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Chapter One - The Town of Hellstorm
Midam stepped quietly as Ithilien strode forward. Midam’s light brown hair almost shone besides Ithilien’s pitch black, crew cut hair. They both had deep brown eyes, like chocolate swirling in a vat.
“Easy now Snickler,” Midam muttered to his pet rat. Snickler squeaked once and disappeared into Midam’s long hair. Ithilien chuckled. “Almost there, I can see it over that next dune.” Snickler jumped onto Midams shoulder and did a happy dance then squealed excitedly as he saw masses of people unlike back in Clawress. “Don’t get to happy Snickler there aren’t as many nice people here they wont all want to stroke you like people in Clawress, they will want to actually invite you to dinner.”
“That doesn’t sound bad.” Declared Ithilien.
“Well I was going to say with him as the dinner but let’s just get there already. I’m hungry and tired.” Said Midam, licking his mouth jokingly at Snickler. Snicklers eyes bulged with horror so much that he leaped into Midams pack and wouldn’t come out.
“Here we are; Hellstorm lets go find an inn.” Midam declared in a thankful voice. As the three walked along the main street gruff, dirty, beaten up men and women looked and stopped what they were doing to look at the three. Soon the whole town was quite. Ithilien went red with embarrassment, so they quickly slipped into the closest inn. They looked around relieved not to find any one who looked like the outsiders. They walked toward the inn keeper, who said “’ow can I ‘elp ya?”
“Er…….all we need is a room.” said Ithilien surprised at the man’s accent. He had never heard it in Clawress. “Right tis way den. Grunted the man. “Got names or are yous outcasts?”
“No we have names. Mine’s Ithilien, this is Midam and Snickler is in his pack but he’s shy.” Answered Ithilien.
“Mines Joran………….anyways lets show ya da rooms. They all walked upstairs to find a long hall with about ten rooms. “Which is ours Joran?”
“Da one at da far end of da ‘all.” Answered Joran. They departed and the group walked to their room. They open the door and a fresh waft of alcohol smashed into their face which made Midam and Ithilien the cough and splutter.
“Sheesh. Coughed Midam. Did they flood the room with beer or something but we’ll have to get used to it though.” Ithilien sighed and dumped his pack on one of he beds. A cockroach sprang out of the bed and raced out the door. Ithilien gagged then threw the covers off the bed and found a beer bottle, a dead cockroach and some sort of mucus. “I refuse to sleep in this filth!” Announced Ithilien.
“Well its better than mine look.” said Midam. Ithilien looked over and saw that the bed was covered in beer and dead ants. “That’s gross!” Declared Ithilien.
“Tell me about it.” Groaned Midam. Ithilien began unpacking as did Midam. “Well settle in because we’re stuck here for a week maybe more unless we find a better inn. Said Midam. Ithilien cursed under his breath and threw the beer bottle out the widow which shattered as it hit the ground. They heard someone howl five seconds later from stepping on a piece of glass. Midam eyes wide ran to the window and without hesitation threw himself out the window onto the balcony below where jumped onto the wall and forced himself into the air and land smoothly two metres below he rushed to the persons side of whom everyone was shuffling past. “Are you alright!?” Asked Midam.
“No the glass has gone right through my foot!” Said the women who was slowly going white. Midam Looked at the girl’s foot she had a sandal on but the glass had gone right through. Midam grasped her foot attempting to clot the blood. After five minutes he succeeded and picked her up and carried her to his room.
“I can’t believe you Midam you are to caring even if someone broke a nail you’d be there right away.” Said Ithilien exasperated.
“What so you expect me to just watch someone in pain just cry. Some MAN you are.” Blurted Midam angrily.
“YES!” Shouted Ithilien. Then he stomped out of the room leaving Midam and the unconscious girl alone.
When the girl woke up Midam was sitting and the table at the far end of the room thinking. “Hello.” Said the girl.
“Hello.” Grunted Midam.
“Thank you for helping me out there.” Said the girl sweetly which made Midam feel uneasy to be alone with her. “Um you’re Welcome.” Answered Midam beginning to go red. “My name is Midam by the way what’s yours?” Asked Midam.
“Mine is Courtney.”
“Ok.” Said Midam who was now pacing the room impatiently waiting for Ithilien to get back.
“Where is he, he’s been gone for hours now I’m beginning to worry about him he would always get lost in Fran-vile Forest and he’s never even walked the streets of this place accept for our arrival.” Midam thought to himself.
“What’s wrong Midam?” Asked Courtney.
