The Attack

Haruki ran across the countryside, trying to make it back to Johannes’ farm before the encroaching army could make their way there.

He could run for longer intervals now, it seems all the farm labor he did had the effect of building up his stamina, but he still had to stop in intervals to catch his breath. It was too far of a distance back to the farm to run across in one go, he was no marathon runner.

His lungs burned from the exertion. It felt like he could never breathe in enough air, as if his ribs were in the way of his lungs expanding to their full potential.

The line of torches continued to loom in the darkness ahead of him, the speed at which they marched seemed supernatural.

Their speed is unreal! Haruki thought to himself. I can’t believe men dressed in such heavy armor could move at that kind of pace. Could they be using magic to somehow augment their own bodies?

He was afraid he may not make it in time, but that fear kept driving him forward, pushing him harder and harder the farther he went.

Soon enough, the row of lights were behind him, with only the empty darkness lying ahead.

He felt more hopeful now, but even if he made it back before the army he wouldn’t have much time to warn everyone.

Ahead of him he began to see some familiar outlines, he could see the shapes of a few of the farmhouses from the village.

“Wake up! You’re under attack! Wake up!” he yelled and screamed as he passed the farmhouses. That was the only way he could think of to efficiently alert the residents in the middle of the night.

Finally, standing before him was the farmhouse he had lived in for the past few months.

I’ve made it! But how much time do I have left?

He looked back and could see the lights approaching.

He barged through the door.

“Johannes! Lillianna! Wake up!” he shouted.

He burst into Lillianna’s room.

“Lillianna! Wake up, there are soldiers coming!”

“Huh? What are you doing here, Haruki?” the girl asked, leaning up in her bed.

“There’s no time for questions, your village is under attack!” Haruki grabbed her by the wrist and led her out into the dining room. Johannes was already there.

“What’s goin’ on, Haruki? Why’re you back here all the sudden?” he asked.

“There’s an army from the capital nearby. They trashed the farm I was staying at and will be here any minute!” Haruki responded.

Johannes’ eyes grew wide and he stared at Haruki for a moment. He then grabbed Haruki by the shoulders.

“Listen, Haruki. I need you and Lillianna to both go and hide in the barn. I’ll stay here to deal with them.”

“But uncle, what if they attack you?” Lillianna asked, her voice distressed.

“Someone needs to stay here and give them what they want, or else they will take everything,” he said back.

“Johannes, they could kill you,” Haruki said.

“Just go!” Johannes shouted.

His voice had all the sudden become menacing, it was a stark departure from his usual nice demeanor, frightening the two of them. They both obeyed and fled the farm house for the barn.

As they ran between the buildings they could already see the torches around some of the other farmhouses.

Inside the barn they looked for a good hiding place. Haruki hadn’t realized it before, but he now noticed that Lillianna was still wrapped in the blanket from her bed, holding it tightly around her.

“Come over here, we’ll hide behind the bales of hay. We can use your blanket to cover us both.”

Lillianna hugged the blanket more tightly around her, an anxious expression appearing on her face.

“But I’m not wearing much underneath,” she said.

“You… were sleeping nude?” Haruki asked.

“Of course not! It’s just—” She opened up her blanket for a moment, showing Haruki what was underneath.

She had on a thin white chemise. He could understand why she’d be embarrassed. While she wasn’t nude, such a light dress was only a little better than if she were in underwear.

Nevertheless, they didn’t have much choice at the moment.

“I’m sorry, but this is the best option we have right now,” Haruki said.

He began arranging a couple bales to help form a little barrier against the wall, then stepped behind it.

“Come on, we’ll have to both crouch down right here.” Haruki offered his hand to her.

“Okay.”

Lillianna placed her hand in his and stepped over the hay bales. They both crouched down and huddled together, covering themselves with her blanket.

They waited there in the dark, snuggled up against each other, both trying to be as silent and still as possible. After a few minutes they began to hear sounds of the soldiers walking around the farm.

Haruki held Lillianna close to him, he could feel the pace of her heartbeat speed up through her skin.

In any other circumstance his mind would be racing from being so close to Lillianna like this, but right now his whole being was focused on the sounds of the men walking around outside.

His adrenaline was pumping and all his muscles were tensed, he had to be ready to spring up and make a run for it at any moment, if worse came to worst.

Crunch… crunch…

He heard the sounds of two men entering the barn, the metal shoes of their armor pressing down on the straw-covered floor.

“Dis be nothin’ but a worthless village, ain’t got nothin’ of value ‘ere. Not even worth da effort of pillagin’,” one of the intruders said.

“Dey got a couple a’ Rindwyr over dere. Les’ go back and get some more lads to snatch ‘em,” another replied to him.

The soldiers walked back outside.

“Lillianna, we have to make a run for it while they’re away. They’re going to come back with more men!” Haruki whispered.

“Really?”

Haruki stood up.

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he said, taking Lillianna’s hand.

They hopped over the fence into the Rindwyr’s stables in order to exit out the back of the barn. The creatures had begun to wake up due to all the commotion.

“Haruki, I have an idea,” Lillianna whispered to him.

She hopped on the back of the nearest Rindwyr and the creature stood up. Lillianna extended her hand.

“Come on, we can ride on the Rindwyr to escape! They’re surprisingly fast,” she said.

Haruki grabbed her hand and pulled himself up onto the creature’s bare back, holding onto Lillianna from behind.

Lillianna kicked the creature’s side and it began moving forward, trotting out of the barn and into the empty fields. The creature picked up speed as they rode off into the darkness.

Haruki glanced back. The soldiers were still swarming the village, but for now it looked like they at least hadn’t set fire to any of the homes.

He hugged Lillianna tightly from behind. Both of them hoped Johannes was still alright.