Streets were illuminated by the raging flames that consumed the town's buildings, and the young, night sky was filtered with smoke. Both nations could be seen from a distance under the stress and horror of another battle for the very same land they had fought together for.
"Matthew, where are we going?" a young girl asked, her voice filled with concern. The young man who accompanied her placed a gentle finger to her lips, then flipped the hoods of their cloaks over their heads.
"Don't worry, Annabelle, we're going to be all right," Matthew tried to comfort, then hoisted the young girl onto the back of a horse. He pushed himself off the ground and sat himself behind Annabelle, then grasped tightly on the leather reigns. With a single flick of his wrists, the steed beneath them kicked his hooves from the ground and carried them onto the burning streets.
Out of the corner of his eye, Matthew spotted a large falling piece of burning wood from what used to be the local tailor shop, and steered their horse away before it could collapse. Annabelle let out a shriek as the flaming building finally gave in. Their horse galloped in the new direction without any notice from nearby citizens. The town had been in too much distraught to notice anything else but their own misery. With a fresh war on their hands, it was hard to do just that.
Another scream escaped Annabelle's mouth, but this time the stallion had stopped under its own will, and not by the command of Matthew's hand. Matthew looked up, and his gaze was met with three strange figures upon their own horses.
"Move!" he tried to command, but the new characters would not budge. He attempted to move past the three men by means of their horse, but they moved themselves in a way that blocked his path. "I said move!" Matthew shouted again, but the men gave off no reaction.
"You're not going anywhere unless you tell us who you are, and where you're going," one of them finally spoke in a deep voice, then came forth. "Let's start with my first question, who are you?"
"I am a citizen, and I must get my sister to safety," Matthew replied, hoping his answer would suffice. He feared giving too much specific detail would spoil his plan of escape. "Who are you?"
"You do not ask questions," the man spoke. "We are here to protect the land of Arceivona, against the turmoil Donesthorin has dared to put upon us. If you are a citizen, then how are you not in battle, good sir? Every able body is needed."
"I must get my sister to safety first," Matthew replied after some hesitation. In truth, he did not plan to fight in battle. Their destination was just five miles out of town, deep in the woods where it would be safer. Not safe, but safer.
"We will make sure your sister is taken care of," the guard spoke, and came closer Matthew and Annabelle. He reached over and grabbed the young girl by the arm, then tugged to remove her from her place upon the horse.
"No, Matthew!" she screeched with horror, and nearly fell off the horse as she lifted out her other hand to her brother for aide. Matthew let go of the reigns and flung his arms around his sister's waist.
"Sir, if you wish for the best for you sister, you will do as I say," he guard enforced. "Join us in battle, and your sister will be safe."
Annabelle continued to let out high yells of terror, begging her brother to stay with her, afraid of what might happen if she were to be escorted by the guards. The young man simply shook his head in response, and attempted once more to ride past the three guards, but their large statures prevented his escape.
"Bring the girl to me!" the guard howled, and the other two figures immediately obeyed. This time, Matthew was able to pass by the guards as they tried to approach him. The horses raced through the burning town, around corners and behind buildings. The hood to Matthew's and Annabelle's cloaks were lifted from their heads by the air as they sped off through the streets, and revealed similar locks of dirty blond hair.
Their chase continued, and Matthew was beginning to feel good about himself. The sound of the pounding hooves that chased them had become more distant, and all that could be seen was a clear path to their destination; the woods. Suddenly, one of the guards had come up to them from the side, and tore Annabelle from her seat. The young girl screamed for her brother as she was forced to sit with the guard, no sooner to be taken away. The two other men had caught up to Matthew, and the guard that had questioned the young man before came up to him.
No words had been exchanged between the two. They stared at each other, trying to anticipate what would happen next. When the guards felt like enough time had been spent, they suddenly sped off with Annabelle. Matthew chased after them, but by the time he had reacted, the guards had all ready reached the end of the street, and eventually became out of sight.
~ ~ ~ 2 Years Later ~ ~ ~
"Spare a coin or two, sir?" an elderly woman begged as a man had passed her among the streets of the village. The man who wore a heavy, gray cloak turned his head to acknowledge the woman, but gave no other reply.
"Please, good sir, just a coin or two?" the woman begged again, and when the man had refused again, she started to follow him. "Don't think you're going to hide from this war, young man," she suddenly threatened, and came up to the man from behind. "You think you're the only one who has suffered from this war? Look around yourself." The head of the hooded figured turned about to look at the damaged village, but still didn't speak. "A coin for your freedom, a coin for your freedom." And when the man did not respond, the elderly woman removed the hood from the figure's head to reveal him as a man. "Guards, guards!" The woman shouted and pointed.
"If I'll be damned," the man muttered to himself, then began to search around for the guards that would come. Three armed guards surrounded the cloaked man, but weren't quick enough to catch him when his feet swiftly carried away. It had been at least two years since that horrid night. He could still remember the smell of the burning wood, and could hear his sister's echo through the night sky. Deep inside, he knew he was going to get caught, by someone, but he still made the attempt to get into town for food and resources. Though safe in the woods now, his feet continued to carry him at a fast pace. The small wooden building now called home was only five miles away.