2. Calamity

Cressida Dragomar

She was excited to have a sister, a sister she always dreamed of. Resting on her elbows, she was lying on a maroon upholstery with velvet seat. Her face in her palms, she was reading a book. On hearing the approaching footsteps of her brother, she quickly closed the book and ran into his arms.

"Lord brother" She greeted and hugged him.

He was the heir of their family.

"Greetings to my little princess," he said while lifting her.

She told him the story she was reading about four warriors who fought against the evil, died and turned into stars. Where people now believe them as four antithetic Gods. She also complained about the second brother who told her not to believe in such fantasies. With depression in her eyes, she asked; why was he telling her not to read such stories.

"Isn't it true?" She asked.

Smiling at his four-year-old sister, he replied. "It is."

A slave of their castle came to announced about the arrival of a new member to their family.

Jumping from his arms, she ran before him with a hope to have a sister as she had three older brothers. Grinning at her eagerness, he slowly followed her. When she reached the chamber of her mother, her two brothers were already standing on either side of the door. She ran to pass through the door but was halted by the stretched hands of them, making a cross at the entrance of the door. She pushed their hand but they lifted her.

"Let me see, it's a girl. Right?" She wrestled in their arms. "Put me down."

"Not yet." One of them replied.

"We don't know either." The other one said.

"Have some patience Cressida." A voice made her turned to face the older brother.

He made a nod and they placed her down. After waiting out impatiently, she was allowed to see her newborn sibling. Running into the chamber, she asked her father who was standing beside the bed. "A girl?"

Father shook his head. "A boy."

Excitement flew away from her face the moment she was aware of the gender. Even though, she crawled up the bed and bend above the baby to have a look. He was wrapped in a neat white cloth. "He's beautiful. Why not a girl?" She complained again.

Her father lifted her. "Enough with that Cressida."

Struggling in his arms, she said. "No, wait. Why does he have different colored eyes?"

"Cressida that's not appropriate to say." Her mother said, who was lying beside the baby.

"I am not lying," she said.

Picking up the baby, her brother took a close look. "She's right his one eye is blue and other is green." This cause silence in the small chamber. Everyone was sharing glances among themselves. Putting the baby back on the bed, he turned towards the father and said. "We shall call a savant and ask about it."

The older brother took Cressida and the third son with him. "We are going for horse riding." And asked the second son to stay in the castle.

"Now?" She asked.

"Yes, bring along your bow and arrows."

She did what he said and they rode out of the castle. After riding for a while they reached inside a thick forest where greenness environs the whole area with a gorgeous sun above. The golden rays were streaming down through the tall trees and falling on the muddy ground. Halting their horses to the usual place, he pulled her down from the horse. She readied her bow and arrow.

"Well, what was the farthest distance you shoot last time?" He asked.

She began to walk counting her footsteps and abruptly stopped when her count reached 18. Pointing to a tree beside her. "Till here, 18 footsteps," she said.

"Walk 2 more feet away," he said and dug a target in the mud where he was standing. "Load." He commanded.

She pulled back the sting placing an arrow in it.

"Hold." He commands again.

Eyes on the target, she held the stretched arrow in the bow and waited for his next command.

"Shoot."

Her hit was not exactly in the center, it hit somewhere on the outer circles. He again asked her to load and shoot. This continued for a while, then he drowned out his sword and hit his brother's head with it's back.

"Do not let your guard down." He said and aims to hit him again.

Unsheathing the sword, the third son jumped back in defense. And they practiced until the dusk.

The ride back to the castle was soothing in the cool breeze. The sun was setting on the horizon, forming contrasting colors in the sky. Golden rays were melting to pinkish-orange patches. The wind was blowing in the opposite direction, causing her golden curls to blowback. She looked up at her brother, her honey orbs twinkling at him. He was exactly behind her riding the horse. Glancing at her, he asked.

"What is it?"

She smiled adorably at him. Among all the three brothers, he was the one whom she loved the most. She cherished every moment spend with him. Being the heir of the family, he barely gets time to spend together. And when he gets, she never leaves his sight.

"When will the birthday ceremony be held?" She shouted. The heavily blowing wind was fading her voice.

"Fortnight," he replied, his face was straight, focused on the ride.

"I have to wait two weeks, why so late?" She asked.

"It's a ritual."

"Can't we change it?" She looked up at him again.

"No."

"Our ancestors lack eagerness and they don't like celebrations, so they created the late rituals." She said, waving her legs in the air and inhaling the cold wind that was ruffling her curls.

"Is that so? Had you read that in a book too?" He gave a quick look to her.

"No, I am guessing, you know how Herr Savant is slow." She said.

"He's old, not slow and-" before he could continue, the third son brought his horse closer.

