Monday, 04 May 2009

• The Legend of Miteal: X-Chapter 14: The Fall of Miteal; part 2

  Fear not, eager readers! The following is the next installment of The Legend of Miteal! Though the postings of actual chapters will soon come to an end (can't go on posting EVERYTHING...that'll spoil the whole book before it's even DONE!), I will be posting at least one or two more excerpts. Or at least until I deep this current chapter complete in its rough draft stage.

  If you are just recently coming on to my story and want to have chance to find out what's been going on, please see the links below to read up. I hope you'll enjoy what I've written so far.

  To see what previously occurred in part 1 of chapter 14, click here.

  God bless!
  Michael

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  All entries for THE LEGEND OF MITEAL
  A Legend in the Making: Ideas and Concepts 
  Chapters 11 & 12 
  Chapter 13: Tenth-Grade Troubles 
  Chapter 14: The Fall of Miteal; part 1
  --> Chapter 14: The Fall of Miteal; part 2

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  X-Chapter 14: The Fall of Miteal; part 2
  (C) April 4 - May 2, 2009

   

       The man looked neither young nor old. He might have been merely tired and physically exhausted. Or he could have been harboring long years of anger. And his clothes were little to speak of. They were simple garments that had obvious signs of aging, but he wore them neatly, as if he tried to appear presentable. However his blank gaze and loose and wispy hair did nothing to help that cause.

       He stood on the edge of a grassy plateau that overlooked an emerald field of grass and trees and an assortment of large and small homes. Walking or running or leaping or rolling were all sorts of people: children and their parents; old and young, all enjoying the sunny day whether busy or playing. There were stores and shops that lined the main streets and everyone seemed to be in a jolly mood. People had to shout sometimes because of the hustle and bustle in the pleasantly crowded avenues and with the sizzles and hissings of food stuffs being cooked on open grills. The clomping of the animals on the stone roads and the music in the background at some nearby outdoor concert hall only added to the lively community.

       The homes looked like a mix of log cabins and stone cottages. And nearly everyone had a chimney. Few had any fences and those that did were usually used to keep the livestock from wandering away. Otherwise, most everyone home with a field around it was shared by that of another home. No one seemed to mind where one property line ended and another began. It was all the same to them.

       He stood on the ledge looking down at the happy town. A look of disgust or a look of greedy intent crossed his face – it was hard to tell which. He stood on the outside, surveying the people and the land. No one knew how long he waited or what he thought or where he came from or why he was there. But I will tell you what others would be afraid to learn: he came to poison and pervert and destroy.

       The sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze blew across the land. Only a few clouds hung high in the air. And their shadows were cast far on the other side of the land. So it would have been quite a strange sight to see a lone little shadow moving its way – almost slithering – up the slope that met with the plans below to where the man stood. The man turned his head to see the shadow approach and sit and wait, then turned back towards the town below.

       “Is it ready?” asked the man in such a way you could not be sure if he was angry or if he always had a growl in the back of his throat.

       “Yes, master. All is in place.” The reply was like a cold, raspy whisper.

       This time, the man certainly grinned, but it would be one no one felt safe to look at. “Then let us begin.” And as soon as he said that, the man began to turn ghastly pale. And his features – even his clothes – started to fade as if they had been bleached and wiped away into the thin air. Contrary to the bright sun, he started to turn a deep, cloudy grey. Before another second or two had passed, all that was left was a shadowy figure that resembled the form of a man. He made no sound as he moved, and it was like he was but a vapor as the trees behind him could be seen right through his body.

       There was an evil-sounding chuckle that the shadow man uttered, though it sounded as if it might have come up from a deep and hollow well, cold and damp and distant. He turned and walked away towards the woods, almost slithering or gliding, himself, and the little shadow followed close behind.

       “Yes, let the destruction begin.”

       The next day was a bright and cheery day, just as before. But there seemed to be a feeling of anxiety in the air. A sense that something was not right. What made it worse was how those who felt it could not explain it. They felt…afraid, and they could not tell what there was to be fearful of. But the day carried on and the people played and talked and did business. For all anyone could tell, the day was like any other.

       “Naja? Naja?” called out an aged woman. “Naja!” she called again. She looked to her left and to the right trying to see through the crowd. She even tried peering over the people, but this was of no use as she was a very short old lady. “Oh, Naja. Where has that boy gone to now?” she said to herself. She shook her head with mild exasperation and grinned at the same time.

       The people were coming and going by her and she scanned every face. Even though Naja was a short boy, she always was thorough. So the tall people to the tiny babies all received a glance.

