M.R6
The Elf started to walk with me. I had never listened so intently to anyone in my life. His voice was rough and raspy like he smoked heavily and had for many years.
“Many years ago. Roughly three thousand to be closer to the point. That is what I should say. Humans and all other beings lived alongside one another. For a long time, we managed to keep peace. That is until a king took over the Humans. He preached that humans were the master race. That they had great numbers and better weapons. That they should not have to breathe the same air as none humans. That we were nothing more than animals that should be used in such a way. Slowly other humans began to start thinking like him. The way he did it was incredible. The way the story goes he rallied an army. An army so big no race could defeat them. They marched and rode across the country attacking any village they came to. No mercy was given. They gave no warning of their attacks. Before any of us knew what was happening it was too late.”
This was a disgrace. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could all other races not have heard what going on until this point? I had to interrupt and ask.
“Why didn’t we fight back? How could we let things go so far and do nothing?”
“Humm what? Oh yes. Well we were all peaceful beings. We didn’t want wars and couldn’t believe humans would do anything. We thought it was just the ramblings of a mad man. They had no reason to fight us. So we thought it would just blow over. Well that’s how the story goes. The mad king was called Edgar and he had an advisor. A female called Flora. She stood by his side. What he didn’t know was she loved every living creature with all her heart. She couldn’t stand on her own to stop him but she could persuade him. She talked to him in private. Slowly working on him to stop killing. She convinced him somehow that we could be used as slaves.”
Slaves the word cut me deeper than any knife ever could. I couldn’t help but blurt out the word in an echo.
“Slaves!”
“Yes. So this idea came to Edgar. He began promising freedom to those of us who would help him. What he was saying was a life of servitude. If any of the turn coats didn’t do as he wished he killed them. By the time they had seen the error of there ways it was too late. They had built these magical prisons all over the world.”
His story was moving too fast and I needed more information.
“Magical prisons? All over the world?”
“Yes didn’t I say it clearly?”
“No. I mean yes but magical prisons?”
“Yes magical prisons. They hold us here where they block our magic. None of us can use any of our magical powers while here. The rock moves us all around without any mechanical parts. We are no better than a human in this place. When our ancestors worked out what was happening many of us went into hiding. They fought any human that came near out of fear. Just to survive. Flora saw that she had done too little too late. One night she went to king Edgar and took him a drink. Knowing that he was paranoid she made two drinks. Both with a deadly poison in. She held both goblets in her hands and gave him one. He instantly swapped with her and he made her drink first. She did. He was satisfied that she wouldn’t poison herself so took it back and drank with her. They both died that night.”
“She killed herself and him?”
“Yes boy don’t your ears work properly or something. You see she couldn’t cope with her guilt at not stopping Edgar. The only way she could think to stop him and ease her own blight was death to them both. The problem was hate was all around now for all. The humans didn’t stop. They kept rounding us up until this day. Our numbers are small now. We will all be gone from this earth soon I fear.”
A siren sounded and guards gathered around us from all directions. Forcing us into a tight circle. I thought that this must have looked like those groups of penguins I had seen on nature programs from before. One by one the guards picked out one being at a time and took then away. I tried to count how many there was of us. I couldn’t but at a rough estimate I would guess anywhere between one hundred and fifty to two hundred. From what I had seen of the guards we outnumbered them five to one. The problem was we had no weapons and these guys were armed with an impressive amount of things. Most of which I had never seen before.
Behind me, I heard an Almighty raw. This was followed by a burst of heat and shouting. Then not far away another raw. The dragon was protesting. Or was it calling to another dragon somewhere close by? Could that be what the other raw was?
The crowd was dispersing in an orderly fashion. Each inmate marched off surrounded by guards. My turn came and I was pushed forward. The guards seemed seriously pissed off. It was like they didn’t like this part of the job.
“Stand there hands behind your back.”
I did as I was told. For now in going to be the model inmate. The guards are going to start to get lax with me at some point and when that day comes we will be ready. I will bring the others together and we will take our freedom back. Humans will regret ever caging us up like this.
Once back in my cell I waited until I knew Susan was back in her cell. The second I was sure she was back I called to her in a hushed voice. I wasn’t sure if the guards would still be in the hall or not.
“Sue you back?”
“Yeah. Now shut up guards are still around.”
Instead of answering I just shut up as she said. I wasn’t going to get caught breaking the rules.
One by one the other cell doors opened and closed and then the place fell silent. I guessed the others could see the guards and there would be a sign when they were gone. Then it came.
“All clear!”
