[18th August, 1917, Annarack, Nao]
“It has been eight hours since the Chancellor’s declaration, we request citizens to remain calm. There no need to cause….” the radio buzzed in the distance. At the De’Manor mansion, Flohelm and the guests sat in the garden, discussing the Chancellor’s decision. Their supposed feast had become the playground for debate and discussion. Natria seemed upset about it; how her son’s celebration went from a feast to a stage of political discussion.
“Wine has scrambled his brains, I tell you, he is nothing but a coward, he refuses to accept his mistakes and look with just a few hours we lost four states to the colonists. May he burn in the depths of Mahaya(hell)!” Flohelm cursed.
“Even that would be too easy on him, my friend. This man deserves something much worse. To think that he announced this news just out of nowhere, only a sadist can do that!” Nocus added.
“I still can’t believe it, how he could just cut millions of people from their homeland, whatever the gain be, this man has committed a terrible sin!” Vahana expressed her disbelief.
Her two children played in the garden, unknown of the troubles that plagued the nation, for them catching a butterfly was a much more interesting. They ran about the garden, falling hither and thither. Suddenly a cry came, Martin, the younger of the two, had his foot stung by a scorpion.
“Uaaa…aaa” he cried.
Natria heard the little boys’ cry and rushed to help, the others followed.
“What happened? Tell me Lucas?” she asked the older of the two kids.
“I was watching ants, Martin said he found something much more interesting than my ants, I told him to bring it and then..and then..UAA” Lucas too, burst into tears.
Flohelm immediately went into action, he burst inside the building only to appear moment later with a first aid box. Vahana and Nocus tried to soothe Martin while Natria stayed with Lucas, Barchen in her arms, sleeping peacefully.
“I’m sorry it wasn’t my fault..” Lucas sobbed.
“I know, it isn’t, no one is to blame here.” Natria reassured.
The treatment begins. Ten minutes later, Flohelm tied the last knot of cloth bandage.
“This should do for a little while.” Flohelm said, wiping the sweat off his face.
“We should call the doctor.” Natria added.
“Yes, I’ll do that.” Flohelm replied.
As he shifted hi gaze to look at Marin, he froze, the boy had thirteen red spots visible all over his leg. It wasn’t just single a sting! It appears the situation was much more serious than he initially thought of. Immediately, he rushed inside the building for a line, but before he had even stepped a foot inside. The wall clock rung, striking the thirteenth hour. Once the sound receded, he could hear the radio buzzing, the signal was weak as usual but it said something different now.
“Reports have come of violent riots between the Farookhs and Narachs from the Narach majority state of Nao, we request citizens to stay inside their homes. Reports….” the radio buzzed the same message again and again. He grabbed the radio and took it outside for a better signal. Natria saw her husband roaming about the garden looking for the perfect spot. Not too long after Flohelm had come to their position, the radio caught the signal.
“Attention: This is not a drill. Citizens are requested to stay inside their home with all means necessary to protect themselves. The riots of Nao have passed the death toll of six thousands, around eighteen thousand men are injured. We advise are listeners to stay lock inside their home-” the signal broke.
Flohelm gave a sigh of disappointment, but his grief was short-termed, moments later another voice came from the radio.
“Citizens of Nao, this is I, Vanncia Narchoff, the head priestess of the Narachs. Those pesky Farookhs plan to banish us Narachs from our country, that is why they gave the regions of our origin to the colonist slut. But I refuse, and I believe you should too, show those sun loving peasants what us the followers of moon can bring, show them your wraith, my people take up your hands and annihilate every single one of them from Nao!”
A chill went down his spine. He could well the fear vibrating through his body, as if it had manifested itself in a physical form. Nocus tugged him, snapping him out of his frightened state of mind. He pointed his finger in the distance, a cloud of dust, no, a sandstorm summoned by the march of radicals.
“Honey, what is that?” Natria questioned, her voice shaking in fear.
“Its them, they have decided to kill us, we will die.” Flohelm said in a voice sucked of all of hope, leaving only despair.
A cloud of despair came over them, they were sure of their end. Thier graves to be marked on the very land they stand. But among all this, a light of hope came, “There is still time. If we can make it out of here before they come, we might escape.” Vahana suggested.
Nocus nodded. Natria looked at the children; her son, she must save them. Flohelm’s spirit rose, determined to save everyone.
“Okay, we might have half an hour more or less till they reach the gates. If we can misguide them, then we will have enough time to reach the sate of Karsen. Lucky for us, the military base is in proximity, so we can count on them for protection once we reach there.” Vahana continued.
“How could we distract them?” Flohelm questioned.
“The horses, the one horse you gave us; we would use one of your carriages to send them in the opposite direction of our escape. That way, you all can escape.” Vahana replied.
Everyone clapped their hands in joy, they would be alive when something snapped in Flohelm’s mind.
“Wait, the carriage would require someone to ride it.” Flohelm expressed his confusion. Vahana gave him a sad grin.
“No, I can’ allow you to do that, we can think of something else, that can save us all.” Flohelm argued.
“We don’t have time to do that, me must make best use of what we have only, I and Nocus can drive a carriage, someone has to do it.” Vahana explained.
“Then I will do that!” Nocus said.
“The children need you, you can always replace me with some another ma-” Vahana interrupted Nocus with her hand.
“Don’t you dare!” she raged.
“I nor the children can ever replace you, now be a man save them!” she scolded, tears rolling down her face.
“Vahana, you don’t have to do this.” Natria protested.
But Vahana had already made her mind, she rushed into the stables.
Nocus had accepted her wife’s wish, he said, “What must be done should be done!”
He followed her into the stables. Ten minutes later, two carriages stood in front of Natria and Flohelm, one lead by Vahana with her one horse and another by Nocus.
“Hurry up! Get into the carriage.” Nocus ordered.
The children tried to go with their mother but Natria stopped them.
“Mommy is going on a vacation. Let her enjoy. Once she comes back you can play all you want with her.” she lied to them.
Vahana’s eyes filled with tears, Flohelm, looking at her in a pleading manner, said, “There is still hope. Come with us.”
“I’ll signal once I believe I’ve distracted them enough. These twelve years of my life with your family truly were the most beautiful ones.” she said.
WHIP! WHIP!
Off she ran in the mob’s direction, knowing well she would never return.
“Goodbye, my children, my love!” she said.
Nocus waving her wife a final goodbye, whipped the horses, and the carriage set into motion; towards the Forest of Tats.
An hour later, after the departure, Flohelm saw red smoke in the distance, it was Vahana; she had fulfilled her duty.