       “Coming, Grandma Needa!” came a reply. From out of the crowd came a young boy, about fourteen years of age. He was a bit small for a boy his age, but he had strength in his eyes. He moved and stood with the confidence of a daredevil, a fact that made his grandmother both very proud…and always worried. She would oten tell her self that that boy would come home one day with all his bones broken and still be ready to go on another adventure the next day. When Naja got closer, Needa did what she always did when she was worried for her grandson and he had been out playing – she checked him for any cuts or bruises on his face and arms, for any rips in his clothes, or any other sign of injury.

       “Naja laughed and gently waved off his grandmother’s worried ways, “I’m fine, Grandma. I’m not hurt.”

       “Well, you will be if you continue to worry me like that. Running off, not telling me where you’re going.” Needa was quite serious, but she could not help but to add a bit of playfulness to her tone. She knew Naja meant no harm, but the boy still had to mind the rules to let her know where he was going when he went out.

       “I’m sorry, Grandma,” and with that Naja gave her a warm hug and kissed her cheek. Together, they were the only family either had left and he truly felt bad for worrying her.

       Needa smiled and welcomed her grandson’s embrace. “Oh, dear boy,” she said with a chuckle and a sigh, “what will I do with you?”

       “Love me anyway?” quipped Naja.
  “Careful now, boy,” shot back Needa, waving her tiny finger, a grin emerging on her lips, “you’re not too old for a solid whipping.

       Naja knew his grandmother was merely returning the playfulness but he knew not to press his luck – he already had given her a fright and did not wish to upset her more.

       The two walked down the busy market street, admiring the many high quality crafts and trinkets and taking in the delicious smells of hot cider and dried meat and sweet candies. Needa bartered for some fresh vegetables and Naja went to buy a couple of fish and five loaves of bread. Next they went to busy some spices. Naja was beginning to get quite hungry as he imagined what sort of meal his grandmother was planning on making. Although Needa was a very humble woman, she was often celebrated for her savory, home-cooked dinners. Most every community pot luck she would bring a simple meal. And though she would bring enough to feed almost everyone, her meals were usually met with long lines and gone before any other foods that were available. To that she could only reply, “I will bring more next time.”

       In addition to the food, Naja stopped by the smithy’s shop to see if his first sword would be ready soon. He was nearly of age to begin learning the art of sword fighting and he was very excited. Of course, the smithy told him he would just have to wait and laughed with understanding as Naja sighed. “Not but a month more, isn’t it boy?” he tried to encourage the eager warrior. But to Naja it may as well have been still a year longer. And Needa made a detour into the craft store to buy more thread for her sewing projects. The shop owner’s granddaughter – who was about Naja’s age – ran the stall for all kinds of garments and needle artwork out in the market square, much of which Needa had suppolied. Because of the good business Needa’s crafts had brought in, the shop owner gladly gave a generous discount. Needa, the humble woman that she was, would always try to object, saying it was not at all necessary. But the owner, being a generous and giving man, would always insist, “Without you, I would have nothing to give! And besides,” he would add, “your presence brings great joy to my small shop. Otherwise, I have but four dull walls and a silly collection of string.” To this Needa would always blush and giggle. Naja always wondered, but now he was sure that the shop owner liked his grandmother very much. They exchanged a few more words of casual conversation and gave warm goodbyes. On their way out, the owner asked Naja if he would deliver a small parcel of food to his granddaughter so she could have her lunch. Naja said he would be happy to (and even seemed excited, too).

       Outside Naja commented, “I think he likes you.”

       Needa tried to sound shocked, “Oh, hush!” but there was no hiding her smile as her face became all a-glow the way old ladies’ faces do when their hearts are stirred with happiness.

       Naja took notice of his grandmother’s smile, “See? See?” he pointed out triumphantly. “And you like him, too!”

       “Now stop it, boy. You’re speaking nonsense,” she tried to sound serious but Naja knew better.

       “Oh, yeah? Then why couldn’t he stop looking at you? (I think he almost forgot I was there.)”

       “Well, he is quite a handsome man, too,” replied Needa, not realizing how lost in the moment she had become, thoroughly enjoying the memory of what had transpired just minutes before.

       “Ah ha! I rest my case.” Naja now walked with a victorious stride and grin.

       “Oh! You make too much about nothing, Naja.”

       Naja simply walked along side his grandmother, confident of his assessment of her romantic life. Needa was still cooing about the kind, old shop owner to try to insist otherwise.

