Adonis Chronicles

Apples And A Hanging

The streets of the usually least populated town in the Eastern Section of Eradonia were jam packed with strangers from all four corners of the world. Most were humans, some of darker coloured skin coming from foreign countries and some so pale you would think they were ghosts.

There was a small variety of swam elves, garbed in their usual plain green tunics with their emblem tattooed on their foreheads; a shark head, someday Adonis would ask what the big deal was with the sharks.

No dwarves ever came to such festivals, it was an apple festival after all, and most dwarves detested fruits. However, where Adonis would have ordinarily scrutinized every foreigner, he was too busy with more important intentions.

The chattering of the town square was unbearable at a time, but now Adonis was accustomed to such noise. Suddenly the whole town went silent, although he was on a mission this sudden silence drew his attention.

Everyone turned as the supreme knight came into town on his shining white horse, armour gleaming in the intense sun. He had a grim look on his handsome face, hair formed into a perfect wave he dragged behind him Bane, tied by his hands.

Running behind him was the knight’s page, dressed in the slave’s gray rags. He yelled, “ Commoners, our most honourable Sir Agnes has captured your ill reputed Bane fleeing the town, all festivities shall be delayed until the hanging of the prisoner is complete.”

The noise in the town square intensified tenfold with yells of joy and excitement, hangings were always such a great show and as of late they seemed to be more of a private affair. As Bane was dragged to the gallows a thought entered Adonis’ mind.

Adonis ran to the front of the crowd, standing on the gallows was the executioner with his large axe, a priest in which to give blessings and the knight himself, standing tall and proud looking down at the crowd like a bunch of hungry dogs.

They all yelled, “ Hang him! Hang him! Hang him!” repeatedly, every person joining into the horrible chorus of death. The knight raised his gleaming gauntleted hand and the whole crowd silenced immediately.

He opened a scroll and began reading the charges, “ The one known as Bane is charged with murder, burglary, blasphemy, failing to respect royalty and treason, all punishable by death.”

Adonis felt the fear surge him within himself once more, he had a plan here but for a moment he felt like just keeping quiet and letting it be. However, at the thought of his sister in the hands of that evil assassin he spoke out, “ Sir Knight! I would request that this criminal not be hanged!”

The whole crowd muttered in shock, tagging Adonis a madman and a traitor. He could feel the waves of hate toward him in the crowd, the knight silenced the crowd once more and said, “ Young boy, come forth and explain yourself.”

Walking up nervously Adonis stood on the gallows as well, Bane smiled at him gratefully with his broken teeth smile. Adonis began, “ Sir Agnes, I am on a dangerous quest to rescue my sister from terrible dangers. And when I seen Bane I thought since he was sentenced for death, it would not matter if he died on my quest.”

The whole crowd was silent, looking at Sir Agnes to see what he would say to what they considered to be an outrageous idea. The knight thought for a moment, “ I have considered your proposal commoner and agree, he will be your responsibility and if he is to commit another crime you shall be held responsible, understood?”

Adonis had not expected to succeed, looking back at the crowd he could tell every one of them hated him for depriving them of the pleasure of seeing someone hang, fortunately the festival would get their minds off. He bowed on one knee, “ I thank you Sir Agnes, I accept the terms given.”

No one moved for a minute, Agnes motioned for the guards to release Bane and he followed Adonis as they walked through the crowd. People spat at Adonis and Bane as they passed, the page yelled, “ Let the festivities resume!”

Everyone returned to a loud chatter, for a minute or two they talked in disgust at what Adonis had done but soon were far too busy with all the preparations for the annual apple festival. They had already forgotten about the hanging, Bane said as they walked, “ Silver boy you are my messiah man, they was gonna hang me for little crimes, and me name is Mal, not Bane. Bane is so...”

Adonis stopped abruptly and faced Bane, “ Listen, I only saved you because I need you. You deserve death but my sister has been kidnapped, we are going to find her and rescue her.”

Bane shut up and they resumed their trek through the dense crowds, finding his shortcut they began darting through narrow and curved streets, shoving people aside with no regard to respect, they finally made it to the blacksmith where his friend Jacob worked.”

Jacob was working on a sword, hitting two red hot pieces together on the anvil the ringing sound always sound pleasant to Adonis. Noticing Adonis in the corner of his eye he began saying in his usual jovial tone, “ Hey buddy, happy...”

Noticing how glum Adonis appeared to be and the fact he was with Mal which he’d heard from far was supposed to be hung asked, “ What be troubling ya now? Not going to war are ya? Nasty business war is if you ask me, my uncles cousin Alfred died in war.”

