It had started out as an ordinary day, the sun was shining brightly in the in the early spring morning, birds were singing in the trees and all was still.But no-one had vouched for the rising terror that was heading towards this peaceful land.

The first anyone knew about it was when a small settlement in the north of the kingdom was crushed be the kings army. As chaos was little known in these parts the men were unprepared and so the conflict was lethal, bloody and fatal to anyone who dared to fight back.

The aftermath was horrific, everybody in the tiny settlement had been slain in the battle except for one boy.

Matthew was sickend by the sight that fell before his eyes. Everyone he had ever known had been killed in the carnage and the bloodshed. familiar faces of friends, neighbours, locals all gone. he turned his back towards his home hoping beyond hope that his parents were somehow alive and ok. He knew deep inside though that it wouldn't be true as soon as he pushed open the broken door.

Debris was scattered across the floor, there was signs of a struggle and when matthew peered into his parents bedroom he couldn't believe what he saw. The body of a solider was lying on the floor separated from his head which lay a few feet away. Matthew fought down the wave of nausea that threatend to overwhealm him and he peered around the corner fearing what he may see next.

His parents were in there, his father was obviously the one who had beheaded the solider as the sword that had alwas hung above the mantle was in his hand, bloodied. His mother was sprawled on the bed her beautiful face twisted with what horrors she had endured.

Matthew wept. Everything that he had ever loved was gone. he placed his mother into a postition on the bed that - if Matthew kidded himself - made her look as though she was just sleeping  - if he ignored the fact that she had, had her throat cut.

His father however was much heavier and much harder to lift but he found the strength to manage and he heaved his father onto the bed weeping bitterly as he did so.

Picking up the sword that his father had been holding onto he turned to his dead parents

"Goodbye Mother, Father. I loved you more than you could imagine. i will avenge you deaths and that of everyone who lost their lives today. I will one day return having acheived this and i will restore this town to the great peaceful place it once was.

"I am sorry that this has happened and the king will pay for his treachery!" this last sentence was yelled with all the boys might and he then picked up the sword and cleaned it on the soliders tunic. The sword would be used well and in the way his Father would expect him to use it. To fight for Justice, Freedom and democracy.

Armed with his sword, bow, quiver and food provisions he set off to the blacksmiths to find the barrels of oil. Matthew then doused the streets in oil and then left the town.

Once he had gotten up a hill away from the town he pulled out his bow and an arrow and set fire to it and then shot it into the settlement.

His eyes stung and watered with grief and the thick black smoke billowed thickly into the clear blue sky and he turned to the east to warn the people of Armand of the terror that was rising.

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this is a book i am currently working on in my spare time. i am writing it on here to get other peoples opinions as i would at some point like to see if i can get this published :) if anyone reads this and enjoys it and would like to leave me a few tips then feel free to. i feel a bit selfish saying this but leave the story as i write it and i will try to update everyday to keep the story fresh :) thankyou so much for reading the story all comments (good or bad) are greatly apprieciated thankyou Colleen Bray bullfringe@hotmail.co.uk

updated Sep 5 '08 by Colly