Flash Fiction #704 -- A Tale of the First Alliance/2

 

Ryson could hear a distant voice, but the calling of the drums overlaid it so that he couldn't understand --

"Need you!"

Ryson grabbed at the words, his hands moving and latching on to an arm, the grip so tight that he felt someone flinch.  Callum.

"Don't leave without me," Kono said.

"Won't," Ryson whispered.  "Be fast."

"Put the bar into place.  You'll hear me coming back."

Kono left.  Ryson almost lost himself to the drums again.  Callum had sealed the door and gone strangely still, and Ryson stumbled across the room and caught tighter hold of him again, fearing that the drums would call him away.

"Callum, don't leave me!  Don't let them take me again!"

"Hell! Why didn't you say they were the ones who held you?"

"Denial is a shield," he mumbled. The drums grew louder again, but this time his rage drove them away.  "Careful.  I must be careful and not draw them to me. Stronger than when I escaped.   I will not be one of them."

"I will do what I can to keep you safe," Callum promised.  He helped Ryson to the chair.  "This should help."

Callum put a hand to Ryson's forehead.  He almost jerked away -- he let no one touch his face.

"Be still, Ryson.  I am not used to this yet."

"What --"

Magic.

Ryson froze in shock, which was probably better than forced cooperation.  Callum had magic -- powerful magic that held no hint of harm.  

A strong mage for the realm of light.

How the hell had this happened, and he never noticed?

Callum had just learned part of his own secret. They might have an interesting conversation about all of this at some point. This was not a time to reminisce about the changes in their lives. Callum had just put a shield around his heart, blocking that steady beat of the drums that were drawing him.  His thoughts came with new clarity as well. 

The locals were not the only ones who needed to get out of this town.

Callum leaned out the window and then drew on so much magic that his hands glowed.  Ryson dared not move, but he felt the power of the spell and knew it was to give those escaping more strength and resolution to escape.  It was quick, powerful, and Callum faltered so much he would have fallen out the window if Ryson hadn't caught hold of him. 

"Grab whatever you can in food," Ryson said, and made a quick scan of the room. He looked out into the dark night.  The street was far busier than he had expected, since the village looked so small. 

Quick, light steps sounded on the creaking stairs and down the rug-less hall. Kono.  Both of them knew that sound.  Ryson threw the bar aide and jerked the door open.  Kono almost fell into the room.

"Which one of you –"

"Callum," Ryson answered.  There was no reason to draw this out.  "We can discuss it on the run."

"None of us can run at this point," Kono replied with a look at the two holding each other up.  "Maybe we should hide instead."

"We can run," Callum said.  "Just not far.  So, we must escape in a direction they don't expect.  Run and then hide."

"You mean to run toward them," Kono said, her voice a whisper now.  "That's insane."

Callum and Ryson looked at her.

"Let's go then," she answered, grabbing some bread and stuffing it into a pack with more viciousness than it deserved.  "Insane.  Suicidal."

"Do you have a better idea?" Ryson asked.

"Standing in the middle of the street and throwing rocks at them is the only insanity that would top your idea."

Callum nodded.  "We might still get to that stage."

The drums were closer.

Flash Fiction #703 -- A Second Tale of the First Alliance/1

 

 

 This was not the best lodgings the three had ever taken, even in desperation. On the good side, the Queen was too tired to do more than grunt as she fell onto the lumpy bed. Ryson had made his way to the shuttered window despite the lack of light. Callum stumbled against a chair rather than found it.  He sat down and stayed there despite the seat sinking dangerously low.

 Ryson clearly intended to take the first watch. Callum didn't even argue.  He closed his eyes.

It was not the most comfortable sleep, often interrupted by odd noises, including the baying of a dozen donkeys. Callum couldn't say he was sorry when Ryson woke him to take over the watch.

Kono lifted her head, mumbled something vaguely impolite, and went back to sleep. Callum met Ryson at the window where a sharp breeze rustled leaves in nearby trees and blew debris down the deserted street.

