Falling Feathers: Rogue Without Fear

By Charlene Shiobara

I stumbled blindly in the woods, lost. I was near exhausted and so unsure of where I was, or where I was going. It had been days since I fled our village, burned to the ground. I remembered it well. Villagers were running and screaming frantically, fleeing as they were slaughtered from the front and behind. The looks of fear and surprise as their bodies fell to the ground... I watched from a distance, but still felt lost in the chaos. Houses burning, children screaming, corpses littering the ground...

I wouldn't remember. I couldn't remember.


Meet Autumn Rose, a lost girl and the only survivor escaping not only a burning village, but also the mysterious raiders and her past. Leaving with nothing but the clothes on her back and her mother's necklace, Autumn finds herself lost in the woods - a dangerous place to be late at night. But there's more than just a mysterious raid going on here. The attack was not random, it was deliberate. The raiders wanted something. To what lengths will they go to get it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716688287

Book preview

Shiobara

Prologue

Autumn Rose

I stumbled blindly in the woods, lost. I was near exhausted and so unsure of where I was, or where I was going. It had been days since I fled our village, burned to the ground.  I remembered it well. Villagers were running and screaming frantically, fleeing as they were slaughtered from the front and behind.  The looks of fear and surprise as their bodies fell to the ground... I watched from a distance, but still felt lost in the chaos. The raiders rushing about on horseback, or on foot, and the wolves they had tamed!  Fearsome beasts with red eyes that glowed through the smoke.  Houses burning, children screaming, corpses littering the ground …

I wouldn't remember. I couldn't remember.

My parents, in our cabin, made of wood...  Burning, trapped inside ... Ashes falling and smoke everywhere.  I urged myself to run away, to look away, but I couldn't. I stood helplessly and watched my parents die, my mother screaming frantically.  Then, I remembered what I had tried to forget the most.  The raider.  He was mounted on horseback. A howling wolf tattoo marked his his arm, just as it marked the rest of the Raiders. He watched as my parents burned, cackling to himself.  I could see the glimmer of hatred in his eyes, and a touch of satisfaction in his twisted smile.  I wanted to run and fight him, to fight the raiders, but I couldn't. It was no use.  My parents, the entire village … they were already dead.

I touched my mother's silver dragon necklace. I took it from her, after she died.  I wanted revenge.  I could feel the hatred boiling up in me as I walked.  I wanted to make the raider on the horse pay for everything he’d done.  I wanted him to feel the pain he caused me.  Struggling to fight back tears, I tripped over a tree root, and fell to the ground.  I didn’t get up immediately.  I sat on the ground and looked up at the sky.  The stars glimmered, almost as if they were laughing at my misfortune.

I was lost, and hopelessly so.  I’d never really gone that far out or away from the village before.  That village was all I had known.  Now, it was gone.  I’ll have to start a new life somewhere, I figured to myself.  But I will never forget who I am.  I vowed to myself that night that I would make that raider pay for what he had done.  Even if I had to die for it.

Soren Hawethorne

Trotting gently through the woods, Autumn leaves were crunching under my horse's hooves as we went. It was late, and hard to see. My only light was the flickering candle I had in my lantern.  It was only one stupid chicken, he lost... Why do I have to go find it? I cursed Antony, the farmer, under my breath. Stupid farmers, counting every animal. He wouldn't have noticed. He shouldn't have noticed!  The thought crossed my mind, for a quick moment, that perhaps the animal didn’t escape.  What if someone, or something had killed it?  The sound of crunching leaves tore me from my thoughts.  Someone was walking. The footsteps were too heavy to be those of an animal, let alone a chicken, but they were also light, undoubtedly those of a girl. But... What was a girl doing in these woods, on foot, this late?  Was it possible she was the chicken thief?  My horse snorted disapprovingly. Gently, I urged him on. We found her shortly after, stumbling in the dark, tripping over her own feet.  She is definitely lost.  She had no bags, no horse, and no chicken.  How long has she been here? I wondered.

