One Tyn Soldier

Listen children to a story; that was written long ago, about a kingdom on a mountain and the valley folk below. On the mountain was a treasure buried deep beneath the stone and the valley people swore they’d have it for they’re very own:

Circian sat watching the grass flow back and forth in the wind and the crickets in the air. The night was cool and the stars were out, her mother and father were talking with everyone else in the village. Her delicate green eyes drifted up to the mountain before her, true it was tall and maybe there was snow at the top, but her mother and father very interested in it for some reason.

Circian had lived in the valley village for the whole of her twelve years of life. She knew that there was people that live up there in the cold of the mountain but from what she was told, those people were selfish and conceited.
“Circian!”

She turned to see her mother calling out of the little sod hut they lived in.

“Time to come in dear!” she called.

Carefully Circian got too her feet so not to get a head rush and dusted off the small rough cloth tunic dress she was wearing, she moved her hair from her eyes taking a single glance at the mountain again before running back to the house.

The sod house was just large enough for Circian and her parents, but tonight there were many people stuffed inside.

“Circian, sweetheart, you have to go to bed now, just try to ignore them, they’ll be done soon,” her mother said.

Circian kept her eyes on the ground as she walked past all the men that were gathered in the room peeking a side-glance at her father.
The bed was small but comfortable enough for Circian to sleep on and her mother pulled the curtain of rough fabric to shield her from the light and their conversation.

As she settled down to go to sleep, the heavy voices of the others filtered through the screen.

“What about a signal?” one man with a gruff voice asked.

“No we’ve done that,” that was her father’s voice.

“A message, that’s the only option left,” someone else said.

“A message for gold?” it was her mother, “messages for money assistance won’t do anything, they will keep everything for themselves as usual.”

“And their notion of sharing isn’t trustworthy either,” her father said.

“We have to try something,” said the blacksmith.

“One message,” insisted the man.

There was a sigh from the room and her father spoke again, “alright, we’ll send one message up to the Mountain Folk, and if they don’t respond or refuse, we have to take drastic measures.”

There were few grunts and huffs of acceptance and the scraping on chairs on the ground and then Circian could hear her father shake the hands of the men before they left.

All was quiet for a little while then her father spoke again.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do if they don’t accept,” he said.

Her mother was silent for a moment, “Daie, we can survive fine without the extra money, its not like we’re poor.”

“Yes, I know, but that is not the point,” Daie explained, “they keep promising to share, so that we can live a good life like they do but they never do anything.”

Her mum sighed again. “I think we should leave it for now, lets talk about it when the time comes.”

The curtain was drawn back and Circian quickly closed her eyes so her mother couldn’t see that she had been eves dropping. Circian’s thoughts about the mountain drifted from reality into her dreams and she was asleep within minutes.

00

Tynrei looked at glass in front of him. It was half done and his brain was so foggy that he could barely hear his companions beside him. It was his sixteenth birthday and he had mistakenly taken part in a drinking game.

Carefully he lifted the glass and watched it, aware that his friends were watching him carefully. After a moments hesitation Tynrei shot the rest of the liquor back. Everyone cheered and patted him on the back.

Tynrei didn’t make any reply really hoping that the contents that were in his stomach would stay in there.

“He’s looking a little green,” one man said from the crowd.

“Is he going to make it?” another cried.

The smell of liquor and sweat reached his nose and became almost overpowering. Tynrei got up quickly and left the bar to reach the cool and quiet outside. He leaned over the railing that was there to keep the people from falling, just incase he did throw up.

But it never came; leaning over the rail Tynrei could see the small lights down below signaling the existence of the valley folk below him. He had never met any of them, but they were rumored to be very selfish and greedy. Tynrei never dared to contradict them but he wasn’t sure if it was all together true.

He sighed and turned around to look back into the bar, outside in the cool air he wasn’t sure if he was going to go back in, but after all it was his birthday party.

00

The day was warm on his face as he lay on his back. He had woken that morning with a headache like nothing he had had before, fortunately he did not have to go in today and he could spend it lying in the green grass down the stairs, in the foothills before the valley.

Tynrei was training to be a knight for the king but was stuck as a squire. He closed his eyes and basked in the sun, he did not bring his armor but had his sword.