A loud clear shout came from the far end. The voice sounded like it was used to being heard. I wonder what he is. Susan was quick to start speaking to me but not what I thought she would.
“Well done you didn’t ask any questions when I told you to shut up.”
“Thanks but that would have been dumb. If I had started asking why then the guards could have heard and come.”
“Yes but don’t underestimate how dumb some of the guys in here are so what did you want?”
“I just wanted to talk and ask some questions about this place and it’s guests. Like how often does going outside happen and was that a fucking dragon?”
“I don’t know how often we go out but I think it is every other day. You know we don’t have clocks or a way to track time here. The answer to your other question is yes. That is Terrance he’s a nice fella when you get to know him. His bite is worse than his raw. Of he could just roast you with his breath.”
“Sound lovely, I can’t wait to get to know him. So what is it like to work with each other? Can we all make a team?”
I was trying to be subtle but fear I was being about as subtle as a brick through a window. When Susan’s question came back to me.
“What are you thinking?”
It looks like I’m right. Always had the touch of an elephant. Susan knew I was thinking and planning.
“Nothing yet. Just thinking.” I said.
My head blocked out all the noise and I consumed my self with thoughts of escape.
M.R 7Time passes by so slowly when your locked in a tiny cell with nothing to do. But I don’t have nothing to do. I have plans to make and plotting to do.Having guards on a regular routine help. They don’t always get the guards attention but it was possible. One of the guards seemed a little different from the others. He or she would call us by name and not just bark orders at us. I don’t know if it is a man or woman because of the robotic voice. The figure again was indecipherable thanks to the uniforms. All the padding and array of weapons that I didn’t know the capability of.I was fe”eling like I was missing something. Something important. Then it hit me. My health was suffering. I could feel myself getting out of breath easier and I was just wanting to sleep all the time.This place was starting to get to me. It will not break me. I will not let my body become weak. Did the others in here feel the same and do the same
M.R8My exercise routine was rigorous and relentless. With no distractions and nothing better to do I worked out. I ran on the spot. Crunches touching knees with my elbows. Holding plank position. Press ups. Squats. Its amazing the amount of exercise you can do with no equipment when you out your mind to it.I will not let myself get out of shape. No one has ever escaped here until me. My determination was doubled. Now I had to figure out how to convince the others to work out.Nigel was watching me intently through the bars. I pushed my self harder. Watching him slowly creep closer. Inch by inch he got. It was like trying to catch a wild animal. Ignore it let it think you haven’t seen it wait until it is close enough to catch. Then pounce. That’s what I was doing now waiting to get Nigel in a position that he can’t get away from without losing face to the others.If I judge this right he will have no choice but to start working out. He
M.R9There was an atmosphere since our last outside exercise period. The guards were rougher and shouted more. You know like someone higher up has come down on the underlings. Now they were coming down on us. It’s true what they say shit rolls down hill.The guards were making more patrols than the days or weeks before. They seemed to be walking up and down the hall constantly. There was no distinction between them. So I had no idea if the softer one was ever near.On one of the guards passes a note was tossed into my cell. I was up off my bed in a flash and palmed it. When I was a sure as I could be that there was no guard near I read the note.“The boss is suspicious of you. We have been punished for not paying attention. She thinks your trouble. We have been ordered to keep a close eye on you. Keep a low profile. You are one step away from death. Don’t make any more moves until things calm down.”For some reason, I could
Mythical Rising 1The air was still but cold as I sat in my little rowing boat. Rod propped on the side. A light mist over the lake in the early morning light. Nothing ever bites at this time of day, not even the insects. It’s not the fishing that brings me out but nature. It’s like it talks to me.On days like this, I know that the trees are happy. Flowers will bloom. Bees will collect the nectar and plants will get pollinated. No matter what people do to the world life will go on.Nature has always been a huge part of my sixty-five years of life. My dad used to bring me into forests and leave me. From the age of eight, I was able to hunt kill gut and cook a squirrel. I could tell you what animal made what tracks and how long ago with a glance by the time I was ten. At eleven I was making weapons and shelters. By the time I was fifteen I was able to live for days in the wild with nothing but the clothes on my back to start. Schoo
Humanities crime 2I was tired up and gaged with some kind of strange rope and thrown into the back of a van. It was strange in that every time I moved it tightened up. I couldn’t see my bindings. My arms were behind my back. But every move made them get tighter.The van drove sensibly. No excessive revving of the engine. Smooth left and right turn. Easy breaking no sudden stops. After being in the back of the van for so long I started to get drowsy. It was an effort to stay awake. My mind worked overtime though. Fear and confusion making sleep impossible. It felt like we had been driving for at least six hours but not having a watch or the sun to look at I had no idea. Eventually the va stopped and the driver’s door opened and closed.The back doors didn’t open for minutes. I got to my feet and thought about making my escape. When the doors opened I was going to run at the man hopefully knocking him down. Then run. Run as fast as I could for a
