I want to share the short story I entered into the NYC Midnight Short Story Contest. 25 of us out of 960 were given the requirements: Fantasy, Mathematics, & A Professional Athlete. 5 of us will move on to round 2. My story: The Slave by John B Badd The queen glided forth from her red throne commanding “Silence.” The prattling rumble I caused unveiling the artifact ceased. She held my gaze; sweat glistened on my brow. “Child, do you presume to threaten my kingdom?” “No your highness.” I maintained eye contact. It felt like a boa constrictor had control of my insides. The floral arrangements which brought me joy when I entered the chamber now smelled stale, as did the stone halls occupants. “Do have any idea what relic you hold?” “I do your majesty.” I swallowed. “I come forth to offer this treasure, along with my sentry, and myself, into the service of the kingdom in the coming war.” Gasp filled the chamber and “war” echoed among the whispers. The queens gaze darted over my companion. Her head tilted just a twig to the side; her mouth parted as if to speak. She pursed her lips instead and returned her attention to me. “Child,” her voice deepened, “you will tell me now how you came to hold such a...treasure. Spare no detail.” “Yes, your highness,” I began. ... It was mid-morning in late spring, several days after the new moon, I was gathering edibles just inside the tree line of Fey Woods. My master was working on a new equation; something about mapping the lands by our distance to the sun and moon. It had all his attention that week. So there I was enjoying the warmth on my skin and the smell of the morning dew. The breeze tugged at my white dress. My basket held yellow-lions and day-marries for an afternoon salad. I was hoping for some dome-drop mushrooms to use as a main course. But then I heard many hooves on the road from the east. As we were not expecting company I became concerned. I hurried back to the stone lodge, but the riders beat me by several minutes. Eight rough looking men stood outside near the geldings, four in chain and four in leather. Our front door was open. The men gawked at me as I approached the door, whispering to each other. But they made no move to bar my entry. A regal looking gentleman wearing black chain-mail was speaking to my master. “...of great need. We are certain the riddles of the monument are of a mathematical nature.” “How is it you are certain?” My master tugged at his long, graying beard. “Our finest scholars told us as much.” “And your scholars are unable to solve the puzzle?” “They were able to make it past the entrance...but, there were... other obstacles. Precautionary measures put in place to hide the...the treasure.” My master squinted. “And what is this, treasure, we are after?” “I can not say with certainty.” He lied. “But we believe it will be a great prize for the kingdom.” That was true. “You will receive rewards for your service of course.” “Very well, I will help you acquire your treasure.” He motioned to me. “My slave will accompany us to care for my horse and prepare my meals.” So that was the role I was to play. “Girl, prepare the captain and his men lunch while I put my affairs in order. Then ready our travel packs and the horses. We may be gone several weeks, take only the things we will need.” We were on the road just after noon. The first four days were uneventful. We broke fast at twilight, then traveled hard until noon, when we rested the horses; we made our final stop an hour before sunset to ready camp. There were nine men in the party, not including myself and my master. Two hunters scoured the woods around us for our meals. Two scouted ahead to search for bandits and the best ground to settle down. Four soldiers and the captain rode with us. My masters skill in matters of the arcane gave him a solid reputation. No one would court his wrath. So it was, the soldiers left me to my own council, though I often caught them stealing glances my way. At least it was that way until the fifth afternoon when I was gathering water from a spring. One of the huntsmen approached me, offered some kind words of flattery, and asked if he could carry my bucket. “I recognize you,” I replied. “You do?” “You are a champion of the games. I watched you best six men in two fencing tournaments. You also placed in The Gauntlet two Harvest Festivals in a row. Your name escapes me. What is--” “How is it a slave girl was able to attend two harvest festivals? The help is usually left outside the city for such crowded events.” My tongue slipped, I countered. “How is it a champion of the games comes to be a hunter in a little expedition?” “What is your name, girl?” “Wouldnt you like to know?” “I would love to.” He winked. Heat rushed to my cheeks. Though I knew his words hid an ulterior motive. I started to turn so he wouldnt notice. “Well, sir, need supersedes want, and I need to get back.” He touched my arm. “It is a weapon, not a treasure.” I turned back to him, thoughts of modesty long gone. He continued, “the queen means to use it to crush the armies to the south. No one will stand in her way.” “She will finally put the barbarians uprising to rest then,” I said. “They are freemen who seek to overthrow a tyrant, and you know this, miss.” “I know no such thing. Your words are treasonous and you would see us both hung.” “You are your masters apprentice, and your master serves the rebellion. We can not let the monarch gain this weapon.” I searched his eyes to see if his words held any truth. They looked honest, but I couldnt be certain. I attempted to enter his mind but hit a stone wall. He flinched. His thoughts were well guarded and I had shown my hand. There was only one way to proceed. “You are a paranoid fool,” I said as I threw my bucket at him. He deflected it but the water splashed his face. I stifled a grin at the sight of him, surprised and wet. “We will speak no more of this. You will forget your fantasies, and I will forget your treasonous words. But mind you, if I hear anymore of this nonsense it will be your head in the noose.” He blew water from his nose and wiped his face. “But--” “No buts,” I smiled at his exasperation. “And I expect you to refill that bucket you spilled before returning to camp.” I stalked away releasing a light chuckle despite myself. I returned to camp, as did the champion a short time after, with a dry head and a full bucket of water which he set by the fire. He didnt speak to me any more on our trip there, but I often noticed him looking my way. I wanted to talk to my master, but he was always near the captain, and I couldnt risk him overhearing our conversation. I resolved to stay alert and work it as it came. We arrived at the vestiges of some ancient civilization four afternoons later. We