He was lulled into sleep by the soft hum of the wind through the grass.

Suddenly there was another noise.

Giggling.

He frowned and sat up grasping his sword. The laughter was coming from over the next foothill. Tynrei stood up and with his sword out walked over.

Suddenly two large dogs about adult size came bounding over the crest of the hill. Surprised, Tynrei was knocked over by one of the large dogs and was smothered in licks. He smiled and tried to push the animal of off him.

The then source of the giggling came apparent. Two girls about the age of twelve came over and stopped, staring at him. He smiled.

“Are these animals yours?” he asked laughing.

Both girls still looked scared but one answered, “yes.”

“You should be able to hold on to them better,” Tynrei said, getting to his feet and rubbing the dog’s ears playfully.

“We’re sorry,” the girl said timidly.

Tynrei smiled, “don’t worry, no harm done.” He said still playing with the dog. He looked up. “What are your names?”

They were silent and scared.

“I won’t do anything, or tell anyone,” Tynrei said.

“My name is Circian,” the one who spoke before said.

“I’m Arrielle,” the other said.

Tynrei smiled, “pleased to meet you.”

“Are you a knight?” Circian asked walking forward to take one of the dogs.

Tynrei paused, “not yet.”

Circian smiled, “I recognized your sword, my daddy has one like that, he was a knight once.”

“Really?” Tynrei, “he must have been a really good one, too keep his sword in good shape.”

“Well,” Arrielle said coming up, “its not in a good a shape as she thinks it is.”

Tynrei smiled, “some things never are.”

“What’s your name?” Circian asked.

“Tynrei,” he answered.

Circian smiled, “your name is tin and so is the suit you wear as a knight,” she laughed.

“Thanks,” Tynrei said pretending to be offended, “but I didn’t pick my own name.”

“True,” Circian answered.

Arrielle giggled slightly.

“Are you giggling at me?” Tynrei exclaimed.

“No sir I would never do such a thing,” Arielle said resisting her laughter.

“Hmmm,” Tynrei mumbled looking at her suspiciously, trying hard not too smile.

“What would you do if I challenged you to a duel?” Circian asked.

“A duel?” Tynrei answered surprised, “not a real one I hope.”

“No, just a practice,” Circian said.

“I think I would accept,” Tynrei replied.

“Good!” Circian said and with a flash she brought out the stick she had been playing with as a sword and whacked him.

“Hey! That’s unfair, I have no weapon!” Tynrei said laughing.

Circian chased him around the little hollow that they had met in with the dogs chasing both of them and Arrielle watched laughing.

Tynrei stopped breathing hard with his hands on his legs and looked at her.

“You run too fast maiden,” he said.

Circian smiled.

“Oh, it’s close to noon,” said Arrielle, “I think we should be going Circian.”

Tynrei glanced to the sky; the sun was almost noon.

Circian nodded, “Will you be here after noon?” she asked him.

Tynrei paused, “I don’t think so, but tomorrow after noon I shall be,” he answered.

Circian thought for a moment, “Alright I’ll come by tomorrow after noon, when my chores are done.” Then she ran to where Arrielle was waiting with the large dogs and she waved back. “See you tomorrow Tyn!” she called.

Tynrei watched her go with her friend to their village home and then he smiled. “Tyn, eh?” he said too himself and with a shake of his head he walked back to the Stair that would take him back up the mountain.

00

Circian walked with the dogs thinking greatly. She tended to do this a lot especially if something that required her getting something, knowledge or otherwise.

But now she was thinking of Tynrei. He didn’t seem at all like the people that her father had told her about, being mean and selfish. But her father could be making a generalization; after all he did live in the mountain city as a knight long before Circian was born. She never asked why they no longer lived on the mountain, but she had a suspicion it had to do that her mother was no born on the mountain nor had she ever been on it.

Her father said that the mountain people would have never allowed the valley people to mix with mountain people. It was at this point that Circian decided not to tell her father about the boy that she had meet in the vale.

She looked at the sky above her. The sun was begging to set, she hadn’t realised how late she had stayed out. She turned and saw that the valley village was alight in the growing darkness but a considerable distance away. She sighed and headed back to her home.