"Storm at dawn," Ryson predicted.  Callum nodded, remembering his cousin's uncanny ability to predict the weather.  Ryson looked outside for a moment and nodded. "Either we leave now and try to outride it, or we sit it out here for the day."

"Stay," Kono said as she sat up.  "We might make some plans if we can stay still long enough to discuss what we think we are doing.  From your tone, this won't be an easy storm.  I would rather have even this flimsy covering than none at all."

Callum had to stop himself from countering her idea with one of his own. It wasn't her status as queen that made him rethink his instant response. That was something the three of them had done throughout their childhood.  This was not a time for games.

"Get more rest," Callum suggested.  "There could still be trouble."

Neither argued, although Ryson looked anxious.  Ryson settled on the floor by the chair and pulled his dark cloak up over him.   He could have gone to sleep, but Callum doubted it.

What a mess.

The three had known they had enemies everywhere in the castle.  They had not known their strength until the Queen's Guard fell, holding back the Council's newly gathered followers.  The guard had provided them with a way to escape.  All they had to do was get to an ally.  Any ally. 

He and Ryson were not enough to keep Kono safe, but at least they could guard her back and let her sleep in relative peace for a few hours. There was an odd feeling of calm in this nameless town, even with the storm inching closer to their refuge.  He could hear the thunder long before Callum picked out the glow of lightning.  Both seemed far away and muted, the thunder echoing back and forth as though trapped in a rock-walled canyon. It would have been mesmerizing if Ryson had not suddenly sat up with a cry of despair.

"Ryson!" Kono stumbled from the bed and tackled Ryson before he could get to his feet. "Ryson, wake up!"

A nightmare, and Ryson was not waking from it.  His cries of despair would draw some attention.  He was not responding to Kono.

"The drums!"

"Ryson, there are no --"

Then he heard that strange, echoing sound again.

"Berserker drums," Callum said and tried to keep calm in his voice. "Wake everyone.  Tell them to run."

"They can't escape fast enough," Kono replied.

"Then leave them to die in their beds," Callum replied, speaking more harshly than usual.  "We can only do so much, Kono.  Get the inn started and send them to go after others.  Tell them to listen to the thunder if they don't believe you.  Don't leave the building.  Come back for us.  Ryson!  We need you!"

Kono paused by the door. "Don't leave without me."

Flash Fiction # 702 -- Remember

 

 

"Gather your tools and your manuscripts!" The woman stood on the stage while the volcano grumbled behind her. Ash shot cloud-like into the sky. A small river of lava snaked its way toward them.
The ground gave a violent twist and brought down a few walls.

"To the ships! Gather your families and get to the ships!"

They'd grown used to listening to Gaia over the years, and they did as she ordered.  

Gaia walked alone through the abandoned city. The echoes of the inhabitants were already fading – but she had sent out the people.  They would not forget Atlantis.


 

Flash Fiction #701 -- Adventure

 

 

Kane liked adventure, so each year he walked until a foggy lake blocked his path.  The trail split around the lake, but fog obscured the distant view in both directions.

Tall weeds grew in straggling patches except for the deer path on the right.  That proved the best inducement short of a very long swim straight across the fog-obscured weather. He took the deer paths and fought birds, squirrels, and deer for berries for more days than he could count. 

Following the path around the foggy lake eventually brought him to the original trail.  

Enough adventure.

Time to go home.

#700 -- Hello

 

 (McCready checking out her photo)

I hadn't planned to start the year with post number 700, but it seemed a good number for a 'hello' note.

 As you can probably tell from my often-late posts in 2025, I did not have the best year. I had at least one hospital stay, and maybe two. Sometimes they all run together. Keeping up with the Friday story posts has been difficult, but I hope to do better this year. The picture-of-the-day blog has suffered a bit, but I caught up on it, as well.

So here I face a new year and a chance to write anything that I want. I have enjoyed the 100-word drabbles.  However, it can be difficult to come up with a coherent narrative that short. They are fun to write, though.

I have a couple of long projects in mind.  What is Neko up to? 

I hope for a fun year for all of us.  Stories start up again next week.