Adonis wondered why he’d asked this and then thought it must be the war axe on his back, “ Jolene’s been kidnapped, I’m forming a group and I will find the demon that took her and do whatever it takes to kill it. All we have to do is stock up, I have the money I was saving up for a ring, are you in buddy?”

Jacob and Mal both looked nervous, almost as though Mal was suddenly wishing he’d been hung and his miseries had ended with his neck in the noose. Jacob cleared his throat, “ By demon, I assume ya be using a figure of speech, as in a...”

Seeing the sternness in his face was all the answer he needed, “ Bloody Aeolus Adonis! I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t help now would I. After all, you did save my life, I owe ya one. But maybe we three should think twice, or three times before facing a demon, they be pretty fast in a fight I’ll bet.”

Adonis replied, “ Aye, but what other choice do I have, she risked herself for me and I will do the same for her. If it had been a giant one eyed ogre that had taken her I would hunt it down as well.”

Before Jacob could respond a villager yelled, “ Fire! There is a fire at the Murgal farm!”

The trio looked up and sure enough there was a thick cloud of intense black fumes rising from the distance, and although it was not visible he Adonis knew it was his house. Adonis began to run, leaving his friends behind and going through the large crowd as though they did not exist.

Quickly arriving he ignored the raven standing on the branch. The house was completely engulfed in angry looking flames, as well as the farm and all his property. He ran to see if his mother had survived but knew they had perished in the blazing inferno when he seen the corpses of his father and that of a woman’s, whom he automatically assumed was his mother’s, both as black as lantern oil.

He fell to his knees and cursed his ill fortunes. He’d killed his own father in cold blood, his sister had been kidnapped by a foul yellow eyed demon assassin and his mother was now dead as well. It was at this moment that his life changed forever, that moment where he would never be Adonis the farmer.

He felt someone tap him gently in his shoulder, he turned around to see a tall black hooded monk. His face was not visible, hidden within the darkness of the hood. He said in a strangely familiar “ I am sorry for your loss my young one. Here is some gold to help you on your way.”

He handed over a heavy satchel, Adonis dropped it, surprised at its great weight. He looked inside to find what looked like one million gold coins of the highest purity. Upon them was the sign of the Coronian Empire.”

He looked up in disbelief to see the Monk had taken off his hood, showing the demon with the mirror like skin that had tried to kill him the previous night and taken his sister. He winked as Adonis plunged for him, vanishing in a wisp of smoke, leaving a strange scent of sulfur.

Adonis landed face first in the dirt, his face ached with the pain as he dusted himself off and got to his feet. Sir Agnes suddenly rode into view along with most of the village, seeing Adonis with all the gold he pointed at him and yelled, “ Its him! He’s been paid by the Coronian Empire to burn down the house and kill his family, get him!”

All the villagers ensnared by pure malice and betrayal began to run toward Adonis. Looking around Mal and Jacob still weren’t there, putting the satchel over his shoulder he began to run as fast as he could. He had a head start but the villagers were quickly gaining ground, suddenly one plunged and landed upon him.

That’s when Mal came running behind him, kicking the man off. The began to run, but soon found themselves surrounded. Mal smiled at them and said to Adonis without looking, “ This happens to me all the time, learn from the pro Ado.”

He whistled very loud, everyone frowned at Mal wondering why he’d done that when a wagon came charging toward them. Jacob at the reigns, the people plunged out of the way as Mal and Adonis jumped on. Whipping the horses to get out of the village as swiftly as possible.

Sir Agnes was soon on their tail as well as two other knights under his command. Agnes yelled, “ You are all under arrest! Pull the wagon over!”

Before anyone could do anything an arrow hit the wagon inches away from Mal’s hand. He moved it back, the knights were armed with crossbows. Mal yelled back at them, “ Under article 23 of the criminal code I now announce we ain’t under nothing but sweet li-ber-ty! You tree however are under a lot of pain!”

Grabbing a large wooden apple from the wagon he chucked it full power at the knight beside Agnes, striking the horse on the head the horse lost its nimble balance and stumbled forward. Hitting a massive tree root it was unconscious. The other knight’s horse tripped over the fallen horse, leaving only Agnes in the chasse.

Riding beside them he aimed the crossbow at Adonis, Mal jumped on the horse behind him. Agnes tried to shake him off, Mal however let a dagger slip out of his dagger and into his hand and stabbed him in the gut. As he fell, bleeding, to the ground Mal jumped back on the wagon. The pursuit had ended, they had escaped the village.