00

Tynrei watched the hourglass slowly pouring out. He had less than one hour until he was allowed a couple hours to himself, which he was planning to spend with Circian down in the valley. A thought had struck him last night and he had painstakingly tried to finish a present for her, nothing big, only an embroidered handkerchief, but he was going to have to give it too her another day.

Almost half way now.

Suddenly a commotion in the room caught his attention. He was standing guard today with the king during the time that he administered to his people; it wasn’t that fascinating; the commotion made it worth paying attention.

The crowd parted and let someone through the crowd.

Two guards escorted her and her eyes were so wide that it was clear she had never been on the mountain before. She came to where Tynrei was standing and locked eyes with him for a moment. She was young, perhaps twelve years of age.

The King motioned for her to greet him and she gave a clumsy curtsey. Tynrei was still wondering why she was allowed to jump ahead of everyone else.

She spoke in a quiet timid voice that strangely echoed throughout the court.

“Sir, I am coming from my father,” she said quietly keeping her head down.

“Please, dear one,” the King said in a kind voice, “what is it that your father wants?”

She seemed much too timid to say but finally she said, “the treasure.”

There was a silence then the King laughed and so did the rest of the court and the girl looked like she might cry but the King spoke again. “My dear,” said he, “you are from the Valley folk, and with our brothers we will share the treasure.”

The girl looked him in the eyes and smiled, which was warmly returned, “Now go tell your father to send and escort of men and we can talk peace.”

The girl nodded and the King looked to Tynrei, “Good sir, would you be kind enough to show our lady back home?”

Tynrei bowed to his King and then motioned for the girl to follow him, it was then that he recognized the girl in front of him.

“Circian,” he said happily once away from the court room.

She still seemed nervous but smiled recognition at him.

“What is the matter?” Tynrei asked.

“My father seemed so distracted when he asked me to come, I don’t know what is happening,” she answered.

“Do not worry,” Tynrei said, “I’m sure everything will be alright.”

Circian sighed, “I hope so, but I can’t come later, when you’re off duty, my father says I must stay home today.”

Tynrei was silent then spoke, “Alright, no problem.”

“Maybe another day?”

“That would be fun.”

Circian smiled then stopped at the top of the same grassy hill Tynrei had first met her.

“I’ll see you again right Tyn?” Circian asked.

“Most defiantly,” Tynrei answered with a smile.

Circian smiled then ran down the hill to the village. Tynrei watched for a moment then turned around a left for the top of the mountain again.
Circian ran to where her father was working and told him the message of the King and was startled from his reaction.

“Circian go home and stay with your mother,” he said.

Confused and a little scared she ran home to where her mother was cooking dinner and told her as well what had happened.

Her mother forbade her to go outside that day; not even visits. She could hear sounds from outside, some that scared her immensely but she could not understand what they were and when she asked her mother replied that they were going to talk peace with the King.

That night when her mother was fast asleep, Circian slipped out the sod house to look around for what was happening. The village was silent but when she saw the mountain fear gripped her.

It was dark and red, something dreadful had happened there and she ran as fast as she could to reach the stair and the city.

It was tiring but once she had made it up the sight before her was shocking. The city had been destroyed and the people had been killed.

There was a group of people that stood around a rock and seemed very subdued. Circian made her way numb through the bodies towards the people. Fear gripped her and she ran.

She collided with the people and found that someone was trying to hold onto her arms and keep her from running farther. She was suddenly faced with her father who looked grim and sad, an overwhelming guilt engulfing him.

“Circian,” he began.

“Where’s the Tyn soldier?” she cried tears pulling herself out his grasp and running to look at the bodies on the ground.

She heard the footsteps of someone following her, but she found the person she looked for.

Tynrei was lying on his back breathing only slightly watching the world above him to weak to do anything. Then he felt a presence beside him. He looked to the girl that bent over him. He smiled.

“Circian,” he said quietly, “here.”

He held out a hand, there was a small handkerchief in his hand and she took it and held onto him.

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked.

Tynrei smiled, “I am now.”

His arm fell limp and in her hand only the dirty handkerchief was left. She opened it up to see stitching that read;

One Tyn soldier rides away.