We followed her, for a while.  Occasionally, I could hear soft sobs. Eventually she rested against a tree. I dismounted silently and tied my horse to one of the branches of a nearby tree.  I looked at the girl from a distance for a few moments.  Her hair was long, but it was hard to tell what shade it was.  It looked black or brown, but anything in the dark would look black or brown, I figured. When I was sure she was asleep, I approached her silently. She was skinny, and her face was hard to see too. I saw a little glimmer around her neck. Careful not to touch the girl or wake her up, I lifted the glimmer so I could see it better. As soon as I touched it, my fingers grew warm with heat like a fire. It was a silver dragon pendant, with ruby red eyes.  I knew it was valuable, someone would pay good money for such a gorgeous little trinket. I wonder how much it would sell for... I pondered the price of her trinket, and where this lonely traveler got it. Then, careful to still be gentle, I took it off her neck, and placed it in my pocket. I lifted her body, and slowly heaved it up and onto my horse. I'll tell Antony I didn't find the chicken. It was a lost cause anyway.  If it did get lost, it’s probably very far from here by now.

On my horse, cradling the girl, we trotted through the woods, back home. The horse's hooves tapped gently on the stone bridge, the river underneath babbling quietly.  We're almost there, I thought.  When we got to Shepherd's Rest at last, the gates were open.  A large wooden wall surrounded the town, for minor protection purposes.  The wooden gates were often left open, since the folks didn't ever have reason to close them.

Shepherd's Rest was a small town, relatively new.  We had a small population, of maybe one hundred people.  I worked at the town's inn, called the Lumbering Bear.  Occasionally some travelers would pass through.  They were my only source of income, which meant money was slow.  It was a family business, though.  My father was one of the men who helped build the town.  He was the one who constructed the Inn.  When I was a younger boy, he taught me how to run it properly.

One day I will be too old to take care of you or this inn, and you'll need to know how to make money, He had told me.  But my father has disappeared, I reminded myself sadly.  And my mother is dead.  Now it's my duty to maintain the inn alone.

I tied my horse to one of the posts outside the Lumbering Bear. I slowly heaved the girl down from the horse, careful to avoid disturbing her as much as I could. Once inside the inn I walked up the stairs. After finding an empty room, I lay her delicate body down on the bed. I looked her over for a moment, sleeping peacefully. Rather impressed with the fact that she didn't wake up, I smiled to myself and went back down the stairs.

    The Inn's downstairs floor was a big, open space. The stairs were on the left side of the room if you were standing in the doorway. Plenty of windows and candles kept the area well lit. To the left of the stairs was a supply closet, full of mops and brooms, rags to clean with, and stuff of that type. There were a few chairs around the room, but not many. To the right of the stairs, a little way back from them, was a counter. Behind the counter were a few shelves and a few books.  They were full of customer information. Their names, which room they occupied, what town they were from, how long they would be staying. I looked around, then went and sat down at the stool behind the counter. When she wakes up, how do I explain everything to her?  I thought. What am I going to do with her? I can give her shelter, and a job at my inn, but what if she doesn't want it? I don't even know her name.

I worried for the girl, and how she would move on.  She probably had family, what happened to them?  Does she have any money?  She wasn't carrying bags with her, I reminded myself.  The lack of bags could mean that she had nothing to bring, or that she didn't have time to pack. Either way, it wasn't a good sign. Was she running from something?  For a little while, I thought of different scenarios that might have forced her into the woods.  It didn’t take long for me to stop myself.

I'll just wait until she wakes up.  When she does, she can explain herself, and decide how she wishes to carry on.  I stood up and looked behind me at the books, then I gazed lazily out the window. I don't think Shepherd's Rest is a good place for her, I thought as I frowned to myself. It might be too dangerous for her. A name crossed my mind, but I dismissed it quickly. No matter.  I can warn her, but ultimately, the choice is hers.  I'll just have to wait until she wakes up…

Chapter 1

Autumn Rose

Slowly, I woke up. Everything was hazy, nothing was clear. When my eyes began to focus, I noticed that I was in a room lying down on a soft bed. The wooden walls were worn and stained. There was a window across from me, and a wooden dresser left of it. The door, also marked with age, had a brass turning knob. There was a bedside table with a small candle burning on it, and on the wall to my right a mirror hung, reflecting my surroundings back to me. It was a pretty room, and very cozy. It almost reminded me of home. Home.

Suddenly, I remembered where I last thought I was. I was lost in the woods, under a tree. How did I get here? A wave of panic came over my body. What am I doing here? Who brought me here?  I sat for a moment, thinking it over. Calm down, there's no use in panicking. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Someone must have found me. If they left me in a room with a bed, I doubt they want trouble, I figured. But why would they rescue me?  A part of me still wasn't sure if I was safer here, or in the woods. I sat up in the bed and looked out the window. It was sunny, orange and red leaves were drifting in the gentle breeze. How long was I asleep? Where am I?  I slumped back down in the bed. I guess I'll have to wait.

