"'Ello. By order of Lord Whitehowl of Whiteland, we've come for a routine inspection of 'is majesty's lands. May I come in?" The man asked, his voice coated in a gravel like and violent accent, like a soldier who had forgotten his humanity and become more weapon than man. Unlike the rest of the soldiers, who wore faceplates with only a single slit to view the world from, this man was helmetless, and seemed to have command over the other men because of it.
Cassiel recognized the name of both the lord and the land. Whitehowl was one of the nobles who had taken advantage of the passing of old king Alteron the seventh, attempting to take over the entire kingdom of Alterrius while the throne was empty. The throne had been claimed by Alteron's son, but the nobility knew there was no going back from what they had attempted to done, and the war had continued on for the last twelve years, each noble taking control of the lands they had governed and attempting to take the rest of the land of Alterrius as well.
Cassiel coughed and nodded, stepping out of the way and sweeping his arm towards the insides of the house, now wanting to anger the soldiers. He could see several swords at their waists, and they seemed to know how to use them. "My uncle isn't here right now. He should be back soon, if you need to speak with him." he said as the soldier at the door walked in and began digging through the small amounts of food.
"We shouldn't need that. Just a routine search for contraband is all." the soldier stopped digging through the pile and pulled out an apple. He took a large chunk out of it in one bite, tearing through the juicy flesh of the fruit with what to Cassiel looked like a half empty mouth of yellowing and rotted teeth.
Cassiel was barely registering what the man had said, his father’s warning over a decade ago echoing in his head. He was practically certain, however, that the men weren't just making a sweep for contraband. Not this far into the forest. They were looking for something, or someone.
"My name's Cassiel." he said, not expecting a response as the man moved about the room, pulling items off of the counter and dragging the beds around.
"Corporal 'Unter Woodson of the Whiteland army." the man replied, not turning to look at Cassiel. "Odd. We were told we'd find a Stepper ‘ere." Woodson murmured as he finished his sweep of the room. "Unless..." the man slowly turned his head towards Cassiel and a small grin grew on his face. He pulled a long, thin throwing knife out of a pack on his back and flipped it in his hand.
"Boy. 'Old VERY still." he said, the grin becoming more and more malicious each passing moment.
Cassiel's immediate reaction was to sprint, but where would he go? The forest stretched on for miles, and the men would find him if he went to Litwood. So, instead, he did as the corporal asked, and held still, praying that Hunter Woodson wouldn't throw the knife at him.
Unfortunately, that was exactly what happened. Cassiel felt as if he were watching from another person's perspective and in slow motion. He watched as Corporal Woodson's armored arm pulled back over his shoulder, and then swung back forwards towards him. Cassiel prepared to feel the pain of the knife jab into his skin, and…
Nothing but a dull 'thunk.' Cassiel opened his eyes, realizing only then that he had closed them. The knife was no longer in the man's hand, and it wasn't in Cassiel, so where was it? His eyes traced the room around him, confused, until light reflecting off of something buried in the wall behind him caught his eye. The knife, sticking straight out of the wall. Cassiel traced the trajectory that the weapon would have had to take to land there, and realized something that terrified him. The knife would have had to move straight through his neck to get where it was. He looked back at the soldier in shock.
The malicious grin was still upon Corporal Woodson's face when he looked there. "Well, well, well. Got you now." Woodson said, and leaned to Cassiel’s side to shout to his soldiers waiting outside. "We got a Stepper! Make sure 'e can't get away!" Woodson shouted, and looked back at Cassiel. "You'll 'ave to come wit’ us."
Cassiel wasted no time in charging the man nearest to the door, slamming into him with a charge that would have sent the man flying to the ground, if not for the hundred some pounds of armor he wore. Instead, the man stumbled back a step and Cassiel fell past him and into the armor of another one of the soldiers. The man caught Cassiel, having had just barely enough time to react.
Cassiel was not certain what the men intended on doing to him, but he knew that it would not be in Cassiel's best wishes to go with them. Unfortunately, he could feel that he had sprained his shoulder in his mad attempt to escape. He sighed and gave up any remaining hopes he had of escape.
"Fine," he said, his hatred for the men and his dejectedness at the situation obvious in his tone. "Can I gather my things before you drag me off to wherever it is you're taking me?"723Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK70SaZjiSm
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Woodson glanced at the soldier nearest to the door, his expression asking a simple question. "Should I let him?" The expression said, almost as obvious as if the corporal had asked the question himself.
'"It's within his rights, sir." The soldier replied. Woodson sighed and made a looping gesture towards the cabin. Hurry up and do it so we can get going, it said.
Cassiel walked despondently towards the wall of the cabin and picked up the bow and quiver, the tiny part of him that still held any hope telling him that he might be able to use it against his captors. Cassiel then moved to his bed, grabbing a small carving of an eagle that he had carved. He wanted to be able to write a letter to Eris, telling him that he had been kidnapped by a group of people claiming to work for the lord of Whiteland. Paper was never a priority for Eris and Cassiel, and even though both were able to read and write fluently, they had not one piece of paper in the cabin.
A noise came from outside the cabin. It sounded like a cry of rage, growing louder quickly. After a moment a crash of metal emanated from just outside the cabin door, as if one of the soldiers had gotten tackled. There was a cry of fear mixed with pain a moment later, and then Cassiel's uncle was in the doorway.
Cassiel's uncle looked nothing like his father, but always claimed he looked like a male version of Cassiel's mother. He had a full head of smooth, jet black hair and emerald green eyes. His skin was usually the color of rich walnut, but his anger had flushed the skin of most color and left it the color of oak wood. In his right hand was the axe that Cassiel had used earlier that day. He was panting with rage and adrenaline seemed to flow from him.
“Cassiel. Listen very carefully.” Eris said, staring at the corporal with an expression akin to that of a mother bear whose cubs have been threatened. "Run. Get to Alterrius City. Enroll at Skyforge. You'll be safe there. Master your powers." When Cassiel did not immediately move, Eris gestured at him with his free hand. "What are you waiting for? Go!" He shouted, and then charged Hunter Woodson, swinging the axe at his enemy's neck.
Cassiel didn't wait to see the outcome of the fight. The bow and quiver of arrows he had taken from the wall still in hand, he sprinted out of the cabin and into the woods away from the setting sun. He wasn't sure where he was running to, but he knew he needed to get away from the soldiers. If he ended up in Alterrius City, he ended up in Alterrius City. If he didn't, that was fine too. But first, he needed food.
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