothes stained dark brown with dried blood. The warriors’ faces were gaunt, their eyes only half focused on the cobbled road that lay ahead of them. Even the horses’ heads bobbed with exaggerated weariness.
Nimay and Prince Nolryn, who were closest to Aki, rode beside each other, heads bowed in silence.
“What happened?”
Each member of the Own responded differently to the call. Some flinched, some looked away, some blinked or rubbed away tears, some turned bloodshot glares in the boy’s direction, some kept riding as though not a word had been said.
“Not so great to lose one of yer own, is it?” Even Aki had to flinch at that. The people on the other side of the road had no respect.
Half the Own turned their heads at that, and Aki could well imagine their expressions. The prince thrust the back of his hand in the boy’s direction. Nimay slung a comforting arm over his shoulder. Aki could hear a half-hearted “Don’t, Nol,” from somewhere in the ranks.
Prince Nolryn hissed something in the language of the northern kingdom, evidently not wanting the general public to hear what he’d said. “Aeia,” he swore finally, raking the fingers of one hand through his hair. “I’m not dealing with this,” he announced through gritted teeth, then dug his heels into his horse’s flanks.
Aki bit her bottom lip as she watched the prince clatter off down the road to the open gates of the palace.
The rest of the Own stared after him, along with half of Ni-Yana. The thirteen riders looked amongst themselves, then gradually, four other riders took the prince’s lead.
It was a powerful image, and one Aki hoped she wouldn’t have to see for a long time to come.
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ All mine~
Notes~ 15 minute fic, word 79. No, it's not Blade Archer. This idea just popped up, so I've gone with it.
Aki struggled through the throngs of people who always lined the Main Road when the King’s Own returned. She didn’t want to be a member herself, but she so loved the elegant creatures upon which they rode.
Once she managed to get to the front of the crowd with all the other children, she was able to catch sight of the group of riders approaching from the far end of the road, and her cheers rose with those of the people surrounding her.
As the horses drew closer, Aki frowned. The people up the road had fallen silent, or were talking in hushed whispers amongst themselves. Certainly there was no cheering. Their eyes were all morbidly fixed on the horsemen, their steeds’ hooves now echoing loudly down the eerily silent cobbled street.
The General’s horse no longer had a rider.
Aki’s mouth opened slightly as her eyes gaped at the chestnut stallion. She was just as dumbfounded as everyone else. The Own was made up of the best warriors in the kingdom. Nobody was better than they were, but somehow, only fourteen had returned this time.
The Own drew nearer, and Aki could see several arms in crude splints, bandages and clothes stained dark brown with dried blood. The warriors’ faces were gaunt, their eyes only half focused on the cobbled road that lay ahead of them. Even the horses’ heads bobbed with exaggerated weariness.
Nimay and Prince Nolryn, who were closest to Aki, rode beside each other, heads bowed in silence.
“What happened?”
Each member of the Own responded differently to the call. Some flinched, some looked away, some blinked or rubbed away tears, some turned bloodshot glares in the boy’s direction, some kept riding as though not a word had been said.
“Not so great to lose one of yer own, is it?” Even Aki had to flinch at that. The people on the other side of the road had no respect.
Half the Own turned their heads at that, and Aki could well imagine their expressions. The prince thrust the back of his hand in the boy’s direction. Nimay slung a comforting arm over his shoulder. Aki could hear a half-hearted “Don’t, Nol,” from somewhere in the ranks.
Prince Nolryn hissed something in the language of the northern kingdom, evidently not wanting the general public to hear what he’d said. “Aeia,” he swore finally, raking the fingers of one hand through his hair. “I’m not dealing with this,” he announced through gritted teeth, then dug his heels into his horse’s flanks.
Aki bit her bottom lip as she watched the prince clatter off down the road to the open gates of the palace.
The rest of the Own stared after him, along with half of Ni-Yana. The thirteen riders looked amongst themselves, then gradually, four other riders took the prince’s lead.
It was a powerful image, and one Aki hoped she wouldn’t have to see for a long time to come.