Sel, Chapter 2 Options

[Dantrag]

In those days, I was quite wild. I searched for adventure in everything. and more than once, I looked for fights. I find it sad that other people made excuses for me, even when I refused to give one for myself. I was often convinced I was right, such as in the time I tried to rob a Legion fort and got caught. Then, I got out of trouble because of my 'horrible childhood'. Looking back, it wasn't so horrible until the deaths started happening.

-Selenil Vendas

"Sh!" A ten- year-old Sel ordered his sister as he put his finger over his lips. "You don't want us to get caught again, do you?"

Vysi put on a pouty face and shook her head 'no'.

"Stay here." he whispered, handing Vysi a piece of bread.

They were hidden in a storage closet in Fort Buckmoth eating some bread that was stored in the crates. They often went there when they got hungry, and had only been caught once. That hadn't been pretty; their mother was less than happy to say the least.

Sel wanted more than bread this time though; he wanted some gold; hat way his family could have more than two changes of clothing each. Besides, why pass up an opportunity for adventure?

He sneaked out the door of the storage room and made his way up the stairs; he was disappointed in the fact that the corridor was lighted. He peered under the closed door to the next room, the soldiers were drinking and lagughing loudly. Sel even thought he heard a song somewhere in the choas of noise. Smiling, he made his way into what he had found out days before was the Fort commander's quarters. He opened the door, now confident that he would have no trouble. He stood straight up and opened the door. To his dismay, the commander wasn't one to drink.

"Hey! Who the hell are you?"

Sel stood there wide-eyed for a moment before finally taking off down the hallway. Unfortunately for him, the commander did too.

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It's short, but hey, it's really late here.

This post has been edited by Dantrag: Nov 27 2005, 05:39 AM

[Dantrag]

I bet you forgot about this story.

Don't lie. I even forgot and I'm the author.

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"I sent one of the maids here to go find your mother." the cook informed Sel.

Sel shrugged as if it didn't matter, but he did in fact care. There would probably be a month or two without any visits to the city and a lot of chores around the house. For such a small place, it needed a lot of work.

Sel had hoped that the cok had been trying to scare him, but it turned out that she was telling the truth. His mother walked in the door, and it was obvious from her facial expression as well as her fast pace that she was angry.

She carried Vysi in one arm, and used the other to drag her son forcefully by the ear. With a small apology to the cook, she marched her children outside without even seeing the knowing smile the cook gave.

The walk home was silent except for Sel's complaints about how uncomfortable he was, and those Vaila calmly ignored except to pull harder every time a new protest was given. Soon, Sel became silent and tried to ignore the pain in his ear. At least the pain in his stomach was gone...

"What were you thinking?" Valia screamed at him.

Sel looked around before realizing that they were already inside. The hut was small and obviously that of a poor family, but it had a cozy feel to it that could make a king feel at home if his throne would fit. The fire was still burning; obviously Vaila had left it unattended when she was alerted of her son's antics.

"What were you thinking?" Valia demanded again.

Sel thought of some way out, and he thought he saw it playing on the floor; Vysi. "Sis was hungry, we didn't have anymore food."

"We have some trama roots growing in the garden!" Vysi shouted back, the anger still in her voice.

Sel frowned. Vysi was no longer a good excuse.

When Sel hesitated to answer, his mother continued the lecture. "No matter how hungry you are, it is no excuse for stealing. How would you feel if you stole someone's food, and they starved because of it?"

Sel looked down and shuffled his feet.

Valia sighedl this conversation was often repeated, and it was getting old.

"Just go to bed; I'll put you to work planting a garden since you're so hungry."

Sel obeyed, and was soon asleep.

The next morning, while Sel was planting ash yams and more of the hated trama roots, Valia made a trip to Ald'Rhun to work and to enroll Sel in the school provided by House Redoran.

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More will come later. Hopefully not too much later.