Not long after, the door opened. I sat up and turned around to see who had entered. A tall gentleman came into the room. He was young, maybe about my age, 19. He had dirty blonde hair, and gentle blue eyes. His white shirt was wrinkled and stained with dirt. Its sleeves were short, which was surprising to me considering the colder weather. He wore jeans, ripping at the knees and other places below.  Wet mud stained the denim. He was wearing brown boots, also covered in mud. His hands were in his pockets, and his left hand was moving. It was like he was playing with something in there. He closed the door silently behind him and turned to me.

I've got a lot I want to ask you, miss. The gentleman began. But I think I'll start by asking your name. My name? Of course, he wants my name. I was afraid to share my real name, what if I wasn't safe?  After what had just happened, I was afraid I couldn’t trust anyone.  What if this man was one of the strange people I saw at the village?  My eyes went over him again, and I determined he looked too kind and gentle to be one of those monsters.

His eyebrows raised suggestively, undoubtedly because of my lack for words.  Time seemed like it was slowing down. I needed to say something, but what would I say?

Scarlet, I hastily exclaimed the first name that came to my mind: my mother's.

Well Scarlet, I am Soren Hawethorne. If you'll pardon me for asking, what were you doing wandering in the woods? The man, Soren, introduced. Once again, I was at a loss for a reply. I felt like a cornered mouse. Every time I escaped from one trap, I ran right into another. I thought about my village, burning, burning... My mother's screams echoed in my ears. I stammered furiously. Soren waited patiently; his gaze was unchanging.  The dead corpse of a child flashed into my head. I shut my eyes hard, as if shutting my eyes would shut out the image. The dead lifeless eyes stared blankly into the sky.  I looked back to Soren.  He seemed so peaceful, calm, and relaxed. Meanwhile, I was in a panic.

M-My village was burned, I ran into the woods and got lost. Now I'm here, I don't know why -

Miss Scarlet, please calm down a bit. Soren's eyes searched me, then he continued. I can tell from what you've already told me that you've had quite an adventure. Please start from the beginning. Take your time if you need. I looked at him, slightly surprised by his seemingly never-ending calmness and kindness. He was neither frowning nor smiling, and he looked friendly, yet stern. If he's the one who rescued me, he probably has about as many questions for me as I him. I took a deep breath and collected myself. Feeling slightly calmer, I began from the beginning.

There were raiders, with wolf tattoos, and they burned my village to the ground. I was the only survivor. I watched my parents die and then I fled to the woods, where I got lost. I began.

I'm sorry, Soren murmured in a low voice. How long were you in the woods?

It'll be fine, I replied. I was only there for a few nights, and - where am I? I asked my first question, not sure if I would get an answer or more questions.

Ah, how rude of me. Welcome to the Lumbering Bear, miss Scarlet! You are in Shepherd's Rest, our quaint and small town, where everyone knows everyone. Soren smiled pleasantly, then looked out the window. We've got some strange folk, but they tend to mind themselves.  They won’t stir trouble if you don’t look for it, he added.

For a moment, the reality of the situation struck me.  Everyone I'd ever known was dead.  I was in a strange town, with strange new people.  Yet, as grim and bleak as my situation seemed, here in front of me stood this glimmer of hope, Soren.  Of the recent misfortunes I had suffered from, there was one who showed me kindness.  He's probably the one who rescued me from the woods, I realized.  Soren went on for a bit more, talking about Shepherd's Rest, but I was too lost in thought to listen.  I sat and thought about how I'd make myself a new life.  While Soren talked, I simply nodded and listened. It almost felt like it was too much.

I found you in the woods and knew I couldn't just leave you to die like that. So, I took you back here, and gave you a room for the night. I'm not sure if you want to stay or leave, I was hoping you would stay. I suppose that answers how and why I got here.

Why? I asked, suspiciously. Why do you want me to stay? Soren's generosity, while appreciated, was not something I had expected. I'm grateful for your kindness, Mr. Hawethorne. But I'm not sure if I could ever grow to call this place my home.

