Hey there! This time I got something refreshing I hope. How Arnick saw the light of the Sun again after this time in a Sirion Cell. Enjoy!
Careful steps
The sun glared down upon the world. Piles of smoldering corpses littered the countryside and the crows were content. Arnick felt his legs cramp up again. ''This blasted elf cart is too damn small!'' He cursed under his breath. Light pilfered in through between the bars that lined the windows of the transport carriage. His face was divided in stripes of shade and rays of sunlight. Sweat ran down the sides of it and his eyes were wild, keen and drank in every morsel of information they gleaned from the outside world.
It had been days now that he'd been imprisoned by Sirion warriors, their Ruler had offered a single word, their judge a few more. He felt terror take hold of his spine as the carriage slowed to a halt. He heard leather creak under the grasp of the driver, a whip? Something heavy thumped down onto the ground and a soft ring of metal approached the door. He was bathed in stark white light as the door opened, it blinded him. Moving his hands in front of his eyes did Arnick try to protect himself but was pulled forwards roughly by expert and strong hands. ''Out Human!''
He bared his teeth and emerged from the prison carriage with a leap. His hands still shackled and his ears perceiving the distinct sound of swords being pulled from their sheaths as he turned to face his adversaries. Two Elves stood in splendid greens and blues and silver. Armour but so beautiful that they rivaled the very sun itself in glory. They had long and slender lengths of that elf metal in hand, it shone a keen, icy blue.
''Kill an unarmed man eh?! Cowards! I'll rip your throats out!'' Arnick struggled with his not inconsiderable strength against his restraints. It was to no avail and the Elves warriors approached him cautiously. The sun and imminent termination of his life made sweat trickle from his bald head like fresh spring brooks from a snowy mountain. He uttered a feral roar and glared at them in hate and frustration.
''Human.. calm yourself'' One of the Elven warriors said in a soothing voice, as if addressing a horse. Even his free hand gestured as if to appear harmless. A strange thing Arnick though as he observed the blueish sword in the other. ''His grace, our master, wishes to set you free.'' Arnick looked dumbfounded and stumbled back 2 steps. His disarmed appearance was spotted instantly and the two Elfs surged forwards, sheathing swords and one of them producing a key. A click and a clack later and the shackles came off. A crow landed on the roof of the carriage and eyed the men curiously.
Arnick rose to his full height and the Elf warriors backed off, their hands resting on the pommels of their swords. A third elf, a boy by the looks of it but he couldn't be sure, all elves seemed to look young. The elf boy brought him his armor and greatsword. There was no malice in the way the elf boy handled the items only his facial expression betrayed his contempt for such crude equipment. One of the Elf warriors indicated with his hand. ''That way is Perdan or what it still is for now.''
Anger flushed through through his veins and Arnick collected himself as well as his gear that he had to carry in both hands. He slung his sword over his shoulder and carried it in its huge sheath on his back. The carriage left him there on the side of the road. Somewhere in Bescanon and as they departed Arnick took in the great devastation that was the region. Burned villages, destroyed carts lingering along the roadside, corpses. Huge, burned out pyres and somewhat close by a huge warcamp. Hundreds of soldiers if not thousands and banners too many to count. Fear whispered to him and cold sweat popped from his skin and his knees felt weak. He bit his lower lip and allowed anger to replace fear, he hated fear.
There was the combined might of the north in full display and if he didn't make himself scarce like a mangy dog he would soon again visit the Elven dungeons. Arnick ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
