4Chapter 1 – Betrayal
I looked out over the hill into the vast and beautiful valley, I called home. It was a glorious day. The bright sun shone on the valley. Bright colored wild flowers dotted the green landscape. A short distance from the bottom of the hill was a small cottage. It was a tidy little home with a small garden in the back and chickens running about the yard. The place wasn't really much to look at, but it was my home. With a sudden burst of energy, I ran down the hill, gaining speed as I went, almost tumbling by the time I reached the bottom of the hill.
"Renny! Lunch is ready!" Argon called from inside of the house. Argon was the man who had raised me since I was very young. He had taught me everything I knew. Under his guidance, I learned to read and write, how to fight with both fist and sword even a little bit of magic. But most importantly, at least according to Argon, he taught me how to deal with people and handle myself in the world. I found it somewhat funny that he took the time to teach me all of that. I hardly ever required the need for any of the skills. I hardly ever saw anyone except for Argon. But he promised me that one day I'd thank him for everything he'd taught me. I decided it was just best to take his word for it.
I entered the kitchen and sat down at the table across from Argon. His dark brown hair was pulled back into a short pony tail. Argon was a big man, very tall and muscular. He had a tan complexion and deep brown eyes. Currently he was rather unkempt and unshaven from spending the morning working around the house. Not that I really looked much better, my curly black hair was in a tangled mess, my clothes covered in burrs and thistles from scavenging up on the hill.
Argon laughed when he saw me, "Well, we're certainly quite a pair aren't?"
I laughed pulling a burr from my hair.
Argon pulled two clay bowls toward him and began to fill them with rabbit stew.
"Renny, do you think you could go into town today after we finish with our lunch. There are some items I need you to pick up." Argon asked me as he handed me a bowl of stew.
"You want me to go alone?" I asked him in surprised.
"You're old enough now. I have some things that need to be taken care of today," Argon replied.
"Oh, ok," I said smiling. "I was just surprised you usually go by yourself, sometime you bring me, but you've never sent me by myself."
"Well today's that day," Argon told me. "Don't forget to put a kerchief over your hair and wear your dress."
I made a face at the mention of a dress.
"I'm sorry my dear, I know you don't like but it's important for appearance sake."
I frowned knowing he was right. "All right," I sighed. "I guess I'd best hurry up and clean myself up."
After finishing my lunch, I went to the wash basin to clean up. I starred down into the water to clean up. I starred down into the water. A pale freckled girl with blue eyes scowled back at me. I broke the reflection in the water, scooping it up and splashing it on my face. I grabbed a towel with my eyes closed and began to rub my face pink to dry off. Next was the brush, tearing through the knots in my thick hair.
Finally after much work, I was ready. I was wearing my only dress, reserved for special occasions. It was a simple black dress that extended down to my ankles. It was a particularly flattering dress, as it hung on my thin body strangely. But it was all I had, therefore it had to do. I tied my hair back in a black ribbon, and then tied a maroon colored kerchief over my hair.
Argon handed me a basket as I headed out the door. "I put a list of things you need to get in the basket. Also there a lantern and some flint in there in case it gets dark before you get back." He smiled at me. "You know what to do."
I tried to smile back at him confidently, but it was more of a grimace. Argon patted me on the back and I was on my way.
The market on the outside of the town was about an hour's walk away and I was grateful that it was a beautiful day. I was able to pull my kerchief down for a while and let the warm sun shine on my face.
I read the list Argon had given me, a bolt of black fabric, a kilogram of sugar, ink and quills, and a pair of shoes for me.
I looked down at my shoes. 'I guess I do need new shoes,' I thought. Small holes had begun appearing in the sole and on the top.
Out of my dress pocket, I pulled out a small object. I'd had it as long as I could remember. It was half of some sort of disk. On one side there was writing and bright colors. On the other, side it was a mirror, but it was different than most mirrors. This mirror took the sun's light and changed it into a rainbow of colors.
I showed it to Argon once. How he laughed when he saw it. "Renny, this is just a piece of garbage. In the old days it played music. But it's not even the whole disk, it would never work."
He laughed again, "Even if it could work, you wouldn't want it to. A polka band! Nobody wants to listen to that!"
But despite what Argon had told me, I held onto it through the years. It was kind of childish and naïve, but I almost felt like this object from the "old days" as Argon called it, was magical. For some reason, whenever I had it with me, I felt safer and more confident. It was like a good luck charm for me.
After much walking, I finally arrived at the market. I was able to quickly breeze through my errands without Argons assistance.
My last stop was to get the bolt of black fabric. I entered the shop on the edge of the town. The shop was dark and very warm on the inside. Large bolts of fabric lined the shelves of all colors and textures. I made my way to the back to the store where I found the material I was looking for.