Please, call me Soren. There is no need for formalities in my inn. I was hoping you would stay and help me with my work. It's hard to manage, all on my own. Soren replied, still smiling. I know that it'll be hard for you, to adapt to all the changes. But I'm sure that in time, you could come to be rather comfortable with it. I looked him over, still slightly nervous.

What about your parents? I inquired. Don't you have parents?

My ma died from cholera when I was fourteen. My pa was a gambler, he left me when I was seventeen. He's the one who built this inn, taught me everything I know about it. Since then, I've been living here on my own, tending the strangers who pass through Shepherd's Rest. his answer was quiet, almost a whisper. Suddenly feeling guilty, I realized that Soren had struggled a bit too. His parents have been out of his life for at least two years, five in the case of his mother. He's probably lonely.

I don't know ... It's a kind offer, but I think I'll find my own place, somewhere in town. I replied quietly, looking at my feet.  Soren frowned slightly. I could tell he liked me, and he really wanted me to stay, but I wasn't sure I was safe here. It's all so much bigger than the village, I thought to myself. I looked out the window at the town. People were walking in the street, and I could see a tavern, just across the way. I squinted to see the sign, so I could identify its name. The Drunken Hog, I observed. Interesting name for a tavern. The Drunken Hog, and the Lumbering Bear. I looked away from the window to Soren.

Soren Hawethorne

I was discouraged by her hesitation to stay. I didn't want to lie to her any more than I had to, but how could I convince her to help?

Scarlet, I really think that going alone and leaving the safety of my inn could be a bad idea. There are dangerous folk, I warned.

I thought you said they mostly mind their own business, and that they won’t bother me unless I bother them.

You’re right. I did, and they probably won’t.  But you’re new in town, and that makes you a target.

It was half true. There have been rumors that guilds were formed with Shepherd’s Rest.  As much as I hated to admit it, more and more lately it seemed that these rumours were truths.  The recent deaths and raids in small local villages couldn’t be coincidences.  No one on their own would do such damage.  It was likely that Scarlet had just escaped one of the raids. That isn't her name and I know it, I thought. She hesitated, and I can't figure out if it was suspicion that I would hurt her or fear that she would be found out for who she really was. I ran my fingers over her silver necklace, which I was keeping in my pocket, as I watched her face change.

Would I have to pay to stay the nights with you, if I worked here? She asked slowly. I studied her, paying close attention to her word choice. She was obviously against staying with me.  I half didn't blame her. She was in a strange new town with strange new people. And, if her story was true, her home was burned.  She had no more living family, and she watched her parents die. I looked her over, once again. Her long red hair was draped neatly over her right shoulder, her green eyes studying me closely. She had a green dress that was a darker shade than her eyes that fit all her curves. The sleeves, which came down to her elbows, were worn and muddy. Her dress does look a bit ash stained. Maybe she really was attacked.

Your working here would pay for your stay. I'd say, five shillings for a week's work, and the rest I'll simply keep to pay for your staying here. I suggested, shifting my weight, and taking two steps closer to Scarlet. She watched my every move. She was almost glaring at me. I smiled at her and removed my right hand from my pocket. Extending it towards her, I added,

Is it a deal? Scarlet watched my hand move and looked up at my face. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment, then she looked back at my hand. She reached out with her left hand, and we shook.

Deal. She replied. I smiled again, happy to know that she would be staying with me.  A part of me almost felt bad, as if I had baited her into a trap by getting her to stay with me.  I won’t let her get hurt.  If someone tries to attack her, I’ll protect her.  I was interested to know her story in more detail. Maybe then I'll learn her name and her true origin.

Good, then you can start by making the bed in this room. I presume that won't be a problem, I announced with a wink. She got up off the bed and folded the blankets.

Easy. She replied nonchalantly. A feeble smile came onto her face. What's next? I thought about it for a moment.

Come down with me, to the lobby. I'll show you around a bit, then you can start working. There might be some cleaning you can do. I told her. I walked to the door, and opened it, removing both my hands from my pockets. To our right were the stairs leading down. To our left were all the rooms for guests. Directly across the hall from the room we were leaving, Autumn's room now, was my room.

There are about fifteen rooms, all of them are on this floor. Down below us is the lobby. There's a counter and a few chairs. You'll see for yourself in a second. I went on.

I knew there was something special about her.  I couldn't put my finger on what made me feel that way. Maybe it was the fact that I found her in the woods. Maybe it was because she was mysterious and lying to me. I knew she was too special to just let go. There was something about Scarlet and I was going