“Oh nothing; just my friends been gone for ages and I’m starting to wonder where he is.” Replied Midam.
“I’ll leave you alone then if you wish.” said Courtney.
Meanwhile in the street of Notounge Ithilien walked alone looking at people who were eying him suspiciously. Ithilien shuddered at how the people must live in this filth. People walked past bowing their heads. “What is their problem?” Thought Ithilien.
“What ‘re ‘ew ‘doin in ‘dis town outsider!” Shouted a man from the crowd. Ithilien had just opened his mouth to speak when he heard someone say “just my job I collect taxes for the empire.”
“Well well well den, if you're expecting taxes then your ‘emperor ’ can go jump ‘ofa cliff ‘cuz ‘e aint gettin anyfing ya ‘ear me.”
“Yes I hear you perfectly but you won’t hear anything accept your own screams unless you pay your taxes.” Announced the taxman without hesitation.
“ I’m sorry ‘bu dey was your ‘las words.”
“Oh I don’t think so.” Replied the taxman as he clapped his hands above his head and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Ithilien walked away fast from the crowd of people who were bunching around the man fists bared all cursing at the man.
“Poor guy. Muttered Ithilien I better get back and tell Midam before the Empire overruns this city.” Ithilien shuffled along back to the inn.
Midam was just about to go out to find Ithilien when he burst through the door. “Sheesh Ithilien where were you I was getting worried what are you or have you been doing all this time.” Asked Midam quickly.
“No time to explain pack your things we’re leaving.” Replied Ithilien.
“I don’t understand’ did you get into a fight and the person wants to kill you or something, give me some answers.” Said Midam confused.
“No time to explain only when we’re on the road far away from here.” Answered Ithilien who was now packed because they had very little possessions. “Go on, get you things.” said Ithilien firmly. Midam hesitated but then slowly began to pack.
“What do we do about the girl?” Asked Ithilien.
“We take her to the next town then leave her there.” Answered Midam.
“Ooooooooooooook…How would she approve of that though?” Said Ithilien.
“I wouldn’t like that at all Midam!” Said Courtney angrily. Midam jumped and said “Well sorry we can’t have a burden like you.”
“Deal with it!” Shouted Courtney.
“Well you have nothing to bring I don’t know where you live so I can’t find your possessions and we can’t buy you anything we have little money.” Muttered Midam.
“Let’s go shall we.” Said Ithilien impatiently.
Thirteen kilometres away from Hellstorm Ithilien told Midam and Courtney the story about the taxman and the man. “Sheesh we can forget about Hellstorm then for that man has doomed Hellstorm you know what happens if there’s a denial of taxes………the whole town gets the blame and is wiped off the face of the earth.” Courtney’s eyes widened and she said “Oh my god my Brothers and sisters will die but they do live at the very far end of town to stay away from me for some reason.” Tears flooded to her eyes and began trickling down her face. Midam comforted her and tried to stop her weeping. Courtney shoved Midam off and walked ahead of him.
“Leave her be Midam.” Said Ithilien calmly.
“She’s obviously is sad though and she needs some comfort.” Said Midam.
“Well leave her alone, we need to make camp it’s getting dark and we’ve been on the road for three hours and I’m tired and hungry.
They found a comfortable mossy tree where they laid out their bed rolls and cooked and ate dinner which was bread and cheese and a small drink of water. Then they went to bed and discussed the eventful day the knocked off.
When they awoke they expected smoke to be coming from the direction of Hellstorm but there was nothing. “Something isn’t right.” Midam mentioned out loud.
“You are right I would’ve expected it long ago during dawn.” Courtney said.
“Maybe your family isn’t dead after all.” Ithilien said, as he was getting out of bed.
“Do you really think so?”
“Well it’s possible.” Answered Midam. They all began packing up their bedrolls. As soon as that was finished Ithilien began cooking breakfast. “Hey do you guys know where Snickler is?” Midam Asked.
“No.”
“Who’s Snickler?”
“He’s my pet rat.” Midam answered.
“Yer, where is Snickler” Questioned Ithilien with a worried tone in his voice. Midam begun remerging through his pack but Snickler was no where to be found
“SNICKLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!” Called Midam. He closed his eyes and listened to the ground he could not hear any thing accept hooves, wait hooves? He looked up and saw Snickler speeding toward him. “What the heck.”
Snickler jumped up onto Midams shoulder and squeaked looking and pointing toward the East. Midam squinted and saw five or so horsemen rushing toward them. “Sheesh, guys put out the cooking fire and pack up as quickly as you can strange horsemen approach.”
