The Champion of Valens

I

Nara watched as the sun rose waking the high city of Fortis. The hillside once enclosed by silence abruptly sprang to life as people rushed from their homes to start their day. Clanging pots clattered in the kitchens, as women in long flowing dresses and bonnets began preparing breakfasts for their families. Young children clothed in long raggedy tunics, scampered through their yards, competing over who could collect the most eggs. Milk, sloshing from its pails was being carried back into the houses.

Nara smiled at the sudden change in atmosphere. She never ceased to amaze her how at one moment the city was silent, and at the next it was full of life. Life went on no matter the weather or the circumstances. Even on a day as tragic as today people would continue to work, play, and learn just like any other day. Life in Fortis never seemed to change.

            Every morning Nara woke up before sunrise so she could witness the transformation from night to day. She would climb up her favorite tree on the edge of a precipice which overlooked the valley below. From above Nara could watch as the entire city came to life. Unlike most cities which were built on flat terrain, the city of Fortis was built on a large hill. The city was designed like a giant pyramid of social classes, with the king’s palace at the hill’s peak, and the homes on the peasants at the hill’s base.

Most of the dwellings scattered across the hillside, although not very attractive, were functional and built from the resources at hand. They were constructed from stone and the roof was covered with straw in order to keep the heat in during the harsh winter months and the heat out during the warm summer. Small vegetable gardens were well kept in the yards to provide food for the people inside.

Twisting on her perch and shielding her eyes from the sun, Nara could just barely make out a giant tower on the peak above her. She knew it was the ancient palace of Valens that resided on the uppermost peak of hilltop city. It looked majestic and awesome surrounded by the sun’s early rays. Its sheer size even at her distance both excited and intimidated her. Coiling vines steadily climbed up the stone walls and columns of the fortress.

Turning towards the valley once more, Nara leaned back against the tree trunk so that she could enjoy the view. She was just about to return inside when she noticed a dark shadow at the horizon. Nara was almost certain that it had not been there a moment earlier. She squinted her eyes, but it did little good; they were still too far away. Nara watched as they steadily became more defined as they came closer. The dark mass soon became gray dots, and the dots then transformed into individual people. One of the men towards the front carried a blood bright red flag. Even at her distance, the flag was unmistakable. Nara’s eyes widened when she recognized it. . . .