Coventown (939 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Coventown
Rating: 1.77 on 35 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Snark << snarkk.at.gmail.com (View user info) at 2006-09-08 23:58:47 EDT
Blood is bread.
That's what I should have told my Elana. She would have understood it better than the back of my hand.
She wouldn't have tried to stop me. The lies she told would have stuck in her mouth instead of spouting forth to raise my ire like a spark to attic wool.
I struck her through her skin to the warmth of her heart. I saw it in her eyes. She thought I was different than the others... the hard men. That's why she chose me those years ago from the other hopefuls in the village.
She wouldn't have clutched at my robes and proclaimed herself whore to any who would have her while I was away, if not to stop me, and I wouldn't have been so quick to believe.
Now, as I walk from hearth to arena, the water in her eyes and the swelling on her cheek haunt me like a foul wraith from the Dumping Grounds but it does nothing to slow my pace.
I've men to kill. I've mouths to feed.
Bad weather and worse omens; the priests proclaim it. My land remains dusty and fallow. I smell rotting seed on the wind and feel the ghost touches of my children's sallow faces.
They need grain in their bellies.
The crisp season comes, and with it the Covens. They'll fall on the village as they always do and I've no money for weapons, food, and sheep's blood to mark my door.
I must kill beasts for coin so I can kill beasts for protection. Two legs... four, the difference is a pittance.
I'd do it again. I'd raise my hand to her again if meant those I love could see another spring. I'd break her heart for the chance to win it back. I just wish the boy hadn't seen.
He's a strong lad. He didn't cry out or run to the solace of blanket and Sisters. He stood his ground and scowled at the man who would harm the beauty that brought him into being. Perhaps one day, after enough summers and hard toil make him a man, I'll make him understand but I think not.
I have enough unforgivness left in my heart to understand where his will come from.
It's no matter that she knows I go to rip souls from their anchors. The damage was done when she realized this would not be my first harvest.
Her soul is gentle. These times are not.
2000 paces beyond the curtain of gloom that teases the end of the village torchlight is a copse of thick wood. Deep within is a clearing. Rich men from within the city walls come for their pleasure and peasant blood. They come with coin and slaves greedy enough to protect it. They'll drink their fill of bloodlust before the night is through and more of my brother's will lie cleaved and twitching in torchlight muck... some by my steel... if fortune favors it; if the God's will it.
The blade in my hand is my father's. It's chipped and pock marked but the handle is made of strong wood and the balance remains true. It's three finger's wide and a hand and a half long. It's less than a sword but longer than a breastbone is thick and it has served me well enough to spill blood.
Blood to buy bread, bread enough to keep children's faces sallow and not covered in the dirt that is shoveled on the faces of the righteous almost daily now.
To my left is a hill. It rises round against moonlit sky. Mounds of fresh dirt cover it. I'll not see my family there.
My name is Traitus Maiyelo and I am not a righteous man but I live.
My family is mine. The Covens will not have them.
User Reviews
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2008-09-15 15:21:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Alter (user info) at 2007-09-26 22:35:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No, Comment.
Submitted by ColchesterDr (user info) at 2006-10-03 03:57:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-09-16 02:45:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2006-09-11 11:51:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2006-09-10 23:10:31 (#)
Ranking: 2
Why does this read like an arthouse Western when it's quite obviously not? Is it because Snark is a crap author? Or maybe a pretend Canadian? Or is it because Snark is an acronym for Stupid Non-Author Retainerwearing Kiplingpretender?
====================
Bastard has me pegged.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2006-09-11 11:02:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2006-09-10 23:10:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Why does this read like an arthouse Western when it's quite obviously not? Is it because Snark is a crap author? Or maybe a pretend Canadian? Or is it because Snark is an acronym for Stupid Non-Author Retainerwearing Kiplingpretender?
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2006-09-10 22:58:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, maybe if he'd put down the sword and consider a less bloodthirsty foreign policy, the covens would leave him in peace and go away. Or, you know, something like that.
Submitted by Sepsis (user info) at 2006-09-10 13:41:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cool, man
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2006-09-10 01:32:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
A new series sounds mighty good. Unleash hell.
Submitted by Saeki (user info) at 2006-09-10 00:03:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Saeki (user info) at 2006-09-09 23:59:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is amazing.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2006-09-09 19:12:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-09-09 18:50:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent.
"I must kill beasts for coin so I can kill beasts for protection. Two legs... four, the difference is a pittance. "
You use the short sentence technique better than most.
I look forward to the continuation.
Submitted by charminglybeef (user info) at 2006-09-09 18:37:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Breaker, breaker, one-niner, this is DaveFreakingThomas, requesting permission to spew dirty loads on this post?
Submitted by LeaderOfMen (user info) at 2006-09-09 17:51:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this a lot, so much in fact i felt a visceral anger to purposefully give it a -2... the demons are dancing on my keyboard..
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-09-09 17:48:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
((Stands up like a dog anticipating food (scooby-doo voice)): REERIES?
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2006-09-09 17:20:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fucking a, this is shit - Shitty McShitterson shit. I'm not even sure Snark is a real Canadian. There are plenty of embarrassed Americans out there you know, all claiming to be something they're not. I met an American once who said he was a pie, and he wasn't.
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2006-09-09 16:57:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I'd read more. Can't say this is jaw-dropping, though.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-09-09 15:59:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
YAY new snark series.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-09-09 15:58:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2006-09-09 06:44:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2006-09-09 04:44:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i can smell the fresh ink on the crisp pages
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-09-09 03:01:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I will read more of this.
Submitted by SilentRenegade (user info) at 2006-09-09 01:50:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
kick ass story dude....fighting for survival any way possible, i totally respect that.
Submitted by Bigmike (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:54:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
coolness. You also have mail Mr. Vice President.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:48:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:46:24 (#)
Ranking: 2
erm.... 'hi'. You are a completely shit writer - quit.
=================
Oh Goddamn.
I hate honest opinions.
Leave me to my delusions you dirty dirty boy.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:46:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Snark series!
This happies me.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:46:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
erm.... 'hi'. You are a completely shit writer - quit.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:40:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hi beautiful.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:40:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
New Series! New Series! NEW SERIES!!!!!!
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:34:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by KindaNews (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:18:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very nice.
Young Axolotl, you could learn a lot reading this type of writing, you long winded whippersnapper. Plus it's past your bedtime.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:11:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2006-09-09 00:00:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Part 1 of a new series.