The Silent Night

 

It was night time, it was very quiet. In the forest wolves prowled around looking for their prey. Bats flew through the forest looking for fruit. Birds tucked their heads in and fell asleep. On a stump near this forest sat a boy. His name was Timaneus, he had just turned sixteen and was watching the moon. Timaneus was quite tall, he had messy blond hair and blue eyes. He lived with his mother and his grandpa in Folksville, a village in the northern-east of the Empire. The Empire controlled the cities and towns in Oceanisia, a small island. The Empire was corrupt and unjust, many people were poor, many were ill and they barely survived. People were treated poorly, slaves trade was popular and the prisons had many people, some people were even happy to be in prison as it meant they get food and shelter. Taxes were nearly impossible to pay, the average worker earned thirty gold coins a year (Five silver coins equaled one gold coin) and the tax was thirty gold coins and still rising. Tax collectors were hated and sometimes people really wanted to attack them. Despite pleas and letters the Empire refused to help any poor people and just abandoned them while they were rich and wealthy. 

 

The king was named King Burke and he was corrupt and very rich. Though he was usually polite at meetings and discussions everyone knew he was crazy. He was hated everywhere, a bunch of leaders grouped together and had formed the rebel organization the Alliance. They had fought the Empire for decades. Timaneus’s father was dead, people told Timaneus he’d been ambushed by rebels and killed but this just didn’t seem right to Timaneus for some reason. Sighing Timaneus got off the stump and walked towards his horse. He still wished he could know his father.

 

His mother worked as a weaver and his grandpa ran a small shop selling bottles, wood and tools. Their cottage was a nice and cozy home. It was about half a kilometer away from the main part of Folksville. It was made of wood with a pine and straw roof. In it were four rooms and a hallway. One room was Timaneus’s, one was his grandpa’s, one for the mother and another which served as a meal room and a cooking place. His mother welcomed him in and handed him a bowl, she was thin with blond hair tied in a bun, her brown eyes always showed weariness. His grandpa who was cooking stew over the fireplace smiled at him and said “Hey boy c’mon help yourself when I finish cooking.” His grandpa was short, he was nearly bald and his blue eyes were watching Timaneus. Timaneus sat down at the table made of pine. Timaneus sat down and yawned, his grandpa got a wooden spoon and gave him some of the stew. Timaneus picked up his spoon and ate some. It was delicious, he realized he was starving and devoured the whole bowl of stew. 

 

His grandpa said “Goodnight,” and hobbled off to bed. Timaneus put out the fire then walked towards his room. It was quite big with a bed in the corner, there was a cupboard next to it, which had all his clothes and possessions. On the beds side rested his jewablade, it was a special type of weapon. It looked like a sword, the hilt was wire-wrapped, the blade was a jewel specially carved. The advantages were that it hardly rusted, it was more sturdy and stronger though it was heavier. Misam a man living in Folksville who always had taught Timaneus things (Horse riding, reading, numbers, history, hand to hand combat and other things) had given the jewablade to Timaneus as a gift and given him lessons about sword-play. Timaneus smiled at the memory.

 

 

Timaneus yawned and undressed then he slipped into bed and fell asleep. He had a funny dream, it was weird and it was quite clear. He and Misam had their jewablades and were in a forest, Misam was mumbling something and then they ran as quick as they could from something. This is queer he thought, then it just disappeared and he found himself looking through his window at a hill and a stump with the sun shining.

 

He had the day free and belted on his jewablade and then walking towards Folksville. He visited the bakery where Miss Quince was making bread and drinking soup. He went to the blacksmith and watched people make a hand and a half sword as well as a halberd. The village was in outrage though, the Empire had nearly doubled the taxes so now even the richest person in Folksville couldn’t pay it. People on Folksville Centre Square (It had several tables and food places and people usually talked there) were talking and devising plans to try and avoid the taxes, soon most of the village was there. People made speeches and told people about their ideas but they were rejected. Then Misam stood up on a table, Timaneus watched Misam. Misam was stocky and tall with grey hair and grey eyes. He wore a black shirt with breeches and he smiled to everybody and said “The Empire is terribly unfair is it not?” the people roared “Yes!” Misam continued “Taxes are high, people get ill and yet we are treated like animals!” Misam said “I am not taking this! We should keep what we earn, the tax collectors will be here tomorrow, I suggest we do something about this scandal!” he paused “Any suggestions?” a man yelled “Attack them!” the people cheered. “Really?’ said Misam pleased, the people yelled “Of course!” Misam said “All in favour of attack?” basically everyone raised their hand. No one in Folksville liked the Empire. “Then we’ll attack them tomorrow, I suggest you bring arrows, shields and swords we demolish these tax collectors.” A man yelled “What if the Empire finds out?!” Misam shrugged “This is such a small town that I doubt that the Empire will notice as long as no tax collector or tax collector guard escapes.” It was settled the villagers left for home, Timaneus went to the Folksville Library and asked Mrs Fay for a few scrolls. He went home and read a few. He never thought that Folksville would rebel but what’s done is done. He didn’t like bows and preferred a sword or his jewablade.