BY BENNY MCINTYRE
Midam stepped quietly as Ithilien strode forward. Midam’s light brown hair almost shone besides Ithilien’s pitch black, crew cut hair. They both had deep brown eyes, like chocolate swirling in a vat.
“Easy now Snickler,” Midam muttered to his pet rat. Snickler squeaked once and disappeared into Midam’s long hair. Ithilien chuckled. “Almost there, I can see it over that next dune.” Snickler jumped onto Midams shoulder and did a happy dance then squealed excitedly as he saw masses of people unlike back in Clawress. “Don’t get to happy Snickler there aren’t as many nice people here they wont all want to stroke you like people in Clawress, they will want to actually invite you to dinner.”
“That doesn’t sound bad.” Declared Ithilien.
“Well I was going to say with him as the dinner but let’s just get there already. I’m hungry and tired.” Said Midam, licking his mouth jokingly at Snickler. Snicklers eyes bulged with horror so much that he leaped into Midams pack and wouldn’t come out.
“Here we are; Hellstorm lets go find an inn.” Midam declared in a thankful voice. As the three walked along the main street gruff, dirty, beaten up men and women looked and stopped what they were doing to look at the three. Soon the whole town was quite. Ithilien went red with embarrassment, so they quickly slipped into the closest inn. They looked around relieved not to find any one who looked like the outsiders. They walked toward the inn keeper, who said “’ow can I ‘elp ya?”
“Er…….all we need is a room.” said Ithilien surprised at the man’s accent. He had never heard it in Clawress. “Right tis way den. Grunted the man. “Got names or are yous outcasts?”
“No we have names. Mine’s Ithilien, this is Midam and Snickler is in his pack but he’s shy.” Answered Ithilien.
“Mines Joran………….anyways lets show ya da rooms. They all walked upstairs to find a long hall with about ten rooms. “Which is ours Joran?”
“Da one at da far end of da ‘all.” Answered Joran. They departed and the group walked to their room. They open the door and a fresh waft of alcohol smashed into their face which made Midam and Ithilien the cough and splutter.
“Sheesh. Coughed Midam. Did they flood the room with beer or something but we’ll have to get used to it though.” Ithilien sighed and dumped his pack on one of he beds. A cockroach sprang out of the bed and raced out the door. Ithilien gagged then threw the covers off the bed and found a beer bottle, a dead cockroach and some sort of mucus. “I refuse to sleep in this filth!” Announced Ithilien.
“Well its better than mine look.” said Midam. Ithilien looked over and saw that the bed was covered in beer and dead ants. “That’s gross!” Declared Ithilien.
“Tell me about it.” Groaned Midam. Ithilien began unpacking as did Midam. “Well settle in because we’re stuck here for a week maybe more unless we find a better inn. Said Midam. Ithilien cursed under his breath and threw the beer bottle out the widow which shattered as it hit the ground. They heard someone howl five seconds later from stepping on a piece of glass. Midam eyes wide ran to the window and without hesitation threw himself out the window onto the balcony below where jumped onto the wall and forced himself into the air and land smoothly two metres below he rushed to the persons side of whom everyone was shuffling past. “Are you alright!?” Asked Midam.
“No the glass has gone right through my foot!” Said the women who was slowly going white. Midam Looked at the girl’s foot she had a sandal on but the glass had gone right through. Midam grasped her foot attempting to clot the blood. After five minutes he succeeded and picked her up and carried her to his room.
“I can’t believe you Midam you are to caring even if someone broke a nail you’d be there right away.” Said Ithilien exasperated.
“What so you expect me to just watch someone in pain just cry. Some MAN you are.” Blurted Midam angrily.
“YES!” Shouted Ithilien. Then he stomped out of the room leaving Midam and the unconscious girl alone.
When the girl woke up Midam was sitting and the table at the far end of the room thinking. “Hello.” Said the girl.
“Hello.” Grunted Midam.
“Thank you for helping me out there.” Said the girl sweetly which made Midam feel uneasy to be alone with her. “Um you’re Welcome.” Answered Midam beginning to go red. “My name is Midam by the way what’s yours?” Asked Midam.
“Mine is Courtney.”
“Ok.” Said Midam who was now pacing the room impatiently waiting for Ithilien to get back.
“Where is he, he’s been gone for hours now I’m beginning to worry about him he would always get lost in Fran-vile Forest and he’s never even walked the streets of this place accept for our arrival.” Midam thought to himself.
“What’s wrong Midam?” Asked Courtney.
“Oh nothing; just my friends been gone for ages and I’m starting to wonder where he is.” Replied Midam.
