Novel - Day 15 - 890 / 11,800

Captain Voler stood with a slight smile on his face and watched as the inn burned. He issued an order to one of the soldiers and the soldier dragged the lifeless form of Lexa away into the darkness. The only people in the streets were Captain Voler’s men. Townspeople opened their windows and doors and were greeted with a bright orange light and thick smoke of the bar burning. Amidst the sound of the fire, Voler could hear the townspeople exclaiming about the bar.

“Come on! Grab what buckets you can and form a line.” a voice called from the darkness of one of the houses, “We must contain the fire and if we’re lucky, we can still save what’s left of the inn.”

A man came running out of the darkness towards the fire with a bucket; water was sloshing out of the bucket as he ran. As he ran towards Voler and his guard, the soldiers stepped aside to let the man run past, Voler stuck out his foot. The bucket flew from his hands soaking the dirt yards from its destination. The man went sprawling across the ground and slid covering him from head to waist in mud.

“What are you doing you twit? We have to put out the fire.” The man said as he picked himself up, grabbing the bucket.

“Sieze him.” Voler said quietly

The bucket was knocked from his hands. He was forced back to the ground and his hands were bound behind his back.

“What the hell are you doin’? Let me go!” The man screamed in protest. “What’s got into you?”

He was silenced as a soldier’s boot slammed his face into the ground. Voler walked slowly up to the man. The townspeople now watched Voler and his soldiers, ignoring the fire.

“What time of day is it?” Voler asked the man.

“Wha? Fuck off!” the man replied a soldier kicked him in the side with a sickening crunch. “AAHHRRGGH!”

“Is it not night time and isn’t there a curfew? Voler asked.

The man shook his head feebly as he spit up blood.

“Yes and you are outside of your quarters after the curfew.” Voler said.

“fire” was all the man could mumble.

“Yes, it’s a pretty fire and one which you will let burn unless you are ordered to put out.” Voler explained.

“TOWNSPEOPLE LISTEN!” Voler announced, pointing his sword towards the bar, “Tonight you have seen a display of what happens to people and the things they care about if I am defied. I can assure you that if any of you wish to defy me, you are welcome to accept the same fate.

As each and every one of you are aware by my proclamation as commander of this town; there is a curfew in effect. The curfew extends from dusk to dawn, and no one is allowed on the streets at this time. This man has chosen to break the curfew and will be dealt with accordingly. Since he is the first to break the curfew and because I have decided to use him as an example, his life will be spared at this time. Be aware that if any of you are caught breaking curfew, you will not be so lucky.”

Voler turned to his men and ordered, “String him up!”

The soldiers grabbed the man, tied a rope under his arms and around his chest and hoisted him up a pole in the center of town. The man cried out in protest.

Voler turned back to the townspeople, “Let this man serve as a reminder of the curfew and if anyone is caught helping or feeding this man, they will face the same or a worse fate. Now you are ordered to go back into your homes.”

He turned and began to stroll away as the windows and doors of the townspeople slammed shut.

Voler smiled.

Kiri stirred, it hurt to breathe and coughing sent waves of pain and white light through her body. She tried to open her eyes, the light hurt. Everything was blurry, as her eyes adjusted; she focused on the dancing flames in the fireplace when the realization dawned upon her.

She sat straight up, “My b…” she was cut short as the pain from the sudden movement overtook her.

Blackness.

Kiri stirred again, this time it was different. It wasn’t so much the pain and the breathing as it was the heat. She felt a cool rag on her forehead.

“Aaahhh” she thought, “relief”.

She opened her eyes a crack and saw the blurry shapes of two people.

“You better go.” the first voice said.

“I can’t leave now.” the second said.

“It won’t do any of us any good if you get caught; especially here. She’ll be fine.”

“Take care of her.”

“I give you my word.”

With that Kiri closed her eyes and drifted off back into the sweet blackness.

Kiri started to become aware of her surroundings. She rolled over and opened her eyes. The light didn’t seem to bother them as much as they had before. Dark shapes began to take form. Kiri began to sit up.

“I would take it slow if I were you.” a voice said.

Kiri’s spun around and the pain caused her to wince and she collapsed back on the cot.

Novel - Day 14 - 0 / 10,910

Family night.