set up camp as it would take another half day to reach the monument. We were up with the sun. Broken pillars marked the boundaries to the ruins, long shadows pointed towards our goal. The ground was hard beneath our feet, and in areas you could even make out the cracked stonework of the former streets. A few large trees grew at odd angles scattered through out the maze of brush and vines. Monkeys heckled us from a distance, either warning us away or laughing at what would come of us. The horses fought us as well, they were happier in the natural world. This was...different. Broken walls marked the foundations of what once were homes or workshops. Ever so often we would pass a structure that still had a roof. I wanted to explore, but we had work to do. The champion stared at me often, and he and my master exchanged a few glances as well. Was that recognition between them? As if reading my mind they both looked my way at the same time. I grew tired of thinking of him as the champion. I should have asked his name. If only he hadnt been so rude about the whole matter. But what do you expect from an athlete? Five hours into the ruins and we came to a large black structure. The surface shone like marble, and unlike the rest of the place, no moss covered its walls. It stood two spans tall and nine wide. The walls slanted, but not at an angle you could scale without rope. We circled to the left, and there was a stairway going down to a set of double doors that stood open to the inside. No light escaped it. The horses refused to go any nearer. The captain spoke, “Alright, we will set up here. We will take a small unit in. Garth...” The captain searched his men. “Garth! Radcliff? We are missing our hunters. Has anyone seen them?” I looked around, realizing my.... realizing that...um...the champion who kept watching me was missing. “Well,” demanded the captain. “Captain,” one of the scouts spoke out, “they were trailing the party last I seen. Back when we first caught sight of this monolith.” “We dont have time for this,” the captain said. “Scouts, you are with me. You,” he pointed to one of the soldiers. Search the perimeter. Work back the way we came. The rest of you stay here.” I looked to my master and he nodded approval. My master examined the symbols outside the doorway as he twisted his beard. “Look here Captain. These symbols represent a numerical system.” He knew I was listening. “We use a ten digit decimal system for our counts. Whoever created this structure used an eight digit system known as a hexadecimal system. That system holds the key the riddles that are keeping you from you goal. I think we can solve this puzzle.” They went into the structure. The door slammed shut behind them and the soldiers jumped. I thought about what my master had said. Math was more his forte than mine. But I knew that a hexadecimal system dealt with six digits and an octal-decimal system dealt with eight digits. He alerted me by his deception. Was the champion with us? I readied myself. Half an hour past and the solders became more agitated than the horses. I didnt think I would be able to stand any more of their belly aching when an arrow appeared in one of their throats. He fell. The other two men drew their swords and began circling back to back. The champion-hunter ran into the clearing, sword drawn.” “Tell me it isnt here,” he exclaimed. “It didnt come this way did it?” “What?” The soldiers demanded in fearful unison. “Death,” the champion stated smiling. He swung his sword, and a head tumbled to the ground. The last soldier moved as if to charge but my knife was in his neck before he had a chance. He tumbled over the headless man. “Finally picked a side, miss?” “I always knew what side I was on you imbecile. It was you I wasnt certain of.” “Well thats just ridiculous. I told you where my allegiance lie; to the freeman everywhere.” He made an exaggerated bow. “Dont talk to me.” We waited outside the monolith for several more hours. We did speak, a little. I found out his name was neither that the captain called him by, and he discovered I dont tell my name to smart-asses. All in all it went pretty well. At least until the door opened. The captain stood there. The rod in his hand glowed as if he had harnessed the power of Zorath, the lightning god of old. In fact, he may have. Who knows where this power comes from. He looked to me and the champion. “Where are the rest of my men?” “Well Captain, they got headaches and had to go.” “Fool!” He pointed the end of the staff at the champion. There was a flash from deep within the tunnel and the captains eyes rolled back into his head. He shook and fell to the ground. The rod went dark. Moments later my master hobbled into the light. Burns and blood covered him. “Master,” I cried, as I hurried to his side. He fell but I caught him and eased him to the ground. “Hold on, I have some herbs that--” “Enough woman. My time is at an end. You must take this weapon and bring it to the rebellion in the south. With it you can overthrow the queen and her evil dictatorship. Ill seal this place forever. When the war is over you destroy it or hide it beyond reach.” “But--” “Go!” He wiped my tears and his face softened. “Your apprenticeship is over, dear. Go. Dont look back.” He looked to the champion. “You are her sword.” He bowed. It was dark by the time we found our way to the edge of the ruins. We let all but three of the horses go. “So we head south now, to the freemen?” “No, we go to the palace.” I smiled for the first time since I left my master. “We have something the queen needs.” … “And that your highness, is how we came before you with this artifact.” “You admit to killing my soldiers. You admit to sympathizing with the rebels. But you have seen the error in your ways. It takes a wise woman to know a hopeless battle. Give me the weapon, child.” “Oh, you misunderstood me your highness. Ive come to kill you.” The queen stepped forward, “you swore your allegiance to me when you arrived.” “No, I swore my allegiance to your kingdom. You reign is over.” “Guards, kill them.” Soldiers drew their blades causing metal to hiss and ring. The nearest guard swung his sword, my champion blocked it. I pointed the rod at the queen and her eyes widened as it glowed to life. She turned to dust when its rays hit her. Steel smashed against steel as guards fought each other. People were ready for change, for life with choices. The battle lasted only minutes. The fighting ended. I channeled the energy of the artifact, and when I spoke my voice traveled across the land. “From this day forward, you are freemen, masters of your own fate.”
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 06:00:51 +0000
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