"Lord brother, there's something wrong at the castle." He pointed to the fallen flags of their castle which was on the ground. A red color flag with Lion's claw, which symbolizes the Easterner and a family name Dragomar written on it.

"Hasten!" He commanded.

They pick up the pace. The view of the castle was getting clear by each step. Uninvited soldiers were visible. They were covered in the green outfit with a symbol of sea waves and a dorsal fin peeking out of it. A symbol of the south.

"What's wrong?" Cressida asked, worried about their actions.

Ignoring her question, he asked the third son to go directly into the castle and took the secret passage from the back. Asking Cressida to hold a wooden torch, he opened a round wooden door under the tree. Letting her go first, he then entered closing the door from inside. Taking the torch from her, he held her hand and led the way. They were swiftly passing from one tunnel to another.

"What's happening?" She asked, trembling with fear. The whole way to the chamber, she observed her brother, the worry was all overwritten on his face. There was something wrong which she doesn't understand. She never saw so many soldiers riding and running around, neither she ever saw the new soldiers of the south.

They arrived in a small chamber of the castle. Blowing off the torch, he threw the stick on the ground. Opening a receptacle, he pulled out some clothes from it and asked her to sit in.  Cupping her face, he smiled at her. "Hide yourself here, do not come out."

He was trying to save her little sister from the enemy's raid on the castle. Asking her to sit in, he pulled out a dagger which was horizontally placed at his back. Giving her the dagger he said.

"You know where the heart is, stab it if you see any strange man."

He stood up from his knees, closing the receptacle.

"Lord brother, you'll come back." She stated. There was a question in her voice.

"Cross my heart." He gestured a cross over his heart with his forefinger. He wasn't sure whether he'll be back or not. He has to find his family first either alive or dead. Making a promise in dilemma was not a wiser decision, but was better than leaving a little girl with worry. Without any further word, drowning out a sword from its scabbard, he turned around and vanished from her sight.

She sat there clutching the dagger close to her body. She was frightened worried, frantic at the same time. Moving at the corner of the box she peered out of the three holes which were formed on either side of the box in a triangle shape. What she saw was only darkness in the room. Blinking a couple of times she surveyed her eyes. Unable to see anything, she sat there waiting for the return of his brother. Hearing a sound, a sound of clashing swords. She again looked through the holes but couldn't see anything. With every clash, the sound increased. Within some time it was audible as if someone is fighting exactly beside the box. The sound then stopped and was replaced by another, a sound of sword transpierced into a body.

She was scared by the thought of being found by the enemy. Holding the dagger firmly, she scooched on her feet and was ready to stab, but no one opened the receptacle. Another sound of leaving footsteps slowly faded away. She again sat taking a deep breath. After a long time of hiding, she builds up the courage. Slowly, lifting the lid she came out. Her foot landed on a dead body soaked with blood. It was the body of a soldier with the same symbol of sea waves and a fin.

Holding the dagger with both the hands in a protective manner, she came out of the chamber. There was not a single soul to be seen. She has to find her family, tears clouding her vision. Most of the place was dark as its past sunset and none of the torches were lighted. She passed by different chambers with dead bodies on the blanket of blood. There was an unpleasant metallic smell in the atmosphere. She walked around the palace, that was now nothing like her home. Every area was dark and dirty. Tears dripping down her eyes on every step. When she reached the hall of the castle, heard the footsteps. She quickly hid beneath a table. Moving aside the tablecloth, she peeked through it.

Her honey gold eyes widened with a glint of happiness in them. Her heart, mind, and body everything filled with bliss. He kept the promise and was returning. Every time she was happy to see him but this time it was different. Though his form was badly injured, his appearance made the happiest moment of her life.

He was holding his wounded left shoulder, a stream of blood dripping down his fingers, his feeble form was getting closer. His eyes were wandering, searching for something then suddenly astonished on her. Dropping the dagger, she took a step out of her hideout the moment her eyes met his. Not too soon, a sword slashes from the back piercing his throat. Closing his eyes, he smiled at her as he fell on his knees, revealing the man behind his death.

She stunned at the moment, witnessing her brother's death.

"The last one is gone." The man shouted and went out.

She froze on the spot, her senses and body gave up. Breathing heavily, she moved back until her back hit the wall and stayed there for a while and more. Tears dripping through her eyes, she tried to pick the dagger but her body was against it. She couldn't move her limbs as she wishes. Hardly dragging the dagger towards her, she held it close to her chest. Her heart was hammering in fear, she couldn't move or shout. Her limbs were quivering and voice was dried. Her eyes were clouded with a picture of the man never leaving her mind.

•••••••••

Time passes by,

Today's happiness will be tomorrow's cry.

Moments will fly,

But memories remain in the eyes.

LOCKHART.