No writing.

Some changes were made. Since several people in our group are behind quota, the moderator changed it into either a 10,000 word Short Story (from which I was banned) or an added week for 50,000 words.

So at least now I am not as far behind.

Novel - Day 13 - 1,014 / 10,910

Lexa pulled Kiri through the door into the kitchen. The patrons in the bar took no notice that they had left and continued to discuss the events of the evening and try to formulate different plans.

“Kiri listen, if we organize everyone, we can control them so that we can accomplish what WE want to have happen. If we wait until someone else organizes an army, then we are just followers and we can’t control what they do and we have no say in what happens.” Lexa said.

“An ARMY? Lexa they’re not an army, they are just a bunch of drunk guys who aren’t going to remember any of this in the morning. Right now, they are brave and ready to take on the world because the beer is talking and giving them courage. But you talk to the same people in the morning and you’re going to have a whole different story and your little ‘army’ will fall apart. When that happens, we will be standing there looking like fools at beast. Chances are, we’d then get thrown in jail or worse.” Kiri explained.

“But what if we put them up here? We’ve got the room. Then in the morning if anyone has doubts, everyone else is here to argue the point again and we can stay banded together.” Lexa suggested, “We can use the bar as our headquarters, our stronghold against the Envahir.”

“No! What happens to my bar when we are found out and they break up our little army? They’ll take my bar and throw us in jail, or worse. I can’t afford to lose my bar; it’s all I have and all I have left of my Father.” Kiri said, “I can’t do it.”

“But Kiri . . .” Lexa didn’t finish what she was going to say. She looked towards the kitchen door.

“What is it?” Kiri asked.

“Do you here that?”

“No” Kiri said and then it dawned on her, there was absolutely no noise coming from the bar.

Lexa and Kiri looked at one another and then looked toward the bar. They slowly walked to the door, unsure of what they would find. Kiri looked around the bar and noticed that everyone was quiet, trying to drink their beer and blend into the surroundings. The discussions had ended abruptly and people weren’t even looking at one another. Standing in the doorway, Kiri saw the annoying man with the sword from the other day in the bar. Standing behind him were several soldiers, carrying swords.

“I am Captain Voler of the Envahir.” he said.

Everyone glanced around with worried looks.

“Are you the proprietress of this establishment Wench?” he asked.

“Yes, this is my bar if that’s what you are asking.” Kiri said walking straight up to him, “The name’s Kiri and if you are in my bar that is how you will address me.”

“Ha, ha ha!” Voler laughed, “As you wish. Were you and your patrons not made aware of the curfew?”

“We got your little notice,” Lexa said, “and I’ll tell you what we think of it.” She grabbed the parchment from the bar, crumpled it up and threw it into the fireplace.

“Now I can show you what we think of those people who disagree with our authority.” he said.

Voler snapped his fingers. A soldier walked forward, sword drawn and slammed the hilt of his sword against the side of Lexa’s head. Lexa’s lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

“NO!” Kiri screamed as she ran towards Lexa. Before she could reach her, the soldier pointed his sword at her and she stopped dead in her tracks.

Voler announced to the bar, “Now, if any of you do not wish to face the same fate as this foolish girl, you best take my proclamation to heart and realize that there is a curfew. Out of kindness, I will give each of you enough time to make it home, without consequence but only if you leave now.”

Everybody began to quickly get up, some knocking over their chairs, in their haste to leave. In a matter of seconds, the bar was cleared and the patrons were running towards home.

Kiri stood looking at Lexa. Voler walked through the bar and looked up the steps to the rooms.

“These will do.” he said. “We will make this place our command post. There are enough rooms here for the officers. The bar will allow us to have food and drink and it’s a good location within the town. I will even allow you to stay and continue to be our We… our waitress.”

Kiri spun around, “Never! I will never let you in here. I will never serve you or your men. I want you out of my bar now!”

Voler pointed to Lexa and ordered his soldiers, “Take that one out.”

“Wait!” Kiri said.

Voler stopped and turned towards Kiri.

“Leave her. What has she done to you?” Kiri asked.

Voler looked at Kiri, “Will you reconsider our offer to use this place as a command post?”

“Never!” Kiri said.