“I’ll leave you alone then if you wish.” said Courtney.
Meanwhile in the street of Notounge Ithilien walked alone looking at people who were eying him suspiciously. Ithilien shuddered at how the people must live in this filth. People walked past bowing their heads. “What is their problem?” Thought Ithilien.
“What ‘re ‘ew ‘doin in ‘dis town outsider!” Shouted a man from the crowd. Ithilien had just opened his mouth to speak when he heard someone say “just my job I collect taxes for the empire.”
“Well well well den, if you're expecting taxes then your ‘emperor ’ can go jump ‘ofa cliff ‘cuz ‘e aint gettin anyfing ya ‘ear me.”
“Yes I hear you perfectly but you won’t hear anything accept your own screams unless you pay your taxes.” Announced the taxman without hesitation.
“ I’m sorry ‘bu dey was your ‘las words.”
“Oh I don’t think so.” Replied the taxman as he clapped his hands above his head and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Ithilien walked away fast from the crowd of people who were bunching around the man fists bared all cursing at the man.
“Poor guy. Muttered Ithilien I better get back and tell Midam before the Empire overruns this city.” Ithilien shuffled along back to the inn.
Midam was just about to go out to find Ithilien when he burst through the door. “Sheesh Ithilien where were you I was getting worried what are you or have you been doing all this time.” Asked Midam quickly.
“No time to explain pack your things we’re leaving.” Replied Ithilien.
“I don’t understand’ did you get into a fight and the person wants to kill you or something, give me some answers.” Said Midam confused.
“No time to explain only when we’re on the road far away from here.” Answered Ithilien who was now packed because they had very little possessions. “Go on, get you things.” said Ithilien firmly. Midam hesitated but then slowly began to pack.
“What do we do about the girl?” Asked Ithilien.
“We take her to the next town then leave her there.” Answered Midam.
“Ooooooooooooook…How would she approve of that though?” Said Ithilien.
“I wouldn’t like that at all Midam!” Said Courtney angrily. Midam jumped and said “Well sorry we can’t have a burden like you.”
“Deal with it!” Shouted Courtney.
“Well you have nothing to bring I don’t know where you live so I can’t find your possessions and we can’t buy you anything we have little money.” Muttered Midam.
“Let’s go shall we.” Said Ithilien impatiently.
Thirteen kilometres away from Hellstorm Ithilien told Midam and Courtney the story about the taxman and the man. “Sheesh we can forget about Hellstorm then for that man has doomed Hellstorm you know what happens if there’s a denial of taxes………the whole town gets the blame and is wiped off the face of the earth.” Courtney’s eyes widened and she said “Oh my god my Brothers and sisters will die but they do live at the very far end of town to stay away from me for some reason.” Tears flooded to her eyes and began trickling down her face. Midam comforted her and tried to stop her weeping. Courtney shoved Midam off and walked ahead of him.
“Leave her be Midam.” Said Ithilien calmly.
“She’s obviously is sad though and she needs some comfort.” Said Midam.
“Well leave her alone, we need to make camp it’s getting dark and we’ve been on the road for three hours and I’m tired and hungry.
They found a comfortable mossy tree where they laid out their bed rolls and cooked and ate dinner which was bread and cheese and a small drink of water. Then they went to bed and discussed the eventful day the knocked off.
When they awoke they expected smoke to be coming from the direction of Hellstorm but there was nothing. “Something isn’t right.” Midam mentioned out loud.
“You are right I would’ve expected it long ago during dawn.” Courtney said.
“Maybe your family isn’t dead after all.” Ithilien said, as he was getting out of bed.
“Do you really think so?”
“Well it’s possible.” Answered Midam. They all began packing up their bedrolls. As soon as that was finished Ithilien began cooking breakfast. “Hey do you guys know where Snickler is?” Midam Asked.
“No.”
“Who’s Snickler?”
“He’s my pet rat.” Midam answered.
“Yer, where is Snickler” Questioned Ithilien with a worried tone in his voice. Midam begun remerging through his pack but Snickler was no where to be found
“SNICKLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!” Called Midam. He closed his eyes and listened to the ground he could not hear any thing accept hooves, wait hooves? He looked up and saw Snickler speeding toward him. “What the heck.”
Snickler jumped up onto Midams shoulder and squeaked looking and pointing toward the East. Midam squinted and saw five or so horsemen rushing toward them. “Sheesh, guys put out the cooking fire and pack up as quickly as you can strange horsemen approach.”
BY BENNY MCINTYRE