When I opened my eyes there was no change in the light it was still dull. Not having a window or anything was giving me no idea of time. Nothing looked any different and to my disappointment, I was still in this cell.Voices we’re still chattering on around me but at least the one in my head was quiet. When I heard one of them shout.“The new guys awake.”How the fuck do they know that there is no way they can see me. I’m going to ask they don’t seem to care about asking questions.“How did you guys know I was awake?”It seemed like everyone had something to say all at the same time. Every voice at the same time shouted something. None of them made it to my ears it was too loud like trying to listen to every conversation in a bar at the same time. I never liked being in loud places my ears couldn’t cope with it. Someone shouted for them to be quiet.Then one voice came to me
Opening my eyes I found I was back in my cell. I didn’t want to call it my cell but it was looking more and more like it was going to be. Tossed on the floor was a small manual. On the front it simply said rules.“Hey you up?”The girl in the next cell called to me. I’ve just opened my eyes and they are talking to me already. How did she know I was awake.“Yeah. How did you know?”“ There is a telepathic unicorn here he knows when your awake if he wants.”“Oh ok. I forgot about him. What’s your name anyway?”“Susan.”“Susan?”Who the fuck has ever heard of an Orc called Susan. Don’t they normally have names like Mursha or zoguz? Weird things like that.“Yes, Susan. My parents thought it might help hide us if we took human names. Most of us have them now. To be honest it is easier to have a human name than a
M.R 5Time passed by. How much I don’t know and it was playing havoc with my mind. I wanted out of this place. I needed to get the Gnome to speak. He was always in the back of his cell in the darkest part. I had been trying to get him to talk for what felt like hours. Over and over I called to him always being polite. No matter how frustrated I got I refused to use bad language or raise my voice in anger. The others were getting mad at me but I would not stop. Susan even told me to stop.“Hey Eddie.”“Yeah.”“Shut up.”I have never known anyone who will never answer you if you don’t stop poking at them. Eventually they will give in. They might not give you the response you want but you will get one. At least there were two sets of bars and a hall way between us. So he wouldn’t be able to get to me. If it went the wrong way. Not that he would be able to punch me above my thigh. Gnome was th
M.R9There was an atmosphere since our last outside exercise period. The guards were rougher and shouted more. You know like someone higher up has come down on the underlings. Now they were coming down on us. It’s true what they say shit rolls down hill.The guards were making more patrols than the days or weeks before. They seemed to be walking up and down the hall constantly. There was no distinction between them. So I had no idea if the softer one was ever near.On one of the guards passes a note was tossed into my cell. I was up off my bed in a flash and palmed it. When I was a sure as I could be that there was no guard near I read the note.“The boss is suspicious of you. We have been punished for not paying attention. She thinks your trouble. We have been ordered to keep a close eye on you. Keep a low profile. You are one step away from death. Don’t make any more moves until things calm down.”For some reason, I could
M.R8My exercise routine was rigorous and relentless. With no distractions and nothing better to do I worked out. I ran on the spot. Crunches touching knees with my elbows. Holding plank position. Press ups. Squats. Its amazing the amount of exercise you can do with no equipment when you out your mind to it.I will not let myself get out of shape. No one has ever escaped here until me. My determination was doubled. Now I had to figure out how to convince the others to work out.Nigel was watching me intently through the bars. I pushed my self harder. Watching him slowly creep closer. Inch by inch he got. It was like trying to catch a wild animal. Ignore it let it think you haven’t seen it wait until it is close enough to catch. Then pounce. That’s what I was doing now waiting to get Nigel in a position that he can’t get away from without losing face to the others.If I judge this right he will have no choice but to start working out. He
M.R 7Time passes by so slowly when your locked in a tiny cell with nothing to do. But I don’t have nothing to do. I have plans to make and plotting to do.Having guards on a regular routine help. They don’t always get the guards attention but it was possible. One of the guards seemed a little different from the others. He or she would call us by name and not just bark orders at us. I don’t know if it is a man or woman because of the robotic voice. The figure again was indecipherable thanks to the uniforms. All the padding and array of weapons that I didn’t know the capability of.I was fe”eling like I was missing something. Something important. Then it hit me. My health was suffering. I could feel myself getting out of breath easier and I was just wanting to sleep all the time.This place was starting to get to me. It will not break me. I will not let my body become weak. Did the others in here feel the same and do the same