“Very well.” Voler said, “Take her away and then, burn the place to the ground.”

“NO!” Kiri screamed running towards Voler.

Voler swung a mail covered hand, striking a backhand across Kiri’s face, sending her falling backwards, hitting her head against the bar, knocking herself unconscious.

“Cough, cough…hack, cough” Kiri woke with her head throbbing, her throat raw. She gasped for air and struggled to find any. Through the haze she began to see light and slowly realized that the bar was on fire. She struggled to stand up and stumbled around the bar and towards the kitchen. She fell against a counter and her hand fell against something smooth, she vaguely realized it was a book and shoved it into her apron. She stumbled towards where the door should be and collapsed, gasping for air.

She felt the heat rush away and the burning in her throat left for a moment; then she felt something press against her arms and then … nothing.

Novel - Day 12 - 717 / 9,896

The bar was deathly quiet. Everybody stared at the door. Kiri walked over and pulled the parchment from the door, ripping it. As soon as she had tore it from the door, it was as if a spell had been lifted, the entire bar erupted into a roar of commotion.

“Shut Up!” Kiri yelled at the patrons

Everyone quieted down as Kiri reread the notice. “What does this mean?” she asked.

The bar erupted again; everybody began to discuss the news.

A couple of men at one table were talking amongst themselves and could be overheard saying, “Well, I’m not getting caught on the street after hours.”

They grabbed their jackets, took a last gulp of beer and quickly headed out the door.

People in the bar continued their discussions as they watched the men leave. Kiri looked at Lexa with an expression of concern.

“If they have a curfew, what will happen to my bar? It’s the only business that I have and if everyone has to be off the street by dark, how can I run a bar? How will I survive?” Kiri asked.

“I think we are going to have bigger problems than just having enough people in the bar to serve.” Lexa said.

Kiri’s comment caused another outburst in the bar which continued until one little man in the corner raised his hand.

“Miss, miss”, the little old man said.

“Yes?” Kiri asked expecting some great wisdom from the little old man.

“I understand that everybody is upset and there is a lot of changes happening and everybody is making commotion and such but, if I may say, I’d like another beer.”

Kiri smiled, the other patrons roared with laughter as Lexa brought the man another beer.

The old man quietly sat at his table, drinking his beer and ignoring the commotion in the bar.

Sam climbed onto his chair, “People, people, listen to me. This is the beginning, The Envahir are taking control of the town. We need to stand together now and fight them before it is too late. If we band together and show them we have enough strength when we are united together, then they won’t be able to control us and we can keep our town.”

A few of the people in the bar cheered in support. Others were shouting questions at Sam.

“What if they throw us in jail?”

“I can’t go to jail, I’ve got a family”

“How can we fight them if they are going to take our weapons?”

“What if there are more of them than there are of us?”

“Hold on, hold on. I can’t answer all the questions, all at once.” Sam said, “They won’t be able to throw all of us in jail. Yes, some of us may get thrown in jail but most of us won’t. But if we are careful, we won’t need to worry about jail.

“They’ll probably come to collect our weapons but that doesn’t mean that we need to give them everything, just give them the oldest, dullest, pieces of crap you can find. If they say anything, just tell them that you never needed any weapons in a town as peaceful as this one. Besides, anything could be made into a weapon; they can’t take everything from us.

I doubt there are more of them than there are of us but in case there are, we can always enlist the women and children to help. Also, if the capital city hasn’t been taken over, we can send for help.”

“How would we do that when they’re going to block the roads?” someone asked.

“I haven’t thought anything through yet, but we’ll find a way.” Sam continued, “Besides, whether we need to find a way out of town or a way to fight within the town, who knows this town better than any of us? We can organize right here, right now.”

The bar broke out again, some people agreeing with Sam and others shouting arguments. Sam climbed down off of the chair.

Kiri rang the bell. Once the bar was quiet she said, “You are not going to organize a revolt in my bar. I cannot afford to lose my bar.”

Lexa grabbed Kiri by the arm, “I want to see you in the kitchen.”

Novel - Day 10 & 11 - 0 / 9179

Day 10 - Goal 16,130 words
Day 11 - Goal 17,743 words
Day 12 - Goal 19,356 words