I brought the bolt up to the front desk. There was no one attending the counter so I rang the bed on the desk. An elderly man emerged from the back room. He hobbled slight with a cane.
"Hello my dear," he said kindly. "Are you just getting this today?"
I smiled and nodded.
"You have such pretty black curls," he said smiling, a friendly twinkle in his eyes.
I felt my face flush. "Thank you, sir," I mumbled quietly.
"And that necklace" he said, "it's very lovely, where did you get it?"
My hand went to my neck, I nervously fingered my necklace. It was a blue colored jewel on a gold chain. "Oh this, I've had it forever, it was a gift."
He smiled, "It's very nice."
Outside the sound of horses stomping through the town sounded. Suddenly screams and cries erupted in the street. The old man hobbled around the corner quickly.
"Hurry! Get in the back, hide quick," he cried in alarm, pushing me back behind the counter and into his back room.
The back room was even darker and warmer than the shop and it smelled strongly of ginger.
"Quick, hid in that tub of scrap material!" the elderly gentleman instructed pointing to a large container filled with scraps of different colored fabrics.
Confused by the instructions, I quickly hurried into the back of the room. I got into the box, completely covering myself with the fabric.
I heard the shop door burst open. "Have you seen a girl with curly black hair and blue eyes?" a voice demanded.
"Why, no sir," the man said. "Business had been slow today. I've been in my back room all afternoon."
I was extremely warm under all of the material. It was so stifling, it was hard to breathe. I resisted the urge to burst out of the fabric to get a fresh breath of air.
"Well you don't mind if we have a look around then," said another voice.
"Well, I, this is a private establishment, there's nothing for you here," the old man said.
"Get out of the way, old man," said one of the old voices. There was a clatter.
"If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about."
I heard footsteps enter the room and stalk heavily through it. They were flipping through racks of fabric. The footsteps stopped outside of the bin.
I tensed trying to hold perfectly still. Why were they looking for me? Fear coursed through my body.
The person standing outside the container and slowly ran his hand over the material. He hand caught my dress. I fought the desire to cry out.
"There's nothing here," the man said. He stormed out of the room. Another set of footsteps followed. The door to the shop slammed shut.
I lied in the bin paralyzed sweating and shaking in fear.
"You can come out, Renny," came a feeble voice.
I slowly sat up in the bin. "Why, why were they looking for me? What – how did you know my name?"
"There's no time for that." The old man said as he hobbled over. "You are in danger. Hurry home to Argon."
I got out of the bin. There were so many questions I wanted to ask.
"Hurry, out the back door," the man said.
I paused to look at him. "Thank you," I said quietly.
He smiled kindly, "Any time Miss Renny."
I hurried out of the shop.
It was dark by the time I reached the hill over looking our cottage. I looked down at the cottage, it was dark. I frowned, something was not right.
I hurried down the hill and to the cottage. As soon as I entered, an air of uneasiness fell over me. Things were littered about the entrance. Our possessions were thrown everywhere.
"Argon!" I called out into the eerie silence.
I entered the kitchen. Argon sat at the table. There was one candle lit in the center of the table giving off an eerie glow.
"Argon, what's going on? It was so scary in town I-" I stopped talking as Argon held up his hand.
"I'm sorry to do this to you, Renny," Argon said quietly.
"Do what?" I asked.
Suddenly someone behind me grabbed me around the waist and neck. I screamed in fright, trying to jerk myself free, but my efforts were useless.
"Where is the jewel?" yelled a man who emerged from behind Argon.
"What are you talking about?" I asked angrily.
"It's around her neck," Argon said gruffly.
The man holding me grabbed around my neck and pulled the necklace off, breaking the chain. With him temporarily distracted with the necklace. I tried to break free again.
"I wouldn't do that Renny." Argon said. "The place is surrounded. You'll never escape."
"Argon?"
"Our Evil Lord needs it, and you'll make a very good sacrifice."
I stared at Argon in horror. Could it possibly be that Argon had betrayed me? The man who had raised me, clothed me, and fed me, was now giving me up to die.
"But . . ." I stuttered.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way, Renny. I raised you to die. I sent you to town today so that you could be captured there, but you escaped. So we had to resort to doing this way," Argon told me calmly.
I looked at him, hold back hot tears. "How could you? I thought of you as a father," was all I could manage to say.
Argon turned away. "Take her away, may she die fast and well."
I felt someone put pressure on the my neck and everything swept into blackness.
Author's Note: I will try to update this frequently, however I will be returning to school soon, so it may be not so often. Any suggestions or constructive you have for this will be very helpful. Thank you! cady