Awake the Cullers (History of Ondar) by Amanda Young, Raymond Young Jr. Read Free Book Online Page B

uncomfortable with being the center of so much attention. Over the silent tavern, the sounds of screams from outside began to bring back the severity of their situation and take precedence over everyone’s shock at her fall without injury.
    “Everyone,” Thomas called, taking advantage of their attention while he held it. “I know this situation is bleak, but we are not without ability to defend ourselves.”
    “How?” someone yelled.
    “They cannot die,” another called . Others murmured their agreements.
    “They can, and the stranger has proven so,” the woman from the vegetable cart said. “I saw him kill one of them. These two people saved my life at the risk of their own.”
    Bolstered by her support, Thomas continued. “We can defend this building. Support will come. We just need to hold on until it can get here. Anyone with a bow, get to the second floor windows and start picking them off. Aim for the heads and eyes. Either you’ll kill them or blind them.
    Everyone else, gather what weapons and supplies we have. We need to know what our resources are so we can see where we stand. If you have experience fighting, meet me by the bar. ”
    Thomas began organizing the people. Marcy couldn’t help staring at the broken banister. How had she survived? Her hand fell on her broach , and Marcy stopped, suddenly understanding what happened. She wore a butterfly broach made of sapphire and onyx. It was a birthday gift a few months back from Lynnalin. Lynn said there were enchantments on it, though even she did not know which ones. It was a test object from her academy training. The metal setting and gems were cool to the touch, but she could still feel the power pulsing under her fingertips. What other surprises did this broach hold?
    She didn’t have time to wonder about that for long. The walls shook with the force of men and weapons crashing into it. Thomas ran to the door with several men. Together, they kept the door from coming loose from its hinges. They yelled out commands to other men nearby. Those not involved in protecting the door either stood back in fear or quietly prayed for help. Marcy felt apart from the crowd. Her fear from before was gone. A new energy surged through her blood. Out of nowhere, a song came to her, and Marcy began to sing.
     
    They fought the fight,
    Fought for what is right,
    Defended kin and neighbor,
    Survived the night,
    Oh, what a sight,
    The men of Valenkeeper.
     
    The dark descent,
    Of evil men,
    None thought could be repelled.
    How could they stand
    Against such odds
    And not be themselves felled?
     
    Five hundred foe
    Against but t en
    Stood no match, in the end.
    For when you fight
    On side of light
    The darkness cannot win.
     
    Those who were frightened moments before were now singing boisterously along with The Ballad of Valenkeeper. The song spoke of a group of farmers who fought a goblin attack in the small mountain settlement generations before. With limited weapons and fighting skills, the men held off the attacks for three days, until reinforcements could come to drive off the remaining goblins. It was a song of perseverance and hope that everyone learned as a child, and singing it had the desired effect of calming the fears of those in the tavern and encouraging them not to give up. Leaving them to continue singing, Marcy ran to the second floor and peaked out a window to see what they faced. It reminded her of the descriptions she heard of Suriax after the Night of Blue Fire. Homes burned. Bodies littered the streets. The source of the destruction, however, was quite different. Raiders were everywhere, hacking at anyone unlucky enough to be caught outside. They broke in doors and pulled screaming women from their homes. They took turns cutting off limbs until their victims stopped screaming. Some lasted longer than others.
    Marcy looked at the horrified, haunted expressions of the archers stationed at each window. The building shook again, and she looked down