A Fire Raged Across Redpoint...

[Helbolt 129]

    Jacob walked out of the mine at the new Monk's Sanctuary smiling.  On his back in a sack he carried several carefully wrapped ores of iron and gold.  In a pouch on his side were several raw diamonds.  "Dis is me best trip yet!" he said to himself enthusiastically.  As of late, fortune truly had been favoring him.  The creator be blessed.  As the sunlight shone in his eyes, he covered them with his left and and looked around the town.  All of the decorations were beautiful.  Jacob's head swiveled and then stopped suddenly, as he noticed the smoke coming up from the west.  Curious, he thought. 

    As he headed home, the peasant couldn't help wondering about the smoke, and the woman to the west that had saved his life several years earlier.  He slowly picked up pace, and pushed himself to reach Schattenburg.  The farther he traveled, the faster he went.  When he finally reached home, Bailiff Frost couldn't take it anymore.  He had to do something.  The sack was stuffed in the closest chest as Jacob put on some armor, grabbed his saddle, a few other items, and walked quickly towards the stables.  He would push his horse to reach Redpoint.  He must make sure she was alright. 

    Sunshine sped past the Monks in the street, past the inn that always had so many guests, and through the road that was almost overwhelmed by the trees.  The armor was heavy, and Jacob was not accustomed to wearing it.  He rarely needed it, save for long trips such as this with the threat of night.  In the distance, as daylight dawned, Redpoint was ablaze. 

    Jacob took his iron fist and beat on the door that housed Lady Vekon.  He shouted for the village folk to rally themselves.  Finally, at wit's end, he broke down the doors to her house and searched them.  She was nowhere to be found.  He had thought it might have been a fire and prepared.  A shovel and bucket were produced from the load the horse had helped carry.  Jacob wasn't sure if this fire was natural or not, but he knew about the fires at New Abresi.  He slowly began to use the bucket to put out some of the fire on one of the roofs closest.  The hours stretched on, and he wasn't accomplishing much in his armor. 

   The man got back on his horse and headed for the inn he had passed.  Perhaps they would help.  When he reached them, he shouted multiple times that Redpoint was on fire and needed help.  No one came to his call.  "I don't have time fer this," he growled and returned to Redpoint.  He headed into the forest to the North where long ago he had cut trees for the city.  Hidden in the mountain was a portcullis.  "Rangers!  Come out, the Town is on fire!" he screamed.  There was no reply.  Infuriated, he added, "You ad the nerve to kick the mayor out of town, tis yer responsibility!  Come elp me wit this fire!"  No response. 

   The sun by this point had touched the landscape.  Jacob only had a few hours left, if that.  He began to dig furiously in front of Lady Vekon's house.  She was safe at least, perhaps he could save her house.  When he was done digging, it was night.  That was OK.  He could deal with zombies.  Moving to the river, Bailiff Frost filled his bucket with water.  He then began transferring it to the ditch in front of her house.  Several trips were made and the ditch was starting to fill up, but it was not meant to be.

   It happened suddenly with no warning.  A cracking sound and then the sound of water splashing.  Suddenly Jacob didn't feel right.  There was a sickness about him.  A pain spread across his body as the liquid seeped through the weak points in his armor.  Without thinking the provider for his family responded in the most instinctual way possible, by running towards Sunshine.  Another splash as a glass bottle broke upon his back.  He put his left hand past the sword belt on his saddle and grabbed his bow.  Jacob grabbed four arrows from the quiver on his saddle and retreated to the bridge on the river's side of the town.  A shadow in the darkness followed.  Whatever it was, he could see it coming from the bridge. 

    As the shadow approached Jacob didn't wait.  He drew each arrow quickly, and then paused lining up the shots.  All four flew, one after the other, but he was not sure how many hit.  As the shadow fell, the peasant that had so often hunted in the woods felt remorse.  He had taken his first human life.  As the adrenaline slowed, Jacob went to where the figured had fallen and found a woman with a large black hat bleeding out on the floor.  An arrow was lodged in her neck.  "Lucky shot," he said quietly.  There was nothing more he could do here.  He was quickly becoming weak as he hopped back on Sunshine and rode for Shattenburg.  He ate as much as he could on the trip home, hoping it would help him survive.  Jacob barely remembered locking his door as he passed out on the floor in front of his table. 

 

[lιoɴ 248]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.