Luuraa
This is a story I wrote for a writing contest. It was really easy to write, I started and finished in three days writing it in school during free time. I dunno if it won anything or not but I think it's a pretty good story.
Why does this always happen to me, Luuraa thought as he sat in the dank, musty dungeon cell. Once again he had been thrown in there for what he thought was no serious offense. I have to learn how to stay out of trouble, he thought.
Dim light shone through the bars of the small window. Looking out, all he could see was the cloudy grey sky and the tips of a few trees with bare branches. Cool autumn air seeped in, and Luuraa shivered as he huddled on the dirty straw.
At least it is only for a few days. And he did receive food, which was edible in spite of it being slop worse than what the dogs were given. I suppose this is what happens to those that work in Grenoor's palace.
King Grenoor of Larantichoora was known throughout the land for his short temper and unusual lack of patience. His nobles are not known for their intelligence, Luuraa thought wryly.
This last incident happened because of a noble: a young, arrogant lordling that took his authority for granted. He had tried to send Luuraa for some of the king’s finest wine even though the king forbid everyone except those to which he chose to give it to drink. Luuraa politely pointed out that they would probably both be beheaded if the king found out, but the noble did not seem to understand or care.
The noble refused to take back his order, and Luuraa refused to risk his head. “You would trade your life for wine?” Luuraa had asked at one point. Eventually the lord lost his temper and began to rage at him. Luuraa had calmly dodged all of the expensive items thrown at him. Then the noble brought him before the king on charges of disrespect and defiance: serious though usually inaccurate charges for a servant. I am not going to stand there and bow meekly as he sends me on suicide errands and hurls gold plates at my head though, Luuraa thought. This generation of nobles could use some humility.
Luuraa had not argued with the judgment of the king, had not tried to reason with him, knowing from experience that it would not get him anything better than a longer stay in the dungeon.
As it was, Luuraa was not in such a bad state. A few days of dungeon life, and then he could be back to work as if nothing had happened. Back to Alrana.
Alrana, his true love, was for the most part what kept him in Grenoor’s palace. He had tried to convince her that they could find a better life in a better place, but she did not have the courage to leave. That was all right; he could wait. He could endure the king and his nobles for Alrana.
A rat darted beneath the cell door, followed by a thin grey cat. Luuraa’s stomach growled, and he snatched up the rat without thinking. The cat stared at it as it squirmed in his hand. For a moment he paused, and then realized what he had been about to do. He set the rat down in front of the cat. The creature immediately tried to scamper away, but a cat’s paw came down, pinning it to the floor.
I’ll get food anyway, Luuraa thought. That cat has to catch hers. He shivered and was not sure whether it was because of the cold or the thought of eating a rat. I feel like that rat, trapped in this castle.
The cat finished her meal and rubbed up against Luuraa. He stroked her back and she began to purr. She felt soft and warm. Lucky cat, Luuraa thought. She does not have much to worry about, only finding her next meal.
The cat stopped purring and squeezed under the door, leaving Luuraa alone with his thoughts once again. He curled up on the straw and tried to sleep. Only a few more days…
His dreams were chaotic. He was riding across a field, moonlight lighting the way. A fiery grey dragon followed behind, churning the air with its wings, red eyes shining with fury.
A black cat appeared before him. As he rode closer, it grew to the size of a panther, and its green eyes glowed with life. It stood up as a man.
The dragon united with the panther, giving it grey bat-like wings. Luuraa was on his knees on the ground before it. The winged panther stretched out a paw to him, awaiting his acceptance. Luuraa grasped the paw, and they took off into flight.
They flew through the night, riding close to the stars. The twinkling lights faded into blackness. Then light filled the blackness and was split into many bright colors that dripped and ran like wet paint. The colors trickled away, leaving only blackness surrounding Luuraa. He could see the glowing green eyes of the winged panther watching him. They faded also, and the paw released its grasp on his hand. He fell through endless darkness, falling and falling forever… And he woke.
The sun had set, and the sky was dark. A guard was coming, armor clanking as he walked through the hall. He stopped near the cell Luuraa was in and slipped a wooden dish under the door. Luuraa, still caught up in the vivid remembrance of his dream, sat on the straw thinking until the guard’s footsteps faded away. Then he noticed the bowl and moved toward it, his stomach growling again.
The same gruel, he thought, inspecting the contents. Well, it is better than nothing. He gulped it down. Not too bad. Probably because I am so hungry.
Suddenly, the wall he was leaning against shook violently, and dust fell from the ceiling. Luuraa tried to look out through the window to see what had happened, but he could see nothing more in the darkening evening sky than he could have earlier. He moved to the door and looked out through the small barred window. Still only darkness.
He could hear a clamor, but it sounded distant in the isolated cell. What is happening? He heard a mewing and wondered if the cat that had visited him earlier had come back. Then the mewing was answered by a similar, deeper sound. Luuraa wished he had not heard that.
Luuraa saw a
light moving in the hall and heard footsteps outside the cell.
Then the light was extinguished, and the footsteps halted. Some
shadow that seemed to be darker than the blackness moved in front
of his cell.
Two glowing green eyes stared at him.
Luuraa stumbled backwards and fell against the back wall in shock. Just in time, for a moment later the wooden door splintered, split by a huge axe. Several more blows and a gaping hole opened into the dark hallway.
The shadow came through the hole, and a lantern lit up in its hand, revealing its true form.
It appeared to be the panther from his dream, but it was a deception: cleverly crafted black armor that covered its whole form, with two eye shapes on the helmet that shone with some unknown power.
Come. The voice seemed both to be in his mind and to come from inside the armor. A dull black gauntlet beckoned him. You must come if you wish to live.
Luuraa’s mind raced with questions, but he could only put a few into words. “Who are you?” he asked. “What do you want with me? How did you get in?”
You will know. Come. The hand beckoned again, and Luuraa reluctantly walked to it. The black figure abruptly turned and slipped through the hole it had made in the door. Follow.
Luuraa crawled through the hole after the phantom, following the bobbing lantern light disappearing down the hall. He ran to catch up. The dark panther figure led him out of the dungeon and into one of the palace courtyards.
Luuraa froze and stared in shock at what he saw. Grenoor’s soldiers fought face to mask with more animal-armored figures, more felines and some wolves and foxes. The burning of the palace lit up the night.
“You stormed the castle? Are you taking over? Who are you?” Luuraa anxiously questioned his dark guide. Then a thought struck him. Alrana! She may be in danger! He turned and tried to dash away to rescue her, but the black gauntlet held him firmly.
She was holding you back, the voice from the dark figure said. You must not let yourself be held back.
“What are you? What have you done with her?”
She is alive. She will remain a servant in this castle. You must not see her again. We must be away from this place. The people here are not worthy. You will learn the truth in time.
Luuraa continued to struggle against the panther figure’s grasp, but his mind began to understand what the voice had meant. In the back of his mind, he felt a sense of relief to be leaving the oppressive palace. Come, the voice said. You will know the truth in time.
Luuraa stopped struggling and followed the dark figure willingly. He was led between groups of fighters and out through a gaping hole in the gate that seemed to have been made by force.
Waiting for them outside was a large crowd of more animal-armored figures. They cheered as the panther brought Luuraa out.
The panther reached up and removed his helmet. A friendly-looking youth with shoulder-length brown hair and green eyes looked at Luuraa and smiled.
“Heya,” he said. “Come, join us, and be a servant in this place no longer!” The crowd cheered, and Luuraa found himself cheering with them.