       Soon they came to the stall where the shop owner’s granddaughter was busy attending to a couple of customers, so there they waited nearby. Naja was unaware of the fact that the was watching her every move, gesture, and smile. There was this curious allure about her that left him drawn in about this beautiful young lady and he dared not look away should he miss a clue to the answers of the questions he did not even know he was asking. This was certainly not the first Naja had seen her, yet even the smallest glance was enough to captivate him as if he had never seen her before. So when the young lady turned to Naja and Needa after she had finished with her customers, giving both a warm hello, Needa took a quick glance at her silent grandson when he did not answer. She turned again to look at him more closely and grinned a knowing grin and laughed very quietly to herself. Needa gave her grandson a gentle nudge, “Dear boy, answer the lovely girl. Where are your manners?”

       Startled, Naja stammered, a bit embarrassed and blushed from the never-ending smile on the young girl’s lips.

       “Talisa said ‘hello’ – dear boy, answer her.”

       “Oh…oh! I’m sorry. Hello, Talisa. H-how are you?”
  “I am well, Naja. Thank you for asking. Though, I am a bit hungry. The smells from the food stalls have my stomach so excited.”

       “Then be hungry no more: I have brought you some food!” said Naja heroically, eager to redeem himself.

       Needa cleared her throat…”casually”.

       “Your grandfather asked me to bring it to you,” Naja quickly added.

       Talisa extended her hand to take the parcel and gave Naja a quick hug with her free arm, “Oh, thank you!”

       “It was no trouble at all, my dear,” said Needa, who now had stepped back to better see her grandson’s reaction to Talisa’s simple affection of gratitude with playful interest. “Your grandfather has always been so kind to me.”

       Talisa set the parcel down on her stall and turned back to Naja with the same glowing look she always had whenever she saw him. But she turned to Needa with genuine respect any time she spoke to the kind, old woman, “I do believe Grandfather likes you very much actually.”
  Surprise covered Needa’s face upon hearing the innocent comment, and Naja busted out with laughter, “I tried to tell her the same thing, but she wouldn’t believe me!”

       To this, even Talisa began giggling.
  “Well…he is a nice man,” said Needa, trying to seem nonchalant.

       “And handsome,” Naja quickly added.
  “Yes, and handso—oh, now stop that!” she scolded amidst laughter.

       “How are your latest projects coming along, Miss Needa?” asked Talisa of the still-red old woman, trying to save her from further embarrassment while stifling her own giggles.

       “Beautiful, my dear, I have several gowns that will be ready for the Gold Leaf Banquet in two months.”

       “Oh, that does sound lovely,” said Talisa, dreamily. “I do wonder what they will look like this year. You always make the most delightful dresses.”

       “Thank you, so much, young lady. But I say, don’t you have a birthday this next week?”

       Talisa’s eyes began to dance a little more as she hoped for why Needa would ask, “I do.”

       “You will be fourteen, like my Naja, isn’t that right?” smiled Needa.

       “Yes, Miss Needa. That’s right.”

       “Well, I’ll be – just in time for the Banquet!”

       Talisa only smiled more, but Needa was doing a fine job in building the young girl’s excitement.

       “now I have an idea. Why don’t you come over later and help me? I have so much to do before the Banquet. And who knows? Maybe we might have something just for you?

       “Maybe something green?” Talisa was clearly drawn in.

  “Maybe something emerald green.”

       “Oh, how wonderful! I will ask grandfather right away.”

       “Don’t worry, I’ll ask him,” offered Naja. “I know you still have some time before the shop closes. This way you can head right over after you’re done.”

       “Naja, how considerate of you,” praised Needa.

       “Truly! Thank you, Naja,” said Talisa.

       “It’s no trouble. Really.”

       Talisa could not stop smiling now. And Needa noticed she was looking quite bashful every time she looked at Naja. But Needa just smiled quietly. Naja, too, was looking a bit red in the face. Both he and Talisa were exchanging glances and smiles while the three continued to talk.

       Several minutes later, Talisa had to excuse herself to help another customer. Naja and Needa said that was fine as they had to be on their way, too, and Naja still had to stop back at Talisa’s grandfather’s shop to see that he would allow Talisa to go help Needa with the gowns. Needa was about to add that Talisa was welcome any time but Naja was already expressing his eagerness (although not too eager-sounding) to see her later in the day. Talisa glanced up at Naja and gave him the warmest smile and waved and said she would be right over after the market closed for the day before turning back to her customer. Naja lingered for just a second as he recovered from the way his heart skipped a beat. He tried to act like nothing was out of the ordinary when Needa asked if he was okay, but Needa already knew the answer.

       “She is such a sweet young lady,” commented Needa.

       “Yeah, she’s nice,” said Naja, casually.

       “The two walked on in silence along the open-field path to their cottage by the lake.

       Needa smirked after a while, “You know, I think she likes you.”

       Naja just groaned.

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