Flashback Talorin's worst day

[Talorin Ki]

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, not a cloud in sight. It was a great day to catch up on work, and a good day for the whole family to have a nice picnic next to the fields. At the crack of dawn the entire Ki family was up and moving. Torin and his father were getting dressed and ready for another back breaking, yet satisfying day in the fields, Myra or mom, was up fixing breakfast for the men in her life, and of course Talorin was at her heel helping as always.

"I'm getting the lunch packed for Father and Torin, Mother." He said.

"No son, today we are all going to the fields. Your father wants us to enjoy lunch today as a family." Myra responded.

"Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!! So what should I pack?" Talorin asked eagerly.

"I already did it while you were asleep. That pack there and the other one next to the door are going with us."

Ranin stepped into the main room.

"Good morning my loving family, what have we here?" he asked as he snatched some food out of the hot pot.

Playfully slapping at his arm Myra responds, "Oh no it's not ready yet."

Any passerby would feel the love in the room generated from the older couple. They may have been poor, but they were rich in family. After a few more moments of cooking, Myra called all the family together for breakfast. Everyone ate their full, then it was time to leave.

Ranin took the lead followed by Torin, then Myra and Talorin followed with the food packs on their back. The men went ahead needing to get to the fields first while the other two followed more slowly. Talking of things that interest both of them; food, cooking, sewing, etc.. When they arrived at the fields the men were already at work.

There were the fifty or so villagers and the many workers that were here to pay for some lesser crime in the city. These workers worked because they had to, the villagers because they loved it.

Myra and Talorin began by building a small cooking fire and Myra surprised everyone when she started to brew a small amount of coffee. Everyone knew that the price of coffee being as high as it was, that Myra only used it on special occasions. When the coffee was ready Myra had Talorin run a cup to his father, then to the two knights that were monitoring the work on this side of the field. The knights sent their thanks, but paid little more attention to Talorin.

The morning went uneventfully and by the time lunch came Talorin and Myra had an excellent meal set out. Ranin and Torin came in from the fields and washed their face and hands then sat down to enjoy the short lunch break they got.

"So Father, what do you think of that new guy the knights brought here this morning, you know the one that is quiet and stays off by himself." Torin asked

"I heard from one of the other men that he was here for cheating the owner of the inn in the main city. Don't worry about him though, and focus on your work. Your a little behind the rest of us." Ranin responded.

A few moments later the other farmers around them began to get up and head back to the fields. Ranin gave Myra a quick kiss and ruffled Talorins hair then headed back to the fields. Myra and Talorin cleaned up the mess, then Talorin began entertaining himself and Myra relaxed to do some sewing. In the village there was never a shortage of sewing projects.

"You boy, stealing grain from the fields is a capital offense. Prepare to die." One of the knights called out loudly.

Talorin immediately looked in the direction of the knight. Theft in the fields, or anyc rime, was so rare that Talorin did not want to miss out on his chance to see what was going to happen. He was shocked to see his brother, Torin, standing in front of the knight with his hands clutching grain. The knight began to pull his sword from his scabbard and Talorin immediately felt his world come to a stop. When it seemed like there was nothing left to do, Ranin stepped in between the knight and his son and placed his hand on the knights had holding sword.

"My son is innocent. You must not do this." Ranin pleaded.

"We have a witness to the events, step aside or you will face the consequences also." the knight said un-compssionately.

"Then take your punishment out on me and let my son go, show mercy." Ranin cried.

"You speak as a father should, but the crime was not committed by you, but by your son, there is no other judgement."

"Then at least let me say goodbye."

Then knight nodded his head. The Ki family was respected in the fields, and the knight had known them as people of honor for the last un countable years. Ranin took Torin in an embrace and told him.

"Run, run as fast as you can and don't look back. Just go." Then he turned and tackled the knight.

Torin, a look of shock and fear on his face, took off running. The knight recovered himself enought to stand and then raised his sword to end Ranin's life.

"Noooooooooooooooooo, please show mercy," Myra shouted.

The knight checked his swing, then said "You will come with me to the Council of Three, they will determine your fate."



By the time it was all over, a shocked crowd of farmers, helped escort Myra and Talorin home while the knights took Ranin to The Tank, to wait for justice. The knights searched the rest of the day, but noone could find Torin.