06-25-2009, 05:45 AM
3)
His hands began to shake with the realization of what he'd done. He wanted to fall to his knees as shock seized his mind. He'd killed two men! He hadn't even given them a chance to defend themselves! Before guilt could conquer him, he reminded himself that these people had come to his home to destroy it. If someone didn't stand up to them, they may very well succeed.
Even now, he could hear screams of terror and anguish in the distance. A child's voice was abruptly silenced, and that could have been his sister, if he hadn't known that she was already safe. Or Robin, his mother...no, he could afford no guilt at what he'd done.
He quickly unburdened the horses with the weapons, leaving them where they stood. Daniel figured that the best course in fighting a large group would be stealth. Try to take them out a few at a time, rather than carelessly. To rush right into the fray would be suicide. He couldn't prevent the deaths that would occur in the meantime, but he had to keep calm. If the village wasn't destroyed, then there would be hope for those who remained.
As he headed back for Robin's house, he saw a group of men dragging a tearful girl with matted dark hair. His heart sank when he recognized her face. Gloria! The blacksmith's daughter, and a cousin of Robin's. He and Robin used to play with her to keep her out of visiting the forge while her father was working. At least, that was how it had started out. When she grew a little older, she was much more fun to play with. She had always been so full of energy and laughter. But now, there was a haunted look about her, as if she'd given up.
Daniel didn't like that look. Those men had done that to her! Without conscious movement, his hand slid to the hilt of his sword. There were five men guarding her, but that didn't matter. He clenched his jaw in determination. He wasn't going to allow them to take that child!
His hands began to shake with the realization of what he'd done. He wanted to fall to his knees as shock seized his mind. He'd killed two men! He hadn't even given them a chance to defend themselves! Before guilt could conquer him, he reminded himself that these people had come to his home to destroy it. If someone didn't stand up to them, they may very well succeed.
Even now, he could hear screams of terror and anguish in the distance. A child's voice was abruptly silenced, and that could have been his sister, if he hadn't known that she was already safe. Or Robin, his mother...no, he could afford no guilt at what he'd done.
He quickly unburdened the horses with the weapons, leaving them where they stood. Daniel figured that the best course in fighting a large group would be stealth. Try to take them out a few at a time, rather than carelessly. To rush right into the fray would be suicide. He couldn't prevent the deaths that would occur in the meantime, but he had to keep calm. If the village wasn't destroyed, then there would be hope for those who remained.
As he headed back for Robin's house, he saw a group of men dragging a tearful girl with matted dark hair. His heart sank when he recognized her face. Gloria! The blacksmith's daughter, and a cousin of Robin's. He and Robin used to play with her to keep her out of visiting the forge while her father was working. At least, that was how it had started out. When she grew a little older, she was much more fun to play with. She had always been so full of energy and laughter. But now, there was a haunted look about her, as if she'd given up.
Daniel didn't like that look. Those men had done that to her! Without conscious movement, his hand slid to the hilt of his sword. There were five men guarding her, but that didn't matter. He clenched his jaw in determination. He wasn't going to allow them to take that child!