efeated1098 words
"You see? That's what I've been saying!"
"If those beasts were mine, why would I be killing my own? You stupid or something?"
"I tried to tell them, but they would not listen," Alice added.
Nobody answered for a second, and then Principle Lub remembered to ask, "Are you calling me stupid, stranger?"
"Yeah, I guess I am. Or maybe I should call you something worse? Get your hands off that woman!" El uttered a warning to the soldier who placed his hand and squeezed Alice's shoulder when she started to speak and seemed to enjoy doing that very much.
But the soldier just smirked at him, daring him.
"Let go of her," El commanded, moving closer to them, feeling his staff ready with Mana.
"We do not take orders from you," the soldier answered, daring him to make his move.
The idea that he should just let her be and not worry one bit about her had disappeared inside of him as if it never existed.
"You will lose more than your loose tongue and your dirty hands then!" Ed said as he was ready to smack him with his staff and put enough hurt into his body to make him yelp in pain for hours.
The man twitched back, his hand suddenly dropping to his waist and El thought for a second what a marvelous threat he made until he saw Trim standing right on his shoulder, the blade half out of his scabbard and the bloody murdering rage in his eyes.
I guess they fear Trim more than they know how to fear me. If they only knew...
"We don't want to fight you," Principle said, shaking his head, "But, you've got answers to give."
But the rage inside that flared for a brief second was there no more, nothing to be lighted up, and calmly, he looked around and asked, "No, no I don't. I owe you all nothing. Besides, what is this? You think this can help you??" El said, looking straight into the Salesman's eyes.
A fat, big guy with a dark beard who stood next to him cleared his throat and said, "We have a Council here that votes on issues. This is as good an occasion as any to vote on the matter of the stranger. I say we put this to a vote. The way Owens of Free told us to do things."
"You talk so well, Trader Jack" Trim said. "But, I did not see you last night fighting, Did you hide under the bed again? Or in that big closet of yours where you keep winter supplies of sugar and coffee?"
"I vote for them to go," a big woman with gray hair who looked very similar to Holgar's wife suddenly came from somewhere and said. "So, it would be better if you leave right now.:
"Better for who?" El said,
"She can't even walk," Holgar's wife screamed from behind. "She needs a bed, not to be chased out of here."
"We're the council that runs this place. And I'm its Standing Chairman. I say you leave," Trader Jack said.
"You people are crazy!" Trim screamed at them.
"You're not a member of the Council, Trim. Your vote does not count," Trader Jack said.
"Holgar??"
"I… saw the man fight. I don't think he is evil. Do not know who he is, but there is no evil in him," Holgar said, his face frowning. "I say, let the man stay."
"Well, so, it's easy for you to say. You have a sturdy building here with thick walls and doors to help yourself. How about Brown over there? He lives on a farm north of here, all by himself? Or Ten and Sorra whose kids are missing?"
"I vote to expel him, and his… servant," the Principle said.
"She's not my servant," El corrected him.
"Whatever she is. She needs to leave. It's four votes against one. As you know, my vote as the Principle counts as double."
"She's hurt. She can't even walk. Can't believe you even dragged her out of the bed," Trim said.
"Well, she walked just fine. And, and… I think she'll walk just fine," the salesman said then moved to hide behind Trader Jack as El stared at him.
"Just remember, when the night comes, when the darkness veils this place as if there will never be light here again, and then, when the beasts arrive… remember you wanted me gone. Remember you did not want my help. Remember your vote, remember your silence now" El said, turning to the crowd.
The traveling salesman jumped to say something but it was the old shepherd guy who El helped who spoke louder than anyone, "He saved my life! He's right! We can't do this! People we-"
"Hush, Wooly," Trader Jack said. "Or you forget how many coins you still owe me. And the way your sheep had been slaughtered, I have no idea how you will repay me now!"
"This is more important than any sheep and any coin," the old man answered, but the fire in his voice was gone and everyone knew it.
"I will leave, of course. I will not be where I'm not wanted, " El said and turned around to go, the path again opening up for him.
At that moment, all the composure he cultivated had disappeared. Because he was not in that village any longer. He was standing on the square of his hometown, people shouting around, fighting one another, while the forces of darkness were gaining ground.
And then, he was inside the burning flames and smoke and among too many enemy soldiers to kill.
Instead of feeling relieved that he was going to leave the place, something that he intended to do anyway, now all he could sense was the devastation of a complete loss. He was defeated all over again.
"They do not know what they've done," El muttered to himself as he pushed himself to walk away from them, feeling somehow defeated yet again, his knees so wobbly, he truly needing the help of his staff to support him.