Yet 2 b named - prologue

Renn jumped down from the tree and started running, the soldiers were coming swiftly and he had to warn the town, he could hear the drums beating out at marching rhythm behind him. An arrow speed to the ground at his feet as he reached the city gates. Running up the steps he blew the warning horn as hard as he could. Renn knew that the shepherds out in the valley would have no chance at reaching the town gates; he had to close them now.1

As others came to help him close the gates, he remembered Talia, a girl three years younger than him and a close friend of his, had gone out to the north paddock to take care of the sheep. The soldiers were coming from the south so she might have time to hide from them; she was a quick runner and, despite her age of ten, she had a better chance than most of getting away. As another arrow landed at Renn’s feet he forgot about Talia and concentrated on closing the gate.2

*~*~*~*~*3

Talia ran. 4

The soldiers were from Gorlond, in the south, and had spotted her in a tree. She had heard the warning horn and knew that the gates would be closed by the time she got there. She looked back to see that they were closer, barely ten metres. She was almost to the caves, there she could lose them.5

Talia turned back round and picked up speed; the cave entrance was only a few metres ahead when a soldier jumped down in front of her and took hold of her arms. Talia screamed while she was slammed into the ground and her hands tied behind her back. A warrior came and stood in front of her, he was wearing a different uniform to the others so Talia presumed he was an officer.6

“She’s a quick one; we might be able to use her. Put her in the wagon.” The officer commanded as he turned around, “I want this whole area free of people.”7

Talia glared at the officers back as she was led away.8