Prologue - II

The situation in the village was not like usual. The people woke up very early not to prepare a market or bathing their cattle, but to prepare all things for the arrival of the figure we never knew before. Worries etched on the faces of all people, including Joanna and her mother, Ketlen who were running here and there without a purpose.

I approached them and tried to break their worries, "Don’t you prepare to open the market, Jo ? Everypeople will get confused if you’re not there, I think."

Suddenly she stared at me sharply, "Do you think there’s still time to have a joke ?", After she turned her face and breathed, she continued, "You should worry about yourself before thinking of others."

I just smiled, because I knew she would say like that. We were born on the same year and raised in the same environment, and of course I knew that she would answer my words like that.

"Stay at home, do not let even a single one enter your house tonight.", I replied with a smile.

"You are the one who supposed to think like that.  Did not your father allow you to join the fight tonight. Ferren and you should be ashamed, just the two of you that do not join the men who down to fight tonight. "

"Huff, I don’t think you would so cold like that. But if my dad allows me, I will have become the forefront tonight.", I could not smile again. "Good morning ma'am Ketlen." greeted to Mrs Ketlen before I left them. It was clear that her face looked uncomfortable after seeing a small fight between me and her daughter.

When I was walking back toward my dad, I saw Hereff and Getto come towards us. Directly, dad stood up and bowed respectfully to Hereff, a gesture which is often seen to respect the experienced one and the elders .They are attached to 10 years of age away, but Hereff chose a different path compared with my dad, he chose not to marry and lead his own life independently. Not one of the Tummerfall people knew the reason behind his decision.

"I think Getto was ready, he has chosen a weapon which he will take tonight. Make sure it won’t be lost, this sword was given by my uncle.", told Hereff to my father.

Ya, Getto had actually gotten up earlier to go to Hereff’s house. At our home, there is noweapon that is especially prepared to fight, therefore dad and Getto must borrow it from other people. When Getto had to borrow it from someone, dad had already had a weapon which had been given by Mr. Avenicus last night. An old sword that was kept in the temple for a long time, he counted on my dad.

Dad just smiled, "We just make sure none of us is missing tonight."

Hereff answered with a small laugh, "Yes, make sure we will fight with all of our ability, we will not know the figure that will be faced."

"Well, are you ready, Getto?", continued my father and aked Getto.

"More than ready, no, I mean I should be ready, really for whatever happens.", he said.

Then dad turned his face to me, he gave me a small smile and said, "Always be brave, you soon will be the hero to yourself and those around you with the confidence you have."

I really could not see his face, and Getto also said, "You’ve never be a good brother, but you are still my beloved brother. Remember these words, I won’t ever say them twice. "

I could not hide my fear and grief at this time. "You will go home right after tonight?!", Whether it was a question or statement that I said to them.

They just smiled and walked away with Hereff to  the Temple of Ethyre. It was the place where the people who will fight tonight gathered. Two hours later, Hereff went out from the temple and told the residents to get into their house and never leave till tomorrow morning. Here, I finally realized, that if dad and Getto did not appear in the next morning, they would never return. At this time, I started my waiting with fear and anxiety.

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I stand and walk backward while still gazing at the old wooden door which is in front of me. Cold sweat run down very rapidly from my body, fear that I cannot explain pervades my mind at all. There is something who will enter my home, and I do not know where I have to run. The step is become clearer in my ears, closer to approach the door of my home. My vision is not clear because of the tears and sweat which make my eyes sore. I know there is something that start holding the handle of the door from the outside. Suddenly the door is driven toward the inside and opened. I have no energy left on my feet for a while, and I fall down gazing something that is standing in front of me.

"Leon, help me, we have to go from here.", The figure said to me with pain and fear, then it falls.

I rub my eyes, now I can see clearly that Joanna is the one who enter my home. I feel a little relieved, despite the fear still pervades my mind. If only it was not Joanna, maybe I do not know what will happen to me.

Joanna is looked so exhausted and lay limp in front of me. Red-blood coloured colors her white gown that is still worn since we met this morning. Before I can ask what was happened, she earlier says,

"They killed my mom. We must quickly get out of here before they go back and find us. "

What was really happened? Who are those who killed Mrs. Ketlen? I have no will to ask it to Joanna. I gather the rest of my strength, and try to get up and approach her. I try to lift her, but after seeing her injured leg that I don’t know because of what actually, I feel that she really does run out of energy. So I lift her very slowly, carry her on my back so that she will feel no pain. After I comfort her in my back, I stand up.

"Where do we go? I will try to protect you from anything that will happen. ", I say.

"Do not go there.", He says while pointing towards the right side of my home. "They are doing something in the temple, we must quickly run away before they see us."

I should be able to take the right decision at this time, it is in my mind. I try to get rid of all my fear and move it to my protection feeling for Joanna. I run towards the low bushes behind the house, towards the wide area of ​​land owned by Uncle Rowe which is behind my house. When I run, I glance to my ruined village, even I can see the condition of Joanna's house that its front part has been destroyed by something big.

I keep running through this spacious land, trample eggplants and cabbages. I realize that I feel very weak, but I cannot stop, I have to keep running. After going through this land, I arrive at the front of Uncle Rowe’s house. So I am near from his chicken farm now and then I will reach the pine forest behind it soon.

Slowly but surely I come to the forest. I keep running far enough into the woods until I finally feel secure that they will not find us here. I put her down from my back and make her leaned to a pine trunk that has been cut off. She breathes very deeply and continues with a small groan as a result of her pain.

I kneel down and clean the sweat from her forehead with the palm of my hand. "I will protect you, comfort yourself.", I say.

She gives me a small smile. I know she must be hoping someone who is more powerful than me will protect her right now.

"What was actually happened? Who were them that you mentioned earlier? ", I asked her unfluently due to my fatigue and fear that I still feel.

"I don’t know if there is someone alive except us, they destroyed everything.", she groans again before continues her speech, "Maybe they want to take something from the Temple of Ethyre."

I cannot speak more. I just remember about my dad and Getto. Where are they now? Did these cruel things also kill them? I do not want to think again, my body felt stiff and weak.

"Do not leave me, Leon. I will follow wherever you go from now on. ", The tears is rushing out of her eyes suddenly. "If you leave me, I will not have anyone else in this world...." she continues it with crying softly. She is really frightened, she is really sad, and those are also what I feel now. If I do not meet again with my dad and Getto, she will be my only one and I have to protect her.

Black clouds come to cover the shining moon there. Rain comes down accompanied by a few of singing birds and crickets in the night. I hug her gently, "I will protect you." 


Don't forget to check the Indonesian version at http://thebladeofaldaeid.blogspot.com/