main menu | standard categories | authors | new stories | search | links | settings | author tools |
The Many, Part Two (standard:fantasy, 667 words) [2/2] show all parts | |||
Author: Vincent Collevera | Added: Apr 04 2010 | Views/Reads: 2439/2 | Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes) |
The Green Man. | |||
The grate of steel against steel brought him back to consciousness again. The newly refitted steel door to his cell opened to reveal the Guard Captain and four of his Guardsmen. He noted the dull glint of light from their armor and from the solid steel shafts of their new spears. He also noted that these were four new guardsmen. He smiled at that, although it caused considerable pain to his shattered face. "Notice some differences in my men?" The Captain asked cheerfully. "Solid steel spear shafts and not a single wooden handle amongst their knives. There will be no plant material here for another of your little tirades. This time it will be done right. Even the rope we'll be hanging you with is silk. What do you think of that, Green Man?" He said with more than a touch of smugness. He was put off a bit by the sound his prisoner was making. The rough gurgle that shook itself from the man's crushed ribcage was the closest he could come to laughter at this point, but the sound was enough to convey his mirth adequately. "And exactly what is funny about this?" The Captain took a step forward and lifted the prisoner's head by a fistful of hair. "Fools. Bloody fools, all of you!" He choked out, pink froth flecking his lips. "Your shirts. They're made of cotton!" And, still laughing, the Green Mage exerted his indomitable will upon the fibers of those garments. He reminded them what it was to be alive again and with a nudge of his power, he informed them of the bags of rich fertilizer they were wrapped around. Screams quickly became wet hisses over-ridden by loud clanks as five armored men fell to the floor to thrash shortly before becoming still. Their internal organs had been punctured countless times by hair-thin roots and patches of leaves and white balls of cotton now protruded from every gap and chink in their armor. A runner from the small patch of cotton outside his cell snaked its way in to him, casting off woody shoots to each of the shackles around his ankles and wrists. After a moment, the squealing protest of metal being stressed beyond the point it could handle preceded the rattle and clank of chains falling to the floor and against the wall. The prisoner, Kelban Rale, staggered to his knees, leaning with one hand against the wall of his cell. It seemed he had waited too long. The abuses he had suffered here in this dungeon had broken his body. Of magical power, he had plenty. Even now, he could grow an acorn into a towering oak in a matter of seconds. But it would avail him very little if he could not leave this place un-aided. He sat like that for several minutes, wracking his brain and attempting to regain some of his strength. He reached out weakly with his hand and gently with his power to the plant near him, wanting comfort and solace in what he expected would be his last hours. The plant responded in a way he never would have expected. The vine-like growths shot towards him and twined tightly around his wrist. He felt a sudden influx of energy from it at the same time his bones and muscles began to knit themselves back together. His pain dulled, then vanished completely as he was healed. After some time, he came back to himself and looked at this miraculous plant. It was brown and withered, having given up every bit of its life energy in response to his plea. With tears in his eyes and gratitude in his heart, Kelban stood on legs made strong and whole once more and mounted the stone steps out of the dungeon. Soon now, they would feel his wrath. Soon this edifice of stone, mortar and pain would crumble to dust and be reclaimed by the green things and he would walk away free once more. Tweet
This is part 2 of a total of 2 parts. | ||
previous part | show all parts |
Authors appreciate feedback! Please write to the authors to tell them what you liked or didn't like about the story! |
Vincent Collevera has 11 active stories on this site. Profile for Vincent Collevera, incl. all stories Email: vincentcollevera@yahoo.com |