M.R6The Elf started to walk with me. I had never listened so intently to anyone in my life. His voice was rough and raspy like he smoked heavily and had for many years.“Many years ago. Roughly three thousand to be closer to the point. That is what I should say. Humans and all other beings lived alongside one another. For a long time, we managed to keep peace. That is until a king took over the Humans. He preached that humans were the master race. That they had great numbers and better weapons. That they should not have to breathe the same air as none humans. That we were nothing more than animals that should be used in such a way. Slowly other humans began to start thinking like him. The way he did it was incredible. The way the story goes he rallied an army. An army so big no race could defeat them. They marched and rode across the country attacking any village they came to. No mercy was given. They gave no warning of their attacks. Before any of us knew what
M.R 5Time passed by. How much I don’t know and it was playing havoc with my mind. I wanted out of this place. I needed to get the Gnome to speak. He was always in the back of his cell in the darkest part. I had been trying to get him to talk for what felt like hours. Over and over I called to him always being polite. No matter how frustrated I got I refused to use bad language or raise my voice in anger. The others were getting mad at me but I would not stop. Susan even told me to stop.“Hey Eddie.”“Yeah.”“Shut up.”I have never known anyone who will never answer you if you don’t stop poking at them. Eventually they will give in. They might not give you the response you want but you will get one. At least there were two sets of bars and a hall way between us. So he wouldn’t be able to get to me. If it went the wrong way. Not that he would be able to punch me above my thigh. Gnome was th
Opening my eyes I found I was back in my cell. I didn’t want to call it my cell but it was looking more and more like it was going to be. Tossed on the floor was a small manual. On the front it simply said rules.“Hey you up?”The girl in the next cell called to me. I’ve just opened my eyes and they are talking to me already. How did she know I was awake.“Yeah. How did you know?”“ There is a telepathic unicorn here he knows when your awake if he wants.”“Oh ok. I forgot about him. What’s your name anyway?”“Susan.”“Susan?”Who the fuck has ever heard of an Orc called Susan. Don’t they normally have names like Mursha or zoguz? Weird things like that.“Yes, Susan. My parents thought it might help hide us if we took human names. Most of us have them now. To be honest it is easier to have a human name than a
When I opened my eyes there was no change in the light it was still dull. Not having a window or anything was giving me no idea of time. Nothing looked any different and to my disappointment, I was still in this cell.Voices we’re still chattering on around me but at least the one in my head was quiet. When I heard one of them shout.“The new guys awake.”How the fuck do they know that there is no way they can see me. I’m going to ask they don’t seem to care about asking questions.“How did you guys know I was awake?”It seemed like everyone had something to say all at the same time. Every voice at the same time shouted something. None of them made it to my ears it was too loud like trying to listen to every conversation in a bar at the same time. I never liked being in loud places my ears couldn’t cope with it. Someone shouted for them to be quiet.Then one voice came to me
Humanities crime 2I was tired up and gaged with some kind of strange rope and thrown into the back of a van. It was strange in that every time I moved it tightened up. I couldn’t see my bindings. My arms were behind my back. But every move made them get tighter.The van drove sensibly. No excessive revving of the engine. Smooth left and right turn. Easy breaking no sudden stops. After being in the back of the van for so long I started to get drowsy. It was an effort to stay awake. My mind worked overtime though. Fear and confusion making sleep impossible. It felt like we had been driving for at least six hours but not having a watch or the sun to look at I had no idea. Eventually the va stopped and the driver’s door opened and closed.The back doors didn’t open for minutes. I got to my feet and thought about making my escape. When the doors opened I was going to run at the man hopefully knocking him down. Then run. Run as fast as I could for a
Mythical Rising 1The air was still but cold as I sat in my little rowing boat. Rod propped on the side. A light mist over the lake in the early morning light. Nothing ever bites at this time of day, not even the insects. It’s not the fishing that brings me out but nature. It’s like it talks to me.On days like this, I know that the trees are happy. Flowers will bloom. Bees will collect the nectar and plants will get pollinated. No matter what people do to the world life will go on.Nature has always been a huge part of my sixty-five years of life. My dad used to bring me into forests and leave me. From the age of eight, I was able to hunt kill gut and cook a squirrel. I could tell you what animal made what tracks and how long ago with a glance by the time I was ten. At eleven I was making weapons and shelters. By the time I was fifteen I was able to live for days in the wild with nothing but the clothes on my back to start. Schoo